3rd POV:
''Why do you think Peter called us here?,'' Gwen asked as she sat in the bean bag and watched her boyfriends play his guitar. They were in his man cave right now.
''Jesus, sweet cheeks. I don't know. I'm not omniscient nor can I see the future,'' Bell shrugged. Gwen raised an eyebrow at him, causing him to roll his eyes.
''I may have overstated my own abilities. And I told you, at best I can see a version of the future. That does not mean, it is going to actually happen. True clairvoyance the way you are imagining does not exist,'' Bell explained to her. Unless he found a way to conceptually accomplish that. But he rated an ability like that at least in the high SA-Rank. Maybe SS-Rank. He was VERY far away from such an ability.
There was a reason neither he nor Strange settled for only using seeing alternate versions of the future and used other scrying methods as well. It worked best in short term bursts like conversations, but long term was more finicky. Though things like Chthons descent was more set in stone so they could predict it more accurately, since it happened in many alternate (parallel) dimensions.
Gwen pouted. Bell turned his eyes down to the strings. God dayum she was only growing more adorable.
''Fine. By the way, can you please tell me what you plan on doing with your company. Like, you said you wanted to work with me and Peter? Does that mean you want to focus on medicine? Maybe Bioengineering?,'' Gwen inquired. there was less then a year now till his 18th birthday and he said he wanted to found his company the moment he turned 18.
''Everything. Every field. Every subject,'' Bell simply said, moving his eyes back to her own.
''That is a huge undertaking. There will be a lot of competition, unless you plan to use your powers?,'' Gwen pointed out. She hoped not. What was she even studying up on genetics for, if he did everything by himself? She wanted to be useful to him as much she could.
''No! Why do this with my powers, when I had a great girlfriend to teach me about virtual particles. That will be the basis of my success and then we will expand from there,'' Bell explained. Sure, he changed his MO recently, taking things more seriously. But he wanted some challenge in reshaping society and stopping Bastion. Sorry, Bastian.
Gwen thought about it for a few seconds, before widening her eyes.
Bell slyly put his index on his mouth and shushed her. Amusement dancing across his eyes.
''As I said capitalism is a perfectly fine system with no exploits whatsoever. Now, go sit on the couch, sweet cheeks,'' Bell instructed. There was actually a shit ton of way for him in particular to achieve socio-economic dominance. But he already settled for a course.
''Why?,'' Gwen asked despite already moving to sit on the couch as instructed. Bell put his guitar down gently and moved over to her, before dropping down on the couch and laid his head on her thighs. He looked her in the eyes to assert domina..., to see her reaction.
She blushed a little, but otherwise moved herself a little so that the would be more comfortable. They were together long enough, that this shouldn't be embarrassing anymore in her opinion. She played with his hair as they sat a little in comfortable silence.
''I still can't believe Aunt Melina doesn't believe you have a harem,'' Gwen remarked. Bell hummed.
''Or that we haven't told Peter and Chat,'' Gwen continued. Bell hummed again.
Gwen stopped and looked down only to see Bell having closed his eyes and rest on her thighs. She smiled and gave him a chaste kiss on the tip of his noise.
''Why have you stopped talking?,'' Bell asked after a few seconds, when she wouldn't say anything more.
''Oh, I just thought you were resting,'' Gwen explained to him.
''Continue talking. I'm listening,'' Bell instructed. Besides, he doubted it will remain this way for much longer.
Gwen smiled and started talking his ear off. Knowing him and his photographic memory he will remember this even if he was only half listening.
''I scored incredible well on our last biology test. Dad congratulated me and told me...,'' Gwen began, absentmindedly stroking his hair.
...
Peter and Chat were let in by Melina and they made their way down after getting rid of their shoes. The came upon the sight of Gwen sitting on the couch and talking about something, before stopping once she saw the two.
''Peter and Sophia. Bell, they are here,'' Gwen gave Bell a soft pat on the head.
''Alright you two. You said it was something important? Don't worry, I will find a way to buy the Plan B pill,'' Bell said as he stood up. Gwen gave him a quick slap on the arm as Chat blushed at the implication.
''Ha. Ha. Funny. Anyway, remember how a few days ago the Radiant Ruby was reported stolen? I encountered the thief. She calls herself the Black Cat. Something stank about the encounter, so I got this from her pouch,'' Peter explained, holding up the USB,''In the end I decided to let her go. If my suspicions are correct. The mafia is somehow involved.''
Bell took the USB and inspected it. The Black Cat, huh?
''Well, only one way to find out what is on the USB,'' Bell said, taking the USB from Peters hand and sticking it into his computer. One would call this move dumb, but technomancy for the win baby. He already knew there was nothing dangerous on the USB.
''So?`What do we got?,'' Chat asked after a while. Bell was typing away on the keyboard.
''Jesus, Chat. I'm not a miracle worker and the data is encrypted, give me some time to crack it. Make yourself comfortable, but not too comfortable you love birds,'' Bell told them. He opened up the coding and began messing with it by writing his own lines. He did need to put on a show after all.
