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Chapter 20 - SST Innovations

It was evening. Legate lay on the floor of Tony's ship twisting some wires together. Three panels lay on the floor along with additional wires, circuits and tools. A little girl, wearing brown trousers, a white shirt with rolled up sleeves and two long brown braids, sat next to Legate.

"Alright. Come down here and take a look at this." Legate told her.

The small girl lay down next to him and looked in the panel. "Oh, I see it. That would go there, and this over here."

Legate smiled, "That's right. Good job. Here, put them together. I'll watch."

They lay just next to the top of the gang plank of the ship near the door. The environmental controls were operating perfectly and the interior was a comfortable temperature. As one entered the ship, and passed the main computer panel where Legate currently worked, the room went into a circle. In the center, sat a circular table surrounded by a wrap-around bench. Screens sat in the walls there. One of the screens showed the solar storm on the radar that they had so narrowly avoided. The other screen was blank.

A long window ran down one side of the ship, showing the moons that shone overhead in the sky of Photoria. Stars dotted the sky.

Around the circle, four small rooms could be found. Each one had a double bed that folded down from the wall, and a small bathroom with a shower. Every inch of space had been used in the ship. Everything seemed to serve double or triple duty. Even the table in the center of the main room could be used as a hatch in the event the main one became disabled.

A ladder to the side led down to the cargo hold. It ran most of the length of the ship and was only tall enough for the men to walk through if they bent over. Coming back up the ladder and around the corner, was the cockpit of the ship. Simple, but extremely technical with all of the bits and bobs used to fly such a ship. Two chairs sat next to one another behind a large window looking out at the dark, grassy field.

The inside of the ship was brightly lit. The outside door hissed open and Tony walked in with Logan. "Man, I'm just done. Mind if I crash, Tony?"

Tony shook his head, looking down at his phone. "Nah, man. It's your room. Help yourself."

Logan didn't have to be told twice. He started to walk away and nearly tripped over Legate's legs. "Damn, Legate."

Tony stopped looking at his phone, "What the hell are you doing to my ship, man?"

The little girl clicked something in the back of the wall.

Legate smiled, "You'll thank us in a minute."

Tony pointed at the little girl. "Who's this?"

Legate smiled back up at Tony. "My niece, Mari. Mari, this is Tony."

Mari, a girl of about ten years old, stood up and smiled at them. "Yes, I saw him at dinner. It's nice to meet you."

Tony shook her hand. "It's always nice to meet another pirate in training."

Mari laughed, "Legate told me you said that about him and Poltious."

"What are you helping him do to my ship?" Tony asked.

"Don't tell him, Mari." Legate insisted from the panel where he worked.

She laughed and looked back at Tony. "I'm sorry, sir. Pirates don't tell on other pirates."

Tony chuckled at her. "Alright, Midget Pirate. Mari, huh?" He looked back at Legate, "I thought everyone in your family names their children things that start with an 'L'?"

Legate went back to work. "Just the boys. Girls are named something that begins with 'M'. Mari. You need to get back to the house. Lenox will be cross if I keep you up too late."

Logan inquired, "Would you like me to walk with you back to the house?"

"No, thanks. It's just there. I'll be fine. Good night."

Logan smiled at her. "Good night. Football tomorrow?"

Mari smiled, "Certainly, Logan!"

Tony smiled back down at the phone as he continued to type out a message. "Night."

Lance passed her on the gang plank. "Night, Mari." He told the little girl and then walked into the ship. The hiss of the door was heard as it closed. "And cards. Yes. I have them. Who's in?"

Logan rubbed his face. "Not me, man. I have to get some sleep."

Lance nodded, "Alright. Tomorrow night then."

Tony sat down at the table on the black, cushioned bench that wrapped around it, and laughed quietly at his phone.

Legate sat up and dusted his hands off.

Lance walked over next to the table to the food replicator. "Drink, Tony?"

Tony glanced up, "Yeah. Just one."

Legate looked confused. "Just one, mate?"

Tony sat his phone down as Lance joined him and sat three green and pink drinks down on the table. "Yeah. Just one." He looked at the odd drink and shook his head. "Now, what the hell is this?"

Lance sighed and propped his feet up in the seat across from him. "A drink. Enjoy it."

Tony held it up and looked at it, closely.

Lance watched him and smiled, "It won't bite you."

Tony picked back up his phone. He sipped the drink while he read a message.

Lance groaned, "Well, this all truly sucks. We really need some more people to play cards."

