Origins Part 1
The sound of an alarm clock woke up Robin from his deep slumber. His silk sheets wrapped him in a far too comfortable cocoon that waking up felt like a sin to him. That and the company he had wasn't all that bad either. His eyes opened to the sight of… an empty bed and a note on his pillow. He tapped his alarm off before looking at the note left for him like a hotel chocolate.
"I had an amazing night but I have an important meeting at work today, sorry I had to leave you, babe~ .3"
Your girl~.
Robin couldn't fault her as much as some men would've preferred. The rat race beckoned her just as it did him every single day. But he was not one to complain about having to work his ass off when everything was going his way. It was that type of stick and carrot situation where the carrot was just a little closer to you and the stick was no bigger than a small branch. He got up and looked at his very decent and very well off luxury apartment filled with all his clean clothes, comfortable couch, fully stocked kitchen, large flat screen TV, and very well organized library of tech, chemicals, chemical engineering and other interesting topics, including several books on ants.
He had written his thesis on ants and their applications on the new cyber enhancement landscape that spread throughout the entire world. He theorized that the chemical makeup of the ants could be used to modify the suppressants to the point that they could calm the person back to more stable levels and create a better way to keep a person from becoming a cyber psycho. He also expressed their use of them to work on the more delicate points of cybernetics such as attaching or infusing sensitive chips and cyberware on subjects. Most people believed that his theory wasn't as impressive as it could've been but his research did show a lot of promise in the field of biochemical engineering and application of cybernetics. That was more than enough to get him a job at one of the biggest corporations in the city of Chicago: Alchemax.
After a steamy hot shower, Robin looked at himself in the mirror. His short, clean cut hair, unblemished skin and young looks made him the envy of many members of the staff. But he didn't care much for them. There were only two people he cared to look his best for, himself and his mentor.
"Alright, Robin, get your butt in gear because we are going to make history!" He said to himself in the mirror before running off to the office.
He wore his work uniform with pride and a tinge of smugness after washing it the night before. Draped in a white office shirt, black pants and a black jacket, he took his bag and made his way to the Alchemax to change the world.
Alchemax was not one of the most influential or powerful corporations in the world, but it did hold the position of Araska's greatest rival. The company had started as a jack of all trades kind of company with enhancements in medicine, military applications, robotics, biochemical engineering and even soft drinks that the public adored. Their main offices were in New York but they had managed to gain enough prestige that they were able to spread across the remains of the United States and parts of Europe and Asia. Many didn't see it as anything too important as many other corporations were doing much the same and what was one more corporation in the world. Though Alchemax had managed to snatch whatever blue spot of ocean they could get their hands on, often at the cost of Arasaka. Which frustrated them to no end.
Robin made his way through the city, minding his own business by listening to music without paying much attention to the world around him except for what he needed or wanted. His eyes landed on the Alchemax Labs building. It rose up like a tall blue tree made out of steel and glass with a big 'A' at the front entrance which always made him smile for its simplicity and approachability. Here was where Robin was going to make history and what he was going to run in the future. Walking past the entrance with his ID card in hand, he made his way to the labs where his mentor awaited him.
The scientist was already well in his years in terms of age. His wrinkled face and balding horseshoe head only had some graying hair in the middle and down the back, with a beard that connected with his sideburns showed his age. He wore a pair of black rimmed glasses and a scientist's lab coat over a special protective suit. His tired green eyes looked at Robin like he had just woken up from a dream. He was looking at the chemical reactions of a formula they had been working on.
"Good morning, Dr. Albertson," Robin said. "Slept here again?"
"Oh, is it morning already, I didn't notice," Albertson replied with a yawn. "I don't suppose you have any coffee with you, would you, Robin? Oh and good morning."
"You know the rules, boss. No eating or drinking in the lab." Robin took the scientist out of the lab for some much needed coffee.
"You're right. Damn those rules." Albertson yawned.
Robin didn't usually got involved with the doctor's personal life, but seeing the usually cheery and confident man look so down in the dumps dampened his mood. He served them both coffee as the doctor looked at a picture in his wallet. Robin had gotten a good look at the picture a few times in the past, even asked about it on a few occasions.
"How are you holding up, doc?" Robin asked, putting the cup of coffee next to the man.
"Not too good, I'm afraid. Today is the anniversary of Pamela's passing." Dr. Albertson looked at the picture of his wife, a pretty little thing with black hair tied up in a bun wearing glasses just like her husband while having a big smile on her face. "It's been three years since she died. Pym, I miss you so much."
"Pym?" Robin asked.
"Oh, right, I never told you. That was her nickname back when we were dating," Dr. Albertson said. "I once called her that and it stuck. She said so it would remind me to remember her name. She was funny like that. A real firecracker. Twenty five years of our lives. I wish she were still here." Dr. Albertson took a sip of his coffee.
