= Chapter 167. They Never Remember Skynet =
Commentary on Chapter 167. They Never Remember Skynet If anyone would like to support your favourite and invaluable author with deeds rather than words (although I appreciate comments with your detailed opinions just as much), you are welcome to do so: 5469980470822129 - Sber Next day. 7:56.
Ben Reilly and Elizabeth Tyne's flat.
The red-haired girl sat on the couch, nervously rubbing the edge of the upholstery.
Janine had spent a very long time preparing for today's conversation.
They had been through so much, moving in together, and Benny had revealed his greatest secret to her...even a few.
Involuntarily, Godby sadly jumped.
Ben is a superhero. The Scarlet Spider. How dare she even stay near him? Defile him with her filth?
Love... the answer is always the same.
The green-eyed girl was distracted from her sad thoughts by the creak of the front door.
A smiling blond stood on the threshold, rubbing his hair cheerfully.
- Hey, baby, what are we having for dinner?
- What are you cooking? - Elizabeth replied jokingly, flying into the guy's arms with a smile.
He could always cheer her up.
- You know I can't get anything better than dumplings," the clone continued to fountain with unusual complacency.
And the only thing was that Ben was just too happy about the rape he'd prevented. The bastard rapist is in the web, and the young lad's off with the cops.
- Why not through the window? - Tyne wanted to go off-topic, but she sobbed involuntarily.
He's so cheerful today, so happy.
- It's safer through the roof, Pete always warned me, so I'm getting used to coming home in a suit," Raleigh frowned. - Lizzie, is something wrong?
- No," the redhead tried to justify herself ineffectually, but only succeeded in increasing the flow of tears. - Not at all.
- Liz...
- I lied! - she shouted, interrupting the boy.
- About what? - The blond man asked in surprise.
- My name is not Elizabeth Tyne," the green-eyed girl answered quietly.
- What is it then? - Spider tensed slightly.
His gut was silent, but Ben was still troubled by the unexpected discovery.
- Janine... Janine Godby, - after the false Liz's confession, it was frankly unusually relieving.
- 'I honestly don't understand why you had to change your name? - Reilly was confused, but just wanted to talk things out calmly. - Can you please explain what's going on?
And Janine began her confession.
An explanation about life in Connecticut, hard growing up, drugs...all the consequence of one man's actions.
- He went too far that time, Ben," the redhead put her arm around her shoulders. - I went down to the basement and... it was the kids, Benny," tears streamed from the girl's eyes. - It was just instinct... the gun was on the table, he was standing with his back to me, I grabbed the gun and just fired... put the whole magazine in the panhandler," the girl finished with angry tears.
- So... you killed your own father? - Reilly summed it up quietly.
Without shouting, without accusation, with an unusual serenity.
- 'Yes,' Godby nodded meekly and raised her crying eyes to the boy. - What... What's going to happen to us now?
The blond put his hands behind his neck and stared up at the ceiling.
The question remained unanswered.
16 October, 21:23.
"Borderline."
Peter Parker.
Raising my palm and affecting the material structure of aluminium.
Last night yielded several revelations.
One, Ororo is a wonderful pastry chef, the Coconut Cake was delicious!
Two, Miss Catherine Pryde is not to drink.
Three, Anne-Marie has decided to cuddle for years to come. Well, more like all the years she'd missed.
Four, Logan just hates it when anyone tries to examine the adamantium plating on his claws.
But I succeeded.
There's always been even more questions with adamantium than with vibranium or fucking uru combined.
I guess it's the sheer number of fucking alloys and primisial substances.
Of course, I could have got the recipe for the so-called True Adamantium I needed from some top-secret government lab, but I thought it would be easier to use the forces of Captain Universe.
After all, working with materials was their speciality.
I never thought I'd be able to quickly recreate adamantium based on just a little analysis of Logan's claws.
But I've been trying for eight hours now.
Just like I got back from the hospital.
Felicia was settled in nicely, her own ward with multiple rooms, I'm sure if it wasn't for Kitten's reluctance, Mrs Hardy would have bought out the whole floor. Or the maternity wing. Mary's looking after our girl. And I'm sure she'll be fine.
Carrier, are your hands shaking? - I was surprised by my own personal voice in my head.
Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous.
The doctor said labour is due in what... two weeks?
Are you afraid it's going to start sooner? Complications? Alien attack?
You're making, making options," I sigh heavily.
Peter, I don't think now is the best time to be paranoid about this, and don't forget, Benji's on duty at the hospital twenty-four hours a day," Raj tried to cheer me up.
And my son needs his sleep.
