Archive of Our Own

At night, a security guard is walking around a museum, swinging his baton as he looks around.

Suddenly, a small ball rolls up to his feet. He pushes his hat up slightly with his baton, tilting an eyebrow, before the ball explodes into a bright light.

The guard holds up his arms, as he takes a step back. The light dies down, before the guard gets dizzy and collapses on the ground.

Then, four men and a woman, each wearing business suits and demonic black and white masks, hurry past the unconscious guard and to the museum’s wall.

One of the Inner Demon is carrying a duffle bag, with him pulling out a grapple gun and aims up, firing a grapple hook up and onto the museum’s roof. The five Inner Demons then use the hook’s rope to climb onto the roof, with the one with the duffle bag being the last.

The last Inner Demon heads the duffle bag to the female member, as he starts to pull up the rope and the connected grapple gun.

The female Inner Demon pulls a disc-like object out of the duffle bag and attaches it to the skylight, before pressing its center. Four rods extend from the disc and start to spin, cutting into the skylight.

The first Inner Demon finishes pulling up the grapple gun and presses a button, retracting the rope and hook back into it.

Once the disc’s rods stop spinning, two other Inner Demons grab the rods and pull the large round section of the skylight out and out of the way.

The first Inner Demon finishes wrapping the grapple hook around a pipe at the edge of the roof, before holding the grapple gun, by its rope, over the skylight’s hole and then presses a button, causing the grapple gun to descend through the hole by its rope. Once the grapple gun reaches the floor, the Inner Demons use the rope to slide down and into the museum.

The Inner Demons then start to run through the museum, before reaching a medieval section and approaching a display case.

“Here it is, just like the master said,” one of the Inner Demon says, as they see inside the display case is a long sword with a black blade. “The Ebony Blade.”

He turns to the female Inner Demon, who pulls out of the duffle bag a smaller disc-like object and hands it to him.

Suddenly, a large spotlight resembling Spider-Man’s mask appears on the wall across the Inner Demons.

“You know, I would think after Sandy’s visit, this place would up their security.”

The Inner Demons turn to see Spider-Man, holding onto the side of a column.

“It’s the Spider!” the first Inner Demon calls out.

“Actually, it’s Spider-Man, or Spidey, but never Mr. Man,” Spider-Man jokes.

The first Inner Demon presses the center of the disc and throws it, with four rods extending out, as the disc spins through the air.

Spider-Man, with his Spider Signal going off, jumps off the column, with the disc spins past him, cutting into the column, “Whoa! I told you kids a thousand times not to throw a discus in the house.”

The disc spins through the air and back toward Spider-Man, whose eyes widen, before he flips over the disc, “Business suits.” Still in midair, he shoots a couple web threads that touch the disc’s center. “Thrown objects that fly back.” The disc’s rods retract, with the disc’s pin against a wall by the web. “You must be Boomerang Inc.” He lands in a crouching position. “Though the masks threw off the theme.”

“We’re the Inner Demons,” the first Inner Demon pulls a large gun out of the duffle bag, before firing a red beam.

Spider-Man jumps onto the ceiling, dodging the red beam.

“Get the sword,” the first Inner Demon instructs.

Spider-Man jumps on to a wall, dodging another red beam, and fires a webline, sticking another Inner Demon’s hand to the display case.

“Nah-huh, you can’t touch,” Spider-Man waves a finger, before jumping off the wall, dodging a red beam. “Now, for Tex here.”

“Hold. Still.” The Inner Demon keeps on firing red beams.

“Yeah, sure,” Spider-Man web swings, jumping, and flipping through the entire area, dodging red beams. “Your raygun’s shots feel pretty hot. I’m guessing they are projectile heat. A really interesting concept.”

Spider-Man fires a webline, snatching a shield from a suit of armor, then lands and holds up the shield, blocking the heat beam, as it constantly hits the shield, “Assuming the raygun’s inventor was able to solve the obvious overheating problem.”

The Inner Demon’s gun starts to glow red, before he drops it with a slight scream.

“Which I guess they didn’t,” Spider-Man holds down the shield.

Another Inner Demon rushes him.

“Here, hold this,” Spider-Man pushes the shield into the Inner Demon’s hands, with the heat causing him to drop it with a yell, as Spider-Man leaps over him, kicking off his back, then firing a webline, pinning the Inner Demon to the floor.

Spider-Man, launched through the air, shoulder charges the first Inner Demon, knocking him down, before grabbing him with a webline, and throws him against another Inner Demon.

The Inner Demon stuck to the display case manages to pull his hand free, before he is webbed to the display case.

The female Inner Demon pulls a small handle out of the duffle bag, throwing the bag to the side, as she presses a button on the handle, with a whip extending from it. She then cracks the whip a couple times.

“Two can whip it good,” Spider-Man shoots out a webline, resembling a whip and whips it at the female Inner Demon, with the two whips connecting.

The Inner Demon presses another button on the whip, with an electricity current running across it.

“Sorry, Ms. Demon,” Spider-Man fires another webline to the floor, before attaching the two weblines. “But you’re grounded.”

The electricity current runs into the floor, before Spider-Man flips over the Inner Demon, shoots a webline at her foot, and pulls, hanging her upside down, as he webs her up.

The final Inner Demon runs over to the duffle bag, before it is webbed up.

“Nope, no more bag of tricks,” Spider-Man says, attached to a wall.

The Inner Demon turns, but he is suddenly webbed up, before falling over.

“And no more museum heist,” Spider-Man says, before he hears incoming police sirens and looks up. “Better also no more friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.”

Spider-Man starts to web swing through the museum, before launching himself through the hole in the skylight.

Few seconds later, Jean DeWolf and Stan Carter rush through the museum, with their pistols at the ready, when they see the five webbed up Inner Demons. As they holster their pistols, DeWolf fowls and Carter grins.

Across the museum, Spider-Man is seated on top of a familiar, large gargoyle statue, “Inner Demons, huh? Guess the Captain was right about a power vacuum.”

Spider-Man looks down at the gargoyle, before jumping off it and onto the nearby ledge, “Perhaps I was naive thinking that once the Green Goblin’s out of the picture, things would calm down.” He sighs. “And that wasn’t even the worst part, Goblin was my best friend’s father, and Gwen, my other best friend who I finally realized I had feelings for, remained with Harry. So now I’m all alone.”

Spider-Man looks back at the gargoyle, “At least I still have my health, right?”

A couple seconds of silent passes.

Spider-Man sighs, before he swings away, “Maybe the school’s Spring Break trip will do me some good.”

Peter Parker is walking through an airport, carrying a suitcase with his backpack on his back, as he talks on his Osberry phone.

“I’ll be fine, Aunt May,” Peter says, as he slips past someone. “I know, I know, but the plane my class is taking is larger and more advanced than the one my parents were on.”

Peter stops and turns to see Gwen Stacy placing a suitcase on the conveyor belt.

“Yes, Aunt May, I know you just worried, but I’ll be fine,” Petter turns away slightly. “Love you too. Bye.”

Peter hangs up his Osberry, pocketing it, as Gwen turns away from the conveyor belt and waves at him.

Peter smiles, “Gwen and I hadn’t got a chance to talk since Norman’s funeral. Maybe now will be a good time…”

Peter starts to hold up a hand, when Harry walks over to her and they start to talk. Peter lowers his hand, as Harry and Gwen are walking away, holding hands.

