Peter gently pushes open the door. He is holding a stack of files and sees a middle-aged man in a white lab coat packing up his belongings. He asks, "Dr. Connors, you has to leave today?"
The man has gray hair and looks somewhat exhausted. More importantly, his right arm under the lab coat is empty. Obviously, he only has one arm.
"Oh, Peter? Yes, the research collaboration has come to an end. I have to leave," says Dr. Connors.
Peter gently places the files on Dr. Connors' desk and whispers, "I'm sorry. If I were more smart, perhaps I could make it before the research ends..."
"You're already very smart," Dr. Connors says gently. "You're just a high school student, but you are even smarter and more hardworking than the graduate students I see before. If possible, I'm willing to write you a recommendation letter."
"Thank you, but I haven't decided which university to attend yet, and I still have some time before going to college," Peter replies.
Peter moves his lips, "So where are you planning to go next? The research on the serum is in its final stages, and it should be able to be completed with a similar lab."
Dr. Connors looks around his office and says, "There won't be anywhere with the same excellent conditions as Stark Tower. I agreed to come here because of the hardware conditions in the lab."
He packs his belongings with his remaining hand and continues, "But it's okay. As you said, we're at the final stage of the experiment. Only with a little more effort, I can make it."
"At that time, maybe not only I can regain my arm, but many others who have lost limbs in war as well. The financial assistance provided by the military is barely enough to make ends meet. And those prosthetics are too expensive. If there truly is a regenerative serum, they can become whole again."
Peter senses the excitement in Dr. Connors' tone. In his internship, Dr. Connors leaves the deepest impression on him.
Originally, Peter is not interning with this research group. While running errands for his team leader, he coincidentally meets Dr. Connors, who has just been invited by the military to participate in the Stark Medical research collaboration.
From the very first moment he sees him, Peter is amazed, because Dr. Connors only has one arm, but it doesn't hinder his scientific research in the slightest. He has a brilliant brain and is at the forefront of research in the fields of bionics and serum technology.
Peter is greatly inspired. Even people with all their limbs intact might not achieve such remarkable accomplishments. So, he applies to transfer to Dr. Connors' research group.
After all, he has also been bitten by a spider, resulting in his mutation. He wants to figure out what causes this transformation.
Peter is very intelligent and hardworking, although he is a bit childish. He is the kind of student teachers favor. Soon, Dr. Connors grows fond of this young intern.
And from Connors, Peter learns that he used to be a military doctor, a veteran who lost his arm on the battlefield. But it does not hinder his path in scientific research.
On the contrary, he embarks on an unconventional path in medicine. He starts studying the role of serum in organisms and achieves quite remarkable accomplishments.
While working as Dr. Connors' assistant, Peter also learns a great lesson about biology. After receiving the spider mutation, Peter's brilliant brain becomes even better. With two geniuses working together, their research naturally progresses at a rapid pace.
But just when they are almost finished, the collaboration between Stark and the military is terminated. The researchers have to leave Stark Tower.
Normally, with an invited research project like this, even if it is terminated halfway, the researchers can still receive their compensation. They are deadly eager to finish early so they can use the remaining time for vacation.
But Dr. Connors is different. He isn't here to kill time. He genuinely wants to develop a serum technology that can regenerate severed limbs to restore his own and benefit disabled soldiers who have lost limbs in war.
So, inevitably, he feels somewhat disappointed. However, looking at Peter's reluctant expression, Dr. Connors still comforts him, "It's alright. When you go to university, perhaps I'll be teaching in the East ones. You can come to my lab, and we can continue our research."
"That's deal!" Peter says happily.
In fact, Stark has also tried to teach Peter about suits and artificial intelligence, but Peter isn't very interested.
He isn't one of industrial fundamentalists like Stark. He prefers exploring the unknown mysteries of humanity, such as the hidden secrets in nature or the wonders of outer space.
During his studies with Dr. Connors, he learns about the mysteries inside cold-blooded animals like spiders and lizards, which fascinate him. He thinks it won't be too bad if he becomes a biologist or entomologist in the future.
If he can invent something like Dr. Connors—a technology which can truly save others lives— it would be even better.