Robin looked away, not knowing what to say. His knowledge of romance wasn't as diverse as his knowledge on ants and how they worked. Females were the one creature that evaded mankind's full knowledge. But he had to make his mentor feel better somehow. His eyes landed on what he'd been working on and how there was something he had hoped to get Dr. Albertson's input on. He pulled out what looked to be a silver headband with red lights on it from his bag.
"I bet she'd say that you need to sleep and maybe help me on my side project." Robin put on his headband, hoping to make it work this time.
"Is that your headband? You called it the Ant-Crown, right?" Albertson asked, looking it over. "Some of this wiring looks a little haphazard if you ask me. Are you sure it'll do what you think it'll do?"
"Absolutely." Robin pulled out a small jar filled with ants. "Now, let's see this work."
Robin and Dr. Albertson looked at the ants as Robin turned on the headband. The creator of the headband started focusing, pressing the sides of it to better picture his commands. The lights turned on, making a light buzzing noise. The ants all turned to look at Robin, causing him to smile. He had gotten their attention, now he had to direct them.
"It's working." Robin furrowed his brow as he thought of what to have them do. "Now, let's get you out of there."
"This is amazing," Dr. Albertson looked in fascination.
The ants seemed to listen to Robin's commands, moving upwards to the cover of the jar they were kept on. They climbed up towards the cover as Robin focused on that single command. Every step they took made Robin feel like his brain was on fire, gritting his teeth like he was trying to move the jar top with his mind.
Robin felt like his head was slowly being roasted as he tried to communicate with the ants in the jar. His headband buzzed with energy, getting hotter against his brow with each thought he sent to the ants. He could feel sweat starting to drip from the top of his skull, like he'd just stuck his head above an oven. It was an exercise in focus that he wasn't doing as greatly as he'd hoped. His eyes were burning from the lack of blinking and he could already feel the blood on his fingers slowing to a halt. But he couldn't stop, not when he was so close.
The ants had reached the top of the jar and were just about to turn it, when-
ZAP!
"Ow!" Robin tossed the headband off of his head, rubbing his temples. "Damn thing just shocked me!"
"I'm not surprised, the sweat was getting on the cables and it short circuited." Dr. Albertson examined the headband. "Maybe you need to first make something larger and more insulated to ensure the radio waves won't be corrupted by outside sources like Webrunners." Dr. Albertson pulled out a notepad and started taking notes. "We could use some of the spare parts I have to make this into something that'll do wonders."
"Glad to have your input, doc. This will revolutionize the way we understand the world." Robin said. "I plan on making this bad boy my ticket to the top." He looked over the headband looking for what to fix and scrap.
"You seem to have a very good head on your shoulders to just reach the top, Robin," Dr. Ablbertson commented, finishing his notes.
"Who doesn't want to get to the top and have the system work for them?" Robin looked over the notes before smiling. "I like the helmet idea. I think I've got something to work with. Thanks, Dr. Albertson. I appreciate your help."
"Same here, my friend. Thanks for helping me in my time of need." Dr. Albertson placed a hand on Robin's shoulder, thanking him. "Now, let us get back to changing the world for the better. Remember, camp rules: Always leave a place better than when you first found it."
Robin smiled despite the corniness of the rule. Dr. Albertson had a good heart and a great mind that could help a lot of people. It often amazed him how much of a good person he was and how he would've gone out of his way to give a snot nosed kid like him a chance. And if Robin could do some good on his way to the top, then he would go to his bed a little happier than most people. He looked down over the notes on the modifications on the headband and wondered how to apply them to his new helmet. The sky was the limit and things couldn't be any better for him and Dr. Albertson.
They were on their way to the lab when they bumped into someone. He was a tall man wearing an expensive purple and blue suit, a smug punchable face with clear eyes and a bald head. He carried a briefcase filled with important documents and looked like he only cared about how good his bald head looked. This was Darren Cross, head of finances of the Chicago Alchemax branch. And Robin's nemesis. And one of the few people in Chicago that had Chrome in his system. As lines of implants and glowing eyes would testify to that.
"Watch it! Oh, great, the nerds of the floor." Darren smugly pointed out. "You are lucky that shit didn't stain my new suit. This costs more than your education."
"Oh Darren, how good of you to show up in broad daylight," Robin said. "Though, I thought vampires burnt in the sun, don't they?"
"Forgive him, Mr. Cross." Dr. Albertson stepped ahead. "We're just eager to come in and start working on the project. We don't wish to hold you up any longer."
"See, Rob, this is the kind of respect you should be showing me. I am, after all, the man that writes your checks. And you should be especially nice to me in the upcoming few days." Darren smiled in such a way that it seemed like he was being pumped full of hot air. "I'm reviewing the spending on each department and how they're making up all that we're graciously giving them for the budget. And it looks like you, nerd monkeys, have some explaining to do."
