The Baxter building

Even as intriguing as a photo-shoot with a raunchy young southern belle like Rogue could turn out, Diana didn’t mind making it even more enticing.
Thus, as she approached the city of New York, she steered her Audi towards 42nd Street and Madison, intent on meeting with Reed Richards, more publicly recognized as Mr. Fantastic.

Having managed to find a parking spot not far from the Baxter building, she made the last leg of the journey on foot; causing quite a ruckus as she strolled down the crowded Manhattan sidewalk, men turning their heads to look at her appealing figure.

Stepping into the Baxter building and rapidly making her way past the gift shop/museum to reach the elevator, Diana stepped inside the metal cube and pressed the button marked “31”.

As a response to that, a strange metal arm shot out from atop of the keyboard, its end glowing red. Undaunted by its sudden appearance, Diana placed the arm against the socket of her right eye, allowing her retina to be scanned. Mere moments later, a metallic voice could be heard from the ceiling, announcing that Diana was granted access, while the scanner was once again swallowed up by the wall. The elevator-ride was fast, transporting Diana 31 stories up in less than half a minute.

When the elevator doors slid open again, Reed Richards was standing in the reception room, waiting for Diana.

“Hello Wonder Woman.” He gave her a faint smile.

“Mr. Fantastic.” Diana smiled back at him.

They had known each other for years, Reed having constructed the security system of Diana’s base, and had fought many a foe together, even if Diana had never been one of the Fantastic Four. Furthermore, they were both accustomed to the problem of being “public” heroes, with all the responsibilities and dangers that came with it.

“So Diana, how can I help you?” Reed asked as they strolled through the 31st floor.

“Reed, what do you know about Rogue?” Diana wondered.

“Rogue, she’s an X-man; a mutant with superior strength and the ability to absorb the memories and powers of others through skin-contact. Why are you asking?”
“I would like you to construct some sort of device that can neutralize her absorbing power.”

Diana went on to explain why she needed such a thing, the reason to it causing Reed to cock his right eyebrow and shoot Diana a suspicious smile, but he said nothing for a few seconds.

“I’ll pay you for your efforts, of course.” Diana added.

“Oh, that won’t be necessary! I’m looking forward to the challenge. Just give me a couple of days and I’ll come up with something.”

Likeable in his own peculiar way as he was, Reed was rarely one to feel the need for small-talk, and he and Diana soon parted again. Leaving the Baxter building and returning to her car, Diana drove to her riverside home.

Two days later, she received a package from Reed. The package was barely able to fit inside her automated mailbox, and it was with a high degree of curiosity that Diana began to open it.

What the hell had Reed come up with?

It turned out to contain one silvery ring, a USB-stick and a second, smaller package. Fingering the ring, Diana attached the USB to her computer and checked its content: a message from Reed in .mp3 format and two PDF.-files.

The digital rendering of Reed’s voice told Diana that the ring was personal neutralizer of Rogue’s powers. It would only work on Diana, even if Reed hoped to create a general neutralizer within the next few days, the final goal being to create an inhibitor that Rogue could wear.

As for the package, Reed had whipped together a little something which he thought
that Diana would find useful.