Rogue Replacement: A Marvel Story

Chapter 86

Arc 7 - Ch 3: Opening Night

Date: Monday, August 29, 2011.

Location: Oscorp Tower, Midtown, Manhattan, New York

Max awoke in a disoriented haze, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. The darkness enveloped him, broken only by the faint glow of emergency lights flickering in the distance. He rose slowly, sluggish and uncertain, as he took in the remnants of the eel tank that had become his impromptu resting place.

The glass lay shattered, the jagged shards littered the ground, and the eels lay motionless nearby. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt flesh and the lingering tang of electricity. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, fragments of memories and sensations swirling in his mind. He couldn't quite grasp the full extent of what had happened, but the urgency to leave the confines of Oscorp Tower propelled him forward. With the electricity out, the elevators would be useless. But fortunately or not, he had fallen around 40 floors to one of the lower levels.

Limping his way out of the building, into the empty streets, his mind drifted to the show at House of M. The excitement he had felt earlier was now a distant memory. Mirage, the superhero who had saved his life, was set to perform, and Max had been determined to attend. But the night's events had taken a toll on him, both physically and mentally.

As he walked down the middle of the street, all the nearby car alarms suddenly went off. Max flinched. His senses were heightened and on edge, but curiosity drew him towards the nearest car. Without fully understanding why, Max reached out, his hand instinctively touching the headlight. In an instant, his skin began to glow a mesmerizing shade of blue as a tingling sensation spread through his body.

The sluggishness that had plagued him moments before faded slightly, replaced with a hint of vitality. It was as if the car had offered him a sip of energy, like a drop of water, to a man crawling through an endless desert. His hunger stirred, and he craved more.

Max's vision shifted, and the world around him transformed into a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. Despite the absence of the glasses he'd lost somewhere in his fall, he could see with startling clarity. The electricity that flowed through the city's veins was laid bare before his sight. He could see it, flowing through the buildings and below the streets, a pulsating energy network that called out to him like a siren's song.

The underground cables snaked through the streets, converging in a dazzling display that drew Max's gaze upward.

Times Square.

The heart of the city blazed as if all the electricity in the city was being drawn there.

The desire to attend Mirage's show at House of M was overshadowed by the overwhelming hunger that consumed him. The lure of the energy, the promise of sating the gnawing emptiness within him, was too strong to resist. Max began walking towards the light, his body moving as if guided by an unseen force. The only sound he could hear was the steady thrum of electricity, a pulsating rhythm that seemed to match the beating of his own heart.

The rational part of him, the part that had always been cautious and hesitant, urged him to seek help because something was wrong. But the hunger, the insatiable craving that had taken root within him, drowned out those whispers of reason. Step by step, he moved forward, drawn inexorably towards the epicenter of the city's energy.

The streets leading to Times Square were a blur, the buildings and landmarks fading into the background as Max's focus narrowed to the brilliant display of light ahead. As he finally approached the outskirts of Times Square, the giant screens and billboards adorning the buildings blazed with an almost blinding intensity. Their images and messages were lost as Maxe only had eyes for the electricity.

Standing at the center of it all, the hunger within him roared to life, demanding to be sated, to be fed by the limitless power that surrounded him.

With a shaky hand, Max reached out, his fingers brushing against the nearest screen. The brief contact sent a jolt of electricity through his body, bringing with it. A tantalizing sensation faded too quickly, leaving him craving more. Like the car, the screen had been just a snack when Max truly needed a full meal.

He looked around the dazzling square, hunger rising within him, until he spotted a bright cluster near the corner. The junction box tucked under a sewer grate glowed radiantly, pulsing with the promise of far greater energy than what he'd taken in. Unable to resist, Max stumbled to his knees and ripped open the sewer grate with desperate strength. He plunged his hand into the opening, grabbing hold of the live junction box. Raw electricity poured into him in a torrent of power that flooded his senses.

— Rogue Redemption —

Gwen and Peter stepped back into the streets, continuing their walk, eating ice cream and talking, eventually finding a small boardwalk away from the crowds. An undercurrent of unspoken emotions lingered between them.

"I got completely addicted to this place that has Korean meatballs."

Peter's face held a knowing smile. "Yeah. No, I know."

Gwen raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Have you been there? It's mind-blowing."

"That place on 6th. I know. You love it there."

Gwen's pace slowed. "How do you know that?"

Peter mumbled, "Hm?" as he tried to cover his response by taking a bite of his ice cream.

