Ant-Man: 2(chapter 98)

Chapter 98

After being fired, Scott returned to Luis's apartment. Luis greeted him, "Hey, Scotty, what's up? I thought you were supposed to be at work?" Scott replied, "I was, I got fired." Luis asked, "Damn! They find out who you are?" Scott confirmed, "Yep." Luis nodded knowingly, "Baskin Robbins always finds out, bro." Dave added, "Baskin Robbins don't play." Luis offered, "You want some waffles?" Scott accepted, "Yeah, I'll take a waffle." Luis introduced Kurt, "Oh. That's Kurt. He was in Folsom for 5 years, he's a wizard on that laptop." Kurt greeted Scott, "Nice to meet you." 

Scott responded, "Yeah, nice to meet you too." He then asked Dave, "And who are you?" Dave introduced himself, "Dave. Nice work on the Vista job." Kurt reminisced, "Vista job? Yes. No, no, I have heard of this robbery." Scott clarified, "Well, technically, I didn't rob them. Robbery involves threat. I hate violence, I burgled them. I'm a cat burglar." Dave mocked, "You mean you're a pussy?" Scott admitted, "Yeah." Luis praised Scott's past deeds, "They were overcharging the customers, right? And it added up to millions. He blows the whistle and he gets fired. And what does he do? He hacks into the security system, and transfers millions back to the people that they stole it from." Dave added.

 "Posts all the bank records online." Luis continued, "And he drove dude's Bentley into a swimming pool." Scott, frustrated, asked Luis, "What are you doing? Hmm? Why are you telling my life's story to these guys? What do you want?" Luis proposed a job, "Okay. My cousin talked to this guy two weeks ago about this little, perfect job." Scott immediately refused, "No way." Luis tried to convince him, "No, no, no. Wait! This guy… this guy fits your M.O." Scott was resolute, "No! I'm finished man. I'm not going back to jail." Luis described the target, "It's some retired millionaire living off his golden parachute, It's a perfect Scott Lang mark." Scott remained firm, "I don't care. I'm out."

-scene change-

Dr. Hank Pym drove up to the imposing gates of Pym Technologies, a place he had once called his own. As he approached, the Pym Tech gate guard recognized him immediately. "Dr. Pym?" he inquired, with a mix of surprise and respect. Hank gave a wry smile, replying, "Yes. I'm still alive." The guard smiled back and waved him through the gate, an acknowledgment of the living legend entering the premises. Inside, the atmosphere was a blend of anticipation and corporate sterility. Pym was met by a security guard who politely demanded his identification. Hank gestured to the massive portrait of his younger self hanging prominently behind the guard. "Perhaps that will suffice," he suggested with a touch of irony. The guard, realizing his oversight, apologized and welcomed him in. As Pym moved through the building, whispers followed him. "Is that Hank Pym?" an employee murmured. He was greeted by Hope van Dyne with a formal, "Good morning, Hank." Hank sighed, "Hope. Would it kill you to call me dad?" She maintained her professional demeanor, retorting, "Well, Dr. Cross will be so pleased that you could find the time to join us today."

Darren Cross, the new face of the company, approached with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "More like thrilled," he interjected, shaking Hank's hand with calculated enthusiasm. "I was surprised to receive any kind of invitation from you, Darren. What's the occasion?" Hank inquired, curiosity laced with suspicion. Cross's grin widened as he replied, "Oh, you'll see. Won't he, Hope?" Hope responded with a frosty look that spoke volumes. "We're ready for you inside," she said, turning on her heel to lead the way. Cross couldn't resist a parting shot, observing, "Ouch. I guess some old wounds never heal, huh? Don't worry, she's in good hands. You're in for a treat." As they moved toward the lab, Carson, a familiar face from the past, intercepted Hank with a handshake. "Long time no see, Dr. Pym. How's retirement?" Carson queried with a smirk. Hank returned the handshake firmly, countering, "How's your face?" It was a reminder of old grudges and new alliances. Inside the lab, Cross took the stage to introduce Hank, "Now before we start, I'd like to introduce a very special guest, this company's founder and my mentor, Dr. Hank Pym." Applause echoed in the room, and Pym noted the new miniature building model, now emblazoned with the logo 'Cross Technologies.'

Cross began his presentation, explaining, "When I took over this company from Dr. Pym, I immediately started researching a particle that could change the distance between atoms while increasing density and strength." The implications hung in the air as he continued, "Why this revolutionary idea remained buried beneath the dust and cobwebs of Hank's research, I couldn't tell you. But just imagine. A soldier the size of an insect. The ultimate secret weapon." Footage played, showing soldiers engaged in combat, accompanied by the diminutive figure in a costume. "An 'Ant-Man.' That's what they called you. Right, Hank? Silly, I know. Propaganda. Tales to astonish. Trumped up B.S. to scare the U.S.S.R. Hank, will you tell our guests what you told me every single time I asked you, was the Ant-Man real?"

Hank, maintaining a neutral expression, answered, "Just a tall tale." Cross nodded, leaning into the mystery, "Right. Because how could anything so miraculous possibly be real?" He led the audience into another room, a hushed excitement in the air. "Well, I was inspired by the legend of the Ant-Man. And with my breakthrough, shrinking inorganic material, I thought, could it be possible to shrink a person? Could that be done? Well, it's not a legend anymore. Distinguished guests, I am proud to present the end of warfare as we know it: the Yellowjacket."

He unveiled a sleek, insect-like suit, exuding menace and technological prowess. "The Yellowjacket is an all-purpose weapon of war capable of altering the size of the wearer for the ultimate combat advantage," he explained, turning on a promotional video. A voiceover narrated, "We live in an era in which the weapons we use to protect ourselves are undermined by constant surveillance. It's time to return to a simpler age. One where the powers of freedom can once again operate openly to protect their interests. An all-purpose peace-keeping vessel. The Yellowjacket can manage any conflict on the geo-political landscape, completely unseen. Efficient in both preventative measures and tactical assault. Practical applications include: surveillance, industrial sabotage, and the elimination of obstructions on the road to peace. A single Yellowjacket offers the user unlimited influence to carry out protective actions and one day soon, an army of Yellowjackets will create a sustainable environment of well-being around the world. The Yellowjacket."

From the crowd, Frank commented, "So it's a suit." Cross shot him a disdainful glance, replying, "Don't be crude, Frank. It's not a suit; it's a… it's a vessel. What's a matter, you're not impressed?" Frank, unfazed, expressed his concerns, "Oh, I'm impressed. I'm also concerned. Imagine what our enemies could do with this tech." Cross nodded, signaling his willingness to engage. "I'd like to address your concerns, Frank," Cross said, gesturing to a man standing to the side. "Allow me to introduce Henry, one of our new shareholders and a well-known chemist." Henry stepped forward with a confident smile. "I'm quite interested in Darren's vision. The potential of this technology is vast," he stated, his voice smooth and reassuring. Hank frowned slightly, Hope's expression tightened, a mix of skepticism and wariness. Cross continued, "We should have a longer conversation about that, Frank. I really value your opinion. Thank you for coming."