Disclaimer: Spider-Man and Marvel related content belong to Marvel Entertainment
Chapter 28: Mad
Friday 1:30PM Harry and Peter's apartment
Two sleepless nights he had and still no answer from Aunt May what he did get was that she was in her room for the majority of the time doing who knows what. During the time Peter did see was when she was making breakfast, lunch, dinner or going to the groceries to get food. The conversation were always brief furthermore whenever he tried to bring up his parents Aunt May would either vaguely answer him or avoid the topic all together which annoyed him greatly.
For the last couple of days he been pounding henchmen and thugs harder than he normally would Cindy or Silk as she goes by now as her superhero identity was getting worried though she understood that Peter needed his space but this was too much. Since the day Fury revealed that he knew the Parkers Peter been non-stop searching on the computer for answers however every time he found something it was either classified or blocked by the government it frustrated the web slinger further to no end, not to mention his boss was demanding photos of her dubbing her the new girl in town or the replacement.
To add fuel to his frustration they lost Black Cat during one of her heist at Biotech labs two nights ago as they went for patrol. They had her cornered until a woman by the name of Silver Sable interfered. Thanks to her experience in combat the two pounded the spider duo like nothing leaving bruises and egos damaged, Sable could have ended them there that night nevertheless hadn't been for Silk to web her in the face and webbing Black Cat feet to the ground along with her hands as she tried to free herself the two young inexperience heroes could have never made it out of there alive. Though they had enough time to grab the device return to Biotech labs free Doctor Watts and her fellow scientist from their imprisonment after knocking a few goons out cold.
The next day Peter told Aunt May about his encounter with a man named Magneto as well as an encounter with a band of mutants called the X-men whom extended the invitation to him to join them about his powers. May was skeptical at first but seeing Cindy's enthusiasm with Peter determination to be better at this hero business she called the Institute located in Westchester when she was conversing with Charles Xavier.
They agreed to meet that same day to discuss how this training session was going to go down on the way they took several buses to get there. Peter thought it would be a good idea to confront his mother like figure about his parents once again. Unfortunately, May avoided the conversation by conversing with another woman about sewing infuriating the younger Parker even more despite Cindy trying to get him to relax. Peter knows this is hard thing for his aunt but he must know what happened to them. He remembers them promising to be around for his next birthday when he was four now they seem to be nothing more than a distant memory 15 years later, he couldn't remember his mother's face or the color of her hair even if he wanted to.
The young man understood to keep secrets is to protect one's family he wasn't going to deny that but it took courage to tell his aunt the whole truth to what happened between him and MJ and she accepted it, so why now? Why the hypocrisy now? She raised him to read his bible, to pray constantly, took him to Church and it wasn't a Catholic one either more like Pentecostal, follow what the scripture says to never lie, steal, or commit adultery, respect others the way you wanted to be treated out of love for Jesus Christ because once you are born again the old past away and you become a new creation, most of all he been taught to love the Lord thy God with all your mind, body, soul and strength then one day it all stopped when he was seven.
When he asked them why they stopped going to church they were vague to answer him just as they were vague to answer him about his parents he never questioned them until today. Finally, they arrived at the institute followed by a greeting by Charles Xavier with one of the teachers of the school Ororo Munroe. Introduction were made Peter made himself known that he was the same wall-crawler person that they met a few days ago he went as far to reveal a bit of his costume to him, Xavier promised that his secret was safe with them much to his relief yet much to Cindy's skepticism as he introduced her next he explained how she was in a bunker for a couple of months with a man named Ezekiel leaving out the embarrassing details he did say the fact that she was his new sidekick much to her dismay. Finally, Aunt May was given an introduction however tension was felt aunt and nephew that can be cut with a knife nevertheless he respected his aunt talked about her as a kind, caring woman that she was moreover a mother to him. In response to that her attitude became downcast which didn't go unnoticed by the two X-Men nor Cindy.
They were going to be given a tour of the place in which the Professor forewarned that certain students didn't have the physical appearance of being human however they were still human despite the looks learning to control their powers, one of them being Kurt Wagner who teleported in front of them in all his blue fur glory, Peter, Cindy and Aunt May were stunned at first as they were introduced with each other though it quickly elapsed the moment Cindy asked him questions about him referring to him as a Pokémon earning a heartfelt laugh from the German.
Once inside Peter met familiar faces and new ones as well he became fast friends with Shadow Cat or Kitty Pryde after all she was his number one fan. Though introduction was cut short due to a snowball hitting her in the back of the head by a teenager with blonde hair the chase was on for revenge.
