Hammer's Payback - Iron Man Fan Fiction (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Chapter 26

Tony rounded up all the muscle and minions and locked them in the fortified compartment he and Pepper had been held in. Mike and the cook, Mel, whom they found in a fetal position in the pantry, got to ride without being locked up, but everyone was going to be detained for questioning when the Villa reached U.S. soil.

Tony heard through the earbud that Virginia was surfacing so Lt. Col. Rhodes could assume custody of Justin Hammer. Tony was a little fuzzy on how they were going to explain it to the powers-that-be, but that admiral friend of Rhodey's promised to handle it. Evidently, the entire United States military considered Justin Hammer guilty of treason. He had used all their logos and played their anthems right before his drones went on a rampage, killing civilians, destroying property, and undermining public trust in the military to something barely short of Vietnam levels. As they were presently outside of American jurisdiction (monumentally stupid move on Hammer's part), the Navy had a little leeway to bend the rules.

Tony triggered the Mark V back into its suitcase and then he paid a quick visit to the docked submarine to get the tools to free Pepper from the Mark VI. Besides the tools, it was high time he met Bob. A short, stocky man offered his hand as Tony cleared the ladder.

"Bob Keckle?" Not that it could be anyone else.

"That's me. An honor to meet you, Mr. Stark."

Tony took his hand and shook. "Call me Tony." A lot of people who had never done anything but mooch at his parties would presume that much familiarity. This guy probably saved his and Pepper's lives.

"Tony. Sure." He smiled amiably, but he still looked rather starstruck.

"And thank you. You did way more than I ever prepared you for. You risked a lot and you hadn't even met us."

"Don't give me too much credit. That CEO of yours wasn't going to take no for an answer."

Tony's head bobbed side to side as he considered. Pepper wasn't physically forceful like Agent Romanoff, but she was a verbal spitfire. If she wasn't even listening to her ex-boss over the JARVIS com-line, there was no way she would have let this unassuming little guy get in her way. "She wouldn't have thrown you out without scuba gear."

Bob laughed. "You're both welcome. I was happy to help." He gestured at the tools on the work bench. "Colonel Rhodes brought those for you. Did he tell you he flew us out here, sub and all?"

Tony tapped his ear. "Yeah, he bragged about it already."

"Hey, bragging rights are mine. I don't know anyone else on the planet who's been in a flying submarine."

"I been meaning to ask, what's her name..." he gestured around at the interior, "your sub, I mean?"

"The Sylvia Earle."

It took Tony a second to place the namesake. He'd never personally met the esteemed ocean scientist, but he'd contributed to her Mission Blue thing. "So Her Deepness is now also Her Highness."

Bob laughed again. It was hard not to like someone who'd saved your life and laughed at your jokes.

"Pepper and I are going to avail ourselves of the amenities on the Villa. The entry corridor is a bit shot up, but there's food and showers if you'd care to join us."

"Oh, thank you, but I'm not going to pass up the chance to explore while I'm out here. This is outside of my normal range."

"You have enough fuel to get back?"

"Oh yeah. Hardly used any at all yet."

"Fuel's on me. That was our agreement."

Bob nodded. "I'll send you the bill."