Chapter 9
Mary Jane and Peter was walking side by side at night time coming from a diner eight blocks from Peter's apartment. They held hands as they walked out of the dinner and began their walk towards his apartment. Peter seemed a little happier than he had been since the tragedy. In fact, he was happier now than she could ever remember. Obviously his stress level had dropped since giving up being Spider-Man, but she could not help but feel that he had made a major mistake in giving up Spider-Man. Peter seemed happy, but was it for real?
At that moment, MJ was just happy being there by his side for once. For once, he was not too busy doing something else. "That was fun, we need do that more often," Mary Jane laughed.
"From now on, we can do this as often as we want," Peter replied. "I promise to be there for you from this day on. I've allowed myself to get so distracted that I locked you out of my life. I will never make that mistake again."
Mary Jane smiled as she turned to face him. "You better not." She leaned forward and the two of them locked lips. She tilted her head as he raised his right hand and placed it passionately on the side of her face. Suddenly his Spider-Senses warned him of danger. He wrapped his arm around her waist tightly as he shot a web line with his other wrist. He pulled Mary Jane and himself up two stories off the ground. Mary Jane yelped as her feet left the ground and his arm digging into her due to gravity pulling her down.
The two of them looked down as the door below them came crashing open and out ran three masked men running out of the door with bags full of what they assumed was money. The last masked man turned back around to look inside and swung a handgun around with him. He fired three shots into the store before turning back around and joining his three buddies in hopping into an old Chevrolet that was parallel parked in front of the grocery story they had just rubbed. There were screams and crying that could be heard inside the store.
The engine ripped to life and the car quickly veered onto the main road, cutting another off, who just avoided colliding into the old Chevrolet. Peter lowered themselves back down to the sidewalk. Mary Jane and Peter entered the grocery store and saw a middle aged oriental wife kneeling down besides her husband who had blood stains covering his chest. She cried out to the two of them in Chinese, unable to speak English. Mary Jane and Peter ran to their assistance. "Somebody call for an ambulance!" Mary Jane said franticly towards the customers who had been inside during the robbery. Mary Jane looked towards Peter who knelt there with fury in his eyes. "Peter, you can go and do what you need to do."
Mary Jane could not read the expression on his face and could not read what he was feeling until he had responded. "Spider-man is dead, but that doesn't mean that Peter Parker can't do anything."
"Peter, what are you…" Mary Jane had looked away for a brief second and when she looked back, he was gone.
* * * *
Peter was running with all his strength in the direction the old Chevrolet had driven off. The pulled into the first alleyway that he had come across and leaped onto the brick wall. He used his special abilities to climb the three story building until he reached the roof top. He fired a web line across the street and began swinging. He slowly elevated upward and continued swinging until he found the old Chevrolet. Peter continued to swing past the car. When he found himself a good mile ahead, he landed on the roof top of a small two story brick building. He leaped down into an alleyway and ran out to the edge of the sidewalk. "Hey taxi!" Peter nearly stepped in front of a taxi, bringing it to a squealing halt.
Peter ran to the back of the car, and as soon as he opened it, he jumped in, slamming the door shut behind him. "Jesus, kid, are ya' nuts?"
Peter watched out the left side window to see the old Chevrolet race past them. "Hey, follow that car quickly!"
"Hey kid, I don't do chases, I…" the overweight cab driver replied.
"Do it!" Peter snapped angrily. "I'm a photographer for the Daily Bugle, and that car is news! Now Go!"
"Will my name be in the newspaper?"
"For god's sake, JUST GO!" Peter pounded on the back of the driver's seat.
The driver pounded on the gas peddle and rushed off to catch up to the Chevrolet. Peter sat back in his seat, and found himself drifting into a sea of thought. As much as this way of following the robbers were primitive compared to his abilities, it was better for him to do it this way and avoid being seen using his abilities without his costume. Besides, this was a job for Peter Parker, not Spider-Man. Why should he used his powers as a crutch? As long as Spider-Man was dead, his powers would remain dormant.
It was then Peter broke out of his thoughts to see the driver nearly on the tail of the robbers. Peter leaned forward. "Hey, not so close! I don't want them to know we're following them."
The cab driver didn't reply in words, but he released pressure from the gas peddle and the Corvette began to pull further ahead. Peter sat back as the old Corvette pulled onto a back road. Peter instantly sat forward in anticipation. It was at that moment he wished he had his camera with him.
