Chapter 10: Connors and Baxters
"Good Morning children. My name is Curtis Connors. I'm a scientist with twin doctorates in biology and biochemistry." Curtis said with a kind smile as looked at the class through his glasses.
Peter was already feeling a migraine coming as Connors eyes stayed on him for a while before turning to Harry who was sitting a few seats away from Peter.
"You can address me as Dr Connors for now, and today I'm here to give you a very, special lecture and a peek into my research upon the request of Norman Osborne, my employer whom you all may know as your classmate, Harry's father. So, a special thanks to them who have been supporting my research and funding me."
The class clapped as Harry smirked smugly while Peter just rolled his eyes.
'Kids.' Peter twirled his pencil looking bored and Gwen who was sitting beside him was almost vibrating in her seat in excitement. 'This nerd though. How adorable.'
"Peter! He's starting! He's starting."
"Calm down Gweneth." Peter chuckled as he teased her.
"Hey! Don't call me that!"
"What's the matter, Gwendolyn? Are you flustered?"
"Ugh! You are so... Hmph! Let me concentrate!"
Peter smirked as he leaned back into his chair as turned to the lecturer.
"... I since have always been fascinated by lizards abilities to regrow their missing limbs. But it was only when I lost my arm on that fateful day did I have an epiphany." Curtis lecture. "It has been 10 years that I have been researching, trying to take a certain part from a lizard's DNA and infuse it with different animals to help them heal from their wounds, help them regenerate their lost body parts. I've been researching, with results varying from total failure to close success but I believe. I'm very close to perfecting this formula."
The class held their breath.
"Once I do there will be less pain, less suffering as there will be a way to help the people heal in a revolutionary way." Curtis said as he spread his arm. "A world without pain. The world will turn into an ideal utopia."
The class began to clap while Peter just sighed.
'This guy is...'
"What a fucking lunatic. He's delusional." He heard Flash whisper to Harry who just snickered. "I can't believe your dad hired a guy like this!"
'Hate to say this but I agree with the muscle brain on that one. Curtis isn't the sanest. He's delusional if he thinks creating and granting humans an artificial heal factory is going to end all the conflict.' Peter mused. 'There's is no such thing as a perfect utopia as long as humans are alive.'
"Well he must have his uses otherwise my dad would have thrown him out a long ago." Harry said. "Anyways do you think Mary Jane will go out-"
Peter lost interest in their conversation real quick. Instead of telling them how this formula was going to work, Connors was just going on a tangent as to just how much he was going to change the world and Peter was very much close to falling asleep.
"Dr Connors? I have a question if I may?"
"Yes, sure Ms..."
"Stacy! My name is Gwen Stacy!"
"Yes, Ms Stacy. Please ask away."
"Are you only researching on lizards and their ability to regenerate or are you working on a wide field of research?"
"I am a scatter-brain scientist so naturally my interest lay in many different fields." Connors jokes good-naturedly. "Like enhancing creatures using DNA from different animals and making creatures evolve artificially, developing cutting-edge technology and many more but my area of expertise is this."
"I see." Gwen said.
"I see..." Peter echoed as his eyes narrowed. 'That information might come in handy.'
Connors left after an hour of geeking on his research and Peter took notes of anything useful but OsCorps research into artificial enhancement.
He needed to see what it was all about. If it could benefit him in anyway or it was too dangerous. Either way, he had to sabotage the research because nothing good has ever been the result of scientific research under Norman.
"Peter! Wait up!"
"Nah-uh Mary Jane! I've got work after classes." Peter said not turning around as he walked through the hallway. Peter felt Mary tug at his hand so he stopped and turned
"Enough! Why are you always avoiding me?" Mary asked as she looked into Peter's eyes.
"Ummm. No particular reason." Peter smiled as he shook off her grip. "I just figured you like different company now."
"I am sorry Pete... I didn't know that you'd be so upset and jealous about it."
"Wait a minute. What gave you the impression that I was ever jealous?" Peter asked tilting his head in confusion. "Since you didn't bother to show up and return the respect I had for our relationship I just decided that it was better to not waste my time over it either and focus on myself and darling..."
"It has worked out fabulously." Peter said smiling icily.
"What... What has happened to you?"
"There's a new person in my body." Peter said. "The old one was tired of being pushed around like a rag doll so he called it quits. Thus, now it's me. I am Peter, just not your Peter."
"I don't understand..."
"You don't have to either. Just understand that I have learnt to deal with your absence and you should do the same." Peter smiled as he patted her shoulder. "Also weren't you going out with Harry?"
"What?! Who told you this-"
"I don't know. Nor do I care." Peter said. "Congratulations and best of luck in any case. You should wish me luck as well."
