Gwen let out this long sigh. The kind of sigh that carried the weight of the whole damn day. She flopped back onto the couch in the living room of the mansion. She was in her usual off-duty gear—faded jeans and one of my old hoodies. It swallowed her up. She'd rolled the sleeves to her elbows. Her hair was still a little messy from the wind on the way back from the Triskelion. The mansion felt too quiet after the sterile buzz of SHIELD's halls. Just the hum of the central air and the distant, constant noise of the city filtering through the thick windows.
I sighed too. Softer. I kicked off my boots by the door. I tugged at the collar of the button-down I'd thrown on for the meeting. Formal wear, my ass. It was just a clean shirt and the least-wrinkled pair of slacks I owned. A costume to look like I wasn't some street punk walking into Fury's den. But it itched now. It felt like it was still holding onto all the tension from that office. I shrugged out of it, tossing it over the back of an armchair. I grabbed a plain gray t-shirt from the clean stack on the coffee table.
Peter: Yeah, it was tense. But we got what we needed. Contact made. No handcuffs.
I pulled the shirt on. It was soft, familiar.
She propped herself up on one elbow. She watched me with those blue eyes that could cut through bullshit faster than my psychokinesis.
Gwen: You did most of the talking, Pete. Dropping that list like it was nothing. Staring down Fury like he'd just stolen your lunch money. It was still tense as hell. But… why? Why do you even want to work with SHIELD? They're the ones who might try to lock us up tomorrow.
I dropped onto the arm of the couch next to her. I ran a hand through my hair. It was still white from the skin mod, though I'd dialed it back to normal brown for the meeting. Now it felt strange. Like a wig.
Peter: Number one.
I kept my voice steady. Calm. Like I was explaining a difficult math problem.
Peter: My parents worked for them. Richard and Mary Parker. Project leads on some black-bag biotech stuff back in the day. The official story is a plane crash. But I need the files. The real ones. What actually happened. Why it happened. SHIELD is the only place that has the keys to that vault. I have to know.
Gwen's expression softened a bit. But she didn't let it go. She sat up straighter, pulling her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them.
Gwen: Okay. That's fair. That's personal. But number two?
I leaned forward. I put my elbows on my knees and met her gaze. I didn't look away.
Peter: There's going to be big stuff coming. Threats that make Hammerhead and his goons look like a playground bully. Alien invasions. Super-soldier programs gone spectacularly wrong. The whole works. We're good. You and me. We can handle a lot. But we're not enough alone. Not for that scale. SHIELD has resources. Satellites. Teams. A global network. If we play it right, we get access. We get backup. Without them putting a leash on us. And yeah, Gwen. It scares the hell out of me, too. The thought of it. But ignoring it? Pretending it won't happen? That's how a lot of good people get hurt.
She groaned. It was a heavy, tired sound. She flopped back down flat on the couch, throwing one arm over her eyes.
Gwen: God. Can we please talk about something else? For five minutes? Before you give me a future-panic aneurysm? I just want five minutes where the world isn't about to end.
I chuckled. It was low and a little rough. I shifted off the arm of the couch and slid onto the cushions properly. I stretched out beside her, my head propped on the other armrest.
Peter: Fair. Your call. What's on the menu?
Gwen peeked out from under her arm. A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She rolled toward me. She rested her head on my lap, settling in with a content little sigh. Her hair spilled across my jeans she had grown it out this past few weeks. It was soft. It still smelled faintly of that cheap apple-scented shampoo she liked from the bodega on the corner. I started running my fingers through it. Slow. Absent. The way that always seemed to unwind the tightest knots in her shoulders.
Gwen: My first date with you.
She said it. Her voice went soft. Almost a whisper. Like she was testing the words to see how they felt.
I paused mid-stroke. My hand hovered for a second before I picked up the rhythm again.
Peter: First date, huh? That's bold. We've been rooftops and stakeouts. I count those as dates in my book.
She swatted my knee lightly. But she didn't move her head from my lap.
Gwen: Shut up. You know what I mean. A real one. No masks. No web-slinging chases. No listening for police scanners. Just us. Doing normal people stuff.
Peter: Normal's overrated.
