= Chapter 185. Face to Face =
Comment on Chapter 185. Face to Face If anyone would like to support your favourite and invaluable author with deeds rather than words (although I appreciate comments with your detailed opinion no less), you are welcome to do so: 5469980470822129 - Sber Night.
Harlem. "Arachnid Base."
Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
It flashed in a flash.
A feeling.
A clear premonition... It broke all patterns, ruined all plans, cancelled all appointments.
I knew where I was supposed to go.
Didn't warn anyone. Just little text messages to Carrot-top and Kitty.
Benji was already waiting in his Bunker.
Before I set off, I looked in the Frontier.
Carl hadn't been my "guest" in a while. After getting rid of Sauron, there was no need.
Blondie had done well. He had created the cure.
I thought a lot about how I would use the antimutagen in the future, how its creation would affect the global balance of power and the mutant race itself.
But none of that matters at the moment.
From the beginning, I've lived by one rule: Listen to my gut.
My totemic essence warned me: Listen to my gut.
Madame Web left a message: Listen to your gut.
I lost Uncle Ben because I didn't listen to my gut.
I haven't stopped listening since.
And this time I heard it.
Something's coming.
They're coming.
Every cell was telling me so.
As I opened the funnel between the bases, I met Arachnid, and my son answered me with only a silent nod.
After the Nightmare story, Benji had listened to what I was saying, and he'd been spending a lot of time with our family, with his uncles and aunts. But he devoted a lot more time to the project of tracking our guests from other dimensions.
And he succeeded.
My son developed a system to track the threads of the Web of Life and Destiny.
Signals, tunnel passages. Nothing more. No travelling on his own.
But it was enough.
Now we were ready for invasion.
And the well-established tracking system didn't fail.
- Someone's coming," Parker said, double-checking the equipment.
- Yeah," I nodded, "and fast.
I've been busy moving my own equipment myself.
Over the past few months, I've mostly focused on the corporation.
And my own development.
I couldn't spend too much time on police work, the usual spider patrols. I had the Web Warriors for that.
Though, right now, as I put away my designs, my suits, all the supplies I had for a rainy day, I realise that any training, any preparation, training was still not enough.
I could have devoted more time to everything.
Somewhere sacrifice a family dinner, somewhere a meeting with friends, Avengers missions.
But I didn't.
I would never do that.
My way. My responsibility.
- I'm afraid there won't be any room left in the room anytime soon," Ben's remark snapped me out of my musings as he watched dozens of my Spiderbots crawl out of the portal.
- It'll be fine, son," I replied, rechecking the Mind Stone medallion.
- I don't understand why you had to carry the capsules with the spare suits," Ben arched an eyebrow. - Dad, you realise you can't wear more than one suit anyway, don't you?
- You're the smart one," I chuckled at Silver's words. - Don't worry, Benji, I've thought of everything, - I reassure my descendant, looking at the pedestals with spare uniforms.
I hope the sleepless nights and long study will pay for itself...
Closing the portal.
I myself changed into the final version of my costume. A genius of spider design.
In a way, it's "the ultimate armour for the toughest environments". Combined unstable molecules of vibranium and adamantium based on an intelligent, rudimentary-symbiotic, semi-liquid, thought-responsive alloy (co-developed with Raj).
Limitless armour.
Too bad I never got to Uru...
- Karen, how's the connection? - I'm checking my AI's readings.
- "Stable, Peter," the programme replied.
Although that's too narrow a term to define it now.
- Unit control response?
- With proper tuning, I can do it in a few minutes," the information avatar replied.
- Get on it," I nodded at Karen's words and walked over to my son. - Vitals?
- See the purple dot? - Silver pointed two fingers at the monitor screen.
- I see it.
- Moving through the 'empty dark space', they're crossing the edge of the dimensions. Heading in our direction.
- Benji," I called out to my son, gathering my thoughts. - I remembered a lot of things about those spider-men," I confess to my shocked son. - And they are dangerous. That's why...
- Oh, don't even think about it," the Future Spider turned away lightly. - No matter what you say, I'm not going to avoid meeting them," my son raised his hand, claws erupting from his glove. - Remember, I haven't been slumbering either, and I've improved a bit.
- Then maybe you should improve as much as possible? - I say with a hint of innuendo.
- Reza has his own important mission. No need to distract him," Benji tried to sound firm, but I could hear his voice shaking.
- Okay," I exhaled.
I know this case is between them and me.
They can't hurt Benji.
Still, in a way, they have to think of him as their son too.
Suddenly all my senses stirred.
Carrier," my partners responded.
Yes, I know.
On all four walls hung my Spiderbots. Not a single free spot. I activate my wrist cuff, and open the suit pods.
I listen to my senses, my magic core. My body.
- Benji, get ready.
Putting on the helmet-mask.
- What? The Arachnid looked at the screen. - According to the readings, they're several dimensions away.
- No," I clasp my hands together in a spider stance. - They're already here.
