"Speech"
'Thoughts'
'Symbiote'
'Symbiote thoughts'
That Night…
While Dragonsbane's confrontation with Venom and S.H.I.E.L.D. was occurring Peter had been considering how to approach the arrival of a new Symbiote before finally deciding to request advice from a couple of old allies. So now he was swinging in the direction of the headquarters of the famed team the Fantastic Four, hoping maybe Dr Reed Richards would be able to shed some light on the subject of Dragonsbane and what he should do.
'I'm not even sure what to think when it comes to Dragonsbane, she helped stop Doc Ock sure but then she tried to knock him off, her reasoning because he was evil and wouldn't hesitate to do the same…she does have a point there…but still if we started killing off villains that would make us no better than them…she says that her Symbiote is different yet she tried to kill Doc Ock and something tells me that was more down to the Symbiote than her' Peter mused as swung through an open window of the Four Freedoms Plaza.
He landed in a crouched stance in a dark room, his gaze moved round the room, making out the darkened shapes of tables, beakers and large machines.
'I must be in Dr Richard's lab' Peter mused.
Flick
Light engulfed the room and Peter was momentarily blinded having had his eyes adjusted to the dark, his eyes blinked rapidly beneath his mask, his vision soon began to focus to see Mr Fantastic himself leaning in the high-tech doorway into his lab, a small smirk on his face.
"You know you could just use the door" Reed greeted, Peter rose to his feet.
"Where's the fun in that" Peter remarked, the scientists smirk grew at the response.
"So what brings you to our humble abode?" Reed asked as he began to approached Peter, assuming something major was going on that he'd been left out of the loop of, it wouldn't be the first time.
'Humble? What about this place is humble?' Peter mentally remarked.
"A new Symbiote has recently risen and I'm not sure how to approach her" Peter stated.
"Why would this case be any different from the other times?" Reed questioned.
"Because she's most likely an innocent civilian who got a hold of a Symbiote, she believes she can control it and this one is immune to fire" Peter stated.
"So a rather powerful Symbiote…but why do you think the host is a civilian when Symbiotes have been known to target powerful and violent hosts?" Reed questioned, Peter let out a tired sigh.
"She revealed herself by helping me in stopping a robbery by Doc Ock, she wants to help people and probably think the Symbiote is a way for her to become some sort of hero…then again she did seem knowledgeable about the Symbiote" Peter explained
"I still don't see why you would need to come here Spider-man, she sounds similar to Carnage, he's immune to sonic attacks and she to fire" Reed said.
"The Symbiote is already causing increased levels of aggression that much is clear from when she tried to take out Doc Ock but even after she defends her Symbiote with a clear mind, her aggression levels did rise in my last conversation with her on the subject of removing it. She knows what a Symbiote is capable of and knows how they affect their hosts, yet she doesn't want me to remove it and even referred to it as been a baby, she's protective of the Symbiote and will fight to keep it, how can I approach that?" Peter asked.
"A baby? As in a new borne Symbiote recently replicated?" Reed questioned.
"I guess so, she said it was a long story and refused to go into it" Peter answered.
"Then perhaps the host is a mother or was one, then she could see the Symbiote as her child and desire to protect it above all else in which case it should be removed as soon as possible. Or maybe there's more to this than either of us know. Besides we already know the host can influence the Symbiote, look at Carnage it bonded with a psychopathic killer who loves it to the point of lust and it was just as psychotic if not more so, then Venom, Brock hated you and the Symbiote did too to the point of wanting your death but with you Venom helped you in being a hero so perhaps we won't need to remove the Symbiote" Reed suggested.
"You're forgetting that when I was bonded to it I nearly killed those I fought and I would have done it if I didn't come to my senses, the Symbiote increases levels of aggression no matter who possess one or which one it is they cause a rise of aggression that will lead sooner or later to killing" Peter stated.
"Except that was an adult Symbiote perhaps a newly replicated one will be unable to cause such a rapid growth in levels aggression, maybe the Venom Symbiote adapted that trait from a previous host and Carnage inherited it which would mean this new Symbiote if unrelated to the two would not" Reed suggested.
