Peter was hanging around the Bugle, learning more about the Crime Master. Foswell and Ned Leeds were now in fully to figure out who this guy was and their endgame.
"Hey Parker, I'm going to need a photographer for something, but I have to warn you. It will be dangerous so you can back out if you want to." Ned said coming over to him.
He nodded. "Well, what exactly do you need help with?" Peter already had a good feeling it would be the Crime Master.
"A shipment I heard about, relating to the Crime Master. Got a good feeling about it. Perhaps we could get some incriminating photos, of course JJ might not be so keen to know about this, but I think he'll be happy getting some of those pics." Ned reasoned.
"Right, sounds like a plan." Peter replied.
Ned was surprised by how easily Peter agreed to the dangerous assignment but accepted it. "Alright, we're going tonight. Be ready."
Peter nodded. "Sounds great." He then walked off finding JJ speaking to another reporter who he had heard of before named Eddie Brock.
"Brock! Where's the story on Cledius Casidy!? This is one of the biggest serial killers in recent memory. We can't miss this story! I refuse to be out scoped by our competitors! What do they know about the news!" Jameson yelled.
"It's alright JJ, I've got this covered just getting the finishing touches on this. Wouldn't want to make a mistake on this." Repied Brock.
"You've got that right! If I even see a single mistake you're fired! History! You'll be jumping through so many hoops you'd have to be like the wall crawling menace to keep up!" He shouted and went back to his office slamming the door.
Eddie sighed and whipped away some sweat.
"Hey Mr. Brock." Peter said, walking up to him.
"Eddie's just fine." He replied, giving Peter a handshake. "Surprised JJ hasn't blown a fuse yet, I've worked hard to keep my job. Reporting on this madman was no small feat. He treats it as it was. You gotta do something really impressive to get him to feel any respect." Eddie said allowed.
"Well, I respect you for trying hard with Jameson." Peter said kindly.
Eddie nodded. "Thanks Parker. You know despite his rough exterior, he's the best news reporter in the city. I can only dream of getting to his level someday. You know, maybe I might need a photographer. I could take them myself, but I might just think of you." He replied and waved to Peter heading back to his desk to finish up his story.
Peter left the bugle and headed back home.
He soon dressed up as Spider-Man and swung home calling MJ on the way after performing jumps from side to side on buildings flinging off each one feeling pretty cool doing that wanting to spice up his swinging.
"Hey MJ, I just wanted to check in on you. Everything going on with your dad, I am going to help one of my co-workers, Ned Leeds, with taking some pictures at something related to the Crime Master tonight." Peter expressed.
"Why does he want you to help him out? A little weird and dangerous doing something like that as Peter isn't it?" She asked.
He thought for a moment. "Well uh, yeah you are correct. Doesn't seem great, but this could be a critical move in bringing down this guy and maybe finding your father again, I don't want the police to find him first. Though I do trust Captain Stacy."
MJ sighed unsure. "Well, you should do what you think is best Peter, I trust your judgment calls, always."
"Thanks MJ, it means a lot to me." He hung up and made it back home taking off his suit before entering through the front door, also looked out for the police watching MJ's house still in case her dad appeared once again.
Peter walked inside seeing Harry sleeping on the couch which made him roll his eyes at his friend, but kept silent not wanting to wake him. He gave a pretty loud snore and was rolling around a bit, looking like he'd fall over.
Aunt May was doing the same reading a book in the kitchen. "Oh Peter, how was your day? Harry said you had to go to the bugle."
"Yes I did. Hopefully I'll get paid in a couple of days and so I can give you a bit of that check." Peter replied happily and left out what he'd be doing tonight.
"Oh you don't have to worry about me, I'll be alright. I do hate taking your money. Even more now after you lost that friend of yours." May responded.
Peter grabbed her hands. "I'm going to give you some of the money May, I love you. And I always want to show that I do."
May shook her head and hugged him. "Oh Peter, I always know you love your old aunt. I never have doubted it. Don't you worry about that."