I said it, but I was smiling now. I could feel the cold, coiled tension from the SHIELD office finally beginning to ease. It was leaking out of me like air from a slow puncture.
Peter: But yeah. Okay. Next weekend. I already know the perfect place.
Gwen tilted her head up. Her chin dug into my thigh. Her eyes narrowed in playful suspicion.
Gwen: Oh yeah? Spill. And don't say 'the observatory.' That's too on-the-nose for spider-people. I want something without a hint of radioactive arachnids or tragic backstories.
I laughed. I shook my head.
Peter: Nah. Way better. There's this little spot up in the Palisades. It's a hidden trail off the old highway. Leads to this rocky overlook where you can see the whole skyline at sunset. No tour buses. No crowds. Just the river below and the city lights starting to kick on. I scouted it last week on a drone recon run. Seemed solid. I even packed a basket. Sandwiches from that Italian deli on 8th. The ones with the prosciutto and the weird spicy mustard you like. And yeah, a blanket. Old-school picnic vibes.
She bit her lip. That faint blush crept up her cheeks. The one that always gave her away.
Gwen: You planned that? With drones? Pete, that's… that's actually really sweet. In a creepy, hyper-efficient sort of way.
Peter: Creepy?
I feigned offense. I tugged a strand of her hair gently.
Peter: It's called being prepared. It's a good spot. No paparazzi. No Maggia goons looking for a score. Just you, me, and whatever stars we can actually see through all the light pollution.
Gwen shifted. She propped her chin on her hand now, really looking up at me. Her expression was a mix of fondness and gentle teasing.
Gwen: What if it rains? Or worse—what if some two-bit mugger with a knife spots us and thinks 'rich kids on a date, easy score'?
Peter: Then I use my mind to politely push the clouds somewhere else.
I said it deadpan. I flexed my fingers like I was warming up the psychokinesis.
Peter: Kidding. Mostly. But seriously—backup plan is the truck. I'll park it nearby. We can turn it into a pathetic, tailgate drive-in with bad radio tunes and engine heat. Worst case scenario, we bail and hit that artisanal ice cream truck by the bridge. The one with the sea salt caramel that you pretend not to be obsessed with.
She rolled her eyes. But the smile stuck.
Gwen: I don't pretend. It's just… it's messy. And you always end up with half of it on your shirt. Like a toddler.
Peter: Hey. That's called commitment to the cause.
I traced a lazy circle on her shoulder through the thick hoodie fabric. It was soft under my fingers.
Peter: But come on. Humor me. Tell me what you'd wear. Make it official. Set the scene.
Gwen thought about it. Her eyes drifted to the ceiling, like she was picturing it.
Gwen: That green dress from the way back of my closet. The one MJ swore makes me look 'effortlessly chic.' Which is code for 'I spent twenty minutes making this look casual.' And sneakers. Comfy ones. Gotta be ready to run if you somehow screw up the sandwiches.
Peter: Screw up? Me?
I pressed a hand to my chest, all dramatic wounded pride.
Peter: Woman of little faith. It'll be perfect. Sunset is at six-forty-two. Gaia's got the timing down to the second. We watch the city light up. We talk about nothing important. Or everything. Your pick.
She went quiet for a second. Her fingers found mine where my hand rested on her shoulder. She laced our fingers together. Her grip was warm.
Gwen: Everything sounds good. But… no future talk? No SHIELD, no aliens, no secret parent conspiracies? Promise?
Peter: Scout's honor.
I said it, holding up my free hand. We both knew I'd never been a scout.
Peter: Just now. This weekend. You and me. No apocalypses allowed. Not even a minor one.
Gwen squeezed my hand. Her voice dropped to something softer, more private.
Gwen: Deal. But if you burn the prosciutto or forget the blanket, I'm web-shooting you into the river.
Peter: Tragic accident. I'll blame a sudden gust of wind. It'll still be worth it for the view, though.
I leaned down. I brushed my lips against her forehead. Quick. Light. A promise of a kiss.
She laughed. That real laugh that started deep in her chest and made her eyes crinkle at the corners. She settled back against me, her eyes closing as my hand resumed its slow path through her hair.
Gwen: You're on, Parker. Don't make me regret agreeing to be seen in public with you.