Legate put a panel back on the wall, "I can ask Lenox out here."

Lance waved his hand. "Nah. We'll just do it tomorrow. Logan needs practice."

Legate nodded, "Good. I've lost enough money to you."

Lance crossed his arms, "Giving up before you even get started, huh?"

Legate stood up and wiped his hands on his jeans. "Being reasonable. It's new for me. Trying it out."

Lance laughed at him.

Tony grinned as he picked back up the phone and rubbed his face. "Good luck with that, Legate. It rarely works for me."

Legate noticed, "Who are you talking to?"

"Pepper."

Lance rose his eyebrow. "Yeah? How is she?"

Tony grinned, "Oh, she's doing just fine."

Legate chuckled, "Oh, I bet she is."

Tony stopped and looked at them. "Am I that oblivious?"

Legate held his fingers up, "Little bit. Sex through text messages. What is that called?"

"Sad." Lance insisted. "There's probably a written record of those that someone will read in a staff meeting."

Tony rolled his eyes and sat down his phone. "You two can suck it."

Legate sat down and sipped his drink. "Let me see your phone. Just a bit."

Tony handed it to him and watched as he clicked a few settings. He put it to his ear and smiled, "Hi, Pepper. It's Legate. Yes. He's just here."

He handed it back to Tony. "I had an extra booster. You should have a clear call."

Tony smiled, "Hell yeah! Thanks, Pirate! Hey, Pepper." He quickly got up and walked to his room and closed the door.

Legate smiled and picked up a controller that lay on the table top. "And that's done. I love this old game. Have you played this?"

Super Mario Brothers appeared on the screen that had been blank. Lance looked at it and shook his head. "No. It looks strange. I don't see the point."

Mario fell into a hole on the screen and Legate groaned, "It's hard. I can't get past this first level."

Lance held his hand out. "Let me give it a go."

Meanwhile, Tony closed the door to his room. He could hear Pepper's smile as she spoke. "Tony. It's so good to hear your voice. This is so much better than the texting."

He smiled and lay down across the bed. "I was enjoying the texting. I was waiting on a picture to see what you are wearing. You never answered that."

She giggled, "I'm wearing….panties."

He rubbed his face. "What sort?"

"Black ones. Lacey."

He moaned at her teasing.

"And a t-shirt…."

"A tight one, I hope. White and…..wet."

She laughed, "You are impossible."

The laughed at her. "You know. I have something for you that I've been too….bashful to give you."

"I think those days are over."

He smiled, "Oh, I believe so. I bought a bit of lingerie when we were on Plentitude."

"You gave me some when you got back."

"I plan to give you 'some' when I get back from here. Oh, and the lingerie." He teased.

"Where are you keeping this? I'm surprised I've not found it."

He grinned. "John has it on his ship. In the cargo hold. Some of it is for….aliens with three legs or some shit. I have three legs, so I'll wear those pieces. Don't worry about it."

She laughed. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"Tell me, when we were in Greece, you wore this….nightgown sortof thing."

"What did it look like?"

"It was….silk. White…. I could see through it a bit. It was… oh wow."

"That was your shirt."

"My shirt?"

"Yes. I brought it, but you didn't wear it. Don't you like silk?"

"I don't like to show my nipples, but yours….oh, it's-"

She laughed at him.

"So, what time is it there?"

"It's early. I just woke up and started to get ready. Exton is taking Soli to-"

"Soli? Is that what we're calling him now?"

"Tony Tyler started it, and let's face it…it's just easier to say."

"This poor kid is going to have an identity crisis if we keep this shit up."

"I agree. Tony slept here last night with him and they had a great time."

He smiled, "That's good. Good for both of them. That little boy was so terrified of aliens and look at that, he's bunking over with one."

"Three actually. Exton and Mortimer helped them build a huge, blanket fort. You would have been impressed."

"What will the housekeeper think?" He teased.

"Oh, she's my first meeting this morning. I need to remind her of some stuff she agreed to when she came to work here."

"Not even 7:00 am, and already planning on kicking some ass. You are something."

"I'm not kicking…ugh. Anyway. What time is it there?"

He rubbed his face. "It's night. Logan has already turned in."

"Do you have your medicine with you?"

"Yes. I do."

"Take it and try to sleep. What's your 'whatever' level at?"

He smiled, "My 'whatever' level? That's probably pretty damn high. So, whatever-"

"You know what I mean."

