Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 1 - Shekhinah
New York City.
Considered to be the most populous and also the most densely populated city in the United States of America. And also the home of many well-known superheroes. But there is one superhero among them who is considered to be the heart of them all, not just of New York, but perhaps the rest of MV Earth-616.
The Amazing Spider-Man.
And currently, he was swinging through the towering skyscrapers with the phenomenal skill of a professional acrobat. Despite the shining rays of the sun which gleam brightly across the glass and metal of the skyscrapers, he was in a sour mood.
Why?
It was because of his aunt, Maybelle "May" Parker, the closest thing that he ever had to a mother, and the only parental figure that he ever knew aside from the long-deceased Uncle Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Parker, the man who taught him that with 'Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. And since then, he has tried to strive for this ideal in a multitude of ways.
He had fought criminals, crime bosses, and corrupted officials. He had fought superhumans and other superpowered beings. He had fought beings from the stars and supernatural threats that would endanger everything around them. He had fought them all and was tested in ways unimaginable.
And now, Spider-Man is undergoing a test that depends upon the life of his aunt. For she was now currently at one of the best hospitals that she could ever possibly be as a favor from an old friend and in light of his status as an Avenger.
Avengers Tower.
Captain America was presently the only one currently keeping an eye on his aunt as the rest of the main Avengers were too busy with other things that dealt with their personal lives or saving the world for the nth time. Pick and choose, one could understand such trivialities. Spider-Man would know as he had to deal with a ton of problems throughout his daily life. And he conquered them all through sheer will and determination, with a firm willingness to improve upon one's mistakes. And he had friends and family along the way to help him see that he doesn't need to fight alone. And they were right. He wasn't alone. And that was one of the many consolations that he has right now as his aunt was close to dying from terminal cancer. Not now, but sometime soon.
You'd think that simple things like terminal cancer should be a thing of the past based on the fact that technology had advanced so far that practically anything is almost possible. But there are certain problems that come about when one tries as much to cheat death. You'd get the attention of a lot of nasties and creepy crawlies running around the planes of existence that would try to take advantage of such a thing. Hell, you'd even draw the attention of Mistress Death herself which is practically one of the main reasons why cheating against death is a terrible idea. Most of the time, he and many others had taught that their fellow heroes from the DC Multiverse were practically lucky that their Death was a lot nicer and more understanding, and even quite beautiful, with some of his fellow heroes even commenting that it just wasn't fair for the other guys to have someone like that when they had to deal with the one being that the dreaded Thanos would try to woo in the past, which then lead to most of the population of the universe getting wiped out and sparked a conflict known as the Infinity War.
Good times, he thought.
Aside from Captain America who was watching Aunt May, there was his first, and perhaps only true love, Gwendolyne Maxine "Gwen" Stacy, his present girlfriend and fellow superhero known as Spider-Woman. As to how did that occur, that was a long story that involve the same type of genetically altered spiders that gave him the superhuman spider powers that Spider-Man has today. And since then, they were the ultimate crime-fighting duo.
Aside from the both of them who were watching Aunt May, there was his long-lost sister, Teresa Elizabeth Parker, formerly an agent of the CIA and now working as an agent of SHIELD as a recommendation from the big man Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury, Sr. There was his clone brother and fellow superhero, Benjamin "Ben" Reilly, also known as the Scarlet Spider. There was his boss from the Daily Bugle, J. J. Jameson, having found some time off as the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief in order to at least visit his aunt. That was his boss for you, hard and strict on the outside but is actually kind in ways that are least expected such as the fact that he managed to buy a couple of flowers from the flower shop that was to be placed nearby for Aunt May to smell. Sunflowers, if he could recall. Then there were a few passers-by like some of the Avengers, both main and unlimited, his friends and sort of not friends but have become friends from Mid Town High, and some of them would eventually be with him even unto his university years in the Empire State University like Mary Jane "MJ" Watson, also known as Spinneret, a fellow superhero, and fellow spider. There were people like Elizabeth "Liz" Allan, Randy "Rand" Robertson, Sally Avril, and a few others who would visit from time to time. Hell, even Eugene "Flash" Thompson, his former bully, despite not being able to visit due to currently being on SHIELD boot camp, would call Spider-Man on the cellphone and tell him in his own "Flash" way that he expresses his concern for his aunt, but especially for him particular as it hit Spider-Man the hardest. Imagine that, he thought.
His spider senses tingled just as he was reflecting upon all that had happened for the past few weeks. The danger was present and occurring in some abandoned alleyway. A man was currently being surrounded by two thugs who were armed with only a knife and a metal crowbar.
"Alright pops, give us some of the bread and you won't get hurt," one of the punks responded.
The man however didn't seem to be perturbed nor was he afraid. Instead, he was trying to reason with them in a calm manner, as if he was concerned for his well-being instead of his own. A novelty for Spider-Man if he ever saw one since almost every person that he saved would usually either be terrified off their wits or concerned for their own safety or were anxious at being placed in a situation that is beyond their control.
"My friends, I have but little money to offer you, for I have none from my pockets. Check them if you will, but you will find none of the sorts. The only thing that I could offer you is a simple form of advice. Leave this path of sin that you both trod upon and reform your lives for the better."
The two punks, bewildered, would begin to stare at each other. Then they would stare back at the man and would laugh off the advice with a smirk.
"Hehehehehe. Ar-Are you trying to kid us right now?"
"What are you, some kind of saint or somethin'?"
"Oh alright oh holier than thou, why don't we try this again? Hand over whatever bread you have and you'd probably get to see the light of day and go to some church or somethin' to some...you know, the whole forgiveness thing and all that religious schmuck that you believe."
