Your enemy is your best ally (pt.2)
"My buddy said that you wanted to see me". - Peter said as he approached Silver Sable.
"Yes... Spider-Man, I want you to teach me how to be a hero". - Silvija said looking in Peter's eyes, covered under the mask.
"Huh? Ehm... Can you please repeat what you just said, I think I'm starting to hear things".
"You heard it right. I want to become a hero". - Sable stated firmly.
"C-can I ask why?" - asked Peter as they sat on stairs at the entrance of Horizon High main building entrance.
"At first after you put Silvermane in jail I wanted to kill you. But then I understood that I can finally be free".
"Free?"
"Yeah, free. After my mom died, Silvermane started to treat me like some kind of weapon. There were harsh trainings, no food or even sleep if I got something wrong. All of these continued until I became the perfect assassin, a perfect tool..."
"No one deserve to be treated like that". - Silvija's story made him angry. - "But why becoming a hero? You could finally live a life you want to live".
"I want to atone for the things I did in the past". - Silvija smiled at Spider-Man. - "And I already got my first friend... HIs name is..."
"Peter Parker?" - Spider-Man laughed a little. - "I know, he told me".
"Oh, right. I just got a little too excited". - Sable smiled brightly blushing a little.
"Didn't know that you had such a beautiful smile". - Spidey teased.
"Seems like tiger got more self-confident. That's good". - said MJ smiling.
MJ was the only one from Midtown who still talked with Peter.
"I-it was an unnecessary compliment..."
"I'm just telling the truth". - Peter was smiling underneath his mask. - "But first, I want to ask if you're completely sure about this decision. I won't lie to you, it's hard to live different lives".
"Why would I need to live different lives? I don't understand. Can you please elaborate?"
"You know why I wear this mask?" - Spidey pointed at his mask. - "Obviously I wear it to keep my identity a secret. But why do I need for it to be secret? It's to keep the people I care about safe".
"I think I understand where you're going with it... But I don't really have a mask."
"Let me say something. In my not hero identity I had friends, but my superhero activities led to me being late to some events, disappearing out of nowhere and that list goes on and on. And in the end, I was left with no friends, completely alone. I don't want you to go through something like this. So, I have an offer. How about you think about your wish to become a hero for one week. And then if you'll decide to become one, meet me there at the same time. And if you won't show up, then I'll know that you decided against it."
"One day will be enough time for me to decide. Trust me."
"If you say so. Can I ask something?" - Spider-Man said.
"Sure." - Silvija smiled.
"I don't want to be rude, but why are you attending Horizon High? I mean, you don't really look like a highschooler." - Peter said dumbfounded and Saber just started laughing.
"S-sorry, it's just... Ahahaha! Wait. Are you serious?" - Silvija looked at Spidey who nodded furiously. - "If you didn't know Horizon is not only high school but university as well. As you might guessed already, because of my criminal past, I didn't really have an opportunity to attend university. So, I'm in my first year of university. And about your comment about me not looking like highschooler, I'm 21 soon to be 22."
"O-oh... Well, last question". - Peter said as Sable just raised her eyebrow. - "Do you want some pizza?"
"Ehm... Actually..." - Peter turned around to look at Silvija. - "What is this thing you call pizza?"
"You don't know what pizza is?! Now we're totally getting one! You should try it, my treat".
"If you say so, Spider-Man". - the girl giggled at Peter's antics.
"Well, that's all for today. Let's give our young couple some privacy". - said Croakus as he returned everyone back to their world.
The next day arrived as everyone was back in theatre in the evening.
"Let's start!"
"All right, grab all the cash from the register and safe, but don't eat nothing. Mrs. M's my great auntie". - One of the thugs told to his band.
Suddenly a red light in the shape of Spiderman's mask lite up all three thugs.
"So, you'll rob the piggy bank, but won't touch the cookie jar? You must qualify for Nephew of the Year. Twisted division". - Spider-Man appeared.
