Page 04
"And you refused; why?" Aron asked, smiling wickedly at his aunt/wife.
"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer," Aminah stated, turning her nose up. Yet she couldn't stop the smile from forming, knowing he was only teasing her. "You know, Aron, it's never too early to start teaching Henry and Nettie," she said as she climbed into the back of the hover car, followed by Carl.
"Oh? And just what did you have in mind?" Aron asked, closing the car door behind him.
The hinges of his front door played on the air as Aron Carter stared up at the departing car as their driver returned to his Homebase. He felt the right corner of his lips lifting, knowing who had exited the house. Turning to look at her, "Hello, Jill," Aron greeted in a fatherly voice.
"Hi, papa, Vera wants to talk to you," Jill uttered, swooning lightly as her body heated beneath Aron's gaze.
"Oh?"
"Mmmhmm, it's about tomorrow," Jill spoke, turning on her heel, falling in step with her father when he reached her side. "So, what was it like?"
"What? Their base?" Aron asked, hearing the hover pads following him once Veil had taken over their controls. "It was about the same, not like I haven't seen it before," he said after seeing her nod.
"Huh?"
"You remember the group I told you about your father working with that one time?" Aminah asked, following Aron and Jill into the house. Noting how softly the TV played and how low her siblings, nieces, and nephew conversed. Knowing it was well past Nettie's and Henry's bedtimes.
"Yeah?" Jill answered, nodding that she did remember that conversation in the lab.
"That was where we were, and it was rather large for a base, but they have about a hundred or so members, I'd say about half are permanent fixtures in that place, but I'm sure your dad knows just how big it is," Aminah stated, shooting Aron a coy smile. "Still can't believe you offered to make their suits for them," she uttered, walking into the kitchen.
"Do what now?" Vera asked, confused as she entered from the other end of the kitchen. "What's this about you making their suits?"
"Oh, just this move that Aron did that propelled us to become a donor to The Sovereign Crusaders once he had learned those that used to supply them were pulling their support after the revelation of their founders. Then he turns it into us taking over the maintenance of the base, at least the equipment. Still don't know who you'll get to help you with all that work." Aminah mused, tapping her finger against her chin as she stood beside Aron.
"Well, we have a few months to figure that out," Aron stated; his eyes glanced over to the refrigerator when it opened, and there suddenly was Carl.
"You two want a sandwich?" Carl asked, peering over at his nephew and sister. Only to be moved out of the way when Vera pushed her brother aside.
"The only one whose going to make my baby something to eat is me," Vera said in a motherly voice. Her son's words from the past rang within her mind as she got out the items she knew he enjoyed. "So, Aron, just how were you planning on maintaining their upkeep?" she asked over her shoulder as she made her son his late dinner.
"Well, I was thinking of hiring two people, don't need that many right now; I can't say in the future," Aron spoke, feeling Tazia's hands gently pushing him down into his seat. Sensing the dance of her hands along his upper chest while her arms wrapped around his neck. The light touch of her lips on the top of his head as she welcomed him home. "You'll be helping me with that," he said, looking up at Aminah.
"I will?!" Aminah spoke, a little startled.
"Oh yeah, if they're going to be a part of the R&D division, you have to know your employees," Aron stated with a sinful smile.
"You'll take me along, won't you, Aron?" Tazia whispered into his hair as she nuzzled his ear.
"Of course, Tazia, told you I would," Aron replied, lightly patting Tazia's hands.
"Good, I'm going to hold you to it,'" Tazia purred hungrily into his ear before her lips tugged affectionately on his earlobe as Vera sat his plate before him. Noting how Vera lightly caressed Aron's cheek, taking her and clearly Aron aback for a moment
"So you best think up how we're going to test our prospects for the job," Aron said, glancing over at Aminah as she worked on making her own dinner.
"I'll get right on it," Aminah nodded, smiling down at her plate, knowing how much time they'd be spending together.
The Metaville Convention center...
