capeandcowllogs | It's a real fear, For you and me

WHO: Mordin Solus and Peter Parker
WHERE: Mordin’s lab at Global Dynamics
WHEN: Saturday evening
WARNINGS: Discussion of bioweaponry and hideous diseases.
SUMMARY: The revelation of Vulcanus’ new threat presents Mordin with an ethical dilemma, and he turns to Peter for insight.
FORMAT: Prose

There was a Salarian religious belief called the ‘Wheel of Life.’ It could be roughly compared to the Hindu belief in reincarnation, but also applicable to living different lives during one lifetime. The wheel turned, past mistakes slipped away, and an individual could start over, making new and better choices.

Mordin had investigated the teachings of the Wheel many years ago, during a crisis of faith brought on by what his work had done to the Krogan. He had ultimately found more questions than answers. One of the reasons for that was what he was wrestling with now: getting a second chance to make a choice carried with it the risk of making the exact same mistakes over again, or making brand new mistakes out of a desire to avoid the old ones.

The Professor had a very firm grasp on his abilities. He knew exactly how brilliant he was, exactly how much he was capable of, and exactly where his limitations were. It was no trouble for his ego to call on someone he respected for insight, especially when the stakes of a decision were very high. That was why he had asked Peter to join him in the lab tonight. He was thinking about the fate of humanity, he needed a human’s input.

When Peter arrived, he would find the lab lit only by a flickering golden hologram displaying biological data of great complexity, large enough to cover most of a wall. The hologram showed things like symptom lists, genetic coding markers, decay rates, amino acids, symptoms. Mordin was pacing in front of it, looking deeply troubled.

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Scientist that he was at heart, Peter still had to pause in the doorway and take in the scene with a photographer's eye: the massive hologram floating in the darkness, Mordin backlit in its golden glow, casting erratic shadows-on-shadows as he moved. Then the charts and diagrams sprawled across the wall registered as more than shapes, and reality resumed its normal pace.

Peter coughed to announce himself. "Hey, Mordin -- I got your message," he said, moving further into the room. "Is this a new project of some sort?"

Mordin turned around. He did not smile or nod in greeting as he usually did. "Peter. Thank you for coming." He stepped forward to meet his visitor.

"Technically old project. Could become new project. Reason for asking you here. Need your advice." He looked downward. "Unclear on best possible decision."

Mordin turned back toward the hologram and pointed at it. "Research data from virus Vulcanus released in Venezuela last year. Used it while studying cure. Have been holding onto it for examination, future use. Vulcanus could use bioweapons again, data would help produce another cure."

He lowered his arm and frowned. "Information from Metricog... troubling. Changes things. Opens up new possibilities, new dangers. Know that Vulcanus has metahuman agents, and now know they pose threat to other worlds than this one. Higher stakes."

Mordin looked over his shoulder at Peter, still frowning. "Theoretically, could use data to synthesize new virus, targeting Vulcanus metahumans. Quickly disable their forces. Could save us all. Could also be unforgivable."

Now that Mordin had pointed it out, familiar bits and pieces of data leaped to his attention. He'd worked on the Vulcanus virus as Spider-Man, after all, even if that wasn't a detail he could share with his fellow scientist.

He nodded along as he listened to Mordin's speech, only tearing his gaze away from the hologram as he fully registered the nature of the proposal. "You're -- Mordin, you're talking about biowarfare. That's not self-defense, that's outright murder!"

"Not necessarily," Mordin said. "Can hypothetically modify virus symptoms along with targeting parameters. Could cause fatigue or coma instead of physical decay. Wouldn't want to inflict my symptoms on anyone else."

He turned away from the hologram to face Peter. "Possible that Vulcanus too strong to defeat through conventional means. Depends how many Skrulls and other metahuman agents they have. Know that they've sought to mass-produce super-powers. Likely outnumber us. Weapon of last resort might be necessary. Save this world, save other worlds."

The look on his face showed that he didn't really believe in what he was saying, that he felt compelled to do so by hard logic and facts too ominous to ignore. "Hard to ignore the parallels. Same reasoning led to past participation in genophage project. Arguably saved galaxy, definitely caused enormous suffering. Swore never to make same mistake again. But, might make new mistake here, allowing judgement to be affected by guilt, disregarding facts for feelings- prioritizing personal morality above lives of billions!"

"Hard to tell. Emotionally charged subject, unclear situation, need for more information, different perspective. Too many variables!" He sighed and looked downward before meeting Peter's eyes again. "Asked you here for insight. Trust your judgement."

Peter scrubbed a hand through his hair, eyes darting away from Mordin's gaze and back to the hologram, then down to the floor as he tried to think through all the ramifications, and the words he needed to convince.

"I'm really not a big picture guy," he started. "I've seen my fair share of fighting, for a 21st century human -- mostly on the sidelines, as a photographer, I mean. So for me, when you talk about war on the scale you experienced it, I can't -- I can try and wrap my head around it, but I can't... really imagine it, can I? There's just no way.

"I don't know, maybe it's hypocritical or just plain naive of me to think that there's always another way, but Mordin -- that's what I believe. If we become just like them to stop them, then what's the point? Lachesis brought us here to be heroes, and maybe that's just a big joke to her, but me, I say we need to stand for something."

Mordin was silent for five seconds, which was a very long pause for him. He considered, he interpreted. Then he nodded.

"Sound reasoning. Vulcanus needs to be stopped because of what they've done. Acting in the same way erases distinctions between us and them. No such thing as benign or limited biowarfare except in theory. Just needed to hear it from someone else." Mordin shook his head. "Indefensible option. Won't consider it again. Thank you, Peter."

His omni-tool glowed on his arm, and he started inputting a rapid-fire series of commands. "Removing my access authorization to virus data to be safe. Eliminates chance I might reconsider in an emergency. Transferring all information to you for safekeeping. Might still need it for a cure someday, if Vulcanus repeats tactics. Know you'll handle it responsibly."

"No, thank you, Mordin. I'm glad you see it my -- wait, what?"

Mordin looked at Peter and shrugged a little. "Need to take precautions. Data dangerous in wrong hands. Have just proven you can be relied on to make the most moral choices, admirable ethical standards."

The tool beeped, and he de-activated it, task completed. "Own standards have been compromised in the past. Just proved they might be compromised again in the future. Logical to block that possibility. Hence, transferring ownership of potentially harmful data to you, locking self out."

He smiled, his tone utterly matter-of-fact. "Will still be available to help with research on Vulcanus bioweapons, of course. Anyone else might get it wrong."

He bit his lip, glancing once more between the data on the wall and the being in front of him. It wasn't that he was new to the weight of immense responsibility. He'd saved the world as Spider-Man before, frequently with the Avengers or other help, but almost as often all alone, because no one knew or was close enough or cared enough to do what needed to be done.

To have this kind of authority entrusted to the hands of Peter Parker, on the other hand, that was new.

Oddly enough, just putting it in those terms in his own mind settled him. He straightened up almost unconsciously, nodded firmly. "I'm honored by the trust you put in me, Professor. I won't let you down."

It's a real fear, For you and me

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