Quivering Quasars!

Disclaimer: "Hey! Stop bothering Korean Jesus!" - Ice Cube, 21 Jump Street

Chapter 3: Arrival in the Lab!

Project Pegasus

The group walked inside one of the buildings that stood at the top of Mount Athena, chatting and making small talk along the way.

"You know, I've always wanted to go climbing some of the mountains here in New York." Alpine remarked to Blue Shield. "Never could find the time, though."

"Well, I don't know about mountain climbing, but I do know of some great camping and hiking sites in the area." Blue Shield remarked. "When I was a kid, my dad and I would go out and spend a couple weeks camping..."

So far, so good. Dr. Zane thought to himself as he watched the Misfits converse with Dr. Reznek. All I gotta do is just stay cool, just do my job. Then AIM will get me outta here, and I'll get a big fat bonus. Yup...steal those energy bands, and Tahiti, here I come. Oh yeah, I gotta send an e-mail to my sister Sybil. Been a while since lil' sis and I spoke...His train of thought was broken by a certain voice.

"'Ello, mate!" The scientist jumped slightly, then turned to see Pyro smiling widely.

"Uh, hi...Pyro, right?"

"Yup!" The Australian mutant's smile seemed to somehow get wider, making Zane very nervous.

"Uh...may I help you?"

"How ya doin'?"

"I'm...doing fine, thank you." Zane answered nervously. "You okay?" Oh, God! According to AIM's info, this one's the REALLY crazy one! Why is he talking to me?!

"Just fine." Pyro nodded. "What do you do?"

"Uh...I've been working with the energy bands, why?"

"No reason." Pyro shrugged. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"If I say yes, will you stop standing so close to me?" Zane gulped. "You're kind of creeping me out."

"Do you get to work with cheese from the moon?"

"Cheese from the...?" Zane shook his head. Why me? "Uh, you do know the moon is not made of cheese, right?" Pyro blinked in confusion.

"It's not?"

"No, it's not." Zane frowned. "That's a myth."

"You mean like vampires and eskimos?"

"Oh God, can someone else please talk to him? He's making my head hurt." Zane begged.

"That's perfectly normal, Doc!" Shipwreck chuckled. "Pyro's conversations tend to make people do that. Come here, Pyro." The Joe sailor pulled the crazy Australian mutant away from the scientist.

Oh, thank you God. Zane sighed, wiping some sweat off his forehead.

"I like him." Pyro giggled. "I'm gonna call him Pinocchio. 'Cuz he has a big nose." Meanwhile, Dr. Reznek was having a more pleasant time conversing with Lance and Lila.

"How do you kids tour around the world? Don't the Joes worry about security?"

"They have it all handled." Lance explained. "Let's just say we have some tricks."

"All classified stuff, you see." Lila added. "But let's just say we have our ways."

"Yeah. Let's just say we get to do other stuff before the shows." Lance nodded. "We got to go to Disney World in Florida. That was fun."

"John puked all over the teacups." Lila groaned. "Flamebrained bastard ruined the teacups for me."

"Well, we warned him not to go on the teacups after eating all those hotdogs."

"One of your little rock 'n' roll stories, huh?" Dr. Reznek smirked.

"Oh, we got more of 'em." Lance nodded. "Like that one time we ended up brawling with a Frost Giant in Stockholm."

"I...see." Dr. Reznek nodded. Frost Giant. Would make sense, considering that Thor guy running around. "Anyway, what was your favorite show?"

"You mean concert?" Lance and Lila looked at each other. "Budokan."

"Particularly, the very first time we performed at Budokan." Lila smiled fondly. "The legendary Japanese arena. Funny enough, it was created for the 1964 Olympics."

"Yeah, for judo." Lance remembered. "In fact, Budokan literally means 'Marital Arts Hall' in Japanese."

"Wow. I did not know that." Dr. Reznek blinked. Cover Girl chuckled.

"Yeah, the band were thrilled when they learned they got to perform at Budokan."

"Of course! Lots of legendary groups released a 'Live at Budokan' album. Wouldn't be right of us to violate the tradition." Lila added.

"Kiss, Rainbow, Dylan, Cheap Trick, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, all did 'Live at Budokan' albums." Lance continued. "That night at Budokan is where our 'Arrival at Budokan' live album was recorded."

"My children love that album." Dr. Reznek smiled. "They will be so thrilled that I got to meet you two."

"Yeah, that album is a big hit. It's our Kiss Alive!" Lila chuckled. Meanwhile, Xi was observing Wendell Vaughn.

Young, appearing to be in his early-to-mid-twenties. The reptilian mutant noted. Blond hair, blue eyes, keeps in excellent fighting condition. He is glancing at the elder bespectacled human. He explained to Lila that the bespectacled human is his father."You should speak to him."

