Eighth

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***

New York. Thursday.

- Hey! Someone kept tugging on my shoulder. - Get up!

- Nah...aunty, I don't have to go to school, let me sleep...please...aaaahhhhh....

Everything stopped for a minute, but then I started to be pushed with redoubled force. Inside, anger slowly began to rise. What kind of people are these people? They don't care about me?! They have to wake me up and then load me up with unnecessary housework. Oh, man.

- I'm getting up! I'm getting up!

Having risen, I wanted to throw a pillow at the door, but I didn't find the desired object at hand. I must have thrown it on the floor again. I had to open my eyes.... And then I had to close them again! I wasn't home! Maybe I was still asleep. I pinched myself. It hurts! So, what do I remember? Mm-hmm. Working out at Triumph, then I went looking for the bastard spider that bit me, couldn't find it. Then police cars, a robot, Venom. Venom! I opened my eyes and started frantically checking my body. Was there a black, amorphous mass on it? No! Ugh... just my costume. It didn't look like it was in the best shape for some reason. There were pieces missing in places, it felt like they were dissolved in acid. Strange... The mask! Praise be to the great Galactus, the glorious eater of worlds, it's in place! That's taken care of. Now it would be better to understand in what place I found myself, and actually, what... m-ma... place brought me here? I seem to remember someone waking me up.

A detailed examination showed that I was lying on a rather rough cot, in a rather small and poorly lit room. The light was coming in through a tiny window in the ceiling, and it hardly illuminated anything at all.

- Finally...' someone whispered softly.

- Who are you?' I stared at one corner of the room where the voice had come from. - And why are you hiding in the shadows?

- Sorry... human. I'm afraid my appearance is not the most pleasant. I don't mean to frighten you. But that's not what this is about. - A moment later, the same voice came from another corner, and remarkably, from below the ceiling. - Tell me, I'm not mistaken, am I? Now, who are you? Are you human?

- I'm not quite sure what you mean.

- A few hours ago, there was a demon inside you. I need to know if it's completely gone.

I closed my eyes and sat down on the cot. I tucked my legs under me, and let go of reality. My interlocutor was a little mistaken in identity, but he had asked a valid question. The answer to which I was now trying to find. I don't know how long I meditated like this, but the voice in the shadows didn't bother me, waiting patiently. Taking a deep breath, I slowly began to speak.

- The demon has... left my body, and my mind as well. At least I don't feel it in me. - The voice sighed in relief as I continued. - I must admit it's strange... that this fact pleases you.

- What are you talking about? - The voice asked tensely from the third corner. I opened my eyes.

- I smell sulphur. And I can see perfectly well in the dark. By the way, your eyes glow in the dark, did you know that? - I ask mockingly, and enjoy the cocktail of fear and surprise.

- Aren't you scared? - Finally, my tailed friend breaks through understanding.

- Nope!' I answer him cheerfully. - I've been surprised too much lately, apparently it's broken.

- Who broke? - Night Snake asks me in a confused manner.

- Surprise.

- Makes sense.

We sit, silent. I am still on the cot, my interlocutor, somehow glued to the wall almost under the ceiling, and nervously waving his long tail. He's an interesting character, this Snake. Take his parents, for example. If I'm not confused, his father is really some kind of demon, and his mother is a mutant werewolf under the pseudonym Mystique. Because of his parents, Snake has such a strange appearance. His skin is dark blue in colour, his hair is black, or dark blue too, you can't make it out in this light. Eyes as already mentioned, glow in the dark, in addition bright yellow colour, and without pupils. On the hands only four fingers, on the feet, probably the same picture, but not visible. And the most interesting thing is the long, mobile, and probably deadly tail. Ah, yes! Besides its unusual appearance, the Serpent can also teleport, which I've already observed twice.

- You can call me Spider, by the way. - I smiled. Well, really, how long we talk, and introduce themselves to each other and never realised! I don't remember his real name.

- Kurt...,' he answered, still as sluggishly as before.

- Listen, Kurt. What happened to Venom?

- Venom?

- You know, the demon. The one I was wearing. - really interesting. I'm not sure a symbiote can die from sound alone, it'd be too weird.

- Oh, that's what you mean. - Kurt pulled himself together, and after some thought, he began to answer. - You did the right thing coming to the temple of God. The demon couldn't be here, it was in agony, and it was dying. I heard your screams and the ringing of the bell. So I travelled to the bell tower almost immediately. I saw the demon writhing and then sliding off you. You passed out right away, and he fell down. And it hit the wires. He burned up.

- So that's why there's no light...' I said thoughtfully. Kurt nodded.

So it's burnt out. But is it burnt out? I don't know... Kurt said I'd been unconscious for hours. So it's late afternoon or even night. That's too bad. I left my rucksack in the middle of nowhere. I've got clothes and, most importantly, my phone. I'm going to get it from my family! My sciatic nervously whimpered, sensing danger. They must be worried, and they'd already called me a thousand times. I stood up on stiff legs.

- Thank you, Kurt. I won't forget that you helped me. - I held out my hand to the mutant. The serpent looked at me with strangely sparkling eyes, and he smelled joy.

- You're welcome! It is the duty of every believer to help others! - He jumped to the floor and shook my hand. - I will not forget you either. It is rare nowadays to meet someone who doesn't care about appearances.

We left the room and walked down a small corridor into the main room of the church. Kurt walked me all the way to the exit, where we bickered once more.

- I'm sorry, Kurt. I'd talk to you some more, but I'm sure I'm already expected home. - I rubbed my neck unmistakably, and Snake smiled. - 'If you don't mind, I'll try to visit you when I'm free. I have an idea on how to thank you.....

- You don't have to thank me, and you don't have to give me gifts. I'd be happy to just hang out with you. Cheers hmmm... Spider!

With a nod, I slipped out into the street. I must really be a science-crazed geek! How else could I explain the fact that on the way to my bag I was already thinking about the concept of creating a portable holographic device? I just remembered seeing something like this on Snake in one of the X-Men cartoons. A watch or something. It's quite simple, isn't it? Let's just say I can't fit such a device into the parameters of a watch. But there are other options. Hmm... let's take a static Golman projector as a basis... I need to buy one. It's not cheap, but money is no problem. And a visual aid, which you can feel and take apart yourself, is still better than printed schemes. Then I read that article not so long ago, as it ... m-ma, I do not remember ... Oh! After all, in my father's documents, I saw something similar in concept!....

I don't remember exactly how I found the rucksack. I was already drawing in my mind a rough plan of Holograph V0.02. Well, yes! I've already thought of the name! Why? It's also very important! So I was travelling around the city on automatic. I remember only glancing at my phone. Surprisingly, there weren't that many missed calls. Only five calls. I turned my mobile off. I'll say I left it somewhere. Okay, here's the house. I jumped up on the roof and quietly tried to keep my clothes on. Other times, I'd just sneak into my room through the window. But there was a light on in the living room. They're waiting for me, so...

As they say, hope springs eternal! Well, let's hope! Quietly, trying not to creak the door, I slipped through the back door. I tiptoed through the kitchen and looked round it hungrily. I sighed sadly but silently, and stepped out into the corridor. Five steps and I was standing on the threshold of our cosy living room. I don't get it...

