JLU SPIDER-FRIENDS: THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Chapter 4: Family and Friends

Forgive me that I didn't mention Aqualad joining the new team! Since I was in a hurry to finish the last chapter. This chapter will definitely include something about CADMUS since they're going to play a major part in this story, and I'm sticking with Supergirl's clone Galatea being a villain. The second Scarlet Spider called Kaine might make an appearance but instead of Agent-G's version, I'll go with the Clone Saga version such as the costume with black on top and red on bottom(if you know what I mean that is). In this chapter there will talks about family backgrounds and lost loved ones, Peter will also get this chance to finally move on with his life and a couple of DC villains who have been presumed dead will return later on down the line during the course of this story.

Three Weeks Later

In the underground level of the Triskelion building, the young heroes were training in an exercise area that looked a whole lot more like the X-Men's Danger Room. Peter and Mainframe had programed that training room with 42 levels, the first ten each had a holographic display of New York so the team could practice fighting against holograms of Spider-Man's villains and Chitauri invaders. At the moment they were training on Level 7 and it was the exercise that they fought against androids covered with holograms of the Sinister Seven. The only ones who participated were A-Bomb, M'gann, Donna, Wanda, Kaldur and Firestorm since the other members were off doing something else.

Kara had gone back to Smallville so she could finish school, Barbara returned to Gotham to take college classes, Dick was busy in Bludhaven and Kyle had returned to Oa because he was still stationed somewhere else across the galaxy.

During the training exercise Spider-Man dodged Doc Ock's tentacles, Aqualad fought with Kraven the Hunter exchanging blows with hydro-swords against spear, the A-Bomb wrestled with Rhino on the ground, M'gann phased through the Living Brain's circuits pulling out its wires, Wanda fought against Mysterio's solid illusions by using her hex volts, Donna deflected Scorpion's stinger with her bracelets and Firestorm exchanged blasts with Electro.

'Careful Ronald' said the Professor 'Electro has powers based on lightning and electricity, not fire and nuclear energy.'

"Relax Prof I know what I'm doing." Ronnie answered as he used his nuclear ability to phase through the floor and come up again behind the illusion of the electrical villain, raised both hands above his head and knocked out his opponent. After the Living Brain illusion fell down, M'gann flew over to assist Wanda against Mysterio and together they psychically overpowered the master of illusions. Donna fought with the Scorpion until she grabbed his tail and with all her strength threw him down on the ground hard, Kaldur knocked Kraven to the ground with one strike and over to help Spider-Man against Doc Octopus, and together they entangled him in his own tentacles.

That neared the end of the exercise since they had been going at it for an hour, so they headed out for lunch. While eating in the cafeteria they talked about many different things such as heritage, traveling and adventure, but they most likely talked about family backgrounds.

Wanda talked about how she and her brother were born on Mount Wundagore in Transia, home of the High Evolutionary, and that the two of them were placed in the care of the Romani Django and Marya Maximoff who raised them as their own.

(I don't need to give all the details of Wanda's backstory, that would take up too much room)

The others were shocked and felt very sorry for her when she talked about the traumatic events that lead to her and Pietro being alone, until they were saved by Magneto whom they didn't realize was actually their real father. Then Kaldur told her about how when his powers manifested, it had been revealed that Black Manta was actually his father which kind of surprised Wanda.

M'gann talked of how before the Martian Wars began on Mars, she had been found as a baby by a family of green Martians who took her in and raised her as one of their own, her adoptive mother was J'onn's sister which was why her uncle J'onn was okay with it.

Rick explained that he lost his parents at a young age and ended up living in an orphanage in Scarsdale, Arizona.

"Finally when I was old enough some kids at the orphanage dared me to drive out to a bomb testing ground in New Mexico. There I met Dr. Bruce Banner for the first time as the gamma bomb he designed was being tested, all of a sudden the bomb instantly went off with a massive release of radiation." Rick paused before for a second before he continued "Then at the last minute Banner pushed me into a trench that saved my life, he got caught in the wave of gamma rays that lead to his transformation into the Hulk."

