Chapter 7

Last Time on Infinite Crisis

Amazing returned to his own world after missing for three months. He found out Aunt May died of a heart attack and Mary Jane upset over his disappearance. Next the Amazing Spider-Man was captured by the mysterious Armoured Spider-Man, rescued by Black Cat, and then faced off against Chameleon Noir. Using the Tablet's power to grant him a new life and new morphing powers similar to symbiotes, Chameleon impersonated Nick Fury to take over SHIELD and attempted to take over the United States by becoming President Barrack Obama. Amazing and Cat defeated Chameleon but at a cost: The Armoured Spider-Man shot Black Cat to death. While the Armoured Spider-Man fled, the Amazing Spider-Man was left looking over his friend's corpse not feeling all too amazing…

Noir Universe: Hunting the Black Rhino

There she is, Felicia Hardy. All Peter Parker could think about was how Felicia Hardy made him a stronger Spider-Man. It's been six months since she saw him last, but for Peter Parker it has really only been a week. Sipping her afternoon coffee, Peter takes a seat beside her and leans in hoping she will notice him first. Felicia's eye scans to the side but being the pro she is, she doesn't react but Parker knows Felicia too well. In Felicia's eyes Parker sees all the shock and hurt coming out all at once.

"Where you been?" Felicia asks sternly but without gathering any attention. Apparently rebel spies tend to get upset when you disappear without word for three months.

"Places," Parker replies, but I don't have time to explain."

"You may need to make time if you're here to ask for my help."

"I could explain, or we could talk about the new gangs in town." Parker replies showing no emotion.

"I don't know what to say, like they all came from those science fiction plays you hear over the radio player. Giant Ball of Light, Explosion that tears a quarter of the city, giant machines that look like Rhino`s."

Parker takes a brief moment to think and asks, "Any giant reptiles?"

Hardy looks to her long missing associate and simply states, "Where have you been Parker?"

"Again no time to explain. What have you heard about them?"

"Enough that you'll make time if you want my information."

"You'll think I'm crazy."

"Then go ahead and sound crazy. I like crazy anyways." Felicia states not willing to budge.

...

"You do sound crazy Spider," Felicia Hardy states while sitting in her apartment waiting for Parker to get changed.

As the clock is almost ready to strike midnight Peter Parker emerges as Spider-Man Noir. "Told you," Noir says grimly, "but now we have to act fast. Where can I find them all?"

"The giant robot rhino I can help you with. Never heard of any lizard-man and I have no idea where Max Dillon holds up. Even I'm starting to sound crazy, robot rhinos, lizard-men, and a man made of lightning."

"I know how you feel but they're all too real," Noir admits, "so tell me where I can find R.H.I.N.O?"

"You'll think I'm crazy when I tell you."

"I like crazy," Noir answers back hiding a smirk behind the mask.

"He's held up at Cooney Island, where the Goblin was set up. Taken up the old gang too and everything."

Noir sighs saying, "On the other hand maybe crazy isn't so grand."

The lights are on, the rides are running, and the place is full of people. Now if only those people were not armed. At least Noir can tell that R.H.I.N.O does reside here, but that`s mainly due to the large part of the fence having been ripped apart and large foot prints leading to the back. Who says Noir isn't a great detective. Swinging into Cooney Island, Noir lands and perches on a light pole. All Noir can think about is how much he hated the Goblin and everything he and his gang had done. So many dead or wishing they were. The Goblin is gone at least but Cooney Island still stirs up all the ill feelings Noir has for Norman Osborn. Maybe one day Noir can see the this play as it is meant to be one day…happy and fun. No time for fun, time to stop a giant mechanical rhino and retrieve a magical tablet piece… 'Maybe I am crazy,' Noir thought to himself.

Sticking with the usual stealthy method, Noir webs up or knocks out multiple guards along the way. None of them saw it coming. 'Good,' Noir thinks to himself, 'this means no one is expecting me.' Coming to Centre Stage where Goblin's base was, Noir spots three men standing outside. One web, two web, three web, and all the guns are gone. Before any of the three can react Noir strikes out with a left, right, and trips up the last guy with a web. Noir goes for the knockout punch on the tripped foe, but stops when he hears a hiss. Looking up Noir spots a giant reptile, like from those weird science fiction radio shows. The reptilian leaps and lands beside the thug, but then with a swift tail whip, the thug goes flying hard into the wall unconscious.

Noir remains hidden watching the creature move slowly towards the thug. The creature looked hungry and with his mouth overflowing in saliva, reached out to the fallen thug. Almost leaping into action, Noir stops when he sees the creature grab its mouth by its own hands. Forcing its mighty jaws closed, the creature seemed unsure of what to do, give in to urges or hold onto its humanity. Choosing not to wait for the worst outcome, Noir makes himself known by coming in slowly to the creature making himself known. Noir may not be able to sneak up and may in fact spoke the creature into killing, better to work to the human part of it.

