"I'm guessing you don't want Asgard to know you're here on Earth," I said calmly.
Her eyes widened—fear flashing across her face for just a moment.
"...No. If they find out I'm here, they'll come for me. I'd be executed for treason," she admitted, her voice low.
I figured as much. "I'm willing to let you stay here, but you'll have to follow some rules."
She looked irritated—probably not used to taking orders—but accepted the reality of the situation with a reluctant nod.
"What are they?" she asked.
I kept my tone even, but firm.
"Rule number one: Don't call anyone here 'mortal' or beneath you. Call them by their name, and they'll do the same for you. No superiority complex allowed."
She rolled her eyes but said nothing.
"Rule two: Don't attack anyone on this base—ever. Rule three: Don't cause chaos or manipulate people on this island."
She narrowed her eyes slightly at that one, but still stayed quiet.
"Rule four: There are restricted areas on this island. If you enter one, my AI systems will let you know. Don't try to force your way in. You'll regret it."
Amora sat with the rules for a moment. Then finally, she gave a small nod. "I see. Those are... not difficult to follow. I will comply."
Right then, Ice Bear walked out from the kitchen—his timing, as always, impeccable.
He placed two steaming plates of lasagna in front of us, the aroma rich and mouthwatering.
"Enjoy," Ice Bear said in his usual calm tone.
And we did.
Surprisingly, Amora didn't hold back. She didn't say it out loud, but I could tell—she liked it. Maybe even needed it. She finished every bite.
When we were done, I gave a quick nod to Ice Bear. "Thanks, chef."
He gave a simple, "Ice Bear is pleased," before heading back to the kitchen.
After that, I led Amora to a room we set aside for temporary stays. It wasn't royal chambers by any means, but it was clean, private, and secure.
"This'll be your room for now," I said. "Get some rest. If you need anything, the AI will respond."
She didn't thank me, but she didn't complain either. Just stepped inside quietly and sat on the bed.
As I turned to walk away, I glanced back.
She looked... lost.
Not angry. Not proud.
Just... lost.
And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
Nick Fury – POV
"Coulson, are you sure we can trust her?" I asked, eyes still on the screen in front of me.
"Yes, sir," he replied confidently. "I know her personally. We ran a full background check—nothing suspicious came up."
I gave a slight nod. "All right. Bring her in. I want to speak with her myself."
"Yes, sir," Coulson said before walking out of my temporary office.
We weren't at any standard S.H.I.E.L.D. site. This was a ghost base—completely off the books. Not even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highest clearance holders knew it existed. After what Arsenal and Peggy told me, I didn't take any chances. I've been working to pull together real S.H.I.E.L.D. agents—the ones we know aren't compromised. It's slow work. But I'd rather take it slow and clean than move fast and risk Hydra crawling back in.
Coulson and I were talking about a potential new recruit—Melinda May, a.k.a. the Cavalry. From what I've seen in her file, she hasn't been in the field since a certain incident. But even grounded, she's a hell of an asset. And in these times, we can't afford to ignore capable people.
Still, Arsenal... I don't know who the hell he really is. And I don't like that. I've tried digging—nothing. The man's a ghost. No digital footprint, no reliable data, and somehow he's managing to gather superpowered beings under his command like it's nothing. That kind of wild card makes me nervous. I want to believe he's a hero—but I can't trust blind. Not in this game. I need leverage—something, anything, just in case he ever flips the board.
I turned my attention back to the screen, reviewing potential recruits. One file in particular caught my eye: Kara Lynn Palamas, a.k.a. Agent 33. She's got a promising profile. Sharp, loyal, effective. But I've seen Hydra twist "loyalty" into something ugly. I needed to be sure.
And that's when it happened.
The screen went completely black.
No warning. No crash. Just black.
Then white letters started typing themselves across the screen—like something out of a spy thriller.
Hello, Fury. Don't worry—you're not compromised.I work with Arsenal. And I'm here to give you something.
Before I could respond, a series of encrypted files started loading into my system. I didn't authorize it. I didn't even see it coming.
These are Hydra's files—real intel. We got them from our agent inside the organization. For their safety, we won't reveal who they are. But we'll continue to share what they send us. That's all.
P.S. Agent 33 is clean.
And just like that, the screen flickered once... and returned to normal.
I leaned back slowly, staring at the monitor. Arsenal wasn't just some street-level vigilante with an attitude—he had infrastructure. He had reach. He had people who could get into my system—and leave without a trace.
And now he had a spy in Hydra.
Well… now we had a spy in Hydra.
I didn't like how easily they got in. But I couldn't ignore the value of the gift.
Looks like the wild card's playing the right hand—for now.