Everyone else, save for Peter, was amazed at that last part "That must have been very selfless of Dr. Banner to put you into that trench at the last minute." M'gann told him, Rick nodded "Yes ever since that incident, I stuck close to Banner and his big green alter ego and I became the sole confidant of the Hulk's true identity."

So the discussion went on with Donna explaining how she and her older sister were formed from clay by their mother and brought to life by Zeus. Just then the intercom sounded "Excuse me everybody" called Mainframe's voice "But I believe we've got company coming."

The young heroes looked at each other and then got up to head outside. They were just in time to see one of the Javelins from the Watchtower land on the landing pad not far from the driveway. Once the Javelin landed, out stepped Superman, J'onn, Diana, and Green Lantern Stewart "Hey Supes, J'onn, GL, Diana how are ya'll doing? What brings you here?" asked Spider-Man.

"We just came down from the Watchtower to check up on things." Superman answered "Anyway how goes things around here?"

"Just the same as always" said Peter

"Well that's great, now would you mind if I talked with you privately?"

Peter thought for a moment before answering "Okay sure come inside and we'll talk." So they went inside to talk for a few minutes, after a while Superman decided to change the subject "How would you like to out to Kansas for the weekend?"

"Really?" Peter couldn't believe that he of all people was being invited to Smallville, Kansas "Oh sure, I'd like that." Superman grinned "Then it's settled, as soon as you're ready I'll take you, and whoever else you wish to bring, down to Smallville. Did Kara tell you about the founding Leaguers' real names?"


Elsewhere

While this was happening, a meeting took place in a government facility. Several people sat around a round table conversing about their next move of action, until a solider burst through the doors. "Director there's just been some confirmation to the reports that the energy source from three weeks earlier is connected to the strange heroes that helped the Justice League stop the invasion of alien parasites."

"You mean the ones called Spider-Man, Mainframe and the A-Bomb?" asked the Director who was an African-American woman, whose name was Amanda Waller.

"Yes ma'am" the solider answered "I've also heard that they're from another dimension and have taken up residence in New York City and formed a team called the Prime Avengers." The people sitting around the table exchanged glances and then looked back at the solider again. "Very well we'll look into it later, but in the meantime keep them monitored and find out what kind of danger they could pose."

"Yes ma'am" the solider answered leaving the room, as soon as he was out of sight the people sitting around the table resumed their discussion. "This is the most unusual turn of events" said a brown-haired scientist with glasses named Emil Hamilton a professor who was once a trusted ally of Superman, until he went to work with Cadmus and created a clone of Supergirl. "Yes Professor it is unusual" answered a bald man in a fancy business suit, this was Lex Luthor a billionaire philanthropist who funded Project Cadmus and was planning on running for President.

"But if this Spider-Man and the other two that were just mentioned really are from another dimension, just like the Justice Lords, could they be just as dangerous or even worse?" inquired General Wade Eiling who also participated in the meeting. Before anyone else could answer, another voice that was unfamiliar replied "Oh that depends on why they came here."

They all turned their heads to see who had spoken and there in the doorway stood two men that they had never seen before "Director Waller, Mr. Luthor, General Eiling, Professor Hamilton, allow us to introduce ourselves. My name is Helmut Zemo and this is Dr. Otto Octavius." Anyone else who was sitting at the table exchanged nervous glances, save for Luthor, Waller, Eiling and Hamilton.

"How did you get past security?" demanded Waller.

"Oh we have our ways" Zemo answered "but as for your security, they are all knocked out at the moment, so we don't need any unpleasant matters on our hands."

At that moment a woman dressed in purple raised her hands to omit a bolt of energy at Zemo who dodged it just in time, before she could do that again two metal arms suddenly reached out and grabbed her on both wrists. "Hey let her go!" Eiling yelled out but before he could use his gun Zemo fired a shot that knocked it out of his hand "As you can see, my friend and I aren't exactly from around here unlike this Spider-Man and his two traveling companions."

