Spider-Man: War of Wisdom

Adjusting

"Do you know how fast you were going sir?" Jack Piazza stood at the side of someone's car on the side of the rode in the middle of nowhere. He was wearing his suit, which was completely covered by a policemen's uniform aside from his mask. He wore a cap on his head as well. "No, sir, I'm sorry." The man in the vehicle said. Jack shook his head as the green glow of his eyes reflected off the exterior of the car. "The speed limit is 65 out here. You were going 90. Any explanation for that?" The man looked down. "No, sir. I didn't think anyone else was out here so I didn't bother paying attention to the speed limit." Jack nodded and sighed. "Alright. Can I have you step out of the vehicle for me?" He asked. The man opened the door and stepped out of the car, throwing something underneath it in the process. Jack noticed and bent down. A gun lay under the car. Jack rolled his eyes and webbed it. "Nice try." He said to the man. The man looked surprised. "What's that?" He asked. "Look buddy," Jack said annoyed, "this isn't my first day on the job. Hands behind your back, you're going to jail today." The man complied, but seemed very angry. "Just our of curiosity, where were you headed today that you needed to go 90 mph and carry a gun with you?" Jack asked the man as he cuffed him. "Klyntar." The man responded. Jack looked up and suddenly everything was gone. He stood in the front of the highschool as it appeared when it was Phage's lair. A voice called out to him from down the hallway. "Hello?" Jack asked. He looked down the way to see Jordan standing at the edge of it. "Jack! Help me!" She shouted to him. Jack was shocked. "J-Jordan?" He said as he walked toward her. "Jack... please!" She screamed as a giant black, yellow, and gooey hand grabbed her from the side and pulled her away. "Jordan!" Jack yelled as he ran after her. He turned the corner and saw her get pulled into the gym. Jack rushed inside to find it empty. "Jordan?" He called out. Jordan walked out of a shadow and into the center of the gym. "Jack..." She said quietly, her head down. Jack walked towards her. When he got up to her, she looked up and her face was Phage's. Jack fell backwards in horror as she changed into Phage entirely. The symbiote grinned at Jack and started to creep up on him. Jack shot webs at Phage, but they went straight through him. Phage went to take a swing at Jack, but before he landed the hit, he was sucked backwards. A portal appeared behind him and began pulling him in. Jack watched Phage get pulled towards the portal. Phage changed back to Jordan right before he went through. "Help me!" She shouted to Jack. Jack quickly got up and jumped towards her. She was pulled into the portal as Jack jumped, nearly reaching her. "No!" He yelled. The portal stayed on as he reached it. He went through and everything went white. "I'm coming!" Jack yelled out. "Hold on! Jordan!" He screamed. Jack's eyes shot open and he jumped up in his bed. He was breathing heavily and was sweating profusely. He looked around in his room. The sun was shining through his window and illuminating the room. Jack picked up his phone. The time read 7:30. Ugh, I'm late! Jack thought to himself. He got up and went into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, Jack splashed some water from the sink in his face. "It was just a dream. It wasn't real. It was just a dream." He told himself. After he got ready for the day and ate breakfast, he walked into his mom's room. "Hey. I'm leaving." He said to her. "Oh, have a good day honey! First week!" His mom exclaimed. Jack chuckled. "Yep. Hey, quick question. Remember last August when that alien thing attacked the school?" Jack asked. "Yes, why?" His mom replied. "Well, what do you remember about the day it disappeared?" "Well, I remember watching the news and being so worried about you and your friends because I hadn't seen you in a day and half. Then I saw Spider-Man walk out of the school and announce that that thing was gone. That's when you called me and told me you were on your way to the hospital because Ian got hurt climbing something like he usually does." "Ok. Anything else?" "No, not that I remember." "Ok. That's all. Thanks mom. Love you, see you after school." "Bye sweetie." Jack walked out of his moms room and to his car. You did it Grace! He thought to himself. Jack arrived at the school a little later and walked inside. He cautiously looked at everyone he passed. Some people gave him weird looks, some didn't acknowledge him, and some talked to those near them. Jack got to his locker and opened it. On the inside was a note reading "I know who you are." Jack looked around quickly. Someone tapped his shoulder and he jumped back. Grace stood there laughing at him. "Grace!" He said. "Hey. How do you like my note?" She asked. "You put that there? Ugh, don't scare me like that!" Jack said. "Oh, by the way, I think your device worked great. I asked my mom and she said she doesn't