                                Web of Ranma

Disclaimer: How did I get into this mess?

< >: Thoughts

                                  Chapter 3

                             A Very Tangled Web

With the second appearance of 'Spider-Man,' the entire city of Tokyo was
abuzz with wild tales and gossip of the mysterious superhero. The news
stations were having a field day as reporters and camera crews swarmed all
over the grounds of Furinkan High, interviewing students and teachers about
what they had seen or know about the masked avenger who had saved the school
and everyone within a five-block radius. Through Ranma's efforts, the
explosion in the main chemical storage facilities had been contained,
destroying only those areas and leaving the rest of the school more or less
intact. With the fire department on the scene, the rest of the flames had
been brought under control and were dying out..

In the now devastated chem labs, police officers and firefighters had begun
sifting through the wreckage while putting out any remaining fires and
dousing any potential hazards such as exposed wiring and flammable materials
with fire-retardant foam. One of the forensics officers approached the spot
where the main storage bins had been located and saw that there was some
strange, sticky residue on top of a pile of debris. He took out a small
plastic bag and used a pair of tweezers to get a sample.

Behind the school, Ranma dropped down from the branches of a tree while
stuffing his makeshift mask into his back pocket. He looked around to see if
anyone had seen him and assumed that there was no one present as his
spider-sense did not tingle. He then began walking toward the crowds in
search of either Nabiki or Akane. He soon found them near the front gate as
a reporter and her cameraman were interviewing them.

"So you also saw this Spider-Man?"
"Yeah! He was awesome!" Akane exclaimed. She had never seen anything like it
and thought he was way better than that jerk Ranma. She and her sister had
been among the students that had been saved from being crushed when that
portion of wall came falling down. Now that was how a true martial artist
was like, protecting the innocent. Not like some big showoff like Ranma.

As if on cue, Ranma appeared from the crowd and waved at the girls as the
news people moved on.

"Ranma! Where have you been?" Nabiki asked as he walked up to them. Akane
gave him a disdainful snort.

"Oh... well, when the fire broke out, I went to call the fire department."
Ranma replied. <Yeah, that's it.>

"Did you see him? Did you see Spider-Man?"

"Spider-Man? What's a Spider-Man?"

"You don't know? You must be out of the gossip loop. He's a superhero with
powers like a spider. He saved all of us and Furinkan from being destroyed,
along with the surrounding area."

"Forget it Nabiki." Akane scoffed. "He wouldn't know anything about it."
<Like he would know anything about being a real hero or a true martial
artist. He's nothing but a jerk, that's all! > She then walked off, leaving
the two of them.

Ranma became a bit nervous as he walked home with Nabiki. <Sheesh! It's only
been two days and people are already making a legend out of me. Still, that
was exciting and it was good to be able to cut loose with my full powers
without worrying about someone finding out about them. > During his two
excursions as Spider-Man, Ranma had realized that being masked allowed him
to let go. He could use all of his spider abilities without having to worry
about someone knowing that it was him. Though his arachnid powers gave him
great joy, they also made him feel different. He had also thought about the
possibility that people might consider him as some kind of freak if they
were to know.

Ranma had much to consider as he walked home with Nabiki.

----------

Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory in Tokyo...

"Dr. Yamashita, take a look at this."

The scientist who had originally created the Spider-Man project took the
file and began perusing it. He became extremely interested at the articles
and recent newscasts about a mysterious masked avenger with arachnid powers.

"Tell me, when did these sightings occur?"

"Since yesterday. When I saw the article about the first sighting, I thought
it was some kind of publicity stunt for a tabloid, but then this article
about this Spider-Man came in a few minutes ago with more than three hundred
witnesses. Doctor, doesn't this sound like the experiment that you attempted
ten years ago?"

"It does indeed. I had labeled that project as incomplete and a failure when
the transport plane that carried that irradiated specimen crashed. We sent
out a recovery team to try and salvage the cargo, but by that time, the
plane had been looted and the specimen had been destroyed. We had found the
remains of that irradiated spider and there wasn't enough of it left to
preserve. All that trouble and not a single drop of venom! Such a waste."

"So what about these reports about a person with spider powers? Does this
mean that someone else had succeeded in duplicating your experiment, or is
this all just a hoax?"

Dr. Yamashita pondered the question for a moment. "Hmm, these reports sound
so farfetched, that if I had not conducted that experiment a decade ago, I
wouldn't have believed it. However, this 'Spider-Man' does seem to have all
the proportionate powers of a spider, just I had envisioned a person would
have if I had been able to finish my experiment. I doubt that anyone could
have duplicated the procedure, since I had used up all those rare isotopes
to irradiate that spider in the first place. So that leaves only one other
option."