Peter rolled his eyes. As if the two of them had any right to talk.
...
5 minutes later, Peter was looking at some of the paintings that Bell hang on the wall. Gwen and Chat were talking about clothes and other girl stuff he didn't pay attention too.
...
Another 5 minutes later and Peter, Gwen and Chat were carefully playing with Bells instruments after asking for permission. Since he didn't mind noise and was just going to repair anything they would destroy with a wave of his hand afterwards, he didn't mind.
He only remarked that they would a 'terrific' band. Peter gave him the middle finger.
...
Yet another 5 minutes later, Peter scrolled a little through his phone to see if Bell posted more songs on his YouTube channel. His favorite in particular was 'Alive'.
He had to admit, a small part of him was a little jealous of Bells talent. And the fact that he monetized it to help his mother out.
He wondered how he found the time to manage all of his activities. Was he doing it all in his head? Not completely impossible, Peter reasoned. Mozart supposedly had perfect pitch and remembered songs after only hearing them once. But who knew.
''Yo, I got in,'' Bell announced stretching on his chair.
''So? What do we got?,'' Chat asked as she quickly came over to look over his shoulder. The other two following after her.
''Well, apparently a lot. A lot of nothing conclusive. As far as I can tell it is just a list of persons of interests. There is nothing substantial here that would implicate any thing nefarious going on here,'' Bell shrugged.
The other three looked at the data and came to the same conclusion as him.
''Black Cat did say that the mafia was threatening her father,'' Peter recounted.
''And you believe her?,'' Bell asked genuinely curious.
''No. But I don't get the impression that she lied entirely either. Without knowing who she is, we won't know which off these people is her father. Or if he is even on here,'' Peter resoned.
''Person of interest for what? What purpose does making such a list have for Fisk? Can you look some of the names up? Maybe they have a public persona and that could reveal something? A thread?,'' Gwen argued.
A few minutes of researching later they eventually stopped at a name.
Matt Murdock.
''Why would Fisk be interested in a blind lawyer? He is rich. He can afford much better ones than him,'' Chat frowned.
''Apparently Nelson described themselves as really good lawyers. Maybe Fisk wanted to see if that was true? Sometimes you find gems in the most unexpected of places,'' Gwen argued.
''To be fair, he seems to have won most of his cases in the court room. Some of them seem really difficult too. Maybe he is a superb lawyer who just prefers making himself affordable to less rich people?,'' Peter hypothesized. Some of this case seemed more a pro bono stunt then anything really. And he was defending some enhanced people as well.
''Bell, what do you think?,'' Gwen asked.
''You said the thief you encountered called herself the Black Cat? As in clearly a woman?,'' Bell asked, looking at his phone. Peter nodded and then quickly hummed in affirmation, since Bell wasn't looking at him.
Bell put his phone down and then typed in his computer.
''It seems there was another Black Cat almost a decade ago. He was caught and went by the name of Walter Hardy. A name that also appears on Fisk person of interest list. And look at this. Felicia Hardy and Victoria Hardy. Peter you saw the new Black Cat. Either of them look familiar?,'' Bell asked.
''Bro. Felicia must be retarded. Her white hair is Black Cats most distinguishing feature,'' Peter affirmed.
''Perhaps. Or perhaps she believes herself so good that she would never get caught, thus she has no need for a further disguise. In that case it would be arrogance. Entirely reasonable seeing as she is our age and well... you know what boomers say about us.
Point is that her name is not on Fisk person of interest list, but her mothers is,'' Bell moved on.
''What does her mother work as?,'' Chat asked.
''An accountant. A successful one too. And at a rather prestigious bank at that,'' Bell answered. Hey, this was all public information.
''So we have a blind lawyer, that might be underselling his competence. A cat burglar that was thrown in prison and forgotten and a woman of vanity. An interesting group to keep track on,'' Peter began, the implication hanging clear in the air.
A waste of time for Fisks persona. Aside from maybe the cat burglar.
''Then we can all agree what kind of list this is?,'' Gwen asked.
''Not a list of exceptional people. But a list of potential troublemakers,'' Peter continued.
''Trouble makers for his interests and business,'' Bell finished.
Chat watched the trio. Yeah, alright she could see that they were friends for years. The seamlessly forgot about her and entered a scene of familiarity, it seemed. Not that she minded, she liked watching them work, but it was a little hurtful to be excluded like that.
''Yes, but what interes- Wait! Is that Aunt Mays boss? Martin Li?,'' Peter latched onto that information as he scrolled through the list of names, since Bell stopped looking up people on Google.
''Seems to be one and the same. Obviously Fisk would want to spend money on having people investigate and keep an eye on these people. The only question is, as Peter wanted to point out, for what?,'' Gwen murmured to herself.
''Felicia did mention the mafia threatening her father,'' Peter revealed.
