3rd POV:
Peter made his way to the lab. Things were progressing along very nicely. The rats seemed in stable condition, both having regenerated their leg. If things continued like this they could potentially start human testing.
The caveat?
Who would offer themselves as a human test subject?
When he opened the subject with Dr.Connors he remained stubbornly silent. Peter suspected Dr.Connors wanted to test it on himself first, which, while semi-heroic, should not be done. In the same way a doctor should not self-diagnose himself and instead seek out help from another doctor.
He just hoped that Dr.Connors would remain patient enough to observe a little more, just to be extra sure everything was going smoothly.
He entered the lab and stopped dead in his tracks. The lab was completely stripped clean of all lab equipment. But that wasn't the real attention grabber.
No.
The real attention grabber was the giant ass hole in the wall.
Peters eyes flickered through the room, his heart slamming against his chest, looking for the entity that could have have caused such damage. And because he watched enough movies to know better, he checked the ceiling too. After all 'no one ever looks up', is a running gag that in his humble opinion more people should adhere to. There was no one.
Right.
Cool.
Peter was 80% sure whatever caused the giant hole was Connors. He sighed, feeling disappointed in the doctor for rushing things and making decision that he was advised multiple times against.
Now it begs the question what he should do. Should he run away from here or investigate? He had no way of knowing if (possible) Connors would return and he had no way of knowing if he was still functional in the brain or unreasonable.
In the end he reluctantly decided to risk it. He needed to make sure everything was truly disposed off, else he'll risk someone else getting his hands on that serum and turn into whatever (possible) Connors turned into. He moved quickly but quietly and inspected every nook and cranny making sure to touch nothing and if he had too, like opening closets, than with his sleeves. There were no surveillance cameras and no one knew he worked for Connors past the internship.
No diagramms.
No Decay Algorithm.
No vials filled with green liquid.
No nothing.
Peter released a sigh and relaxed. Good. Good. This is good. Peter left the lab. As far as he was concerned his duty was done. He put his life at risk trying to get rid of a dangerous substance. He still had many questions like ' Is it truly gone?, What happened to the lab equipment?, Were the records taken by Connors or someone else?'. Stuff like this.
However from this point on, these questions were above his pay grade. He was just a normal human and obviously no normal human could tear through the wall like that. There were clearly superpowers involved and he was not about to play heroics. Were he to have superpowers, then it would be another matter. But like this? Nah, it was something for the Avengers or other superpowered individuals.
Also he had no interest involving himself with whoever was gonna investigate the scene. He did not need that kind of attention seeing as he had done nothing wrong.
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A man was limping along the walls of the sewers.
It was a success! For but a few moments he got his arm back. It was a success! But then he lost his arm. Why? Why? WHY?!
Wait.
Of course. The ampule he took was adjusted for the mice. He needed to adjust the serum to the size of a human.
He hissed, licking his lips.
Damn Osscorp!
Damn Osssborn!
Damn them all!
It was not enough to fire him. They needed to steal what crumbs he had too. He chuckled darkly. But that wasn't the case was it now? NO! He no longer had crumbs, he had a whole course meal. The serum was working!
But of coursssse, Ossssborn doess not apologisse. No. They never do. They sssimple take.
He stopped. Asss a matter of fact, how did he know about the ssserum?
PeeEeEETtEeeErr...
No. No. The man shook his head. The boy was loyal. He helped him create the serum. Nor did he take any photos or videos.
PeEEeEetTeEeEErR....
TrRaaIiTttoooorR....
The man shook his head. NO! He was not willing to believe something like that.
BoOooaAaAASssSSssssSST....
FrieEenndSsssSS....
OoovVeRheAAR....
...
...
Of course. It makes sense. It was Peters fault for Osborn finding out.
Damn them!
Damn them all!
Damn them both!
He'll show them.
He'll show them all!
But first how can he make them pay.
Peter betrayed him, even if unintentionally, but he still had to pay.
And Norman.
A demented grin danced across the mans face.
Norman cares for money. He hopes to make bank while curing the people with the serum he created. But what if he cures everyone first? For free?
The man began cackling.
Of course...
Yes.
That was the perfect plan.
And then he'll kill him too.
...
The serum.
The serum was the solution!
He needed to create more of it.
And he knew just how to do that.
The man continued to limp across the wall.
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''What do you think happened to Dr.Connors? He has been missing for a week,'' Gwen asked while the three were hanging out in the hallway.
Both Bell and Peter shrugged, but Bell added:'' Are you sure that's what you want to focus on and not the giant ass hole in his lab?''
''Counteroffer. Are you sure either of this things are what we should focus on and not the fact that there was no investigation. In fact they went straight to rebuilding the wall,'' Peter argued.
Both Gwen and Bell nodded in a *guess you're right* manner.
''Well, whatever it is,'' Bell began leaning against the wall,'' I'm sure it'a way above our pay grade. Let us just do what normal students do instead of putting our nose where it doesn't belong. Last thing we need is attracting attention.''
A loud crash was heard with a distorted voice reverberating through the hallways:'' Parker, where are you?'' Followed by screaming and students starting to run towards them.
The three starred at each other for one second.
''I blame you,'' Peter told Bell, before they all bolted with the students down the hallway.
The three tried to stick together while making their way out, but among all the mayhem they were pushed apart by the students.
Gwen found herself outside bereft of Peter or Bell. She wanted to immediately make her way back inside to protect her friends but couldn't because of all the students and she couldn't climb the walls, because she would give away her powers. And she didn't pack her suit or webshooters, because she reasoned the police is gonna protect them.
Shit. Shit. Shit. ShitShitShit.
What should she do? What should she do. Think Gwen!
She breathed in and out trying to calm her agitated state down to think more clearly.
The enemy!
Of Course. Find the enemy. Even if she can't find the guys if she trails behind the enemy she can intervene somehow.
Good. Now it's just a matter of finding the enemy. She ran around the building trying to use hear enhanced hearing to locate the enemy.
There.
Hissing and metal scraping could be heard from the bridge connecting two buildings, she stepped back. Tying to get a better look at the enemy by distancing herself from the bridge and getting a better angle through the windows. She needn't have bothered as the next second she got a look at the enemy.
He burst through the wall and the window and landed from two floors up on the ground.
