REBEL OF THE BALL
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tony felt like he was dreaming.
The ambush, the kidnapping, that excruciating operation, his glowing arc reactor, that skinny man with the glasses that makes him think of his old hydraulics college professor, people talking in strange languages…
And when he opened his eyes, finally deciding to wake up from this atrocious nightmare, he was more than surprised to see that he wasn't inside his bedroom.
Everything was dark — save it for the naked bulb hanging by the ceiling. That was when Tony realized he was inside a cave — a cave, of all things. With all the rocky walls, a few drops of water running down the sides and the ground was made of hard-packed dirt.
He coughed, suddenly aware of the numbing pain on his chest and noticed that there was a tube stuck inside his nose.
A tube inside his nose.
With a hard groan because it both looked and felt disgusting, he yanked it off, wincing as he did so. Tony continued to cough, shifting to his side with difficulty and saw a small side table beside his bed. He felt thirsty, like his throat was parched and he didn't drank for days. Although he hadn't taken entire control of his fingers yet, he tried to reach the jug of water, only to slap it away in the process.
And that was when Tony spotted the man standing up, with his back turned to him, facing a small mirror and apparently, he looked like he was shaving off his beard. And if he did notice that Tony was already awake, he gave no reaction, instead, continued scraping off hair from his chin. Grunting, Tony reached again for the other jug but found out that he was tied against something heavy.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The man said casually, continuing his routine.
Tony hesitated and turned. The light suddenly shone against a large box as if on cue.
It was a car battery.
His fingers followed the small tube and saw that it led through his chest — that was where the pain was coming from. Underneath the boatload of bandages wrapped against his heart, Tony felt something cold. His heart suddenly sped up, feeling dread creeping up all over him. Desperately, he tore through the strips of cloth and found a round metal implanted against his chest, like some pace maker. Blood was still seeping from the sides and Tony felt like he wanted to throw up.
He was hooked to a car battery. And that device is powering whatever this metal is called to do whatever it does.
All of a sudden, Tony breathed in short gasps — both of fear and in denial. This couldn't be happening. This is impossible. It couldn't be real.
For once in his life, he felt like a freak.
"What the hell did you do to me?" Tony asked after a while, as he couldn't take in the man's nonchalant activities inside this goddamned cave anymore.
The man was whistling — whistling, as he cooked something on a stone pan by the fire. As if he was just inside his luxurious condominium unit and not this hellhole.
He threw Tony a glance. "What I did?" He stirred the pan's contents. "What I did is to save your life."
Before Tony could ask what he meant, the man stood up, collecting the remnants of the food into a pan and spoke again. "I removed all the shrapnel I could, but there's a lot left, and it's headed into your atrial septum. Here, want to see?" He raised a small glass container that made small, sharp noises when he shook it. "I have a souvenir. Take a look."
He tossed it to his direction, in which Tony had caught it neatly, but his face was still emotionless, eyes empty.
"I've seen many wounds like that in my village." He later informed him. "We call them the walking dead because it takes about a week for the barbs to reach the vital organs."
"What is this?" Tony indicated the metal stuck inside his body.
"That is an electromagnet, hooked up to a car battery and it's keeping the shrapnel from entering your heart."
Tony stood still, and after a few beats, zipped up his jacket once again. Knowing fully well that the metal inside of him is proof of how real everything is. He fought the urge to sigh — so as not to let this man have the satisfaction of letting him know that he was truly overwhelmed by everything.
And then his eyes caught a robotic motion and noticed a device was plastered unto the cave walls. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
The man followed his gaze and grinned, almost sarcastic. "That's right. Smile."
It was a camera. They were being watched.
Tony gritted his teeth. Ever had a bad day? For certain, he was having one. Caught like a bug, trapped inside this cave with a stranger, unarmed and the incredulity he was feeling right now — could this day get any worse?
"We met once, you know, at a technical conference in Bern." The man said again, giving him a pointed look.
"I don't remember." Tony muttered. He couldn't care less, anyway. Because his instincts told him it was a memory not worth conjuring up again.
"No you wouldn't. If I had been that drunk, I wouldn't have been able to stand much less give a lecture on integrated circuits."
See? His instincts are always right.
"Where are we?" Tony asked instead, looking around.
Suddenly, someone yelled beyond those locked metal doors. It sounded like it came from a man — someone foreign. And someone that's obviously a kidnapper.
The man got to his feet and turned to Tony. "Come on, stand up. Stand up!" He took hold of Tony's arm in a tight grip, signalling a sense of urgency and…danger. "Just do as I do."
Tony looked at him. Now, he's afraid? After that much talk earlier, he sure didn't give any sign of fear at all.
