~Baxter Building~
Sean rubbed his temples as he looked at Mindy, who was pouting angrily...
The little girl had been holding a grudge against him lately. As his career took off and his workload grew heavier, their lives were no longer as relaxed and carefree as before.
"Sean, you've changed," Mindy muttered, hugging her Peppa Pig plush pillow on the sofa, "I've been eating pizza takeout for ages! Do you have any idea how much weight I'll gain from all these high-calorie als?"
Sean silently glanced at the empty ice cream box beside her, choosing to ignore her complaints. Today, he had to prepare for his upcoming space voyage with the future Fantastic Four...
After a short vacation, he had wrapped up loose ends and handed over lab responsibilities to Dr. Connors.
Elektra had returned successfully from San Francisco, bringing back the ultimate counterasure against mutants... a twelve-year-old boy nad Jimmy.
His serum could be used to develop a drug that suppressed mutant genes. The most interesting part? The boy himself was a mutant.
As an unexpected bonus, they had also obtained a wealth of genetic data on mutants, giving Sean a deeper understanding of this unique group beyond just his fragnted mories.
"Be good and watch the house while I'm gone. When I get back from space, I'll bring you... uh... well, aside from floating space debris, I don't think there's anything worth keeping as a souvenir." Sean patted the little girl's head.
He knew full well that Mindy's anger stemd from worry... after all, this wasn't so sightseeing trip. A mission to collect cosmic energy data in outer space sounded dangerous, and that was reason enough for concern...
"I've already lost my last family. So... you can't leave too," Mindy mumbled, no longer throwing a tantrum. She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Sean's waist.
Seeing the usually feisty girl so serious made Sean chuckle inwardly. It was heartwarming to know soone cared about him.
"Sean, if you're gone, who's gonna cook for , do the dishes, and give tons of allowance..."
Hearing her quiet grumbling, Sean's brief mont of tenderness vanished instantly. He promptly plopped her back onto the sofa.
"While I'm away, cook and clean for yourself. No more takeout! Look at you, all that junk food is making you chubby!" Sean scolded like a strict parent, "Didn't your etiquette teacher at school teach you to be a proper young lady? Look at your round cheeks and that little belly! How are you ever gonna get married like this...?"
He rambled on, occasionally poking her soft and squishy cheeks, completely ignoring her increasingly irritated expression. She looked like an angry kitten with its fur puffed up.
*Whack!* *Whack!* *Whack!*
Mindy retaliated by smacking him repeatedly with a pillow before triumphantly strutting back to her room, chin held high like a victorious general.
Rubbing his face, Sean sighed. Raising a violent little gremlin these days was no easy task.
…..
~NASA Launch Site~
Wearing a safety helt, Sean t up with Reed and Ben...
Along the way, they ran into Victor Von Doom, the investor behind this space expedition. Just as the newspapers described, the tall, hawk-eyed man carried an air of arrogance, often displaying an aggressive and domineering deanor.
Unlike Tony Stark's brand of narcissistic charm, Victor's unapologetic superiority complex made him far less likable... at least in Reed and Ben's eyes...
However, Victor was surprisingly warm toward Sean. Clearly, the ambitious entrepreneur had heard of New York's rising genius.
With Worthington out of the picture, Oscorp and Umbrella were rapidly expanding, shining like bright new stars in the corporate world.
A man like Doom, who valued profit above all else, naturally sought to align himself with Sean. Unlike Reed, a brilliant scientist who buried himself in useless research while ignoring wealth accumulation, Sean was soone worth cultivating.
After so lukewarm small talk, Sean stepped outside and overheard Reed and Ben arguing heatedly...
"No way! Absolutely not!" the usually easygoing Ben was shaking his head firmly.
"External rocket launchers, orbital system engines, it's just like the shuttles you've flown before," Reed said with a shrug.
With his patience worn thin, Ben pointed at a motorcycle speeding down the highway toward them, "I am not playing second fiddle to that idiot! The guy got kicked out of NASA for sneaking two lingerie models into a simulator and screwing around in it!"
Reed grimaced at that. He was well aware of Susan's unreliable younger brother, but the kid was Doom's designated pilot. If Ben refused to cooperate as co-pilot, the mission would be delayed yet again.
After so back-and-forth, the good-natured Ben finally relented under Reed's pleading...
Grumbling, he stomped back to the base to make preparations... He wanted to avoid dealing with that arrogant brat.
...
Returning to the facility, Sean underwent a basic physical exam as part of pre-flight protocol...
In six hours, the launch sequence would begin...
"The synthetic material is like a second skin, adapting to each wearer's needs," said Susan Storm, the mission's genetic research advisor, as she approached in a form-fitting blue uniform that accentuated her curves.
Doom's current girlfriend handed Sean a custom-made blue suit, offering him a polite smile.
Reed, who had been buried in docunts on the couch, imdiately perked up, "Wow, this is incredible!"
Susan smiled, pleased with his reaction. The skintight suit highlighted her confident figure, with a hint of cleavage that would make any man stare.
"It's made from self-regulating unstable molecules! I've been studying the molecular formula for this...!" Reed took the suit and launched into an excited explanation, completely oblivious to Susan's allure.
Even Sean had to marvel. The future Mr. Fantastic was single by sheer force of personality.
No wonder the stunning Invisible Woman had left him for Doom... this level of obliviousness was downright tragic.
"Ah, truly the genius of Columbia University," Susan said flatly, tossing the suit at Reed before storming off.
Reed blinked in confusion. Even Ben turned away in secondhand embarrassnt...
If the renowned scientist had put even half his brainpower into romance, Susan would never have ended up in Victor Doom's arms.
After a tense wait, the boarding announcent crackled over the intercom. One by one, the crew stepped onto the spacecraft destined for the stars...
~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~
~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~
Read ahead on my P@treon...
[email protected]/MayaMatengele01
User Comments
0 comments from readers