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MISADVENTURES IN PARADISE
xiv. STELLAR COLLISION

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   AS THE NIGHT DEEPENED, the sleepless New Yorkers tuned into the Daily Bugle podcast.

   "Ladies and gentlemen, the Bugle tip line has just received a call from none other than the fugitive known as Spider-Man, fresh from his rampage in Queens," J. Jonah Jameson reported. "So, Peter Parker, what pernicious propaganda are you peddling?"

   "Just the truth." Those listening could see Peter's beaten face as they video-chatted, whether on their phones, computers, or the screens illuminating Times Square.

   "Oh, sure," Jameson sarcastically said.

   "The truth is... that this is all my fault. I accidentally brought those dangerous people here."

   "Well, he admits it!"

   "And if those people are watching... just know that I really did try to help you. I mean, I could've killed you," Peter lifted the Macchina di Kadavus into view, "at any given moment, but I didn't. Because my Aunt May taught me that everyone deserves a second chance. And that's why I'm here."

   "And where is "here" exactly?"

   Peter turned his phone. "A place that represents second chances."

   Jameson gasped. "The Statue of Liberty? Good God, folks! He's about to destroy another national landmark! Where is Valor to stop him!?"

   Peter fought the urge to say, Right here with me, asshole, helping me finish the job.

   "World, if you're watching—"

   "Believe me, the world is watching."

   "—wish me luck. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man could use some."

   The call ended, and an air of pride inflated Peter. The Starks had taught him well.

   Mounting the apex of the statue, Peter announced, "Okay, guys! It could be any minute now."

   "Yep, almost done!" Peter 2 slung the cures skyward, securing them to the scaffolding. Nearby, the Peters laid their masks on a piece of rebar, stretching and preparing for the battle.

   Meanwhile, Riley sat on a suspended forcefield, gathering herself. To those squinting in the distance, it looked like the torch Lady Liberty waved was aflame. Riley didn't do this before fights often, usually because most battles were sprung onto her in the spur of the moment, but tonight, she needed to be prepared for anything.

   Roman leaned against a metal pipe behind her. "I keep thinking about what you said before... about Solar. You're not like her, Ri. Not really."

   Grimly, she said, "I could be. I might be. Deep down."

   "All of the bad you've done was always to help others. Solar became a shitty person because she believed she was alone. She thought she had no choice but to prove to herself that everyone had a reason to leave her, even though she pushed them away herself," Roman said. "But you're not alone. You haven't been for a long time."

   Her eyes opened. That was true.

   All this time, she feared abandonment and isolation, but when was the last time she was genuinely, truly alone? Even when she was on Titan II, her loved ones were searching for her. They were with her in spirit.

   "On Asteria, during periods of strife, we reminded ourselves of our collective genesis. You are composed of the essences scavenged from the bellies of long-deceased stars. It took billions of years to create the basic blocks from which you're built. You're not a passenger of life. You're a reflection of its immeasurable possibilities," Roman encouraged. "I guess it's more paramount since the sun is also a star, yeah? So, be the star you were born from. Brighten the world. Guide it. Center it. That's what you've always done. That's what you'll keep doing. That's who you are."

   Riley lowered herself. "You—"

   "Don't call me a sap, alright? It's just, I know what bad people are like. I read hundreds of souls every day. Why do you think I'm always in a shitty mood? I never get a second of peace unless I'm alone, or I'm with people like you. And MJ, Peter, Ned, and the Starks. People who are good and unashamed to be themselves. I know you, Riley. Your soul is earnest and warm. I wouldn't lie to you." She tried to reply, but Roman added, "Don't thank me either. We gotta keep each other moving, right? Village rules."

   "Village rules," she agreed before throwing her arms around him. "I fucking love you sometimes, you know."

   "I'd hope so. Look at me, I'm preaching inspirational speeches on the Statue of Liberty. I feel like a jackass."

   "And I'll never let you forget it for the rest of our lives."

