Chapter 86

  Arc 7 - Ch 3: Opening Night

  Date: Monday, August 29, 2011.

  Location: Oscorp Tower, Midtown, Manhattan, New York

  Max awoke in a disoriented haze, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. The darkness enveloped him, broken only by the faint glow of emergency lights flickering in the distance. He rose slowly, sluggish and uain, as he took in the remnants of the eel tank that had bee his impromptu resting pce.

  The gss y shattered, the jagged shards littered the ground, and the eels y motionless nearby. The air was thick with the acrid st of burnt flesh and the lingering tang of electricity. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, fragments of memories aions swirling in his mind. He couldn't quite grasp the full extent of what had happened, but the urgency to leave the fines of Oscorp Tower propelled him forward. With the electricity out, the elevators would be useless. But fortunately or not, he had fallen around 40 floors to one of the lower levels.

  Limping his way out of the building, into the empty streets, his mind drifted to the show at House of M. The excitement he had felt earlier was now a distant memory. Mirage, the superhero who had saved his life, was set to perform, and Max had beeermio attend. But the night's events had taken a toll on him, both physically aally.

  As he walked down the middle of the street, all the nearby car arms suddenly went off. Max flinched. His senses were heightened and on edge, but curiosity drew him towards the car. Without fully uanding why, Max reached out, his hand instinctively toug the headlight. In an instant, his skin began to glow a mesmerizing shade of blue as a tingliion spread through his body.

  The sluggishhat had pgued him moments before faded slightly, repced with a hint of vitality. It was as if the car had offered him a sip of energy, like a drop of water, to a man crawling through an endless desert. His huirred, and he craved more.

  Max's vision shifted, and the world around him transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. Despite the absence of the gsses he'd lost somewhere in his fall, he could see with startling crity. The electricity that flowed through the city's veins was id bare before his sight. He could see it, flowing through the buildings and below the streets, a pulsating energy work that called out to him like a siren's song.

  The underground cables shrough the streets, verging in a dazzling dispy that drew Max's gaze upward.

  Times Square.

  The heart of the city bzed as if all the electricity iy was being drawn there.

  The desire to attend Mirage's show at House of M was overshadowed by the overwhelming huhat ed him. The lure of the energy, the promise of sating the gnawiiness within him, was to to resist. Max began walking towards the light, his body moving as if guided by an unseen force. The only sound he could hear was the steady thrum of electricity, a pulsating rhythm that seemed to match the beating of his ow.

  The rational part of him, the part that had always been cautious aant, urged him to seek help because something was wrong. But the huhe insatiable craving that had taken root within him, drowned out those whispers of reason. Step by step, he moved forward, drawn inexorably towards the epiter of the city's energy.

  The streets leading to Times Square were a blur, the buildings and ndmarks fading into the background as Max's foarrowed to the brilliant dispy of light ahead. As he finally approached the outskirts of Times Square, the giant ss and billboards ad the buildings bzed with an almost blinding iy. Their images and messages were lost as Maxe only had eyes for the electricity.

  Standing at the ter of it all, the hunger within him roared to life, demanding to be sated, to be fed by the limitless power that surrounded him.

  With a shaky hand, Max reached out, his fingers brushing against the s. The brief tact sent a jolt of electricity through his body, bringing with it. A tantaliziion faded too quickly, leaving him craving more. Like the car, the s had been just a snack when Max truly needed a full meal.

  He looked around the dazzling square, hunger rising within him, until he spotted a bright cluster he er. The jun box tucked under a sewer grate glowed radiantly, pulsing with the promise of far greater energy than what he'd taken in. Uo resist, Max stumbled to his knees and ripped open the sewer grate with desperate strength. He plunged his hand into the opening, grabbing hold of the live jun box. Raw electricity poured into him in a torrent of power that flooded his senses.

  — Rogue Redemption —

  Geter stepped bato the streets, tinuing their walk, eating ice cream and talkiually finding a small boardwalk away from the crowds. An undercurrent of unspokeions lingered between them.

