Chapter 93

  Arc 7 - Ch 10: Sinister

  Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

  Location: The Alley, Manhattan, New York

  "Now, it's time to have a chat with the Marauders."

  Tyson approached the attackers. Each was bound by metal, some in cuffs, others pletely coed. But they were all alive. He hadn't stooped to their level of cruelty… yet.

  The green-haired mutant groaned as she began to stir, sciousness returning slowly after being knocked out by Jessica. Her eyes fluttered open to see a metal dagger h only inches away.

  Tyson warned, "Be careful. If you use your power, I might slip."

  Though it wouldn't affect him with the helmet on, he'd see if anyone else nearby dispyed symptoms of her using her ability.

  Vertigo's grogginess quickly gave way to anger. "You," she spat, "You have no idea what you've done. He'll e for us. He'll e for all of you."

  Tyson crouched dowing her angry gaze. "Who?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "Who sent you?" He'd somehow learheir names and powers during the fight, though he hadn't touched anyone. However it had happehe memories faded quickly. He briefly wondered if there was something wrong with his power, Rogue's power, but pushed aside his s for the more immediate issues with the Morlocks and Marauders.

  But before Vertigo could answer, a new voice cut through the chamber.

  "That would be me, Mr. Smith. Or should I say... Mirage? o? It's hard to tell with that helmet, you know. I wonder, is it growing hard for you to tell too?"

  The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

  Slowly, Tyson turned, his eyes sing the shadowy recesses of a side tunnel. And there, standing in an alcove as if he had materialized from the darkness itself, was a figure that made Tyson's blood run cold.

  Standing well over six feet tall, he watched the proceedings with an air of amused detat. His face was handsome yet uling, with eyes that glowed an eerie red, and a matg red diamond adorhe ter of his forehead. His raven-bck hair was swept back, atuating the paleness of his skin. He wore a bck bodysuit with an eborate high-colred cape that lit into a series of strips instead of one solid piece.

  "I must say, I'm impressed. You've mao subdue my Marauders quite handily. But then, I expected no less from someone of your... unique geic makeup." His voice was silky smooth yet ced with menace. "Quite the stirring performance."

  Tyson's fists ched at his sides. "Sinister," he growled threateningly.

  Mr. Sinister drew up short, his face registering surprise for a beat. Then he smiled cruelly. "Oh, ynize me. I'm fttered. Though I must say, I'm surprised. You're better informed than I expected."

  Tyson's mind raced, running through his metaknowledge. He'd slipped, but that wasn't his biggest problem at the moment. Sinister's presence ged everything. The man was a stifiius, a maniputor of geics. Tyson couldn't recall all the details but remembered ohing.

  Mr. Sinister was a threat that the X-Men would often faot just one of them. The whole team.

  The Morlocks shrank back as Sinister approached, their earlier hope giving way to fear. Tyson stood his ground, pg himself between the hreat and the mutants he had sworn to protect minutes earlier.

  "You are fasating," Sinister tinued, his eyes roving over Tyson with an iy that felt like a physical viotion. "A veritable smasbord of mutant abilities. And now, it seems, you've added another course to the meal."

  "What do you want?" Tyson demanded, his body tensing for a fight.

  Sinister's smile widened, and his red eyes gleamed ulingly. "Why, my dear boy. I came for one of the Morlocks. Like you, one of them had su iing mutation. But now that I'm here, I want you, of course. All of you are fasating spes. You see, you're all part of a much grander experiment. And I'm afraid the data gathering has only just begun."

  "I've got some data points for you," Tyson threatened. He turned his palm upward. The air in the Morlock Grotto seemed to hum, aal debris rose into the air. Guided by Tyson's magic power, the metal fragments separated and rebined, coalesg into a swarm of dagger-like projectiles. The makeshift bdes hovered menagly, aimed squarely at the pale vilin standing before him. Mr. Sinister watched the dispy impassively. His red eyes glinted with amusement, utterly unimpressed by the young mutant's show of power.

  To everyone's surprise, Sinister shivered in... excitement? "Oh my," he purred, "are you going to pee me with all those?"

  Tyson blinked, momentarily thrown off bance by the ued response. "What?" he said, voice trailing off in fusion.

  Sinister's lips curled into a pout. "Why so hostile, darling? I'm just a humble stist trying to uhe mysteries of mutantkind. Is that s?"

  Tyson tilted his head and accused, "You created the Sabretooth e."

  Sinister's face lit up with pride as he dropped into an exaggerated curtsey. "Guilty as charged, my dear. One of my finer works, if I do say so myself."

  He was having a hard time getting a read on Sinister. Was the vilin messing with him, trying to get him to lower his guard? Tyson's eyes narrowed, and he pressed, "And the Spider-Man es?"

