Chapter 184: Across the Spider-Verse (9)

As Spot, Miles, and Jefferson are transported once again, they find themselves in a desolate, ruined version of Alchemax. The once-imposing high-tech building is now a crumbling shadow of its former self, with debris scattered across the floor and broken glass everywhere. The sleek, futuristic design is marred by cracks and scorch marks, making the environment almost unrecognizable to Miles.

Spot, looking around with a mix of nostalgia and glee, remarks, "Of course we'd end up back here."

Jefferson, still trying to clean his police uniform, turns to the Spider-Man in front of him and says, "You know, you are just like my son." He pats the dust off his clothes, unaware that he's talking to his actual son.

Miles, caught off guard, responds, "I am? I... That's so silly. Imagine that."

Spot, energized and eager, charges at Miles and Jefferson. "Of course we'd end up back here!" he says, his voice bouncing off the ruined walls of Alchemax.

Miles, with his spider sense tingling, immediately warns Jefferson, "Look out!" He shoves Jefferson out of the way just as Spot's black hole opens up beneath them. Miles and Spot get caught up in the swirling vortex of the black hole, their figures twisting and distorting as they are pulled into the void.

Jefferson, watching in horror as the black hole engulfs Miles and Spot, hesitates for a moment. The sight of the swirling vortex makes him reconsider his next move. "I'm not jumping in there." he mutters to himself. "Not going to die young today." Instead, he quickly turns and heads for the stairs, determined to find another way to reach them.

Inside the black hole, Miles and Spot continue their chaotic journey through the ruins of Alchemax. They burst through crumbling walls, crash into the remains of high-tech laboratories, and disrupt the remnants of once-advanced equipment. The space is filled with dust, shattered glass, and sparks from malfunctioning electronics.

The once-imposing Alchemax building now lies in ruins. Its skeletal structure is surrounded by piles of debris and scattered, jagged pieces of concrete. Shattered glass and twisted metal are strewn across the ground. The space is eerily quiet except for the occasional rumble and clatter of falling debris as Miles and Spot continue their intense battle.

Spot, with a maniacal grin, unleashes a powerful punch aimed at Miles. The punch, fueled by his black hole powers, creates a swirling distortion in the air. "The crucible of our connection!" Spot exclaims, his voice echoing through the vast, empty space.

Miles, moving with quick-fast reflexes, ducks and weaves between the debris. "Don't try to wow me with big words." he retorts, his tone laced with both frustration and defiance.

As they fight, the environment around them shifts uncontrollably. The ground quakes, and walls seem to fold and unfold as Spot's black holes warp space. Miles and Spot crash onto the rubble-strewn floor of the ruined Alchemax, surrounded by toppled columns and fractured walls. The once-proud Alchemax logo is barely visible, half-buried under a layer of rubble.

Spot, panting heavily, circles Miles with renewed energy. "Is it all coming back to you?" he taunts, his voice dripping with a mixture of anger and sadness

Miles, adjusting his stance to better engage in the fight, responds sharply, "What are you talking about?"

"The creation event!" Spot insists, his eyes gleaming with anger as he lunges towards Miles once more.

Miles, dodging another attack and using the debris as cover, shouts back, "I don't have time for your crazy nonsense!"

Elsewhere, Jefferson Morales navigates through the ruins, his police uniform smeared with dust and dirt. His walkie-talkie crackles, but he's too focused on the chaotic scene before him. Suddenly, his phone buzzes with a call from his wife, Rio.

Jefferson fumbles with his phone, trying to answer it while keeping an eye on the ongoing chaos. "Yeah? Ahaha... (nervous chuckle) Sup," he says, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Rio's voice, filled with concern and urgency, comes through clearly. "Hey, we got cut off. This is our son we're talking about. Nothing is more important than family."

Before Jefferson can fully process her words, the stairs beneath him collapse, sending him tumbling down. He yells out as he falls, the sound of crashing debris echoing through the ruined building. The floor beneath him breaks apart, sending him into a heap of broken concrete and twisted metal.

Miles, mid-fight with Spot, notices Jefferson plummeting from the collapsing stairs. Without hesitation, he shoots a webline across the room, expertly pulling Jefferson to safety. The webline snaps taut as Miles pulls Jefferson away from the immediate danger zone, sending him safely onto a more stable section of the floor.

Jefferson, now catching his breath and looking up at Spider-Man, lets out a sigh of relief. He quickly grabs his phone, his hands shaking slightly from the adrenaline. "I'm kind of in the middle of something. I'll be right back. I love you." he says hurriedly before turning off the phone, leaving Rio's voice trailing off in confusion.

As Jefferson regains his footing, Miles turns his attention back to Spot, who is struggling to maintain control over his black hole powers. The environment around them continues to warp and distort, with debris shifting unpredictably.

Spot, clearly frustrated, shouts, "You're just prolonging the inevitable!"

Miles, using his webbing to swing between crumbling structures, responds with determination, "I'm not letting you causing trouble anymore!!"

The fight takes place in the wreckage of Alchemax, which is now a crumbling mess of broken walls and scattered debris. Spot's black holes make the environment unstable, causing sudden and unpredictable changes in their surroundings. Miles, with his quick reflexes, navigates through the chaos, dodging debris and Spot's attacks. The area is filled with the sounds of collapsing structures and the intense clamor of their battle.

Jefferson watches from a safe distance, his heart racing as he observes Spider-Man and the villain clashing.

Miles and Spot lay amidst the wreckage of Alchemax, their breaths ragged from the intense battle. The once-grand laboratory is now a maze of shattered glass and twisted metal, its once-gleaming surfaces now a dull gray under the dust.

