Chapter Eighteen: The Return of Dr. Lizard

"Don't think like that. You've already done enough."
George gave a wry smile and said, "The kid is right, but changing this city isn't something I can do alone. This place might need a thousand Spider-Women, and a thousand Chief Georges as well."
"Gwen, go check on him. One must eat, but his first taste of lemon sea bass may not suit his palate."
Helen frowned, sensing something amiss.
"George, what do you mean? Are you saying my lemon sea bass isn't good?"
"No, no, that's not it. I just mean it doesn't cater to the general taste."
"So, it's still not good."
Gwen stepped out onto the balcony, gazing at Michael's back.
"Thank you."
Michael turned to glance at Gwen and said, "Sorry, I was a bit impulsive. It's not that I dislike Mr. George, I just dislike this country."
"I understand."
Gwen was clever; she knew Michael was different from her, had suffered much, and received little help in his darkest moments.
"Since I was a child, the orphanage director told me to help others. I tried to live with optimism, to lend a hand whenever I could, but in the end, all I got was ridicule. When I needed help most, I asked for it, but people only laughed at me."
"Truly, I have no reason to support it. Everything I have, I earned myself."
"I understand."
Gwen hugged Michael, comforting him. "You don't need to explain. Maybe you won't be New York's hero, but you will be your own hero. I believe in you."
Michael glanced at the sky. He had once admired superheroes, but in the end, it was merely admiration.
"Something seems to have happened."
"What is it?"
"There seem to be police cars down there."
Gwen climbed onto the balcony and looked down. There were several police cars below.
The two quickly returned to the living room, but Chief George was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Dad?" Gwen asked immediately.
"He went out on some matter—seems the Lizard is out again."
The Lizard? Dr. Connors. Both instantly realized the gravity of the situation.
"Where did they go?"
"Whipton Street."
Without hesitation, the two rushed outside. Mrs. Helen stood up anxiously.
"Where are you going?"

"The company."
They entered Michael's private car, sitting together in the back row.
"Don't look back," Michael said, then smashed the rearview mirror, startling the driver.
Gwen quickly began undressing. Hearing the rustling fabric behind him, the driver couldn't help but sigh—rich people really did play differently.
To ensure his boss's comfort, the driver slowed down, careful to avoid any bumps.
Gwen slipped off her coat and, right in front of Michael, put on her Spider suit.
Well, as expected from something I made—it's perfect, looks better on than off.
"Michael, I'll go check things out first," Gwen said, glancing back at him.
"Huh? Why are you having a nosebleed?"
Michael smiled, "Radiant as ever."
Gwen thought nothing of it; the situation was urgent—she needed to check on the Lizard.
From their last encounter, the Lizard possessed strength equal to hers, along with a formidable healing factor. Conventional weapons likely wouldn't suffice.
"Ugh, this window won't open."
Saying this, Gwen moved to the window beside Michael, climbed over him, and slipped outside.
Michael felt as though he'd suffered an internal injury.
The driver glanced back—was it really that exciting? Even opening the window? But soon, only Michael was left in the back.
"What are you looking at? Drive home."
The driver quickly turned around and headed straight for the villa.
Compared to the Lizard, Michael was more concerned about Iron Man.
He opened his tablet, searching for news about Iron Man, but found nothing useful.
It seemed Iron Monger hadn't been created yet; Iron Man was probably still fighting crime in the Middle East.
…
Gwen arrived at the scene. The crowd had been evacuated, and the police had set up a tight net, clearly intent on capturing the Lizard.
The Lizard walked down the street. All was silent, but his keen sense of smell told him the place was thick with people.
He didn't care; he was strong now.
Turning a corner, Dr. Lizard saw a row of police cars and knew it was a trap.
He roared and charged into the encirclement. Countless officers and SWAT sprang up, M16s at the ready, firing at him.
Dr. Lizard hurled a green smoke grenade, leaping over a police car and dashing outside.

Every officer caught in the green mist collapsed, their bodies sprouting green scales.
Connors, holding a vial emitting green smoke, charged the last police line as bullets flew.
But Connors's powers had strengthened again; every attack seemed futile, and any bullet wound healed instantly.
Just as Connors was about to break through the final defense, the police decided to use heavy weapons—a grenade launcher hit him square in the chest, blasting him away.
He had barely gotten up when two more grenades sent him fleeing in disarray.
Realizing he couldn't force his way through, Dr. Lizard lifted a police car and hurled it at the officers, then seized one as a hostage and charged the police line again.
George watched the Lizard, knowing he couldn't let him through; beyond this street lay crowds of civilians.
He raised his pistol, aimed precisely at the Lizard's head, and squeezed the trigger. The bullet avoided the hostage and struck Connors squarely in the head—but it was useless.
At that moment, a spray of webbing covered the Lizard's eyes. Gwen, as Spider-Woman, descended from above, landing a punch on his forearm.
The limb spasmed, and he released the officer. Gwen reeled the officer in with her webs and tossed him to George.
George looked at the young, pale officer, almost unconscious, his heart a mixture of emotions. Without Spider-Woman, that officer would've been done for.
"Thank you."
"No need."
That voice?
George found it oddly familiar, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
Gwen realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth. Damn, why did she get so talkative every time she put on the suit? Was it because the mask let her be herself?
But there was no time for that. Dr. Lizard ripped off a car door and hurled it at Gwen.
She dodged with an easy backbend, but sensed someone behind her, so she shot a web to catch the door, using its elasticity to fling it back at the Lizard.
Caught off guard, Dr. Lizard was sent flying.
"Fire!"
"At whom?"
"Who do you think? The Lizard! Unless you want tomorrow's headlines to read 'Ancient Dinosaur Appears in New York'!"
George barked orders at the officers.
The police opened fire again, the barrage forcing Dr. Lizard to keep his head down.
But his rapid regeneration was draining his stamina fast. He realized the serum was wearing off, and there was still a Spider-Woman as strong as he was.
Seeing the odds turn, Dr. Lizard dove back into the sewers to hide and regroup.