Wyatt's face glistened with beads of sweat as he lifted his upper body, intensely tightening his core muscles. As he gradually lowered himself back down, he focused on maintaining control, pushing his abdominal muscles to their absolute limits.
"140… 145… 150!" Wyatt shouted, his voice echoing in the gym as he pushed his limits. With a final grunt, he relaxed his legs from the cold steel bar suspended ten feet above the ground, letting gravity take over. He dropped down, landing unsteadily on the mat below, his breath coming in heavy pants. His upper body glistened under the harsh fluorescent lights, slick with sweat from the relentless workout. Wiping his brow, he muttered to himself, "Damn… inverted hanging sit-ups are brutal."
Turning to his left, Wyatt caught sight of his reflection in the expansive mirror that stretched along the length of his lavish personal gym.
Despite his complaints, his physique was a testament to his rigorous training. Standing at 182 centimeters, Wyatt possessed a body sculpted from hours of rigorous exercise—muscular and defined, with a remarkably low body fat percentage that accentuated his strong jawline. It was the type of physique that suited someone like him. An individual who tirelessly pushed his limits each day, battling crime and traveling the world to save those in need.
"A lot has changed since that day when I first looked myself in the mirror," Wyatt mused, memories flooding back from the sterile hospital room where he confronted his new reality.
After completing his intense workout, Wyatt stepped into a refreshing cold shower, feeling the chilling water invigorate his senses. Once changed, he emerged from his private facility, which was nestled beneath the tranquil greenery of Dyker Beach Park. Using a network of hidden tunnels, he navigated to a discreet exit that opened up to a quiet, rarely visited corner of the Harbor Defense Museum.
Once outside, Wyatt inhaled the crisp air, feeling the chill of the Brooklyn streets embrace him. He chose to wander leisurely, his eyes dancing over the vibrant sights and diverse faces that filled the borough. Laughter echoed from a nearby café, and the rich aroma of roasted coffee wafted through the air.
Being the coffee lover that he was, Wyatt bought himself a cup.
Although he possessed the extraordinary ability to soar through the sky and traverse vast distances at incredible speeds, Wyatt cherished these moments of tranquility. He savored the simple joys of life, finding beauty in the mundane rhythms of the city.
After all, what would be the point of fighting for a better tomorrow if you didn't pause to relish the little things along the way?
Pausing mid-step, Wyatt turned to the right and was struck by the sight of an older man sitting on the cold pavement.
His frail figure was hunched over, and a small, shivering dog nestled beside him, wrapped in a threadbare blanket. The man's face was etched with lines of hardship, his clothes tattered and soiled, offering him little protection from the biting chill of the day. The dog, emaciated and trembling, looked up with wide, fearful eyes, its thin frame barely covered by the blanket.
In the man's left hand, he held a worn piece of cardboard with the words "Hungry. Anything will do" scrawled in shaky letters. The sign was stained and faded, reflecting the desperate situation he found himself in.
Wyatt frowned as he observed all those who passed by the man; they hurried along, avoiding eye contact, as if the man wasn't even there. Each individual skirted around him, immersed in their own worlds, dismissing the possibility of offering help.
Without wasting another second, Wyatt approached the man.
"Hello there, sir. How are you doing?" Wyatt said as he sat beside the man on the wall.
The man lifted his head and turned to Wyatt, a bit surprised by his presence. "I'm doing alright, son. Just looking to find some food for my boy here. His name is Rocky," the man replied, glancing down at the small dog. "I'm Joshua."
"It's nice to meet you, Joshua, and you too, Rocky," Wyatt said with a smile. "I know a really great restaurant nearby. How about we go grab a warm meal?"
After walking two blocks, Wyatt led Joshua to a quaint little dumpling shop. The owners, having grown familiar with Wyatt after his numerous visits, didn't question the situation. They even brought out a small plate of food for Rocky to enjoy as well.
Time slipped away as Wyatt and Joshua engaged in deep conversation over plate after plate of mouthwatering dumplings. With each bite, Wyatt found himself more captivated by Joshua's life story—a tale marked by resilience but tinged with profound sorrow. Joshua, a veteran of the US Army, shared the details of his life that weighed heavily on him.
