Chapter 19: Doc Ock Goes to Camp

Dr. Octopus Goes to Camp:

“The Camp should be the best yet this year but…it might be a bit empty without going with Uncle Ben,” said Peter as he talked to Gwen and Harry. Harry looked like he had not slept in days, after the recent events involving his father. “I mean, it should still be fun and I’m going to enjoy myself.”

“You will Peter, the one year I was able to go was fun,” said Gwen with a sigh.

“Why haven’t you gone since then?” asked Harry in a tone of voice that was an attempt in establishing life was normal.

“Too expensive for Dad’s budget really, but that’s fine, maybe one day I’ll get to go again,” said Gwen as she looked at Peter, who stood there.

“I almost didn’t go,” said Peter quietly to his friends. “After all that what happened…I feel it wouldn’t be right to blow town, considering everything.”

“Pete, this was your uncle’s last gift to you, you shouldn’t go on my account,” said Harry calmly. “I mean sure I blew up at you because of something like this before, but I overreacted, now we’re cool and I don’t want to have to go over this again. You might have parts of your life where I’ll not be a part of and I respect that, really.”

“That means a lot to me, Harry and thank you, I swear I don’t mean to be so secretive, and you have had enough to worry about given what happened recently,” said Peter but Harry just shrugged.

“At least the media got bored after a while,” said Harry. “You wouldn’t believe how many people wanted to make a movie out of this. I mean, no offense, but who would want to see a movie centered around the Green Goblin fighting Spider-Man.”

“It’s just exploitation, Harry,” said Gwen and Peter nodded. “If there wasn’t a moderately famous person under that mask, no one would have cared.”

“Yet, it’s my father and they care way too much,” said Harry in despair but both of his friends gave him sympathetic smiles but Peter checked his watch.

“Well the bus for camp leaves in a couple of hours and as much as I’d like to stick around, I want to get everything ready so I can leave in time,” said Peter as Harry and Gwen nodded in understanding. “Now, Harry, remember, even if I’m at this camp, if you need someone to talk to, even if it is just to vent about how the media just won’t leave you alone…”

“I know, Peter,” said Harry in a tired voice.

“I better get going too, Harry,” said Gwen as she walked out with Peter, giving him a look. “Go and have a good time, enjoy yourself, don’t worry about anything. The world can hold up without your web slinging alter ego for two weeks.”

“I’m planning on having a good time, Gwen,” said Peter.

“You have the suit packed, don’t you?” asked Gwen.

“Only as a habit,” said Peter quickly. “I mean, what’s going to happen at science camp?”

“Well, to be honest, who expected the Hulk to crash a school dance?” asked Gwen.

“Point taken, Gwen, but I’m going to enjoy this camp even if it kills me,” said Peter before the two exchanged kiss, in a way of saying good bye, their feelings communicated well before they slowly broke apart. “I’ll miss this.”

“I won’t argue with that,” said Gwen before the two laughed and Peter turned. “Bye Peter, have fun.”

“Thanks Gwen, I will do my best,” said Peter as he walked off to prepare to leave. The specter of Spider-Man hung over his head as usual but he refused to let it get the better of him.

-

“Gentlemen and lady,” said Doctor Octopus as he looked towards his gang, as he pointed one of his tentacles towards a set of blueprints, with different scientific calculations. “As you can see, my robotic arms require a great deal of power. Power that comes at a great cost to develop, as time and energy. The most potent power source I have been able to create only latest a period of seventy two hours and while it might be enough for some, I require more power. I cannot afford to have my robotic arms run out of power in the middle of a scheme. Unfortunately, time and money has been spent to study increasing the power of my robotic arms. Time that can be better served being utilized elsewhere, with the Kingpin still out there and other forces attempting to take control of the empire that should be mine. Not to mention that contemptible hero, Spider-Man, there are forces that require me to utilize even more power than ever before.”

“Surely you have found a solution, Dr. Octavius,” said Carolyn Trainer and Octopus turned, before he nodded to his best student.

“Indeed I have Ms. Trainer, or rather someone else has for me, an ever lasting source of power will be on display on this years National Youth Science Camp,” said Octopus as he held the information for all to see, illustrating the use of the Ultra-Mega Power Pack. “Solar powered and ever renewing, created by Stark Enterprises, believed to be the future of energy. I would no longer need to keep creating power sources. Rather one power source is all that I require for the rest of my life. The Kingpin would not be able to stop me, no force on earth will be able to stop me once my robotic arms have been powered by such a potent source of energy.”

