Across The Spider-Verse Part-2

<Clone's POV>

I watched solemnly as Alice's form disappeared through the shimmering portal, chasing after the elusive Spot. A melancholic pang tugged at my heart—I had hoped for a proper reunion, a chance to forge a deeper connection with her, but that prospect slipped away before it could even take root. Resolutely, I brushed aside the creeping tendrils of loneliness. There would be time to address the emotional turmoil later.

I needed to address my appearance. Unlike Alice's blue eyes, mine were a deep, unsettling red. I searched for some stores related to spectacles and got blue contact lenses. As I slipped them over my scarlet irises, the mirror's reflection revealed Alice's familiar blue gaze—my new façade.

Next, I retraced the path to Alice's—no, my home now. Navigating the familiar streets, my mind raced with thoughts of how to blend in seamlessly. Alice's memories provided the solution: a mutant inhibitor collar, vital for suppressing my formidable powers and averting unwanted scrutiny. I located the device in her room and secured it around my neck, a faint tingle signalling its activation.

As I surveyed Alice's living quarters, another crucial consideration surfaced: her superhero responsibilities. Alice didn't mention anything about it, and unlike Alice, I lacked the extraordinary physical abilities bestowed by a radioactive spider's bite. However, I possessed her mutant powers and finely honed combat skills—a formidable combination, but one that would demand careful management of this dual life. Should I continue her heroic business?

A recollection from Alice's memories surfaced—her acquisition of Obadiah Stane's Arc Reactor following their clash. Curiosity piqued, and I ventured into her workshop and accessed the hidden compartment, inputting the password etched into her consciousness. There it stood, a marvel of engineering: the Iron Spider Prototype-X suit.

I ran my fingers along the sleek, cutting-edge armour, marvelling at its impressive array of features. At its core, thrummed an Arc Reactor, its energy output is elegantly channelled through the suit's intricate circuitry. The spider emblem emblazoned on the chest plate concealed the reactor's brilliance. Six distinct webshooters offered a versatile arsenal, each imbued with unique capabilities tailored for specific situations. Alice had even integrated a tactical HUD and communication suite, ensuring seamless navigation and coordination. And thanks to the suit's unique material composition and Van der Waals force technology, scaling any surface would be a trivial feat.

Excitement bubbled up within me as I noted the suit's "Prototype-X" designation. According to Alice's thoughts, this iteration still lacked the refinements of a true Iron Spider suit—components like mechanical limbs, nanotechnology, and vibranium integration were still absent. Nevertheless, for my immediate needs, it would serve admirably.

"What more could one need?" I murmured, equipping the suit. It perfectly fitted my form, as though tailored explicitly for me.

*Knock* *Knock*

A sudden knocking at the door jolted me from my reverie. Hastily, I shed the armour and stowed it away before making my way to the entrance. Gwen Stacy's concerned visage greeted me.

"Alice, are you okay?" Her brow furrowed with worry.

Ah, yes. Alice had taken a leave of absence from school. I mustered a warm smile, hoping to assuage her concerns. "I'm feeling much better now. Thanks for checking on me, Gwen."

Her forehead creased further as she studied me intently. "Well, did you get proper rest? Or do you need to visit the hospital nearby?"

Waving off her concerns, I assured her, "Don't worry about it. I'm completely fine now."

Gwen's eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinised me. "You seem different today. Livelier."

Forcing a nonchalant shrug, I deflected, "Maybe I'm just happy to see you."

As our conversation flowed, I could sense Gwen's bewilderment at my demeanour, but she chose not to probe further. Our rhythm was disrupted by another rap on the door, revealing Felicia Hardy with her signature teasing grin.

"Hey, Alice! You're doing alright, right?" Her lips quirked impishly as she noticed Gwen. "Gwen. Good to see you."

Felicia had witnessed Gwen visiting Alice before, so her presence didn't faze her. With a sly wink, she leaned in and stage-whispered, "You sure didn't lose too much sleep over some adult content?"

Emboldened by an impish impulse, I decided to play along—but with a twist. Closing the distance between us, I pinned Felicia against the wall in a playful yet assertive manner. "Yeah," I purred, "wanna try something I learned from that content?"

Felicia's eyes flew wide, caught off guard by my brash overture. Her gaze hardened as she murmured, "Are you really Alice?"

Gwen, too, seemed perplexed by my uncharacteristic behavior. "Yeah, Alice, you're acting really strange."

Cursing my misstep, I quickly backpedalled with a casual laugh. "I'm just messing with you guys. Maybe I'm still a bit out of it from being sick."