At first glance there was no one in the room. Only the light was on, and somewhere 'Jeremiah's Lament' was playing quietly:

A vona, a vona siditima sumna.

She'll drink - don't p'yanti vid cheap wine.

But if one followed the source of the sound, one could realise that at least one person in the room was present. And what a person! On Uncle Ben's favourite armchair, curled up on Gwen Stacey's lap, quietly snoozing to the sound of one of my favourite songs. It was so sweet that I smiled. The stupid thoughts left my head before they even got there. My blonde was tucking her knuckles under her head like a baby, and smiling slightly in her sleep. I came closer, squatted down and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Sitting like that, I admired her face, and remembered. The first time I'd seen her on the bus. Then? It hadn't been that long ago. How long ago? Two months ago? I think so. Had it really only been two months since the bite and the 'expansion' of my consciousness? So little, and so much...

My thoughts slipped further. All those moments of my life that had something to do with the blonde flashed through my mind. Oh! There are so many of them! Those moments! How come I never thought of her as my girlfriend? I mean... it's so fucking hard! She was my friend, but why not more? I mean, she'd been hinting for years that she wanted more. So why was I so furiously stupid? How long had she been calling me her boyfriend and I let her do it... Let her? Me? Her? Shit! Where am I so fucked up that I ignore such a beautiful girl?!

I leaned in close to her and covered her mouth with mine.

- Mmmmm... - after a while the girl answered me. Time stretched like rubber, but at some point I needed oxygen. Gwen was also breathing heavily, but she didn't open her eyes. - A dream...' she whispered softly. - Just a dream. I mean, it can't be...

- Why not? - I asked with a sly smile.

Oh! What a reaction! Gwen immediately opened her sky-coloured eyes. And looked at me with such a touchingly frightened look... mmm-ma!

- P-Peter?

- Hi.

She jumped up on the chair, but got tangled up in the headphone wire and fell backwards. I watched her mesmerised and berated myself for my clinical idiocy! Why hadn't I noticed her before, why was I alienating her from me? All right! Gathering all my courage and willpower into a fist, I helped the girl untangle herself.

- Gwen,' I began, when this difficult process was over. - Sorry for the stupid question, but what are you doing here?

- Well, it's role reversal night! Usually, the blonde, who was usually a punchy blonde, was now sitting there red-faced and glaring at the floor... - You ran away so suddenly today, and we were supposed to go out tonight. I called you, but you didn't answer the phone! - She finished abruptly and gave me an angry look.

- I'm sorry. - I repented, but it didn't work. I was still being glared at with a heavy prosecutor's stare. Unable to bear it, I decided to continue the conversation myself. - So you decided to look for me here?

- Yes. But you weren't home. I was lucky enough to catch your relatives. They told me to tell you they're going to Aunt May's family for a few days. I didn't know exactly who they were going to, because someone was sick or it was someone's birthday... Here.

- I see. - my aunt and uncle are windy people, and it's not the first time they've left suddenly, so I wasn't particularly surprised. - So you stayed behind to wait for me?

- Yeah...' Gwen said, embarrassed. - But I didn't know you'd be here so late! I thought we'd still have time to go for a walk... And then... I guess I fell asleep... Okay! - the girl shook her mane of luxurious blonde hair, and resolutely got up from the chair. - I'll go! It's late!

Having passed me, she was ready to hide in the corridor, but I did not let her do it. I hugged her from behind by the waist. The girl didn't resist, just froze in surprise. I stepped a little closer, pressing my whole body against her, and breathed in the enchanting floral scent of her hair.

- I don't want to let you go anywhere.

- Pete... you're a little weird tonight....

- I am a little. - I confessed.

- Shall I go? - Gwen asked me pathetically.

- No,' I replied, continuing to breathe her scent in self indulgently. - Call your father...' I released one hand and pulled her hair back, exposing her neck. - Tell him you're spending the night at a friend's house. - Mind! What a deliciously tender neck!

- No... no need... - the girl pressed herself against me, and trustingly put all of herself. - Father called... he won't be home today....

Unable to bear it any longer, I picked up my girlfriend in my arms and rushed to the first floor. I opened the door of my room with my foot, and laid my heavy breathing friend on the bed. My window is quite large, and the moon and stars shone particularly brightly at night. Given the peculiarities of my vision, I saw the girl in all her glory. She had her head turned away, trying not to look at me, and was shivering intensely.

Pulling down her trousers, I was glad for some reason. Gwen can't see in the dark, so she won't notice the mess in the room....

***

I woke up to being shoved out of bed. Oh, my God. Me! The rightful owner of this place! Shoved off my own bed! What is this blatant intolerance?! And this is my reward for a night's labour?! Those were the words I was lazy enough to say out loud.

- Don't grumble... - commented sleepily from the bed. - Better give me a towel, a dressing gown, and show me which way is the bathroom. Do you think I want to get up this early? We had to get to the lab early today, remember?

It took me a dozen minutes of babbling, but I found a clean towel and even a dressing gown. Handing it to the blonde, I smiled in anticipation. Now she would throw off the blanket... and I would see her lovely naked body in the normal sunlight. Men really do love with their eyes after all.....

- Turn away.... I'm embarrassed... - and who can explain to me female logic? Who should I cast a monument out of pure platinum? Ah, no one wants to do it!? It's unfortunate... - And you'd better go to the kitchen and cook something!

- I obey and obey! - and bowed low. Then I got a pillow on my head and laughing merrily, ran out of the door.

I didn't make fun of myself. I made a double portion of glazed eggs. I cut up some fresh tomatoes to go with it. I made some tea and got some biscuits out of the cupboard. Not that that was the end of my talents at cooking edible things, but it's just that we could really be late. We had to be in the lab by half past ten, or the last week's work would be poured down the toilet. The blonde's face appeared just from the bathroom. We had a quick snack. And while Gwen powdered her nose, painted her nails, and made other unknown to modern science points of the morning ritual of going out in public, I also had time to rinse and put on relatively clean clothes.

Still, it was strange. I'm not the original Peter Parker. I shouldn't have had a problem with girls. I didn't really notice until last night. I've been hanging out with two blondes. I became great friends with them, I became attached to them. They became very close to me, people for whom I would spare nothing. But at the same time, for some reason I didn't feel the desire to push our relationship with Gwen to a new level. Not that I didn't feel attracted to her, but I was just fine with the situation and I didn't see anything wrong with it. But now things have changed... and I'm not quite sure how to react to that. It's understandable to be happy, basically. I guess.... But there are still so many questions. Why did I behave this way before? Why has everything changed now? Was it the result of the meeting with the telepath, or did the symbiote's madness somehow hurt me? And there are so many more questions, but where are the answers? All right. I'll think about it when I have a spare moment.

Surprisingly, approaching the university, we were not late, but even on the contrary, ahead of schedule. So we walked a few hundred metres from the bus stop to the building, taking our time, basking in the sun and enjoying each other's company. The first bad feeling came to me as I approached. Even Gwen got nervous. Actually, who wouldn't be nervous, seeing that on the territory of the native educational institution there were a lot of people in police uniforms? And the closer we got to our lab, the more police we saw.

