"Guys, we got a copy of the Daily Bugle!" Johnny Storm ranted on the next day.
" I still don't understand how our planet is allowed to know about this. This is totally going to change things."
"'A Daily Bugle Exclusive'," Johnny read, ignoring Logan's comment. " 'Our 'heroes' from Earth had their first battle of the tournament yesterday. Reporters from the host planet-which remains proprietary, say that the brawl was certainly a showstopper. Each superhero used their own skills to defeat their opponents, 'Manolions'. Manolions are walking, talking lions that are over six feet tall and each has a personalized weapon and a different shade of red eyes. Spider-Man was the only one who was reported "Beaten", said the Headmistress...'"
Everyone stopped to look at Peter Parker, who had a bandage around his waits and a huge slash on his face. He also had his right arm in a sling.
"What?" He asked. He got up and walked to his room. Once the door slammed, everyone heard the crashing sound of a lamp breaking into a zillion pieces...by force.
"Poor Parker. No matter what he does..." Captain America began.
"Yeah. I know," Logan said.
"You can't kill a dude for trying, though, and he tries over and over." Dare Devil agreed.
"Psh. Whatever. Hey Pete! Wanna read some Playboy Magazines?" Johnny said, banging on the door.
"I think I have a Mary-Jane issue!"
An hour after listening to a Green Day CD, Peter came out of his room to face his teammates.
"Guys. Don't worry about me." He said. "I hate feeling sorry for myself. It doesn't get me anywhere. So I don't need you all to do it."
"Parker. Sit down and have a beer." Logan said. "Y'know, you think to much."
"I'm supposed to. Because I'm smart. And I don't drink beer every twenty seconds."
Logan chuckled, not realizing that was an insult.
"Guys, we have the day off tomorrow, I say we take it easy and rest up." Dare Devil interjected, taking off his mask and matting down his hair.
"Hell no! We need to get ready! We should train, have a practice battle with some of the other contestants!" Johnny said, half on fire.
"Johnny, Spider-Man's injured. He needs to rest up." Logan said. He was never in his costume, usually a baggy tee shirt and jeans. Unlike Captain America, who was almost always in his red-white and blue trademark tights.
"Actually," Peter Said, picking up his beer that had fallen on the floor, "I think a practice battle is a good idea!"
Everyone stopped to look at him. Peter wished he had his mask on so no one could see the dumb look on his face.
"Yeah, well, er...who're we kidding? We lucked out yesterday. We had no idea what we were doing-just punching people's faces in. Now that we have an idea of what these battles are like, we should get ready. And practicing with other contestants is a perfect way. I mean, if we face them in combat, then we know their weaknesses and how to beat 'em."
Matt Murdock stood up. Peter stood, too.
"You, sit. You're hurt and obviously delusional. We're resting tomorrow."
"I agree." Logan said.
"Me too." Captain America nodded.
"Then it's settled."
"Matt, when did you turn into such an asshole?" Johnny said.
"What?"
"You schmuck. You think you can boss everyone around?"
"Did you just call me a schmuck?" He asked.
"We don't have a team leader, and you're acting like one."
"I'm just doing what I think is best for the team."
There was a strong silence between them, and everyone else, for that matter.
"Guys, guys!" Peter said. "We have to stick together-as a team. We're all one big team now, one big family. And whether you like it or not, that means we have to compromise and not call each other schmucks, even if that accusation is correct. Got it?"
No one spoke, but gave a slight nod.
"Good. Now I'm going to the cafeteria."
Peter got dressed in his Spider-Man suit and started walking down the hall.
Why is everyone so stupid? He asked himself. Why can't they just work things out and realize we're going to lose this competition if we don't compromise? Then again, I'm working with a beer-o-holic, a blind guy, a hot headed pretty boy, and guy that sings the Star-Spangled Banner in his sleep. Not my top four choices. Why couldn't I get paired up with Sue Storm or Elektra or someone hot?
