In Oscorp Tower, Harry watched footage of Kiran Spider-Man swinging through the city, trading blows with criminals far larger than himself. Harry leaned forward slightly, fingers steepled, eyes sharp with interest. "Impressive strength. Impressive speed," he murmured. "A little rough around the edges… but with guidance, he'll be great. No amazing." A small smile tugged at his lips as a scientist entered the room.
"Sir, Gargan has been fully injected with the scorpion venom. No negative signs so far." Harry switched channels. Mac Gargan floated inside a massive tank of glowing green liquid. His body had already begun to change muscles swelling unnaturally, skin hardening into dark scales. A massive ten-foot tail curled around him, ending in a sharp, barbed stinger that scraped faintly against the glass. Another monitor flickered on. A young girl stood outside Harry's office door, knocking impatiently.
"Dad? You here?" Harry shut off the screens. "Come in." She walked inside with her arms crossed, irritation written all over her face. "Are you seriously sending me to Midtown? It's a run-down school." "You failed to get into Brooklyn Visions," Harry said calmly. "Midtown is your option. And it's not that bad I went there when I was your age." She rolled her eyes. "Things are going to change, Olivia," Harry added, his tone quieter but firm. "Be ready to make sacrifices."
She didn't respond. She turned and walked out, leaving Harry alone again with the darkened screens. On the rooftop of a school in Queens, Gwen held Kiran's phone awkwardly, glancing down at the street far below. "Are you sure you want me doing this?" she asked. "I'm terrible at taking photos." Kiran stood a few steps away in full costume, stretching his shoulders. "Relax. I'll swing past, you snap the picture, I get paid. Easy."
Gwen shot him a skeptical sideways look. Unseen by either of them, a camera lens zoomed in. Kiran suddenly froze. A sharp buzz rippled through his head. He scanned the rooftops, the skyline, the shadows nothing. "…Is my spider-sense broken?" he muttered, rubbing his temple. "Kiran?" Gwen asked. "You okay? I really gotta go." She raised the phone and snapped several pictures as Kiran swung past in a blur. Moments later, he helped her climb safely down from the rooftop.
Across the street, Eddie Brock lowered his camera, grinning. "So Spider-Man's got a girlfriend," he muttered. "This'll get me the prize and a job at the Bugle." He took off at a run. The next day, Kiran stepped off a crowded train, irritation simmering under the surface. "Thanks to Herman, I'm low on web fluid and down one web shooter," he thought. "Hope he's enjoying that disgusting Ravencroft prison food."
He bumped into someone. "Sorry...." His heart jumped. The man in front of him was holding a photo. A photo of him and Gwen. "Nah, my fault," Eddie Brock said casually, sliding the photo back into his grip before bolting away. "You've got to be kidding me," Kiran muttered. "So that's why my spider-sense was going off." He looked toward the skyline. "If I want that money, I have to beat him to the Bugle. Guess I'm cheating." Sirens wailed as police cars tore through the street, chasing an armored Oscorp truck that smashed through traffic like paper.
"The pay better be worth this," one of the men inside muttered while firing at the pursuing cops. "Just drive," the other snapped. "And watch out for Spider-Man." "I still say he's a myth." A heavy thump echoed across the roof. "…You still think that?" the driver said. Kiran crouched on top of the truck, gripping the metal. "Okay. How do I stop a half-ton armored Oscorp truck? And what exactly are these idiots stealing?" He knocked on the window. "Hey! Big vehicle or not, you're breaking several traffic laws."
Gunfire erupted. Kiran dropped down the side as bullets tore through the air. His phone rang. "Hey, Aunt," he said, clinging to the undercarriage as shots punched through the pavement inches from his head. "Kiran, where are you?" she asked. "You said you'd drop off the pictures and come straight back." "Traffic's really bad," he grunted. "Waiting for the light to change." "Well, I need you home to fix the oven before the Parkers arrive." "I'll be there. I think I see my opening, bye Aunt!"
He slingshotted back onto the roof just as the truck veered toward pedestrians. Kiran fired webs in rapid succession, yanking people out of danger seconds before the vehicle tore through the sidewalk. "You know you're not supposed to drive there, right?" he called out. The men abandoned the truck, leaping into another car and speeding away. "Where are you going?" Kiran shouted. "I was just about to tell you my favorite color." One of them laughed. "Shouldn't you worry about the truck, hero?"