- Hey! Gwen!

I'm becoming more and more convinced that New York is not a city of millions, but a village! How else do you explain that my friend was just called out by her father?

- Gwen! Where have you been? - Mr Stacey didn't look well, understandably, on duty last night, up at night as well as today. - Why's the phone off? Do you know how worried I was? I even sent men to our house!

- Erm... - the blonde stammered under such an unexpected pressure. - T-phone's dead...

- There's no electricity at home?! Gwen, at least some responsibility at your age should be present! You couldn't charge the damn mobile phone?! - The captain was still on the fence about it.

- I'm sorry, sir. - I decided to take my father's anger out on myself. - Gwen slept over, and I don't have a charger for her phone. - I said the last words quietly, realising belatedly that I'd overdone it.

- Gwen. She slept over. At. You?

Mr Stacey said slowly and separately. I manfully, as best I could, tried to withstand the gaze of the old wolf. The sweat was beading on my brow. I wanted to start lying about how it never happened. And in general, we do not do anything before the wedding, as suddenly Gwen, who had been quiet before, reminded me of herself.

- Yes, I did! So? Is there something you want to tell me?! For your information, I'm a big girl! You don't get to control my every move.

This speech went on for a long time. The captain and I stood and listened in amazement, unable to get a word in the furious monologue of a girl who had gone wild. No, personally I knew that there was a flame inside the girl, which not infrequently burst out. Her father must have known about it, too, because he was a blood relative. But we were still struck by the rage in her voice.

- When was the last time you were home? Yesterday? I just popped in for ten minutes and then back to my favourite job! And you have the nerve to claim you care about me...?

When her speech, began to gain dangerous momentum, feeling that all this will not end well, tried to stop the girl. But he wasn't heard. Then I had to risk my hide and take drastic measures. Stepping to the blonde, I lifted her head by the chin, and with pleasure fell into the juicy lips. Unfortunately, I couldn't continue it for long. As I could feel the back of my neck melting. I probably shouldn't have put Mr Stacey's back up.....

- P-pit, what... what are you doing? - Gwen tried to put her voice back to its former sternness, but she wasn't doing a very good job.

- Kissing you. - I'm being honest. - I don't want you to say anything to your dad that you'll regret. - Quietly, so only the girl can hear, I finish.

- Kh... ha... xxx... gh-a... - the captain makes barely audible unintelligible sounds, with a twisted face. - Well why... - says the captain quietly. - Why did I have a daughter! Why not a son...

Apparently, it's not the first time he's said that. Because I felt a wave of relief and joy from the girl standing next to me. The captain was a terrible jumble of feelings. But he must have made some sort of decision for himself.... Or maybe I'm seeing what I want to see. At any rate, his emotions were now dominated by some strange joyful doom.

Gwen, meanwhile, showed her father her tongue, and defiantly hugged my arm. Is this their joke about the son, or what? Well, it didn't matter, the main thing was that now there was no more fuel in the air, ready to burst into flames at any moment. Just a faint, awkward tension. Which I was quick to dispel as well. All the more interesting.

- Mr Stacey, sir. Did something happen at the university? You were worried about Gwen... this 'something', happened in the genetics lab?

- Yes.

The Captain grew serious and waved us off tiredly and went into the lab. I frowned, Gwen was visibly nervous too. With a glance around, we followed Mr Stacey. It was only a few minutes before we saw the heavy metal doors that closed the entrance to the holy of holies. That's right they had... once upon a time. Now they were just broken off, from the inside, not the outside. I had no trouble seeing the deep grooves in the iron. George Stacey stopped just short of the entrance. Forensics were there, someone was taking pictures.

- Three hours ago, university security caught a glimpse of this. They called us in. I was finishing my shift, but when I heard where the call came from, I couldn't ignore it..... Inside, surprisingly, the lab was almost undamaged. But that's probably not that important... Gwen, Peter, you don't know where Dr Connors is now either, do you?

- N-no...' Gwen whispered, and I put my arm around the trembling girl reassuringly. George looked at us sadly and tiredly.

- 'He's... missing. He didn't come home yesterday. His wife thought he'd stayed in the lab, it happened sometimes. - I nodded in agreement. - The guards didn't see him leave the university yesterday either. So he was in the lab.

We went inside. George, doing his duty, asked us about our work, about the lab's activities, about Professor Connors.... We answered the questions as best we could, but he didn't get much out of us. After all, we honestly did not know what had happened that night at the university. Guessing and knowing are two big differences, m'kay. Well, I guessed, and from what I could see, so did Gwen. She was looking at the furrows left by the claws of some wild big animal, provided, of course, that such an animal is able to cut metal panels. Good thing the girl knew to keep her mouth shut. She's a clever girl, after all. She only sobbed convulsively at times, but she kept her cool and was almost calm.

The soft interrogation didn't last very long. I understood the police, in the person of George Stacey, to be more inclined to the abduction. No doubt the fact that the door had been broken from the inside was not only noticed by me. But there's no better theory than kidnapping. We were also asked to check the lab for possible theft of equipment and other property. But we didn't find anything like that. Everything was in its place and nothing was missing. Except for our experience, which, as I feared, can only be flushed down the toilet now. And that won't be for a while. Because the lab's been sealed off. So you can't get in anytime soon. Various kinds of experts, criminalists, and other interesting personalities in the service of law enforcement agencies finished their hard work, and went away. Only Captain Stacey and his assistant remained on campus.

- Listen, Gwen,' George said to his daughter, half-seriously, half-jokingly. - Maybe you should organise a security detail. I'd feel more comfortable....

- But you're off shift! Why would I need a guard when you're around? - the blonde was immediately outraged. - Or what... you're not going to go home now?

- Well, you know... I still have to interview your superiors... and then... write reports...' he faltered under his daughter's angry look.

- Mr Stacey. - I decided to save the man out of purely male solidarity. - How would you feel about Gwen staying with me for a while? - the blonde froze with her mouth open for a rant, staring at me in amazement. George nodded gratefully and relieved at first, but then he realised what I was suggesting and started glaring at me again. So I hastened to cool his ardour a little. - My aunt and uncle won't mind. We have an extra room, so you don't have to worry!

What's the matter? It's not a lie, is it? They won't mind. The fact that they're not home right now, it doesn't really matter, it's just a small thing. But the mention of me living with relatives had a calming effect on the elder Stacey. And I wasn't lying about the guest room, we have one, but I doubt Gwen will be sleeping there....

- All right. -the captain gave in after much hesitation. - Just get a spare phone charger. And... get out of my sight before I change my mind!

I smiled and, taking the blonde under my arm, dragged her outside. Out of the corner of my ear I could still hear him addressing an assistant who approached.

- Jeremy, pray to the gods that you have a son! For a daughter is a-- is a--

- Peter, you've noticed, too.

- Shut up. - I pulled the girl closer to me and whispered in her ear. - Let's talk about this at my place. Okay?

