The reason I chose Ricochet was basically because all the other names I came up with -and I didn't find out about Kid Arachnid until later (which I would've used had I known!) - were utterly bad and hard to come up with, I mean seriously, what did you expect? Web-Man? Wally Webs? Spider-Kid? Spoderman (ugh)? The bombastic Bag-Man?
Also, imagine the spider emblem from the Spider-armor MKIV on the chest of the Iron Spider Armor.
As per the usual, all credit to respective owners!
-Y.A.R.N.
P.S. Just a small notice guys - while I do appreciate it a lot if you like my stories - if you have questions about my other stories and any plans to continue them, PM me. Don't post a review about it on a story as I rely on the reviews to see feedback and occasionally comb for ideas.
Peter carefully sat Miles onto the bed in his apartment and straightened as his suit flowed back into this metal bracer and Viri supplied him with clothing.
"Miles," Peter asked as he began to once again pull out a first aid kit, "Who... No, what the hell was that?"
"I don't know." Miles groaned as shifted and his bruises ached, "I was about to stop a drug deal and then this guy who was hiding out with them just began killing all of them and then rambled about how you, Osborn, and the Sinister Six were going to pay."
Peter pinched the bridge of his nose already feeling a migraine forming from the stress, "So, let me get this straight, a guy who is like a bulky and mutated version of me - who apparently thinks I am as much a criminal as Jolly Jonah does - is running around promising to kill me and some super-villains and blame it on me?"
Miles shrugged and winced, "Yeah, sounds about right."
"That's just fantastic." Peter sighed as he set the kit down next to Miles, "This is exactly what I needed in addition to all that is going on."
Miles frowned as he began to dress his own wounds (Peter had insisted that he learn that so he could take care of any injuries and no one was on hand to help), "He did mention something about splicing, a mutagenic shift. and his love, I think?"
Peter scowled and sat heavily on his desk chair, "So... he's like the scorpion except he used spiders? Great, that's just fan-freaking-tastic! I do my best and stop the villains and seeing that, some psycho with a grudge decides to try to replicate my powers and then added a mutagen? Why is it always me? Why can't someone just go after someone else? I hear that Thor or Iron Man are always open for a challenge!"
Miles groaned as he got up, "I need to head home, I am probably gonna have to rest a bit before patrol tomorrow."
Peter gave him a look, "Miles..."
Miles waved a hand, "My healing should take care of this, easy! This isn't half as bad as the bullet and that took three days of rest before the wound closed up and was fine.."
Peter sighed, "Fine, but any discomfort, you stop."
"Got it, coach." Miles replied, "I'll tell you more about what he could do tomorrow."
It has begun. I was right about the sudden influx of spider-themed criminals and this time we have a murdering monster who has masquerading as a 'new' Spider-Man and is willing to kill the original webbed menace. This monster is willing to commit mass homicide to subjugate the good people of NYC! No, he will commit mass Spidercide! Actually, make a note of that name, Jared! It's perfect for him! No doubt the original Spider-Man had wanted another apprentice after letting 'Ricochet out into the street and has coached this new masked maniac about how best to destroy New York! And now the apprentice is going to kill everyone to become the sole leader of New York! Is nowhere safe, is nothing sacred to the spider-maniacs? I hope that soon the proper authorities will be able to end the Spider-Plague that is beginning to run rampant in the streets of our beloved New York! We need help, we need someone to step up and stop these monsters, and with many of the real superheroes out of the city at this time, I am more than willing to step up to the task!
Peter was sighing in relief as he walked out of Horizon Labs, he had been a bit nervous but they did seem genuinely interested in him and his work. While they had raised concerns over his previous employment, he had been quick to assure them that he only worked on the interface and the original intention was simply to help people get functional prosthetics for those who had lost limbs. They had demonstrated their facilities and explained their work hours and the flexible terms of work. Simply build tech in order to help improve life and technology's advancement.