Five years ago, he lost his beloved wife to cancer, a battle that not only shattered his heart but also left him in a precarious financial situation. The loss spiraled him into a cycle of despair; before he knew it, he had lost his home and all of his possessions.
Currently, Joshua found himself navigating the harsh realities of life on the streets, his spirit weakened but not completely broken. The only glimmer of hope in his world was Rocky, his loyal dog, who had become his steadfast companion through thick and thin. The bond between them was palpable, offering Joshua a sense of purpose amid the harsh times.
Listening to Joshua's story, Wyatt felt a wave of understanding wash over him.
He remembered the short time he had spent on the streets after his actions had gotten him kicked out of his group home. The days he spent sleeping under bridges or abandoned buildings, not knowing where he would get his next meal, were still vivid in his mind. While Wyatt's time on the streets didn't last long, it was still a hard and rough experience he had gone through before he gained his powers.
Joshua had faced immense hardship and heartache, left to confront life's challenges with minimal support. It was heartbreaking to consider how a series of tragic events had brought him to this point.
Wyatt was determined not to let him suffer any longer.
He refused to allow that to continue.
"You know, Joshua, the FEAST shelter in Chinatown is a great place to get some help. They offer clothes, food, and even a place to sleep. I can take you there," Wyatt said. "Please, let me help you and Rocky."
"I don't know... I've never been one to ask for help," Joshua replied, glancing down at Rocky. The small dog had a full belly and was sleeping comfortably beside Joshua's foot. While he didn't care much about himself, he worried about his dog. "But… you might be right. I've never seen Rocky so happy. So full. I'll… I'll take you up on that."
Wyatt smiled and paid their bill, leaving a generous tip behind.
After exchanging heartfelt goodbyes with the owners, he stepped out onto the bustling streets and hailed a yellow cab to take them to Lower Manhattan. The city buzzed around them, with the sounds of honking horns and distant chatter filling the air.
Once they arrived, Wyatt, Joshua, and Rocky turned their gazes toward the FEAST shelter building. It was a modest structure, yet it stood as a beacon of hope, with a steady stream of people entering and exiting its doors—some looking weary but grateful, while others were filled with a sense of purpose as they carried bags filled with supplies.
As they walked inside, the warm atmosphere contrasted with the brisk winter air outside. Wyatt approached one of the shelter's volunteers, a woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile. She was new to him; he hadn't seen her during any of the many times he had dropped off supplies as part of Atomic's community outreach efforts. He felt a flicker of curiosity about her story and what had brought her to this meaningful work.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Wyatt asked as the volunteer turned around to face him. It was a kind-looking woman with grey hair and glasses. He was momentarily surprised at the name on her name tag.
"Yes? How can I help you?" May Parker said with a friendly smile as she looked away from her clipboard.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry, this is Joshua and Rocky. I was wondering if there were any warm clothes he could have?" Wyatt asked as he motioned to the two. "And maybe, a place to sleep?"
"Oh dear, of course! Follow me," May said as she motioned for them to follow her. "And you are?"
"Oh, sorry. My name is Wyatt. Wyatt Wilkins."
"How curious, my nephew Peter has a friend called Wyatt. That wouldn't be you?"
"Guilty as charged, Ma'am."
As they strolled through the expansive building, they were greeted by the sight of a spacious, repurposed gymnasium, now transformed into a sanctuary filled with rows of small beds where individuals could be seen peacefully sleeping or resting.
The soft murmur of conversation floated through the air as small groups gathered in cozy clusters to engage in lively board games or to watch flickering scenes on a television. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, enhanced by the vibrant colors of the bedding and the cheerful decor that adorned the walls.
Supplies were abundant, and every person was dressed in clean, warm clothing, a testament to the unwavering assistance that Atomic had provided over the past several months. Fresh garments hung neatly on racks, and the scent of home-cooked meals wafted from a nearby mess hall.
Wyatt couldn't help but smile softly as he took in the scene around him. The sight of people living comfortably and enjoying each other's company filled him with a sense of warmth and fulfillment. It was a powerful reminder that his contributions had indeed made a significant difference in the lives of those within the facility.
At one point, May had entered a large room and returned with a bundle of new clothes. "Here you go, Joshua. I hope I chose the correct sizes, but if something doesn't fit, let me know, and I'll find you something else," she said, turning to a young man standing behind her. His name tag read 'Randy Robertson.' "Robby here can lead you to the showers where you and Rocky can take a nice hot shower. After that, we can show you where you can sleep."
