SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SPIDER (CHAPTER 42)
11:45 pm Parker Residence…
Peter, Gwen and May came back late from their dinner. In addition to the food, they spent a bit of time down at Rockaway Beach to catch the sunset as well as find further time to buy gelato on the way back.
"Well, that was too much fun." May added carrying the bags of leftover takeaway to the fridge.
"Peter, can we talk now?" Gwen asked as she wanted to drag him away.
"What is it?" Peter wondered.
"Hey, Aunt May. I'll get going but can I say a few words to Peter first?" Gwen asked.
"Of course." May simply replied as she listened while washing her hands near the kitchen sink.
In an instance, Peter and Gwen headed outside to the front door of Peter's house where they talked under the night sky.
"So… Just wondering. Is your head in the clouds now?" Gwen asked.
"Huh, what do you mean?" Peter asked.
"We wasted like three to four hours on stuff that should only be an hour or so." Gwen said.
"Seriously? We had six to seven hours more doing stuff like researching in your dad's station." Peter said, "I'd gathered all the intel data that your dad had with you."
"We should be on our toes. Who knows what Fisk is doing right now? And what about Miller?" Gwen asked.
"Thinking about them is not going to provide every solution we need." Peter insisted, "Are you still struggling to be just… Yourself?"
"I think Gwen Stacy is becoming more of a husk; if anything," Gwen said shrugging.
"So, you think you don't have a chance of a normal life anymore because you're superpowered now? Is that right?" Peter asked crossing his arms.
"N-No." Gwen said looking down and shaking her head a little, "That's not it."
"Then what is it?" Peter asked.
Gwen stood in silence before she gave an answer.
"I want to be as mentally strong as you, Peter. You face danger every day; yet you somehow find the time to smile and joke." Gwen stated, "I, on the other hand have too much and I don't understand how I can cross the hurdle."
"Just like all things. It's organisation." Peter said.
"That's it?" Gwen replied back, "That's your advice."
"I'm still a learner, Gwen. I'm not the experienced superhero people claim I am." Peter said.
"Bullshit. You've been swinging since what? Fourteen years old? I mean somewhere during high school; you knew what you were doing." Gwen stated.
"And look at me again, I still can't take down a crime boss that easily." Peter said, "Alright… I'll say this. I didn't really have the problems you had when I started out. Everything changed when I faced the Chameleon though."
"I guess that makes sense…I'm sorry, if I'm such a drag queen. If I'm like this all the time…I'm probably not worthy." Gwen said after a brief pause.
"Gwen, you're never not the worth. Whether you have powers or don't, it doesn't change how happy I am for you to be with me." Peter said back with a smile.
Gwen looked back at Peter in the eye and smiled too.
"We'll be on our toes, don't worry." Peter stated.
1:30 pm Fisk Tower R&D Lab…
A while back, the Genome Amplifier had finished its trial run. Every scientist was scrambling to their feet to see what miracle the machine had produced. Mac examined herself after the shock of her lifetime.
She felt much heavier that before but not in the sense that she gained weight. Her hand was large; hardened and greyish. It was also not human anymore as the skin had been replaced by what appears to be hardened chitin. In response to the appearance, Mac freaked out and broke out her chair.
Wilson cusped his chin as he looked at what he had funded while Mac pounded at the physically resistant glass of the chamber, she was in. Farley, the primary scientist responsible for the experiment gasped at the non-human specimen he had created.
"A freak." Wilson muttered, "But one I hope we can control."
"Ms. Gargan; can you just take a moment to relax?" Farley called out as he watched Mac flail about.
After a few more punches and deep breaths, Mac finally calmed down and began to speak.
"What the hell is this?!" Mac roared, "What the hell happened to me?! This was not disclosed!"
Farley took one full look at Mac's changed appearance. Her entire human appearance had been moulded over with a grey chitin exoskeleton with hints of green veins. Her upper body was heavier than the lower while tiny spikes protruded on her shoulders and head. Her eyes were a bulging black with hints of red that resembled the tiny eyes seen on other insects and arachnids.
