Side Story: The Amazing Spider-Man (Part 8)

Baobhan Sith leaned against the Oscorb lab counter, watching as Gwen and Dr. Connors worked tirelessly on the antidote for the cross-species outbreak. The sound of clinking vials and the hum of the lab equipment filled the air as Gwen meticulously recorded the formula on a tablet, her focus unwavering.

Dr. Connors glanced at Gwen with admiration. "You're brilliant, Gwen. Without your expertise, we wouldn't have gotten this far."

Gwen offered him a polite smile. "Thank you, Dr. Connors, but it's a team effort. We wouldn't be here without your knowledge."

Baobhan smirked, her crimson eyes observing Gwen's every move. "She's quite remarkable, isn't she? Peter certainly has a knack for surrounding himself with extraordinary people."

Dr. Connors nodded. "Peter's influence has a way of bringing out the best in others. But Gwen's determination goes beyond that. She genuinely cares."

Baobhan stepped closer, her voice laced with curiosity. "You seem quite dedicated, Gwen. What drives you? Is it just the science or... something more?"

Gwen hesitated, her hands pausing as she adjusted a vial. "It's Peter," she admitted softly. "He's been through so much, and he always puts others first. I just want to make sure he's okay. He deserves some peace after everything he's sacrificed."

Baobhan's expression softened, a rare moment of genuine warmth crossing her face. "You're a good person, Gwen. Peter is lucky to have you by his side."

Dr. Connors chimed in, his voice thoughtful. "Peter inspires loyalty and compassion in those who know him. But Gwen, your care for him goes deeper than most. It's admirable."

Gwen smiled faintly, the blush creeping onto her cheeks again. "I just want him to be happy."

Baobhan tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "How sweet. If you want, we can share him."

Gwen's head snapped up, her face flushed crimson. "W-what?!"

Baobhan chuckled, clearly enjoying Gwen's flustered reaction. "Relax, dear. I'm only teasing... mostly. But it's clear how much you care for him. That alone earns my respect."

Dr. Connors raised an eyebrow at Baobhan, shaking his head with a faint smile. "You have a unique way of showing respect."

Baobhan smirked. "Oh, I'm just here to keep things interesting."

Gwen, still flustered, focused on her work with renewed vigor. "Peter sure knows how to surround himself with... colorful personalities," she muttered.

Baobhan let out a melodic laugh, placing a reassuring hand on Gwen's shoulder. "You're doing an amazing job, Gwen. Peter's happiness-and safety-is in good hands with you."

Dr. Connors cleared his throat, redirecting the group's attention. "We're nearly there. Let's focus. The antidote isn't going to make itself."

The three returned to their work, the banter fading into silence as the weight of their mission settled back over them.

•

The cozy warmth of Aunt May's house had never felt so chaotic. Peter Parker stood awkwardly in the living room, surrounded by his unusual guests: Baobhan Sith, Kurumi, Kazuma, and Dick Grayson. Aunt May stood at the doorway, her arms crossed and a curious expression on her face as she scanned the eclectic group.

"So," Aunt May started, her voice calm but firm. "Care to explain what you brought into my house, Peter?"

Peter scratched the back of his neck, glancing nervously at his friends. "Uh...well, it's kind of a long story, Aunt May."

"It better be, young man. And it better include why these very unique individuals don't seem to have proper identification or money to stay at a hotel."

Before Peter could respond, a flash of light burst beside him. Baobhan Sith appeared, teleporting into the room with an ethereal grace that left everyone stunned-except Peter, who nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Master, my dear," Baobhan said with a playful smirk, her red eyes glinting. "I thought it best to join you here. You weren't planning on starting without me, were you?"

Kurumi, seated on the couch with her teacup poised, raised an eyebrow. "You certainly know how to make an entrance," she said, amused.

Kazuma let out a tired sigh from the armchair. "Why is it always magic teleporters that make everything dramatic?"

Dick Grayson, perched on the windowsill, smirked but said nothing, clearly enjoying Peter's predicament.

Aunt May, however, wasn't amused. She blinked at Baobhan, her eyes narrowing. "Peter Benjamin Parker, you are going to explain everything. Right now."

Peter gulped, throwing a helpless glance at his guests before turning to his aunt. "Okay, okay, Aunt May, look... I can explain. They're, uh, friends from a different world. Literally."

Aunt May raised an eyebrow. "Different world?"

Peter sighed, knowing there was no easy way to break it. "Yeah. They don't have IDs or money because they're not from here. They're kind of... displaced. And I thought it'd be safer for them to stay here. Just for a little while."

May stared at him, her expression unreadable. "And you're telling me all of this now because...?"

"Because I didn't want to worry you?" Peter said sheepishly.

"Too late for that," May muttered before folding her arms. Her eyes landed on Baobhan Sith, who was standing unusually close to Peter. "And what about her?"

