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Ethan's hands glided across the keyboard as he quickly finished his work. He was wrong about this internship, it was very unremarkable. Especially since it seemed that Reed was only giving him busy work. The work consisted of checking hypotheses and double checking lab results.
So he just quickly finished it up. Besides he had a feeling that the drama that was about to unfold was not something he wanted to be a part of. So as he started locking his computer he groaned in annoyance as a discreet program began trying to infiltrate his system. But after noticing its inferiority he just prevented it from getting in his files.
But it did not take much time for him to realize it had gotten into other files both much easier and undetected. Ethan just shook his head as he started packing up his bag.
"Leaving so soon Ethan?" Susan asked as walked up.
"Oh yeah." He answered, "Doctor Doom is almost here and I am all finished with my work."
Susan frowned, "how do you know where he is?"
Ethan was about to answer when there was a commotion in the front lobby. Ethan moved away from his desk and saw that Doctor Doom had indeed arrived. The rumors about him seemed to be true.
He wore a dark green cloak that covered up the mechanical armor he wore underneath. But even more noticeable were the guards armed with some kind of rifle. Then he noticed the robotic hounds and robotic guard.
"Victor, all of these… guards are not necessary." Reed told him as he greeted him. He reached to give Victor a handshake. But Doctor Doom ignored Reed and walked past him.
"Do you know why I came to visit Doctor Richards?" He asked in his gravelly voice. He walked toward the main lab room where more of the larger experiments were being conducted. He walked like he already knew the layout of the room.
"I assume it was due to the offer for the partnership with the space program." Reed quickly followed Doom with a tone of worry in his voice. Victor was heading straight toward one of the projects.
"No, I would not debase my people's work by relying on other countries' space programs." Doctor Doom answered with a tone of disgust. "I am here because of this." He waved at a complex machine that was sitting nearby.
"You mean my experimental multiversal portal manipulator?" Reed asked, like that was not mouthful all on its own. Ethan remembered that particularly foolish device. It was designed to open a portal to another universe.
The theory was correct but using detection equipment that he also designed, Ethan realized that the device could in theory create a black hole as well. He even highlighted that particular detail and detailed that the experiment that Reed was proposing was far too dangerous. He actually made sure to tag Susan in the email so she could help him convince Reed of the dangers.
"Yes, the multiversal portal manipulator. As well as the observation equipment built by Doctor Hilt. They are all extremely dangerous to the world as a whole." Doctor Doom pointed out, catching Ethan by surprise. He rarely went by the Doctor Hilt. But he agreed with Doctor Doom on this one.
"Nonsense," Reed shrugged and looked around and found Ethan, "Mister Hilt, I had you double checking my research, what do you think?" Well that told Ethan all he needed to know.
Ethan raised an eyebrow while he could hear Susan slapping her own face in embarrassment. So he only slightly tilted his head, "check your emails." He then turned to Doctor Doom, "am I needed for anything else?"
"Yes actually, another thing I wanted to discuss as well." Doom motioned toward the elevator lobby. "I see you are actually about to leave. May I escort you out?"
Ethan frowned and shrugged, "certainly." He then walked to the elevator as he could hear Susan walking over and berating Reed.
As they entered the elevator with the robotic hounds is when he began speaking. "I am actually a great fan of your work." He pressed something on his wrist that caused Ethan's phone to beep. Ethan glanced at it and saw that he was being jammed. "I apologize but I did not want any listening ears."
"Understandable, to what business do you want to discuss?" Ethan asked as he put away his phone.
"While it is true you are on the surface a simple inventor, scientist, or to those more intelligent a hacker. I have found your increased military presence in South America far more interesting." Doom explained, causing Ethan to raise his eyebrow in surprise. He must be making a number of assumptions, they were unprovable but… correct.
"Okay… then what need do you have for my military side of business?" Ethan asked as they were halfway there.
"I or rather my country of Latveria needs allies. Ones that could stand up to the might of military states like the U.S. and Russia. From what I understand you have already taken measures to ensure their pacifism when you pull the trigger on your operation." Doom explained with a wave of his hands.
"Huh… I think I am starting to understand. You are finding allies for a war that has yet to occur. Okay, I will agree but I suggest you make more in the way of friends. You will also need to do something so people with a tactical understanding do not see it coming." Ethan explained as he reached out a hand.
Doom laughed and shook Ethan's hand. "I am already taking care of that. I also suggest you reach out if you have any recommendations."
The elevator arrived in the lobby and Ethan walked out after Doom. His robotic hounds followed after him.
It seems Doom was far more interesting than he thought. Far smarter as well. He supposes he could work with the man in the future. Especially if he was smart enough to figure out Ethan's plan.
A moment later his phone rang as the jamming signal was removed. He absentmindedly glanced at his phone and raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was his second job, apparently he already had an assignment. Might as well drop by the gym before he went home.
Seems this day was far from over.
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Opening his gym locker he found a backpack, a quick glance inside showed him that there was a file inside. He pulled it out and closed the locker before walking away. After he left he noticed the front desk had already been transformed into a proper gym front desk with a number of pamphlets sitting around.
"Officially open?" Ethan asked the bored looking old man.
He grunted, "yes I am. I actually don't want to be overwhelmed with weirdo millennials so I am going out of my way to find mercenaries, ex-soldiers, vigilantes, and heroes. I could actually use your help. I hear you are good with that computer programming stuff. Can you get me a list of them in the city?"
Ethan frowned, "how about I give you a list of addresses you can send your invitations to. You can even offer a week free to them so they can try it out. What do you say?"
Black Fox nodded, "okay but you have got to get me a bit of a hint at the type of people you are thinking."
"Well there are vigilantes, young geniuses, mercenaries, ex-soldiers, and the few heroes that would actually go to a public gym. There will also be a number of police officers, just in case you were wondering." Ethan shrugged as he already started building the program in his head. "You could also have an invitation system so they can invite people to come check out your gym for a limited amount of time."
Black Fox started writing on a piece of paper he had in front of him. "These are great ideas, thanks!" He then waved Ethan away.
Ethan walked out and headed home. He might have given himself more work but in the end doing something like that was not too difficult for him.