Chapter 85 - Part 1

  Arc 7 - Ch 2: Opening Day

  Date: Monday, August 29, 2011.

  Location: Empire State Uy, Midtown, Manhattan, New York

  Tyson stepped through the doorway of the building on 31st Street just as the clock struck 11. He found the biology lecture hall, a spacious room with stadium-style seating. The tiered rows of seats, upholstered in a muted blue fabric, faced a rge whiteboard and a projector s at the front of the room. The professor's desk sat on the side, cluttered with papers abooks. A middle-aged man with graying hair and a ly trimmed beard stood at the front of the css, patiently waiting for the st few stragglers to find their seats. Ohe room settled, he cleared his throat and began his introductory speech.

  "Wele, everyoo Biology 101. I'll be yuide through the fasating world of life sces. Over this semester, we'll explore the intricacies of living anisms, from the ti microbes to the most plex creatures and gain a deeper uanding of the biological processes that sustain life on our p. I hope you're as excited as I am to begin."

  He retrieved a worn clipboard from his cluttered desk. Adjusting his gsses, he began calling out the first name oendance sheet in his alphabetical order.

  Tyson slouched low in his seat he back of the lecture hall. His mind was already preoccupied with thoughts of the impending frontation with Mago. But then he caught a st.

  Peter Parker.

  Peter was here? But the st wasn't quite right. It was more… alluring. He barely registered the instructor's monotonous list until one name caught his attention.

  "Jessica Drew," the professor called out in his nasally tone.

  Tyson's wandering thoughts snapped bato sharp focus as he spotted a slender brue seated he frht side of the hall, briefly raising her hand.

  Could it be?

  He knew from his metaknowledge that the name Jessica Drew beloo her than Spider-Woma what were the odds she enrolled in this css? But to have run into Spider-Woman just weeks earlier and hearing the professor call her name couldn't be overlooked. Tyson studied the woman ily but her features were obscured from where he sat. Curiosity mounting, Tyson knew he o get closer to firm his suspis.

  He cast an illusion around himself, bending perceptions so no one would notice as he stood and crossed the room. He slid into the empty seat o the woman, who may or may not be Spider-Woman. Up close, the simirities were unmistakable. The curve of her jaw and the shape of her eyes matched. When he'd seen Spider-Woman, she wore a domino mask that did little to hide her overall features.

  — Rogue Redemption —

  Jessica Drew strode into her introductory biology css, her mind still lingering on the decisions that had led her to this moment. She had been torween fog on biology, physics, or chemistry wheing her major and csses. Ultimately, she opted for the introductory courses in all three. A few days after registering, Dr. Warren gave her moo shop for supplies and clothes. When Jessica returo the b, she found it deserted; every room except hers was empty. She had stayed in that lonely space for several days, waiting for someoo return, but no one did. Later, when a real estate agent arrived to list the property, the whole reality of her situation sank in.

  The following weeks had been rough for Jessica. She found a cheap apartment in a less-than-desirable part of the city, though the crime in the area didn't faze her. If anything, it enced her to spend more time patrolling the streets in her alternate identity as Spider-Woman. Money was tight, and she found herself stooping to menial work between stopping crimes to keep her financially afloat.

  Despite the challenges, Jessica arrived on time for css. She sat in the front of the lecture hall, off to the right side. The professan his introdu before taking attendance. When he called her, she raised her hand. But as he got further down the list, he reached a hat made her freeze.

  Tyson Smith.

  Smith was a on st name, but could it be the same Tyson?

  Her friend. No, Peter's friend, the one she had entered only once before, was attending Empire State Uy. And he was here, in this very ?

  The same man she had briefly fought as Spider-Woman when he had mistaken her for Kaine. She vividly recalled the overwhelming killing ihat radiated from Tyson through her spider-sense when he first attacked, vinced she was his enemy. It had been like starih in the face. But as soon as he realized his mistake, his demeanor ged pletely. He apologized sincerely, and they had a pleasant versation before parting ways.

