DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Ultimate Spider-Man or any related characters, Spiderman Noir or Pulp era characters and themes. Everything belongs to Marvel, Disney or Dynamite Entertainment... apart from the story.

In short I don't own anything in this story.

Hey guys, bet you didn't expect to see me back again so soon? and just to answer a question thats been floating around: yes, there will be a new story after this ... you wont be getting rid of me that easily.

This is just for fun.

Enjoy

Chapter 37: Credit where Credits Due

At first there was nothing but blackness ... then Spiderman could hear the screams of Dr Rao loudly as well as the maniacal laughter of Hobgoblin. He slowly opened his eyes and when his blurred vision comes back into focus, he could see the struggle between Dr Rao and Hobgoblin playing out before him. With great effort Spiderman managed to get to his feet and lunged forward at Hobgoblins cybernetic arm and wrestled to free Dr Raos arm from it, as he does so Spiderman could feel the breath of Hobgoblin coming from beside him and turned to see the villains face staring right back at from just on the other side of the doors ... smiling evilly at him.

Hobgoblin: Remember this face ... Always ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Spiderman blinked for a moment and suddenly he was staring into the face of Green Goblin

Green Goblin: You're not getting off easy ... this time ... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

In a burst of adrenaline, Spiderman yelled out loud and using his incredible strength ... broke off the cyborgs arm and the doors closed instantly, just as the full force of the ocean water smashed along the side of the doors. However the elevator wouldn't move ... this time the ocean water started to seep through the edges of the doors. Spiderman backed away to the edge of the elevator, the pressure increases and the doors burst open, allowing the full force of the Atlantic to crash right into...

Ava: Peter?

S.H.I.E.L.D Tri-Carrier – Atlantic Ocean – Afternoon

Peter awoke abruptly and sits up; ignoring the pain he is feeling though out his body, he took a few moments to take in his surroundings ... after realising that he is in the Tri-Carriers Med bay, he felt a pair of hands grapping hold of him and pushing him back down onto the bed. Peter looks round to see that it's his girlfriend Ava.

Peter: Ava!

Ava: It's alright, you're fine ... You're safe. It looked like you were having a nightmare so I tried to wake you.

Peter: What ... what happened?

Ava: The Aqua-Carrier picked both you and Phantom up...

Peter: How is he?

Ava nodded her head towards the bed beside them, Peter looked over to see his friend Phantom lying in the med bay bed, unconscious ... and oddly still wearing his eye mask.

Peter: Why didn't they take off his mask?

Ava: The doctors nearly did ... But then Hornet freaked out. Threaten to gas everyone there if they so much as touched his mask.

Cutaway

Chibi Hornet is guarding Chibi Phantoms sleeping body as dozens of doctors try to approach the bed. Chibi Hornet shoots them all one by one in the style of a shooting gallery at a carnival.

Cutaway ends

Oh good to see that my heads still working, nothing seriously damaged... OWW!

Peter clutched his head in pain as Ava leaned over a gently placed her hand on his head.

Ava: Peter, just take it easy. You're going to be here for a while so you can properly heal up.

Peter: Fair enough, I'm glad you're here.

Ava: I'm glad too ... otherwise I wouldn't be able to do this.

She extended her claws in her right hand and jabbed them down onto Peter's knee. He let out a cry in pain and looked at Ava ... terrified by the death glare she was giving him.

Peter: AVA! What the hell...?

Ava: WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

She removed her claw and leaned in close to Peter, their faces inches apart.

Ava: How could you do that to me ... I had no idea if you were going to make it out alive, for a while I thought you didn't.

Peter: I'm sorry...

Ava: Sorry ... SORRY?

She stabbed him again with her claw, making Peter wince in pain.

Peter: Jeez ... Ava!

Ava: Don't you ever dare do that to me again ... ever!

Peter: Ok ... ok ... I'm sorry, I did what I thought I had to do. I'm sorry I put you though all that, I promise not to do it again and I'll find a way to make it up to you...

Ava: ... It's a start.

Peter: Now could you take your claws out ... please?

She did so, then leaned back to pick up a glass of water from a nearby stand and held it up to Peter.

Ava: Here, drink this.

Peter: Yes ... nurse.

Ava: Do you want me to stab you again?

Phantom: Please do ... It's funny.

The two teens look over to see Phantom awake and staring right at them.

Peter: Kit...? How long have you been awake?

