Author's Note : Although I originally planned to only put two issues out a week, I may put them out a little quicker if I get the time. It will cause more of a delay in between the new arcs, but it might make it easier for everyone who's reading to follow along and keep up with what is going on in each arc. For now, here is the newest issue. I hope you enjoy, and if you do please leave a review or PM me to let me know.

ISSUE #3: Aftermath

David hurried back to the Daily Bugle, wasting no time in beginning to write. He took his phone off the hook so he couldn't be bothered, and concentrated on his story. He wanted to get it done before he forgot the specific details that Spider-Man had given. Even as he began the article, he was still conflicted as to what Spider-Man's true involvement was. For all Spider-Man said, I still only have his word. If Jameson is to believed, that in and of itself isn't worth jack. Spidey also said Mirage was there even though no one saw her, and he blame this mysterious Blackout. He shook his head, momentarily looked at the ceiling, and made a decision. I'll just have to leave it ambiguous. I want to interview some of the people in the bank to solidify some of the facts, but given their general condition that won't happen for quite awhile. David groaned in annoyance and continued writing.

As Peter arrived at home, he tried to get upstairs and go to sleep. Unfortunately for him, Aunt May was waiting right inside the door. "Peter, dear, where have you been since school got out? Mary Jane called an hour ago looking for you!"

"Um, I decided to walk home for a change. I thought a breath of fresh air would do me some good." He tried to head up the stairs, but May caught a glimpse of him holding his wrist.

"Oh my goodness! Peter, what have you done to yourself!"

"Oh, uh, it's nothing too bad. I had to jump out of the way to avoid a bike messenger who was in WAY too much of a hurry, let me tell you. I made it, but I tripped and fell hard on my wrist. I think it's sprained, but it could be a lot worse."

"You really should take more care of yourself, Peter."

"Yes, Mam."

"Dinner's in an hour, I expect you down here then. Now go call Mary Jane back, and let her know you are still alive!"

Nick groaned and rolled over, as he felt someone shaking him. He thought he heard someone saying his name, but he couldn't be sure. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs, and looked up at the man. "Ben? Is that you?"

"Hey, Nick. I, uh, couldn't find you after your class and someone said that they thought you had gone down to the bank."

"But, you were calling my name. How did you know where I was, or even who I was?"

"I nearly tripped over you, so i that's kind of how I found you. I didn't realize it was you though until i heard you mumbling something."

"Oh. I guess that makes sense."

"What happened to you?"

"Well, I had my hand out, because I thought no one was around. All of a sudden, without seeing anything, I felt somebody's skin brush across my bare fingers. I didn't see any of the usual random scenes from their future. When my power activated this time the only thing I saw was darkness. An unending, all-consuming blackness. It was terrible, and it hurt like nothing I've ever experienced. It was just too much I guess, 'cause next thing I know here you are, waking me up. I just really want to get home. I'll walk with you back to your place first though."

When Nick finally got home, he tried to do something he'd only done one other time. One part of his mutant power that he hadn't known about at first was that when he touched someone, he formed a bond with them. If he concentrated, he somehow knew exactly where they were, anywhere in the world. he wasn't really sure how it worked, but Nick felt he needed to try now. He had a feeling that the man who had touched him was the same person responsible for the bank robbery. He ate a small meal first to give him some strength before sitting on his bed. He put his head in his hands and focused all his energy on finding the man. Instead of getting the location though, he got the same reaction as he had a few hours earlier. As blackness filled his sight, he softly muttered, "Not again. . ." before collapsing and passing out on the floor.

The next morning, Peter woke up and tried to move his arm. He felt the pain, but it was not nearly as bad as it had been the night before. I' may be no Wolverine, but I should be all right by this afternoon. I wonder what Jolly Jonah has to say today. Oh! That reporter I talked to was from the Bugle! Maybe I'll get some good press for once. Peter picked up the paper off the table. Or, maybe not. The headline screamed in huge letters,

UNKNOWN MUTANT ROBS BANK! SPIDER-MAN ACCOMPLICE?

Well, obviously JJJ still has control over headlines, might as well check the story. As he read the story, he saw that the reporter obviously hadn't believed him.