I didn't want to go to the underground and waste valuable time. So I hailed a taxi. Of course, there was a chance of getting stuck in traffic, but it wasn't the right time. We got to the girl's flat without adventure. I tried not to pay any attention to the driver, who was singing to the songs on the radio, self-consciously but completely falsely. I had a lot to think about. It looked like Connors had done something stupid. I'd talked to him, and I'd talked to him more than once. I begged and pleaded with him to wait until the experiments were complete. But the further we got in our research, the more impatient he became. The closer his goal became, the weaker my teacher's will became. And could I blame him if he just couldn't wait any longer? No, I can't...

After letting the singing driver go, we went up to Gwen's house.

- Peter, can we not? - The girl asked timidly.

I, however, unable to resist, kissed the blonde. She is so funny ... Shit! Well, what a bad time ....

- I have to. I already promised your father. Besides, I want you to be there for me.

The blonde smiled, and I could see the fire dancing in her eyes.

- What should I take with me?

- Exercise.

We both laughed, and started packing her things. Honestly, I wish I hadn't helped her. Would have saved myself a couple of million nerve cells!

- 'No, I don't want that blouse! It's old! Oh! Look what a beautiful dress I've got! I'm gonna try it on. What are you staring at? Turn round!'

And like that for hours! It's horrible! The only good thing was that the blonde had calmed down a bit during the packing process. After all, for both her and me, Professor Connors was more than just a teacher. He had become quite a family man to us, and it was no wonder we were worried about him. Anyway, the packing was finished, I called the car again, and, loaded with my things, crawled outside. This time the driver was more sane, and we were travelling without the annoying musical accompaniment.

Felicia was already waiting for us on the steps near the entrance to the house. She closed her eyes and put her face to the sun rays, apparently, she was getting high. To complete the picture of complete lazy happiness there was not enough only sounds of rumbling. Should I scratch her behind the ear? I'd love to, but I'm afraid Gwen wouldn't understand. She's already frowning when she sees her friend.

- Hey! Cat, what are you doing here? - she exclaimed angrily.

- I'm taking a sunbath. Can't you see? And skipping classes. Making the best of a bad situation.

- Gwen, I invited her. We're going to need her help.

- Help? - the girls were surprised at the same time.

- Let's talk inside. Without any possible witnesses.

Dumping Gwen's things in the corridor, I waved to the ladies and disappeared into the bowels of the building. I led them straight to my basement or laboratory.

- Gwen, please bring Felicia up to speed.

While my girl tuned in and collected her thoughts, I meanwhile switched on the receiver and habitually tuned it to police frequencies. And then I went into my father's safe.

- All right, if that's what you want.... - Gwen started. - I'm not entirely sure myself. But it sounds like Pete wants to hear my side of the story. As you know, mate, Professor Connors and I have been working on the problem of improving human regeneration. The Prof's approach is itself bold and revolutionary in neogenetics. Our aim was to introduce fragments of the lizard DNA strand into the human DNA strand. Although our project is far from complete, even now we have good results on experimental animals.

- Gwen, I've spent so much time in your lab, I've learnt the bare minimum. You don't have to lecture me.

- That was the necessary preamble, now the gist. Pete and I found out this morning that Professor Connors is missing.

- What? You're a buffoon. Are you serious?

- Well, if you hadn't been skipping classes, you would have known before we did. Anyway, never mind. - Gwen sighed heavily and looked at me, I nodded approvingly. - From what we've seen, we can assume that Prof had tried the procedure on himself. Unsuccessfully.

- Now I don't get it. Tried it how? Why? You're not telling me Connors suddenly turned into some kind of mad scientist?

- I'm afraid that's exactly what happened. - I finally finished my preparations and intervened in the conversation. - I find it hard to believe that a strong-willed man like Doc would do something so stupid. But he had his reasons. He started out as a medic. Then he joined the army, but I guess he realised he wanted to save lives more than destroy them. He's always been a surgeon, girls. And he only went into science, genetics, to rebuild his arm.

- Shit! - Felicia's only (okay, okay... one of many) flaw was a sharp and expression-rich tongue. - So what happened? Did he take some kind of serum and lose his mind?

- If only his mind... - Gwen gave me a piercing and thoughtful look and didn't hesitate to gut me. - Somehow, in his spare time, Pete insisted on some more research. He and I were able to model some of the negative effects of Connors' serum. A very large percentage were body mutations.

- The doors to the lab were broken from the inside. I could see claw marks in the metal in some places. I think Doc mutated into some kind of lizard-like creature.

We all spent about ten minutes in silence, some of us just thinking, some of us digesting the facts.

- If I'd heard that from anyone else, I'd have laughed. All right! What's the plan?

- Plan? - Gwen was surprised.

- By the fact that Peter's got us all here. If you listen to the radio tuned to police frequencies. And to see the safe behind him open with weapons and equipment. He must have a plan! - Felicia said, pleased with herself.

- There is a plan.

Of course, I'd prefer to do it myself. But as history shows, one in the field is definitely not a warrior. It's time to involve outsiders in some of my operations. The girls are perfect. They may be ordinary people, but they've had a lot of training, even now. And I'm sick of hiding parts of myself from everyone! You have to trust someone in this life, don't you?

- As you may have realised by now, I was aware of the possibility of this incident. Besides, I was also not lazy and tried to find solutions to the possible problem. Doc is not a stranger to me and that's why I don't want to send him to Hel. Maybe we'll get lucky and reverse the mutation.

- Is that what you've been doing all this time? - Gwen exclaimed.

- Yes. I've been working on an anti-mutagen. - Taking out of the safe pre-prepared and packed equipment, I put it near the girls. - So, listen to the combat mission! Disassembled and familiarised with the equipment!

The girls automatically reached for the bags I threw, as soon as they heard the characteristic command notes. That's how Shark builds us up. He's a good teacher, and I'm a student....

- Hey!' the cat jumped up indignantly after a moment. - Why are you calling the shots?

- Felicia. - I said coolly enough. - Most of the time, as you've managed to notice, I let you twist my ropes. But I thought I was mates with clever girls. Tell me, was I wrong? Was I wrong in your judgement?

- Oh, come on. You can't be outraged anymore? - The platinum blonde smiled slyly. I'm smiling back.

- I can. But on the topic and briefly. Since we've sorted out our relationship, then I'll set a task. Felicia is a university lab. Reagent cooler number three, containers 308, 309, 310. All the necessary equipment in the bag. Gwen, cover. Equipment in the bag. Rifle's in there, too. Ammo is ampoules of sleeping pills. You operate quietly and discreetly. Report back when you're done.

