Blüdhaven
July 2, 20:11
Date six had gone smoothly like the ones before it.
I dare say that it went even better now that we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Life was great and nothing could come in the way of this… except the topic I was about to broach.
It had been brewing in my chest since I rescued Cassandra, and at this moment on the road, driving back to Felicity's hotel, seemed like a good enough time to come clean.
"We need to talk," I looked away from the road to the woman in question. Seated to my right in the front passenger's seat, Felicity met my gaze and I focused back on the road.
"Anytime someone says 'we need to talk,' they almost always follow with not good news."
"This is not that, I promise," I chuckled with a bit of nervousness. "It's just… the topic is touchy, and I'm afraid that it'll… affect what we have."
Felicity shook her head and held the bridge of her nose. "You're not making this any better."
"I know I know. I'll stop beating about the bush."
'There's this girl—' Nope. Not starting with that. Come on, think of a better way to say this, I chided myself, finger tapping away on the steering wheel.
"Elliot?" Felicity asked when too much time elapsed without me saying anything.
'Fuck it.'
"I rescued a girl, Cassandra," I blurted, pausing for a bit. "She was in an abusive home. Her mother… did all sorts of things to her. None of them sexual, mind you. I know this'll sound a bit crazy, but this doesn't make the story any better. It actually gets much worse."
Felicity was fully enraptured, her eyes boring into me intensely.
"Her mother is an assassin and she wanted her daughter to be better at the profession than she was. She wanted to create the perfect killer. One that could read an opponent's body language to predict their moves. To… develop this ability, she destroyed her daughter's vocal cords and deprived her of a formal education. She didn't teach her how to read or how to write. Just rigorous training and constant combat since the girl was old enough to walk."
Out of the corner of my eye, I spied Felicity's wide eyes and stunned expression. Even though the story was the kind of stuff most normal people, people like her, would find absolutely horrifying, her reaction made me glad.
It meant I was right about Shiva. That woman was indeed a rare kind of crazy. The joker kind. She was the toxic mom living vicariously through her children cranked to the absolute max and then past it.
Anyways, coming back to the topic at hand, I continued the story, hoping the horror I'd induced in my girlfriend would abate a little with my next words.
"Three days ago I found where the mother had run to with the girl and rescued her. Currently, she's in a safe place. But I'm thinking of moving her into the apartment building once the renovations are done. That's why I brought this up. I want to adopt Cassandra."
"Oh…" Felicity said, her tone dropping as she looked away. "I see."
"I know how this sounds, and I know it's basically introducing another responsibility into my already hectic life. At this point, I've already given up on the bet. Because with hero stuff, Shield, Star labs, and now Cassandra, I'm bound to miss some of our upcoming dates."
"You're… serious about this."
"Deadly," I said and fought the heat rising in my chest. "You didn't see her mother. The woman doesn't see anything wrong with what she did. She seemed proud even, like what she did was an accomplishment. It was frankly sickening and aggravating. I've never wanted to hurt someone so bad.
However, knowing the woman, no amount of physical pain would make her see the error of her ways. So I made her a promise instead. I'd focus on Cassandra and make sure she grew up into the opposite of what she wanted. The killer she envisioned would never come to pass."
"Hmm," Felicity nodded faintly and spun to face me, confusion written on her features. "I see. But this woman, her own daughter… really?" She clutched her chest, her discomfort apparent. It then occurred to me that she must be thinking about her own mother and upbringing.
"What about Cassandra's father?" she asked after a bit.
Another sore spot for her.
"Not in the picture. We're working on finding him but still no luck."
Not that I wanted to find him. Dude was just as crazy as his baby mama.
"Hmm. At least she can't hurt Cassandra anymore. Right?"
"Yeah. I made sure of it. She's gonna rot where she is."
I let a few minutes pass with that. Some heavy stuff had been said. Let Felicity think about and adjust to the new information before piling on more of it.
"What I said earlier, about responsibilities. I did some thinking," I looked over at her. "I'm gonna let go of some."
Felicity said nothing, yet she wore a look of shame and guilt for some reason. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No. No. I'm okay. Please continue."