Peter Parker – POV
"I'm just saying—it's kinda weird how he keeps bringing in new pets outta nowhere," Cindy said, poking at her tray of cafeteria food.
"Maybe," I shrugged, "but you can't deny they're cool."
"Yes, but it's still weird," she insisted. "A dinosaur? An electric mouse that talks? And now a flying bison? What's next, a dragon?"
I laughed. "I don't know, Cind. All I do know is they're peaceful. If you're curious, you could just… ask him."
"Ask who about what?" came a new voice.
We both jumped a little. Beth had appeared out of nowhere and dropped her tray down across from us.
Right behind her, MJ and Ned slid into their seats too.
"Oh, nothing," Cindy said quickly, waving it off.
"What were you two talking about?" MJ asked, giving us both a curious look.
"Just, uh, planning to hang out after school again," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Ohhh, again?" Beth said, grinning wide. "You've been doing that a lot lately. Wait—don't tell me… are you two dating?"
Both Cindy and I went wide-eyed.
"No!" we said at the same time.
MJ let out a tiny breath—like she'd been holding it—and Ned just raised an eyebrow.
"Aww," Beth said, leaning on her elbow. "That's a shame. I think you'd make a cute couple."
"Thanks, but…" Cindy glanced at me awkwardly. "Peter's not really my type."
Beth tilted her head, confused. "Didn't you say you liked smart, nice guys? Peter's like, the poster boy for that."
"And you have been hanging out a lot," MJ added, her voice sharp with suspicion. "All of a sudden."
"Well," I said quickly, "we just realized we have more in common. I got back into the debate club; it just happened. No romantic stuff, I swear."
Beth opened her mouth again—probably about to say something embarrassing—but suddenly winced. I caught Cindy giving her a very subtle kick under the table.
"Hey," I said, redirecting the conversation fast. "Did you guys see what Arsenal did the other day?"
"Oh—you mean the plane rescue?" Ned lit up. "Yeah, that was insane."
"Right? Two engines failed mid-flight and he still managed to land it safely," I said. "Lifted the whole plane like it was nothing."
"That's gotta be one of my favorite Arsenal saves," Ned added. "Dude might actually be stronger than Superman."
"I don't know about stronger," MJ said thoughtfully, "but he's got more variety. He literally controlled water to put out an entire burning building—after rescuing everyone inside."
"Arsenal's great," Beth chimed in, "but my favorite heroes are still All Might and A-Train."
Cindy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why those two?"
Beth smiled. "They brought peace to some of the most dangerous cities. All Might's called the Symbol of Peace, and A-Train's almost cleaned up all the crime in Freeland. But what I really like is that they do more than just fight crime."
She leaned in, animated now. "There's this video of A-Train playing basketball with some kids. Lost on purpose, obviously. But he made them feel like they could actually win—he boosted their confidence. All Might does stuff like that too—helping people fix cars, walking old ladies across the street, carrying someone to work when their car broke down."
She glanced around at us. "That's the kind of hero I want to be. Not just someone who beats up bad guys, but someone who makes life a little better—even in the small ways."
We all went quiet.
And, yeah… I agreed with her. I'd done things like that before, but I could definitely be doing it more. Crime's been down lately… maybe it's time to start focusing on the people more, not just the danger.
Ed POV
"I have to say, Angela—summoning you was one of the best decisions I've ever made. You're an incredible doctor," I said, looking over at Nora, Victor's wife. She was fully cured of the disease that had been slowly killing her.
Victor, unfortunately, was a different story. We still hadn't found a cure for him, but we were working on it.
Angela gave a small smile. "Thank you, Ed. But I have to ask… why the suit?"
"I've got a meeting today. With an interesting woman. Let's just say I like to dress to impress," I said with a smirk, smoothing the jacket. "Besides, I do look good in this, don't I?"
Angela chuckled lightly.
"How's Wendy doing?" I asked.
"She's doing a lot better. She's adjusted faster than I expected and has become a great assistant. She learns quick—sharp mind, steady hands," Angela replied proudly.
"That's good to hear."
After A-Train found her, Angela made sure Wendy was stabilized. She's been living on the island since. There was no way she could go back to Freeland—too many questions, and she was still technically a pod meta. A-Train hasn't found the rest of them yet.
Wendy's been attending therapy and adjusting to life in this new time. Steve's been helping her too—he knows what it's like to wake up in a world that's moved on without you. Angela said Wendy wants to become a doctor. Turns out, before she was kidnapped and experimented on, she was studying to be a nurse.
She's been through a lot. Understandably, she was pretty messed up when we found her. Honestly, I think we need to bring in a second therapist—once we locate the rest of the pod kids, they'll need help too.
