Chapter 3: Natural Selection
Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter! This one was really fun to make. I also want to thank Cloud4012 and kival737101 for letting me use their OCs. I don't own anything except my own OC, so sit back, relax, review, and enjoy
It was late at night in New York City as a group of burglars broke into a bakery.
"Alright, take all the cash from the register, but don't touch anything. Auntie Em's my great aunt," one of them said.
"Wow, steal from the piggy bank but leave the cookie jar alone? Nephew of the year, folks." Turning around, the three of them saw Spider-Man standing by the door.
"Spider-Man? Get him!" the leader ordered.
But before they could even move, one of the men was suddenly wrapped up in webs.
Looking around, they spotted Shadow Spider landing right next to Spider-Man.
"Great, now he's got a sidekick," one of the burglars muttered.
"Oh my God, how many times do I have to say this? I'm not a sidekick—I'm his partner," Shadow Spider said, clearly annoyed.
"Oh come on, fellas, is that the best you got?" Spider-Man quipped, leaping as the criminals rushed toward him. One of them swung a crowbar, but Spider-Man dodged effortlessly, causing the crowbar to smash through the glass window instead.
Leaping up, Spider-Man kicked the guy just as a flash went off from the broken window.
"Come on, guys, at least make this look tough." As the second burglar charged, Spider-Man fired a web inside the bakery and pulled out a pie, smacking it right into the man's face.
The man with the pie in his face stumbled back, wiping the filling from his eyes.
"Seriously? A pie? Who fights crime with pastries?" the criminal muttered.
"Well, you know what they say," Spider-Man said, casually dodging another punch, "crime doesn't pay, but pies? They're priceless."
Shadow Spider rolled his eyes, webbing up the pie-covered criminal before he could recover. "You and your jokes, man."
Spider-Man grinned beneath his mask. "What? You want to give it a shot? I bet you've got some zingers in that suit of yours."
"Not really my style," Shadow Spider replied, ducking as the last thug tried to tackle him from behind. In one smooth motion, Shadow Spider spun around, delivered a swift punch to the guy's stomach, and webbed his feet to the ground.
The burglar groaned, clutching his midsection. "Ugh...okay, you're not the sidekick," he gasped.
"See? I told you," Shadow Spider said smugly, stepping back to admire his work.
Spider-Man walked over to the leader, who was still stuck in a web. "You guys should really reconsider your life choices. I mean, breaking into a bakery? That's low, even for you."
"Yeah," Shadow Spider added. "At least hit up a jewelry store or something. This is just sad."
"Hey, lay off," the leader said, struggling uselessly against the webs. "Everyone's gotta start somewhere."
Spider-Man chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, you're not going anywhere for a while, so you've got plenty of time to reflect on your 'career path.'"
As the two heroes prepared to leave, Shadow Spider glanced over at Spider-Man. "You think we'll get an actual challenge one of these days?"
Spider-Man smirked. "Hey, sometimes you gotta start small too, partner."
Shadow Spider grinned. "That's more like it."
Just then, sirens blared in the distance. The police were closing in, ready to clean up the mess.
Spider-Man turned to Shadow Spider. "You ready to swing out?"
"Always," Shadow Spider replied with a smile. The two heroes shot webs toward the nearest building and disappeared into the night, leaving the crooks tangled up in webs, waiting for the authorities.
As they soared through the air, Shadow Spider called out, "Next time, let's hope it's not a bakery. I'm getting hungry."
Spider-Man laughed. "I know this great pizza place around the corner—superhero-approved!"
Shadow Spider chuckled, following Spider-Man through the maze of New York rooftops.
Before they even headed to the pizza shop, Spider-Man Landed down on a rooftop.
Looking up, he saw a digital camera attached to one of his webs.
"Hopefully one of these shots will get me the job," Spider-Man muttered, crawling up to retrieve it. Just as he reached for the camera, a hand appeared and grabbed it—Shadow Spider was already inspecting it.
Shadow Spider perched on the nearby ledge, curiously examining the camera. "What's this for, Spidey? Picking up a new hobby?"
"Not exactly," Spider-Man replied, playfully swiping the camera back. "Photos for the Daily Bugle contest."
Shadow Spider chuckled, leaning back on the rooftop ledge. "A contest, huh? You're seriously entering a photo competition? You know, you could just ask them to make you their official Spider-Man photographer. You've got the inside scoop."
Spider-Man grinned behind his mask. "Yeah, except I've got a reputation to uphold. The Bugle's already got me labeled as a 'menace.' Kinda hard to take photos of yourself when you're the bad guy in their eyes."
Shadow Spider smirked. "Well, maybe if you start taking selfies with crooks tied up in webs, you'll win them over. Heroic and photogenic."
"Sounds like a plan," Spider-Man said with a sarcastic laugh, slinging the camera back around his neck. "But in the meantime, I'll stick to web-slinging and dodging the 'menace' headlines. Speaking of which, pizza time?"