Gwen pressed further. "How do you know I love it there?"

Peter reached out and grabbed a small tree, unable to meet her eyes as he realized he had been caught. "Because, um... Because you told me," he stammered.

"It just opened last month..." She knew they hadn't spoken since graduation night when they had broken up. There was no way she could have told him about it. She never let her eyes leave Peter's face as she asked, "Have you been following me?"

Peter remained silent, his eyes briefly meeting hers before darting away. Gwen's suspicions were confirmed. "I knew it," she said softly. "How often?"

"Just once a day. Sometimes... Sometimes more," Peter admitted.

Gwen looked down, shaking her head as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, boy," she murmured, then asked, "Why? To make sure I'm safe?"

Peter nodded in agreement. "And..."

"And what?" Gwen prompted, her heart racing.

Peter's voice was filled with raw emotion as he confessed, "And because it's the closest I can get to still being with you."

As they stared into each other's eyes, he stepped closer, and Gwen didn't back away. They stood forehead to forehead, so close their breaths mingled. Peter leaned down to kiss her.

But Gwen broke the moment, revealing, "I'm moving to England."

Peter's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What?"

Gwen's words tumbled out in a nervous rush. "Yeah. Um... I have a... I'm up for a scholarship to Oxford in molecular medicine. And it's between me and this other kid. There's this oral exam that we have to do, and he's, like, a freshman in college, but he's 14. And... And it's... it could be him. But it might be me. I hope it's me." She corrected herself, adding, "And I'm thinking I'll be moving to England."

All Peter could manage was a stunned "Wow."

"Yeah. And I'm really excited."

The weight of Gwen's revelation hung heavy in the air between them. Peter was torn between the desire to support her dreams and the fear of losing her forever. He opened his mouth to speak, to find the right words to express the conflicting emotions swirling inside him.

But before he could utter a word, Peter's head snapped up, his attention drawn towards Times Square. His spider-sense screamed at him, warning of impending danger. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and a chill ran down his spine. Something was coming, something powerful. Peter knew he had to act fast to protect the innocent civilians from whatever menace was about to descend upon the city.

The unknown danger looming in the distance demanded his attention, his duty as Spider-Man calling him to action. But in that moment, he realized that he might lose her forever if he left her now without saying what he truly felt.

When Peter looked back, Gwen was staring in the same direction he was, her brow furrowed with concern, a silent question in her eyes. He assumed she sensed the sudden shift in his demeanor and followed his gaze, trying to discern what had captured his attention so abruptly.

"Something's happening. I need to go," he said regretfully. "But I don't want to leave things like this." He reached out, taking Gwen's hand in his. "Come with me? I'll drop you away from the danger, but I need to help… I know it's not what your father would have wanted, but I want to find a way to do this and not lose you. I want to try to do better."

Gwen searched his face. She knew the sacrifices Peter made every day to protect the city. But in that moment, as she saw the vulnerability and sincerity in his eyes, she couldn't deny the pull of her own heart. With a slight nod, she squeezed Peter's hand, accepting his plea.

A flicker of relief crossed Peter's face. Looking around to ensure they were alone, he quickly unzipped his clothes, revealing the iconic red and blue suit beneath, and slipped on his Spider-Man mask.

Wrapping a strong arm around Gwen's waist, he pulled her close. She instinctively clung to him. Peter fired a webline, the silken strand finding purchase on a nearby building. Gwen gasped as they suddenly launched into the air, the wind whipping through her hair as they swung toward Times Square.

As they approached where he'd sensed the impending danger, Peter's spider-sense was a constant buzz at the base of his skull. With a graceful landing, Peter set Gwen on a rooftop overlooking the square. "Stay here. I'll come back for you as soon as I can."

"Be careful, Peter," she whispered, her hand lingering on his arm.

He gave her a reassuring nod before leaping off the rooftop. Gwen watched as he swung toward the danger.

As she stood there alone, Gwen felt a surge of emotions. She knew that being with Peter meant accepting the risks and uncertainties that came with being a superhero. With a silent prayer for his safety, she settled in to wait.

— Rogue Redemption —

As Tyson and Jessica stepped into the shop, surrounded by luxurious fabrics and posh accessories, Jessica felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach. This wasn't just about finding a dress for a show; it was about taking the first step towards embracing her new life. Her fingers glided over the smooth, midnight blue fabric of an elegant gown, and she couldn't suppress a smile as she pictured herself wearing it. This was the one, she decided.

