Part 7 - Guardians

Chapter 128 - The Test

Miles returned to his quarters and sank down onto his bed, staring at Gwen's empty one. He noticed a small wisp of cloud floating out of the air vent. It twisted and turned until, with a pop, Max appeared again.

"What is it now?"

"You passed the first test: you're a good spider person, but what about a good Miles Morales? It's what Mum loves you for, and you lost it."

"How many more torpedoes do I need to return to their senders?"

"No more torpedoes. Let's have a look. Your body can do soulless autopilot mode for a few days."

"What?"

Everything was very bright and their was a ringing sound in his ears. Miles rubbed his eyes as things started going dark again. He was sitting at a desk and suddenly recognised his elementary school. He looked around, wondering what he was doing here. The room was deserted except for the teacher's desk chair. Max spun around on it carelessly, almost tipping it over but righting it quickly.

"Why am I here?"

"Good question. Why are you here? Oh, what's this on the teacher's desk? Instructions for an art test? Pretty random. Who does an art test?"

"I'm pretty sure there's art schools."

"'If killing is natural, why do men have to be taught how to do it?' If drawing is natural, why do people have to be taught how to do it?"

"I don't know."

"Ah, but you never had to be taught. You taught yourself, didn't you? You used to love to sit down, stick on some music and just draw. So, shall we begin?"

There was a flash and the room was filled with people Miles remembered being at elementary school with. The teacher was handing out sheets of paper. When they were done, she went to the front of the room.

"Quiet down, boys and girls. Today we're going to be starting a new drawing topic. I want everyone to draw a portrait of someone they're close to. It could by your mum or dad, maybe a brother or sister, I'm even happy with the family dog. Without further ado, on you go."

A quiet murmuring filled the room as the other kids set to work chatting while doing some drawing on the side. Miles, on the other hand, stayed completely silent as he tried to think. He let his mind wander a little like whenever he needed inspiration and his thoughts strayed to Gwen. Had she completely broken up with him, or were they just on a break? He kicked himself into gear, setting to work drawing her face. He made sure to include every little detail, including the faint freckles she probably still thought he hadn't noticed.

Nearly four hours later, he was done. He sat back, staring into her blue eyes and rubbing his wrist. There was a flash and his classmates and teacher were gone, once more replaced with Max.

"You're finished, are you?"

Miles nodded.

"Are you sure? Or did you just do what the teacher said to do? What happened to the passion you put into every drawing? Every one was unique; you've drawn that same picture at least three times."

"What else can I do?"

"Who said a portrait was just one head and shoulders?"

The sheet of paper burst into flames at the corners, spreading quickly and turning the drawing to ash. Miles sighed as things were set back to the very beginning. What did Max want from him? For his supposed son, he was being a real jerk.

For another four hours, Miles drew. This time he used chalk that had appeared on the desk. When he was finished, he stared at it. It certainly wasn't what the teacher had asked for, but he was sure Max would find some other reason to make him start over again. He took in every detail of what he had created before it was condemned to oblivion: it was of him and Gwen sitting on the Empire State Building watching the sunset. She had her head on his shoulder, but she looked sad. He let his own sadness take him as he realised there was a big chance this scene would never happen again. He ran his arm over the page angrily, smearing the chalk across it messily. Maybe this looked better than how it had a few seconds ago. It certainly reflected how he felt: a mess. He pushed it away and buried his face in his arms as he started to cry. There was the same sound that accompanied the flashes. Miles didn't bother to look up. Max took the drawing and nodded slowly.

"There it is. Part of Miles Morales is back."

"What the hell is this about? I never use chalk."

"No, but you're never one to back away from trying something new. You didn't want to do that when Mum broke up with you. Hey, if this was a poem in an English class, I could write an essay on it. You can tell these two chalk people love each other, but still they're sad. Like there's something missing from it all. Maybe one of them got lost along the way."

"Want me to sign it so you can frame it and put it up on your wall?"

"Oh no. I'll frame it, but you can put it up on yours and Mum's wall in a…hang on, that's a spoiler. Wow, I'm really slipping. Can't even remember mortals don't see time like me."

"You said only part of me is back. What's next?"

"Let's have a look."