''Which is double speak for: her father worked with the mafia. His failure to provide his services made them displeased. But his daughter and the copycat Black Cat can replace him,'' Bell theorized, making the three nod their head while running the possible scenario through their head.
''In that case, why would Felicia assume Fisk would have information on Walters hideout?,'' Chat asked. It was one thing to keep an eye out for someone, but it seemed Walter disappeared after the trial. No public records were made of his imprisonment. Fisk shouldn't have this information on him.
The four were silent for a while running several possibilities in their heads.
''Unless... Fisk is like you all. A public persona at day and a mafioso at night. In that case, Felicia is even more arrogant to steal from the people who might know about her nightly activities and threaten her father,'' Chat said after a while.
''That... might be possible,'' Gwen agreed. There was no reason to discount this possibility after all seeing as they themselves had alter egos.
''So, what is our play? It is clear that Fisk is more dirty then he lets on. Well, more dirty then a politician and rich person already lets on,'' Peter asked.
''We investigate of course. Time to show you how good my hacking skills really are. I will hack into Fisks building. Get access to their servers. Their reals ones. I doubt Black Cat got everything. Maybe I can gleam something substantial,'' Bell set his course of action. He already knew about Fisk being Kingpin, but it was good for them to sharpen their investigation skills.
''I could spy on some of these people. Mostly Murdock, since I doubt someone like me will get access to Victoria or Walter,'' Peter set his own course of action.
''I will send my birds to spy on some of the workers. Maybe they will report something back that will help us,'' Chat shared her own plan of action.
''Then I will infiltrate Fisks office at night. Go through his stuff, that kind of thing,'' Gwen said.
''Whoaw. Absolutely not. If Fisk is as he seems, a good person, then you will turn yourself into an undisputed criminal. The public may love heroes, but they love seeing heroes fall even more. They will turn on you immediately if something goes wrong. And if Fisk is as we suspect, a mafioso, then he might have traps in his office and I am not risking your life. First we investigate, then we infiltrate if necessary. Together,'' Bell shot that down quickly. Gwen clenched her jaw a little, but reluctantly conceded. She just didn't want to be the only one that would do nothing.
''Thank god. If you REALLY want to do something. Spy on either Black Cat or Felicia Hardy. Victoria might be hard for us to access, but I doubt the same can be said of her daughter. I will leave the rest to you, sweet cheeks,'' Bell made a compromise, knowing that Gwen still had low self esteem whenever she wasn't 'useful' to him. She was getting more and more, slowly, better. But he still needed to keep an eyes on her, else she do something like just now.
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''So Murdock regularly eats here?,'' Chat asked Peter as they sat at a coffee shop opposite another coffee shop, observing Murdock and Nelson.
''Apparently that is the place Nelson boasted about on his Instagram. Probably better that we eat here, since that place seems a little more high end then we can afford. And less suspicious since someone stares blatantly at them,'' Peter lowly said to Chat.
''Sorry. Still, you have to admit he does not seem like much,'' Chat said nibbling at the croissant.
''Neither do we. Now shush, you are distracting me from hearing what they are talking about,'' Peter shushed her gently. He focused his ears on their conversation.
...
''Look, Matt, all I'm saying is that you and Jennifer have being cracking down on F...,'' Nelson was cautioning.
''How are your wife and kids by the way?,'' Matt interrupted suddenly. Shit. The person spying on him leaned a little closer when he heard the letter F. Two young people. Maybe a couple. Healthy, according to their heart beat. Enhanced. One definitely. Maybe the other as well. Enhanced senses. Like him? Maybe more powers?
As a lawyer he knew people could plead the fifth. As a human with common sense, he knew that silence or diversion was an answer onto itself. They gave the game away.
Fisks croonies?
Independents?
''They are doing good. Look, Matt, don't change the subject. Fisk is a powerful man, as are all rich people. Whatever suspicions you have, you should abandon them. You are merely a lawyer and are otherwise not authorized to investigate someone, like you and Jennifer try to do. If you piss him off, then he can hire the best lawyers in the world,'' Nelson plead with concern.
''We are really good lawyers,'' Matt joked, while 'looking' in Nelsons general direction. But he kept a close ear on the two spies.
Damn it, Nelson.
Nelson chuckled a little, but quickly got more serious.
''That is our motto to our clients. That is true. But Matt, I just worry for you two. Please? Until you have something more conclusive, you should at least hold of your investigations. And even then you should alert the authorities,'' Nelson reluctantly agreed. Matt was sometimes unusually stubborn.
The two spies departed.
Shit.
''Of course. By the way, I just remembered that I had to take care of something. I will be going,'' Matt stood up and grabbed his cane.
''Do you want my help? Maybe the coffee is almost there and we can take it with us?,'' Nelson asked as he stood up.
''No. You can grab mine and bring it to our office, but I have to go. Don't worry. You know I can take care of myself,'' Matt assured him. Nelson reluctantly nodded.
He worried for his friend, but he knew he could take care of himself and disliked if someone thought he couldn't operate because of his disability.
Nelson watched Matt depart.
...