  At this, Sinister's expression soured. "Oh please, those aren't mine. Far too messy." His gaze flicked to Jessica. "Though I must say, this one's not bad. You keep her. Not my type. And my god, I hope you do! I've been shipping you since JJ first mentioned you on his show months ago."

  Siapped his thoughtfully. "The first e, though? Ugh. Putting that Humpty Dumpty back together would take a mountain of glue. Probably easier to crack him open, make a, a him... or whatever it is you do to gain powers these days."

  Tyson ran his tongue along his teeth, a clear sign of growing irritation. Sinister noticed a out an exaggerated sigh.

  "Aww, e on, kiddo. 't a proud papa drop by to see his favorite son?" He batted his eyeshes. "Call me Daddy just once, won't you?"

  "What are you talking about?" Tyson demanded.

  Sinister's hand flew to his mouth in mock surprise. "Oh my. So well informed that you knew me, but so hat you didn't discover your ins in the process? Where do you think you came from, sweetums?"

  He adopted an exaggerated Southern drawl. "Picture this. Pretty little white girl, Anne Marie, runs away from Caldecott ty, Mississippi, all the way to the city. New York, the big apple, the one pce she might find someone who help her trol her deadly touch."

  "Then she wakes up a bck man in the back of a tru ada..."

  He paused, casting a flirtatious g Felicia and Jessica. "That's one word away from a video I'd very much like to watch if you catch my drift."

  With a violeure, Tysohe swarm of daggers hurtling toward Sinister's chest.

  The bdes didn't reach their target.

  With an almost zy wave of his hand, Sinister halted their momentum, leaving them suspended motionless in the air. "Tsk tsk. Such a bad boy." Tyson pressed harder with his power ism. Sinister lowered his voice to a whisper. "Oh, that's it. Flex for me, I like that. S."

  With a sudden, explosive burst of energy, the daggers shot forward like a swarm of deadly, metallic bees. This time, Sinister's telekinesis was no match. The daggers pierced the geicist's body, sinking hilt deep.

  Sinister's eyes wideyson thought he'd gotten one over on the vilin. Until a low, husky moan escaped his lips.

  "Sh," he whispered, his voice heavy with a siing, almost asmic satisfa. His fingers flicked outward, and the daggers, still lodged deep within his body, began to withdraw, slowly emerging from his skin. Blood didn't even trickle from the wounds as they sealed shut, simir to his own healing. The smile still fixed on the geicist's lips grew wider.

  "Oh, darling," he purred, his voice low and husky. "You have no idea what you've just done."

  Sinister began pag, his eyes roving over the Morlocks huddled behind Tyson. His gait was slow and deliberate as he surveyed the frightened mutants. Tyson narrowed his eyes, his body tense and ready for a. He didn't attack again, reizing that Sinister seemed non-aggressive for the moment. He maintained a subtle hold on the array of daggers, ready to call them, including Muse, which was at his side. The Morlocks cowered behind Tyson; their fear alpable. Some whimpered softly, while others stood frozen, barely daring to breathe as Sinister's gaze swept over them.

  As he pleted his circuit, he let out a loud, dramatic "Hmm." His theatrical dispy might have been ical if not for the menace he radiated. As he turned, his attention was drawn to where the bodies of the fallen Morlocks had been carefully id out.

  Tyson watched warily as Sinister approached the makeshift mue. The geicist's red eyes sed the lifeless forms, pausing on each face as if cataloging their features for future reference. His gaze settled on a bald child, no older than twelve or thirteen. The sight of the i life cut short sent a fresh wave of ahrough Tyson. Sinister seemed equally displeased as he studied the child's body.

  "Idiots," he mumbled, his voice tinged with annoyance. He reached down to his belt, fingers closing around a small device. He pulled out peared to be a remote trol.

  Tyson tensed, suspicious. "What are you doing?"

  Sinister didn't respond. His thumb desded, pressing the button with a soft click.

  For a moment, nothing happehe chamber fell silent, the tension thiough to cut with a kyson's eyes darted between Sinister and the remote, trying to dis what the vilin had just done.

  Then, a strangled gasp broke the silence.

  The Marauders, still bound, began to vulse violently. Their bodies jerked and twisted within their bonds, faces t in agony.

  "What did you do?" Tyson demanded, his voice rising in arm.

  Sinister's smile never wavered. "ing up loose ends, my boy. This batch was a failure. A simple retrieval turned into this." he said, waving his hands around all the bodies.