Peter: Never.
I murmured the word. I let myself sink into the couch, into the quiet, into the simple weight of her head in my lap. The city could wait. The future could wait.
Peter: Now shut up and let me win this argument.
She just smiled, her breathing already starting to even out into something peaceful
The portal snapped shut behind me with that familiar, vacuum-sealed whoosh. It sounded like a door slamming on a bad memory. It left only the dim, amber glow of the workshop emergency lights. I hadn't touched this part of the system in weeks. Too much chaos. The Widows, the Hammerhead leak, SHIELD breathing down our necks like shadow. There was never a quiet hour to gamble on cosmic jackpots. But now? Gwen was crashed out on the couch upstairs. Gaia was in low-power diagnostic mode. It was just me, the hum of the zero-point backup generator, and the heavy quiet.
I dropped into the worn swivel chair at the main workbench. The leather creaked. I rubbed my temples, feeling the start of a stress headache.
Peter: Alright, system. Time to pay up. Show me what's been collecting dust.
The interface bloomed in the periphery of my vision. Crisp, blue holographic text scrolled vertically, accompanied by soft, digital pings. It wasn't in my eyes—it was in my mind, projected onto my perception of the world.
[ SYSTEM INTERFACE: REWARDS QUEUE ]
[ ACCESSING... ]
[ REWARDS PENDING: 7 ]
[ INITIATE REVIEW? Y/N ]
A phantom cursor hovered. I focused on the 'Y'.
[ PROCESSING... ]
[ DISPLAYING REWARD MANIFEST ]
A new, clean window opened, listing them one by one.
REWARD 01:
> DESIGNATION: [SPEED FORCE CONDUIT - EPIC]
> ORIGIN: DC UNIVERSE (THE FLASH METAGENE ARCHETYPE)
> DESCRIPTION: PERMANENT, LOW-LEVEL CONNECTION TO THE SPEED FORCE DIMENSIONAL BORDER. USER CAN ACCESS BURSTS OF SUPERHUMAN VELOCITY AND ENHANCED COGNITIVE PROCESSING.
> EFFECTS:
**- SUSTAINED VELOCITY: UP TO MACH 5.**
**- PERCEPTION ACCELERATION: THOUGHT PROCESSES SYNC TO VELOCITY.**
**- KINETIC DISSIPATION: MINOR IMPACT NEGATION DURING HIGH-SPEED COLLISIONS.**
> ENERGY COST: 100 UNITS/MINUTE (ACTIVE USE).
> STATUS: [AWAITING INTEGRATION]
I let out a low whistle. The sound was too loud in the quiet room.
Peter: Holy shit. That's not a power-up. That's a straight-up cheat code.
REWARD 02:
> DESIGNATION: [ELECTRO BOLT PLASMID - RARE]
> ORIGIN: BIOSHOCK UNIVERSE (ADAM-BASED GENETIC SPLICE)
> DESCRIPTION: USER'S BIOLOGY IS ALTERED TO GENERATE AND DIRECT HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES FROM THE HANDS. NO EXTERNAL GEAR REQUIRED.
> EFFECTS:
**- RANGE: UP TO 25 METERS.**
**- OUTPUT: VARIABLE, FROM STUN TO LETHAL.**
**- CONTROL: FINE MANIPULATION POSSIBLE WITH PRACTICE.**
> STATUS: [AWAITING INTEGRATION]
Peter: Okay, that's fun. Crowd control without the property damage lawsuits. I'll take it.
REWARD 03:
> DESIGNATION: [A.T. FIELD GENERATOR - MINUSCULE - RARE]
> ORIGIN: NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (PSYCHOSOMATIC BARRIER PHENOMENON)
> DESCRIPTION: GENERATES A WEAK, ABSOLUTE-TYPE BARRIER AROUND THE USER. EFFECTIVE AGAINST PURE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL/PSIONIC INTRUSIONS. LIMITED AREA OF EFFECT.
> EFFECTS:
**- BARRIER STRENGTH: CAN WITHSTAND UP TO 500 PSI OF DIRECT FORCE.**
**- PSIONIC SHIELD: BLOCKS SURFACE-LEVEL TELEPATHY AND EMOTIONAL PROBES.**
**- DURATION: SUSTAINED WHILE ACTIVE.**
> ENERGY COST: 15 UNITS/MINUTE.
