Force of Nature

1 Spider-Man, do you know when the new training sessions start? Uh, let me see if I can't find that out for you. Is Director Fury ever returning? Of course, Iron Spider. Sometime. Maybe. I hope. Is Hawkeye teaching advanced marksmanship again, or is Widow? Listen, I'll get everyone answers. Just chill. Scarlet, wanna switch costumes and answer all these questions for me? I don't know how Nick Fury ever did all this. Well, whoever said you had to take Fury's place? No one's seen him or Nova since the Hydra attack. But while he's gone, someone's got to keep this place running. And that has to be you? Look, the world's a rough place, and in the end, you just gotta look out for yourself. Well, Mr. Sunshine, obviously you never downloaded your superhero instruction manual, because our job is to help wherever we can. Yeah. Just like Agent Venom. And look where that got him. Agent Venom got hurt in battle, and it was my fault for not being a strong enough leader. Face it, Spidey, you're no Nick Fury. You're not even Aunt May. Oh, no, Aunt May! I was supposed to call her days ago! I am the worst superhero-slash-nephew in the history of superhero-slash-nephews. [ringing] [beeps] Well, if it isn't Peter Parker. Taking a break from saving the world? Sorry I've been out of touch. Things have been a little crazy. Same here. I simply cannot keep my plants alive during this drought. Oh, thank you, Aunt May. Finally, some normal problems. No mega-villains, no giant monsters. This is perfect. My garden dying is perfect? [alarm blaring] Oh, not now. I'm sorry! Invest in drought-resistant plants! - Gotta go! - Oh, okay, Peter. A distress signal? Where's it coming from? Some off-site facility, but I can't find it listed anywhere in the SHIELD database. Unlisted facility? Is it Fury calling for help? Maybe it's time for a field trip. Uh, when you said, "Going on a mission in the Spider-Jet," I was thinking, K'un L'un, Asgard, Coney Island But no. We're at a mall. In Queens. That's closed. I bet this isn't a real mall. Seems like every abandoned building in New York turns out to be a secret SHIELD base. Or Hydra. This entire excursion could be nothing but a trap. A trap would at least be exciting. This mall doesn't even have an arcade. Boring. [buzz] Wha Attention shoppers, you will be destroyed. [grunts] Hey, Miles, still bored? [grunts] This mall is killer! Did I just say that out loud? Aah! The system has to have a structural weakness somewhere. They all do. Aah! Aah! Whoa! Worst mall ever! - I had that under complete control! - Right. Looked like it. [all grunt] [grunts] Okay, I'm gonna guess these glorified mall guards are protecting something more important than the food court. What are you doing? I'm checking the directory for a SHIELD secret hideout. - Ugh! - What? It's worth a shot. We need to use deductive reasoning. Find a storefront that isn't locked up. The barber shop. Good thinking. Look for any triggers or pulleys or secret combs. Ugh! You really think SHIELD's gonna put a secret hideout in a Whoa! [all] Aaahh! [Kid Arachnid] I hate this mall! [thud] [all grunt] [Scarlet Spider] You have half a second to get off me before I skewer you. [Iron Spider] Getting! [Spider-Man] Guys, relax. If Fury is down here, do you want him to see us acting like a bunch of kids? We are a bunch of kids. Not my point. Well, if Fury was looking for some alone time, this takes isolation to an entirely new level. You might actually be right on this one, Spider-Man. [grunts] [grunting] No use. - It appears to be vacuum sealed. - How do we get in? I've got a crazy idea called the "front door. " [beeps] How do you have access? Clearly Nick Fury respects my command and authority. Okay, I don't have a single clue. - Exciting enough for you now? - I've still seen better malls. Is it just me, or does this place feel a little odd to you guys? No, not at all, if we're in a horror movie. Okay. I know a haunted house when I see one. [Iron Spider] There are no such things as ghosts. Shh! The ghosts will hear you. Hmm. Some sort of blast door. Perhaps a fail-safe hatch? Fury could be trapped behind there, hurt. Let's open it. But just be ready for anything. [beeps] Okay, so, now I know ghosts watch TV. Be alert. Somebody was just here. You can't deduce that from a television. No, but I can from that half-eaten sandwich. Hello, paranormal being! We don't want your sandwich. It's all good! Why is it so humid in here? [grunts] Wow. You really showed that water who's boss. Yes. Very threatening. I don't know. Something's up, guys. Yeah, like SHIELD needs to pay its plumbing bill? Maybe that distress signal was just a computer glitch. Maybe. Or Fury was here, but had to leave in a hurry? [grunts] I told you! Haunted g-g-ghost