Peter sighs and starts to walk over, as they all are approaching a large group of students.

“This is really what I need,” Harry says to Gwen. “Fun in the sun in Miami.”

Flash Thompson turns away from Sha Shan Nyugen, “Fun, really, Osborn? This is a science field trip.” He notices Sha Shan, who tilts an eyebrow. “Sorry, but if my grade doesn’t need it, I might stay at home.”

“Now now,” Mr. Warren takes a step forward, as an older woman looks at the group of students, tabbing with a pen. “You can have fun and learn at the same time.”

Sha Shan elbows Flash, who smiles at her.

Peter looks around his classmates, seeing Harry and Gwen together, Sally Alvril and Rand Randerston, Hobie Brown and his girlfriend, Mindy McPherson, Kenny Kong and Gloria Grant.

“Are we taking a plane or Noah’s Ark,” Peter wonders, before noticing Liz Allan and Mary Jane Watson by themselves. “Then again…”

The female teacher, Ms. Daphne Smith, holds down her pen and approaches Mr. Warren, “I’m done with the headcount, Aaron. Every student signed up for the trip is accounted for.”

“Begin boarding for Flight-19 to Miami,” an announcement is given over loudspeakers. “Begin boarding for Flight-19 to Miami.”

“Ah, perfect timing,” Mr. Warren says. “Okay, everyone, got one carryon? Then let’s go, in an orderly manner.”

The group of students start to follow Mr. Warren and Ms. Smith.

Peter is at the back of the line, watching Harry and Gwen holding hands, “Maybe I was wrong about the trip…”

A plane is flying over the city, as Black Cat reaches the top of a skyscraper and starts watching it.

Onboard the plane, Peter tries to get comfy in his chair, sitting next to Hobie, when Kong, sitting in front of Peter, leans back, with Peter getting barely any legroom. Peter places his head against his chair, exhausted.

A large charter bus pulls up in front of the Fireheart Hotel, before the students onboard start to get up.

Mr. Warren and Ms. Smith are leading the students into the hotel’s lobby, before stopping, with the teachers turning to face them.

“Okay, listen up, everyone,” Mr. Warren holds up a clipboard. “You all had been assigned a hotel room in pairs.” He starts to read from the clipboard. “Room 501, Peter Parker and Harry Osborn…”

“Hey fun, almost like the sleepovers when we were kids,” Peter whispers to Harry.

“Yeah, fun…” Harry says, without looking at him.

Gwen turns to notice them.

“Room 511, Randy Robertson and Seymour O’Reilly. Room 512, Eugene Thompson and Hobie Brown,” Mr. Warren continues to read, before flipping the page on the clipboard. “Now for the girls. Room 601, Liz Allan and Mary Jane Watson…”

Liz and MJ look ahead, surprised, before Liz lowers her shoulders.

“Great…” Liz says.

“Room 606, Gwen Stacy and Sally Avril,” Mr. Warren reads.

“You gotta be kidding me!” Sally says, as Gwen lowers her head.

“Is there a problem?” Mr. Warren looks past the clipboard.

“Yes, I should share a hotel room with Glory instead,” Sally says, holding a hand to Glory on her right.

“And why is that?” Mr. Warren asks.

“Because… because we’re both on the cheerleader squad,” Sally says, with Glory placing a hand on her head.

In the hotel’s fifth floor, Mr. Warren is watching as several male students are entering their hotel rooms.

“Remember everyone, hurry and put away your belongings,” Mr. Warren says. “We’re meeting in the lobby in sixteen minutes.”

In a hotel room, Peter drops his suitcase down next to one of two beds, before slightly pulling up one of his sleeves, seeing his Spider-Man costume.

Peter quickly pulls the sleeve back down, “Forgot I’m still wearing my costume.”

He turns to Harry, as he seats his suitcase on the other bed, “Harry, you can use the drawers if you want, I’m fine keeping my stuff in my suitcase.”

“Whatever,” Harry opens his suitcase, picks up a handful of clothes and turns to placing them in the dresser behind him.

Peter pushes his suitcase under his bed and starts to walk over to Harry, “Not only I hadn’t talked to Gwen since the funeral, I also hadn’t talked to Harry.”

“Listen, Harry, if you ever need someone to talk to,” Peter starts, as Harry puts more of his clothes into the dresser’s drawer. “About your fath…”

“We should hurry,” Harry closes the drawer and starts to walk by Peter, surprising him.

“Hum, yeah, sure,” Peter says, as he watches Harry exit the room.

In another hotel room, MJ closes a drawer, as Liz places some clothes into another of the room’s dresser’s drawers.

“So, how are things…?” MJ asks.

“Since my brother went to prison, or since Petey… since I broke up with Peter…” Liz says, without looking away from the dresser.

“Liz…” MJ starts.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Liz responds.

“Okay, everyone, let’s hurry up to the lobby,” Ms. Smith heard saying from the hall outside the room.

The entire group is on the charter bus, as Mr. Warren stands at the front of the bus, holding his clipboard, amidst talking among the students.

“Settle down, everyone,” Mr. Warren says, as the talking dies down. “Before we arrive, I want to go over our schedule for our first two days.” He looks at the clipboard. “Okay, first off, we're gonna take a tour of the Science Exploreum, where a lot of Florida’s greatest minds have gathered with their inventions and research.”

“Sounds like a snooze fest,” Flash says, as Kenny sits next to him and gives a small laugh.

“Then, tomorrow, we will relax at a nearby water park,” Mr. Warren continues, with most of the students cheering. “Before checking out the newest exhibits at the local museum.” Most of the students moan.

The bus then starts to pull into a large building, past a sign that reads “Science Exploreum”.

A female guide is leading the class group through a large building.

“Here, the Science Exploreum represents a melting pot of inventions and research,” the guide explains, as they are passing by some different equipment being designed. “In fact, these lab areas are where most of the completed inventions are stored and tested.”

The group approaches a gated off area, as a scientist is wearing a green gauntlet, with a small bulge on it, as the tour guide continues, “Which included dart launching gauntlets…” A couple darts shoot out of the gauntlet, hitting a bullseye.

The group approaches an area blocked by a plexiglass wall, as a mostly purple jumpsuit with a black line going through the center of the suit is hanged up, as narrow blasters rise up next to it before blasting the suit with fire, while the guide continues, “fireproof unstable molecules jumpsuits…”

The blasters stop shooting fire, leaving the jumpsuit unscathed.

The group approaches an area where a couple helmets are on stands, including one which had an exposed area for the mouth, and a black visor, as a woman works on the back of another helmet.

“Multi-purpose helmets…” the guide continues, as Flash yawns, before blushes slightly when Sha Shan notices him.

A scientist turns a knob on a silver canister, while holding a hose connecting to it, before shooting a blast of cold air at a mannequin, freezing it suddenly.

“A subzero phaser, to prevent the melting of the polar ice caps…” the guide continues.

“And a jet-powered wing harness,” the guide says.

The group approaches a platform, where a metal harness, with bug-like wings sticking out, is on a stand, while Abner Jenkins, a scientist is checking the back, and holding a tablet in his other hand.

Next to him is Robert Farrel, an African American teen, who is holding his own tablet, “Dr. Jenkins, I’ll check the power levels on the last test.”

Jenkins nods his head, without looking away from the harness.

