Experiment Zero

## Plot

   A glass terrarium filled with spiderwebs is placed down inside a new laboratory. A gigantic Noble False Widow Spider climbed around inside of it. The man handling the specimens was a small rotund, balding man with specialized goggles on his forehead. He wiped the sweat from his face with a rag as he turned to the door frame as a new man entered. This man was wearing an elegant suit and had reddish brown hair, he was taking notes on a clipboard he carried in with him. The man smiled as he patted the shorter one on the back, clearing his throat.

“Excellent work, Otto. This will surely please the board and get you the extra funding,” the man boasted.

“Really, Norman?”,Otto asked, “It’s good to see you take an interest in real science again.”

Otto smiled, happy to see his old friend returning to him. Otto looks over his notes on his desk before returning to Norman.

“The next step is getting some interns to help run things. This is a lot of work for just myself,” Otto informed Norman.

“Is that all we need now? Then I have the perfect group in mind for you,” Norman ensured his friend.

“You do? That is rather odd of you to think of others first,” Otto puzzled.

“Of course! Only the best for my Otto and his research. Remember my boy, Harry? He has made amazing friends with some promising talent. Peter Parker is among them, he shows great promise just like his parents,” Norman explained.

Otto listened carefully, his expression turned to mourning when mention of Peter Parker. He looked over to a picture by his computer. The picture consisted of himself, Norman, both Parkers, and a few others on the day they first opened the lab.He cleared his head and responded to Norman.

“They will help us change the world,” Otto said, hoping to not make the same mistakes again.

“That we will, Otto. That we will,” Norman promised, as he patted his back again before leaving the room.

The bright light of the room suddenly changed to be the hot afternoon sun as a school bell rang in the distance. The school bell noise grew louder and louder as students started to file out of Midtown High School. A group of five teenagers pushed their way through the crowd, being led by the tallest of the group. His steps were quick with excitement, his friend in glasses taking notice.

“Harry, what’s the rush for?”, he asked as he struggled to keep up with the long hurried strides.

“Peter, you are not going to believe this! My dad got all five of us internships at Otto Industries!,” Harry blurted with glee.

His friends all grew massive grins, soon matching Harry’s excitement. They all caught up to each other and were soon racing away from the school.

“This is amazing Harry! I can’t believe your dad did this just out of the blue,” Peter stated.

“Who knows, Peter. It sorta feels like our relationship is getting better. He is finally listening to me about the research path I want to go, and he lets you four tag along,” Harry clairfied.

The group soon made their way to a small Oscorp facility labeled ‘Otto Industries’. Once inside, they meet Otto Octavius who shakes everyone’s hands.

‘Pleasure to meet you all. Harry, Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Ned. I am Otto Octavius, but you may call me, Dr.O,” Otto introduced himself as.

“So what are we working on here, Doc? Dad wasn’t too open about the details,” asked Harry as he looked around.

“Genetic research from various animals. I theorize that there is a link from them to us that will allow a jump in evolution!” Dr.O excitedly answered.

“That’s some crazy shit, will it really work?” Ned asked from the back of the group.

“That is what we are here to find out Ned”, Dr.O replied as he guided them to a shared work area. “Here you all will share this space to conduct your work. Claim whatever desk you please.”

The group split up in the U-shaped arrangement in order from left to right: Ned, Harry, Peter, MJ, and Gwen. As they got to their desks another scientist from a different room came rushing in.

“Otto, it happened again. She got past the new defenses”, the scientist informed.

“Damn it! How many times is this going to happen? What does she want from us?” Otto screamed as the kids took notice. Otto quickly checked himself.

“What’s going on Dr.O? Is everything okay?”, MJ asked the doctor.

“Nothing to concern yourselves with. Just a burglar problem. Something the police should have handled. You guys are perfectly fine,” Dr.O sighed.

After setting up, the group was released home. Ned lived nearby and was the first to part from the group, then came Gwen who stopped at the police department to carpool with her dad. A limo pulled up as the windows rolled down to reveal Norman.

“Come on Harry. Peter, MJ, need a lift as well?” Norman asked as the door opened for his son. All three friends got inside the limo as it drove off, dropping MJ and Peter on the street in front of their houses. They said their goodbyes to Harry and each other as each walked into their respective houses.

“Peter, is that you?,” Aunt May asked from the kitchen. Peter walked into the kitchen to see his aunt was making pasta bake for dinner.

