Spectacular Spider-Men Chapter 6: Wild Night Out, a spectacular spider-man fanfic

Chapter 6: Wild Night Out

Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter! I had to make some changes to this one, and it's very personal to me because it's based on something I experienced personally. I also introduced some new OCs to the story—hope you guys like them!

A huge thanks to Cloud4012 for helping me with my OC and everything else. Be sure to follow him and kival737101 as well.

Sit back, relax, review, and enjoy!

We find ourselves in Jake's apartment, where Jake sits at the table eating breakfast. As he glances at the calendar, his whole mood shifts.

"Is it... that day?" Jake murmurs under his breath.

He walks to his mom's room and notices she doesn't seem to be doing any better. Quickly, Sam wipes her tears away when she sees Jake in the doorway.

"Oh, hey, sweetie," Sam says, trying to put on a forced smile.

Jake pauses in the doorway, concern written across his face as he steps closer to his mom.

"Mom… you don't have to pretend with me," he says gently, sitting down beside her on the edge of the bed.

Sam lets out a soft sigh, her smile fading. "I just… I thought this year would be easier, you know? But…" She trails off, looking away.

Jake reaches over, taking her hand. "It's okay, Mom. We're both feeling it. Maybe it's supposed to feel like this for a while." He gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through it together."

Sam looks at him, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Jake. You always know what to say." She pauses, her voice catching slightly. "He'd be so proud of you. I'm proud of you."

Jake smiles, though there's a hint of sadness in it. "I learned from the best. You know, maybe later we can go do something he loved—like the park or that café he always took us to."

Sam nods, a real smile breaking through. "I'd like that, Jake. It'd be nice to remember him that way. Just… being together."

Jake nods, giving her hand one last squeeze. "We'll make it a good day, Mom. For him. And for us."

Meanwhile, at Midtown High, Jaden and Gwen made their way to class, spotting Harry waiting for them.

"Guys, you are never gonna believe what happened!" Harry said, practically bouncing with excitement.

"What's up, Harry? How's the new quarterback doing?" Jaden asked.

"Hope you don't think you're too good to hang out with us now," Gwen teased with a smirk.

"No way! You guys are my best buds. And I wanted you both to be the first to know—I got a date to the dance!" Harry declared.

"For real?" Jaden asked, eyebrows raised.

"Harry, that's great! Who is it?" Gwen asked, genuinely excited.

"Glory Grant," Harry said, grinning.

"Whoa, Harry, way to go, man!" Jaden said, smiling proudly.

"She's a lucky girl," Gwen added with a warm smile.

"Thanks, guys," Harry said just as the teacher walked in, signaling the start of class.

As the teacher began talking, Jaden glanced around the room, noticing Mia sitting alone without Jake by her side.

I wonder why Jake isn't in school yet, Jaden thought to himself, before turning his attention back to the lesson.

Later that day, a prison truck was heading toward Titanium City, with Electro secured inside. He growled in frustration, bound by special cuffs that prevented him from using his powers to escape.

"Just sit tight, sparkplug. Once Titanium Corp gets their hands on you, you'll be as good as new," the driver taunted.

"Oh, great, more surprises," Electro muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Come on, lighten up, man," the driver chuckled. "Get it?"

Electro, however, was not amused. "You think this is funny? That my life is a joke?" he growled, his eyes crackling with energy as he felt his powers trying to surge.

Meanwhile, just a short distance behind, another prison van was transporting a second villain. This van's driver glanced back at his passenger as they neared Titanium City.

"Hey, don't look so down, missy. You should be thrilled! If Titanium Corp Labs can undo your condition, you could be back to 'normal' by tomorrow—if you were ever normal." He sneered.

In the back, a woman with black plug-like hair, brown skin, and dark clothing rolled her eyes. This was Volt.

"Thanks for the confidence boost, jerkface," Volt snapped, glaring.

As the two vans moved side by side, Volt felt an unusual tingle in the air. She peeked out the window, noticing a flicker of electricity from the other van.

"Hello, what do we have here?" she smirked.

Inside his van, Electro noticed some of his electricity sparking out through the window.

"What the—?" he muttered, confused.

As his energy seeped out, Volt felt it surge through her, supercharging her powers.

"Oh yeah, baby!" she grinned, her body transforming into a stream of electricity. In an instant, she materialized next to her driver in the front seat.

"And the hits just keep on coming," Volt said, smirking as she punched the driver in the face. The van swerved, slamming into Electro's vehicle, sending both crashing to a halt.

"Ugh, dammit," Electro grunted, pulling himself out of the wreckage, only to see Volt standing atop a streetlight, looking down at him with a grin.

"Well, hello, handsome," she purred. "Gotta say, your electricity packs quite a punch."

Electro glared up at her. "Who the hell are you?"

"Name's Volt. Thanks to your little power boost, I'm free, so I owe ya one," she said, floating down toward him. "You got a name?"

"Had one. Now they call me Electro."

"Electro, huh? I like the sound of that," Volt smirked. "Well, since Titanium City thinks they can treat us like lab rats, what do you say we show this place we mean business?"

"Why not? I've got a lot of anger to let out," Electro said as sparks danced across his hands.

"Mmm, I can tell," Volt replied with a wicked grin.

And with that, the two electric-powered villains took off together, ready to unleash chaos on Titanium City. The city was in for a shocking night.

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*

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, 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.*

Back at Midtown, the bell rang as Jaden led Mia down the hall and into an empty classroom.

"Sorry, guys, just need to borrow Mia for a second," Jaden said, closing the door.

"Dang, Jaden, making moves?" Harry smirked, while Gwen looked less than amused.

"No way. Jaden would never," Gwen said firmly.

Once the coast was clear, Jaden looked over at Mia. "What's up?" he asked.

"Have you seen Jake at home? I've been texting him all day, and he hasn't answered his phone. I'm getting worried," Mia said, a hint of concern in her voice.

"No, sorry. To be honest, I haven't heard from him either," Jaden replied.

"Can you please just find him for me? I'm really worried. Tell him to text me once you find him or whenever he's free," Mia pleaded.

"Hey, hey, calm down," Jaden said, trying to reassure her. "He's fine, I'm sure he's fine. Plus… do you like Jake or something?" he teased, noticing a slight blush spread across Mia's cheeks.

Mia's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she looked away, fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. "I… It's not like that," she stammered. "I just… you know, he's my friend, and I'm worried about him."

Jaden smirked, folding his arms. "Uh-huh, sure, just a 'friend,' huh?"

Mia shot him a look. "Jaden, I mean it! He's been acting strange lately, and now he's not even answering his phone. You know that's not like him."

Realizing she was serious, Jaden dropped his playful tone. "Alright, alright. I'll check in on him after school," he promised. "Maybe he just needs a bit of space. Things have been kinda intense lately."

