Volume II: Symbiote Spider-Man Part I
Note: This will be the eighth chapter of Volume II and Part I of a two part story. Spider-Man will encounter an alien life form from outer space called the symbiote. This alien will bond itself to Spider-Man in a form of a new suit and give him more power than ever before. Peter will still struggle with his break up with Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane will also struggle as her being Peter's and Gwen's confidant will get in the way of her relationship with Harry Osborn. Mac Gargan will make an appearance as Scorpion as he plays the villain. Little does Peter knows that gaining all that power from the symbiote will change him in more ways than he realized.
It's October 18th, far out in outer space close to Earth, a space shuttle is hovering in close proximity to the comet that is moving slowly past Earth's orbit.
On the comet's surface, astronaut John Jameson is personally walking on it and exploring the comet with all his tools.
"How does it feel on the surface, John, over?"
"It's no moon, but it's sturdy. If I don't make it back, start lunchI without me, over." John Jameson walking on the surface.
"No way John, you're treating all of us today, over."
"I wonder if they deliver up here, over." John Jameson uses the tool.
He picked off a piece of the comet off it surface and placed it inside the container.
"Sample one is obtained, proceeding ahead, over." John Jameson continues to explore.
John stopped at he found a crater, it's enormous for a comet to have one.
"Entering the crater, over." John Jameson jumped inside the crater.
John is inside the crater as he uses a pick mattock on a sample of the comet, he then discovered something unusual coming out of the ground, something black and slimy.
"What the...?" John Jameson is surprised.
"What is, John?"
"There's something buried inside this comet, something black and liquid." John Jameson described the substance.
"That can't be, in outer space?"
"I'm telling you, I'm seeing it with my own two eyes. I think that it could be oil of some sorts, I'm not entirely sure." John Jameson says to his crew.
"Whatever it is John, take a sample from it and bring it to the shuttle. I think the scientists back on Earth will want to study it, over."
"Alright, about to extract the substance." John Jameson reached for his tool.
He grabbed what looked like a tube as he plants it into the ground, he then proceeded to extract the substance out of the ground. The black substance is being extracted through the tube and filling up the container.
Something unexpected happened as the whole comet is shaking, John managed to finished collecting what he can get as he's starting to worry.
"John, I'm getting unusual readings from your suit, what's happening down there?"
"The comet is shaking!" John Jameson is nervous.
"Get out of there right immediately!"
John quickly hops out of the crater and makes it back to the craft with the black substance inside the container. He climbs inside and pilots it, it lifts off the ground and is leaving the comet.
John's craft made it back to the shuttle, the astronaut crew awaits for John to come out of the airlock, the door opens the whole shuttle is sealed tight. John came out alive and well with everything he collected from the comet.
"John, thank god you made it back."
"Yeah, at least I didn't comeback empty handed. Let's go home." John Jameson holding the container with the black substance.
The shuttle fires it's thrusters and flies away from the comet. Meanwhile back on the comet, some kind of lifeform is making a noise deep inside the comet.
Back on Earth, at Midtown High, Peter is sitting with his best friend Harry Osborn as they listen to Professor Warren teaching. Gwen is sitting with Mary Jane as she too is listening.
"DNA, the building blocks of life, everything that makes every living bearing, including all of us human beings. Each DNA is unique to each life form." Raymond Warren is explaining to class.
Peter is listening but is having a hard time concentrating as he's got other things on his mind, he turns back to see Gwen still listening to class with MJ.
"Gwen, why can't I stop thinking about you? I know that we've both agreed to end our relationship for good reasons, but it's not easy getting you out of my heart. Believe me, I've tried." Peter says in his thoughts.
Gwen noticed Peter looking at her as he turns his head back and focuses on class.
"I'm sorry Peter, I never wanted to come to this, but I can't stop being a hero and I know that you can't either. I wish that we could be together as a couple, but life has other plans for us. All we are now partners, that is all. Just know that I will always love you, always." Gwen says in her thoughts.
Mary Jane could tell that Gwen is still dealing with her break up with Peter and it hasn't been easy for her or Peter.
Harry noticed too that Peter and Gwen has been a bit distant from each other, they hardly kissed and flirt. He begins to worry for his two best friends and wonders what's is going on.
At an apartment in the city, 18 year old Eddie Brock woke up from his bed as he slept late. He yawned and stretched his arms out as he check his phone for the time, it's 11:05 AM.
He got off the bed and drops himself down on the ground and does some push up as he likes to exercise more often. He builds up some arm muscles as he has a very muscular build.
Later after his push ups, he cracked some eggs and fill up the glass full off yolks. He tossed away the shells and drank up the yolks.
Eddie finished drinking. "Ahh! That's the stuff."
Eddie looked at the recent issue of the Bugle, Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider are always the main focus for the Bugle. He still remembers that time that he got an exclusive on the Lizard that would've put him on the top until those two heroes took away his chance.
"One day, I'll get back at you both for the humiliation you both dealt me. You both made me look like a liar in front of my boss, I'll never forget you two for that, that's a promise." Eddie Brock still mad at Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider.
Eddie then checks the time on his clock again, it's now 11:49 AM.
"Crap, I'm late for work." Eddie Brock is panicking.
Eddie grabbed his camera and rushed out the door.
After school, Peter, Gwen, Mary Jane, and Harry all hanged out at the Coffee Bean as they all in their seats awaiting their drinks. Unknown to them, a mysterious man is eyeballing them, more focused on Peter than the others.
"It's been awhile since we've all gotten together. I know that Pete here has been busy with work, but you Gwen, you've been too focused on studying these days. Why is that?" Harry asking Gwen.
"Nothing, just have a conflicting schedule with doing my homework and making time for my internship with Dr. Connors. Besides all that, everything is fine." Gwen made an excuse.
"Yeah, we're two busy people." Peter says to Harry.
"Peter, Gwen, Harry, and Mary Jane, your drinks are ready!"
Peter and Gwen were about to get up until Harry got up first.
"Allow me." Harry walked over to the barista.
Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane have a moment before Harry comes back.
"Do you think that Harry suspects something?" Gwen is curious.
"I've dated Harry for half a year, I know how he thinks, of course he suspects something. He's noticed that you and Peter have been a bit distant than ever before this week. If I know him, he's going to ask why you two aren't together anymore." Mary Jane says to Gwen and Peter.
"We need to think of something before he gets more curious and wonders what she and I are really doing in our spare time." Peter says to Gwen and Mary Jane.
"We could say that you and I are on break with our relationship." Gwen has a suggestion.
"But for how long? I know that you two agreed that you can't be partners and couple at the same time, but this is getting hard to hide your secret lives as heroes. If Harry notices, then pretty soon everyone at school will." Mary Jane says to Peter and Gwen.
"You're right MJ, we'll figure something out. Here he comes." Peter informs Gwen and Mary Jane.
Harry returned with a holder holding four cups as Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane remained quiet in Harry's presence.
"Got the drinks." Harry tells his friends.
Harry noticed that they're acting unusual quiet.
"What's wrong?" Harry is curious.
"Nothing." Peter says to Harry.
"Nothing." Gwen says to Harry.
"Nothing." Mary Jane says to Harry.
"Okay?" Harry is confused.
"I should get going, need to drop by to see if the Bugle needs me for an assignment." Peter gets up and grabs his coffee.
"I should go too, have homework and stuff." Gwen gets up and grabs her coffee.
Peter and Gwen both left the Coffee Bean as the mysterious man got up and follows after them. Mary Jane and Harry are left alone.
"So what now, Harry Osborn?" Mary Jane asking her boyfriend.
"Movie?" Harry suggested to Mary Jane.
Back in space at the international space station after the comet mission, astronauts are studying the black ooze John found on the comet.
"Amazing, this black ooze is a complete mystery."
"Hope that it was worth it, I was barely lucky to make it out of there alive." John Jameson says to the astronauts.
"Perhaps, once the scientists back on Earth gets their hands on it, they'll do a more thorough test on it. By the way, congratulations on your success, Colonel Jameson."
