The world moved fast, but Peter Parker moved faster.
Peter plugged the encrypted drive into his advanced PC, watching as the interface lit up.
["Connection established. Integrating systems."]
Lines of code scrolled rapidly as AXIS synced with his hardware, optimizing performance.
["All systems online. Awaiting commands."]
Peter smirked. "Let's get to work."
Sitting at his desk in his cramped room, he stared at the 2 screens in front of him. Data flowed across them in streams of numbers, stock prices rising and falling like waves in the ocean. His AI, AXIS, processed everything at incredible speeds, analyzing trends, scanning for patterns, and predicting price movements with terrifying accuracy.
Peter leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "Alright, AXIS. What's the best move?"
["High potential stocks identified. Risk assessments complete. Liquidity levels optimal. Recommending rapid buy and sell strategy."]
He cracked his fingers and got to work, executing a series of trades in seconds. His advantage wasn't just intelligence, it was speed. He exploited temporary price discrepancies, shifting money between markets before anyone even noticed the gaps. In less than an hour, he had generated a significant profit, all flowing quietly into his network of accounts.
But making money wasn't the only thing on his mind.
One of his screens flickered, popping up a news broadcast. A reporter stood in front of a police barrier, the flashing red and blue lights of cop cars reflecting on her face.
"A gruesome murder in Brooklyn has left authorities baffled. The victim, identified as Victor Shade, was found in an abandoned building at 217 Neptune Avenue. Sources say the body was… shredded, almost beyond recognition. So far, there are no witnesses, no suspects, and strangely, no evidence. Authorities have yet to release any further details."
Peter narrowed his eyes. Shredded? That was specific. Most killers didn't leave a body in pieces unless they were trying to send a message. And the name Victor Shade… it rang a bell.
"AXIS, cross-reference Victor Shade with known criminal organizations."
["Victor Shade: Former assassin. Expert in stealth and martial arts. Previous affiliations: The Hand. Status: On the run. Confirmed killed at 217 Neptune Avenue."]
Peter's fingers drummed against the table. The Hand. The deadly ninja cult, infamous for their assassins. If they were involved, things were worse than they seemed. But why was there no evidence? No blood trail, no security footage, nothing. That wasn't just a cover-up. That was deliberate.
"AXIS, access the NYPD database. See if any reports have been logged about Shade's murder."
The AI worked in silence for a moment before responding.
"No reports filed. No evidence submitted. No forensic data exists in the system."
Peter frowned. "That doesn't make sense. A body was found. The cops were there. Why isn't there a report?"
Something was wrong. Someone was covering this up.
Peter leaned forward. "Track the last known movements of Victor Shade. Where was he before he died?"
"Last recorded location: Near Oscorp Tower."
Peter's stomach tightened. First the Goblin Serum, now this? That was too much of a coincidence.
"AXIS, check if Victor Shade had any recent contact with Norman Osborn."
"Confirmed. Shade's phone records indicate a brief call with Norman Osborn two nights ago."
Peter's eyes narrowed. What was a hitman doing talking to Norman?
His mind flashed back to Norman's words: "Dr. Connors will be taken care of."
He pulled up a map, marking where Shade was last seen. Then, he checked the crime scene location. He couldn't help but frown.
"That's two blocks from Dr. Connors' house…"
Peter leaned back, deep in thought. If Shade was hired to kill Connors, then why was he the one who ended up dead? Someone either stopped him or made an example out of him.
"AXIS, scan for any unusual activity near Connors' home the night of the murder."
As the AI worked, Peter muttered under his breath, "Is someone protecting Connors… or are they targeting Norman?"
Still, he couldn't ignore his other responsibilities. He glanced at the stock market data and made a few more trades, shifting funds, taking advantage of arbitrage opportunities.. buying low in one market, selling high in another. Within hours, his gains had doubled. As the day came to a close, he transferred the money to his secure accounts, ensuring everything was hidden from prying eyes.
Just as he was about to log off, AXIS interrupted.
["Alert. Multiple children reported missing. Tracking activity suggests connection to human trafficking network. Data indicates they are being transported via shipping containers."]
Peter's breath hitched. He had seen a lot of terrible things in his time as Spider-Man, but this? This was pure evil.
"Where?" he asked, already grabbing his mask.
["Dock 17. Abandoned warehouse district. Target location heavily guarded."]
Peter didn't care.
He suited up, watching as the nanofibers of his new suit rippled like liquid metal over his skin. With just a thought, the unstable molecular fibers tightened, shaping into the perfect fit. The sleek black undersuit adapted instantly, while the red and black exterior settled into place.
Within minutes, he was swinging across the city, his mind racing. Not on my watch.. His hands clenched into fists. Stopping a murder was one thing. Saving innocent kids from being sold off? That was personal.
As he neared the docks, he activated his suit's stealth mode, blending into the shadows. He perched on top of a shipping crane, scanning the area below. Dozens of containers lined the yard, some marked with symbols he didn't recognize. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, but these weren't just random thugs. These guys moved with precision. Discipline.
Then he spotted them.
Four men stood in front of the largest container. They weren't just guards. They were something else.
The Wrecking Crew.
Bulldozer, Piledriver, Thunderball, and Wrecker... Four super-powered criminals with enhanced strength and durability. They weren't subtle, and they weren't smart. But they were strong.
Peter clenched his jaw. "Of course it's you guys."
As hard as it looked, this was going to be a piece of cake.
Get in. Take them down. Save the kids.
As he prepared to strike, his mind replayed everything that had led to this moment. Norman hired Victor, a traitor running from The Hand. Norman has probably removed all evidence to prevent everything pointing back at him. That means even if the Hand has left a warning to prevent more traitors being made, it would've gone by now.
The plot is thickening...