Spider-Man: A New Spiral

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***

Peter Parker's bedroom.

Spider-Man.

I crack my eyes open and stare at the ceiling.

My thoughts are floating. I just want to lie in bed.

I turn my head and look at the alarm clock.

5:30 in the morning.

School's coming up.

It's back to the good old days.

I jump out of bed and do a dozen push-ups...from the ceiling.

Post-mutation muscles are good, but you have to keep in shape.

I go to the bathroom and do my morning ritual.

I get out of the shower and look at the kitchen clock.

6:10.

I make breakfast.

After school, I'll go straight to Mei's. I'll have to get some flowers and maybe some cute card with puppies on it - "Get well soon."

I feel....prefreshed, like all the fears and sorrows have faded into the background.

I have breakfast and go up to the room. I get dressed and, leaving the house, head towards my laboratory. I descend, into the den that has become my home, and continue working on my project until I get out.

After a good night's sleep, it hit me!

Now it's clear how to implant a camera and a torch diode into it, without skewing the power supply. How I didn't realise it before, it was all on the surface.

I glance at the boxes piled up in the corner.

Dad's research.

Richard Parker was a scientist of no small order, so how could I have ignored such a trove of knowledge for so long? It's nothing more than getting used to the world, and of course, the ever-present problems of life.

I open the first box. "Study of sodium compounds." So chemistry first. But alas, I can't go any deeper now. I take a stack of papers and put them in my rucksack. Now I'll have something useful to do at school.

Maybe I should get something else.

Okay, one science book at a time.

I'm going back to the Spiderbot. Connecting the camera to the eye sensor. Great, it's working. Now it's more complicated. I'm taking the torch diode out of my belt. I'm moving the lens to the bottom of the bot. I've been trying to figure out where to put it, but I haven't come up with anything good. It's the only option that won't compromise the design. Now I'd have to come up with a power source. So far I planned to recharge the drone from the battery, but it would be necessary to think of something more high-tech.

Leaving the Spiderbot to load, I cover the compromised items with sheets and close the lab.

I go to the bus stop. I sit down and put on some music on my headphones. While I'm waiting for the bus, I get a set of texts.

"Pete, it's Betty, come to the newsroom today, the boss is freaking out D:".

"Pitster, it's Miles, how about a trip to the arcade?".

"Peter, Dr Connors, have you chosen an area of research?"

So many things.

AAAA, okay we'll deal with it all bit by bit.

"Betty, I've got it, I'll come round as soon as I'm free."

"Miles, we'll discuss it at school. I'll be there soon."

"Dr Connors, I've chosen a topic: genetic abnormalities in mammalian organisms. Borders on your research, so you're my mentor."

Having dealt with the accumulated questions, I see a suitable vehicle.

- Hi Johnny," I greet the driver.

The young guy nods back.

Typical school bus. Since the last fight, the mood has died down, and there are a lot of freshmen here now. In senior year, the seniors usually take their own cars or some other way to get here.

I'd love to fly myself. But I feel the need to ground myself. It's still tough after my uncle's death and my own decisions.

On the other hand that's what it would come down to in the end.

As disgusting as it is to admit, Tombstone is right, crime isn't going anywhere, but I can actually save lives. Lincoln's organisation tries to operate in the shadows, and doesn't kill innocents. Maybe I was on edge at the time, but I didn't feel lied to or threatened. So why not take the money that would end up going to criminal endeavours. Wouldn't it be better to use it to become more perfect or send it to the really right things, as in the case of the Hardy Foundation?

The very fact that I'm becoming involved in criminal activity makes me feel dirty, but maybe I can turn it to good? Gather some information for George, or do I come up with something on my own?

That's what we'll do.

The bus has reached the school.

I get out of the vehicle and stretch at the gate of the school.

I enter the grounds and see my friends waiting.

- Hi Pete," I greet Miles in a firm handshake.

- Pete," I shake hands with Harry.

- Guys. Gwendy, a hug and a peck on the cheek for the lady.

- P-P-R-Hi, - an embarrassed greeting from the blushing blonde.

I don't want them to know what happened. If my loss is revealed, then we'll think about it, but right now sympathy will only make me sick. I have my Carrot-top for support. So with my friends, it's just a mask of direct Peter.

- What's up, people? By the way, Miles, I'm minus the arcade, sorry, bro, work.

- Oh, I get it," Morales got a little sad. - No offence, anyway, my dad just called and said that we're going on a trip this weekend, I'll get ready.

- Cool, how are you guys doing? - I'm turning to Osborne and Stacey.

- Not bad, Mum's in Europe late. Apparently, Miss Hardy's foundation is going to be integrating into the American market in a big way, so the Oscorp funds will help. Dad is staying at work even more often.

- Likewise," Gwen joins in, "Dad's got some kind of complicated case, so he's even sleeping in the office.

George seems to have taken his uncle and aunt's accident seriously. Maybe he's just having a general meltdown, but if he's really sacrificing his own time for me...then the Captain is a bigger hero than I thought.

The friends, meanwhile, continued.

- Your dad saves lives, and mine...I don't even want to know, honestly.

- Let's not be sad, it's the second week of finals year, let's make the most of it, shall we?

- Yes!" my friends chorused in unison.

In a cheerful mood, we headed to class.

