Hello, all you people! So, remember when I said a few chapters ago that I would start trying to write daily? Yeah, that SOOOOOdidn't happen, and for that, I apologize. I took a break after a loss in the family, and Just as I was all ready and psyched to write again, my computer broke down and it took me FOREVER to find the files again. I do promise, however, to try and write more frequently now that I'm back on a regular schedule. The story ending is beginning to come together! I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me for the wait. Love and warm cookies to all of you, and remember to review!
Disclaimer: The Avengers continue to be owned by someone other than me. If the owner of Marvel somehow stumbles upon this, please don't sue. They're all yours. You lucky, lucky man.
"Tony, we've got the matches. Only three guys fit the profile we're looking for."
Tony lifted his head up inquisitively. "Only three?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Steve looked over the list again. "Unless your computer is wrong, which I somehow doubt, then yes, only three. It would appear that being a world-class computer hacker, having connections to SHIELD, and having a background in science great enough to possibly figure out how to subdue the Hulk, something which I would add neither you nor Dr. Banner were able to accomplish, is not exactly common."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Of all the times to develop a sense of sarcasm…" He scoffed and set down his tools. After falling asleep at his computers with nightmares for the third time, Steve and Thor managed to convince Tony to spend some time tinkering with Jarvis to help get the AI working at full capacity and to give Tony some time to collect his thoughts. But after around five or six hours, Tony started losing his focus again. The news of a few suspects were just what he needed to get back on his game.
"Well, lay it on me. What've we got?" He picked himself up off the floor and grabbed the half-empty bottle of scotch that lay next to him.
"See for yourself." Steve said as he pushed the reports towards Tony. The billionaire merely raised an eyebrow, showing no sign he intended to take the offering from Steve's hands.
"What the…" After a moment, realization dawned upon the supersoldier. "Seriously? Bruce is out there being subjected to God knows what and you're too good to be handed the files that might help crack the case? Can't you just suck it up and take the stupid files?"
A confident voice behind them chimed in."No, but you can certainly hand them to me."
Both men turned around to find none other than a determined-looking Pepper Potts scrutinizing them.
A small smirk played across her lips as both men stared silently, unsure of what to say. "What, do I have cooties or something? Give me the list for Tony."
Steve cocked his head to the side irritably towards Tony. "What happened to keeping it between you, me, and Thor?"
Tony gave a small shrug back. "I didn't tell her. After we met with Patchy the Pirate back at SHIELD, she said she was headed off to France for a few important meetings and dinners. I figured she'd be gone for at least a few weeks."
"Hello? You realize I'm standing right here and I can hear everything you're saying?" After a moment of awkward silence, she shook her head and sighed. "Look, my meeting had to be canceled; the Prime Minister's mother caught a bad strain of pneumonia, and he decided to postpone the ceremonies. So I hightailed it back here and had Jarvis fill me in on the Jet."
"Damn AI…" Tony mumbled.
Suppressing an eye roll, Pepper grabbed the files out of Steve's hand and began flipping pages.
"On another topic, where is Thor?" Just as the words escaped Pepper's mouth, the demigod strode through the doors and, eyes lighting up at the sight of Pepper, charged forward with a hug awaiting.
"The Lady Potts returns! How was your trip to the land of Thrance?"
Weaseling out of his tight grip, Pepper smoothed her shirt. "Good to see you too, Thor. My trip was fine, although I'm pretty sure you mean France."
Thor shrugged his broad shoulders. "Your geography matters little."
"Thor?" Steve ventured. "Did you get the files all set up?"
"Indeed I did!" The man's triumphant grin was infectious; it was hard for anyone, even Tony to stay gloomy around this guy. "The man in the walls and the ceiling-"
"Jarvis," Tony added.
"-yes, Jarvis, he helped me load all of the files into the main computer, so now we can see them in the air as Tony prefers."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Jarvis, bring up the files." Tony ordered.
"Yes, sir. Which shall we start with?" Jarvis responded.
Rolling his eyes, Tony made a flourishing gesture with his hands. "Whatever your mechanical heart desires, just bring it up."
"As you wish, sir. And may I add that I am ever so glad that you don't have to make do with such a simple 'mechanical heart' as I do…. Oh, scratch that."
Ignoring the faint smirk creeping across Steve and Pepper's faces, Tony stepped forward to address the images being brought up in front of him.
"Tony, meet suspect number one: Andre Rustikov." Steve announced. "Tech genius from Russia, got caught by SHIELD for poking his nose where it didn't belong. After deciding he wasn't as dangerous as they thought-"
"Otherwise meaning he could be swayed to help with money," Pepper added.