“Not even Spider-Man?” asked one of the henchmen and the good doctor just turned, casually with a sadistic glint in his eyes and there was a pause.

“I almost hope for Spider-Man to get in my way, because the last time we meant, he was lucky to expend most of my power, forcing a hasty retreat,” said Dr. Octopus as he cracked his hands together, before he reached for one of his power cells, fully intent on this being the last time he would have to use such a meager power source. “Our next encounter will end drastically different. I shall prove that Spider-Man is inferior to me in every way.”

The good doctor paused for dramatic effect, before he nodded, looking at his gang.

“Time for departure,” said Doctor Octopus with a gleeful expression on his face. “The spoils will be ours in a matter of days.”

-

“Have a good time, Peter,” said Aunt May, as they were at the pre designated bus stop for the area. The bus had been driving all over the country, stopping at the biggest cities. Most had drove the entire distance to the camp, mostly those who had lived out of the way. “I only wish you and your uncle could have shared this one more time but sadly it was not to be. I would have come but imagine what the house would have looked like if I would have left it alone for two weeks.”

“Yeah that would be pretty bad, I don’t know how you do it Aunt May, keeping the house clean and dinner on the table, not to mention having a part time job,” said Peter with a frown.

“When you’ve been holding together a household like I have for many years, you need to learn how to multi task,” said May with a smile. “Now get going, you wouldn’t want to miss your ride. Don’t worry about me, I’ll get home on my own.”

“Right, see you Aunt May,” said Peter.

“Bye, Peter, have fun,” said Aunt May as she watched her nephew walk onto the bus, struggling to carry his luggage. She frowned, her nephew had over packed a bit too much but she supposed it was a valuable lesson for him to learn. As much as she hated to admit it, she would not be around forever. Ben’s death had proven that life could end at any minute. A sad but all too truthful realization, as she watched Peter go on the bus, with a sad smile. He was truly growing up, having a part time job and a girlfriend, all kinds of new responsibility. In a way, she dreaded the day where Peter would leave home but there was no stopping it.

-

On the bus, Peter struggled with his luggage. Unfortunately it appeared that most of the seats towards the front of the bus had been taken. Perhaps he had brought a few too many things along, including several dozen cartridges of webbing and his new double sized web shooters, that was able to hold two cartridges at once, cutting down on the problem of running out of webbing at the worst possible time, which had happened only a couple of times, but it was enough for Peter to realize the necessity of such a device.

“Hey, if you need somewhere to sit, you can sit here,” said a girl that was maybe a year or two younger than Peter, with brown hair, brown eyes, and freckles.

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” said Peter, as she moved over to allow Peter room to sit down, as a few more people found seats on the bus. “I’m Peter Parker.”

“Kitty Pryde,” said the girl with a smile. “This is so exciting, I mean I’ve never gone to this camp before but it’s supposed to be the best. I came all the way from Chicago, I hope it’s really worth the trip.”

“Trust me, it is,” said Peter, deciding it was best to make conversation, because this might be a long bus ride. “I’ve went here every year since I was eight with my uncle and I’ve had a blast, there’s something here for every if they’re interested in science. Biology, chemistry, physics, computers, genetics, more than I could name, trust me if you’re even the least bit scientifically inclined, it’s always an enlightening experience.”

“Oh believe me, I am, people think I’m a bit of a nerd because I’m more into science and computers than make up than other girls my age are,” said Kitty.

“Don’t feel bad, my girlfriend Gwen is the same way, she’s more comfortable around test tubes, than make up kits,” said Peter as Kitty nodded, looking out the window.

“I didn’t think I would get to go this year, but my parents agreed to let me go, if I got on the honor roll at school,” said Kitty but she frowned. “Unfortunately that meant that I had to pass lit and that class can be such a drag sometimes. They say it’s English literature, but whatever language those old guys are writing in, it’s not like any English normal people I know speak.”

“Lit can be a bore sometimes, but really it isn’t that bad,” said Peter but Kitty just gave him a disapproving look. “Alright, maybe it is that bad.”

