Another day had passed and it was another day of waiting for 616 to be consumed into Earth-18. Mysterio was getting anxious but he knew he had to wait. The more he waited, the more his mind began to degrade. Not that he was mentally stable in the first place, but prolonged staying in alternate dimensions has been proven dangerous for those who had already not been well in the mind.
Alas, this also meant that the villains he brought with him could also succumb to this but for now he has managed to keep them, as well as himself, calm and collected. He sat alone in his throne room, waiting when the perfect moment would come. But it was not he alone who waited for his chance to destroy Spider-Man.
This was the calm before the storm for Octavius as well. He could feel it, he could feel that soon…Spider-Man and his army would have to face both him and Mysterio. He paced around his underground lair beneath the chaos of the Goblin controlled streets. He had to know how he will pull it off, but how? His army was puny compared to Parker's growing ranks and especially Mysterio's Sinister Six Thousand.
It wasn't over yet, though. Even if it seemed like they were nearing the end. But it was coming closer and closer…but not even Spider-Man himself knew it.
That was until Madame Web appeared once more to Parker as he slept that night and warned him, "It's happening, Spider-Man…I can feel it in my old bones."
Spidey asked, "Wait…what's happening?"
"Mysterio's plan is unfolding. The rift is finally beginning to suck 616 into 13 slowly…but it will pick up speed!" Madame Web proclaimed, "Tomorrow is the day you and your allies must finally put an end to this plan…before Mysterio can destroy us all."
"Wait, I still need recruits! I can't stop him now!" Peter said with doubt clouding his mind.
Madame Web shook her head, "You only have time to recruit only a few more Spiders and that's it. After this, it's focusing on Mysterio's plans."
Peter thought about that for a second and agreed, "Fine. A few more and that's that. Gotcha."
Madame Web then vanished from Peter's mind and he woke up at 4 in the morning. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the phone, "Might as well give Jess a call, then."
He dialed her number and waited. Jess heard the phone ringing and opened her eyes. She groggily got out of bed still covering herself up in her blanket and picked up the loud, ringing phone. She then answered, "Hello?"
"Hey Jess, it's Spidey." Peter replied with slight nervousness.
"Spider-Man…?" She asked with a muffled groan, "Could you have picked a better time for this? It's four in the morning. And if this is for some kinda date then you can count me out, I don't like guys who call during the middle of a lady's beauty sleep."
Peter chuckled, "Well it's more than that, as it turns out—Wait I didn't call for date."
"It's a joke, take it lightly. Now what do you want?" she asked once more, this time with a little more irritation in her voice.
Peter began again, "Oh. Well okay, if you must know it's about an impending doom on everyone with the word Spider in their name is all."
Jessica got interested at that point, "Alright, I'm listening."
"It's Mysterio." Peter explained, "It sounds silly but he's got the powers of a god and is heading for our world."
Jess tried to not laugh and she didn't…barely, "Mysterio? You're pulling my leg, aren't you Spidey? It's not very nice to prank someone at 4 in the morning may I remind you."
Peter's tone went from joking to stern, "I'm serious."
Jess' smile faded and she went from disbelieving that idea to believing, "Okay, how'd Mysterio get the powers of a god?"
"It's a long story." Peter sighed, "I'll tell you when you get here. Come down to Parker Industries and put your costume on."
"Fine, fine…just let me get breakfast first. It is gonna be a pain putting that outfit on this early." She groggily replied before hanging up. Peter heard the other end go off and said, "And she doesn't even have the common decency to hang up."
About an hour or so later, two more Spiders were sent out for recruiting. One of them was Hobie Brown Jr. or Spider-Punk as he is more known as. He swung into the dimension not knowing what to expect. Would he be fighting zombies…or maybe he'd be fending off hordes of Spider-Mutants!
He arrived at the city expecting something cool but instead he just got an average New York City, "Well…this is expectantly lame."
He looked across the city and said, "Well there's got to be something of interest here. Not sure why they sent me of all people but it'll do…"
He swung around for a bit until he ran into the Spider-Woman of 1610…or should I say swung into her. They both knocked right into each other and slammed onto the top of a building. Jessica got back up and said, "Miles, what the heck're you wearing?"
"Miles? Who the hell is Miles?" Hobie asked as he got back up again, "I'm Hobie Brown, baby."
Spider-Woman face palmed immediately, "Oh god another one? How many people think they can steal my—Peter's identity."
"It isn't like that, though." Spider-Punk explained, "I'm from another dimension. I'm supposed to warn you of some impending doom that's coming soon."
