For months, The Vulture had languished in prison after his defeat at the hands of Spider-Man and the crew of the Starship Enterprise. They all thought it was the last they would see of him, but soon he became a model inmate at the Federation prison.
Two security men stood and watched him work, dumbfounded.
“The Vulture is the best behaved prisoner in the place!”
“That’s why the warden made him a trustee and lets him use the machine shop!”
The gullible fools, thought The Vulture, They don’t suspect that I’m putting together another flying device for myself—right under their noses! I’ve taken all the parts I need. Tonight I’ll make my final test in my cell!
And, after bed check...
It works! Not as powerful as my original flying device, but good enough to get me over the wall--to freedom!
The next day, during an exercise period in the prison courtyard, The Vulture made good his getaway. He had hacked the tracking implant placed beneath his skin and even improvised a device to short out the force-field which surrounded the compound just long enough for him to slip through.
“Farewell! It is time for The Vulture to fly again!”
“Look!” an inmate exclaimed. “He made himself a new flying gizmo! He’s gliding over the wall!”
“How easy it was! By the time they can organize a search party, I’ll be safely hidden, miles away! And when next I appear, I’ll have a new set of wings...far more powerful than before!”
Meanwhile, in the holodeck of the Starship Enterprise, a volleyball competition was in progress...
“Here, butterfingers! Think you can pass that big, bad, heavy ball all the way back to me?” Flash Thompson hurled a volleyball at Peter Parker, who at least caught it with a modicum of dignity. He wasn’t really sure why he engaged in these activities, but he told himself that it was essential, in order to keep his cover at Spider-Man, and to maintain his friendship with the more outgoing Wesley Crusher.
If I used my Spider-Man strength, it would go clean through you, loudmouth!
“Hey, check it out!” Wesley blurted suddenly. “Remember that Vulture guy who messed with Captain Picard a while back?” He was holding a news padd and checking over the details while the others nodded that they remembered. “He escaped prison! The citizens of New New York colony are advised to remain indoors and report any suspicious persons roaming the skies or streets.”
The Vulture—escaped!! This did not sit well with Peter. Spider-Man is the one best suited to catch him, but what can I do while I’m on the Enterprise, all these light-years away?
When Wesley finished reading the article aloud, Flash prompted Peter for the ball. “You gonna throw that thing or are we gonna stand here jawin’ all day, Parker?”
Peter tossed it back, sure to restrain his incredible strength so as to conceal his identity.
Captain Picard was not fond of bad news, and this was bad news indeed.
“I need you and your ship here on the double!” Admiral Jameson blustered through the comm. “That damned Vulture’s on the loose again, and you and your crack team stopped him once. You can do it again.”
“Understood. I’ll--”
“And make sure Parker’s ready with his camera. I want good snapshots this time!”
“I’ll talk to Miss Brant after we’ve set a course.”
“Damn right you will. Jameson out.”
Picard couldn’t believe the Admiral sometimes. Using his Starfleet rank to ensure that an employee of his private enterprise was busy making him a profit? Unbelievable. But Picard had no option, and talking back to Jameson only got him an earful. He rose from his seat and left the ready room to do his duty.
Peter spoke to the Captain not long after that, and he decided he’d better prepare himself. The Captain’s words, i.e. “prepare yourself” worked out perfectly in that vein, because he wasn’t more specific. So Peter excused himself and headed back to his quarters to get everything together.
“Let’s see...I’d better check all my equipment! I’ve got my anti-magnetic inverter with me...and my web-shooter is positioned and ready for action...my camera is in its case, loaded with fresh film...I refilled my web-fluid capsule—and all devices check out...A-okay! This web-shooter is the coolest thing I ever dreamed up! I can do almost anything with it! The Vulture won’t have a chance!”
The trick now would be to go to the surface as Peter Parker, and then slip away from the Enterprise team, with the excuse that he was going to “try his luck” at locating The Vulture and snapping a few pics. The villain probably wouldn’t hold it against him, after all. People who tried to catch him, that was a different matter.
They beamed down into Admiral Jameson’s private office within the Daily Bugle building.
“Where’s Picard?!” he demanded.
Riker spoke firmly. He knew Jameson too well. “The Captain thought it wise to stay on the ship, because The Vulture used him as a decoy the last time. He doesn’t want to offer up the same trick twice. I think it was a good idea.”
“I didn’t ask your opinion, Riker. Parker! What are you doing standing there! Get out there and find The Vulture! Gogogo! And, uh, the rest of you, get busy. That’s an order!”
Peter didn’t need to be told twice. He skipped out of the room before the others even moved. Riker, Data, Yar, Worf and Troi would be on their own for a while. They helped him stop The Vulture before, but he couldn’t approach them for a “team-up”. It just wouldn’t work.
Spider-Man didn’t remain anywhere near the rest of the away team once he was in costume. He bounded from building to building; the hunt was on.
The Vulture’s a fool! I beat him before with my anti-magnetic inverter...doesn’t he realize I can do it again?
While, hours later, in another part of the sprawling metropolis...
“Now to try out my new modified wings! Ah! I’ve been sighted by a police shuttlepod!”
Within the pod, a policeman cried “We’re in luck! There’s The Vulture!”
“Good! This will give me a chance to test my greater-than-ever flying power under actual combat conditions!”
“Calling headquarters! Have located Vulture!”
“I can maneuver perfectly! Compared to my wings, that shuttle is a clumsy, cumbersome tub!”
He flew low over some rooftops, where different mechanisms stuck out of the roof and provided him cover where the shuttle couldn’t follow. It was faster than him, however, and remained above him in hot pursuit.
No aircraft can catch me! There isn’t a ship built that can duplicate feats like this!”
He dove into the open window of an upper-story room, and was met with quite a sight.
“Hmm, a jewelry showroom! I might as well put this visit to some good use!”
The proprietor stood stock-still with his hands in the air. “The Vulture! H-how did you get in here?”
“The same way I shall leave...with your most valuable gems! Just watch me...”
Very soon, he was zipping back out over the city streets.
“How easy that was! Nothing can stop a flying man! I can go anywhere—do anything—and all of space is my escape route!”
“Help!” The proprietor called out uselessly behind him. “I’ve been robbed! Help!”
“If I fly low enough, I cannot be tracked by sensors! The police will never know where I shall strike next!” He soared rudely through a throng of pedestrians, zooming toward his next objective.
“Look! It’s The Vulture!”
“Somebody do something!”
“Like what?”
“We can’t risk shooting at him!” one policeman on the ground said to the other. “He’s clever enough to fly over the crowd! If a blast should miss him, it might stun an innocent bystander!”
“That’s what he’s counting on! He knows we won’t fire so long as he remains in the heart of the city!”
But, in all of New New York, there was one person who was capable of meeting The Vulture on his own terms...and that person finally found his prey...