“Doesn’t really matter, I passed the class, with a B, sure it was by the skin of my teeth but it counts and Mom and Dad paid for me to go to this camp, so I guess that’s a victory,” said Kitty but she looked at Peter. “You said you normally go with your uncle. Well why aren’t you going with him this year instead of taking the bus.”

“Actually he died just earlier this year,” said Peter which caused Kitty to cover her mouth.

“Oh my, I didn’t know, I’m so sorry, that was so rude of me,” said Kitty in an apologetic voice.

“That’s alright, you didn’t know,” said Peter. “I live with my Aunt May now and we’re getting through everything just fine. My parents died when I was young in a plane crash, I don’t really remember all that much about them to be honest.”

Kitty looked at Peter with a confused look.

“That’s just the next question people asked, so I figured I would answer it right now,” said Peter and Kitty nodded in understanding before her eyes widened. “What now?”

“Did you say your name was Peter Parker?” asked Kitty as Peter looked at her before he nodded, wondering what this was all about. “You wouldn’t be the Peter Parker that takes those photos of Spider-Man, would you?”

“Yes, I’m that Peter Parker,” said Peter. “Wait a minute, how do you know about Spider-Man? I didn’t think he was that famous, in fact, I didn’t even think I was even that well known outside of my own neighborhood, much less outside of New York.”

“Well you can thank the magic of the Internet for that,” explained Kitty. “Your photos are all over the web, on all the Spider-Man fan pages.”

“Spider-Man fan pages?” asked Peter, his head spinning from this little bit of information.

“Yeah, there aren’t many, but there are some devoted people out there and they really keep up with the latest Spider-Man news,” said Kitty with a grin as she looked at Peter’s shell shocked expression with great amusement. “And it’s all thanks to you, I mean without your pictures, the world couldn’t follow the exploits of the greatest hero that ever lived.”

“What does Captain America have to do with this?” asked Peter.

“Captain American, I suppose he’s okay, a bit old fashioned and out of date, but Spider-Man’s the wave of the future,” said Kitty in an excited voice. “There are loads of people out there who look up to Spider-Man, he’s a role model to a lot of people.”

“Now, I’m sure Spider-Man doesn’t do it for people to look up to him,” said Peter.

“And that’s what makes him such a great hero, I mean, you must be good to get pictures of him, no one else has,” said Kitty as she looked at Peter with a serious expression. “You know him, don’t you?”

“Not that well, but you don’t take photos of a guy without picking up a thing or two of how he’s like,” said Peter.

“I mean you know exactly who he is under that mask of his,” stated Kitty as if this was the most obvious thing in the world.

“No, our coexistence is strictly professional,” said Peter. “I mean, would you trust a guy who takes pictures of you and sells them to a newspaper with your secret identity?”

“Not really,” admitted Kitty as she looked at Peter. “There’s has to be a reason why he wears to mask, he wouldn’t want some creep going after his friends and family. I know I wouldn’t.”

“Neither would I, if I was Spider-Man,” said Peter with a knowing smile. “Look, I don’t like to bring my work with me…”

“Totally my fault, it’s just that….” started Kitty before she stopped and looked at Peter with a serious, almost guilty expression on her face, with a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. “I’ve never told anyone else, so promise me you won’t tell anyone this, even Spider-Man, actually especially Spider-Man.”

“I promise,” said Peter prompting Kitty to go on, as she took a deep breath, bracing herself for something.

“This is completely silly, but I sort of have a crush on Spider-Man,” mumbled Kitty as Peter looked at her with a look that she misinterpreted. “Hey, it’s not as bad as most people. At least I don’t by strands of Spider-Man’s webbing and sleep with it underneath my pillow like some people do. Those people are obsessive stalkers and need to get a little bit of a life.”

“Especially considering that I have it on good authority that Spider-Man’s webbing only lasts an hour at most before dissolving,” said Peter and Kitty looked at him strangely which he had to cover up rather quickly. “Hey say what you want about Spider-Man, but he’s economically friendly.”

“Yes, selfless,” said Kitty with a sigh before she shook her head and quickly changed the subject, not wanting to look like an obsessed Spider-Man fan girl even though she figured he had to be a total hottie he had to be underneath the mask. “So, the Science Camp, tell me more about it, because you’ve been here before.”

