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I started playing around with the first chapter of "Downtime" but realized that using Fury's POV won't work after writing this out; so now I just have to figure out how to write this as a stand alone piece and change Fury's POV to Tony's in the original rough for Downtime.
EDIT August 8, 2008- Actually, it might work after all. It just doesn't start here!
Edit September 29, 2008- Nope, it's a one-shot.
After more than forty years in the spy business, and three months helping a 51st century ex-Time Agent reprogram a system that monitored a rip in the space/time continuum, there were very few computers that Colonel Nicholas Fury could not break into.
Tony Stark’s was proving to be one of those few.
Please state your name.
Fury glared at the flashing prompt on the screen as he leaned back in his chair. A movement at the edge of his vision drew his attention away from the screen to the robotic arm that had slowly inched its way over to the workstation Fury was sitting at.
“Don’t even think it,” he growled when he got the impression the thing was looking at him. The three pronged hand at the end of the arm rotated a few degrees to the left as if considering how much of a threat he was, and then apparently decided retreating was it best option and backed away a few feet.
Fury turned back to the screen and rolled his good eye when he saw the prompt now said, We are unable to process your request at this time. Please call back later. Deciding he had wasted enough time trying to figure this out on his own, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. When the message Phone not in service came up, Fury typed in a code to force the call through and waited for a response.
When he did get a response, he wasn’t all that surprised to hear the wrong voice answering.
“Yes?” a man’s voice said.
“You’re not Jack,” Fury said.
The man on the other end sucked in a breath, then said in a slightly strained voice, “Uh, lucky guess. Jack’s not available at the moment, can I take a message?”
Having a good idea who it was he was talking to from the accent, Fury answered, “Right. Considering the time over there in Cardiff, and the fact you’re the one answering the phone Mr. Jones, I’m guessing you’re the one on top right now. So, if you don’t mind, could you put Jack on the phone now so I don't I have to deal with him while he’s going through post coital bliss?”
There was an unintelligible sound from Ianto Jones, and then Fury heard the phone switching hands. “Who is this?” Captain Jack Harkness snapped.
“Who do you think it is? You know if you don’t want me to interrupt you Jack, you need to take the batteries out of your phone.”
There was a huff of resigned laughter, and then Jack said, “Hey Nick. Just a sec.” Something covered the speaker on Jack’s end for a moment, then Jack came back on and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve got an AI I can’t seem to get around.”
“And obviously it’s vital to world security that you get around it?”
“Obviously. Unless you’re finally willing to tell me whether or not I get a contract with Stark Industries?”
“Sorry Nick, you know I can‘t do that.” There was bang, a muffled swear word and the sound of a metal file cabinet drawer being closed on Jack’s end of the call.
Fury frowned. “What exactly are you two doing?”
“I’m teaching Ianto the rules to naked hide and seek.”
“You don’t have any rules to naked hide and seek, Jack.”
“He doesn’t know that.” There was a rustle of fabric. “Why are you breaking into Tony‘s computer?” Jack asked.
“You were the one who said I should wait until the world knocked a hole in the kid's heart before approaching him. Going by the video footage his secretary turned over to us yesterday before all hell broke loose at Stark Industries headquarters, I’m guessing that's already happened. I just need proof that Stark wasn’t involved in the illegal weapons deals that his CFO has been arranging before I talk to him about a contract. I suspect the proof I need is here on his computer.”
“What issues are you having with his AI?”
“Every time I break through the security program, it blocks me, resets the program, and then asks for my name.”
“Have you given it your name yet?”
“No. Should I point out this isn‘t exactly a legal break-in, Jack?”
“I kind of figured that one out. However, my guess is that you’re going to have to do what the AI wants. If it were anyone else’s system I’d have a better suggestion, but in this case, you’re out of luck, Nick.”
“Well you’re a big help,” Fury said as he typed his name into the prompt box. A Please stand by sign replaced the box, and then Fury started swearing when he realized the computer was hacking into SHIELD’s servers and that his own medical and security clearance files were flashing across the screen.
“Damn it! What in Sam’s Hill--”
“What happened?”
Before Fury could answer Jack or do anything to stop the download, the files disappeared and a new sign popped up that said, Access granted. Thank you for your cooperation, Colonel Fury. If you have any problems accessing the database, press the help menu icon at the bottom corner of your screen for further assistance.
Fury stared at the screen.
“Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened?”
Fury took a deep breath and slowly let it out before answering. “I think I need to have a serious talk to my tech people when I get back to New York.”
Jack chuckled, and then asked, “I take it you’re in?”
“Yep, and I’m guessing this thing knows more about me now than I do.”
That is correct, Colonel Fury.
“And now it‘s talking back at me.” That just made Jack chuckle some more.
Ignoring Jack for a moment, Fury found and accessed a security file with a time stamp a few minutes after Obidiah Stane’s arrival at the Stark’s mansion the night before. A feeling of morbid astonishment crawled through him as he watched Stane pull a glowing device out of the center of Stark’s chest.
“Okay Jack, mind telling me what the hell that thing in Stark‘s chest is?”
