Chapter 5: Natural Selection
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Now I know these last ones didn't have much improvement but that's because I needed to get the ball rolling for the good stuff. I think you'll really like this next one. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was late at night in New York City as some burglars were breaking into a bakery.
"Alright take all the cash from the register but don't eat anything. Auntie Em's my great Aunt." One said.
"Wow, steal from the piggy bank but leave the cookie jar alone? Nephew of the year folks." Turning around the tree of them saw Spider-Man by the door.
"Spider-Man? Get him!" The leader orders.
"Oh come on fellas is that the best you got?" Spider-Man leaps out as the criminals come after him.
As one swings a crowbar Spider-Man dodges causing him to break a hole in the glass window.
Leaping up Spider-Man kicks him right when a flash goes off.
"Come on guys at least make this look tough." As the second one charges in Spider-Man fires a web inside and pulls out a pie hitting him in the face.
When the last guy tries to make a run for it Spider-Man fires a web tying him up.
"Sorry no hit and run folks." Spider-Man said tying the three criminals up as another flash goes off.
Looking up he saw a digital camera attached to one of his webs.
"Hopefully one of those will get me the job." Spider-Man said crawling up to get it when a hand reaches in and yanks it up.
Gasping Spider-Man looks to see Batman holding his camera.
"Hey Bats…good to see you again." Spider-Man gulps.
"Mind telling me what this is all about?" Batman asks.
"Uh pictures for the Daily Bugle contest." Spider-Man said jumping up.
"So you're a sellout?" Batman asks.
"What? No I'm not a sellout." Spider-Man said.
"You're trying to sell pictures of yourself to make money." Batman said causing him to freeze.
"Okay maybe that sounds right." Spider-Man sighs. "Please give me my camera I need the money."
"Is money all that matters to you?" Batman asks.
"No, but without money I don't have much of a future." Spider-Man said.
"You call yourself a hero? Pathetic." Batman said.
"Hey in case you didn't see I just stopped that robbery." Spider-Man points.
"Yeah and you damaged the site and almost let one get away." Batman said.
"But I didn't. Look I'm not trying to do this to be famous. I mean the Bugle wants money for pics of Spider-Man and I can get them easy so I figured I could save the day and make money at the same time, pretty smart right?" Spider-Man asks.
"Being a hero isn't about doing what's smart. It's about doing what's right because it's right and that's the only reason you need." Batman glares.
"Why are you even here? I thought Gotham was your stomping ground." Spider-Man asks.
"It is, but right now it's clear that you're not being the best hero you can be." Batman said tossing him his camera.
"Thanks for the life tips, but I gotta go." Spider-Man said about to walk away.
"I thought you were smarter than that Jaden." Batman said causing Spider-Man to pause.
"Y-You know?" He asks.
"Everything." Batman smirking at him. "I see it in your eyes, the reason you put on that mask. A horrible memory and a promise."
"With Great Power comes Great Responsibility. That's my promise." Spider-Man sighs.
"Wise words, you have the power but right now you're not being responsible with it. You can be better than this, be very responsible but I can't help you if you won't be willing to change. You're doing that mask justice and this Daily Bugle thing isn't helping. What are you going to do?" Batman said.
"I'll think about it." Spider-Man said.
"You have 48 hours. I expect an answer by then." Batman orders.
Firing a web, Spider-Man swings away to head home un sure what his choice should be.
Meanwhile at Doctor Conners home, Kurt and Martha open the door to see Billy fast asleep with a book about lizards on his chest.
"He's reading about lizards?" Kurt asks.
"He wanted to know about the ones at the lab." Martha yawns. "He's a Conners."
"Come on, lets go to bed." Kurt said.
At Jaden's house, he was laying on his bed looking at the photos he took. Unfortunately the flash bounced off the windows.
"Ugh these are useless." Jaden groans putting it down.
Looking to his bedside table, Jaden saw a picture of a young him with his parent before picking it up.
"What do you think dad? Am I even doing the right thing?" Jaden asks but knew he'd never get an answer. "Alright, alright I'll really think about it."
Taking off his suit, Jaden changed into his pajamas before noticing the batarrang on the desk and instantly Jaden narrows his eyes.
"Hey don't judge, this isn't easy you know." Jaden said before turning off the light and going to bed.
