Pym said nothing more. He simply connected the device to a power source and switched it on.
To his surprise, even after decades, it still worked.
Most things shared a common trait—they didn't fear use, but neglect. Electronic devices were especially prone to that.
"Now we can begin," Pym muttered, picking up the device and heading out.
But the moment he opened the door—
He froze.
A bald man stood in the living room, casually flipping through documents.
An uninvited guest.
Darren Cross.
Pym's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself.
"Darren?"
His voice drew the attention of Scott and Hope in the dining room. They both moved to come out—
—but Pym shut the door immediately, slipping the signal scrambler into his pocket without a sound.
"How did you get in?" Pym asked.
This time, it wasn't an act—he genuinely wanted to know.
"Your door wasn't locked, Hank," Darren shrugged, setting the documents aside.
Not far from him lay the team's plan schematics.
Pym couldn't tell if Darren had seen them—but he had to make sure he didn't.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Pym stepped forward into the light.
"I've got good news," Darren said, visibly excited.
"Good news? For me?" Pym replied calmly.
"What other good news could there be?"
"Pym Technologies—your company—is about to become one of the most profitable companies in the world."
Darren walked closer.
Behind Pym, several ants were frantically rolling up the schematics, trying to hide them.
Darren suddenly tilted his head slightly.
Pym's heart jumped into his throat.
Had he seen them?
But Darren simply placed a hand on Pym's shoulder.
"In fifteen days, I'll be holding a presentation," he said. "You must come. I want you to witness my success."
Pym looked at his once-proud protégé.
Now, that same man felt like a stranger.
Even… frightening.
"I'll be there," Pym said. "Of course."
As he spoke, he moved toward the small table. Seeing the schematics safely rolled up, he finally relaxed a little.
Darren turned to leave—
—but suddenly stopped.
He looked back at Pym.
"What did you see in me?"
"…What?"
"Years ago, you chose me as your student," Darren said seriously. "What was it about me?"
"I thought you were like me," Pym answered honestly.
"Then why did you push me away later?"
"Because you were too much like me."
Darren pressed his lips together, staring at him for a moment.
Then he turned and left.
---
Back in the dining room, Hope and Scott stood together, both visibly tense.
"He knows," Hope said immediately. "He was testing you. We have to call this off."
Given her understanding of Darren, there was no way he hadn't noticed the schematics.
Pym sighed and sat down.
"It's a risk either way. We have to try."
He couldn't be certain whether Darren had seen anything.
"What if he knows I'm here?" Hope asked.
"He doesn't," Pym said firmly. "He couldn't have seen you."
But before he could continue—
Hope's phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID.
Darren.
She had no choice but to answer—she was still on the company's board.
"Hey, Darren. What's up?" she said, instantly adjusting her tone.
"Hope. Where are you?" Darren's voice came through, calm and steady.
"At home," she replied without hesitation.
Not this house—her own.
"I just visited Hank," Darren said. "Aside from his usual disdain, I got nothing."
His tone was eerily flat.
"Darren, don't get worked up over a stubborn old man," Hope said lightly.
Pym shot her a sharp look, while Scott frantically gestured that she'd gone too far.
"Listen, Hope," Darren continued, "finish setting up the production line immediately. Put it into operation at once."
"Triple the security."
"All entrances need full-body scanners. Install mesh filters over every ventilation shaft."
"We can't afford any mistakes."
He spoke like he was issuing orders—but whether it was intentional or not, it sounded like a warning.
"Understood. I'll have it arranged tomorrow," Hope said, then hung up.
"He's increasing security threefold," she said, turning to Pym. "He's gone paranoid. He's onto you!"
"But he's not onto you," Pym insisted. "Hope, we can still do this."
Hope was furious.
"They're installing full-body scanners at every entrance, sealing ventilation systems—how do you expect Scott to get in?"
Under that level of security, even shrinking wouldn't help.
This wasn't a plan anymore.
It was sending Scott to his death.
Pym fell silent.
Every possible entry point had been sealed.
There was no obvious way in.
Just as the two of them hit a dead end—
Scott spoke up.
"If land and air are blocked… we go through water."
Both Pym and Hope turned to him.
"The building's water system," Scott explained. "They can't exactly station guards inside pipes."
"If we lower the water pressure, I can get in."
He spoke with surprising confidence.
Hope considered it carefully.
"It could work… but there's a problem."
"If we use the water system, someone has to access the control center and manually adjust the pressure."
She paced back and forth, thinking it through.
"But on the day of the presentation, Hank and I both need to stay in Darren's sight."
"To keep him from getting suspicious."
"So who's going to the control center?"
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