My little squad nodded in agreement. Thank goodness they're not children and don't need to be chewed up. I'm sure Felicia will do an excellent job. Certainly better than I would have done. Gwen will be in reserve. I don't think she'll need to get involved at this stage. As I watched the girls happily rummaging through their bags, I hurried to my gear as well. Sensing possible trouble, I chose it thoroughly. I pulled on all the protective shields, and stuffed smoke and flash-bang grenades in my unload. I didn't take fragmentation grenades, because I didn't believe that I would have to solve the problem drastically. I put brass knuckles on my hands. By the way, my brass knuckles are unique. Once I happened to cross paths with a puny or even frankly dystrophic type. He's almost a classic grey mouse nerd. He must have been completely disillusioned with life, because he was running around robbing people. The only reason this guy didn't get knocked out by the first person he robbed was because of these knuckles. The robber made himself a kind of analogue of a stun gun, only in the form of knuckle gloves. One blow and the man falls to the ground. It's pretty cool. Actually, if I hadn't found him first, I think he'd have been shot eventually. So I guess you could say I saved a dystrophic's life. The knuckles didn't pay much for that. I had to modify the electric knuckles to fit me. So they wouldn't interfere with the starters or the dexterity of the hand. Now it was time to test them in combat.

- All right, girls. I'm off. You don't hesitate, either. Who knows when I or the police will find him.

Pulling on my mask and ignoring the statue-like girls, I left the lab. Masks dropped, now they know my little secret. After all, they saw the spider on my back.

***

New York City. Downtown. Two hours later.

Frank and his friend John stopped for a bite to eat at a coffee shop. It was an upscale place in the heart of the city, with a very rich menu, and also distinguished by large prices even for the centre. But the guys were not embarrassed by this fact, their parents earned enough for their children to spend their leisure time in nothing, not denying themselves much. Only when they entered the café and looked around the room with a predatory look, Frank realised that he and his friend were lucky. Two blond goddesses were seated at a table almost in the very centre. No doubt their friends' wallets could afford the goddesses as well. The guys had no doubts about themselves either, they were not ugly. So with buttery smiles they headed straight for the blondes.

- Forgive my assertiveness and directness, oh lovely goddesses, but my friend and I think that you are bored alone.

- If only that were true, it could be easily remedied! - John smiled radiantly. - We can keep you company!

The platinum blonde raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at the boys with royal arrogance. The friends were amazed, this sort of thing rarely happened to them. Usually the girls melted as soon as they saw their friends' pretty faces and their clothes from the most fashionable designers of today. So the guys didn't even bother to come up with original and beautiful coasters.

- Gwen,' the girl moved closer to her friend and put her hand on her knee, 'honey, do we miss you?

Under the stunned looks of the guys, the girl moved even closer to her friend, ran her hand along the inside of her thigh, looked predatorily at her cleavage, and passionately into her mouth.

- I-excuse me! - Frank was the first to look away.

Without a word, the friends rushed out of the café. Only in the street were they able to catch their breath. John laughed nervously, relieving the tension.

- Why did we run away like children? Can we go back? - John rolled his eyes dreamily. - 'I've never tried it with a lesbian...'

- Fuck you. - his friend muttered angrily and went to the car.

Meanwhile, the long kiss of the two goddesses was cut short. The girl with hair the colour of the sun pulled away from her 'friend'. Slowly, with a slightly trembling hand she found her glass with cherry juice and drained it to the bottom.

- Never. Ever again. Like this. Don't. - she said slowly and deliberately.

- You didn't like it at all? Or are you implying that I'm a bad kisser? Peter does it better? - A sly smile never slipped from Felicia Hardy's face.

- You are an impossible. cat. - Gwen Stacey tiredly covered her face with her hands, hiding the slight blush on her cheeks.

- By the way, how was your night?

- Oh...

- Hee-hee-hee-hee...

The waiter came over and brought the main order. The girls greedily gorged themselves on the food, they had a nervous day from the morning. That's why it was necessary to compensate the spent calories. And it was worth it to get their heads together. Gwen absentmindedly devoured her order. Mechanical movements at least a little soothed the storm of overflowing feelings of the girl. Too many events. And in such a short period of time. Such a leap in her relationship with Peter.... On the one hand, she longed for it, wanted their relationship to become normal and harmonious. She wanted to turn their strange, more lip service relationship into something else. Yes, damn it, to that very plane, for that matter! But at the same time, as it turned out, she wasn't quite ready for such a leap. She couldn't quite get used to the fact that she'd moved into her boyfriend's house. Even if it was only for a couple of days. It was strange and needed to be thoroughly digested. And then there was the kiss with Felicia... No, knowing her friend's character, getting angry with her was stupid and useless. It was just that Gwen was quieter and much calmer than her friend. And therefore sometimes did not keep up with her. That's why she was terribly ashamed of herself for falling for the kiss. She liked her friend's soft and lusciously sweet lips, and she couldn't understand whose lips were better than Pete's or Felicia's.... Besides, all this storm inside her was brewing against the background of the unresolved problem with Professor Connors. She respected him immensely, and worshipped his talent.

Felicia twirled her glass thoughtfully in her hand. She, too, had something to ponder. The cat inside her had completely and irrevocably taken control of her body and mind. The girl had long since recovered from that unfortunate attempt on her honour. At least she had firmly assured herself of that. But the reality was somewhat different. She had not had any relationships with men since that night. She could remember her time-consuming studies at the Triumph School, and her sudden friends, with whom she had also spent some time socialising. But these were all empty excuses. At times she didn't understand herself. After all, she could communicate with guys, and before that freak was communicating, and frankly speaking, she was not a virgin. But now Felicia could not overcome herself ... And then she kissed Gwen ... In general, she did not plan anything like that in advance, she just gave in to the power of her nature and suddenly was surprised to find that she was biting her friend's plump and incredibly juicy lips. Caressing the delicate skin of her legs, getting under her skirt. The most amazing thing was that Gwen was responding to her, too. And Felicia had always liked her best friend. Her warmth, concern for others, and even a slight naivety ...

The girls sighed synchronously and heavily. There was one more topic that needed to be thought over and discussed. A topic concerning their mutual friend, and for some, not only. There was an urgent need to discuss the latest information they had discovered about Peter Parker. Felicia opened her almost bottomless purse, her eyes involuntarily fixated on three metal, but rather small containers. Digging around a bit, she pulled out her tablet. Quickly connected to the free internet.

- Are you watching? - She glanced at her friend, who nodded uncertainly and moved closer.

A video started up on the screen. The amateur video, recorded on a phone, was not of the best quality, but it allowed to see all the necessary details. A crowd of policemen, a covered street, people in uniform looking tensely at the door of some building, a few seconds passed and a guy came out of it. All covered in a strange dark suit, even has a mask on his face. Clearly a dark personality! But the cops sigh in relief and lower their guns. The guy, meanwhile, drops the dense white cocoon on the ground, which he was still carrying on his shoulder. The policemen immediately rush towards the cocoon. Terrified people with tears in their eyes run out of the building. The guy in the dark meets the camera lens and waves his hand cheerfully, sending an air kiss to the other one. Then turns his back to the camera and shoots a web from his hand and soars upwards.

Felicia rewound the finished tape back a little. And pressed pause. It was now easy to see a large red painted spider on the guy's back.

- So, there can be no doubt.

- Yes. Gwen agreed. - Exactly the same costume and the same spider symbol on his back.

