"Ma'am we have confirmation of the disturbance down at the university campus." A SHIELD agent told Melissa as she stood in the middle of the Avengers Tower control room, "It's Venom, looks like Gangran has resurfaced and he brought a friend with him."
"Impossible we have Mac Gangran in custody, he's rotting in the Raft and driving everyone crazy in there with his winging." Melissa replied, "Looks like we have a new driver in the Symbiote suit."
"And it also looks like I owe you ten dollars." Abe announced, "You said he would be back and you were right."
"Keep your money, if I have my way that creature will be properly destroyed so it can't harm anyone again." Melissa stated, "Retrieval suit up in Hazmat Gear and head for the hanger bay, as soon as Venom is down contain the Symbiote and bring it here for euthanasia. As for you," she said turning to face the hooded individual standing at the back of the control room, "Take the Symbiote out, we can't allow Stark and his Avengers to take credit for this, don't engage them but if you feel that your in danger from them don't hesitate to defend yourself." She ordered.
"We have this for you." Abe said handing the figure a bulky sniper rifle, "It fires hard sound pulses specially designed to take down Symbiotes although it should be effective against other targets. It also fires incendiary grenades if the sonics fails and we're also kitting you out with the new neural shutdown clamps, just aim for the spine and it should do the rest."
" Now this is of the up most importance." Melissa told the figure, "You're representing SHIELD now, I don't want any slip ups we need to prove to the people that we are here to protect them from menaces like Venom. Do you understand that?"
"Yes Ma'am." The figure replied.
"There is a One Man Ariel Platform in the hanger for your use, the retrieval team will be a minute out should you need help." Melissa explained, "Other then that all I'm going to say is Happy Hunting."
"It will be Director." The man announced throwing off his hood, "Or my name isn't Kraven the Hunter."
Spiderman scuttled away from Tony Stark, the Uni Beam barley missing him as Iron Man fired the devastating beam, the energy release boring a hole in the courtyard as discharge sparked up the armoured figure. "Tony it's me Peter." Spiderman tried to explain as a massive green fist slammed into his cheek and throwing him a good fifty feet down the path.
"Like we haven't heard that lie before Venom." She Hulk snarled, "You've been ripping off Parker for months, spoiling his name. Everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie." She added as she wrenched up a lamp post and threw it at her target, the only thing saving Spiderman was a sudden ping of Spider Sense and a quick web-zip line to the café where his backpack and clothes were stashed. Maybe if he changed out of his suit they would recognize him, snatching the pack Peter saw something hurtling towards him before barrelling through the café, the resulting shockwave causing the stand to collapse on-top of him, trapping him under half a ton of rubble. As he struggled Spiderman thought, "Why would Iron Man, She Hulk, that woman who hung around with Doctor Druid as well as two others think that I am Venom and more importantly when did Tony develop a killer attitude." as he struggled out of the wreckage, "I'm going to be blamed for this as well." He moaned as an arrow gleaming in the afternoon sun slammed into his left arm, pining him to the collapsed pile of plywood and concrete behind him.
Truly a poor hunt." The archer announced, his body cloaked in black with white stars gleaming across the surface. "You promised a worthy chase Stark." He told Iron Man as he landed next to him.
"Don't let this fool you Orion he's still dangerous." Tony stated, "Now kill him and do it quick, he deserves that much at the very most." Orion nodded before drawing his bow and stringing a star tipped arrow, silently pulling back the string ready for the execution shot. As he released Spiderman fired with his right web shooter, a stream of webbing gluing the bow to its wielder and keeping the bow-string taunt and unable to fire. With a quick flip Spiderman freed himself, fabric and skin ripping as the arrow snapped before swinging off into the city leaving the Avengers standing like statues at his amazing escape. "I see what you mean." Orion announced, "He is truly worthy prey for the mightiest of hunters."
"He won't get far." Tony replied, "Hurricane follow him and keep us informed, once you have him cornered and crippled tell us and Sepulchre will bring us your position for the final strike."
"No problem boss." Hurricane announced as his speed armour lit up and he took off after the fleeing Spiderman."