Everything was white and ringing again. This time the scene was in Vision's Academy. Nobody was around, just like the last place. Max was sitting on the steps. He looked a little upset.

"You good?" Miles asked.

"Maybe. It's just…last time I sat here, five minutes later my sister was killed."

A door at the top of the stairs exploded open and a horrible abomination burst out. Its mouth was stretched wide, its arms reached out to kill anyone who dared look at it, it was screaming like the world was ending. Miles started to back away as it streaked straight for him. As it suddenly leapt, it froze in mid-air.

"SCP-096. The real one, not the pattern screamer. It broke every bone in her body and threw her out the window. I would have been next if Mum hadn't arrived."

The scene changed, replaying the event. 096 bore down on Charlotte. She screamed in agony as her arm let out a sickening crack. A bloody Max ran at the abomination but was slapped away. More sickening cracks were heard over the noise of 096's screams, then it picked Charlotte up and hurled her straight through the window. Time stopped again; God Max drew his sword and sliced it through 096. The creature wasn't cut in half; instead it was as if someone had smeared it out like paint.

"You have no idea how satisfying it can be to finally kill something which took someone so dear from you. This moment was the reason I didn't just rewind time. I could do that easily, although not to restore a multiverse. The omniverse has no concept of time outside that which is relative in its multiverses. But this moment is why I never even thought about it. If I just hit rewind, things like this would still exist. There's plenty of danger left in 9001, but not like this. None of what's left in 9001 killed my sister. HMS Belfast doesn't have its guns aimed at the Tower of London in case Hastur comes back through the Jeser Gate. The Shourmash Urdal, the Scarlet King, is dead. But at such a cost. Every time I tried to help, people died. I could never have been 'Spider-Boy' if I tried."

"I don't understand how this links to 096, or me for that matter."

"The Scarlet King had seven children; 096 was one of them. As for what all of this has to do with you, since you insist I'll show you what you became. Spoiler alert: a real asshole."

The scene kept going. A few seconds later, a black, white, magenta and teal blur entered the fight wielding two katanas. The image of Max managed to get out. The image of Gwen also made it outside, pursued by 096. A few seconds later, a squadron of aircraft was pelting the monster with tranquilisers. It collapsed and once more everything froze.

"Look at you." Said Max.

"Where am I?"

"Exactly. You're nowhere here. Too busy hiding behind guns. Power and glory gets to people's heads. You toppled an Empire and nobody let you forget it. Why should a hero risk his life?"

"Is this what you think I am now?"

"Oh no; you're the other end of the spectrum right now. This was all for my benefit, not yours."

Miles looked down at the image of younger Max, lying unconscious next to his dead sister. He knelt down next to his two children.

"Could I have saved her?"

"Unlikely. You can't save everybody, they say. Look where it got me. Anyway, let's get back to you. Enough of my reminiscing."

The scene began to rewind until they were back in the main entrance to the school and it was just the two of them. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Max disappeared and was replaced by people. In front of Miles stood Gwen. He realised he was back to when he had got his hand stuck in her hair. The scene started playing.

"Oh!" Gwen exclaimed as if they had just walked into each other.

Miles sighed.

"Very funny, Max. I'm starting to think this isn't about me anymore."

Gwen raised her eyebrows.

"Who are you talking to?"

"It's a long story. Basically, you don't exist. Or you do but…not like this anymore and now the Gwen I know…"

"Wait, how do you know my name?"

"Like I said, long story."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Miles."

"Nice."

There was a slightly awkward silence, then Gwen shrugged.

"I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you."

She side-stepped around him. The scene froze and everyone disappeared.

"A little fourth wall break, there. Liam would be so proud." Said Max.

"Who's Liam?"

"Long story. Good guy...sort of."

"Did I pass the test?"

"Not even close, but I just had a thought and I want to look into it. Be free."

"OK, edgy spider Jesus."

"Congrats. You just passed. Now bug off."

Everything went white and ringing one last time. Miles found himself sitting in the canteen aboard the HMS Glasgow. He glanced around, but couldn't spot Max or any tell-tale patches of mist. Oh well; it was one less thing to worry about. His thoughts strayed to Gwen and he wondered what she was doing.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- SCP Foundation

This was a very weird chapter. I don't know why I wrote it, but I guess you now know part of why Max is a miserable wreck underneath.