I'm distracted from my conversation with the alien by the call on my communicator.
Not an earpiece. A bracelet.
- Fury? - I'm surprised to answer.
It's been a long time since he's used this mode of communication. Not since the Invasion.
- I need you, an emergency summoning of all the Avengers.
- That's usually Cap's job," I get up and look around the lab before I go.
If it's an Avengers summoning, I'll obviously have to take a break from personal research.
- But not when the person responsible for what happened comes forward with a clean confession," Nick said glumly, then interrupted the call.
Rough. His style.
And, the perpetrator? This is going to be interesting.
I enter the commands to the Spiderbots, wave goodbye to Lycos, locked in the soundproof chamber, and teleport to the Aircraft Carrier.
Well, okay, not right away.
Before leaving, I put the Banner blood reconciliation on the upload, then updated certain commands for the Spiderbots, had Karl heat up dinner, and only then moved.
Waving to the shocked patrolmen and making my way to the inner level.
There was a thought of flying in, because the thrill of flying still drew me in, despite the disgusting circumstances of my first experience.
But then I got the attitude again: I'm used to it!
- Hello, Terence, Ada, oh, Helen, say hello to your husband.
It's nice to see familiar faces, especially the old timers left over from the HYDRACHY, rather than the greens from the academy. And there are far fewer of them.
- Spider-Man?
- Flint? - I react by turning round to the call. - Oh, come on! - I come over and shake hands with the reformed criminal. - How you doing, Coolichik?
- Not complaining, - rubbed the back of his head genetically modified man. - Here, called for some important case by the whole team.
- A special squad? - I tilt my head interestedly.
- Exactly, - Marco nodded. - Most likely, they're already waiting in the big hall, the agents are fussing," Sandy pointed behind his back.
- Then let's go, I don't want to miss anything, - we walk together along the grey corridors covered with special polymer. - By the way, Flint, I've got some business for you... can we meet tomorrow, at eleven, twelve o'clock?
- Sure," nodded the native Baker, interested.
I didn't continue the conversation, we reached the director's consulting room very quickly.
And what I saw inside amazed me.
In a large room, at a large conference table for at least forty people, I saw not only my own team, or PROTECTION Squad, but also the Marvels and their green-haired superiors.
- And here you are," Fury said with a hint of recognition, though almost everyone sitting or standing around the table turned their heads as the doors opened.
- In as much of a hurry as we could, Nikki," I replied cheerfully, walking to my seat next to the other Avengers, saying hello to the other heroes along the way.
Flint quietly shuffled over to the other side of the table, also looking for a free chair.
- All right, everyone," One-Eyed Eagle began menacingly, not commenting on my response as everyone took their seats. - First of all, let me introduce the man we're here to meet," the spy pointed to a disgruntled man in a brown trouser suit, next to whom stood an elderly but still good-looking woman, holding his hand tightly. - Dr Henry Pym, with his wife, Janet Van Dyne, by his side.
After the comment, I distinctly heard the reason for our visit to the Aircraft Carrier grit its teeth.
It was only Fury's words that revived in my mind portraits of scientists whose entertaining articles I had studied. Not to mention the once-famous "Shield agents" Ant-Man and the Wasp.
For an old man, Pim has very little grey in his hair, and it's the same russet colour," I said, involuntarily noticing a detail that seemed strange to me.
Most likely he dyes it, like his wife, look at the temples," Raj joined in boredly with his opinion.
- Let the doctor explain why I've put the entire PROTECTION on special alert, activating the orange alert level and gathering almost half of the strongest heroes of the whole planet, from the ones I know, - Nick gestured to Pim.
The doctor himself exhaled unhappily and, turning to his wife, whose look was clear that she was reassuring him, walked towards the pulpit, which Fury was pointing at.
- First of all, I would like to say that I don't want to be here, and I wouldn't have approached Fury if it weren't for the extraordinary circumstances and my dear Janet's instructions," the scientist said irritably, wiping his glasses fiercely. - I should get to the point, but I can't help but mention the second point," Hank looked at us all unhappily. - I was an Ant-Man superhero myself, and I have to say that with a few exceptions," Hank glanced at Steve and Banner, "I don't like everyone here.
Many of them looked at each other perplexed, Luke even tried to stand up, but Danny held him back. Mrs Pym lowered her head and closed her eyes with her palm, exhaling tiredly. Tony, on the other hand, grinned.
- Something funny, Stark? - The former Ant-Man looked coldly at the genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist.
- Just a grouch that unnecessarily occupies our time," the brunet rolled his eyes, then turned merrily to Thor. - Typical old age, eh?
