Jack Kadere and Tony Stark sat side by side, flipping through the S.H.I.E.L.D. documents.
Hmm… aside from their names on the files, the information was almost identical: both men were being invited to serve as consultants for S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Done reading, Jack?" Tony leaned over, shaking his own packet lightly before offering it. "Want to swap?"
Jack glanced up, smirking. "Why not."
The two exchanged folders like they were swapping trading cards.
Nick Fury, standing across from them with his single unblinking eye, rubbed the bridge of his nose. These two… do they even understand the concept of classified information?
"Cough. Since you've both read enough…" Fury reached forward sharply and snatched the files back, choosing not to let them keep skimming. His voice hardened. "What are your thoughts?"
"You can't afford me."
Tony was the first to respond, spreading his arms in mock surrender. "But… I'll cut you a deal. Washington is holding a ceremony to hand out medals to me and Rhodey. I need someone to handle a little side-task—like bringing in a guest presenter. I'll treat that as part of my consulting fee."
His meaning was clear. He'd accept the "consultant" title—on his terms—but the role had no binding power over him.
Nick Fury's lips curved into the faintest trace of satisfaction. One down. He turned to Jack. "And you, Mr. Kadere?"
"Sorry." Jack's refusal came as flat and direct as a blade. "I won't work for S.H.I.E.L.D."
Fury raised an eyebrow. "It's just a consultant position."
Jack's expression didn't change. "It's still a position, isn't it?"
But then, a grin tugged at his lips. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the armrest, and added with a hint of mockery, "However… as Vice President of the Ghost Spider Club, I can work with S.H.I.E.L.D. under certain conditions. Something that benefits both sides. A win-win arrangement, Director."
"…"
Fury stared at him for a long, silent moment. Finally, he exhaled through his nose. "Fine. If Vice President Kadere isn't willing to wear the badge, then we'll settle for cooperation."
Given how much influence Jack's organization had been gathering lately, Fury couldn't afford to alienate him. Better to bend than break.
"Then, I think both sides need a liaison…"
Jack rose smoothly, setting a hand on Barbara's shoulder. His tone was calm, but the spark in his eyes revealed his playfulness. "I suggest two candidates. Barbara, from my Club. And Agent Natasha, from yours. They've already met."
"…"
For the third time that day, Fury was left speechless. Is this kid trying to run circles around me?
Not long ago, Jack had outright refused to work under S.H.I.E.L.D. Now, in the next breath, he was proposing that one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most valuable operatives act as a liaison for his own group.
It was bold. It was shameless.
And it was exactly the kind of maneuver Fury expected from Jack Kadere.
,,,,
S.H.I.E.L.D. Rest Base
"Natasha, you won't believe it! Jack actually dragged me to meet the Director face-to-face—wait. What's wrong with you?"
Barbara halted mid-sentence, frowning as she noticed Natasha Romanoff at the sink. The seasoned agent had her hands under the faucet, scrubbing furiously as though she couldn't get them clean.
"Don't tell me…"
Barbara blinked, recalling similar behavior from fresh recruits. Some of the newer agents, after their first kill, developed psychological cracks. They imagined their hands were stained with blood and would wash them over and over, until their skin broke.
But Natasha Romanoff wasn't a rookie. She was a legend in the field. For someone like her…
Had she killed someone she deeply regretted?
Barbara stepped closer and rested a hand gently on her shoulder. "Natasha… forget it. It's nothing. We're agents. Some things are out of our control…"
Natasha froze. Then slowly lifted her gaze, confusion in her green eyes.
She did have a shadow lingering in her mind… but not the way Barbara thought.
The residue on her hands wasn't red.
It was white.
The memory made her jaw tighten. She turned away irritably. "This is all Jack's fault. Every time I see him now, I feel like I need to scrub my hands raw."
"Eh? Why?" Barbara asked, startled. She didn't understand the details, but offered a reminder anyway. "In any case, Director Fury already decided. From now on, you'll represent S.H.I.E.L.D. as the liaison to the Ghost Spider Club."
Natasha's mouth dropped slightly. Wait—what?
That meant… she'd be forced to see Jack Kadere often.
Great. Just great.
...
Later, at Jack's residence.
"Brother, why are you staring at me like that?"
Matilda sat cross-legged in front of Jack, swinging her legs innocently. The little girl tilted her head, puzzled by the way her older brother was studying her face.
Jack's mind drifted. Funny. If I remember right, when Matilda grows up, she'll end up looking a lot like Jane Foster when she becomes the female Thor…
That wouldn't do.
Not because Jane Foster was unattractive. But compared to the spark of beauty in Matilda's youthful features… the thought of her fading into someone else's shadow was intolerable. Westerners, Jack mused, always looked their best while still young.
No. He wouldn't let her lose that brilliance. When the time came, he'd use the talismans to preserve her beauty.
But before that… there was a simpler path.
Thanks to data gathered from Emil Blonsky's experiments, the Super Soldier Serum had been refined. Administered in small doses, it could now be given to civilians with far fewer risks—and without the agony that once accompanied the injections.
