Ultimate Spiders and Magic: Episode VII "Sting of the Scorpion"

Chapter Six “Crawler Assault”

The girls raced through the park for what felt like an eternity, chasing one of their cohorts. Fortunately, Pinkie seemed to have finally caught sight of a familiar hint of blue, before coming to a halt. She peeked behind a tree with a widened gaze, spotting Rarity trembling in a knelt position, with her head lowered. Pinkie raised a finger, before poking the back of her friend’s shoulder, but Rarity’s soul nearly left her body as she jumped in place, snapping into a stiffened stance.

However, the muscles in her body steadily relaxed, evident by her lowering shoulders, and the girl whined under her breath, before placing both hands over her knees. Eventually, the others reached their position, all sharing a similar sentiment of relief. Sunset stirred, groaning inwardly, and Applejack eased her to the ground, placing a hand over her shoulder as she sorted through her distorted thoughts. A blur sped into the scene, skidding to a halt, before their image cleared to reveal Rainbow Dash.

“What’s going on? Why’d you guys run off?” Rainbow questioned, arching a brow.

Dramatically raising her hands, Rarity fidgeted in place. “It was that Spider-Man! He was going to summon an army of spiders!” she whined, shivering involuntarily, “It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it!”

Rainbow blinked, tilting her head to the side. “Huh? He can do that?”

Slow to respond, as if a realization came to mind, Applejack crossed her arms and frowned. “You know somethin’ ? I’m startin’ to think that feller was fibbin’!”

Flustered, Twilight growled under her breath, while a pink tint filled her cheeks. “We actually fell for that ruse. I can’t believe it!” She retrieved the spectrometer from her bag, eyeing the central meter with a furrowed brow. However, she trailed off, managing a smile as she picked a few strands of webbing from her clothing. “It’s not a total loss. I can at least study this material.”

Meanwhile, Rainbow placed both hands over her hips and grinned. “Ha! You guys actually took his bait? I wouldn’t have fallen for that. It’s the oldest trick in the book.”

Exasperated, Applejack walked up to the girl with a bemused glare, before sharply pointing in her direction. “And where exactly were you while we were dealin’ with Spider-Man? This whole thing was your idea! You left us high and dry!”

“Whoa! Hold on now! I didn’t leave you! That crazy guy in the Scorpion suit was trying to kill me!” Rainbow barked, raising her hands defensively. She inhaled deeply and let out a relieved sigh, before glancing to the side. “I’m actually lucky that he gave up and went somewhere else.”

Slow to respond, Applejack stared intently at the girl with a deepened frown, but she shook her head, sighing as if accepting her circumstance. “Well then, ah guess we’ll count our blessings that you were able to lead him away. We couldn’t even handle Spider-Man.” She tapped a finger against her forearm, before throwing a wayward punch to the side. “I will say this. If we try fightin‘ Spider-Man again, we need to do it as a team. He’s been at this longer than us, and we’re not that experienced yet.”

Rainbow nodded, holding her hand inches from her own face, before clenching it into a fist. “Yeah. I’ll be faster and better next time. I swear it.”

Meanwhile, Fluttershy lowered to a knee next to Sunset with a softened gaze. “Um, are you okay? What happened to you?”

Groaning, Sunset stared at nothing in particular, while sorting through her disjointed thoughts. “I don’t know. I tried to read Spider-Man’s thoughts, but something blocked me and overwhelmed my senses.” A pain seared through her cranium, prompting the girl to clutch at her head, before wincing. “I’ve got such a headache. I couldn’t even feel his emotions.”

“Maybe there’s nothing to feel?” Rainbow suggested, shrugging. Applejack and Fluttershy frowned at the statement, while Pinkie ran a hand through her hair, oblivious to the conversation. Rainbow cleared her throat, before huffing. “Forget it. Besides, didn’t you say that he was summoning a bunch of spiders? Why’d you believe him in the first place?”

Pinkie retrieved a small canister from her poofy hair, smiling at the sprinkles within. “Because Fluttershy said that she felt them coming, and since she talks to animals, I immediately believed him.”

