Spider-Wars
Chapter I
Ben Reilly
A/N: So, this is the second, but long awaited chapter. These next few chapters are going to be like the prologue to the big event that comes later in the story. No spoiling, so don't ask!
It's midnight. As I think this, I am sitting on my bed in my apartment, thinking about how I possibly could have screwed up. I was in a daze and my Uncle Ben Parker was sitting across from me."With great power, comes great responsibility." he said to me. I looked up at him. I shook my head. As I shook my head, a look of confusion formed on his face. "How can you do that, Peter?" he asked. "You are Spider-Man. You alone. You can't let this stop you. The city needs you!" I stared at him, not speaking. He reached his hand out. "Take my hand Peter. Believe in yourself, continue being Spider-Man."
I reached for his hand, but then I stopped and I withdrew my hand. "No, Uncle Ben, I'm not Spider-Man. I'm just Peter Parker. I'm Spider-Man, no more." After I said this, his form melted away, along with the white walls of the haze I was in. I was back in my apartment, on my couch, still in costume. It dawned on me what I had to do. After I changed back into my street clothes, I grabbed my bag and stuffed my costume in it. I grabbed my keys off of the hanger by the door and left.
Later...
No more, no more. I've had it up to here with Spider-Man. I lost the woman I loved today and what happened? The world just watched. As I walked over to the dumpsters, I unzipped the backpack. I took out the costume and tossed the bag to the side. "I thought this day would never come," I said. "But, here we are. I'll admit it. I never planned on giving up the hero business. It's a good excercise and I planned on locking you away in a chest, for a potential successor." I frowned and opened the trash can. I dropped the costume into the garbage. "Goodbye," I said, picking up my bag and hurrying to get out of the alley. "You will not be missed."
I had decided to use my powers once more, but I was to use them only so often, like to get to work. When I got home I looked in the mirror, my face sweating. Who am I? I wondered. Then my reflection stirred and formed the shape and look of Spider-Man. "No, you don't exist anymore!" I said angrily. "You brought Mary Jane's demise and that's why I'm going to do this!" I screamed, ramming my fist into the mirror, breaking the glass. I stood there, breathing heavily. I went to my living room and turned on the TV, only to find a news session about what happened earlier tonight. Seeing the scene at the bridge again won't cheer me up, I thought. I decided to record the news and hit the record button. I turned off the TV and threw the remote on the floor.
All I need is a good night's sleep, I thought. No such thing. I fell asleep around eleven p.m. Mary Jane was in my dream. She was right in front of me for a few seconds, then she turned around and walked away from me. "Mary Jane, wait!" I ran after her, but she got farther and farther away. She turned around a corner and I followed. But she wasn't there. I looked around not seeing her anywhere. "Up here!" a voice said. I looked and saw the Green Goblin. He dropped down and grasped my throat.
He punched me and my vision blurred. When I regained my vision, it was Mary Jane clutching my throat. "Mary Jane you can't kill me! You can't kill the man you love!" I pleaded. "Wrong! I'm not Mary Jane! I'm the Green Goblin!" she screeched, as she used her other hand to rip off her facial skin, revealing the hideous face of the Green Goblin. Her clothes melted away after, revealing the Goblin's battle suit. "No!" I screamed, grabbing the Goblin's hands and frantically trying to loosen them. I woke up with a start, my face sweating. After recovering from the nightmare, I got up and walked to the window. I looked outside and saw something astonishing.
There was some lunatic in a red jumpsuit, with a torn blue hoodie over that, and bared the spider insignia, who was swinging webs in the sky line. Hey! That's my logo! Okay, so it was. But it isn't now. Who's the new Spider-Man? I thought. There was a knock on the door. I opened it and saw my Aunt May was standing at the door. "Oh, hello Aunt May." I said my greeting. "Hello, Peter." She replied. "May I come in?" she asked. "Of course!" I said, as I moved out of the way so she could come in. I closed the door after she came in.
"Where's Mary Jane? She usually stays here with you on Fridays." She asked me. "Uh, Aunt May perhaps you should watch this news clip I recorded last night." I said. Before she could say anything I put the tape in and played it. It started on the part I recorded. "There's still no sign of young Mary Jane Watson, who fell off the Washington Bridge earlier tonight." The newsman said. My Aunt May gasped. "Peter! You must feel awful!" she said sadly. "You have no idea Aunt May." I said.