''He is following us,'' Chat reported as a bird flew close by to deliver her the news. They went down an alley.
''Yes, I gathered. I can hear his footsteps. Clearly there is more to this 'blind' lawyer then he portrays to the public,'' Peter lowly said as he held Chats hand.
''What is our play?,'' Chat asked. Unlike Peter and the others, she was a normal human. At least in physiology. Sure, she had her own abilities, but she couldn't lift tens of tons. Or take punches that would dent metal and crack walls.
''You go away. Don't try to put your life needlessly in danger. I will confront him and see what he wants,'' Peter told her firmly. Chat clenched her jaw, not liking it despite knowing full well, it was the best the course of action.
She was made of glass in a sense. She just hated it, since it felt she was abandoning her boyfriend to the wolves.
Wait...
They made sure not to use their names. It seemed that the person was genuinely blind, just had super senses. Maybe, she could help her boyfriend by calling in lots of birds and making noise?
She gave Peter a quick kiss on the lips as she parted away. She knew just how to accomplish both goals.
Peter quickly looked around the alley. He went behind a dumpster and changed into his Spider-Man suit and then laid silently in waiting.
...
Was the person crawling on the walls? Matt wondered.
What could he have done to caught the Spider Clubs attention? Unless it was another person with similar abilities to them. Were they working with Kingpin? A possibility. Unlikely however.
That bore further investigation.
Using his echo location he discerned some things about the person. Judging by the lack of feminine assets and a lack of helmet, it could only be Spider-Man. Nelson described them to him.
A change of plans then.
Matt could feel as Spider-Man slowly followed him with his head when he walked past and didn't react to his presence.
Matt appeared relaxed, but he was ready to defend himself at any second should he need to.
After a few seconds Spider-Man saw Matt exit the alley.
Matt knew he couldn't endanger his public persona more then he was already doing. He would keep an eye out for them as Daredevil. He will encounter them and play it off from there.
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Ghost Spider crawled along the wall over the window. She already checked out the outside and knew there were no cameras. That was the issue with being a public person. Your address was public as well. Well, more so then the usual.
Since she trusted Peters judgement, she had no problems with spying on her or her mother. She positioned herself upside down to peek with her head down the window.
Good. No one was there.
Crawling a little more, she could see that a window to the suite was open via the kitchen window.
Well, time for her spy gadget. She pulled it out from her belt.
Honestly?
For such a small thing it was putting on a high performance. A testament to her and Peter scientific mind and Bells coding and money. Though she suspected he might have used some technomancy as well.
The small spider bot silently crawled through the window. Now, she just needed to wait and let A.R.A.C.H.N.I.D do its work.
23 minutes later the spider bot stumbled upon the Radiant Ruby on top of Felicias panties.
Ghost Spider blushed a little at some of the lingerie. A.R.A.C.H.N.I.D displaying the video feed in her lenses at her request.
Maybe, Bell, woul- She shook her head.
No, keep her head in the game.
15 minutes later A.R.A.C.H.N.I.D found a small hidden compartment and crawled through.
Bingo. The Black Cat suit. Now, they knew Felicia Hardy was 100% Black Cat.
10 minutes later she stumbled on a small paper.
Notes.
About the previous Black Cats accomplishments and contacts.
Ghost Spider made a photo and waited for the spider bot to come back before jumping of the skyscraper.
Time to investigate these contact numbers.
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Bell was typing away on his computer as he felt hands hug him from the back by going into his T-Shirt. Since the person was not wearing a hoodie or the like, they made skin to skin contact.
Bell tilted his head a little to spy Rogue from his periphery.
Rogue gave him a small smile. Bell simply turned back and continued typing.
''Don't ignore me Sugar,'' Rogue requested as she playfully bit his neck and rubbed his chest.
''I'm working. Genuinely. We are investigating something,'' Bell denied.
''Liar. I know you can use your technomancy. Or if not that, just make a puppet clone to split your attention,'' Rogue argued. Then again, maybe she just didn't understand what technomancy was really all about, but he could still make his puppet clones.
Bell tilted his head a little again to spy her from his periphery. He gave her a teasing smile as he waved his hand and the computer began writing lines of code much faster then previously.
''So what do you want?,'' Bell asked as he stood up. Rogue hanging from his back still hugging him, but only cause she used her abilities to fly a little and make herself more lighter.
''I don't know. I'm bored and I wanted to touch you a little,'' Rogue whispered in his ear.
''Interesting. You shouldn't be that touch starved anymore. I know you can touch the other girls,'' Bell wondered out loud.
''I love the others, but only as friends and family. I was talking about the touch of my partner,'' Rogue whined.
''Are you implying I haven't been spoiling you properly?,'' Bell asked with mock shock.
''A little,'' Rogue amended playfully.
Bell hummed. He grabbed Rogue from his back and threw her on the couch. She yelped. But starred eagerly at Bell to see what he would her command her to do.
Bell stroke her cheek with the back of his hand, making her lean in.
