8th Day since the start of projects with Peter
3rd Person POV
The laboratory was dim except for the glow of scattered holo-screens, layers of pale-blue light reflecting off steel surfaces. Machines hummed in steady rhythm, the low drone of cooling vents filling the silence. In the bio-analysis section, Alex and Peter stood side by side in front of a hologram stretched across the air like a translucent wall.
The screen was alive with spiraling strands of DNA, quantum graphs, and dense data readouts—Peter's genetic code rendered in shifting, glowing symbols.
Peter stared at the screen with wide eyes, his face cycling from curiosity to disbelief, then slowly melting into something close to horror. His mouth hung half-open, his fingers twitching as if trying to reach for something to steady himself. Meanwhile, Alex—calm as ever—was perched casually on a stool, finishing the last bites of his breakfast. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched Peter's changing expressions, amused at his brother's reactions.
Finally, Peter let out a shaky exhale. He turned toward Alex, who was licking his fingers clean of sauce.
"… Is this true…?" Peter's voice cracked with hope, fear, and disbelief, as if he were still praying this might be some elaborate prank.
Alex looked up, all amusement dropping from his face. His expression hardened into seriousness as he gave a single nod.
"The spider that bit you wasn't a normal spider," Alex began, his tone calm, almost clinical. "It was genetically engineered—part of an experiment to see whether spiders' ability to lift 100–170 times their own weight could be replicated in humans. Our Fathers wanted to create a serum that would alter human muscle tissue the same way. Unfortunately… they weren't successful."
Peter blinked rapidly, his breathing shallow. Alex studied his reaction, expecting fear or outrage, but what he found instead was—curiosity. Peter's eyes were locked on him, searching for the next piece of the puzzle.
Alex continued, "That spider wasn't just any random creature. It was engineered using DNA tied to our fathers. Which means it was drawn—almost compelled—toward someone with Ryven or Parker blood. That's why it bit you, not some random kid in the lab."
Peter's face twisted into a grimace. "… So it wasn't fate. Just bad family luck." He gave a nervous chuckle, the sound dry and forced.
Alex ignored the joke and pressed on. "Here's the strange part: the spider bite should not have given you the wide range of powers you have now. Your body mass and muscle proportions? Barely changed—denser, more compact, yes—but nowhere near enough to explain everything. Something else is going on."
Peter leaned closer, his brows furrowed. "So what—you're saying my whole thing isn't just… biology?"
Alex shook his head. "Exactly. If it's not biological or purely physical, then it must be something else entirely."
He straightened, his eyes flicking toward another holo-screen as lines of data scrolled across it. His voice gained momentum, sharp and precise.
"My Gray Matter form is instinctual toward fields like quantum mechanics, AI, applied physics, biotech, genetics, nanotech, material science, engineering—you name it. So I did what came naturally. I built a quantum resonance senser to monitor your DNA makeup. What I found…" He tapped the screen, pulling up a glowing lattice of interconnected points that looked like a vast spider's web stretching infinitely. "Your DNA is linked—closely connected—to something in the quantum world. A net. A web of connections across… somewhere else."
Peter's eyes widened as the hologram spun slowly before him. His voice was barely a whisper. "… A web."
Alex nodded. "I couldn't trace where all those connections lead, but I did come to a conclusion. Your enhanced strength—ten times that of a normal human—that's from the spider serum itself. But the true source of your other powers? Your reflexes, your spider-sense, the amplification of your strength beyond the expected limit? That's from this connection. The web."
He gestured toward the lattice again. "It's not just biology—it's something… more. Probably a network between worlds."
Peter exhaled sharply, rubbing his face. "So what you're saying is… my powers don't just come from one stupid bug—they come from some freaky, cosmic Wi-Fi net of spider-powers?"
"… More or less."
Peter let out a dry laugh that caught in his throat. "Ha… great. So, not only am I the kid dumb enough to get bitten, but I also logged into some multiverse group chat I didn't sign up for. Figures."
Despite the joke, his hands were trembling slightly. He forced them into his pockets.
"… So you're also implying the multiverse is real, huh?" he asked finally.
Alex nodded gravely.
Peter ran a hand through his hair, his nerves spilling out as he half-muttered, half-joked, "Cool, cool, multiverse is real. No pressure. Definitely not freaking out. Definitely not one lab report away from finding my obituary."
