Chapter 3: Invisible in the Shadows

It had now been a few good days for Rose since she became Star Spider. The brunette had been using her alone time to train, research, and improve herself. With one of them being to look over her father's files on spider heroes. On their moves, their abilities, and so on.

She soon stumbled upon a certain file involving the Spider Slayers. Synthezoid clones of Spider-Man created by the ex-villain Doc Ock. There were four of them with one still alive. And Rose would read about him a lot.

"Let's see...Goliath Spider is big and thick headed, yet his skin can be hard to pierce when in armor mode," Rose said, flipping over the next file page. "Bone Spider is more of a porcupine with those bone spikes of his. Could definitely think of some armor for attacks like that."

Just then, Rose found a very white with black outlined Spider-Man image. Codenamed: Ghost Spider. To her, he didn't look abnormal like the other two Synthezoid Slayers she just read about.

"Oh, hello...This doesn't seem like a Synthezoid Spider Slayer," Rose noted with interest. "Then again, I didn't think the same with the one Spider guy I think is cool and doing all of this in the first place."

As Rose read the file, Ghost Spider had the ability to disappear and reappear. Even when he's about to get stabbed, he disappears with no scratch. It's like teleportation, only it moves like a ghost. His powers can also phase through others which hurts them in the inside. And he can disable an electrified tech piece if anything touches him. Electrokinesis to be exact, and he can also turn invisible, as well. He's almost much of a perfect synthezoid like Scarlet Spider.

"Whoa...This Ghost Spider is almost as cool as Scarlet Spider," Rose stated, seriously impressed. "Almost. Intangibility, teleporting, and invisibility? Really lives up to his name."

Around thinking over the deceased Slayer, it gave Rose an idea where she decided to check on Kraven's hunting gear.

"Come on...I know he has one somewhere," Rose muttered, searching until she found what she's looking for. "Aha! Here it is!"

Rose picked up what looked like a metal spear with high-tech components that have an invisibility feature.

I figured that if I can find out how the invisibility feature works, then I can use it to escape or cover my tracks without being followed back home.

Kraven was thankfully out for the day, which allowed Rose to research not only Ghost Spider's invisibility she read from the files, but also research on the invisibility program of her father's spear.

She spent ours looking over what makes her father's spear invisible. It seems to have some cloaking technology, and there's a chip that can do that inside.

"Looks super small yet powerful," Rose stated, knowing she can't just use her fingers to pull out the chip. "Time to go safety first and take my new powers for a helpful spin."

Rose then put some special goggles that allow her to see even closer at small stuff, and she latched out one of her stingers that carefully carved where the cloaking chip is. It was a little tricky, but she managed to take it out. She sees the cloaking chip in her fingers.

"Perfect. I can totally use this for my own arsenal," Rose stated happily, only to first think of the next step. "Now, where could I fit the chip that would go with my suit and get me to activate it in making myself invisible?"

After putting everything back where she found, Rose head off to her room with the chip carefully in her hand to look over her drawing book on the sketches involving her suit. She had her actual suit hidden where her father couldn't find it.

She wondered where she could put the chip in, but she can't think of anything. She did had a few ideas on where, but it would require a lot of modifications.

"Maybe it can be secretly disguised as an earring? ...No, too much," Rose groaned lightly, putting an big 'X' on that sketch idea while cross-sitting on top of the bed. "What about a bracelet? Spidey and the others have high-tech watches, after all. ...But then again, it would be too suspicious. Can't let those guys think I stole from them when it's not...at least, I don't think so. Ugh, come on! Why is making a new upgrade so difficult?!"

Rose just plopped backwards with her head on the pillow in frustration.

Rose then remembered something from a while back. When she heard in the news that the Avengers returned from the shadows after their enemies the Squadron Supreme took over the city and they believed they were dead. Rose then remembered how Hawkeye outsmarted Speed Demon and his belt was the source of his speed, which Falcon used it against Zarda, given her uncontrollable speed... That's when Rose figured out an idea.

