Normal dialogue
'Thoughts'
Radio/Phone
'Telepathic link'
Computer
[Foreign language] <Dialogue in foreign language>

------------------------------

Jersey City
August 29, 23:19 EDT

Inside an abandoned warehouse in Jersey City, several masked men wearing black uniforms were seen working on a machine of some kind, while being observed by a dark-haired woman in a red suit and a sword attached to her hip.

The woman was approached by one of the masked men.

Woman: Send spies to New York City to observe and report. Have them inform me when the asset makes an appearance.

The man bowed before leaving the woman, who observed the construction of the machine with a soft smile on her face.

------------------------------

New York City
August 30, 14:59 EDT

Standing in an alleyway next to the zeta tube station, Nathan waited in his red T-shirt, blue jacket, and jeans. Nathan glanced at his left wrist and checked his smart watch to see the time.

The time on the watch face changed from 2:59 to 3:00, and that's when the zeta tube activated. The phone booth opened, and M'gann (in her civilian clothing) and Valeria (in her standard Spider-Woman suit, unmasked) stepped out.

M'gann: (smiles) Hey.

She wrapped her arms around Nathan's body and hugged him tightly. Nathan smiled widely before hugging M'gann back.

Nathan: Hey, Meg.

Valeria cleared her throat, which got Nathan and M'gann to separate and look at her.

Nathan: I appreciate you covering for me today.

Valeria: Well, I figured you and M'gann needed a day without having to suit up. You don't have to thank me.

M'gann: (chuckles) Yeah, I think we do. You'd be doing us a solid.

Valeria: You don't owe me anything, either of you. You two lovebirds just go around and have fun, let me take care of the city for the day.

M'gann and Nathan blushed, which only brought a massive smirk to Valeria's face.

Valeria: What are you guys waiting for, my permission? Come on, get going, you two.

Nathan was the first to recover as he held his hand out to M'gann.

Nathan: Shall we, Ms. M'orzz?

M'gann smiled as her skin turned from green to Caucasian and she took Nathan's hand.

M'gann: Yes, we shall, Mr. Rollins.

Nathan and M'gann hugged Valeria before walking away, hand in hand, leaving Valeria alone in the alley. Valeria smiled as she put her visual disruptor behind her ear and turned it on before jumping to a nearby rooftop.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Valeria: Okay, New York...

She put her mask over her head.

Spider-Woman: What you got for me today?

She jumped off the edge of the roof and swung away.

------------------------------

In a skating rink, M'gann was clearly struggling with maintaining her balance on her roller skates, which Nathan decided to help out with. He had been skating backward while holding M'gann's hands to help her out for the past 10 minutes.

Nathan: Nice and easy, Meg. Try not to lean too far in any direction, and you should be fine.

Despite her attempts, M'gann almost fell forward, which she would've if it hadn't been for Nathan holding her hands.

M'gann: Whoa!

Nathan: Easy. You're fine.

M'gann: Sorry. I never did something like this before.

Nathan: It's okay. First time for everything, right?

He gave M'gann a gentle smile, which got her to smile back.

M'gann: Right. I think I'm getting the hang of this.

Nathan: You sure?

M'gann: One way to find out.

Nathan: Alright. On three. 1. 2. 3.

He let go of M'gann's hands. She immediately held her arms out in order to try and maintain her balance.

M'gann: (laughs) Hello, Megan! I'm doing it! I'm doing—

She leaned too far back, which made her fall on her butt.

M'gann: Ow!

Nathan stifled a chuckle as he continued skating backwards, even moonwalking, until he stopped in front of M'gann, who glared up at him.

M'gann: Show off!

Nathan: (chuckles) Sorry, not sorry. You okay, though?

M'gann: Yeah.

Nathan held his hand out to M'gann with a smirk on his face. M'gann couldn't help but chuckle as she took his hand and got pulled back up to her feet.

------------------------------

In an alleyway, a middle-school-aged bespectacled kid who was holding a cardboard-made contraption that resembled a wind turbine ran towards a fence while being chased by five larger kids.

The smaller kid pressed his back against the fence as the five bullies cornered him. One of the bullies pulled the windmill off the kid's hands and threw it to the ground before proceeding to stomp on it, and the other four bullies started doing the same.

They then heard something land on the top of the fence. They backed up as Spider-Woman landed in between the bullies and the kid.

Spider-Woman: Five on one? Really? You're just asking for suitcase wedgies at this point.

The five bullies immediately ran off. Spider-Woman turned around and knelt to the bespectacled kid's height.

Spider-Woman: You okay, kid?

The kid nodded. Spider-Woman nodded back before noticing the destroyed cardboard wind turbine on the floor.

Spider-Woman: You made this?

Kid: Yeah.

Spider-Woman couldn't help but be impressed at the kid's craftsmanship.

Spider-Woman: This is a wind turbine. You made this?

The kid nodded.

Spider-Woman: No way.

The kid nodded again while a smile was forming on his face.

Spider-Woman: Wow. This is amazing.

She got up and started using her webbing to repair the cardboard wind turbine. Once she was done with the repairs, Spider-Woman gently spun the wind turbine.

