Chapter 10 [Strange's Sanctum—Greenwich Village]
Peter stared at the ceiling. Despite the bed's comfort, sleep eluded him. Worry dogged him over Gwen and Aunt May. Peppermint in the tea unsettled his stomach for some reason. Legal Standing raised other questions. How will I be able to show myself out there much less fight crime? Terrific! He raised his costumed arm. He studied the intricate web design on the sleeve's red areas. I need someone to save me now. Just great! Score another for the Parker Luck!
A knock came from the door.
"Yes?" Instinct guided him to pull his mask on.
A slender woman with silver hair stuck her head in. "I heard you were staying with us, Spider-Man. My apologies for not greeting you earlier. Are you feeling better?"
"Thanks, Clea." He recognized Strange's apprentice/girlfriend. "Any word on the Doc?"
"I'm afraid not." She watched him get out of bed. "Are you sure you should be doing that? Wong said that Stephen wanted you to rest."
"Can't sleep. I'm worried about everything." He shook his head. "Bet you never thought you'd hear me say that. I usually have some quip or pun. Tonight, I've got nothing."
Sympathy elicited a nod. "Despite your apparent irreverence, the mystical world is not your normal domain, my Friend. Stephen and I both know this very well. Despite that, you offer aid without hesitation. You are a better friend than you give yourself credit for."
"Uh thanks." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Come in. I'm decent. Last thing I want is for trouble between Doc Strange and you."
"And with your own wife?" She slipped into the room and shut the door. "I heard the news. It's all right. You're safe here."
"So the Doc told me." He unmasked again. Crimson streaked his cheeks. "I've had to lie and make up stories to keep my secret identity. I'm still trying to get used to this." He regarded his mask for a few heartbeats. Then he set it on the bed. He turned to face her.
"I can imagine." She sucked in a deep breath. "I have a secret as well. Can you keep it?"
He nodded. "Sure. Does Doc Strange know?"
"Yes. I'm not human. I look human but I'm not. I appear human. I want Earth to believe that. I am not. I'm from another dimension. My mother is of a race called the Faltine." She pointed to the mask. "So you see? I am not so different from you…" She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. Stephen's viewing device told me your name. I should remember."
"I'm Peter." He relaxed. "Thanks for trusting me with that, Clea. Nice to know someone understands." He paced about the room. "Out there, I have the whole city's police department looking for me. They think I killed someone." He shook his head.
"That is what the viewing device said as well." She rubbed her chin. While she'd only met him twice before, Instinct advised that he wouldn't kill unless there was no other way. "Did you?"
"Did I what?"
"Kill that person?" She maintained a perfectly straight face.
"What? NO! No I couldn't!" He slumped onto the bed. "One of my worst enemies, Dr. Octopus, ambushed me fifteen blocks from here. We fought on the rooftops. His arms broke off a piece of chimney. Captain Stacy sacrificed himself to get a little boy out of the way. I tried to get him to the hospital. He asked me to listen instead. He knew who I was. He asked that I take care of his daughter. He gave us his blessing. Then he passed away." He released a long sigh.
She nodded. "Stephen would never allow you to stay if you had done that. I sense you are telling me the truth. The viewing device showed me a woman wearing a white gown. She is the one you speak of?"
"Yeah. Her name's Gwen. She's my wife now. At least we got through the ceremony. Then my ex-boss busted in with the NYPD." He managed a smile at the word "wife". "I hope she's all right."
"Have faith, Peter. I'm sure she is." She tensed. "There is a breach!"
Spider Sense blared at him. He grabbed for his mask again. "Yeah! I get that!"
Strange appeared in an obsidian flash in the room's center. He looked about the area and the others. "By the Vishanti! I've returned!"
"Stephen? What happened? Wong thought you went to the hospital." She grabbed onto his arms. "Please sit down. What is it?"
Peter noted Strange's pale expression and shaken appearance overall. "Maybe we can find Wong? He can get you some of that tea, Doc. Just take it easy."
"Thank you, Peter. I just require a moment." Strange almost collapsed into a chair. The Tribunal's words burned in his mind. He deserves to know. He rubbed his forehead. "I wish it was easier."
Dread washed over Peter's mind. He could perceive Strange's reticence. "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. You got to the hospital. Right?"
"Indeed I did. Peter…." Strange sighed. "Perhaps you should sit as well?" He pointed toward the other chair.
"Okay, Doc. Now you're scaring me. Aunt May, you saw her?" Peter took two steps closer to him.