Aron was standing on the polished, waxed tile floor as he directed how he wanted the stage to look for his demonstration. Noting how his mother was standing off to the side, mouthing the words of the speech she had been working on for the past two days. Smirking when he slyly peered over his left shoulder, noting Sara manning a booth diagonally across from him. All under the disguise of keeping a careful watch on him as his handler.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a Mr. Aron Carter?" asked a male voice from behind him.
"Ah, you're right on time, good. Gives us time to get you acquainted with the weapons I brought," Aron said in a business-like tone.
"I just need to fire the weapons, and I get paid two thousand dollars?" the man asked, still unsure if his boss had set him up for a joke.
"Right," Aron nodded, "come, I'll show you to the back," he said, gesturing towards the curtain that lined the back of the stage to keep those behind it unseen. He was having Troy and Isabel guard his weapons as punishment for what they did over a month ago while Noah, Chery, and Tazia handed out the flyers at the doors that Lyla had made for him to the attendees, detailing the demonstration that was about to take place in two hours' time when the convention would be picking up steam.
Vera stared nervously out at the gathered crowd. Her palms grew sweaty in her nervousness. She knew she had to give the best speech she could, knowing this was their big moment. The announcement of their company taking off and the products they would be offering to the world. She knew the factory where the electronics would be made hadn't gotten off the ground yet. They had just poured the foundations for it and the office building that would be on-site. The words of her son rang out in her mind, knowing how scared and alone he was during that trying time when he struggled to be a father to powered children. Reaching up and gripped the top edge of the podium, blowing out a breath to steady herself.
"Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen; thank you for stopping by our booth today. I'm sure you all have seen and will see some great things on this day; however, you'll never see anything like you're about to see. I assure you that you won't be disappointed," Vera stated, smiling down at the group as she waved her hand as Aron uncovered the dummy. "Now, what you are seeing here is Mist Manufacturing's state-of-the-art body armor." Seeing the looks in some people's eyes, not believing something so thin could provide any kind of protection.
"Those wearing it no longer have a fear of dying from a bullet no larger than a .50 caliber, those nasty plasma weapons, and powers those villains that plague our cities, no longer a concern," waving it off like it didn't matter, "high powered lasers? You won't even feel a thing. Granted, you'll still feel the bullet; I'm sure it will hurt like hell, but you'll be alive, and in the end, isn't that what matters?" Vera asked the crowd, wearing a disarming smile as she gazed at every single one of them. "Now I will turn you over to Mr. Carter, the owner of Mist Manufacturing," she said, gesturing to her son, stepping away from the spotlight, so glad that part of her job was over.
"Now, what you are about to witness is strictly for demonstration purposes only; know that we have cleared it with the city and the event board for this to occur on this day. If you would like eye and ear protection, we have that available to you," Aron spoke in a firm tone, waving to his left as Jill stepped up to his side, holding in her hands the two boxes that held the safety glasses and ear plugs. "Please note, this will be a live-fire exercise; we have a very renowned FBI agent here on his personal time to handle the firing of the weapons that will be presented here this day," he said, watching how Jill moved through the crowd. Seeing how she was flashing the people in attendance a warm smile before he saw how she would glance at him. The man he had hired wasn't an FBI agent, yet the crowd didn't need to know that.
They just needed to know that someone with reasonable weapons training was handling what he had brought along. "Now you're wondering how can something so thin protect the wearer?" Seeing a few nods in the crowd, "Well, I'll tell you how. This prototype and the others created once our factory is open and operating will be made from the same material. Material that I might add is stronger than Kevlar or any kind of ballistic armor. It allows the fabric to breathe, as I know you, Chief Mint, of this city's fine police department knows how stifling Kevlar can be and how much you have to wear to get the amount of stopping power out of it.
With this, your cops can wear this all day and never break a sweat. With this, your officers will not be facing death at the hands of villains who just want to take as many police officers out as they can. With this, it is my hope that those who put themselves out there to keep this city, and cities around the world, safer for us normal everyday people," Aron stated, playing up his role as a normal, powerless human. "Please, let's give a hand to Agent White," he said, clapping his hands as the man on cue moved through the rear curtain, holding a .50 caliber rifle in his hands, pointing at the floor with the breach open, to show that it wasn't loaded. "Now, I know some of you are worried about the sound this gun will make. I assure you that these," gesturing down to the sound dampeners that ringed the stage, "will dampen the muzzle blast so it shouldn't frighten too many people," Aron spoke, turning the dampeners on, displaying his tech for all the world to see.