''Undress,'' Bell commanded. Rogue tensed and she quickly looked at her boyfriend. Didn't he say he wanted to wait till they were all adults?
''Did I stutter? Don't you want to be a good girl for me?,'' Bell looked down on her from his position. She was sitting and he was standing.
Rogue blushed as a pleasant shiver went down her spine. While her heart was beating she slowly removed her T-Shirt, revealing a lot of skin and a black bra. Bell waved his hand and the door to his man cave looked itself.
''My pants and underwear as well?,'' Rogue asked demurely.
''No. Not this time. Stand up. You said you wanted skin contact. Remove my own shirt then,'' Bell instructed. Rogue eagerly did so and then waited for more of Bells instructions.
Bell sat on the couch and motioned Rogue to take a seat on his lap.
''While facing me, Rogue,'' Bell corrected as she wanted to sit with her back to his chest. She quickly turned around and hugged him.
Bell hummed in amusement. Theoretically, he should punish her for that. She took initiative without his permission. He knew, what she liked by now and what would please her. But, not everything needed to be done one way.
Still, it was interesting how she could be so assertive on the field and so demure in bed.
''Seems my little girl is eager. I don't remember giving you permission to hug me,'' Bell teased. Rogues stilled and wanted to remove herself while saying sorry.
Bell stopped her by putting his arm on her back and pulling her back in.
He shushed her a little.
''I wasn't complaining anymore then you were,'' Bell assured her as he captured her lips. The two enjoyed their time while letting their hands trail over most of their upper body.
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''So, what do we got?,'' Chat asked as they all reconvened in Bells man cave.
''I'll start first. It seems Murdock is some kind of enhanced. Possibly super senses, maybe more. We almost came to blows. I heard some of the conversation he had with Nelson. Our suspicions of the list being actually a list of troublemakers was correct. Murdock is investigating Fisk with someone named Jennifer. Some research on our end narrowed the suspect down to Jennifer Walters. She is also a lawyer,'' Peter summarized.
''I snooped in Hardys home. She is definitely the Black Cat as I found the Radiant Ruby in her drawer. Some more investigation has revealed that she has a list of contacts. I went through the trouble of finding out more about those contacts, but most were a dead end. I did however find one name amongst all those contacts. Some Matthew Maho. A guy that was arrested a few years ago since he was operating as an illegal appraiser and running auctions for faked art. Well, more like he pretended the fake art was the real deal,'' Gwen told her findings.
''How likely do you guys think that it is actually Walter Hardys old contact list and his daughter found it?,'' Chat bet.
''Quiet likely and plausible. There is a good chance of you being right. Furthermore I would also theorize that she was hoping to hit up his old contacts in an effort to find out where her dad is located,'' Bell agreed.
''So, we all are agreeing that Felicia is trying to save her father? Is that the narrative we will run with?,'' Peter asked.
''For now, yes. If Walter was working with the mafia it would also explain why he disappeared. Either he was killed and no one is all the wiser or he faked his own death. The problem with that is that no such mention was made in the server of the NYCPD. I already hacked it. Despite any reports, it would make sense for us to assume that. The mafia won't just stop, because you are in prison. They probably would have threatened him with killing his daughter,'' Bell further reasoned.
''I agree as well. The more we investigate the more it seems that Fisk is REALLY not who he seems he is. My birds have reported some servants talking about mysteriously disappeared workers. As well as about some screaming in the dead of the night, deep into the building. Bell, what have you found out?,'' Chat asked him after reporting her own findings. Well, more like recounted what her birds told her.
Bell puffed his cheeks and blew some air.
''Boy, oh, boy. Buckle up. For one and the easiest. They also don't know where Hardy is. For two, there is a huge discrepancy in what the public ledger reports that they have earned and what is actually in their inventory,'' Bell began.
''Why does that matter? How does that stick out?,'' Chat asked. In a way this was good for her. All this investigating and the like. She wanted to become a criminal investigator to help out Peter. That was they same reason she picked up medical aid to help stitch his wounds, if he ever needed. Not that that required much learning since she was already somewhat familiar with that, thanks to helping out at animal shelters.
''They keep a clean and tight record on the public records. There is not even a hint of suspicion of Fisk industries evading tax or making under the table deals or so on and so forth. BUT they don't mention anything about their money on their servers. That is fine and not suspicious. What is suspicious is the discrepancy in their logistics compared to the money the have reported spending.
Which makes sense. If you want to run an empire or wage a war you need to be well aware of the logistics. And in his case, he has a lot of stuff he shouldn't have. Oh, he is playing the game well. The records in his public server coincide with the reports in his public ledger, but I found the hidden servers,'' Bell boasted.
''You managed to hack them? I doubt it would have been easy. Are you sure, they didn't trace you back?,'' Peter asked with some worry.
Bell snorted.
''Bitch, please. I could hack the Pentagon with a game boy, if I just connect it to the internet.
