Hey guys! I hope you like the chapter! I enjoyed writing it so much!

It wasn't longer after Killian and I had dinner, that we went to his office at his company building to discuss Extremis. I didn't know how long I could continue to fool Killian, though I had a feeling he'd catch on quickly.

He's a really intelligent man after all. Smarter than he looks.

"So would you like to be apart of Extremis?" Killian asked.

I paused and tried to make myself seem deep in thought, as if I was actually considering. Killian seemed eager for my answer, waiting patiently.

"If it's alright, I'll give you an answer tomorrow. I just need to think it over, process everything you've shown me. I'll sleep on it." I smiled at Killian. "You drive a hard bargain, Aldrich."

Aldrich pecked my lips as he opened the door to my Ferrari. I got inside and sat down, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I muster up the most flirtatious Natasha look I can.

"Such a gentleman. I'll see you later." I winked at him.

After driving off I felt a smirk form on my face.

It was a success.

Back at Killian's office, I planted a bug in his computer, making sure Killian was oblivious as I did so. It was something my father had used previously to hack into SHIELD's database while we were on the Helicarrier during the whole alien invasion. As I went on my laptop, I waited patiently, smiling as I got access to every single file AIM had to offer in its database.

I love it when a plan comes together and runs smoothly.

In the morning, I woke up to realize that I had fallen asleep while downloading AIM's top secret files.

The best part was that I had put all of the files onto a flash drive for evidence. In other words, Killian was done for.

He was smart enough not to have anything directly related to the Mandarin on any of AIM's files, but he messed up covering his tracks. The Mandarin bombings weren't bombings at all.

It was all a misfire.

As in, every person to participate with Extremis, the ones that didn't survive, blew up, incinerating the area around them. It explained the explosions completely, but what baffled me more, was the fact that they were using soldiers as test subjects. If Killian was indeed working for the Mandarin, which I had no doubt that he was, there was no way that he wouldn't be able to hide his movements forever.

I bet by now, Killian was already certain what I was up to.

I was always cautious whenever hacking into someone's files, and so for this occasion, I set up a self destruct sequence in the bug, making sure that the bug destroyed itself before it could be found.

I have to find dad and show him this flash drive, but first, I need to convince him and Pepper to leave the mansion.

I hid the flash drive in my bra for safekeeping before fixing myself up and leaving to the Stark mansion. It was an instinctive gut feeling that I had in the pit of my stomach, but I knew something bad was going happen.

It was only a matter of time...

There has to be some way to convince him to leave...just so we can find a place to lay low for awhile at least.

"Scanning..." JARVIS spoke.

I clenched my eyes tightly as a bright light got into my line of sight and blinded me for a brief second.

What the hell?

"Welcome, Miss Stark." JARVIS greeted.

"Dad?" I called out.

No answer.

After hearing footsteps behind me, I panicked and grabbed the pistol I kept in the back of my pants. I aimed for the head, but froze in shock as I realized who this woman was.

It was Maya Hanson, the woman I had been searching for this entire fucking time.

"Why are you here?" I questioned.

"I need to talk to you and your father." She raised her hands up slowly.

She's got some nerve coming here...the house is on high alert and we could get killed by a terrorist at any moment really.

JARVIS started scanning Maya and out came dad in his Iron Man armor aiming his hands at her. The face piece pulled back and dad seemed surprised to find a woman in the house.

"You're not the Mandarin." He mumbled. "Are you?...are you?"

"You don't remember." She gave out a dry chuckle. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Don't take it personally. I don't even remember what I had for breakfast this morning." Dad replied.

"Gluten free waffles, sir." JARVIS reminded him.

"That's right..." He smiled.

"Look I need to speak with you two someplace, distant and private, not here. It's urgent." Maya shifted nervously.

This woman does work with Killian doesn't she? It's so obvious...

"Normally, I'd go for that sort of thing, but now I'm in a committed relationship." Dad walked into the living room.

Huge bags dropped down from above on the second floor.

Oh Pepper...at least she's smart and wants to leave this place.

"It's with her..." Dad got out of the suit.

"Tony." Pepper called. "Is somebody there?"

"Yeah, it's Maya Hanson." I replied.

"Old botanist pal of mine." Dad added.

Maya seemed surprised that I of all people knew her identity or even remembered her. I simply walked over to her and gave her a threatening yet polite smile.

Hey, I could be creepy at times. Though Natasha could beat me at this anytime really...

"Let's just say I've been looking for you. It's funny how you show up right at my father's doorstep."

I lowered my pistol and tucked it away in my pants again.

