"NO!" Annihilus cried out as he charged at me. I leaped away. He tripped — the boiling metal on his back searing him, causing him untold pain. He couldn't get back up, though he tried. The molten adamantium was slowly melting down into the floor, pinning him in place as it cooled and hardened.
This was perfect. He was pinned, and I had the Cosmic Control Rod.
All this power. So much power. I knew what it could do — somewhat. I felt it amplify my own abilities to a staggering degree. It had turned a creature like Annihilus into a warlord of an entire dimension. So what could it do for me?
I felt it resonate with something deep inside me. I felt...I felt the world around me. Vibrations — I think...no, I knew this feeling. It was the electromagnetic fields that metals produce, only now I could sense it coming from every single piece of metal in the room.
The rod was calling out to my magnetic powers. Of course — that was my most powerful, if most demanding, ability. Was this what Erik felt like all the time? No wonder he believed he could fight the world and win.
The rare metals alone in this room were...extraordinary to sense. It was like standing at a boundless feast. The vibranium sent vibrations down my spine as I felt its magnetic field. The adamantium cooling over Annihilus' body was becoming increasingly difficult to manipulate — like an immovable force slowly setting into permanence.
But the smelting pot in the center of the room — that was where the real power was. It was like looking into the face of a god. Like breathing in something divine. Like hearing a voice beyond all understanding.
An alloy that was virtually unbreakable. I wanted it. I needed it. I needed that power.
I felt the rod call out to my magnetic abilities, amplifying them further. I felt...I felt more powerful than I ever had in my entire life.
I could feel the metal now. I didn't need to touch it to move it. I simply commanded, and it obeyed.
A blob of Proto-Adamantium rose into the air, floating slowly down toward me. I looked at it. Unbreakable...my stingers — they needed to be unbreakable. Like the legendary Wolverine. Yes...I needed to protect myself.
I held out both hands and extended my stingers. Using my magnetic powers I guided the metal toward my claws. The moment the liquid metal touched the bone I felt it slowly seep into the minute porous surface.
I felt no heat on my claws — there were no nerve endings in the bone itself. So I let the metal dig in. It melded itself into the bones, coating them, fusing with them from the inside out. I felt a faint sting of sensation near the core of each stinger — just a sliver — but the rest were coated from tip to base.
I even had some of the metal seep into the bones beneath my skin, burning its way into my body. But I felt nothing. The Cosmic Control Rod blocked all pain. Every last trace of it.
My entire claws were coated in the metal, shining grey and blue in the light. I shaped it into blades — single-edged blades — and slowly watched it cool in fascination.
It was similar to watching adamantium cure, only this process moved far faster. The Proto-Adamantium bonded with itself, forming a connection that was almost unbreakable. When it was finished I probed its composition with my powers — I wasn't sure even I could separate it now.
This made sense. I had always wondered why Magneto never simply shattered Captain America's shield. It was because the thing held itself together with everything it had. It would take an almost incomprehensible amount of energy to disrupt those atomic bonds — even Erik wouldn't be able to manage it.
"N-no...please," came a pathetic wheeze from the floor.
I looked down and regarded Annihilus' pitiful face. "Oh — you. I almost forgot about you, bug. You don't deserve such power!" I felt the Cosmic Control Rod sing at my declaration, feeding me energy, fueling my anger. "You don't even deserve to live!"
I held out my hands and blasted Annihilus with a powerful beam of energy, flattening him against the ground, his prison of solidified adamantium holding him fast.
"From this day forth, let them all be afraid!" I declared. "No more shall I stand for evil! They will all burn! I am the Spider! I am a GOD! With this power I shall rule all!"
"And then what?" a voice asked.
I turned. Johnny stood there, a nervous look on his face.
I glared. "And then? And then I rule the world!"
"So you want to be a dictator? That's it?"
"Who else but me, Johnny?! Who?! Who deserves power more than I do? Who would actually use it for the betterment of humanity? I deserve this. I am owed this!"
