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CHAPTER 14 – THE RISE OF THE ATOM (JUN-2016)
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Dr. Raymond Palmer, one of the researchers working at Wayne Enterprises, is sitting nervously beside the secretarial desk as he waits to meet with the President & CEO. He has tried his best to put his sordid past behind him, but he is concerned that his history has finally caught up with him.
Years ago, as a postdoc, he worked at Lexcorp as a researcher in a department that reverse-engineers both competitors' products as well as acquired technologies. He was one of the only people alive to learn that Earth has been in contact with alien civilizations, and has had contact with their technology thanks to a no-bid government contract. When he realized that the company was weaponizing a device that can miniaturize a human being, he faked his death and stole the technology and changed his name to the most WASP-sounding name he knew. Since then, he has used his privileged knowledge to appear to be a brilliant physicist while using his prototype suit to do a little "justice" on the side – nothing for money, but it made him into an unstoppable spy and saboteur of the criminal underworld, known only as "The Atom".
As the secretary tells Dr. Palmer that the CEO – Mr. Pennyworth – is ready to see him, he takes a long, deep breath and walks into the office suite. As Dr. Palmer enters, he sees a kind, paternal old man wearing a tuxedo and old-fashioned spectacles sitting at a large desk inviting him to sit down.
"Greetings, Dr. Palmer, and thank you for answering my summons," the CEO says. "Do you know why I have called you into my office? I apologize if it may have seemed... obfuscating to ask you to come see me in this manner."
Dr. Palmer is taken aback by the kind demeanor of the CEO. He suddenly feels a tad less anxious, but still cautious to guard his secrets. "I am not sure, Mr. Pennyworth. Please explain it to me."
The CEO smiles, fully aware of Dr. Palmer's efforts to dodge the intent of the question. "Interesting. Sadly, *I* won't be explaining. I'll leave that to my employer." With that, the CEO gets up and gathers his things.
Dr. Palmer is completely blind-sighted by the statement, and starts to rise. "So, I'm to meet with the board of directors?"
Mr. Pennyworth shakes his head.
"Who are you employed by, if I may ask?"
"Why, the Wayne Family, of course." Alfred Pennyworth smartly pats his hat onto his head and prepares to leave. He looks at the door, and as if on cue it opens. "And, why, there he is – in the flesh. Now, if you'll excuse me." The CEO crosses the room, smiles and slightly bows as Bruce Wayne takes his place with a folder in hand.
"Doctor Ray Palmer – or at least, that's your name *now*, I believe," Bruce Wayne says without hardly an introduction as Alfred closes the soundproof door behind him. "My sources tell me that you have been hiding a secret since you've come to work for us. Is this true?"
Dr. Palmer suddenly feels his stomach sink. "Who are you? Why is the President and CEO of Wayne Enterprises working *under* you? And why have I been summoned here? I thought I have been a model employee – I have never haggled for a raise, nor have I ever even taken a vacation. I've kept my nose clean, and I've produced some exquisite results that you have been able to market, or at least develop some nice prototypes for you to showcase."
Bruce Wayne smiles and nods. "Yes, of course. In fact, your work has been – how should I say, 'out of this world'? In fact, I believe you have had special access to technologies not native to this Earth, thanks to your time at Lexcorp. Am I right?"
Dr. Palmer is about to speak, but nothing can escape his mouth. Hole in one, he thinks to himself.
Bruce Wayne continues. "Oh, I assure you, we've been aware of your background for some time. And I'm aware that you have stolen technology that you have been using in some after-hours activities. Am I right on that, too?" Bruce slides forward a folder of stakeout photos showing Dr. Palmer in a special high-tech suit and standing beside objects that suggest he is hardly as tall as a Lego minifig. The pictures seem to say everything in nice little frames of Dr. Palmer's double life as a crime fighter.
Dr. Palmer, feeling like he has been fully outed, simply nods. "Please understand, sir – I have never used it for personal gain. Lexcorp got this technology from their no-bid contracts with the State Department, and they were planning to use this for paramilitary projects. I just couldn't see such devices being used or sold with such a purpose. Think of the privacy violations, the crimes that could be performed and hidden, just because someone can shrink to a small size and avoid conventional detection. It just didn't seem right – so I took my unique knowledge and ran. You can call me a liar, a thief and a criminal, but you can't call me a tool for corporate greed." Dr. Palmer takes a long moment to shake off the surreal defining moment of his life, and then concludes his little speech. "So, are you going to turn me in?"
Bruce Wayne smiles. "Knowing what you know, and knowing what I know, I can't let things stay as they are." He puts away the folder of pictures. "So, I have no choice but to fire you..." Bruce Wayne lets the sentence drift off into a dramatic pause, as if he is deciding what to say next.