"Just wait until Anna Watson hears!" she said. Oh boy, Mary Jane's Aunt? That's not good. Anna Watson, otherwise known as one of the people who doesn't respect me.. She has a like/hate relationship with me. Then there was another knock at the door. "Peter Parker, open this door! I know you have Mary Jane hidden in there!" I heard Anna Watson's familiar angry voice outside. My Aunt opened the door. "Peter Parker, where is Mary Jane?" Anna Watson said. I looked up with sad eyes and said, "I don't know."
Then my phone rang. "I have to get that." I said. I grabbed the phone and picked it up. "Hello?" I said. "This Peter? Peter Parker?" A an eerily familair voice said. "What?" I asked. "Yes, it is. But why? And who's calling?" Instead of answer, I got more of a request. "Mr. Parker, I know you take pictures of Spider-Man for the Bugle. Tell him that I want to see him at the Washington Bridge in five minutes or else." I was very surprised. "Wait! Hey, hey!" But there was only the dial tone. "Um, I have to go." I said, slipping my cell into my jeans pocket. That was my boss calling about an assignment." I said. I ran into my room and grabbed my web shooters. Just because I was no longer Spider-Man, didn't mean I couldn't use my gadgets.
The Washington Bridge. I don't want to go there ever again, I thought. But this guy means business. So, I had to get down there and fast. I swung web-to-web to the bridge, feeling a rush of adrenaline. Don't get used to it, Parker, I thought. Using my web shooters was an absolute emergency. I swung and landed on a roof not far away from the bridge. I jumped and saw a figure on top of the bridge as I swung I landed at the bottom of the bridge. I started climbing up. Then I fell a little bit near the bottom. What? Why had I stopped climbing? I started on the other side, and fell again. My powers have stopped working again! No!
Ok, I'll just swing up there, I thought. I alternated swinging and grabbing bars, although I was really clumsy at it. I finally got up there; I looked around and didn't see that figure. "Hello?" I said aloud. "Hello, Peter Parker." An anonymous voice said. "Who are you?!" I asked, angrily. "The last person in the world you want to mess with. And you are, considering that you're here instead of Spider-Man." The voice said. "So, you were the guy on the phone! Who are you? Show yourself!" I shouted. "As you wish." Then I heard the fire of a web and I turned around. The person had been revealed. It was the same imposter I had seen this morning!
He grabbed the collar of my shirt and banged me against the satellite. "I thought I told you I wanted to see Spider-Man!" He wore a red jumpsuit. Over that was a torn blue undershirt, with a huge black spider. Iron guards were on his wrists and ankles. He also wore an iron belt and a mask with white eye lenses. "I'll ask you again." I said. "Who are you?" I asked. "Kid, you're looking at the looking at the Scarlet Spider." He said. "I will be the successor to the Amazing Spider-Man."
"By the way, where is Spider-Man?" he asked. "He quit last night." I said. "Yeah? Well, I just happen to have seen what happened last night. You know, how you abandoned your girlfriend?" He said. "I didn't leave her! And how do you know about that?" I asked. "You expect me to tell you that?" he asked. "Where is Mary Jane?" I asked. "No, no, Parker!" he said. "Scarlet Spider, how do you know me?" I asked timidly. "I know a lot of things about you Peter Parker. Say, do you mind if I just call you Spider-Man?" he said challengingly. My eyes widened in alarm. "What did you just say?" I asked, astonished, grabbing his arm. "Not surprising, Spider-Man. I would have done the same thing. Problem is, under this mask is just a familiar face." He said. "Let me introduce you, to my better personality. I call myself Ben Reilly." He said, slipping off his mask. I was shocked. Under his mask… was me! Well, more like my face. With blonde hair instead of light brown, though.
"You're me!" I said. "Wrong! I'm a clone of you, formed by your blood. Your D.N.A." he said. "What do you want with me?" I asked. "You." He said. "But why? I can't do anything for you." I said. "Yes, you can, you're Spider-Man." He said. "Not anymore." I said. "What do you mean, Parker?" he asked, curiously. "When Mary Jane drowned and Norman Osborn was sucked into a different dimension, I gave up being Spider-Man." I said. "I tried to live up to that responsibility, but when push came to shove, I lost my true love." He looked at me for a few seconds. "You can't quit! I need your help!" he said.