"Another fight and another stupid joke". - Sally rolled her eyes.
May simply smiled being able to see a happier Peter.
"Spider-Man. Get him!" - Their leader told to other thugs as they rushed outside.
"Spider-Man. Get him." - mocked Peter as he dodged swings and punches from the thugs. - "Really? Is that the best you got? I go to all this trouble to turn you into famous Spider-perps. The least you could do is keep things interesting. I always do". - He webbed behind, getting three pies and kicked them into the thug's face. -"I'm really quite creative". - Peter finished dealing with bandits and webbed them to a lamp post for cops to arrest. - "Now, let's review that to-do list. Stopped the crime: Check. Took pictures of my web-slinging self to win the Daily Bugle's photo contest: Check, check. Hightail it home before curfew: Check, check, check. Yup, for once, I'm making all the right moves. All the smart choices".
Then scene changed to Connors home. Curt was in the bathroom, looking at injection he took from the lab.
"Curt?" - Martha called her husband.
"Yeah. Right there, hon". - Curt answered as he injected the formula into his shoulder as he bent over in pain.
The scene opens back up to the Parker house.
"All these bills". - May sighed, flipping through the bills.
"I'm home". - Peter walked into the kitchen. - "And before 10, thank you very much".
"Peter, making your curfew with only seconds to spare is hardly cause for celebration".
"Aunt May, don't stress, okay? I know you've been struggling to make ends meet. But that's all about to change. Believe me". - Peter went upstairs.
The scene changed back to the Connors home, into Billy's bedroom.
"Billy's reading about lizards?"
"He wanted to know about those new skinks at the lab. He's a Connors".
"Come on, let's go to bed".
The scene went back to the Parker home. Peter was standing at the computer with the top half of his spider suit on. The bottom half and the mask and gloves laid on the bed.
"Yup, Aunt May's troubles are over. That Bugle prize money is as good as... No. The window caught the flash. They're all useless". - Peter groaned as he slammed his head onto his desk.
The scene changed back to the Connors home. Curt laid groaning in pain on his bed. A yell of pain woke Martha from her slumber.
"Curt, what is it?" - Martha asked worriedly.
Curt was yelling out in pain as his right arm grew back. After the pain, Curt looked into the mirror shocked, before turning to his wife.
"I can't believe it". -Martha started crying, when she saw her husband's hand is back.
"It worked". - Curt said excited.
"What worked? What did you... Curt, tell me you didn't use that lizard DNA formula". - Martha scolded.
"Some lizards regenerate lost limbs". - Mr. Connors tried to defend himself.
"And some lizards stick to walls and eat raw meat. That doesn't mean you risk your life..."
"Look at the results. Don't you see what this means? To me? To the world? We can literally heal millions".
"Mom? Dad?" - Billy said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Hey, partner".
"Whoa, Dad, your arm". - Billy said happily.
The scene changes to Midtown High. Students were walking out of school. but Flash and Kenny were still inside filling up water balloons to throw at Peter from the window.
"There's Parker". - Kenny told to Flash.
"This is perfect. By the time we're through, he'll be a shivering, wet rat. I mean, more than usual". - said Flash with a smirk.
Peter felt his spider-sense tingle in the back of his head and pretended to bend down and tie his show, making the water balloon bust on the ground behind him.
"Dude, you missed". - pointed Kenny.
"Dumb luck. Jerk's lousy with it. Hey, Puny Parker". - Flash yelled, throwing five water balloons at him.
Peter dodged all of the balloons with the grace of a dancer. The other students were asking questions and whispering to each other.
"What? Check out Parker".
'Oh, secret identities reek'. - Peter thought to himself. - "Come on, quarterback, can't you complete a single..." - Parker couldn't finish the sentence as he got hit in the face with the balloons.
All the students started laughing at Peter. Flash was about to throw another one. but Gwen stepped in front of Peter.