It was like a lizard-human hybrid. That was the best way Gwen could describe it. It was around 3 meters tall and completely clad in green lizard scales. He had razor sharp claws. Even had the tail to match its ugly appearance.
Gwen stopped in her tracks when the lizard focused on her and narrowed his eyes. He pointed a sharp finger at her and hissed:''Gwen Sssstacy, where isss your friend Peter Parker?''
Gwen stumbled back frightened but refusing to answer.
The Lizard narrowed his eyes at her refusal to answer. Evidently displeased he hissed opening his maw and letting his long tongue dance. He was trying to use his sharp teeth to intimidate her into answering. Gwen, Bell and Peter were friends. If anyone would know where Peter was it was those two. That was the quickest way to him aside from finding him himself. In retrospect immediately scaring all children was not such a goo idea. He does not have a good nose and he could not make out Peter among the masses.
Gwen still refused to answer. The Lizard lunged at her making yet another attempt at intimidating her. She slid under its legs and made a run for it but the Lizard was faster turning around and grabbing her backpack.
He lifted her in the air at his eye level and hissed impatiently:''Tell me!'' He shook her.
Gwens heart hammered in her chest but she still refused to answer. A resolved look in her face.
''Foolissh Gwen. Loyal to her Friendss. Too dumb to realizzze they abonded her. All alone. Sshe will die alone,'' the Lizard mocked having have lost his patience. He moved his other hand about to pierce her with his claw through her abdomen and let her bleed out.
A can smashed against the Lizards head grabbing his attention. ''Hey, asshole! You want me? Then come and get me,'' Peter yelled before turning around the corner and running away.
The Lizard hissed and threw Gwen forcefully away, not wanting his delay in chasing his target least he escape him again. He went on his fours and sprinted away.
Gwen turned in the air and landed on her feet before running desperately after them.
'Jesus, this was like some sort of bad sitcom,'' Bell though sitting high on the schools rooftop. Perfectly timed invocation of Murphy's law, close as fuck calls where some one could have died only to be saved last second, gutsy heroics, chase scene.
Not at all how he wanted the Lizard to make his debut or Ghost Spider. Or himself really. As a matter of fact, why did the lizard attack the school? It is chasing after Peter, yet Peter isn't Spider-Man. It is specifically targeting Peter and ignoring everything else until it gets in his way.
He jumped from one rooftop to another, having already changed in his alter ego. He really needed to get about understanding wormholes, so that he could create portals and pocket dimensions. It was a pain diverting some of his attention towards floating his outfit high up in the air and messing with the surveillance devices. Don't get him wrong, the outfit is very comfortable. He only bought the most high quality products after all. And cause he is not an idiot, he also made sure not to buy everything at once, letting multiple years between some purchases. And he also bought from multiple different sources.
He even made sure to reinforce it with magic. It can survive nuclear explosions. Though radiation is another matter (he also needed to fix that as well). Sparring him of the need to repair it every time.
It was just that, it was cumbersome to wear it in everyday life. Even if he can now cast illusions. The problem is the mask. Illusions don't erase the space something takes up.
Still he observed watching as his two friends ran away from the Lizard. It was not like he abandoned them. He would have intervened before they were about to be really harmed saving them in the process. Up until now there was no need.
What was he waiting for? The police.
And here they came. When the Lizard lunged for Peter with Gwen screaming:''No!'' from behind them, a police car slammed into the Lizard driving it into a wall and securing it in place. Multiple police cars followed suit.
The police men exited their cars with someone immediately instructing Peter and Gwen to leave the area, trying to save as many civilian lives as possible.
Gwen grabbed Peter by the arm dragging him behind her. They rounded a corner disappearing from the lizards view, enraging it. He screamed at having his prey escape yet another time. His bones in his lower body were broken and they healed slowly because of the pressure from the car. He put his hands on it and shoved it away, dropping on the ground.
By this point a News helicopter arrived on the scene filming everything. No seriously, how DO they always arrive before police helicopters and the like?, Bell thought to himself.
The police men, having never faced such a situations in their briefing did the only thing they knew how, deciding not to risk it. Multiple shots entered the Lizards body making him flinch, but not harming him beyond that. The Lizards scale doing a good job at protecting him.
He quickly got up, after his legs have healed and he moved slowly playing with his food. His claws went through the first police mans abdomen, the one that drove the car into him. He moved past the dying man, leaving him otherwise alone. Some police men seeing this took out their shotgun out of their cars and proceeded to pump multiple shots. The shots now hurting a little more, but still not doing enough damage. The Lizard decided that enough was enough and moved with surprising speed for his size. One police man had his head bit off. Another was slammed with his tail into a police car caving in his chest and breaking his back. One lost his balance when his leg was dragged from under him and then a leg slammed on his chest. Another had his head cut off by his claws. And so on and so forth.
Bell watched this all leisurely, kicking his leg over the rooftops ledge, waiting and biding his time, for when he can stop scrambling surveillances and reveal himself.
He thought really long and hard about how he should make his debut. Unfortunately that plan will not be put into action. Still, he is nothing if not adaptive, he'll just improvise. After 15 years of contemplation he finally decided on what his ambitions should be.
Amusement.
Yup, he'll just mess with people. The same way he messed with people in his old world after dropping 2 Tsar bombs and becoming Supreme Imperator. Not that he wanted to become a ruler, it was so fucking tedious, but that was the only way to keep the peace. And he was not about to give that position to some idiot that would jeopardize something he fought so hard for. A consequence of distinguishing himself in the war so massively, if you will, easily allowed him to take the reign.
One of his favorite past times was messing with his secretary. All were terrified of him, despite ruling relatively justly. They ALWAYS messed up in one way or another.
Spill some coffee? Describe in intimate detail how you will torture them and their family in various ways and watch them piss themselves, then fire them and leave them terrified that one day I will come for them.
There is a small crease in his suit? Stare at the responsible person for two hours with out saying anything, watch them dance between multiple emotions and go to your meeting late, while forcing everyone to pretend it was 11 o'clock instead of 13 o'clock. Power moves baby.
Wrong meal? Kidnap their family, hide them inside a five star hotel (he wasn't that much of an asshole), and then invite them to eat with you after a week. Stare at them giving them a mirthful smirk never touching his own food and ask them how it tasted. Continue to talk about the meal in GREAT detail, without ever specifying where the meat came from and let their imagination do the work. And then reunite them with their safe family.