If that was the only thing, this would be a better job than what even Otto was capable of giving (Even if Devil's Breath had forever tainted his view of his old mentor and his previous job).
Besides, with the apparent death of Felicia - which was a devastating blow to self-confidence and morale - he really needed a good thing actually being good. For all that she was manipulative and she had lied about having a son (and his son no less), Peter cared pretty deeply about Felicia. She may not have been the best of people while the excitement of robbery and theft appealing to her and her making more crime, she had saved him and cared about him in her own unique way. He wished he had been faster, better, stronger; somehow be enough to stop losing the people and things he cared about. He hadn't been able to stop Martin Li in time to keep him from prison, stop Doc Ock from using the incomplete interface and going off the deep end, save his aunt from the sickness - if he had just managed to keep hold of the damn antiserum - and things just seemed to spiral from there. And as if it wasn't bad enough, Jolly Jonah recent ravings over him and spider-themed villains and heroes was in a way right, in a weird twisted way.
Spidercide was his responsibility, someone who saw his capabilities and used powers based off of his own to wreak havoc on NYC rather than be a hero.
Peter scrubbed a hand through his hair, muttering, "It's never stops, does it?"
'Peter. You do the best you can and that is all you CAN do..' Viri said softly, 'While it sometimes may not be enough, it is all anyone can ask. There is no cause for shame or self-loathing over doing the best you can. You save so many, being so neurotic only causes you pain.'
'I know.' Peter sighed, 'I just... even with everything I do... Its like there will never be a time when it just stops.'
Trying to shake off the dark thoughts, and deciding that now was as good a time as ever to start patrolling (and hopefully try to see if he could did up more info on Spidercide and the Maggia, Peter ducked into an alleyway and mentally thought, 'Viri, you ready in case I need you?'
'Always.' Came the reply.
Spider-Man's Iron Spider suit flowed over his body and he took the skies in a web-line.
Miles tapped his pencil idly against his notebook as he was thinking about some more of the tricks he could use with his powers. While he knew he should be concentrating on the spidey-work Peter had assigned him (which he did mostly to make sure Miles was on his toes) and homework assignments, he was just too preoccupied with thoughts on his fight with the Jameson-dubbed Spidercide.
It was a frankly eye-opening experience.
And not a pleasant one.
He grumbled wordlessly at how sore he realized he was when he got home and his adrenaline had faded. His bruises were already fading away but his arm felt slight strained since he had to catch a car and then immediately threw it at Spidercide. He was sure that it would be fine by patrol but he began to doubt in his abilities as a new Spider-Man.
It was the first time he had tangled with what could be considered a actual super-powered villain; while the Demon gang members might have access to negative energy, but in all honesty, Mr. Negative - or Martin Li if you prefer - was the one who granted them a small fraction of negative power. Miles hadn't dealt with any of the Sinister Six and his brief hide-and-seek with Rhino in the shipping yard didn't count. Peter had kept him out of the whole maggia family debacle - while dealing with Black Cat - for the most part. And judging from the look of things, that might actually start coming to a head with the explosion of Black Cat's apartment. Petty thugs and crooks weren't bad, Miles was able to take them without any issue, but this was so so different.
The worst part was he felt Spidercide wasn't just going to lunge out of the shadows and try again immediately, he was going to take his time - gain a handle on his abilities - and then strike.
Peter was acquainting himself with his new lab-space within Horizon Labs, an almost awestruck expression on his face.
"I take it you can work with this?" Max Model inquired, smiling at the look on Peter's face.
"Are you kidding?" Peter exclaimed excitedly, "This is more than anything I had thought!"
Max chuckled before adopting a serious expression, "Remember Parker, this isn't just some funhouse for you to tinker, we are trying to make the world better. We know you worked on Otto Octavius'... prosthetics, but if you begin to create problems, we will be forced to turn you in and personally, a gifted mind such as yours deserves better. Alright?"