Wendy's grown really close to A-Train. Makes sense—he saved her life. She's also started bonding with the other teens on the island, mostly Frankie. I think it's good for her.
"Anyway, thanks for the update. Let me know the second you figure out a cure for Victor. And let me know when Nora wakes up, too," I said.
Angela nodded, and I left the medical wing, heading straight for the lab.
It's been months, but I finally got my hands on some new DNA for Cell. Not just any DNA—Asgardian DNA.
Yeah. That's right.
Soon after I brought Amora here, I managed to get a sample. Say what you want—it might've been a bit of a shady move, but she is still a villain… for now. Once I redeem her, maybe I'll feel guilty. But come on, when else am I going to get a shot at authentic Asgardian genetics?
You don't pass up a chance like that.
When I got to the lab, I spotted Richard and Mary hunched over one of their tables, probably working on their latest project—or maybe still trying to figure out a cure for Parasite.
"Hey guys, what are y'all up to?" I asked as I walked in.
Richard looked up. "Oh hey, Ed. Nothing major, just working on a small project."
"Oh? What kind of project?" I said, curious.
Mary looked especially excited. "Come here, this is going to blow your mind."
I walked over to see what they were working on, expecting something high-tech or glowy. Instead, it was… a yellow liquid in a bottle.
"Okay… what am I looking at?" I asked.
"This," Richard said, grabbing a vial of what looked like crude oil, "is our latest invention. We've been working on it for months. It's a compound designed to clean oil spills in the ocean."
He poured the oil into a container, and Mary followed by adding just a small amount of the yellow liquid. To my amazement, the oil started to break down and vanish almost instantly—completely gone in seconds, with no residue.
"Whoa," I said, eyes wide. "That's incredible. This could seriously change the game for cleaning up our oceans. You two are geniuses."
They both beamed with pride. But then, out of nowhere, Mary's expression shifted. She pressed a hand to her mouth, looking queasy.
"Mary? You okay? You look like you're about to throw up," I said, suddenly concerned.
Richard was already at her side, gently rubbing her back. After a minute, Mary stood upright again, her color returning.
"I'm fine," she said with a small smile. "Probably just a cold. It's been happening a lot lately."
I raised an eyebrow. A cold? With the super soldier serum in her system, she shouldn't be getting sick that easily.
Then it clicked.
"Let me guess… it usually happens in the morning? You've been having weird cravings lately? And your sense of smell's suddenly off the charts?"
They both looked at me in surprise.
"Yes! How did you know that?" Richard asked.
I gave them a knowing smirk. "Just something I've read. And with that… congratulations, you two."
They blinked at me, confused. Mary was the first to catch on.
"Oh my God," she said, her eyes going wide. "How did I not realize it sooner?"
"Realize what?" Richard asked, still behind.
I chuckled. "Come on, Richard. Use that big brain of yours."
It took a beat, but then it hit him. He looked down at Mary's stomach like it had just turned into treasure.
"You're… pregnant?" he said, voice filled with awe.
Mary nodded, eyes tearing up. "I'm pregnant."
Richard laughed, picked her up, and spun her around, the two of them laughing like teenagers. I couldn't help but smile. It was a genuinely sweet moment.
I'm happy for them. And now I'm really curious how Peter's gonna react when he finds out he's getting a little brother—or sister.
After Richard and Mary were done celebrating, they headed straight to the medical wing to confirm the news. Meanwhile, I went back to working on my Cell project. It's still going to take a long time to complete, but at least I've made some solid progress. Right now, he's got a mix of Asgardian DNA, my DNA, and Arissa's—though I made sure to ask her permission first.
I was considering asking Battle Beast for a sample too, but honestly, I'm not sure it would add anything worthwhile. Don't get me wrong—Battle Beast is insanely powerful. He killed a Viltrumite and can survive in the vacuum of space, exposed to its cold and lack of oxygen for a little bit. But his strength doesn't come from his species—it came from that curse he carried. And I broke it.
Lately, I've also been thinking about visiting Mars to collect some Martian DNA. I know only White Martians live there now, but that might be for the best. I'd rather not take any chances here on Earth with the Green Martian. It's safer this way, and it might lead to some interesting results.
Back to Cell—he's nowhere near complete, but I already know he's going to be powerful. Maybe not stronger than me, since I get stronger every month, but still... a real powerhouse. I'm curious how Stratosphere will react to having a new little "brother." Speaking of him, he's doing well, but I've been thinking—maybe it's time I build him a new body.
Don't get me wrong, I talk to him and visit often, but something tells me he might be getting lonely. He's got his Spark, which holds his soul and consciousness, so I could transfer that into a new body. I'm thinking of making it more of a cyborg than an android. Something human-shaped. I might even put some of my DNA into it.