  Vertigo's eyes bulged, her mouth opening in a silent scream as her body thrashed against her metal co. Blockbuster's massive form shuddered, his face turning an arming shade of purple. One by ohe Marauders' struggles grew weaker, their movements being more erratic. Riptide's body gave one final, violent jerk befoing still. Harpoon's struggles ceased moments ter, his head lolling to the side. Scrambler's eyes rolled ba his head as he slumped within his bonds.

  Tyson turned back to Sinister, his face a mask of horror and fury. "Your own team?"

  Sinister's red eyes gleamed with satisfa as he surveyed the now-lifeless forms of his Marauders. "Oh, my dear boy," he said, his voice filled with mock sympathy, "Sometimes, you must pruhe weak brao allow the strong oo flourish."

  Tyson had wao stop the Marauders, to protect the Morlocks, but this... this was just as bad as their massacre.

  "You... you killed them," Jessica choked out.

  Siurned his attention to Jessica. "Oh, don't look so shocked, darling. They were merely pawns, expendable pieces in a much rger game." He waved his hand dismissively. "Besides, their geic material is already cataloged. I always make more if the need arises."

  Jessica gasped. But instead of fog on Sinster's cruelty, she dissected his words, particurly the ones he had said before murdering his minions.

  "Wait. You implied that Tyson is a e... that you made?"

  Sinister's eyebrows shot up, his grin widening impossibly. "Ooh, does that excite you, Spider-Ladyboy?" He batted his eyeshes at her. "What gets your spider-seingling more? Tyson being a e like you? Or the thought of waking up with him in the back of a truck after a long, hard ride?" He emphasized the words 'long' and 'hard' with a suggestive wink.

  Felicia stepped forward. "Okay, Dr. Freak-enstei's dial back the creep factor. What exactly are you saying about Tyson's ins?"

  Sinister cpped his hands together in delight. "Oh, I do love a woman who keep up! It's simple, really. The first ingredient was a mutant gue after putting her boyfriend in a a. Take out that southern bell and that Geion X osome, sprinkle in some milk chocote, shove in that Y osome so the end is stig out the crotch, and voilà!" He gestured dramatically at Tyson. "A perfect spe, maybe a little rare at first, but now, definitely well done."

  "You're lying," Tyson said, but there was a note of uainty in his voice.

  "Am I?" Sinister asked pyfully.

  Jessica moved closer to Tyson to stand protectively at his side. "Even if what you're saying is true, it doesn't ge who Tyson is. He's a person, not your sce experiment."

  Sinister's ugh was cold and cruel. "Projeg, my dear?" he said with dark amusement.

  Tyson mumbled, "I'm getting tired of all this e bullshit."

  "Don't worry, you're so much more than a mere experiment. You're a masterpiece!" Pride and greed warred in Sinister's expression as he gazed upon Tyson like a jeweler beholding a perfect diamond. "I thought you another failure, er than these Morlock vagrants." His lip curled in disdain. "Yet now look at you. A billionaire celebrity CEO with such delightful new abilities. But you're right. There are too many es running around this city. It's time to cull the herd. 't have everyone else notig what's going on behind closed doors. But first, let's just say daddy is very ied in running some tests."

  Tyson's fists ched at his sides, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm not your son, and I'm sure as hell not going to be your test subject."

  "Tsk, tsk," Sinister wagged a finger. "Is that any way to talk to your papa? I gave you life, my boy. The least you could do is let me take a feles."

  He puckered his lips into an 'O' shape and mimed a sug motion.

  When Tyson recoiled, Sinister let out an exaggerated sigh. "No? Oh, fine." He pouted theatrically, lower lip jutting out. "I'll let one of your lovely panions collect the sample as long as you let me watch."

  His gaze raked over Jessi a way that made her skin crawl. "I hope you pick the Unclockable Spider-femme." A mixture of hurt and anger fshed across Jessica's features. She opened her mouth to retort, but Sinister cut her off with a dismissive wave. "Aeetie, don't take it personally," he cooed, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "It was a pliment. Besides, we all like to switch sides every on a while."

  As the words left his lips, a strange ripple seemed to pass over Sinister's form. Tyson, Jessica, and the others watched as Sinister's body began to ge before their eyes. The transformation was uling but impossible to look away from. Sinister's broad shoulders narrowed, and his chest swelled outward into a generous bust. His waist ched inward, and his hips wideo form an hss silhouette. The sharp angles of his face softened, cheekbones being more pronounced as full, lush lips repced his thin, cruel smile.

  Where Mr. Sinister had stood moments before, there was now a striking female figure.

  Ms. Sinister.

  Her skiais unnatural pale pallor. Her eyes, now framed by long, dark shes, glowed with the same intense crimson as before but now held a seductive gleam. Her raven-bck hair rexed from being slicked back, and hung mostly straight, past her shoulders. Her lips, full and inviting, were painted a deep, blood red that matched the diamond on her forehead. The bck bodysuit had adjusted to aodate her new form, morphing into a corset that ched her waist tighter, emphasizing the dramatic curve of her hips. Ms. Sinister's boots had transformed into thigh-high affairs that added several inches and helped to maintain her height.