Swinging along on a strand of webbing, Spider-Man exclaimed “At last! My spider-sense has led me to The Vulture!”
I’ve got to get closer! My anti-magnetic inverter only works at short-range!
The Vulture wheeled about in mid-air to meet his adversary. “So! We meet again, Spider-Man! This time...for real!”
Spider-Man doesn’t suspect that his anti-magnetic device, which defeated me before, will not work this time! Therefore, he will allow me to get close to him...which is what I want to do!
He’s flying straight toward me! Perfect!
“This will be our final encounter, you young fool!”
I’m glad I brought my camera, too!
Spider-Man stuck to the side of a building with his back and pointed his camera at The Vulture, while his other hand held the anti-magnetic device, ready for action.
What a picture this will make! Jameson ought to pay me a fortune! I’ll snap him just as my inverter makes him spiral to the ground!
“NOW!!!”
Immediately, The Vulture fell into an uncontrolled spiral toward the ground.
“It worked! I’m almost disappointed! It was too easy!”
I’ll pretend to be falling! He’s sure to follow me down! He’s descending--totally unprepared for my next move! Oh, what a beautiful revenge this will be for The Vulture!
“Did I see him smile as he started to fall? Aw, it must be my imagination!” In a tangle of webs, Spider-Man went down after his quarry.
Perfect! He can’t travel as quickly as I! He has to descend ledge by ledge! And now, while he’s on that ledge above, he can’t see me! The Vulture had caught himself and was now rocketing upward. He doesn’t realize I’m swooping up to him again!
My spider-sense is starting to tingle! But why? The Vulture must be a prisoner on the ground by now! There can’t be any danger here!
If I timed it right, he should be just reaching the edge of the parapet...
“Ohh!”
“Surprise, Spider-Man!” The Vulture crowed as he punched Spider-Man right in the face. “Even you cannot ward off a double uppercut while you’re completely off-balance!”
Momentarily stunned by the force and total unexpectedness of The Vulture’s attack, Spider-Man was helpless before his powerful foe’s continued onslaught.
“This time the victory is mine!”
People gathered in the streets to watch the battle with a mixture of fascination and terror.
“Look! Up there...above the rooftops! It’s The Vulture...battling with Spider-Man!”
“Thank heaven Spider-Man found him! He’s the only one who can defeat The Vulture single-handed!”
“Guess again, lady! The Vulture is clobbering him!”
“You never suspected I had improved my wings so that they could change magnetic poles instantly, nullifying your useless inverter!”
“So that’s why--oof!” Spidey took a second terrible punch to the jaw and plummeted, and The Vulture watched him drop away with nary a care.
“Happy landings, Spider-Man!”
Got to shoot my web—fast--catch on to building—break my fall—MISSED! Must try again! Falling too fast...too far...can’t do it! It fell short! No time for another try--!! Got to spin around in air—to slow my rate of descent! Must break fall! Will take all my spider strength! Spin...keep spinning—keep--Ooof!!
“Spider-Man is finished!” The Vulture crowed as he flew away, looking back at the fallen figure on the rooftop beneath him. “My revenge is complete! Now The Vulture is supreme!”
Look at the shocked crowds below! They saw what happened! No man will ever dare defy me now!
“The Vulture defeated Spider-Man!”
“Look! He’s flying off now! Like a conquering hero!”
“Poor Spider-Man! Despite what Jameson’s editorials said about him, we cops always felt he was on our side! He’ll sure be missed...whoever he was!”
But, although badly shaken up, the costumed teenager was still alive...saved by his amazing spider-strength.
Got to get up—can’t stay here—can’t let anyone discover me...
He managed to get to a sitting position, and then worked his way toward his knees. Lucky to be alive! Didn’t think I’d make it...Ohhh! My arm! Must have landed on it! Feels like it’s broken!
Guess I can’t complain! It probably saved my life! If I hadn’t been able to spin around...if I had landed on my head instead...Zowee!
Wearly, cautiously, Spider-Man left the scene of the battle and changed back into Peter Parker. He would need rest before he went back out after The Vulture, even as just a photographer. He couldn’t return to the Enterprise, because the Captain would send him right back down again, and his broken arm would surely be the cause of great suspicion.
What a wonderful twist to my situation. This is all I need! I’ll have to explain it eventually, and then what’ll I say? Hmm...I guess I could explain that I was climbing on the outside of a building, trying to get a better shot of The Vulture in flight, but cameras these days can not only zoom, they can see through solid objects and even capture three-dimensional images! I am in a world of trouble.
Peter checked in to a hotel and went to his room to relax.
Maybe I didn’t break any bones. The arm is probably just sprained! But does it ever hurt!! Won’t be able to use it for days!
He decided to sleep for a while, but Riker and the others remained on the hunt.
Meanwhile, The Vulture, basking in his triumph, relaxed at his old hideout, an innocent-looking abandoned farm silo not far from city limits.
“No one will ever think to look for me here! This is the life!” He sat on the edge of a desk with a drink in hand and his wings hung upon the wall. “No more Spider-Man to worry about! Nothing to do but plan my next big haul! And I think I know what it’s going to be!”
One of the biggest payrolls in New New York is at the office of J. Jonah Jameson! He publishes the Daily Bugle and Now Magazine. He must employ hundreds of workers! And that means hundreds of nice, fat, juicy pay credits just waiting for The Vulture to fly in and demand them! It’s the end of the week now, so all the pay must be queued up ready to transmit! Only, it’s gonna be my pay day this time!
He crouched in one of the windows of the silo and then took off.
Riker and his team had scoured the city for hours to no avail. They responded when they got word from planetside security that Spider-Man had been witnessed battling The Vulture in mid-air, but by the time they arrived, the fight had ended.
“What did you see?” Riker asked the officer who had contacted them.
“It’s strange, sir,” the officer responded. “It’s like Spidey couldn’t handle him at all this time! The Vulture tricked him and sucker-punched him, and then it was all downhill. Spidey dropped a long way to that rooftop there,” he indicated a building, “and that’s the last I saw of him.”
“Lieutenant,” Riker addressed Yar, “You’d better get up there and see--”
“I wouldn’t bother, sir. I rushed up there with my men, but we didn’t find a trace of the wall-crawler.”
A frustrated Riker mulled this information over, then looked to his team. “Ideas?”
“Sir,” Tasha spoke up, “The Vulture will be more confident than he was before. He’s beaten Spider-Man, so he won’t be afraid of what we can do to him. Recommend we just wait for him to appear again.”
“That’s not good enough, Lieutenant,” Riker told her. “We can’t just do nothing.”
Data cocked his head to one side, not for the first time reminding Riker of a dog. “Sir, recommend that we establish a citywide system to disrupt The Vulture’s wings, the way I did with the tricorder last time.”
