Spider-Man: A New Spiral

Chapter 114: Hard Choices



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***

5 August, 2013. 17:00.

Queens, Parker residence.

Spider-Man.

- Great, I'm glad you're all here," I take turns looking around at everyone present.

At the table, to my right and left are Mary Jane and Felicia, respectively. To MJ's side is Delia. Across from me, Ben is seated. And Cain stood by the fridge, preferring to stay on his feet.

The flashes of visions made one think seriously and start taking action. Talking to the doc had helped him think through his options, testing his theory about how the Snaps worked.

But to not be afraid to test them, you need to keep your family safe.

- So, what have you summoned us for, oh fearless leader? - Reilly said with his trademark humour in his voice.

- By the way, Pete, you pulled me out of the meeting, and I don't think that lawyer will ever cross my path," Fey said unhappily.

- I'm sorry, Kitten, but you know very well I wouldn't have called if it wasn't urgent," I exhaled a little.

- Yes, I know," Hardy dropped all the contrived irritation and looked at me, preparing to listen carefully.

The others were in about the same state of mind.

- Okay, I'm going to tell everyone who doesn't know," I glanced around at my clones. - You probably don't know who Gustav Fierce is, do you?

- Who? - Arching an eyebrow at the blond. Delia just shakes her head negatively.

- 'I know,' Cain says a little tensely.

My brother didn't come to the Shield to sleep, he was gathering information, good for him.

- Will you enlighten the others?

The doppelganger just nodded.

- Gustav Firs, a defector agent, he betrayed Shield and, having taken many of their secrets, went to Europe to look for traces of the destroyed HYDRA, - Parker told us briefly and essentially. - Our parents were sent after him," Cain pressed his lips together, "on their last mission.

- What?" Del exclaimed. - But Mum and Dad died in a plane crash, didn't they? - and a confused look turned in my direction.

- No. The crash was a screen to disguise the fact that the parents were killed by the agents who came to rescue Firs," I put my hands together, "HYDRA agents.

- HYDRA? - my twin wonders. - Weren't they destroyed?

- Alas, no," I exhale, "they lurk. Very, very deep, but their tentacles have grasped many things over the years. When I learnt that, I made a decision. An important one.

- What decision, Tiger? - MJ asked tensely.

I look at Fey and she only gives me a confident nod.

I take Mary's hand.

- I wouldn't have told you earlier, Carrot, because I was worried about your pregnancy, but after everything worked out with the serum, we can open the cards.

Deep sigh.

- I've decided to enlist in HYDRA.

- WHAT?!

Everyone but Kitten reacts violently, so I take my blonde kitty by the hand, my main support in the upcoming conversation.

- This is a very, very, very, very bad idea," Ben wailed.

- You can't be serious, can you? - Delia exclaims.

Cain just stays silent and glares at me.

- Peter," Mary looks into my eyes and takes my hand in both palms, "tell me.

I'm so glad my Carrot is a sensible girl and not a fucking hysteric.

- I took part in Firs's interrogations, actually one-on-one in a long siege, weaving verbal lace, laying the foundations in the foundation and finally managed to get to the truth. And not just about my parents.

- Did you find out anything else?

- Yes," I glance at Delia, "I found out about my sister.

Now everyone's looking at Del and me in bewilderment.

- Um...what's this got to do with me?

- No, brown-eyed girl, it's about my own sister, born to my mother during her and my father's mission in Europe," I raised my eyes to the ceiling. - I became a big brother sixteen years ago.

There was silence in the kitchen, and I decided to continue.

- That's why I plan to infiltrate HYDRA, not so much for the chance to destroy them and get revenge, but to protect my parents' only legacy besides me.

- Are you...absolutely sure that's true? - Mary clarifies, looking at me penetratingly.

- A hundred per cent, that's why I've gathered you here, to tell you and explain how we're going to act now.

Everyone listened attentively.

- The main thing, Mary, is that you and Felicia will have to move into the Kitten Penthouse while I deal with the squid.

- WHAT?! - the redhead jumped up from her seat. - What do you mean, move?! Out of our house?

- It's necessary for your," a glance at a focused Cat, "your safety. HYDRA is no joke.

- You injected me with a serum specifically so we wouldn't be afraid of something like this, didn't you?

- I injected you with the serum to keep our baby safe, not to make you think you're the new super," I was starting to lose my patience now.

Mary just nodded and sat back down. I hope this conversation doesn't come back to bite me.

- When do we pack? - Fey came to the point.