Cindy on the other hand felt threaten that she was surrounded by a lot of females even first glance at Ororo made her want to claw the chocolate skinned mutant eyes out due to her beauty then again she had to remember she had no right to claim Peter at least not at the moment since she promised him to take things slow to get to know him better in terms of friendship in the mean time he was fair game to any one even if she didn't like it, totem business or not.
They were given the tour to various places in the mansion especially the Danger Room in the lower levels. Wolverine was there coming out of the place smoking as if he went to war, Cindy and Peter twitched at this even May was apprehensive at letting her nephew participate in this fiasco. Seeing this the weather manipulator mutant reassured them that Logan was on a different level entirely that students were given a lower simulation still that didn't reassure Aunt May.
The tour lasted until six o'clock seeing much of the place as well as making new friends, Aunt May decided to think about it within three days to come up with an answer Charles understood her hesitance told her to take her time. They said their goodbyes leaving towards the bus terminal that was the case until a burglary caught the attention of the duo thus making it up to them to stop it which they and they decided to web-sling home hitchhiking on different cars of the rooftop.
When they got home Peter decided to catch up on his homework for college, Cindy having not much to do decided to help May in the kitchen to make something nice and quick for dinner after a change of clothing. In spite of that 30 minutes in the news reported that the villain known as Shocker was holding a bank hostage duty called once again, it wasn't until 2 am in the morning that they returned battered and bruised that they managed to track down Shocker in the subway and bring him into custody which he squealed that he was working for Vulture at the old abandon clock tower. That was the second day.
Now on the third day Peter managed to complete his all homework much to his relief thanking God that there was little crime to stop which was rare. Once again, Peter decided to confront his aunt again this time May stopped him cold demanding that the younger Parker stop this foolish of asking her about his parents and in the term of older generation to bug off the subject since he wasn't ready to know the truth at least not yet. Peter begged her to tell him about his parents she stubbornly refused. Harsh words were exchanged during the discussion Peter packed his stuff slamming the door leaving the house.
Cindy was upstairs getting herself ready for the day, she heard the argument with the words that went along with it. She winced after hearing a certain word that you are never to use on an elderly woman then heard a smack. She figured that May had slapped her nephew across the face in which Peter stormed up into the guest room packed his stuff went down stairs like a madman slamming the door shut. She swallowed dryly until her head started to throb. Quickly she changed sensing Peter's frustration and it was growing as well as she saw through the window that he took out his cell phone apparently arguing with someone.
Quickly, a jacket and boots were on since there was still snow outside the girl ran out the door promising Aunt May that she look after Peter paused for a moment at the door to hear the older woman weeping, a lump formed in her throat as her heart went out to the woman. Even she wasn't like this with her family she thought closed the door chased after Peter.
They reached his apartment it was a silent journey she didn't dare bring up the subject of his relative until he cooled down. He opened the door to find a shirtless Gwen and Harry making out with each other with papers all over the place. Peter stomped his way into the home surprising the two causing them to find the discarded clothing though he paid no mind to them as he marched to his room, they were going to ask how he was doing in until Cindy told them he had an argument with his aunt much to their surprise.
Before Cindy could say something else her head pounded like the jungle drums causing Gwen to catch her soon the trio heard a raging yell and cursing as well as objects being destroyed. Harry wisely told Cindy to wait until Peter was finished for she wanted to comfort him but the young man told her that he seen this type of anguish happened before to Peter twice in his lifetime during middle school when his favorite snack was stolen.
It was silent for a minutes, Cindy willed herself to go check on her friend.
"Every other door should be open but two you can't miss it his room is the one with science board that says his name." Harry called out, "Approach with extreme caution."
Gwen smacked him in the back of the head at the joke, the Asian girl found her target's room carefully opened once it swung wide opened the room was mess, papers scattered all over the floor, empty bottles of chemistry broken in half, drawers knobs shattered yeah it wasn't a pretty sight and poor Peter was in a corner in mental anguish repeatedly hitting his head on the wall calling himself stupid for calling his mother like figures names like old hag and brainless twit.
Cindy slowly approached him grabbing his arms pulling him away from his spot, Peter didn't fight her as she stood him up. His eyes red, his cheeks stained with tears and she could hear his soft sniffles, slowly she walked towards him then closed the gap by embracing him rubbing his back speaking to him softly.