Shadow Spider stood up, stretching. "Thought you'd never ask. You're paying this time, right?"
Spider-Man shot a web toward a nearby building, leaping into the air. "Yeah, sure. After we win that contest."
Shadow Spider followed, rolling his eyes. "Great, pizza on a maybe."
Intro Music: Spectacular Spider-Men* Theme Song
Living on the edge
Fighting crime, spinning webs
Swinging from the highest ledge
He can leap above our heads*
Spider-Man swings gracefully through the cityscape at sunset, dodging obstacles and performing daring flips.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Villains on the rise
And the city's victimized
Looking up with no surprise
Arriving in the speed of time*
Shadow Spider (Jake) swings in from the shadows, landing next to Spider-Man. They exchange a quick nod before jumping into action against a group of armed thugs.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
The two Spider-Men work in perfect harmony: Spider-Man uses his web-shooters to immobilize criminals while Shadow Spider performs high-speed acrobatics, taking down enemies with precision.*
Crawling through the night
Facing evil in his might
He's a hero in our eyes
See the headlights every time*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider patrol the city at night, moving stealthily across rooftops. They spot a car chase below and spring into action, webbing up the fleeing criminals.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Making villains fall
Webbing rivals to a halt
Racing up and down the walls
Bringing justice to us all*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider face off against a formidable villain on top of a skyscraper. They use their combined skills to defeat the villain and restore peace.*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spectacular, Spectacular Spider-Men*
Spider-Man and Shadow Spider stand side by side on a rooftop, overlooking the city as the sun sets. They watch as the city lights flicker to life.*
Meanwhile at Doctor Conners home, Kurt and Martha open the door to see Billy fast asleep with a book about lizards on his chest.
"He's reading about lizards?" Kurt asks.
"He wanted to know about the ones at the lab." Martha yawns. "He's a Conners."
"Come on, lets go to bed." Kurt said.
At Jaden's house, he lay on his bed, looking at the photos he had taken. Unfortunately, the flash had bounced off the windows.
"Ugh, these are useless," Jaden groaned, putting the camera down.
Glancing at his bedside table, Jaden noticed a picture of himself as a child with his parents. He picked it up, staring at the happy moment frozen in time.
"What do you think, Dad? Am I even doing the right thing?" Jaden asked aloud, though he knew he'd never get an answer. "Alright, alright, I'll really think about it."
With a sigh, Jaden took off his suit and changed into his pajamas before turning off the light and heading to bed.
Meanwhile, at Jake's apartment, he swung in through his window, quickly peeling off his suit. Just as he was tossing it aside, there was a knock at the door.
Jake hurriedly hid his suit under the bed as his mom knocked again. "Jake? Everything okay in there?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"Yeah, Mom! Just, uh, getting ready for bed!" Jake called out, trying to sound as casual as possible, his heart racing.
His mom paused for a moment before responding, "Alright, don't stay up too late. You've got school tomorrow."
"Got it, Mom. Night!" Jake replied, relieved when he heard her footsteps retreating down the hallway.
He let out a breath, glancing at the hidden suit under the bed. "That was close."
Back at the Conners Residence, Kurt was tossing and turning in his sleep as he started to sweat before waking up groaning in pain.
"Kurt what is it?" Martha asks before Kurt let out a scream as a right arm regenerated onto him.
Panting heavily, Kurt looks at himself in the mirror before smiling. "I don't believe it."
Turning around Martha saw her husband had his arm back.
"I don't believe it." Martha gasps before hugging him.
"It worked, it really worked." Kurt smiles.
"What worked? Kurt don't tell me you used that lizard thing." Martha said.
"Some lizards can regenerate lost limbs." Kurt said.
"And some stick to walls and eat raw meat that doesn't mean you should—"
"Martha look at the results." Kurt interrupts. "Look at what this means for me, for everyone. We can literally heal millions!"
"Mom? Dad?" Looking to the door they saw Billy woke up.
"Hey partner!" Kurt smiles picking his son up.
"Whoa dad! You're arm?" Billy smiles.
Smiling Kurt hugged his family happier than he's ever been.
The next day at Midtown High, classes were over, and Jaden was at his locker.
Little did he know, Flash was nearby with a ton of water balloons.
"By the time he realizes what happened, Jaydumb will be a wet rat," Flash chuckled, throwing one at him.
As if on cue, Jaden's spider-sense went off, causing him to open his locker and block it.
"Grr. Dumb luck," Flash growled as Jaden looked over.
"Really, Flash? Water balloons?" Jaden asked just as Flash threw another one, hitting him in the face and causing everyone to laugh at him.
"Hey, classics are that way for a reason," Flash laughed. Just then, Gwen walked over to Jaden. "Hey, geekette, move."
"And if I don't?" Gwen asked defiantly.
Smirking, Flash threw a water balloon at Gwen, but Jaden yanked the lid off a trash can and blocked it.
