Chapter 7: The Invisible Hand
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
In a secret OSCORP lab, Otto Octavius was hard at work on his next test subject, Alex O'Hirn, who was enclosed in a massive containment chamber.
"It's not that kind of suit, Mr. O'Hirn. Once you're in, you'll never be able to remove it," Otto warned.
"But it's strong, right?" Alex asked eagerly.
"Indeed. Your skin will fuse to the armor—a thick, titanium hide that will—"
Before Otto could finish, Hammerhead approached, interrupting.
"Is it just me, or is your guy trying to talk my guy out of this?" Hammerhead sneered as Norman Osborn joined them. "Look, O'Hirn, you'll be tough—tough enough to take down, you know who."
"So, what's the hold-up?" Alex replied impatiently.
Otto used his four mechanical arms to secure Alex tightly in the container, and a thick titanium alloy poured over him, eliciting screams of pain.
Otto reached for the abort button, but Norman stopped him with a cold hand on his shoulder.
"Finish it, Otto. You owe me a success—no more failures like Sandman. I need super mercenaries I can mass-produce. No matter how many thugs or doctors it takes," Norman threatened.
As the procedure neared completion, they examined Alex's altered form.
"What's with the jungle look?" Hammerhead asked, puzzled.
"The animal kingdom offers many useful designs. That armor is now a part of him—thick, impenetrable skin, with offensive capabilities. It makes him unstoppable," Otto said, grinning with pride.
"The good doctor has his quirks, but this is competence. Mr. Lincoln will be pleased," Norman remarked.
"Never use the L-word. We call him the Big Man," Hammerhead glared.
Suddenly, Alex's voice echoed from the chamber. "What's going on out there?"
"Mind your own business," Norman snapped.
"Right. My business. Better get to it."
With a powerful surge, Alex broke out of the containment chamber, now clad in a massive suit with a sharp horn on his head, resembling a rhino.
Charging through the lab, he bellowed, "Because the Rhino doesn't want to keep Spider-Man and Shadow Spider waiting!"
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.*
The next morning, a car sped down the streets, racing away after a group of thugs had just robbed a store.
"Help, police!" the store owner shouted after them.
"There must be two thousand in here. Score!" one of the thieves grinned.
"Spidey's too busy busting big bads to worry about us!" the driver laughed—until, suddenly, the car came to an abrupt stop.
"Hey, why aren't we moving?" one thug asked, looking out the window. He saw that a giant hand had halted the car in its tracks.
"Spider-Man and Shadow Spider may not be around, but maybe we can still have some fun," a voice called out.
"Who the heck are you?" one of the thugs demanded.
Standing nearby was a teenage girl about their age, with tan skin, long brown hair, a blue mask, and a blue suit with a lightning bolt running down it. This was Ms. Marvel.
One of the thugs sneered, stepping out of the car. "And who the heck are you supposed to be?"
Ms. Marvel smiled, stretching her hands until they grew enormous. "I'm Ms. Marvel. And I'm here to make sure you regret picking today to cause trouble."
The driver scoffed, pulling out a crowbar. "You think you can take all of us down by yourself?"
She shrugged. "Guess there's only one way to find out."
He swung at her, but she dodged, twisting to the side with impressive agility. With a swift, embiggened punch, she sent him sprawling into a pile of trash cans. "Lesson one," she said with a grin, "don't mess with Ms. Marvel."
Another thug jumped out of the car and lunged at her, knife in hand. Ms. Marvel sidestepped his attack and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back as he struggled. "You're really going to have to do better than that."
He growled, "You're gonna pay for this, freak!"
Just then, a third thug tried to tackle her from behind. Without turning, she stretched her arm back, smacking him to the ground with a powerful backhand.
"Oh, come on!" she teased. "Is this really the best you've got?"
The thug with the knife broke free and stumbled back, pulling out a gun. Ms. Marvel's eyes narrowed. Before he could aim, she quickly expanded her hand, swatting the weapon out of his grasp.
"Nope, not happening," she said, shaking her head. With a swift, final punch, she knocked him to the ground, where he lay groaning.
As the thugs struggled to get up, she stretched her fists, trapping them all in a web of her own—made of fists, not webs. "Well, that was fun," she remarked, dusting off her hands as she heard police sirens approaching.
Ms. Marvel smiled and took one last look at the defeated group. "Thanks for the morning workout, boys!" She winked before leaping into the air and disappearing into the city, leaving the thugs tied up for the police to handle.
Hours later, we see Gwen talking to Eddy at the lab.
"So I hear it's Fall Formal time at Midtown. Jaden ask you out yet?" Eddy asks.
"Jaden…hasn't gotten around to that. He's been busy." Gwen frowns.
"Yeah that sounds like him. Always got stuff on his mind." Eddy chuckles. "Tell you what how I be your date. I'll even dance with you."
"Thanks, Eddy." Gwen smiled but part of her still wished she was going with Jaden.
Meanwhile, at Jake's apartment, he was getting ready for school when he received a text from Mr. Lee.
"What's this all about?" Jake wondered, glancing at the message.
