73 Interrogation

Twenty-four hours ago, Maya Hansen had been a damsel in distress, her heart-wrenching confession playing to an audience of sympathetic ears. She had sat with Harry, Tony, Natasha, Clint, and Pepper, her trembling voice painting herself as a victim caught in the storm of Aldrich Killian's ambitions. But that was then.

Now, Maya found herself seated once again, though this time it was far from voluntary. The cozy warmth of empathy had been replaced by an icy chill. Harry stood to her left, his arms crossed and emerald eyes glowing faintly. Tony was on her right, his usual snark and casual demeanour replaced with an unyielding glare.

Gone were the kind words and sympathetic nods. Pepper wasn’t there to offer her reassurance, and Natasha wasn’t quietly assessing her every move. This was cold, calculating, and ruthless.

The silence in the room was suffocating. Maya shifted uncomfortably in her chair from the weight of their judgment pressing down on her.

“Trevor Slattery,” Tony stated, as he broke the oppressive silence.

The words hung in the air for a moment. Maya’s breath hitched, and though she tried to mask it, the subtle tightening of her jaw and the way her hands gripped the edges of her chair betrayed her.

Harry didn’t miss it. His sharp gaze locked onto her, studying every micro-movement, every flicker of emotion that danced across her face. “So, you do know him,” he said.

Maya winced, her shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of their scrutiny. She didn’t speak, but her silence was deafening, her body language screaming louder than any denial she could muster.

Tony leaned in. “You know when we first met you, we gave you the benefit of the doubt. Thought, ‘Hey, maybe she’s just another genius caught up in the wrong crowd.’ But this?” He gestured vaguely, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “This little flinch you’re doing every time we get close to the truth? Yeah, that’s not a good look, Doc.”

Maya’s lips parted as if she were about to respond, but Harry cut her off. “Don’t bother denying it.”

Her eyes darted between them, desperate to find an angle, a way out.

Harry methodically emptied Maya’s bag onto the table. With a quick flick of his wrist, he conjured a knife to slice through the bag’s lining, ensuring there were no hidden compartments.

Maya flinched at the gesture “What are you doing? That’s my property!” she snapped.

Harry barely spared her a glance. Satisfied there was nothing else concealed in the bag, Harry retrieved her phone and handed it to Tony. “Here. See if she’s been communicating with anyone outside.”

Tony took the device without hesitation. “Oh, this is just sad,” he muttered as he bypassed the phone’s rudimentary security. In seconds, he was scrolling through her call logs, message history, and email inbox.

Maya sat rigid in her chair. “I haven’t contacted anyone,” she defended herself.

Tony ignored her, his eyes fixed on the screen. “Hmm,” he said, scrolling further. “She’s not lying about that. No calls, no texts, no emails.” Tony’s brow furrowed as he studied the phone further. “Wait a second,” he muttered. “Jarvis, confirm something for me, has the mansion been in lockdown mode since yesterday?”

“Yes, sir,” Jarvis’s smooth voice replied. “All external communications have been blocked as a precautionary measure. Ms. Hansen’s device has been unable to connect to any outside networks.”

Tony let out a humorless laugh and turned the phone’s screen towards Maya. “There you have it. You haven’t contacted anyone not because you didn’t want to, but because you couldn’t. Thanks to Jarvis, this place has been a fortress since you walked in.”

Maya’s face paled, her earlier defiance faltering. “You’re wrong,” she said weakly, though even she didn’t sound convinced.

Harry’s gaze didn’t waver, the weight of his silence pressed down on her like a physical force. Tony crossed his arms, leaning back slightly. Before either man could speak, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hall.

The door creaked open, and Rhodey stepped into the room. “We got guests,” he announced, causing the tension in the room to ease.

Harry and Tony exchanged a quick glance before stepping away from Maya.

“Guests?” Tony asked, his brow furrowing.

Harry and Tony followed Rhodey. “You’re going to want to head to the front porch,” Rhodey stated excitedly. Curious, the two followed his suggestion. When they stepped outside, they were greeted by the sight of a quinjet descending onto Tony’s meticulously landscaped front lawn.

The jet’s ramp lowered, and out stepped Natasha and Clint, flanked by Steve and Bruce.

“Really, Barton? My lawn?” Tony whined.

“You don’t even use this lawn,” Clint shot back as he descended the ramp. “You’re more of a ‘balcony martini’ kind of guy.”

“Still, it’s the principle of the thing,” Tony grumbled.