She felt him pull her tighter as he buried his head in her shoulders, the girl continued to speak softly to him from the corner of her eye she saw Gwen with a solemn expression, removing one of her hands she turned her head slightly signaling for a drink, the blonde got the message.
Peter managed to speak, "I'm such an idiot."
"Hey you'll be okay." Cindy said snuggling her head to his chest resting her ear on his chest, "You'll be okay just give it some time to blow over."
Somewhere else in the Big Apple
"Max, I need you!" Cried a man wearing red jacket with a matching red hat, "Harris is in trouble on a high tension pole you've got to get him down from there!"
Max or Maxwell Dillon a common man who worked for a simple electrical company instead of pursuing his true goal of being a professional electrical engineer but thanks to his mother who lied to him about not being that smart he choose this profession instead looked at his coworker scoffing in his face, "Forget it! I don't do anything for nothing! How much bonus will you give me if I take him down Jeff?"
Jeff placed his hand on top of his head, "There is a man's life in danger and your best pole man! And you worried about getting a bonus? Are you off you're rocker!"
The man in the green jumpsuit picked his ear out with his pinky then flicked the wax off, "Well no bonus no man down…pick your poison."
Jeff couldn't believe his ears, "Are you freaking kidding me Max…you know… you know what we'll pay you overtime back at the office how about that?"
"That's more like it! Now don't get your pants in a knot I'll bring him down." He said getting his safety belt
Jeff watched him with frown on his face as he climbed up to get the man stuck in the pole. He growled while thinking, 'Dillon is a rat! Trash, a good for nothing egotistical man.'
Max lowered the man known as Harris down on a rope, the paramedics were on scene by the time they arrived with a stretcher Max from his position called out, "Hey Jeff! I'm going to keep working up here and this is going to cost extra!"
Jeff knuckles went white while checking on his unconscious yet alive employee, 'If I didn't offer him a bonus he'd leave Harris up there, if he wasn't our best man on the pole I'd bounce him in a second!'
In sky it would be turning from overcast to dark grey.
He was calm in the living room sipping his tea while Cindy and Harry cleaned up his room, Gwen playing with her fingers had to ask, "So…not to make this anymore awkward…but um what did you do to make your aunt so upset?"
Peter sipped his tea placed it down on the table, "I don't want to talk about it."
"You know talking will make you feel better." Gwen said moving from one couch to the another next to her friend, "Peter I'm here if you need a shoulder or an ear to lean on you've always been there for me, Harry and even MJ let me help you."
Setting down the beverage the brown haired young adult looked her straight in the eye, "Gwen I appreciate it but right now I can't nor will I talk about what had happen so please let me have some time to think."
The young Stacey woman nodded, "You know where I'll be in case you need to let some steam out okay?"
He nodded going back to his tea. The phone the rang it was answered by the blonde, "Hello? Oh…Mrs. Parker…hi…" She looked at Peter who was looking at his tea cup with more interest while rubbing his hand on his right cheek, "Yeah he's here…no he hasn't said anything…He'll properly need his space to clear his head…I understand Mrs. Pak-May…I'll let him know…bye."
"Let me guess she wants to know how I'm doing?" He said monotone his eyes never leaving the cup
"More or less, yes." Gwen replied, "Whelp I'm going to check up on Harry and Cindy see how they are doing."
Peter didn't acknowledge her, when the footsteps faded away he got up changed into his costume fighting the throbbing his head and left. He needed to clear his head whether Cindy was around or not he never noticed that a black spot on his foot was growing in size as he web swung away from the apartment.
Elsewhere Eleven minutes later
"Stupid traffic!" Said the driver of the armored van, "I've been running this route for a good 20 years and I've never been so late before to a destination!"
His fellow guard replied with small chuckle, "Hey that's life. Ya can't predict it as you can predict weather, and can't predict downtown traff…"
A taxi car coming in too fast smashed itself in the bumper of a blue car. The second guard quickly got out the van, "I'll help out…you stay here."
"Where do you think your going sonny? I know CPR!" He said grabbing the young man who was in his 20's by the of the vest
"So do I old timer, so mind the cargo!"
The older man grumbled as he watched his partner skit-daddle to the scene suddenly a cry for help was heard, "Help! There is a man in the deli having a heart attack does anyone know CPR?"
The older man whistled looking at a woman in a business suit waving her hands, "What are the odds of that happening?"
Unknown to him a couple of thieves were in the rear couldn't believe their luck, "Take a good look boys chance like these are rare. Two separate emergencies requiring both guards to up and leave the money truck unprotected, what are the chances of that happening often?"