Anyway, take a look at this. This are the logistics I have from his hidden servers,'' Bell asked turning on his second and third monitor for them to see even more of the data. Gwen rolled her eyes and smiled a little, knowing that he was being a little to boastful of such an ability.
''That is... an awful lot of hydrofluoric acid. More then he reported in his public servers,'' Peter remarked making the comparison between two screens.
''And what does hydrofluoric acid do?,'' Chat asked.
''It basically dissolves a lot of stuff. Metal, glass, rock, ceramic. It is used in a lot of industrial processes and laboratory applications. It makes sense for Fisk Industries to have it, seeing as they have their fingers in quiet a few of these pies,'' Bell explained.
''Yes, but not in these quantities. That is WAY too much,'' Peter argued.
''And it also dissolves humans completely. Once in, no one will ever find a trace of you again,'' Bell added. The others clenched their jaws at the implications.
''Where is he storing these?,'' Peter asked as he looked over more of the data. Hydrofluoric acid was the least of their worries, seeing as there was so much more, but for now they should not lose the forest for the trees.
''He is holding it in a warehouse close to the pier. I already looked it up, it supposedly holds metal and a few other materials. Nothing else was listed on the public servers and the hidden servers didn't mention anything else besides storing the HF Acid there,'' Bell answered.
''Which means there is more to this building then it was listed in the building plans. A hidden room. Something like that,'' Chat concluded. Peter cast Bell a look silently asking hims something. Bell shook his head. No. No additional plans of the building were mentioned on the hidden servers.
''It is official. Fisk is a mafioso,'' Gwen declared.
''They question is, how deep did he dip his fingers into the pie? And how big is the pie in the first place?,'' Peter continued.
''Oh, it is deep. This is the mafia we are talking about. Human trafficking. Selling organs. Pedophilia. Pimping people. Selling drugs. Bribery of police and judges. Etc. Etc. Etc.,'' Bell replied and shrugged.
His heart went for those people. It really did. But this horror and evil really did not shake him at all.
The war was far worse.
''We are bringing an end to this. Right?,'' Peter asked.
Bell, Gwen and Chat nodded.
Though Bell knew, the mafia would come back and someone would fill the void left by Fisk. Though they still needed to find out naturally that Fisk was Kingpin.
He may dislike Stark, but he wasn't completely wrong about needing a suit of armor around the world. It was the best way to end all crime. When you had eyes and ears everywhere.
The problem with that was, as always, execution.
Hmm. Bell wondered if he should create androids to ensure that. With his technomancy the androids would never go rogue.
But that day was FAR off into the future. Peace had to be earned. If humanity failed to grasp that, then he owned them nothing. The consequences of their choices in a sense.
Actually, now that he was thinking about it. Was there even a marvel character that had technomancy? Bell supposed there was Bastion, sorry Bastian, with his techno virus. In a sense that granted one technomancy, but it was limited. And the nanites were rooted in science, even if they seemed to have a mind of their own and sought to convert all organisms into machine.
Huh.
Suddenly it made more sense why no one didn't just easily defeat the Sentinels. Ever.
Anyway, back to the topic.
''Sure. And we will start by snooping around in this warehouse,'' Bell declared.
''Do you think... Walter was dissolved in hydrofluoric acid?,'' Peter asked. If that was the case then it would recontextualize a lot that they have found out about Felicia. She seems more and more like a tragic figure to him at least.
''Does it matter? We are not here to speculate willy nilly. We are here to speculate on the limited amount of information that we have. We will find out more as we go along,'' Bell tried bringing them back to focus.
The other three nodded reluctantly.
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''That was surprisingly easy to get into,'' Spider-Man remarked as the all sat on a steal support beam on the ceiling overseeing the warehouse. It was a breeze to avoid the cameras and climb into the warehouse.
''Not surprising. It would seem suspicious if a mere warehouse has more security then it should have. The real security is once we find that hidden room. Assuming it is bigger then this warehouse,'' Ghost Spider remarked.
''Still, how much do you want to bet all of these are Fisks men? They may be lacking in security tech, but they clearly didn't spare a dime on hiring 'security,'' Nexus lowly said. It was fine to speak very lowly. They had super hearing. He also went out of his way to deactivate his light. Making him the darkest among the three of them.
''That is a losing bet. So, we can all agree we need to take these guys out? We can't investigate shit, with them around,'' Spider-Man said. The other two noodded and readied themselves.
''But first, we should see if they have any tech on them,'' Nexus said.
''Huh? What do you mean?,'' Ghost Spider asked, after stopping.
''Well, you know... maybe they have their heart beat linked to some kind of security system. When it slows as it is wont to do when one gets knocked unconscious, then boom. Alarm triggered,'' Nexus suggested. There wasn't any such security on them, he could feel it.
He just wanted to see how they would react.
Spider-Man gave him a small shove.
''You are overthinking. It is smart to do, but most are complacent and won't waste their money. Besides, can you imagine how hard it would be to make such a device inconspicuous?,'' Spider-Man reasoned.
