Previcusly on A Spider of War: Finally after having fought hordes after hordes of locust and flying monsters, they had managed to clear a landing zone. They walked out on the streets as the other team showed up.
Cole walked up to one of them and held his arms out "Who loves ya, baby!",
"Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah. Group hug" The man said before placing something Gwen assumed was the Resonator on Cole's back "Where's Rojas?".
Cole shakes his head and holds up the COG tags. The man looked shocked before looking away, his face promesing that someone will pay for this. Gwen's spider-sense went of. She looks around but could not see anything.
'Something is not right. My Spider-Sense never goes of without a reason' Gwen thought.
"You're feeling it too kid?" Marcus asked, eyeing the sky in suspicion.
"Something is wrong" Gwen confirmed.
They saw their ride arrive, but then Marcus noticed something that made his eyes wide "Locust!".
Suddenly a flying creature smashed in to the RAVEN, causing it to crash in to the side of a building.
"NO!" Gwen shouted. That was their only way out of here, now they are trapped.
Another horde of Locust attacked form out of nowhere. Gwen was jumped by two of them. She dodged a attack from one and shot it in the head. She then caught the blow from the other one before throwing it down and stomped on it's neck, breaking it.
But in the chaos, Kim was sepirated from the rest. Then Gwen saw it. Another locust walked out of the flames, but this one was different. He towered over all the others and had some black armor on. And his target was Kim.
"BEHIND YOU! LOOK OOOOOOUUUUUT!" Gwen screamed at the top of her lungs.
Kim looked behind him and saw the threat. He tried to shoot but was out of amo. So he used his chainsaw to attack it. But the massive Locust, to Gwen's shock, cought the powerful blade with it's bare hand and kicked Him away. He then stomped over to him, picked him up by the neck, and rammed his blade in to Kim's gut, killing him.
Gwen could only watch in horror as Kim's dead body was dropped on the ground. She cried out in rage as she ran towards the monster and jumped to attack it...
But before she reached it she heard a voice insdie her head "My child... you are here at last. ".
Destracted by the voice, Gwen lost focus and the armored monster swung his blade through the air. Gwen cried out in pain as she crashed on the ground. She held her side and noticed she was bleeding.
She watched the monster taste her blood that was on his blade He then looked at her and spoke two words that would be stuck in Gwen's head forever "Choooossssen One!".
Gwen had wide eyes and bearly noticed when Cloe picked her up and ran of with her.
Last thing she heard as they left the battle filed was the monster roaring "Seeerrrrveeee the Queeeen!".
And the voice in her head "The prophecy has finally come true. I have been waiting for you for a very long time my child. And I will have you. ".
After that, there was only one thing on Gwen's mind.
'What is happening to me?!'.
Stranded.
After the violent encounter with that large Locust General, the remaining gears and Gwen entered the tomb to seek shelter. Gwen was holding the wound in her side, it was not that deep, but it stung a lot. And Gwen was still troubled by that voice in her head. Where did it come from? And why was it talking to her? And what the hell was that General talking about when he called her chosen one?
Marcus contacted Anya "Control, this is Private Fenix. Lieutenant Kim is dead. So we've fallen back inside the tomb, and we need a way out of here".
While Marcus was talking, Dom checked on Gwen "You ok kid?".
Gwen nods with a small smile "Just a scratch. Just give me a moment" She used her webbing to close up the wound "I heal fast".
"After all the other stuff you have done, I should not be surprised" Dom said rubbing Gwen's head like a father would do to his child.
Gwen smiled before Anya answered "Repeat, Alpha. Kim is dead".
"Confirmed, Control. KIA" Marcus answered.
"Roger that. Um... there's a courtyard at the other end of your building. That's your best bet" Anya said through the ear piece.
"Copy that" Marcus said before the man from before spoke.
"Well, we sure as shit can't stay here" He said and Marcus turned to look at him.
"You're Baird" Marcus said.
The man named Baird nods and said "Yeah, that's right, asshole. Question is, who are you? And who the fuck is the chick in the tights?".
"Names Gwen Stacy smart mouth" Gwen said, already having a feeling this guy would be a pain to work with.
