Fresh from the bathroom, Charlie stepped out.
Mary Jane, just off a call, looked serious, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she faced him.
"We found them. Finally."
"Found what?" Charlie asked, puzzled.
Mary Jane took a deep breath. "Richard and Mary."
Charlie froze, then jolted. "You mean?"
"Yes, your parents. Missing for twenty years. We found them."
She grabbed Charlie, rushing to a quinjet. Gwen, confused but curious, followed.
BOOM!
The quinjet soared. Mary Jane set autopilot for S.H.I.E.L.D. and turned to a stunned Charlie. "After joining S.H.I.E.L.D., I stumbled on Hydra files about them. Since then, Harry and I have been secretly investigating."
Charlie rubbed his forehead. "What'd you find?"
"Of course I found something, or I wouldn't tell you. I wanted it to be a surprise."
She texted Harry to return to S.H.I.E.L.D., scrapping the party plans.
She continued, "Twenty years ago, Richard and Mary were Hydra scientists. They created mutant spiders, aiming to use their genes to mass-produce enhanced soldiers for Hydra's world domination."
Watching Charlie's calm face, she reassured, "It's okay. They were forced into it. They're not bad."
Charlie nodded. "Then what?"
"They succeeded but stole the data to stop Hydra from wrecking world peace. Hydra's gene soldiers caught them."
She glanced at her phone. "Luckily, a strange guy snatched them from Hydra. They haven't resurfaced until now."
Charlie mused.
He'd used time travel to send Richard and Mary away, then left them be.
A bit embarrassing.
But Mary Jane finding them in another universe shocked him.
Spacetime was chaotic, but not that chaotic.
Arion's doing?
As the quinjet landed on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s aerial base, a green streak flashed in the night. Harry, in Green Goblin gear, arrived.
"Hey, buddy, how's it going?"
Harry hopped off his glider, greeting Charlie, who gaped.
"Oh my gosh, Harry, you're a superhero too?!"
He acted shocked. Harry blinked.
"Buddy, you crazy?"
He eyed Charlie oddly. "You've known for ages."
Charlie: "…"
"Oh, right!"
He grinned. "Shouldn't have played along."
Harry shook his head. "Your humor's getting weirder."
He glanced at Mary Jane. "Who tipped you off?"
"Agent Hill. She used S.H.I.E.L.D.'s system to track Richard and Mary."
"When?"
"Just now."
"That convenient?"
Harry frowned. "Missing for twenty years, and they pop up now? Something's off."
Seeing Harry's caution, Charlie nodded approvingly.
"Good job, you've grown." He patted Harry's shoulder.
Harry's look grew stranger. "Dude, we found your parents. You're the one who needs to grow." He sighed.
Charlie paused, then went quiet.
"Yeah, thanks. I'm thrilled."
"You don't look it."
"Face paralysis."
"I'll get you a doctor in a few days."
"Thanks."
They chatted, entering the meeting room.
Carter, Hill, Coulson, and Avengers veterans Tony, Natasha, and Barton waited. In the corner, Banner curiously studied Charlie, frowning.
He seemed familiar.
Charlie's gaze landed on Carter. "Heard Fury's still director?"
"He won't bother with your stuff. Only a relative like me would care about your family drama."
Carter waved Charlie to a corner seat.
He sat, feeling weird.
Captain Carter really saw him as family.
Odd vibe.
With everyone present, Carter began, "Steve's been arrested, but his soul was stolen in an accident, leaving him lifeless. No Hydra leads from him. But Agent Hill caught a Hydra straggler, revealing the truth."
She looked at Charlie. "Following that lead, we found your parents in Australia. Their mutant spiders indirectly created Spider-Man, so I bet if Spider-Man hears this, he'll race there."
Charlie blinked. "So?"
"So we'll find ways to tip off Spider-Man. He might beat us to Richard and Mary," Carter said.
Charlie thought. "You've got more manpower. You'd find them faster."
Carter shook her head. "You don't get it. The Invincible Spider-Man's unstoppable. Nothing stumps him. He'll find Richard faster than me."
Charlie: "…"
Carter's earnest Spider-Man praise felt like a stampede of ten thousand horses.
Flattering, but off.
Hill chimed in, "Exactly. Spider-Man will find them."
Charlie glanced at her. "Agent Hill, how do we contact Spider-Man?"
Hill straightened, proud. "Leave it to me. I've got a good relationship with him."
Coulson's face soured. "Yeah, real close."
Charlie eyed them, scratching his head. "Uh, you guys remember? I'm Spider-Man's contact."
"Not anymore."
Hill smirked at Charlie. "I've earned Spider-Man's trust. You, Charlie Parker, aren't important anymore."
Charlie: "…"
Her smug look said it all.