"Except that's just a theory, out there is a new Symbiote with immunity to fire and has the potential to be the most dangerous one yet, I could try loud sounds to force them to separate but what then sound won't kill a Symbiote, weaken it and force it out of a host yes, kill it? No. And what if there's an innocent inside that suit removing the Symbiote like that could cause permanent damage" Peter stated, Reed rubbed his chin in thought.
"That is true if the Symbiote bonded to a weak or even crippled host forcefully removing it would cause a serious backlash and in an extreme case could cause the death of the host. My advice approach her again and learn what you can, try to convince her to leave the Symbiote willingly but keep a vigilant eye about you, it is possible that this Symbiote is different to the ones you've already encountered" Reed explained, Peter's posture slumped.
'Great now I've got even more on my mind than I did when I first arrived' Peter mentally muttered.
"Thanks for the advice" Peter said before turning back to the window and firing out a stream of webbing.
"Anytime and if the new Symbiote begins to follow in the steps of Venom and Carnage do not hesitate to call us" Reed said.
"Don't worry if this thing turns bad I'm calling in the cavalry" Peter chuckled before swinging out of the window and off into the night.
'So a new Symbiote is in town and one that has evolved immunity to fire, perhaps that means it's more susceptible to Sonics' Reed mused.
The Next Day…
Felicia stumbled out of bed once again nude, bracing herself against the wall, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
"Man I hate S.H.I.E.L.D." Felicia muttered groggily as she head to her underwear draw.
'Yeah? Well that makes two of us…I hate those Sonic weapons' Bloom groaned.
"Ditto to that" Felicia stated as she fished out a lacy black pair of panties and a matching bra, slipping them both on.
'Err…why are you putting clothes on when I can make anything for you?' Bloom asked.
"Because yesterday I nearly ended up naked in front of a bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, I may be up for teasing and flaunting what I've got but I ain't streaking, call this insurance in case we are nearly separated again" Felicia explained.
'Okay but you do know it will be insanely uncomfortable having clothes on beneath our suit' Bloom stated.
"Which is why I'm only wearing a bra and panties beneath it" Felicia answered as she exited her room and headed to the kitchen section of the apartment to retrieve some aspirin.
'Okay, too bad for your fans and the odd civilian who sees us' Bloom stated.
"Oh?" Felicia asked raising an eyebrow
'We won't be able to tease them with a tight suit' Bloom answered, Felicia grew a smirk, making a mental note that Bloom was seeming to pick up her sense of humour.
"Now that isn't a hundred percent true Bloom, a tight suit would still be perfect to use in teasing people and having fun" Felicia remarked.
'So what's your plan for today?' Bloom questioned.
'We need to find a way to get S.H.I.E.L.D off our backs before they attack us again and perhaps even succeed…we still don't know what the hell happened yesterday and I would rather not have a repeater' Felicia answered.
'And how would we go about doing that?' Bloom questioned, Felicia's smirk grew.
"That is simple Bloom, we will go speak to a certain team that S.H.I.E.L.D. trusts and get them to convince S.H.I.E.L.D. that we are not a threat to the public and can be trusted" Felicia answered.
'And how will we convince them?' Bloom asked.
"By telling them the truth and the whole story, we need them to trust us and there's no faster way than honesty for that" Felicia answered.
'You've got a point there, just make sure that they don't spread the word like crazy' Bloom remarked, preferring that she had some privacy, besides if news somehow got out about the power within her they'd have no end of trouble from people trying to steal it for themselves.
"Don't worry the people I have in mind will only tell S.H.I.E.L.D. what they need to know if we can gain their trust, they won't reveal anything we ask them to keep secret" Felicia explained.
'Oh? And what team would this be' Bloom asked.
"Why none other than the Fantastic Four of course and besides if we can get them on our side they'll be able to tell us how much like or different you are when it comes to natural Symbiotes if the comes we have to ask" Felicia answered.
'When do we leave?' Bloom asked.
"When my bloody headache subsides!" Felicia snapped as took a seat on the couch and began to lightly massage her temples.
…
It was late afternoon before Felicia's headache subsided and Bloom felt her full strength return. Now they flew in the direction of the team's headquarters, keeping to the shadows, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention.
'I really hope you know what you're doing' Bloom muttered.