"I can't let you do that, Pete," Johnny warned.
I threw back my head and laughed. "You and what army?"
The blonde man smiled. "No army. Just him." He pointed over my shoulder.
I turned — and Franklin Richards smiled at me as his fist came around and struck me in the head.
THUNK!
And darkness.
---
Some time later:
I groaned as I slowly came to.
"Just wait a little bit longer," a woman spoke nearby as she studied a machine of some kind. I looked around — I was strapped into a chair in the center of what appeared to be a medbay. Johnny, Lyja, Ben, Reed in a new body, and Franklin were all gathered around me.
I looked around. "Ah...what's going on?"
"Oh, nothing," Franklin smiled. "You just sort of went psycho wielding unlimited power and declared yourself a god."
I blinked. I looked down — my costume was torn, my helmet laid to one side, broken into pieces. I turned back to the FF. "So...I turned evil?"
Johnny chuckled. "Don't worry about it. We've all gotten a little in over our heads with power once in a while."
"Some more than others," Franklin muttered to himself. I heard him. He cleared his throat. "Sorry about knocking you out, Spidey. I honestly didn't see any other way."
I groaned, "so that's why my head feels like it's spinning a hundred different ways." I sighed and looked around. "What happened to Annihilus? Did I...kill him?"
"That cockroach? Nah, kid — it'll take a lot more than that to kill him," Ben grumbled. "When Franky knocked you out, Annihilus took the chance to escape. He took the rod too, damn bug. He'll probably think twice before coming here again, after what you did to him."
I blinked. "What did I do?"
"You don't remember coating him in an adamantium straitjacket?" Johnny asked.
"Oh...that...damn...is he still stuck?" I asked.
Franklin nodded. "He lost the use of his left arm — it's still pinned underneath all that metal. He also can't fly. But he did end up with unbreakable body armour, so that's a small downside."
I grumbled, "damn it." I looked around. "So, ah, can you guys let me go? I promise I won't run."
The doctor turned to Reed, who nodded. She quickly unstrapped me, allowing me to sit upright as she began scanning me with her instruments. I raised an eyebrow. "What's all this for?"
"We are searching for any side effects you may have experienced from contact with the Cosmic Control Rod. So far we see none, but...well, one can never be too careful."
"Okay...why?" I muttered to myself.
"Kid...you do remember what you did to yourself, right?" Ben asked in a worried tone.
I blinked as I tried to access the memory. "I remember holding the rod, and then...something...it felt like vibrations...what happened?"
Johnny put a hand on my shoulder. "Peter...show us your claws."
I blinked as I raised my hands, willing my stingers out. But as I moved the forearm muscles to extend them, I realized they felt heavier — much heavier. My entire arm felt like lead.
I grunted in pain as much wider openings were made through my knuckles and forearm. Slowly, three blue-grey claws emerged, gleaming in the light.
I couldn't believe it. I stared at them, seeing my own reflection in their polished surface. "I...I...this is impossible. I did this...to myself?"
"You weren't yourself, Spidey," Franklin was quick to assure me. "Trust me — when you have that much power in your hands, I...it's like nothing is the same anymore."
"Human norms and practices tend to seem unimportant to those wielding cosmic-level power," Reed's robotic voice said. "It's understandable. You wanted power — and so you took it."
I sighed, "I guess...either way, this is incredible. Logan is going to be so jealous." I smirked.
Johnny rolled his eyes. "And he's back to normal."
"Your scans are remarkable, to say the least," Reed continued. "The Proto-Adamantium has fully bonded with your claws. What's more, it also appears to be integrating well with your natural biology."
I sighed, "that's good to know." I looked at the doctor. "Ah, Doc — about my name and blood work—"
"Policy is to destroy everything we record. Don't worry — this isn't the first time I've dealt with hero types," the woman smiled before turning to the others. "He's made a full recovery."
