"Manager Nova, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said that."
Peter looked at Nova, who stood with her back stiff and her shoulders tense, and realized just how deeply his words had hurt her.
"Alright, Nova, calm down," Aetheris said gently. "Peter didn't mean it. That's just how he was raised, the way he's been taught since childhood. A few words won't undo something that's been ingrained for years. Prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain, you can push and push, but it doesn't move easily."
Nova had been stung by Peter's words. As a proud citizen of the East living abroad, she had never truly felt accepted or recognized. While studying overseas, both teachers and classmates mocked her. When she worked to support herself, both whites and blacks would use her skin color against her, sometimes to humiliate, sometimes to bully.
Now, though, she was an executive at Stark Industries. Maybe not second-in-command, but certainly ranked among the top ten in the company.
Her pride and dignity would never allow her to accept humiliation or disrespect.
But after venting her anger, all that remained was an emptiness inside. Yes, just as Aetheris had said, Americans often carried themselves with the arrogance of being citizens of the world's strongest superpower. Their favorite phrase was "I'm American," always delivered with a sense of superiority. Toward foreigners, they often looked down from above, as though the rest of the world were beggars at America's gates.
Most of them didn't care to understand other nations. Eighty-five percent of Americans lived their whole lives without ever leaving their country. To them, America was already the best in the world why waste time visiting "less developed" places? And if people kept insisting their homeland was so beautiful and great, Americans would ask, "Then why did you come here?"
Ethan glanced at Nova, who looked defeated, unsure what to say. He had a doctorate in science, but he was never good with words. Comforting someone was not his strength.
Aetheris waved his hand lightly. He knew that hearing Peter and Nova's exchange must have affected Ethan as well. Ethan, too, was a foreigner in America. He also felt no real sense of belonging here.
With that thought, Aetheris clapped his hands and chuckled."Alright, we were supposed to be discussing our plans, not debating nationalism. We're one team. Whether you're black, white, from the East, or American, to me there's only one identity you're one of Tony Stark's people. Since the day you joined me, the Stark Group's mark has been stamped on you. And besides, the ones we're facing are aliens. Do they care about race, or even species? To them, there's probably no difference between you and a dog."
The others turned toward Aetheris, realizing his words rang true. Especially Peter, who suddenly understood. To aliens, looking at Earth's creatures was like how humans looked at the ocean's inhabitants—just fish. Some fish were large, some small. Some were mammals, some were warm-blooded, some laid eggs. Some were turtles, some were octopuses. But to humans, did it really matter whether a creature had a few extra legs or eyes?
Aetheris checked his watch. It was already late, nearing dinner. He left with Nova, while Peter and Ethan remained behind, facing each other awkwardly.
"Peter, what you said just now was indeed thoughtless," Ethan said with a sigh.
Peter lowered his head, ashamed."I understand, teacher. I'll be more careful from now on. I didn't realize my words would hurt Miss Nova that much."
Ethan patted his shoulder."Science has no borders, but people do. Think of the Jews in World War II. They endured the Nazi massacre, do you think they could forgive those crimes? I'm not a historian, but the Eastern civilization is one of the world's four ancient ones, with an unbroken cultural heritage. Yet history shows America once invaded them, leaving deep scars on their people."
Peter's eyes widened in shock."What? Our country invaded them? How could that be? Why wasn't that in our textbooks?"
Ethan stood, tidying up the lab while speaking, his hands never stopping. Finally, picking up his briefcase, he said,"How about coming over to my house tonight? My wife's cooked a full dinner."
Peter shook his head quickly."No, teacher. Maybe next time."
Watching Peter dash off, Ethan chuckled softly and muttered,"That reckless kid, always so impulsive."
Peter was in a hurry. He suddenly remembered that his new friend Gwen Stacy had invited him to dinner at her home tonight to meet her parents.
Though he didn't fully understand Gwen's intentions, he had accepted her invitation. Now, checking the time, he realized it was already past six. Twilight had fallen over New York, the city's lights glowing with a golden haze.
As he came out of the subway, Peter glanced at his watch again it was nearly seven. Damn, he was late! He shoved his way through the crowd and sprinted ahead.
When he finally reached the address Gwen had sent, he looked up. Victoria Community. A high-end residential area in the Bronx.
(End of Chapter)
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