Marvel : the Author

Hello, boys, girls, gentlemen and gentle ladies ! Here's a new chapter for you all !

As always, you can visit my Patréon page to read ahead or read some other things. Search for Cathbel on the Patréon website or use this link by replacing the * by o: https://www.patre*n.com/user?u=66371596.

Please leave comments, reviews and/or stones. Enjoy the read !

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As the villains are being carted off into a black van, restrained by agents who suddenly emerged out of nowhere, Nick Fury looks over the three of us - plus squirrels. He's silent for a while and I can't help imagining the gears turning into his scheming spy head.

I seriously never wanted to end up on this guy's radar. Not because he's a government goon, even though he's the top goon. Or because in most instances, he can't be trusted when things get dicey… The man will always choose his country over the well-beings of his agents and pawns. Because that's what the Avengers are, really, in my opinion. The man is behind the idea to form the team to face bigger threats to 'humanity', but in the end, he still considers them his tools.

But the more important reason is… I don't know if SHIELD is the infiltrated den of Hydra bastards it is in the MCU. I've not read much about the comics, so I can't speak of those… Except maybe the Ultimate universe. They haven't infiltrated SHIELD there, as far as I remember. Not that it matters really since the United States are faced against pretty much every country wanting their own super soldiers program, even though it's been outlawed by the Geneva convention.

Still, because I can't know about Hydra's relationship to SHIELD if it has any, I don't want to be involved with their organization. Chances are they are Hydra embedded in it, since Operation PAPERCLIP happened in this reality. Such a great idea !

I sigh to myself before I say, feigning looking at a watch on my tentacle :

« Oh, look at the time ! It's time for us to go ! Right, Squirrel Girl ? »

Doreen looks at me with a raised eyebrow :

« But I'm curious about the bald pirate ! »

From the corner of my eye, I notice Fury still. He otherwise doesn't show any physical response to her comment : great poker face ! I don't really care, though…

« Before you leave, there are still a few points we need to clear up… » The man says.

Peter asks, curious :

« Yeah ? Like what ? »

I, on the other hand, still don't care. In the Ultimate comics, he used the knowledge of Peter's identity, along with the fact that he was 'enhanced' to basically draft him into his service. Not that it lasted long… But, basically, he blackmailed and threatened him, all while playing the understanding mentor figure.

« Whether or not you three are a threat to the people of this city and your school… »

Okay, time to play his bluffing game, me !

« What do you mean 'our school' ? Squirrel Girl and I were just passing by and saw this guy… » Pointing my thumb at Peter, and then directing it at the van : «… fighting these douches. » I scoff and say : « Like we don't have anything better to do than going to school… »

« Right… » Fury said before training his inquiring, intimidating gaze on me : « And then, there's you… Are you an alien, or a mutant ? »

It's obvious the man doesn't believe what I'm saying, but I'm pretty sure he's not sure about my identity. Doreen, however… Well, she can't change her entire appearance like I can and facial recognition is a thing, so… At least, Peter's wearing a full-face mask. Too bad it's obvious how nervous the dude is.

« Okay, that's just racist ! » I say. « Mutant. » I repeat the word with hatred and disgust. « I bet it's been invented by a moronic, xenophobic douchebag. »

Peter interjects :

« Actually, Professor Charles Xavier's been the one to use the term in one of his essays about abnormal mutations. It's actually a very interesting read and, well… Pro-mutant. »

I actually know that. Anyways…

« Well, it doesn't change the fact that it sounds derogatory. »

A slight edge in his voice, Fury asks :

« Do you prefer home superior, perhaps ? »

« That's actually even worse ! Like we're better than other humans ? Please ! I prefer the term Alter-human. And to answer your question, yes. I'm an Alter-human. »

Fury hummed thoughtfully, keeping his lone eye on me, obviously trying to read something from my body language or facial expressions. I wonder how much trouble he's having with my physiology…

Peter comments :

« Alter-human… That's actually not a bad one. Xeno-human would have worked, too. » He turns to the master spy and continues : « As for whether we're threats to the city. I can't talk about the other two, since we just met, but I'm not a threat. I'm just… You know, gifted with these powers and feel like I need to do something to help out. You know ? »

Doreen nods excitedly and exclaims :

« Right ? We're totally superheroes ! »

I remain silent. The fact of the matter is, if the 'Frightful Four' didn't choose to attack Midtown High, I probably would never have gotten involved. Despite all my training and my meddling with Peter's situation, I still don't feel like I'm ready to throw down with Supervillains. But then again, maybe I am… We did win, after all. 'Frightful Four'… Damn, what a stupid name. Not that the 'Terrific Trio' is any better. I just hope the medias don't somehow become aware of that name and calls us that…

Fury directs a sharp gaze at me, and I know, or at least, feel like, he senses my hesitation. The man's got instincts, experience and a boatload of training. Not to mention, he may or may not have been subjected to a version of the super soldier serum. I'm pretty sure the Nick Fury of the comics has been a test subject, volunteer or whatever… In the movies, they like to keep the character mysterious and, since he's played by Samuel Lee Jackson, it makes for an intense character, who doesn't like - or just doesn't - to talk about himself. And since he runs a spy agency, it's understandable that the man keeps secrets.

