Paul and his friends are facing a serious situation. Librium is looking for D-EL8, which turned out to be a dangerous virus that Christoph made years ago. Since he could never properly dispose of it without the chance of it being released, he kept it hidden away. Now, Librium is searching for it. If that virus is unleashed, New York could fall. To aid in this situation, Christoph called for help from Sabella's home country. Luck would have it that Sabella's brother is the one leading it, and he isn't going to be easy to work with.
"Sable International..." Monica said as she was looking over everything she could. Paul informed her what was going on and the two of them were doing some research at her apartment. "This is one of the best businesses back in Symkaria. They deal with everything. From something as small as security to work to assassination. These are not people you want to mess with."
"Sadly, I don't think we have much of a choice." Paul said. "It's hard to believe that Sabella's brother is the one in charge of this group. If what she told me about him is true, I don't exactly trust him."
"That's a fine thing to say about your girlfriend's brother. I'm more concerned about this virus you told me about." Monica said. "I'm doing what I can to find out more about it, but Christoph kept something like this on a very low profile. If this stuff freaked him out back when he was White Streak, it's got to be some serious bad news."
"That's what has me wondering about something. How does Librium know about this in the first place?" Paul questioned.
"Maybe Balancer got some intel. He was looking for dirt, locations, and everything else White Streak, Master, and Goldberg had when he tried to take control of the city." Monica said.
"I really don't think Balancer is the one pulling the strings." Paul said as she was sure on that fact. "Who else could be behind this, and how does Librium fit into this?"
"They were pretty quiet since Balancer has been locked up. A lot of people thought they were gone for good after that." Monica claimed. "It's possible someone is paying them off or something until they get their real boss back. Maybe someone Balancer partnered with in the past, too?"
"Maybe, but there's no way to tell until the real mastermind shows himself." Paul said. "What really matters is that we keep Librium from getting their hands on that virus. Unfortunately, until Christoph gives the word or something, he won't give the location of where it is."
"Smart. We don't want something like that virus to get in the wrong hands." Monica said. "As for Sable International, maybe it is best to stay out of the way."
"Can't do that." Paul said.
"I figured, but I'm not talking about public safety." Monica said. "They are Sabella's people, the one in charge is her brother. I'm a little more concerned about how this might affect your relationship with her."
"From what I could tell, those two are exactly on the same page." Paul said.
"But they are siblings. They could be." Monica said. "Aren't you worried about that?"
"It's hard to say. Their grandmother, the original Silver Sable and where Sabella got her codename, was like frenemies with Peter. I can't believe I actually said that, but it would be a way to connect with them." Paul said. "They both been trained the same, but Sabella is more emotional than her brother. If Sabella and I hadn't met all those years ago, she could have ended up like him." That thought was something Paul despised. "I don't want put her in a tough situation. Maybe it's best to leave her out of this."
"Seems like you really care about her." Monica said. "Sounds like you have a lot of passion for her in there."
"Uh... I guess so..." Paul said as he wasn't sure what to think, or if he should even talk to Monica about that.
"Paul, it's fine. We broke up a long time ago." Monica said since no one remembers the truth. "You can talk to me about your relationships. We managed to take a horrible situation between us and made the most of it."
"It's weird." Paul said as he took some delight in being her presence. "Even though we broke up, I feel like I can still talk to you about anything. I wish it was that simple before, but it seemed like there hasn't been much problems between us."
"You mean like with you and Jean, or Lindsay. Jean's still ghosting you?" Monica said.
Yeah. I still want us to be friends, but it looks like that's just not happening." Paul said. "Lindsay was tough a while back. She tried to convince me we should get together again, but that didn't go well. She almost quit being Blite because of that. As for you, there hasn't really been any problems between us. " Those two still share a good connection despite the circumstances.
"So where does Sabella stand in this?" Monica asked.
"If I'm being honest...these past six months have actually been amazing." Paul claimed. "Honestly, I haven't felt this way about anyone since...you."
"Wow!" Monica said as she was surprised to hear that. "That's a big step for you."
"Which is why I should get going. I want to make sure she's doing okay." Paul said as he got up and was heading out. "Keep me posted if you learn anything more about the virus, Librium, or anything. Sabastian might be Sabella's brother, but I don't trust him to handle this." He claimed as he left through the door. He's determined to make sure this situation is handled.
"If he marries her, I don't want to think of those two being brothers-in-law. Yikes." Monica claimed as that thought was scaring her.
...
Sabella's Apartment
With it looking like it might be him vs. her brother, Paul is worried about how Sabella is doing. He went back to her apartment and went through the halls. When he went through the door, he was surprised to see Sabastian was there. They both looked and didn't expect to see Paul there.
"Paul! I wasn't expecting you back early." Sabella said.
"Am I interrupting something?" Paul questioned.
"We were discussing private matters." Sabastian claimed.
"Sabastian, this is Paul. He's..." "I do not care who he is." Sabastian interrupted as he really didn't.
"Sabella, remember your loyalty. You might live here, but you are a Symkarian." Sabastian enforced. With that, he turned away and walked right past Paul with the two of them giving each other a stink eye.
"What was that about? What was he doing here?" Paul said. "Please don't tell me he's staying in one of those other rooms."
"No. He's having his men set up a base camp somewhere in the city. That's where he will be staying." Sabella said. "He was just here to remind me of a few things."
"Like what?" Paul questioned.
