It's time to finally get to the Lizard
Area 11
"You have no idea how many hoops I had to jump through, Spider-Man." Reed lamented over the phone.
"Tell me," Spider-Man said as he swung from building to building.
"Well, I've been working on that antidote of yours in secret, it's been terribly hard to keep it that way. All my work is monitored by the foundation so I had to fudge some of the paperwork."
Before Spider-Man could respond he spotted a kid about to cross a busy street and swung low, grabbed him, and pulled him back to the sidewalk. "Watch both ways next time kiddo." The child was in awe as Spidey swung away.
"What was that?" Reed asked.
"Sorry, just something on my end, have they found out about it?"
"Fortunately no, though I imagine they will eventually, I've taken precautions so you don't need to worry," Reed told him.
"Does the EU still see me as a threat? I thought after that one time in Italy…"
"They're...mixed? You have to admit that a masked vigilante is hard to trust, especially one from Britannia." Spider-Man groaned, he had to agree with Reed's reasoning.
"How goes the EU anyway, I know Britannia has been scooping up some areas close by." Reading the news has enlightened Miles on how dire the situation is.
"They're worried, very worried at the signs of open war. Prime Minister Schneizel has done well to create a sense of peace, but the higher-ups are nervous. But let's talk about the antidote, I just sent it today." Spider-Man perched himself on a roof.
"You shipped it? How did you ship it from Paris? I had a hard time getting it to you, had to disguise it, no way it would pass Area 11's postal office without raising a few eyebrows." Spider-Man had to disguise the blood sample as a donation to a blood clinic in Paris, with some help from Milly it was able to get through. He doubted a case of syringes from Paris would be met with the same lax screening.
"I happened to ask an associate of yours, be sure to meet them on Main Street in...10 minutes."
"10 minutes?! Thanks for the warning, I'll call you later Reed."
"See ya Spidey." Reed hung up the phone and Spider-Man dived off the roof to Main Street, luckily it wasn't that far away so he could afford to not hurry that much.
"Who came all the way to Area 11?" Spider-Man asked himself as he swung up to Main Street.
The night sky showed few stars in the sky, only the moon shone so bright in the sky. The streets were pretty empty, very few cars drove and a couple of them were police cars, he hoped he could take down Connors fast so people won't fear for their lives.
"Hey there kid, long time no see." Spider-Man whipped his head around to see where the voice came from.
A woman in black, white, and silver climbed over the ledge. Her hair, almost snow white, reached down to her back, her eyes were an emerald green.
"Cat." Of course, it was her, who else could sneak anything into anywhere without no one noticing.
"Oh, how formal of you," Felicia said, with a briefcase in hand.
"I didn't know you knew Reed," Spider-Man said.
"It helps to have friends in high places, Reed also tends to need things the EU doesn't have the reach to get so he employs me from time to time." Felicia walked to the ledge and sat down, with the briefcase by her side she watched the city.
"Enough about me though, how 'you holding up? Can't imagine moving away from the homeland has been entirely smooth. I hear you've been caught up with a number of things, not the least including big lizards." Spider-Man sighed and sat on the other side of the briefcase.
"It's been rough, having to balance between the Britannians and Japanese...dealing with the Viceroy and the Black Knights. But I've made some friends to make my time here worthwhile. How about you, what are you doing these days?"
Miles remembers the first time he met Black Cat, it was pretty early on in his career, just a few months after becoming Spider-Man. He was promptly met with a punch to the jaw when they met in the middle of a drug bust. Unsurprisingly, Felicia was pretty close to Peter, May said they used to date, so seeing a new Spider-Man so soon did not make her happy.
"Been taking jobs here and there, was living in Paris for a few months before I got bored and started to work again. Did some jobs in China, I really enjoyed the food there. Scammed some dumbasses out of their money. Y'know, the regular." Spider-Man only chuckled.
It took a while before Felicia got used to him being the new Spider-Man, a whole year to be precise. Shocker had just ambushed an armored car full of cash, it took a few hours for the commotion to die down but he had detained Shocker eventually. Felicia took the opportunity to take a few bags for herself, it was another hour of chasing her along the rooftops of New York. For whatever reason, Felicia stopped with a big smile on her face like she had been laughing.