“Yeah it’s me, Aunt May. Is Uncle Ben home yet?” Peter eagerly asked in response.

“No not yet, he is still out running errands, but he should be back soon”, Aunt May answered.

Peter headed up to his room, setting down his bag as he began doodling in a notebook of his, to unwind from his day. TIme went by rather quickly and soon Peter heard the front door open and close. His face grew with joy as he rushed downstairs as he gave his uncle a huge hug.

“Woah there, sport. What’s all this for?” Uncle Ben asked Peter, surprised by the sudden rush of affection from his nephew.

“I have so much to tell you and Aunt May!” Peter said excitedly, resulting in a hard pat from his uncle.

“Well, let's dial it back a notch and talk over dinner.” Uncle Ben calmly said.

The family of three gathered around a small dining table as Peter described his first day at Otto Industries. Ben looked at Peter paying attention to every detail, after Peter finished his story, Ben gave off a smile.

“Looks like you had quite the day. I am interested to see what this Dr.O will create for the future.” Uncle Ben said with great interest.

Dinner wrapped up and soon days went by with Peter and his friends working at the lab after school, with the days turning into a weeks later. A month into the group’s internship was still solid, making great work studying the animals for potential genetic advancement.

Peter and his friends were almost done with today’s work when a massive shaking occurred on the building followed by an alarm starting to go off in the building. His friends looked up in concern as Dr.O rushed into their lab.

“Dr.O what’s going on?” Harry asked as the rest of the kids looked frightened.

“We are being robbed, I need you all to gather your things and sneak out of the building for your safety, at once!” Dr.O demanded from them before running off again to secure other’s safety.

The group gather their things and begin to sneak out of the build unsure of who they are supposed to be avoiding. They locate a stairwell and stop for a minute.

“We could head up and wait it out on the roof,” Ned suggested, which results in a small pause to consider it.

“I think it would be better to go down and out a side exit.” MJ countered, which the entire group agreed to.

The group head down two flights of stairs finding themselves on the first floor and begin to head to an exit. When they are about to leave, they hear a scream. Peter immediately rushes to it, calling to his friends.

“GO! I’ll catch up later!” Peter screams, not looking back as he rushes to save whoever was screaming.

Peter rushes in to see a middle aged, blonde haired man that has his arm pinned under some equipment that toppled over. Peter rushes over, lifting with great effort what he can from the machine, the man is then able to move away, letting Peter drop it.

“Thank you, so much.” the man says.

“Talk later, let's move!”, Peter says as the man rushes out.

Peter goes after him only to see he is gone. Peter had not realized he had gotten turned around while running in to save the man. He had misplaced the exit. Wandering around quietly, Peter heard heavy and quick footsteps hurrying his way. He rushes into a lab next to him, shutting and locking it. Peter looks around to realize that he was in Dr.O’s lab. He looks around noticing a spider terrarium. As he is in awe at the inventions around him, he hears the doorknob start to jiggle. THis startles him as he accidentally knocks the spider over, shattering the glass. Peter then jumps under the table to hide as

someone walks in looking around. The footsteps started to get closer and closer as Peter held his breath more. As he silently panics under the table, he begins to notice the spider from the terrarium was crawling up his leg and soon his body. Peter tries to relax so as to not give a reason for the spider to bite him.

   The footsteps got right in front of Peter as the spider was now on his forehead, Peter looked back to the footsteps then to the spider, hoping neither hostile attacked him.

   Then he lucked out, the spider bit into his forehead with a sharp and painful jab. It took everything inside of Peter not to scream in pain and alert the robbers to his location. Peter soon felt the pain die down as the footsteps left the room. Peter got up from the hiding spot as he caught his breath. He then looked around for the spider to no luck.

   Peter then eventually made his way back out of the room and building, meeting back up with his friends who all looked worried sick about him.

   “Peter, are you crazy! You could have gotten yourself hurt!” Mary Jane shouted.

   “Bro, you are a hero! You acted without hesitation!” Harry praised.

   Peter smiled as the group started to walk home together. Gwen parts heading to the police station, then Ned to his apartment complex. Harry splits soon after walking a different path to Oscorp. Soon MJ and Peter arrive on their street and part ways into their homes. Peter makes a beeline to his room. Walking to a mirror he inspects the spider bite, seeing a bright ass red bump as appeared under his bangs.

   “No need to panic, maybe it’ll go away in the morning.” Peter tried to calm himself down.

