10This story is an on-going comic tale that takes place in my own AU version of the 616MU setting, introducing some new characters, but is based on the story in Amazing Spider-Man #57-#58(the JMS run), and #500 "Happy Birthday" and continuing into #502 "You Want Pants with That". It deals with events from that story and the future Peter saw in that arc. The idea is something that came to me after reading that story-line. It's sort of a "What If", based on the idea that Peter would want to prevent that future from happening, and what he might do to change it- starting with the naming of his son!
Red-Back: Son of the Spider #1 "His Father's Son"
Open: a doctor's office- a middle-aged man and a young couple are in an exam room. The woman is on a table with a sonogram machine near-by, the paddle on her stomach.
Dr: "Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you have what looks like a healthy baby boy. The bad news is that he, uh- he is most definitely a- a mutant."
Both: "WHAT?!"
Man: "Are you sure?"
Dr.: "I'm afraid so. Let me show you." He turns the monitor to face the couple. Both gasp as they see the image of a tiny infant- an infant with SIX arms, and strange, black eyes. The woman turns to bury her face against her husband, starting to sob.
M-J: "Oh, Peter! This is Aweful!"
Peter: "Don't worry, M-J. We'll get through this somehow." He looks doubtfully at the monitor. This is MY fault. I don't know how this happened, but it's MY fault!
Dr: "It's not too late to have it aborted."
Both: "NO!"
Dr. "Just a suggestion."
Later- in a taxi.
M-J glances over to Peter, with a worried expression. "Peter, what are we going to DO? It was hard enough when all we had to worry about was your secret getting out. Now, not only does EVERYONE know, but we'll have to deal with mutant-haters ON TOP of all the OTHER nutcases out there who want to kill us!"
Peter: "We'll think of something, sweetheart. We always do. Maybe Dr. Conners or McCoy will know what to do. Heck, even Richards might be able to help, if it comes down to it."
Next day-
Two figures are fighting on a rooftop in Midtown. One is in a skin-tight red and blue bodysuit with a mask; the other is an older, pudgy man with metal tentacles on his back. The masked figure leaps onto the other's shoulders trying to knock him down, while ducking to avoid a swing from one of the long metal arms.
Peter: "Hey, Ock, I gotta ask- how is it that no matter how many times I send you guys to the slammer, you always seem to get out? 'Cause I gotta tell you, security at the Raft must REALLY suck!"
Ock blocks a punch with a tentacle, reaching out with another one to throw his opponent. "Foolish spider! NO prison can hold ME! I will destroy you, Parker- as I should have done in our LAST encounter! And now that the world knows your secret, my revenge will be all the sweeter when your pretty wife sees your broken body splattered on the street below!"
Peter grabs a tentacle and yanks it in a circle, suddenly angry. He swings Ock into a near-by water tank. "Leave M-J out of this, Octavius! By the way, have you ever given any thought to anger management? Revenge this, destroy that- you're like a CD with a permanent skip!" He launches at Ock feet-first to nail him in the gut while he's still dazed from hitting the tank. A quick one-two to the face knocks him loopy, and Peter webs him, metal arms and all, to the side of the tank.
Peter: "Hate to end this little heart-to-heart so soon, but you just reminded me of another meeting I need to get to. Say 'hi' to all the other loons in the bin for me, will ya?" He swings away.
Later, at an upstate mansion...
Peter is back in his civies, sitting in a large, expensive office with M-J, across a desk from an older, bald man in a wheelchair. Peter: "So, Professor, what can you tell us? Is there something wrong with the baby? What should we do?"
Xavier: "Put your minds at ease, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. As far as our tests show, he appears to be just fine. It seems that your child not only has the 'X' gene of other mutants, but it has somehow combined with your own unique genetic code- and this is the result. Henry McCoy was most interested in the test data; he says the child will almost certainly inherit your abilities, Peter- though to what extent, he can't say. Of course, there's no way of knowing until he's born. If either of you needs any help or advice, please don't hesitate to ask. We are friends here, after all."
Peter looks doubtful, but relieved. "Thanks, Charles. We just might take you up on that."
Xavier smiles. "One warning, though- you may be in for a few surprises. Something tells me this child is going to be quite a handful!"
Peter looks worried; he exchanges glances with his wife. "Uh... Thanks, Professor." Great, just what I needed to hear... Outside the office, the couple is approached by a large, blue-furred ape-like creature- which, oddly enough, is wearing a lab coat and reading glasses while examining some papers on a clip-board. He looks up at them and smiles.