Once I made sure Project Cell was stable, I teleported to my office. Ashley was already there, sitting with a tablet in hand.
"For a second there, I thought you weren't going to show," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"What? I'm not even late," I replied.
"Not for the meeting with Emma Frost—you've still got a few hours. But you are late for our talk before you head out," she smirked.
"Oh… right. Sorry," I said, scratching the back of my head.
She laughed softly. "It's fine. I figured you'd get caught up in something. You're always so busy. You should really try to enjoy life once in a while. You're still a young adult, you know."
"I'll keep that in mind. So, how's the company doing?" I asked, switching gears.
"Everything's going well," she said with a smile. "We hired a bunch of new scientists, including the one you recommended."
She meant Helen Cho. After reading her research, I knew she'd be a perfect fit for Omnitek Nexus.
"Oh, and the Baymax blueprints you gave the robotics team? They're going nuts over it," she added.
"Glad to hear it," I said. "What about our energy division?"
"Even better. That guy you hired to design the new windmill systems? Total genius."
She was talking about Max Dillon. Oscorp fired him for some stupid reason—I still don't know why. He was already flagged as a potential future villain, and the moment he got fired, I was notified. He hadn't turned into Electro yet, which meant I still had time to change his future.
So, I "accidentally" ran into him, struck up a conversation, and saw for myself just how smart he was. He had low self-esteem, sure—but his talent? Undeniable. I gave him a makeover, a real job, and a purpose. There was no way I was going to let someone like him spiral into villainy when he could help shape the future instead.
"Glad Max is doing well," I said, leaning back in my chair with a satisfied smile.
"Also, our entertainment department is doing really well—especially with all the new ideas you gave the team," Ashley said.
She was referring to the games I used to play in my old life—Call of Duty, Skyrim, Minecraft, and of course, Fortnite. I gave them a few other titles too, but those were always my favorites. Not just games either—I shared a bunch of movie concepts from my old world. I used to watch a lot of films, and now they were getting fresh takes in this world.
"That's great. Anything else I should know?" I asked.
"SHIELD agents have been trying to increase their infiltration efforts again," Ashley said with a sigh.
"That's really getting annoying," I replied, rubbing my temples.
"It is—especially because their résumés are practically perfect for the positions they're applying for. I was thinking maybe we should just hire one or two of them to make them back off," Ashley suggested.
I thought about it for a second. "That's actually a smart move. We've rejected every single one of their agents so far—that's probably why they're getting suspicious. If we hire two, it might throw them off… but we'll have to confirm they're actual SHIELD agents first. No fakes."
"And they're not getting serious jobs," Ashley added quickly. "I was thinking something like janitor work."
"Perfect," I smirked. "Just make sure Church keeps an eye on them at all times. I don't want them planting bugs in the company and me not knowing about it."
"Already on it," she nodded. "Also, I've been thinking… maybe we should throw a company party."
I raised a brow. "Why?"
"To celebrate how far the company has come," Ashley said with a smile. "We're not the richest company in the world—not yet—but we've made massive progress. I think it'd be good to acknowledge that. Plus, company parties are great opportunities to network, meet new people, and attract potential investors."
I leaned back, thinking. "Yeah… I like how you think. Alright, let's plan it for two months from now."
"Perfect," she said with a satisfied grin.
We talked about a few more things, but once our quick meeting wrapped up, it was time for me to head out to Emma Frost's company.
I didn't drive myself—I took a limo. It didn't take long to get there, and I had to admit, the building was impressive. Towering, sleek, and modern… exactly the kind of headquarters you'd expect from someone like Emma Frost.
I stepped inside, the doors sliding open with a quiet hiss as I approached the front desk.
"Hello, I'm here for a meeting with Emma Frost," I said to the receptionist seated behind the large, marble counter.
He looked up at me, eyes briefly scanning my suit with a mix of confusion and skepticism. Still, he remained professional and pulled up the system on his monitor.
"Your name, sir?" he asked.
"Edward Valtheris," I replied.
The moment he found the name, his eyes widened slightly, and his entire demeanor shifted.
"A-Ah, yes. Mr. Valtheris. Miss Frost is expecting you," he said quickly, his tone now tinged with nervousness. "You can head right up. Top floor."
"Thank you," I said, giving a polite nod.
Security didn't stop me. No one asked questions. I stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the top floor, and leaned back against the wall as the doors closed with a soft chime.
Emma Frost was waiting. And I was curious to see exactly what kind of woman I'd be dealing with.
______________________________________________________________________
Another chapter, just like I said,d thanks to Atlasknight, ArcticFox and DaoistsplF5q.
Happy Easter, everyone.