Spider-Woman: It's good as new, right?

She ruffled the kid's hair.

Spider-Woman: I'll walk you home. That okay with you?

The kid nodded, and then he and Spider-Woman started walking out of the alleyway.

Spider-Woman: What's your name?

Jorge: Jorge.

Spider-Woman: Jorge? Um...I'm Spider-Woman.

------------------------------

In an arcade, Nathan and M'gann were playing on the basketball machine. Nathan was ahead by 7 points when he noticed the basketball on the basket next to his was hovering in and out of the basket, registering a point each time.

Knowing exactly what was happening, Nathan looked to his left and saw M'gann pretending to look around while discreetly raising and lowering her index finger.

Nathan cleared his throat, which caused M'gann to stop using her telekinesis and look at him. She saw him raise an eyebrow, and she responded by giving him an innocent smile.

Nathan just simply chuckled and shook his head as he grabbed a basketball and shot it into his hoop.

------------------------------

In a bodega in Harlem, an older man had his hands raised as he was being threatened by an armed robber.

Robber: Put all the money in the bag!

Clerk: Okay, relax, ese.

Robber: Hurry up!

The ginger cat that was sitting next to the cash register hissed as it attempted to swipe at the robber.

Robber: Get your dumb cat outta here, man! I don't wanna—

He was interrupted when he felt something tapping his shoulder. He immediately turned around but saw nothing there.

Robber: What the—

A web string was attached to his pistol before it was pulled out of the robber's hand. Before he could react, two more web strings attached themselves to the robber's pants and pulled them down, revealing the robber's Wonder Woman underwear.

Robber: Hey! What's the big—

He was then tossed to the ceiling before he was webbed there. That's then Spider-Woman turned visible in front of the store clerk and his cat, startling them both.

Spider-Woman: Never took that guy for a Wonder Woman fan. But never judge a book by its cover, I guess.

Clerk: Whoa! You're that Spider-Girl!

Spider-Woman: (chuckles) It's Spider-Woman, actually. But it's fine.

Clerk: Gracias. That guy looked ready to pull the trigger.

Spider-Woman: The gun wasn't even loaded.

The clerk raised his eyebrows in surprise as Spider-Woman held up a pair of candy bars.

Spider-Woman: How much for these?

Clerk: It's on the house.

Spider-Woman simply shook her head as she placed a $5 bill in front of the clerk.

Spider-Woman: Keep the change, Teo.

She then gave the ginger cat a scratch under his chin, which made him purr.

Spider-Woman: Good to see you, Spider-Man.

She then walked out of the bodega and swung away. What Spider-Woman failed to notice was the hooded figure observing her from across the street. The figure raised a hand to his ear and spoke.

???: [Mandarin] <Asset located.>

------------------------------

In a movie theater, Nathan was holding a large bowl of popcorn while M'gann was holding two large cups with straws. The two then took their seats as the lights dimmed and the movie started.

A few seconds after that, M'gann rested her head on Nathan's shoulder. Nathan looked at M'gann and smiled before looking back at the movie.

------------------------------
(A/N: Stop the music)

Somewhere in Chinatown, Spider-Woman was returning a purse to an old Chinese woman, who was robbed earlier.

Spider-Woman handed the purse back to the woman, who bowed to her.

Old Woman: [Mandarin] <Thank you so much, young lady.>

Spider-Woman: [Mandarin] <You don't have to thank me. Just try to be a bit more careful, okay?>

The old woman nodded before walking away, leaving Spider-Woman surprised with herself. She had no idea why she was able to clearly understand Mandarin as well as fluently speak it. It made sense for her to understand and speak Spanish because Nathan is half-Latino, but Mandarin? How did she know that language?

With a shake of her head, Spider-Woman just jumped off and swung away.

As she was swinging away, she received an alert from the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app which had a location tagged to a rooftop in SoHo. She quickly changed direction and swung towards it.

Once she arrived, she saw a lone man overlooking the city. She couldn't identify any features because his back was turned, and he had a hood over his head.

Spider-Woman: Hey. Something wrong?

The man didn't speak.

Spider-Woman: Uh...Are you okay? Do you need any help?

Suddenly, her Spider-Sense blared. Without looking, she raised her left hand and caught a metallic sphere. She looked at the sphere, but it exploded, releasing a colorless gas into Spider-Woman's masked face.

Spider-Woman immediately started coughing as the smell of Ether entered her nostrils. For some reason, she felt weaker.

Spider-Woman: 'W-What is this stuff? How is it even...'

She looked back at the man and saw that he was finally facing her and lowered his head, revealing a black mask with red lenses. She looked around and saw that she was surrounded by about a dozen men wearing black jumpsuits as well as the familiar masks. She noticed that they were all wearing some kind of gas mask.

Spider-Woman: 'Are those...Shadows? What are they doing here?'

Suddenly, she felt something jab into her back before a powerful electrical shock spread across her body. Spider-Woman cried out in pain before turning around and throwing a punch at the Shadow, but her punch was easily parried and countered before she got sprayed in the face by the face colorless face.

