Earth-717: Iron Maiden Vol 1

Chapter 6: Waiting

"Ah!"

Tasha felt the fuel cells inside the suit run out as her upward climb stopped. She had only planned for a ten second flight, but she still began to panic as she looked down at the grass rushing to meet her. Wincing, she braced herself as the suit crashed into one of the hills in the Chinese plains. Groaning and coughing, she slowly opened her eyes as her bones screamed in pain.

Her chest to the ground, Tasha placed both of her palms on the grass and pushed upwards. Adjusting herself into a sitting position, she shook her head and breathed deeply for a few seconds. Looking down, she noticed that several pieces of the armour had already fallen off her body and were strewn around her, including the entire arm piece for her left arm. Exhaling again, she tore her face mask off and tossed it onto the grass. Sputtering, she used her bare left hand to wipe her mouth.

"Bleh."

She then pointed her armoured right arm into the sky and fired a flare. Placing her back against the ground, Tasha watched as the flare soared into the sky. It left behind a faint trail of smoke as it rocketed upwards. As she watched the glow of orange light, she thought back to her demonstration of the Vindicator missiles. As the time went by, she allowed herself, for the first time in years, to think about her past.

"Don't touch that, Tasha."

Tasha scowled as Howard lightly tapped her hand with his. She withdrew her hand from the machine he was working on.

"But Papa . . . ."

"I already told you. I'm working right now. Weren't you building something in your room?"

Tasha frowned.

"I already finished my engine," replied Tasha. "That stuff is boring. I want to see what you are up to."

Howard sighed and shook his head. He placed his wrench on his work bench and walked over to Tasha. Standing in front of her, he placed his hands on his hips.

"What?" asked Tasha.

"My lab is no place for six year olds, regardless of how talented they are at engineering."

He crouched down and looked directly into her eyes.

"Papa, you know I'm smart enough for this . . . ."

"I know," said Howard. "That still doesn't change that there are rules in this house, and one of them is that you cannot be in the lab. Go build something even better than your engine and tell me about it when it's done."

"I don't want to build something, I want to . . . ."

"Why don't you go ask Warren to fire up the jet? Ask him to take you somewhere. I hear that Singapore is looking lovely right now."

Tasha sighed and frowned as she looked into Howard's eyes. She then started to reach out with her arms.

"Can I get a . . . ."

Howard's eyes widened as he heard his phone ringing. He immediately stood up.

"One moment, pumpkin."

Howard ran over to his desk and grabbed the phone off the table. Placing it to his ear, he looked away from Tasha.

"This is Stark."

Tasha lowered her hands and shook her head as she exhaled.

"No, tell him that I need those designs ready for the presentation on Wednesday . . . ."

"Papa."

Tasha looked up at Howard as he continued to talk.

"This is business, Jim, there are deadlines to meet . . . ."

"Papa!"

Howard continued to talk and turned away from Tasha.

"I'll draw up some new schematics for him . . . ."

Tasha frowned and shrugged, before turning away and walking out of the room. She stopped at the door of the lab, placing one hand on the door. Taking a moment, she looked back at Howard. He was still talking on the phone, and was pacing around the room as he did so. She stared at him for a few seconds before closing her eyes and walking out the door and down the hallway towards her room.

Tasha blinked as that memory faded into another.

"Come on, Oby, we're going to be late!"

Tasha laughed as she guzzled the last of the beer in her can before she tossed it to the ground. She then looked behind her to see Stane, his hands in his pockets. She smirked as she looked at him. His dishevelled black hair, thick glasses, smooth, youthful face and collared shirt all contributed to his image. She then looked up to the guy standing next to her and smiled. Zeke had his arm around Tasha's shoulders. He was at least forty centimetres taller than her, and was wearing arm bands and casual clothes.

"Oby," said Zeke. "Stop being a geek and get over here. I don't even know why I brought you, to be honest."

Stane shook his head as he caught up to them.

"I've told you both before," said Stane, "I hate that name."

"And I hate having such a stuck-up nerd for a little brother," replied Zeke.

Zeke punched Stane in the shoulder with his free hand. Tasha laughed. Stane fumed and rubbed his shoulder.

"Lighten up, Obadiah," said Tasha.

"I'm not even sure why I'm here," stated Stane. "I'd rather be . . . ."

"At home, doing nothing fun," interrupted Tasha. "Because you're a nerd."