Mia nodded, a bit more relaxed. "Thanks, Jaden. I just… I feel like he's been keeping something from me. I don't know, maybe it's just my imagination."

"Could be. But you know Jake; he's probably off trying to help someone or save the world in his own way," Jaden said with a smile.

Mia smiled softly at that, her worry fading a little. "Yeah… that sounds like him. Just, please, let me know when you find him?"

"Will do," Jaden assured her. "And, hey, maybe next time you see him, you could try telling him how you feel. Couldn't hurt, right?"

Mia's blush returned, and she gave Jaden a playful shove. "Stop it! It's not like that… I think."

Jaden chuckled. "Alright, alright. But just think about it. You never know what could happen."

"You two were in there a while," Gwen said, raising an eyebrow.

"Sorry about that. She just wants to know where Jake is," Jaden replied with a shrug.

"Ah, ok , man," Harry chuckled as Gwen sighed with relief.

"So, Mia wanted to know if we could show her around?" Jaden asked.

"Like you even have to ask," Gwen replied as they led Mia down the hall.

"Alright, the library's down that way, the cafeteria's over there, and the sports field is that way," Jaden pointed out as they walked.

"Do you play any sports, Mia?" Gwen asked.

"No, but I have an open mind about it. It would be fun to try out as a cheerleader," Mia said.

"Well, I'm on the football team, so if there's an opening, I can put in a good word for you," Harry offered.

"That would be great!" Mia smiled brightly.

After their quick tour, Jaden glanced around and headed over to some old, unused lockers. Making sure no one was watching, he carefully used his super strength to lift one of the lockers slightly. Underneath, he found his Spider-Man suit but couldn't spot Jake's.

"Jake, where are you?" Jaden murmured to himself. He quickly put on his web shooters and stuffed his Spider-Man suit into his backpack before hurrying toward the stairwell, his mind racing with concern for his missing friend.

Once he made it to the school roof, Jaden spotted Jake sitting alone.

"Dude, what the heck? You haven't been answering your phone, and Mia was—" Jaden started, but stopped when he noticed Jake's red eyes and saw that he already had his Shadow Spider suit on, minus the mask.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jaden asked, walking over carefully.

Jaden watched as Jake took a shaky breath, visibly struggling to keep his composure. He stepped closer, his voice soft with concern. "Hey, man… what's really going on? You've been off all day."

Jake hesitated, looking away toward the city skyline. His voice was barely a whisper when he spoke. "Today's… today's the anniversary of my dad's death."

Jaden's expression shifted, and he placed a reassuring hand on Jake's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Jake. I had no idea."

Jake nodded, his gaze distant, as though lost in a memory he couldn't escape. "I don't talk about it much. I don't know… I always thought I could handle it on my own. But today… today's been rough."

Jaden sat beside him, urging him to go on. "What happened? You don't have to tell me if it's too much, but I'm here if you want to."

Jake took a deep, steadying breath before continuing, his voice breaking slightly. "It was a home invasion. Some guy broke in one night, thinking the house was empty. But I was in my room… and my dad was downstairs. He heard something and went to check it out."

Jake paused, his hands clenched tightly in his lap, as if he were reliving every painful moment. Jaden remained silent, letting Jake find his way through the story.

"My dad… he confronted the guy, tried to get him to leave. But things got… violent. The intruder had a gun, and… it all happened so fast. My dad was caught in a situation where he had to make a choice—whether to save me or himself."

Jaden's eyes filled with empathy as he listened, understanding the weight of what Jake was saying.

"He chose me," Jake continued, his voice breaking. "He yelled for me to run, to hide. I heard the shot, Jaden… I heard it, and I was too scared to move. By the time the police arrived, it was too late."

The silence between them was heavy, filled with the unspoken grief Jake had carried alone for so long. After a moment, Jaden spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Jake, I… I can't imagine what that's like. I'm so sorry you went through that, especially alone."

Jake nodded, wiping a tear that had slipped down his cheek. "I kept thinking if I'd done something differently—if I'd been faster, or braver—he might still be here. But I know that's… that's not how it works."

"Your dad sounds like he was an incredible man," Jaden said, his voice steady. "And he wanted you to be safe. I think… I think he'd be proud of you. Of the person you've become."

Jake let out a shaky sigh, the weight of the memory seeming to lift, even just a little. "Thank you, Jaden. I've been carrying this alone for so long… and talking about it, it helps."

Jaden gave him a small, supportive smile. "Anytime, man. You're not alone in this. And if you ever need to talk about it again… or just need someone to listen, I'm here."

Jake nodded, finally feeling a small sense of relief. "I think I can face today a little easier now. Thanks for being here."

"Always," Jaden replied, giving Jake's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Come on," Jake said, putting on his mask.

"Where are we going?" Jaden asked, slipping on his own mask.

"Titanium City. My old city before I moved here. I heard something's going on down there, and they might need some help," Shadow Spider replied.

"Well, watch out, Titanium City— the Web Warriors are coming to town!" Spider-Man grinned as Shadow Spider chuckled a bit.

Meanwhile, in Titanium City, a vehicle shaped like a bird raced through the streets. Inside, a girl with long white hair wearing a purple and black bird costume sat in the driver's seat—this was Sparrow. In the backseat sat a young boy, around twelve, with fair skin. He wore a black shirt under a green jacket, purple pants, green shoes, a purple mask, a green hood, and a necklace featuring an animal motif—this was Wild Force.

"The drivers have recovered, but there's still no sign of Volt or Electro," Sparrow reported.

"I'll be back in Titanium City in less than 48 hours. In the meantime, be careful," a voice crackled through the radio. The figure on the other end wore a black and yellow suit with a bird motif and had a stern expression—this was Blackbird.

"If I even need to be," Sparrow replied. "They're probably on their way out of town—" she paused, noticing electricity surging across the powerlines. "Or not."

"Try to keep the damage to a minimum this time," Blackbird said sharply, casting a pointed look toward Wild Force.

"Hey, hey! It was one time!" Wild Force protested. "And people freaked out because they couldn't handle a little *Godzilla* action. Not my fault everything got wrecked."

Narrowing her eyes in determination, Sparrow pressed the pedal, speeding toward the scene.

Atop the power lines, the two villains charged up.

"So, Electro, how come I haven't heard of you until now?" Volt asked.

"I'm not in a sharing mood," Electro replied coldly.

"Ooh, playing hard to get, huh? I like that." Volt smirked, glancing down as they saw a bird-shaped vehicle speeding toward them.

"Wait... what the," Electro said.

"Great, Blackbird's here," Volt groaned.

"Wait, who?" Electro asked.

"Just what I need—another killjoy in a cape," Volt muttered as Electro leaped down, landing hard on top of the car. "This guy just keeps getting better and better."