The cab driver pulled into the back road to follow the other car but came to a sudden stop to avoid hitting the back of the car. "Oh crap!" The driver muttered.
Suddenly, Peter's spider-senses went wild. "Get down!"
The driver franticly tried to unbuckle his seat belt but his fingers kept on slipping. He looked out his side window see one of the robbers holding a baseball bat in mid swing. The bat came crashing through the window, shattering the driver side window.
Peter laid down on the seat as another robber with a crowbar swung for the read window. Before long all the side windows were shattered as with the back window. The windshield had taken extensive damage. The cab driver was screaming in fear while Peter remained on the back seat. He rolled on to his back and saw a robber at the door by his feet. He tucked his knees up to his chest and with all his strength he slammed the flat of his feet into the door. The door flew off the hinges and crashed into the robber, sending him and the door flying several feet. Peter climbed out of the car and the other two masked robber ran around the car to attack Peter. The one with the baseball bat swung for Peter's head. Peter ducked under the swing and after the bat swung past his head, he delivered a stunning jab to his ribs. The attacker dropped his bet and yelp in pain.
With an angry look on his face, Peter rose up and slapped him across the face with the back of his arm knocking him out cold. The other man came from behind, but Peter's spider-senses detected him in plenty of time. The attack reached our for Peter's neck but Peter reached up over his shoulder and grabbed him by his wrist.
Peter spun around, resulting in twisting his arm, putting him in great pain. The robber screamed as Peter had his arm in a position which could easily break him arm. Instead, Peter punched him across the face.
Suddenly he felt the barrel of a gun press up against the back of his head. "Hee hee, party's over, kid." It was the robber which he had kicked the door of the cab into.
Peter used the heel of his left foot to stomp on the toes of the robber. The man yelped and Peter took advantage of his created diversion to spin around and knock the gun from his hand. Peter punched him in the gut and while he was leaning forward, gasping for air, he delivered a final uppercut which made the last remaining robber crash into the cab and slide down unconscious.
Peter breathed heavily, relieved that it was over. Suddenly a blinding flash came from the end of road. Standing there behind him with his camera was Eddie Brock. "I'm impressed Parker. You have single-handedly taken out three thugs and made yourself a hero. I have to admit, if we were ever to fight, you would last longer than I had first thought."
"Brock!" Peter stormed towards Eddie and grabbed him by his collar. "How did you know? Something is seriously wrong here. Did you set this up to put me in the spotlight like this?"
"I don't know what you were talking about. I will admit, however, I have been following you and was hoping Spider-Man would soon follow, but this is even better."
"Why are you doing this to me?" Peter tried to shake Brock but he wouldn't have it. In fact, he should no fear in his eyes. He showed no reaction whatsoever to his physical assult.
"If you knew what was good for you, Parker, you would get your hands off me before I loose my temper."
Peter released him and stepped back. "You leave me alone. Stay away from me."
Eddie laughed. "Oh, I have just begun. I will not be satisfied until your life is ruined as you have ruined mine." Eddie laughed as he turned around and walked away. Peter formed a fist with his right hand, fighting the temptation to rip him apart.
* * * *
The next morning, Dr. Curt Connors returned to the laboratory. The first thing he did when arriving to the laboratory was head to his office, where he had put the mouse that he tested his new formula on. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming. He had a strong feeling that after many years, he had successfully created the formula which would regrow missing limbs in mammals.
He opened the door to his office and walked in, closing the foggy glass door shut. There on his desk was the cage with the mouse in it. He walked up to the desk and knelt down to take a closer look at the rodent.
His heart rejoiced to see that the missing leg had indeed grown back. The mouse had all four legs and showed no side effects. It worked perfectly! At last, his wife would have a whole man once again sleeping by her side.
His time of celebration was short when his door opened and a lady scientist like himself entered the room wearing her white lab coat. "Good morning, Dr. Conners. I need your help with something. Would you mind lending your expertise?"
"I would be happy to, Dr. Windstrom. I will be right there. Let me settle in first."
Dr. Windstrom smiled as she backed out of the room, closing the door in front of him. Dr. Connors looked at the mouse as he stood up. "Well, Chester, tonight, after every has left, I will be the next laboratory rat. No offence to you, Chester." Chester squeaked as it spun around in it's cage.
