The Unknown Variable

I have never owned anything that has become a major motion picture, though I hope to someday.

"Still sure you want to go through with this?" I asked my father through the com. link Jarvis had going for us.

"I already told you Pen, this may have been a huge pain for me growing up, but I have to admit. My father had the right idea. If we die…"

"Dad…" I warned him, sipping on my blue drink as Mortem wrapped his arms around me. I was sitting on the couch in the Lab, in Mortem's lap to be precise.

Dad was currently in a cargo plane, getting ready to be dropped over the Expo…which was somewhere in New York State…not City. Not sure why he needed the plane, but I wasn't going to bother asking.

The TV was on and the reporters were anxiously waiting for the official opening of the Exp. I was going to be watching, and talking to Tony through a cloaked Earpiece the whole time.

We stayed up all night talking about our new found (well...sort-of new found) major health issue (to put it lightly) and Tony, at the moment, still seemed to have a small shred of hope that he could fix this.

I, however, lost that hope months ago.

"Pen, I just want to go out with a bang. Alright? I'll talk to you once I'm on the ground…fireworks will be going off and I would very much like to avoid them."

I rolled my eyes tiredly, and Mortem rubbed my back, "You totally just jinxed it…you know that right."

I just heard Tony laugh as ACDC started playing loudly from both the earpiece and the TV.

"Only Dad," I commented, and Mortem signed in agreement.

The television camera zoomed in on the bright figure that was rolling and maneuvering through the fireworks, the tv's showed sky just for a moment, when I heard a large thunk, boom, from the earpiece, before Dad appeared back on screen.

"You hit a firework…didn't you." I teased him, ignoring the constant throb…that not even the fizzy drink could completely disperse.

"Be quiet you." Dad mumbled back, his pride having taken a blow.

"Whatever you say," I snipped back, a smile on my face.

My attention was drawn to the screen as Tony landed on the stage. Sparklers erupted behind him, lights flashed, and scantily-clad girls, all dressed like Iron Man, were dancing behind him.

"Show off, much." I stated, both to myself, Mortem, and my father.

I thought that I looked more like a concert than the opening to the legendary Expo, but hey, it was Tony's ballgame.

Tony waved to the crowd as the girls behind him started doing extremely large kicks, all in a line…that I couldn't for a life of me remember the name of. (Totally real by the way…I can't)

I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Anything to feed your ego."

Finally, the platform that had been built into the stage started rotating, and dismantled the Mark IV in a very…showy display.

The crowd went wild as Tony appeared, in his grey suit (that was slightly baggy to not show his lost weight) without a wrinkle.

"How on earth did he do that?" I wondered to myself.

"Why do you think I used a plane? I would be a mess if I flew here myself." Tony muttered in response, though you couldn't tell at all.

"Your good." I commented lightly.

Tony and the dancing girls all bowed at the same time and I had to roll my eyes. Seriously?

I rolled my eyes again as I glared at the huge American flag that was being displayed on screen…he totally had another reason to do this.

"Trying to remain popular and on the Gov.'s good terms?" I asked him, not really expecting a reply.

"Smart girl," was the low reply.

I seriously had to learn how to talk without appearing to. Dad was an expert.

The song finally ended, and I was glad when the dancers left the stage.

As the camera zoomed in on Tony I couldn't help but chuckle, "Dad, your bow tie is crooked."

"Hmmm…" was Tony reply though the com. as he addressed the crowd.

"Oh, it's good to be back." Tony said with a smile, clapping. "You missed me, I missed you too."

Someone yelled something from the audience and Tony replied, "Blow something up, I already did that."

The audience laughed and I rolled my eyes. Dad was enjoying this…but I could tell his whole heart wasn't in it.

"I'm not saying that the world is enjoying its longest period of uninterrupted peace in years because of me." Tony stated quietly, but the cheering of the crowd stated otherwise.

My eyebrow twitched… "I should have looked over his speech before hand." I stated to myself.

Might have been a good idea Mortem sighed.

I finally noticed the Expo logo on the screen behind Dad, and sighed, that thing could look better.

"I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity…" I rolled my eyes. He had been playing this part… pretending in front of everyone that the cave incident didn't affect him anymore. I knew otherwise. We still had late nights together because of nightmares. "Never has a greater phoenix metaphor been modified in human history.

"I'm not saying, that Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair sippin' on an ice tea because I have a come across anyone who's man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day!"

Tony paused as the crowd went wild, and I heard, from both the com. and the TV as some girl yelled,

"I LOVE YOU TONY!"

I rolled my eyes…that was going a bit far. Dad obviously thought something along those lines as well for he raised his hand and said, "Please," to calm the crowd down.

"It's not about me." A smile appeared on my face, Dad had really changed in the past nine months, some people could see it, and others couldn't. But I was proud of my father.

"It's not about you," My eyebrows narrowed, as I tried to figure out where this was going. "It's not even about us."

The audience went deadly silent, as they too tried to figure out where this was going. "It's about, Legacy, it's about what we choose to leave behind for future generations. That's why, for the next year…"

"The Expo is going to last that long? Dad, how much time and money did you put into this?" I didn't expect a response, but I knew that this was his reason for doing this now.

He wanted to make his mark on the world. But a good one this time.

"You go Dad." I whispered, and I saw a faint smile appeared on his face at my words.

"…that for the first time since 1974 the best and brightest men and woman of nations and corporations the world over, will pool their resources, share their collective division, to leave behind a brighter future."

Dad licked his lips, and for a moment, I thought that I saw a flash of pain on his face "You okay Dad?" I asked.

"Therefore, what I am saying, if I'm saying anything is Welcome back, to the Stark Expo!" Tony announced at the crowd went wild.

I had to say, Tony definitely knew how to work an audience.

"And now, making a special guest appearance from the great beyond to tell you what it is all about. Please welcome, my father Howard." Tony then turned and walked off stage as an old video of Howard started to play.

I turned the volume down, it was a video I myself had seen myself numerous times, looking into Tony's and Howard's past.

I heard Tony sigh over the com. and my brow furrowed as I asked, "You okay dad?"

"Yeah," he sighed, "I'm fine…chest piece just flared up out there."

I sat up straighter, that was another symptom of the poisoning…but it didn't show up for me till I hit 17% toxicity.

"Dad." I stated, my voice gone hard with worry. "Test your blood…that's not a good sign."

"Good thing I brought it with me." Dad muttered under his breath.

There was a heavy paused, before Dad said, "Shit!"

"Dad!?" I asked, now getting really worried. It was at 10% barely twelve hours ago…

"It's at 19% Pen." Tony said gravely.

"Bloody Hell," I swore cursing the acceleration.

"Dad, you know what this means…" I started, but Tony interrupted me.

"I know Penny! I know…" Tony sighed; and he did know. We had done over multiple theories the night before, and while this wasn't concrete yet, if the acceleration continued on this path…

Then Tony had about two weeks to live…

And I only had one.

And so it begins again! Hehe, oh and just so I reassure some people, yes, Thor is going to show up and is going to be a part of this. There, that should make some of you happy.

Oh, and have any of you just really wanted to slap Hammer? I really really want to…just cause.

I'll probably make Penny do it eventually...or humiliate him somehow.

Thanks for everything all of you,
Cp