Peter's POV

SHIELD had completely quarantined the area agent forces stretching across the globe to observe and monitor the beacons. Vision and Natasha had gone back to the archives to scrounge up some more research on INGSOC and the other guys. I was with Tony in the lab. He was scrambling about like a mad man opening drawers and dumping tjem ot then separating their contents systematically. I watched from afar slurping on my slushie which I had picked up on the way back.

"Whatcha doin'?" I asked followed by another noisy slurp.

"Working." He replied shortly picking up his electric emitter. It was a type of gun shape with a dial on the side that could adjust the amount of electric pulses that were pumped out. It was to charge objects with electricity in certain concentrations.

"On what?" I took a large drink extremely close to getting a brain freeze I could feel numbness setting into my teeth.

"As of right now it's not your business." Tony sighed turning the dial and resting the end on a dark black substance. It seemed to draw in the light from around the room sort of like it was causing light waves to bend around it. Tony cranked the dial up even more the electricity just sliding off the smooth black stone. Out of nowhere the sound of a hand grenade emanated from the object and a bright purple beam shot upwards reflecting off the ceiling. The room was bathed in a purple glow sort of like if one one was at a disco party.

"You didnt do what I think you did did you?" I asked in surprise.

"I did exactly what you think I did." Tony smirked. "I got myself a sample of the beacon."

"Awesome! Can I touch it?" I asked rushing forward to touch the smooth surface.

"Wait!" Tony warned. It was too late though. My fingers brushed the outside and a tingling spread up my arm. Almost like every single one of my molecules was vibrating at a fast pace. Another loud sound exploded and the next thing I knew there was a bright light and I was flying through the air. My back cracked against the light switch the lights shutting off on impact. Tony rushed over to me a look of worry on his face. "Are you alright? Damn Steve is gonna kill me if I broke you!"

My vision swam a little but I gave nim the thumbs up. When everything steadied I noticed something peculiar. The walls were purple colored as always but there were white letters now. "Tony look."

Tony turned and saw what I was pointing at. His eyes widened that typical curious but intelligent glint invading them. He patted my shoulder. "You Parker are a genius."

"I didn't do anything." I laughed.

"Yes you did. Forget what I said about not touching stuff next time touch everything." I groaned getting to my feet while Tony pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. He was gonna be lost in whatever this was for a few hours. Shaking my head I left him alone. I sighed wandering around the tower a little aimlessly not sure what exactly to do now. Finally I resorted to just hanging out in my room. However as I was walking down the hall I passed Scarrlet's room. A chill slipped down my spine causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. Spidey senses. I knocked once on the door waiting for an answer when I didn't get one I got a little worried.

"Hey Scar you good?" I called. There was no response again. Closing my eyes I opened the door and stepped inside when nothing happened I opened them. A fowl stench met my nose causing my eyes to water. There was the sound of the sink running and moments later Scarrlet emerged from the bathroom. Needless to say she did not look good. Her face was unnaturally pale, and she just looked, well...sick. "You okay?"

"No." She sniffled looking miserable. "I'm sick."

"You were fine like three hours ago." I frowned. She laughed lightly.

"Well that was three hours ago." Was her sarcastic response. "I think it's just radiation sickness."

"True." I agreed. She made her way over to her bed and burried herself under the sheets. "Why isn't Vision taking care of you."

"He's off with Thor. Apparently more of the archive texts are missing. Thor and Vision are trying to track them down." She explained worry causing her forehead to crease.

"Well have no fear. Doctor Peter is here." I gave her a big thumbs up and she just rolled her eyes.

"Great I feel so much safer." She sighed squinting from the bright light pouring in through the window. Walking over I adjusted the blinds so the light wasn't so harsh.

"Now tell me your symptoms." I sat down on the corner of her bed.

"I have a headache, my eyes hurt, and I've been throwing up." Scar noted.

"Okay wait here I'll see what I can do." I smiled leaving the door cracked and making my way to the kitchen. I scrounged around in the pantries pulling out a bunch of herb bottles. Grabbing Scarrlet's favorite mug I warmed up some water and mixed in the needed ingredients. Overall a pleasant smell wafted up from the drink. Sort of like the smell of warm camp earth after a light rain. Making my way back to her room I grabbed a sprite from my mini fridge that was tucked away in my bedroom corner. "I'm back."

"Yay." She was completely unenthusiastic. I rolled my eyes extending the mug out towards her. "What's this?"

"Something my Aunt gives me when I'm sick. It helps with all sorts of things." It was true. I had drunk it plenty of times before it really did work miracles. She sighed reluctantly taking the beverage from my hands. Her nose wrinkled up from the powerful even h but she didn't seem entirely displeased.

"Well we'll see how good of a doctor you really are then, won't we?" She asked raising the cup to her lips and taking a small hesitant sip. After a brief pause she drank it steadily until the mug was drained. "Not bad."

"Told you." I took the mug and returned it to the sink before making my way back to her. "Now for your upset stomach sip on this."

She laughed when I handed the sprite to her. "Soda?"

"See the carbonation in sprite is much smaller than in other drinks and as long as it isn't downed small sips can actually soothe an upset stomach because it-" She cut me off with a raise of the hand.