"I think I found the dress," she said to Tyson, who had patiently waited nearby.

But before he could respond, a shrill warning screamed through her spider-sense. The premonition of danger was the strongest she had ever felt, even compared to Tyson's killing intent. Her head jerked up instinctively, eyes fixing on the direction of Times Square as an ominous dread pooled in her stomach. Something terrible was coming.

She added urgently, "We need to go. Now. Something bad is happening."

Tyson's expression shifted to one of concern. He didn't ask questions or hesitate, simply tossing a wad of hundred-dollar bills to the stunned cashier with instructions to keep the change. The pair rushed out of the high-end boutique onto the busy city streets, Jessica's heart pounding as Tyson matched her hurried pace. She didn't know what awaited them, but she could feel they had to get to Times Square.

She grabbed his arm, pulling him into an alley. Her voice was low and insistent as she stated, "We need to change. Now."

Without hesitation, Tyson stripped off his outer layers, revealing the black costume he wore as Mirage. The spandex clung to his muscular frame like a second skin. It was a practical choice, doubling as his long sleeves and preventing accidental contact. He carefully folded Jessica's new dress, placing it on top of his clothes in his school backpack. Tucking the backpack into a corner, he hoped it would remain unnoticed until their return.

As Tyson turned back to face Jessica, his breath caught in his throat. She stood before him, her curves bared, only concealed by a simple bra and panties. Tyson couldn't help but stare, his eyes drinking in the sight of her.

Jessica's gaze met his, a flicker of surprise and something else dancing in her eyes. "Really?" she asked, exasperated but amused.

He shrugged and grinned slyly. "I've said it before, but watching the femme fatale suit up is the best part of the movie."

Jessica froze. "Did you really just say that?"

Tyson's grin widened as he replied, "If any woman knows how men think, it's you. Don't act like you've never checked yourself out in the mirror."

A deep blush crept across Jessica's cheeks. "Whatever," she mumbled before quickly adding, "I'm pretty sure your girlfriend, Jubilee, a gorgeous vampire, is the femme fatale." The emphasis she placed on the word "girlfriend" was a clear reminder to Tyson. "You shouldn't be looking at other girls while she's still in the picture."

Tyson slipped on his half-mask. He watched Jessica pull her spider suit over her shoulders and couldn't help but admire how the suit hugged her body as she turned to face him. The design had changed since he last saw her in it. The once solid red fabric now featured striking gold accents, adding a touch of elegance to the already impressive suit.

"I like the gold," he commented.

"It's so that you can tell the difference between me and the others, and next time, I won't get ambushed... hopefully." Jessica shot back slightly accusingly. Her expression grew serious, eyes darting towards the mouth of the alley. "We've gotta move."

"I'm fast," Tyson said.

"I'm faster."

She stepped closer to him, closing the distance between them. Tyson was suddenly acutely aware of their size difference. At six and a half feet tall, he towered over Jessica's five-foot-eight frame. She wrapped an arm around him, pulling him tight against her. With their bodies pressed together, Jessica could feel the firmness of his muscles. Tyson felt the softness of her curves, all concealed beneath the thin layers of their suits. She couldn't ignore the sturdy feeling of Tyson's body, the strength that radiated from him.

For a moment, they stood frozen. The air was charged with an undeniable tension.

Sensing her hesitation, Tyson asked, "Jess, you okay?"

His words snapped her back to reality, and she blinked, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah. Hold on."

With a fluid motion, she fired a webline, the silken strand shooting out into the night sky. Holding Tyson tightly, she swung them upward, their bodies cutting through the air as they headed toward Times Square.

The rush of the wind against their faces, the exhilaration of the moment, only served to heighten the tension between them. Tyson enjoyed not just the thrill of the swing but also the feel of her body against his and the closeness of her scent. Jessica tried to focus on the task at hand, the danger that still buzzed against her spider-sense, awaiting them in Times Square, but her mind kept drifting back to the way Tyson's body felt pressed against hers.

As they landed on a rooftop overlooking Times Square, they scanned the area, looking for the source of the danger. Tyson racked his brain. What major event happened in Times Square? Captain America's first modern appearance was what came to mind initially since it was the only time he remembered seeing this area in the MCU. Plus, it was fresh in his mind since it had happened earlier this morning, albeit not as it had in the post-credit scene. So it had to be something different, either a different scenario or something new, something unexpected.

Which had been happening more frequently, it seemed.

Then, off to the side, he saw a man reaching into the ground, glowing blue.

