It was now the day The Light was to meet with The Reach. While we got to Santa Prisca, Black Manta said, "Kaldur, Mr. Adamantium, I'd like for the both of you to meet our newest member of The Light. He recently replaced Ocean Master." Out of the shadows came... Norman Osborn?!?!?!?! "Hello Manta," he said, "these must be your best men." I can feel my blood boil. This is where Osborn disappeared to? The Light? "We are honored, Osborn." Kaldur said. He knew how angry I was feeling. "The honor is mine Kaldur'ahm," replied Osborn, "you must be Mr. Adamantium. Man of few words and more action. I like that. Shall we ready our meeting with The Reach?" Manta nodded and said, "Yes, let's."

We then went to the cave below Santa Prisca. There was me, Kaldur, Black Manta, Osborn, Vandal Savage, Ra's Al Ghul, his bodyguard Ubu, Deathstroke, BRAIN, and his gorilla henchman. We went in and saw The Ambassador, his scientist, Black Beetle, and their cronies. "Ambassador," said Vandal. "Savage," replied the Ambassador. "As head of security for The Reach," said Black Beetle, "I insist that no masks be worn at this summit." Uh-oh. "Simply because you insist is no guarantee," said Manta. "Manta? If you wouldn't mind?" Ra's asked, "After all, we are among friends." Black Manta grunted and took off his mask. I took off my mask, revealing my disguised face. "We are so in over our heads..." I whispered to Kaldur, and he shushed me. Deathstroke then took off his mask. "Satisfied?" Ra's asked, and Black Beetle grunted. "Excellent," said the Ambassador, "then with these formalities out of the way..."  Vandal smiled and said, "Let us begin." I'm just glad Osborn doesn't recognize me.

"And the rest of The Light? Won't they be joining us?" Ambassador asked. "Other than Osborn, our more public members are occupied," said Ra's. "Conjucting damage control over your recent defeats." Savage said, "And in any case, we are sufficient." Ambassador said, "Fine. I know you called this summit, but The Reach has grievances against The Light." In short, The Team managed to free Blue Beetle and Green Beetle from being controlled by The Reach. There was a lot of bickering. The Reach's public approval rating was at a record low according to Ra's Al Ghul. As was their sales of "The Reach Drink," something meant to enslave humanity. But yeah, there was blaming and bickering. That's when Manta got up and close to Black Beetle, ready to fight him. Uh-oh. "It seems we have a stand-off," said Ra's. No kidding. That escalated quickly. "No, we don't." Black Beetle said as he punched Manta to the ground. Deathstroke and I had to intervene and fight this jerk. We fought him, and the guards tried blasting at Ra's. I shielded him thanks to my suit. "Apologies, Great One." I said. "None needed, child." Ra's responded, "You have my... Thanks..." I used my gadgets to restrain the guards. They're gonna stick around. Before things could get more violent, Kaldur intervened.

"Enough!" he shouted, "We are allies, not enemies! Any confict between us only benefits our true enemies. The Justice League and their sidekicks, as well as The Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and The X-Men!" Someone agreed thankfully. "Kaldur'ahm is correct," said Vandal. "Agreed, we must not allow petty disagreements to drive a wedge between us," said the Ambassador, "gratitude, Kaldur'ahm. Stand down, warrior." Reluctant, Black Beetle protested, "Ambassador..." But the Ambassador said, "Stand down!" Everyone then stood down after that. As Ambassador and Vandal continued to talk, I failed to notice Ra's looking at me. My Spider Senses are telling me something bad might happen. He then got closer to me. Too close for comfort. "Great One?" I asked. But then he grabbed my pendant. Oh shit. Then he ripped it off, so that everyone could see my true face. I am toast on a stick. "Parker?" Norman asked in astonishment and realisation. "I don't understand, I thought Peter Parker, otherwise known as Spider-Man, was dead?" Ambassador asked in disbelief. "So did we all," said Savage, "but it seems Spider-Man and Mr. Adamantium are one and the same." I'm in trouble. "This was a glamour charm," explained Ra's, "created, I'd wager, by Zatanna or Dr. Fate. To hide Peter Parker's true identity."

"But Kaldur'ahm killed Spider-Man," the Ambassador said, dumbfounded, "if he lives, and in disguise as his lieutenant, then that means..." Wait, they know I'm Spider-Man? "That means, Aqualad duped them all..." Black Beetle said angrily, "including his own father..." He then laughed. Osborn started to laugh too. "Kill them both," ordered the Ambassador. "No! You will not kill my son!" Manta protested. Guess family does come first. Too bad the message didn't come to Deathstroke. "He's right," said Deathstroke as he shot Kaldur in the chest, "The Light takes care of their own." That's when I got shot, and I landed on the floor, dying. "How anticlimactic," said Norman, "I would've loved to kill him myself. Pity."