Mr. Lee: Mr. Evans, due to recent issues, we're shutting the community center down for today. Your paycheck will be mailed.
"Alright, looks like I'll get paid later," Jake muttered Just then, Jake's mom, Sam, knocked on the door.
"Hey, Jake, are you ready yet?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, Mom, just one more minute," Jake replied as he rummaged around his room, searching for something. "Where is it? Where is it?" he muttered, navigating the mess until he found a watch.
"Yes! Found it. I've been working on this ever since I got back from Titanium City," Jake said to himself, strapping on the watch.
When he opened the door, he saw Sam standing there with Mia.
"Mom, what's Mia doing here?" Jake asked, surprised.
"Well, that's what I was trying to tell you when I knocked," Sam explained. "Mia came over to walk to school with you."
"Oh, got it. Let's go, then," Jake said as they headed off to school together.
Meanwhile, at Jaden's house, he was sorting through the mail when he noticed an envelope from Mr. Lee.
Opening it slowly, Jaden's eyes widened as he saw his first paycheck. A huge grin spread across his face.
"Hey, Mom, check this out!" Jaden called out, heading into the kitchen.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" Maya asked.
"My first paycheck from the new job!" Jaden beamed, holding it up for her to see.
"Nice! Looks like Mr. Lee is keeping you busy. There's enough here for some bills—and even to fix your tux for the dance," Maya hinted with a smile.
"Mom, please. We've been over this," Jaden replied.
"Jaden, I really think you should go. You work hard; you deserve to have some fun," Maya insisted.
"But I don't even have a date," Jaden pointed out.
"I might know where you can find one," Maya hinted with a knowing smile.
"MJ again, Mom?" Jaden asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I don't see you trying to ask any girls out," Maya countered.
"I… uh, I did try a few," Jaden replied, pausing as he thought of Molly. "I'll think about it and get back to you in the morning."
As he made his way up to his room, Maya watched him with a soft smile.
"You always put others first, Jaden. But make sure you find some happiness for yourself, too," she said quietly.
Later, as Jaden walked out of his house, he saw Mary Jane stepping out of hers.
"Hey, MJ! Wait up!" Jaden called out.
"Hey, Tiger! What's up?" MJ asked, waving.
"You know, life," Jaden shrugged.
"Yeah, I get it," she giggled.
"Listen, Mary Jane… can I ask you something? It's gonna sound a little weird, but…" Jaden said nervously.
"What's up?" she asked, noticing Maya peeking from the window.
"I know this is last minute, but would you be my date for the Fall Formal tonight?" Jaden asked.
"Say yes, say yes," Maya mumbled from the window.
"I'd love to," MJ replied with a smile.
"Yes!" Maya cheered, making Jaden groan in embarrassment while MJ giggled.
"Thanks, MJ. Aside from the giant wave of embarrassment I'm feeling right now, I really appreciate it," Jaden said, smiling.
"See you tonight," MJ winked before heading off.
Turning back, Jaden saw Maya smirking at him with a look that said, *I told you so.*
"Don't you dare," Jaden warned as he left for school.
"Oh, Ryan would've fallen out of his seat laughing if he knew I pulled something like this," Maya murmured, smiling happily that her son had a date—and even more pleased that it was with the girl she always thought he'd connect with.
Meanwhile, Jake and Mia were walking to school when Jake's Spidey-Sense went off.
"Why now?" Jake muttered as he spotted a building on fire.
"Mia, I have to go," Jake said urgently.
"Do what you have to do. Just be careful—I'll track your vitals on the tablet, okay?" Mia replied.
"You're amazing," Jake said, making her blush before he darted into an alleyway.
Quickly pulling off his outer clothes to reveal his Shadow Spider suit underneath, Jake shot a web to a nearby building and launched himself toward the burning structure.
Inside the burning building, Shadow Spider called out, searching for anyone trapped inside.
"Anyone in here? I'm here to help!" he shouted.
"Help me! Help me!" a voice rang out.
"I'm coming!" Shadow Spider yelled, running toward the sound, but debris blocked his path.
"Mia, is there another way I can reach them without bringing the whole building down?" he asked, pressing a finger to the earpiece inside his mask.
"Yeah, if you go up a level, you might be able to get to them in time," Mia responded through the earpiece.
"Thanks," Shadow Spider replied, shooting two webs to hoist himself up to the second floor. He quickly scanned the room and saw a family—two parents and a daughter—huddled together.
"Okay, I'm here!" he said, just as the building began to collapse.
"Shit, shit, shit!" he muttered as his Spidey-Sense went off again, warning him of falling debris. He quickly lunged forward, holding up part of the structure to prevent it from collapsing on the family.
"Jake! Jake, are you there?" Mia's voice crackled with worry in his earpiece.
"Yeah, just... give me a minute," Shadow Spider replied, struggling to keep the debris from crushing them.
More debris started falling, and Shadow Spider was getting more and more crushed beneath it.
"Come on, you've got this... you've got this," he muttered to himself, straining against the weight. But the debris kept coming down, and the worried faces of the family watching him only added to the pressure.
