Episode 5: The Crime Wave Part 1

New York, One Morning

In a backroom at some average pub, a bunch of gang or mob leaders have gathered at a table due to an invite from a mysterious ally. All of them wonder who it is until they see a man in a brown suit, black and white mask, and a brown fedora walk into the room.

?: Good, you all came. I expected you to answer my summon.

Gang Boss 1: about time. We don't like waiting for a long time pal. Now what do you want?

?: Simple, I'm calling you all here to say that I will take over each of your organizations, starting today, the Crime-Master is the true leader of the criminal underworld. This will be MY business and only I give out the orders!

The mob bosses look at each other before they laugh.

Gang Boss 2: Look pal, You ain't talking to a buncha idiots.

Gang Boss 3: Well here's our answer, We aren't going to let anyone boss us around! We're leaving.

Crime-Master: Shame. I hoped you would reconsider… BOYS! Get in here!

The door opens as the Enforcers, out of jail, walked into the room.

Gang Boss 1: The Enforcers?! Those were Hammerhead's men!

Crime-Master: Exactly. WERE his men. Now, they work for me. And you better change your tune before you meet their… intervention methods.

The gang bosses all look as they see Ox crack his knuckles with an intense glare.

Gang Boss 2: O-Of course we will comply.. Just don't let them hurt us!

Crime-Master walks over as he signals the Enforcers away.

Crime-Master: Good. Now, our meeting's now done. I will send you all my orders soon. With my leadership and the Enforcer's muscle, we can OWN this town!

Manhattan, Later that Afternoon

Spider-Man was web swinging into the city with a web backpack on his back as he was heading towards a hospital across town, where Aunt May was at as she was recovering from a heart attack from a week ago.

Spider-Man: I have to get there now. The Doc called this morning and said Aunt May was going to be okay, but he needed me for something. I have to-

His Spider-Sense tingles as up ahead, he sees a lowly thief standing on a flag pole as cops are trying to get to him.

Spider-Man: Of course… Right when Aunt May needs me.. But this guy seems serious about jumping to try to escape. Guess it wouldn't be harmful to swing in and help our boys in blue.

Spider-Man lets go of his web line as he quickly shoots two and pulls fast to try to zip to catch the guy. When he gets close, he sees the guy get pulled high in the sky as Spider-Man bangs his head against the flag pole and falls down. Spider-Man reaches out and catches himself on a wall below the pole as he looks up, rubbing his forehead, as he sees the guy getting hauled up into a helicopter hidden high in the air.

Spider-Man: Okay, that was so uncalled for. That guy just juked me! I don't know what that was about, but there's no way I'm letting that stand!

Spider-Man shoots two web lines at the flagpole and pulls as he steps back. When he reaches a certain distance, he jumps and lets go as he shoots high into the air, trying to reach that helicopter. Crime-Master, within the copter, chuckled as he signals the pilot to flip a lever as engine smoke blew into Spidey's face, making him miss and start falling back to the city below. Spider-Man quickly shot a bunch of web fluid into the air, making a parachute as he slowly glided down.

Spider-Man: Biggest. Fail. Ever.

Citizens on the street below saw this spectacle and shared a laugh at his failure as some even filmed it. Spider-Man sees and just groans as he just glides down.

Manhattan General Hospital, Later

Spider-Man, in his civilian identity of Peter Parker, rushes into the hospital and gets into an elevator. Peter breaths as he did just run here. He looks up and eyes widen as Mary Jane was in that same elevator.

Peter: MJ? What are you doing here? I didn't expect you of all people to hang around a hospital.

Mary Jane: Aunt Anna heard about your aunt and I came by to see her too. What are you doing here, Peter?

Peter: Huh… Such a beautiful caring girl… Speaking of… Maybe I should ask her finally if she's seeing anyone… aww who am I kidding… I already embarrassed myself today, I don't want it happening again…

Peter: Uhh… the doctor called me… he wanted to tell me something, so I came as fast as I could.

The two teens step out of the elevator as they see a mustache clad doctor standing there, expecting Peter.

Peter: How is she, Dr. Hobwell?