The astronauts all clapped their hands for John's successful mission.
"Thank you, but I didn't do it alone. I want to thank the crew for their valiant efforts. They deserve this applause too." John Jameson tells the astronauts.
"How flattering, Colonel."
"Get some rest, for tomorrow you're all going back home to Earth. You'll all be get a hero's welcome."
The astronauts are celebrating the successful mission, unknown to anyone, the container holding the black ooze is moving a bit, whatever it is, it's alive.
Peter and Gwen are walking together in the city talking as neither of them are aware that someone is tailing them. Gwen and Peter are still dealing with this change of theirs as things are awkward between them.
"So?" Peter is nervous. "How are things with you?"
"Great, you?" Gwen is nervous too.
"Just peachy." Peter says to Gwen.
"This is a bit awkward, don't you think?" Gwen says to Peter.
"You mean you and me just being friends after we've broken up for good reasons, I more than a bit awkward." Peter says to Gwen.
"Peter, this whole thing isn't easy for me either. But we're both heroes with responsibilities that put us in higher danger than anyone else. Every time one of us is out there, we worry whether one of will make it back home or worse." Gwen says to Peter.
"I know, and it's not easy balancing your life as a teenager and as a hero. When it comes to this life, the sacrifices we make, it's hard." Peter speaks from personal experience.
"Sometimes I wonder if you and I didn't get these powers, would we be together without worrying about anything." Gwen says to Peter.
"I think about that every time, but as much we want to, we can't go back to being who we used to be. Whether we like it or not, this is who we are now, just crime fighting partners and nothing else." Peter says to Gwen.
Gwen still felt uneasy about this whole thing but she and Peter realized that it's for the best. Peter then noticed someone familiar tailing them.
"We're being followed, don't look back." Peter kept walking with Gwen.
"Who is it?" Gwen is curious.
"I don't know, but I've seen him back at the Coffee Bean." Peter says to Gwen.
"What do you think he wants?" Gwen says to Peter.
"I don't know, but if he's after me, I'll be the distraction. You know what to do." Peter says to Gwen.
"Not a problem, I got this." Gwen says to Peter.
Gwen walked away from Peter as she goes into the laundromat, the same man passed by and kept following Peter. Gwen walked out and made it to an alley with her costume in her backpack.
Peter continues to walk as normal as possible as this unknown man continues to follow him.
"Come on, Parker. Where are you going?" Mac Gargan is following.
He continues to tail after Peter Parker until he got webbed up and pulled up into the air by Ghost-Spider, Mac screamed out loud in terror as he's high up in the air.
Peter turns to see that Ghost-Spider has got his back, he smiled.
(Later)
Spider-Man went up to the rooftop and sees Ghost-Spider has caught the unknown stalker who is scared by their presence.
"Been waiting for you." Ghost-Spider says to Spider-Man.
"Did he say anything?" Spider-Man asking Ghost-Spider.
"No, but he's pretty much scared, he wet himself." Ghost-Spider says to Spider-Man.
Spider-Man could see that this man made a unexpected urination out of fear in his pants.
"Yikes. Who are you and why are you following Peter Parker?" Spider-Man interrogates Mac Gargan.
"I'm just a regular man who was just taking a walk, that's all. I wasn't following anyone." Mac Gargan is still scared.
"Ghost-Spider, do you think that he could go for another ride?" Spider-Man asking Ghost-Spider.
"Yeah, I think that I'll take him high up at the Empire State Building, I just hope he's not afraid of heights." Ghost-Spider tries to intimidate the man.
"I hope not, it's very far up and a man like him can fall down very fast within seconds. I don't think even we're that fast enough to catch the man." Spider-Man intimidates too.
"Alright! Alright! I'll talk!" Mac Gargan is willing to talk.
"Who are you?" Spider-Man interrogates the man.
"Mac Gargan, I'm just a P.I., I was hired to do surveillance on that Parker kid." Mac Gargan tells Spider-Man.
"Why?" Spider-Man wants an answer.
"To see if he can lead my client to you, to Spider-Man." Mac Gargan tells Spider-Man.
"Who is this client? Who hired you?" Spider-Man asking Mac Gargan.
"I can't tell you, that's private information." Mac Gargan refused to name his client.
"On second thought Ghost-Spider, maybe we should take our new friend to the Empire State Building." Spider-Man says to Ghost-Spider.
"Great idea, let's go." Ghost-Spider is about pick Mac Gargan up.
"It was Jameson!!! J Jonah Jameson, he's the man who hired me!!! He's determined to find out everything about you two, he says that you're both dangerous, I swear, I swear!!" Mac Gargan revealed the client's name.
"Jameson, why am I not surprised." Spider-Man ain't too shocked.
"That guy must really hate you so badly. So what do we do about this guy?" Ghost-Spider referring to Mac Gargan.
Mac Gargan has already spilled too much to the heroes as he has no idea what's going to happen next.
"You better stay away from Peter Parker and no more stalking, otherwise you'll going to see how dangerous we really are. Do you understand?" Spider-Man intimidates Mac Gargan.
"Yeah, yeah, I understand." Mac Gargan is scared.
"Good, let's go, Ghost-Spider." Spider-Man says to Ghost-Spider.
Both Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider swinging off the rooftop leaving Mac Gargan all alone on an apartment rooftop with the only rooftop access for him to use.
Later as the sunsets, at the Daily Bugle, Jameson is in his office with Robbie Robertson watching the news concerning the shuttle mission that took place weeks ago.
"This just in that Colonel John Jameson has successfully completed his mission on the comet as he brought back samples for the scientists to study here on Earth. Tomorrow, the shuttle shall make its way back home with our heroes."
"Congratulations Jonah." Robbie smiled at Jameson.
"Why are you congratulating me for? I'm just his father." Jameson says to Robbie.
"John is a great guy, you must've done something right to raise him." Robbie says to Jameson.
"I used to think that he would follow in my footsteps one day and own all of this, but my boy chose to follow his own footsteps and pursue his own passion. I could not be more proud of my son for who he has become." Jameson smiled with pride.
Peter came into the office as did Eddie Brock as they await their boss as they each have pictures to sell.
"What brings you both here?" Jameson asking Peter and Eddie.
"I've got photos from yesterday of Spider-Man in action." Peter says to Jameson.
"Actually I got some photos of the bug yesterday too, I'd be willing to be paid half of what you offer Parker." Eddie Brock tries to sell his pictures.
"Sure, because your photos are so perfect that they're cheap." Peter being sarcastic.
"You know what Parker, you can go shove your photos up you..." Eddie Brock was about to say an insult.
"Enough!!! I don't care who got the perfect shots, I'll decide who gets paid or not. Parker, you go first." Jameson tells Peter.
Peter hands Jameson his shots of Spider-Man in action.
"Hmm? Not bad. How about you, Brock?" Jameson asking Eddie Brock.
"Here you go, boss." Eddie hands his shots.
Jameson check Eddie's pictures of Spider-Man and compares them to the ones that Peter Parker took, Peter and Eddie are waiting to see who shall get paid.
"The one who gets paid is... Parker." Jameson tells his two photographers.
Eddie is disappointed that Jameson buys Peter's shots of Spider-Man instead of his, Jameson is writing a check.
"Here, now get out there and bring me more photos as always." Jameson hands Peter his check.
"Better luck next time, Brock." Peter walks away.
Eddie Brock isn't amused that Peter seemed to gain the advantage yet again. Peter is with Betty as they spotted Eddie Brock walking out of the office not too happy.
"What was that about?" Betty asking Peter.
"I've managed to score another photos of Spider-Man yet again. Guessing Eddie didn't take too kindly to it." Peter tells Betty.
Eddie reached the elevator as it opens and Mac Gargan stepped out and Eddie enters it.
Eddie smelled something in the elevator. "Eh! What's that smell?"
Peter and Betty sees a stranger walking into Jameson's office. Peter isn't too surprised by Mac Gargan's appearance since he already knows that Jameson hired him.
"Got something for me, Gargan?" Jameson is awaiting results.
