When Rhodes had found out the Ceremony would be at Caesars Palace, he had left strict instructions with Happy Hogan that Stark will be there on time and wearing pants.

Las Vegas was not the most dignified place to hold an award banquet, but the city knew how to entertain.

Entertainment was on the minds of many present at the Apogee Awards Ceremony, but Rhodes was not one of them. Benched though he was from front line duty, Colonel James Rhodes was still a career soldier. He had open to him opportunities and prospects that others in his profession could not hope to achieve, but it was because of nights like this that he sometimes wondered if he had been promoted from Air Force Colonel, to CEO babysitter and Press Agent.

As the lights came down, Rhodes allowed himself to slouch at little in his seat, once nobody would be looking. He found himself hoping that Pepper had written the video montage that would introduce the Awards presentation.

Whatever the situation, Rhodes knew that Tony would at least fake a measure of decorum. Most of the time. When it suited him. The whole banquet was organized to give Tony a prestigious award, which was likely the only reason he'd attend. With a little luck, Tony would let that be enough to satisfy his ego.

The voiceover began dramatically as an image of Tony Stark came up on screen. "Tony Stark, Visionary, Genius, American Patriot."

So much for that.Rhodes thought to himself without the slightest surprise.

"Even from an early age, the son of legendary weapon developer Howard Stark, Tony quickly stole the spotlight with his brilliant and unique mind," The voiceover continued dramatically.

The video montage showed a few images of Howard Stark.

"At age four his built his first circuit board. At age six, his first engine. And at seventeen he graduated summa cum laude from MIT."

Rhodes craned his neck and saw the image of a young Tony Stark next to a robotic arm. Tony had built two of them. His prize winning project, now his household assistant. As Rhodes watched, the montage transitioned from the graduation picture to the scan of a familiar headline, reporting the stock drop as Tony's father died. Mr. and Mrs. Stark killed in tragic road accident.

"Then, the passing of a Titan. Howard Stark's lifelong friend and ally Obadiah Stane steps in to fill the gap left by the legendary founder." The image shifted to Forbes Magazine, with an image of Stane, now a good bit older, with a beard and bald head, standing over a globe of the earth.

"And at 21, the Prodigal Son returns to and is anointed the new CEO of Stark Industries." The image on the screen was of a younger Tony, sans his usual mustache and short beard, on the cover of Forbes.

"With the keys to the kingdom, Tony ushers in a new era for his father's legacy, creating smarter weapons, advanced robotics, Satellite targeting. Today, Tony Stark has changed the face of the weapons industries, by ensuring freedom, and protecting America and her interests around the globe."

The screen closed the presentation with a long image of Tony looking heroically into the distance, with the flag waving behind him in a brilliant patriotic breeze.

The audience applauded wildly, as the spotlights focused on the table next to the podium.

Rhodes stepped up to the podium, with the silver and glass statuette in one hand. "As liaison to Stark Industries, I have a unique privilege of serving with a real patriot. He is my friend, and he is my great mentor." Rhodes wouldn't have added that last part, but Pepper had written the toast. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present this year's Apogee Award to Mr. Tony Stark!"

The audience applauded wildly, and the spotlight swung away from Rhodes to the main table, at an empty seat. But Tony wasn't there "Tony?"

Next to the empty seat sat Obadiah Stane, the Chairman of the Board for Stark Industries. At least that was what his business card said. Rhodes had been working with Tony Stark and his company long enough to know that Stane's real job was to beat the rest of the shareholders and Board of Directors into submission while Tony made them uncounted millions. Such a job gave him money, practical authority, and very little recognition to those who weren't in the know. Except for nights like this of course.

The audience applauded and Rhodes sighed as Stane came up to the stage took the award off him."Thank you, Colonel."

"Thanks for the save." Rhodes said

"This is beautiful. Thank you all very much. This is wonderful," he posed with the award for a moment, and then nodded, as if admitting a great secret. "Well, I'm not Tony Stark," he said in a false-modest manner, as if letting them all in on a private joke.

Amused laughter from the audience.

Stark just can't be counted on,Rhodes seethed, and not for the first time. Rhodes didn't really mind that part so much because he was a civilian, and a damn brilliant one at that. But if Tony had been a soldier, he would have been bounced from the Armed Forces pretty fast.

Stane continued easily. "But if IwereTony, I would tell you how honored I feel, and what a joy it is to receive this very prestigious award."

The fact that Tony didn't mind making fun anybody at all was amusing most time; making fun of Rhodes and the army, Stark's own bread-and-butter, was irritating, but Rhodes had known Tony long enough not to take that personally.

But even Rhodes couldn't believe that Stark was missing his own awards ceremony.

As if Stane read his mind, he shrugged elaborately. "Tony, you know, the best thing about Tony is also the worst thing-he's always working."

The audience laughed and nodded knowingly. Rhodes did too, but didn't bother looking like he knew what Stane meant.

Always working.Rhodes scoffed.Working the high roller tables atCaesarsPalace


Rhodes did a quick scan of the floor. Poker required patience. Roulette didn't give the opportunity let the tension build for all those watching. Slot machines were cheap and easy, and Blackjack was played sitting down, somewhat limiting the number of women you could have clinging to you while you gambled.

Rhodes ran this checklist through his head and headed for the craps table, glancing at the small signs near each croupier for the maximum allowable bet at the table, quickly bypassing anything with less than three digits, occasionally glancing overhead in search of directions to the High Roller Parlor.

And sure enough, there he was. Tony Stark himself, with security ringing the small crowd of supermodels, celebrity watchers, and fellow gamblers. Stark himself was holding the dice with his left hand, and a movie star with his right. Rhodes had seen her in something popular before. Typically, she looked like a Million Dollars.

"Work it! Come!" Tony said throwing the dice. everyone cheered the woman and Tony started getting close to each other flirting. "We should just stay till the morning."

he didn't noticed Rhodes coming towards him. "You are unbelievable."

"Oh, no! Did they rope you into this?" Tony said.

"Nobody roped me into anything!" Rhodes said.

"I'm so Sorry." Tony apologize.

"But they told me that if I presented you with an award, you'd be deeply honored."

"Of course I'd be deeply honored. And it's you, that's great. So when do we do it?"

"It's right here. Here you go." Rhodes gives Tony the statuette.

Stark didn't even blink before taking the statue and striking a pose for the movie star. "There it is. That was easy. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, it's okay." Rhodes said

"Wow! Would you look at that?" Tony hands the award to the movie star. "That's something else. I don't have any of those floating around."

The movie star chuckled without taking her hands off him. What was her name? Rhodes was pretty sure she'd won an Academy Award at some point...

"We're gonna Let it ride!" Stark said to nobody in particular "Give me a hand, will you? Give me a little something-something." and the woman purred at him as she blew on the dice.

"Okay, you, too." Stark held the dice out to Rhodey, who gave the billionaire his most withering look.

"I don't blow on a man's dice." Rhodey said darkly.

"Come on, honey bear." Tony said, He held out the dice to Rhodey again and had his hand batted away. Tony opened his hand at the right moment and grinned. "There it is Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes rolls! And..."

Snake Eyes "Two craps. Line away."

"That's what happens." Rhodey said

"Worse things have happen" Tony said, Then he turned to the croupier "I think we're gonna be fine. Color me up, William."