"Any time you're ready, Agent," he uttered, pressing his fingers into his ears. Watching how the man lined up his shot at the dead center of the mannequin's chest as the weapon rested on the table a few feet away. Noting how his right hand moved, pulling out the single bullet he had given the man from his pocket. Chambering the round, closing the breach, flipping off the safety with his thumb. Seeing his mother and Jill jumping in startlement as the man fired off his shot. The bouncing of the slug on the stage floor couldn't be heard due to the dampeners. Walking over to where the slug had landed, picking it up as the man walked back to the curtain where Troy switched out the next weapon for the one that was currently in the man's hands.
"As you can see, Ladies and Gentlemen," holding out his right hand, showing off the flattened bullet that rested on the palm of his hand, "this is what happens when a lead slug hits the armor I invented," Aron spoke, noting the amazed looks on their faces. "And you can see, my suit has taken no damage where the bullet struck," he explained, looking over to his right at the tv display where Jill was showing off the suit and the spot where the bullet had landed. "Now we will begin the high laser demonstration," Aron directed, nodding to the man to fire. He could see the mirth in the man's eyes as he fired off the weapon. "Again, as you can see, no damage to the armor or the mannequin's body," he stated, noting the murmuring happening throughout the crowd. Hoping that this was going better than he thought. Otherwise, he knew this would just be a waste of time when he could be in his lab working on other things. "Lastly, our plasma demonstration." Waving to the man as he set up the tripod before he attached the weapon to it. Cycling through the startup sequence, hearing the power unit humming as the convertor built up the charge needed to fire it. "I ask those here to take a few steps back; it might get a little warm for your liking once Agent White fires off this rifle. Whenever you're ready," Aron spoke, seeing the man's nod of understanding. Seeing a few of his future competitors mixed in with the crowd, noting their disapproving looks, knowing that their tech would be obsolete in a few months.
Listening to the crowd's awes once the plasma had died away after setting the mannequin on fire. Jill made quick work of it with the fire extinguisher. "As you can see, my armor has withstood these three tests before your very eyes; I can't say the same for the mannequin," Aron joked, getting a rolling chuckle out of the crowd. Turning and walking over to the NSA agent, whose name wasn't White. Aron only named him that in case someone was watching them that had other plans for his gear so they could protect the man's identity and his loved ones if he had any. Sharing a private word with the man as he shook the man's hand, thanking him for coming on his day off. He had already paid the man when they discussed how the weapons operated. Smiling at the man when he whispered that he would give back the money if he could take home either rifle. Sadly he would have to decline that request since he made no weapons for anyone else but himself. He couldn't risk letting that kind of tech loose onto the world. There were already enough people who specialized in that thing without him adding to it.
"Sir, sir, Mr. Carter!" called out a reporter who had been there in attendance for the whole demonstration.
"Yes?" Aron answered as he was taking questions on the armor and how soon it could be ready to mass-produce.
"What is your armor made out of?"
"That I can't tell you, company secret, let's just say it's of my own special blend of fibers that make this armor very robust."
"And just who do you plan on offering this to?"
"Anyone who can afford it, governments, local and national, bodyguards if they need it, and superheroes if they're looking to change up their appearance," Aron stated factually.
"And how do you plan on keeping villains and criminals from getting ahold of this... fabulous body armor you have designed?"
"Simple, the only formula for it, is right here," Aron said, tapping his temple. "As for what happens once it leaves my factory, I can not say. But know this, I nor my company will be in the habit of aiding villains," he spoke in a stern tone. Ignoring the look his mother was giving him as he said those words.
"How soon can we expect you to be able to officially produce these?" Chief Mint asked, knowing he needed to get his people outfitted in such armor. He knew the losses his people had taken when those terrorists attacked the City Center could have been avoided if his officers had such armor.
