2013

Hell's Kitchen, New York City

Warehouse District

(Brock POV)

"Seriously, are you not going to tell me who made this?!" Dr. Cho inquired for the umpteenth time, as she sat beside me in the passenger seat of the hovercar.

Unable to take it anymore I sigh heavily, irritated by her constant pestering questions about the vehicle we were currently flying high above Manhattan in.

"I mean really, the craftsmanship is just phenomenal! Incredible attention to detail; each component is perfectly machined and designed specifically for maximum performance using advanced composite materials ensuring optimal durability yet lightweight construction!" She exclaimed passionately next to me as I looked out the windshield at the cityscape passing rapidly underneath us.

We've been flying nonstop for hours since departing Korea and, despite having slept briefly during the trip, I felt exhausted listening to the doctor extol praises concerning the automobile's design and the engineering marvels displayed on board.

"You'll meet the creator in a few minutes," I informed her casually without elaboration which caused her to look over at me curiously.

Not wanting to explain further, I kept my focus outside, gazing thoughtfully at the clouds drifting lazily past the window.

Seeing that I wasn't interested in answering any of her questions, Dr. Cho turned back to watch the scenery go by rather contentedly, allowing herself a momentary respite from the incessant nagging curiosity.

We rode in silence for a while, until the GPS system on the dashboard let us know that we were approaching our destination.

The hovercar began to sink below the clouds, descending swiftly toward ground level.

The warehouse district came into view quickly, causing me to feel pleased with seeing what I now consider my home turf still standing in one piece.

"So, this is your base?" Dr. Cho asked as the hovercar landed in front of the main warehouse's doors.

Nodding affirmatively, I slide open the car door, stepped out, and stretched my cramped muscles from sitting throughout the long flight.

After helping Dr. Cho alight, I walked alongside her, heading towards the large metal loading bay doors situated in the front of the building.

I moved to unlock the doors, but before I could, they suddenly opened themselves as Zeru stood in the doorway looking up at me with an excited and eager smile painted on his young face.

"Hey, Boss!" He yelled enthusiastically, greeting me warmly.

"Zeru." I greeted back, giving the kid a slight smile and pat on the shoulder as I stepped past him to enter the warehouse. "How were things here? Any problems?"

Zeru looked over at Dr. Cho, giving her a quick wave before responding, "We had a few pests try to get in, but I handled them easily enough. They didn't even come close to getting inside!"

I nodded approvingly, impressed by how capable the boy has become after all these months of working under my supervision. Turning away, I look back at Dr. Cho, who was watching our exchange closely. She noticed my gaze and gave me a curious glance, probably wondering who this boy was and why he was working with someone who was supposed to be fighting against a dangerous organization like Hydra.

"This is Zeru," I started, introducing the youngster.

"I rescued him a few months back from being experimented on by Hydra," I explained, looking over at Dr. Cho to make sure she understood the situation clearly. "He works with me because he wants revenge against those responsible for hurting so many people including himself."

Dr. Cho looks surprised to hear such information regarding Zeru's background. She looked down at the boy, who glanced over at me for a second, before returning his gaze to Dr. Cho and giving her a solemn-looking nod.

I smiled inwardly, proud that the boy caught on to the lie so quickly.

Dr. Cho seemed saddened upon learning of the 'truth' behind Zeru's origins. Looking concerned, she reached out and gently touched the young lad lightly on his arm reassuringly.

Zeru, to his credit, showed no signs of discomfort or resentment when encountering a human touching him unexpectedly. Instead, he accepted the gesture calmly, nodding respectfully and acknowledging that Dr. Cho recognized his struggles.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Looking relieved that everything went well, I turn to walk toward the large cylindrical tank which housed Ava.

"Come along Doc," I told Dr. Cho, gesturing toward the water tank containing the unconscious woman.

She followed suit reluctantly, getting in step behind me as we moved close to the massive container.

"This is Ava," I said softly as we approached the glass enclosure where she drifts peacefully in the liquid. Her body floated limply in the transparent gel-like concoction.

"What happened to her?" Dr. Cho questioned quietly as we neared the vessel.

Shrugging uncomfortably I answer truthfully, "She was involved in an explosion of quantum energy that killed her parents. However, she survived with side effects that caused her molecular structure and equilibrium to become imbalanced. We tried to cure her by using the same energy, however, it seems to have failed."

As I spoke, Dr. Cho watched silently observing the girl breathing rhythmically beneath the thick layer of clear liquid material covering her entire form.

"Do you have any samples left of this substance?" She asks anxiously.

Zeru moved forward to answer, "We only have two vials of quantum matter remaining."

He moved toward his workstation and pulled out a familiar black duffel bag from the shelf nearby. Opening the drawstring flap, he removed several small containers filled with two different glowing liquids.