Robin and Dr. Albertson looked at each other, knowing that this wasn't a good thing. They had seen and heard of Darren's effectiveness and ruthlessness when the payments weren't due. There were only a few differences between Darren Cross and most loan sharks that hid in back alleys, loan sharks often gave you time before coming after you and left you with a warning. Darren was known for coming after you, pulling the rug from under your feet, kicking you in the stomach and then leaving you with the vacuumed dust from the rug. It was a grim reminder that everyone had to pay the piper before the collecting was due.
Knowing that Darren had a bone to pick with you was not a good thing either, which meant that Robin and anyone that worked with him was often placed under a microscope for any foul spending of company funds. More often than naught, that made Robin the odd one out of the company, but no one could argue with the results of his work. But now that might not be enough.
"According to the last budget check, you two have spent over half of the yearly budget in about a third of the year," Darren said. "Care to explain where the money went?"
"Some of the equipment had to be repaired and we've had budget and staff cuts, thanks to you, Mr. Cross." Robin narrowed his eyes at the man, wanting to punch him. "We've had to make due."
"Yeah, so you say, I just hope you have something to show soon before the big guys start doing some cuts." Darren looked at the two scientists. "Major cuts."
"We'll get back to the lab and get to work, Mr. Cross." Dr. Albertson nodded his head.
Darren walked away, leaving the two scientists to ponder what they had just heard. He left them feeling like a sword held over their heads without having to do much of anything. They didn't even know if his threat was the real deal or just a way to keep them on their toes. That was the kind of game that Darren Cross liked to play with his position of power.
Robin growled at Darren's direction as soon as he was out of reach.
"It's not worth it, Robin. We have work to do." Dr. Albertson pulled Robin away from the spot. "Guys like him only see things in Eddies while we have to look at the bigger picture. I'm sure that we'll get the results we're looking for today. That'll show him and everyone else what we're made of."
Robin knew that his boss was right. The whole talk was just a way to rattle him and it was working. But that wasn't going to stop him. He worked just as fine with his back against the wall as with the world closing in on him. He'd see Darren apologizing to them soon enough. The situation wasn't as bad after all.
"The situation is fucked, sir."
The CEO of Alchemax was not having a good morning. Several of the board members and his vice president were voicing their concerns and he had to admit that they were valid.
"Arasaka's dogs just bombed one of our trucks filled with military prototypes and what they didn't burn they stole for themselves. We need something they can't touch or else this company will go under." The board members were all in agreement.
"Ladies, gentlemen, please. I hear your complaints and your proposals to strike at Arasaka, but I believe we have something that will help us level the playing field." The CEO gestured to his vice-president. "Mr. U, if you'd be so kind."
"Right away, sir."
Mr. U's red eyes blinked brightly as the development of several projects appeared before the board members.
"As you can see we have made advancements on several of our projects to counter Arasaka's plunder of our information. One of the most prominent assets is Dr. Albertson's development of particle alteration and its ramifications." Mr. U explained, pulling up the picture of Dr. Albertson. "Which if our predictions are correct will be applied to all our fields. But we also have the military contracts to keep us from bankruptcy if it makes you feel better gentlemen. As well as our joint ventures in the Euroasian Space program."
"That's great and dandy, Mr. U. But what exactly is Dr. Albertson trying to achieve here? How will it be capable of knocking Arasaka off the top?"
The CEO only smiled, letting the light catch on to her glasses as she looked at the picture of the good doctor.
Back at the lab, Robin and Dr. Albertson prepped a machine over their latest test subject, a goat. Their current assignment was to create a way to increase and shrink anything with the use of an unstable formula that Dr. Albertson had been looking to perfect for a long time. The machine lit up as Robin inserted the batch of the molecules they were testing. The red liquid filled the dropper as the two scientists watched and recorded all the information their machines would tell them.
"Vital signs look good for the little guy," Dr. Albertson said. "Make sure the box is locked. No need to get it running off at the last minute."
"You got it, doc." Robin checked the metal box and the goat inside it. "We're set to go with the experiment."
"Alright, get over here then." Dr. Albertson waited for Robin to get with him behind the protective glass shield. "Commencing Particle Alteration experiment number 25. Proceeding to fire the particles into subject G-25."
Robin and Dr. Albertson looked with great excitement as the red particles dropped down onto the metal box with the goat inside. As soon as the energy particles touched the metal box, the box started to slowly shrink down before their eyes. At first it was like watching a video in slow motion before it picked up speed, shrinking quickly before them. They watched as the goat along with the box shrunk down to the size of a mouse. They were about to celebrate but they saw the box continue to shrink down smaller and smaller before their eyes, they wondered what would happen only for the box and its contents to turn into a red stain on the floor.
