"First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end."

~Aristotle

Reed mused, over his presentation, contemplating every single angle. NASA had been a dead end and now Victor Von Doom was his last resort, honestly he'd rather avoid confronting the cocky man but—again it was his last resort. There was nowhere else to turn; nobody would help this broke scientist.

Ben coughed awkwardly; he was one hundred percent against this retreat to Mister Big Shot- Von Doom, but he was not against helping a friend in need. He scanned the newspaper in his hand for some sort of conversation savior, he flashed a smile when his eyes came across the advise; he grinned at the Ask Rikki Reed column.

"So I see your little sister got it with the New York Times, nice." He scanned over the article. There were definitely a lot of fancy words, and similes and a pretty good use of metaphors here and there. He knew there were probably even greater usages of literary devices throughout the article but he didn't even know where to look for them. Ben paused reading, and looked over to Reed.

"She ain't half bad Reed, she ain't bad at all!" Ben acknowledged kindly, he nodded in approval as he continued reading. "She's pretty good, so I thought she had a degree is Philosp—"

"—Psychology. Yeah, she got her doctorate. But she had a double major, psychology and journalism."Reed grinned, happily. "She was never into quantum physics or anything else like that, but she was good at what she did."

Ben grinned, "She's a lot like you Reed; you both do what you want to do, no matter what anyone else says and to top it off you're both really good at it—whatever you do that is."

Reed patted his friend on the shoulder. "Thanks man, for everything." His smiled faded as he reached the Von Doom building, Ben's face frowned as he folded the paper and tucked it into his jacket. "You know Reed I think his ego is bigger than this statue, typical of Victor Von Doom to build a 30-foot statue of himself." Ben grimaced.

Reed shook his head in disapproval, "Well, it's obviously aimed at first-time visitors to create feelings of smallness." He paused slightly. "Inadequacy."

"Good thing it ain't workin'" Ben scoffed, Reed smiled at his old friend. He was obviously trying to calm his nerves, although Reed appreciated the jester it really wasn't working. "Reed, what are we doing here? This guy's fast-food, strip mall science."

"This wasn't our first stop, in case you forgot." Reed sighed, regretting. He pitied Victor's lack of passion, but who knows maybe the man's changed. "Besides, Victor's not that bad. He's just a little…"He paused again, regaining his train of thought. "Larger than life."