"Dr. Julien Locke-Connors from the year 2099 I presume?" Noir inquires.

"Shut up!" Lizard 2099 roars.

"I'll take that I'm right. Listen; hand over your tablet piece and leave. I'm here to deal with the R.H.I.N.O."

"You're not the only one looking to deal with the machine." Lizard hisses.

"I know you're still in there, and I can see your fighting certain urges doctor. I can help you, I know people who can deal with this."

Lizard looked at Noir with a single eyeball, while the other focused on his prey, "and who do you know that can help me. I'm a freak! Only I can save me!"

"Listen, I know a magical woman with psychic powers from another dimension."

The Lizard doesn't even answer. It just leaps and crawls up the wall. Forcing an air vent open, the Lizard crawls into the Centre Stage Theatre Building.

Alone, all Noir can do is say to himself "Yeah, I wouldn't believe me either. The other me's sure have odd lives."

Suddenly all Noir can hear as screams and lizard roars. Web-slinging up and crawling into the air vent Noir sees all the destruction left in the Lizard's wake; men torn up, bitten, both.

So much for stealth, and speaking of which...

Stomps thunder and the earth rumbles. Bursting out from the Centre Stage Theatre is the Ultimate R.H.I.N.O. Observing his beaten down men, the R.H.I.N.O lets out a giant stomp making the ground shake releasing all his frustration. R.H.I.N.O then yells, "Where is that Lizard! You really think you can take me this time." R.H.I.N.O pushes a button on the wrist of the robotic suit and suddenly it glows yellow. Out of nowhere Lizard leaps and attacks R.H.I.N.O from behind. Scratching and clawing Lizard fails to make a dent in the armour. Grabbing the Lizard by the tail, R.H.I.N.O easily tosses the creature clear across the theatre! Crashing into a Merry Go Round ride being stored inside, the Lizard takes a few of the statuettes with it when he crashes into the ground behind the ride. Noir sees the Lizard`s beaten body: broken legs, fractured ribs, disjointed jaw, and a decapitated arm. Not a lovely sight, then Noir turns his sights back to R.H.I.N.O

"How many times do I have to beat this lizard?" R.H.I.N.O yells to where he threw the creature, "Also get a cleanup crew. I want that ride ready to go again by the end of the week!"

Slowly walking to where the Lizard landed, the giant mechanic feet of the R.H.I.N.O stomp toward the destroyed ride. The Lizard was gone…well not all of it with the decapitated arm left behind. Damn, how could it still move?

"Next time you damn monster," the gigantic machine sighed to himself, "And get me Hammer Head, now!"

'Hammer Head?' Noir thought. Hammer Head was the Goblin's big gun, literally. Thick skull, strong body, and carried two gigantic tommy guns…Hammer Head was the king of goons. Damn it. After the Goblin went down, Hammer Head took up the old gang but he must work for R.H.I.N.O now.

Hammer Head Noir slowly came walking in holding the aforementioned giant tommy guns and stopped in front of his giant metal boss. "Yeah boss?"

"Change of mission for you Hammer Head," R.H.I.N.O stated, "I'm putting you back on Reptile duty."

"What about the Spider? We can't just let him jump three of our guys in broad daylight. Sends a bad message if we do nothin'" Hammer Head asked.

"Who's in charge here again Hammer!" R.H.I.N.O roared, "Learn your place and never question me again. You're just a tool Hammer, not the brains."

Even Noir could heard Hammer Head grinding his teeth from where he was hiding.

"Yes, sir," Hammer Head said through his teeth.

"Now my tool, we will go for the Spider still. I know how much of a problem the bug can be, but it's the reptile that keeps attacking. I want it dead, then the Spider. You understand?"

Just then Noir spotted it. The tablet piece was attached to the back of the machine, which is where the golden light came from. 'So,' Noir thought, 'He's using the tablet to keep his machine powered and protected. Okay, so how do I get the tablet when its making the armor invincible? I know I keep thinking this, but damn these other Spiders have weird foes.'

Moving slowly across the walls trying to sneak up behind the R.H.I.N.O, Noir accidently sets a loose stone loose…'Crap!' Noir looks to where the stone piece is falling and tries to web it in time. The stone falls as the web tries to catch it. Six feet, three feet, a foot, an inch…got it! Noir sighs thankful for catching the stone piece, but looks behind him. Hammer Head had his eyes Spider. Seeing sweat on Hammer Head's brow, Noir can see him struggling on what to do.

"I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" R.H.I.N.O roared shaking the very earth.

