Tombstone Headquarters — Tombstone's Office — Dawn
The sun was slowly rising over New York.
The first rays of the morning began to illuminate the still quiet city when, inside a grim office immersed in a tense atmosphere, Tombstone continued a phone conversation with Norman Osborn.
— Good morning, Norman. Sorry for my absence. I had... a few matters to take care of.
— A few matters? Perhaps I could help you. We are partners after all.
— Have you heard of Spider-Man?
A brief silence settled between them.
— Spider-Man? Those are just rumors... Why bring him up?
— Because he absolutely exists. And he's going to be a problem for us.
— What do you mean?
Tombstone leaned against his desk.
His gaze was cold.
— It's been a while since we last spoke, so it's not surprising that you're unaware. But for months, all of my operations have been sabotaged by this masked man. I've lost a lot of money. And if this continues, our projects may suffer because of it.
— I understand... But I assume you're not calling me just to complain. Do you have a plan?
— Yes. But I'll need your help.
— I'm listening.
Tombstone paused briefly before continuing.
— Yesterday, I sent a large group of my mercenaries, led by Montana. They set up an ambush to neutralize him... but it failed. He took them all down. Even Montana, despite having cutting-edge equipment that made him extremely dangerous. In spite of all that... Spider-Man won.
Norman's interest immediately seemed to awaken.
— That equipment... you're referring to the device that generates shockwaves, correct? I didn't think it was already operational...
— We managed to make it work, yes. But let's be honest: your engineers are far better than mine. If we want to bring down Spider-Man, we need to pit him against opponents of his caliber. Not ordinary mercenaries. Enhanced men, capable of surpassing him. You see what I mean?
A faint smile appeared on Norman's face.
— You expect me to create super-soldiers. That's not a bad idea... You already know I believe that a powerful enemy should be fought with an even more powerful enemy. But for that, I need test subjects.
— I'm fully aware of that. I'll provide as many test subjects as necessary. But in exchange, I want soldiers capable of crushing that little pest.
Norman's smile widened.
— As long as you bring me the test subjects, there won't be any problem. In fact... one of our latest inventions is ready to be tested. If you want to strike Spider-Man today, send me your first volunteer. I'll be waiting.
Downtown Manhattan — Morning
Once again, Peter Parker was late.
Above the busy streets of Manhattan, Spider-Man swung from web to web between the buildings, racing at full speed toward Midtown High.
Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be enough.
— Great... late again. Seriously, how is that even possible? I'm Spider-Man, I move faster than cars, and I still can't get anywhere on time! This is ridiculous...
While grumbling to himself, his attention was drawn to something unusual.
A vehicle was speeding uncontrollably through traffic.
— Well... school can wait!
Spider-Man immediately changed direction.
Below him, several pedestrians scattered in panic.
One of them nearly got hit.
Spider-Man instantly dove down.
Just seconds before impact, he grabbed the pedestrian and pulled him to safety.
— Oh my God... it's Spider-Man! Look!
— So he really exists?!
Without stopping, Spider-Man leapt onto the roof of the runaway truck.
Through the windshield, he spotted the driver.
The man was unconscious.
— Great... he's out cold.
Spider-Man forced his way into the cabin, grabbed the steering wheel, then quickly pulled the driver out.
A web shot from his web-shooter.
The driver was safely moved away from danger.
But just when he thought he had regained control of the situation, he noticed a figure ahead of him.
A young girl was crossing the street on a red light.
Her eyes buried in her notebooks.
— Oh crap...!
Without hesitation, Spider-Man jerked the steering wheel hard.
The truck violently changed direction.
A few seconds later, it crashed into an empty building with a deafening impact.
The collision threw Spider-Man across the cabin.
His right hand was injured.
Part of his costume was slightly torn.
— Ouch... that stings.
A few moments later, he emerged from the wreckage.
Dust covered his costume.
His first instinct was to check his surroundings.
— Is everyone okay? Is everyone alright?
Yet instead of relief, he was met only with worried looks.
Cold looks.
— W-who are you?!... Are you... a monster?
— You almost killed us, and the driver too!
Spider-Man froze for a second.
