While the Worldmind is a sentient computer from Xandar in the Marvel comics, my version is an ability shared by all the Novi, which is a Marémon based on the superhero Nova. Hope that's not too confusing!
Episode 68: Good Novi, Bad Novi!
"Known as the Quasar Marémon, the Novi are capable of fusing with their Wielders to grant special powers," Alexander said to Peter, while the star-shaped creature floated around the room. "This fusion manifests in the uniforms you see Nova Corps enforcers wear."
"And thanks to their Worldmind ability, we can tap into the mysterious Nova Force the Novi get their powers from without going insane," Rider added while his helmet vanished and another star-shaped creature appeared in its place.
Unlike Alexander's Novi, Rider's had a gold body instead of a dark-blue one that matched the color of his helmet.
"It also gives the Novi greater knowledge than the average Marémon, which allows them to sense when a person is telling the truth or lying," Rider added. "So if you'll take a seat, Mister Parker, we will begin our interrogation."
"Depending on your answers, our Novi will approach you differently," Alexander said. "Think of it as something like Good Cop/Bad Cop, only it's Good Novi/Bad Novi."
"Are you sure we have to do this?" Peter asked, hesitating to sit down.
"Sorry, kid. We're just following orders," Rider said, parting his wavy brown hair. "Unless you would prefer to be questioned at the Nova Corps Headquarters."
"No," Peter reluctantly said. "I'll do it here."
"Good answer," Rider acknowledged.
Peter then sat on his hospital bed while the two Novi circled around his head.
"First question: have you ever been in contact with Spider-Man?" Rider asked.
"No," Peter answered, being somewhat truthful.
Neither of the Novi reacted.
"Okay, I guess you're telling the truth," Alexander assumed. "Second question: did you see Spider-Man in this hospital?"
"No," replied Peter.
Again, the Novi didn't react.
"Were you present at the radio tower where Veneo tied the hostage to?" asked Rider.
For the third time, Peter said, "No."
Rider's Novi narrowed its eyes at Peter, then from its hands produced a bolt of energy that shocked Peter's arm.
"So you were present at the tower," Alexander guessed. "What were you doing there?"
"I was…meeting up with my friends," Peter said.
While Rider's Novi didn't react, Alexander's Novi rubbed its small hands along Peter's arm to soothe the pain.
"How did you get poisoned?" Alexander asked.
"My Spidermin bit me," Peter responded.
"That's only partially true," Rider stated. "While there was Spidermin venom in you, that doesn't explain the unknown poison meaning you were bitten by something else as well. Can you tell us what it was?"
Before Peter could answer, the door to his hospital room suddenly opened. It was Natasha.
"Excuse me, Miss, but you're interrupting a Nova Corps investigation," Rider said to Natasha, looking annoyed.
Natasha calmly took out a badge with the eagle-shaped SHIELD logo. "I am SHIELD Agent Natasha Romanoff. What you are doing is unconstitutional and a clear violation of the Marvo-Xandar Agreement."
"We're aware of the agreement, being from the Marvo Region ourselves," Rider said while looking at Alexander. "But the Sokovia Accords are less constitutional when it comes to dealing with suspected vigilantes."
"You think this boy is a vigilante?" Natasha said, glancing between Peter and Rider. "Where's your proof?"
"He happens to have the same Marémon the vigilante had, and was nearby when the vigilante confronted Veneo last night," Rider said.
"Are you referring to the one in the webs?"
"I am, and his name is Spider-Man according to Black Panther, who had a run-in with him."
"Those pieces of so-called evidence seem more like coincidences to me," Natasha argued. "But if it will put your minds at ease, gentlemen, I will question the young man myself to determine if he really did commit the vigilante acts you accuse him of."
"Listen, we don't have to do what you say," Alexander argued. "We can bring the rest of the Nova Corps down on this hospital with one call to —"
Rider squeezed Alexander's shoulder. "Don't do anything rash, Cadet. It's within her right as a SHIELD agent to question the suspect herself. After all, the Marvo-Xandar Agreement states that Extraterrestrial authorities are not allowed to intrude on human affairs."
"Yet you're here, meaning your supervisor must have figured they could get around that rule if two human Nova Corps officers investigated a suspected vigilante in place of Extraterrestrial ones," Natasha guessed.
Rider said nothing in response and left Peter's hospital room taking Alexander and the Novi with him. Once they were gone, Natasha sat down next to Peter on the bed.
"Did Nick Fury visit you recently?" Natasha asked.
"Yeah, last night," Peter said.
"Was there anything he took before he left?"
"The Mind Infinity Stone and a PDB containing the Marémon Veneo."
"Der'mo!" Natasha swore.
Surprised by Natasha's words, Peter said nervously, "I take it that wasn't supposed to happen."
Natasha quickly regained her composure and gave Peter a stern look. "The Nick Fury you met last night was an imposter, while the real Nick Fury was helping Steve Rogers track Loki and Hela in the mountains."
"What about Sakaar?"
"It vanished by the time Steve's strike team entered the caverns, and now Stephen Strange is trying to figure out where the Sakaar Realm went."
"Stephen Strange?" Peter's eyes widened. "You mean Doctor Strange?"
"He doesn't like to be called that anymore," Natasha said. "But yes, it's the same guy."
Peter's mind then drifted to the previous night, and suddenly he felt guilty about letting the Infinity Stone and Veneo be given to a fake Nick Fury.
"How long did you know the Nick Fury I met last night was an imposter?" Peter asked.
"Not long," Natasha replied. "I was continuing my interrogation with Rumlow this morning, since he refused to talk yesterday. Then he made a phone-call, and suddenly told me he had leaked all of SHIELD's contact information to HYDRA. Before I could question him further, he used a cyanide pill to kill himself. So I listened to his phone-call, which seemed to be coming from his grandmother though I couldn't find any living relatives in his records.
"This led me to the conclusion that the phone-call was a coded message and called SHIELD's second-in-command Maria Hill, who told me Nick Fury left with Professor Banner for Xandar City last night. Naturally, I was confused and called Nick Fury himself. He told me he was still in the mountains near New Asgard Town, and had not been in contact with Banner recently. We both realized the imposter must have been working with HYDRA, who probably gave Rumlow the coded message to give me the warning before committing suicide. Nick Fury then instructed me to investigate the imposter, and that's why I'm here."
"I'm not sure how helpful I could be, since I was just as fooled as everyone else," Peter said.
"Did the imposter leave as if he were in a hurry?"
"Yes, he did. But then he came back and gave the Veneo to Professor Banner before leaving just as quickly."
"Hmm, that's odd…," Natasha remarked. "Maybe HYDRA realized Veneo wouldn't be useful for them and ordered the imposter to give it to Professor Banner. And if what you're saying is true, we aren't dealing with a human imposter but a Kamelio."
To be continued…