"Move, geekette, or you're next". - Flash said angrily.
"Please, you haven't got the game. If you could hit a target, would we have lost to Bronx Tech? You choked like a cat with a hairball". - Gwen mocked Thompson.
This time all of the students were laughing at Flash. Flash gritted his teeth and was about to hit the girl with a balloon. but Rand stepped in this time.
"Dude, you want some aloe vera for that burn? Come on, Einsteins". - said Rand, walking away with Peter and Gwen.
Flash squeezed the balloon out of anger, making it burst and spilling all the water on top of his head. Kenny could only laugh at his friend's predicament.
Flash blushed in embarrassment as he saw himself get humiliated and heard the others laugh around him.
Mrs. Thompson looked and saw her son blush and patted his back in a comforting manner. - "Don't worry, son. I am sure that you will appreciate Peter soon".
"I already do, mom". - Flash told to his mom, giving a little smile.
"Anything's better than just standing there and taking it". - said Gwen.
"Excuse me? Standing there and taking it is Nerd Survival 101. Besides, I got bigger problems". - retored Peter.
"Still no Spider-Man pictures, huh? Counting on winning that prize money for your aunt might not be..."
"What am I supposed to do? I never asked to be broke, or semi-grounded or smart enough to be Flash's drenching boy".
"You stop right there. I'm so not letting you wish away your big brain".
"If it's so big, how come it can't solve my problems?"
"Big, but unripe. Give it time, Cantaloupe Boy". - Gwen walked with Peter into the lab.
"About time. The Connors are due back any minute". - Eddie tossed the broom to Peter. - "Here, bro. We've still got cleaning..."
"Save it for later. First, we celebrate". - Curt walked into the room, with Martha and Billy following him.
"Oh, сake". - said Gwen.
"Chocolate". - Billy and Martha answered at the same time.
"What exactly are we celebrat..." - Eddie wanted to ask, before he saw Connors arm. - "Your hand. Your right hand".
After smiles and hugs, Eddie and Curt decide to arm-wrestle. Eddie was the victor and apologized with a sad look on his face.
"What, are you kidding? Do you know how thrilled I am to lose at arm-wrestling?"
"Doc, this is huge. Your lizard formula's the cure for, like, every lost limb and amputation in the world. We're talking guaranteed Nobel Prize".
"Slow down, Eddie. Bad enough my husband used himself as a guinea..." - Martha stopped as she noticed something. - "Billy, Eddie installed "Space Wackos ll" on the computer".
"Wackos? Wicked." - Billy said as he ran to the office.
"If you're gonna crank the volume, close the door, please". - Martha told her son as she turned to her husband. - "Take off your shirt, dear".
"What, are you kidding? It's freezing in here". - Curt saw Martha's glare and obliged. - "All right".
Everyone gasps as the see the scales going down his back. Martha hugged Curts arm a little tighter in one arm and hugs Billy tighter in the other one.
The scene cut out on the right side of Curts back, that is covered in green lizard scales. The screen then went black and opened back up to a nighttime.
"Lizard DNA is more primitive than human, and the reptilian part of your brain is growing". - said Martha.
"It's growing. I'm regressing. I can feel the change".
"Curt, please. You need to keep a clear head".
"No, you need to hurry. I'm losing control".
"The formula creates new reptile sequences faster than I can ID them. I don't know how we'll knock them down". - said Eddie looking at the data on the computer.
"Wait, bro. What if we work from the other end? Create a human DNA filter that knocks out the lizard code? Like the noise filter on a phone". - suggested Peter.
"Yeah, nice try, bro, but..." - Eddie wanted to say something, but he was cut off by Martha.
"No, wait. That could work. A gene cleanser". - Martha understood where Peter was going.
"Yes. Yes, of course. I should've seen it before. My notes. They'll have all the data we need". - Curt realized, what his mistake was.
"So, it'll remove any nonhuman DNA". - said Gwen.