A long silence filled the air, as most of the group shifted their gazes towards Fluttershy, who nervously rubbed her hands together. “Oh! Um, yes. I, uh…”

Twilight’s brow lowered, as an orb appeared at the center of the spectrometer. “Girls.”

Tapping a foot against the ground, Rainbow leaned towards the pink-haired girl with an apprehensive glare. “You’re always defending him. How do we know you weren’t in on this bluff?”

The spectrometer began to beep rapidly, growing in volume as several more orbs began to appear on its radar. Twilight’s eyes widened, before she lifted her head. “Girls!”

Rarity lowered her gaze, as if a realization came to mind, before placing a hand over her chin. “Now that you mention it, I don’t recall you trying to fight at all! You didn’t summon a single animal to help!”

Beads of sweat formed over Fluttershy’s forehead as the inside of her chest tightened, struggling to contain her rapidly beating heart. “I, uh… I, uh…”

Humming, Applejack stomped forth, until she was inches away from Fluttershy. “You know who that fellow is, don’t you?” she sternly questioned, arching a brow, “Don’t lie to me. I’ll know, and you have a lousy poker face.”

“Girls!” Twilight exclaimed, her voice piercing through the conversation. She alternated her widened gaze between the spectrometer and surrounding park, clutching at the device. “I’m detecting several electromagnetic signatures coming right for us!”

Rarity stiffened, pursing her lips. “D-Did you say several?”

Metallic whirring echoed across the airwaves, growing louder by the second, and Applejack squinted, holding a hand over her eyes in an attempt to block out the sun. “Do you see that?”

Fluttershy stepped back, watching an array of silhouettes march towards them. However, she inhaled sharply upon recognizing their metallic shells, each crawling at rapid speed. “Oh, no.”

A group of Spider-Slayers came into view, their crimson gazes gleaming in the sunlight. Rainbow Dash stammered about, pointing at the machines. “It’s more of those spider robot things!” she exclaimed, shaking her head before lowering into a racing stance, “Looks like Spider-Man really did set us up!”

“This confirms it! He really is using his genius for evil!” Twilight huffed, gripping the geode around her neck until sparkling energy enveloped her hand. She shook her head, dismayed. “It’s such a shame to destroy such advanced technology, but we don’t have a choice!”

Applejack lowered her hat, inhaling deeply before sighing. “Ah hate to say it, but it looks like she’s right,” she slammed her fist into an open palm, “Let’s send these things to the scrapyard!”

One of the slayers opened its mouth, prompting particles of energy to spiral into the opening, before unleashing a sparkling orb. The ball spun, colliding into the ground a few feet from the girls, triggering a detonation, and a shockwave generated upon impact, knocking Fluttershy and Sunset off of their feet. Four of the other slayers followed suit, firing similar blasts of energy. However, Rarity stepped in front of her friends, before raising her glowing hands. Energies materialized into existence before shifting, spreading around their position. The sun reflected off of its blue surface once it took the form of a diamond barrier, managing to deflect each blast.

Smoke extended from every explosion, while tremors coursed throughout the earth, engulfing the entire vicinity. Suddenly, Rainbow leapt from the smoke and sprinted towards the mechanical group. One of the slayers fired a grappling hook at the girl, but she captured the line, lunging its sharp end directly into the mouth of another. Electrical currents channeled through its shell, before it collapsed in a heap. The spiders paused, screeching while most began to leap at Rainbow from multiple angles in a flurry. She ducked underneath the first wave, swaying out of the reach of the second, but a pair of slayers jumped onto the girl afterward, pinning her to the ground.

Just as they reared their claws back, ready to impale Rainbow, energies covered their bodies, before a wave rushed out. Soon, the same phenomenon enveloped several of the other robotic creations, before their forms levitated high above the ground. Straining, Twilight extended her glowing hands, while keeping them in place. Pinkie poured sprinkles into both of her hands, tossing the glowing material onto the drones, and a spark ignited at the center, triggering a series of explosions. A majority of the bots were engulfed in a sea of sparkling embers, all while a trio of the slayers released a high-pitched wail.

