Quittin' Time At Last

Within fifteen minutes Tanya had returned to inform him that everything Aaron had asked for was prepared and waiting but before he could get to work he had something else to attend to., "Do you have a medkit handy Ms. Stark."

"Oh No, Are You Hurt?," Ms. Stark asked, Almost in a panic, Looking Aaron up and down.

"No but I'm afraid that you are.," Aaron replied calmly.

"What?...," Tanya questioned, frantically looking her body over., "No... I."

Aaron took her by the arm and guided her to a small adjoining room where she had prepared the equipment he'd asked for. She was half-talking and half-mumbling as she spoke rapidly. Aaron recognized what was happening... Ms. Stark's adrenaline was beginning to fade and the shock of potentially dying was setting in. Luckily Aaron had memorized the building schematics for the entire Stark International Complex so he knew right where to find the medkit which was secured underneath a computer work station with another on the wall of the room he and Ms. Stark had just entered. Until now, She hadn't even realized she had been limping.

Aaron sat the trembling Ms. Stark down in the most comfortable chair he could find and draped his jacket around her shoulders to help keep her warm before he retrieved the medkit and set it up on a nearby work station. By no means a Doctor, Aaron had made sure he would be prepared to render emergency medical aid should the need arise... After all despite all of Humanity's progress The World was still a very dangerous place to say nothing of tending his own injuries on an almost daily basis.

"Please roll up your sleeve Ms. Stark.," Aaron removed a hypo of Improvoline from the kit and adjusted the dose as Tanya rolled up he sleeve with a shaky hand., "Don't worry Ms. Stark it's only a mild sedative to help calm your nerves and clear your mind."

With a hiss, The hypo delivered its contents into her bloodstream and less than a second later, Tanya was visibly much more calm and relaxed. Next Aaron looked her over and aside from a few bruises from her fall all she had were a couple of scrapes so Aaron gently cleaned her cuts with a sterile cloth from the kit.

"Oooh Your hands are cold.," Tanya shivered as Aaron cradled the calf of her right leg in one hand while he used the other to clean up the cuts.

"Yeah sorry about that.," Aaron chuckled a bit embarrassed., "It's one of the facets of my condition. It not only affects my pigmentation but I have a lower body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate... You name it... Than other people."

"How's this?," Aaron asked, expertly massaging her calf, eliciting a stifled moan of appreciation followed almost immediately by a small but definite groan.

"Oh, I'm so Sorry! Did I hurt You?," Aaron asked concerned, setting her leg down and hurriedly withdrawing his hands.

"No please don't Stop!," Tanya almost yelled, grabbing for Aaron's hands and placing them back on her leg.

Aaron was a bit surprised but at her insistence he went back to attending to her scratches and scraps, eliciting another small moan of obvious pleasure when he touched her soft, bare skin. Aaron applied Cloveritol, an Antibacterial and Corophizine, an antibiotic used to prevent secondary infections. Next, Aaron pulled out The Dermal Regenerator and after less than a minute of sustained exposure to its regenerative wavelengths it was impossible to tell that there had even been a break in the skin.

"There... Not even a scar.," Aaron looked up from Tanya's leg., "Now... Let me have a look at that elbow and you should be good to go and I'll get everything ready for you."

It only took Aaron another couple of minutes to clean and sterilize the area before administering some antibiotics then another round with The Dermal Regenerator and she was good as new., "All done... No stitches and no scars. I bet Doctors wish all their patients were this easy to treat."

Aaron rolled his sleeves back down and put the kit back before going to the prepared work station., "You just sit right there Ms. Stark and I'll have this done in about twenty minutes."

An outward observer like Ms. Stark would think that Aaron was possessed with the speed at which his fingers moved across the keyboard of the work station computer but for Aaron he wasn't even at top speed. Stark International's Computers were state-of-the-art but he was use to his on personal computers at home and in his office at Omen. As it was he had to periodically stop and give The Stark Computers time to catch up with his inputs.

During one of these catch-up intervals, Tanya got up and walked over to where Aaron sat and placed a hand on his shoulder., "Want your jacket back?"

"No need, Keep it until you're feeling a little better.," Aaron looked over his shoulder at the only slightly trembling Tanya Stark who smiled warmly in response.

