"You're right," Peter finally said. "He would want me to keep helping people. Just... smarter. More careful. More responsible about it."
"Exactly."
"When did you get so wise?"
Alex smiled slightly. "I've been thinking a lot about power and responsibility lately. Turns out it's a relevant topic."
Peter wiped his eyes. "Thanks for coming. For talking. I needed this."
"That's what friends do."
Peter nodded. Then he looked at Alex curiously. "You seem different. Again. Not just smarter. More... present. Like you're really here instead of distracted."
Alex had been working on that. Consciously engaging his emotions. Staying connected to the moment instead of just analyzing it.
"I've been making an effort. To be more in the moment with people."
"It's good. I like it." Peter managed a weak smile. "Even if your timing is terrible. Giving me life advice at a funeral."
"Best time for it. You're already emotionally compromised. Defenses are down. More receptive to wisdom."
Peter laughed. It was small and sad but genuine. "You're terrible."
"I know."
They talked for another hour. About Uncle Ben. About responsibility. About what came next. Peter cried some more. Alex listened. Offered what comfort he could.
By the time Alex left, Peter seemed steadier. Still grieving. Still guilty. But no longer drowning in it.
Alex walked to the subway thinking about formative moments. About how tragedy shaped people. Peter would be a better hero because of this. More careful. More committed. More aware of consequences.
It was cruel...but true.
His phone buzzed. Message from Norman Osborn's office.
"Mr. Carter, please report to Mr. Osborn's office tomorrow at 9 AM. Urgent matter. - Nora Chen"
Alex stared at the message. Norman never summoned him on short notice unless something important had happened.
'Spider-Man,' Alex thought immediately. 'Something about Spider-Man triggered this.'
He would find out tomorrow. For now, he just wanted to go home and sleep.
...
Norman's office the next morning was different. The desk had been pushed to the side. A large screen dominated one wall. Security footage played on loop.
Spider-Man swinging through Manhattan. Stopping a robbery. Saving someone from a car accident. Fighting what looked like a man in a mechanical suit.
Norman stood watching the footage with an expression Alex had never seen before. Fascination mixed with hunger.
"Mr. Carter. Thank you for coming."
"You said it was urgent, sir."
"It is." Norman gestured to the screen. "Spider-Man. You've seen the news coverage?"
"Hard to miss. He's been active for a few weeks now."
"Three weeks. Forty-seven documented interventions. Stopping crimes, saving lives, fighting enhanced threats. All while maintaining complete anonymity." Norman's voice had an edge to it. "I want to know everything about him."
Alex's mind went into high gear. Calculating responses. Managing information. "Everything is a broad request, sir."
"Then let me be specific. I want a complete profile. Analysis of his abilities. Estimates of his strength, speed, reaction time. Theories about the source of his powers. Potential weaknesses. Methods of capture." Norman turned to look at Alex directly. "This is now your primary assignment. Nothing else matters until I have comprehensive intelligence on Spider-Man."
"May I ask why, sir?"
"Because he represents the future. Enhanced individuals operating outside government control. Outside corporate oversight. He's proof that super-soldier research can succeed. And I need to understand how."
'He wants to capture Peter. Study him. Replicate his powers.'
Alex kept his expression neutral. "That's a significant undertaking. I'll need resources. Access to all Spider-Man footage. Security analysis. Witness interviews if possible."
"You'll have it. Nora is setting up a dedicated workspace. Level 5 access. Whatever you need." Norman pulled up a new video. Spider-Man fighting someone in a wingsuit. "Start with his physical capabilities. I want exact measurements. Strength, speed, durability. Then move to his abilities. The wall-crawling. The webbing. Figure out if it's biological or technological."
Alex watched the footage. It was Peter fighting the Vulture. The same fight where Alex had almost died. He could see Peter's movements. Analyze them with his enhanced intellect.
'Strength approximately three tons. Reaction time roughly 15 milliseconds. Enhanced proprioception. Adhesive capability likely bio-electric. Webbing appears organic based on dissolution rate.'
He could give Norman all of that. Provide perfect analysis. But doing so would help Norman capture Peter eventually. So he'll have to figure something out.
"I'll begin immediately," Alex said. "But I should note that without direct observation or biological samples, some conclusions will be educated guesses."
"Then get samples. I don't care how. Bribe sanitation workers to check for webbing residue. Analyze any material he leaves behind. I want data, Mr. Carter. Real data."
"Understood, sir."
Norman dismissed him. Alex walked to his new workspace in a daze. Nora had already set it up. Three large monitors. File access to every Spider-Man sighting. Video analysis software. Biometric estimation tools.
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