Hobwell: She is recovering well with our treatment… But I called you here for a request, to fully make her recover, We need a blood transfusion… We examined her blood type and it seems you might be a proper donor that's eligible… Do you mind telling me your blood type?

Peter's eyes widened as those two words made him both shocked and nervous.

Peter: A blood transfusion?! I can't do that! I got my powers from that spider bite and it altered my blood… If my powers came from my altered blood… It could really affect me being Spider-Man.. I'll probably be a bit weaker than normal for a while maybe…

Peter: I don't know.. It seems like a bad idea…

Mary Jane grabbed his sleeve and pulled him closer to her.

Mary Jane: Peter Parker! Don't be a damn baby and help out May. She's your Aunt! Just do it so she can be alright again!

Peter's eyes widened as he hadn't heard Mary Jane raise her voice like that since 3rd grade. He sighs and nods as she lets go of him.

Peter: She's right… I have to do this… I can't let Aunt May down by being a coward. I'm a Parker. A Parker doesn't give up!

Peter walks into a room as the doctor extracted some blood to run tests if he's viable while Peter kind of worries that they'll discover the alterations of his blood and figured out his secret identity, But, he sighed in relief when the blood came out negative on the alteration.

Hobwell: This will help give your aunt the strength she needs.. But, I would recommend you take it easy for a while until your blood replenishes.

Peter gets up and pushes his jacket sleeves down as he nods.

Peter: Yes, sir.

Peter: Just hope there wouldn't be some big bad guy to fight for a while… But, the positives is that Aunt May will be ok..

Peter followed Dr. Hobwell as he prepares the blood transfusion for Aunt May and observes from a window as they put the blood within Aunt May. Peter waited until the nurse walked out of the room.

Nurse: Your Aunt's awake now, Mister Parker.

Peter walked in as he saw his Aunt awake and sitting up from your bed.

Aunt May: oh Peter! The doctor told me that thanks to your donation that I can leave soon!

Peter: That's great, Aunt May. By the way, MJ came by earlier and told me that her and Mrs. Watson wishes to take you on a two week trip to Atlanta. I think this could really help your recovery period.

Aunt May: That sounds wonderful. They're such good people.. But what about you? Would you handle being home alone?

Peter: Trust me Aunt May, taking care of the house and school will keep me busy and if it helps, I can always call Gwen or Harry for company.

Peter brings Aunt May some spare clothes to change herself into and helps her walk out of the hospital as Anna Watson and Mary Jane were in a car nearby as he helps get Aunt May into the car.

Aunt May: Take care of yourself, Sweetie. Wear warm clothes if it rains or gets cold. The medical supplies are in its usual place in the bathroom and-

Peter chuckles and closes the car door.

Peter: Will do, Aunt May. Just go have fun and don't ever think about me during then, okay?

Mary Jane: Don't worry about it, Pete. Me and Aunt Anna will REALLY take care of her.

Peter: Oh, I trust you on your word, MJ.

Peter couldn't help, but smile as he waves farewell as the three females drive off into the horizons.

A Week Later

Crime has escalated throughout New York as a huge crime wave is occuring thanks to the work of Crime-Master and the Enforcers. Mobs are striking at every opportunity they get thanks to the money and resources they can muster as even law enforcement are having trouble catching them. Even Spider-Man's investigation into this Crime-Master as he takes pictures of police arresting the 11th Gangster that week.

Spider-Man: Geez.. the cops have been working nonstop with all this… This is like the 11th arrest they had this week and they don't want to talk as they fear this Crime-Master guy….

Daily Bugle

J. Jonah Jameson was reading the latest reports as Joe Robertson walked into his office.

Jonah: Another arrest, Robbie.. Another one! The cops are wasting their time going after these thugs. Spider-Man should be the prime suspect! He has to have a connection in all this!

Robbie: Look, Jonah, Can you just put aside your thing against Spider-Man right now? Perhaps we can use this paper to go help on stopping Crime-Master… Get the info to warn people…

Jonah: Ugh! You're not seeing it Robbie! This Crime-Master doesn't exist! This has to be a trick Spider-Man made up to throw the cops off his scent… LEWIS! LEWIS! Get in here!

A middle aged, hazel-eyed blonde man walked in with a notepad as he was nervous about it. His name was Nick Lewis, one of the reporters for the Bugle.

