Chapter 201: Across the Spider-Verse (26)     

Miles looks directly at Miguel, determined to understand. "How do you know?"

Miguel's expression darkens, his voice dropping to a somber tone. "Because I broke it once myself."

The room falls silent as everyone listens. Miguel's gaze is locked onto Miles as he continues, "I found a world where I had a family. A place where everything was perfect… until I tried to take it."

The scene shifts around them, showing glimpses of the multiverse, each Spider-Person observing their own tragic stories:

Hobie stares intently at a universe where Spider-Man becomes a zombie, the infected world spiraling into chaos and ruin.

Peter B. winces as he sees a version of himself who, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, doesn't gain powers but instead contracts a fatal disease. That Peter Parker eventually takes his own life to prevent spreading the illness to others. Peter B. quickly turns away, focusing on Mayday instead, holding her close.

Gwen's attention is drawn to another scene where her father dies at the hands of Electro. In that universe, Peter Parker holds Captain George Stacy in his arms, grieving the inevitable loss. Gwen's eyes well up as she's reminded of her father's destined fate, knowing deep down that one day her own father might face the same tragic end.

Jessica Drew watches her own story unfold in the webbed dimension, a tear glistening in her eye as she witnesses the loss of her loved ones. She instinctively cradles her pregnant belly, her sorrow intensified by the weight of the future she's protecting.

Miguel's expression hardens as the projection of his story begins to play for Miles. The holographic images reveal a joyful scene of a different version of Miguel living happily with his family, a daughter laughing in his arms.

Miguel's voice is heavy with regret as he narrates, "There was a world where I was happy. At least, a version of me was." The image shifts to show that version of Miguel—who is then tragically killed. "So, I replaced him."

Miles is taken aback by this revelation, eyes widening in disbelief. "You... replaced him?"

Miguel nods grimly. "I thought it was harmless. I thought I could live the life I never had. But I was wrong."

The projection shifts to the moment when everything fell apart. It shows Miguel holding his daughter, Gabriella O'Hara, as the world around them begins to disintegrate. The colors and people in that dimension start fading, slowly being erased from existence.

In the projection, Gabriella looks up at Miguel, fear and confusion in her eyes. "Daddy? Dad, what's happening?"

Miguel, desperate, tries to comfort her, but his own voice trembles. "It's going to be fine. I'm here."

Gabriella clings to him, tears in her eyes. "Daddy, I don't feel so good. Please, help me."

Miguel fell to his knees, cradling her in his arms. "You won't die. Father will save you. You won't die." he whispered, desperation in his voice.

As Miguel's grip tightens around her, his heart breaking as the world crumbles. But it's too late. One by one, everyone in that universe is wiped away—erased from existence. Only Miguel and Peter B., who were from different dimensions, remain as witnesses to the collapse.

The projection ends with a haunting silence, Miguel screaming in agony as his daughter disintegrates in his arms.

Miguel turns back to the present, his eyes hardened with the trauma of that memory. "Isn't that right, Peter?"

Peter B., holding Mayday protectively, nods solemnly. "Yeah."

...

Peter B. recalls when he first met Miguel. He remembers how urgent and desperate Miguel was, needing Peter B.'s help to try to save a world that was falling apart.

"Wh-what?" Peter B. says, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "Tell me what's going on. Why do you need my help?"

Miguel's voice trembles as he explains, "I made a mistake. I thought I could replace my old life with something better, but I only made things worse. My daughter, Gabriella, she's… she's in danger. I need your help to save her world."

Then Peter B.'s mind drifts back to the countless moments he and Miguel spent trying to prevent the inevitable collapse of Gabriella's world. He remembers the frantic searches, the sleepless nights, and the heart-wrenching realization that no matter what they did, they were powerless against the impending doom.

In the midst of their desperate attempts, Peter B. recalls Miguel's eyes, filled with a mix of hope and despair, as he clung to the belief that somehow, they could change the outcome. Every new plan, every possible solution, seemed to slip through their fingers like sand.

He remembers a particularly poignant moment when they stood at the edge of the disintegrating world, watching as the familiar landmarks of Gabriella's universe were swallowed by darkness. Miguel's face was etched with a profound sadness as he held onto the last vestiges of hope.

Peter B. had seen the way Miguel's hands shook as he reached out, trying to grasp something—anything—to prevent the inevitable. "We can't give up," Miguel had insisted, his voice trembling. "There has to be a way."