"Sorry Jameson, I was tailing that Parker kid and suddenly these two spider freaks swoop me off the ground and interrogated me. They've threaten me and I had to reveal your name as the man who hired me." Mac Gargan explained to Jameson.
"Gargan, you're worthless." Jameson is disappointed.
"Ah jeez, Mr. Jameson, don't call me names. People have been making fun of me all my life." Mac Gargan says to Jameson.
"I can see why." Jameson noticed Gargan's pants wet. "It just took you one single moment with those menaces and you've already wet your pants and spilled the beans on me."
"Those spider freaks making me look ridiculous. People are always trying to make me look ridiculous." Mac Gargan felt humiliated.
"You are ridiculous, Gargan. But how would you like to get back at them and make a real name for yourself." Jameson has a proposition.
"Me, get back at those menace? I'd kill for the chance." Mac Gargan is very tempted.
"Then you're on, I've got one trick up my sleeve that'll get those two wall crawling wimps out of my hair forever." Jameson says to Gargan.
"How?" Gargan is curious.
"I know a man, a brilliant scientist who just happens to be working on something extraordinary. He can help give you the power to take down those menaces once and for all." Jameson says to Gargan.
"Are you sure about this, Mr. Jameson?" Gargan says to Jameson.
"Sure, if the law won't do anything to stop these menaces, then it's time that I take matters into my own hands." Jameson isn't backing down.
At the Osborn Estate, in the living room, Harry and Mary Jane are kissing while in the middle of watching a movie. Harry thought about his two best friends Peter and Gwen's breakup. Harry broke off the kiss as Mary Jane wonders what's on Harry's mind.
"What's wrong?" Mary Jane is curious.
"Nothing MJ, you're wonderful." Harry says to Mary Jane.
"What's on your mind?" Mary Jane is curious.
"It's just... you know that Peter is like a brother to me and Gwen is my best friend, I just can't shake off this feeling of them breaking up all of a sudden. I'm worried about them, do you have any ideas what their break up is about?" Harry asking Mary Jane.
"Ah... no, haven't got a clue. Why do you ask?" Mary Jane lied to Harry.
"Because you're neighbors with Pete and you're like a sister to Gwen, you know those two better than me, I figured that you might know what's going on with them." Harry says to Mary Jane.
"I'm sorry Harry, but I have no idea." Mary Jane tries her best to hide it.
Harry could see that Mary Jane is nervous like she's hiding something from him.
"MJ, are you telling me the truth?" Harry says to Mary Jane.
"Why do you say that?" Mary Jane is evading.
"Because you keep evading my questions and your eyes look the other way looking at mines, if I didn't know better I think you're hiding something." Harry suspects Mary Jane.
"I think that should go, Aunt Anna is going to be home soon. She'll be disappointed that I'm not home by 8. So bye Harry, see you at school." Mary Jane gets up and walks away.
Harry is left behind in his home as Mary Jane chose to leave him rather than tell him the truth. Harry can't stop shaking this curiosity of his, he can tell that Mary Jane is keeping a secret from him.
Somewhere in the city, a private laboratory run by a scientist named Farley Stilwell is working on his research involving cybernetics and genetics.
Jameson and Mac Gargan entered the lab as Stillwell stopped to see Jameson is here with a guest.
"Is it ready, Stillwell?" Jameson asking Stillwell.
"Everything is set, is this the volunteer?" Stillwell looking at Mac Gargan.
"Mac Gargan, meet Dr. Farley Stillwell." Jameson introduced Gargan to Stillwell.
"So what's all this stuff, doc?" Mac Gargan is curious.
"This is a private funded lab that Jameson was kind enough to provide for me to conduct my research." Stillwell explained to Gargan.
"What do you mean by volunteer? What am I volunteering for exactly?" Gargan is curious.
"I've been doing ground breaking research concerning splicing human DNA with other species, in this case is to combine the traits of the scorpion with that of a human being, if my theory is correct, then it should give that said person extraordinary feats, such as super strength, speed, and agility." Stillwell explained to Gargan.
"In English, Doc?" Gargan is clueless to this science stuff.
"You shall have the power to go up against Spider-Man. Since Spider-Man has the characteristics of a spider, it's logical that we use Scorpion DNA since they're the natural predators of the spiders." Stillwell explained again in simple terms.
"Gargan, you wanted the chance to get back at those spiders, you said that you'd kill for the chance, this is it. Are you going to chicken out now and continuing being the loser, or are you going to be something more than who you are? Make a decision now." Jameson tells Gargan.
All his life he's been nothing but an outcast, basically a nobody, now he finally has a chance to be something more.
"I'm in." Gargan agreed to the procedure.
"Excellent, then let's get started." Stillwell says to Gargan.
The next morning, Aunt May is sleeping in her bedroom until she woke up at the sound of some hard pounding happening downstairs.
She went downstairs to see that Peter is already up and punching the punching bag with his fists. Peter seems to be working out his frustration on the bay as May is getting concerned for him.
"Peter." May tries to get his attention.
Peter finished punching as he heard May's voice and turns his head to see her here in the basement.
"It's 5:49 in the morning, did you wake up so early?" May is concerned.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you up, I just couldn't sleep." Peter says to May.
"Peter, I know that something is bothering you. Is this about your breakup with Gwen." May is worried.
Peter sighed. "Yeah. Why does this have to happen to us? To me and Gwen? It took us both almost a year for us to be together and now we can't be together anymore."
"I'm sorry Peter, you know that I wanted something better for you in life. It's not easy balancing your life and making sacrifices." May says to Peter.
"I know, it's just not fair that me and Gwen had to give up our love for responsibility." Peter says to May.
"Peter, life isn't fair. I know that better than most, but even you're allowed to have a happy life beyond that of being a hero, you deserve that." May says to Peter.
"Happy life? Boy who wanted all that got bitten by a spider last year, I think someone else came out different after that." Peter says to May.
"Well since neither of us can sleep, why don't we have some hot chocolate." May says to Peter.
"Sure, why not." Peter smiled at Peter.
Later back at the private lab, Mac Gargan has gone through a change as his muscle density has grown, he still remained unconscious as the sedatives keeps him comfortable during the procedure. Dr. Stillwell examines his vitals on the screen.
"Vitals are normal, Mac Gargan has successfully survived the transformation, now to add the final touch, grafting of the tail to his spinal cord." Stillwell speaks to the tape recorder.
The table moved as Gargan is still unconscious, the mechanical scorpion tail is being grafted onto his back. The sharp needles injected the implants themselves into his skin and reached his spinal cord.
Stillwell watch by x ray to see that the implants in his body are a success. Stillwell's phone rang, he picks it up to see that Jameson is calling him, he answered it and puts it on speaker.
"Stillwell here." Stillwell says to Jameson.
"How is the patient?" Jameson awaiting the results.
"Mac Gargan has been transformed from an ordinary human being into something more, his DNA is now spliced with that of a scorpion. He shall be ready soon enough." Stillwell explained to Jameson.
"Excellent, soon those menaces will finally meet their match." Jameson is pleased with Stillwell's work.
Stillwell hangs up the phone as he watched Mac Gargan still asleep, his whole life has been changed forever.
Meanwhile in space at the International Space Station, Jameson and his crew are boarding the shuttle with the black ooze in their possession. The airlocks is being sealed inside the shuttle as the two shuttle pilots are about to prepare for their trip back to Earth.
"How is the ooze?" John Jameson asking his copilot.
"Still in containment, Colonel, the geeks back home will be pleased with this."
The container is placed in storage as the two astronauts are at the shuttle cockpit taking their seats and strapping in for their flight and pressing the instruments.
"How are we doing?" John Jameson asking his copilot.
"All systems are greens, we are all set, Colonel."
"Very well, time to detach." John Jameson takes the controls.
The shuttle detached itself from the docking tube as its thruster are fired up. The shuttle flies away from the station and begins its procedure of enter Earth's atmosphere.
Back on Earth at the Watson Residence, Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane have already finished school and are all hanging out in the bedroom as they needed the privacy.
"So what's so urgent that we needed to be alone?" Gwen is curious.
