Spider-Man 0X

Ch: 224 [Choices]

Silver Sable closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. She could see Wanda's expectant gaze and something in that look told her she wouldn't get away with anything less than the full story. She sighed deeply, the weight of years of regret heavy on her voice as she began.

"Symkaria…" She began. "My homeland, a beautiful but broken place. The world doesn't talk much about us or about our struggles. We're small, bordering Latveria, but we've been through endless cycles of war, famine, and bloodshed. I was just a child when I saw my first bombing. And by the time I was ten, I was already trained to fire a gun."

Wanda's expression softened as she listened, but her arms stayed firmly crossed.

"Symkaria has always been a target for outsiders," Sable continued, her gaze distant, almost as if she were back in her homeland. "Mercenaries, arms dealers, even other countries—they all see us as a prize. Our people were proud and strong, but after decades of war, pride and strength weren't enough. We needed money, resources… stability. But the longer the conflict dragged on, the harder it was to see a way out. I was supposed to be our way out."

"Your way out?" Wanda asked, intrigued.

"Yes," Silver replied, bitterness creeping into her tone. "My family founded Sable International, a private security firm. Initially, we defended our homeland against those who sought to exploit us. We weren't just soldiers; we were guardians. But as the war drained us, so did our morals. More and more, we took contracts from anyone who could pay, even if it meant turning a blind eye to their own dark agendas. I was willing to do anything to save my country… even if it meant compromising my soul."

She took a shaky breath, then looked back at Wanda. "When you see your people starving, your homeland in ruins, you start thinking… maybe you'd sacrifice anything for their sake."

"And that's when Osborn came into the picture, isn't it?" Wanda guessed, her gaze unreadable.

"Yes." Silver looked down, her hands clenched tightly on the blanket. "Norman Osborn, the head of Oscorp. We'd crossed paths a few times before, both of us in the business of dealing with dark forces and dangerous people. But he came to me not as an ally, or even as a friend, but as a businessman. And his offer… it was everything I thought I needed to finally save Symkaria."

[Flashback]

Silver remembered it all too well. She was in her office at Sable International, late at night, surrounded by maps of Symkaria, reports of attacks, and desperate pleas for food and medical supplies. She hadn't slept properly in days, as the constant stream of bad news kept her on edge.

A knock echoed through the dark office, and she frowned. No one ever came to her at this hour, and she instinctively reached for her weapon. But when she opened the door, she found herself face-to-face with Norman Osborn. His crisp suit and perfectly composed expression were a stark contrast to the chaos around her.

"Silver Sable," he greeted, with that calculated smile of his. "You're looking as sharp as ever."

She raised an eyebrow, wary. "Osborn. Why are you here? And how did you even get in?"

"Oh, please," he chuckled. "I have my ways. Besides, it's not as if you'd leave someone like me standing outside."

He stepped in without waiting for an invitation and surveyed her office with mild interest, taking in the maps and documents strewn across her desk. "Busy night?"

She crossed her arms, her jaw tight. "Every night is busy in a war-torn country. Cut to the chase, Osborn. What do you want?"

"Very well, then," he said, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity. "I'm here to make you an offer. An offer you won't refuse."

She remained silent, her eyes narrowed as she waited for him to continue.

He glanced down at the war-torn maps of her homeland. "Symkaria's situation has always intrigued me. You're a small country, but strategically located. And I see the fire in your eyes—how much you care about saving it. The world may see you as a mercenary, but I know you'd do anything to protect your people."

Silver bristled. "What's your point, Osborn?"

"My point, Silver," he said, leaning closer, his voice a hushed whisper, "is that I can provide what you need—resources, money, and weapons. You wouldn't have to scrape by with scraps or rely on shady deals with minor players anymore. Oscorp can give you power and influence. All I ask in return is your allegiance."

"And what would that allegiance entail?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Norman's expression turned even darker. "Oh, nothing you're not already accustomed to—overseeing certain… projects for Oscorp, ensuring my shipments are protected, and helping me expand my influence. Minor tasks, but they would ensure a steady, substantial income for you and your organization."

Silver felt her pulse quicken, torn between disgust and temptation. "What's the catch?"

He smiled, seeing the internal struggle in her eyes. "The catch, as you call it, is merely loyalty. You complete the missions I assign you, and in return, Symkaria will receive the resources it needs to flourish. Think of what you could do with that kind of funding, the lives you could save, and in due time maybe I will pull some strings and even stop the war. Surely the cost is worth it, right?"

Silver clenched her fists, her mind spinning. Every instinct warned her against making a deal with a man as dangerous as Norman Osborn, but the images of starving families, burning villages, and grieving mothers weighed heavily on her heart. So much destruction... The only way out of it was to make a deal with the devil.

