Arachnid: A New Turn

"Listen, Pete, did you do the biology homework?"

"Of course I did."

"Can you let me copy?"

"Seriously? You're a pretty smart guy, why copy, Miles?" 

I ask my friend, closing my locker.

"You see, I was texting this gorgeous girl all evening. Please, help a brother out!"

"Haha, alright, Casanova. Here you go." 

I toss him my homework notebook.

"Thanks, you're the best!"

"I know. Just don't tell Gwen. You won't get far with your "sob story" on our Miss Virtue."

"Ha-ha-ha. Alright, I'll keep quiet. By the way, you might want to think about getting a girlfriend too. After your rise in the "showdown" with Flash, you've got a lot of admirers now." 

Miles raises his eyebrows.

"I don't have time for that right now. Plus, girls like that aren't worth it."

"Well, think about it, buddy."

"The first lesson is chemistry, better not be late."

Today, I planned to finish school quickly. Most likely, I'll skip the last gym class. 

It's finally time to make my Spider suit.

It's been a few weeks since the memorable events. I chose to stay out of sight for a while and give everything some serious thought. 

I've been working on the concept for a long time.

The design will be based on the classic red and blue colors, but this is just a prototype. 

Ultimately, I'd like to wear something similar to the "Superior Spider-Man" suit.

Despite all my disdain for Octavius and the story of Peter's body theft, I must admit that Otto's methods of fighting crime were somehow closer to me. 

That is, of course, unless I count his ridiculous idea of the headquarters and personal "Arachnid Army." 

That was just stupid and villainous. 

Spider-Man is still a loner, no matter what.

Anyway, first, I googled all the materials that might be useful to me. 

I settled on polyurethane and several fabrics, such as polyester and microfiber that I planned to buy today at the fabric workshop. 

"Mr. Parker, ahem." 

Professor Collins waved in front of my face.

"Huh? Sorry, I got distracted."

"It's fine, I think in that case you can answer what the difference is between these two substances?"

"Of course..."

...

"You're something else, Professor Collins really got on your nerves. You know it's better not to provoke him."

"But I answered all his questions."

"Yeah, and since you're such a smartass, he'll keep picking on you."

"Thanks for the concern, Gwen, but I think I can handle the nitpicking of a fifty-year-old chemist."

As I discussed the situation with Gwen, we reached the table where Miles was already waiting for us.

"So, what's up?"

"Peter was daydreaming in chemistry, and Professor Collins targeted him."

Gwen "ratted" me out.

"Whoa, you're in trouble, buddy. That guy's a picky old man."

"And I patiently answer his questions, nothing out of the ordinary."

"So what were you thinking about if it's not a secret?"

"Maybe about what we were discussing?"

"No way! Old Pete decided to start hunting for women's hearts?"

"What? " 

Gwen asked, intrigued.

"Miles is joking. I was talking about revealing your "horrible" secret."

"Got it, I'll shut up and stop asking questions."

"Boys, what are you talking about?" 

Gwen, who was unaware, even furrowed her brows.

"Don't worry, Gwen, we're just joking. I have a small matter to attend to, so I'm planning to leave the last class."

"Skipping, Pete? Not the best idea."

"I know, but it's really important."

"Then go ahead, I personally don't see a problem with it."

"If it's really something important, then go. Alright, I'll agree with Miles."

"Can you cover for me?"

"What else are friends for?"

"You're the best."

...

The Astoria neighborhood is famous for its manufacturing plants, so I got to the workshop quickly.

"Hello, I have an order under the name Mr. O'Hara."

"Yes, several rather expensive fabrics, are you planning on creating some clothes?"

"Yep, a Halloween costume."

"That will be nine hundred dollars."

"Here you go."

"Have a nice day."

"You too."

As I said, the costume turned out to be expensive. I can't even imagine how Peter managed to make it in the canon. 

Because before this, I bought chemicals for five hundred bucks just to be safe. So I wouldn't have to worry about web production in the future.

I spent the remaining hundred on a limited order of materials for the lenses. I believe the famous "Bug Eyes" is the most important element of the suit.

The only thing left to do is to create a masterpiece now that all the parts are here.

...

Three days later

There were no issues with sewing. 

I worked with the material instinctively. 

The boots were made using specially purchased sneakers and the gloves I made myself. 

I had to tamper with the lenses, but luckily, in this world, It turned out great.

It's pretty good for a first try. 

Now, it's time to start patrolling.

After waiting for the night and making sure that Uncle Ben and Aunt May had gone to bed, I began preparing. 

I put on the suit and secured the web-shooters. 

There might have been an issue with the spare cartridges, but with some effort, I managed to create a rather mediocre belt with a few pouches. 

I opened the window, slid down the wall, and under the cover of night, I jumped across the rooftops toward the center of the Big Apple.

After forty minutes of flying around the city with no success, I decided this couldn't continue. 

While I was contemplating the situation, three guys decided to rob a bakery right before me.

I jump onto a building and begin descending down the wall, moving quietly alongside the criminals.

"Hey, Mel, do you think this is a good idea?"

"Don't worry, Jones, I work in this spot. We had a good score recently, and there's a safe place in Chang's office. It's easy money. Or do you not need a hit?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then shut up and keep watch."

It was time to act.

I drop down, hook onto a streetlight pole, and in mid-jump, I knock out the accomplice who had been silent until now.

"What the..."

"You know, guys, I'm not exactly a genius criminal mastermind, but... seriously?! A pie shop? You decided to rob a pie shop? You should work on your ambitions."

