A Few Months Earlier
ESU first-year students arrived at Oscorp for a science tour. Naturally, the students formed groups as they toured the facility.
But not everyone was part of a group. A few loners were there, too. One such loner was Peter Parker.
As always, Peter was fascinated by science. In Oscorp's laboratories, he ignored the hateful comments from Flash Thompson, his longtime bully, and focused entirely on the scientific marvels around him. Peter was in his element, impressing multiple scientists with his knowledge despite being a first-year college student.
The tour continued through the facility, and finally, as it neared its end, the students arrived at a glass enclosure filled with genetically enhanced spiders.
While the lead scientist explained the spiders in painstaking detail, no one noticed one spider was missing from the enclosure.
Once the lecture ended, the students scattered quickly, leaving only Peter behind to keep studying the spiders.
Peter didn't notice a tiny spider descend from the ceiling and bite his hand. He jerked his hand reflexively, and the spider was thrown off. Peter started feeling lightheaded soon after the bite, so he left early and headed off the Oscorp campus.
After Peter knocked it off, the spider crawled toward another unsuspecting victim.
That day, it wasn't just ESU that had a science tour; one high school also had a field trip to Oscorp. The spider reached a girl, one of the school's students, and bit her ankle. That girl also soon started feeling lightheaded and left.
The spider's speed had come to a crawl. It looked like it could drop dead any second. However, before its death, it found a third victim. It reached Gwen Stacy, who was talking to a scientist. Peter wasn't the only one who had impressed Oscorp's scientists with his genius.
The spider arrived near Gwen and bit her ankle. It gave its final twitch and went still.
While Peter and the girl didn't show any drastic reactions to the bite, Gwen wasn't so lucky. A burning fire exploded through her veins, far sharper than the vague prick the previous two victims felt. She gasped, crouched, and clutched the wound as she bit her lip in pain.
The scientist speaking with Gwen was confused by her sudden reaction. Then his gaze fell on the dead spider lying near her. Confusion quickly gave way to horror in his eyes as he recognized the spider.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath.
He was only grateful that the rest of the students had already moved on to the next lab, so no one had witnessed Gwen's reaction. However, panic still churned inside him. If he failed to handle the situation properly, it could become a PR nightmare for Oscorp and cost him—and many of his colleagues—their jobs.
"Hector," the scientist called out to a lab assistant. "Quickly call the medical wing and have them bring a stretcher immediately."
"Yes, Dr. Stillwell," Hector replied, his face draining of color as the situation sank in.
Dr. Stillwell took Gwen to the medical wing with Hector. She had already lost consciousness and was burning up with a high fever. Her wound looked as if it were infected, and dark veins spread outward from it, creeping slowly up her leg.
The attending doctors did everything they could, but nothing seemed to help.
"Farley," the attending doctor said, his expression grim, "the girl's condition is continuously deteriorating. If we can't stabilize her soon… she won't make it."
"Damn it," Dr. Farley Stillwell whispered.
Desperation crept into Farley's voice. "James, there has to be something else we can try."
James shook his head. "None of the medicines are working on her." He looked around and, confirming no one was nearby, continued in a low voice, "I even used the experimental drugs we're developing here, but even they were useless on her."
Farley's face paled even further upon hearing that. But a thought suddenly struck him as he heard the term "experimental drugs."
He remembered that Norman Osborn's old partner, Dr. Mendel Stromm, was working on a secret formula before he was arrested for embezzlement. And now Norman was continuing the research.
Farley knew about it because he had access to Norman's lab, though he didn't know exactly what the formula was for, just that it increased human potential. But he remembered seeing several prototype serums Norman had created for testing.
A reckless idea formed in his mind, and he immediately ran to the lab.
"Farley," James called from behind. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back!" Farley called without slowing down.
He sprinted to Norman's private lab, used his access card, and scanned the refrigerated storage. A few glowing vials of the green prototype serum sat there. He snatched one and raced back.
"Are you sure about this, Farley?" James asked when Farley said that he was going to try this serum. James had no idea what Farley wanted to use on Gwen, and that worried him.
