Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Once Peter was home, bathed, and then made food he finally had the time to take out the envelope Charles had left him.

Jean would like to see you. If that is acceptable, please be at the Mansion tomorrow at nine am sharp. We will provide an escort for you.

As a personal favour to me, please do not bring your harness or any technology with you. I know I am asking a lot but all will be revealed in time.

Charles

Peter didn't really know what to make of the note. He knew after the Sentinels that the Augment community had vanished. Jean had been in contact with Charles and then she too had vanished. Only Logan made regular contact and it was mainly, 'Everyone's fine, don't worry your ass about it'. Which of course, made Peter worry more. So if Logan could, why not Jean? There was more going on than he knew, and it was that unknown he was worried about.

The only way he was going to find out was to bite the bullet and go visit her.

He lifted the note and took it out to the dining area, where Liv and Felicia were still up, watching a cheesy B movie.

Liv looked briefly at the note and shrugged, "I bet you five bucks she's panicking thinking you hate her. Jean is unsure of where she stands."

Felicia snorted as she read it, "bet you ten she leaps on him."

Liv looked at the note, looked up and thought for a moment, "No, too easy. If I hadn't seen Peter for two months I would be giving him a pelvic injury."

Felicia snorted, "You mean letting him give you one."

Liv laughed, "Isn't that the same thing." Peter stood, with a small smile on his face. "You worry too much sometimes. If she didn't want you there, she would have said so. Charles does not use his students to get what he wants. If he knew there would be a problem, he would have not mentioned her and let you bring it up." Peter nodded. "Now, you're distracting, so either strip or let us watch the movie in peace."

"I vote movie," Felicia said. She had a tray of chocolates next to her, and Peter knew Huntress was craving something sweet.

"Fine," he said mocking hurt, "I see when I'm not wanted." He leaned down, kissed Liv and as he reached over to kiss Felicia, turned her head, and let his tongue invade her mouth. As she moaned in pure lust, he snagged a chocolate and darted away.

"You ass," She shouted as he popped it into his mouth, "Those were." She looked down, "Gwen is gonna be really mad at you." Liv and Felicia both burst out laughing, and Peter waved as he climbed the stairs to his home. He really hoped tomorrow would be a good day.

⁂

Peter had to admit that old buildings, devoid of any life, were creepy. He had ignored the strange look the taxi driver had given him, even with a large tip. He knew, everyone knew thanks to JJ, that the school was for Augments, and nobody wanted to be here.

At exactly nine, a ripple shimmered in space a few feet away from him. On the other side was Charles, in a sterile white room with no furniture and another young man he didn’t recognise.

“I assure you it's safe, one of our Augments can create portals. It’s how we escaped the Sentinels.” With no reason to doubt the man, Peter stepped through. It wasn't like portals were uncommon with Wanda and Gwen in the warehouse. He swore if they weren't so tiring Gwen would use one to go to the bathroom. They were all thankful that stayed a joke.

Peter was stunned as he surveyed the dome they had built. It was a masterpiece of structural engineering, and while the space was vast it was still busy. He could see not just Augments with physical differences but several normal-looking families.

Charles strode forward, extending his hand. “It is so nice to see you Peter, and while he looks remarkably different, this is actually Erik.” As Peter stared at the thin tall man he was astounded at just how handsome Erik was as well. It was as if both had been actors in their prime and not freedom fighters trying to avoid the government. Erik was square-jawed with piercing blue eyes. While his new body was thinner than the muscled grey-hair man he was before there was still a resemblance.

“You are staring Peter. I think you should leave that look for Wanda,” Erik joked.

Peter laughed. “Only because she took one look at you and yelled for ten minutes,” he quipped back. Wanda had admitted that she knew about Avalon, and had declined to visit. Her training with Stephen and other factors meant she was unwilling to uproot her life. He guessed though her problem was the fact that her father now only looked a few years older than she did. Which she had failed to mention.

“Well, If we were to found this place, we needed to be much younger than before.” Peter raised an eyebrow. “No, we were being truthful. The cloning technology doesn't always work, and it cannot successfully replicate every power. And it comes with a heavy price,” Charles admitted.

They had found the failed result of the cloning process in the basement of Bar Sinister. It was only after they had managed to get him to shut up, they discovered that not only was his power unstable, but so was he. “Oh don't worry, even someone like Stark can’t replicate this or even you with your powers.”

“And am I being kept in suspense or are you going to tell me?” Peter asked with a smile. He was curious as to why Charles was being so secretive. Avalon was obviously well protected but Charles had chosen to reveal themselves. If there was no hidden agenda, they could have happily stayed hidden on the moon. It wasn't like anyone could reach them.

Except for the Xandarians.

“All in good time. We have a meal planned. Business is always stuffy, a good meal should always precede negotiations.” 

Peter half frowned. The first business dinner he had, he was poisoned by Extremis, and the next was with Shaw. Hopefully, the third time was the charm.

“Oh, and of course, Jean will be joining us. She is very excited to see you, Peter, just please, try to behave while you are here. You have a bad enough reputation as it is,” Charles said, laughing as Erik's face fell.

“Yes, please behave. Wanda is incorrigible enough, with MJ, is it? I really don't understand how the hippy movement managed to make it this far,” Erik said sadly. “you are a bad influence, Peter.”

Peter half shrugged, “And I'm sure looking like that you’re complaining, or you would have stayed a grumpy old man.” 

Charles laughed, “I do believe there are several who were just as shocked to see him as you were. Times change old friend, and so must we.” 

Erik tutted, “You’re only saying that as you found someone within a few days. You just don't need to be so smug about it.”

