Spider-Man: A New Spiral

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***

5 August, 2013. 10:00 AM.

In the sky over New York City.

Peter Parker.

The past week has turned into my own personal time. I've spent all eight days since receiving my Iron Spider armour improving myself. Literally driving into the subcortex of my brain the data that Maria had given me, as well as the diary of Jackal's experiment, which I now know probably better than its creator. Every other day I trained with the best fighter on the planet, which I consider Cap, and on my "rest days" I learnt how to handle my metal upgrade.

After a gift in the form of Karen, my paranoia made me check the entire armour for unexpected surprises. I had to be careful so I could put the suit back together later, but I was pleased with the result. I don't know, maybe Tony's still too green on the superhero thing, or maybe he's just not a very game guy to begin with, but there were no bugs, unknown microphones or video cameras in the armour, and Karen was locked into the armour's internal system and didn't even have an internet connection.

The lack of anything that could affect my privacy gave Tony quite a few style points in my eyes. And trust, too.

Still, most of my time was spent mastering the mystical arts. Doc was right, everything would really depend on my diligence and "mystical decisions of my essence," because magic.... is magic. Imagine all the existing scientific disciplines, with their offshoots or advanced courses, and multiply by two, or even three. That's magic.

All your life you will study manuscripts, rituals, artefacts, energy flows, other dimensions and still you won't touch even one percent of it.

The good thing is, I don't need to retrain as a Spider-Mage. It is necessary to concentrate on my topics, the Web of Life and Destiny, the thread of connection to which one hundred per cent is my Spider-Sense, now, in all my days of studying Strange's books, I was able to make sure of it. I'm going to explore the mystical side of myself to the best of my ability. That's what I'm heading to Sanctum Sanctorum for.

As I soared between the buildings, enjoying the sensations of flight, I thought about more personal matters that had come to light over the past few days.

Firstly, Mary's abilities had awakened. I remember Kitten and I jumped out of bed in fighting stances when we heard our red-haired vixen scream. And it turned out she was just squealing with delight as she crawled up to the ceiling for the first time. Oh how her emerald eyes sparkled and how she then pounced on Fey and I, that hunger...so no distractions!

Secondly, the integrations of Ben as the Scarlet Spider, a new, related to the already familiar Friendly Neighbour, hero of New York and Cain as Agent Venom in a Rukt suit, in the service of Shield, went well.

Fury contacted me a few times, trying to push through, "What the fuck, where's my standard tool?", but I quickly put the One-Eyed Eagle on hold, recalling our old arrangements from my initial recruitment and Nick's fuck-up with my Grand Embassy message to Stark. Fury grumbled, but did not quarrel. He only praised my scarred clone for being such a "tough old agent" that even Phil and Natasha fell for it. They must think I'm disguising my standard behaviour as much as possible to prevent any connection between Spider-Man and Agent Venom. So be it. Besides, I myself, though I'm a fan of komediklablab, am much more serious and severe than the original Parker, so Cain resembles me even more than Ben. At least in character.

Alas, the good is always diluted by the bad. Or at the very least, incomprehensible.

This time, one of those moments was Raj. My symbiote, in eight days, had started conversations three times at most, and those lasted five sentences, and he didn't respond to my remarks at all. If this doesn't stop soon, I'm going to have to take action.

And Delia.

The story with her is even more confusing.

After May announced her intentions to move out, it was her sister who remained the most "loyal child". The boys and I were busy with our own costume themes, and only the brown-eyed girl was helping Auntie with the packing and other aspects of the move. Still, I tried to be in Queens as much as possible, even more often than I was in my flat.

So my sister and I would help May out a little bit at a time. It was the usual jokes and banter and genuine interest in each other's lives, but whenever I mentioned Fey's date or MJ's pregnancy, Delia would get sad and awkward, trying to change the subject with real sadness and resentment in her emotions. After the mystical training and the story of the Racer began, I began to react very keenly to my clones, as if I could feel their gut, their thoughts, their emotions.