"Thank you aunt May." Peter replied, giving a kiss on the check.
"You never have to thank me, all I ever want for you is the best for you. After all, you're such a bright and wonderful young man." Aunt May said cheerfully.
Harry meanwhile fell off the couch, prompting both of them to check over if he was alright. Which he was, continuing to snore away and stretched his behind a bit, which made the two of them laugh at him.
Later into the night, Peter departed, heading off to meet with Ned Leeds at the address given to him. He decided suiting up might not have been the greatest idea yet, but brought his suit along with him in case of trouble brewing.
Soon he saw Ned and waved at him. "Hey Ned!" He exclaimed.
"Keep it down!" Ned replied to Peter and waved back motioning him forward. "Don't want these guys to hear us."
"Oh uh right. Duh should have thought about it, should I have worn black go full ninja style?" Joked Peter.
Ned paid attention to the surrounding area. "Oh yeah sure might have helped." He said not paying attention.
"Alrighty then, good to know." Peter replied with some sarcasm.
Ned pointed to a rooftop. "There, we can use it as our vantage point. My source said a special delivery is coming this way. We need to see what it is. Must be something important after all."
They moved there and started watching hidden by the darkness.
A van soon pulled up, with a formulier face stepping out.
"Who's that woman?" Ned questioned.
Peter knew who it was. Tombstone, this is differently all about the Crime Master. He thought to himself remembering his last encounter with them.
"Take a picture of them, could be critical getting a snap of them, just make sure the flash is off!" Ned reminded.
"It's off, don't fear, they won't see anything, probably." Peter remarked.
They both listened to what was happening below.
"Crime Master wants us to set up shop here, understand?" Tombstone asked all of the goons standing around.
"Why here of all places?" One asked.
Tombstone walked up to them and she looked threatening. "Don't question your boss's leadership. Unless you aren't a fan of living."
The goon wisely nodded incredibly quickly and gave a salute too.
"Now, we need to start setting up. Crime Master wants our operation ready to go right this minute, on the double! And no more questions, got it!"
They all nodded.
Tombstone stepped over to someone else coming out of the van. MJ's father and another two people Peter didn't recognise who he assumed must have been more goons ready to help. Clearly they wanted a lot of forces here, it would be a big blow to The Crime Master taking them down.
MJ's dad spoke. "I'm not so sure about this." He stated nervous.
"Stop being such a coward, I've got a quarter of a million dollars bet on this working out." One of the two standing beside him said and went back into the van.
Tombstone grunted at him and crossed her arms. "You've got a job to do. Remember your reward, we'll all be making a lot of money when we're done. And then happily ever after in the end."
Peter looked surprised by all of this and kept taking pictures.
Ned looked over at him. "This is going to be huge, you'll see."
They kept watching into the night and once the night was becoming day, they left their spot not really gaining anymore information. Safely, they decided to part ways.
"You did good tonight kid, I'll take the film right to the bugle right now. I just can't believe that we didn't get a peak of that delivery." Leeds said.
"Shouldn't we make a copy first? Just in case something bad happens?" Peter asked curiously.
Ned nodded. "I'll be copying all of this information as soon as I get there. Don't worry, nothing bad's going to happen here Peter, we did great!"
Um, I feel a bit worried with that wording, but I trust him to keep it safe.
"Alright Ned, glad to have helped!" Peter exclaimed and smiled.
Soon after Ned left, despite Peter having a long night and likely going to need to make up an excuse of where the heck he was. He decided he needed to go to that place right now, as Spider-Man. He'd say he woke up earlier and went to visit MJ for a bit, easy. Nobody would be suspecting a thing, it'd all work out.
Spider-Man, now suited up and ready to go, went creeping around the area and webbed up one of the potrols bringing them out of sight.
"Hey bad guy, how many buddies do you have around here?" Spidey asked.
"I'm not telling you nothing!" The goon replied.
