A Rider Kick in Marvel

The hallways of Midtown High buzzed with the usual clamor of students chattering, lockers slamming, and the faint hum of anticipation for the weekend. Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy navigated the morning rush side by side, heading to their first class. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on Gwen's excited face.

"So, Peter, guess what happened last night?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Peter glanced at her, trying to muster a smile despite his own somber mood. "What happened, Gwen?"

"I ran into this guy in a suit who calls himself the Rhino," Gwen announced, her voice brimming with pride. "And I took him down!"

Peter's eyes widened in surprise. "You fought the Rhino? And won?"

"Yep!" Gwen beamed. "It was tough, but I managed to overheat his suit. Took a lot out of me, but it was worth it."

Peter forced a chuckle, his mind replaying his own encounter from the previous night. "That’s... that's amazing, Gwen. You’re incredible."

Gwen noticed the change in his tone and glanced at him with concern. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Peter sighed, looking down at the floor. "Compared to you, I didn't stand a chance against Sandman. He managed to escape."

Gwen’s expression softened. "Peter, that’s not your fault. Sandman’s tricky. You’ll get him next time."

"Thanks, Gwen," Peter muttered.

Gwen placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We all have our off days, Pete. Besides, we’re a team. We’ll figure it out together."

Peter nodded, trying to shake off his self-doubt. "Yeah, you’re right, Gwen. We also can’t let Ace down."

"Exactly!" Gwen said, her voice full of encouragement.

Peter then had a thought and frowned. "I was thinking about Rhino and Sandman. What if they team up? If they’re working together, it could be a big problem."

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Peter. I’m sure that won’t happen."

"I don’t know..." Peter trailed off, his mind racing with possibilities.

The bell rang, signaling the start of classes. The two friends shared a determined glance before heading to their respective classrooms. As they walked, Peter couldn’t shake the feeling of impending trouble. He knew Gwen was right—they would figure it out together. But something told him that the days ahead would test their resolve in ways they couldn't yet imagine.

…

The armored convoy rumbled down the deserted highway, its powerful engines humming a low, menacing tune. Inside the lead vehicle, Aleksei Sytsevich, known to the world as the Rhino, sat tightly bound in a specially designed restraint system. The interior of the vehicle was lined with reinforced steel and cutting-edge containment technology, making it a mobile fortress intended to transport the dangerous criminal. Rhino's massive frame strained against his restraints, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration.

The convoy was en route to a high-security prison designed specifically for superhuman threats. The guards, heavily armed and vigilant, kept a close watch on their captive, knowing full well the havoc he could wreak if given the chance.

Unbeknownst to them, danger lurked in the seemingly calm sands beside the road.

As the convoy approached a narrow bridge, the ground beneath it began to tremble. Suddenly, a torrent of sand erupted from the earth, enveloping the lead vehicle in a suffocating embrace. The guards barely had time to react before they were overwhelmed, the sand forcefully knocking them unconscious and rendering their weapons useless.

Emerging from the swirling storm of granules was Flint Marko, the Sandman. With a grin, he dissolved part of his form to seep through the cracks and seams of the armored car, solidifying inside to free his old friend.

"Long time no see, Aleksei," Sandman said, his voice gritty but filled with a rare warmth.

"Flint! About time you showed up," Rhino growled, his tone lightening with genuine happiness at seeing his ally. "These puny guards were getting on my nerves."

Sandman quickly manipulated his form, seeping into the control mechanisms of Rhino's restraints and disabling them. With a loud hiss, the locks released, and Rhino stood up, stretching his massive limbs with a triumphant roar.

"Feels good to be free," Rhino said, cracking his knuckles. "First thing I'm gonna do is smash Spider-Man and that Spider-Woman. They made a fool outta me."

Sandman chuckled, shaking his head. "Aleksei, always thinking with your fists. There's more to life than just revenge, you know."

"Like what?" Rhino asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Think bigger, my friend," Sandman said, placing a sandy hand on Rhino's shoulder. "Why waste time on a couple of bugs when we can make a real impact? With your strength and my abilities, we can take over this city. Heck, maybe even the world."

Rhino's eyes widened as the idea took root in his mind. "Take over the city, huh? Sounds like a plan."