   Later that night, as Peter tried to sleep, his body started to heat up causing him to sweat. Noises filled his ear overstimulating them. Peter jerks awake thinking someone was in his room. Seeing no one he tries to relax, getting up to get a cup of water. Drinking the cool water, soothes his body as he heads back to bed wiping his face on his blanket.

   Waking up in the morning seems normal, no odd symptoms of illness like last night. Peter gets ready for school and meets MJ outside to walk together. MJ notices that Peter seemed a bit off.

   “What’s the matter Peter? You look like shit.” MJ asked.

   “I just didn’t get very good sleep last night. Think I used up all my energy saving that guy at the break in.” Peter replied.

The two arrive at Midtown High as they meet up with the rest of their friends who all notice Peter’s sick look and check in on him.

“Guys, I'm fine. I promise.” Peter lied, holding back a nasty cough.

Peter went to his locker and tried opening it, but his hand was glued stuck to the handle. Confused, he tries pulling his hand off of it. As Peter tries to free himself a hand crashes next to him. Peter looks to the owner to see Flash Thompson with aggressive eyes staring him down.

“Uhh.. hey, Flash. What’s up?” Peter asked, trying to get Flash to go pick on someone else.

“You know the drill, Parker. I need the math homework to compare answers.” Flash demanded.

“Gee, I’d love to help you in your sticky situation, but I am kina in the middle of my own.” Peter snarked back.

“Do I need to break it out of your locker, Parker?” Flash threatened.

“That’d be great, go on, give it a try.” Peter sarcastically said, still trying to free his hand.

Flash placed his hand on Peter’s locker only to get it stuck on the sticky substance coming from Peter’s hands.

‘What the hell, what did you do, glue me to your locker?” Flash said annoyed.

Flash then tries to use his free hand to punch Peter who pushes himself against the lockers causing Flash to miss. This movement frees both of them from the locker. Flash clenches his fists up for a fight.

“Flash, I don’t wanna fight you.” Peter tried to back down.

“I wouldn’t wanna fight me either.” Flash said  back.

Flash took a swing at Peter who ducked, dodging the fist. A circle began to gather around the two chanting and cheering. Harry comes over stepping in between the two of them.

“Flash, will you chill out? I don’t think another fight would look good on your record.” Harry said.

Harry then grabbed Peter and walked away with him as the crowd dispersed. Peter rubbed the back of his neck.

“Thanks, Harry. I owe you one.” Peter thanked.

“Don’t worry about it, but maybe start taking some self defense classes. I ain’t always going to be around to protect you.” Harry replied.

The rest of the day transpired as normal, with Peter going home after school was over, as the Lab was closed after the last break in. Peter went to his room where he noticed his vision was getting blurry with his glasses on. He took them off and his vision instantly went to perfection. Amazed, Peter popped out his lenses from his frames and placed them on his desk. Putting the frames back on he noticed this wasn't a mistake, his eyes did fix themselves. His body began to sweat rapidly as he hurried to take off his shirt. He then collapses to the ground. Upon waking up the next morning, he finds himself on his bed. Getting up to use the bathroom, he places his hand on the doorknob and turns it open as the knob breaks off. Confused, Peter continues his mission to pee. Inside the bathroom after he has relieved himself, Peter looks in the mirror to notice his muscles have developed overnight. Peter immediately puts two and two together.

“The sudden muscle growth, weird stuff at school yesterday with Flash, last night. I need to figure out what the hell happened at the lab. Maybe I was exposed to something? I wonder if the others are also feeling like this.”, Peter said to himself.

Peter slowly and carefully gets ready and tries to get out of the house without alerting his aunt or uncle. Much to his dismay, they notice him and call him into the kitchen for breakfast.

“Are you okay, Peter? May says you went straight to bed after getting home yesterday.” Uncle Ben asks worriedly.

“Uh, yeah, just ate something bad from the cafeteria yesterday and had food poisoning, that’s all.” Peter lied through his teeth.

“Well, how about after breakfast, we get you behind the wheel again?” Uncle Ben offered.

“Oh, I can’t. I promised Harry, I would help him study for the Cal test next week. Maybe next time?” Peter lied once again.

After eating breakfast, Peter heads out rushing to the lab. In an alleyway nearby he tries to figure out how he’s going to get in. He could try asking, but if they said no, then he would be out of luck. He goes into his backpack grabbing black work gloves and puts them on. He then takes a somewhat questionable fast food bag and cuts eye holes in it with his house keys. Putting on the makeshift mask he makes his way to the back of the lab building and begins to climb up to the roof. At first, he struggles to get a grip, but soon realizes he seems to be sticking to the wall even with gloves on.

