-Shanghai, China-
The Celestial Orchid Suite crowned Shanghai's skyline, a palace of glass and gold suspended above the city. Its Italian marble floors gleamed under a diamond-crushed chandelier, while silk-draped furniture whispered of excess. The air carried the scent of jasmine—custom, irreplaceable. A single night cost more than most earned in a year, yet it was always booked, hosting the world's elite.
Tonight, the suite awaited another guest. Champagne sat uncorked, a fire flickered against crimson walls, and a shadow stood by the window—someone who did not belong. By morning, the suite would be known for something far darker than luxury.
Wilson Fisk enjoyed the view from his suite. the sounds of raindrops pelting against the glass window were somewhat soothing to his ears. The crackling of the fire created a regal ambiance in the spacious suite.
Wilson Fisk didn't like it. His new body. It wasn't his, it wasn't human, not anymore. He was a criminal who was capable of terrible things in the name of power and influence but he had his pride as a human, if he didn't he would have already given himself powers, in this day and age, it wouldn't be hard to acquire a way to get abilities.
But he never did because he didn't need to. He would never stoop so low as to defile his body with unknown substances and mutation just for power. No. He was above that. His strength alone was enough to accomplish everything he set out to do but now his humanity, at least in the case of his physical body was no more.
His doctors couldn't do anything to reverse what was done to him. It was deduced that it was possibly esoteric in nature. All tests proved inconclusive. No mutations or abnormalities were present in his blood, for all intents and purposes a normal human. Using the best tech his money could buy the discovery was disheartening- He was human.
Entirely and irrefutably human. In the eyes of science, he was a normal human however Wilson Fisk knew he was anything but human. His body could heal from most wounds, he was stronger, and faster, his bones reinforced, and he was bulletproof too but it came at a cost-he could feel his pain. That boy-Peter Parker.
Peter Parker wasn't human, that teenager was something else. When Fisk woke up during the Alien invasion he was relieved, He slaughtered anything that got in his way, and by the time the invasion was over he was already out of the country. The experience during the invasion however was enlightening. His enlightenment came in the form of pain.
Wilson Fisk had felt the pain of having his head blown off. He felt every bone in his body break. The pain of flesh tearing, burning, and sizzling after being electrocuted by a million volts of electricity. He felt the pain of losing a limb. The pain of an excruciating death and the pain of coming back from that death. He felt all this with extreme awareness, as if it was happening to him but despite feeling all that pain his body remained untouched. He had no physical injury, no scars, nothing to show for all the pain he felt.
If the conditions of his power were to be believed then all that pain came from a singular source. It was the boy named Peter Parker and that caused him to feel something unsettled as that implied that Peter was feeling the same things he was and that…
In the last few weeks, Wilson Fisk had come to accept his new role as a meager servant. Every thought he had about gaining his freedom or planning an escape was quickly rewarded with pain. Excruciating, debilitating, and dreadful pain. Each second he entertained the idea of gaining his freedom or escaping worsened the intensity of pain he felt.
This wouldn't stop him from trying, he was not one to give up so easily but he decided to be smart about it. There was a way out. He was certain of that but to do that he had to stop actively seeking a way out.
Time was on his side after all and time healed all wounds. Time would decide his fate. Maybe with enough time, he could gain his freedom somewhere down the line. Suddenly the view from his suite was blocked by something. Fisk eyes widened in surprise as he noted what blocked his view.
Ah, what was that saying again, speak of the devil and it shall appear.
A shadow loomed of the glass window- The person had the hood of his jacket up to hide his face. A person this was surprising since this suit was on the 150th floor. Wilson felt his sin shard pulse slightly indicating just who it was that was floating ominously in the rain outside his window.
The edges of Wilson Fisk's lips quirked into the ghost of a smile. The grip he had on his glass of wine tightened enough to crack it. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "Well. If it isn't the nobody from Queens."
The figure smiled. His form flickered and the glass window shattered into pieces.
Boom!
In an instant, Wilson's back crashed against the wall above the fireplace as a firm grip squeezed his neck. Despite being three times the size of the person who held him up he found himself unable to move or even budge against Peter's strength. Wilson notes that he was floating. He grabbed onto Peter's hand but the grip on his neck increased, and the pressure made it difficult for him to breathe.
"Hello Fisk." Peter tilted his head with an amused smile. "Nice place you got here. We should talk."
…
Peter had spent the last few minutes informing Fisk about the plan. Peter left a few things important details out. As far as Wilson Fisk was concerned. Peter and Blue-Cypher were two different people and he(Peter) was also recruited by Cypher who was the brains of the plan.
"So, you need me to go back to New York." Wilson watched Peter carefully. They moved to another room to continue their conversation. He sat across from Peter in a well-lit room. A table separated the two with a tablet placed on the table between them. "And you need me to transfer all my assets to you while I run the show. Am I wrong?"
