Gym
It was a normal lesson in the school gym. Well, as normal, Arthur was mostly lazy, hanging upside down, hooked on the bar with one leg.
«The question is, why do you do that? - asked Leo, who was sitting next to him.
«Think of it as a kind of training - answered Evans.
«Hey, Arthur, Leo, let's play basketball! - shouted Flash, dribbling the ball.
«Nah, I'm lazy... - said chestnut.
«I don't want to - said the Japanese.
«Okay - said Thompson, then threw a pass to Danny.
«Listen, I have to ask, why aren't you on the high school football team? - Morris asked.
«I have enough home training, and Flash is our football star, I don't want to spoil his fame as the best - Arthur answered, and then got down on his feet.
«You are a good mate...
«A lot of people say that to me," Evans said, then stretched.
«Hey, Evans! They say you're the best athlete in school! - shouted an athletic-looking guy who was taller than Flash.
«Oh, you seem to be the new... What's your name? - Arthur wondered.
«Jacob," said Leo.
«Oh, right. So what do you want? - he asked.
«Do you want to spar in a boxing match? - Jacob asked.
«Why would I want to...? - Evans asked.
«Well, it's just that if I want to prove myself, I have to beat whoever's the best, and that's you," the big guy said. - So? Or did you chicken out?
«Think what you want... I don't get involved in fights that don't make sense - said Arthur, then headed towards the exit.
«Nice one you got him... - said Leo, running after him.- I can barely keep from punching him in the face..." he said with a pout. - he replied with a puff of veins on his head.
«Wow... Hang on... - Morris said.
«Well, if Evans is afraid to spar with me, then please, or are you afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of everyone! - Jacob asked.
The brown-haired man craned his neck, and the dark-haired man turned slightly pale.
«Arthur... Easy... Quietly... - said Leo.
«That's it, he's finished.... Hold me seven... - said Arthur and headed for Jacob.
«That's it for the bloke... - said Morris.
«Yeah... Jacob's bad luck... - replied Flash.
«What? - the dark haired man asked. - Jacob has a boxing champion in the Junior League.....
«And Arthur has a jab that I've personally experienced, and believe me, if he hit harder, I'd be without an eye..." said Thompson. - said Thompson. - All right, I'm gonna go take bets.
«You are an aloof man... - replied Leo.
«Don't you want to take bets?
«No interest in gambling..... - said Morris, then took out a dollar. - But for the sake of interest I'll bet on Arthur.
«Accepted, Thompson said, taking the note.
***
Arthur and Jacob got into the ring. They were both wearing helmets and gloves.
«Arthur, come on! - The Flash shouted.
«Take him down, Arthur, I've got the last 20 bucks on you! - shouted Laura.
«All right, all right... - replied Evans, putting his mouthpiece in his mouth.
«Fight five minutes - said Peter, who was in charge of the referee. - The rules as usual, whoever doesn't get up in ten seconds loses.
«We know, start already! - Jacob shouted.
Peter whistled and stepped out of the ring. Jacob then started jumping on the spot, getting into a standing position. He smirked cheekily until he noticed that Arthur was gone. Suddenly, the last thing he saw was a boxing glove before going for the knockout. The boxer collapsed to the arena floor. Arthur at the same time removed his helmet and pulled out his mouth guard.
«Victory by knockout... - said Peter, looking at Jacob lying there.
Everyone who had bet on the boxing champion turned pale.
«Know our guys! - shouted Sally.
«Well done, Arthur! - shouted Gwen.
Lorna gave him a thumbs up, to which the chestnut blushed, looking up. At that time, Jacob stood up, staggered back.
«Bastard! - The big man flew at Evans with his fists.
The brown-haired man reacted instantly and dodged, then elbowed him in the stomach and his mouthpiece flew off. Then a second later, Arthur made him hook his leg and punched him in the stomach with his fist while he was in the air.
«You...! - Several of Jacob's mates rose up.
Flash and the football team rose to this.
«Is there a problem? - Eugene asked, kneading his fists.
«Breaking, guys, everything is fair game.... Arthur wins and Jacob loses - said Leo, who stood between the two squads. - And you saw for yourselves... Jacob got knocked out twice ...
