Peter Parker looked at the glowing yellow gem sitting in his lap. It had arrived there all of a sudden, while he was sitting in his apartment.
He knew exactly what it was. He knew enough people in the Superhero community who had encountered the Infinity Gems before. Reed Richards had discreetly told him that they were the most dangerous items in the universe. Tony Stark had made a big show of blowing them off as a myth. Dr.Fate and Dr. Strange had no professional opinions, but agreed that they were dangerous. He had also overheard Superman offering to take them and throw them into the sun. So Peter was fairly certain that he was looking at one of the Gems.
More specifically, he was looking at the Reality Gem. The Gem that was the most dangerous, he figured. Sure, the Mind Gem could bend people’s thoughts to the bearer’s will. And The Time Gem could allow someone to alter the timeline. But the Gem in his lap could allow him to basically re-write the universe, almost like the Scarlet Witch had several years ago.
“Why me?” Peter asked, as he looked out the window. From his apartment, he could see the Avengers/Justice League Tower. And after doing some quick calculations, he realized that was where the Gem had been launched from.It wasn’t an accident, he knew that much. He knew that the team leaders knew exactly where to find him if they needed to. So it wasn’t an accident that hehad the Gem now. The only question remained was: what to do with it?
“I should turn it over to someone who can protect it better,” Peter shrugged as he began to pace. “Superman. The X-men. Batman. They’d be able to deal with it, but…” his voice trailed off slightly.
[But it was given to me] a small voice in his head whispered quietly. [Someone wanted me to have it. To keep it safe.]
“What can I do to make it safe?” Peter asked himself out loud. “I can’t fly. I can’t shoot lasers out of my ‘hoo-ha’. Obviously, someone else would be better suited.”
[It’s not about powers. It’s about willpower.} the voice in his head replied, [Someone else might abuse it’s power for their own purposes.What if Superman got his hands on it?]
“Well, he’d keep it safe,” Peter said, trying to ignore the voice.
[No,] the voice replied, [he’d be tempted to use it. Maybe erase Lex Luthor from history? Make himself immune to Kryptonite?]
“That would be bad,” Peter nodded as he slumped down on the bed. “But….what about giving it to someone who genuinely wants to help people?Would that be so bad?”
[Why do you think it’s in your apartment?] The voice asked. [I know I can use it to make things better for everyone. Myself included,] the little voice inside his head said.
“Yeah…” Peter agreed, as he stood back up. “Yeah, I can make things better for everybody. It’s my responsibility, after all,” he said, as he remembered his Uncle’s wise words to him so many years ago. “I…I can make it sothat….everybody at the Daily Bugle gets paid generously,” he continued, as he focused his thoughts towards the Gem in his hand. He willed his dominance overit as he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw that his apartment had changed from dark and dingy to a modest bachelor pad. Nothing on the level of Tony Stark, but way out of his previous pay-grade.
He took a minute to examine the entire suite. It was way larger than his old apartment. In fact, he realized that his old apartment could have fit in the living room of his new one. “Not bad,” he whistled as he beganto think of new ways of improving the world around him. He could reform super-villains, do away with natural disasters. Do away with poverty….
“No,” he said, as he shook his head. “Thinking too big, Parker. I can’t mess with the natural order of things. But I can make people feel better,” he realized, as he toyed with the Gem in his hand. “Powergirl was complaining about being so alone today. And Wanda seemed kinda dour as well. A lot of Superheroines seem to have that problem,” he shrugged, “just like me. I…I think I can fix that. Kill a couple of birds with one Infinity Stone,” he smiled, as he sent his new powers to work.