Chapter 189: Arc Seven. Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Six. The Truth

A sheepish looking Killian Aldrich pulled up in a limo outside the warehouse. He had listened to Peter's voicemail and realised that the sample they had slipped to Peter had infected him. Rather than it being a discovery they wanted Peter to give to Gwen and Olivia to investigate, he had condemned the young man to a possibly painful death.

Thankfully, as long as he accepted, they had already prepared a much larger piece of bait to secure his help. It would now act as an apology for the trouble and hopefully not the pain they were putting him through. If he lived. The only thing that Killian hoped was that the file he had on Gwen Stacy was accurate, as the Oscorp files on Olivia were public knowledge, as was the formula.

The door to the warehouse was already open and he looked up and Peter vaulted from the roof, landing effortlessly on the ground. Glaring at Killian, the man sighed, the Extremis was already infiltrating his systems. Now, all they had to do was hope it wouldn't overload and kill him.

“You owe me an explanation Mr Killian,'' Peter told him angrily, “and I have several people all very interested in hearing your excuse,” and without waiting Peter turned and headed back into the warehouse.

Sighing, Aldrich waved to the driver who turned the limo and drove off and he swung open the gate and headed inside as well.

“Before anything Peter, I am sorry, The sample was only for you to test. I had no idea you would become infected,” and he paused as six pairs of very angry eyes, belonging to the most beautiful collection of women Aldrich had ever seen gathered in one place, outside a fashion parade. Even the normally sensible and stoic Aldrich lost his reason for a moment and stared blankly at the very angry women, “Am, am I interrupting something?”

Peter chuckled, “Gwen and Liv, the pair you wanted me to get on the team,” and he motioned to the blonde and brunette at the end of the table, both who had folders in front of them, “and now the ones you really don't want to know about but, Natasha, Laura, and Wanda. My Shield team.”

Aldrich swallowed, the files had neglected to mention Peter was a full Shield agent and right now, he knew that this went past a mistake and right into big problem territory,

“And uh Jean, she just lives here, but might as well let her know, as we don’t really keep secrets from each other, or at least, not explosive virus ones anyway.”

Gwen cleared her throat, “So, want to explain? Why do you have an unstable techno virus that enhances in a very similar way to the super-soldier serum but with one major side effect?” and she slid a folder across the table towards him. “It fucking blows up when it’s unstable,” she yelled angrily.

Aldrich raised his hands in surrender, “I am sorry. We needed the foremost expert on the serum and with Miss Stacy and Miss Octavious both here, and Dr Conners living with your aunt we needed to get you on board. The sample we slipped Peter was never meant to infect him, that was the last thing we wanted. The cure for Extremis shouldn’t be a race against death.”

Peter shook his head, “So AIM was all bullshit?” but Aldrich pulled out the folder,

“No no no, not at all. Here. Please, let me explain.” and Peter pointed to a chair and as Aldrich sat he slid the folder towards Peter. “First, as an apology, we never meant to infect you. Please believe me.”

Peter looked at the files. The first was a new warehouse, only half a block from here, the second was the licencing agreement for Parker Incorporated, signed back into Peter's name, and lastly, a grant for 10 million dollars, under Parker Incorporated name with a contract paperclipped underneath. “Really?”

“We got it back from Stark,” and he shook his head. “Let me start from the beginning. When Oscorp dropped the serum research, Stark, being a little shit picked it up. With Maya Hansen, he designed what they called Extremis. Rather than a host animal, it uses a partially silicon-based organic virus to deliver the formula to its host. Same effects but can also generate bioelectricity and extreme heat if need be. It was experimental, highly dangerous and Stark dropped it. Maya wanted to finish the work but Stark fired her and she never worked again.”

“Until she found you?” and Aldrich gave out a small laugh,

“Maya and I are married but yes, to answer that. We worked together and founded FuturePharm together, where we worked on the Extremis virus. Until about three months ago, not long after the Ultron announcement.” Killin leaned forwards, a sad look creeping on his face. “A group, well, we now know it was Hydra, broke into our lab, took the Extremis and infected both myself and Maya. I tried to approach Stark, to get the original notes, anything, but he blew me off and well, got me arrested.” Killian shook his head. “While I am able to control the side effects, Maya is not so lucky. We have her sedated most days in a minus fifty-degree room, to stave off the heat she gives off. Please, I just wanted to save her, I never wanted you to go through that as well.” and as he leaned forwards the look of desperation shone on his face “I, I just want my wife back.”

Gwen leant back, “Well, shit. I was all ready to shove this back in your face but we’re kinda the queens of stupid when it comes to Pete, so.” and she slid a folder towards him. “The Extremis virus bonded to Pete’s unique physiology, resulting in a mutation. The virus itself is now part of his biology and you can’t use it to cure a normal human.”