"Truly a poor display of honour," Orion told Tony, "A true hunter would honour the chase not send his hound in to savage the prey before delivering the final blow."
"I'm not a hunter." Tony announced, "Now lets get on Venom's trail before SHIELD arrives, I'm not overly enthused to argue with Melissa and her band of criminals masquerading as SHIELD agents." He stated as he took to the air, the others following on foot towards the city centre. A minute later a Thunder Hawk roared overhead with a smaller OMAP darting around it, the bat like glider skimming over the remains of the café as it's rider dropped to the ground landing animal like before crawling over to the remains of a broken arrow and a flap of fabric. The man sniffed the air before letting loose a deep growl, "So we meet again, last time you outran me my prey, but now I will find you and finally be delivered from my curse." He whistled and the OMAP swept down towards him like a massive bird of prey as its rider sprung onto the back. "If it is you Spiderman then I will claim what's mine but how can I be sure scents can be confusing." he suddenly smiled, "Are you there." he asked as he talked into his comm. unit, "Yes I need you to look at something for me."
Spiderman swung through the labyrinth of skyscrapers, his wound burning with each movement of his arm. He was becoming tired and had noticed that part of the arrow's shaft was still embedded in his arm glowing white under a coating of clotting blood. "Something seems to be sapping my strength and it's not exhaustion. I used to regularly go ten rounds with the Green Goblin and yet now I'm ready to drop after a skirmish with a nobody like pH3 and a five minute chase with the Avengers." Looking down Spiderman spotted one of the Avengers, a man clad in armoured plating with cables poking from the legs and arms into a power pack on his back, keeping pace with him. Swinging round the corner Spiderman saw the open wilderness of Central Park looming in-front of him. "Wrong turn." He stated as his pursuer leapt at him slamming into his web line before dragging him down towards the centre of the park, sharp edged tree branches scratching at him as he fell, the ground exploding into a shower of dirt and fallen leaves as the pair landed. Spiderman rolled over twice before coming to a stop as the man dragging him skidded an extra fifty meters, deep grooves carved in the earth as he came to a complete stop. "Talk about being treed." He complained, "That's why I avoid the park somebody always find's it funny to pull me through the trees resulting in my costume being ripped. Seriously people I make them myself and its hard work I always poke myself with the needle and thread."
"I know about hard work filth." Hurricane said turning round, "I made this armour myself, used it to help people and what thanks do I get? You and your Thunderbolt buddies; the Radioactive Man, Bullseye and the freak dressed up like an Iron Maiden slam me in jail simply because I wanted to keep my name private."*
"And now you work for Stark the man who set the Thunderbolts on you." Spiderman stated. "Ironic."
"Stark returned my armour promised me that I would have my revenge on the Thunderbolts and I guess that starts today with you." Hurricane announced, "Now prepare to feel the power of the Hurricane."
"Seriously where do you people keep coming from?" Spiderman asked as Hurricane stormed towards him, striking the wall crawler before he could swing up into the trees, a hail of punches and throws delivered in seconds each striking the Spider with full force before he was thrown into a tree and slumped to the floor.
"Any last joke's wall crawler?" Hurricane asked as he charged his suit, the cables glowing red.
"Yeah what happens if I remove this?" Spiderman asked shooting a line at Hurricane, the Avenger realizing what his target was trying to do and shifting out the way, the web line striking his back rather then the power regulator that he had been aiming at. "Not what I was hoping for but I can make this work." Peter thought, "This guy is fast but I bet I can use that against him." With a burst of speed Hurricane took off, dragging Spiderman at the end of the line through the trees before heading towards a mercifully children's playground. As he reached the forest edge Spiderman braced himself against a pair of trees as Hurricane strained like a fish desperately trying to escape the end of a rod held by a determined fisherman.
"Let go." Hurricane pleaded as his armour's cables went from red to purple.