water! What? [Gasps] [all grunt] One thing's for sure That is not Nick Fury! [grunts] Let them go, Wet-Willie! No chance. And that's not my name! Sorry, Waterboy! It's not like you bothered to introduce yourself! [grunts] You're the ones attacking me! Attacking you? Is this opposite day? [grunts] Made of water? That's just hydrogen and oxygen. I might have a trick for that. [both grunt] I didn't know ghosts could be made of water! For the last time, he is not a ghost! [grumbling] - I hate being wet! - You hate everything. [whooshing] And you guys made fun of me for webbing that water! Waiting for my apology! Whoa. Maybe he finally moved on into the ghostly dimension. - Buh-bye, ghost. - Oh! Who is this guy? Can you even punch water? How do we stop him? A giant sponge? Really wishing I had Fury-sense instead of Spidey-sense right now. Fury would know how to contain him. [grunts] Did you say "Fury"? Nick Fury? Where is he? We were hoping he was here. You four You work for SHIELD? Yeah. You got a problem with that, punk? Allies of Nick Fury. Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have fought you. My name's Morris. I have to say, in those costumes, I didn't think you belonged down here. I was going to capture you for Nick. So, you're friends with Fury? He's the only one who knows about my work down here. Which is what exactly? Trying to control my volatile nature. Nick wanted to keep my powers secret. He does like secrets, doesn't he? What about the distress signal? Odd. I never sent one, but I'm glad you investigated. Since Nick stopped showing up, I was worried no one would ever come down here. Yeah, well, this is the most fortified shopping mall I've ever seen. Why so much protection? Nick was afraid someone would capture me. He said names like Octavius and Osborn. - Sound familiar? - Uh-huh. Unfortunately, they're not the latest boy band. Look, we don't know when Fury's coming back, but we can't leave you down here. We better get you back to the Triskelion. I suppose if Nick Fury trusts you, then so should I. So, you're sure you're not a ghost? Pretty sure. Now, look at this. Usually us Spiders come in, webs blazing. But thinking like Nick Fury has its advantages. What a nice guy Morris turned out to be. Uh-oh. Just hacked into Fury's private files. I don't think our friend back there's a very nice guy. [Spider-Man] Why? His story adds up. Fury was taking care of him, and now that he's gone, it's on me. Got something. Hydro - Man. Oh. He's bad. - Any chance you mean "bad" as in "good"? He wasn't being taken care of by Fury. They had him in solitary. - Top secret. - Okay. So in trying to be a good leader like Nick Fury, I just did exactly the opposite of what a good leader would do. Go, me. [Chuckles nervously] Gotta make this right before it gets worse. Why are we turning around? What? Heh. We're not turning around. [nervous laughter] Don't play games with me! [grunts] [grunting] [struggling] [Hydro-Man] So you figured it all out? - Took ya long enough! - On the plus side, Hydro-Man is a way cooler name than Morris. [Scarlet Spider] I hate water! [both struggling] Until I can destroy Fury myself, I'll have to settle on destroying his little helpers. Whoa! Agh! He shorted out the instrument panel. [grunts] I've lost control! [Spider-Man] We gotta contain him! [grunts] [grunting] [Spider-Man] Whoa! [grunts ] [moaning] Thanks for busting me out. Have a bumpy ride. No! Alright, team, web-craft parachutes! [grunts] Wait! Where's Cho? Cho? It took me three whole days to build this thing. I am not gonna crash it. [Scarlet Spider laughing] Crashing might have been smoother than one of your landings. At least it's in one piece. Well, mostly. Wait. I know this neighborhood. [Hydro-Man] You can't stop me, Spider-Man! Fury's gonna pay for keeping me in prison all these years! Yeah. Can't imagine why he'd want you behind bars. [Hydro-Man laughing] Down came the rain and washed the spiders out. Okay, that's definitely my least favorite nursery rhyme. So, not only do I free a dangerous SHIELD prisoner, I bring him to the street my Aunt May lives on. Is there an award for worst leadership ever? [grunts] [grunts] Wet, again. [grunts] You spiders are just as tenacious as Fury, but clearly not as smart! Whoa! [Grunts] We gotta shut this guy down. Oh, really? Good thinking. Any idea how? [grunts] [grunts] That's getting old real quick. We need a new plan! He's too powerful. We have to cut off his water source! [roars] [grunts] Heads up, slow drip! [grunts] Okay, Fury would assess the situation, delegate orders, and keep a cool head. Cool? Cool! Ice, I got it! Iron Spider, get back to SHIELD, have them shut the water down in this area. Then grab all the freeze webs we have in the armory. I see