Alex didn't smile. His tone grew even more serious. "There's something else. The spider didn't just give you powers. It also exposed you to radiation. Now, it isn't affecting you directly—but it could affect others near you."
Peter froze, color draining from his face. His breath hitched. "… Radiation? You mean—I'm dangerous?"
"You don't have to panic," Alex said quickly, holding up a hand. "The radiation is low, nowhere near lethal. Normally it won't affect anyone. But…" He hesitated, then continued, "If you had a sexual or intimate relationship with someone, it could affect them."
Peter's mouth opened, then closed. He swallowed hard, anxiety clear in his face.
"… So… I'm basically radioactive Spider-Man?" he muttered under his breath, then added louder, "Well… guess at least I'll glow in the dark if I die."
He laughed nervously, but the sound cracked midway.
Alex tilted his head. "So… have you?"
"What?!" Peter's voice squeaked.
"Been intimate. With anyone. I need to know."
Peter's ears turned red. "… I—I've been dating MJ for a year, but the most we've done is kiss." His tone was awkward, embarrassed.
Alex blinked. "… Wait. You've been dating her for a year and didn't tell me?"
"… Sorry…" Peter muttered sheepishly.
"So you haven't done it yet? You're nineteen and haven't… wow." Alex looked genuinely surprised.
Peter groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Do you think I haven't tried? Every time we get close, something happens. A mugging, a car crash, some psycho in a mask trying to rob a bank. I spend half my nights in costume saving people. By the time I get back, the date's ruined."
Alex chuckled under his breath. Spider-Man's luck. Terrible as always. He thought grimly, God, I just hope this MJ isn't one of the ones that cheats him just because he can't always be there. Knowing Peter's luck…
He shook the thought away and said aloud, "Well, if you haven't done it yet, that's good. A few kisses aren't enough exposure to be dangerous, but we'll still get her checked. Just to be safe."
Peter nodded stiffly, shoulders tense.
Alex leaned back, sighing. "The real problem is, I'm not an expert in radiation. None of my alien forms are, either. I can absorb all the theoretical knowledge in books and the internet, sure—but there's a difference between theory and hands-on experience. It'll take time to turn it into something practical."
He paused, then gave Peter a small, knowing smile. "Which means we need someone who is an expert. Someone who's the best."
Peter's eyes lit with sudden hope. "Who?"
Alex turned to the hologram, summoning an image. The screen shifted, revealing the familiar face of a man with tired eyes and a wary expression.
"Bruce Banner," Alex said simply.
Peter blinked. "Bruce Banner? As in, the Bruce Banner? Seven PhDs, genius-level intellect, kinda famous?"
Alex smirked. "And also—The Hulk."
Peter's jaw dropped. "… You're serious?"
"Dead serious. Banner is the best scientist when it comes to radiation. If anyone can help, it's him. And lucky for us, I know where he is."
He walked to the far desk, picking up a metallic box. When he opened it, two blue-illuminated bracelets glowed softly inside. He took one out and held it up.
"This is a mobile gamma detector. I built it two days ago. It can pick up gamma radiation within a hundred-kilometer radius. I already tracked Banner to Vancouver, Canada. We'll need to go there to find him."
Peter reached for it, awestruck, but Alex pulled back with a grin. "Hold on. There's more."
He set the detector down and lifted the second bracelet. It glowed faintly, a more complex pattern etched into the surface.
"This little beauty is what I call the Anger Suppressor. It will keep Banner's stress signals in check. Calms the part of his brain that sparks anger, slows his adrenaline surge, and stabilizes the gamma energy in his cells. Even if he starts to get angry, the reaction is softened before it grows into… the Hulk."
Peter stared at it, then at Alex. "… So basically, you made the world's most advanced chill pill."
Alex smirked. "Exactly. And with this, convincing Banner to help us gets a lot easier." He leaned forward slightly. "So, what do you think?"
Before Peter could reply, Elena's voice echoed through the lab's speakers.
"Sir, your mother and sister have arrived. They're waiting outside for permission to enter. Should I allow it?"
Alex's face brightened faintly. "Ah, so they've come." He turned to Peter. "We'll talk later. For now… let's go."
He closed the box and walked toward the outer gate of the building. Peter followed silently, still reeling from everything he'd just learned.
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