Chapter 272: Arc Nine. Chapter Two-Hundred Sixty-Five. A Stern Warning

Gwen had run through the series of exercises they all did, it not only limbered up her body but stressed various muscles groups. It was designed by Nat and Logan working together to see if there were any problems with a host body that the symbiotes wouldn't recognise, and as Gwen finished her work out she stretched and towelled herself off,

“I miss the symbskin. Changing is a pain,” but as Peter whistled as she stripped out of the tracksuit and pulled on leggings, she didn't mind so much, Oh god, shaving. she thought, gah, I hated shaving.

“No pain or other symptoms?” Peter asked her and she shook her head,

“We’ll do a full power check over at the labs, so, quarantine till then, and this.” Peter slipped out a wristband. It was a similar design to something Aldrich had designed for monitoring Maya. If her body temp spiked or it looked like her Extremis was about to go out of control, an alarm would sound. “Liv’s expecting you though, so it shouldn't take long.” and she nodded.

“I’m fine though.” and he nodded, “no really. It was amazing Pete. It's more than just knowledge, it's inspiration.” and she stared at her hands, “it's amazing.”

“Any weird powers?” but she shook her head,

“Just the Extremis ones,” and clenching a fist it glowed slightly before Gwen released it, ”but even those seem muted, maybe without a symbiote it's just-” and she paused, “oh, oh I have an idea. Pete, when is Liv expecting me? I want to get working again,” and she hopped down from the bed.

Peter looked up at the clock, “She’s expecting you. You think the head of Stacy Solutions needs to wait for an appointment?”

“Walk me over?” but he shook his head,

“Sorry, Logan and Laura are on escort duty. Ross finally got a hold of me. I’m due at Camp Lehigh in an hour,” and Gwen tutted but nodded.

The Thunderbolts had taken over the abandoned military base, renaming Camp Gamma, and while in New York General Ross used it as his command centre and the holding cell for Samual Sterns.

Through Fury, Peter had heard that Ross wasn’t chosen as head of the newly reformed Shield. His time as Alexander Pierce's military liaison had cast some doubts over his involvement with the Hydra takeover bid, and Phil Coulson had been chosen instead. New departments were being formed, teams set up properly and the super-powered community was being rolled into a new set of laws. Phil driving home just how important and dangerous not just Enhanced were, but Gamma Enhanced and Augmented.

Peter was being kept in the loop. As the major contributor to the safer option of Enhancing soldiers, Coulson kept him up to date. The New York Accords were already being rewritten. Stark's admittance in front of journalists that the lobbyists had influenced the lawmakers was already a national embarrassment, and people were demanding that the laws be changed. With footage of the Hydra attack, and Jean and Erik using their powers, more and more Augmented were being outed.

The Augmented Registration and Containment Act was being introduced, making it illegal to hide any powers you might have. The registry might be government only but Peter would bet his left ass cheek that certain private contractors would get access to the list.

Military rules were changing, civilian rules were changing, all because powered individuals were now being seen as more and more of a threat. If ARCA went through, and Coulson was hinting that it was, it would spell a troubled time for America. Pissing off the Augmented community was recklessly dangerous, and he knew that while Erik and Charles might back down, Selene had enough of Shaw's bullshit and would fight back. Genosha might be a part of the US, but hidden, it was still its own little community of powerful and scared people.

Peter had experienced first-hand what someone like Cain could do if provoked, and while she hasn't used any of her more offensive powers, he knew that Rogue was a clone of Emma and Selene, and either of them were capable of taking down a city by themselves.

Sending a report to Coulson, Peter made sure that Phil understood exactly what was going to happen if the law pushed too far. Americans were adamantly refusing to allow stricter gun control, and this was a lot worse than that. Its people would have to learn to adapt, or it would be disastrous.

As he made his way to Camp Gamma, one of the things he would discuss with Ross today was making sure that he was on the same side as Coulson. Having the director of Shield and the Director of The Thunderbolts both pushing for lighter controls, and a more delicate approach to the situation might force the hands of the senators pushing for camps and collars. Neither were a great solution, and neither had ever worked in the past.

Peter waited at the gate while a heavily armed soldier checked his ID and phoned to make sure General Ross was expecting him. The camp was the usual army green buildings surrounded by a chain-linked fence. Each soldier was carrying one of the pulse weapons that Hydra had used but as they were effective and easy to make, even without the Space Stone, most American units had at least one in their armoury. Ross just had more, but then again who would be stupid enough to attack the base of giant rage monsters capable of demolishing buildings with their bare hands.

As Peter waited he watched the new gamma recruits as they marched by, and saw that not every gamma enhanced changed colour. Bruce's baseline of green seemed to apply only to him, but the recruits ranged from the standard Ross red all the way through purple and into plain normal skin tones. He would have to ask Liv or Gwen if it was a genetic factor, pondering what colour he would change to if he was a gamma hulk. Probably boring pale he thought as a soldier brought him out of his musings.

