The basement beneath Nathan's safe house was anything but ordinary. At first glance, one might think the luxurious villa above was the true marvel, with its sleek design, panoramic windows, and cutting-edge technology embedded in every corner. But anyone granted access to the restricted lower levels would quickly realize where the true brilliance of the estate lay.
Beneath the mansion, a massive underground complex sprawled like a hidden fortress, stretching in all directions far beyond the visible boundaries of the house itself. Reinforced walls, thick support pillars, and state-of-the-art ventilation systems suggested military-grade construction. The place resembled a small, self-sufficient command center more than a basement. If a war broke out aboveground, this bunker could keep its inhabitants safe for weeks, maybe even months.
It was Nathan's private domain, the place where he tested, trained, and evolved—both physically and mentally. Ever since the incident at Oscorp that changed his DNA forever, Nathan had poured himself into understanding and mastering his abilities. And he had repurposed this underground realm into a crucible of self-improvement.
The main chamber—an open training room—was about the size of a basketball court. The polished concrete floor bore marks from impacts, skid lines, and minor craters. Heavy-duty steel beams crisscrossed the ceiling, some of them used for acrobatic routines or strength testing. Hanging from those beams were sandbags, speed balls, and ropes—all swinging slightly from the force of previous workouts. Dozens of machines lined the far walls, each calibrated to simulate combat, strength resistance, or agility training.
Nathan sprinted through the obstacle course, barely a blur to the naked eye. His enhanced speed made dodging the swinging sandbags effortless. He somersaulted mid-air, landed in a crouch, then leapt over a six-foot-high wall with ease. His movements were fluid, instinctual—less like a human and more like a predator.
It had only been a few days since the spider bite had restructured his biology, but already, he felt the change in every muscle fiber, every neuron.
"Again," he muttered to himself, landing on a steel bar and flipping backward mid-air before clinging upside down to the ceiling. His fingertips had tiny, hair-like bristles—an adaptation that allowed him to cling to nearly any surface, even vertical walls or glass. It was a power that fascinated him endlessly.
He crawled along the ceiling like a spider, then dropped straight down into a roll and transitioned seamlessly into a sprint.
Nearby, a digital monitor tracked his vitals—heart rate, oxygen levels, reflex time, neural response, and more. The display updated in real-time, painting a complex portrait of a human rapidly becoming something more.
Suddenly, a soft chime echoed through the chamber.
Nathan's momentum halted immediately. The red warning light on the far wall began to flash—a perimeter alert. But it wasn't hostile.
"Alice, who is it?" Nathan asked aloud.
A voice replied through the intercom. "Identity confirmed: Peter Parker. Clearance level—restricted guest."
Nathan sighed, brushing sweat from his forehead. "Let him in. Direct him to the observation deck."
Peter had been a frequent visitor ever since they met through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s science initiative. His curiosity, combined with his own spider abilities, had drawn him to Nathan like a moth to a flame. The two had bonded over their shared origin stories, though Peter's was slightly different. His mutation had stabilized long ago. Nathan's was still evolving.
As Peter descended into the underground chamber, his eyes widened with admiration. "Man, this place is insane. You sure you're not running a secret Avenger base down here?"
Nathan chuckled. "I prefer the term 'private lab.' Less paperwork."
Peter approached, wearing his usual hoodie and backpack. He dropped it on a nearby bench and glanced around. "You're pushing yourself hard, huh?"
"I don't have a choice." Nathan's expression darkened slightly. "Ever since the Oscorp incident, things haven't been... stable."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Unstable how?"
Nathan didn't answer right away. Instead, he walked toward a nearby workstation and tapped a few keys. A holographic 3D model of his body appeared, showcasing a dynamic image of his mutated physiology. Tiny red markers blinked along his spine and the base of his skull.
"There's something wrong with my nervous system," Nathan explained. "The mutation isn't static. It's still rewriting parts of me—evolving me further."
Peter looked uneasy. "Like... you're becoming more spider than human?"
