[THE CAT'S CURSE] ARC

CHAPTER 22

Breakout at Baxter!

You hand the letter to her as she eyes the handwriting. "Victor?"

Opening it, she reads the letter before collapsing into a nearby chair, looking exhausted. She glances at you. "So, the Spider-man thing… is it mechanical or biological? Because you don't seem to have a lot of room for any mechanical apparatus for the wall-climbing. But I don't get how it works biologically, either."

Pinching her nose, she lets out another sigh. "Sorry, that's been bugging me. We've been in here, stable, but Reed's not letting us have any contact with the outside world, even though I've confirmed the tests that we're not infectious, contagious, unstable, or any of that. We've just been altered on a molecular level to have different…

"And there I go, rambling again. Sorry. It's just, we could be out there, but Reed keeps on keeping us in secret. I can understand Ben not wanting to, but Johnny and I-"

She pauses and looks at you. "Hey, you delivered Victor's letter, right? Could you get Johnny and I out of here?"

She pauses, shaking her head. "Look, it isn't like we're being treated terribly here, but I hate feeling like I'm some science experiment under the microscope. And it's been long enough that there's not going to be any new changes as far as I can tell. Reed might be able to keep himself cooped up in labs for weeks on end, and I understand why Ben doesn't want to leave, but Johnny and I had lives we need to get back to."

She glances over at you.

"So, you think you'd be able to help us?"

You pause thinking about it. "Well, pardon for me asking this first, but what's the story between you, DOOM, and Reed Richards?"

She look at you and raises an eyebrow as you raise your hands defensively. "Look, I understand it's rather personal, but if you want me to get you out of here, I need to know what sort of situation I'm sticking myself further into. DOOM's a pretty alright guy, a bit theatrical but he's doing me a big favor in return for doing him one. BUT-"

You raise a finger.

"-But, there's no telling what will be the situation on how Reed Richards will act if I try to get you out of here. I don't really want a super-intelligent scientist with government connections after me because I kidnapped his girlfriend. You are his girlfriend, right?"

Sue Storm buries her face into her hands letting out a sigh. "Well, before this mess, the answer was probably a maybe. Look, Reed is a nice guy when he isn't blowing everyone off for work. It's always been a problem of his. But now, we ARE his work. He's doing his best to try to figure things out and get us back to normal, but he's in that 'super scientist mode.' We haven't actually ever dated, either. As for Victor…"

Sue shrugs. "Well he and Reed don't get along well. He's a nice guy if you can get to know him, but he doesn't easily forgive grudges. And with how Reed is, Victor took several things as insults and what started off as a small rivalry on his part has turned into bitterness on Victor's part after the accident. But he's like another brother, so it's a bit hard to deal with sometimes as I didn't want to take any sides."

Closing your eyes in thought, you try to figure out how to answer.

You rub at the bridge of your nose through your mask. "Look, I want to help you. But after getting you both out you do realize the three of us would be in a very difficult position. My original exit strategy probably won't work with three people, so I'd need to think of something."

You pull out the camera and set it down.

"First of all, I'd appreciate if I could get a picture of you and a small message written to DOOM that this is your idea so that he'd be more willing to help IF we can't think of a good way out of here. That was part of my original goal from him, after all. After that, while I try to think of something, you go get your brother so we can all be on the same page, alright?"

Sue nods as you pick up the camera and take a picture of her after she takes a moment to look in a mirror. Following the letter being written and handed to you, she heads out the door as you sit and think of what to do.

You think on multiple ideas, such as seeing if Dr. Storm could do that invisibility thing with multiple people and control it. Or you could probably carry them while web slinging out of here. Or hell, you could just burst down a window and get them out of here.

BUT that has some risks too. And while you'd like to go to the Daily bugle with this, this is a quarantine. Who knows if the military wouldn't just shut down everything relating to it? Regardless, you should wait on any final decisions until her brother arrives.

You wait for a few moments as the door opens. Susan Storm walks in with her brother, Johnathan Storm. The moment he sees you, he stops whatever he was about to say. Gently moving her out of the way, he stares at you in shock.

"Move it, Christmas Cake."

Sitting down across from you he doesn't break eye contact. Not once. It's a bit unnerving.

"Soooooo…."

He grabs you by the shoulders, a manic look in his eyes... "Ohgodthisisthecoolestthingever!Dude,what'sitliketobeacelebrityhero?CanIhaveyourautograph?Hey,Icanmakefire,wannateamupandbeasuperheroteam?Iwon'tgetinyourway,Ipromise!It'dbelikeBatmanandSupermanorMegamanXandZero!"

He's shaking you like you're a martini about to be given to James Bond while Dr. Storm looks both annoyed and embarrassed.

You stare at him as he continues to babble past your comprehension. Placing your hands on his shoulders, you take a deep breath.

"Damn, son. Calm down!"

Shaking him once, Johnny's eyes widen as his face flushes. Taking a deep breath he smiles sheepishly and extends a hand. "Sorry about that. Johnny Storm. Call me Johnny, Spider-man."

Shaking his hand you let out a breath of relief before pausing. "Friendly neighborhood Spider- Wait. Christmas Cake?"

Cocking an eyebrow- it's a shame the mask covers that. Nobody will ever get your expressive sarcastic nature in full without being able to see your facial expressions- you look at him. Johnny crosses his arms and nods. "Yup. That's sis. She's twenty five and a doctor. And like the Japanese term, she's a holiday cake that once Christmas passes nobody wa-"

You watch in shock as Susan Storm knees her brother in the stomach, as he doubles over. He glances up and grins at her. "Love you too, sis."

