06-19-2018, 05:56 PM
Mr. Jarvis sat patiently on the uncomfortable metal bench, left leg laid over his right. His fingers were interlaced. His nearly bald head gleamed a little in the artificial light. Even in the reception area of an Imperial prison, the butler felt trapped and stifled. He didn't show any of it. He was, after all, a proper Englishman.
The Stormtroopers watching Mr. Jarvis were unnerved. Usually, the pair were in charge of unnerving the visitor. This time, they noticed, the visitor was considerably not unnerved, thus unnerving the Stormtroopers.
Or, perhaps, it was the fairly mysterious power armor that was watching them just as intently.
Mr. Jarvis smiled amiably as he noticed the Stormtroopers look his way. The armor whirred quietly next to him.
***
Warden Ellis rubbed his eyes. Parole Officer DEMachina-01 stood at attention in front of his desk.
"So," Ellis groaned, "he's just... sitting there?"
"Yes, sir."
"And the armor is just..."
"Standing next to him, sir."
"Not doing anything."
"Yes, sir."
Warden Ellis scratched his beard.
"What the hell," he grumbled, "Aren't the Avengers more of the 'punch your way in' types?"
DEMachina-01 shrugged. "I dunno, sir."
Warden Ellis sighed and rose from his seat. He strolled over to a shelf and poured himself a glass of brandy. DEMachina-01 straightened his back.
"Thank you, DEMachina-01. Send him in."
DEMachina-01 saluted and left the office.
***
Mr. Jarvis and Warden Ellis stared at each other from their seats for almost a full minute. They blinked, but it hardly seemed like it. DEMachina-01 and Retort-03 were each standing behind each of Warden Ellis' shoulders, ominously holding their rifles tensely. Ellis’ lawyer Mr. Brown, dressed in a caramel suit, tawny necktie and walnut shoes, holding a chocolate leather briefcase, stood at his side. Behind Mr. Jarvis, the Iron Butler armor held a similar stance.
The two men continued to stare at each other.
"Well, I'm getting a bit bored of that now," Warden Ellis said, clearing his throat, "What can I do for you, Mr. Jarvis?"
"Mr. Ellis, I understand that the Avengers are currently in your custody."
"Warden Ellis, you don’t need to answer that,” Mr. Brown interrupted.
Mr. Jarvis frowned. "...you cannot answer whether or not you imprisoned the Avengers?"
Mr. Brown sneered. “Indeed."
"I see," Mr. Jarvis said, calmly taking out a small device from his jacket pocket.
The two Stormtroopers behind Warden Ellis raised their blaster rifles in a snap. The Iron Butler armor raised both arms, its palm repulsors whining at a higher pitch than normal.
"A Coruscant stand-off," Mr. Jarvis mocked, before revealing the device. It was a phone.
The Stormtroopers remained in their hostile stance.
"Mr. Jarvis, you seem a smart man," Warden Ellis smirked, "If I were to send my boys to another room, would you send yours with them? After all, we both know that either of us attacking the other would be a sorry, sorry mistake."
"I cannot deny the truth of your statement," Mr. Jarvis replied, "But of course, you are - you believe - in a position of power.”
Warden Ellis raised an eyebrow. “I believe.”
“In such a scenario,” Mr. Jarvis continued, “can you truly expect me to deactivate the Suit?”
Warden Ellis grinned, almost relieved.
“Ooh, I like you,” the man said, “Fine. Officers, please leave myself and Mr. Jarvis alone.”
“But sir-“
“He’s a frail old man, and I’m a trained Empire soldier,” Warden Ellis interrupted, “I can handle him. You too, Mr. Brown.”
“Sir, it’s my legal responsibility to advise you against-“
“I said you’re dismissed.”
The two Stormtroopers looked at each other before stepping past the butler, walking out of the room. Mr. Brown followed suit.
“If you would turn the audio off, please,” Mr. Jarvis said calmly.
“Of?”
“Your surveillance cameras.”
Warden Ellis sighed, disappointed. “Who do you take me for, Mr. Jarvis? A fool?”
Mr. Jarvis eyed the camera behind him from his peripheral vision, then mouthed to the warden.
“I take you for a man who would not be happy with the audio files I am about to play. I will continue if you insist, but I’m sure your superiors will not be happy with the result.”
Warden Ellis’ face darkened, even as he smirked.
“Troops, give us some privacy please. Code: Blinking Ears.”
After a few seconds, Warden Ellis nodded.
“What files?”
Mr. Jarvis pressed a button on the phone.