He grinned as he took the tester out of his jeans pocket and pressed it to his thumb. "Awe." He looked at the reading. "And it's….11%. Ugh. It's up from this afternoon. It was 9%."

"You probably can go to sleep and it will reduce. Your body thinks it's six in the morning and you've been up all night."

He groaned. "Probably, Doctor Potts."

"What did you tell John?"

He sat the tester on the shelf behind the bed. "About what? I haven't spoken to him."

"You said we needed to celebrate with champagne. Where you serious?"

"Completely serious. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Tony."

"Were you?"

She relaxed and smiled, "Of course, I was. Who have you told?"

"I have honestly not told anyone. I told you I wouldn't. I haven't. Trust me. It's just between us."

"Alright. I feel better then."

"So, I forgot about the blood sucking interview. Postpone it."

"John is going to the Expo tonight and doing the interview for you."

He was surprised, "He is? Really?"

She smiled, "He is. You owe him."

"I really don't want to start keeping score with that man. He will win as much as he saves my ass."

"That's true. Well, I have to go. I have a million things to do here today."

"Where's Soli going? You started to tell me, but…"

"Oh, he's going to John's to play with the other children. John's nanny spoke to me and she offered to take him."

"I've still not met this nanny. Oh well, probably some, old lady that makes them watch Mary Poppins or something. Poor kid."

She laughed, "Right. Well, if you can, try to call me tonight. And sleep."

He sighed, "I'll try. I miss you."

"I miss you. Be careful."

"Yeah, I have bodyguards protecting me from a damn bee here. Quite the change." He teased.

"Tony."

He bit his lip, "Yeah?"

"I love you. Please, be careful and come back to me."

"I will, Pepper. I love you. Just a few days. Let me know how the blood suckers do with John."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye, Pepper." He lay the phone down on his chest and sighed. "Just a few days." He told himself as he looked out of the window on the ceiling of the ship. The room was only large enough for the bed. Panels lined the walls that would hold clothing. Tony hadn't put anything in them yet, not expecting to have to be using the room so quickly. He ran his hand through his hair as he lay across the bed.

He heard a knock on the outside of his metal door.

"Yeah."

The door slid open and Logan stood in the doorway. "Need a pillow? I have four for some reason."

Tony held his hand out, "Hell yeah. Thanks."

Logan tossed it to him and stood in the doorway. "You probably also need one of these."

He tossed him a small injector. "That's in case the bee finds you again. I have about twenty of them. Get John to give you a handful."

Tony nodded his head. "Thanks for this, kid." He sipped it in his pocket. "Everything alright with you and your Princess?"

Logan nodded, "Yeah. Why?"

"Well, you are going home. I was just curious."

"Oh no. It's a….well, I bought my mum a house. Remember?"

Tony nodded, "Yeah."

"There's some…paperwork or something I have to sign for tax something, I don't know. I don't understand it. She just told me to try to come back before the end of next month so we could get it sorted."

Tony sat up and waved him into his room. Logan came in and sat down at the end of the bed. Tony thought for a minute and then spoke. "You have five brothers?"

"Yes. Five. Why?"

"And your Mom is all on her own?"

"Yeah? What are you getting at, Tony?"

"I don't understand real estate, and legal shit, either. I have a team of people that handle all of that shit for me."

Logan nodded, "Really? You have the house in California and what else?"

"We'll be here all night. Let's not get into that. But, these real estate guys, well, some of them are really only interested in themselves. They won't care about your family, or your Mom."

Logan nodded. "I agree. Mum's reading everything over, and it's just….complex. I have no idea about any of it."

"Well, you don't work in that. Neither do I. Let me do this. You are a friend of mine, and I admire that you are doing what is right by stepping up, being a man, and making sure your Mom has a roof over her head. Have your Mom call Pepper and let my real estate department take this over for you. They will handle everything."

Logan crossed his arms, "Huh. Yeah? How much-"

Tony waved his hand, "No. Nothing. You're a friend of mine. Let me do this for you. For your family."

Logan shook his head. "I don't know, Tony. Seems like an awful lot to ask of you. I appreciate it, but….."

Tony reached in his pocket and showed him the injector he had just given him. "You just gave me this. Why?"

"Well, you need it-"

"You need this. Let me do this for you. This might save my life, or Pepper's. Let's face it. I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for you. Let me…try to pay you back for helping me out when that damn bee found me last time."

Logan thought and then nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Tony. Really, man."