'Don't worry I do. They won't attack us if we show we mean no harm early on' Felicia answered.
'And how do we do that?' Bloom questioned.
'By surrendering to them and allowing them to take us to somewhere private to talk and maybe revealing who we are beneath the mask' Felicia answered.
'We haven't even had this secret identity for a week and you already want to reveal it' Bloom stated dryly.
"If it means getting S.H.I.E.L.D. off our backs then yes" Dragonsbane growled, she fully extended her wings and begin to glide down to the entrance of the tall building, making mental notes of the security cameras on a near instinctual level.
'If they're watching the monitors then they already know we're here' Felicia stated. They landed in front of the electronic double doors and approached it, Dragonsbane extended her hand, further extending her index finger and watching with a satisfied smirk as it reshaped to take the shape of the key, she inserted her finger and unlocked the doors, they opened and allowed her entry.
Dragonsbane entered, glancing round and noting the cameras.
'They will know we're here soon if not by now…well might as well speed it up' Felicia muttered.
Dragonsbane curled her hand into a fist and shot it out, putting it straight through a window, alarms began blaring much to the duos discomfort and disgust, they clung their ears as weapons of all kinds emerged from the walls and ceiling, each of them aimed on them.
'Motion censored...we move we get blasted' Felicia mentally muttered, her mental tone one of pain as they continued to wince from the sound of the alarm, the mechanic door on the opposing side of the room opened and Dr Richards emerged, the weapons remained on Dragonsbane.
"Disable intruder alert and immediate defences" Reed declared, the alarm shut off and the weapons disappeared back into the walls and ceiling, Dragonsbane let out a small sigh of relief as her posture fell, Reed turned on the lights.
"We thank you for shutting off that alarm" Dragonsbane stated, Felicia mentally cursed herself for forgetting how effective loud sounds were against her and her companion.
"My pleasure but what do I owe the pleasure of your arrival would it be right of me to assume that you are the Symbiote host Spider-man was referring too?" Reed questioned
"Yes that is us, we are Dragonsbane" Dragonsbane answered, Reed took a few steps towards them.
"And why is it that you visit us?" Reed asked, already hearing the others running down the hallway, no doubt ready for some sort of battle or explanation.
"We need your help" Dragonsbane answered, the door opened once again and the remaining trio of the quartz entered the room.
"So that's what set the alarm off" Ben, aka the Thing, muttered grumpily as he glared at Dragonsbane.
"We apologise for the mess and the racket we caused but we needed to speak with Doctor Richards here" Dragonsbane answered.
"So you break into our home and break a window" Susan remarked as she raised a critical eyebrow that sent shivers down Dragonsbane's spine.
"We knew it would set off the alarm and that it was the quickest way to speak to your husband and we didn't want to walk about your home without your permission especially not when we want allies not enemies" Dragonsbane remarked.
"Allies? For what purpose?" Reed questioned.
"We need you to get S.H.I.E.L.D. to leave us alone, Fury respects you and your team, he trusts you and as such word from you would at least put him at ease and call off the man hunt for us" Dragonsbane answered.
"You're in trouble with S.H.I.E.L.D. and you want us to help you?" Johnny remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"We are in trouble because of his paranoia concerning Symbiotes and their hosts" Dragonsbane remarked.
"Going on past experiences you can't really blame him" Reed admitted.
"We are been hunted liked monsters, he wants to kill my other and separate us for good based on Venom and Carnage, two examples of the Symbiote race, racism if I've ever heard just because two of their kind go bad you just assume they are all the same, that would be the same as us saying you are the same as Dr Doom, after all your powers come from the same source, you did have strong connections with him and are the same species" Dragonsbane spat, feeling her aggression levels rising again.
'Spider-man was right her aggression levels are been risen by the Symbiote, not a good sign' Reed mused.
"Broads got a point stretch, you're judging her on the actions of others, perhaps we should give her a chance" Ben suggested, his heart clenching at Dragonsbane's words, how she was been treated like a monster, it really made him feel for her.
"I don't know Ben, the Symbiote has already shown to increase its host's aggression levels and from I've been told she has already attempted to take a life" Reed stated.