Sounds of a lively, bustling environment boomed from its speakers. Occasionally, clattering noises could be heard from a distance. Warden Ellis’ voice rang clearly from the phone.
“Has the target been neutralized?”
Another voice replied.
“Of course. That’s what you pay me for.”
“Yes, please announce that to the entire casino. Your payment will arrive later today.”
“Don’t send another fucking Stormtrooper. Do you know what’s more conspicuous than a Stormtrooper in a Level below 5? Nothing. Nothing, Ellis.”
“Shut your fucking mouth and be glad the Empire is doing business with your kind at all.”
The second voice chuckled and said, “You know where to go. H-“
Warden Ellis’ lungs reminded him to breathe. He noticed the sweat on his forehead. Pretending to brush his hair back, he tried to covertly wipe it off.
“Yes, the Empire sometimes does business with third-party combatants,” Warden Ellis said, his voice miraculously still monotone as ever, “as you and your... team very well know. Outsourcing, you might say.”
“Does the Empire do business with known terrorists, sir?” Mr. Jarvis asked, “Or just the ones that have yet to be publicly revealed?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Mr. Jarvis hit the play button again.
“-ail Hydra.”
“Not so loud,” the casino Warden Ellis snapped.
Mr. Jarvis smiled. “Sir, I’d like the Avengers to be released at your earliest convenience. Or, shall we be frank, immediately.”
Warden Ellis smiled. “And why should I be afraid of you?”
“Because the Avengers have, despite Imperial media coverage, been revered as heroes from their efforts in the Vasty Deep. And after HYDRA’s very public statement regarding the Avengers...”
Mr. Jarvis flicked his fingers, and the Iron Butler armor projected a hologram from its mask. It was a picture of the Avengers Tower, burning.
“I imagine the Empire would rather not have to deal with the bad press.”
“You must be new here, Mr. Jarvis,” Warden Ellis smirked, “There is no bad press in Coruscant.”
“How confidently could you say that, sir, in Tier 6, I wonder?” the butler cooed, “Or, as a matter of fact, in the gang territories? How do you think members of the Westside alliance might react?”
Warden Ellis twitched.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Jarvis smirked, “I should consult my superior, the Vision. I’m sure my high-profile, robotic friend who was last seen saving the Omniverse from certain doom would have a few choice words to spread all over the Dataverse. Imagine all of the overtime you’ll have to pay the fellows at propaganda when they realize that the Empire has imprisoned the very heroes they praised not a year ago, or that a decorated warden of a high-security Prime prison was galavanting with a known HYDRA agent.”
Warden Ellis smiled. “You are very bold, Mr. Jarvis. But I could have you arrested right now and nobody would know.”
“Please don’t insult my intelligence,” Mr. Jarvis sighed, “Unlike my friends, I know that on any day you could raid our base and remove us from the face of the Omniverse, and nobody would notice. Another of my friends is waiting outside as we speak. I told him to wait two hours before posting all of the evidence we’ve compiled. It’s not quite 3:00, is it, sir? That’d be worrisome.”
Warden Ellis made an impressed expression. “So you do have back-up.”
“Obviously,” Mr. Jarvis said, “Please understand, Warden Ellis. The Avengers exist to keep the peace, and have upon multiple instances cooperated with the Empire. Why would you disrupt this alliance?”
“They broke the law,” Warden Ellis stated.
“As did you,” Mr. Jarvis said.
Warden Ellis smiled.
“Listen, Mr. Jarvis; like I said, you seem a smart man. You know why we imprisoned the Avengers.”
Mr. Jarvis shrugged. “Too uppity.”
“Quite,” the warden continued, “But we weren’t going to keep them forever. Like you said, you’ve been helpful. Plus, I like you. So how about this. I’ll release the prisoners if you agree to... owe us a few favors.”
“How many?”
“We’ll let you know,” Warden Ellis grinned, “I think your friends may cooperate better from now on anyways.”
This time, Mr. Jarvis’ face darkened.
“If you have hurt any prisoners in your custody-“
“We had to,” Ellis lied very obviously, “There was a riot.”
The warden stood up and clapped his hands twice. Mr. Jarvis rose from his seat as well.
“You’ll have your Avengers back, Mr. Jarvis,” Warden Ellis sighed, “just let me do the paperwork and I’ll get back to you.”
“And the..?”
Warden Ellis chuckled. “Do what you will with the files. It doesn’t matter.”
Mr. Jarvis paused. He gave one cold smile, then left the office. The Iron Butler followed him.
