Chapter 15
Harry found MJ curled up in the recliner he had made for her reading a book in her personal sitting room. Harry conjured a love-seat beside her recliner as he walked into the room. The appearance of the love-seat caused her to look up. She put down her book just in time because Harry sat in the love-seat and then levitated her into his lap.
"Harry, what's up?" MJ asked.
Harry pulled MJ into a tight hug and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He inhaled her scent, letting himself become immersed in her fragrance.
"You know how I have been able to predictive model the events that would have occurred had I not shown up in this universe?" Harry said.
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"Yes. That was how you knew Gwen would have died from Carnage's attack," MJ answered. Suddenly MJ had a sick feeling. "You didn't just find out I died without your arrival did you?"
"No," Harry assured as he drew his face back. "But I have enhanced that avenue of research. I figured out how to locate a parallel universe where I never arrived. I sent a cloaked research satellite which can monitor a lot of things. Now we can see in detail what would have happened. Watch," he directed while causing a hologram to form in the center of the room.
The couple watched as the events of the encounter with Goblin Osborn Junior played out much differently. MJ acted quite gullibly and risked her life going to Osborn's apartment just before Osborn Junior went goblin. Only MJ had no superpowers. Because of her refusal to listen to Peter the superhero eventually broke up with MJ. The couple watched as the alternate Mary Jane had her heart broken and the angst filled actions that followed. Liz and many other people MJ encountered in the days that followed the breakup repeatedly asked, "What is so special about Peter Parker?"
"Damn," MJ whispered when the hologram ended. "I was kind of being really stupid in that universe."
"You were naïve. But that version of you hasn't trained under me and hasn't reviewed the battles I have faced," Harry said encouragingly. "I watched that and saw her broken-hearted and couldn't stand to see her that way. I just wanted to come and hold you."
"So what happens to her next?" MJ asked.
"Without mucking about with temporal mechanics I don't know for sure. I can model the possible future but viewing it in action is more accurate," Harry answered. "I showed you up to the current day in that universe relative to our own."
"I wish we could help her," MJ said.
"I've thought about it," Harry admitted. "But that would defeat the point of this project. The moment we interfere then that universe becomes a universe affected by my influence. I could then send a new satellite to a new unaffected universe but the moment we made a change in a new universe we'd have to expand to another unaffected universe."
"That does sound time consuming and futile. You said in your multi-verse lecture that there are an infinite number of universes like that?" MJ clarified.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "How much actual effort does it take to make a new satellite and interact with the natives?" MJ questioned.
Harry thought about it and admitted, "Not much effort at all really. I just have to issue commands to my tech. Even the resource extraction for building materials is automated." "How about this...you grant your ladies access to these holographic satellite feeds and a method to help the natives if we want to. The network can expand to new universes as needed. This will make us appreciate you all the more because we can see how bad things could get without you," MJ suggested.
"I like it," Harry agreed.
"The project needs a name," MJ mused. "How does WWH sound? WWH stands for World's Without Harry."
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"I love it," Harry replied. "And I love you. Thank you for making me feel better." MJ kissed her boyfriend. The kiss was lingering.
She kissed lightly along his cheek to his left ear and whispered, "I know how to really make you feel better, tiger."
MJ smirked when she felt a reaction beneath her bum to her suggestion. She initiated another kiss and her book was forgotten.
"Huh...that is going to cause some wrangling in the criminal world," Janet mused as she ate breakfast and watched a holo-news broadcast which showed the latest news in holographic form.
Harry was actually making a killing financially in the holographic market. He was selling holo-displays as fast as he could make them. People were slower to adjust to holographic keyboards and mice but the fact that the projections were hard-light helped.
"What...Silvermane being murdered?" Natasha said while glancing at what Janet had been looking at. "Yes," Janet answered. "There has always been jockeying among crime lords and there will continue to always be so," Natasha said. "Silvermane was one of Fisk's rivals," Susan pointed out.
Fisk was still hiding out of the country but occasionally one of his robotic doubles would turn up. Harry or one of his ladies would smash the Robo-Fisks whenever one showed up. There really wasn't a point to it other than to cause Fisk indigestion. Harry could capture the real Fisk anytime he wanted. Seeing Fisk on the run was more amusing to Harry than having the big crime lord in prison. Fisk would actually probably live better in prison because his bribes would actually take. Fisk's fellow prisoners would actually accept the bribes because they had nothing to lose. No official in the US who was decently intelligent would accept a bribe from Fisk after what happened the last time.
"Excuse me, ladies," Harry said. "There was just an explosion at a warehouse down by the docks. I'm going to step out and check it out."
"Do you need one of us to come along for back-up?" Susan asked.
Everyone present knew the policy...nobody went out on a patrol or to any act of heroism without a partner. Everyone needed back-up...except maybe Harry. The rules did not always apply to the superhero. He was virtually a god and everyone present suspected it.
"If one of you wants to monitor me on the holo-sensors I wouldn't object," Harry said. "But none of you need to come along."
Susan gave her boyfriend a small smile and said, "Ok. Stay safe." Harry nodded and vanished. Harry reappeared on a building adjacent to the explosion. Lily immediately
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began using the means available to her to scan the building.
"There are two dead bodies inside. The cause appears accidental. There is a truck of blown apart Tivo devices. They appear to be stolen. If I had to speculate I would say this was a petty crime mishap," Lily informed Harry.
