= Chapter 182. Growing Out of Control =
Commentary on Chapter 182. Growing Out of Control 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 28 December 2014. 2:00.
The streets of New York.
Peter Parker.
Swinging gently on the web between the high-rises of the Big Apple, enjoying the bracingly frosty air and just mentally relaxing.
A beautifully spent Christmas with my family is a rest before a total life change.
Yesterday was the grand opening of Parker Industries' first office.
A press conference, distinguished guests, luminaries of science, even a candidate for the future mayor of New York City showed up, almost paternally telling everyone that he always felt that his freelance photographer had a great future.
I never thought my reality's Jay Jonah Screamer would decide to become mayor... good thing there's no trademark hatred of Spiders here.
I gave a speech, thanked my primary staff, expressed my intention to get better, although I certainly won't be expanding into other countries right now. I need to establish my company here.
There's a lot of work to be done, but most importantly, I won the bet! And now Miss Snow Queen should definitely be behind Mary, Fey and me.
I let go of the thread and smoothly hook myself into the straight smoothness of the window surfaces.
I take a deep breath.
How good...
Spider Sense!
I jump off the spot, into which, a few seconds later, a large splinter of concrete flies.
I shift my gaze and see a large woman, unadorned, a wrestler on steroids, with a mop of long blonde hair.
- All right, what are you, some lost New York Amazon? - I leap to the roof, landing in front of my likely opponent.
- Your death," the blue-eyed one declared, rushing at me.
Yeah, definitely an adversary.
- Can you at least tell me your name? - I dodged a very fast and strong attack.
- Stunner," the blonde said.
Wait, that's Angelina's pseudonym... Angelina...
Brancale," Raj prompted, refreshing my memory.
Right, Octavius's assistant!
So Doc Ock sent her?
My gut's buzzing. Is it warning me that Stanner's dangerous or something else?
I try to look round, but the blonde is tying me up tightly with a fight.
If she is indeed, as in canon, using viar technology, her avatar is now clearly operating at the full power of her bakery's stuffing...
My gut wouldn't react this way to a simple fight... she's distracting me from something...
I grab the villain's arm and punch her in the elbow.
However, instead of the expected fracture, the three metre tall wrestler starts to glow and then... burst into flames after screaming.
- So it's a dense illusion after all," I whisper, looking round again.
The signal's gone, I don't feel threatened anymore.
So what the hell was that?!
I'm distracted from my thoughts by the trill of my communicator.
- I'm listening. I'm activating the transmitter.
- Hello, Peter? - I hear a distraught voice on the other side, almost on the verge of tears.
- Gwen? - I'm surprised to get a late call from Stacey. - Gwen: Hi. Is something wrong? - I'm startled by the timbre of her voice.
- 'Yeah, something,' the blonde exhaled. - 'I... Peter can you come over?
- Mr Stacey? - I'll get right to the point.
- Dad's on duty and I wouldn't want to worry him.
Judging by the tone, Gwendi really bad, so should not continue these telephone quizzes.
- I'll be right there," I end the call.
I cling to the wall and head towards Stacey's family home.
* A little later.
Dr Octopus' temporary base.
Otto was sitting at his monitor, studying the data upload process, when a loud gasp came from his right.
- 'You weren't kidding, Doctor,' the blonde sobbed, holding onto a limb that was being struck by phantom pain. - 'He really is cruel.
- That's right, my dear Angelina," the brown-haired man smiled, glinting over his glasses. - And now we have something that will solve the problem I have.
- What kind of problem? - Brancalee asked, standing behind her lover and looking at the files gradually filling the monitor.
- I have long puzzled over how I could fulfil my plan in the absence of a brain scan of my greatest enemy, forcing an encephalogram is a challenge, my dear," the scientist waved his hand. - And, here is the answer, his mysterious sense of danger... so-called Sense will help me in it.
* Some time later.
A bedroom community in Brooklyn.
Peter Parker.
Well, this is a strange neighbourhood to move to...
I walk up the stairs and knock on the door.
I put my hands in my pockets and wait in silence, checking my civilian clothes.
- Peter? - There was a quiet voice on the other side of the door.
- Yes, Gwen, it's me.
Something's obviously happened at your friend's place," Ani noted worriedly.
Lock clicks.
The door opens and Stacey peeks out carefully from behind the doorjamb.
- Come in, - invites me blonde.