"Hey!" Flash snapped.
"You know what, Flash? It's one thing to pick on me, but you do not pick on my friends," Jaden said.
"Oh yeah? What are you gonna do about it?" Flash asked, throwing a water balloon, but this time Jaden caught it, surprising him. "What the—?"
"This!" Throwing it with all his might, Jaden smashed the water balloon into Flash's face, knocking him to the ground and soaking him, making Flash the focus of all the laughter.
"Wow, Jaden," Gwen said, amazed.
"Come on, we're gonna be late," Jaden said, leading her out.
"What was that? I thought you just sat there and took it?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, if it's just me. No way I was gonna let Flash pick on you," Jaden said.
"Well, aren't you a knight in shining armor?" Gwen giggled, causing Jaden to smile.
"Now if only I could solve my other problems that easily," Jaden said.
"No Spider-Man pics? Jaden, maybe you should just give that up. I mean, you and your mom aren't broke. You've got time to save for college if you try hard enough," Gwen suggested.
"Maybe. This is becoming impossible," Jaden sighed.
Nearby, Jake and Mia were sitting on a bench, watching the entire scene unfold.
"Did you see that? Jaden actually stood up to Flash!" Mia exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face.
Jake chuckled. "Yeah, I didn't think he had it in him. That was pretty cool."
As they turned back to their conversation, Mia noticed Jake's furrowed brow. "You okay, Jake? You seem a little distracted."
"Just trying to figure out these electric powers of mine," Jake said, glancing down at his hands. "I like to call them my Venom Blast."
"Venom Blast? Really? Is that what you're calling it?" Mia said, playfully smacking him on the arm.
"What if it is? It's a good name! Leave me alone!" Jake said, getting up.
Mia laughed, following Jake as he paced a few steps away. "Come on, Jake! It's not that bad. But maybe you could come up with something a little less… cheesy?"
Jake turned to her, a playful grin on his face. "Cheesy? You're just jealous because you didn't think of it first."
"Please, I'd come up with something way cooler," she replied, crossing her arms. "Like 'Thunder Fist' or something."
Jake raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Thunder Fist? Sounds like something from a bad action movie."
"Better than Venom Blast," she shot back, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Alright, how about this: I'll let you name my powers if you can help me figure them out," Jake said, his tone suddenly serious.
"Deal!" Mia said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "So, what do you want to try first?"
Jake took a deep breath, extending his hand as a small spark crackled between his fingers. "I guess I should see how much control I have over it. Maybe I can actually aim it."
Mia nodded, stepping back slightly. "Okay, just be careful! We don't want to end up in the principal's office again."
"Yeah, I'd rather not explain why I fried the science lab," Jake said, smirking.
As he focused on the energy gathering in his palm, Mia's expression shifted to one of concentration. "Alright, remember to breathe. You've got this!"
Jake closed his eyes, feeling the energy flow through him. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, aiming his hand forward.
Suddenly, a bright flash erupted, sending a harmless bolt of energy zipping through the air. It hit a nearby trash can, causing it to rattle but not explode.
"Whoa!" Mia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That was actually really cool!"
Jake opened his eyes, surprised at his success. "Did you see that? I think I actually did it!"
Mia beamed, her excitement palpable. "You totally did! Venom Blast is officially a thing!"
Jake chuckled, feeling a rush of confidence. "Alright, Thunder Fist and Venom Blast, teaming up to take on the world!"
"More like two dorks trying to figure out their powers," Mia laughed.
"Hey, at least we're dorks together," Jake replied, grinning at her.
Meanwhile at the lab, they saw Eddy cleaning up after the mess with Electro.
"Hey, about time you guys showed up. Grab a broom; the Conners will be back any minute," Eddy said.
"Cleaning will have to wait. First, we celebrate," Kurt said, pushing in a cart with cake on it.
"Ooh, cake!" Gwen smiled.
"Chocolate!" Billy and Martha exclaimed.
"Sweet, free food!" Jaden grinned.
"What's the occasion?" Eddy asked just as Kurt shook his hand, shocking him. "Y-Your arm? Your right arm?"
Shocked, a big smile formed on all their faces.
"And I thought me hitting Flash with a water balloon was gonna be the big thing today," Jaden smiled.
"Wait, Flash Thompson?" Eddy asked, intrigued.
"Oh yeah," Gwen nodded.
Hours later, as they celebrated, Eddy and Kurt were arm wrestling, and Eddy won.
"Yeah!" Eddy cheered before realizing what had happened. "Oops, uh, sorry, sir."
"What? Are you kidding? Do you know how thrilled I am to lose in arm wrestling?" Kurt smiled.
"Doc, this is huge. Your lizard formula is the cure for every lost limb and amputation in the world. We are talking guaranteed Nobel Prize," Eddy beamed.
"Hang on, Eddy. It's bad enough my husband used himself as a guinea pig," Martha said, noticing something unusual about Kurt. "Uh, Billy, Eddy installed *Space Wackos 2* on the office computer if you want to play."