"Okay." Spiderman answered letting go of the web line sending Hurricane careering towards a carousel, the Avenger slicing through the first line of gaily painted animals before slamming into a massive tea-cup, it's goofy face mocking him as it collapsed over him as his armour stalled, the cables going from purple to black, the energy system overheated steam billowing from under the lip of the trap. "Talk about a storm in a tea-cup." Spiderman joked scanning the horizon, "I wonder if your simply the joke Avenger or if the others are as bad as you."
"Why don't you find out." A voice echoed from around the woods as a woman emerged from the darkness, the massive form of She-Hulk standing behind her.
"I remember you now, your She-Pulce." Spiderman told her.
"It's Sepulchre." Sepulchre corrected, "And I don't remember ever telling you my name Venom."
"Let me guess Tony promised vengeance against me and my Thunderbolt allies. Who have you got the grudge with? Radioactive Man, Penance, Bullseye or Songbird, can't be Moonstone or the Swordsman as they are both dead." Spiderman asked.
"I have a problem with all Thunderbolts. That idiot with the pink hair let you rip a man's arm off and eat it before claiming she had everything under control." Sepulchre informed him, "From then on I recorded every-time you were on the news, how you tried to blackmail the mayor, how you ate some super criminals, how you went amok at Asgard. I studied the darkness in you and leant how to counter it."**
"Less talking Woods and more smashing." She Hulk announced slamming her fist down where Spiderman had been as he swung onto the top of the carousel. With a roar the female hulk leapt and slammed her hands down and crushed the remains of the merry-go round, the remains of the horses and other animals flying across the playground as Hurricane pushed the cup off him and staggered out of the debris field. With a few quick squirts of webbing Spiderman immobilized She Hulk before turning to Sepulchre as a wave of darkness erupted from behind her before it surrounded Spiderman plunging him into darkness. Behind him something snapped and he turned only to feel a massive fist slam into him and send him flying as something metal intercepted his flight. "I can't see." he called, "Is anyone else blind" he asked.
"Over here." She Hulk's voice sounded as Spiderman felt a metal chain wrap around his arms before being slammed into the ground and whipped around smashing into a series of hard objects.
"This is too easy." Hurricane's voice came from the darkness as something slashed across Spiderman's chest. "Once my armor is recharged freak I'll take you for a ride, where is the nearest incinerator by the way?" he asked.
"Why wait?" She Hulk asked grabbing the end of the chain, "Stark is in Times Square ready with the press, he and Orion want everyone to see what happens when you try and subjugate the American People." she told him as she swung the chain around above her head before releasing it, "Adios Venom." she announced as Spiderman flew off towards Times Square. Struggling Spiderman kicked off the chain and went to spray a line to save himself as he plunged downwards only to get a pathetic squirt of web fluid before falling the remaining distance and landing on a large bank of neon signs, the bright lights hurting his eyes. "And to think I voted against that light pollution bill." he moaned as he got to his feet and opened up one of his web shooters, "She Hulk must have crushed the mechanism, that means the additional cartridges are useless until I can get them repaired." he added crawling down the sign and into Times Square, the commuters looking at him in horror and screaming as they fled the area. Up above the sound of rotor blades could be heard and Spiderman looked up to see a Thunder Hawk dropping into the plaza before SHIELD troops fast lined down, batons and stun guns raised ready for action.
"Venom you are under arrest, but your hands above your head and get down on your knees." the SHIELD commander yelled through a mega phone as he watched the massive black creature walk forward, it's tongue hanging out over it's rows of white serrated teeth. "You do not have to say anything but it might hurt you…" the agent gulped as 'Venom' took the megaphone from him. "Open fire." he yelled as several of the agents fired their stun guns, the blasts whizzing through the air as their agile target avoided the shots before gracefully knocking their weapons away. An agent with a baton rushed at 'Venom' and slammed his stick down before being thrown off, his arm twisting and snapping before two more agents arrived, both quickly repelled by the Symbiote before heading back towards the Thunder Hawk.