Warden Ellis grinned and muttered to himself, “Fool forgot to ask when I’d release them.”
The Stormtroopers watching Mr. Jarvis were unnerved. Usually, the pair were in charge of unnerving the visitor. This time, they noticed, the visitor was considerably not unnerved, thus unnerving the Stormtroopers.
Or, perhaps, it was the fairly mysterious power armor that was watching them just as intently.
Mr. Jarvis smiled amiably as he noticed the Stormtroopers look his way. The armor whirred quietly next to him.
***
Warden Ellis rubbed his eyes. Parole Officer DEMachina-01 stood at attention in front of his desk.
"So," Ellis groaned, "he's just... sitting there?"
"Yes, sir."
"And the armor is just..."
"Standing next to him, sir."
"Not doing anything."
"Yes, sir."
Warden Ellis scratched his beard.
"What the hell," he grumbled, "Aren't the Avengers more of the 'punch your way in' types?"
DEMachina-01 shrugged. "I dunno, sir."
Warden Ellis sighed and rose from his seat. He strolled over to a shelf and poured himself a glass of brandy. DEMachina-01 straightened his back.
"Thank you, DEMachina-01. Send him in."
DEMachina-01 saluted and left the office.
***
Mr. Jarvis and Warden Ellis stared at each other from their seats for almost a full minute. They blinked, but it hardly seemed like it. DEMachina-01 and Retort-03 were each standing behind each of Warden Ellis' shoulders, ominously holding their rifles tensely. Ellis’ lawyer Mr. Brown, dressed in a caramel suit, tawny necktie and walnut shoes, holding a chocolate leather briefcase, stood at his side. Behind Mr. Jarvis, the Iron Butler armor held a similar stance.
The two men continued to stare at each other.
"Well, I'm getting a bit bored of that now," Warden Ellis said, clearing his throat, "What can I do for you, Mr. Jarvis?"
"Mr. Ellis, I understand that the Avengers are currently in your custody."
"Warden Ellis, you don’t need to answer that,” Mr. Brown interrupted.
Mr. Jarvis frowned. "...you cannot answer whether or not you imprisoned the Avengers?"
Mr. Brown sneered. “Indeed."
"I see," Mr. Jarvis said, calmly taking out a small device from his jacket pocket.
The two Stormtroopers behind Warden Ellis raised their blaster rifles in a snap. The Iron Butler armor raised both arms, its palm repulsors whining at a higher pitch than normal.
"A Coruscant stand-off," Mr. Jarvis mocked, before revealing the device. It was a phone.
The Stormtroopers remained in their hostile stance.
"Mr. Jarvis, you seem a smart man," Warden Ellis smirked, "If I were to send my boys to another room, would you send yours with them? After all, we both know that either of us attacking the other would be a sorry, sorry mistake."
"I cannot deny the truth of your statement," Mr. Jarvis replied, "But of course, you are - you believe - in a position of power.”
Warden Ellis raised an eyebrow. “I believe.”
“In such a scenario,” Mr. Jarvis continued, “can you truly expect me to deactivate the Suit?”
Warden Ellis grinned, almost relieved.
“Ooh, I like you,” the man said, “Fine. Officers, please leave myself and Mr. Jarvis alone.”
“But sir-“
“He’s a frail old man, and I’m a trained Empire soldier,” Warden Ellis interrupted, “I can handle him. You too, Mr. Brown.”
“Sir, it’s my legal responsibility to advise you against-“
“I said you’re dismissed.”
The two Stormtroopers looked at each other before stepping past the butler, walking out of the room. Mr. Brown followed suit.
“If you would turn the audio off, please,” Mr. Jarvis said calmly.
“Of?”
“Your surveillance cameras.”
Warden Ellis sighed, disappointed. “Who do you take me for, Mr. Jarvis? A fool?”
Mr. Jarvis eyed the camera behind him from his peripheral vision, then mouthed to the warden.
“I take you for a man who would not be happy with the audio files I am about to play. I will continue if you insist, but I’m sure your superiors will not be happy with the result.”
Warden Ellis’ face darkened, even as he smirked.
“Troops, give us some privacy please. Code: Blinking Ears.”
After a few seconds, Warden Ellis nodded.
“What files?”
Mr. Jarvis pressed a button on the phone.
Sounds of a lively, bustling environment boomed from its speakers. Occasionally, clattering noises could be heard from a distance. Warden Ellis’ voice rang clearly from the phone.
“Has the target been neutralized?”
Another voice replied.
“Of course. That’s what you pay me for.”