Morbid? Oh, for sure.
But kind of the only thing he had left after he became Supreme Imperator. Amusement. A life line that kept him sane while trying to juggle the responsibilities and the stress of everything.
After 15 years he came to one conclusion. He would not be satisfied just with playing the hero. No. He wanted to be the hero, the anti-hero and the villain too. Fuck it, he wanted to become the board too. If push came to shove he can always create different alter egos and play them against each other, or kill his enemies in the dark. He lived for their reactions.
Aside from that he did not have that much of a goal. Maybe he could become a ruler again? Very doubtful he wanted that responsibility again, but who knows. He decided in the end to go through the motions a little until he finds a proper answer for what his actual end goal should be, aside from amusement of course.
The Lizard killed the last police man and because he was that enraged knowing his prey now definitely escaped, he decided to rip a police door fully intending to throw it at the helicopter.
Perfect.
Bell jumped high in the air dropping his surveillance interference. He let himself drop down slamming down into the Lizard with a kick before it could throw the door at the helicopter.
The cameraman immediately focused on the new figure. He was dressed in black clothes, at certain points glowing cables came out for a bit. He had a hoodie and wore a mask. The mask had a triangle like pattern and were glowing neon orange, but otherwise it was also black in nature.
Before the Lizard could react, Bell jumped slightly back, grabbed the Lizard by his tail and proceeded to slam him multiple times in the ground.
Bell though for a bit about what powers he should display, but in the end he decided not to reveal all his cards. He'll show different powers as strikes his fancy, but he will make sure to hide enough so that his enemies will always underestimate him. When their countermeasures won't work their face will be hilarious.
The Lizard detached his tail making him stumble. 'I'm sorry? That is a thing now?', Bell thought to himself, both surprised and impressed. Hey, game is game.
The Lizard jumped to his feet immediately trying to strike at him with his claws. He grabbed his claw, sparks flowing where ever the tip of the claw managed to scratch him. Before the Lizard could attempt to strike with his other claw. He was thrown by Bell slamming once on the ground before going through the wall.
Bell jumped after him, the cameraman doing his best to follow them, but unfortunately losing vision when they both entered the building, still he kept the camera going. Whatever they did inside made noises. Loud enough that they could be picked up despite the noises from the helicopter. He focused his camera on the hole anticipating any second now for both to come out.
The Lizard flew out, by this point his tail having already regenerated. He turned around back towards the hole and hissed, his bones cracking as his chest healed.
A piece of blackboard shot out burying itself in the Lizards stomach like a blade. He slapped it out and screamed in both rage and pain. While his mouth was open a table flew out with enough force and splintered against his head. The Lizard coughed and put his hands in his mouth, trying to get out the splinters from his mouth. He made the mistake of turning his back to the hole.
It was in this moment Bell flew out landing a kick at his head and smearing his face across the asphalt, causing both a severe rash and the Lizard to swallow some of the splinters. He howled inconsolably.
The Lizard quickly used his tail to grab Bells leg before he could do anything else. He slammed him twice into the ground as revenge and then into the roof of a police car before throwing him into another police car.
Bell let him, it didn't hurt and the fight so far was to one sided. It was getting boring.
While trying to slowly pick himself up, pretending to be winded, the Lizard grabbed a car and threw it into Bell pinning him down. The Lizard went on all fours making his way towards his prey intending to bite his head off.
Bell shoved the car away from him. The Lizard, being both so close to him and low on the ground, could not escape and was rolled over by the car.
Both struggled to pick themselves up and began making their way at each other. They were about two meters away from each other when a bullet richocheted against Bells shoulder. Both stopped turning towards the source of the bullet, their body language conveying their sheer disbelief.
''Police, hands in the air you are under arrest,'' commanded someone who Bell recognized. George Stacy stood before them bold as brass, pointing their guns at them. Bell gaped behind his mask. He knew police men were just simply not bright, but this? I'm sorry, no genuinely. What the fuck? And why shoot him first? Priorities. Hello? Look at the giant ass lizard.
The Lizard seized this opportunity and kicked Bell into the same car he kicked him into previously. The car having sustained enough damage to explode and obscure Bells vision with its flames, for long enough for the Lizard to escape in the aftermath into the sewers.
Oh, who was he kidding. He tagged the Lizard with his magic. He could escape to Pluto and still find him with pin point accuracy. He just chose not to chase it.
Yeah. Bell knew full well how much of a cheat his magic was. He wanted to keep track of him for now, no need to risk his friends life again.
...
In retrospect he should have tagged Connors from the beginning. So, he is human, sue him.
Even now he could feel the Lizard crawling in the sewers and ripping out his entire intestines to get out the splinters. Frankly he was impressed at his mental fortitude. He doubted he could do that without turning off his pain receptors.
''Hands in the air. You are under arrest for vigilantism,'' George repeated, pointing his gun at him.
Bell threw his head in the air. Oh, he almost half forgot. He started moving towards the captain. He could have arrived there in a second, but he didn't quiet want to reveal his super speed. George began shooting, the bullets richocheting. When he was close enough he ripped out the gun from his hand, breaking it in two and slapped the taser out of his hand, before grabbing his arm and dragging him a few meters towards the gate.
George began hitting him with the police baton, which did jack shit. Bell took the cuffs from the police captain and cuffed him to the gate. He also took the keys and threw them far away into the ocean. George was saying something, probably something dumb. Bell didn't pay attention.
The News Crew were filming Stacys humiliation.
Wasn't he such a nice friend. Were he anyone else, he would have broken the police mans arm to the point he could no longer return to duty, ever. But he was Gwens father, soooo...
What's that? Assault against the police. Can you eat it?
Bell made sure to walk a few meters so that he could pass by an absolute retard who instead of running away decided to film everything with his phone.
''Who... who are you?,'' the idiot asked, like Bell had hoped.
''Call me Nexus,'' Nexus replied continuing past him without stopping. He jumped up, disappearing among the cracks between the buildings, the helicopter unable to follow him anymore and losing him.
Using his speed, he changed out of his outfit into civilian clothes and quickly made his way where he felt Gwen and Peter. Obviously messing with surveillance cameras and the like along the way.
Peter and Gwen were removed far to the back of the crowd of students that formed outside the school. As much as Bell wanted to call each person here a retard, he guessed he could show some consideration. They were running away and only stopped when they saw him.