"And who the hell are you, clown?" 

Jones says, charging at me with a crowbar.

"Oh, where are my manners..." 

I dodge and, in mid-jump, shoot a web that snatches the crowbar out of his hands. 

"Allow me to introduce myself, your friendly neighborhood, Amazing Spider-Man." 

I bow.

"Take him down, Mel!"

The unstable and unarmed thug charges at me. I calmly jump to the wall, shooting a web that sends the guy crashing into his own accomplice.

"Ugh, you forgot the note, got a pen?"

 "Go to hell!"

"Rude," 

I web his mouth shut. 

"Don't squeal so loudly, the web will disappear over time. I'm sure the police patrol will pick you up. Good luck!"

Wow, not bad. 

Sure, it's just three small-time crooks, but hey, I stopped my first official crime as a superhero. 

Cool.

What's next... documents!

There is definitely something bad going on in the Hudson Bay at night. 

There's still time.

...

After covering the distance in twenty minutes, I took a lookout position at the top of a construction crane.

I've been waiting almost an hour, and nothing unusual happened. 

But just as I was about to aim my wrist for the jump, I noticed suspicious movement. 

Suddenly, five cars rolled into the center of the loading dock.

Men with a bandit's appearance started coming out.

I couldn't help but gasp in shock when the last car pulled up, and someone stepped out. 

It's Herman Schultzk known as Shocker and often referred to as a mercenary, for hire by the likes of Kingpin. 

The large number of henchmen suggests he's involved. 

I wonder what he's doing here.

I move to a distant container for a better position. With a gesture, the leader signals two of his men to bring over a forklift. 

There were twelve people, including Shocker, with six of them having M16s 

The rest are armed with smaller weapons, but still, the situation is complicated.

In fact, I could act like a rookie, which, in essence, I am. I could attack, take down the guards, and face my first supervillain. 

That would be pretty awesome but also foolish.

There's something bigger going on here. 

After unloading, the criminals returned to their vehicles and drove off in a neat column. 

Clinging to a building, I began to follow them across the rooftops.

The final stop was a warehouse in Forest Hill. The trucks entered the building one by one. 

Fortunately, there was no guard on the roof.

Meanwhile, there is a lively working atmosphere inside the warehouse.

A group of twenty strong men rushed to unload the trucks. It was unclear whether they were criminals or just workers. 

I couldn't say for sure. 

"Hey, who are you? Stop!"

Shocker himself was reporting to some guy in a suit and glasses.

Alright, I know where they're based now. I'll hit the warehouse tomorrow with a plan. 

They probably won't manage to finish everything in a day, whatever it is they're doing. 

"Hey, who are you? Stop!"

Of course, they're inspecting the roof...

I slowly turn around.

"You guys won't believe it, but I'm just a lost parkour guy, right?"

"Hands up!" 

The guy in the suit yelled, aiming his gun along with his partner at me.

"I'm raising them," 

I slowly lifted my hands to the sky and then, with a quick motion, fired two shots at the guards' weapons.

The web hit.

In one swift move, I knocked the guns from their hands. 

What surprised me was that they weren't scared. Instead, they charged at me hand-to-hand.

I managed to fight them off pretty calmly, right up until the silent second man lunged at me and smashed through the viewing window!

This led to us falling down. 

I managed to grab the webbing at the last second, swung in an arc, and landed on a pile of boxes.

"Well, well, well, and you're with us?" 

Shocker said with intrigue.

Before he could finish his question, his lackeys had their rifles aimed at me. 

The workers also dropped whatever they were doing and joined their comrades, grabbing whatever small arms they could find nearby.

"I tried pulling the 'play dead' trick with your guys, but it didn't work," 

I shook off my suit. 

"So let me introduce myself properly—The Amazing Spider-Man, pleased to meet you."

"In a couple of minutes, you'll look more like the amazing corpse," 

Shocker said. 

"We don't need any witnesses here. Fire, boys!"

At the command, the goons opened fire.

I jumped behind the boxes and began circling the crowd. As I darted out from behind the corner, I shot a web at the nearest large crate and hurled it toward the armed thugs. 

After all, in a fight, the first thing you do is take out the guy with the gun.

The tactic paid off.

I quickly closed the distance with the confused shooters and launched a two-legged kick into the nearest enemy, sending him flying.

Grabbing the dropped assault rifle with my webbing, I threw it at the second gunman, instantly knocking him out.

With the remaining four enemies, I shot them a small, punch-like burst of webbing. 

After disarming them, I performed acrobatic moves, flying over them, knocking two out with punches, and using my legs to grab one by the neck and toss him aside.

The fourth I wrapped in a web cocoon, spun around, and hurled him at the advancing melee fighters.

"Not bad, kid, but I can't let some bug interrupt the operation I'm in charge of. It's bad for business."

Shocker said, pressing something on his gloves.

I also noticed that the man in a suit with glasses had retreated.

Suddenly, my Spider-Sense warned me of three thugs approaching from the right.

I jump back.

I correct my mistake by fiercely striking the three guys with boards. 

One to the jaw, which audibly cracks. 

The second takes a blow straight to the face. The third gets a spinning kick to the chest.

"Zzz"

I leap to the side behind some boxes, and a loud, bright green energy ripple passes through the spot where I was just standing.

Shocker made his move.

The other thugs chose to retreat when they saw their boss enter the fight.

It looks like I'm about to face my first supervillain today…