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

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

New York City
September 11, 11:09 EDT

In Nathan's apartment, he and Valeria were sitting in the living playing FIFA.

Valeria: BOOM! GOAL!

Nathan groaned as Valeria celebrated scoring against him.

Nathan: You're kidding me.

Valeria: Nope! Your Puyol's got nothing against my Di María.

Nathan: Says the girl who's got a red card! And lo and behold, it's Sergio Ramos!

Valeria: Don't matter.

Nathan: Alright.

The second the replays finished, Nathan immediately passed to Messi and started dribbling past all of Valeria's Real Madrid players with him.

Valeria: Woah, woah, woah! Since when do you do that?

Nathan: Don't matter.

Once Messi was in the penalty area, Pepe went for a slide tackle. Unfortunately, this resulted in a penalty.

Valeria: WHAT?! THAT IS NOT A PENALTY!

Nathan started laughing and then laughed even harder once he saw Pepe get a red card.

Valeria: (sighs) Come on, ref!

Nathan: Of course, Pepe gets sent off as well! HA!

Valeria: Okay. You're not scoring this.

Nathan smirked as he changed the penalty taker from Messi to Víctor Valdés

Valeria: Are you kidding me?

Nathan: (smirks) Nope.

Valeria: If you score this, I swear to God...

Nathan pressed the circle button on his controller...and he kicked the ball into the top left corner of the goal, while Valeria had Casillas dive for the bottom left.

Nathan: GOLASO!!!!

Valeria tossed her controller as the full time whistle blew, signaling the end of the match..

Nathan: Barça 6, Real 5! Eat that, Val!

Just then, Nathan heard his phone ping. He picked it up and saw the notification.

Valeria: What's up?

Nathan: It's M'gann. She's waiting for me near Teo's.

Valeria: Well, get going, then. Don't keep your girl waiting.

Nathan got up and picked up his keys.

Nathan: Thanks for covering for me.

Valeria: Don't mention it. Now, go. Vamos.

Nathan smirked before leaving the apartment. Valeria immediately got up and went to the guest bedroom before taking off her clothes and putting on her standard Spider-Woman suit. She opened the window and jumped out before initiating a swing.

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

In an undisclosed location, a bald man in a black Adidas jacket and black Adidas sweatpants walked into a dark room. He had been somehow released from prison after he was brought in by Spider-Man when he tried to rob an Oscorp truck carrying plutonium. The man looked around before speaking in a heavy Russian accent.

Man: What is this? Why so much darkness?

Then a male voice spoke from the shadows.

???: You are a very interesting man, Mr. Sytsevich.

The man, known as Aleksei Sytsevich, looked around.

Aleksei: Who is this? How do you know my name?

???: I know more than just your name. Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich. Born in Irtutsk, Russia on July 7, 1966. Father, unknown. Mother, Miriam, deceased in 1999. Wife, Oksana, also deceased in 2007. Very sad.

Alexei: Who are you?!

???: Me? I am just a man trying to make this city a better place. And I know that you wish for an easy life, away from the life of crime. Although, you can't easily escape the clutches of the Russian mafia, can you, Aleksei?

Aleksei: What do you want?

Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared in front of Aleksei.

???: I am sure you remember this particular day.

Aleksei looked at the screen and immediately growled. He remembered this day vividly. This was the day he failed to steal the plutonium from Oscorp. All because of one man.

Aleksei: (growls) Spider.

He saw himself attempt to shoot Spider-Man with his AK-47, only for him to dodge all the bullets and easily disarm the Russian. Spider-Man proceeding to web up his hands before pulling his pants down, revealing his Russian flag underwear, just to add sat to the wound before tossing his AK into the air. Spider-Man walked away as Aleksei screamed "This isn't the end, Spider!" before getting hit in the head with the AK-47 Spider-Man tossed in the air.

???: Yes, you must be quite upset that this happened.

Aleksei: Upset? No! I AM ANGRY! I WILL CRUSH SPIDER WHEN WE CROSS PATHS AGAIN!

???: And I am willing to help you achieve that goal. You see, we share a common enemy.