Still idiots though. All of them.
Bell put a worried look on his face and pushed through the crowd. He looked left and right, turned around and made sure to move a lot, drawing out the attention of Gwen and Peter who called out to him. Upon seeing them he relaxed his expression into the usual care-free one he wore most of the time.
''Yo, you two alright?,'' Bell greeted coolly.
''Awww, you were worried,'' teased Peter. Bell raised an eyebrow.
''About losing my source of entertainment? Sure,'' Bell joked.
''Just kiss already you two,'' Gwen intervened, desiring to put an end to their joking and focus on more important things.
Both boys gave her a look of disgust.
''Anyway, it's good that you are here Bell. We can now talk about what happened. Peter that Lizard man ... thingy singled you out. Why?,'' Gwen questioned.
Peter got serious and shared his suspicions:''I'm 90% sure that Lizard man was Dr.Connors. It used to be 80%, but with what happened recently...''
''Focus,'' Bell ordered noticing he was about to begin rambling. He was nervous. Peter rambled when he was nervous.
''Oh. Right. Right. Anyway, I was working with Dr.Connors on a serum. Cross-species genetics. We were trying to isolate the characteristic of a lizard regenerating its lost limb and apply it to other animals. Specifically mice, whose leg was cut off. The experiment was a success and they regenerated their limb as expected. For the past three weeks, ever since my internship really, we have been observing them for changes. Everything was going smoothly. Connors wanted to move on to human testing, but I insisted to wait a little more. Until a few days earlier I came as usual at night in the lab to continue to help, only to find a hole in the wall and the lab stripped clean of all recordings and equipment,'' Peter gave a quick summary.
''Are you sure it was stripped clean? Was the lab left behind in a mess or....?,'' Bell questioned letting the question hang for Peter to take the reigns.
He shook his head and explained:'' No, except for the hole in the wall, the lab was clean. I checked just to be sure. There was nothing. If not for the wall, I would have just thought Connors packed his things and left.''
Bell looked contemplative. Looking for motives and logic.
''That creature does not strike me as a being of stable precision. You have seen how it was full of rage,'' Gwen said while Bell was doing his thing,'' Why do you think it was chasing you? Was it because you helped create it? Maybe it resents you for that. It's crying out for help thinking you can cure it? Assuming it really is Connors.''
''Whoa, Gwen! I resent that. I did not create it. I advised caution. And there are proper procedures on human testing. I'm not responsible for the choices an adult makes,'' Peter quickly shot that down.
Bell suppressed a smug smirk at hearing Peter say that, but continued to play the detective.
''Oh, now you are about proper procedures. Last month you argued differently,'' Gwen hotly retorted, immediately feeling shameful for what she said.
''What is your fucking problem with my argument? I said IF the system fails, hard choices needed to be made. Not that you should shit at every opportunity on it. If it weren't for that guy, whatever his name is, I would have died. The systems aka the polices bullets did jack shit to the Lizard. Is that what you want, Gwen? For your friend to die so you can be in the right,'' Peter spat, feeling betrayed.
Gwen had a shocked look on her face, but before she could apologize Bell intervened.
''I have it,'' slamming his fist in his palm, both almost imagining a lightbulb going on over his head,''Peter you worked on that serum with Connors. Was he working for someone else before?''
''You can be so absentminded sometimes. Everyone in the school knew he used to work for Oscorp beforehand,'' Peter reminded.
Bell continued:''And was he was trying to develop the serum for them? Just to be extra sure of that.''
Peter nodded causing Bell to smirk like a fox. ''In that case listen to this. Connors was developing the serum for Oscorp. Something went wrong and he was fired. It was his lifes work, something he felt passionate about or something else along these lines. He could not let that project go. So he proceeds to continue his work in secret. He ropes you in his project. You two make vast progress, get the serum working. Oscorp catches wind of that, comes and claims his work as corporate property. They leave with his work. He gets desperate and injects the serum. Boom Lizard,'' Bell theorized, slapping his hands at the end and imitating an explosion.
Both starred at him for a bit. Peters eyes slowly grew and he whispered :''That is why he prohibited any recording or photos. And why he also requested I don't tell you two anything. Sorry for that by the way. I listened, but then how did they find out?''
''Haven't you watched enough of AFoxyScriptwriter's movies? Who do they never pay attention too, despite them having access to every room and never being suspected for going anywhere,'' Bell rhetorically replied.
''They bribed the Janitor or he was a spy from the very beginning,'' Gwen replied.
''Connors doesn't realize that. I doubt that creature is capable of great rationale anyway. So he blames both Peter and Osborn. Trying to go after them. Today he failed with Peter. Tomorrow he may try for Osborn,'' Bell said.
''Which means so long as Connors is like this, Peter will always be in danger,'' Gwen reasoned.
''You said he will try to go after Osborn. How?,'' Peter asked Bell. He was following so far. Most of the things sounded reasonable despite some of the fantastically involved. Might as well speculate some more.
''Connors COULD kill Osborn. Or he could hit him were it will really hurt,'' Bell gestured to Peter.
''Money,'' causing Bell to nod.
''Whatever the case, The serum connects everything. Osborn wants to monetize it. The Lizard will try to put a stop to that. I'm 90% sure by trying to turn everyone into a Lizard. It might mistakenly believe that in doing so he will 'cure' everyone for free, losing Osborn money. It means he need something that will distribute the serum quickly over a wide area to multiple people. He will try and attack Oscorp to steal the famous Ganali device to release a pandemic via aerial distribution,'' Bell revealed.
''Ok, stop this is just way too much conjecture. How can you even speculate something like that?,'' Gwen intervened.
So maybe he was coming on a little bit too strong there with his speculations. It might be that he was wrong. But he had his foreknowledge and a had the Lizard magically tagged, though he wasn't doing much of anything right now, except regenerate his stomach.
''It is what usually happens in the stories,'' Bell gave an excuse.
''This isn't some story in a book or a movie. This is real life!,'' Gwen yelled in Bells face, shoving a finger in his chest.
''Life imitates art and art imitates life. You watch or read enough stories and you notice it's all variations of the same shit. So yes, Gwen, I think I can speculate those things reasonable well,'' Bell explained shoving her finger away.
''I think we should all go home. Let tempers cool off,'' Peter jumped in before it could devolve into a screaming match.