Peter was more interested in the archway they had walked through. He had seen dimensional gates before. Stephen used them and so did Wanda but this was different. Theirs was a spinning vortex, whereas this was a ripple, like a whirlpool that opened. As he moved and placed a hand on the post, Charles spotted him and laughed. “Go ahead, you should recognise it immediately.”

As Peter lay his hand on the pillar he lifted it off immediately, before gingerly placing it back down. “This is a Sentinel.” 

Charles smiled and gently clapped. “Well, not quite. It is a replica of the Sentinel's transformative and adaptive power. The device hosts cultured Augment cells to perform a specific purpose.”

Peter let his power spread through it and checked each component in turn. It was a copy but definitely based on the Sentinel design. Thankfully, he couldn’t find any Cybertronian alloy in any of its components. He sighed in relief. He would have to explain the Cybertronians to Charles. “But how? I thought we got them all?”

“You did in New York. But there was also an attack on Genosha,” Charles said as he walked forward and motioned Peter to follow him. Outside they walked along a long boulevard, a replica of any on Earth, including foliage. If Peter couldn't see through the plexiglass dome into the void above, he would swear he was on Earth.

“We have an Augment with more powerful abilities like your own. He recreated the machine's core but used normal materials, and we use it to power everything. Including our shield.” 

Peter looked up. “The glass isn't thick enough to block radiation. That's what you meant on Earth,” he explained as he thought. “You replicated Erik's power using that device. With buried generators at predetermined intervals, you gave the moon an electromagnetic shield.” 

Charles smiled at Erik, “Told you he would figure it out. We licensed several Arcstar reactors from Olivia. Sorry, but we made her sign a secrecy clause and then sunk them into the core of the satellite. Kitty was very helpful in that regard. As long as we keep them running, we will always be protected here.”

“And I bet you have several Augments with animal or plant manipulation powers. Power isn't enough, you need hydroponics and smallholding for food. You made sure you’re completely self-reliant.”

Charles laughed, “Very smart,” his face fell, becoming serious, “and now you know too much. I’m afraid you can’t leave.”

As Peter paused, Charles looked at Erik, whose stoic face cracked and he laughed as Peter glared at him. “I told you he wouldn't find it funny.”

Peter rolled his eyes, “Oh yeah, hilarious.” Which made Erik laugh harder.

He would have said more but Peter was distracted by exactly how much work had been done in the dome. Or as he discovered, domes. Avalon was split into districts, each with their own shield and dome. Residential was in one area, with another housing older or shyer Augments.

This dome was the main meeting area and shopping district, as well as the main transfer hub to and from Earth. What couldn't be made on the colony was shipped in, all legal and proper.

An Augment named Blink could create spatial portals. It was her cells that allowed them to have the ability to instantly travel anywhere in the world. Her cells and the device. The Augment Duplication And Adaptation Machine. Peter raised an eyebrow at the device, the ADAAM, but Charles shrugged. "Fury started it."

They weren't perfect and couldn't copy a power that required focus or subtle direction. Charles’s telepathy couldn't be copied, and neither could Jean's telekinesis. But Erik's electromagnetic shield was the first, and Blink’s portals were second.

While brilliant the devices had several drawbacks, but Peter saw the potential. Being able to clone a variety of powers would make an Augment army unstoppable. Or, in this case, an Augment colony an impregnable fortress.

Which was why the technology was being kept on Avalon. There was no point in spreading the word of technology only a few could replicate it anyway. Tony had been seen helping to build the colony, and Charles did nothing to halt the rumour that it was his. A subtle lie was better than a hidden truth.

On Earth, the movement to allow Augments free movement was growing. New laws were being written, and even the ARCA was being scrutinised further. Most were happy to have the laws taken out of their hands, washing them of the responsibility. A dual citizenship system was set up but nobody was forced to leave their home. The threat of intervention was very real, all thanks to the device and a single Augment.

“Not that it makes much difference, While your design is brilliant it doesn't always work.” 

Peter laughed and shook his head. “Because it requires technopathic powers to build, and a little Symbiote assistance to work. I wanted a neural bridging system that was difficult to copy, and impossible to steal.” Peter shrugged. “Your Augment friend should have known that, and I'm guessing that's why I'm here.”

“Forge was aware, and he has been successful most of the time, we just a little help in finishing a design of our own. Avalon might be making waves, but the international community is still up in arms. To be honest, most of it boils down to, ‘You can't steal the moon’,”

Peter snorted and chuckled, “And I bet you just said, ‘Well, come and take it back then’ and let them stew. But sure, uh. You need to deal with Pepper. I was barred from making business decisions. But, even without Pepper, I want one of those devices. You don't get to walk away with my tech. Osborn tried it, Stark tried it, and now you've tried it.”

Charles just smiled. “Of course. We have our own legal system in place as well. Miss Potts is well known, even amongst our own Augment lawyers. I'm glad you finally have someone with a sensible head on their shoulders in your court. You weren't exactly the most responsible person Peter.”

Peter shrugged, “so I've been told.”

“Well, with age comes wisdom, and I'm sure one day you’ll get there,” Charles said with a small grin and Peter laughed. “Onto a more serious matter though. Pietro.” Peter did not fail to notice Erik clenching his fist.

“When the Sentinels attacked, Pietro was hurt. While Forge tells us your CLS is brilliant, he just can't get it to work. Pietro has already destroyed three trying to walk.”

Peter poked at the fresh vegetable medley. He was thinking. “His power,” Peter tapped a finger on the table. “If he generates a bioelectric field to stop inertia from tearing his skin off then it needs to cover the CLS as well. Even at normal speeds, the field must keep him from shooting off like a rocket, and it's destroying the bridge.”

Erik looked over at Charles, who shrugged.

Peter had another thought, that the only reason he was here was to fix something they stole. That was going to cost them, and he knew Charles could afford it. He speared a piece of chicken with his fork, “and yes, I can fix it.”