Peter froze. "Uh, what about her?"

"What's your relationship with her, Peter?" May asked, her voice sharp with curiosity.

Before Peter could even begin to stammer out a response, Baobhan suddenly draped herself around him, her arms wrapping possessively over his shoulders. She leaned her head against his, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

"He's mine," Baobhan said matter-of-factly, her tone a mix of teasing and deadly serious.

The room fell silent.

Kazuma choked on his drink, sputtering. "Wait-what?"

Kurumi burst into laughter, holding her stomach. "Oh my, how bold! I didn't think you'd claim him so publicly."

Dick raised an eyebrow but wisely stayed quiet, his amusement barely hidden.

Peter, on the other hand, was frozen in place, his face bright red. "B-Baobhan! What are you doing?"

"Only stating the truth," Baobhan said with a pleased hum, tightening her hold. "You're my master, after all. Why should I hide it?"

Aunt May blinked, then blinked again. She pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering under her breath. "This is too much for me." She sighed and looked at Peter. "You're going to explain this in detail, young man. Every single bit of it. But first..." She gestured toward Baobhan. "Let the poor boy breathe, dear."

Reluctantly, Baobhan loosened her grip, though her mischievous grin remained.

"I promise, Aunt May, I'll explain everything," Peter said, still red-faced but grateful for the slight reprieve. "Just... please don't freak out too much."

"No promises," May said flatly before heading to the kitchen. "I'll make tea. It looks like I'm going to need it."

As the door swung shut behind her, Kurumi chuckled. "Well, that was entertaining."

Peter groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is a disaster."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Baobhan said, patting his head. "She'll come around. After all, I'm quite charming."

Peter sighed, slumping onto the couch. "I'm doomed."

Peter sat on the couch, his hands clasped tightly as he prepared himself to drop what he knew would be a bombshell. His friends-Baobhan Sith, Kurumi, Kazuma, and Dick Grayson-sat around the living room, while Aunt May stood by the doorway with her arms crossed, waiting for an explanation.

"Alright, Aunt May," Peter began, his voice cautious but firm. "You deserve the truth, so here it is. I'm Spider-Man."

The room went quiet. Even Kurumi, who rarely showed surprise, tilted her head with interest at Peter's sudden confession. Aunt May stared at him, her face a mixture of disbelief and shock.

"Peter... what?" May finally asked, her voice almost a whisper.

Peter took a deep breath. "I've been Spider-Man for a while now. You know, the guy in the red and blue suit swinging around New York and fighting bad guys? That's me."

Aunt May blinked a few times, then sat down in the armchair across from him. "You're serious."

"Dead serious," Peter replied, his tone unwavering. "And these are my friends, but not from here. They're part of something called a dimensional chat group. Think of it like a cross-dimensional online community where heroes, like me, can connect."

Kazuma raised a hand casually. "Yep, I'm one of those friends. Came here because things were getting boring in my world. Plus, your Peter here is always in trouble, so I figured I'd help."

"Help? Really?" Peter quipped, rolling his eyes.

Kurumi chuckled softly, swirling her teacup. "I find it fascinating to watch your world's chaos. Though I must admit, I came here more for the entertainment."

Peter sighed. "Anyway, most of them are here temporarily. But Baobhan..." He glanced at the vampire sitting smugly beside him. "She's different."

Baobhan leaned closer, her crimson eyes glinting mischievously. "I was summoned to this world as a reward for my master heroic efforts. A familiar spirit, if you will. Though, I prefer to think of myself as his partner."

"Reward?" Aunt May asked, her eyes narrowing. "And what exactly does that mean?"

Peter flushed slightly. "It's... complicated. But she's here to help. Most of the time."

Baobhan smirked. "I'm always helpful, Master."

Peter ignored her playful jab and continued. "Here's the problem, though. Someone in this world-Alistair Smythe-is hunting me. He's made it his mission to exterminate anyone he considers a 'cross-species,' which is basically people like me who gained their powers from something outside the norm, like my spider bite."

Aunt May's face hardened. "And he's dangerous?"

"Very," Peter admitted. "Smythe's not just a scientist. He's created an army of robots specifically designed to hunt and kill people like me. He thinks cross-species are a threat to humanity."

Kurumi's smile faded slightly, and her voice turned icy. "He sounds like a problem we'll have to deal with sooner rather than later."

Kazuma nodded. "Great. Just what I wanted-another maniac with robots trying to kill us. Can't we catch a break?"

Aunt May looked at Peter, her voice trembling slightly. "And you've been dealing with all of this alone?"

"Not anymore," Peter said, his voice resolute. "I've got them now. And I'm not letting Smythe hurt anyone else, especially you, Aunt May."

May exhaled deeply, her stern demeanor softening. "Peter... I don't like this. I hate the idea of you being in danger. But if this is who you are... I'm proud of you. Just promise me you'll be careful."

