Chapter Eight: A Dramatic Disaster
"Evil Hideout Uncovered: Spider-man, two other heroes, and the dark vigilante last night, broke into a hidden base located in the abandoned body shop…."
"Wow, you guys really outdone yourselves last night," Liz complimented, reading the newspaper in the middle of their lunch break, showing a picture taken by her boyfriend in the headlines, depicting Spider-man, Iceman, Shadowcat, and a dark-clothed ally with the police officers at the crime scene.
"Well, we obviously got some help," Peter adds, looking over to glance at Hobie from the other table, who also glanced back with a playful salute.
"But wait, the investigations here say that there were pieces of advanced tech in that hidden base. And the tech they found traces back to... Oscorp…!" Liz looks over to Peter with worry and concern.
"Say what…!?" Peter responded hysterically, letting Liz pass the newspaper to him and skims around the page. 'No...how...why…!?'
"...Petey…." Liz whimpered from Peter's worried reaction.
'T-this doesn't make sense, how could those guys get their grubby hands on Oscorp tech that easily, unless….!?' Peter thought to himself. 'Is this what Norman's been doing behind everyone's back? But why? To what end?!'
"Hey Tiger, whatcha reading?"
Out of nowhere, the redhead friend Mary Jane Watson, appears behind Peter and accidentally startles him out of his train of thought.
"MJ! I-it's nothing actually! So uh, what's up? How are you doing this fine day?" Peter stuttered in a cheesy tone, sounding funny to Liz and Kitty, but disappointed by Bobby, thinking he needs to work on his speech.
"Well, nothing much, just wanna tell you that I am currently taken under the mentorship of Mr. St. John Devereaux," Mary Jane replied.
"Whoa what!? That—that's great!" Peter congratulated.
"Uh huh, I've been taking some classes and lessons with other kids from different schools under his tutelage," Mary Jane briefly explained. "And on this coming weekend night at 8:30 pm, I'm actually taking part in one of Mr. Devereaux's new upcoming plays at the theater near the Allans' hotel. If you'd like—"
"Sure!" Peter immediately answered, awkwardly cutting off MJ's words. "I-I mean, yeah, I will come, what about you guys? Wanna come?"
"Sounds like fun, Petey," Liz accepts.
"I wanna see you act!" Kitty eagerly accepts.
"Count me in!" Bobby gladly accepts.
"Awesome, 'cause luckily I got lots of tickets for my best buds," Mary Jane smirked, taking out ticket slips from her denim jacket. "Your aunt is sure to drop by with mine, and they both got tickets so don't worry."
"Wow, that's a lot," Peter replied, dumbfounded from her offer.
"Eight other people got invited. You guys have one more extra ticket, vacant for one seat," Mary Jane smirked at the nervous nerdy friend as she hands him the tickets before looking at Gwen, who was lonely because of Harry's absence in classes, implicitly telling him to invite her with them.
"Are you serious?" Peter asks with concern. "I—"
'Please help her, Tiger," Mary Jane quietly begged. "You're the only person I know who could truly help her."
"...Alright," Peter responded as he musters up the courage to get up and walk over to Gwen, but surprisingly his current girlfriend Liz, is not fazed by his reaction.
"Girlfriend, you alright with your guy going for someone else?" Mary Jane curiously wonders.
"A part of me is uneasy, but at the same time, I feel totally bad for Gwen putting up with a guy like Harry," Liz confessed. "I've heard that his father was killed by Spider-man, and like, it completely changed him for the worst…."
Bobby and Kitty stayed silent as well, knowing that Peter personally admitted that truth to them.
"Yeah. It would seem that Gwen's got quite the guy to 'carefully' handle. A literal walking time bomb," Mary Jane commented in a pitiful tone.
"She knows Petey a lot more than I have. They've been closer together for as long as I could remember, unlike how I treated him back then before going out with him," Liz explained, holding back her tears.
"...She would've been happier if Petey actually stayed with her," Liz admits, looking down at her reflection on her cup of water before feeling the redhead's hand on her shoulder.
"Girl, there's nothing wrong with trying to be happy, especially being with a certain someone that you really like," Mary Jane replied. "Sorry for saying this late, but I do apologize again for trying to split both you and Peter for Gwen's sake. That was insensitive of me."
"Psh, bygones are bygones. Don't worry," Liz accepts her apology.
"Hey guys! Good news! Gwen says she could come with us! Even Harry texted Gwen with an "okay" sign!" Peter yelled, running back to their table.
"Speaking of Harry, Tiger, does she have any idea of where he could be? Or what could he be doing at this time?" Mary Jane asked upon hearing Harry responding to Gwen's text out of nowhere.
"No, sadly, Gwen and I don't even know the details, but what really matters was how he allows her to come along with us though, right?" Peter replied.
"Hmmm," Mary Jane only gave Peter 'the look' before sighing. "Well, that's somehow great, but please help keep her company. She really needs it, Tiger."
"Yes, of course," Peter responded as Mary Jane leaves the cafeteria before staring at the sky, wandering in his thoughts. 'Harry, just what are you doing man…?'
—
"Get these things off of me!" Electro barked, struggling to get free from bindings that are made of insulating material while being carried up high in the night sky by the New Goblin.
"Sorry, but we have a doctor's appointment. When I mean we, I only mean you," New Goblin twistedly replied while holding onto the bindings that bound Electro's feet as he glides around the city to reach Doc Ock's base of operations.
As he reaches the base and descends inside from the broken glass ceiling, he tosses the restrained Electro to the nefarious Doc Ock, who seems to have finished building his strange contraption.
"Doc!? Is that you?! What's the meaning of this!?" Electro interrogated, still struggling to break free from his insulated bindings.
"Long time no see, Max," Doc Ock hissed upon noticing his presence. "I believe you have met our new friend. And don't bother struggling. It is futile to resist this time."
"What are you trying to do Doc?!" Electro angrily asks, lying on his stomach.
"To give you ultimate power! Power that could help you vent out your anger on the Wallcrawler," Doc Ock replied while calibrating the system controlling his new contraption.
"What is this supposed to be?" Electro wondered upon noticing the strange machine.
