Next morning, George was doing a press conference following the events take took place last night. At the same time, Peter was home eating breakfast while the conference was happening.
"Settle down, guys." George said. "Settle down, boys. Settle down. Come on. Listen. At approximately 9 p.m. last night, an incident took place on the Williamsburg Bridge. Much of what occurred is speculation at this point. However, several eyewitnesses to the crime, as well as our own preliminary findings, have positively placed one individual at the scene. Which is why, this morning I am issuing a warrant for the masked vigilante known as Spider-Man." At hearing this, Peter left for school, leaving his aunt confused. "And lastly, city council members met with homeowners and airport officials in the first of four meetings..."
At the school football field, Peter was with Gwen, talking to her and showing her the spider that bit him.
"It's so beautiful." Gwen said.
"Knows how to bite though." Peter said, as Gwen put the spider away.
"Who else knows about this?" Gwen asked.
"Just you." Peter replied.
"Really?" Gwen asked, which Peter nodded. He then brought up another topic.
"Hey, you don't..." Peter tried to put the words together. "You don't believe what the police are saying, do you?"
"Of course not." Gwen said, before asking. "Does it scare you? What you can do?"
"No." Peter said.
"What did that thing on the bridge look like?" Gwen asked.
"It was real big." Peter said. "Too big to be human."
"You gotta lay low." Gwen said.
"No, can't do that." Peter denied.
"You've got to. I mean, why...?" Gwen began to ask.
"Because of last night." Peter explained. "Those people on the bridge. Whatever was attacking them would have killed them. So I gotta go after it."
"That's not your job." Gwen said.
"Maybe it is." Peter said. After a bit, Peter continued. "I really liked kissing you. You're an amazing kisser."
"Well, you know, it was..." Gwen said, trying to find the words. "It was good for me too."
"Yeah?" Peter asked, which Gwen nodded.
They both leaned in to kiss. But then, Peter's senses went off and he caught a football that was heading for them. He threw it back a little too hard at the goal post causing it to bend. Both Gwen and Peter were shocked.
"Who did that?" A player asked, as Peter and Gwen were still shocked.
At Oscorp, Natasha was sneaking around while talking to Fury.
"I know not to get caught, Nick." Natasha said, holding the phone to her ear. "Yes, this will be quick." A moment of silence. "No, I don't need backup. Look, I'll call back in a few minutes. Let you know if I find anything."
Natasha had entered Connors' lab, so far not running into anyone. Then again, being a spy taught her how to avoid contact with people she didn't need to know. Suddenly, she heard the door opened and she quickly went to hide. She peeked out enough to not be seen and saw a teenager enter.
"A boy." Natasha whispered to herself.
"Hello!" Peter calls out. He looks around and picks up a syringe.
"It's not nice to snoop." A voice startled Peter. He turned and saw Connors. "I gave everyone the week off." He then walks to his desk. "Shouldn't you be at school?"
"No, I got a free track." Peter said. "I wanted to ask you a question. How would a predator track a reptile?"
"Oh, they don't." Connors said. "Most reptiles are at the top of their food chain. Kings of their domain."
"They gotta have vulnerabilities." Peter suggested.
"Why the sudden interest in the cold-blooded?" Connors asked, but his tone made it sound offensive.
"Just asking a question." Peter said. "I got school stuff. Biology profiles to do. So because of the cold blood would they react to changes in temperatures?"
"You'd have to catch one first." Connors said. "Did you know there's a rumour of a new species in New York? Beautiful and quite large."
"What do you know about it? You seen it?" Peter asked.
"No, it's not yet classified." Connors said. "But it can be aggressive... if threatened." Peter swore that he might've noticed what appeared to be some kind of scale on Connors neck.
"Doc, you all right?" Peter asked.
"Never been better, Peter. Never been better." Connors said. "Now, if you'll excuse me. Afraid I have to ask you to leave. I have a new project I'm working on. I need to be alone." Peter followed behind Connors as they left. "Don't worry, Mr. Parker. I'll be back. Wonderful things are coming. Wonderful things."