Though Felicia and Gwen exchanged dubious glances, they seemed to accept my deflection. After some more stilted conversation, they took their leave, both visibly unsettled by my aberrant conduct.

As their footsteps faded, a tendril of unease coiled within me. Today had been a stumble, no doubt, but a learning experience nonetheless. I was confident I could navigate Alice's normal life; it would simply require more finesse. After all, failure was the crucible that forged success.

Retreating to Alice's bedroom, I collapsed onto her bed, breathing in the lingering traces of her scent. An inexplicable warmth blossomed within me as I greedily clutched her pillow, savouring the intoxicating aroma.

Abruptly, a kaleidoscope of colours erupted in the room, with objects levitating of their own accord. A shimmering portal materialised overhead, and from its depths emerged none other than Gwen—but not the Gwen I had just encountered. This was Spider-Gwen, her iconic mask pulled back to reveal her features.

"Hey, Alice," she said with a knowing smirk. "You didn't expect me here."

I could only gape in astonishment. "Woah, that was... unexpected."

Spider-Gwen settled on the bed beside me as the portal winked out of existence. Enveloping me in an embrace, she murmured, "I really missed you."

Tentatively, I returned the hug. "Me too."

She arched an inquisitive brow. "So, how did you come here?"

With a rueful chuckle, I demurred, "It's a long story, but I'll shorten it for you. Wanna go for a swing?"

My gaze fell upon the concealed suit within the cupboard. How could I explain to this Gwen that I lacked the radioactive spider's bite? But did it truly matter? No, I decided—not in the face of this extraordinary opportunity.

Retrieving the armour, I unfurled it before Spider-Gwen's appreciative gaze. "Whoa, that's a really cool suit."

A swell of pride filled me. "Well, it's completely made by me." Technically, it was the truth; I was merely omitting the finer details of its origins.

Soon, we were soaring through the cityscape, Gwen regaling me with tales of the Spider Society as we showcased our web-slinging prowess. Thanks to Alice's memories, I could confidently navigate the urban jungle, executing intricate manoeuvres with ease.

"Recently, I joined a spider society that has a personal-dimensional travel watch. But we have to follow a strict protocol; that's why I didn't come to see you soon. The Spider Society is led by a...unique individual," Gwen began, her tone laced with a hint of uneasy wonder. "Miguel O'Hara, a.k.a. Spider-Man 2099. He's from a future timeline, and let's just say he's not your average, friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man."

My brow furrowed as I combed through Alice's memories, seeking any remnant of this enigmatic figure. "In what way?"

Gwen's expression grew somber. "Miguel is...different. More intense, more driven—almost feral at times. And then there's the whole vampire thing."

"Vampire?" I echoed it, my eyes widening in disbelief.

"I know, right?"

A pensive silence fell between us as I digested this revelation. A vampire leading an interdimensional spider force? It seemed almost too outlandish to be true—and yet, Alice's world had already proven to be a tapestry woven from countless improbable threads.

"But despite all that," Gwen continued, her voice resolute, "Miguel is one of the good guys. He's dedicated his life—or un-life, I guess—to protecting the multi-verse from threats that would make your skin crawl. And he's assembled an incredible team to help him in that mission."

"And I am being trained as a Spider-woman, named Jessica Drew. She is a nice lady, and you know something unique about her. She has her bike as a utility for fighting enemies."

"It's really cool." I murmured, beginning to grasp the scope of this undertaking.

While swinging, we somehow reach the same place where Alice went through the portal. Gwen directly scanned that area and collected some data, and then said, "Well, I had to complete a task here. Let's continue."

Even if Gwen didn't say anything, I got a glimpse of the idea; they are definitely searching for the assh*le with many assh*le over his body. Should I tell Gwen about Alice and me? Nah, Alice only meant to cover up her identity and not reveal it. I don't want Alice to disappoint over me.

We then returned to my home. Gwen and I had a good chat and spent some time with a small party. And between them, Gwen's watch rang, warning her of an important message.

"Well, Alice, goodbye. I need to go now."

Saying that Gwen jumped through and went away. I thought of something: why don't I follow Gwen into the multiverse? I might get to meet Alice faster that way. I put on the Iron Spider suit and closely followed behind Gwen.

Unlike, Alice I don't have invisibility, but I still made a skill. Quantum cloaking: by diffracting my surroundings in a small amount, I can make myself invisible being covered by light.

I finally found Gwen jumping through the portal. Before the portal could close, I followed her into the multiverse. Alice, I hope we can have a proper reunion.