Running a hand through her hair, she sits down. "Alright, so, as I was explaining to Spider-man, I'd like for him to get us out of here when he leaves, if possible."

Johnny looks over to you. If this was once of Harry's anime, you swear his eyes would sparkle. "REALLY?"

Dr. Storm clears her throat as he pauses and scratches the back of his head and looks away. "Yeah, so that'd be cool or something."

You pause, as both of them look at you like you're some sort of experienced role mod- Fuck, you ARE some kind of Role-Model and to them you're much more experienced.

You nod.

"I could. But, are you really prepared for the worst case scenario? Are you prepared to be on the run from Reed Richards AND the US Government?"

Johnny pauses, as if to consider something. Then he stiffens up as his eyes widen.

"You're testing me. This is a test! You're asking if I'm a bad enough dude."

His eyes narrow as he smirks. "Well, you're damn right I'm a bad enough dude."

What? No that wasn't- You rest your face in your hands. "Look. I'm being serious. You don't know what the consequences could be from breaking out of this quarantine. This isn't a game."

You point at the TV. "There is some crazy serial killer trying to get my attention because I stopped a thief and then stopped a madman in a Halloween costume from blowing up a school. I then failed to stop this killer from killing cops and I didn't even know about it. That might be small time to what might happen here. There will be a consequences to doing this and whatever happens?

"It can't UNHAPPEN."

Johnny stares at you as you breathe deeply, trying to calm down. You collapse into the chair and let your head flop backwards.

There's silence there for a good while.

"Even so, I still want to go."

Your head shoots up at Susan's voice. Johnny looks indecisive and a bit surprised. Susan Storms face is serious as she looks at you.

"I've considered this all, too. But you also have to consider my worries too. There might not be a cure and we might be stuck like this forever. Do you know how interested certain people are in humans with supernatural abilities?

"They'd kill for the ability to reproduce our abilities. I don't want to sit around forever as a lab rat unable to interact with the outside world for the rest of my life or strapped down to an autopsy table in some base. With this quarantine, it'd be easy enough to say that we died and our bodies were too hazardous to keep and had to be destroyed."

Her eyes look at you, sharp and calculating. "Johnny might be a bit of an idiot, but he's got friends and a life out there. I have works that I'd like to continue studying. Even if it was on the run, I'd rather live the life I choose to than one imposed upon me."

She spreads her arms. "I understand there's a lot that can go wrong and we'll need a cohesive plan. But don't think I haven't considered the consequences, Spider-man."

Johnny, listening to his sister, takes a deep breath and nods his head, a determined and stubborn look on his face.

"Fine, you win. But we need a solid plan."

You really can't argue with her logic. "But have you at least talked to Dr. Richards about this?"

"Yes."

The reply is curt, quick, and has a tone to it that seems a bit scary.

So, the three of you begin discussing what you're capable of and what would the best way be out of here. Seems like Richards made sure that everyone had fundamental control of their changes so they weren't actually a threat. But, at the same time, was heavily against overuse or experimentation with the powers.

Susan Storm has the ability to turn invisible. It's currently limited and she's not entirely how it works, but it only affects her and anything she's carrying on her. She might be able to carry one person and use her ability, but that's not something she's entirely sure of. But, it also makes her invisible from electronic surveillance. Yikes, no wonder she's worried. Any government would go nuts for the ability to produce people who could do that.

Johnny has the ability to create fire. The more of it he creates, the more he's engulfed in his flames- though dangerous to others, they don't hurt him, though.

Currently, Susan's promoting the idea of heading to the roof and making a quick escape, Susan and Johnny following invisible, you'd then grab them, lifting them just to test to be sure you could, and web-line away and into hiding. There's not a lot of places they can go, currently. Any associates or friends would be immediately under suspicion. That leaves you with a problem. You COULD try to see if Felicia could take them in for a while or you could see if DOOM would take them. However, the latter would likely cause a diplomatic incident if you're lucky.

The first option would undoubtedly expose your and possibly Felicia's identities to them, though.

You decide to go with the plan. Johnny and Susan get a few essentials and Susan gets dressed before the three of you head out. You can practically hear Johnny going 'So COOL!' when you start wall-climbing. You move slowly and head with them to the roof, taking the elevator.

Moving is slow and several times you think you hear something, but the three of you make it to the roof access door.

Undoubtedly, you'll head with them to the Latverian Embassy, but first you've got to get out. Giving Susan and Johnny a moment's breather, you all move to open the door when you hear it. The sounds of an aircraft.

VTOL, if your nerd brain is correct. Someone's landed on the roof and they're going to come this way. Glancing at your companions, you grab them and lift them up, securing them to you with your adhesion ability as you cling to the ceiling above the door. Susan bites her lip hard as you feel…

Something pass over you as you, she, and Johnny disappear.

And then the door opens.

You take a deep breath. The VTOL is still out there. You'll have to make a move now without being caught. This will take all the effort you have. The door opens as you see a red haired woman in a black catsuit, followed by a bald, black man with an eye patch over his eye, and then another woman with black hair.

As the door is closing, you see an opening. Moving as fast and quietly as you can, you pivot on a hand and flip through the closing doorway and onto the roof of the entryway's exterior, quickly moving to the other side and, carefully, web slinging away, Johnny and Susan Storm both there and, as none of the three seemed to have noticed your exploit, you're probably safe.

Probably.

Still, it doesn't hurt to get several blocks away at which point you set them down on solid ground. Dr. Storm is looking winded and tired and a bit fearful while Johnny looks exhilarated.

Still though, you escaped from the Baxter Building. Time to go meet Doctor Victor Von DOOM and report in what happened.

END
To be continued

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