''You are probably right. Anyway, we should knock them out without using our web,'' Nexus said.
''Why? The web is self dissolving after 2 hours,'' Spider-Man reminded.
''You know... He has a point. If something goes wrong and someone comes over and see the webs then they immediately know it was us. It is kind of our signature characteristic,'' Ghost Spider argued.
''And leaving them on the ground is better?,'' Spider-Man scoffed silently.
Nexus and Ghost Spider shrugged. You can't win it all. Spider-Man dropped his head, conceding defeat.
''Remember our training on how to knock out someone. Good luck,'' Nexus said as he crawled away. He preferred killing them. But time. He was giving them time. All with good pacing, else he'll push them away.
Besides, there was no way he could explain to Peter how he knew the guards were unquestionably evil, without revealing his reality warping. For know he still wanted to keep his telepathy a secret for a little longer. And Gwen, came to terms with him killing, but she was a policemans daughter. It would take some time to get her to that point.
Hmm. Maybe they should make some adjustments to their costume? He blended seamlessly with the darkness.
...
Spider-Man crawled over someone on the ceiling and had good visibility if someone was looking into their direction. Seeing as the cost was free, he dropped down silently behind the guard and immediately hit his neck in just the right place. Before he could drop and make any noise he grabbed him and his flashlight, before climbing up some to put him on a high shelf out of view from everyone.
On to the next one.
...
Ghost Spider was tiptoeing on a shelf and looking back and forth. Seeing the coast clear, she dropped down silently, knocked out the guard, grabbed him and performed a small enhanced leap to another high shelf in one fluid and graceful motion. She made barely any noise to her ears. Which meant she made even less noise to all the others.
...
''So, we done. Now what?,'' Spider-Man asked as they reconvened.
''Have you not watched any movies? You know what to look for. Come on, chop, chop,'' Nexus replied, shrugging while holding his palms up.
Spider-Man and Ghost Spider shook their heads skyward but got to work.
A few minutes later, Ghost Spider called the boys to her.
''Look, small scratch marks. I bet there is a door sliding out from the wall. The question is how do we open it?,'' Ghost Spider wondered. Nexus moved the desk a little next to the open wall in the office and pressed down a button near the socket. The door opened up from the wall with a click.
The two starred at him in surprise. He gave a small shrug as he started waling down the now revealed hallway, seeing as there were no cameras.
''Art imitates life and life imitates art. Don't be so quick to dismiss everything you see in the movies,'' Nexus lowly called back to them.
Ghost Spider and Spider-Man shared a look and then quickly followed him.
They both knew, Bell was a bullshitter.
...
''That seems unusually and suspiciously quiet. Were are the guards and the workers?,'' Spider-Man asked after they noticed that no one was inside the hidden room.
''They probably are not working today. It happens. Even crooks have free days I guess or they were called somewhere else and we are working with limited time,'' Nexus argued as he was taking his own look around.
''It seems they really are just storing the hydrofluoric acid here,'' Ghost Spider said.
''Think again. This place is far too clinically clean just for a storage room of a surplus of goods. There are humans inside these containers. I guarantee you,'' Nexus said as he walked over and opened up one lid from a container. The smell of hydrofluoric acid greeted him.
And the sight of dissolving flesh. Judging by its state, it has been in there for a while.
Ghost Spider and Spider-Man came quickly to watch only to recoil at the sight and retch, almost vomiting inside their mask.
''My suspicions are that they bring in people here that they need to dispose off. They are most likely dead or are killed here and then thrown into the container. Less messy this way. I doubt they torture here anyone for information or the like. The room seems not equipped for that,'' Nexus concluded as he put the lid back carefully on the container, closing it up and sealing it.
Nexus turned around and watched the state of his friend and girlfriend.
''Try not to vomit. I get it, this is horrible, but you need to keep a cool mind. Besides if you vomit, then you will contaminate the room and leave evidence of your identity. Let us leave and decide where to go from here. Some fresh air will do you good,'' Nexus instructed calmly as he packed Ghost Spider and Spider-Man by their biceps and dragged them up.
---
''I can't believe you can just eat after you saw... that,'' Spider-Man remarked as Nexus was biting into his pizza. They, or more like he, called up a random 24/7 Pizzeria and Nexus grabbed it before swinging away. God bless the city that never sleeps.
Then again he does reside in it.
Meh.
Nexus offered a slice to the other two as well and they turned their head away. Even with the mask on, it was clear they had clear disgust for the food for now. They were on a rooftop quiet a few blocks removed from the warehouse in Hells Kitchen. They made sure to remove all traces off their presence. Minus the guards, but then they won't know it was the Spider Club that beat them up.
''Suit yourself. And as for why I can just eat after seeing that. I care, but not THAT much. Anyway, we need to make a decision tonight. Once the guards wake up, they will notify Fisk and then they will move everything. They won't risk the police finding that room. We will have until tomorrow,'' Nexus said and took another slice of pizza.
''Well, then we obviously alert the authorities immediately,'' Ghost Spider declared.
