The ALCHEMAX building was massive, a literal maze of white corridors, glass walls, and high-tech security. Peter and Gwen felt small inside the giant facility, and finding the Chief Scientist's office by wandering around was impossible.
"Peter, let me use my Spider-Sense," Gwen suggested, her brow furrowed. "Maybe I can feel which way the danger is coming from."
Peter shook his head and pulled out his phone. "No need. This is Deep Blue's specialty. We just need a computer."
They slipped into an empty office nearby. It was only 8:00 AM, so most of the staff hadn't arrived yet. With a quick, controlled burst of strength, Gwen broke the lock on a desk. Peter plugged his phone into the computer host.
Ding!
Deep Blue's smiling face appeared on the screen. "Master, I have full control of the cameras. I've mapped the building. The Chief Scientist's office is three floors up."
"Great work," Peter whispered.
But the AI wasn't finished. "One warning, Master. According to the security logs, the Chief Scientist never left last night. She is still inside her laboratory."
Peter's heart sank. He knew exactly who that scientist was: Dr. Olivia Octavius. In this world, Doctor Octopus was a woman, but she was just as brilliant—and just as deadly—as any version of Otto Octavius.
"She's a genius and a fighter," Peter told Gwen. "This just got a lot more dangerous. We have to hope the team outside does their job."
The Distraction Team
Outside the building, hidden behind the rocks, the other Spiders were arguing about how to start their "feint."
"Let's just throw a big rock and smash some cars," Peter B. Parker suggested, looking lazy as usual.
"That's not enough," Shadow Spider-Man (Noir) growled. His voice was low and gravelly. "We need to make them think the city is under attack. We need fire."
Peni Parker hopped up and down. "Can I just use my spider-robot to stomp on the front gate?"
Before they could decide, Miles Morales pointed a trembling finger toward the road. "Wait! Look! That's the limo from the news! It's Kingpin!"
A long, black limousine was slowly winding its way up the valley toward the lab. Even from a distance, their enhanced eyes could see the massive, hulking shape of a man sitting in the back seat. Kingpin was arriving.
"We have to stop him!" Peter B. said, panic rising in his voice. "If he gets inside, Peter and Gwen are trapped!"
But before the veteran Spider-Man could make a plan, Shadow Spider-Man acted. He didn't believe in talking; he believed in results. He pulled out his heavy, custom-made revolver.
BANG! BANG!
With two perfectly aimed shots, he blew out both front tires of the speeding limo. The car swerved violently, smashed through the guardrail, and flipped into a ditch. A second later, the gas tank ignited, and the entire vehicle was swallowed by a massive ball of orange fire.
"Are you crazy?!" Peter B. shouted, staring at the burning wreckage. "You can't just blow up a car like that!"
Shadow Spider-Man just reloaded his gun, his eyes cold behind his goggles. "You wanted a distraction. Now you have one."
The question now was: Could anyone—even a man as big as Kingpin—survive an explosion like that?