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***
- Hello, uncle! - I said hello excitedly.
- Hello, Peter! - He gave me his hand. Ben met me at the doorstep. - How was your trip?
I told my family and the little girl that I was going on a business trip for a day on Connors's behalf. There was actually a seminar in California. On a pretty interesting topic, by the way. I was really sorry I didn't get to go to it.
- It was very informative. - I had to lie, and after dropping my bag in the hallway, went into the kitchen, from which came the wonderful aromas of food!
It was... good at home! Surely, lately, which seemed very big and mysterious to me as a child, it had become a bit cramped. It was constantly buzzing with life. Petra, my half-sister, has taken on the role of a small and sometimes large tornado. It was as if she had a dozen needles stuck in her soft spot! She ran through rooms, staircases, cellars and attics. And I'm not even talking about the way she usually gets ready for school! Her things were scattered everywhere, even in my room for some reason. What they were doing there, I had no idea! She had taken up her hobby of drawing quite passionately, and now paper with sketches and finished portraits was cluttering up all the available space.
Felicia was doing her best to help her to bring chaos into my home. Aunt May's home-cooked food had so much appeal to her that she was a frequent visitor. It's worth noting that in the last month her visits, thank Galactus, have been reduced to a healthy minimum. That is, two or three times a week, rather than several times a day, or even overnight. And the reason for this was more than significant.
Perhaps we should go a little farther back, and think of her parents. After the Cat and the Cat, were jointly freed from the ugly Ambal, the daughter had an educational conversation with the parent. And decided that he must necessarily drop all sorts of nonsense. Why should he need any secret organisations if his wife is waiting for him at home! She, of course, first shouted, scolded, well, maybe launched a couple of times crystal, and then forgive. She'll forgive him for sure! A certain Cat, under such pressure could not resist for a long time and had to take a sick leave from his superiors.
After a marvellous family reunion, the Hardys left for their honeymoon. Having previously bribed me for one Holograph. It was with a heavy heart, and only to avoid ruining the newly reconstituted unit of society, that I agreed. But I took a receipt! What about it? Without it? Fury tried to get me to share my technology, but I stood my ground. And I advised Mr Hardy to see a plastic surgeon. They're lovely blokes. Sometimes they can do the impossible.
Obviously, Felicia's mum couldn't leave her business unattended. I see who she's left in charge? The cat immediately cheerfully agreed, because she had access to all the resources of the family, and with such opportunities to create our common little business was much easier. No, the girl, of course, sighed, and cried that her poor who can only that and exploits, but more for the sake of appearances. Well, a cat is everywhere and always a cat, what else can be said here...?
That's how Felicia stopped frequenting my house. Work demanded a lot of time. I did what? Just generating ideas and patenting my designs. Ideas were easy enough. The most obvious example is the World Wide Web, digital technology and the like. As I mentioned before, the war affected this world much more, and I guess that explains why it was mostly weapons development and science that could potentially create new weapons. All the other areas were a bit weirdly developed for me, and some things were lagging behind. Like tablets and smartphones and all the other backgrounds. Powerful PCs existed, but small personal comfort gadgets were lacking. Of course, everything was changing very rapidly, and I was also in a hurry to be the first to register a patent for the same tablet computer.
The web, the world web of course, was also slowing down a bit. The most striking example was the fact that there were no social networks on its expanses! Or rather they were in the most embryonic state of all possible. I did not intend to miss such a huge layer of possible profit! So the hired young programmers, inspired by the idea, were engaged in the development of the project. I desperately wanted to participate myself, but I was running out of time, and there were other projects that required my attention and participation. So I limited myself to advice only. I wanted the guys to come out with some kind of shell that I was used to. That's the kind of bug I am, everything for my own comfort!
Just yesterday, the first Social Network launched! I really hope that my faith in the success of this endeavour is justified. That I'm not mistaken. If so, we will receive the first dividends quite quickly. Network, by the way, received a simple and concise name 'The WEB'! The same name was also the name of the ambitious company, which we and the girls diligently built.
On the horizon was computer games, which was also lagging far behind.
Another area I was planning, and had already even begun to pursue was the manufacture of scientific and medical equipment. I had a lot of my father's ideas and developments, which I just needed to refine for modern realities. Connors agreed to help me in this, so the work was going well. He wasn't an engineer, of course, but the advice of a practising scientist and medic was sometimes invaluable. But even in this I was not fully involved. Gwen did most of the work. I dealt exclusively with the development of new devices, Tira supervised the whole issue. Of course, it's not exactly her speciality to prepare documentation, to arrange all sorts of bureaucratic moments, to put the equipment on the stream. But Felicia just couldn't keep up with everything. So she had to take some of the work off her plate.