"I can't help! I've lost my powers!" I shouted. "You can't just lose your powers! You're a super-hero!" he exclaimed. Now I was super-agitated. "Shut up!" I screamed. I ran and dived off the bridge, to swing away. I swung back home, staying focused. I kept swinging but then something terrible happened. I reached out with one hand, pressed down on the trigger, but no web came out! I repeatedly tried with both hands but there was no web. I fell faster and faster. I grabbed a clothes line as I fell, but it came loose and I swung into a brick wall. After hitting the wall, I fell 5 feet down into a dumpster.
I climbed out and brushed myself off. I walked all the way home. When I got home my Aunt May and Mrs. Watson were gone. I walked into my room and sat down on my bed. I looked at my bloody hands. I looked at my web shooters and threw them across to my desk. I needed something to cheer me up, so I decided to read the paper. I went into the living room, and got the paper off the table. I tried to read it, but my vision was blurred. "I can't even read a paper!" I said, thowing the paper across the room. Tired of the world I lived in, I laid down on the couch and fell asleep.
I woke up and found that my vision was even worse. I yawned and got up off of the couch. I made my way to my desk and began to dig through it. Eventually, I found my old, dusty pair of glasses. I put them on, making my vision better. Along with my spider powers, my vision was gone. At least I had glasses. I got up and my phone rang. I sighed and answered it. "Hello?" I asked. "Hello, Peter." A voice said. It belonged to Ben Reilly. "Ben, what is it? I told you to leave me alone and on top of that, I can't help you." He cleared his throat. "Peter, listen to me very carefully." He said.
"You must become Spider-Man again. A villain will rise tonight at midnight. You must help me." I thought for a moment. How could I help without my powers? "I can't Ben, with no powers I'm a laughing stock. Get someone else. Get Iron Man, War Machine, Doctor Strange or the F.F." I said. "Not true, Peter. With or without powers you'd still be a valuable asset." He said. He's right, I thought. My intelligence may provide some help. "I'll do what I can." I said. "Meet me at the Empire State University Scienc Lab in ten minutes." Then I hung up.
After changing clothes and having something to drink, I headed outside, and walked to Empire State University. Once I got there, I waited for his arrival, and it took him ten minutes. He came out of the bushes with his street clothes over his costume. He walked up to me and said, "Let's head inside." We walked past the locker room and inside a private lab. "So, what do you have for me?" I asked. He pulled a disc out of his pocket. "This disc has the briefing." Ben said. He handed it to me and I put in the disc drive. When the disc started, Colonel Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. was on the screen. "Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider." He dipped his head in greeting. "If you are watching this briefing, then you should know the fate of the entire world rests in your hands. Less than sixteen hours ago, there was a crisis at the Washington Bridge." Yeah, I know, my girlfriend died, I thought.
Then a clip from a security camera was put on the screen. What's a security camera doing at the bridge? It showed me watching the Goblin's glider take off. Then I saw me look at Mary Jane, who smiled at Spider-Man. Then I saw Spider-Man pick her up. He ran across the platform and put Mary Jane down. Then a huge crack opened, Mary Jane shook with the unstable bridge and fell off. I saw myself freak out over this. Then it switched to another camera, showing Mary Jane falling. Watching this whole scene again depressed me. Then it zoomed in, as Mary Jane fell past a portal above her opened. She wasn't sucked in.
However, a big, red, mass slithered out of the portal. The clip ended and Nick Fury reappeared. "That mass you just saw was a symbiote. And not just any symbiote, it was the symbiote that melded with Cletus Kasady." Of course! That's why it was so familiar. Nick Fury turned to his computer and said, "Computer and load up the files on Deadpool." In its own robotic voice, it revealed everything it knew about him. "Deadpool: real name - Wade Wilson. Identity - known to Canadian and S.H.I.E.L.D. officials. Place of birth - Canada, unknown. Notable Facts - Was involved in the infamous Weapon X Program. "
Nick Fury returned to the screen, and stated our mission. "When the symbiote escaped it found a new murderous host. Wade Wilson found the symbiote and the symbiote overwhelmed him. They became a murderous duo known as Dead-Carnage." I rubbed my neck. Here we go again. "You must find Dead-Carnage and separate the two. Once you have we will know. We will send a storage unit to both of you." "Fury, out." I looked at the blank screen, and wondered. "Again, how can I help?" I asked. "Hold on, I think I have just the thing!" I said. I ran into the inner lab, and accessed my locker.
