Chapter 10: Chapter Ten: The Big Picture
Marshall stepped out of the car, the weight of the last few days pressing down on him like a boulder. The alien watch on his wrist—the Omnitrix—was still pulsing faintly, a constant reminder of the insanity he had just plunged into. As much as he tried to focus on the familiar sights and sounds of his New York City neighborhood, his mind kept racing back to the camping trip, the robots, and the overwhelming realization that his world was no longer what it used to be.
Peter hopped out of the passenger seat, adjusting his backpack and glancing at Marshall. "Alright, spill it. What's going on in that overstuffed brain of yours? You've been quiet the whole ride back."
Marshall took a deep breath, leaning against the car. "I'm thinking, Pete. We've got this thing now—this massive opportunity—but also massive problems. The watch, the robots, the… everything. If we're going to survive this, we need to plan."
Peter frowned, trying to keep up. "Okay, planning is good. But planning what exactly? How to dodge killer robots? Or how to not get grounded for sneaking out at night?"
Marshall smirked, shaking his head. "Bigger than that. Look, this isn't just about surviving. It's about thriving. The watch? It's a tool—a game-changer. But tools are only as good as the person using them. And if we're going to use it, we need resources. Money, allies, a base of operations… everything."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "A base of operations? What, like a Batcave? Dude, we're two kids living in an apartment complex. How are we supposed to pull that off?"
Marshall shrugged, his confidence growing. "We start small. Look around, Pete. Everything starts small. Stark didn't build his first suit in a billion-dollar lab—it was in a cave. If he can do that, we can figure out how to turn this into something real."
Peter tilted his head, intrigued but skeptical. "Alright, genius, I'm listening. What's the plan?"
Marshall rubbed his hands together, the faint glow of excitement flickering in his eyes. "Step one: money. We can't do anything without funding. That's where the app comes in. If we make something people want—something they'll pay for—we'll have the resources to expand."
Peter nodded slowly, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, I'm with you so far. Step two?"
"Step two: allies," Marshall continued. "People we can trust, people who can help us when things go sideways. And no, I don't just mean superheroes or secret agents. I mean regular people—techies, engineers, even someone good with business stuff."
Peter crossed his arms, thinking. "Alright, and step three?"
"Step three: a base of operations," Marshall said, his voice firm. "Somewhere we can work, build, and plan without looking over our shoulders all the time. It doesn't have to be fancy—just functional."
Peter let out a low whistle. "That's a lot of steps. And a lot of work. You sure you're ready for this?"
Marshall met his gaze, his expression serious. "I don't have a choice, Pete. The watch changes everything. If I don't get ahead of this, we're going to end up reacting to things instead of controlling them. I don't want to be the guy who just survives. I want to be the guy who wins."
Peter smirked, his confidence in Marshall growing. "Alright, fearless leader. I'm in. But I'm gonna hold you to that whole 'winning' thing."
Marshall grinned, pushing off the car. "Good. Now let's get inside and figure out how to pull this off."
Laying the Groundwork:
Back in Marshall's room, the two boys huddled around a whiteboard Marshall had dug out from his closet. He scrawled the words "Operation Nexus" in bold letters across the top, underlining it twice before stepping back to admire his handiwork.
"'Operation Nexus'?" Peter said, raising an eyebrow. "What is this, a spy movie?"
Marshall rolled his eyes. "It's a placeholder name. But think about it—it sounds cool, right? Like something people would trust."
Peter shrugged. "Fair enough. So, what's the first move?"
Marshall grabbed a marker and wrote "MONEY" in large letters under the heading. "We need funding. That's priority number one. And the fastest way to get it is through something that scales quickly. Enter: our app."
Peter leaned forward, his excitement building. "The game, right? Subway Surfers?"
"Exactly," Marshall said, jotting down ideas under the "MONEY" section. "It's fun, it's addictive, and it's easy to expand. If we market it right, it could bring in enough cash to cover everything else we need."
Peter grinned. "Alright, step one sounds solid. What's next?"
Marshall circled the word "ALLIES" on the board. "We need people who can help us. Not just friends, but experts. Adults who know how to navigate the stuff we can't—like legal stuff, business strategy, that kind of thing."
Peter nodded. "You mean like your parents? Or Aunt May?"
"Exactly," Marshall said. "They'll be our first recruits. We'll pitch them the idea, show them what we've got so far, and get them on board. Once we have their support, we can start thinking bigger."
Peter's eyes lit up. "Bigger like a base of operations?"
"Exactly," Marshall said, pointing to the final section of the board labeled "BASE." "Somewhere we can work without interruptions. It doesn't have to be fancy—just a place where we can focus."
Peter leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "This is actually starting to sound doable. Crazy, but doable."
Marshall grinned, the confidence radiating off him. "That's the spirit. Now let's prep for the pitch. If we can get them on board, we'll be unstoppable."
Peter smirked. "Alright, Mr. Prodigy. Let's make some magic happen."