Before any argument could happen, a blood freezing roar echoed through the tomb. Everyone tensed up and got their weapons ready, while Gwen jumped back to her feet.
"What the hell was that!?" Gwen whisper asked.
"Shit. Quiet. Don't move!" Baird whispered "A Berserker. She can hear us... She can smell us".
Gwen gulped, if this thing can make this guy silent it must be bad news. They continued to listen until they heard the sound of bodies getting slamed and broken.
One of the gears panicked "Oh man, we gotta get outta here. We gotta get fucking out of here, man".
In his panic he ran and then... all that could be seen was a shadow of the Berserker ripping the gear apart. Gwen almost threw up at the gory scene. If there was any doupt in her mind if that monster was really that dangerous, there was no dpupts anymore.
"Oh my god" Dom whispered.
"Control, this is Delta. We have an Berserker in the vicinity. Please advise" Marcus said through his earpiece.
"Hold your fire, Delta! Standard weapons won't work" Anya said.
"Then what do we do then?" Gwen asked.
"Do you still have the Hammer of Dawn?" Anya asked.
"Affirmative, Control" Marcus answered.
"You've only got minutes of satellite coverage. Get her outside and use the Hammer. That's the only thing that will work" Anya explained.
"Wilco. Delta out" Marcus said before looking at Baird and Cole "Allright, guys sit tight. We came here to help you, and that's what we're gonna do. Dom, let's go".
But before they could leave Gwen spoke "Wait! Let me do it".
Marcus gave her a doubtful look "You're injured".
"Trust me, if this is the worst injury I get today, I'm getting of easy. Look I am the fastest and most agile one here. I can dance circles around that freak and lead her outside, then you can fry her" Gwen said.
Marcus looked her in the eyes, she was not going to back down, he sighs "Alright kid. But we will be covering you if things goes south".
Gwen nods "Yes sir".
With that she headed deeper in to the tomb. Now she just needed to find this Berserker and get it to follow her outside. She could hear it growling and smelling the air.
"Ok little Berserker. Come out, come out, wherever you are" Gwen said in a sing song voice.
Shortly after she finished her sentence, a massive monster broke through the wall. The Berserker was large, had grey armor like skin and one of the ugliest ladies Gwen had ever seen. In shot, it was an abomination.
"Ok old lady. Come and get me!" Gwen shouted and the monster let out a loud roar and charged at her like a raging bull. Gwen jumped out of the way and ran for the back of the tomb "COME ON! IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO!?"
Well she did manage to make the Berserker angry enough to focus on her, now she just needed to stay alive long enough to get it outside. Gwen reached the back of the tomb, but it was a dead end. And the Berserker was not far behind.
"Shit!" Gwen cursed before turning around and seeing said monster standing there, snarling and growling as she smelled the air and roared. Gwen got ready "Do your worst. Bitch!".
The Berserker roars again and charges at Gwen. But Gwen had an idea. She jumped in to the air. She landed on the back of the monster, she then used her webs to pull on it's face and began riding it like an bull rider. The Berserker roars as she tries to chake Gwen of. But Gwen managed to hold on and forced the large monster to run through the wall.
When they were outside, The Berserker managed to throw Gwen to the ground. It then tried to smash her with it's large arms. But Gwen used her web to pull it down, then she placed her feet on The Berserker's chest and kicked it in to the air. Gwen then jumped back on her feet, shot her webs in to The Berserker's shoulders and slamed it back in to the ground on it's back.
"It's down! FRY IT!" Gwen shouted and Dom used the Hammer of Dawn to call down a beam.
The Berserker roared in pain as it was burned alive... then all that remained was a fired corps.
Gwen wiped her forehead "Man. That was one tough lady".
"Good thing you are tougher" Dom said, patting Gwen on the back.
"Hey Cole, Baird. It's all clear" Marcus said through his earpiece.
When the two men came out Baird looks at Gwen "Holly shit. You actually did it".
Gwen smirked "What? Did you doubt me?".
"Yes" Baird answered bluntly making Gwen glare at him a little.
Marcus contacts Anya "Control, this is Delta. Come in".
"I read you Marcus. Colonel Hoffman is coming online" Anya answered.
"Report" Hoffman ordered.