"Not so fun when you're the one getting fried, is it?" Electro sneered, sending a powerful shock through the car that made Sparrow wince in pain.

Peering through the window, Electro noticed the occupants, surprised to see a bird emblem on one of them.

"Wait, who are you?" Electro asked as Volt dropped in beside him.

"Let me guess: Blackbird was too chicken to show up himself, so he sent his little sidekicks instead?" Volt sneered.

"Hey! We are not Sidekicks!" Wild Force snapped.

"Shut up, wild," Sparrow muttered to him.

"The best thing I've heard all day," Electro grinned wickedly, his eyes crackling with sparks.

As Sparrow was under heavy fire from Volt and Electro.

Clicking a button, she opened the roof of the Birdmobile and launched herself out, using the hood as a set of wings.

"Oh no you don't!" Electro shouted, flying after her and attacking.

Meanwhile, Wild Force jumped out of the vehicle, only to be hit by a blast of electricity from Volt, sending him flying and crashing to the ground.

"Aren't you past your bedtime, little boy?" Volt taunted, preparing to fire another electric blast.

Electro aimed and fired, hitting one of Sparrow's wings and causing her to fall.

As Sparrow plummeted to the ground, someone swung in and caught her.

"Whoa, that was way too close!" Sparrow looked up to see Spider-Man had come to her rescue. "Sorry it took a while—traffic was a nightmare."

"Wait. You're that Spider-Man from New York," Sparrow said as he set her down.

"That's right, the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, at your service," he replied.

Just then, Electro flew in.

"Spider-Man," he hissed.

"Oh hey, Electro. Been a while," Spider-Man replied casually.

Volt aimed another blast of electricity at Wild Force, but Shadow Spider landed between them, absorbed the electricity, and fired it back, hitting her and sending her flying.

"When I have kids, you're not babysitting them," Shadow Spider quipped.

Volt glared. "Well, well, looks like you two brought your own escorts for the evening."

"Oh man, another electric villain. Yep, forgot how many villains this city has," Shadow Spider sighed.

"I don't suppose you have any rubber gloves on you?" Spider-Man asked.

"Or maybe a big pool or a water tower or something?" Shadow Spider suggested.

"Not at the moment," Sparrow replied.

"Guess we'll just have to make do," Spider-Man said as they both ran around, dodging the electrical attacks from their villains.

Firing webs, Spider-Man managed to tie up Volt.

"Ew, what is this stuff?" Volt asked, looking disgusted.

Yanking her in, Spider-Man was about to strike when Electro zapped him, making him stumble back.

"Payback, you little brat," Electro sneered, sending another jolt that sent Spider-Man tumbling to the ground.

"Hmm, there's more to him than I thought," Volt grinned, intrigued.

Taking out a birdarang, Sparrow threw it, hitting Electro in the back of the head and making him flinch.

"Oh, that's it!" Electro turned, ready to retaliate, but Shadow Spider swung in and kicked him, sending him flying.

"Didn't anyone tell you not to hit women?" Shadow Spider taunted, dodging an electric bolt from Volt.

"I am so sick of heroes right now," Electro growled as Volt helped him up.

"Relax, big boy," Volt started to say, but a cheetah blitzed her, scratching her skin as it tackled her. Stumbling back, she watched in shock as the cheetah morphed into a gorilla and punched her, sending her skidding across the ground. Volt got up just in time to see the gorilla shift into a falcon that dove toward her. She barely dodged before it transformed into Wild Force.

Volt glared daggers at him.

"By the way, it is past my bedtime, and you guys are keeping me up," Wild Force grumbled.

"I never thought I'd want to hurt a kid, but here we are," Volt said, zapping Wild Force at close range.

"Hey, Sparkplug! Hands off!" Spider-Man yelled. Firing a web at a light post, he swung in and kicked Volt in the face, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Alright, Bug Boy. Time to run you through the bug zapper," Volt snarled, holding up her hands—only to find the electricity weak and flickering.

"Looks like someone forgot to charge," Shadow Spider quipped, sending a venom blast her way, which she absorbed with a grin.

"Sorry, boys, but this gal needs a lunch break. Gotta go. You too, handsome," Volt said, grabbing Electro as they made their escape.

"You alright, kid?" Spider-Man asked, helping Wild Force to his feet.

"I've been better," Wild Force groaned.

"Are things always this crazy here?" Spider-Man asked.

"Yep. Welcome to Titanium City," Sparrow said, as both teens exchanged uneasy glances.

"Just how I remember it," Shadow Spider muttered under his breath.

In a nearby alley, Electro and Volt reappeared.

"Why do you insist on dragging me everywhere with you?" Electro grumbled.

Volt smirked. "Call it pleasant company. A girl like me shouldn't be roaming around without an escort."

"I don't have time for this," Electro muttered, turning to leave.

"Come on, Electro. When was the last time you had any fun?" Volt asked, rolling her eyes.

"Before I became...this," he replied with a growl.

Volt gave him an appraising look. "Let me guess—you just got your powers recently? Did the whole 'my life is ruined' bit, didn't you?"

"Like you care," Electro shot back, annoyed.

"Listen, Electro," Volt continued, her tone dropping to something more persuasive, "I went through the same thing. But here's the truth: these powers don't ruin your life. They open it up."

"Yeah, right. How so?" Electro asked, skepticism dripping from his voice.

Volt grinned, stepping closer. "Because now you can take whatever you want. Take what the world owes you for taking your old life away. This is your chance to have fun, go nuts, and let nobody stand in your way." She tapped his shoulder. "Now, doesn't that sound better than sulking?"

Electro hesitated, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I guess."

"That's the spirit," Volt said with a wicked smile. "Let me show you the fun side of being the bad guy. But first, I need to recharge."

"Fine," Electro agreed as they took off into the night, the shadows of Titanium City concealing their departure.

Soon, the Titanium City Police showed up to talk to the four heroes. With them was a large, muscular detective named Amelia Alcott.

"So, they smoked you?" Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We put up a fight. It's not our fault they ran off like chickens," Wild Force replied, crossing his arms.

"And yet, you lost. I never thought I'd say this, but where's the bird?" Amelia asked, looking around.

"We're handling this," Sparrow said firmly.

"We'll catch them," Spider-Man added.

"And put them behind bars for good," Shadow Spider finished.

"Why should I believe you? You're almost as bad as them," Amelia pointed out.

"What are you talking about?" Wild Force asked, frowning.

"I've seen J. Jonah Jameson's reports on you. Got tired of wrecking your own city, so now you're here to wreck Titanium City? Not to mention, now you've got a sidekick, making things even worse," Amelia mocked.

"Hey, I'm not his sidekick. I'm his partner," Shadow Spider retorted.

"Oh great. Does everyone watch that jerk?" Spider-Man groaned.

"I've got my eye on you two," Amelia said, walking away. Wild Force stuck his tongue out at him as he left.