Dr. Palmer's eyebrows rise, waiting for the rest of the sentence. "And?"
"And, ask you to join me in a very special endeavor."
Dr. Palmer's eyebrows rise even farther. "What kind of endeavor?"
Bruce Wayne smiles. "You are absolutely right that Lexcorp has been up to no good. They *do* have a clandestine paramilitary arm, and they *are* using reverse-engineered alien technology. And they can't be allowed to operate unchecked.
"So, I am putting a team of experts together. Experts such as yourself: people who have unique talents and perspectives, and are willing to stand up to groups like Lexcorp. I can't force you to help me, but I can guarantee that you will be surrounded by like-minded people."
Dr. Palmer takes a moment to let it all soak in. He is actually excited to join, but worries it may be too good to be true. When he's overwhelmed and at a loss for words, he seems to remember famous quotes. "'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'"
"Hamlet, act 1 scene 5," Bruce Wayne responds. "And that statement rings more true now that you currently realize."
After Dr. Palmer, a.k.a. The Atom, agreed to Bruce Wayne's proposal, he soon came to agree with the irony of choosing that phrase just then.
-XXX-
In a frozen bunker deep in the Antarctic, four young adults with supernatural gifts have bound their lives together in pursuit of a common cause – to free the world of a secret scourge that is also hunting down each one of them for extermination: Infinity. The new super-friends have been pouring over drawings, pictures, exhibits, and other miscellaneous items. They are planning a raid on Lexcorp Tower, but are still debating over goals and contingency plans as they are laying low from Infinity's detection.
It has been several weeks since the four have pledged to work together to thwart Alex Luthor's plans for world conquest and take the Infinity War to the front door of Lexcorp. It is getting late, and the four decide to take a break and relax. Clark Kent's "frozen flat" is rather spacious and intricate, thanks to the technology of the Kryptonians. Although the exterior structure is made of ice, the internal structure is made of an unearthly ice-like crystal that is not cold to the touch. Even the furniture is made of crystal, so they each made several runs to their old homes to make the secret enclave more homey. It has all the feel of a college dormitory, complete with unwashed clothes and empty pizza boxes peppering the corners of the living space.
Clark is sitting in the middle of a couch, with Kara on one side and Diana on the other. Each of the ladies have been very friendly to him – Kara asking about her Kryptonian heritage and Diana about her mysterious past as a princess of an all-female tribe of descendants to an ancient magic-based civilization. Jose sits on a nearby chair near Diana and is very curious to hear the parallels of her stories to legends of his ancient ancestors who once populated the Amazonian rainforest alongside hers.
"Yea," Clark says to Kara. "I heard it all from the special recordings in the crystal I found. There was a global crisis on Krypton, and they were running out of time to find a solution. Even with all of the innate power in Kryptonian physiology, they were basically trapped on the planet by the power of their red sun. Otherwise, they could have easily migrated into space. Legends spoke of how our ancestors were imprisoned there to protect the galaxy from being overrun by their god-like powers, but everything I could find suggested they were a very enlightened and civilized people. And then..."
"And then?" Kara asks, partially distracted by Clark's strong, handsome features.
"Then suddenly, there was chaos. Krypton bombs started raining from the skies out of nowhere. Our race was prematurely doomed by an unknown and unseen outside force. They were looking to develop deep-space travel, but ran out of time before it could be matured. The original plan was to send a select few into deep space to escape the powerful light of Krypton's sun, but instead they only could send a payload of a few individuals. Four babies – two boys and two girls – were chosen to carry on the mantle of the entire Kryptonian race. We were two of those four babies, Kara. Krypton's last hope. Of course, we could never hope to repopulate our species, but at least something of us will live on out amongst the stars so long as we survived."
"So, that means you need a mate," Diana interjects, and she and Kara exchange an intense glance. "Someone to bear children, even if they are only half Kryptonian."
Clark gets a tad uncomfortable. "I guess so. My dad's recordings encouraged I... uh... get married. Find a compatible race and a compatible female and just move on. Perhaps, one day, our decendants will claim a new homeworld and resume our people's ways and society, but otherwise we should be loyal to our foster civilization."
"How far have you... uh..." Kara begins, embarrassed as much as Clark about the topic.
Clark laughs and rubs the back of his neck. "Nowhere. Even before I found out about my powers, I was never very good with girls."
"I have trouble believing that," Jose adds (and not with the kindest of intentions) as he is barely listening to their conversation.