Ross pulled up in a jeep driven by someone Peter did know, but as he got into the back, Ross nodded,

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“I got Coulson's message and your report. I agree with some of it, but the senators pushing for this aren't going to listen.” Peter shook his head and as she opened his mouth, Ross shook his head, “I already know what you're going to say, Peter. The same thing Coulson said, and the same thing I said. All I heard was a countermeasure is being put into place, to ensure peaceful cooperation between factions.“ and as Peter snorted Ross nodded, “and that was my reaction too.”

“We both know any attempt to herd Augmented is going to result in a lot of problems,” Peter said as the jeep drove them through the compound “and powers mean violence.” as the jeep pulled up to a heavier build facility, Two guards snapped to attention. Both men wore a form-fitting bodysuit, armoured over the chest and thighs and shoulders but their hands and feet were bare. As both men were a slight shade of green and, at Peters estimate, eight feet tall, he knew that this was Ross’s gamma prison.

“Violence is the American way, Peter. It just takes one idiot to throw the first stone and the senate will listen. But the vote isn't for another week, I assume you're here to solve my own problem,” and Peter nodded

“I want to talk to him first, and I need a blood sample. I'm not about to inject him with the same formula we used to depower someone,” and Ross subconsciously ran a hand over his side. “I’ll be fine, I doubt he’s stronger than any other telepath I've faced.”

Ross shrugged, “You still won't mind if my soldiers have orders to shoot you if you try and break him out though?” and Peter laughed,

“I wouldn't have expected anything less.”

After being taken through several security doors Peter was shown into a circular room, containing another circular room. He raised an eyebrow at Ross who shrugged,

“You might not have enjoyed the ride but the theory was still sound,” Ross said, and Peter knew he was right. The fact that Laura had a Symbiote saved her but after testing, the Gamma Augments still need to breathe and the recreated containment cell was designed to do just that, launch itself and its occupant into space, and suffocate them. An unpleasant way to die, but for someone like Hulk, possibly the only way to actually kill him.

In the centre of the sparsely furnished room, with a single book and foam mattress on the floor sat a green-hued man. His forehead was swollen out of proportion and he looked like a giant green carrot attached to a man.

As Peter stared he looked up from his book and smiled. Peter could see his mouth moving, but he just shrugged, lip-reading wasn't one of his powers and he wasn't about to use his telepathy until he knew he was safely inside.

“Yeah I can take it from here.” and as Ross clicked on an intercom,

“You’re getting a visitor, Step back and face the wall.” as Sterns stood and faced the singular panel in the whole room, Ross pressed another button, and the intercom squealed. “Opening containment. All security on high alert. This is not a drill. Full lockdown is in effect until the counter orders are given.”

Ross waited and then began to punch a code into the door panel, “Once you are inside I will not let you out unless you give me a specific signal. There will be guards with orders to shoot you if you display any hostile actions and they are Enhanced. Do not treat this lightly Mr Parker, Samuel Sterns is a dangerous man, and even you might not be safe.”

Peter was tempted to make a small joke, but the apprehension and paranoia poured from Ross like water. “The signal will be three fingers on my palm and the phrase, Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers.”

“Show me,” and Peter pressed three fingers and Ross nodded. “Any other code phrase or mistake gets you both a trip into space. I will not allow Sterns to escape.” and Peter nodded.

“Good.” and as Ross pressed another series of buttons, the door seal hissed and Peter was let into the airlock. As the door hissed again it closed, sealed, and he was let into the room with Sterns,

“So,” and Sterns turned and stared at Peter, “you're the one they use to see how my powers affect someone?” Peter got a much clearer look at the thin man, his face was scruffy with a thin moustache and beard. Ross had made it clear he wasn't allowed anything sharp and his hair and face suffered for it.

“Not really. I'm the one who decides if you ever get out of here.” and Sterns laughed

“An uneducated schoolboy. You're kidding right?” Peter nonchalantly shrugged, “let me tell you, Mr Parker, because I can read lips. Barely out of high school judging from your appearance. New York native and judging by the smoothness of your hands, uneducated. No college degree, no,” and as Sterns stared at him Peter felt the slight brush of a power against his mind.” Oh, that is interesting. You’re immune to my powers,” and Peter smiled,

“Yup, and the rest, not so interesting. Oh, am I supposed to be impressed? I can read a wiki page too, Sterns, but guess what, nobody cares. But here, let me tell you what's going to happen. I'm going to take a blood sample, and you’ll let me or you’ll regret not letting me. Then I'm going to leave and see if a formula, just like the one you already took can be used to burn that intellect out of your skull without frying your brain. If it does then you get to spend the rest of your life in a much nicer cell. If not, you go to a high-security lockup with a nice collar around your neck that stops your powers from working, and if you escape,”

Peter let his symbarmour slide over him. Standing over Sterns he let his maw split, and a symbblade slid from his forearm. “I hunt you and take your head.”

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