"Wackos? Wicked!" Billy said, heading to the office.
"If you're gonna crank the volume, close the door, please," Martha said as Billy closed it before turning to her husband. "Kurt, take off your shirt."
"What? Are you kidding? It's freezing in here!" Kurt protested, but Martha glared at him, telling him to do it. "Okay."
Standing up, Kurt took off his lab coat and shirt, revealing something unusual about his skin: scattered lizard scales.
"Uh, are those what I think they are?" Jaden asked.
"What?" Kurt replied.
Almost immediately, the party atmosphere dissipated as they got to work, noticing that the scales on Kurt started to expand.
"Lizard DNA is more primitive than human, and the reptilian part of your brain is growing," Martha said as Kurt began to cringe in pain.
"It's growing. I can feel myself regressing," Kurt growled.
"Calm down, sweetie. You need to keep a clear head," Martha said, worried.
"No, you need to hurry. I can feel the change," Kurt growled as his eyes turned green.
Seeing this, Jaden cringed in horror at what was happening to him.
"The formula is creating more lizard cells faster than I can identify them. I don't know how we'll ever get them all," Eddy said.
"What if we approached it from the other angle? Instead of focusing on reptile, we could focus on human and work on filtering those so we can eliminate the lizard stuff," Jaden suggested.
"Would that work?" Eddy asked.
"Yes, yes, that might work. A Gene Cleanser," Martha replied.
"Of course. My notes will have all the data we need," Kurt growled.
"So it can remove any non-human DNA," Gwen realized as Jaden paused.
If he took one, it could even remove his, if he wanted to.
However, when he looked around, Jaden noticed Billy listening in.
Making his way to the back, he saw Billy working on the computer.
"Billy, uh, how much did you hear?" Jaden asked.
"I don't want to talk about that," Billy replied.
"What do you want to talk about?" Jaden asked.
"Is my dad gonna be okay? I don't want to lose him," Billy said, worried.
Frowning, Jaden placed a hand on his shoulder. "Billy, I lost my dad not too long ago, and I promise I'm gonna do everything I can to make sure you don't lose yours."
"Your promise?" Billy asked.
"I promise," Jaden nodded.
"Pinkie promise?" Billy asked, holding it up.
"Pinkie promise," Jaden said as they pinkie swore.
Suddenly, they heard Kurt groan in agony.
Peeking outside, they looked in horror to see Kurt starting to grow claws.
"Kurt!" Martha said, worried.
"I've made… a terrible mistake," Kurt said before letting out a scream as his entire body turned into a giant lizard.
"Kurt… Kurt, do you recognize me?" Martha asked when the lizard let out a roar and began trashing the lab.
"Doc, please, we just want to help!" Eddy said, trying to stop him, but the lizard swatted him away with its tail.
Acting quickly, Jaden pushed Billy out of the way as Eddy crashed into him.
Roaring, the lizard leaped through the window and into the city.
Groaning, Eddy got up before helping Jaden.
"You guys work on the Cleanser. I'll follow the Doc, and if I find him, I'll call!" Eddy said.
"I'll go too. It's better to have two sets of eyes than one," Jaden replied.
"Jaden, this isn't like standing up to Flash; this is a real monster," Gwen said, worried.
"I know, but I'll be careful," Jaden assured her as he and Eddy ran out.
"You go that way! I'll go this way!" Jaden pointed.
"Be careful, Jaden!" Eddy called as they split up.
Almost immediately, Jaden ran down an alley and changed into Spider-Man.
Firing a web, Spider-Man swung into the air.
"I'm going to need some backup," Spider-Man said, quickly pulling out his phone and dialing Jake's number.
Meanwhile, at the park, Jake and Mia went to a secluded area.
"Are you sure no one's going to be here?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, it's going to be okay. Jake, just focus on your powers so we can gather some data," Mia said, taking out her tablet.
"Okay, if you say so," Jake said, trying to activate his powers. He felt the blue electricity surrounding his fingertips.
Then he shot at a tree. Then another one, and another. He aimed at a branch before it fell.
Jake's spider-sense went off, and he saw the tree branch falling towards Mia. He quickly shot a web and pulled her in close to him before they both fell over.
As they both landed in a heap, Mia giggled. "Nice catch! You've got some impressive reflexes there."
Jake grinned, brushing himself off. "Yeah, well, I didn't want you to become a pancake. How's the data looking?"
Mia quickly checked her tablet. "Pretty good! Your control over the electricity is improving. If you keep practicing, you might be able to create a sustained blast."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Sustained blast? That sounds intense. I'm just trying to get the hang of these quick shots."
"Hey, every hero has to start somewhere," Mia encouraged, giving him an upbeat smile. "Just think of it like web-slinging. You didn't master that overnight, right?"
Jake nodded, remembering the countless times he had fumbled with his webs. "True. I guess I just need to be patient."