The screen changed to a rooftop where Spider-Man was seen talking to Black Canary. She had tried to recruit Spider-Man into the Justice League, but he adamantly refused.

???: You see, he had been a thorn on my side for several months now. And I can see you have been aching for an opportunity to hurt him back.

A bright light appeared next to Aleksei, which revealed a large rhino-like suit.

???: This is an experimental combat suit. It can give you the necessary strength, speed, and durability required to crush the arachnid. If you can do that, maybe you can see Tanya again.

Aleksei widened his eyes in surprise when he heard the man utter his niece's name. He then looked back at the armor and finally spoke.

Aleksei: When do I begin?

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

As she swung, Spider-Woman had been listening to another podcast. She had been alternating between J. Jonah Jameson's Just the Facts where he slanders every hero under the sun, and Danika Hart's The Danikast where she actually praises them, especially the Spiders.

Danika Hart: Hey, friends, it's Danika! You are listening to the Danikast—get this—now the fastest growing podcast in New York! Hold on to your knickers, Jonah. I'm comin' for the crown.

This brought a snicker from Spider-Woman.

Danika Hart: For you new listeners: welcome. The Danikast is your spot for real takes on real news about real people. People like the Spider-Woman. That girl has been making appearances around NYC ever since the Jackal first showed up, and she has been tearing it up ever since! Here's something I got in an email from a kid named Jorge a few weeks ago. It said, "Spider-Woman is so cool! She drove those mean kids away and fixed my wind turbine. She even walked me home!" That kid is so sweet, I think I actually mighta cried a bit.

Spider-Woman smiled under her mask, remembering the kid she helped a couple of weeks ago.

Danika Hart: And she has a wicked sense of humor. According to eyewitnesses, Spider-Woman once stopped a guy from robbing Teo's bodega in Brooklyn by pulling his pants down and sticking him to the ceiling. (laughs) Go, girl! If you're listening to this, Spider-Woman, keep doin' what you're doin'! You might just end up better than Spider-Man if you keep this up!

The podcast ended, and Spider-Woman chuckled as she swung.

Spider-Woman: Me, better than Nathan? That's a pretty high bar.

Her Spider-Sense suddenly blared as she heard a rumbling sound from nearby before hearing the police radio go off.

Dispatch: Attention, all units! Attention, all units! We have a 10-40 in Wall Street and Broadway. Suspect is a man in a mechanized rhinoceros suit! Multiple officers requesting 10-33 ASAP!

Spider-Woman quickly changed direction and started swinging towards Walls Street. She thought a guy in a rhino suit was weird, but she decided to hold that thought until she dealt with it.

Once she arrived at Wall Street and Broadway, she saw multiple police officers shooting at a man in a giant mechanical suit that resembled a rhino. 

The guy grabbed a nearby sedan and tossed it toward the cops, but Spider-Woman caught it by the roof and landed on the ground just before the sedan could crush an officer.

Spider-Woman: I'm glad you're not one of those cops who rides a horse.

The officer took out his radio and talked into it.

Police Officer: All units, hold your fire and wait for my call.

Spider-Woman dropped the sedan behind, making it land on its wheels before looking at the man in the rhino suit.

Spider-Woman: What's up with that guy over there?

Police Officer: He just came out of the ground and started thrashing the street.

Spider-Woman: Okay. I'll handle this. Just get your guys to stay back.

She stood on the hood of a police cruiser and pulled a megaphone from a nearby police officer before speaking to the rhino guy.

Spider-Woman: Hey, big guy!

The rhino guy stopped and turned to look at Spider-Woman. Once he saw her, he somehow got even angrier.

Rhino: You are not Spider-Man.

Spider-Woman immediately recognized the voice as Aleksei Sytsevich's.

Spider-Woman: Aleksei? How'd you get out of prison?

Rhino: Does it matter? You are not the Spider-Man.

Spider-Woman: I'm glad you noticed. Now, on behalf of the fine people of New York City and real rhinos everywhere, I ask you to put your oversized paws in the air.

Rhino: NEVER!

He punched the asphalt beneath him.

Rhino: If walk like spider and talk like spider, I will crush like spider!