"Which is?" The assistant asked.

"Whoever had looted that plane, must have gotten a hold of that spider and
its venom must have been injected into him. I would have guessed that spider
had gone into its death throes and exposed its fangs when the suspension
fluid had leaked out ."

"What? Are you saying that this person gained his powers from the bite of a
radioactive spider? That is just too ridiculous to say that this Spider-Man
was created because of a fluke!"

"Not really. I had planned on something very similar, but I had intended to
extract the venom, and then later inject small doses into some test
subjects. The subjects would have been screened for genetic compatibility
and if that looter had just the right DNA, then he would have been able to
incorporate the spider's abilities when that venom interacted with his
bloodstream. A person with incompatible DNA would have received severe
radioactive poisoning and most likely would have died."

"Just the right DNA, huh? Doctor, do you realize the odds of the perfect
subject and the venom coming into contact with each another by just mere
coincidence? We're talking astronomical!"

"Indeed, but if this Spider-Man is real, then we must assume that scenario
had occurred. And if that is the case, then all is not lost and we now have
a new supply of spider venom to utilize."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if this Spider-Man is the end result of my experiment, then I would
say that his body is producing blood that contains the special enzymes that
had been in the original specimen, before they were transferred to him. If
we can get a sample of it and analyze it, then we'd be able to synthesize
more with the new cloning techniques at our disposal. First of all, we'd
have to find him and verify that he's the genuine article. "

"That's a lot of hypothesizing, Dr. Yamashita."

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to investigate this Spider-Man, if only to
invalidate these sightings."

----------

Ranma was currently pacing about, trying to figure out what to do next. At
the moment, Genma and Soun were out drinking and prematurely celebrating the
fact that the schools of the Anything Goes would be joined. Kasumi had gone
out to do some shopping and to return a book to Dr. Tofu. Akane had went to
see a movie with her friends and Nabiki was out collecting on some debts
owed to her. It was just as well that no one was home, since Genma and the
rest of the Tendo family would have been shocked to see Ranma pacing on the
ceiling. He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had unknowingly
walked up the wall and was now upside-down. However, he didn't have that
flushed feeling that other people experienced when blood rushed to their
heads. Along with the super powers, Ranma's physiology had changed to deal
with inverted body positions for extended periods. His eyesight had also
been enhanced and he now had night vision.

<What am I going to do now? Now everyone's calling me Spider-Man. I really
got to be more careful with my powers. If it wasn't for the mask, then I'd
be having every scientist, reporter and who knows what else after me. I
really don't need those other fiances to find me if I went on TV and stuff.
I sure as heck don't want Pop to find out about my powers. He'd probably see
them as an easy way for him to get rich or something. Still, it did feel
good to have saved all those people and being able to use my spider-powers
at full was a rush! It IS a martial artist's duty to protect the weak and
innocent and I guess that applies to being a superhero too. >

Ranma paced around for a few more minutes before finally deciding on a
course of action. He was a martial artist before he had become Spider-Man,
so therefore his duty to protect, came before showing off his prowess. If he
had not acted today, Furinkan High, along with everything within a two-block
raiduis would have been destroyed. People would have been hurt or killed.
And there was just so much more good he could do with his powers. In a way,
it would be to pay back all the bad things he had done in life. During the
early stages of his training, Genma had made him commit several acts of
theft for the sake of training. Ranma had later learned to stop when he
realized that it was wrong, but the memory still made him uncomfortable and
tugged at his conscience. Furthermore, fighting crime would be good training
and he develop both his martial arts skills and spider powers at the same
time.

For the first time in his life, Ranma had made an decision on his own.
<Looks like I will be going into the superhero business after all. And if
I'm going to be Spider-Man, then I might as well look the part. I'm going to
need something more than just a mask. >

Ranma then walked down from the ceiling and the wall to the floor. It looked
like he would have to employ another branch of the Saotome School of the
Anything Goes, specifically Anything Goes Sewing. <Now where does Kasumi
keep her sewing stuff? > He had some experience with mending his own clothes
during his life on the road and was now going to have use those talents to
create a new look for Spider-Man. He decided to go raid the storage rooms at
Furinkan.

----------

A little later...

Ranma rummaged about in his backpack after collecting some spools of colored
thread, some spare scraps of fabric and a pair of red gloves were thin
enough to allow his adhering ability to work when wearing them. It was a
good thing that no one had thought of dusting the walls of the school, he
had scaled for fingerprints and by now those marks would have been either
charred or smudged from the fire. He then cut some small openings near the
wrists of the gloves to allow for his spinnerets to shoot his webbing.