"Exactly!" Mia said, tapping her tablet. "So, do you want to try again? Maybe focus on controlling the energy before you shoot?"
"Alright, let's do it," Jake replied, feeling more confident. He took a deep breath, focusing on the electricity tingling at his fingertips. "Here goes nothing."
As he concentrated, a faint blue glow surrounded his hands. "Okay, I think I can feel it."
"Great! Just remember to aim for the tree again. We want to keep the collateral damage to a minimum," Mia joked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Jake chuckled, "No promises. But here goes!"
He aimed carefully and released a burst of electricity toward the tree, watching as it crackled against the bark. "Yes! I did it!" he exclaimed, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
"Awesome job, Jake! That was a solid shot!" Mia cheered, writing down notes on her tablet. "Now, let's see if you can do it again—this time, try to hit a different part of the tree!"
Jake nodded, feeling the thrill of progress. "Alright, I'm ready. Just give me a second to recharge."
As he focused, Mia glanced at him with admiration. "You know, Jake, I really believe you're going to master this. You're a natural."
"Thanks, Mia. That means a lot," he replied, feeling a swell of determination. "Let's make the most of today."
Jake took a moment to gather his thoughts, focusing on the energy coursing through him. "Okay, I think I'm ready for round two," he said, positioning himself again.
"Just remember to breathe," Mia encouraged, her eyes fixed on him.
As Jake prepared to shoot another blast of energy, his phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket. Startled, he quickly pulled it out and saw Spider-Man's name flashing on the screen.
"Hang on, Mia! I've got to take this," Jake said, answering the call. "Spider-Man! What's up?"
"Jake! I need your help—like, right now!" Spider-Man's voice crackled with urgency. "Kurt just transformed into the Lizard, and he's rampaging through the city! I could really use an extra set of hands!"
Jake's eyes widened. "Oh man, that sounds serious! Where are you?"
Can you meet me there?" Spider-Man replied.
"Yeah, I'm on my way!" Jake said, adrenaline pumping through him. He quickly glanced at Mia. "I've got to go help Spider-Man. I'll be back to practice later!"
"Be careful, Jake!" Mia called out as he rummaged through his backpack. He pulled out his shadow Spider suit, putting it on swiftly.
"Thanks! I'll make sure to keep an eye out," Jake replied, fastening the last buckle on his suit. He could feel the familiar rush of excitement building inside him.
Once he was fully suited up, he quickly turned to Mia, "I'll shoot a web at the nearest tree and swing my way over."
"Just watch out for any branches!" Mia cautioned with a smile.
"Got it!" Jake grinned and aimed his web-shooter at a sturdy branch. He fired two quick bursts of web, feeling the familiar tug as he launched himself into the air. "Here goes nothing!"
Swinging through the park, Jake felt the thrill of web-slinging wash over him. "This is what I'm talking about!" he shouted into the wind as he expertly maneuvered between the trees.
"Hang on, Spider-Man! I'm coming!" he yelled, determination fueling his every swing.
Meanwhile, with Spider-Man...
"Now, where is he?" Spider-Man asked when he heard a commotion coming from the subway. "Of course."
Down below at the subway station, people were running for their lives as Eddy tried to get everyone out.
"Keep going! Don't stop until you're all the way out!" Eddy urged.
As the Lizard ripped apart everything, one girl tried to hide in a corner when she suddenly felt some drool dripping down.
Looking up, she gasped in horror as she saw the Lizard about to chomp down on her.
"Hey! You know the rules! No eating in the subway!" Spider-Man said, firing a web and yanking the Lizard away.
Getting up, the Lizard threw a ticket booth at him, but Spider-Man dodged it and fired a web, trapping the Lizard against the wall. "Come on, Dr. Connors. We've got to get you back to the lab," Spider-Man said, but the Lizard ripped the webs off, forcing Spider-Man to jump back.
Growling, the Lizard broke free and swung his claws, knocking Spider-Man toward the train tracks.
"Man, Doc, you pack quite a punch," Spider-Man groaned when he saw the Lizard crawling on the ceiling. "Hey, that's my thing!"
As a train arrived, the Lizard swung in and kicked Spider-Man into a column.
"Hey, if you shoot a web, I'm going to sue!" a voice said, swinging in and kicking the Lizard, sending him flying into a wall.
"Hey, Spidey, I'm here!" Shadow Spider said.
"Next stop: the Bronx!" the announcer said as Eddy ran in while the Lizard hopped onto the train.
"Just come on!" Spider-Man said, getting up and firing a web so he could land on top of the train.
"Okay!" Shadow Spider said, also firing a web to land on top of the train as well.
Roaring, the Lizard turned to face them.
"Bring it on!" Spider-Man said.
"Let's do this!" Shadow Spider said as they charged in.
