Ladies and gentlemen, we are coming closer and closer to the big night at Fisk Tower, and while our heroes are coming to terms with their feelings with each other, they're also preparing for the big battle to come, so let's see how the "Countdown" goes, folks!
Enjoy the reading!
SPIDER-MAN AND KITTY PRYDE: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Chapter 18: The Last Details, Part 1 – Build Up for the Fight
For some New Yorkers, this is just another regular day, but for very few this is the beginning of the countdown for what promises to be an astonishing night when the Mayor Wilson Fisk celebrates the Inauguration Gala of his new Fisk Tower; and even very few knows that it'll be more than just a social event, it'll be a night when evil strikes, which is why both Parker siblings are preparing themselves for what will go down, but before they get their hands to work, they have one very important last stop.
"Just because this is important, doesn't mean you'll dodge the question forever Peter Parker" Teresa teasingly scolds her brother "You still have to tell me what happened between you and Kate".
"I know, I know, when we get to the Storage Room, I'll tell you everything, but right now, there's someone else who is our biggest priority" Peter replies as they both walk down the aisle at the McCarthy Medical Center and are received by Doctor Sebbens "Good afternoon, Doctor"
"Peter, Teresa, is good to see you" the doctor greets the Parker siblings warmly "As I told you, May has finally been administered of the treatment and it pleases me so much to let you know…" the doctor takes a purposefully short dramatic pause "that she is recovering greatly" the good news prompt the Parker siblings to sigh loudly in relief, hugging each other as they finally let go of their joy.
"Thank you so much, Doctor" Peter thanks the doctor, quickly cleaning up the tears that almost left his eyes.
"Does that mean that…?" Teresa was about to ask a question, but the Doctor quickly interjects answering her.
"Of course you can see her" he steps aside to let them go inside the room and visit their beloved Aunt "Although it bears repeating that please, this information must be kept down"
"Of course, Doctor" Peter nods in response.
"We can assure that tonight that case should be closed, considering what will unfold at Fisk's Tower Gala" Teresa comments, implying about Fisk's public deal with the Hellfire Trading Company, while omitting the fact about Octavius' potential attack. Once both siblings step inside, they are both greeted by a calm, yet happy May Parker, smiling at the sight of her nephews after a long time in an out of consciousness.
"Peter…Teresa…" May slowly salutes her nephews, who step in and sit right next to her, holding her hands as they express their happiness to see her recovering.
"You have no idea how much we missed you, Aunt May" Teresa smiles at May as she talks to her.
"We have so much to talk you about" Peter comments "But you'll be pleased to know that Soylent Green is not made out of people, yet" he jokes, prompting May to laugh a bit.
"Oh, Peter, even in times like these, you never stop" May laughs, a very contagious laugh as both Parker siblings share the feeling "Now to get a bit more serious, how are things at the Center?" May asks, since she has lost a lot of groundwork with the F.E.A.S.T. Center.
"We've been full throttle over there" Teresa responds "Between Peter, Randy and myself included, even Kate pitched in from time to time".
"That reminds me…how'd it go, Pete?" May asks Peter, who feels a bit confused about the question but then May clarifies "Before I fell ill, Teresa told me that you and Kate went on a date, so…how'd it go?" Peter laughs a bit nervously after being asked that question, but then he looks at May's eyes with a wide smile.
"It was wonderful" he replies "Kate and I really enjoyed that date" he laughs a bit, while Teresa steps aside after she feels the buzzing of her smartphone, meaning that she just had a message.
"Uh, guys, I'll be outside for a while" Teresa smiles, approaching May to hold her hand in farewell, leaving the room. Right then, May looks at Peter with a wide smile, holding gently his hand.
"You really needed to spend a good time, Peter" May comments to Peter, who nods his head in response.
"We did, Aunt May, and even she visited from time to time when you were ill" Peter replies.
"You know that all those years, Anna Watson and I worked so hard to pair you together" May begins to reminisce about those early years when they tried to set a date for them "And I thought how you were fit for each other, and I know that I once told you how Ben and I often broke up and came back together before we settled but…I've come to realize that after she made her choice, it was right then when I realized that if she made it, is because you two truly weren't meant to be"
"I know, Aunt May" Peter sighs with sadness due to May bringing that up.