"SHE not IT, she's a she and as for Doctor Octavius that was all me, not her, my hatred for that bastard runs deep, he tried to kill me and would kill anyone to get in his way, I lost it in the fight because of that, I'm not Carnage, I won't go off and cause a massacre I am good, we are good" Dragonsbane stated.
"Symbiotes have no assigned gender it varies on their hosts and as for it been you who wanted Octavius dead I don't believe that, sure you hated him but the increased levels of aggression are what caused you to try and kill him" Reed stated.
"You're wrong...she does have a gender, she is a she" Dragonsbane snapped, Reed rose an eyebrow when she fought for that point but not that the Symbiote had driven her to attempt murder.
"What about Octavius?" Reed questioned.
"It's in her nature to cause a rise in aggression levels she can't change that but it was I who wanted him dead not her, she's innocent, hands never stained with blood...she's the victim" Dragonsbane replied, calming down, her posture falling more, emotion filling her tone unaware that Bloom's Symbiotic nature didn't just increase her levels of aggression but most emotions in general, aggression was just the more common one.
"What do you mean, she's the victim?" Reed asked.
"She wasn't born a Symbiote she was turned into one, at the moment her body is that of an infant, she wouldn't survive a day without me, she's the victim...the bastard who aided in massacring her people, her family tore her away from her friends and turned her into a Symbiote so that she would keep him alive all the while torturing her mind with scenarios to the point of almost breaking her, she's the victim...she was finally freed and found me and now S.H.I.E.L.D. is hunting us, trying to kill her because of what he did to her and now you refuse to help us and are calling her a monster" Dragonsbane spat.
'So that's what Spider-man meant when he told me Dragonsbane said her Symbiote was a new born but wouldn't say how complicated it really was' Reed mentally gasped, his mind reeling at the revelation, he let out a small sigh.
"Come with us, I think it would be better if we choose to continue this location at another venue" Reed said, Dragonsbane nodded, unsure of the reason but they needed the Fantastic Four as allies and it would be best not to cause problems or to annoy them, that and due to Bloom and Felicia's unstable emotions on this subject been magnified by Bloom's Symbiotic nature.
Reed led Dragonsbane and the rest of his team/family through the white corridors, lights activating with each section as they continued throughout, Dragonsbane put it down to motion activation. Dragonsbane's gaze remained on the floor as they continued through the corridor, they stopped, Reed pressed a button on the wall and the elevator doors opened, the group stepped in, Reed pressed the button for the desired floor and they were soon off and on their way to wherever Reed was taking them.
'How could someone be turned into a Symbiote?' Reed mused.
'Why do I get the feeling that there's a lot more going on here than we've been told?' Susan mentally muttered, getting a bad feeling about whatever their guest was planning to tell them.
'If what she says is true then we're more alike than I thought...we were both turned into monsters by things outside of our control' Ben mentally sighed, his posture falling slightly.
'Man this is getting more messed up by the minute' Johnny mentally muttered.
The silence was deafening, relief thundered through Dragonsbane when the elevator finally came to a stop, the doors opened to reveal a dark room, Reed stepped out of the elevator and the lights switched on, illuminating the room revealing it to be Reed's lab, or what Dragonsbane assumed it to be with all the high-tech machinery and the test tubes scattered about, each one filled with a different chemical.
"Your lab? Why did you bring us here?" Dragonsbane questioned.
"I'm sorry...but I have to verify your story before we continue our conversation, your asking to be left alone and with all things considered that could be a very dangerous thing to do especially when one considers how powerful you are so before we continue I will scan your mind and we'll be able to see if what you say is true, just a precaution and besides if it's true then you've got nothing to be worried about" Reed explained as he headed off to a part of his lab before returning with a metallic helmet connected to a monitor by a cable, he positioned the monitor on a table before picking up and helmet and gesturing for Dragonsbane to come to him.
Dragonsbane approached him, the others following her close behind.
"What does that do?" Dragonsbane asked.
"It'll scan your mind, all you need to do is focus on the memories and we'll be able to see them on this screen" Reed explained as he indicated to the monitor.
"Will it scan her mind, their her memories...not mine" Dragonsbane sighed.
"Allow her control over your body, just for a short amount of time, it will allow us to access her memories" Reed explained.