Spider-Woman: You want me to come over there so you could crush me?

Rhino: Yes!

Spider-Woman: Alright, say less.

She tossed the megaphone behind her, and an officer caught it. She then jumped down from the cruiser and walked towards Rhino, who charged directly at Spider-Woman. She then broke into a sprint before jumping to punch Rhino, but he caught her and slammed her into the ground three times before tossing her into a lamppost.

Spider-Woman: (groans) Okay. That hurt.

She started to get up, but her Spider-Sense blared as she noticed Rhino charging towards her. She immediately jumped out of the way and stuck to a wall.

Spider-Woman: Where'd you get the suit, Aleksei?

Rhino: Don't care! I crush you with it! I AM RHINO!!!

He charged at Spider-Woman again, and he jumped out of the way. However, Rhino caught her foot and threw her down hard enough to make her bounce off the ground before kicking her into a truck.

Spider-Woman struggled to get up as she held her chest, noticing that she had a few broken ribs, and noticed Rhino charging towards her again. She then picked up a manhole cover and threw it at Rhino as hard as she could, making it stuck to his chest. When Rhino ripped the cover off, he failed to notice Spider-Woman swinging toward him before kicking him back several feet.

As Rhino was on one knee, Spider-Woman proceeded to punch and kick him in the face as much as she could, but she noticed that Rhino was practically eating her attacks. She still proceeded to punch and kick Rhino several more times before he suddenly caught her left fist.

She felt her bones cracking under Rhino's grip as he slowly got up. He then proceeded to smash Spider-Woman's body into the asphalt repeatedly before tossing her into a nearby wall. Before she could have a chance to recover, Rhino clotheslined her into multiple walls before slamming her into the ground again and curb-stomping her in the chest, creating a small crater in the asphalt with Spider-Woman lying in the middle of it with almost half of her ribcage fractured. Rhino then put his foot on Spider-Woman's chest and started applying more pressure, while Spider-Woman tried her hardest not to scream in pain as she felt her non-fractured ribs cracking.

Rhino: Now you get crushed like bug.

Spider-Woman: (groans) Spiders...are...arachnids...

Rhino continued to slowly crush Spider-Woman under his foot before he was suddenly punched away by an unknown force. Once he landed harshly on the ground, Rhino shook his head and looked up to see Superboy standing between him and Spider-Woman.

Rhino growled as he turned around and ran away for some reason. Superboy was about to chase him down, but he caught Spider-Woman groaning in agony with his super-hearing. Without hesitation, Superboy immediately turned around and ran towards Spider-Woman. Once he reached her, he immediately showed concern as he scanned her with his X-ray vision.

Spider-Woman: (groans) What are my chances, doc?

Superboy: (chuckles) Half your ribcage is almost shattered, and you're over here making jokes?

Spider-Woman: It's part of my charm.

She started chuckling but immediately groaned in pain.

Spider-Woman: Yep. Laughing hurts.

Superboy immediately picked Spider-Woman up bridal style before leaping away.

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

In the unknown location, Rhino broke through and emerged from the ground. Once he was out of the hole, the same voice he heard spoke again.

???: I'm impressed. You may be the first to actually get close to ending one of the Spiders.

Rhino: Good. But I have question: How do I get out of suit?

???: Oh. I was hoping you would ask that.

Rhino: [Russian] <What?>

???: The answer is...You can't. As I said, the suit is still experimental. I still haven't worked out a way to safely remove it.

Once he heard that, Rhino started breathing heavily in an attempt to control his growing rage.

Rhino: So...If I get out of suit...I die?

???: Precisely.

Rhino: And you never thought to say this before?

???: I believe I already have, Aleksei. You are simply too much of a simpleton to actually listen.

Rhino felt his rage growing. He knew he wasn't exactly the smartest person in the world, but he was far from stupid. And the fact that the voice attempted to gaslight him into believing it almost made him blow a gasket.

???: You were so obsessed with hurting Spider-Man that you never even thought of the consequences of your actions. Maybe Tanya is better without her idiotic buffoon of an uncle in her life.

That was the last straw for Rhino.

Rhino: RRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!

