Chapter Four

Now in a normal red button up and some plain jeans, young Peter Parker was lounging in the Bus messing with his web dispensers, having jammed one just hours ago with his attempt to get a string out with nothing left. He was getting close, but was still stuck. He knew he'd get it eventually, maybe it was just nerves from being on a super secret plane on the way to a super secret base overseas, realizing his life was about to get a whole lot more super secret.

"Peter," the now-familiar voice of Coulson said, calling his attention up from the gadget. "We're about to land, you may leave your things here," he said with a nod.

The boy in mention stood up, placing the device and tool in the pack he would always carry with him when Spider-Man—it was lightweight enough, usually empty besides a change of clothes for on-the-go changes. "Where are we, anyways?"

"Classified information, I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, given your intellect," he responded with a knowing smile.

Shrugging the bag onto his shoulder, Peter followed the SHIELD agent out onto the landing deck outside the Bus. A few agents—or so he guessed, given their attire—were there to meet them. As Peter studied the scenery, it seemed they were already inside, possibly underground because of the special area and lack of windows. Or maybe it was just for stealth.

"Director Coulson," the first agent greeted, this one with a tight brown bun and a look of importance to her, although she also seemed like the type to be able to joke around if called for. "I see you've brought Mr. Parker," she said, nodding towards him.

"Agent Hill," Coulson greeted in return, "he was quite willing to come, given his situation at our time of arrival," he said, giving a knowing glance Peter's way, "He was briefed on the ride to the Bus," he added, clasping his hands behind his back.

Agent Hill nodded, "Good," she said, nodding towards the two agents that stood at the ready by her side. The two in mention walk somewhat stiffly towards Peter, each seeming not to enjoy the other's company. "Mr. Parker, these are agents Jessica Drew and Felicia Hardy. I believe you have already met Agent Moon," she introduced, glancing towards the dark-haired agent who had exited with Peter and Coulson, "They will all accompany you around the facility, we've got a few things to explain," she said.

Agent Felicia Hardy was a tall young woman with silvery hair—obviously dyed, given how she looked otherwise—while Agent Jessica Drew was certainly closer in age to Peter, with dark shoulder-length hair and a kinder expression on her face than Felicia's. Both of them seemed quite professional as of now, but he hoped not everyone was like this off the job. The three agents, including Moon, all seemed to have acrobatic builds, and he wondered if he'd have some competition around here. He wouldn't mind it; it could be fun.

"We've contacted your Aunt May, she believes you're over at your friend Harry Osborn's house," Agent Hill continued, seeming a bit stiffer at the mention of Osborn. "We assumed it would be the most plausible excuse, given how much time you spend with the boy. You'll only be here a few more hours, then you'll be able to return home," she added.

"Great," Peter said, "You've really thought everything out," he added with a small shrug, looking towards the three agents. "So, what exactly is it I need to find out, that she said you would show me?" He asked curiously, glancing from one agent to another, and again to another.

"Right," Agent Drew said, nodding curtly, "If you'll follow me, I'll—"

"If you excuse me, Agent Drew, I would believe Agent Moon here would be most qualified to explain," Agent Hardy said, her tone a bit...cold, if he had to explain it, towards the other young woman. "Of course, given her experience," she added, gesturing towards her.

"O-oh, of course," Agent Moon said, flustered just slightly by the sudden suggestion of her leading. "I—just this way," she motioned, leading the group towards a corridor that seemed to be lined with labs.

As they walked, Peter couldn't help but notice the animosity between Hardy and Drew. He took note of the sideways glances they gave to each other, the obvious distance between them as they walked, and the silence that followed—anyone in their right mind could tell something was up between them.

"This is SHIELD's last genetics-based lab," Moon explained, entering the largest lab, "the rest turned out to be Hydra, or soon after were infiltrated and made to be Hydra."

Peter looked around with surprise, smiling just a bit at the scientific wonders that graced the lab. "Wow, you guys could go against Oscorp," he breathed, only then realizing his mistake.

The agents were silent, but he knew what they were thinking. "Of course, you've probably done much better testing, and—"

"No, it's fine, don't worry," Drew said, shaking her head, "They are a highly advanced corporation, it's just disappointing their chosen side is Hydra," she said, pursing her lips slightly. "Go on, Moon."

The mentioned agent nodded, gesturing towards a glass box, in which was...a spider. Small world. "This is a prototype spider injected with a similar serum to that found at Oscorp," she explained, "In my few years there, I gathered fragments of the chemical compounds and genetic qualities placed in spiders like this, and I believe we are closer than ever to recreating the serum that you and I have running through our systems," she said, looking at Peter.

"You and I?" Peter repeated, raising a brow.