''Mhmh, wonderful and then what? Assuming there won't be a spy in the NYCPD to snitch to Fisk, causing the actual police to not find anything as they will quickly move everything. IF they find anything the matter will be brought to court.
Remember, there were no mentions of that room in the building plans on the public server. Fisk can afford the best lawyers. They will argue that Fisk had nothing to do with it and that someone had without authorization built that room and yadda yadda yadda. They will find a loophole and then Fisk will know he has us as enemies. Remember you have to identify yourself to the dispatcher if you want your call to be taken,'' Nexus pointed out.
Spider-Man clenched his fist. Yes, that sounded like the system, alright. A system for the rich to exploit.
''Then what? We just let this go? Nexus, there were people inside that container. People who had their whole lives ahead of them. And they had it snatched it away from them, because of Fisks banal reasons,'' Ghost Spider tried to appeal to her boyfriend.
''Well, I'm sure there were at least a few rival mafia member in those containers. Alright, alright, don't get your bra in a twist,'' Nexus placated when he could Ghost Spider visibly draw herself up,''Unfortunately there is nothing we can do. We came ill prepared and only with the intent to verify our suspicions completely and finally. Sure, we could have taken photos or videos, but remember. Photos and videos taken without warrant are inadmissible in court, especially when taken by breaking and entering. And even then, remember what I said earlier about his lawyers.
The truth is, we lost this battle. And honestly? You guys weren't seriously expecting us to take this guy down in one night, did you? Go home, gather your spirits. We may have lost the battle, but we will win the war. The victims in those containers will have their justice one day. Now go, I still have my pizza to finish,'' Nexus instructed them.
They reluctantly left. Ghost Spider lingering the most, as she was honestly just hoping to be comforted in Bells embrace. He assured her he would come to her shortly, he just needed to gather his own thoughts in his own way.
After a while of him eating his pizza and judging his friends to be far enough away he called out.
''Alright you peeping tom. Come out and let us talk,'' Nexus said after finishing his last slice of pizza and closing the box. He will teleport it into the sun later, but first business. He pulled down the black cloth covering the other half of his face and put his helmet back on. He noticed him after they left the warehouse some time later.
''How long did you know I have been following you?,'' a man in red clothes and a mask with small like horns asked after he jumped down from his hiding place on the water tank.
''From the beginning. My friends, must have been quiet shaken by what they saw not to notice you. So, what will you do with that information? Do you still think us enemies, Murdock?,'' Nexus asked. Though Murdock was not registering as an enemy on his defenses, he still decided to play a small prank on him.
Daredevil stilled at the sudden revelation of his secret being exposed.
''How did you know?,'' Daredevil asked preparing for a fight.
''Fisks files,'' Nexus answered.
''He knows who I am?,'' Daredevil asked.
''No. It is your public persona that annoys him. Well you and Jennifer Walters. We investigated you. And now a blind hero stands before us, that displays some of the abilities that the lawyer displayed. And well, one plus one equals two, as the saying goes,'' Nexus replied.
''It seems awfully unfair for you to know who I am, but not vice versa,'' Daredevil remarked trying to get an insurance. He felt Nexus shrug with his echo location.
''As a lawyer you must know the world is not fair. Besides you haven't told us, I figured it out myself. I won't stop you from finding out yourself who I am. Naturally, professional courtesy is expected. Qui pro quo as they say,'' Nexus offered a small branch of peace offering. You won't tell my secret, I won't tell yours. Good luck, trying to actually find out though with his hands full.
Daredevil nodded reluctantly.
''Look, kid. What you did today was very reckless. Fisk is a dangerous man,'' Daredevil tried to warn him. Thanks to his fine tuned senses he could tell that the man before him was very young.
''Then who is he? Indulge me,'' Nexus challenged. Daredevil was silent for a while. Lord, save him from stubborn kids. He was not gonna drop this.
He sighed. Fine. At least he won't allow the kids to go in unprepared and with their power they could be useful as allies. It seems they all have an interest in seeing Fisk taken down. And nothing that Nexus said previously was wrong, so they were mostly realistic. Good head on their shoulders.
''Fisk pretends to be a well mannered man to the public, but behind the scenes he calls himself the Kingpin. He does not merely have his fingers in every pie, he IS the pie. He is the head of the entire mafia and various other underground organisations. I have been trying to get him to justice for quiet some time. Your assessment earlier was on the dot. That is his usual MO and he is GOOD at it.
Look the place you talked about with your friends. Where is it? Maybe I can do something or at the very least find a next lead to follow,'' Daredevil asked. Nexus shrugged and gave him the address then wished him good luck.
Nexus watched as Daredevil departed.
Hmm.
Sure they did not talk about much. No offer of alliance was given. Overall it was a disappointing engagement, but it was still progress. He now had an excuse to tell them Fisk was Kingpin and a potential ally, with which they could work with to take Kingpin down.
Now though?
He had a girlfriend to comfort.
He grabbed the pizza box and swung off.