Tony put the injector back into his pocket. "You're welcome. Let me call Pepper now, before I forget, and she'll know what's going on."

Logan smiled, "Thank you, Tony. I'll see you in the morning." He walked out of the room.

Tony dialed the phone. He smiled when Pepper picked up.

"And twice within ten minutes." She teased.

He laughed. "It's a red letter day. Listen, Logan bought his mom a house…some damn where in London, I think. He's not sure about all of this real estate shit."

Pepper nodded her head. "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

"I'll text Michelle's number to you. I want you to have our real estate people take it over."

"Like completely?"

"Completely. I don't want any taxes, fees, rent, power, water, nothing…..nothing going to this woman. Just rope it in with whatever property I have."

She smiled, "Of course. Consider it done. Now is that all, Mr. Stark?"

He smiled, "Yes, Miss Potts."

"Good, then take your medicine and go to sleep. I'll talk to you later tonight."

He smiled, "Bossy!"

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Tony woke up with the sun shining in his face through the window overhead from where he laid. He pulled the blanket over his head and groaned. He had been sleeping so peacefully, and didn't want to wake up. He got comfortable on the heated mattress again and relaxed, anxious to return to the dream he had been enjoying. Just as he was nearly there, he felt someone tickle the bottom of his foot.

He jumped up and saw three of Lenox's children standing at the end of his bed. All little girls with long braids. They all giggled when he jumped. Legate shoo'ed them away and sat a bundle of stuff on the end of Tony's bed. "And good afternoon. Damn, Tony. You are a sound sleeper."

Tony fell back on the bed. "It's this medicine John is making me take."

Legate smiled and nodded his head. "Right. We told John that we thought you had died in your sleep last night."

Tony rubbed his face and laughed. "What did he say?"

"To send in some girls. You'd wake up."

Tony sat up and looked at Legate. "I don't think children are what he had in mind, man."

Legate grinned, "Oh, I'm sure it wasn't. He says he's mixing you something else that won't be as strong. Seriously, man. You didn't even move when the ship landed."

"Ship?"

Legate smiled. "Yeah, it's next to ours. Someone wants to meet you."

Tony looked surprised, "Who knows me out here?"

Legate smiled at him, "Well, worry about that in a bit. I have an extra change of clothes if you need them, and the children hate mint toothbrushes, so I brought you some of those." He pointed at the pile on the bed.

Tony smiled as he saw the handful of toothbrushes that Legate had sat at the top of the pile, "Thanks, man. You know, Pepper thinks it's strange that I use a different toothbrush everytime."

"Who would reuse a toothbrush?" Legate insisted.

"Right! I don't get it either."

Legate shook his head. "Gross."

One of the little girls ran back over to Legate and took his hand. She was about 4 years old. "We need to play. Come on, Legate! Please?"

Legate smiled, "Yes. I'll be right there. Tony, you're good?"

"I'm good. Thanks Legate."

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The Doctor, Pepper, Rose were in a dressing room backstage at the Expo in New York. Lewis, Exton and Bassanio were with them. The Doctor wore his grey suit and bright blue tie. He looked at himself in the mirror on the wall and ran his fingers through his hair to get it to stick up in all of his favorite places.

Rose sat back on the sofa. "So, you are going out there, in front all of those people, to announce exactly what?"

"I'm just going to make it up as I go. I'm brilliant at that." He teased her.

Pepper rolled her eyes. "John. I really appreciate you doing this."

"It's no problem. I just need to embrace my inter Tony."

Rose laughed under her breath. "That's a terrifying thought."

Pepper agreed. "Yes, it is."

Natasha walked in, "Pepper. Mr. Stark just called."

"Why didn't he call my phone?"

Natasha handed her phone to her. "He did. You gave it to me before the meeting this afternoon."

Pepper took the phone. "Oh, that's right. Thank you. What did he want?"

"Three things. He said he's at 8%."

The Doctor nodded and looked back at Pepper. "That's good."

Natasha continued, "He will call you later tonight so you can fill him in about 'blood suckers'."

Pepper closed her eyes and shook her head. "John. Do you see what I am dealing with here?"

Rose laughed under her breath. "So much love for the press."

The Doctor asked, "And what was the third thing?"

"He said this was the most important thing that I must tell you. He asked again. He said to say it exactly like that. 'He asked again.'."

Pepper covered her face in embarrassment. "Oh, that man."

Rose looked confused, "What is he asking?"

"For me not to murder him when he returns." Pepper insisted as she stepped out of the door with Natasha.

