Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

15 - Finding Friends

The air crackled with a nervous energy in the dingy Brooklyn apartment. Peter B. Parker, his once vibrant costume now faded and patched, slumped in a worn armchair. Gwen Stacy, her sleek suit a stark contrast to the grimy surroundings, paced restlessly. Pavitr Prabhakar, his youthful face etched with worry, stared intently at a holographic map projected from his wrist device. Hobie Brown, the tinkerer, stood by a cluttered workbench, his brow furrowed in concentration. Miles Morales, the newest Spider-Man, perched on the windowsill, his red and black suit a beacon of hope in the gloomy room.

"Alright," Miles finally broke the silence, his voice heavy with concern. "We haven't heard from Varian or Lashanie in days. Miguel's silent, which is bad, and the portal readings..." he trailed off, gesturing towards Pavitr's holographic display that flickered with distorted static. 

"They're off the grid," Pavitr confirmed, his voice tight. "The last stable reading came from somewhere near that dimensional anomaly we detected a while back."

Gwen stopped her pacing and slammed her fist on the table. "We can't just sit here! We need a plan."

Peter B. sighed, rubbing his temples. "Gwen's right. But rushing in blind is a recipe for disaster. We need more information."

Hobie suddenly turned from his workbench, eyes gleaming with an idea. "Maybe I can help with that. Remember that prototype interdimensional scanner I was tinkering with?"

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the room. Hobie's inventions, although sometimes unconventional, often proved invaluable.

"It's not perfect," Hobie warned, holding up a bulky contraption cobbled together from scavenged parts, "but it might be able to pick up residual energy signatures from Varian's tech. If they were anywhere near that anomaly..."

Miles hopped off the windowsill, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Let's do it, Hobie. We need to find them."

Gwen nodded, her resolve hardening. "We can't let Miguel win. We have to show him that we're a team, even without him."

Peter B. Parker stood up, his shoulders straightening. Though older and weary, the hero within him still burned bright. "Alright, team. Let's find our friends. We may be a ragtag bunch, but we've faced worse. We'll do this together."

A wave of agreement washed over the room. Pavitr adjusted his holographic display, plotting a course towards the anomaly's location. Gwen checked her suit, ensuring everything was in top condition. Miles stretched, ready for action. Hobie tinkered with his scanner, his brow furrowed in concentration.

They were a mismatched team, a Spider-Force forged in the fires of interdimensional chaos. They were inexperienced, yes, but they were fiercely loyal and driven by a shared purpose. As they stepped out into the bustling Brooklyn night, a plan, fueled by friendship and a sliver of hope, began to take shape. They were going to find Varian and Lashanie, no matter what Miguel or the dangers of the multiverse threw their way. Their journey would be fraught with challenges, but they wouldn't back down. They were the Spider-Force, and they wouldn't rest until their friends were safe.

The late-night air hung heavy with the scent of exhaust fumes and sizzling street food as the Spider-Force weaved through the labyrinthine alleyways behind their Brooklyn hideout. Hobie, his bulky scanner strapped to his back, led the way, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Readings are faint," he muttered, his voice strained. "The anomaly itself is messing with the scanner's calibration."

"Keep going, Hobie," Miles urged, swinging alongside him. "Any hint, anything at all, could be the key."

Gwen, her spider-sense tingling with a vague unease, followed closely behind.  "We need to be careful," she warned. "Miguel might be expecting us. This whole anomaly thing could be a trap."