After the turmoil surrounding the Cairo incident subsided, the world fell quiet again.
At least, on the surface.
The president of the United States busied himself offering explanations everywhere, while concealing the existence of the Warp.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Base had transformed into a nation within a nation, a completely independent entity.
Howard and Pym worked on reverse-engineering the time heist.
"Ready?"
"This is... trial number three hundred and ninety-seven."
"Begin recording."
"God help us. I hope it works this time."
The air inside the temporal research laboratory seemed to freeze.
Hank Pym stared at the prototype Time Bridge before him, designed by Howard and modified with his own hands. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "Please... you have to work!"
Wearing a specially designed suit, Hunk stepped onto the Time Bridge and took a deep breath.
"I'm ready. Start it... Stark."
"Are you sure you want to do this yourself?" Howard hesitated. "We could have someone else run the test."
"No!"
Hunk vehemently rejected his suggestion. "I will never let anyone else get involved. Pym Particles..."
"Are mine!"
"All right, all right..." Howard shook his head helplessly. Rather than argue, he activated the various monitoring instruments. "If you insist."
Hank Pym's stubborn possessiveness over Pym Particles made him unable to tolerate anyone else's involvement.
As a result, the experiments involved almost exclusively the two of them, with one-and only one-test subject... Hank Pym.
"Everything's normal. Initiating the time heist sequence." Howard lowered his head, his fingers flying across the console as he watched the torrent of data. "Oh, and if this works and you see Janet, say hello for me."
Standing on the Time Bridge, Hunk managed a rare hint of a smile through his tense expression. "I will."
"Spacetime readings normal!"
"Möbius Strip mathematical model