Spider-Man: A New Spiral

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***

Lunch with Natasha went beautifully.

My mum told me off, but before I got in the taxi she gave me a big hug and told me she missed me.

However, my day wasn't over for the day.

In fact, I have the most important meeting of all.

I get to the back alley, climb up to the roof, and open a portal straight to my basement.

I put on my suit, attach my katanas to my backpack, and form a funnel a kilometre from Xavier's estate.

Peter, are you sure about this? - The symbiote speaks to me after the teleportation conduit closes behind us.

Quite sure, Raj. Do you think you're being too careless?

It's hard to say, Bearer. On the one hand, Professor X already knows your identity, and revealing it to all the Xmen or any mutant students is unnecessary, even if you do have a memory-erasing spell. On the other hand, mutants are definitely not the kind of people who would use this information against you, and they know that Peter Parker is a mutant, so the information that he's also a superhero Spider-Man is hardly going to make things worse.

That's where my reasoning was going, bro, so it's worth the risk. And about the spell, you know I can't use it often, and something more powerful is a one-time thing.

I get to Mansion X, halfway there I switch on my Clintar disguise. Even though it's daytime and the mansion's defences are down, I'm hiding more from the kids who've just finished school and are frolicking outside.

Plus it's a perfect opportunity to see if the symbiotic fabric will hide my scent from Logan. After all, since I'm shielded from non-point telepathic contact, Mr. bloodhound is the mutants' only "line of defence" against my clandestine presence.

Oh, that sounded ominous.

I reach the gates of the estate and look at the camera I'm hidden from.

I jump the metal fence in a somersault and walk down the stone-paved road.

Now a new chapter begins in the mutants' story. A chapter in which they reach a new level of interaction with humans. Project Guardians says that their path will not be a rosy one.

I'm well aware that mutants are great allies and the sooner we become friends, the better. Besides, having these guys on my side against HYDRA, and not only that, is a great motivator. Plus, how many interesting things can you experience when interacting with them?

An open secret identity, plus in front of not the most chatty of guys, is a small price to pay. Plus a sign of trust.

As I calmly approached the mansion, I watched the young mutants having fun: a guy cloning himself multiple times, a girl turning into a wolf, a guy with a bunch of eyes, a girl with lizard faces and the like.

I reach the door and enter the manor.

First things first, I need to find Logan.

My hunch told me that the badger could be in two places: in the living room watching TV, or doing the same thing in his room, chugging a beer so the students wouldn't see this pernicious behaviour.

Of course, knowing Wolverine, he could be in Japan right now dealing with the ghosts of the past, but if that's the case, I'll just find a prof.

And no, Logan found himself in his room.

So cute, all the living quarters have nameplates with the names of the occupants. Cute and very thoughtful cute.

The best at what he does, smoking cigars and watching wrestling. And not modern wrestling, but old wrestling, where chairs crush the spine.

- Hello, Rosya, - I greet the mutant, cancelling the disguise.

And, at the same second, I have to dodge a hand with adamantium claws.

- What are you doing, you animal?! - I exclaimed, jumping to the ceiling.

My gut may have warned me, but instinct is instinct.

- Kid? Are you out of your fucking mind?! - Jimmy jabbed one of his claws at me with indignation. - How did you even manage to sneak up on me?!

- I wouldn't have tried it if I'd known you'd come at me with your mouth watering," I said, jumping down from the ceiling.

- Okay, forget it," the Canadian retracts his claws. - What brings you here?

- Xavier didn't share any information about me coming to you?

- Chuckie did, and I smelled your scent that day. Welcome to the X-Men, then? - Logan grinned.

- Sort of," I took off my mask.

- Wow," the brunet whistled. - You've decided not to keep your identity a secret, either. Did something big die somewhere?

- I just became more confident in what's going on in my life and in my choice, - I squeeze my palm with the mask. - So can you take me to Hank's lab?

- Come on, Stenolaz.

Before I leave Wolverine's room, I return the mask to Logan's mocking gaze.

-What? -I wasn't gonna hide my secret identity in front of people who know what it's like to go out in the field, but not in front of a ton of college kids.

Along the way, all the mutants I met, including the ones I knew, turned their heads in my direction in shock. For example, Scott opened his mouth in surprise, Gina was not far from him, and Kurt, noticing me, ran up to get an autograph.

