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Phase 2: Razor wings

=IS=

Part 3

=IS=

California

Three of us headed back to my house. Rhodey remained behind, liaising with the military and trying to get some unofficial answers.

"Pepper, when would I have the legal options about Hannah, ready?" I asked, while Happy drove us around. "I wouldn't put it bast Stane to go after her out of spite, and as a bargaining chip."

He would have to first ensure I knew of her of course. Otherwise it would be a bit hard to us a daughter you didn't know about and had no emotional connection with as a leverage.

"You really think he would step that low?" Pepper looked away from her phone, where she was busy monitoring public reactions from the press conference.

Needless to say, SI's shares nosedived for a second time in a few months. For once, this was a good thing. Jarvis was busy buying a lot of them on the cheap, ensuring I would have even more control over the company by the time the dust settled.

"I'm pretty sure he did saw me as his son once upon a time, but that didn't stop him from trying to get me killed." I pointed out. "Now he is going to be desperate, and desperate people can be dangerous." They made mistakes too, the kind of otherwise they might have avoided.

"Happy, arrange my plane be prepared and make absolutely sure it's clear we will be heading towards Washington, instead of trying to flee the country."

I had an oversight to deal with. Yesterday I got distracted enough not to memorize or get the number of the supposed security detail looking after Hannah. After today's stunts I saw from what passes for the US's best LEOs and company, I wasn't confident that anyone bothered to give the detail the memo about Stane.

I got my phone out and dialed my AI.

"Jarvis, buddy, the phone number in the phone Ward left us. Send it to me."

"It's done, sir. Do you need anything else?"

"Get the ball rolling on refueling my plane and gathering the crew. The destination is Washington."

"I will see to it, sir."

"Thank you, buddy."

My phone buzzed and I got a message with the number.

Four beeps latter, someone picked up.

"Agent Rumlow." A bored voice answered.

"This is Tony Stark, Agent. I'm not sure if anyone bothered to inform you and your team. Obadiah Stane did a runner this morning and it's in the wild. If he has the assets, he'll likely go after your charge. I'll appreciate if you can manage to keep her safe until I get there."

"No one bothered to inform us, Mr. Stark. I appreciate the head's up." Now Rumlow sounded fully alert and there was no trace of boredom left in his voice. "Do you have a potential threat profile?"

"Stane is guaranteed to have connections with terrorists, weapons smugglers and potentially private security as well as stashed black funds for a rainy day. How much he can get mobilized for action on a short notice while on the run, I can't tell you."

"Understood, Mr. Stark. We'll do our best."

"Thank, you, Agent Rumlow."

"Tony, are you sure we should be going anywhere without additional security?" Happy asked. "If you're right about that bastard, he might go straight for you."

"Despite what some people in the media might believe, I actually don't have a private army on speed dial." I didn't add aloud that I would be changing this on a short notice.

"Pepper, Happy, what do you think are the chances that local police would take a request to offer a security detail until we can get there seriously enough?"

"Stane's a fugitive, likely still somewhere in California. Unless someone acts to do you a favor, boss, I don't think that the cops will send more than a patrol car to perhaps check if everything's all right." Happy offered.

"You're Tony Stark, Tony. I don't think that asking would hurt."

"Who do we know in Washington State with connection to local police?"

"Which local police, boss?"

There was that too, yeah. I had to remind myself that the US didn't have anything even vaguely looking like centralized police. FBI might be an option, but for some reason all the agents I met as of later weren't fans.

"Tacoma." I recalled after briefly thinking about it. At least Hannah went to school there.

=SI=

Tacoma

Washington State

A SHIELD van slowly drove down the street. In its back, a strike team checked their equipment one last time before starting the operation.

The unit's leader put down his mask and made sure it both fit comfortably, and didn't cut off his vision too badly.

"I want no mistakes. If any of you somehow gets captured by local LEOs you're to admit that Obadiah Stane contracted us for a bag and grab job. There's no need to die for the cause in a case of a fuck up, if you work to shift the blame on our patsy. Remember, the real objective is to draw out Tony Stark and terminate him, blaming it all on Stane's vendetta. Tim, make sure you've got the evidence, you'll be planting it all over the safe house."

Tim patted the black sack tucked between his feet.

"There are four SHIELD agents on overwatch duty. They aren't ours and are expendable. Alpha and Beta, you'll take them out, or keep them suppressed until we're ready to displace."

The driver knocked on the metal wall separating the reinforced cargo compartment from the front of the van.

"One minute." The Commander announced.

He did a final check of his weapons and made sure the safety was on. The last thing they needed was an amateur mistake when their ride came to a screeching stop in the operation's zone. His team did the same and braced for a sudden stop.

"Target one will be to your right." The driver announced over the comm. "Target two is front, your left. I see the primary's guardian… I have eyes on the primary. Left, green sedan." He hit the brakes and the deceleration jolted everyone in the back.

"Go."