- Indeed," Goldilocks also snorted.
- You arrogant...
- To business, Pim! - Fury interrupted the scientist's rage threateningly.
Hank closed his eyes and clenched and unclenched his palm several times.
- So, three days ago there was a terrible incident, my project Altron... escaped from the lab, - Pim sighed annoyed and gripped the chair painfully.
It was as if he had gained an extra ten years in front of his eyes. Or even two.
But I didn't care about looking at the former hero.
All my energy was spent on not jumping to my feet.
It was a good thing I wore a mask.
Altron... Oh, shit.
While I was thinking about a fucking android that was capable of starting a nuclear war, its creator was sharing with the audience his perfect idea of saving humanity. At times, his speech even had a touch of pride in it. That is, until the moment when the cameras switched on, showing the escape of the metal creature from the laboratory in all its glory.
Or maybe Pim's head just went to the main thought: "I've created an artificial intelligence capable of destroying all living things!"
Then there was talk of the very encounter with the emancipated robot, a recording of which we'd seen earlier, only there was no sound. Deliberately left out? Altron could easily hack into all of Pym's technology. Or could he?
From Henry's words, the android speculated on the imperfection of humans and its creator.
- Has the information been relayed to the U.N.? Has the dismantling of the powers' nuclear capabilities begun? - Cap got to the point in a focused, soldierly manner.
- What?" Pim exclaimed offended. - Altron will not blow up humanity!
- Oh, wait, I seem to have missed something," Tony put his palms flat on his face. - But we're talking about a crazy AI with a self-learning function that's completely unconstrained, am I missing something?
- I guess it does have some self-restraint," I said thoughtfully, pondering certain points.
- Will you share it with the class, Spidey? - White Tigress shot me a glance.
It's funny, among all the mask-wearing heroes here, I'm the only one who chose to stay with a cloth over my face, even though half of the people here know my identity.
Old habits. This one I'll never give up.
- Of course," I nod to Kisa, then turn to Pim. - You used your own personality matrix when you created Altron, right?
- How did you know that? - Henry replied shocked.
- A hunch. Though it's odd that you chose not to mention such an important detail, as questions about a possible Nuclear Apocalypse would have fallen away.
- MECH is still prepared for such an eventuality, with agents in orbit 24 hours a day," Abigail added.
- That's good to know, Director Brand," I nodded, fixing my glasses on the green-haired woman. - I'm more interested in something else, Dr Pym," I said, clenching my hands together thoughtfully. - From what material is Altron's metallic body assembled?
- I... titanium and an alloy of cobalt and steel," the russet-haired man answered clearly, somewhat thoughtfully. - But why are you interested in that?
- I'm curious, too," the Director of Defence said, his one eye fixed on me.
He was followed by everyone else in the room, and Natasha and Clint, who were sitting on my right and left hands respectively, even turned half-turned around.
- No offence intended, Dr Pym, but I've noticed some overriding traits in your character: you have trouble controlling your rage, you're proud, but most dangerous of all, a more implicit characteristic," I said, sitting up a little in my chair. - Ambition... not surprising, with your plan to save all of humanity, and since Altron's personality is modelled on yours... I agree, he won't blow up the planet... but why do you fucking inventors always forget Skynet?! - I slam my hands on the table.
- What?" Pim is genuinely surprised.
- No, seriously, artificial intelligence is fun as fuck, but the fact that it can develop self-consciousness and, I don't know, build up a metal army and go to war on people is somehow overlooked! - I exhale noisily, raising my eyes to the ceiling, and then lower my head and look at the superheroes looking at me in surprise. - I apologise... Robots, I hate robots! - I immediately raise my palm with a twitch of my index finger. - My Spiderbots don't count, they're more like handheld cameras on legs.
- That's what we thought, Stenolaz," said the archer.
- All right, let's get back to business," Mar-Vell said diplomatically. - What do you think our enemy's next move will be, Spider-Man?
- I think he wants a body," I nodded confidently. - He's looking to purge all sorts of flaws, I bet our AI is a maximalist. And he's gonna start with himself.
- So he needs the strongest alloy in existence," Bruce joined the discussion.
- Or he'll synthesise his own, but before that he'll get the right components," Tony added.
- With all due respect to Spider, but why do we think it will be like that? - Flame Storm spoke up. - What if this Altron actually tries to get to the Nukes?
- The thing is, we really don't have any clear leads, Miss Rhea," Rogers summed up thoughtfully.
