Author's Note – I do not own any of the characters, Marvel and DC do.
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Chapter Twenty-Six
Graduation
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"Today is going to be quite interesting." Hank McCoy noted as he finished re-tying his tie and Principal Kelly nodded in agreement.
The spectators were filing into their seats while the graduates were standing in ranks, ready to receive their certificates.
Although most of them were clad in the traditional robes and square hat, the few amongst them not dressed that way stood out against the dark blue crowd. Scott Summers stood proudly in his black-and-yellow bodysuit, his visor covering his eyes and glowing slightly. Next to him stood Peter Parker in his red-and-blue web-patterned bodysuit, modified so that the New York Guardians shield was on his right shoulder while his Xavier/El symbol was on his left. Earlier, he had shown off by running up and down the school wall, thus proving his identity as Spider-Man.
Lance Alvers, Fred Dukes and Todd Tolansky also stood proudly in their Brotherhood outfits, the tri-shield patches with their motto on their right shoulders. The fourth member of the Brotherhood, Wanda Maximoff, stood amongst the audience, talking to Laura and Chris Kent while a short distance away Alex Masters was grinning as almost a dozen girls crowded round him, making noises of admiration at the revelation that he was the hero known as Havok.
"Just think of the publicity." Clark said from behind him and Kelly jolted, then spun round.
"Make some noise, dammit!" He half-shouted, waving a finger at Clark before realising who he was talking to. "Sorry. Not in uniform today?"
Clark glanced down at his jeans-and-shirt combo, then looked round with an overly-dramatic furtive air before slightly opening his shirt, revealing the House of El crest underneath. Hank and Kelly both laughed at the little display.
"I decided that although I wanted to attend, doing so as Superman would pull the attention away from the people who deserve it." Clark smiled, one hand waving to indicate the graduates. "However, I asked for a favour and one of Governor Zod's men, Tal-Din, is covering for me today in case any emergencies happen."
"Here's hoping for a quiet day." Hank agreed while Kelly pondered the changes that were occurring thanks to the Kryptonian presence.
"You heard that the Solar Defence Fleet is being officially formed tomorrow?" Clark added. "Admiral Faora-Ul will be leading it, although it won't be very big for quite a while. They're using a salvaged Type-5 Embassy as the central nexus of what they hope will become the new Solar Shipyards."
"Really?" Kelly asked in surprise. "Wow."
"Currently, NASA and the Soviet Space Service are both volunteering to aid in crewing the planned station and starships." Clark continued. "It's remit is simple, the SDF is going to be responsible for everything outside ten planetary diameters of any inhabited planet, inhabited planet being defined as either a world people, both Human and Kryptonian, can live on without needing life-support equipment, or any natural astronomical body with over a million people living on it."
"A very well thought out definition." Hank mused. "How is the building of New Krypton going?"
"Doing well, especially now that the Israelis are pitching in to help." Clark laughed. "The first stage of New Kandor is almost completed and the surrounding farms are being planted."
"Sounds like they'll soon be asking for a seat on the UN." Kelly joked and Clark shook his head.
"There are plans for a new organisation, the Solar Council, with each country getting a seat, but the votes weighted according to population and contributions to the Solar Defence Fleet as a percentage of GDP."
"Thus preventing the larger countries from using their size to block out the smaller but more willing countries." Hank realised. "Clever. Of course, that'll give New Kandor a very large boost for a while."
"Given where most of the technology is coming from, I don't really see the problem." Clark shrugged. "Ummm, shouldn't you be out there soon?"
Kelly glanced at his watch and nodded. "Thanks. Alright, let's get this show on the road. Hank?"
"See you afterwards." Hank smiled as he adjusted his tie, then he strode out onto the stage to take his position beside the table of scrolls. Clark smiled and turned to rejoin his wife in the audience.
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"Duncan Matthews!"
A round of applause sounded as the captain of the school football team ascended the stairs to the platform. Clark used the cover of the applause to lean closer to Mystique.
"Regretting that it isn't you up there handing over the scrolls?"
"A bit." Mystique admitted, her yellow eyes tracking the next graduate. "But then again, I think that what I currently have is more than enough."
"And what is that?" Clark asked, his face a veritable study in innocence.
Of course, Mystique wasn't fooled for an instant.
"Stop fishing for compliments." She scolded, trying not to giggle and Clark rubbed at where she had poked him. "You know what I'm talking about."