"Uhh, alright," I narrowed my eyes and gave up trying to understand. "Shield is something I've wanted to do for a while, so I'm not stopping with the subsidiary. In fact, I'm about to give it more of my attention. There's a lot of work to do before it gets to where I'm envisioning."
"The work I'm doing with STAR Labs is also too important to walk away now. The reversal cure for the brutes… we need a working solution as soon as possible. Someone out there is planning to make more of them, and the ability to revert the brutes to normal will be instrumental when the inevitable shoe drops. The only thing left is heroing."
Felicity grabbed my hand and looked at me, surprised.
I laughed.
"Don't look so surprised. Wearing a costume and going around beating thugs wasn't my first choice or plan. It still isn't," I said and gently squeezed her hand.
"SHIELD was always the goal, and there's nothing stopping me from pursuing it. Especially now that I have everything I need from the League and enough money to never need more of it."
Keeping my eyes on her, I relied on the periodic tingles and guidance of Spider-Sense to control the car and navigate the road. "I want to do right by you and Cassandra. If that means ditching a silly costume and saying goodbye to the Justice League, then so be it."
"You… I… I don't know what to say," Felicity maintained eye contact with me for a bit and looked away, her eyes directed outside the car.
"When… you mentioned adoption, it made me afraid. Things between us… are good right now. Really good. And the addition of more responsibilities made me think I was going to lose it. But then you told me Cassandra's story and now you're giving up on being a hero, leaving the Justice League. I feel like a terrible person. I'm sorry."
"Hey, look at me," I tugged on her hand. "There's nothing to forgive, because you did nothing wrong. You had a normal fear like a normal person. We have something good, something nice, and it is being threatened. I mean come on, I sprang a child on you out of nowhere. It'd be the height of delusion for me to think you'd just roll over and accept things with open arms."
Felicity finally stopped looking through the window and looked at me. "But…"
"But nothing. I'm going to do exactly what I said. Besides, it's not really giving up. I'm not ghosting every friend and connection I fostered as a hero. I'll still put on the suit when I'm needed. It's just no more patrols and team meetings for me."
Felicity smiled and kissed me. "All the same, I'm happy I'm not the only one who doesn't want to lose… this."
"Me too," I said and kissed her again.
.
.
.
.
Happy Harbor
July 8, 9:14
The threat of a rampaging army of Kobra brutes hung over everyone's head like the sword of Damocles.
After weeks of tests and attempts, the scientists at S.T.A.R. Labs hadn't come up with anything promising. Kobra-Venom effects were too thorough. Trying to reverse it was like trying to rebuild a brick house without damaging or leaving a scuff on a single brick.
They needed something that was frankly… out of this world to achieve that level of precision and sophistication. And that is where I came in. I had finally forwarded sparse details of the solution I had in mind to my partners on the project, and this conference call was to discuss what steps to take next.
"Mr. Rath," Silas Stone said from his position at the head of the table. "Your reconfiguration nanites, if they really do as stated in the files, will solve the main issue we've been facing. How to overcome the increased durability of the brutes' physiologies. We'll be able to affect their densitized cells and apply the solutions we come up with."
Huh, he must've gotten something wrong. Because that wasn't at all what the nanites were for.
"It seems there's a misunderstanding Dr. Stone. These are reconfiguration nanites. They are the solution."
"You mean—"
"Complete bio-topological manipulation," interjected Dr. Charles, one of the other scientists in the room. "Rewriting organic matter into other forms, even inorganic matter. Is that what you're talking about? Are they really capable of that?"
Her question had sparked something in the room. The eyes of everyone present was on me, their collective gazes somehow carrying weight even though we were thousands of miles apart. Still, it did nothing to change my answer.
"Yes."
Murmurs and agitated shifting became the story on the screen. The scientists shared various looks among each other, some doubtful, some disbelieving and others, totally unmoved.
"Mr. Rath," Silas Stone's cold voice cut through the chaos and silenced everyone. "As scientists we deal with facts and observable, provable phenomena. Your claim about the technology you've graciously allowed us a cursory look remains unproven. However, we would be remiss to dismiss your claim and call you a liar.
