A friend once taught me that we always have a choice in life. Proof of that came when he chose to be the best of himself and do what was right, at the cost of his own life. Before that, my Uncle Ben taught me that with great power, there must also come great responsibility. That was another lesson I learned the hard way. Since then, I've devoted myself to doing what was right. If you're wondering who I am, I'll tell you; my name is Peter Parker. If you're wondering who I really am, well, you'll figure it out.
New York City would seem like any other city, full of traffic jams and the occasional surly New Yorkers running around. One major difference was that crime has been at an all time low, due to the major assistance of a certain wall crawler. Not that the NYPD didn't have their own hands full with the usual batch of petty crooks, which was nothing they couldn't handle. Other times, the cops run into something they couldn't possibly match, as evident by the squad car flying through the air to the street below. It crash landed onto another parked vehicle, glass shattering and metal bending and twisting. The rather large perpetrator, clad in a gray suit resembling a rhinoceros, continued with his business, tearing apart an armored car like it was a can of sardines. Large sacks littered the floor of the vehicle, to which the giant smiled.
"Easy money," he said in a deep, commanding tone. The giant started grabbing random sacks even as the police officers regrouped. They opened fire on the brute, the bullets getting only his attention but not so much as scratching his hide. The not-so-jolly gray giant tore the bumper off of the armored car and hurled it at the hapless cops, causing them to scatter. "Serves you pansies right; nobody beats the Rhino."
The namesake most certainly stuck, considering the resemblance this Rhino character had to the real animal. Taking the sacks of money in his massive hand, the Rhino made one huge about face in the opposite direction. Then out of nowhere, he was met by two feet flying right into his face. Rhino staggered backward, eventually falling on his backside and causing a small tremor. He sat on the asphalt for a moment, trying to shake his big horned head clear before he snorted in anger and embarrassment.
"Who did that," he demanded. Nobody was around to answer the big brutes' question. "No one makes a fool out of the Rhino."
"Hey, did you escape from the Central Park zoo?" an unseen voice asked. Rhino looked around for the voice and when he took a step, he apparently tripped and fell flat on his face. "Up here, bozo!" Rhino looked toward the nearby lamppost and spotted the familiar red and blue clad figure of Spider-Man.
"If it ain't the little bug himself," gloated Rhino. "I've been waiting to squash you." The giant tore the webbing that had tripped him and went after the mocking web slinger.
"Spiders belong to a group of animals called arachnids," Spider-Man mocked toward Rhino. "Didn't they teach you that in the zoo?"
Rhino wasn't quite listening, instead grabbing and tearing the lamppost from its place. Spider-Man quickly leaped away, fired a web line and flew at his larger foe. Again, Rhino received two feet in his face, staggering but staying upright. Now growing angrier, Rhino charged full speed at Spider-Man, horned head down. Spider-Man crossed his arms, fired two web lines to a building on either side and tied them together. Once that was done, the web slinger leaped away, just miniscule seconds before Rhino ran in. The brute tripped over the line and fell flat on his face. Spider-Man landed on and stuck to a wall, surmising that this Rhino guy wasn't exactly too bright. Okay, he was a dim bulb.
"What was that about no one making a fool out of you," Spider-Man asked. "I mean, you've pretty much been knocked onto the ground like…three times already. Maybe you should try a new profession, Rhino; like knitting."
"Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!" Rhino shouted.
Now gone from frustrated to borderline pissed off, Rhino attempted to grab Spider-Man but the web slinger was slightly faster. Spider-Man landed behind his much larger foe, holding on to his horn like a rodeo cowboy. Rhino tried to grab his unwanted passenger but couldn't reach him, so he went down on all fours and barreled down the street. Thanks to his adhesive powers, Spider-Man was just barely able to hang on. He tried to steer the Rhino on a safe path, doing his best to avoid hitting any bystanders. The web slinger finally came up with an idea and if Rhino was as ludicrously dumb as he appeared, it might work. Spider-Man steered Rhino into a nearby construction site, where the giant gray brute stopped short and sent the web head flying off of him. Spider-Man landed gracefully on the ground in front of Rhino, who was snorting enraged.