Back at the Conners Residence, Kurt was tossing and turning in his sleep as he started to sweat before waking up groaning in pain.
"Kurt what is it?" Martha asks before Kurt let out a scream as a right arm regenerated onto him.
Panting heavily, Kurt looks at himself in the mirror before smiling. "I don't believe it."
Turning around Martha saw her husband had his arm back.
"I don't believe it." Martha gasps before hugging him.
"It worked, it really worked." Kurt smiles.
"What worked? Kurt don't tell me you used that lizard thing." Martha said.
"Some lizards can regenerate lost limbs." Kurt said.
"And some stick to walls and eat raw meat that doesn't mean you should—"
"Martha look at the results." Kurt interrupts. "Look at what this means for me, for everyone. We can literally heal millions!"
"Mom? Dad?" Looking to the door they saw Billy woke up.
"Hey partner!" Kurt smiles picking his son up.
"Whoa dad! You're arm?" Billy smiles.
Smiling Kurt hugged his family happier than he's ever been.
The next day at Midtown High, classes were over as Jaden was at his locker.
Little did he know Flash was nearby with a ton of water balloons.
"By the time he realizes what happened Jaydumb will be a wet rat." Flash chuckles throwing one at him.
As if on cue Jaden's spider-sense went off causing him to open his locker blocking it.
"Grr. Dumb luck." Flash growls when Jaden looks over.
"Really Flash? Water balloons?" Jaden asks when Flash threw another hitting him in the face and so many laugh at him.
"Hey classics are that way for a reason." Flash laughs when Gwen walks over to Jaden. "Hey geekette move."
"And if I don't?" Gwen asks.
Smirking Flash threw a water balloon at Gwen and almost instantly Jaden yanks the lid of a trash can and blocks it.
"Hey!" Flash snaps.
"You know what Flash it's one thing to pick on me, but you do not pick on my friends." Jaden said.
"Oh yeah what are you gonna do about it?" Flash asks throwing a water balloon but this time Jaden catches it surprising him. "What the?"
"This!" Throwing it with all his might Jaden smashes the water balloon into Flash's face knocking him to the ground soaking him making Flash the focus of all the laughter.
"Wow Jaden." Gwen said amazed.
"Come on we're gonna be late." Jaden said leading her out.
"What was that? I thought you just sat there and take it?" Gwen asks.
"Yeah if it's just me. No way I was gonna let Flash pick on you." Jaden said.
"Well aren't you a knight in shining armor." Gwen giggles causing Jaden to smile.
"Now if only I could solve my other problems that easily." Jaden said.
"No Spider-Man pics? Jaden maybe you should just give that up. I mean you and your mom aren't broke you've got time to save for college if you try hard enough." Gwen suggests.
"Maybe. This is becoming impossible." Jaden sighs.
Arriving at the lab, they saw Eddy cleaning up after the mess with Electro.
"Hey about time you guys showed up. Grab a broom the Conners will be back any minute." Eddy said.
"Cleaning will have to wait. First we celebrate." Kurt said pushing in a cart with cake on it.
"Ooh cake." Gwen smiles.
"Chocolate." Billy and Martha said.
"Sweet, free food." Jaden smiles.
"What's the occasion?" Eddy asks when Kurt shakes his hand shocking him. "Y-Your arm? Your right arm?"
Shocked a big smile forms on all their faces.
"And I thought me hitting Flash with a water balloon was gonna be the big thing today." Jaden smiles.
"Wait Flash Thompson?" Eddy asks interested.
"Oh yeah." Gwen nods.
Hours later, as they celebrated Eddy and Kurt were arm wrestling and Eddy won.
"Yeah!" Eddy cheers before realzing what happened. "Oops uh sorry sir."
"What are you kidding? Do you know how thrilled I am to lose in arm wrestling?" Kurt smiles.
"Doc, this is huge. Your lizard formula is the cure for every lost limb and amputation in the world. We are talking guaranteed Noble Prize." Eddie smiles.
"Hang on Eddie. Bad enough my husband used himself as a guinea pig." Martha said when she noticed something up with Kurt. "Uh Billy, Eddy installed Space Wackos 2 on the office computer if you wanna play."