  "I got pletely addicted to this pce that has Koreaballs."

  Peter's face held a knowing smile. "Yeah. No, I know."

  Gwen raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Have you been there? It's mind-blowing."

  "That p 6th. I know. You love it there."

  Gwen's pace slowed. "How do you know that?"

  Peter mumbled, "Hm?" as he tried to cover his response by taking a bite of his ice cream.

  Gwen pressed further. "How do you know I love it there?"

  Peter reached out and grabbed a small tree, uo meet her eyes as he realized he had been caught. "Because, um... Because you told me," he stammered.

  "It just ope month..." She khey hadn't spoken since graduation night when they had broken up. There was no way she could have told him about it. She never let her eyes leave Peter's face as she asked, "Have you been following me?"

  Peter remained silent, his eyes briefly meeting hers before darting away. Gwen's suspis were firmed. "I k," she said softly. "How often?"

  "Just once a day. Sometimes... Sometimes more," Peter admitted.

  Gwen looked down, shaking her head as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, boy," she murmured, then asked, "Why? To make sure I'm safe?"

  Peter nodded in agreement. "And..."

  "And what?" Gwen prompted, her heart rag.

  Peter's voice was filled with raw emotion as he fessed, "And because it's the closest I get to still being with you."

  As they stared into each other's eyes, he stepped closer, and Gwen didn't back away. They stood forehead to forehead, so close their breaths mingled. Peter leaned down to kiss her.

  But Gwen broke the moment, revealing, "I'm moving to Engnd."

  Peter's eyes widened in shod fusion. "What?"

  Gwen's words tumbled out in a nervous rush. "Yeah. Um... I have a... I'm up for a schorship to Oxford in molecur medie. And it's between me and this other kid. There's this oral exam that we have to do, and he's, like, a freshman in college, but he's 14. And... And it's... it could be him. But it might be me. I hope it's me." She corrected herself, adding, "And I'm thinking I'll be moving to Engnd."

  All Peter could manage was a stunned "Wow."

  "Yeah. And I'm really excited."

  The weight of Gwen's revetion hung heavy in the air between them. Peter was torween the desire to support her dreams and the fear of losing her forever. He opened his mouth to speak, to find the right words to express the flig emotions swirling inside him.

  But before he could utter a word, Peter's head snapped up, his attention drawn towards Times Square. His spider-sense screamed at him, warning of impending dahe hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine. Something was ing, something powerful. Peter knew he had to act fast to protect the i civilians from whatever menace was about to desd upoy.

  The unknown danger looming in the distance demanded his attention, his duty as Spider-Man calling him to a. But in that moment, he realized that he might lose her forever if he left her now without saying what he truly felt.

  Wheer looked back, Gwen was staring in the same dire he was, her brow furrowed with , a silent question in her eyes. He assumed she sehe sudden shift in his demeanor and followed his gaze, trying to dis what had captured his attention so abruptly.

  "Something's happening. I o go," he said regretfully. "But I don't want to leave things like this." He reached out, taking Gwen's hand in his. "e with me? I'll drop you away from the danger, but I o help… I know it's not what your father would have wanted, but I want to find a way to do this and not lose you. I want to try to do better."

  Gwen searched his face. She khe sacrifices Peter made every day to protect the city. But in that moment, as she saw the vulnerability and siy in his eyes, she couldn't deny the pull of her ow. With a slight nod, she squeezed Peter's hand, accepting his plea.

  A flicker of relief crossed Peter's face. Looking around to ehey were alone, he quickly unzipped his clothes, revealing the iic red and blue suit beh, and slipped on his Spider-Man mask.

  ing a strong arm around Gwen's waist, he pulled her close. She instinctively g to him. Peter fired a weblihe silken strand finding purchase on a nearby building. Gwen gasped as they suddenly unched into the air, the wind whipping through her hair as they swung toward Times Square.