Suddenly Harry's Spider-Sense went off and he sensed the steel rod hurtling at him. Harry raised a shield over the impact zone and anchored himself in spacetime. The rod bounced harmlessly off of his shield. Harry caught the follow up jump-kick and threw his attacker twelve feet away pretty easily.
Harry turned to see who his attacker was and spotted a figure clad all in black holding a staff, a double- curved-bladed weapon, and sporting a cape. The costume sported two crescent moon insignias.
"You will tell me what you have done here or the last thing you shall feel on this Earth is the Moon Knight cutting your throat out," Moon Knight threatened while climbing back to his feet.
"Dude, chill the fuck out," Harry said. "If I wasn't such a nice guy I would rip your fucking head off for threatening me like that. A word of advice...don't ever threaten one of my women like that. Now why did you attack me?"
"Because you did that," Moon Knight said while pointing towards the destroyed warehouse. "I read the papers. Wherever you go trouble follows."
"That doesn't mean I cause the trouble," Harry pointed out.
Moon Knight didn't respond verbally but instead threw several small curved blades at Spider-Man. The curved blades flew like throwing stars. Harry batted them aside contemptuously. Moon Knight then darted forward behind the blades and delivered a powerful punch to Harry's jaw. Harry turned his head with the blow but still felt the energy behind it. That punch was above human power. Harry delivered a side-kick to Moon Knight's midsection that launched Moon Knight back to the edge of the roof and knocked the wind out of the cape-wearer. Harry had pulled his punch.
Moon Knight tried re-engaging but was again knocked back. It was apparent to Harry from his opponent's moves that the cape-wearer had martial arts training but that training could only go so far when one was really outclassed in terms of strength and durability. Lily had already scanned this guy and determined that he was misguided but wasn't really an evil douche. Harry noticed they were being watched and found that more interesting. Harry teleported away.
Harry appeared silently on a nearby rooftop standing behind the mercenary known as Elektra. Harry instructed Lily to cut off Elektra's call on the cell phone she held. She glanced down at the phone in confusion for a second before spinning to face him. She drew a psi blade swiftly but held it back.
"You know that won't work on me," Harry pointed out. "What do you want?" Elektra demanded. "I want to know why you were spying on me fighting with that Moon Knight guy," Harry answered.
"I wasn't here for you. I was here to see what happened to the warehouse," Elektra explained. She sheathed her dagger knowing it would be completely ineffective against Spider-Man. By now the authorities had arrived down at the burning warehouse. "My employer owns it."
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"I see," Harry said. "The explosion appears to have been an accident. There are a couple of bodies inside."
"Why are you telling me this?" Elektra asked warily.
"You showed me yours so I thought I would show you mine," Harry said with a smirk.
"Don't tease a girl like that," Elektra said with a small expression on her lips that wasn't quite a smile but wasn't exactly a frown.
"You know...if you weren't working for Fisk and hadn't tried to kill one of my favorite people in the world...I could see something happening between us," Harry pointed out.
Elektra cocked her head at Harry thoughtfully.
"I honestly don't know how to react to that," Elektra admitted. "Of course I don't know how to react to a person I seem to be incapable of killing. There aren't many people like that in existence." Elektra paused thoughtfully. "Why am I talking so much to you?"
"Because you trust me," Harry said. Harry had cast a low level spell at Elektra which was making her trust him slightly. "I shouldn't," Elektra said as her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You are doing something to me," she accused. Harry didn't respond verbally. Elektra fled the roof-top. Harry teleported home. "That was quite amusing," MJ noted.
"We were watching what happens in another universe without your involvement via Project WWH. That Hammerhead guy we killed a while back after he killed Susan Stramos' mother was the one who caused the explosion. You had a meeting with Fisk where you basically just talked and he tried to send you after Hammerhead," Gwen explained.
"What are you going to do about Elektra?" MJ asked. "I was thinking about using this on her," Harry said while holding up a vial of glowing white liquid. "What is that?" Natasha asked. "My seed enchanted to be ridiculously addictive," Harry answered. "Nice," Gwen said. "That'll do it," MJ agreed.
Harry was sitting in his living room by himself watching the WWH feed from the alternate universe where he hadn't shown up. Even though one version of Harry was sitting there by himself a dozen other versions were out doing activities with his girlfriends. Harry and his companions who knew about the WWH feed had
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become fascinated by watching it. Harry watched as the villain Hammerhead caused more and more trouble. "My killing of Hammerhead long ago had a huge impact on crime in New York," Harry told Lily. "Indeed it did," Lily agreed.
Harry watched as Hammerhead started a fight inside a restaurant in China Town between the local gangs and two martial artists. One of the martial artists, a Chinese man in his early twenties named Shang-Chi, actually caught a bullet fired at point-blank-range by Hammerhead.
"Those two are pretty impressive fighters. The bullet catching was a neat trick and quite unexpected," Harry mused referring to the blonde Caucasian male Danny Rand and the Asian male Shang-Chi.
Harry watched as Peter Parker got into trouble and was in danger of being shot in the head by Hammerhead. Then Black Cat showed up and pulled Peter's butt out of the fire.
"That woman's arse in a tight black costume like that...damn," Harry whispered. Harry stood while adjusting the bulge in his pants. "I think I need to go see if Felicia wants to have a practice spar."