"Four months was the time the contractor gave us, wasn't it?" Aron asked, looking over at his mother, seeing her nod in response to his question. "In four months, we'll be at full force to see to your and anyone else's orders they might have," he said with a warm smile. "I'll be happy to speak to you privately, Chief Mint, to address any and all concerns you might have." Seeing the man nod from his spot within the crowd. "Now, my company and I have one last demonstration to show you," Aron uttered, giving Jill her cue to fetch B.O.B. (Bionoid Surveillance Bot) from the back. "This, Ladies and Gentlemen," gesturing to B.O.B when Jill stepped up to his right side, "is B.O.B, a semi-autonomous surveillance Bionoid robotic drone that I believe will aid the police and military and a few of the three-letter agencies out there," hearing the chuckle that was moving through the crowd, "with B.O.B. you can go places that are too dangerous for people to tread, or into a hostage situation where you don't have eyes on. For you see, this," laying his hand on top of B.O.B's head, "is just the main unit, there are four spiders, mini drones, within its rear compartment. While yes, the main unit can act as a drone, that's not its main function; its function is to tap into security systems and pipe in the feed to wherever you are, while the spiders," giving his mother her cue as she tapped away at B.O.B's controller, which was nothing more than a tablet, "serve as the eyes and ears for the unit," Aron spoke as the back of B.O.B opened up and out flew the four spiders.
"Within the spiders lies a filament that I created that can and has stopped bullets up to 12.7 millimeters. This filament can be used to encircle a villain, trap robbers, cutthroats, murders, or it could be used to protect hostages in the event of breaching into whatever place those curs hold them. As you can see, my lovely CEO has an easy time handling all four spider drones," Aron said, waving to his left at his mother. "Go ahead, and show them how the filament works," he spoke with a nod when his mother gave him a look as the spider drones were whizzing over the heads of those in attendance. "As you can see, it doesn't take much for the filament to immobilize your target or shield those in danger of dying from the hands of those who do not care one bit about the sanctity of life. It's my hope these, and those that will come later, will be great aids in ensuring that this city, along with every other city on this planet, will find peace or as much peace one can have with those that wish ill upon those that just want to live their lives without fear of being robbed, stabbed, shot, used in some villain's plot. Thank you, everyone, for stopping by our booth. I do hope this demonstration has been enlightening for you, and it's my hope that we can have a very fruitful partnership," Aron said, closing out his speech. Hearing the spider drones returning to their base unit before B.O.B's wings closed in on them as its rear compartment sealed shut.
Aron stood to the side, speaking to Chief Mint and a few other city officials who had flown in for the convention. Answering their questions, he noted how his mother, Jill, and Tazia were speaking to those hanging around the display table, chatting away with the three of them. Nodding along, reassuring them that once his factory was up and running, he would ensure they could meet their needs. He just hoped he could hire the workforce needed to operate his factory. He would rather not spout off on things that he couldn't deliver. Letting the Chief test out the chest piece, watching the man move around in it. Watching how he did a few moves that he knew the police used when doing more laborious tasks. Smiling as he returned the chest piece to the mannequin, listening to the man's praise of it as he did. Giving out his card to the Chief and those he had been speaking to before they left to see what else was in store for them.
They were packing up since they only had the booth until eleven before the next company came in to setup shop to sell their latest invention or some enhanced doodad. His, his mother's, and Jill's heads snapped up when they heard the cries, the sounds of gunfire, and the screams of the attendees as the group that had slipped away with their ill-gotten gains had returned for a much bigger score.
"Go," Aron nodded, seeing the looks in their eyes. "Go do what you're good at," he encouraged. Seeing the two of them nod before dashing into the back, noting how his family was quickly getting into their costumes as the flap of the curtain rustled before falling closed. He, however, continued to pack his items in the containers he had brought along. He was not about to leave his tech unattended just to go play hero. "Hello, Agent Honeybell," Aron mused with his back towards her once his family members rushed off to deal with the villains terrorizing the city's citizens and those who came to visit.