Peter wondered what was going until he heard a noise. He went over and saw a heavily mutators rat eating a smaller rat, but Peter knew who this is was.
"Fred?" Peter asked shocked, looking back at Connors and the rat until her left.
Natasha finally emerged from her spot, having heard the entire conversation.
"Peter... Parker." Natasha whispered. She knew that name. The same name of Richard and Mary's son. She walked forwards a bit and turned and saw the mutated rat dining on a smaller rat. She would've lost her lunch, had her training not included her developing an iron stomach.
At the police station, George Stacy was on the phone with the mayor as Peter walks in and sits on a chair.
"Mr. Mayor, if there was a giant dinosaur running around, you would be the first to know." George said. "So tell your son he can rest easy, all right'? Yeah. You and me both, sir. Okay. Bye-bye." He hangs up the phone and acknowledges Peter's presence. "Mr. Parker, why are you not in school?"
"Got a free track." Peter simply said.
"Okay, well, I do not have a free track." George said. "So make your point quickly."
"Fine, there may not be a dinosaur running around." Peter said. "There is something more dangerous, and I know who.
"You know who?" George asked.
"Dr. Curtis Connors." Peter answered. "He's a biochemist."
"Of Oscorp?" George asked.
"That's right." Peter answered.
"Dr. Connors, who's my daughter's mentor. Is that who?" George asked again, this time being specific.
"That's the one." Peter said.
"Recently, Dr. Connors gave Gwen a college recommendation." George said. "It was beautiful. When I read it, I cried. But you would have me believe that he is running around dressed up like a dinosaur?"
"Not dressing up and not a dinosaur." Peter stated. "He has transformed himself into a lizard." He groaned at this as he realized that it sounds stupid. Even George looked at him like he was crazy.
"Let me ask you a question." George said. "Do I look like the mayor of Tokyo to you?"
"I'm telling you the absolute truth." Peter said, as he started explaining. "This man has worked for his whole life on cross-species genetics. He lost an arm, he tried to grow it back, but the equation was imbalanced. He has turned into a lizard. He's using lizard DNA. He is dangerous, and he is planning something horrific. I know. I know."
"Okay. All right, I get it." George said. "Here's what we'll do. You'll go back to hanging out with the citizens of Tokyo. I'm gonna go back to protecting the citizens of this fine, fair city of ours. Sergeant Butler, please escort Mr. Parker back to school."
"Captain Stacy, I'm not messing around." Peter pleaded. "Just bring him in. Just call him in. You have to call him in. He is a danger to everybody. Just, please, listen to me." George took a moment to let the words sink in.
"Jimmy." George said. "Get me everything we have on Dr. Curtis Connors. Okay? Right away."
Peter left the police station having had no success. He was unaware that he was being followed by a woman. More specifically, Natasha. She was pretending to read a newspaper while she wore sunglasses. As he past by her, she set down the newspaper and followed a short distance behind him. As he walking, he noticed some lizards and saw that they were going into the sewers. He also sees a newspaper for cash for whoever bring in a photo of the monster.
In the sewers, Connors is filming video logs.
"Subject: Dr. Curtis Connors." Connors said. "Current temperature: 89.7. Steady for 48 hours. Blood panels reveal lymphocyte and monocyte readings consistent with subject's past."
Spider-Man descended into the sewers ready to set a trap.
"Clotting rate vastly improved." Connors said. "Marked enhancement in muscle response strength and elasticity."
Spider-Man began firing web into the tunnels. At the same time, Connors inspected his glasses.
"Eyesight similarly improved." Connors said. "Subject no longer requires corrective lenses."
Spider-Man continued to make webs.
"This is no longer about curing ills." Connors said. "This is about finding perfection."
Once finished, Spider-Man gave his webs a quick test run.
"In attempt to redress regenerative relapse, dosage has been increased to 200 milligrams." Connors said, injecting himself. His demeanor changed as he shoved the camera away.