Spider-Woman staggered backwards, struggling to remain conscious before she was knocked down to the ground by a Shadow.

Spider-Woman: 'What is going on? Why do I feel so weak? Why is my Spider-Sense not working?'

She could barely keep her eyes open as she noticed a woman in a red suit standing over. Spider-Woman couldn't make out her facial features because her vision was so blurry.

???: Welcome home, Arachne.

Before Spider-Woman could even think about reacting, a foot came down hard onto her face and everything went black.

------------------------------

As the full moon shone over the New York City lights, Nathan and M'gann were walking towards the zeta tube station hand-in-hand.

M'gann: It really ended like that? Just the top spinning? Was that a dream or was it real?

Nathan: I don't think he cared. He's just happy to be with his kid again.

M'gann: I guess, but...Man, that movie was confusing.

Nathan: Yeah. It was great, though.

M'gann: It was.

The two stopped in front of the telephone booth and faced each other.

M'gann: I, uh...I had a lot of fun today. Thank you, Nathan.

Nathan: (chuckles) Don't mention it. I really wanted this to be special.

M'gann raised her right hand and cupped his cheek with a smile on her face.

M'gann: It was.

Nathan placed his hand over hers and smiled back.

The two stared into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, M'gann stood on her toes and pecked Nathan's lips with her own. Nathan's red turned red and he widened his eyes as he just stared at M'gann, who was looking down with her face as red as her hair.

M'gann: I-I'm sorry. I don't...I don't know why I just—

She stopped when Nathan gently held her chin with his thumb and index finger and raised her head to make her look at him.

Nathan: Don't be.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against M'gann's. He felt how soft her lips truly are. M'gann's plump lips felt as if they were made to be kissed by him and only him. Her eyes were now closed, her lips gently pressing against Nathan's, her breath catching in her throat. Her hands reached up to his cheeks, her palms now caressing them. As her skin changed from Caucasian back to green and she formed another a pair of arms from her hips to hold Nathan closely. M'gann continues to stay in his arms, reveling in the moment, every sensation overwhelming her with excitement and pleasure as your brain is on fire with dopamine.

When air became a problem, Nathan pulled back, smiling. M'gann's face is bright red from her blushing, her eyes opening up and her breath coming out in heavy, labored pants.

M'gann: Wow. That was...

Nathan: Amazing.

M'gann: Yeah.

She giggled, which caused Nathan to smile.

Nathan: I love it when you laugh. It's cute.

M'gann smiled even wider.

M'gann: So...does that make us...you know...

Nathan: Only if you want us to be.

M'gann pulled Nathan down and kissed him deeply again, and he immediately kissed her back. The kisses got more and more heated to the point where you both float around the alley while being stuck in your bliss together.

Nathan pulled back and noticed some of the litter in the alley still floating.

Nathan: Uh, Meg?

M'gann looked around and saw the floating litter.

M'gann: Oh. Sorry.

She used her telekinesis to gently put the litter into a nearby dumpster.

M'gann: I didn't know I was doing that.

Nathan: It's fine, M'gann.

He and M'gann looked back at each other.

Nathan: I'm guessing that the kiss was...

M'gann: Yes. I'd love to be your girlfriend, Nathan Rollins.

Nathan: (smiles) As long as I get to be your boyfriend, M'gann M'orzz.

They kissed each other again for a second before looking back.

M'gann: You want to tell the team, or...?

Nathan: (smirks) Nah. Let them try and figure it out for now.

M'gann: (smirks) I like the sound of that.

They smirked at each other as Nathan opened the booth. M'gann stepped in first, and Nathan followed before closing it.

------------------------------

Mount Justice
August 30, 21:41 EDT

Computer: Recognized: Miss Martian, B-0-5. Spider-Man, B-0-7.

The zeta tube activated, and Nathan and M'gann stepped out. Once they noticed that Batman and Black Canary were present, while the team were in their uniforms. Everyone except Batman looked at them, or more specifically, Nathan, with a confused expression. Nathan and M'gann couldn't help but notice that out of everyone, Superboy looked the most worried.

Nathan: Hey, guys? What's going on?

M'gann: Is there another mission?

Kid Flash: Here's a better question: Why did you two just show up at the same time?

Artemis elbowed Kid Flash in the ribs.

Kid Flash: Ow.

Artemis: (turns to Nathan) You're gonna want to hear this, Nate.

Nathan raised an eyebrow as he looked at Batman, whose face remained neutral under his cowl as he activated a holographic screen showing security footage of a rooftop with a lone, hooded man standing near the ledge overlooking the city.

Batman: At 1800 hours, a request was sent to the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man app. In case it is unknown to you, the app is used by Spider-Man and Spider-Woman to handle the less serious situations.

Black Canary: The request came from a rooftop in SoHo, and well...it's best that you see for yourselves.

Once she arrived, she saw a lone man overlooking the city. She couldn't identify any features because his back was turned, and he had a hood over his head.

Spider-Woman: Hey. Something wrong?

The man didn't speak.

Spider-Woman: Uh...Are you okay? Do you need any help?