"It's about my boyfriend Harry, he's been asking me questions concerning you two, asking me what's the reason for your break up, and he knows that I'm hiding something from him." Mary Jane is concerned.
Peter sighed. "Geez MJ, I'm sorry, I never meant for my double life to affect yours."
"I'm sorry too, when I confided my secret to you, I had no idea what a burden it can be on your life, especially your relationship with Harry." Gwen apologizes to Mary Jane.
"I knew what I getting into and I still stand by it now. I just hope that this doesn't drive a wedge between me and Harry. I really like him and he's wonderful, but I hate sincerely lying to him, to his face. He doesn't deserve this." Mary Jane is worried.
"No, he doesn't, but you know as well as we do that the moment we involve those who knows our secret, they're lives will be changed and they'll be taking big risks because of it. I don't like lying to everyone I care about, but sometimes it's the only way to keep them safe from our double lives." Peter says to Mary Jane.
"Peter is right, we've made a lot of enemies in our lives as heroes. The more people who know, the more we put them in danger because of our secrets. If you tell Harry the truth, you could be unknowingly endangering his life. Harry cares for us and you know that he'll risk himself for us. We can't ask him to do that." Gwen says to Mary Jane.
Mary Jane sighed. "You're right, it wouldn't be fair of him to risk his life because of this. I'll try to figure out what to say hoping to throw him off the trial, hopefully he'll believe it."
Peter's phone rang, he picked it up to see that Betty is calling him.
"It's Betty." Peter answered the call. "Hey Betty, what's going on?"
"Peter, the shuttle landing is on the news, turn on the TV." Betty reminded Peter.
"Okay, thanks Betty." Peter hangs up and looks at MJ. "Turn on the TV."
Mary Jane turns on the TV in her bedroom as they watched the live news of John Jameson's return to Earth.
"The moment we've all been waiting for, Colonel John Jameson is returning back to Earth with a prized possession, an unknown substance found on the comet, scientists are eager to get their hands on it for study. Now we shall go to live footages from the shuttle as Jameson is flying it back to Earth."
The live footage of John and his copilot are shown on TV.
"Begin our descent to Earth in 3, 2, 1." John Jameson piloting the shuttle.
(Space Shuttle)
As the shuttle is began its descent to Earth, in the storage area, the container with the black ooze starts to move on it own, the ooze wants out. The container cracks as it began to leak the ooze. The ooze is moving on it own and sliding through the door.
John Jameson still in his seat piloting the shuttle as no one is aware of the living alien life form that is slithering towards them.
"Reaching the atmosphere in 3, 2." John Jameson lost his focus.
John looked down to see the black ooze is out of the container and moving onto him and his copilot.
"What the...? John Jameson is shocked to see the black ooze.
The copilot is also shocked too as it climbed onto his suit like it's doing to John, he screamed in fear.
"Get it off me!!!"
(Daily Bugle)
Jameson along with Robbie, Betty, and all of the employees working today are watching the live footage of John Jameson returning back to Earth in his shuttle as something went wrong on the journery, Jameson is worried that something terrible has happened to his son.
"What is it? What's happening?" Jameson is worried.
Everyone is shocked by what's happening up in space with the two astronauts.
"Help me!!"
The footages got cut off as the screens shows static.
"What's going on up there?!" Jameson is more worried than ever.
(Space Shuttle)
The shuttle deviated off course from its intended destination as the astronauts has lost control.
John Jameson is doing his best to stay in control during the chaos happening in the cockpit.
"Mayday, mayday! Mission Control, we're in trouble, do you copy?!" John Jameson tries communicating to Mission Control to no avail.
(Queens)
Peter, Gwen, and Mary Jane are shocked by what is happening up in space as the news switches back to the anchorman.
"What just happened?" Gwen is curious.
"Mission Control has just lost contact with the shuttle. There's no explanation yet."
(Space Shuttle)
The space shuttle is entering the atmosphere but it's heading for the wrong destination as it's heading for the upper Eastern Seaboard.
John is doing his best to maintain control as the ooze is moving up onto his suit.
"Mission Control, we're veering off course! Our landing coordinates are not valid." John tries to reach out again.
(Queens)
"What do you think could be happening up there?" Mary Jane is worried.
"I don't know, but it seems to be nothing good." Peter has a feeling.
"This bulletin just in, the shuttle is heading for the greater metropolitan area, remain calm and await further instructions."
"This is bad, looks like it's heading towards here, to New York." Peter is concerned.
(Space Shuttle)
The shuttle is already in the lower atmosphere as it's coming down too fast towards New York City.
John is still piloting the shuttle as it's flying towards the city and he still getting attacked by the black ooze.
"No, get off of me!" John Jameson is covered by the ooze.
(Daily Bugle)
Jameson inside his office alone with the news on the computer, he's very worried for his son aboard the shuttle as its heading down towards the city.
"NASA control is now estimating that the shuttle will reach impact in the Hudson, in the vicinity of the George Washington Bridge."
Jameson is desperate for his son's safety as he picked up the phone and made a call to Farley Stillwell.
(Private Lab)
Stillwell stopped his work as on Mac Gargan's new appearance as his phone is ringing, he pulls it out as Jameson is calling him.
"I need to take this." Stillwell answered the call. "Stillwell here."
"Stillwell, is the experiment ready?" Jameson is curious.
"I've just finished suiting him up in the battle suit, but I still need to run addition test." Stillwell says to Jameson.
"There's no time for that, skip the testing, I need him at the George Washington Bridge ASAP!!" Jameson says to Stillwell.
"But Mr. Jameson, we haven't tested him out yet. It's too soon and risky to expose Gargan in his new current form." Stillwell advised against Jameson's request.
"I don't care about the risks, my son is inside the shuttle about to crash down on the George Washington Bridge. I need Gargan to go out there and save him in time." Jameson sounded desperate.
"But..." Stillwell is still uneasy.
"Just do it!!!" Jameson orders Stillwell.
Stillwell sighed. "I'll send him out immediately."
Stillwell hangs up the phone as he walks towards Mac Gargan all dressed in a green battle suit armed with his mechanical tail.
"Well Gargan, looks like it's time for you to go out. Jameson has got a job for you." Stillwell informs Mac Gargan.
"I'm listening?" Mac Gargan speaks in a different voice.
(Queens)
Peter and Gwen already changed into their costumes as Mary Jane watched. They know where to go, the George Washington Bridge to help the astronauts.
"We can get there faster than anyone else. Are you ready, Ghost-Spider?" Peter puts on the mask.
Gwen puts her mask on. "Ready Spider-Man."
"Then let's go." Spider-Man says to Ghost-Spider.
"Good luck, you two." Mary Jane tells her two friends.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider climbed out of the window and started heading towards the George Washington Bridge at fast pace.
(George Washington Bridge)
A lot of vehicles are stuck in rush hour as police sirens are lighting up and cops are going around the cars.
"Everyone, get out of your vehicles! The shuttle will hit the bridge any minute! Get out of your vehicles and clear the bridge!"
All the civilians inside the vehicles complied as they get out of their vechiles and rushed out of the bridge in terror.
(Space Shuttle)
John and his copilot are still having trouble with the alien ooze attacking them as their shuttle has entire New York airspace.
"Gotta make it to the river." John Jameson pilots the shuttle.
Everyone down on the ground can see the shuttle passing by at high speed.
John has got visual on the George Washington Bridge.
"We're going to hit it!"
The shuttle came crashing down onto the bridge and rammed some cars in its path, the right wing was snapped off as it tilted towards it right side and crashed on the ground.
Meanwhile Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider finally reached the George Washington Bridge to find the crashed shuttle.
"Let's go, the crew will need our help!" Spider-Man tells Ghost-Spider.
They both swing up onto the hatch as they work together to open it. The hatch door got pulled off with their strength as they both jumped into the interior of the shuttle to see that it's a mess inside.
"Colonel Jameson! Can anyone here me?!" Spider-Man calling out to the astronaut.