He then pulled one of the Chinese silk shirts that he had collected during
his trip through China. The shirt was red, had wooden ties in the front and
was sleeveless. With a little working, he undid the ties and sewed up the
front. He then took out a needle and a spool of black thread. He then began
sewing a spider symbol that he had cut out of black felt material to the
left side of the front. The spider image was sewn at an angle and was placed
in a white, circular background.

Ranma then pulled out a stretchable, full body suit that he had found in the
school storage supplies. It was a dark blue and he had even found a pair of
very thin boots that matched. He then added his own final touches which
included some web designs on the front of the red shirt, using white thread.
He then took out a red-colored mask that he had made from the old one he had
improvised, which included eye lenses of the one-way mirror type (courtesy
of the science labs), and decided to leave it without web adornment. The
eyes were made to look bug-like, which fit with his persona as Spider-Man.
He then took out a sheet of thin, transparent fabric and sewed it to the
back of the red shirt, making it look like a short cape that resembled his
webbing. Its use was not only ornamental, but also like an airfoil to slow
his descents during long drops. He then decided to try it on to see how it
looked.

He put on the body suit which covered everything but his hands, feet and
head. The fabric molded itself to his body well and allowed for full body
movement. He then put on the boots, which the tops easily slid over the
pants legs and tested them out. He was satisfied that his adhering ability
worked through the soles as he placed a foot on the wall. He then slid on
the gloves and fit the ends over the sleeves. He made certain that his
spinnerets had clear access to fire and the picked up the red shirt. He
pulled it over his head and slid his arms through the sleeveless openings.
He then picked up the mask and pulled it on. It was a good thing that Ranma
had only a small ponytail which was easily tucked under the nape of the
shirt. After leaving the Amazon Village, Ranma had narrowly avoided eating a
miracle hair-growth formula called Dragon's Hair Soup, thanks to his spider
sense. Since then, he had worn his hair in a small tail that he closely
trimmed. He moved his head from side to side and was satisfied that he was
not restricted. He then turned to mirror and gazed at himself.

<Not bad for somebody who never took a sewing class. > He then tucked away
all the leftover supplies and scraps of fabric and then headed toward the
window. He then made a leap outside and sent out a web line.

THWIP!

<Okay world, get ready 'cause here comes... Spider-Man! >

The new costumed adventurer then swung out to begin his superhero career.

----------

A few days later...

At Furinkan High...

"Did you hear the latest sightings?"

"Spider-Man is SO COOL!"

"He actually stopped a speeding truck to save that old lady!"

"I wonder who he is underneath that mask?"

"I'll bet that he's a really cute guy!"
"Do you think that he may be a student? After all, he did show up in a
school uniform before."

"Nah, he must be some kind of alien or something."

Ranma just barely managed to not laugh as he passed by the various gossipers
and approached the front gates. On the front schoolyard, bodies of battered,
lovesick, teenage boys littered the pavement after Akane finished with the
last of them and faced off against Kuno again.

"Akane Tendo, I challenge..."
WHAM!

Ranma sighed as he saw Kuno leave a really big opening and get slammed to
the ground. Akane dusted off her hands as she picked up her book bag and
gave her unwanted suitor a glare. Nabiki approached her sister and scanned
the landscape of the bruised and mostly unconscious.

"You really went a little too hard this time, Akane. I'll bet even Kuno felt
that one."

"Hmpf! I HATE BOYS! They're nothing perverts and not even worth my effort!"

"Oh, and what about Dr. Tofu, hmm?" Nabiki teased as she saw Ranma
approached them and waved. "Hi Ranma."

"Hey Nabiki." Ranma greeted as he stopped beside them. "So what's this I
hear about a doctor?"

"Oh nothing. It's just that Akane's had a crush on our family doctor since
she was ten." Nabiki replied, still in her teasing tone.

"I do not!" Akane retorted angrily. "Dr. Tofu is a little too old for me and
besides, he likes Kasumi."

Nabiki became a bit shocked to hear this. Akane had been mooning over the
kindly chiropractor for years, and now she's just dropping him, just like
that? What was going on? She had considered Tofu as a real man while she
considered boys to be nothing but perverts.

"Dr. Tofu is nice, but he's not like Spider-Man! No BOY here is like
Spider-Man!"

"Spider-Man? What are you talking about?" Ranma asked.

Akane gave him a glare as she replied. "Spider-Man protects the weak and
innocent! He fights crime and defends justice, just like a TRUE martial
artist! Not like a certain arrogant jerk of a houseguest who decides to call
for the fire department or the police when trouble comes up! You're supposed
to be the martial artist, so why do you try to be like him?" She gave Ranma
another of her hostile glares before turning to leave for class.