Suddenly, without looking, she raised her left hand and caught a metallic sphere. She looked at the sphere, but it exploded, releasing a colorless gas into Spider-Woman's masked face.

Spider-Woman immediately started coughing.

She looked back at the man and saw that he was finally facing her and lowered his head, revealing a black mask with red lenses. She looked around and saw that she was surrounded by about a dozen men wearing black jumpsuits as well as the familiar masks. She noticed that they were all wearing some kind of gas mask.

Suddenly, A Shadow jabbed a prod into Spider-Woman's back before a powerful electrical shock spread across her body. Spider-Woman cried out in pain before turning around and throwing a punch at the Shadow, but her punch was easily parried and countered before she got sprayed in the face by the face colorless face.

Spider-Woman staggered backwards, struggling to remain conscious before she was knocked down to the ground by a Shadow.

A woman in a red suit walked up to Spider-Woman and stood over her.

???: Welcome home, Arachne.

Before Spider-Woman could even think about reacting, the woman kicked her in the face, knocking her out.

Woman: Take her.

Two of the Shadows picked up Spider-Woman's unconscious body and carried her off the rooftop.

Woman: Radio ahead. Make sure the machine is prepared when we arrive.

One of the Shadows bowed to her as they all left the rooftop.

Nathan and M'gann stared at the footage in shock and fear.

Nathan: Who...who were they?

Batman: The League of Shadows.

Nathan: What?! What would they want from Val?!

Black Canary: About an hour after this happened, I headed over there and managed to pick up some residue from that gas. I sent it over to Flash to see what it was, and...it was ethyl chloride.

Kid Flash: A chemical used in some pesticides. (turns to Nathan) Which means that the Shadows knew that it's basically Valeria's kryptonite, and yours too.

M'gann: The Shadows had Dr. Warren make Valeria for them as a weapon.

Black Canary: Exactly.

Superboy: So what are we waiting for? Let's get her back!

Robin: How exactly are we supposed to do that? We don't even know where to look.

Batman: Matter of fact, you do.

He pulled up a map.

Batman: We managed to track the truck transporting Spider-Woman, but we lost the signal somewhere in Jersey City.

Nathan wanted to groan so badly. He, as well as many other New Yorkers, hated New Jersey for a multitude of reasons. But he had to swallow his New York pride if he wanted to get his sister back.

Kid Flash: Out of all the places, they decided to go to some backwater state like Jersey?

Artemis smacked Kid Flash upside his head.

Kid Flash: Ow!

Artemis: Can you shut up and take this seriously for like, 5 seconds?

Kid Flash: I am!

Nathan: Shut up! Both of you!

Both Artemis and Kid Flash shut their mouths and Nathan looked at Batman and Black Canary.

Nathan: Jersey, it is, huh?

Black Canary: Yes.

Nathan immediately turned around and began walking away.

Aqualad: Where are you going?

Nathan: To my room to suit up. I'll meet you guys at the hangar.

As Nathan walked away, M'gann noticed Superboy staring at the security footage with a worried expression on his face.

M'gann: We'll get her back, Superboy.

Superboy: I know we will.

He looked away from the holographic screens and looked at M'gann.

Superboy: Because I don't know what I'm gonna do if we don't.

------------------------------

With a soft groan, Valeria slowly opened her eyes, only to be immediately met with a bright light shining down on her. She tried to move but found that she couldn't for some reason. She lifted her head and saw why.

She was lying on what looked like a dentist's chair. Her wrists were restrained by metal bonds on the armrests while her stingers were protruding out of them. She tried to retract them, but they didn't move at all. She then noticed that her ankles were restrained by the same metal bonds at the bottom of the chair. She then noticed tubes with a clear liquid connected to her body and flowing into her.

She noticed a table to her right and saw her mask, bracers, and visual disruptor lying on it.

Valeria tried to pull the restraints off her, but she struggled. She still felt weak for some reason.

???: I wouldn't do that.

Valeria looked in front of her and saw the same, red-suited woman from the rooftop sitting on a stool.

Woman: These bonds are made of solid titanium, and you are currently being injected with a slow, steady flow of ethyl chloride to weaken you. You may break them, but then you will have to deal with three dozen Shadows specially equipped to neutralize you should the need arises. As for your stingers, those bonds are pressing on the nerves that you activate to release them, hence why you can't retract them.

Valeria: Who are you?

The woman stood up from the stool and approached Valeria.

Woman: You've grown to be everything I've wanted you to be. Strong, fearless...beautiful.

She reached a finger to gently caress Valeria's cheek, but Valeria jerked her head away.

Woman: You would make a fine assassin.

Valeria: Shikata said the same thing just before I kicked her butt. And now I know that you had Dr. Warren make me out of Spider-Man and someone else's DNA. That still doesn't answer my question.

The woman didn't answer. Instead, she drew her doa and lifted it high for Valeria to see.

Woman: Now that you mention it, Cheshire had told me something interesting.

Valeria: What? That she likes cats a little too much?

Woman: That you have managed to defeat Shikata with a show of...brilliant swordsmanship. Aside from myself, Shikata is the best swordswoman I've had the pleasure of dueling against. Have you ever stopped to wonder where your skillset came from if they hadn't come from Nathan Rollins?