I unlocked it and took out a sonic generator that I had been working on. I ran back into the outer lab, where Ben was waiting. "Here. It's my sonic generator." I said. "How does this help us?" Ben asked. "Symbiotes hate loud noise." I said. "Of course! Parker, you're a genius!" Ben said. We left the campus, separating at the front gate. "Thanks for your help Parker, we'll be in touch." Then he swung off into the distance after changing back into his costume. If you'd even call it a costume.
I watched him swing away, until I couldn't see him anymore. Glad I could help. With a glum look on my face, I walked home and unlocked my apartment door. I was so exhausted. I sat down and in no time, I had fell asleep on my couch. I slept for two hours and woke up to the phone ringing. I got up and yawned. Ben, what does he want now? I answered the phone and my bosses voice echoed in my ear. "Parker! Get down here, now!" J. Jonah Jameson hung up.
Sighing, I walked out the door, down the stairs, and out the door. In seven minutes I was at the Bugle. My boss was waiting for me. "Peter, we have a new Spider-Man roaming the streets of N.Y.C." I knew it! Ben found Dead-Carnage! I kept my accusations to myself. "So?" I asked, yawning. "So? So?! So, I need you to get to the Brooklyn Bridge and get some good pictures." Why? Why is it ALWAYS a bridge? I knew this had a catch. I walked outside and set out toward the bridge.
When I got there it looked like Ben didn't stand a chance. I some how was able to get to the platform. Do I have enough strength left? I wondered. I grabbed the bottom of the satellite and pushed. I can't do it! I thought. I'm too weak. Then I heard a voice in my head. It said, Come on, Peter! You can do it! Never give up! Then, I felt a tad stronger. I grabbed the satellite, lifted it and pushed it off the platform. Then I felt weak again. I looked down and Dead-Carnage's legs were stuck under the ruins.
"Ben run!" I shouted. He looked up, saw me and swung up to me. I then took a quick picture of the ruins and Dead-Carnage. The Scarlet Spider sat next to me. "He's too strong. I need help." He said. I know, I thought. "So, where is Mary Jane?" I asked. "If you really want to know…" he said mysteriously. "Oh, I want to know." I said. "Did she drown?" He didn't answer "No." Ben said. "Then where is she?" I asked. "She's stuck between time and space." He got up and swung off. "Wait! What's that supposed to mean?" I shouted after him. But he didn't hear me. "Yeah, thanks!" I called, knowing he wouldn't hear me.
I walked home and saw a figure in the shadows. "Ben? Is that you?" "Not Ben. Dead-Carnage!" he screamed as he lunged at me. He pushed me against the wall, and his right hand turned into a sword that barely touched my forehead. "Tell me where I can find Spider-Man." He hissed. "He quit." I said. "That's not an answer!" he screeched. Yes it is. I thought quickly and said, "I don't know where to find him! I swear!" I started to feel small amounts of blood coming from my new wound. "Well find him." He said. "How?" I asked. He shrugged and said, "That's not my problem. It's Reilly's problem." Was he trying to say that he kidnapped Ben? "Tell Spider-Man to meet me at the Brooklyn Bridge by noon tomorrow, or I will peel the flesh of Ben's bones." He hissed. He threw me against the brick wall and when I got up he was gone. I rubbed my forehead before walking into my apartment. I walked into my apartment and turned on the lights. I can't let Ben die, I have to do something!
What can I do? I have no powers. But, I was too tired to think about this matter and I fell in a deep sleep, and I had my first dream that wasn't a nightmare. I was walking in a long hallway that seemed to go on forever. I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Mary Jane behind me. I walked toward her and stopped when we were a foot apart. I looked into her eyes, but she didn't say anything. I cautiously took one step toward her. She didn't do anything, still.
