Disclaimer: I don't own Spider-Man, or any other Marvel Comics characters. I also do not own any DC Comics characters.
Chapter 10: Chosen One - Part 3 "Divergent Paths"
"Grundy squash Bug face!" Solomon had a grin as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow to Spider-Man. "Haven't heard that one before, way to be original gruesome." Peter said in a mocking tone, that made Grundy growl angrily. "GRRRAAARGGH!" Grundy lunged at Spider-Man, who shot a gob of webbing in Grundy's eyes, and leaps high over his head, and maneuvering in mid air to avoid another claw swipe from Cheetah.
"I wish I had a ball of yarn for you to play with, but I can't stay...I've got to catch a ride." Peter quipped before running to the opening in the factory, and shooting a web-line to one of the adjacent buildings. "Grundy! Stop him!" Cheetah used her speed to reach Peter, who shot a web cocoon enveloping Cheetah to slow her down. Peter saw Grundy charging out of the corner of his eye, and shot more webbing at Grundy's legs tripping him up temporarily. "RAAARRH! Grundy smash annoying Bug Face!" Grundy bellowed while trying to free himself. Spider-Man picks Grundy up, and starts spinning in a circle at high speeds, and holding onto Grundy's legs. "We hope you enjoy your flight on Spidey Airlines." Peter notices that Cheetah has torn open his webbing, and is leaping at him hissing. "We will be experiencing some minor turbulence." Spider-Man said as he tossed Solomon at Cheetah scoring a direct hit on the feline villain.
"ooOOoohhh! What hit me?" Cheetah said dazed in a pile with Grundy lying on top of her. "Get off of me Grundy!" Cheetah said in slight pain trying to free herself. "Grundy sorry Cat lady." Solomon said before getting up. Cheetah sighed in relief, and rubbed her shoulder to get the feeling back.
Cheetah watched as Spider-Man swung away through the opening into the city using his webbing. Cheetah glared at the undead zombie who was scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Your telling the Joker that one of the League flew the coop." Cheetah said pointing at Grundy, who was shaking his head in the negative, and starting to sweat.
Superman was flying though a section of the Candy Factory, and looking for traps, or any trace of Batgirl. "Where are you hiding her Joker?" Superman caught movement in the next room. "The shadow is too large to be Batgirl." Superman stopped in mid air, and readied himself for a fight.
"I know your there, you might as well come out." The figure stepped out of the shadows. A large woman emerged with red hair, and orange skin wearing a dark purple costume that covered her body like a makeshift swimsuit. She is very muscular with a well defined physique.
"Rampage." Superman recognized the amazon like woman. "We've fought before. Your strong, but you can't win this. Why are you working for someone like the Joker?" Superman asked getting a grunt from Rampage. "I can't stand the little runt, but he's paying good money for this. That, and I wanted to take another crack at beating the stuffing out of you." Rampage finished cracking her knuckles in anticipation. "This is going to end the same way it did last time Rampage. With you, and your cohorts in prison." Superman flew toward Rampage ready to quickly finish the fight.
Superman felt pain flooding his body, as he dropped to the ground clutching his head. He felt weaker by the minute. "This feeling...it could only...be...kryptonite!" Superman gritted out between his labored breathing. Rampage reached into a pocket on her costume, and fished out a small green glowing fragment. She held it out in front of Superman increasing his painful moans. "Ha-Ha-Ha! Not so super now, are you little man?" Rampage kicked Superman in the face, sending him skidding across the floor impacting into the far wall. "This trinket was pilfered from Lexcorp right under the big man's nose. I imagine Lex is fuming now, but it's not my problem." Rampage grabbed Superman by the cape, and tossed him high in the air for a super powered uppercut that nearly broke Superman's jaw. "UUUGGH!" Superman was in bad shape from the Kryptonite, and Rampage's assault.
