In the Parker family household, Peter was already washed and dressed for the college reunion. Mary Jane was in the shower, the sound of water sprinkling as Peter spoke on the phone with Hobie.
"I'm telling you, Hobie. This was not just some old man in a costume. This man was, as I witnessed, was Max Dillon."
"Ha, the city's new electrician? Really, Pete?"
"Yeah. How do you know him?"
"He passes by my house sometimes. We talk."
"Well, Hobie," said Peter as he heard the shower water turned off, "superheroes or not, we need to get to the bottom of all this just the same way that Spider-Man and Prowler did."
"Yeah, well I need to get ready for the party, Peter. I'll talk to you about this later. Bye."
Peter sighed and hung up the phone as Mary Jane walked out of the bathroom, wearing her purple bathrobe.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"Hobie. Apparently he needs to be a bit more convinced as I am of who the guy with all the electricity volts around him is."
"Who is it?" asked Mary Jane as she walked into the clothes and left the door open with a creek.
"Max Dillon."
"Max Dillon?" said MJ in curiosity, throwing her bathrobe to the other side of the closet and searching through her coat hangers for a dress, "the new electrician?"
"Yep. It surprises me how you know him. Does he stop by the fashion designing department or something?"
"Yeah," replied MJ as she had already put on a dress and opened the door, "all the time to work on the building's power."
Peter looked at MJ. Her dress was red and it was shiny and looked of kind of glittery.
"Now," said MJ, turning around, "will you zip me please, Peter?"
"Sure," said Peter, rising up and walking towards MJ.
He reached for her zipper way down and zipped it right up her dress before she turned around.
"Thank you," she said before walking off.
Peter watched after her, smiled and nodded, exiting the room.
In the Bugle, Jameson slapped down both articles that Peter and Ned Leeds had written.
"I have no choice, Robbie. Both of these men have a done a good job and their work seems very superior in contrast on my part. They shall make the front page tonight together for the college reunion party at Empire State University. Contact your editor at once. And get Hoffman in here!"
"Yes, sir," said Robbie, exiting the office as Hoffman walked in through the door.
"You shouted my name from out there, sir. Are you expecting me?"
"Not at all," sneered Jameson sarcastically, leaning over his chair with a cigarette popped in his mouth.
"Oh, well then…" he said, walking towards the door.
"Ah, get in here, you crazy cow! We have a lot to discuss."
"About what, sir?" asked Hoffman closing the door, "is about the electric…"
"Shut up! No questions! And yes, this is about Max Dillon, the city's supposed new electric generator on the police's behalf. Until he went berserk and now he's flying everywhere. Parker dropped off some pictures on Betty's desk this afternoon in a hurry and I know they're mine. Collect them at once!"
The song Lightning Bolt by Jake Bugg played as pictures of the fight between Spider-Man and Dillon were slapped down on Jameson's desk. So far they were of Spider-Man getting the upper hand.
Morning, it's another pure grey morning
Don't know what the day is holding
When I get uptight and I walk right into the path of a lightning bolt
"Crap! Crap! Utter crap! This guy doesn't seem as dangerous as he sounds."
Sirens of an ambulance comes howling
Right through the center of town and
No one blinks an eye but I look up to the sky in the path of a lightning bolt
Hoffman smiled and pointed a picture with Dillon placing his hands forwards towards Stacy and his team.
"Hmph, WHAT DO THE POLICE HAVE TO DO WITH THESE PICTURES?" spluttered Jameson and then looked at a picture of Dillon flying up into the air, "ah, here's a good one. These pictures are exactly what I need after all. One shall make the front page tonight instead of Parker and Leeds. How shall we stage name this Dillon guy?"
Met her as the angels parted for her
"Um, Mr. Maximum, sir," said Hoffman, pointing to his boss with a surprised look.
But she only bought me torture
"Mmm, it's catchy. But the guy hasn't too much damage just yet.
That's what happens when its you who's standing in the path of a lightning bolt
"Maxwell Machine, sir?"
Everyone I see just wants to walk with gritted teeth
"Nope."
But I just stand on by and I wait my time.
"Dizzy Dillon?"
They say you gotta tow the line
"Nope. Take the guy's real name out. Wait! I've got one!"
They want the water, not the wine
"What, sir?"
"Electro."
