Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Spider-Mom
[Third Person's PoV]
"How's the containment shield looking?" Reed asked, looking at the other side of the growing portal machine, where Peter was seen working on something.
Peter glanced up from his work, wiping some grease off his hands. "The containment shield is stable for now, but we still need to account for the exotic particle fluctuations we saw in the last test. If we don't adjust the quantum field dampeners, we could face another energy surge. We can't let that kind of radiation leak again."
Reed nodded thoughtfully. "Agreed. I've been working on a way to increase the frequency of the dampeners without causing additional strain on the core generator. If we adjust the feedback loop with a tri-phasic modulation pattern, it should create a more consistent field stability."
"That could work. We'll need to reprogram the magnetic constrictors to handle the new modulation, though. I was thinking of making a titanium based alloy to reinforce them—I should be able to make it so its unique properties should help absorb the extra energy without destabilizing."
Reed rubbed his chin. "If you seriously think you're able to do it go ahead, but we'll also need to ensure that its energy absorption doesn't interfere with the harmonic resonance of the portal. Otherwise, it could destabilize the dimensional rift. What's your read on the resonance parameters?"
Peter looked over at the console displaying the data. "It's holding at 33.7 terahertz right now, but we're pushing the limits. Any higher and we'll risk dimensional overlap. That's why I was thinking of introducing a feedback dampener into the portal matrix. It would help redistribute excess energy and prevent resonance spikes."
Reed smiled, impressed. "A feedback dampener in the matrix? You're really thinking ahead. But we'll need to program it to react faster than normal systems—something capable of adjusting in picoseconds. I've got a prototype nano-circuit system that could do just that."
Peter quickly grabbed his tablet to pull up some schematics. "If we integrate your nano-circuits with the neural network we built for the core, it should be able to predict and adjust the portal's behavior before a spike even happens. Sort of like an early warning system. But we'll have to test it under high stress conditions."
Reed tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the console. "Testing it under stress conditions is a must. But we'll also need to monitor for dimensional drift. Any miscalculation in the portal's targeting system, and we might open a rift to the wrong universe. Have you thought about recalibrating the temporal signature analyzer to improve accuracy?"
Peter nodded. "I was just about to suggest that. If we fine-tune it to detect quantum fluctuations at the Planck scale, we can ensure the portal locks onto the exact coordinates we need. It'll give us a margin of error close to zero."
"Perfect," Reed replied. "But let's not forget about the graviton displacement issue. We're still seeing minor fluctuations around the portal's event horizon. If we don't get that under control, any object passing through could be torn apart."
"Right," Peter agreed, tapping his foot. "I think we could stabilize it by creating a gravitational counterbalance. Maybe we use negative energy fields around the event horizon? Something similar to the Casimir effect. It could counteract the displacement."
Reed's face lit up. "Brilliant, Parker. Negative energy fields might be just what we need. But generating a stable field on that scale? It's going to take a lot of power, more than we've been using so far. We'll need to reinforce the power grid with something beyond traditional energy sources."
Peter thought for a moment. "What if we tapped into a zero-point energy field? It's theoretically infinite, and if we manage the extraction rate carefully, it could supply the necessary power without destabilizing the portal."
"Zero-point energy?" Reed said, grinning. "I like the way you think. It's risky, but with the right containment protocols, we might just pull it off. Let's get to work on integrating these systems and run some simulations before we proceed."
Peter nodded and sighed. "This is going to be one crazy month."
Before Peter got back to work, he took out his phone and quickly texted Aunt May
---
Peter: Can I bring some people over for dinner?
Peter: I'll buy groceries on the way back.
Aunt May: Why? What's the occasion?
Peter: It's a surprise! You'll definitely love it!
Aunt May: Knowing you, I seriously doubt it. How many are coming?
Peter: I'm not sure yet. I haven't asked the others.
Peter: Plus, I'll help you cook. What could be better than some Aunt-Nephew bonding time?
Aunt May: I can think of a lot of things, actually…
Peter: Why are you always dissing me!? Do we have a problem or something!?
Aunt May: I don't know, do we?
Aunt May: Anyway, I'm busy. Bye, love you, see you soon.
Peter: Love you too…
---
"Peter?" Reed asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"
"Sorry about that, boss. I was texting my aunt. It won't happen again. Please don't fire me! I really need this job!" Peter began pleading pitifully.
Reed scoffed and chuckled, amused. "As if I could fire you. I'd be shooting myself in the foot—and doubling the time it would take to finish this."