But even so, the three of us weren't enough to run the company. Even though I didn't manage much of anything, because I had no talent for it. I needed more people, and I had no idea where to get them. No, there were plenty of specialists, but there was a question of personal trust.
- We're quiet, aren't we? - At last, having stuffed myself with the last bite of deliciousness, I noticed.
Indeed, Petra only said hello and ran upstairs to her room. And strangely enough, she sat there quietly, like a mouse. No loud music, no karaoke, even the TV didn't seem to be on.
- Petra is hiding from Felicia. - smiled at her aunt. - In the attic. Only I didn't tell you anything.
- What's she doing here? And is Felicia here?
- She must have been a nuisance. She wanted to cry to you, but you were up in the clouds eating. - They put a hot pastry in front of me, and a glass of milk. - Felicia was there, but she took off somewhere. Said she'd be back soon.
Hmm. It happens to me, when I'm thinking, I don't notice anything.
Isn't it strange that Cat's not resting at home? The flights back and forth were exhausting, though quite quick.
When I managed to find the place where Stark was being held, the girls just gave me an ultimatum. They were so fed up with the never-ending work, they needed to blow off steam. I had to take it. I didn't fight back, though. I wanted to see the results of the serum as much as they did.
Yes, yes! I restored it. In fact, after a month's work with Connors, it's improved. Not by much, and I doubt the girls ended up with the same strength as Cap. A little less, I think. But then again, I don't have a full understanding of Rogers' capabilities, so it's hard to compare.
Why is that? Well, for starters, Rogers was not only tested with the super soldier serum, but also the so-called Vita rays. They were developed and discovered by Tony's father. What exactly are they? I don't think anyone knows right now. All information about them has been destroyed for the moment. But the theory is that the rays simply activated the serum in the body and locked in its effects. What else they were doing is hard for me to say, but I suspect they were not just a catalyst, but an enhancer of the formula. My enhancement, however, was precisely to get a formula that didn't need Vita Rays.
Another little touch I managed to refine was the healing factor. Yes, Connors' designs did turn out to be somewhat viable after all. Although to put it that way is blasphemy! I think if Prof hadn't stuck his neck out that the idea of a lizard genome embedded in a human was wrong, we might have been able to see it through to the end result. And I believe it would have been successful. But Kurt doesn't want to play with this dangerous subject any longer. I have no choice but to respect his decision. But apart from DNA matching, the professor had a lot of other regeneration-related work on his hands. I think if we generalised them, we could increase normal human regeneration by a factor of two! But it would have been impossible to regenerate the lost arm even with these general developments. That's why Kurt stopped developing these ideas as soon as he realised this fact.
With the formula in hand, we were able to add a regeneration unit to it, stabilising it with the serum itself. Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve results similar to the lizard's abilities. Wolverine's abilities were Asgardian. But even what we were able to achieve was better than my own regeneration, by a factor of three!
So now my friends were stronger, faster, and harder to kill. All that was left was to cover their skeletons with adamantium, kill Magneto for prevention, and you could almost take it easy! But I'm modest, and my demands are small. You can cover not the whole skeleton, but only the skull and spine....
The most difficult part of this whole story is undoubtedly the very act of getting me the formula. No. I didn't lay siege to the Cat and demand it. I didn't get on my knees and beg. Didn't even use heavy artillery, namely not involving Deadpool! I never thought of anything like that. If the Cat had been leading S.H.I.E.L.D. around all this time, I shouldn't have bothered. By the way, the agency was convinced all along that Kot was just a thief extraordinaire, full stop. They had no idea what was in his head! But that's not the point.
I did not intend to unleash Felicia's father on the information that he carefully kept almost all his life. I've already given him one reason why. He would have just sent me away. First he'd thank me for saving him, then he'd send me away. The second reason was that I have a good memory. Not photographic, but good. And Dardevil also taught me self-hypnosis and meditation techniques. In short, if I really needed to, I could shake things out of my memory, not everything, no skill, but a lot.
What's my point? Well, it's nobody's fault that Ambal put the formula sheets in a plastic folder. TRANSLUCENT!
I remembered the first page, yeah.
Though one, page was a hell of a lot less, but I was in no hurry. And I was ready to slowly and slowly restore the formula in its entirety. But as it turned out, I was wasting my time. One day the Cat came to visit me. I was expecting him, having just finished his holograph. But Mr Hardy didn't come empty-handed. To be honest, I still don't know why he decided to reveal it to me. But he knew somehow that I was recovering the formula. Probably snuck into my house and found some notes I'd forgotten about. Then he said that if I had some of the information stored in my head, I would recover the rest sooner or later. Again, why was he so confident in my abilities? After all, he told me the whole formula. But he did make me promise one thing.