But what I see the signs, I jump on that lightning bolt
"Sounds great, sir."
"Of course it does. Tell it to your editor at once!"
Immediately, Hoffman left Jameson's office and the song ended as the newspaper carrying Peter and Leeds' articles smacked down and Electro with his hands up with lighting made the front page.
In the Osborn mansion, the gas chamber where Norman and Harry once walked had green smoke emitting from it, implying the release of green gas. George Hill was on the phone with Agent Wheadon and Aleksei Sytsevich from the Oscorp tower. They had him on speaker.
"It seems, my good friends, that Lefty and I had found Norman Osborn's secret goblin lair."
"Goblin lair?" asked Wheadon in curiosity.
"This mansion is what he hid his identity as a supervillain from the city."
"I'm confused, Mr. Hill. Have you and Lefty even found any relevant material?" sighed Sytsevich.
"Yes, sir. But Lefty and I had an agreement that…"
"What material, George?" sighed Wheadon, "would it be powerful enough to retaliate against Spider-Man?"
"A suit of armor that the Osborns never used, sir. And yes, it would be powerful enough to battle Spider-Man. It just needs a host."
Wheadon sighed and stressed "I'm sorry, George. I just don't understand. I mean, where's Lefty anyway?"
"Lefty's ready to test out the suit of armor."
"What?" snapped both men over the phone.
"You heard me, sir. And Lefty's ready to exit the chamber right now."
"Mr. Hill, stop!" panicked Sytsevich, "you don't know you're doing and neither does Lefty!"
"We have it all under control, sir."
"You better," warned Sytsevich, "'cause I'm sending my men over there right now."
"Good idea, sir."
"You're damn right it is," said Wheadon firmly, "and by the time they get there, the armor better be ready otherwise I'm docking both of you two day's pay. Got that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Okay. Mr. Sytsevich and I will be here waiting until you get back with the guys. Goodbye, George."
"Goodbye, boss," said Hill.
And he hung the phone before shouting "yo, Lefty! The mob's coming over to collect this stuff so make it quick!"
"I'm done!" Donovan called from inside the chamber.
And he walked out, wearing only a pair of underpants, green gas emitting from the chamber behind him.
"Where's the suit of armor?" he asked.
"It's over there," said Hill, pointing to the set of goblin material.
Donovan walked slowly over to it, picking up the armor and slipping it over his arms and legs, somehow feeling more powerful afterwards. Hill suddenly had a bad feeling running through his stomach.
"Wow!" he gasped, "this feels amazing, George."
"Yeah, well, Lefty," gulped Hill, feeling a little uneasy around his old pal, "maybe you'd better take it off now that you tested it."
"Tested it? I only put it on just a few moments ago. The testing process is done once I try this thing on in full throttle."
"Um, I don't think that's a good idea, Lefty."
But Donovan wasn't listening. Quickly, he put his hand towards the yellow cape and blew it towards him, surprised.
"Wicked!" he gasped, placing the cape around his back , "I have power now and I never felt so strong in my life."
"Um, Lefty," Hill gulped, "now what's happening?"
"I don't know," chuckled Donovan, placing his hand towards a glider that stood right next to the gold goblin mask, "one minute, I'm just a normal guy, the next minute…woah!"
The glider flew right towards Donovan and he jumped up. The glider then stopped and Donovan landed on it, flying across the room and grabbing the goblin mask by force. Hill stood back and watched this in shock and awe.
"Lefty. Psst, Lefty. Please remove this material from yourself at once."
But Donovan still wasn't listening. Instead, he gazed inside the eyes of the goblin mask, placing it towards his face. As he did so, a slight and faint cackle, resembling that of the Green Goblin, got louder and louder and louder until the mask stuck to Donovan's face like magic.
"WOAH, LEFTY!" shouted Hill, "NOW, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Donovan, his face covered under the mask, turned around and he spoke in the Goblin voice "what did I do? I thought you'd be wondering what this thing did to me."
"W-w-what did that thing…d-d-d-do to you, L-l-l-lefty?"
"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO, PUNK! I am now more powerful than any enemy that Spider-Man and Prowler ever had in this city!"
"Not that powerful! I can call up the boss and he'll have you docked unless you remove that thing from yourself immediately!"
"TRAITOR!" shouted Donovan.