"When I'm done with you, you're gonna be a red and blue stain on my horn!" Rhino shouted.
He bent over, preparing a charge toward his webbed tormentor. Spider-Man glanced toward his rear and back at Rhino. The giant gray brute charged at Spider-Man.
"Toro, Toro!" Spider-Man announced as he leaped out of Rhino's path.
The idiot villain ended up running right into a bed of wet cement, the quick drying kind. As Rhino tried to get free, the mocking voice of Spider-Man called out, "You looking a little stuck, big guy. Let me give you a hand."
Rhino turned toward the web slingers' voice and he was met with a giant wrecking ball directly in the face. The impact shattered his horn, all the while sending Rhino careening into the side of a building under construction. Spider-Man landed at the impact zone, where Rhino was utterly knocked out. He could hear the sirens of squad cars approaching from down the street, so the web head wrapped up Rhino in a massive blanket of webbing.
As soon as the police arrived at the scene, all they found was Rhino wrapped up for them like a very, very large Christmas gift.
One of the officers was Captain George Stacy, who spotted Spider-Man swinging away. He shook his head and wondered to himself if the freaks in his city would ever stop popping up all over the place.
Some few blocks away, Peter Parker emerged from an alleyway, holding his camera and newest photos within. Peter opened the device, pulled out the film cartridge and thought to himself, Jameson's going to love this!
"It's horrendous; it sucks; it's all crap," said J. Jonah Jameson, Editor in Chief of the Daily Bugle. Those derogatory comments were of course, his usual opinion of Peter's photos of Spider-Man. "Robbie, run that photo. Here's the headline; RHINO RAMPAGES, SPIDER-MAN CHICKENS OUT!"
Peter Parker, who was standing at Jameson desk, asked him, "Are you kidding? What do you have against Spider-Man, Mr. Jameson? He's one of the good guys."
"The good guys in this town are the NYPD," Jameson snapped. "And even some of them are crooked. Besides, good guys don't sale papers."
"With all due respect, Mr. Jameson," Peter retorted. "You've been crowding Spider-Man ever since he showed up in the city. What's he ever done to you?"
City editor Robbie Robertson concurred with Peter's plight. "Peter's right, Jonah; Spider-Man even saved your life once, or don't you remember?"
"I've never felt protected by him or anybody, not even my wife," Jameson snapped again at Robbie, and then he turned toward Peter. "Anyway, here's your payment, kid. Take it or leave it and bring me some more photos."
Taking the check out of frustration, Peter left the office where he was greeted by Betty Brant. "Hey Pete; you look down, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Peter replied almost half-heartedly. "Sometimes I wonder if Jameson is trying to turn the whole city against Spider-Man. I mean, why does Jameson hate him so much?"
"You're not alone in wondering," Betty told Peter. "But the only person who can really answer that is Mr. Jameson."
That was the cold, hard truth that Betty spoke about. Only J. Jonah Jameson could answer the question as to why he was so hell bent on ruining Spider-Man's reputation. Peter wasn't about to let that screw up the rest of his day. Besides; he had someplace else to be at the moment. As soon as his business with Betty was concluded, Peter was already on his way out. In his haste, Peter narrowly missed bumping into an unknown yet suspicious looking man. Peter glanced at the man walking into Jameson's office but paid no mind to it.
Dr. Curtis Connors was quite the busy scientist by the time Peter Parker arrived in his office/lab. Things had been slightly different about the lab since the start of the new semester. Peter was sure to note the numerous reptilian displays, evolution charts and an anatomical lizard model.
He'd known Dr. Connors for years; granted he was a very intelligent man but Connor's primary field was physics and not biology. Then again in recent months, Dr. Connors had told Peter about his sudden interest in the latter. At the same time, Peter also noticed a container with the last remaining piece of the alien organism that nearly ruined his life and destroyed that of Eddie Brock. While it was in the past, Peter still had nightmares about the alien substance, even wondering if either the creature or Brock might've survived. At any rate, Peter returned his full attention to Dr. Connors.
Well, the regeneration serum is almost ready for a test run on humans," Dr. Connors announced with confidence. He then jokingly asked, "Parker, would you like to be my first guinea pig?"