'Even spider'. - Peter thought.
"Did he want to erase spider genes from his DNA?" - Gwen didn't like, where this was going.
Peter saw Billy looking from the office door. Billy noticed he was caught and closed the door before rushing back to the office chair. Peter walked through the door a second later.
"Hey, Billy. How long were you listening?"
"I don't wanna talk about that".
"Okay. What do you wanna talk about?"
"The book says some lizards lay hundreds of eggs and never see them hatch. Most of the babies get eaten by predators. And the parents don't even care because they've only got lizard brains".
"Billy, trust me. Your dad will always care about you".
"Even if he turns into a monster?"
Billy and Peter opened the office door and saw Dr. Connors with his hands holding his head in pain. Martha watched as her husbands nails turned into black claws.
"Curt". - said Martha worried for her husband.
Everybody could only look on in horror as Curts body and mind changed into the lizard.
"I've made a terrible mistake".
"Curt. Curt, do you recognize me?"
"Doc, stop. We just wanna..."
The lizard grabbed Eddie and threw him at Peter and Billy. Peter pushed Billy out of the way and took Eddie's full weight to the chest, making them both tumble on the floor. The lizard jumped out of the skylight, making both Gwen and Martha dodge the falling glass. Once the lizard was gone Martha and Gwen went to check on Peter and Eddie
"Eddie?" - Gwen was worried for named teen.
"Finish the gene cleanser. I'll follow the doc and call in with a location".
"I should get going too. Aunt May will ground me if I'm not home by 10". - Peter tried to come up with something, so he would be able to chase after Lizard and Eddie.
"Pete, you can't leave now. We have to help". - Gwen tried to reason with her friend.
"Well, I just... I can't be late. She worries". - Peter ripped his arm from Gwen's hold, grabbed his pack with
"Peter, wait!" - Martha tried to call Peter to comeback.
"How could he just...?" - Gwen couldn't believe Pete just left
"I guess... I guess he's scared. First Electro, now this. It's overwhelming. And he's only 16".
"I'm 16".
"I know. And thank you". - Martha hugged Gwen.
"I should have known Peter wouldn't just leave. How could I have been so stupid?" - Gwen said as she wiped her eyes.
Scene changes to Peter as he runs down an alley changing into his suit.
"Now, if I were a 6'5" lizard instead of a 5'6" spider where would I hide?" - Peter thought aloud as he noticed smashed cars and people that were running out of the subway. - "Duh, underground".
"Don't panic. Just head for the exit". - Eddie helped some people and continued following doc.
"Sorry, pal, no eating in the subway". - Spidey kicked Lizard into ticket booth.
The lizard threw the booth at spiderman, causing him to dodge it, making the rubble fall towards Eddie, but was saved when Spider-Man webbed the rubble above his head. Spider-Man grabbed the lizard and webbed him to the wall.
"Dr. Connors, we have to get you back to the lab, understand? Dr. C, you in there?" - Peter said, but Lizard broke his head free and snapped his teeth at Spider-Man. - "Okay, maybe not. Can you say halitosis?" - Lizard just roared at Peter. - "I knew that you could".
The lizard broke free and charged at Spider-Man. The two fought back and forth across the subway, but Spider-Man manages to dodge and tried to go in for a swinging kick.
"Okay, doc, this is gonna hurt me more than it hurts you". - Peter got smacked by the lizard's tail making him fall onto a metal beam. - "Oh, yeah. Definitely hurts me more than you".
Spider-Man heard the lizard roar, but he saw three thanks to a head injury and couldn't dodge the lizard's tail that smashed into his hand, breaking it. Spiderman rolled on the tracks and almost touched the third rail.
"Watch that third rail, web-head". - Peter groaned as he webbed up his hand.
Everyone at the theatre flinched, when they heard the bones in Peter's hand cracked.