He started to destroy the place around him in nothing but pure rage. He punched the walls around him so hard so many times that a part of the roof collapsed over his head, but he still didn't stop.

Rhino: I AM NOT BUFFOON! I AM NOT SIMPLETON! YOU ARE LIAR! YOU LIE, SVOLOCH!!! YOU LIE!!!

After a minute of just smashing his surroundings, the building he was in was reduced to nothing but a giant pile of rubble. Rhino breathed heavily as he stood over the rubble before punching through the rubble and digging through it.

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

Conner opened the living room window and looked around before climbing in while carrying Spider-Woman over his shoulder. He gently placed her on the couch and removed her mask, revealing her bruised face.

Conner: You mind if I...

Valeria: (nods) Help me out here.

Conner helped Valeria sit up slightly before she removed her bracers and gloves. Conner then slowly removed the top half of her suit and tossed it over the couch, leaving Valeria in a black sports bra and the bottom half of her suit. Conner furrowed his eyebrows in concern as he glanced at the large bruises all over Valeria's body.

Conner: Are there any ice packs here or something?

Valeria: Freezer. In the kitchen.

Conner immediately got up and walked toward the kitchen.

Valeria: How'd you know I was in trouble, anyway?

Conner: I was just coming out of the zeta tube when I heard you and the big rhino guy fighting.

Valeria: And why were you coming out of the zeta tube?

Conner: I was hoping to see you. Thought we could...hang out or something.

Valeria immediately raised an eyebrow as Conner came out of the kitchen with several ice packs and bags of frozen peas in his arms.

Conner: Nathan called me while I was headed to you. He was about to ditch his date with M'gann to help you out, but I talked him out of it.

Valeria: He didn't have to worry about me.

Conner: Well, he is your older brother, Valeria. It's kind of his job to worry.

Valeria rolled her eyes while smiling as Conner sat across from her and grabbed an ice pack. He gently pressed it on Valeria's side, which made her wince.

Conner: Sorry.

Valeria: It's fine. You know, when I had Nathan's memories implanted in my head, I remembered all the pain he felt. Physically, mentally, whatever. The most pain his body went through was after his fight with Dr. Conners in the sewers. But it's not even half as bad as this.

Conner: I can imagine. Who was that guy, anyway?

Valeria: Aleksei Sytsevich. Russian mobster. He once tried to rob an Oscorp truck that was carrying plutonium, but Spider-Man stopped him. I don't know where he got that suit, though, but it packed one heck of a punch. He goes by Rhino, funnily enough.

Conner: (chuckles) Yeah.

He moved the icepack to Valeria's other side, making her wince again. She was observing Conner's facial expressions as she lay on the couch.

Valeria: You're cute when you're worried.

Conner looked up at her.

Valeria: The way you furrow your eyebrows when you're focused. It's cute.

Conner smirked a bit as he and Valeria gazed into each other's eyes. She raised her left hand and cupped Conner's cheek while Conner placed a hand on her waist, avoiding her injuries. Valeria slowly sat up, ignoring her injuries, and leaned closer to Conner while he sat still as they continued to gaze into each other's eyes.

Conner: Uh...You sure about—

Valeria: Shut up, Conner.

She immediately pressed her lips against Conner's. He was caught off guard momentarily before kissing her back. When their lips made contact, they both felt a spark of electricity flow through their bodies. Conner heard Valeria's heartbeat quicken to match his own quick heartbeat. Valeria, on the other hand, heard her Spider-Sense ringing softly as she felt Conner's heartbeat under her hand that she placed on his chest.

They were only forced to separate when air became a problem, but Conner and Valeria still kept their foreheads together.

Conner: That was...

Valeria: Amazing.

Conner: (sighs) Yeah. Amazing.

They both chuckled before they leaned in to kiss each other again, but they were interrupted when they heard the police radio go off.

Dispatch: All units, be advised. We received multiple 911 calls about a disturbance in Clermont Avenue. Description matches the suspect of the 10-40 on Wall Street earlier today.

Conner & Valeria: Rhino.

