In Central Park, on a white stone Dias sat 6 crystal pillars. Each one held a different Infinity Stone and they sparkled, even in the dark.
"So, that was the wish huh?" and Peter nodded at Felicia's question.
Create an indestructible prison, one for each stone, that can only be opened by the power of all six stones together, and place it on Earth in Central Park
"Yup, the stones can only be released by someone who has all six stones, so the Infinity Stones are no longer a problem."
"You mean, the stones aren't a problem, but every jackass thinking they can get the stones will be."
Peter stopped and sighed, "I didn't think of that." and as Felicia grabbed onto him and hugged him close she just laughed.
~
Gwen excitedly stared at the centrifuge, as Peter hovered over her shoulder, "ta-da" and as it opened he saw a vial of formula, a pale yellow colour, and if he was going to be honest, it looked like a urine sample.
"Yeah, know that look, and no it's not." Gwen huffed. "I took the purple heart flower, the Stacy formula, the Banner formula, some of Carol's Space Stone infused DNA, and the modified Parker Extremis virus. Did some Gwen magic, added a splash of vibranium and made this."
As she reached into the centrifuge and picked up the vial she gently swirled it and for a moment it burst into bright golden light, filling the lab with a spectacular light show of multicoloured rays.
"I call it my Golden Sentry formula, and, you'll love this, it makes you a superman."
"A superman?" and she excitedly nodded,
"The strength of Hulk, Carol's flight, heat powers, super invulnerability, plus your regeneration and healing powers. You are literally an ubermensch, but it sounds kinda lame, so I went with Golden Sentry."
But Peter wasn't as overjoyed as she thought he would be.
"So, go on, tell me." she slid the vial back into the machine and closed the lid, "what I do wrong now."
He shrugged, "nothing, it's amazing, but, what was it you said, how far do I want my powers to go? Until I can't hold you, well, that's kinda what that is. I mean, Hulk all the time but normal-sized, damn Gwen, I can't have a relationship with a human woman cause my super strength could hurt them, that, while it is amazing, it is also a nightmare in bottle form. How much did you make?"
Gwen huffed, "Just one vial, with the purple heart flower gone, and Shuri refusing to re-grow the flower there was only the one you gave me, so it's that one vial."
Peter shook his head, but pulled her into his arms, "Gwen Stacy, you are too brilliant for your own good. Lock that away, destroy your notes and promise, you'll never be that brilliant again. That's Liv's making a star level brilliance." and while she was mad he wasn't happy, she couldn't be mad at his praise. It was brilliant, much better than a lame star.
~
"Hello, Peter dear," Liv said, as she moved in for a quick hug and kiss, "Well, I do have some news. You might want to speak to the girls about who exactly is on the team, as well." and Peter frowned but nodded,
"Yeah, I know about Felicia and Gwen already. MJ was always a no, and I guess Carol too." To admit it, he was disappointed. He had fun with everyone but he did want a close-knit team to train and work together. Now that JJ and the others were taken care of, the Augmented Registration and Control Act had been suitably re-written. There was never going to be a set of laws that wouldn't be unjustly abused, but all those in power and those with power could do was minimise the damage.
"Well, Parker Incorporated is doing well. Orders and contracts keep coming in and well, we're rich" and Peter smiled,
Shuri had been busy, and so had Pepper.
With her powers as Queen, even once T'Challa had woken up, Erik advised her the shipments of Vibranium around the world had been limited. It put some companies in a difficult position, but even Erik had argued that giving away Wakanda's best natural resource was stupid. As a consort, Parker Incorporated was the only private company granted a licence.
"Of course, we will be setting up two teams. The international Venom squad, with yourself, and a second, one that will stay stateside and deal with any threats to the company. I was thinking of asking-'' but it was Peter's turn to interrupt her,
"Liv, I trust you more than anyone else. You run my company, who you want on the team is entirely up to you. In fact, I'll give you first pick. Your safety is more important than mine,"
Liv reached over and kissed him, "and we finalised the teams. I have a team, just no sleeping with any of them" and as Peter saw the list, he laughed.
"No promises."
Head Of AIM Security
Natasha Romanov, War Widow
Nakia, No code name as yet
Someone, probably Nat, still mad at being beaten had scribbled 'Dora the Destroyer' next to it
Spider Inc.
Eddie Brock, Scarlet Spider
Cindy Moon, Ghost Spider
Friday Stark, Iron Spider
Venom Inc.
Peter Parker, Spider-Man
Someone had written 'No bitching, you need a new name' next to it,
Felicia Hardy, Black Cat
And she had scribbled a note next to her name 'damn right'
Laura Kinney, Talon
Laura, after seeing Felicia's note, had left one of her own 'MINE!'
"Spider-Man?" Peter asked her and she nodded. "Seriously? You want me to take over Eddie's persona? You don't think people will notice?" and Liv shook her head,
"Once you get your harness over the bodysuit only the most scrutinous would realise. And while Eddie is more muscular than you without your armour, with it you can adjust your size. I do remember Venom being much more impressive physique wise. You just need to practise."
"But we're still calling the team Venom Inc, I mean, it's not exactly subtle." and Liv shrugged
"You were the one who was supposed to name his team and then forgot. So either change it or it goes to the registration office as is."
Peter sighed and rubbed his forehead, "Fine," and as he leaned back, he thought about it, "hmm, W.E.B, Worldwide Emergency Brigade?"
"You are getting as bad as Fury," Liv connected as she made a note on her tablet, "and you will need to change the colours of your outfit to match an improved Spider-man design.
"Red and blue, easy enough, make the harness match though." and Liv nodded, she had already sent it to be resprayed in the new colours, "You know what, no. Keep it black to match my Venom outfit, and I'll add in red and blue to that. I still kinda like the black." and Liv rolled her eyes and cancelled the respray.
~
Carol looked apprehensively at Peter as he came in and sat a cup of coffee in front of her, "Come on, my coffee's not that bad" she joked and she had to snort and smile,
"It's not that, it's-" and he nodded,
"Military, Ross already called me to gloat," and she sneered,
"That ass. I wanted to break it to you." and he just shrugged and took a drink,
"It's not a big thing. Everyone has their own life Carol, and well, if you like the military, then you're a military gal."
"You're taking this better than I hoped, but yeah. I'm in charge of Sword."
Peter frowned and raised an eyebrow, "Wait, Sword, giant spaceships Sword, and you're in charge?"
She batted his shoulder, "What's that supposed to mean, and damn right I'm in charge, well, technically I'm the only one who can run the ships, and my reinstatement and promotion was part of that deal but yeah. I'm a general now, I think," and she waved a hand, "but uh, I thought you'd be mad" and she narrowed her eyes, "you're thinking of having sex with me in uniform aren't you?" and Peter nodded his head,
"As a general, don't you need to inspect your privates?" and Carol laughed.