“Holy shit, it’s just like the lockers. This will help a lot.” Peter mumbles to himself.

He easily climbs to the roof and tries the door to the stairwell, only to find it locked. Peter then goes back to the side of the building and locates an open window. Crawling through it he finds himself in Dr.O’s office, once again. He rushes over to the door, locking it and moving a filing cabinet in the way of it. He rushes to the computer looking through the files on the projects his friends were working on.

“None of this connects at all. What is happening to me?” Peter asked, confused.

Nothing he thought was connecting properly. He starts his search again looking into other projects in the lab. Finally he finds it, Project:Weaver. The file reads about genetic testing on spiders to see if the web making capabilities produced a viable means of material due to their tensile strength. The project was canned by Norman failing to see the potential the Parkers and Octavius saw.

Peter stood frozen unable to focus after seeing his own last name. Wanting to see if it was truly his parents, he dug further, finding their files and revealing that they did truly work under Norman. Peter smiled, at finally having some connection with his parents. Before he could bask in the warm feeling for long, there was a bang at the door, of someone trying to get in. Peter rushed to the window, but before he jumped out he felt something close by. Looking above the window on the ceiling, he notices the spider that bit him. Peter grabs him and places him inside his satchel. Peter then leaps out the window just as Dr.O with the help of others finally gets the door open.

Peter gets back home and walks inside, noticing that no one was home, he went to his room. He finds an old fish tank and fixes it up to put on his desk for the spider. After the new terrarium was ready, Peter placed the spider in it.

“Now let’s figure some things out.” Peter said as he opened up his laptop to search up some information.

Peter discovers the species of spider he was bit by and decides to name the spider, Arachne. Looking further into spiders, Peter soon realizes he may have super strength, agility, speed, durability, stamina, potential healing factor, and more.

“Oh I have to test this out further.” Peter says, grabbing a notebook, titling the front cover, Spider-Tests Volume 1.

Peter grabs his satchel with the paper bag, but looks down at his clothes, too many identifying logos on them. Peter digs through his closet finding a red sweater and blue sweatpants. He stuffs them in his bag as he heads out again.

Peter makes his way into the city finding a nice rooftop to train on. He changes into his sweat gear and begins to run around. Peter doesn’t notice much of a difference until he nearly falls over, but barely catches himself with his hands. Peter realizes he was in a push-up position with all his body weight on his palms. Peter smiles, taking it further and moves to one hand. He takes it even further, using just his fingers, then two, then finally just one finger.

“Super strength, check.” Peter says excitedly.

Peter looks over the edge of the building down to the people below. Remembering his research, Peter tries to figure out if he can produce webs. He clenches his buttcheeks together to no avial. Moving from his butt he determines the next logical place for webs to come from would be his mouth. This also proves to not be the case and so he moves onto his hands. Moving and swaying them any which way, one final movement shoots out a continuous webbing until he stops and it falls to the people below him.

“That is cool as hell. I’ll need to do some tests on this as well” Peter said to himself.

He looked out across the street to a neighboring building and aimed his hands at it. Focusing, he fires off a string of webbing and grabs onto it. He takes a deep breath and takes a leap of faith, jumping off the building. The webbing swings him across the street to a new building as he lands hard scraping his knees. Peter takes off the mask to smile at the results.

“Holy shit, that was awesome! I wonder if I can optimize this with a device to make aiming a bit easier” Peter questions to himself.

Peter checks his phone seeing it was almost 6pm. He smiles as he puts his mask back on and jumps off the building and tests out swinging around the city on his way home.

## Noteworthy Events

### Major Events

* Peter gets his powers
* Peter makes his first suit

## Characters

### Main

* Peter Parker
* Harry Osborne

### Supporting

* Norman Osborne
* Otto Octavius
* Ned Leeds
* Gwen Stacey
* Mary Jane Watson
* Uncle Ben

### Minor

* Aunt May
* Flash Thompson
* Unknown Female Theif
* Unknown Theif
* Unnamed Scientist

## Allusions

* The Peter vs Flash scene was based on 2002 version, although this time Harry really does stop it from happening.
* Peter taking notes on his powers is loosely based on My hero's Deku doing the same type of thing.
* Peter changing and testing his powers out is based on both 2002 and 2012 films

## Trivia

* PrimalFan name the spider that bit Peter.