Conner immediately got up and started walking towards the window, but stopped when he heard Valeria groaning. He turned around and saw Valeria getting up from the couch.

Conner: No. Absolutely not.

Valeria: That's near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. If I could get Yuri to clear it, I should be able to lure him and take him down.

Conner: Valeria, your ribs are still healing. Besides, you can't be thinking about taking him on alone, do you?

Valeria: (smirks) I won't be alone. I got you.

Conner: (sighs) That smirk on your face is so annoying.

Valeria: You like it, though.

She picked up the top half of her suit and put it on before putting on her gloves and bracers.

Valeria: Come on.

She put on her mask and climbed out the window before swinging. Conner rolled his eyes while smiling before leaping after her.

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

Rhino tossed a car in a random direction as civilians were running away. He roared in anger as he punched the road underneath him.

Rhino: WHERE ARE YOU, SPIDER?!

???: Right here, Aleksei!

Rhino turned around and saw Spider-Woman land on a lamppost and perch on it.

Rhino: Girl Spider! I crush you before, I crush you now.

Spider-Woman: You're gonna have to catch me first. Superboy.

Rhino turned around, only to be punched into the air by a right hook by Superboy that sent him flying toward Spider-Woman. Spider-Woman charged up her right fist with Venom and jumped at Rhino before punching him in the face, sending Rhino back into the asphalt.

As Rhino got back up, he saw Spider-Woman and Superboy standing a few yards in front of him.

Spider-Woman: (whispers) On my mark, leap away and meet me at the Navy Yard. I'll lead Rhino to you.

Superboy: (whispers) How?

Spider-Woman: (whispers) Let me handle that.

Superboy didn't need to use his X-ray vision to know that Spider-Woman was smirking under her mask, so he just rolled his eyes while a small smirk of his own grew on his face.

Spider-Woman: (to Rhino) Hey, Aleksei. You still want to crush me?

Rhino: Yes!

Spider-Woman: Well, I'm right here! Unless you're too chicken to go for it!

Just to add fuel to the fire that is Rhino's rage, Spider-Woman proceeded to make chicken noises, place her hands under her armpits, and flap her elbows like they were wings. This caused Rhino to punch a nearby car and yell out.

Rhino: I AM NOT CHICKEN!

He charged at Spider-Woman and Superboy.

Spider-Woman: SUPERBOY, GO!

Superboy leaped away, while Spider-Woman jumped over Rhino and landed on his back. She then took out her stingers and drove them straight into Rhino's armor, just under his shoulder blades.

Rhino: ARGH! GET OFF!

He started running to buck Spider-Woman off his back, while she stuck to his back while using her stinger to steer him like a bull rider.

Spider-Woman: YEEHAW! GIDDY UP!

Rhino: GET OFF, GIRL SPIDER!

Spider-Woman: Throw me off, then. I'm actually planning to keep up this little goose chase we got going on.

Rhino: Chase...goose...no...NO! I HATE CHASE OF GOOSE!

He somehow began to run even faster, and Spider-Woman struggled to hold on as she finally managed to lead Rhino to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Rhino skidded to a complete stop, forcing Spider-Woman off his back and flinging her into a wall.

Rhino: Now I crush you, then I crush your friend.

Spider-Woman: You're welcome to cry. NOW!

Rhino immediately turned around before getting punched by Superboy. Rhino flew across the yard before landing at the bottom of the dry dock, where a ship was being built.

Rhino got up and saw Superboy landing in front of him.

Superboy: Had enough yet?

Rhino: NO!

He charged at Superboy, but he sidestepped, forcing Rhino to slam headfirst into the half-built ship, denting it. Rhino turned around and glared at Superboy, but he was sent flying into the side of the dry dock by an invisible force.

???: You wanna stay down, Aleksei?

Rhino slowly got up and turned around to see Spider-Woman shimmer into visibility. He roared as he punched the ground in anger.

Superboy: Spider-Woman!

She turned to Superboy and saw him glancing up. She followed his gaze and saw a shipping container hanging from a crane just above the dry dock. She looked back at Superboy and nodded, knowing what he was thinking.

