[April, 20th, 2011]
(Peter: POV)
Sitting in the lunch room at school with the usual crowd, which now included Liz, ever since she and Harry revealed they were dating, I listened as everyone went over their upcoming plans with half my brain power.
While I used the other half to focus on everything Spider related.
Namely the Arc Reactor technology, whose reverse engineering I'm making great progress in.
Then there's Gwen who is getting miles ahead of Norman in regards to completing a working and stable version of the Super-soldier serum.
Though she still hasn't given me an answer in regards to learning magic from the Ancient One like I know I want to.
But that's okay. I'm not going to rush her.
After all, Peter Parker is nothing if not a patient man.
"Peter, you listening?" Ned asked me.
"Yeah." I replied. "And stop worrying so much with the lineup you guys have I'm sure you'll have no trouble taking state, and then its off to regionals." I said.
Since Ned has been voicing his worries about the academic decathlons team in their upcoming competition.
See, I pay attention.
"Yeah Ned, stop worrying so much." Felicia added. "You're just psyching yourself out."
"Peter and Felicia are right Ned. Anxiety is the enemy of victory." Liz added.
"Says the girl who ends up almost pulling out her hair when we're at every competition." Harry said.
"That's different. I'm team captain, so it's my job to worry."
"And that makes you even cuter in my eyes." Harry replied.
"Okay, okay, save the couple mush for when you're alone." Felicia mused.
"Oh quiet Hardy. You're just jealous because you don't have an amazing boyfriend like me." Liz retorted. But in a playful manner.
"Actually with the way the boys act around you I'm sort of surprised you don't have one yet." Gwen spoke.
"Well it's not like I'm not looking, it's just that I've never met a boy that can truly capture my attention. And when I do take interest in one they are generally already taken. So yeah. I guess you can say my luck with men is shit." She admitted.
"Eh I'm sure things will work out for you eventually Felicia." I spoke. "Since any guy who manages to land you will definitely be counting his blessings. And if he doesn't then he'll be an utter fool."
"I second that." Gwen added.
"Me three." Harry proclaimed.
"Fourth." Liz spoke.
"I'm five then." Ned added.
"Thanks guys, truly." Felicia replied. A bright smile on her face.
We all then made small talk until lunch ended, after which we went through the rest of the school day before going our seperate ways.
Me and Gwen heading immediately to the Web.
Where once we arrived Spinner immediately pulled up a video feed from one of the Spider-Bots on one of the monitors.
"Peter, Gwen, we've got trouble." He spoke seriously.
Spinner not being wrong.
Given the video feed showed none other than Flint Marko, also known as Sandman, robbing an armored truck.
Dammit.
Okay, after this is over I'm putting Spinner in charge of surveilling the rest of my potentials rogues gallery, aside from Liz's dad and brother, since I don't want to be dealing with these types of situations for the rest of my days.
"Is that a man or a creature?" Gwen asked.
"We can discern that when we arrive on the scene." I spoke. Even though I already knew which is was.
"But before that, here." I said. Moving over to a work bench to retrieve a pair of web-shooters I made for Gwen and then handed them to her. "You're very own web shooters. Already tested and ready for field use. Also perfect for this situation. So bring them along."
"Okay. And how are they perfect for this situation?" Gwen spoke.
"I'll tell you on the way." I said.
Gwen nodding her head.
Once she did the two of us moved to suit up and then we were off to drop Flint.
***
Landing on a side of the building near the area Flint was Gwen and I first observed his actions.
Noticing he wasn't truly trying to attack anyone and simply going after the truck.
Even ignoring the bullets police were shooting at him, since they just passed through him harmlessly.
"Are the police seriously just going to keep shooting like that?!" Gwen asked.
"Maybe they think if they fire which bullets they'll get lucky." I said.
Even though the officers tactics are completely reckless.
For them just firing like that can put innocent people in danger.
"Yeah, let's get down there and drop this."
"Took the words right out of my mouth." Gwen replied.
She then ran along the side of the building before jumping off first, me following right behind her.
The two of us webbing up the officers firing on Marko as we descednded, until we landed right behind the sandman.
The man himself turning around as we did.
"Hey Spider-couple, what's the big idea?!" One of the officers angrily shouted. "That sand fre-hnpf!!" He began to say.
Only to Gwen to web his mouth shut.
"Quiet you. After all, didn't your mother ever teach you, it's not nice to call people names."
She spoke. Before turning her full attention back to Marko.
Who was now in his human form.
"Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider." Flint said.
"Those are our names and the superhero business is our main game." I replied. "Now then Mr. Sandman, mind telling me why you're robbing an armored truck in broad daylight? After all I thought you were only supposed to come out during the night."
At my words Flint scowled. "Don't play with me Spider-Man, I've got no time for games!"
"And why is that?" Gwen asked.
"Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, I've identified your sand-inclined thief." Spinner informing us he managed to identify Flint over the comms a second later.
Once this occured information on the man came up in my HUD, knowing the same was happening inside of Gwens'.
As I scanned through it I found his life was basically the same as it was in the Maguire films, and that he likely acquired his powers the same way.