They spent the rest of the bus ride, talking about the Science Camp, what seemed most exciting and everything. Thankfully, much to Peter’s relief, Spider-Man was not brought into the conversation once during the rest of the two hour bus ride.

-

“Awesome,” said Kitty as she looked at the amazingly professional set up, as she walked with Peter, who had transferred his web shooters and costume into a smaller bag that he carried with him while the rest of the luggage was move to the cabins that were being used. “It must have taken ages to set up this entire thing.”

“Actually three and a half months, but who’s really counting?” answered a young man with dark hair, dressed in a suit with a rose pinned to his lapel. He looked in his early twenties, as he approached, Kitty, Peter, and the rest of the attendees in the camp. “Richard Fisk, and yes my father is exactly who you think it is.”

“That’s right, your father helps fund this every year,” said Peter.

“Yes, it’s one of his pet tax write offs,” said Richard with a chuckle. “I find science dreadfully dull myself, but I suppose it’s nice to see all these people showing such interest. Father has so many things on his mind these days, that I was volunteered to take on some of his lesser ventures now that I’ve completed my education at ESU. But it gives me something to do for a couple of weeks. After all, fast cars and pretty women isn’t all there is to life but I’m proud to say it’s a big part of my life.”

Quite a few people laughed at Fisk’s joke but Peter just frowned. He found it hard to believe that such a pompous pretty boy like Richard Fisk who could be the son of a dedicated entrepreneur and philanthropist like Wilson Fisk but there he was, a cocky yet somehow bored smirk on his face as if this was not worth his time. It was amazing to think that Harry could be like this, but he seemed more down to earth than this Richard Fisk. In fact, Richard cleared his throat, before he adopted a business like demeanor as more people, both children and parents had gathered, a sizeable crowd of a couple hundred or so.”

“Thank you for coming to the twenty first annual Youth Science Camp of America,” said Richard in a booming boisterous tone of voice. “Fisk International, in conjunction with several other companies around the country thank you all for coming out. The bright young minds of American come to this camp every year to learn and exchange ideas. Not only that, but the inventions and scientific breakthroughs of the future get previewed for the very first time. So please, enjoy the next two weeks, and I hope you fight this camp an enjoyable experience, as well as an educational one. After a brief dinner, feel free to attend the orientation ceremony as all the questions about the exhibits will be answered timely and then tomorrow, many of our guests from the scientific community will be arriving to enrich your young minds. Feel free to explore the exhibits at your leisure at that time.”

Richard stopped giving his speech, as the group filed, with security stepping into place for dinner and then later for the orientation ceremony.

-

“Security is rather tight, Dr. Octavius,” said Carolyn Trainer, as she reported in, disguised incognito outside of the dining hall. “And Wilson Fisk hasn’t showed up, but rather his son, no scientific ambition in his body, quite remarkable.”

“Such a shame, I would have hoped to deal with the Kingpin and steal the energy source in one fell swoop,” said Dr. Octopus. “Monitor the situation, we want to have an intelligent plan but at leas there is one thing that is going our way.”

“No Spider-Man to get in your way this time,” said Carolyn.

“Exactly,” said Dr. Octopus with glee. “A shame in a way, but also it is an annoyance I can do without. Rest assure, that arachnid will be spinning his last web all too soon.”

-

“Wow, just think a computer that can process that much memory in a blink of an eye,” said Kitty in an awed voice.

“Yeah, that’s fascinating,” said Peter. To be honest, he was a bit leery about a girl he barely knew tagging along with him but Kitty was rather smart, if a bit odd. It was nice to have some intelligent conversation though and it was now more evident to him that most of the children at the camp had only went because their parents had insisted on them going.

“Computers really aren’t your thing?” asked Kitty and Peter responded with a slow nod.

“No, not really, I mean I’m not hopeless,” said Peter. “But I’m not an expert.”

“Well, neither am I, I just like to dabble with them,” said Kitty as her eye was caught by a strange exhibit. “Wow, look at it here, an immense power source, said to be everlasting energy it never runs out. Just imagine what you could do with something like that.”

“Now, it says it’s untested and besides it would have to run out sometime,” said Peter as he looked at what he admitted was a rather sophisticated looking power cell. “Even that high tech battery would be pushed to its limits.”