   He chuckled, running a hand over her hair. "I'm counting on it, kid."

   When they regrouped with the Peters, Peter 3 was saying, "God, this is so cool. I always wanted brothers. So you, like, make your own web fluid in your body?"

   Peter 2 hesitated. "I'd rather not talk about this..."

   "No, I don't mean to—!"

   "Are you teasing me?"

   "No, no, no, no, no, no! He's not teasing you!" Peter 1 called down. "It's just that... We can't do that, so naturally, we're curious as to how your web situation works. That's all!"

   "If it's personal, I don't wanna pry," Peter 3 said.

   "I wish I could tell you, but it's, like, I don't do it. Like I don't do breathing. Breathing just happens," Peter 2 said, making awkward hand gestures. "It's just, like, when it releases, it's like a clean release."

   Riley burst, "That's what he said!"

   "You beat me by one second," Roman groaned.

   Peter 1 wondered, "Does it come out of your wrists, or... does it come out of anywhere else?"

   Blushing, Peter 2 assured them it only came out of his wrists. Peter inquired whether he'd ever experienced a web block. He and Peter 1 constantly had to manufacture webs, often running out during fights, which was a major hassle. Peter 2 seemed to have the upper hand in that department.

   "That does sound like a hassle. But I did. Actually, as you said that, I was like, Oh, I had a web block," Peter 2 said. When they asked why it happened, he said, "Existential crisis stuff."

   "Been there," Riley mumbled. "Probably still there, actually..."

   "Don't get me started on that," Peter 3 said. "That's so cool, man. Like, I wanna see the holes."

   As Peter 2 and Roman shot him baffled glances, Peter 1 queried, "Hey, what are some of the craziest villains that you guys have fought?"

   "Seems that you've met some of them," Peter 2 half-heartedly laughed. "I fought an... alien made out of black goo once."

   "Oh, no way! I fought an alien, too! On Earth and in space," Peter 1 mentioned. "And not just Roman. Like, an alien army. Riley was there, too! Yeah, the main bad guy was purple."

   Peter 3's jaw fell. "I wanna fight an alien!"

   "You can fight Rome later if you want," Riley offered. Roman nodded supportively.

   "Wait, he's actually an—?"

   "I'm still like, woah, that you fought an alien in space," Peter 2 said. "I'm always simultaneously, completely stunned by the fantastical nature of these things... and it's also just like, Yeah! Okay, yeah, so..."

   "Just another Monday," Peter 3 bantered. "I'm lame compared. Like, I fought a Russian guy in a rhinoceros machine."

   "That's cool!" Riley roused. "Russian robots are tough. Have you ever fought a Russian cyborg? They're the worst!"

   "Mm, not as cool as—" Peter 3 started.

   "Can we rewind it back to the I'm lame part?" Peter 2 clipped. "'Cause you are not."

   "Gah, thanks. I'm not—"

   "It's just the self-talk. Maybe we should— 'Cause you are amazing. Just take it in for a minute, will you?"

   As the Peters initiated a group therapy session, which somehow escalated into Roman leading the session, Riley floated to the tip of the statue and sat beside her Peter.

   "Hi."

   "Hey. What's up?"

   "Oh, you know. End-of-the-universe stuff."

   "Ah, I know those ones," Peter replied. "What do you wanna do when this is all over?"

   Riley buried her face into his shoulder. "Sleep. I'm so tired. How are you still functioning?"

   "Pretty sure I've been sleep deprived since I hit puberty." He rested his head against hers. "You ready for this?"

   "I guess," she mumbled. "I have a plan in case shit hits the fan. You and me, we're gonna flee the country, move somewhere random. Someplace where I'll have... I dunno... a chicken farm. And you can run a sailboat rental shop for tourists because that's totally topologically sound."

   "What do you know about chicken farms?"

   "What do you know about sailboats?"

   "Hey, for your information, it's been my dream to run a sailboat rental shop since five seconds ago."