Spider-Man shook his head. "You people always say that, don't quote me on saying you people, I don't mean it like-" He paused. "Never mind, how can I convince you to tell me what I'm wanting to know? Walk towards you menacingly while you're upside down? Oh and fire in the background, that'd look manencing right? Oh and cool!"
"You're crazy!" The goon exclaimed.
"That's a very hurtful word you know!" Exclaimed Peter right back.
"You're going to get yours freak!" They exclaimed and then knocked themself out shockingly to Peter.
Well, that happened. Peter shrugged it off and continued scouting around the area wondering what was in store for him next. His wondering was quickly answered as a bunch of goons came out after him. Despite them seemingly getting the drop on him, they made a mistake. All standing together, which lead to Peter creating a giant net to ensnare a lot of them in webbing. The rest of them backed off as Tombstone walked out cracking her knuckles.
"Huh, figured you'd show up. Not this soon though. No matter, we've been working on a special delivery, just for you hero." She said walking up to Spidey.
"Well, I've got a knack for finding bad guys, or people in this case right?" He said sarcastically and shot a webline at their face, bringing them to the ground knowing they'd be able to take it. Correctly so as Tombstone got up and grabbed the webline pulling Peter forward, but his Spider-sense warned him allowing him to avoid the incoming fist coming his way and gave Tombstone a good kick back.
"Nice Kid, you're putting up more of a fight." She said confidently and continued her attack coming in for another punch, which Spider-Man dogged and leaped off her back and then webbed her back, flinging her into the before seen van.
"I've learnt a bunch, most importantly I've learnt you can take the best I can dish out at you and take you down knowing that." He replied proudly. And my spidey-sense.
"Feeling cocky are we now?" Tombstone asked, looking a bit defeated, but something else triggered Peter's senses as he douged, Looter.
Oh boy, I don't want to fight MJ's dad. Maybe I should've called Captain Stacy. Stupid Peter, alright I'll try to get away and call him then.
"Time for a rematch, Spider-Man. You started this fight." He stated.
"I'll have to disagree. And I've got a good feeling I can kick both of your butts without that much of a challenge. Which I'll do in a sec, just gotta make a phone call." Peter tried webbing off only to have his Spider-sense go off again, to be hit by an energy blast knocking him back to the ground. Great what now?
"Hey Spider-Man. I think I've got a chance at taking you down." The guy said cocky.
"Great, who are you now?" Spider-Man asked, glancing over at this mysterious man in a green and yellow super suit. With a mustache Peter was trying hard not to laugh at as he felt like he looked like an evil french man in his mind, like the leaper guy who's name he forgot, but found amusing.
"The name's Chance and I've got a massive bet on your head. So please be a good boy and die easily now!" He exclaimed, blasting at him again, which Peter dogged.
Though Looter leaped up at him hitting back down to the ground which did get Peter off guard, Tombstone coming to charge at him did get his attention in time and leaped up kicking her, but his lag unfortunately got caught by her and she rammed to the ground starting to punch him. Spider-Man quickly webbed her hand and shoved her back, only to be blasted once again by Chance and hit by Looter once more. He took a deep breath and webbed both of them temporarily blinding them both. Spidey immediately went after Chance, going to punch him knocking back. To his surprise, Chance reacted fast and positioned himself with his jetpack blasting off into Peter, throwing him backwards to his shock.
Everything hurts. This isn't going as well as I hoped. Peter thought to himself standing back up. "Doesn't this seem unfair guys? 3 vs 1 isn't a fair fight! Could one of you knock themself out please? That'd make it more fair."
"Not a chance!" Chance replied, which Peter saw the irony in.
"Do you realize how much you say chance? I don't mean your name. Oh this is all getting so confusing I think I'm going to just get a headache from you speaking french man." Spider-Man replied and started trying to hide.
Alright Peter, please think, think. Three bad guys, big trouble. He checked his web cartigues and switched them out. Come on Peter, I've got this.
He leaped back out, webbing Looter to a wall and roundhouse kicked Chance in the face. While Tombstone watched, disappointed.
