32 Machine Man 31

In the sleek confines of Arasaka Tower, Felicia poshly entered my office, announcing with a nonchalant tone, "Boss, they're back again. Some pompous guys in suits asking you to run some propaganda or something." I sighed, responding, "Those guys just won't quit. I'm not even the CEO of META anymore; it's usually handled by Gwen."

Felicia, leaning against the doorframe, smirked and remarked, "Well, that's what you get when you have the most-used social media website on the planet. You guys even created this new Tweeter which seems to be garnering attention from politicians. Just look at what these guys are posting."

I glanced at the screen showcasing political posts and chuckled, "That's Matthew Ellis. From what I could see, he's a decent guy, well, decent enough for a politician." Felicia nodded, swiftly changing the subject, "Well, boss, are you sure about your trip to space? I heard they would be able to do space tourism in 20-30 years. Why not just wait till then?"

I looked up from my paperwork and replied, "I heard about that project. I'd rather take my chances on a spaceship that is already proven than ride a balloon to space." Felicia smirked, delivering the final jab, "Touché. Anyway, Flint is waiting for you in the driveway. Today's the big day; you can't be late or you'll be left off the space flight."

Inside the bustling locker room of the international space launch facility, Red and Ben entered, spotting me engrossed in running checks on a mainframe. Ben couldn't resist the urge to make a sarcastic comment, "We now got ourselves a billionaire tag-along."

Without looking up from my work, I retorted, "Unlike you, I actually paid for the ride," making a snide remark at his sarcasm. Reed, observing his friend's attempt to antagonize me, intervened, "Ben, not now. He's one of the investors in this project." He then turned to me, saying, "Hello, Mr. Arasaka. I have heard of your work." His gaze shifted to my prosthetics.

While still running diagnostics, I acknowledged, "Thank you. I've also read some of your theoretical projects. With your mind, you could have been one of the richest people on the planet, but somehow you still have to lower yourself down to ask for help."

Ben grumbled, "I'm starting to hate this guy more and more." Reed, caught off guard, struggled to find words. Before he could respond, a voice rang out, "Captain on the bridge!" The two snapped to attention, while I just look as I continue my work, as I saw a man who resembled a younger Steve Rogers, resembling Captain America from old documentaries, entered.

Ben instinctively straightened up, and Johnny Storm seized the opportunity to capture the moment with a digital camera. As the attention shifted to the new arrival, Ben eyed Johnny, who quipped, "Digital camera: $254. Memory stick: $59. The look on your hard-ass former CO's grill when he finds out he's your junior officer: priceless."

Ben, seemingly irritated, reached for Johnny, who flinched, only to realize that Ben was adjusting his uniform. Johnny, playing along, said, "Thank you, that is very sweet." Ben deadpanned, "I can handle the ship. I can even handle Mr. Ambition. But I don't know if I should be flying or playing Vegas in these suits. Who the hell came up with them?"

While in the midst of a small bunter, Sue Storm entered, clad in her blue, wetsuit-like uniform, carrying a stack of flight suits. She began distributing them to the gathered individuals. As she handed them out, she explained, "The synthetics act as a second skin, adapting to your individual needs to –"

Johnny interjected, "See what that means. Keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool!" A classic Johnny Storm quip.

As Sue continued her explanation, Alex noticed her entrance and couldn't help but glance appreciatively at her figure all wrap in her skintight outfit.

Meanwhile, Reed seemed lost in thought, possibly not checking Sue but more focus on the suit itself, Sue, catching Reed's gaze, wondered if he was checking her out.

Reed, still engrossed in his thoughts, added, "Material made from self-regulating unstable molecules. I've been working on a formula for this."

Alex, always ready with a comment, "While Reed is ogling the suit made by Victor, I must say his fashion sense is a bit old-fashioned. Was this design by Armani?" Internally, he couldn't fathom how Sue could have feelings for Reed.

Sue, breaking out of her momentary stupor, shot a somewhat offended look at Alex. Johnny chimed in, "That's what I said. Finally good to have someone here who's not a boomer."

Alex, still smiling, wondered if Johnny was well-versed in internet slang yet, considering it wasn't that popular yet. Sue continued her task, walking over to Ben and giving him his flight suit. However, with Reed, she decided to add a touch of surprise and threw the suit at him, startling him.

She then approached Alex, handing him his suit. Looking at his prosthetic arm, she asked, "For your arm, Viktor said you have already made a Faraday sleeve to cover it?"

"Yes, you don't have to worry; I got it covered," Alex assured Sue as she inquired about his prosthetic arm.

Victor entered the locker room, sporting his custom-tailored flightsuit. He addressed the banter about fashion, "I hired Armani to design the pattern. These colors will look great on camera. And I like old-fashioned, so sue me," he added with a grin, acknowledging the playful ribbing.

In the next scene, Alex, Victor, and the Fantastic 4 were fully geared up in their advanced space suits. Each suit was a seamless blend of flexibility and protection, tailored for their individual needs. The airlock hissed shut behind them as they stood in the pressurized chamber.

With synchronized nods, they signaled their readiness, and the chamber began to depressurize. The outer door creaked open, revealing the gleaming space shuttle awaiting them. Its metal hull reflected the ambient light, and the hum of advanced technology surrounded them.