“But if it’s real, I question leaving something like that out to the public, I mean, you might as well just put a sign that says, crazed maniacs, please steal me,” thought Peter but he was amused but his amusement quickly faded when the doors were blown open by some force, causing the people around the exhibits to look up. “Parker, you’ve got to learn to stop jinxing yourself.”

“What is going on here?” demanded a voice.

“That’s what I want to know,” muttered Kitty to Peter who nodded in agreement, but a group of men dressed in black walked inside, holding guns. The guards stepped back, not wanting to endanger the people with a fire fight.

“Alright listen up, all of you clear out of here right away and you won’t get hurt,” said one of the armed men as Peter looked off to the side. He gave a sigh, there were way too many people around and the exits were too congested for him to make a quick and unseen getaway. People moved towards the exits. “That’s it, nice and easy, right towards the door, no need to shove, you’ll be back to look at your nice little exhibits before too long, we just want a few minutes to collect something. Move it, now.”

“Thank you gentlemen, I’ll take it over,” said a calm voice of Dr. Octopus as he walked in on his robotic arms, looking down at the remaining attendees of the camp. “As a past attendee, it warms my heart to see so many young minds taking an interest in science but do run along ladies and gentlemen, I wouldn’t want to see so many young scientific minds injured before they could reach their full potential.”

Kitty tugged on Peter’s sleeve, as she looked at Doc Ock with a mixture of awe and great fear.

“The only villain that Spider-Man could never capture, I wish he was here right now, Spidey could save us, I don’t know how Peter keeps cool,” thought Kitty. “Then again, he does have to take pictures of Spider-Man and the guys he has to fight, Doom and Octopus and the Green Goblin and Mysterio and all of those people, I mean, I don’t think I could do it.”

She gave a shriek of surprise, grabbing onto Peter’s arm, as they were knocked towards the wall by the people running in terror from Dr. Octopus. She braced herself for hitting the wall but the next thing she knew, her and Peter were on the other side of the wall.

“Did I just do what I think I did?” gasped Kitty as Peter looked at her strangely. “I went right through…I feel through…oh my gosh I think I did…oh my.”

“She phased through the wall,” said Peter trying to wrap his brain around what he just saw. “That means, she’s a mutant, just like the X-Men, she can make herself intangible and judging by the look of it, this is the first time she did something like this.”

“Oh I can’t believe this, how did this happen?” asked Kitty.

“Now, Kitty, I’m sure there’s a perfectly logical explanation,” said Peter.

“A perfectly logical explanation, I’m a freak…I’m a…” stated Kitty before she noticed something and so did Peter. He had spilled the contents of his bag when they had went through the wall and she stepped back, eyes widened, as Peter quickly tried to clear away his costume before he was seen. “And you’re…oh my…I made a total fool out of myself…you’re him…”

“Mmm hmm,” said Peter, feeling it was useless in denying it but he was kicking himself mentally.

“I just acted like a vapid Spider-Man fangirl in front of Spider-Man,” thought Kitty who wished she had the power to vanish. “I’m surprise Peter even put up with me, he’s such a nice guy, that Gwen girl that he’s wish, she’s lucky but what now, I just told…oh my God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“Kitty, could you do me a favor?” asked Peter quietly.

“Anything!” squeaked Kitty before her eyes widened in horror when she realized how bad that sounded.

“Keep a look out,” muttered Peter, as he left all business.

”Nice one, Pryde,” thought Kitty. “You make a friend, who is really Spider-Man and now you can’t even look him in the face because you can’t control your little fan girl worshipping towards Spidey. Never mind that he’s a cute guy regardless of who he is. A cute guy who has a girlfriend who he seems to have known all of his life and is love with and totally devoted to. Oh well, at least you helped him, kind of. But I wouldn’t really blame him if he never spoke to me again. And you’re a freak too, this day just totally sucks.”

-

“The level of encryption on the security around this power pack case is incredible,” said Carolyn.

“Naturally, it was developed by people under the employ of Tony Stark himself,” said Dr. Octopus as he held the scientist from Stark Industries right in one of his tentacles, before throwing him to the side in a bored manner. “Still, Stark’s not here, so there will be no one who could contest us taking the power pack.”

“Now just see here, you can’t just barge into this exhibit and get away with it ,” said Richard Fisk as he walked over, with security on either side on him, pointing their guns at Dr. Octopus. “And you can’t just take the exhibits…”

“Take them out,” said Dr. Octopus casually as his men rushed forward, knocking the security out and disarming them rather easily. “Grab young Mr. Fisk, I have a feeling I might have a use for him.”