"Over here!" Jameson called out.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider climbed into the cockpit to see that both astronauts are still strapped to their seats, Spider-Man came in close to see John Jameson still alive.
"Colonel Jameson, are you alright?" Spider-Man asking John Jameson.
"We were attacked." John Jameson is mumbling.
"Attacked? Attacked by what?" Ghost-Spider is curious.
John tries to say more but he passed out unconscious from the impact, Spider-Man took off John's helmet and checks his pulse.
"Is he?" Ghost-Spider asking Spider-Man.
"He's still alive, just passed out cold." Spider-Man informs Ghost-Spider.
"What do you think caused all this?" Ghost-Spider is still wondering.
"We'll worry about that later, right now we need to get them out of here." Spider-Man tells Ghost-Spider.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider helped the astronauts out of their seats.
Later they carried them out of the shuttle and took them both to safety as both astronauts are still unconscious.
"They're lucky to be alive, though they still need medical attention." Ghost-Spider says to Spider-Man,
"Don't worry, the ambulances are on their way." Spider-Man says to Ghost-Spider.
Both Spider-Man's and Ghost-Spider's sense tingles at the same time as something green jumped down and swings it's big tail and hitting them both, Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider both ended up on the ground in pain.
"Ow! Are you alright?" Spider-Man asking Ghost-Spider.
"Yeah, what hit us?" Ghost-Spider is wondering.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider got up to see a new guy here in a green costume of some kind with a big pointy mechanical tail on his back.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Spider-Man is curious.
"What? You don't remember me? I'm deeply hurt, you both threatened and humiliated me yesterday, any of that ring a bell?" Scorpion gave them hints.
Spider-Man is shocked. "Gargan?"
"Not anymore, now I am the Scorpion, and I am your worst nightmare." Mac Gargan is the Scorpion.
Unknown to anyone, the black ooze is climbing itself out of the hatch and moving outside onto the shuttle's hull.
"Look, we don't have time for this, there are two astronauts here that need medical attention." Ghost-Spider says to Scorpion.
"Not my problem, after I'm done with you both, you're the ones who will need medical attention." Scorpion doesn't care about anything than revenge.
"You don't have to do this, Gargan." Spider-Man says to Scorpion.
"Oh, yes I do?" Scorpion smiled sinisterly.
Scorpion charged at full speed and tackled Ghost-Spider as she was caught off guard by his unusual speed and strength, he pinned her down on the ground.
"Ghost-Spider, I'm coming!" Spider-Man charged at Scorpion.
Scorpion sees Spider-Man coming towards him as he counters by swinging his big tail and strikes Spider-Man hard. Spider-Man crashed against the shuttle's hull as he came into contact with the black ooze that was pouring down.
Ghost-Spider sees Spider-Man is hurt as she managed to free her left hand from his grip and fired a webbing onto his face. Scorpion released her other hand as he uses both hands to remove the webbing. Ghost-Spider kicked Scorpion hard off the ground as he landed in a three point stance.
Spider-Man recovers from his injuries as his costume is covered in a black ooze of some kind.
"Eh! What is all this?!" Spider-Man is curious.
"Spider-Man, I could use some help!" Ghost-Spider calling out to Spider-Man.
Ghost-Spider dodges the Scorpion's stinger, Spider-Man fired a web line at his tail and uses his strength hold him in place. Scorpion can't strike back with his tail not while Spider-Man still has a hold on it.
"Ghost-Spider, now!" Spider-Man holding Scorpion's tail.
Ghost-Spider fired a webline and zipped towards the Scorpion fast as she strikes back with her fist. Scorpion got punched hard, he pulled his tail hard as Spider-Man got pulled and collided with Ghost-Spider. They both got back up as Scorpion is proven to be a formidable opponent even for them.
The police and paramedics made it to the scene to find both astronauts unconscious. News helicopters along with civilians who are still in the area watched the fight happening with Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider taking on a new villain.
Scorpion swings his tail down hard as the two spiders split up and dodged his attack. Scorpion charged and tackled Ghost-Spider hard as she crashed against a taxi cab. Ghost-Spider is still injured from the impact as Scorpion has his tail ready to strike, Spider-Man sees Ghost-Spider is in danger.
"Time for the scorpion to sting the spider." Scorpion smiled as his tail is pointing at her.
"Nooo!!!" Spider-Man yelled out.
Scorpion sends his stinger down as Spider-Man got in front of Ghost-Spider and shielded her, he took the sting, it strikes through his shoulder. Spider-Man got hurt by the stinger as it injected its venom into his body.
"How touching." Scorpion is surprised.
Scorpion strike back with his back fist and hits Spider-Man hard, the hero fell down to the ground.
"Spider-Man, no!!!" Ghost-Spider is worried.
Ghost-Spider rushed towards her partner to see that he got stung by the Scorpion.
"Spider-Man, are you alright?!" Ghost-Spider holding her partner.
"I'm okay, I'm..." Spider-Man is feeling the venom.
Spider-Man isn't doing too well since the sting was also poisonous, he got dosed with scorpion venom. Spidey is feeling the effects of the venom doing to his body, he's began to feel hazy in his head.
"Spidey? Spidey!!" Ghost-Spider is worried for her friend.
Scorpion is walking towards them with his tail waving in the air. Ghost-Spider is with Spider-Man still poisoned as Scorpion is ready to strike again, the police could see the two heroes are in danger.
"Now who's the dangerous one? Because it's certainly not you two. Time to finish this." Scorpion smiles as he is about to kill them both
Gunshots were fired at Scorpion but his suit protected parts of his body but he got grazed in the shoulder by a bullet. He turns around to see the police are shooting at him. He jumped up and slammed down onto a police cruiser as he swings his tail and take out multiple cops out.
"That wasn't very nice." Scorpion is mad.
A soda can was tossed at him by civilians nearby as they wanted to help out the heroes. Ghost-Spider sees people willing to help as she spotted a wrecked taxi cab nearby, she got an idea.
"Get out of here, you freak!!!"
"I hate being called names!!!" Scorpion hates being insulted.
"Then go and take a cab!!!" Ghost-Spider tossed the taxi cab.
Scorpion turns and sees the taxi cab tossed at him and it successfully crashed upon and pushed him off the bridge, he fell down fast into the Hudson River. Ghost-Spider looked down to see that there's no sign of the Scorpion.
Spider-Man is moaning from the pain of the Scorpion's sting, Ghost-Spider quickly rushed to his side to see that the effects are getting worse. She picked him up and draped his arm around her shoulders.
"Spider-Man, hang on, we're going home." Ghost-Spider holds Spider-Man close to her.
Ghost-Spider fired off a web line and swings away from the scene while he's feeling the venom's effect worsening. The black ooze from the shuttle is still on his suit as neither Spider-Man nor Ghost-Spider care to noticed.
A Bugle helicopter landed down on the bridge as Jameson quickly got out and rushed to his son John being taken by paramedics.
"John! John, it's me! John!" Jameson reaching out to his son.
"Sir, he's still unconscious, we need to get him to the hospital as soon as possible."
The paramedics puts an unconscious John Jameson into the back of the ambulance, his father climbed aboard as the door closes. The ambulance left the scene with John in route to the hospital.
Meanwhile far away from the bridge, Scorpion popped his head out of the water for air. He's still injured from the bullet wound the cops inflicted upon him.
It's nighttime in Queens, Peter is all sweaty as he opens his eyes to see that he's in his bedroom with Gwen and Mary Jane by his side. He bent up from the bed to find that he's shirtless with bandages around his wound.
"Whoa, take it easy, Tiger." Mary Jane tells Peter
"It's okay Pete, you're safe." Gwen tries to calm him down.
"How did I get here?" Peter is confused.
"You got stung by the Scorpion, his stinger seemed to delivered a high dose of scorpion venom. You weren't doing so good, I was able to get you out of there and brought you back home." Gwen explained to Peter.
"How long was I out?" Peter is curious.
"Three hours, your condition started to worsen after the first hour. I was able to go to the Spider-Cave and create an antidote to the venom. It done it's work, but traces of the venom are still in your system. You still need to rest to recover." Gwen explained to Peter.
