A/N: Please read and review, as this is a long one.
On the rooftop, Spider-Girl and Shadow-Spider were still waiting for Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider as they stared down at the city.
"Guess you can't avoid damaging the city a little?" Spider-Girl assumed, looking at the damage done during the fight with the Beetle.
"Happens quite a bit." Shadow-Spider assured. "It did during my first day, and so did Spidey's. Can't often be helped."
"What about Ghost's?" Spider-Girl asked. "She told you about her first day?"
"Yeah, but for her, the fighting was in Central Park." Shadow-Spider explained. "No damage was done."
"Ha. Guess that makes her the lucky one." Spider-Girl joked, making Shadow-Spider look at her. "What? I've seen you all in action, heard quite a few of your jokes."
"Oh." Shadow-Spider said, folding his arms. "Right."
They both turned back down to the city, then turned as they heard a noise, as Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider both landed on the other side of the roof.
"Sorry we're late, Shadow." Spider-Man said. "Got here as fast as we could."
"I may be the fastest, but we had trouble getting over here." Ghost-Spider explained.
"Hey, no problem." Shadow-Spider said. "Beetle may have escaped, but I did meet our new spider."
Spider-Girl smiled at her two heroes, who both turned to her, looking at her carefully.
"So, you're Spider-Girl?" Ghost Spider inquired.
"Yep." Spider-Girl confirmed. "It's nice to properly meet you."
She approached them both and smiled brightly, confusing the two veteran Spiders, who both turned to each other, then to Shadow-Spider.
"She's a fangirl, especially with you two." he explained.
"Oh, that explains it." Spider-Man realized. "So, you wanna tell us about you?"
Spider-Girl smiled and nodded, and began telling them all about how she got her powers.
Meanwhile, in the Kingpin's Skyscraper, Kingpin sat behind his desk, with Hammerhead standing near him, when Alistair came towards him.
"Things seem to going a bit more smoothly this past week." Kingpin said. "Have we found some Cop to frame yet?"
"Your son should be here to tell you, Boss." Hammerhead assured.
"Good." Kingpin said, before they turned to Alistair. "Ah, Alistair, I take you have some news for me."
"Yes, but it's not good." Alistair said.
"What do you mean?" Hammerhead inquired.
"We seem to have a new problem." Alistair explained. "There's a new Spider on the loose."
Kingpin and Hammerhead held their mouths open in shock.
"What?!" Kingpin exclaimed. "Another Spider?!"
"That's impossible?" Hammerhead questioned.
"It said so on the News." Alistair assured. "I don't know how or where she came from, but from what the reports said, she's just like Spider-Man and his friends."
Kingpin turned to his screens and turned on a News report, by a Newsman in Hell's Kitchen.
"We are here at the Birdland Jazz Club, where a battle between Shadow-Spider, the new Spider and a unknown figure eyewitnesses reported causing havoc last night." he reported.
A video recording of Spider-Girl and Shadow-Spider played, viewed up from the building across the Jazz Club, as they fought the Beetle, both shooting webs at her, which hit her feet. They both pulled on their webs, pulling her down onto her chest.
"Oh!" she moaned.
She looked up as they both came towards her, before she rolled onto her back, then she kicked them both in the chest, knocking them away.
"AHH!" they yelped.
Shadow-Spider hit the ground and rolled onto his chest, while Spider-Girl hit the hood of a car and rolled off it.
"OH!" she moaned.
The recording stopped, showing the Newsman.
"Now, while the Beetle may have escaped them, this indeed confirms that there is now a fifth Spider out there." he explained. "Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of her in the future helping people out. Now back to-"
Kingpin pressed a button and turned the TV off, then slammed his fist into his desk in anger, putting a hole in it.
"Where are all these web-heads coming from?!" he demanded. "They're multiplying like mice out there! There could be a dozen of those web-heads at this rate!"
"I thought after that Spider-Island mess the Jackal had caused, there was only four Spiders left?" Hammerhead snarled.
"Looks like you were wrong." Alistair said. "This one must've gotten her powers some other way, otherwise she would've been cured like everyone else who was infected."
"And who is this Beetle woman?" Kingpin snarled. "Are you going behind my back, Smythe?"
"What? No." Alistair assured, waving his hands. "I would've told you if I'd created that battle suit. Someone else must've made it, working for either Silvermane or one of your rivals."
"I believe he does have a point, Boss." Hammerhead said. "I wouldn't put it past one of them to do this."
Kingpin frowned, when Richard came in and approached them all.
"I take it you saw the report, father?" Richard inquired.
"Yes." Kingpin grumbled. "I hope you have some good news to cheer me up, son?"
"Yes, father. Hoffman and Blake have found the perfect Cop to pin the blame on." Richard explained. "He's only been with Capt. Stacy's unit since FEAST opened up in Chinatown."
"Hmm?" Kingpin muttered, putting his hand on his chin. "How long has he been in the service?"
"Almost 20 years." Richard explained. "He's got a wife and son too. His wife's a nurse and volunteer at that shelter, while his son's still in High School."
"Sounds like the perfect catch to me, Boss." Hammerhead said. "A Cop with that long service, could be he withheld information for money for help his family."
"Indeed. Good work, son." Kingpin said, cracking his knuckles. "Tell Blake and Hoffman to begin planting the evidence on him tonight. They'll be less personal there, so they won't get caught."
"Yes, father." Richard understood. "Soon, this unsuspecting Cop will rot in jail with the very people he's helped put behind bars."
Meanwhile, Beetle was flying through the city on her wings, before she stopped on top of a large building and landed on it.
"Man, I should've remembered Shadow-Spider's electric blast." she thought, annoyed. "It'll take me hours to fix my boosters."
She sat down and looked at her boosters, before she rolled up her left sleeve, showing her watch, which read 3:45pm.
"Hmm? That fight took shorter than I thought." she thought. "At least that gives more time than I thought for repairs."
She got up to her feet and turned around, looking down at the city, seeing no sign of any of the Spiders.
"And since I managed to give them the slip and they didn't put a tracker on me, the better." she thought. "Like Daddy said, if I end up exposed, I can't go to collage to get a better education to help him."
Her built-in headset radio began to beep, making her touch the right side of her mask.
"Yeah." she said.
"Hi, sweetie." Tombstone said. "How you doing?"