"But that also meant, that something better was right there waiting for you, and to be honest…I'm very glad that you met that lovely Kate, because something tells me that she is that 'something better'" May's words bring Peter a wide smile on his face, seeing how she is also encouraging him to pursue something better with Kate.
"I really missed your words of wisdom, Aunt May" Peter approaches her and hugs her.
"And I missed that smile of yours, Peter" Aunt May whispers and then looks back at her nephew "If your feelings for her are that strong, then go for it, and never let her go".
May's words of encouragement are the boost of confidence Peter really needed, although there's still the big detail that Kate has been missing and distant ever since they kissed, but now that his friends and family are motivating him to pursue it, he knows that once he gets the chance, he'll take it to be with her.
"I'll go with Teresa, Aunt May; meanwhile, you should recover, and before you know it, we'll take you out to the Cyclone before they rename it after Boomerang" Peter jokes, making May laugh once again, and bids his farewell, leaving the room so she can rest "Alright sis" he bumps back with Teresa "With one concern down, we can truly focus on tackling the problem of Fisk's Gala ad Octavius"
"Damn right" Teresa replies "Let's go, we still got work to do" she then gestures with her head so they leave the Hospital and get back to work.
MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE AT THE SEA
In the middle of the sea, a black military frigate sails en route to the island of Manhattan, for this ship transports the Hellfire Trading Company's Red King Shinobi Shaw, and he is heading to seal the biggest deal for the company what would put him in a higher status than the White Queen, and thus fulfill his intention of having the Hellfire rule by the Red over the Black and White.
Alongside him, he has assembled a special crew of mutants who assist him in delivering the Krakoan medicine to the allied countries and also to the Black Market dealings, and if things go as he plans, they will become Krakoa's greatest defenders over the seven seas, The Upstarts.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" the Red King addresses his crew, all men and women decked in red attires, matching the colors of their leader and captain "Today we are heading to one of the most important deals for the island of Krakoa, one where all of us will be winners and stand above the inferiority represented by the White Queen's pets" he then walks from one side to the other of the deck as he talks to his crew "and for that, I want all of you to act on your best behavior".
"Come on, Shinobi, you've known me for years" complains one of his crew members, a green haired, bearded man in a red vest and a gold suit "I will behave, but rest assured you, if one of those security agents irks me up, don't be surprised if they end up dead" he comments.
"Typical of you, Trevor" comments a white haired woman in red-and-gold armor-esque attire and tactical glasses "I'll try to keep him in check, boss" she comments.
"I trust you will, Siena" Shinobi replies and then looks at the twins in red business suits "Fenris, I assume you won't have any problems dealing with Fisk".
"I've seen some of Wilson Fisk's criminal records" comments the man, Andreas Von Strucker "He may be the type of 'Boss' that could never forgive a failure, but he is more manageable than people I've worked with before…Zola, Osborn, even your father".
"However" Andreas' twin sister Andrea interjects "We remind you that we remain here because you promised to fulfill what your father did to us, we want the seats in white".
"We land this deal, Andrea, and we will be one thousand steps ahead of Emma Frost until the Queen falls down, and then you'll get your wish fulfilled, but until then, remember that you're my Red Knights, and you should act as such" Shinobi points out.
"We will keep an eye on all the dealings, Mr. Shaw" a blonde, bearded man in a red Victorian suit interjects "I will take responsibility for the crew's behavior" he comments, finishing with a small reverence.
"And that's why you are the Red Bishop, Mr. Leland" Shinobi nods his head "Now, everyone back to your cabins, Mr. Fitzroy, go back to the controls, for we are closer to the Port" he orders his crew to move as he turns and sees that the landscape of Manhattan is now visible in the distance, signaling how closer they are getting to New York, and then head to Fisk Tower for their work.