Kiran turned. The truck wasn't slowing down. "Of course." He climbed inside and grabbed the brake. Nothing happened. "Not surprised." Kiran fired multiple web lines, anchoring the truck to nearby buildings. Then he flipped in front of it, digging his feet into the street as the impact rattled his bones. Glass storefronts rushed toward him. "Oh, come on terrible place to stop." With a final shove, the truck screeched to a halt. Kiran webbed the wheels and staggered back. "Wonder what that was all about?"
"…The picture!" he gasped, swinging away. Kiran climbed into the Daily Bugle through a janitor's closet, already in civilian clothes. Eddie Brock burst out from another hallway at the same time. They both sprinted toward J. Jonah Jameson. "I've got pictures of Spider-Man!" they yelled in unison. Jameson grinned. "Now this is what I like." He examined both sets of photos, scowling. "Too blurry. Too far away." Then he slapped Kiran's phone down. "I'll take the kid's." Eddie stared in disbelief before storming off. "You just ruined my only shot."
"I almost feel bad," Kiran thought. "Almost." At the front desk, he handed over the note. "I'm Kiran Walker. I was told to give you this." Betty Brant smiled warmly. "Nice job beating Eddie Brock." She slid a check across the counter. $3,000. Kiran blinked. "Uh… thanks." next moment Kiran burst through the front door of his house. "I'm home!" Aunt smiled from the kitchen. "Looks like you already started." "Sorry, Aunt." "It's okay. Mrs. Parker brought apple pie. Did you sell your pictures?"
Kiran pulled out the check. Aunt gasped and hugged him, pride shining in her eyes. "That's amazing," May said. "Celebrating something?" Peter Parker asked as he walked in. "Mr. Parker!" Kiran said, instantly fixing his hair. Mary Jane leaned toward May, whispering teasingly. "So… he's been on your mind lately why don't you ask him out?" May blushed. "Mom!" "He has a girlfriend," she added quickly. Mary Jane only shrugged and smiled.
In a hospital room, Gwen sat beside her mother, who rested against her pillows reading a book. "So when will I get to meet this Kiran? Your father says that's all you talk about," the woman said, lowering the book slightly. "I don't talk about him that much… and as soon as you're better," Gwen replied. "I feel like a million bucks, and I want to meet the boy who's put the biggest smile on my little girl," Gwen's mom said before coughing into her sleeve.
The door opened as a doctor stepped inside preparing medication. "Alright, Mrs. Stacy, it's time to take your medication." Back home, Kiran wiped down the kitchen counter while stacking dishes. "You sure I can't help?" May asked from the doorway. "Yeah, it's alright. See you tomorrow," Kiran said as May waved goodbye and stepped outside. "Kiran, I don't want you giving up all your money," Aunt said, pushing the cash back across the table.
"Aunt, I got that for you. Since Uncle isn't here, it's my responsibility to help with the bills," Kiran said firmly. "Alright, but you need to take some for yourself. I don't want to hear any excuses." Kiran sighed but smiled, pulling five hundred from the stack. "Okay, Aunt." His phone rang. He answered quickly. "Hey, Gwen." "Hey, I was wondering if you're free tomorrow after school?" Gwen asked. "Yeah." "Good, because my mom wants to meet you, and she won't take no for an answer."
"Yeah, I'll be there," Kiran said with a small laugh before hanging up. His phone buzzed again robbery alert. "Guess I can get in a little spider work. The sun is still out," he muttered while sprinting to his room. Moments later he launched out his window in full costume. Inside a jewelry store, two men waved machine guns at terrified clerks and security guards while sweeping jewels into bags. "I don't see the bug. All we had to do was make a fuss," the larger man growled.
"Who cares now? I'm taking my cut," the smaller one said, raising his weapon toward a woman. A webline snapped across the room, ripping the gun from his hands. "Didn't your parents ever tell you not to point guns at people?" Kiran said as he swung through the skylight and landed sideways on the wall. "Finally, you've shown yourself, bug," the large man said. "Were you waiting for me? I've been working on my autograph. Want one on your way to jail?" Kiran shot forward, web-zipping into a spinning kick that slammed into the man's face before backflipping away.
