Chapter 906: Skrull's Misfortune (Part 1)

In DC World With Marvel Chat Group : Table of Content/Chapter List

XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX

One can never truly fathom the immense weight of public opinion until it bears down upon them. Many may perceive those who succumb to the pressures of public scrutiny and take their own lives as inherently fragile and unable to withstand adversity. However, when faced with such circumstances themselves, the outcome might not be so different.

The Skrulls, despite their intelligence, possessed no stronger willpower than humans. While they could mimic Spider-Man's physical abilities, they could not replicate his unwavering determination and resolve.

This particular Skrull officer had never been a virtuous individual. Throughout his relatively brief existence, his sole purpose had been to obey orders and prepare for the resurgence of the Skrull race. Little had he realized that his chosen vocation would be so agonizing. Regardless of his actions, words, or the image he projected, no one acknowledged him.

This kind of pressure, one would find, was deadly for anyone.

Unfortunately, he was not a young individual blessed with the mutation of Spider powers. He was but a military officer bound to obey orders, lacking even the privilege of embracing a darker path when confronted with such relentless questioning. All he could do was bottle up his frustration, transforming from an initial sense of accomplishment into a heart full of anger and resentment.

As he gained some degree of autonomy, he inevitably began to question why these people refused to recognize him. Was he truly inferior to Spider-Man?

Any person would harbor a spirit of resistance, especially when constantly compared to another and deemed inferior by all.

The imposter Spider-Man went on a rampage of good deeds, even going so far as to replace the New York police, appearing at every potential or ongoing crime scene, and doing his utmost to combat criminals and aid others.

However, George, the police chief of the New York police station, was the first to accuse Spider-Man. He argued that Spider-Man should not treat the police in this manner and claimed that he was merely seeking to expand his own power and responsibility.

If this continued, the entire police force might be rendered jobless, and Spider-Man could never truly replace all the police officers, ultimately endangering the safety of the citizens.

Then, when he tried doing nothing at all, he was criticized for being inactive, labeled as innocent but eager for attention.

The imposter Spider-Man failed to realize that when you outwardly convey that you heed some people's opinions and are willing to change your attitude accordingly, these people will naturally believe they have the power to control you.

They would not show appreciation for complying with their desires; instead, they would demand even more, treating you like a puppet, scrutinizing every action, no matter how trivial, to satisfy their desire for control.

The imposter Spider-Man remained entirely oblivious to this, thus falling effortlessly into the trap of public opinion. Newspapers and forums found that he would alter his behavior in response to their absurd opinions, and as a result, they became increasingly audacious.

They demanded that the second-generation Spider-Man stop wearing his uniform, arguing that a superhero should be honest. They insisted he cease using spider webs, deeming it environmentally unfriendly and unsanitary.

They required the second-generation Spider-Man to issue three warnings before engaging with criminals, ensuring that there were no scratches or bruises during confrontations, and even demanded him to salvage the property of those he assisted, even if it was just an apple fallen on the ground.

The imposter Spider-Man was on the brink of insanity due to these demands.

He discovered that he was gradually becoming divided. On one hand, the superhero he emulated should be optimistic, cheerful, and brimming with vitality. He loved this world and everyone in it.
On the other hand, in a world where everyone's feedback was overwhelmingly negative and malicious, the impostor Spider-Man couldn't help but ponder: Why should Spider-Man help these people?

He began to doubt if his memories were truly genuine. Until now, he had never questioned his ability to replicate memories, but this time, he was truly shaken.

Faced with this group of malicious, repugnant individuals who would stop at nothing to harm others, how could Spider-Man still possess the kindness to help them?

Were those images of Spider-Man getting along with others in his own memories really true?

Standing on the rooftop of the Empire Building, Skrulls masquerading as Spider-Man felt a cloud of uncertainty loom over him. Countless fragments of illusions flashed by, and he felt that none of it was quite real.

Perhaps, this was just a dream he had while in the stasis pod. When he woke up, everything would unfold as he expected. He would stand at the pinnacle of New York, basking in applause and cheers, completely replacing the identity of the superhero.

Just then, the telephone rang. The impostor Spider-Man picked it up, and Schiller's voice came through, "I'm at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s laboratory. I hope you can come over and help me test the psychology aspect of your abilities. I'm a doctor, and I need a patient..."

Hearing this, the impostor Spider-Man understood that this person was his comrade, the Skrulls who had been tasked by their leader to mimic Psychic. He should have successfully replicated Dr. Schiller's abilities and was now planning to test them.

However, in that moment, he suddenly hesitated, or rather, he resisted.

The Skrulls' military was an absolute authoritarian regime, and subordinates were expected to obey their superiors without question, not even entertaining rebellious thoughts. But now, the impostor Spider-Man was acutely aware that his tangled emotions must not be discovered by his telepathic comrade.

If this Skrulls comrade, pretending to be Schiller, revealed his emotions to their superior, disguised as Nick, he might very well meet a grim fate.

