Part 9 - All Things Must Die

Chapter 158 - The Interlude

A jet of energy shot down past the window of the penthouse. Gwen stood up, thinking it had hit the balcony having only seen it through the corner of her eye. When she saw nobody was there, she realised the team must be down on the ground. It made sense; Max likely knew she wouldn't appreciate a dragon in the living room.

"Guys, they're back!" She shouted to Grace, Aaron and Edward, the last of which had come over when he heard Max had been there.

She called the elevator and held the door for the other three.

On the still messy street, Max had removed Odahviing's battle armour and was patting the dovah's neck. Gwen saw the torn stump where its wing had been. The next thing she noticed was how few of the team remained, as did Edward.

"Is this all that's left?" He asked Miles and Charlotte who nodded.

Gwen threw her arms around Miles and they kissed.

"I told you I'd come back alive." He said.

She smiled and kissed him again.

"Do I get a hug?" Asked Charlotte.

"Do you want one?" Gwen replied.

"No."

"Didn't think so."

"Hey Uncle Aaron." Said Miles, giving his uncle a fist bump.

"Good job getting home alive."

"I kicked Null's butt."

"I bet you did."

Max sighed.

"If by 'kicked Null's butt' you mean getting tied up in the back of a truck, sure you did." He said.

"Come on. I blew a fuse in his suit."

"You did better than most of the other guys."

They were interrupted by someone saying:

"Max?"

Miles looked to see who had said the God's name and saw Grace.

"What?" Max replied moodily, thinking it was Charlotte or Gwen.

"Turn around."

He gave Odahviing a last pat on the top of the head and stood up, turning to see who was talking to him. He went completely still as he saw Grace, but she could see a flicker of joy in his eyes. After a few seconds to confirm it was her, they threw their arms around each other, kissing and hugging like it was the only thing that could save the world. Max buried his face in her shoulder and began to cry tears of joy.

"I thought you were dead." He said.

"I was, but me and Aaron need your help."

He lifted his head and they rested their foreheads against each other.

"Anything."

"We're glitching like crazy."

"I…don't see it. Maybe my eyes aren't working right."

"They're working fine, I'm sure. These suits are stopping it, but it'd be nice to be able to wear something else for a change."

"Right. Yeah."

He kissed her once more, terrified fate might try and take her again.

"How are you back?" He asked.

"I dunno."

"We think the same way Empress Gwen came back." Replied Edward.

"Makes sense. Come on, let's fix everyone up."

A few hours later, Miles looked at the shredded remains of his suit. Even if it was worth repairing for any reason beyond nostalgia, Null still had the mask. Gwen gave him a sad smile.

"I did like it, but I like the guy who wears it more."

"It's good to know that even if everything else is changing, one thing will always stay the same."

He turned away from his suit and kissed her.

"So Null's dead?" She asked.

"I think so."

"Was he dead when you left?"

"Err…no. But he was bleeding out. Max stabbed him in the back."

"Where in the back?"

"I dunno. Ask him."

Max appeared at the door.

"Did someone say my name?"

"We were talking about how Null died."

"He bled out. I hope. I stabbed him in the back."

"Where in the back, though?"

"Between the shoulders blades. It definitely went through his spine if nothing else."

"You didn't just cut his head off?"

"I could have, but I was a bit more pre-occupied with the fact he was gonna blow up Dad and Charlotte. Plus he fired a rocket at me a minute earlier and…getting blown up isn't exactly the most relaxing thing."

Gwen sighed, sitting down on the bed.

"So you didn't actually confirm the most dangerous guy we've ever faced is dead?"

"I guess not. But at least you aren't kicking up a fuss about killing him instead of putting him behind bars."

"I don't want to, but he's too dangerous. He'd just break out and send a massive tentacle monster to kill us all or something."

"Thank you! See my point about killing guys now, Dad?"

Miles shrugged.

"With Null, yeah, but not everyone else. And if you hadn't set off all the volcanoes in his world we wouldn't be in this situation in the first place and we wouldn't have to kill anyone."

Gwen raised her eyebrows.

"I thought it was just Yellowstone?"