His daughter, Felicia, was to be the first person I used the serum on. Only after I was sure of the success of the endeavour, of course. For everything else, he would pass the responsibility of distributing it to me.
'Let that be your headache now, lad. I've had enough!' - he said.
It's hard to imagine his true motives. Was it a strong desire to at least thus secure the wayward and adventurous Cat? Quite possibly. But I doubt that's the only reason. But that's not really important. What matters is that my desires coincided with some of his.
My thoughts were brazenly interrupted by a hurricane blowing into the room.
- Hello again! - Felicia shouted from the doorway. - Where is SHE?
- Um... what exactly happened? - I was taken aback.
- Upstairs!? - ignoring my question, she asked or answered herself. She turned round and ran down the stairs. All I could see was a small paper bag in her hands. - I think I'll go and make sure they don't tear the house down. - I said to my aunt and uncle as I got up from the table.
- ...wai! Come on, come on! Come on! - exclaimed the Cat excitedly.
Petra huddled in the farthest corner of the attic and looked at her tormentor with a haggard look. Felicia poked her sister under her nose with something black. As I got closer, I noticed the paper sack. The inscription on it clearly stated that it was nothing more than tourist charcoal.
- Peter! - Petra noticed me and waved her hand in Felicia's direction, causing a piece of coal in her hand to break loose and hit the Cat on the forehead. Taking advantage of the tyrant's temporary stun, my little sister darted behind my back. - Save me! Get her out!
Rubbing her stained forehead, my friend turned towards us. Her eyes glittered unkindly.
- Give it back! M-r-r-r-r... Mine! - she literally hissed, and rushed forward.
I grabbed Petra with one hand and jumped up, grabbing the ceiling and hanging there, holding my sister securely.
- What the hell is Altron doing here? - I exclaimed in anger.
- She's torturing me! - Petra complained. - She wants me to make her diamonds, and I tell her I don't know how. And she doesn't believe me!
- Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! - I shook my head. - Let's go by... Shit!
The cat jumped in our direction. And I had to change my position. The ceiling in the attic is quite low, you don't even have to jump, you just have to lift your arms and touch it.
- Shoo, shoo! Nasty kitty! - shrieked happily from my armpit, and a new lump of coal flew into Felicia.
- What a madhouse! Kitty... ugh! Felicia, calm down now! Or I'll tie you up!
- Give me my... m-r-r-rya-oo... mine!
Ten minutes later, I picked up a fallen folding chair and sat Petra on it. I settled down on my aunt's old trunk, where she kept some of her most valuable clothes that she couldn't throw away.
- Ugh...' he exhaled. - Now tell me. Only in order! - asked Petru.
- Perhaps we should start with this. - thoughtfully squirmed in her chair. - Recently my pencils began to break. Here I draw something, and suddenly bang! The pencil breaks, and the paper tears!
- I don't understand! - I shook my head. Tied up with the rope I had found in the attic, the Cat was on the floor, writhing. I floated for a few moments. I should have tied her up so carefully. But who knew I'd get such a wonderful and sexy bondage!? I guess it was my spider talents..... - What does this have to do with pencils?
- Peter, weren't you listening to me? I'm telling you, the pencils are starting to break! Here, look! - Petra took a packet of matches out of her pocket.
- Is that what I think it is? - I asked, slightly shocked, looking at a few small stones in the empty box.
- Kisa... when she saw them, she said they were diamonds. - Petra said uncertainly, and looked at me strangely.
- I see. - I said thoughtfully, actually still not thinking straight. - What happened next?
- Your cheeky Kisa, demanded that I make her a lot of big diamonds! She ignored me saying that I didn't know how, that pencils break on their own. Then she went on the internet... And then! And then! - my little sister burst out of her seat in a burst of excitement and spun round the attic. - She! She did it! She did it!
- To her! Calm down! What else did she do? - I tried to bring the girl back to normal. Although she doesn't seem to have that function!
- She burned your chair! - joyfully exclaimed Petra, jumping up on the spot.
- I jumped down from the chest. I approached the prisoner, who had already calmed down a bit, and not so appetisingly twitching her arse... I mean, I wanted to say not so actively twitching! I took the gag out of her mouth and in a stern voice asked. - Did you burn my chair?
- Well, I needed coal! - exclaimed the Cat indignantly.
- Do you know that it was my favourite chair? - I asked affectionately.
- Oh, come on, Pete. - Felicia answered less cheerfully. - It was broken! It had no legs! It was on a stack of books!
- And she wanted to burn the books, too! - Petra jabbed her finger accusingly. - But I wouldn't let her! And another thing! And also, she messed up the lawn in the backyard! Uncle was upset. There!