Yesterday, the Midtown Bank was robbed after being covered in an unnatural darkness. Because of the unusual nature of this darkness, which included inducing pain, causing nausea, and even inducing heart attacks, the police assume the involvement of at least one mutant. As the only super-powered individual that the police are confident was in the bank immediately after the robbery, Spider-Man, does not posses the power to generate that kind of darkness, this mutant's identity is currently unknown. According to the police report, over one million dollars was stolen, and two people were killed from the darkness induced heart attacks. Also, an additional twenty-five people were sent to the hospital due to complications resulting from the darkness. When Spider-Man himself was found after the robbery, he was in a state of obvious pain and had been badly injured. He gave a statement to this reporter, and said that the unknown mutant had called himself Blackout. As none of the other people in the bank at the time have been available for comment, it is unknown if Spider-Man is telling the truth. He also mentioned that another so-called superhero, the mutant Mirage, was on the scene. However, as she was not seen anywhere in the vicinity of the bank immediately after the robbery occurred, the only person currently able to link her to the robbery is Spider-Man. At this time, the because of the state in which Spider-Man was found, the most likely scenario that the police are considering is that Spider-Man was an accomplice to the mutant. They believe the mutant and Spider-Man completed the robbery together before the mutant double-crossed Spider-Man. There is no warrant currently out for the web-slinger's arrest, but police have said that they are in the process of obtaining one.

Jeez, I give the guy a gift-wrapped summary of what happened, and an extremely rare interview with me, and what do I get? 'Spider-Man is currently a suspect." God! Scanning the rest of the front page, he spotted an advertisement that gave him an idea. In big bold letters, it read: Photographer needed! Job can be won by bringing in a picture of Spider-Man. Photos will be checked for accuracy and composition. Hey! I think Aunt May's got a digital camera! I could take pictures of myself, and get some needed cash. I'll do it after school, and hopefully no one will beat me to the Bugle Office.

Vicki woke up with a start. She saw she had two hours to get to school, so she got up and locked her door so no one could get it. She still was in a lot of pain from whatever Blackout had done to her, so she wanted to try her powers out a little bit, just to be sure that she was operating at full strength. After an hour of practicing, she had determined that her power's were still perfectly fine. Man, I'm glad I had enough power to cast an illusion over myself once Blackout disappeared. I almost didn't even have enough strength to change back outta my costume before I got home either. I'm just glad Mom bought that I wasn't feeling well. Hopefully, Blake won't be suspicious either. She quickly dressed, and went down for breakfast and waited for Blake to come down so they could go to school.

Nick woke up on the floor; it sounded like the phone was ringing. He stood up to go get the phone and winced in pain at the residual headache caused by his fainting spell. Damn that hurts! Why did that guy have to touch me! And who would be calling now? Oh my God! What time is it? He looked at his watch. Great, it's broken. Must have done it during one of my falls last night. He ran over and grabbed the phone.

"Nick! Why are you still at home?" Ben sounded relieved that Nick had finally answered.

"I, uh, blacked out again last night. Must have been a residual effect from touching that guy last night."

"The Daily Bugle reporter says that Spider-man was calling the man who robbed the bank Blackout. If he is the one who touched you, that might explain the vision you had the first time. But have you ever experienced a double vision before? Or is it because he's a mutant that it might have done it?"

"Not sure, but that definitely makes sense to me." Nick lied rather convincingly. "None of the girls that I dated and touched were mutants, and I don't think the people that I accidentally touched so far have been mutants. So that's a definite possibility. I'm still feeling the affects some, so I'm going to stay home today. Hopefully, they'll be gone by tomorrow."

As Peter got to school, he could already hear Harry and Johnny tormenting poor Eugene. "Hey, 'Flash,' did you see what your hero did yesterday?" That was Johnny, Peter knew from the voice. "It says here in the Bugle he helped a nasty mutant rob a bank; then got double-crossed."

"He did not!" Eugene's high-pitched whine echoed far down the rows of lockers. "He tried to stop Blackout! He just didn't know how to capture him! You just wait, he'll beat him yet."

"Come on, 'Flash'" This time it was Osborn chiming in. "You really believe that mutated piece of crap? I'm not so sure he didn't just steal something from Tony Stark and rig it himself. That way he could make some easy money and have some ready made 'super-villain' to blame it on."

"That's not true!" Eugene's voice was almost unbearably screechy now. "How dare you call him such mean things!"

"Could have said worse," Johnny said as he picked Eugene up and pushed him inside his locker, "we could have said you were his biggest fan."

When Peter knew they had left, he cautiously went over and helped Eugene out so that he could get to class on time. Once Flash was on his way, Peter got his things, and walked into his own classroom (after checking to make sure it was actually his classroom this time). As he sat down and the bell rang, He saw two people he didn't recognize standing by Professor Gusterson. The teacher smiled and began to speak. "Good morning, class, I'd like you to meet your new classmates."