Mary Jane and Peter was walking side by side at night time coming from a diner eight blocks from Peter's apartment. They held hands as they walked out of the dinner and began their walk towards his apartment. Peter seemed a little happier than he had been since the tragedy. In fact, he was happier now than she could ever remember. Obviously his stress level had dropped since giving up being Spider-Man, but she could not help but feel that he had made a major mistake in giving up Spider-Man. Peter seemed happy, but was it for real?
At that moment, MJ was just happy being there by his side for once. For once, he was not too busy doing something else. "That was fun, we need do that more often," Mary Jane laughed.
"From now on, we can do this as often as we want," Peter replied. "I promise to be there for you from this day on. I've allowed myself to get so distracted that I locked you out of my life. I will never make that mistake again."
Mary Jane smiled as she turned to face him. "You better not." She leaned forward and the two of them locked lips. She tilted her head as he raised his right hand and placed it passionately on the side of her face. Suddenly his Spider-Senses warned him of danger. He wrapped his arm around her waist tightly as he shot a web line with his other wrist. He pulled Mary Jane and himself up two stories off the ground. Mary Jane yelped as her feet left the ground and his arm digging into her due to gravity pulling her down.
The two of them looked down as the door below them came crashing open and out ran three masked men running out of the door with bags full of what they assumed was money. The last masked man turned back around to look inside and swung a handgun around with him. He fired three shots into the store before turning back around and joining his three buddies in hopping into an old Chevrolet that was parallel parked in front of the grocery story they had just rubbed. There were screams and crying that could be heard inside the store.
The engine ripped to life and the car quickly veered onto the main road, cutting another off, who just avoided colliding into the old Chevrolet. Peter lowered themselves back down to the sidewalk. Mary Jane and Peter entered the grocery store and saw a middle aged oriental wife kneeling down besides her husband who had blood stains covering his chest. She cried out to the two of them in Chinese, unable to speak English. Mary Jane and Peter ran to their assistance. "Somebody call for an ambulance!" Mary Jane said franticly towards the customers who had been inside during the robbery. Mary Jane looked towards Peter who knelt there with fury in his eyes. "Peter, you can go and do what you need to do."
Mary Jane could not read the expression on his face and could not read what he was feeling until he had responded. "Spider-man is dead, but that doesn't mean that Peter Parker can't do anything."
"Peter, what are you…" Mary Jane had looked away for a brief second and when she looked back, he was gone.
* * * *
Peter was running with all his strength in the direction the old Chevrolet had driven off. The pulled into the first alleyway that he had come across and leaped onto the brick wall. He used his special abilities to climb the three story building until he reached the roof top. He fired a web line across the street and began swinging. He slowly elevated upward and continued swinging until he found the old Chevrolet. Peter continued to swing past the car. When he found himself a good mile ahead, he landed on the roof top of a small two story brick building. He leaped down into an alleyway and ran out to the edge of the sidewalk. "Hey taxi!" Peter nearly stepped in front of a taxi, bringing it to a squealing halt.
Peter ran to the back of the car, and as soon as he opened it, he jumped in, slamming the door shut behind him. "Jesus, kid, are ya' nuts?"
Peter watched out the left side window to see the old Chevrolet race past them. "Hey, follow that car quickly!"
"Hey kid, I don't do chases, I…" the overweight cab driver replied.
"Do it!" Peter snapped angrily. "I'm a photographer for the Daily Bugle, and that car is news! Now Go!"
"Will my name be in the newspaper?"
"For god's sake, JUST GO!" Peter pounded on the back of the driver's seat.
The driver pounded on the gas peddle and rushed off to catch up to the Chevrolet. Peter sat back in his seat, and found himself drifting into a sea of thought. As much as this way of following the robbers were primitive compared to his abilities, it was better for him to do it this way and avoid being seen using his abilities without his costume. Besides, this was a job for Peter Parker, not Spider-Man. Why should he used his powers as a crutch? As long as Spider-Man was dead, his powers would remain dormant.
It was then Peter broke out of his thoughts to see the driver nearly on the tail of the robbers. Peter leaned forward. "Hey, not so close! I don't want them to know we're following them."
The cab driver didn't reply in words, but he released pressure from the gas peddle and the Corvette began to pull further ahead. Peter sat back as the old Corvette pulled onto a back road. Peter instantly sat forward in anticipation. It was at that moment he wished he had his camera with him.