Spiderman knocked out the last agent until only the commander was left, the man was trying to edge towards the Thunder Hawk without being seen, "We're being eaten alive down here." he called into his radio, "No not literally." he added, "We need back up." he announced as he dropped the radio and reached for his sidearm only to see 'Venom' catch the dropped item before handing it back to him and shaking a finger, "You know littering is a crime." he told the agent as he removed the pistol's magazine, the box of ammo dropping to the floor followed by the unconscious agent. "Guess some people can't take a joke." Spiderman stated although in reality his body ached, "Can't last much longer I feel like I'm ready to drop and She Hulk mentioned Tony and the other guy having set something up here and I don't think it was calling in SHIELD he seems to hate Melissa for whatever reason." Suddenly he saw the SHIELD field medic, sprawled face down on the floor his hand clutching a medical case in the hopes of using the polycarbonate box to knock out his attacker. "Sorry about this but I have an arrow in my arm." he told the medic as he opened the box and removed a scalpel and some gauze before fishing out the piece of arrow, "Here a souvenir from your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman. That's the real one not Venom by the way." he added closing the case. As soon as he removed the piece of arrow his body seemed fresher, he was still exhausted but less so then he had been. "Okay Stark where is this lesson about subjugation you were going to teach me because you're one to talk." he yelled, "Teach me I have an open mind." he yelled as Orion pulled back his bow string and fired an arrow down at the target, Spider Sense flaring Spiderman sprung behind an abandoned taxi, the arrow striking the cab and causing it to disintegrate into silver sand. "Lesson learnt." Spiderman gulped as he looked up searching for the shooter as Orion pulled a second arrow from his quiver.
"So judging from his moves alone who is he?" Kraven asked the man standing on the roof top beside him as Spiderman leapt from cover to cover as Orion released volleys of arrows, all burning with star light and all disintegrating the abandoned cars and shop fronts of Times Square.
"Just his moves?" the figure said turning to face Kraven, his white skull like mask glowering at the hunter. "You have made your mind up already but yes from his fighting style that Venom is actually Spiderman, the combat style is wrong for Mac Gangran, his fighting style was limited to pure aggression and power not tactics and agility."
"I figured as much." Kraven muttered, "Take this." he told Taskmaster handing him the rifle MACH V had given him, "I will defeat Spiderman honourably."
"Well you may want to hurry." Taskmaster told him as Iron Man flew into the square and begun to light up the whole area with Repulsor fire before boxing Spiderman into a tiny area in the middle of the plaza as Orion got ready to fire an arrow, the tip glowing red. Kraven leapt onto the OMAP parked on the corner of the building and dive bombed the scene as the Taskmaster shrugged his shoulders, "Melissa its Tony we have a Blood Hunt Situation, what are your orders?"
"Stay in Overwatch, let's see if Kraven is as powerful as he was now he's no longer immortal." Melissa ordered, "If things get out of hand then take the shot neural clamps only."
"Got it boss." Taskmaster announced lying down on the roof top and flicking the rifle's bipod, "Easy shots, easy money."
"Any last words Venom?" Ironman asked Spiderman as he was pinned down by the Repulsor cage.
"Duck." Spiderman said as Kraven gunned the OMAP towards Tony.
"I never really did get your jokes." Tony told Spiderman as he turned around to see Kraven heading towards him. Orion shifted his focus and fired the arrow sticking the platform and detonating the fuel cell giving Kraven the extra momentum he needed, the veteran hunter sinking his claws into Tony's armor and forcing him down the ground as Spiderman sprung away from the pair as they wrestled each trying to best the other. Orion strung another arrow, the standard star-light variety and got ready to fire aiming the arrow at Spiderman's chest as the wall crawler decided which if any side he should be helping.
"Oh no you don't" Taskmaster growled swinging the rifle round and aiming at Orion before pulling the trigger and firing a sonic pulse from the gun right at the hunter's quiver, the celestial arrows reacting with the blast throwing Orion off the edge and down into the square. "Okay Stark let's end your involvement in this." he mumbled as he narrowed the beam and aimed at Spiderman before firing directly at the wall crawler's neck. Spiderman looked up and saw Taskmaster seconds after his spider sense sounded and leapt out of the way of the blast, the hard sound round shattering the fire hydrant behind him and spraying the square in water, moment's later the holographic shroud emitter on Spiderman's neck sparked and fell off dropping the disguise of 'Venom' and revealing the true hero underneath.