"Relax, James," Farley said flatly. "At this point, what's the worst that can happen?"
James wanted to counter that, but in the end just gave a resigned sigh and nodded.
Farley injected the serum directly into Gwen's vein. At first, nothing happened for a few minutes. Then it began. Gwen twitched slightly before her entire body erupted into violent convulsions. The monitors displaying her vital signs went haywire.
But as suddenly as the convulsions began, they stopped.
Her vital signs steadily stabilized and soon returned to normal. The dark veins slowly disappeared, leaving behind unblemished skin. Even the wound area started healing until it looked just like a normal insect bite.
James hurriedly checked her condition. His eyes widened as he found that she had completely returned to normal.
"Farley," James said, sighing in relief, "I don't know what you did, but you just saved our jobs."
A short while later, Gwen stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, confusion clouding her expression as she took in the medical wing.
"You gave us quite the scare, Miss Stacy," Farley said with a gentle smile.
"Dr. Stillwell," Gwen said groggily. "Did something happen? I think I remember that something bit me. I think I saw a spider."
"Don't worry, Miss Stacy, it was nothing major," James said with a reassuring smile. "You appear to have suffered a severe allergic reaction after a spider bite, but we've stabilized you. How are you feeling now?"
"I feel… fine?" Gwen said with hesitation. "I feel a bit lightheaded, but nothing else."
"That's perfectly normal," James said, maintaining the smile. "After a short rest, you'll be all right."
"I didn't know I was allergic to spiders," Gwen said, confused.
"That's not unusual," Farley chimed in. "Most people don't discover allergies until they're exposed to them. You just found out you're allergic to spider bites. Though it may only be certain kinds of spiders."
Gwen nodded, still somewhat confused.
"We gave you something to help with the inflammation at the bite," James continued. "The redness and discomfort should fade quickly."
"Thank you, doctor," Gwen said with a smile.
"No problem, Miss Stacy," James said. "Though I'd advise you to eat light today and go to bed early."
Soon, Gwen was allowed to leave.
Both Farley and James sighed in relief the moment Gwen left the room.
No one knew that the serum did more than just save Gwen's life.
Gwen suffered from a fatal biological reaction when the spider bit her. It would've taken her life, but the serum, which Farley didn't know was the Goblin Serum, helped not only stabilize the spider venom inside Gwen but also allowed her to acquire the spider powers like the previous two victims.
But that wasn't all.
Gwen Stacy had spent years being the daughter everyone expected her to be. The model student, the responsible girl, the Gwen Stacy the world wanted to see.
Over time, she had learned to bury the parts of herself that didn't fit that image: her frustrations, her anger, her selfish desires, her rebellious streak.
She had worn the mask so long that she forgot what was true and what was false. All that time, the parts of herself that didn't fit that image remained buried deep within.
The serum gave voice to everything she had buried.
—
The knock came late at night.
Kevin wasn't expecting visitors, least of all someone knocking on his second-floor glass. He glanced at the clock, closed his laptop, and walked over to look out.
When he saw who it was, he quickly unlocked the frame. But the moment he slid it open, Kevin noticed her gloved knuckles were stained dark. Flecks of blood spattered her shirt and the mask she wore.
Kevin stepped aside to let Gwen enter. She climbed in with slightly shaky steps and pulled off her mask.
Kevin studied her. She didn't look injured. The glove on her bloodied hand didn't look ripped, so it was definitely someone else's blood. She looked exhausted, her gaze glued to the floor the entire time, as if ashamed of something.
"Go wash up first, then we'll talk," Kevin said, turning away to sit back at his desk. "Second door to the left."
Gwen looked momentarily confused by his reaction. But seeing Kevin already opening his laptop again, she just nodded and left the room.
She returned a few minutes later. The door clicked shut behind her. She didn't sit immediately; instead, she just stood behind Kevin.
Kevin sighed. "Sit."
Gwen walked with small steps and sat at the edge of his bed. The mattress sank under her weight. The silence stretched as she stared at the floor.