Robert turns away and notices the entire group, “Oh, hum, hi there.”

“This is the student group from New York,” the guide says. “If you had a moment, perhaps…?”

“Right, right,” Robert approaches them, before clearing his throat. “I’m Robert Farrel, though I’m just a student intern here, so I might not be the best person to speak to you.”

“I’m also a student intern, at the Empire State University’s bio-genetics lab,” Gween approaches him, before turning slightly. “Peter, too.”

Peter gives a small wave.

Gwen turns back to Robert, “Though it must be amazing to intern at someplace like this. With all this impressive tech.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Robert glances over his shoulder to see Jenkins scoff, before he looks back and clears his throat. “Hum, but a bio-gene lab must also be amazing.”

“Does that place get trashed by a supervillain every few months?” Flash asks, with Sha Shan elbows his side slightly.

Harry watches Gwen and Robert, before crossing his arms.

“Speaking of bio-labs, we should move on on the tour,” the guide says.

“There’s a bio-genetic lab here?” Peter asks.

“Indeed,” Mr. Warren says. “In fact, you and Ms. Stacy might be very interested in the bio-lab.”

Peter and Gwen look at each other, confused.

Inside a limousine, sitting in the back is Thomas Fireheart, a Native American man, reading a Daily Bugle paper, with the front page showing a picture of the mutated Kraven the Hunter, with the headline “Mutated Hunter”.

After a few seconds, the driver says, “Sir, we’ve arrived.”

Thomas grins, “Perfect.”

The tour group enters a large lab, with tables, computers, and breakers all around.

“And this is the Science Exploreum’s bio-genetic lab,” the guide says. “Where some of the state’s greatest genetics research takes place.”

The group approaches a computer unit, as Drs. Curt and Martha Connors turn around to see them.

“Drs. Connors?” Gwen says, gladly.

“When we heard that a school trip from M-cube was coming, we thought we might see you,” Martha says.

“It’s great seeing you both,” Peter approaches them.

“Same,” Curt says, before sharing a quick look with Martha. “How things have been at the ESU lab?”

“Fine, we mainly have been doing some cleaning,” Peter explains. “But Dr. Warren says he looks forward to how he can continue some of your old work.”

“That’s… great,” Curt says.

“We could nap on the bus, if this is just a nerd-fest,” Kenny whispers to Flash, who gives a chuckle.

“So this is the lab you left New York for?” Gwen asks.

“Yeah, they heard about our research and were impressed enough to invite us to work here,” Martha explains.

“They aren’t the only ones.”

The group turns to see approaching them is Thomas.

“Mr. Fireheart?” Curt asks.

“Fireheart, like our hotel?” Sally asks.

“The Fireheart Hotel, just one of my business endeavors,” Thomas explains, as he passes through the group to approach the Connors. “But my main one will remain Fireheart Industry.”

“Fireheart Industry?” Gwen asks.

“A major company, kinda like the OsCorp of Florida,” Martha explains.

“They want to be,” Harry says, under his breath.

“Oh, you must be Harry Osborn,” Thomas says, before placing a hand on his shoulder. “I heard about what happened to your father. You have my condolences.”

“...Thanks,” Harry says, as Thomas removes his hand.

“Now, Martha, Curt,” Thomas turns to the Connors. “Have you given any more thought to my job offer?”

“We have, and the answer remains no,” Martha says.

“We’re very happy here, Mr. Fireheart,” Curt says. “Working with some of the best in the field.” He turns slightly to see a man in a lab coat, checking on a couple potted plants. “Like Dr. Theodore Sallis.”

“Indeed,” Thomas holds his hands behind his back.

“I hope you hadn’t forgotten about me,” a skinny man approaches the group, holding a tablet.

“O-Of course not,” Curt says, before turning back to the group. “This is Dr. Vincent Stegron.”

“‘Stegron’? That’s a cool name,” Flash says.

“If you say so,” Vincent says, before looking at his tablet.

“I am leading this group, right?” The guide asks, before noticing Randy, who shrugs his shoulders.

“You know, I’m very sorry you decided to leave ESU,” Mr. Warren says to the Connors. “Especially since my brother spoke so highly of working with you both.”

“Hum, yeah,” Curt says, rubbing the back of his head with his good hand.

“Dear, why don’t you show everyone what we’re working on right now,” Martha suggests.

“Good idea,” Curt says, as he turns to the computer, typing at it, as a large monitor behind it shows a strand of DNA. “We are examining what appeared to be dinosaur DNA acquired from Antarctica.”

“Dinosaur DNA?” Peter says, softly.

“So you are building your own Jurassic Park?” Flash asks.

“No,” Curt says, with a small laugh, as he turns back. “Regrowing an entire lifeform from such a small sample isn’t possible.” He then holds onto his prosthetic arm. “Not to mention countless risks to introducing foreign DNA to another source.”

Vincent looks up from his tablet.

“But studying the DNA of numerous creatures could help us to learn a lot more about genetic structures,” Curt continues.

“Then the sky would be the limit,” Thomas adds.

Liz starts to raise a hand, when they hear a loud sound, with the Connors turning to face the back of the room, where a large pair of doors is.

“Wow, someone is making a lot of noise,” Kenny says.

“Except that everyone who has clearance to the bio-lab is in this room,” Martha says.

Suddenly the pair of doors open, with five men in black and dark green gears, including goggles and large blasters. Leading the group is Dominic Fortune III, a young handsome man, with to his immediate side is Andreas Vadas, an older man with strands of gray hair sticking out.

The entire group looked on, surprised, with some frightened.

“I hope we didn’t disturb all of you lovely people,” Dominic starts, as the other four men spread out in the room. “We’re the Wild Pack, and no one will get hurt. As long as you give us all your research material.”

Thomas slowly approaches Dominic, “Now, I’m sure we could handle this entire situation peacefully.”

“Of course, Mr. Fireheart, is it,” Dominic responds. “Your picture in the paper doesn’t do you justice.” He then looks around at the group. “And what with the kids? Guinea Pigs?”

“They’re just from a school trip,” Martha explains.

Dominic sighs, “Lovely.”

Peter backs away from the group, slowly looking around.

Dominic turns to Andreas, “Lock everyone up, except for the Connors.”

Suddenly, an alarm started to blare through the building, with everyone looking up in response.

“Great, now we have to hurry up,” Dominic says.

Peter quickly ducks down and under a row of tables. Using shadows and the equipment kept under the table as cover, Peter crawls along, peeking through to see a Wild Pack man leading the other students, the teachers, the guide, and Dr. Sallis through a door past the table, a storage room.

Peter then spies a vent cover on the wall. Without making a sound, he slowly pry open the vent cover, slips into the vent, and closes the cover behind him.

The Wild Pack man closes the door to the storage room.

Dominic approaches the Connors, “Now, Drs. Connors, if you both been so kind as to download the data we require.”

Peter crawls through a labyrinth of vent ductwork, “Great, Peter. You want a distraction and you got it. Now what’re you gonna do about it?”

Peter turns a corner in the ductwork, “A lot of questions could arise if Spider-Man is seen in Miami. And I don’t need a repeat of when Venom tried to out me last month.”

Peter comes to a stop at another vent cover, seeing out to see the lab area, completely empty.

“Everyone had left,” Peter realizes, as he starts to remove the vent cover. “Someone must’ve raised the alarm and then evacuated the place.”