"Well," Clark responds. "It's not that girls didn't like me – I've had a few confess their feelings, especially back in highschool. It's just that my parents beat it into my head that a guy has to be a gentleman, and that means you keep your hands off until you are ready to commit to a lifelong relationship."
"That's sweet," Diana muses. "But are you interested in a *true* relationship? It isn't always hearts and roses being in a marriage. Marriage is a commitment in many ways, not just fidelity. I was just a kid when I was separated from my sisters, so I've had to rediscover a lot on my own about why my homeland forbid the presence of men. Out here in 'Man's World', there is so much crime and cruelty put upon women, especially upon the ones that are in relationships with males. A woman needs assurance that you will be her equal partner in all things, but most boyfriends and husbands refuse to share everything with a clean heart. You can see it all around you – men are liars, cheats, thieves and gluttons. What kind of man would you be – a mere man, or a *super* man?"
"A super man, of course," Kara replies, coming in to defend Clark. She brushes away combed hair with only a partially-dyed section of purple hair left in it from her eyes – a sign that she has been slowly shaking off her rebel streak since meeting her first true friends in Life. Her purple hair dye has been growing out since she and Clark ran off together and she got to slowly detox from her years in Infinity. She has always had a soft spot for having a man in her life, and as far as she could tell Clark was the best catch any girl could ever hope for. But, she couldn't bring such a topic up at this time – not with the Infinity War going on – so she's keeping her feelings locked away for now. Or, at least she's doing her best not to broadcast that she has feelings for Clark.
Diana takes a moment to stare back at Kara. She can sense when a girl is becoming territorial, and Kara's got it bad. Diana is attracted to Clark – what woman wouldn't be? But she isn't interested in a relationship – at least, not until she finally comes to terms with her own past. Diana knows in her heart that there are plenty of good men out there – she isn't some misandrist. But her people rejected the presence of men and used magic to perpetuate themselves out of maintaining their utopia more than anything, and she has come to understand why. And, being a warrior at heart, she doesn't believe in taking a passive role in life that allows for a permissive attitude towards bad male behavior.
As much as Kara and Clark are supposed to be the same age, Diana notices that Kara seems to look and act considerably younger than Clark. Perhaps Clark might prefer a more mature women who seems more his own age, and that may really hurt Kara's feelings and disrupt their plans against Infinity should it all come to light. And, Diana admits to herself, she isn't sold on not pursuing a relationship with Clark at a later time when this whole Infinity crisis is behind them. That is, if they can all get out of this in one piece. Diana sighs, thinking of her last and only heirlooms of her cloudy past sitting in a backpack she recovered from her apartment just before Infinity agents wrecked it, wishing for better times to return soon.
But Diana is in no mood to be conciliatory. She responds to the challenge. "Well, Clark isn't a man in the same sense. He's an alien, with alien powers, and is touched by the influence of an alien culture. So, he is obviously superior to most men on Earth in these regards." Diana takes a long look at Clark before continuing. "But, he's still a man in basic form and function. By some standards, we Amazonian women are very masculine in our prowess in both combat and in the magical arts. But as females, we also carry a basic sense of nurturing and humanity that comes from understanding that life is more than just satisfying needs."
"I don't agree," Kara replies, still not ready to let the conversation end in defeat of her principles. "I've seen no shortage of women who can be extremely cruel and untruthful, especially to their fellow women. I spent my whole childhood being picked on by your 'superior females'. Boys may be jerks, but girls can be all out crazy bit-"
"Changing the subject!" Jose breaks in again, agitated at the way these conversations seem to revolve around a growing friction between the two ladies. He tries to change the mood of the room before tensions rise again. "So, what's for dinner? Isn't anyone hungry?"
Diana smiles and rolls her eyes towards Kara, as if to say "I told you so," but says nothing. Clark gets up, not sure how to deal with what feels like a competition between Kara and Diana. "Yea – I can fly out to get take-out. Anyone up for sushi again? I think it's still daylight in Tokyo right now."
Kara responds. "No, we had that earlier this week. Do we have to dine in again? Can't we go to Paris? I think it's lunchtime around there now, and I really could do with one of their salads right now."
"But that's expensive," Diana breaks in. "How much money do we have? It's been months since any of us have been able to resume our lives, so we have to conserve the money we have. Infinity is still out to get us, so we have to hide out here if at all possible until we can turn the tables on them and win our lives back."
Kara is about to rebut Diana again when Clark shushes the both of them. They both turn an unapproving eye to Clark, who seems to be intensely listening to some inaudible noise. Kara soon catches the same distant sound, and she too goes quiet. Diana and Jose quietly look on to get answers.
"It's Infinity, guys," Clark says, finally breaking the silence in the room. "They finally found us."