Prologue

In the middle of Time's Square there were a dozen police cars racing towards the scene of an epic battle that was taking place between Spider-Man and the Rhino.

"C'mon Aleks, do we really have to do this again. I mean we get it. You bulldoze, then we do this dance, and after an immense…" Spider-Man leapt out of the way as Rhino charged forward and used his web-shooters to hold Rhino's legs and feet to the ground.

"I will squash you." Rhino roared as he lifted a car and hurled it towards Spider-Man as the web crawler leapt onto the car and used his web-shooters to attach several strands of webs to the car and on the buildings on both sides of the street, causing the car to be suspended in mid-air.

"Crap, where did he go now." Spider-Man thought as he noticed that Rhino had broken free from his webs. He quickly swung to the next building before his web snapped and Spider-Man landed with a thud as Rhino stood over him.

"Stupid bug," Rhino said as he raised his foot and slammed it down.

…

Peter Parker woke in a cold sweat as he heard the alarm from his cell phone blaring.

"Damn, I'm late." Peter sighed as he climbed out of bed and quickly put his jeans on before sniffing his shirt. "Eh, it'll do." He said before putting it on over his head.

"Come back to bed, Pete." A woman said as she turned to face Peter as he finished dressing. The woman had white hair that had turned that way when she was twelve years old. What Peter most loved about Felicia Hardy though was her sapphire blue eyes that she was using to stare at him. "Class will be there, tomorrow. Let's do something fun today."

"I wish I could." Peter said as he picked up his phone and dropped two pieces of bread into his toaster and used his web-shooter on his right wrist to get his bag off of the floor. Peter shouldered his pack and used his web-shooter to grab the toast as they popped free from the microwave. "I'm sorry I'm running late. I'll be there in just a… Yes, I understand. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Why don't you just quit? That boss of yours is a total bitch." Felicia said as she sat up and pulled her jeans on and pulled her tank top on over her head.

"Well, we all can't just steal what we need to survive." Peter pointed out with a smirk.

"If you'd like, I could rob her blind and then we could retire somewhere tropical." Felicia chuckled at the shocked look on Peter's face. "I'm just kidding, Pete. I know you're a boy scout." Peter was about to reply but after realizing what time it was he sighed and leapt out of the window and began to swing towards Nightstone Industries.

Peter was lucky to get a job after he lifted a car off of the owner and CEO Dominique Destine after she had rolled her car as she was being chased by the mercenary group known as the Hunters. A group Spider-Man had been trying to catch after they had been suspected of committing many murders throughout the country and it was rumored that the group originated in Europe somewhere. Dominique never told Peter why the Hunters were chasing her but she hired him out of gratitude as her bodyguard until she realized he was better suited to working with her science team.

"That was a great day." Peter thought back to when Dominique was arguing with her chief scientist Donovan when he first arrived at her office. He was thankful that his new boss was distracted because he had to stop Vulture from stealing Tony Stark's newest energy conversion device.

…

"Dammit Donovan, You told me that this formula would be ready by now so what is the damn delay this time?" Peter remembered hearing Dominique asked as he snuck to the door by the lab where she was scolding Donovan.

"If you want it done right Ms. Destine, then you will need to exercise patience." Donovan pointed out. Peter took a chance and looked inside the room and saw Dominique standing in front of Donovan with her hands on her hips as she quivered in anger.

Peter estimated that Donovan was in his fifties and he was a short man around five feet tall. He was wearing a lab coat that nearly came to the ground, a pair of grey slacks, and black wingtip shoes. Donovan removed his glasses and sighed.

"I don't have any more time for your excuses. Perhaps I hired the wrong man for the job." Dominique said in a menacing tone as her eyes narrowed angrily. Peter studied the black board that Donovan was looking at and realized what they were missing to make it work.

"I will tender my resignation if you want." Donovan replied calmly. "Any other scientist would tell you the same." He added firmly.

"One week…" Dominique said irritably. "You have one week to finish this otherwise I will introduce you to my not so friendly side." With that Dominique walked Donovan to the door. "She's not nearly as understanding as I am." Dominique said with a smirk as she pushed Donovan out of the room. "Get in here, Parker." Peter stepped inside and with to the black board.

"Is everyone on my staff this incompetent." Dominique snarled angrily as she slumped in her office chair. "I know you were late today Parker. You had better not make a hab…What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dominique leapt out of her chair and raced towards Peter as he was erasing part of the formula and writing over it.

