Hank had taken Ezekiel's advice and after meeting Darren Cross, he offered him a special job that wasn't working for Pym Technologies. Darren at first seemed a little disappointed, but still said yes to the offer because Hank was an idol to him.
But then Darren was tested. It was something Fury, Peggy and Hank had come up with to screen potential members. The process was extremely thorough and once completed, Darren was actually excited to join whatever the project was. He still needed to be vetted, Ezekiel did part of it and went though pretty much any digital trance of Darren's life and pulled it apart. He went through school records and anything else he could get his hands on. While that was going on, a few other people were talking to everyone Darren knew, teachers, friends, classmates, parents, the guy who owned a deli next to campus he liked to eat at. When they were satisfied with everything, a giant report was submitted to the person doing the psych exam.
While the psych exam was harsh and asked very uncomfortable questions, Darren still passed the psych eval with flying colors. So even though Fury didn't want to allow a possible future villain to join the group. He was out voted by Ezekiel, Tao, Hank, Bill, Peggy and Steve.
Steve had actually said, "I see no reason we can't give the man a chance. Ezekiel said he looks up to and idolizes Hank and at some point thought of him as a father figure. The only reason he would turn into a villain is because of how Hank would treat him."
Steve smiled towards Hank as he said, "If you don't treat him terribly, I see no reason for him to have any type of change in behavior going forward."
Ezekiel nodded his head before he said, "Honestly I think he will end up being a great asset to us. I do think we should implement psych eval's for everyone going forward though and have a check up every three months. Just to make sure everything is fine, what does everyone else think?"
Everyone voted for that motion to pass.
vvvvvvv
Ezekiel walked through the base towards the area Hank used for his laboratory, he had used clones to make the area bigger for the quantum tunnel he was making with the help of Bill and a recent addition to the base. Ezekiel still hadn't met the man, he was busy with his own projects. But he heard the man was apparently floored when he met Steve, being dead yet still alive and looking like you haven't aged a day in sixty years has that effect on people.
Ezekiel made it to the room and walked through the open double door. It only took him a moment to find Hank, Bill and Darren in front of a computer that was seated on the observation deck. Ezekiel walked towards them and as he got closer he heard Darren as he said, "I've run the model four times now, it's stable."
Hank shook his head as he said, "It's honestly amazing. I can't believe you came up with a working model in such a short time. But I still don't see how you were able to do it. It's so close to my model, yet your model is stable. What did you change?"
Darren beamed as he said, "I changed out some of the component metals with a vibranium composite mix. I had the idea to use vibranium after meeting Steve."
"His shield gave you the idea?"
Darren nodded his head as he enlarged the model a little and selected all of the components that he changed out. Bill spoke next as he said, "Honestly it's not a bad idea, but where are we going to find what looks like sixty pounds of vibranium?"
Darren looked back at Bill and smiled as he said, "It's actually only about twenty pounds, all of those are hybrid metals."
Hank nodded his head as he said, "That does sound a lot more reasonable, but I think that's pretty much all the vibranium the world currently has. I don't know if we could even get it all. That doesn't include asking Steve if we can melt down his shield…"
Hank looked at Darren as he said, "Could you make some changes to use less vibranium or maybe some other type of hybrid metal?"
Everyone was so absorbed in their conversion that they hadn't noticed Ezekiel until he said, "I heard you were in the market for some vibranium, I might know where to get some."
Hank was the first to react and turned around, he had a smile on his face as he asked, "You never knock, do you?
"Not when you leave the door open. Plus you nerds wouldn't have heard me knocking."
Bill reached out and shook Ezekiel's hand as he said, "Takes one to know one."
Ezekiel smiled back as he asked, "Really? I'd expect something more witty from you."
Bill had a sheepish smile as he said, "Sorry, I've been surrounded by Mary and Ava half the time. I think their childish behavior has been rubbing off on me."
Ezekiel patted Bill's shoulder as he nodded and said, "That's a good thing, it will keep you young."
Hank pointed to Darren who had stood up and said, "I don't think you two have met. Darren Cross, I would like you to meet Ezekiel."
Darren reached forward to shake Ezekiel's hand as he said, "It's nice to meet you, Hank said you are the one who is funding everything."
Ezekiel smiled back as they released hands and said, "I do a lot more than just give everyone money. I also find things. Things like vibranium, I overheard you are in need of some?"
Hank replied as he shook his head, "We would need at least twenty pounds of the stuff. That might be all of it that's on the Earth."
Ezekiel had a smirk as he said, "That isn't even close to what we have. It might take me a few days, but I can get you at least fifty pounds of the stuff."
Hank was about to speak when Ezekiel frowned as he said, "Actually I would have to ask someone if I can have it, it's technically his."
Darren looked surprised as he asked, "You know someone who has fifty pounds of vibranium?"
Ezekiel nodded his head as he said, "More than that actually. I don't know the exact amount, but if sold it would net them at least a few billion dollars… Probably. But then some annoying people would show up that I don't want to deal with."
Everyone looked a little confused at Ezekiel's statement, but he just waved them off as he said, "It's fine, nothing you guys need to worry about. So where are you at in building the quantum tunnel?"
Hank smiled and said, "Well we have the test model I made working with Darren's modifications in testing simulations. Everything seems completely stable."
Ezekiel smiled wide at that as he said, "That's great news. Make sure you triple check the simulations under stress tests, I don't want this thing to blow up in the base. I know you mad science types have a history of blowing shit up… Actually now that I think about it, talk with Tao. She might be able to stop you from blowing up the base."
Hank's eyes lit up as he asked, "The mirror dimension?"