The cab driver pulled into the back road to follow the other car but came to a sudden stop to avoid hitting the back of the car. "Oh crap!" The driver muttered.
Suddenly, Peter's spider-senses went wild. "Get down!"
The driver franticly tried to unbuckle his seat belt but his fingers kept on slipping. He looked out his side window see one of the robbers holding a baseball bat in mid swing. The bat came crashing through the window, shattering the driver side window.
Peter laid down on the seat as another robber with a crowbar swung for the read window. Before long all the side windows were shattered as with the back window. The windshield had taken extensive damage. The cab driver was screaming in fear while Peter remained on the back seat. He rolled on to his back and saw a robber at the door by his feet. He tucked his knees up to his chest and with all his strength he slammed the flat of his feet into the door. The door flew off the hinges and crashed into the robber, sending him and the door flying several feet. Peter climbed out of the car and the other two masked robber ran around the car to attack Peter. The one with the baseball bat swung for Peter's head. Peter ducked under the swing and after the bat swung past his head, he delivered a stunning jab to his ribs. The attacker dropped his bet and yelp in pain.
With an angry look on his face, Peter rose up and slapped him across the face with the back of his arm knocking him out cold. The other man came from behind, but Peter's spider-senses detected him in plenty of time. The attack reached our for Peter's neck but Peter reached up over his shoulder and grabbed him by his wrist.
Peter spun around, resulting in twisting his arm, putting him in great pain. The robber screamed as Peter had his arm in a position which could easily break him arm. Instead, Peter punched him across the face.
Suddenly he felt the barrel of a gun press up against the back of his head. "Hee hee, party's over, kid." It was the robber which he had kicked the door of the cab into.
Peter used the heel of his left foot to stomp on the toes of the robber. The man yelped and Peter took advantage of his created diversion to spin around and knock the gun from his hand. Peter punched him in the gut and while he was leaning forward, gasping for air, he delivered a final uppercut which made the last remaining robber crash into the cab and slide down unconscious.
Peter breathed heavily, relieved that it was over. Suddenly a blinding flash came from the end of road. Standing there behind him with his camera was Eddie Brock. "I'm impressed Parker. You have single-handedly taken out three thugs and made yourself a hero. I have to admit, if we were ever to fight, you would last longer than I had first thought."
"Brock!" Peter stormed towards Eddie and grabbed him by his collar. "How did you know? Something is seriously wrong here. Did you set this up to put me in the spotlight like this?"
"I don't know what you were talking about. I will admit, however, I have been following you and was hoping Spider-Man would soon follow, but this is even better."
"Why are you doing this to me?" Peter tried to shake Brock but he wouldn't have it. In fact, he should no fear in his eyes. He showed no reaction whatsoever to his physical assult.
"If you knew what was good for you, Parker, you would get your hands off me before I loose my temper."
Peter released him and stepped back. "You leave me alone. Stay away from me."
Eddie laughed. "Oh, I have just begun. I will not be satisfied until your life is ruined as you have ruined mine." Eddie laughed as he turned around and walked away. Peter formed a fist with his right hand, fighting the temptation to rip him apart.
* * * *
The next morning, Dr. Curt Connors returned to the laboratory. The first thing he did when arriving to the laboratory was head to his office, where he had put the mouse that he tested his new formula on. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming. He had a strong feeling that after many years, he had successfully created the formula which would regrow missing limbs in mammals.
He opened the door to his office and walked in, closing the foggy glass door shut. There on his desk was the cage with the mouse in it. He walked up to the desk and knelt down to take a closer look at the rodent.
His heart rejoiced to see that the missing leg had indeed grown back. The mouse had all four legs and showed no side effects. It worked perfectly! At last, his wife would have a whole man once again sleeping by her side.
His time of celebration was short when his door opened and a lady scientist like himself entered the room wearing her white lab coat. "Good morning, Dr. Conners. I need your help with something. Would you mind lending your expertise?"
"I would be happy to, Dr. Windstrom. I will be right there. Let me settle in first."
Dr. Windstrom smiled as she backed out of the room, closing the door in front of him. Dr. Connors looked at the mouse as he stood up. "Well, Chester, tonight, after every has left, I will be the next laboratory rat. No offence to you, Chester." Chester squeaked as it spun around in it's cage.