And then we got to the lab.

- Hi, Hank, welcome your fellow nerd," Logan introduced me gallantly.

- Hi, Hank," I unmasked myself in front of the blue-skinned mutant.

- Wow, it's good to see you, Peter, and I'm really impressed," the furry one took off his glasses from his blue, beast-like face and extended his hand to me.

- I'm glad too, Dr McCoy," I shake the outstretched limb and spread my own hands apart. - Yes, I suppose you didn't expect such a denouement, did you?

- I certainly didn't, though I might have guessed it after analysing your blood," Blue wiped the eyepiece with a handkerchief. - So you're with us now?

- That's right, I'll be glad to help mutants who are fighting for peaceful coexistence with humans against tyranny that can be promoted by other mutants and power-hungry people from the same government, - I describe my position roughly.

- That's good to hear, Peter.

All three of us turn towards the professor in the doorway, accompanied by Thunderstorm.

- Professor, Miss Monroe," I greet the mutants with nods.

- Please, just Ororo," the mulatto smiles at me.

- Of course," I smile back.

- We weren't expecting you, Peter," Xavier was being his usual accommodating self. - Would you mind talking in my office?

- Of course, Professor," I turn to the mutants, "I'll see you around.

We move together with Xavier through the manor. The flow of mutant students is not decreasing. Neither do the people who want to get my autograph.

- I didn't realise that a place where every second person could spit acid or turn invisible would have so many hunters for my autograph and selfies," I say when I find myself in his office, separated by an oak door.

- A lot of them are still kids, don't forget," Charles answered me with a smile as he pulled up to his desk. - So what brings you to us, Peter, have you disappeared rather abruptly?

- Yeah," I scratched the back of my head nervously. - 'To be honest, I've got a problem that I'd like to talk about quite seriously.

- What kind of problem? - Chuck's voice grew serious.

Is it Xavier's famous concern for his subjects?

- Do you know of an organisation called HYDRA?

- I know as much as most people do," the telepath frowned. - A military formation supported by the Nazis, Captain America Steven Rogers fought with them. They were wiped out in forty-five.

- From the historical point of view everything is correct, Professor, - I jumped on the nearest wall and dialogued from a surface unfamiliar to others. - However, in reality everything is different. In brief, HYDRA was not destroyed and is now actively reviving, and I could use the X-Men's help in the fight against the squid.

Who would be a better ally than the ones HYDRA wants to either destroy or conquer and enslave sooner or later?

Even though Madame Hydra sang to me about "we're not Nazis blah blah blah blah", I don't believe her.

- Do they still exist? - wonders the leader of the X's.

- Let me show you.

Opening your mind is the ultimate in trust, I'm sure, as a telepath, Chucky will appreciate the gesture. Of course, we'll shut down all my communication with Raj and put my conversations with Ophelia at the centre. If Chuck really is such a good psychologist, he'll draw the right conclusions. He won't go any further into my brain.

The telepathic contact began, and while the prof was going through my memories, I was just looking around his office.

- So that's how it is," Xavier said thoughtfully twenty minutes later, his palms folded in a house.

- Exactly, Professor.

- Now I see why you decided to come in costume, so as not to put us in any possible danger," Chuck nodded, "Thank you, Peter.

- No need, really," I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, because I was more of a mixer. - So the X-Men will help me when the time comes?

- I'm sure no one will mind," Chuck said, smiling. - In the meantime, I suppose you'd like to meet the team?

- That'd be great.

- I contacted Gina and asked her to tell her that there's an emergency training session with our special guest," Xavier winked at me.

We started walking through the Manor again to the place that is the sub-level base of Extraordinary Mutants, but for the most part, as much as I wanted to see the same Blackbird, I was more attracted to the Prof's ancestral nest.

How could such a house be both huge-luxury and cosy at the same time?

Finally, we reached some sort of lift and started going down, literally one floor down.

- So, welcome to our training complex, Spider-Man," Xavier announced proudly.

- Erm...very nice corridor, so...metallic.

- You haven't been in the other rooms," Chuck announced sternly. - Let's start in the Danger Room, and we're expected.

The professor led me further and we entered the room where almost all the main members of the X-Men team were waiting for us. Even my eyes glistened at the number of bright coloured costumes.