"We're here with Alpha. And we have the Resonator" Marcus said.
"Hmm. Uh, very good. Stand by for new orders" Hoffman said sounding surprised. Gwen could not help but to smirk a little at that. Happy they were able to make that loud mouth speechless.
"You guys alright?" Marcus asked Cole and Baird.
"We've got to get out of here. It's gonna be dark soon" Baird said.
"So?" Marcus asked, making Baird shake his head annoyed.
"Delta, we now have a secondary target" Hoffman spoke again "You will deploy your Resonator in the Lethia Imulsion Facilty, due west of your position. And you're in charge, Sergeant Fenix. As of now".
"Sergeant?" Baird asked in disbelief.
"Copy that. We're clear for Ravens" Marcus said, ignoring Baird.
"Negative. Area is too hot for choppers. You'll have to find another way. And keep an eye on that Spider-Girl of yours" Hoffman said.
"Spider-Woman!" Gwen said annoyed.
"Typical. Don't give the smart guy a promotion. No, no, give it to the jackass, instead" Baird said and Dom was about to beat his face in, luckily Cole stopped him by getting back to business.
"So we gotta hump this to the factory, or what?" He asked.
"Nah. Screw that. I've got an idea" Dom declared.
"Oh Yeah? What is it, smart guy?" Baird asked and it looked like they were about to fight again.
"Enough. Let's move" Marcus said, just wanting this overwith already and he rather not deal with his teamates trying to kill eachother. He looks at Gwen "Up for the trip?".
Gwen nods "You got it Sergeant".
Marcus shakes his head and they finally move out. After walking for awhile they reached another town. It did not look as banged up as the city, but it sure was no nice place. Gwen was so tempted to just web swing for a bit, but she needed to stay close to the others and they were still in a danger zone.
"Plan? What plan? You don't have a plan. You're just talking shit. Huh, plan!" Baird said, earning a smirk from Dom.
"Just wait and see, asshole" Dom said as they move futher in.
"What are we doing here Dom?" Gwen asked.
"I know someone around here who owes me a favor. He'll help us. He has no choice" Dom answered.
"Wait. People lives out here?! I thought this was a death zone" Gwen pointed out.
"They are stranded" Marcus explained "The Stranded are groups of people that were left behind on Sera after the Hammer of Dawn strikes. The Stranded were the people who couldn't get to the Jacinto Plateau due to the short time limit an higher up set up so the Locust Horde could not be warned of an impending attack. Once the generals of the COG had unleashed the orbital beams and chemical weapons on Sera, the Stranded were all left for dead and homeless in the streets of the outlying cities, and so, they were alone in the fight against the Locust Horde. After the invasion of Jacinto Plateau by the Locust, pockets of Stranded located themselves inside cities such as this place. They are looked on as thieves by Gears, as when they come across any dead Gears or destroyed equipment, they immediately attempt to steal it".
Gwen let the info sink in "I don't really blame them from resorting to stealing. Sounds like their lives are haning by a thread".
"True enough. But keep your eyes sharp. They are no friendly to people like us" Marcus said. Gwen nods and they move on.
They enter a building and then they hear loud footsteps. Gwen looks to see a rat get crushed under the boot of a locust. There was two of them. But these were different. They were much bigger than any of those drones and was carrying heavy weapons. Gwen did not need to look twice to know that those weapons would do a number on her.
Marcus took out frag grenades and handed one to Gwen "On my mark" Gwn nodded and got ready "Ready... now!".
They threw the grenades and the resluting explosion ended up killing the two locust.
"Damn. These guys are almost as big as you, Cole" Baird said.
"Yeah, almost" Cole said.
They reach a metal door and Gwen used her super human strength to kick it open "Who is that guy you say will help us Dom?".
"He lives out here. He's got a vehicle. It's a pice of crap Junker, but it runs" Dom explained.
"What. You know one of these stranded guys?" Baird asked.
"Yup. There's a camp up ahead" Dom said.
"So... what? You hang out with Stranded?" Baird asked.
"I don't 'hang out', dickwad. I'm looking for somebody '" Dom answered annoyed.
"Shut up Baird, keep moving" Marcus said as if knowing who Dom was looking for.