> STATUS: [AWAITING INTEGRATION]
Peter: A personal force field on a budget. Could've used this against those Widow's stingers. Noted.
REWARD 04:
> DESIGNATION: [JEDI PADAWAN TRAINING HOLOCRON - RARE]
> ORIGIN: STAR WARS UNIVERSE (FORCE-IMBUED KNOWLEDGE CRYSTAL)
> DESCRIPTION: HOLOCRON CONTAINS FUNDAMENTAL TRAINING MODULES FOR FORCE-SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS. FOCUS: TELEKINESIS, MIND INFLUENCE, ENHANCED REFLEXES.
> ADDENDUM: DETECTED USER HAS [PSYCHOKINESIS - INNATE].
> PROMPT: MERGE HOLOCRON DATA WITH EXISTING PSYCHOKINETIC ABILITY TO CREATE SYNTHESIZED DISCIPLINE? Y/N
> WARNING: MERGER MAY CAUSE TEMPORARY NEUROLOGICAL FEEDBACK.
I paused. My thumb hovered in the air over an imaginary button. The prompt pulsed gently.
Peter: Yeah. Do it. Fuse them. Two schools of weird space magic, one stone.
REWARD 05:
> DESIGNATION: [ZERO-POINT ENERGY GENERATOR CORE - LEGENDARY]
> ORIGIN: THEORETICAL PHYSICS / MULTIVERSAL ARCHETYPE
> DESCRIPTION: A STABLE CORE CAPABLE OF TAPPING VACUUM ENERGY FOR INFINITE, CLEAN POWER. SCALABLE OUTPUT. INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION BLUEPRINT.
> EFFECTS:
**- POWER OUTPUT: THEORETICALLY INFINITE, PRACTICALLY LIMITED BY CONTAINMENT VESSEL SIZE.**
**- SCALABILITY: FROM PERSONAL DEVICE TO CITY-BLOCK POWER GRID.**
**- BYPRODUCT: NONE.**
> STATUS: [AWAITING CLAIM]
Peter: Jesus. Unlimited juice. I could light up this whole neighborhood. Or sell a sliver of the blueprint and buy a country.
REWARD 06:
> DESIGNATION: [INTERNAL ENERGY CULTIVATION ART: ETERNAL FLAME CHI METHOD - RARE]
> ORIGIN: XIANXIA/WUXIA MULTIVERSAL ARCHETYPE
> DESCRIPTION: A DISCIPLINE FOR BUILDING AND REFINING INTERNAL LIFE ENERGY (CHI) THROUGH MEDITATIVE BREATHWORK AND MENTAL FOCUS. SLOW, STEADY PROGRESSION.
> EFFECTS (INITIAL):
**- GRADUAL BODY REFINEMENT: INCREASED MUSCLE DENSITY, BONE STRENGTH, SENSORY ACUITY.**
**- CHI POOL: CREATES RESERVE FOR ENHANCED PHYSICAL BURSTS, MINOR SELF-HEALING.**
**- LONGEVITY BOOST: CUMULATIVE EFFECT OVER DECADES.**
> STATUS: [AWAITING INTEGRATION]
> QUERY: REQUEST DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF SYNERGIES WITH USER'S CURRENT BIOLOGY? Y/N
Peter: Do it. Breakdown. And… can it be taught? Is it shareable?
[ PROCESSING... ]
[ SYNERGY ANALYSIS WITH [SOLAR-BASED CELLULAR ENHANCEMENT]... COMPLETE. ]
> PROJECTED EFFECTS:
**- ENERGY REGENERATION RATE: +20%**
**- PHYSICAL STRENGTH CEILING: +35% OVER 6 MONTHS.**
**- LOW-LEVEL CHI STRIKES POSSIBLE (CONCUSSIVE FORCE).**
> TEACHABLE?: AFFIRMATIVE. METHOD CAN BE CODIFIED INTO TRAINING MANUAL. NO GENETIC PREREQUISITES.
