Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 25: Brother Spider, Sister Arachnid

In the nearly four years since he had become the amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker had seen many strange things. Whether it was the many ways in which humans had begun developing bizarre abilities through a variety of accidents and genetic mutations, or concrete and tangible proof that aliens and magic were very real things, Peter thought he'd seen it all.

He realized he was wrong when he woke up in bed to find his Uncle Ben sitting on one side, and Gwen Stacy on the other. To his amazement, Gwen was dressed in the costume of the spectacular Spider-Woman, and looked worn and battered from the many injuries and bruises that covered her body. Struggling to sit up, Peter winced in pain and realized that he'd taken a fairly serious beating himself. Groaning in pain, he lay back on his pillow.

"Let me guess," he said weakly to Gwen. "You brought me back here?"

"Yeah," Gwen nodded. "I was going to let the paramedics take care of you, but then I realized they'd probably need to take off your mask. Someone would probably see your face and release your secret identity to the media."

"Smart girl," Peter grinned. "You only joined the spandex set what, seven months ago?"

Gwen nodded.

"Didn't take you long to learn a lot of the superhero ground rules, did it?" he joked.

"There are rules?" Gwen asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really," Peter replied. "I'm just supposed to say that so my union rep stays off my back."

SPIDER-WOMAN #25

"BROTHER SPIDER, SISTER ARACHNID"

They sat in silence for a few moments, before Gwen spoke again.

"So now we know each others' secrets," she said.

"Yeah," Peter replied. "Why'd you unmask to us?"

"Because I'd already more or less guessed the truth," Uncle Ben interjected. "You already told me your theories about Spider-Woman, and when I realized she probably had to have known you to recognize you and bring you back home, that pretty much narrowed it down."

"Yeah, I kind of figured you already...wait, what 'theories' are you talking about?" Gwen demanded, her eyes narrowing. "What were you thinking about me?"

"You should tell her, Peter," Uncle Ben nodded, as he stood up. "I'm going to go make some stew-you both look like you could use a good meal."

"Well?" Gwen asked Peter after Ben had left the room. "You were saying?"

"You remember going to Midtown High, right? How you were a year behind me?" Peter began.

"Yeah," Gwen replied. "What about it?"

"Do you remember how all our classes went to that big field trip to Empire State University?" he continued.

"Vaguely," she replied. "The only thing I actually learned was how eager Midtown was for the Homecoming celebrations that they emptied the school for a day to set everything up."

"We were in the same group," Peter replied. "Everybody was randomly split up and put in the same groups. Anyway, do you remember how we got to that one exhibit on genetically altered animals?"

Gwen bit her lip as she searched her memory, and then shook her head.

"I had picked up this glass case full of genetically altered spiders, and then Flash Thompson snuck up on me and tried to give me a wedgie," Peter persisted. "I was so startled I sent the case flying. It shattered on the table, and then sent the spiders flying everywhere."