Joshua nodded and turned to Wyatt. "Thank you, Wyatt. I won't forget this."
"You don't have to thank me. I'm just happy to help," Wyatt replied with a smile, waving goodbye as Robby guided Joshua away.
"That was a good thing you did, young man," May said with a warm smile. "I wish there were more young people like you out here helping. I believe the city would be a better place if we all took care of each other."
"Yeah, I have to agree with that," Wyatt said. "Do you need any help around here? I'm pretty good at fixing things."
May smiled and nodded.
Over the next several hours, Wyatt immersed himself in the intricate workings of the shelter, moving with purpose as he assessed and repaired each piece of equipment he encountered with the subtle use of his powers. He meticulously tuned the washing machines and dryers, ensuring they ran smoothly and efficiently, which would allow for quicker turnaround times for the residents in need.
In addition to laundry facilities, Wyatt turned his attention to the aging television sets scattered throughout the common areas. With deft hands, he replaced outdated components and recalibrated their settings, enhancing picture quality and sound for those looking to catch up on news or enjoy a movie night.
But his efforts didn't stop there. Wyatt also identified weaknesses in the building's electrical system and HVAC units. He reinforced the wiring, replaced worn-out circuits, and optimized airflow within the shelter. As he worked, he made careful notes of what other upgrades might be necessary for the future.
By the time Wyatt finished, the FEAST shelter was operating much more efficiently than it had in a long time.
After saying goodbye to May, Joshua, and Rocky, Wyatt left the FEAST shelter to go on patrol, but stopped when his phone began to ring.
••o••o••o••
Gwen Stacy had experienced a whirlwind of events on what was supposed to be a typical day.
The day began with school—nothing unusual there. As always, she paid attention in class and earned top marks for her efforts. However, she faced a challenge when she stood up to Flash Thompson, who was pelting Peter with water balloons in the courtyard of the school.
She couldn't understand what Flash was thinking. Didn't he realize that Peter could get sick being wet in such chilly weather?
Fortunately, Peter had brought a spare set of clothes and quickly changed. After that, the two of them headed to fulfill their internship duties for Doctor Curtis Connors at Empire State University.
When they arrived, they came face to face with Eddie Brock—a longtime friend of Gwen's and an employee at the lab. Just as they were about to clean the lab, Doctor Connors, his wife Martha, and their son Billy entered with a cart full of chocolate cake.
While that in itself wasn't odd, Gwen, Peter, and Eddie were left in utter shock by the sight of Doctor Connors's regrown right arm.
According to Doctor Connors, he had harnessed the remarkable properties of lizard DNA to transform the human genome, crafting a serum that could potentially accelerate the healing process and regrow lost limbs—just as lizards do so effortlessly in nature.
However, a wave of apprehension washed over Gwen when Doctor Connors boldly announced that he had injected the untested lizard serum into his own body. Her mind raced with concerns about the risks involved in such a daring experiment.
Yet, the remarkable results he demonstrated began to alleviate her fears, sparking her imagination about the profound implications of a serum capable of regenerating limbs, an achievement that could redefine the boundaries of medical science.
Despite her lingering doubts, Gwen couldn't help but find common ground with Eddie, who passionately argued that Connors' scientific endeavors had culminated in something truly extraordinary.
As Eddie enthusiastically declared, "We're talking about a guaranteed Nobel Prize!" Gwen felt a surge of excitement, the potential for monumental discoveries igniting her own sense of wonder and hope. She couldn't help but nod in agreement, envisioning a future transformed by such revolutionary science.
Unfortunately, everything went horribly wrong from there.
Not only did Doctor Connors's lizard formula regrow his arm, but it also changed Doctor Connors's DNA into that of a lizard.
Scales had begun to grow over half his body, and his mind began to unravel as his brain quickly transformed into that of a lizard.
"…The formula creates new reptile sequences faster than I can ID them," Eddie said as he examined Doctor Connors's blood underneath the lab's microscope. "I don't know how we'll knock them all down."
"Wait, bro. What if we work from the other end?" Peter asked as he and Gwen walked up to Eddie. "Create a human DNA filter that knocks out the lizard code? Like the noise filter on a cell phone!"