  As they approached where he'd sehe impending danger, Peter's spider-sense was a stant buzz at the base of his skull. With a graceful nding, Peter set Gwen on a rooftop overlooking the square. "Stay here. I'll e back for you as soon as I ."

  "Be careful, Peter," she whispered, her hand lingering on his arm.

  He gave her a reassuring nod before leaping off the rooftop. Gwen watched as he swung toward the danger.

  As she stood there alone, Gwe a surge of emotions. She khat being with Peter meant accepting the risks and uaihat came with being a superhero. With a silent prayer for his safety, she settled in to wait.

  — Rogue Redemption —

  As Tyson and Jessica stepped into the shop, surrounded by luxurious fabrid posh accessories, Jessica felt a flutter of excitement iomach. This wasn't just about finding a dress for a show; it was about taking the first step towards embrag her new life. Her fingers glided over the smooth, midnight blue fabric of a gown, and she couldn't suppress a smile as she pictured herself wearing it. This was the one, she decided.

  "I think I found the dress," she said to Tyson, who had patiently waited nearby.

  But before he could respond, a shrill warning screamed through her spider-sehe premonition of danger was the stro she had ever felt, even pared to Tyson’s killing i. Her head jerked up instinctively, eyes fixing on the dire of Times Square as an ominous dread pooled iomach. Something terrible was ing.

  She added urgently, "We o go. Now. Something bad is happening."

  Tyson's expression shifted to one of . He didn't ask questions or hesitate, simply tossing a wad of hundred-dolr bills to the stunned cashier with instrus to keep the ge. The pair rushed out of the high-end boutique onto the busy city streets, Jessica's heart pounding as Tyson matched her hurried pace. She didn't know what awaited them, but she could feel they had to get to Times Square.

  She grabbed his arm, pulling him into an alley. Her voice was low and insistent as she stated, "We o ge. Now."

  Without hesitation, Tyson stripped off his outer yers, revealing the be he wore as Mirage. The spandex g to his muscur frame like a sed skin. It ractical choice, doubling as his long sleeves and preventing actal tact. He carefully folded Jessica's new dress, pg it on top of his clothes in his school backpack. Tug the backpato a er, he hoped it would remain unnoticed until their return.

  As Tyson turned back to face Jessica, his breath caught in his throat. She stood before him, her curves bared, only cealed by a simple bra and payson couldn't help but stare, his eyes drinking in the sight of her.

  Jessica's gaze met his, a flicker of surprise and something else dang in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, exasperated but amused.

  He shrugged and grinned slyly. "I've said it before, but watg the femme fatale suit up is the best part of the movie."

  Jessica froze. "Did you really just say that?"

  Tyson's grin widened as he replied, "If any woman knows how men think, it's you. Don't act like you've never checked yourself out in the mirror."

  A deep blush crept across Jessica's cheeks. "Whatever," she mumbled before quickly adding, "I'm pretty sure yirlfriend, Jubilee, a geous vampire, is the femme fatale." The emphasis she pced on the wirlfriend" was a clear remio Tyson. "You shouldn't be looking at irls while she's still in the picture."

  Tyson slipped on his half-mask. He watched Jessica pull her spider suit over her shoulders and couldn't help but admire how the suit hugged her body as she turo face him. The design had ged since he st saw her in it. The once solid red fabriow featured striking gold ats, adding a touch of elegao the already impressive suit.

  "I like the gold," he ented.

  "It's so that you tell the differeween me and the others, aime, I won't get ambushed... hopefully." Jessica shot back slightly acgly. Her expression grew serious, eyes darting towards the mouth of the alley. "We've gotta move."

  "I'm fast," Tyson said.

  "I'm faster."

  She stepped closer to him, closing the distaweeyson was suddenly acutely aware of their size differe six and a half feet tall, he towered over Jessica's five-foot-eight frame. She ed an arm around him, pulling him tight against her. With their bodies pressed together, Jessica could feel the firmness of his muscles. Tysohe softness of her curves, all cealed beh the thin yers of their suits. She couldn't ighe sturdy feeling of Tyson's body, the strength that radiated from him.

