The Story Of The Crimson Queen

Chapter 20: Punching Bags and Chili-sicles

I apoligise in advance for this, but it has to be done. But it will all be resolved soon.

-Crimson

NADIA P.O.V.

     I sat in my lab working when Nat walked in. "So how'd it go?" I turned to her with a fake smile.

     "It went great!" I lied. I turned back to the table. I didn't want her to worry or make a big deal out of it. I was used to people underestimating me.

    "I know you're lying, your hands are fidgeting." She said. She sighed and pulled out the chair next to me. "What happened?"

     I sighed and sat down the tablet I had been holding. "Well, we definately don't like each other, that's for sure. But she did unintentionaly give me an idea for a new project!" I said grabbing the tablet and showing her the design. 

     "What is that?" She questioned.

     "It's a carbyne-based punching bag! I was thinking about how I can't go all out on a punching bag without it snapping on the first punch, so last night I got to work researching some of the strongest fabrics in the world, and I came across this. The material is carbyne but I need to find a way to stabilize it so it doesn't explode or deconstruct." I sighed.

     She nodded, mind too focused on the words 'explode' and 'deconstruct'.

     "Don't worry. I'll make sure nothing happens, hopefully." I muttered the last part under my breath. She did a double take. I chuckled. "Relax I'm going to put in an airtight container so that if anything does happen it won't do too much damage." I said as I began looking at the physical structure of the material.

     "Oh and by the way, Phil wanted me to tell you that we got you a placement test and he wants you to take it after dinner." Nat said as she gave me a side hug and a kiss on the forehead before leaving the room.

    "Ok!" I called after her. "See ya Mom." I muttered the last part under my breath.

Three hours later~

    "Nadia? Nat sent me to get you for dinner." Agent May said as she walked over to where I was half awake working on the punching bag.

    "K." I said as I closed it and stretched, making an odd dinosaur-like noise. May laughed. "Oh she does have a sense of humor! It's gonna snow!" I joked as I set a reminder on my watch so I knew when the computer was done researching for all the materials needed to construct the carbyne before I stood.

    May rolled her eyes. "1. I am a human being we are born with a sense of humor. 2. It's the middle of December, of course it's going to snow."

   As we reached the cafeteria I smirked as I saw the perfect opportunity. Today we were having Chili. I don't like chili so I instead grabbed some of the grilled cheese from the table and found Nat and Clint.

      "Hey guys." I said cheerfully as I sat on the left of Clint.

      Nat waved as her mouth was full whereas Clint just spoke around his grilled cheese. "Hey Addy!" I snorted at his childish behavior and began to devore my grilled cheese. Agent May sat next to Nat.

      "Slow down Addy, you'll choke." Nat said chuckling.

      I stopped eating to look at her. "Sorry it's good." I shrugged. They laughed. I touched the table and targeted May's Chili.

     May attempted to lift her spoon from her bowl to eat. Key word, Attempted. Instead of lifting a spoon of steaming hot chili, she lifted a frozen chili-sicle. I wiped my face clear of any emotions.

     "Nadia, did you have something to do with this?" She asked calmly, obviously trying not to leap over the table and strangle me.

     "No idea what you're talking about." I said nonchalantly. "I think the A.C. is on the fritz. They really need to check that." I said going back to my sandwich.

     I felt bad for freezing her chili so I passed her one of my grilled cheeses. "Here." But my mouth was full but it sounded more like, "Hur." She accepted but before she could say anything my watch beeped. "Oh, gotta go." I got up and began walking out of the cafeteria.

  And that's when I collapsed.