The silence stretched until the air felt thick. Finally, she spoke, "I screwed up."
Kevin shrugged. "That narrows it down to about half the population."
Normally, she would have rolled her eyes. Tonight she didn't.
'Interesting,' Kevin noted. 'Seems something big has happened.'
"What happened?" he asked.
Gwen averted her gaze. She took a deep breath, then started talking, not from the beginning, but from the middle.
The broken bones. The blood. The screaming.
After finishing, Gwen looked at Kevin as if waiting for a sentence.
"What happened before that?" he asked.
Gwen paused, then reluctantly started over.
Kraven. The hunt. The construction site. The fight. The surrender. The flashbang. The knife. The beating.
When she finally finished, Kevin leaned back in the chair.
"So Kraven attacked you after surrendering."
"Yes."
"He tried to kill you."
"Yes."
"He failed."
"Yes."
"You won."
Gwen frowned. "That's not the point."
"Then what is the point?" Kevin asked calmly.
She opened her mouth. Then closed it. She looked like she was just waiting to say that, but in the end didn't say anything. A surprisingly long pause followed.
Kevin noticed it. Most people knew why they were upset. Even if the answer was irrational, the fact that she couldn't articulate it was more interesting than anything she'd told him so far.
The silence stretched. Gwen's brows furrowed. Whatever she had been trying to say, she seemed unable to find the words. Finally, she gave up. "I almost killed him."
Kevin nodded. "You did."
The answer seemed to irritate her. "You don't think that's a problem?"
Kevin studied her for a moment. "What part of it?"
Gwen blinked. "What?"
"You almost killed him. That's a broad statement." He leaned back slightly. "Is the problem that you almost killed someone? That you lost control? Or something else?"
Gwen looked away as if she didn't know how to answer that question.
Kevin continued. "Do you wish he should've died?"
Her head snapped back. "No." The answer came immediately. No hesitation.
Kevin believed her.
"Do you think he deserved what you did to him?" he asked next.
This time Gwen didn't answer immediately.
'Come on, Gwenny,' the voice whispered in her head, 'say what you really feel.'
Gwen ignored the voice. "...No," she said, finally.
The voice sighed in disappointment.
Kevin noted her pause but didn't comment yet.
He crossed one leg over the other and looked at her intently. "Then what exactly is the problem?"
"I told you."
"No, you didn't."
Her eyes narrowed. "I almost killed him."
"You keep telling me what happened." His gaze remained steady. "You haven't told me why it bothers you."
Gwen swallowed hard as if forced to say something she didn't want to say. "I lost control."
"Okay."
"Okay?" she asked incredulously.
"People lose control," he said simply.
"Not like that," she countered.
"What else do you want to hear?" he asked, keeping an expressionless face.
She looked shocked that he had even uttered such words. "I nearly killed him."
He nodded. "That you did."
"I broke his arms."
"Apparently."
"I crushed his ribs."
"You mentioned that."
Her frustration started rising. "Can you stop acting like it's nothing?"
Kevin raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
"No, you're not."
"I listened to the entire story."
"Then say something."
He shrugged. "Someone tried to kill you; you beat that person back in retaliation. So what?"
She stared at him in disbelief. "So what? I nearly beat a man to death."
He folded his arms. "That was legitimate self-defense."
The word hit her harder than she expected. "Self-defense?" She asked agitatedly.
"Yes," Kevin answered calmly.
She stood abruptly. "Don't you understand a single thing I said till now?"
He watched her pace around the room.
"Why does that bother you so much?" He asked calmly.
Gwen stopped pacing.
Because…" she started. The words died in her throat. Because what? Because she nearly killed someone? Because she lost control? The answer seemed obvious until she actually tried to say it aloud.
"It's wrong," she finally muttered.
"What part is wrong?"
She stared at him. "I just told you."
"No. You gave me a conclusion." His voice remained calm. "I'm asking how you got there."
Gwen opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
Kevin watched her struggle.
"Forget it for now," he said, shaking his head. "Let's talk about our conversation just now."
He continued, "The whole time, you said what you did, what it made you feel. Why do you keep coming back to your actions instead of the man you left behind half-dead?"
