The ghost they search for XP

Run, Spider, Run!

I know... I know...

This was kinda stupid.

But hey this was kinda also my luck....

The rumourless Parker luck.

So there I was, standing in Stark's lab with Tony Stark himself blocking the doorway and my heart pounding faster than the beat at a rock concert. I might even make the newest next hit at this point. It was the perfect time to panic, but instead, I did what any sensible spider would do—started thinking up excuses.

Me: Uh... testing security! Yeah, that's the ticket. You passed, Mr. Stark! Totally passed. A-plus on all fronts.

Tony: Uh-huh. And I'm guessing you're not planning to stick around for the post-test evaluation?

Uhhhh 

Someone knows how to joke...

Well I am screwed eitherways.

His voice was dripping with sarcasm, but I could see the wheels turning in his head it was like a clockwork.... To be honest, I wouldn't look any different at this point too. He wasn't about to let me waltz out of here with one of his shiny new toys. Not that I was waltzing, exactly. More like tiptoeing and ready to bolt.

Yeah....

This is not worth it...

Maybe something else?

Uhhh what's that shiny thing?

Wait it's totally dirty.... kinda out of place.

Me likey....

Me wanty....

That's when I noticed something else on the workbench—a hard drive. But not just any hard drive. This thing looked ancient, like something out of the tech version of the Stone Age. I mean, if Tony had a museum, this would definitely be in it, displayed under "Relics of the Past."

Me: Ooooh, what's this? Tony, you know, you really should dust your collectibles more often—this one looks like it's been through World War II and back.

I picked it up, and Tony's smirk vanished faster than a pizza in front of the Hulk. That's when I knew I'd grabbed something big....something important.

Tony: Put that down. Now! And i will think about letting you walk out of here the nice way.

His voice was all business, no sarcasm. Uh-oh, serious mode activated. I looked between the hard drive and Tony, feeling the tension crackle in the air. Whatever was on this thing, Tony didn't want me to have it. Which meant I had to get out of here—fast... because I WANT it now.

Me: Sorry, Mr. Stark, I would love to stick around, but I have a prior engagement with not dying. Catch you later!

And then I did the only logical thing: I hurled the prototype at him like a baseball pitcher going for a strikeout. Tony yelped in surprise, his reflexes kicking in as he caught it with a flash of gold from his nanotech suit. And while he was distracted, I made a break for it, hard drive clutched tightly in my web-slinger hand.

Tony: Get back here, INSECT!

Me: No can do and I am A SPIDER!!!!! BESIDES I've got places to be, people to save, and apparently, ancient artifacts to analyze!

I sprinted down the hall, my spidey-sense tingling like mad. Tony was right on my tail, his suit fully activated now, and I could hear the telltale hum of repulsor beams charging up. 

Oh, this was bad. 

This was very bad.

As I rounded the corner, I nearly ran straight into a group of heroes. There they were—Cap, Thor, Natasha, and Bruce, all casually hanging out like it was just another day at the office. I skidded to a stop, nearly tripping over my own feet in the process.

JUST MY LUCK!

Seriously I should consider buying a lucky charm....

Maybe more than one as well.

Me: Uh, hey, guys! Don't mind me, just passing through. Any chance you could, you know, let me by?

Cap gave me that stern look, the one that made me feel like I'd just been caught sneaking cookies before dinner.

Cap: What's going on?"

Me: Oh, nothing major. Just a friendly game of tag with Mr. Stark here, and I'm it! So, if you could just—

Before I could finish, Tony appeared behind me, his suit gleaming ominously.

Tony: He's got something of mine. Hand it over, you little pesky thief!

Me: You know, this seems like a private discussion. I'll just take a quick U-turn and—

I bolted in the opposite direction, not waiting for a response. The heroes' voices echoed behind me as I darted down another corridor. I was running out of options—and hallways.

Tony wasn't far behind, his suit giving him a speed advantage. I could feel the heat from his repulsors closing in, and my mind raced for an escape plan. 

Think, Pete, think! 

There's gotta be a way out of this...

And then it hit me. 

Literally!

The door at the end of the hallway slammed open, and I found myself face-to-face with Hulk. 

Oh, great. 

Because today just wasn't weird enough.

Hulk: Spider-Man in trouble?

Me: You could say that. But hey, big guy, how about you help a friend out and—

Not as if we were friends... played with him a couple of times but if he says we are friends, then we are, I guess....

Before I could finish, Hulk grabbed me by the back of my suit and tossed me aside like I was a pesky fly. I flew through the air, narrowly avoiding one of Tony's repulsor blasts. Not exactly what I had in mind, but I wasn't going to complain. The throw had launched me into a side corridor, and I scrambled to my feet, spotting a ventilation shaft just above me.

Me: Gutter system, here I come!

I shot a web at the vent cover, yanking it off, and squeezed my way inside. The sound of Tony's footsteps and the roar of Hulk faded as I crawled through the narrow space, heart still pounding. This wasn't exactly my finest moment, but I was alive, and I still had the hard drive.

After what felt like an eternity of crawling, I finally found an exit, popping out of a vent and into an alleyway behind Stark Tower. I pulled myself out, brushing off the dust and grime, and took a deep breath of the slightly fresher air.

Me: Made it. Now to figure out what this thing is...

I glanced back at the tower, knowing that Tony was probably fuming, but I had no time to worry about that now. I had a mystery to solve, and whatever was on this hard drive, it was definitely something Stark didn't want me to see. Which, of course, only made me more curious and besides I now wanted it quite desperately.

With one last look at the towering skyscraper, I slipped into the next alley and decided to use the gutters to get away from there the safest way. Iron man would certainly be on the lookout for your everyday friendly spider.