"I've almost finished the model of the code I saw... Just a few more lines of code and you can have your Forensic Programmers and Data Analysts go over it with a fine-tooth comb."

"I really appreciate this Aaron.," Tanya announced, Squeezing both of Aaron's shoulders, A small shudder racking her body.

"Don't mention it...," Aaron hesitated., "... Tanya. I'm just glad I was able to help."

With a few more key strokes Aaron was finished and ready to turn it over to Tanya and her Team.

"Now!," Aaron rubbed his hands together., "Where's the laptop I asked for?"

Tanya tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment before producing the laptop from a nearby table., "This is my Private Laptop...," Tanya said as she placed the high-performance Daystrom Data Concepts Computer in front of him., "Give me a second and I'll input the password and you can get to work.," Tanya said, readjusting one of her shoes.

"No need... I've got it.," Aaron assured her, Beginning his detailed transcription of everything relevant that he and Tony Stark discussed at the party.

"What?!," Tanya exclaimed, straightening up and looking at the screen of her laptop., "B-B-B-But that was a triple-encrypted double alternating 26-digit password... And you broke it in 7 seconds."

"5 Actually.," Aaron corrected absently.

"Gods TONY Why Didn't You Recruit This Kid?," Tanya silently admonished her beloved Brother.

Tanya could only watch as Aaron rapidly input word for word every relevant piece of data on Arc Reactor Research that he and Tony discussed.

"Sometimes Having An Impeccable Memory Is Useful.," Aaron thought, His fingers moving like lightning across the keyboard.

Aaron didn't stop typing for even a millisecond as he looked up and over his shoulder., "You have my gratitude Ms. Stark. This is an excellent computer. Not many computers can keep up with me..."

"I Believe That.," Thought Tanya, Watching Aaron's fingers relentlessly moving along the keys with such speed that it made her eyes hurt just trying to keep up.

"... I've had to build my own for use at home and work or I'd never be able to get any work done.," Aaron stated as he faced forward again, still typing.

"That's very admirable Aaron.," Said Tanya, Respect evident in her voice and perhaps something else as she unthinkingly massaged Aaron's shoulders.

At the speed Aaron was typing it only took him another three minutes to transcribe everything from memory. Aaron flexed his fingers and with a sigh, pinched the bridge of his nose., "I believe that's everything Ms. Stark... I hope it helps."

"I'm sure it will. If we can just overcome the unstable power flow and miniaturization problems... A clean, portable energy source like The Arc Reactor could once perfected breathe new life into Industry, lessen dependence on The Orbital Elevators and provide much needed relief in The Unaligned and Underdeveloped Middle East."

Getting up and gesturing for Ms. Stark to take a seat Aaron said., "That's something I'm very interested in myself. We live in an age where Humanity is prospering like never before... Disease, Poverty, Crime, War, and Infirmity virtually things of the past in Most of The World but it's those words that bother me the most... "In Most of The World." I don't want to speak harshly of The World's Governments but from where I stand it looks like they've abandoned their Brothers and Sisters in The Middle East. I know they've had their difficulties in the past... But Surely they deserve to join the rest of Modern Civilization and enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the rest of us."

"Very well said Aaron...," Tanya said as she looked up at Aaron from where she sat., "... I don't think I could've said it better myself."

Aaron and Ms. Stark spoke for a little while longer before Pepper sashayed seductively into the room and informed Aaron., "A Ms. Sydney Hoffer has arrived to take you home."

"Well Ms. Stark I guess that's my cue.," Aaron extended his hand to shake Tanya's., "It has truly been a pleasure...," Aaron paused and then turned., "... And it was a pleasure to meet you again too Ms. Potts."

"Again?," Tanya repeated quizzically, looking at Pepper who blushed profusely.

Aaron shook hands with the blushing Pepper and together, The Three of them drove across The Factory Floor and then walked the rest of the way to The Lobby.

Tanya returned Aaron's jacket and Pepper gave her a questioning expression but didn't say anything.

"I have to say Mr. Cross...," Tanya began with a more professional tone, subtly glancing at Pepper from time to time., "... That despite the competitive nature of the relationship between our two companies that I am very pleased that Vivyan sent you as her representative and not some boring stuffed shirt. You have Intelligence, Initiative, and...," Tanya looked Aaron up and down before finishing., "... Style."

