The Unknown Variable
(Beta'd as of 1/25/14)
If anyone else things I own anything, I shall feed you to the dragon I have in my closet. Thank you.
Tony's POV
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to calm my breathing and fluttering heart. Not only was Obadiah, my oldest friend and partner, going behind my back, but Penny had run off to God knows where.
Her bracelet was broken; Jarvis said that she had smashed it.
It had been hours now and I had no idea what to do. I didn't know where she had gone, or why she left.
"Damn, I knew I should have put a tracker in those cuffs!" I cursed, throwing a stapler at the wall to satisfy my anger.
"Sir, I am sure she is alright. She is very resourceful and talented." Jarvis said, trying to sooth my worries.
I snorted, of-course I knew that. But it didn't help. Even Jarvis was worried, you could tell.
I had thrown my efforts into repairing the Mark Three when Penny left, hoping that I would be able to find her using the suit. But it was pointless. She could travel the globe in a heartbeat, and could deactivate any bug or electrical device she wanted. She wouldn't be found if she didn't want to be.
Putting my tools away with a sigh I walked upstairs. I needed something to eat, something sweat.
'Curse Penny promising me off alcohol.' I thought to myself. After we got back to Malibu I had sworn, to both Penny and on Evanna's grave that I would stop with the constant drinking.
As I reached the top of the stairs, the phone started ringing.
"Jarvis?" I asked aloud, looking around. There was no answer, greatly confused I started looking for a phone.
Pepper usually answered the phone, or Jarvis. Digging through the couch I finally found a handset.
'Why do I still have these?' I wondered, seeing Pepper's picture in the caller ID.
I quickly hit the green button and brought it up to my ear, sniffing, trying to block the worry from my voice.
"Tony?" I heard Pepper say at the same time a loud, extremely high pitched buzzing appeared. I froze, my head throbbing and my ears ringing.
I tried to talk, but the pain worsened as I attempted to move, I completely froze up, not even able to breathe.
As Pepper said, "Tony, are you there? Hello?"
The phone was taken from my hand as the ringing increased in my left ear. Fear and panic built up inside of me, but I couldn't do anything. I slumped back against the hand holding my head as all physical actions became impossible, and my body practically turned to lead.
I heard the phone click off, and I was lowered to the couch.
"Breathe." I heard someone say behind me. It took me less than a second to recognize it as Stane's.
I started trembling, side effects from the small device I just knew he was holding. It was a paralysis weapon that Obadiah had been very fond of. However, the government didn't approve, and production was shut down years ago.
"Easy, easy." He said, as my head fell back against the back of the couch. As soon as Obadiah's support left, my whole body just slumped down in a heap.
"You remember this one, right?" he asked, bringing the little device into my line of sight.
I wanted to snap at him and say, 'Of-course I do. I didn't create that one.'
Which was true; one of the other engineers came up with it. The man had been discharged afterwards; his idea's too dangerous and unstable.
For a moment, my anger towards Stane flickered, and I thought 'I'm glad Penny isn't here.' Then, my anger came rushing back full force; hiding the deep betrayal that I also felt.
"It's a shame," Stane continued, clicking off the device. "The government didn't approve it. There are so many applications for causing short-term paralysis."
Oh, how I wished that I had the Mark Three on; I would drop him into the ocean. I didn't understand why he was doing this…he had been my father's best friend, and the one person who listened to me growing up, after Mom died and before I met Evanna.
'Why Obie, money? Power? Girls? I seriously doubt the last one though…' I thought heatedly.
My eyes flickered to Obie as he appeared in my line of vision. Even moving my eyes took a lot of concentration and effort.
Obidiah reached down and turned my head so I could face him.
"Tony," he said, and fear flooded me. This wasn't the Obie I knew, the man who had almost raised me wouldn't be doing this…unless I didn't even know him at all.
He reached up, and removed the small glowing earplugs as he stated, "When I… ordered the hit on you,"
'No, no, no…it couldn't be…Obie wouldn't sell me out…' I thought desperately to myself.
'Everything…all of it… he caused it… HE did it!' I was horrified, and I could barely believe what I was seeing. 'Penny almost died… Yinsen DID die… all because of HIM!'