- But I loved him! Why would you build a fire on the lawn?! We have a fire pit somewhere!
- How should I know?!
- Why did you have to go to the shop? - I asked you more calmly. - If you made a fire.
- Your chair is useless. It couldn't even burn properly! And then I couldn't wait for the fire to cool down. - and then she lowered her voice and added. - So you're not angry?
- Angry or not, it doesn't matter. The main thing is that you'll owe me. - I said thoughtfully, trying to think of an appropriate punishment.
- And what do you want from a poor kitty? Oh, wait! I think I have an idea! - exclaims the girl conspiratorially.
- I raise an eyebrow with interest.
- You tied me up like that for a reason, didn't you?! - Felicia twisted, managed to take the most seductive pose. She rolled over on her stomach and seductively raised her ass upwards. - But what a rascal! - Meanwhile, the pussy continued admiringly. - I didn't even realise that you prefer violent role-playing games! Oh! Poor Gwen! She's being brutally tortured, and she has no right to tell even her best friend about it! How does she manage to hide the marks from the beatings?
- You wouldn't notice. - I decide to play along. - They're under her clothes.
- I get an arrogant look. - Why wouldn't I notice?! I probably see her naked more often than you do.
- I don't get it! What are you two doing naked together?
- I know what! - Felicia laughed. - We go to the shower room after training!
- Petra, where is my belt, do you know? - I couldn't stand it.
- The one with the buckle? - admiringly interrogated sister.
- Yeah.
- Of course I know!
- Bring it in. We'll bring up the insolent cat!
- And-and-and-and-and...' the girl squealed with delight and scurried off to my room.
- Oh, no! My worst guesses are coming true! - the kitty screamed in a frightened manner.
***
- Well, give it back!
The cat was pacing to my left, clutching at the sleeve of my jacket. She was trying her best to look me in the eye, making a pitiful face.
- No.' I answered tiredly for the hundred and first time.
- Hee-hee-hee-hee...' Gwen's stomach churned.
She held me by the other sleeve, and all the time, as soon as we got into the limo, laughed at our altercation.
- Well, what do you need her for? - Felicia took a new lap.
- She's kawaii.
- Look to the right! Why do you need two kawaii?! Give me one!
Turning my head in the direction indicated, I gave Gwen a kiss, and whispered a compliment in her ear. She really did look marvellous tonight. The dark burgundy evening dress, favourably emphasised everything that needed to be emphasised. Felicia, however, was dressed similarly. On me they managed to put on a strict and horribly expensive dark suit in tandem with a black shirt. I tried to 'forget' my jacket at home, but the attempt was foiled. It's good that they didn't make me hang up any strings....
- No, I can't have one, even a beautiful one. - I finally answered the kitty. Gwen slightly blushed, but tapped me on the shoulder with her free hand.
- But she's useless! - Felicia howled, but then she corrected herself. - Well, she makes diamonds out of coal! What's the big deal?!
- How many times?! Stop bugging me!
- I promise I'll take care of Piotr. I'll even feed him! Twice a day!
- Isn't that a lot of twice a day? - Gwen asked, holding back her laughter.
- There's no need to overfeed her! - Cat said categorically.
- All-all don't blow my mind, please! - I begged. - And you don't have to hold me so tightly! I'm not going to run away! Why do we have to go to this boring party? I've got some calculations I need to do right away!
- It's not a party. - Gwen said sternly. - It's a reception, which, by the way, Felicia and I organised. There will be a lot of influential people of the city and state. So don't make such a sour face! Have a little respect for what we do!
- It's probably just to mess with me,' I muttered quietly under my breath.
- What's that?
- Nothing, darling! - I smile strainedly, but before the doors of the hall we need, I can't stand it. - Why do you need me here, eh?! You know I'm not a big fan of this sort of thing.
- You'll soon turn into a reclusive botanist! - Felicia teased me.
- I am not! - I'm righteously indignant. - I lecture to a crowd of students almost every day, by the way!
- Nerds like you don't count!
- Enough already. Let's go! - Gwen hurried us along. - As hosts, we can't be late!
- Erm... what's that? - I asked dumbfoundedly, looking at the many photos hanging on the walls. MY pictures!!!
- Surprise!!! - I am startled by girls on both sides of the room at the same time.
I walk along one of the walls in some confusion. There can be no doubt all these pictures were taken by me. But what are they doing here?
- Felicia and I decided to have an exhibition of your work. - As if reading my mind, Gwen said. - What do you think?
- Girls it's very... unexpected. - I could barely find an answer. - I'm pleased that you wanted to surprise me....
- You didn't like it. - Gwen wimped out.
