37 Machine Man 36

The atmosphere in Reed's lab at the Baxter Building was charged with a mix of scientific fervor. The room, a sprawling space filled with equipment, bright lights illuminated the various workstations, each cluttered with monitors, gadgets, and the remnants of ongoing experiments.

Sue stood near a holographic display, her arms crossed, radiating a sense of impatience. Reed, lost in his thoughts, moved between different apparatus, adjusting settings and jotting down notes. The room buzzed with the hum of machinery, creating an almost surreal backdrop to the unfolding drama.

As Reed continued his work, Sue couldn't contain her frustration. "Reed, I was ready for the next step, and you weren't. That's why I walked," she declared, her words echoing in the high-tech chamber.

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the intermittent beeping of scientific instruments. Reed, looking up from his notes, attempted to offer an explanation. "I think it was a little more complicated than—"

Sue cut him off, her voice sharp and assertive. "Complicated? Reed, it's not rocket science. I just wanted to share an apartment. What was so complicated about that?"

The lab, usually a haven for scientific discovery, transformed into an arena for emotional confrontation. Reed, grappling with Sue's words, struggled to find a response.

Johnny stormed into the lab, his clothes half-burnt, an obvious sign of some recent fiery escapade. His entrance disrupted the atmospheric drama between Reed and Sue.

"Hey, guys, we seem to have a bigger problem," Johnny declared, drawing their attention. His demeanor, a stark contrast to the tension in the room, hinted at the urgency of the situation.

Reed and Sue, momentarily interrupted from their emotional exchange, shifted their focus to Johnny.

"What happened, Johnny?" Reed inquired, his scientific curiosity momentarily overshadowing the personal matters at hand.

Johnny, with a hint of excitement and urgency, explained, "I was testing some new limits, and things got a bit out of control. Long story short, I need a little help here."

Sue, her frustration momentarily set aside, took charge. "Reed, we can deal with our issues later. Right now, let's focus on Johnny's situation."

Amidst the ongoing discussion between Reed, Sue, and Johnny, I decided to approach Ben Grimm, a formidable force capable of matching the Hulk in strength. Seated in front of him, I initiated a conversation, aiming to connect with someone who, like me, had experienced a radical transformation.

"How are you holding up, Ben?" I inquired.

Ben, ever vigilant, questioned my presence, suspecting a different motive. "What brings you here? Are you here for Susan?" he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Swiftly cutting off any assumptions, I clarified, "No, just like you, I am changing." I demonstrated by morphing my prosthetic arm into an intricately engineered pile driver as a visual representation of my own evolution.

Ben, known for his sarcastic humor, couldn't resist making a jest. "Well, look at that. You're now a one-man Swiss army knife," he quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

Undeterred, I pressed on, acknowledging the emotional turmoil that accompanied such transformations. "I know how you feel," I assured him, attempting to establish a connection.

However, Ben, fueled by frustration, approached me aggressively, demanding, "Do you!?" His anger palpable, he seemed ready to unleash his immense strength.

In response, I initiated another transformation, this time altering my head into a T-800, the red glowing eyes and mechanical facade revealing a grim truth. Ben, taken aback by the unexpected metamorphosis, stared in shock as my mechanical voice resonated, "Yes, I know and feel what you're going through. I don't even know if I am human."

Switching back to my ganic face, I remarked, "I just got the luckier end of the stick."

Ben, who seemed to have calmed down, responded with a somewhat resigned, "Well, good for you."

Feeling a more favorable atmosphere, I decided to share my current endeavor with Ben. "I'm working on a device that can isolate what is happening to our bodies and revert us back to our normal human selves."

Ben, skeptical but intrigued, remarked, "Reed, or Mr. Fantastic over there, said the same thing, but he's too preoccupied to actually do it." He gestured towards Reed, who was deeply engrossed in whatever was occupying his thoughts – likely Susan.

Acknowledging the obvious distraction, I concurred, "Yes, I could see that. He seems pretty occupied by something else." I couldn't help but hint at the unspoken tension surrounding Susan.

Turning back to Ben, I reassured him, "But, as I mentioned before, Ben, I am already in the process of making this. It won't be long before I develop it."

Ben, recognizing the seriousness in my tone, looked at me deeply and said, "I hope that you can actually solve this problem."

As our conversation concluded, I noticed that Sue, Reed, and Johnny were clad in the suits they wore back in the space station, a visual reminder of the extraordinary circumstances that had brought us together. 

Reed started explaining, "Our uniforms were exposed to the storm, much like us. They can transform just like us—becoming invisible, changing size on demand, or remaining impervious to flames. They're made of an unstable molecular cloth that mimics its wearer's physical properties."

Alex, looking at their outfits, couldn't help but remark, "You guys look like an 80's rock band!" He laughed.

Ben agreed, "That is true!" We exchanged a high five, my prosthetic hand creating a metallic and rock slapping sound.

Johnny, observing our newfound camaraderie, commented, "You guys are buddy buddies now?"

