Cindy Moon returned to the city the same day she saw the Goblin's broadcast. She refused to believe it, but it was a fact. She was desperately looking for Julia — she had a lot to say, starting with complaining that Julia hadn't done her job.
As she swung through the city, she spotted Jessica flying alongside Ms. Marvel. Without thinking, she threw herself at her, grabbing her from behind and slamming them both violently onto a rooftop.
"What the...?" Spider-Woman whispered, trying to understand what had just happened.
Ms. Marvel landed beside her and helped her up.
"Are you okay?" the blonde asked.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine."
Jessica removed her mask and stared at Silk.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" she scolded.
"Are you crazy or what?" added Ms. Marvel.
Cindy ignored the questions and just stood up.
"Where's Carpenter?" she asked directly.
Jessica frowned, and Ms. Marvel looked visibly confused.
"So you already know," she muttered.
"How could I not know, if her death was broadcast on TV and online?" she growled.
Ms. Marvel understood what this was about. She had arrived on Earth that day, and when Janet, Johnny, and Jennifer explained what was going on, she panicked. She refused to believe it. She knew it was all over the internet but avoided watching. She knew she wouldn't be able to handle it — and since then, never brought it up again.
"I think we need to calm down," she tried to intervene.
Silk ignored the blonde and kept her eyes fixed on Jessica.
"You know what her death means, Jessica," she growled.
"What does his death mean?" the blonde repeated. "Jess, what's going on?" she asked, looking at her best friend.
"Spider-business, blondie," Silk replied for her.
Carol frowned at the answer and kept staring at her friend.
"Jess…"
"Carol, this is something complicated and messy," she replied. "But Madam Web's job was to look after Spider-Man, to warn him of the dangers ahead."
"And does she know that?" Carol shot back, crossing her arms. "Because something tells me she didn't do her job properly."
"That's why I'm looking for her, blondie," Silk snapped. "She's got a lot to explain."
.........
Captain America had just stopped a robbery at Oscorp Industries. Everything went according to plan, and from the top of a building, he watched the criminals being arrested.
"Enjoying the view?"
He frowned and turned around to face his former team.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, arms crossed.
"Trying to stop your madness," Hawkeye replied.
"Doing the right thing isn't madness," he retorted.
"You sent 80 criminals to the hospital just this week," added Natasha. "What's going on with you?"
"Nothing. Nothing's going on."
"Well, it sure doesn't look like nothing," Stark chimed in. "I know Parker's death hit you hard, but that's no reason for this madness," he scolded. "He wouldn't want this."
The Captain gave a cynical smile.
"Spare me the hypocrisy, Stark," he replied. "You didn't even like him, and now you've got the nerve to say what he would or wouldn't want?"
"Maybe we didn't get along, but I knew him."
"You knew Spider-Man, not Peter Parker," he growled. "There's a difference." He sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"Hydra," She-Hulk said. "We received alerts of their movements."
"We want you to come with us," Thor intervened.
"No."
"No?" Stark repeated. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong is that I can't leave the city," he turned his back to them. "You know who was behind the robbery at Oscorp?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.
Natasha moved closer to the edge to observe.
"Never seen these guys before," she looked at the Captain. "Who are they?"
"They're henchmen of the new Crime Queen," he replied. "But since she's not an Avengers-level threat, I guess you didn't know."
"That's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s business," Hawkeye growled.
"And where are they?" he looked at him. "I don't see anyone around." He crossed his arms. "It's likely they didn't even know Oscorp was being robbed."
.........
A man collapsed at her feet, with head injuries. He was the only one who had managed to escape before getting caught, so he needed to inform the boss what had happened.
Black Cat got up from her chair, walked around the desk, and approached him, stepping on his head.
"Captain America doesn't understand how the crime world works," she said, putting pressure on his head. "So, how did he know about the robbery?"
"I-I don't know."
"That's not the answer I wanted to hear," she pressed her foot harder.
"Agh!" he groaned in pain.
"Who talked?"
"N-no one, I swear!" he answered nervously. "B-but… i-if it helps, it looked like he was talking to someone," he confessed.
She stopped pressing his head.
"Talking to someone?" she asked.
"Y-yeah, I think he had a communicator," he looked at her. "I-I heard him saying something about hacking the power."
She stepped away from the man.
"Leave," she ordered.
He nodded quickly and, even shaking with fear, stood up and ran off.
"I need a distraction…" she whispered.
........
Japan
Emma paced back and forth, trying to process what was happening. She had seen him dead in the Captain's arms, and had confirmed it by checking his pulse.
"This makes no damn sense," she growled. "I'm going crazy."
The paralysis she had caused had worn off, and he was slowly getting up.
"Y-yeah, it's kinda crazy," he replied.
She frowned at the sound of his voice, walked up to him, and slapped him across the face.
"What was that for?" he asked, touching his cheek.
"I saw you die. I cried over your death," she whispered.
Silence filled the room, and honestly, he didn't know what to say.
"I don't know what you want me to say," he turned his back to her.
"An explanation. That's what I want," she made him face her. "I confirmed your death. Your heart wasn't beating, and you were covered in blood from the blows you took," she said, her voice trembling.
"I can't explain it to you because I don't even understand it myself."
"What do you mean?"
"I… woke up in a pit, and in front of me was one of my villains," he said. "Kraven the Hunter, and his daughter," he whispered. "I managed to escape and walked through the jungle, naked. Apparently, I was in Africa. Eventually, I passed out," he looked at her. "The daimyo of Africa brought me here."
"You came back to life," she said.
"Yes."
"You've changed," she noted.
"It was time for a change," he whispered.
"I thought Spider-Man didn't kill," she crossed her arms.
"Spider-Man died that day," he growled.
"Are you going back to New York?" she asked.
"I still have unfinished business here. When I'm done, I'll go back to set things right… my way."
"Scaring criminals like a ghost?" she mocked.
"And killing if necessary."
Emma had never heard him talk like that before. She knew what he wanted to do was wrong — but Punisher, Moon Knight, and others were already doing it.
"Are you going to tell anyone?" he broke the silence.
"No. When I found out in the past that you were Spider-Man, I promised to keep that secret." She smiled nostalgically. "This time won't be any different," she looked at him, and tears began to fall down her face.
"Why are you crying?"
She didn't answer. She just threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"I'm happy you came back to life," she whispered.
..............
New York
The security alarm blared, and she went straight to the penthouse. Her mind filled with memories she tried to push away.
"You never change."
She turned and frowned at the sight of Silk.
"Still the same traitor, thief, and slut I remember," Silk spat.
"And yet, Spidey liked me more," she smirked arrogantly.
"Of course he did. Spidey loved charity cases," she mocked. "Now give that back," she got into a fighting stance.
"I only take orders from the original spider."
"And even then, you were never the first in his heart."