"Mia, I... I don't think I'm going to make it," Shadow Spider managed to say before even more rubble started crumbling down.
"Jake, don't even think like that!" Mia's voice came through the earpiece, firm and determined. "You're Shadow Spider, Spider-Man's partner. You're going to make it out of this."
"Yeah... that's what I want to believe right now," he replied with a strained smile. "But... if I do make it out of this, will you go to the Fall Formal with me?"
Just then, another wave of debris crashed down, cutting off his last words.
There was a tense pause as Mia processed his words, her voice trembling slightly when she finally replied.
"Jake… you better get yourself out of there because I'm holding you to that," she said, trying to keep her tone light, though the worry was unmistakable.
Shadow Spider took a deep breath, bracing himself under the weight. "I promise, Mia. I'm not giving up just yet." He grit his teeth and began to push, inch by inch, straining against the heavy rubble pressing down on him.
Mia's voice returned, steady and encouraging. "Okay, listen carefully. I've pinpointed a weak spot in the debris pile above you. If you can shoot a web and pull, it might give you just enough space to break free."
"Got it." He steadied himself, aiming a web at the weak point she mentioned. With a deep breath, he pulled as hard as he could, shifting the pile enough to wiggle out from beneath it. Relief washed over him as he found himself free, even if he was battered and covered in soot.
Shadow Spider quickly moved toward the family, extending a hand to help them up. "Alright, everyone, let's get you out of here."
The parents looked at him with tearful gratitude. "Thank you... thank you so much!" the father choked out, clutching his daughter close.
"Let's save the thanks for when we're safe," Shadow Spider said with a small smile, ushering them toward the exit he'd come through. He kept them close as he maneuvered around the debris, making sure every step was clear.
Once they were outside and safe, he could hear sirens in the distance. The family was immediately ushered to safety by the paramedics, but the mother turned to him one last time. "Thank you, truly. We owe you everything."
Shadow Spider just nodded, giving them a reassuring smile before swinging up to a nearby rooftop to catch his breath. His earpiece crackled to life again with Mia's relieved voice.
"I knew you could do it. You saved them, Jake."
He sighed, his adrenaline finally beginning to fade. "Guess I just needed the right motivation," he said with a grin she couldn't see but could hear in his voice.
Mia laughed softly. "Then let me make it clear: I'll see you at the Spring Formal, partner."
Shadow Spider's heart raced a little, even more than during the rescue. "It's a date."
At school, Jaden and Harry sat down for lunch.
"Well, dude, it's official. I'm going to the Fall Formal with Glory Grant," Harry announced, waving at his date across the cafeteria. She waved back with a smile.
"I got a date too. I just asked her this morning," Jaden said.
"Seriously? That's awesome, dude," Harry grinned, but his smile faded as Flash walked up from behind them.
"Cooper? With a date? Yeah, that's a good one," Flash scoffed, laughing.
"It's true, Flash. I have a date," Jaden said, clearly annoyed.
"Oh, please. I bet you'll show up alone, or not at all," Flash sneered.
Narrowing his eyes, Jaden decided to teach Flash a lesson. "Alright, I'll take that bet. If I show up with a date, you have to dress up like a cheerleader for Halloween."
Flash's grin widened, thinking he'd win easily. "You are so on."
As Jake was walking over, lunch tray in hand, he heard the entire exchange.
Jake raised an eyebrow as he slid into the seat next to Jaden. "Did I just hear right? You bet Flash that you'd show up to the Fall Formal with a date?"
Jaden sighed. "Yeah, I did. He thinks I'm going to show up alone."
Harry smirked. "Flash is gonna eat his words. You're going with that girl, right?"
Jaden nodded. "Yup. Asked her this morning. And if I show up with her, Flash has to wear a cheerleader outfit for Halloween."
Jake laughed, almost spilling his drink. "Oh, this is gonna be priceless. Flash in a cheerleader outfit? I need to get my camera ready for that."
"Don't get too cocky, Cooper," Flash sneered, overhearing the conversation. "I still don't believe a girl would go with a guy like you. She'll probably ditch you for someone better."
Jaden clenched his jaw, but Harry stepped in. "You just wait, Flash. I can't wait to see you in that skirt."
Flash scoffed and walked off, throwing a glare over his shoulder.
As soon as Flash was out of earshot, Jake grinned. "So, you ready for the dance? Got your tux and everything?"
Jaden scratched the back of his head. "Actually... not yet. My mom suggested I fix up my old one, but I haven't gotten around to it."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Dude, you need to get on that. You can't leave her hanging."
Jake nodded. "You know what? After school, let's hit up a few stores and make sure you've got everything you need. We can't give Flash even the slightest chance to win this bet."
Jaden smiled, relieved. "Thanks, guys. Let's make this a Fall Formal to remember."
At the Midtown Mall, Jake, Jaden, and Harry were at a clothing shop looking for a tux, with Harry insisting he would cover the cost.
"Are you sure, Harry?" Jaden asked, not wanting to use his friend's money.
"Jay, you and Jake are my friends, and I want to help you. Now, come on out, Jake," Harry said as Jake walked out wearing a dark black and blue suit.
