REBEL OF THE BALL

CHAPTER TWELVE

"If this is going to be my work station, I want it well-lit. I want these up." Tony barked around as the men shuffled along, trying hard to catch-up on his orders and strange English requests. "I need welding gear. I don't care if it's acetylene or propane. I need a soldering station. I need helmets. I'm gonna need goggles. I would like a smelting cup. I need two sets of precision tools."

The days went on like a whirlwind blur. The ambush, the bombing, the weapons — it was all too much. Sometimes, Tony would suddenly stop and look around in bewilderment. He was in a cave — dark and sour-smelling, with wet rocky walls and hard-packed dirt that serves as floors. Tony Stark never belonged here — he was supposed to be in his Malibu mansion, either tinkering away on his workroom or having the time of his night on some party. But then reality would catch up with him, sooner or later. Right, he was kidnapped.

Well, kidnapped might be an understatement.

The Jericho — right. These goons wanted him to build that. His latest killing machine which was supposedly created for the Army to kill men like these terrorists. But now, look at him, building it for them!

How ironic, Tony couldn't help but think.

A few days ago, Tony found himself drowning in utter hopelessness and disbelief, wanting to give up — even die right then and there. What was the point anyway? He was miles away from a nearby safe camp. Even Rhodes' base seemed like heaven. Escape was definitely impossible. And for a moment, Tony went on blaming himself for not knowing even an ounce of things to do when it comes to situations like these.

But thank God for his companion though. Cheesy as it sounds, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the balding man with the wiry glasses. Yinsen — that was his name. Who would guess that a pep talk coming from him could boost Tony's own morale? He made a mental note that if ever they would be out here, he's definitely going to hire him for the company. He's surprisingly clever too. Probably a scientist before he was captured here — which is a good thing, as Tony have thought. Because if ever he was stuck here with another idiot, God knows he's going to hurl himself towards those guns and shoot himself instead. With all these armed goofs around who knew more-or-less about speaking the international language, Tony doesn't know how much idiocy he could stand before he could reach his breaking point.

But luck must have loved him — at least these guys knew nothing about machinery. Days later, Tony worked. Disassembling his weapons, taking stuff, forging, smelting, recreating — well, at least he was working. He knew they were being closely watched, especially with all of those security cameras around the place. But do they know what he's really putting all the effort on?

"That doesn't look like a Jericho missile." Yinsen said behind him as he stared at Tony's finished product.

"That's because it's a miniaturized arc reactor." Tony said back, looking at the glowing creation too. "I've got a big one powering my factory at home. It should keep the shrapnel out of my heart."

"But what could it generate?" He adjusted his glasses to take a better look at it. Was it Tony's imagination or he really sounded so…mystified and curious?

"If my math is right, and it always is — three gigajoules per second."

"That could run your heart for 50 lifetimes." Yinsen pointed out.

"Yeah." Tony agreed, nodding. "Or something big for 15 minutes."

"Hm, good roll. Good roll." Yinsen commented once Tony threw the dice.

"You still haven't told me where you're from." Tony said instead, throwing pointed looks at his so-called companion.

It was already late in the evening —hours after he had shown Yinsen the blueprints of his creation. Which, if simply put, their only ticket home. Tony knew it was risky to trust strangers, but even though he only knew him for just a few days, he seemed to be growing fond this four-eyed man. Although a little serious, Yinsen proved to be a smart man, if not, then a brilliant assistant. He knew what was going on — he was knowledgeable about the things around them — something that Tony realized is an advantage, and makes them one step closer to freedom.

Yinsen picked up the die and began rolling it around his palms. "I'm from a small town called Gulmira." A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "It's actually a nice place."

"You got a family?"

"Yes." He responded, not even looking at Tony. "And I will see them when I leave here. And you Stark?"

Tony paused, he didn't actually expect to be asked back. Normally, the billionaire was used to being bombarded with questions from interviewers, clients, and strangers even — but now, he almost forgot what it was like to be the old him.