- As soon as possible, I feel that HYDRA will start to act very soon.

*

An hour.

I leave the house and start walking around the neighbourhood with no particular goal in mind. Just shuffling my feet and thinking.

We've finalised all the discussions. Mary and Fel decided to stay home and go and hang out with Fey, Anna and the Watson couple to relax.

The clones decided to do the same, only the blokes decided to air out in their suits straight away and Delia decided to cook something. It relaxes her.

Once again, a look was thrown at me that made me think I needed to talk, and thinking about it immediately brought me back to thinking about the visions.

Stefan proved to be a great expert on the subject and our discussion helped me a lot.

The nature of the clicks needs to be verified, and this is true of any of the visions. For example, will they come true if I just go with the flow and do nothing? Or will my actions eventually lead to the results I see?

But these questions do not apply to all visions.

Conventionally, if I think of the picture of a destroyed New York and the Hulk snarling at me, it's certainly the event of the first gathering of the Avengers, an invasion of the Chitauri sent by Thanos to test Earth's defences. Or something along those lines. Obviously, the fact of the occurrence of this event is not up to me in any way. It's personally within my power to determine whether I'll be in New York at that time and whether the Hulk will have someone to growl at. What am I trying to build up here, though? How am I going to ignore an alien invasion of my city and leave regular people unprotected?

That vision is clear, I have no effect on it.

And so back to Delia again. That conversation in my bedroom, her tears. Is that the result of me initiating the conversation? Or is it her? Or maybe the conversation won't happen if I continue to ignore Del's strange behaviour? Or will it be the other way round, so it'll lead to a conversation?

- Ah! How annoying! - I shriek unrestrainedly. Good thing there's no one in the immediate vicinity.

Okay, inhale, exhale. Easy.

Next. The battle with my clones, that uncomfortable feeling, Jess and Delia's fight. And, of course, the cherry on the cake, the cause of the whole mess - Zebediah Killgrave aka the Purple Man. A genetically modified motherfucker who can control people with his pheromones, skin contact or breath. And motherfucker is still the most flattering characteristic, if you remember how he used his abilities and what he did to ordinary people. And some of the supers, too. Jessica Jones wouldn't lie.

So how did my paths cross with him? I got a vision, I went to Jess and we found him together? Or would Pearl herself come to me for help? And that feeling? Was he controlling me? Could his powers control me? And the defence against Sentience?

Questions, just questions!

All right.

I sniffed the air noisily again.

I'm a geneticist or something, after all. I'll think of some defence. I could use a sample first, though. But who knows, maybe my will will be stronger. Hell, I fought Mephisto in Ghost Rider's body. What am I, some purple pervert?

All right, Parker, let's not get arrogant. Life is like that. Things happen.

In this story, I'm just not gonna get ahead of myself and initiate something I'm not ready for. If Jess comes and asks for help, I'll stop the bastard, if not, fuck him.

What's next? Actually, the reason I brought the family together today: HYDRA. They broke into my house. But for what purpose? Kidnap? To kill?

No, it's more likely that Fierce initiated my recruitment process.

At least that's indicated by the lack of any sense of danger to my life at that particular moment, which means they'd received a directive to pack me up and take me to some training centre.

So much for Theresa just showing up on my doorstep. No longer just eyes and hair, but her face: nose, eyebrows lips, a small mole on her left cheek. Also, she looks a lot like her mum. But her cheekbones are from her dad, just like me.

Her appearance, did it provoke HYDRA into action? Or did my agreeing to work for the squid allow Theresa to find me? Again, actions that I only indirectly influence.

Then the most frightening vision, the incomprehensible space, the laughter, the green cloak. No specifics. Except that I remember a fever, a terrible fever, and frankly, I don't want to go back to that flick just yet.

And now for the most baffling part: I was sitting in my basement making new costumes, except the designs resembled Miles Morales' Spider-Man costume and Gwen Stacy's Spider-Woman costume. So how do you make sense of that?

Again, I'll stay out of it until I figure it out.

Flying around in an Iron Spider suit, then falling down for no reason.

The only thing I remember is that it was just an inexpressibly powerful source of energy. I'd say it was unbelievable.

So, what, now never to fly in my armour, so as not to meet the unknown?

I involuntarily tugged on the strap of my backpack, aka Iron Spider armour. Still, the look is so damn practical. Now I can wear my Perfect Suit both under my clothes and in my backpack, which is also my suit. Exibit comes to mind.

I can't help but chuckle.

