Chapter 3.1

As a child, I loved sweets, especially candies and jam made by my grandmother. I ate them so much that my teeth hurt the next day. In the future, this resulted in frequent dental problems by the age of twenty. I can't say that I fell out of love with them, but the bills from dental clinics discouraged me from eating sweets in such quantities.

And looking at this mountain of chocolate, in many variations, piled on a glass coffee table, I mentally returned to my childhood. I divided the sweets into several days, so that I would not have problems with my teeth and stomach again later. Although the symbiote claimed that now such "little things" as stomach and toothache would not threaten me. And the faster and more chocolate (or human brains) I eat, the faster it will restore its strength and strengthen me. Or maybe the First just wanted to overeat chocolate?

But I did not rush with this. I just didn't know what to do with this "happiness" that had fallen on me. Both literally and figuratively. I felt the changes in myself already on the third day after my meeting with the symbiote, when the first batch of chocolate had already come to an end. The scar on my face had diminished, and it's unlikely that Peter himself would have noticed this small change. It was too inconspicuous, and he had already gotten used to the scar.

My appetite had increased greatly, and now I was eating five or six times a day. I even had to go to the store for new products, and two days later I made another trip (I also bought chocolate). But instead of starting to gain weight from such a change in diet, on the contrary, my muscles began to grow little by little. But the main changes happened a week later. I was getting up early now. The symbiote really did change the body of its host on a physical level, so for normal sleep I needed only five or six hours a day.

The morning exercise was behind me and breakfast was ahead. I hadn't eaten as much as the previous days, but still enough. I picked up the mug and looked at it in surprise. A clearly visible crack ran through the entire vessel.

As soon as I put it down, a solid piece fell off the mug. "Be careful, Carrier. Strengthened. A lot, but not yet to the maximum. You are already much stronger, faster and more resilient than ordinary people. Even those who have dedicated their entire lives to strength training and exercise." I chuckled, but checked anyway. The broken piece of the mug crumbled in my hands without difficulty. I lifted the heavy wooden dining table with ease, although afterward there were clearly visible marks from my fingers in the wood.

Hmm, it's better not to test your capabilities and abilities at home, otherwise you'll have to change all the furniture in the apartment after such experiments. "So, you've regained your strength? " "Yes and no. I can already use most of my abilities, but not yet to maximum efficiency. I think it will take another week to fully recover my strength and maximum capabilities." The changes were indeed noticeable. The scar on my face had almost completely disappeared, and my body had acquired a more defined outline - my arms and legs no longer looked like matchsticks, my chest and stomach had become toned.

My face had acquired a healthy look, my eyes were shining. Apparently, the First was primarily focused on my modernization and improvements, rather than on her own restoration. Or maybe these two things were inextricably linked? Better for me - better for her, and vice versa. - Can you already prove yourself? As a suit, like other symbiotes? "Yes." - Hm, well, - I took a deep breath. - Then let's try right after breakfast. The symbiote did not answer, I only caught its emotions - impatience and pride.

***

Standing in front of a large mirror, in which I was reflected at full height (having previously closed all the windows), I anxiously awaited what was about to happen. - And... how is it done? - I asked the First, tilting my head to the side.

- Do I need to say the activator word or take a special pose? "No, Carrier," - there was amusement in the symbiote's voice. I think he liked the joke. "Just imagine. You are the Carrier, practically all the control is on you."

- Almost? "I can show myself out in moments of danger. An unexpected attack from behind or from above. Catch onto something during a fall. Lead away from the line of attack."

- And why can't you act yourself all the time?

"Carrier, you are a dominant personality, your actions and thoughts are paramount. Independent actions distinct from your will are very costly."

But I remember that symbiotes were sometimes quite independent and had a good influence on the thoughts and minds of their carriers. Or was the First created less dominant on purpose? Or maybe the symbiote is just lying to me? Imagine, right? A clear picture of the symbiote covering my body like a suit appeared in my head. I even closed my eyes to make the picture in my head more detailed. A chill ran through my body, and there was a clear feeling as if you stuck your hand in jelly. The process of donning the symbiote was... unsightly.

It looked as if something resembling fuel oil was flowing out of every pore of the skin, but very quickly. Literally three seconds later, the First had completely covered my body. I began to study myself with interest, the symbiote was... - First! I can't breathe! - I screamed in panic, and the "symbiote's mouth" opened along with mine, revealing rows of needle-like white teeth and a long, pointed tongue.

"Calm down, Host, there is no need to be afraid and panic." — the symbiote slipped from my face, and I took a deep, convulsive breath. There was enough air in my lungs, but I gave in to panic. "When I cover your body, I can absorb oxygen through my skin, feeding your blood directly. This method is much more effective than yours. I remove carbon dioxide in the same way. In addition, this way I can also protect your body from most harmful substances: poisons, pathogens, microbes, viruses and everything else that is in the environment." - Why didn't you warn me about this feature earlier? - I asked the First incredulously.