Peter removes the vent cover, climbs out and sticks to the ceiling, then replaces the vent cover. He then leaps off the wall and lands next to the table with the dart launching gauntlets.

Peter looks at the gauntlets, “Considering the situation, I’m sure no one would mind if I borrow some toys.”

Peter removes the wing harness from its stand, “Okay, some expensive toys.”

Peter picks up the helmet with an open space for the mouth, “And try not to think how it would take two lifetimes worth of a check from Daily Bugle to pay for any of them.” He pauses for a moment, before lowering his shoulders. “If JJ feels generous.”

Peter holds up the fireproof jumpsuit, “Anyway. Can’t go back now.”

Bursting through the bio-genetics lab’s doors is Peter, now wearing all of his “borrowed” gear, “Hold all applause, cause the Hornet has landed.”

Dominic and the Connors turn away from the computer, all surprised.

“Hornet? What is this?” Dominic asks. “Halloween in March?”

“What can I say?” Hornet starts. “Insectoid superheroes are all the rage right now.”

“So are bug sprays, punk,” Dominic responds. “Squash him.”

“You have to catch me,” Hornet says, before jumping back, with the harness’ jet roars to life, propelling him back into the lab area.

Two of the Wild Pack men give chase, as the Connors look at each other.

Still flying, Hornet’s arms and legs wave around slightly, before maintaining his balance, “Okay. Step one: getting the hang of the flying. Completed. Step two: luring the ‘Mild Pack’ into the opening. Completed.”

A laser bolt flies past Hornet’s head, barely missing him, followed by another, “Whoa! A little too well.”

Hornet looks over his shoulder to see the two men aiming their blasters at him.

“Well, time for Hornet to earn his just invented hero cred,” Hornet says.

Hornet flies a wide circle, weaving up and down dodging laser bolts, before firing a couple darts out of his gauntlet.

The first two darts miss their target, but the third manages to knock the blaster out of one of the men's hands, causing him to grunt.

The other man rolls to the side, avoiding some darts, and fires his blaster.

Hornet flies straight up, dodging laser bolts, before flips and flies down at an angle, coming straight at the second man so fast that he couldn't counter. Hornet kicks the man, knocking him back, with the blaster flying out of his hands.

The man slams hard on the ground.

“Don’t worry, your body suit looks like they should absorb most of the blow,” Hornet says.

Hornet turns to his right to see the first man had reclaimed his blaster and starts firing.

Hornet jumps and leaps to dodge the laser bolts, before grabbing the blaster, crushing it in his hand. Hornet followed with a spin back kick, knocking the man back, unconscious.

Hornet drops the damaged blaster, before studying his gauntlet, “Watch it, that was less Hornet-y and more Spider-y. And I think the darts are jammed.”

Suddenly, Hornet is blasted straight in the chest, sending him flying and crashing into a large piece of machinery.

“Fireproof… and blaster fire proof… sort of,” Hornet says to himself.

Hornet looks up to see a third Wild Pack Man was slowly approaching, aiming his blaster. Hornet manages to get onto his feet and tries to fire a dart from his gauntlet, but nothing happens.

Hornet looks at the gauntlet, “Yep, jammed.”

The man starts to fire his blaster.

“Yikes!” Hornet flies up, dodging laser bolts.

The back of Hornet’s harness is giving a small red glow, as he flies through the air, dodging laser bolts left and right, “What I won’t get for some web shooters.”

The man continues to fire, getting frustrated.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a little tired of this game,” Hornet continues to dodge.

Hornet reaches a wall, kicks off it, and spins head over heel downward. He slams into the man, feet first, knocking him down and out.

Hornet lands on his feet and reaches for his shoulder, “Either I’m getting a sunburn fully clothed and inside, or this thing is overheating.”

Hornet then looks at his gauntlet, slightly banging it with his other hand, “Just two more left, then I can end Hornet’s career.”

Hornet bangs his gauntlet one more time, “That should unjam it.”

Before Hornet could react, a transparent cable encircled Hornet, pinning his arms, and giving him a slight electric current. Hornet is slowly forced to one knee, and looks to the side, seeing Dominic and Andreas slowly approach.

Dominic lowers his hand, having just thrown the cable, “I was wondering what all that noise was about.”

Hornet tries to force himself up, “So the big boss decides to play himself.

Dominic smirks, “A certain capital of industry hired us to get all the research material at the bio-lab. And a super-wannabe won’t get in our way.”

Hornet tries to flex his muscles, but the cable is proving to be too resistant, “Sorry to disappoint, but I just love getting in the way.”

Hornet slowly turns his gauntlet slightly upward.

Dominic aims his blaster ahead, “I would suggest you get a new love, but you won’t get the opportunity.”

Hornet fires a dart, cutting through the cable.

Within seconds, Dominic fires his blaster, almost at point-blank range, but Hornet jumps up, with his harness’ jet giving him an extra boost, dodging the attack.

“Blast that bug!” Dominic shouts, with him and Andreas fire their blasters straight up.

Hornet dodges left to right, barely dodging each oncoming laser bolts, “‘Blast that bug’? C’mon, you can do better than that.”

A laser bolt hits the tip of one of Hornet's harness wings, throwing the hero into a spin. Another laser bolt hits Hornet in the chest, slamming him against a wall. Hornet falls down and crashes into some machinery, burying him in the damaged equipment.

Dominic and Andreas slowly approach the site, their blasters drawn and ready.

“Good enough for you, punk?” Dominic asks.

After a short pause, a pair of darts shoot out from beneath the machinery, blasting the blasters out of their owners' hands. Before they could react, Hornet flies out from the machinery, with his arms crossed.

“Your attack’s not bad,” Hornet slams against Andreas, knocking him back and into unconsciousness.

Now standing on the ground, Hornet turns to Dominic, “But your one-liner needs work.” He delivers a quick punch.

The Connors are standing at the computer, talking amongst themselves, when they turn to see Hornet, standing at the lab’s entrance.

“Everyone’s okay?” Hornet asks.

“Hum,yeah, we’re okay… Hornet,” Curt says.

“Good, good,” Hornet starts. “Yeah, so our Wild Pack friends out there, out cold. You might want to call the police quickly.” Hornet starts to turn, giving a small wave, “Stay safe.”

Hornet runs off, with the Connors continuing to watch.

“Yeah, you too,” Martha says.

Hornet, carrying a web bag full of his normal clothes, flies into a nearby empty alley, with a dumpster. A puff of smoke blows out of the bottom of the harness, as Hornet barely manages to land.

“Yep, yep, it’s overheating,” Hornet says.

Quickly, the harness is placed on top of the dumpster, followed by the gauntlet, the helmet, and finally the jumpsuit.

Peter, dressed in his normal clothes, rubs his shoulder, “Sorry about this. Hopefully, they will find this and repair it.”

Peter starts to turn away, “Either way…” Peter is walking down the alley, away from the dumpster. “Hornet no more.”

Curt opens the door to the storage room, allowing everyone trapped inside to pour out.

“Is everyone okay?”

“We’re fine, but what happened here?” Mr. Warren asks. “We heard all kinds of noise…”

“Has it happened, it seemed Miami might have its own hero in a… Hornet,” Martha answers.

Harry rolls his eyes, as he walks away, whispering, “As long he stayed out of New York.”

“That’s surely thankful he arrived when he did,” Mr. Warren says.