I'll have to get Stark a basket of muffins. Armour, always handy.

Still, it's a story we'll have to think about.

And here, on the sweetest, the vision of me standing in front of the mirror in, please for a second to notice, a spider suit, behind a sexy redhead Gina Gray and not sexy Logan. And on his belt, a belt with an X-Men buckle proudly shining bright yellow.

And that's one thing I've discussed with Strange in great detail. After all, he knows I'm a mutant. Just not a normal one. Though not every mutant can be called ordinary.

The point is, the main difference between my X gene and any other is the degree of integration into my DNA. After all the careful research and double-checking of the results, both on my part and on the part of Maria, we can assert one indisputable fact with a hundred per cent probability - my mutation did not make me a mutant in the sense in which are the X-Men or other representatives of the mutant species. The point is that my genome, as I've noticed more than once, has built itself into the strand of my DNA, but normal, human genes, and even genetically modified genes after a spider bite, have not been rewritten.

It's funny. Cerebro identifies me as a mutant, but standard testing determines I don't have the X gene. When Maria discovered this, she said she wouldn't have believed my story at all if she hadn't checked the primary samples herself. After all, according to checks of my last, after the story with Spider-Monster, genetic markers, I never had gene-X.

Mutant even for mutants. Ironic.

And yet, it turns out, according to the vision, I'm going to show up at the Xavier Institute and reveal my name? I'd get on the team? But why would I do that?

It's not that I don't want to be an X. Mutants are a very, very formidable force in this world. Or any other in the multiverse, for that matter. Becoming a part of their world is cool, but it's just as bad, alas, these guys will be hated by almost half of the world.

Completely beside the point, if you ask me. And why do people like looking for differences so much rather than focusing on what we have in common? Yeah, I agree, mutants are bastards. But humans aren't?

So here's the question.

Stopping, I took out my phone and, having turned on the mobile Internet, googled the address of the Charles Xavier Institute for Extraordinary Persons. And yes, it was freely located. Bayville, New York, street, precinct number, all in the public domain. Extremely unsafe, as far as I'm concerned, but I think those who really needed to harm the X-Men would have found the address of the mansion on their own, and those who didn't need to, wouldn't care if it was on the internet or not.

I flipped through some photos of the professor's family estate, as well as of him and his teachers, who posed, probably, for demonstration, saying, "We are the most ordinary school for the most ordinary mutants, nothing to worry about, you can safely leave your children with us.

Yeah. Until the first attack of the Guardians, which, after the statement of Dr Bolivar Trask, are put into production under the patronage of the President himself. So much for the most tolerant country building genocidal machines.

I wonder if the Guardians will recognise me as a mutant.

It was with such thoughts that I adjusted the straps of my rucksack, took out a double ring and, going into an alleyway, opened a portal leading to Xavier's mansion.

***

Five minutes later.

Bevell, New York State.

Xavier Institute.

Anna-Maria lifted herself from the sunbathing chair and stretched sweetly. The girl's luxurious body was framed by a yellow-green swimming costume, although the bikini did its best to conceal the girl's voluminous size four breasts. But Rogue seemed to be completely oblivious to this fact. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement, and her brown hair, with its snow-white quiff, fell silky down her back.

With a satisfied smack of her lips, like a fed cat, Anna-Maria decided to go inside, that was enough vitamin D for today.

The girl stood up and walked towards the mansion, stretching her neck in the process.

Halfway to the mansion, the southerner noticed a young boy standing in the shade of a tree, surveying the area. She didn't see him among the students, but who else had managed to get into the professor's care lately?

- Are you lost, Sweetie? - Rogue addressed the brown-haired man in her trademark manner.

The boy turned around and the girl could now take a full picture of him: dark whiskey-coloured eyes, brown hair like hers, except a little darker and without the grey. A handsome face. He's dressed in a blue shirt with rolled up sleeves, over a white T-shirt that fits his obviously pumped-up body, classic navy blue jeans with a brown belt, and simple sneakers. Behind his back, a large red rucksack with yellow inserts hung on one strap.

The stranger was sweet indeed.

Maybe if Rogue didn't have her Cajun brakes and the unpleasant prospect of putting the guy in a coma with a touch, she'd be happy to have a private moment with him somewhere private. But there's no such thing as flirting, is there?

- In fact, I'd like to meet Professor Xavier, he came to my house the other day and said I could find him when I thought about it," the stranger said.

And he, quite unashamedly, devoured her with his eyes.

