"The Sandman?"

Steve, Tony, and Peter were in the lab of Stark Tower, with the American icon and the teenager talking, while the billionaire was busy tinkering with a gadget.

"That's right!" Peter exclaimed. "He was this guy, who was just made completely out of sand. I tried to punch him and my hand got stuck!"

Cap rubbed his chin in thought. "Things are only getting stranger..." he lamented.

"Tell me about it," Tony commented. "We use to only have buffed up flags running around. Now we have kids with literal sticky fingers, sand guys, robo-scorpions, giant green guys smashing up the place."

"I miss Banner," Steve stated. "He was a genius, and he didn't feel the need to prove he was smarter than everyone else."

"That's cause he wasn't," Tony told him, still working on his project, sparks flying at his protective goggles. "I was around."

Steve rolled his eyes, before putting his attention back at the young hero. "If you see this guy again, call us," he told him. "This man sounds dangerous."

Peter saluted. "Yes, Captain," he stated in a fake, deep voice, drawing a chuckle from the living legend.

"There!" Tony exclaimed, as he put his goggles up on his head. He lifted up the small gadget he was working on, before turning to Peter, and placing it on the spider emblem on his chest. The device glowed a faint green, before disappearing into the fabric of the costume.

"Whoa!" Peter said, as he patted the spot the small machine was at. "Where did it go?"

"It faded into your costume," Stark explained. "Borrowed some tech from Pym. Now all we have to do is activate it, and we'll know which Spider-Man is the real deal."

"Uh, how?" Peter asked.

"It'll release a thousand volt shock to your system," Tony nonchalantly answered.

"WHAT!?"

"Kidding! It'll just send out a little pulse we can detect."

Peter sighed in relief, as Steve shook his head in slight amusement. Peter still wasn't use to Tony's sense of humor. And judging by Steve's experience, he probably never will.

"So," Peter asked, calmed down after the strange day he had. "What's the deal with Fury?"

Tony frowned. "After they found out about the robbery, SHIELD freaked out. They're worried what you could do if you went out of control."

Peter furrowed his brow. "Really?"

Steve grimly nodded. "You've got the potential to be one of the most powerful people on Earth. They're scared about that."

"In fact, if it wasn't for us talking to Fury, you would've been taken by SHIELD the first night you met him."

Peter was confused by this. Fury didn't seem like he had wanted to arrest him at the time. In fact, today he even seemed a bit reluctant to take him, and more furious at Peter for committing the crime than anything else. Then again, it's hard to tell anything about a life-long secret agent.

Lost in thought, Peter looked around, before his eyes focused on a table littered with various objects. Objects that immediately grabbed his attention. "Uh, Tony?" He asked. "What are those?"

Tony looked over at the table, to see various Spider-Man masks of varying colors, some with wires poking out, along with various web shooters and unspecified pieces of metal.

"Oh, that?" Tony asked. "I got bored last night, and made that stuff."

"You made all of that in one night?" Peter asked.

"Uh, yeah," Tony arrogantly scoffed. "Super genius, remember? Although, I couldn't quite get your web formula right. Do you put Mercury in it?"

"Uh, no."

"Damn. I was going to try Mercury," Tony stated, before noticing a look of contemplation on Steve's face. "Hey, Golden Boy, what's wrong?"

"Doesn't it seem strange to you that all of these enhanced people are appearing?" Steve asked, as Tony suddenly gets a grim expression on his face.

"I...uh, I was actually thinking about that the other day," Tony admitted. "It does seem weird. Imposter Spidey, Scorpion, now this Sandman guy?"

"Exactly," Steve said. "They're coming up at an alarming rate. Something's happening."

"Yeah..." Tony trailed off, as he looked away from the two. After a few moments of silence, Tony looked at his watch. "Isn't it about time you get going, kid?"

Peter thought about it for a moment, realizing that he was right. "Yeah, I need to stop off at the Bugle before I go home." With that, he put his mask back on. "By the way, there's a job fair at my school tomorrow. Am I going to see anything from Stark Industries there?"

Tony rubbed his goatee for a second. "Maybe. I lose track of those sorts of things."

Peter shrugged, semi-understanding. "Well, see ya guys later!" He called, as he quickly left the room, leaving Steve and Tony alone.

"So," Cap started. "When's Pepper coming back? It's been a while."

Tony frowned. "It looks like she'll be gone for a little longer," he answered, as he put the goggles back over his eyes, and began working on another project of his.

