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***
-Oh, Herr Sullivan, it's nice to see that young people still have a taste for knowledge and real science!
Octavius greeted me politely and waved his hands in a satisfied smile. The elderly doctor looked much better since our last meeting, and I was genuinely happy for him. Otto looked so much better, glowing and sparkling.
The blush had returned to his cheeks, and there was a sparkle in his eyes, so cheerful and mischievous, full of anticipation and expectation. In addition, the man had lost a lot of weight, and some wrinkles had disappeared from his face, giving him back a couple of years. In short, the future supervillain no longer looked like a classic skuf and was glowing with health and joy of life.
-Mine Goth, how could I forget to be polite," the man fidgeted amusingly, putting his arm around my shoulder and leading me insistently toward his lab, "Come along, my young friend, we have much to discuss.
Many people will be surprised at what's going on, but the truth is simpler than it seems. I just went to apply for university. Soon my school life will be over and a new time will begin, when students, young teachers, postgraduate students... will burst into everyday life. And study, of course, without it.
-This is my home, Mein Faterland," Otto opened the door and spread his arms out as if trying to embrace the whole laboratory at once, "figuratively, of course. There's nothing like Mother Germany.
-Aha...
"I've heard statements like that somewhere before."
Pushed by Otto, I was dragged with the speed of the wind through the whole laboratory while the enthusiastic doctor, gibbering, explained to me the nuances of this or that equipment. Such a flow of words came out of his mouth that at some point I began to hear white noise, losing touch with reality and spending more time on the working room itself. And there was a lot to see here. The huge, white-washed, futuristic-decorated lab was the embodiment of the wet fantasies of fans of sci-fi TV series.
-... And this is the top of my collection, please, mein Freund, - Octavius rushed forward and began to explain without waiting for me, - your idea at the fair inspired me to create this miracle. It is still far from perfect, but I am close to a breakthrough....
Otto went on and on, while I stared at the main fear of all wizarding girls, Matrix escapees, and other poor souls who had met a huge metal tentacle.
A large claw, still far from what it would look like in the original, wriggled smoothly behind the protective screen separating us from the radioactive substance.
The long, segmented body slowly obeyed Octavius's commands, twisting in all directions. Snickering, the manipulator swam closer to the glass, showing off its body in all its glory.
-It still lacks the speed and manoeuvrability I dream of, but it's already a great success.
Otto was now controlling it with levers, remotes, buttons and-- Josticks?
Noticing my questioning look, the doctor grinned good-naturedly.
-Ya, encouraged and infected with a young spirit, I realised that my horizons were severely limited," the doctor called me to follow him and led us into a small office, a sort of employee lounge area placed right in the lab, "and I started looking for inspiration in places I would never have thought of before. Series, films, books, and of course....
-Games.
With a devastated look in my eyes, I contemplated the lair of one of my all-time favourite supervillains. With a mixture of delight, awe, and mild disappointment, my eyes slid over the walls covered in video game posters, the shelves littered with figurines of characters from all sorts of universes, and, of course, consoles, discs, and monitors.
A geek den full of treasures for the likes of me and Parker.
-This is where my most amazing ideas originate.....
Our conversation was interrupted by the slamming of a door. Otto looked out and repeated his cheerful greeting, putting his arm around some guy's shoulders. Shaking the poor guy, the active super-assassin dragged the newcomer towards me, to which the latter reacted with weary humility.
"I guess this isn't the first time he's been in a geek den."
-Please, Shawn. I'd like you to meet my assistant and graduate student," Otto pushed the boy forward and stood on either side of us, placing his hands on our shoulders, "he's helped me with many projects and even created something impressive himself.
The usual, I would even say stereotypical German appeared before me. White, slightly dishevelled hair, blue eyes and a strong chin. A small stubble made him look like a ladies' man, you know, the one who would howl sadly under the guitar, divorcing your sister for a quick shag. Anyway, the first impression was unpleasant.
-Herman Schultz.
-Sean Sullivan.
With an understanding look, Otto and I stepped aside while the cheerful doctor resumed his stories and explanations.
-Herman has become my right-hand man and will help here until you are suitably qualified. A real find, not an assistant. I'm sure he has a great future ahead of him and soon we'll be discussing new projects as equals, consulting and sharing opinions.
-You flatter me, Professor.
-Nein, mein Freund! -Nein, mein Freund! How many times do I have to tell you, you are irreplaceable, - Otto, distracted from us, hurriedly slipped back into the game room, from where the sound of the console being switched on could be heard, -I'll probably take a break for a while, while you talk to young Sean, prepare your replacement in advance!