"A power amplifier designed for you, Electro, as an apology for my rash selfish decisions," Doc Ock plainly stated. "Once you use it, you'll gain new abilities far greater than you can imagine, and become a force to be reckoned with to the four-legged pest."
"You're sure this is going to work, Doc? I'll zap you right here and now if I survive from a failed attempt," Electro warns, free from his bindings thanks to Kraven.
"Don't fret, you are going to enjoy it," New Goblin assures.
"And who are you supposed to be, psychotic weirdo?" Electro barked.
"For now, you can call me Goblin," New Goblin plainly answered, leaning onto a wall. "And you are not alone in taking down the Spider-freak. I've arranged a posse from Ryker's. It's supposed to be here by...now."
Near the facility, the sound of a speedboat can be heard as it speeds close to the pier area, which attracted the attention of Doc Ock, Kraven, and Electro. Stepping out of the boat were Rhino, Vulture, and Scorpion, leaving the boat's driver left to zoom away to avoid being conspicuous to the public as it bears a small logo saying Oscorp.
"Wow, talk about getting most of the band back together," Electro blankly commented.
"Uhhh, Electro yeah?" Rhino tries to remember his name.
"What kind of rundown place is this?" Vulture commented, looking around the facility.
"Give it time, Toomes, this is our temporary base of operations until we could acquire a far better headquarters," Doc Ock assures, taking Toomes' damaged flight equipment. "In the meantime, make yourselves home while meeting your benefactor over by the corner."
"Who are you supposed to be, shorty?" Scorpion hissed at Goblin.
"Just the person who broke your sorry butt out of prison. Why?" New Goblin retorted with a smirk under his mask.
"Why you…!" Scorpion growled with his tail prepared to angrily impale Goblin with it.
"A new companion has joined us yah?" Kraven notices.
"Yeah, and who are you supposed to be?" Scorpion hissed.
"Sergei Kravinoff, but now, I am Kraven," Kraven introduced.
"Wow, so you're another mutated freak created by that mad doctor from ESU, like me," Scorpion responded.
"Except, I have paid a hefty price in order to gain these superhuman abilities," Kraven adds.
"Gee, talk about business like those stinkin' millionaires," Scorpion hissed.
"Enough! We're all gathered and supposed to work together as a team with a common goal: eliminating Spider-man," Doc Ock reminds. "But as the news has enlightened us, he no longer patrols around the city alone, which is why we must set aside our differences in order to work towards our goal in defeating Spider-man and his allies."
"Hmph,"Scorpion huffed in response.
"Whatever, as long as I get to squash that bug," Rhino grunted, slamming his fists together.
"I, Kraven, have no qualms with this...plan of yours," Kraven reluctantly agrees.
"As long as I could deal with that infernal Wallcrawler," Vulture accepts.
"Then shut up and listen to my orders if you want to find him faster. I have the current coordinates of Spider-man's closest allies," New Goblin replied, knowing full well about Bobby and Kitty's location and alter egos. "Surely he will come to carefully ensure the safety of the innocent and his own friends."
"Devious and ingenious, little Goblin, thank you for your generous assistance," Doc Ock manically thanked.
"Hey, the enemy of my enemy can also be my friend, am I right...or am I right?" New Goblin maniacally retorted, laying on top of his hoverboard with a smirk under his helmet.
—
A new day shines in Midtown High, with everyone waiting to receive their grades for their literature test results…
'Please lemme ace it, please lemme ace it…' Bobby fervently prayed, making Kitty facepalm in disappointment.
"You wouldn't be this jittery if you just studied, you know that right?" Kitty deadpanned with a smirk.
"Oh shut up alright!" Bobby barked back.
Suddenly, their English Literature teacher walks over to Parker's seat and hands him his test result.
"Well done Mr. Parker, perhaps science is not your only strength," says the teacher as she hands Peter his test with a huge "A" mark on it.
"Congrats Petey!" Liz congratulates, embracing his arm beside him—being his seatmate in their class subject.
"Thanks, I had the best tutor after all," Peter smirked, making Liz blush in response.
"Ooooh man," Bobby groaned, preparing for the worst to come.
"Better hope you still got some loose change, man," Kitty warns in a playful tone.
"Mr. Drake, try harder. Streetsmartness can only take you so far," the teacher commented as she hands in his test with only a huge "C+" mark on it.
"Ooooh nuts," Bobby groaned upon looking at his test result.
"Hey! At least you passed!" Kitty teased before receiving her test with a huge "A" mark on it.
"Hey bro, how much'd you get?" Hobie asks Bobby from the seat across him.
"This?" Bobby groaned, showing Hobie his results.
"Bummer, could've asked some help from me," Hobie suggests, showing his test with a huge "B+" mark on it.
"Not bad, Hobie," Kitty comments.
"Thanks, how about you?" Hobie wonders, making her show her test with a huge "A" mark on it, making him shrink in his seat. "Nevermind…"
After everyone's gotten their test results and classes were dismissed after listening to their teacher's lecture that is introducing a new lesson, Peter and Liz walk over to Bobby, Kitty, and Hobie with eager looks on their faces.
"Soooo, bro, how much did you get?" Peter slyly wondered with a smirk.
"Come on Bobby, be honest," Liz adds.
"Agh, all I could say is...let's hang out by that ice cream parlor five blocks away, just a block away from the theater before MJ's show tomorrow. How about that?" Bobby nervously answered.
"Sounds like a plan," Liz responded with a smirk.
"That settles it then," Peter adds, making Kitty hold her laughter in response.
"Hey, mind if I come with you guys?" Hobie, who stayed behind chatting with the two mutants, asked eagerly.
"Of course! See you there then?" Peter responded, with his fist reached out to Hobie.
"Aw' right!" Hobie bumps his fist before motioning him to lend him an ear. 'Dude, does Liz know about you?'
"Well, yeah?" Peter plainly replied, thinking that Hobie's referring to his secret identity.
"Say what…?!" Hobie hysterically reacted before looking around if there were other classmates watching from afar.
"What's wrong, Hobie?" Liz wondered.
"I-it's nothing, just, thinking about whether or not I should tell you something about a secret I got," Hobie answered.
"Come on! Wait, do all of you know?" Liz interrogated, looking at Peter, Bobby, and Kitty, who nodded in response. "Hey that's not fair! C'mon, tell me, I bet it isn't that big, is it?"