As Killian frowned he took the folder and flicked through the pages, “You did this already? But how, it's only been hours, and non-human, oh no. You’re one of them aren’t you?” and Peter tutted,

“If you mean the symbiotes, sorry but no. Something else. Guess your contacts forgot to mention that,” but Killian shook his head,

Aldrich leaned back, “No he didn't, and he also forgot your Shield Status.”

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Peter made sure to drop Fury a thank you note later. The only reason Aldrich’s snitch didn’t find out about either his team or his abilities was probably interference from him.

“You know I have to report this right? And Justin as well. You can’t go around accidentally infecting people with a virus that makes them blow up.”

“Justin only wanted the drone you took from Norman, he bought the patents before Stark grabbed everything else, he wasn’t involved in the virus.” but as Aldrich read further he looked over at Gwen in shock, “you’ve already got the cure?” and Gwen nodded,

As she shrugged, “it's just a virus, my Stacy formula can be modified to target pretty much anything. You just screwed up when you infected Pete as the formula was already in his system.”

Aldrich coughed in astonishment, “just a virus? We worked for more than a decade on that, almost 20 years and to you, it's just a virus.” and defeated, he slumped back into the chair.

Liv laughed, “Don’t worry, I had the same reaction when she cracked the super-soldier serum. Smart little so and so she is,” and she leaned over and gave a beaming Gwen a kiss on the cheek.

“Pete might be harder to fix but the virus itself is brilliant. Uh Pete, wasn’t Fury up your butt about having to work with Stark over the Stacy formula, how about this?” and he shrugged,

“Stave off an investigation by promising an exclusive contract with Shield?” and as Peter smiled Aldrich recognised the predatory look. Shield would wring him for everything to get Extremis, but if it was for Maya.

“I agree, but please the cure.” and Gwen nodded, 

“It's in there. If you need a dose I could probably make one in a day or so, won't affect my work with Stark as I'm only making it. Oh but you can thank Pete. The antibody to the virus is made from his blood. Really though, It might be better if I can get a sample directly from your wife. If it’s a mutated strain or there is some other environmental or physiological component, it might be safer,” and Aldrich nodded and then stood straight and held out his hand,

“Mr Parker, I am truly sorry for all of this. Please, take the folder as a small token of my gratitude and if you are still interested, AIM would love to have you.”

Liv cleared her throat, “Peter dear, would you be upset if I took over Parker Incorporated. I have much more experience and, I get the feeling that you would rather be out with your Shield team, maybe if Miss Grey is so included she could venture forth, with Natasha’s permission of course.”

Peter raised an eyebrow and gave her a surprised look, “uh sure Liv,”

“After fighting Hydra, I realised that like MJ, I don't want to fight. Peter. I am ready to fight if I need to but I really didn’t like the spy stuff. Lying to you was hard and I never-“ Liv’s voice broke and she paused to take a breath ”I’m not cut out for this and really, while Brock was an arse, I did enjoy leading a team and being in the lab. Please?” and she gave Peter a look of doe eyes and of course he crumbled.

“Can we alter the contracts?” but Aldrich shrugged,

“Who you employ would be your decision, Peter. If you want Miss Octavious to head your company, then she can head your company. AIM will be a collaboration, not a hierarchy.” and Aldrich smiled, “Maya used to give me that look as well,” there was a hint of sadness in his voice, ”and she always got what she wanted too,” and each of them knew what it was like to see someone they cared about hurt when there was nothing that could be done.

“I’ll get the anti-virus made up, it should only take a few hours. Pete, I can talk to Pepper as well, while Stark is behaving. I might be able to wrangle my way out of that contract with everything that's gone on in the past. Might not get the Stacy formula back but even if I can get the non-compete removed I think I’d like to work with Liv as well.” and Peter nodded,

“Finally getting your wish huh?” and she smiled and patted her arm, “We can use the symbcell research as leverage as well. While he got a lot of stuff, he didn’t touch that, so it might be lawyer time?” and Gwen nodded,

“I’ll get Pepper on the phone, she probably doesn't know, but, sorry. Mr Killian, uh Aldrich, we’ll cure your wife first. Is it okay if we get blood and other samples though? The cure works better if I can examine the patient. Although, even if I don’t get the Stacy formula back, I should be able to patent the Parker Extremis formula, at least a co-patent. You need Peter's unique biology to produce it right now but in the future, we might be able to produce it separately.”

As Gwen, Liv, and Aldrich discussed the cure Peter felt that his life was finally getting back on track. AIM might not be his future but he was glad that Gwen and Liv were able to get out from the shadows of Stark and Osborn. 

All he had left to deal with was a persistent witch and a stubborn asshole. At least he had one thing going for him. With the group's blessing, he could finally call Emma’s bluff. Honey trap or not, the blonde telepath was in for one hell of a shock the next time they met.

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