The only difference is it seems in this reality, like so many other characters I've encountered so far, he is also a mix with his comic counterpart.
Given his wife in this reality is Alma and he two daughters, with his eldest being Keemia.
"You wouldn't understand!" Flint shouted.
"What wouldn't we understand Flint?" I asked.
Stepping slightly closer, ignoring the man's shocked expression as I mentioned his name.
"That your youngest daughter is sick, and that's likely the reason you're using your newfound gifts to rob this armored truck right now. So you can get the money to save her." I spoke.
"Shut up!" Flint shouted at me. "You don't understand anything!" He spoke. "I've failed my family so much already. And I'll be damned if I fail them this time."
"But you see Flint, that's the thing. By doing this you are failing them." Gwen spoke. Stepping closer to Flint like I did. "Because even if you get away you're an escaped convict. Not only that but one that will now be classified as a super criminal. Given your powers. Thus you will be regarded as someone much more dangerous and with your record, I'm afraid if you continue you may never get out again. Then what would your family do then?"
"Ghost-Spider is correct." I added. "And let's say you do manage to get away from us here today. Then what? We know who you are and prert soon everyone else will as well. Which still puts your family in the same situation. Only now they might be counted as your accomplices. Or at least your wife if she knew what you were up to."
"Don't you dare talk about my wife!" Flint shouted.
"Flint, please stay calm. We're simply telling you all your options and laying out the consequences of them. Nothing more and nothing less." I replied. "And on that note the best choice for you right now is to surrender peacefully. Because if you do I'll help you. And your family."
"No, we both will." Gwen added.
"Yeah right." Flint replied. Snorting. "And why would you two heroes help someone like me?"
"Because it's the right thing to do." I instantly retorted.
"So what, you're going to help me out of the goodness of your heart?"
"Flint, if we didn't want to do that we wouldn't put on these mask and risk our lives going up against criminals." Gwen spoke.
"Ghost-Spider is speaking the truth." I said. "So again I ask you, please stand down and surrender. For your sake, your families, and everyone's. Please?" I spoke.
Hoping my words got through to Flint.
Who did nothing except stare at me and Gwen for several seconds.
Until eventually he made his choice.
"Alright." He replied. Flint then raised his arms up in the air. "I surrender." He spoke.
Hearing this I breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankful my own Spiser-Man talk no jutsu worked and that Gwen and I didn't have to put Flint down the hard way.
Since if it came down to it we would've using the new adhesive Web formulae I created based on the Trapster glue formulae.
That's one of the reasons I gave Gwen her new web-shooters.
Another is so in case she can't ever use her organic webbing she has something to fall back on.
Not to mention the web shooters, with the different webbings I've created give more versatility.
That's why I'll still use them, even if I acquire organic webbing some day.
Moving on.
As Flint stood down Gwen and I facilitated his transfer to police custody.
We even trailed him as he was taken back to prison.
Just to make sure he didn't try to escape, or some super shady ass organization didn't try to kidnap him for nefarious purposes.
Given many of those exist in any Marvel universe at any given time.
But thankfully none of that happened.
Flint arrived at the prison without incident.
Even so I still tasked several Spider-Bots with monitoring him for the time being.
Then once I did Gwen and I returned to the Web.
Where I immediately made good on my promise to Flint to help his daughter Penny.
By using my brilliant hacking skills, and with Spinner assistance, I easily set up a charitable foundation that would pay and cover any and all of Penny medical bills and treatments.
But not just for her for several other kids in similar situations as well.
When Spinner and I finished I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands behind my head.
Satisfied at my actions today.
But before I could truly relax Spinner spoke up.
"Emergency, we have a code red!" He exclaimed.
The second he did I immediately sat up and put a serious expression on my face.
While Gwen stopped working on the Super-soldier serum and walked over to my side.
"What's the situation Spinner?" I asked.
"Power has suddenly stopped being sent to several portions of New York City grid. Creating massive chaos and leaving deviststation in its wake." He spoke.
Then bringing up several news reports and social media posts about the event.
"Do we know whose responsible for this chaos?" Gwen asked. Anger in her voice.
Not that I can blame her since I'm super pissed off as well.
Whoever did this is in big trouble when I get my hands on them.
No sooner than after I thought this then several news feeds suddenly became filled with the very familiar face of Electro.
Looks exactly like he did in the Amazing Spider-Man films.
"Hello New York City." He began. "As you may have realized by now a number of you are without power. All of which is my doing. And unless my demands are met, it's lights out off the entirety of the Big Apple." Electro spoke.
"Spinner triangulate his location." I spoke.
"Already on it." Spinner replied.
As he did I headed over to the display case to retrieve my insulated suit.
Getting ready to show Electro just how badly he fucked up.
Since tonight Spider-Man isn't going to be making jokes.
***
A/N: Yes, Peter is angry and deadly serious. I wanted to show this part of him, along with his compassionate side. That's why he took down Flint the way he did
But Electro won't get off that easy, given the chaos he's causing.
No, he's going to get a Spider-Man that doesn't make jokes, and you true fans know how terrifying that is.
So pray for Electro.
Well until next chapter.