Jess gave the punk oriented Spider-Man a look of disbelief, "Sure, sure and what's this about exactly?"
"It's about Mysterio…also known as the guy who escaped recently from here, isn't that right?" Hobart replied with a smug grin.
"Lucky guess." Jess answered with sarcasm, "Alright, alright if this is so important why warn us specifically?"
Hobart took the guitar from his back and began strumming it, "Because he's coming after every person with the word spider in their name and judging by your costume, that'd include you."
"I'll give Miles a call, then." She whipped out her cell phone and called Miles…
And now a word from our sponsors…
Spider-Man and Kaine in "A Sandy Retreat"
It was an average day for Spider-Man until he saw trouble at the construction site!
Our hero wonder just what could that be…and it was the Sandman! He was taking the construction site hostage and fighting him was…another Spider-Man in red and black! Spider-Man swung over to the construction site and saw this somewhat edgy looking Spider-Man trapped in sand.
This Spider-Man was saying words that weren't exactly approvable under most Spider-Men standards. Spidey asked this edgy Spider what his name was, "Whoa calm down there, fella. You got a name?"
The struggling spider answered, "Kaine! I'm Kaine! I'm here to tell you something but first…do you think you could get me outta here?!"
"Calm down stranger" Spider-Man replied as he reached into his pocket, "Maybe a Hostess™ Fruit Pie will calm your nerves in this stressful situation."
Kaine smacked the pie out of his hands and said, "What the hell're you doing?"
"Solving the problem!" Spidey replied ever so smugly. Sandman turned his attention away from harassing the construction workers and to the fruit pies, "Hey are those Hostess™ Fruit Pies?"
"They sure are, and you can get your hands on some if you leave these guys alone." Spidey replied with a smile.
Sandman just had to ask, "Is it true that these are filled with real fruit and delicious frosting you cannot find on any other kind of brand other than Hostess™?"
Spidey gave a thumbs up, "You betcha."
Sandman relented and turned back into a human form. He grabbed one of the pies but was then sucked into a vacuum by one of the workers, "I didn't even get my pie!"
"Crime doesn't pay, Sandman…not even in delicious Hostess™ Fruit Pies you can find in your local grocery store right now." Spidey iterated as he learned on the vacuum.
"Aww you may've beaten me now" Sandman replied, "But as soon as I break out jail again I'm heading straight for the grocery store! I might not even steal them! They're a steal for only $0.99 per pie!"
They all started laughing except for Kaine who was just watching this madness. He scowled and said, "What the hell is going on here?! Why do I always end up on these weird Earths that seem like either programs for children or walking product placement?! This is asinine!."
Spidey walked over to Kaine and handed him a fruit pie, "Maybe the flaky crust of a Hostess™ Fruit Pie will make everything make sense."
Kaine smacked the pie out of his hand and dragged him into a portal, "I don't want your damn pie."
You get a big delight in every bite of Hostess™ Fruit Pie!
We now return to your regularly scheduled programming…
Spider-Punk waited while strumming on his guitar. Miles finally showed up and saw Spider-Punk, "Peter? Nice…new look?"
Hobart grinned, "I ain't Peter but he sent me. You must be Miles, another black Spider-Man."
"Uhhh…yeah?" Mile replied rather unsure. Hobart rubbed the little guy's head, "Keep fighting the good fight, little man."
The three of them sat around awkwardly until they heard a truck revving in an alleyway beneath the building. Miles looked down and saw a familiar face…Maximus Gargan. He began to run but was stopped by Jess, "Miles what's going on?"
"It's Scorpion!" Miles said as he panicked, "He must know we're here!"
Gargan could hear their screaming and gripped his chain, "They ain't comin' down…so we're gonna tear things up until they decided to stop us."
One of his thugs asked, "But…why do ya want to stop him?"
"He put me in jail…nobody cages the Scorpion! Good thing that prison break that happened some time ago allowed me to escape." Maximus said with a sneer, "I'm gonna ram this hook right into 'im. Start causing a ruckus until that little piece of trash comes down and faces me like a man."
The truck revved up again and drove out on the main road. It began ramming into other cars and Maximus' goons were shooting at various people walking around. Maximus even called Miles out, "I KNOW YER AROUND HERE, SPIDER-MAN! AND I AIN'T GONNA STOP UNTIL EITHER ONE OF US DIES RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!"
Spider-Punk decided to head in without thinking and landed right on the front of the Humvee, "You ain't gonna get the little guy just yet, only me."