"Why should I?"
"I'm gonna ask Gwen out." Peter winked playfully and it was no surprise to him that Mary Jane lost her fuse over it.
"You are kidding me, right? Tell me you are not serious?" Mary asked as he grabbed his collar as he shrugged. "Why... Why are you doing this to me?"
"I am not doing anything to you." Peter said grabbing her hands and shaking them off once again. "You did this to yourself."
"No..."
"Why are you so upset about anyway? The last one I checked we weren't dating, right?" Peter raised his eyebrows. "I remember you saying, 'I'm sorry Peter, let's just be friends."
"I regret it." Mary sobbed.
"Apparently not enough." Peter said quietly. "Cause if you did, you would have shown up at my uncle's funeral. Forget about me, you could have at least consoled May. She adores you but you..."
"I'm sorry... Peter. Please..."
"Sorry... Sorry is just a word. Words don't fix anything, Mary Jane Watson. Actions do if you are sorry. Then prove it to me."
"Please... Don't do this to me." Mary Jane said as she hugged Peter. She really regretted putting Peter aside. She knows she was selfish but she has just been swayed by the glamourous lives of her peers. It was attractive to her and to experience it, even a little she had discarded the only person other than her mom who cared about her wellbeing. "Please give me another chance... Please... I beg you."
"Chances aren't something you can go out an bargain for MJ. Chances are earned."
Peter said as he pushed her back and straightened his shirt. He patted her shoulder and walked past her as she began sobbing louder.
"...hah. To earn the chance you can start by being a good friend." Peter said as he walked away. "As your friend I want you to go and apologise to Gwen."
"Peter... Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Mary said but Peter just smiled in defeat as he walked away.
"Damn me and my bleeding heart." He muttered to himself but wasn't given much time to ponder as his phone buzzed. He had new alerts.
May (3)
- Hey Pete.
- Can you get some bread on your way home?
- Thanks. Love you.
'Easy peasy.'
Ryan Reynolds (69)
- Hey! I told you not to save my name as Ryan fucking Reynolds! The dude just looks like me!
- Also when are you coming to meet me? I missssssss youuuu
- Hey you won't believe me but I found myself a girl and kyaaahhh she did me last night with a str-
'Not even gonna read that.'
Assborne Jr (13)
- Look Parker I need you to stay away...
'Not even gonna bother with him.'
Susan Storm (4)
- Hey Peter.
- I have news. The AI you designed is working fantastically!
- Reed is having a field day right now.
- Come fast. I have other news for you as well. Don't keep me waiting~ :P
'Nah. I won't.'
Smiling Peter put his phone away and took a taxi.
"To Baxter's building."
------
"Welcome to the Baxter's Building." He heard the AI through the speakers as walked into the lab wearing his coat and his intern ID batch. "Good afternoon Peter. How are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling pleasant. Thank you, Juno." Peter smiled as he sat on his desk. "Did you run the test I told you to?"
"Yes, I did. The results have been positive. It's possible to integrate the cloaking function into the suit."
"Good. Convenient timing as well. Transfer the data into my device and keep me updated on any information that is uploaded into the database." Peter said with a grin.
He created Juno as a much-needed assistant. With a few nights of research into AI and reading Tony Stark's research on the subject, it was quite easy for Peter to construct his own AI.
But gifting it to the Fantastic Four, there was a whole lot of reason behind it. He gave it to them as a gift to his 'idol' Reed Richards to help them in their cause while in reality he just wanted access to the Baxter's Database.
Juno is just a small part of a bigger AI construct that he named Eryl. The AI would, later on, become the archive of the knowledge. While Reeds was registered as the administrator, to regulate the data it was all a pretence since all the data had already been transferred to Eryl.
There wasn't any reason behind this aside from keeping an eye on the fantastic four.
'I guess there is one reason...' Peter wanted to create an archive accessible only to him that would help him become stronger and stronger.
Eryl as of now is still far from being close to what he has envisioned but he was very optimistic about her. Baxter's database is just the start for what would become the sentient hive-mind of all knowledge in the future.
"Hey, kid." A gruff voice called out as Peter smiled and turned around hearing the heavy footsteps.
"Ben." Peter smiled. "You look jolly today."
"You bet, Reed is acting like a kid on sugar high since the morning. It's the funniest thing ever I tell you." Ben laughed to himself as Peter just sighed at the big man-child. "Oh, I remember Susan is waiting for you upstairs. You should go before she throws a gasket over it."
"Haha. Yep. Thanks, Ben." Peter patted the giant on the chest and began walking towards and stepped into the lift.