"Really? You have a gun?" Dad raised an eyebrow at me.

"I was trained by SHIELD, dad. No, I was trained by Clint and Natasha. You really didn't expect me to let their lessons go to waste right?" I retorted.

Dad rolled his eyes as Pepper came down into the living room to join us.

"Please tell me there's not a twelve year old kid of mine that I've never met waiting in the car." Dad spoke quietly.

"He's thirteen." Maya joked. "No, I need your help. You and your daughter. I need you both."

"But what for? Why now?" Dad asked.

"Because I read the papers and frankly, I don't think you'll last the week." Maya bluntly answered.

"She's right about that." I mumbled.

Dad gave me a pointed look.

"We're fine." He grumbled.

Finally, Pepper makes her way down and over to all of us, looking as tense as I've never seen her before..

"Sorry, with Happy in the hospital, I didn't know we were expecting any guests." Pepper greeted.

"We weren't." Dad interjected.

"And old girlfriends." Pepper added.

"No no, not really. It was just one night." Maya shrugged.

"That's how you did it, isn't it?" Pepper smiled bitterly at Tony.

"Yep. It was a great night." He joked.

"Yeah, well you saved yourself a world of pain." Pepper teased Maya.

I held back a laugh.

"What?" Tony glanced back at Pepper in surprise.

"Trust me, we're going." Pepper finished.

"We've been through this, nope- -"

"Yep!" Pepper cut him off. "Immediately and indefinitely!"

"Great plan! Let's go!" Maya smiled nervously and tried luring us out of the house.

I grabbed Pepper's bags and threw them outside before coming right back in.

"You know, being a genius and everything, I'd figure you would want to hide somewhere and lay low considering YOU THREATENED A FUCKING TERRORIST ON LIVE TV!" I practically exploded at my father.

"Uh...guys?" Maya tried speaking up.

"I can't protect you two out there! We're staying! End of discussion!" Dad glared at me.

"Do you think the Mandarin is gonna let this go?! He's gonna send a message to the world, starting with you and Pepper and possibly myself as well. Get your ass in the car, before I make you." I hissed at dad.

"Guys?" Maya spoke up again.

"What?!" We snapped at Maya.

Damn this bitch is annoying!

"Do we need to worry about that?" Maya looked scared.

As we all looked over at the TV, I felt my heart skip a beat at the image of a missile headed straight towards us. Suddenly, I could see everything in slow motion.

Oh my god...

I quickly whipped my head at the window and gasped as I saw it coming over in our direction at full speed.

"GET BACK!" I yelled.

Without thinking, I grabbed dad and Pepper by their shirts, moving quickly instead of just standing there in shock, and tried throwing them near the front door.

And that's when all hell broke loose.

The impact of the explosion knocked us all back several feet, though I was probably the closest.

As far as I knew, dad and Pepper were safe...and that's all I cared about at the moment.

I felt myself black out before noticing that my father had signaled the armor and had it assembled around me, knowing fully well that I would have gotten hurt from most of the impact. Dad hugged Pepper tightly to him and shielded her from any debris as they slid to the floor. When I reopened my eyes all I could hear was my own heart thumping wildly and pounding in my eardrums. My vision blurred as I tried moving and stumbled over before falling down again.

"Miss Stark! You need to get moving!" JARVIS warned me.

I blinked as I finally got up again, staring out the window in shock and seeing the helicopters in the distance.

"Miss Stark!" JARVIS shouted in my ears.

I snapped out of my trance, looking at Pepper and Maya's unconscious bodies in panic. Dad managed to stand up and he handed me Pepper before helping me pick up Maya. The face piece pulled back and I only stared at dad in worry.

"Get out of here." Dad ordered.

"I'm not leaving you here! You can forget it- -" I started.

"NOW!" Dad screamed. "Take Maya and Pepper, get to safety! You can yell at me all you like later, but GO!"

I blinked away tears, but nodded and held onto Pepper even tighter as I headed for the door, the face piece coming back on. I could feel Maya shaking against me, and was worried she went into shock.

"Come on Maya! Stay with me! We're gonna get you out of here alright?" I kept going for the front door.

Her head drooped down and she sagged against me.

Great...she's unconscious...

I flew out of the house as fast as I could, making sure not to get hit by any debris on the way out. After safely making it out I dropped Pepper and Maya. Suddenly, the armor is being signaled over to dad, and it flew off of my body and started flying back inside the house towards him. I looked at the mansion in complete horror after getting a better look at it. The mansion was going to go down into the water, it was barely together anymore. I watched as missile after missile kept hitting the house. I knew dad was fighting with all his might to stay alive, seeing that he managed to get two helicopters down into the water.