The Rose laughed as the Doctor had a funny look come across his face. "Damn it. Genie. Oh, she's really upset."

"She's not asleep?" Rose asked.

"No. She just woke up. Alright. Lance is bringing her to me."

Just as he said that, Lance popped into the room holding Genie. She was wearing pink pajamas and was crying. As soon as she saw her Daddy, she held her hands out to him. He took her and kissed her cheek. "What's upset you so?"

"Legate is gone. Uncle Tony is gone. And you are gone."

"I'm not gone. I'm right here. Your Mum is just there. Legate and Tony will be back soon."

She held onto his neck as he bounced on his feet and rubbed her back. "Shhh…..calm down. Daddy has to go do something."

She gripped him tighter. "No!"

Rose stood up and walked over to them. "Genie. Let me hold you while Daddy-"

"I want Daddy." She cried.

The Doctor looked at Rose. "Maybe it's not worth the fight."

She pointed at him, "You spoil her."

"Let me have this one, Rose." He asked her.

Feeling his heartache, she immediately softened, "Okay, Baby."

He kissed Genie's cheek. "You are going with me then."

Lewis looked back at Exton. "What? Ummm….no she's not-"

He nodded his head. "Yes, she is." He sat her down on the floor, took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Picking her back up, he looked in her eyes. "No crying. Alright?"

She held onto his neck tightly.

Lewis shook his head. "John? There could be-"

"There's not. Even if there is, she's protected by my force field and her own. We're fine."

Lewis pointed at him, "Rose. Talk to –"

She shook her head. "As if I can say anything that will change his mind." She kissed his lips quickly. "Genie, go out there with Daddy, but then we're going to return home and get you back in bed."

Genie crossed her arms and pouted.

Pepper walked back into the room. The sounds of a huge crowd could be heard outside. "And we're ready- Genie?"

The Doctor walked to the door, holding Genie. "It's fine. She's coming with me."

Pepper nodded. "Alright. When you're ready."

He looked back at Rose. "Watch me on the telly."

"Whoever thought we would hear you say that?" She teased.

He walked out of the door with Lewis and Pepper. The noise of the crowd was nearly deafening. Genie turned around and watched as Pepper walked in front of them. She could see a huge, brightly lit stage just beyond where they were. The Black Keys song, 'Have Love Will Travel' played as they walked to the edge of the stage.

The Doctor looked at Genie's face and wiped her tears from her cheeks. "Are you alright? Daddy needs to go out there for just a bit. Do you want to go with him?"

She nodded her head as she looked at the huge crowd of people. She felt him kiss her forehead. "You are so brave, my Sara Gene. I'll hold you the entire time. Alright? You just have to look….brilliant."

She smiled at him. "That's easy, Daddy."

"For you, always." He insisted.

She laid her head on his shoulder as Pepper pat him on the arm. "Alright. Go ahead."

Lewis moved to where the Doctor had stood and crossed his arms. "I can't believe he took Genie out there."

Jack stood next to Lewis. "It's alright. Trust me."

Lewis sighed, "Alright."

The Doctor waved at the crowd with his free hand as he walked on stage to a tremendous applause. He tickled Genie's cheek and pointed at the crowd. She turned, looked at them and waved. They cheered even louder. He smiled proudly at her and kissed her forehead again. Someone brought over a microphone and handed it to him. He turned it on and smiled, "And hello!"

The crowd seemed to calm down so they could hear him speak.

"Welcome to the Expo. Is everyone having a lovely time?"

The crowd cheered loudly again.

"I'm Doctor Johnathon Smith and this is my daughter, Genie. Tony is out of town so I have been sent to make an announcement for him. The Expo has been so incredibility successful that Stark Industries has decided to extend it for another month!"

The crowd cheered in celebration.

He smiled, "That's right. One more month to bring the latest and greatest technology and work together to move science forward. As Einstein said, 'The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.' And we're proving that daily here with you brilliant people."

The crowd cheered and went crazy.

"In fact, Genie's Uncle Tony,"

The crowd cheered.

"…my father in law, Pete Tyler"

More cheers from the crowd.

"…my amazing and brilliant wife, Rose Tyler." Then he remembered and added quickly, "Smith!"

The crowd laughed and applauded.

He grit his teeth, "Sorry, Sweetheart. Smith. Yes. And myself have all joined together to bring you this. Please enjoy."