"It's just like that crazy dude said!" One them answered
"Hey don't forget that dude is our employer man, so let's hurry up and bag this car." HE said taking out a device planting it on the armored car.
"But how could he know that?"
"Long as I get my share of the loot…" The door was blown opened, "I really don't care."
They hopped in the van collect as much bag as they could, "Have you ever seen so much money before?"
"Well sure I have…" The crooks turned to see a white lens staring at them, "Usually right before I clean the clocks of a bunch of guys in ski mask and bad cologne. Really bad cologne. Seriously not in the mood you guys."
"Spider-Munngh!" He punched the first man in the face
"huh. Interesting pronunciation." He said flipping over him, "Anyone else care to give it a shot?"
The thug he was hand standing on with his feet kicking the other two said, "The boss never predicted you'd be here!"
"Well that's just me…Mr. Unpredictable." Unknown to him Spider-Man was being recorded of his heroic action by an unknown person through a drone, "But I bet you all know what happens next…"
Through a computer a man with green jumpsuit and black combat boots watched with high interest at the wall-crawler, "Three times. With my unsurpassed intellect along with my vast computing power, I can sift through the chaos of the universe accurately predicting the future events down to the smallest variable. But three times this man in the past has stopped my plans a single element has eluded my calculation. Though the costume seems a bit off wasn't it red and blue not black and silver?"
He turned stroking his chin, "Three times this Spider-Man has spoiled my plans to accumulate the resources I require to further my scientific advancement. A wild card whose involvement cannot be predicted? I don't think so I can foresee anything. He's a fluke. He has to be!"
He walked to his invention a golden machine his most prized possession, "The Mad Thinker—That's what they call me you know. They called me mad."
HE walked up to his golden trophy, "They're wrong! I'll show them. I'll prove that Spider-Man is a fluke. Won't we my flawless automaton."
The Mad Thinker took a seat in his computer, "Yes…I see the solution already. I see it." He punched in some codes, "Soon I will determine Spider-Man's future whereabouts—and you Intello…will destroy him."
"You must be the Mad Thinker." A voice in the shadow said
"Who dares enter the lair of the Mad Thinker?"
"I do Ezekiel Sims." The older stepped out of the shadows with a brief case, "I proposition for you."
Fisk Tower
Sable was typing on her computer logging in her wrist band information about Spider-Man and Spider-Woman though rumor was going around that a new girl was on the block. Those rumors were true, the woman she faced was not Spider-Woman but a new type of hero naming herself Silk and boy did they suck as a team always arguing with each other sending back and forth petty jokes.
The silver haired woman scoffed, they weren't even worth her time she excepted more from the web-slinger she was vastly disappointed with the fight two nights ago. Though Silk managed to land a lucky shot with her webbing to her face covering her eyes as she was pinned down with her saber the dark haired girl distracted her with her talking as she was about to deliver the final blow while the Black Cat flirted with Spider-Man ugh next she gets the wall-crawler.
"Sable report!" The booming voice of the King Pin of crime said coming in Felicia Hardy the Black Cat, "You have not left the tower ever since your failure to take them down."
"Patience Mr. Fisk I'm merely studying Spider-Man a little more to get to know my prey a little better." Sable looked up from her laptop staring into the eyes of a cold calculating of Fisk, "It seems that the Spider-Man has the ability to sense danger ahead time explaining how he was able to dodge at pointblank range a 9mm gun bullet."
"Very well, how goes the other project on Teresa Parker?" He asked
"She good but not that good." Sable returned to the laptop with a map of New York City, "She made a rookie mistake that would soon cost her dearly. She made a phone call which allowed me to trace it back to this location." She entered a code allowing her to show a red dot near the Rocker Feller Center, "I'll deal with her before I move to the Spiders once again."
"See that you do."
Above NYC Skylines
Silk was panting hard, Peter was gone from her side for a long time already she was starting to feel the affects of it nausea, headaches, and her nose started to bleed a little and over all she was getting tired.
"I have to….find…him." Cindy felt to the urge to vomit so quickly she landed on one of the buildings of Tribeca pulling down her scarf spitting up saliva, she supported herself on the wall wiping the sweat off her brow, "I…must rest…"
Gingerly she let herself down to let the wave of discomfort pass while reaching out to him, Professor Xavier said that there was link between the two when he scanned their minds however since there was a missing link causing a short circuit it had not been allowing them to be gone for long periods of time however he encouraged the two teens to come back to further that link so they maybe able to have a connection as well built a resistance.