"I'm doing fine, mostly." Beetle answered. "Just had to-"
"Retreat after you got your butt kicked by two of the Spiders?" Tombstone finished.
Beetle frowned under her mask.
"Several people took pictures of the fight, and it quickly made the News." Tombstone explained.
"Oh." Beetle said. "Well, yeah, it's true. They did something that caught me off guard and I was forced to retreat."
"I see." Tombstone said.
"Is that all you called me for?" Beetle asked.
"No. There's something my Boss has got planned tonight, and he would like you to assist him." Tombstone explained. "Are you interested?"
"Oh, yes. I'll do it, Dad, but I'm gonna have to make some repairs to be suit first." Beetle explained. "My boosters got damaged by Shadow-Spider's electric blast."
"All the better." Tombstone said. "The place will be crawling tonight, as there's an announcement being made at 8 o'clock."
"Oh, I'll have it fixed by then." Beetle assured. "Just what exactly does he want me to do, and where?"
"Grand Central Station. As to what, you'll find out when you get near there." Tombstone explained. "Some of his men will be there to explain."
"Okay, Dad. You let him know I'm in." Beetle asked.
"I will, sweetie." Tombstone assured. "Bye."
Beetle lowered her right hand and grinned.
"If any of those web-heads show up next time, I'll be more prepared." she thought. "Better get back home and make the repairs first through."
She jumped off the rooftop and began to fly on her wings down the street, on her way home for repairs.
Back with the four Spiders, Spider-Girl had finished explaining how she got her powers to the others, which had shocked them slightly.
"You... You got your powers from that virus a few weeks ago?" Ghost-Spider asked.
"Yes." Spider-Girl answered. "I know it's weird, since everyone else infected lost them, but I didn't. I even ran a check on my own DNA and found it wasn't mutating anymore."
"I wonder why?" Shadow-Spider said, putting his hand on his chin.
"Me too." Spider-Man agreed. "Why did you decide to become like us then?"
"Well, call me a fan-girl if you want, but I've always looked up to you two." Spider-Girl explained. "You saved someone important to me once, and well..."
"You wanted to be like us?" Ghost-Spider finished. "One of the Web-Warriors?"
"Well, yeah, if that's what you guys really call yourselves." Spider-Girl said.
"We do." Shadow-Spider said.
Spider-Man sighed and turned to them both.
"Let me talk to her alone, guys?" he asked.
"Sure." Ghost-Spider said. "We'll just be over there."
She pointed behind herself, before she and Shadow-Spider turned and walked off, leaving Spider-Man alone with Spider-Girl.
"So, um, how'd you find Shadow and Beetle?" Spider-Man asked.
"I just stumbled upon them while web-swinging around." Spider-Girl replied honestly. "I thought he could use some help. I know I'm new at this, but even you guys must've been at one point."
Spider-Man turned slightly to his partners, seeing her point there.
"Did you at least think it though?" he asked, turning back to her. "I mean, Shadow told us she got away, but were you really helpful."
"Of course I was!" Spider-Girl scowled. "Do you know how much I look up to you and Ghost-Spider? You've been my heroes for nearly a year now!"
"I'm not saying that. We've seen you on the News, since you've made it quickly by stopping those thugs, but the Beetle is a lot different." Spider-Man said.
"How?" Spider-Girl frowned, folding her arms.
"There's a big difference between thugs and a supervillain." Spider-Man explained. "We've all learned that, and since you're new, you haven't."
"Well, I..." Spider-Girl stuttered, stepping back slightly.
She turned back and looked down at the damage caused by the fight between herself, Shadow-Spider and Beetle, before she turned back to Spider-Man.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Spider-Man asked.
"Yes." Spider-Girl answered. "Yes, I do. I can help you all."
"I'm not saying you can't, but just think about this?" Spider-Man asked. "This isn't a game. If you remember how everyone infected by the virus mutated, you know this is serious business."
"I know that." Spider-Girl assured. "I just wanna help you all. Please?"
She looked at Spider-Man, who kept his eyes on her.
"Okay, I'll think about it, if you promise to think about what I've said too?" Spider-Man asked.
"Okay, deal." Spider-Girl said.
She turned jumped off the rooftop and swung off, as the other three turned to each other.
"You were a bit harsh there, Spidey." Ghost-Spider said.
"Well, if I was, I didn't mean too." Spider-Man said. "Stopping normal thugs is one thing, but supervillains is another. Like I told her, big difference."
"Yeah, I learned that when I first joined." Shadow-Spider said. "You only had me help you with that Spider Slayer since Ghost was too far away."
"Still, it might not hurt to have another person around full-time." Ghost-Spider reasoned. "The more of us there are, the better."
Spider-Man thought and put his hand on his chin, while Shadow-Spider turned to her.
"Are you sure, or are you just saying that so there's another girl on the team?" he asked.
"I didn't say that!" Ghost-Spider said sternly. "All I'm saying is that having an extra hand will be useful. They'll be four of us full-time, like the Fantastic Four."
"You got a point there." Spider-Man admitted. "But still, I need to see if she's serious about this. And apart from Shadow, you and I haven't seen her in action, Ghost."
"So, what are you saying?" Ghost-Spider asked, confused.
"The next time we see her, if we're involved in a battle, and she can prove herself, I'll let her in." Spider-Man said. "If of course you two agree. This vote must be unanimous."
Ghost-Spider and Shadow-Spider both turned to each other, then back to him.
"I vote yes, and not just because it'll be nice to have another girl around." Ghost-Spider said. "She could really come in handy."
"I saw her in action, and without her help, we wouldn't have forced Beetle into a retreat." Shadow-Spider recalled. "She only fled after we'd damaged her suit. So I vote yes too."
"Then it's settled." Spider-Man said.
He checked his watch, seeing it was almost 4pm.
"You guys wanna get a bite?" he asked. "My Aunt's gonna be working late tonight, so..."
"I'm in." Ghost-Spider said. "My Dad's got the graveyard shift tonight."
"Same here, and my Mom's gonna be busy too." Shadow-Spider said.
"Let's go then." Spider-Man said.
They all jumped off the rooftop and began to web-swing off to get something to eat, since they parents/guardians were gonna be busy tonight.
That night, at 8pm, several people were inside the Grand Central Station, including Gilberto Corazon, as he was here on assignment for the Daily Globe. He walked through a large crowd towards a stage that had been set up, seeing several other reporters there, including Ned Leeds, who turned to him.