"Well, it depends on how you react to it," Hobie responded.
"Oh please, I bet it can't be that big compared to what Petey's got," Liz points out, snuggling up to Peter's shoulder.
"Oh yeah? Then let's see about that by tomorrow," Hobie warns with a smirk. "How's that sound?"
"Whatever Hobes," Liz responded playfully, not noticing Bobby and Kitty hiding their grins, imagining how she'll react later on.
—
"Harry, are you sure you don't want to come with us? I mean, I can, but why can't you?" Gwen asks over the phone, wondering why Harry lets her go while he can't.
"Babe, things have gone hectic back at Oscorp after what that Spider-freak exposed," Harry replied over his built-in communicator that holds his closest people's contact number, wearing his armor and helmet while deactivating his voice-disguiser, talking in a dim room. "Menken was being helpful and all, but he needs a hand with things back home, so I can't come, sorry."
"Oh...okay...sorry I asked…" Gwen trailed off in a sad tone.
"Bye babe, gotta go," Harry bade before turning off his communicator and reactivating his voice-disguiser upon noticing Kraven getting his attention from the doorway.
"Goblin, what is it that you are doing here, alone?" Kraven asked in a strict tone.
"Nothing, just somebody I had to deal with," New Goblin replied before hovering over to Kraven atop his hoverboard. "How's the doctor and the 'human eel' friend of ours?"
"Almost done, the team can't wait to hear our plans to deal with our prey," Kraven responded.
" 'Our' plan, huh?" New Goblin wondered from his choice of words before entering the main room with the rest.
"Maaan, why do Vulture get them upgrades? Where's my take!" Rhino roared in an agitated and jealous tone upon noticing the new look of Vulture.
"Oh this is nothing, Rhino my boy. Just a little gift from an unknown somebody," Vulture smirked.
"Well, even though I could repair them, it is certainly not me who gave them," Doc Ock replied while tinkering with his devices controlling the contraption designed for Electro.
"Uhhhhh Doc, are you sure this is safe?" Electro asked with concern, wearing a new black spandex suit and hooked to machines with tesla rods.
"Yes Electro. The procedure won't be too painful, but it also won't be painless. Not to worry however, because it will all be worth it for you," Doc Ock assures while monitoring the machines' controls.
"Tch, we're wasting time sitting around. My tail's itchin' to impale that bug already!" Scorpion groaned angrily.
"Hey! I get dibs on impalin' the spider!" Rhino angrily protested.
Suddenly, a trio pumpkin chakram by the annoyed New Goblin, startled the two savage thugs out of their anger.
"If you two imbeciles have the energy to fight, then save it for the Spider-freak and his 'freaky friends' unless you wanna go back in your cold tight jail cells," New Goblin scolded, crouching atop his hoverboard. 'After busting my back to break you guys out both legally and illegally, I should have thought this through more….!'
"Grrrgh," Rhino growled before walking away and leaving Scorpion alone.
'Gee, I wonder if this plan could even work,' New Goblin wondered before noticing Doc Ock's machine seeming to go out of control, with Electro wired in place.
Electro's screams resounded in the base while the contraption got overloaded with Electro's erratic energy, so much so that the controls monitoring the process were fried. In the split of a second, the machine wired to Electro exploded along with him, causing a strong pressurized impact towards everyone in the room while leaving a cinched crater on Electro's spot. In a fit of rage, New Goblin grabs Doc Ock's neck before he could react and pins him against the wall.
"What happened to Electro!" New Goblin angrily barked.
"Igh….I...it was supposed...guh, to be a success….!?" Doc Ock replied, struggling to break free from his grasp.
"Look over there!" Vulture points to the crater, causing New Goblin to turn around and drop the evil genius from his hand.
Along the cinched areas of the crater, strands of sparking electrical currents slowly manifest around the area and converge at a certain point before merging together into an entity made of pure electrical energy, donning Doc Ock's black insulating suit.
"Wait wait wait, is that the same guy?" Rhino wonders in fear.
"Max, is that you?" Doc Ock calls out.
"For the hundredth time….I am….Electro!" says the light blue-skinned entity made of pure electricity. "And maaaan, I am digging this new look!"
As his excitement escalates, the dead lamps and bulbs inside the various areas of the facility pop and shatter due to his immense power, making Electro break a smile.
"Now, I am like a god...the master of electricity!" Electro laughs maniacally with his erratic electric power leaking out.
"Max—Electro! Please! Calm down, we're all still here!" Doc Ock orders.
"Hrrgh, why do I still have to take orders from you when I could easily make myself a bug barbecue, alone," Electro hissed.
"Because...you still need time to get used to your new form," Doc Ock replies. "You can go, but not without our company. The Wallcrawler has a team, and you alone are incapable as you're susceptible to the weaknesses electricity has."
"Grrrgh, fine," Electro hissed before suppressing his energy in his new insulating suit.
'Hehehehehe, Spider-man, watch yourself. It won't be long now,' New Goblin laughed in his thoughts.
—
"It's already 4 o' clock, and I'm still waiting," Liz groaned, waiting atop a building as Peter promised to meet with the others.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, miss," Peter joked while donning his Spider-man costume as he landed from behind on a ledge, startling Liz in the process.
"Whoa! Spidey! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Liz screamed.
"Hehe, sorry 'bout that," Spider-man apologized.
"Hey hey, are we late?" Bobby yells as he appears from the stairway with Kitty.
"Wait, you guys are here, but where's Hobie?" Liz wondered before hearing sounds of metal rubbing on brick and followed the sound behind her.
Suddenly, a green clad man in a violet mask lands on the ledge, wearing a violet cape, along with violet greaves and gauntlets. He startles Liz with his menacing appearance as he slowly walks over to her and then equips his retractable claws while coming closer and closer.
"P-P-Petey! W-w-who is that!? A friend of yours!?" Liz reacted hysterically while hiding behind him, making Kitty and Bobby barely holding in their laughter as did Peter.
"K-k-k— okay Hobie! That's enough! It's enough!" Spider-man begged, barely holding in his laughter and getting Liz all confused from shock.
"Aw bro, seriously! I was just getting started!" Prowler cried using his built-in voice disguiser, retracting his claws in disappointment.
