Chapter 20: The Crew

The Fastest Man Alive
Chapter 20
The Crew

The psychic assault disappeared as fast as it appeared, but I was already moving to get to the limo. I caught up to the limo while it was halfway back to the HQ. Peter was in the front half section of the limo, but I wasn’t looking for him. Moving back a bit I was greeted with a fascinating sight, Gwen had Jean pinned down to the chair, engaging in some serious kissing and light petting.

I should have felt betrayed or down because of this situation, but I wasn’t so dense as to not realize what was happening. Gwen finally gave into her bisexuality, but also saved a lot of lives in the process. Nothing that I had prepared for Jean’s awakening was available for use in this current situation. I was more than satisfied that this kiss had snapped Jean out of her abilities going out of control, so now it was time to help them both. 

Covering my body in my speed force aura, I phased my way into the back with Jean and Gwen. Sitting in the car seat, I just sat back and enjoyed the view. It was a thing of beauty red mixed with blonde, there soft moaning, I won’t interrupt there fun for now, but I did feel another mind brush against my own, and I knew who it was. Jean had instinctively reached out when she felt my presence, typically when the Professor does this, I would shut him out, but for Jean, I would do no such thing.

Slowly unraveling my mental shields, I allowed Jean to connect with my mind. Once I realized I could see different waves of energy, I went through every spectrum that was available to me, and luckily, one such spectrum was the ethereal realm connected to most psionic powers. Just seeing the psionic waves wasn’t enough though I had to figure out how my mental barriers worked and If I could reverse engineer it in case others would need psy-blockers. 

I was able to create what would be essentially a mental firewall blocking all access requests for port entry. So by reversing what I usually have going on within my mental firewall, I can allow only those I choose to gain entry since I didn’t want to sync with just anyone. When I felt Jean’s mental intrusion, I formed a mental image of myself holding her in a warm embrace. 

“Jean, the mental mindscape is all about imagery. Put aside your fears and picture yourself at the moment. Do that, and you will be more aware within the ethereal.” I whispered out within my mindscape.  Jean was a natural. She appeared within moments of me just giving her a hint of how the mind operates. She looked around, stunned at the presence of my mindscape. 

“Welcome to my mind, Jean, here I am in total control,” I Stated as I brought up two recliners and a table for us to be seated. “How are you doing this?” Jean asked, amazed as I showed off my mental controls. “Visualization is the key Jean, slow down, and focus on what you’re trying to do. Imagine a clear picture, then will it forth into creation.” I told Jean, and she got it again, instantaneously. 

Jean brought forth my representation of New York City with buildings for my memories. My home with my childhood, the school where we all met and the Bain of my existence. Then the car that killed me appeared all blacked out, so with my mental push, I enclosed it behind a vault with all the other nasty little memories and plans that she couldn’t be aware of right now. 

“What was the car, and why did I feel a tug when it disappeared?” Jean asked.  “There are things in my mind that can’t be shared. I would like you to respect that please.” I told Jean’s as I was locking down memories. Then I brought up my training in meditation and mind training that I did with my mental enhancements. 

Jean just stared at them, trying to figure out where I was going with bringing up the memories, so I just sat there and silently watched. Then Jean did what I was about to tell her about, She closed her eyes and then the memories flowed right into her ethereal body. I smiled at that because she just copied the memories into herself.  With that, I stood up and held my hand out while she assimilated the memories.

Once finished, Jean joined me in standing. With quick changes, I backdropped us on a beautiful nighttime scenery with the moon and stars overhead. 

“It would be rude of me to send you away without anything.” Then I leaned in and delivered a toe-curling kiss of my own. With a slight push, I was back out in reality, but I left my mind open for Jean since I could notice that slight trepidation was flowing from her. When I opened my eyes from my seat, I noticed that almost no time at all had passed. That could either be due to my mind or that’s just the nature of things in the ethereal, but I can wait for the explanation from the real experts. 

Gwen still had Jean in one intense liplock, but it would be rude to interrupt, so I sent a few messages to Alfred to have my lawyer sue the pants off the Thompson family. I wanted them so ruined that the judge would order them to allow me to piss on the ashes of whatever was left remaining after I burnt it all to the ground. That was how finished I was with Flash and his bullshit. After that was finished, I sat back in my seat to relax and take in the night sky. It was 2010 currently, and that means I only had one more year and a few months to prepare for the coming invasion. None of the serums will be ready in time unless I move up the time table on Banner’s return. 

That would be more than a double-edged sword, and I don’t need the hulk type of complication so soon without my super strength solution. There was only one solution that could solve this problem sooner rather than later. I could only sigh thinking about the only person that could take the World War Hulk head on with no issues at all. Unfortunately, my sigh had shaken Gwen out of her kiss happy moment. “Had fun?” I asked while pulling Gwen into my arms as she blushed. Jean just took a seat as regally as she could but her face was bright red. 