Spider-Man looked for Lizard as he avoided an incoming train and didn't see as the lizard crawled closer and kicked him into a pillar, knocking him unconscious. Eddie saw that the lizard was still on the roof of the train and ran inside before it could get away.
"Anyone get the number of that...? Uh-oh". - Peter was the Lizard still on the roof of the train and webbed a line to it.
Spider-Man managed to catch up with the train and fought the Lizard, but sadly the fight ended when the Lizard threw him off the train, making him tumble and roll on the tracks in pain.
"So much for plan A".
"That's it? We're done?" - Gwen asked Martha.
"I think so. It all squares with Curt's research. There's only one way to test it, and since Curt's hide is so thick we'll have to find a way to make him drink it".
"Maybe by asking for help from a guy in a spider onesie?"
"Spider-Man". - Gwen and Martha said at the same time.
"I get that reaction a lot".
"How did you know we needed you?" - asked Gwen.
"My spider-sense was tingling?" - Peter tried to come up with a solid explanation.
Then the phone rang.
"Hello?" - Martha picked up the phone.
"It's me. He's at the Bronx Zoo". - Eddie was the one who called to the lab.
"Tell your friend to stay clear of the Lizard. I'm on my way". - Peter webbed the vial with gene cleanser and went to help Dr. Connors.
"Was that..." - Eddie was heard on the phone.
Our local hero. He'll be there. I'll be right behind". - Martha told Eddie before turning to Gwen. - "Gwen, can you stay with Billy?"
"Of course". - Gwen ran to the office to see that Billy wasn't there and saw the phone hanging by the line. - Dr. Connors!"
Scene changed to Eddie as he walks through the reptile house at the zoo and let out a loud gasp when Spider-Man landed right behind him.
"I get that reaction a lot too".
"I think he's in there with the other creepy-crawlies. Must've smelled them or something". - Eddie explained.
"Good. Stay put". - Peter said before swinging into the building. - "Like a sauna in here. And me without my Spidey trunks".
Spider-Man continued until he saw a large pool and saw what he believed to be the Lizard, but quickly came to the realization that it was an alligator.
"Oh, perfect. In-laws".
Spider-Man didn't see the actual Lizard sneak up behind him until the Lizard wrapped him in a hug and dove back under the water. Spider-Man was quickly losing oxygen and no way to escape. After Spider-Man passed out, the alligator came and attacked the Lizard, making him let go of Spider-Man in the attack. Spider-Man floated to the top where Eddie saw him and grabbed him pulling him to safety.
"I thought I told you to stay put. You're complaining?"
"No way, bro... Guy. Look, we need a new strategy". - Peter almost revealed his identity but managed to cover that up. - "Lizzie's not in a medicine-taking mood". Not when he's so enjoying his play date in the heated pool. Wait a minute". - Spidey got up and ran towards the iced section. - "The fake swamp was heated but dunk a cold-blooded reptile in freezing water and he'll slow up''.
"Right. Slow enough for someone to force a little gene cleanser down his throat. But first you need to get him here with lizard bait".
"Don't even think about..."
"My choice. Try to stop me". - said Eddie as he ran off.
"I'm impressed, bro". - Peter swinged to the ice encloser. - "Okay, prep time. First, make sure the polar bears don't take a midnight swim". - Spidey webbed the cave entrances. - "Check. Next, find the perfect spot to bounce Lizard into the drink. Check, check. Perfect angle".
Eddie's screams were heard as the boy was chased by the Lizard.
"And now for the crucial element of surprise".
The Lizard swinged his tail, hitting spiderman to the ground before grabbing him again and throwing him onto the safety bar, making Spider-Man hurt his back. The lizard grabs Spider-Man by his face and picked him up.
"Dad, stop! You don't have to be a lizard". - Billy tried to reach to his father.
Lizard threw down Spider-Man, making him grunt in pain. Lizard then picked up Billy with his tail.
"You're still my dad".