"You really are an angel, Gwen. Thank you." Peter smiled at Gwen.
Gwen smiled back at Peter as there's still a connection between them that is beyond platonic, Mary Jane noticed it as Peter and Gwen broke off the moment.
"So what happened to the astronauts?" Peter is curious.
"They've been taken to the hospital, they both survived, they're going to be okay." Gwen explained to Peter.
"And Scorpion?" Peter asking Gwen.
"I tossed a cab at him and he fell off the bridge. He's disappeared, there been no sign of him." Gwen explained to Peter.
"By the way, Tiger. Your suit is a messy." Mary Jane holding up the suit.
The Spider-Man suit is still covered in black ooze.
"What do you think this stuff on it is?" Mary Jane is curious.
"Don't know, must've come from the shuttle." Peter doesn't know what it is.
The door opened as May came in with a tray of soup and tea, she sees Peter is already up.
"Peter, I'm so glad that you're alright. You had me so worried." May is relieved.
"We should probably go and give them some space." Mary Jane dropped the suit.
"You're right, I need to be home in time." Gwen agrees with Mary Jane.
"Take care, Tiger." Mary Jane walked out.
"Bye Pete." Gwen walked out too.
Both girls left the bedroom as May sit next to Peter as she's about to feed him with a spoon.
"Now open wide." May feeding him some soup.
"I'm not a little kid anymore, Aunt May." Peter felt embarrassed.
"No, but you'll need your strength to recover. Open wide." May still holding the spoon.
Sometime later, the Scorpion is hiding out in an abandoned building as he still hurt by the bullet wound on his shoulder.
"Damn cops! Why do they have to butt in?" Scorpion still pissed.
He walked around as he stepped onto a broken mirror, he looked down to see his reflection of who is now and what he has become. He still remembers the insults the people on the bridge called him.
"Get out of here, you freak!!!"
"Freak? What have I become?" Scorpion is shocked.
Scorpion looked at his reflection again to see that he's no longer human, but a freak to himself and everyone else.
"What have they done to me?! I never wanted this!" Scorpion is ashamed of himself.
Scorpion swings his tail around in anger as he's unable to cope with his new appearance, he wrecked the room.
"I can't stay like this. I have to find a way to return back to who I was. Stillwell is the one who made all this possible, he made me this way and he'll unmake me. I'll force him to change me back to the man I was by any means necessary." Scorpion wants to be normal again.
It's still nighttime as Peter Parker is sleeping in his room without the blanket on as he's sweating too much from the scorpion venom, he twists and turns.
Unknown to him, the black ooze attached from his suit started to move off and slithers on the ground towards his bed.
Peter still sleeping as the ooze climbed on top of the bed and clings itself to his hand. Peter is twisting and turning his head as he's unaware of what's happening right now.
The entire left arm is cover by the black ooze as it's forming a part of a suit of some kind. The ooze continues to move up to the rest of him as it grows and bonds to him. Peter is having a nightmare as the ooze form most of the suit on his body.
"No." Peter is shaking.
The ooze then finally reached his face as Peter opened his eyes and has no idea what is happening to him, the ooze consumes the rest of him as he blacked out.
"Ahh!" Peter blacked out.
Later in the city, Spider-Man is hanging upside down outside the skyscraper as he wakes up and shakes it off.
"Whoa! For a minute there, I thought I was having a... nightmare." Spider-Man is shocked.
Spider-Man looks at the windows reflection to see himself all dressed in black in a suit he's never seen before in his life.
"How? How did it get here and what is this suit I'm wearing?" Peter is confused.
Spider-Man jumps and clings to the window, he is wearing a black version of the Spider-Man suit with a white spider in the middle. He felt unusually different ever before in his new suit.
"Whatever this is, it feels... good." Spider-Man likes his new suit.
He decided to test it out as he does some flips on the windows and jumps off the building.
"Whoa!!!" Spider-Man falls down.
He fires off black webbing from the suit and swings around in the city. He more surprised that the webbing didn't come from the webshooters but from the suit itself.
"This is so awesome! I've never felt this excited in my life." Spider-Man is excited.
He swings high on top of a skyscraper as he's left alone and pulled off his new mask and smiles.
"Amazing, I think I'll keep you." Spider-Man smiled as he like his suit.
Spider-Man returned home after his adventures in the city as he looks himself in the mirror of his new dark look. The suit unexpectedly removed itself from Peter as he sees himself shirtless wearing only his sweatpants.
"Wow, that was unexpected." Peter is surprised.
Peter is even more surprised that the wound on his shoulder is completely healed and the effects of the venom are cleansed from his system.
"What kind of suit is this? Could it have come from the shuttle?" Peter is looking at his reflection.
Peter checked the time on his alarm clock, it's 4:17 AM.
"I'll worry about it another time, right now I need to catch some shut eye." Peter yawned out.
Peter went back to bed as he closes his eyes and went back to sleep.
It's morning time, May is in the kitchen making breakfast as she sees Peter already up and dressed for school.
"Morning Aunt May!" Peter smiled at May.
"Morning Peter, I see that you're feeling all better." May says to Peter.
"Like I'm a new man." Peter says to May.
May noticed that Peter is dressed in black jacket, black shirt, and black pants.
"Why are you wearing black?" May is confused.
"Oh, I'm just in a dark mood." Peter smiled with pride.
They hear a car horn honking outside as Peter has an idea who it can be.
"That's gotta be Harry in his new convertible, better get going." Peter is leaving.
"Peter, what about breakfast?" May says to Peter.
"Another time, bye Aunt May." Peter blows a kiss before he left.
May is worried about her nephew's unusual behavior, she can't help but be concerned for him.
Peter walked outside to see Harry with Gwen in the back, Mary Jane is also walking out of her house, both she and Peter are amazed by Harry's new set of wheels.
"Whoa, this is neat ride!" Peter tells Harry.
"Like it? After finally getting my license, my dad bought me this sweet ride. I thought I'd come and pick my friends up for a ride to school." Harry smiled with pride.
"What are we waiting for? Let's hop in." Peter tells Mary Jane.
Mary Jane took the front seat while Peter climbed onto the back with Gwen. Everyone has strapped in their seat beats. Gwen is surprised to see Peter's new dark appearance.
"Hang on!" Harry tells his friends.
Harry drives away from the houses with his friends smiling in excitement as they're enjoying the new ride.
Later at the private lab, Stillwell is still wondering about Mac Gargan's disappearance since he hasn't come back yet. He look at the internet concerning any new appearance of the Scorpion but so far no luck.
"Where are you, Gargan?" Stillwell is wondering.
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Scorpion surprised Stillwell.
Scorpion came out of hiding and showed himself to Stillwell.
"Gargan, I'm relieved to see that you're alright." Stillwell says to Scorpion.
"Wrong, I'm not alright. Look at me, I'm a big freak." Scorpion isn't too happy.
"Okay, calm down Gargan." Stillwell is afraid.
"You turned me into this, and you're going to fix me." Scorpion demanded of Stillwell.
"Fix you? How?" Stillwell is confused.
Scorpion grabbed Stillwell's throat and held him up in the air.
"You're going to undo what been done to me, I want you to change me back, I want to be normal again!" Scorpion demands his life back.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Stillwell is being threatened.
"Can't or won't." Scorpion asking again.
"What you're asking is impossible, the process has permanently bonded your DNA with the Scorpion, it's irreversible." Stillwell tells Scorpion.
"You're saying that you can't change me back? I'm stuck being like this forever?" Scorpion is shocked.
"I'm sorry." Stillwell apologies in fear.
Scorpion tossed Stillwell to the wall, knocking him out unconscious as the Scorpion yelled out in anger and destroying everything in his path, his chances of becoming human again are gone.
"Jameson!!! You tricked me, you're the reason I'm stuck being this monster!!! You're going to pay for this!!!" Scorpion is angry and he wants revenge.