“Yes, please announce that to the entire casino. Your payment will arrive later today.”
“Don’t send another fucking Stormtrooper. Do you know what’s more conspicuous than a Stormtrooper in a Level below 5? Nothing. Nothing, Ellis.”
“Shut your fucking mouth and be glad the Empire is doing business with your kind at all.”
The second voice chuckled and said, “You know where to go. H-“
Warden Ellis’ lungs reminded him to breathe. He noticed the sweat on his forehead. Pretending to brush his hair back, he tried to covertly wipe it off.
“Yes, the Empire sometimes does business with third-party combatants,” Warden Ellis said, his voice miraculously still monotone as ever, “as you and your... team very well know. Outsourcing, you might say.”
“Does the Empire do business with known terrorists, sir?” Mr. Jarvis asked, “Or just the ones that have yet to be publicly revealed?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Mr. Jarvis hit the play button again.
“-ail Hydra.”
“Not so loud,” the casino Warden Ellis snapped.
Mr. Jarvis smiled. “Sir, I’d like the Avengers to be released at your earliest convenience. Or, shall we be frank, immediately.”
Warden Ellis smiled. “And why should I be afraid of you?”
“Because the Avengers have, despite Imperial media coverage, been revered as heroes from their efforts in the Vasty Deep. And after HYDRA’s very public statement regarding the Avengers...”
Mr. Jarvis flicked his fingers, and the Iron Butler armor projected a hologram from its mask. It was a picture of the Avengers Tower, burning.
“I imagine the Empire would rather not have to deal with the bad press.”
“You must be new here, Mr. Jarvis,” Warden Ellis smirked, “There is no bad press in Coruscant.”
“How confidently could you say that, sir, in Tier 6, I wonder?” the butler cooed, “Or, as a matter of fact, in the gang territories? How do you think members of the Westside alliance might react?”
Warden Ellis twitched.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Jarvis smirked, “I should consult my superior, the Vision. I’m sure my high-profile, robotic friend who was last seen saving the Omniverse from certain doom would have a few choice words to spread all over the Dataverse. Imagine all of the overtime you’ll have to pay the fellows at propaganda when they realize that the Empire has imprisoned the very heroes they praised not a year ago, or that a decorated warden of a high-security Prime prison was galavanting with a known HYDRA agent.”
Warden Ellis smiled. “You are very bold, Mr. Jarvis. But I could have you arrested right now and nobody would know.”
“Please don’t insult my intelligence,” Mr. Jarvis sighed, “Unlike my friends, I know that on any day you could raid our base and remove us from the face of the Omniverse, and nobody would notice. Another of my friends is waiting outside as we speak. I told him to wait two hours before posting all of the evidence we’ve compiled. It’s not quite 3:00, is it, sir? That’d be worrisome.”
Warden Ellis made an impressed expression. “So you do have back-up.”
“Obviously,” Mr. Jarvis said, “Please understand, Warden Ellis. The Avengers exist to keep the peace, and have upon multiple instances cooperated with the Empire. Why would you disrupt this alliance?”
“They broke the law,” Warden Ellis stated.
“As did you,” Mr. Jarvis said.
Warden Ellis smiled.
“Listen, Mr. Jarvis; like I said, you seem a smart man. You know why we imprisoned the Avengers.”
Mr. Jarvis shrugged. “Too uppity.”
“Quite,” the warden continued, “But we weren’t going to keep them forever. Like you said, you’ve been helpful. Plus, I like you. So how about this. I’ll release the prisoners if you agree to... owe us a few favors.”
“How many?”
“We’ll let you know,” Warden Ellis grinned, “I think your friends may cooperate better from now on anyways.”
This time, Mr. Jarvis’ face darkened.
“If you have hurt any prisoners in your custody-“
“We had to,” Ellis lied very obviously, “There was a riot.”
The warden stood up and clapped his hands twice. Mr. Jarvis rose from his seat as well.
“You’ll have your Avengers back, Mr. Jarvis,” Warden Ellis sighed, “just let me do the paperwork and I’ll get back to you.”
“And the..?”
Warden Ellis chuckled. “Do what you will with the files. It doesn’t matter.”
Mr. Jarvis paused. He gave one cold smile, then left the office. The Iron Butler followed him.
Warden Ellis grinned and muttered to himself, “Fool forgot to ask when I’d release them.”
![[Image: 2e90d321b01d5016a4116390e9d88ebd.jpg]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/2e/90/d3/2e90d321b01d5016a4116390e9d88ebd.jpg)
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