Welcome back to A Song of Spiders and Dragons. Last time, after receiving an ominous threat from Kingpin, Spider-Man finally managed to get to work at Octavius Industries, only for typical Parker luck to strike as a machine nearly short circuits with Doctor Octavius inside of it just as the grant committee arrives. The good doctor gave the trio the afternoon off while he and the committee discuss things. So, what happens next? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes on the roof of the Octavius Industries' building, where Spider-Man has changed back into his suit)
Spider-Man: I really hope this doesn't get Doctor Octavius defunded.
Spyro: We're hoping the same thing, the world needs a brilliant mind like his.
Cynder: With all the good he's doing, I bet we might be able to pull some strings with the grant committee.
(As the three head up to the roof, a call comes in over their group comm system, revealing Yuri is calling them)
Yuri: Spider-Man. It's Yuri.
Spider-Man: Did Fisk make it to Rikers yet?
Yuri: Slight change of plans. He qualifies for the VIP treatment.
Spyro: You don't mean...
Yuri: Yep. He's headed for The Raft.
Cynder: Looks like he made the hall of infamy after all. Joining Scorpion, Electro, and the like.
Yuri: While I've got you on the line, could you guys come down to the precinct? Got an issue that might benefit from your unique skill sets.
Spider-Man: On our way, Yuri.
(And with a little flight and web time, the group arrives at the Precinct in Chinatown, where Yuri's waiting on the roof, holding a packet of nicotine gum.)
Spider-Man: So, now that you've quit smoking, what do you tell people when you come up here?
Yuri: The truth. That I need to get away from their crap.
Spyro: Fair enough. So, what's the issue?
Yuri: You know how the NYPD spent a fortune integrating Oscorp's surveillance tech?
Cynder: I heard about the deal. Seems like it was worthwhile though.
Yuri: Until about an hour ago. The towers went down all over the city.
Spider-Man: All of them? How?
Yuri: They said the central server was sabotaged.
Spyro: Sabotage? On this scale?
Cynder: And in the wake of the Fisk takedown?
Spider-Man: Could it have been an inside job?
Yuri: Maybe. We'll figure it out later, right now, we just need to get them up and running.
Spider-Man: Leave that to me.
Yuri: Just remember, you break it, you bought it.
Spider-Man: And here I thought you trusted us. (Looks to the tower and connects with his suit's computer system) There's your problem. Whoever did this shifted the input bands. Subtle, but ingenious. Should have it back up and running in a second.
Spyro: Does anyone else know how these things work?
Yuri: As far as I know, nobody outside of Oscorp.
Cynder: That's... suspicious.
(And just as they get that out, the tower reactivates)
Spider-Man: That should do it.
Yuri: Nice work. Think you can do that to all the rest?
Spider-Man: Shouldn't be too hard, since I had to connect to the system to fix it. Side effect, I'm now getting all crime data in the area. (Examines the data) There's a break-in nearby.
Yuri: I'll dispatch units
Spider-Man: No need. We're right here.
Spyro: Here we go then.
Cynder: So far, a pretty standard day off for Spider-Man and his amazing friends.
(With that, the trio leaps into action, as mere minutes away from the precinct, a break-in is indeed occurring.)
Spider-Man: (Landing on a lamppost) Pretty sure these guys didn't all just forget their keys.
Cynder: Then let's give them a hand.
(And with that, the three leap into the fray, taking out the armed thugs in mere moments.)
Spider-Man: That takes care of that.
Spyro: (Picking up something on their linked devices) Looks like there's an assault in progress nearby.
Spider-Man: Don't worry. (With a bad grizzled voice) Spider-Cop is on the case.
Cynder: Please don't do that again. Remember what you told Yuri.
(With a little jogging, the group arrives at the site of the assault, already in progress.)
Gloria: Back off!
Thug: You know what they say, snitches get stitches.
(Not wasting any time, the trio of heroes leaps into action)
Spyro: Little word of advice, gentlemen. When a lady says back off, you back off!