Jack leaned forward, voice steady. "Matilda… do you want to become stronger?"
Her eyes darkened with remembered grief. The image of her murdered family flickered in her heart. She clenched her small fists and nodded without hesitation. "Yes!"
"Good." Jack smiled, satisfied. "Then I'll take you somewhere."
Pulling out his phone, he made a call to the research institute. "Arrange a small-dose injection for her. The power boost isn't the priority. Just make sure it isn't painful."
On the other end, the head researcher's tone was reverent. "Understood, Boss. I'll see to it personally."
....
Drip-drop. Drip-drop. The heavy rain poured outside the courtyard, drumming against the ground in a steady rhythm.
After a moment of thought, Jack Kadere chose not to stop the rainfall. Storms came and went naturally, and tonight he let the sky speak for itself.
He motioned for Matilda to follow, leading her into the heavily modified car he hadn't driven in some time. This was the same vehicle he had once taken to Tony Stark's home, and thanks to both Tony and Ethan, it had been reinforced and upgraded far beyond its original design. Despite the machine's durability and capabilities, Jack never bothered to imbue it with any of his own special enhancements.
Beep-beep—
From inside the garage, his sentient motorcycle, Veronica, honked eagerly, wanting to tag along.
Jack chuckled, started the car, and called out, "Veronica, if you want to stretch your wheels, follow us. Just stay close behind."
Woo~!
Veronica gave a cheerful honk and rolled out into the storm, following faithfully as they drove into the downpour.
Matilda, wide-eyed, pressed her face against the window glass. She was utterly fascinated. "How… how is she driving herself?"
Jack caught her curious look through the rearview mirror, offering only a wry smile. Others walked their pets—he walked his motorcycle.
...
Suddenly, a familiar system prompt rang in his mind:
[Detected: Gwen Stacy's destined enemy — Doctor Octopus (Otto Gunther Octavius)]
Biu! Biu! Biu!
A cascade of red warning lights streaked across the drenched asphalt ahead, exploding into showers of sparks as debris scattered across the street.
Jack slammed on the brakes, muttering to himself, "Great… New York's chaos level just keeps climbing."
Through the sheets of rain, four mechanical tentacles crashed and whipped violently, tearing into buildings and cars alike.
Doctor Octopus.
Jack had let Otto go the last time they crossed paths—he'd wanted to spend his night with Felicia instead of fighting. He hadn't expected fate to throw the mad scientist right back in front of him, wreaking havoc in broad daylight.
"Look!" a panicked civilian shouted, pointing skyward. "It's Ghost-Spider! We're saved!"
The man wore a cap stamped with Gwen's white spider emblem—clearly a fan.
Bang—!
A sleek figure in black and white cut through the rain, a powerful kick blasting one of Otto's tentacles aside just as it reached for a screaming bystander.
Gwen Stacy—Ghost-Spider—landed gracefully, her body tensing and coiling with practiced acrobatics. With a swift spin, she neutralized the recoil of her strike and launched another bone-shattering kick.
Bang!
Another tentacle slammed into the pavement, splintering the wet asphalt.
But Gwen wasn't done.
Snap—
A strand of web shot from her wrist, latching onto Otto's retreating frame. With a firm tug, she yanked him forward, spinning into the air with impossible agility.
Bang!
Her third kick crashed into him mid-air, leaving Doctor Octopus visibly stunned.
"…??" Otto grunted, dazed and disoriented, blindsided by her relentless combo.
....
Inside the car, Matilda stared in awe, jaw slack. "She's… amazing. Like someone straight out of a cartoon…"
Jack smiled faintly but knew better than to let Gwen claim the victory for herself. This opportunity—Doctor Octopus practically delivered into his path—wasn't one he intended to pass up.
The storm above churned in response to his will.
Dark clouds twisted into a massive vortex, spiraling downward. A column of black cumulonimbus energy, laced with streaks of lightning, roared to life. The whirlwind engulfed Doctor Octopus, dragging him skyward like a rag doll.
CRACK—!
A bolt of thunder split the heavens, slamming into Otto with pinpoint precision. His scream was drowned beneath the deafening boom.
"Ahhh! It's a tornado!" someone shrieked.
"The criminal's being judged from above!"
"God's punishing him!"
Terrified pedestrians scrambled to record the spectacle on their phones, convinced they had just witnessed divine intervention.
But Gwen knew better.
Her Spider-Sense had warned her to retreat before the storm struck. Standing on a distant rooftop, she stared up at the supernatural vortex in shock.
"That attack… it wasn't natural," she muttered. "It targeted Otto specifically. Someone else out there… has power over the elements?"
...
A new system prompt appeared before Jack:
[You have defeated Gwen Stacy's destined enemy. As her 'related party,' you may choose one of the following rewards:] [1. Monetary Reward: One million U.S. dollars] [2. Random Reward: Ice Ability — Absolute Zero (atomic vibration control, water molecule manipulation)] [3. Subordinate Reward: Transform Otto Octavius into a loyal subordinate]
"Ohhh, finally… something worthwhile again."
Jack didn't hesitate. He selected Option 2.
Instantly, the new ability flowed through him.
