By Moonlight (P.P + M.J)

As they walked, Jack told him everything. He said that the Lizard was Dr.Curt Connors, a scientist at Oscorp. Peter knew him because he had solved his equation on Midtown's field trip. Jack said that had actually cleared up Connors' problem with the serum he was trying to concoct to turn himself into a lycan. He was initially going for a wolf look, but ended up using too much reptilian DNA, hence the Lizard was born. Jack explained that he couldn't outright infect the scientist straightforward because then he'd suffer the full moon effects. Connors wanted a lycan without flaws.

"But his plan is to use this Tech-1 Disperser to turn everyone in New York City into a lycan?" Peter asked after Jack finished telling his tale.

Jack nodded, "yup, but the serum he's using is going to make everyone lizards. But I think he's beyond caring about such a menial thing by now."

Suddenly, he stopped, and his held his arm out to halt Peter. The web-slinger stood beside him, looking around Jack's huge figure. They had come to the hub of the sewer system, and there was a waterfall beside it. It was a makeshift lab, with instruments everywhere and notebooks spread out over the tables. A large machine lay against a wall covered with papers, drawings, and equations. There was a trail of dried blood that ran in between the tables and ended at the waterfall. A deep growl came from Jack, and Peter saw his ears flick backward. Someone was moving within the lab, and Jack hunched his shoulders, his tail thrashing.

Then, Dr.Connors appeared, wearing a ragged lab coat, white shirt and dark trousers, his blonde hair stringy and disheveled. Peter wondered how many coats he had, because he remembered that he left a similar looking coat in a dumpster. Had Connors somehow gotten it back?

"So, you've teamed up against me," Dr.Connors said, his voice haggard and his skin a sickly green, "I should've known as much."

"It ends here, Connors," Jack snarled, baring his teeth.

"And I assume if I don't come quietly, you'll rip out my throat?" The scientist mused, laughing dryly.

"I'm gonna do that no matter what you do," Jack replied, flexing his claws.

Peter put a steadying hand on Jack's tense arm, which was rippling with tension. He didn't want the lycan to kill Connors. Peter wanted to take him in alive so he could prove that Jack was innocent in all the crimes that had been set against him.

"We need him alive, Jack," Peter whispered.

Jack acknowledged him with a flick of an ear, but he kept his blue eyes trained on Connors. He took a step forward, but Peter pulled on his arm warningly.

"Come now, Jack, you can't think to kill me," Dr.Connors said, walking toward one of the tables, picking up a vial of vibrant green liquid, "after all I've done for you?"

"You brainwashed me, you sabotaged me, you experimented on me, and you expect me to thank you for that?" Jack snapped, his eyes flaming with growing rage.

The scientist paid no attention to Jack's fury, and he opened a sleek wooden box. He gazed at his contents before setting down his vial and reaching inside.

"No, my boy, I don't expect anything from you," Dr.Connors said. There was some clicking and rotating, and he looked up at Peter and Jack, "but you being here has somewhat accelerated my plans."

He then held up a shiny revolver, pointing it directly at Jack, but aimed his next words at Peter, "he's more of a threat to me than you are, Peter. Consider yourself lucky that these bullets weren't meant for you."

He then fired, the shot echoing loudly through the drain. Jack recoiled with a cry, and he clutched his chest as he fell down. In the same instant, Connors reached for the vial and stabbed it into his arm. He then began to change, growing in size and scales beginning to cover his body. A long tail appeared from behind him and he tore out of his clothes, and he roared as he turned into Lizard.

Peter knelt down next to Jack. He had been shot in the chest, between his shoulder and collarbone. But Jack was in anguish, and the wound refused to heal instantaneously like always. Peter looked back at Connors, who was now Lizard, and saw that he was putting the gun and two large canisters in a satchel, throwing the bag over his shoulder. He grabbed the machine off the wall and lifted it over his shoulder, carrying it away.

"I had only enough money for two bullets, Jack!" Connors called as he left the lab and disappeared into the sewer tunnel, "if you follow me, the next one's going in your head!"

"Damn silver bullets," Jack cursed, grimacing, "what a cheat."

"What's wrong? Can't you heal?" Peter asked, worrying for his friend as the wound bled.

"Not while the bullet's still in me, which it is," the lycan answered, rolling his side, "I won't heal. I might as well be human."

"Then, you can't go. I'll take Connors alone," Peter said firmly.

"Like hell you will," Jack snarled as he struggled to pull himself to his feet, "if anyone's gonna take that bastard down, it's gonna be me."

"But-."

"Shut it, Spider. We're both going after him," Jack snapped, and he began to walk down the drain, blood still streaming from his injury and clotting in his dark fur. He shook his head and snorted, Peter running after him.

"What if you die?" Peter questioned him, and the lycan shrugged his shoulders.

"If it's my time to go, then so be it. Better me than the whole city."

Peter was impressed with his initiative. He was willing to risk his life for a city that had done nothing but hate him. It was very noble of him, and Peter patted Jack's arm.

"Now you're starting to sound like a hero."

And so the final standoff begins. Get ready for Part 1 and Part 2 of the final battle between good and evil. The fate of New York hangs in the balance! Stay tuned to see how it all concludes! And don't worry, Perchelle will have their conclusion as well, later on. ;)

~Fargone5