Chapter 211: Across the Spider-Verse (35)        

After the intense conversation, the fight had been paused. Miguel O'Hara had called off the chase, and the spider-people had gathered together.

The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension and the buzz of anticipation. The "Go Home Machine" stood in the center, a complex and futuristic device pulsating with a soft blue glow. Its sleek, metallic surface was adorned with intricate designs, and its central console was covered with a web of glowing energy lines. A spider-like robot named Anyr, with its many articulated limbs, worked diligently around the machine, weaving an energy web to create a laser cage.

Amid the crowd of spider-heroes, Michael Wilson, the legendary Spider-Man, stood out with an aura of respect and authority. Beside him were his loyal disciple, Spider-Man Red, and other familiar faces: Peter B Parker, Gwen Stacy, Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk), the Spectacular Spider-Man, Takuya Yamashiro (Japan Spider-Man), and Jessica Drew. Each hero had their own distinct suit and abilities, demonstrating their readiness to support Miles Morales as he prepared to return to his own universe.

Miles Morales stood at the threshold of the machine, his eyes scanning the room and the assembled spider-people around him. The heroes who had gathered were a diverse array of spider-variants, each suited up in their iconic costumes, their presence adding a sense of gravity to the moment.

Michael Wilson, the legendary Spider-Man, stood beside the console, his figure framed by the pulsating lights of the machine. His expression was a mix of resolve and warmth. "Don't worry, Miles. We'll follow you after you get home." he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Miles, feeling the weight of the moment, ran towards Michael. The energy in the room seemed to pause as he threw his arms (hug) around Michael in a heartfelt embrace. Michael's gloved hands patted Miles' back in a comforting gesture, his other arm wrapping around him securely.

"Go, kid. We only have two days to prepare before your canon event starts.." Michael murmured, his voice soft but firm.

Miles stepped back slightly, meeting Michael's gaze with a nod of gratitude. "Thank you once again, Mike."

Michael's face lit up with a proud smile, his eyes reflecting the confidence he had in Miles. "No problem, man."

Nearby, Spider-Man Red watched the exchange with a sense of pride, his gaze filled with admiration for his fellow disciple. The others—Peter B Parker, Gwen Stacy, Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk), the Spectacular Spider-Man, Takuya Yamashiro (Japan Spider-Man), and Jessica Drew—stood close, their eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. The regret of their inability to fully support Miles and the happiness for his readiness to move forward was palpable.

Miles turned towards Gwen and Peter B, his smile a beacon of appreciation. "Thanks too, Gwen. Peter."

Peter B's voice was thick with emotion as he broke the silence. "I'm sorry, Miles. I didn't see you sooner."

Miles pulled back slightly, meeting Peter B's gaze with a warm smile. "It's okay, Pete. You didn't have a choice." he said, his tone gentle yet resolute. The sincerity in his voice eased the tension in the room, offering comfort to Peter B.

Meanwhile, Gwen Stacy approached, her face etched with regret and concern. Her eyes, brimming with unspoken apologies, met Miles' as she spoke, her voice soft but heavy with emotion. "I'm sorry, Miles, for not telling you about everything."

Miles looked at Gwen, his expression a mixture of empathy and reassurance. "Gwen, it's alright. We've all been dealing with a lot.." he replied, his tone gentle yet understanding.

Miles then turned to Spider-Man Red, the disciple of Michael Wilson. The weight of their shared experiences as students of the legendary Spider-Man bound them in a way few others could understand. "As a fellow disciple of Michael, thanks for helping me, Pete."

Peter Parker, known as Spider-Man Red, nodded in acknowledgment. He reached up, slowly removing his mask to reveal a warm, sincere smile. "We're brothers from now on.." Peter said, his voice filled with a deep sense of camaraderie.

Miles grinned and nodded back, his voice filled with conviction. "Brothers."

Just then, Hobie Brown, also known as Spider-Punk, swaggered over with his usual rebellious flair. He glanced between Miles and Peter before speaking up with a grin. "How about me?" Hobie asked, playfully draping an arm over Miles' and Peter's shoulders. "Should I also be one of your sworn brothers?"

The room, already filled with a sense of unity and shared purpose, seemed to brighten with Hobie's infectious energy. Miles chuckled, glancing at Spider-Man Red before looking back at Hobie. "Of course, Hobie," Miles said, smiling widely. "And... Thanks Men."

Hobie grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright then, sworn brothers it is. We'll rock this multiverse together."

The room filled with laughter as the tension eased, if only for a moment. The camaraderie between the Spider-People was palpable, each of them finding comfort and strength in their shared bond.

But the lighthearted moment was short-lived. Miguel O'Hara, still carrying the weight of the multiverse on his shoulders, approached Miles with a serious expression. "Kid…" Miguel's voice was gruff, but there was something softer underneath, a hint of respect.

Miles looked up at Miguel, still feeling the residual fear from their earlier confrontations, but he stood his ground with newfound confidence. "I'll prove it to you, Miguel. I can save my father and my universe."

Miguel huffed, his expression unreadable. "Hmmp, less talk, more action."

Without another word, Miguel turned his back on Miles, directing his gaze towards Margo Kess, also known as Spider-Byte. "Hurry up and send this kid home.." Miguel ordered, his tone firm.