— A monster? Seriously?! I just saved your lives! Without me, that driver would be dead! Do you even realize that?
No one answered.
The pedestrians simply continued looking at him with suspicion.
— Are they serious right now...?
— Um, excuse me...?
Spider-Man turned around.
His heart nearly skipped a beat.
It was Gwen Stacy.
— Gwen...? She was the girl?! Thank God she's okay...
Gwen stepped a little closer.
— Like an idiot, I crossed on a red light while reading my notebooks. If you hadn't been there... I don't even want to imagine it. Thank you, truly.
A smile appeared on her face.
Behind his mask, Peter immediately felt his cheeks heat up.
— It's nothing. But be careful, okay? Danger can appear at any moment. It's up to us to stay cautious.
Gwen gently nodded.
Then her gaze dropped to Spider-Man's injured hand.
— Yes, you're right. And you should take care of your hand too.
Spider-Man quickly glanced at the injury.
— Oh, this? It's nothing serious. I've had worse, trust me.
He was about to leave.
A web shot from his web-shooter.
Then, at the last moment, he turned around.
— Very nice smile, by the way.
Gwen froze.
That sentence.
Exactly the same one.
The same words Peter had said to her the day before.
Spider-Man had already disappeared by the time the thought crossed her mind.
— Peter...? No... what am I saying... It can't be him. And yet... that sentence and that voice... it's strange.
Midtown High — Morning
Peter finished changing on a nearby rooftop before discreetly making his way back down to the street.
A few minutes later, he rushed through the doors of Midtown High.
Just like the day before, his arrival immediately drew attention.
A few laughs could be heard.
Peter didn't even pay attention anymore.
He quickly made his way to his seat beside Harry as class began.
Everything finally seemed back to normal.
At least until a shout suddenly echoed through the classroom.
— OH MY GOD, THIS IS INCREDIBLE!
The teacher immediately looked up from his notes.
— Mr. Thompson! What is it this time?
Flash was already on his feet, phone in hand.
— Nothing, sir! Well... except that we FINALLY have a video proving Spider-Man exists!
Several students immediately sat up straighter.
— What?! You're talking about that guy people have been hearing rumors about for months? He's real?!
Flash flashed a triumphant grin.
— Of course he is, you idiots! Come look!
Within seconds, a good portion of the class had gathered around him.
The reactions came instantly.
Shock.
Excitement.
Disbelief.
— What do you think he looks like? Do you think he's hot?
— If he's hot, I'm totally going for him! What about you, Liz?
Liz crossed her arms with an amused smile.
— If that's the case, I'd have to break up with Flash first. And that's not happening anytime soon.
— Hmm... well, you've still got a few years ahead of you...
— Hey! What's that supposed to mean?! You think Liz and I won't last?
— Hey, I didn't say anything! You're the one doubting, not me.
A few feet away, Peter watched the scene in silence.
— No wonder people are shocked. A guy in red and blue swinging between buildings... that's memorable. At first, a lot of people thought I was an urban legend. But now that I've been seen in broad daylight, my name is going to spread and people will eventually get used to it. Well... I hope so.
But as he looked toward the group, Liz noticed him staring.
Or at least, she thought she did.
— Wait... am I dreaming, or is the nerd checking me out?!
Peter blinked.
— Uh... are you talking about me?
— And now he's pretending to be innocent! Seriously, what's wrong with this guy?!
— What is she even talking about...?
Flash immediately turned toward Peter.
— Hey.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Flash walked over to him.
— Is it true? Were you checking her out?!
Behind them, several students were already fueling the misunderstanding.
— Do you think Peter is in love with Liz?
— Noooo, he probably just fantasizes about her...
Peter immediately raised his hands.
— No! I wasn't checking anyone out! I was just lost in thought! Ask Harry, I do that all the time!
Flash abruptly turned toward Harry.
— Is that true, Harry?!
Harry looked trapped.
— Uh... well...
— "Uh... well..." Shut up!
Several laughs erupted throughout the classroom.
Harry looked away, visibly uncomfortable.
Flash, on the other hand, seemed more and more irritated.
— And you, dude... you're gonna get it today...!