"Wackos? Wicked." Billy smiles going to the office.
"If you're gonna crank the volume close the door please." Martha said as Billy closed it before turning to her husband. "Kurt take off your shirt."
"What are you kidding? It's freezing in here." Kurt said but Martha glared at him telling him to do it. "Okay."
Standing up, Kurt took off his lab coat and shirt revealing something up with his skin. All over were scattered…lizard scales.
"Uh are those what I think they are?" Jaden asks.
"What?" Kurt asks.
Almost immediately the party was over as they got to work and the scales and Kurt started to expand.
"Lizard DNA is more primitive than human and the reptilian part of your brain is growing." Martha said as Kurt started to cringe in pain.
"It's growing. I can feel myself regressing." Kurt growls.
"Calm down sweetie. You need to keep a clear head." Martha said worried.
"No, you need to hurry. I can feel the change." Kurt growls as his eyes turned green.
Looking at this Jaden cringed in horror seeing what was happening to him.
"The formula is creating more lizard cells faster than I can ID them. I don't know how we'll ever get them all." Eddy said.
"What if we went from the other angle? Instead of focusing on reptile we go for human and work on filtering those so we can knock out the lizard stuff." Jaden suggests.
"Would that work?" Eddy asks.
"Yes, yes that might work. A Gene Cleanser." Martha said.
"Of course. My notes will have all the data we need." Kurt growls.
"So it can remove any non-human DNA." Gwen realized while Jaden paused.
If he took one it could even remove his if he wanted to.
However when he looked around Jaden noticed Billy listening in.
Making his way to the back he saw Billy working on the computer.
"Billy, uh how much did you hear?" Jaden asks.
"I don't wanna talk about that." Billy said.
"What do you wanna talk about?" Jaden asks.
"Is my dad gonna be okay? I don't wanna lose him." Billy asks worried.
Frowning Jaden puts a hand on his shoulder. "Billy, I lost my dad not too long ago and I promise I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure you don't lose yours."
"Your promise?" Billy asks.
"I promise." Jaden nods.
"Pinkie promise?" Billy asks holding it up.
"Pinkie promise." Jaden said as they pinkie swore.
Suddenly they heard Kurt groan in agony.
Peeking outside they looked in horror to see Kurt start to grow claws.
Kurt." Martha said worried.
"I've made…a terrible mistake." Kurt said before letting out a scream as his entire body turns into a giant Lizard.
"Kurt…Kurt do you recognize me?" Martha asks when the Lizard lets out a roar and starts trashing the lab.
"Doc please we just wanna help!" Eddy said trying to stop him but the Lizard swats him away with his tail.
Acting quickly Jaden pushes Billy out of the way as Eddy crashes into him.
Roaring the Lizard leaps through the window and into the city.
Groaning Eddy gets up before helping Jaden.
"You guys work in the Cleanser. I'll follow the Doc and if I find him I'll call!" Eddy said.
"I'll go too. It's better to have two sets of eyes than one." Jaden said.
"Jaden this isn't like standing up to Flash this is a real monster." Gwen said worried.
"I know, but I'll be careful." Jaden said as he and Eddy ran out.
"You go that way! I'll go this way!" Jaden points.
"Be careful Jaden!" Eddy said as they split up.
Almost immediately, Jaden runs down an alley and changes into Spider-Man.
Firing a web Spider-Man swings into the air.
"Now where is he?" Spider-Man asks when he heard a commotion coming from the subway. "Of course."
Down below at the subway station, people were running for their lives as Eddy tried to get in.
"Keep going, don't stop until you're all the way out!" Eddy urged.
As the Lizard was ripping apart everything one girl tried to hide in a corner when she suddenly felt some drool dripping down.
Looking up she gasps in horror to see the Lizard about to chomp down on her.
"Hey! You know the rules! No eating in the Subway!" Spider-Man said firing a web and yanking the Lizard away.
Getting up the lizard throws a ticket booth at him but Spider-Man dodges it and fires a web making the Lizard trapped against the wall. "Come on Dr. Conners. We gotta get you back to the lab." Spider-Man said but the Lizard ripped the webs off forcing Spider-Man to jump back.
Growling the Lizard broke free and swung his claws knocking Spider-Man towards the train tracks.