A stunned silence filled the whole room as Luthor, Waller, Eiling, Hamilton and the woman whose name was Tala exchanged glances. This was the most unexpected turn of events which no one saw coming.

"Did you honestly believe that you two could be able to…" Luthor began before getting interrupted.

"Actually there's three of us." Said a third voice which belonged to a man who was taller than Zemo and Octavius "My name is Victor Von Doom and we've come to discuss about what to do with the three so-called heroes you had just been talking about."


Three Days Later

It was a peaceful morning at Prime Avengers HQ Tower and Peter had just finished packing a bag to spend the night at the Kents' farm in Smallville, Kansas. The ones who volunteered to come were; Ronnie, Rick and M'gann since they were probably the social family type. Dick had called and said that he and Barbara were also coming because they had never been to a farm before, and Barbara was exited that she was finally going to the Kent farm for the first time.

Right at the moment Peter and the three who were with him got into one of the vehicles they had, a red van with white stripes. After loading their bags in the way back, they all got in their seats, Ronnie sat down in the back seat next to M'gann and Rick behind the front seat where Peter was driving.

"Okay everybody ready?" asked Peter "Yes" answered the others, so Peter started up the van and they were off. "I wonder how soon we'll get to Smallville?" asked M'gann "Well Superman also said that he'd give a lift as soon as we left New York." Peter answered "After we pick up Dick and Barbara that is."

About half an hour later they finally arrived at a parking lot in Gotham City where Dick and Barbara were waiting. After loading their luggage in the way back, the pair got into the front seat next to Peter and they were off and running again.

Another half an hour later after they finally left the city limits, Superman flew down and carried the van at super speed all the way to Smallville. Before long the Man of Steel set the van outside of Smallville, and Peter thanked him before driving the rest of the way to the Kent farm.

When they got there, Superman was dressed in his regular attire as Clark Kent "I trust that the trip went okay?" he asked.

"Oh it sure did." Peter answered "We're just glad to here right now." the others including Dick and Barbara commented that they were glad to be here on time.

"Well let's go inside and I'll introduce all of you to my folks." Clark said to them so with that they went into the house where they saw a staircase heading upstairs "Ma, Pa are you here?" Clark called.

"We're in here Clark." answered a woman's voice. The group went into the kitchen and saw a kindly older man and woman who smiled when they entered "Clark it's so good to see you again." greeted the woman "It's great to see you too Ma, and to be here again." Clark answered.

"So these must be the young friends you told us about." The older man said, and Clark had no trouble making the proper introductions "Everyone these are my parents, Ma and Pa this is Peter Parker, Dick Grayson, Ronnie Raymond, Rick Jones, Kara's best friend Barbara Gordon and J'onn's niece M'gann M'orzz."

The older couple whose names were Jonathan and Martha Kent smiled and shook hands with Peter and all his friends "It's so wonderful to meet all of you, I hope the trip was nice coming over here."

"It was better than anything we've ever experienced Mr. and Mrs. Kent." Peter replied "Please just call us Jonathan and Martha son." Mr. Kent told him "How about you boys come outside to help me and Clark with chores while Martha fixes supper?"

The boys nodded in agreement, so they followed Clark and Jonathan outside to the barn. Peter and Dick went with Clark to work on chopping wood, while Ronnie and Rick helped Jonathan feed the livestock.

While this was taking place Kara Kent walked home from school into the driveway "I can't believe that today's the last day in high school." She told herself as she walked up to the front porch. She had just been making plans for college, and also which one should she go to? It wasn't like she didn't want to go to Metropolis again or Gotham. Ever since the Prime Avengers were established, she had been thinking about going to a college or university in New York City just she could get out from under Superman's shadow and be more than just his younger cousin.