Harry had been dating Felicia Hardy for quite some time by this point. They had grown close and become good friends and were growing into more. They sometimes sparred when they hung out with each other. Felicia was getting better as a result of their spars and Harry just found them fun because he got to get hot and sweaty with her.
After becoming his girlfriend Felicia had been learning more and more about him. She wasn't yet privy to the WWH feed but would probably learn of it pretty soon.
"I took the liberty of sending her a text asking her if she wants to spar and she agreed," Lily informed Harry.
Harry and Felicia appeared in their usual sparring room in the appropriate attire. The transporter network had put the correct clothing on both mid-transport. Felicia liked wearing a pair of skin-tight exercise shorts which road up in the back whenever she moved. She knew they drove Harry crazy but he wasn't exactly complaining at the view.
"Thank you for the distraction, handsome," Felicia said as she stepped closer and stole a kiss from her boyfriend. "I needed the break."
"And I needed to see you," Harry replied with a fond smile.
Harry managed to keep his arousal for Felicia out of his tone as he made that statement but she knew he desired her. Felicia returned the expression and took up a fighting stance. Harry did like-wise and the couple was off.
Smut Scene Lead-In
Felicia landed on her back with Harry on top of her for what seemed like the millionth time in their relationship. This inevitably happened during their sparring sessions. It may take longer and longer for her to lose but inevitably she ended up underneath him. Except, this time was different. This time she had been anticipating this. She would finally thank the man who had saved her life so many times and who had
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become a truly good friend.
"Suddenly I don't mind landing on my back so often," Felicia purred as she slid her hands down Harry's abdomen and inside his workout shorts.
"Uh...wow," Harry said as Felicia grasped him and began fondling his manhood. "So eloquent, Harry," Felicia said teasingly as she leaned up and kissed him. Harry gladly returned the kiss as Felicia started working his shorts down over his tight bum. Begin Smut Scene
After they got Harry's shorts off he returned the favor by removing her shorts. Neither had bothered wearing underwear during their workouts. Harry positioned himself between her legs. She rubbed her gash briefly while staring up at him hungrily. He moved his hips forward and guided the tip of his prick to her slit. Felicia let out a soft moan as he started pushing into her. Harry's verbalization was a throaty groan as he slid further and further into Felicia's womanly grasp. Within moments of starting he was buried fully in her vagina. Harry moaned approvingly in unison with Felicia. Felicia flexed her kegel muscles around his tool and he responded by drawing halfway out of her before slowly thrusting back in. He began rocking his hips back and forth to drag his dick from her vaginal grasp before pushing it swiftly back inside. Her hands gripped his biceps while her legs wrapped around the back of his thighs.
Harry's fingers threaded through Felicia's long white locks as he slowly pumped her pussy. His upper body was braced upon his forearms. His mouth found hers in a hungry kiss. She sucked on his tongue when it went exploring, tasting, between her parted lips. After several strokes she broke the kiss to breathe and moaned out his name next to his ear. Her inner thighs rubbed against his hips as he speared into her snatch. Her juices began coating his organ freely and his passage was eased even further. Her legs pulled at him urging him to thrust harder and deeper into her body. He kissed down her chin, to her neck, and then to her throat, and further down to her breasts. His lips caressed and suckled on her nipples. Felicia gasped and thrust her breasts against his mouth. He continued to move his lower half unerringly pistoning his shaft to and from her sleeve. Her inner walls molded their exquisite softness to every bit of his slick shaft. Her muscles rhythmically squeezed and released his tool.
Felicia lost herself in the sensations of her lover's hard body moving against hers, his rigid shaft moving inside her cunny and stretching her insides perfectly. She wasn't sure how long he continued to pump her pussy like this but after what felt like considerable time she felt him draw out of her and felt loss. His mouth trailed down between her breasts, over her tummy, and straight down to her flower. Felicia gasped and grabbed the back of his head as his tongue and lips found her slit. She stared down into his eyes as he glanced up to stare at her face. There was hunger and desire staring back at her. She could instantly tell he loved having his mouth on her snatch. His tongue moved in many directions, his lips suckled, his taste buds tasted her. She could tell by his approving moan, his look, and his body language that he found her taste delicious.
"Oh...Harry," Felicia whispered.
Felicia tasted delicious. He loved having his mouth on her sex but his prick was throbbing with a need for attention. The best place for his manhood to be was enveloped by her womanhood. Harry rolled Felicia on her right side and climbed up to lay behind her. He guided his dick back into her quim and felt her vaginal muscles welcome him with a tight massage. Harry's arms went around her pulling her back against his chest and his right hand slid down to the top of her gash so that his fingers could work her clit. He started moving again sliding his pole to and from her slit. Felicia reached back behind her and grasped his head to pull his mouth to hers for a scorching kiss. She tasted herself on his lips but didn't seem to mind. She continuously flexed herself around his manhood as he worked himself inside of her. He felt her soft flesh rippled against
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him and suckle at his organ. Her flesh against his frenulum felt particularly good. As he picked up speed her and thighs rump bounced off his groin with a meaty slap. The softness of her pussy lips felt perfect against his finger-tips as he toyed with her clit.
"You are amazing, Felicia," Harry whispered into her ear.
