Time passed in a blur of forging and welding and hammering.

Other than when Harry was taken by the ten rings and they ran their 'tests', the three prisoners were left alone, under the assumption that they were building the Jericho missile and not a protective metal suit they were going to use to escape.

Somehow Tony had managed to get Raza to take Harry less frequently, claiming that he was a 'valuable assistant', and so Harry did not have to put up with the torture and blood tests. They had also been given more food, and combined with the progressing suit, Harry began to have hope that they would be able to escape.

Tony had created 2 metal bands to hide the fact that they had taken the ones off Harry. They looked identical to the magical suppressors, but they were nothing more than bracelets, that could easily be taken off.

As the suit was built, they began to develop a plan for the actual escape, using Harry's rough knowledge of how to leave the cave and how many soldiers were on duty at any given time.

It was hard not to build up a relationship with Stark as they worked, talking about their pasts and laughing about what they would do when they left Afghanistan, the man's optimistic arrogance sustaining Harry's hope that they would get out.

It was difficult to measure time, hidden in the cave, but Harry suspected almost three months had passed when the contraption they were building started to take form. They couldn't put it together until they were ready to use it with the possibility that Raza or his thugs would discover it.

Harry was startled away from the fire he was making by a loud crashing outside the door as it was unlocked and a large group of men rushed in, all carrying automatic weapons.

Tony stopped hammering and put his hands over his head as Raza walked in, peering around the space. "Relax."

Harry, Yinsen and Stark slowly lowered their hands, their eyes flicking between Raza and his thugs with guns. One of the men flinched when he met Harry's eye, and in retaliation he stared hard at him, making him shift uncomfortably.

Raza walked up to Stark and inspected the glowing device sunk into his chest. "The bow and arrow once was the pinnacle of weapons technology. It allowed the great Genghis Khan to rule from the Pacific to the Ukraine; An empire twice the size of Alexander the Great and four times the size of the Roman empire." Raza began walking around the room, picking up Tony's diagrams. "But today, whoever holds the latest Stark weapons rules these lands. And soon, it will be my turn."

Still looking into Stark's eyes he said something in a foreign language.

Harry faintly heard Yinsen's heart rate speed up as he replied. It obviously wasn't what Raza wanted to hear, for he turned and began walking towards the doctor, speaking in slow Pashto.

Yinsen shifted, replying in the same language.

Raza seemed to contemplate his words, then barked out an order. Two men moved forwards and grabbed Yinsen, forcing him to his knees.

Raza was fiddling with the fire, his back to Yinsen as he asked him questions.

Yinsen stuttered as he replied.

Harry had no idea what was going on, but began to panic when Raza turned around, a glowing ember held in a pair of tongs.

"What does he want?" Tony asked as Yinsen's face was forced onto the anvil.

Raza began asking the same question, moving the hot coal towards Yinsen's face as the man gave the same reply. Harry heard both Stark's name and the name Peter.

"What do you want? A delivery date?" Tony asked, moving towards Yinsen. "I can give-"

The assembled men shouted in warning, holding up hands and rifles to stop Stark. He raised his hands and Raza looked up.

"I need him." Tony said. "He's a good assistant."

Raza dropped the tongs and advanced on Tony. "You have till tomorrow to assemble my missile."

Tony nodded, and Harry could smell the sweat beading on his upper lip. Raza gave an order, and three men grabbed Harry, pulling him from the room.

"Tomorrow!" Raza shouted over Tony's protests, locking the door behind him.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday, and Merry Christmas to everybody who celebrates it!