Ultimate Spider Woman Issue 1 Denial
- 3 years ago
- 26
- 0
Ultimate Spider-Woman Issue 3: Bargaining free porn video
Issue 3: Bargaining
On my second nights sleep I updated on Peter Parker's memories from
the previous day. That was something of a head trip, no joke intended.
The update wasn't the same as when I'm a passenger. Its hard to
explain. They're... more like an annoying recap episode. You know, old
footage summarising things for the viewer. Cause they're his memories.
Memories aren't the same as living the event.
They're jammed into my head all the same though, pushing my own
limited memories about. It's like mixing colours and whites in the
wash, everything all bleeding together when you know they should be
separate. It's a bad analogy but, well, there it is. I know they're
real even though I didn't live them. They aren't mine. But they are.
And they sit together with mine. Like I said, weird.
For example this morning whilst I was having my basket weaving session
with Doc Phillips I also fought a guy in a giant rhino suit on the way
into school. Fun mix of memories. They're each distinct but also both
jumbled together. Oddly it seems appropriate.
My recollection of school was the pits and it coincided nicely with my
session with Gong and then my encounter with Blain. MJ was talking to
some guy so of course I got all jealous and headed off to wallow in
self isolation and misery. I'd broken up with her for good reasons so
I really had no cause to be jealous! Argh! Could have put that memory
to the music of 'I'm gonna eat some worms'... I really should have
spoken to her but I think I wanted to be all melodramatic. God I am
such a self absorbed Emo twit. Blain pushing me about in the corridor
was a nice counterpoint to that.
Not to play at oneupmanship... but what the old me is going through is
nothing. Cause at the same time I'm in a cell, a female copy of
myself, will probably never see my loved ones again, will never have
the relationship I want, and I'm slated for a mind wipe to become
their mindless cat's paw... Yeah my memories win first world problem
Pete. I'm a failed science experiment made by evil men. I'm not even
real, I'm just this thing. I might even be the thing that Spider-Man
has to fight. I might even hurt the ones I love... I hate this. I
might be the reason why he can't be with MJ. Total head trip.
After all those memories hit I got to vicariously live what was
happening in Pete's life concurrent with my sleeping. In some ways
this passenger stuff was a welcome distraction from my recap memories
or the clone blues and female imprisonment that dominated my waking
hours. In some ways it just made things flat out worse. But I don't
have a choice in the matter. I have to sleep.
The passenger stuff started after school when I was surfing the Net
and looking at all the flamers hating on my take down of the Rhino. I
was getting peeved. As I should be but for some reason I was less
annoyed than Pete because of my own circumstances. Doc Phillips
mentioned something called the Rashomon effect - where an event gets a
contradictory interpretations by individuals. So what I saw and felt
was not the same as what Pete saw and felt.
-Was this free will?-
I was distracted by the phone. "Yello?" No one spoke, they just hung
up. Hmm. Weird. Unknown number. I rolled my eyes and went back to
reading the flames, growing incensed.
-But not incensed.-
The phone rang again so I answered. "Hello!" I said, a little angrily.
-And not angry.-
"Uh hi is this Peter Parker?" an unfamiliar girl's voice inquired
hesitantly.
"Yes?" I responded. Probably a telemarketer. I prepared to hang up.
-I really shouldn't though.-
"This is... Kitty Pryde." She said. Kitty Pryde. Holy %#|. I stared at
the phone picturing the girl from the X-Men. She can phase through
stuff... "Uh do you remember me?" I felt a sense of dread.
"How did you get this number?" I asked in shock.
-I was less worried about the exposure of my secret identity than
first world problem Pete. Kitty knew who I was after all.-
"Information," she stated simply.
"Oh." That made sense.
"Um, yeah, sorry to call you out of the blue and all but I was
wondering..." she trailed off and the silence stretched out awkwardly.
"Hello?" I prompted.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked quickly.
"Uh, School," I responded, unclear what she was asking.
-Wait. How could you be this dense Pete. Do you not get that she is
asking you out? Do I have to connect the dots for you?!-
"I mean, like, after that?" she said, sounding tense.
"Why? Is everything okay?" I asked concerned.
-She is asking you out. Argh. This is painful!-
"Yeah. No. What?" she asked, confused.