Alpha and Beta surged to their feet, and opened the rear door. They fanned left and right, zeroed on the nearest SHIELD car and opened fire. The Commander followed suit and went left. The target was right there, near a green sedan, with an old woman standing beside her. He ignored everything else and ran toward them.

Suppressed gunfire and screams echoed across the street. A burst put down the woman who attempted to stand between him and the primary, and he wasted no time in grabbing the wide-eyed kind. The Commander didn't even slow down, but instead ran around the sedan and back towards the van, while dragging a squirming primary target.

Loud pistol shots came from behind him. At least one of the SHIELD agents was still alive and active. That was less than ideal. Nevertheless, killing them was nothing more than a bonus. The Commander finally got to the back of the van and shoved the girl inside, then got in behind her. He wasted no time in securing her with zip-ties and duck tape over her mouth so she wouldn't scream. Beta pilled up after him, then Alpha.

The van's engine roared and the vehicle shot forward.

"Time?" The Commander demanded. "Casualties?"

"Forty five seconds. We're all intact, sir."

"Secondaries?"

"At least one SHIELD Agent might be still alive."

"Control, this is Sigma One. Operation complete. We've got the primary and got away clean. Affirmative. Tim, Sigma two got the patsy quietly and are bringing him in."

"Then we're set, sir. I'll need a couple of hours to make sure everything looks legit, then we can lure in the real target."

=SI=

Part 4

=SI=

Long Beach Airport

California

Grant enjoyed a fast-paced drive to the airport, loving the feeling of the wind brushing against his leather jacket. With his work in California done, he was about to leave for his next assignment. A commercial flight would usually be less than ideal. However, it offered more cover than using SHIELD assets. That was especially true when other factions within SHIELD made somewhat open moves for the first time in years.

Ward parked the bike on the parking lot beside the airport, leaving it for an agent to eventually pick it up and bring it to one of the agency's workshops for a check-up and, if necessary, refit. Grant went to get his ticket when his phone rang.

"Ward," Ha answered calmly.

"We just got hit." Rumlow's terse voice got Ward's attention. "A commando team took the Principal. Three Agents down. I'm wounded but combat-effective. If I didn't know better, I would swear they were one of ours." Rumlow reported.

Ward's training allowed him

to not miss a step at the news of the unfolding disaster.

"Get patched up and gather whatever information you can. I'll contact Stark, and we'll be on the way shortly." Ward cut off the connection and dialed up his mentor. "John, it's Ward. The op just blew up in our faces." He rapidly explained. "If we mishandle this, our new friend might turn on us. However, this is also an opportunity to deepen our ties with him. I'll need backup in Washington."

"I see where you're going. I'll call it up. Fury dispatched May to babysit him. I'll see if we can get her on board. Do what you believe, best boy. I trust you to handle the situation."

"I appreciate it, John." Grant ended the call and quickly flicked through his contact list until he found the new one.

"Just a few people have this number, and most of them are with me." Stark's dry voice spoke in Grant's ear.

"It's Ward, Mr. Stark. I have bad news. A strike team of unknown allegiance went after your daughter. The Agent in charge just contacted me. They took the girl and took out most of the security detail. The only survivor is wounded. He'll seek medical attention and attempt to gather any information he can. We're ready to offer you all the assistance we can."

"I see. I will be on my way to Tacoma ASAP. What assistance are we talking about?" Stark's voice shifted, sounding like ice.

"All the trustworthy trained agents we can get in place fast, Mr. Stark. I know the Director dispatched an Agent to ensure your security, Melinda May. She's both competent and extremely skilled. If it's all right with you, I'll also be on my way to meet you. I just informed my superiors, and they'll be moving loyal assets to assist."

"I have a plane getting ready at the Hollywood Airport. Meet us there."

=SI=

California

"Tony…" Pepper trailed off. "I'm sorry, Tony."

"Happy, drive us straight to the airport," I told my friend and began dialing up Jarvis. "I'll want the two of you to stay here in California. Get in contact with Rhodey and get a trustworthy security team in place."

"I'm coming with you, boss." Happy announced even revved up the engine and drove on the edge of the speed limit.

"I don't need to worry about you two as well right now. Pepper, get on the phone with legal. I will need various issues straightened up yesterday."

"Sir, how can I help you?" Jarvis asked as soon as the call went through.

I recited a long override code. "Lift all restrictions. Someone took Hannah. Use everything at your disposal to track them."

"I see. Are you sure, Sir?" Jarvis inquired.

"I am sure, Jarvis. Lift all restrictions." Their primary purpose was so I wouldn't order Jarvis to do something stupid while drunk. Or when I was not thinking clearly after another days-long binge tinkering without sleep or proper nourishment.

"I understand, Sir. I'm redirecting SI satellites and breaching into networked cameras in Tacoma. Are you all right, Sir?"

"I'm as well as I can be under the circumstances." I could feel Pepper's unease at my sudden change of bearing.

"I'm in the school network. Accessing camera records… I'm copying a recording of the attack, Mr. Stark. I should be able to extrapolate the approximate weight and height of the attackers, as well as their body shape. I have enough on their vehicle to track if there are enough cameras I can access. The first satellite will be in a position in fifteen minutes. I'm emulating a software failure and locking out remote access until we no longer need it."