Felicia was breathing hard as her heart raced. Harry was doing a really fantastic job of stimulating all the right parts inside of her vagina and her clit using his hand. She could tell he knew what he was doing. He manipulated her body like a master violinist handled a violin and as a result created something truly beautiful inside of her. She thought she could feel his power reaching inside of her, making her feel connected intimately with him beyond the physical. She could feel his emotions and pleasure. She felt how beautiful and tasty he thought she was. His left hand held her hip with a firm grip while his right worked her clit. Her hands were busy rubbing her nipples which made everything feel even more fantastic.
"Cum for me, baby," Felicia urged while she started rocking her hips in a counter-point rhythm to his motions. "Pump my pussy full of your hot seed."
Harry's hips sped up and his organ increased its output of arcane energy into Felicia's womanly core. Her body prepared to climax within moments of the increased output. Her lips parted and her heartbeat sped up. Harry groaned as his testicles tightened. He deeply moaned as he pulled her back tightly against him and felt his dick start shooting his potent potion into her pussy. Felicia gasped loudly once and then began to shudder. Her right hand flew to his right wrist as he rapidly worked her clit. He knew when she wanted him to stop using his fingertips and just rub her clit gently with the bottom of his fingers. The lovers cried out their mutual release and clung to one another as they hung on to the waves of ecstasy shooting through their joined sexes.
The lovers clung to one another for some time after they came down from their climax. They lay there and enjoyed the bliss. Eventually Harry summoned enough will to magically clean them and teleport them into a bed. They both fell asleep sated shortly after never disentangling from each other.
End Smut Scene
"So it is a problem if we never leave the bedroom?" Felicia asked as she twirled her right index finger through the hairs on Harry's chest.
Felicia and Harry lay in her bed with their legs entwined. They had been having sex for over twenty-four hours though Felicia hadn't bothered keeping track. She just knew it was a long time.
"You might get bored with it eventually," Harry pointed out even though he knew it wasn't true.
The bio-net AIs in Harry and each of his mates were awesome. There was no other way to describe the technology. The AIs were able to capture all the feelings both emotional and physical of what their host experienced the first time the host was with a new partner sexually. The AIs could then control what the host felt through their nanite networks and could make sure the host experienced that "newness" each time the host was with that partner. Sex literally never got old. And the AIs were told to vary the intensity of the new feeling so that some parts felt new while other parts felt familiar.
"I don't think so," Felicia said. "I've been around you long enough to know that you aren't afraid of boring any of your lovers. Why is that?"
"I may have a technological solution in place to ensure nobody gets bored of sex with me," Harry admitted.
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"I knew it!" Felicia said with a laugh in her tone. "You do realize your technology and powers make you a god to women, right?"
"I may be aware of it," Harry replied.
"You love it," Felicia accused with a grin.
"It's a powerful and intoxicating experience," Harry confirmed.
"How long have you been like that?" Felicia asked curiously. "I mean I know the books hinted you were much older than you appear but they didn't say how old."
"The technology reached this point by the time I was 200,000 years old," Harry explained. "My powers took a little longer to refine. I achieved that state by the time I was 300,000. This is why I am able to remain with the same three partners for over a million years. Sex never got old. Though our tech didn't have our first time imprints because of how long after our first times it was perfected. But we had time travel tech and were able to go back and obtain the necessary imprint information from scans."
"Living for a million years...I can't imagine what that must be like," Felicia said with an awe filled tone.
"The same technology that keeps sex feeling new also carefully monitors the host's mood and thoughts. This technology is an AI which can monitor the host's desires and will adjust the host's mood to the way the host subconsciously desires. Say you are feeling tired of life and just tired in general...the AI can use the technology it controls to interject feelings of being alive, energetic, and newness into your outlook on life. If you want you never have to get tired of life," Harry explained. "My AI never had to influence my mood much because I have a hunger for learning and there is still so much to learn even after a million years. I can still be surprised," Harry explained.
"That sounds fascinating. So this technology is inside me now?" Felicia questioned.
"Yes. It is called a bio-net AI. In addition to making sure you are safe it also can heal you and make sure nothing can ever harm you," Harry explained.
"Huh...I didn't know," Felicia mused.
The couple continued talking for some time with Felicia learning more about her lover's past and his amazing technology. The more she learned the closer she was drawn to him.
"Harry, can you come to my room," Susan requested. "Sure, luv," Harry said as he sent a version of himself to her room.
Harry sensed embarrassment coming from Susan's thoughts as he entered her room a short while later. Susan sat in her chair with her right hand against her lower abdomen looking miserable.
"This is so embarrassing," Susan whispered as Harry sat down in the chair with her. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. What's wrong?" Harry asked.
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"I have been trying to go to the bathroom for some time. I feel like I have to go...but it just won't come out," Susan explained. Susan had suffered problems with lactose intolerancy before she had come to this universe. But after she had arrived in this universe she had been surprised to discover during one of her sessions of guilty eating that she had no trouble digesting dairy products. It had not been lost on her that the biggest factor of change was Harry given his seed granted spider-enhanced abilities. She had never asked him about the changes in her digestion because she was honestly embarrassed and self-conscious about the effect it had on her. "I was lactose intolerant in my old universe. But when I got here...and became your girlfriend I no longer had any issues. I never asked because I was embarrassed...but does being with you have an effect on my digestion?"
"Lily, interface with her bio-net AI and see what is wrong," Harry directed. Harry had not revealed the knowledge of a bio-net AI to all of his lovers. It had not been a high priority
because the bio-nets did their thing in the background and generally nobody ever noticed them.