Valeria didn't answer, but she knew how the woman knew Nathan. The Shadows had his blood for almost 10 weeks, so of course they'd use it to discover Spider-Man's true identity before making another human with it.

Lady Shiva: Sandra Wu-San is my name. You may know me as Lady Shiva from the many files that the Batman has on me.

Valeria's face immediately paled. If what she's thinking is true...

Lady Shiva: You don't know me personally. How could you? You had been in a pod for almost the entirety of your life...

She lowered her sword and stared into Valeria's widened green eyes.

Lady Shiva: But a mother would do anything to reunite with her child.

Valeria managed to keep a stoic face, but she was shocked out of her mind internally. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew that Shiva was telling the truth. Her swordsmanship, her fluency in Mandarin, she didn't get either of those from Nathan. She got them from the woman in front of her.

Valeria: You're not my mother, you're just a gene donor. I found a better family than anything you could ever give me.

Lady Shiva: A family that will turn against you once they learn the truth?

Valeria didn't say a word. Now that she thought about it, that was something she really feared. She found a family in Nathan and the team, and she was truly afraid that that family would throw her away like garbage once they knew about where the other half of her DNA came from.

Lady Shiva: Didn't think so.

Valeria: What's next, huh? You gonna try to convince me to join your little merry band of killers? Might as well save your breath, 'cause it won't work.

Lady Shiva: Perhaps not. However, there are more...persuasive methods.

She walked over to a keyboard and pressed a key. Suddenly, Valeria heard the whirring of a machine and saw a contraption of some kind lowering itself towards her. She tried to break out of her restraints, but to no avail, as the machine was fully lowered and covered almost half of her face.

A second later, Valeria began screaming in sheer agony as the machine started sending powerful electrical shocks straight into her brain, all while Lady Shiva simply looked on.

------------------------------

As Miss Martian piloted the Bioship towards Jersey City, she couldn't help but notice Spider-Man and Superboy's anxiousness. Spider-Man's left knee was shaking as he tugged at his web-shooters, while Superboy kept opening and closing his right fist.

Artemis: The Shadows don't like leaving any evidence lying around. If they haven't destroyed the truck they put Val in, they're probably guarding it.

Robin: There's been several police reports of suspicious activity in Port Jersey, but nothing came from them. Could be Shadow activity.

Spider-Man: So that's where we're headed.

Miss Martian and Artemis shared a glance. Even without telepathy, they knew that the both of them were worried about Spider-Man.

After a few minutes, they had arrived at Jersey Port. Miss Martian had already put the Bioship in camouflage mode as they hovered above the port.

The rear door opened, and the team stepped out of the ship and knelt over a shipping container. They saw that the whole port was being patrolled by several Shadows.

Aqualad: (whispers) Well, now it is confirmed. The Shadows are involved in this. Miss Martian, link us up.

Miss Martian: 'Everyone online?'

Artemis: 'Loud and clear.'

Kid Flash: 'Crystal, beautiful.'

Robin: 'If we're gonna learn anything about where Valeria is, we need to keep it stealthy. Spider-Man, can you—'

He looked to his right and saw that Spider-Man was nowhere to be seen. He then looked to his left and saw that Superboy was gone too.

Robin: 'How did they—?'

Kid Flash: 'Well, now you know how it feels, Rob.'

Robin glared at Kid Flash, who just smiled smugly at him.

Aqualad: 'Spider-Man, Superboy, wait. We need a plan of action.'

Superboy: 'We have a plan...'

Spider-Man: 'Action.'

------------------------------

A pair of Shadows were standing over a shipping container with rifles in their hands. Suddenly, one of them was hit with a web projectile that stuck him to the floor. Before the other Shadow could react, they were punched in the face by an invisible force, getting knocked out. The unknown force shimmered into existence, revealing Superboy, who dug a pen-like device out of his pocket.

Superboy: 'You did real good with that cloaking thing.'

Spider-Man: 'It's called a photoreflective cloak generator. And try not to use it too much. It can only keep you invisible for a few seconds, and it needs about half a minute to recharge. And even then, anyone with a good eye could still see you.'

Superboy: 'What? That's it?'

Spider-Man: 'Cut me some slack, alright? It's a prototype. Now get moving before somebody sees you.'

Superboy clicked the button on the top of the device, and his body turned invisible.

------------------------------

Above the port, Miss Martian hovered while invisible. She was digging through the Shadows' minds as discreetly as possible. She only managed to hear bits and pieces, but she managed to figure something out.

Miss Martian: 'Guys, I think I got something.'

Aqualad: 'What is it?'

Miss Martian: 'Based on what I heard, there's an inventor working for them. He's here in the port, but I'm not sure where.'

------------------------------

While a Shadow was on the ground patrolling, Kid Flash sped in and shoulder-barged him into a container, knocking him out cold. He then looked at the ground and noticed something peculiar.

Kid Flash: 'I think I got something.'

Spider-Man: 'Where?'

Kid Flash: 'Uh...Container 432.'

