The fluorescent lights buzz above us as we walk through the gleaming corridors, the scent of metal and machinery filling my nose. Kevin first shows us to a large robotics lab with half-finished automations and robotic arms dangling from the ceiling. Robots whir around on tracks, lasers cut through metals, and computer monitors blink away in all directions. So cool! I turn my head this way and that, trying to take it all in. This is a dream come true!

My classmates gasp in awe and admiration. How could they not? We might as well be in a sci-fi movie.

"As you can see, we do a lot of research and development here for new technologies," Kevin says. He waves his arm at the people in white coats who swipe at holographic screens and tinker with gadgets I can't even begin to understand. And I'm a hair away from being a prodigy.

He takes us around each station to explain how everything works and introduces us to the scientists' purpose within the company, allowing some of them to inform us further. We even put on safety goggles and use some of the machines ourselves! By the end of it, I understand more about science than ever before—even though Mrs. Thompson keeps shooting me warning glances whenever I ask too many questions.

Later in the tour, Dustin comes up to me, eyes glinting behind his glasses. "This place is off the chain," he whispers. "That sixth grader also said the tour ends in front of Tony Stark's office on the very top floor. You can see out for miles."

"I already know all this. Tell me something I don't know."

"But you already know like everything."

"Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?"

"It's not," he says with a shrug. "Nevermind." Then his face lights up, and he scopes the security cameras. "Check it out." Dustin slides his iPhone 3G out of his pocket and snaps a flash-free picture of a laser pistol behind a glass case. "I rigged their security system. Pretty sweet, huh?"

My eyes widen. "Dustin!" I loud whisper. "Are you nuts? Put your phone away before you get us kicked out."

"Chill. They'll never know." He tucks his phone away with a smug grin.

I shake my head but can't help smiling back at his antics. That was so like Dustin. He's always pulling stunts to seem cool. Or maybe it's to impress me.

I wipe the smile off my face and say, "You're such an idiot, Buster Buttlesniffer," causing him to clamp a hand over his name sticker.

We follow Kevin through a hallway with glass walls as tall as skyscrapers. On the other side, scientists and engineers work away, stern determination on their brows. He leads us to another lab, and I'm blown away by the innovative technology surrounding me. I walk past rows of high-tech equipment, each more fascinating than the last. The open space is filled with half-built robots and whirring machinery.

I wish I could tell Peter about all this, but we lost touch a while ago. He was too little, and I moved away. How would he remember me?

A woman in a lab coat emerges from behind an incomplete exoskeleton. "Does anyone want to try out our latest invention?" she asks with a smile.

A man, also wearing a lab coat, steps forward, holding a glass orb crackling with energy.

"It's perfectly safe, I assure you," the woman says, then gestures at the orb. "This device creates a localized electromagnetic pulse that can raise the hair on your arms. We designed it for non-lethal crowd control. Completely harmless, but cool to experience."

Almost every boy in the class raises their hand, including Dustin. It must be because she's pretty. I want to let one of them have their moment, but my curiosity wins. I raise my hand.

The woman scientist beckons me forward. This is turning out to be the best day ever.

"Go right ahead, young lady," the man scientist says, handing me the orb.

I cradle it in my hands, the glass cool and smooth. Then a surge of energy flows into me, prickling across my skin. I gasp as every hair on my body stands straight on end. The sensation only lasts a second, but the power thrums through my veins for a moment more.

I give the orb back, my heart pounding. Without a doubt, I want to be part of creating things like this. I want to build and discover and push the boundaries of science. Just like Tony Stark. No matter what it takes, I will become an engineer at Stark Industries. Nothing can stop me now that I've tasted the possibilities.