Arriving At Stark International

Aaron was contemplative, enjoying the ride to Stark International and the soothing hum of Gog's Extra-Digital Thought Processes running in the background of their link., "This Car Is Superbly Engineered... When I Find A Suitable Location To Base Apex I'll Have To Get One of These For Myself Though I'll Still Need A Personal Vehicle For Less Formal Situations Too.," Aaron thought to himself as he reclined in the body-contouring seating, occasionally looking out the window at the various sights and businesses.

Aaron had never been this far uptown, It looked much like he expected but even more grand if that were possible.

"So Even Here The Remnants of Human Vice Cling Inexorably To The Shadows.," Aaron thought as he saw the occasional scandalously dressed Woman wink at him through the lightly tinted windows of The Rolls as he passed by where they were advertising their wares. They were practically supermodels and here they were in the heart of the uptown districts selling their bodies.

"This World May Have Climbed A Long Way Up From Where It Was Just A Few Centuries Ago But There Are Still Problems To Overcome and Wrongs To Right. If Only There Was More I Could Do But If I Do I Could End Up Doing More Harm Than Good If I'm Not Careful. I'll Have To Take It Slow... So What If I Could Advance Science A Hundred Years Overnight... It Doesn't Matter If The World Isn't Ready.," Aaron pondered to himself as the car pulled up in front of Stark International.

"We're Here Mr. Cross.," He heard Sydney yell from up front.

Aaron took a deep breath and straightened his tie., "I'm well aware Ms. Hoffer."

Aaron opened his door and stepped out, Meeting the gaze of an irritated Sydney.

"Aww How come you didn't wait for me?," Sydney pouted cutely.

"Because I'm perfectly capable of operating a simple door handle all on my own if you don't mind."

Sydney's playful expression fell and she tapped her foot indignantly, Her hands on her hips., "Ms. Hoffer sounds so formal. What do I have to do to get you to call me Sydney?"

Aaron looked into her eyes and immediately Sydney felt like a cornered Rabbit about to be torn limb from furry little limb by a starving Wolf but then Aaron said., "What Did You Have In Mind?," And Sydney's mind froze as Aaron smirked Devilishly, looking her up and down.

"I-I-I-I...," Sydney stammered.

Aaron didn't wait for her to find her words and instead turned toward Stark International, taking in the magnificent sight in front of him. This was what he imagined for The Future of Apex Industries... State-of-the-art facilities and laboratories, on-site factories, and housing for his employees and their families with dedicated security and the latest safeguards to insure his worker's safety but that would not be for some time. For now it was just him and Gog and the machinery and facilities of Knowhere controlled by Gog's Massive Intelligence and that would do... For Now.

Aaron stood outside the gates of Stark International, He'd always dreamed of one day setting foot on Stark's factory floor or touring their labs but he didn't think he'd actually have the chance but here he was and he had to admit that he was more excited than he thought he'd be and why not Stark International was a Global Aerospace, Defense, Security and Advanced Technologies Corporation with worldwide interests and facilities all over The World.

Aaron had admired The Starks for years so he was well aware of the hardships that had befallen The Family on their rise to power. Genius ran in The Stark Family Line going back to the company's founder Isaac Stark Sr, who turned his struggling manufacturing and engineering business into a Global Industrial Superpower down through ten generations of Starks to Anthony Stark Sr who passed his empire to his Eldest Son Howard. Howard and his wife Maria were blessed with a Son Tony Stark and two Daughters, Tanya and Lisette but Unfortunately, Howard and Maria were killed in a car crash suspected of being engineered by competitors to The Stark Tech Empire. Tony took over The Company four months later at the age of fifteen with the help of his Sisters. With The **** of Tony a little over a year and a half ago at the age of 31 and having never married and with no children to succeed him, The Company was now in the care of Tanya Stark... The Younger of Tony's Sisters as per his Last Will. After the announcement of Tanya ascending to control of Stark International, Lisette angrily left the company to build her own Company and Her Empire with no other thought seemingly than to crush her Sister and prove she was the better choice, Lisette began by taking over Fujikawa Heavy Industries, renaming it Stark-Fujikawa and began an all out war against her Sister.

Aaron couldn't imagine feeling such anger and resentment toward one's own blood that they would seek to destroy them at every turn. Sure he had more than a few hard feelings against his Father after all the pain he'd caused his Mother and Sisters but he didn't want The Man dead. He just wanted some answers and maybe to give him a good beaten but that was it. Aaron thought that that was probably a petty way to look at things after all his Father must've had his reasons but after what he'd been through and more than that what his family had been through he felt that he had the right and he didn't think anyone would disagree with him about it.