I kept stepping forward until I was two inches from her. I cautiously took her hand and she smiled. "I miss you Peter." she said. "Don't you miss me?" I cleared my throat. "You have no idea how much I miss you, Mary Jane." Tears formed in my eyes. Mary Jane put her finger on my face and wiped the tears away. "Hey Peter, cheer up." "How can I cheer up? You're gone forever." I said sadly. She shook her head. "Tiger, you will see me again, I bet your web shooters on it." "How do you know I'm Spider-Man? Was Spider-Man?" I choked out my question, in surprise. "Peter, in dreams anything can happen." She said. "But all I can do is this, Tiger." And then she pressed her body against mine and she kissed me. When she let go, she looked at me and said, "Don't forget me, Tiger." She said, beginning to back away slowly at first. "Don't give up just because you lost someone. It's not the way to go. You know you have to continue being the Spider-Man." I started to get scared, putting my hand out. "Wait, don't go!" I said. She just looked at me sadly. "Don't forget what I said Peter," she said. "No stopping, no giving up, no nothing." After backing away so much, she disappeared, leaving me alone.
...
I woke up at seven in the morning and I was thankful. My vision was extremely blurry with glasses. Without them, my vision was perfect. I ran up the wall, and stuck to the ceiling. My spider powers! They were back! I remembered the components to my web shooters, after forgeting how I made them in the first place. After making a few cartridges of web fluid, I ran out the door and said, "Time to get to unfinished business." I ran to the Daily Bugle and climbed up to Jameson's office. I forced the window open and climbed in. I remembered seeing my costume on the wall, that time he called me in. Since no one was there, I stole it back. I got up to the roof and put it on, taking back my rightful place as Spider-Man. "I know who I am now…" I said. "… I'm Spider-Man!" I shouted as I dove off the roof and swung home.
When I got home, I knew I had to get the symbiote to leave Deadpool. My regular costume needs some quick adjustments, I thought. So, I made designs for another costume. This new costume had new details. It was completely black. An entirely black mask, with white eye lenses. Only, these weren't regular eye lenses. They would be able to be calibrated. And I called it Spider Vision. I upgraded my webs as well, so they were more stable, but just stable enough to stand and walk on. There was just one last thing needed. I needed another sonic blaster. But where could I find one?
The was only one sonic blaster around, and Ben had it. If I can't find one, I'll just make one. I made one, which would be concealed. My gloves featured small nozzles. That's where I put the sonic blaster's generator. Only I knew it was there. I looked at the clock. Eleven thirty. I opened the window, and thought, this is for Mary Jane, Ben. Not for you.
I swung all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge, where Dead-Carnage waited for me. "Where is he?" I asked, angrily. "Oh, he'll be just fine." He hissed. "Let's talk." I have to get to the real Deadpool to talk to me! I thought. But how can I? Carnage is in full control. Maybe if I cause enough damage, he'll give in! Dead-Carnage was running at full speed straight at me. He tried to super-kick me, but I flipped and he ran into the pillar. Now! Attack him while he's recovering! A voice in my head said. I attacked immediately. "Deadpool, you have to fight the symbiote! It wants to take over your body!" I shouted. "Shut up!" Dead-Carnage shrieked, getting back up.
I have to help him! I looked around. I can't use the sonic blasters. They only have 75% power, and they aren't fully charged yet. I need a distraction. I climbed the satellite, trying to get to the top. I finally got to the top and I ripped the signal antenna out. This will work, I know it will, I thought. I hadn't realized just how heavy it was. I struggled to hold onto it and stick to the sattelite at the same time. I eventually dropped it, and it exploded when it hit the ground around him next to him and the symbiote went crazy. I heard it as it screech and tried to flee. "Hey!" the real Deadpool said while he had the chance. "You want to get me out of this thing?!" Calm down, Deadpool. I'm trying my best. The Carnage symbiote overcame it's pain and reformed on Deadpool. But I was already gone.
I swung home and put together a few components. I knew I had to hurry as the symbiote could recover in a matter of minutes. I wondered if I could remain invisible to Dead-Carnage. I kept building and eventually came out with a miniature cloaking device. I put it on my wrist and touched the button. I was somewhat invisible now! I mean if I stood next to him, he'd see me. But my device worked. I will call this suit the "Stealth-Suit." I swung out the window, ready to take finish the job. He was still standing on the bridge, looking around. I swung right into him from behind, knocking him down and giving me a chance.