The door slammed shut right in front of us and the familiar sounds of lasers and humming swords began to echo out of the small window.
-He's at it again... All right, let's go. I'll show you everything normal here, because I'm sure the professor loaded you with words, and then immediately took you to his lair.
-Sort of...
Unlike Otto, Herman spent almost an hour explaining and showing me everything that my eyes were drawn to. There were other prototype manipulators, many of which found their niche and became forerunners for automatic lathes. Others, on the other hand, found a much smaller niche and went into the entertainment industry.
As it turned out, Otto's life took a sharp and inexorable turn, and in a positive way. The enterprising doctor began to achieve his goal a little at a time, registering patents and selling unsuccessful, in his eyes, prototypes to anyone who had money.
As Herman told me in confidence, the laboratory itself and most of the equipment already belonged to Otto, purchased with his blood money so that the university and sponsors could not dictate their terms to him.
-It's as if he's become younger and more active," Schultz said with a sad smile as he looked towards the playroom and stopped in front of a small machine covered with a tarpaulin, "and this is where I work. The professor lent me some money to build the first sample, but it's not ready yet, so I'm sorry.
-That's all right. I've seen enough here to last me weeks.
-There's more to come. Once he finishes his work on the current version of the manipulator, he'll be back on track....
-М?
-The government," Schultz shrugged, as if that explained everything, and sat down at his desk, clearing the boxes and papers from the seat for me, "the current manipulator will be bought back for the army and the police. Although it's not as fast as I'd like it to be, but it can work with small objects and its motor skills are excellent, and it responds to signals.... All in all, it's a great thing that's gonna help a lot of bomb squads survive.
-Fucking great.
-And how much money they'll give me, -Herman, dreamily squeezing his eyes shut, spun on his chair, -I was promised two per cent of the deal. It doesn't sound like much, but it's a fortune!
-Yes, it's a lot of money. Will you be able to complete your own project or...? Do you have any special plans?
With a playful eyebrow, I thought I'd hit the mark, but instead Schultz stroked his brainchild affectionately, fiddling with his fingers to keep the tarpaulin in place.
-Not quite, but I think it's enough for a lot of my ideas.
At this point our conversation stopped. It was embarrassing, because I must have hit on some sore subject. I should know that money is always in short supply. I don't know what's going on in Schultz's family.
So, in order not to spoil the relationship even more, I said goodbye to Otto's assistant, and it was only at the door that he stopped me by grabbing me by the elbow.
-Sorry, I'm sorry, it's awkward. It's just that it's personal.
-I understand, no need for details.
-I can tell your family hasn't been in the States long.
-My grandmother moved here before the war, so we've still got plenty of thick Irish blood in us.
-I'd shout some symbolic chant, but I don't know anything about your people.
-Well, what I know about yours, you can't shout, so we'll call it even.
The awkward joke helped put a smile on Schultz's face. I was glad my first impression of this guy had been deceptive. Despite his image of a teenage girl's wet dream, Herman turned out to be a normal guy, with his usual problems and hang-ups.
With a final handshake, the young scientist closed the door behind me, cutting off the quiet lab from the noisy corridor full of doctors, graduate students, and other people.
***
-You should have come with me.
-Are you afraid you'll get your arse kicked without me? -Yeah.
-Pete slapped me on the shoulder and sat down on the couch, putting his arm around MJ's shoulder, "It'd just be more comfortable, and we'd see each other more often.
-Don't worry, mate. I'll still be your mate, and we'll hang out and nerd out at night, in between partying, fighting, and going out to.... Ow! Are you out of your mind, redhead?
Holding my forehead where a woman's slipper had just landed, I laughed along with the others. Despite the constant teasing, silly fights and banter, there was a cosy atmosphere in the room, which made even the rest of our nerd friends relax and chat normally with the others.
But as always, by fucking Murphy's Law, if anything could go wrong, it would go wrong.
-Breaking news. We interrupt this programme to alert the people of New York City. Please keep children away from the television screens.
The screen blinked the channel icon for a moment, and then the audience was transported to the journalist's helicopter, where a scowling Mexican was broadcasting to the entire city. Pointing his finger down, he tried to explain what was going on, but it was clear without words.
-...The unknown mutant is attacking again. This time it has chosen as its target a collection car, which right now you can see sticking out of the building.
Holding the headphones, the reporter exchanged a few phrases with the helicopter pilot, after which the car descended to the minimum available height. The excellent zoom on the cameras, the pilot's skill and good weather allowed to see in detail what was going on below.