There was a pause before Jack answered cautiously, “It’s called an Arc Reactor. The power source for my wristband is based on that technology. If I remember my history lessons correctly, it‘s what‘s keeping Tony alive right now.”
Fury’s mind flipped that information over in his mind for a few minutes as he switched between video files to watch Stark‘s painful trek down to the workroom after recovering from the effects of the stun. He suppressed a shudder at the sight of the empty gaping hole in Tony Stark‘s chest.
“So you knew he was going to be kidnapped,” Fury eventually stated.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t bother to mention that little fact to him or to me because, if he hadn‘t been kidnapped, he wouldn‘t have built the thing and that would have screwed the timelines?
“Yes.” Jack sighed. “The last thing a Time Agent is supposed to do is sleep with a nexus point in time like Tony Stark but--”
“Uh huh. You haven‘t been a Time Agent in over a century Jack,” Fury said as he cut Jack off. The security feed was now showing Colonel Rhodes helping Stark-- who had filled the hole in his chest with another Reactor-- to his feet. Fury absently nodded his head. Rhodes had also been on SHIELD’s suspect list, but Fury had been sure Rhodes had about as much knowledge of Stane’s deals as Stark did.
Fury shut down the security files. “Okay, I’ve got what I want. Thanks for all your help, Harkness.”
Jack laughed. “Yeah, anytime Nick.”
Fury disconnected the call and was about to put the cell back in his pocket, when it beeped to announce an incoming call.
“Fury. Go ahead.”
“This is Agent Coulson. Mr. Stark has just left his office.”
Glancing over at the line of cars sitting at one end of the workshop, Fury nodded and said, “He’s got the Audi?”
“Yes sir. Do you need us to delay him?”
Opening another set of files, Fury answered, “No, that won’t be necessary, I’m almost finished here. You and your team can call it a night.”
“Yes sir. Coulson out.”
This time, Fury pocketed the cell. Accessed the master manufacturing codes for the Iron Man suit, Fury inserted a track and hack program to be downloaded whenever Stark built or upgraded a suit, and then cleared out all traces of his cyber footprint before shutting down the system.
He sat in the chair and looked at the black screen for a moment, then shifted his gaze over to the silver suit by the line of cars, and then over to the remains of the red and gold suit spread across the floor and tables in one corner of the workroom. Fury nodded, and decided now was as good a time as any to approach Stark about working with SHIELD.
As he left the worktable, he put the chair back where he had found it and set off one of the house alarms to let Stark know someone was in the building. He then turned off the lights and head up to the main living room to wait for the head of Stark Industries to come home.
Disclaimer- Nick Fury and Iron Man are the property of Marvel Comics. Torchwood is the property of the BBC. No profit is being made from this fanfic.
EDIT August 8, 2008- Actually, it might work after all. It just doesn't start here!
Edit September 29, 2008- Nope, it's a one-shot.
After more than forty years in the spy business, and three months helping a 51st century ex-Time Agent reprogram a system that monitored a rip in the space/time continuum, there were very few computers that Colonel Nicholas Fury could not break into.
Tony Stark’s was proving to be one of those few.
Please state your name.
Fury glared at the flashing prompt on the screen as he leaned back in his chair. A movement at the edge of his vision drew his attention away from the screen to the robotic arm that had slowly inched its way over to the workstation Fury was sitting at.
“Don’t even think it,” he growled when he got the impression the thing was looking at him. The three pronged hand at the end of the arm rotated a few degrees to the left as if considering how much of a threat he was, and then apparently decided retreating was it best option and backed away a few feet.
Fury turned back to the screen and rolled his good eye when he saw the prompt now said, We are unable to process your request at this time. Please call back later. Deciding he had wasted enough time trying to figure this out on his own, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. When the message Phone not in service came up, Fury typed in a code to force the call through and waited for a response.
When he did get a response, he wasn’t all that surprised to hear the wrong voice answering.
“Yes?” a man’s voice said.
“You’re not Jack,” Fury said.
The man on the other end sucked in a breath, then said in a slightly strained voice, “Uh, lucky guess. Jack’s not available at the moment, can I take a message?”
Having a good idea who it was he was talking to from the accent, Fury answered, “Right. Considering the time over there in Cardiff, and the fact you’re the one answering the phone Mr. Jones, I’m guessing you’re the one on top right now. So, if you don’t mind, could you put Jack on the phone now so I don't I have to deal with him while he’s going through post coital bliss?”
There was an unintelligible sound from Ianto Jones, and then Fury heard the phone switching hands. “Who is this?” Captain Jack Harkness snapped.
“Who do you think it is? You know if you don’t want me to interrupt you Jack, you need to take the batteries out of your phone.”
There was a huff of resigned laughter, and then Jack said, “Hey Nick. Just a sec.” Something covered the speaker on Jack’s end for a moment, then Jack came back on and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve got an AI I can’t seem to get around.”
“And obviously it’s vital to world security that you get around it?”
“Obviously. Unless you’re finally willing to tell me whether or not I get a contract with Stark Industries?”
“Sorry Nick, you know I can‘t do that.” There was bang, a muffled swear word and the sound of a metal file cabinet drawer being closed on Jack’s end of the call.