"No sir, Dr. Connors," Parker jokingly declined. "I can barely test run my scooter as it is. In all seriousness, though; are you sure that injecting mammals with reptilian DNA will result in regeneration abilities."
"I'm more than aware of the dangers surrounding this experiment but consider this, Peter," Dr. Connors said. "If this experiment is successful, it could boost the human healing rate by 30, maybe 60 percent the normal rate within the next few years. People would be able to heal any wound, re-grow any limb and maybe even better fight off diseases."
Peter glanced down at the small test subject; a small white lab mouse in a small cage. The tiny mammal was missing a limb, just as Dr. Connors was. "I don't mean to question you, Dr. Connors. I just have my concerns; this would be a huge risk."
"Your concern is noted, Peter," Connors said. "But risks are a part of science; you know this better than most. Now, let's get started with the experiment."
Dr. Connors had a small, plastic injection pistol in his one, and only, hand. A needle pointed outward, dripping a faint green liquid from its tip. Peter gently picked the mouse out of the cage and held it firm, careful not to crush it with his spider powers. He wouldn't have heard the end of it if Dr. Connors discovered his dirty little secret.
Connors carefully slid the tip of the needle into the stump that used to be the mouse's limb, and then pulling the pistol trigger. The tiny mouse let out a faint yelp, though it quickly subsided. Peter replaced the mouse inside the cage, where it stumbled around briefly before suddenly dropping.
At first, both Connors and Parker believed the worst, but then they noticed the stump shuddering slightly. After a few tense moments, a limb sprouted forth from the stump and the mouse revived.
"Dr. Connors; it actually worked!" Peter said, ecstatic.
"Yes," said Dr. Connors said in slight shock. "That was only a fraction of a dose for a mouse. Imagine the good that could be done for people with similar ailments. This could take science to a whole new level."
Peter began feeling uneasy about the whole thing. "What about the side effects, though?"
"You do make a good point, Peter," Connors agreed. "Several more tests will have to be run before the serum is ready."
Peter glanced at his watch, realizing what time it was. "Listen, Dr. Connors, I have to go. I'm meeting Gwen Stacy later for lunch, and I don't want to disappoint her."
Dr. Connors gave Peter a decent pat on the shoulder. "I wouldn't want that for your lady friend. Go on, I'll keep going with the research, let you know anything more if I can." With that bode of encouragement; Peter Parker was out the door, leaving Dr. Connors to say to himself, "Young love!"
Gwen Stacy sat alone at a table outside of a local Cafe. She had a half eaten muffin and a half drank cappuccino. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Why is Peter Parker never on time? She wondered to herself.
She found herself wondering about a great many things of late. For instance, why she kept thinking that Peter would ever change. They'd been seeing each for almost a year now and she realized that she still knew absolutely nothing about him. Well, almost nothing about him.
She knew he had an amazingly sweet aunt who she'd had the pleasure of meeting. Also that he had an Uncle who was a mentor to him that he'd lost due to a car jacking. She knew that he was extremely smart and that without him she'd never have gotten through her college science classes. She also knew that he was adorably cute and that she was hopelessly in love with him. Which was why this meet up with him was going to be especially hard, if he ever showed up, that was.
As if on cue, she heard the familiar shudder of the motor of a run down scooter. Sure enough, Peter Parker rode into view, stopping at the table at which Gwen sat.
"You should really consider getting rid of that thing, Peter." said a half-smiling Gwen.
"I'd buy a Porsche if I had the money," Peter said semi-sarcastically. "So, when I got your call, I figured you had something important to talk about."
"Yep, and you're fashionably late, as always." Gwen said, irritated. "A fashion mogul offered me a contract for a modeling career. I thought about it for a while and I finally decided to accept it."
Peter had a look of confusion on his face, "Haven't you always been a model, Gwen? Well, as long as I've known you, anyway."
Gwen sighed, "This contract would take me far away from New York."
Peter was taken aback. "How far?"
"Paris." Gwen simply answered.
Silence ensued at the table for an uncomfortable amount of time. Gwen, growing impatient, finally broke the silence. "Well, aren't you going to congratulate me. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."
"Of course I'm happy for you, Gwen." Peter stated. "I'm just confused by what that means for us."