He then felt a gun barrel press into the back of his head. Before he could react, an arrow stuck onto the Shadow's chest and electrocuted him. Kid Flash looked at where the arrow flew from and saw Artemis lowering her bow while looking at him.

Artemis: 'Thank me later, Wally.'

Kid Flash just rolled his eyes as Spider-Man and Superboy landed next to him.

Superboy: 'This it?'

Kid Flash: 'Right on one, SB.'

Spider-Man knelt down and examined the scrapes.

Spider-Man: 'The curve looks like...there's a door here.'

He looked at the container next to him and noticed that the scrape marks led to one of the container doors. He slowly opened it, and he faintly managed to hear Elvis Presley's vocal coming from the inside.

Kid Flash: 'Secret lab? That's cool.'

Spider-Man: 'Superboy and I are going in. Everyone else, take care of the rest of the Shadows.'

Robin: 'All of them?'

Spider-Man: 'Yeah.'

Aqualad: 'He is right. This is an opportunity to deliver a blow to the League of Shadows' operations. We cannot let this opportunity go to waste.'

Kid Flash: 'Just as long as Artemis doesn't let anybody go like last time.'

Artemis: 'How many times do I have to tell you, I did not—'

Spider-Man: 'HEY! Keep the lovers' quarrel out of the missions.'

Artemis & Kid Flash: 'WE'RE NOT LOVERS!'

Spider-Man: 'Yeah, you two knuckleheads keep telling yourselves that. Come on, Superboy.'

He and Superboy walked into the container and noticed the ladder leading up. They climbed it and quietly opened the trapdoor, entering what seemed to be a workshop littered with machinery and parts, as well as a record player that was playing one of Elvis Presley's albums.

Then they noticed the middle-aged man sitting at one of the desks. Spider-Man cleared his throat, getting the man's attention. The man had brown hair and brown eyes, he wore a lab coat, white shirt, and yellow tie. By the looks of him, he probably hasn't seen sunlight for at least a couple of weeks. Spider-Man was quick to recognize him.

Spider-Man: Dr. Lawson?

Dr. Lawson: Spider-Man? Oh, thank God.

Superboy: Wait, you know him, Spidey?

Spider-Man: Not personally. Dr. Charles Lawson, he's an inventor who worked at the WayneTech New York branch. He's been missing for 8 weeks.

Dr. Lawson: Try "held hostage" for 8 weeks! I've been stuck in who-knows-where this entire time! Those Shadow freaks gave me food and water, but they threatened to hurt my family if I didn't make something for them!

Spider-Man: Okay, easy, Doctor. You're safe, and I'll make sure your family's safe. But in the meantime, I was hoping you could answer a few questions for us.

Dr. Lawson: Uh, yeah. Sure.

Spider-Man pulled up a nearby stool and sat down in front of Dr. Lawson.

Spider-Man: A few hours ago, a friend of ours was taken by the Shadows. We managed to track them here to Jersey City, but that's as far as we could go.

Dr. Lawson: I heard bits and pieces. Something about a girl that they wanted to "bring back to the Light" or something like that.

Spider-Man: I'm gonna guess that they wanted you to make something for them.

------------------------------

Outside, a Shadow was standing on top of a container when a birdarang hit his rifle, disarming him. Before he could react, Robin jumped onto him and drove his head into the top of the container, knocking him out.

Robin: (smirks) Too easy.

He then looked behind him and noticed another Shadow aiming his rifle at him. Suddenly, a tendril made of water wrapped around him and pulled him, allowing Aqualad to clothesline him and knock him out.

Robin: I had him.

Aqualad: Didn't seem like it from where I was standing.

Robin: I was gonna make my move!

Aqualad: What move? The one to the morgue?

------------------------------

The doctor put his hands on his face and sighed before speaking.

Dr. Lawson: Before I was taken, I was working on a thesis. Alteration of brain chemistry to gain control of a subject's cerebellar functions.

Spider-Man: Brainwashing and mind control.

Dr. Lawson: Precisely.

Superboy stiffened slightly.

Dr. Lawson: When I finished it, I couldn't stomach publishing it. It was too inhumane. I just shelved it and promised to never let it see the light of day.

Superboy: But somehow, the Shadows found out about your thesis.

Dr. Lawson: (nods) The day before I was taken, I found a woman sitting in my office. Asian, black hair, a bit shorter than me. She asked about a project she was financing. When I asked about details, she told me that it was based on my shelved thesis. I immediately refused, told her to get out of my office before I called security. When I left for the day, I was walking to my car when someone knocked me out. I woke up and found myself locked up in here. They wanted me to make this machine for them, and they'd kill my family if I didn't cooperate.

Spider-Man: Do you know where that machine is?

Dr. Lawson: Some abandoned warehouse in Newark. That's all I could hear.

Spider-Man: Thank you, doctor. 'Kid, get over here.'

Less than a second later, Kid Flash sped into the workshop.

Kid Flash: All the Shadows outside are down for the count, but we should get out of here before any more show up.