- It's not that! It's just that my pictures... they're amateurish. I don't think our guests will like them. - I tried to explain my position.
- You don't have to worry about that! - said the Cat. - Believe me, there will be no critics among the guests!
- M-ma... - I wouldn't want to upset the girls. They did their best to organise all this. But it's better to dot all the 'I's' at once. - Please, don't misunderstand me! I'm very grateful to you, but photography for me.... It's something else than exhibitions and fame. To make pictures is to rest my soul! I don't care if nobody sees it. I just don't set myself such a task.
- I think you're overcomplicating things. - Gwen frowned.
- Exactly! - supported her friend Felicia. - Don't mess with our heads! You'd better thank us! We've worked hard for him, and he's not happy about it!
***
- Edouard, darling! I want champagne! - whispered capriciously in her boyfriend's ear.
Eduard smiled slightly. In his opinion, the beautiful Emma was not a very skilful actress. For the man considered himself a rather skilful 'theatre critic,' and believed himself to be an excellent judge of such things. Well, could he have reached his heights without being a good judge of character? It must be admitted that the role of spoilt by attention and expensive gifts of a dummy at her best. But he couldn't be fooled that easily! He had learnt the young lady, and in most cases he had seen all her feminine tricks. And now under this phrase she was hiding an excuse to go on a so-called separate voyage to the exhibition hall.
- Of course, darling! I'll be right there!
Emma nodded majestically, waited a few moments for her companion to leave her company, and turned in the other direction. After walking a couple of steps she picked up a glass of sparkling wine. As expected, the reception organised by the younger Hardy had brought together most of New York's beau monde. One of the highlights of the party, Frost thought, was the presence of many young but promising people, in addition to the long-established personalities.
The same Harry Osborne. No doubt his father's resources played in his favour. But the young man himself, a little longer than the conventional etiquette of such receptions required, was talking to the initiators of the meeting. His companion, a redhead like Harry, young M.J., was only a budding starlet of the showbiz. Emma rightly surmised that her success was due in no small part to the personality of her beau. But whether that mattered much with people liking the kind of songs the girl sang. Emma was sure of it.
Without too much modesty Emma also defined herself in the category of young talents. How could she be? A little over twenty, and she was already the executive director of an industrial conglomerate, which had recently been renamed Frost International! The girl was more than confident that this was just the beginning of her journey.
And the birth of Stark?! Oh! That appearance of the errant son to society, made this party almost a landmark! How so?! First public appearance since his release from captivity. As far as Emma knew, Tony had an official press conference in a few hours. But the fact that he'd honoured Miss Hardy and her guests beforehand said a lot to the public. And it didn't matter so much that he had hardly spoken to anyone, and had been at the reception for no more than fifteen minutes. The increased attention to the young man to whom he was basically speaking was assured.
Speaking of him. Isn't he another bright representative of the new generation? Emma took a sip of champagne, only wetting her lips. The girl looked thoughtfully at another photograph. A green apple, captured from some incredible vantage point. Clearly not from a helicopter. The roof of some high-rise? Maybe.
Shifting her pose, she pretended to evaluate the new photo while actually examining the author. Felicia Hardy's favourite. A young man, wearing a strict black suit that gave the guy a certain mystical mystique. Short brown hair, thin, slightly above average height. He moved smoothly, with some wild, even animal grace. And the expression on his handsome face! Oh, it is delightful! A touch of fatality, a touch of doom, a touch of discontent. Enchanting! It's as if he were doing everyone here a favour by his mere presence under this roof. Even at Hardy he looks at him without changing his expression; moreover, he has the feeling that by dragging him here the lady in question is in his debt! And the stroppy and untrainable girl does not show a shadow of discontent with the behaviour of her beau. And that's not all! There was another blonde on the other arm of the lad. And she was getting a little, but more attention than Hardy!
For a moment it seemed to Emma that in the trio of young people, the supremacy belongs to the guy. The feeling grew every moment, and after a minute's observation she was sure of this balance of power. Though it sounded wild, the wild Felicia Hardy recognised the man above her! And yet she shares him with someone else!!!
Immediately the question arises, who is this young harem-loving photographer really?
For a moment Emma realised that she was looking into his cold brown eyes. It was as if they were evaluating, weighing on unknown scales. The guy wasn't admiring her beauty, it was as if he was trying to figure out who she was, and... was she dangerous? He broke eye contact for a moment, asking Hardy something, and when he got an answer, he... changed. His gaze became even colder. Emma was now being looked at with hostility, weighing her personality in an instant and recognising her as dangerous. Otherwise, Frost would have marvelled at the photographer's foresight, and been flattered by the correct assessment of her talents and abilities. But that look clung to something, stirred up something long forgotten, and caused... resentment.
