Revamped!

[This arc has been rewritten about three or four times. If you think that's a lot then wait till you see how many times the future arcs are]. [2020: I had a moment where I wondered if I came back and revamped this arc a while ago and forgot].

[Note - this arc will start and/or end with flashbacks about Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne's (James's parents) relationship. This is here not only because I'm trash for them as a pairing but just to show a basic foundation on their relationship in terms of this series (since they don't have a story like the others). The years as to when the flashbacks take place will be in the subtitles].

Copyright - Avengers Assemble (Marvel Animation)


Chapter 42: Pym Particles Part One

Thirty-Five Years Ago - Van Dyne Laboratories - 24:52 AM

Standing in a laboratory amid checking his greatest creation to date is none other than Dr. Hank Pym. He works for (or alongside) Vernon van Dyne (who's technically his superior but he prefers the term colleague). Vernon has a daughter, Janet Van Dyne. She's a glamorous socialite with a carefree spirit and a level of confidence that surpasses the money in her hefty bank account. Like her mother, she went down the path of fashion and entrepreneurship and had no interest in science. That is until Vernon's unexpected murder forced her to take the reins on what she inherited, which was everything she didn't want.

"Pym!" Janet yells, bursting into his laboratory (or, better yet, her laboratory).

Taken by surprise, Hank drops what he's working on (which to his luck wasn't fragile) and turns to face the petite woman in front of him. There was no denying that Janet had this beauty and charm about her. She's a woman who knows how to present herself which is what attracted Hank to her. She uses her small frame to the maximum advantage. People, like Hank, would meet Janet van Dyne and want to be devoured by her.

Hank is flustered about how to approach this conversation. He could ask Janet what she's doing here at this time but she could reply with the same question. Her knowing that he was here makes him flushed.

"I need your help in avenging my father's murder," Janet says. "Now, let me explain before you yap in my face that grief is normal. I know that you've been working on these Pym Particles, call it what you will because my dad told me. He usually keeps me in the dark about what happens here but I think he told me this project purposely because he wants me to join you."

"Or he told you because it was your inheritance."

"So what you're saying is that he knew he was going to get murdered and just died without doing anything."

"I never said that."

"Because I'm saying it!" She's about to explode into a fit of anger and tears. "Let me join you."

Hank is speechless just for a moment before he says, "no, Janet, it's dangerous."

"Hank, please." She takes both of his hands into hers. "My dad was murdered and there's a chance that I'm next. Don't do this for me, do it for my father. I wasn't supposed to tell you this until after but I was going to sell you this company. I don't want it but I know it's your passion."

Hank looks at Janet longer. Although she took after her mother, he could see Vernon in her eyes. He sighs, changing their embrace so that he's holding her hands instead of the other way around.

"I'll help you, Janet," Hank says, "I will. Not for the company but for your father."

"Too bad because you're getting it anyways."

And from that moment, not only were the Ant-Man and the Wasp were born, but so was their romance.

-o-

Present Day - Stark Towers - 10:31 AM

There was one laboratory in Stark Towers that was still fully functioning from the Technovore attack so that is where they all decided to transport the Pym Particles. The lab was set up with each storage unit properly placed on a table and labelled. Their supervisor for the task, Hank Pym, walks in, approving of what he sees Daniel, Emily, and James doing so far.

"I have a question," Emily says, removing the safety glasses she hates so much from her face. She looks directly at Hank. "Why did you agree to do this at my place?"

Hank narrows his eyes at her as Emily beams with pride. She knows why, Hank knows why, and everyone knows why. Emily just wants to hear it again for her ego and scientific pride.

"Stark has incredible technology in his own home, or should I say your home," Hank admits for possibly the fifth time with a monotone voice of annoyance. "And some of my qualified labs for this project are either under renovation, demolition or relocation."

"You're so sweet," Emily says as if she was hearing those words for the first time.

Hank sighs, wishing Emily took more after Pepper than Tony. The less Tony, the better. He's about to counteract an argument against Emily but looks down and sees that his phone is ringing. He excuses himself to take the call, leaving Emily, Daniel, and James with the Pym Particles.