Phantom: Since the first time you screamed ... you sound like a girl by the way.

Peter: Hey!

Kato: At least you sound a bit more butch than Hornet.

Green Hornet: Yeah ... wait, what?

Peter, Ava and Phantom turned to see the rest of the League hanging around the med bays entrance. The lot of them hurry into the room and surround both Peter and Phantoms beds ... all of them relived to see their friends safe and sound.

Zorro: Ah Señors, it's good to see you two awake.

Moonstar: We were all so worried.

Spiderman: It's great that you're all ok. Look I'm sorry that I...

Green Hornet: Don't worry Spidey.

Peter: Hey, we're all of duty now ... what's with all the formality? Why didn't you let them take off Phantoms mask?

Green Hornet: Don't get me wrong Spidey ... Though I am grateful for S.H.I.E.L.D's help, I don't want them knowing who I really am ... and I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Both Kato and Zorro nodded in unison, and then Peter understood exactly how they felt. Secret identities are an incredibly personal thing ... only the heroes themselves have the right to reveal them. S.H.I.E.L.D maybe on the side of good but they can be a bit too nosey at times.

Inter-com: "Spiderman ... get some rest. The moment your rested up I want to see you on the bridge, but for now I want a word with your new friends; Fury out."

Right on cue ... as always.

S.H.I.E.L.D Tri-Carrier – Bridge - Daybreak

A few days later, Spiderman found himself back onboard the bridge of the Tri-Carrier ... assisted by Tiger of course, he hadn't fully recovered yet but he felt strong enough to get to his feet with help from his insistent girlfriend. As they entered the bridge the two of them approached Fury at his command console, viewing holo-images hovering in front of him. When the two of them stop in front of him, he turns round to face them ... the teenagers were completely surprised by the Directors reaction.

Fury: THE TWO OF YOU DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED ORDERS! YOU STOLE EXPERIMENTAL AND CLASSIFIED TECH FROM BOTH STARK INDESTRIES AND S.H.I.E.L.D, TOOK UNATHORISED PERSONLE INTO A WAR-ZONE! ALMOST GETTING THEM AND YOURSELF KILLED, HACKED YOUR WAY INTO THE S.H.I.E.L.D NETWORK AND NATO COMMAND!

Spiderman: If I could get a word in edge ways?

Fury: I'M NOT FINISHED ... THERE IS LIST OF PEOPLE DEMANDING I GIVE YOU OVER TO THEM COURT MARSHELL!

White Tiger: But Director if it wasn't for Spide...

Fury: BUT...! By acting on your own intuition, you were able to end the war that would have killed millions more lives. You saved the world leaders of both sides as well as a number of others who attended the summit. Brought into the light the true enemies behind all of this and ensured their destruction.

Spiderman: ... your ... welcome?

Fury: Don't get smart with me Web-head ... the only thing that kept you from being court marshalled were the testimony of these individual.

Another image appears behind Fury, when he moved out of the way Spiderman could see the faces of all the world leaders he saved ... including Black Panther, Captain America, Namor, Silver Sable, the Fantastic Four, Magneto, Scarlet Witch and even Doctor Doom.

Spiderman: Dr Doom ... Really?

Fury: He said that as a favor for what you did for the people of Latveria ... His going to forget the fact that you trashed his castle and ... ruined his sheet covers.

The two teenagers quickly looked at each other then tried to cover up their guilt by acting nonchalantly ... badly. Fury just rolled his eyes and turned back towards the imagines behind him, most are of Dominion and New Allied forces pulling out of Africa, Genosha and even the United States. Other imagines are of Damage Control moving into the cities of New York, Washington D.C. and other major cities across the east coast.

Fury: Things are already starting to get back to normal ... and about time to, you need to clean yourself up and get a new suit.

Spiderman: Huh ... Why?

Washington D.C – White House – Afternoon

In front of the White House steps, standing on a large platform, in front of a massive audience; Spiderman, White Tiger, Nova, Powerman and Iron Fist are standing to attention ... alongside the President of the United States and other official leaders.

U.S President: It's been said that "where there is a brave man, in the thickest of the fight, there is the post of honor." Today, we pay tribute to an American who placed himself in the thick of the fight — again and again and again. In so doing, he has earned our nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. And we are extraordinarily proud of... Spiderman.

(Applause.)