Peter stiffened, face twisting into a complicated expression, "I know... I... When I worked with Otto... I tried to get him to hold off on using the interface, it wasn't ready! He took it, and my work and used it like... like it was never supposed to be! We wanted to help others... and all we did was cause harm. I need to make it back up in some small way."
Max Model stared at him for a long moment before sighing, "Well, it's as good as a guarantee as I can hope for. Just so you know, you won't be an full-time rate quite yet since you're just starting out. Later on it will be more and it will depend on your accomplishments and work in the lab."
"As long as I can pay rent and help people, I'm in." Peter joked weakly.
He waited till Max left and walked over to his duffel bag he had brought with him, and took out his Black Suit Case and opened it, taking out the damaged remnants of his anti-ock suit and placed his Iron Spider gauntlets on the table in front of him.
"Lets start with you two." Peter muttered.
Peter and Miles landed on the rooftop near the sanatorium where Yuri and the other cops were preparing to make an entry. Spiderman's upgraded suit wasn't too different in design from his regular Iron Spider Armor except for his eyes now outlined with a dark blue glow and his emblem on the front now contained a smaller spider emblem within the overall front that was outlined in blue. Peter decided that he wanted to change his suit's ability to form from his gauntlets to the spider emblem that he now had affixed to his chest (taking inspiration from Iron Man's mark 50 armor). With a suggestion from Viri, he had added the suit's ability to 'listen' to mental and vocal commands which was quicker and much less noticeable than activating his arm bracers. In addition to his standard upgrades, he added a layer of temperature coating in order to help protect Viri from extreme heat weakening the symbiote and - taking inspiration from Miles' bio-electricity - deliver heated blows.
Peter figured he'd be able to much better job in helping people if he souped up his suit to the best of his ability.
The only current problem happened to be the shootout that was happening between the maggia using sable weaponry and had the other maggia forces trying to breach the front utterly outgunned and outmaneuvered. The sable-empowered forces were steadily pushing the other forces out and down.
"Getting bad down there..." Peter replied grimly.
"Ready when you are." Yuri replied shortly, "The other families managed to corner Hammerhead in the sanatorium, but his goons are using sable tech they managed to get when sable left to keep out and hammer the other Maggia families."
"I thought all of that was already in police custody?" Miles inquired.
Peter had forgotten to tell Miles about the Sable tech he found in Hammerhead's possession.
"We got all we could but we couldn't recover all of it from around the city alongside the cleanup of the Devil Breath's incident and even after we raided the area Spider-Man had told us about." Yuri said as she shook her head, "A sizable quantity was never accounted for when we tallied what we had. At least now we know where it went."
Peter sighed and looked at the shootout, "So what's the plan?"
Yuri straightened, "If we can get Hammerhead to get his attention only on the front, then we might be able to sneak a small team in and take him alive."
Peter nodded, "Got it. We'll draw his eyes to the front."
"Hey spidey, check it out." One of the policemen said, raising his wrist and showing off a Spider-Man themed watch.
"Nice!" Peter complimented with a mask-hidden grin and even Miles couldn't help but snicker.
"That's against regulations, lieutenant." Yuri noted with a touch of amusement.
"Sorry, Captain." The cop apologized sheepishly, "Birthday present from the kid. It's not everyday you get to run ops with the man himself, you know?"
"I'll let it slide. This time." Yuri chuckled with a smile, "Now get on the ready line."
"Yes ma'am!"
Peter launched two web-lines and connected them before repeating the actions, forming two zip-lines for the cops to breach the building.
"Alright, Ricochet? You ready?" Peter inquired as the cops began to mount the line and slide toward the building above the warring maggia.
"You kidding?" Miles cheered, "Let's go!"
