"The intel is solid. This is our chance…"
A hulking figure, built like a mountain of flesh, sat back in an ornate leather chair. His sharp eyes were darkened with irritation.
Ever since several of his top enforcers had been humiliated and beaten by the vigilante known as the Black Spider, Wilson Fisk—better known in the underworld as Kingpin—hadn't been in a good mood.
It had become harder to free up trusted manpower to deal with masked do-gooders interfering in his business. Sometimes he even had to step in personally, which was a dangerous precedent for a man who preferred to operate from the shadows.
But recently, he'd found a way to solve that problem: the experimental formula and serum design for the Super Soldier Project.
Yes—the very same program that had produced Captain America.
And the key to it all was locked away inside the mind of a master thief nicknamed the Black Cat.
If Fisk could get that formula, he could mass-produce enhanced operatives—soldiers who could rival any superhero. Even the Black Spider would no longer be a concern.
"Inform Dr. Otto Octavius that the research funds he requested are approved," Kingpin ordered, his voice calm but dangerous. "Tell him to capture the Black Cat for me—alive."
....
At the NYPD's 11th Precinct.
Not long after Felicia Hardy left the building, a group of men in sharp black suits approached Captain George Stacy.
"FBI? You're taking Walter Hardy into federal custody?" George's brow furrowed as he checked their credentials. They looked legitimate enough, but the move still seemed strange. "This isn't even under your department's jurisdiction."
"We have full legal authority and clearance," one of the suited men replied, flashing his badge again. His tone was brisk. "Captain Stacy, we're on a tight schedule. We suggest you expedite the transfer."
"I still need to confirm—"
George's reply was cut off by a sudden commotion.
"Break-in! Somebody's trying to get into the holding cells!" a uniformed officer shouted, his voice barely carrying over the sound of chaos erupting from the detention area.
Before George could react, the black-suited men moved instantly, sprinting toward the noise.
One of them spoke into an earpiece:
[Sir, we've got a situation—someone's attacking the precinct, likely targeting the Black Cat.]
[Maintain your position. Reinforcements are en route. If you're overrun, keep tracking them remotely.]
[Understood.]
George's suspicion grew. Those "FBI agents" were clearly more than they seemed—S.H.I.E.L.D., most likely. And now it appeared he wasn't the only one after the Black Cat.
...
Midtown High School – Library
At a sunny window seat, a blonde girl sat with her chin propped on one hand, flipping pages lazily. Her blue eyes weren't really focused on the text. Instead, they drifted toward the sky outside.
The white clouds seemed to shift, shaping themselves into the familiar face of someone she couldn't stop thinking about.
Since that day they'd met, she and Jack Kadere had been inseparable.
A day without him felt like three years.
"Gwen! Gwen!"
The sudden voice jolted her back to reality. A hand clamped onto her shoulder, giving her a playful shake.
"Gwen, stop daydreaming!"
"Jessica, seriously?" Gwen's spider-sense had already kicked in, but she still frowned. "I'm reading. Don't just grab me out of nowhere."
Jessica grinned mischievously. "Reading? Sure. I suppose staring out the window counts as reading now?"
"I wasn't—!" Gwen flushed, but Jessica's teasing smirk deepened.
"We've only been apart from him for one day, and you're already looking lovesick," Jessica teased. "Admit it, Gwen Stacy's gone soft!"
"Wha—? You're imagining things!"
Jessica tapped a finger to her lips, feigning deep thought. "Oh, I remember now… I've seen that look before. That dreamy smile, that little sigh—"
Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare."
But Jessica leaned in anyway, voice dropping to a playful sing-song. "It's the same look you had that time… when you were twisting your—"
"That's it!" Gwen snapped, reaching for her web-shooters. "One more word and I swear I'll glue your mouth shut."
"You wouldn't dare," Jessica grinned, knowing full well Gwen probably would. "Besides, I still haven't told Jack about—"
"Jessica!" Gwen's cheeks were red now. "You are one step away from becoming a complete menace!"
Yesterday's events replayed in Gwen's mind, and her frustration bubbled up again. Jessica had definitely crossed a line.
And this time, Gwen wasn't going to let it slide.
"You reckless, flirty sister—actually trying to seduce your own brother! I haven't even settled that score with you yet!"
Just yesterday…
She had stumbled across Jessica's little "escapade."
Fortunately, Jack Kadere had quickly stepped in and made them put their personal grudge aside, turning them into genuine "comrades-in-arms." Otherwise, it might have escalated into an all-out brawl.
"Um… well…" Realizing she'd been caught red-handed, Jessica blushed at Gwen's counterattack. "...Okay, okay, let's drop that topic before it gets us both into trouble…"
Then, as if remembering something important, she quickly whipped out her phone and shoved the screen in Gwen's face. "Skye just sent me a message—Gwen, your dad's precinct is under attack!"
"What?" Gwen snatched the phone, confusion etched across her face—until the image on the screen made her eyes widen.
In the live feed, a man with four long, metallic tentacles sprouting from his back was tearing through the police station. The mechanical limbs moved with frightening precision and strength, lashing out like serpents and occasionally firing bursts of energy. The officers inside didn't stand a chance.
A few agents in black tactical suits—clearly from a specialized unit—were trying to hold him back using advanced tech, but even they were struggling.
"A super-criminal actually has the guts to attack a police station..." Gwen's jaw tightened, her brow furrowing. "This guy's bold. Too bold. I have to go—my dad might be in danger!"
She spun toward the locker room to change into her suit, but—
"Wait, Gwen!" Jessica grabbed her arm quickly. "Skye said Jack asked a friend to make some new gear for us. He told us to head back to the club to pick it up first."
"New gear? Then let's go!" Gwen didn't hesitate. If Jack was behind it, she trusted his judgment. She immediately pulled Jessica toward the exit.
"Hey, hey!" Jessica stumbled after her, half-laughing, half-panicking. "Gwen, my schoolbag!"
"Alright, alright—stop yelling." Gwen didn't even turn her head. She flicked her wrist, shot a web backward, and yanked the black backpack straight into her free hand.
After months of swinging through New York as Spider-Woman, she'd gotten frighteningly good at multitasking with her powers.
"Nice!"