Spider-Man | Doesn't Need Help

CHAPTER 35

  A month later

"Hello, Peter. Thank you so much for creating me and for everything you've given me. I eagerly await your instructions."

I took a few steps back when, in my costume, I finally heard a voice.

“Oh my God…” I whispered, still in disbelief. “It works!” I grabbed my hair with both hands, smiling broadly, revealing a row of teeth.

Success.

After a month of damn work I finally did it!

I created my own AI that was as good as Mr. Stark's FRIDAY!

So much work, so much coding, so much thinking, so much starting over... And it finally happened! I heard a woman's voice in a Spider-Man costume!

"It worked, it worked, it worked!" I said excitedly, still not believing it.

“Congratulations, Peter,” her voice said again.

I grabbed a tablet where I could constantly tweak this AI. Seeing that everything was working as it should, I backed up the data and put the device away.

When I looked at my phone, which I used every day, I remembered that I hadn't done something yet.

“It would be nice to have something to call you,” I muttered to myself, even though I knew she could hear it too.

And maybe for a moment I felt warmer, and my heart beat a little faster, but that wasn't important. What mattered more was the name I wanted to give her at that moment.

"How about Karen?"

“Of course, Peter, you can call me that,” Karen replied.

I took off my mask, still smiling broadly.

I was so damn proud. Proud of myself like never before. I created an artificial intelligence that was like a human. I wired it to express feelings—it changed its tone of voice and even spoke about its emotions.

Unfortunately, my joy was short-lived, because when I looked at the clock, I froze.

My internship with Mr. Stark was starting in fifteen minutes, and I was still in my apartment and completely unready.

I quickly took off my uniform, changed into normal clothes, and, after putting away all my devices, ran upstairs to the apartment where May was already there, probably just back.

"Oh, hi, Pete. I thought you were already on your way to your internship," she said, surprised when I ran in just to grab a sweatshirt.

Once May saw my scars and didn't do what I most feared, I felt even more at ease around her. When I wore short sleeves, she didn't stare at them or start a conversation unless I wanted her to. She waited. Waited until I was ready to open up to her completely. And I guess I was waiting for that too.

After all, nothing threatened me anymore.

Mr. Adams had lost his memory. And I, posing as his relative at the hospital, had to take care of him. I saw that he was in ruins, and so, reluctantly, I went there and took everything. With a little help from Ned, whom I'd tipped off, we created false documents for him. His name was now Matthew Rodriguez and he worked as a bouncer in clubs. I was constantly monitoring him, but it seemed to me that he had truly forgotten everything. I doubt he could have faked what I saw in his eyes.

"Because I should be!" I cried, putting on my blue sweatshirt. "I'm going, May!" I added, rushing out of my private four walls.

In my haste, I bumped into a woman who suddenly appeared in the doorway.