"Just checking that I'm somewhere near the top of the list." Clark smiled as he wrapped one arm around her. "I mean, you top my list."
Mystique leaned her head against Clark's shoulder. "Don't worry, flyboy. You're at the top of my list too."
"Peter Parker!"
The round of applause was almost deafening as Peter, fully clad in his bodysuit but with his mask removed, strode to the base of the stage, then hopped up in a leap that very few non-enhanced humans would have been able to copy. Clark shook his head with an amused chuckle.
"He's worse than Lance." Mystique chuckled, glancing across to where Avalanche was standing, his scroll in hand.
"I wish I could disagree." Clark laughed. "Maybe being the second in a team will calm him down."
"You mean that it's true?" Mystique gasped, then she shook her head. "Wow. Which team?"
"The new one, the New York Guardians." Clark supplied and Mystique frowned in thought before shrugging.
"Well, at least he knows the area."
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"Hey, Aunt May!" Peter grinned as he leaned across the table to give her a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Peter." May smiled at her nephew. "Congratulations."
"Thanks." Peter grinned, then he placed the scroll against his chest and webbed it into place. "There, now I won't lose it."
May gave a long-suffering sigh and shook her head.
"Hey, Peter."
"Mr Wilson! Or should I call you Angel. Boss maybe?"
Samual gave him a glare. "I still don't know how I was persuaded to have you as my second-in-command. I must have been on medication or something."
"Hey!" Peter protested. "Lame jokes are my thing. Find your own style."
"The sad thing is, he's serious about that." Samual stage-whispered to May, who chuckled and swatted him playfully.
"Hey, Peter." Another voice said and Edie Sawyer slipped through the crowd, one hand holding a cookie that she was nibbling on. "Wow, if I'd known about these, I'd have enlisted with Xavier's bunch."
"Edie?" Peter asked and the red-head nodded. "Um, wasn't your skin… blue?"
Edie held up her other hand to show a familiar-looking bracelet.
"Powers cancelled?"
"Holo-bracelet." Edie corrected. "No way am I giving up my teleporting."
Peter nodded in understanding. "I hear you. I feel the same about my web-slinging."
"And me about my flying." Samual added.
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"Professor, you called?" Clark asked as he stepped up to beside the floating chair holding the founder of the X-Men.
"I did." Charles confirmed and he indicated the two people before him. "Clark, meet Tyrone Dietz and his mother, Mariah."
"Hello." Clark said, shaking Mariah's hand, then smiling at the wide-eyed child in his wheelchair.
"Wow!" Tryone gasped. "You're Super…"
Tyrone broke off in a series of wracking coughs and Mariah quickly put a handkerchief over his mouth until he managed to regain his breath. As she put the square of fabric away, Clark noticed several specks of blood on it.
"Tyrone was injured during the faked Mutant attack, the one where we rescued Armor." Charles explained. Clark nodded, his thoughts briefly going to the mutant girl who had transferred to become a member of the Henshin Rangers rather than stay in America.
"He was hit by some core-reactor debris from an exploding Sentinel." Charles continued. "The doctors missed it until recently, but it has affected him on the genetic level, slowly unravelling his DNA. They have no idea of what to do other than try and keep him comfortable, so…"
"So we're Tyrone's last hope." Clark nodded. "Alright. Ms Dietz, will you be joining us at the institute?"
Mariah nodded, although Clark could tell from her thermal signature that she was nervous.
"The first thing we do when we get there is get you a hover-chair." Clark said, earning a grin from the young boy. "However, I must point something out. Several of the students are mutants, but they don't want their identities released yet."
Tyrone nodded. "I… I understand. No spilling secret identities."
"Thank you." Clark smiled, the he turned to Mariah. "May I ask what work skills you have?"
"I… I used to work at a seven-eleven…"
"Excellent." Clark smiled. "The Institute runs a small shop as a work-experience and spending-money resource, but we were having trouble finding someone to actually manage it. Do you think you could…?"
Clark trailed off hopefully and Mariah nodded. "All right."
"Thanks."
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"Hey bro! Congrats!" Alex called and his hangers-on looked round to see Cyclops strolling over.
"Hey, little bro." Scott laughed. "Enjoying your newfound fame?"
"Hell, yeah." Alex grinned. "More than worth the extra responsibilities."