  For a moment, they stood frozen. The air was charged with an undeniable tension.

  Sensing her hesitation, Tyson asked, "Jess, you okay?"

  His words snapped her back to reality, and she blinked, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah. Hold on."

  With a fluid motion, she fired a weblihe silken strand shooting out into the night sky. Holding Tyson tightly, she swung them upward, their bodies cutting through the air as they headed toward Times Square.

  The rush of the wind against their faces, the exhiration of the moment, only served to heighteensioweeyson enjoyed not just the thrill of the swing but also the feel of her body against his and the closeness of her st. Jessica tried to focus oask at hand, the dahat still buzzed against her spider-sense, awaiting them in Times Square, but her mi drifting back to the way Tyson's body felt pressed against hers.

  As they nded on a rooftop overlooking Times Square, they sed the area, looking for the source of the dayson racked his brain. What major event happened in Times Square? Captain America's first modern appearance was what came to mind initially si was the only time he remembered seeing this area in the MCU. Plus, it was fresh in his mind si had happened earlier this m, albeit not as it had in the post-credit se. So it had to be something differeher a different sario or something new, something ued.

  Which had been happening more frequently, it seemed.

  Then, off to the side, he saw a man reag into the ground, glowing blue.

  Electro.

  Fuck. Tyson didn't have time for this. He o get downtown to run his show and spring the trap fo. But Electro was too important to ignore.

  Tyson poioward the glowing man and said to Jessica, "Get me near him, now. I know him, I talk him down before this escates." Closing his eyes, Tyson focused on his illusions.

  He regurly performed shows for 4,000 atte the House of M. At first, it had strained him, but over time, he had grown aced to maniputing that many minds. The shows didn't require deep immersion, in truth it was an impressive dispy, but rather a surface-level application of his power. During the Stark Expo, he'd pushed himself to his limits. He learhat a dozen people was the upper limit of what he could deeply influence, meaning sensing through their senses and potentially… trolling them. However, he had ried the tter.

  Times Square, however, acked with crowds. The open area known as the "bowtie" prised the heart of Times Square. Electro k at the edge of the street, drawing energy from below. Around 15,000 people filled this space, on any evening, which is why most native New Yorkers avoided this area altogether. If Tyson projected his power to the maximum range here, he might influence 20,000 to 25,000 minds. He knew he couldn't handle even a surface-level brute force attempt on the crowd. He'd probably put himself into a a trying. He'd ically focus his power like he had instinctively done on Unity Day.

  Tyso Jessica's arm around him again, but this time, his mind was elsewhere, focused ily. The press of her body against his went unnoticed as he trated oing illusionary duplicates of himself arouro. Then, he added another ring outside that, each illusi the pedestrians to step back. People reacted slowly, but gradually, they began to respond to the illusions warnings.

  Tyson's attention shifted to a police officer approag Electro. The officer was already speaking into his walkie-talkie, likely calling for backup. Fog on his power, Tysoed an individual illusion directed at the officer. Through this illusion, Mirage warned, "Officer, please, don't approach. This man is dangerous, but he's not aggressive. Please allow me to de-escate."

  Tysohat unlike Spider-Man, whose reputation was divided among the city's octs, media, and w enfort, particurly now due to the imposter i, Mirage had cultivated a positive image. Even J. Jonah Jameson, notorious for his anti-vigiance, had spokeively positively about Mirage since his appearan the show and his corroboration with SHIELD.

  The officer hesitated, his hand h over his holster as he sidered Mirage's words. Tyson could see the moment of decision py out on the man's face. The officer's eyes darted between the glowing figure of Electro and the multiple Mirage duplicates.