   Riley giggled. She leaned back to look at him, drinking in his features. "Pete... no matter what happens tonight..."

   His smile fell. "Don't. Don't do that."

   "I was gonna say, you owe me, like, 20 apology churros."

   Peter hummed. "Looks like I have a lot to do when this is over. Gotta flee the country, get some chickens... some sailboats... and you want churros? You know I still gotta save the universe, right? And I'm still broke?"

   "At least you have a decent excuse this time. The other day, Tony told me you tried to avoid joining the Avengers in Berlin all those years ago to do homework."

   "It was important at the time!"

   "God, you're such a loser."

   "Yeah, you have a type if you haven't noticed—"

   "Shut up!"

   Their laughter didn't last long. When Peter tensed up, Riley knew it was time.

   The Peters peered up in the same direction. Thunder growled in their ears. Yellow pulsated through the clouds. With a flashy burst, Electro materialized in a new outfit, chained and strapped with conductors that compelled the electricity to cling to his frame.

   "What's up, Peter? How you like the new-new?" Electro eyed the Macchina di Kadavus greedily. "Look, you give it to me, I'm gonna destroy it. But I'll let you live. Don't make me a murderer, Peter."

   Peter masked up and leaped off the statue. "Okay, guys, here he comes!"

   Electro chased him, transiting alongside his electricity. As the others sprang into action, Peter 3 greeted his old foe.

   "Hey, Max! I missed you, man! Ho!" He swung upward to dodge a blast.

   As Peter 1 chucked the relic into a portal Ned opened from inside Midtown High, Riley forced a forcefield between him and Max. She nodded to his supercharged Arc Reactor and mentioned, "You should know, this is really problematic for my daddy issues!"

   Before he could react, she propelled the forcefield back, shoving him in Peter 3's direction. Electricity splintered the inky sky as Peter 3 struggled to reason with him.

   "You're not trying to save me!" Max howled.

   "I am!" Peter 3 promised.

   "You ain't even the shit no more!"

   Peter 3 defeatedly sighed.

   Below, Lizard roared from the waters of the Claremont Terminal Channel to announce his arrival. He crawled up the creaky construction frame and latched onto Peter 2.

   "Uh, just FYI... Lizard-guy is here, too!" Peter swung from a crane, with Dr. Connors holding onto him while simultaneously getting bashed in the face with Peter's foot. "Guys, comm check! Hello?"

   "I NEED MAX'S CURE!" one Peter shouted while the other yelled, "I NEED THE LIZARD CURE!"

   It sounded like Peter 1 was on it until a fist of sand snatched him. A giant, muddle face wrinkled the sand.

   "Where's the box, Peter?" Sandman boomed.

   "Flint! We can help everyone!" Peter reasoned.

   "I DON'T CARE!"

   Riley hovered, hesitant. Five heroes against three villains, and they were already a mess. Webs slicked the construction site, missing their targets and snapping mid-swing after slinging in another Spider-Man's path. Riley would've thought three Peters would be more synchronized than this. She wasn't sure where to jump in. Who needed her most? It was hard to decide. All three Peters were getting their asses kicked.

   "ON IT!" Roman called. He teleported to a higher tier and swan-dove off the edge to nab the nearest cure. Without warning, Electro blasted the crane. It toppled onto Flint, disturbing his monstrous form and knocking him down. Peters 1 and 2 leaped to safety, leaving Roman to get hammered by a flailing Lizard at the last second.

   Miraculously, the cure didn't budge.

   Electro blasted Peter 3 into the scaffolding, and Flint rose again. A vortex swarmed the statue, blocking Riley and Max's line of sight.

   "Max! We have to stop meeting like this!" Riley beamed. "We don't have to do this. I don't want to risk hurting such a pretty face!"

   Max chuckled. "I'm more than just a pretty face."

   "I was talking about me," Riley said. "My pretty face."

   In her comm, the Peters started to argue.

