Waking up in a bed that you didn't go to sleep in is jarring. Waking up with a complete new set of memories is even more so. Waking up realizing that you are in one of the most dangerous multiverses for the average civilian is just outright terrifying, but that's what I woke up to today.
Lucy Johnson is my new name I am 16 and I go to Midtown high school. I have no friends and I have just a mother since my father walked out on us to go get milk when I was six.
Luckily both me and Lucy know how to calm down and think things rationally, so I get dressed to get ready to go to school...
Only for when I go through the living room about to leave for school I see news of Spider-Man fighting the rhino at the school. I decide then and there I am not going to school today probably because there won't be a school today.
Mom is at work so I just shoot her a text telling her about the fight at the school and how I am not going. After us response in the affirmative from her I sit down on the table have a bagel for breakfast and think about what my plan is.
"I am currently in the body of a 16 year old girl with no noticeable mutations or superpowers of any kind, in one of the most dangerous multiverses for the average civilian due to the fact that there is constant hero and villain fights while also being in the city with the largest infestation of both heroes and villains."
I start thinking of ways of gaining power.
"Radiation or toxic chemicals are off the table due to the fact that the likelihood of gaining a power and it not being super cancer is rather low and is difficult to obtain said materials. Mutations are based off of the genetic lottery so I shouldn't rely on the chance I may get that. I'm not smart enough to build any semblance of technology that could be useful. I am untrained since the closest thing I've got to actual martial arts experience is a green belt in karate from my previous life which I am rusty at best. What does that leave me?"
Since the first superhero I saw in this world was Spider-Man I start thinking of anyways of potentially gaining powers from his rogue's gallery and then it hit me.
"The venom symbiote or any other symbiote might be my best bet"
I look up the name venom on my phone only to find no news articles about him, so he either has it shown up yet or doesn't exist in this reality which I doubt due to the fact that he is one of the more famous Spider-Man villain turn antihero.
I keep on trying to think up of other ways to protect myself in this chaotic multiverse.
"Magic is an option but with that it only really gives me a couple alternatives either trying to lie myself with Doctor strange or with one of his demonic enemies since they will most likely give something in return for servitude. I'll keep that on the back burner for right now due to the fact that I don't want to serve someone else for all the eternity just so I can live a normalish life. Stealing technology from one of the super geniuses is a very easy way of getting killed or getting thrown into a prison cell depending on which side I steal from so I'm less given a very easy opportunity that is not going to happen."
After eating I realize that this thought process is getting me nowhere so I decide to just go for a walk in the opposite direction of the fight. Hours pass as I continue to walk through New York city Manhattan.
"I might be able to do something if I try and internship at oscorp or Stark industries but just even trying to get into the building would be difficult let alone be able to get into an internship. If I befriend Peter Parker I should be able to ride off his genius or blackmail him into getting some semblance of technology in order to defend myself or have him steal something, though that could come and bite me in the ass."
I keep roaming around New York trying to think of something while I am in a shopping mall trying to buy some food and something to defend myself with. I noticed a shop with hunting gear.
As I headed into the store I asked one of the staff
"Do you guys sell any bear mace or anything similar?"
They not in an affirmative and asked me to follow them as they bring me over to the cans of bear mace.
"It may not be much but this could get me out of the grasp of a d ranking villain or common thugs."
The staff member looks at me a little strangely after I say that out loud. I just shrug telling her what can you do in this day and age. On my way to the cash register I see a lighter and a little ways away air horns as well.
"Well they could be useful in not dying to a symbiote"as I grab both an air horn and a lighter which I can use in tandem with the bear mace to create a flamethrower. I walk by a guy that is just ridiculously confused about what I just said as I walk past him he just slowly follows with his eyes where I go before getting back to his own business.
After paying I continue walking around the mall going to the food court for a late lunch and exit the mall. I continue exploring thinking of any way else to possibly get any advantage possible.
"I know the iron fist power comes from Chi, a ridiculous amount of Chi but Chi nonetheless I could possibly get a minor physical enhancement but that wouldn't do much since I am not at peak human condition like everyone else in this goddamn planet who wears spandex."
I walk by a little pond in a park as I see a black frog with jagged teeth and white eyes that have no life within it. I pause, turn around, stare at it, and sit down in front of it.
"Well hey there the names Lucy. Do you have a name?" I spoke to the clearly symbiotic frog "You know people get kind of freaked out by seeing something with jagged teeth like yours if you want to blend in properly I'd recommend hiding with a human host."
The frog seems to tense at that moment staring at me with suspicion and maybe hunger I'm not too sure but from what I know symbiotes do eat human brains.
"If you want I can be your host"as I reach out an open hand to the symbiote.
The black goo jumps off of the frog and lands onto my hand as it slowly combines with my flesh. I hear a voice in my head.
"You know what I am yet you are not afraid, why?"
"Well that's mostly to due to the fact that I know of your species therefore I am not afraid, and I may die within the next couple of months without a proper power up and you might be my best ticket to survival."
"..."
"Well anyway my name is Lucy Johnson nice to meet you partner if you're willing to give me your name"
"Don't have one"
"What?!" I say in mock horror "Well that just won't do at all. How about the name Apex short for apex predator which I know your species to be capable of becoming on almost any planet."
"..." Being the only response I get
"Huh, most of the symbiotes that I know of are more chatty with their hosts"
"It is due to the fact that I see no point in being individuals being as one completely through body mind and soul works best."
After that me and Apex, or I guess just I went back home before planning to go on my first hunt.