"Call it." Dr. Albertson sighed.
"Particle Alteration Experiment Number 25, failed." Robin wrote down. "Commencing experiment number 26. What if we add some slowing agent that can stop the shrinking up to a certain point?"
"Worth the shot," Dr. Albertson replied.
They setted up the next experiment, adding a slowing agent to the particles. They watched the red liquid conduct the electricity, making it glow for a moment. It was like looking at Christmas lights inside a water bottle, flickering and glowing brightly before dying down. It would've made for a very beautiful illumination trick for a party but the inside of the container held something that was far more interesting. The particles were stabilizing as the energy coursed through them, fusing it with the sling agent that was inside. If Robin and Dr. Albertson did their job properly than the piece would result in the stable molecules they were seeking.
They placed another box with a goat inside it just like before. They prepared the experiment from behind the protective glass, crossing their fingers as they saw the experiment occur before their eyes. The process was the same as the last twenty five times. A blast of the particles dropped on the box, shrinking it down before their eyes like it had done before. Only this time it was much faster, becoming no bigger than a small water cap.
"All readings appear to be stable." Robin commented as they made their way to the box.
"The subject appears to be fine as well." Dr. Albertson looked at the small metal box with the goat through a magnifying glass. "I think we've got it."
However, as soon as they were about to pop the champagne, the box and the goat started shrinking once more. The bottle cap-sized metal box became smaller and smaller before their eyes to the point it was no bigger than a grain of sand. Robin and Dr. Albertson watched through the magnifying glass as their test subject shrunk down to a size they couldn't continue to track. They looked at the pad that was keeping track of the goat, seeing that it was still sending a signal. The signal was weak but they could still track it.
They watched with baited breath to see what would happen. The signal kept on going for a few more seconds before it got disconnected. The test had remained stable but the slowing agent hadn't been strong enough to stop the shrinking process. It felt like every time they took a step forward they stumbled and had to take two steps back. The process was slow and it often lead to more dead ends and gooey test results. But that was what science was at the end of the day. A long process of steps that often told you what not to do while what was the right answer evaded you. Like leveling up in a video game, you have to start off with the level fives and level tens before going up against the level sixties. But that didn't mean that it wasn't frustrating.
Robin and Dr. Alberston looked over their notes and what they had discovered. The slowing agent had stabilized the particles, it just needed more power to make it stick and then the process of growing things back up would be next on their list. They loaded up another canister filled with the particles before adding the slowing agent, or stopping agent as some would call it. They made sure to increase the amount of energy while also having the amount of the particles being dominant.
"Alright, time for lucky number 27!" Dr. Albertson said.
"All set here doc!" Robin rushed to his side. "I made sure to keep the amount of energy of the stopping agent around 25% of the concoction. That way we'll have a good point to see where to stop the shrinking process."
"Sounds good, Robin. Would you like to do the honors?" Dr. Albertson gestured to the button.
"Third time's the charm." Robin pressed the button. "Commencing Particle Alteration Experiment number 27."
They turned to see the process taking place before their eyes. The particles were fired at the metal box, causing it to shrink down. The two scientists held their collective breaths as the box shrunk before their eyes. They had already failed many times before and they didn't want to fail another time. They both held failure and need for resourcefulness with the company having trouble as of late. Neither forgot what they were told earlier that day. It was a sting that pushed them to do more and get the results they needed not just for themselves but also the company.
Robin was not going to let another setback stop his career and he would do everything from scratch if he had to. All so that he could prove Darren wrong. He was almost tempted to pray for a successful test, but he wasn't one to beg or pray for anything. His efforts were better focused at keeping track of the readings they were getting. He smiled as the shrinking stopped before their eyes.
"What do the readings say?" Dr. Albertson asked, pulling up the magnifying glass.
"Everything is stable," Robin replied as they both watched the metal box with the goat inside, looking at them like they were mountains. "I-I-I think we did it! You did it Dr. Ablerston, you did it!"
"We did it, Robin. We did." Dr. Albertson cheered. "We've discovered a new type of molecule that shrinks anything and stabilizes everything. Think of all the great things we could do. Transportation of goods and medicine will be as easy and inexpensive as one single ticket. Doctors will be able to shrink down and treat diseases up close and destroy tumors when they were untouchable. Machines that would be huge now would only need a drop of fuel to work. The lives will improve with this are astronomical." Dr. Albertson beamed with pride at their achievement.
"Nobel prizes here we come. How shall we name this amazing beauty?" Robin asked.
Dr. Albertson looked at the container with the particles, thinking. He'd wanted this for so long that he'd never thought about naming them. He just wished that his wife was here to celebrate with him. Then like a lightbulb turning on inside his mind, it came to him.