"Good work, Jarvis. Stream the video to my phone when you have it."

"Tony, are you sure you want to watch that now?" Pepper asked quietly.

"I need to know what I'm dealing with."

Pepper sighed and dialed up the Legal Department. I left her to it and focused on the video file Jarvis streamed to my phone. It was short and professional. It lasted less than a minute from the transport stopping and deploying an assault team to evacuation. Those were people who both knew what they were doing and were accustomed to working with each other. Two elements presumably neutralized the SHIELD security detail, while a single operative went after Hannah. A single burst took out Mrs. Roberts when she tried to step in between her granddaughter and the operative.

It was all fast, ruthless, and clean. These weren't run-of-the-mill mercenaries; I was sure this was a special forces team. If they were mercenaries at all, they'd been working together for a long time. Perhaps a whole special forces unit went into the private sector after retiring? Considering what Ward suggested and told me, this might be a rival faction. Maybe the same bastards who murdered my parents. I could see how they wouldn't want me allying with their rivals.

Well, it might be Stane. If he was more ruthless and dangerous than I gave him credit for. He might have had a strike team ready since he figured out I was back. This could be it. Or a SHIELD faction was using the chaos to remove a potential obstacle.

Either way, negotiations were unlikely to work. In case one, Stane might want me dead out of spite. Option two, well... The whole point would be to get me exposed and killed in option two.

It was frustrating I didn't have any actual combat assets and had to rely on SHIELD or at least a faction of it. That was something to change as soon as possible.

On the way to the airfield, Pepper had arranged for transportation and lawyers to wait for us on arrival. It wasn't surprising to find Ward sitting on his motorcycle near my plane. A tall, muscled woman sat on a darker racing motorbike near him. They were speaking with each other.

The third person who drove an Audi and parked near those two was a surprise. Ms. Agent, the Black Widow herself, exited the black German car, still wearing a form-fitting business suit. Her arrival stopped the conversation, and the other two Agents looked warily at her.

"Tony, promise me you'll be careful." Pepper demanded.

"I intend to get back in one piece, Pepper. Happy, keep her safe." I told my old friend and exited the SUV as soon as he parked.

"Ms. Agent, Mr. Ward, and Ms. Agent Number Two. If you intend to help, please get on board. Otherwise, get away from my plane." I told the small group and raced up the stairs.

I glanced back before entering the plane. They looked at each other, then the assassin, or well, perhaps a former assassin, followed me. The other two exchanged a terse look and headed for the plane.

"Tiffany, give us some privacy to talk. Tell the captain to get us in the air and Tacoma as fast as possible."

"Yes, Mr. Stark." The young woman nodded while keeping a professional smile. She vanished into the forward compartment meant for the crew so the passengers could have privacy.

I sat on one of the comfortable armchairs and looked at the three SHIELD Agents.

"Can I trust you to work together? What I just saw doesn't fill me up with confidence."

"This is most irregular, Mr. Stark." The woman with Asian features pointed out.

"Yes, it is. Behold how little I care right now."

"The Director is now aware of what happened. He is displeased that SHIELD elements went behind his back." Ms. Agent noted.

"He'll have to pick it up with the Council." Ward shrugged. "Like it or not, the Councilors have been building their small factions within SHIELD and do have a limited authority to give us orders."

This already sounded like a disaster in the making.

"That's why I'm here. One of the Councilors is up Fury's ass about his handling of the Stark situation. I'm Agent Melinda May, Mr. Stark. The Director dispatched me to see to your safety." Ms. Agent Number Two finally introduced herself.

"You already know who I am. Will you finally give me a real name, Ms. Agent?"

The Black Widow carefully moved to the couch, ensuring the other two Agents were always in her sight.

"I'm Natasha Romanoff, Mr. Stark."

Huh, that sounded right.

"You're all aware of what we're going to do?"

"Sit on you, while SHIELD recovers your daughter?" May suggest.

"Offer backup while I recover my daughter, thank you very much. I'm already offering you more trust than you or your organization has earned."

"Mr. Stark, despite what you managed to do in Afghanistan, you lack the proper training to be an asset. And even if that weren't the case, you still would be emotionally compromised."

"You're wrong on both counts, Agent May. I can handle my emotions just fine. And I have the relevant training, even if my endurance isn't up to prolonged high-intensity combat right now."

"I've been wondering about that." Romanoff glanced at me. "Your armor got damaged, but you did more than acceptable after that. I saw your handiwork with my own eyes, as you know, Mr. Stark. To even think about allowing you to participate in a potential rescue mission, we need to know what you bring to the table."

"I can't disagree with Romanoff here, Mr. Stark." Ward reluctantly admitted. "Otherwise, we risk fucking up by the numbers. I don't think you want to take that risk."

The three Agents watched me closely, pointedly observing each other from the corner of their eyes.

=SI=

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