- It's nice to see everyone here," Xavier began, rolling up to his students, "and we didn't even have to wait for the usually latecomers," Xavier said, glancing at Kitty, who was embarrassed, and Kurt, who was scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

- What can I say, Professor, when I got the message from Jean and found out that Spider-Man had arrived, I came running," Pryde said, glancing at me without embarrassment. - It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Spider-Man, I'm a fan.

I barely bit my tongue when I was about to make a quip about the autograph on my chest.

- It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Kitty, even though we've already met," I take off my mask.

The only people surprised are the younger Ixes and Colossus and Gambit, who were not present at my "recruitment".

- You!

Oh, and Rogue, of course.

- Nice to meet you, Anne-Marie," I smile at the mutant.

- And I had a feeling you weren't the usual newcomer," the brown-haired girl smiles at me.

I reflexively cast a quick glance at Gambit, it was not difficult to recognise the Frenchman.

And, yes, there was a twinkle of jealousy in his red eyes.

I cough.

- For anyone not familiar, my name is Peter Parker, student from New York, favourite nephew, brother, and in the future, hopefully, husband and father. In my spare time a well known hero, Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man. To answer a question that some of you may have had, it has recently come to light that I am a mutant and here I am with you," I smile welcomingly.

- Nice to meet you Peter, I'm Bobby," the Ice Man flew up to me.

I wonder if he's gay in this reality or if he's not rewriting his personality to suit the trends.

In reality, I'm responding to a handshake.

- Nice to meet you, Bobby.

- You've met a lot of us," Gina enters the dialogue, coming up to me. - This is Remy, Jubilee and Peter.

- Hello, Peter - I greeted Rasputin (well, how could it be otherwise) on ours, than earn another full of astonishment look from the mutants, but the most surprised gave Colossus himself.

- Hello, Peter, - answered me mutant. - I didn't think you knew Russian.

- My roots are there, - I smile, returning to the familiar dialect. - So, who wants to practice?

To my delight, none of the Xs refused.

Xavier left, saying he would start the programme.

The danger room came to life.

All mutants, as if on command, broke into twos or small groups, in which they were clearly used to work: Cyclops and Gina (with all due respect to Syke, I never understood why he was such a beauty), Wolverine and Colossus, a couple of minutes later I saw the crowning trick of these two - Cannonball. Thunderstorm, Phantom Cat, Icebreaker and Night Serpent (looks like the African woman is mentoring the younger ones). Then came Gambit and Rogue, they looked very organic and as soon as the first blasts hit them, Lebo immediately started flirting with the Southern girl.

I was in a threesome with Hank and Jubilee.

The danger room is just a concentration of a paranoid maniac trainer's dream: missiles, laser guns, circular saws, some kind of boy-bots and all of this adds up to a real chaos.

Cool atmosphere.

I dodge the shots, clinging with webbing to the ledges made of something resembling tourniquets, probably for Kurt.

Then I jump down and cancel my disguise, pulling out my katanas. I calmly cut down the boy-bots and a few nets that flew out in my direction.

The rest of the mutants go through their obstacles as well: Summers shoots down drones with her rub-rays, Gina uses telekinesis, Thunderstorm, lightning.

I'm sure they practice telepathy, in combat. It's very convenient.

And so, after half an hour of intense training and an almost completely destroyed room, I return the katanas to their scabbards.

- Just wondering, how much does it cost to rebuild this room after each of your training sessions? - I ask, walking over to Logan.

- Exactly one phone call to Forge, I'll have to introduce you. Good show, kid," Rosya claps me on the shoulder.

- That was awesome! - the Chinese girl flew up to me. - We could really use you, Spidey.

- Thank you, Miss Li, and to be honest, I was thinking of staying with you," I take off my mask and smile at the girl.

- Jubilee is fine," the brunette replies, blushing sweetly.

Xavier comes into the hall.

- So, my dear students and teachers, let me introduce you to the new member of the X-Men team, Spider-Man.

I bow after the prof's announcement.

Everyone greets me friendly enough, except Gambit. Jealousy's a thing.

- Well, let me get you something then, X-Man," Gina smiled at me as she started leading the way out of the Danger Room. We were followed by everyone else.

After walking a couple of dozen metres, we found ourselves in some sort of lounge, judging by the furniture.

