The moment we step inside the laboratory, my palms start sweating. Not because it's hot. Not because I'm nervous about being around advanced technology. No. It's because I recognize this place. And that is the problem. The lab is a Frankenstein's monster of every Spider-Man science lab related to his origin I've ever seen.
A little bit of Spectacular Spider-Man. A little bit of Amazing Spider-Man. A little bit of comic-book insanity where every scientist apparently has enough equipment to accidentally create a world-ending threat before lunch. And honestly?
That last part is the most accurate. Because in Marvel, a science experiment is never just a science experiment. It's always: "Hey, let's study this harmless creature." Five minutes later: "Oops, we accidentally created a supervillain." And unfortunately... The people inside are just as concerning as the building.
Because apparently this universe decided to collect every Spider-related person it could find. Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Spinneret, Silk, Anya Corazon. Everywhere I look, there's another person connected to the spider theme. And yes. That includes Anya. My annoying, overachieving friend.
The girl who somehow manages to be smarter than most adults and still thinks she isn't good enough. She's already interning here because apparently getting into Horizon University isn't impressive enough for her. Nerds. All of my friends are nerds. Not normal nerds either. Not the kind who build computers or debate superheroes online.
No.
My friends are the kind of nerds who say: "I built this device for fun." And then accidentally create something that can destroy reality. The "save the world while potentially breaking it" kind of nerds. And the worst part? I'm starting to think I'm one of them.
We stop in front of a large spider enclosure. Inside are dozens of small spiders moving around. I count them. Twenty-five. Only twenty-five. "Huh," Anya says, leaning closer to the glass. "That's strange." I look at her. "What?" She squints her eyes, "Some seem to be missing." My stomach drops.
No. Absolutely not. Nope. Not happening. I know exactly where this is going. A spider bite is not supposed to be part of my educational experience. Especially not when the educational experience is at Oscorp.
Please don't bite me.
Please don't bite me.
Please don't bite me.
Then I notice something. Peter freezes. His hand shoots up toward his neck. He scratches. His expression changes. Not fear. Recognition. Oh no. Cindy next to him reacts next. Then MJ before Michelle. All of them suddenly look uncomfortable at the exhibit they were standing around. And that's when I see it.
A spider. Not a normal one. A medium-sized false widow crawling along the floor. Moving from student to student. Searching, waiting. Then it jumps. Straight onto Lyn. She yelps. "What the—?!" The spider bites her before leaping away. And then... It comes toward me. Of course it does. Because apparently the universe hates me personally.
The spider lands on my hoodie. I freeze. For one second, everything slows down. Then it shoots a strand of webbing. At me. My body moves before my brain does. I don't know what happens. I don't know how I do it. I just reach down, grab the hoodie pocket, and somehow trap the spider inside.
I stare at my hand. The spider struggles inside the pocket. I stare harder. Did I just catch a superpowered spider with my hoodie? Okay. I'll take the win. One point for Team Survival.
But I'm not the only one having problems. Another spider is moving across the lab. Toward Miles. Gwen. And Anya. The three of them are completely distracted. Miles looks slightly embarrassed. Gwen is leaning against him. Anya is talking excitedly about something science related. Honestly?
It looks like the beginning of a teenage romance subplot. The universe is practically holding up a sign saying: "Future drama detected." The spider does not care. It moves. Then disappears. I blink. "What the hell?" Did it just, Teleport?
No.
No way.
Spiders do not teleport. That is not a thing. Apparently, today is the day reality decides to prove me wrong. The spider appears on Miles' hand. Bites him then jumps. Gwen. Bite. Anya. Bite. Within seconds, all three are scratching at the marks.
I turn back toward the enclosure. My eyes narrow. There should have been thirty spiders if the information on it is true. Not twenty-five. That means five are loose. Five. Fantastic. Just fantastic. I reach deeper into that strange energy I felt earlier.
The one that doesn't feel like normal strength. Something inside me responds. A strange blue-green energy flows through my hand. And somehow... I can sense them. The spiders bioelectricity. I move quickly. I catch the one that bit Miles. Then two more. Three down. One more nearby. I reach for it but was too slow. The spider jumps. Straight toward Harry. "Harry!" Too late. It bites him. "Shit."
This spider is different. Bigger. Much bigger. Its body is almost black, with a dark green sheen. A wolf spider. Harry smacks his shoulder, hissing in pain. I grab the spider after it crawls away. But the damage is already done. Another person bitten. Another future changed. I look around.
Nobody seems to have noticed. Good. I slowly breathe out. Except... Someone did notice. Danny Rand is watching me. And across the room, the bald woman running the laboratory is looking directly at me. She isn't surprised, neither is she confused. She's smiling, like she just learned something interesting.
Great.
Just what I needed.
'The spiders are born.' The thought sends a chill down my spine. Because I know what this means. Peter Parker, Cindy Moon, Miles Morales, Gwendolyn Stacy. All of them. The spider heroes are being created. And I have absolutely no idea what that means for this universe.
Memories of different versions of Peter and Cindy flash through my mind. I wince. "God, if you exist," I whisper quietly. "Please don't let this universe be as insane as the Scope-verse."
Freeze frame.
Cue narrator voice.
Alright.
Let's review.
Spiders everywhere. Jake is basically playing Pokémon, except instead of catching cute creatures, he's stuffing radioactive nightmares into his hoodie. The entire Marvel teenage population is getting bitten like this is some kind of spider buffet. And me?
Do I know where this is heading?
Yes.
Do I like where this is heading?
Absolutely not.
Because I have seen what happens when you combine Spider-Man drama with the wrong universe settings. Those spiders don't just create superheroes. They create chaos. Awkward relationships. Emotional damage. Enough teenage drama to fuel an entire CW show. And nobody wants that.
Especially Jake. Because Jake doesn't just have to survive Marvel.
No.
He has to survive this Marvel. A Marvel universe with Scope-verse patch notes. Basically Marvel DLC...
Except the bugs aren't glitches. They're horny spiders. And somehow? Jake is the only person who knows the update installed. Oh this will be fun to chronicle.