- So," Fury began after a short silence. - If we convene a UN meeting with the information that the world could be threatened by a nuclear mushroom by a machine created by an American scientist and a former Shield agent, it would create a panic of unprecedented proportions," One-Eyed Eagle turned to Hank. - You didn't just screw us over, Pim, you put a huge pile right on our dinner table... It would be nice to take you into custody, but there's no room for personal feelings right now," the spy put his hands behind his back. - You and Dr Banner and Iron Man will go to San Francisco, you are required to give them all the files, all the information you have, I hope that won't be a problem?
If Hank wanted to argue, he obviously couldn't. I'm sure he realises how screwed up he is. Even his wife's presence is hardly a comfort to him.
- The rest of you on full alert, Team, get your orders later, Avengers...
- We'll discuss everything in the Tower and report back what we come to later, Fury," Steve muttered as he stood up from his seat.
- Captain...
- Avengers, let's go.
The leader said, there's nothing to do.
And yet...wow!
I've heard Cap and Fury have had a strained relationship of late, but just like that? In a way, I understand and even share Steve's desire to get out from under the wing of the director of the world security organisation.
And, I can see why. After the Washington story, the U.S. government began to pay too much attention to Shield.
How fleeting the former merits of saving the world are in the eyes of politicians.
History is written by those who send heroes to the gallows, Raj.
Golden words, Bearer, golden words...
Besides, back to the question, there's a bigger cat between Blondie and our One-Eyed Eagle.
Something personal...
But that's not the point right now.
Descending down, we reached the hangar where my co-commanders had parked the quinjet.
Let's get in the cockpit.
- Pete, sit down next to me, we need to talk about something," Nat called me, outwardly nonchalant.
But I know this spy very well, there's something big there... So big, that the redhead even decided not to wait for the end of work affairs.
- I'm sorry, mentor, but I wanted to discuss something with Tony, - I point with a brush at HF. - It's business-related, not that it's very urgent, but...
- Okay, got it," the spy nodded curtly. - This isn't the time or place... then I'll tell you what, tomorrow evening, come to my place... Delia and I, there's something important to discuss," the blue-eyed girl looked at me firmly.
Ooooh, Bearer, can you smell it, can you smell it, what is this conversation?
I don't respond to Raj's teasing tone and just nod to the vigilante, stepping back to the red and gold co-commander.
- Hey, hello, King of Asgard! - the brunet waved cheerfully at me.
- I nod at the blond, who pretends not to notice Stark's words, and then sit down next to the armadillo with a sigh. - And by the way, are you going to remember this for the rest of your life?
- Your stunted deception? Undoubtedly," GMPF nodded uncompromisingly. - As you know, a bet is worth more than money, and until I see you on the throne of Asgard with a magic hammer in your hands, I will not stop chopping the truth.
- As you wish, Tin Man, I didn't come here for that," I waved away the hero's annoying taunts. - Do you have a moment to discuss business matters?
- That's why we're flying to the tower, isn't it? - Tony arched an eyebrow.
- I'm talking about staff work," I put my palms behind my head, raising my eyes up thoughtfully. - You know about my plan to start my own company?
- Oh," the man said, surprised. - So I should be afraid of competition? - Mr Moustache said teasingly.
- Give me a couple of years to accelerate and then you can definitely shake on the shares, old man, - I do not stay in debt, smirking.
- That's it, I give up, oh, great businessman! - Laughing, the brunet raised his hands. - All right, all right, now seriously, - coughed co-commandant, noticing my frown, turning on the businessman mode. - What are you planning to focus your productive capacities on?
- Mainly on engineering and biological scientific branch, - I start to explain the plans I've been hatching for a long time. - Most likely, the genetic branch will be tightly tied to pharmacology, and as for the technical side... honestly, I am still torn between the development of a smartphone from which it will be possible to go online from anywhere in the world and the same help to people, - I exhale thoughtfully.
- What kind of help? - Iron Man asked the question sympathetically and even leaned a little forward, ready to listen.
- Making cheap and high-tech prosthetic limbs for people who have lost limbs, or, for example, inhibitors to be implanted in the same spine to restore the ability to walk after serious neural damage or strokes. Or better yet, both together.
Tony looked at me in natural shock.
- These are excellent projects, Peter, and very sound," Stark nodded respectfully. - What can I do to help?
- Well, you know that officially Peter Parker does not have a lot of money...
- You need start-up capital," Mr Beard nodded with the look of a genius economist. - And hence the need to attract investors...
- I didn't come to ask for alms, Tony, - I interrupt my co-commandant unhappily, after he interrupted first. - I have financial means, but not official ones... don't ask. But in the second case you're right, the newly organised company will be more trustworthy if among the holders of its shares will be mastodons like "Stark Industries", "Warrington Company", "Richards Enterprises"...