Martha and Curt share a suspicious look.

Gwen walks past the Connors, looking around, worried, “Wait, where’s Peter?!”

A loud clunk noise is heard.

The group turns and sees a vent cover on the ground, as Peter is falling out of the ductwork.

Peter notices everyone seeing him, “Is it safe…?”

Mr. Warren is addressing the male students, as they start to enter their hotel rooms in the Fireheart Hotel.

“Okay everyone, while it might be difficult, after such an exciting day, you should all get plenty of sleep,” Mr. Warren says. “Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

Mary Jane is sitting on her bed, watching Liz going through the clothes she had placed in the dresser.

“Liz, are… are you okay?” Mary Jane asks.

After a short pause, Liz answers, “I am.”

“I just thought,” Mary Jane starts. “With what happened to Mark, at the bio-lab today, you might’ve wanted to ask about reversing his condition.”

Liz turns to face Mary Jane, “Just because you and Mark dated doesn’t mean it’s any of your business.”

“I thought we got away from all the antagonism,” Mary Jane says.

“That’s before you got your wish,” Liz says. “About me and Peter breaking up. So he can be with Gwen Stacy.”

Liz turns back to the dresser, closing the drawer, “Not like it was a secret.”

Mary Jane sighs, getting off her bed to get closer to Liz, “I admit, I did want my friends to be together. Not that it matters with Gwen remaining with Harry.”

Liz turns to her, “I am partly happy about that.”

Tears formed in Liz’s eyes, before she starts to cry.

Mary Jane walks over to her, placing a hand on Liz’s shoulder, before Liz starts to cry on Mary Jane’s shoulder.

Hobie is sitting on his bed, watching as Flash is pacing back and forth in front of both beds.

“I don’t believe I said all those stupid things in front of Sha Shan,” Flash continues to pace.

Hobie starts to open his mouth to say something.

“I mean, she elbowed me so much,” Flash interrupts, continuing to pace. “She had to be annoyed.”

Hobie tries to say something again.

“What should I say?” Flash interrupts, continuing to pace.

Hobie tries once again to say something, but is interrupted by Flash’s moan, not stopping his pacing.

“It's all those nerd pairs’ faults,” Flash continues to pace.

Hobie, in frustration, falls back onto his bed.

Peter comes out of the bathroom connecting to his and Harry’s bedroom to see Harry pulling down his bed’s blanket, before moving onto his pillow.

“So hum…” Peter tries to start. “How’s things?”

Harry fluffs his pillow, not looking at him, “My mother’s been busy, meeting with the OsCorp’s board of directors.” He glances in Peter’s direction, with a small grin. “And things are going well with Gwen.”

Peter is fluffing his own pillow, before accidentally tearing it slightly. He quickly puts on a fake smile, “That’s great, Harry. Great…”

Harry places his pillow back down, then looks up at Peter, “What were you doing in the vents? During all that mess before?”

“Oh that…” Peter places down his own pillow. “I thought I would try to get some pics for the Daily Bugle back home. I didn’t get any. A real shame.”

Harry sits down on his bed, “It’s better than pictures of that murderer.”

“Harry, Spider-Man isn’t a murderer,” Peter tells him.

“You weren't there!” Harry responds. “My father was ill! Spider-Man should’ve helped him, instead…” Harry tries to control his anger. “What happened to my father was Spider-Man’s fault.”

Peter’s left speechless.

Gwen and Sally are lying in their respective beds, covered by blankets up to their chests.

Gwen opens her mouth to say something.

Sally raises a finger, stopping her, “No talking.”

Gwen closes her mouth, silently hoping the night will end quickly.

At the Science Exploreum’s bio-lab, Curt waves at Theodore, as he’s leaving through the lab’s main entrance, “Have a good night, Theodore.”

Curt rubs the shoulder where his prosthetic arm connects, as he turns to Martha at the computer and approaches her, “Ready to call it a day too?”

Martha pulls a flash drive from behind the computer, holding it up to show her husband, “Curt, did you put this here?”

“No, never seen it before,” Curt answers. “Could it be that Wild Pack left it behind?”

Martha slightly turns the flash drive, “Perhaps…”

The next day, the school group exits a bus, in front of the water park, with each of the students carrying a bag, as the teachers walk out in front of the group.

“I know you all want to have fun,” Mr. Warren starts addressing the students. “But you all represented Midtown Manhattan Magnet High School, so remember to be on your best behavior at…”

Suddenly, all the students run past Mr. Warren, who sighs.

“At all times,” Mr. Warren finishes.

Several students, all wearing swimwear, including Peter and Gloria, go down water slides and land in a large pool. Kenny comes sliding down into the pool, causing a large splash. Kenny notices Gloria and looks at her nervously, before Gloria starts laughing and hugs him.

At the pool, Gloria is on Kenny’s shoulders, Sha Shan’s on Flash’s shoulders, Sally’s on Rand’s shoulders, and Mindy’s on Hobie’s shoulders, as the girls pass a beach ball back and forth.

Peter is standing on the diving board, when he looks over the edge at the pool below.

Spider-Man runs across the diving board, jumps off the diving board, flips and fires two weblines to the board, slingshots himself high into the air. He flips, before spins around and then falls straight down into the pool, causing a huge splash. He then emerges from the pool, with his arms raised, as everyone around the pool starts to applaud, including Gwen and Harry.

Peter shakes his head from the fantasy, before his foot slips on the diving board, and he falls uncontrollably into the pool. Gwen watches from beside the pool, worried, when Peter emerges from the pool and brushes his hair out of his face.

Gwen looks relieved, as Harry notices next to the food and drinks stands.

Flash jumps off the diving board, cannonballing into the pool, splashing water on Mr. Warren as he walks by. Flash nervously lowers his head into the water, blowing bubbles.

On the other side of the pool, Gwen and Peter are laughing, when Harry shoves himself in between them, offering her a soda cup. Gwen accepts it, as Peter looks disappointed.

Some time later, the students, back in their regular clothes, and teachers are entering the hotel’s lobby.

“That’s was a wonderful restaurant you chose, teach,” Kenny says, as he passes Mr. Warren.

“I live for your praise, Mr. Kong,” Mr. Warren says. “Now, remember you have an hour before we leave for the National Museum.”

“Why should that matter to me?” Sally says to Sha Shan, as they pass Peter in the lobby.

“Don’t you wonder what was going on while we all were locked up?” Sha Shan asks. “I was really worried for the Connors and Vincent when they’re with that Wild Pack group.”

Peter stops walking.

Sally sighs, “Whatever.”

Peter looks to the side, “Wait. Only the Connors were with the Wild Pack when Hornet showed up. I better check it out, unfortunately that means…”

“You’re sick?” Harry asks, staring at Peter in his hotel bed, with his blanket up to his shoulders.

“Yeah,” Peter says, before he coughs twice. “Must be when I fell in the pool.” He coughs again. “I felt completely terrible.”

“You sound it as well,” Harry says. “Okay, I’ll tell Mr. Warren.” He starts to turn away. “Guess he can ask the hotel staff to look in on you or something.”

“Thanks, Harry,” Peter says, as he listens to Harry closing the door. “I hate lying to you, but I need to check on things with the Connors.” Peter pulls on his Spider-Man mask.

“And hopefully I’m overreacting.”