"Corazon, we meet again." Ned said.
"Yeah." Gilberto said. "Weird. Guess the Bugle's covering this event too."
"Yep." Ned said. "I just wish JJ got someone else for this one. I had plans tonight."
"I know what you mean. I wanted to spend time with my daughter tonight." Gilberto said.
"Ha. Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one." Ned said. "This better be good."
"My Boss told me to be here, but he didn't say why?" Gilberto said.
"Okay, that's weird. My Boss said the same." Ned said.
"So did mine." said a man.
They all began to look amongst each other, as Whitney Chang came over.
"Okay, this is weird." she said. "Someone must have an idea of what's going on here?"
"I do." said a man.
Everyone turned to him.
"It's down in the subway tunnel nearby though." he explained. "We just have to wait 'til the host arrives."
"Well, when's that?" Ned asked.
"Five minutes at least." the man replied.
They all looked amongst themselves and sighed, knowing they didn't have long to wait.
Outside, at least seven men wearing dark clothes were all standing near a van that was parked nearby, looking at the place.
"How long we gonna have to wait?" one complained.
"The Boss wants us to wait until Beetle gets here." the leader said. "Be patient."
"What makes you think she'll be any good?" a third said, who was African-American.
"Hey, watch it!" a fourth said, grabbing his arm. "She's Tombstone's daughter."
This made all but the leader gasp at the news.
"She's what?" one gasped, covering his mouth.
"Uh-huh." the fourth said, nodding.
"Oh, boy..." the third gulped.
A noise made them all turn, seeing Beetle herself landing behind the van, unnoticed by anyone else.
"Whoa." some said.
"Sorry I'm late, boys." Beetle said. "The repairs to my suit took longer than I thought."
All seven thugs stared at her, looking at the suit.
"My, that looks cool." the fifth said.
"Sure does." the third agreed.
Beetle looked around at them all.
"So, who's the leader?" she asked.
"I am, and the name's Leo." the leader said. "The rest are elsewhere or already inside. We were waiting for you."
"Right. My Dad told me you'd brief me on what's going on." Beetle explained.
"We're to take this whole place hostage, then make a ransom demand of millions of dollars." Leo explained. "Those inside are waiting for us to storm in, while the rest are arriving on a train people believe has a V.I.P onboard."
"I bet the reporters inside get a shock when they get held at gunpoint." the third smirked.
"Indeed." Leo said.
"So, what do I do?" Beetle asked.
"Once the shooting starts, you fly through one of the windows and join us." Leo instructed.
"Understood." Beetle said. "I'll be ready."
"Good. Let's go, boys." Leo said, checking his watch. "It's time."
They all moved to the back of the van, then opened it up, showing some guns inside. Leo picked up an Uzi, while two picked up pistols, one a shotgun, the rest AK-47s, then they put ski masks over their faces and ran over to the building unnoticed by all but Beetle.
Inside, the reporters were all now standing by the entrance to the subway tunnel, when the train pulled up.
"Well, here we go." Whitney said.
The doors of the train car opened up, when a dozen men stormed out of it and aimed either a pistol, AK, Uzi or shotgun at them, before they stormed out of the train.
"Hands up!" the leader of the group yelled.
"Ah!" several reporters yelped, including Ned.
They all turned around and ran back into the main building, when several gunshots went off inside.
"What the hell?" Ned exclaimed.
They all stopped as and saw more men aiming all sorts of weapons at everyone, two with Uzis firing at the ceiling.
"Everybody down, now!" the leader roared.
Everyone not wearing a mask got down on their knees with their hands over their heads, before several of the gunmen aimed their weapons.
"Stay down! You hear me!" one threatened with a shotgun.
The leader of the group looked up as the ones from the front came in, as they'd stormed in not long after the train arrived.
"Nice work, John." Leo remarked. "Count up how many hostages we have."
"Yes, sir." John said.
A smashing noise made everyone look up, seeing the Beetle had smashed her way through one of the front windows and hovered over the scene. She lowered herself down and landed near Leo and John, who turned to her.
"Nice entrance." John remarked.
"Thanks." Beetle said.
All the hostages looked up at them, Beetle recognizing a few, including Ned, Whitney and Gilberto.
"How many we got here?" Beetle asked.
"John?" Leo said.
John turned as one of his men came over, who'd been counting them all.
"At least 147, chief, and that includes the guards." he said.
Beetle, Leo and John all turned and noticed at least 15 of the hostages were security guards, who were all unarmed.
"Good." Leo said. "Did any of them give you any trouble?"
"A few did, but we took care of them." John assured.
Leo and Beetle both turned and saw six men dragging three guards bodies away towards the front door.
"Good." Leo said, turning to John. "Now all we need to do is wait for the Cops to show up. The Boss wants this place held up for ransom."
"And Beetle's here why?" John inquired.
Beetle turned to him.
"I'm here in case they send in more trouble, like those Web-Warriors." she explained. "I'll be prepared this time."
John turned to Leo, who nodded.
"Well, now, let's get down to business, while keeping an eye on our friends here." Leo said.
Gilberto, Ned, Whitney and the other hostages all looked amongst each other, as Beetle, Leo, John and at least 32 more men had everyone held at gunpoint.
"35 of them." Ned gulped. "This is just like the mall hostage crisis a few months ago."
"I wonder what they want?" Whitney whispered.
"You got me." Gilberto whispered.
A little later, Peter, Gwen and Miles were all walking down a street together, talking about Spider-Girl. They had all dinner together at a pizza parlour called Joe's Pizza in Greenwich Village, before they'd all left and patrolled for another two hours, before they changed out of costume to walk together.
"I wonder where she is now?" Gwen soon brought up.
"I don't know." Peter said. "Hopefully, she's back home resting."
"You think so?" Miles asked. "I mean, I know this sounds weird, but she sounds around the same age as us."
Peter and Gwen stopped and turned to him.
"You think so?" Gwen inquired.
"Well, yeah." Miles said. "I'm not saying I'm right though."
"True." Peter said.
They all kept on walking before they stopped outside the Coffee Bean, seeing it was mostly empty for once.
"It's nearly empty?" Gwen questioned. "That's not normal for a Saturday night."
"I heard there was some sort of event taking place tonight." Peter said, as he'd heard it from the Bugle. "Everyone must be home watching the News or something."
