29 Godspeed

Peter found himself standing amidst the crumbling sewer walls and cluttered equipment of Dr. Connors' neglected laboratory.

Undeterred by the chaotic state of the surroundings, Peter boldly donned a vibrant kimono that added a touch of color to the otherwise dreary atmosphere.

To complete his unconventional drip, he wore a kitsune mask and atop it all, a weathered cowboy hat added a whimsical flair,

Although it may have seemed like an unusual ensemble, considering Peter's American background, the outfit oddly felt fitting.

As Peter continued to survey his surroundings, his gaze fell upon a multitude of vials containing the incomplete Lizard Serum.

The sheer quantity of dosages was staggering, enough to potentially infect an entire town. It became increasingly apparent that Dr. Connors had been meticulously preparing for something on a grand scale.

'Was he trying to infect the entire city and turn them into Lizards like him? So he could rule over them with his telepathic dominion?'

The unsettling possibilities swirled in Peter's mind as he contemplated the potential motivations behind Dr. Connors' actions. After all, he remembered that in The Amazing Spider-Man, this was the Lizard's plan.

Although Peter wasn't particularly a Marvel fan, there was a time when he stumbled upon a comic that featured the Lizard Villain.

In that storyline, the Lizard had established his rule over Florida, with an entire population of transformed individuals beneath him. The memory of that comic flashed in Peter's mind, drawing a chilling parallel to the situation he now found himself in.

The more he thought about it the more Peter felt that Lizard was stronger than Spider-Man. It was evident seeing how Gwen was losing even if she was not one of the stronger versions.

With a playful chuckle, Peter gingerly freed Ms. Speepee from his wrist, allowing the cute translucent lizard to scuttle along the ceiling of the sewer.

Her beady eyes locked onto its master, as if sharing an amusing secret between them. Peter smiled as he closed his eyes for a moment.

A peculiar blend of warmth and chill emanated from him, creating an enigmatic aura. His mind, caught in a paradoxical state, felt as though it was unraveling at the seams.

Then, in a sudden twist of perception, it was as if a third eye had opened, granting him an extraordinary vision that merged with the countless minds flooding his consciousness.

Within mere moments, amidst the echoing chorus of gushing sewer waters, a multitude of lizards emerged, scuttling across the floor, ceiling, and walls in a mesmerizing display. Their destination was unmistakably where Peter stood.

"Wow..."

A gasp of astonishment escaped Peter's lips as his vibrant red eyes fluttered open, drinking in the spectacle unfolding before him.

There were lizards everywhere, on the right, on the left...

Cradling Ms. Speepee delicately in his palms, Peter spoke in a hushed tone, his words carrying a gentle command.

"Bring Mr. Poopoo along, will you?"

Knowing the incredible swiftness of Ms. Speepee, whose agility reached the speed of sound that he knew because he had tested before, Peter harbored no doubt that his pet rat would swiftly join her side in no time at all.

The lizard nodded in acknowledgement, a sweet smile adorning its tiny face, before darting away with remarkable speed, vanishing in an instant.

Peter turned his gaze away from the spot where the lizard had vanished, now focusing on the assembled army of lizards before him.

With careful precision, he started picking them up, one by one, and proceeded to administer the Lizard Serum through injections, gradually transforming each reptilian companion.

In no time at all, Peter had successfully administered the transformative Lizard Serum to a total of 69 lizards, bestowing upon them newfound powers as Super Lizards.

Realizing that his current supply was depleted, he swiftly issued a command, instructing the Super Lizards to on a mission to steal the necessary ingredients required for the creation of more serum.

Sporting an evil grin, Peter broke into a dance, channeling his inner Michael Jackson, right in front of his attentive lizard audience.

With each move, he swayed, showcasing his joy and enthusiasm, completely devoid of any guilt.

Before long, both Mr. Poopoo and Ms. Speepee had joined Peter in the depths of the sewers. Mr. Poopoo perched atop the translucent skin of Ms. Speepee as if a horse.

Noticing the rat, which had been one of the reasons for the chaotic situation in the bathroom, Peter playfully flicked its tiny head in slight anger.

