A mind beyond Marvel

Chapter 18: Ch-18 GENE



I moved swiftly through the dimly lit alleyways of Queens, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The small containment case in my pod was reinforced, ensuring that the 4 spiders inside remained sedated. I had planned this heist down to the last detail... when the security shifts changed, how long it took for the guards to make their rounds, even the blind spots in Oscorp's surveillance. It had been risky, but entirely worth it.

Once inside my sanctuary I took the container out of my bag I locked the door behind me and flicked on the overhead lights. The sterile glow illuminated the clean, high-tech workspace. I placed the case on a stainless steel table and unzipped my bag, pulling out a datapad that connected to my lab's monitoring systems.

I opened the containment case carefully. The four arachnids, each a different variant of Oscorp's genetically enhanced specimens, lay still under the influence of the temporary sedative I had introduced into their enclosures before stealing them. Their sleek bodies twitched slightly as their systems metabolized the drug.

I exhaled, my pulse steady despite the enormity of what I had just done. If Oscorp realized the theft, they would be on high alert. Norman Osborn wasn't the type to let classified assets just disappear.

Still, I had no choice. I needed to study them, to understand their mutations, to prepare for what I knew was coming. I already seen what one of these spiders could do when it bit Peter. I wouldn't let myself be caught unprepared. Peter had already started his vigilante career.

Sliding on a pair of gloves, I reached for the first vial of inhibitor serum. It was time to begin his research.

It's been a few hours, I have already figured out the powers that Peter will get after being bitten by 2 of the 4 spiders. These spiders are genetically in sync with Parker's DNA. But I have my ways. I already have a superior version of Extrimis that has made my body more adaptable. The second way is grow more spiders. Which I am already raising.

"Alfred, how is the research on Blonsky's blood going on.", I asked

"The simulations have failed and we are yet to achieve the strength without the side effects"

"What about Extrimis for Gwen?"

"Sire, Gwen's blood has an X-gene.", I widened my eyes when I heard that. "Her custom Extrimis is done though its weaker than yours, as you don't have an X-gene. Her won't give her the power to lift 20 tons but somewhere around 3-5 tons, this is done to make sure that she suffers from no side effects because of having an X-gene".

We have little to no knowledge about X-gene. Other than the research papers written by Charles Xavier there is not much data found. I used Alfred to steal data from the government and Trask industries about the mutants. And that is still barely enough.

"I see, Alfred", As I started my research on the next spider.

[Gwen POV]

The wheels of my chair hummed softly against the floor, a constant reminder of how much my life had changed in just a week.

Gray's hands rested lightly on the wheelchair handles as he maneuvered me through the busy corridors of Midtown High, his movements smooth and deliberate. People stared, whispered. I hated it.

"You're quiet," Gray said, his voice calm but expectant.

"What am I supposed to say?" I muttered, eyes fixed ahead. "That I love being a cautionary tale? That I enjoy the way people look at me like I'm breakable?"

Gray didn't answer immediately. Typical. He wasn't one for empty reassurances. Instead, he steered me away from the main hallway, taking a detour through the quieter wing near the science labs.

"You're not breakable, Gwen," he said finally. "You survived a gunshot. That doesn't make you weak. It makes you…cool ."

I huffed a small laugh despite myself. "Right. Because nothing's more cool than a girl who can't even stand up."

Gray stopped. The sudden lack of motion made me turn my head slightly to look up at him. His expression was unreadable, but his grip on the wheelchair handles had tightened.

"You're still Gwen Stacy," he said, his voice quieter now, more deliberate. "You still fight back. You still hate being pitied.."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. I ran my fingers through my hair. I noticed that a few of my hair strands becoming Platinum Blonde. Probably because of stress.

A week ago, I thought I'd lost everything. My strength. My control. My place in the world. But Gray…Gray made it sound like I was still me. Like I hadn't been reduced to just the aftermath of a bullet wound. He was there when I opened my eyes in the hospital. He was there waiting in the hospital lobby with my father.

The hallway was quiet except for the distant echo of students' voices.

"Okay," I said, voice steady. "Push me to bio. If I'm gonna be cool, I might as well start by getting my GPA back into shape."

Gray smirked. "Now that's the Gwen I know."

And with that, he started pushing again, as if nothing had changed.

Maybe, just maybe, not everything had changed.

We were sitting in the class when Ned walked in and sat beside us. Ned started asking questions and I told him some of it, whatever I remembered. All I remembered was my dad standing up from his desk to take me school, when a man walked in and looked at us… the very next thing I remember was hearing gunshots and Noctis standing near me. After that I passed out.

"She shot the other guy—", Gray said before shutting his mouth"— I think", he added.

Ned nodded and started consoling me but my focus was on Gray who had said that I had shot the mind control guy as well. I was not aware of that and neither my father has told me anything about that. The case was dubbed a terrorist attack, they used some chemical weapons to cause mass hallucination and dull our senses.

But me and my dad knew well. We were the first to gain back consciousness. There was just one man. I wonder how Gray found out that I shot the guy as well.

[After school]

I was being pushed by Gray and we were walking with the gang. I saw my father's police car parked up in front of the school my dad looked at Gray with a stern gaze.

Gray averted his eyes, and pushed the wheelchair forward. My dad walked out of the car and helped me get in.

"Bye, guys", I waved at my friends and we moved on towards home. The ride was awkward.

"So…. How was the school?", my dad asked

"Just the usual. Did you find the guy who was responsible for the attack?", I asked him

He sighed. "The FBI has taken over this case and we are supposed to keep it under the wraps"

We reached home. My mom came out and helped me in the house. My brothers were eating lunch. My dad waved me and my siblings goodbye and headed to the precinct.

I wheeled myself to the bathroom and raised myself up the chair. I started cleansing my face. I looked in the mirror and my pupils turned white. I jolted back on my chair and looked back in the mirror my eyes were normal again.

"This world is getting crazier Gwen", I muttered to myself

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