Peter nodded. "I promise."

Baobhan suddenly stood and wrapped her arms around Peter's shoulders. "Don't worry, dear May. I'll protect our precious Peter. He's mine, after all."

Aunt May raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Baobhan's theatrics. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, young lady."

Kurumi giggled, sipping her tea. "Oh, this is going to be an entertaining stay."

Peter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why do I feel like I'm already regretting this?"

Dick, who had been silent until now, gave Peter a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Welcome to the world of complicated houseguests."

Peter groaned. "Yep. Just what I needed."

•

The morning sunlight filtered through the windows of Peter Parker's modest home, casting a warm glow over the gathering of friends in the living room. Peter sat cross-legged on the floor, Baobhan Sith perched on the couch with her legs tucked beneath her, and Kurumi lazily leaned against the wall, sipping tea. Dick Grayson stood by the window, observing the cityscape, while Kazuma was sprawled on the recliner, munching on a bag of chips.

Laughter filled the air as they shared stories from their adventures.

Their banter was cut short when an urgent news report appeared on the TV. The anchor's voice trembled as footage showed an army of sleek, deadly robots marching through the streets, firing on civilians and destroying property.

"This is Smythe's doing," Peter muttered, his fists clenching.

The broadcast switched to a live feed of Alistair Smythe addressing the world from one of his massive robots.

"For too long, humanity has been plagued by these unnatural creatures! Cross-species abominations, mutants, inhuman beasts! They are threats to our survival, and I will save humanity from their tyranny!" Smythe declared, his voice brimming with conviction and madness.

Peter stood abruptly, his jaw tightening. "He's targeting cross-species again. This isn't just about me. It's about everyone who doesn't fit his definition of 'human.'"

Baobhan Sith's eyes narrowed. "If he thinks he can play god, he's in for a rude awakening."

Kurumi cracked her knuckles. "Shall we put an end to this farce?"

"I'm ready when you are," Dick said, adjusting his utility belt.

Kazuma groaned but stood. "Ugh, fine. But if this turns into another near-death experience, I'm charging you interest, Parker."

Peter smirked beneath his mask as he pulled it over his face. "Let's move out."

The city was chaos. Smythe's hunter robots were everywhere, indiscriminately targeting anyone deemed "inhuman." The group split up to handle different threats, coordinating their efforts through their communicators.

Peter swung through the chaos, disabling as many robots as he could with his webs. "These things are tough," he muttered, dodging a laser blast.

Baobhan Sith darted between robots, her agility and inhuman strength tearing through metal with precision. "I'll admit, this is almost fun," she said, flashing a grin.

Kurumi used her time-manipulation abilities to slow down the robots' movements, allowing Dick to leap in and dismantle them with a flurry of acrobatic strikes.

Kazuma, grumbling the entire time, strategically used his Steal ability to disarm the robots of their weapons, leaving them vulnerable.

As the team made progress, Peter noticed the largest robot in the distance, towering over the city. Smythe sat within its cockpit, his voice amplified for all to hear.

"You will thank me when this is over!" Smythe roared. "I do this for humanity! So we don't have to rely on inhuman beasts!"

Peter swung toward the giant robot, his voice sharp with anger. "They're living beings too, Smythe! You don't get to decide who's worthy of life!"

The massive robot unleashed a barrage of missiles, but Peter nimbly dodged and landed on its shoulder. He began tearing into the armor with his webbing and strength, forcing his way inside.

"Hang on, Peter," Dick's voice crackled over the comm.

"No time!" Peter shouted back. "I've got this!"

Inside the robot, Peter navigated the maze of machinery, evading security drones and sabotaging key systems as he went. Sparks flew, and alarms blared, but Peter pressed on, his resolve unshaken.

Finally, he reached the core. Using every ounce of his strength, he ripped out the central power supply, causing the massive robot to shut down and collapse.

Peter emerged from the wreckage, carrying a battered and defeated Smythe.

"You think you've won?" Smythe spat, his voice weak but defiant. "Humanity will thank me someday."

Peter set him down as police surrounded them. "You're wrong, Smythe," he said quietly. "Humanity is better when it embraces everyone, not just the ones you approve of."

As Smythe was taken into custody, Peter looked at his friends, who had regrouped nearby.

"Good work, team," Peter said, his voice tired but relieved.

Baobhan Sith smirked. "Not bad, Master. But next time, try not to hog all the glory."

Kurumi chuckled. "Or at least leave some dramatic explosions for us."

Peter laughed softly, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind."

__________

[Mission Complete]

Rewards:

2,500 for Spider-Man + 1 Suprise Box

2,000 for Evil Spirits + 1 Suprise Box

2,000 for Batman Junior + 1 Suprise Box

2000 for Kazuma-sama + 1 Suprise Box

___________

The city was safe again, at least for now. But Peter knew their work was far from over.

Side End.