I picked him up by the throat and said, "You have three seconds to tell me where Ben Reilly is." I hissed, trying to keep my cool. "I'll never tell you!" he hissed. "I warned you." I said, shrugging. I clenched my fists, turning on my sonic blasters. Dead-Carnage started to deform. I turned it up higher, until I could see Deadpool's face. "Say cheese!" I said. I punched Deadpool in the face, knocking him loose from the symbiote. He lay on the ground, unconscious. I walked over to him to pick him up. But, then I heard a shriek behind me. I turned around and saw the symbiote twice its original size. I turned on my sonic blasters on full blast. It had no effect.
I just stood there, watching him. I picked up Deadpool and thought for a moment. The symbiote's only weaknesses are fire and loud noise, the words floated in my head. Of course! Intense heat! I grabbed a bomb from Deadpool's belt. "See you ugly!" I said as I dropped the activated bomb. I swung off as I heard its screeches behind me. Then I heard the devastating explosion. I looked back and saw the burnt red, decaying mass. I walked over to it and kicked at it. It flinched, but didn't do anything. It's dead, It's over.
I looked at Deadpool, who was coming around. I swung around to a rooftop, and sat him down. He woke up and spotted me. I got up and said, "Where is Ben Reilly?" I asked. "When I had control over that thing," He said. "I remember hiding him on the Grand Central roof." I was about to swing off, when he spoke. "Spider-Man?" he asked. I turned to look at him. "I can't believe I'm saying this," he said. "But thanks. For getting that thing away from me." I gave him a nod and swung to Grand Central and, sure enough, Ben was tied up on the roof. I swung down and took off his mask. "Need some help?" I asked. He opened his eyes, and said, "Who on earth are you?" he asked. "Who do you think?" I asked as I took of my mask. "Peter! Did you take Dead-Carnage down?" he asked.
"He's been incinerated." I said. "Good and Deadpool?" he asked. "He's free." I said. I tore his ropes off and handed him his mask. He took it and put it back on. I started to head for the edge to swing off, but Ben stopped me. "Peter, I have a promise to keep, kid. I know you took Mary Jane Watson." He said. "Why would I kidnap the woman I love? And plus, you already told me you knew where she was!" I asked. " I could have lied. You decide. I know Spider-Man is responsible for Mary Jane Watson's disappearance. And I'll go to the end of the earth to prove it." He said. "I thought you were my friend Ben?" I said. "Friend? Not in a million years. I'm your clone, not a friend. Sure, we'll team up. But that's all we are. Just teammates." He said. I swung off, irritated. I can't believe this! Ben betrayed me! No matter. I do believe one thing. Mary Jane or no Mary Jane, Spider-Man is needed here. If I am responsible for Mary Jane's disappearance, I can say one thing. Every fight is my fight. I don't get to sit one out.
I am the original Spider-Man. And Spider-Man is here to stay. Who am I? I am Spider-Man. Finally, this nightmare's over, I thought as I climbed through my window. I grabbed my clothes and changed into them. I found my traditional red-and-blue costume, and I folded it. So long old friend, I thought. I have a new favorite costume. I put my folded costume in a box and put it under my bed. I went in the living room and picked up the newspaper.
I read the front headline, which brought only sadness. It said: "Young Mary Jane Watson Still Missing." Mary Jane, where are you? I'm tormenting myself just by thinking about her. "I hate to say this, but Madame Webb was right. I still have much to learn." I murmured. I decided to lay down for awhile. I went to my room and lay down on my bed. I closed my eyes and before I knew it, I was asleep.
In my dream I was running from two things: my Stealth-Suit and the Carnage symbiote. I was hiding from the symbiote mainly. I switched hiding spots constantly. The costume and the symbiote were pushing each other around. I tried to slip away, but the symbiote spotted me. It grabbed me and consumed me. I woke up screaming. "What a horrible nightmare!" I said. Then I looked at the side of the building I was hanging to. I blinked and nothing changed. "And I thought I…" I started to say then I saw my reflection. "… was out of my mind?" I finished what I was saying. I was hanging upside-down in a costume I'd never seen before!
A/N: So, I know that this chapter was lengthy and a bit weird. I also know that was pretty much the same dream sequence that Peter had in the "The Alien Costume" Story String. So, the next chapter is going to be a "revamp" of the second chapter of that story line. So, that being said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And until next time!