For some reason, Tony felt cocky. A part of him wanted to surrender, to just give up and let them shoot him instead. He lived a long life anyway. It was enough. There was no point in fighting. Maybe he'll have to go along with the flow rather than fight the current. Whereas another part of him wanted to listen to the man. To follow him. Because he actually looked and acted like he'd been here for a very long time. If he wanted salvation, he'd have to be obedient. No matter how inferior it made him look to his companion.
And all of a sudden, an image of Urania — his daughter, and even Pepper — flashed into his mind. And the rational side of him ruled out. Because when the stranger told him to put his hands up, he obeyed, although a bit reluctant.
A group of men entered the room — all huge and greatly muscled. Their strides were lazy, intimidating and partly amused — they acted as if they were predators. And they were prey.
But Tony was far from being scared. Because the moment he had spotted the men's weapons, fear was shoved deep down into his gut, totally forgotten.
"Those are my guns. How did they get my guns?" Tony muttered to the man.
His companion looked quite afraid — but it was for him. "Do you understand me? Do as I do."
A man — with a rounded body, large arms and a beard — leading the squad, gave them both an innocent grin, raised his arms and began to speak.
Well, it would may sound interesting if it weren't for that language, Tony immediately thought. Which was foreign and absolute nonsense to his ears. He couldn't understand a thing.
And as he spoke, waving his arms around, Tony raised his eyebrow. The man was making his way towards him, his lackeys right behind him. And when he was finished, his eyes settled on the stranger beside Tony, somewhat expectant.
The man turned to Tony, hesitant then spoke "He says 'Welcome, Tony Stark, the most famous mass murderer in the history of America.'"
Tony felt his heart was suddenly pounding hard.
He spoke and it was translated.
"He is honored."
Spoke again. And got translated again.
"He wants you to build the missile."
And spoke again. Which was turned into English. Tony kept his face straight. Honestly, this man could use some education.
"The Jericho missile that you demonstrated."
The man handed them the papers, showing Tony the image of his own creation.
There was silence for a moment. Tony did not need to look. Somehow, he had this coming. But he already had his answer.
Both his acquaintance and the men was staring at him, waiting for his reply.
"I refuse."
Which immediately got his head dunked into a drum filled with water a few minutes after. Tony choked as rough hands seized him by the arms and pushed his face into the water. When he was freed, he was breathing hard. The water dripping down his injured face and towards his shirt. And with a few foreign profanities, the men shoved him down again.
And for a moment, he felt as if his life flashed before his eyes.
Pepper's voice, his own face, the metal on his chest, Urania — it all felt like it was going to end. His wounds stung and his chest was heaving as he struggled underwater. It was all too much. Too unexpected.
And then miraculously, they led him away from that torture chamber, with a sack on his head, clutching his car battery and dragged him outside, where peaks of light filtered through the filthy cloth. Tony felt warm all of a sudden, knowing he was outside the cave.
More foreign talking, more yelling. And all of a sudden, someone removed his awful mask, where the sunlight immediately pierced his eyes, making him squint.
When his eyes finally adjusted, Tony found out he was in some damned desert canyons. Where these Afghanistan goons had built a base. Right under the military's noses.
Tony realized he's going to have a long talk with Rhodes. That's if they're ever going to meet again.
The men pushed him forward, with the man wearing glasses followed suit. And as he marched along the dusty road, Tony couldn't believe what was stationed everywhere.
Those where his weapons. Even the most foolish man could see it. His company logo — Stark Industries — flashed boldly across the metal surfaces. Tony's eyes widened as he drank in the sight. So many — there were tons and tons of guns and explosives who obviously, aren't used to save lives. They were all used to call on death.
And he was responsible for all of these.
The man suddenly turned and spoke.
"He wants to know what you think." Tony's companion said quietly.
Tony paused and finally said "I think you got a lot of my weapons."
He spoke again, in preaching words. Looking as if he was a politician running for a position in the council.
"He says they have everything you need to build the Jericho missile. He wants you to make the list of materials."
Tony said nothing.
"He says for you to start working immediately, and when you're done, he will set you free."
The man looked at Tony, scrutinizing every kind of emotion that encompasses his face. The billionaire gave him a forced smile and shook his hand.
He had promised freedom, but Tony knew otherwise.
"No, he won't." Tony said.
"No, he won't." His companion agreed.
And what made Tony's suspicions grow was the fact that there were also another group of men watching their conversation from afar. And by the looks of that bald man, he knew he wasn't going anywhere.
Later that night, Tony sat by the fire, suddenly feeling tired. Never in his life had he expected to be trapped here, in the middle of a desert, caged and bossed around like some wild animal.
But miraculously, he began to think of home. But not the house actually, but the ladies that lived inside his huge mansion. Pepper and Urania. He wondered how they were doing. If they knew he was missing. If they ever felt worried for him. If they were all right. He hoped — no, he prayed they are, which doesn't happen often. Somehow, it was the only thing that mattered to Tony right now.
