Chapter 140

[Third Person's PoV] 

Peter knocked on MJ's door, and it wasn't long before MJ herself opened it. She looked up and kissed Peter on the lips.

Peter smiled as he put his arm around her, and the two started walking to school. MJ leaned on his shoulder, holding the hand that hung from her shoulder.

"Why are we walking to school?" 

"Because I want to spend some quality time with my girl," Peter said as he kissed the top of her head.

MJ giggled happily, "I guess a slow walk just spending time together sounds amazing."

"Not to mention it's such a beautiful day. What could possibly go wrong—" Before Peter could finish his sentence, his watch beeped slightly.

"Father, we have a problem," Aria's voice came through.

MJ looked up at Peter with a straight expression. "Why do you speak sometimes?" 

"I don't know. I'm starting to wonder about that myself," Peter sighed.

"Check your phones," Aria instructed.

Peter and MJ both pulled out their phones and turned them on. On their screens was video footage of Rhino stepping into the back of a large truck. The problem was that he wasn't alone; four other people were stepping in after him.

"It seems they managed to sneak into the US without being detected," Aria said, her voice sounding remorseful.

"It's alright, Aria. You aren't omnipotent. They must have planned this. My guess is they're making their way here," Peter said pensively.

"But that doesn't mean we can't fix it. Create a file for later, name it Project All Seeing Eye (ASE). It should be about making a satellite."

"Based on the direction they're heading, they're making their way to New York," Aria informed them.

"What are we going to do about them?" MJ asked.

"Aria, call the others and make it code red," Peter ordered as he grabbed MJ's hand, and they began running.

…

Felicia had just finished putting on her knee-high boots when her watch began beeping a bright red color.

She looked at her wrist, surprised. "A code red? That can't be good."

She quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out, snatching a piece of toast from the breakfast table that her mother had prepared.

"Sorry, Mom, I'm in a hurry! Love you!" she called as she dashed out.

Her mom sat at the table, newspaper in hand and coffee cup in the other, taken aback.

…

Gwen closed the door behind her as her watch began beeping red. "We all agreed code red means high-stakes emergency. There's no way this is a false alarm," she muttered.

She sneaked toward an alleyway, turned invisible, and began parkouring her way to the roof before rushing out.

…

Harry was on his way to school in a limo with his father. While texting Liz on his phone, he failed to catch Norman's worried glances, sadness hidden in his eyes.

Suddenly, Harry's watch started beeping. Surprised, he said, "Can you stop the car?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Norman asked, looking at Harry with concern. "And why is your watch beeping?"

Harry's mind raced for an explanation. "It's just a reminder to pick something up."

"Where? I'll tell the driver to make a quick stop."

"Nah, don't worry about it. I know how busy you are rebuilding Oscorp. I'd hate to throw you off your schedule. I'll just walk to school. Who knows, the exercise could do me some good." Harry silenced the beeping.

Norman nodded and pressed the intercom. "Stop the car."

As the car came to a halt, Harry practically rushed out. Distracted, he failed to hear Norman's words.

"Later, son. Love you, Harry…" 

Seeing Harry rush off, Norman sighed and shook his head. "Take me to Oscorp construction," he demanded coldly.

…

Peter was waiting in his main seat for everyone, legs crossed, elbows resting on the armrests. "I've been expecting you guys. We have an emergency…"

They all took their seats as Peter called for Aria.

"Aria, pull up what you found."

The video that Peter and MJ had viewed earlier appeared on the hologram projecting from the table.

"While waiting for everyone, I did some research and found out where they're from. They're deserters from the Soviet Union's military."

Aria pulled up images of their military files, stamped in red ink with the word: Deserters.

"But there's something strange about this. They were all selected as part of a highly secret military program. Whatever that program is, it must be highly classified, as I'm having a difficult time finding it. They mustn't have the information on their computers, but rather they're working manually.

All I can find is that this project involves Dr. Sergei Ivanovich Valkov, a leading expert in biology and biochemistry."

"So you're saying these soldiers were experimented on by their military? What if they're just trying to escape?" Harry asked curiously.

"I would have assumed that as well if it weren't for the Rhino being with them. A villain Gwen and I once fought," Peter informed them.

Gwen nodded in confirmation. "But he's different. That's not what he looked like previously. Aria, show a before and after pic."

Aria displayed a picture of Rhino out of his metal suit alongside an image of his current form in the video.

"I see. So do you think they're coming after you?" Felicia asked.

"Most likely. I don't have any information about the others, but I know Rhino will mainly focus on me. After all, I was the one who sent him to jail," Peter said.

"So what's the plan?" MJ asked.

"To find and interrogate them to determine their purpose and objectives. If they attack immediately and without hesitation, it likely means we were their targets. In such a case, we respond with greater force. Meanwhile, Aria will continue to investigate what happened to them and the specifics of the program they were part of."

Seeing everyone nod in acceptance, Peter dismissed them. "Alright, let's get our gear ready and head out. Everyone dismissed."

As they all exited the meeting room, Peter then proceeded to shout, "IT'S MORPHIN—"

"NOOO!" all the girls shouted.

Peter clicked his tongue, kicking the empty air in front of him while Harry snickered beside him.

They all clicked their watches, and as they did, they heard Peter's little whisper, "It's morphin time, yay~"

Afterward, they rapidly geared up.

"We really need a team name for times like this," Peter sighed.

"Autobots, roll out!" Peter exclaimed as they all rushed out, following the map Aria provided for them.

…

They all moved together, swinging through the air, communicating using their Neural Link in their masks.

"Gwen, I think it's best if you call your father and have the area where we will be fighting evacuated," Spider-Man communicated.