Her Spider-Sense blared, alerting her of Rhino's incoming charge. She immediately jumped up to avoid it, while Superboy jumped in front of Rhino and caught his fists, creating a small shockwave as Superboy held the Russian back.

While Superboy held Rhino back, Spider-Woman quickly climbed the crane in order to get to the shipping container. Once she reached the shipping container, she stabbed the clamps holding one side of the container with her stingers, making it hang from one side. She then crawled to the other side of the container and pulled her free hand back, preparing to stab the remaining clamps with her stinger.

Spider-Woman: Conner, get ready to move.

She hoped that Superboy heard her with his super-hearing before stabbing the clamps with her stinger, making the container fall toward the dry dock.

Spider-Woman: MOVE NOW!

She jumped off the falling container. On the ground, Superboy saw the falling container and let go of Rhino's fist before jumping out of the way. Rhino looked up and saw the container, but he was too slow to move as it landed right on top of him.

Rhino: AARRRGGGHHH!

He yelled in pain as he was pinned under the shipping container, his combat suit allowing him to survive its weight. Rhino groaned as Superboy and Spider-Woman walked towards him.

Rhino: I will come back, and I will kill every—

He was immediately knocked out by a right hook from Superboy. Spider-Woman looked at him.

Superboy: He was talking too much.

Spider-Woman: (shrugs) I could tell.

She sighed as Superboy looked back at her and smirked.

Superboy: We should get going before the cops show up.

Spider-Woman: Yeah, we should. But first...

She rolled her mask up to her nose, gently grabbed the back of Superboy's head, and pulled him into a kiss, which he immediately melted into as he put his hands on her waist. After a second, they pulled away as Spider-Woman smirked before rolling her mask back over her mouth.

Spider-Woman: ¡Vamanos, Superboy!

She shot a web line and swung away. Superboy chuckled before leaping after her.

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

In an undisclosed location, a figure stood in front of some holograms and spoke with the same voice that he spoke with Aleksei Sytsevich.

Man: Sytsevich has been neutralized and apprehended by Arachne and the Superboy. However, the combat suit functioned perfectly.

???: Is the combat suit at risk of removal?

Man: According to the engineers in Alchemax, it can never be removed without killing Sytsevich, just as designed, and that is forever fueling his hatred of the Spiders. As of today, Aleksei Sytsevich...

The man took a step closer to the holograms, which revealed him to be none other than...

Wilson Fisk: Is a servant of the Light for the rest of his days.

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

Back in Nathan's apartment, Conner and Valeria were in their civilian clothing as she made out in the living room. Suddenly, they were interrupted by the front door opening. They quickly separated as Nathan walked into the living room. He just stood there with his eyes darting between Conner and Valeria, who sat on the couch awkwardly.

Nathan: Conner. Val.

Conner: Hey, Nathan.

The three sat/stood in silence.

Valeria: How was the date?

Nathan: It was great. M'gann and I had fun. I walked her back to the zeta tube before coming.

Valeria: Cool. Such a gentleman.

Nathan had a small smirk on his face as Conner got up from the couch.

Conner: Speaking of, I should get back to the Cave.

He was walking towards Nathan, trying to walk past them, but he was held back by Nathan, who spoke quietly enough that only Conner could hear him.

Nathan: You and Val kissed, didn't you?

Conner raised his eyebrows.

Nathan: My dad's a detective, remember? Just answer the question.

Connor simply nodded.

Nathan: Well...I'm happy for you two. Really. But I swear to God, if you break her heart, I will dig up the biggest lump of kryptonite I could find and shove it where the sun don't shine. ¿Comprendes?

Conner nodded again. Nathan then stepped to the side, allowing Conner to walk past him and leave the apartment. Once the apartment door closed, Nathan turned to Valeria with a smirk on his face.

Nathan: [Spanish] <Was he a good kisser?>

Valeria's face turned red as she shyly nodded, which caused Nathan to chuckle before walking to the TV and picking up the controllers.

Nathan: Wanna play NBA 2K?

Valeria smirked before taking one of the controllers, while Nathan booted up the console.

Valeria: I'm picking the Cavs.

Nathan: Guess I'll take the Lakers, then.