Chapter 7: Hulk Wreaking Havoc in Culver University

After hours of fruitlessly searching for an exit, Alex's frustration peaked, pushing him to contemplate forcing his way out.

However, as he stood defiantly at the end of the stairs, ready to take matters into his own hands, the entrance opened automatically.

"#$%&*@!"

The irony made his anger surge, tempting him to unleash his fury and destroy everything.

Taking a deep breath, he regained control of his emotions, resisting the urge to give in to destruction.

Instead, he collapsed onto his sofa and turned on the TV, seeking solace in his usual TV show. However, his relaxation was short-lived as a breaking news report abruptly interrupted the program, displaying a lady reporter on the screen.

"Reports are coming in about a violent clash between the U.S. military and an unidentified adversary on the grounds of Culver University earlier today..."

"...Sophomore Jack McGee and Jack Wilson were among the witnesses to the skirmish."

The mention of Culver University stirred something in Alex's memory, evoking a sense of familiarity. It felt like he had encountered the name before, but he couldn't quite place when or where.

And then the screen shifted, featuring the testimonies of the two sophomores who had witnessed the battle.

"It was massive, like... like a Hulk," one of the sophomores exclaimed, with the other nodding in agreement.

As the footage captured by Jack McGee, a reporter for the Campus Newspaper, played on the screen, Alex couldn't contain his surprise.

"...I should've known about this. Shit!"

It was 2011 when the Hulk made his appearance and disappearance. And there was another crucial detail that he should have remembered—Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez.

They lived in Harlem, where the battles between the Hulk and Abomination occurred.

The weight of this newfound knowledge weighed heavily on him. It felt as if fate were mocking him.

But amidst the turmoil, a glimmer of hope emerged. A realization dawned upon Alex, causing his eyes to light up with excitement.

That's right! He possessed a superpower that could potentially save Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez from any future harm. He refused to let tragedy repeat itself, not for him or anyone close to him.

However, he was well aware that he couldn't accomplish this alone. He needed someone skilled in operating the machinery in his basement, someone, who could harness the power and potential of those advanced devices for his mission.

---

"...So? You're telling me you have a superpower?"

The skeptical teenager, who appeared younger than Alex, sat on the sofa, holding a lollipop candy. They were currently face-to-face in Alex's home.

"Yeah, for real. I'm not messing with you, Pete. You gotta trust me on this one," Alex insisted, locking eyes with Peter Parker. He too held a lollipop candy, a gift from Peter.

Peter's gaze lingered on Alex, his expression filled with doubt. It was clear he didn't buy into Alex's claims, especially considering how casually Alex licked the lollipop candy, just like he did.

"Oh, where did you get these lollipops, by the way? They're amazing, Pete! Good find!" Alex exclaimed, licking his lollipop enthusiastically while giving Peter a thumbs-up with his free hand.

"There's a new vendor right outside the school. The line was crazy long, so I thought I'd give it a shot, and boy, was it worth it!" Peter replied with equal excitement. "These lollipops are absolutely delicious."

Both of them continued to enjoy their lollipops while settling in to watch an old movie, Back to the Future.

"By the way, I've been thinking... I think I might have a superpower too," Peter suddenly said, reaching into his bag for another lollipop. "You know, it's like my superpower helps me understand lessons better. I don't get why people struggle so much with their studies. What about you?"

Alex couldn't help but roll his eyes in response to Peter's comment. It was clear that the young Spider-Man didn't believe him at all.

"...Anyway, I'll just show you," Alex said confidently. He stood up from his seat and walked closer to Peter, grabbing the sofa and effortlessly lifting it with one hand, with Peter still on it.

"HOLY SHIT!?" Peter exclaimed, his skepticism instantly replaced with astonishment. After Alex gently lowered the sofa back down, Peter looked at him with wide eyes, clearly taken aback.

"...Y-You really do have a superpower?" Peter asked, his voice filled with a mix of stuttering disbelief and excitement.

Alex nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Peter couldn't contain his excitement and exclaimed once again.

"Shit! I gotta tell Ned about this, his reaction will be priceless!"

"No, no!" Alex quickly pulled Peter closer, their faces inches apart. "Listen, it's just between you and me. Understand?"

Peter, looking into Alex's determined gaze, swallowed nervously and nodded.

"Yes, sir! Should we make an unbreakable oath or something?"

Alex ignored Peter's suggestion and gestured for him to follow. "Come on, let me show you something."

Alex led Peter towards his basement, the anticipation building in Peter's mind. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of secret rooms or hidden treasures awaited them.

"Alex, are you going to show me some secret rooms or something like that?" Peter asked, his excitement palpable. Alex simply smiled smugly in response, relishing in the suspense.

As they reached the basement, Alex repeated the actions he had done before to open the secret room.

However, this time too, nothing seemed to happen.

Confusion washed over Peter's face as he asked, "Hey, Alex. Where's the secret room?"

Alex rolled his eyes at Peter's impatience.

"Just wait patiently!" he replied, his tone teasing. He knew the secret room would reveal itself in time, and he couldn't wait to see Peter's reaction.

Despite his own annoyance with the slow mechanism of the secret stairs, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as the floor finally split open, revealing the awaited stairs.

Peter couldn't contain his excitement and shouted, "Oh my gosh! Alex, this is awesome!"

The movie-like stairs opening dramatically had left Peter thoroughly impressed. Alex beamed with pride at Peter's enthusiastic response.

Peter continued to marvel at the metallic stairs as they descended the stairs.

And when they finally reached the secret room, even Alex couldn't help but be impressed by the array of machines and equipment surrounding them. The high-tech nature of the room never failed to leave an impression, even on Alex, despite his prior familiarity with it.

After giving Peter a quick tour of the secret room, Alex pulled him aside for a serious conversation.

"Pete, you know that superheroes always have someone in the background to support them, right?" Alex asked, his tone earnest.

Peter nodded eagerly, understanding where the conversation was heading.

"The guy on the chair!" they both exclaimed simultaneously, sharing a brief moment of laughter.

"That's right. And I want you to be that guy for me," Alex continued. "These machines in this room are meant for you to fulfill that role."

Peter swallowed nervously but stood up straight, giving Alex a military salute to signify his readiness to be the guy on the chair.

Alex chuckled, amused by Peter's response.

"Alright, then. Go ahead and start operating those computers," Alex said, gesturing towards the array of machines, granting Peter permission to explore and familiarize himself with them.

Alex, eagerly waiting for the grand reveal, felt a sinking feeling in his gut.

He turned to face Peter, only to see a look of bewildered disappointment on his friend's face as he stared at the monitor filled with incomprehensible symbols and numbers.

"No way," Alex muttered in disbelief. "Pete, don't tell me you don't know how to operate these computers..."

Peter turned his head slowly, his expression filled with nervousness and a tinge of sadness. "I-I can learn," he stammered, his voice trembling.

Tears welled up in Peter's eyes, resembling a lost puppy desperate to please its owner. Alex couldn't help but face-palm in frustration.

"Oh, for the love of... You've got to be kidding me!" he exclaimed, his exasperation evident in his voice.

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I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to terrance smith and Wyvernian Gaming for their generous support on Patreon.

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