Until then, the girls had been too busy savouring the news. Peter had given clear commands and told them not to linger. So immediately, as soon as the girls had gone through their new gear and familiarised themselves with it, they drove towards the university. It was good that Felicia was on her car, heavy bags did not have to be carried on delicate girls' shoulders. In half an hour the necessary containers were already in their hands. The cat was nervous before her first 'job', but she did a good job. She had been taught well, and her heredity was also good, and it was incorrect to compare bank safes with a university laboratory. Considering that nobody needs these containers anymore, the incident won't even be known.

Now that it's settled down a little bit, I can wash my hands of Parker.

- I never would have guessed! - quietly so that no one else could hear, but emotionally whispered Felicia. - No, I knew he was an adrenaline maniac, it was evident in every training session, in his eyes. But the image of the quiet nerd still prevailed and made it impossible to suspect him of anything like that!

- Pete had always-' Gwen pondered how to put it properly. - was quiet, especially against our background. He hardly ever said anything about himself. Think about it. Just generalities... about the weather, so to speak.

- Yeah. It's weird. Although now I can see how he can hold his own against the three of us.

- Nothing! - Gwen smiled bloodthirstily. - I'll get even tonight! He will tell me everything! What, and how, and why....

- Was I right? You've got him after all?! - Felicia squealed with delight.

- 'More like he got me...' Miss Stacey frowned.

- Hee-hee-hee-hee...' Miss Hardy continued, laughing at last. - It's funny, Peter's revealing more and more sides... But you know what? I wouldn't ask him for his secrets. He won't tell you, you'll have a fight. Why should I?

- If we quarrel, we'll make up! - my friend angrily bent her line.

- What a fool! What did he call me? 'Clever girl'? So it applied to you too... Don't be angry! You know exactly what he meant.

Gwen knew that Pete wasn't what he seemed, and could be quite adamant at times. But after a night with him, she considered the lad her prey, and was furious that he had not yet revealed all his petty secrets to her!

The girls' gazes crossed, Gwen lowered her head and realised that her friend had put her hand on her knee again. Felicia noticed it too and jerked it away in embarrassment.

New York. Downtown. Same time.

It was sunny and hot enough as it was. I wasn't wearing a summer suit either. It was so hot! Getting out of the cosy shade into the sun, I went to the edge of the roof. I attached a spider web to a billboard and slowly lowered myself down to the very window.

- I'm out of the queue! I won't show my ID, sorry. - I shouted to the car next to me, the guy behind the wheel nodded his head frantically and continued to look at me with his mouth open. Humming, I turned to the familiar girl. - I'll have a fanta, beautiful!

As the mask was shifted to my nose, the girl could see my smile.

- B-without ice? - hesitantly asks this miracle with her braces on.

- Ah! To die young! Let's go with ice!

Nodding understandingly, the girl blushed, turned brown and finally made up her mind and blurted out:

- 'Can I have your autograph?

Taking outstretched pen and paper, I looked at it all doubtfully.

- Is the paste blue? - Nods. No red paste? Too bad.

I wrote my badge on the paper - a schematic representation of a spider. And signed the bottom, having first learnt the name of the cashier. 'For Janice with love. Friendly neighbour Spider-Man!'. I took my drink and after paying, I went back up on the roof. Fame came upon me unexpectedly. I haven't prevented Armageddons, the end of the world, and other feats of such magnitude, but I've been in the news a few times. In fact, although there is no Spidey cult as such, but sometimes I noticed people in the streets wearing T-shirts with my sign. What can I say, but it's nice, damn it!

- ...according to eyewitnesses, a green monster was seen there.

I just climbed onto the roof and sipped my soda with pleasure, as I caught a glimpse of the incessant background noise that had been accompanying me for several hours. All this time, in addition to searching for Connors on my own, I had continued to listen to the police frequency. Obviously to no avail. Even after hearing the words I'd just heard, I still continued to sit still and drink water. So, what about the green monster? So what? The police received ten calls with similar complaints today. And they've all turned out to be nothing. At first I was eager to go to the front lines, but after about the third false call, my fervour waned. And now I finished my water, stretched lazily, yawned and only then ran to check the false call.

What have we got this time? Was the green monster caused by an equally green snake? Or was the cause of the call now something more dangerous? Drugs? Now I partially understand the cops' nervousness. It's hard to respond to so many false calls. But there's no other way. In a world where green monsters are real, and all the other colouring monsters are real, the police have to respond to the craziest calls and reports.

Shit! What kind of day is this?! Halfway through the call, the dispatcher and the cop on the scene told me it was nothing! If I don't hear what I need to hear right now, I'm gonna go find the prof myself. I'm sick of this! I'm sick of it! Where did the green one like to hide? In the sewers, I think.

- According to preliminary reports, Justin Hammer has been kidnapped.

Oh, my fucking Mystic! It's not what I wanted, but it's interesting. Hammer, Hammer... something familiar... I forgot he was even in the second Iron Man film. He's a nasty character, or he's just a villain. In the films he was more of a laughing stock, but in the comics he seemed to be a serious guy, or rather an old man. Should I go see it? I'm definitely going to go. Or I'll go crazy with nothing to do!

- Girls, do you miss me? - It's a good thing I made sure I had a safe means of communication. Because phones are dangerous things.

- Yeah, I do a little bit. - replied Felicia. - Any concrete suggestions?

- Sort of. It looks like we got a little bit of work to do. Not our main task, but if you are interested ...

- Give me the address! - screamed the blonde.

Heh... looks like I'm not the only one with nerves. Well, nothing, we'll fix it. After I gave her the address, I ran to it. It wasn't far. So in five minutes I landed smoothly on the pavement outside a posh and fabulously expensive hotel. A few police cars, as well as the law enforcement officers themselves, told me I wasn't the wrong party.

- Hey, guys! - I said hello to the cops. - What's up? What's up?

- You're always joking, Tkach. - smiled tiredly at me vaguely familiar sergeant.

- It's not me, it's life. - I said the folk wisdom, the sergeant only snorted and nodded at the entrance. Not too surprised, I went into the hotel.

- Hey! Who's that clown?! - Some tough guy in a black suit tried to stop me, but the sergeant blocked his way and began to say something sadly.

Inside, there was a somewhat frightened hotel staff, and the same cops. After asking one of them where I could find a senior officer, in a couple of minutes I was standing near the entrance to the local observation point, and the abode of the hotel guards in one person. Opposite me stood two clones of the guy in black.

- Who is it? Where are you going? You're not supposed to! - That's all they seemed to know. They refused to let me through, even though I'd answered all their stupid questions. I didn't go looking for the truth elsewhere. After checking the guys for reflexes, I scratched the back of my head thoughtfully as I watched these downers settle to the floor. And all this to the quiet laughter of the police, the guys were defiantly trying not to look in our direction. Which led me to conclude that I wasn't the only one who disliked the guys in black.

- Oh, Mr Gordon! - I exclaimed joyfully as I entered the room. I paid no attention to the guns pointed at my head. - I heard on the telly you're already a grandfather. Congratulations!

I actually saw the assistant chief of the NYPD. I've seen him once with Captain Stacey. Nice guy. He's sprouting grey hair, but he's a very simple man, and I'd say he's adequate.