Curt is standing behind Martha, as she sits at the computer console, when a webline hits the ceiling and Spider-Man swings onto the ceiling, sticking there.

“I hope you don’t mind me dropping in unannounced.”

“Spider-Man?” Curt asks, as he and Martha look up at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, hum, Hornet told me what happened,” Spider-Man says, rubbing the back of his neck, then notices Curt and Martha’s confused expressions. “Yeah, huh, all superhero types know each other.”

“I see,” Martha removes the flashdrive from the console.

“So… what’s on the drive?” Spider-Man asks. “Or is it one of those ‘if I tell you I have to squash you’ kind of thing.”

“No,” Martha looks at the flashdrive. “We’re thinking it belonged to that Wild Pack. Especially since it got all our research data on genetic manipulation.”

“Your data?” Spider-Man asks, before dropping to the floor. “I don’t think it's the Wild Pack’s, otherwise they would’ve just left instead of fighting.”

“He got a point,” Curt tells his wife.

“Then who’s?” Martha looks up at Curt.

Spider-Man looks around, “Hold on, is there supposed to be more guys in this bunch?”

“Theodore Sallis already left for the night, as for Vincent Stegron…” Curt asks. “Last time I saw him, he went into the back.”

Curt points to a pair of doors on the other side of the bio-lab, with Spider-Man looking over at it.

“What’s back there?” Spider-Man asks.

“Just storage…” Curt answers.

Spider-Man and Curt walk through the back area, which is completely dark.

Spider-Man presses on his belt buckle, with his spider signal lighting up, showing Vincent, who is behind some large boxes, still somewhat in shadows.

“Vincent, we want to ask you some…” Curt starts, when a syringe gun falls onto the floor. “Questions.”

Spider-Man fires a webline, grabs the syringe gun and pulls it into his hand.

Curt looks from the syringe gun then to Vincent, “What have you done?”

“I should thank you, Curt…” Vincent starts, with a weird sound in his voice. “Your research made it possible.” Vincent turns his head slightly toward the spider signal, revealing his eye is large and yellow.

“Oh boy,” Spider-Man says.

Suddenly, Vincent yells, swinging an arm, knocking away some boxes. Spider-Man grabs Curt and pushes him back, before he gets hit by a box and knocks down with a crash.

Spider-Man pushes the box off him, before noticing his spider signal is flashing then dying out. He looks up to see Vincent’s silhouette is growing larger as his body becomes misshapen, including a large tail growing out.

Spider-Man and Curt look on, as slowly stepping out of the darkness is a large dinosaur-man, who gives off an inhuman roar.

Spider-Man looks on, “Holy Jurassic.” The dinosaur-man, Stegron, turns to look at Spider-Man, with his eyes widened, “Here we go again, doc, if you can hear me in there…?”

Stegron roars again, before he charges at Spider-Man.

Spider-Man starts to shoot a webline, “Fine, we’ll talk later.”

Spider-Man pulls himself up to the ceiling, but the charging Stegron grabs him and slams through the entrance, blowing it apart.

“What the heck?!” Martha calls out, as she turns to see entering the bio-lab is Stegron holding onto Spider-Man.

Stegron turns to face Martha, who looks on, terrified.

Suddenly, a webline hits Stegron in the face, causing him to turn back to Spider-Man, still in his hand.

“Hey, hands off the merchandise,” Spider-Man pulls on the webline, tugging on Stegron’s head, before he kicks off Stegron’s chest, flipping out of his hold.

Spider-Man lands on a console, before Stegron spins and whips his tail, with Spider-Man jumping out of the way, as the tail slams through the console. Spider-Man leaps over Stegron’s head, kicking him in the back of the neck as he goes. Then Stegron turns and grabs Spider-Man’s leg with one hand.

“Hey, I say hands,” Spider-Man starts to say, before Stegron uses his leg to slam him down on the ground. “Off!”

Stegron lets go of Spider-Man’s leg, before trying to step down on him, with Spider-Man barely stopping him by holding onto his feet.

“Guess… I didn’t say… feet off…” Spider-Man struggles to keep Stegron from stepping on him.

Curt runs into the room, sees the two before turning to his wife, “Martha, the gene cleanser!”

“Right,” Martha says, before running to a small refrigerator unit, opening it to find a bunch of vials.

Stegron’s eyes turn to Martha’s direction, before he jumps off on his free feet and jumps over to the refrigerator unit, causing Martha to fall back in fright.

“Martha!” Curt calls out, as Spider-Man returns to his feet.

Stegron just stares at Martha, before getting in closer, “No… gene cleanser…”

Martha, Curt, and Spider-Man look on, surprised.

Stegron roars, before he spins around, slamming the refrigerator unit with his tail, sending it flying against a wall, with several vials falling out and smashing. Stegron then charges out of the bio-lab.

“Hold on, where are you going?!” Spider-Man fires a webline and swings through the lab.

Stegron turns and grabs Spider-Man with one hand, “I’m going… prehistory…”

“Say what?” Spider-Man says, struggling to break the hold.

Stegron grins, before he lets go of Spider-Man and tail whips him back into the bio-lab.

Stegron turns and runs ahead, looking through some of the equipment around, before he picks up a large gun-like device, then noticing a grate in the ground. Stegron rips the grate out of the ground and jumps into it. Stegron then grabs onto the ceiling of the tunnel he found himself in and pulls down, causing a cave-in that blocks the entrance into the tunnel.

Spider-Man returns to his feet, as Curt walks over to him.

“Are you okay, Spider-Man?” Curt asks.

“Yeah, though I’m gonna have a headache the size of the Rhino,” Spider-Man rubs the top of his head, before looking ahead. “Though Stegron there is nothing like the Lizard, and I don’t just mean a greater vocabulary.” He turns to Curt. “By the way, why do you have gene cleansers?”

“Don’t worry, I’m done with self experiments,” Curt grabs his prosthetic arm. “But I still want some on hand, besides they could be helpful in research.” He looks at Spider-Man. “But right now I’m more concerned about what’s going on with Vincent.”

Martha walks over to a console, picking up a tablet, “Perhaps this might tell us.”

Spider-Man and Curt turn to Martha.

“You’re looking through Vincent’s tablet?” Curt asks.

“Vincent lost his privacy rights when he mutated himself into a dinosaur man,” Martha starts to tab and swipe on the tablet’s screen. “Oh…”

“What is it?” Curt asks as he approaches his wife.

“Something tells me it isn’t his diary,” Spider-Man says.

“It appears that Vincent had a rare bone marrow disease,” Martha realizes, swiping through the tablet.

“He’s dying?” Curt asks.

“Look like it,” Martha says, tapping at the tablet’s screen. “He tried to get on some hospitals’ waitlists for a bone marrow donor, but his condition is so far gone…”

“It would be a lost cause?” Spider-Man asks, with Martha nodding.

“Out of desperation, he mutates himself to save himself,” Curt realizes, looking at his prosthetic arm. “That's why he was so interested in the dinosaur DNA sample that came in… The museum?”

“The museum?” Spider-Man looks at him.

“We only received a portion of the DNA sample,” Curt tells him, as Martha passes Curt the tablet and walks past the two. “The rest, which include different species, were taken to the National Museum.”

Martha reaches into the refrigerator unit, before pulling out an undamaged vial, “There’s only one gene cleanser left.”

“Why would he go after those samples?” Spider-Man asks. “He already mutated, unless he wanted some more accessories.”