But then...there was nothing...I could feel my heart stop.

Finally, they stopped firing at the mansion and for a brief second I felt relieved. As the helicopter flew off into the distance, I ran through the wreckage, hoping to find my father lying in the rubble of the mansion. To my horror, I realized that he was down in the ocean. I slowly walked over to the edge, stumbling over rubble as I did so, to stare down at the ocean. It might have been minutes, but there was nothing.

Dad wasn't resurfacing. He was...gone. Just like that...

I fell to my knees and felt myself hyperventilating, tears streaming down my face I continued to stare down at the water below.

It was like Afghanistan all over again, my nightmares were becoming reality.

I was sobbing uncontrollably, just screaming, crying, as if it would bring my dad back.

But I knew my dad was actually dead this time. He wouldn't come back.

I felt something grab at me and I only fought against it, I felt like I was suffocating, like a part of me had died with my father.

"Tyra! Tyra! It's me! It's me!"

"YOU BASTARDS! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! I PROMISE YOU THAT YOU'RE ALL DEAD!" I screamed.

"TYRA!"

I snapped out of it almost instantly, seeing Pepper in front of me. Pepper reached and grabbed both my wrists, trying to stop me from punching the ground again when she noticed my hand was getting bloody. Pepper's eyes were really red, tears streaming down her face as well.

"...why...why didn't he just listen?" I barely mumbled.

Pepper's eyes widened a bit, before she yanked me towards her and gave me the biggest hug I ever received from anyone. After getting me away from the edge, I realized that more chunks of the floor fell into the ocean, meaning that Pepper saved me from sharing my father's fate. Pepper looked shocked and could barely keep it together.

"We'll get through this...I promise you that we'll get through this, honey...just you and me..."

Pepper gasped, trying to hold back a sob, as more tears sprung in her eyes. Pepper shut her eyes, pulling me towards her again for another embrace. I held onto Pepper as if she was my lifeline, and at this moment, she was.

Pepper is all I got left in this world right now.

Not long after the incident, police cars and several ambulances came rushing onto the scene. News reporters everywhere around the mansion, as close as they could get. They tried to get my attention, tried to make me take a statement about what had occured.

But I was just tired...and very angry.

After getting checked out, Pepper and I were okay other than cuts and bruises, but we got those covered up with bandages. Maya, however, had a huge bruise on her head and might have gotten a concussion, though they were still trying to figure that out.

Why didn't he just listen to me?

I kept staring down at that same spot of water for the past hour or so, just hoping to see Iron Man come flying out of the water unscathed. I blinked away tears as I looked down at my feet and saw one of the Iron Man helmets.

Dad...

I slowly picked it up and pressed my forehead against the helmet, just trying to find what little comfort in feeling the cold metal against my skin as I could. It felt like dad was right here with me, but I knew that wasn't the case.

He wouldn't be coming back.

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and knew right away that it was Pepper because of her touch.

"Come on, sweetie. We should get going." Her voice was hoarse from crying.

I nodded and held the helmet in my hands. I was just ready to chuck it into the water in rage, until I saw something blinking inside the helmet. I gazed at it in curiosity and slowly put on the helmet. Everything glitched on and I heard JARVIS right away.

"Scanning facial features. Hello Miss Stark, you have one voice message. Playing the message back now." JARVIS informed me.

I nearly had a heart attack when I heard that voice.

It was my father.

"Tyra...I'm really sorry about how I yelled at you...I only did it to get you out of there didn't I? I was just- -"

He sighed deeply.

"Let me start over...Tyra, I've got a lot of apologies to make and not a lot of time, so first off, I need to apologize for most likely giving you the biggest scare of your life. Knowing you, you're probably a wreck right now due to the fact that you almost lost me again. I would never let that happen though, I would never leave you in such a tragic way. I also wanted to tell you that...you're right."

He paused for several seconds before speaking up again.

"I was acting out line, acting irrationally because I was upset about Happy. I should have listened to you and Pepper about leaving, but I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to protect you both out there. I thought the mansion would be safe, but I was so very wrong. I want you and Pepper to know that I'm so sorry for putting you both in harm's way, it was selfish of me and I'll never let that happen again. And I'm also sorry in advance because...I can't come home yet."

I grew confused and worried at the same time, but listened carefully at my dad's message.

"I know you're tracking the Mandarin down, Tyra, but I need to find this guy...he made this personal. Promise me that you'll both stay safe...you gotta stay safe, that's all I know. I love you both so much and I'm sorry that we can't be together right now, but I also promise that I'll see you soon. And I thought I should let you know that I just stole a poncho from a wooden Indian...in case you were interested in knowing."