Hammer Head kept his teeth together with more swear building on his brow, "Sir, you should know that…"

"When will you get it, I am the master and you are the tool!" R.H.I.N.O starts to turn around where the web was holding the stone still.

"Wait!" Hammer Head yelled.

R.H.I.N.O stops from turning and goes back to look at his subordinate. "You do not tell me to wait."

With that Noir knew what to do. Lowering the stone to the ground and Noir crawls to the top of the stage above the machine. While R.H.I.N.O eats out Hammer Head again for insubordination, Noir was going to go for the tablet. Inches from the armor itself, Noir reached out and stuck himself to it. Good thing steel doesn`t feel like flesh. Crawling to the slot that was holding the Tablet, Noir began to pull, then the tablet began to glow.

"What?" R.H.I.N.O said as he turned around. Looking around as the mechanical armour became covered by golden light, R.H.I.N.O looked down and saw the web line from before. "The Spider's here! Hammer Head, change of plans. Get everyone hunting down the Spider now!"

As R.H.I.N.O said that, Hammer Head and Noir were looking one another face to face. Noir releases the tablet allowing the protective golden aura to fade and Hammer Head holding the tommy guns with even more sweat on his brow.

"I will get the boys on finding the Spider boss. Maybe stay here and I'll post men out the door to keep you safe," Hammer Head stated keeping his eyes on the Spider's.

With that Noir tried pulling on the tablet again but without any budging.

"No, I want to deal with him myself. I know how to make him come out from where he's hiding." R.H.I.N.O then started heading straight to the large doors that lead out of the theatre. As R.H.I.N.O went through the doors ordered all the men together to go on a Spider hunt.

As the giant doors close, Noir lets down a web line to come down to the ground after ditching the armor before it went outside. The only ones left in the Theatre are Noir, Hammer Head … and the Lizard. Coming out from his hiding spot in the ceiling rafters, the Lizard slowly comes up to Noir and Hammer Head. The Lizard looked like nothing happened to him, even had its arm back already. That`s some healing factor. Hammer pulls his tommy guns out to the creature, but Noir gently pushes the guns down.

"He wants the same thing Hammer," Noir said politely. "I think it's safe to say we all want that tablet piece, albeit for different reasons. We can all agree though that we need to get through R.H.I.N.O first."

"Tell you what," Hammer Head butted in, "You can have the tablet piece if I get who is behind the armour."

"Deal," the Lizard hissed.

"We'll talk about it," Noir jumped in, "First things first, I think I have a plan."

Outside in the park, R.H.I.N.O stomps around and with each thundering step some of the rides rattled. The gigantic mechanical armour scanned the area surrounded by numerous thugs with guns and bats. Hammer Head soon came up behind with both tommy guns holstered. Walking up the three men standing behind R.H.I.N.O, Hammer Head easily knocks each man out with a single blow without notice. Pulling out the tommy guns, Hammer Head starts firing at an empty area ahead of R.H.I.N.O.

"He's there!" Hammer Head shouts releasing the full power of his guns into empty air. Releasing the trigger, he orders "Chestcky, go check it out and take the boys with you!"

Most of the men start moving towards where Hammer Head shot. Both Noir and the Lizard begin to move silently. Crawling up the armour, both super beings get in reach of the tablet. They begin to pull and the same golden aura washes from the tablet and over the rest of the armour. Just as the tablet begins to budge, the R.H.I.N.O begins to roar in anger. R.H.I.N.O starts to swat its arms on the back of the armor to get what was going for the tablet. Nodding their heads to one another, Noir jumps in front of R.H.I.N.O and decks two of the few remaining mobsters still close by.

Believing it was Noir who activated his shield, R.H.I.N.O stops swatting it its back while the Lizard continues to pull on the now loose tablet. Using his speed, Noir leaps and dodges all of R.H.I.N.O's attacks. While Noir deals with R.H.I.N.O, Hammer Head walks over to the goons that went to check out the gunfire.

"Hold it there boys," Hammer Head orders holding the tommy guns up at the thugs, "Let's leave this to the freaks." One thug refuses and tries to go help R.H.I.N.O, but Hammer Head shoots him in the knee. The man screams in agony while Hammer Head looks over the rest. "Anyone else?"

Back at the fight, Noir takes a giant leap backwards close to the ferris wheel. Now a far distance from the giant machine, Noir starts leaps up and crawls up the ferris wheel. R.H.I.N.O bends over and charges. Noir looks at R.H.I.N.O and waits. Waits. Waits. And jumps! Jumping away from the ferris wheel, R.H.I.N.O crashes through the ride and becomes entangled in the broken metal. Watching R.H.I.N.O stand back up still covered in the invincible golden aura, Noir hopes that the Lizard is making progress in taking the tablet out. Noir looks closer and sees the Lizard still pulling and seeing the tablet is half out.