  She stretched nguidly, like a cat awakening from a nap, seemingly enjoying the sensation of and showing off her new form. When she spoke, her voice was a sultry purr.

  "Much better," Ms. Sinister said, appreciatively running her hands down her sides. "Now, where were we?" She took a step forward with an exaggerated hip sway. "e now, don't be shy. Let Mommy dearest take care of you."

  But she stopped short and stepped to the side, saying, "Oh, the honey badger is back."

  As if on cue, Logan burst into the chamber, still locked in fierbat with Sabretooth. Their feral growls echoed off the walls as they tumbled toward the group, a whirlwind of cws and fury.

  Just as they were about to barrel into Sihe geicist raised a perfectly manicured hand. With a flick of her wrist, her telekinesis sent both batants flying towards the far wall.

  Tyson's hand shot out to halt Logan's trajectory. His Magiipution grabbed Wolverine's adamantium-ced skeleton and brought him to a geop at his side. Sabretooth, however, wasn't so lucky. He smmed into the wall with a siing ch, though his healing factor had him ba his feet in seds. He skulked behind Sinister.

  Logan growled, "All right, you egg-sug piece of gutter trash!" but he stopped as he realized no one else was fighting. He rexed his aggressive posture and asked, "Who's this dy?"

  Tyson sighed, ping the bridge of his nose. "I don't even know how to begin to describe this guy."

  "Guy?" Logan said, fused.

  Sinister's face lit up with delight. "Oh, you start with fabulous, darling!"

  Logan's eyes narrowed as he took in Ms. Sinister's appearance. "Nice boots," he grunted.

  The pliment, however baded, sent Sinister into a tizzy of excitement. "Logan, my dear! You were absolutely my favorite part of w with on X." She cast a disdainful g Sabretooth. "I should've kept you instead of this mangy furball, but as, I was in my pet phase back then. We all make mistakes."

  Turning back to Tyson, Sinister's eyes gleamed with an uling desire. "So, how about it, sweetums? You and Spider-Doll give me a sample, and I'll let you go. Keep your preorlocks, even the bodies of this batarauders, since I'm feeling charitable." Her gaze flickered to a er where Gambit stood tense. "Hell, I'll even throw in the spicy ." Sinister wiggled her fingers in a wave and called out, "Hey Remy, don't think I fot about you over there, mon chéri!"

  Tyson responded with a rather than words. He grasped Muse and uhe Uru dagger at Sabretooth. The mystical bde pierced the feral mutant's chest. Before anyone could react, Muse reappeared in both of Tyson's hands. Again and again, he hurled the daggers at Sabretooth, each throw finding its mark.

  Sinister watched the dispy with the air of a mildly amused parent a child's tantrum. "Oh, this is fun," she said, her tone bored despite her words. She turned back to Tyson with an exaggerated yawn. "Well, that was worth about ten seds of eai. So, what's it going to be, son? Ready to give Momma a little sample?"

  Tyson smirked darkly. "Sorry, pops. I'm not in the mood... On my period."

  Sinister's face torted in mock e. "If you keep ag like this, I will make you call me Daddy." Then, as if struck by a thought, she paused. "On your period... wait a minute."

  Slowly, Siurned around.

  Behiood not o a dozen bloody forms in the shape of Sabretooth, each wielding one of the Uru daggers Tyson had thrown.

  "Oh, bloody hell—" Sinister's quip was cut short as the blood elementals lu her and Sabertooth en masse.

  The se devolved into chaos as Sinister fought off the horde of Sabretooth blood elementals while the e of Sabertooth himself was quickly overwhelmed. Her telekinesis sent several flying, but they came at her relentlessly, sshing with their Uru ons.

  "Now this," Sinister cackled manically as she dodged a swipe that came perilously close, "is bloody fantastic! Bravo, my boy!"

  Logan, who watched the spectacle with fusion, turo Tyson. "Mind filling me in on what the hell is going on?"

  "Long story short: mad stist, possible daddy issues, and a lot of crazy."

  Jessica chimed in, pointing at Sinister. "They cim to be Tyson's creator."

  Logan's eyebrows shot up. "Creator? Kid, you've been holding out on me."

  "Trust me," Tyson gritted out, "it's o me too."

  "As eaining as this is, what's the endgame here?" Felicia cut in.

  She had a point. While the blood elementals were keeping Sinister occupied, they weren't doing any sting damage. The geicist was ughing maniacally as she fought, clearly more amused than threatened.