  Then, much to Tyson's relief, the officer stepped back. He raised his hand to his radio, likely inf his colleagues of the situation and Mirage's involvement. Tyson allowed himself a moment of satisfa as he watched the officer begin to assist the Mirage duplicates in pulling civilians away from Electro.

  As Jessica swung them closer to the se, Tyson maintained his focus on the illusions. He could feel the strain of maniputing so many minds at ohe more people whose attention was drawn to the se, the more his power stretched to aodate them. But he pushed through it. Creating a buffer zone arouro.

  From their elevated position, Tyson could see the full scope of the situatioro tio draw power from the jun box, his body pulsating with an eerie blue glow. The crowds slowly moved back, guided by the illusory Mirages and the now-cooperating police officers.

  As they desded towards the cleared area arouro, Tyson steeled himself for the frontation ahead. He khat talking dowro wouldn't be easy, but he'd met the man previously. Months earlier, on graduation day in fact, Tyson had entered Max Dillon and saved him from absentmindedly being killed in traffic. If he could prevent outside interference, he should be able to stop Max from being beled as a vilin and stop a fight from breaking out.

  Tyson desded from the sky, ed in Spider-Woman's arms. Just as their feet touched the ground, a familiar figure in red and blue swung into view, nding with the grace of an acrobat mere feet away.

  Tyson's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the masked figure before him. The e was unmistakably Spider-Man's, but caution prickled at the back of his neck. The stakes were too high to take a ce at this being Kaihe imposter. Deliberately, he made eye tact with Spider-Man. The mask wasn't a hindrao Tyson reag out with his power, letting it sink into the newer's mind.

  "What are you doing with her?" Spider-Man demanded, pointing at Jessica.

  Tyson projected an illusion of himself in front of Spider-Man while he turo attend to Electro.

  Tyson raised his hands, palms out, in a gesture of peace. "I ran into her earlier," he expined, keeping his tone level. "I tried calling you, but you didn't pick up."

  A muffled curse escaped Spider-Man's lips. Tyson could almost see the gears turning behind that mask as the hero pieced together the missed call.

  "I was with a girl," Spider-Man answered vaguely.

  The generic respo off arm bells in Tyson's mind. This could still be the imposter, Kaine. He remembered his earlier versations with Jessica, especially her fession that her memories ended with the battle against the Lizard. If that held true, Kaine would have the same limitations.

  Tyson searched for a question that only the real Peter Parker would know, something that happened after the es' first appearand wasn't publiowledge.

  He asked the masked figure, "What's my real power?"

  There was a moment of tense silence before Spider-Man responded, "I learned in the hospital."

  Relief washed over Tyson.

  "Spider-Ma Spider-Woman," his illusion said, gesturiween the heroes. "I believe you've already met, but these circumstances are better." He paused, gng around at the growing crowd of onlookers. "Well, better thus far. And I'd like to keep it that way."

  Even as the ring around them widened as civilians backed up thanks to the prompting of the police officer and the illusionary Mirages, the area beyond was filling rapidly. Curious New Yorkers and tourists were drawn to the rare sight of multiple superheroes in one pce. Tyson had sunk his power deeply into Jessica during their afternoon together, and he was hesitant to release that now, just in case. He was also deepening his e with Peter. Even though tell below his limit, he could feel the first strains of his power as he maintaihe illusion of Mirage blog the se. It was being a delicate bang act. The superheroes were drawing more and more attention to themselves, and subsequently, hundreds of people were fog on Mirage's illusion every passing sed. He was going to approach his limits if something didn't ge quickly.

  "There's too many people here. Too much potential for something to g. I hahis guy. Let me do my thing, keep the people safe."

  Without another word, Spider-Man sprang into a. It was their usual approach. Mirage excelled at crowd trol, but Spider-Man's agility and powers made him better suited for actual rescues. He shot a web to a nearby mppost, using it to swing over the heads of the gathering crowd. His voice rang out as he began direg people to safer areas. Taking her cue, Jessica moved in the opposite dire as she, too, helped guide civilians away from the potential danger zone.

