Fun at home

Meanwhile, at Governor’s Island…

Sparks flew over the woman’s shoulder as she sat on a wooden box with her one leg crossed over the other, wearing welding goggles over her eyes to protected her vision during the spot welding happening all around her. Smiling, while a cup of tea rested in her hands, she occasionally sipped at her cup while her four mechanical limbs went to work. With all the materials she needed now in hand and back at their temporary hide out, Doctor Octopus began the task of creating a new portal device. She had been working for over an hour and already she had the main platform fabricated and was working her way up in setting up the arched entranceway and the inner workings to have the portal come to life.

Taking another sip of her drink, she watched the symphony of moving mechanical limbs and parts working together with amusement. Two of her tentacles wired components together as deftly if she were doing it with her own hands. Cutting, bending, coupling then installing the hardware and electronics she stole to complete her project. Her third and fourth tentacles rivetted the arch to create the door for the portal.

Her ears perked when she heard a voice on the nearby television screen she hooked up over the wall, the anchor reporting live on the current events in the city. Turning her attention to watch, Dr. Octopus listened in as she found her compatriots all detained and being shipped away by the only functioning authorities left in the city. One reporter explained the situation happening at the prison, where guards and police were overwhelmed trying to contain riots and escapees trying to flee Ryker’s Island. The police headquarters and much of the surrounding area was still a madhouse… And speaking of such, Ravencroft was a crater after the Blue Goblin and Electro were done with it.

Taking another sip of her tea, the woman smiled and looked to the expensive watch she had on her right wrist to check the time.

“Good… Good… Everything is going according to plan.

*

Sitting on the couch and playing video games with the kids, the remaining Susan Storms played babysitter with the two, the lot playing a game of Mario Kart together.

Looking between the race on the screen and the three versions of his mother on the couch, Franklin noticed that even thought they were roughly identical, the three women behaved VERY differently. The symbiote wearing woman was into the game just as much as his original mother would be, playfully nudging her shoulder into Valaria to distract the girl. Valaria was in first place so far with her brother coming in between the two… And the other Susan with cropped hair and sandy brown skin was in fourth place. The one wearing robes.

The Moon dame.

She seemed so out of place, clumsily working the controls and trying her best to catch up to the three in the race, and pursing her lips when the AI drivers passed her by on occasion. She seemed so… Divided. Like she was multi-tasking in between driving her cartoonish go-kart on the screen and listening in on someone behind her, someone that wasn’t there.

“Watch your left Franklin.”

Blinking, Franklin found his go-kart in a spin when one of the AI drivers bumped his kart. The boy wincing as he tried to regain control and the version of his mother behind him chuckled, sipping her drink again. Her glassy eyes obscured by dark tinted glasses, which did nothing to hide her smirk.

“Are you SURE you’re blind?”

“Frankie! Don’t be rude to your mother.” Admonished Lady Anti-Venom, her eyes glued to the screen as she animatedly turned her remote back and forth with the motion of her go-kart on the screen.

“You’re not my mom!”

“She’s the closest thing to her. Compared to the other two, her life is similar to mom’s.” Piped in Valaria.

Her eyes were attentive on the screen as she navigated the racecourse, but the young girl was just as observant of the three versions of her mother as much as the race. The Moon Dame was distracted, constantly reacting to something behind her that wasn’t there. All in all, that distraction was letting the girl get the lead.

“She certainly ACTS like her.”

“Thanks honey, knew I’d turn you around to my…”

“You’re not my mom!” Valaria declared, leaning into the turn, and bumping her shoulder into Susan’s just as they made the final lap and Valaria crossed the finish line. The little girl pumping her fists in celebration while her older brother dropped his remote at his side, slumping back in his chair.

“She beat you all again, huh?” Asked Suzie from the table, sipping her drink with a smirk and listening in to everyone’s reactions on the couch. “I’d play… But it wouldn’t be fair.”

Seeing the Moon dame rest her controller in her lap, the woman looked perturbed. Rolling her shoulder and snapping her attention to her side like she was trying to ignore someone behind her. Her attention soon turned to the front door when it opened unannounced, making everyone look up to see the Invisible Woman step inside and close the door behind her, wearing a pair of jeans and a button blouse with a jacket instead of her costume.

“Hi everyone.”

“Hi mom!” The two kids chirped back. Waving back at their mother from their seats while the other Susans greeted the woman who stood and looked around the kitchen and living room.

Sitting up from the couch, Franklin looked to the door. “Where’s dad and the others?”

“Oh, they’re still out, I just came home to check up on all of you.” She explained, taking a stroll to the kitchen to get a drink from the refrigerator. “I had hoped Reed would be here before me, but I guess we can wait for them all to come home. Mind if I join?”