  "Oh, e now," Sinister called out, "is this really how you want to spend our quality time? I had so many fun experiments pnned!"

  Tyson's jaw ched. "The only experiment happening here is seeing how long it takes you to realize you're not wele."

  "Not wele? My dear boy, I'm the life of this party! Besides," her voice dropped to a stage whisper, "I know you're curious…."

  Felicia, her patience wearing thin, stepped forward. "Alright, Creepy McSts, I think it's time for you to leave."

  Sinister's eyes widened in mock fear as she forced a blood elemental back with a telekiically-infused punch. "Oh my, so feisty! Kitty's got cws. I see why our boy here keeps you around." She blew a kiss in Tyson's dire. "Don't worry, son. Daddy will be back for some quality bonding time soon enough. Maybe we do a little father-son amputation? It's just for the flesh sample, I promise. You've got a healing factor, after all. It'll grht back!"

  "Last ce. Leave. Now. Or find out just how creative I get with these daggers."

  Sinister's eyes gleamed. "Very well, my boy. But don't think this is goodbye. It's more of a 'see you ter, son.' Maybe I'll drop by for one of those shows you put on. I hear they're gag-worthy."

  Ms. Sinister ughed as she tio daween the blood elementals' attacks. She reached for her belt and produced a pair of small, drical vials. "Now, now," she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "I 't leave empty-handed. Mommy needs a little souvenir."

  She thrust the vials through one of the blood elementals. A portion of the creature's form was drawn into the tainers like water down a drain. The vial filled with a swirling, crimson liquid, but the elemental hardly lost any volume. Ms. Sinister's lips curled into a triumphant smirk as she corked the vials. "Thank you for the donation, darling. Mummy will put it to good use."

  With a casual flick of her wrist, she unleashed a telekiiergy wave, sending the creatures flying backward. She lost one of the vials with the motion. It cttered to the floor intact, but she paid it no mind. She had what she wanted and secured the other vial ba her belt.

  "As much as I've enjoyed our little family reunion," Ms. Sinister called out. "I'm afraid I must be going. So many experiments, so little time!"

  She began to back away, her telekinesis keeping the blood elementals at bay. Tyson, Logan, Jessica, and Felicia watched warily, unsure of her move.

  "Don't look so glum, my dears," she teased. "This is just the beginning of our beautiful retionship. Who knows? ime, we might even have a proper party. I'll bring the s. Makes it easier to collect the samples afterward. 't have stains all over the b after all."

  Tyson's fists ched at his sides, his voice low and dangerous. "There won't be a ime."

  Ms. Sinister's ugh was like tinkling gss, beautiful yet sharp enough to cut. "Oh, my sweet child. You don't get to decide that," she blew a kiss in Tyson's dire. "Until ime, my lovelies. Do try to stay out of trouble. Or don't. It makes things so much more iing when you don't."

  With those parting words, Ms. Sinister reached out with her telekinesis, dragging the bodies of the bald Morlock boy who'd been killed and ieces were left of the now-dead Sabertooth e to the tunrance where she had first appeared. She gave one final mog wave before disappearing into the darkness.

  As the tension in the air slowly dissipated, Tysohe Uru daggers ctter to the ground, where they and the elementals disappeared moments ter.

  Logan was the first to break the silence. "Well, that was... something."

  Jessica moved to Tyson's side, her hand finding him in a gesture of silent support. "Are you okay?"

  The hardness in his expression faded as he let out a long, shaky breath. "I don't know. I just... I don't know anything anymore."

  Felicia walked over to where Sinister had dropped the vial of blood. She pocketed it and then began assessing the situation. "We o get these people out of here," she said, gesturing to the still-frightened Morlocks.

  Tyson nodded, grateful for the distra of immediate problems to solve. Even as he turned his attention to the logistics of evacuating the Grotto and seg the bodies, not wanting to leave them for Sio return to collect, his mind ed with unanswered questions. But for now, there were people who needed help, a unity to protect, and a promise to keep. Tyson squared his shoulders, pushing his turmoil aside. Right now, the Morloeeded Mirage.

  — Rogue Redemption —

  The dank tunnels of the Grotto gradually gave way to wider passages as Felicia led the group of survivors toward the surface. At her side walked Jessid Tommy, a Morloan whose pastel rainbow hair seemed ingruously cheerful given the grim circumstaommy's intimate knowledge of the tunnel system proved invaluable as she guided them through the byrinthiwork.

  "Left here," Tommy murmured. "This passage will take us directly to the access poihe Ftiron Armory."

  Feliodded, grateful for the assistayson was at the rear of the procession, ensuring no one fell behind. Her eyes sed the ragtag group of Morlocks, but her gaze returo Jessica, who walked with her shoulders slumped and her eyes distant.