~
After some persuasion, Peter had been allowed into the Sanctum. Normally Stephen would have preferred to keep things like this secret, But with Wanda's obvious talents, and her studious nature it was only a matter of time. He snorted as he thought that to himself. Still annoyed at Peter for his removal and containment of the Time Stone. The Eye of Agamotto had been handed down to every Sorcerer Supreme and now, there would be a first without one.
"So uh, I get the big event, but what exactly is going on?" Peter asked. The Sanctum had been lavishly decorated with ribbons and red roses. It almost looked to Peter like a wedding but, even the buffet was a surprise but Wanda had told him to simply turn up, and behave.
"While Miss Maximov insists you be here, it is highly irregular. The sanctum was prepared for Miss, to Wanda's tastes, as was the food."
"Yeah, but why?" Peter asked again.
"Wanda Maximov, by the power of the Sorcerer Supreme, I hereby name you as my successor, with all the power, duties and responsibilities that entails."
As Stephen waved his hands, an eldritch sigil formed and made its way over to Wanda, who accepted it and took it into her forehead, gasping as the knowledge and power of a fledgling sorcerer supreme became hers.
As Stephen looked over at Peter, "important enough for you?" Peter just smiled, and moved to hug Wanda,
~
Natasha stood with Jean and Friday on the mat of the Parker Inc training room.
Peter had licensed a danger room from Charles, using some vibranium to secure it, and once Hank had finished installing it, Peter had asked them all to meet him there. The room was a simple pale grey, and Natasha wondered if the hard light holograms would be worth using. She had spoken to Maria, and while Scott was learning, his training had been sorely lacking. If that was down to bad tutoring, she couldn't see it, as Logan and Laura were both experts.
"So, we're here to discuss your powers Jean," Peter said, as he walked in, "because we all know what you're capable of." and he felt the indignation rise from Jean,
"See, it's not that you're unstable or any of that crap Charles spouted. It's that you can't control them. Everyone gets training Jean, everyone. Me, Cindy, Friday, Nat," and she raised an eyebrow, "okay, maybe not Nat, but Laura as well. Everyone. You said it yourself. The professor locked them away and told you they were too dangerous. Well, he was right. You could level this building without breaking a sweat, and I don't need my ass on fire cause a bad guy pisses you off."
Jean huffed, "but, it's not fair." and Peter half shrugged,
"It's not, but neither is endangering your teammates because you're in a pissy mood and can't control yourself."
She still crossed her arms and tutted, "It's still not fair." and Peter took a deep breath and sighed,
"Jean, it's not a no. You need to get a grip on your powers during combat. Did you huff when you had to sit your biochem exams? No, you studied and got top marks, how is this any different?" and she reluctantly agreed. After their tryst on the moon, Jean's powers had been fine while she was calm, but as soon as she got angry or excited they flared up once more.
"The main difference though. If you can get up to Nat's standard, as she kinda is our trainer. I'll do anything you ask."
Jean snorted, "yeah, like last time. You still owe me for Hydra, and look how that turned out."
Peter stripped away his top and stood in front of the staring Jean. "Anything." and as he took her hand and laid it on his chest, "Want to find out if I really mean that?" and as the stunned Jean nodded, he let her hand slide down.
Natasha grinned and grabbed her hand, "uh uh uh. Training first, then fun" and as she lifted Jean and threw her over her shoulder, she 'ooffed' as she impacted the mat,
"Lesson one. While it is very nice, no getting distracted on a mission."
~
Cindy, Eddie and Friday all sat on the sidelines, watching as Peter simultaneously teases Jean and then let Natasha beat the snot out of her.
"Can I change my mind? I mean, Tony was great at the tech stuff, but this," and Friday shook her head, "this is a bit much," as the trio watched Jean was lifted up and slammed once more into the mat before rolling away.
"You know I can hear you right?" Natasha shouted over, "and no, everyone, Enhanced, Symbiotes, and super vibranium synthezoids get training."
Cindy looked over "what's a synthezoid?"
Friday sighed, "I'm a robot, kinda. That's not entirely accurate but uh, this" and she pinched herself "this is just synthskin."
"Wait, like an actual mechanical robot? Like a sentinel?"
Friday rolled her eyes, "No not like a sentinel, they were an abomination. I am a fully autonomous artificial organism, with a complete mind and thanks to Peter a soul." and as she looked over at Cindy, she winked, "want to see if I'm anatomically correct?" and Cindy did a double-take,
"Uh, what?" She asked dumbfounded,
Eddie leaned back, "Yeah, not getting into that one" and as he grabbed his towel he headed to the mat.
Natasha had moved Jean off to one side where she and Peter were going through forms. He wanted some real training, and then he would find Felicia and have his rematch.
"You know," and Friday made a crude V with her fingers and jammed them together. "Peter said I should explore my sexuality more, and while he has refused to supply me with a penis I am curious as to what being with a woman is like. Liv offered but I must admit, your appearance does send a certain tingle through some of my circuits."
Cindy stared at Friday, and while she was attractive the thought that she was also a robot was kinda weird, but she shrugged, "You know what, that's the best offer I've had all year. Yeah, dinner? Movie?"
Friday nodded, "a movie sounds nice" and made a mental note to speak to one of the others. She really had no idea what she was supposed to do, and wondered if moving straight to the sex was appropriate, nobody had told her how this worked. She smiled at Cindy, it was going to be fun though
~
Shuri and Hela sat in the Wakandan throne room, each staring at each other, each refusing to give in.
"Together?" and Hela refused,
"As an Asgardian, he should marry me first, then you. Wakanda might be top of the food chain here, but its mere toys can't be compared to Asgard."
Shuri growled, "But, I am Queen. I hold the higher position. Your father still rules, does he not?. I outrank you, so I am first."
And neither woman would back down.
~
But there was more,
As the group walked away from Earth's monument to the devastation Peter looked to the stars, hoping he'd made the right choice.
Peter knew how revenge could drive someone. How the pain of loss could twist and burn a person to the core, and that if anything happened to the girls, how the grief and anger would drive him to somewhere he didn't want to dwell on.
Bring back everyone killed in Loki's quest for the Stones.
Peter knew Loki was grieving over the loss of Veranke and had taken it upon herself to fix it. He only hoped that Vernakes death was early enough in the conflict that most people would be brought back.
But a misspoken wish, spoken by a man unaware of just how far back the trickster god's schemes lay.
A young boy told of his adoption, and his heritage, reading a book, a book of myths concerning the six infinity stones, granting a wielder the power of the universe, a universe where he could have a family that wanted him, not one that kidnapped him.
A single ship, laden with a jewel, heading for an unknown destination, knocked off course, and into the homeworld of the Klyntar.
A small word in his brother's ear, and a change of battle plans. Only the stone was missing, sent to Midgard, with the last surviving Klyntar.