A lasso whipped out, lacing around one of the spider’s torsos, before it was snatched into the air. Applejack whooped at the top of her lungs, while whirling the bot high overhead, its image fading in a blur. The remaining slayers lunged towards the blonde, but she planted her feet, hurtling her captive into the others, like a battering ram. A series of cracks echoed, as each metallic shell crumbled under the girl’s might. A lone silence filled the air, as shards of broken steel and circuitry laid spread across the park. The girls congratulated themselves, most exchanging fistbumps and hugs. Unbeknownst to them, one of the crumbled slayer’s crimson gaze narrowed on their position, beaming momentarily, before fading to a lifeless black tone.

Applejack wiped the sweat from her brow, nodding. “Good work, everybody! Ah think we work together pretty well, after all!”

Smiling, Rainbow gestured a thumbs up. “You bet! Once we really get used to our powers, we’ll get Spider-Man back! He won’t know what hit him!”

“I just hope it’s not too soon. I’ve dealt with enough spiders to last a lifetime,” Rarity whimpered, shivering involuntarily.

Twilight lowered next to one of the remnants of the slayers, rummaging through the circuitry within its cracked shell. “I’d love to study this technology, but it’s far too dangerous to keep,” she whispered, gripping her geode before a force crushed the bot to an unrecognizable shape.

“Are you okay with that, Twilight?” Sunset questioned, brushing a hand through her hair, “I know you really wanted to study it further.”

Managing a smile, Twilight shook her head and pulled at the straps of her bag. “I have the schematics. With time, I’ll recreate some countermeasures to match Spider-Man’s tech. I’ll use my gift to help everyone.” A dark glint sparkled from the corner of her glasses, matched only by the evil smirk gracing her features. She stood upright, using a finger to straighten her eyewear. “Besides, I have a sample of his webbing! I’m going to rush to the lab and analyze it right away!”

Everyone continued to celebrate, exchanging pleasantries, but Fluttershy could only glance to the side with a saddened gaze, folding her arms tightly against her chest.

Jameson paced across the room, fixating his gaze on the board. An array of photos and headlines were scattered, all centering around Spider-Man. However, each picture was dark, capturing only the vigilante’s silhouette and shadow. Exasperated, the older man exhaled, before rubbing at the wrinkles over his forehead, and a younger, blonde male entered the room with a bridge camera in hand, retrieving a folder from the inside of his jacket.

“Brock! Where have you been?! What am I paying you for?!” Jameson questioned, arching a brow once the young man offered the folder to him. He snatched the item away, using his free hand to smack the board several times. “We need better photos of Spider-Man! These are crap! Why can’t you get a better shot?!”

Exhaling, Eddie shrugged. “No one’s been able to get a decent shot. The guy hardly sits still. We’re lucky I’ve been able to get those,” he paused, humming while shifting the lens, “Besides, could I at least get an advance on my payment?”

Slow to respond, Jameson stared at Brock for what seemed like minutes with a bemused glare. “It depends. What’s in the folder?”

Eddie smirked, pointing a thumb behind his shoulder after Jonah accepted the item. “Some good material and intel! Spider-Man’s been busy lately. He was seen leaving the junkyard after this huge explosion happened! I managed to get a picture of him after that. He was carrying this big metal spider, before I lost track of him,” he paused, reaching into his pocket, before retrieving his phone. With a furrowed brow, Brock frowned, while narrowing his gaze on the screen. “I’ve also got a source telling me that there was another explosion at the park a few minutes ago. I’m going to head that way and get some photos, before the police close off the area.”

As he sorted through the files within the envelope, Jameson growled under his breath. “No doubt that masked menace is tied to it. We can discuss it later in today’s episode! Here’s the headline! “Spider-Man: Neighborhood Terrorist Explodes Again!” Taking the cigar from his mouth, the man pointed it to the side, at an individual in a different room. “Good work, Brock! Jared will take care of your advance! Anyway! Diamond! You’ll handle the announcement, along with the latest side story!”

A flow of lavender walked out of the room and into the office with a phone, using her free hand to scroll through the walls of text on its screen. “Sure thing, Uncle J.J.! The Rainbooms story should have gone viral, but it’s been blocked on all media. It seems something’s region-locked the panel and kept it within Canterlot City.” She blinked, frowning before tossing the phone onto the nearest desk. “Oh! Spider-Man’s probably responsible! Maybe because he doesn’t want to be shown up? We all know he’s a gloryhound!”