As the two boys got to work, the faint glow of the Omnitrix caught Marshall's eye. He glanced at it, the weight of its power and responsibility settling on his shoulders again. This wasn't just about building a think tank or making money—it was about preparing for the battles ahead.
And with Peter by his side, he was more determined than ever to make it work.
One week later
Marshall paced the living room, his notebook clutched tightly in his hands. Peter sat on the couch beside Aunt May, his own notebook open to a page filled with doodles and brainstorming notes. Across from them sat Marshall's parents, Elaine and Darren Phillips, both looking a mix of curious and skeptical. The room felt heavier than usual, like the weight of their ambitions was pressing down on everyone.
"Okay," Marshall said, stopping mid-pace and turning to face the group. "Thanks for letting us all meet together. Peter and I have been working on something big, and we wanted to share it with you because we're going to need your help to make it happen."
Elaine raised an eyebrow, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "Something big? This isn't another one of your 'science experiments' that ends with a blown fuse, is it?"
Peter snickered. "Nope, no explosions this time. Promise."
Darren crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, let's hear it."
Marshall took a deep breath, glancing at Peter for reassurance before diving in. "We want to create a think tank. A real one. A place where ideas become reality, where we solve problems, innovate, and create things that can change the world."
Peter jumped in, his voice brimming with excitement. "We've already started with our first project—it's a mobile game called Subway Surfers. It's an endless runner where you dodge trains, collect coins, and use cool power-ups like jetpacks and hoverboards. We have a working prototype, and we think it's going to be a hit."
Aunt May tilted her head, looking intrigued but cautious. "A video game? And you're calling this… what, a business?"
"Not just a business," Marshall clarified. "It's the foundation for something bigger. We're calling it Nexus Corp. Think of it as a hub for innovation—where Peter and I can take our ideas and turn them into products or solutions that help people. The game is just step one. Once it takes off, we'll have the resources to expand into other projects."
Elaine exchanged a look with Darren, her lips pursed. "And what exactly are these other projects?"
Marshall hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward, his expression earnest. "We have ideas for apps, tools, and even tech that can make life easier for people. For now, we're starting with the game because it's manageable and has the potential to generate income. But long-term, we're thinking about things like safety apps, educational tools, and maybe even hardware."
Peter nodded eagerly. "Yeah! We're not just making games—we're building a platform. Something people can trust and rely on."
Darren frowned, his tone skeptical. "And how exactly do you two plan to run this company? You're not even old enough to sign contracts or manage finances."
Marshall straightened up, meeting his father's gaze. "That's where we need your help. We want you to be the temporary CEO of Nexus Corp. You'd handle the official stuff—paperwork, meetings, and finances—but the ideas and execution would come from Peter and me."
Peter chimed in, turning to Aunt May. "And we'd need you too, Aunt May. You're great with people, and you could help us keep things organized. Plus, you've always believed in me, and I want you to be part of this."
Aunt May smiled softly, though her expression was still cautious. "That's sweet, Peter. But this sounds like a lot of responsibility for two kids. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Marshall stepped forward, his voice steady and determined. "Mom, Dad, Aunt May—I've always been a great kid. You know that. I'm smarter than a kid my age. They don't call me a prodigy for nothing. And Peter is just as smart. With your help, we really can change the world."
Peter nodded quickly, backing up his friend. "Yeah! We've thought this through. This isn't some half-baked idea. We're serious about this."
Elaine leaned forward, studying her son closely. "Marshall, this is a big commitment. Starting a business isn't easy, and it's not always fun. Are you prepared for that?"
"I am," Marshall said without hesitation. "I know it's a lot, but this is important to me. To us." He glanced at Peter, who nodded in agreement. "We're not just doing this for fun. We want to build something that lasts, something that matters."
Darren sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, let's say we agree. What happens if this doesn't work out? What's your backup plan?"
Marshall smiled. "If it doesn't work, we learn from it and try again. That's what you've always taught me, right? To face challenges head-on and never give up?"
Darren chuckled softly. "Fair point."
Elaine looked at Aunt May, who gave her a small nod. "Well, it sounds like you two have really thought this through," Elaine said. "I'm still not sure how this is going to work, but I'm willing to give you a chance."
Darren sighed but nodded. "Fine. I'll step in as CEO for now, but there's going to be some ground rules. School comes first, no cutting corners, and you're keeping us in the loop every step of the way. Deal?"
"Deal," Marshall said, grinning.
Peter looked at Aunt May expectantly. She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Alright, I'm in. But you two better not let this distract you from your responsibilities. And don't think for a second that I'm letting you skip chores just because you're starting a business."
Peter laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Marshall leaned back, relief washing over him. They'd done it—they'd convinced their guardians to support Nexus Corp. It wasn't going to be easy, but with their parents and Aunt May on board, they were one step closer to turning their dream into reality.
As the group settled into a lighter conversation, Marshall glanced at Peter, who gave him a thumbs-up. This was just the beginning, but for the first time, it felt like they were on solid ground. Together, they were ready to take on whatever challenges came next.