The steady hum of the plane filled the cabin, soft and constant, like white noise wrapping around everything.
First class was… different. Two seats facing forward and two facing back.
A small space in between that felt more like a lounge than a row.
Dexter sat by the window, laptop open on his lap, the faint glow reflecting off his glasses. Beside him, Douglas Mordecai III leaned back comfortably, also working on his own device.
Across from them, Phineas and Ferb had their laptops out too. Phineas typing quickly like he was chasing an idea, while Ferb worked at a quieter, steady pace.
Candace sat a few seats away, occasionally glancing over like she was trying to make sure no "project" suddenly happened mid-flight.
Further off, the adults talked among themselves, laughter and conversation blending into the background.
Four cousins, four laptops, four entirely different minds working at once.
Dexter scrolled.
His connection was stable, of course it was. His private satellite ensured that. Douglas was piggybacking off it, while Phineas and Ferb… well, they had their own orbital infrastructure.
That alone said enough.
A flick of his finger as another article opened.
[Bring Back Heroes?]
-Winston Deavor pushes legal reform to lift the ban on supers, arguing that recent events prove the need for public heroes.
Dexter's eyes skimmed the details. Political pressure, public opinion shifting which is expected.
Another swipe.
[Public Confidence in GDN Drops]
-Citizens express growing concern as Ultron Sentries repeatedly fail to neutralize large-scale threats. Many point out that independent heroes continue to outperform automated defense systems.
"…Predictable," Dexter muttered under his breath.
[New Hero Emerges: "MetalDex"?]
-The unidentified hero in white and red armor, seen riding a transforming motorcycle, has gained massive attention following the Metro City and San Fransokyo incident. Eyewitnesses report advanced combat capabilities.
Dexter paused then shrug as he scrolled again.
[Ben Tennyson: From Unknown to Icon]
-In just four months since his debut, Ben Tennyson has become one of the most recognized young heroes worldwide. His ability to transform into multiple alien forms continues to draw attention from both the public and global defense organizations.
Dexter glanced up briefly. The question was how he operates without getting caught, especially since the hero ban is still in effect.
Another swipe.
[SFIT Incident: Innovation Lost, Heroism Found]
-The destruction of the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology resulted in millions in damages. However, one standout was a transforming robotic unit identified as "Arcee" which aided in civilian rescue and defense. Many are calling it a glimpse into the future of personal robotics.
Dexter's fingers paused on the trackpad. "…At least they noticed," he murmured.
[Megamind Missing?]
-The self-proclaimed ruler of Metro City has not been seen publicly for weeks. Officials have declined to comment, sparking theories ranging from strategic retreat to unknown threats.
Dexter narrowed his eyes slightly.
That… was worth noting.
Another swipe.
[Scientific Report: The Mutated Monkey Invaders Origins]
-Experts confirm the invaders were bio-engineered organisms mutated primates fused with human DNA and an unknown catalyst. Their structure suggests advanced genetic manipulation beyond current Earth capabilities.
Dexter leaned back slightly.
"Not beyond," he muttered. "Just… accelerated."
"Hey, Dex."
Phineas' voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Dexter looked up.
Phineas was leaning slightly forward, curious as ever. "Have you already picked what college you're going to?"
"College?" Dexter blinked.
"Yeah."
Dexter frowned slightly. "Why are you already selecting a university when we still have four years of high school remaining?"
Phineas shrugged like it was obvious. "Well, you know… we could always skip a few years. It's better to plan early."
Dexter considered it for a second.
"…Fair enough."
Douglas leaned slightly toward him. "Didn't you already apply to SFIT?"
Dexter closed his laptop halfway. "No. I was merely there to present my work."
Douglas nodded thoughtfully, then turned toward Phineas. "How about Retroville University? Advanced labs, strong government ties, high-level research environment."
Phineas made a face. "Meh. Good facilities, sure but the history's kinda messy. I'll pass."
Douglas tapped his chin, thinking. "How about Beaverton University?"
Phineas perked up slightly. "Huh. Haven't heard of that. Let me check."
He started typing.
Dexter, almost unconsciously, reopened his laptop fully and searched as well.
Beaverton University.
The page loaded quickly, filling his screen with faculty listings, research departments, and ongoing projects. At first glance, it seemed like any other high-level institution well-funded, well-organized, ambitious then Dexter froze.
His eyes locked onto one profile.
Dr. Samantha Emily Fairfax, Dr. Sam for short.
For a brief second, the hum of the plane, the chatter around him, even the glow of the screen, everything faded into the background as memory took over
The name alone would not have meant much to anyone else, but for him, it carried weight that didn't belong in this world. His gaze sharpened as he studied the profile, the familiar features, the half-moon glasses, the subtle lines of age and experience.
She was the mind behind the "Hoppers" project, a piece of technology so strange, so ambitious, that most people in that world dismissed it as impractical. A system meant to transfer consciousness into animal bodies. To let humans become something else, even if temporarily.
In the film, the project had been shut down but that wasn't what stuck with him.
It was the ending.
A quiet scene, easy to overlook unless you paid attention. A board filled with ideas, not failures. Concepts sketched out with the kind of confidence that only came from someone who knew they were close to something bigger.
He remembered them clearly.
A collar capable of translating animal thoughts into human speech, something eerily similar to the tech from Up. Not just mimicking sounds, but interpreting cognition, turning instinct into language.
Then there were sketches of compact autonomous robots small, expressive units designed not just for labor, but for long-term survival tasks. Machines that could think, adapt, endure which exactly look like WALL-E design and another medical units. Floating, soft-structured designs meant to assist, diagnose, and heal.
Dexter stared at the screen, the reality of it settling in. She was here, active and teaching. Which meant those ideas… weren't locked in imagination anymore.
They were within reach.
His fingers moved again, this time with a different intent and search BnL.
The page loaded.
Buy n Large.
At first glance, it looked harmless, almost underwhelming. A growing company with modest origins, starting as a frozen yogurt business under the name "Buy Yogurt." From there, it expanded steadily, eventually acquiring Large Industries, a men's suit company. The merger had seemed odd at the time, but the results spoke for themselves.
Dexter scrolled further, eyes scanning through development logs and product lines. Then he saw that they develop battery technology of AA to AAA scalable energy systems. Extended charge retention, efficiency improvements beyond current market standards.
His expression shifted, subtle, but real. "…They've started," he murmured.
In the movie WALL-E, the company BnL rose to power and ultimately became the reason Earth turned into a wasteland. They grew into a massive conglomerate, dominating every industry across the globe. However, their greed depleted the planet's resources completely without any plan for recovery, forcing humanity to abandon Earth and live in space aboard starships.
"Hopefully, that won't become our reality," Dexter muttered. "Because even if we did escape to luxury ships in space, they would likely be hijacked, destroyed, or invaded by far more powerful alien civilizations. In the end, humanity would simply be enslaved or wiped out entirely."
_________
[A/N: I've added the character images to the auxiliary chapters, so go take a look!]