- Well, wait here," Grey and Ororo left.

- I wonder, do all the newcomers get mysterious gifts? - I address to young people, as they are the ones who are easier to divulge information to.

- All of us, I, for example, got a cool watch, - Wagner turned the dial, and the hologram hid his true appearance. - Tadam!

- Curious, - I approach and examine the device, - your work, Hank?

- I repent, I've sinned," McCoy nodded proudly.

No sooner do I broach the subject than the mutant beauties return.

- Let this be our salute to you as X-Men, Spidey," Gina handed me an object.

It turned out to be a belt, the very same belt.

- Do you have a mirror? - I ask.

I'm led to a cupboard and pull back the flap, revealing a reflective surface.

I look at my reflection and put on a yellow belt with a black X on a red background. Sense rings in my head, signalling a click that has come true.

- Cool," I stroke the emblem a little.

***

Three hours later.

The backstreets of Greenwich.

The sound of tyres screeching in a vacant alley. Seconds later, a motorbike flew past the sharply awake homeless man. The driver was following his target. Raising his head, the man in sunglasses watched the black cloaked figure fly away.

Blade had been stalking his target since the docks when he discovered the recent massacre. It's always easy with young vampires, they're blown away by thoughts of their omnipotence and bloodlust.

Same with this one.

Except that he'd seriously disembowelled the harbour workers, but not killed them, and he'd dealt with the local gang completely, heads blown off, literally. But it was the bloodbath that gave Eric the clue, and Whistler sent the Daywalker after the target.

- Blade, are you following him? - came over the walkie-talkie.

The vampire hunter wasn't used to working as a team, but fate had brought him together with this guy and, in a way, they worked together.

- In pursuit, Punisher, where are you?

- Two kilometres away, I left as soon as I studied the bodies, I've got some interesting clues," Castle replied.

- You'll tell me when you meet him, he's heading for the harbour, I'll try to take him down before he crosses the strait.

Another thing that makes this guy different from hundreds of other bloodsuckers is that he can fly.

Unfortunately Eric's fears were justified, as he entered the harbour he had to brake sharply at the edge of the bridge and watch the vampire fly to the other side of New York.

Blade only growled furiously and turned, resuming the motion of his iron horse.

Ten minutes later, a grey paramilitary van blocked his path.

- What's the matter, Castle? - The Sunwalker asked, holding back his anger.

- You didn't answer the radio," Frank said, stepping out of the van and slamming the door shut. - I told you I'd found something interesting.

- No offence, Punisher, but with your knowledge of vampire physiology, anything would be interesting," Eric folded his arms across his chest as he turned off the motorbike.

- Do you have the same opinion of Whistler's knowledge?

Even though Frank hadn't worked with the pair for very long, he had a genuine soldier's respect for the old vampire hunter.

These two are fighting their own war. And they know how to fight it.

- Did he find something? - Eric's more interested now.

- From what I understand, vampires basically drink their victims dry by ripping their throats out, right?

- Give or take," the half-vampire nodded.

- This one put the civilians in a kind of coma," Castle said thoughtfully. - But he tore the criminals to pieces.

- So what, you're saying we have a moralist vampire? - Eric arched an eyebrow.

- I don't know, remember the place where you got him?

- Some underground lab, so what?

- I think it's something else," Castle pursed his lips. - I'd like to seek counselling.

- And who are you going to consult?

- An old acquaintance," Frank reached into one of the pockets of his off-load and pulled out a small metal object. - Besides, this guy won't go to waste," the Punisher said, staring at the spider beacon.

***

Later this evening.

Peter Parker.

My integration into the X-team has been very positive. The mutants are pretty co-operative guys, sticking together, fighting for their own, and they recognised me as one of their own. It wasn't hard to start communicating normally with most of them, given my easy-going nature. Even Remy gradually thawed out, but Rogue played there.

They even gave me a room.

It was tempting to hang out in the mansion and swap stories with the guys to get to know each other better, and the youngest members of the team hinted that they'd love to hear about my adventures, but I had to get back.

Stepping out into the backyard, under the shocked stares of some of the students who hadn't yet returned to the manor, I opened the portal and saluted the youngsters and stepped into the vortex.

The spatial window closes and I look around the brick walls of my basement with a slightly tired but satisfied look, from which, after the system recognised my mask, the Spiderbots began to crawl out.