Gwen's breath caught. Because she didn't know, or maybe she did know. And that possibility scared her even more.
"Why is that?" He asked softly.
'Simple, because my dear Gwenny never cared about the man,' the voice laughed with dark amusement. 'His life and death don't matter at all.'
'That's not true,' Gwen hissed internally.
Kevin watched the conflict play across her face.
"I, uh," Gwen tried to explain but couldn't.
Kevin pursued relentlessly. "You said you don't wish him to die. You said he doesn't deserve what happened to him. But every time you showed guilt, you did so for your actions, but never for what your actions did to him."
"No, I- Gwen tried to explain, "that's not true." But it came off weak. "I feel guilty for nearly killing him," she said in a low voice. Not to mention Kevin, even she herself didn't believe it.
"Forget about it," Kevin said suddenly.
"Let's go to my previous question," he continued. "Why does what you did bother you so much?"
Before Gwen could say anything, he interrupted, "And I don't want to hear you say that it's because it is wrong. I want to hear why you think it is wrong."
Gwen looked like a student in an examination room, staring at a tough question on the paper.
"It is wrong because it is wrong," Gwen said forcefully.
"That's not an answer, Gwen," Kevin said with a straight face.
"Then what do you want me to say?" Gwen snapped.
Kevin smiled. "Fine, let me make it easy for you. You feel what you did was wrong, right?"
Gwen gave me a suspicious look. "...Yes."
"Good." He smiled a bit more. "Do you feel like that because you personally think that it was wrong or because you are made to believe it was wrong?"
Absolute silence. She looked down at the floor and said nothing.
'This is your chance, Gwenny; tell him the truth,' the voice urged. 'He understands you, Gwenny. Don't let him down with another lie.'
A lone tear fell from her eye. "Am I a bad daughter, Kevin?"
He sat beside her on the bed and hugged her with one hand. She leaned into him.
"It is exhausting," Gwen said weakly. "Sometimes I feel like just giving up everything and leaving for somewhere far away where no one knows me, to start fresh."
He didn't say anything, just gently rubbed her upper back.
"It is exhausting trying to fulfill everyone's expectations. My dad, the teachers, the relatives, the world."
She held his shirt tightly. He felt wet on his shoulder.
"When Kraven attacked me from behind, I felt fear, but I also felt rage."
"I wanted to hurt him. Hurt him so much that he would regret what he did. When I beat him, I didn't care if he would die. He deserved everything, and more, I did to him."
"But when I started beating him, rage wasn't the only emotion I felt. I felt liberated from the expectations of the Good Gwen everyone had of me."
"For a few moments, I wasn't the Good Girl Gwen Stacy. I was just Gwen."
"But when I saw him broken, covered in his blood, I suddenly got afraid. Not because I felt remorse for what I did to him. But because I thought, what would others think if they knew I did that? What would my dad think? What would the world think?"
He looked at her. She looked so vulnerable. She leaned in. This time he didn't pull back and kissed her.
The kiss ended after a few minutes. She no longer looked stiff.
He gently held her chin and looked directly into her eyes. "The Good Girl Gwen is you. And the Rebellious and Selfish Gwen is also you. Accepting that doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you whole."
She smiled for the first time after coming here.
"Thank you, Kevin," she said, hugging him tightly.
They separated and sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
Then, Kevin looked guilty. Gwen looked at him, worried. "What happened, Kevin?"
"I'm sorry, Gwen. I shouldn't have kissed you," Kevin said in a remorseful voice. "You looked so sad, and that was the only thing that came to my mind to divert your mind from your sadness." He looked down. "If you want, I will apologize to Peter tomorrow."
'This fucking idiot!' The voice screamed in frustration in Gwen's head. 'I don't understand how the hell he even got a hotty like Felicia with that attitude.'
Gwen felt frustrated too, but in the end, she just laughed and hugged him again.
"Can I stay here for the night?" Gwen asked, ignoring what Kevin suggested earlier.