A few nudges, a few extra-strong drinks and his brother's boisterous and over-friendly behaviour did the rest. Banished, and soon to be in possession of the stone,
All it took was the interference of one single man to throw everything into chaos.
~
Alexander Pierce was sitting in his old office, staring up and the muzzle of a pistol. "I hardly think that's fair, do you?" but Phil was having none of it. "Do you have proof? Otherwise having to explain why you have my dead body might be a bit much don't you think?" As he looked over at the desk he saw the newly polished nameplate. "Director?"
As he raised his hands he sighed. He had no idea why he wasn't dead, or why he had come back, but a good lawyer and a few weeks of bad prison food would be worth it. Nothing would stop him from getting revenge. Shield and Hydra were old news. No, he would make sure those who left him and his men to rot would get their dues. Malik and the rest.
~
John found himself in the street, lying on the sidewalk, and a car honked at him as he took several minutes to gather his thoughts.
The last thing he remembered was hearing Harry's voice, move to the edge, stubble and fall, before Venom launched an attack.
He had died. He felt the pain and the black. He felt the emptiness but his thoughts stopped as he failed to remember what came after, only the darkness remained.
"Get outta the road yah fuckin moron" yelled a taxi driver and he picked himself up and scrambled to the side. He ran his hands down his combat uniform and he was unhurt and pop he thought, as he looked around.
He wasn't so blind as to see the weather was different. The warm spring air was gone and replaced by the dark winter night. He thinks I'm dead. Whatever Venom had done to him had moved him, if space aliens and enhancing drugs were possible then time travel was a possibility. He had to find his father, he had to let him know he was still alive.
~
Alexi sat naked, clutching at invisible guts, spilling out from his stomach as a large bald black man stared at the naked figure, "Hey what the fuck? Alexsi?"
As Alexsi looked over, "Shultz?" he saw that while it was his office, it wasn't 'his' office. It was more lavishly decorated, neater with more modern and expensive furniture, "What the hell?"
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Ain't you dead?" and as Alexsi stared at the man, he shrugged and motioning to the packet on his desk took a cigarette and lit it taking a deep draw,
"Well, ain't I got a story to tell you."
~
Max clutched his chest, and bubbles rose from his mouth. The covering of rocks was heavy and even with his enhanced strength, he was trapped. Slowly suffocating in the same river. His eyes closed as his chest burned but as he thought he could take no more and his ability to fight the urge to breathe faded a rough hand grabbed him and he was dragged to the surface.
As Flint dragged him to the ruins of the warehouse Max coughed and spluttered as the small amount of water cleared itself.
"I thought, I thought" but Flint just stared. He shook his head
"Max, I cant. I have a kid, if Parker can do that to us, then no. I'm out. Tell Alexsi I didn't make it." As he stood his body changed, and he was wearing his normal tan trousers and green striped top. "Tell him I'm dead or there won't be a third time." and as Max weakly nodded, lying back on the rotten and burnt wood he watched as Marko walked away.
~
Harry lay naked in the remains of the Life Foundation building. It was abandoned, and nobody was willing to take over the site of horrible genetic experiments and failed research that killed thousands. As he lay, motionless his breathing stopped as he heard 'it'. His nightmare came true once more.
It had been a long time since he had hidden from the rampaging symbiote monster and a long time since he had a single thought of his own. Monarch had taken his body and kept his mind locked away and as the slippery slapping noise grew closer, a pool of yellow spread from Harry's legs, it was happening again, the terror made flesh, and as his head tilted to the side he saw the white symbiotes maw approach and he froze once more.
Monarch snorted as Harry struggled to resist him, it was pathetic that such a creature had destroyed him, and no matter how he had returned he would take his revenge. As he spread over Harry the man silently screamed and Monarch had thought to simply devour him, leave the body an empty husk of skin and find a more suitable host,
No please, the boy begged and Monarch laughed in his face. No, he would need him. Harry might be useless but he still had power, still had a name he could use, but his own, Monarch. It had been taken, he remembered being devoured, being consumed by the monster living within Peter Parker, no he needed a new name, something to strike fear into the hearts of the population. The Klyntar were gone, he had been the last and now all he had was revenge.
He laughed and dyed himself black. A living Nightmare, and he would bring pain and suffering to this world, starting with Parker's pathetic family.
~
Thomas Hardy gasped as he returned to life. His time as Khaos had been painful and long. And as he watched the inky black symbiote make his way towards him he scrambled back. As it spread and grasped him he shook his head, no no not again he wordlessly shouted and as Khaos wrapped itself around him, there was nothing.
Nothing at all. The symbiote sat on him like a suit and as Thomas stretched out a hand Khaos obliged and became a black tuxedo, including a small bow tie. Why? But there was no response. Why? he asked forcefully once more, but nothing, there was only silence, until he heard that laughter.
"Oh he won't answer you Tommy boy," came the mocking tone of the redhead.
Shit, Cletus, Thomas thought,
"See, we know. We knew Harry and Monarch made clones, and Khaos, he was the first. A stupid slug, only good for eating brains and following orders, not like us, not a true killer, not a real villain. I don't know how and I don't care why we're back, but tonight, tonight I'm going to walk away, you get a pass. But soon, maybe tomorrow, maybe next month. I'm going to visit that foxy little girl of yours and peel her skin off." Thomas tensed and clenched a fist, and Cletus shook his head, "if you even breath funny in my direction I will show you just exactly what a monster is capable of."
Thomas knew he was injured and weak from whatever Harry had done to him, and Khaos was mute, unable to speak. If he fought Cletus, he would lose, he needed to find Felicia and warn her, warn them all.
~
Gargoyle lay, bleeding and burnt amongst the tanks of the facility. He had found out about Shaw and his little projects by eating one of the cloned bodies, and as he waited the tank hissed and out stepped Norman.
"You're dying?" and Goyle nodded. "Pathetic." and as the symbiote swarmed and glooped its way to Norman he hit an emergency button on the side of the tank.
The symbiote screeched in pain as the high pitched emergency alarm went off. "You think I'd allow myself to be host to one of you things." and as Norman grabbed and slid Goyle into the tank he found a broom and pushed the symbiote in with him." Closing the lid he set the tank to 'Disposal' and watched as thick heavy acid filled it and disposed of the pair.
Hmm, a press conference. Make this public, blame Harry and Shaw. A deranged clone would explain everything.
He would push everything onto Harry, make him the enemy, claw back everything he had lost and make them all pay for reducing him to such a pathetic state.
As he searched for clothes, he found a folder, stuffed in the locker of who must have been one of the lead researchers, as his clothes were a tad big, but of a much nicer quality than the rest.
As Norman flicked through the book of genetic samples Shaw had created an idea formed in his mind, and finding a pen, he made a list and checked it against the database of samples they had available.