At such openness Anne-Marie only smiled. She liked it when a man did not hide his attraction to her, but at the same time did not turn into a lustful animal that could not control itself. That's how she'd hooked up with Remy.

- Well, darling, I'll be glad to take you," the shaten woman said, naturally running her palm over her body, "follow me.

The girl turned round and walked towards the manor, wiggling her firm bottom gracefully.

*

Ibid.

Peter Parker.

I moved quietly into Professor X's mansion, thanks to the teleportation ring, without anyone even noticing. For a while I just looked around at the scenery. But I certainly didn't expect to see the main beauties of the place. So the appearance of Helma, and judging by her snow-white fringes in an ocean of silky brown hair, this beautiful maiden could not be anyone else, was a surprise to me. And what a surprise. Apparently, Anne-Marie likes to sunbathe. Or just showing off her perfect body.

Hell, if it weren't for the knowledge that this girl could put me in a coma with one kiss, I'd be....

Shaking my head.

Okay, Parker, back off. The love of your life, pregnant with your baby and your latex-clad hottie partner is waiting at home! You don't want to look at any of those.... skanks. Even when they're wiggling their luscious arse so sexily.

Especially in these moments!

Meanwhile, Rogue and I, by some roundabout way, through the kitchen and backyard, had reached some room.

The green-eyed girl knocked on the door.

- Please, come in," came the voice of a bald telepath, which I recognised.

- Professor, I've brought you a lost newcomer," the brown-haired girl said after we'd stepped inside.

- Oh, thanks a lot, Rogue," Charlie nodded. - Hi, Peter.

- Hello, Professor," I nodded back at the man and looked around his office.

- So, Peter," the mutant woman said with an incomprehensible amusement in her voice. - Well, let's get acquainted.

- Only glad, miss? - I ask with my trademark smile.

- Anna-Maria, or simply Rogue, Sweetie.

- I'm so happy to meet you," I take my leather gloved hand and leave a light kiss on the back of it.

- So am I," the girl winked at me, "I think I'll leave you to it," Helma said, nodded to the professor, and walked away with a hip gait, closing the door behind her.

- To be honest, Professor, if you had warned me that there were such students here, I probably wouldn't have hesitated," I whistled.

What's wrong with me?

- And your ladies won't mind? - smirks the professor and arches an eyebrow.

- Ladies? - I am interested in the tone of a fool.

- I'm a good psychologist," Chuck replies. - Have a seat.

I sit comfortably in the leather chair opposite the telepath.

- So, have you changed your mind? - Charles starts the conversation.

- You could say so," I swipe my palm indefinitely. - To be honest, I'm still in extreme doubt.

- So why did you come?

- I had a vision, Professor," I adjust myself in a businesslike manner.

- A vision? - Xavier puts his palms together. - It's very interesting, can you tell me more about it?

- In detail," I raise my eyes to the ceiling thoughtfully. - I'll probably open the cards right away.

I sigh.

- My stings aren't all the effects of the mutation.

- Is there something else?

I raise my hand and shoot a strand of organic spider web at the small monument of a cultural figure unknown to me standing against the wall of the study.

- Is that a...spider web? - Charles clarifies.

- I think you've already guessed who I am," I say with a slight smile.

- Have you?

In response, I stand up and my backpack transforms into Iron Spider armour.

- It's not a classic uniform, but it's proof enough, right?

- I guess so," Chuck nods slowly.

I deactivate the armour and sit back in my chair in my regular clothes, with my backpack behind me.

- So the vision you received convinced you to come and reveal your identity? - Chuck clarifies.

- Honestly, I could go round and round for a long time, checking the validity of my clicks, but I thought that if my Sense gives pictures, it's up to me to follow them or not," I explain to the telepath, "there's no destiny except the one we make ourselves, right?

- I agree," the man nods. - I'm glad you accepted the invitation, Peter.

- Not so fast, Chuck," I raise my palm.

- Is something wrong?

- With all due respect, Professor, but I'm not saying I'm going to stay in your mansion and get involved in the team's affairs, at least not right away. But I'd like to see what a Hank McCoy-level geneticist finds in my blood sample, and I'd love to practice in your Danger Room.

- How do you know about it?

- Drunk Logan has a very long tongue.

- Well, I'm still happy to welcome you to the X-Men, Spider-Man," Xavier extends his hand to me.

- Wait, just like that? - I'm asking Chuck.

- Why not? - The telepath smiles at me.

- Indeed," I return the smile.

I shake hands with the prof.

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