''You're... probably right. Peter you can't return home, the Lizard might attack you. You can stay with us, my father won't mind. You or your guardians,'' Gwen quickly offered trying to mend bridges.
''I'm staying with Bell,'' Peter quickly shot her offer down. He looked at Bell for confirmation.
The red eye nodded and elaborated:'' Ben and May too.'' Causing Peter to relax.
Without saying goodbye they left, leaving Gwen behind.
''I'm sorry guys,'' she called out to them.
They continued to walk either not having heard her apology or chose to ignore it.
She let her head hang, feeling more alone than she ever felt.
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The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
She was lying down on the bed in her room. Sideways to the bed, on her stomach, her head and shoulders aching against gravity.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
She felt like she had analyzed every frame by now with how many times she watched it.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
She watched how the bullets did absolutely nothing, the police men getting mowed down. All the damage it sustained getting quickly healed or ignored.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
School was finished prematurely. No other way around really.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
She watched the police men again. All of them had a family to turn to. The lizard did not care.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
Now that she calmed down and was out of the danger she could think more clearly. She regretted some of the things she said to the guys. She should not have said those things. They probably hate her now.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
She watched the News. Some guy managed to videotape Nexus from close up and ask his name. The news agencies picked up the video and run the story. New Vigilante in Town?
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
He arrived on the scene. Doing what the police couldn't, beating the crap out of The Lizard but with both being evenly matched, The Lizards sheer regeneration and Nexus' durability, none could get the jump on the other.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
Her father arrives, shoots Nexus.
She pauses the video and stares at it for the longest time. Yes, let's shot at the guy that fights the other guy who killed your colleagues. If the bullet would have killed Nexus, then nothing would have stood before The Lizard and her father. She hits play.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
The Lizard escapes. Nexus cuffs her father on the gate. Justly so, a vindictive part of her whispers. The News call him a criminal for assault on the police. She read the comments. She was part of the new zeitgeist, the new generation, the comments were exactly what she expected. They mock her father and express support for Nexus. Doesn't surprise her. There were the stragglers, of course. They were drowned out by most.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
The video ended. Gwen clicked on repeat.
...
A tear hit her phone screen.
It finally hits her. Like a punch to her guts. Her father could have died. Would have died if it were not for Nexus or any other superpowered individual.
She hears the lock turn and springs from her bed. She wipes her eyes and hopes her eyes are not red.
She leaves her room and greets her father with a hug. He hugs her back and tells her he bought Chinese. They always do this, since Evelyn died. Sometimes they buy out, sometimes Gwen cooks, sometimes George cooks, sometimes they eat with the O'Quinns or the Parkers. The move about, preparing the table and the silverware and sit down. George takes out her portion and puts it on the plate, then he puts his own on his. The wish each other a good meal and dig in.
They eat in silence for a bit until Gwen asks:''How was work?''
George gives her that look and replies:''Why do you ask? You were there.''
''Just for the sake of making conversation I guess. Or maybe you could tell me about what you did after they uncuffed you from that gate,'' Gwen replied.
George, who was fed up with the events of today, forced himself to remain calm with his daughter:'' Is there something you want to talk about?''
''I just told you what I want to talk about. I wanted to know how your day was,''Gwen repeated.
''Well, in case you were missing from your school or weren't watching the news, there were two super powered individual destroying the school and killing police officers,'' George swiftly responded.
Gwen nodded curling her mouth tips down, before inquisitively asked:'' Wait. Were both killing police officers?''
George stopped moving his fork and cast her a look, eventually sharing:''One was killing my men the other assaulted a police officer.''
Gwen nodded in understanding and then inquired:'' So one was killing your men and the other just assaults one police officer and then they both leave the premise. Correct? And the the one who assaulted a police officer, did he do nothing else besides that?''
George put his fork down and pushed his plate away, before ordering:'' Alright, spit it out. You have something to tell me. So tell me.''
''Fine then,'' Gwen replied pushing her plate away, albeit more forcefully,''What were you thinking shooting at Nexus?''
''He was a vigilante! Vigilantism is a crime! You young kids are taken in to much by the Avengers. But there are proper procedures in place for something like that.''
''Oh so the Avengers are ok, but Nexus is not. Why is that?''
''Because the Avengers are government sanctioned. They have approval,'' George forcefully replied.
''Oh, approval? Then call them. Oh wait. You can't. Tony Stark is presumed dead, killed by the Ten Rings. Thor is off world. No one wants the Hulk. And the last three are a joke! They would have been no match for The Lizard, I've seen the video,'' Gwen replied derisively.
''Oh so you have seen the video and now your an expert,'' George mocked.
''12 police men are dead! DEAD! The bullets did nothing to harm it. At best it considered them an annoyance. So tell me, what will you do the next time The Lizard pops up? Because news flash, it escaped because of you. You shot the wrong guy!,'' Gwen yelled.
''So you wanted me to leave the vigilante alone? Is that what you were arguing here?,'' George forced himself to stay calm, but he also raised his voice a bit.
''I'm asking you to prioritize! If that bullet had killed Nexus, nothing would have stood between you and The Lizard. You would have died,'' Gwen screamed.
''I'd rather die then be saved by a vigilante,'' George finally lost his temper and slammed his fist on the table. He immediately regretted what he said.
His head whipped around, cheek stinging.
Gwen looked at him with wide eyes slowly stumbling away. George tried grabbing her, knowing she would run away, but she escaped him and ran to her room slamming her door behind her and locking it.
George ran after her stopping in front of her door. He laid a hand on the door and eventually his forehead as well.
''Gwen. Gwen, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should not have said that. I know why you said the things you said. You're scared. I get it. You fear one day, you will come home and receive the news that I'm not coming home. Seeing what you saw today must have scared you. You are right. There was a lot of danger involved today and maybe I haven't made the wisest choices by shooting first and asking questions later,'' George decided to be more soft in this instance for Gwens sake. This was no time to be macho and bottle his feelings only to end up with regrets.
''Maybe,'' he heard her murmur. He smiled. Progress.
''Ok, then. I definitely made bad choices today. But Gwen, I'm not going out there, putting my life in danger to scare you or because I want to abandon you.
I'm doing it because I have a duty. Good people need to go out there and stop bad people. They need to fight the good fight. To protect and serve this country, the community and your family.