It is a real honor that a recipient of the Medal of Honor has been able to accept it in person. I would point out something else — of all the Medal of Honor recipients in recent decades, these heroes are also some of the youngest. Now for security reasons I won't divulge their real age. And he performed the extraordinary actions for which they are being recognized today when they are still so young.

Despite all this, I have to say Spiderman is one of the most down-to-Earth guys that you will ever meet. In fact, when my staff first tried to arrange the phone call so I could tell him that I'd approved this medal, Spiderman was busy. He felt he couldn't take the call right then, because he said, "If I don't go out on patrol, who will clean up this mess." (Laughter.) So we arranged to make sure he got the call during his lunch break. (Laughter.) I told him the news, and then he went right back to work. (Laughter.) That's the kind of guy he is. He also asked to "hang out" with me, which we were able to execute yesterday ... in return for an autograph for my son.

(Laughter)

Spiderman is the kind of guy who gets the job done. And I do appreciate, Spiderman, you taking my call. (Laughter.) The Medal of Honor reflects the gratitude of the entire nation. So we're joined here by members of Congress, including representives of our Allies ... King T'Challa of Wakanda, Silver Sablinova of Symkaria and King Namor of Atlantis. We are also joined here by leaders from across my administration, including the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Director of S.H.I.E.L.D Col Nicholas Joseph Fury, and leaders from across our Armed Forces, including the Commandant of our forces stationed in Africa General Thaddeus Ross.

We're honored to welcome Spidermans family and friends, their identities also anomalous. I want to welcome Spidermans comrades from his strike team, and we are humbled by the presence of the members of the Medal of Honor Society. Spiderman, I realize the past few days have not been easy for you, retelling the story of your experience and standing here today. You're a very modest young man. But, as you've said, you do it for a simple reason — retelling the story — because it helps you to honor those who didn't come home, and to remind your fellow Americans that our men and women in uniform were over there fighting every single day.

So that's how we'll do this today. Because of Spiderman and his teammates, we see the best of a generation that has served with distinction through a devastation of this war. Spiderman, I know that you've grappled with the grief of this war; that you've said your efforts were somehow a "failure" because many didn't come home. But as your Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it's quite the opposite. You did your duty, above and beyond, and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the country that you love.

Because of your Honor, many are alive today. Because of your Courage, fallen American heroes have come home, and — in the words of their grieving mothers — they could lay their sons to rest with dignity. Because of your Commitment — in the thick of the fight, hour after hour — a former Marine who read about your story said that you showed how "in the most desperate, final hours…our brothers and God will not forsake us." And because of your humble example, our kids — especially back in New York, and all across America — they'll know that no matter whom you are or where you come from, you can do great things as a citizen and as a member of the American family. I want to conclude by asking Spiderman, White Tiger, Nova, Powerman and Iron Fist to stand and accept thanks of a grateful nation.

(Applause.)

Every member of our team is as important as the other. That's a lesson that we all have to remember — as citizens, and as a nation — as we meet the tests of our time, here at home and around the world.

To our Soldiers, to all our men and women in uniform, to our fellow Americans, let us always be faithful. And as we prepare for the reading of the citation, let me say, God bless you, Spiderman, White Tiger, Nova, Powerman and Iron Fist. God bless our vigilant heroes and all who serve. And God bless the United States of America.

(Applause.)

Military Aide: The President of the United States, in the name of the Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Spiderman, White Tiger, Nova, Powerman and Iron Fist for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty. Spiderman will also accept the award on behalf of the strike team he lead into the front ... all of whom were unable to attend today.

The President started to, one by one; place a medal around the neck of each one of the young heroes ... shaking their hands as well. The entire audience gave them a standing aviation, applauding the young heroes along with mass cheering.

Nova: Now this is more like it.

The others turn to stare at him.

Nova: What? It's nice to be appreciated once in a while.

Powerman: You can say that again my brother.

Iron Fist: The knowledge of doing what's right is in itself ... its own reward.

White Tiger: Why didn't the others show up?

Spiderman: I think they have their reasons ... So Tiger, how does it feel dating a Medal of Honor winner?

White Tiger: I can ask you the same thing. But don't celebrate just yet, I think you still have more to come ... and you won't be getting your real "reward" until later tonight.

Spiderman: What makes you say... wait, what?

A/N: Before anyone starts praising me about the speech ... let me just say that I'd love to take credit, but it was heavily based on one of Obama's speeches. Next chapter ... the after party.

Thanks