Sue, a bit annoyed, chimed in, "You know, Ben, this material stretches. I'm sure I can figure out a way to make it fit."

Caught off guard, Ben stammered, "I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that."

Johnny, ever so joyful, added, "I love these costumes! They're missing something, though, right?" As he struck superhero poses and doing karate moves.

Reed, always serious, corrected him, "They're not costumes."

Sue, tired of her brother's antics, scolded, "You can't use your powers in public, Johnny."

Johnny stopped and said, "You guys are worse than NASA." As he seem fed up and move to another room.

Sue, in an angry tone, called, "Jonathan Lowell Spencer Storm!"

Observing the siblings' antics, Ben couldn't help but say, "Maybe it's missing a utility belt."

A few days had passed since the small debacle with the Fantastic Four trying to get in their good graces since I need their help when a certain God eating planet comes, I found myself back in my office. As much as I wanted to linger and witness Johnny making a fool of Ben and the whole Fantastic Four antics, duty called. Besides, I had a few inventions in mind that needed my attention, especially now that I knew the nuclear power cells weren't sufficient. I needed something more powerful to handle all the machines I used during my transformations.

I utilized the bee drones to spy on the Fantastic Four and Victor. On one screen, Skynet showed me the team having breakfast.

Reed was explaining his plan, "The cosmic rays will travel from this generator to this chamber."

Observing the elaborate setup, I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "How can he afford all this equipment and hire the people to build it?"

Skynet, always informative, responded, "I've checked Reed's personal account. It seems they've received a large investment due to their new moniker and powers."

I chuckled at the idea and jokingly said, "Maybe I should go public as Specter too, then."

Skynet, with a note of caution, replied, "That would be ill-advised."

I replied saying "It's just a joke".

Taking note of Reed's impressive machine, I instructed Skynet, "Keep tabs on that machine. It looks incredible, and I might need it in the future."

Skynet acknowledged my request and said, "Understood. I'll monitor their activities and extract the necessary information."

Switching to another display we observe Victor's activities through my bee drone, Skynet voiced its concern, "What is with these guys losing their company under their name and killing the investors."

I chuckled at the irony and replied, "I'm wondering the same thing."

Skynet, who has been going through emotions like a teen-ager can't help but ask, "Shouldn't we help those investors?"

Alex looking at the screen said, "No, those guys keep trying to get shares on my company. The leaser there are the better."

Skynet, ever analytical, expressed its concern, "Got it Boss, but I hope you don't do end up like this Villains."

Feeling a bit offended, I retorted, "Hey, do I look like a villain to you!?"

Skynet, with its characteristic dry humor, responded, "Have you seen yourself fully borg? If you did, you wouldn't be asking me that."

As the days passed, I devoted my time to creating a suppression device, or as any DC or Marvel fan would recognize, an "Inhibitor Collar." It was designed to prevent the wearer from accessing their superhuman abilities. While I couldn't create something universal for all type of meta human powers, I focused on isolating the energy responsible for granting our abilities.

I designed one to resemble a bracelet, specifically for Ben. When he transformed back into a human, the collar would automatically adjust its size to fit him. I refrained from adding any extra features like a tracker, given Reed's penchant for tinkering there is a high chance of him finding out. 

I also ensured that any attempt at tampering would fry the internal circuits, rendering it useless and preventing reverse engineering. 

I highly doubt Reed can't make the same thing though, so I made sure to make a device which will counter act its effect, if it were ever use on me. 

While monitoring the Fantastic Four's antics, Skynet couldn't help but express annoyance about Johnny's irresponsible behavior. As we observe a public showdown between Johnny and Ben Grimm.

On the other screen we noted Victor forcefully entering his own military facility and making off with military equipment as he seems to be planning something.

Few hours pass, at night, we witnessed Ben Grimm falling from a barstool in a local bar. Despite his rocky appearance, a blind woman seemed enamored by him. Skynet, puzzled, remarked, "I don't understand why she's into him when others are averse to his appearance."

I explained, "You know, Sky, some people don't judge based on appearance but rather on a person's personality is."

Alex continued, "While good-natured individuals like them may be few, they do exist."

Skynet agreed, saying, "Yes, I can see that. The world would be lovely if there are more people like her."

As I meticulously worked on finishing the Inhibitor bracelet. I decided to create a more advance miniature arc reactor. Grudgingly acknowledging Tony Stark's genius, I admitted that I can only accomplish all this new invention with my new found borg form and knowledge from classical movies and games.

Becoming a full machine was necessary to even mimic a fraction of his brilliance. The full transformation allowed me to delve into the intricate complexities of the reactor's design, utilizing my enhanced thinking prowess and processing power to push the boundaries of what was achievable.

It wasn't just about replicating Stark's creation; it was about surpassing it. I sought to equip myself with a power source that could manage the myriad machines I utilized during my transformations.

The lab echoed with the soft hum of machinery and the occasional metallic clinks as my mechanical limbs skillfully manipulated the delicate components. Hours turned into days as I refined the design, ensuring efficiency, stability, and power output.