Miles Morales: New Spider chapter 28.

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I took a sharp breath as I woke up, darkness filling my vision. Everything was silent—too silent.

After a few moments, my breathing calmed. I had to think clearly; panicking wouldn't help. I tried raising my arms or moving my legs, but I felt restrained, surrounded by walls on all sides. I strained to remember what had happened before I passed out.

"I'm still in the cocoon," I muttered. I extended my stingers and felt something against my fingers. Swiping at the walls, I tore them apart. Rays of light pierced through the cuts, filling the once-dark cocoon. I placed my fingers in the cuts and pulled, ripping the cocoon in half. Light immediately assaulted my eyes, and the sounds of the environment filled my ears.

"April," I called out.

"Good morning, Boss. It's wonderful that you're alright," she answered in a pleased tone.

"How long was I asleep?" I asked.

"It's been four days, Boss. Your condition was caused by the blood working to correct the harmful mutations hidden deep in your body," she said, pausing as images projected onto the screen. "Each of the previous procedures had deep-seated adverse effects we didn’t notice, which would have killed you in the long run once they flared up. But Peter's blood in your system repaired your body down to the very last cell."

"So, the various enhancements I've been through had beneficial results, and we didn’t notice the ill effects because they were masked by the beneficial side?" I asked.

"That's correct, Boss. Your core DNA was still human. The improvements from the enhancements were too pronounced, so we couldn’t detect the harmful mutations buried deep within. Had we continued with all the set procedures, your body would have broken down because those damaging mutations would have flared up," April explained.

"I see," I nodded.

"With Peter’s blood introduced into your system, your DNA has been fundamentally altered, Boss. It now has the same abilities Peter’s did, and more. It's almost like you're from an entirely different species now," April concluded.

"And the cocoon?" I asked.

"That was unexplainable, Boss. You shed your skin and came out a new person—quite literally."

I glanced at the dead skin lying inside the cocoon and nodded. "It must have been caused by the spider venom since my latest change involves me having talons now."

"Yes, they have almost the same composition as your stingers, making them extremely strong and superbly sharp," she confirmed.

I inspected the sharp, retractable claws on each fingertip—similar to Sabretooth’s. Swiping lightly against a piece of Chitauri metal, I watched as they left deep scratches. I was too tired and hungry to celebrate.

Grabbing the cocoon and all the dead skin, I tossed them into the furnace and cranked the temperature all the way up. There was no way I was keeping that around. I'd seen too many horror movies to know better. I watched as it combusted and burst into flames, turning to ashes. No chances taken.

"Wait, four days?!" I asked loudly, grabbing my phone. "My parents didn’t call?"

"They did, Boss. I answered the calls using a voice modulator set to your vocal frequency," April replied.

"Smart as always, April," I praised her as I walked to the fridge, grabbing all the food inside. I was starving. I just needed to eat and sleep for a while.

On my way to Dr. Ock’s lab, I noticed three teenagers approaching me. Leading the group was an African American teen with a raised side fade haircut. Walking beside him was a girl of Latin American descent with pink hair, and a Caucasian teen with a Mohawk. The African American teen, slightly taller than the others, walked up to me and gave me a big hug.

"Boss man, we’ve been looking all over for you." This was why I tried to avoid Henry.

Yes, I knew them, and they knew me. Why was he calling me "Boss"? Well, I was the leader of the club. After the invasion, gang activity had been on the rise due to the destruction caused by the Chitauri. The most targeted people for indoctrination were teens, especially those in foster homes. I couldn’t be everywhere at once, but I could save most. I got to talking with James and Jennifer, and we came up with a solution. Using immense funds (thanks to criminals for their donations), I helped rebuild various organizations aimed at helping people. It wasn’t just me, though—I had help from S.H.I.E.L.D. and some of the Avengers. I also infiltrated a gang and took over from the inside, giving me insight into what affected the individuals involved. I rebranded it into a club called the Spiderz, offering young adults skills, education, and resources to improve their lives. They also became my eyes and ears on the streets.

"I told you to stop calling me 'Boss,' Henry. We’re not in a gang anymore," I said, looking at the three of them.

"""Yes, sir, Spider King!""" they replied in unison.

I cracked up. "I set myself up for that one, didn’t I?"

"So, what’s up? I haven’t seen you guys in, what, close to a week?" I asked.

"That’s you ghosting us," Bella replied. Her full name was Isabelle, but we called her Bella.

"Yeah, you missed out on a lot. Look at my hair!" Michael pointed at his head.

"I noticed. Who did you lose a bet to?" I asked.

"That would be me," Bella smirked.

"Mike challenged Bella to—"

"Don't snitch, dude!" Michael interrupted Henry mid-sentence.

"Don’t mind these weirdos," Henry said. "So, where’ve you been?"

"Right, I’ve been busy working on a project with the Professor," I replied.

"You’re such a nerd, but you’re the cool kind. We’re heading down the block—how about we walk together since we’re on the same path?" Mike offered.

"Sure, no biggie," I agreed.

When I arrived at Dr. Octavius' lab, I greeted him. "Good afternoon, Dr. Octavius."

"Mr. Morales, welcome back. How was your trip?" he asked, looking back from his workstation.

"I just took some time off to clear my head," I replied, noticing a surgical bed in the corner of the room. 'Never knew we had that,' I thought.

"You must be excited about our breakthrough," he said, pulling out a champagne bottle from the counter. "The Neurolitic scanner is amazing, my boy. It will revolutionize the world."

He poured two glasses and handed one to me. "To the great future that awaits. Cheers!"

I drank a mouthful and immediately noticed the chemicals he’d laced the drink with. My body quickly neutralized them, but I pretended to feel dizzy.

"The Neurolitic scanner can transfer consciousness by rewriting neural pathways and downloading data into the brain," he said, keeping his eyes on me.

"You mean you could literally take over someone’s body?" I asked, acting more disoriented.

Using his tentacles, he lifted me onto the surgical bed. "Why, Doc? I thought we were partners. Friends even," I said.

"Friends? Hah! You’re a genius, I admit, but you lack experience. The world is changing, boy. Aliens, gods, men in armor! I want to live and witness my rise to glory," he sneered, strapping me down to the bed. "Your body fits all my requirements. My own body is dying, but with you, I can have a new start. Be privileged that I acknowledge you."

He placed an Octobot on his head and lay on the ground. "When I wake up, I’ll be a new man."

As he lay there, I broke free from the restraints and crushed the Octobot in my hand.

His eyes shot open. "How?!"

Without a word, I grabbed his head and twisted it violently. Crack! His body slumped as his heart slowed to a stop. Dr. Octavius was dead.

"You should have run when you had the chance," I muttered. His tentacles came to life, but I was already gripping them, sending bioelectricity through the circuits until they burst into flames.

"April, purge the computers."

"Already done, Boss."

I mixed some chemicals and poured them onto the desk. As smoke filled the lab, I placed a timed explosive on his tentacles and watched the lab go up in flames as I stepped out.

When the police arrived, they’d find the charred remains of a lab accident.

"Boss, are you okay?" April asked.

I sighed. "I'm just tired, April."

Why did it have to end like this? Dr. Octavius could have talked to me. Maybe we could’ve enhanced him or even made him a clone. He could’ve been part of something great. The Neurolitic scanner would have changed the world, but it’s a dog-eat-dog world—even among geniuses.

I looked up at the setting sun, its vibrant colors painting the sky.

"Rest in peace, old man."