Fury frowned. “What exactly are you two doing?”
“I’m teaching Ianto the rules to naked hide and seek.”
“You don’t have any rules to naked hide and seek, Jack.”
“He doesn’t know that.” There was a rustle of fabric. “Why are you breaking into Tony‘s computer?” Jack asked.
“You were the one who said I should wait until the world knocked a hole in the kid's heart before approaching him. Going by the video footage his secretary turned over to us yesterday before all hell broke loose at Stark Industries headquarters, I’m guessing that's already happened. I just need proof that Stark wasn’t involved in the illegal weapons deals that his CFO has been arranging before I talk to him about a contract. I suspect the proof I need is here on his computer.”
“What issues are you having with his AI?”
“Every time I break through the security program, it blocks me, resets the program, and then asks for my name.”
“Have you given it your name yet?”
“No. Should I point out this isn‘t exactly a legal break-in, Jack?”
“I kind of figured that one out. However, my guess is that you’re going to have to do what the AI wants. If it were anyone else’s system I’d have a better suggestion, but in this case, you’re out of luck, Nick.”
“Well you’re a big help,” Fury said as he typed his name into the prompt box. A Please stand by sign replaced the box, and then Fury started swearing when he realized the computer was hacking into SHIELD’s servers and that his own medical and security clearance files were flashing across the screen.
“Damn it! What in Sam’s Hill--”
“What happened?”
Before Fury could answer Jack or do anything to stop the download, the files disappeared and a new sign popped up that said, Access granted. Thank you for your cooperation, Colonel Fury. If you have any problems accessing the database, press the help menu icon at the bottom corner of your screen for further assistance.
Fury stared at the screen.
“Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“What happened?”
Fury took a deep breath and slowly let it out before answering. “I think I need to have a serious talk to my tech people when I get back to New York.”
Jack chuckled, and then asked, “I take it you’re in?”
“Yep, and I’m guessing this thing knows more about me now than I do.”
That is correct, Colonel Fury.
“And now it‘s talking back at me.” That just made Jack chuckle some more.
Ignoring Jack for a moment, Fury found and accessed a security file with a time stamp a few minutes after Obidiah Stane’s arrival at the Stark’s mansion the night before. A feeling of morbid astonishment crawled through him as he watched Stane pull a glowing device out of the center of Stark’s chest.
“Okay Jack, mind telling me what the hell that thing in Stark‘s chest is?”
There was a pause before Jack answered cautiously, “It’s called an Arc Reactor. The power source for my wristband is based on that technology. If I remember my history lessons correctly, it‘s what‘s keeping Tony alive right now.”
Fury’s mind flipped that information over in his mind for a few minutes as he switched between video files to watch Stark‘s painful trek down to the workroom after recovering from the effects of the stun. He suppressed a shudder at the sight of the empty gaping hole in Tony Stark‘s chest.
“So you knew he was going to be kidnapped,” Fury eventually stated.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t bother to mention that little fact to him or to me because, if he hadn‘t been kidnapped, he wouldn‘t have built the thing and that would have screwed the timelines?
“Yes.” Jack sighed. “The last thing a Time Agent is supposed to do is sleep with a nexus point in time like Tony Stark but--”
“Uh huh. You haven‘t been a Time Agent in over a century Jack,” Fury said as he cut Jack off. The security feed was now showing Colonel Rhodes helping Stark-- who had filled the hole in his chest with another Reactor-- to his feet. Fury absently nodded his head. Rhodes had also been on SHIELD’s suspect list, but Fury had been sure Rhodes had about as much knowledge of Stane’s deals as Stark did.
Fury shut down the security files. “Okay, I’ve got what I want. Thanks for all your help, Harkness.”
Jack laughed. “Yeah, anytime Nick.”
Fury disconnected the call and was about to put the cell back in his pocket, when it beeped to announce an incoming call.
“Fury. Go ahead.”
“This is Agent Coulson. Mr. Stark has just left his office.”
Glancing over at the line of cars sitting at one end of the workshop, Fury nodded and said, “He’s got the Audi?”
“Yes sir. Do you need us to delay him?”
Opening another set of files, Fury answered, “No, that won’t be necessary, I’m almost finished here. You and your team can call it a night.”
“Yes sir. Coulson out.”
This time, Fury pocketed the cell. Accessed the master manufacturing codes for the Iron Man suit, Fury inserted a track and hack program to be downloaded whenever Stark built or upgraded a suit, and then cleared out all traces of his cyber footprint before shutting down the system.
He sat in the chair and looked at the black screen for a moment, then shifted his gaze over to the silver suit by the line of cars, and then over to the remains of the red and gold suit spread across the floor and tables in one corner of the workroom. Fury nodded, and decided now was as good a time as any to approach Stark about working with SHIELD.
As he left the worktable, he put the chair back where he had found it and set off one of the house alarms to let Stark know someone was in the building. He then turned off the lights and head up to the main living room to wait for the head of Stark Industries to come home.
Disclaimer- Nick Fury and Iron Man are the property of Marvel Comics. Torchwood is the property of the BBC. No profit is being made from this fanfic.