Earth-717: Iron Maiden Vol 1

Chapter 2: Preparation

Christian's sleep was interrupted when he felt the rays of the morning sun hit his eyes. Moaning, he attempted to endure the rays for a few seconds before putting up his hand. The heat of the sun massaged his skin, but he could feel that he would not be able to sleep any longer. Opening his eyes, he pushed himself up and off the mattress to see that he was alone, the sheets covering most of his body.

"Good morning, sir."

"Ah!"

Christian almost fell off the bed out of shock in response to the computerized voice he heard. It was a female voice with a British accent.

"The time is seven fifty-four AM. Sunny skies are expected the entire day. Do you require a refreshing beverage?"

"Who are you?" asked Christian.

"I am Just A Naturally Intelligent Computer Entity, otherwise referred to as Janice. I am Ms. Stark's personal artificial intelligence assistant. I manage the household and all of Ms. Stark's projects."

"Where is Tasha?"

"Ms. Stark is in the lab," replied Janice. "She has been there for over an hour. Your clothes have already been cleaned and pressed, and are available at the laundry console in the right-hand corner of the room, next to the door."

Christian looked over to the right with bewilderment. Walking over to the laundry console, a flap opened and held out his clothes, perfectly folded and clean. He grabbed the shirt and smelled it. Nodding his head, he quickly got himself dressed. As he was putting on his watch, he walked up to the other side of the bedroom, with a massive glass window where the wall should be. It showed a view of the Pacific Ocean, as the house was plugged into the side of a cliff face.

He then turned to the door and opened it, walking through to the main living area. As he did, he was approached by Pepper, who was in a black business dress. Holding her clipboard, she walked up to Christian.

"Mr. Everhart," said Pepper.

"Do I know you?"

"No," replied Pepper. "My name is Patricia Potts."

"Pepper Potts?"

"Yes."

"You're Tasha's secretary, right?"

"That's a gross over-simplification," answered Pepper. "I manage all of Ms. Stark's daily appointments, keep track of the household duties that Janice cannot handle, maintain all levels of communication between Ms. Stark and her employees, screen all incoming messages, assist with cooking where necessary and attend to any other needs that Ms. Stark requests that don't necessarily fall under my direct job description, but yes, if you wish, you may refer to me as a secretary."

Christian's eyes widened.

"Okay . . . ."

"As with all of Ms. Stark's house guests, a car has been prepared for you that will drop you off at any location of your choosing free of charge."

"Uh, the house computer . . . ." started Christian.

"Janice," said Janice.

"Janice, right . . . . she said that Tasha was in the lab."

"Yes?"

"Can I see her?"

"Well, I suppose . . . . but she usually doesn't like being disturbed while she's working," said Pepper. "It's down the circular stairs."

Christian looked behind him to see the stairs and then gave Pepper a thumbs up. She nodded but then rolled her eyes when he turned around. He walked down the circular stairs. As he did, he began to hear a loud song behind played. He recognized it as Scorpions' "No One Like You". Looking around once he reached the bottom, he saw Tasha sitting on a stool, with only a T-shirt, panties, gloves and welding mask on. She was holding a miniaturized blowtorch over a piece of cylindrical metal. Christian watched her work for a few seconds before knocking on the door. She didn't respond.

"Hey!"

The music turned off and Tasha folded up her welding mask. She looked at Christian with a confused look for a moment as she chewed the gum in her mouth.

"You're still here?"

"Yeah . . . ."

"Didn't Pepper get your car?"

"She did . . . . but I wanted to talk to you for a second."

Tasha narrowed her eyes and tilted her head slightly to the side.

"I wanted to know what you're doing next week . . . ."

"Stop right there, cowboy," said Tasha. "I hope you didn't fall in love last night, although I wouldn't blame you if you did. I'm not into the whole 'going steady' thing . . . . especially with unprofessional journalists."

Christian scoffed.

"Unprofessional . . . .?"

Tasha smirked.

"I wouldn't try to run your little exposé now, considering how close you got to a primary source."

Christian furrowed his brow. Tasha chuckled.

"But . . . ."

"Here's how this works, cowboy," explained Tasha. "I got on, you got in. I got off, now you get out. You want another round, make an appointment with Pepper, but if you start bringing up 'dates' and shit like that then you're looking in the wrong place, bucko."

Christian exhaled loudly and then turned around and walked upstairs. Tasha smiled to herself before blowing a bubble with the gum. After it popped she spun in her chair and turned to look back at the piece she was working on before Pepper walked down the stairs.

"You're going to be late for your appointment in China," said Pepper.

"Who makes appointments in China?" asked Tasha.

"You did," answered Pepper. "Weapons test for the tridium missiles."

"That sounds like something that Obadiah would schedule. Nerd."

"He had to, because you weren't paying attention to the messages he was sending you."

"Of course I pay attention to . . . ."

"Janice? How many unopened messages does Ms. Stark have from Obadiah Stane?"

"Four hundred and fifty two, ma'am."

Tasha put on a straight face.

"Okay, maybe I haven't been paying attention the last few days . . . . the point is, relax, Pep, I'll make it in time."

"Obadiah was expecting you at the airfield in about thirty minutes."

"Ace. I'll be there."

"It's a seventy minute drive."