Slow to respond, as if carefully considering the girl’s words, Jameson rubbed his chin with a furrowed brow, before he eventually nodded. “That makes sense! His track record speaks for itself! He smashed our billboard because we were critical of his actions! Then, he ruins your musical festival by upstaging everyone! Not to mention that he went into business for himself during his partnership with Mysterio! It’s only natural that Spider-Man would be jealous of a new group of heroes taking his shine away!” his facial features twisted, cracking into what resembled a smile, “Excellent! As always, my niece is showing all of the best qualities of a journalist! You’re in charge of the headline, angel!”

An evil smirk surfaced on Tiara’s face, practically matching her uncle’s devilish grin. She raised her hand once an idea came to mind, extending it high overhead. “How does this sound? “Conspiracy or Facts? There’s Only Room for One Vigilante in This Town!”

The pair shared a glance, before erupting into laughter, all while Eddie’s face twisted with disgust and confusion. “Great. I’ll just see myself out.” He rolled his eyes, before making his way towards the nearest exit, but a large bang echoed from outside, before tremors coursed throughout the building’s walls. Eddie arched a brow, alternating his gaze about. “What the hell was that?”

The building continued to shake, as metallic stomps steadily approached, each growing in volume and velocity. Diamond fell to her knees, while Jameson struggled to keep his balance, all while Brock gripped the edge of a desk to stay upright. Soon, the light in the room instantly faded, allowing darkness to spread. Eddie glanced towards the source, his eyes widening at the sight of a large individual clad in armor perched outside.

He sharply shifted his gaze, pausing upon seeing Jameson. A visceral snarl escaped from his mouth, before he raised a fist high overhead. Eddie inhaled sharply and lunged forth, scooping Diamond into his arms, while also shoving Jameson to the side. Suddenly, the dark figure slammed their fist into the wall, and a shockwave erupted, causing shards of brick, stone, and glass to shatter upon impact. The force of the blast knocked everyone back, but Eddie turned his back, using his bulky frame to shield Diamond from the flying debris.

As the dust settled, Jameson lifted his gaze towards the intruder, and his complexion paled upon spotting the large tail looming over his frame. Just as Eddie turned, he and Jonah shared a glance, before the older man quietly motioned a hand to the side. The large armored individual growled while stomping towards Jameson, each step causing the room to shake, and Brock, having remained unnoticed, slipped through the nearest door, with Diamond Tiara in his arms still.

Once certain they were alone, Jameson pulled himself to his feet, brushing the dust from his clothing before huffing. “That you, Gargan? What the hell’s going on?”

Scorpion gritted his teeth, clenching his hand into a fist, until the armor groaned in protest. “You know exactly what’s going on, Jameson!” he exclaimed, sharply pointing a finger at the older man. Unbeknownst to him, the tiny spider magnetically charged onto the back of his neck emitted a beacon. All the while, Jameson slowly backpedalled, as Gargan stalked him. “This is all your fault!”

Jameson blinked, furrowing his brow. “What are you talking about, Gargan?”

“Don’t play dumb! I’m stuck in this suit, and I hear voices in my head because of you! I trusted you, and this is what you did to me?!” Scorpion howled, holding his hands out inches from his face, before lashing out to the side. He shook his head, all while a somber expression filled his features. “I just want to be normal again, but that’ll never happen, because you helped turn me into a freak!””

Slow to respond, as if considering the man’s words, Jameson stopped in his tracks and stood with a finger raised. “You’re not thinking clearly, Gargan! It was Oscorp Industries and their doctors that performed the experiment on you! They promised me that their research was legitimate!” Scorpion paused once they were a few feet apart, with only a desk positioned between them. Jonah inhaled deeply before sighing, raising a hand defensively. “It’s not too late! We can go back to Oscorp, and they can undo any damage done to you. Better yet, we’re in the age of high-technology! There’s a way to get you out of that suit! I know it!”