"Stupid totem business…why can't things ever be simple?" Cindy closed her eyes for a moment allowing the wave of discomfort.
Spider-sense!
Her eyes popped opened when she saw something gold coming her way, quickly she attached to the wall before springing out of the way as the wall was partially destroyed. She pushed back the headache that was going to face a golden man in a skirt? Interesting…
Silk jumped at him to be met in the air then punched in the face and grappled to ground of the roof then she was tossed off the building. She spun a web line to another building making haste.
She looked back briefly to find that the gold man was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, "Wow an Oscar? For me so unexpected. I would like to thank the academy."
Cindy felt a surge of a headache going on couldn't stay airborne, she unexpectedly landed where the man name Max Dillon was working, "Whoa! Where did you come from?"
Silk was about to say something when her headache combined with her spider-sense drove her to clutch her head in pain. The golden robot tackled her to the ground.
"Let's see attacked by a complete stranger for no reason." The golden man kicked off while the young heroine landed semi gracefully to the floor, "Is it…Thursday already?"
She stood up clutching her head while a few snowflakes fell on her head looking at the sky she sighed, "Great and I didn't carry an umbrella." Then it begin to blow hard with snow the girl shook to the core gave a low growl while turning her attention to her opponent, "What don't have anything to say to me? Like, you know your name! Your origin? Your plot to take over the world because I'm sure that's what villains do, no?"
Silence she pounced him with a flying kick to the chest but the man avoided it, "Nothing huh?" She dodged a punch, "Okay then I will call you 'Goldie'. By the way love the skirt a very brave fashion choice for—YOW!"
She dodged another punch, "Stop that! Keep that up and your liable to hit me!"
that was followed up by another fast strike this time Cindy back flipped to where the electrician was working, "Thanks to you I'm cold and wet do you know how hard it is to remove a spider suit? I'm going to need a spatula to peel this thing…Spider sense!"
A lighting bolt hit the pole that she was on which in turn shocked the electrician who was working on top as well. An anguishing yell was heard, Cindy froze then looked to see the man falling to ground thinking on her feet she spun webs to break the unconscious mans fall, "That was…close…ugh my head…"
An ear splitting spider-sense agonized her headache greatly as she seized her sides of her cranium, her world was spinning out of control, a great of wave of nausea claimed her before she could react a solid hit was delivered to the back of her head the last thing she saw was black.
Later
Cindy groggily opened her eyes the bright light beaming directly at her, groaning she got up taking in her surroundings. There was TV in the right corner, her walls full of posture of Eminem, then she looked at the bed her plushy of her Staryu.
She noticed that she had a device on her neck as well as rope burn. The Korean-American began to hyperventilate realizing the her costume was gone, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO, NO!" She rushed towards the doors pounding it with all her might, "Ezekiel! Ezekiel! Open the door!"
A little window opened revealing his eyes, "No…"
Cindy was failing to hide her fear, "Please don't do this to me…I beg of you…let me out of here. Let me return to Peter please don't do this."
"I'm sorry Cindy this is for your own good." He said monotone
"Why?" She whimpered a lump forming in her throat, "Why couldn't you leave with him? I could have been back in civilization."
"I have my reasons and that collar you are wearing neutralizes your spider-powers so don't expect Peter to locate you anytime soon. I told you to stay put but you don't listen now you will stay here until the Inheritors are dealt with." Ezekiel said closing the window.
"Ezekiel?" Cindy called out tapping the doors, "Ezekiel!" He didn't respond "EZEKEIL!" She shrieked pounding on the door, "OPEN THE DOOR! PLEASE!"
Again she was ignored, she screamed at the top of her lungs pounding on the door, in her rage she tried to kick it but slipped on her own two feet falling on her side bruising her arm and bumping her head on the solid floor. Her hair covered most of her face to hide the tears being released from the tear ducks, burying her face on the floor her right arm pounded on it, "Damn…you…Ezekiel…"
Then curling into a ball the young Asian-American wept hugging herself, "P-p-pl-please…d-d-don't…l-leave…me…a-alone…in…he-here…I-I'm scared…please…please…please…d-don't…"
LXD: Second update within a couple of days, I would like to give a shout out to , Spiderman1fan, Phoenix, Celgress and Mezazra for reviewing. Good to see old and new faces on board with the story as well as new subscribers and favoriters. Well I must continue on with my work so I will see you on the next update, comment, rate, subscribe.