Lizard opened his mouth to go in for the kill but Spider-Man webbed his snout, making Lizard drop Billy, and pulled him into the pool and fell in with him.
"Did you skateboard here?" - Eddie scolded the boy.
"I took a cab, duh." - Billy answered.
Billy and Eddie could only watch as Spider-Man and the Lizard fought. Spider-Man sees Billy's skateboard and realized that he can use that to open the Lizards mouth.
"Brought you a present, Lizzie. Gene cleanser. Guaranteed to remove your toughest stains". - Peter said as he poured the liquid into Curt's mouth. - "Grease, mustard, even lizard DNA.
"And here he goes again with another stupid joke". - Sally groaned as the others chuckled a little.
Lizard stood back up and continued hitting spiderman till he laid on the ground in pain. The Lizard started screaming in pain as he changed back to Curt Connors. What no one saw was the camera that flashed after that moment. Scene changed to next morning as Eddie stormed into the lab and threw down the paper with the front picture being Spider-Man fighting the Lizard.
"Pictures and everything".
"But who could've taken these?" - Martha asked Eddie.
"Check the byline". - Eddie pointed at the name.
Martha looked and saw that the photos were taken by Peter Parker.
"Did you see? There's no shots of Billy or Dr. Connors to prove that he was the Lizard". - Peter tried to defend himself.
"And that's supposed to... Bro, you ditched the antidote effort to win a contest". - Eddie was mad at his friend.
"Eddie, it's all right. Besides, I'm not exactly in a position to throw stones". - Curt got up and walked away.
"Peter, you're young. And faced with difficult choices young people sometimes make mistakes". - Martha started.
"Thanks for understanding, I..." - Peter couldn't finish his sentence.
"I understand you. But I can't trust you. You're fired". - Martha cut Peter off.
Peter turned towards Gwen and Eddie for support but was saddened when they glared at him before turning and walking away. Peter allowed a brief look of anger and rage flow across his face before he turned and walked away, but before he left, he turned and saw three vials of gene cleanser on the desk. Peter walked out the door before making his way to the roof and webbing up one of the vials.
May spun around and glared at Gwen and Martha in anger. - "He didn't leave you! He saved you and everyone else! So, what if it was a picture, Peter kept names out of it!"
"Dear, let's calm down. They didn't know that he was Spider-Man at the time". - Ben reasoned with his wife. - "But I'm sure that Peter deserved a second chance, that you weren't willing to give to him.
"I know... I'll try to make it up to him, when we'll return to our world". - Martha said while looking at the floor, not being able to look in the eyes of Peter's aunt and uncle.
Scene changed to the night as Peter climbed into his window and ripped off his mask.
'I never asked to be Spider-Man. And I never asked for these powers. I never knew it would mean a bashed-up hand, hard 9 p.m. curfew, no job and friends who all think I'm scum'. - Peter reached behind him and grabbed the vial with gene cleanser. - 'It was all just a twist of fate. Bad luck. A random bug bite'. - the teen pulled the cork off and bring vial to his mouth. - 'Easiest decision I ever made'.
"Peter, no!" - May cried, seeing the vial.
"Don't do it, man, we will work it out". - Rand yelled at the screen.
'Except... Except I saved them'. - Peter stopped and grabbed picture of him and Uncle Ben.
Scene changed to the end of the fight as Dr. Connors hugged Billy and his wife.
'Spider-Man's no magic wand, but thanks to the web-head Curt's cured, and Billy gets his father back. So, what if nobody threw a parade? Spidey stays because Spidey's needed. For now, anyway'. - Peter webbed the vial under his desk.
Scene changed and ended with Spiderman on a skyscraper overlooking the city.
The sighs of relief were head in the theatre.
"Well, I think I will show what decision Silvija made".
'Well, seems like Silvija won't show up'. - Peter thought to himself as he was about to leave.
"Wait!" - Silvija yelled stopping Spidey from leaving. - "Sorry for making you wait".
To be continued...