Iron Man [Book 2]

Building a Weapon

That night, we were in our cave cell. I had started a warm fire, and Stark was staring into it. I was leaning against a far wall, staring at the ground.

"I'm sure they're looking for you," Yinsen told Stark. "But they will not find you in these mountains."

Stark didn't reply.

"What you just saw," Yinsen sat diagonal from him. "That is your legacy."

"That's right," I spoke up, sending a glare to Stark, who briefly glanced my way. "Your life's work, in the hands of terrorists, and murderers."

"Is that how you want to go out?" Yinsen asked. "Is it going to be the last act of defiance from Tony Stark, or are you going to do something about it?"

"Why should I do anything?" Stark spoke up. "They'll kill me, you, maybe her, either way. If they don't, I'll be dead in a week, probably."

We were silent.

"Then this is a very important week for you, isn't it?" Yinsen replied shortly.

Stark continued to look in the fire, thinking of something.

"I know what to do," he said.

The next morning, the terrorists began to carry supplies in the cave that was our cell. Stark was ordering the men about, telling them what he wanted. Yinsen was translating it to the man who made the "agreement" with Stark.

After everything he needed was in the cave, the others left, and we began to work. Well, Yinsen and Stark mainly did the work, but I did pitch in a few times. Stark knew I was ticked off with him, so he rarely asked me to help, unless he really needed me.

"How many languages do you speak?" Stark asked Yinsen.

"A lot," came the reply. "But not enough for this place."

"Who are these people?" Stark asked, taking the inside of a missile out.

"You're loyal customers," I sarcastically replied.

"They call themselves the Ten Rings," Yinsen spoke again.

A few hours later, Stark began unscrewing the bolts holding the frame of a missile together.

"We might be more productive, if you include us in the planning process," Yinsen told.

Stark only hummed in response.

He took a small part of the inside of another missile out. He took a small chip out, and threw away the majority of the piece. Curious, I walked over.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Palladium," Stark responded, holding it up for us to see. "0.15 grams of it. We need at least 1.6."

He looked at Yinsen.

"Why don't you go break down the other eleven?" He continued.

"Let me," I said, still curious.

I walked away to the other parts, and lifted my hands. Eleven missiles floated in the air, and began to dismantle themselves, before finally the palladium chips, were left. The chips landed in my hand, and I carefully set everything else down, before walking back to the two men.

"Is this good enough?" I asked, stretching my open hand out to Stark.

He nodded, surprised at what happened. He then began to make a mold, with a round metal piece in the center. There was a metal cup in the fire, which I made sure was at the right temperature to melt the palladium.

Yinsen took a pair of long tongs, grabbed the cup, and carefully walked over to the mold.

"Careful," Stark told, holding the car battery over his shoulder. "We only got one shot at this."