"H-huh?" Liz looks over to notice the masked person unmasking his face, revealing his identity as Hobie Brown, their classmate. "Wait, Hobie!? Is that you!?"
"Is there anyone else like me?" Hobie joked with a smirk.
"Are you freaking kidding me!? Okay, does anybody else in our class have secret identities like you guys!?" Liz hysterically demanded in a sassy way with her hands on her waist, making everyone exchange awkward looks, wondering if anybody else does other than Hobie.
"Hey, don't blame us for not knowing. They are called 'secret identities' for a reason," Spider-man shrugged as he removed his mask, infuriating his girlfriend with his vague answer.
"It's just not fair, you guys lookin' cool in tights,'' Liz joked with a smirk, stroking Peter's spandex suit before turning to Hobie with a curious question. "So Hobie, what's your power anyway? Got something special?"
"Nope," Hobie quickly replied.
"No way," Liz denies. "You sure 'bout that?"
"Yes! I'm serious," Hobie replied, showing his suit and everything, along with his utility belt, gauntlets, and greaves.
"Wait wait wait, where'd you get all that stuff!?" Liz asks upon looking at all that Hobie's got.
"Um, some things I made in my spare time?" Hobie shrugged.
"Dang bro, you could kill a lot of tech industries with all that gear," Bobby joked.
"Sorry man, but the suit and everything are not for sale," Hobie protested in a joking tone.
"Better, wouldn't want these to fall into the wrong hands, am I right?" Peter joked.
"Well obviously, they're a part of me too bro!" Hobie answered hysterically, making Bobby, Kitty, and Liz laugh out loud.
"Man, all this laughing got me famished. And as promised, I got us all the sweet stuff, all still cold!" Bobby smirked, showing a plastic bag full of ice cream sandwiches, kept cool in the Iceman's freezing hands.
"Ooh! You got chocolate ones in there?!" Liz wondered.
"Hit me with the caramel one!" Hobie asked.
"Is there cookies 'n cream?" Peter asked.
After everyone finished their ice cream sandwiches, they quickly made their way to the theater near the Allans' hotel and then got themselves ready for the event, especially Hobie and Peter, who were still donning their costumes and changed back into their civilian clothes. And meet with the rest of the guys that Mary Jane invited, namely: Flash, Sha Shan, Glory, Gwen, Randy, Sally and Kenny. But unknown to them, the grumpy mutant guardian Logan, was watching over them from a nearby bar like a worried parent.
"Hey! You guys made it!" Glory exclaimed before embracing Bobby, catching him off guard and surprising the four of them while angering a jealous King Kong.
"Bobby, since when did Glory get a soft spot for you?" Peter joked.
"Don't look at me! I am clueless just as you are!" Bobby replied back before being dragged into the theater by Glory while avoiding eye contact with Kenny.
"Hey, Puny Parker! What happened to the whole Bugle job of taking photos!" Flash sarcastically remarked, making Sha Shan cringe at his usual immature remark.
"Well, let's just say I hoped I don't have to tonight," Peter confidently replied as he looked into Liz's eyes with content, leaving Flash somewhat speechless.
"Hi Pete," Gwen greeted from behind Sha Shan.
"Gwen! Glad you could make it!" Peter exclaimed before embracing her into a quick side hug, unknowingly making Liz turn her gaze away to hide her jealousy. "Wait, where is Harry?"
"...Well, like you told me to do. I tried to reach him, but ever since that news on Oscorp was circulated around New York, it took a huge toll on the company, or at least that's what he says…" Gwen trailed off in a sad tone. "Guess that really took a huge toll on him. I'm sorry Peter. I know Spider-man nor the police don't mean any harm... it's just that the truth really hits hard on him, I mean...us…"
'Gwen….' Peter sighed in his thoughts.
"Anyways, let's just put all that aside and enjoy tonight's play, sound good?" Gwen quickly suggests, changing the awkward atmosphere with a weak smile.
"Ah—um, ok...let's do that," Peter stuttered, gently taking Liz's hand as they all entered the theater.
However, both Peter and Liz know that they have to do something to cheer Gwen up after all the mishaps lately concerning her "boyfriend" and how he treated her less and less like an actual girl.
"Petey, I think...you should go and talk with Gwen this time," Liz suggests.
"Wait, Liz, are you sure about this?" Peter asks with concern.
"Do it for me, Petey. I've been through her condition, and the only antidote was you," Liz replied. "Be yourself around her or anything, I won't mind for tonight."
"Liz I—okay…" Peter trailed off, heeding her words.
After everyone enters the spacious theater and gives their tickets to the box office, they find their seats along the middle rows in the theater house. Sitting along the seats at the edges were Peter, Hobie, Bobby, and Kitty—letting Gwen sit next to Peter to help her. Sha Shan then sits beside Hobie while Flash sits beside her, giving Hobie the jealous look, even though he has yet to date Sha Shan. Glory also sits beside the coolheaded Bobby and ogles at the awkward look he gives at her, with Kenny sitting beside her, only to be shooed aside for Randy to sit between them, which makes Kenny glare daggers at Bobby. Lastly, Sally and Liz, who've been best friends for as long as they can remember, sit together beside Kitty while noticing how Peter is sitting next to the girl that broke her Liz's heart. While the show has yet to begin, they all have some small talk….
"So Lizzy, why is your geeky guy sitting next to someone?" Sally wondered with her arms crossed.
"I think only Petey can get through to Gwen's walls. Don't you see how sad she is?" Liz points out.
"But don't you see you're giving her the upper hand, Lizzy?" Sally retorted back.
"It's just how Petey is, I know he is better, better than Flash at least," Liz groaned at the last bit.
While Liz and Sally are having a "friendly" quarrel, Peter awkwardly sits stiffly next to Gwen, who also feels tense from the atmosphere between them until Peter breaks the ice…
"Whew, hot enough for ya?" Peter joked, airing his t-shirt.
"Uh—yeah, kinda warm around here," Gwen tried to playfully respond.
"Hehe, yeah...so um, Gwen, how were things between you and Harry?" Peter quickly asks. "I know it's bad for me to trouble you with his stuff, but I'm also worried for my best friend."
