Son of Iron Man
OK, I know I said in the last chapter that we'd see Magni go to school, but even I don't want to read about that so soon after the action of the last chapter. Instead, we'll see Emily's attempts to find and capture Ricardo. I'll lump schoolboy Magni and pizza man Mothi into the next chapter... or the one after that...
I'd also like to thank ItsZokune for your kind review. I'm glad you're satisfied with the new chapters. And here's another one! My, am I kind?
Chapter Eleven: The Hunt
Emily opened the front door and called to her mother, but no one replied. She sighed as she climbed the stairs and dropped her bag on her bedroom floor. Closing the curtains, she unbuttoned her shirt before fishing out her costume from the wardrobe. She finished changing and brushed her hair while looking at herself in the mirror.
"Perfect," she said admiringly. After she was sure she was ready, she took off into the city. There had to be a quicker way to travel...
Emily tapped into her mind reading abilities and listened out for people who might know something.
"I can't believe this! Ricardo on a team of supervillains?" she heard. She concentrated harder and pinpointed the man's location. She entered the space between two buildings and walked through the alley, coming to an open space away from the public. There was a man there, sat on a crate with the Stark Industries logo on it. Even after all these years, the weapons were still available on the black market. He was reading the Daily Bugle, whose front page told of the battle yesterday.
"Whatcha got there?" she asked sweetly, and the man dropped his newspaper in shock.
"You-you're that diamond girl in the newspaper!" he stuttered.
"I sure am," Emily agreed. She placed her hands on her hips and threw her body forward. "You wanna share what you've got there?"
"I-I don't know..." the man said, visibly flustered.
"Go on - impress me," Emily pressed, batting her eyelids slightly. The man wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, but then stood up and feigned confidence.
"Well, I've got my hands on some pretty rare toys," he said, walking closer to Emily, who didn't move.
"What are they?"
"Guns, outlawed even before Stark stopped making weapons," the man revealed.
"Cool. You got many clients lined up?"
"Sure, there's - wait, I see what you're doing!" he exclaimed. Emily walked slowly toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking deeply into his eyes.
"Do you?" she asked in a low voice.
"Yeah... you're trying to trick me," the man said. Emily brought her face closer to his. The man tried to avoid her gaze, looking down but instead seeing something that made him even more nervous. He looked back up and brought his face forward, pursing his lips.
"Nuh-uh," Emily said playfully, dodging out the way. "Tell me about Ricardo, first." The man was conflicted, looking longingly at Emily's lips.
"Fine! He called me late last night; told me to buy this stuff for him. Said he'd give me the money," he revealed.
"Why?"
"Because of you. He said these things could bust even your hide," he continued.
"Where is he?" Emily prompted.
"You'll find him at the nightclub not far from here. You know, Crazy Nights," he answered.
"I know the place."
"Yeah. That's where we were going to make the exchange. Eleven tonight," the man finished. "Is this when you make it worth my while?"
"Absolutely," Emily said, leaning forward once more. The man did the same, closing his eyes. Before their lips could meet, he felt a hard object hit the side of his head and was out cold. Emily shook her arm off as her diamond skin receded. She then blasted a red blast out of her eyes and destroyed the weapons. She then pressed a hand to her ear, activating the communicator.
"Toby, I have a lead on Ricardo," she said. "I'll need a pickup at about ten thirty."
"Sure thing," Toby replied. "I've been working on something for you."
"Aww, you have? That's so sweet," Emily said. "What is it?"
"You'll see," Toby said teasingly.
"Ooh, I love surprises!"
"So anyway, how'd you like to come round mine for dinner? My parents are taking Magni to see Mothi at Pizza Hut tonight, so we'll be alone," Toby offered.
"Aren't you going with them?" Emily asked. Toby scoffed.
"It's Pizza Hut. Not even Mothi trying to be a normal guy can make that better than dinner with you," he said. Emily's cheeks went slightly red.
"OK, when should I be there?" she asked.
"Get here at about seven and we'll eat at half past. That'll leave about two hours after until you need to go."
"And what'll we do during those two hours?"
"I guess we'll see where the night takes us," Toby said.
"Wait - won't your parents be back before then?"
"Doubtful. I've arranged an agreement with Magni. He's going to stall them."
"How?"
"Not sure. Should make an interest story tonight, though," Toby chuckled. "So, see you there?"
"What girl could say no to that?" Emily answered. She then ended the transmission and looked down a the unconscious weapons dealer. "Sorry, hon, I've just had a better offer."
Toby sat at the two-person table, dressed in a black suit and tie. He checked his cufflinks were on correctly and, satisfied, sat back in wait.
"Sir, a rather attractive young lady is at the door to the tower," JARVIS announced.
"Let her up," Toby instructed him.
"Right away, sir." After a few minutes, the elevator dinged and Emily emerged wearing a black dress which contrasted with her usual costume. The dress had a deep 'V' in the front and the skirt half halted above her knees.
"You look stunning," Toby said, standing up and straightening his tie.
"As do you," Emily replied, extending a hand which Toby took and kissed softly.
"Thanks for coming," he said. "Dinner will be ready in thirty. In the meantime, perhaps you'd like to join me on the helipad?"
"I'd be delighted," Emily replied. The two linked arms and walked out into the air.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Toby asked, leaning on the rail and looking out. Emily stood beside him.
"It'd look better without all the scum on the streets," she commented.
"Hey - we're just starting out," Toby said comfortingly. "Things can only get better."
"You're right, Emily agreed. She then shivered slightly.