"Spiderman?" Tony said in mock surprise as he kicked Kraven off him, "But I though you were Venom."
"We all know what you thought." Spiderman announced, "I gave you my answer, I'm not going to join your Avengers or SHIELD's and that's my final answer. Live with it, I plan too."
"Sepulchre get us out of here." Tony yelled as a raven shaped patch of darkness swept down and grabbed him and Orion before heading East over the city. Spiderman breathed an audible sigh of relief before being slashed round the face by Kraven, the blow tossing him into the air before he slammed into the sidewalk. "You and I have unfinished business." Kraven snarled as he brought out a massive bush knife and slashed towards Spiderman, the web slinger rolling out the way of the blow before delivering a kick to Kraven's shins. Kraven roared in anger before curb stomping Spiderman, his boot cracking the hero's ribs before being tossed off and into the remains of a city bus, the vehicle only half destroyed by one of Orion's arrows.
"Get up." Kraven roared, "You owe me."
"Now Ma'am." Taskmaster asked as he watched Kraven pick Spiderman up and slam him into the bus before ramming the hero's head into the vehicle and dropping to the floor.
"Not yet, medical evacuation and Retrieval 2 is on the way." Melissa told him, "I think we'll find out what the outcome is soon." she added as Spiderman slugged Kraven in the nose before being thrown into an one of the neon sign boards, electricity coursing through the wall crawler's body. "You brought me back." Kraven snarled, "You had no rite to bring me back other then to ease your own guilt. Stand up and fight you perverse creature and run, give me a good hunt and I may go easy on you."
"I can't." Spiderman replied, "My web shooters are broken." he coughed, blood running across his ripped costume from a multitude of wounds. Kraven narrowed his eyes before turning away. "I'm sorry if I had known I would have left you alone." he told Spiderman not looking at him as a second Thunder Hawk descended, this one decorated with a red cross quartered with the SHIELD eagle.
"Shut him down." Melissa told Taskmaster, "He proved his point."*** Taskmaster nodded and fired one of the neural shutdown rounds, the disc slamming into Kraven's spin. Angrily he spun round to glare up at Taskmaster before collapsing to his knees before face planting into the ground as numerous civilians begun to rush in, confused on what happen as the SHIELD medical team supported Spiderman as he stepped into the Thunder Hawk before the doors closed and the chopper took off.
"Okay sir just stay still." a medic announced as she blew a strand of white hair out of her eyes, "You've taken quite a beating but you should make a quick recovery."
"Don't play games with me, I know what SHIELD did, they sent the Taskmaster and Kraven after me." Spiderman announced, "Tony mentioned that Master's works for SHIELD now and I saw him talking to Kraven before he attacked, not to mention that SHIELD confiscated all those kooky glider things that Osborne created."
"Sir you're hallucinating." the medic told him as he threw her hands off him.
"No I'm not Tony was right." Spiderman announced, "Whatever Melissa was she's no hero anymore. I think this is my stop." he added getting up, his joint's aching, "I'll walk the rest of the way." he said as two of the agents glanced around before opening the troop doors as they hovered over one of the buildings. Dropping out the medic walked to the edge of the door and watched Spiderman run off into the city. Removing her helmet her hair billowed in the wind, white with a pink strip as the agents closed the door. "I can live with that," Melissa said as the Thunder Hawk veered back towards Avenger's Tower as the defeated SHIELD Agents and Kraven were loaded onto the parked helicopter. "Besides I got what I wanted."
Next Issue - Spiderman - #04
The Hood is on the move and she is heading for a collision course with her former husband Spiderman. And with the reappearance of Parker Robbins and Reflex, with both searching for her the streets are quite literally going to run with blood.
* As seen in Civil War: The Initiative #1
** As seen in Thunderbolts #113
*** That point will be revealed in the upcoming fanon Restoration: Blood Hunt - By the Sword