"Don't let that doughnut dunker get to you," Sparrow assured them. "We'll have this whole thing wrapped up before Blackbird gets back."

"You mean all of us, right?" Wild Force asked with a grin, and Sparrow gave him a reassuring pat on the head.

"We just need to focus, work together, and we'll catch them," Spider-Man said.

"Yeah, definitely," Shadow Spider agreed.

"Exactly," Sparrow nodded as the four heroes shook hands, ready to take on the challenge ahead.

Meanwhile, at a defunct zoo closed for the season, two of Titanium City's most infamous villains were lying low, hidden among the empty cages and desolate pathways.

One of them was Scorcher, a hulking figure in a dark red suit with armor plates covering his chest and shoulders. His mask obscured everything but his ember-like eyes, and flames licked from his gloved fingertips as he flicked ash to the ground, looking ready to burn anything in his path.

His partner, Shriek, had a lithe frame wrapped in a black-and-silver suit, outfitted with audio-enhancement devices along her arms and shoulders. Her helmet, adorned with speaker-like panels, gave her an eerie, hollow appearance. She could manipulate sound to create deafening attacks or unsettling silences, adding a haunting edge to her presence.

Shriek glanced around the empty zoo, her voice a quiet hum. "Hiding in a zoo? Fitting for animals like us, I suppose."

Scorcher grunted, sparks snapping from his fingers. "Better than a holding cell at Titanium P.D.," he muttered. "Besides, we're not hiding. Just waiting for the right moment."

Shriek smirked, her voice taking on a soft, unsettling echo. "Waiting… for what? Last time we 'waited,' we got ambushed by those pesky heroes."

Scorcher's fists ignited in a flash of flame. "Next time, they won't get so lucky. We'll hit them first—and we'll hit them hard."

Shriek tilted her head, tapping a rhythm against her suit's sound panels. "Good. I'm getting bored of all this sneaking around."

Scorcher's eyes glinted beneath his mask. "Trust me, Shriek… once we're done, Titanium City will never forget our names."

Suddenly, the zoo's lights and electronics flickered and sparked, going haywire as Volt made her entrance.

"Well, boys and girls, time to up the stakes," Volt declared with a wicked grin.

Later that night, Electro found himself reluctantly joining Volt, Scorcher, and Shriek for a night out on the town.

At the mall, Scorcher was smashing his fire-covered hands against a door repeatedly, but it wasn't budging.

"He's really trying, isn't he?" Shriek smirked.

"This is trying?" Electro asked, unimpressed.

"Come on, use your powers. Think about everything you lost because of that accident. Here's your chance to get some payback," Volt urged.

Hearing this, Electro began to charge up. "Out of my way," he grumbled, shoving Scorcher aside and blasting the door open. "That felt… good," he said with a grin.

Volt smiled, pleased that she was getting through to him. "And it only gets better," she promised.

"I want to do more," Electro admitted.

"You got it, baby," Volt replied, leading the group inside.

"It's nice having someone else do the heavy lifting," Shriek teased, while Scorcher brought up the rear, clearly annoyed.

"Hey, you know I could have opened that! I'm just a little rusty," Scorcher muttered.

"Yeah, I know, honey," Shriek cooed, planting a kiss on his cheek, making him blush slightly.

"S-Stop right there!" a security guard shouted, approaching them.

"Really?" Electro raised an eyebrow.

Volt leaned in and whispered to him, "Are you gonna let one guy spoil all the fun?"

Electro was about to make a move when Shriek stepped forward.

"Let me have some fun," she purred, sauntering toward the guard.

"I-I'm warning you!" He drew his gun, his hands shaking.

"Oh, you don't want to shoot little old me, do you?" Shriek teased before unleashing a powerful sonic scream that sent the guard flying against the wall, knocking him out.

"Alright, Electro, here's your first taste of villainy," Volt said, guiding him toward some ATMs. "See those cash machines? Blast 'em. You know you want to."

Charging up, Electro zapped a machine, causing it to explode and spilling cash everywhere.

Volt grinned, pleased with his enthusiasm. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

"All those years struggling to make ends meet, putting up with people's garbage… I want more. I want to blow up more," Electro said, his eyes gleaming.

"That's the spirit!" Volt said, using her own powers to zap another machine while Shriek unleashed a sonic scream at it, causing more cash to spill out.

Meanwhile, Scorcher tried to make a lava hammer, attempting to bust open yet another ATM, much to the annoyance of his partners.

"At least he's consistent. All brawn, no brain. That's why I love him," Shriek chuckled.

"That's one way to put it," Electro added with a smirk.

As Wild Force flew through the air in his dragon form with Sparrow riding on his back, Spider-Man and Shadow Spider swung nearby.

"Wow, this is incredible! You're getting better at this, little bro," Sparrow said, enjoying the feeling of flying.

"I told you I'd improve," Wild Force replied confidently. Spider-Man and Shadow Spider dashed across a rooftop and leaped into the air. "Hey, you two doing alright?"

"Oh yeah, totally fine," Spider-Man said, firing a web for Wild Force to catch in his mouth, pulling him up.

"Nice distraction," Shadow Spider muttered to himself as he shot a web toward Spider-Man, who helped him up onto the dragon's back.

Suddenly, they noticed a flash of light. "Look," Shadow Spider said.

Ahead, they saw flashes coming from the mall.

"I spy with my little eye… something dangerous and causing trouble," Spider-Man quipped.

"How are we gonna stop them?" Wild Force asked, shifting back to human form.

"Last time, Shadow Spider and I beat Electro using a rubber glove and a pool of water," Spider-Man explained.

"And my Venom powers," Shadow Spider added.

"Hmm, smart. Rubber doesn't conduct electricity," Sparrow said, impressed.

"Thanks. Don't suppose you have any on you?" Spider-Man asked.

"No, but I've got something else that might work," Sparrow replied.

"Ooh, this could be fun!" Wild Force said, grinning.

Inside the clothing store, Volt was trying on dresses.

"Too dark," she muttered, looking at a red dress. "Too light," she said, holding up a green one before turning to a blue dress.

"Let me guess. That one's just right?" Shadow Spider quipped, hanging upside down from his web.

Volt smirked. "What's the matter? Didn't get enough last time?" She fired a bolt of electricity at him, but Shadow Spider's spider-sense kicked in, and he dodged, landing on the ground.

"Playing hard to get, huh? Fine by me," Volt said, shooting another burst of electricity his way. Shadow Spider backflipped, landing on the wall.

"No, sorry, but you're just not my type," he replied, swinging away as Volt flew after him.

In the electronics store, Electro was blasting equipment left and right.

"Oh, Max, I can't get my computer to work. My TV won't turn on," Electro mocked in a whiny tone, imitating past customers before obliterating the devices. "Well, now you idiots can find someone else to whine to."

