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#9
JUL 12 |
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“Gigantism”
Dr. Doris Zeul glanced around as she made her way onto the Ivy University campus but no one seemed to recognize her and she inwardly relaxed. Now all she had to do was get the Atom’s size-changing belt and her mission would be complete.
She blended into the crowds on campus and began formulating her plan.
“That’s crazy,” Freddy said as he sat in Ray Palmer’s office where a six inch tall Ryan Choi was standing on Ray’s desk while wearing a replica of Ray’s Atom costume.
“It’s great!” Ryan said with a wide grin on his face. “I could be a superhero!”
Freddy leaned forward. “You need to get some training in first. It’s easy to get in over your head if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I know,” Ryan said as he sat down on a book. “Professor Palmer said the same thing.”
Freddy looked at his phone as it started buzzing. “It’s Bethany…she wants me to meet her. I think she wants to go see Adrianna in the hospital.”
“I think I’ll stay here,” Ryan said. “I’ve had enough of that place to last me for a while.”
“No problem,” Freddy said as he stood. “Just stay away from mouse traps.”
“Very funny,” Ryan said as Freddy walked out of the office.
“There you are,” Bethany said as she gave Freddy a hug “Thanks for coming with me,” she said. “I just want to check on Adrianna and Amon.”
“It’s no problem,” Freddy said. “You really like them, don’t you?”
Bethany smiled. “Adrianna and I have really hit it off. She’s a good listener and she’s helped me through a lot. Plus, when I saw her and Amon shot, it reminded me of my father.” Her smile faded and a tear rolled down her cheek. “My dad’s a supervillain and I’m mad at him for it, but I’m also afraid that I’m going to read his obituary in the paper from one of these fights.”
“But surely the Marvels wouldn’t try to kill him,” Freddy said.
“I know,” Bethany said, “but I know that people get hurt and killed in fights like that. Just look at Adrianna and Amon.”
Freddy squeezed Bethany’s hand with his free hand. “But they’ll be okay,” he said. “Don’t think about what could have happened or you’ll go nuts.”
“I know,” Bethany said as she wiped a tear away. She unlocked her car door and after the two climbed in they drove away.
Ray Palmer closed the door of his office and looked around. “Are you here, Ryan?” he asked.
Ryan smiled as he enlarged from a spot beside the desk. “Right here,” he said.
“How are you adjusting?” Ray asked.
“Kind of weird,” Ryan admitted as he ran a hand through his hair. “By the way, I think I saw the dust bunny that ate Minneapolis under your desk.”
Ray smiled. “The cleaning crew’s not the best, I’ll admit.” The smile faded. “But I want you to be careful. The world’s a lot more dangerous when you’re only six inches tall. It sounds ridiculous but someone could even step on you.”
“No problem, Professor,” Ryan said. “I’m going to get dressed and get to work. I’ve got some lab hours I need to catch up on.”
“Good idea,” Ray said. “Later on I’ll take you up to the Watchtower again. I want to do some training with you and I’ll feel better about it in a controlled environment.” Ray glanced at his watch. “I’m having lunch with Mr. Carr so lock up the office when you leave.”
“No problem,” Ryan said as Ray walked out.
Zeul pretended to inspecting a statue on the campus as Ray Palmer walked out of the science building and began hurrying toward the building that housed the journalism department. She smiled as she watched him approach his destination. Her research had shown that his floor should be deserted right now.
“Piece of cake,” she said under her breath before she entered the building.
“How are you doing?” Bethany asked.
“Better,” Adrianna said. She was still pale and Amon was perched on the room’s chair. “Just still so weak.”
“You’ll get better,” Amon said with urgency in his voice.
Adrianna smiled and reached out to clasp his hand. “I know,” she said, “I just worry about the restaurant. Our parents left that to us and I can’t lose it.”
Bethany smiled. “Amon’s been released already. I’ve got some time in my schedule so I could fill in for you as a waitress until you get back on your feet.”
“Thank you,” Adrianna said. She lay back on her pillow as her eyes started closing.
“She’s getting tired,” Amon said. “We should leave.” He ushered Freddy and Bethany out, closing the door behind him.
Black Adam hovered outside the window and he watched as Adrianna sank into sleep. He reached out and gently touched the glass. “Do not worry,” he said softly. “All will be well. I will return.” He reluctantly withdrew his hand and flew away.
