I wake up this morning feeling a little tired. I got to get back in the superhero gig back into my schedule. I took a shower and got dressed. I decided that I should tell Ganke about what happened yesterday. I go over to his house and knock on his door. His door swings open and he quickly brings me in. Ganke locks the door.
"Hey man, where is the fire?" I said.
Ganke has a big smile on his face.
"Miles, is he back?" Ganke asked.
"Spidey is back." I said. Ganke brought me in for a hug.
"What you did at Roxxon is all over the news." Ganke said. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?" I said. I have got to start watching the news more.
"Did you and Spider-Woman really save a member of the X-Men?" Ganke said.
"Yeah, we did." I answered.
"That's so cool." Ganke said.I really think he believes being a superhero is just like how it is in the movies. Although sometimes it is. "Was it Wolverine?"
"No." I answered.
"Man, I was really hoping it was him." Ganke said disappointed. "I thought because he would owe you a favor he could sign a poster or something. Wait, did you save Shadowcat? Did she give you a thank you kiss? "
"No, I didn't save Shadowcat." I said. "I saved a guy. Why would I want a thank you kiss from a guy?"
"Oh my god, you saved Professor X." Ganke said.
"No, didn't save Professor X." I said. That would have been awesome though. "We saved a Karma."
"Karma, I heard he beat the Juggernaut all by himself." Ganke said. "He has his own team and everything."
"He is a really cool guy." I told him. "I wonder how the train guys up their at the school for mutants because that guy is huge."
"Whatever it is I'm sure it's good." Ganke said. "I heard that Emma Frost is a great cook."
The story David told is still in my head. About the being captured and possibly having to undergo some experiments and stuff.
"But, there is something about Roxxon that is still bothering me." I said.
"Really, like what?" Ganke said.
"The story he told me was that if we didn't save him when we did he would have been sent to another lab to have been cloned or something." I told Ganke said.
"Trust me Miles, I'm sure that the technology for clone hasn't been invented yet." Ganke said. "That is all conspiracy theories. People said that they made clones of Peter Parker and Captain America but, I hasn't seen any proof yet. Next thing people like that are going to tell me is that somewhere in Canada they made a clone of Wolverine expect it's a girl with claws sticking out of feet. Get real."
Maybe Ganke is right. I need to get this stuff out of my head and focus on taking Roxxon down. There is no way they could do cloning experiments. There is just no way.
"Yeah, your right." I said. "I just hope he was the only guy there that needed saving."
"I heard another guy was their that disappeared when you guys got their." Ganke said. "Reports say that it was the same biker guy that fought Cloak and Dagger at Lucky Changs."
"It was a guy named Black Wolf or something." I said. "That guy is bad news."
"I don't know who that is." Ganke said. "I'll look into it for you."
"Thanks, let me know what you can find out." I said. Ganke is always has my back.
"Do you have any plans for the day?" Ganke asked. "I'm not doing anything."
"Not yet, I have to call Kate though." I said. She texted me last night before I suited up. I promised her I call her today. "I got to go. I'll see you later."
I made my to the door.
"Miles." Ganke said.
"Yeah." I said facing him.
"It's good that Spider-man has returned." Ganke said. "I hope he's here to stay."
"I think so." I told Ganke before leaving. At least for the time being anyway.
I left Ganke's house and I called Kate.
"Miles?" I heard Kate say. I love how she says my name.
"Hey, I promised that I call." I said. "Maybe we could do something."
"I'm going shopping today." Kate said. "How about after dinner we meet up at the fountain nearby the school. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good to me." I said. The fountain is where Kate and I had our first kiss. The first of many so it was a good start if I do say so myself.
"Then I will see you later." Kate said.
"I think you will." I said.
I hung up the phone and went home.
Jessica said not to go on patrol and to just lay low. I waited for a call and soon enough I got one. It's Jessica calling me.
"Hello." I said.
"Miles, how soon can you get to my apartment." Jessica said. "David's friend is here."
"Give me about five minutes." I said.
"Bring your suit." Jessica said before she hung up.
I put on my suit and swung to Jessica's house. When I got their I didn't see anybody. I opened the window and came in.
"Is anybody home?" I said.