Steve gave an absent nod, as he began to walk out of the lab. He stopped at the doorway, giving a glance towards Tony's back, before leaving, concerned for his teammate's wellbeing.

"Holy crap, I forgot how big this place was."

Deadpool was walking along the streets of New York, as the sun was starting to set. A few passing civilians gave him a curious glance as they walked by him, but didn't regard him much.

Deadpool shuddered, rubbing his arms up and down. "Sweet tamales is it cold out here! My little general is going into retreat, if you know what I mean." He looked around, thinking about what he could do. He didn't want to make too much of a presence yet, for fear that Spidey would find him before he was ready. Despite what people may think, (and there's a lot of them), he wasn't an idiot.

"Just gotta stay low, and-" He trailed off when he looked up and saw a strip club. He pulled out his wallet, to see that he only had a fifty on him. "Dammit! This is the worst kind of problem! A First World problem!" He grumbled to himself, as he tried to find an ATM.

Peter entered the Daily Bugle's main office, fully in his street clothes, as he walked up to Betty Brant, who regarded him with a slightly sour expression.

"Betty?" Peter asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"You might have some competition," she answered, as she pointed to JJJ's office window, to see the editor in chief talking to Robbie and a new face. The stranger was muscular, with blonde hair and a square chin. He wore a black hoodie with jeans.

"Who's he?" Peter questioned, not liking the sight.

"Another photographer. I suggest going in there before the jerk can make any headway on Jonah."

"Jeez, what did he do to you?"

Betty crossed her arms. "Asked me out. In literally the most unflattering way possible."

Peter shook his head. "To a lovely lady like you? What an idiot," he said with a smirk.

Betty got a smile on her face. "And that's why I like you better. Now go."

Peter complied, as he quickly made his way to Jonah's office, entering to see Jameson laughing heartily, while Robbie didn't look amused.

"Excuse me, Mister Jameson?" Peter interrupted, getting the attention of all three people in the room. Robbie gave the boy a smile, the new guy gave him a frown, while Jonah regarded him the same way he always did.

A cigar in hand, Jonah eyed up the teenager. "Parker!" He barked. "Where have you been!?"

"Uh, sorry sir, I've just been busy with school, and-"

"AH! School!? School takes up eight hours a day. There are 24 hours a day. So where the hell are you the other 16 hours? Not here! That's where!" Jonah growled.

"Well, uh, I got photos of-"

"Spider-Man?" Jonah asked. "Sorry Parker, but I already got enough of that wall crawling menace today. In fact, I got even better photos! Photos of him in the act!"

"What?" Peter asked, completely dumbfounded.

Jonah pointed at the new guy. "This is Eddie Brock. He took the beauts this paper really needs!"

Eddie gave an arrogant smile. "Well sir, I did my best."

Jonah laughed again. "Such a modest man! I love this guy! Anyway, show Parker those money shots you brought me."

The other photographer complied, showing the photographs he had taken to the brunette. Peter sorted through them, seeing Spider-Man stealing a purse from a woman, stealing from a gas station, and running away from some police officers.

"Great, huh?" Eddie asked, quickly taking them back. "It's time the people of New York see what this guy is really about."

Peter cursed in his head. That imposter is making things way more difficult than he originally thought.

"These are going to sell papers!" Jonah exclaimed. "Since I have Brock now, kid, I don't really need you, now do I? Sorry to do this, but you're fired."

"Uh, you never really hired me. I'm freelance, remember?" Peter stated.

"Right. You're hired. Now you're fired," Jonah stated, smoking.

"Now hang on," Robbie spoke up. "Peter's been a very loyal photographer for you for years. You can't just throw him out like that!"

Jonah continued smoking, contemplating this. "You're right," he relented. "Even though he is a lazy bum. Fine, Parker, what else are you good at?"

"Uh, I'm good at computers-"

"You're a computer guy now!" Jonah exclaimed.

"You mean a webpage designer?" Robbie asked, slightly annoyed.

"Don't push me, Robertson," JJJ warned. He then focused back on Peter. "Bring in photos if you want. I don't really need them anymore with Brock around. Now, both of you, out!"

The two complied, as they exited the office. They looked at each other for a second, the blonde towering over Peter. "Well, uh, welcome aboard," Peter said, as he stuck his hand out.

Eddie gave a wicked grin, as he took the hand. "Glad to be here," he snickered, as he squeezed Peter's hand very tightly, making it hurt slightly.

"Ow!" Peter complained, as Eddie walked away. "Great, just what I need. One more blonde bully in my life."