“How would we accomplish that, Mr. Data?”
“It should be fairly rudimentary work to rig several of the city’s networked systems into a grid which will bring him to the ground no matter where he is.”
“What if he should fall to his death? If we don’t know where he is, that just might happen.”
“Ah.”
“...then we’d only activate it if and when we spotted him,” Yar volunteered, somewhat redeemed for her earlier contribution.
“Very good. Let’s set it up.”
Peter awoke after a few hours and managed to get to the Daily Bugle. At the offices of the Daily Bugle, he was intercepted by Admiral Jameson’s liason to the Enterprise, doing her work more efficiently (according to the Admiral) from the surface, as long as the ship was in orbit.
“Oh, Peter, you can’t be serious. You sprained your arm...climbing a building?” She was focused intently on his arm, now in a sling. “What really happened?”
“Okay, I’ll tell you the truth...it happened in the air, while I was fighting The Vulture for dear life!”
“Oh well!” Brant sighed. “Ask a silly question...”
“So let’s stick to the climbing story, okay?”
“Miss Brant!” Jameson’s voice erupted over the desk speaker. “Send Parker in now!”
Later, inside Jameson’s office...
“I’ll admit that’s a fine picture of The Vulture, Parker, but I can’t pay more than ten dollars for it! After all, he’s been seen all over town! Lots of people have snapped him! I want something different!”
“Aw, come on, Mr. Jameson! Nobody’s taken a close-up like this before!”
“Well...alright! I’ll pay twelve-fifty!”
The Vulture, lurking outside the window, heard every word. Better save your dough, sucker! You’re gonna need it!
And then, on impulse, he flew into the room and landed on the desk, poised to fight.
“Greetings, Jameson! If you’ll pay for a mere photo of me, what will you give for The Vulture in the flesh?!”
“The Vulture!” Jameson exclaimed the obvious. He went for his combadge to call on Riker, and The Vulture grabbed his hand. “I tell you what...I’ll set the price myself! So, open your computer and transfer all your funds to me!”
“No! No! You can’t rob my payroll! You mustn’t! It’s all I’ve got! It would put me out of business!”
“Shut up! I’m not interested in your troubles! Now do as I say...or else! And stop blubbering like a coward!” He removed Jonah’s combadge for good measure, and tossed it out the window.
“Have you no conscience? No feelings? Y-you’re as bad as Spider-Man! I’ve spent years building up this business...it means everything to me! You can’t...”
“Oh, can’t I? The Vulture can do anything...as you’re about to learn!”
Jameson is such a skinflint, Peter thought, he’d probably rather get shot than part with his money! I’ll have to slip out now and try to save him—whether he likes it or not!
“Look,” Jonah was saying as Peter snuck out the door, “maybe we can make a deal? I can give you publicity...”
“All I want is money, mister!! Your money!”
Where credits are concerned, Jameson can out-talk anybody! Oww...it’s some job putting my costume on with this damn arm of mine!
“I’ll try to alter my webbing slightly so that it’ll act like a sling! With luck, no one will notice!”
Spider-Man proceeded to sneak around the outside of the building toward Jonah’s window. I ought to have my head examined for tackling The Vulture with a bad arm...but this’ll sure make me seem heroic...when they write my obituary!
Spider-Man charged in through the open window, doing his best to seem confident. “Alright, Vulture—playtime is over! Here’s where we separate the men from the boys!”
“Spider-Man!!” Jonah exclaimed.
“You’re still alive?!” The Vulture turned around in shock. “Well, you won’t stay that way for long! Even you can be stopped by a bullet!”
No sooner had The Vulture drawn his gun, however, than a blast of webbing covered it up so that it couldn’t fire.
“Maybe so! But first you’ve got to be able to fire the bullet!”
“Bah! Guns aren’t my style anyway! What does the mighty Vulture need a weapon for? I’ve got my wings?” With that, he tossed a shocked Jonah at Spider-Man.
“You’ll have a harp, too, by the time I get through with you!”
The Vulture punched him right over Jonah’s head as Jonah stumbled and was sandwiched between them.
He’s using Jameson as a shield! I can’t let go with a good punch!
“Spider-Man! Look out, you fool! I’ll be hurt! Let me go!”
The Vulture made a break for it, and zipped from the room out into the bullpen. Betty Brant, in her surprise, dropped a stack of padds so that they scattered on the floor and ducked for cover.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
Spider-Man pushed himself up off of Jonah, saying “You stay here, Jameson! From now on, it’s a private battle between The Vulture and me!”
“No! No! You two will wreck the place! Let him go! Leave him to Starfleet security!”
But Spider-Man was already bounding across the bullpen in hot pursuit. “There isn’t time! If he gets a chance to fly off, we may never trap him again!” He stumbled over Brant. “Oop! Get to the side of the road!”
She covered her head in terror. “This must all be a bad dream!”
Jameson charged after them through the bullpen like a bull, shaking his fist. “Security! Someone call security! Call Riker! Those two maniacs must be stopped! Miss Brant! where in blazes are you?!”
“H-here, Admiral Jameson...” she answered from the floor by her desk. “Where it’s safe!”
He’s trying to find a window he can fly through! Spider-Man realized. I’ve got to stop him!
“I warn you, Spider-Man! Stay out of my way, while you still can!”
“Mister, I thrive on warnings! In fact, some day I’m going to write an article for the Readers’ Digest titled ‘The Most Unforgettable Warning I’ve Ever Known’!”
“Ver-ry funny!”
The Vulture made a pass at him and Spider-Man effortlessly leaned out of the way. “Hah! You missed by a mile!”
Jonah shook his fists continuously, and he bellowed at Spider-Man, who stood atop a stack of padds. “Get down from there!”
The Vulture continued his flight, and Spider-Man went after him, scattering the padds on the floor.
“My ledgers! My files! Looks what you’re doing!”
“Aw, go slide down a barbed-wire fence!”
They carried on their chase down a stairway. “Can’t make it to the window up there!” The Vulture observed. “I’ll try a lower floor! Spider-Man can never defeat me!”
Jonah could be heard roaring in fury behind both of them. “If I ever catch that masked menace, I’ll sue him for all he’s worth! I’ll put him in jail for life! I’ll—I’ll make him pay for this!”
Spider-Man lowered himself on a webline rather than running down the stairs after The Vulture. “This isn’t exactly flying, but it’ll serve my purpose!”
Two men in the stairwell remarked on what they saw.
“Who’s chasing who?”
“This place is haunted!”
Eventually, The Vulture found himself in a place where he could really spread his wings. “This is more like it! I’m in the press room! I’ve enough flying space again! I’ll destroy Spider-Man forever now, if he’s fool enough to follow me here!”
I had a hunch The Vulture would land down here! The odds are all in his favor now...but that never stopped me before! He doesn’t see me yet...so here goes nothing!