Kevin hesitated, but in the end, he said, "Sure, you can take the bed; I'll take the couch."
'Take the bed?! Take the couch?!' The voice roared. 'Is he a fucking virgin?!'
Gwen just smiled.
Soon, Kevin left to prepare for the night.
The smile disappeared from Gwen's face as she sat alone in the room.
'Let's talk,' Gwen said in her mind.
'About time,' the voice replied.
—
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Salem Center
Charles Xavier routinely used Cerebro to scan for mutant energy signatures.
While he was using it, a powerful burst of mutant energy suddenly washed across his psychic senses.
A moment later, his thoughts reached five familiar minds.
My X-Men, report to my study immediately.
Across the mansion, five students stopped what they were doing and made their way toward their professor's study.
A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the study door.
"Come in," Xavier said.
The door swung open. Scott entered first, his posture straight and disciplined, followed closely by Jean, Hank, Warren, and Bobby. The five young mutants gathered around the professor's desk, curiosity written across their faces.
"What is it, Professor?" Scott asked respectfully.
Xavier studied them for a moment. There was both excitement and concern in his eyes. "I have detected a new mutant."
The room immediately became silent.
"A new mutant?" Jean repeated, leaning forward slightly.
Xavier nodded. "Only minutes ago. The manifestation was powerful enough for me to sense from here. Someone has likely awakened their mutant powers."
"Where?" Hank asked.
"New York City."
Warren flashed one of his trademark suave smiles. "I hope it's another girl. Preferably one who appreciates a man with wings."
Jean rolled her eyes.
Xavier folded his hands together. "And if my suspicions are correct, this individual may have only recently discovered their abilities."
Jean frowned. "Do they need help?"
Xavier folded his hands together, his expression growing serious. "If my suspicions are correct, this individual may have only just discovered their abilities. They could be frightened, confused… or even injured."
The students exchanged uneasy glances.
"Prepare yourselves, X-Men," Xavier continued. "I want you to locate this new mutant before anyone else does and bring them safely here to the mansion."
Some time later, the X-Men arrived in New York City in their signature yellow-and-blue costumes.
Xavier tracked the residual mutant energy signature and guided his students mentally to Hunts Point, Bronx.
The neighborhood felt oppressive at this late hour. Streetlights flickered over cracked sidewalks, and the air carried the scent of damp concrete and distant garbage. Groups of shady figures lingered in the corners; however, upon seeing the costumed superheroes, they kept their edges sheathed and looked at them suspiciously.
The team grew increasingly tense as they followed the professor's psychic trail. Finally, Xavier's guidance led them to a dingy storefront: No Stains Laundromat.
Two men stood guard outside. One gripped a baseball bat loosely, while the other stood with his hands empty, though the unmistakable bulge of a handgun pressed against his waistband beneath a loose shirt.
"Is this really the place?" Iceman, the youngest in the group, asked, looking uneasy.
Yes, Xavier's calm voice echoed in their minds. They must be here.
"If Professor said this is the place, then it must be it," Cyclops said flatly.
"Be careful," Beast murmured, his keen eyes scanning the building. "If our target is being held inside, we may have to fight our way out."
Everyone nodded with serious faces.
Meanwhile, the two guards had already seen the visitors. They looked at each other, and the bat-guy went inside. There was a visible limp in his gait.
As the X-Men approached the shop entrance, the guard with the gun walked up to them. "What do you want?" he demanded.
"We're looking for someone," Cyclops said.
The guard hesitated. He understood the group had come for their boss, but he didn't know whether to tell them to leave. But he wasn't in a dilemma for long, as the guard who had gone inside came out with Lucia in tow.
"Do you want something?" Lucia asked.
"We got information that there is a mutant here," Cyclops said in an even tone.
Lucia didn't know whether Frances would want to meet with the superhero team.
She didn't decide for Frances. "Wait here; let me ask," she said and went inside.
The X-Men stood outside awkwardly.
"Okay, something is wrong here," Angel whispered to the group.
A few tense minutes later, Lucia returned. "Boss is ready to meet you." She jerked her head toward the door.
