It was with absolute confidence that Tony assured him, "They're out there." Even if it wasn't the Atroma specifically, it was someone, using their technology to observe and torture the people on Agra-10. They had spoken to them, so they existed, so they could be un-existed. Tony just needed their attention. Right now, he was struggling to maintain the Soldier's, making him deflate slightly as he was once again denied, and with less confidence admitted, "I haven't been able to do this, on my own. I've never been--I thought with Steve here, that was a sure thing, he'd know exactly what to do and I'm--better, with him. He's not here. You knew what that gun was, at the bottom of the lake."