Spider-Man landed on The Vulture’s back like he was in a rodeo.
“Hey!! Wha--?! It’s you again!”
“Well, it sure isn’t the Lone Ranger! Didn’t expect me so soon, did you?”
“You just made your last fatal mistake, Spider-Man! I’ll shake you off like a dog shakes a flea!”
He flew upside down, but Spider-Man managed to stick.
“I think your modesty is what I like best about you!”
“Let’s see if a wisecrack will help you once you’re falling into those big press rollers!” The Vulture flew backward, intent on leaving Spider-Man behind as a bloody mess.
I’ve got to keep ribbing him! My only chance is to make him so angry that he won’t notice my injured arm!
Suddenly, the agile Vulture changed direction and zoomed up to the ceiling with telling effect...
Ohh! My arm! Pain is too great! Can’t hold on!
“Hah! I caught you off-guard!”
The Vulture flew off and let Spider-Man fall.
If I hit those giant rollers, I’m done for! My web has to save me now! This time there’ll be no second chance! Made it! Now to descent slowly, and...oh no! The Vulture is cutting my life-saving strand!
“I had a hunch you’d try that, Spider-Man!”
But, while dangling above, the colorful teenager had time enough to estimate the distance...and, with one mighty leap...
“Whew! That was a close one!”
He raced toward the window as Vulture was escaping. Got to reach The Vulture before he flies out of range! But how?! Uh-oh! my spider-sense warns me that he’s waiting above! It’s a trap! But I’ll let him spring it!
The Vulture wasted no time, and got hold of Spider-Man’s wrist. “Hah! You blundered right into my trap...as I knew you would!”
“Well I’ll be damned.”
“I’ll take you up so high that you’ll be completely helpless! Even a spider is powerless in the sky!”
“Are you sure you were never vaccinated with a phonograph needle?”
“Your flippancy is wasted on me, Spider-Man! You’re just whistling in the dark! I know an icy fear must be gripping your heart right now!”
“Well, I’ll admit I’ve had happier moments!”
“Before I drop you, Spider-Man, I want to say I admire your courage! Anyone else would be begging for mercy now! I’m almost sorry to have to do this...”
“Yeah! I can see that you’re all broken up! Well, I’m gonna tell you a secret...this little party isn’t over yet! Watch...!”
“You—you pinned my wings with your web! You fool! If I cannot fly...we both will perish!”
“Well, who wants to live forever?!”
“Look!” Tasha exclaimed, as soon as Data activated his network. “The Vulture! He’s falling!”
“Then it appears we have done all of this for nothing. I can also see Spider-Man engaged with him.”
“I don’t want to die!” The Vulture sobbed. “Save me! Do something! Please—please! Save me!”
“I can’t! I’m too busy admiring your tight-lipped courage!” After a beat, “Well, anything to stop your moaning! Suppose I spin a little web while we fall--?”
“At a time like this?!”
“Sure! It might be fun! ‘Specially if I make it with my new semi-solid fluid which enables it to act like a parachute!”
Once again, the people in the street made their wild comments...
“LOOK! In the sky! A giant parachute! There are two figures dangling from it!”
“Who are they?”
“Can’t tell! Too high up! Wait—they’re getting closer! I-I can make out a costume--!”
“It’s Spider-Man and The Vulture! Spider-Man’s beaten him! By some miracle, Spider-Man won!”
“You had this plan in mind all the time!” The Vulture groused.
“Damn right I did! I don’t depend on my wings to do my thinking for me, like some guy I could mention!”
When they reached the level of some of the city’s skyscrapers, Spider-Man left The Vulture in his slow descent and fired off a webline to swing away.
“Well, playmate, this is where I get off! I’ll let you solo the rest of the way down! If you enjoy it, it could make a great hobby!”
“You haven’t heard the last of me, Spider-Man!”
“You mean you’re gonna flap your lips till the bitter end?”
“SPIDER-MAN!” Jonah called from a nearby window. “WAIT!”
Well, if it isn’t laughing-boy Jameson! He probably wants to apologize and offer me a big reward! And who am I to refuse?
“Yes, Mr. Jameson?”
“I want you to know that I hold you responsible for all the damage done to my building! It’s all your fault for butting in!”
“What are you, a professional nut?”
“I’ll show you who’s a nut! Sooner or later I’ll learn who you really are! And when I do...”
“Yeah? Then what?”
“I’ll get what’s coming to me! In spades!!”
“Mister, I’m about to give you something right now that’s been coming to you for months!”
“No! No! You--you wouldn’t DARE!! Don’t--”
“Why not? What have I got to lose? You couldn’t hate me any more than you do now!”
He webbed up Jonah’s mouth. “But, anyhow, I won’t have to listen to you for a while! That won’t wear off for at least an hour!”
Jonah rattled his fists and complained incomprehensibly, to no avail.
Minutes later, a silent figure entered the building in his own inimitable manner.
“So far, so good! The coast is clear! Hope nobody found my civvy clothes! Nope! They’re just where I hid them!”
And, within seconds, the Amazing Spider-Man vanished, to be replaced by a sling-wearing, innocent-looking Peter Parker!
The worst thing about being Spider-Man is changing clothes a zillion times a day!Oh, well...it keeps me out of the holodeck!
He entered the office, as askew as he’d left it.
“Hi, Betty! What are you doing behind that desk?”
“It’s the only safe place, Peter! This office was a madhouse a few minutes ago!”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Be my guest!”
Peter got on the floor next to her.
“By the way, where were you while Spider-Man was battling The Vulture?”
“Me? Oh...I was hiding in a closet! I’m afraid I’m just not the heroic type.”
The two of them gazed into each other’s eyes as they talked, and the excitement and their closeness mingled in such a way that they were lost in the moment.
“Neither am I! Maybe that’s why I like you so much, Peter! At least you don’t pretend to be what you’re not!”
Jonah hurried past them, still trying to say something.
“Look!” Betty observed. “Admiral Jameson can’t talk! I wonder what’s wrong with him!”
“Wrong? It’s an improvement!”
“Peter, sometimes I get the feeling that you’re laughing at a secret little joke that’s all your own!”
“If you keep using that cool perfume, Betty, I may break down and tell you about it someday!”
“Peter Parker! That’s the closest thing to a romantic remark I’ve ever heard you say!”
“Jeez, can I be more romantic than that? Here, rest your head on my shoulder, blue eyes, and let’s enjoy the silence!”
“But what will Mr. Jameson say?”
“Nothing, baby...for at least an hour!”
It was a while before the Enterprise could be dismissed by Admiral Jameson, for obvious reasons. He didn’t even bother to thank Captain Picard for his involvement in attempting to bring down The Vulture. He merely blamed him once again for failing to capture Spider-Man, and told him his time was limited. Picard took it all with a grain of salt, and finally took off for parts unknown.