"Fair enough." Gwen reasoned. "Speaking of which, you boys need a drink, 'cause I'm thirsty?"
"I wouldn't mind one." Miles said.
"Okay, come on." Peter said.
They all walked in and approached a table, when the TV changed to a News broadcast.
"We interrupt this program with an urgent News flash." said a Newswoman, standing outside Grand Central Station. "There has been a hostage crisis going on at Grand Central Station. We can't give you inside images yet, but from what we've gathered, at least 35 people inside have close to 150 hostages, including several reporters. Their leader has made a demand for not only money, but for several people to be released from all sorts of jails. We'll be back with more later."
The three Spiders turned to each other and nodded.
"We better get over there and help." Gwen said. "We can get a drink later."
"Agreed. Let's go, guys." Peter said.
"Got it." Miles said.
They all got up and ran out of the store, before they turned right and ran off towards an alley to change, Gwen jumping up and climbing up to a rooftop to do it in private, while Peter and Miles did it down below.
A little later, Anya was in her apartment, watching TV in her normal clothes, having decided to check some things out before hopping in the shower. As she did so, she began to wonder what her father was doing.
"Papa did say he might be late tonight due to his assignment, but he's normally called by now." she thought. "Still, there is a chance his phone battery's died on him."
She drank some soda from a glass, when a TV News bulletin came on, an updated one of Peter, Gwen and Miles had just seen.
"We interrupt to bring yo more information on the Hostage crisis at Grand Central Station." the Newswoman explained.
Anya gasped and sat up.
"Grand Central Station? Papa was heading there?" she gasped.
She kept her eyes on the TV, listening carefully, hoping her Dad wasn't among the hostages.
"Among the hostages inside are 15 guards and several reporters." the Newswoman explained.
Anya opened her mouth in horror, before she drank some soda to clam herself.
"Who's doing this and why, we're not sure of yet, but we've now got camera footage from inside." the Newswoman explained.
The screen showed camera footage, which looked down at all the hostages, who were currently being guarded by eight of the gunmen, one standing right near Gilberto.
"Papa!" Anya gasped, before she spotted the Beetle in the background. "And the Beetle too?!"
She turned the TV off and finished her soda, before she put the glass down, then she got up and ran towards her bedroom. She got inside and closed the door behind her, before she found her Spider-Girl suit and held it up.
"No matter what Spider-Man said, I can't just sit here while my Papa's in trouble, supervillain or not." she thought. "I just hope I can prove myself if he and the others are there."
She put it down on her bed and quickly stripped herself, before she put her suit on, then she jumped out of her window and began to web-swing off to save her father.
At Grand Central Station, the area was surrounded by Police cars, vans, ambulances, and News vans. Among the Cops there included Capt. Stacy, Lt. DeWolff, Sgt. Carter and Sgt. Davis, the former of which checked his watch.
"How long we got before they start shooting?" he asked.
"From what the negotiator said, 10 minutes." Lt. DeWolff explained.
"That's not long, and we can't give into their demands, sir." Sgt. Davis said.
"No." Capt. Stacy agreed. "Are the SWAT Teams here yet?"
"Still on their way over." the Sgt. reported. "Let's hope they're quick."
Capt. Stacy nodded, none of them noticing Sgt. Carter didn't look too happy about the idea of having to wait around.
On the rooftop opposite, Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider and Shadow-Spider were all perched on the edge looking down at the scene.
"They all must be inside." Ghost-Spider deduced.
"This is just like when we got held hostage at that mall." Shadow-Spider recalled.
"Yeah." Ghost-Spider agreed. "What's the plan, Spidey?"
"Hmm? We know there's 30 odd goons in there, including the Beetle." Spider-Man began. "But first priority is to rescue Ned, Mr. Corazon and the others."
"Agreed. I can only imagine how Anya would feel if she lost her Dad." Shadow-Spider sighed.
"I know what you mean." Ghost-Spider sighed, touching her shoulders.
Spider-Man nodded. "Right, first, we'll get onto the roof and check what's going on from the windows." he said. "Once we know where the hostages are, we'll get in and get them out."
"Right." Ghost-Spider understood.
"Got it." Shadow-Spider said.
"Right. Web-Warriors, let's swing to the rescue!" Spider-Man said, pointing up.
His two fellow Spiders both blinked and looked at him.
"Okay, that was worse than the last one." Ghost-Spider remarked.
"Yeah. Where'd you get that one; Transformers Rescue Bots or something?" Shadow-Spider asked.
"Okay, just go." Spider-Man sighed, facepalming himself.
His two fellow Spiders both jumped up and gilded over towards the building, before he followed.
"Man! Now I know how Bumblebee felt trying to come up with one on Robots in Disguise!" he thought.
They all landed on the side of the building, getting several people outside to look at them.
"Sir, look!" Sgt. Carter said.
Everyone looked up as the three Spiders began climbing up the wall.
"If they're here, looks like the SWAT Teams might not be needed." Capt. Stacy said.
"And we won't have to give into those thugs demands either." Sgt. Davis added. "Let's hope they can recuse the hostages in time."
The Web-Warriors all kept climbing along the wall, before they stopped by the center window and peeked inside, seeing the hostages on the other side of the room.
"They're all over there." Ghost-Spider said, pointing across the hall.
"We'll have to get to the other side." Shadow-Spider said.
"No. Me and Ghost will." Spider-Man corrected. "I've got another job for you."
"Huh?" Shadow-Spider muttered, pointing at himself.
Spider-Man leaned towards him and began to whisper to him, as Ghost-Spider looked at the pair.
"Okay." Shadow-Spider said.
"Good. Get in." Spider-Man said, before turning to Ghost-Spider. "Come on, Ghost."
"I'm with you, Spidey." Ghost-Spider said.
They both climbed onto the roof as Shadow-Spider turned himself invisible, as it was all part of the plan.
Inside the building, Beetle, Leo, John, and two other thugs stood together, while the rest were either guarding the hostages and patrolling around the room.
"So, if we don't hear word in exactly..." Leo began, checking his watch. "...8 minutes and 45 seconds, the first hostage gets it. Understood."
"Yes, sir." the three thugs said.
Beetle nodded.
"Right. You know what to do in the meantime." Leo said.
John and the other two thugs all turned and walked off, leaving Leo and Beetle alone.