It is very dark in here. I know it was Jessica that called me. I wonder what happened. My spider sense started to tingle. I felt someone behind me. I turned around and threw a punch as hard is I could. Whoever it was grabbed my arm and slammed me on the ground. I could feel my arm being bent in ways it shouldn't. This is the worst pain I have ever been in. Knowing I had to do something I worked my way up to a solid base and ran backwards slamming my attacker against the wall. I heard the person yelp. It sounded like a girl. I got my arm free and jumped away. I saw that it was a girl.
"Who are you?" I asked.
She said nothing. Thinking fast the second she raised left arm I used my web shooters to immobilize it. She tried to pull it free but, she could get it done. It may not look like much but, my webs are stronger than they look.
"Now, maybe if you can tell me your name or why your here?" I said. "Also maybe it you ask me nicely I will help you out of the predicament you're in."
She just growled at me. I knew that I had the advantage. Or so I thought, I saw claws come out of hands like Wolverine and used them to get her arm free. You have got to be kidding me. Their was only two claws on each hand though. Just who is this girl?
I used my spider camouflage to buy myself some time to think. That didn't work at all. The second I knew see couldn't see me she started sniffing around. Next thing I know, I'm on my back with her claws near my throat.
"Next time don't put on some much old spice." She said.
"But it blocks odor for sixteen hours." I countered. For the record it does.
"Now, maybe if you beg me very nicely I will let you go." She said.
I thought I was a goner.
"That's enough Laura, you proved your point now let him up." I heard David say.
She got off me and extended her hand to let me up. I took up and she helped me back up to my feet.
"You okay Miles?" Jessica said coming out of another room.
"What just happened?" I ask. Is this some kind of prank or superhero joke that I don't know about?
"I can explain." David said coming out of the same room Jessica was in. "Laura is very um...picky about who she works with. I put in a good word for you but, she wanted to see how you fight before she did anything else with you."
"Your kidding me right?" I said. That is the kind of thing is that? I heard about trust issues but, this is pushing it.
"Ask her yourself." David said.
I looked at the girl who I assume is Laura.
"So did I pass?" I ask.
"Well...your not the worst person I have ever faced." She told me.
I think I'll take that as a yes. Wait a second, Laura, I started looking at the girl up and down. She can't be. She raised an eyebrow at me.
"Your Laura, the Laura from David's story." I ask. "The same Laura who went with David to track down AJ."
"That's me." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But….but…" I stammered.
"But what?" She said. I can tell she is starting to get annoyed with me.
"You look like your my age." I said.
"We are around the same age." She said. "Give or take a year or two. I'm not seeing what you're getting at."
"I just can't belive that someone my age was or is able to do all the stuff he said you are capable of." I said. "I thought you were around Jessica age."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Jessica said. "You calling me old?"
"No." I said. Girls always get mad when people talk about their age. Even Kate got mad at me when I brought up her age one time. I don't get it and probably never will.
"In any case, you are coming with us when we hit the streets." David said.
"Okay, and what are you doing?" I said looking at Jessica.
"I'm heading to the Hellicarrier." She said. "I want to she if S.H.I.E.L.D. as any intel on Black Wolf and his whereabouts or patterns."
Jessica left leaving me with the X-Men.
"So what's the plan when we find this guy?" I ask. "Get the information about Roxxon and take him to jail right. I mean the guy is nothing more than a super powered criminal right?"
"Wrong, AJ is a kind soul." Laura screamed at me. "You don't know anything about him."
"Laura calm down." David said. "Go into the other room and cool off."
Laura went into the other room.
"What was that about?" I ask.
"Sorry about that." David said. "It's not what you did it's just that we have a past with him. He is a very sensitive subject with Laura. I think I am the only person she'll talk to about AJ. She still thinks of him as a friend."
"What about you?" I ask. "Do you still thin of him as a friend?"
"I do." David said. "He is a friend. He's just going through a dark time right now. I remember I was in his shoes once. Even though I didn't know it and tried to push them away. It was that time that I needed my friends most. He needs us right now and I won't turn my back on him. Not when he needs me the most."
"I understand." I said. I really do know where he is coming from.
"Ready to head out?" David said. "Though you don't need your costume for this. Street chothles will be just fine."