"Can't say the same about my web shooters," I grumbled as I got to my feet, looking at my torn and destroyed shooters on the tray beside me. "Pete is so going to kill me."
"Oh, forget about your web shooters," Johnny grumbled, patting me on the back. "You've got Wolverine claws now, man! You can build new shooters! You don't just get metal claws every day!"
"Yeah, yeah," I smiled. "But, you know — I've been wondering..."
"And what's that?" Ben asked as we all followed Reed, who led us around the base.
"You guys aren't going to blame me for what happened, right? I mean, I know the Proto-Adamantium is rare and I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine, Peter," Reed told me. "The scientists in this facility were researching the creation process, not practical applications. They are already analyzing the data your...modifications with the metal produced. Nobody blames you."
"What were the people here trying to find out, Dad?" Franklin asked curiously.
"The New Earth project was a venture Sue and I began in order to find resources in the Negative Zone that could be used for our world's long-term survival," Reed explained as we walked outside, seeing many of the project's workers hard at work repairing the damage Annihilus had caused.
"This branch of the project was tasked with finding or synthesizing rare metals not normally found on Earth — such as Proto-Adamantium."
"What other types of metal have they worked on?" I asked.
Reed gave a robotic shrug. "Vibranium, adamantium, betatium, celestium — and I believe a new metal with the density of diamond. Very peculiar, that one."
"And gold, obviously," Lyja said, eyeing the vast deposit of gold visible inside the craters now scattered across the area.
"Actually, gold is so common here it's considered worthless," Reed shrugged. "We mine it ourselves to fund our projects."
I blinked. "Wait...seriously? Worthless? Damn it. I wish I could take some for pocket money."
Reed shrugged. "Mining it is the challenge — we have found that the crust of this dimension is far harder than Earth's own, so even if we could locate deposits easily, extraction would require far too much effort."
"Plus transportation," Ben grumbled. "We take what we need, but it's usually too lengthy a process to bother. So don't get any ideas, kid — otherwise you'll be stuck hauling a huge lump of metal on your back."
I grumbled, "so unfair." I could theoretically use my magnetic manipulation powers to extract the gold, but transportation would still be a problem. So much for that mansion I'd been dreaming about.
We walked to the portal and stepped through to the other side. I sighed. Back to a world I knew — I had that much, at least.
"Here, Pete — I figured you'd want this," Franklin walked up and handed me my broken helmet.
I sighed, "thanks, though I doubt it'll do me much good now. The one thing I had that I could rely on. I don't know how I'm going to manage without my AI. Tony is going to be absolutely insufferable when he hears about this..."
"If you want, you can fix it using our lab equipment," Franklin said with a shrug. "Shouldn't be too difficult, if my dad and uncle were right about how smart you are."
I blinked. "Are you serious? You'd let me use your tech?"
Franklin nodded. "Of course. Right this way." He guided me to a room that had, in another world, been my own lab. "You know how to find your way around?"
"Is the password for the terminal still Mighty Morphin Power Rangers?" I asked.
Franklin chuckled. "Uncle Johnny always did love that show."
I smiled as I set my helmet on the table. "Thanks, Frankie. This means a lot to me."
Franklin shrugged. "No problem." He walked in and closed the door behind him, using his powers to summon a few tools and a replacement panel. "Shall we begin?"
I nodded, and the two of us spent the rest of the night working on repairing my helmet. Of course, being the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Frankie was a genius — he helped get my helmet back in working order in no time.
"Thanks for doing this, Frankie," I said, looking at my now-restored helmet, sparkling and new as its internal systems slowly booted back up.
"Don't mention it, Spider-Man," Franklin shrugged. "It's the least I can do after you helped us out."
"You know you can call me Peter, right?" I smiled at the kid. "That is my name."
"S-sorry," he blushed. "It's just...you were my hero growing up. Uncle Johnny and Ben would tell me stories about you."
I smiled. "Well, I'm glad you decided to be a hero too, Frankie. I know for a fact Sue would be proud of how amazing you've become." I smiled.