"Aron," her voice was soft as she whispered his name. "I told you to call me Sara," she pouted.
"Oh?" Turning with an amused smile on his lips, "Didn't know you wanted us to be on a first-name basis," Aron teased, playing up the act that they weren't intimate.
"Not funny, Aron," Sara huffed, crossing her arms below her 36C breasts. Wondering if he liked how the white blouse and her black skirt looked on her as she stood across the table from him. Pondering if he liked how her skirt hugged her hips, making the material stretch across them along with showing off her ass very well, or at least she thought it did. "So, what else do you need to do around here?"
"Just packing up the weapons; thanks, by the way, for letting me use that .50 cal for this," Aron said in a warm tone.
"You know I'd help you any way I can, right?" Sara asked in a bashful tone as she brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"That so?" Aron mused in a coy tone.
"Mmmhmm," Sara hummed as she nodded. Listening to the fighting taking place on the far end of the convention center. She had no fear of what was happening like most people in the building; stampeding, nearly trampling those too slow to get out of their way. She also knew Aron wasn't too worried about it either since Aron couldn't be harmed in any way unless it was electricity. Something she has yet to inform her superiors about. That was the one thing she would take to her grave. She was not about to lose her obsession because her higher-ups might turn on him when they no longer had use for Aron, aka Void. "So, would you like some help?" Sara inquired, feeling her cheeks heat beneath Aron's gaze.
"Sure, I could use a hand," Aron nodded, not that he couldn't pack up on his own. Yet he did like leering at her when Sara was bent over; who wouldn't?
"What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?" Sara asked as she walked beside him once he pushed the cart he was using that held all his crates that contained the items he had brought along towards their vehicle.
"Well, I was planning on taking Nettie and Henry to the park tomorrow; it's kind of good for them to get out of the house occasionally. Tonight? I don't know, have to see what Aminah and Tazia want to do; why?" Aron asked, peering over at her.
"Would it be alright if I tagged along? After all, you can't leave your third wife out, now can you?" Sara spoke in a light, teasing tone.
"You want to come along, fine with me, although you might want to keep those hidden," Aron mused, pointing at Sara's breasts.
"Oh, why's that?" Sara uttered with a knowing smile on her lips.
"Henry has been a little handsy as of late," Aron stated, remembering how his son pretty much motorboated Lyla, causing Aminah to wince in pain when Henry latched his hand onto her left breast and wouldn't let go. Recounting the bruises that he had left in his wake when it took Chery to pry Henry's hand off of her orb. Granted, Chery might not have his or his mother's strength, yet she was quite strong reaching to the range of ten tons. Aron couldn't say what level Henry's strength would reach as he got older. He just knew Henry was going to be a handful when he learned there were only a few of them that could wrestle him off of people if he let his powers get away from him. He knew he was going to have to have a serious conversation with Henry when he got older, so he wouldn't allow his power to inadvertently hurt anyone. Aron knew how hard it was to keep his strength in check when interacting with people who didn't have his kind of strength. Glancing up as news and police helicopters circled overhead, noting how their jetcar came zooming in as his family members came pouring out of the convention center once they had dealt with the criminals who thought they would have the run of the place without facing off against superheroes. "Well, seems like I'm going home alone," Aron muttered offhandedly as the jetcar flew overhead.
"Well... I don't mind riding with you, Aron," Sara offered with a sly smile on her lips.
"Oh? I do hope you can keep your hands to yourself," Aron teased, watching Sara shaking her head.
"Nah-uh, we're going to find a nice quiet place, and we're going to have fun in that," Sara purred, nodding towards the SUV that Aminah had built.
"Then shouldn't you be getting in?" Aron asked before walking towards the driver's door. Smirking as he noted Sara's form hurrying along the right side of the SUV through the windows. "My, aren't you quick," he teased as he slid into the driver's seat, seeing how red her cheeks were heating.
"I get to be with you, so of course, I'm jumping in this car in a flash," Sara cooed, flashing Aron a seductive smile as he powered on the car since it was run on hydrogen. Listening to the hum of the hydrogen collectors before Aron backed out of the parking spot.