Spinning like a tornado, Electro zapped every electronic in sight, destroying them.

"Hey, take it easy, Tasmanian Devil," Spider-Man joked.

Electro turned around to see him standing by the door.

"Hey, Sparky, ever consider seeing a therapist?" Spider-Man quipped.

"Oh, I got therapy right here," Electro growled, electricity crackling from his fists. "It's called payback!"

Yelping, Spider-Man shot a web and swung out of the way.

"Guess you never heard the saying 'payback is a pain,' huh?" Spider-Man taunted.

"I'm gonna enjoy shutting you up!" Electro snarled, flying after him.

Dropping down toward the main entrance, Spider-Man met up with Shadow Spider.

"Well, my electric buddy's pretty pissed and right behind me," Spider-Man said.

"Yeah, mine too. Let's head this way before we become fried spiders," Shadow Spider replied, running toward an area just under the stairs.

Electro and Volt flew in, cornering them with their backs against large mirrors.

"Nowhere to run," Volt sneered.

Unseen above them, Sparrow hovered with a large sphere in her hands.

"Any last words?" Electro asked.

"Yeah—Wild Force, now!" Shadow Spider shouted.

Wild Force transformed into an electric eel, wrapping the two villains up tightly. Taking her chance, Sparrow hurled the sphere with all her might, hitting both villains and covering them in a silver-like powder. Wild Force quickly shifted back to human form and got out of the way.

Screaming in pain, both Electro and Volt collapsed, unable to generate any electricity.

"What the hell is this stuff?" Volt asked, struggling.

"Silicate dust. Completely resistant to electricity," Spider-Man said as Sparrow jumped down beside him.

"Wow, not bad, Spidey! You know your science," Sparrow said, impressed.

"It's my thing," Spider-Man chuckled.

"Hey, what are we—chopped liver?" Wild Force huffed.

"Yeah, we helped with this plan too, you know," Shadow Spider added.

"Okay, okay, you guys did great being bait," Sparrow replied with a smirk.

"I may not be able to zap you, but I can still do this!" Electro shouted, swinging his arm to punch, only for sparrow to appear and punch him in the gut, knocking him down.

As Volt tried to attack, Spider-Man countered with a punch to her face.

"And just like that… end of story," Wild Force said with a grin.

"Maybe the first chapter," Shriek called out as she went for a high-five.

"Shriek? Scorcher?" Sparrow gasped.

"Friends of yours?" Spider-Man asked.

"No, not ours. But what are you guys doing out of prison, anyway?" Wild Force asked.

"Great, more villains," Shadow Spider muttered, annoyed.

"Well, what do we have here? Looks like we're taking a break from birds to deal with bugs tonight," Shriek sneered, spotting Spider-Man and Shadow Spider.

"I love squashing bugs!" Scorcher grinned.

"All right, Scorcher, give our little heroes a gift," Shriek said. Scorcher opened a jar of chemicals and threw it at them, the jar exploding and covering them in its contents.

"What is this stuff?" Wild Force asked, his animal instincts kicking in. But it was too late; he felt weak and dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

"Wild Force!" Shadow Spider and Spider-Man called out, trying to help him.

Scorcher fired three giant fireballs, hitting Shadow Spider, Spider-Man, and Sparrow.

As Spider-Man crashed against the wall, Shadow Spider and Sparrow landed in an open elevator.

"Yo, Sparky and Plugs!" Scorcher called, putting his hands on Electro and Volt, burning away the dust on them and making them scream in pain.

"What the hell? Trying to roast us alive, you idiot?" Electro snapped, standing up.

"Are you out of your mind, burn-for-brains?!" Volt yelled.

"Hey, I was just trying to help you guys up," Scorcher said, picking up both villains, shooting fire from his feet, and flying away.

As Spider-Man slowly got up, he saw Shadow Spider and Sparrow looking worriedly at Wild Force, who lay unconscious in Sparrow's arms.

"Is he okay?" Spider-Man asked, looking at the little boy in Sparrow's arms.

"Whatever chemicals Scorcher and Shriek used messed with my brother's DNA. We need to get back to my apartment, now," Sparrow said.

"All right, lead the way," Shadow Spider said.

Seconds later, Scorcher pulled up in their car with Electro and Volt in the back.

"Hey baby, hop in," Scorcher said to Shriek as she climbed in.

"What happened to them?" Shriek asked.

"They shopped 'til they dropped," Scorcher joked as they drove away.

Meanwhile, at Sparrow and Wild Force's apartment, Spider-Man helped Wild Force over to an oxygen tank to help him recover.

"Take it easy. Deep breaths," Shadow Spider said.

"Thanks for helping my brother back there, both of you," Sparrow said as she administered something into Wild Force's DNA to help stabilize him.

"It's what I do. And we're a team, right, Sparrow?" Spider-Man said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah, he's right," Shadow Spider added with a smile.

"Molly. You can call me Molly," she smiled. "When the mask is off." She removed her white wig, revealing her blonde hair.

"Oh, uh, okay," Spider-Man replied, a bit surprised.

"So, you know how to work all this tech? Or do you have a friend who's good with this kind of stuff?" Shadow Spider asked, looking around at all the equipment.

"It's my job. I'm a systems and data analyst at Police Headquarters. It pays the rent and gives me access to all police activity, and I get to look after this little guy," Molly said, glancing at her younger brother, now sporting Spider-Man-themed pajamas.

"Whoa, talk about two birds with one stone," Spider-Man said as she turned on her computer, displaying some intel for them.

"Yeah, just don't tell my dad," Molly replied.

"So, we get why you fight crime, but what about your little brother? What's his story?" Shadow Spider asked.

"It's just been me and Dylan since we were kids—until Blackbird found us. He trained me, taught me everything I know. He became like a father to us. I didn't want Dylan going down the same path I was, but somehow, he got these powers. I don't know how, but he started changing, shifting into different animals. So, my dad and I made a necklace for him to help control his powers. Ever since, it's just been us. My dad's rich and helps with the apartment, but... he could be around more," Molly said.

"What about you two?" Molly asked. "We won't tell your secret… Jaden," she said, making Spider-Man look at her in surprise. "What? You think I wasn't interested in Blackbird's first recruit?"

With a sigh, Spider-Man took off his mask, revealing his face.

"I live in Queens, not far from here, with my mom. During the day, I'm like anyone else—I go to school, try to hang out with friends, and even have an internship at Midtown College," Jaden explained.

"Sounds like a sweet deal to me," Molly replied.

"It sounds nice, but problems keep piling up. Bills are always coming in, crime never stops, and I feel like I'm constantly swinging around trying to help. But I can't seem to solve my own problems. My friends are starting to suspect something, but the only one who really gets it is my friend Jake. I'm trying to teach him the ropes and how to be his own hero. But seeing you and Dylan with all these resources? You guys are amazing," Jaden said.