"So, what do you guys think?" Jake asked, looking at them expectantly.
Jaden looked Jake up and down, nodding in approval. "Dude, you look sharp. That suit is perfect."
Harry grinned. "I agree. You're gonna turn heads at the Fall Formal, no doubt."
Jake smirked and adjusted his collar. "Thanks, guys. I'm still not used to wearing something this fancy."
Jaden chuckled. "You'll get the hang of it. Trust me, once you hit the dance floor, you won't even think about the suit."
Harry gave a thumbs up. "Exactly. Plus, now we can all show Flash how it's done. He won't know what hit him."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Speaking of Flash... you think he's gonna actually wear that cheerleader outfit?"
Jaden grinned. "Oh, he'll wear it. I'll make sure of it."
Harry laughed. "I'm already picturing it. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures for blackmail."
Jake shook his head with a laugh. "Well, if we're doing this, let's make it count. Let's make sure we all look as good as possible for tonight."
Jaden smiled, feeling a wave of excitement. "Agreed. Let's make this night unforgettable."
As they stood in the store, the anticipation for the Fall Formal was building, and the three friends couldn't help but feel ready for whatever the night had in store.
Just then, their Spider-Sense went off.
"God damn it, what now?" Jake said, looking around.
"I don't know," Jaden replied, until they heard a voice.
Rhino was tearing things up, causing mass panic.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Rhino yelled, grabbing a kiosk and throwing it into the air.
As a woman screamed in horror, Jake acted quickly, quietly shooting a web at her and pulling her to safety. Jaden quickly used his web-shooter to create a net to catch the kiosk.
Jaden turned to Harry.
"Hey, buddy, why don't you go call the limo and ask him to come pick us up?" Jaden said.
"Yeah, I'll go do that. I'll call 911," Harry said before running off.
Jake and Jaden looked at each other, nodded, and then ran in different directions, changing into their suits.
"Whoa, careful!" Spider-Man shouted, firing a web that hit Rhino in the face.
Jumping down, Spider-Man landed across from him.
"You know, normally people wait until Black Friday to become animals. What's your deal?" Shadow Spider asked, landing right next to Spider-Man as Rhino ripped the webs off his face.
"You two! And payback for all those times you took me down!" Rhino growled.
"Wait... O'Hirn?" Spider-Man said, recognizing his face.
"Do you mean that guy who always hangs around Flint—or Sandman, I guess?" Shadow Spider asked.
"Not anymore. Now I am Rhino!" he declared, grabbing a bench and throwing it at them.
Jumping out of the way, Spider-Man fired a web at Rhino's arms to tie him up, while Shadow Spider shot two webs at his legs. But Rhino broke free.
"Your goo is useless now!" Rhino grinned.
First Marko becomes Sandman, and now this? What's the Big Man's next move, turning Flash into a monster? Spider-Man thought, dodging Rhino's attacks.
"You know what? Time for some shock therapy!" Shadow Spider said, leaping into the air as blue electricity crackled around his hand. He punched Rhino with a venom blast, making him skid backward.
On the third floor, a teenage girl around their age, with tan skin and long brown hair, watched with a big grin on her face before dashing into the changing room.
Rhino was about to throw a punch when a voice yelled, "Embiggen!" A massive fist sent him sprawling into a wall.
"What the hell—who are you?" Rhino asked, getting back up.
"Need a hand, boys?" Spider-Man and Shadow Spider looked up to see Ms. Marvel landing beside them.
"Is she with you?" Shadow Spider asked.
"Nope, I thought she was with you," Spider-Man replied, equally surprised.
"The name's Ms. Marvel," she said with a smirk. "Nice to meet you both! You didn't think I'd let you guys have all the fun, did you?"
"Who the heck is she supposed to be?" Rhino sneered.
"As I said, I'm Ms. Marvel, and I'm here to help!" she replied confidently.
Rhino charged at them, trying to flatten them, but they dodged just in time.
Firing a web, Spider-Man swung onto Rhino's back. "Yeehaw! Ride 'em, cowboy!" he said, trying to steer Rhino.
"Get off of me!" Rhino roared, charging deeper into the mall.
"Whoa! Whoa there! Down! Stop!" Spider-Man shouted, holding on tight.
"Does this kind of thing always happen?" Ms. Marvel asked.
"More than you'd think. Let's go help him," Shadow Spider said, shooting a web and swinging after them. Ms. Marvel followed close behind.
As Rhino smashed through structures, he jumped onto the second floor, with Spider-Man clinging to him like he was riding a rodeo bull.
"Look out!" Spider-Man yelled as people scrambled out of the way to avoid being crushed.
When Rhino rammed into a pillar, Shadow Spider and Ms. Marvel quickly used their powers to stop the rubble from falling.
"Try to lead him away from the civilians!" Shadow Spider shouted, leaping into the air and shooting multiple webs to catch more debris.
"I have to agree with him," Ms. Marvel added, sliding under a family and calling, "Embiggen!" as her hands grew to catch the falling rocks.
Panting heavily, Shadow Spider, Ms. Marvel, and Spider-Man looked down at the rubble.