Nick: Y-Yes sir?

Jonah: Nick! I want you to research this Crime-Master and try to find proof that Spider-Man is the head of this crime wave!

Nick: B-But sir, there isn't even any proof yet as the police never figured out the Crime-Master's identity. Besides, You did this last time when you tried to frame Spider-Man as Dr. Octopus a couple weeks ago, if you were proven false again, we'll lose readers!

Jonah: Shut it Lewis! I don't need lip from you! I'm the publisher of the Bugle and you will do as I say or else I'll fire you and I'll make sure you get blacklisted from the journalism industry for life!

Nick: I'll get to it, sir…

Nick left the office as he sighed as he walked by Betty Brant, who was leaving for the day after organizing things for Ben Urich.

Nick: Sheesh kid.. He sure hates this Spider-Man guy…

Betty grabs her bag and puts on her jacket as she rolls her eyes.

Betty: I know, right? It's been 24/7.. I'm glad I'm going home tonight..

Betty walked out of the office and went down the elevator. When she walked out to the street and waited for her brother to take her home by car, a African-American man in gang clothes pointed at her as he looked at the Enforcers.

Guy: That's the girl, guys… That's the Brant girl.

Fancy Dan flicks his tooth pick away as the Enforcers walk up to her.

Fancy Dan: Alright Brant. Where's the rest of your pay?

Betty: M-My brother already paid it all off.

Fancy Dan: There's a thing called interest, girlie. Crime-Master doubled it earlier today.

Betty: Hey! That's not fair! He just can't-

Fancy Dan: Well, when the Crime-Master took over all the criminal organizations in town.. Including that loan shark mess the Maggia ran, He didn't do it to look nice. Now, One last time… This is a warning.

Across the street, Peter was walking towards the Bugle, but he saw the commotion and his eyes widened.

Peter: The Enforcers?! How?! Last I remember, they were arrested a long time ago after I stopped Hammerhead's operation… But why are they harassing Betty from work? What's going on?

Peter walks to get closer, being noticed by Betty and the Enforcers as he approaches.

Betty: Pete! Get out of here! This is too dangerous to get involved in!

Fancy Dan: Well! Looks like Brant has a friend. This is perfect!

Peter's Spider-Sense tingles as Ox grabs him in a bear hug.

Fancy Dan: You know, We would never hurt a chick like you. But, Ox here can show you what would happen if you don't pay us.

Montana: Ox. Give 'im a little hug.

Ox chuckles as he tightens and squeezes Peter as Peter is in slight pain. Betty panics and calls out to them to stop.

Betty: Don't! Leave him alone! I'll get my mother to gather up some cash. Please don't hurt my photographer!

Fancy Dan chuckles as Ox loosens up and rubs his head and messes up Peter's hair.

Fancy Dan: Well, you'll be able to live today, kid. Drop the kid.

Ox lets Peter drop to the floor as they all walk off with a laugh. Peter starts to get back up.

Peter: I should have came as Spider-Man, but I could have harmed Betty in a fight. I couldn't risk it…

Peter: ugh… We can't let those guys get away with that..

Betty: Don't Pete. Those were the Enforcers… They would have killed you.

Peter dusts himself off and fixes his hair as he turns towards Betty.

Peter: The Enforcers? I know about them.. They were those Hammerhead guys that tried to kill Spider-Man last month.. But why were they talking to you?

Betty: O-Oh uh… M-Mistaken identity, that's all.

Betty: I can't tell him or anyone that my family got involved with a loan shark scheme some time back… if Peter or anyone got involved, they could get hurt or killed…

Peter started to look more confused.

Peter: I may be young.. But I'm not that gullible. Tell me what's really happening with you.

A car drove up and honked as Betty opened a car door and closed without saying anything else. Peter watches the car drive off as the expression changed from confusion to determination to stop the Enforcers after seeing him harass one of his friends as he walked away.

Next: Crime Wave Part 2

Author's Note: I decided for this story to not use the Big Man or anyone cause it would be too obvious and wanted to switch things up. I chose Crime-Master since he's an obscure Spider-Man foe and I felt he needed some recognition. That is all I wanted to clear up. STay Safe, My Web Army!