But despite their best efforts, the collapse was unstoppable. The world's final moments were a blur of fading colors and panicked cries, with Miguel's voice a desperate whisper against the encroaching void. The sight of Gabriella's fearful eyes as she looked up at her father, and the way her small body slowly disintegrated from his grasp, was an image that haunted Peter B.'s dreams.

...

Returning to the present, Peter B. pulls Mayday closer, her innocent eyes looking up at him with confusion. He takes a deep breath, forcing himself to remain composed despite the pain of those memories. "Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't change what's meant to be," he says softly. "But we have to keep moving forward. For those we've lost, and for ourselves."

Miguel's gaze remains distant, his heart heavy with the weight of his past actions. The room remains silent, each person grappling with the gravity of what has been shared.

Then Miguel's gaze shifts to Miles, his tone stern. "You break enough canon, save enough captains... and we could lose everything."

Miles stands there, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on him. But one thought keeps echoing in his mind about his dad. He mutter, "My dad is about to be captain."

Miguel's expression darkens even more. "And if you save him, you might destroy your entire universe. Is that a risk you're willing to take?"

Miles, clutching his head in pain, suddenly envisions another canon event unfolding in his mind—the moment his father dies, trying to save a child after Miles fights the Spot. The image is vivid and terrifying.

Panicked, Miles blurts out, "No. Spot does it." He stares at Miguel, desperate. "Spot… he kills him. When does it happen?"

Miles's voice grows louder, more frantic as he looks around at everyone. "When does it happen?!"

The room is heavy with silence. Everyone feels the weight of Miles's fear and desperation. Even Hobie and Peter B. look more somber than usual.

Miguel's expression remains cold and unyielding. "In two days."

LYLA, projecting beside him, adds with a soft voice, "That's what the model says."

Miguel's tone remains stoic. "I'm sorry, Miles."

Miles, his voice trembling with emotion, demands, "Send me home."

Miguel shakes his head. "I can't do that. Not now."

Miles, growing more desperate, asks, "What am I supposed to do? Just let him die?"

Miles then turns to Gwen, his eyes pleading. "What about your dad? He's a captain, right?"

Gwen, already burdened by her own fears, looks away, silent. She knows that her father's death is inevitable, just like everyone else's. She feels the guilt gnawing at her, but she can't bring herself to say anything.

Miles's frustration builds. "And that's it? You're not gonna do anything about it?"

Gwen's silence answers him. Miles, feeling more isolated than ever, turns to Peter B., who's holding Mayday close.

"What about Uncle Ben?" Miles asks, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Would that have been okay if you knew and just let it play out?"

Peter B. sighs, placing a hand on Miles's shoulder. "If not for Uncle Ben," Peter says gently, "most of us wouldn't be here, Miles. And all the good we did, it…" He locks eyes with Miles, trying to convey the difficult truth. "It wouldn't have been done."

Miles shrugs off Peter B.'s hand. The weight of everyone's acceptance feels unbearable. "So we're just supposed to let people die because some algorithm says that… that's supposed to happen?"

Miles steps closer to Miguel, defiance etched into his face. "You realize how messed up that sounds, right?"

Miguel's expression remains firm, though there's a hint of regret in his eyes. "You have a choice between saving one person and saving an entire world." He pauses before correcting himself. "Every world."

Miles clenches his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "I can do both. Spider-Man always—"

Before he can finish, Peter B. softly interjects, "Not always, Miles... Like I said sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can't change what's meant to be"

Miguel steps closer and pats Miles on the shoulder, his grip firm and almost fatherly. "Miles, we all want to live the life we wish we had. Believe me, I've tried." His voice carries the weight of painful experience, and as he speaks, more Spider-People appear from all sides, surrounding Miles in a tight circle.

Miguel continues, his tone growing grimmer. "And the harder I tried, the more damage I did. You can't have it all, kid."

The pressure mounts on Miles, his eyes darting from face to face as the sheer number of Spider-People overwhelms him. His breathing quickens, anxiety gnawing at his resolve.

Miguel's voice cuts through the tension. "Being Spider-Man is a sacrifice. That's the job. That's what you signed up for."

Suddenly, a familiar voice calls out softly. "Miles."

Miles turns to see Peni Parker stepping out from her SP//dr mech. She looks different—worn down, shadows under her eyes, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced with a melancholic sadness.

