9 - Harridan June 11, 2008 Stacy residence, New York City 9:10 AM
With summer break, he, Gwen and Peter had made plans to spend as much time together as possible. Of course, he knew Sentinel would cut into that, but he was still determined to spend more time with Peter, and make it up to Gwen for flaking on her. Before he could relax, however, there was still one thing that needed to be done. Something he hoped his best friend would be willing to do with him. Closing his eyes and counting to ten, he rang the doorbell, waiting silently. The door flung open to reveal the face of captain Stacy, who grinned when he saw him.
"Nate! Come in, come in. Good to see you my boy, I was just about to start breakfast. Gwen's still getting ready." Nate smiled gratefully as he wiped his shoes on the mat, stepping into the house after the captain. Mrs Stacy beamed at him from the kitchen bench as they entered, moving a pile of papers and magazines from the stool next to her. She gestured at the free stool with a smile. Nate nodded his thanks, before sitting beside her. Captain Stacy, humming along to a country song in the background Nate didn't recognise, placed a plate of scrambled eggs and a toasted bagel in front of him. He grinned at Nate.
"The usual, my good sir?" Nate smiled back.
"Thanks, cap". Captain Stacy nodded before placing another plate in front of his wife. Mrs Stacy glanced at the bag he had hung on the back of the stool. He'd dropped a pile of warm clothes in the bag on his way out, intent on giving some to Gwen. Assuming she agreed to join him, of course.
"What's with the clothes?" She asked, curious. He looked up, chewing and swallowing a mouthful of egg before answering.
"Mom gave me a bag of old clothes no one at the house wears anymore. She wanted me to drop them off for donations. I figured I could do it this morning while Gwen and I were at the mall". The ease with which the lie came gave him a brief moment of pause. His best friend's parents glanced at one another.
"That's a good idea," Captain Stacy stated, looking thoughtful. His wife nodded.
"We probably have some around here we could take down," she added. They both turned to Nate.
"Do you think you and Gwen would mind waiting while we collected some to take with you?" The captain asked. Nate shook his head.
"Collect some what?" A voice came from behind them. They all turned to greet the newcomer. Gwen came wandering down stairs, hair pinned back with a black headband, wearing a simple white top and pink jeans. She blinked curiously, waiting for one of them to answer as she glanced between him and her parents. Her mother answered.
"Didi gave clothes to Nate to donate, so your father and I thought we could throw together a pile of old stuff to take with you as well." Gwen nodded, yawning softly as she took a seat next to him. Her father silently placed a plate in front of her, sliding a cup of juice across the bench with it. She nodded her thanks as her mother, finished eating, left to collect the clothes. After a moment, Captain Stacy left to join his wife.
"Doctor Thomas gave you a bunch of winter clothes to donate in the middle of summer?" She asked, frowning slightly at him. He discreetly shook his head.
"These are for you" he replied, voice just as soft.
She raised an eyebrow. "Me?" Nate nodded.
"I need to go back to that ship I found in Antarctica. With all that Harridanite technology, it might have something that can help me find out precisely what this suit is, and what it does." She nodded, expression thoughtful.
"And, that has what, exactly, to do with these clothes?"
Well, I was kind of wondering - that is, I was hoping - would you, I mean could you, maybe?" He stuttered, not sure why he was so nervous. It should have been an easy question to ask. Something was keeping him from saying the words. Perhaps it was the need to keep something secret from her. Maybe he was just worried about the robots that had been there last time, and wanted to keep her safe. Or it could have just been wanting to separate their friendship from Sentinel as much as possible. In truth, he wasn't even sure why he wanted anyone there with him. It felt like going to the dentist though, like he needed someone he could trust and sat with him in the cold waiting room, knowing he would be safe. She was the only one who knew about any of this. The only one he could rely on.
Gwen grinned at him, interpreting his unspoken need. She giggled softly. "You want me to come with you?" She asked. Nate, a thin dust of red covering his cheeks, nodded sheepishly. Gwen giggled once more, ruffling his hair playfully, he ducked, dodging her hand. She poked her tongue out at him. "Of course I'll come with and hold your hand through all the scary parts. What's a best friend for?" Nate glared at her, sniffing disdainfully.
"I'm not sure I want you to come anymore". He told her, his grin softening the harsh words.
–AoS–
They stood side by side, he wearing his black skinsuit, cape fluttering behind him, Gwen bundled in several layers of warm clothing. He'd always been taller than her, but now he towered over her shivering form. Between waiting for her parents to bundle together a large pile of unworn clothes, give them to Gwen, and then taking that pile to the homeless shelter, along with him flying slower to make sure he didn't harm her, they had taken far longer than it normally would have taken him to get here. It was already noon at home in New York. With Antarctica seventeen hours ahead, it was 5:00 am. The ship loomed ahead of them. Gwen stared at the massive silver spires In wonder. He made his way towards the imposing
structure, gesturing for his friend to follow. They trudged across the ice, Gwen with her arms wrapped around herself. He slung an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She smiled gratefully up at him.