  Jessica's mind was a whirlwind of flig thoughts aions. The revetion that Tyson was a e had shaken her, and she couldn't stop thinking about him.

  Felicia fell into step beside the troubled hero. "Hey," she said softly, cutting through Jessica's reverie. "Don't let what he said get to you. Sinister's a grade-A creep."

  "He... they weren't wrong about any of it," Jessica admitted. Felicia's eyebrow arched in a silent invitation for Jessica to eborate. "I'm a woman ed from Spider-Man. I remember my life as a man. Everything he said about me projeg... it was right."

  "Everything he said was wrong, Jess. Every single word." Felicia disagreed emphatically, her voice firm but kind.

  Jessica shook her head weakly, unvinced.

  Felicia decided to take a different approach. "Okay, let's try this," she said thoughtfully. "If I had my memories removed and repced with a man's, what would that make me? A man, a woman, or something else?"

  Jessica sidered the question before answering, "You'd still be a woman."

  "And why is that?" Felicia pressed gently.

  "Because you were born a woman... because you are who you are, regardless of the memories in your head," Jessica replied, realization slowly dawning in her eyes as she spoke.

  Feliodded encingly. "So why is it any different for you?"

  Jessica fell silent, uo find an answer as they tiheir trek through the tunnels.

  "Listen, Jess. Identity isn't just about memories or biology. It's about who you are, deep down. How you see yourself, how you feel."

  "But how I be sure? How do I know what's real and what's... programmed?" she asked uainly.

  Felicia's ugh was gentle, devoid of mockery. "Oh honey, wele to the human dition. Most of us 't tell what's real and what's social or societal programming. You're just doing it on a more existential level."

  Despite herself, Jessica smiled slightly. "When you put it that way, it almost sounds normal."

  "That's because it is normal," Felicia insisted. "Look, being a e, having memories that don't match your current identity… that's difficult and fusing, no doubt about it. But it doesn't invalidate who you are now."

  They rounded a er, and in the distance, a faint glimmer of natural light could be seen as they he surface.

  "Think about it this way," Felicia tinued. "Every experience you've had, every choice you've made, that's all you. Not some stist's programming. Not some memories from a man. You."

  Jessica pohis, her steps slowing slightly. "But what about the memories? The man's life I remember living?"

  "They're just memories. sider them an intehod-ag preparation. You've got insight into the male experiehat most women will never have. That doesn't make you any less of a woman. It just makes you a woman with a unique perspective." Felicia shrugged. "You said it yourself. You were 'born' a woman. If you want to be a woman, sider yourself a woman, and you physically are a woman… There isn't much of an argument against you. You are a woman."

  A chuckle escaped Jessica's lips, surprising even herself. "A unique perspective on the male experiehat's one way to put it."

  "Hey, in our line of work, unique is par for the course," Felicia grinned. "You think anyone else around here has a 'normal' in story? Just look at Tyson."

  As they he exit, Jessica's steps became more fident, her posture straightening almost imperceptibly. "You're right," she said, "I may not have chosen how I came into this world, but I choose who I am now."

  Felicia's smile was warm and genuine. "Exactly. And for what it's worth, the Jessica I met today? She seems pretty damn amazing."

  "Thank you. I... I hat."

  Felicia's response was to pull Jessito a tight hug. "Anytime, Spider-Woman. That's what friends are for." When they tinued walking, she asked, "So, how'd you end up caught in all this, anyway? Doesn't seem like the usual Spider-gig."

  "Tyson ran into me on patrht around yraduation. Then, this m, I was sitting in css at ESU, and he picked me out instantly. Saw right through my secret identity like it was made of gss."

  "A me guess," Felicia interjected with a knowing glint in her eye. "He immediately took you in and tried to help?"

  "Exactly," Jessiodded. "It was... disarming, to say the least."

  Felicia's expression turned wistful. "Yeah, I know that feeling all too well."

  "It's different, though. You don't uand."

  "Oh?" Felicia arched an eyebrow. "And how would you know?"

  There was a moment of hesitation before Jessica spoke, her voice soft. "I... I have Spider-Man's memories. The rumors were true. He went to Midtown High. I was there, in a way, when he challenged you for that date in gym css."

  "Well, that narrows it down." Felicia's eyes widened slightly. "Oh god, please tell me Fsh isn't Spider-Man."

  Jessica's ugh was genuine. "No, definitely not Fsh."

  "Small mercies," Felicia muttered.

  Jessica tinued, her tone more somber. "You had everything back then, Felicia. You were popur and had so many friends. It's no surprise the attractive new guy went after you." She paused, her gaze dropping to the sidewalk. "Me then? No friends, no money. And me now? The same, but also, no family. Nothing but these powers I never asked for."