High above, Otto's charred body—freshly struck by lightning—stalled mid-fall. The very rain around him froze solid, suspended in midair as if time itself had halted.
Not ice, but absolute cessation. The very molecular motion in the area was paralyzed.
Jack's eyes narrowed as he tested the limits. Within this frozen sphere, no movement could exist—save for in the immeasurable depths of the Quantum Realm. Anything entering the Absolute Zero field would stop instantly.
And deep in his core, Jack realized: with enough power, this ability could freeze an entire planet.
For now, though, he restrained it. The Absolute Zero zone collapsed back into control, the rain resuming its natural fall.
He had no intention of idly freezing Earth.
Not yet.
The spherical domain he had created instantly contracted, releasing its hold. The charred corpse and fragments of a mechanical arm that had been suspended mid-air clattered back to the ground with a heavy—
Bang!
The stalled car nearby suddenly roared back to life. Jack didn't linger. Without another word, he motioned Matilda into the vehicle and steered toward the research institute.
....
"Brother."
Matilda, seated in the passenger seat, spoke hesitantly. "When I get the injection… will I become as powerful as that woman?"
"Not that powerful," Jack answered honestly, though he didn't want to crush her enthusiasm. Instead, he painted a hopeful picture. "But still—strong. Strong enough."
After all, it was the same serum project that had given birth to Captain America. That carried its own weight.
....
Research Institute – Injection Room
[Injection preparation sequence initiated][Heart rate stable… blood analysis normal…]
"Brother…"
Matilda's small hand clutched Jack's tightly. She was brave, but deep down, still just a young teenager afraid of needles.
"It's alright. Injections don't take long these days." Jack rubbed the back of her hand gently, offering comfort. Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "After this, you won't even need lollipops to feel better."
The researchers standing nearby gave him strange looks. What kind of big brother says that? But before anyone could comment—
"Mm—!"
The needle pierced her skin. Matilda let out a soft cry, but it was nothing compared to the abuse she had endured in her past life. She bore it with clenched teeth.
Almost immediately, the serum surged through her bloodstream, initiating rapid transformation. Her cells regenerated, muscles strengthened, bones reinforced. Her frail body was rewriting itself—lengthening her lifespan, hardening her spirit.
....
A few hours later – Ghost Spider Club, Yoga Room
"Jack, this isn't some prank, is it?"
Barbara Gordon had just finished her yoga stretches when she eyed Matilda suspiciously. "You want me to train her?"
The girl looked barely into her teens. Barbara's brow furrowed. Is Jack planning to start training agents from this young?
Jack didn't answer directly. Instead, he crouched down to meet Matilda's eyes. "Do you want to learn?"
Matilda's response was firm and without hesitation. "Yes! I want to learn to fight!"
Her heart burned with a new resolve. If she could gain strength like the heroes she had seen, she could protect the weak—children in the slums who lived as she once had.
"This isn't just fighting," Barbara warned. Her voice grew sharper, almost grim. "This is combat training. Real fights where people can—and will—die."
"Alright, Babs, that's enough." Jack cut her off gently. "Teach her slowly on the way."
Barbara narrowed her eyes. "On the way? On the way to where?"
Jack's lips curled into a faint smile. "New Mexico. Beautiful Paradise, Ms.Morse."
,,,,
New Mexico – Highway Gas Station, Night
A cool desert wind swept across the road as two vehicles pulled into a gas station: a black, heavily modified sedan and a motorcycle.
"Jack, your car is insane!" Barbara beamed as she hopped out of Veronica's seat. The car's autopilot had given her the ride of her life.
"Careful," Jack warned, refueling the car. "If Veronica doesn't like you, she'll toss you out herself."
Veronica, the AI-driven vehicle, gave a sharp honk as if to agree. She only allowed Jack to handle her directly.
Just then, another car pulled in—a standard black S.H.I.E.L.D. sedan. Agent Phil Coulson stepped out, adjusting his tie as he made his way over.
"I'm grabbing donuts," Coulson said casually, taking a fuel pump. "Mr. Kadere, need anything?"
Jack turned to Matilda, who was staring at the wide-open desert. "Want some donuts?"
Matilda nodded eagerly, then hesitated before asking, "Can I also… buy cigarettes?"
Coulson froze mid-step, then gave her a kindly but firm look. "Young lady, smoking at your age isn't healthy."
Matilda tilted her head, studying the friendly S.H.I.E.L.D. agent with the almost-bald head. Something about him felt oddly reassuring.
Jack ruffled her hair lightly and said, "Don't worry. With her physique now, a little smoke won't hurt her."
"Physique?" Coulson blinked, sensing something important. "What do you mean by that?"
"You want a demonstration?" Jack asked smoothly, then nodded to Matilda. "Show him, kid."
Matilda hesitated at first, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin. For a moment she looked nervous, but Jack gave her an encouraging smile.
"Don't worry. Just a quarter."
"Okay… Brother, I'll try."
She placed the quarter between her slender fingers. With a simple flex of strength, the metal coin bent like clay.
Coulson's eyes widened, his calm mask slipping for just a second.