As the two villains made their escape, leaving behind the wrecked convoy and unconscious guards, they discussed their next moves. Sandman's plan was ambitious, but with their combined power, it seemed possible. They would gather others like them, form an unstoppable force, and seize control of New York.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy were blissfully unaware of the new alliance forming against them. Their recent victories had given them a false sense of security, not knowing that their enemies were regrouping and plotting something far more sinister.

As Rhino and Sandman disappeared into the shadows, the city braced itself for the storm that was about to hit. The heroes would soon find themselves tested like never before, facing foes who had learned from their past mistakes and were now more dangerous than ever. The real battle was just beginning.

...

Captain George Stacy stood amidst the wreckage of what had once been a secure convoy. Now, the site was a disaster zone. The armored vehicle designed to transport the Rhino lay in ruins, its reinforced steel shredded like paper. Sand was everywhere, an omnipresent reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

"Sandman," George muttered under his breath, running a hand through his graying hair. He knelt to scoop up a handful of the fine grains, letting them trickle through his fingers. "Only he could turn a high-security transport into a beach party."

One of his officers approached, his expression grim. "Captain, we've accounted for all the guards. They're shaken but mostly unharmed. No fatalities."

George nodded, letting out a sigh of relief. "Small mercies," he said. "Make sure they get medical attention. I want a full report on their statements as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir," the officer replied before moving off to relay the orders.

George stood, surveying the scene. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the devastation. He knew what this meant. With the Rhino free and Sandman at his side, the city was in for a world of trouble.

"Another mess for us to clean up," he muttered, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. But he quickly composed himself. This was his job. Protecting the city, dealing with these superhuman threats—it was what he signed up for.

"Captain Stacy," another officer called out, holding up a small bag of evidence. "We found this at the scene."

George walked over, examining the bag. Inside was a fragment of metal, likely from Rhino's restraints. "Bag it and tag it. This might give us some insight into how they broke him out."

The officer nodded, sealing the evidence bag and marking it. George took a deep breath, steeling himself for the long night ahead. He had to stay focused, for the sake of the city and his family.

By the time George finally made it home, exhaustion had settled deep in his bones. He pushed open the front door, greeted by the comforting aroma of dinner. His wife, Helen, was setting the table, and Gwen was finishing up her homework in the living room.

"Hey, Dad," Gwen called out, looking up with a smile. "Rough day?"

"You could say that," George replied, forcing a weary smile. "But it's better now that I'm home."

Helen approached, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Dinner's almost ready. Why don't you wash up and join us?"

George nodded, heading to the bathroom. The sight of the chaos at the convoy played over in his mind as he splashed water on his face. He needed to be present for his family, even if the city's troubles weighed heavily on his shoulders.

As they sat down to dinner, Gwen couldn't contain her curiosity. "So, what happened today, Dad? You look more tired than usual."

George hesitated for a moment, glancing at Helen, who gave him an encouraging nod. "We had a bit of an incident today," he began. "The Rhino was being transported to a high-security prison, but he escaped."

Gwen's eyes widened. "Escaped? How?"

"It seems Sandman helped him," George said, his tone grave. "They ambushed the convoy, took out the guards, and vanished."

Gwen's face paled, her appetite suddenly gone. "That's... that's bad news."

"It is," George admitted. "With those two on the loose, things could get ugly."

Helen reached out, placing a hand on George's. "We'll get through this. We always do."

"Yeah," George agreed, squeezing her hand. "We'll figure it out."

But as he looked at Gwen, he could see the worry etched on her face. She was brave, just like her mother, but this news had shaken her. George wanted to reassure her, to tell her everything would be alright. But the truth was, he wasn't sure himself.

After dinner, Gwen helped clear the table while George and Helen tidied up. As Gwen headed to her room, George followed, knocking gently on the door.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, stepping inside. "I know this is a lot to take in. But I want you to know that we're doing everything we can to keep the city safe."

"I know, Dad," Gwen replied, looking up at him. "It's just... with everything that's happening, it's hard not to worry."

George sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We'll face it together, alright? Just like always."

Gwen nodded, leaning into his embrace. "Thanks, Dad."

"Anytime, kiddo," he said, kissing the top of her head. "Now get some rest. We've got a big day ahead of us."

As George left Gwen's room and headed to his own, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot worse before they got better. But he knew one thing for sure—he would fight with everything he had to protect his family and his city. No matter what it took.