“I thought we could use a few more hands,” Natasha said with a wink as she placed a kiss on Harry’s cheek.

Harry smirked faintly. “Sorry to cut your holidays short,” he greeted Steve and Bruce. “But we’ve got a situation brewing.”

Steve waved off the apology with a shrug. “It’s fine. Christmas is overrated anyway,” he said.

That earned a round of laughter from the group, easing the tension, if only for a moment.

Bruce looked around. “So, where’s Thor? No dramatic lightning entrance this time?”

Harry shook his head. “He hasn’t contacted me since New York. Looks like Asgard has its own problems to deal with right now.”

The small talks continued as the team settled into the living room. As everyone settled in, Tony suggested “Now that everyone is here, why don’t we just celebrate Christmas together this year.”

Bruce leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses. “Yes,” he said with a small smile, “you know we’re always up for anything if it means Harry is going to treat us at the end of it all.”

“I say we grab cheeseburgers after this one,” Tony suggested.

“Classic Stark move.” Clint teased.

“Don’t act like you’re above cheeseburgers, Barton,” Tony shot back. “I saw you inhale five during our last mission debrief.”

“Six,” Natasha corrected, smirking. “And he didn’t even chew the last one.”

Clint threw up his hands. “This is slander. I chewed!”

Bruce chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “To be fair, cheeseburgers do sound good. But you know what would really hit the spot?” He glanced at Harry. “That shepherd’s pie you made last time.”

Natasha nodded. “Agreed.”

“You’re all shameless,” Harry said, though a small smile crept onto his face.

“The Apple Pie from the time before was also good,” Steve added.

Tony clapped his hands. “Done. Mission first, food later. Let’s wrap this up quick and maybe we can squeeze in dessert too.” Saying that Tony activated the holographic display where life-sized projections filled the room, showing detailed images of Aldrich Killian, Trevor Slattery in his faux-Mandarin garb, and a handful of Extremis soldiers.

“This,” Tony began, gesturing to the display, “is what we’re dealing with.”

“So, we’re finally tackling Rhodey’s Mandarin problem?” Steve asked as his gaze fixed on the holographic projections of the Mandarin.

Rhodey let out a long sigh. “Yeah… about that. The Mandarin? Turns out, it was all a fake.”

“What do you mean it was a fake?” Bruce asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Tony stepped forward, gesturing toward the hologram. “What he means is that the so-called Mandarin was nothing more than smoke and mirrors.” With a wave of his hand, the projection shifted, and the image of Trevor Slattery without his elaborate Mandarin costume appeared.

“Meet Trevor Slattery,” Tony said dryly. “An actor. Paid to play the role of the Mandarin in a carefully constructed propaganda campaign.” With another wave, the hologram switched to Aldrich Killian. “And this,” he said, pointing at the smug, confident visage of Killian, “is the real mastermind. Aldrich Killian, CEO and founder of Advanced Idea Mechanics, or AIM for short.”

“Wait a second,” Bruce said, leaning forward as something clicked. “Weren’t they the same people that upgraded Rhodey’s suit?”

“One and the same,” Rhodey confirmed, his tone grim.

Natasha pieced the puzzle together for everyone. “So this guy is manufacturing terror, using it to drive demand for military contracts, and lining his pockets with the profits of war.”

Bruce let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “We haven’t seen this kind of war profiteering in a long time.”

“What’s their plan?” Steve asked as he processed the information laid out before him.

Harry glanced at him and stood. “Give me a second. I’ll bring out our informant.”

He strode back to the room where Maya was being held. She tensed the moment he entered, her earlier defiance returning in a weak attempt to mask her unease. Ignoring her protests, Harry firmly grabbed her arm and escorted her into the meeting room where the rest of the Avengers were waiting.

The moment they entered, Maya’s protests grew louder. “You don’t understand! I’m not who you think I am!” she insisted, her voice trembling as she scanned the room for sympathy.

But Tony was in no mood for theatrics. He slammed his hands onto the table. “Yeah, all that redemption talk? They are just a steaming pile of crap,” he snapped. “We shouldn’t have even wasted time on her.” He turned to Harry, gesturing sharply. “Use one of your fancy spells and make her spill everything.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on Harry and Maya as the tension thickened.