And the question was a little personal. Maybe a bit too personal.

Without any reason at all, fuzzy memories of Urania's anxious face appeared within his mind. Family? That would count as a group of people who are related to each other right? And she was his daughter so that means…

In the end, Tony found himself shrugging. "Kind of."

Yes, Urania was his daughter — biologically, it may seem. But their connection was so faint — he barely knew her, and she most probably feels the same way. She came to him just because she had nowhere else to go. That doesn't mean she actually needs him. Yep, that's the truth. And it's probably for the best.

"Kind of…" Yinsen repeated and smiled sadly. "So you're a man who has everything…and nothing."

Tony averted his gaze and instead, tried to focus on their game.

But still…to actually realize that he's actually, truly alone…

Tony felt his sunken heart drown even more. But he just shook his head and kept it all inside — just like what he always do.

Today was the day.

Tony felt his heart beat a little faster than normal, though his miniaturized arc reactor seemed to be still working properly, thank God.

Yinsen was already attending him — securing the metal sheaths and covers around his body. Although a little pressed for time, he couldn't help but watch in awe as the older man worked around him, calm and steady as ever. Tony grunted, when the breastplate was now attached tightly on his chest.

"Okay? Can you move?"

Tony flexed his fingers and legs, feeling a bit too stiff. But he was expecting it because he was wearing too many layers – thick gloves, a thick jacket, a pad of leather wounded around his neck so as not to get burned if the metal would accidentally heat up. He looked ridiculous, sure, but being criticized for poor fashion taste is the least of his worries.

"Okay. Say it again." Yinsen repeated for about the third time.

However, Tony found himself repeating the words too. "41 steps straight ahead. Then 16 steps — that's from the door. Fork right, 33 steps, turn right —"

"Yinsen! Yinsen! Stark!" Tony's words were cut off when a harsh voice, tinged with a strange accent, called out their names from beyond the heavy metal door.

"Say something." Tony found himself whispering to Yinsen. "Say something back to him."

"He's speaking Hungarian. I don't —"

"Then speak Hungarian!"

"Okay — I know." He scrunched his brow, trying to conjure the right words.

"What do you know?" Tony frantically pushed him.

Yinsen began to yell something towards the men in a language Tony obviously doesn't know.

But the man continued to yell, whereas Yinsen and Tony only exchanged looks, concluding something in a silent motion — this was not part of the plan.

And when the men unexpectedly pushed the door open — the whole entrance blew.

Definitely not part of the plan.

"How'd that work?" Tony muttered, defeat singeing his words. Does this mean they'll have to start their escape earlier than planned?

"Oh my goodness…" Yinsen can only say, agape at the fallen soldiers by their doorstep. He suddenly shook his head, recovering from the slight shock and turned back to tightening the bolts that sealed the metal joints. "It worked all right."

"That's what I do."

"Let me finish this."

"Initialize the power sequence." Tony instructed instead, realizing how limited they are when it comes to time.

"Okay."

"Now!"

"Tell me! Tell me." Yinsen shot back, clearly pressured and nervous.

"Function 11 — tell me when you see a progress bar. It should be up right now —"

"Yes!" He heard his companion say.

"Talk to me. Tell me when you see it—"

"Yes. I have it."

Tony exhaled. "Press control I —"

"I — got it."

"I. Enter. I. Enter." Tony's words were getting louder and louder. He was becoming frantic but he was trying to stay calm — for his and Yinsen's sake. "Come over here and button me up."

Then they could hear furious and alert shouts echoing through the cavern walls. Tony glanced from behind — seeing that they really are pressed for time.

"Every other hex bolt." He reminded Yinsen.

Yinsen, whose position ended up facing the door, looked at him, eyes wide with fright and concern. "They're coming!"

"Nothing pretty. Just get it done."

"They're coming." Yinsen repeated.

And once everything was secure and placed well, he turned to the computer. As every moment pass, Tony could see him growing more and more agitated.