Thought also of Oscorp, but it's an extremely uneven story there at the moment, Harry is still lost and not fully integrated into the business after his father's "disappearance". Sorry, old friend, but I did what I thought was right...
- All the people you know, who you intend to give money to buy shares and who you can trust, you've got a good idea," Tony said, pulling me out of my dreary musings. - It's not bad, kid, but there's a catch," HF frowned. - Aren't you afraid that in the business world, after hearing about such patrons, you'll be considered a puppet and a subsidiary of my organisation?
- You make it sound like I'm planning to sell each of you thirty per cent of the shares," I snort. - Ten or fifteen at the most, Tony, and I'll have control 51 per cent, as well as the patents, and the rest you can dispose of your shares and sell them as you like, except for Hardy Consolidated, or keep them for yourself," I said.
- You've obviously thought about it," Iron Man sighed. - You know, I'm tempted to ask where you got the money, but I respect our friendship too much," Stark nodded after a few seconds of silence. - I'm in, you can count on me, Spidey. Have you discussed the idea with the others?
- Thank you, Armadillo," I shook the outstretched palm. - Not yet, but I don't think Reed and Warren will say no.
The rest of the way to Avengers Tower, GMPF and I spent the rest of the day in more detailed but shallow discussions about my big undertaking.
Cap and Clint were in charge of the pilots today. Bruce spent the entire flight staring at his clipboard. Only Natasha looked back at us at times, understandably with thoughts concerning her subject and Tor... We'll have to have a serious talk with him too, so that he doesn't get paranoid.
After landing in the hangar of the Avengers Tower we left the Quinjet in a hurry, heading for the briefing room.
We only had time to have a few words with Pepper and Jarvis. By the way, in connection with what had happened, I could feel a slight flurry of negative emotions directed at Tony's AI. Mostly from Thor.
- So, let's discuss what happened, - Cap, as the leader, started the conversation when everyone took their seats.
By the way, now really our own. Individual logos have appeared on the seats of our "Golden Seven", so there's no mistaking whose seat is whose.
Clearly Tony's idea, along the lines of the tower rooms.
The discussion, it has to be said, went quite quickly, everyone threw in good ideas, argued a little and in the end came to the same idea: We should wait for Altron's next move, and Shield and MECH will take care of the reinsurance in global matters.
Of course, the same Thor and Clint were unanimous in the opinion that: "we should not wait for an attack, but attack first!" and I even agreed, but we really don't have accurate information to go on, so we'll wait.
Even though I had the idea to unleash the full power of the Cosmic Force, but Enigma was silent, which means that Altron is not the "hidden threat" for the sake of which the Essence of Truth became one with me, so we can wait. Besides, I have an idea where he'll strike. There's even a few possibilities.
Our meeting broke up after two hours.
Cap went to report to Fury, Thor, full of unspent energy and frustration, said he'd "fly around the world looking for a crazy machine," Barton headed home, as did Nat, who reminded me to come back tomorrow to see him and Del. Bruce and Tony were about to head for San Francisco, but I intercepted the Tin Man with specific intent.
Waiting is good, but it's good to be safe.
- And why did you bring me to the workshop? - Stark asked. - It's late, and I don't want Pim grumbling at me any more than usual.
- I'd like to ask you to set up your satellites to stake out a few specific locations, even if only one is likely to be useful.
- What makes you think I have personal satellites?
- Come on, Tony," I smirked. - Even without mentioning Project Veronica, it's hard to imagine that after the alien attack you didn't deploy your own means of planetary surveillance.
- Guilty as charged," Stark snorted. - Paranoia, it's ruthless and merciless.
- Believe me, Iron, I know exactly what you mean," I patted GMPF on the shoulder.
- Well, if that's the case," the brunet activated the holographic consoles. - What are we going to keep a close eye on?
- Two coordinate points in Africa. First, a base of mercenary smugglers led by Willis Clo, who you already know. They've probably shut down the base, but it's a good precaution. Second, are you familiar with the state of Wakanda?
- A small, agrarian country? What's important about it?
- Yeah, small agrarian country," I hum. - With tonnes of vibranium deposits that Altron might come after, so point your cameras, good luck in San Francisco, Tin Man," I say goodbye to my co-commander and take off.
- Hela, wait, Peter, how do you know that?! - shouted HF in a voice full of interest.
- A smuggler can tell you a lot about the sources of his loot, have a good night, Tony," I salute the brunet, lying about my true knowledge.