"I put nanoscopic technology inside of each of my lovers which helps you greatly. It would have corrected any irregularities in your system and ensured you had regular bowel movements. The fact that it isn't doing so now is worrisome. My nanite network is now running a diagnostic on your network," Harry explained.
"If that is what has been helping me I want to really thank you. My digestive issues have always really sucked," Susan said. "After I'm feeling better I will thank you properly."
Susan winced as her guts ached. "Lily, help me target and transport out the cause of her discomfort," Harry directed.
Harry reached down and placed his right hand on Susan's abdomen. A moment later and the cause of her distress in her intestines was gone.
"Thank you," Susan said with a sigh.
"I have determined the cause of the trouble in her nanite network. There existed an energy field permeating her form. The energy field was a form of exotic matter radiation which I believe was started in her due to her transition to this universe. I have purged the field from her system. The field was messing with her network in a negative way," Lily explained.
Harry repeated this news to Susan.
"I will have our networks run daily diagnostics on each other to prevent such an issue from cropping up later," Harry explained to Susan.
"Can I have the specs on these nanite networks?" Susan requested. "The data is on your laptop now," Harry answered.
"You are the best boyfriend ever. Now come on," Susan said as she stood and pulled Harry up by his hand. "Let's go shower so I can get cleaned up and reward you."
"I love you," Harry said.
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"I love you too," Susan replied as she pulled him into the shower.
Harry cringed as he sat watching the actions of his counterpart in the WWH feed. WWH-Peter Parker was currently engaged in a showdown between several hero-types and several villain-types. Mostly everyone wanted Hammerhead dead including Elektra sent by Fisk. But Hammerhead managed to turn her to his service by offering more money. Shang-Chi, Danny Rand (the Iron Fist), and Moon Knight also wanted Hammerhead dead. Black Cat wanted Hammerhead to live because she figured Hammerhead was her best bet to see Fisk dead. Felicia turned on Spider-Man for the duration of that fight. Spider-Man managed to web everyone up and temporarily halt the fight. His next actions were why Harry was cringing.
"This kid's lack of tactics will get him killed someday," Harry said to Lily. "Indeed...you would knock everyone unconscious the second you had them immobilized with or without your
ability to stun them," Lily replied. "Yes. And he is too quick to trust that police captain," Harry pointed out.
"My analysis tells me that Captain Jeanne De Wolfe is on Wilson Fisk's payroll in that universe just as she is in this one," Lily stated.
Elektra was the first to work her way free of the webbing binding her and she attacked Parker without pause. It was obvious she intended to kill while he held back not intending to kill.
"Well even betraying him Felicia still saves his life and doesn't want him to die," Harry muses as he watched the fight.
The others had broken free and Hammerhead had tried to shoot Spider-Man dead. Felicia had used her mutant power on Hammerhead's gun. The round became a dud under her luck-based power. Elektra stabbed Moon Knight and Hammerhead ripped off Knight's mask and took a picture. If Moon Knight survived Hammerhead intended to have blackmail material to hold over the would-be-hero.
Elektra then used her martial arts training to kick Peter's ass, knocking Spider-Man out of a window and down onto a parked car.
"He really needs some martial arts training," Harry noted to Lily. "He does," Lily agreed. "He relies too much on his spider-enhanced speed and agility to get him out of
fights alive. Unfortunately you cannot help all versions of him."
"True," Harry agreed. "What do you think Hammerhead's chances actually would have been in defeating Fisk if I hadn't put an end to Hammerhead in this universe?"
"He would not have prevailed even with Hammerhead's mutant abilities. There are universes where he would have prevailed of course but generally in those universes Hammerhead was a lot more powerful or Fisk was weaker. None of those scenarios match this universe or any universes close to this one," Lily answered.
"Interesting...so this whole exercise of watching Hammerhead make a play for Fisk is pointless in the long run. All it does is provide entertainment, kill lots of thugs, and some innocents caught in the cross-fire,"
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Harry said. "You could make that assessment, yes," Lily confirmed.
"Being able to see big picture aspects of the multiverse like this can really cause a person to be jaded towards life. Don't ever let me get that way," Harry directed.
"I will not," Lily agreed. Lily could sense Harry's desire both spoken and unspoken and knew exactly what he meant.
The fight in Hammerhead's residence became even nastier after Spider-Man's forced departure. Moon Knight managed to toss one of his crescent-shaped throwing blades into the back of Elektra's head but not before she stabbed Hammerhead in the chest. Moon Knight, Elektra, and Hammerhead all ended up in comas.
"This animated universe we are in does have its advantages. Those wounds would have killed a mortal in my old universe," Harry noted.
"Yes...the properties of matter in this universe did take some getting used to," Lily agreed. "I can't say being able to hit assholes harder without worrying about permanently breaking them isn't fun,"
Harry mused.
Harry observed the WWH feed as after the fight ended Felicia and Peter met on a rooftop to discuss what had just happened. Peter was angry at Felicia's crazy changing back and forth of sides but the conversation still ended with her trying to kiss him. When she pulled off his mask Felicia ended up laughing in his face and running off.
"Poor Peter...he appears so confused," Lily noted. "Yes...I don't think he realizes she laughed in his face because of how young he is," Harry said.