Spot, with a wild gleam in his eye, turns to Miles and declares, "Destiny brought us here." He gestures broadly around the ruined building. "You see now, don't you?"

Before Miles can respond, Spot hurls a flurry of swirling black holes towards him. The black holes create chaotic vortices that pull at the debris around them, making the already unstable environment even more dangerous. Miles, agile and alert, dodges and weaves through the shifting space, his spider-sense on high alert.

"I really don't." Miles retorts, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Spot's grin widens as he continues to throw black holes, each one distorting the space around him. "I am your nemesis."

Miles, using his web-shooters with precision, webs one of the black holes, redirecting it towards a cluster of scattered debris. The webline tugs the black hole toward the debris, pulling it into a tight spiral.

"You missed. You can't contain the Spot." Spot taunts, clearly confident in his abilities.

Miles grins as he tightens his webbing, pulling the black hole and the debris together. The debris shifts and collapses around Spot, trapping him effectively. Spot grunts in pain as he's encased by the rubble. "Ouch." he mutters through gritted teeth.

With Spot trapped, Miles approaches him, looking down with a mix of determination and curiosity. "You really don't remember what you did to me? What I did for you?" Spot demands, his voice strained but intense.

Miles frowns, confusion etched on his face. "Uh... No."

Just then, Jefferson Morales arrives, moving carefully through the debris to join Miles. His police uniform is dusty and scratched from the chaos. He and Miles exchange a nod of mutual understanding.

Spot's frustration is palpable as he tries to make himself heard. "I worked at Alchemax," he explains, his voice echoing through the ruins. "I ran a test on this collider that brought a spider here from another dimension."

Jefferson and Miles exchange puzzled glances, their confusion evident. The information Spot is revealing doesn't immediately make sense to them.

Spot continues, trying to convey the gravity of his words. "That spider... It was supposed to be an opportunity, a chance to change everything."

Miles, still not fully grasping the situation, responds, "What?"

Spot, still partially trapped under the debris, struggles to free himself. His eyes are wild with frustration, and his voice carries a tone of anguish. "But it escaped. And it bit you. My spider made you Spider-Man."

Miles, looking bewildered, responds, "What? I— I don't understand."

Spot, now visibly agitated, continues, "You ran through the cafeteria. You hit me with a bagel."

Miles, trying to lighten the mood despite the tension, says, "Well, I've hit a lot of different villains with a lot of different food."

Spot's expression hardens. "You make your flippy, little sassy jokes, and everyone loves them."

Miles glances at Jefferson, who shakes his head in confusion and disbelief.

Spot's voice rises, filled with hurt. "But no one knows what it feels like to be on the other side of them."

Miles, trying to grasp the situation, responds, "I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Suddenly, Spot breaks free from the debris, his movements frantic and erratic. "I created you. You created me."

Jefferson, still trying to process everything, asks, "Spider-Man, why did you create that guy?"

Miles, his confusion growing, insists, "I didn't. He's talking crazy."

Spot's voice grows more intense as he recounts, "I was in this collider room when you blew it up!"

Miles, more confused than ever, exclaims, "What the?"

Spot, his anger palpable, continues, "Because of you... I lost my job, my life, my face!"

Miles and Jefferson exchange stunned looks, the weight of Spot's words sinking in.

Spot points angrily at himself, shouting, "My family won't even look at me. While I made you into a hero."

Miles, still trying to piece everything together, looks increasingly perplexed.

Spot's voice rises to a crescendo of fury. "You made me into this!" He points at his distorted, unstable form.

With rage in his eyes, Spot lunges toward Miles and Jefferson. "Look at me! You did this to me!" He charges, his form twisting unpredictably as he moves.

Miles and Jefferson instinctively drop into defensive stances, readying themselves for another round.

As Spot charges, his powers suddenly act against him. He stumbles, trips over his own chaotic black holes, and rolls painfully across the debris-strewn ground.

Spot cries out, "Ah! Ow! I am your neme—" but before he can finish, he's accidentally pulled into one of his own black holes. The vortex sucks him in with a violent swirl, and he vanishes from sight.

Jefferson watches in disbelief. "Well, where'd he go?"

Miles, trying to act cool, he responds, "He kicked his own butt."

The scene quiets, the dust settling over the wreckage of Alchemax. The aftermath of the battle leaves the area in disarray, with the occasional creak of the unstable structure adding to the tension. Miles and Jefferson exchange weary looks, both relieved and puzzled by the bizarre turn of events.

.....

Gwen side

Gwen Stacy stands alone on a rooftop overlooking the city. The night sky is clear, and the city lights below twinkle like stars, casting a soft glow across her face.

Gwen paces nervously, her movements reflecting her internal conflict. Her usually composed demeanor is now fraught with doubt and hesitation. She murmurs to herself, her voice barely audible over the city's noise.

"What if he finds out? What should I do?" She glances around as if expecting someone to answer her unspoken questions. Her thoughts are racing, each one pulling her in different directions.

Her eyes drift towards the horizon, where the faint glow of Miles' dimension seems almost within reach. She clenches her fists, her gaze hardening with resolve. "Is this really me? Why am I trying to hide this from Miles?" Her heart weighs heavily with the burden of secrecy and mistrust.

Gwen takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Am I really not trusting even my own friend because someone said he's an anomaly?" Her voice trembles slightly as she grapples with the possibility of betraying her friend's trust.

She looks down at her hands, the same hands that have swung across dimensions and fought side by side with Miles. The weight of her decision bears down on her, and she feels the gravity of the situation pressing in.

To be continue