Still, these little guys are one of my best creations, and now I understand why such an arrogant person as Otto Octavius considered them his best creation, after Parker Industries, of course.

As Spider-Man, they have become an indispensable tool for me, because it's one thing to be called Spider, being able to crawl on walls and throw artificial webs (and more recently, organic webs), and quite another to be Spider, controlling terabytes of information coming in on my spiders. I am now a Spider confidently floating in the information threads.

I was interrupted from my own proud reflections by two signals at once: a standard one, received by one of the Spider-bots of the 1st echelon, and the second, more "urgent" one, which was called back by a prick of Sense.

I'd already forgotten about it.

I agree, it's been a long time since we've had spider beacons ringing," Raj put in his five cents.

Probably because it's been a long time since we've used them.

I lift my wrist and activate the wrist computer panel. It may not be the iron armour of a certain notorious alkie, but in my opinion it's an important part of even an ordinary cloth suit for any superhero, Batman wouldn't lie.

Although it is clear that not everyone has the means for such a thing, and, in their opinion, the need for such a device, the Defenders will not lie.

But I digress.

The people to whom I once entrusted the beacons can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and even if some sprouts on it are not enough. Immediately there was a little consternation that something had happened to Maria, but I think she'd rather use a Paukobot to communicate.

And so, after checking, the worry was replaced by interest. Apparently the signal was coming from a beacon I had once loaned out to Frank Castle.

Curious as to what the Punisher wanted from me all of a sudden.

If memory serves, Peter, the last time we heard from Mr Castle was after he blew up the airwaves and the World Wide Web with a report on the near genocide of two major slave-trading cells stretching from South America to Mexico.

That's right, brother, Frank had a lot of fun and didn't leave our business unfinished.

Good thing I was able to get him out of New York after all.

So, shall we go?

Of course we're going, but not Spider-Man.

I walk over to the chest against the wall, where I keep spare materials for uniforms in case of any damage, and lift the lid and pull out a plain, unremarkable, black and grey cloth suit.

I put it on and immediately transform the uniform with Clintar material, creating an image that is half classic Venom and half Agent Venom design.

It might not be good for what Castle is about to get me into, though.

I leave the suit in the trunk and put the X-Man belt on top.

How difficult it is sometimes with all our disguises, Bearer.

Tell me about it," I duplicate the Klyntarian's sigh.

Still, paranoia and constant vigilance are the key to success!

I switch on the Klyntar invisibility and quickly leave the basement, levitating to the nearest roof, where I completely get rid of my disguise.

Admittedly, clinging with symbiotic tendrils is unusual enough, and yet there's no Spidey stuff in this case, but it's a shame I never got a firearm, it's all still in Cain's hands. I'll have to make up for that.

I follow the signal and, half an hour later, land safely on one of the rooftops, which offers a great view of Green Park.

I follow the call and see the beacon left behind.

- Freeze, don't move," comes a curt order from outside in a familiar voice.

- I know I don't look familiar to you, Frank, but I thought you were the one who invited me," I turn around calmly, though the slight ringing of my Sense lets me know that the Punisher will shoot me.

But he doesn't.

- Spider? - The steel voice of the old soldier has a slightly surprised note in it. - Or whatever you prefer, Rukt? - Now the vigilante even grins, but he lowers his rifle.

- Let it be so," I can't help but show the classic Venom tongue and fanged mouth, "but with a few improvements.

After enjoying the picture of Castle losing concentration, which was expressed in a small nervous twitch, I removed my tongue and fangs.

- So to what do I owe the summons? - I fold my arms across my chest.

- At first I thought to ask about your sharp stature and rude voice, but after this...demonstration, all desire fell away," the Punisher said dryly.

Polymorphism, native polymorphism.

- And about the summoning, you need counselling," the brunet returned to the matter at hand.

- Consultation? - I couldn't hide the surprise in his voice.

- You seemed to me at the first meeting a guy with a lot of brains, and such a thing, my colleague and I crossed paths with someone who knows a lot about science.

I held back a legitimate question about my colleague, because he wouldn't answer it anyway.

- I see, - I stretched out, - so what exactly are you waiting for?

I still need something to start from.

- Look at the research we've come across, I think you'll be able to make a lot of sense of it," Frank turned round. - The van.