'Also it will prove to us that your Symbiote is not like the others, if she behaves and we see what you describe on the monitor then you will have almost earned our trust, if she does not then we'll not only turn separate the two of you ourselves but also turn you both in to S.H.I.E.L.D.' Reed mentally declared, though in truth he trusted their guest but he had to be sure.
Dragonsbane nodded, her eyes closing as Felicia allowed Bloom to take over, urging her even. Their eyes reopened, the white of their eyes now blue and filled with fear, it pulled at the heartstrings of the Fantastic Four.
"Are you okay?" Reed asked, still holding the headgear, Dragonsbane only silently nodded.
'Interesting, it seems that the host is the one who provides the confidence in their relationship rather than the Symbiote itself as I would have assumed, perhaps they are right in that we are judging them on the actions of other Symbiotes we have encountered rather than on their own actions' Reed mused as Dragonsbane hesitantly took the helmet from his grasp.
"Please have a seat" Reed said, Dragonsbane slipped onto the table top and placed the helmet upon her head.
"Focus on the memories of what you want to show us" Reed instructed, Dragonsbane nodded and focused on the memories of what Valtor did to her, Reed hit a few buttons on the monitor, a static picture appeared upon the screen, Reed began to turn a dial and soon the image began to appear and grow clearer before finally showing Bloom in her last few seconds of humanity before the dark wizard turned her into the Symbiote and merged her with him.
"It's true" Reed gasped, Dragonsbane squeezed her eyes shut, unable to stop as her memories began to flow freely, the flood gates had opened, tears began to fall from their eyes. The eyes of the Fantastic Four widened as they saw the 'scenarios' as the Symbiote's host had called it play before them, every second Bloom's mind was tortured and her mental apparition was raped by everyone she knew, cared of and even hated.
Tears fell from Susan's eyes while the boys could only look on horrified with expressions of disdain and disgust. Dragonsbane gripped the edge of the table forcefully, breaking handfuls off and crumbling the pieces into dust within her grip.
"Please...make it...stop" Dragonsbane stammered, Reed rushed to her side and began pressing buttons upon the helmet and soon it began to power down, the images on the screen began to slowly become static, Reed removed the helmet and looked upon their guest to see her eyes squeezed shut as tears fell freely, her shoulders shaking.
Her shaking stopped and her eyes opened to reveal them white once again, the tears slowing to a halt.
'The host is back in control again' Reed observed.
"Do you have what you need?" Dragonsbane asked.
"Yes" Reed sighed.
"What was her name?" Susan asked, her voice almost silent but was picked up by Dragonsbane's enhanced hearing.
"Her name is Bloom" Dragonsbane answered, an edge to her tone, which was understandable Reed had already deduced she was protective of her Symbiote and after his invention seemed to involuntarily force her to relive a traumatic event.
"I'll speak to Fury...in a month after I'm sure the nature of what she has become hasn't changed her" Reed sighed.
"A month!? You still believe she is evil after what you just saw" Dragonsbane snarled, her lower right arm forming a long blade.
"No, I do not think she is evil but her new nature could cause her to change after I see she is different I will speak to Fury, until then we will aid you if you need help, the month wait is only a precaution" Reed explained, the blade shrunk back and morphed back into their hand.
"Very well" Dragonsbane muttered, sliding off of the table top and heading to the windows.
"If you or Bloom need to talk...don't hesitate to come back" Susan called after them, Dragonsbane glanced back at her.
"Thank you" Dragonsbane said, her voice but a whisper and filled with emotion, she opened the window, regrew her wings and took flight once again.
Meanwhile...
At the maximum security institution Ravencroft five tall and broad officers, each dressed in blue were wheeling the redheaded psychopath known as Kasady aka Carnage, to be treated, currently attired in white, in a strait jacked with only one arm free and even then he was strapped to a stretcher, stood up and on wheels, an insane smirk on his face.
"Here comes the bride all dressed in white" Kasady sung.
"Man I wish it was red then you'd all be dead" he continued.
"Real funny Kasady! You're a regular weird comedian emphasis on the weird" Officer Resnick said.
"Why thank you Officer Resnick! I sincerely hope that I can someday return the courtesy you've shown me...by slaughtering you quickly and with minimal agony!" Kasady answered, his insane laughter continuing as he was wheeled into a laboratory where he met two doctors in white coats.
