To Neptune And Back

What The Hell Just Happened (Chapter 22)

"This is not good."

Lifting the blueprints in the air, you use the light on the ceiling to help illuminate the pages and make what you are seeing clearer. With the pages all stacked together they show plans for two separate projects. The smaller project appears to be a weapon that looks like it's the size of a large apple. From the mechanics of it, the device itself would work like a bomb. The larger project very clearly is a hovercraft of sorts, looking more like a glider than a board. It has various specs within it that would allow the person using it to fly around on the glider, while being able to shoot short range missiles out of it.

"No it's not."

Natasha takes the blueprints out of your hands and moves to the dining table. Taking a gadget that you haven't seen before, you watch as she scans the various blueprint pages and translates them into a hologram. She presses a few buttons and within a second, you get a ding to your phone. Taking your phone out of your pocket you notice you have a new encrypted email from Natasha, presumably holding a file of the blueprints in it.

"I need to get these back to their room before Osborn notices."

You give her a nod and watch as Natasha straps a gun into one of her holsters before she slips out of the room without another word. As soon as the door clicks shut, you slide into the desk chair and power on your computer. Clicking on the message Natasha just sent you, you open up your 'Buddy' app. Buddy's interface comes to life and a small, virtual, Buddy appears in the corner of your computer screen.

"Y/n, why am I in your computer like this? We have not had me in this form for quite some time now."

"I know, but I don't have a lab here so this is the best I can do. And 'little Buddy' isn't going to be useful in this situation."

Dragging the files to the screen that your virtual Buddy is floating on, you watch as he spins around and looks at the blueprints. "Ok, I need you to run a few scans and help me figure out who these items could possibly be for. I'm not sure if they are just generic and the plan is to mass distribute them, or if they are being made for a specific individual. Can you help with that?"

Buddy does a little spin on your screen before giving you a nod, "Of course. Allow me a minute or two to gather data from outside servers and then compare it to your files."

While buddy continues his scans, you pull up another copy of the bomb like device from the blueprints. The mechanics of it seem simple but there is something that feels off to you about it. The idea of it simply being a bomb seems oddly too simple for how sophisticated the actual mechanism is. Peering at the blueprints, leaning in closer to your computer, your eyes make note of a small section of the device that you deem unnecessary for your average bomb. Just as it starts to click in your brain, Buddy speaks out of your computer speakers and causes you to jolt back in your seat.

"Apologies, but my scan is complete."

"Fuck!" You clutch your chest as Buddy's apologetic little virtual face looks back at you from the screen. Calming your heart rate you readjust in your chair. "Maybe Natasha is right about the whole 'easily startled' thing."

"Not 'maybe', I am right. Look, you almost fell out of your chair again."

Spinning around, you didn't notice Natasha make her way back into the hotel room. She walks closer to where you sit and peers over your shoulder in order to see Buddy on your screen. Buddy gives her a little spin in greeting and you roll your eyes at him.

"But I didn't fall out of the chair, so that's what's important here."

Natasha gives you a small smile before looking back at what's pulled up on your computer. "I had Buddy do a quick scan over the blueprints and cross-reference it to any data he can find on the internet or within Oscrop's servers. I want to know if these devices are meant to be mass produced or if they are for a specific individual to use."