"Okay, I've heard Jaden's story. What about you?" Molly asked, turning to Shadow Spider.

"Alright," Shadow Spider said, taking off his mask. "My name's Jake Evans. I used to live here in Titanium City, and life was pretty normal until… the accident. It's my dad's anniversary today—the day he passed away. Ever since a spider bit me, my life changed. I've met some amazing people, made friends, got a job, and I'm lucky enough to have Jaden teaching me how to use my powers. He's shown me that with great power comes great responsibility. I keep discovering new abilities, and trying to balance everything is hard. Honestly, I don't know how he does it, living a double life every day and keeping secrets. But I guess that's what it means to be a hero," Jake said.

Hearing this, the three of them couldn't help but laugh.

"I guess the old saying is true—the grass is always greener on the other side," Molly said, walking up to them. "And for you two, don't think you have to shoulder everything alone. Make time to have fun and enjoy life."

"You sound like my mom," Jaden said with a smile.

"And I think you should take that as a compliment," Jake added.

"All the more reason to take the advice, then," Molly teased.

"Thanks, Molly," Jaden said gratefully.

"Anytime," she replied with a smile.

"Hey, uh, just out of curiosity… would you be interested in going to a dance?" Jaden asked hesitantly.

"Whoa, coming on a little strong, aren't we, Spidey?" Molly teased.

"Dude!" Jake chimed in, stifling a laugh.

"Flattered, but maybe we should deal with these villains first," Sparrow said, putting her mask back on.

"Sorry about that—I guess I got a little ahead of myself," Jaden stammered, making Molly giggle.

"A little ahead of yourself? Bro, you went way over the mark," Jake laughed.

"Wait… were you really trying to ask my big sister out on a date to a school dance?" Dylan asked, waking up and glaring daggers at Jaden.

Jaden shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… yeah, I guess I was."

Dylan crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Just so you know, big sisters don't date wannabe superheroes."

Jake snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. "Come on, Dylan. Give him a break. He's saved your sister's life more than a few times."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't make him any less of a wannabe."

Sparrow held up her hands, smiling at her brother. "Easy there, tough guy. He's just being polite, and besides, I can make my own choices."

Dylan sighed, giving Jaden a long look before shrugging. "Fine. But if he messes up..."

"Yeah, yeah, you'll go all wild animal on me, I get it," Jaden said, grinning a bit.

"Now come on. We've got some bad guys to catch," Sparrow said with a smirk. "But if it's any consolation, you're definitely a maybe." She winked, making Jaden blush as he put his mask back on.

Suddenly, their radios crackled. "Attention all units. We have a situation at the Iceberg Lounge. Requesting backup," came the call.

"Sounds like we found our villains," Jake said, sliding his mask on.

Dylan glanced at Spider-Man, a slight grin finally cracking his tough exterior. "Alright… but I'm keeping an eye on you, Spidey."

"Noted," Spider-Man replied, chuckling. "Let's do this."

At the Iceberg Lounge, they arrived to find the club in complete disarray. Broken lights hung from the ceiling, scorch marks covered the walls, and seals lay loose on the floor. In the middle of the chaos stood a tall man in a shredded suit, barking orders on his phone. This was Ookami Gin.

"I need chainsaws, dump trucks, fire trucks, and a bottle of aspirin down here—*now," Ookami said, hanging up with an exasperated sigh.

"Whoa, did Rico go nuts in here or what?" Spider-Man asked, as he, Shadow Spider, Wild Force, and Sparrow stepped inside, surveying the mess.

"Yeah, talk about cleanup on aisle *everywhere*" Shadow Spider added with a smirk.

"We're closed, and besides, you four aren't old enough to get in here… especially you," Ookami said, pointing at Wild Force.

Wild Force growled, his eyes flashing as he stepped forward. "Wanna see my ID?" he said, shifting into a powerful lion form and prowling up to Ookami.

"No, I want Blue Speed, Blackbird, or someone who can *actually do something," Ookami replied with a sneer. "And keep that little kitty on a leash before he hurts himself."

Wild Force let out a low growl, and Sparrow quickly stepped in, placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Alright, Dylan, back to human for now, okay?"

With a huff, Wild Force shifted back, crossing his arms with a glare. Shadow Spider stepped up, rolling his eyes at Ookami. "Look, like it or not, we're all you've got," he said firmly. "So either work with us or get out of our way."

Spider-Man chimed in with a nod. "Yeah, exactly. We're not here to be babysat by *you* Skipper."

"*Skipper?*" Ookami asked, eyebrows raised.

"Really? You're telling me you've never seen the *Madagascar* movies? The penguins! Skipper, Kowalski, Private, and Rico?" Spider-Man laughed. "I thought someone as, uh, refined as you would know them."

Sparrow chuckled, nudging Shadow Spider. "Good one, Spidey. He does look a little like Skipper when he's angry."

Wild Force grinned and, with a mischievous glint in his eye, shape-shifted into a penguin, waddling around and flapping his little wings. "Those were some funny penguins," he said, wobbling around.

"You're all *so* annoying," Ookami groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Anyway, if you *must* know, I tried to tell Scorcher, Shriek, and their new crew to leave, but they decided to trash my club instead. I don't know where they went after, but I *might* have overheard where those animal wannabes hiding out."

The four heroes shared a look of satisfaction, exchanging nods.

Shadow Spider stepped forward, looking Ookami in the eye. "This better be solid info, Gin. We don't have time for a wild goose chase."

"It's good info," Ookami muttered. "And believe me, I want them gone just as much as you do."

Spider-Man patted Shadow Spider's shoulder with a grin. "See, look at that—teamwork. Now, how about that lead, Skipper?"

Ookami shot him a death glare but reluctantly provided a rough address. "Fine. But don't blame me if you run into trouble. Now get out and don't make more of a mess on your way."

Shadow Spider cracked his knuckles. "Trust me, we'll bring the mess to them."

With one last nod, the team turned to leave, Wild Force shifting back to human form as he gave Ookami a smug look.

"Good luck cleaning up, *Skipper," he said with a smirk.

And with that, the heroes sprinted out, ready to track down their next lead.

At their hideout in the zoo, Electro and Volt surveyed the scene with clear disdain.

"This is where you live?" Volt asked, unimpressed.

"What a dump," Electro added, crossing his arms.

Scorcher rolled his eyes, replying with a sarcastic drawl, "Well, sorry, but all the four-star hotels were booked up."

Shriek sighed, looking at them both. "Are you two really gonna stay all mopey and rude after we've made up?"

"No," Volt scoffed, "but we could do without the mutts." He gestured at Scorcher's dogs, firing a small blast at their feet to scare them off. The dogs yelped and bolted out of the room.