I would have figured it out without a team.

I walk over to the vehicle and sit in the passenger seat.

Castle starts the engine and as soon as the vehicle started its journey, I felt the touch of metal against my neck.

It wasn't a surprise, though.

- Don't move, or you'll end up meeting Conrad in a very bad way," he said behind me.

He didn't know that I could dissolve his katana, judging by the thickness of its blade, with my symbiotic cover. All right, let's play.

- I got you, man," I looked up calmly, and to my own surprise, I saw Blade, the famous vampire hunter, in the reflection, his dark glasses on his face. At least that's what his appearance suggests. - And, wait, you're seriously calling your sword Conrad? - Actually, my surprise, as always, materialised into humour of indeterminate quality.

- I apologise for my colleague," the Punisher interjected, "Blade is a very paranoid individual, which I generally approve of.

Thank you, Frank.

Meanwhile, the evil hunter pulled out some kind of vial and uncorked the lid.

- Take off your glove," he said with concentration.

I calmly lifted my wrist and began to remove the symbiotic cover, rolling up the sleeve of my cloth uniform in the process.

If Blade was surprised by the demonstration, he didn't show it. Mr Dark Glasses only poured some kind of concoction on my exposed skin.

- Not a vampire," Sunwalker said quickly.

- I warned you," the Punisher said.

- Don't tell me it was holy water," I joined in.

- Mixed with garlic oil extract," the half-vamp confirmed my guess. - I apologise," Blade says, taking the katana away from my throat.

- It's nothing, professional deformity, I understand," I rub my neck.

The rest of our journey is silent. That classic heavy, awkward, uncomfortable silence. For some, or for the past me. Blade and Castle are comfortable not talking at all, and I can always make a whole debate in dialogue with Raj, so I find it easy to keep quiet outwardly.

We drove for an hour and finally parked at an abandoned warehouse, or at least it seemed so. Greenwich has plenty of buildings from the twenties that aren't used anymore.

- So, is this it? - I ask when we get out of the car.

Of course, both vigilantes ignore me.

Wow, just like twins.

We enter the building, and judging by the rusty chains with hooks attached to the ceiling, it's either an old slaughterhouse or a very, very high quality quest room. My money's on the former.

Frank and, if memory serves me correctly, Eric, led me to a small room.

Inside, it turned out to be a hastily created half lab, half whatever. Although the equipment is of good quality, whoever put it together knows what they're doing.

- By the way, who am I looking for, if I may? - I ask a question, looking around the dimly lit room.

- We don't know exactly, but look at these papers, our client didn't want to part with them, - Frank pointed at the table piled with folders.

I walk over to the table and start looking through the files.

Blade is propping himself up against the wall, and Castle just stops to the side of me, clutching his machine gun tightly.

- I hate it when people look over my shoulder, can you not do that? - I'm sure my complaint looked rather comical given the image of the symbiotic monster.

The Punisher hummed, but stepped back.

I began to immerse myself in the quite familiar element: graphs, formulas, calculations, chemical compounds, all papers clearly belonging to a scientist.

When I did come across the name of that "generally scientist" the pieces of the mosaic fell into place.

- Your client is Dr Michael Morbius, from Romania," I said, looking through the sheets of formulas, "according to the papers, he was trying to create a serum for his fatal disease, but a reaction to the blood of a vampire bat created the one you're hunting," I briefly outlined the situation to the vigilantes, diluting it with a pinch of my own knowledge of the situation.

Although it would have been fun to cross paths with Morbius when I still had six arms.

- So this doctor became a bloodsucker unintentionally? - Blade arched an eyebrow.

- That's right, samurai," I confirmed my guess.

- He's been attacking innocent people anyway, and we need to destroy him," the half-vamp said adamantly.

- Or cure it," I thoughtfully examined the sheet with the complicated formula.

- Necrosis can't be cured, he's already a corpse living only on human blood," the swordsman said glumly.

Oh, right, he's got a problem with the vampire part of himself.

- It's impossible to turn him back into a human, that's true, but I'm sure I can create a serum that will help him control his bloodlust and vampire instincts," I said confidently.

- Can you really do that? - Eric asked, much more interested.

- Oh, yes," I turned back to the pile of papers, "gentlemen, help me get all of Dr Morbius's research into the machine.