Chapter 41: 39
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The lab was alive with faint mechanical hums, the glow of various screens illuminating the space. Ben Tennyson was focused on a device in front of him, carefully soldering a circuit board while Baymax's holographic interface floated nearby, silently monitoring his work.
Suddenly, Baymax's calm voice broke the silence. "Ben, you have an incoming call from Peter Parker."
Ben didn't look up from his work. "Secure the line and connect it, Baymax."
A moment later, Peter's voice crackled to life. "Ben, I think we have a problem."
Ben paused, setting his tools down and looking at the screen. "What kind of problem, Peter?"
Peter sighed audibly. "Well... after swinging around the neighborhood on patrol, I came home. You know, the usual—through the window. I was changing out of my suit when the lights suddenly turned on. Ned was sitting on my bed."
Ben blinked in disbelief. "Are you serious? Why didn't you lock your door?"
Peter sounded defensive. "I didn't come home today to lock it, Ben! I've been patrolling all night! And Ned—being Ned—decided to wait for me as a 'surprise.'"
Ben pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is just great. So what happened next?"
Peter hesitated. "Well... it's not just my problem anymore."
Ben's tone sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Before Peter could answer, another voice chimed in, slightly nervous but enthusiastic. "Hi, Ben!"
Ben froze. "Wait a second... Ned? Is that you? Why are you on this call?"
Peter groaned. "He knows, Ben. About both of us."
"What?!" Ben shot up from his seat. "Are you kidding me? Did you tell him?"
Ned interjected quickly. "No, he didn't tell me anything! I figured it out myself. I mean, come on, it's not that hard. Every time something happens, you two mysteriously disappear, and then Spider-Man and some alien show up. The dots practically connected themselves."
Ben sat back down, rubbing his temples. "How... smart of you, Ned."
"Thanks!" Ned sounded genuinely pleased.
Ben sighed. "Alright, listen. If you're in on this, you need to understand that knowing our identities isn't just fun and games. It's dangerous. For you and everyone you care about."
Ned's voice softened. "I get that, Ben. But you don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone. You're my friends, and I'd never put you in harm's way."
Ben exchanged a glance with Baymax's holographic interface, which displayed a calculated probability of trustworthiness. He nodded. "We believe you, Ned. But just... be careful, okay? Knowing this stuff puts a target on your back."
Ned's voice perked up. "If it comes, it comes. We're in this together, right?"
Peter finally cut in. "That's not the only reason I called you, Ben."
Ben sighed. "What now? Did Aunt May find out about us, too?"
Peter chuckled nervously. "Not yet, thank God. But this is serious. During my patrol around Hell's Kitchen, I came across something... weird."
Ben frowned. "Weird how?"
Peter's tone dropped, becoming serious. "I don't want to say too much over the phone. You should come to the mansion. We need to talk in person."
Ben stood, already mentally preparing for whatever Peter had discovered. "Alright. Baymax, prep the Rustbucket for a trip to Hell's Kitchen."
Baymax's holographic face nodded. "Understood, Ben."
Ned chimed in again, his excitement undeterred. "Ooh, are we going on a mission?!"
Ben and Peter simultaneously replied, "No."
The newly built house stood proudly in the quiet neighborhood, showcasing its modern design with sleek glass windows and a spacious lawn. Ben stepped out of the Rustbucket, stretching as the sun bathed the surroundings in a warm glow. Behind him, Peter and Ned walked out, followed by Aunt May, who looked slightly skeptical as she observed the scene.
Aunt May folded her arms, glancing between the three boys. "Ben, do you guys really need to have a party tonight? You just finished your exams. Shouldn't you be focusing on relaxing or... something less noisy?"
Ben exchanged a glance with Peter and Ned, shaking his head as if silently lamenting their love for chaos. He let out a dramatic sigh, then flashed his most convincing grin. "Come on, Aunt May! We don't do parties every day. It's just a small celebration, nothing crazy. Exams are over, and we deserve a little fun. Pretty please?"
Aunt May raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the "small celebration" line but eventually relented. "Fine, fine. But don't let it get out of hand. And no alcohol."
Peter and Ned enthusiastically chimed in. "Thanks, Aunt May!"
As Aunt May waved them off and went back inside, Peter and Ned climbed into the Rustbucket. Ben followed, mumbling to himself, "They always rope me into their trouble, and I'm the one who ends up smoothing things over."
Once inside, Ned looked around the rusty interior of the vehicle, frowning in confusion. "Ben, you have so many cool cars—like that sleek black one I saw parked at your mansion. Why are we riding around in this... this... thing?"
Peter nodded, clearly agreeing with Ned. "Yeah, seriously, Ben. You've got options. Why the Rustbucket?"
Ben smirked, starting the engine. "You'll know soon enough."
After driving for a while, Ben pulled the Rustbucket into a quiet alleyway. The three boys got out, the sound of the engine fading into the urban hum.
Ben walked to the back of the vehicle, motioning for Peter and Ned to follow. "Alright, you two, get ready to have your minds blown."
Peter and Ned exchanged curious glances before stepping closer. Ben pressed a hidden button on the side of the Rustbucket, and with a soft mechanical whir, the back doors opened to reveal a sight that left Peter and Ned utterly speechless.
Inside was a high-tech command center that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. Massive screens lined the walls, displaying real-time data streams, maps, and other analytics. Holographic displays floated in the air, showing complex designs and diagrams. Sleek, futuristic chairs were positioned in front of cutting-edge computers, and various gadgets and tools were neatly organized on the sides.
Ned's jaw practically hit the ground. "What... the... heck?!"
Peter's eyes widened as he stepped closer, taking in the sight. "Ben, this... this is insane! You've been hiding this in the Rustbucket?!"
Ben leaned casually against the doorframe, a smug grin on his face. "I told you the Rustbucket was more than it seemed."
Ned rushed inside, running his hands over the holographic controls. "This is so cool! You've got holograms, state-of-the-art computers, and... wait, is this a 3D printing module?!"
Ben nodded, walking over to a console and tapping a few buttons to bring up a holographic blueprint of one of his latest designs. "Yup. Fully functional, too. I've got everything I need here to work on my tech, run simulations, and, well... save the day, if needed."
Peter glanced at the screens, impressed. "This setup is better than most labs I've seen. Even Stark Industries doesn't have anything this compact and efficient."
Ben chuckled. "Don't tell Tony that. He might take it personally."
Ned spun around in one of the chairs, grinning from ear to ear. "Okay, this is officially the coolest thing I've ever seen. You're like... the ultimate tech guy, Ben."