And he flew down towards a panicking Hill, snatching him in his grasp and smashing him against the wall.
"So, a snitch are you now?" he sneered, grasping Hill by the throat and choking him, "well, let me assure you that once I am done with you, I will deal with the boss with myself!"
"Y-you n-n-ever will, L-l-lefty," choked Hill, "that thing will t-t-test your abilities and c-c-change who you are. Maybe even destroy you."
Donovan spluttered, releasing a suffocated Hill to the ground and facing him in the eye. Hill looked from his breaths at Donovan.
"Goodbye, old friend," said Donovan slowly before cackling and aiming the glider towards Hill's body.
"No, no, please, Lefty, don't," said Hill, breathing relentlessly.
But the glider was already aimed towards his body and this is where Donovan right at Hill, who screamed out "NOOOOOOOOOO!" as the glider was soon impaled and then released.
Donovan looked down at the lifeless body of his friend, then he rose up and smashed through the window, cackling and flying into the dusk sky.
As Donovan flew out of sight, the truck carrying Aleksei Sytsevich's men stopped near the Osborn mansion. Ten of them exited the trunk through the back while the other two men walked out through the front. All of them gazed up upon the broken window.
"Hmm," thought one of the thugs, "how on earth did that happen then?"
"I don't know," said a second thug.
"Yo, Lefty! George!" shouted a third.
"Shh!" snapped a forth, "let's just go through the tunnel like Hill said they did.'
"If I know those two guys, they're probably just looting stuff in the mansion," said a fifth.
The dozen men walked in through the tunnel and it took them till dark to get in sight of the ladder. They immediately climbed up and when they made it to the top, they walked through the ruins of the entrance that Donovan and Hill came in through. They find the door which was the passageway to the Osborn lair. They all walked through and looked around, checking out the goblin weapons.
"Razor blades," wondered a thug.
"Pumpkin bombs," wondered another thug.
"And," concluded a third thug, looking across the direction of green gas, "a gas chamber."
"Big question is," wondered one of the thugs, looking towards the shelf, "where is this armor they were talking about? And I bet Norman Osborn also had a glider and a mask and a cape…and a host…"
"You guys," called another thug all of a sudden, "over here."
He pointed over to Hill's severed body laying against the wall. All of the men were in shock.
"Lefty!" one thug immediately shouted, "LEFTY!"
"Hey!" shouted another thug, grabbing the screaming one by the shoulders, "it's over, man! It's over! Both of 'em are gone! Hill's dead but I might have an idea of what happened to Lefty."
"What's the idea?" said another thug curiously.
"I bet he's possessed."
"By the armor?"
"Yes. Everything Hill told us about this lair is a fact and just because he's dead does not mean we don't have our resources. Let's load up our van at once. Every last thing here is coming with us back to Oscorp."
The men got to work at once, ready to break down the gas chamber.
Night fell and the Empire State University was packed with party guests. The college reunion turned out to be a great success. Peter and MJ finally made it through the line with the kids. Ben Jr. was dressed up exactly like his father, but with a bow tie instead of a long one. May Jr., on the other hand, was dressed up exactly like her mother. Aunt May stood closely behind Peter and his family, followed by Hobie and then Valeria and Adrian.
In front of Peter and everybody were more important people like Chief Daniels and Captain Georgina Stacy and his wife Helen and daughter Gwen. Then there was Deputy Captain DeWolff followed through the line by the Jameson family, Robbie Robertson, Ted Hoffman, Betty Brant, Ned Leeds and, last by not least, Agent Wheadon. His phone was on silent, vibrating in his pocket. He slowly pulled it out to see that it was none other than Sytsevich. In order to not blow his cover, he slipped it back in his pocket and let the call go.
"Putz," he muttered to himself.
Soon everyone was in through the line and out in the ballroom enjoying themselves.
Peter and Mary Jane were talking with the Stacy family while the twins went with Aunt May to get drinks.
"So, MJ," Gwen asked, "how's business going?"
"Well, with many shoots done over the past week and a great boss like Mr. Kingsley, I'd say things are 'fashionable.'"
The two of them laughed as Peter conferred with Gwen's parents.
"So, our daughter told us quite recently about how your methods of partnership went from high school through college, Peter," said Helen.