"In your dreams sicko" Officer Resnick answered "Here's your man Dr Pournella Cletus Kasady, or Carnage, as he's better known in the popular press"
"Is it really necessary to conduct an experiment and such a dangerous subject Pournella?" the male doctor asked, his hair black, his coat accompanied by a blue shirt, black tie, black trousers and glasses "The man is a convicted serial killer who used to dress up in some gaudy red costume" he continued.
"Relax Dr Landis, Kasady's been residing in The Vault, the governments facility for superhuman criminals, they've given him a clean bill of health...except for an unexplained anomaly which keeps registering in his blood tests" Dr Pournella replied, the blonde haired female doctor whose lab coat was accompanied with a turquois shirt and turquois pants and also wearing glasses.
"Oooh! Sound pretty scary!" Kasady screeched "There is something different about my blood there's a monster living within it!" he screeched, emphasising the words 'different' and 'monster' "Be careful you don't want to accidentally set it free" he laughed.
"There are monsters within all of us Mr Kasady, but only certain rare individuals like yourself, give free vent to them" Dr Pournella replied, placing emphasis on the word 'all' as she looked on the raving lunatic with an expression of disgust, completely unaware of just how dangerous he was.
"Your anomaly may be a manifestation of a chemical imbalance which causes mental instability, if we can isolate and analyse it we may eventually learn how to treat individuals like you" Dr Pournella explained as she took a disinfected needle and pierced his skin and attempted to take a sample of his blood only to have a black and scarlet goo emerge from the hole and toss the needle to the ground, shattering it.
"And people call me crazy! You should have listened Doc, I warned you" Kasady laughed as the goo began to cover his free arm "There really is a monster hiding within me!" he laughed. The goo soon covered his arm, a long blade shot out of his arm and pierced one of the officers chests, enough force to slam him against the wall, it cracked from the impact.
"You test tube jockies are all the same! Can't accept the truth when it's spitting in your eye! The monster is far more than a wild pair of long johns" Kasady laughed "It's become a living part of me and we were merely biding our time" he turned to the officer he had been speaking with before "Hey Resnick remember how I said I'd go easy on you?" he was soon fully covered in the black scarlet mixture, he erupted from his imprisonment, taking on the form of Carnage, opening his maw to reveal his black sharp fangs, his soulless white eyes locked on Resnick as his right hand became a twin bladed axe, its blades blacker than night, his left hand gained clawed talons.
"I lied!" Kasady roared "You should have known better than to trust a raving lunatic! I am the Ultimate Insanity! I am CARNAGE!" Carnage roared, a tentacle shooting out and running through another officers neck, his limp body fell to the ground, joining his colleague and Carnage's first victim.
"Call security, get some reinforcements down here!" Dr Landis yelled, fear filling his voice.
"Oh goody! I could use a few more victims, these are all used up" Carnage laughed, Landis turned back to Carnage to see all the officers lying on the floor, each missing a variety of limbs and soaking in their own blood, soulless, lifeless eyes staring at him.
"Let me help you Mr Kasady, I'm your only hope! I can ease your pain" Dr Pournella begged, her disgust gone and replaced with pure unadulterated fear "I've devoted my entire life to curing people like you...and ridding the world of serial killers!" she continued.
"I am deeply touched by your obvious sincerity Doctor Pournella unfortunately your entire life has been a sick joke! A total waste" Carnage laughed "Not only have you irresponsibly released the worst serial killer of all but I'm going to celebrate my newfound freedom...by SLAYING every inhabitant within your precious institute" he continued and that's just what he did, he painted the hallways of the institute with blood, learning, practising as he prepared to face Venom and Spider-man once again after it was them who put him in there and forced him to wait for so long.
A/N Hope you all liked the update, certainly better chapter length, I've decided to widen this from a Spider-man The Animated Series crossover to a marvel one just because I plan to use more marvel characters that weren't shown in the cartoon and once again I apologise if I get anything wrong concerning timelines and personalities haven't read the comic books and am going on independent research, don't really have the cash to start buying comics but this fic could be so much better if include these other characters and it will add to its length, once again any suggestions you have will be greatly appreciated and please review.