"This is almost too easy. I wanted more of a challenge." Rampage groused as she stared at the Kryptonite in her hand, and put it back in her pocket. "He's weak. I don't need this to win." Rampage said with confidence in her words, as she stalked over to the Man of Steel to finish him off. Superman used his cold breath to freeze Rampage's legs, and lower body causing her to face plant painfully. "This won't save you!" Rampage yelled trying to get up.
Superman felt some of his strength returning, and remembered a detail about the building. He ripped some of the plating on the wall, and used it to shield him from the Kryptonite radiation. He walked over to Rampage to get the Kryptonite from her pocket, but the villain was able to free herself, and deliver a powerful blow to the wall. With Superman's shield gone, he began to feel the effects of the Kryptonite again. "Ahhhhh!" Superman staggered back, and fell on one knee with his arm covering his face. "It's all over for you! I'm going to break every bone in your body!" Rampage punched Superman in the stomach, doubling him over in pain. She followed up with another kick to his face. Blood flew out of Superman's mouth, and he landed in a crumpled heap on the floor.
"Superman. I was able to find the source of the interference in my telepathy. It has been dealt with. I'm aware of your situation. Keep Rampage's attention for a few moments more." The Martian Manhunter's voice said in Superman's mind.
"Any last words, hero?" Rampage grabbed Superman, and started squeezing the life out of him in a bear hug. "Yeah...I do, Rampage. This...uggghh...is a pretty intimate position we're in...right now." Superman said grinning painfully at Rampage. Rampage had a questioning look, before she looked down, and her large breasts were pressed tightly into the Man of Steel's muscular chest.
Rampage dropped Superman, and he landed on his butt as Rampage started stuttering with a blush, and waving her arms in protest. "N...No! I...d...didn't mean to...that's..." Rampage stopped talking when she felt something strange. J'onn J'onnz phased through Rampage with something in one of his hands. He opened it to reveal the Kryptonite fragment she was carrying. "Hey! Give me that!" Rampage lunged at the Martian, only to receive a powerful backhand that sent her spinning back holding her jaw in pain. J'onn picked up some of the building's debris, and used his strength to encase the kryptonite in it. J'onn went to help Superman, when he received a shoulder tackle from Rampage that had the Martian stumble back from the dropped kryptonite. Rampage bent over to pick it up when she noticed a pair of red boots in her field of vision. She looked up slowly, and Superman greeted her with a punch that had Rampage seeing stars. Rampage wobbled on her feet, before Superman approached her and blew a breath on her that toppled the amazon over unconscious.
"Thanks for the save J'onn." Superman said smiling at his friend as he picked up the encased Kryptonite, and used all of his strength to throw it through the building as far as he could. "Think nothing of it my friend. Now, we need to secure Rampage, and check on the others."
Wonder Woman lifted some heavy equipment away from an entrance way leading to a large room. "I hope that Batgirl is alright. This Joker is mad, and a trickster. I must be cautious in my approach." Diana peered into the room, and used her bracelets like Perseus used his shield to spot Medusa. There was a small man playing with toy soldiers on a table humming to himself. He looked familiar to Diana, and as she got closer, she knew who this was. "Toyman! Superman's enemy. If I can capture him in my lasso, I can end this and get information about Batgirl's location." Wonder Woman reached for the lasso tied on her hip when Toyman turned around playing with a Yo-Yo.
"Hello Wonder Woman, do you want to play a game with me?" Toyman started spinning the Yo-Yo, and launched it at Diana who dodged to the right. The Yo-Yo demolished the desk behind Diana, and returned to it's owner's hand. "Your a naughty girl Wonder Woman, wearing such clothing in public. Are you trying to distract me, because it's working." Toyman said leering at Diana's breastplate. "I am an Amazon warrior of Themyscira, not someone for you to ogle." Wonder Woman said as she grabbed a metal filing cabinet, and sent it soaring towards the Toyman who barely dodged it in time. "Ahhh! That was too close! I sense some repression of primal urges here. I can help you with that Wonder Woman." Toyman said making grabbing hand gestures in the air. Diana had a look of rage as she flew towards Toyman. "Help! Help me my toy soldiers!" Toyman yelled as the soldiers fired exploding shells at Diana momentarily stopping her advance. "Aren't you going to tie me up with your lasso? I don't mind telling you the truth. For example: I want to know your measurements." Wonder Woman fired her tiara at the toy soldiers and they were destroyed as it spun back to Diana who smiled like a predator stalking her prey.
