The Amazing Spider-Man #4

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Amazing Spider-Man #4
Armed and Dangerous

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer

"Four for Freedom. Four for the Fantastic. The Fantastic Four,” Peter reads the headline of the Daily Bugle as he has breakfast. “Yesterday’s press conference outside of New York’s Baxter Building was one of fantastic discoveries. The Bugle’s own Editor-in-Chief J. Jonah Jameson had this to say: ‘These are what real heroes look like. Upstanding citizens out in the light of day, trying to do what is right. Not like that coward, Spider-Man.’” Peter grabs the paper tightly, crinkling the edges and he continues reading on, “For more on Jameson’s comment, see page 18!!” Real heroes?! Two of their members ended the conference in a brawl! Peter continues reading, “When asked about the dispute between the ‘ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing’ and the ‘Human Torch’ Jameson simply chalked it up to, ‘Youthful exuberance.’”

As Aunt May enters the kitchen Peter puts the paper down and pushes his plate away. “Not hungry, Peter?”

“I just lost my appetite.” Peter gets up, grabbing his backpack as he begins to heads out the door.

“Where are you off to?”

“I have that interview with Dr. Connors for the internship as a lab assistant.”

“Oh... Well, I do hope it won’t take too long. Anna Watson will be by this afternoon.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“Her niece may be with her.”

Uh-oh. “Well, I’d love to Aunt May, but if this interview goes well, there’s a chance I can begin today,” says Peter as he leaves.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Not long, as Peter sits in Dr. Connors’s office. “A solid 4.0. Not so much as an absent day on your record, Mr. Parker. But grades aren’t everything, so tell my why you should be awarded this internship.”

“Well, Dr. Connors, its been my life’s dream, sir. I’ve been following the careers of some of the best in their fields. Henry Pym, Otto Octavius, Anthony Stark, Reed Richards... you.”

“Me? I’m hardly the best in my field. Most of my studies are merely theoretical.”

“Science begins in theory, Dr. Connors. I’ve read your latest paper. It’s quite remarkable and...” Peter looks at the place where Dr. Connors’ right arm should be and then continues, “...I believe in what you’re trying to do.”

“Thank you, but it would be years before my research would even be ready for experimenta...”

Connors is cut short by a commotion in the hall.

Spider-sense? What now?

“Peter, wait here. I’ll go see what the commotion’s all about.” Dr. Connors leaves his office and finds Dr. Octavius heading down the hall, his metallic tentacles carrying him on his way as people scream and run.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Back at the Parker home in Forest Hills, Queens.

“Anna, your niece has sure grown into a fine young woman,” May says as she sits with her life long friend.

“Too bad your nephew couldn’t be here,” replied Anna. “I’m sure the two would become fast friends.”

“Yes, it is a shame, but he had an interview.”

“Oh, really? For what?”

“A lab assistant at Empire State,” answers May. “He’s going to be a scientist one day.”

“I bet you’re proud of him?”

“Yes. He’s gonna change the world for the better some day. I just know it.”

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Out of my way, Connors,” Dr. Octavius spits out.

“Dr. Octavius? Is that you?” questions Connors. “What happened?”

One of Octavius’s metallic arms snatches up the good Doctor. “The accident...”

“It did that to your face?”

A couple web-lines shoot out, sticking to Connors. “I’d sue,” Spider-Man states as he tugs on the lines, pulling Connors free. Spidey catches him and places him on the ground. “Better leave this to the professions.” Says the kid who’s been doing this for all of a month.

Dr. Octavius looks on at the costumed new arrival. “Ha!” he says as he turns a continuing on. “Sorry, Bug-Man. I have more pressing concerns.”

Spider-Man leaps for the Doctor, but is swatted away by a tentacle, flying backward and landing beside Connors.

“You okay, Mr. Bug-Man?”

Sitting up, Spidey says, “That’s... Spider-Man,” and he falls back on his back.

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Peter’s quite the achiever, isn’t he, May?”

“I’ll say. He’s at the top of his class. Straight A’s. Never been in trouble a day in his life.”

“Well, Mary Jane... she’s had a rough life. But she’s a good kid. She needs a friend like Peter in her life. Someone who can keep her on the straight and narrow.”

“You make it sound as though she’s a trouble maker.”

“No, not at all May. She’s what some may call a party girl. She’s had a few... bad experience with boys.”

“Well, Peter is one of the good ones. He knows how to stay away from trouble.”

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Dr. Octavius’s tentacles rip the door of a lab clear off the hinges. “Dr. Warren, I believe you have something that belongs to me.”

“O... Otto?!” stammers the frail Dr. Miles Warren.

“Dr. Octavius to you, Warren.”

“Dr. Octopus?”

“Huh?” Octavius questions as he turns his head a receives webbing over his eyes.

“I like that. Doc Ock. Catchy.”

Warren sees this as his opportunity to escape and makes his way over to a safe, before he leaves.

As “Ock” rips the webbing from his eyes he shouts, “INSECT!”

“Ah-ah. Arachnid.” Spidey barely manages to avoid a tentacle to his head, just as another sweeps him off his feet. My spider-sense warned me but they were too fast. Uh-oh, thinks the webhead as he manages to escape another swing by a tentacle by an inch.

“Not even you are fast enough to avoid these for every,” states Ock.

Hate to agree with a raving psycho, but he does have a... “Umph,” groans Spidey as a tentacle hits him in the cut. Another then gives the hero an upper cut. He receives a left, then a right and another to the gut.

“Feel the pain, Bug-Man!” Dr. “Octopus” states as a tentacle wraps itself around Spider-Man’s neck and lifts him off his feet.

“Ugh!” groans Spidey as he grips the tentacle, trying to pull it off him.

“Bah. You’re not worth the trouble.” And Ock throws Spidey through a closed window and he lands in a dumpster. “I need that component.”

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Not long, as Spider-Man reaches a pay phone, lifting his mask up, over his bloodied lip.

“Dr... Dr. Connors. I’m s... sorry. There was a family emergency. I hope this doesn’t hurt my chances for the internship. I hope to hear from you soon.” Got his answering machine. Oh well, that’s my life. Better call Aunt May to let her know I won’t be home till after dark. She can’t see me like this...

*

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Later that night, as Dr. Miles Warren returns home.

“Octavius is back. Gotta go on the run for a bit. He can’t get his hands on this,” states Miles as he pulls out a disc from his jacket pocket. “He won’t get his hands on this.” And the Doctor grins... like jackal.

Not the end...