As the Lizard swung his claws, Spider-Man ducked under and kicked him in the chest, making him stagger back, giving enough space for Shadow Spider to shoot a venom blast right at him, forcing the Lizard further back.
Moving in, Spider-Man delivered a few more punches, hitting the Lizard multiple times, but when he threw the last one, the Lizard caught it.
"Uh oh. This is gonna hurt," Spider-Man said as the Lizard swung, knocking him back.
"Spidey!" Shadow Spider shouted, running in with his own punch, but the Lizard blocked it, then grabbed him by the throat and threw him into Spider-Man, sending them both tumbling back toward the edge. When they got up, the Lizard had disappeared.
"Where did he—" Before he could finish, Spider-Man's Spider-Sense went off. The Lizard had ripped a hole in the compartment below and swung a left hook, knocking Spider-Man into the air.
Flying backward, Spider-Man tumbled to the ground.
"Hey!" Shadow Spider called, but he was punched with full force, sending him flying off the train and crashing to the ground as the Lizard made his escape.
"Ugh, we're gonna need a new plan," Spider-Man groaned.
"Yeah, any ideas?" Shadow Spider asked, groaning as he got up.
At the lab, Martha and Gwen had just finished the cleanser.
"Are we done?" Gwen asked.
"I think so. It all squares with Kurt's research, but there's only one way to test it. Since Kurt's hide is so thick, we'll have to somehow get him to drink it," Martha replied.
"Maybe we can help," Spider-Man said, crawling in as Shadow Spider casually leaned back in one of the rolling chairs.
"Spider-Man and Shadow Spider? How'd you know we needed you two?" Gwen asked.
"Uh, we ran into this guy who was running around like crazy, talking about a giant Lizard on the loose," Spider-Man said.
"Jaden," Gwen smiled.
"Yeah, that guy was acting like a real—" Before Shadow Spider could finish, Spider-Man shot webbing over his mouth.
"Hey!" Shadow Spider protested, trying to pull the webbing off his mouth, just as the phone rang and Martha put it on speaker.
"Hello?" Martha asked.
"It's me. He's at the Bronx Zoo, but I lost sight of Jaden," Eddy said.
"I hope Jaden's okay," Gwen said, worried.
"Tell your friend to stay clear. Let's see what we can do," Spider-Man said, picking up the cleanser.
"Yeah, the Web Warriors are on the case!" Shadow Spider added enthusiastically.
"Web Warriors?" Spider-Man asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well yeah, we're a team, so why not?" Shadow Spider said with a smile.
"Okay, yeah—Web Warriors. I like it," Spider-Man agreed.
"Was that who I think it was?" Eddy asked.
"Our friendly neighborhood heroes," Martha said. "Gwen, I'm going to go help. Can you watch Billy?"
"Sure," Gwen replied, but when she entered the room, she saw Billy was gone. "Oh no."
At the zoo, Eddy was waiting patiently when Spider-Man and Shadow Spider leapt in behind him.
"Hey," Spider-Man said, startling him.
"Whoa," Eddy said, taken aback.
"What's up?" Shadow Spider asked, leaning casually against the wall.
"Yeah, we get that a lot. Where is he?" Spider-Man asked.
"In there," Eddy pointed to the Reptile House.
"Of course," Spider-Man said, slowly making his way. "Be careful, and if the Lizard sees you, run."
"Okay," Eddy nodded.
"Come on," Spider-Man said to Shadow Spider.
"Right," Shadow Spider said, falling in behind him.
As they made their way inside, Spider-Man fired a web to set up his camera before looking at a large lagoon.
"Hmm, where is he?" Spider-Man asked when Shadow Spider walked over.
"Are you serious? You want to take a picture right now?" Shadow Spider asked, just as their Spider-Senses went off.
Suddenly, the Lizard burst out behind them, whacking Spider-Man to the ground.
"Time for round two, big and ugly," Shadow Spider said, dipping his hand into the lagoon as electricity shot through it, electrocuting the Lizard and making it stumble back in pain.
Looking to the cleanser, Spider-Man latched it onto his wrist before taking a fighting stance.
"Come and get me, Lizard Brain," Spider-Man taunted.
Roaring, the Lizard charged at him, but Spider-Man fired a web, swung in, and kicked him in the chest.
Spider-Man leapt in, trying to pin the Lizard to the ground, but the Lizard threw him off. As the two fought, Spider-Man struggled to keep the Lizard still.
"Got room for one more?" Shadow Spider said, shooting a web at the Lizard, spinning him around, and throwing him against the wall.
The Lizard got up and charged at the two spiders, but the flash from Spider-Man's camera went off, causing the Lizard to roar in annoyance.
Let's do this," Shadow Spider said, jumping into the air, webbing the ground, and launching himself with incredible speed, hitting the Lizard in the back and sending him to the ground.
Seeing Shadow Spider on top of the Lizard, Spider-Man fired a web that latched onto the Lizard's tail. However, the Lizard swung it, sending Spider-Man flying back and crashing into a tree where his camera was.