"You're cold," Toby observed. "Shall we go in?"
"Sure," Emily said. They went back inside.
"Sir, your meal is ready," JARVIS informed him.
"Thanks, JARVIS," Toby said. "Take a seat," he then added to Emily, who did as she was asked. Toby crossed to the kitchen and took the meal, placing a lid over the platter. He put it in the middle of the table and took the lid off, revealing a whole roast chicken on a bed of vegetables. He scooped up the vegetables and shared them between the two plates before taking a knife to the chicken. He served it up before sitting down and producing a candle, which he lit and placed in the centre of the table. They tucked into the meal. Once they were done, Toby binned the leftovers and put the plates in the dishwasher.
"Right," he said, turning to Emily, "we have two and a half hours. What now?" Emily walked over to him and took him by the waist, pulling him toward her until there was no distance between them. She leant forward and kissed him.
"I have a few ideas."
Toby and Emily were sat on the sofa after two and a half hours when Toby checked his watch.
"Ooh, time to go," he said. "You need anything?"
"I've got all I need," she replied. She had changed into her costume earlier.
"Not quite," Toby corrected her, standing up, "There's still your present." The two walked into the elevator and Toby pressed the button for the garage. After a short trip, they came out to find Tony's multiple cars and one tarp. Toby walked across and took it in his hands, but didn't pull.
"Are you ready?" he asked. Emily nodded, a smile on her face. Toby pulled to reveal a motorcycle which matched the colour of Emily's uniform. Emily gasped.
"Is that really for me?" she asked.
"Of course. You needed your own method of transport, right?" Toby answered.
"Well, yes, but I wasn't expecting this."
"You must remember, dear Emily - I'm rich," Toby justified. "Anyway, you should be going," he added. Emily gave him a brief kiss before hoping on the bike. It roared into life, powering forward out of the garage and into the streets.
Ricardo sat with his business associates, a cigar smoking in his mouth. He absentmindedly watched the dancing girls in the centre of the room.
"They's good, ain't they, boss? I told you they was good, didn't I?" said one of the other two men.
"Shaddap, Jones," Ricardo scolded him. He watched the scantily clad dancers, fixated by a blonde in white. When the provocative dance was over, he whistled to the young girl, who made her way over to him. As she grew closer, he registered the ruby glasses and a small cut above her navel which he himself had given her.
"You!" he exclaimed as he recognised the girl.
"Aww, you remember?" Emily asked sweetly. "I have trouble forgetting you, too," she said, gesturing to her cut. She heard guns locking and loading. "Aw, no!" she said smoothly. "I only want to talk."
"Shall I shoot her, boss?" asked one of the men.
"No..." Ricardo said slowly. "There's nothing she can do to us here. Take a seat," he then added to Emily, who slid into the booth in a seat opposite to Ricardo. She felt a rough hand on the bare skin of her leg, which she flicked off with a diamond finger. It was the man next to her.
"Do these dirtbags have to be here?" she asked. "Can't we just be alone?"
"Nuh-uh, girlie. These are my insurance."
"Against what?"
"Against you."
"Aw, now that's not fair," Emily complained. "Three tough guys against little old me?" she chuckled slightly, "You don't stand a chance. But enough of that. I wanted to talk."
"Of course, my lovely," Ricardo said. "Perhaps we should all go outside to speak?" Emily realised Ricardo was trying to trap her.
"Fine by me," she said. She activated her communicator under the guise of scratching her ear. "I just hope there aren't any spiders."
"I'll take that to mean you want Spider-Boy over there?" Toby asked.
"This sounds good," Emily replied before ending communications.
"I agree," Ricardo said. The four stood up and made their way over to the back entrance. It was a cold night, particularly for Emily. Outside with them were several dancers who were practically being swallowed by patrons, while other men smoked and drank. None of them paid any attention to the newcomers. Emily felt uncomfortable and started praying for Spider-Boy to arrive quickly. Ricardo pushed her to the ground.
"You got thirty seconds to talk," he told her. "And don't try anything funny or everyone out here will put a hole in you the size of my thumb." Emily looked around and saw that everyone around her was armed with a gun. She knew even her diamond form couldn't resist that many bullets.
"Uh... what do you want to talk about?" she asked nervously.
"Well, since you asked... tell me all you know about these New Avengers."
"I can't do that," Emily said. All the guns turned on her and she stared up at Ricardo. But it wasn't he she was looking at so much as the red and blue blur she saw beyond him. "All I can say is where they are."
"Where?"
"Behind you." Ricardo turned for Ben to kick him in the jaw. Using the distraction to her advantage, Emily assumed her diamond form and kicked the two closest men. Using her agility, she dodged many of the bullets and started to take out the others. Spider-Boy, meanwhile, dodged any bullets coming toward him and webbed up those that Emily missed. After the gunmen were knocked out, Emily mounted her motorcycle.
"Nice moves, Spider-Boy," she complimented him. "Now grab Ricardo and put him on the bike." Ben found the unconscious Ricardo and sat him behind Emily, webbing him in place.
"You did a good job," he observed.
"Thanks," Emily said before revving the engine. "See you next time." She raced off to Stark Tower, her prize in tow.
And that's another chapter done. The team are all developing their roles now, aren't they? There's Toby the leader; Ty the muscle; Emily the interrogator...
Join us next time to follow the team as they search for answers from Ricardo. And what happens when Ben's identity is revealed... to Venom? Add to this Black Knight's attempts to get Toby away from his team and we're in for an interesting chapter.
Until next time, true believers!