  Felicia's expression softened. "I get the picture. But I'll admit, I'm a bit jealous. You've already fought alongside him. After all these months, I still haven't had the ot really."

  "He's probably trying to keep you safe," Jessica offered. "And don't expect that to ge anytime soon."

  Felicia's brow furrowed. "Why do you say that?"

  "After what happeo Jubilee..."

  Felicia froze mid-step. "What about Jubilee?"

  Jessica realized too te the weight of what she had revealed. Her hand flew to her mouth. "I... I fot you didn't know. I'm so sorry, Felicia. Mago... Mago killed Jubilee."

  The color drained from Felicia's face.

  "Were you close?" Jessica asked softly.

  Felicia shook her head slowly. "Friendly. Not that close, no. But Tyson..." She let out a low curse. "He's going to be a mess."

  "He's not doing too bad so far," Jessica offered, though her tone cked vi.

  "That's because he o keep moving. He had to save me, save the Morlocks. But ohis is done?" She shook her head. "You don't uand how much Jubilee meant to him."

  They resumed walking, their pace slower now. Felicia's voice was quiet but intense as she tinued. "She wasn't just his girlfriend. It was like... like she was his other half. They shared the same is. Freaking nerds were always talking about gaming and anime. She was bubbly to his occasional brooding. She always kly what he needed, and he provided what she needed iurn."

  Jessica listened ily, pieces of the puzzle that was Tyson falling into pce.

  "He was her family, her sustenance. She was a vampire, undead, and his blood literally gave her life," Felicia tinued. "I 't say I wasn't jealous at how well they fit together." She paused, her expression troubled. "It's no wonder he killed and absorbed two people. But it's only going to pound the problem."

  Jessica's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

  Felicia sighed. "When he absorbs someone, he gets more than their powers; he gets their memories aions. Everything that made them who they were. He's carrying the grief of Jubilee's death on top of killing Mago and Healer. But it's more than that. Now he's got the psyago, who killed Jubilee..."

  "To Tyson, it'll be like he killed her himself." Felicia finished.

  They walked in silence for a moment. Jessica hadn't sidered it from that angle. She couldn't imagine how much that would weigh on him.

  "What we do?" she asked finally.

  Felicia's smile was sad but genuine. "Be there for him. Listen if he wants to talk, and if he doesn't, distract him when he et."

  "I do that."

  Felicia's expression was uncharacteristically vulnerable, nothing like Jessica remembered from her time as Peter at Midtown. "Thank you for telling me about Jubilee and for being here. I know we barely know each other, but..." She trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

  Jessica asked, "What about you? How are you handling all this?"

  Felicia waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, please. As far as kidnappings go, this retty mild. They nabbed me on my way home and dragged me underground through the subway ." Jessica's eyes widened slightly, but Felicia tinued, her tone almost nont. "They didn't eveo the torture part. Once I knew what they wanted, I spilled. I knew about Mago. Tyson told me all about him and the Brotherhood, his little group of mutant supremacists. So, I pyed the lowly human card for all it was worth."

  Suddenly, Felicia's demeanor ged. She hunched her shoulders, her eyes going wide and watery as she affected a trembling voice. "Oh, I'm just the secretary! Please don't hurt me! " The abrupt transformation was so ving that Jessica found herself instinctively wanting to fort her. Then, just as quickly, Felicia straightened up and winked mischievously.

  "I'm so sorry for sleeping with my boss!" she said with a ugh as her voice returo its usual fident purr.

  "They ate it up. I gave the shapeshifter what she wanted, but it was wrong enough that Tyson should have noticed the difference pretty quickly." A sly smile spread across her face. "I'm sure me trying to seduce him got his attentioy fast."

  Jessica mumbled under her breath, "I'm sure it did," a hint of jealousy c her tone.

  Felicia raised an eyebrow at the ent. Her smile turned curious. "Hey, you said you have Spider-Man's memories ao Midtown High, right?" At Jessica's nod, she tinued with a pyful lilt. "Did we ever date?"

  The question caught Jessica off guard, and for a moment, she was transported back to those high school hallways, seeing them through Peter Parker's eyes. In his memories, Felicia was geous, vibrant, seemingly untouchable, and decidedly unapproachable.

  Jessica burst out ughing. The sound was genuine and slightly rueful. "No, definitely not. I, or rather, he, was way under your radar."

  "Really? Hard to imagine Spider-Man being under anyone's radar," she replied.

  "Oh, you'd be surprised," Jessica chuckled. "He was the definition of a wallflower. Sce clubs and photography are ly in the popur crowd's orbit."