Two security men stood and watched him work, dumbfounded.
“The Vulture is the best behaved prisoner in the place!”
“That’s why the warden made him a trustee and lets him use the machine shop!”
The gullible fools, thought The Vulture, They don’t suspect that I’m putting together another flying device for myself—right under their noses! I’ve taken all the parts I need. Tonight I’ll make my final test in my cell!
And, after bed check...
It works! Not as powerful as my original flying device, but good enough to get me over the wall--to freedom!
The next day, during an exercise period in the prison courtyard, The Vulture made good his getaway. He had hacked the tracking implant placed beneath his skin and even improvised a device to short out the force-field which surrounded the compound just long enough for him to slip through.
“Farewell! It is time for The Vulture to fly again!”
“Look!” an inmate exclaimed. “He made himself a new flying gizmo! He’s gliding over the wall!”
“How easy it was! By the time they can organize a search party, I’ll be safely hidden, miles away! And when next I appear, I’ll have a new set of wings...far more powerful than before!”
Meanwhile, in the holodeck of the Starship Enterprise, a volleyball competition was in progress...
“Here, butterfingers! Think you can pass that big, bad, heavy ball all the way back to me?” Flash Thompson hurled a volleyball at Peter Parker, who at least caught it with a modicum of dignity. He wasn’t really sure why he engaged in these activities, but he told himself that it was essential, in order to keep his cover at Spider-Man, and to maintain his friendship with the more outgoing Wesley Crusher.
If I used my Spider-Man strength, it would go clean through you, loudmouth!
“Hey, check it out!” Wesley blurted suddenly. “Remember that Vulture guy who messed with Captain Picard a while back?” He was holding a news padd and checking over the details while the others nodded that they remembered. “He escaped prison! The citizens of New New York colony are advised to remain indoors and report any suspicious persons roaming the skies or streets.”
The Vulture—escaped!! This did not sit well with Peter. Spider-Man is the one best suited to catch him, but what can I do while I’m on the Enterprise, all these light-years away?
When Wesley finished reading the article aloud, Flash prompted Peter for the ball. “You gonna throw that thing or are we gonna stand here jawin’ all day, Parker?”
Peter tossed it back, sure to restrain his incredible strength so as to conceal his identity.
Captain Picard was not fond of bad news, and this was bad news indeed.
“I need you and your ship here on the double!” Admiral Jameson blustered through the comm. “That damned Vulture’s on the loose again, and you and your crack team stopped him once. You can do it again.”
“Understood. I’ll--”
“And make sure Parker’s ready with his camera. I want good snapshots this time!”
“I’ll talk to Miss Brant after we’ve set a course.”
“Damn right you will. Jameson out.”
Picard couldn’t believe the Admiral sometimes. Using his Starfleet rank to ensure that an employee of his private enterprise was busy making him a profit? Unbelievable. But Picard had no option, and talking back to Jameson only got him an earful. He rose from his seat and left the ready room to do his duty.
Peter spoke to the Captain not long after that, and he decided he’d better prepare himself. The Captain’s words, i.e. “prepare yourself” worked out perfectly in that vein, because he wasn’t more specific. So Peter excused himself and headed back to his quarters to get everything together.
“Let’s see...I’d better check all my equipment! I’ve got my anti-magnetic inverter with me...and my web-shooter is positioned and ready for action...my camera is in its case, loaded with fresh film...I refilled my web-fluid capsule—and all devices check out...A-okay! This web-shooter is the coolest thing I ever dreamed up! I can do almost anything with it! The Vulture won’t have a chance!”
The trick now would be to go to the surface as Peter Parker, and then slip away from the Enterprise team, with the excuse that he was going to “try his luck” at locating The Vulture and snapping a few pics. The villain probably wouldn’t hold it against him, after all. People who tried to catch him, that was a different matter.
They beamed down into Admiral Jameson’s private office within the Daily Bugle building.
“Where’s Picard?!” he demanded.
Riker spoke firmly. He knew Jameson too well. “The Captain thought it wise to stay on the ship, because The Vulture used him as a decoy the last time. He doesn’t want to offer up the same trick twice. I think it was a good idea.”
“I didn’t ask your opinion, Riker. Parker! What are you doing standing there! Get out there and find The Vulture! Gogogo! And, uh, the rest of you, get busy. That’s an order!”
Peter didn’t need to be told twice. He skipped out of the room before the others even moved. Riker, Data, Yar, Worf and Troi would be on their own for a while. They helped him stop The Vulture before, but he couldn’t approach them for a “team-up”. It just wouldn’t work.
Spider-Man didn’t remain anywhere near the rest of the away team once he was in costume. He bounded from building to building; the hunt was on.
The Vulture’s a fool! I beat him before with my anti-magnetic inverter...doesn’t he realize I can do it again?
While, hours later, in another part of the sprawling metropolis...
“Now to try out my new modified wings! Ah! I’ve been sighted by a police shuttlepod!”
Within the pod, a policeman cried “We’re in luck! There’s The Vulture!”
“Good! This will give me a chance to test my greater-than-ever flying power under actual combat conditions!”
“Calling headquarters! Have located Vulture!”
“I can maneuver perfectly! Compared to my wings, that shuttle is a clumsy, cumbersome tub!”
He flew low over some rooftops, where different mechanisms stuck out of the roof and provided him cover where the shuttle couldn’t follow. It was faster than him, however, and remained above him in hot pursuit.
No aircraft can catch me! There isn’t a ship built that can duplicate feats like this!”
He dove into the open window of an upper-story room, and was met with quite a sight.
“Hmm, a jewelry showroom! I might as well put this visit to some good use!”
The proprietor stood stock-still with his hands in the air. “The Vulture! H-how did you get in here?”
“The same way I shall leave...with your most valuable gems! Just watch me...”
Very soon, he was zipping back out over the city streets.
“How easy that was! Nothing can stop a flying man! I can go anywhere—do anything—and all of space is my escape route!”
“Help!” The proprietor called out uselessly behind him. “I’ve been robbed! Help!”
“If I fly low enough, I cannot be tracked by sensors! The police will never know where I shall strike next!” He soared rudely through a throng of pedestrians, zooming toward his next objective.
“Look! It’s The Vulture!”
“Somebody do something!”
“Like what?”
“We can’t risk shooting at him!” one policeman on the ground said to the other. “He’s clever enough to fly over the crowd! If a blast should miss him, it might stun an innocent bystander!”
“That’s what he’s counting on! He knows we won’t fire so long as he remains in the heart of the city!”
But, in all of New New York, there was one person who was capable of meeting The Vulture on his own terms...and that person finally found his prey...
Swinging along on a strand of webbing, Spider-Man exclaimed “At last! My spider-sense has led me to The Vulture!”