Although Peter has become Spider-Man and actively fights crime every night, as a good student, he knows his life path can't be solely about being a superhero.
He still wants to follow the usual path and get into a good university, then choose a field of study and direction that he likes for research. It would be best if he could obtain several doctoral degrees, then stay at the university to teach students or establish his own research center.
Perhaps the influence of his spider mutation, during his research with Dr. Connors, Peter develops a special affinity for these cold-blooded creatures. As a result, he gradually determines his future goals.
Having a clear goal motivates him greatly and helps dispel the sadness of parting with his mentor. After leaving Stark Tower, Peter energetically plans to continue his Spider-Man career.
He has learned a lot from his previous encounters with Bullseye. Peter realizes although he has web shooters that allow him to swing through high-rise buildings, the speed is not particularly fast, at most just a bit faster than a car. More importantly, such conspicuous actions attract too much attention. As soon as he makes a move, the whole of New York knows that he is out fighting crime.
By the time he reaches the location, experienced criminals have already disappeared.
During the last battle, the only plan that receives collective praise is his use of New York's vast sewer net.
It is a fantastic tactic. The conditions in New York's sewers are not good. The walls and floors are slippery and the environment is dark and damp. It is not easy for an ordinary person to move around freely.
But Peter is different. He is Spider-Man. He can stick to walls and doesn't have to worry about slipping on the ground while running.
Moreover, the straight and spacious ground of the underground sewer is like a race track tailored for Spider-Man. There are no traffic jams and no pedestrians. When he sprints with all his might, he is much faster than a speeding car.
Most importantly, it is discreet. He can move underground and emerge from the nearest catch-basin. No one knows where he came from.
It is especially useful when dealing with experienced robbers.
Previously, there is a group of bank robbers who are all old hands. They have three or four to act as lookouts. Peter has met them. But as soon as his figure appears on the horizon, the group disappears instantly.
Later, Peter catches them off guard with his sewer tactics. Before they can transfer the bags of money into the getaway car, Spider-Man emerges from the nearest sewer opening, and with a single punch, disables the engine of their escape vehicle. The robbers are then easily caught.
Now Spider-Man realizes the advantages of the sewer. For him, it is like a quick elevator that can take him to any location in New York at any time.
As a result, Peter becomes interested in the structure of the sewers.
New York's sewers were built early and have undergone numerous renovations. There are hardly any maps that can accurately depict all the routes of the sewers.
So Peter plans to explore all the sewers and then draw a map of the routes by himself.
As he study isn't busy, and has plenty of time and energy to spare. He can cover half of the city in a day.
On one day, Peter is once again wandering in the sewers. He has a map in his hand and is marking the structure of the sewer system with a pen.
Initially, he is focusing on the task and not paying attention to the ground beneath him. But his Spider-Sense tingles, alerting him to a raised brick under his feet. If he continues without looking, he might trip over it.
So Peter sets aside the map and decides to finish this section first before checking it out.
And at that moment, he notices a small difference in the details.
Usually, most of New York's sewers are uninhabited, with moss and grime covering the ground. But here, the moss seems to have been cleaned or removed.
Peter walks to the intersection between the wall and the floor tiles and discovers a tiny amount of white powder. He stoops down and sniffs it, recognizing it is an acidic substance, likely used specifically for cleaning moss.
Who would have the time to come here and sweep the floor? Peter thinks, even he wouldn't want to stay in this dark and damp place unless it was for fighting crime.
He continues following the trace and soon discovers signs of human activity in an abandoned section of the sewer maintenance area.
It is easy to tell, someone has been a fire there because the place still emits the smell of burned fuel. Peter glances through the iron gate of the maintenance area. With his excellent eyesight, he can see signs of someone living inside.
Instead of using force to break down the door, Peter knows it is likely to be noticed. He doesn't have any lock-picking tools with him either. So Peter takes out the map, marks the area, and decides to come back in a few days with some tools to investigate further.
Regardless of who this person is, it is definitely strange to live in sewer. If they are good men forced to hide in the sewers, Peter is willing to help them. If they are bad men, then Peter can take them down with justice.