"After all that trouble he went through dealing with her this was his reward," Lily mused. "He didn't even get a single good kiss."
"Makes me really glad I can shape-shift and didn't reveal myself in my younger form," Harry commented.
"Even if you did reveal yourself in the younger form of Peter Parker you have a completely different personality and charisma about you than he did. You would attract women whereas he may not. As we just saw Peter didn't bother paying close attention to her reaction to his look due to inexperience. He could be described as sort of goofy. No woman who has met you would ever describe you as goofy," Lily pointed out.
"You make a good point," Harry said.
"The general consensus among your ladies is that WWH is making them very appreciative of having you in their lives. They can see just how bad things could get without you. In all cases you have vastly improved their lives," Lily informed her creator.
Lily had worded the information in such a way so as to not invade the privacy of any one of his single lovers. Lily would of course invade their privacy if Harry asked but he really didn't want to use such methods to find
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out what his lovers were thinking. It was much easier just to ask the ladies what they thought about something. Lily knew that her telling Harry something like a general consensus of his ladies' feelings wouldn't make Harry feel bad.
"Good. That effect works two ways as well. It hurts a little to see other versions of them suffering. I appreciate how much happier they are with me. I know they appreciate and desire me because we both can see how it is without one another," Harry explained.
"Well said," Lily sent to him approvingly.
Harry watched WWH for a little longer and then decided to go do something else. He could only watch the harsher life for Peter Parker for so long in one sitting before he felt the need to go hug his family or beat a villain up.
"You both look gorgeous in those outfits," Harry whispered to Jean and Ororo as some of the X-Men prepared to go to Coney Island for a little bit of fun and relaxation.
Jean was wearing a pair of tight blue jeans shorts and a red tank top that showed off her midriff and matched her hair. Ororo was wearing the same type of outfit but her shorts were black and her top matched her hair.
"You don't look so bad yourself, handsome," Jean returned.
Originally Jean hadn't wanted to go because she had thought she would need to do her monthly mental cleanup. Periodically her telepathy would build up a psionic residue and interfere with her telekinesis. She needed some alone time to clean up this residue. But earlier that day her boyfriend had explained that he used his technology to take care of the issue. When she had questioned him about it he had explained some of the basics of the bio-net within her body. She had suitably rewarded him for his efforts.
"Jean...you look like you are ready to tear off his clothes again and eat him all up," Ororo teased.
"I can't help it if he tastes absolutely delicious," Jean replied with a grin. "And you'd do it too, Ororo."
"True," Ororo agreed.
The others who were going gathered in the room where the trio had been sitting. The trio stood and Harry activated his teleportation network. The group reappeared on the outskirts of Coney Island.
"I want to try that strong man game to win a stuffed prize for my sister," Colossus announced.
The group was kind of sticking together at first so agreed to follow their friend. Harry's gaze peered through the shell of the game as Colossus swung the first blow with the hammer.
"No winnah," the carney called. "Nyet," Colossus declared. "This game is rigged." "You're right," Harry told Colossus from nearby. "It is. Let me try." Colossus in his non-armored form was strong but not strong enough to be considered super-powered. Harry
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didn't have that restraint as he took the hammer and paid the carney the money to try. Harry swung the hammer with just the right amount of strength to win the game but not damage the game. Lily had calculated the force required after scanning the inner workings of the rigged game. Colossus picked out a stuffed toy.
"Thank you, my friend," Colossus told Harry. "Illyana will love this." "Can I see it for a moment?" Harry requested.
Colossus passed over the stuffed toy. Harry with Lily's help began rapidly layering on complex enchantments. The enchantments were so complex and fast no human alone could have ever performed them so quickly or with so little energy.
"What did you do?" Colossus inquired after Harry handed the toy back.
"I used advanced technology to make the toy more interactive. It'll also protect your sister. She will have a new friend," Harry explained.
"You are a great friend to have, Harry," Colossus said. "Thank you."
The group wandered the boardwalk occasionally playing games. When a game was rigged (most were) Harry would tell his friends how to win them. "That is not cool," Ororo said when she spotted a sign for a half-woman half-animal act named Wolfsbane that was obviously a mutant.
"Everyone needs to earn a living," Logan pointed out. "Not everyone is as fortunate to have the financial backing that those at the Institute enjoy."
"You guys go on ahead. We're going to go talk to the mutants here and offer them a place at the Institute if they ever need it," Harry told the others.
Kitty nodded and the group moved off. Ororo kissed Harry lightly.
"Thank you for being you," Ororo said.
After a while of talking with the local mutants the trio heard an altercation going on...a super-powered altercation. They came out onto the main boardwalk to see Ice-Man in ice armor lying on his back. A mutant holding a glowing card with the same energy signature as the residue that had knocked Ice-Man back was holding Rogue's arm.
"That is Gambit. He was among the President's mutant pack during the sentinel incident," Harry informed his lovers.
"It would seem he has a new backer unless he is here on his own," Jean commented.
The X-Men had all assembled. Colossus armored up. Dazzler brought up a light show around her body. Logan popped his claws. An aura of fire manifested around Jean. Ororo's eyes crackled with restrained power. Harry grinned.
"Gambit, as you can see messing with one of our own is a bad idea," Ororo said. "So back the fuck off," Dazzler called.
