Investigation

It took Spiderman an hour of web-slinging to reach the site. The construction crews were all gone for the night, as he had suspected. This would make things so much easier; no need to explain what a New York based super-hero was doing all the way out here.

"So, Karen?" He asked his AI. "What should I…?"

His eyes were soon greeted with loads and loads of data, which he barely had time to scan, let alone interpret.

"Might I recommend the Giegner counter in your left eye?"

Instantly, Spiderman could see a line chart in the corner of his eye; a fluctuating map. And in the bottom, he was a compass with a very cartoonish looking arrow.

"Why is there a little arrow?" Spiderman asked.

"Mr. Stark believed that it would make this fun and easier, especially since night-vision mode is offline."

"I have night-vision?"

"Will. It needs updating."

Our hero let out a sigh and followed the arrow, takig to the trees to avoid being detected in spite of himself. He would be grateful atht he did, as finally found the source of most of the weird energy:

It was a hole. A very large and very deep hole. With walls that would be very tricky to stick too; they were a mix of jagged and rocky, smooth and slipperly. And judging by the depth, he wasn't sure even using webbing would last that long; his web did dissolve within an hour.

Spiderman checked his web cartiages; he had four spares. It could work

"Should've brought some spelunking gear."

"Just do what you can, little roos."

Our hero let out an 'EEEP!' and nearly fell into the hole. Thank goodness for superhero reflexs! He backwards leapt back and scanned the area, looking for the source fo the famialr voice.

"M-M-Mr. Stark?!" He asked aloud

"You expecting your Aunt?" Tony Stark teased the young hero. "Fore you ask, I had a microphone snuck into the costume and usual attire. That suit IS property of Stark Industries until you accept my Avenges invitation, agter all. Oh, and I'm talking to you on the same frequency that helps you find your tracers; another fine possible product for you to use, if I say so, so don't worry about anyone else hearing you and try to minimize talking to yourself."

"Wait, you know about my trace…You know, that can wait! Have you been spying on me this WHOLE TIME?!"

"Peter, Peter, Peter…" Tony cooed. "'Spying' is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of it as…protectively maintaining vigil on a treasured employee."

"Without permission or consent." A female voice noted, a smile obvious.

"Pepper, please…"

Our hero processed all of this, and a terrible fear filled him.

"How much of what I've said since I got here did you hear?" he asked dreadfully.

"Everything." Tony answered truthfully.

…

….

"I'm going in now." Spiderman said plainly.

"You do that." Pepper said. 'I'll be having words with your mentor."

He leapt downwards, likening the feeling of falling to being on a roller coaster and…just for fun's sake, did some fancy flips and letting out some excited hollers.

The ringing of his Spider-Sense suddenly came to his attention, briging him out of his fun

"Karen, please tell me I have an aqua-mode?"

"You have an aqua mode." The AI responded.

"Do I really?"

"…No."

Before he hit the water, Spiderman managed to create a hammock out of webbing to catch him. Catching his breath, he then spied a pathway.

"The energy signature is strongest in that area." Karen noted.

Spiderman then began to wall-crawl his way over. What he saw made his eyes widen.

"I think Mr. Stark will want to see this."

There were the remains of a massive ship. And bit of metal that looked futuristic and yet almost medieval. He could see cave paintings and what appeared to be a table where, if he spied correctly, something could be place in slots.

Honestly, Spiderman wasn't sure what he had been expecting when he came here; but this, while interesting, certainly wasn't it. He was glad he had seen this thoughl being the science geek that he was, it was always a dream of his to see an alien spaceship. And hopefully, one that wasn't hostile.

Yes, even though the Avengers had gotten most of the attention, Spidey had helped fight back against the Chitaruri invasion; mostly saving people and getting them to safety, He knew there was life out there.

But b the looks of things, he didn't have to worry about these guys. Something just told him this.

"Who's there!?"

Realizing he wasn't alone, Spidey quickly webbed himself to the top of the cavern, when from out of the darkness came a small robot that quickly spied him.

'Not my best hiding spot, I'll admit.' He mused, chuckling weakly

"Who are you?" The robot asked

"Just…"

What was he supposed to say?

'Hi there, I'm just investigating the weird energy in the area and found this place. Pay my colorful question no mind, I'm just a harmless little science geek who also fights bad guys!'

Yeah. That wasn't going to happen. Haing not been able to think of anything else, Spidey decided he might as well just tell the truth.

"…your friendly neighborhood Spiderman?"

The robot marched up to him, and Peter, not sure how he knew, could tell it was squinting at him.

"You're not one of them." The robot noted.

"Them?" Spidey asked. "Them who?"

"Uh oh." The robot mused. "I said too much!"

As the robot had turned around and panicked, Side crawled and then web-swung awa6 as fast as he could.

"Zordon isn't going to like this…"

SMPR

"So…to confirm." Tony said over the voice-link. "There is an never before seen energy, there is technology in that cave that looks like it could at least rival the Chitari, said technology is being maintained and or guarded by an AI robot that has more personality than the Vision, don't tell him or Pepper I said that, and said robot is looking for certain people. Did I miss anything?"

Having been catching his breath in a tree, Spiderman shook his head no. He tehn realized Tony propbably couldn't tell that had happened, and responded.

"No. No, Mr. Stark. You got it all."

On the other side, Tony let out what seemed to be an indifferent huff.

"Um…Mr. Stark?" Spiderman asked. "Aren't you concerned?"

"Nah." Tony mused. "From what you;ve been sending me, this stuff is old. Like, really, really old. Like, prehistoric old. So, until something comes out of it, just let it be and have the workers approach with caution."

"What about the energy?" The web-head asked. "The Geiger counter did pick up something…"

"Don't worry, I know a guy who knows everything there is to know about all times of Radiation. Oh, when you get back, you should meet him. Cool guy, very likeable, but HUGE anger issues. I'll forward you a list of his berserk buttons or triggers or whatever you call them later."

"Okay." Spiderman said, feeling rested enough to head hack to the Scott's. "So, anything else for me to do?"

"Just focus on winning that science fair." Tony smirked. "Not that you have to try or anything. If anything does come up, I'll let you know or send someone else to look into it."

"If you're sure."

"I am sure. Now, you get on back to your exchange student home and enjoy the weekend."

"Wish I could." Spiderman mused under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

"That was not nothing, that was definitely something. What happened?"

"….I…..may or may not have….accidentally….unintentionally….in a…"

"Peter…." Tony frowned

"I got a weekend's detention."

"….Why?" Tony asked.

"I dodged a couple of punches from some bullies and the principal just gave it to me?"

The line went silent for a while.

"I'm going to have a word with this principal of yours." Tony declared.

"Please don't." Spiderman begged.

"Too late, already flying over."

"Mr. Stark, please…!" Our hero started before the line went dead. "….Great."

With a sigh, he began to web-sling away.

"Oh well." He mused. "At least it can't get any more complicated."

SMPR

In his hurry to get back to the Scott's house before anyone else woke up (and possibly squeeze in at least a nap) Spiderman had failed to notice drops of a greyish liquid coming out of the ground; liquid that seemed alive and searching for something

"I don't know who you are…" The figure mused. "I don't know what you're up to. But whatever it is, it won't help you."

The figure looked at the staff they held

"Nothing. Will stop me."

To be continued…

Next time: Dangerous Detention

In the spirit of Halloween, I tried to make this chapter a little…jumpier. I don't feel I was successful in that regard, but at least I tried, If you want genuine scares, I'll be updating 'WItchblade in Darkness' and 'Pines of Gravity Falls and Remnant' later today.

Happy Halloween, stay safe and enjoy

Read and review, would ye kindly?