"That's it," R.H.I.N.O states, "I'll take you more serious." R.H.I.N.O reaches back and pulls the tablet out of the slot. Lizard lets go of the tablet and stays hidden on R.H.I.N.O's back. Reinserting the tablet now in front now, R.H.I.N.O's armour starts to glow gold again, but this time random streams of yellow electricity start shooting out from the horn and hands. Lizard manages to hold on and is protected by the golden aura from the electricity. R.H.I.N.O looks over to Noir and laughs joyously "Now Spider, you die."

Charging forward again, R.H.I.N.O's armour shoots out electricity everywhere as he moves forward. Noir dodges the charge but gets hit by the electricity shooting out everywhere. R.H.I.N.O turns and throws a punch with its giant metal hand, and nails Noir who is still stunned. Noir flies backwards and crashes into the hall of mirrors attraction. R.H.I.N.O laughs to himself and charges the hall of mirrors. Choosing to act now, while still protected under the golden aura from the electricity, the Lizard crawls and covers R.H.I.N.O's eyes. Blindly charging forward, R.H.I.N.O still crashes into the Hall of Mirrors but fails to see Noir crawl out of the way in time.

Covered in blood and shards of glass, Noir tries to get back to his feet. Seeing flashes of electricity fly out of the crashed Hall of Mirrors, R.H.I.N.O stands tall with an unconscious Lizard in hand. Throwing the Lizard away, Noir spots the reptile landing in the water. R.H.I.N.O begins to charge Noir again, and Noir sends out a web line and swings away in time. Noir swings around the park with R.H.I.N.O and his electrical strikes not too far behind. Shooting webs across R.H.I.N.O's face plate, the webs evaporate instantly due to the electricity. Noir continues to swing and leap around the park and is running out of ideas, until he lands on a wooden plank over that stands over the water.

Noir hears the creaking and feels the wooden planks bending. 'That's it,' Noir begins to come up with a new strategy. Turning and seeing R.H.I.N.O charging forward again, Noir follows along the wooden plank hears more creaks and more bending wood as he moves. Enough weight and strength for a Spider-Man, but how about enough for a gigantic rhino armour that shoots out electricity?

Feeling R.H.I.N.O closing in and unleashing the electricity behind him, Noir sends out a web line and swings into the air straight ahead, R.H.I.N.O shoots out another lightning strike hitting Noir. Noir feels the surge of electricity but holds onto the web for dear life. Just as R.H.I.N.O is close enough to reach out and grab Noir, the weak wooden planks break underneath the heavy metal body. R.H.I.N.O falls through the wooden floor to the ocean below. The weight and electrical powers begin to work against the Rhino armour. Screams of pain and agony accompany the drowning armour.

Noir comes closer to the hole in the floor and hears a weak and nerdy voice yelling, "God, somebody help me!"

Looking over the edge, Noir spots a fat little man standing over the quickly submerging armour. Without a second thought, Noir sends out a web line and lowers himself down. Grabbing the small, fat man and the tablet piece in the chest, Noir leaps up from the armour as it finally submerges. Landing on the wooden planks, Noir lets the fat man go.

Noir looks over the small, fat man and can only think, "Really? It was this guy running the machine?" Hearing a large group of thugs headed by Hammer Head coming their way, Noir knows what he has to do. Refusing to little the fat, little man behind to die by hammer Head's hands, Noir hoists him up over his back. With the tablet piece webbed to his chest, Noir swings away with the additional weight hearing Hammer Head damning them as he leaves.

Later in an empty warehouse, Alex O'Hirn, former pilot of the R.H.I.N.O armour wakes up tied down to a chair and eyes covered. Screaming for help, O'Hirn stops when he hears footsteps coming towards him. Having his blindfold removed, O'Hirn's eyes take time to focus as he sees two blurring figures. One man covered in black and one woman with a mask but beautiful blonde hair.

"Now Mr. Alex O'Hirn, unless you want a one-on-one with Hammer Head, you will tell us everything we want to know," Felicia Hardy says smiling behind her face mask with Noir standing behind her.

Next Time on Infinite Crisis

Ultimate Spider-Man takes his turn and steps up to retake the skies of New York. With the aid of Nick Fury and what few SHIELD operatives left, Ultimate prepares to face the feathered mutated cannibal from the future, Vulture 2099.

...

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Characters from Chapter 7: Hunting the Black Rhino (spoilers if you haven't read yet)

Spider-Man Noir

Felicia Hardy Noir

Lizard 2099 (last seen fallen in the water)

Hammer Head Noir

Ultimate R.H.I.N.O (pilot Alex O'Hirn captured and armour lost in the bay)