"Is this a regular thing with you?" Ms. Marvel asked.
"Only recently," Spider-Man replied.
"Yeah, great. Who's paying for all this damage?" Shadow Spider muttered.
"Spider-Man, Shadow Spider, we need to get him out of here before he brings the whole place down," Ms. Marvel urged.
"Easier said than done," Spider-Man thought, then shouted, "Hey, Needle Nose, what do you say we take this outside?!" He yanked on Rhino with all his might, trying to steer him toward the door, but they were charging right at a mother with her baby carriage.
Gasping, he jumped off Rhino and pulled the mother and baby out of the way just in time.
"Maybe do your shopping another day, ma'am," Spider-Man suggested.
Charging towards the fountain, Rhino smashed into it, causing water to shoot out.
As Spider-Man, Shadow Spider, and Ms. Marvel regrouped, Rhino hurled the fountainhead at them, forcing them to dodge.
Soaked and furious, Rhino glared at them.
"We need to lure him somewhere deserted so he can't do any more damage," Ms. Marvel suggested.
"This is New York. Where are we supposed to find somewhere deserted?" Spider-Man asked.
"I think I have an idea," Shadow Spider said, pointing to a manhole cover.
"So, you're saying if we get him under the ground, the heat will wear him down?" Spider-Man began.
"We'll see how long he lasts in that suit," Ms. Marvel finished.
"Exactly," Shadow Spider agreed.
Growling, Rhino turned toward them. "Hey! If you three freaks are done arguing, let's get back to the crushing!"
"Freaks? Uh, have you looked in a mirror?" Spider-Man retorted.
Rhino charged, attempting to flatten them, and as they jumped out of the way, he managed to grab Spider-Man by the leg.
"Uh-oh," Spider-Man gulped as Rhino tossed him out the door and into the street.
"Spider-Man!" Ms. Marvel gasped, running after him.
Spider-Man crashed into a sporting goods store, groaning in pain. "That's gonna leave a mark," he muttered as Ms. Marvel knelt beside him.
"We need to work on this teamwork thing," Ms. Marvel said with a cringe. "We usually do a lot better when we have backup from the adults."
"Yeah, well, it's just us right now," Spider-Man replied. "We've gotta focus, dodge his moves, and coordinate our attacks." Just then, Shadow Spider was thrown into them, groaning.
"Hey, guys, what'd I miss?" Shadow Spider asked, wincing.
"Right. Rhino's most dangerous when he charges, so let's slow him down," Ms. Marvel suggested.
"Now you're getting it," Spider-Man said, watching as Rhino charged again and smashed through the front door.
Getting up, Shadow Spider took both of their hands. "Do you guys trust me?" he asked.
"Yes," Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel said at the same time.
"Good," Shadow Spider said with a grin.
As Rhino charged at them, Shadow Spider quickly turned invisible, taking Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel with him.
"What the—?!" Rhino shouted, confused as Shadow Spider, now visible again, shot multiple webs at bowling balls nearby, throwing them at Rhino to slow him down.
Rhino crushed one of the rolling bowling balls under his foot. "Huh? That always works in *Tom and Jerry*" Spider-Man remarked, a little disappointed.
"When could you turn invisible?" Spider-Man asked.
"Oh, just last night after we finished patrol," Shadow Spider replied with a grin.
As the three heroes caught their breath, Rhino roared in frustration, still trying to shake off the sticky webbing. Spider-Man glanced at Shadow Spider, recalling the surprise at seeing his new invisibility powers.
"Wait, last night?" Spider-Man asked. "When we finished patrol, you didn't say anything!"
Shadow Spider shrugged, giving him a lopsided grin. "It was… unexpected."
Ms. Marvel raised an eyebrow. "Unexpected? There's a story here, I can tell."
Shadow Spider let out a sigh, giving them both a quick nod. "Alright, but make it fast." His voice softened as the memory took over.
Flashback: The night before, after patrol...
It was late, and the city lights cast long shadows over the rooftops as Shadow Spider and Spider-Man swung down from the last building of the night. They were both exhausted, and Spider-Man let out a yawn as they dropped onto a quiet rooftop.
"Man, tonight was no joke," Spider-Man groaned, stretching his back. "And we still have to report to Mia about the info we got on Hammerhead."
Shadow Spider nodded, catching his breath. "Yeah, but at least it's over. I think I'm just gonna crash once I get back."
Spider-Man gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Catch you later then." With a web-thwip, Spider-Man was off, leaving Shadow Spider alone on the rooftop.
Shadow Spider took a deep breath, enjoying the quiet. He watched Spider-Man's silhouette vanish into the distance and then leaned back against the wall, thinking over the night's events. But then, something strange happened—a shiver ran through his body, like electricity pulsing under his skin.
"What the—?" He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers as a strange tingling sensation intensified. In an instant, his vision dimmed, and he felt a rush of cool air envelop him. Looking down, he could barely see his own arms.
"Am I… invisible?" he whispered, almost not believing it.
He moved his hands, watching as they shimmered back into view, then flickered out again as he concentrated. Shadow Spider's eyes widened. Somehow, he'd gained this new ability out of nowhere.