'Been a while since I've had a good chase like that Spider.' Felicia dropped the bag after thanking him and leaving him confused, since then Felicia had been pretty casual with him. They were unofficial partners from then on out, teaming up to beat down gangs, swapping information to each other, and generally looking out for one another.
"Do you plan to retire any time soon?" Spider-Man asked.
"I'm in the prime of my life, kid, no way am I retiring now. Plus, I plan to do some work here before leaving back for Paris. You're pretty busy here so I'll try and steer clear of any of your business. Stay safe out there Spider, no one can give me a chase quite like you, it'd be awfully boring." Felicia stood back up, leaving the briefcase to him.
"I guess I'll see you around?" Spider-Man asked.
"For your sake? Let's hope not, catch ya later Spider." Felicia jumped off the roof and towards the high rises, probably off to take some noble's money.
"I guess it's time to make a call," Spider-Man muttered to himself as he dialed a private number.
"This is General Guilford of the Glaston Knights, who is it I'm speaking to?"
"It's your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, how are you this night Guily?"
"Oh, it's you, why are you calling this number?" The General did not sound pleased to hear from him.
"Well, I'll have you know I have the solution to our lizard problem with me now," Spider-Man gently slapped the briefcase enough to let the sound reach his ear-piece. "How about we meet tomorrow to formulate a plan?"
"That sounds acceptable, come to the Government Bureau tomorrow at noon, I'll let the Viceroy know in advance that you are coming."
"I'll hold you to it." Spider-Man canceled the call and lept from the building, he had a little bit of patrol to do before he was ready to call it a night.
Elsewhere in the Japanese ghettos, Zero entered one of their hideouts, a garage loaned to Ohgi when he was the leader of his small group. He met face to face with their new partner.
"I'm glad you came, I was wondering if you were going to blow me off." The Mandarin stood in an expensive-looking suit and the rings on his fingers slightly shone, a little too unnerving for Zero's liking.
"You're a benefactor for us, everything from you is taken into consideration. So, what is so important you wished to meet?" Zero stood close by, his cape covering most of him bar his helmet.
"I am honored. But, to the matter at hand...or rather, the lack of it." Zero looked at him, he could not see his face so it was difficult to understand what was going through his head, but it wasn't an issue with the Makluan rings.
"Lack of it?" Zero asked.
"For generations, my family has been on the search for artifacts of great power, my father was the last to find one but he could not find the last before he passed. The artifacts were these rings." The Mandarin flexed his fingers, the rings were of different colors but were ornately crafted. Small engravings were etched onto the sides of the rings, all consisting of mythical dragons.
"You said they have great power?"
"Yes, each ring has a function all their own, but combined together, they form an even greater power." The Mandarin clenched his fist and was bathed in an etheric light so bright Zero has to turn away from it. When the light dwindled where once was The Mandarin, stood a behemoth. Clad in black and yellow armor and standing a foot or two above him, was The Mandarin.
"That is…" Zero was at a lack of words.
"Speechless? I can't blame you, the awesome might these rings grant are truly breath taking. Do you see why I need the last? The set must be complete, and you will help me per our agreement." If the Black Knights didn't cooperate, he could simply let the viceroy know of their wayward prince. But he didn't need to know that right now.
"You say it is here, in Japan?" Zero asked.
"I felt it's use, someone has it here and it's only a matter of time before I learn who it is." The Mandarin shone once more and the armor disappeared leaving behind just the man.
"I will consider it, but our operation must come first. I won't waste our time and jeopardize our progress for your ring. I'm sure you understand?"
"Ha! I respect your authority. But when we do have a chance, I expect you will take the necessary precautions to take it."
"When the chance arrives, yes. I'm glad we can come to an agreement." Zero stuck out his hand and The Mandarin met him halfway in a shake.
"You have made a worthy investment Zero, expect some reinforcements to come your way. You pick up soldiers and idealists alike, they need a competent master or else your forces will be weak. Master Izo is an accomplished martial artist, he will whip up your soldiers into shape."
"I appreciate it."
The next day
The day was bright, and the plans for today was going to be rough. Spider-Man woke up bright and early today, unfortunate because he had class today. But taking care of Jacob Connors was too important to miss. He'd have to trust Milly to make a good excuse for it.