"Message over, would you like me to replay it, Miss Stark?" JARVIS asked.

I blinked away tears of happiness this time. It was as if this huge weight on my chest had been lifted off and vanished. I was filled with absolute joy and relief knowing now that dad had made it out alive.

"I'm fine...thank you, JARVIS." I croaked.

I lifted the helmet off my head and noticed Pepper still standing near me, this time she looked at me in surprise when she saw my expression.

"Tyra? Are...you okay?" Pepper asked in concern.

"He's alive." I grinned. "That bastard's still alive." I laughed.

Pepper gasped and also smiled. We hugged each other and let out a few more tears before deciding to leave.

We decided to take Maya with us, mostly because I still wanted to question her. The car ride was surprisingly silent, all until Pepper spoke up.

"Why were you at the house tonight? What was so important that you had to speak to Tony?" Pepper asked Maya.

"...I think that my boss is working for the Mandarin." Maya said.

"You either think or you know." I glared at her through the rearview mirror.

"Well if you want to talk about it, we have get someplace safe." Maya ignored me.

"Your boss works for the Mandarin you think, but Tony says you're a botanist." Pepper said.

Pepper raised an eyebrow at glanced at Maya from the rearview mirror in confusion.

"That figures, What I actually am is a biological DNA coder running a team of- -"

"This boss of yours, does he have a name?" I cut her off.

I turned around to look at Maya shifting nervously in the backseat.

"Yeah, Aldrich Killian. But I figure you already know that don't you?" Maya answered.

"I wonder how I could possibly know." I sarcastically replied.

Pepper stopped the car, parking at a hotel. I pulled Pepper to the side and away from Maya after we got out of the car.

I don't trust her.

"Pepper, I have dad's location, get this flash drive sent to him okay while you're in there?" I whispered and handed her the flash drive that was in my bra.

"Wait, you know where your father is?" Pepper looked at me incredulously. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to tell you later, but right now I really need you to do this for me okay? Before it's too late? Have it shipped out right away, make sure he gets it by tonight." I spoke lowly.

Pepper nodded and went to go get us a room which left Maya and I alone.

Now back to our conversation from earlier...where should I start?

I backed Maya against the car, glaring at her with hatred.

"I mean seriously, why did you call me if you weren't going to give me enough information to stop all of this shit from going too far in the first place? You could have let me know what Killian was up to from the moment you dialed my number. I would have been able to stop my father from threatening the fucking Mandarin on television knowing that he's got Killian's money and power. Now look at my home, it's at the bottom of the fucking ocean because of you. My dad is also probably dead too, so really thanks a whole fucking lot, Maya." I snapped at her. "Before I decide to beat you up in this damn parking lot, you better start talking."

Maya tried not to seem afraid of me, but failed at doing so.

"Look, I warned you to stay away from Killian didn't I? And you refused to listen. He's going to use you. You seemed like a sweet girl and I didn't want you to get tangled up in this. There's no turning back now." Maya told me.

"I was never going to turn away from this because I have a job to do. You know what's funny about meeting you? After you called me, I was able to figure out who you were just by hearing your voice. I mean, we briefly met when I was nine years old, it was 1999 I believe, but hey, I finally saw the pieces coming together and let's just say I have a really good memory. You basically gave yourself away, and I was able to find the connection. You and Killian both attended that convention in Switzerland. I figure you both got together to work on Extremis after 'consulting' with my dad right?" I folded my arms.

"Extremis was supposed to help people, I just need to fix that bug! I needed your father to help me! But I know you can also help fix Extremis! You're just as gifted as he is!" Maya nearly shouted.

Before I could reply, Pepper came back with a room key and started unloading her luggage from the car.

I needed to finish this conversation, I'm so close to knowing the truth.

"Hey Pepper, why don't you go find someone and get them to tell us where we can find some good food around here. I'm starving!" I smiled at her.

I grabbed her suitcases and put them in the room after she opened the door. Pepper chuckled and shook her head as she walked back out the room again.

"Alright, I'll be right back. Behave you two." Pepper grabbed her room key and left.

"So what's wrong with Extremis huh? What did Aldrich not tell me?" I asked.

I shut the door behind me, immediately turning back to Maya.

"There's a bug in Extremis...it would certainly help explain the Mandarin's attacks...if you paid enough attention to them." Maya explained. "With Extremis, sometimes the subject will accept it, but sometimes...their body will try to reject Extremis which results in a huge explosion. It's a small bug..."

It all made sense now...but at least I was right.