AT THE STORAGE ROOM
In spite of having someplace to be, or to spend the night, Kate stayed all night long at the Storage Room where she and Peter worked hours in creating their 'Pryker' Computer Device, where they both shared their past stories, connecting with each other in more ways they would've ever thought, and when they both shared a kiss that made the fire of their feelings burn hotter; but Kate's thoughts are not only about Peter, but about the imminent event at Fisk Tower, when Wilson Fisk and Shinobi Shaw will try to seal their deal dooming Emma Frost, provided that Doctor Octopus doesn't destroy them first.
She already warned Ororo, after making amends with her for what happened the moment she 'Lost everything' and left Krakoa for good, yet Ororo confirmed her fears hours ago: The X-Men acknowledge the danger, but decided to allow Shinobi to handle it, since he is capable of fighting, as well as he might carry his crew with him, meaning that at this moment, this has become her fight.
"I feared that the X-Men wouldn't listen…but this has become my fight" Kate thinks, pondering if she should jump into action on her own "This is the chance I needed to get my retribution against Shinobi, make him pay for the 'Sins of his Father'" she recalls that Sebastian was the one who killed her so Shinobi could get her seat "And now that I have no doubt that Doc Ock will be there too, this may become the most dangerous and personal fight I've ever been…but I made my choice, Krakoa and the X-Men may have turned their backs on me, but I won't repeat that gesture, I will keep fighting" she looks determined, mentally preparing herself for what's to come "In retrospect, ever since the whole thing with Krakoa started, I was changing, but this wasn't the change I hoped or that I liked, and after what I went through…Peter brought back my old self, he reminded me of who I am, a hero, a fighter, a woman from Chicago who always wanted to thrive and be her best" she smiles, mentally thanking Peter for reviving the fire within her, what made her Kate Pryde, the youngest member of the X-Men, but she stayed focused on one detail, how she was the 'Woman from Chicago', which made her realize that ever since the rise of the nation of Krakoa, she left behind where she came from, and she needs to regain those bonds once again.
As she turns on the 'Pryker' device, she links her Webware to use it as a camera and begins to make a videophone call to someone close to her heart, and who she has not made contact in a very long time.
"Hello?" an old woman appears on the screen, holding her glasses so she could focus better on the camera of her phone.
"Hi, Mom" Kate slowly smiles as she sees her mother in the videocall, a reaction that is reciprocated on the other side of the screen.
"Kitty?" Theresa Pryde, Kate's mother, smiles at the sight of her daughter "Geez, it's been quite a long time; I think that the last time we talked was…"
"At my wedding day" Kate points out "Or should I say, my failed wedding day" she laughs a bit when she corrects herself.
"You know, even though it became clear that you and that Russian boy weren't meant to be, I still have the hope that you'll find somebody" Terri comments to her daughter, who simply laughs at her words "So tell me, is everything OK, sweetie?"
"I just…" Kate tries to gather the words she wants to say to her mother "I just wanted to talk, because it's been quite a while"
"To be honest…I thought I'd never see you again" Terri confesses, stunning Kate a bit.
"Mom? Why would you say that?" Kate asks, still trying to get out of the funk.
"Because I thought that with this whole 'Mutant Nation' thing going on, I was thinking 'Well, this is it, my daughter is gone and I'll never hear from her again" Terri replies her daughter's question.
"Mom, you know I'd never do that" Kate comments, although she then felt fear about telling her the ordeals she went through, including her death and resurrection.
"I know, I know, is just…" Terri becomes a bit more upset "I couldn't help but remember that other mutant nation and then…" it is then when Kate closes her eyes in sadness because she knows what her mother is talking about; about the destruction of Genosha where her father died.
"Mom, Krakoa is not Genosha, but…" Kate sighs "I must confess that I was distancing myself from who I was, I was becoming too different, too out of touch with who I used to be and…" she begins to feel teary-eyed as she struggles to say the words "I guess I was forgetting who I am"
"Well, in case you're still confused, you are Kitty Pryde, you are the youngest member of the X-Men, you co-founded Excalibur, you became a warrior, a teacher, a hero, and even when we think we lost you, you find a way to come back" Terri replies her daughter with a stern, yet encouraging voice.
"Even when I insist my friends that they should call me 'Kate' instead of 'Kitty'?" Kate drops the question, to which Terri frowns, and then scoffs a laugh.