"Peni?" Miles's voice trembles. Seeing her like this rattles him even more. She looks so much like the vibrant friend he remembers, but now she's just a shell of that person. It's clear she's been through her own share of losses.

He scans the circle of Spider-People surrounding him. Their expressions range from stern resolve to quiet sympathy, but all of them are united in their message.

Miles's voice shakes with disbelief and frustration. "What is this? Is this an intervention or something?"

The Spectacular Spider-Man from Earth-26496 steps forward, his voice carrying a sad wisdom. "We know it's hard, but it's the truth, Miles."

Miles's gaze shifts back to Peter B., the one person he trusted the most in this room. His words drip with hurt and betrayal. "Is that why you're here? To let me down easy?"

Peter B. looks conflicted, his usual laid-back attitude nowhere in sight. Before he can respond, Miles continues, the bitterness in his voice palpable. "It worked last time, right? Why not run it back, huh?"

Peter B. raises his hands, trying to calm him. "Hey, hold on. Hold on. Calm down, Miles. We're all on your side here."

But Miles can't shake the crushing feeling of being cornered, betrayed by those he once saw as allies. His mind races, heart pounding as the reality of their words sets in. But deep inside, he refuses to accept it. There's no way he's going to let fate dictate his father's death.

Then tension in the room is palpable as Miles stands surrounded by the Spider-People, his frustration boiling over. He locks eyes with Gwen, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You were right, Gwen. You should've never come to see me."

Peter B. tries to interject, but Miles cuts him off, his voice icy. "Stop calling me that. If Michael was here, he would never let this happen."

Hobie, ever the instigator, smirks as he watches the scene unfold. "There we go." he says with a hint of amusement.

Jessica Drew, though visibly troubled, tries to defuse the situation. "Hobie, not helping."

Hobie responds with a dismissive, "Good."

Miguel, his face a mask of grim determination, acknowledges the weight of the situation. "Michael, that anomaly."

Miles, now realizing the full extent of what's happening, questions the reasoning behind their actions. "Is that why you didn't invite him here?"

Peter B. pleads with him, his voice full of concern. "Miles, please understand."

Miles, now clearly distressed, speaks with a firm resolve. "You can't ask me not to save my father."

Miguel, resolute and unmoving, responds coldly. "I'm not asking."

Before Miles can react, a trap box envelops him, sealing him inside with a sudden clunk. The confined space adds to his growing sense of panic.

Peter B. tries to reason with Miguel, desperation in his voice. "Just give him a second, please."

Gwen, equally frantic, joins in. "Miguel.. Don't! Stop it!"

Miguel, unwavering in his stance, retorts, "If we let him leave, he'll only do more damage. We both know that."

Miles, trapped and frightened, desperately tries to figure out a way to escape. He looks around, his mind racing, as the box begins to close in on him. The situation grows dire as Miguel and the others argue about what to do next.

Amid the chaos, Hobie, sensing the opportunity to help, gives Miles a crucial piece of advice. "Little man. Peter Pan. Palms."

Miles, understanding the hint, places his hands on the trap box and concentrates. His powers surge as he channels his venom blast, closing his eyes and focusing on the task at hand.

Suddenly, there's a loud explosion, and the trap box is shattered, sending debris flying and creating a thick cloud of smoke. The room erupts into confusion as everyone turns to see what happened.

As the smoke begins to clear, the silhouette of two figures emerges. The room goes silent as the figures step into view. The Legendary Spider-Man, Michael Wilson, and his disciple, Peter Parker (Spider-Man Red), stand before the stunned crowd.

Miguel's eyes widen in shock as he recognizes the anomaly. "Michael Wilson."

The other Spider-People react with a mixture of disbelief and awe.

Takuya Yamashiro (Earth-51778), caught off guard, exclaims, "Holy shit. Nanda kore (What is this?)"

Michael Wilson, with an authoritative and calm demeanor, addresses Miguel directly. "Miguel"

Peter Parker, equally surprised, stands ready beside Michael, his suit gleaming as he prepares for the confrontation.

The air is thick with tension as the two legendary figures stand poised to take action. It's clear that a showdown is imminent.

Will Michael Wilson and Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man Red, battle the Spider-People and save Miles? Will they be able to restore balance to the Spider-Verse and resolve the escalating conflict?

To be continued...