Her lips tore at his. Her thigh brushed along his. The air grew warm around them as their overheated bodies heated the interior of the SUV. Her panting was heavy in Aron's ears, her fingers curled around the blanket she had found while helping Aron lower the back seats. Her hands held onto his arms as her nectar leaked out with every thrust of his cock.
"Aron?" Her 36C breasts swayed and jostled as she glided forward on Aron's slick pole. Her fingers trailed up his chest, running through the valleys of his muscles. Feeling the sweat that coated his skin as she rode him.
"Hmm?"
"Don't get alarmed, okay?" Sara whispered as she slid off his cock, reached back, and quickly pulled off his condom before returning his member back to her heat before Aron could protest.
"Sara, what are you doing?" Aron asked, not showing how much he enjoyed feeling the heat, the moistness, the grip on his naked cock.
"Performing my wifely duties," Sara grunted as she picked up the pace. She knew he could have easily stopped her, but she knew him. Aron doesn't hurt people that don't deserve it. "You very well can't leave me out of the process," she cooed, smiling sinfully down at him. She knew if and when she got pregnant, she would be off his team until she came to term. Still, when they were separated, she would have a little piece of him. Plus, since Aron wanted to appear as if he was a normal human and not an incestuous, superpowered man, then it wouldn't hurt for him to appear to have an equally normal wife. Now with becoming a donor to a hero team, she knew Aron would have more eyes watching him than he was used to or even wanted. Yet she knew he would most likely come with the territory, and who better to fulfill that role than her?
"But..." Aron's voice stilled as Sara lightly touched her finger to his lips.
"I want this, Aron; I want the same connection you share with Tazia and Aminah. I want to see that same joy, that same love I see when Nettie or Henry sees you. I truly want to see that look on our child's face. A face that shows the world that they come from a warm, loving, caring home," Sara whispered as she lowered herself down onto his chest. Loving how her breasts felt against his skin. Giving her heart and soul to the man beneath her as her lips captured his, feeling his hands gliding along her thighs as her hips rolled, working his manhood deep inside of her. Savoring how her fingertips moved along his skin, etching it to her memory for the nights they were away from one another.
"You wouldn't mind a bit more company, would you?" Sara asked as they drove towards Aron's home. Keeping her legs pressed together so she could keep as much of his cum from leaking out as possible. She was not about to waste one of Aron's swimmers; she was going to get pregnant no matter how many times it took to get there. She had stopped taking her birth control a while ago. She was only using the condoms until they had built a solid rapport with Aron before she moved their relationship further.
"Kind of figured you wanted to come over," Aron spoke with a coy smirk on his lips.
"Don't blame me; I can't help it; you fathered some pretty babies," Sara said in a small, cute voice. "Did you like the turnovers I made for you?" she asked in a bashful voice.
"Oh, yeah, next time, I'll have to hide them," Aron answered with a warm smile.
"Why?" Sara felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the truth in his eyes.
"Neil and Carl, especially Carl, couldn't leave me the last one," Aron grumbled, missing the sweetness of the treat.
"Then don't you worry, I'll make sure you have some more," Sara said, laying her hand over his. Her fingers weaved between his, wiggling her ass deeper into the seat as she sat prouder at the fact that Aron truly enjoyed her baking. She was determined to show him that she would make an excellent wife.
Aminah's hair dangled loosely down the side of her face as she peered through the electron microscope. Watching how the robotic arms moved about as it built the foundations for the 'Queen' bug that she had designated the lead nanite she was working on. It would control all the others that would be within the solution she was also working on alongside her robotic work. Leaning back, looking up to the ceiling when she heard Nettie calling out to her with her mind. Smiling warmly up at where she felt her daughter was in their home when she felt Aron's presence. Knowing she was making the right decision in creating these nanites. While she couldn't stop the aging process, she could at least turn it back ten years. It would be ten more years she would be with Aron. Ten more years that she would be with Nettie and all the other children she hoped would come. She wanted to grow old with Aron. Watch their children grow, learn, experience everything they could give them, and then see them off onto their own lives.