It had to be sorted out. It had to be dealt with now!
Emma approached the group of young people.
- Felicia! - she began in a friendly manner. - Thank you for inviting me to this lovely reception! I've been so busy lately, so busy! I can't remember the last time I had a proper holiday with them!
- Emma. - Hardy shook her head slightly, maintaining the friendly tone of long-time friends. - I'm so glad you could find the time to attend my humble evening. Or rather, not really my evening. But let me introduce you first! Gwen Stacey is a dear friend of mine. And the man of the evening himself, Peter Parker. He's the author of all these photos.
- It's a pleasure. I have to say, I'm very impressed with your work. - Emma certainly had little knowledge of the art form. But she was always good at praise. Continuing to make small talk about nothing, Frost meanwhile tuned in to read Parker's thoughts.
No matter what anyone thought, telepaths were not omnipotent creatures capable of listening to the thoughts of everyone around them. No, there was some truth to all that. A telepath could open up so to speak, and actually hear all the thoughts of those around them. But it wouldn't take long to go mad! The brain is simply not capable of enduring such stresses for long periods of time! That's why Emma had to keep a shield around her mind at all times. And in order to function properly, it had to be lifted. And that's exactly what Emma was doing.
The barrier on the guy's mind was a bit of a surprise, even though he wasn't a telepath. There was nothing extraordinary about it. Some people, imagining themselves Tibetan monks, Buddhas, or whatever, started reading various literature and training their brains. Some even had the patience and persistence to achieve some results. Emma had met such an individual once. As it turned out, it was quite easy for a strong telepath, who was undoubtedly a girl, to overcome such an amateurish shield. Then she simply smashed the mirror, in the form of which the man represented the defence of his mind. It took a bit of force, besides the victim noticed the intrusion into her mind. But she could easily clean up his memory after the necessary corrections.
She could have done the same thing now. But Emma didn't want her manipulations to be noticed. It was a pity, but the shield prevented her from just reading the guy's surface thoughts, she had to go deeper. So she began to carefully examine Parker's defence. It was the surface of the ocean. On the one hand very similar to a mirror, as it reflects weak interference, but not so fragile. If inexperienced, a weak telepath could drown inadvertently. After a couple of minutes of flying as a disembodied spirit over the rippling water surface, the girl could not stand it. There were no weaknesses to be seen! So the girl simply imagined herself a statue made of iron and went under the bottom. Iron does not need to breathe, and it is weak to change pressure. It didn't take long, and just moments later, the girl found herself literally inside Parker.
His inner world was... strange. Emma couldn't understand why, but that impression lodged itself firmly inside. But it was also incredibly beautiful! The skyscrapers lived up to their names, their tops lost in the sky, but the place bore little resemblance to a city. There weren't many buildings, though their size was impressive. There was a lot of greenery. Grass, flowers, bushes, trees. A very deep and beautiful sky, a gentle cool breeze....
Emma put her face up to it, closed her eyes and smiled stupidly. She wanted to take in all this air, to hug all the trees, to do something silly and childish! And she whirled round and round on the spot! When her strength was gone, she collapsed on the lush grass and opened her eyes, looking up at the blue sky.
- Yes. It's nice here. - said someone next to her.
- You. - Emma said calmly. - I have to admit, I've never met an emotional trap before, or what do you call it?
- Whatever you want to call it. - The boy replied nonchalantly.
The girl looked in his direction. Parker had climbed a tree and was munching on an apple without a care in the world. Now he looked even younger than in reality, about three years younger. His hair was black in colour, and slightly longer.
- Do you want one? - he noticed the look in his eyes. - Delicious!
Emma only snorted sceptically at that. No, she wasn't going to fall for such childish tricks!
- I won't play with your feelings anymore! And there are no other surprises in the apple. I swear on Stan Lee.
- Somehow I don't even want to ask who that is.
- Good for you. Tell me what's in my head. Or do you do that to everyone you meet?
The guy's tone remained the same, but at this point, any publicity game was doomed to failure. No matter what you say, your feelings, emotions, shades of thoughts all become more understandable to your interlocutor. For some reason many people are sure that it is impossible to lie when communicating telepathically. But the matter is close, but not quite so. Your interlocutor can simply feel the falsity, the second or even the third bottom of your words, can feel your joy, sadness, grief, understands when and in what exactly you embellish facts or events. Of course, all of this depends on a lot of facts. For example, if you are a strong telepath, you will understand another person more easily.
Right now, despite his former friendly tone, Parker was angry, annoyed, and very tense. Emma could see that.
- I found you interesting. - answered the girl with the plain truth.
