Friday Morning

"You want me to what?"

Walt looked at Lucious. "You heard me."

Lucious Fox looked at the God awful, cheap mask. "Well that's a first. Usually Mr Wayne wants me to make it better as a symbol of fear and intimidation. You want it to keep looking like a cheap toy because..."

Walt nodded. "Because I don't need the enemies fear. Their confusion is just as good. But that's the secondary reason. The primary reason it'll show every kid with the cheapest mask that they too can be "heroic" if they need to be. It can be a symbol for them to hold on too."

Lucious nods and smiles. "... and it'll irritate any Batman who sees it?"

Walt sighed and nodded. "Alright that too." He winked. "Can you do it?"

Lucious laughed but nodded. "I can. Especially since you're not asking for much. But..." he looks at the mask then back at Walt nodding. "I need a complete model and render of your face to work with. I want to make something that actually fits you."

Walt grinned shaking his hand. "Friday can give you all of that information. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!"

Lucious chuckles. "So am I! Can I sit in on some of the other teams and projects? There's some exciting things you all are working on!"

Walt nodded and grinned. "Please do!"

"You know ordinarily I would develop these kinds of things for use against someone like you... but..."

Walt grinned at her. "I'm the exception to that rule, Dr Isly?"

She actually smiled. "You are. These atrocious looking bases aside they're almost completely green and the Protected Parks Program is genius! Now this? You sure you aren't the evil mastermind here?"

Walt laughed. "I've been called worse. And honestly I don't care. It's good for the environment and also for us. It helps 3S, the parks and gets rid of some problems."

Dr Pamela Isly laughed. "You know, Boss, I actually think we're going to get along well!" She did frown just a bit. "Though these last two items that you want a rush on... I can do it quite easily but why specifically?"

Walt grinned. "A young friend of mine is getting married..."

(("There are rumors he had a dryad child with his neighbor's Poison Ivy, Boss."))

Walt shrugged. "There's rumors about everything, Friday. Some crack pot was claiming that the whole Hulk thing was faked news, just this morning. You know I don't put stock in rumors."

"Honestly the design you came up with is impressive, Boss! Remarkable!"

Walt rubbed the back of his neck. "Aww... thanks, Otto! Seriously though using the Mk32 scouter in conjunction with it and making it Friday capable is what makes the 3SIODM Gear truly special. I owe a lot of that to the Bulmas fine work. The support system was inspired by your own work, Otto. And the propulsion by Tony's work."

"I like that part myself," Peter said. "The spinal protection and support is impressive! It'll not only protect but aids support fir the torso and back. You would not believe how hard swinging around all the time is on the back!"

"And the user doesn't need super enhanced strength or abilities to use it. Nice," Norman complimented.

"And now you've come with this test data for our two cents?" Tony said.

Walt nodded looking around at all of them. "That's right. All of you are experts in developing systems like these that utilize remarkable and different methods of movement, mobility and functionality. I want to incoporate that into the next prototype."

Hal nodded. "Active and passive stealth technology would be a real plus."

Lucious nodded. "I agree. I also think utilizing advanced detection technology would be equally beneficial as well."

Walt grinned as the ideas started flowing. Granted some of them needed reigning in here and there. They could make more powerful versions later if the base versions went well. But this was one of the best parts of the job. The creativity!

"... That's right. I'm sending you additional "ammunition supplies" to pacify the target. Yes, directly to you all. My courier will get the package through. If the target attempts to intercept though they are under orders to destroy the payload rather than have it fall into the wrong hands. Use them at your discretion but I recommend in small controlled bursts. My manufacturer is still fatigued. I won't jeopardize their well-being over this. I'm glad you both understand and feel that way. Did you? Hahaha thats brilliant! I hope you recorded the games! Great bring it with you to the wedding or we can watch it later together! Oh? That's nice. We're looking forward to it too! I'll see you soon. My best to all of you."

Walt sighed ending the call. "That's done and they're happy. Next?"

(("There's a small number of things that just came in needing your authorization. You need to check in with the other three though I can tell you they're pleased."))

Walt nodded looking over the reports and requests, multitasking. "That's good to hear. I'll swing by as soon as I'm able to do so."

(("You also need to decide to either take the new arrivals out to aquire fashionable outfits before the wedding or have them borrow from the others closets or go online shopping with the others help and have Haruna make adjustments for them."))

Walt nodded. "You're right of course. I'd rather have our friends from Fashion Fantasy help with that but the timing is extremely short notice. I don't want to put that kind of pressure on them..." he sighed. "Both. We're doing both. They can go online shopping with the others later but send them to me asap and we'll go shopping today. We'll make an appointment for Fashion Fantasy sometime next week or so."

(("Yes, Boss. The Brights are pleased by the way. They're enjoying working with Ms Briggs and the security detail you assigned."))

Walt chuckled as he worked. "Good to know. It's not like we don't have a plethora of agents and character assets. More than a few are "catgirls". I'm glad they're pleased. Callie is probably not as thrilled but it's only a temporary assignment until Emma and John are upto speed. Infact... I have been thinking about some of the things Manami was saying. I have resisted the idea for a longtime now but I'm rethinking my position on the matter of "media" control on a wider scale."

(("It's actually a fairly simple matter. We already have studios, facilities, equipment and a number of professionals who could serve in that manner thanks to Stark Entertainment. The issue is how big do you want to go? Something smaller scale like the girls are doing online or-"

"Big," he said. "I'm thinking big. Which is probably going to get a lot of folks feathers ruffled. Especially from the major media outlets. It is either that or we take one of them over-"

There's a knock at the door causing him to pause. "Enter."

