Saint John's Cemetery, Queens, New York, Early Tuesday morning
The thought of a one-on-one meeting with Captain America was terrifying enough before he was President. But to have it here, at Peter's grave, the day after they fought a war... Well, that was a kind of terrifying that Jessica never thought could exist. But it did! Oh, it did.
"I tried to talk Miles out of it. I forbade him from being Spider-Man, but May Parker gave him Peter's webshooters and she gave him some words of advice and he beat the Rhino battlesuit when I couldn't," Captain America said to break the silence. "And then I told him under no uncertain terms that he couldn't be part of SHIELD, of the Ultimates. And then he saved me from falling to my death and helped me stop the Hydra attack on the Triskelion. Every time I try to stop him from doing something, he goes ahead and proves that he's ready."
"With all due respect, sir, he's not. Not for the Ultimates. Not for war," Jessica said. "I've only existed for two years, but I already have a whole bunch of trauma on top of all the trauma in Peter Parker's life all wrapped up in my brain and I'm telling you that I can barely take what I've gone through the two times I've been out in a war situation with the Ultimates. And that's not even counting the insanity that I went through the past month with Flumm taking over SHIELD. If I'm a seasoned pro at dealing with stuff, and if I can barely take it? I honestly don't believe a good-natured thirteen year old kid can take it."
"So you don't think he should he Spider-Man now? An Ultimate?" Cap asked.
"No, not at all. He should be Spider-Man. I'm not sure that he could not be Spider-Man if he tried at this point. He really understands the responsibility he has to use the power he has," Jessica said. "And he can do good as an Ultimate, absolutely. But you have to let him be thirteen. Don't call him in for the stuff that's going to mess him up. You need another warm body against a supervillain? Sure. But war against American citizens where people are going to die? He's a kid."
"You realize that I'm somewhat famous for fighting in a war other people wouldn't let me fight, right?" Captain America said. "And everyone who's ever worn that spider on their chest has made a habit of not doing what people in authority said."
"There's a difference. The army made you Captain America before they brought you to the war. You got the serum, you got the training, and you went into it knowing what the stakes are," Jessica pointed out. "Miles is a great kid who stumbled into his powers and is just trying to help people in the here and now. War is different. Are you really ready to have a thirteen year old kill for his country?"
Captain America was quiet for a moment as he thought that over. "You make a compelling argument, Jessica. But should it apply to you, too?"
"... Sir?" Jessica asked.
"You're still a minor," Cap said. "And at this point we have your research on interdimensional travel as well as Reed Richards' notes, and he is completely off the board now. Is there a need for you to be doing anything other than going to school and maybe, in your spare time, being a regular superhero?"
"Cap, I've proven myself. I've been through all kinds of goofy crap with the Ultimates already, and Nick Fury himself said that I'm one of the few resources like me that you have," Jessica said.
"I just want to make sure you're a resource we'll continue to have moving forward," Cap said. "Go back to your school, Jessica. When you're here, you can be a superhero on your own time as always. When SHIELD needs your brain, we'll team you up with Stark and Susan Storm. But the role I need you to play more than anything is to become the adult you're going to be and make sure Miles does the same. I'm entrusting you with the future, Jessica. I hope you understand how important his - and your - futures are to me."
"If this is because you still feel guilty about Peter..." Jessica said, looking down at his gravestone. "I get it. I'm not thrilled about it, but I get it. But the second I 'officially' turn eighteen, we're going to have another talk."
"Fair enough," Captain America said.
"And if there's anything where you need someone with my skills and expertise, I'll be here, sir," Jessica said. "Just say the word."
[OOC: And there. The complete lack of Spider-People in The Ultimates is resolved. Jess will be back in Fandom tonight. NFI, NFB, yadda yadda.]
"I tried to talk Miles out of it. I forbade him from being Spider-Man, but May Parker gave him Peter's webshooters and she gave him some words of advice and he beat the Rhino battlesuit when I couldn't," Captain America said to break the silence. "And then I told him under no uncertain terms that he couldn't be part of SHIELD, of the Ultimates. And then he saved me from falling to my death and helped me stop the Hydra attack on the Triskelion. Every time I try to stop him from doing something, he goes ahead and proves that he's ready."
"With all due respect, sir, he's not. Not for the Ultimates. Not for war," Jessica said. "I've only existed for two years, but I already have a whole bunch of trauma on top of all the trauma in Peter Parker's life all wrapped up in my brain and I'm telling you that I can barely take what I've gone through the two times I've been out in a war situation with the Ultimates. And that's not even counting the insanity that I went through the past month with Flumm taking over SHIELD. If I'm a seasoned pro at dealing with stuff, and if I can barely take it? I honestly don't believe a good-natured thirteen year old kid can take it."
"So you don't think he should he Spider-Man now? An Ultimate?" Cap asked.
"No, not at all. He should be Spider-Man. I'm not sure that he could not be Spider-Man if he tried at this point. He really understands the responsibility he has to use the power he has," Jessica said. "And he can do good as an Ultimate, absolutely. But you have to let him be thirteen. Don't call him in for the stuff that's going to mess him up. You need another warm body against a supervillain? Sure. But war against American citizens where people are going to die? He's a kid."
"You realize that I'm somewhat famous for fighting in a war other people wouldn't let me fight, right?" Captain America said. "And everyone who's ever worn that spider on their chest has made a habit of not doing what people in authority said."
"There's a difference. The army made you Captain America before they brought you to the war. You got the serum, you got the training, and you went into it knowing what the stakes are," Jessica pointed out. "Miles is a great kid who stumbled into his powers and is just trying to help people in the here and now. War is different. Are you really ready to have a thirteen year old kill for his country?"
Captain America was quiet for a moment as he thought that over. "You make a compelling argument, Jessica. But should it apply to you, too?"
"... Sir?" Jessica asked.
"You're still a minor," Cap said. "And at this point we have your research on interdimensional travel as well as Reed Richards' notes, and he is completely off the board now. Is there a need for you to be doing anything other than going to school and maybe, in your spare time, being a regular superhero?"
"Cap, I've proven myself. I've been through all kinds of goofy crap with the Ultimates already, and Nick Fury himself said that I'm one of the few resources like me that you have," Jessica said.
"I just want to make sure you're a resource we'll continue to have moving forward," Cap said. "Go back to your school, Jessica. When you're here, you can be a superhero on your own time as always. When SHIELD needs your brain, we'll team you up with Stark and Susan Storm. But the role I need you to play more than anything is to become the adult you're going to be and make sure Miles does the same. I'm entrusting you with the future, Jessica. I hope you understand how important his - and your - futures are to me."
"If this is because you still feel guilty about Peter..." Jessica said, looking down at his gravestone. "I get it. I'm not thrilled about it, but I get it. But the second I 'officially' turn eighteen, we're going to have another talk."
"Fair enough," Captain America said.
"And if there's anything where you need someone with my skills and expertise, I'll be here, sir," Jessica said. "Just say the word."
[OOC: And there. The complete lack of Spider-People in The Ultimates is resolved. Jess will be back in Fandom tonight. NFI, NFB, yadda yadda.]