I was getting confused to. This conversation was totally non-sequitur.
"Is there something going on with Wolverine again, or-"
-You're confused? What about me?!-
"No, no, no this is, um, like I'm asking you if you want to hang out
with me, like, uh, after school," she suggested.
"With the X-Men?" I attempted to clarify. That could be fun.
Especially with how my life was currently. You are an idiot Mr Parker.
-Oh. My. God. Someone shoot me. This is worse than when Black Cat
threw up on me... Earth to Peter! She is asking you out!-
"No. Just... me," she said quietly.
I straightened in my chair. "Really?" Wait. Was she asking me on a
date!
-Oh thank god I figured it out. I thought we were smart. Evidently
not.-
"Yeah," she said.
"Uh, yeah... yeah!" Hell yeah. That would be sweet.
-I agree.-
"Really?" she asked almost surprised.
"Yeah," I affirmed with a grin.
-Don't blow this you chump... you are so going to blow this. I just
know it...-
"You don't have a girlfriend do you?" she asked with concern.
I considered MJ. She was off with that guy. "No."
"You promise?" she pressed, sensing my hesitation.
"I did, but I don't anymore. It's a whole thing. But no- I do not have
a girlfriend." I didn't really want to go into this.
-Yeah. Don't go into this Pete. First smart thing you've done.-
"Man, I'm sorry I worded it that way. It was just-" she started to
apologise.
"No, it's ok. I under-"
"What time do you get out of class?" Kitty interrupted. I was glad.
"3:30," I said. This was a date!
"You want to meet there or-?" Kitty enquired.
"Yeah, sure, yeah," I readily agreed.
"Okay." She seemed pleased.
I sure was. I frowned. School... this had to be a Peter Parker thing.
"Hey, um, don't-"
"What?" she asked getting worried.
"Don't come in costume. Or uniform or whatever you guys call-" I
started.
-Good thinking-
"Oh, I know that.. duh," she laughed.
"Okay, just making sure, I've had some close calls and-"
"Yeah, I was there for a couple of them," she agreed happily.
"That is true," I said with a grin.
"But you know, if not for those I wouldn't have- um so 3:30 where?"
Kitty finished.
"Midtown High, Queens," I supplied.
"Okay," she said.
"Okay. Um, Kitty?" I started.
"Yeah."
"Thanks for- Thanks for calling like this. This was pretty cool of
you," We hung up. I stared at the phone. Grinning. Best part of my
day. My week. (USM Annual 1)
-I agree.-
So awkward. So fresh and new and exciting. I turned back to my
computer and googled the X-Men. There Kitty was. I stared at her. The
girl who'd asked me out on a date. I think I'm... well I don't know.
It's definitely a crush. It's great. I hope we both agree this is
great. But I also felt a stab of jealousy. That was unexpected.
So was this a rebound thing? No. She'd asked me out. Cause Kitty Pryde
was... wonderful. A sweet Jewish girl. A member of the X-Men.
Nervously asking me out on a date. I liked that. Kinda innocent.
Uncertain. It was... exciting.
And unlike MJ she could take care of herself and understood all this
hero stuff. That was the best part.
Unlike Black Cat she was a girl I could take home to meet Aunt May.
Perhaps. Black Cat to Kitty. Hmm, was there a pattern there? No. Just
a coincidence.
Then I was going to bed. Oh. No. They were meant to wake me... why
aren't they waking me? Wake up!
The dream was surreal. It was twilight. Neither night nor day but an
indeterminate space between. In the distance I could see the
Queensboro Bridge and I felt a twinge of foreboding menace. But the
two dimensional cityscape dominated. Deep purples and black blues and
burnt reds. This dream was like the others but unlike them. There was
a sense of... hope.
Kitty was there in her X-Men uniform. She seemed shy and coltish.
There was awkwardness there but there was also a strength. I felt it.
Something special about her. There was a larger than life aura to her.
And a sense of mutual enjoyment in each other's company. We were
together and it felt so right. So full of possibilities.
The sun was rising. We were heroes watching a brand new day dawn. The
city emerged from the dark colours and the somber gave way to a myriad
of bright sparkling tones. An idyllic euphoria suffused the city,
beautiful and fragile as it awoke. Together we stood guardian over it.
Protecting it and... one another. Making each other stronger. Equals.
