INFILTRATION

Back in the Garden, one black male S.H.I.E.L.D agent holding a clear box, along with two medics, one a white, blonde-haired male and the other a black woman, were stationed by the teleportation pads with a stretcher and waiting for the arrival of the victorious Spidey. Finally, a flash of light occurred on one of the pads, and as it subsided, it was that of the victorious Spidey with the out cold Harry still on his shoulders and carrying the make-shift bag containing the symbiote in his left hand. Also, with the Wall-Crawler was Gwen, who successfully transported with Spidey by wrapping her arms around his midsection and holding on tightly, then finally releasing him once she saw that they were back home in the Garden.

Meanwhile, Ms. Marvel watched Spidey's arrival from the sidelines. While she was happy to see that the Web-Head managed to not only win his match but also save Harry and Gwen, she was still worried that he might worsen his already existing injuries. Specifically, the claw marks on his chest from his earlier match with Wolverine.

As for Spidey, he frantically looked around the stage and finally spotted the medics nearby. "Hey, get that stretcher over here! Now!"

Ms. Marvel shared in Spidey's concern for the young Osborn's well-being and thus turned to the medics with a stern expression. "You heard the man! Go!"

With that said, the medics quickly sprung into action by rolling the stretcher towards the waiting Spidey, with Ms. Marvel herself going with them to help get Harry on to the stretcher and out of the arena.

As the medics finally arrived, both Spidey and Ms. Marvel worked together on gently placing Harry on the stretcher. As they did so, the Iron Patriot himself quickly walked over and pulled his faceplate up to show the worried face of Norman Osborn. "Harry!" yelled a seemingly frantic Norman as he rushed to his unconscious son's aid.

Spidey himself was not fooled by Norman's behavior, for he knew he was just putting on a concerned father act for the people watching at the Garden and all around the world when really, he could care less about his own son. All which made the Web-Head detest the elder Osborn all the much more.

Gwen hated to see Harry like this, as well as share Spidey's disdain for Norman, as she couldn't believe that he was sick enough to have Harry, his flesh and blood, be bonded with that liquid-like parasite and have it turn him into a rage-fueled monster. Finally, she watched the medics wheel Harry off of the stage, and silently prayed that this experience didn't worsen his already damaged psyche.

Once the medics wheeled Harry off the stage, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent soon walked up to Spidey and extended his right hand to him while holding the box with his left arm. "Spider-Man, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to hand over the symbiote," he told the Web-Head in an emotionless tone. "It is S.H.I.E.L.D. property."

Though Spidey knew that the agent was under mind control, he still couldn't believe he was asking him to hand over something as unstable as the symbiote. Not to mention that he knew that Norman would probably just find another host for it and thus create more chaos.

However, Ms. Marvel soon stepped in and whispered this to the Web-Head. "Just give it to him, kid," she told him in a serious but more gentle tone, surprising Spidey and causing him to turn and look at her in disbelief. "For now! I don't like it either, but it would be better if that thing was being held in the helocarrier where it could be properly contained. Besides, once we win the tournament and free the others, we can deal with it later."

Seeing the Warbird's point, Spidey let out a reluctant sigh, then gave her a nod and handed the shaking bag to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

After taking the bag in his right hand, with the symbiote still struggling to get free, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent used his right index finger to press a button on the left corner of the box, which in turn caused the lid to slide open. Once he placed the bag in the box, the agent pressed that same button, which immediately closed the lid and trapping the bagged symbiote inside. "Thank you for your cooperation," said the agent in an unfeeling tone, then turned around and walked away.

Meanwhile, the announcer somewhat hesitantly approached Norman, who still had a saddened expression. "We're truly sorry for what happened to your son, Mr. Osborn," the announcer said apologetically. "If you wish, we can postpone your match for-"

"No!" Norman snapped back, startling the announcer, then pulled his faceplate down to complete his Iron Patriot guise. "We still have the matter of the Superhuman Registration Act to resolve. So, as much as I hate it, the tournament must continue!"

"Very well, sir," said the announcer in an understanding tone. "Again, my apologies."

As the announcer walked away, the Patriot then proceeded to the teleportation pad, aggravated that the announcer apologized to him, which he always despised, as well as what he just occurred in his son's match-up with Spidey. "If that last match confirmed anything, it's two things," he thought. "One, I wouldn't be the least bit sorry if my worthless excuse of a son never woke up from his newly induced coma." Upon stepping on to the pad, the Patriot's annoyance soon changed to that of calmness. "And two, I now know my proper heir to the Osborn legacy, one that I'll have by my side before this tournament is over."