"Pete, I wish I could tell you, but Harry's been very secretive lately, and it scares me, a lot…but I'm afraid he might flip out on me if I break it off with him and his unstable feelings," Gwen moped, keeping her voice from sobbing and hugs herself. "I...I just don't know what to do…"
Suddenly, Peter grabs her by the shoulders with a serious look into his eyes…
"Gwen, I know I haven't been the kind of friend who seems reliable and, well, friendly at times….and I am really sorry about that. I just don't want to see you looking like this while I'm living the dream…" Peter trailed off.
"Thanks Pete," Gwen thanked with a weak smile, drying her wet eyes with her wrist while slowly caressing his hand on her shoulder. "But, you've always been the most reliable guy to me. You just have lots of stuff keeping your mind preoccupied. I'm just glad...that you remember me and Harry...right now."
"Gwen, I'll never forget you...except, well, if I get distracted with things," Peter playfully admits, scratching his hind temple.
"That's the Peter I've always known," Gwen smiled with content, captivating his gaze with her smile after a long time seeing her with a long face.
"Gwen...Gwen I—"
"Pst, dude, check your phone," Hobie interrupted in an urgent tone, making Peter check his phone with a message from Bobby.
'Dude, my grumpy friend Logan, remember him?' Bobby texted. 'He just texted me that he's spotted a mean-looking 'man-lion' prowling around the streets near our theater and followed him, only to get spotted by him and other weirdos. Bro, we gotta go and help him, now!'
Without saying a word, Peter looks at Bobby and nods at him as an answer before getting up from his seat.
"Gwen, I'm sorry, but my boss just texted to do some work for the Bugle and—"
"I know I know, it's okay. It's not me who you should apologize anyway," Gwen replied, looking at MJ on the stage, wearing her elegant costume for her upcoming play.
"Oooh maaan," Peter groaned, remembering his promise to Mary Jane.
"Lemme guess, job trouble?" Liz smirked with a raised eyebrow, overhearing Peter with him giving a nod as an answer.
"Let me come with you!" Kitty suggests.
"Nonononono, stay here and keep the others company for us," Peter replied, subtly implying that she is the heroine to protect the audience in the theater while he and the others are gone.
"But I want to help!" Kitty protested.
"You'll be a great help while we're gone, trust me," Peter immediately leaves, cutting her off while running with Hobie and Bobby towards the nearest exit.
"Great, just great, some friends we got," Kitty pouted with her eyebrows and arms crossed.
"Tell me about it," Liz adds musingly.
—
The three guys enter the boys' restroom to don their costumes quickly before trying to discreetly leave their belongings in their locked stalls and then stealthily get out of the restroom through the windows that could fit a whole man and meet just right outside the restroom.
"All right team! Tonight is a boys' night out!" Peter, now donning his Spider-man costume, rallied his two teammates.
"Time to knock some baddies down," Hobie, donning his Prowler outfit, grunted with a smirk, cracking his knuckles.
"And let's give 'em the chill pill," Bobby quipped with a fist pump, now in his translucent ice form while wearing a spandex t-shirt and shorts.
"Heck yeah! So, where is Logan's current location?" Spider-man asks.
"Lemme see," Iceman halts, pulling out his phone and scans around the built-in GPS developed by Forge, to get info on Logan's location. "Got it! He's two blocks away from our current position, coming from our left. I think they're here being the show stopper with how they're totally coming down the theater's address."
"But everyone else is still in it!" Spider-man exclaimed, feeling a sense of deja vu. "Let's move out!"
From there Spider-man swings and zips his way to Logan's location while Iceman and Prowler follow from behind atop Iceman's ice slide, hoping that they're not too late.
—
"Guhuagh!" Logan grunted as he was pushed back against the wall by Rhino's massive strength and size. "Bub, I am going to make you uglier than you ever were before."
Backed against the wall by the seven villains, he can only wait and stay passive with his adamantium claws, hoping that the mutant kids got his message.
"That ice cube better get here quickly, or else we'll have quite the throwdown," Logan thought out loud, maintaining his cool and energy.
"Pitiful mutant, any last words?" Doc Ock pitied with his tentacles arched like floating spearheads in front of him.
"Yeah, mind if I make octo balls out of you before I go?" Logan hissed, angering the eight-limbed evil genius.
"Why you—!"
Suddenly, before any of them could react, a concussive gas bomb exploded between them and the metal-clawed instructor, making them look up to see Spider-man, Iceman, and Prowler appear atop the building's ledge.
"Hey hey hey, Doc Ock! It's been a while, how are ya!? Quite the rowdy party you got there!" Spider-man quipped as he along with Prowler and Iceman jumped down to shield the tired Logan. "Luckily, I came with a party of my own."
"But we came extremely prepared," Prowler quipped with his built-in voice disguiser activated, pointing his dual mounted gas bomb launchers at the seven villains.
"Silly Spider, you think you can beat us once again. This time, you will fall before us! We are, the Sinister Seven!" Doc Ock proclaims.
"The Sinister Seven? Did you count wrong, doc? Who's the seventh addition?" Spider-man noticed.
"That would be me, you four-legged freak…!"
Suddenly, hovering over Doc Ock was none other than the New Goblin, aka Harry Osborn, with a new hoverboard and helmet after Spider-man destroyed the previous models.
"No…!" Spider-man denies. 'Harry, you gotta be kidding me…!?'
"Now then…" New Goblin trailed off.
"How is this gonna be…!?" Electro continued, in his all-new highlighted bluish appearance wearing a black spandex suit, levitating midair next to the New Goblin.
'Max?! What happened to him!? Wait, he can fly now!?' Spider-man thought with a sense of worry until Iceman taps him on the shoulder.
'Pst, so what's the game plan man?' Iceman whispered.
"Three words: Divide and Conquer! We'll keep them occupied to give Mr. Logan some breathing time while making sure the citizens have vacated the premises," Spider-man orders.
"Sounds good to me, take your pick bro," Prowler taps Bobby on the chest.
"I'm gonna go for…." Iceman then notices Electro and New Goblin in midair and smirks excitedly. "Hoho, dibs on those two!"
With haste, he lifts himself up with the blast of his ice beam and tackles Electro in midair and startles the New Goblin, making him chase after them and engage in combat with the ice mutant.
