Avengers: Unbreakable
The Avengers and all related characters and settings are the property of Marvel Inc. and their respective affiliates. All rights reserved (by them, not me).
Episode 1: Confluence
Chapter 10
Previous relevant chapter: 6
The home of Vernon van Dyne, White Plains, New York
Janet van Dyne opened the front door of the house she shared with her father - a tall, stately brick structure surrounded by woods - dropped her keys on the foyer table, and called out for her dad.
No response.
A long hallway led away from the foyer to the back of the house, near the end of which was an opening to a stairway that descended to a basement study. Janet started down the hallway, still calling as she went.
Still no response.
When she neared the end of the hall, she turned and started descending the stairs. Again she called out.
Still no response.
Finally she rounded the corner into the basement. And at last, breathed a sigh of relief. "There you are!"
Vernon van Dyne started. "Oh! Oh. Hello dear." He was the perfect stereotype of the aged, absent-minded professor: knit sweater, a thick, unruly head of gray hair, and heavy glasses. He was slender, with pointed features, but stooped from a lifetime of bending over lab work.
"Dad, didn't you hear me calling?" Janet scolded as she walked over and kissed him on the cheek.
"No. Sorry. My hearing's not as good as it used to be. When I get distracted by a project, an army could march into this place and I wouldn't know it."
As soon as he said this, he looked as if his own words had unnerved him. He glanced around as if considering the prospect. But Janet didn't notice; she was looking around at his workspace.
"Oh really? So what are you working on?"
"Uh, nothing really," the senior van Dyne stammered. "Just tinkering."
"What is this?"
Vernon started nervously trying to cover up and stash papers.
"Ummm. Well, I didn't hear you coming you see."
"Deep space radio waves?" Janet said.
"Yes, well, that's just something that came in the mail today."
"Extra terrestrial communications?"
"Well I, uh . . . I . . . ."
"Dad, what is this stuff?" Janet asked.
Her father gave up, shut the drawer on the files he'd been trying to stash out of sight, and sat back down on a lab stool.
"I guess I should have told you."
"Told me what?"
"It's . . . it's a side project I've been working on. But . . . it's a little embarrassing, frankly."
"Dad, we're a team, remember?" Janet said. "You can tell me."
Vernon sighed. "I've been helping go over these data that come in from the SETI Project. Studying them for any sign of life. Any . . . extra-terrestrial life."
"But Dad, you're a molecular biologist, not an astronomer."
"I know. Like I said, I'm a little embarrassed about it."
"So is this why you called today? What . . . did an alien monster show up on your doorstep?"
Vernon chuckled. "No. No, after all these years, we've never heard a thing."
"Then what?"
Vernon cast a nervous glance at the drawer he'd just shoved the files into.
"I don't know, Shortcake. I guess I just worry too much."
"Shortcake." Janet smiled. "You haven't called me that in years."
Vernon looked at his daughter fondly. "Well, shame on me then. A father's never too old to dote on his daughter."
Janet studied him. "Daddy, are you sure everything's OK?"
"Fine, sweetie. Fine."
She walked around behind him and put her arms around him.
"Well listen," she said. "You know you don't have to be embarrassed about your quirky research around me. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for 'quirky.'"
"That's what your mother used to say."
"Well, she knew a genius when she saw one. So do I."
Vernon sighed. "I miss her."
Janet leaned her head down on her father's shoulder. "I do too."
"You know, at times like this, when she'd find out I was working on something . . . quirky . . . she'd come down here and say, 'Vernon, one day you're going to discover something that changes the world. But I'm not staying up for it.' And she'd go upstairs to bed. But when I'd come upstairs later, I'd find she'd left me a glass of sherry on the kitchen table."
Janet smiled. "She was a good mother. I was lucky to have parents like you."
"Bah. She was the one. I just sat down here in my basement, tinkering around with these old things."
"Well Dad, you may discover something that changes the world tonight." Janet raised up, stretched and yawned. "But I'm not staying up for it."
Vernon chuckled and put his hand on hers. "Alright. You go on up. I've got a little more to do here."
"You want me to fix you something to eat?" Janet asked.
"No, I'll make myself something when I come up."
"Yeah right, Dad. Since when have you ever cooked?" Janet leaned down and kissed him on the cheek once more. "Alright, suit yourself." She started to leave, then she turned back.
"Oh, I'll be home late tomorrow night. I have a party to go to for the university."
"Oh? Anyone interesting going to be there?"
"I don't know. Some guy named Stark. I've never heard of him. But they tell me he might be good for a big donation to the school, so I'm hoping to meet him."
"Stark. Howard or Tony?" Vernon asked.
"How should I know?"
"Probably that Stark boy whose dad runs the big military technology company. You be careful going to those parties with all those single men around. You're an attractive young woman. But you want a man of character. That's what counts. Not money."
Janet giggled. "Dad, don't worry, I can handle myself."
Vernon looked at her fondly again. "I know you can."
"Goodnight Daddy," Janet said.
"Goodnight . . . shortcake."