"Kaldur..." Manta desperately said. "It's too late, father..." Kaldur said, "I have already... Won..." He then died, his hand dropping something. It was a beacon that showed a holographic message of Kaldur. The hologram said, "if you are watching this, then your summit is truly over. The Light and The Reach deserve each other. Both sides played at being partners. But The Reach believe The Light to be their naive tools of conquest. When in fact, The Light has been manipulating The Reach from day one. It was The Light that brought Earth to The Reach's attention, sending the Justice League to Rimbor. The Light set their trap, and The Reach snapped at the bait, fulfilling The Light's desire to thrust our world into the galactic spotlight. Part of their perverse survival of the fittest scheme for the planet. Which they believe will transform the world and The Light into the eventual rulers of the Milky Way. Though The Light made a deal to help The Reach take Earth, they have also sabotaged The Reach's efforts. They kept the enhanced Meta-Teens out of The Reach's hands. They added a neutralizing agent in The Reach's drink so that Earth's population would not become servile. They turned public opinion against The Reach. And they intentionally allowed The Team access into the Scarab Temple to cleanse Blue and Green Beetle. So you see, any agenda that I imagined they shared was nothing but a carefully crafted illusion. I trust I have shattered that illusion. As well as whatever remains of this sorry alliance. Good night." And that's when the holographic message ended. Suckers. Kaldur got the last laugh on The Light AND The Reach. And you know what they say; he who laughs last, laughs best.

 "Kaldur... Kaldur, what have you done?" Manta asked in shock. "He has in death done more damage to my plans than any living creature has done in 50,000 years," said an angry Savage, "I'd be impressed if I wasn't so..." The Ambassador yelled in anger. So dramatic, Ambassador. "You earthlings are a pestilence and a plague!" he said, "You dare sabotage us? DARE BETRAY US?!?!?!?! Have you forgotten who controls the Warworld?!?!?!!? The Light is fortunate enough we do not carve up your planet as we speak!" Savage walked closer and said, "That would indeed impress, as I have the Warworld's Crystal Key." Suddenly, someone said, "That is all I needed to know." Guess who? "Kaldur," said Manta, "you're-"

 "Alive. Yes," he confirmed, getting up. I got up and said, "What's the matter guys? You all look like you're seeing a couple of ghosts..." Vandal said, "Impossible! Deathstroke killed you both!" Deathstroke said, "Just for a little while. After all, I wouldn't want to do any permanent damage..." Strokey turned out to be M'gann as she turned back to her green self as she said, "...to my best friends! Not when a little misdirection and Hollywood special effects will do instead..." She held Savage at sword-point as Kaldur said, "For we value our true friends, and unlike you, we are not short on them." That's when the rest of the team came in. Including Wally and Artemis, wearing their superhero suits! "Hey there Vandy! Ya miss me?" Kid Flash quipped. "Perfect timing guys," I said. "Well played. Well planned," said Vandal, "but The Light always has contingencies." My Spider Senses warned me that BRAIN was about to summon something. And ninjas swooped in! "I've had my fill of your interference," growled Savage, "do not expect to survive. Kill them all. Superboy may serve to be a problem, but we'll deal with him when the other children lie bleeding on the ground." 

 "Still you refer to us as children?" Kaldur asked, offended, "No wonder our success is mount. You consistently underestimate us." But the ninjas were just our buds. That's when the fight began. "You deal with these guys," I said, "Osborn is mine!" I then tackled Norman, and we fought. It was personal. "You don't know when to stay dead, do you Parker?" Norman asked as he tried to punch me. "You're one to talk, Osborn," I said, "You disappeared under 'mysterious circumstances.' You're gonna pay for Gwen's death!" I punched him in the face. "Not if I squish you first!" Norman laughed, "Even if you could avenge your precious Gwendolyn, do you really have what it takes to kill me?" I grabbed his neck and growled, "Don't test me." I then didn't hold back as I savagely beat Norman Osborn. I tackled him to the ground, and constantly punched him in the face. I was ready to deliver the final blow, but Nightwing said, "Peter, stop!" 

"Why?" I growled, "You know what he did! He ruined everything for me! He took my Gwen! Wouldn't you or Bruce or Barbara want to kill Joker to avenge Jason?" Nightwing looked at me sympathetically and said, "There isn't a day I can't imagine not wanting to kill that clown! But if either of us crossed that line, we could fall into the lines of villainy. Peter, you're my friend, and I don't want to lose you like this. I may not have known Gwen, but think about what she would want." He's right. If Gwen were alive and saw me trying to kill Osborn, she'd feel appalled that I'd kill for her. I glared at Osborn and said, "I'll put him into SHIELD custody, let them deal with him." I let him go then. "That's the spirit," said Nightwing. I sniffled and said, "Sorry about that. No hard feelings?" Nightwing patted me on the back and said, "It's alright. Don't scare me like that again though." I noticed that Savage and the others got away. "Looks like we won," said Artemis. Batgirl hugged me and said, "I'm so glad you're alive!" I hugged her back. She blushed, and let go. I also blushed. She then pointed at Nightwing and scolded, "No more faking anyone's death for a year, okay?" Kid Flash chuckled and said, "Yeah, seconded." Kaldur sighed, "Agreed." Nightwing said, "Kaldur, this has been a good night. Maybe the first since we founded this team." Kid Flash smiled and said, "Come on man, enjoy the moment. You've earned it."

Much later, we were back at The Watchtower. Kaldur was back in his Aqualad suit, and I was back in my old Spider-Man costume. "Oh, it feels good to be back in my old suit," I said happily. Nightwing and Aqualad chuckled. "I am now officially returning command of the team back to you," announced Nightwing as he shook Kaldur's hand. "Congrats Kaldur," I said, happy for him. "This is unnecessary," said Kaldur, "you've done brilliant work leading the team during the most trying of circumstances." Have to agree with Kaldur here. "Which is exactly why I'm thrilled to have this particular monkey off my back," joked Nightwing, "job's all yours pal." We all laughed and I say, "Well guys, it's good to be back. But I have errands to run. Gotta talk to Director Fury about what to do with Osborn, give Tony the suit back, and then... I'm going to go see Aunt May."