Ryan Choi looked up as the door to the lab swung open and a red-haired woman came in. “Can I help you?” he asked.
Zeul cursed. “You weren’t supposed to be here, punk.” She started toward Ray’s office.
Ryan grabbed her arm. “Professor Palmer’s not in there right now. Why don’t we wait for him out here?”
Ryan’s eyes went wide as Zeul’s arm thickened in his grip as she enlarged. “Out of my way, pipsqueak,” Giganta snarled as she threw Ryan across the lab. She threw a punch that splintered Ray’s office door and entered.
“Don’t call me pipsqueak!” Ryan yelled as his body began doing something most unexpected.
“Where is it?” Giganta muttered as she picked up Ray’s file cabinet and emptied it. Papers littered the floor and the drawers of his desk had been wrenched out and emptied.
A grip of steel grabbed Giganta’s arm. She turned to see a Ryan Choi who was now her same height. “Get out of here!” he roared as he threw a punch that sent her flying through the windows of Ray’s office.
Giganta enlarged as she fell to the ground. Ryan jumped out of the window and did the same. “Well now,” Giganta said with a smirk. “Looks like the little man’s all grown up.”
“Not so little now,” Ryan retorted, “and you’re not going anywhere.”
“Are you going to stop me?” Giganta asked as she threw a punch.
Ryan caught her fist. “Let’s see.” He twisted and threw her into a courtyard.
“What’s going on?” Bethany asked as she and Freddy approached the campus after parking her car. They could see the tops of two large heads over the buildings.
“I think we should get out of here,” Freddy said. “Get moving. I’ll be right behind you.” As Bethany ran, Freddy allowed himself to slow and finally ducked behind a building. “Captain Marvel,” he said, calling the lightning strike.
CM3 took flight as the smoke cleared. His jaw dropped when he was above the buildings and could clearly see what was going on. “Ryan?” he asked.
Giganta threw another punch that put Ryan on his back, crushing a park bench. “You should’ve stayed out of my way, kid,” she said as she drove a kick into his ribs. “All I wanted was that belt.” She effortless ripped a light post out of the ground and raised it over her head. “Now you’re going to die.”
“Don’t think so,” Ryan said as he kicked and swept her legs out from under her. Giganta fell and Ryan quickly straddled her and locked her arms behind her.
“Nice try,” Giganta said. She jerked her head back and it slammed into Ryan’s face, drawing blood. Ryan stumbled back as his hands flew to his bloody nose. Giganta took advantage of the opportunity to stand. “Time to go down, kid,” she said. Ryan dropped his hands and charged her. The two slammed into a classroom building but the stone exterior held up, but only barely.
Giganta looked and saw CM3 flying toward them. “Time to go,” she said. She grabbed CM3 and threw him with all her strength. While CM3 tried to regain control of his flight, she drove a knee into Ryan’s crotch. As Ryan fell to the ground, Giganta allowed herself a luxury.
“You’re actually kind of cute,” she said. “Look me up if you ever decide to change sides.” She planted a kiss on his mouth and shrank back to her normal height, vanishing into the crowd as she went.
Moments later CM3 flew back and landed beside Ryan. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Ryan shrank, still cradling himself. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to be okay again or not.”
CM3 smiled. “Let me give you a hand back to the dorm.” He waited for Ryan to shrink to his six-inch size and then picked him up and flew across campus.
“Did she get away?” Ryan asked.
“Looks like it,” CM3 said. “And what was that about? When did you know you could grow?”
“Just happened,” Ryan said as Freddy opened their dorm window and put Ryan on the windowsill.
“I’m going to go grab an ice cube,” Ryan said as he climbed down. “Will you tell Professor Palmer about this?”
“Sure,” CM3 said. “Expect him to be looking for you. Looks like you’ll probably be spending some extra time in the Watchtower.”
Ryan smiled as he opened the door of their mini-fridge and climbed inside.
CM3 shook his head as he flew away. He didn’t realize that Johnny Peril was watching him go. Peril stroked his chin and smiled as he watched. “Now that’s something that the boss could use,” he mused. “We’ll be in touch.”
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Next Issue: In CM3 #10: CM3 has a chat with Black Adam, the Atom begins testing Ryan, and Dwarfstar begins his master plan!
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