"I didn't think it was so important." - I felt shame and regret from the symbiote. - Next time, tell me about such "surprises" in advance. "Okay." - the alien responded laconically. - You said something about invulnerability to poisons?

- I asked as soon as my heart calmed down a little. "Yes. While I'm on you, I can provide immunity to harmful substances in the air. Or remove them from the body in the shortest possible time." - All? "No, only those to which I developed resistance during my imprisonment with the whitecoats. They loved to test more and more new poisons and pathogens on me." - there was malice in the symbiote's voice.

"I didn't want more pain. I had to adapt, evolve, but the whitecoats kept finding new ways." I just nodded. Knowing that you are immune to most of the aforementioned nastiness is good. I think it will be almost impossible for me to get drunk now. The first one will simply remove alcohol from the body as soon as it gets there.yandex.ruAdvertisingYandex Direct will bring

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"Let's try again, Host? The main thing is not to be afraid - killing you is stupid and irrational." I nodded briefly after a minute of thought. The symbiote's last words really tensed me up. A second later, my face was covered with symbiote tissue again. Venom had black flesh, Carnage had crimson-red. The first one was dark purple, without any spots or patterns. Only the eyes were white. They were not huge magnifying glasses like those of other symbiotes, only twice as big as mine and ran straight across my eyes, rising and narrowing towards the temples.

The top of the eye was absolutely smooth, but the lower part looked like dripping paint. The mouth was not visible, but as soon as I started talking, it appeared along with sharp teeth and a long tongue, tapering towards the end, which was also white. I hadn't changed much in size - the First covered my body very tightly, like a latex suit. But there was no discomfort, I moved, walked around - the symbiote was my second skin on me. I didn't even feel the clothes it covered. I tried to breathe several times - it didn't work. It was a rather strange sensation: not breathing through my mouth or nose, and at the same time not feeling my lungs burning from lack of oxygen. My fingers ended in something like claws.

My feet were completely covered and slightly stretched out, like the pointed toe of a man's shoe. "How does it feel?" - Good, - I nodded to the symbiote's question, stretching my arms and legs, - as if I had become... "Stronger, faster, more resilient. Better." - I just nodded. "My senses have also become more acute." I tilted my head to the side, listening more closely - I didn't hear the neighbors watching TV or the water flowing through the pipes. I think I'll feel the difference over time. - Now that you've recovered, can I communicate with you mentally?

"Only when I'm in this state. I haven't fully recovered yet." "Hmm, one-two, connection check." I said mentally. "I hear you clearly, Carrier." There was amusement in the symbiote's voice. "Convenient. Can you read the other one's thoughts?" "No, Carrier. The other one is too weak, I can barely even feel his emanations. He's almost gone." - How long does he have left? - I asked out loud. "Two or three days." - Well... I didn't know what to say to that. I felt sorry for the guy, but there was nothing I could do. "Test your strength, Carrier." — suggested the First, after a minute of our mutual silence. I nodded in agreement — I wanted to do the same. But I had to do it more carefully. I didn't want the neighbors or guards to come running to the noise, and I felt sorry for the furniture and the apartment. Approaching the wall, I took a deep breath (to no avail), collecting my thoughts and put my fingers and the toe of my right foot to the wall. I tried to pull myself up and crawl up. It was surprisingly easy, but when I was already on the ceiling, things went a little worse — it was difficult to perceive the surroundings, hanging upside down. It took me about three hours to initially master my new abilities. I crawled along the walls and ceiling, walked along them, tried to "stick" to different surfaces — metal, glass, plastic, wood, everything was successful. Although the adhesion to wood was a little worse, but to metal and glass it was better. From the suit I could create antennae — both small and quite large.

I could manipulate the small ones like fingers - I tried to take a kitchen knife and cut a cucumber with them. The knife was shaking as if I was drunk, and the vegetable was cut into three unequal pieces, but I hoped that with time I would learn such subtle manipulations. With the larger ones, I could cling to surfaces and even move with them. I managed to overcome several meters on the ceiling with them - moving this way was much more difficult than with my arms and legs. Not physically, no.

Very good coordination and concentration were needed. Massive pieces of furniture, such as a table, a sofa, a bed and a refrigerator, were lifted easily (and with great care). The antennae too, but here, too, great concentration was needed. Like Carnage, the First could also transform her flesh into various types of piercing and cutting weapons, I was even able to create something like a hammer, but I decided to test the effectiveness of this weapon outside of the home. I'll need to find a quiet place where I can't be disturbed, or buy some pipes, bars, or something similar for home. Basically, things that won't raise suspicion and that can be easily thrown away. - First, tell me, - I was spinning around in front of the mirror again, examining myself meticulously, - can you take a slightly different form? Like, build up muscles on your arms, legs, or the body itself? Make your arms or legs a little longer?

