There was Tony, in a driver's outfit. "Well what's the use of having, and owning, a racecar, if you don't drive it?" The crowd started to cheer. "Is he driving?" Hammer asked. "I have to go," Biela said, rising quickly and practically running over to Pepper. The new CEO looked up and saw Tony on the screen. "Natalie," she said. "Natalie!" "Yes, Miss Potts?" she asked. "Did you know about this?" she asked, gesturing towards the screen. "Uh, this is the first I've known of it," she replied.
"This, this cannot happen, absolutely not," Pepper said as the company driver's name was replaced by 'Stark'. "Absolutely, I understand, how can I help you?" Natalie asked quickly. Biela could tell in her voice. She was worried too. Biela sent her a text through her StarkPad that read, "I won't let Fury kill you if he dies." "Where's Happy?" Pepper asked. "He's waiting outside," Natalie replied. "Okay, get him, I need Happy," Pepper said. "Right away," Natalie said, darting off with a flip of her hair.
Pepper glanced at Biela and mouthed, "Your dad's crazy." Biela could only nod. She noticed Christine across the room, getting up to leave, probably to report on Tony's antics, despite Hammer's efforts to keep her there. On the screen, Tony revved up his engine. The lights turned for them to go. The cars roared off. Tony was number eleven. He moved quickly through the race, doing rather well for someone who'd never driven in a race before.
Both Pepper and Biela glanced outside as Tony passed by them. They exchanged worried glances. Next the television showed a man in an orange jumpsuit walking out onto the track. The crowd was on its feet in worry. Two cars passed by him. Biela quoted one of Tony's favorite movies. "I have a bad feeling about this," she muttered. He pulled apart the front of his jumpsuit, revealing a metal vest. In the center, over his heart, was an arc reactor. "Impossible," Biela gasped. Two electric whips formed in his hands. The electricity burned through the top of his jumpsuit.
Another car came at him, and he lashed the front with one of his whips, cutting straight through it, causing a horrific wreck. Everyone gasped in shock. Biela and Pepper glanced towards the doorway, where Happy held up the football. "No," Biela said. They stood and ran to the car, both jumping into the backseat. "Go, go," Pepper ordered. Neither had their seatbelts on yet. "Hang on," Happy said, just before they plunged through the barrier that divided the road from the racecourse.
Pepper turned to Biela. "Go," she said. "Stay out of sight unless your dad needs help." Biela nodded and stripped off her business dress, revealing the UnderArmour shorts and tank top underneath. She pulled the Mark VB from under the seat and suited up. Just before the helmet clicked over her face, she said, "I'll be careful." Pepper rolled down the window and Biela soared out at supersonic speeds.
