The Spider-Grind

The city's heartbeat was alive and thrumming, its underbelly rife with danger and opportunity. Tonight, Ethan, Peter, and Gwen found themselves once again slipping through the shadows, their target clear: a secret meeting between Wilson Fisk and rumored mutant allies.

Ethan's contact—a nervous informant who owed him a favor—had given him the tip-off. The details were murky, but the location and the mention of mutants were enough to put them on high alert.

"Fisk is pulling out all the stops, huh?" Peter mused as they crouched on a rooftop overlooking the dockside warehouse. "First mercenaries, now mutants. What's next, alien overlords?"

"Focus, Spider-Man," Ethan said sharply. "Fisk is getting desperate, and if he's bringing mutants into the mix, this could be bigger than we thought."

Gwen nodded, adjusting her web shooters. "We stick to the plan: observe, gather intel, and get out."

"I mean, what could possibly go wrong? It's not like every time we deal with Fisk, he sets a trap or anything." Peter quipped.

Ethan ignored him, his eyes fixed on the warehouse below. They descended silently, slipping into the building and taking up positions in the rafters. Below them, Fisk's men were stationed around the room, heavily armed and alert.

---

Fisk entered with his usual air of authority, flanked by his bodyguards. But it was the group that followed him that caught Ethan's attention.

Seven mutants strode into the room, each one exuding power and menace. Ethan's enhanced senses flared as he took them in:

Arclight, with her imposing frame and crackling energy radiating from her fists.

Greycrow, the rifle-toting marksman with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Harpoon, holding his signature energy-charged spear, his stance radiating confidence.

Riptide, a wiry mutant whose entire body seemed to vibrate with barely-contained kinetic energy.

Prism, his crystalline form glinting under the lights, reflecting the surroundings like a living mirror.

Scrambler, whose cocky smirk hinted at his power to disable abilities with a single touch.

Vertigo, who moved with an unsettling grace, her mere presence disorienting to those around her.

"Meet the Marauders," Fisk announced to his men. Fisk spoke with his usual commanding tone, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "This city is mine. But with these masked vigilantes running amok, I need assurance that my operations will remain... uninterrupted."

Arclight smirked. "You hired the best, Fisk. We'll handle your spider problem. And with you keeping the promise, Sire was too pleased."

Ethan's fists clenched. "This isn't good," he muttered.

"You think?" Peter whispered, his voice tinged with nervous humor. "We're way out of our league here."

"Stay calm," Ethan ordered. "We need to gather as much intel as we can. No unnecessary risks."

Fisk began speaking to the Marauders, outlining his plans to expand his operations using their unique talents. But Ethan's attention was on Greycrow, who suddenly glanced upward.

"They're here," Greycrow said, his voice calm but menacing.

In an instant, the Marauders sprang into action. Harpoon hurled his weapon, which exploded on impact, sending the trio tumbling from their perch.

"Trap. Called it!" Peter shouted as he swung to avoid another projectile.

The warehouse erupted into chaos. Fisk's men opened fire, and the Marauders moved with deadly precision.

Ethan landed hard on the warehouse floor, immediately dodging a blast from Arclight. She grinned, slamming her fists together and sending a shockwave his way. His body adapted mid-air, allowing him to land on his feet.

"You're a persistent one," Arclight taunted.

"Comes with the job," Ethan replied, charging at her.

Meanwhile, Peter was dodging Riptide's whirling projectiles. "Hey, Twister! Can't we just talk this out?"

Riptide sneered, hurling a barrage of razor-sharp debris at him.

Gwen faced off against Vertigo, who was making it nearly impossible for her to keep her balance. "Ugh, this is worse than carnival rides," Gwen muttered, firing a web to stabilize herself.

The fight was brutal. Harpoon's energy spears pinned Ethan down, forcing him to adapt quickly. Peter and Gwen struggled against the disorienting effects of Vertigo's powers, while Prism's reflective body deflected their attacks.

Scrambler nearly caught Gwen off-guard, but she managed to web his hand to the floor just in time.

"This isn't working!" Peter yelled, narrowly avoiding a blast from Greycrow's rifle.

Ethan growled, his mind racing. "Keep moving! We can't let them box us in!"

Just as the tide seemed to turn against them, Ethan's enhanced senses flared. A new presence entered the room—fast, precise, and lethal.

A flash of purple light cut through the chaos, and a figure landed gracefully between Ethan and Arclight.

"Enough," said a cold, commanding voice.

The newcomer was a woman, her dark hair flowing as she extended a glowing psychic blade. Her sharp gaze swept over the Marauders, and her presence seemed to demand attention.

"Who the hell are you?" Arclight growled.

"Psylocke," the woman replied. "And you're done here."

She moved with blinding speed, her blade slicing through Arclight's energy shockwave and forcing her to retreat.

Ethan stared at her, momentarily stunned. "Uh… thanks?"

"Don't thank me yet," Psylocke said sharply. "You're still in over your head."

With Psylocke's intervention, the trio found their footing. She took on Vertigo, her psychic abilities neutralizing the mutant's disorienting powers.

Ethan focused on Arclight, his strength adapting to match hers blow for blow.

Peter and Gwen worked together to subdue Greycrow and Scrambler, their webs and agility proving too much for the two mutants to handle.

"Hey, Ghost!" Peter called out as he dodged a strike. "Do you think they have a union for villains? 'Cause these guys seem like they have great benefits."

"Focus, Spider!" Gwen snapped, though a hint of amusement flickered in her voice.

The fight was long and grueling, but one by one, the Marauders fell.

As the dust settled, Fisk and the remaining Marauders retreated, vowing revenge.

As the dust settled, Psylocke turned to the trio, her piercing gaze making them feel like children caught misbehaving.

"You're lucky I was tracking Kingpin's mutant dealings," she said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have made it out alive."

Ethan crossed his arms, recovering his composure. "Thanks for the assist. But why are you here?"

"I am Psylocke", she said simply. "And I don't trust you three yet. Especially the comedian. But Fisk is a problem, and you're part of the solution. For now." She shot a glance at Peter, who was wiping grime off his mask.

Peter feigned offense. "Hey, my jokes are what keep us sane."

Psylocke ignored him, turning back to Ethan. "Kingpin is making moves with mutants, and it's not just mercenaries. He's reaching out to someone bigger. So stay out of my way."

She disappeared into the shadows as quickly as she had arrived, leaving the trio standing in stunned silence.

"Okay," Peter said, breaking the tension. "I like her. She's terrifying, but I like her."

Ethan, however, was already lost in thought, intrigued by Psylocke's no-nonsense attitude and the mystery surrounding her. He had a feeling this wouldn't be their last encounter.