"Pym," Dr. Albertson said. "They will be known as the Pym Particles. Get ready to change the world, Robin."
"Now, it's time to make them grow back up." Robin smirked, writing down the name of the new particles. "I can't wait to see the look on Darren's face when he sees this with his cybernetic dead eyes."
Dr. Albertson couldn't help but smile, knowing that it was indeed unbelievable and he was holding the shrunken goat in his hand.
Word of their success spread through the company like wildfire. The investors and the head of staff were more than ready for a demonstration of the brand new Pym Particles and what they could be used for. And amongst them was none other than Darren Cross, pouting at the success of the nerd monkeys.
"Now, as you can see, the particles we implement shrink the objects down while maintaining their molecular structure intact. We've discovered that they do become denser the smaller they are," Dr. Albertson explained as Robin shrunk down different objects and animals. "This little goat would've required a special pen to transport it and others like it to their destination, which would've cost lots of energy, time, man power and of course money. But with the Pym Particles, we could move an entire building full of goods, and resources from here to anywhere in the world at a fraction of the price and effort that it would've taken us to transport all the materials separately. Imagine a brand new house, hospital or fancy new office building springing out of the ground as though it had been built there." Dr. Albertson nodded to Robin for the next step.
Robin pressed a button from his datapad with a smile on his face, activating a different charge of the Pym Particles. He watched with pride as the apple tree sprung back to its original size before the people of Alchemax. Part of Robin couldn't help but smirk at the incredulous look that Darren had in his face as the other investors and heads of the Alchemax branch watched in amazement at their work. He could already see it, his path to the top was being built as Dr. Albertson spoke and their minds built the new advances of tomorrow.
"And yes, before you ask, it is safe." Dr. Albertson took a bite out of one of the apples before swallowing it. "After many tests, we've been able to find that there are no irregularities with any of the objects, animals or other test subjects we've used for the Pym Particles."
Darren suddenly smirked, finding one flaw that he could exploit.
"Does that include humans, Dr. Albertson?" Darren asked.
"Um, well," Dr. Albertson was caught on the spot. "It is still a bit-"
"Because, how do we know it's safe for humans? For all we know those lab rats now have brain damage that can't be seen. We should hold off until we reach human testing before spending any more money on this idea." Darren walked up in front of everyone.
Robin saw what Darren was doing. Poking holes in their achievement to keep them under his tacky heel. He was very tempted to shrink him down to the size of an ant and stomp on him. Now there was an idea that had run in his mind several times.
"We are still examining the situation and we can assure you all that there do not appear to be any long term issues with any subjects." Robin spoke up, getting in Darren's face, not noticing that they were both underneath the particles. "In fact we'll be heading into human testing as soon as we get the green light."
"Robin, stop don't-" Dr. Albertson was cut off as the Pym Particles fired down on Robin and Darren.
Robin and Darren shrunk down at top speed before the eyes of all the people present. Several people gasped in shock while others wondered if this was all part of the presentation. But none took their eyes off of the first two shrunken humans in history.
Robin felt like someone had pulled the rug from beneath his feet. His sense of balance and bravado took their leave of his body as he fell down to the cold hard floor. Fear gripped his heart and soul as he saw the ground getting closer and closer to his falling body. He covered himself with his arms out of instinct, blindly hoping that it would save his life. He landed with a heavy thunk followed after. The silence that followed hung in the air like when the lights were suddenly cut out in the middle of a Mexican standoff and someone shot in the dark.
"Ow, that hurt!" Robin pushed himself up, before remembering what had happened. "I-I'm alive?" He checked himself, making sure that he didn't have anything broken or worse than a few bruises. "Wow, that's being one lucky… son of…"
Robin looked up and saw everything around him like he was in a mirror funhouse. Everything was larger than him by miles. The people sitting down looked like a far away mountain range with loud echoes coming towards him from a distance. The intensity of the lights could have paralleled the sun itself. And the steps of Dr. Albertson were akin to mini earthquakes happening close to him. If he had a way to describe what he was feeling, it would be that he'd stepped into Lewis' Alice in Wonderland.
His ears perked up at something else. He turned around and saw several ants looking at him and moving around to catch some of the food from the demonstration. They were as big as horses and stronger than any machine Robin had ever seen. Seeing them in their world opened something of a new respect for them for him to appreciate. He watched them pick stuff ten times their own weight like it was nothing. And they were organized to a degree he had only seen from his normal size. He even decided to take a recording of them moving and working in tandem.
"Dr. Albertson will love this," Robin said, looking at his video.
A groan caught Robin's attention.
He turned to see Darren Cross groaning and panting as he got back to his feet. Looking at the executive having what looked like a panic attack made Robin crack a smile. For all his high and mighty attitude in the office, Darren was just as scared as everyone else when faced with the unknown. In a way it made him more human but not less annoying.