"I know, I'm sorry I was late… I had an emergency that couldn't wait this morning." Peter then noticed his boss was staring at the formula and not him. "You're scientist is brilliant but he didn't account for the hydrogen levels that would cause the formula to become unstable so I lowered the amount and added some more oxygen to even it out." Peter replied to Dominique's question. "There are a few inconsistencies here that need to be fixed as well, but I'm sure that he will figure them out soon."

"How do you know about this?" Dominique asked as she became impressed with the young human's knowledge.

"I took all honors and some college courses. I'm majoring in a dozen different science and technology classes. Peter said in a matter of fact tone.

"That's impressive… How long would it take you to fix this formula?" Dominique asked curiously. Peter studied the formula for a moment. It covered the entire black board. Peter thought about what he would need to test it for a moment before he replied.

"I could have it ready to test by the end of the day and after two days it could be ready to use." Peter said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You're fired." Dominique said as she walked towards her desk and Peter stared at her in shock. She hit a button on the desk. "Rachel, tell Donovan that I accept his resignation." Dominique said before she released the button and stared at Peter for a moment. Peter was still staring at her in shock as Dominique looked up at him. "Congratulations Mr. Parker, you're my new head scientist. If you let me down I will fire you too." She said with grin as Peter accepted the lab coat she handed to him.

…

"What's going on Aunt May?" Peter asked as he answered his phone as he arrived on the roof of the Nightstone building and put his lab coat on.

"I thought you said you were going to stop by for breakfast this morning." May said as Peter could hear her driving to work.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, Aunt May. I can meet you for lunch to have that talk you mentioned." Peter said. "I have to get to work, but I can call you around noon."

"Alright Peter, I'll be waiting for your call." May sighed and Peter heard the line disconnect.

"I need to definitely make this up to her later." Peter said as he entered the building and walked towards his office.

"Mr. Parker, you're late again." Dominique called out as she walked towards him. "This is beginning to become a bit of a habit."

"I know and I'm sorr…" Peter began but Dominique cut him off.

"I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to do better." Dominique said angrily. "You're lucky that you are the most brilliant scientist I have ever known, or I would fire you right now." She snapped irritably.

"I understand and thank you." Peter began.

"You want to thank me?" Dominique asked. "Have that report on my desk in two hours. You had four but it isn't my fault you were late. Now, you have two."

"I'll have it done in one and get it straight to you." Peter said confidently. Dominique smiled.

"That is why I keep you around kid. Alright, get to work and once you finish we'll celebrate." Dominique said as she walked down the hall. Peter knew that she meant lunch and pulled out his phone hoping May would be okay with waiting until dinner time to speak with him.

…

"I don't want to leave you all." Angela told Gabriel as they were walking along the shores of Avalon. Gabriel glanced at her and nodded.

"I understand my dear, but this is the best chance for you to get to know you're father and your mother needs you to help her see that there is a better path then the one she has chosen for herself." Gabriel pointed out.

"He's right dear," Ophelia said as she walked up to join them at the boat where Goliath and Bronx awaited her arrival. "This is a great opportunity for you to see the world beyond these borders."

"I don't know them. I know you. I want to stay." Angela complained. Gabriel shook his head.

"I'm sorry my dear. Thomas will talk to you during the ride back and you'll have your family will be there for you." Ophelia advised.

"Avalon has decided that you will go back, but you may visit from time to time." Gabriel pointed out. "We will miss you, but you're welcome to visit at any time." Gabriel stopped next to the boat and held his hands out to her. Angela took his hands and they finished saying good bye and Angela wiped a tear that was running down her cheek as she got into the boat and waved good bye to her friends as the boat began to sail away from the shore.

…

"This job is simple and together we can find out what this woman is actually doing." Mary Jane Watson sat at a table in The Corner Bistro across from Felicia Hardy.

"You never said why I should help you bring her down." Felicia pointed out. "I mean after all, she is paying my man and there isn't much in it for me."

"Dammit Felicia, if I'm right then she could be getting Peter into something that he won't be able to get out of." Mary Jane replied.

"That's right, she is." The two women turned as Elisa Maza walked into the diner and sat next to Mary Jane. "Yes, I know who Peter is. I'm his informant after all." Elisa advised with a grin. "Who do you think told Mary Jane here about Nightstone and the owner in the first place."

"Alright, if I do this then you have to swear that Peter will never find out and I need you to keep the cops off of my back." Felicia said.

"Be careful in there." Mary Jane said as Felicia rose from the booth.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be in and out like a cat." Felicia said with a wink and left the diner.