Once it was time to get down to business, May went to the shed that was casually existing on the end of the backyard and unlocked it. While Peni, Peter Benjamin and Porky were already aware of what was behind the door, Gwen, Miles and Peter B. were seeing it for the first time.
"Oh yeah, I got one of these too," Peter B. informed, "A little, old shed where I keep my Spider gear."
He quickly shut his mouth upon seeing the shed housing an elevator that was ahead of its time. It looked like a gimmick. May simply looked back with a smug and waited for everyone to enter.
Peter B. added one more comment before the elevator would move.
"I mean this place is pretentious."
The elevator lowered itself and the first-time visitors except for Peter B. were awestruck at this shed turning out to be an underground base, storing stuff like suits, vehicles, et cetera. Miles even noticed a moderately sized robot and gawked at it like a child.
Once the elevator came to a stop, they all stepped out. While Peter was still going on about comparing his shed to this dimension's Peter's, Gwen remained focused on the display of Spider suits. It almost made her own suit feel out of fashion. Mind you, she loves her suit, but she's now considering having more than one to keep it fresh. As a bonus, it might even make it harder for her dad to recognise Spider-Woman.
"This. Is. Amazing!" yelled Miles, making a beeline for the robot and staring at it like a child would do at his favourite toy. "How come I've never seen Peter use this?"
Porker snorted, "That's because it ain't his."
"What?"
May noticed Miles turning to her with a surprised expression, but quickly corrected him before he got the wrong idea. "No, it's not mine," She pointed with a thumb at Peni, "it's actually hers."
Peni laughed in embarrassment, even more so when Miles ran up towards her and bombarded her with admiration and questions like "Does it do everything a Spider-Man does?" and "Can it shoot lasers?" and "Did you make it?" and "How much do you want for it?"
Peni was happy to answer them. "Yep, it does what you'd expect Spider-Man to do. No lasers though, at least not yet. My dad made it; I just customised it. And I can't sell it! It's priceless."
"That's cool. Can't wait to see it in action."
Peni grinned, "Wait till you see who's living inside it!"
"What? You've got a person living there?"
"It's not exactly a person…"
Gwen and Peter B. crowded next to Miles to see Peni doing something to the robot that made it open one of its many small compartments. After reaching her hand inside the storage unit, she brought out something—or rather, that something crawled onto her hand and around her arm. "Say hello to my little friend."
The three took a closer look at the spider until they realised that it looked familiar.
"This is the spider who bit me," Peni explained, "so I called her Bitsy. Isn't she cute? Oh, we also have a psychic link!"
Peter B. took a step back. "Let me get this straight. You get bit by a radioactive spider… and then you keep it as a pet?"
The little girl shielded the spider as she got defensive. "She's not a pet! She's family."
"Say," suggested Miles, "if Bitsy somehow bit me, would I get twice as powerful? Considering I was already bitten."
"I don't know, but it's not like we can put that to the test anyway since she's no longer radioactive. I filtered that stuff out of her to make her harmless."
"You can just do that?"
"Oh yes; we have the technology in my dimension."
Gwen said her response. "You said you have a psychic link?"
"Yep. In other words, we can communicate through our minds."
"Wow… that's pretty cool."
"Totally," agreed Miles.
Peni took pride before putting the spider back to where it was residing. "You can go back to sleep, sweetie, sorry for waking you up."
"And she says Bitsy isn't a pet," remarked Peter B.
"I think it's real cute," May commented, grabbing the attention of everyone as she returned from the computer. "Anyway, I want to give everyone a brief on what we're going to do about the collider. Before our new friends arrived, our plan was to break into Alchemax and obtain some files needed to create a goober. Thankfully, Miles over here ended up stealing a whole computer from that place, and judging from some of the personal files, I'm guessing this computer is Liv's. This makes the job a lot easier. Well done, Miles."
Everyone gave a round of applause to the boy in question, making him feel just as proud.
"Now. What's next is to create the goober. We'll leave that with Peni. In the meantime, we'll have to decide who will use this key to destroy the machine."
"I'll do it!" Miles was quick to decide, determination already in his tone. He wasn't all that surprised to receive looks of uncertainty from the others. "You guys don't get it, do you?"
"Don't get what?" inquired Peni.
"None of you can stay here. If you stay here, you won't be able to go back. I'm the guy who's gonna turn it off—and I'm gonna get you all home before I do. Look, I made a promise. So, I have to keep it."
Peter B. placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Are you sure? You're not exactly a fully fledged Spider-Man. And we need to be on standby in case the collider starts running again."
"You can teach me in the meantime! Like you did back at Alchemax." Miles turned to the other Spider-People in this room. "The same goes for you guys."
Hearing about Miles not yet being a fully fledged Spider-Man may have worried the rest of the gang. It's not like they're going to get another chance with the collider. After Peter Benjamin inquired about the boy's ability to use his powers, they were told Miles couldn't do them on command. That didn't really put them at ease.