Walking across the room where her genetic makeup was displayed on the monitor of one of the four computers that were within the lab. Running her tests to determine the best course of action on how to insert the nanites into her cells to manipulate the telomeres at the ends of her chromosomes. Biting her nail as she daydreamed how Aron would react when she first showed him her new youthful body.
"Aron, what are we doing down here?" Neil asked, looking around the first floor of their base once he and Aron, with Nettie lounging in her baby carrier as they stood by the elevator.
"Well, I was thinking I could use another set of eyes on figuring out who the Collector is or who claims to be a villain who's dead," Aron answered, keeping a slow pace for his uncle. He knew his uncle hated walking with crutches.
"But me? I'm just an injured old man; what could I do to help you?" Neil asked, feeling sorry for himself.
"I read your mission files when you and the rest were in Europe. So I know this will not be something you can't handle, and given what I have read in those reports, I suspect you will find something I have missed. You have more of a detective's mind than I do," Aron said, hoping to lift his uncle out of his funk.
"Okay, I'll help," Neil nodded, shaking the gloom from his mind. "Aron, what's this?" he asked, looking in awe of the room, noting how all four walls were just one big screen. The sunken ring in the center of the room where the edge of it was lined with cushions.
"Nursery, playroom, classroom, safe room for the kids," Aron said from over his shoulder as he powered up the hover chair he had whipped up for his uncle to use. "Here, sit," he offered, lightly patting the back of the chair as his uncle peered at him quizzically. "Unless you want to stand the whole time," Aron said with a taunting smile.
"If I break another... hey, this isn't too bad," Neil mused once he had gotten comfortable in the chair. Thankful for the support Aron had built into it for his leg. Nodding along when Aron showed him how to operate the chair. "I'm so stealing this thing," he teased, hearing his nephew's chuckle.
"Veil, could you please bring up the file we made for the Collector on these displays for me?" Aron asked, looking up at her camera nestled in the room's upper left corner.
"Certainly, Void, one moment."
"Is it me, or does she seem... I don't know... more human lately?" Neil asked in a hushed whisper, having to be content with the smirk on Aron's face.
"Now, this is all we were able to gather on the Collector to this date," Aron spoke, gesturing to the screens as individual files appeared on the farther wall as he walked up to it. Raising his hand, lightly tapping on the nearest one to him. "Now, only you and I can look at some of these files since a few of them were supplied to me by Sara."
"I understand, Aron," Neil nodded, knowing the value of the trust Aron was placing in him as he pointed out the NSA files to him.
"Veil set this file to my partition on the mainframe; allow only myself or Uncle Neil to view this file within this room," Aron ordered.
"Yes, father, I have set the parameters as you have suggested."
"Good, now, I'll just get out of your hair so you can digest this at your own pace," Aron said, lightly patting his uncle on his left shoulder before heading towards the door.
"Aron..." Neil's voice stilled his nephew's departure as he turned his hover chair around. "Thanks for this; I'll make sure to put the chair back."
"You can take it upstairs if you want; I know how you don't like those things," Aron spoke, nodding down to his uncle's crutches that rested beside him on the chair. "You'll have to bring it down in two days so I can charge it."
"Sure thing, thanks, Aron," Neil spoke with a wide happy smile on his lips, seeing Aron's nod before he left the room altogether.
Aron stopped in his tracks when he just caught his mother's trailing form before the corner of the hallway hid her from his sight. Wondering why she would be on the first floor of the base, and in that section of it, since where they were, there were no critical rooms, if he discounted the few hidden labs he has in that section of the base. So he knew she wouldn't have reason to be there unless she had come looking for something specific. Hearing the elevator doors off in the distance as he entered the corridor his mother was just in. Arching an eyebrow when Aron noted the gap in once what used to be a solid wall. Equally confused as to why there was a supersuit behind a display case and not out with all the others. Running his eyes over the nearly black suit with, what appeared to him as a tribal image of a falcon was printed in red on the chest of the suit. Wondering if anyone would call something a mask when it only covered their eyes. Pondering who the owner was and why it was hidden, glancing down and up, he noted a circle of light activating. He still hadn't grown used to seeing himself in his middle age, no matter how many hours he had spent watching those videos.