Peter let out an internal sigh.
Of course.
Again.
Just as Flash was about to make his move, a voice thundered across the room.
— THAT'S ENOUGH!
The entire class froze.
Every head turned toward the teacher.
Some looked surprised.
Others struggled to hold back their laughter.
A few students, however, seemed genuinely uncomfortable.
The teacher took a deep breath.
— I naively hoped things would calm down, but apparently that's impossible with you two. So listen carefully...!
He pointed at Flash and Peter.
— THOMPSON AND PARKER! Detention after school!
Flash's eyes widened.
— What?! You've got to be kidding me?!
Peter let out a long sigh.
Then he dropped his head onto his desk with a small groan of frustration.
Oscorp — Main Entrance of Oscorp Tower — Morning
A man walked through Oscorp's doors with a confident stride.
Barely had he entered the lobby when several security guards approached to search him.
But before they could act, a calm voice rose behind them.
— That's enough, gentlemen. No need to search him, he's expected.
The guards immediately stepped aside.
Norman Osborn walked toward the newcomer.
— Welcome, Mr...?
— Mac Gargan.
A slight smile appeared on Norman's face.
— Ah, there we go! Forgive my poor memory.
Mac shrugged.
— Listen, nothing personal, but I don't give a damn about politeness and smiles. I was told I could get stronger and make money. So let's cut to the chase, alright?
At those words, Norman seemed genuinely pleased.
— Perfect. Let's get straight to the main subject.
Oscorp — Experimental Laboratory (Basement)
A few minutes later, the group descended deep into the building.
Norman guided them to a vast laboratory located beneath Oscorp.
The atmosphere was cold.
Clinical.
High-tech equipment covered the walls, and numerous screens displayed scientific data incomprehensible to the average person.
Norman stopped in the center of the room.
— Here we are in Oscorp's underground laboratories, where the experiment will take place. Allow me to introduce Dr. Otto Octavius. A genius in his field... you can be certain the results will be worthwhile.
Otto slightly inclined his head.
— A pleasure to meet you, sir.
Norman then gestured toward Hammerhead.
— This is Hammerhead, though I assume you already know him. He works for the Big Boss and is here as an observer.
— Yeah... he's the one who found me and offered me the deal.
— Perfect. Then let's get down to business.
A few moments later, Mac Gargan was firmly strapped to a metal table.
A thick reinforced glass window now separated the test subject from the observers.
Norman, Otto, and Hammerhead watched the scene from outside the chamber.
Otto quickly checked his instruments.
Then he began explaining.
— Here's what's going to happen. The syringe above you contains modified scorpion DNA. The injection will merge that DNA with yours and transform your body. You'll gain its abilities, its strength, but your skin wo-
— Otto, no need to give him a lecture. Mr. Gargan already told me he doesn't care about the details. Let's get straight to the point.
Otto blinked, slightly thrown off.
— ...Very well.
— He's right. Go ahead. If it makes me stronger and richer, I'm in.
Otto took a breath.
Then activated the machine.
— Injection in 3... 2... 1.
The syringe descended.
The injection began.
A few seconds passed.
Then a few more.
Nothing.
Hammerhead frowned.
— Osborn... nothing's happening. Is this thing actually supposed to work?
Norman didn't seem worried in the slightest.
On the contrary.
— Be patient, Hammerhead. Watch.
Suddenly, Gargan's body began convulsing violently.
A scream of pain echoed throughout the laboratory.
His muscles swelled.
His skin began to change.
A greenish tint gradually appeared while a rigid exoskeleton spread across his body.
Only his face still retained a human appearance.
Norman watched the scene with fascination.
— Incredible...
Under the strain of his new body mass, the metal table began to bend.
Then it completely gave way.
But the transformation wasn't over.
— So? Is it finished?
— Not yet... the tail should appear any second now...
As if to confirm Otto's words, a long tail began emerging from Gargan's back.
It grew rapidly.
Longer and longer.
Larger and larger.
Until his metamorphosis was complete.
Mac Gargan no longer existed.
In his place now stood the Scorpion.
The newly transformed monster looked over his own body with excitement.