I shrug and say :

« I don't like trouble. So I won't cause trouble… Or at least, I'll try not to. However, I'm not sure about this superhero business. »

« Then, why'd you act ? » Nick Fury demanded.

« It looked like Pajaman needed help… »

« Spider-Man ! » Peter stresses out.

« And I couldn't let kids get killed. »

That last part is true. It's the main reason I got involved in the first place. So, yeah… I think me playing hero will keep happening in the future too, since those kinds of situation, while not an every day occurrence, do happen often enough. Let's not even talk about city-wide, or worse, worldwide, catastrophic events !

Nick Fury sports a slight smile and I can't help getting goosebumps. Is he glad to have potential pawns to move on his game board ? It doesn't last as he soon speaks up :

« Alright. I think that's it. My agents will gather testimonies and evidence in the school. You three are free to go ! »

I notice how he insisted on the determiner the, as if he struggled to not call it ours. I don't know if he bought my story or not… Probably not. I just hope he won't be able to find out our identities anytime soon. Given the means behind a government agency, I don't hold my breath.

I'm pretty sure they can't recognize me, but, as said earlier, it's not the same for Doreen. What if they link her civilian identity to mine ? We're friends, so it's possible.

Plus, SHIELD is an Intelligence agency. They've got loads of analysts, eggheads and tacticians that'll go over the videos of our fight. No doubt they'll draw conclusions about the nature of my power. Whether they'll be right or wrong will depend about how open-minded and informed about Alterhuman powers. If they've encountered witches or someone like Wanda Maximoff, it's possible they'll discover the reality warping of my powers.

I open another portal. Not one close to the school ; I don't want to tip him off. Besides, I'm pretty they're won't be any classes today. Each of us nod a little to Fury before crossing the portal.

On the other side, Doreen finally notices something :

« What was this guy's name ? »Chapter 29 : Master spy

As the villains are being carted off into a black van, restrained by agents who suddenly emerged out of nowhere, Nick Fury looks over the three of us - plus squirrels. He's silent for a while and I can't help imagining the gears turning into his scheming spy head.

I seriously never wanted to end up on this guy's radar. Not because he's a government goon, even though he's the top goon. Or because in most instances, he can't be trusted when things get dicey… The man will always choose his country over the well-beings of his agents and pawns. Because that's what the Avengers are, really, in my opinion. The man is behind the idea to form the team to face bigger threats to 'humanity', but in the end, he still considers them his tools.

But the more important reason is… I don't know if SHIELD is the infiltrated den of Hydra bastards it is in the MCU. I've not read much about the comics, so I can't speak of those… Except maybe the Ultimate universe. They haven't infiltrated SHIELD there, as far as I remember. Not that it matters really since the United States are faced against pretty much every country wanting their own super soldiers program, even though it's been outlawed by the Geneva convention.

Still, because I can't know about Hydra's relationship to SHIELD if it has any, I don't want to be involved with their organization. Chances are they are Hydra embedded in it, since Operation PAPERCLIP happened in this reality. Such a great idea !

I sigh to myself before I say, feigning looking at a watch on my tentacle :

« Oh, look at the time ! It's time for us to go ! Right, Squirrel Girl ? »

Doreen looks at me with a raised eyebrow :

« But I'm curious about the bald pirate ! »

From the corner of my eye, I notice Fury still. He otherwise doesn't show any physical response to her comment : great poker face ! I don't really care, though…

« Before you leave, there are still a few points we need to clear up… » The man says.

Peter asks, curious :

« Yeah ? Like what ? »

I, on the other hand, still don't care. In the Ultimate comics, he used the knowledge of Peter's identity, along with the fact that he was 'enhanced' to basically draft him into his service. Not that it lasted long… But, basically, he blackmailed and threatened him, all while playing the understanding mentor figure.

« Whether or not you three are a threat to the people of this city and your school… »

Okay, time to play his bluffing game, me !