Kara pushed aside that thought for now as she went into the house where she found Martha fixing supper with a few familiar faces that she recognized at once. "Barbara, M'gann what are you all doing here?"

"Oh we're just helping Martha with supper." M'gann told her "While the boys finish up chores outside."

That very moment Clark, Peter, Dick, Jonathan, Ronnie and Ricky came in through the front door and caught a whiff of Martha's cooking. They went into the dining room and joined the ladies "Kara how was the last day in high school today?" asked Martha "Better than ever Ma." Kara answered as she set her school stuff down by the stairs. They all sat down at the dining room table where they ate dinner and talked about Kara's plans for the future.

"So Kara where do you plan on going to college?" asked Barbara hoping that her friend would come to Gotham so the two of them could always hang out. "Actually I'm thinking about going to Empire State University in New York City." Kara told her much to everyone's surprise including Clark "Are you sure?" he asked her "I thought you always liked going to Metropolis, so I figured you would attend college there."

"I thought so too, but I was thinking about living where I can be more than just Superman's kid cousin."

"So in that case you want to strike out on your own and be your own person, is that right?" asked Jonathan.

She nodded her head "Yes I want to live closer to where I have a job, go to college and be at Prime Avengers Tower on time." Everyone nodded in understanding that Kara would like to live closer to not only college, but also where she could be available when duty called.

"But isn't New York a very expensive place to live?" asked Martha knowing that buying a place to live in New York City was very hard to come by these days.

"Oh I'm sure that Mr. Wayne could arrange for her to have a place to live." Peter suggested "Or she could always move into Prime Avengers Tower until she has her own apartment."

"We'll have to discuss that some more another time." Clark told him, so they finished supper and Martha washed the dishes with help from Kara and Barbara. The boys and Clark helped Jonathan lock up everything in the barn and than they went inside the house to get ready for bed and turn in for the night.


The next morning

Kara got up early so she could go do chores starting with feeding the chickens. Peter, Dick and Barbara went to help her so they could also talk with her about family backgrounds. She was surprised to learn how Peter thought she was Gwen when they first met mainly because of how identical the two looked. Peter went on to explain that Gwen was his first love and she had meant so much to him, he also explained how her father made him promise to leave her out of dangerous situations which wasn't so easy. He was about to tell them about when his best friend's father, the first Green Goblin dropped Gwen from on top of the Brooklyn Bridge when Clark suddenly called out from the house.

"Kara, Barbara, boys! You'll got to come inside right away, there's something on the news you've got to see." The quartet quickly went inside to see what all the fuss was about. As soon as they got to the living room they saw what was going on TV "In our latest broadcast there has sightings of a large muscular steroid man wearing thick armor and a huge helmet rampaging through Metropolis. He has just broken into one of Lexcorp's old warehouses and is in the process of stealing plutonium."

Clark, Kara, Dick and Barbara exchanged looks, the sight of this strange man was unfamiliar to them, but Peter recognized him at once.

"I know this guy" he said to the others "Who is he Peter?" asked Kara.

"His name is Cain Marko and he's called the unstoppable… Juggernaut." The others looked at each other "Then let's go to Metropolis and stop him" said Kara as she got up to take off when Peter stopped her "You can't just fight him head to head" he told her "although magic can hurt him, but he's susceptible to psychic attacks only if he's not wearing his helmet."

Meanwhile on Apokolips

Loki was standing on the balcony of the royal palace on Apokolips looking out over the wasteland. "After three months up here, I've finally resolved peace among a conflicted people and restored order to this place." as he was still pondering a messenger came running onto the balcony and exclaimed "My lord! The Female Furies have brought the guest that you had requested." The Asgardian trickster turned around and answered "Show them in"

Oh man another long update! But hold onto your hats everybody! Next chapter will start with the Justice League and Prime Avengers battling the Juggernaut. Holy guacamole! Maybe after that you'll get to see something close to the Ultimatum episode. Sometime soon you all will find out what Loki is up to, until next time.