“You want them to finish me for good this time! Is that it?!” Scorpion exclaimed, lifting both arms overhead before slamming them through the desk, crumbling the wooden material with a vicious crack. Jonah stumbled back from the blow, keeping his arms raised in a guarding pose, and Gargan’s tail slid under the remainder of the broken piece of furniture, hurling it across the room with enough force to embed in the concrete wall. “I will destroy Oscorp another day. For now? I’ll start by killing you first!”

However, before any action could be taken, another individual swung into the fray, diving through the large, man-made hole in the wall. Scorpion glanced at the source, holding a hand over his buzzing cranium. Jameson opened one of his eyes and glanced around, pondering why the fatal blow hadn’t been struck. An all-too familiar white spider insignia stood in the distance, and the older man shot up, growling as irritation took hold over any form of appreciation.

“Spider-Man?! I call for the police, and I get this?!” Jameson exclaimed, holding his shaking hands out to the side.

Exasperated, Spider-Man grumbled under his breath as his masked eyes furrowed. “Nice to see you, too, Picklepuss. Beggars can’t be choosers, and I’m the only one willing to help you right now.” He shifted towards Gargan, who quietly watched his movements with a stern gaze, and Peter raised his hands defensively, showing a lack of ill-intent. “Look, pal. I heard everything, and I want to help you. Oscorp’s the one to blame.”

“Really? Did you know that Jameson was the one who paid them to do this to me?” Scorpion calmly responded, pointing at the older man, while maintaining his gaze towards Spider-Man.

Taken aback, Spider-Man tilted his head to the side, before glancing in Jonah’s direction. “What? Why?”

“Are you seriously asking me that? After everything that you’ve done, you’ve got the gall to ask me why?” Jameson questioned, exasperation evident in his voice. Before long, the older man scoffed, while his face twisted with disgust. “Everywhere you go, destruction follows.You’ve caused so much trouble through property damage and taxes alone! Who pays the price for that? The good people of the city! You destroyed a school, but because you wear a mask, you got off scot-free!”

Spider-Man growled in response, his masked eyes scrunching together. “Are you kidding me?! I wanted to be an entertainer, but you busted my chops then! It was because of your bad press that nobody wanted to book me anymore!” Exhaling, the boy grumbled under his breath, while sorting through the whirlwind of thoughts wanting to escape from his mind, before pushing his growing frustration to the side. “Either way, I know that I screwed up! I left New York! Why didn’t you go after the armed maniacs brandishing rocket launchers in broad daylight?! Why focus on me?!”

Jameson stood upright, glaring at Spider-Man while his nostrils flared. “Because you came back like nothing happened! I still think you should have been arrested or charged, but if you had just stayed gone, then fine!” Forcing out a laugh, Jonah placed both hands over his hips, before shrugging. “But you couldn’t stay away! You came back and have been nothing but an absolute menace! The moment you attacked that officer was when I talked with Oscorp to reign you in! They had a project lined up, and I volunteered Gargan for it. So, damn straight I’m responsible! If it gets you off the street, I’ll do anything!”

Gargan snarled, grinding his teeth to the core. “So, you ruined my life because of your grudge with him? Did you even ask them if the experiment was safe?! You told me it was safe, and I trusted you!” Howling, Scorpion sped forth in a flash, before towering over Jameson’s frame. However, just as he reached out with both hands, Spider-Man jumped between the pair. The smaller individual managed to grip both of Gargan’s forearms, straining as he held the behemoth in place, and the ground under their weight cracked, struggling to withstand their building pressure. Scorpion struggled, alternating his widened gaze between Spider-Man and Jameson. “Why are you protecting him? Jonah’s ruined your life, just like he did mine!”

Both men continued to press, gaining no ground as their momentum ceased. Spider-Man’s muscles tightened, as the tips of his fingers bent into the armor. “I hate what Jameson did… to you and me, but killing him won’t solve anything!” he exclaimed, pausing as the ground caved further. While Jameson ran into a different room, locking the door before jumping behind a large sofa, Peter huffed. “Please, Gargan! I can help you! We can expose Oscorp and get you the best doctors! It’s not too late! Don’t throw your life away by murdering someone!”