"And as she mentioned, they seemed to be methods that bought the two of you 'areas of expertise'," said George.
"Dad," sighed Gwen.
"It's alright, sweetheart."
"Yeah," said Helen, "your father senses a comfortable side in Peter. Right, boy?"
"Oh, yeah," said Peter, MJ's hand on his shouder, "yeah, it's perfectly fine with me."
"Good," said George, a big smile on his face, "then to add to that…"
"Parker! PARKER!" shouted a familiar voice.
Jameson made his way through the crowd to see Peter with the Stacys.
"Parker, my family needs a picture taken. Now!"
"Yes, Mr. Jameson," said Peter, following his boss through the crowd and calling back to the Stacys, "good talking to you."
"Well, Parker. Hopefully you didn't forget that this was going to happen."
"No, Mr. Jameson, sir. I didn't."
"Ah, well. How do you like the new magazine. Both reports from you and Leeds are all over have made it inside the pages of course."
"Oh, yes, it's wonderful…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway the family's over here. Me with my wife and son. Betty, John, do you remember Mr. Parker over here?"
"Oh, hello," said Betty, holding out a hand to Peter.
"Mrs. Jameson," said Peter, shaking her hand, "nice to see you again. Hello there, John."
John looked at him with a slight smile. He was obviously a little jealous of Peter for marrying his ex-fiance.
"Parker," he muttered, "good to see you. How's MJ?"
"Yeah, yeah, enough chitter chatter. Picture time."
Quickly, he gathered with Betty and John and they all smiled as Peter took the picture.
"Good. Thank you," said Jameson, glancing over at the picture then turning back towards his family, "run along now, Parker. Thanks again.
Peter walked on through the ballroom when he heard someone say "Peter Parker?"
Peter looked behind to see two familiar faces from high school and college.
"Flash Thompson, Liz Allen, you both made it."
"Yep," replied Flash, "and together as you see it."
"So how things and Ms. Watson, or Mrs. Parker as to say?
The three of them laughed and laughed.
"They're going great, Liz. Since when were you guys dating?"
"Since college graduation."
"Wow, six years. That's actually how long MJ and I have been married."
"Oh, happy sixth anniversary," gasped Liz, smiling.
"Oh, no, not yet. Soon to be," chuckled Peter.
The three of them laughed and laughed once more.
"By the way, Parker," said Flash, "no hard feelings about the things I did to you in high school, right?"
"Nope, not at all. You and I are all cool, Flash."
"Oh, good, good."
And the three of them continued to talk.
Wheadon was talking and laughing with the NYPD officials when his phone vibrated. He looked it and obviously it still read A. Sytsevich.
"If you'll excuse me, I have a few important matters with the fellas from the FBI department. I'll be back."
And he walked off, Daniels, Stacy, DeWolff and their men watching after him.
Wheadon stormed the ballroom and out in the hallway, answering inside the phone "what?"
"We have ourselves a little problem, Joseph."
"And what would that be, Mr. Sytevich? You realize that any fewer seconds longer and you would've had my cover blown?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is a serious problem."
"And what would that be then?"
"My men and I discovered the lair and took everything back to Oscorp. They're rebuilding the gas chamber right now but they found George dead and there was no armor after all."
Wheadon widened his eyes in surprise upon hearing this.
"What else did they find?"
"Just the goblin weapons, sir. Besides the glider though."
Wheadon listened carefully to Sytsevich's report.
"Furthermore," continued Sytsevich, "your men and I have come to one final conclusion."
"And what would that 'final conclusion' be then, sir?"
"Both your men were testing out the lair while Lefty observed the formula."
"You can't possibly tell me that…"
"Yes, sir. Lefty's the new supervillain in town and this seems like a little bit more than trouble on our behalf because if Spidey exposes him…"
"Look, I'll get to the bottom of all this as soon as I can but I have a party to finish with."
"Whatever you say, Joseph. Just make matters a little quicker for your own men's sake."
Wheadon immediately hung on the phone and walked back into the ballroom as Dr. Connors took the stage and stood behind the microphone.
"Good evening, ladies and gents. I'd like to thank you all for coming to this event. We have raised plenty of money for our charity and especially for those…living on Skid Row."
The crowd laughed and laughed.