- Gordon! Goddamn it! Who the hell is this clown?!

О! I recognise the signature style of guys in suits. I mean, it's a bigger man here, but it's the same demeanour.

I don't know what I just said out loud. Looks like it. There's Gordon coughing convulsively, covering himself with his fist, and the black man's turning black.

- Nelson, why the fuck did you let that little scum of the abyss pass by? Arrest him immediately!

- Excuse me, sir. If you're referring to the blokes at the door, they're having a bit of a rest. They're exhausted.

- Spider, you didn't bruise them too badly, did you? - Gordon asks innocently, after he's had a coughing fit.

- No! How could you do that? I was just testing the reaction.

- How are the FBI people reacting these days? - I told you this assistant chief is a world man.

- Not good, sir! - I'm giving an honest report. It's not hard for me to play along.

- Gordon, what's going on here? I demand an explanation. We're not playing a joke here!

- Calm down, Mr Smith. You have your best operative in front of you right now. Just the man we've been waiting for. You asked for a pro. He may be a freelancer, but he's the best.

Smith, heh-heh, freaks out, but not for long. Well, that's good self-control. I've got a bit of respect for him. So here's the situation, according to Gordon. Comrade Hammer's been taken hostage in his own hotel room. By unknown assailants, obviously. No demands. Hammer's floor is booby-trapped. And it seems the intruders have their own surveillance system because they threatened to blow the fuck up if the bomb squad didn't get the fuck out. It's a funny situation, in a nutshell. At the end of Gordon's speech, the girls contacted me and said they were already there. All right, let's try and sort this out.

- Okay, Mr Gordon. I'll do my best. - I turn round on the way out. - By the way, do freelancers get paid? Milk for doing your job?

- Tell me which name to send it to. - Gordon is laughing.

Bastards! There are scum all around!

Girls, we've got girls right now, right on schedule, so to speak. Having orientated myself, I found a suitable cul-de-sac. After telling the girls where to go, I looked disapprovingly at Felicia's fancy sports car. No, the car is great, but that's the problem - it attracts too much attention! I'll have to get this issue under control. But that's for later, not yet.

- Let's get changed and listen to the introductions.

- What, right here? - Blondes shouting almost simultaneously.

- Yeah, get used to it. We haven't managed to buy ourselves a comfortable car to change in yet. There's probably not enough room in your sports car.

- Then turn round! - Gwen demands, crossing her arms across her chest.

- Pfft! Like I didn't see something in there.

- Peter!

- Okay, okay... - after waiting for my girlfriend and mate to change out of their clothes, I turned back around. The costumes I had prepared for them weren't bad either. It's not much of a look, but it's a good disguise. I've never understood how the same Cat could run around with her distinctive platinum hair loose and a thin, concealing mask. Bollocks! - So. Someone has taken the famous multi-billionaire and arms magnate Justin Hammer hostage. The primary objective is to save the poor bastard. Important. The secondary objective is to make some money. Also important, but not critical. It's not detrimental to the primary objective.

- Money is good... - Felicia whispers thoughtfully.

- But why do you need it? - Gwen asks in surprise. - You don't seem to have a shortage.

- Consider it a sporting interest. - smiles slyly at the blonde. - By the way, Pete we need to talk...

- Girls! Let's be serious, not on a walk. Let's save all the talking for later.

- I'm sorry, Pete. But I want to talk to you later too. Gwen.

- All right, but don't expect to get away with it. - Felicia nods reluctantly.

- Here, look. It's a floor plan of the hotel, this is the floor. It's almost entirely devoted to the suite where Hammer's staying. The bottom floor is booby-trapped. Upstairs, the roof, part of it is covered, there's a helipad. But the whole roof is covered in an incomprehensible fog. The cops can't land. So, what do we do?

- I think it's wise to maintain cover. A sniper won't be as effective in these conditions, but I'll be more useful this way anyway. I'm gonna sit on that high rise over there. I saw an interesting cartridge you had there. - Gwen rummaged around in her bag for a bit and pulled out what she needed. - Is that what I think it is?

- Yeah. A beacon cartridge. - I nod approvingly. The only viable escape route for the intruders is through the air. Well, if they do, we'll know where they've gone.

- Next. - Felicia picked up on it. - The easiest way for us to get in is from the roof, with your skills.

- Yeah. Jump!

It's amazing how fearless Felicia is! Sitting on my back, at who knows how high, and just quietly enjoying herself. Adrenaline maniac! There's a weird fog hanging on the roof. It's dense, it doesn't dissipate in a very gusty wind.

- Stop! - I obediently stop my hand. - We can't go through the roof. Look for a window.

- Did you see something?

- ... - the girl, embarrassed silence, but still decides. - No. Just... intuition... I know it's stupid, but I'm sure that we can't go through the roof. I'd try it on my own, but not with you. Let's just find a window, shall we?

- Don't worry! I respect intuition, and I even use it a lot myself.

The girl smiles with relief, though I can't see her face, but I'm sure of it. I found the window pretty quickly, but our resident burglar rejected it. So did the next one, and the one behind it, and... well, only one very small window fit. It was difficult to open, and I struggled to get it open until Felicia took over. From somewhere she got an impressive-sized diamond, as if she did it every day, and drew a circle. Then it was a matter of technique. The latch clicked quietly, and first the girl and then I climbed through the window. We found ourselves in some kind of wardrobe, or dressing room, it was hard to understand. However, why it was necessary to leave a window here is also unclear. I was just approaching the door, and I wanted to open it slightly. I was yanked back. Blondie stepped forward. She hesitated, my empathy was pointing sharply at me, but then she made up her mind.

- I'll go myself! You'll burn us all. Put your earpiece on and listen, I'll activate the microphone. I'll whisper when I need to.

- What if I'm on the ceiling? - Felicia's not talking for a long time. Checking with her sixth sense or something? Man, it turns out I'm not so unique with my spider sense!

- Ceiling's clear. You can try it, but carefully.

Nodding, I immediately jumped to the wall above the door. The girl stood for a few more moments, then carefully and slowly opened the door. I shadow slid in behind her. Surprisingly, Felicia disappeared from my sight almost immediately. Honestly, her powers sometimes amaze me! As I moved toward the source of the noise, I counted the bandits. It was a pity they looked like ordinary everyday people. I had hoped to meet at least some of the coolest people here. But reality, as always, was disappointing. Most of the people were dressed in hotel uniforms. And the mere sight of their weapons was pitiful. Five people, not that many. Yeah, this looks like the centre of all the fun. Big room, some furniture scattered, overturned, and smashed. Lots of empty champagne bottles. On a sofa without noticing anything around, a girl in one bra is sleeping, another one, but completely naked, is crammed into a corner, and quietly squeals. Opposite, on another sofa sits a rather young man, in a dressing gown on his naked body, cheekbone broken, nose too, it seems. Next to him sits something unreal. A green suit, the cloak is a little darker, and on his head is complete sur. A glass hood, with a dense light coloured mist swirling inside.