Aaron puffed his chest out, gripping his lapels he rocked back and forth on his heels several times., "Being smart is no reason not to look good.," Aaron gestured to his left and then to his right at the two Women standing in The Lobby with him., "You two prove my point perfectly."

Tanya and Pepper looked back and forth between one another as Aaron spoke., "Smart, Beautiful, and Very Well Dressed."

"He is a sweet talker isn't he Tanya?," Pepper asked fanning herself with her hand and Tanya smiled back at her., "He sure is Pepper."

Aaron shook hands with Pepper again before turning to Tanya., "It was a pleasure visiting Stark International... Even for a little while."

"I think I speak for Pepper when I say we enjoyed having you here... Maybe the next time you're here we can arrange a more intimate tour of our facilities.," Tanya said with a slight blush.

"I would like that Ms. Stark.," Aaron smiled., "Please let me know if you have any questions about the back and forth between me and Tony... And if at all possible I would like to be kept apprised of your investigation into the code that hijacked your Sentinels. Someone with those kind of skills could pose a very real danger to us all."

"Of course.," Tanya offered warmly, extending her hand which Aaron shook before giving it a light kiss.

Aaron chuckled., "You know its funny... I've dreamed of visiting Stark International since I was just a kid so I was really nervous about coming here and now that I have to leave I don't want to."

Both Tanya and Pepper smiled.

"I guess that's all the more reason for me to leave now before I get anymore attached to the place.," Aaron chuckled nervously.

Aaron said a final goodbye to Tanya and Pepper and turned to leave.

Aaron could hear Tanya from behind him say., "You're welcome here anytime Mr. Cross. If after consideration, Omen is awarded The Sentinel Contract you will most likely be asked for your input on Their design and My Brother Tony left several projects unfinished so I may ask you to consult... I'll pay you a consulting fee and give you a share of the credit of course."

Aaron who had turned to face the two Women again, smiled and said., "That is very generous of you Ms. Stark and I would love to lend you my assistance... In my free time of course. After all I don't think Ms. Sinclair would appreciate my working with the enemy on Company Time.," Aaron chuckled good-naturedly and Tanya and Pepper followed suit.

Outside Aaron was met by a cheerful and bubbly Sydney who was practically bouncing up and down with excitement but before Aaron could say anything, Sydney was rushing to open the door for him and before Aaron had even taken a step he could see that the inside was practically wall to wall packages and shopping bags.

Aaron couldn't help but smile at Sydney., "Leave anything on the card?"

"Nope! Not a thing!," Sydney tittered excitedly.

Bending down and looking inside, Aaron said., "I appreciate your leaving me someplace to sit at least."

"Hey it was the least I could do and besides I ran out of funds.," Sydney giggled.

Once Aaron was seated, A still smiling Sydney closed the door, making sure to bend her body just enough to give him an eyeful of cleavage.

"How did it go? Will Omen get The Contract?," Sydney asked once they were on their way.

"Too early to tell. I think I made some points but we'll just have to wait and see.," Aaron answered back, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes.

"Here's Hopin'.," Sydney said cheerfully, holding up her right hand with the fingers crossed.

A few minutes later, The peace and quite was broken by the sound of Aaron's phone. Aaron retrieved his phone from his pocket and brought up the text he had just received.

"Want be to drop you back at Omen?," Sydney asked.

"No that won't be necessary. I just received a text from Ms. Sinclair telling me to head on home and report to her tomorrow after school and give her my report."

"Home it is then.," Sydney giggled.

Aaron sighed and out of the corner of his eye he saw something move, He looked down to see the drained cash card he'd loaned Sydney on the seat beside him. Aaron pushed a button on the armrest of the door and down rolled the window., "So what's $100,000?," Aaron thought, snapping the card in two between his fingers before tossing it out the window where it burst into a tempest of blue flames, vanishing into nothing before having a chance to even touch the ground.

Aaron was relaxing and looking forward to getting home when the car hit a bump and one of the many bags cluttering the back fell over and spilled its contents in the form of several pairs of handcuffs and a riding crop onto the floorboard.

Aaron smirked., "Looks Like Her Boyfriend or... Girlfriend Is In For A Heck of A Ride."