1. The First Encounter (1/2)

(a/n: this is based mostly off of my reaction to last year's video game, "spider-man: shattered dimensions", and the realization that there was an impostor lady octopus in the spider-man 2099 universe. this was my way to retaliate, because i was not impressed. don't like? don't read.)

imposter syndrome - part one: the first encounterby the inimitable enigma cypher

new york city, 2010…

"i don't believe this! are you absolutely certain that this is true?"

"this coming from dr. carolyn trainer, as she paced in her lair, angered by news that an associate had just called her to inform her of.

"i'm dead certain!" the informant, known only as "fusion", replied, looking at her computer screen. "it says here there's another lady octopus who may be seeking to complete with you!"

"well, if what you're saying is true, it is certainly intolerable that someone has the audacity to even attempt to compete with me!" carolyn shouted, slamming a mechanical tentacle into a nearby desk, smashing it to splinters.

"it gets worse!" fusion continued, scrolling down the page. "it says here that she has the ability to uplink with technology much like you can, and that her idol is none other than your own!"

for the next few seconds, the only sound fusion heard was something that sounded suspiciously like the phone being repeatedly slammed against a hard surface, before carolyn spoke, her voice undercut with rage.

"who is she? where is her base of operations?"

"it says here that she operates in the new york city of 2099 and that her name is selena patel or something like that."

"the future?" carolyn asked. "well, future or not, i intend to ensure that whatever future she once had will no longer apply to her. i'm going to finish her!" with that, she slammed the phone down on the cradle, trying to think. how was she to defeat an imposter of herself that resided in the future?

there has to be a way, she thought. anything i can do to get to the future… this third-rate imposter has to be dealt with, and fast.

she took a seat at her lab bench, resting her head on her closed fist. thinking. perhaps i may not be able to transport myself to the future, but i may be able to find someone who can

ing her here, where she will be out of her element, out of her time, which will give me the distinct advantage.

picking up the phone again, she punched in the number of someone she had once had a business association with, and whom she knew would be able to help her.

"hello? this is trainer. i believe you once told me you owed me a favor?"

xxxxx

new york city, 2099…

selena patel was not happy. her latest genetics experiment had not gone as planned and would prove to set her back for weeks. she was preparing to leave for the night when her lab assistant came in the room with a message.

"yeah, we got this call a few minutes ago, kind of mysterious." he said, handing her a slip of paper. "he said you need to call him back immediately.

"yes, yes, i'll get to that." selena snapped, taking the slip of paper with one tentacle claw, walking over to the phone on her desk. punching in the number, she listened to the ringing.

it all happened in an instant. her lab assistant watched dumbfounded as she disappeared, her body

eaking down into what looked like pixels in an old computer monitor. he ran from the room.

xxxxx