"Okay." I said.
After changing we got on the streets. From what David said if AJ is still in New York. Laura will find him. After fighting her I belive she can.
Meanwhile
AJ was still in New York. AJ had a small apartment in Brooklyn. He heard a knock on his door. He got up to open the door. He couldn't belive who he saw. It was the same girl who he had met in the bar before he returned home.
"Why are you here?" AJ said. "How did you find me?"
She let herself in. She took a seat on his couch.
"How about you take a seat next to me." She said.
AJ pulled a gun out and put it to her head.
"I will ask you one more time." AJ said. "Why are you here and how did you find me?"
"So hasty." She said. "Well Roxxon gave me your info. So that's how I found you. I did find you before but, your friends got to you before I did. Anyway I thought I see how you are doing. Not bad if I may say."
AJ put his gun away.
"What do you want from me?" AJ said. "Why doesn't everyone just leave me alone."
She went up to him and put a finger on his mouth.
"Hush now, I know what you need young wolf." She said. "I have your best interests in mind. I know it's not about the brotherhood, or the X-men. I know that it's all about you. Isn't that right AJ."
"Right." AJ said. "I don't even know what to call you."
"Call me Viper." She said.
She leans in to kiss AJ. AJ leans in as well. Before their lips touch AJ has a vision a Laura. AJ backs away.
"What's the matter?" Viper said.
"Nothing." AJ said looking at his watch. "I have to be somewhere right now."
"Can I come?" Viper asked.
"Do as you please." AJ said putting on his jacket and pulling his hood over his head.
"Is that a yes?" Viper asked.
"Take it however you like to." AJ said before leaving.
"Whoever said white is the prettiest color obviously hasn't seen this guy in black." Viper said following AJ out the door.
Back to Miles.
We have been riding around for hours. Because David's bike is in the shop to get repaired, we take Jessica car. Laura is riding shotgun with her head out the window like a dog. I'm about to fall asleep.
"I'm starting to think we should call it for at least the time being." David said.
"I agree." I said.
"Wait." Laura said. "I got something. He's here. He is heading east."
David floors it and off we go. That woke me up. Finally some action.
"I see his bike." David said. "Who is that riding on the backseat?"
I look out the window and see a woman on the backseat holding on rather tightly to AJ.
"Beats me." I said.
We follow him of about five minutes or so when he stops outside of a place called GO Studios. It's a very tall building. I remember Gwen telling me she modeled here for a magazine once. AJ gets off his bike and walks into the building with the girl following him. David turns to us.
"Laura, Miles and I are going in their." David said. "You stay here ok."
She nods her head.
We get out of the car and walk in.
"Just be cool." David said.
"I'm frosty." I said.
David chuckles a bit. We walk in and it was empty. I'm sure that he went in here. I wonder why a place like this is empty. David and I walk over to the elevators. We see one close. He pushes for another one.
"If I were him I would head to the top floor." David said.
The elevator comes and we head for the top floor.
The doors open and we can hear talking. We lean against the wall and listen for a moment.
"I'm glad you could make AJ." I hear a voice said. "And who is your friend?"
"She is not my friend." AJ said. "Now why have you called me here?"
"To discuss business." The man said. I'm sure it's a guy. "I know you sold your services to Roxxon and I would like to use you for future projects."
"Oh really, I didn't know you paid people Magneto." AJ said. Magneto, is he talking the famous supervillian Magneto.
"Magneto." David said.
"Well, if I can have your sworn loyalty to the Brotherhood then how about I temporally have your services." Magneto said.
"I thought I already told you that I walk alone." AJ said. "I'll need to think about it."
We didn't hear anything for a minute or two.
"Viper, leave me." AJ said. "I have some unfinished business I need to deal with."
Is that girl's name. That doesn't sound good.
"Time to change into Spider-Man" David whispered to me. "Go now."
David walks out and meets AJ to buy me some time to change. I use my spider camouflage to get downstairs undetected. I ran as fast as I could to the car. Laura is still there just as David told her to be. I pop open the truck and pull out my suit. Laura comes out of the car to see what I'm doing.
"Did you guys find him." Sha asked.
"Yeah, he's on the top floor probably fighting David as we speak." I said getting my web shooters.
