"Good morning sleep head"
I was looking at Maya in front of me, with Pepper help i made sure she was secured to the chair, I don't think she will run, but I can't be one hundred percent sure that she won't play any trick.
It took sometime to came here, we are in Miami in a house that I rented sometime ago, I knew that Killian has a base of operation here, the problem is that I don't know the exact whereabout, that's why I took Maya Hensen with me.
I spent a lot of time thinking of what should have been the best course of action, in the beginning I was thinking that my knowledge of the films will suffice, but with time I realized how lacking it was for example how much time pass from one scene to another, it can make the difference from success to failure and failure is not an option.
"Arthur..." I could see some guilt in her eyes, I know that she isn't completely a bad person, but not a good one either, she is guilty of too many crimes to just forgive her.
"W..Where are we? How did you escape?"
"You are in no position to ask question Doctor Hensen.."
All I did was staring, to give her some pressure.
"Arthur, please I know you are angry with me I..I don't know how you are still alive, but you have to let me go, you know how dangerous Killian really is, he won't stop until he finds me...he will kill everyone who stand in his way.." I knew what she was trying to do, but it won't work.
"Stop this nonsense Maya, if I was scared of him I wouldn't have came back. And you know...I am not angry with you, we are well beyond that point. Your hands are bloodied, for the sake of completing your research you didn't stop before any cruelty, for god sake you went as far as helping Killian in creating a fake terrorist, you have long lost your soul.
Now, focus I need you to answer only one question, Where is Killian? where is his base of operation?"
what I said had an impact in her I coul see it because her eyes were watering.
"why should I tell you?"
"That's because it is in your best interest, tell me... have Killian any clue that I survived?"
"No..."
"That's good. You disappeared, just like me, he will think you betrayed him.."
"No, he trust me and I sent my position before you kidnapped me."
"That's true, but you see I was ready for that"
Using a tablet i show her a video. In the video you can see the car that Pepper and Maya used to go the Hotel, Killian can be seen entering the building while some of his guards stay back to block the exits.
"This is when it gets interesting.."
Killian get out the building with fast steps and started to shout order to the men to search for any clue in the car, as soon as his men opened the door, well...the one that did it was an empowered individual with [Extremis] he kinda ripped that off, the car blows up killing him, as I said [Extremis]'s regeneration power is amazing, but can't save you from a lethal blow.They will think it was some kind of bomb, but in reality I engraved an exploding rune near the tank of the car.
It wasn't an automatic function, I used something similar to a remote rune sigil to do it, while checking the situation through the camera...I acted with caution, i don't want to kill any innocent.
Anyway I could see the color leaving Maya Hensen's face, that was satisfactory.
"And now you know, Killian will think that you prepared a trap for them.You should be grateful...I am actually saving your life.Speak"
"You changed a lot Arthur, I don't recognize you.."
"you never knew me Maya..."
She started to cooperate promptly.
----------
My relationship with Pepper Potts quickly developed in one of friendship, saving her surely helped. We talked a lot during our trip here,explaining her who I was and what was happening, her curiosity to know more about this secret kept her from fleeing. She even helped me scanning Maya's body in case she had some tracker on like I did, luckily she didn't, seems like Aldrich trusted her a lot.
"Ok, now everything is ready Ms. Potts did you finished your calls?"
"Yes I also contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. they will come here to arrest Maya I told them what we decided earlier but are you sure you don't want them to know who The Mandarin really is?"
"Well, they will eventually find out, but it will take them sometime...this is somenting I have to do, your boyfriend will probably join, but I don't want SHIELD to step in."
"Tony will?"
"call it a hunch"
"i see...I never thanked you for saving me so thank you and i already told you to call me Pepper, Arthur"
"i see ...Than goodbye Pepper" I said with a smile.
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Fully geared up I infiltrated the mansion, I was wearing my Kamar-Taj clothes, they were the most comfortable clothes I had while fighting so I enchanted them with some runes,it is only a temporary suit through, The Golden Fleece was on full display and my new sword Galatine was in my hand...people with my same power abait unstable are lurking here I cannot hold back.
While i was stealthy advancing I suddenly heard a fire shot coming from the first floor of the building... I sped up, I could see 4 guards moving towards where the sound came from.
I didn't have much time, I powered up my legs by concentrating [Extremis] in them and shot towards the guards, they weren't expecting me so I was able to kill the first one without any issue, the second and the third radiated their weapon, while the fourth started to emitting a heat similar to mine, I didn't wasted time, I rotated my body and with my sword I cut the second gurd arm, not wasting my momentum I threw my sword to the third one, piercing his abdomen.
The fourth one finished his preparations and jumped on me, I retreated avoiding his first punch, but I wasn't fast enough to avoid his second one to my chest, I retaliated by delivering a powerful kick on his side, he wasn't expecting my strength to be so great and groaned in pain while flying 4 meter to the left.
I toke back my sword, it was day and I could feel the sword giving me strength as the time passes, I concentrated Mystic Energy and [Extremis] in it, Galatine started to glow and white flames spark can be seen on the blade appearing and disappearing soon after. I took a trusting position, the empowered soldier charged toward me in anger, he didn't even notice the sword glowing, I trusted forward, a white beam of energy traveled the distance in a moment and hitted him on the chest destroying his heart in the process.
That shot drained me of a lot of energy, I am not yet proficient with this sword I need more time to practice.
I run toward the first floor, the guards here were already dealth with, I reached the bedroom and see what was happening.
Tony Stark was pointing a gun towars the actor Trevor aka the fake Mandarin, but he didn't notice Eric Savin, Killian right hand, getting near him.