They descended into the firefight and split up as Peter began to deal with the sable-weapon-wielding thugs while Miles took on the more conventionally-armed goons. Peter had been making creative use of his metal arms - though he didn't spring them out at any occasion he found - as he didn't want to chance getting shot by the maggia, occasionally using one or two arms to help block bullets, help his mobility, or smack a opponent away. Otherwise he weaved in-between the maggia forces, lashing out with kicks, punches, webbed-up throws, and acrobatic grapples-and-slams. He webbed one criminal and pulled him closer only to uppercut him into the air and then slam him down with a metal limb. The limb suddenly tensed and Peter used the extra force of it stretching out to fling himself out of the way of an incoming rocket.
"A maggia civil war," Peter complained, "Hammerhead vs all the other families. And were caught in the middle. Of course."
Miles vaulted over a baton-wielding thug to land behind him and lash out a low-kick that swept a goon's legs out from under him before catching him on a web-line and tossing him into a group of his allies. His spider-sense buzzed and he followed his instincts, hand firing a line of webbing behind him to snag a rocket. With a small grunt, he spun in a full circle and sent the explosive into the ground in front of original shooter and knock him out cold with the explosion. Miles and Peter worked well, their spider-sense helping them slip past each other's attacks to form a untied front as though they had been fighting together for years.
A car pulled up and a larger thug carrying a sable mini-gun came out, a whine of a charge up filling the air.
Peter and Miles dived in opposite directions, red bullets shredding the ground where they were standing. They locked gazes and fired a web-line over each of the minigun thug's shoulders and with a yank, launched themselves into the thug with a uppercut to the thug's jaw. The thug fell onto his back, knocked out cold with the combined force from each of the spider's fist. The two spiders both began to run towards the door when a goon in with a sable jetpack stormed out.
"You're both gonna end up like bugs on a windshield!" He roared.
Miles groaned and Peter sighed, "Enough with the bug puns already!"
He fired a web-line at the maggia grunt before a shimmering blue shield sprang into existence and the web crashed against it in a flare of blue.
The grunt let out a shout as his jetpack flared and he rushed at the two heroes who leapt out of the way.
"Does Sable know you're borrowing her shields?" Spider-Man quipped as he landed.
More thugs flooded out - some armed with shields and some with guns - and Miles and Peter quickly worked their way through the group of angry mafia goons.
Peter shot a web-line at the ceiling of the broken room Yuri and her team had entered from, "I'm gonna catch up to Yuri." Peter said to Miles, "Can you keep an eye on the outside?"
"You got it coach." Miles responded.
Peter crawled through the vents and run-down rooms of the old sanitarium as the tense atmosphere became thicker and thicker with his mounting worry. He hadn't been able to reach Yuri and first atributed it to her being in the basement. However when he heard of the guards mentioning the cops, his worry skyrocketed. After he incapacitated the multiple guards that had been guarding a room, he jogged in to see a cache of sable tech and live-streaming equipment.
"Pretty sure Screwball would downvote this immediately..." He muttered as he walked around, and saw a blueprint and examined it, "This seems a bit high-production for Hammerhead..."
He glanced to the side and saw the security room.
He flipped through the separate cams as he began to get desperate, "Come on Yuri...!"
His heart nearly stopped when he saw Yuri on her knees with a gun held to her head and Hammerhead holding a struggling officer while Lieutenant Drake watched helplessly on the side. His heart clenched as he saw a motionless pile of cops carlessly discarded on the floor.
"Oh no!" Peter whispered as he began to get to the room as fast as he could.
He arrived in time to see Yuri with a twisted expression on her face as she was pointing a gun at Hammerhead; who was holding Lieutenant Drake hostage with a sable rifle held to the back of his head. He fired two web-lines - one at the gun and the other at the Lieutenant - and yanked.
Hammerhead's bullets went wide and hit the only source of light.
And everything descended into chaos and darkness.
"Yuri?"
"Yuri, where are you?"
Yuri Watanabe flicked on her lighter, eyes frantic and panting only to freeze as she saw Spider-Man crouched over the body of Lieutenant Drake. He stared at her as her eyes filled with horror and she fell to her knees.
All that is heard is the near-inaudible ticking of his Spider-Man watch.