"Calm down, Darren. And hey, we're the first human test subjects, guess we'll be getting all the funding we need." Robin looked up to see the Pym Particles fire on them. "Right on time, doc."
Robin and Darren grew back to their normal sizes once more, but it looked like Robin was handling it better.
"Robin, are you okay, my boy?" Dr. Albertson looked Robin over.
"A bit of a grumbling stomach, but I'll live. But Darren on the other hand," Robin said as Darren spat out his lunch and breakfast. "Could get some looking after."
Darren's head snapped forward as his eyes started crackling. They started moving like the eyes of a chameleon on crack. They glitched as strange things appeared to pop up before his eyes. Just then, he passed out.
After calling the conference and display short, Dr. Albertson had gotten to perform all manner of tests on both Robin and Darren. He took blood samples, did X-rays, and performed katscans on them both to see everything that might've affected them.
"It looks like you're out with a clean bill of health, Robin." Dr. Albertson looked over all the test results with a fine tooth and comb.
"Yeah, I feel great, doc. I could've told you that." Robin smirked.
"Don't think you're not in trouble. What you did was very dangerous. You know that." Dr. Albertson scolded, making Robin look down.
"Sorry, doc. I wasn't thinking." Robin apologised.
"Apology accepted. But now there's another matter. It appears the Pym Particles are safe for most non-Cyber enhanced individuals." Dr. Albertson pulled up another chart. "Darren was treated for early symptoms of Cyber-psychosis."
"What? But he isn't a psycho and he doesn't have that much chrome in him." Robin looked at the charts.
"Exactly, the Pym Particles seem to have affected his brain chemistry leading to such a state." Dr. Albertson explained. "The top heads have decided to give him a leave of absence until he gets better. And we'll have to look for a way to fix this issue."
"Then let's get to work," Robin said. "By the way, in the meantime, I've got something to show you." Robin pulled out a silver helmet with an open mouth, eye holes and two horn-like antennas.
"Is this the new Ant Headband?" Dr. Albertson asked. "It looks magnificent."
"I saw a few ants in action when I was shrunk down, and it got me thinking. I need to not just command but listen to the ants." Robin put on the helmet as he set down a jar full of ants. "They are a colony but need a leader to speak to them. They aren't robots or machines. But real living beings."
Robin focused, allowing the words of the ants to go into his head. At first, it felt like static in his ears or trying to listen to a multitude of people speaking at the same time. He closed his eyes as he started to process the information. Some were scared, some were hungry and others wanted to find a way out. He focused on his command, getting the ants to listen to him in their own language.
The ants moved towards the cap, combining their strength to move it. Following Robin's instructions, they started to turn the cap with precision. They turned it over and over until they opened it before their eyes.
"Incredible." Dr. Albertson gasped.
"You said it doc," Robin replied with a smile on his face as his ants received a sugar cube for their hard work and effort.
Darren Cross was not having a good time. The last few weeks felt like they had been a damn joke, a joke played to his expense. He'd been used as a guinea pig in some crackpot experiment by the nerd monkeys which almost fried his brain and made him sick. Then he was forced to take a break because said experiment led to him presenting symptoms of cyber-psychosis. He was plagued with visions and hallucinations through the following weeks. The meds had taken the edge off, but he was still feeling effects of his chrome not mixing well with the damn goo they created in the lab. Flashbacks made him wake up in a cold sweat almost every night.
"Damn it. Damn them. They planned this from the beginning," Darren cursed. "They wanted me out of the way to get free reign of the place. If I don't get a grip, I'll be out on the streets. But I'll show them."
If there was one thing that Darren was good at was getting even and that's what he planned to do. He rummaged through his old contacts like a mad man trying to dig out buried treasure from the bottom of the earth. After many years in the business, he got his hands on many contacts and like-minded people from other companies. It was against the company policy to hold on to such contacts or discuss top secret information with said contacts, but what Darren had in mind was far too destructive to be stopped by mere rules of the company. He found the card he was looking for amidst the stacks of cards and papers he had lying in his desk.
"You better pick up." Darren dialed a private call, making sure to use a secure server.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Hello, it's me, I got something for you." Darren answered.
"Do you know? What made you become a turncoat? Last I heard you were pretty cozy in Alchemax."
"Things aren't changing in my favor. I want a meeting, some neutral ground and a deal." Darren narrowed his eyes awaiting the answer.
"You better have something very juicy to ask that."
"How does Alchemax's new game changer that'll make chrome obsolete." Darren lit a cigarette.
"...You still know that place in South Morgan st and West 38th?"
"I'll see you there." Darren finished the call.