  Tyson turned his primary attention to the task at hand. The sounds of the city faded into the background; car horns, chattering crowds, and the distant wail of sirens all became white noise as he zeroed in oro. The situation was under trol, but only just. He had intervened quickly enough to prevent full-blown panic, but the crowd's excitemeered on a knife's edge. Smartphones were raised high, capturing every moment of the unfolding drama.

  Then he heard a scream.

  Not the excited yelp of a fan spotting their favorite hero but a pierg cry of raw, unbridled terror. It cut through the ambient noise like a knife. His head snapped up, eyes sing the skyline. A familiar figure stood precariously close to the edge of a rooftop. Gwen. And advang on her, menag and unmistakable, ider-Man.

  But that wasn't right.

  Tyson's peripheral vision firmed what he already khe real Peter Parker was down here, helping with crowd trol. His stomach dropped as the horrifying realization hit him. It was the imposter. Kaine had returned.

  Memories flooded ba, finding Gwen bleeding in his living room and his entire suite destroyed, including the terrarium holding the spider that had granted Peter his powers. Kaine had killed Gwen's father, had left her for dead, had beateer so badly he ended up in the hospital, and had beealyst for him losing a shot at gaining spider-powers. And now he was after Gwen. Again.

  Kaine's presence here, now, wasn't a ce. If Electro's presence had drawention of Peter and Gwen's spider-sense, would it not have drawn Kaine's also? And with the heroes occupied on the ground, Gwen was left exposed.

  Time seemed to slow as Tyson ran through potential sarios. He could alert Peter, but even with his incredible agility, would Spider-Man or Spider-Woman reach the rooftop in time? He could try to create an illusion to distract Kaine, but at this distand without eye tact, he wouldn't be able to maintain something ving enough to influehe e, and it would push his powers even closer to his limit.

  But as he weighed his options, he knew every sed that ticked by was another moment Gwen's life hung in the bance. Plus, Electro was still kneeling, abs electricity from the jun box. He had to ad aow.

  After taking a deep breath, Tyson made his decision. He closed his eyes, blog out the sensory overload of the street. With a burst of tration, Tysoed two identical illusions of himself, each appearing beside Peter and Jessica, respectively. The strain hit him immediately, a dull throb that pulsed behind his eyes, but he pushed through.

  "Gwen is in trouble," both illusions spoke urgently, in unison. Each poiowards the rooftop where Gwen stood trapped. "The imposter is here. She needs help now."

  Peter's head snapped up, his eyes widening in arm behind his mask. Jessica tensed.

  "Both of you o go," Tyson's illusions tinued. "I'm already overtaxing my power."

  As if to emphasize the point, a thin trickle of blood began to seep from Tyson's nose. He could taste the coppery tang on his lips but pushed the disfort aside.

  "I'll stall him as best I , but I o break our psychiion now. Please help her." The illusionary Tysons gowards the ter of Times Square, where the real Tyson stood amidst the crowd. "I'll hahe blue guy," they promised. "Py h each other, please."

  With those final words, the illusions faded from view. Tysohe strain on his mind lessen slightly, but he knew he was far from out of the woods. He projected a new illusion onto the rooftop, visible only to Gwen and Kaihe ck of a deep psychiion made the illusion slightly easier but likewise made them less ving. And the rooftop was he edge of Tyson's range, pushing close to the limits of his power.

  The illusionary Mirage materialized o Gweood casually as he faced down Kaine. "I've been looking for you," he quipped, iing a note of false cheer into his voice. "I sent you an io my show, but it must have gotten lost in the mail. How you been, buddy?"

  "Oh, you know, been swinging around, busy saving people from the menaces of the city, crime, supposed heroes... the usual." Kaine quipped back. His tone sharpened as he tinued, accusation clear in every word. "I went to you for help. I brought Gwen to you, and you weren't there."

