Chapter 164: The New Beginning

Timeline: November 14, 1995 

6:00 PM

As I recounted my journey in the Spider-Verse to my disciple, Peter Parker, his eyes widened with shock and curiosity. The concept of other universes, other Spider-Men, had him hooked.

"So all that time you suddenly disappeared, you were in another universe?" Peter asked, his voice filled with wonder.

I nodded, a wry smile playing on my lips. "Yep."

Peter's excitement was palpable. "It's amazing, Mike," he murmured, pondering deeply. "Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) are true... oh boy," he added, his mind clearly racing with possibilities.

Chuckling at his infectious enthusiasm, I replied, "Well, I saw it with my own eyes—different Spider-Men from different universes. So, yeah, Many-Worlds Interpretation, bubble universes theory, and many kinds of dimension theory are all real."

Peter's eyes lit up with a newfound spark of fascination. "That's... wow."

I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction.

"Why didn't I lump with you?" Peter asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

I feigned ignorance, shrugging lightly. "Well, I don't know. It seems only a few Spider-Men were there—just me and five others. Except for Miles, it was his universe. So, yeah, only six of us ended up in Miles' universe."

Peter pondered this for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Hmm... Interesting. Maybe it's because only those within certain areas of space-time where the interaction was most intense could be affected."

I nodded, impressed by his theory. "That's an interesting theory, Pete."

He continued, his expression thoughtful. "Or perhaps... it could be about different energy states or vibrational frequencies of particles. If the collision interacted with particles in a specific energy state, only those particles—and thus the people made up of those particles—might have been transported."

Peter's contemplation deepened. "But that's impossible... it should be me, right? After all, Peter Parker's DNA collision with the collider caused those events. But," he looked at me, puzzled, "why were you the one transported and not me?"

I laughed awkwardly. "I don't know, Pete. Maybe because I'm the oldest Spider-Man?"

Peter seemed to accept this explanation. "That can also be possible."

I sighed with relief, keeping to myself the fact that I had altered the transportation to ensure it was me instead of him using my Spider-Man system. "Sorry, Pete. I know you would have loved meeting other spiders too," I thought.

Peter snapped me out of my thoughts. "Well, it's a shame that I can't meet another fellow Spider-Man, but I'm not that desperate to meet them. I already have you, my mentor, the legendary Spider-Man."

I grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "Yeah, you got it right, Pete."

With a playful glint in my eye, I extended my hand for a fist bump. "Showtime?"

Peter matched my grin, his fist meeting mine. "Showtime."

.....

Meanwhile, in his mansion, Chris Hilton was seated comfortably in his study, perusing a newspaper. The quiet of the room was interrupted when Samantha Hilton, his eldest daughter, entered.

Chris looked up with a warm smile. "Oh, Samantha, you're here."

Samantha's expression was serious. "Father, there's something I want to tell you."

Chris set down the newspaper, giving her his full attention. "What is it?"

Samantha took a deep breath, her voice tinged with guilt. "I'm sorry... for uh.... blaming Max and making him a.... wanted man, and all of those other things."

Chris's smile didn't waver. He put down the newspaper completely and opened his arms. "Come here," he said, gesturing for a hug.

Samantha moved into his embrace, and Chris patted her back reassuringly.

"All of us make mistakes, not just you," Chris said gently. "Don't blame yourself. What you should do is fix your mistakes and not repeat them." He pulled back slightly, holding her hands in his. "This time, be good, okay?"

Samantha nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "Yes, Father."

Chris smiled proudly. "Good, that's my daughter."

They shared a moment of understanding and forgiveness, a new beginning for both of them. The mansion, usually echoing with the hustle and bustle of their lives, felt a bit more peaceful as father and daughter reconciled, ready to move forward with renewed resolve.

....

Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Director Loe Halloway sat at his desk surrounded by stacks of paperwork. The soft light of his desk lamp illuminated his weary figure in the quiet office, the only noise being the gentle hum of the air conditioning. He glanced wearily at the clock, it was past midnight, yet he was still grappling with the endless operational demands of his position.