Electro.

Fuck. Tyson didn't have time for this. He needed to get downtown to run his show and spring the trap for Magneto. But Electro was too important to ignore.

Tyson pointed toward the glowing man and said to Jessica, "Get me near him, now. I know him, I can talk him down before this escalates." Closing his eyes, Tyson focused on his illusions.

He regularly performed shows for 4,000 attendees at the House of M. At first, it had strained him, but over time, he had grown accustomed to manipulating that many minds. The shows didn't require deep immersion, in truth it was an impressive display, but rather a surface-level application of his power. During the Stark Expo, he'd pushed himself to his limits. He learned that a dozen people was the upper limit of what he could deeply influence, meaning sensing through their senses and potentially… controlling them. However, he had never tried the latter.

Times Square, however, was packed with crowds. The open area known as the "bowtie" comprised the heart of Times Square. Electro knelt at the edge of the street, drawing energy from below. Around 15,000 people filled this space, on any evening, which is why most native New Yorkers avoided this area altogether. If Tyson projected his power to the maximum range here, he might influence 20,000 to 25,000 minds. He knew he couldn't handle even a surface-level brute force attempt on the crowd. He'd probably put himself into a coma trying. He'd need to strategically focus his power like he had instinctively done on Unity Day.

Tyson felt Jessica's arm wrap around him again, but this time, his mind was elsewhere, focused intently. The press of her body against his went unnoticed as he concentrated on creating illusionary duplicates of himself around Electro. Then, he added another ring outside that, each illusion urging the pedestrians to step back. People reacted slowly, but gradually, they began to respond to the illusions warnings.

Tyson's attention shifted to a police officer approaching Electro. The officer was already speaking into his walkie-talkie, likely calling for backup. Focusing on his power, Tyson created an individual illusion directed at the officer. Through this illusion, Mirage warned, "Officer, please, don't approach. This man is dangerous, but he's not aggressive. Please allow me to de-escalate."

Tyson knew that unlike Spider-Man, whose reputation was divided among the city's occupants, media, and law enforcement, particularly now due to the imposter incident, Mirage had cultivated a positive image. Even J. Jonah Jameson, notorious for his anti-vigilante stance, had spoken relatively positively about Mirage since his appearance on the show and his corroboration with SHIELD.

The officer hesitated, his hand hovering over his holster as he considered Mirage's words. Tyson could see the moment of decision play out on the man's face. The officer's eyes darted between the glowing figure of Electro and the multiple Mirage duplicates.

Then, much to Tyson's relief, the officer stepped back. He raised his hand to his radio, likely informing his colleagues of the situation and Mirage's involvement. Tyson allowed himself a moment of satisfaction as he watched the officer begin to assist the Mirage duplicates in pulling civilians away from Electro.

As Jessica swung them closer to the scene, Tyson maintained his focus on the illusions. He could feel the strain of manipulating so many minds at once. The more people whose attention was drawn to the scene, the more his power stretched to accommodate them. But he pushed through it. Creating a buffer zone around Electro.

From their elevated position, Tyson could see the full scope of the situation. Electro continued to draw power from the junction box, his body pulsating with an eerie blue glow. The crowds slowly moved back, guided by the illusory Mirages and the now-cooperating police officers.

As they descended towards the cleared area around Electro, Tyson steeled himself for the confrontation ahead. He knew that talking down Electro wouldn't be easy, but he'd met the man previously. Months earlier, on graduation day in fact, Tyson had encountered Max Dillon and saved him from absentmindedly being killed in traffic. If he could prevent outside interference, he should be able to stop Max from becoming labeled as a villain and stop a fight from breaking out.

Tyson descended from the sky, wrapped in Spider-Woman's arms. Just as their feet touched the ground, a familiar figure in red and blue swung into view, landing with the grace of an acrobat mere feet away.

Tyson's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the masked figure before him. The costume was unmistakably Spider-Man's, but caution prickled at the back of his neck. The stakes were too high to take a chance at this being Kaine, the imposter. Deliberately, he made eye contact with Spider-Man. The mask wasn't a hindrance to Tyson reaching out with his power, letting it sink into the newcomer's mind.

"What are you doing with her?" Spider-Man demanded, pointing at Jessica.

Tyson projected an illusion of himself in front of Spider-Man while he turned to attend to Electro.

Tyson raised his hands, palms out, in a gesture of peace. "I ran into her earlier," he explained, keeping his tone level. "I tried calling you, but you didn't pick up."

