Title: Ultra Shorts

Author: Joshua

Disclaimer: First off, for the record, YES, DianeCastle has given her permission to post this story as a part of her ongoing 'Teraverse' fanfiction series. Second, the primary source for this fanfic is "My Secret Identity", created by Fred Fox and Brian Levant and... actually I'm not sure who owns it now. It was produced by Sunrise Films, Scholastic Productions, and Universal Television, but then distributed by NBC, so... yeah. Other crossovers will by cited in the chapters/snips they're revealed in. DianeCastle has already been approached and not only given her approval, she has written a chapter of her own. ENJOY!

Summary: A Teraverse Sidestory. The Continuing Adventures (or misadventures) of Ultraman!

Utility Belt:

"Hey Dr. J!" Andrew Clements called out as he entered the basement laboratory of his mentor and friend.

Doctor Benjamin Jeffcoate jumped at the sudden intrusion to his solitude, before forcing the mild annoyance he felt down and putting on a friendly smile. Not that the latter had to be forced by much, as he genuinely appreciated his young protege's company.

"Hello Andrew," he returned the greeting, putting down his ruined experiment.

"Oh, sorry," Andrew apologized upon seen the spilled mess, "Did I interrupt something?"

"Oh, it was nothing," Jeffcoate sighed. "It's harmless. I merely added a too few many drops when you startled me. Nothing that a cleaning rag won't fix," he remarked even as he took said rag and wiped his hands clean. "Anyway it is good that you're here, Andrew. There is something that I'd like to show you!"

"Yeah," the young adult said as he entered the lab proper. "Mom said that you'd called earlier. That's why I came over. I really gotta learn how to knock when coming down here..."

"While that would be prudent—and appreciated—nevertheless," he replied, "I have a surprise for you, Andrew."

"Is this like that time that..." he started to list.

"No, no, and no," Jeffcoate interrupted, recalling all of the various times that he'd 'surprised' his young friend, only to disappoint him, or have to explain it in detail after the fact. "It's for your... extracurricular activities. Here, I'll show you."

The bespectacled scientist lead the young hero over to a workbench in the corner under the outside windows, so that what was on the bench could not be easily seen through them. On it was an assortment of electronics, pieces of metal, and four distinct items that were composed out of the various spare parts scattered across the work area.

"Dr. J," Andrew asked, "What is all this?"

"I'm so glad you asked, Andrew," the man said with a mischievous smile. Or, at least as mischievous as Dr. Jeffcoate ever got. "You see, I recently went to the cinema with... well," he cleared his throat and quickly moved past that part of the story, "Anyway, I went to the cinemas and was inspired by what I saw. Especially after witnessing your... debut, shall we call it? Personally, I still think working with the military is a mistake, and you've been doing so well for these past few years, and..."

"Dr. J," Andrew rebuked his friend in a tired, and warning tone.

"Yes, well, old arguments," he acknowledged. "Regardless, you have made your stance on the matter quite clear. And as your friend, and mentor, I consider it my duty, and honor, to support you as much as I am able in your decisions. That being said, what better way to support you than to make your... job that much easier. I've been puzzling out ways to do just that, when, as I said, inspiration struck!"

He picked up the right-handed glove—though Andrew hesitated to call it such as there was enough tech and metal attached that it would be better described as a gauntlet or vambrace—and held it before the young man.

"Recall, if you will, Andrew," Jeffcoate began, "when you first received your powers, you were just starting to understand them, and when enabling your null-gravity field, all you could do was float there, as one sees from astronauts in a zero-G environment. In order to achieve any desired motion, you needed to exert a directing force, specifically an aerosolized gas. I believe your personal preference was the... mint-spritz?"

Blushing, Andrew shrugged and nodded, too embarrassed to refute or explain away that particular chapter of his 'superhero career', such as it was.

"Since then, obviously, you've learned how to direct the field, though your top speed in the air remains a modest, but no doubt impressive, 48kph, or thirty miles per hour. This, should greatly increase your effectiveness in the air. Though to be fair, it still utilizes the same principle."

"That's great, Dr. J!" Andrew enthusiastically accepted the gauntlet. As he held it, his expression shifted to one of confusion, even as he fit it onto his hand. "But, uh, what does it do exactly?"

The scientist laughed, and he then demonstrated while saying, "It compresses and recycles the air. It should boost your speed in the air by a considerable amount. There's a system of air-jets that can be attached to the armor you wear, with ports on the hands, feet, and along the back."

"Wow!" Andrew exclaimed. "So, I'll be just like Ironman, with his repulsors and... wait a sec! Inspiration? From the cinema? Dr. J! You went to see the Ironman movie! Without me!"

"I did offer to take you, Andrew," Jeffcoate reminded him, "But you said that you had a, oh let me recall the term you used, oh yes! A 'hot date', eh?"

Blushing, Andrew quieted down, then frowned in thought as his scientist friend continued on with the next item on the workbench.

"Now this item, while admittedly borrowing concepts from existing technology, I am particularly proud of," he held up a large pair of what looked to be welder's goggles, only they'd cover half the face than just the eyes. "These are Thermal/Low-Light Imaging HUDs. I even tweaked the coding just a bit so things still appear in their normal colors, for the most part, instead of shades of green or gray."

"Whoa, so I can like see at night and stuff!" Andrew exclaimed, putting down the glove and immediately trying out the goggles. Looking out at the lab and Dr. Jeffcoate through a computerized image, showing temperature and a dozen other stats that he only just understood, he really started to feel like he was Ironman!

"Indeed," Jeffcoate remarked with a smile. "And for the finale..." he drew the word out until Andrew had taken off the goggles, "What superhero is complete without a," he held it out with a flourish, "utility belt!"

"Oh my—Dr. J! Thank you!" he cried out, hugging the man, grabbing the belt and instantly putting it on. "What all does it...?" he started to ask, reaching out to open or trigger everything on the belt at once.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed as Jeffcoate stopped him and quickly explained, "If you will take a moment to examine it, you'll see that I labeled each item on the belt. Remember your first... adventure as Ultraman? I offered you my special adhesive? You'll find that in the pouch labeled with a 'G', for glue, to make it as simple as possible. My 'Seal&Heal' spray is in the pouches with the Red Cross symbol. I've even taken the liberty to include a supply of the burn cream, which I've continued to improve upon over the years, labeled with the fire symbol. There are other materials and minor inventions that you've seen me develop on there as well, all clearly labeled, and each label embossed so you don't have to actually look and see what you're grabbing."

"Dr. J, this is, this is, this is..." Andrew gushed, before suddenly turning serious.

"This is not going to distract me from the fact that my mom went on a 'date' to go see the Ironman movie last weekend," he stated in a tone that could only be matched by a son protecting his mother. "And that's when I told you that I was going out with Jennifer. So, Dr. J," Andrew put on both gloves and the goggles before crossing his arms, "I think you and I need to have a little talk about your intentions toward my mother."

Benjamin Jeffcoate gulped.

END