You want to know what keeps me going as a police officer? It is you Gwen. I go out there keeping the streets clean, knowing that you can walk the streets home safely. I take pride in that, Gwen,'' George continued hoping for her to have calmed down and open the door so they can make up.
His phone rang, he looked at the number. It was from work. He stepped a little back from the door and accepted it.
''Captain Stacy speaking.''
''The Lizard is climbing up the Oscorp tower. ... It just entered the tower by smashing through the window. We need you down here Captain.''
Gwen heard that with her enhanced hearing.
''Got it. I'm on my way,'' he said closing the call.
''Gwen, work called. I need to go,'' George called out.
The lock opened and a figure bolted, embracing her father tightly. He reciprocated the hug in the same manner.
''I'm sorry about slapping you.''
''Don't be. I definitely deserved that slap after what I said. I'm really sorry about what I said. But I really need to go now Gwen,'' George explained and made his way towards the door.
Gwen followed him for a bit and then leaned against the wall. ''Stay safe,'' she told him.
He turned at the door and nodded towards her before exiting and closing the door behind him.
Gwen starred at the door for a bit and frowned. She sighed and let her head drop for a bit. She stood there for a few moments contemplating things.
Eventually she pushed herself away from the wall and made her way back to her room.
It was a nice speech. And she definitely was happy he opened up about some of his feelings to her. But it was not what she hoped for he didn't address the core of her complaint.
It dawned on her during his explanation.
He was an old man too set in his ways.
His way used to be the way things were run 20 years ago.
But times change and so do people. She couldn't help but think back to the second episode of Cyberpunk:2077. 'People don't just die and rise back from the grave.' 'Sure used to be. Now it is only a matter of having the newest tech or the fanciest gizmo.'
She felt that kind of something similar was going on here. Bullets have become outdated. And the Age of superpowers has arrived. Police men can still uphold law and order when dealing with normal criminals. But what about superpowered criminals? What happens when the police can no longer stop them? The system fails. And it is up to people like her to stop these kinds of criminals, to make sure the system continues to work afterwards.
Only a superpowered individual can defeat another superpowered individual.
Ok, maybe she was exagerating a bit, but it can function as a rule of thumb. Maybe?
She can't believe, she was saying this, but the boys were right all along, even if they probably didn't make their argument in this context, she feels it can still be applied.
She sighed. Frankly it was not like she disagreed with the boys in the first place.
But she always was a daddy's girl and tried to emulate him and live by his principles. It took a while, but it finally dawned on her that was just not who she was. It was time to be her own person and find her own way of things.
Still, one thing did resonate with her.
That part about good people having a duty. As a good superpowered individual it was her duty and obligation to stop bad guys from harming innocent people.
With that in mind she opened her closet.
The light shone in, illuminating the discarded suit.
A black clothed and black masked person was lying on the ledge of Gwens rooftop apartment. He made sure to turn all lights off from his suit just to be that little bit of extra inconspicuous. He was watching this entertaining family drama, waiting for her birth. If he can't watch the spider bite then he will settle for another birth.
Gwen jumped out of her window in her familiar black and white suit and began zipping and swinging her way towards Oscorp doing various aerodynamic performances.
Nexus smiled behind his mask seeing that. It was a glorious sight and everything he expected it to be. Anyway, moving on. He took out the antidote and inspected it before putting it back in his pocket and reinforcing it with magic.
He stood up and turned on the lights.
Showtime.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 hours earlier:
''How do you know how to lockpick?,'' Peter whispered.
''You expect me to pay 700$ to call a lockpick master? Everyone should teach themselves this skill,'' Bell whispered back,''Stop distracting me. I told you to watch the perimeter.''
''It is night and there are no cameras. What is there to watch?,'' Peter asked but did as he was told.
''There are security guards,'' Bell explained.
''What? You're not joking, are you? That seems like misappropriate usage of school funds. What are they guarding? The National vault?,'' Peter asked surprised.
''Peter you clearly are nervous, else you wouldn't have forgotten the entire point of why we are breaking into school. You know? The suspiciously advanced lab equipment for a high school? We want to use that to make the antidote. Remember?,'' Bell whispered.
''Right. Right. Sorry. Oh god, aunt May and uncle Ben will kill me,'' Peter moaned putting his face in his hands.
''They will kill you if we get caught, which we won't. Calm Down,'' Bell retorted.
''Right. Sorry, sorry. Why do you even say that it is suspiciously advanced? This is Midtown High,'' Peter calmed down a little bit.
''But still a High School. I don't care what argument they make. That equipment belongs on a College campus. Not here. Never here,'' Bell reasoned.
''Finally,'' Bell said, the door opening with a click,''Surprisingly difficult for a High School door.''
Bell mentioned with his hand for Peter to follow him.
Without any trouble they made their way to the labs. Mostly because he cast an illusion on both the guards and on Peter. They literally walked past each other not noticing them, cause there was nothing to notice.
So maybe he was getting a little impatient and wanted to get the antidote done as quickly as possible. Sue him.
They arrived in the lab, Peter worked his science wiz' and voila there it was after an hour. The antidote.
'Marvel geniuses are genuinely something else, man,' Bell thought to himself.
''There it is the antidote,'' Peter presented the ampule to Bell who took it in his hand.
''And you sure it works?,'' Bell asked
''99% sure,'' Peter replied, pushing his glasses. Bell shrugged. That was good enough for him.
''Alright then, let us clean the lab and then leave,'' Bell commanded.
They easily made their way outside the school premise courtesy of Bells illusions.
''That was way to easy. Are sure our school has security guards?,'' Peter asked filling silly for acting so nervous up until now.
''Yes, quiet sure. I guess there were doing the rounds somewhere else. I don't know,'' Bell explained.
''I mean, if you say so. So what now?,'' Peter wanted to know.
''Now I take this to Mr.Stacy and we can cure Dr.Connors,'' Bell explained .
Peter perked up:'' Wait. I? Not We?''
''Peter, you can't see it, but you look utterly tired. Go home and go rest. It couldn't have been easy making the antidote so quickly and under so much stress,'' Bell ordered.
''Well, you are the one that requested it. I didn't want to leave you hanging,'' Peter bashfully replied.
''Sorry, Pete but you were already familiar with the serum and if my speculations are right we needed the antidote as quickly as possible,'' Bell informed.