Aaron took any thoughts of his Father and pushed them to the back of his mind and just looked at the enormous entrance leading to Stark International and he thought., "One Day Apex Will Be The Biggest Corporation In The World and Everyone From Stark To Omen and From Halo To Ultratech Will Work For Us." It was a big dream there was no doubt about that but Aaron had spent alot of time on his back just thinking and planning and dreaming. He was ready to make his dreams come true and he was willing to work and sweat and bleed to do it. He planned and he prepared but the killer was time. He didn't know just how much time he had to accomplish his goals and he felt the strain of the invisible clock looming above his head, counting down to his final moments on Earth but he was determined to make the most of it. He would just have to advance his plans as far as he could and leave the rest to Gog when the time came. He wasn't attached to this World but he did want to cry when he thought of leaving his Mother and Sisters... After all it was almost certain that they would outlive him by quite a bit.

"Enough of This Self-Pity. I Have Work To Do. Better Get To It.," Aaron thought stepping forward but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Turning Aaron saw a blushing Sydney., "Yes, Ms. Hoffer... Can I Help You With Something?," Aaron's voice was uncharacteristically stern... Some might even call it severe but it was the look in his eyes that made Sydney take a step back. She had never seen such a chillingly stare... Her first instinct was to reach for her weapon but aside from taking a couple of steps back she couldn't move and for a few seconds she couldn't breathe.

It took her a couple of moments but finally she managed to speak though her voice shook like a frightened Child's., "W-Wa-Want me to g-go with you?"

Aaron looked her up and down for the third or fourth time since they met except this time Sydney shivered not out of desire or lust but fear and then Aaron spoke., "Your Attire While A Feast For The Eyes Might Just Be A Tad Scandalous For A Business Meeting... Sydney."

Sydney's heart swooned., "He Finally Called Me Sydney!"

"I don't know how long this will take so why don't you go and get something to eat and perhaps do a little shopping... My Treat.," Aaron gave Sydney a disarming smile.

"REALLY?!," Sydney squealed excitedly, accepting the cash card that Aaron offered her.

"That card has a limit of $100,000... Spend as much as you want. It's just a little throw away money anyway.," Aaron explained in a calm and nonchalant manner... As if a hundred grand weren't alot of money.

Sydney couldn't believe her ears but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Aaron smiled a bit more warmly as he accepted Sydney's thanks, a chaste peck on the cheek, and watched her get into the extravagant Rolls and head toward the shopping districts.

Aaron's excitement turned to dread... He knew what came next. It was something he always expected whenever he went some place new or even places he'd already been. Every time he hoped things would be different but he knew people all too well.

It was only a short walk from the car had dropped him to The Gates of Stark International and once there he was greeted by a pair of older model Mark Seven Sentinels. They were smaller and less advanced than the newer models but at nearly ten foot in height they were built to intimidate with artificial muscles so buff and defined that it would make the Body Builders of previous centuries turn green with envy.

Aaron took a deep breath and stepped up to the intimidating duo who instantly looked down at him, Their solid white eyes flashing red as they scanned him for weapons, illegal substances and most notably for the presence of any known or similar iteration of SupraNormal Genomics. This wasn't the part that Aaron was concerned about, in fact he was eerily calm. Just like when he was exercising at the hospital his breathing and pulse rate were actually dropping instead of increasing. The scan only took a minute then the two Sentinels turned and exchanged information via visible red beams of light from their eyes.

Aaron waited patiently then The Sentinels faced forward like they had been when he made his way to them and The Heavy Reinforced Gates opened and he walked inside.

This was the part that he wasn't looking forward to. Aaron gauged the distance and directly in front of him not more than 300 feet away were two real live guards. Aaron took in their features as he made his way to them. They were both Black and judging from their facial features Aaron surmised that their ancestors originated in or somewhere close to Angola but from the looks of things that was more than three generations ago and their height which he placed at around 7 foot 1 and 7 foot 3 indicated that they had at least five ancestors from Namibia.

They didn't even look at him until he got within ten feet of them then they looked down at him and the tallest one's lips twisted into a very unpleasant sneer., "Can We Help You Blanco?"

Aaron glared up at the two taller Men in their expensive tailored suits. Aaron gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, He wanted to take a swing at the Man that called him a "Blanco" but aside from the fact they were as tall as Basketball Players and as muscular as Football Players Aaron had seen in old holo-vids before most Sports had gone the way of The Dinosaur, Aaron knew that if they were guarding the entrance than they weren't just for show. They were trained to deal with serious threats and presumably well armed as well, meaning they could not only swat him like a fly in a fight but if it came down to it they could put him down hard and be fully justified in doing so.

It wasn't the word that angered Aaron but what it meant... What it implied. The Hate and The Anger behind the word's use made it very clear that those using it regarded those they labeled "Blanco" as nothing more than useless vermin at best and parasites leeching off their betters at worst. As with most things that upset Aaron it wasn't being referred to by such a Derogatory term that made him feel so angry but the thought of his Mother or Sisters being subjected to it. He could see the shock and horror on their faces as if they were standing right in front of him and he could see his little Sister crying because of it. Aaron was prepared to tolerate many things but any affront to his Family was not one of them.

The two Men were obviously pleased with his reaction as they smirked at Aaron.

"Father, Your Pulse and Blood Pressure Are Increasing At A Dangerous Rate...," Aaron heard Gog try to calm him through their link., "... Father, You Need To Calm Down... Please..."