"A belt...That's it!" Rose said. "I can use a belt to put the chip in, and I'll be cloaking easily without no suspicions."

Intrigued by the idea, Rose looked for some materials for her belt to go with her costume.

Turns out, creating my first gadget by myself wasn't too hard when having the exact pieces from a psychotic hunter. I managed to look over Kraven's old gadgets that were tossed for scrap and found the materials in creating a belt. Since they were thrown away, I figured Kraven was not going to suspect anything missing.

After what took like nearly half an hour, Rose was able to create her own belt and carefully placed the chip inside it. She even installed some small buttons on the right side of whoever wears it. The red button is what activates the invisibility. The gold and black buttons...well, they were only just extra. For now.

"All right. My very own Stealth Belt is finished," Rose noted, picking it up to admire. "Now, the only thing missing is to verify if it works."

Rose then returned to the training room and marched towards the central control. "Computer, activate stealth training level 3."

The room then transformed into a massive simulation with barbed wires and holographic soldiers showing heat seeking lights and snipers.

"Dad must've gotten a real deal when Doc Ock gave himself the nanotech makeover." Rose said to herself. She rushed to the trees to avoid any light or security droids. "Now ,let's test this baby out."

She pushed a button on her newly made cloaking belt and she completely turned translucent.

"Success!" She said, seeing herself as invisible.

She then jumped from branch to branch, seeing the barbed wires which leads to an outside hideout. If someone like Rose can get there without being detected, then the simulation is complete.

"So far, so good," Rose said, using her spider abilities and gadget powers to get to the hideout.

Rose had almost got to the hideout. She moved carefully behind the armed gun holograms, but then, her belt had begun to malfunction. She started to see her hands glitching from visible to invisible. The belt then overheated and Rose shut down the cloaking mode. Making herself visible to the holograms where her spider sense went off. They started shooting and charging at her, as she runs off into the trees again.

"Computer, pause simulation!" Rose commanded as everything in the training room froze.

Rose then grabbed her belt and opened the small hatchet to see the cloaking chip that she installed in there. It was covered in smoke but it was still intact. It seems the invisibility has a time limit. Using too much will make it unstable and could either fry the belt or just shorten it out.

Okay, so I didn't fully check whether the invisibility chip needed other stabled features from overheating or not. I was never tech-savvy like some other spiders I know. Or even now. At least, I took the time to test it out on this training simulation first before taking it to the field.

The Burnette girl decided that the belt needs a cooling system for the chip to not fry.

"Computer, shut down the simulation. I'm done." Rose said.

Everything digitally vanished as it reversed back to normal.

"Looks like I have to work out the bugs in my belt," Rose noted, taking the gadget off. "Maybe there's something I can use to help keep it from frying itself."

Going back to her father's office, she looked around and sees one junk Kraven never uses. And one of them had a small microchip that activates liquid nitrogen as a cooling system.

"This can work," Rose said with a knowing smile, as she grabbed the old gear with her before getting to work.

20 minutes later...

After Rose modified her belt, she had to time how long she can use her cloaking chip can last. She returned to the training room and reactivated the simulation as it was before. This time, she started out going normally until she got over the barbed wire fence. Then, she activated the cloaking from her belt, turning her invisible again.

"All right. Let's try this again and see how long I can stay invisible," Rose muttered.

She got past the holograms and deactivated the drones again. And got through the tunnel leading to the hideout. and all that time she didn't. It took more than 15 minutes. She was almost at the hideout. And that's when her belt started to short-circuit again. So, she ran towards the entrance of the hideout and finally turned off her belt, which automatically activated the cooling system program in it. She then jumped towards the inside of the hideout, completing the simulation.

"Perfect. Looks like the invisibility feature can handle about twenty minutes being on before firing itself into damage," Rose noted, looking at the timer. "But when reaching past fifteen minutes, the belt starts to overheat as a warning sign and glitch. And the cooling system to recharge should be about five to ten minutes."