I run into an alley to change into my suit. She ran in the opposite direction. I don't have time to think about where she is going. All I know is that I'm going to help David take this guy down.
Meanwhile (This will be told in third person.)
AJ and David stared each other down. Rain started to fall.
"We don't have to this." David said as lightning flashed.
"You knew as well as I that this day would come." AJ said. "Give me all you got."
Another flash of lightning and the two friends charged each other. David threw a punch. AJ ducked it. AJ gave David a series of combos to the head and body. David picked AJ up and slammed them through a wall. While AJ was on the ground David jumped on top of AJ to unleash a punch to Aj's stomache broke the ground beneath them and they fall down another floor.
"Give up?" David said.
AJ didn't answer.
"You want some more?" David said. "Okay then."
David walked up to AJ. Grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him up to his face. AJ playing possum hit with camera. Pushing David up against the wall, AJ hit him with knee to his gut. David is starting to buckle under this attack. That's when Miles came into the room and jumped on top of AJ's back. AJ got Miles off of him and threw him into David. Miles got back up and charged AJ again hitting him with a dropkick. David getting his second wind got up and slammed AJ into the ground.
"I thought you could use some help." Miles said.
"I had him right where I wanted him." David said.
"That's not what I saw." Miles said.
AJ got up and swept Miles of his feet. AJ grabbed a his pistol and hit Miles with the blunt end of it knocking him out. David attacked AJ with a kick to the ribs. AJ grabbed David's had and slammed it a wall. David collapsed on the ground. AJ pulled out his gun and pointed it at David's head. AJ looked over to where Miles was to see that's he's not their. Miles dropped down from above AJ and knocked the gun out of his hands.
"What do you know about Roxxon's labs?" Miles asked.
"What does it's matter to you?" AJ said.
"Everything." Miles said kicking AJ in the gut.
Using his webs he flipped AJ over. Miles punched AJ in the face.
"Now what do you know about Roxxon's labs?" Miles asked again. "Where did the doctor's go?"
"Not bad." AJ said getting up.
Miles went to attack AJ once more. AJ got out of the way and hit Miles with a knee in the gut. Miles fell to the floor.
"Here's a piece of advice." AJ said to Miles. "Look out for number one. Oh, and it's in Delaware. You earned that much."
AJ looked down at Miles for a moment before making his exit. As AJ walked down the stairs and made his way to the lobby he wasn't suprised to see who was waiting for him.
"I was hoping that I wouldn't have to see you here." AJ said.
Laura was their with her claws out.
"No more lying, fight me or surrender. " Laura said.
"Don't want to fight you." AJ said. "Your the last person in the world that I want to fight."
"Then come with me." Laura said.
"You know I can't do that." AJ said.
"Don't make me have to hurt you." Laura said.
AJ wiped the blood from mouth and put his hands up.
"Then I guess you leave me no choice." Laura said.
"Their is always a choice." AJ said.
Then he fell to the ground. Laura is in shock. She looked up to see Miles and David standing above AJ's body. Miles snuck up behind AJ and hit him with the venom blast, knocking him out.
"Take that." Miles said.
They circled around AJ's body as the rain started to slow down.
"It didn't have to come to this AJ." David said. "Your people wouldn't have wanted you to end up like this."
The lights in the room turned off. They can't see anything.
"What would you know about what my people wanted from me." They heard AJ say. "My people died you know that. I'm not crying about it but, I got some payback to do and I'm doing it my way. Everyone of you in way or another has stabbed me in the back. Every single one of you. I realized something. Gold is money and money is power and I need that power. This isn't revenge, it's the reckoning."
When the lights came back on, AJ was gone.
"AJ, where are you?" Laura whispered.
They returned to Jessica's apartment.
(Back to Miles's pov.)
Man, that fight was brutal. I hope their insurance can pay for the damages we caused. When I got there David had punched AJ through the floor. That had to hurt.
"So, Roxxon's other lab is in Delaware." David said. "I'll keep that in mind."
Laura kept looking at me. She is making me nervous.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"I'm sorry about yelling at you earlier." Laura said.
"It's okay." I told her. I had forgotten all about it.
David seemed lost in thought.