"Y-you're ser-seri-seriously n-not cold?" She murmured, teeth chattering loudly in the silent, windswept icy desert. "Wuh-what, duh-don't you even fe-feel it?" She asked, glaring harshly at the unfairness of it all. He smiled sheepishly down at her as they walked.
"Well, yeah, I feel it," he began, trying to think of the best way to explain it to her, "with my super senses, I have an enhanced sense of touch." As if to demonstrate, he raised a hand in front of them, feeling the wind. "I can feel every slight variation in the air currents, every minute ice crystal under our feet, how humid the air around us is -"
"Yes, yes Nate, and I bet if you taste the snow, you can probably tell the exact species of plants the dinosaurs that lived her over 100 million years ago are" Gwen cut off his long-winded lecture with a slight grin. I haven't forgotten that little trick you pulled with the popcorn last week," she replied, referring to his ability to tell her every ingredient in the popcorn they had shared at the cinemas, and the exact amounts, from a single bite. Beside her, he smiled slightly at the memory. She continued, "what I was asking is if you can actually feel cold. Can you even remember what that's supposed to feel like now? I mean, for real?"
He grinned. "You know, technically, most of the plants we have now wouldn't have been viable for dinosaurs to eat, especially grass. Different biomes, so that's another thing the Jurassic Park movies got wrong." She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him. He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, and despite his older physical form and mind blowing powers, this man in a stranger's body was still her nerdy best friend. Somehow, although she already knew she was perfectly safe, it was reassuring.
"As for feeling the cold, no. At least, not on Earth anyway. I remember a bit of a chill when Graviton shot me into space, but I haven't been up there since, so that could have just been fear, I suppose". Gwen gaped up at her best friend, who was still looking straight ahead towards the ship in front of them.
"So, the vacuum of space is chilly… whoever would have known?" Gwen joked as he halted in front of the sealed ship, placing a hand against the metal.
–AoS–
The ship slowly opened for them, just as it had when he had been with the Kree. They stepped through the opening, the doors sealing shut behind them. Gwen sighed in relief beside him. "Much better," she grinned. He smiled at her, unable to feel a difference. they glanced around the hall. Scattered pieces of the security bots lay across the floor. He glanced in her direction as he made his way further into the ship.
"Stay behind me, ok?"
"Sure thing".
Their clanking footsteps against the metal floors were the only sound in the deserted ship. Despite the eerie silence, he was grateful not to have to deal with the screeching alarms again. They made their way into the central control room he had been brought to by the machines the night the Kree had forced him to help them enter. Behind him, he heard Gwen's heart beat faster, thumping in her chest at the sight of all the alien technology. She made her way over To a metallic bench, covered in buttons and switches.
"Don't touch anything" he reminded her, "we don't want to wake anything dangerous up." She nodded. He floated around the room, checking each of the three floors as quickly as he could. There was no sign of any more robots, or of the drone that had greeted them last time he had been here. No signs of life at all. Despite his relief at knowing there was nothing dangerous left on the ship, he felt a pang of irritation. It would have made things easier if he had found someone; someone who could help him to understand the suit. His abilities. Someone who could tell him what to expect next. Frustrated, he landed next to his friend. She glanced at him.
"Nothing?" He shook his hand, leaning back against the bench, hands resting on either side.
"Nothing. I have no idea what this suit is, or what it might do to me if I keep using it. I have no one to turn to, and no idea how much more powerful I might end up." She smiled reassuringly, placing a hand on his arm, to short now to reach his shoulder.
"We'll figure it out ourselves then. You, me. Pete even. You're not alone." He smiled gratefully down at her, before noticing a soft blue glow underneath his other hand, and leaping back, pulling her behind him. The flashing blue light coalesced into a blue beam on the other side of the bench they had been leaning against moments before. After several moments, it materialised into a flickering blue hologram of a woman wearing a skinsuit similar to his own. Her hair was tied in a tight bun. Warm hazel eyes met his own, before turning briefly to gaze at Gwen behind him. The diamond crest on her own suit, instead of an S like his own, depicted a blue and green swirling pattern, vaguely reminiscent of the tao symbol for Yin and Yang.
"Greetings, Nar'Von" the hologram spoke, smiling in his direction.
"Ugh, Hi there?" He waved awkwardly. The figure blinked, continuing to smile.
Gwen cautiously stepped out from behind him, staring at the woman in wonder. The figure turned its attention to her. It flickered for several moments, before addressing her.
"Human female. Age 10 years, three months, and 28 days. Human records indicate designation: Gwendoline Stacy. Greetings, miss Stacy."
"Ok. That's crazy". His best friend breathed softly. Nate stepped forward slightly. The AI turned to him once again.
"What are you?"
"I am the digital representation of the ship's captain, Fara'Dein. I maintain all her memories, up to and including the 15th of October, 1675, Earth reckoning. Thank you for your inquiry, Nar'Von".