"Does that mean I can be Employee of the Month?" Peter asked hopefully as he put his phone away.
"I don't think we even have such a thing…" Reed replied, tilting his head in confusion.
"Ooh, can we start that? I'd be the first employee to win it!" Peter said excitedly.
Reed just laughed. "You get excited over the strangest things."
---
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Spider-Kat asked as she used a building as a springboard to leap higher.
"You've all asked me so many questions already. Do you even need to ask?" Felix sighed as he swung casually, using his many years of practice.
"How long have you been a superhero? I can't imagine you being one for long and not knowing what that entails. But what confuses me is you've got a villain like The Time Lord, who seems like a seriously powerful bad guy that can manipulate time."
"I've been doing this for close to a year… In my time—well, in the future—a lot of villains started appearing. They all had different powers and thought they were invincible just because of it. So, my siblings and I created a system: whoever encounters a first-time villain adds them to their rogue's gallery. I had the misfortune of facing the Time Lord in my first six months. He's a wizard who developed a spell to siphon time from people and use it to rejuvenate himself and power his spells."
"Wait… Magic's real!?" Spider-Kat asked, looking at Felix in shock.
Felix swung over to a building, placing a hand on his hip. "We have superpowers that defy reality, and you're amazed that magic is real?"
"This can be explained by science. Magic can't… Ugh, that sounds like something Peter would say," Spider-Kat grumbled.
"But that's beside the point. Tell me, how have you spent your time as a hero?" Spider-Kat asked, tilting her head.
Felix shrugged. "What every hero does—fighting villains that threaten people's safety."
"Is that all?" Spider-Kat asked, frowning. "Let me ask you this… I refuse to believe your father didn't teach you well, but did you at least pay attention to any lessons or advice he gave you?"
Felix rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "I might've fallen asleep during some of his lessons…"
Spider-Kat looked at him in confusion. "Are you narcoleptic?"
"No, but my powers do make me sleepier… I just like to indulge in those urges," Felix admitted.
Spider-Kat sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Things are starting to make sense… Follow me."
She landed on one of the lower buildings, and Felix followed. "What's wrong?" Felix asked.
"What's wrong is you spend too much time up here and not enough down there." Spider-Kat motioned toward the street below. "It's time for you to do some community service."
"What? Why am I being punished? I didn't do anything wrong," Felix asked, taken aback.
"And that's your problem. Do you think Peter would view helping people or doing something nice for his community as a punishment?"
"Well, no… but what does that have to do with being a superhero? Isn't that just my father and siblings being super friendly?"
Spider-Kat looked up at the sky and sighed. "Now we know why it's you here and not them... Why do I have to be the one with the socially inept son? And why am I the one teaching him this? Shouldn't his father be doing this?"
She turned toward Felix, her expression turning serious "Being a superhero is more than just beating up villains."
"I know, it's about making sure people are safe and protected from harm. But to do that, I need to take down the villains threatening their lives." Felix said, matching her tone as he understood.
Spider-Kat nodded. "I won't deny that's a major part of it. But there's so much more. It's about connecting with people, being there for someone in need—even when they're not in mortal danger or being threatened by a super villain. It's about helping someone, no matter how small the problem is."
She tapped the spider symbol on Felix's suit. "The 'super' in superheroes is just a description of your powers. What really matters is the 'hero' part. Being a hero means stepping up to help someone when no one else will.
When people see someone struggling with something small or in their eyes insignificant, all they can think is, 'Someone else will help, why bother' or 'That's not my problem, they'll figure it out.' But that's the difference between a common person and a hero, being able to act when everyone else ignores it. And that's something you need to learn if you really want to call yourself a hero."
"Why do you think people love your father so much? Is it because he's the strongest there is? No, it's because they see how much he cares. He spends time with his neighborhood and connects with the people there. They see a guy who genuinely cares, and they can't help but love him for it."
Felix stood quietly as he noticed someone pointing toward them. With his enhanced senses, he picked up their excited shouts.
"It's Spider-Man!"
"Hey, Spider-Man!"
"Going to catch another bad guy, Spider-Man!?"
"Have a good swing Spider-Man!"
Felix couldn't help but smile and give a small wave back.
Meanwhile, Spider-Kat stood to the side, thinking to herself, 'I don't think he's just here to become a better hero. Maybe he's here for me, too. So I can learn alongside him.'
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