Able to deal with anything thrown at us.
Kitty turned to me. Oh. Great. There go our clothes. Wait. Not. Again.
I awoke panting as before but most like from the dream with Black Cat.
This time I hadn't webbed myself. Still... wow. Clearly Pete really
liked Kitty. He had a crush. By sharing that dream with me I had more
than a crush. I groaned. I think... I'm in love. Or lust. God I don't
know. I get why these dreams are a problem though. "Thanks for waking
me up," I called as I panted, Kitty's face still firmly in my mind.
"This was your wake up call Jessica. Don't make threats to the camera.
Those above me are not pleased," Ben Reilly said. Bloody Renfield.
I lay there awake, trying to separate my feelings from Peter's. It was
impossible. We were the same person inside. My unique life experiences
so far were too limited. Envy and jealousy were mine. Anger and empty
depression were mine. And I feared unrequited love would be mine. He
should call it off with Kitty. For me. Cause I sensed nothing but
heartbreak there for me. But he didn't know about me.
I wanted what he had. I wanted his life. No matter how terrible he
thought it was I wanted it. I wanted school. I wanted home. I wanted
Aunt May's cooking and anger. I wanted her to care about me. Even her
disappointment and frustration would be welcome. I wanted an ex-
girlfriend to worry and drama about. I wanted what was developing with
Kitty Pryde. I wanted the thrills of fighting villains. I wanted the
frustration of people hating Spider-Man. I wanted my life back.
I looked about my prison, the camera, the curtained shower, the one
way glass, the sense of being watched, prodded and measured. I looked
down at my female body. I didn't want this.
I wanted Kitty Pryde as much as Pete. To be honest, thanks to his
dream, I suspected I wanted her more. And I'd never, ever have her...
* * *
I am Peter's sexual confusion. I am Peter's existential crisis. I am
Peter's living tautology. I am Peter's snowclone. I thought this as my
muscles ached. I wore a t-shirt and track pants, hair held back with a
hair tie. I stood on the practice mat, holding the form and moving
slowly, purposefully.
"Focus Jessica!" Gong instructed firmly.
"Yeah, yeah," I responded, brow beaded with sweat, bringing my focus
back onto the matter at hand. I am Peter's yin. I shook off the random
thoughts and focused on the precise movements of the forms and tried
to let them flow. Second class in as many days. Should have stretched
more after all my practice yesterday but I was too tired. Muscles feel
smashed now. But my strength is gradually returning, I'm almost human
strong. And my endurance is increasing.
"Good. I have seen the videos of the Primes fighting technique. Fast,
strong, agile, utterly amazing. But undisciplined. This will give you
discipline," The master continued, pushing m elbow up and then showing
me the correct movement. "Your rehab physiotherapy is also intended to
give you new skills and, I hope, the mental discipline to help you
cope with situations you find yourself in."
We moved as a pair through the forms in decent harmony. I was actually
kind of enjoying this. And the physical activity was a welcome
distraction from my thoughts. That update on Pete's love life last
night was confusing. Arranging a date with Kitty Pryde followed by
that intense dream. Training was handy not to crush on her... so
confusing. I felt like a voyeur... and my emotions were way too
intense now. I needed this diversion.
"So Gong, what do you do for the CIA when you aren't rehabbing super
soldiers," I enquired.
Gong smiled thinly. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked.
"Yeah," I responded
"So can I," He said curtly then changed subjects. "Whilst you appear
15 your body is still young and developing, most significantly your
prefrontal cortex. Reilly tells me that in this formative period your
more mind remains more open to learning. This might only be your
second lesson but you move almost as a rank one already when you
focus. Remember. Relaxation and harmony, flowing motion, round and
natural movements, coordination of the whole body," Gong instructed.
I nodded. I like the freedom of being Spider Man, the physical
exhilaration is ... well thrilling. I want that back. And Gong gets
that. He's a decent enough guy as well. May as well make lemonade from
these lemons.
"But don't overdo it Jessica. I saw that you practiced for most of
yesterday until you were utterly exhausted. I can tell you're sore and
it's hindering my classes. Do not let your inner demons drive you to
ruin. This is your third day awake. One must crawl before one walks,"
Gong advised.
That's who I am I decided as I nodded. You're not changing who I am.