> NOTE: SYNERGY WITH [SPIDER-BASED ENHANCEMENT] (SUBJECT: GWEN) PROJECTED AS HIGHLY POSITIVE. ENHANCES NATURAL HEALING, WEB STRENGTH, AND AGILITY PEAK.
Peter: Perfect. That's… that's for her. Something real I can give her. An edge that doesn't come from a radioactive bite.
REWARD 07:
> DESIGNATION: [BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION FACTOR - WOLVERINE VARIANT - RARE]
> ORIGIN: MARVEL UNIVERSE (MUTANT GENOME EXPRESSION)
> DESCRIPTION: DRAMATICALLY ENHANCED HEALING ABILITIES, TOXIN PURGING, AND DELAYED AGING. OPTIONAL BONE CLAWS (NOT RECOMMENDED).
> EFFECTS:
**- HEALING RATE: REGROW LIMBS OVER HOURS/DAYS. SHRUG OFF GUNSHOT WOUNDS, STABBINGS, BURNS.**
**- FATALITY CONDITIONS: DECAPITATION, DESTRUCTION OF HEART OR BRAIN.**
**- TOXIN/IMMUNITY: NEAR-COMPLETE RESISTANCE TO PATHOGENS AND POISONS.**
> STATUS: [AWAITING INTEGRATION]
Peter: Immortal-lite. No more bleeding out in some alley because I got sloppy. Good. Scary, but good.
[ ADDITIONAL MINOR REWARDS: ]
> [PSYCHIC ABILITY UPGRADE: MIND LINK - IMPROVED]
**- NOW LINKS TO 3 MINDS SIMULTANEOUSLY.**
**- COST: 5 ENERGY UNITS/MINUTE (PER LINK).**
**- BANDWIDTH: VOICE COMMUNICATION + SURFACE THOUGHT TRANSMISSION.**
> [SKILL PACKAGE: BASIC HACKING SUITE - COMMON]
> [COMBAT BOOST: ADRENALINE SURGE - COMMON] (2x STRENGTH FOR 30 SECONDS, 20 ENERGY COST)
I sat there. Staring at the luminous list hanging in the air. The workshop smelled of ozone from the generator and old motor oil. The reality of it settled in my gut, heavy and electric.
Peter: System. Prioritize integration. Start with the Speed Force. Test run parameters.
[ AFFIRMATIVE. ]
[ INTEGRATING: SPEED FORCE CONDUIT - EPIC ]
[ WARNING: HIGH ENERGY DRAW. ]
[ ACTIVATING... ]
It hit me.
It wasn't a punch. It was like slamming into a wall of thick, living electricity. Yellow lightning—not pain, but pure, buzzing potential—crackled over my skin. My nerves lit up like a Christmas tree. The world… smeared. One moment I was in the chair. The next, I was across the room, my palm flat against the far wall. I hadn't decided to move. I'd just thought about it, and I was there.
My heart hammered, a frantic drum against my ribs. My thoughts were racing, solving three different drone mod designs in the background while I processed the fact I was standing fifteen feet away. The energy bar in my HUD ticked down visibly: 100/450.
Peter: Deactivate! Now!
[ DEACTIVATING SPEED FORCE CONDUIT. ]
The lightning snapped out of existence. The world snapped back into normal, agonizingly slow focus. I stumbled, catching myself on the workbench. A giddy, uncontrollable grin split my face.
Peter: Okay. Okay. That's the new emergency exit. Seven minutes flat out with my current pool. Noted.
I rubbed my arms. The tingle lingered. I scrolled back through the list.
Peter: Next. Electro Bolt. Integrate.
[ INTEGRATING: ELECTRO BOLT PLASMID - RARE ]
[ GENETIC SPLICE IN PROGRESS... ]
[ ...COMPLETE. ]
A warm, prickling itch spread through the bones of my hands and wrists. It faded quickly. I flexed my fingers. A snap-crackle of blue-white electricity jumped from my index finger to the metal leg of the workbench, leaving a tiny, black scorch mark.
Peter: Controlled aim test.
I pointed at a discarded bolt on the bench. I focused on a quick, sharp zap.
Zzt-POP!
The bolt launched off the table, hit the wall, and fell, smoking.