"Spider-Man!" Shadow Spider yelled as the Lizard knocked him to the ground and tried to bite him.
"You really need a breath mint," Shadow Spider quipped before webbing the ground and pulling on his web, sliding under the Lizard and leaping back onto the wall.
"God, I hope Spider-Man's okay," Shadow Spider muttered to himself.
The Lizard was about to move in when something hit it in the head.
"Hey! Leave them alone!" Spider-Man and Shadow Spider looked up to see Billy on his skateboard, trying to distract the Lizard.
"What the hell is he doing?" Shadow Spider said in shock.
"No!" Shadow Spider gasped as the Lizard roared and went after Billy.
"Billy!" Eddy shouted, grabbing him as they made their escape.
"I've gotta do something," Spider-Man said, getting an idea. "This might be the craziest thing I've ever done," he muttered, taking the camera down.
"Dad, stop! You don't have to be the Lizard! You're still my dad!" Billy begged.
"Billy, get out of here!" Eddy shouted as the Lizard got closer, and Billy gulped in fear.
"BILLY!" Eddy screamed just as Jaden leapt from a high tree and crashed down on the Lizard.
"Jaden?!" Billy, Eddy, and Shadow Spider gasped as the Lizard flailed wildly, trying to throw Jaden off.
"Come on, Dr. Connors! You need your medicine!" Jaden yelled, struggling to hold on as the Lizard rammed him against the wall.
"Eddy, what's going on?!" Martha asked as she and Gwen arrived, gasping at the scene.
"Jaden?!" Gwen panicked as the Lizard threw Jaden off, sending him crashing into a fire hose.
"Okay, that's it. Give me the cleanser now!" Shadow Spider yelled.
Jaden quickly threw the Gene Cleanser to Shadow Spider. "Here! It's all yours. Just be careful!"
Shadow Spider caught the container with one hand, ready for action. "Thanks, Jaden. I'll handle this."
With determination, Shadow Spider approached the Lizard, dodging its massive claws. "Stay still, Doc!"
The Lizard roared, swinging its tail wildly. Shadow Spider nimbly leapt aside, firing webs to entangle the Lizard's arms. "I've got you now!"
The webs caught the Lizard for a moment, but it snarled and broke free, charging at Shadow Spider. The two clashed in a flurry of attacks, with Shadow Spider landing a powerful roundhouse kick to the Lizard's face, making it stagger.
"Is that all you've got?" Shadow Spider taunted, landing gracefully.
The Lizard roared in fury, swinging its claws again. Shadow Spider ducked under the attack and countered with a series of rapid punches, landing a few solid blows to the Lizard's chest. But the Lizard was quick and grabbed Shadow Spider's arm, twisting it painfully.
"Uh-oh. This is gonna hurt," Shadow Spider grunted as the Lizard threw him across the room. He crashed into a nearby wall but quickly recovered, webbing the ground and launching himself back into the fight.
The Lizard charged, roaring as it threw a massive boulder at Shadow Spider. "Not today!" Shadow Spider shouted, swinging over the projectile.
Meanwhile, Billy was concerned. "Where did Spider-Man go?" he wondered aloud.
As Shadow Spider landed, he fired a web at the Lizard's tail, yanking it back. "Come on, Dr. Connors! We need to get you back to normal!"
The Lizard lunged at Shadow Spider, who dodged skillfully and returned with a quick uppercut that sent the Lizard reeling.
Jaden, seeing the Lizard's rampage, leapt from the fire hose and delivered a powerful kick to the Lizard's side. "This ends now, Dr. Connors!"
The Lizard roared in anger. Jaden dodged and retaliated with a rapid series of kicks and punches. "Stay down!"
Shadow Spider used the distraction to prepare the Gene Cleanser. He moved in close. "Come on, Doc, just a little more!" he urged.
The Lizard, still thrashing, caught sight of the cleanser and swiped at Shadow Spider, knocking him back. "No!" Shadow Spider shouted. "We're so close!"
With a final burst of energy, Shadow Spider tackled the Lizard, pinning it to the ground. "Jaden, now!" he called out.
Jaden threw the Gene Cleanser to Shadow Spider, who managed to force it into the Lizard's mouth. "Take it, Doc!" Shadow Spider shouted.
The Lizard roared one last time before beginning to shrink, its scales receding as Dr. Kurt Connors re-emerged.
Exhausted but relieved, Shadow Spider stood over Dr. Connors. "We did it," he panted.
"Ugh, what happened?" Kurt groaned as everyone rushed over.
"Dad, it was insane! Shadow Spider tackled you, and Jaden forced the antidote down your throat," Billy explained.
"Wait, what happened to Spider-Man?" Gwen asked.
"He, uh…" Jaden started, but Shadow Spider stepped in.
"He got hurt really badly, so Jaden and I had to step in," Shadow Spider said.