''Hey, I'm not complaining. What are friends for, right?,'' Peter joked, smiling.
Bell put his hand on Peters shoulder and smiled small tears forming in his eyes. He affirmed with a thick voice:''Of course Peter. Thank you for being my friend.''
''Why are you getting emotional. Now I'm getting emotional. Stop making this weird,'' tears also forming in Peters eyes, his voice thick as well.
Bell cleared his throat and squinted his eyes:'' You're right, sorry. I don't know what came over me. Anyway, you want me to tell George, that you made the antidote?''
''And have him question me how I made the antidote? Hell no. Come up with a believeable excuse for me. You were right, I really am tired, certainly starting to feel like it,'' Peter groaned stretching his limbs.
''Got it. Alright then, good night Pete. See you tomorrow,'' Bell told him, before he began running the way back towards Gwens home.
Peter began making his own way back to Bells home, completely done with the day. He just hoped he could make up a believeable lie up until then or Aunt May will grill him alive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwen swung onto the Oscorp Tower. She shot two webs, slingshooting herself upwards, before running upwards along the wall and shooting a web every now and then to keep up momentum. The News helicopter shining a spotlight on her upon noticing her and began recording her.
Up high on an antenna The Lizard deployed the Ganali device and loaded the serum into it, setting the timer as low as was allowed and activated the machine. He grinned. Soon Osborn shall pay. He flinched as the light from a helicopters spotlight shone in his eyes. He gave a hiss, but remained otherwise stationary.
He turned around as he heard a zip and was greeted with kick to his face, flying off the antenna. He managed to grab his attackers legs and drag him down with him. Both of them landed on the roof. Now The Lizard could see his attacker better. It was not, as he anticipated, Nexus. It was female, clad in a black and white outfit with pieces of pink web like patterns here or there. The Lizard got a little worried. He was confident he could stall Nexus. But 2 superpowered people?
Nexus wasn't here though, so it was still one on one. He immediately attacked wasting no time to play with his prey, he needed to kill her before the situation escalated.
Gwen widened her eyes in surprise at seeing The Lizard move so much quicker then she witnessed up until now. Both her heart and spider sense hammered in her body. Swipe. Duck. Bite. Slide. Tail slam. Web zip to the side. Lunge. Jump over and jump again from his back. Web zip to the antenna and the Ganali device. Let go in midair and dodge thrown object. Web zip again. But dodge another object. Lose altitude. Try to web zip. Get tackled. One claw holds her arm up. Another tries to pierce her guts. She kicks it aside. And instinctively punches his jaw before he can attempt to bite her. She tries to break free. Her free arm gets caught by the tail. She is strong, but he was stronger. He moved his claw again trying to pierce her. She kicks it away again and bends enough to put her feet on his chest, keeping him far enough away when he tries to bite her again. He uses his free claw to grab her leg and slams her multiple times into an AC denting the metal and creating sharp edges. He smirked.
George came through the door took one look at what was happening. That woman was getting the shit kicked out of her. He looked around seeing a pipe titled nitrogen and shoot it. Lizards are weak to cold. Right? That makes sense in his head. The shot grabs the Lizards attention, who, upon noticing it was just a police man with a shotgun, immediately went back to trying to pierce Gwen with a sharp edge. George grabbed the pipe and pointed it at The Lizard. His gamble paying off and The Lizards chest froze immediately.
George took his shotgun and shot him in the chest for massive damage, causing him to stagger. He immediately grabbed the pipe again and pointed it one of the limbs. The Lizard being completely enraged at sustaining such damage, tried to grab George but the sole of Gwen feet stuck to his arm, keeping it in place. When it froze, she broke it off. The Lizard recognizing that he was in a losing position, decided to distance himself to reposition. Gwen was having none of that and web zipped the weakened towards her, then she kicked him into a small hole.
And looked at her rescuer. Widening her eyes, when she saw her father.
''I have this under control. Go and deactivate whatever that device is,'' George commanded, and throwing the nitrogen pump over the exit of the hole, before taking out his shotgun and began shooting.
Gwen just stood her, not wanting to leave her father to such danger.
''What are you standing around for? GO!,'' George screamed frustrated. What was this vigilante doing? She was wasting time. And where was Nexus? Oh god, don't tell him that Nexus was the petty kind of person.
Gwen reluctantly left quickly zipping herself to the Ganali device. Oh no, no, no, no. There is one minute left and the device can't be turned off. WHO THE FUCK DESIGN THESE THINGS IN SUCH A WAY? At best she can switch the ampules, which makes more sense than adding a damn off-switch. She began trembling from fear, just pressing random buttons out of desperation. She cast multiple glances at her father.
The nitrogen began weakening having been all pumped out from the tank. George ran out of pellets and took out his handgun. He tried shooting the eyes. But The Lizard quickly regained his strength and put his hand in front of his face, he climbed out and went for the police man.
Nexus sat on an antenna right on the Oscorp rooftop and watched this all go down running interference on all observatory means.
If absolutely necessary he would have involved himself. It was not like he would have let The Lizards plan succeed and use the Ganali device or let Gwen die. And maybe he was an asshole for not giving them the antidote. And maybe he was an asshole for not helping Gwen in the fight. But he wasn't gonna always be there. And then what? She is gonna be inexperienced and stand there like a sitting duck. Nah, this part he considers more like though love. Let her gather experience, he says. She wasn't doing half bad. Unlike in the movie she did not lose her web shooters. Good for her.
Then again... he can just always create a clone, but at that point things would just get boring.
Anyway, that is not important.
What is going on here?
No genuinely.
First Georges retarded decision to shoot him earlier in the day. Fine, he can kind of, minimally, excuse it.
But this?
Genuinely. What was going on?
He is alone with no back up. There is no support helicopter, except the news helicopter. Back up seems to not be coming. Granted this time he has to admire his guts, cause his senses seem to not have left him. Unless he did came here without ordering backup. But why would he do that? Unlike in the movie The Lizard did not create those serum grenades, instead going straight for the Ganali device. Which means other police men should not be preoccupied. So what was going on here?
His suspension of disbelief has nose dived into a volcano at this point.
When he saw The Lizard climb out of the hole, Nexus threw himself over the ledge on the opposite side the helicopter flew and stuck to the windows with his own stickiness. It is just a matter of manipulating bio electricity in the right way. And honestly? Being able to stick to surfaces was so useful he just had to add it to his repertoire. So sue him, if he copied one of Spider-Mans trade mark skills. He turned of any observatory interference and threw himself up shattering the glass.
