Castle Doom.

[certaindoom]

Doomstadt is a rather impressive site, and a significant engineering feat. It cuts a majestic profile in the Latverian skyline, and its historic significance is immeasurable. It's also a place no outsiders ever hope to find themselves

Comments

[stark_inc]

Not unless they are rich bored princesses. When it comes to Doom, Tony is the civialian face of the Avenger's financial ability to function. He helps maintain a juggernaut of heroes to oppose the likes of Doom. He works with Reed Richards happily. He is also a business rival providing much of the free world's defense systems - and Symkaria via Sable was a investor in his companies dealing.

Worse, he has to admit as casual as he and Silver's association has been he's grown...attached. He hates that inner white knight sometimes.

Leaving the suit to man the jet, he exits to whatever reception the madman dictator has to offer.

[certaindoom]

The reception is spartan.

A pair of Doombots as escorts for Stark himself, while a platoon of guards remains stationed on the platform to monitor Iron Man in the jet.

Quickly, Stark is separated from his conveyance and taken down a long, elegant hallway.

Toward the throne room.

[stark_inc]

Same old Victor Von Doom.

As much as it gauls him, he knows what the etiquette is and he will follow it to the letter. Before making eye contact, he gets on one knee, bows his head and says in Latvarian, "I come before the wise and honorable Lord of Latveria as you as a representative of the Avengers. I wish to discuss the state of rebellion in Symkaria."

[certaindoom]

Doom's fingers steeple as he regards Anthony Stark, Captain of Industry, bowing and scraping at his feet.

Let him learn humility.

"The Avengers are now interjecting themselves into the geopolitical arena, Stark? I had thought better of them."

[ofthewakandas]

If that isn't enough... this surely will.

While the American industrialist has drawn Doom's attention, no time must be wasted.

The mystic word is given by Jericho Drumm, in mental contact from the Symkarian underground.

The three members of the Wild Pack, merged together in sand form and having slid into position beneath the northwest tower, are suddenly raised upwards like a shot, toward the cell window.

Where they will find Silver Sable, looking a bit gaunt and downtrodden, shackled by the wrists to her spartan bedchamber. Wearing gray rags of clothing in a room lined with sparkling eveningwear and little else. Empty bowls of gruel are stacked at her bedside.

[sandman_baker]

"Boss!" Sandman is at her side in a moment. He almost tears the shackles off... but he catches himself, and checks to see if they're trapped.

[silver_sable]

Silver's hair is shaggy and long. She looks toward Ba.. San... him and blinks. As she blinks again, he sees something he likely thought he'd never see some Silver. There is wetness, just a faint amount, collecting in the corners of her eyes.

The shackles are not trapped but opening them will likely inform Doom in some manner.

"There... Doombots outside the door."

[sandman_baker]

"We're gettin' you outta here, boss." He holds her gently, then tears the shackles off her wrists, ready to cradle her in his arms if she lacks the strength to stand.

[certaindoom]

In the throne room, the disturbance has not gone unnoticed.

The daring tower rescue attempt plays out on monitors before Doom and his guest.

"Sable's minions are opportunistic, it would seem, Stark."

[stark_inc]

Yeah, he figured something like this might happen and he's on his feet when the tremors start.

"I assure you, I know nothing of the sort. Not that I'm not sympathetic, but this interruption is not my doing."

[certaindoom]

Doom, for his part, seems oddly unfazed by this development. At least for the moment.

"Merely coincidental, then, that you should come here to barter for her release, and she is taken by force?"

[stark_inc]

"Completely."

[kingtchalla]

That is the moment, ill-timed for Doom's guest, that the cavalry arrives to transport Sable and her Wild Pack away from Latveria's advancing hordes.

It comes in the form of Iron Man armor. Several of them.

Soaring directly to Castle Doom, peppering the area with repulsor blasts, while four of them sweep to the ground to scoop up their intended passengers - Silver Sable, Sandman, Paladin and Amy Chen.

[certaindoom]

Doom's forces were not expecting this intervention, and as such find themselves disoriented by it. A swath is cut through their advance, giving the Wild Pack time to board the Stark Industries ferry out of Latveria.

[silver_sable]

"Iron Man?"

Silver is very confused about what the hell seems to be happening now. Having been swept up into the arms of an Iron Man suit, she watches as the metal suits pick up herself as well as the other members of the Wild Pack who are here.

[marvel_citizens]

Luckily for Chen the Iron Man suits pick her up just as she was trying to figure out how she was going to avoid the spinning rotorblades of the solo chopper. She looks somewhat awkward being rescued.

[certaindoom]

Doom himself watches for a moment as this new twist is unveiled.

Without a word, a magnetized stasis lock is activated on the landing pad to hold the Quinjet in place, and thus the Iron Man armor remaining in the pilot seat.

"Guards!" Doom bellows, as foot soldiers and Doombots alike surround Anthony Stark, the interloper with unmitigated gall.

"Seize this enemy of state. He replaces Silver Sable as our prisoner... but he does not get to see the sun."

[stark_inc]

He knows now exactly how T'Challa set him up for all this. He's torn between being very, very angry at the pirated tech and being slightly amused at the proceedings. It mollifies him a little he can see that the pirated versions, though effective, are not nearly as agile or silent as he would design, but they are giving him an idea.

"You'll never get away with this Doom! I'm being framed!"

[certaindoom]

"Possible, Stark," the voice behind the mask growls as the Doombots begin to drag him away. "For all your attempts at secrecy, your technology does tend to fall into the wrong hands."

Doom's eyes remain fixed on the monitors before him.

"Perhaps it is time you paid the price for such failure personally.'

[stark_inc]

"In case you hadn't noticed," he notes dryly. "Someone else owns Stark, Incorporated at this point. I was declared 'dead,' remember?"

Nice cover for all this. It's the first time someone else owning his family's company has given him an edge. Doom's distraction also serves as a good way to cover him examining the Doombots that are holding him and plotting an escape.