Chapter 155: Spider Verse (5)

As they swung through the dense forest surrounding Alchemax, Peter B and Miles navigated the tangled branches with precision, their adrenaline pumping as they raced against time.

Miles, struggling to keep up with Peter B's expertise in swinging through the trees, called out, "Peter, wait up!"

Peter B, focusing on their escape, replied, "Keep up, kid! We don't have time to waste!"

Suddenly, Peter B noticed Miles faltering. "Remember what Michael and I taught you," he urged.

"But I'm not this good yet," Miles admitted.

"Everyone knows that the best way to learn is under intense, life-threatening pressure," Peter B quipped.

Determined, Miles dropped to the ground. "I run faster than I swing," he explained.

"You gotta swing or they'll catch you," Peter B reminded him.

Taking a deep breath, Miles nodded. "Okay, fine," he agreed, swinging back into action.

But Miles' swings were still not up to par. "Remember what we taught you. Double tap to release and thwip it out again," Peter B coached.

"Okay, thwip and release," Miles repeated, following Peter B's instructions.

"And thwip. Release. Thwip. And release," Peter B continued, guiding Miles through the motions.

As Miles reached for the PC with Peter B, both of them synchronized their swings, thwipping and releasing in perfect harmony.

Miles grinned. "Thwip, release, and thwip, release," he repeated, now swinging faster and more confidently than before.

Peter B, watching Miles improve, couldn't help but smile. "Good, Miles! I told you, you can do it."

"And you know I'm proud of us. Is there something you want to say to me?" Peter asked, a hint of pride in his voice.

Miles looked at Peter B with gratitude. "Thanks, Pete," he said sincerely.

But before they could celebrate further, Peter suddenly glitched, causing Miles to panic. "Peter!" he cried out as the PC slipped from his grasp.

Miles scrambled to catch it, but then both he and Peter B were unexpectedly trapped by another web.

"What the?" Miles exclaimed.

"Who did that?" Peter B demanded, his senses on high alert.

A figure swung into view – a spider woman, agile and determined, who swiftly snatched the PC just before it hit the ground, leaving Miles and Peter B stunned in her wake.

Spider-Woman, her identity revealed as Gwen, flashed a playful smile as she greeted Miles and Peter B. "Hi, guys," she chimed in, her voice tinged with amusement at their surprised reactions.

Miles, still entangled in the web, couldn't hide his astonishment. "Gwanda?" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and relief at the unexpected appearance of his friend.

With a light chuckle, Gwen corrected him, "It's Gwen, actually,"

Peter B, with a playful grin, nodded in agreement. "Oh, you know her. Very cool," he said, teasing Miles a bit.

Gwen smirked and said "I'm from another dimension..... I mean,

another-another dimension."

...

Gwen stacy monologue

"All right, people. Let's start at the beginning one last time," she stated plainly.

"My name is Gwen Stacy. I was bitten by a radioactive spider. I've been the one and only Spider-Woman," she continued, reciting the familiar details of her transformation.

Gwen Stacy's voice carried a weight of pain as she recounted her past battles with a matter-of-fact tone. "You guys know the rest. I joined a band, saved my dad. I fought against the Lizard. It was my best friend, Peter Parker. I fought him and killed him," she recounted, each word heavy with the burden of memories, the pain of loss palpable in her voice.

"I couldn't save my best friend, Peter Parker. So now I save everyone else. And I don't do friends anymore, just to avoid any distractions," Gwen declared, her resolve evident in her words.

"And one day, this weird thing happened. And I mean, like, really weird. I was blown into last week. Literally," she explained, the absurdity of the situation apparent in her tone.

As she landed in New York, Gwen's attention was drawn to a big screen displaying the news.

"Lucky for these folks, Spider-Man was there to save the day," the reporter announced, prompting Gwen to follow her instincts to Visions Academy.

Upon arriving at the academy, she encountered Miles and his friends. "You guys are early," Miles remarked casually.

But Gwen sensed something different about Miles, something familiar yet elusive. "Wasn't sure why until I met you," she admitted, her curiosity piqued by the connection between them.

......

[Meanwhile Michael Wilson]

As Dr. Octopus unleashed a barrage of attacks, I remained focused, utilizing my agility to evade her strikes with precision.

As Dr. Octopus attacked me with her tentacles, she angrily swore at me, she said "motherfucker."

"Whoa there, Doc! Let's keep it censored, huh?" I quipped, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I narrowly avoided another tentacle swipe.

Dr. Octopus growled in frustration, her tentacles thrashing wildly as she attempted to ensnare me.

As Dr. Octopus attacked me with her tentacles, I dodged her strikes and saw an opportunity. With a quick move, I redirected her tentacles, making them wrap around each other like a tangled knot. It happened fast, like tying a knot with ropes.