Later, Peter was relaxing on his makeshift web trap as his camera was positioned to take the picture. At the same time, Black Widow was sneaking thought the sewers trying to find either Peter or the Lizard. After a bit, his senses went off as he sat up. He noticed that one of the webs vibrated. He put on his mask as he followed the web direction. Suddenly, he saw another web go off. And another. And another. Until almost every web vibrated. He saw a shadow in the shape of a lizard. He prepared for battle, until he saw that it was a small lizard. He looked around and saw the other webs having the same thing. They went in the same direction as Spider-Man followed. Until his senses went off and he didn't have time to react as the Lizard attacked.
Black Widow heard a noise and quickly ran in the direction. She turned the corner and saw Spider-Man and the Lizard attacking each other.
"You stopped me once." Lizard growled, as another flash went off. "You won't stop me again." His claws got longer. "I'm getting stronger every day!" He then clawed Spider-Man's chest.
Lizard attempted to take the mask until Spider-Man punched him and more webbing broke causing them to fall. Black Widow tried to intervene but they had fallen. She noticed a camera web to the wall. She pulled it off and saw a note saying 'Property of Peter Parker.' She knew who Spider-Man was now.
In the water, Spider-Man had kicked the Lizard off him. He tried to web but they completely submerged underwater. He punched a bar away and slipped through. The Lizard couldn't go through because of his large size and Spider-Man reached the end of the passageway and crawled on the ground.
"Oh, that sucked." Spider-Man groaned.
The Lizard had returned to the previous room and saw a camera on the ground and picked it up. He saw Peter's name on it.
"Peter Parker." Lizard growled, and crushed the camera.
Later, Gwen was doing some homework as Peter crawled up her building. She was the only one that knew, she was the only one he could go to. He nearly collapsed when he made it to her window and sat on the fire escape watching her for a moment before realizing how creepy he looked. He banged his head against the window softly. She noticed and gestured him to come in and Peter opens the window.
"You should maybe uh...consider coming in through the lobby," Gwen whispered to him. Peter chuckles softly wincing as the pain in his chest increased. "Also, my father is under the impression that you require psychiatric attention." Peter eases himself through the window only half listening to her as he tries not to bleed on her floor.
"Oh, really?" He tries to smile but Gwen is already beside him all previous amusement gone.
"Peter, what happened? What happened?!" Gwen asked, as she helped him sit.
"You should see the other guy." Peter said, through pain. "The other guy, in this instance, being a giant mutant lizard."
"Hey, Gwen." George called out. "Honey, do you want cocoa? Howard's making some cocoa." Gwen and Peter stare at each other and Peter ducks down trying to hide without further aggravating his injury and Gwen bolts for the door.
"No dad I don't want cocoa! Honestly, I'm seventeen years old!" She practically yells in her panic.
"Okay." George said. "I just thought I remembered somebody saying last week that her fantasy was to live in a chocolate house."
"Well, that's impractical." Gwen shuts the door and then opens it again to add "And fattening!" Then she shuts again leaving her father confused. She looks over at Peter who is smiling at her.
"Chocolate house?" Peter asked softly, looking far too amused.
Gwen rolls her eyes at him. But it helped calm her nerves and she suddenly feels bad about yelling at her dad. She cracks the door open and peeks her head out.
"Sorry, dad." Gwen apologized.
"It's good." Her dad is looking at her with the I'm concerned look and she knows she needs a good excuse.
"I just, I can't um...have cocoa right now, because I'm working...I'm doing this um...I have to...I have cramps." She flounders and blushes at her admonishment it's embarrassing but it would certainly keep her dad far away from her.
"Oh." Yup works like a charm Gwen nodded
"I feel kind of pukey and just sort of, I don't know, emotional." Gwen rambles.
"Okay. Good. Good." Her dad starts to ease his way back down the hall.
"Like I keep crying. It's brutal." Gwen said, at this point just milking it. "You don't wanna know, trust me. It's like, bad!"
"I got it." George said.
"Thanks, daddy." Gwen said, before closing the door.
"Alright." George said, walking off.