So, similar to Raj, if things don't change soon, I'll have to discuss these things on my own.

And so, finally, I land on the roof of Sanctum Sanctorum.

No sooner do I climb inside than I'm swallowed up by a portal flash, instantly transporting me to a familiar office.

- Hello, Peter," Strange greets me, meditating under the zen of scented candles.

- Hey, Stefan, how are you? - I come a little closer.

- Fine," the wizard opens his eyes. - Are you here for training?

- Yeah, and to return this," I open my rucksack with half of the manuscripts Strange gave me for training. The other half is dry theory, which will come in handy.

- Thanks, of course, but they're copies, you could have kept them," the wizard said.

- It would be great, but there's too much information in them that might be of interest, I think it's better to keep them under the protection of the High Enchanter.

- You're right about that," Stefan accepted the small flattery with a smile and with a snap of his fingers teleported the folios.

- So, where do we start? - I asked, swaying from heel to toe in anticipation.

- With meditation, - Doc raises his hands and, after moving through another portal funnel, we find ourselves in a small hall.

Judging by the lighting, the rugs, and...the fountain, it's a meditation room.

- Okay," I walk over to the softest-looking rug and sit in the lotus position, "what do we do?

- As I said before, your training is primarily aimed at mastering all facets of your latent Spider abilities. Totem's abilities. If I'm not mistaken, you should have the power to connect to the Web of Life, right?

- If you mean my Spider Sense, yes," I confirm the doc's theory.

- Sense? How does it work?

- Originally it reacted to any danger in my direction, and warned me of it in advance, but after certain events, the Sense's abilities...deepened.

- In what ways?

- At times," I touch my head, "I am able to see future events.

- You have visions of the future? - Stefan was surprised and became more focused. - Tell me more about it.

- Honestly, I don't even know what to tell you, just that some events give me an impetus and pictures appear in my head, some very clear, others so blurred that a hundred guesses would not come close to the truth. All these visions I call clicks.

- Well, have you tested the facets of these visions?

- What do you mean? - Now I'm asking the question I'm interested in.

- The events you see, do they always come true? Are they warnings? Are your actions influencing their realisation? Or some other option?

The sorcerer's assumptions make my mouth drop open. It's good that I have a mask on my face, so no flies will fly in.

- I don't know," I tilt my head slightly in thought. - That's quite a task you've got there, Doc.

- Don't hurry, Peter, think about it and then give me an answer," the wizard said calmly.

I pondered for a while, remembering past clicks.

- Probably...both. I mean, most of the visions were like warnings, which I took advantage of, sometimes directly changing the course of events, well, not on the grandest scale. But at times, my wits reminded me of a vision that had come true without my involvement, at least not directly.

- I see," Stefan said and thought.

I also thought about why I had never tried to fully explore the phenomenon of my Spider Visions. It's probably because I haven't had much opportunity at all lately to stop and reflect on such things.

- I think you should try to practice," the mage finally spoke after a while.

- Practise at what?

- Have you ever thought of trying to consciously summon a vision?

- Actually, I have, I lost something recently and I wanted to ask my Sense for a clue, but then I found it.

- Then now is the perfect opportunity to try," Strange floated up with the help of his cloak and also sat in the lotus pose, but in the air. - I'll be nearby, just in case," my mystical mentor warned.

- Understood, Stefan.

I close my eyes and try again to call on those sensations of the Sense, as I did in the inner world, only in reality.

Nothing happens for a while, and I just silently turn to my thoughts with my eyes closed. But after a few dozen minutes, everything changes.

Flashes of visions start flashing in my mind again.

A click.

I'm standing in front of a mirror in my Perfect Spider Suit. Behind me, Wolverine and Gina Grey are reflected. A notable detail, a bright yellow belt with the X-Men emblem on it hangs from my waistband.

Click.

I'm in the city. It's New York. It's destroyed. High-tech ships fly in the sky, looking like chariots and living bugs. There is a rumble of thunder behind me. I turn around and see the Hulk growling at me.

