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 45
Stark Industries Research Vessel "Lenora," North Atlantic Ocean
Janet van Dyne sat alone at a long oval table in the conference room on the main deck. She sat perfectly still, head bowed, hands folded on the table in front of her. She made no sound. In fact, the only sounds she could hear were the soft hiss of the air circulation system and the deep, distant rumble from the ship's engines. They sounded so steady, so permanent, like the seasons of the earth or the rising and setting of the sun, like they could go on forever, never disrupted. She let their peaceful whisper wash over her, and let the gentle roll of the ship cradle her.
If she could only stay here forever. Right here, never moving. Soothed by the cool air and rocked by the swells. She could lower the lights and cocoon here. And forget it all, forget everything. All she'd seen. All she'd lost. The life she dreamed of, hoped for, worked for, her whole life - shattered and stolen by the events of the last few days.
It was amazing, yes, some of it. But it was all too much.
Too, too much.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
Just then, the door swung open and Tony Stark walked in, staring down at his tablet device.
"Tell me how this sounds: Stark Industries announced today the establishment of a fund for New York residents affected by yesterday's events, which will be underwritten initially by a grant of 250 million dollars from the company. In announcing the fund, CEO Anthony Stark said, 'In view of the revelation that homeowner policies don't cover damage from nude rampaging giants, Stark Industries wanted to create this fund as a way to give back to the city it calls home.'"
Stark looked up. "Do you think that's an unfair jab at the insurance companies?"
Janet looked back at him, blank.
Stark started talking into the air, evidently already aware of a com-link with Pepper Potts back in New York. "We love it, Pepper. Go with it."
Pepper's voice came out of nowhere. "But Tony, the lawyers—"
"Excuse me, Pepper, the lawyers were also the ones who said his nudity wasn't relevant, and we're absolutely not leaving that out. Go with it."
"Tony—"
"Bye Pepper."
The com-link shut off, and Stark took a seat at the head of the table. "So how are you doing? Can I get you a Fresca?"
Janet stared at Stark a few seconds, and looked for a moment like she might burst into laughter. Then she burst into tears instead.
"Are you kidding me!?"
Stark looked surprised. "What?"
Janet rubbed back tears even as she exploded with emotion. "Hank just destroyed a ten-mile strip of New York! And you ask me, 'What?' He'll be wanted by the police for the rest of his life! You fly me here dangling over the ocean from a mile up like a kid on a carnival ride, and you ask me 'What?' I just witnessed a man fly by nothing but a hammer! I'm wanted by the U.S. military! And my father was killed for God's sake! And you come in here asking me about press statements and sodas?"
Janet buried her face in her hands, sobs pouring from her.
Stark studied her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he put down his tablet, walked over to a cabinet built into the wall of the room, and got out a box of tissues. He walked over and set them on the table in front of Janet, then sat down in the chair next to hers. He took one tissue out, leaned close, and offered it to her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know about your father."
Janet nodded, took the tissue and kept crying.
"But I do think I have some idea of what you're going through." Stark heaved a deep breath. "My parents were killed too."
Janet looked up, her tears arrested by this revelation. "They were?"
Stark nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Janet took a moment to dab her eyes. "It's just, you seemed so chipper." She thought a second. "I guess you don't have the luxury of mourning when you have a big company to run."
"Well. It could be that." Stark snatched another tissue from the box. "Or it could be that I'm just an insensitive pig."
This brought a smile to Janet's lips even though she was still crying. "Don't say that. At least you still have your company. That's better than my prospects. Any hope I had of a career is gone now." Janet shook her head. "I have no idea what I'm going to do."
Stark leaned back in his chair. "I have an idea."
Janet looked up. "You do?"
"Stay here. Work with me."
Janet looked around. "On a ship?"
Stark snickered. "No, not on the ship, goofy. Here, in Stark Industries. Help your friend Pym get healthy again, then help him and me get his device working right."
Janet thought a second. "Oh I . . . couldn't."
"Why not? What are your options? You can't go home. You can't even go back to Pym's place; the cops will be all over it. Look, we've got some housing on our campus back in Queens. We use it when foreign researchers come over. It's nothing fancy, but we could fix one up for you. No one has to know you're there. Lay low. Keep working on your father's research. See what happens. I've got what you might call 'a few' connections in the military. Maybe I can get 'em off your back."
Janet was amazed! She felt a tear start into her eye again, but not of helpless sorrow now. Of gratitude.
"Why . . . would you do all this for me?" she stammered.
Tony smirked. "Uh, excuse me, but didn't you just shrink a rampaging giant back to normal and save who knows how many lives?"
Janet lowered her head and smiled despite her tears. "Yes."
"Alright then. I think that's worth something. So what do you say?"
Janet looked ready to say yes on the spot. Then a shadow crossed her face, and she frowned. "But I still have to find out who killed my father."
"Well what do you know," Stark feigned surprise. "I have to find out who killed my parents, too." Stark extended a hand. "Tell you what: you help me with my search, and I'll help you with yours. Deal?"
Janet looked at his face, then his hand, this back to his face, her eyes still full of amazement. "Nothing stops you, does it?"
"Akevitt is the only thing I've found so far."
Janet laughed again with tears still wet on her cheeks, then at last took his hand and shook it. "I don't know what to say. Thank you hardly seems enough. So I guess I'll just say . . . I accept."
"Great!" Stark said, shaking her hand. "I was hoping you would. Because, you know, I don't believe any of this has just been coincidence."
Janet looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Just then the intercom buzzed. A man's voice came over it. "Tony, it's Don."
"Yeah Don."
"Dr. Pym is waking up."
"Alright, I'll be right down."
Stark motioned to Janet. "Come on. He's gonna need you."