Tasha laughed as she shrugged Zeke's arm off her shoulder. She walked up to Stane, who was staring at the ground, his hands still in his pockets.

"Don't bother, Tash," said Zeke. "He ain't worth the effort."

Tasha looked back at Zeke.

"Go on ahead. Get us good seats. We'll catch up."

Zeke shrugged.

"Alright."

Zeke turned around and continued to walk down the field. Tasha look back at Stane and placed both of her hands on his shoulders. Stane was still looking down.

"Hey . . . . are you okay?"

Stane shook his head.

"His punch really hurt," said Stane.

Tasha sighed. Moving to his side, she placed both of her hands on his bruised shoulder and began to rub it. Stane winced a few times before relaxing.

"Is that better?"

"Yeah," said Stane. "Thanks."

Tasha grabbed both sides of Stane's face and pointed it at hers.

"Hey . . . . look at me."

Stane frowned.

"Don't worry about Zeke," said Tasha. "He's fun, but you definitely got all the intelligence in the family. It will all work out, buddy . . . . don't you worry. I'll take care of you. I always have."

"I just don't see why you're with him instead . . . ."

"Tasha!" shouted Zeke from afar.

Tasha turned around to look at him, letting go of Stane's face.

"Hurry up, will ya?"

"Alright!" yelled Tasha. "We're coming!"

Tasha turned back to Stane.

"What were you saying, love?"

Stane sighed.

"Don't worry about it."

Tasha smiled and reached out her hand. Stane looked at it.

"Come on, let's get going."

Stane looked at her and back at her hand. He slowly reached his out and grabbed hers. She grinned and then looked forward as she began walking down the field. Stane kept pace with her, smiling behind her back as she led the way. Tasha lightly squeezed on Stane's hand. As Stane's breathing accelerated, she let go of his hand. Stunned, he looked down for a moment and then forward to see that they had caught up to Zeke, who now had his arm around Tasha's shoulders again.

"Tasha?"

Tasha blinked as she looked forward at the coffin.

"Tasha?"

Tasha looked down at her hands. They were in long, laced black gloves. She then looked to the right to see Stane standing there, in a suit.

"Obadiah."

"Are you going to be okay?"

Tasha looked around to see the crowd dispersing. She looked back at the coffin. She felt the large, black hat on her head dip into her view. After taking a few moments to look at the photo on top of the coffin, she turned back to Stane. Choking back tears, she weakly smiled.

"I will be . . . . in time."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. I mean . . . . we barely spoke most of the time . . . ."

"I know he was the only family you had . . . . I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you."

Tasha smiled at Stane. She then reached out and hugged him. Taken aback for a second, Stane then placed his hands on her back.

"Thank you, Obadiah," said Tasha. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Stane weakly smiled as he closed his eyes. He felt Tasha's chest against his as she slowly breathed. After a few seconds, she let go and smiled at him. She then kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks."

Tasha then turned around and began walking down the hill towards the line of limousines on the road. Stane put his hands in his pockets and looked back down at the ground.

Tasha blinked one last time as she heard the rotors of a helicopter.

"Huh?"

Tasha blinked a few more times as she saw a helicopter in the air, lowering itself towards her. Her eyes widened as her mouth parted in a large smile. Using the last of her strength to push herself off the ground, she began to strip pieces of the armour off as the helicopter landed next to her. Looking at it, she saw Rhodes jump off the chopper, followed by a couple of soldiers. Rhodes ran up to her and crouched next to her.

"Tasha!"

"Rhodey!"

Rhodes smiled and laughed as he pulled her in for a hug. After letting go, he placed his arms around her shoulders and legs, pulling her off the ground.

"Let's get you home."

Tasha sighed as she placed her head against Rhodes' chest. He carried her over to the helicopter and placed her inside. Sitting her down, she looked over to her left to see Stane sitting there. Rhodes and the other soldiers clambered back into the helicopter. Rhodes waved his arm, and the pilot began lifting the helicopter into the air.

"Oby!"

"Tasha!"

Tasha reached out and hugged Stane.

"I'm so glad you're here," said Tasha.

"I'm so glad you're alive," replied Stane.

After letting go, Tasha sat back in her seat, closing her eyes. Stane smiled and looked over at her before looking out the side of the helicopter. He narrowed his view as he saw the pieces of armour strewn on the grass of the hill.