"Nope. You got a problem with that?" Peter replied. His eyes narrowed as if to challenge the King Pin to refuse.
"No, but then again, I don't have a choice to begin with. I'll be blunt with you Kid, what you're planning to do is nothing short of insanity." Wilson stated, his face hardened as he began seriously considering what Peter told him prior. "An organization like the one you intend to create simply cannot be done. At least not in the time frame you've proposed. A month is not enough. The amount of planning and resources it would take to do something like this would take years."
"It did. 12 years, 158 days, 14 hours, and 32 seconds to be precise. It wasn't easy but the planning part is complete. A complete functional model is already done, one that could be altered and adapted to changing trends and new factors. Money is also not an issue. Resources can be bought or gained through various means so that is also something you should not worry about." The tablet between sprung to life as a voice came from the tablet between them. Blue-Cypher's mechanical voice speaking coldly. "You were right about one thing. You no longer have a choice. All you need to do is obey. Your continued existence is a mercy and a punishment. You will do what is required of you without doubt or question. The alternative will result in your Death."
Fisk chuckled at the voice. "I am aware of my options Cypher…sigh…Fine. I'll leave for New York tomorrow and meet with the Prowlers. With them, my organization under Babylon will absorb the Russians, the Chinese, and the Cartels and spread its roots throughout the city of New York. If we succeed New York's criminal underworld will belong to Babylon."
Wilson paused as he regarded Peter and the tablet in front of him with an unreadable gaze. "I take it the other members of Babylon will be recruited within the month."
Peter nodded. "I just need you to do your part and I'll do mine."
"I see. There is however one thing I don't' understand Cypher." Wilson stood up to pour himself another glass of wine. He continued as he retrieved a glass along with an expensive-looking bottle of wine. The King Pin uncorked the wine and poured himself a glass before placing the bottle on the table with his glass in hand.
"Peter Parker is another pawn in your grand scheme, from what I know there are only seven members right now in your entire organization. So why do you regard someone like Peter as important? I think I am far more important of an asset than Peter but to use me you needed Peter since I am his sin shard- an extension of his power, I am a slave to his whims. Tell me Cypher."
Peter froze as Wilson drained the contents of his glass of wine and continued with a question. "Do you trust this kid enough for all your plans to depend entirely on his loyalty? Humans are fickle creatures prone to betrayal you know."
Wilson was using his situation to his advantage. Peter may hate him enough to want him dead but if Blue-Cypher needed him alive then Peter couldn't kill. He figured it was because of Blue-Cypher that he was even alive in the first place. But he had to know just how far he could push if he had a chance to gain his freedom.
The tablet on the table glowed as Cypher answered. "That is none of your concern. As of now, Peter Parker is your direct superior and an extension of my will. Everything you do will be reported to him and everything you will do or plan to do will require his permission. That is all."
The tablet blinked off after that implying that Cypher was no longer present. There was a moment of silence as Peter and Wilson stared at each other.
Peter smiled and for the second time, Wilson Fist was sent flying through another wall. The King Pin picked himself up but was forced to take a knee and wiped the blood flowing from his chin. A few of his ribs were broken and healing.
All this from a flicker. Wilson thought. All Peter did was flick him on his chest. He watches as Peter walks through the hole in the wall in a relaxing stride. Even while kneeling he reached Peter's shoulder in height.
"You lucky we need you, Fisk." Peter chuckled as he looked down on the King Pin. "Real lucky. Otherwise, you'd be dead right now. So, don't push your luck okay."
Wilson only glared at the teen. "Understood."
"Cool." Peter was tempted to beat up a beat more but decided against it. They had an image to uphold and besides as long as he had his sin shard then the pain felt and the pain he'd be feeling soon would be more than enough. "I'll see you in New York."
With his peace said he walked towards the broken window and vanished from Wilson's sight. Wilson heard a sonic boom soon after.
Wilson sighed as he picked himself up and smiled faintly. "Interesting."
…
Peter made his way to his next target. Ishiro Yashida. Since the preparations were already done a week before this moment while he was in the metaverse. Cypher was thorough in the plans they had.
The order of recruitment didn't matter but he deemed Mr. Yashida a priority and it would take a week to recruit him. He already had a plan in place so it would not be all that difficult. Cypher already tracked him to a highly secured private island owned by the Yashida Cooperation so he had to be quick.
He would spend a few days laying the foundation for his plan to recruit Yashida through his lesser Aijin Noir, meanwhile, he would track the other candidates down and recruit them as well. By this time next week, most of them should be recruited and by the week after that, they could begin moving as an organization.
I think I enjoy playing the part of a leader of a secret organization a little too much.
Peter shot higher into the upper atmosphere as a loud laugh escaped his lips. He flew through the sky as Shanghai faded from view.
-End of Chapter -