Snap.

It's my house in Queens. The Doorbell rings. I open it and see the same girl with brown eyes and brown hair on the doorstep. Theresa. She smiles at me.

Snap.

I'm flying through the sky in my Iron Spider suit, but suddenly I'm hit by a powerful energy stream and I lose consciousness, falling down in my armour.

Click.

Queens again. My bedroom. We are arguing loudly with Delia, who is dressed in her Red Widow costume. She's crying and about to leave. I grab her hand. The vision cuts off.

Snap.

I return home, to my flat. I open the door. A minute later, the windows are smashed in and men with machine guns come running out from all sides. Their uniforms bear the HYDRA emblem.

Click.

I'm back in the basement of the Parker house, making new uniforms. For some reason, this is the most pleasant place to work. The costume designs are thought-provoking.

Click.

I don't feel comfortable. After the ringing of the Sense, I have to duck. I turn my head. I see my two clones I'm fighting. I look around and see Jessica fighting Delia and a man with purple skin.

A click.

Pain. An incomprehensible space. A glimpse of the green fabric of a cloak and my ears prick up from the devil's cackling laughter.

The last vision throws me back to reality and I start breathing heavily.

- Peter, are you okay? - Strange asks worriedly, approaching me and putting a hand on my shoulder.

- Yes," I say, still trying to catch my breath, "yes. Thank you, Stefan.

- Did you see something?

- Yeah," I take off the mask, "you have no idea how much.

- Okay," Doc nods, motioning for me to sit down, "you want to tell me about it?

I sit down opposite the wizard.

- I will, but first, - I look seriously at my mystical mentor, - I need to know if there is some spell.

***

Later.

Somewhere in Austria. A classified HYDRA base.

Ophelia Sarkissian.

Madame Hydra, with a proud gait from the hip, was heading to her office after her workout. Her hair was still damp from her shower. And droplets were gathering in the hollow between her aureoles. However, one of the Hydra Heads was coming back. She had a lot of work to do.

Sarkissian rightfully considered herself one of the most prominent leaders of their organisation, on par with Red Skull. At the very least, because the woman held at least fifty per cent of HYDRA's resources, human, technical, scientific - all of them. But the lion's share was information. Data on virtually all HYDRA agents, even those who were undercover in the Shield. Ophelia had worked for years to achieve all of this. And would soon use it to restore HYDRA from the ashes.

The brunette walked into her office.

One of the analysts was waiting inside, judging by the patch on his uniform.

- Greetings, Madame Sarkissian," the man with the unremarkable appearance greeted nervously.

- Who let you into my office? - Ophelia asked unhappily.

- I'm sorry, but our agents have some important information, and I've been ordered to give it to you personally, - the analyst even turned grey from the tone of his superiors.

- Speak," the brunette said curtly, going to her desk.

- Data from the Shield Aircraft Carrier, from Dr Gustav Fierce.

- What does Dr Fierce want? - Sarkissian began to listen intently.

- He insists on recruiting a student from New York, Peter Parker.

- And what did this kid do to distinguish himself so much? - the woman arched an eyebrow.

- Shield is interested in him, Nick Fury himself. Perhaps...perhaps Dr Fierce has decided to poach a valuable resource?

Analysts. Always analysing.

- Anything's possible.

Madame Hydra was thinking. Ophelia had known Gustav for a very long time, practically since his recruitment sixteen years ago. He had always been there for her and helped her on her way to the top. To cater to such a small whim? A paltry reward for loyalty.

- Get everything ready to send the facility, coordinate the operation with our people in America," Sarkissian rose from her chair. - I'll supervise the recruitment of this kid myself.

I wonder what Mr Parker did to attract the attention of one of HYDRA's top scientists.

***

About the same time.

Romania.

Dr Michael Morbius.

The scientist was looking at a sample of blood plasma, wiping away the sweat.

The disease is progressing. There's not much time left.

The brunet glanced at the cages in which the vampire bats slumbered, upside down.

It might be the only option to survive.