As the monk rat rubbed its head with a tinge of tears, Peter's heart softened. Nevertheless, he proceeded to address Mr. Poopoo with a clear directive.

"Your mission, Poopoo, is to utilize your telepathic dominion to locate and gather rats for me. Right now."

As the Lizard King, Peter's telepathic dominion extended primarily to individuals that had Lizarded or lizards themselves. Rats were a no-no.

Mr. Poopoo nodded resolutely, a newfound sense of tranquility replacing the remnants of tears. His gaze became firm and focused as if he had attained a state of enlightenment.

Peter couldn't help but almost facepalm in amused disbelief. This rat, Mr. Poopoo, was undoubtedly one of a kind, consistently finding enlightenment in the most peculiar of situations and actions.

One by one, the lizards from the Lizard Army emerged, each presenting an ingredient for the serum before swiftly vanishing once again, venturing out to procure additional supplies.

The scene unfolding before Peter was nothing short of extraordinary. It bore a resemblance to a hive-mind, a collective consciousness in action, which was exactly what it half was.

The lizards carried out their tasks with impeccable precision and a systematic approach, displaying a flawless execution that left Peter in awe.

On the flip side, Mr. Poopoo had also called upon his own cadre of rats. While the summoning proved to be somewhat challenging for him, a modest number of rats responded to his call.

Compared to the Lizards which were in the hundreds, there were only 47 of them. Peter nodded, this number was enough. He walked to the laboratory and started to set it up with the equipment and ingredients that the lizards were bringing.

With his notebook in hand, Peter's brainpower surged into high gear. His mind raced at an astonishing pace, traversing complex calculations and grappling with complicated equations

In a sudden burst of inspiration, Peter's hand moved swiftly across the pages of his notebook, etching a formula for a modified and less potent version of the perfect serum that he had previously administered to himself.

Drawing from his extensive knowledge and previous efforts in formulating the perfect version of the serum, Peter found the task surprisingly easy.

With a solid foundation already in place, he leveraged the groundwork. This enabled him to adapt the existing formula, making the process of creating the weaker version relatively smooth.

A smile crept onto his face as he looked at the equipment.

'Time to cook.'

Time flew by, with the lizards and Mr. Poopoo lending a hand. They all worked together like a well-oiled machine, churning out more than a hundred doses of the weaker Lizard Serum.

The lab was bustling with excitement as ingredients were measured, mixed, and tinkered with, resulting in a hefty stash of the modified serum.

Peter couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation as he realized the magnitude of what they had accomplished. It was a real "holy moly" moment for him.

'I don't think... anyone... in any work of fiction or real life has done what I am doing...'

Armed with the newly created serums, Peter and Mr. Poopoo commenced the task of injecting it into the rats. Peter had meticulously designed this version to have a faster-acting effect compared to the Perfect Serum.

With a steady hand and unwavering focus, Peter carefully administered the modified serum to each rat, ensuring a swift and potent transformation.

After injecting the rats with the modified serum, Peter turned around to face Mr. Poopoo and Ms. Speepee, his faithful companions.

His eyes met theirs, a mixture of excitement and curiosity dancing in their gazes.

"Remember. The two of you are my generals. For now, Mr. Poopoo I want you to rule over the rats, and Ms. Speepee, you rule over the Lizards. Both of you need to ensure a precise partnership."

In that shared moment, a silent understanding passed between them.

Seizing a broken chair, Peter perched himself atop it, his loyal companions standing proudly at his side.

From this elevated position, he surveyed the multitude of rats and lizards gathered before him, a small smile playing on his lips.

At that moment, it felt as if he were a king on his throne, with his trusted council of ministers by his side and his subjects below, bowing in reverence.

Peter's voice echoed with authority as he addressed the gathering of rats and lizards before him.

"Listen up, all of you. Your mission is crystal clear, and I expect you to approach it with unwavering focus. We need an underground base, a stronghold where our operations will flourish. Some motivational words for y'all. Godspeed and good luck."

~

This chapter is dedicated to my grandmother. This was a long week, a fairly bittersweet one. To new beginnings tomorrow, the last chapter in a book of my life has ended for a new one to begin. God be good.