   "What the hell is going on out there!?" Peter 3 demanded. "I keep yelling at you, Peter 2, Peter 2—"

   "Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Peter 1 winced.

   "I know, but I thought you were Peter 2?"

   "What? I'm not Peter 2—"

   Electricity whipped toward Riley. She deflected by enclosing herself into a bubble. The bolts frizzed backward into the sandstorm. Max stared at her dumbly.

   "What? Did you seriously think I wasn't going to do that?" Riley interrogated. "You have another plan, right? Like, that's not all you can do, right?" She waited. He did nothing. "Dude..."

   "I'm thinking!" Max snapped.

   "Life or death, Max! This is life or death, and you're pausing to THINK?"

   "Well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to duke it out with you—!"

   "Stop arguing, both of you! Listen to Peter 1!" Peter scolded his clones. "Look, we're clearly not very good at this!"

   "I know, I know. We suck!" Peter 3 said. "I-I don't know how to work as a team."

   "Me neither," Peter 2 admitted.

   "Well, I do! I have been in a team, okay?" Peter 1 revealed. "I don't wanna brag, but I will. I was in the Avengers."

   "The Avengers!?" Peter 2 exclaimed.

   "Yeah!"

   "That's great!"

   "Thank you!"

   "What is that?"

   On the ground, Roman grunted, "ANYONE HUNGRY? BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO PUT THIS STUPID DINOSAUR ON A KEBAB IF IT'S THE LAST—" He heaved Dr. Connors overhead, slamming him down. "—THING I DO."

   "Wait, you don't have the Avengers?" Peter 1 queried.

   "Is that a band? Are you in a band?" Peter 3 ricocheted.

   "No, I'm not in a band! No, the Avengers is, uh— Earth's Mightiest—"

   "HOW IS THIS HELPING!?" Peter 2 hollered.

   In the air, Riley lowered her forcefield. It was a foolish idea, but she needed something to do. She couldn't decipher what the others were screeching about, but she figured she should leave them to it and do her damn job.

   No more holding back.

   An explosion of light flung Max backward, burning his exposed skin. Now that Riley knew Sandman wasn't invulnerable, light strobed out of her palms to minimize his form. It would take some time, especially with Max trying to zap her, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Sunbeams spotlit the dust and crashed into electric strikes, which crackled across New York. SNAP! CRACK! BOOM!

   The sand snaked toward Riley whenever she was distracted with Max, but she didn't linger long enough for him to ensnare her. She turned visible and invisible back and forth, using the dust storm to her advantage. This confused the pair, and she was able to redirect their attacks. The sand suffocated Max, and the electric bolts shrank Flint's figure with each hit.

   Roman and Lizard climbed toward them, punching and kicking each other on the way up. Once Riley shoved Electro and Sandman away, and Roman possessed Lizard's soul long enough to fling him off the statue, Riley asked him where the Peters were.

   As if on cue, the Spider-Man trio emerged.

   Whatever they were arguing about, it seemed like they reached an agreement because they swung in tandem, hollering wildly. As individuals, they had their own swinging styles, but they moved as a collective body, a spider greater than the ones inside them. They landed on Lady Liberty's crown, one by one.

   "As awesome as that was, please tell me you guys weren't coordinating your big superhero entrance this whole time," Roman groaned.

   Sandman, Electro, and Lizard regrouped along the outskirts of the scaffolding. Before either side could advance, sunlight flared behind the villain trio. Solar shined above them, grinning wickedly.

   Riley swallowed hard. "Peters, try to coordinate your attacks and pick these guys off one at a time."

   "Yeah, that's actually what we were planning a few seconds ago," Peter 3 chimed.

   Riley could've made fun of them for taking so long to curate a plan that she thought of in half a minute. Instead, she said, "Good. Then, we're on the same page. Rome, distract the others. Solar's mine."

   Together, the groups lunged.

