C483 Spider-Man (Patreon)
Content
After acquiring the Multiverse Engine Core, Peter rejoined Tony and Genie on the bustling city of Axia. The once-ominous citadel that stood in the center of the city now hollow and stripped of its technological wonders, reduced to an empty monument to Kang's former ambitions.
As they walked through the city, the trio made it clear that they were willing to buy any tech that caught their eyes. The citizens, still in awe of Peter's victory over their oppressor, were more than willing to part with some of their prized possessions. It was a small token of gratitude for the man who had freed them from Kang's tyrannical rule.
"Hey, how much for this?" Tony inquired, holding up a compact, advanced hardlight holographic device he had found at a street vendor's makeshift stall.
The vendor, an elderly woman with a warm smile, shook her head. "No charge, dear. It's yours. We owe you and your friend everything."
Tony raised an eyebrow, surprised by the generosity. "Are you sure? I insist on paying." After all, they had taken an obscene amount of rare materials and money from the citadel.
The woman chuckled, her eyes glistening with gratitude. "We've been living in fear for far too long. Please, take it as a gift from the people of Axia."
Tony accepted the device with a grateful nod, his heart warmed by the genuine kindness of the Axians. Genie and Peter, too, received all sorts of presents as gratitude from the citizens.
As they continued their stroll through the city, Peter and his companions couldn't help but notice the transformation taking place. The once-oppressed people were now free to rebuild their lives and their society. Hope and optimism filled the air, replacing the despair that had hung like a dark cloud over Axia for so long.
…
Returning to the citadel, they encountered a group of armed individuals standing guard. These were the freedom fighters who had been imprisoned alongside Janet only hours earlier, and now they stood guard, determined to ensure that the power vacuum left by Kang's demise didn't lead to chaos.
As the guards saw Peter approaching, they immediately straightened their backs and made way for him and his group. They had nothing but respect and gratitude for the man who had liberated them from Kang's clutches.
Inside the citadel, Peter found Scott, Hope, Hank, and Janet gathered in a spacious council room. Janet was at the center, giving out orders and instructions to her fellow resistance members. She had swiftly assumed a leadership role, guiding her people through the critical transition period.
‘Well, technically they aren’t the resistance anymore since there’s nothing left to resist.’ Peter thought.
When Peter and his companions walked in, Janet's glare fell upon him. "Must you rob us of all Kang's technology? You do know we live in a dangerous dimension, right?" she demanded, her tone a mix of annoyance and resignation.
Peter smirked beneath his mask. "To the victor go the spoils." He shrugged. “Besides, we only took what was in the citadel. I’m sure there’s all sorts of useful things left lying around. I even saw a military base at the edge of the city.”
And before she could say anything else, Peter waved his hand and opened a portal on the center of the ceiling. “What are you…?” Hope asked as a huge pile of what appeared to be thick credit cards fell from the portal and made a tall pile on the floor.
Once it was done, Peter snapped the portal shot and gestured to the pile. “That’s all the money we were able to find. I thought I’d give it to you since it’s useless to us. After all, we can’t use it back home.”
Janet huffed but ultimately let the matter drop. She was mad about the stolen tech and resources, but the very other sum of money, which they called Axi, managed to calm her down significantly.
"Fine," Janet conceded, "But don't steal anything from the citizens. They've suffered enough."
Peter nodded in agreement. "Of course not. I wouldn't dream of it."
With that settled, Peter turned to Janet with a more serious question. "So, Janet, what are your plans? Will you stay here and take over, or are you planning to return with your family?"
The room fell silent as everyone, from Janet's family to her dedicated subordinates, waited for her response. Her family had their hopes, and her subordinates had their expectations.
Without hesitation, Janet declared, "I'm leaving with my family."
Her words sent a ripple of mixed emotions through the room. Her family was relieved to hear her choice, but her loyal followers couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. Janet had been a beloved and trusted leader, and they didn't know what they would do without her.
However, Janet quickly added, "But I won't leave Axia as it is now. I intend to establish a new Democratic government here. I won't depart until an election is held among the people to choose their new leaders and representatives."
Her announcement brought a collective sigh of relief from her subordinates. While they would undoubtedly face challenges without Janet's direct guidance, they could take solace in the fact that she would leave them with a structured path to follow. The future of Axia was now in their hands, and they were determined to build a just and free society.
————
A few days had passed since the liberation of Axia, and the city was already showing signs of recovery. Janet Van Dyne, once a captive of Kang's tyranny, was now working tirelessly to set up the foundations of a new democratic government. Her dedication to the task was unwavering, as she knew that the future of Axia depended on the decisions made in these early days.