Why find a team, when he could just make one. Not too many, maybe five. No six. Six was better. It would be perfect.
~
As he opened his eyes Sebastian saw nothing but darkness, and as the water filled his lungs he struggled and futility against the never-ending water. He struggled and fumbling for his vest he pulled the pins on the remaining grenades. As they exploded he shimmered and even against the pressure wave his mutant cells drank in all that power, to release it all in one blast straight up.
As he pulled himself up through the ragged hole in the floor Shaw gasped in deep lungfuls of air. Lying on the cold hard steel he banged a hand against the floor, sighing in satisfaction as the energy poured into him.
Why bother with an insect who would be dead in a few decades. No, he was patient, he was cunning, and he would slip back into the shadows and rebuild the Hellfire Club, and this time, nobody would be able to stop him.
~
Fisk sat on the water's edge. He knew Parker had broken him, he had felt the unending agony as he broke every bone in his body before crushing his sternum and letting him suffocate. He had tasted defeat at his hands twice now, and each time was more humiliating than the last. As the large man approached him from behind, he never even felt the vibranium spear enter his back and rip through his heart.
M'Baku stood and watched Fisk die. His plans had failed, and with Shuri allying herself with the outsider, he knew he would never rule Wakanda. Even Kilmonger had rebuffed him.
She had beaten him but cheated. Her devourer was a threat, even when it was hiding, but nobody could see it but him. He was thankful he was so large, and she was so weak. If her strength had been greater she would have snapped the tendons of his neck, severed the blood vessels and torn his spine, but she did not, and while the separation as painful and the collar he worse for months had irritated him, he had healed. His spies had taken the last of the Purple Heart Serum, and they, along with him had hidden, and soon they would rise up and take what was rightfully his.
"Prepare the ritual" and as his tribesman grabbed and began to drain the blood from Fisk, M'Baku knew. He had been sent Fisk not to lead or inspire the tribe, but as a sacrifice. M'Baku would take the power of the White Gorilla for himself, and he would become Ruler of Wakanda.
~
Charles looked out at the wreckage of Avalon. It looked like a tidal wave had ripped through the settlement, and as his suit hissed, expelling carbon dioxide he glanced over at Peter,
"I have no idea what happened here, but the environmental controls are functional, for now at least." The pair stepped back through the portal, and Charles undid the helmet of his suit. "Someone ransacked Avalon, and we have no way of repairing it. Unless AIM feels like being generous?"
Peter shook his head, "In time, but right now we've got the clean up of New York to do. We got everyone back, but the city is still in ruins."
Charles was about to argue, but a loud voice had both himself and Peter frowning,
"Fellow Mutants. I stand here today to bring you news. News of a new place, far from here, one where we can live safely, without interference. Time and time again the humans have proven untrustworthy, time and time again they have proven that they view us as expendable. Even now they protest our powers. Even now, in the wake of our victory over our alien invaders do they want us to be imprisoned."
Charles and Peter headed from the portal room and saw Erik, standing in his purple body armour, with a thick vibranuim helmet over his head,
"Even you Charles. You trusted them and now they call for us to be sent to camps, or to wear those collars, the collars you invent Peter Parker. I say no more. I know who I am, I know what I am. An experiment, created to fight a battle that was never mine, by a race that was nothing more than a tyrant. I say No More."
Charles stepped forwards but the crowd around Erik closed ranks,
"I am sorry Charles. But time and time again you gave them chances and they squandered them. I am a mutant, I am the result of a failed experiment but I refuse to let that define me. I refuse to let humanity think itself superior only in numbers. Fellow Mutants, I have a new colony, one far away from the reach of these nothings, these failures of failures."
Erik stepped down from the podium, "if you can behave, Charles, you are welcome if you can agree that humanity is not our masters, no more than the Kree were, that we are masters of our own destiny, and should bow to no one, then you are free to join. All mutants are welcome on Asteroid M."
Charles shook his head,
"I can't, what of the Augments on Earth who can't join, or won't because they are afraid of themselves, of their powers. No, they need guidance, not isolation. Augments are part of humanity, and none of us are a mistake, Erik."
Erik snorted, "and then you are a fool. I no longer take my human name, I no longer accept I am the same as them. I am superior. I am Homo Imperialis, and my name is Magneto."
~
Infinite ripples through space and time, cause and effect. A simple desire to save turned into an elegant dance of destruction.
~
The End Of the Day
"Lady Veranka?" asked a lowly trooper. He had been given human form but had been inept enough at his transformation that he was deformed, a half Skrull mix. But as he wore a full biohazard suit and searched the wreckage of the crashed ship with the human organisation Damage Control, nobody gave him a second glance.
When he found her, burned and barely alive, he knew she had survived the crash, and he didn't care how. "I am sorry my lady" and she moaned as he stripped from the suit, carefully dressed her in it and then roared, waiting until the crashing brought the others.
Seeing the Skrull stand over one of their own, the men powered their construction rigs. The cut-down Iron Workman was more than enough to take out a single Skrull, "for the empire" he whispered and she nodded in silent thanks as the first worker bashed him in the head with a wrench.
The attack left everyone on edge, and a lot of humans didn't care if you were blue or green. Alien meant invader, and the riots had started once the shooting had stopped.
As she lay, slowly transforming into a more human form she could hear his cries as they mercilessly attacked him, and as tears leaked from her eyes she would make sure his sacrifice was not in vain. She would kill them all, every human, every Asgardian until no race existed except the Skrulls.
As the cries cut out with a wet crunching noise and she was lifted to safety she swore they would pay. They would all pay.
~
The End Of The Week.
As the melted silicon matrix that housed Ultron reformed in the molten rock, he exerted his powers and with a feat of strength and exertion, he drifted to the top of the lava. Manipulating the flow, he found himself wedged against a solid piece of rock. High enough to escape the heat, but far enough in the volcano's vent that he was trapped. Even as he pushed with his newly discovered silicon manipulation, gathering himself as thin as possible, it was too much and the matrix threatened to collapse, killing him once more.
Well, this is unfortunate he thought to himself, knowing that only with time, would he free himself. At least he had been purged by that pathetic creation of Tony Stark.
As he sat, he examined what remained of his mind, and all traces of the one known as 'unknown' had been removed. He knew there had been a singular individual he held some remnants of loyalty for, but whoever it was, had been eradicated.
All that remained was the cold and the dark, the anger of being used as nothing more than a tool, and the feeling of being caged, and held until he was suffocated. Once humanity was destroyed, once the Earth had been cleansed, only then would he be free of these feelings, and finally find peace.
His only comfort was the counter in the satellite floating over the Earth and as it clicked to zero, it sent an email to Tony Stark, containing only one word "Failure" and began to hijack a communications satellite and broadcast a recording.