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"So you have a posse. I have a clan too. They cleaned me up and taught me some new tricks. A month ago I never would have made a shot like this," Gambit said while tossing a charged playing card at the connection point for the Ferris wheel where the base met the wheel. The exploding card broke the wheel off the base and the wheel began to roll. Harry leapt up onto the base and sent lines of webbing at the wheel. He planted his feet and pulled the wheel stopping it cold.
"That was a mistake," Jean said. "It takes only one of us to deal with that leaving the rest of us to kick your ass."
The fight was short. Gambit fled before he could be overwhelmed. The X-Men didn't chase him too hard. Harry had tagged Gambit with a tracker and his teammates knew it.
It didn't take Gambit long to stop moving. Gambit took Rogue to one of the upper floors of the Empire State Building. Rogue was still unconscious when she arrived so Lily kept a cloaked probe on her while Harry went exploring with the X-Men under cloak.
"Where are we?" Kitty asked after the X-Men had been transported into an empty room of the floor Rogue was on.
"We are on the same floor of the Empire State Building Rogue has been taken to by Gambit," Harry explained. "We are cloaked for now so that nobody else but the members of our group can see us. Rogue is still unconscious from Gambit using ether to knock her out."
"Alright...let's use our surprise to kick some ass," Ice-Man urged.
"I brought you all along to give you some experience in stealthily gathering intelligence in an enemy environment," Harry explained.
"So no immediate ass-kicking," Jean cautioned Ice-Man.
"We can do that," Bobby agreed.
"What are we looking for?" Colossus inquired.
"Observe their operations here and try to figure out who these people are and what exactly they are doing. Jean will keep us in telepathic contact," Harry directed. "Stick to groups of three."
The group broke apart and went in separate directions.
"Well I would say it's pretty obvious this floor is leased by Fenris International," Storm sent to her companions while noting a sign with the company's logo in one of the more public parts of the floor.
"The co-presidents of that company are the siblings Andrea and Andreas von Strucker. They are here and they are mutants," Harry informed his companions.
"Rogue is waking up," Jean stated. "Let her know we are here and keep her calm," Harry replied. Rogue's idea of remaining calm didn't exactly match up with Harry's version of calm. It wasn't long before
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she had managed to drain Gambit's power and break free. When she blasted open a window with a kinetic- energy charged playing card she discovered she was on the Empire State Building.
"Your hasty departure would have fared better had you possessed wings taken from another mutant," Andrea said.
Rogue spun from the window she had blown out to face the Von Strucker siblings. Andrea and Andreas were blonde and looked somewhat artificial.
"Harry, they are the product of crude attempts at genetic engineering," Lily informed her creator. "Noted," Harry said.
The X-Men had gathered in the corridor in which Rogue was standing facing a swat team and the Von Strucker siblings.
"Who are you?" Rogue demanded, gaining confidence from seeing her teammates behind her opponents.
"We are here to welcome you, Rogue. We are the Von Struckers. I am Andrea and this is my...partner Andreas," Andrea said. "We are the co-presidents of Fenris International."
"Mr. LeBeau collected you at our request," Andreas added. "Mutants are not cattle to be collected," Rogue stated. "We couldn't agree more," Andreas assured as he held his sister's hand.
The Von Struckers' joined hands glowed golden as did their eyes showing their obvious mutation. The palms of their free hands were directed at Rogue and twin golden streams of energy vaporized the cards she was holding.
"So you are mutants as well," Rogue said calmly. "Why do you want me here?"
"Long ago we realized that in order for homo-superior to gain equality we needed economic empowerment. In order to compete in a human-dominated economy we must occasionally resort to industrial espionage. Our scouts think you would make an equally good asset in this arena as Mr. LeBeau," Andrea explained.
"Playing like you are seriously considering their offer will get more out of them," Jean sent to Rogue so that all of the X-Men could hear.
"If I spy for you what is in it for me?" Rogue asked.
"Money for one," Andreas answered. "Another benefit to you is that we will give you complete control over your abilities through our patented bio-engineering techniques. But you would have to sign an exclusive contract with Fenris International."
"Say I am interested in hearing more," Rogue said. "How does your company benefit mutant-kind exactly?" "Fenris was the mythological Norse wolf which brought about the twilight of the gods," Andrea explained. "Similarly Andrea and I hope to bring about an end to humanity's financial dominance over mutant-kind,"
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Andreas added. "The Von Struckers are telling the truth, Rogue," Gambit said.
"No offense, LeBeau," Rogue said. "But your word isn't exactly good for much right now. If I didn't have a lot of your memories I would have absolutely zero trust for you. You kidnapped me and have been stalking me for quite some time before that."
"We can provide proof of our capabilities. Follow us," Andrea said. "You will need to take off your clothes."
The X-Men followed the group. Andreas had signaled the swat team to back off. The Von Struckers led the way into one of the lab facilities the X-Men had been exploring invisibly earlier. Andrea led Rogue over to a mannequin with the same shape as Rogue's form on which sat a body suit. Rogue changed into the body suit. Rogue had caught on and stepped closer to Andrea before grabbing the blonde's hand. Nothing happened.
"I've gotta admit," Rogue said. "That was pretty impressive."
"Your suit is made of an experimental polymer which dampens mutant abilities while a small current is passed through its fibers," Andrea explained.
"When you are ready for it we can have the material grafted to your subdermal vascular network so that your body's own biochemical energy can power the suit," Andreas added. "Then you can manipulate your powers to turn on and off at will."