Just then, crouching on the large rooftop, the impostor Spider-Man noticed a robbery happening below. So, he casually said, "Sorry, doctor, but I'm very busy over here. Many media outlets are keeping an eye on me, and I must maintain law and order in New York. You can call Captain or Mr. Stark..."

With that, he hung up the telephone and, as he had done countless times before, swung down with his spider webs to subdue the criminals. He waved at the cameras and then went off in search of the next crime scene.

But this time was different. He no longer felt annoyed or misunderstood like he used to. He now felt a sense of relief that as long as he had work to do, he wouldn't need to see a psychologist and risk exposing his strange emotions. He actually welcomed more crime scenes.

On the other side, Schiller glanced at his mobile phone, shook his head, and dialed the number again. Steve's voice came through, and he said, "I'm Schiller, and I'm currently at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s laboratory. I need your cooperation to test the psychologist's abilities..."

"What? You're busy? Spider-Man said he's busy too... Well, I'll ask Tony then. Goodbye."

After hanging up the telephone, the impostor Captain America tightened his shield and sighed. He was indeed very busy at the moment, busy combating Hydra.

The deaths of Captain America and Iron Man were not made public, so they didn't need to operate under the second generation's name. However, Captain America had been too occupied to be active outside lately. He had been focused on thwarting Hydra.

Ever since they discovered that the Hydra warehouse explosion in Germany could be related to their headquarters, Captain America had been appointed by Nick to prevent this insane act. It wasn't for justice, but rather to prevent further losses to Skrulls' assets.

In the impostor Captain America's memories, he didn't find Hydra particularly challenging. The majority of Hydra leaders were just like most villains, concocting conspiracies that eventually unraveled, leading to their defeat at the hands of Captain America's shield.

However, since waking up, he had encountered some Hydra members who were a bit more formidable. The Skrulls pretending to be Captain America were older and more experienced than the impostor Spider-Man. Among all the impostors, he possessed stronger abilities. He believed that with his skills and resources, dealing with these individuals would be a walk in the park.
Then he was soundly beaten by Hydra.

The imposter Captain America found himself in an abandoned warehouse, a place that had been anything but abandoned about half an hour ago. However, he had just heard the sound of an explosion, and that was all it took for him to realize that he had been played once again.

This group of Hydra operatives was far more formidable and cunning than Captain America remembered. They executed their strategies with precision, luring him into traps, setting snares, and making tactical moves that were nothing short of extraordinary.

What was even more concerning was that these people seemed to have detailed knowledge of Captain America's actions and habits. They knew which foot he led with when disembarking from an aircraft, the exact posture he used to retrieve his shield, and even which arm he favored while speaking. It felt as though there was an invisible surveillance team, capturing his every move from every angle, transmitting this information to a strategic group, which then formulated real-time plans to counter him.

First, they had lured him into another warehouse with a clever ruse, only to discover it was rigged with an explosive trap strategically placed in his blind spot. He had narrowly avoided being at the center of the blast but had still suffered minor lung damage. Then, an assassin had struck, leaving a gash on his arm.

Every time he attempted to rest, Nick Fury's telephone would ring, urging him to consider the severe damage that another warehouse had suffered and to think about the Skrulls' future. There was no rest for him; he had to keep working diligently.

Now, the imposter Captain America trudged wearily through the corridors of the abandoned warehouse. Suddenly, he caught sight of a golden-haired figure, and instinctively, he gripped his shield, taking a cautious step back.

At the end of the corridor stood a golden-haired girl who extended her hand, sending a blast of air towards Captain America. He rolled to evade it and retaliated by hurling his shield. The shield, with a deafening swoosh, sliced through the air at incredible speed. However, when it struck the golden-haired girl, it passed right through her. Captain America's expression shifted; he knew this could be a psychic illusion.

Unsurprisingly, a thunderous explosion followed, causing the entire corridor to be blown apart. Captain America barely managed to leap out of a nearby window, but he was still hurled several meters away by the shockwave.

As he landed on the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood. He understood that he had to prioritize saving his own life before maintaining his disguise.

One of the drawbacks of Skrull disguises was that once they were physically exhausted, heavily injured, or even killed, their disguises would instantly vanish, revealing their true green-skinned form.

At that moment, his telephone rang again, and Nick's icy voice came through, demanding, "Captain, what's going on? Why couldn't you secure that warehouse again?"

"Sorry, Director, I was just..."

"You need to understand who you work for and why you work. Your sole purpose is to serve the greater ideal. If you can't do that, dying on the battlefield is your best destiny!"

After hanging up the telephone, Captain America clenched his eyes shut. In that split second when the device slipped from his hand, a message appeared on the screen from Sharon Carter, a female agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Steve, I've transmitted all the warehouse intelligence you requested. And be cautious; there might be danger there. Also, if you're too exhausted, come back and rest for a while. Don't push yourself too hard."

[Read at www.patreon.com/shanefreak, and thanks for the invaluable support!]

XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX

Next Chapter>>Chapter 907: Skrull Trouble (Part 2)