"My turn! Hey kitty kitty, wanna come play? Let's play," Prowler taunted before stepping over Kraven's shoulder and Rhino's back, inciting the rage of the angry hunter and the dimwitted brute to drag them far away from Spider-man.
"Okay, guess I'll just take—guhuagh!"
Careless from humoring himself, the Scorpion wasted no time in whipping Spider-man with tail and hitting him against the wall beside Logan.
"Now this time, I'm gonna make sure you stay down by myself!" Scorpion quipped.
"Let's just finish off this pest as quickly as possible. There are other things that I wish to fulfil after dealing with this bug," Vulture scolded.
"Oh you think you're so smart, do you, birdbrain!?" Scorpion barked back.
"Enough bickering you two! Our foe is—mmhpmhmph!"
"You guys need to chill," Spider-man quipped, webbing Doc Ock's mouth after lunging onto the wall.
"Bragh! Get him!" Doc Ock orders, leading the charge with Vulture and Scorpion following him from behind.
However, Logan regains his strength and pulls Scorpion's tail, making him lose his grip and fall on his feet with a menacing glare towards him.
"You're gonna pay for that, punk!" Scorpion growled as he fires acidic blasts towards Logan, who parried the blasts with his adamantium claws and slowly heals from the corrosive splashes on his skin.
"I'm not out of the woods just yet. I've fought slicker foes who were tougher than you, bub," Logan grunted, brandishing his claws. "You're nothing bigger like that bug-kid."
"Hey! I heard that! Whoa!" Spider-man protested while being pursued by Doc Ock and the Vulture, dodging mechanical arms and feather-like shrapnel shards on the rooftops.
—
"I'm going to fry you into nothing!" Electro roared as he hurled multiple bolts of electricity at Iceman, blocking his shots with a shield made of ice.
"Try this on for size!" Iceman then shoots an array of hail out of his icy body and hurls them at Electro and the New Goblin.
However, Electro's ability to materialize himself into pure electricity enables him to avoid all of the projectiles with ease.
"Keep him distracted! Don't let him escape!" New Goblin ordered, throwing razorbats and firing his wrist-mounted plasma blaster against his hail.
"Dude, stop it! This isn't you man!" Iceman pleaded to the angry New Goblin while dodging and shielding himself from his plasma blasts and flying razorbats.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" New Goblin roared as he stopped throwing his projectiles and decided to ram him with retractable stilettos on the tip of his hoverboard.
"Okay bro, you asked for it!" Iceman gave in as he forms a giant sphere of thick hardened ice that's about ten times the size of a bowling bowl and then uses it to shield himself from the sharp stilettos, destroying the hoverboard and lifting the Goblin off his feet until he hits a billboard so hard that it crashes down on him and renders him unable to combat. "Well that was easy."
"Eat lightning!" Electro barked as he fired a direct beam of electricity behind Iceman, shocking him with electrocuting pain, but surprisingly not enough to paralyze or incapacitate him as he held onto his knee. "Wait, what!? How are you still up!?"
"Dude...ugh—haven't you heard? Ice is an insulator, brooo…" Iceman panted and groaned from the shock while holding his gut. "Awww, oooh man, you did something to my insides."
"Grrrgh, eat lightning!" Electro roared as he fired two beams of electricity, with Iceman retaliating with a bigger ice beam while holding his ground...and aching gut.
"Ughh man…" Iceman groaned from the pressure while on his knees.
—
"C'mon big guy, show some hustle!" Prowler taunted, playing with his durable cape like a bullfighter, or in this case, a Rhino fighter.
"Grrrrraaagh!" Rhino then charges forward in a fit of rage, only to miss the short violet-masked fighter.
"Ole!" Prowler playfully yelled, flaunting his cape while dodging his fury by an inch before glancing at Kraven. "C'mon kitty, you know you want to play as well."
"Then, I, Kraven, shall spare no effort playing with you!" Kraven roared as he lunged onto Prowler with his sharp claws, only to partially scratch the durable thread of his cape over his arm. "Oooh, what interesting material…!"
"Much obliged, made it myself!" Prowler replied back before keeping his distance and firing a couple rounds of his gas bombs launched towards the agile Kraven until the fateful moment he had to reload his launchers. "Crud!"
There, Kraven lunges as quick as a leopard and a cheetah then manages to grab Prowler by his neck, lifting his feet off the ground with the strength of a lion.
"Hahahaha, any last words, little man, before Kraven sends you to the afterlife?" Kraven smirked, motioning Rhino to come running to his direction while holding the struggling Prowler in his hand.
"Urgh—yeah, smell this!" Prowler choked as points his gauntlet to Kraven's face and sprayed a gust of brownish gas right in front of him, causing him to be startled and dropping him to the ground.
As Prowler tries to catch his breath and notices the angry Rhino running towards him, he rolls his whole body out of the way while the coughing Kraven takes the full hit of Rhino's moving body and crashes into a nearby building so hard that it knocks him out instantly.
"Hehehe, not so smart huh,"Prowler quipped as he slowly tried to get back on his feet, but fell on one knee. "Aw man...that was quite the grip."
"Grrrrrgh!" Rhino then angrily runs and charges back to Prowler while he's tired out.
"This is going to hurt—!" Prowler thought out loud as he braced for impact, but only felt a strong gust of dust and rubble blasting on his face and body. "Huh?"
"What is this, this, this magic!?"
Prowler then looks over to notice the big horned thug stuck to the ground before getting back up on his feet, with only his head and half of his neck left on the pavement. After a moment of confusion, Kitty, who donned her Shadowcat costume, phases out of the ground behind Prowler and startles him for fun.
"Whoa! Kitty!? Wait, I thought you were—!?"
"Long story short: Liz was worried, I was worried, so I came to check on our behalf as to why you guys were taking too long for goodness sake, geez! The show was even good now that MJ was up and going back there!" Shadowcat screamed.
"Yeah, about that—"
"Don't say a word, I've already finished helping out Bobby and Mr. Logan, but where the heck did Spidey go?" Shadowcat wonders, looking around the scene of the battle.
"Ummmm…" Prowler trailed off.