You might change my body and my wardrobe. Sports bras. Jeez! But I am
who I am.
"Life is change, constantly shifting circumstances that we have to
adapt to. Living is dealing with that change," Gong said.
I frowned in surprise. "Are you reading my mind?"
"Hardly. I can scarcely understand what you are going through. But
your fears are clear on your face and Tai Chi philosophy might help
you deal with them," he suggested. We completed the twenty fourth form
in silent concentration. I went and got a drink. "You're doing well
today. Practicing I see, but not too much... You're still forming."
"Yes Master Gong, it shall be so," I said in clipped English, lips
moving out of sync with my words in mimicry of a badly dubbed Kung fu
flick.
Gong seemed unamused. "I can see why you're in the super soldier
program," He said. "But don't get smart. There is always someone
better..."
"Thanks. But, well, I'd really like to practice some sparring. I feel
up to it and, um, I'm at normal human strength at the moment. I don't
know how long that will last. I'd really like to test myself on an
even playing field with you," I said.
Gong grinned. "I didn't want to push you too soon, but I think you're
ready to try." He motioned me to come forward. We faced off and he
bowed then readied himself.
I moved forward and led with a fast low spin kick which Gong jumped
and then countered with a rapid flurry of punches. I blocked as I back
stepped, then grabbed at a punch. Before I had superhuman speed and
strength. Now I didn't. I missed the grab and left myself open. My
spider sense tingled as Gong kicked out and breath exploded from my
lungs as I arced up and then landed flat on my back on the mat,
stunned. "Ow," I moaned, clutching my stomach. I didn't like losing.
"Are you okay Jessica?" Gong asked.
"Nothing wounded but my pride," I responded honestly. I didn't like
being called Jessica but I let it slide. My sessions with Gong were
useful I felt certain. No point in getting on his bad side.
"You know..." Gong proceeded to dissect the fight and show me a number
of possible counters and moves I could have made, then linking them to
the forms.
I absorbed what he said. I felt that my fighting technique was
rudimentary at best. Without super speed, strength and reflexes I
needed every edge I could get. I could use my webbing, spider sense
and wall crawling grip but I liked this mundane challenge.
"You're quite good but not overly skilled. You rely too much on your
powers and your balance needs work - without your powers you need to
be more conscious of how you move until it is unconscious. Tai chi is
one fighting style but there are many. With training and practice you
can move between them as need dictates. A normal human with sufficient
training and skill might come close to defeating Spider-Man. But if
you had the right training I suspect you would be formidable indeed."
We continued to have bouts, Gong defeating me every time with little
effort. Each time he would explain what I did wrong and provide advice
on how to better respond to the circumstances that lead to my defeat.
I did land one blow but that didn't even seem to phase him and he
countered with unusual strength sending me flying back. That was
unexpected. I started to review the attack in my mind but Gong
continued his attack, my spider sense going off. I did a backwards
somersault, barely evading as I danced away. On impulse I produced a
short webline which I stretched tight between my widespread hands and
used to divert his next few punches.
"Interesting..," he observed as he double punched and grabbed at it
two fisted. I let it go and he pulled it back to throw it away.
Instead the web stuck to his hands the elastic ends sprang back and
further entangled his wrists. "Huh... from my talks with Blain I know
this takes two hours to dissolve. That's annoying..." He moved
suddenly and the webbing snapped. "Good thing I'm not Blain."
I eyed him speculatively. The force needed to snap my old webbing was
beyond most people. Was he super powered? I wasn't sure. He was
definitely strong and skilled. That was it. We stopped for a drink.
After that he showed me some of the basic throwing, grappling and
strike techniques of Judo, then went through a number of other martial
arts techniques, showing key elements and moves. I repeated them
carefully, guided by his exacting eye. "Huh. I see there are some
similarities in all of them," I observed.
"Yes. There is no perfect martial art. Some are more useful in certain
circumstances than others. All are grounded in principles of physics -
and with your keen scientific mind you can see that I am sure. We
should try some of the various rope and chain based techniques. Seems
like they may be worth learning."
"Enter the Spider!" I said in mock dubbed voice.
"Perhaps. I think grapples might be good to practice as well with your
sticky fingers..."