"I need to think about it," she said finally, her voice a faint whisper.

He nodded, unbothered. "Of course. Take your time, but don't wait too long. Opportunities like this don't come often." With that, he turned and left, leaving her standing alone in her office, consumed by guilt and desperation.

[Present time]

Silver blinked back to the present, her voice hollow as she continued. "And I took the deal, Wanda. I signed away whatever shred of honor I had left, all in the hope that I could buy my people a better future. Oscorp funded us, gave us the supplies we desperately needed. We had more power than ever. But I knew it came at a cost."

Wanda listened in silence, her expression softened but still guarded. "So, you're saying you did it all for your country? That's why you took his offer?"

Silver nodded. "Yes, for Symkaria. I was willing to sacrifice anything for them. Even my conscience. But it wasn't long before I realized I'd just traded one oppressor for another. Oscorp's demands grew, and every mission I took for them only made me more of a weapon than a leader. Soon enough, I didn't even recognize the woman I'd become."

She paused, staring down at her hands as if seeing the bloodstains that never seemed to wash away. "I thought I could save my country. But the more I tried, the deeper I fell into Oscorp's web. I became someone else, someone I despised. And now… I'm trapped."

Wanda was silent for a long moment, processing everything she'd heard. Her gaze softened just a little, but her voice was still firm. "Do you regret it?"

Silver's laugh was bitter, tinged with sorrow. "Regret it? Every damn day. But I thought I was doing what I had to… What's left of Symkaria is proof of that. Without Oscorp's money, my people would've suffered even more. But that's the problem with deals like these, Wanda. They demand a piece of your soul, and by the time you realize what you've lost, it's already too late."

Wanda's expression shifted, almost softening into sympathy. "So now that Osborn's gone, what's next? Do you think you can get out of this alive?"

Silver looked away, her gaze filled with a dark determination. "I don't know. My ex-husband, he's the next piece of this puzzle. He's come back, taken control of what's left of my organization, and is out for revenge. And without help, I know I don't stand a chance against him. But I also know I won't die without a fight."

Wanda watched her for a moment, the tension in the room heavy. Finally, she sighed and uncrossed her arms. "You know, if I help you, it's not because I believe you deserve it. It's because I know what it's like to be desperate. To feel like the whole world is against you and you'd sacrifice anything to save the people you care about."

Silver looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. "You'll help me?"

Wanda's voice was quiet but firm. "On one condition. If we do this, you promise to do things differently. To leave behind the woman Oscorp turned you into and try to be the leader Symkaria deserves. Can you do that?"

Silver swallowed, her heart pounding. After all the lies and betrayal, could she become that leader again? She gave a shaky nod, her voice barely a whisper. "I can try."

Wanda nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Good. Then let's make sure you get out of this mess in one piece. After all, it looks like you've got a country to save."

[Outside the room] [Peter's first person POV]

"You heard her, right? So, Mr. Spidey, what's your decision?" Emma asked as she sat on the chair before me, crossing her legs and leaning forward to give me an excellent view of her cleavage.

Dang it! Why does she always do that? I doubt I've released any phermone lately. Anyway...

"My decision?" I asked, looking at Emma as my mind ran through several options. Silver Sable seemed like a person who could use a hand, and if she was really being hunted by her ex-husband, then maybe we could offer our assistance. Plus, there was something about her story that resonated with me—the feeling of being trapped, of having no choice but to do what other people wanted. Well, in my case no one asked me before starting experimenting on me, but I suppose I could relate.

"Yeah. We gotta help her. She regrets her decision. Besides, she did it for her people. I mean, wouldn't you do the same?" Chat asked, standing behind Emma as always.

"Well, it's been three days already and if that Ex of her is really after her, then he must have already figured it all out. Now, with my power, it'd be too easy to kill that bug. But where's the fun in that, right? Chat, use your power to find that sneaky freak. Then, let's torture that bastard mentally. A veteran assassin, she said... Let's break him..." I said with a smile.

"Ooh, this is going to be fun! And that smile is kinda creepy," Chat said with a shiver.

"What do you mean?" I touched the corner of my lips. Oh, yeah. I was smiling. I don't know why, but when I thought of breaking a man's mind, I felt happy. Tormenting a bad guy, oh... It's been a while. "Oh right, I haven't done anything like that recently. So, I thought it would be fun, right, Emma?" I glanced at Emma.

"Oh, yeah. Mental torture is my specialty... I can't wait to get inside his brain. It's gonna be so much fun," Emma said with a large grin.

Chat looked at both of us, smiling creepily. "Ooh... Not you too..."

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