"You sure you can handle bloodshed?" Leo asked. "I mean, you are only-"
"I can handle it just fine." Beetle assured. "I had cause a bunch of chaos during my encounters with those web-heads. Might've killed and injured a few people. And have you forgotten who my Daddy is?"
"Okay, I'm just asking." Leo said.
Beetle frowned under her mask, not liking the way he was treating her.
Nearby, the thugs guarded the hostages were all aimed their guns at them, none of them seeing Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider crawling along the ceiling. They both stopped on either side of the hostages, then Spider-Man shot a web at the opposite wall, making a noise.
"Huh?" the guards muttered.
"What was that?" one said.
"Check it out?" another said.
The thug walked off towards the area the web had hit, when he got pulled up by a web line.
"AHH!" he yelled.
Everyone turned as he vanished from sight.
"Where'd he go?" another said.
They all looked around as Leo, John, Beetle and the rest all ran towards them, none of them seeing Ghost-Spider webbing up the thug in a web-cocoon, then webbed up his mouth before he could speak.
"Nighty night." she joked quietly.
"Where's Shawn?" Leo demanded.
"I don't know." one of the thugs said. "He was there a minute ago, then he vanished."
Spider-Man shot webs at two of the thugs at the back, then pulled them away.
"AHH!" they yelped.
Everyone turned around as they both vanished from sight, not seeing Spider-Man web them up like Shawn.
"Something's going on here." Leo said. "Spread out and find out what's going on here?"
Beetle nodded and jumped up, before Leo, John and most of the thugs ran off and began looking around, leaving only four to guard the hostages. As they all looked around, the four guarded the hostages were suddenly web-yanked away, two to either side of the hall.
"AH!" they yelped.
The hostages looked around, seeing no sign of anyone as the thugs hit the floor and were knocked cold, when another two thugs came back over, as they'd heard something.
"Where are they?" one sneered.
"They were here a minute ago?" another questioned.
They both looked around, before the two Spiders webbed them both up and pulled them up, trapping them in a cocoon and webbing up their mouths. They both dived down and landed near the hostages, who turned to them.
"Keep quiet?" Spider-Man asked, putting his finger to his lips. "We're gonna get you outta here."
"Just be quiet, okay?" Ghost-Spider asked softly.
Ned, Gilberto, Whitney and the others all nodded as they both looked around, seeing two thugs coming towards them.
"Hey-" one said, before they webbed up their mouths.
They mumbled as the two Spiders pulled them towards them, then punched their chests, knocking them out cold.
"Shadow, are in you place?" Spider-Man asked, touching the side of his mask.
"Yeah." Shadow-Spider replied.
He stood invisible by the front door, seeing several of the thugs, including John, coming towards him, while Leo, Beetle and the rest looked around.
"Most of the thugs are heading for me through." he explained quietly. "Can you lure some of them away, leaving the way clear?"
"We're on it." Spider-Man said, lowering his hand as he turned to Ghost-Spider. "Let's do it."
"I'm with you, Spidey." Ghost-Spider smirked.
Spider-Man nodded and touched Ned's shoulder.
"When we give the signal, rush towards the front door." he instructed.
They both ran off towards the thugs, before they stopped and webbed up the legs of the two at the back.
"AH!" they yelped, falling to the floor.
Both Spiders pulled them along the floor, then punched them and knocked them out, as the rest turned to them both.
"Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider?!" Beetle exclaimed.
"You got that right." Ghost-Spider smirked. "You must be the Beetle? Pleasure to meet you."
"Well, I'm not happy to see you two!" Beetle snarled. "I'm surprised your other friends aren't here either though!"
"We only met Spider-Girl this morning." Ghost-Spider replied.
"And as for Shadow, you might say he's around, but you can't see him." Spider-Man joked.
Leo and John turned to each other.
"He's the one who can turn invisible." Leo whispered. "He could be anywhere."
At those words, two the thugs at the back got webbed up and fell over in a web cocoon.
"AH!" they moaned.
Beetle, Leo and John all turned around, seeing no sign of Shadow-Spider, the rest of the thugs looking nervous.
"I'll find him." Beetle said.
She turned on her thermal vision in her mask, but saw no sign of Shadow-Spider, as he jumped up and was hanging from the ceiling. She was about to look up, when two more thugs got webbed to the floor by the others, trapping them.
"Ah!" they moaned.
Everyone turned to the two Spiders, when another thug got webbed up and pulled towards the ceiling.
"AHH!" he yelled, his Uzi going off before he dropped it.
Everyone turned around, as Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider back flipped away and landed near the hostages and out of sight.
"Wherever Shadow-Spider is, they're picking us off one by one." John gulped.
"Fan out and search!" Leo ordered, before he turned around. "He can't hide forever, or those other two, wherever they are now!"
Beetle shot up towards the ceiling to get a better view as the other thugs all separated to find the Web-Warriors, but couldn't find them, as her back was to the two visible ones, and she didn't see Shadow-Spider.
"Shadow, you by the door again?" Ghost-Spider asked quietly, touching the side of her mask.
Shadow-Spider came up near two by the door, then shocked them with his Venom Blast, knocking them out cold, leaving only 17 thugs left, including Beetle, John and Leo.
"I am now." he said.
"Right." Ghost-Spider said, before turning to Spider-Man. "We're clear."
"Right. Run for the door, and don't stop." Spider-Man instructed, touching Ned's shoulder.
He nodded before he got up and ran off, then Gilberto, Whitney and the others all followed after him towards the door, just as the thugs all turned to them.
"Boss, the hostages are getting away!" John called.
"But there's no way out!" Leo assured. "The front door's locked."
As the hostages all ran off towards the door however, Shadow-Spider turned himself visible by it and kicked it open.
"Go on, go!" he said.
The hostages ran outside, shocking the Police and reporters outside, as two SWAT trucks pulled up, then at least 12 Cops in SWAT gear inside got out of them.
"What the?" the SWAT leader said, who was an African-American called Lt. Marcus Stone.
The hostages all ran off past the barrier and crowd, before Capt. Stacy stopped Ned.
"What's going on, Mr. Leeds?" he asked.
"The Web-Warriors." Ned said. "They inside and they freed us all."
"They also took out several of those thugs." Gilberto added.
"Is there any left in there?" Capt. Stacy asked.
Whitney came over to them and panted.
"I'm the last one out." she said. "All that's left is Beetle and those other goons."
Lt. Stone turned to Capt. Stacy.