"I was worried that I was, killing the golden goose." He stated, gazing down at me. Drawing me out of my thoughts.
He took something out of his brief case. Even I wasn't sure what it was…although I didn't really trust my thoughts at the moment…my thoughts had become sluggish and random, and my attention drifted to small insignificant things.
'Did I just think it was funny he called me a golden goose?' I wondered, ok, there was definitely something wrong with my thoughts.
'Shock?' a small part of my brain, that didn't feel sluggish, suggested.
'Funny… that voice sounds like Penny…' my thoughts slammed back into the present as the device was pressed against my Reactor.
'No…no! He can't take that!' I screamed in my mind just as the device started smoking, and twisting around the Arc.
"Armph." I groaned in pain, or tried to at least. My chest felt like fire, and I had trouble focusing on what Obie was saying through the torment.
"But you see, it was just," he slammed the handle down, and I gasped loudly in pain, although I was mentally screaming and crying. "Fate, that you survived that."
'NO!' It was like someone was burning my body, it was intense, it was painful…it…was unimaginable.
I could barely think as Obie… Stane… twisted the device, and lifted the Arc from my chest.
"You had one last golden egg to give." He said, with a very creepy smile.
I focused my blurry gaze on the Arc, it was sitting right there…
A random thought popped into my head before I banished it, 'was he always this creepy?'
I stared into his eyes, daring him…challenging him…
"Do you really think," he said, leaning down closer to me. "That just because you have an idea, it belongs to you?"
Oh, how I want to punch that grin off of his face.
"Your father," he continued,
'You're more alike than I thought.' I hissed to myself through the pain.
"He helped give us the atomic bomb. Now, what kind of world would it be today if he was as selfish as you?" Stane questioned, and yanked the Arc out.
"Ah" was all I managed, instead of the blood curling scream I was hearing in my head.
…my head wasn't working….
Oh, the pain… oh God….the pain…
…I was dying…
My breathing became labored as Stane twisted the Arc around in his hands. He pulled off the device he had used to rip it from my body, and raised it mockingly in front of my face.
"Oh, it's beautiful." He said, staring down at the bright light.
….just a chance…I just needed a chance…I would kill him…
"Oh, Tony," Stane said, a menacing grin appearing on his face, "this is your Ninth Symphony."
He leaned back onto the couch next to me,
…I needed to think…
"What a masterpiece. Look at that." He said,
…help…Jarvis…what happened to him…
"This is your Legacy." Stane said,
'No, Penny is.' I thought as a horrified scream cut through the air.
"Daddy!" My eyes flickered to the top of the stairs, where she stood. Her face was dirty, her eyes red, she was soaking wet and her feet covered in mud. Hope and worry appeared in my chest as the same time. Stane was dangerous, that much was now clear.
But the righteous look of fury that appeared on her face soothed my nerves. He might be dangerous, but so was she.
"I'm his legacy!" She yelled her sparks appearing around her in an electrical storm. It truly was a sight to behold. "And you just PISSED ME OFF!"
She threw her arm out, a large bolt flying from her fingertips. Stane leapt to the side at the last minute.
The bolt impacted the window instead of Stane, shattering the glass and causing a large blinding blast of light.
When my vision cleared, I could hear Stane behind the couch, Penny was charging up Energy Balls, one in each hand. Her eyes narrowed in fury.
"A daughter huh?" Stane said, appearing from behind the couch. I noticed the earplugs and tried to warn her, but it was too late. The device clicked back on, and my body stiffened once again as hers fell to the floor twitching; the energy balls just flickering out as they fell out of her hands.
'PENNY!' I screamed…no… 'DON'T YOU DARE HURT HER!' I screamed mentally, but the only sound I was able to make was a weak moan.
"Well then." He said, as he pocketed the device once again. "It looks like I'll have to take care of you as well. You Starks are more trouble than your worth anyway."
Yes, I know, I'm evil! It's a cliffy! But don't worry; I won't leave you hanging for long.
Hope you enjoyed Tony's POV… not sure how well I did, but hey, I gave it my best shot.
Thanks to everyone and Espacole,
Cp