«Yeah," Peter nodded.
Arthur got out of the ring and tried to take off his gloves.
«Look, somebody help me... - he said.
«Let me help - and then Gwen and Felicia were in front of him, taking off a glove each.
«Thank you...
«All right, let's deal with the winning bets - said Flash, and then he started handing out bets and money on top.
«Yay! - shouted Laura, taking three twenties. - Thank you, brother, I've got enough for a new pocketbook now," Kinney kissed Evans on the cheek.
«Just spend less, sistah," replied Arthur.
«Well, it's a small thing, but it's nice - said Leo, looking at the won five.
«And now I have enough for a new handbag, said Felicia.
«Here, champ, here's your percentage - said Eugene, handing Arthur thirty dollars.
«Congratulations on your win," said Lorna.
«Yeah - Lena nodded.
«Thank you... - said Arthur, then handed a tenner each to Lena and Lorna. - Here you go.
«Er, no, don't - said the white-haired girl.
«Here you go, man," he replied, literally handing them each a note. - It's not a very honest livelihood anyway.
«Well, thank you," Lena replied, pocketing the note.
«Yeah," Lorna nodded.
Artur at the same time headed towards the exit.
«Listen, Arthur, can you recommend a café? - Flash asked.
«There's a cheap one in the centre," he said.
«Thanks," the blond replied.
Then he left.
«Arthur! - Shouted Lorna who ran out after him, but there was no one. - А..?
***
Arthur flew through the city in the form of Spectre.
«Spectre! - Fury suddenly shouted over his communicator.
«Yes? Evans asked.
«Quickly fly to the bank, Maria will be waiting for you there! Something strange happened there! - shouted Nick.
«What?" he asked, stopping.
«Let's hurry up, Spider and Leo are already there.
After that, Evans flew to the coordinates.
***
Arthur landed right in front of the bank where Maria was waiting for him.
«Hello - Evans bowed.
«Come on," Hill said.
«Why are you so angry? I didn't even have time to do anything...
«Let's go already... - she said.
Then they went inside and went to the security room.
***
Spectre, Spider-Man, Leo and Maria sat looking at the monitor.
«There, you see - the head of security switched on a tape for them.
It showed bags being brought into the vault and then a few suddenly disappearing.
«Just disappear...? - Morris asked.
«Well, yes... - replied Maria.
At this time Evans was adjusting his suit.
«Look, why don't you at least look at it! - Hill asked.
«Okay, now - replied Arthur, then turned round. - Wha...?
«Did you see something? - Morris asked.
«Are you driving or what? - he asked.
There was a girl on the monitor, carrying two bags of money. She had dishevelled short white hair, iron-coloured skin and completely white eyes. She was dressed in a black tight suit with a hood over it.
«Do you see something? - Spider asked.
«So, either I'm schizophrenic, which is out of the question, I've been tested recently.... Or you've been sniffing something...'' - said Evans.
«Can you talk normally?! - Maria asked.
«There's a girl on the monitor and she has bags on her shoulders.... - he replied.
«Where...? - asked all as one, looking at the monitor.
The silver-haired man rubbed the bridge of his nose and then exhaled.
«You really can't see...? - he asked.
«I apologise, but... Do you have schizophrenia? - Leo asked.
Spectre thought for a moment, then looked at one small detail. On the girl's wrist was some sort of bracelet with a small piece of metal on it.
«Well... - The silver-haired man brought the image closer. - There's a contact...
«What? - everyone asked.
He took off his gloves and touched Leo and Maria.
«Er, what are you doing! - Hill asked.
«Look at the monitor - replied Arthur.
They looked at the monitor and shuddered.
«And so... - The silver-haired man took his hands away.
«How did you do that? - She asked.
«Is there a trick to it? - The dark-haired man asked.
«'It's some kind of kook, and if I'm schizophrenic, so are you,' replied Evans.
«Look, I'm not a doctor, but... Can schizophrenia be transmitted by touch? - Leo asked.
«I'm going to fucking kill you...
«I'm kidding. But how can you see it and show us? - he asked.
«'That's the firm's secret,' replied Spectre, putting on his gloves.
«Stop mocking me for my bad English....