(With that, the battle against these thugs begins. But most of the group is down within minutes, while the last one grabs the victim, Gloria, and holds a gun to her head)
Thug: Back off or she's dead!
(Not wasting a minute, Cynder slips into the shadows unseen, only to emerge under Gloria and pull her into the shadows to safety while Spyro and Spider-Man deliver a one-two punch knockout as Cynder emerges with Gloria)
Cynder: That should take care of them.
Gloria: I knew Jameson was wrong about you three. You may be a little strange, but your hearts are in the right place.
Spider-Man: Do you.. have somewhere to go?
Gloria: I can take care of myself.
Spider-Man: I don't doubt that. But just in case, there's this place downtown called the F.E.A.S.T. Center.
Gloria: Seen it. Not interested in charity.
Spider-Man: Just saying, they've got the best wheatcakes in the city.
Gloria: (Thinking about it.) My mother used to make those. I haven't had those in a long time. You know what, I'll check it out. Thanks for the help, you three.
(With the assault stopped, the trio takes off and soon arrives at the next tower, but before syncing to fix it, Spider-Man gets an idea)
Spider-Man: I wonder if we can use these things to track something other than crime... Give me a second.
Spyro: I don't know if the NYPD will take kindly to you messing with their system too much.
Spider-Man: And that's the tower fixed.
Cynder: (Getting a ping on her smart watch) Looks like there's something nearby.
Spider-Man: Nice! It worked! Now these things can track any RFID signal!
Spyro: Color me wrong, something tells me the cops will appreciate that.
Cynder: And I think I just found the source of the signal. Check this out!
(And just around the corner from them, something is suspiciously webbed to the wall.)
Cynder: Is that what I think it is?
Spider-Man: No way! It's one of my old backpacks! (Rips it off the wall and pulls something out of it) And it's got the menu from my first date with MJ in it!
Spyro: Those things are probably all over the city! Might be fun to track down old memories on a calm day.
Spider-Man: Might just do that someday.
(Just as Spider-Man makes this comment, an alert rings off)
Cynder: Jewelry store robbery nearby.
Spider-Man: Let's get at it!
(And within moments, the group is within range of the jewelry store. Unfortunately, the robbers spotted them and have started shooting out the window. But once it's gone, our trio makes quick work of them, until backup arrives.)
Spider-Man: Seriously? How do these guys always plan these things so thoroughly! You'd think with that level of planning somebody could give these guys a legit job!
(And just like that, the thugs are taken down.)
Spider-Man: Nice job everybody. (Checks his system map) Looks like the last tower in Chinatown is nearby.
Spyro: Let's get that thing fixed up then take some actual time off.
(Within moments, the trio finds the third tower and gets it running smoothly.)
Cynder: Finally, we're done here.
Spider-Man: You three maybe, but I've got to get this suit fixed. Can't have people taking pictures of my three chest hairs.
Spyro: Aren't your repair tools back at the lab?
Spider-Man: I can only hope Doctor Octavius has left for the day.
(And at the mere mention of his name, the good doctor decides to call)
Spider-Man: Hey, Doc! We were just talking about you!
Octavius: Good things, I hope.
Spyro: So, how'd it go with the committee?
Octavius: They're a little nervous in the face of imminent progress, but that always happens. They'll calm down eventually.
Cynder: Sounds good. Need any help with cleanup?
Octavius: I'm just about to step up for dinner. The four of us will meet up again tomorrow. A short break, then we're back to creating the future!
(And with that, Doctor Octavius hangs up)
Spider-Man: Sounds like I can work on the suit in peace.
Spyro: Sounds good, we'll head back to the Embassy and get some rest.
Cynder: After the day we've had, we'll need it. See you tomorrow at the lab, Pete?
Spider-Man: Certainly.
(And with that, our trio goes their separate ways as our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good place to leave off for now. A look into the standard day of Spider-Man and his draconic comrades. Though the towers suddenly going down was certainly suspicious. Could it mean more? We'll have to figure out as time goes on. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!