"Man Doc you pack quite a punch." Spider-Man groans when he sees the Lizard crawling on the ceiling. "Hey that's my thing!"
As a train arrives Lizard swings in and kicks Spider-Man into a column.
"Next Stop the Bronx!" The announcer said as Eddy ran in while the Lizard hopped on the train.
"Good thing Batman isn't here to lecture me right now." Spider-Man said getting up and firing a web so he can land on top of the train.
Roaring the Lizard turns to face him.
"Bring it on!" Spider-Man said charging in.
As the Lizard swings his claws Spider-Man ducks under and kicks him in the chest making him stagger back.
Moving in Spider-Man delivers a few more punches hitting the Lizard multiple times but when he threw the last one the Lizard caught it.
"Uh oh. This is gonna hurt." Spider-Man said as the Lizard swings knocking Spider-Man back to the edge but when he got up he was gone.
"Where did he—" Before he could finish his Spider-Sense went off as the Lizard ripped a hole in the compartment under him and swings a left hook knocking Spider-Man into the air.
Flying backwards Spider-Man tumbles to the ground as the Lizard gets away.
"Ugh I'm gonna need a new plan." Spider-Man groans.
At the lab, Martha and Gwen had just finished up the cleanser.
"Are we done?" Gwen asks.
"I think so. It all squares with Kurt's research, but there's only one way to test it and since Kurt's…hide is so thick we'll have to somehow get him to drink it." Martha said.
"Maybe I can help." Spider-Man said crawling in.
"Spider-Man? How'd you know we needed you?" Gwen asks.
"Uh I ran into this guy who was running around like crazy talking about a giant Lizard on the run." Spider-Man said.
"Jaden." Gwen smiles instantly when the phone rang and Martha put it on speaker.
"Hello?" Martha asks.
"It's me. He's at the Bronx Zoo, but I lost sight of Jaden." Eddy said.
"I hope Jaden's okay." Gwen said worried.
"Tell your friend to stay clear I'll see what I can do." Spider-Man said taking a Cleanser.
"Was that who I think it was?" Eddy asks.
"Our friendly neighborhood hero." Martha said. "Gwen I'm gonna go help. Can you watch Billy?"
"Sure." Gwen said but when she entered the room she saw Billy was gone. "Oh no."
At the Zoo, Eddy was waiting patiently when Spider-Man leaps in behind him.
"Hey." Spider-Man said startling him.
"Whoa." Eddy said.
"Yeah I get that a lot. Where is he?" Spider-Man asks.
"In there." Eddy points to the Repltile House.
"Of course." Spider-Man said slowly making his way. "Be careful and if the Lizard sees you, run."
"Okay." Eddy nods.
Slowly making his way in Spider-Man fired a web to set up his camera before looking to a big lagoon.
"Hmm where is he?" Spider-Man asks when his Spider sense went off.
Bursting out behind him, Spider-Man saw the Lizard whack him to the ground.
Looking to the cleaner, Spider-Man latches it onto his wrist before taking a fighting stance.
"Come and get me Lizard Brain." Spider-Man taunts.
Roaring the Lizard charges in but Spider-Man fires a web up and swings in kicking him in the chest.
Leaping in Spider-Man tries to pin him to the ground but the Lizard threw him off.
As the two fought, Spider-Man tried to get the Lizard to hold still but couldn't as the two grappled.
The Lizard gained the upper hand when the flash from his camera went off causing the Lizard to roar annoyed.
"Got ya!" Spider-Man said punching him in the face knocking him back.
Spider-Man fires a web which latches onto his tail but the Lizard swings it sending Spider-Man flying back and crashing into the tree where his camera was.
The Lizard was about to move in when something hit him in the head.
"Hey! Leave him alone!" Looking up Spider-Man saw Billy on his skateboard trying to distract him.
"No." Spider-Man gasps as the Lizard roars going after Billy.
"Billy!" Moving in Eddy grabs him as they made their escape.
"I gotta do something." Spider-Man said before getting an idea. "This might be the craziest thing I've ever done." Spider-Man said taking the camera down.
"Dad stop! You don't have to be the Lizard! You're still my dad!" Billy begs.
"Billy get going!" Eddy said as the Lizard got closer and Billy gulps in fear.
