Date: 20/04/2009
Location: Over the Pacific Ocean
The first class seats of United Airlines were quite perfect for anyone needing a nap or reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, which Matthew currently was 'browsing' for the tenth time . The flight was going to be six more hours till landing, and it was the earliest flight Matthew could find . He needed to get back home as quickly as possible.
Why?
Well, it all started a week or so ago, Matthew, on a call with Tony, had started a conversation where the topic was actually Stane's whereabouts. Yes, he had asked if Tony was aware of where stane , the lying snake that he is, was currently standing. Because from the camera feed he was currently watching , the suit , which he had thought sabotaged enough to set them back a month or two , was fully finished awaiting a power core.
You know, the thing keeping his brother from croaking where he stood.
And do you know what that Ignorante prick told him? He said :
" Stop looking for reasons to punish stane , he wouldn't ever backstab them. He's like a father to them, and we should have some level of trust."
If anyone were to see the blonde right now , they'd be asking why he was twitching so violently and holding a broken stylus. Here he was telling and then showing Tony that stane is quite literally making a machine of mass destruction and obviously doing it in "secret" but he dismisses it like the last one night stand he'd had.
He couldn't leave right away thanks to the multitude of publicity events he had to go to, some more than others. That was one of the downsides of being the CEO. You had to show up , especially when your publicity manager was breathing down your neck about the entire trip there...
He only hoped he made it back in time before stane got any new ideas about acquiring a mini reactor, and that tony would actually listen to his warning, he did send him a few voice notes about letting Stane anywhere near him, but he expected those to remain untouched.
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"Flight MU6439 from Shanghai to Los Angelus is about to touch down, All flyers please remain seated. We will be landing shortly, I repeat" the intercom sound with the pleasing voice, the calming effect made to cater easy jittery flyers, but the sound didn't assist in his growing anxiety.
The moment the attendant allowed them off, he sprinted, only being stopped by customs. Mason was currently not with him , something about a work thing, although he works for him, but he digressed.
Getting a taxi at the entrance and speedily rattling off his destination and promising extra if he speeds the whole way. He pulled out his tablet , typing out the password for it to open out to the Malibu Mansion's living room. He saw Tony head down into the lab and luckily no Stane, so he was in time .
There was another reason he'd hopped on the first flight here. An intermittent text between stane and his replacement doctor for the injured Montgomery, Levi Harrison, had sent a shiver down his spine.
Harrison
Sir, we are awaiting the news on the new independent power core .
Don't worry, I'm not as incompetent as you lot, I'll get you that reactor from the source.
What do you mean?
You don't worry about that
And get the suit ready, I want immediate testing on the reactor compatibility.
This is what he gets for procrastinating. He should have told Tony sooner. He should have shut stane down the moment he saw that video. It's too late for regret now.
The car pulled up in front of the entrance , and Matthew thanked the driver with enough funds to fund the average month's salary. And hurriedly brought his stuff to the door.
The night air raising the hairs on his skin, usually he'd stopped to admire the view, but right now was not the time to get spaced out. He had one mission, and it was to get there before Obi does something he can't fix.
Sighing slightly in relief, he fished his key card out of his jacket , about to tap it against the door, when a piercing whine sounded near his ear. His body stiffens , veins appearing along his skin, as his muscles seize and spasm.
Stane caught his wide-eyed form as it turned to dead weight, unable to even defend himself.
" You know, you almost made it . But you weren't fast enough , son, " Stane taunted. His political smile formed on his face.
Matthew wanted to scream, yell out, something to give warning to the person just beyond the doors, but his body wasn't listening, and stane was injecting something into him. The likes blurring, leaving him only with the last image of men taking him and Stane smilingly saying,
" See you later,"
Before stepping into the home , unnoticed by the occupant.
Leaving him thinking, " Oh fuck ."