"If they want to call you Kate, that's their problem; if you want them to call you Kate, that's your decision, but for me, and I bet that the ones who really love you think the same, you will always be Kitty" Terri points out, prompting Kate to laugh.
"I missed you, Mom" Kate talks in a nostalgic tone.
"And I missed you too, sweetie, and you better come visit soon" Terri points her daughter.
"I'll try Mom" Kate smiles as she responds "Oh and by the way…I met someone".
"You did?" Terri asks pleasantly surprised, to which Kate nods in response.
"I did, and he is…Amazing" Kate replies, smiling widely as she says that last word "And by the way…his name is Peter" she points out, as her mother is well aware of Kate's sort-of-obsession with dating older men named 'Peter'.
"Why am I not surprised about that one?" Terri jokingly poses the question "As long as he makes you happy, I'm OK with it".
"He does" Kate replies.
"Very well, then, I have to go sweetie" Terri bids her farewell to her daughter "And remember…you know who you are, a hero".
"I'll never forget it" Kate replies "I love you, Mom"
"I love you too, Kitty" Once the call ends, the screen goes back into the main image. Kate sighs, satisfied that she has also remade a long lost connection with her mother, remembering who she is.
"She's right, I must never forget who I am…and I owe it all to Peter, speaking of which…" right then, Kate sets up the Webware once again, but this time, to record a videomessage, then she takes a deep breath, and prepares to talk.
AT TRIBECA
After receiving the good news about Aunt May's condition, the Parker siblings can get down to business, while Peter puts Teresa up to date with the things he has done on his own. They both head to Teresa's apartment where Teresa shows the Intel she has gathered
"Alright sis, want to start telling me about your part of the work?" Peter asks, looking at his sister with his arms crossed.
"Well, like I told you before, Jonah and I went to the City Hall to search for Fisk's Guest List and security measures for his gala, and I have to tell you, the man is setting up a warzone" Teresa explains, showing her brother the pictures from her tablet to watch them properly "He has enough of his 'Task Force' troopers to fight an army, with tanks and choppers in stand-by"
"He obviously wants to make a show out of a fight against Otto" Peter comments, noticing the large amount of soldiers gathered, with the last time he saw that many being during the Gog situation.
"And not only that, he also has set up 'Defense Drones' bought from Baintronics" she shows him the flying armed drones "A full swarm of drones around the tower, so making an entrance will be very difficult".
"Oh, you don't say" Peter sarcastically points out "Look at that, Tony Stark's business rival protecting his old house".
"If you thought that's dangerous, just check the guest list" Teresa comments until she begins to search for other files "One of my colleagues at C.I.A. has a contact with the X-Desk"
"The X-Desk? The X-Men have their own section at the C.I.A.?" Peter asks, a bit confused.
"More like a new C.I.A. division that keeps tabs on every mutant activity across the world, it's been set ever since the nation of Krakoa became a sovereign country recognized by the U.N." Teresa explains "My colleague, through his contact, sent me the Intel about the Hellfire Trading Company's representatives that are coming to the party, and this…is their leader" right then she shows the picture of the Red King himself "Shinobi Shaw, the Red King of the Company and leader of an outfit called the Upstarts".
"Shaw…" Peter whispers, feeling the anger build up inside because that's the son of Sebastian Shaw, the man who killed Kate and ignited her personal downfall.
"Shinobi's crew shares the name of a mutant terrorist organization that used to target fellow mutants as part of a sick and twisted inner game" Teresa comments to her brother, showing then two more pictures of their members "These two are members of both the original and current iterations of the Upstarts; Trevor Fitzroy and Siena Blaze"
"And according to their powersets, one sucks life energy and another one is a terrakinetic" Peter notes their powers and how to combat them.
"Then, you got this guy" she shows the picture of Leland "Harry Leland, a former associate of Sebastian Shaw in the Hellfire Club, now Shinobi's Red Bishop".
"Red Bishop?" Peter asks, once again baffled upon the new things he is discovering around and about the Hellfire Club's history.