When he was over the ledge he kicked a small antenna towards The Lizard. Now, he did not have the skill to kick the the antenna as a makeshift spear with pinpoint accuracy. But with a little bit of subtle telekinesis.
Just when The Lizard came close enough to shove his claws through Georges body an antenna pierced through him pinning him to the ground. The Lizard screamed. Nexus landed on the other end of the spear and looked down.
''Missed me?,'' Nexus taunted the Lizard.
''Captain, you're a liability. Go away,'' Nexus ordered
''Hey, New Guy, catch,'' Nexus took out the antidote and threw it towards Gwen,'' Switch the serum for the antidote.''
No, seriously who designs such a device without an off-switch. All while allowing the liquid to be exchanged for another.
''And what will you do?,'' George asked stepping back.
''When he turns back he he won't have his powers anymore. And suddenly having a spear through his chest is gonna matter very much,'' Nexus explained. He turned towards the woman and yelled:'' Yo, New Guy tell me when there are 25 seconds on the clock.''
George watched the Lizard struggle fruitlessly. It was both sobbering and anticlimatic. He watched as The Lizard seemed to gain an idea and began clawing at the spear. Surprisingly he wasn't able to cut through it. He looked at Nexus. Was he doing something to that spear? Was this why he couldn't lift the spear, despite displaying the strength to theoretically do so.
''Nexus, 25 seconds remaining,'' yelled Gwen having already switched the serum with the antidote. She only remained near the Ganali device to watch the timer. She jumped from the antenna near Nexus in a crouch.
Nexus jumped from the spear and ripped it out. The Lizard immediately went for the Ganali device. Nexus grabbed it by the tail and slammed it down. It turned around trying to pierce Nexus with its claws but Gwen shot a web at the limb and pulled with all her strength. And while she did not stop his arm she slowed it down a bit. Nexus grabbed the limb and just bent it on his back. The Lizard tried to escape, but Nexus was just so much stronger than him. Since he was already in contact with The Lizard it was time to put some magic into him.
''Is it weird I kind of feel sad for the lizard guy. I mean this just looks like bullying,'' asked Gwen her father, having calmed down when she saw her father was safe. George crossed his arms, refusing to answer.
Something changed. Nexus did not display this kind of strength when he first appeared. What happened until now and then? Did his strength increase or was he hiding it? His brain couldn't help but analyse everything about this situation.
The Ganali device shot the antidote up in the air. It exploded. The Lizard howled inconsolably, giving its last desperate struggles to escape. The first particle touched its skin, causing it to begin slowly reverting into Connors. He began crying upon noticing his arm dissolving back to his usual stump.
''Ok, is it just me or was this whole ordeal just very anticlimatic,'' Gwen asked raising her arms.
''Curt Connors, you are hereby under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to a lawyer. If you can't afford one the state will provide one for you,'' George recited the Miranda Rights while he was cuffing Connors arm to his own. Nexus stepped back towards Gwen, letting the police officer do his job.
''What is your name anyway, New Guy?,'' Nexus asked.
Gwen leaned her body a little back starring at him, before replying:'' We literally debuted on the same day.''
''But this is my second appearance compared to your one, so checkmate. Anyway, answer the question please,'' Nexus argued.
Gwen crossed her arms, remaining silent for an awkwardly long time.
Nexus chuckled:''Oh, this is priceless. You don't have one. Do you?''
George approached them, Connors trailed behind him. He looked defeated no only in body but in spirit. He watched them, not interrupting them, hoping to pick something useful.
''No! I do it is just.... It's silly!,'' Gwen nodded at the end in affirmation.
''Your superhero name is Silly. Man I pity you,'' Nexus shook his head.
''What? No! It's... it's.... Ghost Spider. It's Ghost Spider,'' Ghost Spider nodded her head.
Nexus slowly inched his finger forward, eventually touching her biceps.
''You are fairly solid,'' Nexus jested. Ghost Spider slapped his hand away.
''That aside, is there something we can help you with, Captain. Because, if you are trying to arrest us, it is going to end exactly like last time,'' Nexus diverged their attention to Mr.Stacy.
''I still don't like you two, but ... I couldn't have done this without you two. Thank you. I'm gonna leave you in alone for now. Don't let me catch you,'' George told them. He turned to leave.
''Damn, what happened? Did someone slap some sense into you?,'' Nexus scoffed.
George's face twitched and Ghost Spider tensed slightly.
''Wait...,'' Nexus perked with his body language before he started wheezing:'' Oh my God. Someone actually slapped some sense into you.'' He slapped his sides while continuing to wheeze.
George and Ghost Spider relaxed. Probably just guessed right with this particular metaphor. George shook his head taking the elevator down.
''Where were you, anyway? I could have used your help from the beginning,'' Ghost Spider interrupted Nexus' laughter.
''Unlike you I can't swing through the skies. Sick aerodynamic moves by the way. I've seen you on my way here. I had to jump and run all the way here., which was rather slow,'' Ghost Spider nodded at that excuse.
''Well, you should invest in some alternate form of travel,'' she suggested.
Nexus nodded.
''Soooo, you free tonight?,'' Nexus slowly asked.
She leaned her head back saying nothing.
''I would like to invite you to Pizza. See if we can't cultivate a good relationship,'' Nexus implied with a small coy tone.
''I have a boyfriend,'' Ghost Spider immediately and firmly replied.
''Oh. Oh! I'm sor... Wait. This is not me getting hit with the 'I have a boyfriend' card when you actually don't, just because I came on too strong. Is it?,'' Nexus questioned.
''No. I actually have a boyfriend,'' her voice unwavering and a pristine body language.
''Right. Well... *fake clears throat* Good night then. To colleagues then,'' Nexus rubbed himself behind his head.
Ghost Spider nodded and held out her hand. Nexus reciprocated her handshake.
''To colleagues then. Good night, Nexus,'' Ghost Spider wished before jumping from the roof.
Nexus moved up to the ledge and watched her swing into the night. A touch of pride developing in his chest. So the girl CAN lie if she applies herself. That was a very well told lie.
He jumped from the roof, disappearing into the night as well.
The next day the News Agencies reported about the two new vigilantes in town.