Spider-Man: Far From Home [5]

10

London, UK

After Astra told them her life story from start to finish, Ned and MJ began firing question after question nonstop.

"How far can your powers reach? Is there a limit? Can you show me?" Ned asked.

"No!" Astra hissed. "Keep your voice down."

"Can we meet your brother? Are you ever gonna rejoin the Guardians?" MJ asked.

"That's something I've never thought about," said Astra.

"If you're immortal, are you going to stay like this forever? Will you ever die?" Ned asked.

"No, I'll age, but really, really slowly, and yes, I can die, just not of old age," Astra mused. "Now shut up."

"How old are you, really? When did you become like this?" MJ asked.

"I look like I'm seventeen, but I've been like this for ten years. If I wasn't I'd be around twenty-seven," Astra answered.

"Holy shit," Ned muttered.

"Okay, the company set up a city tour, then we'll grab a bite and head for the airport," Mr. Harrington announced.

They were at the London train station, soon to head to the airport to fly back to Queens.

"Is no one gonna acknowledge how crazy this is?" Brad asked out of the blue.

"Oh, yeah, I get it," said Mr. Dell. "There's nothing scientific about this science tour at all."

"No, no, no, I'm talking about Peter," said Brad. "Has no one noticed how shady he is? I saw him in the back room of a rest stop with some woman in his underwear, and he's always sneaking away, like back at the opera? Huh? Now he's suddenly off the trip, with his family in Berlin? Is no one else interested in the truth?"

Ned opened his mouth to speak, but Astra held up a hand to stop him. She flashed him a look saying, I got this. Then she took a breath, ready to roast him.

"'The very concept of deceptive truth is fading out of the world,'" she quoted.

Brad nodded, thinking she was supporting him. "George Orwell. Thank you, Astra."

Astra nodded. "Yeah, well, since Peter's not really here to tell his truth, then what about you, Brad?" she challenged, smirking. "You were there at the rest stop. You were the one who showed me a picture you took of him and the woman. Why do you think it's cool to take pictures of people in the bathroom? And in their underwear, too?"

"Yeah, dude, what's that about?" Flash added. Astra saw that he was live-streaming Brad.

"No, no, no, it wasn't like that," said Brad, beginning to panic. "I was - I was trying to take a-"

"Let's put all this craziness behind us and have a nice, peaceful afternoon," Mr. Harrington interrupted. "'Sounds great, Mr. Harrington,'" said the class. Okay." He led the class away and Astra, Ned, and MJ followed him.

"I wish he hadn't interrupted. I really wanted to hear him explain himself," Astra complained.

"I know. He's so annoying," said MJ.

"We got a bus all to ourselves!" Mr. Harrington excitedly announced. Their bus was a double-decker London sightseeing bus.

"Nice to see you all. Come along," said the driver in a slightly bored tone.

***

"I don't like this. Something's definitely up," said MJ quietly.

"You're an FOS now. 'Friend of Spider-Man.' Maybe we should add FOIF. 'Friend of the Indigo Fairy,'" said Ned. "And you have to remember, just stay calm."