where you're going with this and I approve! [grunts] [grunts] [grunting] [groans] [grunting] Nick Fury feared me because he knew he couldn't control me. [grunting] And if Fury couldn't control me, what chance do you have? Oh! [grunts] Aunt May! I have to warn her! Aw, but I can't leave! I'm in charge. And I started this mess by freeing that menace. This category five jerkface is creating a category five hurricane! Scarlet, I need to trust you with something. My Aunt May lives two blocks up. You need to warn her and get her to safety. Aunt May? All this time I've had to hide my identity to protect my family. Now I have to reveal it to protect them. Life's weird that way, huh? But if there's one guy I trust, it's Scarlet Spider. I'm on it. I was hoping for rain but this clearly isn't normal. May! I mean, Aunt May I don't know what to call you. Look, Spider-Man, your nephew, told me to get you to safety! Oh, no, this must be serious if Peter sent you. Come in! [wind blowing] [grunts] [grunts] We need to keep him occupied until Iron Spider gets back! [grunts] Now you know why Fury buried me so deep, you naive lackey! [Grunts] [Hydro-Man] I'm unstoppable! [groans] Yeah! Okay, now I'll admit, he's probably not a ghost. Probably. [groans] [grunts] I'll level this city! And these people can thank you and Fury for my vengeance! [grunts] So this is the house Spider-Man lived in? It sure is. Peter grew up here. So you're the one who made him so dangerously selfless? [stammers] And his Uncle Ben. I like to think that Peter's a hero because of the values his uncle gave him. Yeah, well being a hero can put you in a lot of danger. You can pretend not to care, but you're here right now, putting your life on the line for a total stranger. Maybe you weren't raised so poorly yourself. No one raised me. Don't pretend you know me. I know good character when I see it. [glass shatters] [gasps] Gotta get you out of here! [groans] [groans] [gasps] Another Spider-Man? We kinda have a club going. [whirring] Quick, switch to these freeze-web cartridges! - I spin my own. - Hold onto them anyway! How many Spider-Men are there? [whirring] They need my help. Get to safety. I'll be back for you! Yah! [groans] [grunts] [grunts] Let's find out if you're one of those water spiders. [gurgling] What's the matter? Running out of air, web-for-brains? [grunts] [grunting] [groaning] [grunts] Freeze, Hydro-Man! Yep, I really said that. [grunting] [grunts] [grunts] [groaning] [grunts] Whoa! No! [grunts] [grunts] [grunts] [sighs] Good work, team. Now, anyone know where we can get a hold of the world's largest cooler? [groans] You just saved my life and I don't even know what to call you. - Scarlet Spider. - No, your real name. I, uh I don't have one. I can never take off my mask. You won't like what you see. Oh, don't be silly. All I see is a good man. How about we call you "Ben"? Yes. I think that fits. Maybe. Maybe it does. [Iron Spider] That's not good. He's dripping! [laughs] [grunts] [Spider-Man] Oh, great. More water? Where's a drought when you need one? [grunts] Spidey, we're out of freeze-webs! Now what would Nick Fury do? [grunts] [groans] Fury's not here, but guess what? I am! Time to do this the Spidey-way! Everyone, take off your web packets! So the "Spidey Way" is to give up and quit?! - Aren't you our leader?! - Trust me on this one! [grunts] [laughs] Such a desperate move, and a failed one. [grunts] Oh, no. [groans] That's what I was hoping for. The webs are acting like a sponge like you said, Miles. See, I'm not crazy. [shouting] Heh. Nick Fury who? Without him, I kind of had to rise to the challenge on my own. Who knew? I did. And who knew a maniac super-villain would help water your garden? When are results back from our first exams? Results will post tomorrow morning, but don't wait to sign up for your next round of classes. Spider-Man, the damage control crews in Queens report they are 90% finished. Excellent, tell them if they need additional help they can pull from Division 3. Seems like you've got everything under control. Even Venom is getting better. Not bad, punk. Look at you, Ben, giving compliments like a nice person. We rule! Okay, you can call me Ben, but I still don't do high fives. Sir, reports are coming in. The SHIELD convoy returning Hydro-Man to his detention facility was attacked. Wait a minute! The distress signal. We know Fury never sent it, and if it wasn't Hydro-Man How much you wanna bet it was Doc Ock? And we just broke out a new member of his Sinister Six. Heh. So much for having everything under control. If there's one thing this battle just showed me, if anyone can turn a set-back into a win, it's us. But Doc Ock's becoming more powerful than ever. And we're the only ones who can stop him!