Peter: Non-lethal takedowns just got a whole lot more shocking.
Peter: AT Field. Activate minimal.
[ ACTIVATING A.T. FIELD GENERATOR - MINUSCULE ]
[ ENERGY DRAW: 15/MINUTE ]
A faint, heat-haze shimmer appeared in the air around me, distorting the light just slightly.
Peter: Test barrier. Use psychokinesis to apply pressure to the field around my left hand.
I focused. A faint blue glow surrounded my left hand as I pushed kinetically against the air in front of it. I felt resistance. A solid, invisible wall about an inch from my skin. I pushed harder. The barrier held, flexing slightly but not breaking.
Peter: Deactivate.
The shimmer vanished.
Peter: Anti-sniper, anti-psychic insurance. Good.
Peter: Zero Point Core. Materialize.
[ CLAIMING: ZERO-POINT ENERGY GENERATOR CORE - LEGENDARY ]
A soft thrum filled the air. A fist-sized sphere of swirling, iridescent blue energy appeared, hovering just above my open palm. It was warm, not hot. A complex, holographic blueprint unspooled in the air next to it, detailing containment chambers, stabilizers, and output regulators.
Peter: Scale output to… Tier 3. House-sized grid.
[ PROJECTION: TIER 3 OUTPUT CAN POWER CURRENT FACILITY (THE MANSION) INDEFINITELY, WITH 400% SURPLUS. ]
[ NOTE: SELLABLE BLUEPRINT VALUE ESTIMATED AT 50-75 MILLION USD ON BLACK MARKET. ]
Peter: This changes everything. No more power bills. No more grid dependency. Off-grid fortress, activated.
Peter: Eternal Flame Chi. Integrate.
[ INTEGRATING: ETERNAL FLAME CHI METHOD - RARE ]
[ ESTABLISHING ENERGY PATHWAYS... ]
[ ...COMPLETE. ]
A different warmth bloomed low in my stomach. It spread outwards slowly, like drinking a really good, strong tea. It felt… solid. Grounding.
[ CHI POOL ESTABLISHED. CAPACITY: +50 TO ENERGY RESERVES. ]
[ PASSIVE EFFECTS ACTIVE: BODY REFINEMENT COMMENCED. PROJECTED +5% PHYSICAL STRENGTH OVER NEXT 7 DAYS. ]
Peter: And for Gwen? Create the teachable manual. Full schematics, beginner routines, safety protocols.
[ PROCESSING... ]
[ CREATING [MANUAL OF THE ETERNAL FLAME - INITIATE EDITION]... ]
[ ...COMPLETE. ]
[ PHYSICAL COPY MATERIALIZED ON WORKBENCH. ]
A simple, leather-bound journal appeared next to a soldering iron. I picked it up. It felt warm.
Peter: Protection I can give her. Without the risks that came with my… gifts.
Peter: Regen. Integrate.
[ INTEGRATING: BIOLOGICAL REGENERATION FACTOR - RARE ]
[ WARNING: SIGNIFICANT BIOLOGICAL RESTRUCTURING. MINOR DISCOMFORT EXPECTED. ]
It was more than minor. A deep, aching soreness spread through my bones, like the worst growing pains times a thousand. I gritted my teeth. Then, as quickly as it came, it was gone. Replaced by a feeling of… solidity. My knuckle, which had a small cut from earlier, itched fiercely. I looked at it. The cut was gone. Not scabbed. Gone. Smooth skin.
[ INTEGRATION SUCCESSFUL. ]
[ HEALING FACTOR ACTIVE. TOXIN PURGING SYSTEMS ENHANCED. ]
Peter: Good enough.
The low-tier integrations were seamless. The Mind Link upgrade slotted in, and I could now feel the potential for two more threads besides my own. The Hacking Suite appeared as a new sub-menu in my HUD. Adrenaline Surge was a simple toggle.
Then, the holocron.
Peter: Last one. Jedi Holocron. Merge with Psychokinesis as prompted.
[ CONFIRM MERGER OF [JEDI PADAWAN HOLOCRON] WITH [PSYCHOKINESIS - INNATE]? ]
[ WARNING: NEUROLOGICAL FEEDBACK HIGHLY PROBABLE. ]
Peter: Yes. Do it.