Meanwhile, her daughter Hope had been spending most of her time assisting her mother in this crucial endeavor. The reunited family had much to catch up on, and amongst the chaos and responsibilities, Hope had forgotten to introduce Scott as her boyfriend.
Scott, on the other hand, had been feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension about Janet’s reaction. After all, he had witnessed her ruthless actions when she had killed her old lover, Krylar. That incident had left an indelible mark on his memory, making him understandably cautious about introducing himself as the man dating Janet's precious daughter.
One sunny afternoon, or whatever counts as sunny in the Quantum Realm, as the sounds of construction and rebuilding echoed through the city, Hope decided it was finally time to make the introduction. She had been discussing various matters with her mother when she cleared her throat nervously.
"Mom," she began tentatively, "there's something I have to tell you."
Janet looked up from her paperwork in curiosity. "Oh?"
Hope motioned to the nearby entrance, where Scott entered, a nervous smile on his face. "You’ve met Stott, Mom. He's... well, he's my boyfriend."
Janet's eyes widened slightly, her surprise evident. She hadn't expected this, but she quickly regained her composure and fixed her gaze on Scott, eyeing him intently.
Scott, feeling the weight of Janet's scrutiny, shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "Uh, hi there, Ms. Van Dyne. It's, um, nice to meet you..."
Janet continued to assess him, her silence stretching into an uncomfortable moment. Finally, she spoke, her tone dry and laced with a hint of scrutiny. "We’ve already met…"
Scott nodded, swallowing hard. "Yes, ma'am. I... I care about Hope a lot, and I promise I'll treat her right."
Hope watched the exchange with a mix of anxiety and hope. She didn’t know how her mother would react, especially after all that she’s been through.
Janet's lips curled into a sly smile, and she leaned back in her chair. "Well, Scott...” She reached under her desk and pulled out the same blaster that took Krylar’s life, laying it down in front of her with the barrels end facing Scott. “Need I say more?"
Scott gulped audibly, his nervousness only increasing. He hadn't expected a warm welcome, but this is a bit much...
Hope stepped in, trying to defuse the tension. "Mom, put that away! Scott's a good guy."
Janet chuckled, her stern facade softening as she put her blaster away. "I'm just messing with him, sweetheart. Scott, if you've won my daughter's heart, then you must have some redeeming qualities... Just remember, I'm a mother first, and you aren’t my son until she has a ring on her finger."
Scott let out a sigh of relief, a small smile appearing on his face. "Of course, ma’am... You have nothing to worry about. As for a ring… we’ll see when the time comes…"
Janet nodded approvingly. "That's what I like to hear."
Hope beamed with relief and gratitude as her mother's acceptance washed over her. The tension in the room dissipated, and it was clear that while Janet might be a formidable figure, she also had a deep love her daughter, and would do anything for her happiness.
————
In a realm shrouded in ominous dark clouds and lit by eerie purple lightning, a stone temple stood in solemn isolation. The exterior was adorned with imposing statues, each resembling Kang the Conqueror in various incarnations. Inside this temple, three prominent Kangs held a clandestine meeting, their voices echoing through the hallowed chamber.
The first Kang, adorned in regal Egyptian-inspired attire, questioned with a hint of skepticism, "So, the exiled one is dead. And you're sure of this?"
The second Kang, encased in a formidable suit of purple glowing power armor, responded with a firm nod. "If it wasn't true, I wouldn't have called you here."
The third Kang, his face adorned with intricate blue paint resembling that of a high priest, chimed in, his voice raspy and low, "None of us killed him. But someone did. And if they can use his ship to touch the multiverse, then they will become quite the threat… So, let's stop wasting time. We're late."
With a shared understanding of the gravity of the situation, the three Kang leaders exited the temple. As they stepped outside, they were met with a colossal arena filled with countless Kangs, each clamoring and shouting in excitement.
While the arena buzzed with activity and energy, a good portion of the Kangs bowed reverently as the three leaders made their grand entrance. It was evident that these three Kangs held a unique and commanding authority within the Council of Kangs.
Though not all Kang’s showed such respect. Most of them continued their celebration. After all, the boogeyman of all Kang’s was dead. Why shouldn’t they celebrate?
Little did they know that the Kang they believed to be dead was, in fact, far from it, and his knowledge was now held tightly in the palm of a new enemies hand.
A much worse enemy…
A/N: 1813 words :)