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Chapter II

Trojan Horse

Spider-Man grunted with pain, feeling the air leave his lungs. He landed on the hard floor, moaning.

Slade was back.

The Titans had gotten a call from him, a challenge to appear on the docks for a rematch. Something had seemed off at the time. Spider-Man should have known they were walking into a trap.

Now he was cut off from the other Titans. And Slade was somewhere in the dark room.

"Raven?" he called out, coughing. "Cyborg? Beast Boy? Starfire? Nightwing?" He paused. "OBI-WAN KENOBI! I NEED YOUR HELP!"

"Amusing," said a voice from the shadows. "But light humor can't stop the dark."

Spider-Man spun around, seeing Deathstroke emerge into the light. He felt a thrill run down his spine. Not too long ago, his brother, Wade Wilson had resurfaced. Deathstroke was ever bit as deadly as his alternate counterpart. Maybe even more so.

"I would say something witty," Spider-Man remarked. "But I have a feeling my jokes would be wasted on you."

"You certainly aren't fighting my dear brother now," Deathstroke said. "Although I wonder if there is any point in fighting..."

"Oh no," Spidey said, tensing, preparing to lunge at him. "You aren't making an apprentice out of me, no sir."

He leapt, arms extended, putting speed into play. Slade couldn't dodge in time, so he threw up his arms to block.

Spider-Man's breath left his lungs with a whoof. Slade was one solid guy. But so was Spidey.

"Impressive," Slade said, backing up. "This might actually be a battle, not toying like it was with Robin."

"Didja get the memo?" Spider-Man asked, flipping up onto the wall for a kick off. "He's Nightwing now."

"So I've been told," Slade replied, catching Spider-Man's blow again, but was knocked back.

They kept trading blows. Slade had the benefit of his training, experience, and enhanced powers, but Spider-Man spider-sense allowed him to evade most of Slade's attacks. Both of them had incredible endurance levels, as well as super-strength.

It wasn't long before they realized it was a stalemate.

"Very good," Slade said, breathing somewhat heavily. Spidey too was also panting. "We appear to be evenly matched. This is... new."

"I can keep going," Spidey retorted. Yeah, right. He's insane. I've just barely managed to keep up with him. But judging by his condition, so has he.

"I don't think so," Slade said. "You have your limits, and you know it. Wouldn't it be nice if you could push past those limits, become almost invincible?"

"Maybe," Spidey reasoned. "I'll take whatever you're drinking. Unless it's coconut oil. Then maybe not."

"You joke," Slade said, "but you have already felt that invincible power, haven't you? You know what it's like to have a little... venom in your veins."

Spider-Man's mind went numb. He felt his heart beat faster. Slade had definitely put emphasis on the word venom.

"What are you saying?" he asked, his voice suddenly hoarse. Slade chuckled.

"You're right," he said. "Words are useless. How about something more tangible?"

He reached into his belt, where a large pouch had been hanging. Spidey tensed, prepared to spring into action with his spider-sense.

It wasn't a weapon Slade pulled out. Or maybe it was.

A small vial, filled with black liquid appeared in the light. Spider-Man's heart plummeted.

He recognized it, although he couldn't think how Slade had gotten his hands on it.

"Is... is that...?"

"Your birthright, Peter. Your inheritance."

The use of Spider-Man's real name, combined with that description left no doubt in his mind.

Slade was holding the Venom Suit.

"Slade," Spider-Man said, his voice hard and steely, "listen to me. That thing... it's dangerous... no one can control it, not even you..."

"I know," Slade said, which shut Spider-Man up. "I realize the power that this suit contains. That is why I won't use it."

"Oh sure... wait, what?" He was tripped up. No villain in their right mind would turn down weapon like that. It had to be a trap.

"This is your property, Peter. You alone have the power and responsibility to wield this. It hasn't changed much... except for the fact that it has stabilized. The monster you once knew... is gone."

This was too good to be true. On the other hand, Spider-Man wanted to get that vial away from Slade as soon as possible. This was going to be tricky.

But then it became a whole lot simpler... and messy.

Slade threw the vial at Spider-Man. He reached out his hand to grab it, his heart refusing to beat until he made sure it was secure and safe.

But Slade had other plans. While Spidey was distracted, he pulled out a gun, and shot the vial just as it touched Peter's hand.

Black liquid burst from it, forming tentacles and ooze, landing all over Peter. He yelled, but his cry was lost in the mass of the symbiote.

Darkness covered his vision, and he felt it inside of him, that horrible, familiar feeling that he had hoped never to feel again...


Slade stared as the black mass latched onto Spider-Man. He tried to struggle against it, but it wouldn't let him go. His eye widened as he grew bigger, his muscles expanding, his mouth becoming wider and a massive tongue burst free.

A large black monster stood before Slade, a large white spider symbol on its chest. It said one word, one word, before it collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

"Hunger."

As he watched, it receded into Spider-Man's body, becoming the smaller, compact figure he had been. The black was still there, as well as the white symbol. But Slade's theory was correct.

Venom had been perfected. Perfected by Spider-Man.

Richard Parker would have been proud.


"Titans, look out!"

Nightwing's cry almost came too late for Raven. She just barely managed to avoid the large crate that fell on her. Another came right after, and she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid this one.

A figure slammed into her, grabbing her and jumping out of harm's way. She felt the ground rumble under the weight of the storage crate.

She looked up at her savior, smiling, expecting Peter. But it wasn't.

"Are you alright?" asked a tall, lanky teen. He was wearing normal clothes, all but for the red mask that covered his entire face. His voice was rich and pleasant, and concerned.

"I'm fine," she responded, getting to her feet. "Who are-?"

"Jason, BEHIND YOU!" screamed Starfire from above.

Raven saw the approaching thugs and used her telekinesis to throw them across the room. The teen, Jason, also turned, surprised.

"Guess we're even now, huh?" he said, looking back at Raven. She blushed, though she had no idea why. And how did Starfire know his name?

Nightwing was walking very fast over to them. Cyborg and Beast Boy were finishing up the last of the thugs.

"Hey Dick," Jason greeted him. "Nice costume."

"Where the hell did you come from?" Raven had heard Nightwing annoyed, mad, angry even. But never so... urgent.

Jason laughed.

"Is that any way to greet your ole' bro?" he asked, embracing Nightwing as he got close. This took Raven by surprise, as well as Nightwing.

"Get off!" he commanded, pushing Jason back. "You're not my brother!"

"That hurts, bro," Jason said, but he didn't sound too hurt. He looked around. "Thanks for the call, Star. Glad I got here in time."

"You called him?" Nightwing asked, turning on Starfire. She went red, but stood her ground.

"He is a good man," she said defiantly. "He has saved me before. I called him when we started to be overrun."

"Do you have any idea-?"

"YO!" Cyborg yelled from across the room. "Stop yakking and start looking! Where'd Spidey go?"

"He went after Slade," Beast Boy said. "That dude is out of his mind."

"Alright, everybody split up and-," Nightwing began, but fell silent. The others turned to see what had distracted him.

Spider-Man limped over to them. He was clad in a black costume with a massive white symbol on his chest and back. His mask was off, showing Peter Parker's face. It was pinched and drawn.

"... help..." he said feebly, before crashing to the floor, unconscious.

As the Titans rushed forward to help him, Jason Todd felt a smile curve his mouth, unseen under his mask.

All according to plan, he told himself.


Well well well. Big developments. Wait and see how they progress!