Rogue Replacement: A Marvel Story

Chapter 85 - Part 3/5

Arc 7 - Ch 2: Opening Day

Date: Monday, August 29, 2011.

Location: Midtown, Manhattan, New York

Jessica began to reveal her truth. "I know the story from here, but Tyson hadn't met 'me' before today because I'm a clone," she blurted out. "A clone with all the memories from the person I was created from."

Jean gasped in realization. "Spiderman?"

Jessica turned to Tyson, her eyes flashing with accusation. "You told her?" she demanded, feeling betrayed.

Tyson shook his head. "No," he said softly. "Remember when I said everyone has a unique psionic signature, and you don't? Well, Jean was searching with me to find the imposter."

"Saying you were a clone immediately let me know who you were," she explained. "The only other clones I've encountered were the Stepford Cuckoos."

Jubilee chimed in, "The Spice Girls!"

Tyson looked at her questioningly. Jubilee rattled off the names. "Sophie, Phoebe, Irma, Celeste, and Esme. SPICE."

"Nice," he remarked appreciatively with a laugh. "Hey, whatever happened to them anyway?"

Jean answered, "They came back with us from Alkali Lake after… well, you know. A few weeks later, Professor X decided it was best for them to transfer to a school in Massachusetts. The school for mutants there was better suited to handle their unique connection and powers."

"Huh, interesting," Tyson mused thoughtfully. After a brief pause, he turned his attention back to Jessica. "Sorry for the tangent, Jessica," he apologized. "Please continue if you feel comfortable sharing more."

Jessica realized she wasn't the first clone they had encountered, which was somewhat comforting yet also unsettling and raised questions of its own. "I was cloned from a student at Midtown High School," she explained. "He met Tyson on the first day of school this year."

"Wait, He?" Jubilee interrupted in disbelief.

"Like Jean pointed out, I was cloned from Spider-MAN," she admitted, emphasizing the man.

Jubilee gasped. "So you have a guy's memories?" she asked, "Like a whole life of being a boy, then suddenly you wake up a girl?"

Jessica nodded, her eyes downcast. "Yeah, it's been a tough transition," she said softly.

In an instant, Jubilee was at Jessica's side, wrapping her in a tight hug. Jean joined them a moment later.

"I'm so sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine how hard it is for you." But Jean knew that if she removed the collar Tyson had given her, she'd know exactly what Jessica had felt and experienced.

The girls settled into a more intimate conversation as the initial shock wore off. Jubilee pulled her chair closer. "So, like, how does it feel? I mean, do you still feel like... him? Or…"

Jessica ran a hand through her hair, a gesture that still felt foreign to her. "I have all his memories, his feelings, his experiences. But I'm also... me. It's like I'm two people at once, and sometimes I don't know which one I'm supposed to be," she admitted.

"That must be so confusing," Jean said softly. "Do you... do you still feel attracted to the same people? Or has that changed too?"

Jessica felt her cheeks flush. "That's one of the most confusing parts," she confessed. Her voice lowered to a whisper for only the girls to hear. But Tyson had enhanced senses, so he heard regardless. "I still find girls attractive, but now I also notice guys like I never did before. It's like my brain and body are constantly at odds with each other."

Jubilee squeezed Jessica's hand. "That sounds tough. But you know whether you're a guy or a girl, you're still the same person."

Jessica felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Thanks," she whispered. "It's just... I feel so alone sometimes. Like I don't belong anywhere. I'm not the person I was cloned from, but I'm not my own person, either. I'm just... lost."

"You're not lost or alone, Jessica," Jean said firmly. "You have us now."

The aroma of perfectly cooked meat filled the air as the waiter arrived with their food. The conversation lulled as everyone turned to the delicious spread before them.

As the meal wound down, the others turned to her expectantly as Jessica began to share her story. "On the first day of school, I didn't even get a chance to enter the building before Flash Thompson found me. I'm not sure why, but Flash has had it out for me since the start of high school."

As Jessica spoke, the world around them shifted. The cozy interior of the steakhouse melted away, replaced by the parking lot of Midtown High. Students milled about, chatting before classes started.

Jessica's voice trailed off as Tyson's illusion took hold. She drew in a sharp breath, transfixed by the sight yet intrinsically unsettled. These were Peter Parker's memories, given form, not her own.

Jubilee glanced around in confusion, unable to perceive the illusion. "Jess, you okay?" she asked, gently touching Jessica's arm.

Jessica let out a shaky breath. "It's just...strange, seeing myself here when I know these aren't my memories," she confessed. "It reminds me that it wasn't me. I'm just..." She trailed off feeling like a spectator peering through a window to another life.

Then Tyson adjusted the scene slightly, substituting Jessica for Peter. It was a minor change, but its impact struck Jessica to her core.

"You put me in his place," she uttered softly. "With just that tiny shift, this scene suddenly feels like it could be my memory," she continued. "Like maybe I belong here."

Her brows furrowed as she studied him with newfound curiosity. Tyson could alter perceptions. Could he not also reshape her own? The possibilities left her reeling.

