Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Swinging Through New York City
At State University, several biology experts rushed to Dr. Connors' lab. When they arrived and saw the scene before them, they were utterly dumbfounded.
In one corner of the lab stood a massive, translucent lizard skin. After a heated discussion among the experts, they finally gave Police Chief George a definitive answer.
"Mr. George, this is indeed a shed skin from a reptile, but we've never seen one this large before."
"The largest known reptile shed on Earth is from a Komodo dragon."
George stared at the enormous skin before him. If what these biologists were saying was true, it meant that there was a creature in the area larger than a human—no, a monster.
"It seems very likely that Dr. Connors' research created such a creature. Perhaps this monster is what destroyed the lab."
Using his years of experience solving crimes, George pieced together the situation with the few clues he had.
"Why would it leave behind its shed skin?" George asked, despite being the police chief, recognizing his limitations in this field and humbly turning to the experts.
"Mr. George, there are usually two reasons."
"First, the reptile could still be growing, and shedding its skin as it increases in size."
"Second, it may have sustained serious injuries, and the shedding occurred as part of its regeneration process."
"Unfortunately, with only this shed skin, we can't make a precise judgment."
The expert looked troubled as he explained.
After hearing this, George immediately began giving orders to his officers. "Seal off the area, and conduct a thorough search of the surroundings. We must find this monster. And do not cause a public panic."
Under George's direction, everyone sprang into action.
"I also expect the university to cooperate and help keep this under wraps."
"Of course, we'll do everything we can," the university representative agreed.
...
Meanwhile, back at Alan's house, he and Gwen were blissfully unaware of the events unfolding at their university. Even if they had known, they wouldn't have been able to share everything with George. This matter had already exceeded the scope of what the NYPD could handle.
"Quick, put them on and see if they fit," Alan said as he pulled out two wrist-mounted web shooters from the package.
Gwen eagerly strapped them on, and after loading the prepared spider-fluid cartridges, she was ready to go.
Pfft…
With a press of her fingers to her palm, a thick web shot out from her wrist, sticking firmly to the wall.
"Alan, this is so cool!"
"Try grabbing that thing," Alan pointed to a barbell on the floor.
Gwen quickly fired a web at it, the web sticking to the barbell. With a gentle tug, the barbell flew toward her.
Gwen caught it, her mouth forming an "O" in pure astonishment, absolutely thrilled by the experience.
She was practically speechless with excitement. "Wow, Alan, you have no idea... this feels incredible... it's like... like my arms can stretch out forever…"
She struggled to find the right words to describe the sensation, her heart brimming with excitement that words couldn't fully capture.
Alan understood exactly what she was feeling. It was similar to how he had felt the first time he donned the Emperor Armor and took to the skies.
"Come on, put on your Spider suit. We're heading to the rooftop!"
"The rooftop?" Gwen looked a bit puzzled.
"Have you ever thought about swinging through the city on webs?"
Gwen's eyes lit up immediately…
On the rooftop.
Gwen donned the white Spider suit and, with Alan's encouragement, stood at the edge of the rooftop.
"Are you ready, Gwen?" Alan asked.
"Yeah... I'm ready..." Gwen replied, though her voice couldn't fully hide her nervousness.
Seeing her tense like that, Alan couldn't help but chuckle. He never expected that all of Spider-Woman's skills weren't self-taught, but were actually lessons from him. Still, he was happy to teach.
"Alright, Gwen, put on your mask."
Taking a deep breath, Gwen slipped on her white mask. Her heart raced as she looked down at the towering buildings below her.
"I trust Alan. If he says I can do this, then I can do this..."
Taking another deep breath, Gwen followed Alan's instructions. She started running along the edge of the rooftop, slowly at first, then picking up speed until she reached the edge.
With a powerful leap, Gwen shot a web toward the high-rise across the street.
In the next instant, she was flying through the air, pulled by the web toward the opposite building.
Just as she was about to crash into it, Gwen let go of the web, allowing her momentum to carry her onto the building's glass exterior.
Everything happened so quickly that Gwen barely had time to process it. Her hands and feet instinctively stuck to the glass, thanks to the bio-electrostatic charge coursing through her body.
Peering through the glass, Gwen caught a glimpse of herself: her entire body covered by the Spider suit. An indescribable wave of excitement surged through her.
She began running along the glass wall, gleefully shouting, "I love this feeling! Alan, are you seeing this?"
"It's like I'm flying!"
Swinging from web to web, Gwen soared through the city. Seeing her joy-filled expression, Alan couldn't help but smile as well.
At that moment, Spider-Woman Gwen Stacy was truly born!
That day, countless people across New York witnessed a white figure swinging through the steel jungle of towering skyscrapers. Many pulled out their phones to capture the sight and shared it on social media platforms like Facebook.
Some called her the "White Angel," others speculated it was an alien invasion, and some even claimed it was an evil mutant. But only Alan knew the truth: it was Gwen.
From that moment on, she would become New York City's friendly neighborhood Spider-Woman—Gwen Stacy!
Tony's Workshop
Fresh from a flight test that ended with him taking a rough fall, Tony sat nursing an ice pack. Just then, Jarvis's voice chimed in.
"Sir, look at this."
The screen displayed footage of Gwen swinging through New York City.
"What the hell is that?" Tony asked.
"It appears to be a human concealing their identity, using some web-like material to swing between buildings," Jarvis explained, his super-intelligent AI mind highlighting all the key details for Tony.
A similar scene was unfolding aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. Still nursing his injuries, Nick Fury watched the footage of what was happening in New York City.
He turned to Agent Hill. "Are mutants not bothering to stay hidden anymore?"
"Sir, I don't think this is one of Xavier's students. We have no records of this individual in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database," Hill replied.
Nick Fury's eyes lit up with interest.
Could this be a newly awakened mutant with no prior record? His mind started scheming.
Another potential recruit for the Avengers...
...