The Ultimates: Against All Enemies by Alex Irvine Read Free Book Online Page B

talk much more, I'll need a little refreshment. Especially if you're going to break my heart again about my marvelous screener."
    "Are you of the opinion that martinis are going to cure your cancer, Tony? Or are you just a garden-variety boozehound?"
    "In no way," Tony said as he stood, "am I a garden-variety anything. Let's go upstairs." Tony maintained a modest—for him—suite of apartments on the top floor of Stark Industries'
    headquarters. At times he imported Jarvis to work there, when he knew he wasn't going to get home for long stretches, , and Jarvis had a tray of martinis waiting for Tony and Fury when they came out of the elevator into Tony's study. "General Fury," Jarvis purred. 'Your company is far too rare a pleasure, sir." Swiping his glass from the tray, Tony rolled his eyes. "For God's sake, Jarvis. What are you trying to do here? General Fury has closed-minded and brutish superiors! Haven't you heard of don't ask, don't tell?"
    "Don't ask," Jarvis shot back. "And General, you're under no obligation to tell." With that, he left through the kitchen door.
    "You didn't take your drink, Nick," Tony observed.
    "Spare me," Fury said.
    Now it was Tony's turn to roll his eyes. As he did it, he thought, my God, sometimes I come across just like Jarvis.
    As if he'd read Tony's mind, Fury quirked a smile and said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
    "Go to hell, General Fury," Tony said with a grin. "Now, what was it you wanted to talk about again? Ah; wait. I remember. We talked about the toy, so now you must be waiting to hear about Stark Industries'
    fiscal responsibility, as well as my reaction to the news from Washington. Which, since you haven't given it to me, I j assume must be bad."
    "Bad for you, yeah," Fury said.
    "I'll be honest with you, Nick," Tony said. "I'm trying to be a good citizen and do the right thing for my company at the same time. Do you see my conflict?"
    The phone rang. "It can wait," Fury said.
    "Not when this line rings, it can't." Tony picked up.
    "Tony, it's HankPym."
    "Well, Doctor. How can I help you?"
    "I need to ask you a favor."
    "A favor," Tony repeated.
    "Nick won't take my calls, and I need to get a message to him. This is crucial, Tony. What if I told you there were still Chitauri around?"
    "Oh, for God's sake," Tony said. "Call back when you're taking your meds again." Listen to me, Tony thought. If Hank Pym wasn't a wife-beating sycophant, I might actually feel badly about the way I'm lying to him. He hung up.
    "That wasn't Hank Pym, was it?" Fury asked.
    "Nope," Tony said. "Business. This line's too important for troglodytes like Pym."
    "Pretty short for such an important call," Fury observed mildly.
    "I know how to get to the point."
    "Okay, then I will, too. I hear you talking about con-flict, and I get a little worried about what I'm not hearing you say." Fury sat in one of the chairs Tony had turned toward the window. "Believe me, Tony. I know how you feel."
    "No, you don't," Tony said. "I might have made six hundred million dollars this year on those screeners." For a long moment Fury was silent. Then he stood back up and said, "That's one of those comments that makes it hard for me to spend time around you."
    "Oh, General Fury," Tony said. "You're not still mad about my little demonstration the other day, are you? Come on. You were the one I needed to convince."
    "That's got nothing to do with it. What worries me is that there was a leak, and I don't think it came from SHIELD."
    Tony noticed his drink was already gone. He called for another, mostly to give himself time to cool off Banter was one thing, the kind of bullshitting you did with people you worked with. It was something entirely different when someone who ought to know better—a friend, no less—accused you of being the source of a serious security breach. Jarvis brought the drinks and, sensing the tension in the room, left without comment. "Okay, Nick," Tony said. "Apart from a desire to cover your