Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Spiked Drink
[Third Person's PoV]
Tony and Melissa were soaring through the sky in their jet, the hum of the powerful engines barely masking the intensity of the ride. The horizon blurred as they flew at dizzying speeds, leaving the clouds behind in streaks. Tony grinned, his hands expertly guiding the jet through wild loops and spirals, as the aircraft twirled like a playful top.
Melissa, gripping her seat with white knuckles, glanced over at Tony with a mix of amusement and concern. "Is all this really necessary?" she asked, her voice raised to be heard over the hum of the engine and the wind whipping outside.
Tony smirked, his eyes gleaming with that familiar mischievous spark. "But of course," he replied smugly, pulling the jet into a sharp dive. They skimmed just above the surface of the ocean, the water splitting apart beneath them, roaring in protest as the force of their descent cut through the waves. "This is how I blow off steam, baby."
He pulled back on the controls, and the jet shot upward in a dizzying ascent, the air around them shimmering with the sheer speed of their motion. A swirling vortex of clouds formed as they broke through the atmosphere. Tony pushed the controls forward, leveling the jet out in one smooth motion before blasting them ahead at full throttle.
As they flew, the sky darkened around them, a stark contrast to the bright morning light they'd left behind just minutes ago. The rapid shift in time zones was dizzying, the world seeming to move faster than they could track.
Tony hit a button on the control panel, causing the boosters to roar to life and propel them forward even faster. The landscape below became a blur as they approached Japan at breakneck speed. Soon, they were flying over the familiar coastline, the sprawling beach beneath them marked by the towering cliffs where their home was nestled.
"Open up, Friday," Tony commanded, his voice calm despite the intense flight.
The cliffs responded, a hidden runway revealing itself as the rock face slid open. Tony switched to autopilot, allowing Friday to take control and guide the jet safely into the hangar hidden within the cliffside. The aircraft glided smoothly down the runway before coming to a gentle stop as the rock sealed behind them once more.
The hatch of the jet opened with a soft hiss, and Tony and Melissa stepped out, both carrying their bags. Tony took a deep breath, stretching his arms wide as he grinned. "Home sweet home. Oh, how I missed you."
Melissa rolled her eyes, chuckling softly. "You're ridiculous." She reached for his bags, extending her hand expectantly. "Come on, give them to me."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, girl. Chill, we just got home," he teased, making a calming motion with his hands.
Melissa slapped his arm with a playful but firm smack. "I meant your bags, genius. I'll put everything away."
"Right... Thanks," Tony said sheepishly, handing over his luggage.
Scoffing, Melissa disappeared to organize their things while Tony made his way into the lab. Once inside, he called out, "Friday, I need you to place an order."
"What would you like, boss?" Friday's voice replied, as smooth and efficient as ever.
"I need you to get me some experimental rats," Tony said, clasping his hands together in mock apology. "Forgive me Principal Nezu, but this is for science."
"Consider it done, boss," Friday replied.
Tony paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Wait a minute. How long do you think it would take us to design a virtual reality helmet that can manipulate time perception?"
"Boss, I believe we already have everything necessary," Friday responded without hesitation. "You just haven't built it yet. With our current VR training room, your research on neural science, and the assistance of the Microbots, I can design the helmet within minutes. Shall I proceed, and should I still place the order for the experimental subjects?"
Tony grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Sure, Friday. Be creative. I'll grab a drink in the meantime."
"As you wish, boss. I'll begin immediately," Friday confirmed as Tony left the lab, stretching his arms with a satisfied sigh.
Later, when Melissa returned from organizing their bags, she found Tony in the kitchen, mixing something up. She raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing now?"
Tony emerged from behind the counter, holding two milkshakes. He handed her the pink one with a grin. "I was craving something sweet, so I made us milkshakes. Strawberry for you."
Melissa's eyes lit up as she took the drink. "Oh, thanks!" She took a sip, but her expression quickly changed. She pulled the straw from her mouth, holding her hand under it to catch any spills. "Is there alcohol in this?"
Tony, sipping his chocolate milkshake with a smirk, nodded. "Yup."
Melissa gulped it down, sticking her tongue out in disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Tony shrugged, his grin widening. "Felt adventurous. It's actually pretty good, right?"
Melissa huffed, glaring at him before taking another, more cautious sip. She smacked her lips, her expression softening. "Okay, it's not bad now that I know what to expect. It just caught me off guard."
Tony raised his glass with a playful wink. "To adventure."
"You're a terrible influence, Tony," Melissa sighed, shaking her head as she watched him make his way back to the lab. She couldn't help but follow, her milkshake still in hand.
"Relax," Tony replied with a smirk. "Alcohol isn't even that bad for us. With our enhanced metabolism, we can't get drunk, remember?"
Melissa sighed again, this time more dramatically. "My boyfriend is turning into a raging alcoholic and dragging me down with him," she said in mock seriousness, taking another sip from her spiked milkshake.
Tony chuckled as they descended into the lab. "Raging? That's a bit harsh. It's literally my first time drinking. And no one's forcing you—you could put that cup down if you wanted."
Melissa glanced at her drink, then took another long sip. "No thanks. Even though it's cold, I like the warmth it gives my chest," she said with a contented smile, swirling her straw idly.
Tony scoffed, taking a gulp of his own drink. "And you call me the raging alcoholic. Hypocrite."
They entered the lab, where the microbots were busy shifting and moving around one of the workstations. The tiny machines moved with a fluid precision, assembling something piece by piece, the soft hum of their mechanics filling the space.
"What are you making?" Melissa asked, intrigued by the activity.
"It's not me," Tony said, leaning casually against the counter. "I gave Friday free reign on this project."
"Okay, so what is Friday making?" Melissa asked, raising an eyebrow.
Friday's voice chimed in smoothly. "I was tasked with creating a virtual reality helmet that would take your consciousness and transport it into a virtual space where your perception of time is altered. However, I made a few adjustments. Instead of a helmet, I've designed glasses with the same effect."
The microbots parted, revealing two thick, futuristic visors shaped like glasses. They were sleek and dark, wrapping around the eyes and almost encasing the wearer's entire upper face.
"I designed them for easy transport, so you can use them whenever you need a quick brainstorming session or immersive experience," Friday explained.
Melissa picked up one of the visors, examining it closely. "These look pretty slick," she said, turning it over in her hands. "So we just put these on and time inside the virtual world moves differently?"
"Exactly," Friday confirmed. "Your mind perceives time at an accelerated or decelerated rate, depending on the settings. It can help with simulations, creativity, or even training."
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