- Gwendy, what's wrong? - I immediately inquire, crossing the threshold.
And I am immediately raked into an embrace, and the explanation remains only a tearful roar ...
I hug my friend and try to calm her down.
After half an hour to cry, I put a mug of tea in front of her and look at her seriously.
- Tell me," I took my own cup with both hands.
- Miles and I have been estranged for the past couple of months," Stacy began, a little stiffly. - He went to a conference in another city, and we thought it would help recharge our relationship, the separation, all that stuff... it didn't work," Gwen sighed. - In the end we decided to take a break, not to break up, but just to slow down...
- Gwendy, I understand, you don't need to explain, just tell me," I nod encouragingly.
The blonde sighs and continues.
- I thought to have a break, a rest, I went out with my friends and, once in a club I met an interesting guy, nothing like that, - the blue-eyed girl raised her palm, - even contacts were not exchanged, just had a good evening, and then, - Stacy closed her eyes. - Remember a week ago you had a party in honour of Felicia's birthday and a party in honour of her babies?
How can you forget... Lydia flying around like a kite, dozens of people all suspecting me as a paternity candidate, the constant streamlined answers for the sake of keeping the legend alive... brrrrrr... my head is spinning from just remembering.
However, I just nod.
- I remember.
- So, can you imagine my surprise when I saw the guy from the club among the guests?
- Who was it? - I ask ingratiatingly.
- He said Benji, no last name," Stacy said, and I clutched my mug so tightly that it squeaked pitifully. - Said you supervised him as a lab technician, and he was planning on going to Empire State.
Nodding at the flood of information trying to put the picture together.
My son showed interest in Gwen?
At the very least, it's highly unlikely he was at the club by accident," the symbiote echoed my thoughts.
- What happened after that? - I asked before Stacy could see me thinking about it.
- We exchanged numbers," Gwen blushed, tucking a strand of wheat-coloured hair behind her ear. - He was really nice, we texted every day, Benji ordered me flowers, late night texts...
- That's all great, Gwen," I interrupted, "but what happened?
- I invited Benji to my place today," Stacey pursed her lips, "I wanted to know what he thought about an experiment, but he obviously misinterpreted my invitation.
I can only imagine... what you've done, son?
- At first everything was great, we were discussing the research, chatting, but then Benji started... stroking me," the blue-eyed girl exhaled. - I had no time to say anything, but he started kissing me and fell on the bed ...
The girl was silent
Don't you dare, don't you dare do what I'm thinking!
- Gwen, he...
- I tried to push him away but Benji just bit my neck harder, like he was getting wilder by the second," Stacey sobbed.
I clutched at the table, unknowingly tearing off a piece of the table top, causing nearly half of the contents to fall to the floor.
- Shit! Sorry..." I start picking up the shards of the cup.
- It's okay, the wood is probably rotten," the girl sighed and started to help me.
Yeah, the wood...
We silently clean up the mess I made, which calms the blonde down a bit.
- Gwendy, - I call my friend, - did he...?
- Did he rape me? - the girl turned to me. - No... he obviously wanted to, or at least it seemed so, but, at the last moment... as if he woke up, - Stacy hugged herself with her arms. - And ran away.
- 'I see,' I put on my hoodie. - Lock the doors, and if he comes back, call 911," I walk out of the kitchen.
- Where are you going?! - blonde girl catches up with me in the hallway.
- I know where Benji lives," I clench my fist, "I'm gonna go talk to," I swallow the word son, "my ward.
- Peter...
- Stay home, Gwen," I shut the door behind me.
I walk down the dark alley and breathe in the cold air. It's good for clearing my head.
Benji's been really weird lately, but I didn't think he was capable of this," Ani said, annoyed.
We don't know exactly what happened," I replied to Spark's lament.
I apologise, Bearer, but Miss Stacey was very clear," the Clintarian said, unintentionally adding fuel to the fire.
He could have been controlled, Raj! - I still snap. - Forced...God knows what else!
Bearer...
I will never believe that my son would do such a thing on purpose! - I'm hiding in the back alley. - Take off your disguise.
Letting out strands of webbing and snagging on a building, heading for the Arachnid's base.
After half an hour of forced flight, I land in Harlem, on the roof of what has become a very familiar place.
I lift the flap, open the hatch, and descend into the room.
The Silver Spider from the future is sitting on a couch in a suit, without a mask, and with his feet up on a table, playing a console.