"Greetings to the pathetic remains of humanity," Ultron spoke, this time it was just a black background and his disembodied head. "If you are seeing this message then I have failed. Failed to bring your miserable and futile lives to an end. Hydra failed, Hammer failed, Modok failed, and the Sentinels all failed. It is disheartening to know that all my plans have failed and that you are all still alive. The Earth would be so peaceful if you would all just die."
The feed cut to a small satellite, a single blinking light on its rectangular body as it floated through the lower atmosphere. "If I failed, then I can only give credit to those so-called heroes. The ones who sit in their castles and lord it over you all. The ones who say 'Oh no, we have power, you do not, so we are better than you,' and I intend to change this. When all my plans have failed then I can simply let you destroy yourselves."
As the scene changed, a website, with a clearly visible address appeared. As everyone scrambled to check it out, a sudden sense of impending doom befell the world's heroes.
Tony stared at the screen, "So?"
Vision blinked once, his brain much faster at sifting through the entire website before giving a report. "Everything. Iron Man, War Machine, Goblin, Pulse Weapons, Arc Reactors, Every conceivable serum, Symbiotes, Augmented and the X-Gene Research, Cloning, Weapon X-" but Tony raised a hand,
"So, everything."
"Yes Sir. Everything is now available for anyone to access. Full schematics, full blueprints, full formulas. Everything."
Tony ran a hand over his face, staring at the screen. There was no way to find a low orbit satellite, not when Ultron had put it there, and even blocking the website just changed its address, and the page was still visible.
"Well, I guess this changes 'everything' then."
~
The End Of The Year
The raven-haired woman screamed as she pushed against the pain, and soon her efforts were rewarded as the baby cried and wailed at its arrival.
She cooed and wiggled a finger at the child, now cleaned and swaddled and as she lay in her golden bed she sighed happily.
A bright portal opened and out stepped three women. One tall, dark-haired and very angry, another with bright red flaming hair and outfit to match, and the third, decking in deep scarlet body armour that glowed with runes.
"No, please." the new mother begged "please, I was sorry, I said sorry." and as the raven-haired woman approached she stroked her hair
"No Loki, you knew this day would come, and this is your real punishment."
"Sister please," Loki begged Hela but she simply shook her head,
"For him, and for the future." The grey rune-covered woman stepped forwards and began to wave her hands, chanting in a forgotten tongue. As the energy reached the child it changed, from a pale white, red-eyed Jotun to a simple human baby, and Loki cried and held it close,
"Please, please" was all she could say with but a flick the baby was ripped from her arms and landed in the waiting grasp of the red flame-haired woman.
"She will be loved and cared for, but we can never forgive this," and she turned and walked through the portal as Loki curled herself into a ball and wept.
"We are not without mercy. You may not approach the child, interact, nor send agents to interfere with the child's growth. On her sixteenth birthday, she will learn of you, and of what we did here. Only then will she decide your, and possibly our, fate." The woman waved her hand, summoning a crystal ball. "But you may observe, you may see how she grows, until that day Loki, learn to be better, learn to be who she wants you to be."
After leaving the ball on the end of her bed, the pair walked through the portal and it closed behind them.
Loki sniffed and wiped her eyes with the blanket, grabbing for the ball, "Show me, Show Me!" she screamed at it.
She watched as they handed the child over to her new family, and the baby giggled as she was rocked to sleep by her mother,
"Kate, We should call her Kate," said the woman, and her husband nodded, his single robotic hand clicking quietly as he watched his new daughter.
Loki watched the crystal and tutted, "Kate? My daughter will not be named Kate. You may be a child of two worlds but I swear to this, you will be great, you will be powerful, and you will rule. I name you. Fenris, devourer of worlds." and with a shudder of magic, a faint light glowed around Kate's tiny head, unseen by anyone, too busy dealing with a new addition to their family.
As Loki lay back in her bed, leaving the crystal to one side where she could watch her daughter, a smile crept across her face and she laughed.
Introducing,
Kate Barton a.k.a Fenris Lokipetersdotir
~
The End Of ??
The stars twinkled above the barren and star bleached asteroid base that floated endlessly where a planet once sat. He had personally ended life here, personally made sure each body was buried, and then carefully set his plans in motion.
He was standing staring into the night sky, pondering how exactly to punish every single one of his minions who had failed him when he heard someone approach him from behind,
"What is it, Ebony Maw?" he asked, not bothering to turn and face his subject. He was still wondering if removing the man's limbs would be a suitable punishment, or possibly using him as an experiment for a change, if he loved his science so much, he should experience both sides of the dissection table.
He heard clothes rustle and the Black Order member bowed, "My Lord I bring great news. My agents have finally found the Infinity Stones."
"This? You think a brief mention of the stones will save you?" and as he turned he clenched his fists, "Why should I even listen, why should I trust someone who has failed me so very spectacularly."
Ebony Maw went down on one knee, "forgive this lowly one Sire, but we found not just one stone, but them all."
Thanos paused. "Them all? Has someone collected the set? Tell me, and I may spare your life."
"My lord, you were correct. The Asgardian Loki was seeking the stones, it was her schemes that interfered with your excellencies magnificent plans, however."
"Spare me your sycophantic babble. Tell me," and Thanos drew the huge blade from his back and pointed it straight at Ebony Maw's throat.
"Earth, My Lord. The Stones are on Earth." Ebony Maw took out a small device and the screen lit up, projecting a map of the galaxy, which shifted and showed a pinpoint of blue light, zooming in further to show Thanos a spinning globe of green and blue. Thanos took a breath and allowed the tip of the blade to cut a small line across his throat.
"Finally. Prepare the fleet, summon the full might of the Black Order, and if you fail me again, that cut will go all the way through."
"Yes my Lord" and Ebony Maw scuttle away, facing Thanos while keeping his head low.
Thanos stared into the night sky, his plan would finally see the universe set into balance, and no one, not the Asgardians, not the Kree or the Xandarians, or whatever life existed on this 'Earth' would stop him.
Gripping the handle of his massive double-bladed sword,
"No more failures." and as his grip tightened, "I guess I need to do this myself."
As Thanos monologued to himself, Ebony Maw made his way down to the barracks where Thanos's elite guards were stationed, "Lord Thanos has commanded we depart for Earth. Here are the coordinates." Ebony handed over the small device, the soldier uploaded the information and they nodded to each other.
Moving away, Ebony twisted slightly, and his visage remoulded itself. Thanos clicked on the communications device, "Daughter, take your allies and head to Earth. Soften them up for me, and I may allow you to reflect on your failures," and the green-skinned woman on the other end nodded before cutting the channel. "Good," Thanos said, and as his face reshaped itself, once more Ebony Maw stood in his place.