"BILLY!" Looking over Billy and Eddy saw Jaden leap in from a high tree and crash down on the Lizard.
"Jaden?!" Billy and Eddy gasps as the Lizard flailed wildly trying to throw Jaden off.
"Come on Dr. Conners! You need your medicine!" Jaden yells trying to hold on as the Lizard tried to ram against the wall causing Jaden to cringe.
"Jaden!" Eddy gasps.
"Eddy what's going on?!" Martha asks as she and Gwen arrive and gasp at the sight.
"Jaden?!" Gwen panics as the Lizard threw Jaden off sending him crashing into a fire hose.
Groaning in pain Jaden looks to see the Lizard charging in.
Grabbing the hose, Jaden pulls it causing the Lizard to trip over it.
"Sorry Doc." Jaden said looping it around him but the Lizard broke free with ease before swinging his tail and knocking him to the ground knocking the cleanser to the ground.
Cringing Jaden goes to get it just as the Lizard moves in.
"Billy! I need your board!" Jaden yells.
Nodding Billy throws it to Jaden who uses it to block the Lizard from chomping down on him.
"Here you go Doc." Jaden pops open the cleaner and pours it down its throat when the Lizard whacks Jaden off with his tail causing Jaden to fall to the ground.
"Jaden no!" Gwen panics in fear as the Lizard was about to finish him off when he started to mutate back into Kurt Conners but he no longer had a right arm again.
Moving in Jaden caught him.
"Ugh what happened?" Kurt asks as everyone ran over.
"Dad it was insane. Jaden tackled you and forced the antidote down your throat." Billy said amazed.
"Wait what happened to Spider-Man?" Gwen asks.
"He uh he was too hurt to finish the job so I did it." Jaden said.
"Jaden?" Kurt said surprised.
"Jay that was the bravest, coolest and craziest thing I've ever seen." Eddy laughs. "But promise me you won't be doing anything like that ever again."
"I'll try and Doc please no more lizard experiments." Jaden begs.
"You have my word Jaden. Thank you." Kurt smiles as Jaden hands him over to his family.
"Hey Jaden." Billy said walking up to him.
"Yeah Billy?" Jaden asks.
"You kept your promise, you said you'd help save my dad and you did. Thank you." Billy smiles giving him a hug.
As Gwen looks at Jaden she couldn't help but smile and she couldn't deny one thing. Jaden looked so cool as the hero.
The next day, Jaden was looking at his pictures of Spider-Man vs the Lizard.
"Oh man these pics are sure to win me the contest." Jaden said walking to the bugle when a trash can fell and he saw a bat flew out.
It was right then that he remembered what Batman told him about being responsible and when Billy thanked Jaden for saving Dr. Conners.
"Wait a minute…what am I doing? If I send these in Dr. Conners name could be ruined, I'd lose my job and my friends would hate me. Oh my god I-I am a sellout." Jaden said looking at the photos. "Get the money or keep your integrity and friends?" Jaden asks himself before letting out a sigh before ripping up the photos before throwing them in the trashcan. "Sometimes being a hero is hard."
As Jaden walks away he didn't notice a figure looking at him and smiling.
That night, Spider-Man met with Batman at the same spot two days ago.
Waiting on the rooftops, Spider-Man was looking at the camera when Batman appeared.
"Well?" Batman asks as Spider-Man turns around.
"Here." Spider-Man said tossing it to him. "I'm done. No more pictures, it's not worth losing everything over a few bucks. I'm not gonna worry about money anymore."
"Really?" Batman asks as Spider-Man took off his mask.
"Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man reporting for training, sir." Jaden said.
"What changed your mind?" Batman asks curious.
"You were right okay. I let the thought of money almost ruin everything I had. I wasn't being responsible at all, but not anymore. I don't wanna be a clueless rookie who's snapping photos of himself to get on the paper and make a quick buck. I'm done taking pictures. I'll find another way to make money. I wanna be a real hero, someone who helps people and doesn't ask for anything for reward, someone who when the people see they know they'll be okay. I want to be the best Spider-Man I can ever be." Jaden declares.
Looking at him, Batman smiles softly.
'Now I see why my dad wanted him by his side. Kid has skills but more than that he's got heart. He's got potential.'