"It seems the specimen DNA has overridden the participants. Perhaps a little too much." Farley said, "Mr. Fisk. Please don't fire me. We can fix this."
However, Wilson did not do what Farley said and instead approached Mac with interest.
"Sergeant, how are you feeling?" Wilson asked.
"Like a freak… Is that a good answer?" Mac asked as she tried tearing parts of the exoskeleton off her.
"You did sign a contract knowing that there may be side effects not all scientific trials know about though." Wilson said, "I just hope you are the same person inside. Additionally, we hope this can help us eliminate the problems we have out there."
"Shoot. I gotta say that I can play dirty." Mac said, "Just tell me, when do I get out of this glass box?"
Wilson smiled in response as he started to give out orders.
12:45 am Empire State University…
Around midnight, the campus grounds have relatively gone quiet. Few students would be around as well as teaching staff. The only ones who would be around were the security guards. A group of at least six people shambled their way to the school of biology and medicine.
They were the victims Miller had taken and reborn as duplicates without the life they once had. Their mission was to see if they can infiltrate the building and steal some resources that Miller believed belonged to his research.
In the building's security room, a security guard lazily had a hard time keeping track of the camera screens since everyone else has gone to bed. Almost every day, nothing of significance has happened until he noticed three unknown people pop up on screen.
For some reason, they started to walk agilely as they trespassed through the windows and into the walkways. The security guard soon stood up and grabbed his torch and other gear.
As he shined his torchlight, he walked ready as he was about to investigate the strange occurrence. He heard the footsteps of one person which prompted him to go over there first. He found himself going to the area of what was formerly Miller Warren's laboratory.
Shining the light on the man's back, the security guard watched him try to pry the door open with his bare hands.
"Excuse me? Just what are you doing in this building?" The security guard asked.
The man soon turned around with glowing yellow eyes; the same as Miller's. Additionally, the man opened his mouth showing a row of canine teeth. The security guard looked in shock as he backed away before being surrounded by the other intruders accompanying him.
1:35 am U-Genetics…
Miller had been gasping for breath as he bandaged the puncture wounds he did on his arm. Sitting on the armchair inside the CEO office, he had been giving blood to his biological creations.
"A price to be paid for creation." Miller said as he leaned back on the chair.
A man then entered his room slinging the dead university security guard on his back. On his hands were some folders as well as a computer hard drive. Afterwards, he collapsed to the ground.
"They did get the job done; it seems." Miller said standing up and walking over to pick the items up.
Opening up the folder, he was soon disappointed to find the clone had picked up his contract notes regarding his agreement with U-Genetics ages ago instead of the scientific notes he wanted.
"Argh!" Miller said throwing down the folder, "All that super strength but none of my intelligence."
Miller then picked up the hard drive on the floor and walked back to his seat where he booted up the hard drive. Inside, there were some documents that proved helpful for Miller such as notes on creating a cloning stability formula which may give his clones the life he wanted them to have.
"Perhaps this isn't a complete disaster…" Miller grumbled as he looked over to see that the man's body is breaking down into liquid while the security guard laid on top.
8:30 am Sewer pipe entry…
Standing on the rocks next to Hudson River, Peter and Gwen started their investigation by infiltrating the same place where Frederick Foswell had been murdered.
"Maybe they erased the camera footage of what you saw." Gwen said watching Peter in costume trying to pull the sewer lid open.
"Come on, camera footage is like one of the generic pieces of evidence to prove someone guilty." Peter said, "We can find other things that aren't supposed to be there."
"Are you sure can navigate yourself to Fisk Tower through here?" Gwen asked.
"Beats having to bypass security there. Plus, all of the dirty secrets start here." Peter said pulling the pipe wheel open.
Using his strength, Peter opened the pipe letting the sewer water inside it flow out. Gwen reeled back at the stench of the water.
"Ugh. Can't believe we're going through here." Gwen said, "So much for web-swinging."
"You'll get used to it. I know I have." Peter said as he started to walk in.
Unbeknownst to them, a scorpion stinger-like tail wavered from afar as Mac watched the two descend into the sewers from the sides.
TO BE CONTINUED…