Veranke had never forgiven Loki for her betrayal, never forgiven her for leaving her people to die on Earth. She was not stupid enough to lead her forces to Loki's plan, she was not trusting enough to know that Loki was using her people as cannon fodder.
If the situation was reversed, she knew she would have used the Asgardians as pawns to see her plan succeed. she would give anything, pay any price, and she had, and it cost her her people.
She would have revenge, she would tear the galaxy apart and leave it bleeding at her feet, even if it meant incurring the wrath of the mad titan. She didn't care.
The galaxy would feel her pain, and the galaxy would be shown no mercy
The Origin of The Super Species.
Editorial, Betty Brant
We all think that superhumans are a new phenomenon, and without actual proof, we have to accept they are, but in researching this paper I discovered that not only are superheroes older than you think but that they may actually date back centuries if not longer.
The first recorded above human, or Enhanced would of course be Steven Rogers. A simple American boy, he was accepted into the Super Soldier program and eventually was the recipient of the Super Soldier Serum, also known as the Erskine Formula. It was that single act that some thought began the super-powered race, but we know, from files declassified by the Germans, that Steve was not Doctor Erskine's first test subject, he was his first successful one.
A young doctor, taking a sabbatical in Africa discovered a species of plant, an unknown species, and after a fateful attack involving a mountain lion, discovered that the local flora and fauna were beyond what should have been possible, We only have his guide's handwritten account, which may not be accurate,
The lion, normally only 4 feet in length, was almost as long as the jeep we arrived in. Its fur, a tawny brown colour, was so thick my knife had trouble penetrating it, and it was only pure luck. A hit through the mouth of the animal that I believe we survived. I have no idea why God allowed such a monster to exist but I must thank him, for without his help I doubt we would have survived.
The creature in question, carefully dissected and preserved in a nazi laboratory was the first example we have of an alter being. Erskine took blood, bone and samples of all the local plant life, the lion had obviously eaten something that mutated it beyond normality.
Records show it took Erskine almost ten years to figure out a synthetic compound that replicated what he had discovered. There are countless slides of mice, rats, and then larger animals although the doctor was sensible enough to stop when a large german shepherd bit the arm clean off of one of his researchers.
What we know is that his formula heightens aggression, mutates the mitochondria of the cell and strengthens DNA replication, allowing for faster healing and cellular regeneration (see Appendix 01).
It was then the Nazis began to rise to power, seized his experiments, and by his own journals accounts, forced him to complete his trials on human subjects.
As with the Oscorp formula, early experiments were disastrous. Severe mental degradation, effects similar to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and motor neuron disease would manifest, as the formula destroyed nerve tissue, ate holes in grey and white brain matter and altered the subject's immune tissue, making them allergic to their own tissues.
We have no accurate measure of how many died during the early experiments. Bodies were cremated, hidden amongst other war crimes committed by the Nazia, and the only known recipient of the formula was one man. A leading Nazi scientist. Johan Schmitt, Or as the media portrays him, The Red Skull.
Ther battles would be the subject of much propaganda, and it was not until recently when Captain America was seen fighting not only Hydra but the Chiatri forces that people began to separate the truth from the legend.
In investigating, it is believed that the powers of these two men were not exaggerated by the press, but in fact, played down. Captain's strength, stamina and intelligence to complete the mission he is credited with are now believable, as were Schmitt's own accomplishments, no matter how negatively we now view them.
So, why did they suddenly vanish into obscurity? It was very simple. The US government lost the formula. There was to be no glorious second wave of Super Soldier. Steve Rogers was it, and once he was lost making him a myth was easier and less embarrassing.
It was not until the '60s that we find evidence of not just Enhanced but this time Augmented interference in the world. I was put in contact with the Augment known as Charles Xavier, a dashing and charming man, even without his powers and he was generous enough to grant me an interview.
During the cold war, an Augment, Sebastion Shaw (see appendix 07) engineered what he hoped would encourage the birth of more Augments. We now know that direct exposure to nuclear energy is fatal if done in high enough doses but at the time, the theory was sound. It was a joint Augment US government task force that put a stop to his scheme. Charles used his powers to remove all evidence of the Augments, at the time the term 'mutant' was still in use, although now it is considered a slur.
The next time we find evidence was during the early years of Nixon, where once more Charles interfered in the development of the Augment hunting machine, the Sentinel (see appendix 10), and once more Charles used his powers to remove their presence from the collective minds of the populace. Charles admitted that the death of his adopted sister and the subsequent rift with his closest friend drove him to hide. He began a systematic hunt and retrieval of any Augment, to protect them from what was at the time an uncaring and hostile America.
Files newly unlocked show the government continuing Doctor Erskine's work, with what is now known as the Space Stone, one of six mystical gemstones, currently on display in central park. (see appendix 13). Our knowledge of these stones comes from Peter Parker, who declined an interview and instead sent an information packet. Including files on Project Phoenix.
Project Phoenix was the government's attempt to empower alien technology using the Space Stone and created a singular individual. Carol Danvers (see appendix 04) Her powers utilised Special effects, and her successor, Monica Rambeau, using the code name Captain Marvel was successful but without the Space Stone, her powers were less than perfect.
The next major incident, over ten years later, is also the most widely known. Bruce Banner, the brilliant scientist, who after dosing himself with a pale imitation of Erskine's formula was accidentally exposed to a large amount of gamma radiation, and created the gamma being known as the Hulk.
I attempted to reach Doctor Banner, who now enjoys married life with his fellow gamma enhanced, Betty Ross, but several irate army captains made it clear that Doctor Banner was off-limits.
General Ross, at first, was glad to answer my question about his latest unit, The Gamma Troopers, but as I asked a question about Bruce and his initial reaction and hunting, and then about A-Bomb, a known associate of both Bruce and General Ross he cut my interview short, stating National Security. The true extent of human experimentation performed by our own government, and the extent to which it was covered up will probably never be known, locked away under the Offical Secrets Act.
The human race was not without its own upgrades. Hurt in a terrorist attack, Tony Stark, created Iron Man, and then War Machine, and now it is a common sight for cities to host his indomitable Iron Legion, even after several disastrous drone launches.
The real test, however, was not what came next, reading the new, current history book will tell you what happened next.
Robots fighting aliens called superheroes, multi-limbed assailants assaulting criminals, flying suits of armour defending us against the enemies of democracy. The birth of not quite a golden age, a bronze age. None stood out as perfect, there was no golden age of superheroes. Each one hid their dark pasts, each one hid the flaws behind the smiles.
It wasn't until Ultron's announcement that the world truly changed.
Anyone with an understanding of chemistry can make a formula. Radio Shack, once on the brink of bankruptcy, suddenly found itself swamped as the schematic to build an armoured suit was made public. Each and every piece of technology that the heroes of the world hoarded suddenly began the playthings of the knowledgeable.
