Interlude Scott
Scott Lang was preparing for the robbery of his life.
Vistarcorp.
He promised his wife Maggie that when Cassie was born, he would stop stealing. It's easier to promise than keep your word. He really wanted to be a good father. Nevertheless, he had to do it. The company was operating illegally. His boss was cheating on customers. Scott had to do something about it. There was a great opportunity for this, because due to the attack of aliens in New York (he pinched himself a few times because of it, because really aliens? Avengers? Captain America? Thor? What was happening with the world?) Vistarcorp slightly loosened its security system. And Scott was going to take advantage of it.
However, he did not anticipate that the day he would try to break in would be a day when undercover policemen with glasses would particularly investigate the area. Scott waited. And waited. And waited. And nothing!
What were they even doing?
The invasion is over.
So what did they study? They didn't clean up after the battle at all. Were they hiding something? Wasn't the invasion the end? Scott began to worry about his wife and daughter. They were lucky to live in San Francisco rather than New York City, but who knew if the next invasion would be in San Francisco? Maybe they should move to Europe? In all movies, invasions are usually in the US. Europe can be safer. Scott must have thought about it after he will teach his boss a lesson.
The undercover police looked like they were waiting for something. They were in a locked car and carefully watched the passing cars. Scott decided to postpone the day of the robbery. He didn't want to be caught. He slowly steered the car back home. At least Maggie would be glad that he will take care of Cassie instead of breaking in Vistarcorp.
Then he saw that undercover policemen were clearly following a car. He was so expensive! A real miracle! The owner must have had a large sum on his account since he was driving such a gem.
Cops punched his tires with bullets.
Scott should have withdrawn, but he stayed crouching behind the bushes. He got out of the car and watched the confrontation closely. An old man with glasses and a great suit emerged from an expensive car. Was it Armani? The old man's face was angry. He looked very moved by what had just happened.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the old man asked.
"Dr. Pym, Shield needs your services immediately due to an international threat," said undercover cop.
"I don't care about Shield! They tried to steal my invention and they want my help now? I'm not going to help them," replied the old man Dr. Pym. It felt familiar, but Scott couldn't remember where he'd heard the name.
Clearly, an important man.
Scott looked around. The undercover policemen were besieging the old man. They clearly feared that he might get away from them. And Scott slowly approached their car. Empty. It was perfect. With his thieving grace, he immediately got into the car and waited for things to unfold. He had to help this old man. Besides, it will be the achievement of his life. Stealing an undercover car! Scott started looking at all the systems in the car! A real paradise for an engineer like him. Good thing the car clearly had a listening device. Scott could still clearly hear the undercover and the old man.
"Dr. Pym. We are forced to arrest you. You will be in custody until you agree to help. I'm sure you noticed the anomaly!" the undercover cop said.
"How do I know this anomaly is not a new weapon test for the Shield?" the old man asked.
What anomaly again?
"We're not brilliant enough to unravel the mysteries of atoms and the quantum realm like you, Dr. Pym," replied the undercover cop.
"No, you are not," said the old man and touched his ear.
Scott watched as thousands of ants climbed onto the agents and attacked them. For a moment he couldn't believe it, but the world had been a pretty crazy place lately. Aliens. Return from Captain America's grave. Thor from mythology. So it's time for the ants. Scott quickly regained his composure and took the ant attack as a signal and drove the undercover car to the old man.
"Get in before they catch us!" Scott shouted.
The old man got in immediately.
"Who are you?" the old man asked.
"Scott Lang, a bystander," said Scott.
"And why have you been watching me and Shield for so long?" the old man asked.
"How do you know I watched?" Scott was surprised.
"The ants tell me everything," replied the old man.
"Okay, I could be a little curious about what's going on," replied Scott.
"That's it? Simple curiosity? No ulterior motives?" the old man was surprised.
Scott looked surprised at him.
"Ah, I can see you're one of the simple ones. Well, great. If so, you'll be my chauffeur. We're going to Missouri," replied the old man.
"Sorry, huh? I didn't sign up for the Missouri trip. My wife will be angry! I have to take care of my daughter," said Scott.
"Call your wife and make the conversation loud. I'll talk to her," replied the old man.
"You've never seen Maggie Lang angry," Scott replied.
"I can handle it," replied the old man.
Scott called.