Dropping his chin into his hand after his recording, his counterpart had made shut off. Pondering on what to do when it appeared his past self left items behind for his mother and his mother alone to find. Debating on whether or not to help her or bury this part of his life that no longer existed since the past him had altered the timeline when he had sent him back in the forties. So he knew what he was looking at shouldn't even exist, and yet it does. Wondering how different his and his past-self's lives were up to the point of the explosion. Giving the suit one last look over, he had no idea what was bringing his mother to this side of the base, at least not what he could decern from the video his counterpart left behind. Still, if it helped his mother somehow, he wouldn't destroy it. Pivoting on his left heel and headed off towards the elevator. Knowing Veil was down in that room waiting on him.
Aron and Veil had been going through the files his past-self had left behind in the room his counterpart had once called his sanctuary for the past two hours. So far, while they were interesting to read, it didn't really mean much since most of them were either dead or in retirement homes, no longer a threat to anyone other than their dependents. At least the villains he had read about weren't as interesting as he would have liked. To him, they sounded rather silly. However, he did have to remember it was a different time back then, and words had different meanings than they do now. He couldn't imagine the monologue he must have had with himself when he ran into these weird-sounding villains. Aron had Veil list off what was in the files that she had access to while he went over the hard copies. He was a little saddened when he didn't find anything about the Collector in those files. Nodding when Veil told him that his mother had told her android body to relay the fact that supper was ready to him. Sliding his hands into his pockets as he left the room and hearing the partition sliding down behind him as he headed for the elevator.
"I think you just like floating in that thing," Chery huffed as Neil floated at the end of the table as best he could.
"Hey, not my fault some villain got the jump on me; I may never walk again," Neil uttered, lightly patting the left armrest with affection.
"Don't get used to that thing; once you're better, you're giving that back to Aron," Chery said in a stern, wifely voice.
"If I don't?" Neil challenged.
"Do you want to sleep soundly for the next ten years?" Chery spoke in a dark tone.
"You just want it for yourself," Neil stated, pointing his egg-covered fork at his sister.
"No, yet we ladies," sitting regally in her seat, noting her sisters' and aunt's eyes on her as she struck that pose, "deserve the hovering throne so we can survey our kingdom," Chery said, grinning at her sisters who were catching on to what she was saying. Aron, however, was smart enough not to stick his nose into the quagmire that was unfolding before him.
"Dad," Jill's sweet, alluring voice stilled Aron as he brought his fork holding the bite of his sausage to his lips, "you wouldn't mind if you and I took a little spin in it, would you?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows at her father. "Because you used to let me try out your inventions if they weren't dangerous before you let anyone else see them." Her eyes followed how Aron turned his head towards Veil, who nodded that it was true.
"So my own little tester, huh?" Aron mused before taking his bite.
"Of course, papa, you wouldn't dream of leaving your little girl out," Jill cooed in a flirty tone, batting her eyelashes at him. Smiling seductively at him before her attention was drawn away as something on the TV caught her attention, causing everyone else to turn their gaze towards it.
"This just in, Nightshade, the new leader of The Sovereign Crusaders, has been gunned down in a fight with a crime ring that has been plaguing the Northeastern part of our country for decades now. We go live to the scene thanks to our sister station, WSYT channel 7 news." Silence filled that room as all looked on as the news feed was switched over.
"If you're just joining us, thirty minutes ago, The Sovereign Crusaders, led by Nightshade, interrupted a heist that was under way by the Laughing Kings cartel. As you can see here on your right side of your screens at home that the battle was fierce as the heroes did everything in their power to stop these criminals from robbing the Diamond district of our fair city. However, sadly, in an attempt to save a man who was being held against his will, when the criminals saw no way out opened fire on Nightshade. We don't know what was said between the two of them; all we know is that one minute Nightshade had stilled her advance to save the man, the next, we saw the criminal raising his gun, and the muzzle fire of his gun aimed right at Nightshade's heart.