"Grrgrgrh, when I get outta here, I'm gonna break yer skulls like peanuts!" Rhino exclaimed while struggling to get out of the ground.
"Watch this," Prowler says to Shadowcat as he points his gauntlet in front of the Rhino.
"Heh, what can your toy do to me!? That will do nothing but tickle me!" Rhino smirked.
"Oh, I wasn't aiming for your tough hide," Prowler plainly put, shooting a gust of brownish gas in front of his face, a gas that gives off a foul odor so strong that it caused the muscle-brained brute to faint.
"Ewww, what was that!?" Shadowcat asks while covering her nose and fanning the odor away.
"It's a homemade stink bomb, without the bomb," Prowler smirked.
"Waaagh—oof!"
Suddenly coming from behind them was Spider-man, slammed into a rooftop's ledge as the nefarious Doc Ock smirks along with the Vulture landing before the Wallcrawler.
"Agh, ooh man," Spider-man groaned before being slowly carried over the ledge by Doc Ock's mechanical limbs.
"We gotta save him!" Prowler orders running to save their teammate.
"I'm on it!" Shadowcat responds as she phases into the nearby building and then easily skips between the apartment floors with ease, slowly reaching the rooftop.
"Well Spider-man, any last words?" Doc Ock asks while holding Spider-man over more than three storeys high above the ground.
"That you need to get a better posse?" Spider-man quipped. "My friends are more than capable of dealing with your goons. I just urgh—need to catch my breath…!"
"Hahahaha, yet here you are, alone, against the both of us," Doc Ock remarked.
"Not for long!" Shadowcat yelled as she ran to the hanging Wallcrawler and then tackled him while phasing his hands out of the mechanical arms holding him, startling the evil genius and the Vulture in the process.
"Oh shoot, we're going to be pancakes!" Spider-man panicked while freefalling with Shadowcat.
"Just trust me!" Shadowcat assures while embracing his neck and freefalling with him to the pavement, only to phase through it and soften their landing somewhere underground.
"What on earth!? Oof!" Doc Ock yelped from Shadowcat's stunt before a violet fist punched his lights out from behind.
Suddenly behind the eight-armed doctor and the winged villain, Prowler and Iceman stand firm with confident looks.
"Going somewhere?" Prowler remarked, raising his eyebrow underneath his mask with his arms crossed.
"Hey bird guy, you better chill right now or I will make you, but it won't be felt in a good way," Iceman warns with his hand ready to fire an ice beam.
"Okay okay! I surrender," Vulture pleaded with his pale downcast face looking at the ground.
"...Wastes…" New Goblin hissed as he quietly and quickly slips away from the scene to escape risking his identity.
—
Soon after, the police arrived quickly with the multitude of calls from civilians and prepared several prisoner trucks for the supervillains sedated by Spider-man and his team, along with the angry Logan—who just callously left the area.
"My goodness, things have gotten quite out of hand once again," George Stacy joked in a less humorous tone while scratching his hind temple. "Somebody was able to sneak these bad boys out of Ryker's under our noses, but no one else should be able to do that….unless that someone big has the guts to do so."
"Captain, you don't mean…" Spider-man trailed off.
"No, no, I too would rather not pin Oscorp on this mess. I hope I am doing the right thing, with Harry being Gwen's...you know," Captain Stacy trailed off, reading Spider-man's thoughts. "I bet you could really lend us a huge hand, Spider-man. You and your small group of friends."
"Psh, it's no biggie, Captain," Iceman assures, with Shadowcat cutely holding a "peace" sign.
"We're always here to help, Captain. You can count on it," Prowler replied, getting his nod in return.
Suddenly in the middle of their conversation, Captain Stacy's phone rang, making him pick it up and see the name "Gwendolyn" on it before answering the call.
"Gwen dear, sweetie, what's the matter?" Captain Stacy wondered.
"Dad? It's okay, nothing bad happened, just saying that I would like to return home in a bit. The play's nearly done," Gwen replied over the phone.
Upon hearing her reply, the four heroes exchange awkward and despaired looks, knowing that it might be too late to return.
"Okay sweetie, I'll pick you up in a bit," Captain Stacy replied.
"Love you, Dad," Gwen bade.
"Love you," Captain Stacy bade before ending the call and turning to the four despaired heroes. "Umm, I assume you guys are needed somewhere else? Just go, we can handle things ourselves from here on out."
"Th-thank you Captain, be careful!" Spider-man bade.
"Mind if I swing with you?" Shadowcat wonders in a cute tone.
"I don't mind! Call it as thanks for saving my life back there!" Spider-man replied back, holding Shadowcat's waist before swinging away while Iceman and Prowler follow them on a ice slide.
—
After they quickly returned just outside of the theater, they found their designated stall windows with their stuff left behind and swiftly changed into their civilian clothes before leaving the restrooms, only to be met with huge crowds of people inside both the men's and women's restrooms.
"Oh snap, did we just miss the entire show?" Bobby wondered out of shock, with Hobie nodding with a frown.
"Crud, I am sooo dead," Peter thought out loud.
—
"Tiger...I thought you promised you were going to see the show?" Mary Jane wonders, not amused by one of her best friends missing out on her big night with others.
"I'm sorry MJ, I'm sorry! My boss called and he—"
"Nevermind, save it, Tiger...just…" Mary Jane trailed off, turning her eyes away from Peter.
"Look, I'm really sorry MJ! It came unexpected, I'm serious!" Peter pleaded.
"Unexpected…" Mary Jane sighed while rubbing her forehead and sparing herself from showing her frustrations. "...Alright, you're forgiven, but that is one strike. Two more times, you're out."
"Wait wait, really? You mean it!?" Peter's face brightens up.
"Well, it's not like some serious deal anyway. I just hope you could still remember your friends, no matter who they are and who you are," Mary Jane plainly replied before noticing Mr. Devereaux getting her attention. "Gotta go, Tiger, duty calls."
"Y-yeah! See you, Red!" Peter replied back.
"Petey!"
"Peter!"
Coming their way were Liz, Gwen, and the rest of the group that were invited to watch the play with worried looks on their faces.
"Bobby! What happened man? Where'd you go?" Glory interrogated hysterically, walking up close to Bobby's face.