"Hey! My dogs!" Scorcher snapped.

"It's okay, we'll get you some new ones later," Shriek said, trying to calm him, just as Electro noticed something strange.

"What's up with that plant?" Electro asked, eyeing a large plant that seemed to be… moving.

Shriek's expression shifted as she realized what it meant. "We've got company."

Outside the zoo, Wild Force shapeshifted back into human form and landed next to Spider-Man, Shadow Spider, and Sparrow, all of them ready for action.

"How much silicate do you have on you?" Spider-Man asked, glancing at Sparrow.

"Enough to cover a house," she replied, gesturing to the sprayer and canister strapped to her back. "If Volt or Electro get within 20 feet, they're neutralized. Shall we?"

"Yeah, let's do this!" Shadow Spider said with determination.

"I'm ready for this," Wild Force added, stifling a yawn. "Let's make it quick—it's way past my bedtime."

Spider-Man grinned. "Then let's make it count."

With that, the team moved forward, slipping through the shadows as they prepared to take on their unsuspecting foes.

At the zoo hideout, Scorcher turned in their direction, a smug grin spreading across his face as he caught sight of the heroes. He made a goofy face, taunting them.

"They know we're here!" Wild Force exclaimed, shifting nervously just as bolts of electricity blasted toward them, forcing them to dodge.

As Sparrow started to get back on her feet, a powerful sonic scream from Shriek sent her silicate canister flying out of her hands. She tried to grab it, but Volt zapped it mid-air, destroying it in a flash.

"Not falling for that trick again," Electro sneered.

"Yeah, so much for your master plan," Volt mocked, aiming another electric blast at them.

Electro's eyes locked onto Spider-Man. "Spider-Man's mine!"

"Oh, so we're doing this?" Volt smirked. "You take Spider-Boy. I want the Bird."

As the villains split up, Scorcher took the opportunity to sneak up on Spider-Man, hurling a giant fireball in his direction.

Shadow Spider's spider-sense flared, and he jumped in to help. "Heads up, Spidey!" Shadow Spider fired a web, swinging them both out of harm's way and onto a nearby wall.

Scorcher groaned in frustration, stomping his foot. "Hey, no fair!"

Shadow Spider grinned, shooting another web that plastered over Scorcher's mouth. "And people call me annoying?" he quipped.

"Yes, we do!" Electro roared, hurtling forward with an electric blast aimed right at them.

Spider-Man shot a web and swung out of the way just in time. "You're not getting away from me that easily!" Electro growled, flying after him.

Spider-Man landed on a ledge above, turning around to fire a web that hit Electro square in the chest. Smirking, Electro grabbed the web, letting electricity surge through it and into Spider-Man. Spider-Man gritted his teeth, the painful surge nearly bringing him to his knees.

"Not so fun when the joke's on you, huh, Spidey?" Electro taunted, laughing.

Meanwhile, Shriek aimed her sonic scream at Wild Force, who growled, "Think that's gonna scare me?" He morphed into a lion and lunged at her, but Shriek's scream threw him back, sending him tumbling through the dirt.

Sparrow was dealing with Scorcher, who now sent a volley of lava projectiles toward her. She rolled behind a rock to dodge and quickly grabbed a trash can lid, using it as a makeshift shield.

"You think that'll help you?" Scorcher mocked, preparing another fireball.

Sparrow smirked. "Come on, I can take more heat than that."

Scorcher unleashed the fireball, but Sparrow deflected it, sending it ricocheting off the metal lid and into a nearby pillar. "Nice try," she taunted back.

Across the field, Wild Force, now transformed into a massive gorilla, thundered back toward Shriek, grabbing a fallen tree trunk and using it as a club to knock her off her feet. "Who's got the upper hand now?" he roared, advancing on her.

Not one to back down, Shriek unleashed another sonic scream that split the air around them, sending Wild Force stumbling backward. "You're tougher than you look," she said with a smirk.

Shadow Spider, spotting Scorcher aiming another fireball at Sparrow, fired a web-line to snag the villain's arm, jerking it upward. "Enough with the fireworks already," he said, dropping down to kick Scorcher in the chest, sending him sprawling.

"You two lovebirds are so cute!" Volt sneered as he aimed an electric blast at Shadow Spider, who barely dodged in time.

"Y'know, for a walking battery, you talk way too much," Shadow Spider quipped, swinging around to land a kick to Volt's side. Volt staggered but recovered quickly, sending another charge toward Shadow Spider.

Meanwhile, Sparrow noticed Electro hovering above a shallow pool of water, still taunting Spider-Man. She shouted to Spider-Man, "Swing him down toward the water!"

Spider-Man grinned through the pain. "Good idea." Fighting through the electric shock still surging through his web, he yanked hard, swinging Electro down with all his strength. With a loud splash, Electro landed in the water, electricity crackling around him as he screamed in pain.

Just as Shriek was about to blast Wild Force with another sonic scream, Shadow Spider jumped in, firing a web that wrapped around her mouth, silencing her.

"Let's put a lid on the noise," he said, grinning. Wild Force took the opportunity to morph into a gorilla again, charging forward and slamming his fist into the ground, sending shockwaves that threw Shriek off balance.

Sparrow ran up to them. "Nice teamwork, guys," she said, breathing heavily but smiling.

Scorcher, seeing his allies taken down, tried to make a run for it, sending a final blast of fire toward the heroes as he did. Sparrow deflected it with her trash can lid, and Wild Force shifted into a cheetah, darting forward to cut him off. He leaped, shifting midair back to his human form, and tackled Scorcher to the ground.

The villains lay defeated, groaning on the ground as the heroes regrouped.

Shadow Spider looked around, nodding in satisfaction. "That was one for the record books."

Spider-Man chuckled. "You guys up for round two sometime?"

Sparrow grinned. "Count me in. But next time, I'm bringing a fireproof suit."

"Sounds like a plan," Wild Force said, still catching his breath.

"We made quite a team out there today," Spider-Man said with a grin.

"Hey, us rookies need to stick together," Wild Force replied, chuckling.

"Yeah, the Web Warrior strikes again!" Shadow Spider added.

"So, uh… I don't suppose you would be interested in that dance?" Spider-Man asked nervously, making Sparrow giggle.

"Flattered, but I need some me-time," Sparrow said, smiling. "But maybe next time, Spidey."

"There's a next time?" Spider-Man asked, his eyes hopeful.

With a smile, Sparrow leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, making Jaden's face turn as red as his mask, while Shadow Spider's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"I approve," Wild Force said, yawning as Sparrow picked him up, cradling him as he drifted to sleep in her arms.

"I, uh… well… I hope to see you two again sometime," Spider-Man stammered before swinging off into the night.

"Lucky," Shadow Spider muttered under his breath before swinging after him.

After all the chaos, Molly put Dylan to bed and watched the news, where Amelia was covering the story.