   Two streaks of pure light paved through the night, slamming into one another. Blinding power rippled across the state, causing the power lines to flicker. Every hit that landed between the girls evoked the same reaction. BOOM... BOOM... BOOM...

   Perhaps fate was pulling the strings again, tempting their creations. Valor and Solar were destined to fight each other until one of them burned out. An immovable object meets an unstoppable force. Neither will stop at anything to change the future.

   This was it. A stellar collision, torching black holes into the fragile multiverse.

   Solar clawed at her. Valor bent back, flipping the older Riley over. Rather than casting her into the New York Harbor, Valor slammed Solar against a forcefield in the sky. They laid out forcefields for one another, a sort of transparent catwalk to wrestle each other on, adding and removing them at will to steal the other's balance.

   Valor had the upper hand in combat, whereas Solar overflowed with uncontrollable power. Solar knew nothing about fighting, but she had a decent grasp on her powers, so she used them to avoid close combat as much as possible. It was tricky though, for the only way to steal the other's light was to get a lot closer.

   When Solar blocked Valor's fist, the girls took a moment to catch their breaths.

   "You have something I need," Solar sneered. It was obvious she was running out of time. She was a ghost now, as gray as her predestined tombstone, yet she fought like she already won, like she was merely entertaining Valor as an afterthought.

   "How ironic," Valor spat. "I can't think of anyone more worthless in this universe than you."

   "Cute. Maybe I should kill some more people to convince you to give me what I want. I've killed a few dozen already. How's a dozen more?"

   "Aw," Valor cooed, "is that it?"

   Solar narrowed her eyes. "Are you mocking my kill count? You're a rather backward hero, aren't you?"

   "Better than a failed villain," Valor remarked. "How do you just go home after failing to kill your hero nemesis? Do you still do your skincare routine, or do you go straight to bed?"

   Solar blasted her in the chest. "I AM NOT A FAILURE!"

   Valor barely managed to catch herself before Lady Liberty's crown could impale her. "Okay... Hit a soft spot," she wheezed. "I can work with that."

   While Riley didn't want to kill Solar, fatiguing and overexerting her would help tremendously. It was a matter of timing. If she was too slow, Solar would kill one of the Peters. If she was too late, Solar would kill herself, and all of this would be for nothing.

   Valor flew upward, allowing Peter 1 to swing off her moving forcefield as he headed for the top of the statue. The others hastily worked on curing Flint first, passing the cure between each other while Lizard, Electro, and Sandman attacked them.

   Solar met her halfway. She gripped her shoulders and pushed Valor back down, leaching off her powers. When Riley's back touched the base of the statue, she bashed her head against Solar's and freed herself. Then, Riley reached for Solar, nails digging into her gray skin to take her powers. Suddenly, Solar understood Valor's plan.

   "I knew it," Solar gasped. "You're just as greedy as I am!"

   Riley coughed awkwardly. "Yeah, well... At least I'm normal about it!"

   Solar hummed. "Catch me if you can."

   It was exhausting just watching them. Every glance the others caught of the girls, they were chasing one another, back and forth, up and down, pummeling one hardly long enough before the other slipped away. It was a ruthless game of cat and mouse, where the roles swapped every five seconds.

   Soon, Solar threw Valor against the statue with a grunt. Riley gripped one of Lady Liberty's crown's segments, inwardly sighing in relief when a suited hand pulled her inside.

   "Look sharp!" Peter 2 greeted, unmasked and breathless. Riley clung to him to steady herself. "You okay?"

   "Trying to... tire her out," Riley muttered. "I think it's working, but she figured out my plan, which means she's stalling. And the longer she stalls..."

   "The faster we're running out of time."

   "Exactly. She keeps grabbing me long enough to steal some of my light before fleeing. At least before, it was easier because she was coming straight after me. It's getting harder to keep up now that she's getting ahead," Riley explained. "But she's smart. Observant. She's fast. Faster than me."

   "Hey," Peter said. "She's not fast. She's desperate."