Two crystalline blue vials stood out amongst the several blood-red ones contained therein.

Picking up one of the blue vials in his palm carefully, Zeru handed it to Dr. Cho, explaining its composition and purpose.

Although hesitant at first due to its strange appearance, she took it anyway, accepting it curiously. Holding it between her fingers, she examined the contents intently.

"I've never seen something quite like this before..." She spoke softly. After studying it for a minute longer, she handed it back reverentially. Then, moving her gaze toward the red vials, she stares at them questioningly.

"What is this other one exactly...?" She inquires inquisitively.

"Pym Particles," Zeru answered her honestly. "I' m not entirely certain... but I believe it's created from the Quantum Matter."

At his explanation, Dr. Cho frowned slightly confused.

"...Quantum Material can manipulate subatomic particles in ways normal atoms cannot, creating new possibilities and realizations impossible according to known laws governing physics." Zeru informed, "This solution allows things to change their mass, shrinking or expanding dramatically."

A slow grin spread across Dr. Cho's lips as understanding settled in place. Reaching out slowly to gently touch the red vials with her fingertips, she stared deep into them, mesmerized momentarily as if trying to see through the scientific data within the liquid with her bare eyes.

Finally, turning around abruptly, she set the vial aside on top of the desk and begins rummaging through the luggage she brought with her.

Pulling out notebooks, binders full of papers, and folders stuffed with lab reports, she stopped searching and turned back toward me asking, "...where do I work?"

Smirking knowingly, I motioned for her to follow Zeru toward his workstation near the wall opposite the entranceway leading to the rest of the facility. There, he'd built a laboratory complete with computers, microscopes, test tubes, Bunsen burners, and much more equipment necessary for conducting experiments on various compounds.

As the two geniuses began working, I headed outside to move the hovercar back into the warehouse.

Returning shortly afterward, I notice both of them speaking animatedly together seated facing each other at the countertop in front of the monitors showing screens displaying various pieces of data.

They're talking about some sort of chemical reaction occurring inside the vat. Their voices raised in excitement as they discuss the possible outcomes of whatever experiment they were theorizing.

Watching the two talk excitedly, my head suddenly turns toward the door as I smell an unfamiliar scent approaching the property.

*Beep! Beep!*

At the same time, the proximity alarm goes off, pulling Zeru from his conversation as he rushes over toward his computer.

Walking closer, I move behind him as he pulls up the camera feed from the gate outside.

A man walks steadily up to the fence surrounding the compound and stops there staring directly ahead beyond it. He was tall and broad, with short cropped brown hair and wearing dark clothing.

"It's just one guy?" Zeru says incredulously.

Looking closer at the feed, I took note of the numerous tattoos running along his arms as well as his expressionless face, which bore little emotion save for intense concentration etched deeply into every line and crease of his features.

The man continues standing still, unmoving while keeping focused straight ahead waiting patiently for something. His hands hung loosely at his sides, revealing nothing within them.

There isn't anyone else present besides him, nor did he appear to be carrying anything except perhaps a weapon hidden somewhere concealed on his person. But judging by his demeanor, I doubted very seriously that he was here for a fight.

"What should we do?" Zeru asked, turning around to face me.

I shrug, unsure myself although it didn't seem likely that whoever this was could harm either of us, I still didn't like the idea of strangers standing outside my territory.

"You have a way to speak to him from here?" I ask the tech expert next to me.

"Yep!" Zeru responded confidently.

Turning back toward the screen, he presses a button on his keyboard and hands me a small mic.

Thinking briefly about what I would say, I moved the mic to my lips and simply stated, "What?"

My voice echoed loudly through the speakers placed throughout the compound, sounding robotic and inhuman.

The man was startled by the sudden interruption and spun his head around sharply, surveying the area for the source of the voice.

When he saw nobody else in sight, he nervously lifted his hands in the gesture of surrender, showing that he came here in peace.

"I come here in peace," The man spoke nervously in a heavy Russian accent, "I was sent on behalf of Vladimir and Anatoly Ranskahov, leaders of the Bratva stationed here in New York."

His words sounded somewhat rehearsed, almost scripted, as though he knew that if he said the wrong thing here he would die. Still, despite knowing that fact, it wasn't hard imagining that he might actually mean what he said. Given all the trouble we got ourselves mixed up in lately, someone was bound to come knocking sooner rather than later looking for answers.

"They would to meet with the Boss of this...territory immediately to settle matters concerning the recent troubles as of late." He continued hesitantly, glancing uncertainly around him. "Please...allow me to speak to the one called Crossbones."

************

A/n: Hey guys, I hope you are enjoying the story so far, and as always, thanks for reading!

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