The underground rebel base was unusually peaceful that afternoon.
For once, nobody was shouting orders, nobody was rushing wounded soldiers into the infirmary, and no alarms were screaming through the corridors.
But peace was always temporary in a world controlled by the Sinister Five.
Inside the training room, Peter was examining his Mark II suit while Gwen worked on her tablet.
Ganke had already left to help Quin organize the supplies.
Peter glanced at Gwen.
"You've been awfully quiet."
Gwen didn't look up.
"I'm working, Peter."
"You've been staring at that tablet for twenty minutes. Either you're inventing something amazing or you've forgotten how to use it."
Gwen slowly raised her eyes.
"Do you ever shut up?"
Peter grinned.
"It's a gift."
She shook her head, smiling faintly.
But Peter noticed something.
"Seriously, Gwen. What's wrong?"
Gwen put down her tablet.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about what Ganke said earlier."
Peter leaned against the workbench.
"About me being the hope of the universe?"
"Yeah."
She paused.
"Doesn't that bother you?"
Peter looked at her.
"What?"
"Having everyone depend on you. Every time something happens, they expect Spider-Man to appear. They expect you to save them. They expect you to win."
Peter remained silent for a moment.
Then he shrugged.
"Well, somebody has to do it."
Gwen frowned.
"Peter, I'm serious."
He sighed.
"I know."
He looked down at his hands.
"Honestly? Sometimes it's exhausting. I mean, look at these guys. Harry, Frank, Ganke, Quin, Robin... they've all lost something. Some have lost their families. Others have lost their homes."
He looked toward the training room entrance.
"And somehow, they look at me like I'm supposed to fix everything."
(I'm not even sure I can fix myself sometimes.)
Gwen listened quietly.
Peter continued.
"But whenever I see those kids smiling, whenever I see people helping each other instead of fighting... I guess that's enough reason to keep going."
Gwen smiled.
A genuine one this time.
"You're an idiot, Parker."
Peter raised an eyebrow.
"Wow. Inspirational. Thank you."
"An idiot who happens to be a pretty good Spider-Man."
Peter chuckled.
"I'll take that compliment."
Before Gwen could respond, the training room doors suddenly opened.
Robin entered, carrying a box of ammunition.
"Well, well, well! Look at these two. Having another romantic science experiment?"
Gwen immediately rolled her eyes.
"Robin."
"What? I'm just observing."
Peter pointed at him.
"You know, for someone who talks so much, you're surprisingly easy to silence."
Robin placed the box down.
"Try me, Spider-Boy."
Gwen laughed.
Then Robin's expression changed slightly.
"Anyway, Frank wants everyone in the command room. Apparently, Fury received something interesting."
Peter straightened.
"Interesting good or interesting we're-all-going-to-die?"
Robin shrugged.
"Knowing our luck? Probably the second one."
Meanwhile, The Command Room
Nick Fury stood in front of a massive holographic display.
Frank Castle stood beside him, arms crossed, while Harry, Mary Jane, Ganke, Quin, and the others gathered around the table.
A moment later, Peter and Gwen entered.
"Alright, what's going on?" Peter asked.
Fury looked at him.
"Good. Everyone's here."
He tapped the holographic display.
A map of New York appeared.
Several red markers flashed across different districts.
"Three hours ago, our surveillance network intercepted an encrypted transmission from one of the Sinister Five's facilities."
Frank narrowed his eyes.
"Which one?"
"An abandoned Oscorp research complex."
Harry immediately stepped forward.
"Oscorp?"
Fury nodded.
"Apparently, Green Goblin has been moving equipment there."
Harry's expression hardened.
"My father..."
Mary Jane gently touched his arm.
Fury continued.
"But that's not the interesting part."
He changed the display.
A recording appeared.
It showed a large underground laboratory filled with mechanical equipment. Several scientists were working around a massive circular structure.
Peter immediately recognized the design.
His expression changed.
"Wait a minute..."
Gwen stepped closer.
"Is that a dimensional portal?"
Fury nodded.
"That's what our analysts believe."
Ganke's eyes widened.
"A portal? You mean Miles is actually trying to open one?"
Peter stared at the recording.
(So the rumors were true.)
Harry looked at Fury.
"What's on the other side?"
Fury shook his head.
"We don't know. But whatever they're building, it's consuming enormous amounts of energy."
Frank finally spoke.
"And if they're gathering that much power, they're planning something big."
Gwen examined the readings.
Her expression gradually became serious.
"Wait. These energy signatures..."
Peter turned toward her.
"What?"
"They're similar to the readings we detected when those alternate Spider-people appeared."
Silence.
Peter stared at the hologram.
(Another universe...)
(So Miles really wants to cross dimensions.)
Ganke clenched his fist.
"That bastard..."
Quin glanced at him.
"Ganke, calm down."
"Calm down? He's playing with dimensions now! What happens if he destroys everything?"
Frank raised one hand.
The room fell silent.
"That's enough."
He looked at Fury.
"What's our next move?"
Fury enlarged the facility's location.
"We investigate. But we're not attacking until we understand what we're dealing with."
Peter crossed his arms.
"And if we discover they're preparing to activate that thing?"
Fury looked directly at him.
"Then we stop them."
Somewhere Beneath the City
A different laboratory.
A different world.
Miles Morales stood before the enormous dimensional machine.
Its circular structure was incomplete, but its energy readings were increasing.
Doctor Octavius examined the holographic projections.
"The calculations are improving. However, we're still missing a considerable amount of energy."
Miles didn't turn around.
"How much longer?"
"If everything proceeds according to plan, several weeks. Perhaps less."
Miles looked at the hologram.
A familiar face appeared.
Jefferson Davis.
His father.
Miles stared silently.
(Just a little longer, Dad.)
Aaron Davis approached from behind.
"Miles."
Miles turned.
"What?"
Aaron hesitated.
"We've got a problem."
Miles frowned.
"What problem?"
Aaron handed him a tablet.
A surveillance photograph appeared.
A black-and-red armored figure standing among the rebels.
Spider-Man.
Miles stared at the photograph.
His expression immediately darkened.
"That spider..."
Aaron nodded.
"He's becoming more popular. The rebels are rallying behind him. Even the civilians are starting to believe they can win."
Miles slowly placed the tablet down.
"Then we'll take that belief away."
Doctor Octavius turned.
"What are you suggesting?"
Miles looked at Spider-Man's photograph one last time.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
"If they want a symbol of hope..."
He turned toward the dimensional machine.
"...I'll show them what happens when hope disappears."
Aaron watched his nephew silently.
(Miles... what have you become?)
The hologram of Jefferson Davis flickered behind them.
And somewhere across the city, Peter Parker had no idea that his greatest enemy was already preparing something far worse than another battlefield.
The next war wouldn't just be fought for control of the city.
It would be fought for the fate of reality itself.