He practiced for the next hour, figuring out how to control it, his excitement building. If he could master this, it would be a game-changer, making him nearly undetectable to enemies. By the time he left the rooftop, he'd started to feel a little more confident about it—but he knew he'd need Spider-Man and the others to help him refine it in action.
Present time, back at the mall:
"And that's how I figured it out," Shadow Spider finished with a small grin. "Pretty cool, right?"
"Pretty cool?" Ms. Marvel smirked. "Try *awesome.* That's gonna come in handy—especially when fighting guys like Rhino."
Spider-Man gave him an approving nod. "Nice work. With a little more practice, you'll be disappearing like a pro."
Suddenly, Rhino charged toward them, ramming into Ms. Marvel and knocking her back into a wall. As he geared up for another charge, she quickly "embiggened" her feet, stepping over him just in time and causing him to run face-first into her massive foot.
Panting heavily, sweat running down his face, Rhino glared at Spider-Man and Shadow Spider.
Growling, he charged again, but this time, both Spider-Men leapt over him, letting him slam straight into a rack of weights, sending them clattering around him.
Dazed, Rhino glanced around and spotted a fridge stocked with drinks by the register. Without a second thought, he ripped it open and began gulping down energy drinks, trying to catch his breath.
Landing on the upper ledge of the store, the three heroes watched him from above.
"Is he seriously taking a drink break?" Shadow Spider whispered, raising an eyebrow.
Spider-Man shrugged. "Guess even villains get thirsty."
Ms. Marvel cracked a grin. "Well, let's give him a little more to sweat about."
Firing a web, Spider-Man yanks the drink out of Rhino's hand.
"Hey, break's over," Spider-Man calls out.
"Yeah, come on!" Shadow Spider adds, hitting Rhino with a venom blast.
Growling, Rhino leaps at them, but at the last second, Ms. Marvel "embiggens" her hands, pushing Rhino back a bit. Spider-Man and Shadow Spider swing to a nearby manhole cover, removing it with a web and going underground. Ms. Marvel lands a powerful shove, sending Rhino crashing into the wall before she follows them down.
Getting up, Rhino slams down where they had been just moments before.
"Where are you?!" Rhino yells, looking around.
"Hey, Needlenose! Over here!" Turning around, he sees Spider-Man, Shadow Spider, and Ms. Marvel jump down a vent. "Catch us if you can!"
"You can't run from me!" Rhino jumps down after them, finding himself in a room full of pipes.
"Wow, you look tense. Hey, Ms. Marvel, I think this guy could use a nice steam." Spider-Man suggests.
"Good idea." Using her powers, Ms. Marvel yanks several vents open, blasting Rhino with hot steam.
"What's the matter, Rhino? Don't like the humidity?" Spider-Man taunts.
Growling, Rhino tries to punch him, but Shadow Spider kicks him back, causing Rhino to break another vent, releasing even more steam into the room.
"My first mistake was trying to take you head-on. But break that fancy suit of yours? No way," Spider-Man says.
"Nothing can break it... Big Man's people told me so... I'm impenetrable," Rhino pants.
"True, but that also means nothing can escape either. Your face is the only part of your body where you can sweat—under normal circumstances, that would be fine," Spider-Man says.
"But in a hot room like this? You're not doing so well," Ms. Marvel adds, wiping sweat from her own forehead. "Phew. And I don't think you'll last much longer."
"I gotta… get outta here," Rhino says, heading for the ladder.
"Sorry, can't let you do that," Shadow Spider says, releasing a powerful venom blast and breaking another pipe, sending more steam Rhino's way just before he can climb up.
Swinging in, Spider-Man knocks Rhino to the ground. This time, Rhino is too exhausted to get back up.
"And he's down for the count! Ladies and gents, witness as we turn a rhino into a turtle!" Spider-Man jokes, making Ms. Marvel giggle and Shadow Spider chuckle.
"I swear... I'm gonna crush you… Big Man promised I'd crush you," Rhino pants.
"Big Man?" Ms. Marvel asks, curious.
"You losing it a bit, Alexander?" Spider-Man asks.
"Only mama calls me Alexander… you're not my mama... Mama... mama," Rhino mutters, starting to hallucinate from the heat and dehydration.
"Wait, Spider-Man. Who's the Big Man?" Ms. Marvel asks.
"He's some guy who's been sending villains after me and Shadow Spider, but we don't know who he is," Spider-Man explains.
"Yeah, it's getting really annoying," Shadow Spider says, crossing his arms.
Walking over to Rhino, Ms. Marvel puts a hand on his head,.
"So, Alex, tell us—who is the Big Man?" she asks.
"The name is... Mr. Lincoln," Rhino mumbles before collapsing.
"Lincoln?" Spider-Man says, intrigued.
"Looks like we've got a new lead," Shadow Spider adds.
As the police arrive, the three heroes climb out of the manhole.
"All yours, officers," Ms. Marvel says, panting.
"You're gonna need a crane," Spider-Man adds.
"Yeah, a big one," Shadow Spider agrees as they leave the scene.