The smaller thug lunged from behind. Kiran twisted aside, swept his legs, kicked him into a display case, and wrapped him in webbing mid-slide. "Just wait there for a moment," Kiran said. His spider-sense exploded. He vaulted sideways as bullets tore through marble. A quick web yank ripped the gun free. "No guns, remember?" He rushed forward, flipped over another punch, slammed a kick into the thug's chest, and webbed him to the floor. "Alright, that should do it. And I got some more pictures. I wonder if big mouth would take more?"
He turned toward the exit. His spider-sense screamed again. He jumped acid splashed across his shoulder, burning through fabric and skin. "Ouch! What was that?" Kiran hissed, clinging to the wall. The front of the store burst inward as a towering green-scaled figure stepped through shattered glass, a massive stinger tail scraping behind him. "And who are you, handbag?" Kiran asked while dodging another acid blast that melted straight through concrete behind him. "Sulfuric acid? No… burns way too fast."
"Now remember, Gargan, don't kill him," Harry's voice crackled through an earpiece. Gargan charged like a freight train. Kiran flipped off the wall as Gargan's punch obliterated it. "Okay… so that happened. Guess you're much stronger than a handbag." Acid sprayed again. Kiran vaulted over a parked car as it dissolved under the splash. "Wow, that's one way to clean a car, but I'd rather stick to water." He darted in close, weaving past two heavy swings and driving a punch into Gargan's gut. Pain shot through his hand instantly.
"Ouch. I guess someone never misses ab day." Gargan answered with a brutal hook that launched Kiran into a mailbox, crushing it around him. "Do you ever shut up, kid? Like, seriously?" Gargan growled. "And here I was beginning to think your ears were gone. But how are you hearing is the real question?" Kiran shot back while dodging another acid stream. "I'm gonna melt you into nothing, kid!" Gargan lunged again. Kiran swung forward, planting both feet into Gargan's chest and knocking him into a parked car.
"So I'm guessing your zodiac sign is Scorpio?" Kiran quipped while flipping away from another acid blast. "Gargan, stop focusing on Spider-Man. Attack the civilians," Harry ordered. Gargan turned instantly, firing acid toward a woman frozen in terror. "No!" Kiran shouted. He swung down, grabbed her, and yanked her clear but acid splashed across his back, burning through his suit and scorching his skin black. "Oh my God, you're hurt!" she cried. "Not a problem… just a flesh wound. A really bad flesh wound," Kiran groaned, shoving her toward safety.
Gargan's tail whipped forward, wrapping around Kiran's neck and lifting him off the ground. "Think this'll hold when I have the proportional strength of a spider?" Kiran gasped while struggling. He fired a webline at a nearby mailbox, ripped it free, and smashed it into Gargan's head. The impact forced Gargan to release him. "That tail's not just for show," Kiran coughed, catching his breath. Gargan roared and charged again. Kiran dropped flat onto his back as the tail struck downward the stinger plunging into Gargan himself.
"AHHH!" Gargan screamed before collapsing unconscious. "Huh… you'd think he'd be immune to his own venom," Kiran muttered, breathing hard. Sirens wailed closer. He fired his web shooter. Click. Empty. "…Of course," he muttered before sprinting and parkouring across rooftops. Inside Oscorp, scientists stared nervously at monitors. "Looks like it was a failure, boss," one said. Harry smiled.
"I don't think it was." Gargan's body twitched violently. Scales split. Muscles swelled. His form expanded grotesquely as he rose again. Police surrounded him moments later. "Hands in the air!" an officer shouted. Gargan roared. Bullets bounced harmlessly off his body as he grabbed the officer and hurled him through the jewelry store before sprinting into the city. Harry's smile widened.
Kiran climbed through his window, exhausted. "Man, that took a while." he thought as he glanced at the clock. 1:00 a.m. His phone screen was cracked, barely holding together. "It just gets better," Kiran muttered. "I can still get six hours of sleep, though." He peeled off his suit carefully, hissing in pain. When he turned, the burn on his back and shoulder looked even worse up close blackened, raw, angry. He didn't bother doing anything about it. He collapsed onto his bed and passed out almost instantly.
The next morning at Midtown, Kiran walked through the halls stiffly, doing his best to ignore the pain. "Kiran, you okay?" Gwen asked, noticing his posture. "Yeah," he said casually. "Just dealing with a massive burn. It'll heal… I think." Without another word, Gwen grabbed his hand and pulled him into the janitor's closet. "Okay. Take off your shirt," she said. "Gwen, I think this is the wrong time," Kiran joked. "We have class in, like, one minute." She raised an eyebrow and folded her arms.