  Mirage's illusion held up his hands in a pg gesture. "How could I have known? And I did help Gwen. She made it to the hospital because of me. If you had approached me earlier, I could've helped you." Tysoated for a moment, then decided to take a risk. "I met Jessica today," he said cautiously. "I'm going to try to help her."

  The moment the words left his mouth, Tyson knew he had made a grave mistake. Kaine's body nguage shifted instantly. "Of course, yoing to help her," Kaine spat, his voice dripping with venom. "I know how you operate. You weasel your way into women's lives and 'help' them. I saw y to steal Gwen."

  Both Gwen and the illusionary Mirage wore identical expressions of fusion.

  "What are you talking about?" Mirage asked, genuinely baffled.

  Kaine's response was immediate and scathing. "Don't py dumb. You flirted with her. I'm sure you're doing the same with Jessica. She's so naive she'll fall for your charms, and you'll have another under your sway." His voice dropped to a menag growl. "But not Gwen. I'm going to save her... from you."

  Kaine fired a webli Gwen, yankiowards him. The illusionary Mirage stepped forward instinctively but froze as Kaine's arm shot up, a wicked-looking spike emerging from his wrist aending twen's throat.

  "Ah ah ah," Kaiaunted, his voice a siing mix of mockery and threat. "I know you're just an illusion. I've been watg you. You're fast, but not that fast." His grip oightened as he backed towards the roof's edge. "You're probably stalling so you get up here in time to steal Gwen from me, but I won't let you."

  Time seemed to slow as Tyson watched in horror. He could see Peter and Jessica rag towards the building, but they were still too far away. He desperately searched for a solution, but he knew with siiainty that there was nothing he could do.

  With a final, manic grin, Kaine leaped from the rooftop, Gweight in his grasp. They plummeted for a heart-stopping moment before a webline shot out, carrying them away from Times Square.

  Tysoed an area of absolute darkrying to stall Kaine, but the imposter paid it no heed. As Kaine leaped from the rooftop, he left Tyson's range. He straio extend his reach, to follow Kaine as he swung away with Gwen in his grasp. But the effort was too much. Exhaustion smmed into Tyson like a physical blow, sending him staggering. His vision swam as bck spots da the edges of his sight. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth from his bleeding nose. He was forced to pull his psionic abilities baself. As his perception narrowed, Tyson looked up in time to see Peter and Jessica already swinging away in pursuit of Kaine and his captive. Their frew smaller in the distance as they raced after the kidyson could only watch helplessly.

  His accelerated healing abilities swiftly kicked i his strength and clearing the dark spots from his vision. Though the coppery taste of blood still lingered in his mouth, the debilitating effects of his overexertion rapidly faded away.

  But there was nothing more he could dwen.

  Tyson was forced to trust Peter and Jessica to hahe pursuit and rescue, so he turned his attention to Electro.

  He couldn't help Gwen, but he could help Max.

  Author's Note

  With this chapter, it's back tur weekly postings on Wednesdays.

  Behind the Ses

  - Tyson says, "I've said it before, but watg the femme fatale suit up is the best part of the movie." This is a call back to Arc 5, Chapter 55 wheched Natasha suit up during the Stark Expo i. "Oh, the real me left right after you tossed the earpiece over. I'm just an illusion. It was worth dropping one of the other illusions to see this. Plus, watg the femme fatale suit up is always the best part of the movie. You 't bme me. You're like a real-life Bond girl. No, eveer, you're like James Bond, but if he was a sexy badass." Tyson gasped, "Oh my god. Is this what women feel like watg James Bond movies?"

  Support Plug

  For those of you ied in supp my writing.

  patreon./Steatoda

  Chapters are posted every Wednesday. Since Arc 5, every chapter has had its own cover image. One buck membership gets you access to the galleries and the full chapter every Wednesday. Five bucks gets one chapter ahead and access to NSFW galleries. Ten bucks gets two chapters ahead and a preview of the Arc cover image.