Harry didn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on Maya. Then the atmosphere around Maya started to freeze up. “Miss Hansen, do you remember what I told you” Harry started. “I told you that I have the skills to force anyone to do whatever I wish. But that I choose not to because I value free will.” He leaned forward, his expression hardening. As Maya looked into his eyes, if felt as if all the joy in her life was drained from her. “I warned you not to test my patience. I gave you one chance to come clean, to tell us everything. And yet, here you are, lying to us and manipulating us for your own gain. I think it’s fair to say you’ve run out of chances.”

Maya’s eyes darted nervously between everyone. “Wait—” she began, her voice trembling.

Harry didn’t wait for her to finish. “Imperio” he intoned,

The effect was immediate. Maya’s eyes glazed over, the panic and defiance draining from her face. Her posture straightened, her movements suddenly mechanical as she stood up rigidly under Harry’s command.

“Now, Miss Hansen,” he instructed, “you’re going to tell us everything about Aldrich Killian’s plans, Trevor Slattery, and Extremis.” To which Maya nodded.

Harry’s eyes burned as he asked her, “What was your reason for coming here?”

“To make Tony finish the formula,” Maya replied with a flat voice under the influence of the Imperius Curse.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “And what would you have done if he refused?”

Maya hesitated for a moment, then answered, “My plan was to kidnap Pepper Potts to provide him with enough incentive to finish the formula.”

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Tony’s fists clenched instantly, his entire body going rigid with rage. He took a step forward and his jaw tightened.

“You were going to what?” he growled dangerously.

Harry shifted just enough to block Tony’s path. “Not now,” he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Tony glared at him, his nostrils flaring. “She was going to—”

“I know,” Harry cut him off. “But losing control now doesn’t help anyone.”

Tony took a shaky breath, his fists still trembling as he stepped back but clearly seething. Harry turned his attention back to Maya. “And you didn’t think twice about the collateral damage of that plan, did you?” he asked coldly.

Maya’s expression didn’t change, her voice as detached as before. “Collateral damage was acceptable as long as the formula was completed. Additionally, Ms. Potts would have been a good consolation prize for Killian as an apology for going against his plan.”

Harry’s jaw tightened as he exchanged a glance with Tony.

“What is Aldrich Killian planning?” Harry asked.

Maya’s glassy eyes stared straight ahead. “Killian wants to become rich from war,” she began.

Tony folded his arms, his expression dark. “Typical,” he muttered.

Maya continued without acknowledgement. “He created the Mandarin as a facade, a tool to incite fear. His plan involves using Mandarin to publicly execute the President. The justification he’s crafted is the Roxxon Norco spill where a million gallons of crude off Pensacola and the President’s failure to respond adequately to the disaster. It’s a fabricated outrage, but it’s enough to gain public sympathy and justify drastic measures.”

Harry frowned. “And the real reason for killing the President?”

“To install the Vice President,” Maya replied mechanically. “Killian has made a deal with him. The Vice President has a disabled daughter, and Killian has promised that Extremis will cure her condition. With that leverage, Killian can control the Vice President’s decisions entirely.”

Tony’s lips curled into a grimace. “Let me guess: with the VP in charge, he pushes the country into a full-scale war against the Mandarin, right?”

Maya nodded. “Correct. The public will demand retaliation. The Vice President will comply, escalating the conflict. Killian benefits from both sides. The Mandarin’s forces will be Extremis soldiers and the U.S. military will rely on AIM’s arms partners for advanced weaponry. Every missile, every tank, every soldier will be on Killian’s recommendation where he profits from all of it.”

“A public execution by the Mandarin,” Clint said, leaning back in his chair with a grim expression. “For a cause that’ll whip the public into a frenzy. That would be worse than 9/11. The fallout alone…” He shook his head. “It’ll hit harder than anything we’ve seen in years. The government will spare no expense to take the Mandarin down, especially after how inadequate they are feeling after the Battle of New York. They’ll throw billions for this.”

“Worse yet,” Natasha added, her eyes narrowing. “The fear and anger would give Killian control of the narrative and the power to direct it wherever he wants.”

Bruce though had other things in his mind, “How do we deal with them? These soldiers regenerate. It’s not exactly easy to kill them, is it?”

“How do we kill the Extremis soldiers?” Harry asked as he rubbed his temples

Maya’s glazed eyes betrayed no emotion as she answered. “Decapitation. Remove the head, and the Extremis cannot regenerate their bodies. It’s the most efficient method.”

Tony raised an eyebrow. “Efficient? That’s... graphic.”

Maya continued, unfazed. “Alternatively, you can increase their internal body temperature beyond the point their systems can stabilize. Once their regeneration fails, they’ll combust.”