The glowing, pyramid-shaped crystal materialized in front of me. It pulsed with a soft, white light. The moment I reached out to grasp it, it dissolved into a swirl of radiant energy and shot straight into my chest.
The pain was instant and blinding.
It wasn't in my body. It was in my mind. Ice-pick lances driving into both temples. Fire racing down my spine. I cried out, my knees buckling. I hit the concrete floor hard.
Peter: System—abort! Cancel!
[ MERGER IN PROGRESS. CANNOT ABORT. ]
My vision whited out. My psychokinesis, usually a disciplined tool, flared wildly out of control. Wrenches and screwdrivers rattled off the shelves, flying around the room. The backup generator sparked and whined. I curled into a fetal position, sweat soaking through my shirt, every nerve screaming as two completely different schools of thought—the raw, push-pull math of kinetic force and the serene, flowing connectedness of the Force—smashed together in my skull.
It felt like hours. It was probably two minutes.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped.
Silence. Just my ragged gasping and the drip of a spilled water bottle.
I pushed myself up onto my elbows. The workshop was a disaster zone. Tools everywhere. A dent in the wall from a flying ratchet.
Peter: Status report. Now.
[ MERGER COMPLETE. ]
[ NEW ABILITY SYNTHESIZED: [KINESIS WEAVE] ]
[ DESCRIPTION: PSYCHOKINETIC ABILITY ENHANCED AND REFINED THROUGH JEDI PADAWAN PRINCIPLES. GREATER PRECISION, EFFICIENCY, AND VERSATILITY. ]
> EFFECTS:
**- TELEKINETIC PRECISION: +30%**
**- MIND INFLUENCE (BASIC): CAN PROJECT SUGGESTIONS/INFLUENCE ON SUSCEPTIBLE TARGETS (COST: 20 ENERGY/TARGET).**
**- DEFENSIVE WEAVE: AUTOMATIC, LOW-LEVEL BARRIER AGAINST PROJECTILES (SYNERGIZES WITH [A.T. FIELD]).**
**- OFFENSIVE WEAVE: FORCE-PUSH/PULL VARIANTS; CAN SIMULATE ENERGY BLADE VIA CHI-INFUSED KINETIC EDGE.
SUPER STRENGTH MIMICRY
> BASE ENERGY COST: 50 UNITS/MINUTE (SCALABLE WITH POWER OUTPUT).
I laughed. It was a raw, shaky sound.
Peter: Kinesis Weave. Fancy. Test.
I held out a trembling hand. I didn't just push. I willed the air to ripple. A faint, gold-and-blue lattice of light flickered into existence for a second. I focused on the scattered tools. With a thought, they lifted, not jerkily, but in a smooth, coordinated motion, stacking themselves neatly into a pile on the floor.
The energy cost felt smoother. More controlled.
Peter: Ethical mind tricks. A barrier that works without me thinking. And I can make a lightsaber if I get really bored. Not bad.
I stood up, my legs wobbly but holding. The sheer scale of the haul finally settled on me. It was a god-mode starter kit. Speed, lightning, barriers, infinite power, self-healing, a cultivation manual for Gwen, and my own weird magic upgraded.
The weight of it hit, too. More power. Bigger target on my back. SHIELD's suspicions. Hydra in the shadows. Whatever future calamities were ticking down.
Gwen's face flashed in my mind. Her laugh from the couch earlier. The trust in her eyes when she looked at me.
Peter: All of it… it's for her. To make sure she's safe. To make sure we have a chance.
The portal hummed open again behind me, spilling white light into the wrecked workshop.
Peter: Gaia.
Esdeath's cool, amused voice purred from the ceiling speakers.
Gaia: Receiving. Impressive energy signatures, boss. Quite the shopping spree. Shall I prepare a victory lap? Perhaps a beverage?
Peter: Later. First, prep the chi manual for Gwen's biometric scan. And spool up the zero-point blueprint. I want R&D mode initiated by dawn.
Gaia: As you wish. The girl first, then world domination. The usual.
I snorted, stepping towards the glowing portal.
Peter: Something like that.