Mysterio himself! The original enemy of the original Spider-Man, and that's despite the fact that the villain isn't a mutant at all, or even an altered human. The guy doesn't have any superpowers at all! I remember he was once a special effects specialist in the film industry in the cartoon. But why he got on a crooked path is a mystery. I don't remember that. Although it doesn't really matter. The room was well lit, so I couldn't sneak in. And the light music muffled the sounds of the quiet conversation between the two. But suddenly the problem resolved itself. Or rather with the help of my partner! My earpiece clearly sounded voices, and this despite the fact that I could not notice the girl herself.

- ...now realise, sooner or later, they'll find you!

- Come on, Mr Hammer. Did you ever think that a situation like this could happen to you? You must have had blind faith in your security detail. I'll grant you, they're good. But my comrades and I are not just a bunch of guys.

- I meant the police, or the FBI if you prefer. - said the rich man with a chuckle.

- Oh, Mr Hammer! Your faith in our law enforcement is even more amusing than your own security! How much will you have to spend to stir up this stagnant swamp? You're a businessman. You must realise it's unprofitable. Anyway, Mr Hammer, you're a multi-billionaire! What do you care about a measly 200 million? Your cheapest house must be worth more than that. Isn't it?

- To hell with you! I'll still have hope that fate will grant us another meeting. And then I'll get my money's worth.

- I look forward to it, Mr Hammer. So, how long do we have to wait?

Hammer looked at the miniature notebook in his lap. Mysterio took out a tablet, and checked it and exclaimed excitedly.

- Oh, it's not long now! Just three minutes! And we'll be parting company at last, Mr Hammer!

Two hundred lemons! Mother of God! Why can't it be in cash?! It's so much money running away, it makes you want to cry. Out of anger, I waited no longer and gave Felicia an order.

- Put them all out! You've got the client! Ready in 20 seconds!

I darted through the corridors and the rest of the rooms. Just a cc of sleeping pills in the neck, and the man's asleep. It's a pity I have to use a regular injection gun for now. I'll have to make a retractable stinger, but I don't have time. Once back in place, I gave the order to proceed. And again I hardly had time to notice anything, only saw Hammer's carcass sliding smoothly off the sofa. At the same time, I was alternately firing my dart gun at Mysterio and the two girls in the room. The fact that one of them is already asleep doesn't interest me. It never hurts to be safe. It's too late to realise that the dart meant for Mysterio couldn't penetrate his suit. The man jumps up, his figure swiftly enveloped in mist. I rush forward, but in a frenzy I see a natural alien from the film series of the same name leaping out of the fog at me. My spidey sense is silent, but I realise it too late. I move to the side and get a very hard kick in the ribs right out of the fog. Fuck! I feel like I've been hit with a brass knuckle! I bounce back. I close my eyes. They're no help now. I trust my instincts, and remember the lessons of Daredevil. The fight was brief. In fact, there was no fight at all. But at some point, the cat decided to join the fight. What she was thinking, I have no idea. But unlike me, in the fog that covered almost the whole room, she was not orientated at all. As a result, I fought with her more until I realised the catch. Eventually, having told the girl everything I thought about her, I delicately asked her to leave. In anger, I put on my taser knuckles and shattered Mysterio's glass top a bit.

- I'm sorry...' the cat looks at me guiltily as the fog clears a bit. I only waved my hand tiredly. For some reason, I was feeling pretty tired. - What's next?

- We turn these bad guys in to the cops and make the men in black happy with a nearly whole Hummer. Too bad we didn't make any money. - I sigh sadly. - Two hundred million.

- What makes you think that? - The blonde smiles slyly. - I think not all is lost.

- What are you talking about? - I cautiously inquire, I don't want to get my hopes up.

- Well, I know a thing or two about business, finance, and some bank fraud. It's what I grew up with.

- Don't bore me, eh?

- Well, I can't brag about it. - The girl turned away resentfully.

- Oh, great! I admit I was wrong! Don't tell me to execute! Oh, sweet goddess! - I jokingly fall to my knees.

- There! That's it! It would be marvellous if it were done at once. Listen, slave! I've had time to look at both the Hammer's laptop and the rogue's tablet. If I'm right, it'll take a long time for the money to trail off. Then, say a fortnight or three weeks later, the rogue would just walk into a bank, say on some islands. There he asks for a meeting with the manager, whispers in his ear a long series of numbers and letters. He nods understandingly, and transfers the money to the account specified by the cadet, for a purely symbolic percentage. That's if without complications and that's all. No-one will ever dig anything up.

- That's all well and good, but how does it help us?

- Simple. It's a long phrase anyone can say to the manager. It's a bearer account. There's just one complication. I understand you don't want anyone to know about this. But the phrase, and the right bank, is known only to a mook, and if we're gonna give it to the cops....

- Hm... - I thought hard, then I dug into my rucksack and pulled out some syringes. - There's a workaround. Bring a mug of water, cold.

The girl brought water, and we quickly brought Mysterio to his senses. He started babbling something, but I didn't listen.

- Look, Cat. These drugs I begged from Shark for a very long and tedious time. This one,' I jabbed Mysterio in the neck, 'will help our client speak only the truth. This one here is a serum that makes the body sluggish but leaves the mind clear. See the injections, they're working, the pupil's dilated. Hey, mate! You hear that?

- Y-yes.

- Good! Cat, ask anything you need. By the way, these are very strong drugs, ten minutes without antidote, and our friend, in a year will have to change his liver, kidneys, and heart. Isn't that nice?

- I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything, listen up! Code...

Smiling sweetly, I memorised the information. Felicia stood a bit dumbfounded, but did not show any violent reactions, memorising too.

- Well done! Calm down! Why are you so gullible? I can't even joke with you. The drugs are strong, but not that strong. You'll ruin your body more with fast food, believe me. If you got that every day, then yes! Then no organs would help you. Anyway, never mind. Here's the last shot for today. Sometimes human genius is amazing. One injection and a man forgets the last day of his life. Isn't that great?

- You scare me! - Felicia cooed delightedly. - Do you still have such drugs? You'll share it with the poor kitty, won't you? Wouldn't I? Really.

***

In the small room, there were two men. One was almost completely grey, in a steel-coloured suit, sitting casually at a table, occasionally sipping coffee. In truth, he was already sick of the trashy drink. He lost count after the seventh mug. Across from him, another man walked around the vacant patch of the room. Long hooked nose made him look like a bird.

- Calm down Agent- Smith. I'm getting dizzy from all your running around.

- How, how can I calm down? You sent some dodgy bloke who's not even on the force to do a professional's job! If he screws up... I promise you! I swear you'll pay for it! Both of you! You--

- Sir! A young man in a black suit burst into the room. - You have to see this!

The men left the room and were escorted to the street. And there they froze, unable to believe their eyes. Near the entrance to the hotel there were two 'presents' hanging on cobwebs. In one pile hung up to a dozen people, all of them unconscious, and each had 'Bad Boy' written in marker on his forehead. There was only one person hanging next to it, but with a big red bow.

- Fucking hell! - the nosey man in the black suit was the first to move away. - What's with all the mouths hanging open? Get Mr Hammer down to earth!

Infrequent flashes began to cut into his eyes as the reporters stepped back next.