It was like a blockbuster film. Fires were going up everywhere, and people were hurriedly leaving the scene of the clash between the police and the unknown assailant. A cordon was set up around him, firing from all sides as the ducking mutant fired back with new kinds of rays.
Shooting did not stop for a second, because just to keep the mutant in place, "bobby" had to continuously shoot in his direction. Because as soon as the fire stopped, a yellow beam was sent towards the cops, piercing the cars and scattering dead bodies.
-The police don't know for sure if it's the same attacker or a copycat, or if they're in the same gang," the reporter answered my mental questions, rambling on, trying to fit as much speculation and thought as possible into one sentence, "now the New York department is slowly pushing the criminal into a corner, forcing him to act more and more aggressively. The destruction has already affected several homes and streets, and the death toll is uncountable!
About the cornering, he's overreacting. The criminal felt quite confident, unlike his opponents, who were constantly moving and trying not to stay in one line.
-Donnie, did you manage to find out how the confrontation started?
-Yes," the reckless reporter almost fell overboard trying to show and tell what had happened, "the unknown man came out of nowhere and sent the collection van flying with a single shot. His first shot hit the windscreen, turning the vehicle's cabin around. The condition of the collectors is currently unknown!
The reporter continued to rant, recounting the events, but apparently at that moment the mutant noticed the chopper flying overhead. In the heat of battle, he thought of nothing better than to shoot his beams directly at the reporters.
This time the flow of energy was saturated with contrast, and if during the explosion of the pawnshop the beams were small and neat, now a real column of yellow energy hit the screen, interrupting the broadcast.
-I apologise, but apparently we've had a communication problem, we'll get back to you after the advert.
Barely containing her fright, the TV presenter nervously said goodbye, after which the screen lit up with a bright picture of some gum.
-Fucking hell...
The only one who could make a sound was Ned, sitting on the floor. Breaking the eerie silence that had fallen over the room.
***
The city was abuzz with anger and outrage. Another attack in the heart of the city had sparked a wave of rallies, which only made matters worse, taking the police away from the really important things.
Daredevil's war with Fisk, the mutant and the bastards that had come out of the woodwork were throwing the city into a state of chaos that was incredibly difficult to escape.
People were afraid to go out after sunset, and the rest of the time New Yorkers were united in expressing their opinions and distrust of the police.
Placards, banners, living barriers of activists that interfered with police work, making more and more people disgruntled, and thus more people preventing justice from prevailing.
-Idiotic. The people here love to rally and strike and shit.
-You talk like you're from out of town! -You're an American. You're an American, you're a citizen. And your parents were born in the States.
-That's different," I shrug off Rand's words and grab the bar tighter, keeping my body in a "G" shape, "I'm Irish! Don't confuse me with a Yank.
-Hey, that hurt.
-And anyway, -I don't listen to Danny's endless chatter, I lift my legs higher, feeling the tension in my whole body, -they went to the rally, but it's only going to cause more problems! It's just going to snowball.
-They're peacefully protesting, what's the big deal? -What's the big deal?
-What's the big deal?! Don't you people work? How do so many people have so much free time to spend all day harassing the police department?!
-Erm...
-That's what I'm talking about. My parents come home so tired, they're happy for me to just shut up and not bother them. They don't give a shit about a mutant and his war with the police!
-I don't know what to say," Rand shrugged and squatted down next to the tent, tossing more branches into the fire that was building under my feet, "I come from a rich family, so I don't really know what it's like to be tired from work, or to be too lazy to go and express my opinion.
-A bloody rich man with a golden spoon up his arse! -You're a rich man with a golden spoon up your arse! And stop adding wood, I can smell the heat from here!
-That means your feet are too low, raise them a bit more and it'll go away! -My arse is on fire!
-My arse is on fire! Literally and figuratively! Get some of the flames down, it's impossible to work out.
-Oh, Shawn, you're such a sissy," Rand stood up and patted me on the head, giving me a pitying look, as if I were a schoolboy who said, "When I grow up, I'm gonna be a billionaire," "Back when I was training at the temple...
-Will this be a story about overcoming adversity, discipline, and dedication, or another story about being trained at an Asian Hogwarts? Which no one has ever seen or heard of.
I added the last sentence quietly, but apparently not enough for Iron Fist to miss it.
-He's real! Don't worry, I'll cure you.
-What?
Clearly offended, Rand crouched on the ground, throwing all the branches into the fire and fanning the flames with the air blown from his mouth. The flames rose a good metre high, burning my heels and making me almost bend in half, pressing my ankles against my head.
-Ahhhhh!
***
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