Slow to respond, as if considering the boy’s words, Scorpion’s arms lowered. This prompted Spider-Man to relinquish his grip, and both men steadily straightened their posture. However, the world froze, as Gargan glanced to the side and caught sight of his reflection in a broken mirror across the room. The hulking violet and emerald armor hid most of his skin, with the exception of his face, and even that was disfigured, evident by the scar over his forehead and fangs growing from his mouth. A crimson wave rushed over him, as a bleak realization crashed into his fragmented thoughts.

For what seemed like an eternity, Gargan’s trembling hands clenched tightly into fists, before he shook his head. “I’m sorry. Mac Gargan is dead,” he whispered, spinning in a blur. Spider-Man couldn’t react in time, in spite of his blaring senses as Scorpion’s tail whipped out, slamming into his torso with a blunt crack. The air escaped from his lungs, while a shockwave erupted, and Spider-Man was launched, spinning until he burst through the nearest wall. Broken shards of stone and wood scattered from the point of impact, spreading around Peter as his body rolled to a halt. Gargan watched with a narrowed gaze, before snapping his head in the direction Jameson ran towards, growling, “There’s only… the Scorpion!”

Scorpion marched forth, approaching the door, but a sofa soared through the air, crashing into the back of his head. The furniture practically disintegrated on impact, shattering to pieces, and Gargan stumbled to a knee, clutching at his aching cranium. Spider-Man flipped over his frame, before landing mere inches away, brandishing fresh tears in his costume. Shooting a strand of webbing across the room onto a large armchair, Peter snatched the item in a swift motion and captured it by its leg.

Planting his feet, Spider-Man swung the furniture with all of his might and exclaimed, “You look tired! Have a seat!”

A crack echoed throughout the room, as the chair collided into Scorpion’s face, shattering upon impact, and Gargan staggered back, snarling once his senses recollected itself. He lunged forth, throwing a wild punch, but Spider-Man ducked underneath the blow, sliding across the floor in a fluid motion, until he appeared behind his position instantaneously. However, as if it had a mind of its own, the large tail stiffened, before lunging at the smaller individual, with its sharp end aimed at the chest.

The process repeated, as the tail whipped out in a flurry, vanishing in a violet whirlwind. Spider-Man swayed his upper torso, narrowly avoiding each strike. Dust spread as their speeds increased, matched only by the growing number of afterimages Spider-Man left in his numerous dodges. Suddenly, Peter extended both hands, before unleashing a ball of webbing, and the gossamer flew with the force of a bullet, colliding into the side of Gargan’s exposed jaw.

A crack echoed across the vicinity as the mandible disconnected, hanging loosely in place, but before Scorpion could hope to react, Spider-Man fired several more of the web-balls mere feet away. Three collided in rapid succession on the man’s face, each leaving a bruise beneath his eye, nose, and lip. Scorpion lifted his arms, managing to shield his head from the oncoming assault of webbing. Each disintegrated on impact, leaving an array of dents in the armor. Yet, the gossamer began spreading upon impact, entrapping his limbs in place.

However, the webbing creaked and snapped like steel, as Gargan tore himself free from its hold. Suddenly, the larger man disappeared in a flash, managing to snatch Peter by the neck, and he drove his frame into the ground, pressing until the stone caved. Scorpion lifted his foot and drove it down with all of his might, stomping the center of the boy’s chest. A shockwave erupted as Spider-Man burst through the ground, landing onto a table placed on the floor beneath. Taking in bated breaths, Scorpion stood with his gaze fixated on the vigilante, but after what seemed like an eternity, a low groan escaped from the boy’s mouth, before he collapsed in an air of silence.

Panting, Gargan snapped his head to the side, before leaping towards the door across the room. Rearing both arms high overhead, he slammed his hands into the barricade, and a series of cracks spread throughout the entire wall, causing the foundation to crumble in a pile of stone and wood. Scorpion stomped forward, alternating his gaze in an attempt to locate his target. Jameson sat behind a desk, keeping his head lowered while biting down on his lower lip. The air in the vicinity grew thick, making the simple act of breathing a near impossibility, and the inside of Jonah’s chest tightened as his heart thumped rapidly, threatening to burst.

