Revamped!

[I'm just going to put it out there that I do know where I'll stop my daily updates since school is (unfortunately) coming. Don't worry, there is still a healthy number of chapters till then and I've picked the perfect place to take a break]. [2020: Love how I said that and then went on a year-long hiatus a while after].


Chapter 44: Pym Particles Part Three

Thirty-Two Years Ago - Pym's Penthouse - 18:40 PM

The one outlet that hasn't been silent this whole time about Hank and Janet's relationship is the media. There was always something to talk about when it came to the two of them when they were dating, engaged, and even in their marriage. The rumours were the same - Hank using Janet for her money (especially since she gave him the company after avenging her father's death) and Janet having affairs with any handsome man she was spotted with.

None of which was true nor affected a couple. They've been in the limelight long enough to know that everything the media stand on is all about making money (which is what the reporters think they're in this relationship for).

"You seem to be blown away by this man," Hank says sarcastically, showing Janet an article.

Janet glances at the article with another boisterous headline about her loving another man who isn't her husband. This picture has her standing in front of a dapper man who is more than a head taller than her. Janet also has her hands on the flaps of his jacket as her eyes are opened wide with excitement.

Janet grins with a joking eye roll. "This is taken so out of context. I won't lie, Hank, I do look at other men but not in that way. I'm in a fashion business, I'm supposed to look at their outfits and get close to see the tailoring, fabric, and fit. You're my husband and you're the most handsome man I've ever seen. That doesn't mean I'm banned from admiring any other man's looks."

Hank smiles at her and kisses her forehead. "I know."

-o-

Present Day - El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico - 11:00 AM

Janet and her team stop when they approach the border of the lab, hiding behind the bushes that fence around. Looking down at his scans, Xavier reads the numbers that pop up. Everyone looks over his shoulders to see.

"We're outnumbered by double digits," Xavier says, "possibly triple if you count the men inside."

"We should do a stealthy approach because who knows what the hell is in that lab," Merida suggests.

"But if they spot us being stealthy then what'll stop them from firing whatever they may have at us?"

"We'd be quick."

"We could sneak inside and bring the fight outwards," Angela suggests instead.

"That wouldn't stop the outside forces from coming in," Xavier counteracts.

As the three of them continue bickering about a strategy that would have the least flaws, Janet looks down and sees a small lizard skitter by her foot. She kneels on the ground and sees all the different wildlife in the area. Then it hits her that they're currently in a forest which is incredibly diverse in terms of wildlife, especially insects.

Then she remembers what Hank told her all those years ago when this lab was brand new. He always has reasons for putting laboratories in seemingly odd places in the world, aside from the lack of civilization in proximity.

"Want to know why Hank built his lab here?" Janet asks the group.

They stop talking about strategies as Janet shrinks. At first, they thought that Janet would tell them why Hank chose this specific jungle but they know Janet well enough and she won't dive into history. She sends out a signal using the EMP communication device she wears as an earpiece. At the rise of her arms, millions upon billions of bugs pour out of their habitats, coming from the trees, plants, underground, or the sky. At her command, they charge at the army surrounding the perimeter of the lab, not only freaking them out but malfunctioning their weapons. And with the overflow of insects come the predatory reptiles and birds.

"Fly, my babies, fly!" Janet exclaims happily as she leads the group through the mass infestation and into the lab.

-o-

Present Day - Stark Towers - 11:07 AM

The towers alarms finally stop when the Pym Particles are safely placed where they're supposed to be thanks to the specially trained ants. As Hank assembles the insects back, Daniel and James reopen the ventilation systems to allow the air to flow freely into the room without the worry of contaminating the air. Emily still shivers from the fact that ants were just crawling around her home.

"Can we get back to work?" Hank asks them, specifically Emily.

"Just give me a minute," Emily says, walking out. "All those bugs were overwhelming."

Emily leaves the three men in her lab, waiting for her to return. Hank smiles and laughs to himself since that was Janet's reaction to seeing the bugs for the first time (but she grew to love when she became their queen). Daniel and James think that if Emily found those ants disturbing, she would've dropped dead somewhere in the rainforest if she went with Janet.

-o-

Present Day - El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico - 11:19 AM

The four of them burst into the laboratory, seeing it still in use but not for the ways it was intended to nor to Hank's knowledge. They examine what they see as quickly as they can: many scientists and soldiers around, all armed; and open concept setting with high ceilings and many experiments going on all at once; and a second-floor balcony that circles the room and leads to storage rooms.

"Janet," Xavier quickly asks, "what's the plan for the lab?"

"Once we clear out as much as we can, we'll shrink the place down to a subatomic size," Janet explains, eyeballing all the weapons pointed at them. "The walls are coated with Pym Particles that will respond to a storage gun I have."

She hovers a hand over the gun secured to her waist. If there was something notable about this woman, she always has the right accessories.

Janet flies up to one end of the balcony to start fighting there, Merida takes the other end, and the twins stay downstairs.