But Gwen still had faith. "Look, I've seen him in action. He's got… potential. I think he's gonna get us home."
They all decided to take her word for it, and thought they'd try to give him a run for his money. From questioning his guts to actual sparring, he didn't really meet their expectations. Unfortunately, they concluded that he didn't have what it took. While Miles was struggling on the floor, the others huddled up, and they weren't exactly quiet with their feedback. They may have had a point, but it still hurt knowing he couldn't be helpful, knowing he couldn't keep Peter's promise.
The huddled group noticed Miles taking the elevator to leave. This caused Gwen and Peter B. to web sling and catch up with him.
"Miles, hold on," Gwen tried catching up with Miles, and he stopped in the middle of the backyard. "It wasn't personal." The boy turned to face her to hear her out. "We just can't take any risks the next time the collider turns on. If we choose someone who isn't… up to it, then the whole plan might mess up, and then no one gets to go home. Or worse… the universe will just get fucked up. Then there'll be no home."
The boy looked down until Peter B. also said his bit. "Yeah. Besides, we weren't talking about not letting you do it. Obviously, you need more training, so… that's what you're gonna get." Miles finally looked hopeful. "I'm serious this time: proper training. Ever since I met you, you've always had guts. You've really impressed me, Miles. So, why don't you call it a night? Take it easy for now, and we'll meet back here tomorrow so we can get started on your first official Spider-Man training."
Miles finally smiled. "Thanks, guys. Well… I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Just as he was going to go home, Gwen stopped him. "Miles?"
He looked back.
"…We're still friends, right?"
He answered without a hint of doubt. "Of course. Like you said: it was nothing personal. See ya."
As they watched him leave, the shed's elevator brought the rest of the group back to the outside. "What did you decide?" May asked.
"We're gonna give him some training," answered Peter, "starting tomorrow."
She nodded with a smile. "Alright, then… Well, how about we call it a night?" She saw Peter B. and Gwen about to web sling out of here. "Where do you two think you're going? You've got yourselves a place to stay?"
From their lack of response, she assumed they were homeless. "You guys are staying here, with the others."
"Are you sure about that?" asked Gwen.
"Of course. No need to waste your money on a hotel room, or worse, waste your health by sleeping on the streets. Come inside."
Peter and Gwen were grateful for the lady's hospitality. Peni, overhearing that offer, felt excitement that the other girl would be hanging around for the night.
Almost everyone made their way back into the house, while Peni was stepping inside the elevator, and Gwen took notice. "You're gonna stay in the basement?"
"Just for a bit. I'm gonna check out that Alchemax computer Miles brought over. Then I'll be back with you guys."
"Oh, cool. Well, I'll see you later."
Peni gave a thumbs up until the elevator closed on her.
Entering the house, Gwen was offered sleepwear from May: a top and some pants. While they're oversized, that's part of the comfort, and it definitely beats sleeping in a Spider suit. She used a makeshift pant string, made out of her spider webs, to keep the pants from falling off.
She enters the living room where she would be sleeping and was met with three sleeping bags on the floor, all occupied by the Peters, including Porker. Before Gwen asked about her sleeping space, she was told she could pick a sofa. She settled for the one by the wall instead of the one in front of the window. She supposed the other sofa was reserved for Peni.
"It's a sleeper sofa, by the way," pointed out Peter Benjamin, "just remove the cushions and unfold the mattress underneath it."
Gwen did as advised, and she very much welcomed the mattress. "Cool. Thanks."
About fifteen minutes later, Peni finally returned to the living room as promised. She was wearing long sleeve pyjamas, all red and splattered blue splattered spider symbols—supposedly Spider-Man merchandise sold in this dimension. Gwen thought she looked cute in those. Now that she thought about it, Porker and Benjamin also had their own sleepwear, while Peter B. had to resort to his Spider suit accompanied by sweatpants. He should probably buy some clothes if they're gonna stay here.
"That sofa by the window is your spot," informed Peter Benjamin.
"Thanks." Peni made her way over there while scratching her head, unfolding that one into a bed as well.
A few minutes later, everyone in the room exchanged their goodnights before the lights went out for the night. Sleeping with a bunch of people who understand her is something Gwen can get used to. Tonight was one of those rare occasions where she fell asleep quicker than usual.
It had only been an hour or so—Gwen wasn't really keeping track of time—but she eventually woke up to the sound of buttons being pressed. She opened her eyes and tried to locate the noise, and it came from Peni, playing video games on her portable console. "What time is it?" Gwen asked groggily.
"Hm… 11:21 PM." Peni's response sounded tired. "Did I wake you up?"
"Yeah, but it's cool." Gwen eyesight was blurry from having just woken up, but she could notice the smaller girl's face looking a little upset. "What's wrong?"
Her upset expression got stronger. "I can't sleep."