Darren asked, "Who is Tao and what is the mirror dimension?"
Ezekiel looked at Hank as he asked, "He hasn't met Tao yet?"
Hank shook his head as he said, "No, she has been busy the past week."
"Really? Doesn't she teach Ava almost every day?"
Hank shrugged his shoulders as he said, "I didn't wanna destroy his world view within a week of starting."
"Destroy my world view? The mirror dimension? What are you two even talking about?"
Ezekiel laughed as he said, "You will see soon enough."
Darren was about to ask another question when Ezekiel interrupted him as he said, "I need to go talk with someone about that vibranium. It was nice meeting you."
As Darren said, "It was nice…" Ezekiel's after image faded away.
Darren had a shocked look before he turned to Hank and asked, "He's a mutant?"
Hank shook his head and said, "No he is a metahuman. But it doesn't matter, you will get used to it."
Darren frowned as he asked, "Him being a metahuman, or him leaving while you are talking?"
Hank laughed as he patted Darren's shoulder and said, "Both… Maybe. He is a pretty decent guy once you get to know him and his idiosyncrasies. Actually Tao is kinda the same way…"
Hank shook his head and then pointed at the computer as he said, "I want you to run the simulation again, but this time let's try to have it fail. Make the power of the tunnel about five percent more powerful and we will keep testing it till failure. Then I want to modify the model using more vibranium and test it again with the same setting till failure."
Bill glanced at Hank as he asked, "You think Ezekiel will get us more than twenty pounds of vibranium?"
"I think it will be more than that, but let's run tests till we have a stable model using fifty pounds."
vvvvvv
Ezekiel frowned to himself as he walked to the gym. He had been putting off this talk for a while, but if Hank needed vibranium there were only four real options to get it. The first option was to find it in space, that would take too long.
Next would be to deal with Namor and he didn't wanna mess with him currently. Wakanda would be the best choice, but that would still be a giant mess he didn't want to deal with. The last choice was taking the stolen vibranium Ulysses Klaue has.
Ezekiel found two issues with that though. The first was while Ulysses did steal the vibranium from Wakanda, he stole it for N'Jobu. At least that is what Ezekiel thought about the matter. So since that vibranium was for N'Jobu, it means it should now belong to his son. If he wanted to use the vibranium, he would need to talk with Erik. Something he has been putting off since he was brought here.
Ezekiel stopped at the gym door for a moment, as he reverted to his normal carefree smirk and walked into the gym. Inside he could see Steve and the kids as they ran around the track. Ezekiel took his time as he walked over to where some towels and water bottles were and waited for them to finish up their run. Everyone noticed him pretty quickly, but everyone stayed focused while they finished running two more laps before finally starting to slow down and walked the last half of the track.
Ezekiel greeted everyone with a smile as he asked, "How was the run?"
Mary was sprawled out on the ground as she said, "It was terrible, I hate running."
Ava was laying next to Mary and just nodded her head in agreement. Grant, Hope, Erik, Cessily and Laura didn't seem to have an opinion on the matter as they were resting on some of the benches next to the track.
Steve looked like he hadn't been running at all as he walked close to Ezekiel and said, "It's a little unexpected to see you here, did something come up?"
Ezekiel nodded his head as he said, "Nothing important, I actually came to find Erik. I wanted to chat with him about something."
Erik perked up at hearing his name and looked over, but didn't say anything as Steve said, "Erik? We are almost done, but he could sit out the rest of the workout."
Ezekiel shook his head as he said, "It's not a rush. He can finish his workout with you, clean up and then come see me in my work area afterwards."
Steve glanced over to Erik who was looking at him and Ezekiel. He smiled and asked, "You catch all of that?"
Erik nodded his head as he said, "Yes, sir."
Steve nodded, then looked back at Ezekiel. Then he let out a sigh as he caught sight of Ezekiel already nearing one of the doors for the gym. He turned back around and he could see most of the kids smiling at him. Steve gave them a playful glare as he asked, "You think that was funny?"
All the kids nodded back and Steve let out a little chuckle as he said, "It might have been for you, but it was kinda rude. Alright, that was enough rest. It's time to do burpees."
All the kids let out a groan, but started to get up.
vvvvvv
Erik walked to the door to Ezekiel's work area and knocked on the door. After a few moments, a young man with black hair opened the door. Erik had seen him a few times, but only ever with Ezekiel. From what he understood, he was somehow related to Ezekiel. Apparently there were a lot of people that were related to Ezekiel who were at the base. But he wasn't sure how, since most of them looked nothing alike.
The man smiled and stepped back out of the way as he pointed to one side of the room as he said, "Ezekiel said you would be stopping by, he is over there waiting for you."
"Thank you, sir."
The man shook his head as he said, "Don't call me sir, you are making me feel old. You know I am only like a year older than you right? Just call me Shisui."
Erik took another look at the young man in front of him before he said, "Sorry, it's a habit. I just assumed you were older since you weren't with me and the other kids."
Shisui smiled as he said, "Don't worry about it Erik."
Erik nodded in return as he said, "It's nice to meet you Shisui."
"Same to you." Shisui stepped out of the way as he said, "I won't hold you up any longer."
Erik nodded his head in reply as he walked past Shisui and went to the desk Ezekiel was sitting at. When he reached it he said, "You wanted to speak with me sir?"
Ezekiel smiled as he looked up and said, "You don't have to use sir with me, honestly I think Steve is the only one who really appreciates it properly. Just call me Ezekiel."
Erik looked a little unsure as he asked, "Are you sure?"
Ezekiel nodded as he said, "Completely, now sit down and let's have a long overdo talk."