Chapter 132: War, War never changes. 1942 CE (1)

Pluto and Thena were standing in front of their newly built home in Queens, it was a rather lavish house, although not too different from the surroundings. They were standing in front of a taxi, with another man in front of them, it was Phastos.

"You sure you want to do this man?" Pluto questioned him calmly.

"Are you kidding, of course I would!" Phastos exclaimed excitedly. "I mean, nuclear power research! I can't believe we're here now! I mean, imagine man, sustainable energy, so climate change won't be a worry anymore, then there's medical research for that!"

"What are you even working on anyway?" Pluto questioned.

"Honestly, any department's fine, as long as it's nuclear research," he said. "I mean, I'm black, so nobody will notice me anyway, I'll just be an assistant I guess, my goal is observing anyway, not actually helping them. I want to see them harness nuclear energy, it would be revolutionary, I tell you!"

Pluto sighed. "Please… think about it again…"

"I'm all set Pluto, don't worry about me, I won't interfere if that's what you're worrying about."

"It's not that…" Pluto murmured. "But fine… you do you man, just… take care."

Pluto hugged him, and patted his back lovingly. Thena did the same with him, and she also kissed his cheek.

"Do take care, Phastos."

"I will Thena." he smiled. "Anyway, see you around."

Phastos then entered his taxi, and bolted off, leaving Pluto and Thena alone.

"Why didn't you tell him?" Thena questioned softly.

"Can't do it." he murmured. "If I told him, he would try to stop it."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"For the long term? It is." Pluto answered. "World wars would practically be impossible unless the leaders are insane, the possibility of mutually assured destruction is not worth another world war. Besides, Phastos is right, nuclear power will help humans advance."

"You're sacrificing his feelings."

"Am I?" Pluto questioned. "He's doing this himself, I've no right to force him not to go, and besides, it'll be a good lesson for him."

"Many will die."

"True." Pluto hummed. "But many more will too if nuclear isn't invented."

"You're starting to sound like Ajak with her preaching about Arishem…"

Pluto raised his brow, and contemplated. "Maybe I am… but at least I know the outcome of it."

Suddenly, a woman approached them from the sidewalk, wearing a military uniform.

"Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith." she greeted them politely, making the two raise their eyebrows.

"Can I help you with something?" Pluto questioned as the three of them walked back to the house.

"My name is Margaret Carter." She introduced herself. "I'm an agent of the Strategic Scientific Reserve."

"The place where Howard worked?" Pluto hummed, surprising Carter as Pluto opened the door, letting Thena and Carter in. as they entered the guest room, Pluto offered her a seat, which she gladly accepted. "What do you want from us Agent Carter?"

"The government has noticed that you seem to have a connection with the Zimera Kingdom, deep enough that you can get Vibranium." she explained.

"I thought you heard Howard's presentation?" Pluto spoke calmly. "It was from my collection, I didn't get it from Zimera itself."

"Mr. Smith, I know that the Zimerans are secretive, but if you could just help us with the–"

"I told you, Agent Carter." Pluto cut her off. "Smith Enterprises won't be helping with any war effort projects that the government puts into place unless it's for the citizens and the ones who suffered. I have no idea how you got this delusion that I somehow have a connection with the Zimerans, but I suggest you erase that idea in your head. Do you have any more matters to discuss, Agent Carter?"

Carter was about to refute, but she calmed herself down. "Right… Forgive me, Mr. Smith, I was too forward with my words… then I want to discuss something else."

"Then speak."

"You were with Mr. Stark when the attempted assasination happened, he said that he doesn't remember anything about the ones who attacked him, and he was lucky that he was still alive, you were with him too, right? Could you tell me if you saw the ones who attacked you?" she questioned curiously.

Pluto hummed. "They had German accents, I could hear them shouting when they were trying to slam their car into ours. Then it exploded, thankfully, we're still alive today."

"You were… lucky, Mr. Smith?"

Pluto frowned. "What are you getting at, agent Carter?"

"It's honestly nothing Mr. Smith, it's quite hard to believe that both of you survived a TnT explosion point blank."

"The car probably protected us." Pluto shrugged. "I bought extra protection for my cars."

Agent Carter nodded as she wrote it down. "Thank you for your time Mr. Smith, pardon me if I offended you with my words before…"

"It's nothing Agent Carter, anything else?"

"None." she said. "Then I shall take my leave. Good afternoon, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith."

Pluto hummed. "Have a good day, agent."