remember anything about Spider-Man revealing his identity." Grace nodded. "I know. Nobody really does. It's caused a lot of confusion because some people say they remember it, but not who it is. It's basically like I created a new thing for the Mandela effect. Although I still don't see why you needed me to make it. You said that day that you were fine with people knowing." Jack rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well I changed my mind. I realized that it could be putting a lot of people in danger, including yourself. But wait, you said some people are claiming they remember part of it? How is that possible?" Grace tried to explain. "Well, the device I used sent out a brainwave from the radio station all across town. I made it so it blocked you, me, Ian, and Mackenzie from hearing it. That being said, some of it may have failed to completely change the memories, thus leaving some people thinking they saw you reveal yourself. But no one can remember who was revealed. Just that it happened. And of course you know that I just tampered with the news footage so it looks like you still have your mask on." Jack looked confused, but understood a bit. "So you're sure no one knows it's me?" He whispered. "Yes, I think you're good." Grace responded. Jack smiled at her. "Thanks." He said to her. "Hey guys." A voice said to them from down the hall. Jack turned to see Ian and Mackenzie holding hands while walking towards them. "Hey." Jack said as they approached. Ian's legs had metal all around them that went upward and connected to the center of his back. Grace had designed the device so Ian would be able to walk again, despite his paralysis. "Ian, anymore trouble with the legs?" Grace asked. "Not since last Friday when it randomly shut down during class. Other than that, it's been fine." He responded. "It's a good thing you weren't in the air." Jack said jokingly. They all laughed. "No kidding. That would've been awful." Mackenzie said. They were interrupted suddenly by a monitor above them. "Good morning Spartans and welcome to your daily morning news. Just two days ago, Spider-Man was spotted stopping an armed robbery of a party supply store. According to eyewitness accounts, another person was with him, flying around on what appears to be some sort of ufo or glider. This exclusive footage was captured at the scene." The student anchor announced the news. The screen cut to footage filmed on a phone, showing a person on a mechanical glider wearing the mask of a goblin. The person threw a small sphere down at another person standing with a gun aimed at police. The sphere hit the ground and exploded into smoke. The robber flailed his arms around to try and clear it, but was webbed in the back and lifted up. The video ended as he was pulled up. "Is this a new super hero? Many people have opinions on this flying person, but it appears that they're working with Spider-Man. People online and around town have started calling this masked flyer the "Hobgoblin" due to the goblin mask seen on their face in the video. In other news, the varsity football team wins at state." Jack burst into laughter, while Ian put a hand on the side of his face. "Are you kidding me?! The Hobgoblin?! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! It's not my fault I needed something to cover my face with, that's the first mask I could grab!" Grace chuckled a little. Mackenzie put a hand on Ian's face. "Aw, it's ok. I think it's kinda cool. And who cares what they think. You're my Hobgoblin." She kissed him on the cheek. Ian smiled. "Well, I guess it's not that bad." Jack started to stop laughing. "Oh man, they really got you. Oh, that's hilarious. But hey, at least people are seeing you fly. That's cool." Ian nodded. "Yeah. That's cool." Jack calmed himself down. "But anyways guys, I had another crazy nightmare. I was a cop and was wearing my old suit. Then I got here and..." He trailed off. Grace, Ian, and Mackenzie all looked at each other. "Was it about Jordan again?" Mackenzie asked. Jack lowered his head. "Yeah. I just... I see her everywhere I go. I want to get her back so bad, even though I know I can't. I really miss her." He said. "We all do. But there's nothing we can do to change what happened." Grace said. "I know." Jack said. "I've just got to put it out of my mind and focus on Hero stuff." "That's the spirit." Ian said cheerfully. "I guess. It's just... so much is changing. The school's different, our group is different, crime has spiked recently, and everyone's looking at me to fix everything. It's a lot to take in." As the group were talking, the bell rang. "Shoot, we gotta go." Grace said. "Dang. See you guys at lunch?" Jack asked hopefully. "For sure." Responded Ian. He watched as Grace headed into a classroom and as Ian and Mackenzie walked down the hall, hands linked. Jack sighed and closed his eyes. I'll find you. I promise. He thought to himself. He reopened his eyes and jogged towards his next class, hoping not to be late.