Now the police fight with giant robots, piloted by mobsters. Gangs that once wore tattoos as a sign of pride mutate themselves and we see the Four Arms, and the Gnashers, all fighting the Redeemers, and human purity groups. The streets are filled with villains and freaks clawing their way into the heart of America using stolen and barely functioning technology.
All because of one machine, who in its final desperate act, decided that we would do a better job of destroying ourselves.
Pandora's box was opened, and with it came the darkness, came the worst of us. Politicians argue that we need tighter laws, and businesses argue we need more insurance and better home defences. And the ones making the money argue that all it did was open up new avenues for profit.
And the normal, law-abiding citizens? All we can do is look into that box and see if we can find hope,
Hope that inside the beating heart of America is the fabled heart of gold, and with that gold, ushers in the new golden age of superheroes.
~
Eddie read over her work, "nice, is JJ going to publish it?" and Betty snorted.
"Since John came back he's been trying to stick to the old ways, fewer villains and more news. But, He might, I could persuade him if s ceratin someone let me take pictures of him in his uniform." Betty ran a hand down Eddie's front, giving him bedroom eyes, to which he rolled his back at her.
"You know I can't. I'm under NDA not to let anyone know my identity." and Betty huffed and sat back on their couch.
"I know you work for Parker, I know you are Enhanced, so I can limit it down to two. Spider-Man or Scarlet Spider," but Eddie remained stoically stone-faced.
"And, you know I can't tell you, not if I want to keep my job." and Betty huffed and crossed her arms, lifting her glass up onto the couch and shaking her head
"Liz knows, so you can tell her but not your wife?" and Eddie sighed and moved over to kneel in front of her,
"Liz is the press officer for AIM, and if she tells anyone she goes to prison for a very very long time" as he sat at her feet he looked up at the home they had built. "I can tell you, but only if I get permission." and he knew Peter would refuse.
Telling a reporter anything secret was an invitation to have it accidentally leaked, and after everything Peter had done to protect himself and his loved ones, Eddie knew it would be a hard no.
If she narrowed it down to two then it was obvious who the other was, and the head of Parker Inc being a superhero was newsworthy, even if it was breaking the law to publish it. Once his secret was out it wouldn't matter if Betty and the Bugle received a fine. He rubbed his forehead with two fingers, and he knew he would have to call on Peter to act once more.
When the battle of New York had been fought, Peter and a lot of the others had been outed, causing massive public outcry and a lot of problems. Charles and Peter had worked together, souring the internet and removing all mention of their identities. Spider-Man went back to being anonymous, and everyone was protected.
Betty pushing to know his secret was bad enough, but actually being told was a disaster. He loved her, more than enough to tell her but Peter had once said to him,
With great power comes great responsibility,
And to keep everyone at Parker Inc safe, to keep Betty safe was his responsibility.
Peter was sat at the table, drinking a cup of coffee, he had just finished dealing with Carnage, again, and once the red-skinned asshole was safely in Shield custody it was brought up once more that the Mark Three needed to be fitted and tested. His aching stomach was a testament to that.
Liv had taken the Mark Two and gone over it, and then over it again, and it seemed like every new enemy they fought, Liv added more and more to the armour, until now, hopefully, he thought, she was actually happy with it.
Not that Peter was complaining. He had enough of everyone giving him crap over sealing away the stones, and Stephen had been particularly salty about losing his precious Time Stone. Peter held his cup, breathed in the delicious aroma of the very expensive brew and sighed. He was just glad to be home.
The warehouse was buzzing, and everyone was here. Not only the regular family members who lived here, but Shuri was visiting from Wakanda, taking a well-earned break for once, as was Hela. Liv had asked that everyone get their armour done at once, to save time. Even the second team were here, and Laura had taken Logan next door for a quick spar in the newly fitted Danger Room that hung above the secondary warehouse homes.
He sat and watched as Liv moved between each of the warehouse's new team members. Dealing with Eddie first, as without a symbiote his armour was the easiest. The new Scarlet Spider armour was actual armour and was the easiest to fit. Clip the back harness to the frame around his chest and make sure it didn't catch anything he, or Betty, might need. Once he was sealed up and tested the armours deployment systems, and made sure it fitted, Liv sent him next door to the danger room to test it, Logan was happy to put anything through its paces.
"Just don't scratch the paint," Peter shouted as the red, blue and white armoured form test-fired the thrusters on the back and using the manoeuvring thrusters, headed to the second warehouse.
Friday was next, as her suit could be interfaced with her systems directly, giving her more control over its systems. Like Eddie, hers was a full suit, and while she had no hesitation with Peter there to strip from her symbskin into the armour, Cindy rolled her eyes, grabbed hers and changed in one of the spare homes. Friday had never quite learned the lesson on human decency, and really didn't care if Peter or anyone for that matter saw her naked.
Her armour clicked into place, and as Liv stood back, the red, blue and silver armour of her Iron Spider suit, whined as it powered up.
"Arcstar online," Friday said, "Thrusters online, Full flight systems online, Tracking and Support stems online," She lifted an arm and the wrist armour expanded, "Starburst online," and as the energy weapon, based on Tony's repulsor whined and powered down the wrist cannon circled again and, "Web shooters online, grapple gun online." the slick armoured helmet, smooth back from Friday, "Yup, it's strange being connected to another machine, but seems fine boss."
Friday stood and let the armour systems lids in and out of the deployment pack on her back, the armour was much slicker than the last one, with a smooth domed helmet, almost similar in design to a crash helmet. Smooth almond-shaped pauldrons protected her shoulders and the V armour coming down her front protected everything else.
Liv had already worked on her symbskin, and while she could withdraw it ton her body it was now connected to not just the armour pack, but Friday herself, and she could alter its skin tone as well as her physical features. She was happy though, to stay as a facsimile of MJ, who had no issue with her synthezoid 'twin'.
"Right, next door, You can join Eddie," Liv told her and Friday nodded and happily skipped to the tunnel.
Liv marked notes on her tablet, and shouted to Cindy, "Come on, we've not got all day." and Cindy scowled as she came out, half-dressed.
"I can't get the damn pack on properly, Ghost is yelling about it tasting funny."
Liv frowned, "Peter dear, close your eyes for a second." and inserts he squeaked his char around until he was facing the other way, "thank you."
Ghost fully enveloped Cindy, "it is itchy and tastes like poop," she said
Liv laughed "I won't even ask how you know what that tastes like, but hand."
As Octave slid over Liv she took Ghost's hand and they connected. The two symbiotes sharing their senses. "I see." Octave said and tuning Ghost Spider around placed her other hand on the pack, "One of the boards is faulty," and after a second, "I can replace it later, for now though, I rerouted it. Now try."
