Chapter 54 : The Cavalry’s here !
Hi everyone and sorry about the delay ! I kept wanting to update the chapter during work yesterday but there was always one thing after another… anyways, here it is ! As always, I'll take your stones, read your comments and reviews, if you leave them ! And, also as usual, you can visit my Patréon page in case you want to read advanced chapters or other stories. Search for Cathbel on the Patréon search engine.
This time, I won't be advertising about what I've read, watched or played. Or at least, not directly. I'm gonna write about the Webto*n app (replace the * by another o). As the name implies, it a platform where you can read WEBTOONS anywhere, anytime. Among others, you can find the sequel story for The Breaker: New wave and Eleceed, a cool story I discovered thanks to the app. Check it out ! I'm sure you'll find something you like !
P.S : When I write this about the app, I'm talking about the French version. No idea what's on the others…
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While my attention is split between consideration over Doreen's power and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s inability to be at the right place at the right time, Norman is put in heavy duty looking manacles and dragged out of the gym. Once again, the bald pirate directs his lone eye towards us, sweeping, scrutinizing us.
We don't say much, mostly because his people are working and taking Norman's goons into custody, but also because we don't know what to say. At least, I don't ! Oh, wait ! Yes, I know !
« About time you show up ! » I scoff and channel my inner-Karen. « It's no wonder so many villain pop up all over the country when your response time is so dreadful… They all think they can get away with anything. Some probably do, I bet ! »
Okay, my inner-Karen is pretty mean… and a little out of line ? I can't really expect regular people to deal with freaks like Green Goblin. Green Goblin from Earth-616 ? Maybe, with a full black ops team, experimental drugs and advanced weaponry. Green Goblin from Earth-1610 ? Not without an Avenger, at least.
I mean, from what I remember, Green Goblin, aided by several other of Spider-Man's rogue gallery attacked the white house. The white house ! Almost laid it to waste… Actually, the White House was attacked at least one other time, by Magneto, if I recall correctly. It makes me think about what I want to do in this life… Being an unknown mob might be the better, smarter choice. Is it too late to leave everything behind and live as a hermit somewhere in the wilderness ?
Nick Fury's looking at me with a not quite furious look, but I feel his judgement. I wince and tell him :
« Sorry about that… It's just the second attack on the school in a short time. Gets me a bit on edge… » I almost blurted out our school. I hope the man has no inkling as to our real identity, even though it's slim. The man is a spymaster, leader of an international intelligence agency. I'm pretty sure he worked on figuring out who we were when we first came out to the public. Perhaps, even earlier. Besides, all it takes is figuring out the identity of one of us. From that point on, it's easy to find out the others. Pariah that we are, we don't have that many friends. And we're always hanging out together at school.
Fury nods and grunts :
« I forgive ya, kid. This time. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s not here to bail you guys out. It exists to protect the public. Now, tell me what happened here ! »
Kid, he said… Though there's another thing I want to comment on : if your organization exists to protect the public where the hell were you when they took the whole school hostage ?! I only yell that in the depths of my heart.
At this moment, I just want to be forgotten. I have been in the limelight too much as is. The others will explain everything. Still, I listen. They might be smart in their own rights, but they're kids. Impulsive, air-headed kids. Sure, I have suspicions that Fury knows who we are, but that doesn't mean they should give the man more clues about our identities. After all, I may be wrong…
After they've explained, I ask my own questions. Or rather, I really want to but that'll just give away more than I'm comfortable.
It's the second villain attack on the school : first the Frightful Four and now, the Green Goblin and his men. I doubt it's a coincidence. What could they possibly get out of attacking a school ? If they were a bunch of rich brats, I'd understand : you can ransom the parents or something. But Midtown High is a public school. Except for Harry, there aren't any rich kids. None that I know anyways. And Norman isn't gonna kidnap and ransom his own son. That'd be stupid !
No, the only possible interest these guys can have with this school is… us. So, I want to ask him if we're safe. If our identities have been compromised. Unfortunately, that's something I can't exactly do. Again, I don't want to tip our hands. So, I clench my teeth and stay silent.
Fury, as if possessing power of foresight of his own, comments as he watches Green Goblin being carted off :
« These guys… It's as if they believe some vigilantes attend school here. » He comments off-handedly. I don't buy for one second that he's speaking thoughtlessly, he's actually talking to us. « I don't think they have more to go on than suspicions but, even that, is dangerous if there really are… It's just a matter of time before the truth gets out. » He pauses and continues his dramatic musings : « When every two bit thugs, wannabe supervillains, or even the public learns that super-heroes come to school here, it'll become a circus. A deadly circus. » Another pause, a sideway sweeping glance, and he resumes. « At the moment, we believe the source is contained… The two attacks can be linked to organized crime. »
« How… ? » Doreen asks, in a weak voice.
« How it's connected ? The Four are known hired hands of a certain Kingpin. And Oscorp has received numerous investments… »
At this point, I feel like I'm about to shit myself. There are a few people like that in Marvel that I really don't want to tangle with… Thanos, Galactus, Dormammu… This guy, despite being just a base human, is among that list. He doesn't even have that much power. Sure, he's strong and a good fighter. But the reason why I fear this guy is because… He's absolutely ruthless ! He doesn't care who he has to kill and what he has to do to accomplish his goals : he'll do it. Moreover, the guy is intelligent, knows whose hands he has to grease in order to get his way… And when money's not enough, he's not above taking hostages and blackmail.
That's the kind of guy you don't want to know your identity 'cause he'll use it to put a bounty on your head, your family, your friends and basically anyone you've ever come in contact with, down to your kindergarten teacher !
That's when I suddenly realize that I won't exactly be the kind of Superhero Peter would approve… Because at this very moment, I am starting to plan my very first premeditated murder.