"I hope we didn't arrive too late." he said. "Some of my team are eager for action."
"We'll send you in as backup if the Web-Warriors get into trouble." Capt. Stacy said. "I think it's better if they handle the Beetle due to what she did last night and this morning."
"Okay." the Lt. said, before he turned. "Get ready, team. We go on my signal."
The team nodded.
Unknown to them, the shadowy figure of Spider-Girl was perched on a rooftop, looking down at the scene, relieved to see her father was alright.
"I better get in there and help." she thought, before she jumped off the roof.
Inside, the three Spiders turned to Beetle, Leo, John and the remaining thugs.
"You've lost your hostages, Beetle." Spider-Man said.
"Huh? Do you actually think I'm in charge, here?" Beetle asked, pointing at herself.
"Well, yeah." Ghost-Spider said. "You're the only supervillain here, Beetle."
"Hey, I'm the one in charge here!" Leo snarled. "Her Daddy sent her over to help."
"Oh, how nice of her." Shadow-Spider joked. "Just a Daddy's little girl, aren't you."
Ghost-Spider giggled, knowing what he meant.
"Still, what did you make of my plan to get the hostages out?" Spider-Man asked.
"Okay, I gotta admit, cleaver plan, Spider-Man." Beetle spat. "Slowly take out our men one-by-one, while having Shadow-Spider sneak in and clear the exit should they could all escape. Pretty impressive."
"Well, I was always a overachiever." Spider-Man joked.
"So was I." Ghost-Spider joked. "We were the top two in our class at school."
"Oh, really?" Beetle snarled. "Well, that's not gonna save you three!"
"She's right, get 'em, boys!" Leo commanded.
All the remaining thugs fired their guns at the Web-Warriors, who turned to each other and ducked.
"You two handle the goons while I handle Beetle." Spider-Man instructed. "Back me up afterwards."
"Understood." Ghost-Spider nodded.
"Okay." Shadow-Spider said.
They all divided up and began to fight off the remaining thugs, with Spider-Man jumping towards Beetle. She flew up slightly as he tried to pounce on her, before she
Ghost-Spider pounced onto two of the thugs, knocking them out as they hit the floor, then she turned around and shot a web at a third's legs, tripping him up, before she webbed him up. She then put her hands on the floor and split kicked her legs, kicking two more as they came up on either side of her, knocking them away, then she rolled forward and got to her feet. She then turned around and shot webs at another three, webbing them to a wall, trapping them, before she turned and grabbed John's fist as he tried to punch her, before she kicked his leg and tripped him up, then she webbed him to the floor.
Shadow-Spider ducked as one shot his pistol at him, before he grabbed the thug's forearm and twisted it, then he hit his chest with his elbow, knocking him down.
"Ah!" he moaned.
Shadow-Spider turned and kicked another as he came at him, knocking him out, then he turned and shot a web at another, before pulling him towards him.
"AH!" the thug yelped.
Shadow-Spider punched his chest, knocking him away before he hit another two, knocking them all down and out cold. He turned as two more aimed their pistols at him, before he shot webs at them, then pulled the guns out of their hands.
"AH!" they groaned.
They both shook their hands as Shadow-Spider jumped and split kicked them both, knocking them down, before he landed on his feet. He turned as Leo came at him, before he shot at web at his legs, as Ghost-Spider did the same from behind him, trapping him in a web-cocoon, forcing him to fall over onto his side.
"AH!" he moaned, before Shadow-Spider webbed up his mouth.
Both Spiders turned to each other and held up their thumbs.
"Nice work, Shadow." Ghost-Spider remarked.
"Thanks. You too, Ghostie." Shadow-Spider joked.
Ghost-Spider giggled before they both turned to Spider-Man, who back flipped and landed near them both, before they ran over to him.
"You okay?" Ghost-Spider asked.
"I'm fine." Spider-Man said.
Beetle laughed, getting their attention.
"Not for long you won't!" she snarled.
She threw a bomb towards them all, but Shadow-Spider shot a web at it, then spun around to throw it back, before it went off, sending them flying away.
"AHH!" they moaned.
They all hit the ground near each other and rolled over onto their chests, before they looked up at Beetle, who hovered over them.
"You may have defeated them, but you haven't won." she sneered.
"Whoa, hold up?" Shadow-Spider asked. "Since you've lost hostages and your friends are all tied up or out cold, I'm surpassed you're not giving up?"
"This is personal for me, due to all you've done to my father!" Beetle snarled.
"Okay, care to tell us who that is?" Ghost-Spider asked. "You're really annoying by not bringing that up!"
"And it would help us find him." Spider-Man added.
"Like I'd tell you bugs that." Beetle snarled. "Prepare to die!"
She raised her right arm up to fire a laser from it, when a web-line hit her back and pulled her away, making her laser hit the ceiling.
"AH!" she yelped, hitting the floor.
"Not so fast, Beetle." came a familiar voice.
The three Web-Warriors looked up as Spider-Girl came diving towards them all, before she landed in front of them.
"You ready for round two?" she asked, holding up her fists.
"You again?" Beetle snarled, getting up.
"Yeah." Spider-Girl said, as the others got up. "Looks like I missed most of the party, but got here just in time to help you deal with Ms. Wings here."
Beetle frowned under the mask, as the others turned to her.
"Well, she seems to have the same banter as us." Ghost-Spider noted.
"She sure does." Spider-Man muttered, agreeing.
Beetle stared at the four Spiders, who all stared at her.
"Just because your new friend here's shown up, it won't save you all." she snarled.
"Okay, for the record, we only just met her today." Spider-Man stated, pointing at Spider-Girl.
"And that's the truth, Beetle." Spider-Girl said, for she was right about meeting them in costume.
"Still, let's see how you like taking on all four of us?" Ghost-Spider smirked, cracking her knuckles.
"You may have bested one or two, or even three of us, but I bet you can't deal with that." Shadow-Spider said, pointing at Beetle.
Beetle glared at all four of them, feeling angry and humiliated by them all.
"Oh, what? Now comebacks?" Spider-Girl mocked.
"Sounds like you've lost your tongue." Ghost-Spider teased.
"Shut up!" Beetle roared. "Time to end this!"
She threw a bomb towards the floor, making all four Spiders jump away to avoid it as it blew up, before they all landed on a wall together.
"Ah!" Beetle scowled. "You bugs are really starting to bug me!"