«Okay, sorry - said Evans. - 'Well... Are there cameras outside?
«We'll find something... - said Maria.
«Well, now... - Arthur's heading towards the exit. - There's something I need to do.
«What, are you going to call your technician? - Leo asked.
Evans mirrored him and the Japanese man stepped back.
«Just kidding... - replied Morris.
Spectrum left the room.
***
Arthur sat in his room and soldered something. Then he connected the invention, which looked like a push-button mobile phone, to the computer. In addition to that, the brown-haired man took magnetic fractal traps. Evans coated his hand with white energy, after which he directed one half of the trap. The waves of the trap took away the energy and Arthur's hand began to tremble. After that, he removed it.
«Phew... - The brown-haired man pulled out his two fractals. - Apparently you're going to have a neighbour....
«Arthur! - Evans heard and instantly hid one fractal and tucked his own under his sweatshirt. - Arthur, blimey," said Laura.
«What?" the brown-haired man asked.
«There's someone here to see you," she stepped aside.
«It's clean... - said Leo. - Thank you.
«Kinney left the room, closing the door behind her.
«What's wrong, Leo? - Arthur asked.
«Look, can you help? - Morris asked.
«That depends... - he replied.
«Spectre somehow miraculously saw a girl, who was not seen by anyone or even the cameras, steal two bags of money... - said the Japanese.
«И..?
«He, or rather his power had something to do with it..... Do you know anything? - Morris asked.
«Yeah. So you had questions and you came to me...? - Arthur asked, sighing. - Shit, okay, I'll tell you what you're allowed to know.... This power is too great, and even Spectre doesn't know what it is... Well, that's about it. - he replied. - "Not to say that this power is a shard of one of the greatest weapons in the universe...".
«Okay," Leo replied, and then headed for the door with a mouse-like stride. - At least Thanks for that...
At this point he opened the door and stuck his head out, looking around. No one. As soon as Leo stepped out, he closed the door behind him. After that, Evans exhaled, pulling out the trap.
«Why do I feel like my life is going to hell...? - He asked, tossing the invention he then caught.
***
Arthur flew in his Spectrum form through the city and looked at the radar he had collected, which so far was silent.
«Could it be imaginary...? - The silver-haired man asked, but then the radar beeped.
He flew along it and came to a detached two-storey house.
«What do I do now? I break in without a warrant, they'll brand me. Call S.H.I.E.L.D., they'll start asking questions. - Evans is in over his head. - I hate all these secrets and mysteries.... - he said, then took out his communicator and started dialling.
«Yeah? It was Fury on the other end.
«Fury. 'I found that phantom thief...' - he answered. - Don't ask me how, I won't answer anyway.... I'll text you the address.
«Good, consider that we are already there - said Nick.
«See you later - said Arthur and hung up the phone.
Then he exhaled and sent the address over the communicator. Spectrum soared into the air and sat down cross-legged. He looked at the house where the signal was coming from. After that, the silver-haired man saw an aircraft carrier in the sky.
«Oh how... - Evans looked up, after which he waved at them.
After that, a few ships came down, and the attack ships came out of them.
«Hey, guys," Spectre said.
«Where's the target? - asked one of the soldiers.
«Over there - he answered, pointing to the right house. - If you don't believe me, here - Evans showed the radar.
«Copy that," they replied, and then the commander pushed Spectrum aside.
«You be careful... What if there are civilians...? - Spectre asked.
«Spectre, we don't stop you from saving people, so you don't teach us - replied one of the stormtroopers.
«Okay... - he raised his hands.
After that, the soldiers entered the house and even a mayhem was heard.
«Clear! - shouted the commander.
Arthur went into the house, tentatively peeking in. There, one of the stormtroopers had a girl pawed like the one from the monitor, only with dark hair and more tidy. Her skin was light rather than pale. She was dressed in a white hoodie, jeans and sneakers.
«What the hell is this outrage?! - she asked.
«Well, it's not outrageous. It's all legal. Boys, you got a warrant, didn't you? - asked Arthur.
One of them showed the paper.
«And now, ladies, let's talk about the fact that it's not nice to steal money, especially in sacks..... - said the silver-haired one.
«What?!" she asked.
