10 Issue #10: X, Resented.

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(Kane's P.O.V)

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

Spider-Man X.

MILES MORALES STRAIN: 100% d.n.a INTERGRATION.

Abilities unlocked:

Super strength.

Spider sense.

Web-creation.

Wall-crawling.

Enhanced Healing.

Enhanced Senses.

Enhanced Stamina.

Enhanced Durability.

Enhanced Flexibility.

Bio-Energy Manipulation.

X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

The sun's rays speared through the bars of the cell, hitting my face and filling me with energy.

I breathed in...noticing for the umpteenth time, just how fresh the air on this Island was.

There was almost something nutritious about it.

I released a breath, clearing my mind of any distractions. Achieving a meditative state demanded a serene and composed mindset. Through training, I had honed my ability to concentrate solely on a single task and systematically unravel it.

It was necessary for not only replaying memories but also as a way to strategize. To pick tiny details from seemingly innocuous or useless information and find a use for them.

Yesterday, someone tried to follow me after my encounter with Steve.

Judging by the fact they almost managed to catch up while I was moving at relatively high speeds...then it could be only one person.

Diana.

I easily gave her the slip of course.

No one would know I had met up with Steve. Even if he himself were to spill the beans, I made sure to leave no footprints or tracks where I passed through.

'Sorry Diana. I promised you I would behave. I couldn't let anyone see me, including you.'

This is why I don't like owing favors.

My chest inflated with another breath.

Another noticeable element was the presence of Harpies, along with a colossal Green Serpent that came perilously close to consuming my newly acquired asset.

Foolish of me to think Paradise Island couldn't get any weirder. Yesterday sure proved me wrong.

There exists a widely recognized concept known as Island Theory, which posits that the biological complexity of an island increases proportionally with its distance from the mainland.

This theory attributes this phenomenon to factors such as restricted gene flow and specific environmental conditions, resulting in the development of unique species or adaptations.

In simpler terms- The variety of life was because isolated groups on islands evolve differently than those on the mainland.

It wasn't a stretch to call Themiscyra Isolated. It had been a matriarchal society since before the time of Christ.

On top of that, it was magical or rather...mystical.

The presence of magic was a notion I never thought to consider before...but now after everything I'd seen- creatures from the myths and impossible wild life- I couldn't discount it any more.

The island was surrounded by a dome enchanted to ensure the women here remained Immortal.

What was more magical than that?

Still, tomorrow I was going to tour around the Island to try and secure a way off it.

Failing that, I was at least going to take a dip in the river and wash up.

I was pushing three days without bathing after all. Four if you count today. My body stank and I hated the murk of dried sweat and dust layering my skin.

Barely a week gone by and I was home sick, missing my shower.

******

My ears twitched as they picked up on a sound from afar.

3 sets of footsteps heading up the hill towards my cell.

I furrowed my brow in concentration, keenly tuning my ears even further, managing to capture the sound their leather soles made on the cobbled stairway leading to the entrance of my cell.

I could also tell from their uneven weight distribution on every step they took, that they were carrying weapons.

In addition, there was a set of chains that clinked, strapped to the hip of the leading warrior.

Lastly, all three of them were engaged in an heated argument. And I easily recognized their voices.

It's hard to forget the Amazons that attacked me on day one. The question now was what they wanted with me.

One of them spoke in a tone full of anxiety and dismay,

"I can't believe the Queen let that man live! Burning a piece of the island and killing one of Medusa's pets? This is inviting trouble!"

She must have been talking about Steve. Good. He's alive.

A different voice with a softer timber, scoffed at her companion's concerns.

"Oh, please, Izah. You're just a coward. Medusa won't do anything. She's living up in the mountains because the Queen allowed it. She won't dare attack us."

Medusa? Could they be talking about 'that' Medusa? The woman cursed with snakes for hair and a gaze that instantly turns anyone into stone? And she's supposedly on the Island?

And that beastly green serpent was her pet? A pet?! Of all things...

My Lamentations were interrupted by the ongoing conversation.

The first voice, Izah, undeterred retorted,

"It's not about daring! It's about respect for Themiscyra! For our home. We can't just let outsiders destroy and kill without consequences. Especially of they're Men!"