"Hey, Spiders are insects, not bugs!" Spider-Girl retorted.
"Thank you for saying that." Spider-Man said. "You're the bug around here, Beetle."
Ghost-Spider turned to them, getting the joke, while Shadow-Spider looked slightly confused.
"Whatever?!" Beetle snapped. "The four of you are going down! I'll take you all on!"
She aimed and fired lasers from her forearms, making all four Spiders jump up towards the ceiling, making her blasts hit and put holes in the wall. She looked up at them all, her goggles night vision allowing her to see them.
"We can't stay here forever." Ghost-Spider said. "We need a plan."
"I've got one." Spider-Man said. "But we all have to work together to bring her down."
"What's the plan then?" Spider-Girl asked.
"Divide and conquer, attack one at a time." Spider-Man said. "Try to throw her off balance."
"Right!" the others said.
They all jumped off the ceiling and divided up, making Beetle look around for them over.
"Hey, over here!" Spider-Girl called.
Beetle turned and shot down towards her, before a web hit her legs, wrapping them together.
"Huh?" she gasped.
She turned and saw Spider-Man on the floor, holding the other end, before he began to spin around while holding it.
"Hey!" Beetle complained. "Let me go?!"
"As you wish." Spider-Man joked.
He let go of his web line, sending Beetle flying away, before Ghost-Spider came diving down from the ceiling.
"Surprise!" she joked.
She kicked Beetle with both feet, sending her flying towards the floor, before she turned around. She began to power up her boosters, when Shadow-Spider came out of nowhere on her left and shocked her with his Venom Blast.
"AHH!" she screamed, flying away.
She managed to steady herself and looked around, seeing no sign of any of the Web-Warriors. She touched the side of her mask, but saw her goggles senses had all been fried.
"Oh, great!" she groaned. "Where the hell are you, you freaks!"
She looked around, not seeing Shadow-Spider beneath her, or the girls up on the ceiling looking down at her, before Spider-Man swung over to her.
"Over here, Beetle!" he called.
Beetle turned to him before he shot web balls at her, which hit her face and blinded her.
"AH!" she growled.
"Spider-Girl! Ghost-Spider, now!" Spider-Man called, landing on the floor.
"You got it, Spidey!" Spider-Girl called.
"Let's do it!" Ghost-Spider said, as they jumped off the ceiling.
Beetle ripped off the webbing on her mask and turned around, seeing them both diving towards her.
"Have a nice trip, Beetle?" Ghost-Spider called.
"We'll see you next fall!" Spider-Girl joked.
They both kicked her at the same time, sending her flying away, before Shadow-Spider readied his Venom Blast, as she turned to him.
"Lights out." he joked.
He hit her with his Venom Blast, shocking her, before she hit the floor on her chest, as all four Spiders stared at her.
"Whoo!" Ghost-Spider whooped. "We did it!"
"Yeah!" Spider-Girl whooped, punching her fists up.
"Aha, alright!" Shadow-Spider whooped.
"Yeah. Good work, everyone." Spider-Man remarked, holding his thumb up.
"AH!" Beetle moaned.
They all turned to her, as she pulled herself up and turned to them, her suit slightly damaged, as her right eye hole was gone, and part of her chin and head area, along with small bits along her chest arms and legs.
"Oh, you want another besting, bugbreath?" Spider-Girl inquired.
"You might as well give up, Beetle." Spider-Man said. "You can't stop all four of us by yourself, and I think the Police have starting storming in."
Beetle glared at the four of them, as the Police SWAT teams suddenly began to swarm in and surround her, seeing she was trapped.
"Give it up!" the Lt. demanded. "You're heavily outnumbered!"
Beetle looked around, before seeing her boosters were still online, knowing she had to retreat for now.
"We'll finish this another day, you web-heads! Especially you, Spider-Girl!" she roared, as she shot up with her boosters. "You will all pay for this!"
She shot like a rocket to the nearest window and smashed it open, before she flew off, as everyone stared at her.
"My Dad's boss is not gonna be happy with this." she thought.
The Web-Warriors all turned to the SWAT team, as the two leaders approached each other.
"They're all yours, Lt. Stone." Spider-Man said, seeing his nametag. "34 knocked out and webbed up crooks."
"Thanks, but could you help us get the ones hanging up?" the Lt. asked.
"Sure thing." Spider-Man said, before turning to his team. "Get 'em down, guys."
"Roger that, Spidey." Ghost-Spider joked.
Shadow-Spider and Spider-Girl nodded, knowing she had to help, before all three of them jumped up towards the ceiling, and began to lower the webbed up thugs from the ceiling.
A little later, Spider-Man and Spider-Girl stood together on a rooftop, as several people looked up at the pair, Ghost-Spider and Shadow-Spider standing nearby looking at them both. They both watched as Leo, John and the thugs get dragged away by the Police and loaded into cars of SWAT vans, before they both turned to each other.
"I guess I should say 'Thanks for the help'." Spider-Man said.
"I had a feeling you might be here, but I didn't think I'd end up saving you." Spider-Girl admitted.
"Well, if you hadn't, who knows what could've happened." Spider-Man said. "Beetle caught us really by surprise there. We only managed to beat her with your help."
Spider-Girl turned to the others, who both nodded.
"We only sent her running thanks to you." Ghost-Spider remarked.
"Thanks." Spider-Girl said.
She looked down at the scene, seeing her father, Ned, Whitney and some of the other hostages given statements to the Police, which included Lt. DeWolff and Sgt. Carter.
"You know someone down there?" Shadow-Spider asked, coming over.
Spider-Girl turned to him and the others, before she nodded.
"Si. When I first saw the News report and found out he was here, I had to come over." she said. "He's all I have left."
Spider-Man touched his shoulder sympathetically.
"Ghost and I know how you feel." he said. "We don't have many loved ones either."
Spider-Girl turned to Ghost-Spider.
"It's true." she said. "I have a few, but only one in this city. The rest live far away."
"As for me, one here and one missing somewhere." Spider-Man said.
"So, have you found yourself another family here among each other?" Spider-Girl asked.
The other three looked amongst themselves, thinking hard about that. Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider knew that since they were together and in love, they were more than friends, and Shadow-Spider knew that too, before they both realized they'd come to see Shadow-Spider, and even Spider-Woman as family, due to their common connection.
"I... I guess we have, in a way." Spider-Man said, blushing.