"Then I'll take the Murciélago," replied Tasha. "I'll be there with time to spare."

"The average level of speed required for such a task would be highly illegal, ma'am," said Janice.

"Oh come on, if I get pulled over I'll just flash the cop," said Tasha. "I'm a celebrity! I can get away with things like that! Why does everyone have to get all uppity around me? Just relax!"

"You're making that very difficult, Tasha," said Pepper.

"I can make it not difficult," said Tasha. "I could get you a glass of wine."

"Have you already been drinking this morning?"

"Is that even a legitimate question?"

Pepper rolled her eyes and turned around.

"Pep . . . . Pep!"

Pepper walked up the stairs without responding. Tasha threw up her arms and then put them back down. Sighing, she spun around on her stool.

"I believe Ms. Potts might be slightly perturbed about something, ma'am."

"Thanks for the deduction, Sherlock."

Stane sneered as Tasha pulled up to the plane in her Lamborghini. She had her sunglasses on. Looking at Stane, she smiled and waved, and Stane weakly smiled and waved back. Clambering out of the car, Tasha walked around it and then ran up the loading stairs.

"You're late," said Stane.

"Correction," said Tasha. "I'm fabulously late."

"That's hardly . . . ."

Tasha grabbed Stane and kissed him on the cheek. His eyes widened.

"Don't worry about it, baby," said Tasha. "Let's just get a move on and we'll blame it on the traffic."

"Aerial traffic?"

"Just calm down and get on the plane already."

Tasha walked in, followed by Stane. Taking a seat at the main table, Tasha kicked up her feet and placed them on top of it. Stane sat down next to her. A blonde flight attendant walked up to the table. She smiled at the two of them.

"Do you require anything, Ms. Stark?"

"A drink. No ice, no drink. Just your name and number on a piece of paper in the glass. Wouldn't want it getting wet, now would we?"

The attendant laughed.

"Anything for you, Mr. Stane?"

"Just a Coke, thanks."

"Screw that!" exclaimed Tasha. "I want some scotch."

The attendant nodded and turned around. The plane began to take off.

"Don't be a pansy, Oby," said Tasha. "Have a drink with me. A real drink."

"You know that I don't drink alcohol, Tasha," replied Stane. "And I've told you over and over that I hate that name."

"Ah, who cares what people call you? You're rich! I'm rich! We've got it made, Obadiah, but you're still always so tense. You need to relax. Alcohol can help you with that."

"I've been perfectly fine my entire life without it."

"I know," said Tasha. "I've had to put up with you this long."

Tasha laughed as Stane rolled her eyes.

"Jeez man, do you ever have fun?"

Stane pulled out his phone after hearing the message alert.

"On occasion."

"Who you texting? A girl?"

"No."

"A guy?"

"Your investigative skills are impeccable," said Stane.

"Oh, don't give me that," said Tasha. "I get enough of that from Janice."

Stane finished typing his message and sent it off. The attendant arrived with an open coke and a glass of scotch, handing the beverages out.

"Thank you," said Stane.

Tasha took a large sip of her drink.

"No, seriously, who are you texting?"

"No one in particular."

Tasha narrowed her eyes.

"Obadiah Stane keeping secrets? That's not like you, buddy."

"I don't have to share everything with you, Tasha."

"Fair enough. Have it your way."

Tasha took another sip of her drink. Stane put the Coke can to his lips and drank in. As he did, he looked over at Tasha, who wasn't paying attention to him. He then finished his sip and placed the can back on the table. The attendant returned with a remote.

"Ms. Stark?"

"Yo."

"You have a video call. An Aldrich Killian? He says that he had an appointment to speak with you."

Tasha raised an eyebrow.

"Sure, put him through."

The video screen in front of the table lit up. On the screen was the face of a handsome, blonde man with slicked hair and a strong jaw line. His blue eyes seemed to pierce through the screen. Tasha took another sip of her drink.

"Tasha Stark," said the man. "So nice to finally see you again."

"Again?"

"My name is Aldrich Killian. We actually met a few years back at a scientific conference in Switzerland . . . . I'm not sure if you'd remember."

"Not quite," replied Tasha. "So, Mr. Killian, what can I do for you?"

"I am the leader of a scientific corporation named Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM for short," started Killian. "I have become aware of your recent breakthroughs with your arc reactor technology."

Stane looked at Tasha for a moment before looking back at the screen.

"Your work with energy syphoning is quite fascinating to several of my team members, since we are working on similar projects. I wanted to know if we could bring you in for a consultation on the matter, and perhaps bring AIM in on the arc reactor project. I have some incredible minds who would love to work with you."

"Well, Aldrich, it seems like you want my help . . . . but what would I be getting from you, exactly?"

"I assure you, our scientific expertise would be most helpful in taking the arc reactor technology to even greater lengths."

"I'm not so sure . . . ."

Stane looked at Tasha again.

"Look," started Tasha. "I already have my hands full with Project Pegasus. Bringing in another major player at this stage is risky. I'll think about it, but I can't guarantee anything."

"I understand completely," replied Killian. "Keep in touch, Ms. Stark. AIM has had its eyes on you for quite some time."

The video feed cut out. Tasha finished her drink, and beckoned for the attendant to bring her another.