After returning from the simulation room, Rose was impressed by this outcome, she added the belt to her Star Spider costume. Her invisibility can only last for at least less than half an hour. She's got to remember to use it a few short times so that way she can't get caught too easily.

"I'll have to look into a longer power boost for the chip in lasting longer," Rose stated, as she decided to take a quick shower after looking at the time. "While I work on that later, I better get dressed before Father returns. He should be back any moment."

An hour later...

Rose and Kraven were having dinner. And Kraven wanted to discuss something with his daughter.

"So, Rose. I know you wanted to go to that zoo event that happened a few days ago." Kraven said.

"That's right," Rose said neutrally, looking away in small disappointment. "You said no and explained how I wasn't ready to go out into the world by myself just yet. Not that hard to forget."

"Yes, well, I think I know how to make it up to you," Kraven said. "I have a little surprise for you and this time... It's taking place outside our home."

"Oh…Wait, you were serious about that?" Rose asked, looking at her father.

"I am a man of my word, my little cub," Kraven said. "Tomorrow, after your training, at noon, we leave for the city, and you follow me to where we're going."

"And what exactly is this surprise?" The Brunette questioned out of curiosity.

"You must wait until tomorrow. I'm simply going to show you." Kraven said.

To be honest, I practically forgot the 'special surprise' Kraven planned for me on the weekend was the next day. I was so caught up with being Star Spider that I lost track of time. I didn't even care what sort of apology gift he had planned, but just went along with it.

Later, Rose washed the dishes and watched some TV. Then, her father sent her to bed to get ready for tomorrow.

"Goodnight, father," Rose said, already in the covers of her bed. "I hope I will like the surprise you have planned for me tomorrow."

"You will indeed love the surprise, my child." Kraven said, turning off the light. "Goodnight."

The next day...

Rose finished her training and put on a medium length cotton cold-shoulder casual light blue dress and flat sandal shoes. This outfit was picked by her father personally. Her hair remained side braided and added some hooped earrings. Rose even put on some makeup to hide the scar around the right side of her upper head near her eye. Along with hiding it with her side hair. She had been told by her father how a Kravinoff must stand for perfection and not have any flaws when being out in the public.

Back then, I was always ashamed to have my scar that I got when I was very young. Always being the perfect daughter to Kraven. While that was a downer, I thought about bringing my suit on the go by having it inside my backpack, just in case. Don't be alarmed. I had it in the secret compartment while also holding my drawing book and pencils. Kraven said that I was allowed to bring that for where we were heading. So, this worked out great.

"Okay, father. I am ready," Rose called out, coming out of her room with the outfit and backpack on. She noticed Sergei/Kraven wearing a Garden Casual outfit that made her question more on the surprise. "So...Where are we going again exactly?"

"You'll soon find out, my little Calypso," Kraven assured, opening the door to let his daughter go out first. "We'll be taking the limo with the chauffeur driving us to our destination."

Rose nodded while making her way out the door.

"Do you have your backpack?" Kraven asked.

"Sure do. Thanks again for letting me bring it and my drawing book," Rose said, giving a small smile.

"Of course. For where we're going, you are definitely going to draw what you like and see," Kraven assured, placing a hand on Rose's shoulder while moving.

After exiting, the limousine arrived and the two went inside. Kraven stepped inside, following her. The limo left in a steady yet speedy way, and Rose looked outside her window, and she sees where her father was taking her. It was the very same Zoo at Central Park. The one she secretly snuck out to go see the endangered animals. She has to pretend that she hasn't been there before.

"Father…Are we going to Central Park Zoo?" Rose asked, sounding and looking surprised. "Is this what you were talking about?"

"We are not going inside the zoo; my surprise is we're going outside the zoo," Kraven said. The limo stopped near a hill next to the Zoo. Kraven took out some food supplies for the trunk when he got out. As Rose got out, she was starting to put together what is a surprise. "I know you want to go to this event, but to make up for it, we're going to have ourselves a little picnic next to the zoo."

"Oh, wow…," Rose replied, showing an appreciated smile and tone.