*

School time went by smoothly. I used the lessons to study my father's notes, his research is amazing, some of it is even replicable.

Of interest, Flash seems to be getting back into the image of the school's first athlete and even shoved me with his shoulder today and then took my head in a snare, like, "Careful Pete."

Is that a friendly thing to say?

Honestly, I don't care.

Arranged with Gwen to visit the lab together after hours. Her project, on breaking up genetic strands and reforming medical treatments, pretty much copies Martha Connors' research letter by letter. It seems we each chose one of our scientist spouses as our mentor supervisor.

The important thing is that Gwen doesn't get interested in cloning and cross paths with that bastard, Warren. At the very least, I'll try to keep an eye on that.

After saying goodbye to my friends, I head to the hospital to see May.

***

Oscorp.

Norman Osborne.

The head of a multinational corporation sat in his office and pondered.

The director's room was lit only by the dim, swampy glow of a personal computer monitor connected to the corporation's private network.

Norman thought over his further actions. As in his distant childhood, when his tyrant father had allowed and recognised only one entertainment - chess. As he had then, Osborne planned his next moves in the game.

Working with Tombstone has paid off, the granite idiot thinks Norman is a squirrelly businessman whose resources can be used without remorse, but he will soon regret it.

Fisk is no better. Fatso thinks he's carved out a niche as the new king of New York. Yes, after the previous gang war, he has captured the most useful areas that ensure his favourable existence, but the Kingpin's position is quite shaken.

Norman slumped in his chair.

That was why working with Mr Lincoln had been so profitable. Thompson, after all, second only to Wilson. And pushing them head-on would clear a path to power for him.

Shadow power.

As for the lights...a PR rep should be contacted...after all, there is an election coming up.

But still, Osborne's mind was troubled.

The Web project was still a work in progress. Parker's research had been a multi-million dollar idea. Too bad an old friend chose to run away.

Which is exactly what he paid for.

That Spider-Man was the result of a test of Richard's serum, he realised a few months later. Since then, the trail of this miracle has disappeared. He'd tried to set up a stakeout for him, but he couldn't risk it under Tombstone's watchful eye, the Hammerhead always snooping around.

And now the wall climber had finally dropped off the radar.

But that's all right. He knows how to wait, and while time is at hand, he can attract useful supporters who will bring him the Spider on a platter.

The pieces are in place.

So many enemies and so little time.

***

Central Hospital.

GH.

The lift reaches the fourteenth floor, and with a familiar jingle, the doors open. 

Mary is waiting outside May's room.

- Hi," I walk over and kiss the girl.

- Hi, Tiger," Watson replies after a kiss. - You'll be quick.

- Seeing my aunt is the most important thing right now.

- I understand. Aunt Anna couldn't stand it and went round to see her. I said I'd wait for you.

- I see.

I'm sighing deeply.

- Are you nervous? - Biting her lip, the girl asks.

- She doesn't know about Ben yet, so I'm the one who needs to tell her.

- I'll be right here," she says softly, intertwining our fingers.

- Thank you, Carrot-top.

Closing my eyes, I opened the door.

The room was still bright white and clean, May was lying on the bed, looking very alert, and Anna was sitting on a chair next to her, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.

- Peter! - The woman greeted me cheerfully.

I couldn't help smiling back.

- Hello, auntie, - I came up and took my relative's hand.

- Mary, it's good to see you, my girl," May greeted the girl.

- You too, Mrs Parker, how are you feeling?

- Very well, my dear. Peter, the doctors and Anna won't answer me, what's the matter with Ben? - looking at me earnestly, my aunt asked.

My insides twisted in a knot of steel and moisture came to my eyes.

The Watson women fell silent and looked at me. Anna had tears in her eyes, and Mary looked on with terrible sadness.

- Would you please leave us alone? - I ask with a brokenness in my voice.

May stares at me steadily as the Watson couple leave the room.

- Ben's dead, isn't he? - May asks quietly with her head bowed.

I drop to my knees in front of the couch and take the woman's hand.

- It's my fault, Auntie, I should have seen it coming, I should have done something," I begin to slur my words as my emotions just overpower my mind.

- There was nothing you could have done, Peter," I feel tears on my palms. - The doctor says I need to rest, thank you for coming. - The woman lets go of my hands and turns away.

- May...

- Peter, please, not now.

I get up silently and walk towards the door.

- I'm always here for you, Aunty. No matter what," I say firmly, and walk out of the room.

- How is she? - MJ asks impatiently.

- Not well," and what other answer could there be? - She needs to rest. Thanks for coming, but we probably don't need to be here right now.

- Peter, is it wise to leave Mae here all alone? - Anna Watson is asking the right question.

- No, but I won't impose, because I know exactly what my aunt is going through. Sometimes the pain must be endured alone, but when she needs me, nothing can stop me.

- I hope you're right," Anna said, shaking her head and walking toward the lift.

She's not convinced by my words.

- Tiger, are you sure? - Mary looks at me with emerald eyes.

I take the girl's face in my palms and kiss her, trying to shut everything out. After a few seconds, MJ responds confidently.

When the oxygen starts to run out, we pull away from each other. A thin line of saliva stretches between our lips.

- Please trust me, I won't get far without this.

- I always will," Mary replies and wraps her arms around me.

I rest my head on the top of her head and bury my palms in her red curls.