Laynie woke up confused and disoriented, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. She sat up slowly, trying to get the room to stop spinning. She felt like she was going to hurl.
"Be careful sweetheart," a sickening voice cooed in her ear.
She lurched away from him, making her stomach heave in response. She quickly realized that her arm was bound to a pole beside her as the cuff tore skin on her right wrist when she pulled too far away. "Y-you're-" she stuttered. Her tongue felt weird in her mouth.
"Justin Hammer!" the man finished, throwing his arms out wide. "Someone give the girl a prize!"
Laynie scooted toward the pole, but farther away from Hammer. Have I been kidnapped? she asked herself.
"I'm sorry about the rough treatment. We really had to work to get you out of that school in one piece!" He laughed.
Laynie realized he was completely mental.
He wasn't what he used to look like when he was famous and healthy. There was a wild glint in his eyes, the eyes that were sunken into his pale face. His hair was shaggy, falling around his face in an unorderly manner. He was still wearing his orange pants and white shirt.
"My dad's going to get me out of here," she groaned. She was telling herself that, not him.
"As long as he can pay up, and you can keep your trap shut, everything will be fine! Ryker," he barked suddenly. A beefy man came from around a corner and stood over them. "We're going to make the call. Bring her along."
Laynie was pulled roughly to her feet. A bag was pulled over her head and her arm was unchained, only to be chained again to a chair in another room. The bag came off her head.
"Parks, make sure everything runs smoothly. We can't have Stark knowing we're here. Yet."
Laynie lethargically looked around, and saw Arthur Parks at a computer. She wished she could say it surprised her.
"Alright Laynie," Hammer said, getting down close to her face. "I'm only going to say this once. If you aren't silent, I will shoot you. Only speak when spoken to by me, and don't say anything you'll regret," he growled.
Laynie nodded reluctantly. The situation still hadn't fully impacted her yet.
"Alright. Make the call." There was brief ringing, and then Tony's voice flooded the small room.
"Hammer! Being me my daughter or so help me god-"
Hammer cackled. "Stark, I think I'm the one with the advantage right now. Say hello Laynie!"
She blinked, then stuttered out a hello. She heard Steve and Bruce talking in the background, but Tony said nothing.
"Hm. I suppose maybe you two aren't as close as I thought. Perhaps we should just do away with the hostage!" Hammer shouted to nobody in particular.
"No!" Tony shouted back. "No. Look, Hammer, I can help you. Get you moved to a better prison, have years taken off-"
"A better prison!" Hammer roared.
Laynie flinched, his voice sending pain through her head.
"I'm never going back to prison! Tony Stark! I am a freeee man!" He shouted. "No. No prisons. All I need from you, Mr. Stark, is some tech."
"...You're such a genius, why don't you just build it yourself?" Tony's voice was shaking.
"Build it myself? No, no, I never liked doing the dirty work." A grin spread across his face. "I want it hand delivered, Tony." He listed off the things he demanded, then turned to Laynie. "Why don't you say hello to your lovely daughter? Go ahead, she can hear you."
"Laynie?" Tony said tentatively.
"Hey Dad," she rasped awkwardly.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, but I think I stood up Carter and James." She laughed a little, until the gravity of the situation hit her.
"Tell them I'm sorry."
"No! Laynie, listen, I'm getting you out of there."
She flicked her eyes over to Hammer, who was doubled over with silent laughter. "You know it's a trap," she said beneath her breath. "Hammer's insane. Don't come."
Hammer straightened up, giving her a solemn look. "Now Laynie, we talked about this."
"Hammer!" Tony shouted.
"No speaking out of line."
"Thank you guys!" Laynie cried.
Hammer raised his gun, and fired a single shot.