Balalaika opened the door. "Ms Belladonna has finished classes and has come to visit with you again and see if you're available for lunch, Boss."

Walt raised his eyebrow but smiled. "An excellent suggestion and is it that time already?" He looked at the time and sure enough it nearly was. "Alright. I send her in. As soon as I wrap up what I'm working on we'll all get lunch together. Sound good?"

Balalaika smiled but shook her head. "Da. But you're still treating me too nicely for punishment duty, Boss. Treating me to lunch everyday for completing a far too easy punishment is unnecessary. You should be more strict."

Walt shrugged as he worked. "Honestly... I wanted to shoot that piece of shit myself. I'm giving you your punishment and some reward at the same time. Plus I'm not really a sadist. I don't generally like causing pain and misery to lovely and beautiful women."

Balalaika paused as she was showing Blake in. Blake did too. The heavily scarred woman looked at her for confirmation and Blake smiled and nodded twitching her catears. She'd heard it too. He'd definitely unconsciously said that and knowing Walt he definitely meant it. It wasn't like his body wasn't scarred as well. He likely saw her scars, scars that could easily be erased by 3S if she had desired and her decision to keep them, as beautiful.

Balalaika actually smiled as well as she pulled out a cigar. "Ms Belladonna," she announced before shutting the door and lighting up. "A pity," she whispered knowing Bosses policy about not sleeping with company character assets. She sat and looked at her terminal for awhile before deciding to look at the "fan page". "... just to pass the time."

Walt glanced up from his work. "Hello, Blake. Let me finish up?"

Blake smiled and nodded taking a seat. "That's fine. Take all the time you need. I hope I'm not interrupting."

Walt chuckled. "Not at all. I'm happy to see you! Just need to finish my plotting..."

She giggled. "And what nefarious scheme are you plotting now?"

Walt shrugged. "Friday and I are just plotting to take over the world." He looked up and winked. "Not really. It's hardly worth the bother or the trouble." He went back to work. "Though we are contemplating and running through scenarios of a either a hostile takeover of major media network or launching our own and crushing any business rivals..."

(("My current cost analysis considering the time and resources is involved in the two options I would suggest the hostile takeover option. It sounds odd but you'll likely make fewer enemies in the long run. It could be messier in the beginning though."))

Walt nodded. "Work up proposals and cost analysis for a take over of each of the major networks as well as building our own and a projected time frame estimate for each plan and we'll review from there."

Blake smiled but shivered just a tiny bit. It may have been a joke but if someone could pull off taking over a world, she didn't doubt that these two probably could. *Good thing he really isn't that kind of person!* she thought. *Infact he seems to find the idea laughable. Probably because he does so much for this one already.*

She smiled at him. "What else is on the agenda for today?"

Walt smiled but sighed. "Actually after we eat you might be able to help me. I need to take Mission, Nora, Curie and the others shopping for basics as well as something nice for the wedding."

Blake is surprised. "Not that I don't like shopping but that's pretty last minute. It's two days away."

Walt shook his head. "Actually, a little less."

Blake looked at the time and nodded. "Less than 48 hours. Not a lot of time but not terrible. Is there someplace we can go that specializes in things for characters that fast?"

Walt smirked and nodded. "There is indeed... RealDreams."

Blake nodded then froze as the realization of the statement hit her. They were actually going to go to a RealDreams store. And likely not a minor branch outlet but one of the major mega centers. "They, uh... definitely have the specialists for that?"

Walt nodded chuckling. "They do. They specialize in everything one needs for owning a character. From clothing to "accessories" to major and custom modifications to even "larger" purchases. Thankfully we only need clothes and possibly some accessories and minor customization options for the robots and droids."

Blake sighed in relief. "So you're not going character shopping or doing any investigating, then."

Walt nodded. "No definitely not! I already have wedding presents for the couple and Dee and Chuck said he's got a bunch of cgaracters now so I wouldn't know what to get them by just window shopping. Besides I try to be a thoughtful gift giver. I think they'll like their gifts... and we certainly don't need anymore characters and I definitely do not want to add more before the wedding! It's been a busy week. I'd like it if our family can just relax for a day tomorrow before we go."

Blake smiled and nodded but laughed at the last bit. "You make weddings sound like a major operation!"

Walt doesn't laugh or smile though. "They're supposed to be happy days but that's exactly what they are. Weddings are major operations when they go "right"... but the Gardners luck, Jimbo's "talent" for getting into trouble, Lil' Jay's no slouch in the department either and then my own for finding it or it finding me being there... I'm concerned to say the least. 3S doesn't do weddings for a reason. Not even red ones. But I have evacuation teams standing by with emergency escape routes and medical teams a discrete distance away just incase the worstcase scenario. Just have to make it to the dust off points..."

Blake swallows as Walt mutters about "worst-case scenarios", "casualty estimates", "evacuations" and "orbital strikes". NOW she was nervous! Best to change the subject.

"And after shopping?" She asked.

Walt nodded. "Actually I do have something for later... but I am not sure you'd like to attend. It's a underworld thing. Metaphorically, not literally. But if you want to hangout between then and now I'd like that!"

Blake smiled. "That actually sounds interesting. I might like to go with you!"

Walt nodded as he finished up his work standing. "Alright. We'll decide that then." He offered her his arm and he patted her hand when she took it. "Let's go get lunch. I'm excited to see how Soma and the others are fitting in!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Nora Valkyrie Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao and Curie

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Friday

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