Gwen was nestled in a large operating chair. Legs crossed, she was wearing a simple striped shirt with a miniskirt. Her nails tapped against the arms of her seat, practicing the rhythm for a drum part as she hummed to herself and blew on a wad of bubblegum. Her new manager had allowed her to keep her personal life while she was working undercover.

Behind her, a large power cable trailed across the floor and through an opening in the back of her headrest. It was plugged deep in her soft brain tissue. Maybe it was uploading information on how to find and destroy the doctor's enemies. Maybe it was communicating a chemical signal that told her brain's receptors to mutate her body further and increase her spider-powers. Or maybe it was just stopping in to make sure her inherent free will wasn't putting up a last minute fight for survival.

Doctor Octopus worked on a terminal nearby. He and Gwen were surrounded by a circle of screens that showed a 360 degree exploration of her cerebrum. All of the visceral imagery and digital renderings probably would have seemed appetizing to a zombie in a B-movie, but none of it bothered Gwen. Her mental programming made sure these regular check-ups never got to her. This was the new "normal."

"Miss Stacy," Doctor Octopus shook his head and mumbled in annoyance.

"Yeah?" Gwen asked as she chewed casually.

"Would you please stop that? I'm trying to finish these adjustments. I must concentrate."

"Sorry," she said as she let her drumming fingers come to a rest. "Try not to break anything in there."

The data port on the end of the cable twisted in a semi-circle and pressed further into Gwen's head. She found it strangely relaxing.