It was like an explosion going off inside my skull. I was pulled backward into a green wormhole — just like the one that had brought me here. My stomach lurched. My body was weightless. I tumbled end over end through a corridor of swirling green light until, without warning, it stopped.
Gravity returned.
I was thrown headfirst out into a very familiar lab.
"He's back!" I looked up and saw Sue running at me, arms open, tackling me to the ground.
I lay there on the floor, holding on to her. Reed was in the room. So were Johnny and Liz. I blinked up at the ceiling. "How long was I gone?"
"Two hours," Reed said, his voice tight. "We tried everything...we were just about to give up when...I didn't think it would work."
I couldn't believe it. "Two hours? That's all?"
Sue immediately broke the embrace and looked at me. "Peter — how long has it been for you?"
I met her eyes. "Three months. Give or take."
"Where did you go?" Johnny asked as he helped Sue and me back to our feet. Then he caught sight of my red robes and blinked. "And why do you look like a warrior monk?"
I stared at them. Shock had taken over completely. I couldn't speak. I couldn't even think. I was home. Really home.
"Peter," Sue's voice cut through. I looked down at her face. "Are you okay?"
"I...I am now." I looked around at all of them. The relief on their faces was unmistakable. My eyes settled on Reed, and they narrowed. "Destroy that machine. Or I will, Reed."
Reed nodded immediately. "Right away." He turned back to his terminal and began typing.
"We need to get you to the medbay," Sue said, gently taking my hand. "We need to make sure you're all right."
I smiled. "I'm fine, Sue. Really." And then my stomach growled, loud enough for everyone to hear. I chuckled. "Actually — I'm starving."
Liz blinked. "You just traveled to another universe and the first thing on your mind is food?"
I sighed. "Liz — I had three months to come to terms with this. I kind of processed it at the time. I'm...actually okay."
Sue smiled faintly. "Unbelievable. Come on, Peter — let's get you something to eat." She, Johnny, and Liz guided me out of the lab.
They sat me down at the kitchen counter and put together some pizza. All the while Sue kept a close eye on me, and Johnny kept sending me watchful glances from across the room. I hadn't realized until right now just how much I had missed them. How much I had missed having people around who actually worried about me.
The pizza came out of the oven in minutes. Johnny set it down in front of me with a flourish. "One meat lovers, perfectly reheated."
"Thank god," I sighed as I started eating. I couldn't help grinning. "I don't care what anyone says — frozen pizza is incredible."
Sue blinked. "R-really?"
"Hell yes." I winked. "Hey, Johnny — up for a gaming session? It's been forever."
"Uh — sure, man," the Human Torch nodded. "Whatever you want."
"Peter?" Liz asked, a little cautious. "Are you okay? You seem...different."
I smiled. "You mean I don't sound depressed anymore?"
"Well..." Sue glanced at the others, then nodded. "Yeah."
I grinned. "That's because I finally got my head straight. In fact, I—" I stopped mid-sentence as my eyes landed on the TV screen in the lounge.
A large concrete facility was on screen, one of its exterior walls completely demolished — torn apart like paper.
"The National Guard has filed a report of six criminals having escaped from a facility in Westchester. They have released the identities of the escapees along with a note left behind before their departure."
Six names appeared on screen:
Maxwell "Max" Dillon, AKA Electro.
Aleksei Sytsevich, AKA the Rhino.
Flint Marko, AKA the Sandman.
Adrian Toomes, AKA the Vulture.
Herman Schultz, AKA the Shocker.
Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus.
An aerial photograph taken at the time of escape filled the screen. I could see the Rhino battle armor out in the open. Electro was airborne above it, with Sandman's storm form rolling alongside. Vulture, Shocker, and Doc Ock were riding on the Rhino's back.
Sandman's storm suddenly expanded, and the image cut to static. The photograph had been taken yesterday.
The news then displayed the note they had left behind.
"Norman — we are coming for you."
I narrowed my eyes. "Sue...I'm going to have to step out for a bit."