"Alright Cornelia, I'm here at the Government Bureau, where are you?" Spider-Man looked across the rooftops, while he didn't find the Viceroy, he did spot her pink colored sister. So he swung by and landed on the railing next to her, admittedly spooking her in the process.
"Hello there, Princess, do you mind pointing me in the direction of your sister?" Spider-Man asked.
"My sister is currently in a meeting, she's speaking with the police chief and her knights. She won't be out for another couple of minutes, so you must wait." Spider-Man huffed, a little annoyed.
"Do you mind staying...I have to ask something of you."
"What is it?" Spider-Man turned back to the princess, she didn't look that all enthusiastic.
"Your powers, the responsibility...how do you handle it?"
"Oh, um well, I didn't expect this conversation." Spider-Man rubbed the back of his head, put off by the sudden conversation topic.
"Please." Spider-Man relented, he sat down on the railing ready to have a talk.
"Alright. Well, when I got my powers you can imagine that having the proportional strength of a spider made me very cautious how I handle things."
"How so?" Euphemia asked.
"I have to be delicate, everything and everyone is a delicate piece of porcelain to me. I have to be extra careful, even to my enemies I have to be careful how much strength I use."
"You do?" The news surprised Euphemia.
"It's easy to think it's an on and off switch, but I have to live with this. I imagine you have to as well?"
"Wha-me?"
"No one asks me a question like this unless they're asking for advice. So what is it?" It was Spider-Mans turn to ask the question.
"I-" Before she could answer the door to the roof opened fast and Viceroy Cornelia finally arrived, with her Knight and Captain Stacy behind her.
"Apologies for keeping you waiting. Thank you, Euphemia, you may leave." The Sub-Viceroy looked to argue, but knew better and started to leave.
"We'll talk later, cool?" Spider-Man asked; Euphemia turned to nod before leaving.
"Talk?" Cornelia questioned, clearly protective of her little sister.
"What can I say, she's a great conversationalist. But we have something better to talk about, Connors." Cornelia let it slide, she could not disagree with the problem at hand.
"Yes, you have a solution?" Spider-Man raised the briefcase, holding the syringe Reed made for him. The only problem he had to deal with is how he was going to get past Connors scales.
"I also put a tracker on him last I saw him, I doubt he knows he still has it on him so let's turn it on and see where it leads us." Spider-Man tapped the side of his mask, a ping was sent out to the tracker.
"Last hit I got was near the Kawasaki docks. He's probably in the sewers, think the police can secure the area?" Spider-Man asked Captain Stacy.
"I can have SWAT teams there within the hour, we can set a perimeter but civilians could get in the way." Stacy said.
"Kawaski district is full of construction crews, we can evacuate them well enough." Cornelia added.
"If there are any stragglers I can find them and bring them your way. How are we looking at Knightmare support?" Spider-Man asked Cornelia.
"Many of my Glinda Knights are busy, but we'll have a small platoon of Knightmares to assist us. Do you expect us to need more?" Cornelia turned to him.
"He's strong, those scales are gonna be our biggest obstacle. If we can get rid of just one I can inject the syringe and he'll go back to normal." He had faith in Reed this would work, it had to.
"You have more...experience with these kinds of things, so I'll believe you. But if it doesn't, I won't hesitate to bring that monster down. Clear?" There it was, the cold military demeanor Cornelia had yet to show off. In all honesty he wasn't surprised, the faster Cornelia could get rid of Jacob by any means the faster she could return to her work dealing with the Black Knights.
"Crystal, but give me the chance, that's all I ask." Cornelia nodded, content with the decision.
"We should start moving out, Princess." Guilford alerted her.
"Agreed, send the notice out to the selected platoon, Stacy start your SWAT teams, and Spider-Man...do what it is you do." Cornelia stumbled her words, Spider-Man could only chuckle.
"I'll see you in Kawasaki!" Spider-Man turned towards his destination and swung off. It was time to go lizard hunting.
Part 1 of Operation Lizard Hunt is done, glad to have another chapter done. And I see not many of you really enjoyed my April Fools joke, which is disappointing. That aside, next chapter is where we finally take down Jacob Connor...and maybe we'll see a few others. Check next chapter to find out what I have in store for our wonderful webslinger!
Update 4/9/21: Changed Stacey to Stacy