  Still, knowing that Tyson was here at Empire State Uy made Jessieasy. What were the ces that their paths would cross again, especially with her secret identity at stake? She gazed across the lecture hall, sing for Tyson's distinct appearance. He was hard to miss with his tall, muscur frame and wild hair. But try as she might, Jessica failed to pick him out among the students filling the seats.

  She let out a quiet sigh of relief. Either audent yson Smith was attending the uy, or he had missed this css. In any case, it seemed she was safe for now. However, Jessica made a mental o look into transferring out of this course before their paths crossed. The st thing she needed was for Tyson tnize her. She would have to be careful to avoid him until she could switch csses. This enter was too close for fort.

  "Ah, there you are, Mister Smith," the professor said, his voice cutting through Jessica's thoughts. "Missed you off to the side there."

  Jessica froze once more, slowly turning her head. On the right, seated o her, was Tyson himself. With a sheepish grin, he called out, "Sorry, Professor. "

  The professor replied, "Not a problem," and tinued with the roll call.

  Tyson turned his attention to her, fshing a smile. She stared at him, mouth agape, unsure of what to say. Then Tyson asked, "Jessica, right? Hi, I'm Tyson. But you probably know that, sihe professor just said my name. I borroen? I don't have any pockets to carry one."

  Jessica, still processing the situation, handed him a pen. As she did, her eyes drifted downward to see he was wearing the skintight bck outfit he donned as Mirage. Her gaze traced the tours of his muscles briefly before snapping back up to his face, where she was captivated by his mismatched green and blue eyes.

  "Thanks," he said.

  When Jessica looked back down, she saw that he was no longer wearing his e, just regur jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. The sudden ge left her questioning her perception, w if her mind ying tricks on her or if he'd used an illusion. If he was wearing jeans, he should've had pockets, and if he wasn't, she'd seen how tight his outfit was and khere wasn't ao hide a pen. She blushed, then shook her head, looking to the front of the css as the professor reviewed the sylbus.

  His voice droned on about course objectives and grading policies. Jessica tried to focus, taking notes as best she could. But as she wrote, she noticed that Tyson's pen was moving much more than hers, which struck her as odd, sidering they were reviewing the sylbus. Curiosity got the better of her, and she gnced over at his notebook to see what he was writing.

  Surprisingly, she saw that he wasn't taking all. Instead, he sketched a woman, his skilled hand bringing the image to life on the page. As Jessica watched, the sketch took shape. The lines and t revealed feminine curves. After pleting the outline, he did some light shading before fog on the face. It took her embarrassingly long to realize that he was drawihen, with a few deft strokes, Tyson added a small mask to the sketch, a detail that firmed her suspis.

  When he had appeared o her, something that should have been impossible given her enhanced awareness, she knew he knew her secret. But now there was no question. Leaning in, she mumbled low enough that no one else would hear, "You're messing with me."

  Tyson smiled, his eyes never leaving the page as he replied, "Yup."

  Jessica hadn't expected to cross paths with Tyson again in an ordinary setting like a college . As the professor at the front of the lecture hall droned on, she stole furtive g him. He seemed so at ease, leaning ba his seat casually.

  He slid a folded piece of paper over to her. She couldn't help but smile at the gesture, reminded of the notes passed between kids in grade school. Curious and slightly amused, she unfolded the paper. It held a sloppily scrawled message.

  Want to get lunch after css? Yes / No.

  The note's childlike simplicity was endearing, and Jessica realized he was iionally eling that vibe. She softly chuckled as she sidered her respohen grabbed her pen and wrote back.

  Don't you have a girlfriend?

  Then, she slid the paper ba pyfully.

  Tyson wasted no time crafting his reply and passing the note back to her.

  Yes. She'll be there too. Meet some new people. I won't snit you, but they already know about me. They're special, too.

  An arrow pointed back to his inal "Yes/No" question, promptio decide.