"Yeah." Scott smiled, then he sobered. "We're getting a couple of new guests, a kid named Tyrone and his mom, both normals but Tyrone's ill. We're talking seriously ill, possibly fatal. Palladium poisoning amongst other things. Clark and Forge are making him their next project."
"Really?" Alex asked, all trace of levity gone. "Oh hell, poor kid. He transferring to Bayville?"
Scott nodded.
"I'll mentor him." Alex stated. "Anyone gives him a hard time, they'll answer to me."
Scott rested his hand on Alex's shoulder. "Thanks bro, Spyke said the same thing. Don't worry about today, though. He's already heading back with Clark. You'll meet him this evening."
Alex nodded. "Thanks."
"In the meantime, I'm sure your newfound harem will cheer you up." Scott joked, then he leapt back laughing to avoid Alex's punch.
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"Will you be going public when you graduate?" Amanda asked as she stole a cookie from her boyfriend's plate.
"I… don't know." Kurt replied quietly. "I vill zee vhen it happenz, but…"
Amanda caught his eye and smiled understandingly.
"It's your choice, Kurt." She whispered, hugging him.
"Vhat do you zhink?"
"Well," Amanda mused, "Part of me wants the world to know just how awesome my boyfriend is while part of me wants to keep my personal plushie to myself."
"Beink personal plushie is zoundink better unt better." Kurt whispered into her ear and she giggled.
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"…and the headlines tonight." The distinguished looking newsreader said. "The identities of Cyclops and Spider-Man are revealed. War breaks out as Palestine is invaded. The United Nations passes a resolution confirming the Solarian Defence Force's total neutrality. This is the News at Six.
"Our lead story tonight. Scott Summers is Cyclops while Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Both revealed their identities today at their graduation from Bayville High…"
"And two more heroes emerge into the light." Wilson Fisk mused. "Smythe?"
"Already collating the search results, sir." The wheelchair-bound man said absently. "Which one do you want first?"
"Spider-Man. He has proven quite annoying in the past."
Smythe winced as he looked at the screen, an action that didn't evade Fisk's attention.
"Smythe?"
"Yes sir. Spider-Man, also known as Peter Parker. Son of Richard and Mary Parker, both deceased. Raised by Ben Parker and May Parker, Ben Parker was killed by a car-jacker who was caught soon after in Spider-Man's first foray into crime-fighting. Ironically, the car-jacker had robbed the manager of a wrestling ring who had refused to pay Peter his winnings for beating the-then champion."
"Interesting." Wilson murmured. "I wonder if he feels that he could have stopped the thief and saved his uncle's life… it would explain why he tries so hard to be a hero, some sort of self-imposed penance."
"Quite possible, sir." Smythe agreed, making a note. "He was recruited into the Xavier Institute for the Gifted, but continued his crime-fighting career. After-action reports from several criminals who went up against him suggest that he gained an upgrade from Superman in the form of a bulletproof outfit."
"Very likely." Fisk agreed. "Please continue."
"Although he didn't participate in most of the more notable missions due to his independent hero career, he was part of the strike force that defeated the Sentinel assault on the White House. He also participated in the off-world mission which occurred simultaneously with the events surrounding the Cure. Apparently they took down a megalomaniac just before he gained deity-level powers."
"Just before he gained deity-level powers?" Fisk repeated and Smythe nodded.
"I have my sources researching that now, sir. May I continue?"
Fisk motioned for him to continue his report.
"After that mission, Spider-Man returned to his normal pattern until recently, when he was recruited to become part of the New York Guardians, a team led by Samual Wilson, formerly the Falcon and now Angel II. Peter's only family is his aunt who is living at the Xavier Institute where she works as the archivist or librarian… sources are unclear as to that. Possibility of a succesful hit on her are very low, possibility of doing so and escaping retaliation from the X-Men and their allies… is problematic. At this time, we have no usable leverage."
"Damn." Fisk said calmly. "And Cyclops?"
"Yes sir. Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops. Primary power is optic blasts controlled and directed by his visor. Previously unable to control his ability without either his visor or special ruby glasses, he recently gained finer control to the point that he does not need either to restrain his optic blasts…"
Fisk leaned back and interlaced his fingers as Smythe continued his report.
The annoyance had become part of a team.
He might need a team of his own to counter them.
"Smythe… I want you to locate certain… individuals for me."