Sometime later, school is almost at an end as Raymond Warren is teaching his class, Gwen is noticing Peter's new looks and his change in personality, she's never seen this side of Peter before. Mary Jane noticed it too, as did Betty and Glory who can't help but stare at the new Peter, and some female classmates noticed Peter too. Harry is surprised by all the attention Peter is getting from the girls, Flash and some guys can't help but being jealous of Parker.
The school bell rang as school has ended and everyone puts away their stuff and picked up their backpacks.
"Alright, be sure to study tonight." Raymond Warren reminded the class.
Later Peter is walking out with Gwen, Mary Jane, and Harry as school has ended for the day.
"So Pete, what's with the new look? Are you trying to impress the ladies or what?" Harry is curious.
"You could say that, since I am single now." Peter says to Harry.
Gwen is uneasy hearing what Peter is saying, this isn't like him, not like the Peter she knew.
"Hey Peter!" Betty is catching up to him.
"Betty, what's happening?" Peter asking Betty.
"Jameson called me, he wants everyone at the Bugle ASAP, apparently he's still upset about what happened to his son. He wants everyone working on the story concerning the shuttle crash." Betty explained to Peter.
Peter sighed. "Of course, sorry to bail out on you three, again."
"It's fine Pete, we're all pretty much use to it, most of the time." Harry understands.
"See you later, Tiger." Mary Jane says her goodbyes.
"Bye everyone." Peter waved to his friends.
Peter walks with Betty as they both have work to do at the Bugle.
"I should go too, see you later, Mary Jane." Gwen is leaving too.
Gwen walks away leaving Mary Jane alone with Harry.
"I guess that just leave you and me then." Mary Jane says to Harry.
"Sure, let's take a ride." Harry says to Mary Jane.
Later after she left school, Gwen just returned home to see that her father is home too, he's sorting through some papers on the table.
"Dad, didn't know that you're home so soon." Gwen is surprised.
"Oh, I'm not, I just forgot to take these files with me to work." George Stacy says to Gwen.
"Okay, see you later then." Gwen is about to walk upstairs.
"Gwennie, wait." George Stacy tells Gwen.
Gwen stopped as she's curious what her father wants.
"What is it?" Gwen is wondering.
"Is everything okay with you? With your breakup with Peter?" George Stacy asking Gwen.
"You know?" Gwen says to her father.
"I was a detective, I can tell when something is wrong. Do you want to talk about it?" George Stacy says to Gwen.
Gwen couldn't exactly tell her father the whole truth even though he knew Peter is Spider-Man, but he still doesn't know that she's Ghost-Spider.
"Peter and I... we're... we're taking a break, giving each other some space, it's no one's fault." Gwen made an excuse.
"I had no idea, are you alright with the breakup and everything?" George Stacy is concerned for his daughter.
"Honestly Dad, it's not easy breaking up with the love of your life. A part of me still loves Peter, but he and I are on separate paths, he has his job and it's putting a strain on our relationship." Gwen says to her father.
"I'm sorry, but I hope that you and Peter find your way back together. You both deserve happiness." George Stacy says to Gwen.
"Thank you dad." Gwen smiled at her father.
"Anytime Gwennie." George Stacy says to Gwen.
George watched as his daughter heads upstairs to her bedroom. He knows that Peter has his duties as Spider-Man, but he can't help feeling bad that Peter's relationship with his daughter has ended. He hopes that one day Peter and Gwen get back together.
Harry drove his car to the park near Queensboro Bridge as Mary Jane has no idea what Harry has planned.
"What are we doing far away from my home?" Mary Jane asking Harry.
"Because we need to talk, MJ." Harry is being serious.
"About?" Mary Jane is clueless.
"What is this big secret you're keeping from me?" Harry asking Mary Jane.
"Are you serious, Harry? Are we going through this again?" Mary Jane is shocked.
"MJ, for a long time we've dated, I've always know that you've been keeping something from me, something you don't want to tell me. I've done my best to respect your privacy, but this can't go on. MJ, I love you and want us to be together, but I just wish that you trust me enough to want to tell me your secret." Harry explained to Mary Jane.
Mary Jane has been keeping a secret from everyone for the past year concerning her best friend Peter's double life as Spider-Man and more recently Gwen's as Ghost-Spider, they both trusted Mary Jane to keep their secret from everyone, including her Aunt Anna and her boyfriend Harry. As much as she wants to tell him, she can't betray her friend's trust in her.
"Harry, I'm sorry but I can't." Mary Jane says to Harry.
"Can't or won't?" Harry says to Mary Jane.
"Harry, I love you too, but there are somethings in life that can I never speak off to anyone, not even you." Mary Jane tells Harry.
"MJ..." Harry tries to talk with her some more.
"I'm sorry Harry, I have to go now." Mary Jane got out of the car.
Mary Jane walks back home alone as she couldn't tell Harry the truth about the secret she's been carrying. Harry is hurt that Mary Jane refused to trust her boyfriend with the secret she's been keeping from him.
The sun is setting around New York as Peter and Betty are at the Daily Bugle with most of the staff and freelancers attending, Jameson is coming up to speak with them.
"Listen up, as many of you are aware, my son John was one of the astronaut that survived the shuttle accident recently, doctors informed me that he'll make a full recovery. But I want some answers as to what happened up there, NASA is still conducting the investigation but seeing all this as classified, they refused to disclose confidential information." Jameson explained to this employees.
(Downstairs)
A man enters the lobby wearing a long brown coat and a hat, the man walks up to the elevator and managed to catch the door before it closes in time.
He enters the elevator as he pressed the button to go up to the Bugle Floor, the doors closed as he takes off the coat and hat, he reveals himself as the Scorpion.
(Main Floor)
"My son barely made it out alive, but there are still lingering questions. Who or what caused the incident up there in space that could've gotten my son killed, I want some answers and I'll be willing to pay a huge bonus to the person who provides the answers." Jameson tells his employees
"But shouldn't we focus on the other stuff like that big scorpion guy who fought against the heroes on the bridge." Robbie suggested focusing on the Scorpion.
"I don't care about that freak in a costume!" Jameson says to Robbie.
"Who are you calling a freak?!" Scorpion sounded angry.
Everyone turns around to see the Scorpion here in person as everyone got frightened that a supervillain is here in the flesh, he looks very angry as he focus his anger on Jameson. Peter wonders why the Scorpion is here and what he wants with Jameson.
"Jameson, just the man I wanted to see. Everyone, leave now, before I change my mind!" Scorpion tells everyone to leave.
All of the Bugle staff ran away as Peter escorted Betty to the elevator, leaving the Scorpion alone with Jameson left behind. Peter got Betty inside the elevator as he stayed behind.
"Peter, aren't you coming?" Betty asking Peter.
"I need to stay behind in case someone gets left behind. You go down to safety, Betty." Peter says to Betty.
"Be careful, Pete." Betty says with concern.
"Promise." Peter smiled as he blinked his eye at her.
Betty smiled as the elevator doors closes, Peter goes and finds safe place to hide. He found an empty closet as he went inside. He pulled out his phone and called Gwen Stacy.
"Gwen here." Ghost-Spider answered the call.
"Are you in the city?" Peter asking Ghost-Spider.
"I'm on patrol right now in case Scorpion surface." Ghost-Spider tells Peter.
"Well, he just surfaced here at the Daily Bugle, he's alone with Jameson, and he doesn't too happy with him." Peter explained to Ghost-Spider.
"Okay, I'm on my way as fast as I can. Be careful." Ghost-Spider tells Peter.
Peter hangs up the phone as he can't wait for Ghost-Spider to get here in time as Scorpion is threatening Jameson right now.
"I can't wait for Ghost-Spider. This is a good time to test out my new suit and find out what she can do." Peter says in his thoughts.
Peter extended his arms as the suit formed itself around him and he instantly became Spider-Man.
Jameson retreated to his office and closed the door in fear, but that all proved futile as Scorpion crashed through to his office and has his tail ready to attack.
"Gargan, let's talk this out!" Jameson tried to reason with Scorpion.
"It's too late to talk, Jameson, you tricked me, you turned me into this freak!!!" Scorpion is very angry.