Meanwhile, the announcer turned and saw Gwen, who was still worried for Harry's well-being and thus walked over to her to comfort her before continuing his job. "Don't worry, Ms. Stacy. Your boyfriend is in good hands with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s highly trained medics. Shall I have an escort send you back to your seat?"

Gwen was somewhat hesitant to answer. While she did not want to be rude, part of her knew that if she returned to the sport's box, she would be a prisoner again wouldn't be able to help the Avengers in some way. Besides, after all that's happened, she did not want to leave Spidey's side.

But before Gwen could give her answer, however, she is stopped when two female medics come on to the stage, both of whom look strikingly similar to Sharon Carter and Misty Knight. And it is here that the Sharon 'look alike' answered the announcer. "That won't be necessary," she said, surprising everyone on the stage, especially Gwen herself. "You see, we need both Spider-Man and Gwen to come with us. Captain Stacy has requested that we drop her off to meet him on our way to inspecting Spider-Man's chest wound."

These 'medics did not fool Ms. Marvel,' but at the same time, she did agree that Spidey had to be treated. Though she knew that the Web-Head was tough and was even impressed with how he saved Gwen and Harry, she still knew that that the Wall-Crawler's injury had to be checked, especially with how grueling and taxing his last match was. As such, she gently placed her hand on Spidey's shoulder to get his attention. "Go with them, kid. I have a feeling that things are about to get more intense, and with that cut, it's best not to take any chances."

Spidey agreed with Ms. Marvel's point of view about how things were starting to get more dangerous now that the tournament was coming to a close and needed to get his claw injury looked at so he can be in an adequate fighting form. Not to mention that he needed to get Gwen as far away from Osborn and anything S.H.I.E.L.D. related as possible. With all this in mind, Spidey quickly gave the Warbird a nod of acknowledgment. "Well, can't say I disagree with that," said the Wall-Crawler as he held one hand over his chest wound and briefly winced in pain. He then used his other hand to gently Gwen's, then proceeded to walk with her, and the 'medics' out of the building.

However, Ms. Marvel couldn't let the Wall-Crawler leave without telling him this. "Web-Head," she called out, causing Spidey to stop and look over his shoulder, with a confused Gwen turning with him. "I still think you're rough around the edges, but in your last match, you managed to save two people. So, as far as your membership status is concerned…I consider that a plus."

For Gwen, hearing this caused her to smile, as she agreed with Ms. Marvel on how Spidey saved both her and Harry and was glad to see that she recognized him as a hero, one who was worthy enough to be among her and the Avengers.

Spidey gave Ms. Marvel a grateful smirk behind his mask, feeling happy that he has her respect, even if it felt like a small amount. "Thanks," he told the Warbird, then looked past Ms. Marvel to see the Patriot, who stood waiting at his teleportation pad with his arms crossed, then turned back to her with a determined look. "And speaking of matches, could you do me a favor and give Osborn one for me?"

"Gladly," Ms. Marvel replied with a nod, sharing in the Web-Head's disdain for the Patriot after everything he's done.

After giving the Warbird a returning nod, Spidey turned around, and he and Gwen caught up with Misty and Sharon, who were waiting at the door. Afterward, they soon walked out the door and into an ambulance waiting outside, to which Misty and Sharon were 'borrowing'.

As for Ms. Marvel herself, she turned and walked over to and placed her feet on the other teleportation pad, ready to make the Patriot pay for what he's been doing, not just to her teammates, but to his own son as well.

By this time, the announcer had already taken center stage to address the crowd. "All right, folks, let's close out the Semi-Finals with a bang! For up next, we have the Avengers' Ms. Marvel taking on the last remaining Thunderbolt, the Iron Patriot!"

With the crowd roaring in approval, both combatants flash out of the Garden and to their unknown destination.

Meanwhile, back in the Helocarrier's brig, a scowling Tony Stark was sitting in his cell, without his armor, and in an orange jumpsuit. "Okay, quick review," he thought. "Not only did Osborn beat me…through cheating! But he took away my armor and locked me up with not just my teammates." After taking a moment to make sure that there were no guards around, Tony very carefully rolled up his right sleeve and pulled off what appeared to be a piece of his skin. But in actuality, it was heavily disguised tape with small parts on the inside. Parts he would put together to create a device that would not only free him but his fellow Avengers as well. "In other words, so far, so good!"