Meanwhile, atop a rooftop, Spider-Man lifted his mask as he and Ms. Marvel each gulped down a bottle of water while Shadow Spider was on the phone.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Mom. I'm just hanging out with my friends. Don't worry, I'll be home soon, okay? Love you. Bye," Shadow Spider said before hanging up.
"Phew. I'm definitely going to need a shower after today," Ms. Marvel said as Spider-Man took out his phone.
"Hmm, Lincoln…" Spider-Man muttered, typing. "Here it is—L. Thompson Lincoln. Whoa, this guy's a major philanthropist. Says here there've been a few criminal rumors about him in the past, but none of them stuck."
"Sounds like a good place to start," Shadow Spider agreed.
"Well, you guys have fun with that. Just call me if you need me," Ms. Marvel said, giving them a wave before leaping off the building and stretching her arm to swing away.
"Okay," Shadow Spider replied.
"Come on, let's go check this building out," Spider-Man said, swinging away.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Shadow Spider muttered before shooting a web and following after him.
As the sun was setting, Spider-Man and Shadow Spider entered a large building, moving carefully through the dimly lit hallway. Shadow Spider whispered, "Alright, let's keep this quick. You sure we're in the right place?"
"Positive," Spider-Man replied. "We're here to meet the 'Big Man' himself. Let's see what he's really up to."
Two guards with tasers approached, trying to block their way. Before they could react, Spider-Man shot webs that pinned them to the ceiling, and Shadow Spider added, "Thanks for hanging around, guys."
They approached a large desk, and Spider-Man spoke to the man seated behind it. "I'm here to see Mr. Lincoln."
The man at the desk raised an eyebrow. "Then you should make an appointment, but perhaps we can make an exception for the heroes of the day." The chair spun around, revealing a tall man with pale skin and stark white hair. "I am L. Thompson Lincoln."
Shadow Spider narrowed his eyes. "Or should I say…the Big Man?"
Lincoln gave a slight smirk. "I've been called many names. My personal favorite…is Tombstone."
"Yeah, I think 'Big Man' suits you better," Spider-Man quipped, glancing at Shadow Spider. "Don't you think?"
"Fits like a glove," Shadow Spider agreed with a wry smile. "Though I was thinking more like 'Big Jerk.'"
Tombstone chuckled. "You two think you're clever, don't you?"
"Back off. We just took down the Rhino. A guy in a suit doesn't scare—" Spider-Man started, but before he could finish, Tombstone lunged, knocking him back and slamming him into the floor.
"Whoa!" Shadow Spider reacted, moving to help, but Tombstone stomped on Spider-Man's chest, pinning him down.
"Don't move," Tombstone said, glancing at Shadow Spider with a chilling calm. "Listen, and I'll tell you both the facts of life."
Shadow Spider clenched his fists, but Spider-Man shot him a quick look to hold back. "Not really in a listening mood," Spider-Man managed to say, wincing under Tombstone's weight.
"You're not fooling me. I can see you're both still worn out from your last fight. Listen closely." Tombstone's voice dropped. "Whoever the Big Man might be has nothing against heroes. No hero can thwart enough crime to dent his income. But you, you frighten criminals off the streets entirely. Except when you're off battling the Rhino or someone else, and then the Big Man's army of petty thugs thinks they're under your radar."
He stepped back, allowing Spider-Man to get to his feet, while Shadow Spider moved closer, ready to defend him. "So as long as we keep fighting crime, you'll keep making these goons?" Spider-Man asked, catching his breath.
"Now you're learning," Tombstone replied smoothly. "But there is a way out. Come work for me. You can still save the world, just like the pro heroes. I'll even pay you both. All I ask is that you remember to look the other way…whenever I choose."
With a smirk, he took out a case filled with money, pushing it toward them. Shadow Spider exchanged a look with Spider-Man, both heroes clearly conflicted.
Shadow Spider sighed. "Spidey, this guy's giving us a pretty tempting offer…but we're not actually considering this, right?"
Spider-Man paused, wrestling with the idea before shaking his head. "No. We're not. I can't ever look the other way again," he said firmly. "Put down the briefcase, Tombstone. Let's put an end to this before any more people get hurt."
Tombstone's face hardened. "If you insist." He nodded, and suddenly, the doors burst open as two police officers rushed in.
"Officers, Spider-Man and his friend here have trespassed on my property, assaulted my employees, and threatened my life," Tombstone said smoothly.
"Wait, no, you can't listen to him!" Spider-Man protested. "I know this looks bad—like, really bad—but he's the bad guy!"
Shadow Spider raised his hands. "Seriously, we're the good guys! Just look around!"
But the cops, seeing the webbed-up henchmen and damaged property, didn't look convinced.
"Uh oh," Spider-Man gulped, glancing at Shadow Spider. "We need an escape route. Now!"
Shadow Spider quickly pointed to a window. "Way ahead of you, Spidey. Let's move!"
As shots were fired, Shadow Spider quickly tapped the watch on his wrist, causing a large shield to materialize, deflecting the bullets in all directions and shielding them both. Taking advantage of the opening, Spider-Man leaped out, with Shadow Spider swiftly lowering the shield and jumping after him. Together, they swung away into the night.