"Is there even an us, Peter?" Gwen asked. "We've been seeing each other for a year and I don't even really know anything about you. You're never on time for anything, you disappear like a hat trick half the time, and to be completely honest with you, I feel like I'm just the rebound chick for you after your one true love up and disappeared on you last year."
"You're not a rebound, Gwen." Peter promised. "And Mary Jane didn't just up and disappear. She got a job as an actress in Hollywood. We left things on amicable terms."
"Not a rebound, huh?" Gwen asked sarcastically. "Then what exactly was that stunt you pulled back at the Jazz Club she was singing at when you and she were on the outs? I'd never been so humiliated in my life."
Peter sighed, "I thought we'd agreed to leave that in the past. I've apologized like a hundred times for that and I explained to you then that I wasn't myself at the time. I was in a very dark place in my life."
"Perhaps you were more you then than you are now," Gwen accused.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I don't know you at all, Peter." Gwen said as she grabbed his hand. "I don't know if you're the sweet and loving guy I see sitting before me now or if that you I witnessed at the Jazz Club is really what you're like and that you're afraid that I'll find out."
Peter implored, "Gwen, I love you and I don't want to lose you. I'm just a simple guy and that's all their is to it. I'm happy for the opportunity you've been given but I'd be lying if I said that I wanted you take it."
"I haven't told him yes or no, yet." Gwen confided. "I'd sacrifice this opportunity for you but you have to be straight with me. I know there is something you're not telling me and until you can confide in me I don't see us having a future together."
Peter looked torn as he allowed his hand to slip from hers. He audibly sighed. "I...I can't, Gwen. I just can't. You have to believe me on this one."
She frowned and then stood up. "Well, until you can I think it's probably best if you and I don't see each other for a while." Gwen set some money on the table before leaving, but then turned back toward Peter. "Then again, I have an exhibition this weekend. You can stop by if you like."
"I'll be there, Gwen." Peter said, with hope in his voice.
"I hope so, Peter. I honestly do."
Peter watched as Gwen Stacy walked down the sidewalk, disappearing within the crowd. Part of him wanted to snag her in a well placed web line and leap over the bystander passing by.
He was right back where he'd started with Mary Jane Watson. He'd tried keeping her safe by keeping the fact that he was Spider-Man from her. It was dangerous information to know and he had just been trying to protect her. Of course MJ had finally found out his secret when he had to save her from Doc Ock.
It had worked out for a while but then, just as he knew it would, her life had been placed in danger again and she'd nearly been crushed and killed by the added efforts of Venom and Sandman. Not to mention Harry Osborn aka The New Goblin had used her against him as well before he became an ally once more.
Even after that, they'd tried to rekindle that spark between them but too many bad things had happened to them and the ghost of Harry Osborn was never far from their thoughts. When she'd gotten that acting gig in Hollywood, he felt that a part of both of them had felt somewhat relieved. It gave them the opportunity to amicably call it quits before both of them started resenting or hating one another.
Then along came Gwen Stacy back into his life. Just when he'd planned to swear off relationships forever, the blond haired and beautiful lady had swept in and his stomach was in knots all over again as it had once been with MJ.
He and Gwen had taken it slow at first. He had a lot to make up to her for concocting that disgusting stunt while he was under the influence of the symbiote. He had thoughtlessly used Gwen to try and make MJ jealous. But Gwen, being the sweet and forgivable angel that she was, had forgiven him and opened her heart to him.
She wasn't stupid though and she knew that he had a huge secret that he was keeping from her. He never was the best of liars and he knew the excuses for his sudden disappearance acts were half ass at best. He knew that if he wanted to keep Gwen in his life that he would have to tell her about Spider-Man. But could he selfishly be willing to do that? To endanger her life with such knowledge as that. He definitely had to figure that question out fast before she up and left him forever.
So he remained at the table alone with his thoughts, nearly oblivious of everything and everyone, including a shady individual sitting just a few tables away chewing on a cigarette and sipping coffee. Had Peter been paying attention, he'd have noticed it was the same man he'd passed by at the Bugle earlier that day.
Who was he, and why was he seemingly following Peter Parker?