"Remember, we practised this," James says. "We ran some demo simulations back at SHIELD because this could become dangerous if we mess this up."

"Relax, James, we got this," Emily says.

James isn't even smiling. "Emily, I'm serious. Now's not the time to be cocky."

"There is a difference between being cocky and being confident, you know that better than anyone."

"There is also a fine line which you are crossing."

Daniel groans as he rubs his temple. James being serious about a task was strange enough but now Emily's poking at the sight with a stick. At this rate, the world will be doomed of Pym Particles.

-o-

Present Day - El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico - 10:33 AM

In the middle of a rainforest, Merida, Angela, and Xavier push their way through the overgrown trees. The humidity makes them sweat so much that leaves that fall from their branches end up sticking to their faces like glue on paper. It was too hot and unbearable but they had to suck it up and not complain because they were on a mission for Hank Pym. While the others are in Stark Towers sorting out some Pym Particles, they're supposed to clean out one of his outstanding laboratories for information or materials that may still be useful before destroying the lab itself.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Merida asks, tying up her curls into a bun with a small rope. "I swear I've seen that tree ten times already."

Xavier looks down at his tablet. "Well, Hank didn't give us detailed directions in the case that they got leaked but I assume that we're going the right way since -"

"I can still see them with my own eyes!"

The three of them freeze at the sound of that voice. Their hands hover over their weapons but they stand down once they hear the familiar swatting of tree branches and the chirpy voice once more are being said.

"Relax, Hank," Janet says on the phone, kicking broken branches off to the side as she stands with the team.

Janet makes eye contact with the team and just waves her hand at them to tell them to keep walking straight ahead. How she isn't sweating in this heat is a mystery to them. The team looks at each other, hoping that the laboratory is just straight ahead since Janet is the one who's supposed to tell them how to get there more precisely than the actual directions.

"Will you relax?" Janet says on the phone as she follows the others. "This isn't like the time I lost James in the department store when he was five … and seven and nine."

Hank: Janet, I'm serious. Be careful.

"You're so overprotective."

Hank: How the hell do you even have service in the middle of the rainforest? I picked that location because of its remoteness.

Janet smirks. "I'm Janet Van Dyne, I always have service."

Janet knows that Hank is rolling his eyes on the other side. That's what keeps her smile going.

Hank: Janet, I'm serious, don't get yourself or the others killed.

"Hank, I'll be fine."

Hank: You're excited about this.

"I'm a positive person. I have my not-yet-future daughter-in-law with me along with mini-Steve and my favourite Tagalong. It'll be a blast, no pun intended."

Hank laughs which makes Janet's insides flutter even to this day. She's too distracted to notice Merida glaring at her for calling her a Girl Scout cookie (Janet's favourite).

Hank: I love you and I gotta go.

"Me too. Tagalong is currently giving me the evil eye."

-o-

Present Day - Stark Towers - 10:40 AM

"If we don't focus, this will be an emergency," Daniel says.

"We've been focused so far and we're doing a great job," Emily says. "Why are we even having this conversation?"

"We're relocating highly unstable Pym Particles," James replies. "If they escape, there is a definite chance that everything in the world we know will shrink at the speed of light and basically out of existence including the Earth itself."

Emily and Daniel nod, making James at ease. Maybe if his dad wasn't right there, he'd be more relaxed but they would've ruined everything before they started. They continue carefully relocating the Pym Particles from their current containers to a disposal unit. For a few minutes and trials, they feel like a well-oiled machine while transporting the particles. That is until James notices something a bit off.

"...guys," James mutters worriedly. "I think we fucked something up in the process."

"What do you mean?" Daniel questions. "You're just being paranoid. Everything's fine."

To their surprise, Stark Towers' alarm system goes off.

"Relax," Emily says, going over to the controls to turn them off. "My Tower is still under construction so maybe it's a false alarm."

Jarvis: Warning! Pym Particles loose!

Emily blinks. "Or not."

At the sound of Jarvis's warning, Hank walks in as Emily shuts off the alarm. Hank groans in frustration.

"I left you three alone for barely five minutes!" Hank yells at them.


[If I was an agent of some kind, I would probably be Janet]. [2020: Girl, you wished].