"I already know about Extremis' little bug. Tell me something else, why does Killian work for the Mandarin? That's what I want to know."

"Look, it's a small bug...but I need you. I know for a fact that you or your father could help me with Extremis. Make it better." Maya pleaded with me.

I gave her a look of disbelief.

Did this bitch not hear what I just said at all?

"Maya...I understand that you want to help people, but what started out as something pure has been turned into something dangerous and horrific. You need to stop it with Extremis and get a move on with your life as harsh as I may sound. Killian's not just using me, but he's also using you. You're pretty much his pawn in this game. He kept funding your little project and turned it against all of us. He's not using Extremis to try and help people, he's making super soldiers. You have to wake up and see the big picture here, Maya. You're a beautiful and brilliant woman. Maybe it's me that has to warn you about Killian's actions."

Maya seemed conflicted and didn't know how to reply.

"Now please, tell me how Killian is working for the Mandarin. Tell me what he's getting out of this." I gave her a look of desperation.

We both turned to hear a sudden knock at the door. I looked through the peephole and saw one of the staff from the hotel coming to check in on us, but I couldn't be too careful. I placed my hand on my pistol and cautiously opened the door acting natural.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I was just coming to check in to see if everything's alright and- -"

The man's head was grabbed and his neck was snapped in seconds. Aldrich Killian himself came out from hiding behind the man as he dropped to the floor dead. Killian practically shoved his way in and effectively made me lose grip of my pistol.

SHIT SNACKS!

I ran inside and grabbed my pistol again before shooting at Killian immediately. He didn't even flinch, not even a little bit. Instead, the bullets just started popping back out of his body and his skin glowed a bright red.

Shit...he used the Extremis project on himself! He's basically invincible now!

"Tyra, why would you do that?" He feigned sadness. "I thought you and I had a little bit of chemistry going on here..."

OHMYGOD! OHMYGOD! OHMYGOD! OHMYGOD! WHAT DO I DO?!

I gave Killian a sweet smile and tried my very best not to scream like a little girl, much like I was on the inside right now.

"Hey, we can have a little love/hate relationship can't we?" I winked at him. "Besides, you did startle me. You should never startle a woman with a gun." I added with a nervous laugh.

"Very good point." He then glanced over at Maya. "So you want to tell me why you were at Stark's mansion last night?"

"I'm trying to fix this thing. I didn't know you and the Master were gonna blow the place up!" Maya defended.

Oooh...so she DID know about the Mandarin...fucking liar. Acting like she didn't know...Oh I think my boss works for Mandarin! What a load of garbage.

"Oh I see, so you were trying to save Stark... when he threatened us- -"

"I told you, Killian, we can use him." Maya said. "Look if we want to launch product next year, I need Stark. He just lacked a decent incentive..." She looked at me with guilt in her eyes. "And now he has one."

THAT BITCH! This was all just a trap!

Killian smiled at me and I felt like I wanted to throw up.

"So dear, did you get enough information?" Aldrich asked. "You know, that bug you planted, I was so close to stopping you from getting everything on AIM, but it finished the download and it self destructed so that I couldn't trace it back but well...now you know everything don't you?" Killian took a few steps closer towards me.

Shit...he knows...

"Aw, honey. You think I would do that?" I feigned innocence.

"As a matter of fact...I do." Killian took another step towards me.

"Alright then, I guess I'm done playing this little game then. I sent the files to someone I know. But don't worry. It's all in good hands now!" I clap my hands together and smile brightly.

I let out a laugh, absolutely loving the look of anger flashing across Killians face.

"You're really smart aren't you? Just like your father..." Killian put his hand on my cheek gently. "Now Tyra...how would you like it if we just, put aside our differences and ruled together? You and me, side by side, it sounds perfect don't you think?"

I tried not to flinch against Killian and managed to keep eye contact with him.

"If you go to hell, I might just think about it." I retorted.

Killian frowned and then slapped my face, knocking me on the floor. After picking myself up from the ground, and before he could grab me, I got up and kicked Aldrich in the face. I then proceeded to punch him in the gut really hard.

Ah, just like Clint taught me.

I ran for the door, feeling a little hopeful that I would make it, until I felt something hard hit my head. I fell to the ground and found myself unable to move suddenly.

I feel dizzy and tired...but why?

My vision started going fuzzy and I glanced up to see Maya holding a lamp.

That bitch...

And then I blacked out.

I'm sorry if this chapter was a little confusing in some ways...I hope you enjoyed it though! And to my reviewers, thank you for being so supportive, you're all amazing! Anyway, let me know what you think and please be nice! :D