"Your power... you might be able to help me accept these memories as my own. As a woman's," Jessica said slowly. "Your body produces a mind-control serum. Could you shift my memories so I remember always being female instead of..." She faltered, unwilling to utter the name of her original self. Inwardly, her thoughts roiled like gathering storm clouds. For better or worse, she had to know.

Tyson inhaled slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I'm no therapist, but my illusions have helped people adjust their perspectives before. I'll be straight. This is unfamiliar territory, and I'm unsure how I feel about it." He looked at Jessica. "I wouldn't want to change you. But..." His voice dropped, conflicted. "I likely could reshape your identity if you wished it."

"That's an immense decision," Jean said. "Are you certain you could do this safely?"

Tyson gave a solemn nod. "I've pulled off similar feats in the past. Not this kind of scenario, but close enough."

Jubilee jumped in. "Wouldn't that, like, erase huge chunks of yourself? Those memories belong to you, even if they're from another life. They're still yours."

"That's my struggle. Those recollections define me. As confusing as they feel now, they're all I have of my origins." She bit her lip, conflicted. "Without them, am I even me anymore?"

"Believe me, I understand the struggle. If anyone knows what it's like to have memories that aren't their own lurking in their mind, it's me. It took me months to separate the lives and experiences of the people I absorbed from my sense of self. Even now, on rare occasions, their influences unexpectedly bleed through. Reshaping your identity could provide relief if these memories are too heavy a burden. But I urge you not to rush to alter something so fundamental to yourself."

Jean swept a lock of red hair behind her ear, lines of worry creasing her brow. "What would it mean long-term?" she questioned intently. "Would the change be permanent? Or could Jessica's original memories resurface?"

"If I'm being honest, my power doesn't have such rigid rules. Its effects are... suggestive but fade over time, often needing reinforcement before taking lasting hold. It can also vary based on the person's mental fortitude and other factors."

Jubilee gave Jessica's hand a bolstering squeeze. "But is abandoning who you are really what you want?" she asked gently.

Jessica shut her eyes against the welling tears. "I just don't know," she whispered raggedly. She took a shuddering breath. "Some days, starting fresh seems easier than struggling with these memories…" She trailed off, utterly conflicted, only able to shake her head mutely.

"It's okay to be unsure," Jean said softly. "This isn't a decision you have to make right now or ever if you don't want to."

"You're right. This isn't something I need to decide now." Jessica worriedly bit her lower lip between her teeth. "It's just...some days the memories are so heavy. Like chains, I can't break free from."

"Why don't we try something small first? Tell your story, and I can project an illusion to accompany your tale. No manipulation of your mind, just a visual aid. Perhaps it will help give you clarity."

"That's perfect!" Jubilee exclaimed, clapping her hands together eagerly. "Like, you'd be able to see your story, just... a more you-ish you, you know?"

Jessica couldn't help but laugh at Jubilee's description, feeling some tension leave her body. "I... I'd like that," she admitted.

She turned to Tyson. "Thank you," she said softly. "For understanding. I'm not ready to take that step yet, but... knowing it's an option, that there might be a way to make peace with my past and present... it means more than I can say."

As Jessica looked around at her newfound friends, she felt a sense of belonging. Maybe with these extraordinary individuals by her side, she could learn to be herself; not just an echo of who she used to be, but a whole new person, forged from the best parts of her past and present.

She huffed a small laugh, the anxiety in her chest loosening its grip. "Alright, let's give it a try."

"Like I was saying, as I was walking up to school, Flash Thompson shoved me to the ground. But then I heard the growl of a motorcycle pulling up. A crowd gathered to watch Flash's antics, but they parted when a big guy walked up. Unlike any of them, the new guy was willing to stand up to Flash."

Tyson confronted Flash, who backed down, caught off guard by the newcomer's confidence and intimidating size.

"He helped me up," Jessica explained with a small, fond smile. "And in exchange, I showed him to his first class. That afternoon, I invited him to my house for a meal to say thanks and meet my Aunt and… Uncle." Jessica's voice caught, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. She shook her head, pushing the emotion aside as she continued her tale. "That Friday, we had a field trip to Oscorp," Jessica said, the illusion shifting to show the modern interior of the research facility. "And I got bit by a… unique spider. Then I got sick. Tyson took me home." She watched the scene play out through the illusion. As she did, it was almost like her narration shifted to consider the changes of her being in the scene in Peter's place. "He was such a gentleman. He carried me up the stairs, ensured I had water and medicine, and was taken care of before leaving. When I woke up the next morning, everything had changed."

"I didn't need glasses anymore. I felt stronger and could run faster and for longer. I looked damn good in the mirror. I even beat Flash and Tyson in basketball in gym class that day, which might have been the weirdest part. Before that, PE was my weakest class, the only reason Gwen was ahead of me in class rankings." At mentioning Gwen, Jessica frowned but pushed aside her conflicted feelings, continuing, "At lunch, I accidentally used my webs for the first time, pulling on a lunch tray and covering Flash in food."

The scene unfolded before them, Flash's outraged expression causing Jubilee to stifle a giggle. "He tried to start a fight with me, but I dodged every punch like on instinct."

