Amelie Stark – Dumb It Down
Amelie Stark – Dumb It Down
The next few days passed by quickly. Peter was away with his Aunt, and Tony and Steve were overseas on a mission. I pulled my knees to my chest, flicking through news channels as Nat sat down next to me on the sofa. I jumped, having not heard anyone come into the lounge.
“Stop worrying. Those two know what they’re doing, they’ll be fine.”
I sighed, chucking the remote down on the sofa and wrapping my arms around myself. Tony hadn’t checked in when he was supposed to - not that that was unusual, but I was still worried.
Nat picked up the remote and switched off the TV. I side-eyed her, trying not to let my bad mood boil over. She simply smirked, pushing herself up again from the sofa.
“Come on, I was heading to the lab. You can keep me company.”
Without waiting for me to reply, Nat spun on her heels and started heading to the door. I flopped my head back against the cushion, groaning slightly, before reluctantly standing up to follow her.
Nat did the talking as we walked down the corridors to Bruce’s lab. I looked through the windows and made eye contact with Bucky. He was leaning against the counter with his arms folded, while Bruce had his eyes glued to a microscope. I could tell from Bucky’s expression that he was stuck listening to one of Bruce’s scientific ramblings.
As we entered the room, he mouthed at me silently “help.”
I smiled, my amusement at his slight discomfort lifting my mood. Bruce continued talking, unaware of our presence. “… it’s adaptability down to subatomic levels, allowing for displacement through time and space.”
Nat cleared her throat as she walked over to him. “Having fun at school boys?”
Bruce pulled back suddenly to face her, immediately flustered. I smiled, it was so sweet how he still got awkward around Nat.
Bucky pushed himself off of the counter, coming over to me. “I feel like I should have learnt a lot, but I’ve got no idea what he’s on about.”
Bruce looked to Bucky, surprised. “What didn’t you get? I can explain it.”
“Honestly, I don’t even know what it is that I don’t know.”
I laughed as Bruce blinked at Bucky, seeming unsure how to respond. “We can’t all be as smart as you Bruce. Take it as a compliment.” I grinned as Bruce considered my statement, before looking subtly pleased with himself.
Nat put a hand on Bruce’s shoulder softly, earning a wide eyed look. “How’s progress on the serum going?”
I cocked my head. “What serum?”
Bruce pushed himself up from his seat, moving around the lab to retrieve a small Perspex box. I peered at it, curious. “It’s from Phoenix.” Bruce placed the box on the table top between us as we stood in a circle around it. “Tony picked it up on the last mission. I’ve been taking readings trying to work out what it is, but so far all I know is that it’s energy levels are off the charts.”
The Avengers’ last mission had taken them to Phoenix following a potential terrorist group. I’d helped out from the control room, but I hadn’t known anything had been brought back.
Nat frowned at the box. “Energy levels? How can a serum have energy levels?”
“Well, given the microbiology and the complexity of the catabolic pathways…”
“Bruce” Bucky interrupted. “Dumb it down man.”
Nat and I shared a knowing look as Bruce paused. “Alright, so it's possible for any material to store energy, right? Particles contain both potential and kinetic energy, making up what is known as the internal energy.”
Bucky nodded slowly. “Okay, with you so far.”
“Raising the temperature of an object means that you are giving its particles more kinetic energy. But when a state change is happening, such as a material solidifying or evaporating, the temperature remains the same despite the particles increasing in potential energy.”
Nat turned to Bruce. “But it’s not changing state, and you haven’t applied any heat…?”
“Exactly.” Bruce sat down at his desk again, spinning the chair so that he was still facing us. “Not only is the energy level increasing without external interference, but it’s somehow internalising the increase by holding onto that energy.”
We all stared at the box as Bruce’s words sunk in. Bucky tapped the Perspex. “Is it… alive?”
“No, it’s not sentient.” Bruce stared at the serum, deep in thought. “But it’s something new. This is not a natural substance; it’s been engineered somehow.”
“Do you know what’s in it?” Nat folded her arms.”
“So far the only compound I’ve identified is hydrogen.”
I lost focus while they continued to discuss scientific matters. Bruce and Nat walked away together, engrossed in their conversation, while Bucky stayed behind at the entrance and glanced back at me. “You comin’?”
“Nah, if I learn anything else my brain will implode.” He flashed a smirk and exited the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I scowled at the serum in front of me as my worries began to resurface. Tony and Steve were off in some distant country looking for evidence that could reveal who had created this strange concoction . Listening to all of its complexities made me concerned for their safety all over again.
So that I could make direct eye contact, I crouched down until my gaze met the perspex barrier. I verbalised my concerns, speaking out loud to the empty room. “Please let them be okay.”