"No need to get all sciencey on me." She opened the bottle which gave out a little spurt of air and began willing on it. With that taken care of I went through her movie stack pulling out Indiana Jones in fact I got all of them.

"We are gonna watch some movies." I placed the first disc into the movie player and sat down on the floor with my back pressed up against the wall. The opening scene started and I smiled remembering the first time I watched the film. A couple of moments passed when Scar leered over the edge of her bed.

"Get up here don't sit on the floor." She frowned.

"I'm fine really." I smiled but she insisted and moments later we were both snuggled down in blankets watching Harrison Ford and his crazy whip ass kicking adventure. By the end of the first movie Scarrlet was out cold the tea evidently working its magic in the fact that already a little color was returning to her face. "Night."

I stood up turned off the TV and lights before making my way towards the kitchen where a few of the others were already eating. It was sort of a late lunch but too early for a full blown dinner. Vision and Thor were back and seemingly disappointed. "Hey Vis."

"Yes Peter?" Vision asked turning his attention to me.

"Scar's not feeling well radiation sickness and all but I took care of it. She's asleep right now." I informed him casually. Vision nodded in thanks. I turned to see Thor and Steve both trying hard not to smile.

"What?" I demanded.

"Nothing." Thor smirked. I just rolled my eyes and set to work on making something to eat. When I was done I had a triple deck sandwich masterfully crafted and of course my terrible luck struck again.

Tony came barreling into the kitchen running into me and sending my beautiful sandwich tumbling into the floor.  I dropped to my knees holding its remains in my hands feeling utter despair.

"I did it!" Tony slammed a sheet of paper onto the counter.

"My sandwich!" I cried.

"Did what?" Steve asked picking it up. Tony launched into the big explanation of how we discovered the writing on the walls.

"My sandwich!"

"Oh sorry Parker." Tony apologizes noting the corpse of my beautiful master piece that was now in the hell of food. The floor.

"Impressive. It says-" Thor began to read.

"Calm down let us get the others." Vision said before disappearing through the walls.

I picked up the remains and disposed of them saying a silent prayer for my food to go to sandwich heaven. Soon everyone was in the room even Scar. Vision carried her groggy form and set her on a chair.

Tony explained the discovery yet again the interest of the others piqued. Nat looked tired from reading, Scar still looked sick, Tony and Vision looked weary. The only ones in a decent state are Steve and Thor.

"Tony may I read?" Thor asked holding the paper. Tony nodded and everyone remained quiet.

"The game begins. The whole world is a player. Brute force is to easy of an answer it's time for brains to come into play. You've done well enough figuring this out. But there's more. Riddles lay around the globe at each of the beacons. I'll enjoy watching your progress. ~The Uniter" Thor read. "He has a nice signature."

"Forget about the signature now we're some weird guy's pawns." I said incredulously.

"Look there it goes." Nat sighed.

"What?" Thor asked looking about.

"The last fuck I give." Nat stood collected a few scrolls and disappeared from sight. Scarlet yawned and Vision carried her away.

" Does nobody care?" Tony asked looking around.

"I mean nothing's happened yet." Thor said giving Tony an apologetic look.

"I'll look into it Tony." I said helpfully but he just sighed, rolled his eyes, and walked away. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. He's just pouting." Steve smiled. "It doesn't help that Scar is sick, and Nat's cranky."

"Oh okay. But if their are clues at the beacons we should check them out right?" I asked eagerly. Thor chuckled heartily.

"Peter agents handle evidence collection." Thor explained before heading down the hall. I couldn't help but tap my foot anxiously.

"Peter I know you're anxious it's your first real mission but it takes time." Steve smiled resting a hand on my shoulder. "You can help me brief Fury if you'd like."

"No it's okay." I sighed feeling like a deflated balloon. "I just wish they would take me seriously I know I'm just a stupid high schooler but still."

"Peter they take you seriously Scarlett thinks you're hysterical, Tony doesn't mind having extra hands in the lab, and Nat says you're like her little brother." Steve laughed lightly the edges of his eyes crinkling slightly. "The reason they're all so hesitant is because the last time something like this happened we acted too quickly and it didn't work out as planned."

"Yeah I know you guys told me about it all. Russia and the Red Legion and nearly dying. I get it but I have a bad feeling." It was true my gut seemed to have a building pressure in it. If these people could really walk through shadows they were dangerous. It would explain why some of the scrolls were missing. What was worse, they could move anywhere, so why hadn't they? "If these people can really use the shadows Steve then why haven't they done something yet?"

I could see the muscle twitch in his jaw and the wheels turning in his head. "I've been asking myself the same question Peter."

That night when everyone was in the living room it was full of quiet tension. Tony and Steve had briefed Fury so there were agents out in the field collecting evidence. Nat wouldn't stop reading, it was all she had done recently, was just read and read and read. Almost like she was trying to keep her mind off of something.

Overall no one was particularly keen on knowing anything about the strange events like everyone was specifically avoiding it. I couldn't blame them though but as a lay in bed that night I couldn't help but wonder.

And the more I thought about things the more worried I became. The enemy whoever they were had done nothing. And it slowly dawned on me that this was in fact a game. And we were supposed to make the first move.