Eddie scoffed. "Yeah, nice try, bro, but-"
"No, wait!" Martha yelled from where she held her husband. Curtis groaned as his body convulsed in pain. The scales on his face were digging deeper into his skin. "That could work. A gene cleanser!"
"Yes. Yes, of course. Ah, I should've seen it before." Curtis mumbled, his mind half there and half away. "My notes. They'll have all the data we need."
"So it'll remove any non-human DNA," Gwen said hopefully.
With a plan now in mind, Gwen and Eddie begin to speculate how they would create such a gene cleanser, as Peter left to go talk to Billy.
But before they could begin to work, everything went wrong.
"I-I've made... a terrible mistake!" Curtis growled as he began to mutate.
Gwen watched in horror as her mentor's body began to snap and distort as Curtis's body forcefully changed itself.
His spine cracked as he grew in height, and his muscles tore as they expanded in strength. Skin fell to the floor as slimy, shiny green scales sprang to life, and the Curtis's skull shrank to give way to an elongated skull and snout full of razor-sharp teeth.
With a monstrous roar, Doctor Curtis, no, the Lizard bellowed loudly as he stood hunched over.
Gwen stood frozen in fear as Eddie tried to stop the Lizard from getting away, only to watch as her friend was effortlessly thrown across the room at Peter. From there, the Lizard roared at Martha, frightening the woman before jumping out through the glass skylight and into the city.
"Finish the gene cleanser! I'll follow the doc and call in with a location!" Eddie yelled as he ran out of the lab in pursuit of the Lizardfied Curtis Connors.
"Uh, I should get going too. Uncle Ben will ground me if I'm not home by 10." Peter said as he rubbed the back of his head, much to Gwen's dismay and horror. She couldn't believe what he had just said.
"Pete, you can't leave now! We have to help!" Gwen said as she grabbed Peter's arm.
"Well, I just-I can't be late. He'll ground me." Peter said with a grimace, quickly running out of the lab.
"Peter, wait!" Martha called out uselessly.
Gwen stood back in disbelief, not fully grasping that Peter had abandoned them all in such dire circumstances. His remarkable intelligence could have been instrumental in quickly creating a cleanser, but he just left.
"How could he just...?" Gwen muttered, not willing to say it. Otherwise, she would have to accept that her friend and crush just left her.
"I guess..." Seeing Gwen's distress, Martha forced herself not to worry about her husband and help the young girl. She was the adult after all. She had to be strong. "I guess he's scared. First Electro, now this. It's overwhelming. And he's only 16." Martha said.
"I'm 16!" Gwen yelled, not willing to hear any excuses.
"I-I know. And thank you," Martha said weakly and hugged the girl. Thankful for her presence and help.
"Wait! I think I know someone who can help!" Gwen pulled away and pulled out her phone.
"Gwen, wait! We can let other people know about this! Curt… he-"
"It's okay. I trust him. We can trust him." Gwen said with complete certainty.
Martha frowned and looked unsure. But the fact of the matter is that her husband was currently a monster. A monster who was out in the city doing who knows what? People could be getting hurt or worse.
"Okay… call your friend," Martha relented.
Gwen nodded and quickly found her contact for Wyatt. Tapping on the call button, she pulled her phone up to her ear and waited. The dial tone felt as if it lasted hours, but the call was quickly picked up.
"Hello?"
••o••o••o••
"Wyatt! Wyatt, I need your help! How fast can you get to the ESU science lab?" Gwen said quickly, her voice trembling.
"I'll be there in five minutes," Wyatt instantly said, running into an alleyway.
In a flash of light, he was enveloped in his Atomic suit.
Unlike his previous ensemble, his current suit had undergone a series of remarkable changes and upgrades.
The armor was notably more robust, featuring thicker layers of Mystic Metal and Uru that effectively shielded his vital organs with reliable resilience. Beneath the striking red and white fabric, delicate strands of Adamantium were seamlessly woven throughout, providing an unyielding foundation.
Several vibrant crimson lines pulsated with an ethereal glow, intersecting the sleek surface and adding an electrifying flair to his appearance. To complete the look, his iconic helmet sparkled, and his white cape billowed gracefully in the wind.
In a streak of red light, Atomic flew up into the darkening sky and turned in the direction of the Empire State University.