"According to historic files, the Hellfire Club's 'Chain of Command' is a Lord Imperial, and then Black and White pieces of the chess, King, Queen, Bishop, Rook and Knights taking the place of Pawns" Teresa explains her well documented Intel "But when the Hellfire Trading Company was established, the structure changed to Lord Imperial, and then Kings or Queens, Bishops and Knights in that order, the big change was that they added Red to the Black and White".
"So that's why Kate became the Red Queen" Peter thinks, recalling Kate's story of how she became the Red Queen.
"Right now, there's no Black Monarch, only the White Queen, which is Emma Frost, and the Red King, Shinobi" Teresa continues "Leland is Shinobi's right hand man, just like he was when Sebastian Shaw was the Black King at the Hellfire Club".
"So apparently the Shaws take 'Tradition' very seriously, Yay" Peter comments with a deadpan tone of voice.
"And last, but not least, the Red Knights" Teresa then shows the images of the Von Strucker twins "Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker, a.k.a. Fenris"
"I do know those two!" Peter points out "They're the kids of that old HYDRA general that Cap always fought" he then pays attention to Andreas "And if I'm not mistaken, this one was also one of Osborn's lackeys when he ran the Thunderbolts"
"Yes, he operated as the Swordsman during Osborn's tenure as Director of the Thunderbolts, yet according to the files, he was removed from the team after the Skrulls Invasion"
"The file says that their powerset works in tandem, does that mean that they're powers only work if they're together?" Peter asks curiously.
"True, and when he operated solo, he had his sister's skin flayed to the sheathe of his sword so his powers could function" Teresa looks disgusted at the thought of that "And if you read their psychological file…I'll just say that George R. R. Martin based the Lannisters on them" she then shudders at the thought of that, while Peter looks slightly amazed that his sister just used a 'Game of Thrones' reference.
"All of them are part of Shinobi Shaw's crew?" Peter asks her.
"All of them, and also, they're all guests at Fisk's gala" Teresa points out "This is their show of force, to display mutants formerly known as terrorists as heroes so they could defend their land should Octavius attack"
"Fisk got prepared" Peter sighs in frustration at the sight of that build-up "What we need to know is what's Otto's gameplan"
"He was spying on him" Teresa reveals her discovery to her brother "When I was at the City Hall with Jonah, he accidentally uncovered a hidden Octobot that was spying on Fisk"
"And where's that Octobot?" Peter jumps from the couch asking with astonishment on his voice.
"I left it at your Storage Room; do you ever check your phone?" Teresa nags her brother with those last few words.
"I was busy last night and my battery died when I was ready to talk" Peter replies "But yes, let's go!" Peter exclaims, prompting his sister to join him to his Storage Room and put the final pieces in place.
AT THE MCCARTHY MEDICAL CENTER
Hours went by after the Parker siblings left the place, while May rests and sets on the path of recovery after being administered the miraculous Krakoan medicine, meaning that she will easily overcome her illness and return to home, yet the Parkers are not the only ones concerned about her well being.
Even though the visiting hours are over, that fact never was an obstacle for Kate Pryde and her powers and ninja training. She manages to sneak inside the hospital and make the right moves, blending in with the rooms and aisles, even becoming intangible to hide herself within the walls as she reaches the upper floors and find May's room.
Once she gets inside, she smiles as she sees her asleep, then noticing that one of the vials has the Krakoan symbols written on it, meaning that she has received the medication, which makes Kate sigh of relief. She then looks around; making sure that no one is nearby and then grabs a chair and sits right next to her.
"Hi May" Kate whispers "It's been quite a while since we last met" she talks as she gently holds her hand "You know, I don't think I ever had the chance to thank you for two great things, the first one…thank you for finding me that day when I arrived at the City, because I was in such a rough shape, that I don't think I would've recovered the way I did if it weren't for your help, and your wisdom that helped me go through with it" she looks at her, still sleeping while she holds her hand "And the other thing is…I have to thank you for bringing your nephew into my life" her smiles widens as she begins to talk about Peter "What you started, Peter has followed it through, he brought me back to being who I am, and he was always there for me and lifting me up, so…I have to thank you for having raised such a wonderful and amazing man" she whispers, gently stroking her hair.
"He really cares about you, you know?" May's voice is heard in a whisper, startling Kate for it.