"What? Whar'd I say? I'm s... I'm sure there's... there's some nice Stranded... maybe not" Baird said and Gwen sighed, this little adventure was becoming more of a pain.
But then she remembered what Dom said "Who are you looking for Dom?".
"I'll ell you later if I can" Dom said with a grim look on his face. Gwen had a feeling whoever he was looking for must mean alot to him.
They continue on until another locust horde showed up. Along with some of those Boomer guys. Like always, a fire fight broke out. Gwen swung into the air, dodging a shot from the Boomer and kicked it in the face. It staggered and Gwen used her webs on it's large weapon just as it was about to fire, she pulled it so it was aiming at it's own face and ended up shooting it's own hed of. Gwen looked at the weapon and got an idea.
She picked it up and smirked "Spider-Woman level up! BOOM!".
She shot a Locust in the chest, blowing it up. Gwen cheered and shot more, after a while the fight was over and Gwen jumped down to her team "This weapon is awsome! Can I keep it? Can I, can I, can I!?".
"No" Marcus said bluntly.
Gwen gave him the puppy eyes "Come on, you got all the fancy stuff. I only got a smiple gun".
"I said no. There is no room for that thing, and I rather no worry about you blowing us or yourself up by acident" Marcus said, his word was final.
Gwen pouted like a child and dropped it "Party pooper".
The others only laugh a little and they continue on until they reach the camp. After some words with the guard, they were allowed inside.
They head in to the camp and they were getting alot of looks from the people. Some ran inside and looked through the window. Some men gave Gwen a look that clearly said 'You are one fine piece of meat'. Gwen gave them a middle finger in disgust.
"I don't like this place" She said trying to ignore the words.
"Join the club kid" Baird agreed.
"Hey. Hey, pig! I'm talking to you, piggy!" A man said.
"Blow me" Baird said with a glare.
"Leave it alone, Baird" Dom said.
"What are you, my mom?" Baird asked annoyed.
Gwen sighs "Let's just meet this Franklin so we can get out of here".
The others agreed and they finally found their man, Franklin saw them and stood up "Hey, Santiago. What you doing here? No news on the lady, man. I'd tell you I'd heard anything" He then leans close and whispers "I don't want people seeing me with you, all right? It's not good for business, man".
'Lady?' Gwen thought for herself. Could Dom be looking for someone he loves?
"Give me that Junker of yours" Dom more demanded than asked.
"Say what? Get real, man" Franklin said like he had heard the dumbest thing ever.
"I'm serious. We need it" Dom said in a no nonsense tone.
"Sorry to hear you're having problems, man. But I'm not giving you my ride, yo" Franklin said but then he noticed Gwen and took a step towards her "Then again. Give me a few hours with her and maybe".
"Piss of asshole!" Gwen snapped as she pushed him away, the result was several rasied weapons.
Dom hurried to step in "She is not on the market. You owe me one. I'm calling in the favor. Right now".
After several tense seconds Franklin finally gave in "All right, all right, man. I'll do it. Yo, on one condition" He points at Baird and Cole "They stay here, yo. As collateral. We can use the extra guns, man".
"Done" Dom said, ignoring the protest he got from his two teammates.
"It's at Chaps Gas Station. Why don't you go get it?" Franklin said as he gave Dom the keys. But as he Marcus and Gwen walked away Franklin spoke again "Hey, yo! Yo. Santiago! We even now, man. No more favors, asshole".
"I hate that guy!" Gwen said in anger "It took all my will power not to snap his neck".
"You did good Gwen. Don't worry, we would not had let him get you even if he didn't owe me a favor" Dom said.
Gwen nods at that, it was then Marcus finally spoke up "Let's go get that Junker".
"This is bullshit" Baird said over the radio.
"I told you I had a plan" Dom said.
"You plan, blows alright? Hey! Hey! Hands off the merchandise! No handsies on the... yeah! You! Baird out" Gwen smirks, that was one way to lift her mood a little.
And of in to the danger they went.
.
Told you Gwen was going to change as the story goes on. That's just what war does to people. Even if you survive it, you are not coming out of it the same person you used to be.
Tell me what you think.