"What is it?" I ask.
"We have go to find him." David said.
He is still worried about this guy. He tried to kill us. It must be a X-Men thing.
"I don't get it." I said. "What's so special about this guy?"
"Can I ask you something?" Laura said.
"Shoot." I said.
"Do you wear that mask to protect yourself and your loved ones?" Laura said.
"I do." I told her. My mask conceals my secret identity. I will always try to keep my family and friends out of harm's way.
"So they are worth living for?" Laura said.
"They are." I said.
"Are they worth dying for?" Laura said.
I'm having visions of my mother fighting Venom. sacrificing herself to try to save me. To her I was worth dying for. My mom was worth dying for. Dad, Ganke, Kate, Jessica are worth dying for.
"They are." I said.
"AJ almost gave his life to free me from a base in Canada." Laura said. "He didn't even know me. He told me once that police officers swear an oath that when their in the line of duty. They must be willing to sacrifice their lives for people they don't know all the time. Without saying goodbye to their loved ones they jump into the face of danger to save someone. To me AJ is worth living for and dying for. He saved me. Now it's my turn to save him."
Those words were like a gut punch. I watched David and Laura walk out the door. David turned to me.
"We will me again someday." David said.
"I'm looking forward to it." I said. "I hope you can save him."
"Best of luck with Roxxon." David said.
We shook hands and I watched them leave.
I went home myself. I had dinner and went up to my room to chill out for a bit. I get a text from Kate.
Heading over to the fountain. Hop there. :) xoxo
I jumped out of the window and raced over to the fountain. I saw Kate standing over by the bench.
"Hey." I said.
"Their you are." Kate said.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting." I said. I hate to make girls wait.
"No, not at all." Kate said with a smile. "While I was shopping I got you something."
"You didn't have to." I said.
"Here." She handed me a box of chocolate. "It's sweet but, not as sweet as you are."
Kate brings me in for a kiss. Her lips are so soft. I really want to tell her I'm Spider-Man. I hate keeping secrets from her.
"Not that I'm complaining or anything but, what's all this for?" I ask.
"Well, I want us to do something together this summer." Kate said. "Like go to the beach. Just the two of us. No Ganke, no parents, no school and no problems. Just me and you."
The sounds good to me.
"I'll have to see." I told her. "My dad has been through a lot lately."
"I understand." Kate said. "I thought it would be a little much to ask you to agree right on the spot."
"It's not that, I want to do this with you." I said. "We have to whole summer to plan something like this out."
"Your right." Kate said. "I have to get back home."
We kiss once more before saying goodbye. I have a big summer ahead of me.
Meanwhile.
Viper was watching tv in AJ's apartment. AJ was starting to wake up.
"What happened?" AJ asked.
"I saved your ass." Viper said. "They had you right where they wanted you. If I didn't take out the power you would be on your way back to the X-Mansion or in handcuffs."
"Don't expect a thank you." AJ said.
"You already said it." Viper said.
"You think that's cute." AJ said getting up.
"Relax, I didn't mean anything by it." Viper said turning off the tv and facing AJ.
AJ turned away from her.
"If you truly want what you say you desire, then you have to cut your ties to the X-Men." Viper said.
"What are you trying to say?" AJ said. "I fought them and Spider-Man back there."
"If you really wanted to you could have killed them during that fight." Viper said.
"They also could have killed me." AJ countered.
"I know that you keep a spare gun." Viper said. "You could of killed them. You made the choice not to."
"You don't tell me how to live my life." AJ said.
"What about the girl?" Viper said.
"What about her?" AJ said.
"What was all that, I don't want to fight you about?" Viper said.
"None of your damn business." AJ said as he started packing his bag.
"Whatever you say, now where you going?" Viper said.
"Nowhere that you need to know." AJ said.
"Wait, I have a question for you." Viper said.
"What?" AJ said.
"What do you know about the Hellfire Club?" Viper said.
"Never heard of them." AJ said.
"What about Emma Frost?" Viper said.
"Nope." AJ said. "What are you getting at?"
"Come with me and found out for yourself." Viper said.
Authors note: If you got the references I made in this chapter I salute you. This may be the last you see of David, Laura and AJ in this story.