I’ve got to get closer! My anti-magnetic inverter only works at short-range!
The Vulture wheeled about in mid-air to meet his adversary. “So! We meet again, Spider-Man! This time...for real!”
Spider-Man doesn’t suspect that his anti-magnetic device, which defeated me before, will not work this time! Therefore, he will allow me to get close to him...which is what I want to do!
He’s flying straight toward me! Perfect!
“This will be our final encounter, you young fool!”
I’m glad I brought my camera, too!
Spider-Man stuck to the side of a building with his back and pointed his camera at The Vulture, while his other hand held the anti-magnetic device, ready for action.
What a picture this will make! Jameson ought to pay me a fortune! I’ll snap him just as my inverter makes him spiral to the ground!
“NOW!!!”
Immediately, The Vulture fell into an uncontrolled spiral toward the ground.
“It worked! I’m almost disappointed! It was too easy!”
I’ll pretend to be falling! He’s sure to follow me down! He’s descending--totally unprepared for my next move! Oh, what a beautiful revenge this will be for The Vulture!
“Did I see him smile as he started to fall? Aw, it must be my imagination!” In a tangle of webs, Spider-Man went down after his quarry.
Perfect! He can’t travel as quickly as I! He has to descend ledge by ledge! And now, while he’s on that ledge above, he can’t see me! The Vulture had caught himself and was now rocketing upward. He doesn’t realize I’m swooping up to him again!
My spider-sense is starting to tingle! But why? The Vulture must be a prisoner on the ground by now! There can’t be any danger here!
If I timed it right, he should be just reaching the edge of the parapet...
“Ohh!”
“Surprise, Spider-Man!” The Vulture crowed as he punched Spider-Man right in the face. “Even you cannot ward off a double uppercut while you’re completely off-balance!”
Momentarily stunned by the force and total unexpectedness of The Vulture’s attack, Spider-Man was helpless before his powerful foe’s continued onslaught.
“This time the victory is mine!”
People gathered in the streets to watch the battle with a mixture of fascination and terror.
“Look! Up there...above the rooftops! It’s The Vulture...battling with Spider-Man!”
“Thank heaven Spider-Man found him! He’s the only one who can defeat The Vulture single-handed!”
“Guess again, lady! The Vulture is clobbering him!”
“You never suspected I had improved my wings so that they could change magnetic poles instantly, nullifying your useless inverter!”
“So that’s why--oof!” Spidey took a second terrible punch to the jaw and plummeted, and The Vulture watched him drop away with nary a care.
“Happy landings, Spider-Man!”
Got to shoot my web—fast--catch on to building—break my fall—MISSED! Must try again! Falling too fast...too far...can’t do it! It fell short! No time for another try--!! Got to spin around in air—to slow my rate of descent! Must break fall! Will take all my spider strength! Spin...keep spinning—keep--Ooof!!
“Spider-Man is finished!” The Vulture crowed as he flew away, looking back at the fallen figure on the rooftop beneath him. “My revenge is complete! Now The Vulture is supreme!”
Look at the shocked crowds below! They saw what happened! No man will ever dare defy me now!
“The Vulture defeated Spider-Man!”
“Look! He’s flying off now! Like a conquering hero!”
“Poor Spider-Man! Despite what Jameson’s editorials said about him, we cops always felt he was on our side! He’ll sure be missed...whoever he was!”
But, although badly shaken up, the costumed teenager was still alive...saved by his amazing spider-strength.
Got to get up—can’t stay here—can’t let anyone discover me...
He managed to get to a sitting position, and then worked his way toward his knees. Lucky to be alive! Didn’t think I’d make it...Ohhh! My arm! Must have landed on it! Feels like it’s broken!
Guess I can’t complain! It probably saved my life! If I hadn’t been able to spin around...if I had landed on my head instead...Zowee!
Wearly, cautiously, Spider-Man left the scene of the battle and changed back into Peter Parker. He would need rest before he went back out after The Vulture, even as just a photographer. He couldn’t return to the Enterprise, because the Captain would send him right back down again, and his broken arm would surely be the cause of great suspicion.
What a wonderful twist to my situation. This is all I need! I’ll have to explain it eventually, and then what’ll I say? Hmm...I guess I could explain that I was climbing on the outside of a building, trying to get a better shot of The Vulture in flight, but cameras these days can not only zoom, they can see through solid objects and even capture three-dimensional images! I am in a world of trouble.
Peter checked in to a hotel and went to his room to relax.
Maybe I didn’t break any bones. The arm is probably just sprained! But does it ever hurt!! Won’t be able to use it for days!
He decided to sleep for a while, but Riker and the others remained on the hunt.
Meanwhile, The Vulture, basking in his triumph, relaxed at his old hideout, an innocent-looking abandoned farm silo not far from city limits.
“No one will ever think to look for me here! This is the life!” He sat on the edge of a desk with a drink in hand and his wings hung upon the wall. “No more Spider-Man to worry about! Nothing to do but plan my next big haul! And I think I know what it’s going to be!”
One of the biggest payrolls in New New York is at the office of J. Jonah Jameson! He publishes the Daily Bugle and Now Magazine. He must employ hundreds of workers! And that means hundreds of nice, fat, juicy pay credits just waiting for The Vulture to fly in and demand them! It’s the end of the week now, so all the pay must be queued up ready to transmit! Only, it’s gonna be my pay day this time!
He crouched in one of the windows of the silo and then took off.
Riker and his team had scoured the city for hours to no avail. They responded when they got word from planetside security that Spider-Man had been witnessed battling The Vulture in mid-air, but by the time they arrived, the fight had ended.
“What did you see?” Riker asked the officer who had contacted them.
“It’s strange, sir,” the officer responded. “It’s like Spidey couldn’t handle him at all this time! The Vulture tricked him and sucker-punched him, and then it was all downhill. Spidey dropped a long way to that rooftop there,” he indicated a building, “and that’s the last I saw of him.”
“Lieutenant,” Riker addressed Yar, “You’d better get up there and see--”
“I wouldn’t bother, sir. I rushed up there with my men, but we didn’t find a trace of the wall-crawler.”
A frustrated Riker mulled this information over, then looked to his team. “Ideas?”
“Sir,” Tasha spoke up, “The Vulture will be more confident than he was before. He’s beaten Spider-Man, so he won’t be afraid of what we can do to him. Recommend we just wait for him to appear again.”
“That’s not good enough, Lieutenant,” Riker told her. “We can’t just do nothing.”
Data cocked his head to one side, not for the first time reminding Riker of a dog. “Sir, recommend that we establish a citywide system to disrupt The Vulture’s wings, the way I did with the tricorder last time.”
“How would we accomplish that, Mr. Data?”
