Free Just Another Job by Casey Peterson Page A

the way.
    “Who's Walt?” asked Chris, catching up to
Frank.
    “The engineer, remember? You never listen to
me.”
    “You didn't say his name. How am I supposed
to know?”
    “I don't care. Come on.” Frank opened the
door to the Fun Room and grabbed Chris's shoulder to force him
through.
    The same weights and toys that Chris saw
Johnykin and Klaus train with were present along with a man in his
early twenties wearing the standard lab coat of every other real
employee of Timely National Labs. Frank walked past Chris to shake
hands first with Walt Kurtzman. Walt smiled at the bold, firm
greeting from Frank and introduced himself to Chris with an equally
pleasing smile across a round face that made Chris picture a
child.
    “I've worked for the labs for just five
years now,” said Walt now with a bashful smile. “I was really
surprised Mr. Lee wanted me to work on this project, especially
under such short notice.”
    “It means you're good at what you do,” said
Frank. Chris looked sideways at his friend for the first compliment
Chris had probably ever heard out of Frank's mouth.
    “Yep. So what did you want to see us for?”
said Chris.
    “Right. Erik actually wanted me to go over
your suits,” said Walt. “I didn't design them, but I'm pretty
familiar with the technology behind it.” Walt took them over to a
corner with two dummies wearing the new Super suits. Chris laughed
out loud and then louder after seeing Frank’s disappointed
face. 
    The uniforms consisted of a thick, black
padded vest much like a baseball umpire would wear; shin, knee,
thigh, and forearm protectors that furthered the baseball look;
leather gloves and a black helmet akin to a biker gang member but
still fitting with the baseball theme.
    “What the fuck is that?” said Frank.
    “Um, well they’re just prototypes right
now,” said Walt. “I'm going to be redesigning them based on the
technology that’s already there.”
    “What technology?” said Chris.
    “We're going to look like we just got kicked
out of a little league game,” said Frank. He stepped up to the
dummy and punched the padded chest. “I could get this technology at
Dick's Sporting Goods.”
    “It looks safe,” said Chris.
    “It’s very and will be even safer when I'm
done with it,” said Walt, with only half of his previous smile.
    “Oh shit. I'm going to look like an asshole
next to Klaus,” said Frank.
    “I need you to try them on now. They should
fit fine, but Erik wants you ready to go as soon as possible,” said
Walt.
    Chris and Frank awkwardly slipped into the
uniforms with Walt's advice on which buckle went where. When it was
done, it was obvious to everyone, including the still smiling Walt,
that Chris and Frank looked like second rate stunt doubles.
    Frank slunk his shoulders and tried not to
look at Walt's face in case he might punch him in it. Chris bounced
on his toes and admired the bulkiness.
    “I look ripped,” said Chris, and punched
Frank in the chest. “Oh ho, there's padding in the gloves. I didn't
even feel that.”
    Frank punched Chris hard between his
shoulder and bicep where there was no protection. Chris grabbed the
spot in pain. “Yeah, it didn't hurt me either,” said Frank.
    Chris kicked Frank in the shin, which forced
Frank to retaliate and started a semi-playful pummeling. Walt
looked on with a dumbfounded expression.
    Then a voice echoed through the speakers in
the Fun Room, “This isn’t ‘Fight Club’ for girls. You have work to
do. Klaus and Johnykin are waiting for you simpletons.”
    Chris stopped and looked up at the ceiling.
“They have cameras in here?”
    “They have cameras everywhere,” said Frank,
and shoved Chris to complete their rumble.
    Earlier, Chris couldn't find a soul when
walking through the A1 lab, but now everyone was in attendance to
watch the two-man parade.
    “It's the bottom of the fifth with two runs
out,” said Neal. “I'm only being light hearted. Humor will help
ease the tension