Shrinking Hopper

Chapter 3

Days after Aruto tested his new Progrise Key, Izu, the CEO's humagear secretary, tirelessly looked after him and asked Satellite Zea for help. The data from the satellite couldn't find any solution for Aruto's miniscule condition, but it gave her the expert's information and contact details. She contacted another CEO and a scientist from the United States and sought for his help.

Just then, Mamoru the humagear security guard, assisted and welcomed a bespectacled and bearded blonde man in his late fifties to early sixties. He was wearing a dark brown business suit with a white shirt and a purple tie underneath. He brought a suitcase, entered the CEO's office, and looked intently at Izu.

" So, you must be Izu, President Hiden's secretary? " he calmly spoke to her.

" Yes, Dr. Pym, " she politely replied and bowed at him. " It's a pleasure to meet you in person. "

" Likewise. How many days did he remain in that condition? "

" It's been three days, sir. "

" So, where is he? "

" He's on the observation table inside the lab. He has been living in that open jar. "

" An empty glass jar of pickles, I take it? "

" Yes, sir, " she nodded.

" Take me there. "

Izu aided Dr. Hank Pym and opened the Hiden Intelligence secret lab access as they both headed onto the stairs. Just beside the humagear models, there was a vacant white table where Aruto or Zero One peacefully remained inside the jar and saw his android secretary and her visitor.

" President Aruto, we have a visitor, " she said and carefully released her armored human boss from the jar. " This is Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym of Pym Technologies. He's going to help us in your condition. "

Aruto intently looked at the visitor as he was in shock and starstrucked to see him. Then, he happily exclaimed in his tiny squeaky voice, " Hank Pym, the Original Ant-Man!! I have heard and read more about you!! It's great to see you so BIG!! "

" It's an honor to meet you, President Peepsqueak, " Pym sternly replied. " You accidentally shrunk yourself, I take it?! "

" President Peepsqueak?! You've gotta be kidding me!! "

" This is how I call you from now on. "

Pym took out his magnifying glass and intently eyed on the CEO and armored superhero. Aruto got frightened to see the other CEO's eyes, zooming out and slowly stepped back. Izu noticed her boss becoming uneasy.

" Izu, Doc, what the hell are you gonna do to me?! " he yelped in fear. " I'm no guinea pig! "

" President Aruto, please calm down. He's having a look on your condition, " she said with concern.

" Take it easy, President Peepsqueak, " Pym added. " I just need to find out what went wrong with that device and then how we could deal with your state for the meantime. "

Dr. Pym examined the other CEO and took out his device to check if something had altered the Kamen Rider's size and height. He started scanning and scratched his beard. Detecting with his device and laptop computer, he looked at the screen and showed the cause of his shrinkage.

" Nanobots are inside your Zero One driver and that keycard, " he gravely spoke.

" Doc, it's a Progrise Key. "

" Progress Key? "

" No, it's a Progrise Key, Doc! " Aruto yelled. " It allows me to use different abilities as Zero One. "

" Whatever, " Pym dismissed and changed the topic. " So, your dear ol' grandpa and daddy developed you as a hero. "

" Y-yeah..."

" Then, this Progress Key shrank you into a size of a bullet ant, I take it? "

Aruto cringed, facepalmed, and heard the American expert's blunder. Izu helplessly smiled and chuckled at Doctor Pym, trying to lighten up everyone's mood.

" So, my question is where the hell did you get those nanobots? " Pym asked.

Aruto and Izu exchanged glances and recalled of a cyber-terrorist named Rihito Isshiki who used nanomachines to control the whole society as a doomsday cult a couple of months ago. Aruto was forced to use the Hellrise form at that time when Izu or Zero Two found him.

" I think I remember now, " Aruto broke his silence.

" What do you mean? "

" I tried to fight S and became out of control as the Hellriser form, but I never realise that Zero One Driver can be infected by nanomachines. "

" I've heard of the guy. He used his nanomachines to control people. How lame, " Pym replied. " Now, his remaining ones got into you. "

" So, what should I do with this condition, Doc? Maybe, you have a device that I can grow back. "

" Look, President Peepsqueak. It will take time for me to study and apply my stuff into you. You need to wait for me and Izu to deceipher further with that Progress Key. "

" It's Progrise Key, Doc! How many times I have to tell..." Aruto loudly retorted.

Izu glared at her boss and gave him a gesture to be squished by her own hands. Aruto nervously chuckled and behaved as he sat down. Pym cleared his throat and turned to the humagear secretary.

" Izu, I guess we can explain and instruct him some important precautions to your chief, " the American scientist reminded. " I will be under your guidance and supervision. "

" Certainly, Doctor Pym, " she sincerely smiled and nodded.

" Go on, Izu, " Aruto sighed.

" Doctor Pym and I proposed some dietary plan as you will live inside your temporary shelter within the office and other living arrangements, " Izu explained and showed some slides in her tablet.

Aruto intently read the dietary plan and tilted his head. He could only eat bread crumbs and tiny meat and fruit slices , tiny green leafy vegetables, a grain of rice, and seaweed fragments. Then, he would stay inside the shrunken condo given by Doctor Pym. He could attend company and board meetings along with Izu and Pym as he would stay inside the transparent pickle jar. If ever President Hiden or Zero One needed some bathroom breaks, Dr. Pym would accompany him to the men's comfort room.

" Sir, what can you say with this plan? " she asked.

" I feel like I'm being under surveillance here, " Aruto nervously chuckled.

" It's better safe than sorry, President Peepsqueak, " Pym sternly reminded. " Before I made a thorough study and an intensive experiment with your condition, we want to make sure that you are well protected. We don't want you to get lost and disoriented with your new lifestyle.

" Right. For the meantime, what should I do while I'm awfully small? "

" I'll train you to be my temporary Ant-Man. "

" Ant-Man?! I'm no Ant-Man, I'm Kamen Rider Zero One in Shrinking Hopper form! "

" Shrinking Hopper Zero One or whatever, you're still an Ant-Man in your condition. You gotta learn how to adjust yourself. Understood? "

" Right, Doc. Gotcha. "

" Good, you'll get used to it when you're dealing small scale threats in the future. "