“It should be fairly rudimentary work to rig several of the city’s networked systems into a grid which will bring him to the ground no matter where he is.”
“What if he should fall to his death? If we don’t know where he is, that just might happen.”
“Ah.”
“...then we’d only activate it if and when we spotted him,” Yar volunteered, somewhat redeemed for her earlier contribution.
“Very good. Let’s set it up.”
Peter awoke after a few hours and managed to get to the Daily Bugle. At the offices of the Daily Bugle, he was intercepted by Admiral Jameson’s liason to the Enterprise, doing her work more efficiently (according to the Admiral) from the surface, as long as the ship was in orbit.
“Oh, Peter, you can’t be serious. You sprained your arm...climbing a building?” She was focused intently on his arm, now in a sling. “What really happened?”
“Okay, I’ll tell you the truth...it happened in the air, while I was fighting The Vulture for dear life!”
“Oh well!” Brant sighed. “Ask a silly question...”
“So let’s stick to the climbing story, okay?”
“Miss Brant!” Jameson’s voice erupted over the desk speaker. “Send Parker in now!”
Later, inside Jameson’s office...
“I’ll admit that’s a fine picture of The Vulture, Parker, but I can’t pay more than ten dollars for it! After all, he’s been seen all over town! Lots of people have snapped him! I want something different!”
“Aw, come on, Mr. Jameson! Nobody’s taken a close-up like this before!”
“Well...alright! I’ll pay twelve-fifty!”
The Vulture, lurking outside the window, heard every word. Better save your dough, sucker! You’re gonna need it!
And then, on impulse, he flew into the room and landed on the desk, poised to fight.
“Greetings, Jameson! If you’ll pay for a mere photo of me, what will you give for The Vulture in the flesh?!”
“The Vulture!” Jameson exclaimed the obvious. He went for his combadge to call on Riker, and The Vulture grabbed his hand. “I tell you what...I’ll set the price myself! So, open your computer and transfer all your funds to me!”
“No! No! You can’t rob my payroll! You mustn’t! It’s all I’ve got! It would put me out of business!”
“Shut up! I’m not interested in your troubles! Now do as I say...or else! And stop blubbering like a coward!” He removed Jonah’s combadge for good measure, and tossed it out the window.
“Have you no conscience? No feelings? Y-you’re as bad as Spider-Man! I’ve spent years building up this business...it means everything to me! You can’t...”
“Oh, can’t I? The Vulture can do anything...as you’re about to learn!”
Jameson is such a skinflint, Peter thought, he’d probably rather get shot than part with his money! I’ll have to slip out now and try to save him—whether he likes it or not!
“Look,” Jonah was saying as Peter snuck out the door, “maybe we can make a deal? I can give you publicity...”
“All I want is money, mister!! Your money!”
Where credits are concerned, Jameson can out-talk anybody! Oww...it’s some job putting my costume on with this damn arm of mine!
“I’ll try to alter my webbing slightly so that it’ll act like a sling! With luck, no one will notice!”
Spider-Man proceeded to sneak around the outside of the building toward Jonah’s window. I ought to have my head examined for tackling The Vulture with a bad arm...but this’ll sure make me seem heroic...when they write my obituary!
Spider-Man charged in through the open window, doing his best to seem confident. “Alright, Vulture—playtime is over! Here’s where we separate the men from the boys!”
“Spider-Man!!” Jonah exclaimed.
“You’re still alive?!” The Vulture turned around in shock. “Well, you won’t stay that way for long! Even you can be stopped by a bullet!”
No sooner had The Vulture drawn his gun, however, than a blast of webbing covered it up so that it couldn’t fire.
“Maybe so! But first you’ve got to be able to fire the bullet!”
“Bah! Guns aren’t my style anyway! What does the mighty Vulture need a weapon for? I’ve got my wings?” With that, he tossed a shocked Jonah at Spider-Man.
“You’ll have a harp, too, by the time I get through with you!”
The Vulture punched him right over Jonah’s head as Jonah stumbled and was sandwiched between them.
He’s using Jameson as a shield! I can’t let go with a good punch!
“Spider-Man! Look out, you fool! I’ll be hurt! Let me go!”
The Vulture made a break for it, and zipped from the room out into the bullpen. Betty Brant, in her surprise, dropped a stack of padds so that they scattered on the floor and ducked for cover.
“Wh-what’s going on?”
Spider-Man pushed himself up off of Jonah, saying “You stay here, Jameson! From now on, it’s a private battle between The Vulture and me!”
“No! No! You two will wreck the place! Let him go! Leave him to Starfleet security!”
But Spider-Man was already bounding across the bullpen in hot pursuit. “There isn’t time! If he gets a chance to fly off, we may never trap him again!” He stumbled over Brant. “Oop! Get to the side of the road!”
She covered her head in terror. “This must all be a bad dream!”
Jameson charged after them through the bullpen like a bull, shaking his fist. “Security! Someone call security! Call Riker! Those two maniacs must be stopped! Miss Brant! where in blazes are you?!”
“H-here, Admiral Jameson...” she answered from the floor by her desk. “Where it’s safe!”
He’s trying to find a window he can fly through! Spider-Man realized. I’ve got to stop him!
“I warn you, Spider-Man! Stay out of my way, while you still can!”
“Mister, I thrive on warnings! In fact, some day I’m going to write an article for the Readers’ Digest titled ‘The Most Unforgettable Warning I’ve Ever Known’!”
“Ver-ry funny!”
The Vulture made a pass at him and Spider-Man effortlessly leaned out of the way. “Hah! You missed by a mile!”
Jonah shook his fists continuously, and he bellowed at Spider-Man, who stood atop a stack of padds. “Get down from there!”
The Vulture continued his flight, and Spider-Man went after him, scattering the padds on the floor.
“My ledgers! My files! Looks what you’re doing!”
“Aw, go slide down a barbed-wire fence!”
They carried on their chase down a stairway. “Can’t make it to the window up there!” The Vulture observed. “I’ll try a lower floor! Spider-Man can never defeat me!”
Jonah could be heard roaring in fury behind both of them. “If I ever catch that masked menace, I’ll sue him for all he’s worth! I’ll put him in jail for life! I’ll—I’ll make him pay for this!”
Spider-Man lowered himself on a webline rather than running down the stairs after The Vulture. “This isn’t exactly flying, but it’ll serve my purpose!”
Two men in the stairwell remarked on what they saw.
“Who’s chasing who?”
“This place is haunted!”
Eventually, The Vulture found himself in a place where he could really spread his wings. “This is more like it! I’m in the press room! I’ve enough flying space again! I’ll destroy Spider-Man forever now, if he’s fool enough to follow me here!”
I had a hunch The Vulture would land down here! The odds are all in his favor now...but that never stopped me before! He doesn’t see me yet...so here goes nothing!
