They had been working on the suit for almost three months when the threat came. The eye hole on the door slid open and something was shouted in Arabic. Tony, used to the routine by now, copied Biela and put his hands behind her head.
It was the same thugs and leader as always, but the man Tony had termed in his head, "big leader" was with them. The guy swaggered in. He came to stop in front of Tony and said, "Relax." Tony and Biela tentatively put their hands down.
The big leader came over to Tony and laid spread his shirt to get a better look at the arc reactor. "The bow and arrow," he said, still looking at the reactor, "once was the pinnacle of weapons technology." He looked up at Tony, then turned and walked away.
"It allowed the great Genghis Khan to rule from the Pacific to the Ukraine." He was looking at what they were currently working on now, picking it up and examining it. "An empire twice the size of Alexander the Great, and four times the size of the Roman empire." He came back over, focused on Tony. He picked up the plans for the suit. "But today, whoever holds the latest Stark weapons rules these lands."
Tony was about to punch him when Biela cleared her throat softly. He turned to look at her, and she made a calming gesture. Tony got the message. Don't antagonize the leader of the people holding you captive.
The man set the plans down and turned back towards Tony. "And soon," he said, an evil thrill entering his voice, "it will be my turn."
Biela hoped that Tony got the message. Suddenly, the leader, who was still facing Tony, asked harshly in Arabic, "Why have you failed me?" "We're working," Biela responded. "Diligently."
The leader turned and came towards her, a cold glare on his face. "I let you live," he snarled, still in Arabic, so that Tony wouldn't understand him. "This is how you repay me?"
Biela tried to keep her face impassive and her body language to a minimum. "It's very complex. He's trying very hard."
"On her knees!" the leader ordered his men. They grabbed her arms and forced her down. She tried not to struggle. Fight-or-flight wouldn't help her here. "You think I'm a fool?" the leader asked. "I'll get the truth." "We're both working," Biela insisted.
The leader turned around, holding a sizzling coal in a pair of tongs. He blew softly on it and said, "Open your mouth." Biela felt her eyes widen in fear. "What does he want?" Tony asked, getting the gist but wanting to know exactly.
"You think I'm a fool?" the leader said once more to Biela as one of the thugs turned her head. She struggled lightly, while trying to repress the urge, as her head was forced down to the table. "What's going on?" the leader demanded. "Tell me the truth."
"He's building your Jericho," Biela replied as the coal came towards her mouth. "Tell me the truth!" he said louder. "He's building your Jericho." "Tell me the truth!" the leader yelled. "He's building your Jericho!" Biela almost yelled back.
"What do you want, a delivery date? I can give you.." Tony asked as he stepped forward. Several guns were pointed at him immediately, the men yelling in Arabic. He held his hands up.
The leader looked at him. Tony looked at Biela, then at the leader. "I need her," he said. Biela stared at him. "Good assistant," Tony added. The leader watched him a moment, then dropped the coal. "You have 'til tomorrow," he said gruffly, "to assemble my missile."
The other men said something in Arabic as they left. As soon as they slammed the door behind them, Tony came over and helped Biela up. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked her kindly.
Biela burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you," she said. "No one's cared that much about me before, ever. Thank you so much." Slightly shocked, Tony wrapped an arm around her in reassurance. "I care, Bee," he said. "I care about you." It was several minutes before she calmed down and let go.