  A thoughtful look crossed Felicia's face. "Huh. You know, now that you mention it, I remember a nerdy kid with a camera always hanging around."

  "That was me. Always oside looking in, especially when it came to you."

  Felicia's expression softened slightly. "Well, if it makes you feel aer, high se missed out on a lot because I was too caught up in my own drama."

  "Hey, we all have h schrets," Jessica said. "Though I guess in my case, they're more like ied regrets."

  "It must be strange having all those memories that aren't yours. How do you ha?"

  Jessica's pace slowed as she sidered the question. "Holy? It's a mindfuck most days." Felicia gasped and covered her mouth at Jessica's cursing, pulling anht ugh from Spider-Woman. "I have all these experiehese feelings, but they're not mine. Not really." She paused, searg for the right words.

  Feliodded, her expression thoughtful. "And the, uh, romantic memories? That's gotta be awkward."

  A blush crept up Jessica's cheeks. "You have no idea."

  Felicia's ugh was bright and genuine. "Oh, honey. We o get you some memories of your own to bahings out."

  The suggestion caught Jessica off guard, and she felt her blush deepen. "I... I wouldn't even know where to start."

  A mischievous glint appeared in Felicia's eye. "Well, lucky for you, you've got me as a guide now. Trust me, when I'm doh you, those memories will be the least iing thing in your head."

  Despite herself, Jessica smiled. Felicia's fidence was iious. "You know what?" she said, "I think I'd like that."

  "That's the spirit! First order of business. We o get you out of that e and into a wardrobe that screams 'Jessica' instead of 'Spider-Man's leftovers.' Oh, and makeup, self-care is self-love."

  As they tiheir walk, their versation flowed easily, and Jessica felt something shift inside her as they made pns for her 're-education' in the ways of being her own person.

  She was Jessica Drew. And she was ready to start living her own story.

  Behind The Ses

  - Back when I first wrote Sinister, I apologized for his portrayal. I wasn't apologizing for that appeara was for this chapter. If you're reading this story through transtion or aren't familiar with Gen Z ay sng, it might seem like a bit of gibberish.

  As I said in AN previously, I never found Mr. Sinister intimidatie his power. He always seemed rather gay. So I leaned into that hard. I tried to write Sinister as somewhat of a foil for Jessica. Trying to explender identity, while making light of the struggle a not demeaning it, is a bit of a hard target to hit. I'm not sure I got the mark, but I tried. If you don't care about such things, I hope it was at least as fun to read as it was to write. And if you do care about it, I hope that I eled it appropriately.

  - Sinister mentioned Geion X, it was a sneaky Easter Egg refereng a mutant team led by… a certain mutant that has beeioned in this story previously. Rogue was never a member of Geion X, it was just me being cheeky.

  - Wolverine calling Sabertooth an "Egg-sug piece of gutter trash" is a great line I had to steal directly from the X-Men animated cartoon.

  - In the first draft of this Arc, Sinister didn't kill the Marauders; he left them for Tyson to 'handle.' I decided to cut them from the story because so many characters are already moving around in this Arc. Adding anroup was just too much. Sihey're es, it's easy enough t them back at a ter date. But generally, they're unimportant. The only one who's relevant, beyond Malice, is Vertigo, and it's not because she's a looker. If you know Vertigo's in (or cheat with a quick Google search), you'll know what I'm thinking about for a potential (far)-future storyline.

  - Tyson saying he's getting tired of the e bullshit and Sinister saying it's time to cull the herd, is a bit meta. I know a lot of people don't like es, and I'll be keeping the use of ing to a minimum going forward. Most of the e story will be ed up by the end of this Arc.

  - Sinister saying they shipped Tyson and Spider-Woman since JJ first mentio was a refereo the Chapter 71: Interview where J. Jonah Jameson asked Tyson about rumors of a budding romah the imposter Spider-Man and showed him the first picture he'd ever seen of Jessica.

  - A lot of the versation with Sinister was me having a bit of fun, but there were some revetions in there. We learhe Sabertooth e and hi where the Cuckoos came from. But the primary revetion is that Tyson was a e created by Sinister. I came up with this cept ba Arc 2. Someone, or a few people, ehat there wasn't a reason fue to be in Tyson's head. Of course, it wasn't a detail that I cared much about. It was more of a way to create a fw for Tyson to eventually overe, ohat was to the Rogue character. But it prompted me to sit down and find a reason for it that fit within Marvel and the story I was creating. Realizing that es in the Spider-Man ics had memories of those they were ed from gave me the perfe. So, in Arc 4, I set up the introdu of es, primarily to expin Tyson's in, but I didn't get to it until now… midway through Arc 7. If you hate Kaine and the e storyline, bme those reviewers.

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