Toyman reached behind his back for a gun, that was knocked away by Diana who took Toyman by the shoulders, and lifted him up in the air. Toyman was kicking his feet trying to free himself from Wonder Woman's vice like grip. Toyman's toy face looked up into Diana's eyes. "If you wanted a little hanky panky, all you had to do was ask." Wonder Woman let Toyman go, and brought up her knee to meet the one thing Toyman was thinking with. There was a crunching sound as Toyman whimpered in the fetal position cradling his broken equipment. Diana placed her magic lasso around the crying form of Toyman. "Where do you have Batgirl hidden?" The lasso glowed, and Toyman spoke in a trance like voice. "Batgirl is no longer in the Factory."
"Where have you taken her?" Toyman spoke after a moment. "She is on her way to Metropolis, where she will be held by Metallo." Diana asked one more question. "Why did the Joker lead us here?" "He wouldn't tell us. He only promised we would be richly compensated for our work."
Wonder Woman stopped the lasso's power, and knocked out Toyman. "Batgirl is no longer here! I have to alert the rest of the League!" Diana concentrated to get in touch with J'onn. "J'onn...are you there?"
"Yes, Diana. I'm here."
"I had an encounter with Toyman, and he revealed that Batgirl is being moved to Metropolis as we speak."
"I'm sending this information telepathically to the other members, but I know that Spider-Man is currently pursuing the truck carrying Batgirl."
"That's good news J'onn. How are the others faring?"
"Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, Batman, and Flash are in fights with the Joker's team. Superman, and I have subdued Rampage. We will meet you in the central area of the factory Diana."
Martian Manhunter broke the connection, and Wonder Woman slung the unconscious Toyman over her shoulder, and started flying to the Central area.
Batman rolled out of the way of a laser blast fired from the gun of the Ultra-Humanite. Batman threw a batarang that hit the Ulta-Humanite on the chest, and sent electricity through his system. Batman rushed in close quarters with him, and knocked the gun from his hands. Humanite balanced on one arm, and tried a spin kick to Batman's skull. Batman was able to block, and did a leg sweep that Humanite jumped over. Batman grabbed Humanite by the straps of his costume, and used the momentum to kick flip Humanite over his head. Humanite hit the floor hard, but recovered due to his durability.
"Humanite, why are you working with the Joker?" Batman asked while sending several exploding batarangs at the Humanite that had him running for cover behind some large factory equipment. "If you must know, that green haired cretin has come into the possession of two breathtaking pieces of fine art. They are wasted on that madman, so I agreed to this one job in exchange for the pieces." Humanite regained his gun, and fired at Batman who evaded the shots, and fired another batarang that hit the gun directly in the barrel. Humanite looked at the batarang that had a flashing red light, and thew the gun away before it exploded violently.
"What if I told you that both pieces will be yours, if you switch sides?" Batman said with an even voice. "Do you really think the Joker will honor his word?" Batman waited for Humanite's answer, and prepared counter measures in case he refused.
"Hmmm, you do have a point. I would be a fool to trust such a man. However, if he finds out I left his employ, he would surely destroy the pieces." Humanite waited for a counter offer from the Batman.
"I guarantee the pieces will be undamaged, and in the unlikely event they are, I will substitute them with fine art of equal value."
"Congratulations Batman, you have just acquired my invaluable services for the duration of this enterprise." Humanite walks over to Batman to shake his hand, and Batman stares at the Humanite with narrowed lenses. Humanite withdraws his hand quickly frowning slightly. "Hm, quite...now what do you wish for me to do?"