The X-Men followed her inside, faces carefully blank. Only one thought echoed through their minds:
'Boss?!'
Lucia stopped just outside the office and knocked. "Boss, I've brought them."
"Send them in," a voice replied from within.
Lucia gestured for the group to enter.
Lucia gestured for the group to enter. Cyclops took a steadying breath and pushed the door open, leading the team inside. Lucia closed the door behind them with a soft click.
They had expected to find a frightened, newly awakened mutant — perhaps confused, injured, or even held captive. Instead, they found a young woman in her early twenties sitting calmly behind a desk, legs propped up, reading a paperback. She wore jeans, a cropped top, a well-worn leather jacket, and scuffed boots. She looked completely at ease.
"We are—" Cyclops began.
"I know," Frances said without looking up from the book.
Cyclops faltered for a split second, then pressed on. "Are you—"
"Yes, I am." She still didn't glance up.
Cyclops took a slow, measured breath, refusing to lose his composure. "We're here to—"
"Not interested."
Cyclops's jaw tightened. Even the rest of the X-Men frowned at the blatant dismissal.
"Look, lady," Angel said, stepping forward with his most charming smile, "we're here to help you."
"I don't need it."
Seeing that the soft approach was getting them nowhere, Cyclops shifted into full leader mode. "We were sent to bring you to our headquarters," he said sternly, staring intently at the young woman who still hadn't looked up from her novel. "And the X-Men don't take 'no' for an answer."
Frances finally lowered the book just enough to meet his gaze. "No."
Iceman stifled a laugh, quickly turning it into a cough when Cyclops shot him a sharp glare.
"Calm down, Cyclops," Marvel Girl said.
She stepped forward and offered Frances a friendly smile. "We were just worried that a mutant had newly awakened their powers and may be in danger. We only wanted to make sure you were safe."
Frances looked up from the book and sized up the group.
"As you can see," she replied coolly, "I'm not in any danger, and I don't need help. Your concern is appreciated. Now, if there's nothing else, I'd like to continue my reading."
Marvel Girl nodded. "We apologize for disturbing you."
She gestured for her group to leave with her eyes, but Cyclops ignored her.
"Who are the people outside?" Cyclops demanded, his gaze boring into Frances's eyes. "Why do they call you boss?"
Frances's gaze narrowed.
"What are you doing, Cyclops?" Marvel Girl whispered furiously.
"Outside, there are armed guards," Cyclops continued. "We passed injured people on the way here. This doesn't look like an ordinary laundromat."
The room grew slightly quieter.
Frances closed her book.
Everyone heard a knock at the door. "Boss."
Frances turned her gaze to the door. "Come in."
The door opened. Daniel stood there, a bandage visible beneath his partially unbuttoned shirt. Mike, Lucia, Mary, and a few others stood with him.
"Boss, is everything alright?" Daniel asked, worried, while they all stared hard at the superhero team. "Are they causing trouble?"
"No." Frances shook her head. "They're leaving. Show them out," she said dismissively and went back to reading her book.
Daniel pulled his shirt slightly to show the X-Men the gun tucked at his waistband.
Withdraw, X-Men, Xavier's voice commanded calmly in their minds.
But professor, she is too suspicious, Cyclops implored through the mental link. She may even join Magneto and his evil Brotherhood.
From what I have observed, the humans both fear and respect her despite knowing her identity. This is completely different from Magneto's ideology, the professor said. We don't know enough about her. Withdraw for now.
Cyclops gave Frances one last stare. He didn't argue any further and, under the gang members' watchful eyes, left with his teammates.
—
The next day, Empire State University
The cafeteria at Empire State University buzzed with the usual midday energy, students chatting, eating, laughing, and scrolling through their phones. For a brief moment, everything felt peacefully ordinary.
Then the peace shattered.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Heads turned toward the familiar voice. It was the same wide-eyed student who had frantically told everyone to check the news during Giganto's attack and Captain America's return.
Seeing his reaction, everyone understood that something had happened.
The student looked horrified. "Guys, check the news," he urged.
"Namor has brought a fucking army!"