— Holy shit... this is insane! I feel like I'm radiating monstrous strength just by breathing!
Hammerhead displayed a slight smile.
— Perfect. And you know what you have left to do.
— Yeah. Smash the guy in the red and blue pajamas. With this kind of power? I'd advise you to start preparing a big bag full of green bills already!
Norman turned toward Otto.
— Congratulations, Otto. Excellent work. Take the rest of the day off.
Otto seemed slightly surprised.
— ...V-Very well, sir.
A few minutes later, he left the laboratory.
Then he entered the elevator to head home.
Norman waited for the doors to close before turning back toward Hammerhead.
— Well then, Hammerhead... your opinion?
— That's for the Big Boss to judge. But from my point of view... I'd say it's good work.
Norman calmly nodded.
— Perfect. When you need more soldiers, you know where to knock.
Hammerhead gestured for Scorpion to follow him.
— Hey, Scorpion, come on. Your first mission is waiting for you.
The two of them left the laboratory.
A few moments later, Norman found himself alone in Oscorp's underground facility.
Silence returned.
He looked around at the equipment surrounding him.
Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.
— It's perfect. Test subjects and resources beyond anything normal people could imagine. I'm going to push every boundary. And perhaps... finally accomplish what I've always dreamed of.
Midtown High — Detention Room — Afternoon
Inside a small room filled with dull silence, several students were trying to pass the time.
Some were reading.
Others were sleeping.
A few remained absorbed in their phones.
Peter Parker, meanwhile, was lost in thought.
At the other end of the room, Flash Thompson seemed just as irritated.
— You've got to be kidding me... detention. Me?! Peter Parker! I can't believe this...!
— And here I am... stuck in detention... damn it.
Peter slightly raised his head.
At the same moment, Flash looked up as well.
Their eyes met.
A silent tension immediately settled between them.
— And all because of that idiot!
— And all because of that idiot!
Suddenly, several sirens blared outside.
Peter turned his head toward the window.
A long line of police cars was speeding through the city toward downtown.
At the same moment, his phone vibrated.
A notification appeared on the screen.
Something serious was happening.
— This must be serious. Not a second to lose!
Peter immediately raised his hand.
— Ma'am?
— Yes? What is it, Parker?
Peter put on a tired expression.
— Can I go to the restroom? I... I'm not feeling very well...
The supervisor hesitated for a few seconds.
Then she let out a sigh.
— Fine. But make it quick.
— Yes!
— Thank you, ma'am!
Flash practically jumped out of his chair.
— Seriously?! If it were me, you would've said no!
— Thompson... Parker is a good student, polite and respectful. You just make me want to quit this job. So be quiet unless you want to stay even longer.
Flash clenched his teeth.
— Damn it...!
Peter couldn't help but crack a slight smile before leaving the room.
Midtown High — Main Hallway — Afternoon
Once in the hallway, Peter quickened his pace.
But as soon as he turned a corner, he bumped into someone.
Papers flew everywhere.
— Oh, sorry!
— No, it's okay. It's nothing.
Peter immediately bent down to pick them up.
Then he looked up.
— Gwen?
— Peter?
For a moment, they were both surprised to find each other there.
Then Peter smiled.
— You're finally here? You, who's always on time.
Gwen slightly looked away.
— Yeah... let's just say I had a little issue this morning.
— "Little" isn't exactly the right word...
For a moment, a strange tension settled between them.
Then Gwen noticed something.
The injury on Peter's hand.
Her gaze lingered on it.
— That injury... it's the same...
— Your hand, is it okay? It looks painful...
Peter reacted almost immediately.
— Huh? Oh yeah, it's nothing serious, don't worry! But listen, I have to go. Can you do me a favor, please?
Gwen seemed surprised.
— Uh... sure, tell me.
Peter quickly glanced around him.
Clearly in a hurry.
— I was in detention, but I told them I wasn't feeling well. In 30 minutes, can you tell the supervisor that I went home? Would you...?
Gwen immediately felt her determination waver.
— If you're asking that nicely, I guess th-
— Thanks, Gwen, you're the best!
Peter was already backing away down the hallway.