In Gotham City
Spider-Man is web-swinging through the city of Gotham, and is following the signal from his Spider tracer to locate the escaping truck. "The signal is stronger this way. There heading for the bridge to leave the city. Have to kick it into high gear to catch them!" Peter increased the speed of his swings to slingshot him over, and around buildings as his eyes spotted the truck he is looking for.
Spider-Man lowered himself down on his web-line as he swung downwards, and flipped in the air to land on top of the moving truck. The landing gained the attention of the driver, as Peter wall crawled over to the cabin of the truck. Spider-Man felt his spider-sense blaring at him to move, and he jumped back in time to see the area he once occupied riddled with bullet holes coming from the driver's side of the truck. Peter wall crawled to the side of the truck, and ripped the door of the driver's side off it's hinges. This surprises the driver, who wore red, and silver armor with a metal helmet with a sniper scope over one eye, and arm mounted guns. "What the hell are you?!" The occupant of the truck shouted. "I'm called Spider-Man, bright eyes! So, what do the girls at the quilting bee call you?"
"Cute. I'm Deadshot, as in bang...your dead." Deadshot said as bullets rained down on Peter who avoided the shots, but noticed the truck was filling with bullet holes. "If this keeps up, Batgirl may get killed in the crossfire! I have to get out of his range!" Spider-Man wall-crawled underneath the truck, and Deadshot stopped firing. The driving became more erratic, as the truck was lurching back and forth. "I have to stop the truck, or he'll hit other cars!" Peter crawled to the front of the vehicle, and clung there, and fired thick gobs of webbing on the windshield of the truck. "What is this gunk! I can't see anything!" Deadshot said in a panic, as the truck careened out of control.
Spider-Man used his two web-shooters to create a giant web between two lampposts on the opposite sides of the street in front of the out of control truck. The Truck hit the web, and stopped it's forward momentum. Deadshot fell out of the truck in a daze, just in time to have his feet snagged by a web-line, and dragged upwards. Peter grabbed Deadshot's wrists, and squeezed. The two mounted guns crumpled like tin foil. Spider-Man webbed up the unarmed villain, and left him dangling from a lamppost.
Peter leaps to the back of the truck, and opened it revealing a shaken up Batgirl still tied to a chair. Batgirl was leery of the black, and red garbed man, and tried to back away in the chair.
Spider-Man stopped advancing, and talked in a calm voice. "It's okay. I know you've been through some rough treatment, and you don't know me. I understand. I'm called Spider-Man, and this stealth suit was something Batman loaned to me to help rescue you." Batgirl narrowed her eyes, and looked intently at the suit, and then her eyes widened, and she nodded her head.
"You believe me now?" Batgirl nodded again, and said something muffled through her gag.
"I'm going to take that gag off of you, and untie you, okay?" Batgirl nodded again with a smile behind her gag.
Spider-Man walked behind Batgirl's chair, and removed her gag, and began to untie her.
Batgirl takes a big gulp of air to clear her throat. "Thank you for rescuing me Spider-Man, I'm so glad to be free of that gag! I don't even want to know where it's been. Yuck!" Batgirl said with her tongue hanging out comically. Peter chuckled at the faces she made as he finished freeing her.
Batgirl stood up on wobbly legs, and fell forward only to have Spider-Man catch her before she could be hurt. Batgirl looked up at his mask face, and blushed in embarrassment. "Thanks. I should be okay now." Peter helped steady her on her feet, and noticed the look she had. "I had the same look when facing off against Kraven when Tigra was being controlled by him."
Batgirl brought her gloved fist, and hit the palm of her other hand with it, making a heavy sound.
"Time to get some payback on the Joker."
Author's Note: Chapter 10 Complete! It's a pretty close race in the poll between Hawkgirl, and Spider-Woman. Wonder Woman is catching up, and Tigra is in 4th place! I will be closing the poll on Monday, so make sure you vote for your favorite character before then! Thanks for reading, and let me know what you thought of the chapter in a review! : D