Jessica's movements were a blur as she gracefully evaded Flash's wild swings, her body twisting and bending in ways that seemed to defy physics.

"It was like... like everything was moving in slow motion," she explained, her eyes distant as she relived the memory. "I could see every move Flash would make almost before he knew it himself. It was exhilarating."

Jean leaned forward, her green eyes wide with fascination. "That must have been quite a shock," she said softly. "To suddenly have all these new abilities thrust upon you."

"Yeah, one day, I'm just a normal kid trying to survive high school. The next, I'm dodging punches like I'm in the Matrix or something."

"That's so cool!" Jubilee exclaimed, miming punching, bobbing, and weaving. "I mean, not the getting attacked part, but the whole superhero origin story. It's like, bam! Instant badass! I've been training to be a ninja, and you just got it right off the bat. I'm a little jelly. We were there for the House of M: Spider-Man opening night, so we know the story, but it's cool hearing you tell it yourself."

"It was amazing, don't get me wrong. But it was also kinda scary. I didn't know what was happening to me or why. I felt like a freak. We had detention, but afterward, I spent hours just... testing myself," she explained. "Climbing walls, lifting impossibly heavy objects, shooting webbing from my wrist. It was like discovering a whole new me, and I had no idea what to do with it all."

Jubilee quipped, "Just like Tyson. The first thing you do after getting powers is you start playing with yourself." Jessica barked out a surprised laugh. But Jubilee wasn't finished, "In your case, it's even worse, shooting white stuff all over the place."

While the joke could've been offensive, given the context of Jessica's unusual situation, she didn't take it as such. Her laughter grew, and she held her side and wiped away a tear.

Tyson pointed at Jubilee, saying, "And thank you for proving my earlier innocence."

Jubilee shot back, "Don't act all modest now, Tyson. The only reason you weren't shooting, too, is because you were afraid Jean was snooping on you."

"That was supposed to be a secret!" Tyson accused. Jean blushed but laughed. Jubilee and Jessica devolved into a fit of giggles.

As they calmed down, Jean said, "All jokes aside. That must have been so overwhelming. To have your whole world turned upside down in an instant."

"It was," she admitted. "And the worst part was, I couldn't tell anyone. I was afraid they'd think I was a monster or turn me in to be used in some lab experiment."

"You've got us now. And trust me, we've all been there. The whole 'oh crap, I'm a mutant' freak-out? Totally normal." Jubilee said firmly.

"It's nice to know I'm not the only one who's been through something like this," she said before turning to Tyson and suggesting, "Since you tell this story so often at House of M, why don't you take over?"

"It all started with the Unity Day parade," he began, his voice taking on a storyteller's cadence. "That's when the Green Goblin first appeared, cackling and hurling pumpkin bombs into the crowd."

Spider-Woman and Mirage worked in tandem to protect civilians and confront the goblin.

"Then came the Lizard," Tyson continued, the illusion morphing to show a massive, reptilian figure rampaging across a bridge. "I fought him first on the bridge. Then you fought him in the sewers."

The scene shifted again, showing Spider-Woman and Mirage facing off against the Green Goblin. "We worked together to take down the Goblin," Tyson explained, replacing Peter's part in the fights with Jessica. "It was easy with teamwork and illusions. Kraven the Hunter tried to ambush us that night, but I handled him easily."

"The Lizard attacked Midtown High on Valentine's Day but we managed to stop him before anyone got seriously hurt."

As Tyson finished his recap, Jessica's expression grew distant. A flicker of sadness crossed her face. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to continue the story.

"That's the last part I remember… well, as Spider-Man anyway," Jessica said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm guessing that whatever they used of his to clone me came from that fight. The details of that one are hazy for me, and I don't remember how it ended or what came afterward. The first memory, truly my own, is waking up in a lab in Brooklyn. They kept me there under observation with the other Spider-Man clone. His name is Kaine, by the way, since you keep calling him 'imposter'."

Tyson nodded gravely. It was the first real bit of information he'd gotten on the imposter since he didn't have metaknowledge of the character.

"That must have been terrifying to wake up in a strange place, with no idea how you got there and as a woman nonetheless," Jean said softly.

Jessica's eyes were distant as she recalled those first confusing moments. "It was like waking up from a dream, only to find yourself in another one," she explained. Everything felt familiar and foreign all at once. I had all these memories, but they didn't fit with what I saw and felt."

"How long did they keep you there?"

"A few weeks, I think. It's all a bit of a blur. They ran tests, asked questions, and tried to figure out just how much of Spider-Man's abilities and memories I retained. But I pretended I had no enhanced abilities and acted as normal as possible. They thought I was just a female clone with no powers. They let us out one day. So, I registered for classes at Empire State University."

"That's damned clever. You managed to hide your abilities and figure things out before making your next move," Tyson commented, "I wouldn't have thought to do something like that."

Jubilee patted Tyson's hand in consolation. "We know, sweetie. We all knew you weren't the best strategist after you told us you robbed the Federal Reserve."

"I figured it out after he left the institute." Jessica joked, and they all slipped back into fits of laughter.