Suddenly, the desk flipped into the air and embedded into the nearest wall. Scorpion towered over Jameson with malicious intent, cracking the bones in his knuckles as he reared a fist back. However, Spider-Man raced towards the armored individual in a sprint, yelling at the top of his lungs. Taken aback, Gargan blinked at the sight, before growling, turning his attention to his would-be attacker. Yet, his fist pierced cleanly through Spider-Man’s form, causing his image to distort in a wave of static, before dematerializing from existence in a flash of light.

In that same second, Scorpion lifted his gaze and only found Spider-Man mere inches away in midair, with his legs pulled back. The world slowed to a halt as Gargan’s eyes widened, unable to stop what was about to transpire. Thrusting both feet forward, Spider-Man delivered a thunderous dropkick to the center of Scorpion’s face, and a crack echoed throughout the building, sending a tremor coursing across the very foundation, that reached even the city streets in a several yard radius. The force of the blow sent Gargan flying back with the force of a missile, until he burst through a wall, skidding along the floor in a heap, before coming to a halt face down.

Spider-Man slowly walked towards the man with a furrowed gaze, letting out a defeated sigh once the buzzing in his cranium had finally settled, after what seemed like ages. “Sorry, Gargan. We’ll get you the help you need,” he whispered, kneeling by his unconscious form. Once his holographic doppleganger phased back into sight, Peter reached down and retrieved a cube-shaped device, before pressing the button at its center. The image gestured a thumbs up, disappearing in a flash, and Spider-Man slid the tech into a hidden compartment within his armor. “I’ll have to thank Mysterio for the holographic tech. It sure came through in the clutch.”

Meanwhile, Gargan stirred back to life, groaning under his breath. He stole a glance from the corner of his eye at Spider-Man with his attention divided, managing to quietly run out of the vicinity and leap through the man-made hole in the wall. Just as Peter turned, Scorpion had already reached street level, disappearing into the lengths of darkness.

“Scorpion?” Spider-Man called out, wincing as pain surged through his abdomen. He alternated his gaze about, attempting to locate the man, but a low sigh escaped from his mouth, before he haplessly scratched the back of his head. “I feel bad for the guy, but a large part of me hopes that I never see him again.” As if a realization came into mind, Spider-Man rushed out of the room and entered the space he previously stood. After a brief duration, the boy immediately found Jameson sitting near the corner, and the pair merely shared a glance, neither faltering from their perspective. However, Peter exhaled before making the first move, extending his hand to the man. “Are you okay?”

Jameson swatted his hand away, grumbling while pulling himself to his feet under his own power, “This changes nothing. I meant every word that I said. If you’re expecting an apology, forget it.”

Huffing, Spider-Man shook his head before folding his arms. “Oh, that’s rich. I’d expect nothing less from you, J.J.”

Slow to respond, Jameson frowned, while glancing to the side. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t want to have you killed. You’re a menace, and I just wanted you out of the way.”

“Well, whatever deal you made with Oscorp, I hope it was worth it. Because now, you’ll have to sleep with both eyes open, knowing that Scorpion is still out there,” Spider-Man declared, never averting his gaze away from the older man.

However, before their conversation could proceed further, a pair of armed officers burst into the room, with their guns drawn and immediately aimed at the vigilante. “Freeze, Spider-Man!”

Jameson pointed at the boy, snarling. “There he is, officers! The man responsible for this mess! Shoot him now! Shoot him!”

“Seriously?!” Spider-Man blurted out, his masked eyes widening, as an alarm blared within his cranium. The officers opened fire without prejudice, but Peter managed to sprint out of the room, avoiding the array of the bullets, before leaping out of the hole in the wall. “Jameson! You’re off my Christmas card list! I mean it this time!”

Everyone watched as Spider-Man fired a strand of webbing onto the nearest building, swinging into the distance and escaping. Many onlookers watched, pointing at the spectacle, and the officers ceased fire, exchanging information. Meanwhile, Jameson inhaled deeply, before letting out a low sigh, placing a hand over his eyes. A whirlwind of thoughts filled his mind, but above all, the man could not shake the feeling of desolation plaguing his integrity. He could only blame the individual responsible for this entire fiasco: himself.

To be concluded…