"…Tough crowd," Kiran muttered, taking off his shirt and turning around. Gwen's eyes widened when she saw the burn. She immediately dug into her bag and pulled out burn cream. "Gwen, why do you have burn cream?" Kiran asked. "Knowing you, I carry every medicine on the planet," she said, already applying it. "Do you have a lollipop in that bag too, Nurse Gwen?" Kiran quipped then winced. "A little cold," he added.
"Stop complaining," Gwen said. "You don't have to look at it." She finished his back and shoulder, and Kiran pulled his shirt back on as they stepped out. "Whoa, Gwen and Kiran couldn't wait till they got home, huh?" Michael said with a grin. "It's not like that!" they both shouted, instantly blushing. Back at Oscorp, Gargan floated inside a containment tank filled with water, his body twitching unnaturally.
"His mutation is still evolving," a scientist reported. "He's growing stronger… and his venom output is increasing." "He's already far stronger than Spider-Man," Harry said calmly. "And still growing. I'd call this a successful project." "Sir," the scientist hesitated, "Gargan could have killed Spider-Man. Why did you stop him?" "Our employer wants to see what Spider-Man can do before killing him," Harry replied, smiling.
Back at Midtown, gym class had been moved outside. "Alright, everyone," the teacher announced, "since our gym building was destroyed, we'll be holding class outdoors." "I hate gym," Kiran thought. "Not because I'm good at it now but because I have to humiliate myself to protect my secret identity." "Hey, Kiran," Michael said while stretching. "I think I've got a real shot at going out with Liz." "The head cheerleader?" Kiran said. "Good luck, man. She even shut down Flash."
The teacher blew the whistle and told them to run. Kiran's spider-sense flared. Flash charged straight at him. "This secret identity stuff gets old sometimes," Kiran thought as Flash slammed into him, sending him to the ground. "You should watch where you're running, nerd," Flash laughed, jogging away. "Kiran, you okay?" Michael asked, helping him up. "Yeah." "That dude's a jerk." "Hey, you okay?" a girl asked.
Kiran looked over. "You're the new girl, right? Uh." "Olivia Osborn," she said. "Wow," Kiran said. "Harry Osborn's daughter goes here? That's… kind of wild." The teacher called them back into formation. Later, Gwen slid into her seat next to Kiran. "Kiran, have you seen this?" she asked, showing him the Daily Bugle headline. "'Spider-Man: Hero or Menace?'" Kiran hissed. "Menace!? That big mouth." Everyone stared. Kiran slowly sank back into his seat.
Gwen's phone buzzed. "Hey, look. There's an alert in Queens. Some guy shooting glue." "Oh man," Kiran sighed. "And I was really planning on starting a perfect attendance record." He froze. "Wait… what about meeting your mom?" "This guy looks like a chump," Gwen said. "Take him out real quick and come back. Easy, right?" The bell rang as the teacher walked in. "When you put it like that… yeah," Kiran said. "Uh, I gotta go to the bathroom!" He bolted out the door. "Guess he really had to go," the teacher muttered.
Kiran swung through the city, his torn suit flapping slightly. "Feels a little breezy," he thought. "Definitely need to fix this thing again." He landed near the scene just as a man in a green-and-yellow armored bodysuit fired glowing green paste at police officers, sticking them to their squad cars. The weapon was connected to a large canister on his back. "Hey, glue stick!" Kiran shouted while dodging a blast. "You new in town?" "I've been wanting to try this on you," the man said. "I hear you stick to walls."
Kiran flipped forward, landed in front of him, and swept his legs out. "At least tell me your name before starting the dance." "Hey, Spider-Man," a civilian yelled, struggling against the wall. "Can you stop him without getting us involved?" "Oops sorry. New bad guy," Kiran said. The man hurled a small ball. It burst on impact, coating Kiran in paste and slamming him onto a car. "What the hell is this stuff?" Kiran grunted. "It's way stickier than any adhesive." "Soon everyone will know me as Trapster!" the villain declared, grabbing a bag of money and sprinting away. Kiran sighed, still stuck. "…Well, that sucked."