"-they kept him on for a bit to help catch other hackers. They let him go a few years back and last reports put him living in luxury in Moscow."
Tony furrowed his brow tightly. "What's the science background? It takes more than a computer program to keep the Hulk quiet."
Pointing to a small blurb floating by Andre's rather intimidating mug shot, Steve continued. "Well, nothing remarkable about him science-wise, but his brother was a major player in the Soviet science community."
Tony took a step back to assess the information in front of him. His steely gaze revealed nothing of his thoughts, putting the others slightly on edge. After a few moments, Steve hesitantly called up the next set of images.
"Next is Caleb O'Malley, a 72 year old Irish scientist who worked with SHIELD for fifteen years before being quietly dismissed."
That got Tony's attention. "Reasons?"
"The public story is that he needed a break for health reasons. However, with the help of Jarvis, we cracked a few extra files. These documents insist the real reason is for inhumane treatment of prisoners via experimentation. Details are fuzzy, but even by SHIELD standards, it wasn't good. "
Pepper looked stunned. "And they just dismissed him quietly and let him go?"
Thor nodded in agreement. "I agree with the Lady Potts. Is this not the type of action that would get one locked away as a punishment?"
Tony stepped forward. "This guy was a big player in SHIELD. Imagine all the company secrets he could leak. Put him in prison and he'll tell every soul within a mile what he knows. Easier to just let him go and pay him to keep quiet. SHIELD doesn't really care about justice, not when put up against its own secrets. If they really thought their privacy was in danger, they'd just as soon kill all of us before let anything big slip."
Everyone quieted down for a moment, absorbing the reality of what Tony had said. However, Tony didn't have time to waste crying over SHIELD's influence; he had to save Bruce.
"Who's the third guy?" Tony said quietly.
"Well, I don't think he's really much of a suspect, the guy has a clean record. I really think we should focus on Rustikov and O'Malley inst-"
Tony snapped. "Did I ask who you thought was the most likely? You told me there were three possibilities, and I'm not prepared to ignore one just because his record's a little bit nicer. Every creep starts somewhere."
Wary of Tony's temper, Steve sighed and brought up the last profile. "This man is Phoenix Walters. He consulted with SHIELD a few times over the past six months. He graduated from Oxford on a complete scholarship with honors and specialized in biology, anatomy, and chemistry. He is also known for creating a few innovative computer programs, some of which SHIELD is preparing to integrate into their systems in the next year or so." Tony looked intrigued, much to Steve's dismay. "Look, Tony, this guy has been nothing but helpful to SHIELD. Every article Jarvis found on him was positive. The only reason I even brought him up is because he fit the profile. Nothing weird about this guy."
The billionaire had tuned out his friend long ago. Now, as he stared at the picture of the scientist, he frowned. Something about those eyes was familiar. Something just felt… off about this guy.
"What's his background?"
Steve looked confused. "Like I said, went to Oxford, majored in –"
"No, I mean before that." Tony retorted.
"Tony, what does this have to do with –" Pepper started.
"Just answer me!"
Steve looked at the pictures and articles in front of him. Then, a concerned frown stole across his features. He took the papers from Pepper and began to flip through them. "Tony… there's nothing here. No records before Oxford."
The inventor raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't feel even a little suspicious to you?"
A crease formed between Pepper's eyebrows. "Tony, just because the internet doesn't have every moment of his life on file doesn't make him a criminal."
Tony spun on his heel to face her. "Really? Someone who fits the profile, has no record whatsoever of their past even though they're apparently smart enough to get a free ride through Oxford and get their systems put into SHIELD to protect their biggest secret has no reason to be suspected? No, let's just focus on the Russian who hasn't left Moscow in years, or maybe on the seventy-year-old Irish immigrant so mentally unstable that he should have been in Girl, Interrupted."
"Tony…" Pepper said cautiously.
"I'm just telling you that this is the guy. I don't know how I know, but I know." For the first time in days, his gaze softened. His mask of confidence and self-assurance had begun to crack, showing the fear and guilt stewing beneath. Pepper knew he couldn't continue like this for long.
Thor cleared his throat, having been mostly silent through the entire process. "I trust the Man of Iron. No mortal seems to have as excellent a grasp on these concepts, or on the Doctor, as he, and if he believes this 'Phoenix' to be responsible, I shall support him." Tony nodded at the god in thanks.
"Alright, I'm willing to pursue this lead if Tony really feels it's the best one." The captain said.
Pepper took a breath. "Well, I suppose that means I'm in, too. Where do we start?"