A muffled curse escaped Spider-Man's lips. Tyson could almost see the gears turning behind that mask as the hero pieced together the missed call.

"I was with a girl," Spider-Man answered vaguely.

The generic response set off alarm bells in Tyson's mind. This could still be the imposter, Kaine. He remembered his earlier conversations with Jessica, especially her confession that her memories ended with the battle against the Lizard. If that held true, Kaine would have the same limitations.

Tyson searched for a question that only the real Peter Parker would know, something that happened after the clones' first appearance and wasn't public knowledge.

He asked the masked figure, "What's my real power?"

There was a moment of tense silence before Spider-Man responded, "I learned in the hospital."

Relief washed over Tyson.

"Spider-Man, meet Spider-Woman," his illusion said, gesturing between the heroes. "I believe you've already met, but these circumstances are better." He paused, glancing around at the growing crowd of onlookers. "Well, better thus far. And I'd like to keep it that way."

Even as the ring around them widened as civilians backed up thanks to the prompting of the police officer and the illusionary Mirages, the area beyond was filling rapidly. Curious New Yorkers and tourists were drawn to the rare sight of multiple superheroes in one place. Tyson had sunk his power deeply into Jessica during their afternoon together, and he was hesitant to release that now, just in case. He was also deepening his connection with Peter. Even though two was well below his limit, he could feel the first strains of his power as he maintained the illusion of Mirage blocking the scene. It was becoming a delicate balancing act. The superheroes were drawing more and more attention to themselves, and subsequently, hundreds of people were focusing on Mirage's illusion every passing second. He was going to approach his limits if something didn't change quickly.

"There's too many people here. Too much potential for something to go wrong. I can handle this guy. Let me do my thing, keep the people safe."

Without another word, Spider-Man sprang into action. It was their usual approach. Mirage excelled at crowd control, but Spider-Man's agility and powers made him better suited for actual rescues. He shot a web to a nearby lamppost, using it to swing over the heads of the gathering crowd. His voice rang out as he began directing people to safer areas. Taking her cue, Jessica moved in the opposite direction as she, too, helped guide civilians away from the potential danger zone.

Tyson turned his primary attention to the task at hand. The sounds of the city faded into the background; car horns, chattering crowds, and the distant wail of sirens all became white noise as he zeroed in on Electro. The situation was under control, but only just. He had intervened quickly enough to prevent full-blown panic, but the crowd's excitement teetered on a knife's edge. Smartphones were raised high, capturing every moment of the unfolding drama.

Then he heard a scream.

Not the excited yelp of a fan spotting their favorite hero but a piercing cry of raw, unbridled terror. It cut through the ambient noise like a knife. His head snapped up, eyes scanning the skyline. A familiar figure stood precariously close to the edge of a rooftop. Gwen. And advancing on her, menacing and unmistakable, was Spider-Man.

But that wasn't right.

Tyson's peripheral vision confirmed what he already knew. The real Peter Parker was down here, helping with crowd control. His stomach dropped as the horrifying realization hit him. It was the imposter. Kaine had returned.

Memories flooded back in, finding Gwen bleeding in his living room and his entire suite destroyed, including the terrarium holding the spider that had granted Peter his powers. Kaine had killed Gwen's father, had left her for dead, had beaten Peter so badly he ended up in the hospital, and had been the catalyst for him losing a shot at gaining spider-powers. And now he was after Gwen. Again.

Kaine's presence here, now, wasn't a coincidence. If Electro's presence had drawn the attention of Peter and Gwen's spider-sense, would it not have drawn Kaine's also? And with the heroes occupied on the ground, Gwen was left exposed.

Time seemed to slow as Tyson ran through potential scenarios. He could alert Peter, but even with his incredible agility, would Spider-Man or Spider-Woman reach the rooftop in time? He could try to create an illusion to distract Kaine, but at this distance and without eye contact, he wouldn't be able to maintain something convincing enough to influence the clone, and it would push his powers even closer to his limit.

But as he weighed his options, he knew every second that ticked by was another moment Gwen's life hung in the balance. Plus, Electro was still kneeling, absorbing electricity from the junction box. He had to act and act now.

After taking a deep breath, Tyson made his decision. He closed his eyes, blocking out the sensory overload of the street. With a burst of concentration, Tyson created two identical illusions of himself, each appearing beside Peter and Jessica, respectively. The strain hit him immediately, a dull throb that pulsed behind his eyes, but he pushed through.