Spider-Man turned a corner and bumped into someone who looked like a normal human being.
"Sorry there, I didn't see you." Spider-Man said, picking up the man's briefcase.
"Spider-Man. Just the...man...I wanted to see!"
"Really? You know me?"
"My name is Hamolio Neverado. I work here, at the House of Heroes."
"Okay...?"
"But my alias is Steven Gonzo. I work at the Daily Bugle on Earth."
"What?" Spider-Man said, unable to hold back the confusion and shock in his voice.
"Yes. My job is to find candidates for the tournament on the planet. I also give news for the planet's newspapers to print."
"So...do you know who we are? I mean, really are?"
"No. That's confidential and not related to my task."
He handed him the briefcase.
"This is for your eyes only. If you wish to share it with your team, be my guest. But no other contestants are to see this."
Spider-Man nodded, and the man left.
Spider-Man went to the cafeteria, uncomfortable in the guards' eyes. He felt like they were constantly watching him.
He ordered a hamburger and sat down alone, the briefcase webbed to the floor (Spider-Man's anti-theft device).
As he chowed down, a young girl came over to him. Her skin was a pale blue, and her hair was a beautiful shade of blonde. Her eyes were a deep, dark blue. And her smile was everlasting.
"I saw your match yesterday," She said. "Very impressive."
"Uh...sure it was."
"Hey, everyone gets tossed around once and a while."
He smiled.
She stuck out her hand.
"I'm Aquamarine."
"Spider-Man." He said, shaking it. Her hand was moist.
"So, you're from Earth?" She asked.
"Yeah. I'm a 'superhero' there." He said.
"Pardon?"
"A superhero? Ok, it means I have weird powers unlike the rest of the human population. And I use my powers to help people."
"Ooh. So, no one else has your 'powers'?"
"Yeah. Same with the others. So
what about you?"
She smiled as he bit into his lunch again. She
had very white teeth.
"I am the princess of my home world. I live both on land and in water. See, my body changes whenever I am in water. I grow fins and gills and all that jazz."
"That's cool."
They talked for a while, long after Spider-Man had finished his burger. He kept checking on the briefcase, making sure it was secure and unopened. Once an hour or so had passed, he decided to leave.
"Here, this is my room number. Stop by whenever." He said, writing it down on a napkin."
She smiled as he walked away.
Damn, Spidey! You even attract alien ladies! Impressive!
He got lost after making a wrong turn halfway into his walk. "Ooh super!" he said aloud. Briefcase in hand, he tried to backtrack but got lost even more.
"Hey! You!" Someone said. He was green and had yellow eyes, and a tail, and only three fingers on four hands. He had two long, thin legs.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, dude, I got lost."
"Where did you get the briefcase?" The lizard thing asked.
"M.Y.O.B. Man!"
"Give it to me!"
"What?" He asked
"Give it!"
"No!"
Spider-Man ran down the hallway, followed by three of the green, four-armed men. Or lizards. Whatever.
He held the briefcase tight, unsure of which way to turn. He ran so fast, breathing deeply. He felt a rush of confusion and fear. He couldn't give up the briefcase.
Spider-Man stopped and waited on the ceiling. The three...things...decided to split up. Spider-Man followed the first one that had approached him.
He silently jumped down and followed him closely. Then, when the coast was clear, he smashed his head with the briefcase.
"Dude, you just got knocked in the head by a freak'in briefcase. So lame."
Spider-Man found a utility closet and dragged the man inside. He webbed him up and made sure there were no security cameras.
"Ouch..."
"You!" Spider-Man yelled. He grabbed him by his shirt.
"What they hell were you doing? Why did you want the briefcase?"
He didn't answer. Spider-Man punched him in the face.
"What do you know about it?"
"I...I saw an Official carrying it...thought it would be valuable."
"You're pathetic." Spider-Man said, knocking him out.
He left the door unlocked as he exited, making his way back to his wing of the House of Heroes.