A grateful smile on his face.
Knowing he could trust her, he didn't even listen to the end of her sentence.
A few seconds later, he had already disappeared.
Gwen remained alone in the middle of the hallway.
— He didn't even let me finish...
A brief silence settled.
Then her mind returned to the accident that morning.
To Spider-Man.
To his injured hand.
And to Peter.
— But this is really strange. That injury... it's exactly the same as that man's... Spider-Man's...
Downtown Manhattan — Afternoon
Downtown Manhattan was engulfed in chaos.
Cars were being hurled through the air by powerful shockwaves.
Pedestrians fled in every direction.
Amid the panic, a police officer suddenly found himself directly in the path of an overturned vehicle.
The impact seemed inevitable.
But a red-and-blue figure appeared at full speed.
Spider-Man grabbed the man at the last second and pulled him to safety.
— Are you alright, sir?
The officer struggled to catch his breath before nodding.
— Yes... thanks to you. Thank you.
Spider-Man helped him back to his feet.
Then he immediately recognized him.
— Gwen's father?! A police officer?! Saving the daughter and the father on the same day... that's starting to be a lot!
George Stacy adjusted his jacket and looked at his savior.
— You're... Spider-Man, right?
Spider-Man gave a slight theatrical bow.
— At your service!
— I've heard about you. My colleagues even saw a video.
— Well, my reputation is growing. That's nice to hear.
George allowed himself a slight smile.
— Help us defeat this guy, and you'll be even more popular.
Spider-Man slightly cracked his neck.
— No problem. Tell your men to stay back, I've got this.
His gaze swept across the debris scattered throughout the street.
— Alright... who's today's clown?
A familiar voice suddenly echoed behind him.
— I think... the clown is you.
Spider-Man froze.
— Wait... that voice...
A figure slowly emerged from the wreckage.
— This time... you're the one who's going to get humiliated, you little pest!
Spider-Man's eyes widened.
— Shocker?! But... I beat you and sent you to prison! The cops came to pick you up!
Instinctively, he turned toward George Stacy.
— Sir, do you know anything about this?!
George frowned.
— I'm not aware of anything. But if you're saying he was arrested, that's strange... Are you sure?
— One hundred percent!
Suddenly, George looked behind him.
His expression immediately changed.
— Spider-Man! Watch out!
The next instant, the fight began.
Shocker raised his gauntlets and unleashed a first shockwave.
Spider-Man dodged it with ease.
Then a second.
Then a third.
— Seriously? A sneak attack? That's low. Even for you, Shocky.
— I'm sick of your shitty jokes! I'm gonna shut your mouth for good!
Another shockwave tore through the street.
Spider-Man effortlessly leapt over it.
Even while dodging, his mind kept working.
— Wait! If he's out, are the others out too? No, that's impossible... unless...
— Well? What's wrong? Have you finally decided to shut up?!
— We'll talk about that later.
Spider-Man suddenly launched himself toward his opponent.
But his spider-sense exploded inside his mind.
— NOW!
An unfamiliar voice.
An order.
Then an attack.
Something emerged behind him.
Spider-Man turned just in time to see a gigantic creature with the appearance of a scorpion.
He barely avoided the tail rushing toward him.
But not completely.
The stinger grazed his arm.
A simple touch.
Nothing more.
Yet it was enough.
— So? You got him, I hope?
— Yeah... I think so.
Spider-Man took a few steps back.
— After shockwaves, now we've got Scorpion cosplay! Seriously, what's next?
But something was wrong.
His balance faltered.
His vision blurred.
— Huh... my sight...
The world around him suddenly seemed distorted.
His legs trembled.
He dropped to his knees.
— What's happening...? He... he poisoned me...?
Scorpion watched the scene.
— Yeah, no doubt about it. I definitely got him.
Shocker slowly approached.
A cruel smile now stretched across his face.
— Well then...? What's wrong? Not feeling so good anymore, Spider-Man...?
Spider-Man tried to stand.
In vain.
His breathing was becoming uneven.
His vision continued to darken.
Then the truth hit him.
— ...Shit.
His body gave out.
And he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
TO BE CONTINUED.