Abruptly, a bright purple portal opened in the centre of the room.
Such a blinding glare makes me squeeze my eyes shut. But I keep my eyes open with all my might, resisting instinct.
After the flash fades, three people appear in the centre, instead of blurred silhouettes.
On the left is a spider, whose costume is composed of a wide variety of design elements, harmoniously weaving together a customised uniform pattern, the likes of which I've never seen before. His right shoulder is framed by a thin flap of fabric with a spider web pattern. A cloak.
Legendary.
The one on the right is the one that has caused me the most anger. Especially now, when I think of my baby daughters and what I saw in his world... want to wash. In his poisonous bright red suit with a symbiotic glow.
Irresponsible.
And in the middle of it is him.
Same golden armour.
Same purple robe.
Compared to his escort, same friendly aura.
- 'Hello, Peter,' from behind the robe and helmet, you can't see his face, but you can sense a smile in his distorted voice.
- So, what now? - I don't answer the greeting, so I get to the point.
Out of the corner of my eye I notice Benji tense up, clearly, at the moment, briefing Jen.
- Now? - The stranger took a deep breath. - The final test, Pete.
The knight raised his hand and space swirled in a lilac haze.
As a result, we found ourselves in an unknown place.
Stone floors, a starry firmament beneath the ceiling illuminating the surrounding darkness.
And in the distance "by the walls", two global white-golden swirls marked with a pattern of spider webs.
There are heavy stepped doors behind," Raj noted with my second sight.
And you also somehow missed the throne in the centre," Ani added.
Right now, I'm a little focused on thinking about something else...
- How?" Benjy exclaimed in amazement, looking around and voicing my own thoughts.
And, indeed.
No portal, no funnels, no other teleportation manipulations. We were simply... transported.
One hand movement...
Stilyaga and Red didn't seem particularly surprised, but there was a noticeable wary twitch in their auras.
In Knight's aura? Nothing.
- What's the test? - I'm focusing on the one who once introduced himself to me as the Unimaginable.
- Not so fast, kid," Red shook his finger warningly, stepping forward a little. - Boss don't initiate...
Suddenly Spider was thrown back, behind the Unknown's back.
- Did I mention I'm allowed to be interrupted? - The Knight turned his mask's gaze back to the offender.
His voice is distorted, but I can just sense the mood. And he's not happy.
- Overlord, I...ARGH! - Trying to justify himself, the Spider in the symbiotic suit fell to his knee.
There was no reaction from the Knight.
He just stared at his subordinate.
- Never. Don't. Interrupt. Me.
- Bvhah, I got it! - Irresponsible is pinned to the floor. - I got it, Boss!
- Good," Unimaginable released the pressure, turning away from Spider, who was clearly breathing easier.
Legendary just stood silently, as if turned into a statue.
- Trouble in Paradise? - I said lightly.
Humour is the best defence.
- Just misunderstandings," the knight snorted. - So, - the unknown clapped his hands, - the test, - the man in armour raised his palm. - The point is this: you have to show what you've learnt all this time, Peter," he continued in a distorted voice, pacing from side to side. - Your examiners, these two," the knight uninterestedly pointed his golden armour-clad palm at the frozen Legendary and the uncomfortable Irresponsible holding his side. - Of course, I don't intend to restrict you in anything.
The Unknown waved his palm again and all our supplies appeared in front of me and Benji: suits, Spiderbots, belts with cartridges, unloads with developed combat weapons. That's it.
- For a fair fight? - I ask incredulously.
- To a fair confrontation," smirked the Unimaginable. - With a few reservations.
The knight looked at Benji for the first time in the whole conversation.
- Sorry, boy, party's for grown-ups.
The tingle in the back of my head of triggered Sense made me reflexively extend my arm in my son's direction.
But he was already gone.
- WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!
I lunged at the Knight.
And the second I do, I'm in the jungle.
I look around.
Wild Earth?
No.
It's different.
A second later, all my equipment moves.
Looks like this test has already begun.
That's right, Ani," I reply to the spark. - Then let's not disappoint the examiners.
I'm going to the supplies.
* Unknown's throne room.
At the same moment.
- So, you two know what to do," Unimaginable said, putting his hands behind his back.
Irresponsible and Legendary only gave a quick glance and tapped the dials of their transport devices.
* A little later.
Arachnid Sanctuary, Harlem.
After the transfer, Benji was lost for no more than a minute.
He picked himself up right away.
- JANE, status? - commanded the son of Spider-Man.
- I've been able to determine the coordinate space, but I'm not sure we'll be able to set up," the programme said hesitantly.
- We can," Silver added confidently. - We must.
I must.
It's my responsibility. Commentary on Chapter 185. Face to Face * Uniforms - .ru/i/P1IhTK4efqoJMg; .ru/i/GYXGEnxP0t81IQ
* Unlimited Armour - .ru/i/lVGJj6rxuJrT5Q