Darren met up with his contact at Arasaka inside a small restaurant away from prying eyes of their respective companies. He handed him a copy of the project once the deal had been authorized by the Arasaka big weights. His contact looked at the documents like he was reading an engaging novel. Darren could tell that he was surprised.
And scared.
"I'll give this to the professionals, consider yourself in the clear and expect a big deposit from a friend." Darren smirked at that.
Back at Alchemax, Robin and Dr. Alberston were putting the final touches on their newest creation. They stood working on a large RV, preparing all the proper materials and chemicals that they needed for transportation. It was a big red rust bucket type of vehicle with black and white paint that covered it head to toe. The wheels were old fashioned rubber with white paint on them. The windows had to have been reinforced to make sure they wouldn't break whenever the RV shrunk. It had an antenna on top of its roof for communications and some TV functions. The inside of it was almost a fully stocked laboratory with a Pym Particle shrinking size alteration device on the back, allowing the people inside to shrink and grow to their pleasure. The RV had actually been constructed with the use of Pym Particles and was being fitted with circuitry and cables to make it shrink and grow at command of the driver. It was bulky with old pieces of equipment that had yet to be fully operational but it was getting there.
"All set for the test, doc." Robin finished checking the engine while the ant far he'd brought with him watched in awe.
"Perfect, we'll be ready for tomorrow. We just need to do one final run of the inventory and make sure that everything is in one piece." Dr. Albertson commented, noting all the chemicals and equipment that they were carrying. "Have you heard anything about Mr. Cross?"
"Not really." Robin shrugged. "He should be coming back to work tomorrow if he followed his treatment to the letter. Is it weird that I don't feel as guilty as I should be?"
"I know that your relationship with Darren Cross is… murky at best but his situation is your fault." Dr. Albertson turned to Robin as he tended to his ant farm. "You should at least apologize or show some concern for his situation."
Robin wanted to roll his eyes at the comment. There were no friends in the corpo world and if there were any of them would be used as a stepping stool for the other. Just like clogs in a machine, they all had a part to play and if one part was expendable then it would be used for just that purpose. But then again, Robin and Dr. Albertson were friends and they didn't see each other like that. Heck, the ants themselves worked together as a colony. They depended on each other and helped each other whenever they needed to do so for the good of the hive.
Robin meditated it in his mind as he watched the ants grow and move with precision as he fed them. He would've personally liked it more if Darren never crossed his path again. But an apology for what had happened was the least he could do.
"Yeah, I'll apologize as soon as he gets to the office." Robin said.
Outside the laboratory, the alarm went off. Blaring like a fire had been ignited in the main offices with everyone inside, every single employee took note of the alarm. Everyone wondered what was going on but the alarm was blaring as loud as it could go off. All the employees abided by the evacuation procedures, leaving whatever they were doing and heading outside for safety. Everyone, including the security guards were forced outside while the alarm rang on through the entire building. Or at least it was supposed to ring throughout the entire building.
The alarms had not sounded in the lab, leaving Robin and Dr. Albertson in the dark.
As everyone else was out of the building, someone busted down the door of the building's back entrance.
"I can't believe they made me come down to this shithole for some science experiment." A voice groaned as cold and as robotic that one would wonder if there was a tingle of humanity in it in the first place. "This better be a fun distraction at least."
The owner of the voice was a large, hulking metallic abomination that could've been the cybernetic futuristic version of Frankenstein's Monster. He was armed head to toe with advanced military grade cybernetic implants and weapons that made people wonder if there was really a man underneath it all. The only part of him that could even be considered human was the upper part of his face that resembled a human visage, or a death mask as some would call it. This was Arasaka's Boogeyman, and hero of their wars for domination of the corporate landscape. This was Adam Smasher.
His red eyes scanned the room in search of anything or anyone that could get in his way. To his misfortune, he didn't find anything to shoot at. He grunted in annoyance as he pulled at his large weapon with his hands like it weighed nothing. He tore through the doors, taking out any camera that he saw with his bare hands, tearing them off like they were apples ripe enough to fall on their own.
"So boring. Any street punk could do this." Adam Smasher looked at the camera that he'd torn off.
"Hey, who goes there? Didn't you hear the alarm?"
Adam Samsher didn't even reply, he coldly shot the security guard, splattering his blood against the wall. He didn't even spare a second glance to his kill. It was something that he did because it was all that he was good at. He didn't hate it nor enjoyed it. It was just a job that he was tasked to do.
"Well, they did say to not leave any evidence." Adam Smasher pulled out an incendiary grenade. "Time to torch the place down." Adam Smasher tossed the grenade into the walls as he walked with no regards to what was happening around him. "I hope those I have to kill at least put up a decent fight. I hate not having at least some fun."