Reaching the top floor Peter stepped out and headed in the direction he knew Susan's office was in.
"Pardon my intrusion ma'am.?" Peter said teasingly as he did a mock bow. "You called me?"
"Stop it, Peter" Susan said in mock exhaustion as she cracked a smile. She was dressed in her Fantastic Four outfit. She looked absolutely fabulous in it as the skin-tight suit stuck to her curves accenting them very well. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders as her blue eyes glowed with power.
"Stop what?"
"The teasing and the staring." Susan smirked as she walked around the table and towards Peter and smiled. "On a second thought, I allow you to continue with the later part."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, whatsoever." Peter smiled innocently as he walked past her and sat in the chair making Susan grumble. "I was lying. Nice butt."
"Pervert."
"You said to keep going. Not me." Peter shrugged. "So what did you call me here for?"
"Sometimes I forget that you are barely eighteen." Susan sighed as she walked towards her desk and sat in front of him. "A shame, really."
"Since when has age been an obstacle?" Peter winked good-naturedly he leaned back. "You know I'm much mature beyond my years. At least that's what I'd like to think."
"It's true. Why should age be an issue." Susan said as she tossed him a card. "Your new ID. From today onwards you are a part of the main staff at Baxter's. Welcome, Peter."
Hearing her words Peter sat up straight as he grabbed the card and looked at it with surprise. "What?... I thought one needs to be twenty-one years old at least to become a part of the main staff?"
"That was true, until now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You said yourself. Why should age be an issue?*
"Well, not exactly but I understand." Peter said looking up from the card only to see that Susan was nowhere to be seen. He looked around and was startled a bit as he felt a weight in his lap. "Damn it, lady. You are moving too fast."
"Shhh... I'm just playing with you." Susan whispered in his ears as she kissed his cheek as she pressed against him. "You have helped me a lot since you joined a month ago. Keeping me company and helping me out with my projects when I wasn't out fighting the scum of the world."
"No need to thank me. Always a pleasure to help out a beautiful... and Invisible woman such as yourself." Peter said with a strained smile. Her butt was firmly pressing against his crotch and his body was reacting.
'Something is rising and it's not the shield hero.'
"Flattery will get you everywhere Mr Parker." Susan said patting his head before getting up and appearing in her chair once again but this time her face was a bit flushed. "Victor may come over today so I think you should leave early. I'd rather not have you get involved in our mess."
"Aye, boss-woman." Peter mock saluted as he got up not bothering to hide his excited condition. "I'll see you then."
"Bye." Susan waved as she watched Peter go. "Damn... He is hiding a lot under those baggy clothes."
Susan loved the thrill she got from the thought of fooling around with her junior but that did not mean she was going to act on it.
Yet.
------
So, another potential interest set up.
So, I have some things to discuss so here we go.
Firstly, It has come to my notice that some people are worried about the harem being too big and I understand where they are coming from and I agree. Big harem done badly ruin a good story real quick and if it becomes the same for my story then I assure you I would scrap the harem to who are really needed and dump the unnecessary rest since my priority is the plot of this fic and the adventure I lay before my version of Peter.
But to those unsatisfied. I can create a side-story with a different MC who would go 'hunting' in Marvel or DC or multiverse as you may prefer. The main theme of the fic would obviously be the pleasure of flesh since romance would become diluted as there would be many points of interest.
If you are interested do let me know but also keep in mind this fic is my priority now as I'm trying to polish my storytelling ability.
Secondly, I saw someone complaining about how my fic is basically mocking everything Spider-Man stands for. To he/she/them whatever they may be here's my reply. My story's name is 'I am Peter Parker' not 'I am Spider-Man' and something like that. I am experimenting with the idea of what would be if a random sob with awareness of the Marvel multiverse landed in Peter's body. What would he do? What would I do? This isn't your OG Peter who pulls his punches.
The MC is a cynical adult who knows who the world works. The world doesn't work on righteous ideals. People with power and resources have an unfair advantage and control over those who don't. If you don't distinguish yourself from the herd you'll only end up as a sacrifice to be slaughtered and devoured.
I'll take constructive criticism any day but don't confuse it with unfair bashing when you entirely miss the fucking point of this fanfiction.
A different perspective. LoL.
I have said a lot and now I'm spent. I think the chapter might be a bit gritty but please I read several comics trying to figure out how should I set up this next volume and I have an idea.
Staring with mini-villans. Take a guess and I'll confirm it. But be aware. You'll be spoilt so do it at your own risk lol.
Also, Marisa Tomei is 57?! Damn, she doesn't look a day over 35. How?!
But then again it's Hollywood, a lot of shit we folks don't know about.