- Well, you know! People usually get to know each other in a different way! They don't go straight into each other's wardrobes and go through each other's dirty laundry.
- So we don't seem to be in a dark wardrobe. - laughed Frost, glancing around. - You have nothing to be ashamed of. It's a pretty cosy world! Besides, I'm not a human being to be measured by them.
- Quite a dangerous delusion. - Emma shuddered. Was he... was he... was he feeling sorry for her now? Yes, the anger hadn't gone away, but pity had been added. What does he think he's doing! - What are you if you're not human? You don't look like a Martian. You don't look like a god either, not even a lowly one, I'm sorry. Hmm... Pretty, sure, but not a succubus. Mutant? Well, no way! Hitler thought he was a superior race, too. What did that lead to, again? - Parker sincerely wanted... he wanted to change her mind, to change her point of view. But why would he do that?
- I'm not just a mutant! I'm a telepath! I can read minds, I can control sentient beings like puppets! What do I care about these mutants!? - she screamed furiously.
Why? Why was she remembering him now? Ian. Her teacher, and her first crush. The man who had hurt her even more than her father had in his time. Ian Kendali. He helped her find faith in people, in friendship and in love. All things that were completely absent from the family circle. And he took away everything he once gave her! Once he found out Emma was a mutant, Ian just walked away. Disappeared.
- Hmm... That's funny...' the boy said thoughtfully and then fell silent.
Emma suddenly imagined what she looked like from the outside. Her hands clenched into fists, the stubborn expression on her face, her brow furrowed... The anger was gone!
- What?' she asked, trying to break the ringing silence.
- Never mind... forget it...' She was brushed aside like a pesky fly. Anger and irritation began to rise again.
- Speak up! What happened!
- Well... - the guy finally woke up from his thoughts, but immediately hesitated, took his eyes off her.
- What's the matter?
- It seemed to me for a moment...' he began uncertainly. - Well, when you started talking that nonsense about telepathy and all that.
- That's not heresy! - Emma growled.
- So...' He continued, ignoring the remark. - I think this Ian of yours is a real prick!
- What?! Where did you--
Oh, no! I think Parker saw the whole thing! Emma had unknowingly shown the guy everything she was thinking about, all the saddest and rarest joys of her life.
- I'm sorry! I'm minding my own business! Can we change the subject? Do they really make women wear corsets and underwear in this club?
- That's something you couldn't see. - muttered the girl thoughtfully. - Then how do you know?
- The earth is full of rumours. - Parker replied evasively. - So what? Are even you, the White Queen, forced to wear something like that?
- You're wrong. - Emma said icily. - I'm not the White Queen. I've only recently joined the club.
Frost eyed the image of the guy suspiciously. Too many oddities about him. Incomprehensible knowledge and talents in telepathy. His inner world, as if assembled from two opposites. Strange words, and the confidence with which he says them. And his mistake... Or is it not a mistake at all? Maybe he knows what she's planning. But that's impossible!
- 'That's it! No more playing with him!' - Emma decided.
A moment and the surrounding illusory world melts away. Emma Frost, paying no attention to the guy's pathetic attempts to protect his mind, climbed even deeper. Ha! That's funny! Who would have thought it?! The already famous Spider-Man! And who did he turn out to be? Yesterday's schoolboy. So, what else we got here?
- No.
That word, or rather the voice that said it, made Emma want to hide so badly. She had never felt such power in her life! But suddenly the pressure of unprecedented power vanished as if it had never been there. Emma was sure she heard a surprised hum.
But the girl had no time to rejoice. Her consciousness was swirling in a black maelstrom. A huge black vortex, gradually gaining momentum. Here in it began to appear bright red lines, resembling the beating of lightning. The speed was increasing. And if at first Emma still tried to resist somehow, and it even worked, now all her attempts were in vain.
A strong flash of headache and she realised she was in her own body.
- 'A person can't think that fast!' - was the girl's first thought, which had time to take shape.
But Peter Parker didn't seem to know that.
Emma tried to open her eyes. But nothing came out. Only an even worse headache. The girl began to gather her thoughts into a coherent whole. She hadn't originally planned on having to go this far. But Parker, full of surprises, had simply left her no choice! And the fact that she almost snapped at the end and acted impulsively and rashly had nothing to do with it! Now she was probably in a stupid position. If, when staying in the inner world of another person for a long time, she could hope that the small part of her that remained in the body would just 'hang on'. After the girl went even deeper, control over the body was out of the question! Probably, the people around could think that Emma lost consciousness. Parker, however, must have suffered the same fate. And when two people faint at the same time, it looks very strange and suspicious.