My fellow scientists here can attest to the need for a little faith sometimes despite the fact and evidence backed nature of our profession. So please answer this, what next step did you envision with your nanites?"
"Testing, obviously. Honestly, that's why I sent you the files. You guys are the actual scientists. I'm just a guy really good at tech," I threw my hands up.
"I see," Dr. Stone remarked, his steely eyes boring into mine. Did this guy blink? Probably not. Not with those glasses.
"Well, as actual scientists we'd have to perform an exhaustive series of tests to make sure the technology works as stated and that it is safe. Once that has been confirmed beyond reasonable doubt, we'll move on to animal testing. We'll attempt reconfiguration on mutated specimens. Should they be successful, we'll compare their physiological scans and genetic profile data pre-mutation and post reconfiguration and also monitor the specimens closely. If the results are promising, human trials will be the next obvious step. This is where my concerns arise."
"You're worried about the minds of the brutes."
"Yes. Though it seems you have foreseen this."
"I have. Please take a look at this," I shared an image of a Kobra cultist's brain scans. "What you're looking at are the brain scans of a Kobra Venum user pre and post transformation."
"There's almost no deviation apart from this slightly increased activity in the prefrontal cortex," another scientist said, her laser pointed straight at the second half of the image.
"So the serum has no substantial effect on the subject's grey matter?" asked another scientist.
"Correct," I answered. "It is as if the Blockbuster formula tempered the mental effects of the Venom while the Venom did the same for Blockbuster in the opposite direction, reducing the level of physical change and augmentation."
"That would seem to be the case," Silas jumped in again, shifting attention back to me. "Of course, it needs to be tested, but that isn't the subject of this conversation. Synthesizing the cure is, and Mr. Rath has just put a major worry to rest. Though there is one thing left."
"Please, whatever it is."
"To further perfect the reconfiguration and prevent any deviations from occurring, we'll need DNA samples of the brutes from before—"
"They transformed," I nodded a few times. "Makes sense. I'll get them. How many do you need?"
"As many as you can obtain."
"Hmm, okay."
My watch vibrated and I checked it. It was a message from Mike saying, "it's time."
"Ladies and gentlemen," I lightly slapped my desk. "We'll have to end things here. I have another engagement as I'm sure you guys also do. Please, thank you for your time and patience."
"Thank you too for your generosity. It can't have been easy showing us this."
"Don't worry. It'll prevent unnecessary deaths. That's all I care about," I said and waved. "Goodbye Dr. Stone. Goodbye everyone."
The screen winked out and I threw myself back in my seat. Whew!
"Sir," Mike called out.
"I know, I know," I tore myself from the chair and left the workshop. I headed toward the mission room, thinking about my time in the cave, with the team, our missions, and how short it all had been.
This wasn't longing or indecision with leaving. It was more… the end I always knew was coming came much quicker than I expected. It was a bit jarring, but so was most things in life.
It seemed everyone had arrived before me, and the introductions had already been done. All the boys and girls were present, most with their mentors.
"Yo! What's your name again?" the giant teenage girl shouted and approached upon seeing me.
"Hello Grace. It's Spider-Man now. But you can call me Elliot. I told you that," I smiled and reached out with a hand. She took it and shook it with enough strength to dislocate a normal man's arm.
"Ugh… what is with you guys and the lame names?"
"Really?" Wally said. "I'd like to hear yours."
"I don't do fancy names," she said and let go, resting her hands on her waist. "I go by Grace and nothing else."
Wally looked taken aback but he recovered quickly. "I dig it," he smiled, pointing two finger guns her way.
"Nice bracelets," I said.
"I know," she held out her muscly arms and showed them off. "Had to earn these babies."
"Tell me about it later," I patted her bicep with the back of my hand and winked. "I've got an announcement."
"Oooohh, team leader stuff."
I smiled and shook my head.
"Alright, guys," I clapped and got everyone's attention. "There's no other way to say this, so I'm gonna go ahead and say it. I'm leaving the team—"
"What?"
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