As I successfully tangled Dr. Octopus's tentacles, trapping her momentarily, I didn't waste a second. Seeing my chance, I swung away from the scene, leaving her to struggle with her own entangled tentacles. It was a risky move, but it worked perfectly. Dr. Octopus was left behind, trying to free herself while I made my escape, feeling relieved to have outsmarted her, at least for the moment. I knew that our encounter with Dr. Octopus was far from over.

Now, with Dr. Octopus temporarily out of the picture, I focused on regrouping with Peter B and Miles to confront the looming threat of the collider.

As I swung gracefully through the dense forest, my eyes caught sight of Peter B and Miles Morales, accompanied by a familiar face – Gwen Stacy, also known as Spider-Woman from another dimension. It seemed they were awaiting my arrival.

Well, I knew they would meet Gwen Stacy after all; I saw it in the movie Spider-Verse. Anyway, I have to pretend I don't know Gwen

"Oh Look, it's Michael!" Peter B exclaimed as I approached, breaking the forest's serene atmosphere.

I greeted them with a nod and a casual, "Hey, guys," though my attention lingered on Gwen, pretending not to recognize her.

Curious, I asked, "You are?"

Miles said, "This is Gwen, um, Gwen Stacy, and She is from anot-"

Before Miles could finish his sentence, I quickly interjected, playing along with the charade. "Another dimension, right?" I remarked, pretending to put the pieces together.

Gwen confirmed with a nod and a warm smile. "Yep," she said, extending her hand in greeting. "I've heard a lot about you from these two. They said you are strong and also teach Miles about how to be Spider-Man. And that cool costume..." She glanced at my black suit, blue eyes, and blue spider logo. "Your costume is really kinda cool."

Miles eagerly agreed, "Yeah, Michael's costume is awesome!"

Peter B couldn't resist chiming in, adding with a playful grin, "Hey, don't forget about mine! It's cool too!"

After our initial meeting, Gwen Stacy took charge, her confidence evident as she urged us to follow her.

"Let's go," she said decisively, motioning for us to follow. "We can't talk here."

We all nodded in agreement, and then I followed Gwen closely, with Peter B and Miles right behind me. It felt like we were all on the same page, swinging through the trees, ready for whatever came next.

.....

Meanwhile

Kingpin's expression darkened as he absorbed Dr. Olivia Octavius's words. "I killed Spider-Man,"

"Why did I just see two more?" he questioned, his mind already calculating the possibilities.

Dr. Olivia's smirk widened as she corrected him, "There's three, actually."

"This is good," she acknowledged, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "Very, very good."

Dr. Olivia's smiled wildly, she said, "This means you get what you want."

Kingpin looked at her, his confusion evident in his expression. 

"It means my collider works," Dr. Olivia Octavius explained with a smile. "All we have to do is kill a couple of Spiders."

She then turned to Kingpin and continued, her voice laced with persuasion, "And the collider will bring your family back. As many families as you want."

With a resigned sigh, Kingpin agreed, "Tomorrow, at my collider."

Dr. Olivia corrected him, "Our collider."

....

[In the back of the bus, with Michael and Peter B]

I sat back relaxed, and Peter B stretched out nearby, both of us quietly watching Miles and Gwen chat up front. We were like invisible spectators, just enjoying the show.

[On Miles and Gwen's side]

Gwen's gaze fell on the broken override key, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "He broke this?" she queried, her eyes flicking towards Peter B.

Miles, whispered, "Yeah, he's actually really embarrassed about it," barely audible as he leaned closer to Gwen. But the truth was, he was the one who broke it, not Peter B.

Miles added, "so just keep it between us, okay?"

Gwen nodded, a small chuckle escaping her lips. "I know where we can make a new one," she assured him, her determination evident. "And we won't let him break it this time."

Miles acknowledged her plan with a nod before his tone shifted, a note of empathy in his voice. "I'm sorry about your friend," he offered sincerely.

Gwen met his gaze, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thanks, Miles," she replied, the weight of her loss palpable in her voice.

Acknowledging the shared struggle, Gwen continued, "I know how hard this is. To have to figure this stuff out on your own."

Reflecting on their shared experiences, Gwen admitted, "It's kinda nice not being the only Spider-person around."

Miles seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch, suggesting, "If you ever decide to do friends again, I could always open up a slot."

Gwen's response was measured yet hopeful. "I'll keep you posted," she promised, leaving the door open for future connections.

With a simple "Cool," Miles signaled his acceptance, the gesture a testament to their budding friendship.

.....

[Back with Michael and Peter B]

Peter B and I exchanged knowing smiles, silently acknowledging the genuine bond forming between the two teenagers amidst the chaos of their extraordinary lives.

 To be continued