The heavy door to his office swung open abruptly, and Maria Hill entered with her usual brisk stride, the crispness of her uniform a stark contrast to the disheveled state of the files she carried.

"Director," Maria greeted with a sharp salute, her expression serious and focused.

Loe Halloway returned the salute and gestured for her to sit. "At ease, Agent Maria. What's the report on the investigation?"

Maria took a moment to collect her thoughts, her gaze steady as she delivered her findings. "Sir, it's... quite unusual. We recovered what appears to be a stone."

"A stone?" Loe raised an eyebrow, reaching out to accept the folder of photographs Maria offered.

Maria nodded, handing him a folder containing photographs. "Take a look, sir. It's not just any stone though. Our forensic team found it on an alien body."

Loe flipped through the images with growing interest, his tired demeanor momentarily replaced by curiosity. The photographs revealed intricate markings on the stone, shimmering with an otherworldly sheen. "An alien dead body and... some hobo sleeping?" He peered closer, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Maria sighed softly. "He claims he's Star-Lord."

"Star-Lord?" Loe's expression shifted from curiosity to confused. "What in the world is that?"

Maria shrugged slightly. "Your guess is as good as mine, sir."

Loe sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. "Alright, Maria. We need to dig deeper into this. Find out everything about him—his origins, his intentions, everything."

Maria nodded firmly. "Understood, Director Loe. I'll get right on it."

Loe Halloway rubbed his temples wearily. "Okay. Keep me updated on any developments."

Maria saluted once more, her brisk departure mirroring her purposeful entrance. As the heavy door closed behind her with a soft thud, Director Loe Halloway's weariness became tangible. He slumped forward in his chair, his exhaustion evident in the lines etched on his face.

"Fuck my life," he muttered, the words escaping quietly into the stillness of his office. He stared down at the photographs splayed across his desk, each one a perplexing piece of a larger puzzle. The images depicted an alien stone and an unexpected figure claiming to be "Star-Lord"—a name that held no significance in his world.

In that solitary moment, Loe Halloway realized the enormity of the situation before him. This wasn't just another routine report; it was a disruption of their understanding, a challenge to the boundaries of what they deemed possible. The photographs represented a mystery that demanded unraveling, one that could potentially alter the course of their operations.

...

Peter Quill, also known as Star-Lord, found himself confined within the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, frustrated and desperate to convince the agents to release him and secure the mysterious stone he possessed.

"Hey! Let me out of here and give me the stone!" Peter Q's voice echoed through the sterile confinement room, but the agents continued their duties, ignoring his demands.

"We need to hide that stone from an enemy!" Peter insisted, growing more agitated by the minute.

Phil Coulson, a seasoned agent known for his calm demeanor, approached Peter with a furrowed brow. "What enemy are you talking about, Man?"

Peter Q locked eyes with Phil, urgency etched on his face. "A Kree warlord named Ronan. He'll come here sooner or later. We have to be ready."

Phil's confusion deepened. "Ronan? Who's Ronan?"

Peter Q sighed in frustration. "He's a powerful Kree fanatic with a vendetta against Xandar. He'll stop at nothing to get that stone."

Phil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I don't fully understand what's going on here, but that sounds like trouble, doesn't it?"

Peter Quill leaned forward urgently. "Exactly! That's why I need to get out of here. I know more about Ronan than anyone else here. I can help you stop him, but I need to be free to do that."

Phil weighed his options, understanding the urgency in Peter's voice. "Alright, alright big guy. I'll see what I can do. But you have to understand, we can't just let you walk out of here without more assurances."

Peter nodded, acknowledging the cautious approach. "I get it. Just... hurry."

Phil nodded back, his mind racing with the implications of what Peter had revealed. "I'll be back soon."

With that, Phil turned and headed towards the command center, determined to gather more information and make a decision that could affect the fate of not just S.H.I.E.L.D., but potentially the entire universe.

.....

Michael Wilson's POV

After finishing up our agenda for the day with Peter Parker, I find myself back in my room with my girlfriend, Mary Rose Taylor. There's something important I want to discuss with her.

I gaze at Mary and say, "Mary..."