Good to see the hatred for all things man was still going strong.

Their heated exchange drew the attention of another voice, the third Amazon, who had been silent till now.

"Enough, both of you! Bickering won't change the Queen's decision."

It was clear from her steady and commanding tone that she was a seasoned warrior.

I recognized her from her voice almost immediately. The image of a blonde haired beauty with short hair appearing in my mind.

Arissa. Her, I remembered her name.

Her voice cut through the tension like a hot knife to butter.

"We have a task to complete, Let's focus on that."

By now they were close enough that I could make out their breathing with my earing alone.

Izah, still apprehensive, persisted, "But what if Medusa really retaliates? She could turn us all to stone for her Pet's death!"

There was the sound of a slap hitting the back of someone's head.

"Ow! Lyra what was that for?!"

Izah protested.

Lyra, with an impatient sigh, responded,

"Your worrying is making me worry too, you idiot. Cut it out with the Medusa bullshit! She won't lay a finger on the city."

A brief silence fell among the three, then Lyra continued.

"I'm more concerned about what the Queen is thinking. Calling for another Senate hearing and allowing Men to attend? Its insane. We shouldn't be breaking The Island's law so brazenly. It's not right."

One of the trio came to a stop.

"Ah, Arissa, is everything-"

Izah begun, only to be cut off by the former.

"Listen you two. It's not a secret our Captain has been less than pleased with the current Monarchy."

The other two breathed in harshly.

Oh, now that's interesting. I perked up, eagerly waiting what would be said next.

"Had the poisoning worked, Alkyone would have found a way to bring to question some of the Queen's unpopular decisions. No death occurs the week after the Themosphoria. Kan- The Man's death, could have been taken as a sign of the gods displeasure."

I narrowed my eyes. That was true. In a society such as this, isolated for thousands of those years and ruled by an Immortal queen, there were bound to be those withering with discontent.

Parties looking for change. A rebellion.

Thankfully I didn't have to wait for long until Arissa continued.

"And that would have created a crack in the armor that is Queen Hippolyta's regime. Alkyone, Our Captain, our..."

She hesitated, a strange note in her voice.

"...sister would seize that moment and provide evidence pointing towards the one responsible for the poisoning..."

"Oh. You mean Bulma?..."

Lyra pitched in.

"Yes. And as she's part of the Island, the Queen would be forced to order her execution. Remember, the laws are universal, for daring to break the no kill rule during such a week, only death would be her fate."

How devious. The rest didn't have to be said.

After already favoring Diana by letting me live, I doubt the Senate would let the Queen simply extend the same leniency to Bulma.

The Amazon's took their laws pretty seriously. So the Queen would have been forced into a tough situation.

Which is when Alkyone would make her move. What move that would have been, we would never know. Because I had survived the poisoning.

But if I had to guess, it would have been something like trading my life for the girl.

Instead of her getting executed, I would be a worthy replacement to appease the gods.

Or maybe Alkyone would have used that chink in the armor to lobby for promotion.

I heard the rest call her Captain and the first time I laid my eyes on her...I knew she was ambitious.

Her goons...or is it goonetes?confirmed that for me.

I knew people like her. People who wouldn't hesitate to scheme, manipulate and use everything in their disposal to progress their agenda.

I was the same after all.

Which was why she was dangerous.

Not like Steve. But dangerous nonetheless.

Maybe I should take her out? No one would even suspect it was me. I heard the perfect alibi even.

Today.

I'll only give it until today to decide what to do.

"Which is why we cannot botch this. Remember, he survived poisoning. He's tough and very strong but he doesnt know the Island like we do. Follow the plan and we can deal with him."

Arissa told the other two with a note of finality.

A few minutes later, I opened my eyes as the three Amazons appeared before my cell.

"You have been summoned to the Royal palace."

Arissa went straight to the point.

"Get up and wear this."

A silver chain with two manacles were thrown inside the cell.

Just like I foretold, today was going to be an interesting day.

X~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~X

A shorter and boring chapter but the crazy stuff is about to begin.