"And what is Nar'Von?" Gwen asked beside him.
"Unfortunately, I am not permitted to answer that question when requested by an alien, unless directed otherwise." Gwen pointed at Nate.
"Could he direct you?"
"He could".
"Answer any questions she asks".
"Very well. Nar'Von is a semi-mythical figure in Harridanite civilization. According to legends, he was our first God-King. He was said to possess vast powers, which he bestowed upon our race." She shimmered momentarily. In her place stood a tall figure clad in a black skinsuit with gold cuneiform on the waist and shoulders, and golden concentric rings running around the elbows. A familiar S symbol was emblazoned on the chest. The figure's face was framed by black hair that fell nearly to his shoulders and a black beard. Sea green eyes gazed imperiously back at him. The hologram returned to its original form.
"How did you know Gwen was a human?"
"The ship scanned her upon entry. I have access to all its files."
"Did it scan me?"
"It did".
"So you know that I'm human too? That my name is Nathaniel Thomas?"
"I do".
"And yet, you called me Nar-Von".
"You wear his symbol. To me, to my people, that is what you are".
"Why does this suit give me all these powers?"
"Harridanites have existed since the earliest days, one of the thirteen higher races. In the age of Kings, as he was dying of mortal wounds, it is said the great Nar-Von pulled the very stars down from the heavens, granting his people to absorb their energy to enhance their own powers. Since then, all Harridanites have been born with immense power. It made us the greatest of the higher races, first amongst equals. Seven centuries ago, Harridan, our ancestral homeworld was destroyed, swallowed by our sun, which imploded after we drained too much power to feed our advanced technology. We were scattered across the stars, no
one population large enough to sustain itself for more than a century. To survive and insure genetic diversity, the Bio-suits were developed.
They were designed to be worn by aliens. Over time, they would be altered by the suits," once again, the hologram shifted, a human DNA sequence appearing, floating beside a sequence with a quadruple helix as opposed to the double helix of their own structure. The voice continued.
"Over time, the suit alters alien cells, replacing them with those of a Harridanite. As a result, their very DNA is shifted, taking on the complexities of Harridanite DNA, and allowing them to access our genetic abilities, including our powers. Eventually, the alien host becomes a full Harridanite, able to join our civilization and help stabilise our numbers".
"Four centuries ago, in the reckoning of your species, Captain Fara'Dein and her crew came to this world. Whilst most did not agree, she saw the potential in your people, and your system. She pushed to settle the moons of Saturn and Jupiter, terraforming them to our needs with what little technology remained to us, and to uplift your species as allies to our own. Many called her insane, although her commanding officer, the sitting War Master of the time agreed with her, recognising the need for a new home to rebuild".
"Before the plan could be carried out however, all contact between the ship and the rest of Harridanite civilization ceased. The captain departed this world with the remainder of her crew. The ship was left for any harridanites or those with a Bio Suit who might find it and need my advice".
Gwen stood beside him, shivering once more.
"What's a War Master?" The girl asked quietly.
"In ancient days, after the deposition of the last king of Harridanite, our society was gathered by a Great Council. It's members were representatives of the twelve ancient houses of Harridan, the science guilds, twelve representatives of the common people, and the military representative; the War Master. After the desolation, the council was impossible to maintain. As our race slowly came together once more, the military assumed control, to maintain order until such a time as a new planet could be settled and the council reestablished. No such planet has been discovered. As such, the War Masters maintain control".
–AoS–
June 11, 2008 New York City 2:44 PM
They wandered the city aimlessly. Gwen tugged him along, stopping to meander through various book stores, comic shops, game shops, and anything else that took their fancy. Listening to his best friend chattering mindlessly and gazing at the wares in each store, Nate did his best to shove all thoughts of Fara'Dein, the War Master, and the future aside. He pushed such grim thoughts of potential alien invasions to the bottom of his mind, smiling and
laughing with his best friend. One day, he knew, he would have to decide whether he wanted to keep the suit. Whether he wanted to let the process of changing him that had already begun finish, or put Sentinel aside forever. To become Harridanite, and embrace an unknown future and people, or to stop helping, put the suit aside, and stay as he was before, an unremarkable human, with nothing special about him. Yes, he thought, as Peter came laughing towards the pair, one day. But not today.
A/N: Sorry it's so short, and sorry for the lack of action. I felt like doing a Gwen and Nate bonding chapter and explaining a little more about harridanites and the suit. It's probably too much tell and not enough show, but it's out of the way now, and sometimes, when writing, you need to tell, you know?
A note on Harridanite pronunciations
Fara'Dein: Fara rhymes with Tara, Dein sounds like Dean.
Nar'Von: Nar rhymes with Bar. Von rhymes with Con.
Both names are just the one word, despite the apostrophe in the middle; Harridanites don't typically use last names when conversing with one another.
Fara'Dein actress; Kate Beckinsale
Thanks for reading. Haven't had any OC suggestions yet (if unsure what I'm talking about, see last chapter for details).