He heard his wife's voice on the phone
"Scott !!! You promised to take care of Cassie! If you still have this robbery in your head, get it out of your head! Cassie won't have a bandit for her father! I promise I will divorce you if you go to jail! Go to home! Now!
"Excuse me, is that Mrs. Lang?" the old man asked.
"Yeah, what's going on. And I'm sorry, it's my husband's phone ..." Maggie explained.
"It's okay. I'm Dr. Hank Pym, I trust you've heard of me," replied the old man, Dr. Hank Pym.
"Of course, but I have to ask how do you know Scott?" Maggie was clearly excited.
"Maggie, who is this?" Scott asked.
"Scott, you are an idiot! Hank Pym, one of the greatest scientists in the world! He rejected the Nobel Prize several times," Maggie said.
Scott looked at Dr. Pym.
"You rejected the Nobel Prize?" Scott said in shock.
"They wanted to buy me," said Dr. Pym.
"It is a great honor, could I talk to my husband by myself now?" Maggie asked.
"Of course," Dr. Pym lied because he had made mute expressions to Scott that he would not allow it.
"Scott! How did you meet Dr. Pym?" Maggie asked.
"Dr. Pym needed a lift. To Missouri," Scott replied.
"That's great. On this trip, you are to befriend him," Maggie replied.
"What?" Scott asked.
"Scott, think a little. Dr. Hank Pym. Rich and brilliant! Practically a loner since he left his company! Think about Cassie's future!" Maggie was saying.
"What does Cassie have to do with this? She's only 4," said Scott.
"Kids grow fast. If you are friends with Hank Pym our daughter will have great prospects! Scott, for the first time you can really do something right instead of stupid fits! You have to be nice, kind and agree to everything," Maggie said.
"But should I go to Missouri?" Scott was surprised.
"It's for the future of Cassie. I love you Scott. Don't break it!" Maggie hung up.
"How did you know?" Scott asked in surprise.
"Most people react that way. There was a high probability that your wife would, too," Dr. Pym replied.
"Why are we going to Missouri at all, and why were undercover cops trying to arrest you? And won't we be arrested?" Scott asked.
"Now, are you worried about it when you've got into it?" Dr. Pym asked.
Maggie will kill Scott. And even worse, she'll divorce him if he goes to jail. Scott held the steering wheel tightly.
"Can you please tell me a little bit what's going on? At least I'll know what I'm going to jail for?" Scott asked.
"We will not go to jail. The person we are going to is the most powerful creature on the planet," said Dr. Pym.
"What?" Scott was surprised.
"Where do you think the Chitauri army in New York came from?" Dr. Pym asked.
"Army of what?" Scott was surprised.
"Aliens. Alien army," Dr. Pym replied.
"Are you saying we're going to an alien? Such an ugly bug?" Scott was scared.
"We're going to the Norse God of Mischief, Loki of Asgard, not any ugly bug" Dr. Pym replied.
"Norse? How Thor? Thor was my favorite god. And suddenly it turns out he's in the Avengers! And Captain America!" Scott was saying.
"I can see your type of person likes a dulcimer with a hammer. If you're already be theft, you should probably would like Loki more," Dr. Pym replied.
"Hey! That's none of your business! And anyway, I've always liked Thor myths in school. And what god did you like the most?" Scott was saying.
"Honestly, I hated Norse mythology. Bloody and boring. Until Loki showed up on Earth and started mixing with atoms," Dr. Pym replied.
"To mix with atoms? What do you mean by that?" Scott was surprised.
"Well, everything on our planet is consumed by mysterious energy, and it's Loki's doing. He was responsible for the Chitauri attack. He wanted to conquer the world," Dr. Pym replied.
"Wait, we're going to a maniac who wanted to conquer the world? You have no decency, human empathy?" Scott asked.
"Why? The world has always wanted to take advantage of me. I don't care who will rule. I will help Loki gain power if he gives me what I want," Dr. Pym replied.
"And what is this? Are you supposedly rich and famous? And I didn't sign up to be a servant of some madman from outer space," Scott said.
"You have a family. You are a father. I had a family once too, and Loki can help me get it back," Dr. Pym snapped.
Scott said nothing. He imagined he had lost Maggie and Cassie. If there was a chance, would he also seek help from the mad conqueror? He would like to think he is moral, but he wouldn't know what he would have done in Dr. Pym's shoes. Perhaps he would have done the same.
"I think I understand," Scott replied softly and continued on to Missouri.