"Take it easy, Gargan. Perhaps there's something we can still do. We can find a way to cure you." Jameson tries to reason again.
"You're the reason I'm like this in the first place, and now I'm going to make you pay!!!" Scorpion has his tail in the air.
He attacks with his tail as Jameson moved and it made a crack on the window.
"Get over it, Gargan!" Jameson is afraid.
"You ruined my life and now I'll end yours." Scorpion is about to kill Jameson.
A black web line was shot and cling to Scorpion's tail as Scorpion himself got pulled away hard out of the office.
"Who did that?!" Scorpion is mad.
"I did." Spider-Man showed himself in his new black costume.
"We meet again, Spider-Man. Just my luck, two of my hated enemies here." Scorpion says to Spider-Man.
Spider-Man looked at Jameson. "Get out of here, Flattop!"
"What did you just call me, you bug?!" Jameson felt insulted.
"You heard me, now!!!" Spider-Man says with a tone.
Jameson is out of his league as two super being are too much for him, he ran away from the scene as Scorpion sees Jameson making his escape.
"Oh no, you don't!" Scorpion tries to stop Jameson.
"Hey! Forget about him, we have some unfinished business, you and me." Spider-Man says to Scorpion.
"You should've brought your partner with you, I've beaten you before and I'll do it again. What makes you think that this will be any different?" Scorpion is very confident.
"Because this time, I won't be holding back and I plan to beat you up to a pulp. This time you're facing a new and improved Spider-Man." Spider-Man is confident too.
"Fine, let's finish what we started." Scorpion challenges Spider-Man.
"Let's go." Spider-Man accepts the challenge.
Scorpion charged in for a tackle but Spider-Man remained still as he lets Scorpion get closer, he moved slightly and dodged his tackle, Scorpion missed as Spider-Man does the spinning back fist. Scorpion got his pretty hard with so much strength. Scorpion gets him back up after that hit.
"You got pretty lucky there, but all that luck won't help you." Scorpion still wants to fight.
"Luck had nothing to do with it, I am more stronger than I have ever been." Spider-Man boasted about his new power.
"You maybe dressed in black, but you're still the weak Wall-Crawler I've beaten." Scorpion isn't impressed.
"And you're still that same weak loser who never amounted to anything in his pathetic life." Spider-Man taunts Scorpion.
Scorpion got more angry at Spider-Man for insulting him, he swings his tail hard at the hero, but Spidey caught it with his hand and pulls Scorpion with his new strength. Spider-Man spins around still gripping Scorpion's tail, he spins until he lets go and Scorpion crashed against the wall.
"How is this possible?" Scorpion is surprised by Spider-Man's new power.
"Like I said, I'm more stronger than before. Let me prove it to you again." Spider-Man walks up to Scorpion.
Spider-Man has his fists ready as he throws the first punch on Scorpion's face, making him hurt. Spider-Man punched again and again as Scorpion is powerless to fight back. Spider-Man finished his last punch as Scorpion's face is bruised and he looked terrified by Spider-Man's unusual behavior.
"Okay, okay, stop, please stop!!! I give up, you've beaten, we're even!!!" Scorpion is scared.
"No, we're not, yet." Spider-Man says to Spider-Man.
"What are you talking about?" Scorpion is confused.
"Then let me jog your memory." Spider-Man says to Scorpion.
Spider-Man picked up Scorpion's tail, specifically the stinger and hold it in has hand.
"What are you doing?" Scorpion looking frightened.
"You stung me and now I'm giving you a taste of your own medicine." Spider-Man pointing the stinger at Scorpion
"No... you can't do this!!!" Scorpion is scared for his life.
"Can't I?" Spider-Man isn't backing down.
Ghost-Spider made it in time to see Scorpion down and Spider-Man all dressed in black, she sees him holding the stinger like he's going to use it on Scorpion.
"Spider-Man! Don't do it!!!" Ghost-Spider tries to stop Spider-Man.
"He tried to kill you, he deserves this!!!" Spider-Man tells Ghost-Spider.
"Spider-Man, you've already defeated him, let the police take him into custody." Ghost-Spider tells Spider-Man.
"Why? So that he can get out and terrorize innocent people again? I don't think so." Spider-Man refused to back down.
"You can't do this, this is wrong!" Ghost-Spider tries to reason with Spider-Man.
Spider-Man is about to use the stinger on Scorpion to take his life.
"No!!!!" Ghost-Spider yelled out.
Spider-Man stopped in his tracks and dropped the stinger on the ground, sparring Scorpion's life. Ghost-Spider sees that Spider-Man stopped himself from crossing a line he could never come back from. Scorpion is still scared that Spider-Man came close to ending his life. Spider-Man looked at Ghost-Spider all stunned by his own actions.
"Spider-Man, what has happened to you?" Ghost-Spider is concerned.
"I don't know... I'm sorry." Spider-Man felt guilty.
Spider-Man ran out and jumped out of the window.
"Wait!" Ghost-Spider says to Spider-Man but she's too late.
Ghost-Spider watched as Spider-Man swings away as she's worried for her partner, he's more different and dark than ever before.
Mary Jane is alone in her bedroom with her pet dog Ms. Lion, she's looking at the photos of herself with her boyfriend Harry, they looked happy together dating in the past year.
"Harry, I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you the truth. I hope that you can I understand." Mary Jane looking guilty.
Mary Jane then heard a honk outside, she looked out the window to see Harry Osborn in his car.
Later, she got outside and Harry just got out of the car waiting for her. Mary Jane is surprised to see him again after she just walked out on him.
"Harry, I didn't know if I was going to see you again." Mary Jane is surprised.
"Neither did I. MJ, I tried to understand you and your need to keep secrets from me, but I just can't do this anymore." Harry says to Mary Jane.
"Harry, what are you saying?" Mary Jane is confused.
"That this relationship of ours isn't working, because there's no trust between us. I just wished that you had trusted me enough to share your secrets, but you don't because you don't trust me, you never have." Harry explained to Mary Jane.
"Harry, please understand that there's somethings that I can't tell anyone. I just wished that you respected my need for privacy." Mary Jane is breaking down.
"I do MJ, believe me I've tried my best to make this relationship of ours work, but honestly your need to keep secrets is building a wall between us, a wall that you won't let me in. This relationship of ours can never work if there's no trust in it. It's better that we're no longer together anymore." Harry wants to end their relationship.
"Harry, don't do this." Mary Jane is tearing up.
"I'm sorry MJ, but this over, goodbye." Harry is tearing up too.
Harry walked away as Mary Jane is crying tears from her eyes. Harry drove away in his car, leaving Mary Jane to cry alone. Their relationship as a couple has ended.
Meanwhile in the city, Spider-Man is all alone clinging from a skyscraper as he feels conflicted by his actions, he has no idea what is going on with himself, he's changed into someone he doesn't even recognize anymore.
"What did I just do back there? I almost did something that would've regretted for the rest of my life and I have no idea why." Spider-Man says to himself.
Spider-Man looked at the reflection of himself in the black suit as something popped up briefly in its place and he caught a glimpse of it, whatever it was, it didn't look human, it scared him.
"What was that? What's happening to me?" Spider-Man is scared of himself.
Spider-Man is frightened by this new change of his and he has no idea what's causing it.
Back in Queens, Mary Jane is crying as her relationship with Harry Osborn has finally ended, her pet dog tries to comfort her and cheer her up but she still saddened by her breakup.
Ghost-Spider climbed through the bedroom window as she takes off her mask, she needed to talk with Mary Jane concerning Peter.
"Mary Jane, glad that you're still awake. Something has happened to Peter." Gwen tells Mary Jane.
Mary Jane looked up at Gwen with her face covered in tears, Gwen can see that her friend is crying.
"Mary Jane, what's wrong?" Gwen is worried for Mary Jane.
"Harry... he and I... we broke up." Mary Jane tearing up.
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry." Gwen says to Mary Jane.
Mary Jane got up as Gwen came closer and hugged her friend for comfort. Mary Jane lets out all the pain she's carrying inside her heart, this has been the worst day of her life.
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