Peter: "Hi, Hank. We were just leaving. Thanks for everything."
McCoy: "Of course, Peter. I must say, these test results are simply fascinating! He seems to have genes for all of your abilities, as well as a few additional traits. This internal scan indicates what looks like a set of fully functional spinnarettes, and the eye structure is distinctly insect-like. Fascinating!"
Peter gives him a dubious stare. "Uh... Sure Hank. Talk to you later." MORE "good" news. All my worst fears are coming true. My son is going to be a freak for life- and once again, I'M responsible! Why does it seem like everything I touch turns to poison? Curse that stupid eight-legged pain in my $$!
Six months later: A house in Queens.
M-J is puffing down the stairs to the front door, in obvious pain, with one hand on her huge stomach. She calls back up to Peter. "Hurry, Tiger! Here comes another one! (gasp)"
Peter pokes his head out of a room, yelling down the stairs. "I've got it! Just try to relax and breathe, sweetheart, like in those classes you took. Don't worry; we'll get there in time!"
M-J: "RELAX?! easy for YOU to say!" Outside , he helps her into a taxi. He gets in with a bag of clothes and miscelaneous items, waving to the dread-locked driver impatiently. "To the hospital, and don't spare the horses!"
Driver(grinning): "Congrats, mon. Dis your first?"
M-J: "Not exactly. I had one before this, but she was stillborn. She would have been almost five by now."
The driver frowns sympathetically. "Sorry to hear dat. Hope dis one be luckier. It a boy or a gurl?"
Both: "Boy." Peter(aside): "More or less..."
Some time later...
A hallway in a hospital, outside the Caesarian room- a doctor comes out looking slightly shaken, as Peter paces the hall nervously. Peter sees the doctor and whirls to face him.
Peter: "Well? How are they?"
Dr: "The procedure went smoothly. Your wife and- er- son are doing fine, all things considered. I must say, though, this is the most disturbing thing I've seen in all my years of medical practice."
Peter: "But they're okay?" Doctor: "As far as we can tell, yes. You can see them now, if you like." Peter dashes past him into the room, excited.
Looking over his shoulder into room- M-J is in a hospital bed, with the baby in her arms. She looks tired and weak, but oddly happy. The baby is asleep.
Side view of room- they smile at each other as the baby yawns and opens his eyes. Six tiny hands are poking out of the blanket. Peter is looking down at M-J and baby from the end of the bed. Peter stands beside her. She looks up with a puzzled expression.
M-J: "What should we name him? With all our other worries, we haven't even talked about it." Peter(grins mischievously): "How about Octavius?" M-J looks up at him, appalled. She shouts, disturbing the baby.
M-J: "NO! You are not naming our son after that lunatic!" Peter sits in a chair by the bed, looking more serious.
Peter: "Well, what about Harry? He would have been flattered, don't you think?" M-J sighs and shakes her head. The baby is squirming now, trying to reach for her hair. There seems to be a hint of intelligence in his black eyes.
M-J: "Honey, I know he was your best friend, but can we please just avoid names that belong to psychopathic criminals?" Peter frowns, looking frustrated.
Peter: "Hey, Harry had- HAS- his problems, I'll admit, but he's no psycho... So I guess Eddie, Norman, or Flint are out, too- right?" M-J just gives him a dirty look. Now she gazes at him slyly, smirking.
M-J: "Okay, then- how about Johnny, or Matt? Or maybe- Jonah?"
Peter: "Ha! Now YOU'RE joking if you think I'll name him after that old blow-hard! And I'm sure Murdoch or Storm would be thrilled with a name-sake, but maybe 'Anansi' is more appropriate. I'm sure Ezekiel would have approved." M-J makes a disgusted face at him.
M-J: "Ugh! Peter, that's not funny! Anyway, I think you're overlooking the obvious choice. Why not Ben?" Peter shakes his head, looking a little worried.
Peter(thinking): If there's anything I learned from Ezekiel, it's that we always have a choice. And what would it mean for my future if I name our son after my uncle? After what I saw when I time-slipped with Doc Strange, I can't take the chance.
Peter: "That's a nice sentiment, but no. I decided a long time ago that there could never be another Ben in the family. It- it wouldn't be right." M-J looks at him, frustrated.
MJ: "Well then, what should we call him?"
He thinks for a moment, then smiles.
Peter: "How about- Hunter? It's simple, not too common, and it kind of fits him. What do you think?"
M-J: "Hmm... I like it. Alright, then. Hunter it is!" They both smile at each other as the baby closes his eyes and falls asleep again.