“Let me go you ruffians,” protested Richard as he struggled as security grabbed him, before they dragged. “When my father hears about this…”

“I do hope your father hears about this actually, that means he’ll be in perfect position for my revenge,” said Dr. Octopus in a cruel voice before he looked at Carolyn. “Stand back Ms. Trainer, sometimes the crudest methods are the most surprisingly efficient.”

Dr. Octopus raised one of his tentacles before he smashed open the case. He looked at the power pack with a gleeful expression on his face, before he reached forward, to grab onto it with his tentacles but a line of webbing shot out of nowhere and pulled the cell right out of the case. Dr. Octopus looked up, to see Spider-Man hanging upside down, holding the power pack in his hand.

“You!” shouted Dr. Octopus.

“Yeah, me, surprised to see me, Ock,” said Spider-Man as he dropped down.

“No actually pleased,” said Dr. Octopus as his tentacles shot forward, in an attempt to stab Spider-Man, before he flipped over the attack. He landed right on his feet and Dr. Octopus turned around, before raised his tentacles once again, before attempting to drive them down right onto Spider-Man. “I’ve been waiting for your demise for quite some time, arachnid.”

“Yeah and your aim hasn’t improved since our last battle,” said Spider-Man but he winced when one of the tentacles clamped around his arm, before he was pulled up, before Dr. Octopus swung him around. Spider-Man struggled with the attacks of Octopus.

“You were saying?” asked Dr. Octopus as he threw Spider-Man around.

“I stand corrected,” said Spider-Man as Dr. Octopus made an attempt at the power source but Spider-Man shot a glob of webbing right on Dr. Octopus’s glasses, temporarily blinding him and allowing Spider-Man to pull himself free, avoiding being smashed with the heavy part of the robotic arm.

“Don’t just stand there you fools, grab him,” said Dr. Octopus, as it took him longer to remove the impairment to his vision. The goons dropped Richard Fisk, who began to crawl away, before they charged Spider-Man. Spider-Man dodged an attack, before he sent one of the goons flying right to the ground.

“Really, now you’re making this too easy,” said Spider-Man as he dodged a punch, before he pummeled one of the goons in the midsection, knocking the wind out of him, before he used the back of the henchman’s head as a springboard, before kicking off and knocking two of the henchmen down. Another one charged him but Spider-Man flipped him into another one. “So close, yet so painfully far, that’s what you get for sending the goon squad after me, Octopus.”

His spider sense alerted him to an attempt of shooting at him but Spider-Man dodged the bullet. He then jammed up the gun with webbing, before he pulled it from his hands. Spider-Man wrapped his webbing around a pipe from above, before he dropped down right onto the head of one of the goons.

“Really, too easy,” said Spider-Man in a bored voice, before he flipped onto his feet, with two of the henchmen ramming together, causing them to be knocked out, before Dr. Octopus, vision now restored, ramming one of his robotic arms out, Spider-Man dodged, but a second shooting of the robotic arm knocked Spider-Man off balance. Spider-Man was then knocked backwards, before Dr. Octopus grabbed the power cell from his hands, before clamping the end of the arm around Spider-Man’s wrists and hoisted him up.

“I hope this is more for your liking, Spider-Man,” taunted Dr. Octopus as Spider-Man struggled to free himself, but he was flung right to the ground. The arm wrapped around Spider-Man and pulled him up to his feet, as he struggled but the arm was too strong. He struggled with his spider strength. “How often I wished for you to have you in my grasp Spider-Man, to crush you like the insignificant vermin you really arm.”

“Got to get free somehow,” thought Spider-Man, as he watched Dr. Octopus remove the power cell from his harness, perhaps he could time this right, before he lifted the experimental power source right and slid it inside, causing his arms to glow, but Spider-Man broke out.

“You might have gotten your hands on the power source, Octopus and it might power your arms, but your body is still as human as everyone,” said Spider-Man as he rushed forward, punch swinging with all of his mind towards Dr. Octopus’s head, but the swing with the robotic arm caught him in the chest full force. He collapsed right to the ground with a thud. Dr. Octopus raised the arm and smashed it against the ground, but he dodged the attack, attempting to web them together, but the good doctor saw this one coming.