Maximus stood up from his seat and told one of his goons to take the wheel. He whirled his hooked chain around and swung it at Spider-Punk. Spider-Punk ducked beneath the chain but was shot by one of the goons. He fell off of the Humvee and was about to be run over until Miles landed behind Maximus and shoved him off of the vehicle.
Maximus landed on the concrete and the Humvee stopped. The two thugs looked at Miles and grinned, "Looks like we got ourselves a catch."
Miles gulped but that's when Spider-Woman came down and smacked the two goons against each other, knocking them out, "You have your venom sting, right? Why do you never use it against these guys until the last minute?"
"What are you talking about, I always use it when I…remember I have it." Miles answered while hanging his head.
Jess laughed, "You forget you have it?!"
Miles nodded, "Yes…I forget I have it."
"I can't believe you'd forget you have it!" Jess continued laughing, "It's such a convenient ability."
"I'm sorry I forget I just do!" Mile replied but then Jess stopped him, "Wait…why are we talking like this? This seems conversation seems more drawn out than it needs to be."
Miles shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"This conversation…we're repeating ourselves." Jess said.
Miles was slightly shocked, "We're repeating ourselves?"
"There you go again! Who talks like this?" Jess wondered but then was interrupted by Spider-Punk, "Guys I need some help!"
Maximus had Hobart by the neck but was knocked down by Jess, "Well…that solves that."
"And with only a whole lot of collateral damage on the side." Spider-Punk wheezed as he regained his breath.
"It's…not over yet." A crazy sounding voice let them know, "Only one Spider-Man is in this universe…and that's meeeeeeee…"
The three Spiders looked in the direction of who said that and Jess recognized him almost instantly, "Scorpion…"
"That's right…sissssster." Scorpion said as his tail moved from one side to the other, "I'm back."
Miles promptly ran at the insane Parker clone and gave him a taste of his venom blast…but it did nothing, "My suit is insulated, kid…but I doubt yours is."
His tail nearly struck Miles until Spider-Punk dived into Miles and saved his skin, "You need to watch yourself, kid!"
Miles got back up and rubbed up head, "I know…I know…"
Spider-Woman charged at Scorpion and they began to trade punches, "You were supposed to be fixed! Fury said he would!"
"Fury couldn't fix what was broken…" Scorpion replied as he grabbed both of her fists, "Only one Parker can live and it must be meeeeeeeeee."
Spider-Punk smacked Scorpion with a guitar and that put him in a daze. At this time, Miles used his spider-camouflage to try and hide but Scorpion smacked him with his tail even when he was hidden, "Hah! My goggles allow me to seeeeeee yoooooou!"
Spider-Woman punched Scorpion in the face and said, "See that coming, creep!"
Scorpion slammed into a nearby building and he gripped his head, "No! No! I cannot lose, I am Spider-Man! Spider-Man never loses! Spider-Man is always the hero!"
"You're no Spider-Man!" Jess claimed as she punched the insane clone once again, "And you never will be!"
Scorpion hissed and fell on the ground. Spider-Punk looked around at the mess and said, "Let's shove off before the cops decide to show up."
Miles nodded, "Agreed."
A wormhole opened up and they all walked inside.
With a sizable army finally gathered, Spider-Man decided that it was finally time to finish what Mysterio had started. The entirety of the Spiders met in the underground of Parker Industries.
Spider-Man welcomed them all there and began, "Alright everybody. We've been doing nothing but gathering and gather and now I think we finally have enough to take on both Otto's and Mysterio's forces. It won't be easy…but we've just got to do it."
Miguel interjected, "But what if we don't survive?"
"Well if we don't, then we don't." Spider answered nonchalantly, "I mean it's good that we tried."
Anya raised her hand and asked, "Why don't we just ask the Avengers to help?"
Spidey answered, "Because…huh. How come they never ask the X-Men or me for help with their own problems? Why don't the Fantastic Four ever involve the Avengers or vice versa? Think about that."
Anya did think about that and said, "Fair point."
Supaidaman then asked, "Can I bring Leopardon?"
Spidey smirked, "I was hoping you would. That'd be an immense help to us."
Web-Beard asked, "What about me ship?"
Spidey also agreed to that, "Of course. Anybody can bring anything they want as long as it'll help us."
Ben Reilly cheered, "Then what're we waiting for? Let's go show ol' domehead who's the boss!"
The rest of the spiders joined in the cheering and Spidey opened the portal, "Let's go!"
Spidey went inside the rest followed suit. What would happen next is the determining factor in whether they would survive or die…