Landing atop a tall building a few blocks away, Spider-Man and Shadow Spider sat down to catch their breath.
"Thanks for the save back there," Spider-Man said, taking off his mask.
"Who knew businessmen could be so deadly?" Shadow Spider replied, then noticed the conflicted look on Spider-Man's face. "Hey, why the long face? Now you know who the Big Man is."
"Jake, what are we gonna do? If I keep fighting crime, Tombstone's just going to keep creating more dangerous villains for us to deal with. And even if we take him down, his thugs are gonna keep doing their thing while we're distracted. We can't handle this on our own," Jaden groaned, holding his head.
"Hey, hey, dude, calm down," Shadow Spider said, taking off his mask. "We'll figure this out together, alright?"
Jake looked at Jaden with a steady gaze, a small, reassuring smile forming on his face.
"Jaden, look…I know this feels overwhelming. I get it. But you're not alone in this, okay? I know we're just two guys in masks, and Tombstone's a huge problem—he's got connections, resources, everything—but we've got something he doesn't. We actually care. And we're fighting for the people out there, not just ourselves."
He paused, looking out over the city lights, his voice softening.
"When I first put on this mask, I thought I'd just be helping out with small stuff, you know? Stopping muggings, saving people in alleys, doing what I could. But every day, I've seen more of what's really going on, the people who need us. People who feel trapped. And I realized something—if we don't step up, if we don't at least try to make things right, who will? Heroes aren't heroes because things are easy. They're heroes because they stand up, no matter how tough things get."
Jake turned to him, placing a hand on Jaden's shoulder.
"Tombstone might keep throwing villains at us, but we've got each other. We're not just partners; we're friends, family, even. And family doesn't give up, no matter how impossible things seem. We'll keep fighting, together. One step at a time, one villain at a time. Because every time we stand up, every time we don't back down, we're showing people that there's still hope. And that's worth everything."
Jaden took a deep breath, Jake's words settling in, giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
"You're right, Jake. We might not be able to fix everything overnight, but if we keep fighting…we're making a difference."
"Exactly," Jake said, smiling. "As long as we keep going, we've already won half the battle."
"Well, as fun as this was, I've got one more thing to deal with tonight," Jaden said, standing up and putting his mask back on.
"Is it another supervillain?" Jake asked, slipping on his own mask.
"Even crazier... it's time for the dance," Spider-Man declared, grinning before he swung off.
"Oh, shoot!" Shadow Spider muttered, quickly swinging off in the other direction.
That night at Jaden's house, he was adjusting his tux for the dance.
"Jaden, are you almost ready?" Maya called out.
"Uh, yeah, coming, Mom," Jaden replied.
He made his way downstairs to find his mom waiting for him.
"You look so handsome in that," Maya said with a smile.
"Mom…" Jaden blushed.
"You know, you never did thank me for suggesting Mary Jane," Maya teased.
"Please, not now," Jaden groaned.
"Say it. You owe me that much," Maya smirked, leaning in.
"Fine. This one time—*one* time—you made the right call," Jaden admitted.
"That made my day," Maya said with a victorious smile.
"Sometimes, Mom, I think you're an evil mastermind," Jaden replied, deadpan.
"Love you too, Jaden. Here, I picked up the corsage," Maya said, handing it to him just as the doorbell rang.
Jaden opened the door to see Mary Jane standing there in a beautiful black dress, looking absolutely stunning.
"Whoa, MJ…you look amazing," Jaden said, making her giggle.
"Face it, Tiger, you hit the jackpot," MJ replied with a smile.
Jaden had handled Rhino and Tombstone, but he knew this night was far from over in terms of excitement.
Meanwhile, at Jake's apartment, Sam was helping Jake straighten his suit in front of the mirror.
"Hold still, Jake," Sam chuckled, adjusting his collar. "You want to look sharp for your first dance, don't you?"
Jake fidgeted a little, glancing toward the door where he knew Mia was waiting. "Yeah, but this suit feels like it's trying to strangle me."
Sam laughed and stepped back to take a look at him. "You look so grown-up," she said softly, pride filling her voice. "Mia's gonna be blown away."
"Mom," Jake mumbled, cheeks flushing slightly. "Don't get all emotional on me."
"Hey, I can't help it," Sam teased. "You're my little superhero. Even if tonight, you're just Jake."
He smiled, taking a deep breath and glancing in the mirror one last time. "Thanks, Mom. For, y'know… everything."
Sam squeezed his shoulder. "Anytime, kiddo. Now go knock her off her feet."
With one last deep breath, Jake opened the door to find Mia standing there in a stunning blue dress that brought out her eyes.
"Wow, Jake… you clean up nicely," Mia said, her smile widening.
Jake scratched the back of his neck, a bit shy. "Thanks, you look… you look amazing."
Mia grinned. "Ready for the best night ever?"
Jake held out his arm for her. "Let's make it one for the books."
As they headed down the hall, Sam watched with a smile, quietly proud of her son as he headed off to make some normal memories.