"I saw her. I did not have a chance to speak with her or…to help her. I am sorry." Defeat sagged the Mage's shoulders. His breath hissed out much like air from a leaking balloon.
"You're sorry. I….Doc! You're like the Most Powerful Sorcerer in the World! You couldn't save her? I…." Peter trembled. "There had to be some spell! There's something else! There's gotta be!"
"Death itself barred me. I was taken from the hospital to another place." Strange looked to her. "Interdimensional space. There I was assured she and her beloved are together now."
"Someone told you that? Like who? Some angel?" Sarcasm dripped from Peter's lips. "I hope Jonah's happy! He did this!" His eyes narrowed. Rage frothed in his heart.
"Not an angel par se, Peter." Strange took another breath. "The arbiter of the Universal Balance itself."
"The Living Tribunal?" Her eyes widened.
"The…what? A cosmic judge?" Peter's head spun faster and faster. He knew Strange's dealings went way over his head and beyond his understanding. "What does he have to do with Aunt May's death?"
"Yes, Peter. The Living Tribunal is responsible for maintaining the balance across the myriad realities including our own. It took me from the room. It wanted you to know that May Parker is with her beloved. Your uncle perhaps? The universe favors your marriage." Strange frowned. "Peter, I'm sorry. There was nothing that could be done. It was her time."
"I…" Peter slumped into that chair. He shook his head. "Gwen…I can't even see her! I don't know if she's okay! I'm sure she's ripping herself apart over this. If the Goblin didn't send that proof, none of this would've happened!"
"Proof?" The statement grabbed her attention. "What proof? Who is this Goblin?"
Peter sighed. "The Green Goblin is my best friend's father, Norman Osborn. He sometimes lapses into a different personality. Then he puts on a green and purple costume. He uses all sorts of lethal gadgets and flies around on a bat glider." He shook his head. "That's what JJJ said when he crashed my wedding. He held up a manilla envelope at that point and said it was the proof that I'm Spider-Man. Then he plastered it all over the Bugle's front page in big bold type for the world to see. Spider-Man scores again." He grabbed the mask and felt the material. He looked right into the white eye coverings.
She shrugged. "Perhaps it would be a matter of letting people see you and Spider-Man at the same time, Peter?"
"People know I've had other people dress up as me before." Peter scratched his head.
Strange shook his head. "I do not believe that is what Clea is suggesting."
She smiled. "Thank you, Stephen. Peter, what if you appear in your costume? One of us can use a spell to appear to be you. Both of you are seen in the same place. They have no argument."
"Besides this Norman you mentioned, he was insane when he sent the evidence?" Strange rubbed his hands together. "That attacks the evidence's credibility. I will cast the spell and play your role, Peter. You will be in your costume."
Peter shook his head. "It would work except the police and everyone at the wedding saw me use my strength to shrug off a half dozen officers and leap out of there. If that hadn't happened, Folks, I'd love to do something like that. It isn't the pictures. It's what everyone saw too."
"Oh." Clea looked to Strange. "And those pictures, Stephen? Is there a way we can stop them from being sent?"
Strange weighed her suggestion. He recalled the Tribunal's declaration. Yet he knew the world needed Spider-Man. Perhaps there was still room for May even if it kept Peter's uncle waiting longer in eternity. "Perhaps there is. I cannot intervene more directly in this matter. I can request aid from those who value your aid as a friend and ally."
She glanced out the window. Her eyes widened. "Stephen, Peter, look! Up in the sky!"
"Now what?" Peter hustled to her side. He surveyed the darkened stars above. Then he saw the burning message across it.
"SPIDER-MAN, WE NEED TO TALK AT OUR MEETING PLACE."
"By Oshtur! Who?" Strange rubbed his chin.
"The Human Torch. He probably wants me to turn myself in." Peter grimaced. Clearly he felt torn. He wanted to explain everything to the Torch. On the other hand, he didn't trust Reed Richards not to follow Johnny to the statue.
"Perhaps then someone should go in your place?" Strange studied the message. "I will follow Johnny Storm to your meeting place. I have a proposal for the Fantastic Four. Where is this place?"
"The Statue of Liberty." Peter sucked in a deep breath. "I can't stay here while you go."
"As I said, you are safe here, my Friend. I shall attend to this matter." Strange rose into the air. He passed through his ornate window and the magical field beyond.
"I wonder what he's up to?" Peter asked her.
"Stephen has a plan. Have faith. Let us find Wong and have tea." She guided him toward the door.
Waiting had begun….