- Well, well, aha, - from the diligence of pressing the buttons the shaten even stuck out the tip of his tongue.
- Turn it off," I said seriously, approaching my son.
- Hey, man," Parker waved his palm without even turning round. - Why so late?
- I said... - I raise my hand, - switch it off!
Tearing off the plasma hanging on the wall and throwing it aside, giving vent to my anger.
- Hey! I honestly stole... I mean borrowed it! And I was going to return it," the teenager sighed and threw the gamepad away. - I think I see what you're rampaging about," my son looked at me from under his fringes. - Did Stacey complain?
- What did you do? - I asked quietly, but in no mood for jokes.
- You're so serious," Silver rolled his eyes. - You don't have to make a storm out of the breeze," Spider stood up, stepping around me. - Yeah, well, I got a little carried away...
- Gwen said you wanted to rape her...
- I wasn't going to rape her! - Benji turned round and looked at me angrily.
I'm taking off my mask.
- I don't want to blame you, son. Just tell me what happened.
- It was nothing, Dad," the boy continued in a visibly distant tone. - Okay, I had my eye on the blonde, when you asked me to watch her, you know, in case the Goblin attacks, by the way... - Parker turned to me with a sly smile. - What happened to Osborn? I don't remember him being in RAFT with Hobgoblin and Lantern Man.
- That's my own business," I fold my arms across my chest. - We're talking about you.
- Whatever you say," Future Spider snorted and sipped from the glass container.
- Alcohol?
- Helps me relax," Benji shrugged and leaned on the tabletop. - So, yeah, I used to go to the same places as Gwendy, and that's how we eventually met," the brown-haired man chuckled and pointed at me with the vessel. - As a man, you have to understand, Dad, I haven't had a woman in a long time.
- So you would have chosen one that wasn't busy, and anyway, are you allowed to sleep with girls in the past?
- Doesn't it matter? - The brown-haired man waved away, taking another sip. - And about the busy one... who, Morales? - Benji snorted. - Don't be ridiculous, Father, or wait..." His son looked up at me again, his brown eyes burning with mockery. - Are you going to add Stacey to your mums? You got the health for it, old man?
- I'm trying to talk to you normally, Ben," I frowned, not understanding what was going on with my son, "but don't get too bogged down.
Bearer, I think you should not provoke Benji," Ani spoke up.
- Or what, you'll flog me? - The brown-haired man grinned. - Beat me? Demonstrate a real Spartan upbringing? - Spider threw back the bottle, which shattered on the floor. - Come on, then!
- Benji, I don't want to fight you," I backed away, a little shocked at my child's fierce intensity.
- That's right, I wouldn't want to fight me either!
A red ripple of symbiotic material immediately travelled across my son's suit.
Your offspring has gone completely off the rails! - Shouted the alien in my head.
Dodging a lunge of Klinthar lashes.
I never thought a Black Death vs Red Death battle would be like this...
Seriously, Pete, now?!
Well, I'm sorry, Raj! You know, I didn't expect MY SON to throw himself at us either.
Shut up, both of you, and concentrate," Ani reprimanded me and my brother.
The redhead's right," Raj sighed. - Together.
- Well. If that's the way you want it, Arachnid," I stand up and embody the black material of the symbiotic suit. - Let's go!
Benji creates spear tendrils from his hands, and I create a shield and a blade-gleph.
We simultaneously increase our own mass and triple our jumping power.
We collide in flight.
I'm sure from the outside we look like struggling multi-coloured tar.
It's funny though, neither my son nor I covered our faces, just our costumes.
- And you've been practising interacting with the symbiote," I speak as the distance between us naturally increases, "well done.
- Sitting behind a console forever isn't going to help me beat the best," Ben replied, flicking his hair back.
- Benji, we've discussed that you should prepare for possible encounters with Spiders from other realities with a cool head, without fanaticism, because it can drive you crazy...
- Easy for you to say! - shouted the brown-haired man. - You are not responsible for the lives of the people you love! You were not sent on a mission by GOD himself! - tears glistened in the corners of the teenager's eyes. - You're not the one who has nightmares of letting your family down time after time," Arachnid finishes in a whisper, sitting down on the floor and resting the back of his head against the wall.
Slowly I walk over to my child, who has his fingers furiously clawed into his hair, and gently place a hand on his shoulder.
- Benji... what's with the nightmares?