"Jay, that was the bravest, coolest, and craziest thing I've ever seen," Eddy laughed. "But promise me you won't do anything like that ever again."
"I'll try. And, Doc, please, no more Lizard experiments," Jaden begged.
"You have my word, Jaden. Thank you," Kurt smiled as Jaden handed him over to his family.
"Hey, Jaden," Billy said, walking up to him.
"Yeah, Billy?" Jaden asked.
"You kept your promise. You said you'd help save my dad, and you did. Thank you," Billy smiled, giving him a hug.
As Gwen looked at Jaden, she couldn't help but smile, and she couldn't deny one thing: Jaden looked so cool as the hero.
Meanwhile, perched on top of a nearby rooftop, Shadow Spider watched the scene below with a soft smile. The evening air brushed against his face as he observed Billy hugging Jaden, and the relief on everyone's faces was evident. He had to admit, they'd done well today. But his smile quickly faded as he thought about how reckless Jaden had been during the fight.
Jay got guts, but…" he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
With a quick flick of his wrist, Shadow Spider fired a webline and swung off into the city, the wind rushing past him as he leaped from building to building. His mind raced as he replayed the chaotic battle with the Lizard. Jaden had nearly gotten himself seriously hurt—or worse. After a few more swings, he landed on the side of a tall skyscraper and took a deep breath.
The next day, Jaden was looking at his pictures of Spider-Man and Shadow Spider versus the Lizard.
"Oh man, these pics are sure to win me the contest," Jaden said as he walked to the Bugle when Jake quickly stopped him.
"Hey, Jaden, wait up!" Jake called, catching his breath as he jogged to catch up.
"What's up?" Jaden asked, glancing back at him, excitement still lighting up his face.
"I saw the pictures. They're great, but you really shouldn't use them," Jake urged, his tone serious. "It would mess up Dr. Connors' legacy. He's a good man, even if i don't know him well. He doesn't deserve to be remembered like this."
Jaden frowned, uncertainty creeping into his expression. "But they're powerful shots! People need to see what happened. It's important for the contest!"
"Sure, but at what cost?" Jake replied, shaking his head. "You could find different pictures to use. There are plenty of other moments that capture the heroism without dragging his name through the mud."
Jaden hesitated, looking down at the photos in his hands. "I don't know, Jake. I thought this was my chance to make a name for myself."
"You have other options," Jake said, stepping closer. "I can help you get a job at FEAST with me. You can make a real difference there, and you won't have to compromise anyone's reputation."
"Really?" Jaden asked, his interest piqued. "You'd help me get a job?"
"Of course! I want to see you succeed without tearing someone else down in the process," Jake said, his expression earnest. "Let's find a way to show off your skills without sacrificing Dr. Connors' legacy. You're better than that."
After a moment, Jaden nodded slowly, the excitement in his eyes dimming but shifting into something more thoughtful. "Okay, you're right. I don't want to hurt anyone's reputation. Let's look for other photos, then."
"Good choice," Jake replied, relieved. "We'll figure it out together."
Meanwhile, at the FEAST Center, Martin Lee sat at his desk, going over paperwork with a furrowed brow. The atmosphere was calm, filled with the quiet hum of conversation and the soft rustling of papers. However, beneath the surface, a storm was brewing within him. As he concentrated on his tasks, he suddenly felt an intense energy coursing through his body.
He glanced down at his hands, his heart racing as he noticed the skin on his right hand beginning to turn black, a stark contrast to the pale skin on his left. White energy crackled and swirled around his fingertips, pulsating with a life of its own. Martin felt a rush of power and anxiety wash over him. He struggled to suppress the sudden surge, his breathing becoming erratic.
"Not now," he muttered under his breath, attempting to steady himself. The last thing he wanted was to lose control in front of the staff and the people he was helping. He clenched his fist, willing the energy to dissipate, but it only grew stronger, sending tingling sensations up his arm.
"Mr. Lee?" one of the volunteers called, looking concerned. "Are you okay?"
Martin forced a smile, his voice shaky. "Yes, just a little under the weather. I'll be fine." He turned back to his desk, hoping to mask the strange transformation taking place. But as he concentrated, the energy flared again, illuminating the room with a ghostly glow.
He could feel the darker side of himself rising, threatening to take control. Memories of his past, filled with anger and resentment, flashed before his eyes. "I won't let you out," he hissed to himself, battling against the inner turmoil. "I have to keep this under control."
Suddenly, a feeling of calm washed over him. Martin took a deep breath, focusing on the people around him—the ones he had dedicated his life to helping. Their smiles and gratitude fueled his resolve. "I can't let this power define me," he whispered, as the energy around his hand began to subside, returning to a more manageable state.
But deep down, he knew that this battle was far from over. The energy would return, and he would have to confront the darkness within him before it consumed everything he had worked for at the FEAST Center. For now, he regained his composure and continued his work, but he couldn't shake the feeling that a storm was brewing—not just outside, but within himself as well.