"He was trying to remind me that I should be loyal to Symkaria, I work with him and his men, and that the mission must come first." Sabella said. "He always believed I was too soft. He knows about the influence Spider-Man has had a on me."
"Does he know I am Spider-Man?" Paul questioned as he didn't like that. "I remember when I first met you, you were able to deduce my identity."
"No. That was a private mission that I was able to figure out on my own." Sabella said. "I told no one of your identity. Still, my brother worries I might compromise the mission."
"That's nuts. You're capable fighter, a sharpshooter, and loyal. How could you compromise anything?" Paul said.
"As I told you, my brother puts the mission first, even if that's above another's life." Sabella explained. "He expects me to do the same. However, for these past years, he thinks I am too soft."
"What? Because you have a value for life? That's nuts." Paul said as he was finding more and more reasons why he doesn't like Sabastian. "Let me guess, he blames me for that."
"Probably, but it's always been like that between us." Sabella said as she walked towards one of the windows and looked out at the city and her own reflection.
"Are you two close?" Paul questioned.
"I honestly can't remember a time we actually were." Sabella said as she looked back at her life. "As you know, Sable International is an organization that's been in Symkaria for generations. Our grandmother, Sable Sablinova, was acquainted with Peter Parker. There were times they were enemies, there were times they were friends. However, her training has been passed down to me and my brother."
"I know. You've been trained since you were a child." Paul said.
"Yes, but it certainly wasn't easy. Even though we were small children, we were taught how to fight, how to shoot, how to hunt, and everything else a mercenary needs. It certainly was painful." Sabella said. She remembers how she was raised, and how there were times it felt like her body was going to collapse. All the pain, anguish, exhaustion, and such that her body felt was quite unbearable for a child. Thinking about it reminded her how much her body hurt. "It was really no way to raise a child, but it was up to me and my brother to continue the work of Sable International."
"I can't imagine what you must have gone through." Paul said.
"Yes. We were trained to keep our emotions in check, or kill them if we could. My brother had no problem with that, but I was not like him." Sabella claimed. "Since I didn't develop a killing instinct like he did, he thought I was too soft. I tried, but my mind kept wondering on what the world was like. What was life like outside of Sable International." There were so many hard times for her. She gave her best, but she just couldn't bring her heart to be a full mercenary like her brother did. What those two went through over the years would have broken any normal person, but they weren't really allow to break. They were just kept being pushed and pushed even when they were exhausted.
"I remember when we met that you were willing to kill your enemies, but I wouldn't allow that." Paul said.
"I thought since they were strangers, and that they were aiding my country's enemies, it didn't matter if they died." Sabella said. "That would have been the start of a slippery slope. If I hadn't met you, if you weren't there, things could have gone differently."
"Yeah, but maybe you and I wouldn't be here, what we are now." Paul said as he walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her. If Sabella would have became like her brother, the two of them wouldn't be together, and the other is the best thing that's happen to them.
"My brother doesn't see it like that. That's why I worry with him being here on what might happen." Sabella claimed. "However, since I am his sister, he's trying to give me...how you say "the benefit of the doubt" and see that I am committed to the mission." This sounded like a tough spot for Sabella. She doesn't want to turn against Paul, but it's not easy to turn against family. "Even after I met you, even when you helped changed my life, it still wasn't easy. As I grew older, I was taught much more. I learned the art of seduction, pushing my body until it was sweaty while also becoming firm, as you might know."
"Okay, you just said that last part to tease me." Paul said. Sabella couldn't help but giggle. "Still, I think I understand."
"Do you?" Sabella questioned.
"You and he might be related, but you weren't raised as normal children. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you." Paul said. "However, at the same time, he is your brother and you love him. He is family, and you don't really choose your family."
"Yes, but I don't know if he sees it that way." Sabella said. "I understand how important life is. I've felt joy of having others close, the feeling of missing someone, upset how you can't be with them, happiness of being reunited with them, and...love. All things my brother never experienced. Still, he is my brother... He says that my loyalty should be to our country and Sable International first. He did say that he thinks that me living here, insisting on coming to live in New York, is a sign of betrayal that is to come. I still love my country, but I wanted to be here. I just don't know what to do about him, to convince him that is not the case without giving up something." Paul felt so sorry for her and fears that Sabella is caught in the middle of this.
"Sabella, I won't ask you to choose between me or your brother, but I can't just let him roam around and do as he pleases, especially if people are going to get hurt because of him." Paul said. "You do what you feel you have to. I trust you."
"But that's the thing." Sabella said as she turned to him. "I don't agree with what my brother might do. It's not just about you. I want to help you, and if that means I have to spy on him, I will."
"You would spy on your brother to help me?!" Paul said. He couldn't believe she would do that, but he can't ask her. "No. I don't want to be what comes between you and your brother, and it's obvious you want to be close to him. I do need you to help me with Librium and the D-EL8 virus. Still, I don't want you to feel like you're caught in the middle. Do what you think is right and don't worry about me."
"Thank you, Paul." Sabella said as Paul wrapped her arms around from behind as she kissed his cheek. "I greatly appreciate you trying to be understanding in this."
"It's easy with you." Paul said as he feels like this is the right time to say it. "I love you." He didn't even think it, he just said it. Both of them were surprised he said that. Paul has only said and felt that once before, and this was a big step for him.
"I love you too." Sabella said as she guided his face to hers and kissed him with some emotion. As she turned to him and the two of them just stood like that, they had to ready themselves for whatever it is to come. With a declaration of love, Sabella will have to be ready to face her brother about this eventually.