"I'd like to thank our brass band for playing for us tonight and now, without further ado, I'd like to welcome Professor Edward Brock to make an announcement."
The crowd clapped and cheered as Connors exited stage and Brock entered the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you all today because I believe in a good city. I appreciate all the donations you all have made you have paid to be here and…"
Suddenly, a large figure of black armor with a yellow cape flew through the window in through the window, cackling. The crowd gasped and chattered. The figure was, of no doubt, Arnold Donovan behind the goblin mask.
"Sorry to 'break in' like this," he said sarcastically, "but I would like to make my donation too."
Everyone screamed and ran around. Peter ran into the bathroom at once. Wheadon gazed at the flying figure in a shock.
"By god," he whispered to himself, "Sytsevich was right."
"Where is Adrian Toomes?" the goblin spluttered, "my case with him won't rest until we come to an agreement!"
"You'll never find him here, weirdo!" shouted Valeria.
"Oh," said the goblin quietly, gazing at Valeria among the crowd, "so I see."
Adrian was trying to make an exit through the crowd but was running around and getting in his way. Suddenly, a familiar cackle sounded closer and closer to him when he was suddenly snatched.
"HELLLLP!" he shouted as he was thrown in midair.
In the bathroom, Peter quickly unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off to show his Spider-Man suit.
The goblin caught Adrian by his stomach and pushed him against the wall, grabbing him by the throat. Adrian tried to speak but he couldn't as the choke hold was holding him back.
"Good evening, Mr. Toomes," said the goblin, "sorry to startle you after all. Didn't mean to interrupt your party but my buddies and I have this new criminal empire. And we were wondering if you wanted to join us."
Adrian glared at the goblin in denial and the goblin continued to speak "you would be of no use otherwise. Your criminal ways started ours after all. Take this as an ultimatum: join me; or cause yourself a funeral in front of a million people; colleagues, family…even your lovely daughter."
"I'd like to set an ultimatum too!" shouted a familiar voice from uptop.
The goblin looked and scoffed, "Spider-Man! Always interfering with criminal affairs. You can set no ultimatum with me. If you would, I would overpower you and you would lose the bet, suffering all you have fought for."
"First off: how about you let the poor man go before I turn you in to the authorities. Second off: you'd be exposed anyway after I'm through with you because I've dealt with tougher guys then your looks."
"Not yet you haven't."
The goblin bought out his arm, which pulled out a triple pocket knife. He aimed it towards Spider-Man, releasing from his grasp to the grounds below. Spider-Man shot a web towards the ceiling and swung away from the goblin who chased him around the strobe light globe.
Spider-Man suddenly spotted Adrian falling and swung down after him, the goblin hot on his trail. Spider-Man caught Adrian in midair and used a web to release them both to the ground.
Valeria ran by her father's side, holding him in her grasp.
"He seems unconscious," said Spider-Man, "but don't you worry, I'll deal with that slimy…"
The goblin flew towards Spider-Man and pushed him through the double doors and into the hallway. Spider-Man groaned and looked up to see the goblin flying right into his path. He shot a web towards him and flew up with his feet in the air, kicking the goblin off his glider.
Spider-Man was getting ready with his first to punch the goblin in the face but the goblin got the upper hand and pushed Spider-Man towards the ceiling, cracking it.
Spider-Man quickly recovered and shot a web to release to the ground as the goblin hopped back on his glider and charged towards the ceiling, causing it to fall down on Spider-Man who shot up towards the sky and back down to find that the goblin had flown too far away for him to catch up with. The crowd gathered to watch Spider-Man who regret looks at him over losing his target, the sound of ambulance sirens in the background.
"It's okay, folks," he said, "it's fine. That thing's gone now. Or at least for now."
He looked up to the sky to see the goblin flying away towards the Oscorp tower.
Leeds walked up next to Spider-Man
"Ya think that guy would have any connection with Oscorp?" he asked.
"I don't know, Mr. Leeds, sir. But don't worry. That's what I'll find out."
And he slung a web towards the sky, swinging out of sight.
Leeds watched after him then looked towards the Oscorp tower.
"Hmm," he thought, "something seems strange about that tower. But the goblin might have something to do with it."
This was one case that Leeds had to sleep on and get to the bottom of at work the next day. But how he would get the point of his predictions across to the public seemed like a challenge at the moment.
