He didn't know if there was anything in the tea that she served him but it calmed his spirits. "I understand why you joined shield. To better understand your parents as an orphan." He stopped drinking his tea at that. "My apologies." "No it's okay." "In any event, it wasn't just from reading minds that I learned this. It was from what your sister told me about you." "How so? We've never met." "No. But she's observed you for many years. She was raised by spies that were friends of your parents." "Why didn't hydra kill us both while we were growing up?" "They didn't consider you a threat. In fact they'd rather attempt recruitment first. The spy world is a vastly different world than the normal world; as I'm sure you're learning." "Yeah I am."
"Every move in the spy world has a move and countermove. Pieces on a chess board if you will. You are one side and hydra the other." "Why did hydra kill our parents?" "They exposed a hydra plot as Teresa explained it to me. Hydra even tried to turn them to their side as assets, impressed by their skills, but they refused. They were then murdered."
Peter sighed and looked down at his teacup. "They left home for the last time when I was six. Dad said he'd be back in a week... That was the last time I saw them both." "But at least you have some memories of them. Your sister being younger has none at all. Only you can tell her what they were like." He nodded. "And I will. When I find her." "Yes."
For now they took time to rest. The tea must have had a gentle sedative in it, for he felt sleepy after drinking it. It was no threat though or his sense would have gone off. It didn't. Peter laid back and closed his eyes. He'd be roughing it for now.
One thing he'd never told anyone was that he'd figured out how to undo the powers. He could have. He could even restore them. Of course mind readers like Kwannon likely knew that. Why hadn't he? Well, he loved being spider man. He loved being the web slinging smartass; which he would say was better than being a dumbass. Plus he didn't want bad eyesight again. That hadn't been fun at all. And having a nice body he didn't have to workout to maintain was kind of nice too. He laughed at regular folks as they had to workout to stay fit. He didn't have to do that at all. Smarter not harder he was fond of saying.
He had yet to break the fourth wall like Deadpool but anything was possible...
He dozed off. [Peter? No. This is not Kwannon. And she can't detect me. I am Madelyne Jennifer Pryor. Maddie. I am a clone of Jean Grey, whom I believe you've worked with on many occasions. Unlike her though I am what you might call a super villain. Is that the right term? In any event, I'm with hydra and the gentleman. We've been aware of your sister's infiltration for quite some time. She and Kwannon thought they were clever. They weren't. My strongest piece of advice to you is to stay away. For your own good...]
Peter then felt an intense pain in his head. He awoke in agony clutching at his head. He then screamed and was then out of it.
xxx
"He's coming to," said Dr. Helen Cho. Peter groaned as his senses returned to functionality. "What...?" "Relax Peter. It's Dr. Cho." She helped him sit up. "Where am I?" "You're back on the Kirby." "What? How?" His sight returned. Kwannon sat nearby. "I brought you back here." Despite his being enhanced he felt drained. But it started coming back to him. "Do you remember now?" she asked him. He did... He gasped. Cho's hands were on his shoulders. "Relax Peter. You're safe."
Kwannon stood and moved to his bedside. "You do remember now." "Madelyne Prior..." "Yes. I accessed your thoughts after you lost consciousness. I managed to get through the psychic block but only after great effort." "How long have I been out?" Kwannon and Cho shared a look. He frowned. "Two days," they said.
He sighed. "Two days...?"
"That was a stupid thing you did Parker." Director Fury entered the med bay. "I had to." "I get that." He looked at Kwannon. "She got us up to speed. She also debriefed us on this Madelyne Prior. Given what we now know, we've called in some help."
Jean Grey and Cyclops of the X men entered. "Good to see you again Peter," they said. "You look like hell." He just nodded. "And I thought I was the super smartass around here." The X men took up positions on either side of his bed. "The professor sends his regards," said Jean. Peter nodded. "I'm definitely gonna need help. I can't do this alone."
"That's what we've been trying to tell you," said Nat, appearing with Barton. "You're shield now. You're not alone."
Peter smiled at them all. "Thanks."
This isn't over yet. Not by a longshot!