Robin felt his stomach grumpling. Looking at his watch, he realized that they had both skipped lunch. They had been way too into their work to notice and it really started playing against them. It was time to raid the snack machines and cafeteria if they were still open.
"Doc, I'm going for a food run, you want something?" Robin asked.
"Something that isn't microwaved pizza," Dr. Albertson replied from his work. "I think I'm about to make a breakthrough with the Pym Particles and chrome."
"You got it." Robin walked out of the lab on his way for something to eat.
Robin walked down the halls, not very surprised by the lack of movement since it was so late. However, as he spotted one of the vending machines in front of him, he noticed a flashing light from the other hallway. He turned to see the alarm light flashing brightly, but no sound was coming from it. This had to be some kind of error or something. Something must've made it go off by mistake, a short circuit perhaps.
He shifted to look into the cafeteria wondering if anyone was there. As soon as he opened the door, his ears were filled with the sound of the alarm going off like a fire was consuming it. Covering his ears, he looked around for any signs of people but he saw no one. He saw lots of trays with food and some stuff left there like the owners had just run off when the alarm sounded off. Robin's mind raced a mile a minute wondering what was going on. It looked like the alarm had been activated in all places except the laboratory.
"What the hell is going on?" Robin muttered to himself.
Everything in his mind was telling Robin that he had to get out of there. He had to get Dr. Albertson and get out of the building as soon as possible. As he turned around to run out of the cafeteria, a shot echoed through the hallway, tearing the door in two. Robin was missed by an inch. He scrambled to his feet, getting away from the door as he heard heavy metal steps walking towards the entrance.
He pressed himself against the wall, as the doors were shot apart, leaving them as no better than Swiss cheese. Then it came through them as easily as walking through wet paper, Adam Smasher walked into the cafeteria with the smoking cannon in his hands.
"Where are you?" Adam Smasher asked, sending the feel of a cold front hitting Robin's back. "I caught a glimpse of you. Show yourself."
Robin didn't dare to move or even speak, believing, almost hoping that his stillness would make him invisible. His eyes landed on a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, giving him an idea to escape. It was a dumb idea that he wasn't even sure it would work. But as soon as he saw the monster turning, his instincts took over. He threw the plate at his face, blinding Adam Smasher with sauce and meat.
"MEAT!" Adam Smasher roared as Robin took off running in fear.
Robin ran out of the cafeteria as fast as his legs could take him, hearing the roars of Adam Smasher like those of a beast clawing at his back. He turned back in time to see the metal monster punch through the walls, catching up to him. Adam Smasher backhanded Robin in the face, cutting his eyebrow, sending him to the ground in pain.
"You're all meat alright." Adam Smasher looked down at Robin with disgust. "You'll fit perfectly in Arasaka's grinder."
"Arasaka?" Robin asked, feeling the warmth of his blood trailing down his face.
"Robin!"
Chemicals struck Adam Smasher, getting his attention.
Dr. Albertson threw a beaker full of chemicals at Adam Smasher, causing it to break. As soon as the chemicals touched Arasaka's boogeyman's chrome arm, it began to melt.
Adam Smasher cried out in pain as he dropped his weapon.
"You damn meat!" Adam Smasher screamed, giving Robin the chance to run.
Robin and Dr. Albertson ran as fast as they could as Adam Smasher glared at them, looking at his stub of an arm. They didn't have much time to think, let alone speak as Adam Smasher fired his wrist-mounted blaster at them. He shot Dr. Albertson, taking out his right leg.
"Doc!" Robin caught his friend and mentor as he screamed in pain. "I got you!" Robin saw the RV inside the lab and ran as fast as he could towards it.
"You are going to die here, screaming in pain for doing this to me!" Adam Smasher glared at them, activating his shoulder mounted rockets. "DIE!"
Robin pulled Dr. Albertson entered the lab as the rockets flew all over the hallway and the lab.
The entire floor exploded into a fiery inferno before Adam Smasher's eyes. He growled in rage at the sight of his destroyed targets. He hated this job, it was a pain in the ass and he hoped the bastards were rotting in hell for damaging his precious body. Adam Smasher looked at the flames as he pressed the remote to activate the other grenades he'd scattered through the building. Arasaka wanted a clean house, and it didn't get any cleaner than a fiery inferno and demolition.
"Burn up meat. That's all you're ever going to be useful for." Adam Smasher walked away as the fire took hold of everything.
Robin groaned in pain, his whole body felt like he'd fallen from a cliff top and struck every single rock and tree on the way down.
"What happened?" Robin got up, looking out through the RV windows.
His eyes widened as he saw that he was in the middle of burnt up rubble. He walked out, trying to see where they were. He remembered an explosion and fire but nothing else.
"Where am I?" Robin asked as a shadow loomed over him.
He turned to see a giant mouse, looking at him with its big dark eyes.