"I…went back and set the rest of them off later." Max admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

"And some 'basalt flood' or something in Siberia." Miles added.

"That too."

Gwen groaned.

"So this is your fault, and you didn't even see it through completely? I remembered you being smart. What happened?"

"I took a holiday. I see everything, including the stuff I don't want to see, and that wears me down. I guess I got soft in the couple of months I was away."

He hung his head. Miles gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"We'll fix this."

"You'll need a new suit, first. Talk to Grace for a design; she has loads of ideas. Then talk to Edward and he'll get it made with all the gadgets you never thought you'd need."

Max hadn't been joking when he said Grace had loads of ideas.

"Most of these I designed for Max, but I can change some stuff up a bit. Flick through my notepad and let me know if you see something you like."

She handed Miles a notepad full of drawings of spider suits.

"These are amazing. You make my art look like a three year old's."

"Everyone has their own style. If I saw your work I'd say mine looked like trash."

"Some people really are trash at it, though. What do you say to them?"

"People like Null? He probably can't even draw a stick man. I tell them it looks good so I don't hurt their feelings."

"That's not reassuring."

"It's not supposed to be."

Miles went through each page at a time. He stopped on one, glancing at the title.

"This one: the 'No Future' suit."

"That one? Depressing name but…it's one of my favourites."

"Why's it called that?"

"Because once when Max was in a tough spot he said he felt useless and like he had 'no future', so I drew that one so I could make the joke that he really did have 'no future'."

Miles chuckled.

"I dunno if I want to steal this design. Sounds like a personal one."

"It's fine. Max is too busy to care what his suits look like nowadays. I just draw them for fun."

A thought went through Miles' head. He lowered the notepad.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Depends what it is."

"You probably won't answer it then."

"You never know. Try me."

"Why does Max hate drug jokes so much? I guess some of them are kinda weird, but I don't know anyone who'd get upset by them."

Grace shook her head.

"That's a subject Max will break your neck for bringing up, and since he's standing five metres away listening to you I'd recommend you don't ask about it."

Miles turned his head to see Max leaning against the back of one of the couches. His eyes were narrowed and Miles wasn't entirely sure he wasn't about to be decapitated.

"Err…sorry?"

"Sorry doesn't cut it." The God replied, turning and walking away.

Miles felt his heart sink as he began to panic that he'd severely damaged his and Max's relationship, if it wasn't too far gone already. He handed the notepad to Grace.

"Oh boy…" She murmured as he jogged after him.

Max leaned against the balcony railing. He knew his father had followed him and he closed his eyes and hung his head as Miles came up beside him.

"I'm sorry. I'm curious, and you're my son so I'm supposed to know about this stuff so I can be around if you need some help."

"Just shut the fuck up."

Miles was a little surprised Max had sworn at him.

"Please don't swear. I'm just tryna help."

"I'll fucking swear however fucking much I fucking want to."

"Now you're just winding me up."

"Or I'm trying to resist the temptation to throw you off this balcony. Get out of my sight, at least my human sight. I'll turn the other way in my head."

"OK, but if there's anything I can do to say sorry then let me know."

"You can get me a glass of water, for a start."

"Coming up."

After delivering the glass and Charlotte had appeared to comfort her brother, Miles returned to Grace.

"I asked a really bad question."

"You think?"

"Since he's not here anymore…"

"No."

"OK. But any chance you can give me a hint?"

"Do you want one of these suits, or are you just gonna keep asking questions that upset my fiancé?"

"I'll take a suit, but I'm really not sure about the 'No Future' one."

"Give me a day and I'll draw it again with some Miles Morales twists."

"Thanks."

A day later, Edward took Miles to Stanley and Lisa's lab. The scientists perked up when they arrived. The spider presented them with the new drawing and a few hours later the suit stood on a mannequin. Miles grinned at it. It was made from programmable matter, just like all the other suits Stanley and Lisa had made him.

"It looks a bit like the 'Miles Morales 2099' suit from that old video game." Said Stanley.

"Video game?" Miles enquired.

"You're a comic book hero as well as a real person. Of course there's games and films about you."

"From what I remember, the Miles Morales from that game was a different one. Khahrahk infected his dimension with a virus." Said Lisa.

