Earth's Mightiest Heroes

This Is Way Worse Than We Thought

At six that night I was standing outside a club with Peggy. We walked in and moved around for a bit. Someone was taking pictures but we avoided them.

"You two look like ladies looking for a dance," some drunk guy said.

"I'd only step on your toes," Peggy told him.

He looked to me, "What about you, doll?"

"I'm married," I said before walking away.

"You know," Peggy said catching up with me, "That won't work when someone asks where he is. What will you tell them then?"

"The truth," I said, "He died serving his country and I have no interest in finding someone else."

I flipped my blonde wig over my shoulder and headed toward the stairs. "We're looking for Mr. Raymond," I told the guy blocking my way, "We have something we would like to sell."

He nodded up the stairs, "First door on the right."

I smiled, "Thanks, sugar."

Peggy and I made our way up the stairs and to the door. I stopped outside it and leaned up against the wall. I looked at Peggy, "Do your thing."

"You're not coming in?" she asked.

"Not my style," I smirked, "Now hurry up."

She knocked on the door and pushed it open, "Mr. Raymond, is this a bad time?"

He said something and she walked in and shut the door. I watched for anyone coming to close. After a few minutes she stuck her head out of the door. "Get in here," she snapped. I walked into the room. Spider Raymond was passed out in his desk chair. Peggy moved to a safe and opened it. She pulled out a round orange glowing thing. That couldn't be good.

"Any idea?" she asked.

I shrugged, "None. I'll call Mr. Jarvis." I picked up the phone and called Mr. Jarvis.

"Jarvis residents," he said answering the phone.

"They've weaponized it," I said.

"Mrs. Rogers?" he questioned.

"Do you know anyone else handling high explosives at this time of night?"

"As a matter of fact, no. It's just that I promised my wife a soufflé and if I don't get it in the oven by..."

"Mr. Jarvis, what was once a theory is now a bomb. So apologies to your wife, but dinner will have to wait."

"No, you're quite right. Mr. Stark left a note. Hold the line." He must have put the phone by the radio because music started playing. "Is the nitramene, by any chance, glowing?"

I looked over at the thing Peggy had, "Yes."

"Oh that's not ideal. An orange glow would indicate the nitramene has reached peak volatility and should be handled with caution. Cracking its shell would result in an implosion with a radius blast of... oh 500 yards."

"Delightful," I grumbled.

"Render it inert with a solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate and acetate. Where you are going to find that at this time of night, I have no idea?"

"Leave that to me."

"There's one last note here. Avoid touching the core to the containment ring. Touching the core will result in..."

"Death?"

"I was going to say core overload, but yes." I heard his wife call for him. "I won't be a moment, Anna!" He turned his attention back to me, "If that will be all?"