   "She's relentless."

   "She doesn't have your experience."

   "Experience is irrelevant when you're willing to do anything to succeed."

   "You're trained. She's sloppy. She can take your powers, but she can't take your intelligence. Wise up, Riley. You can do this."

   Riley slowly nodded. She was about to ask why he was up there in the first place when she noticed a newly cured Flint Marko standing in the corner, gawking at the skin of the hands. How did she miss that?

   "Huh. One down," Riley said. "Lookin' good, Flint!"

   "A lot more to go. How—?" Peter tensed. "MOVE!"

   He shielded them as a solar flare roasted the statue. Thankfully, Valor's instincts were sharp. Because of her forcefield, none of them got hurt. Solar climbed inside, panting just as heavily as Riley was.

   At least the plan was somewhat working.

   "For fuck's sake!" Riley griped. "Get your own statue!"

   Solar's gaze flickered. "Peter?"

   The glamor of her half-dead appearance splintered. Solar's voice softened into a whimper, eyes rounding with innocence. For a second, Solar looked like the young girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart again.

   Then, Solar wailed. She clutched her stomach, tears streaking her bloody face. No one had touched her. The light inside her was simply eating her alive.

   "We're running out of time," Peter realized. "She's running out of time. Riley, you have to help her before—"

   "Help me? What do you know about helping, Peter Parker?" Solar grated. "All you do, all you've ever done, is hurt people. Everyone you touch gets hurt or dies, just like me. You call that bad luck. I call that a pattern. Find the common denominator, Spider-Man. It's—"

   Solar spluttered as a forcefield squeezed her throat.

   "Don't," Riley hissed, "talk to him like that."

   Peter 2 placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. Not like this, he seemed to say. Reluctantly, Riley released her.

   "You shouldn't say things you don't believe. Rule #1 of journalism, right?" Peter weakly said. He approached her warily. "Don't die trying to cement your insecurities in our memories. Live to change the narrative. Isn't that what you always said? Whenever J. Jonah Jameson slandered my name, you said to me, Prove them all wrong. What about now, Riles? Don't you wanna prove us all wrong?"

   There it was again. Solar's facade fractured. She continued anyway, "You know what the worst part is? You don't even realize what you're doing. You've... always been like that, Bug-Boy..." She forced a smile. "Oblivious."

   "I'm sorry," Peter said. "I'm sorry I did this to you. I'm sorry for everything. And if you keep resisting me, all of us, I'll be sorry for the rest of my life that I couldn't give you the second chance you deserve."

   "What's the point? What does sorry get me? Who knows if your plan, whatever it is, will work?" Solar rasped. "I'm already dying. At least let me die on my terms."

   "You know I can't do that, Riley..."

   "If you really wanted to save me, you would help me in my mission," Solar said. "Isn't that what you promised me? You promised you would help me, no matter what—"

   "What is wrong with you?" Riley snapped. "How can you stand there and try to manipulate the one person, the only person who still sees the good in you? Give it up, Riley. You're done. Give me your powers. Maybe you'll see the light once it's in front of you."

   Solar groaned. "Aren't you sick of this? The chasing, this waiting game? Why can three Peters join forces, but we can't? Can't you sense what we could achieve, you and I? We're lab experiments, Valor. We're Frankenstein's monster! We could start over! Let's rule this nonsensical world together, without stupid boys to hurt us or imaginary laws to restrain us! Let's make it our playground, our castle—!"

   Valor charged forward and smashed Solar's head against the wall. Again. Again. Solar kicked at Riley, barely managing to squeeze out of the crown and into the air again. Riley chased her.

   "I don't wanna rule the world! I just want to live in peace," Riley called. "If you're anything like me, I know you want the same! You want the picket fence, the dog, the quiet days! I know it! Do you really care more to be right about a nightmare that doesn't exist outside your head than to live with your mistakes?"

   Solar turned. Wiping her bleeding nose, she sneered, "You're a monster, Riley Stark."