Spider-Man landed on The Vulture’s back like he was in a rodeo.
“Hey!! Wha--?! It’s you again!”
“Well, it sure isn’t the Lone Ranger! Didn’t expect me so soon, did you?”
“You just made your last fatal mistake, Spider-Man! I’ll shake you off like a dog shakes a flea!”
He flew upside down, but Spider-Man managed to stick.
“I think your modesty is what I like best about you!”
“Let’s see if a wisecrack will help you once you’re falling into those big press rollers!” The Vulture flew backward, intent on leaving Spider-Man behind as a bloody mess.
I’ve got to keep ribbing him! My only chance is to make him so angry that he won’t notice my injured arm!
Suddenly, the agile Vulture changed direction and zoomed up to the ceiling with telling effect...
Ohh! My arm! Pain is too great! Can’t hold on!
“Hah! I caught you off-guard!”
The Vulture flew off and let Spider-Man fall.
If I hit those giant rollers, I’m done for! My web has to save me now! This time there’ll be no second chance! Made it! Now to descent slowly, and...oh no! The Vulture is cutting my life-saving strand!
“I had a hunch you’d try that, Spider-Man!”
But, while dangling above, the colorful teenager had time enough to estimate the distance...and, with one mighty leap...
“Whew! That was a close one!”
He raced toward the window as Vulture was escaping. Got to reach The Vulture before he flies out of range! But how?! Uh-oh! my spider-sense warns me that he’s waiting above! It’s a trap! But I’ll let him spring it!
The Vulture wasted no time, and got hold of Spider-Man’s wrist. “Hah! You blundered right into my trap...as I knew you would!”
“Well I’ll be damned.”
“I’ll take you up so high that you’ll be completely helpless! Even a spider is powerless in the sky!”
“Are you sure you were never vaccinated with a phonograph needle?”
“Your flippancy is wasted on me, Spider-Man! You’re just whistling in the dark! I know an icy fear must be gripping your heart right now!”
“Well, I’ll admit I’ve had happier moments!”
“Before I drop you, Spider-Man, I want to say I admire your courage! Anyone else would be begging for mercy now! I’m almost sorry to have to do this...”
“Yeah! I can see that you’re all broken up! Well, I’m gonna tell you a secret...this little party isn’t over yet! Watch...!”
“You—you pinned my wings with your web! You fool! If I cannot fly...we both will perish!”
“Well, who wants to live forever?!”
“Look!” Tasha exclaimed, as soon as Data activated his network. “The Vulture! He’s falling!”
“Then it appears we have done all of this for nothing. I can also see Spider-Man engaged with him.”
“I don’t want to die!” The Vulture sobbed. “Save me! Do something! Please—please! Save me!”
“I can’t! I’m too busy admiring your tight-lipped courage!” After a beat, “Well, anything to stop your moaning! Suppose I spin a little web while we fall--?”
“At a time like this?!”
“Sure! It might be fun! ‘Specially if I make it with my new semi-solid fluid which enables it to act like a parachute!”
Once again, the people in the street made their wild comments...
“LOOK! In the sky! A giant parachute! There are two figures dangling from it!”
“Who are they?”
“Can’t tell! Too high up! Wait—they’re getting closer! I-I can make out a costume--!”
“It’s Spider-Man and The Vulture! Spider-Man’s beaten him! By some miracle, Spider-Man won!”
“You had this plan in mind all the time!” The Vulture groused.
“Damn right I did! I don’t depend on my wings to do my thinking for me, like some guy I could mention!”
When they reached the level of some of the city’s skyscrapers, Spider-Man left The Vulture in his slow descent and fired off a webline to swing away.
“Well, playmate, this is where I get off! I’ll let you solo the rest of the way down! If you enjoy it, it could make a great hobby!”
“You haven’t heard the last of me, Spider-Man!”
“You mean you’re gonna flap your lips till the bitter end?”
“SPIDER-MAN!” Jonah called from a nearby window. “WAIT!”
Well, if it isn’t laughing-boy Jameson! He probably wants to apologize and offer me a big reward! And who am I to refuse?
“Yes, Mr. Jameson?”
“I want you to know that I hold you responsible for all the damage done to my building! It’s all your fault for butting in!”
“What are you, a professional nut?”
“I’ll show you who’s a nut! Sooner or later I’ll learn who you really are! And when I do...”
“Yeah? Then what?”
“I’ll get what’s coming to me! In spades!!”
“Mister, I’m about to give you something right now that’s been coming to you for months!”
“No! No! You--you wouldn’t DARE!! Don’t--”
“Why not? What have I got to lose? You couldn’t hate me any more than you do now!”
He webbed up Jonah’s mouth. “But, anyhow, I won’t have to listen to you for a while! That won’t wear off for at least an hour!”
Jonah rattled his fists and complained incomprehensibly, to no avail.
Minutes later, a silent figure entered the building in his own inimitable manner.
“So far, so good! The coast is clear! Hope nobody found my civvy clothes! Nope! They’re just where I hid them!”
And, within seconds, the Amazing Spider-Man vanished, to be replaced by a sling-wearing, innocent-looking Peter Parker!
The worst thing about being Spider-Man is changing clothes a zillion times a day!Oh, well...it keeps me out of the holodeck!
He entered the office, as askew as he’d left it.
“Hi, Betty! What are you doing behind that desk?”
“It’s the only safe place, Peter! This office was a madhouse a few minutes ago!”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Be my guest!”
Peter got on the floor next to her.
“By the way, where were you while Spider-Man was battling The Vulture?”
“Me? Oh...I was hiding in a closet! I’m afraid I’m just not the heroic type.”
The two of them gazed into each other’s eyes as they talked, and the excitement and their closeness mingled in such a way that they were lost in the moment.
“Neither am I! Maybe that’s why I like you so much, Peter! At least you don’t pretend to be what you’re not!”
Jonah hurried past them, still trying to say something.
“Look!” Betty observed. “Admiral Jameson can’t talk! I wonder what’s wrong with him!”
“Wrong? It’s an improvement!”
“Peter, sometimes I get the feeling that you’re laughing at a secret little joke that’s all your own!”
“If you keep using that cool perfume, Betty, I may break down and tell you about it someday!”
“Peter Parker! That’s the closest thing to a romantic remark I’ve ever heard you say!”
“Jeez, can I be more romantic than that? Here, rest your head on my shoulder, blue eyes, and let’s enjoy the silence!”
“But what will Mr. Jameson say?”
“Nothing, baby...for at least an hour!”
It was a while before the Enterprise could be dismissed by Admiral Jameson, for obvious reasons. He didn’t even bother to thank Captain Picard for his involvement in attempting to bring down The Vulture. He merely blamed him once again for failing to capture Spider-Man, and told him his time was limited. Picard took it all with a grain of salt, and finally took off for parts unknown.