"M-M-May?" Kate asks, still in awe.
"Just because I'm asleep, doesn't mean that I'm either deaf or unconscious" May jokes, relaxing Kate "I take it that you also enjoyed your date with Peter"
"I did" Kate replies "And very much".
"He does care about you, and after I heard what you say, I know you do too" May comments, now holding her hand "And for that, you should go for it" Kate laughs nervously, but she nods in response, thanking May for the encouragement "Now, I must say, you're one sneaky young woman" she jokingly points her.
"I have the skills, might as well use them" Kate replies with the same joking manner "I just wanted to see you, and I'm glad you're recovering".
"Well, now that you do, you can stop worrying and focus on you and Peter" May smiles at Kate, who nods in response.
"Thank you May…for everything" Kate whispers as she slowly steps back to the wall, letting May fall asleep again and right then she phases to the next room, using her skills to head out of the building, now satisfied that she fulfilled her last duties before she marches to the big moment "I really needed this, Ororo, my Mom, and now Aunt May, the encouragement I needed, and now, there's only one last thing left to do…"
SOME TIME LATER, AT THE HARBOR
As the hours went by, Kate Pryde has already done the last things she needed to do: She made amends with her best friend Ororo Munroe, she had a long overdue talk with her mother and she paid a visit to May Parker, aside of leaving one last thing at the Storage Room for Peter. There is only one thing left to do, and that brings her back to where it all started, to the Harbor where she left behind the ship she stole to leave Krakoa.
Kate walks by every ship that has docked, checking out of the one where she arrived is still there, and as she gets closer to the location she remembers, a strange, yet familiar voice is heard aloud.
"Ahoy!" the same old sailor that greeted her that day salutes, wearing the same old attire "Was wonderin' if you'd ever come back" he then takes out a small box of tobacco, taking out a piece to chew it "You leavin'?"
"No" Kate bluntly replied "Just came to pick up something I left here" she then turns around and sees that her ship is still here.
"Kept the ship safe for ya" the old sailor commented "Nobody tried to take it away, though"
"Thank you" Kate replies as she steps inside the ship, heading straight into the cabin, looking the same way it did when she left that ship, but with added dust. Kate bumps into the empty bottle of whiskey she left there, prompting her to laugh a bit, and a few steps ahead, she finds her sable, lying on the floor "So here it was" she picks it up, unsheathing it halfway to check it, nodding as she sees that it has not lost its sharpness, only a bit of dust. Afterwards, she walks inside the cabin and crouches to open a compartment underneath the rudder, pulling out a box that she immediately opens, smirking as she sees the contents "Hello there…it's been a while since I took you out, so I guess is time to make up for lost time".
As the minutes pass by, the old sailor looks at the ship, wondering what is she looking for, until she finally steps out, looking a whole lot different than the way she got in, making him widen his eyes at the amazement.
"Hooooo" he mutters as she approaches him.
"Do you have a ship?" Kate asks him, but he is still stunned at her looks until she snaps her fingers in front of him and he shakes his head.
"Oh, Uh, No Ma'am" he responds "I only watch the place and hang out for a drink"
"Well, then" Kate then points the ship with her head "That ship is yours now"
The old sailor looks at the ship, then at her, going quickly back and forth for a few seconds until he smiles at the surprising news.
"That's mine?" he begins to laugh "Why, thank you lady! I guess that means you won't be leaving the city"
"Not at all" she smiles shrugging her shoulders and then turns her back to walk away "Not at all…"
Kate begins to walk out of the harbor and head to her mission as she sets her sable on her waist. She has decided to tackle head on the fight against Shinobi and Octavius not as a civilian and not as the Red Queen; and for that she chose to 'Dress for the Occasion' wearing her old Black-and-Gold X-Men uniform, taking off her scrunchie to let her long brown hair flow down and with a fierce look in her face, ready to go for the battle.
Boy, Oh Boy! Kitty s a Woman on a Mission, and the Parkers are getting ready for the big battle, but there are a couple of details left before we go BIG, so next chapter…will be a good one, I promise you that.
NEXT CHAPTER: CLOSER TO THE BIG BATTLE!