   "Aw, someone's a little mad that I didn't let them finish their stupid monologue!"

   In all honesty, both girls were done talking.

   If they were going to do this, it had to be now.

   It wasn't windy before, but a breeze picked up as they hunted one another. Much like a black hole, neither could run far before they were drawn back into the fight. They crashed into each other again and again. Every strike that drew blood forced white light to seep through, spilling over the other girl.

   But Solar was getting weaker.

   The end, whichever it would be for her, was near.

   Just below them, they noticed a glittering, golden portal, the same portal Ned had opened earlier. Inside, he was struggling to close it. MJ was by his side, encouraging him, gripping the relic protectively. Dr. Connors seemed to notice the portal at the same time. He bolted toward the students, causing Peter 1 to drop what he was doing to chase them. Solar's eyes lit up, and Riley knew she was going to go after them, too.

   Valor raced after Solar. But instead of lunging for MJ, just before she could enter the portal, Solar spun around and grabbed Riley by the neck.

   "Made ya look."

   Solar darted into the clouds, crushing Valor's windpipe along the way, draining every drop of oxygen and light she had left. Riley clawed at Solar desperately, but she was only freed when Solar decided to let go.

   Wheezing, Riley tried to catch herself in a forcefield. But something was wrong. It didn't work.

   Plummeting toward the Statue of Liberty, Riley tried again. She manipulated the atmosphere the way she always did and waited for the hard barrier to catch her.

   Again, it didn't work.

   She tried again.

   And again.

   Again.

   The wind squealed lost apologies in Riley's ears as it passed through her, failing to carry her as it usually did. Riley raised her arms before her, waiting for her hands to light up. Do something, she willed herself. Please.

   Nothing changed. She was falling.

   And falling.

   And falling.

   And falling.

   Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter. Peter.

   "PETER!" Riley finally shrieked.

   She didn't know how he managed to get to her so fast. As Riley passed Lady Liberty's face, she spotted her Peter throwing himself off the side of the scaffolding. He didn't hesitate. He didn't ask questions. His eyes were on her, determined to catch her. His arm reached out. His fingers stretched.

   Closer... Closer...

   Their fingertips hardly grazed before a ribbon of Solar's light collided with him, dragging him away from Riley.

   Riley took a sharp breath. This was it. She braced herself for impact—

   Someone grabbed her.

   A pair of strong arms enveloped Riley, cocooning her. Peter 3 fired a web above and safely lowered them to the ground. He landed on his feet, metal debris clanging around them.

   Peter tightened his grip. His breathing was erratic and shallow. Shakily, he asked, "Are you okay?"

   Riley's chest heaved. She peered up at him, wide-eyed. "I-I... I was... f-falling, and I couldn't... I couldn't... I..."

   She suddenly noticed the anxiety wrinkling Peter's face, the tears threatening to flow. He held her so close to him, as if petrified she would slip through his fingers, that she could hear his skittering heartbeat. He couldn't look away, brown eyes darting over her face, taking her in.

   My powers, my powers, my powers suddenly became Peter, Peter, Peter again.

   She pressed her trembling hand against his cheek. "What's wrong?"

   "Are you okay?" he repeated.

   "I'm okay! Yeah, I'm okay. I'm great. I'm alive. You got me, Pete. It's okay," Riley hurriedly said. "Are you okay?"

   Peter 3 lowered his head, nodding. He failed to swipe his lone tear before Riley could see it. Between his earlier reaction to the name Gwen, she didn't have to guess that this triggered a memory for Peter.

   "I'm okay..." Riley looked down at herself. "But..."

   "What is it?" Peter 3 worried. "What's wrong? Talk to me, Riley."

   "Something's not... I can't... I can't feel..."

   Riley tried again. She tried to summon light, to turn invisible, to raise a forcefield. She reached inside herself the way she always did, the way she had since she was a baby.

   Nothing.

   Riley was powerless.