"I'm sure they're looking for you, Stark." His companion said aloud, as if reading his thoughts. "But they will never find you in these mountains." He bent over to him at eye level. "Look, what you just saw — that is your legacy, Stark. Your life's work in the hands of those murderers. Is that how you want to go out? Is this the last act of defiance of the great Tony Stark? Or are you going to do something about it?"
Tony almost scoffed. "Why should I do anything? They're going to kill me, you, either way. And if they don't, I'll probably be dead in a week."
The man paused, weighing his answers. "Well then, this is a very important week for you, isn't it?"
The billionaire fixed his eyes on the ground, half-listening to whatever words that came out from his companion's mouth. Because his brain was actually processing this newfound information. And although he was not in the most stable state, at least, his mind — his brilliant mind is still working.
They've got Tony's guns. They've got his bombs.
But they certainly don't have his brain.
The following days had been tough for Nia. She wouldn't come up from the underground garage except to just go to her room and sleep. Majority of her time was spending it into Tony's lab, busy typing over computer stuff, talking to Jarvis, fiddling with his unfinished inventions or just spacing out. And for once in her life, Pepper didn't know what to do. She wasn't sure if this was after effects of trauma or shock.
And when she tried to talk to her, all Nia did was raise a hand as if to stop her from speaking and said "I'm still in grieving mode."
If Pepper found Tony strange sometimes, well, Urania was even more strange. And as she was walking towards Tony's workroom, the secretary was already half-debating whether to consult Tony's doctor or not.
She peered over the glass. Nia's back was turned to her and looked like she was doing her rounds of searching too.
Pepper typed in her pass code and the door slid open. Her heels clicked against the floor but it was only Rocket who gave notice of her presence.
"I brought you breakfast." Pepper announced, settling down a tray on one of the counters.
"Thanks." Nia replied absentmindedly, her eyes still fixed on the screen hovering above her.
She strode towards her tall figure, studying the kid's fingers flying unto the keyboard. "So, how's it going?"
Urania paused. "What do you mean? Me or the search?"
Her words caught Pepper off guard and she straightened up. "I don't —"
"Pepper," Nia made a throwing motion into the air and both the keyboards and screen disappeared. She whirled around and met her eyes. "I've realized it now. I mean, how much I've been such an ass these days. So, I just wanted to say sorry."
Pepper blinked then all of a sudden, a laugh escaped her throat. "Well this is surprising. Because I never thought I'd hear you say this."
Her boss' daughter gave her a wry smile. "I mean it Pep. I'm really sorry. I know Tony left you here to look after me. I know how tough it is, trust me, because this isn't part of your job description. But yeah, my brain kind of short-circuited but I'm fine now. I told you - I was in grieving mode. And well, you know me. I hate being babysat. "
"That's actually true, you know. But it's a good thing you're smiling again." She responded, unable to help it but give the girl a grin too. "So, you're okay now?"
"End of the great depression. Yep, I think I'm pretty fine now. Right Jarvis?"
"In a way, yes. I have been keeping track of Ms. Stark's physical, mental, psychological and emotional stability and it seems —"
"Oh, enough with the charts and data." Nia snapped to the artificial intelligence. "We've still got work to do. Show me the map again, concerning the military base back at Afghanistan."
Pepper leaned back, folding her arms as she watched Tony's daughter do plotting stuff with her father's computers.
"Okay, now show me the bombed site."
She tucked a strand of strawberry-blonde air behind her ear and said "Nia, if you don't mind me asking, what made you become like this…all of a sudden?"
"Hm?" Nia glanced at her and then grinned. "You mean, what made me more sane than insane? No apparent reason but I just kind of woke up and realized moping around wouldn't bring my dad back."
Pepper fell silent and no matter how much she wanted to conjure a smile, her face couldn't just do it, as for the moment. "It's been weeks...I've talked to Colonel Rhodes but there aren't any updates yet." She found herself saying.
The kid flashed her a sad smile. "We'll find him, I know we will. Afghanistan is a rocky desert, filled with mountains and hidden canyons. It's possible they're in hiding of something underground. Don't worry. It's either us who'll spot him or he'll be the first to catch us. We're doing our best — especially you. God gave me a brain, so why not use it to find Tony? Right?"
Somehow, Pepper noticed Urania looked more mature — and acted more responsibly. Pepper didn't know if it was her father's sudden disappearance that made him do it. Or something far stronger — like her deceased mother's voice, maybe. Or even answered prayers. But whatever it was, she was thankful. Nia's sudden determination lifted her up and the secretary cocked her head, smiling wistfully.
"Right." She finally said.