Then suddenly...
The two punks would suddenly get knocked out from behind by none other than Spider-Man who came to the aid of the man who had tried to broker peace and obviously failed.
"And that's a wrap. Sorry fellas, you both should have taken up the offer instead of waving your fancy-schmancy toys," Spider-Man quipped with a sense of humor that he was known for, but there was a subtle line of depression that is related to his aunt who was resting at the hospital bed.
Spider-Man turned to the man in order to give his usual greetings, the whole 'no harm done' and the 'your welcome' type of shtick that he was known to receive from people who are either his well-beloved fans or people who consider him a menace to society which is already a rarity in and of itself for the present day as most if not all people love and adore him, having saved many lives that however little amounted so much more for the eyes of the spider who crawls through buildings and swings through the skies.
But...
"...!"
There was something not quite right. And he could feel the hair of his skin standing up straight. For he looks into the eyes of an ordinary man who wore simple casual clothing that one could find anywhere in New York. A simple grey jacket, dark blue jeans, and brown shoes. The man seems to be Middle-Eastern in facial appearance. He was quite medium in terms of height. His eyes seem to be brown in color. The accent that was present in his voice carried a refined tone, with a surprisingly perfect American English accent that was harmonious with his own tone.
Overall, this man was quite ordinary.
But...
Why?
"Thank you for your help," he said with a smile. But this smile carried a much deeper meaning than intended. It was like...It was like something that a father would give to his son, not as someone who was a mere stranger. And then, what really made Spider-Man be rendered caught off-guard was the last word that this man would say. "Peter."
Spider-Man, having been caught off-guard, had managed to by a thread of a miracle get his bearings together and try to shrug it off as he knew that just because the stranger said 'Peter', he may not be referring to him as there are plenty of people who were called 'Peter'. At least...he'd hope it was the case. Otherwise, this man would somehow know his true identity for some mysterious reason. But this man looked too ordinary and was not really that much of a danger for Spider-Man. And yet...if there was anything that he had learned from his life of superheroics, sometimes looks can be deceiving.
"...U-Um, Peter? Uh, I'm sorry, sir, but that's not really my name. I mean, my name is Spider-Man, and the name is quite obvious based on the costume that I'm wearing."
The man however continued to smile, remaining undeterred and pushing forward. "Is that not your first name? Peter Benjamin Parker?"
Now...Spider-Man was thoroughly creeping out from the inside. It's one thing to mention the first name. It's another thing to mention his entire name and in such a casual manner, as if it were no big deal.
He steps back. A few steps counting down. The instincts within him would want to be ready for anything. But strangely enough, he can't sense any form of danger. Recalling things such as the symbiotes like Venom and Carnage, he'd rather not take any chances.
"Ok pal, whatever this is, it's not funny. Who are you?" asked Spider-Man, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, no longer faking as if her didn't know what the man was talking about, not wanting to take any more chances.
The man however still continued to smile in spite of the understandable reaction that Spider-Man was showing since he had just blurted out his identity.
"Oh Peter, you would know who I am. After all, did not your aunt ever teach you my ways as it was written into your religion ever since you were but a boy?"
The man's appearance would suddenly transform. From simple clothing to a Middle Eastern tunic, white in color. From a medium height, he grew taller than even Spider-Man's height. From what Spider-Man could tell, he was even taller than Luke Cage. His brown eyes were flashing into a hint of white and blue that seems to calm him down. The long-haired, bearded image.
It was undeniable.
"...Y-Yes."
Peter Parker, a man of science and learning, had always known that there were magical, mystical, and supernatural forces at work in his very own world and universe despite the vast accomplishments and wonders and benefits of innovative technology and the discoveries of extraterrestrial and extradimensional life. He'd only have to pinpoint his fellow Avengers like Thor Odinson, the Thunder God himself, or Dr. Stephen Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts and Sorcerer Supreme of MV Earth-616. He'd met gods like the Beyonder, a nigh-omnipotent being whom he had befriended during the events of the Secret Wars. He'd met cosmic beings like the dreaded Dormammu who have threatened his universe more than once, with Dr. Strange always reassuredly one step ahead in prep-time planning. He'd met Thor's father, Odin Borson, the actual Norse God and All-Father of Asgard. He'd met so many gods, monsters, and demons than he'd count with his own two hands with ten fingers who were capable of defying the current understanding of science.
But this...
He'd recognize this Being. As if his heart was telling him what was true. A whisper. A name. For he is known by many names from the religions that he grew familiar with over the course of his life, whether in this universe or in other multiverses beyond his very own.
Tetragrammaton (YHWH) (יהוה). Elohim (אֱלֹהִים). Hashem (השם ). Allah (الله). Eru Ilúvatar.
Many hallowed names. But there were two for which he was known throughout the higher planes of existence, respected by all, both high and low, no matter what stature.
The One Who Is Above All Others. The Divine Trinitarian Presence.
He is of a different kind of being. Neither was he The One Above All (TOAA) of the MV Multiverse, Spider-Man's native reality nor was he The Presence of the DC Multiverse nor was he any kind of being with the titles of 'God' and 'Lord'.
For He alone was The One. And He calls Spider-Man by his first name, almost likened to what had taken place a very long time ago when another Peter from another time and place had once been called.
"Come with me, Peter. There is much that needs to be discussed."
OP Song:
Japanese Spider-Man Opening
Main Character:
Peter Benjamin Parker/Spider-Man - A: Josh Keaton
New Character:
The One Who Is Above All Others - A: Jim Caviezel