Tony's heart and mind was racing. "Make sure the checkpoints are clear before you follow me out, okay?"

But much to his bewilderment, Yinsen just bent there, his back on him, facing the computer screen, completely and utterly frozen.

"We need more time…" He heard him whisper. Tony half-hoped he was only hearing things.

Yinsen turned to face him. "Hey, I'm gonna go and buy you some time."

Now it was Tony's eyes that went wide when he was already starting to walk away. "Stick to the plan." But Yinsen was already picking up the gun from a fallen soldier. "Stick to the plan!"

Yinsen fired a few shots through the ceiling, metal bullets raining over, not even listening to what he was saying.

"Yinsen!" He shouted, louder than he ever shouted in his life.

But everything was silent, and Tony could only stand there, cased on a metal suit while his only friend out there was trying to buy him time. To let him escape. While he rampaged around the cave, flashing the gun, he knew what he was doing.

Yinsen was saving his life.

"Yinsen!" Tony yelled as soon as he found the dying man lying on the ground, minutes later, coughing red life out.

"Watch out!" He managed to yell as soon as one thug shot a fiery bullet towards his direction.

Tony dodged, the bullet only hitting the cave wall, sending splinters of sharp-tipped rocks splaying on the ground. He pointed his arm towards the man, and soon enough, the whole area around him blew up. Once he was certain that the balding man had fallen and won't wake up any sooner, Tony turned back to his friend.

"Stark…" Yinsen breathed, blood was already leaking out from his wounds — bullet wounds that were shot on him as if he was just a mere dummy.

Tony lifted his helmet, feeling numb as he looked on through the eyes of his dying companion. "Come on, we gotta go."

Yinsen only flashed him a sad smile.

"Move for me, come on." Tony felt his throat got thick, though he continued to talk. "We got a plan. We're gonna stick to it."

"This was always the plan, Stark." Yinsen whispered. How he could talk through the pain, Tony didn't know.

"Come on." He urged once more. "You're gonna go and see your family. Get up.

Yinsen breathed out. "My family is dead. I'm going to see them now, Stark."

Tony stared at him, unable to speak, unable to move. He felt all so hollow inside. Suddenly, the place around them doesn't look like in gods-know-where Afghanistan, but somewhere beyond and far away — where guns and fire and bombs couldn't reach.

"It's okay…" Yinsen said again, softer now, this time. As if the pain and his consciousness were already freeing him. "I want this…I want this…"

Tony managed to crack a smile, though tears were prickling from behind his eyes. "Thank you for saving me."

Yinsen smiled too, probably remembering how wasted Tony was when he first met him back at that conference. "Don't waste it. Don't waste your life."

Tony knew he was referring to more than just his own life.

"Nia."

Nia felt hands on her shoulders.

"Nia — wake up."

It was soon followed by light shaking.

"Nia, it's me. Wake up."

More shaking.

"Urania — they found your dad. It's Tony. He's been found."

Urania sat bolt upright as soon as she heard the words. Squinting from the early morning sunlight streaming through the curtains, she immediately saw Pepper's face — a little teary-eyed and smiling. God, Pepper was smiling. When was the last time she did?

"What?" Urania whispered. She couldn't believe her ears.

"Rhodes just called — he found him. They found him. He's alive, Urania." Pepper choked out.

Sudden, hard, heart palpitations weren't allowed during the mornings, but Urania's heart soared. She suddenly felt like she was too light — feeling like she's flying. Feeling as if the heavy burden she had been carrying for too long — for far too long — was lifted from her shoulders. Sheer relief, happiness and joy burst out from her room like fireworks and she found herself laughing — hugging Pepper, who was laughing and sobbing at the same time. Rocket soon joined in, barking like mad, definitely clueless about the fact that he would soon meet the true owner of the mansion. Urania was certain that smiles would be pasted up on everyone's faces — especially theirs.

Mercifully, the storm was already over.

As for now, at least.