He rubbed his temples. "So you've got Spider-Man's body, huh?"
The room turned to Hill.
"Can we say that?" Banner asked weakly.
Hill's smile grew, proud. "Of course. It proves my charm."
Natasha looked envious.
Charlie caught her expression, tensing.
That old vixen was still after him.
The world's a dangerous place.
He scooted his chair from Natasha, accidentally bumping Banner.
"You stepped on my foot."
"Sorry, I'll buy you new shoes."
"No need. Like Spider-Man, you're broke."
Charlie: "…"
Since "hiding" his identity, people's attitudes toward him sucked.
The world's gone downhill!
He lamented its state.
He noticed Carter, Mary Jane, and Gwen's calm faces.
Hill's bragging would've sparked a fight normally.
Now…
Charlie got it. They didn't love Spider-Man—they loved plain, handsome Charlie.
Haha, good taste!
Getting off-topic.
Charlie dropped his grin, standing. "Since you've got a plan, I'm out."
Before he could leave, Carter spoke calmly.
"Wait, I need to check your homework."
"What?"
Charlie turned, baffled. "Homework? What's that?"
"You haven't graduated," Mary Jane reminded.
Charlie scratched his head. "Forgot about that. But I've got stuff—"
"Must check!" Carter's icy stare left no room for argument.
Charlie groaned.
What is this nonsense?
They forgot what matters and remembered the irrelevant.
Some relative.
He shrugged. "Fine, but brace yourself. I forgot most of it."
He followed Carter to her office, the others unfazed, except Hill, whose look was off.
She knew something.
…
In the office, Charlie grabbed juice from Carter's mini fridge. "How long since I—"
"Quiet."
Carter locked the door.
Charlie sensed trouble.
Turning, he saw Carter draw the curtains.
He frowned.
Worthy of Captain Carter, resisting spacetime memory chaos.
"What do you want to tell me?" he asked seriously.
Carter's lips curled, her vibe shifting. She lifted her skirt, sauntering toward him.
Seeing her walk, Charlie froze.
Crap, he misread this.
"Wait, what are you doing? We're relatives!"
He backed away. Carter rolled her eyes.
"Playing dumb? That was just to cover your Spider-Man contact role. Now…" She smirked. "Young man, your acting's solid. I like it."
She wiped her lips, eyes dreamy.
As she closed in, Charlie was near tears.
What happened?
What era was her memory stuck in?
He didn't recall this.
"Wait."
Charlie made a last stand.
He forced a smile. "No cameras here, right?"
"Of course not."
"Fine. For our good relationship, one time. Just one. Don't push it."
He closed his eyes, arms open. "Come on!"
"Come what?"
Carter dropped her charm, frowning at Charlie's weird pose.
"You didn't say you were back. You're so odd."
Charlie opened his eyes, feeling the awkward air.
He coughed, grinning. "You're back."
"I didn't go anywhere."
"I know."
Charlie clenched his fist, feeling surging magic.
Carter's memory returned, so did his powers.
"Keys. I need your quinjet," he said, hand out.
Carter, confused, handed them over. "What for?"
"Finding the Ancient One."
"Your transport's magic, isn't it?"
"Budget cuts."
"Oh, got it."
Charlie flew the quinjet, streaking toward Kamar-Taj.
An hour later, at a town near Kamar-Taj's base.
Locals eyed the sleek quinjet.
Charlie headed to the magic hut leading to Kamar-Taj.
Inside, Wong seemed expectant.
Seeing Charlie, he nodded. "Follow me. The Ancient One's waiting."
"Waiting for me?"
Charlie's eyes lit up, sensing a breakthrough.
Led by Wong, he reached the Ancient One's meditation loft.
She sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
Wong left after bringing Charlie.
"You're here," she said, opening her eyes.
Charlie nodded. "I'm here."
"You're late."
"Yeah, got lost."
"Sit."
"Thanks."
Charlie sat. The Ancient One poured him hot tea.
"So polite…"
Her kindness made Charlie uneasy.
"You knew I'd come, but you don't remember me, do you?" he asked.
She nodded. "I don't, but I should."
"So you can't help?"
"Not necessarily."
She pulled a Coke from under her cushion.
Pausing, she rummaged again, pulling out a book.
"What's that?" Charlie asked, curious.
She didn't look up. "Diary."
"Diary?" Charlie grinned.
"Yes, diary."
She glanced at him. "Problem?"
"Nope." Charlie shook his head.
Who keeps a diary?
Lame!
The Ancient One read about Spider-Man in her diary.
She didn't remember but understood enough.
Closing it, she smiled faintly. "It's spacetime chaos, but not ordinary chaos. During it, Spider-Man exists, but also might not."
Charlie's face darkened. "Human words."
"I can't help you." She dropped her smile.
Charlie: "…"