He nodded. "Thanks..." He looked at me. "How close are you and...well, your version of my mother?"
I pushed down a flush as the mental image of her kissing me surfaced. "Ah...she's my boss and a very good friend. She helped me out a great deal — she even gave my dad a job and helped him get back on his feet. I honestly wish there was something I could do for her, you know. Pay her back somehow."
"Could you do me a favour?" Franklin asked.
I sighed. "You know she's not your mother, right?"
"I know — trust me, I do," the boy smiled. "But...can you take care of her for me? I know it's a big request, but—"
"—Frankie," I cut him off. "I promise — as long as I'm around, Sue will never have to leave a child of hers without a mother."
Franklin smiled. "Thanks. I mean it, Spider. Hey — if there's anything I can do, just ask."
I chuckled. "Well, I could use some help making a new suit. Got any ideas?" I touched my battered costume. "As much as the classic inspires me, I could use an upgrade."
Franklin blinked. "Is that all? Sure — not a problem. What do you want it made of?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Something that isn't easily torn apart, I guess." I had flashbacks to Doom destroying my old suit and my new ruined jacket. "I have a healing factor that matches Wolverine's, but the suits keep getting shredded. Think you can help?"
Franklin thought for a moment. "Well, you could use my dad's unstable molecule formula to make yourself a suit." He turned to the terminal and pulled up schematics for a type of material that would not tear, lose its shape, or burn.
I remembered this — Marvel's answer to the superhero wardrobe problem. Johnny's costume was made of the same stuff. My world had these materials too, but my Reed had never cracked the formula. Apparently this world had.
I nodded. "This is incredible, Frankie. Can you walk me through how it works?" Franklin agreed, and quickly we got into the details of the material.
We talked for a while longer before he was satisfied. I wanted to have them make the costume outright, but that felt like too much to ask of people who barely knew me. Even if I had helped save their lives...no, I couldn't. I hated wearing things made by other people.
I changed back into my civilian clothes. With no web shooters there was no way I was heading out there as Spider-Man. I walked out and took a cab back to Peter's house — it was nearly six in the morning. Damn it.
I had the cab drop me off out front and quietly let myself in, easing the door open before making my way to the stairs.
But the moment my foot touched the first landing I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
"And what time do you call this?" Peter was standing at the entrance to the living room, sipping a cup of coffee.
I blinked. "Ah...morning?"
"Morning," he nodded.
"Right...would you believe me if I said I went for a really early morning walk?"
"I would — if Johnny hadn't already called me an hour ago to let me know you were safe and not dead in the Negative Zone."
"Huh...damn it, Johnny!" I grumbled.
"Grounded. One week." Peter walked off.
"W-what?! You can't ground me! I'm you!"
"I'm the adult here! And this is my house!" he called from the kitchen.
"And? This is also my house!" I followed him into the kitchen to find May and MJ already awake.
"No web-swinging for one week, Peter! That's final!"
"You're not my dad, Peter! You can't do that!" I growled.
"Well, as long as you are in this dimension I'm the closest thing you have to a parental figure."
"I prevented a giant green cosmic bug from getting unlimited power, and my reward is getting grounded?!"
"Do you want to make it a month?"
We glared at each other before I grumbled and dropped into a chair at the table. "Fine! But I'm going to spend that week building myself some new web shooters. Mine got destroyed."
"Fine — you can use my lab in the attic," Peter nodded as he set a plate of pancakes on the table. "Now, who wants pancakes?"
"What did you do?" May asked me as she took a few for herself.
"I traveled to the Negative Zone with the FF, fought a cosmic bug strong enough to level a planet, and then spent an hour chatting with Frankie," I grabbed five pancakes and started eating. "You know — the kind of stuff heroes do, but if you're a teenager you get grounded for it."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "One month."
"Okay! Okay, I surrender! I give! God, I really hope I don't grow up to be you."