Harry exchanged a glance with Tony. “So, we either take off their heads or make them overheat and explode.” Harry pressed on. “What about loyalty? Are there any Extremis soldiers who might defect, or who could be reasoned with?”

Maya’s expression didn’t shift, but her tone grew darker. “No. Killian ensured their loyalty through brainwashing and fear. Those who wavered were eliminated. He withheld the stabilizing agents they needed to regulate their body temperature, letting them burn out. He’s made sure that it’s ride or die for all of them.”

“When do they plan to execute this?” Harry asked lastly to signal the end of their interrogation.

“Christmas Day,” Maya replied flatly. “But they’ll have a full rehearsal on Christmas Eve. Killian wants everything to go perfectly. No room for error.”

Rhodey nodded. “Their timeline works in our favour. Killian’s holding a dress rehearsal for the broadcast on Christmas Eve. It’s their test run to ensure the equipment works and that everything goes smoothly. That’s our opportunity. We can take them by surprise and shut this operation down before it even starts.”

“How sure are we that they will continue with their plan?” Steve asked to confirm that their information was on point. Though he didn’t doubt the info that Harry and Tony had collected.

“Very sure,” Tony replied without hesitation. “We hit the Mandarin’s mansion yesterday in Florida. That’s how we found out about the fake Mandarin.” He gestured toward Harry. “While Harry was busy casting memory spells on the guards and the fake Mandarin and making them think the whole mess was caused by Rhodey’s escape. I went through their servers and scraped every evidence of us being there.”

Tony leaned back with confidence radiating from his voice. “We’ve ensured that Killian’s plan stays intact for now, at least as far as he knows. He won’t even see us coming.”

Clint smirked and chimed in, “And we’ve got a hostage too. We could send her back to Killian, and make him think the Avengers are on to him. He’d pull everyone back to protect himself, rallying his entire army in one spot. That’d give us the perfect chance to take them all out in one go.”

Steve raised a brow at the suggestion but nodded thoughtfully. “It’s risky, but it could work.”

Harry studied Maya for a moment before nodding. “Thank you for your cooperation, Maya.”

He cast a potent sleeping charm causing Maya’s body to slacken immediately, her head tilting to one side as she fell into a deep, magical slumber. Harry levitated her and placed her on the recliner while the rest continued their discussion.

Tony exhaled loudly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, that was insightful.”

“Do we have an image for this public execution site?” Steve asked, his gaze shifting to the holographic display.

Tony nodded, making a few swipes on his console. “I can do you better” He replied as the images of Killian, the fake Mandarin, and the Extremis soldiers dissolved, replaced by a detailed holographic map. The display now showcased the sprawling ship graveyard housing the Roxxon Norco.

The team leaned in as the hologram zoomed in on the site. Decommissioned ships and rusting containers were scattered across the land like forgotten relics. The only active vessel was the Roxxon Norco, anchored ominously in the center of the harbor.

“Looks like they picked a pretty isolated spot,” Clint observed, scanning the virtual layout.

Tony gestured toward the Norco on the display. “This ship’s where the main event will go down.”

Harry’s brow furrowed as he studied the hologram. “We’ll also have to keep an eye out for Extremis soldiers stationed across the graveyard. They won’t all be on the Norco.”

“All right, Cap, how do you want to approach this?” Harry asked.

Steve stepped forward as his commanding presence drew everyone's attention. “We hit them hard and fast. The objective is to neutralize the Extremis soldiers. Barton, you’re on explosive arrows, create chaos, take out key structures, and keep them off balance. Rhodey, Natasha, and I will handle the ground assault using shotguns with incendiary rounds. We'll stick together, clear areas systematically, and head towards the ship to rescue the president.”

“Harry and Bruce, you’re the heavy hitters. Stay mobile and in the open, draw fire, take out clusters of enemies, and cause as much damage as possible. Tony, I need you in the air for support. Cover the upper decks and any snipers or reinforcements they might have. Once we retrieve Rhodey’s suit, he’ll join you up there to double the firepower.”

Tony gave a mock salute. “Got it. Air superiority engaged. Banner, you ready to play Smash?”

Bruce adjusted his glasses, a faint smirk on his lips. “Sure.”

Steve nodded. “We move at dusk. Everyone knows their roles. Be ready.”

Tony pumped his fist in the air. “All right, people, it's hardware mode. Let’s get to work.”