"Gwen is in trouble," both illusions spoke urgently, in unison. Each pointed towards the rooftop where Gwen stood trapped. "The imposter is here. She needs help now."

Peter's head snapped up, his eyes widening in alarm behind his mask. Jessica tensed.

"Both of you need to go," Tyson's illusions continued. "I'm already overtaxing my power."

As if to emphasize the point, a thin trickle of blood began to seep from Tyson's nose. He could taste the coppery tang on his lips but pushed the discomfort aside.

"I'll stall him as best I can, but I need to break our psychic connection now. Please help her." The illusionary Tysons glanced towards the center of Times Square, where the real Tyson stood amidst the crowd. "I'll handle the blue guy," they promised. "Play nice with each other, please."

With those final words, the illusions faded from view. Tyson felt the strain on his mind lessen slightly, but he knew he was far from out of the woods. He projected a new illusion onto the rooftop, visible only to Gwen and Kaine. The lack of a deep psychic connection made the illusion slightly easier but likewise made them less convincing. And the rooftop was near the edge of Tyson's range, pushing close to the limits of his power.

The illusionary Mirage materialized next to Gwen. He stood casually as he faced down Kaine. "I've been looking for you," he quipped, injecting a note of false cheer into his voice. "I sent you an invite to my show, but it must have gotten lost in the mail. How you been, buddy?"

"Oh, you know, been swinging around, busy saving people from the menaces of the city, crime, supposed heroes... the usual." Kaine quipped back. His tone sharpened as he continued, accusation clear in every word. "I went to you for help. I brought Gwen to you, and you weren't there."

Mirage's illusion held up his hands in a placating gesture. "How could I have known? And I did help Gwen. She made it to the hospital because of me. If you had approached me earlier, I could've helped you." Tyson hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a risk. "I met Jessica today," he said cautiously. "I'm going to try to help her."

The moment the words left his mouth, Tyson knew he had made a grave mistake. Kaine's body language shifted instantly. "Of course, you're going to help her," Kaine spat, his voice dripping with venom. "I know how you operate. You weasel your way into women's lives and 'help' them. I saw you trying to steal Gwen."

Both Gwen and the illusionary Mirage wore identical expressions of confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Mirage asked, genuinely baffled.

Kaine's response was immediate and scathing. "Don't play dumb. You flirted with her. I'm sure you're doing the same with Jessica. She's so naive she'll fall for your charms, and you'll have another under your sway." His voice dropped to a menacing growl. "But not Gwen. I'm going to save her... from you."

Kaine fired a webline at Gwen, yanking her towards him. The illusionary Mirage stepped forward instinctively but froze as Kaine's arm shot up, a wicked-looking spike emerging from his wrist and extending toward Gwen's throat.

"Ah ah ah," Kaine taunted, his voice a sickening mix of mockery and threat. "I know you're just an illusion. I've been watching you. You're fast, but not that fast." His grip on Gwen tightened as he backed towards the roof's edge. "You're probably stalling so you can get up here in time to steal Gwen from me, but I won't let you."

Time seemed to slow as Tyson watched in horror. He could see Peter and Jessica racing towards the building, but they were still too far away. He desperately searched for a solution, but he knew with sickening certainty that there was nothing he could do.

With a final, manic grin, Kaine leaped from the rooftop, Gwen held tight in his grasp. They plummeted for a heart-stopping moment before a webline shot out, carrying them away from Times Square.

Tyson created an area of absolute darkness trying to stall Kaine, but the imposter paid it no heed. As Kaine leaped from the rooftop, he left Tyson's range. He strained to extend his reach, to follow Kaine as he swung away with Gwen in his grasp. But the effort was too much. Exhaustion slammed into Tyson like a physical blow, sending him staggering. His vision swam as black spots danced at the edges of his sight. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth from his bleeding nose. He was forced to pull his psionic abilities back to himself. As his perception narrowed, Tyson looked up in time to see Peter and Jessica already swinging away in pursuit of Kaine and his captive. Their forms grew smaller in the distance as they raced after the kidnapper. Tyson could only watch helplessly.

His accelerated healing abilities swiftly kicked in, restoring his strength and clearing the dark spots from his vision. Though the coppery taste of blood still lingered in his mouth, the debilitating effects of his overexertion rapidly faded away.

But there was nothing more he could do for Gwen.

Tyson was forced to trust Peter and Jessica to handle the pursuit and rescue, so he turned his attention to Electro.

He couldn't help Gwen, but he could help Max.