"Possibly. Or something entirely new."
Peter stepped closer to the hologram. "That's not normal."
"No, it isn't," Nathan replied. "But it's happening, whether I like it or not."
The air grew tense. For a moment, the only sounds were the hum of machines and the low beeping from the sensors around them.
Then Peter, always trying to keep things light, said, "Well, at least you didn't grow six extra eyes or start laying eggs."
Nathan smirked. "Give it time."
But humor couldn't mask the deeper concern. Peter knew all too well the dangers of unchecked mutation. If Nathan's powers kept growing, what would be left of his humanity?
"Have you talked to anyone at S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Peter asked.
"They want to put me in containment. Study me. I'm not going to be their lab rat."
Peter looked down. He understood. "So what's the plan?"
Nathan tapped the screen again, and the hologram shifted. "I've identified a stabilizer compound—one that can potentially freeze the mutation at its current stage. It's derived from Oscorp's abandoned serum prototypes. But I need to synthesize it myself. Carefully."
Peter whistled. "That's dangerous stuff. One wrong calculation and you could mess up your entire DNA."
"I know."
Peter put a hand on his shoulder. "Then let me help. You don't have to do this alone."
Nathan hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks."
Suddenly, an alert blared again. This time, the siren was different—sharper, urgent.
Nathan turned toward the monitor. "Motion detected... top level breach!"
Peter instinctively pulled up his mask. "Trouble?"
"Let's find out."
The two raced up the elevator, exiting into the villa's upper levels in seconds. The living room lights were flashing red. Nathan's AI, Alice, spoke quickly.
"Unknown figure has entered the perimeter. No weapons detected. Optical ID pending... match found: Felicia Hardy, alias Black Cat."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is she doing here?"
Peter groaned. "You know her?"
"We've crossed paths. Let's just say she likes shiny things."
They entered the hallway just as the front door creaked open. A figure in a tight, black suit slipped inside—long white hair flowing behind her. Felicia Hardy smiled, eyes gleaming.
"Well well," she purred, "I heard rumors you had a new toy down here."
Nathan stepped forward. "This isn't a museum, Felicia."
"I'm not here to steal. Just wanted to see how my favorite spider-mutant was doing."
Peter raised his hand. "Hey, I'm still here. Full-time spider, thank you very much."
Felicia winked at him. "Relax, webhead. You're adorable too."
Nathan folded his arms. "What do you want?"
Felicia's demeanor shifted subtly. "There's talk on the street. About Oscorp. About you. People are getting curious. And dangerous people are starting to hunt."
Nathan's expression hardened. "Let them come."
Felicia shook her head. "I came to warn you, not fight you. Word is... someone's found the backup samples. If they unlock your genetic template, you won't be the only one of your kind anymore."
That hit like a thunderbolt.
Peter stepped closer. "What do you mean? Another spider-mutant?"
"Worse," Felicia replied. "A weaponized version."
Nathan felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"I can track the data," Felicia said. "But I'll need access to your lab."
Peter gave Nathan a wary look.
Nathan considered it. "Fine. But try to steal anything, and I'll web you to the ceiling."
Felicia smirked. "Promises, promises."
Back in the lab, the three of them huddled over Nathan's database.
Felicia plugged in a drive. "Intercepted this from a black-market biotech dealer. It's encrypted."
Nathan's fingers flew across the keys. "Not for long."
A moment later, the screen lit up—data spilled across it.
Project: ARACHNID-X
Objective: Genetic Weaponization of Spider-Based Mutation
Lead Researcher: Unknown
Status: Active
Location: Classified – Last Ping: Queens, NY
Peter's face paled. "That's near Midtown."
Nathan clenched his fists. "We're not just dealing with random criminals. Someone's trying to create a weaponized version of what happened to me."
Felicia nodded. "And they might be further along than you think."
Nathan stood. "Then we end it before it begins."
Peter cracked his knuckles. "Guess it's time for a team-up."
Felicia grinned. "About time. Let's go save the city—again."
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