"I had a good feeling they'd not be capable of taking you down. Glad I had prepared for their failures." She stated with an evil smirk.
A large amount of water blasted Peter and sent him backwards. A man formed after the water hit him. "Hello Spider-Man, I'm Hydro Man. And you're a dead man, death by the water, what a way to go." He claimed and went towards Peter again quickly.
"Oh boy. Now I've really stepped into it." Peter muttered to himself and decided, retreating for now and calling the police was the best choice. He didn't know if there'd be more than 4 villains at this point now. Spider-Man tried to escape, but failed as Hydro Man followed him closely and blasted him again, smacking him into a water tower.
There is something poetic here. He thought to himself and avoided the next attack, then noticed the other 3 were coming after him. Great, okay if I stick to the rooftops maybe I'll have more of an advantage. He thought only to have his idea crushed as Hydro Man pushed him off the rooftop into an allway where Chance waited for him and blasted him during his midfalling. Then Tombstone grabbed him and threw him into a wall making him go into a closed grocery store. "Can I please return this delivery? It doesn't feel special or like something I ordered, thank you very much." He said weekly.
Peter looked around and tried to rush out the front door. Only to see Looter waiting outside now, with the other three villains coming inside. Spidey thought fast and used all his strength to plug the hole in the wall pushing all of the shelfs into the way knocking the two villains with physical forms back, Hydro Man came after him using his liquid from to get by easily. Peter rushed to the door and held up his hands looking at Looter. "Think of your daughter. This isn't the father she'd want." He said quickly.
It made Looter stop in his tracks, thinking of what Spider-Man said and he quickly swung off while his suit was damaged and he was tired out. Unwisely he stopped on a rooftop nearby hoping he'd get a moment to rest and think. It didn't happen as Hydro Man came and blasted him off the rooftop making him fall onto a car getting even more hurt. Peter started to walk off knowing he was out matched here and continued trying to escape and launched himself as far as he could go falling again onto a rooftop and then off the building into an alleyway. He felt barely alive and then two figures approached him. Come on. Come on Peter, I've got this. He thought to himself and stood back up getting ready to continue the fight, until he recognized one of them. The woman from back on the day Hydra attacked New York City in a big way, he didn't remember what her name was. She was with a large friendly looking guy in a bright yellow shirt.
"Please tell me you're not going to kill me. Right?" Peter asked, trying hard to stand up and attacking like he was barely harmed.
"Jesus what happened to the kid?" The woman asked seeing how hurt he was/
"Doesn't matter, he needs some help Jessica. Who or whatever has made enough noise and has to be close." He replied and went to help out Spider-Man
Peter sighed in relief as his Spider-sense didn't go off. "Who are you?"
"My name's Luke, Luke Cage. And she's Jessica Jones." He responded helping Peter up and they quickly got out of the allway.
"Oh yeah, right. Hi." Peter recalled and said feeling relieved. Fingers crossed I don't get looked in their basement or go into a coma or them being secret alien imposters. Oh please universe, cut me a little slack, okay? He thought and then passed out.
Hello there, so surprise I guess Luke Cage and Jessica Jones are making an appearance. This was planned for a long time now. About 2 or 3 years I've had it on my mind, it'll just be for the next chapter, but I felt it'd be fun and more relevant now as well as time for an announcement.
An Avengers series is now in development for real this time! (hopefully this will age well) It's going to be connected to the series here, I set up the back door for it awhile ago and this is now untentally going to be another backdoor for it too in a way. I plan on it beginning this year, we'll see what happens.
Anyways, to update on the state of this series, I'm still forming my reworked ideas of where I'm going. I can promise now at least I'll be making a true ending for the series while leaving it open for more appearances for our favorite web head. We'll see how all of this turns out. Currently I'm thinking the story does have more steam left in it then I had been thinking, I'm hoping it's got a lot of life left. Thank you for continuing to stick with it, see you in another two weeks (or less) as the arc continues heating up.