She finally managed to regain some consciousness. The headache had not diminished, but telepaths learn to co-exist with their migraines willy-nilly. Frost struggled to open her eyes to take stock of her surroundings. And she didn't like her surroundings at all. Her body was bound tightly, and ensconced in a very deep leather chair. Even without the restraints, she wouldn't have been able to get up from her bed just like that.
Opposite, Parker lay on the couch, but he wasn't the one occupying all of Emma's attention right now. Standing next to her was Felicia's friend, Gwen it seemed. And the evil smile on her lips didn't inspire any optimism in Frost. Emma wanted to ask what was going on, and why she was tied up. But her mouth, open for a question, instead let out a half wheeze, half shriek.
When you're being tasered, it's kind of hard to ask questions.
- Oh! Are you all right? - Gwen asked in a fake sympathetic tone. - I'm sorry, I think I set the charge to maximum!
- Well, you and... - Emma started, but a new discharge of electricity interrupted her.
- How does it shrink? - Gwen clucked her tongue thoughtfully. - I'm sorry, but Pete warned me that you're a telepath. As far as I know, pain prevents people like you from using your abilities. So you're going to have to endure a few preventative treatments.
- I've realised everything, and I don't have the energy to get in your head.
- That you've realised is good. I'm not gonna believe that last part of your thesis. But if you're willing to co-operate, what have you done with Peter?
- Nothing. Hey, hey, hey! Don't! - Emma squirmed in her chair, instinctively moving away from the cracking sound of the taser. - I'm not lying!
- Then what's wrong with him? - The hand with the taser moved back slightly, and Frost breathed a sigh of relief. - And why hasn't he come to his senses yet?
- I...I didn't...okay. I've been trying to read his memory, and figure out who he is. How he knows things about me. But suddenly something went wrong. He suddenly started thinking too fast. Really fast. Like, like a computer! Exactly, exactly like that! Some mathematical formulae, theorems, axioms, amino acids and enzymes, other... terminology I didn't understand.
- I get it. So what's next?
- It's pretty simple. He overwhelmed me. At that moment, I just couldn't ignore what he was thinking. The speed of his thinking was too fast for me. I was drowning in it all. The whirlpool of his thoughts overwhelmed me...literally and figuratively. - Emma shuddered, remembering the vortex. - In the end, I just couldn't take it anymore, and I had to leave his mind. The backlash hit me, and now I'm tied up and being tortured with a taser... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
- See! - Gwen said after a minute. - I finally remembered how to adjust the power. It's weaker now, isn't it?
- Y-yes... thank you... - Emma spat out through her teeth.
- It's nothing personal. Oh, it's just the opposite. You hurt my boyfriend! So you shouldn't make me angrier than I already am! Hmm... okay. I hope you understand my motives. But you still haven't answered why Pete hasn't come round yet?
- It's hard for me to say. It's the first time I've seen this kind of defence. I can only assume he's put himself in a trance or meditative state. But he can't stop. Because otherwise... he must realise that the human brain can't withstand this kind of stress for long....
- How much time does he have? - Gwen asked nervously, Emma only shrugged weakly as far as the restraints would allow. - 'You... can you help?
- I'm sorry. I wasn't lying when I said I had no strength left. - a small blue arc of lightning flashed right in front of her eyes. - Stop! Think for yourself! It's not in my best interest to leave things the way they are! If I could, I'd help your boyfriend. Just so I could count on your leniency! If he... if anything happens to him, I'm the one who'll be the worst off!
Gwen pulled her hand away. The prisoner's arguments were logical. She should never have let Felicia go. The cat could hardly be of any help. She wasn't a telepath, after all. But at least her friend's moral support would be useful.
Emma kept the mask of a frightened girl on her face. That was partly true. But Frost was partly able to keep her mind sober. She realised she had a chance. And not a bad one. Right now she was exhausted and couldn't do anything about it. But that was just for now. In a couple of hours, she would be able to recover enough to take control of her captor. After all, she will eventually let her guard down, surely she will. And even if she didn't, by then Emma would be able to get used to the taser enough to ignore it.
But the girl couldn't finalise her plan. After receiving a strong blow to the temple, she simply passed out.
Gwen, though she was depressed and shocked by the information that Emma told her, but managed to come to similar conclusions. In addition, Peter had repeatedly raised the question of the danger of telepaths and how to deal with them.
- 'A good telepath is a dead telepath. As a last resort, if you can't kill him, render him unconscious.' - he had once said.
Gwen wasn't sure why Peter himself had been so careless about this dyed blonde. Why he had let her get so close, and allowed her to get inside his head. But the girl had no intention of repeating his mistakes. Therefore, even plunging the captive into a deep sleep, she did not rest. A double dose of a strong hallucinogen mixed with sleeping pills was injected into her bloodstream.