"2099, huh? I guess in memory of Miguel." Miles muttered to himself.

The only difference between the 2099 suit and this one was the spider on the chest was more reminiscent of Miles' old spray painted one than Miguel's had been.

"Try it on and we'll run you through all the tech it has."

After a quick reminder of how programmable matter suits worked, Miles felt like he was in a new car. He double tapped the side of his head, morphing away the mask and new hood which he thought was a nice touch. Gwen would be proud.

"The suit can wield an Ethereal Plate in case they crop up again. Hold the plate and a slot will open on your chest. Your eyes will glow the colour of the Plate, just as a nice little touch." Started Lisa.

"Cool!"

"The suit also comes with a whole load of defensive and offensive tech. It will disintegrate bullets up to velocities of seven-hundred metres per second and features something only seen before on your son's suit: Project Dreadnought; instead of taking a sword through your arm when you go to block it, the suit will temporarily become solid so the blade won't pierce." Stanley continued.

"That's pretty useful. Anything else?"

"Of course! Your webs are modified so they can be detonated on a specific setting, or act as tasers. They can even channel your venom strike, although not to its full potential unfortunately." Said Lisa.

"What about normal webs?"

"Those are there too, of course."

Miles grinned.

"This is amazing. Thanks!"

"There's some more features: target storing and climate control. The second is self-explanatory, but the first is a little less obvious." Said Stanley.

"Oh?"

"The suit can read your spider sense, so as it senses threats it logs them and puts them on the heads-up display so you can focus on kicking butt instead of where all the other enemies could be."

"That's something I'd never even thought of. Thanks again, although I don't think saying it really cuts it."

"No worries. Anything for the friendly neighbourhood Spiderman." Replied Lisa.

"The neighbourhood's getting pretty big." Miles replied.

"All the more reason to have something like this."

Gwen was extremely impressed with the new suit.

"Bad guys won't come within a mile of you."

"Guess I'll just have to get bigger, then sit in the middle of New York and no more bad guys."

"You do that, Miles."

Miles saw Max watching him from the stairs. The God stood up and walked over to him.

"Let's go and make sure Null is dead."

"Are you sure you want me to come with you?"

"It's your fault as much as mine."

"You stabbed him."

Max shot him a look that said 'shut up'. Clearly he hadn't forgiven his father yet.

"Are we taking Odahviing?"

"No. He's missing a wing. He's condemned to be one of those immortal wise cracks who sits up in a cave somewhere on the top of a mountain for some hero to go on a quest to find."

"Which mountain?"

"Somewhere in Bastria. Quit asking questions and let's go."

"I'm coming with you." Said Charlotte from upstairs.

"No, you're staying here." Max replied.

"Really? I'm not letting Null kill either of you two, or letting you two kill each other. I'm coming whether you like it or not, Max."

He sighed.

"Fine."

An hour later, Max, Charlotte and Miles stood on the balcony. Grace had asked to go to Bastria to visit some friends, so she wasn't here, but Miles' parents and Gwen were.

"Be careful. Some people might be upset about Null's death. Watch your backs." Replied Jeff.

"We will. See you, Dad."

"The baby might actually be here when you get back." Said Gwen.

"That's a scary thought. You sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Our kid should grow up somewhere safe, not somewhere a random guy can write horrible things and they happen."

"Yeah. I love you, Gwen."

"See you in a few weeks."

"Promise you won't run away?"

"I'll try not to get too lonely."

"That's a pretty lame promise." Charlotte remarked.

"You wouldn't get it." Miles replied.

"OK, you can explain on the way up."

"I can't breathe on the way up. It's not a bus trip."

"That's because you don't exist between narratives. Nothing does. You better hope I put you back together again." Said Max.

"Please don't kill your dad." Gwen replied.

"That depends on how I feel. Have a nice time."

A jet of energy consumed them, carrying them to Null's narrative. Just as they were leaving, Miles thought he saw a strange red cloud appear. He ignored it, deciding it was probably just some sort of glitch in his vision caused by the jump.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- Skyrim
- Spiderman: Miles Morales (the PS4/5 game)