"Uh...huh?" Wendell blinked at Xi.

"You should speak to him." Xi advised. "You had remarked to Lila that he was your father."

"I don't know..." Wendell frowned. "Dad didn't even glance in my direction."

"I did find that odd." The artificial mutant noted. "How could he not notice you are here?"

"Oh trust me, he figured out a way. In fact, he's got a knack for it." Wendell sighed.

"...what is it exactly that you do?" Xi asked.

"I work security here." Wendell explained with a shrug. "I went through the training to be a field agent, but it...didn't work out."

"Why not?"

"Well...they said I did well, but they said I lacked the 'killer instinct'." Wendell explained. "They said I lacked the will to win."

"The will to win." Xi nodded. "That would be an important trait for a field agent." What Wendell and Xi did not notice was that Dr. Vaughn had shot a slight glance over at the young agent, and let out a slight sigh.

Look at you, Wendell. Gilbert Vaughn sighed. A mere guard. SHIELD made you a glorified rent-a-cop. You have such potential, but you won't try to grasp it.

"You alright, Doc?" Blue Shield wondered.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine." Gilbert nodded, adjusting his glasses. "I just wish to see this project to fruition. Can you imagine the possible benefits? Especially as an energy source?"

I can see it. Zane thought. An energy source like that could allow AIM to make some incredibly powerful weapons.

"I hope that things don't go wrong." Gilbert continued. "Especially with our...unusual company."

"The Misfits are a good bunch." Alpine frowned at the blond scientist. "They're a bit wacky, but they'll be a big help."

"I'm sure they will." Blue Shield concurred. "Oh look, we're here." The group walked into a large laboratory.

"Wow, look at this place." Lance whistled. The group walked into a large laboratory area, with computers and displays everywhere. People wer escurrying about, doing various tasks, and guards were watching over them. Standing in the center of the lab were a pair of gold-and-black bands with golden ellipsoid-shaped "gems" lining them. Standing next to them was a handsome man with brown hair, and clad in a dark red bodysuit with yellow electrodes and lines on it.

"Oh, wow..." Lila gaped.

"Welcome to the lab." Gilbert introduced, a small smile finally showing on his face. "And this is the man who will be testing the energy bands."

"Howdy." The man greeted in a warm Texas-accented voice as he shook the Joe's hands. "The name's William Wesley. You guys must be GI Joe."

"Yes, we are." Cover Girl nodded, shaking Wesley's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Alpine smiled.

"Pleasure to meetcha!" Shipwreck greeted as he slapped Wesley's back. "You a scientist, too?" Wesley chuckled.

"Naw, I'm no egghead. I'm a test pilot." Wesley answered. "When SHIELD has a new toy they wanna test, they come to me."

"No egghead, my butt." Pietro snickered. "Ace told me that to be a test pilot, you have to have analytical skills, and be knowledgeable about aeronautical engineering."

"I do not understand." Xi blinked.

"He's claiming that he's no egghead, but that's bull." Pietro explained. "You can't just be a dumb hick and be a test pilot. You gotta have some brains to fly aircraft. Hell, look at the Thing! He used to be a pilot. He may not match Reed Richards in the brains department, but he's no dummy."

"Perhaps he does that to express humility."

"If you say so, Scales." Pietro rolled his eyes.

"Wow, he's cute." Lila whispered. "Not as cute as my Sammy, but still cute."

"Down, girl." Lance chuckled jokingly. "You don't want Cannonball to get jealous." Lila playfully punched Lance's arm.

"Ah, shaddap." The British mutant mock grumbled.

"Mr. Wesley is the man who will be using the energy bands in our testing." Gilbert explained.

"Yup." Wesley nodded. "Gonna see what these babies can do. I've studied the footage of Marvel Boy from back in the 50s, and they only seem to be able to put out flashes of light."

"We have reason to believe they can do more." Reznek added.

"If they can generate other forms of energy, the application possibilities are endless." Zane explained. "If we can also figure out how they work, we could possibly reverse-engineer them."

"Wow." Alpine whistled.

"Let's begin, shall we?" Gilbert gestured towards the wrist bands.

"Alright, I'm ready." Wesley rolled up his sleeves. "Let's get these babies on."

"This oughta be good." Pietro snickered.

"I have to admit, I am quite excited to see Mr. Wesley use the wrist bands." Xi smiled.

"As am I, kid. As am I." Zane smirked.

Well, well, well! Looks like business is about to pick up! What insanity will happen next? How will the testing of the power bands go? Will the heroes discover Zane's treachery? Will Wendell and Gilbert Vaughn ever reconcile? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!