“Spider-Man,” Martha walks back over to the two. “Before he left, Vincent took an experimental prototype designed to release any chemical in a gaseous form.”

“Any chemical… like mutagens!” Spider-Man realizes.

At the museum, the school group enters, with the students starting to spread apart.

“Remember to check every exhibit I mentioned on the ride over,” Mr. Warren says. “An essay will be due after we return to New York.”

A large group of the students moan in unison.

Gwen approaches the teachers, “Mr. Warren, I don’t see Peter anywhere.”

“Mr. Osborn told me he wasn’t feeling well,” Mr. Warren tells her. “Don’t worry, I’ve asked the hotel staff to keep a watch over him.”

“Peter’s sick?” Gwen asks.

In the museum’s basement, a brick wall starts to crack, before suddenly Stegron bursts through, with a roar.

Gwen approaches Harry, “Why didn’t you mention that Peter’s sick?”

“It’s nothing serious, he just got a cold or something,” Harry says.

“I hope it's just that…” Gwen says, concerned.

“Why are you so upset about him?!” Harry yells at her.

“Harry, he’s one of my oldest friends, and yours too,” Gwen tells him.

“You… You’re right,” Harry says, before looking down. “I’m sorry, Gwen, I just… I guess my father’s death affected me more than I thought.”

“I understand,” Gwen sadly says, as she places a hand on his shoulder.

Sha Shan is standing in front of a display of a couple dinosaur fossils, with Flash nervously approaching.

“Hum, Sha Shan, I…” Flash says, with her turns to him.

“Yes?” Sha Shan asks.

Flash sighs, “I’m sorry for the way I've been acting. Like at that geek… I mean, at that lab…”

Sha Shan smiles, “I know, Flash, I just want you to be more open minded. After all, your open mindedness led to you being in the school play.”

Flash rubs the back of his head, “I actually only did the play to get close with you.”

“I realized that,” Sha Shan says.

“Y-You did?”

“It was kind of obvious, but it doesn’t matter, you still gave it your all,” Sha Shan tells him. “And you were a very good Nick Bottom.”

Flash blushes with a smile.

Suddenly, Stegron breaks up through the floor, and right into the dinosaur display, blowing apart several of the fossils. Flash and Sha Shan look on, frightened.

Stegron looks down at the two, “Still like my name?”

Flash takes a step back, before he grabs Sha Shan’s hand and runs away.

Stegron reaches down and picks up some fossils, before he crushes them in his hands, “I just need to add even a little bit of DNA to my formula.” He then holds up the prototype gas gun, filled with a red chemical. “And I’ll spread the dino virus.” He grins.

Flash and Sha Shan run over to several of their classmates.

“Alright, it’s time to go,” Flash says.

“I wish, but the teachers are insisting for some reason…” Sally starts.

“It’s serious,” Sha Shan interrupts.

Stegron jumps onto a large display case holding a suit of armor, with the case cracking, before he holds out the gas gun and starts firing it.

A man gets hit by the gas, with him screaming, as his hands turn into claws, with three horns coming out of his head and a triceratops-like frill emerges from his neck, all as the students watch in horror.

Stegron presses a button on the side of the gas gun, before aiming it again, “Hold still. You’ll thank me later.”

“Fat chance,” Flash says, before he turns and starts to push some of his classmates forward. “C’mon, run! Run!”

Stegron fires the gas gun, spraying another man, as he grows a long tail with a tyrannosaurus-like head forming from his head. Stegron presses a button, then fires again, hitting a woman, whose arms turn into pterodactyl-like wings, with half of her head resembling a pterodactyl. Stegron presses a button, then fires again, hitting a woman, who starts to become triceratops-like.

With people screaming, Gwen runs by a planetary display, looking around, “Harry, where are you?”

Stegron notices Gwen and starts to aim the gas gun at her

At that moment, a webline hits the gas gun, before it is pulled to the side, with Stegron seeing Spider-Man, who has a large cylinder object wrapped in web on his back, swinging toward him, “Back off, Jurassic breath.”

Spider-Man slams against Stegron, knocking him back, with Spider-Man flips and lands on the display, while Stegron is sent flying and through a couple displays.

Spider-Man looks to the side to see Gwen is standing next to a display, “Good, Gwen’s still okay. Though I better not let her see me.” He looks ahead. “Too bad, I would like to go to a museum and not fight for my life.”

Spider-Man’s spider senses go off, before he turns and sees a triceratops-man lunges at him, tackling Spider-Man, “So much for dreams!”

Gwen turns around a display when she sees Harry getting up from behind the display.

“Harry, you’re okay,” Gwen says. “I was so worried.”

“I’m fine, this display shields me from that thing,” Harry says, before he notices the display is of masks, including a green demonic-looking one. He turns away, before grabbing Gwen’s hand. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”

“What about the others?” Gwen asks, as Harry starts to pull her away.

“They’ll be fine, now c’mon,” Harry says, continuing to pull Gwen away.

Spider-Man is pushed onto the floor, with the triceratops-man above him, before he fires two weblines to the wall behind the triceratops-man, then connects the weblines across the triceratops-man’s chest. Spider-Man then kicks off his chest, with the triceratops-man pulled backward.

Stegron returns to his feet, with Spider-Man looking over his shoulder, “This is sick, Stegron. Mutating random people like this.”

“Sick? No, what is sick is people being cursed with cancer and plagues,” Stegron takes a step forward. “I’m granting everyone the gift of unbridled strength.”

“Gift?!” Spider-Man shoots a webline and swings around, before firing a webline at a fossilized fang and pulls it. “Dude, you’re crazier than a bag of saber-toothed tigers!”

Stegron swings an arm, knocking away the fang, “Clever.” He swings a punch. “But it’ll take more than cleverness to stop my carriers.”

Stegron punches Spider-man, who flips back, with his back pinned against a display.

“‘Carriers’?” Spider-Man responds, before he notices residue on his gloves. “That mutagen gas he's been spraying, it's still on everyone's skin. Contact with it must trigger a transformation as well, like a dino flu.” He looks ahead to see Stegron holding up his gas gun. “My suit is protecting me, but if any of them get out…”

A pterodactyl-lady starts to scream, before she flies up with her wing-arms, crashing through the museum’s skylight.

“Like that!” Spider-Man fires a webline and swings upward.

The pterodactyl-lady screams as she flies higher, when a webline hits her leg, and Spider-Man uses it to swing upward, then lands on her back.

“Hey lady, the party isn’t over,” Spider-Man fires two weblines, connecting to the museum’s roof, then pulls on the weblines, pushing the pterodactyl-lady down and back into the museum, slamming her on the floor.

Spider-Man falls through the opening, before he turns and fires several shots of web, filling the opening in the skylight with web.

Spider-Man lands on top of a display, “I can’t play dino rustler all night.” He holds up a vial of gene cleanser. “And just this one vial of gene cleanser won’t cut it.” He looks around. “But they all were transformed with a spray, so perhaps I won’t have to force feed any with the gene cleanser like the Lizard, then…”

Spider-Man looks up and notices the sprinklers in the ceiling, “Wait, that's it!” He looks down at a nearby wall, before he webswings over to the wall, sticking to it, then touches the wall. “It should be around… here!”

He punches the wall, then breaks off a piece of the wall, revealing pipes labeled “Water Sprinkler System”.