I nodded. As Gong left I considered what I had learned and started to
practice, evaluating how I had previously fought and how I would in
the future. I had much to learn it seemed.
* * *
"I've come across numerous powered patients displaying body dysmorphia
before - BDD. It's a mental illness involving obsessive focus on a
perceived flaw in appearance," Phillips explained, coming to the end
of our second session. "The sufferer can feel ostracised and unloved,
believing that the people around them view them negatively or
humiliate them as a consequence of their perceived defects," Doc
Phillips said.
"Like I'm perceiving I have girl parts, that I am alone and unloved.
It's not paranoia if they're out to get you Doc. Thanks to Renfield my
body is nothing like it should be. Move on," I told the doctor.
"Renfield?" she asked.
"Ben Reilly... I call him Renfield it's a Literary reference. He's
Dracula's pawn, a bug eating madman living in an insane asylum seeking
immortality... it seemed apt given the circumstances. Someone higher
up in the CIA is pulling his strings I am sure," I said.
"Ah. Yes. Renfield Disorder. I'm sure Ben would dislike the allusion,"
Phillips said.
"I'm as concerned for his feelings as he is for mine," I stated.
"So. Which parts of your body do you feel most self conscious about?"
Doc Phillips asked.
I looked at her mildly. "Where should I start?" I responded. "Look,
I'm alive. For now. Personally I think I'm doing ok in spite of what
you've done to me. I think I could maybe work for the CIA-"
"FBI," she corrected. I frowned. Renfield had said CIA. I didn't like
the inconsistency.
"FBI then. I could be an agent without you guys wiping my mind," I
offered. "I mean being Spider-Man isn't just the powers. It needs
judgement. Motivation. Willpower. You wipe my mind and you're only
getting half the package. This would be domestic work right? I could
fight the good fight to protect the American Way."
"Sadly that's not part of the project. Our brief is quite specific,"
she responded.
"Well perhaps you need to review your brief..." I argued. "I don't
want to die. There is no need to murder me. I could be of use to you-"
I tried to negotiate.
"You present too much of a risk to the project. I doubt you can
change. This is best for everyone.
"I think we are done for the day Jess. I'll see you again tomorrow."
With that Phillips stood and left.
I grimaced as Blain put the music on. Enya. "Oh joy," Soon after Blain
came in and gave me my lunch.
"Hey freak. You'll like this. Cockroache risotto..." It was French
fries, sausages and mash. I was off.
The usual insults were easy to ignore. I ate in silence as I
considered what I could say to convince them not to erase my mind. It
was hanging over my head like an ominous cloud. Were these people with
the CIA or FBI? Or something else? An institution perhaps. Military or
industrial. Was it S.H.E.I.L.D.? I never really did trust Nick Fury.
Oscorp? That would be bad. Trask Industries? I just didn't know.
After lunch I went to the gymnasium and, watching the time, did about
three hours of exercise. I as at human level strength now. It worried
me that it wasn't coming back to superhuman levels. I looked at the
time. Whilst they kept the place in perpetual darkness or artificial
light they had clocks. It was three pm. Close to the end of school.
Time for Pete's hot date with Kitty Pryde.
I'd been thinking about this all day. Should I be a passenger to their
date or just get the memories? I really wanted to be a passenger. But
I knew I'd be setting myself up for a fall. Kitty didn't know about
me. I didn't exist for her. And if we ever met... what? She wouldn't
see me as anything other than an incomplete copy of Pete. Lacking the
important parts of a boyfriend. God was I lacking. Certainly there
wouldn't be any romantic interest from her. Well there was no
certainty but I figured she'd probably run in fear. Or pity me. Pity
would be worse. And it was wrong to intrude on their date. But... I
swallowed. I liked her. Pete liked her and I was Pete. This promised
to be the weirdest love triangle ever. If it was love. I didn't know
but I wanted to find out.
So I called Blain and allowed him to escort me back to my room. I
showered, dried and changed. I wanted to make a good impression after
all. I sighed. I was going on a date I thought as I looked about my
cell. And you can all go to hell... (go read USM annual 1).
Alma
- 20.12.2021
- 22
- 0
Ultimate Spider Woman Issue 7 Confrontation
- 2 years ago
- 22
- 0
Ultimate Spider Woman Issue 9 Starting over
- 3 years ago
- 18
- 0