Spider-Man: Okay. (turns to Dr. Lawson) Doctor, Kid Flash can take you to the Midtown Precinct back in New York. Ask for either Detective Henry Rollins or Captain Yuri Watanabe. You can trust them to keep you and your family safe.

Dr. Lawson: Thank you. Truly.

Spider-Man: Don't worry about it. (turns to Kid Flash) Kid...

Kid Flash: I got him.

He grabbed Dr. Lawson and sped out, leaving Spider-Man and Superboy in the workshop.

------------------------------

After getting a possible location and getting Dr. Charles Lawson to safety, the Team were flying towards the abandoned warehouse in Newark.

Robin: That's weird. It doesn't look guarded.

Artemis: It feels like a trap.

Aqualad: If it is, we might have to spring it if we want to rescue Valeria. Spider-Man, can you enter undetected?

Spider-Man: Got it.

Aqualad: And then the rest of us will remain outside, in case reinforcements arrive.

Spider-Man got up from his seat and stood in the middle of the cockpit.

Miss Martian: Nathan.

Spider-Man looked at Miss Martian, who looked back at him worriedly.

Miss Martian: Be careful.

Spider-Man: I'll try.

Miss Martian: (sighs) I guess that's as good as I'm gonna get.

The floor under Spider-Man opened up, causing him to fall out of the Bioship. He immediately activated his web wings and glided toward the warehouse, turning invisible in the process.

Once he landed, he opened the skylight and jumped into the warehouse, perching on the rafters above. Once he looked down, he saw a machine that resembled a dentist's chair.

Spider-Man: 'I found Lawson's machine. I don't see Valeria or any Shadows.'

Aqualad: 'See what you can learn in the meantime.'

Spider-Man jumped down and landed on the ground. He looked around and saw Valeria's Spider-Woman mask next to a computer. He walked over and picked it up.

Spider-Man: Hang on, Val. I'm coming.

He then walked to the computer and inserted a red-and-blue USB into it. He began typing until a progress bar appeared on the screen.

Spider-Man: 'Downloading data.'

He then heard a thwip from behind him. He turned around, only to get kicked in the chest and sent flying several yards away.

Spider-Man groaned as he got up, and he saw Valeria, in her Spider-Woman suit minus the mask, standing in front of him. He wanted to smile and hug her, but he noticed the look on her face. She was staring at him with a look of anger.

That's when he realized what happened.

Spider-Man: 'Guys. I found Valeria. But...'

Robin: 'But what?'

Spider-Man: 'I think we might be too late. She's been brainwashed.'

Artemis: 'You can still take her on, right?'

Spider-Man: 'I don't know. My Spider-Sense doesn't work with her.'

Artemis: 'What? Why?'

Spider-Man: 'It doesn't see her as a threat.'

Valeria took out her stingers and took a battle stance.

Spider-Man: I don't wanna hurt you, Val. Can't we just talk this out?

Valeria just growled at him.

Spider-Man: Please?

She lunged at him. Spider-Man jumped out of the way before Valeria could stab her stingers into his body. Spider-Man backed away, weaving every swing Valeria threw at him.

Spider-Man: Val, it's me! It's Nathan!

Valeria drove her left stinger toward his chest, but he caught her wrist and held it. Valeria immediately charged her right hand with Venom and punched Spider-Man in the chest, sending him back into a wall.

Spider-Man moved out of the way just as Valeria jumped at him. She drove both her stingers into the wall her Spider-Man was and growled in frustration before pulling them out. Suddenly, Spider-Man jabbed his index finger into the back of Valeria's head and zapped her with Venom. She cried out in pain before shaking her head. She then looked at Spider-Man, but her rage was replaced with pain before changing back to rage.

Spider-Man: 'I think I know how to get Val back, but I'll need your help, M'gann.'

He jumped up just before Valeria threw a Venom slam on the ground where he once stood. She looked up and saw Spider-Man stuck upside down on the rafters.

Miss Martian: 'What do you need me to do?'

Spider-Man: 'Get in here and stay invisible and quiet.'

Valeria shot a web line at him, which stuck to his chest. She pulled Spider-Man down to the ground hard before jumping up and pulling back her arms, ready to drive her stingers into him. Spider-Man rolled out of the way, making Valeria miss.

Spider-Man: 'When I tell you, get in Val's mind and see if you can break her mind control. Do it right as I say it, not a second early or late.'

Miss Martian: 'Got it.'

Spider-Man got up and dodged a web from Valeria and stuck to a nearby wall. He narrowed his eyes before jumping at Valeria with a Venom Punch, which she managed to dodge.

Miss Martian: 'I'm here. I'm right above you.'

Spider-Man: (under his breath) Here goes.

He saw a web bomb roll up to his feet. He jumped out of the way before it exploded but failed to notice Valeria's next attack until it was too late. He turned around, only for Valeria to drive both her stingers into his stomach. He managed to hear a muffled yelp above him.

Acting quickly, Spider-Man held both of Valeria's wrists tightly with one hand and charged the other with Venom. He quickly palmed her forehead and sent a powerful shock to her brain, making her cry out in pain.

Spider-Man: NOW!

Almost immediately after, Miss Martian turned visible behind Valeria before holding her head with both hands as her eyes glowed white.