"Oh…"
Peni played for a couple more seconds before pausing the game and laying it on her belly. "Promise me you won't feel bad."
Gwen didn't know what Peni could say that would upset her, but as her new friend, she can oblige and listen. "Promise."
"Well… remember earlier when you were talking to me about your Peter?"
"Yeah."
"Well, it's kind of got me thinking about my dad. It's been bugging me and… it's not letting me sleep."
That was a pretty hard thing for Gwen to not feel bad about, especially if it was her fault for bringing up Peter. But as promised, she tried not to feel bad, and instead focused on being supportive, like how supportive Peni was when they talked about Peter. She sat up and smoothed out an area of the bed next to her. "Come here."
The small girl looked at her, eventually coming over with her console and sitting down beside her.
"You uh… wanna talk about it?" Gwen offered. "You know, it helped when I talked to you about Peter. I'm kinda hoping the same for you."
Peni shut down the console and didn't speak for a while. "Well… my dad was an engineering architect. He was in charge of his inventions. One of them was the robot you saw in May's shed. His biggest project though, was a device based on quantum physics. It was a device designed to transport between dimensions."
"Woah. You mean, like a collider?"
"When you put it like that, kind of. But this device would let you travel to other dimensions through a portal. It's different to a collider that just brings in stuff from other dimensions. We just called it a gizmo—it's a working title, maybe. So, anyway… the scientists wanted to know if there was more to life outside our planet. They didn't have success, but Dad wanted to take it to the next level and find life outside our dimension. He was so ambitious, but that's one of the reasons why I loved him. I think he rubbed off on me. If something didn't go his way, he'd try harder.
"So, one day, Dad finished the prototype and showed me and Mom. It was a huge watch." Peni had stopped talking at that point and looked lower. "Sorry. Once I pictured that watch, it's getting harder to talk about it than I thought."
Gwen nodded. "Don't be sorry. You know, you don't have to keep going."
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep otherwise," Peni insisted, followed by a deep breath. She felt at ease when she felt Gwen's hand caressing her back. It inclined her to lean against the taller girl, so she did just that. "Anyway… the prototype. He wanted to demonstrate it. I think he typed in some coordinates. And then… a big explosion happened. It knocked me and mom out. When I woke up, everything was dark. I think it was a power cut. I tried to get up, but the ceiling was going to fall on me. I thought I wasn't gonna make it, but then… he saved me. He pushed me out of the way, so that it would fall on him instead."
She started having a shuddered breath, like she was about to cry. She was glad she had Gwen who was willing to hear her out and understand her. "I uh… helped him and Mom out. Mom seemed okay and just unconscious, but Dad… he was dying. He wanted me to hold his hand… You know what he said to me?"
"What?"
She choked as she tried to relay his words. "He said… 'I have no regrets. …Even if I made the best thing in the world, it… it would never be as good as you and your mother, and… I'd never forgive myself if I lost either of you.' …I tried to get help, but… he…"
Peni shoved her face against the other girl's shoulder and wept. She couldn't finish that sentence, but Gwen already knew the rest of it. All three Peters in the room unintentionally overheard the whole thing and felt as awful as Gwen did. "I'm so sorry," she said, continuing to stroke the crying girl's back.
Peni responded by nodding, while still wetting the shoulder with tears. After what felt like a few minutes, she toned down the weeping to sniffles. "You know," she said as she continued resting on her shoulder, "I thought I got over it. But when I try to really think about how it happened… it made me feel like I was living it again. Kind of like you with your Peter."
Gwen reassured with a smile. "Well, nice to know we're not alone. Right?"
"Yeah. You're like me… The robot you guys saw in the basement; it's the most precious thing I have from him."
"Must mean a lot to you… Thanks for talking about it." Gwen didn't receive a response, but she didn't need one. "Say, erm… Wanna stay here? You know, in case one of us has trouble through the night."
After everything that happened in the span of a single night, Peni already felt close enough to her to be comfortable with it. She nodded, and even smiled albeit faintly. "I'd like that."
"Cool." Gwen was the first to lay down, and Peni followed. There was plenty of room for the both of them, so neither felt cramped. Both laying on their back, they shared a look to each other. Peni smiled again, a bigger one this time, and was the first to close her eyes as she whispered "Night, Gwen." She felt a lot sleepier after being exhausted from that talk.
"Night." Gwen slowly sat up and said "Hey, Peters."
As if on standby, both Peters' heads perked up at her calling and replied with a synchronised "Yeah?"
"The other sofa's free if any of you want it."
Before the men in their sleeping bags could do anything about it, Porker had already claimed a spot on the bed. "You snooze, you lose."
Peter scoffed, "Well, I'm not exactly comfortable with sleeping next to a pig, so it's all yours, Peter."
Benjamin was quick to accept the offer. "Don't mind if I do. I can compromise, if it means I get an actual bed."
Both girls had an easier time falling asleep.