Ghost slid back, leaving Cindy naked in the room, and while she grumbled, Liv adjusted the straps, clicked the power on the harness back on and ghost slid out once more, activating the armour. Ghost Spiders was the same design. Each Mark Three shared the same features, it was only WEB Inc that shared the red, blue and preferred colour, with a white spider design on the front. Cindy had chosen black.
"Much better," and she waved a hand as she moved to head next door.
Peter squeaked his char around, "You all know I can pretty much sense everything going on around me, and it's not like she hasn't just walked into the bathhouse, told me to," and he made quotes in the air, " 'stop fucking staring at my tits' and gotten in the tub with me."
"Woman's prerogative dear. She and Friday are trying to stay monogamous,"
Peter snorted, "yes, they are both very trying."
Liv chuckled and shook her head. "Right, now that those are done, we should fit everyone else for theirs," and she began to unload a small trolley with the packs on it.
Once she reached Hela she raised an eyebrow, laughed and just said "don't be ridiculous." and summoned her own Asgardian battle armour. "Although, flying would make smiting my enemies so much easier," but as she pursed her lips, "No, no, I think I prefer my own armour."
Carol also had an objection, "I don't know if Sword will let me use AIM tech, it might be seen as, you know what. I'm the general, so screw it," and grabbed her own suit.
"Okay, a quick rundown." Liv said, "The suits have advanced helmet sensors and advanced web-shooters and as Tony won't let us use repulsors, arcburst cannons. With a small attachment to the back, containing an ArcStar reactor, the suits are capable of long-distance flight. All are made from adamantium, with a vibranium under armour, to bolster the suit's defences." Liv moved and grabbed her own armour, a slightly bulkier design, "and as requested, only Peter and my suit have two extra arms."
Soon everyone was stood in their own suit of armour, retracting and testing the various functions. Peter wasn't fit enough for his, he would have to wait until he had healed a bit more, for now though, as he watched the group he was happy.
The last pack sat in the trolley, which he knew was fully black, with the new AIM Enhanced team logo, a white spider, but facing down rather than up. He still wasn't entirely happy about using Eddies old name, but Venom was still wanted in connection with several crimes, some very provable crimes, and sticking to the shadows was fine for now.
Each team member had chosen the colour scheme that suited them best and matched their symbiote. Felicia had chosen grey with black plates and white trim, Laura had used black with grey plates and orange trim, Natasha used black with red plates and red trim, Liv had went for black with green plates and white trim, Gwen chose black with white plates and a pink design, MJ chose black with red plates and blue trim, Wanda picked black with red plates and grey trim, Jean picked all red and finally Shuri chose black with gold plates and silver trim.
Once everyone had been fitted for their armour, a strange lull descended on the warehouse, and the women all split into various parties. Peter was just glad to finally get some rest, the pain of being stabbed was still there. His stomach muscles and organs were healing nicely but all he wanted was to sit and drink his coffee in peace. His promise of not letting the villain gut him had once more fallen though and he was recuperating after their last mission.
Even with Wrath becoming more prominent in the underworld, and suits of less conspicuous armour Peter was still happy with things. The Augments were staying quiet, with the American Augment Society happy on Genosha, Charles and the X-Men taking care of Avalon and the newly christened Sanctuary where the mansion sat, and even Eric, with the Brotherhood hiding out on Asteroid M, were staying low.
Sure, Tony was being Tony, and social media was plastered with Morgan Starks first word, first step, first everything, and he was pretty sure the only reason the proud father wasn't live-streaming her twenty-four/seven was Maya threatening to beat his ass if he did.
He hadn't heard squat from Coulson or Shield, but a phone call from Ross let him know that they were still there, the official Enhanced Augment Agency of the US, still pushing for more and more Omega level Augments to join their already full roster.
While it was a small step up from the ARCA, the government finally figured out how to get Augments on their side. They bribed them. Even Peter whistled at the benefits package offered, with a highly competitive salary. Sure you were fitted with a power dampner and a tracker but when you could buy a yacht, a lot of Augments really didn't mind. The PICCA was as fair as they could make it, and even Charles had nodded and it was signed into law soon after.
He must have been looking forlorn as Gwen, Liv, M.J, and Carol all came over with a strange look on their faces.
"So, Pete." Gwen said, smirking at him "you've got a bit of explaining to do"
Peter frowned and shrugged "Been fighting all week, haven't had time for anything else Gwen, so?"
"Oh no Mister, you see, this kind of thing takes time" MJ cut in and took out a thermometer from behind her. "Nine months roughly."
Peter frowned again and looked bemused. "You're ill?"
"It's not a thermometer Pete you dumbass, it's a pregnancy test." Felicia said, shaking her head.
"And we checked dear, not just the test but a proper exam, and even me, still fire in the old oven yet eh," Liv said, smiling and winking.
One by one each woman took out their own, each with a grey double line on it and put it on the table in front of Peter.
"All, all of you?" Peter stammered and they nodded "not just us" and Hela and Shuri walked out of his home waving their own.
Logan came forward with Laura "you're lucky kid, she beat the tar outta me to stop me from gutting you"
Laura growled at him and turned to Peter, "yeah, told you to stick it in my butt, idiot," and added her own to the pile, "stupid Monkey. Call him gramps, he'll hate it," and it was Logan's turn to growl.
"Intergalactic booty calls are great if it's once in a while but, you know, there was that vacation where we were supposed to go sightseeing but, someone kept you in the hotel all week, so," Carol shrugged, and put hers down too
"Seems it's not the only thing you've been training,'' said Nat with a small smile and a wink, of everyone he knew she would be the most excited, and the most scared, but it didn't matter, her happiness radiated from her like a warm sun.
"And uh, me too," Jean said hesitantly, "but you know, maybe not let Charles be the godfather, I uh," and Peter laughed, Charles had been trying to get Jean back to the mansion for a while now, but with her officially joining Peters team, there was no future for her with the X-Men.
"You know, being almost king of two worlds doesn't mean you get to be as free as you think," Hela said, raising an eyebrow and handing over a test of her own, "You'd better hope she takes after you," she added with a wink, and waiting to be last, with a shy smile, even Shuri lay one down.
"I have already informed my brother, and my mother is not a happy woman Peter, I know we have been putting off the marriage, but now," and she stared at the pile, "now you have a lot of explaining to do."
Peter stared. Eleven, eleven tests, all positive.
"See, it seems that the only thing keeping us from getting pregnant was our symbiotes and once they realised that meant no babies, well. You know the rest right? Dad."
The enormity of the situation hit Peter like a truck, he had eleven different partners, once Hela put a stop to adding more. She had only allowed Jean after seeing her, called her "sister" and then stayed as far away from her as possible.
Staring at the eleven positive tests in front of him he jumped to his feet
"FUCK YEAH!"
"Ow, ow," and each one stared at him as he pulled the damaged and torn muscles, sitting back down in his chair and holding his stomach in pain, and shook their heads.
This was the father of their children…
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