Capture
It was bound to happen eventually.
After countless near-misses, breathtaking escapes, and tech-fueled tricks, Ghost Spider's luck finally ran out.
It wasn't a rooftop chase or a mid-air collision that got her. It was timing.
She'd just finished disabling a weapons deal in the lower docks—six goons webbed and one car flipped on its roof—when the familiar gust of wind and crushing pressure rolled in.
Stars and Stripes appeared midair, cape flaring, turbines glowing.
"Enough games."
Gwen spun to run.
Too slow.
A net of hardened air slammed down. Her spider-sense screamed, but she couldn't dodge. Not in time. The reinforced net compressed and locked her limbs in place.
She fought. Hard. But the pressure around her limbs cut off circulation. She knew she couldn't win this time.
Stars landed calmly beside her.
"You've made a name for yourself, kid. But it's time we talked."
The Private Conversation
Gwen was brought to a secure underground location—not a hero agency, not a prison, but somewhere off the books.
Only Stars and Stripes, now out of her armor and wearing a sharp navy uniform, was present. No cameras. No press. No hero commission officers.
Gwen sat restrained, though not harshly, in a reinforced chair. Her mask still on.
"Look," Gwen started. "If you're gonna unmask me, do it fast and let's get this over with."
Stars sat across from her. Calm. Calculated.
"I already know who you are."
Gwen's blood went cold.
"You think the best hero in America doesn't know how to run a DNA trace off blood you left two weeks ago?"
Gwen didn't answer.
Stars continued. "You're good. Scary good. But you're also a child. A smart, stubborn, reckless one. I'm not here to expose you. I'm here to recruit you."
Gwen blinked. "What?"
"We both know you're not a villain. You've saved people. Rescued civilians. Stopped crimes. But you're also untrained, unpredictable, and walking a razor's edge."
Stars leaned in.
"So here's the deal. You go public—but your identity stays hidden. Gwen Stacy joins the support course, maintaining her identity as a tech prodigy working remotely. Meanwhile, Ghost Spider will be officially registered in the hero course once she enters high school, keeping her vigilante identity separate and protected. You'll receive proper training without drawing attention to your past vigilante work."
Gwen narrowed her eyes. "So... a hero school?"
"Yes. Liberty Heroics Academy. One of America's top institutions. Not as famous as U.A., but it produces strong, capable heroes. And when you're of age—when you're fifteen—you'll enroll in the full hero course."
Gwen crossed her arms. "And if I say no?"
Stars shrugged. "Then I turn you over to the police. You lose everything."
Silence.
Gwen's mind raced. It felt like betrayal. But also... a lifeline.
"Only you know?"
"Only me. Not even the Commission. I deleted the DNA match from their servers. I'm giving you a chance. Take it."
The Compromise
Gwen was released the next morning with the official story being: "Ghost Spider escaped."
But Gwen Stacy? She was now twelve years old and newly registered as a future student at Liberty Heroics Academy—a hero high school with both support and hero courses.
She wouldn't enter until she finished middle school, but the wheels were in motion.
Then, Gwen would become a remote-flex support student, officially working from home to hone her tech skills. She kept her vigilante work on hold—for now—while she prepared for what came next.
Stars checked in on her once a month secretly. Unofficially, Gwen received some tactical advice, field notes, and upgrades when necessary.
The dual life was still in play, but now it was part of a long-term plan.
George noticed the change.
"You're sleeping more," he said one night. "Eating better. Even laughing again."
Gwen smiled faintly. "Guess I'm just... adjusting."
One Last Rooftop
She stood one night at the top of a glass skyscraper, wind tugging at her coat.
Her mask sat in her hand.
Ghost Spider wasn't dead. Not yet.
But now, she had to be smarter. She had to build not just tools—but a future.
"Stars," she muttered into her comms. "If you're listening... I'm holding you to your word."
A soft voice crackled back. "Always."
And then Gwen leapt.
Into the night.
Into the unknown.
Into her next chapter.