«Spectre, come here - said one of the stormtroopers standing by the storeroom.
Spectre walked over and sighed with some chagrin. The entire wardrobe was littered with money.
«Why do you need so much? - Arthur asked, looking at the girl. - Do you know the Russian saying, "Greed has ruined the fryer"?
«It's not mine! You can't prove it! - she replied.
«And the prints are not yours? - he asked.
The girl said nothing.
«Okay, wait men, I need to check something..... - Evans pulled out a scanner and followed it upstairs.
«Hey! Where are you going?! - she asked.
«Oh shut up... - he said.
«What?! I'm gonna complain! You'll be sacked! - shouted the girl.
«Guys, what did I say? Am I your colleague or something? - asked Arthur.
«Nope," replied all the stormtroopers as one.
- Thank you, I owe you doughnuts - nodded Spectre and went on his way.
He went into what appeared to be the girl's room, where there were diamonds and other jewellery. Evans walked over to the coatrack and opened it, whereupon he saw a box. The paraplegic pulled it out and opened it. There was the very same bracelet from the camera.
«You are my joy... - he pulled out the trap, but before he did, he grabbed the fractal. Again there was a burst of information that Evans knew before from his fractal.
In addition to this, Spectre got a black strand of hair. He went low and walked around a few stormtroopers. It was like no one saw or felt him as he touched them and guided them with his hands.
«Cool... - Evans said. - I might as well get used to it...
«Spectre, how long have you been there? - asked one of the stormtroopers.
«'Here I am,' replied Arthur, and the strand was back to the way it was.
«Oh blimey... How did you do that? - he asked.
The girl turned pale with fear.
«Yes quiet just... - answered Evans, hiding the bracelet. - Okay. I'll be going now, can you manage by yourselves?
«Sure," replied the lead stormtrooper.
The silver-haired man headed for the exit, but before he did he came up to the girl and leaned down.
«You'd better keep quiet, or they'll put you in the asylum... - he said quietly.
She swallowed and Arthur walked out. He soared into the air and his black strand of hair reappeared. Evans flew into the city, covered in white energy.
«I might as well get used to being a phantom...'' - said Arthur, looking at the bracelet. - But I'll probably use it as a last resort," he placed it in the magnetic trap.
The silver-haired man became visible and flew back.
***
The girl who had the fractal was sitting in the interrogation room in front of Maria and Aria.
«Come on, tell me, how did you do it? - The brown-haired girl asked.
The brown-haired one only remained silent.
«Hey, how long are you going to keep quiet? Tell me, who gave you such toys? Hydra? Aim? Sigma? - Evans asked.
To this, the girl only grinned.
«Are we asking something funny here! - Maria asked, standing up, but she was reassured by Aria raising her hand.
«This power is much higher than you realise..... - replied the girl, smirking. - Compared to those who will come after her, all humans are so insignificant....
«What do you mean by that? - Evans asked.
«The Chitauri that came before will seem like children to you..... For those who will come... Much taller than them, she said.
That made Maria startled.
«Where is the source of this power? - Aria asked.
«Unfortunately it has left me... But I hope it will come back - answered the girl.
«Dream bigger, we will find him sooner - she said.
«Well... I can only wish you good luck... - grinned the girl.
At that Evans pulled out a walkie-talkie.
«Guys, take her away, don't forget to take a straitjacket, because I think our girl's not right in the head," the brown-haired girl said.
She turned pale at that.
***
Arthur walked quietly down the corridor, flipping a coin. On his arm he wore a bracelet with the same shard.
«Arthur! - he heard and turned round.
Lorna ran up to him.
«Hi - the chestnut smiled.
«How are you doing? - she asked.
«Well, fine, as you can see," he replied.
«Listen, you better not get caught by Jacob, he wants a rematch - said Lorna. - Lorna said.
«Heh. I guess I'll just have to be a phantom so he doesn't see me," Arthur smiled, then he saw Jacob ahead of him and clasped his bracelet, putting his hand on Lorna's shoulder.
The big man walked past them as if he hadn't noticed. Dane looked questioningly first at the boxer and then at Arthur. He smiled, unclasping the bracelet. Lorna smiled too. They headed further down the corridor.
To be continued...
***
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