Chapter 29: Miles's Problem
Gwen's words had no effect on Bruce. His focus was absolute. His objective now was to severely limit Wilson Fisk's available reinforcements.
Fisk was serious about his collider, but to a true intelligence or special operations network, his operation was a hornet's nest of security flaws. Bruce was certain there was at least one H.Y.D.R.A. agent embedded in Fisk's inner circle. S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel were also likely monitoring the area. The disturbances in Brooklyn were too significant. New York wasn't on a major fault line. Unexplained, localized seismic activity of that scale would draw official eyes.
The fact that no one had stopped Fisk yet led Bruce to a single conclusion: S.H.I.E.L.D., like H.Y.D.R.A., wanted the collider for themselves. Their reasons were their own.
Bruce's immediate task was to turn all the agents circling Fisk into headless chickens, unable to communicate or coordinate when the time came. A localized, high-yield electromagnetic pulse would do the trick. The only condition was that it couldn't damage the collider's core systems until after it was shut down.
Time passed slowly in the underground lair. One by one, the others left to rest and recuperate upstairs. Bruce and Peni remained, the only sounds the hum of servers and the delicate click-clack of Peni's tools.
An exception to the leaving rule soon appeared. Aunt May came down the elevator carrying a small tray. She placed a simple sandwich and a fresh cup of coffee next to Bruce's keyboard.
"Don't forget to eat," she said softly, giving his armored shoulder a gentle pat.
The unassuming sandwich made Bruce pause. He turned, intending to say something, but Aunt May was already over with Peni, presenting the young girl with a sandwich cut into the shape of a smiling bear. Peni's delighted grin was genuine and bright.
Bruce swallowed his words. He turned back to his screens, but a few minutes later, he picked up the sandwich. It was good—fresh bread, quality meat, just the right amount of mustard. The coffee was perfect. By the time Aunt May returned to collect the tray, both were gone.
She smiled, saying nothing, not wanting to disturb him.
"Good sandwich."
The low rumble made her pause. She looked at Bruce, but he was still intently focused on his work, fingers flying. It could have been her imagination. But she didn't believe in imagination. She believed, from the start, that under the scary mask was a good man.
"You can come here often, you know," she said before turning to the elevator.
Bruce didn't reply, but his typing hesitated for a single, almost imperceptible beat.
"He is a very gentle person," Thomas's voice echoed in the quiet of his mind.
Bruce buried himself back in his work. He just needed to get the details right. Then, maybe, everything could end well.
Night gave way to day, and the sun was already dipping toward the western sky when Peni let out a triumphant cheer. "I did it!"
The joy on her face was pure. For her, the task hadn't been overly complex, but the satisfaction of completing it was real.
"Great work," Bruce said, walking over. His voice was different—not the usual intimidating growl, but lower, gentler.
"Here! Two keys, just like you asked!" Peni proudly handed over the two encryption devices. "The fake one has a spider with four horizontal lines in the logo. The real one has three. That's the only difference."
"I see. Thank you, Peni. Go on up and join the others now." Bruce took the keys and walked back to his console.
Peni, though curious, trusted the man the others seemed to trust. "Okay!" She and SP//dr whirred happily toward the elevator.
Once she was gone, Bruce looked down at the two identical-looking drives in his gloved hand.
"Hey, everyone!" Peni announced her arrival upstairs with a bright smile.
Gwen's eyes immediately went to the space behind her. Seeing no dark silhouette, she frowned. "Where's the Bat?"
"Oh, he still had some work to finish. He told me to come up first after I gave him the keys," Peni explained innocently.
She didn't realize how that sounded to Gwen, Miles, and Peter B. Parker. To them, a Batman who stayed behind with both completed keys was a Batman who might be planning something unpredictable.
Exchanging a wary glance with Peter, Gwen moved toward the back door. "I'm going to check."
As her hand touched the knob, the door swung inward. The cloaked figure of Batman filled the doorway, then stepped silently inside.
"We can proceed with the plan."
A hand emerged from the cloak, holding two keys, each now on a sturdy nylon cord.
"Which one is real?" Gwen asked, taking them and trying to spot the difference.
Bruce didn't answer.
Peni opened her mouth to explain the logo trick, but Bruce gave a small, almost invisible shake of his head. She closed her mouth, deciding to trust him.
"You take this one," Bruce said, handing a key to Gwen. "The colorful Peter Parker takes this one." He handed the other to Peter B.
The two Spider-People looked at each other, then at their keys. Something felt off, but when it came to tactical planning, deferring to the Bat seemed wisest.
"I assume you know when Fisk plans the next activation," Bruce said, his gaze on Peter.
"Tonight," Peter confirmed grimly. Villains loved a 24-hour deadline. It was practically a cliché at this point.
"And his training?" Bruce finally turned his attention to Miles, who was sitting off to the side, looking dejected.
Peter B. pressed his lips together, saying nothing. He didn't want to criticize the kid. The potential was there, shining brightly. The unique powers Miles possessed were incredible. But potential wasn't readiness. It was the one question Peter couldn't sugarcoat.
Miles looked at Peter, hoping for a positive report, but even he knew the truth. He wasn't ready. The frustration and doubt were written all over his face.
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