"Right," she said, "I didn't explain that part," she added, chuckling sheepishly. "The day you were bit by the spider, it bit my ankle," she explained, lifting up her pant leg just slightly, showing a small, blueish circle-shaped scar on her ankle. "I got similar powers to yourself," she added, turning towards a clipboard, sticking her hand out at it, small strands of a weblike fluid coming from her fingertips, bringing the clipboard towards her, "Perhaps just a little different," she said with a more confident smile, though still a small one at that.

Peter breathed a chuckle, "Guess I'm not as original as I thought then," he commented dryly, impressed by the fluid's retention. "I'll admit, I hadn't expected that," he added, shrugging his shoulders.

"No one does," Hardy said with a light smirk. "You wouldn't believe some of the responses to her...special talent," she said, placing hands comfortably at her hips as she spoke.

"But the serum," Moon continued, trying to avoid more conversation about her abilities, "Is usually faulty. They've since discontinued their research with spiders, continuing on to lizards, as well as some advanced healing properties, without the spiders," she said, "We believed for a long time they had more sinister plans for years, but it's just been proven, as you can see," she said. "We plan to stop them before it gets any further."

Peter nodded, still feeling a bit uncomfortable about going against his best friend's dad, but he knew it had to be done. He nodded, "And I'm going to help, aren't I?"

"Given your close relationship with the son of the head of the company, it is much easier for you to gain the trust of the head, and allow our agents to infiltrate," Hardy said simply, an air of superiority to her voice. "It'll be in and out," she added with a small smirk.

"Right," Peter said hesitantly, "Yeah, I can do that," he said, trying just as much to convince himself that he could indeed do that. "So you don't need me for my powers?"

"We shouldn't have to use them, no," Drew said, shaking her head and folding her arms, "But if it comes to it, we'll have your help for sure," she said.

"Sign me up, then," Peter said with a sigh, knowing it was for the better. Maybe it would even help Harry, getting the bad out of his dad's company.

-.-.-

"So how's it going at home with your dad?" Peter asked casually, glancing towards his friend, who was stuffing his face with school spaghetti at the moment.

Harry arched a brow at his friend, swallowing the bite, "What? It's fine," he said dismissively, "don't worry about it," he added, shaking his head with a dismissive wave of the hand.

"Uh huh," Peter said, pausing briefly to examine his friend more closely. "Sure, man, you're totally okay."

Harry shrugged, "I'm fine, seriously," he said, getting a bit defensive. "Don't worry about it."

Peter nodded slowly, pausing a moment before deciding to let it go for now. "Hey, uh, next week, could we hang out at Oscorp?" That gained him another incredulous look from his friend, "You know me, the science geek, I was wondering if maybe your dad could introduce me to Dr. Octavius, maybe Dr. Connors?" He asked, shifting in his seat slightly with a (hopefully) believable smile. He wasn't exactly the best at trying to convince people to do something for him, but he had to get into Oscorp—he was basically the distraction on the SHIELD team, he couldn't let them down.

Harry shrugged, "Sure, why not, I'll see what I can do. Dad's real busy right now, with...business..." He said, trailing off. "But yeah, I'll see what I can do," he said, nodding as he stuffed another bite into his mouth.

"Cool," Peter said, relieved that conversation was over. He would contact Agent Hill later, he couldn't risk his phone out at school—Aunt May would kill him. She'd already been mad enough about his unmentioned "visit to Harry's" just a few nights ago.

It was a good thing she didn't actually know where he went.

"Hey, you seen Divergent yet?" Harry asked.

"What? Uh, no, not yet," Peter said, surprised by the subject change, "I'm planning on it."

"MJ and I saw it last week. Come on, man, it's been out like three weeks or something, you gotta stay up to date," Harry said, nudging him in the shoulder.

Ah, MJ and him saw it. Of course. The two had been getting closer the past few months, and it was a bit like salting an open wound. Not like he and MJ had ever been close, but it just...rubbed him the wrong way. School-kid crushes always felt like that, it seemed.

"Hey, there's that new girl in your biology class, what's her name?" Harry asked, nudging Peter's arm again, "Y'know, the blonde you were telling me about?" He added with a cheeky grin.

Peter shrugged, hiding a small grin, "Hey, she's just some girl in my biology class."

"She's smart. You need a nerd."

"I don't even know her name."

"Then find out, idiot!" Harry exclaimed, knocking him on the head.

"Gwen, come on! Sit by us!" A few girls at the table next to theirs called out, motioning to a blonde girl who had been late to class.

That was her.

"Dude," Harry said with a grin, "You can't be serious, is that her?" He asked, following Peter's glazed gaze. "Oh, man, you're screwed, she's not just a nerd, she's a good-looking one," he said with a chuckle.

Peter laughed sheepishly, "Hey, if a guy like you can get MJ, a guy like me can get her."

"Sure, man, sure," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "Good luck to you, you've got to be either the bravest man in the world, or the stupidest," he said, shaking his head a little.

-.-.-

Well, poor Pete's in a predicament. Poor guy.