“Too true Spider-Man but you won’t get close enough to get a shot in on me,” said Dr. Octopus as he smashed Spider-Man down to the ground, before he hoisted him up, into the air and slammed him against the ceiling, swinging him around, before he slammed Spider-Man down to the ground hard. Spider-Man winced, pain racking through his body, as Dr. Octopus stood right on his chest, two robotic arms with razor sharp ends raised above his head. “It has been too long, but now I’ve finally gained my revenge on you. You might have let Fisk get away, but it would not be too hard to track him once I’ve exterminated you.”

Spider-Man attempted to push Dr. Octopus off of him but he suffered a severe beating.

“The only quandary is that should I unmask you first or kill you, before ripping that hideous mask off,” said Dr. Octopus as the ends of his robotic tentacles clamped together over and over again, several inches above Spider-Man. “Decisions, decisions.”

“Let go of me you creeps!” shouted Kitty as she struggled, as two of Doc Ock’s henchmen dragged her into the room, as she struggled against the grip of the two henchmen.

“Hey boss, we found this girl snooping around,” said one of the henchmen. “Should be liquidate her?”

“Right after my business with Spider-Man has concluded, you can do what you wish,” said Dr. Octopus as he held his arms up, savoring the moment but he watched as the girl had appeared to go intangible, slipping from the grips of the two henchmen. This distraction gave Spider-Man enough room to wrap his webbing around the feet of his enemy and pull his legs out from underneath him. His robotic arms shot behind him, breaking his fall, as Spider-Man leapt forward and knocked the two goons right off of their feet. Dr. Octopus rushed forward and caught Spider-Man right in the chest with one of his robotic tentacles. Kitty rushed forward, to check on him.

“I’m fine but…” stated Spider-Man before he looked at her, suddenly realizing something. “There’s no way I can get close enough to disable him, but…”

Spider-Man shot a line of webbing upwards, before pulling her to safety as Dr. Octopus swung up, attempting to slice the webbing into bits.

“But what?” asked Kitty curiously as they leapt down.

“Your powers, they can get through, you can disable the power source,” said Spider-Man and Kitty looked at him biting her lip fearfully.

“I don’t know, I’ve only used them by accident twice, I don’t know exactly how they work,” protested Kitty.

“Try, Kitty,” muttered Spider-Man as they dodged another attack. “Otherwise I’m going to get smashed to bits.”

“Right, I’ll give it a shot, but I don’t know if this will even work,” said Kitty and Spider-Man did not have the heart to tell her that he did not even know, before Dr. Octopus knocked him right to the ground. “Leave him alone!”

“How touching, the arachnid has a groupie,” said Dr. Octopus with malice as Kitty stood in the way looking horrified for a brief moment at this accusation, but stood her ground. “Move out of the way, young lady, I wouldn’t want to mangle such a pretty face.”

“No,” said Kitty in a defiant voice and Dr. Octopus just sighed.

“The impudence of youth,” said Dr. Octopus in a mock remorseful voice, as he raised the tentacle as she closed her eyes, but she went intangible, causing them to miss. Rushing forward, throwing all caution to the wind, without taking any breath, she reached forward, before she got her hands on the power source. Dr. Octopus swung his tentacles but Spider-Man wrapped his webbing around them, to stop them from breaking Kitty’s concentration. She reached forward, going physical just seconds after she pulled the power source from his harness. Dr. Octopus shrieked, as the auxiliary power kicked in. “You will return what you have stolen, girl.”

“Not today,” said Spider-Man as he swung forward and caught Dr. Octopus with both feet right to head, as Kitty collapsed to the ground. Dr. Octopus pulled himself to his feet, but Spider-Man shot webbing, tying the four tentacles together. In an instant, Dr. Octopus attempted to move forward, but his power was quickly running out, as Spider-Man held the older, but still usable power cell, before he threw it out of the window.

“You will pay for this, Spider-Man!” shouted Dr. Octopus, as he ripped through the webbing, before he managed to shot his robotic arm forward. “Hand over that power cell, young lady, or I will use whatever power I have to rip Spider-Man limb from limb.”