The two of them were together to set up the picnic perfectly. There was even a small table that Kraven had brought so they won't have to eat on the grass that much, or won't have their food be covered with insects. Kraven worked really hard to get certain foods and meals for the picnic.

"Now, let us begin our lunch," Kraven said.

Rose looked at her father before hugging him. "Thank you, father. This is better than I could ever ask for."

Kraven and Rose ate their meals. There were sandwiches, some roasted chicken, some fruit, vegetables, water, and juice. Everything they needed for the perfect picnic to eat on.

"Father, I was not expecting any of this," Rose admitted, looking over at the museum. "I have always known you in being a hardworking man who is busy yet makes time for me. But to plan a picnic near something I am found of…it hits different."

"That is true. I know I can be unfairly harsh, but I just worry about you, my child." Kraven said. "This city...is basically a concrete jungle, full of unpredictable creatures. I get worried because what if you meet these creatures and they try to hurt you or harm you in any way possible?"

"I get that, father. But I am practically a young woman," Rose stated. "There are going to be times when I have to make my own decisions. Especially hard ones to go see new things without you. But it will not stop me from seeing you again…or love you."

"I understand. I will try my best to give you a bit more freedom to explore the city. But you're not ready yet and-" Kraven's sentence was short. He smelled something... Off.

"Father? Is there something wrong?" Rose asked, looking worried.

"It's...nothing. I... Just needed to use the rest room." Kraven said, he narrow his eyes at a near bush.

"Are you sure?" Rose questioned, a little confused. "I thought you were fine and already went before we left."

"Only because nothing happened and I didn't feel like going until now," Kraven said, making up an excuse. "I'll go see if there's a porta-potty outside the zoo, if there isn't, I'll just go into the bushes."

"Right…" Rose muttered, trying to look calm. "Well, I wouldn't trust those porta-potties the zoo has. Stinks as bad as the pony stables for the kid zone."

"How would you know?" Kraven asked, a little suspicious.

Rose thought fast from her comment. "Oh, I don't. I read and heard the reviews online about the Central Park Zoo on how most of the downsides involved their porta-potties not very sanitary."

I wasn't going to tell Kraven I went to Central Park without his permission. You have any idea how much trouble I would have been if he found out? A lot!

"Fine. I'll go into the bushes. I'll return, my child." Kraven said.

"Of course. See you soon, Father," Rose shrugged, not getting involved. "I'll be here."

Kraven got to the bushes. Thankfully, they're very big and very thick so Rose wouldn't see him. As he gets closer to the bushes, he sees someone he hasn't seen in a while... There was a man, who looked like he was wearing some kind of weird cloak. But Kraven can recognize the smell.

"I know you are there... Killmonger." Kraven exclaimed.

The man opened the hood of his cloak, and it showed a man with a metal mask and very long wild hair that was part of the mask. "Greetings, Kraven. It's been a long time."

"What do you want, Killmonger?" Kraven asked. "I'm having a picnic with my daughter."

"You know what I want. You still have the girl," Killmonger replied. "Do you know about her gift?"

"I do, but she is not fully trained for it." Kraven said. "She needs more time."

Killmonger gave a smug smile under his metal mask. "Are you sure?"

"You dare question my methods?" Kraven questioned, not leaving his glare. "I decide when she's fully ready for the next step."

Killmonger just chuckled darkly. "All right. But I believe she's far beyond the level of skill you think she's at. With or without her special gift. The girl is becoming stronger and craftier. Strong and crafty enough to become part of the Shadow Council someday."

Meanwhile…

Rose decided to bring out her drawing book from her bag to make a sketch of the zoo. Along with some of the animals that have her attention.

'This is beautiful. I'm glad to see this place again,' Rose thought to herself, her penciled hand moving around the blank piece of paper. 'I wonder how that mango-loving albino gorilla is doing. I hope he's doing okay…'

Little did the Brunette know that someone was heading to Rose from behind.

Back at the bushes...