------------------------------

Miss Martian found herself standing in a dark void. She looked around and heard several voices around her.

???: Leave. Gwen. Out of it.

???: My Martian name. It's M'gann M'orzz. Just thought I'd let you know.

???: I wasn't going to let anyone suffer the same fate, clone or not.

???: Valeria Rollins. Yeah. I like the sound of that.

Miss Martian quickly realized that the voices were actually memories. Both ones she inherited from Nathan and ones she got by herself.

She then heard a sniffling sound behind her. She turned around and saw Valeria stuck in a small 5x5 cell of some kind. She was sitting on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, and crying.

Valeria: (tearfully) I'm sorry, Nathan. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...I swear, I didn't...

Miss Martian: Valeria?

Valeria looked up with tears flowing down her cheeks.

Valeria: M'gann? What are you...?

Miss Martian: I'm here to get you out.

Valeria: (sniffs) I tried. I swear to God I tried, but I can't. And now Nathan's hurt because of me.

Miss Martian: So...you can...

Valeria: See what my body is doing? Yeah. I could...hear everything, feel everything. And I can't do anything about it.

Miss Martian: Maybe you can't. Not alone, anyway.

She stepped back and held a hand towards the cell.

Miss Martian: I can pull the cage door a bit, but you'll have to break it yourself.

Valeria slowly got up and looked at Miss Martian with a pained expression.

Valeria: Do you think...Nathan will forgive me? I still hurt him.

Miss Martian: He knows it's not your fault. And so do I. So does the rest of the Team.

Valeria dropped her head.

Valeria: I should've seen it coming. Maybe if I just ignored that request...

Miss Martian: Hey. Look at me, Val.

Valeria looked back up at her.

Miss Martian: You had no idea what would happen. You didn't know the Shadows were there. You didn't know that ethyl chloride would weaken you. You're not at fault. Who is at fault is the people who took you and did this to you. Once we're out, I promise that I will do whatever I can to help you.

Valeria stared at Miss Martian for a few seconds, pondering her decision, before smiling softly.

Valeria: Let's get out of here, then.

Miss Martian smiled before using her telekinesis to tug at the cage door. Valeria shoulder barged into it, but it didn't open. She did it again, but nothing happened. She put more power into her next shoulder barge, and she felt the cage door slowly coming loose.

Valeria: Okay. One more.

She charged her entire body with Venom, and with a battle cry, threw her entire body strength into the blow, blowing it to pieces.

------------------------------

Back in the real world, Valeria gasped as she pulled her hands away from Spider-Man's abdomen. Miss Martian pulled her hands away from Valeria's head as she backed away and Spider-Man dropped to the ground.

Miss Martian: NATHAN!

She ran to him and knelt down before pulling off his mask and holding his face with her hands.

Miss Martian: Are you okay?

Nathan: It missed all the organs. I'll be fine.

Miss Martian: You said you'd be careful.

Nathan: I said I'd try. But I couldn't think of a better way to get close.

Miss Martian: (sighs) Just don't do it again. Okay?

Nathan: (smiles) I promise.

Miss Martian smiled before pressing her lips against his for a second before pulling away. Miss Martian helped Nathan up to his feet, and he webbed his wound closed.

Nathan: That should stop the bleeding until we get back.

He looked at Valeria and saw her looking away in shame. He sighed, knowing what she was thinking about.

Nathan: That wasn't you. You didn't have a choice.

Valeria: I know. But I did it.

Nathan limped to Valeria and wrapped his arms around her, making her gasp in surprise.

Nathan: You don't need my forgiveness. You didn't do anything wrong. But if it makes you feel better, then I forgive you.

Valeria slowly wrapped her arms around Nathan, avoiding his wounds. The two stayed in a tight hug, while Miss Martian watched.

Nathan: 'Spider-Man to Team, we got her back.'

------------------------------

Mount Justice
August 31, 00:06 EDT

After receiving proper medical attention, Nathan (topless and his torso wrapped in bandages) stood next to Valeria, who was between him and Superboy, as the Team briefed Batman and Black Canary.

Kaldur: Dr. Lawson and his family are now in protective custody, Nathan managed to retrieve some valuable data, and Superboy destroyed the machine before we left. But the Shadows were long gone.

Batman: The Shadows are not your main priority. Nonetheless, you managed to complete your mission objective.

Valeria felt a hand gently holding her left wrist. She looked to her left and saw Superboy giving her a soft smile. She smiled back before intertwining her fingers with his.

Batman: However, Spider-Woman, you will have to undergo psychological evaluation with Black Canary before you can be cleared for active duty.

Valeria: (shrugs) It's fine. I could use a shrink, anyway.

This brought a chuckle out of Black Canary, while Batman's face remained stoic.

Batman: Dismissed.

The Team began to walk away, but Black Canary placed a hand on Valeria's shoulder, stopping her.

Black Canary: You seem alright already, but you're not at 100% yet. That much I can tell.

Valeria: I know. I'm hoping you could help me with that.

Black Canary: (smiles) It'd be my pleasure.

Valeria smiled back before walking away.