« What do you mean 'our school' ? Squirrel Girl and I were just passing by and saw this guy… » Pointing my thumb at Peter, and then directing it at the van : «… fighting these douches. » I scoff and say : « Like we don't have anything better to do than going to school… »

« Right… » Fury said before training his inquiring, intimidating gaze on me : « And then, there's you… Are you an alien, or a mutant ? »

It's obvious the man doesn't believe what I'm saying, but I'm pretty sure he's not sure about my identity. Doreen, however… Well, she can't change her entire appearance like I can and facial recognition is a thing, so… At least, Peter's wearing a full-face mask. Too bad it's obvious how nervous the dude is.

« Okay, that's just racist ! » I say. « Mutant. » I repeat the word with hatred and disgust. « I bet it's been invented by a moronic, xenophobic douchebag. »

Peter interjects :

« Actually, Professor Charles Xavier's been the one to use the term in one of his essays about abnormal mutations. It's actually a very interesting read and, well… Pro-mutant. »

I actually know that. Anyways…

« Well, it doesn't change the fact that it sounds derogatory. »

A slight edge in his voice, Fury asks :

« Do you prefer home superior, perhaps ? »

« That's actually even worse ! Like we're better than other humans ? Please ! I prefer the term Alter-human. And to answer your question, yes. I'm an Alter-human. »

Fury hummed thoughtfully, keeping his lone eye on me, obviously trying to read something from my body language or facial expressions. I wonder how much trouble he's having with my physiology…

Peter comments :

« Alter-human… That's actually not a bad one. Xeno-human would have worked, too. » He turns to the master spy and continues : « As for whether we're threats to the city. I can't talk about the other two, since we just met, but I'm not a threat. I'm just… You know, gifted with these powers and feel like I need to do something to help out. You know ? »

Doreen nods excitedly and exclaims :

« Right ? We're totally superheroes ! »

I remain silent. The fact of the matter is, if the 'Frightful Four' didn't choose to attack Midtown High, I probably would never have gotten involved. Despite all my training and my meddling with Peter's situation, I still don't feel like I'm ready to throw down with Supervillains. But then again, maybe I am… We did win, after all. 'Frightful Four'… Damn, what a stupid name. Not that the 'Terrific Trio' is any better. I just hope the medias don't somehow become aware of that name and calls us that…

Fury directs a sharp gaze at me, and I know, or at least, feel like, he senses my hesitation. The man's got instincts, experience and a boatload of training. Not to mention, he may or may not have been subjected to a version of the super soldier serum. I'm pretty sure the Nick Fury of the comics has been a test subject, volunteer or whatever… In the movies, they like to keep the character mysterious and, since he's played by Samuel Lee Jackson, it makes for an intense character, who doesn't like - or just doesn't - to talk about himself. And since he runs a spy agency, it's understandable that the man keeps secrets.

I shrug and say :

« I don't like trouble. So I won't cause trouble… Or at least, I'll try not to. However, I'm not sure about this superhero business. »

« Then, why'd you act ? » Nick Fury demanded.

« It looked like Pajaman needed help… »

« Spider-Man ! » Peter stresses out.

« And I couldn't let kids get killed. »

That last part is true. It's the main reason I got involved in the first place. So, yeah… I think me playing hero will keep happening in the future too, since those kinds of situation, while not an every day occurrence, do happen often enough. Let's not even talk about city-wide, or worse, worldwide, catastrophic events !

Nick Fury sports a slight smile and I can't help getting goosebumps. Is he glad to have potential pawns to move on his game board ? It doesn't last as he soon speaks up :

« Alright. I think that's it. My agents will gather testimonies and evidence in the school. You three are free to go ! »

I notice how he insisted on the determiner the, as if he struggled to not call it ours. I don't know if he bought my story or not… Probably not. I just hope he won't be able to find out our identities anytime soon. Given the means behind a government agency, I don't hold my breath.

I'm pretty sure they can't recognize me, but, as said earlier, it's not the same for Doreen. What if they link her civilian identity to mine ? We're friends, so it's possible.

Plus, SHIELD is an Intelligence agency. They've got loads of analysts, eggheads and tacticians that'll go over the videos of our fight. No doubt they'll draw conclusions about the nature of my power. Whether they'll be right or wrong will depend about how open-minded and informed about Alterhuman powers. If they've encountered witches or someone like Wanda Maximoff, it's possible they'll discover the reality warping of my powers.

I open another portal. Not one close to the school ; I don't want to tip him off. Besides, I'm pretty they're won't be any classes today. Each of us nod a little to Fury before crossing the portal.

On the other side, Doreen finally notices something :

« What was this guy's name ? »