“I was… It was something else,” Whispered Gwen into my chest. “Your not mad I kissed her?” Gwen asked me.  “No, I’m far too comfortable with my masculinity to be offended by something I knew was long in the making; also, kissing Jean is very breathtaking,” I spoke up smiling at Jean. 

I wanted her to come closer, but with Gwen in my arms, I couldn’t reach that far for her. Jean came over on her own though, and I could only smile at her because that means she was still in my head roaming around. 

“How is the mental block I showed you going?” I asked Jean, at this point, Gwen turned around in my lap, and I could see out the windows of the limo. 

We were almost back at the HQ, but I couldn’t see what Peter and the two trouble-makers were doing because of the divider window. Gwen punched me in the arm pouting at me, “When did you kiss Jean and why am I just learning about this now,” Gwen asked while poking me in my chest. “Just a few minutes ago while you both were doing the tongue tango,” I tapped the side of my head.

“I let her in and curled her toes also with a kiss within the ethereal.” I replied to Gwen while taking a look at Jean’s scrunched up face, “Jean?” I prompted her. “It’s just odd how your mental imagery attempts, work. I am doing the speaker drill, turning down all the voices then enclosing my mind behind a reinforced wall. Just like your memories clearly, show. It feels like I can do more though,” Jean stated while leaning into my side. 

“We can easily figure this out, don’t worry Jean maybe you can speak with that Professor that Ben’s always talking about,” Gwen told Jean as she hugged her.  Shit, I will have to give the Professor a strongly worded warning. I placed all the warnings about what I felt was proper mind etiquette and let Jean review them while the three of us rode in silence. I was sure though, that Gwen and Jean were in constant telepathic communication. That was fine since there was no harm done and Jean needed the practice, now I just needed to make plans to test out her other abilities and maybe a super suit just in case. 

When we got back to the HQ, everything was peaceful, but I knew that it wouldn’t last for long. The Octavius couple were out on date night and I had bought enough barbeque meats and party favors that Logan would be stuck at the X-mansion for the night. Spiral isn’t typically around when Natasha went on her missions, and Barton was most likely on his farm or his missions. The girls got out first, then I got out after, but when I got out, I got a good look at Peter, and his lips looked bruised. 

I could only laugh at him because there was not a mark of black lipstick on him anywhere. So that could only mean Peter was making out with the little Stabby munchkin and I couldn’t wait to see the look on Logan’s face when he smells Peter on Laura. Peter came walking up to me while Laura was getting advice whispered to her by Michelle.  “So, you finally got a kiss that wasn’t yourself in a mirror?” I asked him as I looked him up and down. 

“Har, Har! would you like me to mention the buck tape situation?” Peter asked, but I was already moving to cover his mouth.  “You speak of that in any form, and I will call Logan right now,” I whispered to Peter threateningly.  That got Peter to back off so we all went casually upstairs. I would have to make a change soon, it was fine sleeping here sometimes, but we couldn’t make the Star’s Industries building our home. That’s how a lot of heroes lose contact with the real world. Ugh, I would need to put in some more plans to make Salem the most fortified town in the country.

I awoke as usual after only a few hours of rest, lucky for me everyone had spent the night up chatting after we had showered and changed out of the messed up clothing. So for once, I was getting up with the sun and not before the crack of dawn. I woke up to find both Jean and Gwen fully clothed but passed out in my bed. 

Ignoring them, I proceeded to finish my morning routine by getting in a light workout and finish a few projects hanging around. Since Netflix wasn’t a thing in this world, I was working on a few business plans to make myself the new owner of a vast library that plenty would pay for.  

Now that Oscorp was on the downslope, it was also time to steal a few projects and people that Little Harry doesn’t need. I was sure Otto would gladly provide me with a list of scientists that were willing to jump ship. I arrived at my office in a good mood, humming to myself because I just got an update from my lawyers letting me know that papers were being filed post haste. 

Also, the gift that I was working on for both Gwen and Jean was coming along nicely, but my good mood was tempered when I got to my office. The first thing I noticed was that my seat was turned around facing the window and not pushed in like It was usually after each use. And right on queue, my mother turned around in my chair like some old school bond villain. 

“So, you didn’t kill him. Why?” Was the first thing out of her mouth. I could only sigh at her. 

“Flash is just some high school bully. Beating him up as badly as I did was harsh enough of a lesson for him,” I replied, placing my holo-tablet on my desk. “Hmm, You know we don’t leave enemies at our backs, Benjamin. Not in this family.” My mom said while drumming her fingers on my desk. 

“Mom, I know this already, but there is nothing I can do that won’t implicate me in his disappearance,” I told her.  “Well, that’s too bad because he is already in the wind.” Spoke Fury as he just walked into my office like it was his own. Fury walked in, fixed himself a drink then stood by the window overlooking the city. 

