Iron Soul (Sequel to Iron Vengeance)

Chapter Seven: America, Where Could You Be?

        I wake up, still on the couch. Steve is no where to be found. I push myself up to a sitting position and glance around the living room. I get up and walk out into the kitchen. Steve isn't there either.  I check the bathroom and bedroom too. He's obviously not in the apartment. I rub my eyes and head back into the kitchen. I pull out all the pills I need to take for the day and open the fridge to get a glass of water. I pull out the water pitcher and find a note from Steve in his curly hand writing.

        Jet,

                Went for a run. Should be back soon. I love you.

        Steve

        I sigh and put the note on the counter. I pour myself a glass of water and take the pills. I brew some coffee and toast some bread. I also put together my lunch and grab an extra notebook for the lab. I chew on my toast, watching the news on the small TV. After I finish, I pour my coffee in my to-go mug and pack my lunch in a brow paper bag. I grab all the stuff I need for the  lab and walk out the door. Once I reach the lab I go through the normal procedures. I sit on my stool and glance at the suit. I hit the button on it's arm and pray that it works. Slowly the suit brightens with energy and forms into it's little cube. Thank god! That's one less thing that I need to do. I sip on my coffee and open the new notebook. I lazily design some new weapons, more for fun than for the actual purpose of going through with them.

        Liza walks in, a bag in her hands. I glance up from my work and see the word "Starbucks" printed on it. She smiles at me and shakes the bag. I get up and walk over to her. She opens the bag and hands me a blue berry muffin. I take it from her hands and inhale it's scent. My mouth instantly waters.

        "Thank you!" I say, wrapping her in a tight hug.

        "You're welcome." she says, hugging me back. We both sit at our work benches eating our muffins and scribbling notes and pictures in our notebooks. Bruce walks in, making us glance up from our work. He waves and smiles at us and we return it. I look back at the little cube right next to my notebook. I should probably test if it will attach correctly. I stand up and take a deep breath.

        "Alright, come on." The cube glows and moves toward me. It opens up, putting the suit on me gently. My faceplate lowers, the computer system activating.

        "Everything looks alright from this side." Bruce says, looking at me.

        "How does everything look inside J.A.R.V.I.S.?" I ask.

        "Pretty good ma'am. You have managed to shave off a lot of extra weight and you made the suit more efficient." he responds.

        "That was the goal." I say, smiling.

        "Well you have succeeded."

        "Thank you J.A.R.V.I.S."

        "Not a problem ma'am." I turn around and glance at Liza. She raises her eyebrows at me.

        "What?" I ask.

        "I still can't get used to you being some super hero in some metal suit." she says, her eyes glued to me.

        "It's not just some suit and I'm not just some super hero. I'm Iron Maiden. Suit dismantle." I hold out my hand, the cube falling into it.

        "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever." Liza says through a laugh. I cross my arms and raise my eyebrows at her.

        "Don't you 'Whatever' me!" I exclaim.