He bowed his head as he walked off of the stage and rejoined Pepper, Lewis and Jack. The huge screen on the stage started to play a video. Tony was sitting on top of a bar that the Doctor recognized immediately as his own outdoor kitchen at his island home. Tony looked relaxed in a pair of swim shorts and a t-shirt. His dark sunglasses hid his eyes, no doubt he was reading a script from his optics. He leaned up and smiled, "And hello! Forgive me for informing you about this so…informally….but as you can see, I'm….ummm….out of town. On business, of course. Tell Pepper it was all for business." He insisted.

The crowd laughed.

Tony continued, taking off his sunglasses to appear serious, "So, what's so important for me to interrupt it and talk to you guys? Well, something I think you are going to love. Years ago, a man named John Lumic, unleashed untold horror on this world under the mask of technology with his own Cybus Industries. A name none of us can forget and nor should we."

"Now, we all know, thanks to President Shepherd, that this was actually not Lumic's technology, but a clever plan by an extra-terrestrial species who intended, and almost did, change our world and our way of life. Technology is a responsibility, and as it continues to grow, we need to have a way to make sure that we never allow something like the Cyber Invasion happen again."

"So, with that in mind, the Expo was actually an experiment. To see if we had recovered enough to let technology back on the stage. Allow science to begin to move forward again. And it has. According to the US Patent Office, there have been more Patents registered in the past 10 months than ever in their history. That's huge. That's impressive. That's the human race. That's recovery."

"But, the Expo only will last a few more months. Right? Then what? Well, I put my head together with a couple of friends of mine."

Pete Tyler walked behind Tony and leaned on the bar top. He looked relaxed and was wearing a collared shirt. Tony pointed at him, "Pete Tyler. Exclusive, here. Feel privileged, he doesn't do interviews."

Pete chuckled, "That's true. This is my first in years."

Tony turned to him and smiled, "So, tell me what it was like for you. Being a smart young man, straight out of school?"

Pete nodded, "I had just married Jack's. I had all of these ideas that she told me were just mad. But, I was determined that they just had to work. I was very lucky and was in the right places, at the right times. Things worked out for me. So, when John approached me with his medical ideas, I wanted to help him develop that. In less than a year, we have a multi-billion dollar company, just from that."

Tony smiled, "Just like that?"

"There's no such thing as a self made man. I had help. And so did you."

Tony nodded, "As soon as I turned 21, I took over the business my father and grandfather began. Easy enough for me. It was where I was always headed. My question is, what about the little guy that is inventing things in his garage? Who doesn't catch these breaks?"

Pete smiled and looked back at the camera. "Well, that's the big announcement. Now he has the break. The Expo will be finished in a few months, but we have now secured buildings in 40 major cities, throughout the world, where the Expo will continue."

Tony smiled, "That's right. Now, anyone with an idea, can come to one of these locations and get your idea heard by top scientists from all over the world."

Pete nodded, "Yes. All of the major universities are in now. The governments of the nations of the UN are in. And as of this afternoon, NASA. Not to mention some weapons company you might have heard of, Tony."

Tony laughed in surprise, "You've been talking to my guys?"

"To your assistant. She's named after some spice." Pete teased.

The Doctor heard Rose's voice in his head, 'Does Dad ever sleep?'

He felt her presence behind him. He turned and smiled at her. "I'm telling you. He has to make deals in his sleep. He's something."

She smiled back at him. "Do you want me to take her?"

He looked at Genie, who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He smiled, "Sure."

He handed her to Rose. Lewis shook his hand and he watched as Rose walked with him back to the dressing room. He turned and looked back at Pepper.

Tony laughed. "Yes. That's the big announcement. Look for more information coming soon. But, that's it. Enjoy the Expo!"

Pepper smiled at him, "Okay. Go ahead."

He walked back out on stage to a thunderous applause. "And how was that?"

They shouted. The roof vibrated from the noise. He smiled and clapped with him. He pointed back at the screen, "And I honestly had no idea that my father in law was in that clip. I need to have a word with him."

They laughed.

He waved his hand. "So, that's the big announcement. SST Innovations will be the Expo that never ends. I mean, really, 30 years between Expos is a bit much, isn't it?"

The crowd cheered.

The Doctor smiled and tossed up his hand, "Thank you for your attention. Have a great time at the Expo!"

He walked off stage and Pepper met him with a huge smile. "Gosh, that went great! Thank you so much, John."

He smiled at her as they walked with Jack and Natasha back to the dressing room together.

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