"Volt, Scorcher, Shriek, and Electro—all taken down. So who was responsible for the collaring of these criminals?" the newswoman asked.

"Just a couple of rookies," Scorcher shrugged dismissively.

"Rookies?" Molly snapped at the screen.

"Impressive," the newswoman remarked.

"Well… they showed some potential," Scorcher admitted, making the newswoman smile.

" awesome," Molly said softly. "It's a shame Jaden and Jake had to go back home."

"You like Jaden, don't you?" Dylan murmured sleepily, rubbing his eyes .

Molly blushed. "What? No, I—"

Dylan giggled, still half-asleep. "You do!"

Molly sighed, realizing there was no way to deny it. "Okay, maybe I think he's kind of great. But it's complicated, Dylan."

Dylan sat up slightly, intrigued. "Complicated how?"

"Well, he's a hero, and I'm… just me. What if he thinks I'm not cool enough?" Molly said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Come on, Molly! You're way cooler than you think. You helped save the day!" Dylan said, his eyes bright with admiration. "If I were Jaden, I'd think you were awesome."

Molly chuckled. "Thanks, little buddy. But it's different when you're actually around someone like him. What if he's not interested?"

"Then you just have to make him interested! You're smart and funny, and you've got that whole superhero vibe going on," Dylan encouraged.

"Superhero vibe, huh?" Molly said, raising an eyebrow. "I guess I do have my moments."

"Exactly! Just be yourself. Plus, you two had that whole team-up thing going. He probably thinks you're amazing!" Dylan insisted.

Molly smiled at her little brother's enthusiasm. "You really think so?"

"Definitely! You should tell him how you feel," Dylan said, yawning again. "And if you don't, I'll do it for you!"

Molly laughed softly. "Alright, alright! No need for you to play matchmaker. I'll think about it, okay?"

"Good. Now, can I get back to sleep?" Dylan mumbled, flopping back onto his pillow.

"Of course. Sweet dreams, little hero," Molly said, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

"Night, Molly," he murmured, already drifting off.

Meanwhile, in New York, Jaden was in his room in his pajamas, sipping a can of soda while watching the same news video on his computer.

"Sparrow... a real superhero girl. Maybe my luck is finally starting to change," Jaden smiled, liking the idea of having backup. "Now, I just need a date to the dance.

We shift to Titanium City, where Jake stands by a headstone at a gravesite just outside the city.

"Hey, Dad. It's been a while," Jake said, lighting a candle.

"Sorry I haven't been here in a bit. Mom and I moved to New York City. It's beautiful—you'd like it. I have a job now—well, two jobs. I've made a lot of friends, maybe even a girlfriend... I don't know. But I miss you, Dad. All the time. Mom thinks about you constantly, and I'm thinking about you too.

Get this: I have spider powers now. Crazy, right? I wish I had them back then… maybe I could have saved you. Everything's so crazy now, but I know that's life. I just have to live with it. My best friend, Jaden—he's a handful, you'd probably find him interesting—he teaches me a lot. He even showed me how to use my powers. He told me that 'with great power comes great responsibility.' A great man told him that, so I guess I have to live by it too."

Jake then took out a guitar. "I remember how you used to sing to me when I was little, especially when I had nightmares." He began playing softly, his memories flowing with the melody.

Flashback:

A younger Jake, around five years old, came running into his dad's room, eyes red and cheeks streaked with tears. His father, Cody Evans, a tall, brown-skinned man in a blue shirt, black pants, and brown shoes, knelt down beside him with a comforting smile. Cody's warm brown eyes sparkled as he looked at Jake.

"Hey, buddy," Cody said, gently ruffling Jake's hair. "I know you're scared, but it's okay. I'm here."

Jake sniffled and snuggled into his father's arms, his small fingers gripping Cody's shirt for comfort. Cody wrapped his arms around him, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

Then, with a soft smile, Cody began to sing. His deep voice filled the room, soothing Jake as he nestled against his dad.

"Ground control to Major Tom…" Cody sang, his voice steady and calm. He paused, nudging Jake gently. "Help me count down, buddy?"

Jake nodded, wiping his tears. He took a deep breath and counted down, his little voice joining in:

"Ten… nine… eight… seven… six…"

Cody continued the song, and Jake kept up with the countdown, his voice growing steadier with each number.

"…five, four, three, two…"

Cody smiled, whispering, "One… lift off."

He continued, singing the rest of the song, filling the room with warmth and comfort:

This is ground control to Major Tom

You've really made the grade

And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear

Now it's time to leave the capsule, if you dare…*

Jake listened, his breathing calming as he melted into his dad's embrace, his fears fading with every word. Cody's voice was like a warm blanket, wrapping around him, making him feel safe.

By the time Cody reached the last lines, Jake had stopped crying. He looked up at his dad with a small smile, his worries forgotten.

For here am I floating 'round my tin can,

Far above the moon,

Planet Earth is blue,

And there's nothing I can do.

Cody finished the song, giving Jake a gentle squeeze. "See, kiddo? Nothing to be afraid of. I'll always be here, okay?"

Jake nodded, his heart full as he looked up at his dad, feeling safe and loved.

End of Flashback:

Jake opened his eyes, the strumming of his guitar grounding him back in the present. "I miss those days, Dad," he whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I just wish you could see me now."

Getting back up, Jake looked back at the grave one last time.

"Love you, Dad. I promise I'll try to be the man you need me to be," Jake said under his breath before sitting down a rose before walking away.

As Jake turned to leave, he felt the cool evening breeze, carrying with it a strange sense of comfort, almost as if his father was there, encouraging him forward. He paused, his heart heavy yet somehow lighter, the memory of his dad's warm voice echoing in his mind.

Before he could go far, Jake's phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down to see a text from Jaden.

Jaden: *Hey, man, you up for patrol tonight?*

Jake smiled to himself, tucking away the emotions swirling within him. He typed a quick reply.

Jake: Yeah, let's do it. See you in a bit.*

As he walked away from the grave, he looked back one more time, the flickering candle casting a soft glow against the headstone.

"I'll make you proud, Dad," he whispered.

A few minutes later, Shadow Spider was back in the heart of the city, suited up and swinging through the streets, his thoughts a little lighter. He met up with Spider-Man on a rooftop, who greeted him with a playful nudge.

"Hey, you look like you've been lost in thought," Spider-Man said, grinning. "Everything okay?"

Shadow spider nodded, gazing out over the city skyline. "Yeah, just… thinking about what matters. About being the best we can be."

Spider-Man chuckled. "Well, if anyone's going to make a difference, it's us. Heroes stick together, right?"

Shadow Spider grinned, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Yeah. Let's go remind this city of that."

And together, they leaped into the night, ready to face whatever came their way, Jake carrying his father's memory close to his heart.