Margo nodded, her fingers flying over the controls of the Go Home Machine. The console lit up, scanning Miles' DNA to determine his destination.

As Miles watched the machine whir to life, his heart pounded with anticipation. "Finally, I can go home and save my father.." he thought, his determination burning bright.

He turned to face his friends, the Spider-People who had stood by him through thick and thin. "I'll be going first.." Miles said, his voice steady.

Michael Wilson, the legendary Spider-Man, nodded with a reassuring smile. "See you after this, Miles."

Miles nodded back, stepping into the Go Home Machine. As the spider-like robot named Anyr began to weave the energy web around him, wrapping him in the protective cocoon that would send him home, Miles felt a mix of relief and resolve.

But as the process began, Michael watched with a heavy heart, a plan unfolding in his mind. (I'm sorry, Miles,) Michael thought, his expression darkening. (But the universe you're being sent to isn't your home. It's Earth-42, a world where Spider-Man doesn't exist, and an evil version of you reigns.)

Michael's mind raced with the necessity of his plan. (The Go Home Machine sends you to the universe tied to your DNA, and since the spider that bit you wasn't from your world, it's sending you to Earth-42. I need to fix that universe, to restore balance where Spider-Man never existed.)

He glanced at the others, knowing the burden he was placing on Miles, but believing it was necessary to save the multiverse. (Don't worry, Miles. We'll follow you there. We have two days before your canon event starts. Until then, you need to be there for my plan to work, to truly save the multiverse—all of it.)

As the web cocoon fully enclosed Miles, the machine began to hum, the portal to Earth-42 opening. Michael's heart clenched with the weight of his decision, hoping that when the time came, they would be able to save not just one universe, but every universe.

Michael is hoping that this plan of him will worked as michael recalls his talking with his system before they came in the go home machine

.....

30 Minutes Ago

In the quiet corners of Michael Wilson's mind, he found himself in a strange, digital-like space where he could talk to the System—a mysterious force that had been guiding him through many challenges. The space around him was filled with flowing streams of light and flickering symbols, representing the deep connection between him and the System. It was here, in this virtual world, that Michael and the System had their complex conversation.

Michael stood amidst this digital expanse, his form appearing as a lucid projection of himself clad in his signature black Spider-Man suit, the dark blue spider emblem gleaming subtly against the backdrop of flowing information.

Frustration etched across his features, Michael's voice resonated through the space, echoing with urgency and determination. "What exactly are you, System? You've been with me through everything, but I still don't understand your true nature."

The System's response manifested as a calm, disembodied voice emanating from all around him, each word accompanied by a subtle ripple through the streams of data. "Host, that information is currently restricted. Therefore I cannot disclose any information at this time."

Michael's brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. He ran a gloved hand through his hair, exhaling slowly to regain composure. "Fine. But at least tell me this—did I really change my canon event because of your interference? And if so, how can I help Miles change his without causing a quantum hole?"

The system's voice remained emotionless, "Host, you were the one who changed your canon event, not me."

Confusion flashed across Michael's face. "What do you mean? I thought you provided the means for me to change my fate."

The system continued, "I am bound by certain rules and cannot disclose further details, Host. However, the choices you've made have shaped your current path."

Michael sighed, rubbing his temples. "Tsk... Fine, but just tell me—how can I change Miles Morales' canon event without creating a quantum hole in the multiverse? There has to be a way."

There was a brief pause as the data streams intensified, symbols and codes flashing rapidly as the System processed the query. Then, the voice spoke again, deliberate and precise. "Host, to achieve such a change, you must realign events to their intended origins. By restoring elements to where they should have been from the beginning, the timeline can stabilize without adverse effects."

Michael halted his pacing, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "Restore things to their original place... back to the beginning..." His mind sifted through countless scenarios and possibilities, seeking a solution hidden within the complex web of timelines and events.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration ignited within him. Michael's eyes lit up as he recalled past encounters with the System's 'Shop' feature—a repository of powerful items and abilities he had accessed before. "I think I know what to do," he murmured, a plan beginning to take shape. "Remember those things I saw in the Shop a while back? There were two in particular that caught my attention—a powerful trump card and another skills that could help me this time"

The system hesitated. "I hope it's not the trump card, Host."

Michael smirked, his decision firm. "We'll see about that. But for now, I have to send Miles to Earth-42. I need him there for my plan to work. To execute this properly, Earth-42 will be the key."

As the conversation ended, Michael looked around the room filled with Spider-People. Time was ticking. In the next half-hour, the multiverse's fate would rest on his shoulders, and Miles would unknowingly play a crucial role in the grand design Michael had been crafting.

...

Present Time

As Miles vanished into the portal created by the Go Home Machine, enveloped in the intricate energy web woven by Anyr, Michael stood among his fellow Spider-People, watching with a mixture of anticipation and determination. The soft hum of the machine filled the chamber, and the bright flash signified Miles' departure to Earth-42.

Michael's gaze lingered on the fading glow of the portal, his thoughts racing. (Hold on, Miles. We're right behind you..) he thought silently.

Peter B approached, noticing the contemplative look on Michael's face. "You okay, Mike? You seem deep in thought."

Michael offered a reassuring smile, masking the complexity of his plan. "Yeah, just thinking about the work ahead. We have a lot to prepare for."

To be continue