“What happen Nicky?” My mother asked Fury. “Someone picked up his family when the city suddenly had a malfunction with the cameras.” Fury replied to my mother’s question. I had enough, and my anger came through in my voice.  “What do you mean he just vanished? Alfred, search, I want his head on a platter now,” I spoke out loud. 

My mother just looked at me and smiled at my response. I was fucking livid because this was something I didn’t need on my plate right now. Every fucking time a person gets beaten and grows a grudge against the hero they tend to show up with some power and become a significant pain in the ass later. This was not about to fucking happen, not in my lifetime. All of Alfred’s searches were coming up negative, so I had him freeze all of the Thompsons assets to smoke them out. 

“This is why we kill all our enemies Benjamin.” Came my mom’s voice from behind my desk. 
“I wasn’t going to kill him. I just wanted to place him in a deep dark hole for the rest of his life.” Fury spoke up.  I just turned to look at the two with my disapproving frown on my face.
“So everyone is just here to rub it in or is there another reason?” I asked while looking back and forth between the two. 

“I was here to see if I will have more grandkids.” Chirped my mother with a smile on her face. I looked at Fury, and he only shrugged in my direction. It was time to go, I have had enough of this, there was technology to build and money to make.

Natasha had found me that mad scientist in Georgia that was experimenting with Luke Cage. I might not have been here in time to save Luke’s wife or to pick him up directly after his escape, but I was here now. And getting my hands on research that can make a person bulletproof will be invaluable for my own set of super soldiers. That and I can make cheaper bulletproof armor that I can market. 

All I would need is a partnership with a few leather ranches. More bulletproofing with less actual armor showing, this was going to be a steal, and I can already see the money rolling in. I left orders for a few things and followed up with the Governor and some other politicians I had Natasha round up for me. The plans for the Metahuman bill within New York was on track, and most of the opposition was quickly finding themselves isolated and out of touch with the rest of their political parties. 

It was almost time for me to come down hard on New York with the full weight of what I could swing. With all the parts to my puzzle slowly solving themselves, I left to meet the BLACK WIDOW. Out in Georgia, Natasha was keeping an eye on a little scientist named Noah Burstein. Also, better known as the guy who figured out how to make a human being bulletproof using illegal testing on the prisoners in jail. Lucky or unlucky for him, Luke Cage is on my list of recruits, and I needed his research to better the world. When I got to his Georgia home, Natasha already had the mad doctor spilling his guts about his research.

While Natasha was recording everything that he spilled out his guts, I went to check on the lab the doctor had hidden in the back of his farmhouse. When I walked in, I was greeted with the motherload. Dr. Burstein had his server going, and a tub of chemical bottles lined up beside the tub he already threw them into. Plugging a USB connected directly to Alfred, I had him download every file and break through the mad doctor’s firewalls. Looking at the tub of liquid, I wanted to become bulletproof. But it was best to test this first, walking back into the house I chuckled as Natasha ran her blade across the doctor’s cheek.

“Dr. Burstaein, we both know you didn’t give any of the inmates you experimented on any mercy. So why do you think you’re going to get any from us?” I asked the good doctor as I sat across from him. “I can solve the problem with the formula I can make it work, and you can have an army.” Begged DR. Burstein while launching to grab at my feet. Reeling back I kicked him across the face. I did not need to get any of his filth on me. 

“Doctor your formula works you were only missing the one thing that was staring you in the face the whole time,” I told him while thinking back to my general knowledge of Luke Cage from the comics and what the show explored.  “You always pull the subject out too soon once the heat goes up doc, but that’s the thing. You need the heat to open up the capillaries in the subject’s body. That way, they can absorb the formula you made. Once that happens, they become bulletproof and stronger. Come, let us run a test, and you will see.” I told him as I got up from the seat.

Natasha walked the crying doctor at gunpoint as we made our way back into his lab in the farmhouse. I went about setting up the relay and flipping switches to start up the procedure to fry this little man alive. Since I already had the formula and how it was made even the measurements for the solvent to enhance the skin, he was no longer needed. What I did need, though, was a live test before I was sure I had the right things. “Natasha, do you mind?” I asked her nodding towards the doctor. With a savage grin on her face, Natasha tied the doctor’s arms together and tossed him in his tub filled with the solution.

With a yank, I flipped the switch and turned the power up to full.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

The doctor screamed out for all to hear, but we were out in the boondocks of Georgia, so there were no neighbors around to listen to him and come to the rescue. “Are you going to keep him?” Natasha asked me while keeping her eyes on the thrashing doctor stuck under the screen that holding him down.  “No, he is a nice little gift for our real recruit,” I told her as I brought back up the switch letting out the doctor from the tub.

“Why are you doing this?” Dr. Burstein screamed out as he tumbled out of the tub. I completely ignored the man and turned to Natasha, who was already whipping out a Glock.