She looks at me, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Michael?"

Taking a deep breath, I continue, "There's something I want to tell you."

Mary leans in, intrigued. "What is it?"

I meet her gaze and smile softly. "You know, I've been thinking about what Mark said... about us getting married."

Mary's eyes widen slightly. "Married? You mean..."

I nod, feeling a rush of excitement. "Yes, I want to marry you. And I was thinking the same as Mark, like why not have a double wedding with Mark and his girlfriend? This month, let's make it happen."

Mary's face lights up with joy. "You mean it?"

"I mean it," I affirm, nodding again. "I want us to take this step together."

Overcome with happiness, Mary hugs me tightly, exclaiming, "Yes! Yes! We're getting married soon! Yes!"

I chuckle softly, feeling her infectious enthusiasm. "Okay, okay, calm down," I tease gently, holding her close.

Mary pulls back slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she leans in and kisses me passionately. "I can't calm down. I've been waiting for this moment."

I look into her eyes lovingly and say, "Me too," before we share another heartfelt kiss, savoring the anticipation of the wonderful journey ahead together.

....

Meanwhile

[Peter Parker Side]

Peter Parker was engrossed in his assignments when a sense of anticipation washed over him. "I have this feeling that something joyful is going to happen," he muttered to himself with a grin, imagining what the day might bring.

Suddenly, his mCall device buzzed, and he saw Mary Jane's name flashing on the screen. His heart skipped a beat as he answered, "Hi MJ, what's up?"

Mary Jane's voice, warm and inviting, came through the device. "Hello Peter. I was wondering if you'd like to spend some time together tomorrow, just the two of us."

"Really?" Peter's excitement was palpable.

Mary Jane chuckled softly. "Yes, just you and me."

Peter couldn't contain his joy, making exuberant gestures in his room. But he quickly refocused as Mary Jane prompted, "Peter, are you there? What's your answer?"

"Oh, uh, yes! I'm in," Peter replied eagerly.

"Great! See you tomorrow at 8 am. Don't be late," Mary Jane said with a hint of laughter.

"Tomorrow, 8 am. Got it," Peter confirmed enthusiastically.

"Okay, bye Peter," Mary Jane said warmly.

"Bye MJ," Peter replied, his grin widening as Mary Jane hung up, leaving him exhilarated at the prospect of a date with her.

"This is amazing! A date with MJ? Whoa!" Peter exclaimed, breaking into spontaneous moonwalk and cheerful dance moves, unable to contain his excitement.

As Peter danced and relished the moment, Aunt May's voice suddenly floated down the hall. "Peter, People are sleeping, Don't cause any more disturbances. You're too loud!"

"Sorry, Aunt May!" Peter called back, his happiness evident as he eagerly anticipated the special day ahead with Mary Jane.

...

Meanwhile, in Another Universe

[Ronan the Accuser Side]

Ronan the Accuser stood on an alien planet, frustration etched deeply on his face. Beside him, Nebula shared in his intensity, both of them searching fervently for the Power Stone that Thanos desired.

"The Power Stone! Where the hell did it go?" Ronan growled, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape.

Nebula, scanning the area with her cybernetic enhancements, replied tersely, "I don't know. After our battle with him, he disappeared with the stone."

Ronan's anger simmered beneath the surface. "That ignorant insect!" he seethed, his blue skin darkening with rage. He took a deep breath, his mind calculating their next move. Turning to Nebula, he locked eyes with her and said, "We have to find him. If we don't, Thanos will have our heads."

Nebula nodded solemnly, her loyalty to her father driving her resolve. "Yes, for father," she affirmed, her voice steady despite the urgency of their situation.

Ronan clenched his fists, his mind set on vengeance and retrieval of the Power Stone.

What lies ahead for Michael Wilson, the Legendary Spider-Man, and Peter Parker, the Red Spider-Man, now that a new villain has emerged? With Ronan's threat looming, can Michael Wilson find peace to focus on his upcoming wedding? Will Peter Parker be able to enjoy a calm and undisturbed date amidst the rising danger? The answers will be revealed in the next chapter.

To be continue