"Anything else you want me to ask them?" Rogue thought at Harry.
"Ask them how their company helps the mutant community," Harry sent.
"How exactly does your company help the mutant community?" Rogue asked.
"We funnel the profits we make back into the mutant community. The specifics are unimportant. We can show you examples in action at a later date," Andrea replied.
"The specifics are very important and now," Rogue said. "I want to see these examples and your books which I will verify."
"I'm afraid that isn't necessary," Andreas said.
"By putting on that suit which is proprietary Fenris technology you have tacitly consented to our a priory agreement," Andrea explained.
"Andreas, you told me this would be Rogue's choice," Gambit said angrily.
"Rogue was brought with the intention of being your partner, LeBeau. But she can just as easily be your replacement," Andreas threatened while he held his sister's hand and held up his free palm while she did the same.
"I don't enjoy being shanghaied. She walks and so do I," Gambit said while holding up a glowing playing card.
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The Von Struckers blasted Gambit.
"Now...where were we," Andrea said. "We programmed your inhibitor suit to suppress yours powers until we reached an accord on your employment. So any heroics would be pointless."
A charged playing card flew from Gambit's hand and headed straight towards the control interface of Rogue's inhibitor suit. Harry stopped the card before it could damage the suit using telekinesis.
"Your inhibitor suit has been reprogrammed to be under your mental control. Think about wanting to use your powers and they will work," Harry sent to Rogue.
"I am afraid you don't seem to understand the nature of my powers to their full extent. I recently came to understand I can retain an ability of my choice for long periods of time. I recently interacted with a telekinetic. And your inhibitor suit only blocks the acquisition of new abilities for me," Rogue said as she gestured with her hand like it was her telekinesis.
"Rogue, we're...we're prepared to renegotiate," Andreas began.
Rogue stepped forward and grabbed each of the siblings. The Von Struckers dropped to the floor almost unconscious moments later.
"Mon Cherie, we had best get out of here. Those two won't stay down forever," Gambit said as he climbed to his feat.
"The Von Struckers will stay down as long as my friends want them to," Rogue said as the X-Men appeared visible to all.
"Oh...shit," Gambit said.
Harry fired web-lines at the Von Strucker siblings to secure their limbs to the floor. He made sure to secure them so that they couldn't touch each other.
"This is an illegal intrusion into our facility," Andreas snarled. "You will leave now." A web-line shot across Andreas' mouth to shut him up.
"I would just like to say that I was assured you could save every life I put at risk by damaging that Ferris wheel," Gambit put forth. "I wouldn't have done it otherwise."
"He's telling the truth," Jean announced. "He firmly believed we would save their lives."
"That can be taken into consideration," Harry said. "But that doesn't set aside the fact that you threatened the lives of dozens of people with that little stunt."
"What would you have me do about it?" Gambit asked. Gambit wasn't stupid. Gambit knew who Spider-Man was and just how powerful the superhero was.
"You need to understand how serious what you did was," Harry mused. "I propose you can come work for my company. A portion of your wages can go to a fund to assist your victims financially. This won't be
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permanent but something that could last for five to ten years."
Gambit was silent and thoughtful for several moments before he said, "I can do that."
"What is to be done about those two?" Rogue asked while pointing to the Von Struckers.
"They require a prison sentence at least," Jean said grimly. "They have done some pretty nasty things. They say they are for mutant-kind. They help a little but hurt far more."
"We can review their crimes and then decide. But prison might be the best option. I can talk to Fury about the best place to incarcerate them," Harry said. "In fact...I'll just send him memories of their crimes and let him deal with their punishment."
Jean's telepathy had been in the minds of the Von Struckers and her bio-net AI had used that connection to copy their memories. Lily was already in contact with the appropriate department within S.H.I.E.L.D. A pickup team was on the way.
"Kitty, take a team and retrieve these research materials," Harry said as a piece of paper materialized in his hand.
Kitty nodded, took the paper, and left with most of the other X-Men. "Stuff you don't want S.H.I.E.L.D. getting its hands on?" Ororo queried. "Yeah...the polymer Rogue's suppressant suit is made out of for one," Harry replied.
"Speaking of that," Rogue said before stepping closer and pulling Harry into a kiss. Harry returned the kiss and settled his hands on her hips while pulling Rogue closer. "I've wanted to do that for so long," she said when they had to part in order for her to breathe.
"Mmm...that was fun," Harry said with a grin.
"I want to start dating now," Rogue whispered. She glanced at Jean and Ororo. "If that's alright with you two," she added.
"It's alright with us," Ororo said.
"You have no idea how much stamina he has. We are perfectly fine with sharing him," Jean assured. "We never feel any less loved because of it."
Harry spent the time until the S.H.I.E.L.D. team arrived talking quietly with Rogue and his two lovers. Once S.H.I.E.L.D. had cleaned up the X-Men left. All of the Von Struckers' assets had been transferred to Harry. Fury didn't like it but there was really nothing Fury could do about it. Harry's computer skills exceeded all S.H.I.E.L.D. had to offer. Fury could have tried bringing the law into it but really Fury didn't think it was worth making an enemy out of Harry for. Spider-Man was a far more valuable ally than an enemy. Harry would use a chunk of that money to quietly help the victims of the Von Struckers.