  Jessica pursed her lips. She hadn't had any friends since being released from the b, and even before that, her iions with Dr. Warren and Kaine had barely qualified as genuine human es. The thought of diving into a social situation for the first time sent a ripple of ahrough her. Yet, as she sidered the offer, Jessica couldn't ighe pull she felt towards Tyson. The memories she ied from Peter painted a picture of a trustworthy and likable individual. If there was anyone she could take a , Tyson seemed like a solid choice.

  Jessica circled the "Yes" option oe and slid it ba. Her heart thrummed with excitement and nervousness. God, she felt like a kid again. It was silly, but she couldn't help it. Tyson's face lit up as he read her response, and he pumped his fist in an overly dramatic dispy of victory. Jessica smiled at his enthusiasm but was relieved that his antics went unnoticed by the rest of the css. Probably because he was using his illusions.

  As the lecture tinued, she stole grying to gauge his demeanor. He seemed genuinely pleased. He even caught her looking at him a few times, and wheheir gazes met, his eyes sparkled with anticipation. It was a look that filled Jessica with a sense of warmth and belonging that she had rarely experiehe miicked by, and her mind began to wander, imagining what lunch with Tyson and his girlfriend would be like. Would his girlfriend accept her? Should she share her ins? Would she be able to let her guard down? Would she finally get to know people who uood the weight of a double life?

  Jessica collected her notebook and pens as the professor dismissed the css. She zipped her backpack closed and turo Tyson, who was already on his feet with his bag slung over his shoulder.

  He extended an open, gloved hand toward her. "Walk with me?" he asked. "We'll head over to the restaurant together."

  Though it was the middle of summer, Tyson wore leather gloves that covered his hands. Jessica found it peculiar but pushed the thoughts from her mind. "Sure, thanks," she replied, pg her hand in his.

  They stepped out of the lecture hall into the bright summer sunshine, where students liheir chatter filling the air. Jessica took in the sights and sounds of campus life as they walked. Her thoughts turo their luns and the prospeeeting Tyson's girlfriend. She wondered if he was still dating Felicia or if there was someone new. She hoped that whoever it was, they might even bee friends themselves. Jessica loo form a e with aer being abandoned. Still, lingering memories from Peter's life gave her hope that this could be the start of a true friendship. And maybe she could even share pieces of her secrets.

  As they walked, Tyson began chatting animatedly. "I arrahis lunch earlier today," he expined. "They're friends of mine from high school. Not Midtown High, from before that." He paused, turning to Jessica with a probing look.

  "But you knew I went to Midtown High, right?" he asked casually. "Whe that day, you called me Mirage. But at the end, you slipped and called me Tyson."

  Jessica's cheeks flushed as she realized her slip-up during their previous enter. She sighed, nodding in aowledgment. "Yeah, I k was you, and I know you went to Midtown," she admitted.

  "So either you remember me or someoold you." he pyfully asked, "Do you know what my apartment looks like?"

  Jessiorted, mumbling under her breath, "Apartment, my ass."

  Tyson poi her dramatically, his face breaking into a triumphant smile. "Hah, so you do remember!" he excimed.

  Jessica sighed, knowing that there was no point in denying it any longer. Sensing her uyson quickly added, "Don't stress it too much. It wasn't really what you said that gave the game away. I had an idea who you were before we ever met."

  "How?"

  "Everyone has a unique psionic signature. Think of it kind of like a psychigerprint." He expined, "You aer and the other imposter have the same signature. It shouldn't be possible."

  "The only reasoning is that either you're a e or an alternate dimension version of Peter Parker." He added, "Or I suppose you could be a Peter from a future where something happeo turn you into a woman, and you traveled back to now."

  Jessica felt her face grow hot, a blush creeping up her neck as she mumbled, "It's the first one."

  "e it is, then," he said, devoid of judgment or surprise as he nodded sagely like he'd unlocked the secrets of the universe.

  They stood outside Keen's Steakhouse, on 36th street. Jessica's nerves began to flutter. Suddenly, the prospeeeting Tyson's friends felt daunting. But as they stepped inside, his warm smile helped to ease her worries.

  He reassured, "Don't worry, they're going to love you."

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