“There,” Spider-Man starts to work on the pipes. “This little trick might get me in trouble with the plumber union, but it might also be worth it.”

Stegron walks between a couple displays, looking around, “Did all the humans get out?”

He stops when he sees a nerdy guy and a pretty girl huddle together in fear.

“I-I’m sorry, th-this was a bad vacation idea…” the nerdy guy says.

“Don’t apologize,” Stegron starts to aim the gas gun. “You both will be the same species after all.”

“Surprise to spoil your fun, Stegron,” Spider-Man swings past, before spins around in midair, then fires weblines at several sprinklers. “But I’m gonna rain on your parade!”

Spider-Man pulls on the weblines, ripping off the sprinklers, which starts to rain down green water.

Stegron looks up, “What this? You think to melt me away?”

“Not exactly,” Spider-Man lands on a table.

Stegron holds up a hand, watching the water hitting his palm, “Wait, this isn’t water.” He closes his fist. “This is the Connors’ gene cleanser!”

“Bingo!” Spider-Man holds up a finger.

Spider-Man turns to the sound of screams, as the dino-people slowly and painfully turn back to normal.

“And with that, your dino-utopia is at an end,” Spider-Man says.

“Not just yet.”

Spider-Man turns to see Stegron slowly approaching him.

“I used an injector, so your little sprinkler trick won’t work on me,” Stegron says, before he starts to run. “Which means you’re out of tricks, out of luck, and your life has run out!”

Spider-Man flips back, slamming down the far end of the table, flipping up the opposite end, which Stegron swipes through, shredding the table. Stegron then slams his hand against Spider-Man’s chest, grabbing him, before Spider-Man shoots some web into Stegron’s eyes.

“Little bug!” Stegron wipes the web out of his eyes.

“That mid-size arachnid to you!” Spider-Man shoots two weblines at the ceiling, then pulls them to launch himself into a flip, kicking the bottom of Stegron’s jaws.

Stegron lets go of Spider-Man, allowing Spider-Man to kick off the ground, crosses his arms and slams against Stegron’s chest, pushing him back.

Spider-Man then jumps off Stegron’s shoulder, spins in midair, and pulls off the webbed cylinder object, “And I do have one more trick up my webs.”

“This ends now!” Stegron spins around and lunges with his mouth open.

“Not till you take your vitamin!” Spider-Man tosses the webbed cylinder.

Stegron chomps down on the webbed cylinder, which explodes with a cold mist, surrounding him completely.

Spider-Man lands on the ground, “I borrowed some liquid nitrogen from the Exploreum’s subzero phraser. It’s for an experiment to reverse the melting of the ice caps, but it serves as making some a dino-popsicle, wouldn’t you agree?”

Spider-Man then looks ahead, surprised.

“Fool,” Stegron walks out of the cold mist, with some blankets of ice on his shoulders. “Dinosaurs aren’t cold-blooded. They have more in common with modern birds than reptiles.”

“Oh boy,” Spider-Man’s eye lens widened.

Stegron charges ahead, “Now you die!”

Stegron slams against Spider-Man, blowing him through a brick wall to outside and sends Spider-Man flying against a fence, nearly knocking it over in the process.

Spider-Man starts to push himself up, as he sees Stegron is catching his breath, “He is regulating his inner temperature, but the liquid nitrogen had some effect on him.” He looks over his shoulder to see the docks. “Perhaps I could help it along.”

Spider-Man’s spider sense goes off, with him looking ahead to see Stegron charging toward. Spider-Man flips onto the top of the wrecked fence and jumps backward off it, “I hate feeling chain in.”

Stegron blows through the fence, chasing after Spider-Man, who shoots a webline at a crane on the dock and pulls him toward it. Spider-Man then flips and lands on the docks, with Stegron running toward him.

“How do I get into this kind of mess?” Spider-Man readies himself. “Oh yeah…” Spider-Man jumps to dodge Stegron’s tail whip. “Power and responsibility.”

Spider-Man fires a webline at the docks, pulling himself into a kick against Stegron, who then swipes him away with an arm. The docks creak under Stegron feet.

Spider-Man spins onto his feet, then fires two weblines, which are caught by Stegron, “You can’t win, you spider-punk.”

“Really?” Spider-Man lets go of the weblines, before holding back a fist. “That’s news to me.”

Spider-Man punches the docks, then rips out some of the boards.

“What?!” Stegron calls out. “No!”

Stegron slams down his two fists, with the docks breaking apart under their feet, causing the two combatants to fall into the water. The water surface is bubbling before becoming still.

After a few seconds, Spider-Man jumps out of the water, holding onto a couple weblines, flips over the crane, then pulls on the webline, using the crane as leverage and pulls an unconscious Stegron out of the water, with him landing on the undamaged docks.

Spider-Man releases the weblines and watches the unconscious and wet Stegron, “Cold or warm blooded, if you are freezing cold and then get wet, your immune system will take a hit. Not enough to do permanent damage, but you should be out for a while.”

At the bio-lab, Curt approaches Martha, as she is talking on a smartphone.

“Yes, we will prepare for him,” Martha says, before she hangs up on the phone and turns to her husband. “That was the police. A ‘dinosaur man’ was taken in custody and they are bringing him here.”

Curt smiles, before turning away, “Well done, Peter.”

A few days later, a tv screen at the airport is showing an interview of Curt and Martha.

“Vincent Stegron is in a stable condition,” Martha says. “Unfortunately our current supply of gene cleanser isn’t working on him.”

“But rest assured we will work around the clock until we manage to provide a cure,” Curt adds.

Peter is watching the tv, before smiles and turns away, “Good luck, docs.” He walks toward the rest of the school group.

Hobie lifts a large suitcase on a conveyor belt, with an attendant on the other side, as Flash walks over.

“Seriously, Hobie, we’re only here for a couple days and you’re bringing back so many souvenirs?” Flash asks.

Hobie rubs the back of his head, nervously.

Mr. Warren walks over to Ms. Smith, “This is unbelievable, we basically brought the students to mercenaries and a dinosaur virus.”

“Neither the school board nor the parents will be happy about this,” Ms. Smith says to him.

“Not exactly my first concern,” Mr. Warren responds.

Peter joins the school group, with Gwen approaches him, “Peter, you’re feeling better?”

“Hum, yeah, much better,” Peter smiles.

“Great, I’m glad,” Gwen says, before notices Harry, then walks past Peter. “Really glad.”

“Thanks,” Peter says, as he watches Gwen approach Harry, who places a hand around her waist.

Peter looks down, sighing slightly, “So much for distractions. But maybe I didn’t need a distraction, Stegron allowed his concerns for his own mortality to consume him and drove him crazy.” Peter looks ahead. “Maybe I just need to move on.”

“Begin boarding for Flight-19 to New York,” an announcement is given over loudspeakers. “Begin boarding for Flight-19 to New York.”

The school group starts to move forward, with Peter behind them.

In a room within the Science Exploreum, Stegron is lying in a large glass container, with a device on the side showing his heart rate and brain activity, as Curt and Martha watch him.

Curt is swiping through a tablet, “Nothing we tried has worked. What are we doing wrong?”

Martha sighs, “We’re gonna need our rest if we're gonna try again.”

“Right,” Curt says.

The two turn away, leaving the room as they close the door behind them.

Stegron’s eyes slowly open, before closing again.