Su Yi left Gwen's side and, after a quick mental check on Mary Jane, returned to Pepper Potts's apartment. He found her asleep, her head resting on a stack of documents at her dining table. The demands of being CEO were intense; Pepper's "strong-woman" dedication meant she prioritized work over rest.
Su Yi gently picked her up, carried her to bed, and settled in beside her for a short rest.
When Pepper woke, she was startled to find Su Yi watching over her. "Su, what are you doing here?"
"I told you I'd be back," he said with a smile. "I didn't expect you to fall asleep right there at your desk."
Pepper knew Su Yi had quietly cared for her and rested nearby. "Thank you, Su."
"You could express your gratitude in a different way," he teased, pulling her closer.
Pepper looked at the clock. "We probably only have about half an hour until I have to start work again, if you think that's enough time."
"I'm so tempted to lock Tony up right now and give you a proper vacation," Su Yi confessed, running a hand through her hair.
Pepper laughed, fully refreshed from the Water of Life. "Please don't. If you take him away, I'll just be even busier."
After a short, intimate interlude, both had to get moving. Pepper to her duties, and Su Yi to school for his "guidance" mission.
Peter Parker was already in the classroom, buzzing with nervous energy. He'd spent the night torn between fear and duty, and the news of the Lizard Man's destruction on the bridge had settled his internal debate.
"Su, I need to talk to you," Peter whispered urgently.
They found a quiet corner outside the main building.
"Last night's Lizard Man," Peter began. "It was you and Gwen dealing with him, right?"
"It was me and Gwen," Su Yi confirmed.
"He escaped. Is there anything I can help with? Even without my suit, I should be able to contribute." Peter's expression was intense; his path was chosen.
"There is," Su Yi said, meeting his gaze.
"What is it?"
"Go to Osborn Tower, to Professor Connors's lab. Then, report Professor Connors to the police."
Peter's eyes widened, his sharp mind immediately connecting the dots. "You mean... that Lizard Man is Professor Connors?"
Connors's research into gene therapy using lizard DNA to regrow limbs was well-known to Peter. The research was based on his father's old work, and Peter had spent enough time in the lab to know the risks. But why would Connors inject himself with an unfinished serum?
"I'll take a leave of absence right now and go to Osborn Tower," Peter declared. "If it really is Professor Connors, I have to persuade him and stop him from making things worse."
Peter didn't hesitate; he skipped class and rushed to the tower.
Arriving at the lab, Peter found it empty. He called out, but there was no sign of Dr. Connors.
While waiting, Peter's keen observational skills—heightened by his new powers—noticed inconsistencies. He found production records indicating that more gene therapy serum had been produced late last night and even early this morning, after the initial success simulation.
Why would he do this? Peter thought. Did the therapy have a dangerous side effect? Was it desperation over his missing arm? Why wouldn't he wait for the lab mouse results?
Peter rushed to the container holding the test animals. The containment unit was damaged, and the two lab mice were gone. He followed a faint skittering sound to a dark corner. There, he saw the horrifying result: the mouse injected with the lizard genes had mutated into a vicious, reptilian creature, and the other, ordinary mouse was gone—eaten.
Peter knew he had to act fast. He quickly contained and neutralized the mutated mouse to prevent its escape and then made the urgent call to the NYPD.
"I want to report something. I've found a crucial clue about last night's Lizard Man."
Captain George Stacy received the report and, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, immediately descended upon Osborn Tower with a heavily armed team.
Nels, attempting to cover up the corporate disaster, rushed to stop them. "You have no right to search! This is private property!"
"We have every right," George stated firmly. "We received a credible report that the Lizard Man is connected to your company."
"Impossible! Who reported it?" Nels challenged.
Peter stepped forward, his resolve clear. "I reported it. I'm Professor Connors's assistant. We were researching gene therapy using lizard genes to treat limb loss. I found evidence that he injected himself with an unfinished serum, and the test mouse mutated into a monster."
George immediately understood the tragic link. "You mean, he injected himself with the unfinished gene therapy and that's why he turned into the Lizard Man?"
"That has to be it," Peter confirmed.
"Lock down the lab!" George ordered.
Peter quickly added, "Professor Connors produced several more vials of the serum earlier today. He might inject himself again. That could make him stronger and completely erase his sanity."
George dismissed Peter's concern with a confident wave. "I know what to do, kid. He's a criminal now."
"Perhaps I can create an antidote to help him return to normal," Peter insisted, already thinking about the science. "I believe his core nature is kind."
George was impatient. "Kid, look at the damage he did! He's not the Professor you know; he's a monster! He's more lizard than man now!"
George sealed the lab and dispatched units to search Connors's villa. Nels, furious, violently kicked Peter out of the Tower before rushing to inform Norman Osborn.
Peter, standing outside, immediately called Su Yi. "Su, you were right. It's Professor Connors! But he made several extra vials of the serum, and they're missing. I need to make an antidote, but the police have sealed the lab!"
Su Yi recognized Peter's inherent heroic nature—the desire to save the villain, not just stop him. "No rush, Peter. There's still some time. We can discuss a strategy together."
Meanwhile, deep in the city's abandoned subway tunnels, Dr. Connors was hiding. He clutched the remaining vials, his consciousness slipping further into reptilian madness. He had just received the news of the police raid and Peter's report via a phone he'd kept.
"Foolish humans! I am smarter! Stronger! I am the direction of evolution! I am the future!" The Lizard roared, his voice a gravelly hiss. "That's right! I can help humanity complete its evolution! No one can stop me! No one!"
The Lizard's goal had shifted from self-cure to forced global transformation. Peter's true heroic challenge was about to begin.
The villain is established and gaining power, and Peter is prevented from creating the cure but is committed to the cause.