"She does not know her gift of communicating with other animals. She needs more training before I could bring them in," Kraven said.

"We are being impatient, Kraven," Killmonger warned. "Sooner or later, we'll have to take matters into our own hands and force her to train her skills."

"We? Who's we?" Kraven asked. He then realized who Killmonger was talking about. "You mean... You didn't..."

Killmonger then chuckled and Kraven rushed out of the bushes.

"Rose!" He barked.

Kraven sees Rose with another fellow teenager like her. "Those are some neat drawings."

"Thanks. I try to practice what I enjoy seeing," Rose replied, giving a bashful smile. "Especially when it comes to nature."

Kraven knows that's not a real teenage girl. But he didn't wanna look suspicious in front of his own daughter. "Rose? Who is this girl?" He asked.

"Oh, hello, father. This is Mela," Rose introduced to the dark skinned girl with short black hair and street clothes.

"It is so nice to meet you, Mr. Kravinoff." The teen called Mela said, walking towards Rose's father. "I didn't mean to intrude, but I saw your daughter's drawings and I was a little curious." She then let out her hand so Kraven can shake it.

Kraven shook the girl's hand. She then whispered in his ear. "It sounds like you have gone soft... Kraven."

"Shut up, Zanda," Kraven said, knowing that the girl is secretly Killmonger's ally, Princess Zanda, a shapeshifter. "You tell your boss I will bring my daughter when I decide she is ready. I have taught her how to defend herself, but she hasn't heard any creatures' thoughts."

Zanda gives a smug smile. "We'll see about that."

"Father? Mela? Everything all right between you two?" Rose questioned, raising an eyebrow while putting her drawing book away in her bag.

"Oh, nothing, I was just telling your dad that he needs to give you more freedom." Zanda/Mela said innocently.

"Mela!" Rose exclaimed, her cheeks burning from embarrassment. "That is not necessary to say. I love and respect my father enough to avoid being rude in upsetting him."

"Trust me, Rose. If he keeps you isolated, you'll feel like you want to explode..." Zanda/Mela gave a cold glare at Kraven as everyone can hear a big boom sound at the zoo.

"What was that?!" Rose nearly yelled.

"I do not know," Kraven said.

"I should be going. This is too dangerous." Zanda/Mela said, as she runs.

Kraven glared at Zanda/Mela as she leaves. 'I'll deal with you later, Zanda...' He thought to himself. "Rose, wait here. If you get bored, wait in the limo. There's air conditioning."

"But what if it's not just people getting hurt?" Rose stated in worry. "If the animals at the zoo are in trouble, too, then maybe we can-"

"Just do as I say NOW!" Kraven shouted, scaring Rose. "I'm sorry. I'm going to go see what's happening at the zoo. Maybe I can make sure... the animals are not hurt."

Rose silently gulped from that last part, as she was well aware of Sergei doing more harm than good involving animals. "Of course, father. I'll stay here and later run back inside the limo."

"Good. I promise I'll be back." Kraven said, as he runs towards the zoo. 'Is this what Killmonger was talking about? Zanda was the distraction while he tries to unleash the animals from the zoo?' he thought to himself again.

While I had zero clue about the Shadow Council (nor the fact about Zanda pretending to be my friend), I wasn't dumb enough to know that Kraven going by himself to deal with animals never equaled a good sign. Last thing I wanted was to let innocent people and animals get hurt by this mad hunting man. And I couldn't just stand there to let that happen.

Unfortunately...Going as Star Spider on the spot so quickly became a problem.

After Kraven was out of sight, Rose decided to think of a quick spot to hide and go as her spider alter ego. However, as she looked down, Rose realized that her backpack was missing

"Huh?! My bag! Where did it go?!" Rose exclaimed in horror, knowing more than her drawing book was in there. "I got to find it now!"

Meanwhile...

Zanda shapeshifted from Mela back to her original form. And she had Rose's backpack. She stole it from her. "If this doesn't activate her unique gift to talk to animals... Then she will be disposed of." She said to herself, as she left.

To be continued…