Kitty’s hands trembled but Spider-Man shook his head, before he slipped from Doc Ock’s grip. The web slinger swung around, as both his feet impacted Dr. Octopus right in the head, causing him to spiral to the ground. Quickly, he webbed two of the tentacles to the wall and the other two could not quite reach Spider-Man. Dr. Octopus watched as his back up power ran down, as Spider-Man stepped back, before he collapsed to the ground.

“I’m alright, just out of breath,” said Spider-Man as Dr. Octopus’s arms went unmoving and the police broke into the door, holding their weapons.

“There, there’s the ruffian who tried to attack me,” said Richard Fisk, pointing right towards Dr. Octopus, as Spider-Man and Kitty slipped into the distance, watching Dr. Octopus and his gang being arrested.

“I’ll leave this somewhere where they can find it,” said Spider-Man as he held the power cell. He would sooner smash it, because there was nothing stopping Dr. Octopus from going after it again in the future and he grabbed his camera before disabling the auto shoot on it.

“So that’s how you get all those shots of Spider-Man,” said Kitty in amazement.

“Yes,,” said Spider-Man a bit shortly as Kitty looked at him, chewing on her lip nervously. “Thanks back there, I couldn’t have defeated Doc Ock without your help.”

“Yes you could have, you would have found a way,” said Kitty but she sighed. “I’m sorry about acting like the way I did. If I would have known you were Spider-Man…actually I might have fainted.”

“I need to do a better job in guiding my secret identity, four people know it,” muttered Spider-Man and Kitty looked at him curiously. “You, my girlfriend, the Green Goblin, and Nick Fury.”

“You mean your girlfriend actually knows you’re Spider-Man,” said Kitty in astonishment. “Isn’t it like some kind of law of super hero ethics that you have to keep your secret identity from everyone and like make some kind of lame excuse every time you have to disappear.”

“She’s too smart to fall for something like that anyway, it’s a lot better in the long run, our relationship is much stronger, even if I do worry her a lot,” said Spider-Man and Kitty nodded.

“But now I’m a freak, I mean those powers that I have, they can’t be natural,” said Kitty in a horrified voice.

“Hey did you think these powers are natural?” asked Spider-Man. “I mean walking on walls and having that agility. I was a klutz before I got these powers but now I’m much better off. Trust me, you’ll get used to them and besides, they did help out.”

“True, but I’m more worried about what my parents would think,” said Kitty.

“I’m sure they will be understanding of you, Miss Pryde,” said a voice which caused both Kitty and Spider-Man to spin around to see the smiling face of Charles Xavier, along with Jean Grey. “You have a special gift, having been a part of a new breed of humans known as mutants. My name is Charles Xavier and I am offering you a place at the Xavier Institute, to teach you out to control and utilize your powers to their fullest potential.”

“You mean there is a place for people like me,” said Kitty.

“Yes, there is,” offered Jean. “My name is Jean Grey and trust me, when I say that my powers were hard to control but Professor Xavier helped me and he can help you as well.”

“Professor Xavier is a good man, he’ll teach you what you need to know,” said Spider-Man in an encouraging voice.

“Well, if you think he’s okay, then I guess he is,” said Kitty as she turned to Xavier. “So I guess if P…Spider-Man thinks you can help me, then I guess its okay but what about my parents?”

“We will talk to them right away,” said Xavier. “Explain the nature of your powers.”

Kitty nodded.

“I guess you’re going to be closer to me now,” said Spider-Man.

“Yeah, that will be cool, please tell me that you’re going to come and visit sometime,” said Kitty.

“Of course, what kind of person would I be if I didn’t visit my friends every now and again,” said Spider-Man and Kitty beamed at him before she walked off with Jean and Professor Xavier.

“Finally another girl at the Institute, I mean with four other guys there, it can be annoying sometimes,” said Jean to Kitty who smiled. “And what’s this about you teaming up with Spider-Man to fight Dr. Octopus?”

-

Back in New York, an old man named Adrian Toomes had been paroled from prison after being in there five years. He had been framed by one Norman Osborn for embezzlement and Norman swept in to take control of his company, stealing his valuable tech flight designs. He planned on making enough money to finally retire and enjoy a good life but now Osborn had ruined it.

Now he would ruin Osborn, as he looked at the design that he had sketched in prison. He had been given praise by being a model prisoner but only if the knew. Toomes looked at the design with a toothless smirk. Pretty soon the Vulture would take flight and Norman Osborn would pay for what he had done. 


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