38: Chapter 38 Experimental Subject.D (2)

"What do you mean?"

"When I tried to analyze your DNA, the genome was completely unreadable." Susan Storm gritted her teeth, and the smell of burnt copper in the air grew heavier. "It's like an encrypted computer. I can't access the gene fragments that have been altered at all. Your DNA seems to have a built-in password, and I can't crack it!"

"How is that possible?"

Susan Storm slumped against the lab bench. "Your genes are covered in a special protective enzyme that prevents anyone from deciphering their true structure. It's homologous to your spider-bite adaptation mechanism; it assimilated the spider abilities, and now it's preventing me from prying into the interior of your genes. We usually use enzymes to perform gene splicing, but as soon as I introduce any enzyme, that protective membrane of yours blocks it."

Peter pondered for a moment. "So the password you mentioned..."

"I need a specific enzyme that can cut through your genetic material without being absorbed or destroyed."

Peter rubbed his temples. "Damn it."

"Tell me about it." Susan Storm sighed.

"But look on the bright side," Peter chuckled, "at least now no one can use my blood to clone an army."

Susan Storm raised an eyebrow. "You always come up with the strangest ideas, Peter."

"Come on, do you think the lunatics out there wouldn't try something like that? S.H.I.E.L.D. probably already has a sample of my DNA, but I hope they can't crack this lock either."

"I hope so." Susan Storm smiled helplessly. "Sorry, Peter, it seems I wasn't much help today."

"Don't say that, you were a huge help. At least confirming that I won't die is important."

Susan Storm rolled her eyes. "Fine. I just wish I could figure out exactly what changed in you."

"Whatever it is, I'll figure it out soon." Peter patted her shoulder and said goodbye to Susan Storm.

Susan Storm thoughtfully helped him ask for leave from Aunt May and Uncle Ben, saying he was just working overtime in the lab.

The next day, Peter went to school as if nothing had happened.

In English class, Natasha Romanoff cast wary glances his way from time to time. Peter returned a relaxed smile, mouthing that everything was normal, and if he needed help, he wouldn't hesitate to ask.

After school, Peter, Felicia, and Mary Jane went to their usual coffee shop to study, just like always.

As soon as Peter sat down, he felt his body grow heavy. Had he eaten too much? Or were the aftereffects of that gas still wreaking havoc?

"Are you okay, Tiger?" Mary Jane pulled out her physics textbook and looked at him with concern. "You look a bit pale."

"I'm fine." Peter sighed. "Got home too late last night, too much work."

"Working for the Fantastic Four?" Felicia sat down next to him and raised an eyebrow.

"No, doing work for a 'client'." Peter gave her a look, the signal they used to refer to his Spider-Man missions.

"Hmm, are you sure you're okay?" Felicia reached out and felt his forehead. "No fever."

"Just a bit sluggish."

"Oh, honey, do you need me to kiss you and make it better?" Felicia leaned in.

Peter smiled. "That would be perfect."

Felicia leaned over and kissed his lips. In an instant, that warm scent of maple syrup slammed into Peter's senses once again.

Lust. Thank goodness, if it were any other emotion, the scene would be too bizarre.

"Do you have the energy to tutor?" Mary Jane watched the two kissing as if no one else was around and helplessly opened her book.

Peter pulled away from Felicia and turned to look at Mary Jane. "No problem, I just... need to go to the restroom, I'll be right back."

He stood up, and his stomach suddenly churned violently.

"Peter?" Felicia called out worriedly.

"I'm fine, I promise." Peter hurried toward the restroom.

"Do you think he caught some kind of virus?" Mary Jane asked.

Felicia shook her head. "Impossible. If it were a virus, I would have caught it by now."

Mary Jane's cheeks flushed slightly. "Because you... have physical contact often."

Felicia grinned. "You can just say we're always kissing, Red."

"Yeah, yeah." Mary Jane stammered. "I didn't realize you two had... reached that point."

"We reached it a long time ago." Felicia nodded. "What about you and Harry Osborn?"

"No." Mary Jane pursed her lips. "He's pushing really hard, but the way he treats me... I don't think we're going to have a good ending."

"Tell me about it, how is that boy from the Osborn family?" Felicia took a sip of her drink. "Is he a good kisser?"

"Hmm..." Mary Jane blushed. "He's okay. I enjoy kissing him, but he's always too impatient. He ruins the mood, you know, wanting to move things too fast."

Felicia nodded. "I get it. Before Peter, I met guys like that too. But you'll find the right one. You just need to find yourself someone like Peter."

Mary Jane sighed. "Maybe. So, how is Peter, really?"

"Perfect." Felicia smiled like a cat that had gotten into the cream. "He's like a different person. He's domineering sometimes, but he's not the type who only thinks about sex."

"What do you mean? How is he not rude?"

"Let's put it this way: he demands that your mind, body, and soul be completely focused on him." Felicia chuckled. "It's actually quite cute. But when the moment comes, you can't even form the thought of saying no."

"Oh, well, congratulations."

"Thanks, I'm really lucky. Most men like him would be very arrogant, thinking that as long as they're well-endowed, they can take everything without giving anything back. So I'm glad..."

"Wait, what?!" Mary Jane suddenly shrieked. Everyone in the coffee shop turned to look at her, and she quickly flushed Red, leaned into Felicia's ear, and lowered her voice. "What do you mean?!"

"What?" Felicia looked innocent.

"What do you mean 'well-endowed'? You two have... done it?!"

Felicia feigned surprise. "Yeah. Did you think I was just talking about kissing?"

"Yes!"

"Ha! You're so naive, Red." Felicia burst out laughing.

"How did it happen? When?!"

"The night of your play." Felicia shrugged. "The feeling was right. I wanted it, he wanted it, and we felt so close that night." She recalled the night she discovered Peter's secret and he accepted hers, and it still felt incredibly wonderful.

"But..." Mary Jane was stunned. "Wow."

"That was my reaction, too." Felicia teased.

"So you said he was domineering..."

"Oh, yes, very intense, but not to the point of hurting you." Felicia recalled the slight pain of their first night. "Okay, maybe a tiny bit of pain."

Mary Jane's eyes lit up. "Felicia, details, I want them now."

Felicia shrugged and began to vividly describe her first time, not skimping on any of the details.

Meanwhile, in the restroom, Peter was leaning over the sink, dry heaving.

He looked up; his reflection in the mirror was pale and haggard. He turned on the faucet and splashed water on his face. Maybe he should call S.H.I.E.L.D.?

But suddenly, his body stopped trembling. The discomfort in his stomach vanished instantly, and everything returned to normal.

What was going on?

Immediately after, his hands began to twitch uncontrollably. He could feel energy surging inside his palms, growing stronger and stronger. His muscles were pulsing. Out of curiosity, he didn't suppress the feeling but instead tried to guide the energy.

Slowly, his arms began to emit a faint blue glow.

Peter's pupils constricted, the hair on his arms standing on end due to static electricity. The energy within his arms compressed and expanded, again and again, until it reached a critical point—

BOOM!