"Well, well, well." Nabiki commented as she watched her sister go into
class. "It looks like my sister has found a new love interest in Spider-Man.
She might even want to join that new Spider-Man Fan Club that came up
yesterday."
It was at that moment that Kuno suddenly sprang up and shouted in their
ears.

"NO! THIS CANNOT BE! MY LOVE HAS BEEN ENSNARED IN SOME KIND OF BLACK MAGIC
IF SHE PREFERS SOME SPIDER-DEMON OVER THE BLUE THUNDER OF FURINKAN HIGH!"

This caught Nabiki off guard as she backpedaled a bit from Kuno's outburst.
Ranma's spider-sense had warned him, but he had to act shocked as he took a
stance.

Kuno went on with ranting about how he would smite the spider-demon and free
Akane from his sorcery and then noticed Ranma. "Oh, it's you Saotome."

"What do you want Kuno? You want to pick up were we left off?"

"You will address me as upperclassman. And why would I want dirty my hands
with smiting a lowly peasant such as you?"

"Huh?" Ranma said with confusion. The last time they had met, he had been
eager to take his head off, but now he considered him as not a concern for
his quest to win Akane?
Kuno nodded as he explained. "By Akane's own words, I now know that she is
NOT interested in such a commoner so therefore, you are beneath my notice
and shall be spared of my righteous fury. However, this spider-demon has
entangled my tigress in his web and I shall strive to free her from him so
that she may realize her true love... my glorious self!" He then took a pose
and called out to the heavens while raising his bokken. "Beware Spider-Man!
The Blue Thunder of Furinkan High shall smite thee with the blade of justice
and claim that which is rightfully his!"

Both Nabiki and Ranma had large sweatdrops as Kuno departed. Ranma was
especially confused at this turn of events.

<Now there's a switch! Akane doesn't care for me as Ranma Saotome, but
worships Spider-Man. Kuno doesn't consider me a threat, but thinks that
Spider-Man is his rival for Akane! Sheesh! I wonder what else is going to
happen?>

----------

Funny you should mention that...

"Well doctor? What do you think?"

Dr. Yamashita nodded after seeing news footage of Spider-Man saving a old
lady from being run over by a speeding truck. The arachnid superhero had
used his webbing to form a barrier to stop the vehicle from hitting the
pedestrian. According to the scientist's calculations, that web had a
tensile strength of about 140lbs per square millimeter. It was certainly as
strong, if not stronger than steel cable.

The monitor then showed a clip of Spider-Man dodging a hailstorm of bullets
from a street gang, then crushing their weapons like paper. He certainly had
the proportionate strength and agility of a spider. Now the main question
was, how were they going to get a hold of him?

After seeing all the news footage and data that had been collected about
Spider-Man, Dr. Yamashita decided that some special help was needed to catch
him. Mere human agents would be useless against Spider-Man so the
organization had decided to call on some specialists in the field of
robotics. Yamashita even had their names and phone number. They a father and
son team from America and were now traveling to Japan. Their names were
Spencer and Alistair Smythe. They had come to the CEO with a proposal to
build giant robots with tremendous abilities. With the appearance of
Spider-Man, the director had decided to test out these new robots with the
task to capture Spider-Man. The project was named Operation Spider Slayer.

To be continued...?

Author's Notes

Well I just couldn't help it and I decided to add one more chapter to Web of
Ranma. I suppose that this MIGHT become a regular series, but with all the
other stories, it would be quite a grind. Still, all the comments that my
readers have been giving me about this fic have been encouraging and I hope
to hear more. Until then, in the words of Stan Lee... Excelsior!

Oh and by the way... I couldn't help it, but I also have the theme song sung
to the lyrics of the old Spider-Man Tv show of the 60's.

Ranma is

Spider-Man!

Does much more than a spider can!

Martial arts,

Fighting crime

Spins some webs

Swings on lines

Look out!

Ranma is Spider-Man!

Is he strong?

That's for sure!

Makes Ryoga look real poor!

See him swing

From a thread

Take a look

Overhead.

Hey there!

Ranma is Spider-Man!

From the Tendo home

He fights evil every night.

The bad guys are gonna groan,

'Cause Ranma's ready to win the fight!

Ranma is

Spider-Man!

Fighting crime is his plan!

A hero for Toyko.

Watch him swing, see him go!

Tune in!

Life is just a bang up!

Don't let life hang you up!

Ranma is Spider-Man!