Later, Gwen was cleaning Peter's wounds, causing him to wince and hiss at the alcohol wipe. They looked at each other and Peter leaned in for a kiss.
"Easy, Bug Boy." Gwen teased.
"What'd you call me?" Peter asked, laughing. "I'm going to be all right."
Peter and Gwen kissed a bit before Gwen pulled away a bit.
"I know what this is." Gwen said.
"What is it?" Peter asked, playing dumb.
"Every day, for as long as I can remember, my father has left every morning and put a badge on his chest, and strapped a gun to his hip. And every day, for as long as I can remember, I haven't known if he was gonna make it home." She looked close to tears and he put a hand on her cheek cradling her head and using his thumb to wipe at her eyes. She leaned into his touch.
"I gotta stop him. I have to because I created him." He looked at her, needing her to understand.
"What do you mean?"
"I gave him an equation that made all of this possible." Peter said. "Something my father had been working on, secretly. Now I realize why he kept it a secret. Gwen, this is my responsibility. I have to fix it."
"Peter." Gwen comforted, while kissing his hand.
"Hey." Peter said, gaining her attention. "Let's get out of here. Let's just get out of here. Just for a minute. Can we?"
"No." Gwen told him.
"Yes." Peter insisted.
"No. If my parents see me leaving, I'm dead." Gwen said.
"Your parents aren't gonna see you leaving." Peter said, smirking.
After today's events, Natasha was meeting with Fury, discussing what she discovered.
"So, Oscorp is mutating rats?" Fury asked.
"The rats were a pretest." Natasha said. "After digging through the files a bit, they had successfully completed full limb regrowth. But they used lizard DNA. But the thing on the bridge and the rat I saw were linked too perfectly together."
"So, you're saying that this man is this Lizard creature?" Fury asked.
"Dr. Curtis Connors." Natasha said. "He worked his whole life on cross species genetics. Information we've known for years thanks to Richard Parker."
"And his son?" Fury asked. "Apparently, you said that he was seen in Oscorp."
"Yes, but that's not all." Natasha said, as Fury looked intrigued. "He's Spider-Man." Fury looked surprised, as much as he could've been. "Richard told us that the spiders he worked on were mere stepping stones to cross species. But their experiments never worked. But here's Peter that appears to show perfect compatibility with his spider side, similar to Richard's experiments."
"You think Parker knows about what his father did?" Fury asked.
"I honestly don't know." Natasha said. "Richard kept a lot of things hidden from us. He most likely kept it from Peter too."
"And the Lizard knows Parker is Spider-Man?" Fury asked.
"Yes." Natasha said.
"Then you're new objective is to make sure Parker is aware that the Lizard knows his identity and be there protecting him." Fury said. "Until we find a way to detain and bring in Lizard boy, there's no telling what he'll do next."
"Yes sir." Natasha said. As she was about to leave, Fury calls out to her.
"One more thing." Fury said. "Don't let your emotions cloud your judgement. He may be Richard and Mary's son, but that doesn't mean to let him know what we know about his parents. Not yet."
"Yes, sir." Natasha said.
In the sewers, Connors' thoughts were going everywhere as his skin now looked more reptilian.
"Peter Parker. Spider-Man." Connors' mind said. "I'm not the one who needs help! There will be no more loneliness, no more outcasts. Species-wide distribution could enhance humanity on an evolutionary scale. One has to adapt to survive.
"That, changing like the snake, I might be free to cast off flesh wherein I dwell confined." Connors said.
"Would you give it all up after all you know you can do?" His mind asked."All the power you feel." Connors went to his machine and pulled out more serum. "I can save them!" He injected himself as he inhaled a deep breath before transforming into The Lizard. "You won't get in the way of my plan, Peter Parker!"
Hey everyone, so I'm sorry for taking forever with this but I finally got it done. So many things happened and I almost lost inspiration to write this.
But other than that, here's the next chapter. Next time, Peter teams up with Black Widow when the Lizard attacks his school.
As always let me know your thoughts.
