A Winner Is Two: Professor Membrane
"No you incompetent fool! Mixing those two compounds would create an explosion big enough to destroy the city!" Professor Membrane exclaimed dramatically, flashes of light erupting behind him and a sound like thunder cracking through the air in the lab. Moving forward he seized the two vials from the assistant who had frozen in place with a look of horror.
"This is REAL SCIENCE! Not some petty chemistry classroom assignment. Leave at once before you do some real damage!" he said, reflected light shining of his goggles and his rubber gloves pointing at the now open door.
The assistant ran from the lab crying with arms in the air. Sobbing could be heard down the corridor until the door hissed shut. The lab they were in was pretty standard. It had all the basics, sterile equipment and surfaces, an odd slight blue tint to the room and bumbling lab assistants. Membrane was carrying out an experiment on behalf of an underfunded work colleague, anything to advance the pursuit of "real science".
"Some people just don't understand the importance of my work. But the Earth can rest assured knowing that this work is in safe hands once more." The Professor continued, talking to himself in what some would call a crazy fashion. "That reminds me!"
Turning towards a wall he pressed a button on his belt, calling forth a hovering screen.
"Open video communication with home." He said as he began mixing chemicals on the lab bench, not even looking at the screen.
An image of a living room came onto the screen as a receiving floating screen transmitted back to the lab. A small purple-haired girl appeared.
"Daughter what are you still doing up? It's late and children need their sleep! Where's your brother?" Membrane asked in much the same voice but with a kinder tone to it but only briefly looking at the screen before turning back to his work.
The girl shrugged before yelling into the house. A boy's shout could be heard replying.
"He's probably doing something stupid like always. Why does he have to be here?"
"Now daughter, show your brother some kindness. Even if he is suffering from some temporary insanity! It's just a phase after all before he turns his attention to REAL SCIENCE!"
"But he's so annoying." The little girl said with utter hate in her voice and a frown. At the same moment a young boy entered the room out of breath.
"Hey dad! I was busy adding the finishing touches to my new surveillance gear. I'm gonna need it if I want to have any chance of catching Zim without his disguise."
"Son you need to show some responsibility and stop pestering your little foreign friend. You and your sister should have been in bed hours ago! Off you go now and I'll see you both tomorrow."
And with a brief wave the little hovering screen faded to black and the world-renowned professor continued his work, sending flashes and sparks into the dark laboratory.
It wasn't until sometime later he realised there was a vital element missing from his latest work. The very same compound a certain evil fat man had failed to deliver to him many, many years ago.
"Of all the materials missing why did it have to be Uranium two-thirty-eight? If only that diabolical entity known as Santa," said with complete loathing and a clenched fist for emphasise "had given me that for Christmas instead of an endless supply of socks this whole crisis could have been avoided! And with the research funds of this particular endeavour of science being so insanely low there will be no way to ensure the research's success." He finished and melodramatically banged his fist on the work surface.
Apart from the hum of equipment a gentle but persistent knocking could be heard. This was followed by the opening of the lab door where a pair of men in suits entered.
"You must be the world-famous Professor Membrane we've heard so much about." The first said. His appearance was typical hired goon, bald with sunglasses and a face only a mother could love.
Membrane held out a shiny black glove out, waving them away. "I have no time for autographs now, come back later." He called, not even bothering to look behind him as he started writing new calculations down.
"We're not here for autographs Professor; we come with a proposition for you. One that could solve this funding problem you have." The second man said, who was as equally goon-like as his partner.
Membrane's boots squeaked as he turned around, his lab coat whirling and his single Mohawk-like hair style bouncing.
"I see we have your attention," Goon one said "the money we're offering isn't free of course but it would well cover the expense you need for materials in this and your own research and even beyond."
"Indeed," Goon two began "all you have to do is take part in a little contest. A last one standing sort of deal if you like. You win and you get the money, simple as that."
Membrane looked at the two quizzically, one eye raised and the other lowered. "A contest? The very idea seems preposterous! I wouldn't even consider this if Uranium two-thirty-eight wasn't so difficult to get a hold of."
The two men looked at each other. "We take it you'll be joining us then?"
Since the lower half of his face was hidden the two men had only Membrane's eyes to look at for any signs of emotion or non-verbal communication. The professor was rubbing the space on his lab coats collar where his chin would be.
An awkward silence developed in the small laboratory space. A clock ticked on the wall, the contents of a beaker fizzed and bubbled and someone coughed outside.
"No!" Membrane shouted suddenly, finger pointing to the ceiling. "I simple cannot devote the time to this endeavour; I'm much too busy for this nonsense. Not to mention the chaos that could befall the city should I leave for even a single day!"
The pair looked at each other before nodding. One of them shrugged. "Very well then. We'll leave you to your work."
And without another word the two suited men left, leaving Membrane to continue his calculations.
It wasn't until far into the early morning hours that drowsiness overcame the scientist and he decided to have a quick sleep. It wouldn't do to make a fatal error in this work due to tiredness and half an hour or so wouldn't be too bad.
---
Sometime later a very odd sound reached Membrane's ears. It was the sound of gentle waves crashing against a shore. Sitting up, with a rather groggy feeling, he looked around in confusion to find he was indeed on a beach and what appeared to be an island.
"Hmm this will surely delay my work!" he exclaimed, again talking to himself more than anyone else. Standing up he began pressing buttons on his wrist mounted control panel only to find that he couldn't make any contact or find a trace of a signal.
"Most odd, it would seem that some device is blocking all forms of contact." He observed as he pressed some more buttons and scanned the sea before him, focusing on the horizon.
The various displays on the inside of his goggles flashed numerous numbers and symbols at high speed, delivering all forms of data.
"A force-field covering the entire island and blocking communication? A device of that sheer magnitude would need tremendous power!" Looking towards the island he immediately singled out the volcano at the centre of the area.
"If I have any chance of returning to my work then it seems I'll have to disable this device. I dare not think what might happen to the world in my absence!" he said as melodramatically as possible before setting off, white lab coat shining in the sun and big black boots leaving large footprints in the sand.
Author's Note: The characters featured in this work are not owned by me and belong to their respective creators.