Iron Woman - (Fem Iron man X Pepper)

Chapter 4 - Shrapnel

I put on a nice blazer and skirt, with a white blouse, waiting to start.

"Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both? With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line. It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary repulsor technology. They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far. Find an excuse to let one of these off the chain, and I personally guarantee you the bad guys won't even want to come out of their caves. For your consideration, the Jericho." I hold my arms out as it explodes behind me. I smile as others cheer, I point to a small case, opening it to reveal alcohol. "I'll be throwing one of these in with every purchase of 500 million or more. To peace!"

I look down as my phone rings, I sigh and answer the video call to see Obadiah, "Y/N."

"Obie, what are you doing up?" I ask.

"I couldn't sleep till I found out how it went. How'd it go?"

"It went great. Looks like it's gonna be an early Christmas." I smile.

"Hey! Way to go, my girl! I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Why aren't you wearing those pajamas I got you?" I ask.

"Good night, Y/N."

I hang up and get inside the vehicle, "Hey, Y/N." Rhodey smiles as he approaches me.

"I'm sorry, this is the fun-vee. The hum-drum-vee is back there." I point.

"Nice job." Rhodey backs away.

"See you back at base." I wave as we take off.

It was so silent in this vehicle....it was killing me. "I feel like you're driving me to a court-martial. This is crazy. What did I do? I feel like you're going to pull over and snuff me. What, you're not allowed to talk? Hey, Forrest!"

"We can talk, ma'am." One soldier says.

"Oh, I see. So it's personal?" I ask.

"No, you intimidate them." The driver says.

"Good God, you're a woman. I honestly... I couldn't have called that. I mean, I'd apologize, but isn't that what we're going for here? I thought of you as a soldier first." I point.

"I'm an airman." She chuckles.

"Well you have, actually, excellent bone structure, there. I'm kind of having a hard time not looking at you now. Is that weird?" The Soldiers in the vehicle laugh and chuckle. "Come on, it's okay, laugh."

"Sir, I have a question to ask." The soldier in front of me asks.

"Yes, please." I nod.

"Is it true you went 12 for 12 with last year's Maxim cover models."

"That is an excellent question. Yes and no. March and I had a scheduling conflict, but fortunately, the Christmas cover was twins. Anything else?" I ask. The soldier next to me raises his hand, "You're kidding me with the hand up, right?"

"Is it cool if I take a picture with you?"

"Yes. It's very cool." The soldier next to me pulls his camera out and hands it to the soldier in the front seat. "I don't want to see this on your MySpace page." The Soldier puts up a peace sign for the photo. "Please, no gang signs. No, throw it up. I'm kidding. Yeah, peace. I love peace. I'd be out of a job with peace."

"Come on. Hurry up. Just click it. Don't change any settings. Just click it."

As the picture was about to be taken, something hit and blew up the vehicle in front of us. Gunshots were heard and hitting the side of our vehicle.

"What's going on?" I start to panic.

"Contact left!"

"What have we got?" I ask.

The driver stepped out to go into combat and was shot down.

"Jimmy, stay with Stark!"

"Stay down!" The soldier named jimmy says to me.

"Yeah." I nod:

The other Soldier from the front seat got out to shoot but was shot too.

"Son of a bitch!" Jimmy goes out to fight.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Give me a gun!" I yell.

"Stay here!" He yells as he shuts the door. Jimmy turned back around and he was gunned down too, holes piercing the vehicle.

My hearing and senses were dulled as I crawl out of the vehicle, stumbling a bit in the chaos. I get some of my hearing back and run and dive behind a rock for cover. I pull out my phone to contact and call for help when a bomb lands next to me. I look over to see it say: Stark Industries. I try to get up and get away, but I couldn't in time. The bomb exploded and made me fly through the air.

I hit the ground hard, my senses dulled again. I felt a pain in my chest and looked down as I unbutton my shirt to see blood pooling under my white tank top.

As I start to panic...everything turns black.

The last thing I remember before blacking out again is sitting in the middle of a group of men, speaking a language I couldn't understand as someone records us.