"Uuuhh, I uhhh, helped Spider-man? I have been called, and I have to answer, sorry," Bobby swore with his hand held high next to him.
"Hmmmm," Glory only raised an eyebrow with her hands crossed.
"Hobie, where have you been?" Sha Shan wonders.
"Sorry, I had a bad burrito for lunch," Hobie nervously replied. "I blew it up now though, all is well."
"Ewww, bro, keep that stuff to yourself," Flash commented.
"Thanks for the tip," Hobie groaned, making Sha Shan giggle from either his misfortune or other possible reasons for concealing the truth, which made Flash jealous from helping Hobie gain brownie points.
"Peter, you look pale, just what happened?" Gwen asked with a concerned look, holding his tense shoulder. "You don't seem like you were just taking pictures…"
"Yeeeaaah, hehe, there were times I get into a crossfire, so I had an adrenaline rush every now and then," Peter nervously replied, feeling guilty about concealing the truth about it.
"O-okay, Peter…" Gwen trailed off, with a feeling of relief just knowing Peter's okay before embracing Peter's sides for just a second, knowing Liz is watching them and giving them leeway to catch up and cheer up throughout the night to a certain extent.
"Pst, Liz, I'm gonna go ahead, take care," Kitty bade before leaving with Bobby and Logan outside of the theater.
"Ahem, shall we uh, get going?" Peter snapped back and suggested upon noticing everyone else leaving the theater, while Liz waited for them along the corridor.
"S-sure, Pete," Gwen responded, walking alongside him as they met up with the two other girls.
As they were about to leave the entrance and find the rest, Gwen stumbled onto something incredibly sticky like dried gum and checked her sneaker, which caught Peter's attention as well.
"W-what's wrong?" Peter wondered.
"Something sticky got on me, too sticky," Gwen answered as she looked at some small black gum-like substance on her sneaker's sole. "I think it's just blueberry gum or something, not a big deal. I can deal with it back home."
"O-okay, but you could ask Bobby some help later if you—!"
Suddenly, everyone except for Liz parted ways while they were having close heartfelt moments after a long time of isolation and separation.
"So, how are you guys with the catching up of things?" Liz wonders, showing no signs of animosity towards her boyfriend and love rival.
"D-doing great!" Both Peter and Gwen responded by surprise before exchanging confused and awkward looks. "I-I mean…"
Liz can only shrug and chuckle from their reactions. Afterwards, George Stacy's car arrives, telling Gwen that it is time to head home.
"Bye Pete," Gwen bade before getting into her father's car and leaving the theater.
"Yeah...bye…" Peter trailed off with a pitiful look before having his face lit up from Liz's hands holding his, along with her kind smile.
"Petey, I knew you could get through to her. Look how happy she's gotten after a long time!" Liz complimented. "Although uh, of course um, I do get kinda jealous with how genuine you were around her. So…."
Without hesitation, Peter embraces Liz tightly out of nowhere, warming her heart as she returns the embrace before looking into each others' eyes.
"Liz, don't sell yourself out short. You're much more than that," Peter replies.
"Thanks Petey, but remember, I'm just a regular girl. Unlike other people like Kitty, remember?" Liz points out.
"But Liz, isn't Gwen like—!" Peter then shuts up from Liz giving him "the look", indicating that that was not what she exactly meant. "L-Liz, c'mon."
"I just get worried sick about you, fighting and risking your life for others. I can't take it after knowing your other "you". I just wish I could help you somehow…" Liz trailed off before feeling Peter's hands holding and caressing hers.
"Liz, trust me, I got it. I can do it, especially with the others around, I can make it back in one piece. Besides, you do help me, assure me, and...encourage me," Peter assures.
"Alright Petey...now, would you be so kind enough to escort me home? It is just a few minutes of walking, enough time for you to head back home quickly," Liz winked.
"I would be so greatly honored, Ms. Allan," Peter quipped, letting Liz embrace and snuggle on his arm while walking her home.
However, unknown to Peter and Gwen, the gum-like substance she stepped on, slowly crept out of the theater house before travelling down the sewers.
—
'Eddie…'
'Eddie…'
"No, no more…you've left me! You've left me for the hate!"
In the Ravencroft Institute, Eddie Brock's currently having another anxiety attack after the past moments he's bonded with the ooze…
"Stoppit, stoppit, stoppit, no more!" Eddie screamed, while squirming around in his cell.
The noise caught the attention of the full-time psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Kafka, who opened and entered his cell. She's worried and anxious about Eddie's somewhat unstable condition.
"Mr. Brock! Mr. Brock! Wake up!" Dr. Kafka pleaded, only to be pushed back and startled from his aggression.
"Brock is gone! We are Venom! We will return, will...will…" Eddie groaned anxiously.
"Mr. Brock, wake up, please," Dr. Kafka pleaded, snapping Eddie out of his nightmare and anxiety attack.
"Ugh, huh? Oh sorry about that, doc," Eddie groaned after waking up from her voice, holding his head from his anxiety pangs as he sits up.
"It's okay Eddie, it's okay…" Dr. Kafka assures. "Is it...about that thing again?"
"Yeah, but it's nothing, really," Eddie answered.
"Hey boy! You better shut up or I'll shut you tomorrow!" says his neighbour from the adjacent cell.
"Brush off man, not in the mood," Eddie groaned.
"Mr. Kassidy, we can assure you that it is all over," Dr. Kafka replied, getting no response from the maniac next door.
"Thanks doc, I'm fine now, I can sleep now. Good night," Eddie bade as he slowly dozes off again.
"Okay then….good night Eddie," Dr. Kafka bade before discreetly leaving his cell to avoid disturbing him.
—
"Oh Peter…" Gwen mumbled while staring at their portrait together from the Midtown High's science contest.
She then lays down on her bed and looks at the ceiling, reflecting on tonight's event.
"I wish….I wish I could truly know what's on your mind, or just what were you going through..." Gwen thought out loud before closing her teary eyes to sleep for the night.
However, while she sleeps, the black oozy substance on her sneaker slowly crept over her bed and gradually envelops her in its grasp throughout the night while she slumbers.
—To be continued
A/N: Sorry, took a long while to finish this since it was another group battle and other events. Thanks for sticking around with me! Looking forward to more things with everyone reading this! God bless and take care!