Stepping into the spacecraft, the interior buzzed with life. Control panels adorned the walls, emitting a soft, futuristic glow. The cockpit, with its myriad of buttons and screens, beckoned the pilots forward.

Over the comms, a countdown resonated, "T-minus 3, 2, 1. We have lift-off." The moment had arrived as the state-of-the-art spaceship prepared to embark on its journey into the unknown.

The engines roared to life, vibrations resonating through the entire ship. The structure shuddered as it began its ascent into the vastness of space. G-forces pressed against them as the ship accelerated, breaking through Earth's atmosphere.

The transition from the blue hues of Earth to the inky blackness of space was gradual but profound. As they left the atmosphere behind, the familiar sight of the planet dwindled, replaced by the vast canvas of stars. The sun, unfiltered by the Earth's atmosphere, shone with an intensity they had never witnessed.

The advanced ship gracefully approached the space station, aligning itself with the docking port. A series of gentle maneuvers by Johnny brought the vessel into a secure position, and with a soft thud, the magnetic locks engaged, sealing the connection between the ship and the station.

Inside the ship, the transition from weightlessness to the embrace of artificial gravity was seamless. The hum of the gravity generators filled the cabin as the team members felt the comforting pull toward the floor. They exchanged determined glances, ready for the next phase of their mission.

As the airlock doors opened, revealing the expanse of the space station beyond, the team ventured into the hub of advanced technology. The corridor leading from the ship to the station was a fusion of sleek design and practical functionality. Luminescent panels cast a gentle glow, guiding their way.

As we're walking, Victor provided the E.T.A. and said, "Until cosmic event, nine hours."

Johnny, in a playful "dad voice," teased Ben, 'If you behave, maybe next time daddy will let you drive.'

Ben, with a hushed tone, retorted, 'Keep talking, there won't be a next time.'

While Alex stood over the transparent glass of the space station, he couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking view of Earth. Sue joined him, commenting, 'Beautiful, isn't she?'

I turned to Sue, a smile playing on my lips, and replied, "Yes, yes she is," my gaze lingering on her with a coy smile. The double entendre wasn't lost on Sue, and she smiled back, feeling elated that at least someone appreciated both the beauty of Earth and her own presence.

As we continued our journey inside the space station's command center, it resembled an observation deck, offering a stunning panoramic view of the cosmos. The vast expanse of space stretched out before us, a canvas of stars and galaxies glittering in the infinite darkness. Earth, a mesmerizing orb of blue and white, loomed in the distance, a beautiful spectacle that captivated our senses.

Sue, standing by my side, gestured toward the observation windows, saying, "We can monitor the clouds approaching and observe the test from here."

Concern crept into Ben's voice as he questioned Reed, "Is it safe?"

Reed reassured him, "The shields on the station should protect us."

But Ben, ever the cautious one, pressed further, "Should?" The tension in the air lingered until Victor, always ready to stir the pot, made his way toward the conversation.

"What's wrong, Ben? Getting paranoid in your old age?" Victor taunted, his eyes fixed on Ben. Ben turned to face him, a hint of tension evident.

Reed intervened, redirecting the focus, "Let's start loading those samples. Get your suit ready, Ben."

Victor couldn't resist needling Reed, "Maybe you should have stayed back in the lab. Fieldwork never suited you."

Ben, always ready with a retort, stepped between them, asserting, "He does the talking. I do the walking. Got it?"

Victor, maintaining a tight smile, nodded condescendingly, "So take a walk, Ben. Actually, if you'll all excuse me, I need to borrow Susan for a second."

As the mechanical whirring of the door signaled Reed's exit, I took the opportunity to step out and install the mainframe, while Johnny accompanied Ben, leaving Victor to attend to his own tasks. The space station, a marvel of human engineering, stood as a testament to our journey into the cosmos, its observation deck providing a front-row seat to the wonders of the universe.

As I stepped out, ready to install the new mainframe for the space station. The control room, usually buzzing with activity, was eerily empty, leaving only the hum of machinery. "Usually there should be a lot of people running this Station but weirdly enough Victor chose to only have us during this trip." Alex grumbled…

As I approached the mainframe installation panel, I couldn't help but glance around, the lack of a bustling crew. Skynet's presence, represented by the soft glow on my prosthetic arm, reassured me that I wasn't entirely alone in this venture.

"Outdated systems," I muttered as I saw the one the station is currently using, disappointment evident in my tone as I worked on installing the new Mainframe. Skynet, my ever-reliable companion contacted me. As I hear a beeping sound coming from my Prosthetics.

Lifting my arm to look at the display on the mechanical arm, I inquired. "Skynet, what is it?"

"A strong magnetic cosmic storm will hit the space station. According to my readings, the shield will not hold. Should we launch the Predator ship for evacuation?" Skynet, ever loyal, provided the information.

"I already know that. No need to launch. Keep an eye on things. We should be able to survive, but stay vigilant," I instructed.

Skynet, questioning the decision, remarked, "This all seems illogical. You have never done anything that is not in your control. Why now?"

I smiled at my coms, replying, "You'll find out soon. Just keep an eye out for me."

Cutting the coms and finishing the installation process, I make my way to the Lab to check on Reed. I prepared for the impending cosmic storm that was about to hit the space station.

Note : regarding Ellis, not sure what he was before becoming President, so I just put it like that.