- I can, Carrier. But it would be irrational. I took this form as the most suitable for your physical form. My body volume is limited, and if I change my physical form, there will be less mass left for weapons and tentacles, they will become less effective.

- I see. Try to build up some mass on your chest, so that from the side it looks like... ahem, female breasts, - a silent question was felt from the symbiote.

- You see, in this world, almost all superheroes and villains are women. The rare men walking among them attract a lot of attention and the excitement around them practically never abates. Even among those who have long been known. The Internet is filled with their photos, thousands of forums dedicated to them and the like. And now imagine - we declare ourselves, new heroes and villains always attract a lot of attention, and if it is a man...

We will not have peace!

"Wise, Carrier," the symbiote agreed and two elastic hemispheres appeared on her chest, and at the same time, on her own initiative, slightly changed her waist and hips so that her figure would be more feminine. This... looked rather embarrassing. I will need to think carefully about this idea. She seemed to be not bad, but... It was somehow embarrassing. Examining the female version of the First's host, I discovered a miscalculation in my plan: - But the voice is still male, - I sighed heavily, causing the "chest" to rise and fall.

"I can help with that too, Host."

- Really? How?

"When you humans speak, air passes through the larynx, causing the vocal cords to vibrate. That's how the voice appears. When you speak, I can vibrate around the throat, slightly changing the frequency of your own vibrations, thereby changing the voice."

- Wow, you can do that too? You're a real find, First! Well done! - the symbiote responded to the praise with happiness and embarrassment.

- Let's try, - silent agreement from the alien. - One-two-three, - the suit's eyes widened slightly in reaction to my eyebrows creeping up in surprise. The voice sounded completely new - lifeless, emotionless, as if synthesized, only not so disgusting.

Perfect! It always seemed strange to me that when saving their friends or relatives, superheroes remain unrecognizable. After all, people with whom you have known for several years and closely communicated with them can be easily recognized by their voice. What can we say about relatives with whom you live under the same roof.alfabank.ruAdvertisingRead more - Okay, First, let's go outside. We need to buy some things and test our capabilities.

"And chocolate!" "Okay, chocolate too," I smiled and mentally ordered the symbiote to subside. As a Russian, I was used to wearing different clothes at home and outside.

The set of street clothes that I had been wearing all the days before had safely been sent to the wash. I went to the closet, where several sets of new clothes had been added, and now I could choose much more than two T-shirts and a pair of jeans. But as soon as I opened the closet, I loudly put my palm to my face when my gaze fell on a three-piece suit. Alicia! I wanted to call her and find out if she had solved the problems with her job and whether we could continue our date, but because of the symbiote, I completely forgot about it! Rummaging through my pants pocket, I quickly found a piece of paper with Alicia's number, where, in addition to this, her name was written and a small heart was drawn. I should call her. If I don't do it now, I'll never do it. The beeps were long, I was about to hang up, when suddenly a tired voice answered me: - Yes, who is it? - Alicia? This is Peter, Jessica Richter's younger brother, remember? - Peter? - The connection was not very good, but even through the slight interference I clearly heard surprise in her voice. - Yes, of course I remember! But I thought that you had already forgotten about me and it was stupid to hope for a call, - and now there was undisguised sadness in her voice.

- Sorry, I really forgot. Suddenly a lot of things fell on me, and all these days I was busy.

- Almost did not even lie. - I remembered about our unfinished date only when I saw my suit. So I immediately dialed your number. I would like to continue it. - Really? - Why did it seem to me that the woman began to tidy herself up? - Of course, my sister praised you as a smart, cheerful and beautiful woman.

And I was convinced of this personally.

— Oh, well, I'd like to continue our acquaintance too, but… — Alicia answered apologetically. — Still dealing with the emergency at work? — Yes. I mean, no. I mean, not really. We've solved the main problem, but the consequences… — Hm, what do you and your sister do? — Sorry. You know, Jessica and I have a non-disclosure agreement. I can't say. Sorry. — No need to apologize, I understand — memory had long since told me that the older sister worked as a leading specialist in a pharmaceutical company called LifeCorp. And as a leading specialist, she signed a non-disclosure agreement. If her superiors found out about the violation of this agreement, they would not only fire her immediately, but even leave her without severance pay. She could be punished — from a large fine to a real prison term. — Anyway, that's my number. When you sort out your work, call me, I'll be waiting. — I'll definitely call! — Alicia answered quickly and passionately. — Bye, — the woman added after a short pause and added sheepishly, — I'm glad you remembered me. — Me too. I'll wait for your return call. See you soon, — with these words I turned off the phone and put it aside. Suddenly it became very interesting what Jessica and Alicia were doing,and what consequences of an emergency can be resolved in more than a week? An industrial accident? Industrial espionage? Something else? Well, I don't think I'll ever find out about it.