"I thought we were just going to ask questions," Ghost-Spider responded.

"And we are, but knowing our luck in these types of situations, it will always lead to throwing fists first and asking questions afterward," Spider-Man replied.

Ghost-Spider nodded. "Aria, call my father…"

Not a minute after Ghost-Spider ended her call, they saw the large white truck in front of them.

Peter gave them a hand signal, and they all rushed toward it.

Meanwhile, inside the white truck, Rhino sat at the back with his hand on his knee, looking down as if he could destroy the truck with his horn.

As the others sat by the walls, they heard the sound of multiple footsteps above them, followed by the sensation of the truck slowing down.

Rhino slowly looked down and took a deep breath, smelling the surroundings. "They're here. Prepare," he said in a thick Russian accent.

They all sat up, looking toward Rhino, then at the door. There was a heavy pause as they looked toward the ceiling, and they heard someone casually walking above them before jumping down by the door.

There was another pause before they heard someone knocking on the metal door.

There was a pause as the person cleared their throat. "Knock knock, guys! This is the part where you're supposed to say who's there… Okay, okay, okay, one more time, one more time."

*Knock* *Knock*

They all looked at each other in confusion.

"Who's there…?" Mantis asked.

"It's the Rhino!!" Spider-Man said, deepening his voice.

"..."

"No wait… that's not how the joke was supposed to go."

Rhino looked irritated and charged ahead, ripping the door open and sending it flying.

"ROOOAAAAR! I'M THE RHINO!" Rhino screamed.

Spider-Man, who dodged the door, nodded his head. "Yes, you are!"

The Rhino charged right at Peter, the asphalt cracking and breaking with every step he took.

Meanwhile, Mantis swung his arms up and down, cutting the truck apart, but by that time, everyone else was already off of it.

Ursula, Mantis, Tigerwing, and Frostbite all jumped out and looked around.

Tigerwing was the first to move, his figure becoming a blur as he flew toward Nightwing with his fist outstretched.

Nightwing barely had time to react, crossing his arms defensively as he braced for the impact. The force of Tigerwing's punch sent him flying, crashing through several walls.

Sliding across the road, Nightwing's body tore up the pavement. He groaned as he stood up, brushing off the dust and debris. "Alright, I wasn't expecting such speed," he muttered.

Tigerwing's figure remained a blur as he launched another attack, this time with both fists aimed at Nightwing. However, before the punches could land, Nightwing caught both of Tigerwing's hands. His feet slid across the ground, tearing up the surface until he came to a halt.

"But now I was…" he grinned before delivering a powerful punch to Tigerwing's chest, sending him flying. Nightwing's fist left an imprint on Tigerwing's chest shell.

Tigerwing had to balance himself in the air as he coughed up blood. He wiped his lip and looked down at his cracked shell.

He grew annoyed that such a thing happened to his defenses. *I can't get hit again; I have to go faster.*

…

Meanwhile, Ursula charged toward the Scarlet-Spider without much expression on her face.

"Alright, mama bear, I guess you chose me as your target," Scarlet-Spider said as she rushed toward Ursula.

As both their fists collided, they jumped back and held their fists.

*My fist almost went completely numb,* they both thought simultaneously.

To Ursula's greater surprise, *My skin is really thick as well, and she still managed to hurt my hands. I have to be careful.*

…

Frostbite ran up the walls on all fours, chasing after Ghost-Spider, her blue eyes gleaming with a predatory glint.

She lunged toward Ghost-Spider, releasing a jaguar-like roar.

Ghost-Spider simply rolled under the lunge, kicking upwards and sending Frostbite flying into another roof.

"I'll give you this one chance to talk. What are you doing here? What are your intentions?"

Frostbite slid to a stop on the rooftop, using her claws to halt herself. She snarled in pain as she held her stomach, glaring at Ghost-Spider.

"At first it was to capture you; now, I'll just settle for killing you," she said, running on all fours.

Ghost-Spider sighed. "Why don't they ever take the easy way out?"

…

Mantis's limbs were powerful; the ground cracked as he charged toward Spider-Kat, swinging his arm scythe upwards.

Her spider-sense warned her of the danger, causing her to backflip out of the way.

Mantis's scythe split the ground where she once stood in half, with rocks and cement flying everywhere.

Mantis leapt through the dust screen he created and slashed his scythe toward her, intending to harm her.

Spider-Kat flexed her fingers and blocked his scythe with her claws. Sparks flew between them as they glared at each other.

"You know I was supposed to interrogate you, but I think I'll claw you first and ask questions later."

Both of their arms began to blur as they tried to cut each other, sparks flying with every exchange.

But there was no denying the feral grins they both possessed as they tried to hurt each other.

If someone were to look at Spider-Kat now, one would have figured she was a hero by the way she was smiling.

…

Spider-Man held Rhino's horn as he continued charging. Spider-Man stomped his foot into the ground before lifting Rhino off the ground.

The Rhino was surprised to be upside down, flapping his limbs in an attempt to calm down.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall!" Peter said as he fell back. There was a loud impact as Rhino crashed against the ground, the road caving in and crumbling with Rhino semi-buried.

As Rhino lay on the ground, Peter freed his leg and crouched toward him, resting his arms on his knees. "Come on, big guy, don't you remember what I said the last time you were here?"

Mechanical spider limbs appeared behind him. "I warned you there would be consequences if I ever saw you again," he said coldly.

Rhino rolled over, huffing, his breath visible in the air. "I remember all right, but I was weak. Not anymore!" he roared.

Spider-Man sighed. "I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life; start writing your will," he said as the tips of his spider legs glowed with an electric charge.