"Yeah, we've all come to see each other as such." Ghost-Spider said.
Shadow-Spider looked at them both, then nodded, seeing their point, as he'd come to admire them both a lot since joining them.
"Well, look, I better get back." Spider-Girl said. "If..."
"If you're not back, you're in trouble." Spider-Man finished. "It's the same with us."
Spider-Girl smiled, before she jumped off the rooftop and swung away, as the other three looked at each other.
"Did you two really mean that?" Shadow-Spider asked, turning to the others.
"Every word, Shadow." Ghost-Spider assured.
"Yeah. What Jessica said, about us Spiders sticking together, it's brought us together like another family." Spider-Man said. "You've become like a brother to us both."
"Thanks, guys." Shadow-Spider said. "So, what do you guys think?"
"Well, like we said, she's got the Spider banter like us." Ghost-Spider recalled.
"Plus, she did pretty well back there." Spider-Man noted. "And like we all said, we couldn't have kicked Beetle's butt without her."
"So, you guys think she's worthy?" Shadow-Spider asked.
Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider turned to each other and nodded.
"Yes." Ghost-Spider said.
"I'll find her in the morning and talk to her." Spider-Man said. "You two meet me us at the Spider-Cave."
"Understood, Spidey." Ghost-Spider said.
"Right." Shadow-Spider said.
They three Spiders shared a group-hug, before they parted, then they all jumped off the rooftop and began to swing off towards their homes.
The next day, Spider-Girl was web-swinging through the city, before she landed on a rooftop and looked down at part of it. She smiled as she looked down at it, when Spider-Man landed crouched down behind her.
"It's a nice view, isn't it?" he asked.
Spider-Girl turned to him as he approached her.
"Yeah. I never knew how beautiful the city was from up these heights." she said.
Spider-Man stopped beside her, before they both looked down at the city.
"I know. When me, Ghost and Shadow all started this, we all thought the same." Spider-Man explained.
"Guess any hero who does this can agree." Spider-Girl joked.
Spider-Man chuckled slightly.
"So, uh, why are you here?" Spider-Girl asked. "Were you looking for me or something?"
"Yes, I was." Spider-Man replied. "After what happened last night, me and the others had a long talk about you."
"Oh, really?" Spider-Girl inquired, folding her arms.
"Yes. Come? There's something I wanna show you." Spider-Man said.
He jumped off and began to web-swing away, before Spider-Girl jumped and followed him.
After over half-an-hour of web-swinging, they both landed near the subway tunnel that led to the Spider-Cave.
"Um, why are we here for?" Spider-Girl asked, confused.
"Just follow me." Spider-Man replied. "It's something we got recently from a few friends of ours."
He walked down the tunnel as Spider-Girl followed him, before they came to a stop by the secret entrance.
"Feast your eyes on this?" he said, pulling the middle pipe down.
Spider-Girl's eyes widened as the door opened, showing the Spider-Cave, before they stepped inside, seeing Ghost-Spider and Shadow-Spider waiting for them both. She looked around in amazement, as the other three watched her, before she turned to him.
"This place is amazing." she remarked. "Who gave you guys all this?"
"The Avengers, with a little help of the Fantastic Four." Spider-Man replied.
"Wow. From what I've seen, I thought you were just allies, not good friends." Spider-Girl said, amazed.
"We are with some, and some of the X-Men too." Spider-Man explained.
"So, why'd you bring me here for?" Spider-Girl asked.
The three veteran Spiders turned and nodded to each other.
"Spider-Girl, you still wanna be apart of the team?" Spider-Man asked.
Spider-Girl held her mouth open, speechless as she moved back.
"Yes." she said, giddily. "But, I thought..."
"After last night, I think you've proven yourself." Spider-Man said.
Spider-Girl looked at three of them.
"We all voted for it and agreed unanimously." Ghost-Spider assured. "We all think you might be a worthy teammate."
"Especially after last night." Shadow-Spider added.
Spider-Girl smiled and shook Spider-Man's hand as he held it out, before the other two put theirs on top of them.
"Welcome aboard." Spider-Man said.
They all pulled their hands apart, now a team of four instead of three.
"Thanks." Spider-Girl said. "I'll do my best to help you guys out."
"We know you will." Spider-Man said.
"Of course." Ghost-Spider nodded.
"Yeah." Shadow-Spider said.
"Okay, first, one of the rules on the team is; no secrets between each other." Spider-Man said. "So, if we tell you who we are, you need to do the same."
"Okay." Spider-Girl understood. "Sounds like a fair rule."
Spider-Man nodded, then he, Ghost-Spider and Shadow-Spider all took off their masks, shocking Spider-Girl as she moved back.
"No way?" she gasped. "Peter? Gwen? Miles?"
"You know us?" Gwen inquired.
Spider-Girl sighed and took her mask off, shocking the others.
"Anya?" Miles gasped.
"Yeah. This is quite a surprise." Anya admitted.
"Well, this explains how you still have your powers compared to everyone else." Peter deduced. "Since we tested the prototype cure on you, it must've allowed you to keep your powers."
"That's what I deduced too when I found out I still had them." Anya assured. "And well, that saying that told me, it really got to me. I realized I had to do something good with my powers, and since I've looked up to you and Gwen since saving my Papa's life last November, I figured..."
"You need to be like us and help people?" Gwen finished.
"Yes." Anya nodded. "Peter, what you said me that day in the lab, when we were helping create the cure, it really got to me. It's been stuck in my head since."
"I figured." Peter said. "You're not the first one I've taught that too."
Anya looked at Gwen and Miles, who both nodded.
"And it's not just us." Gwen assured. "Some of our hero friends too."
Anya smiled, before she touched Peter's shoulder.
"That's a wise and noble saying." she remarked. "Who taught you that?"
Peter sighed and lowered his head, shocking her slightly.
"My Uncle Ben." he sighed. "It was one of the last things he said to me before he died."
"Oh..." Anya said, backing away slightly.
Peter turned to Gwen and Miles, who both nodded, before they ran off towards the computer, leaving him and Anya alone.
"I think you need to know the whole story." he said.
Anya looked puzzled as Peter began to explain why he became Spider-Man, and why he follows his late Uncle's advise, which he had passed on to many more people, including Gwen and Miles.
A/N: Lt. Marcus Stone comes from the comics, who's part of the SWAT Team Code Blue.