Disclaimers
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All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Spider-Man and Silk in Threads of Destiny – Episode Twenty-Four: Problems
By
Celgress
Secure Laboratory of Dr. Miles Warren at Oscorp Headquarters early October, morning
"I've been here in this miserable reality one year now and if anything I'm weaker than ever." Morlun ranted. "I must rectify this situation soon." Morlun glared at his nominal partner Miles Warren who was currently busy tinkering with a large, centrally located electronic device covered with cables of various shapes and sizes. It resembled a large yellow barrel more than anything else.
"Hmmm, what was that Morlun my friend? I must confess I didn't quite hear you." Miles Warren said peaking his goggles wearing head out of the guts of the large machine where it had previous been occupied.
"My powers are ebbing Miles. I need to feed on quality prey before my abilities reach a state of atrophy." Morlun said sullenly.
"Why not target one of the Spiders? Surely they would sate your appetite for a while?" Miles Warren asked.
"I fear I am no longer strong enough to defeat one of them in battle, not even the least skilled." Morlun reluctantly confessed. "My injuries I sustained facing the prime spider after a year of living off substandard prey have not healed properly. This whole ordeal has taken a dreadful toll on me."
"Lucky for you I think I can be of help or more precisely my latest invention can be." Miles Warren beamed. "Behold my newest creation the Genetic Recombination Generator." Miles Warren waved his hands over the device in front of him, "once completed it can combine portions of the genetic sequence of any given organism or organism(s) with a host of one's choosing."
"Meaning," Morlun questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Meaning I can create an adversary or adversaries capable of besting the Spiders on our behalf in combat and then bring them to us. We can then do with them as we please." Miles Warren answered rubbing his white cotton gloved hands together his eyes full of maniacal glee.
"I have another question." Morlun said his demeanor visibly brightening.
"Yes," Miles Warren said.
"When can we get started?" Morlun said.
"Soon very soon, all we require is adequate materials and of course the proper host organism to use as our warrior's base." Miles Warren answered maliciously.
"What do you have in mind Miles?" Morlun inquired his interest peaked by Miles Warren's grandiose promises.
"That's a surprise Morlun." Miles Warren said wagging his finger playfully at his partner in crimes against nature.
"Wait," Morlun said his expression once more dour. "Won't your sponsor Norman Osborn get involved with this project possibly to its detriment?"
"Pfft," Miles Warren said waving a gloved white hand at Morlun. "I can handle Norman Osborn."
"I sincerely hope you can." Morlun said a trace of doubt in his voice.
"Morlun my friend you worry too much." Miles Warren said downplaying his friend's concern.
"Perhaps," Morlun said.
Parker Residence
"I appreciate you both taking the time to meet with me." The smartly attired bespectacled lady social worker with her brown hair tied in a tight ponytail said. She was seated at the Park kitchen table across from her sat Peter and Cindy. Each dressed in clothes typical of their age group. "First of all I wish to expression my condolences regarding your legal guardian's present condition. Her health crisis is without question a tragedy."
"Thank you ma'am," Peter said tersely. Cindy merely glared at the woman.
"However two teenagers cannot live alone without adult guidance or protection. If we at Family Services permitted such a situation we would be negligent in our duty." The lady social worker continued.
"We can look after ourselves just fine thank you very much." Cindy all but shouted. The lady social worker visibly flinched at Cindy's intensity.
"Cin lets hear her out, please." Peter said.
Under the table be slipped his hand into her hand. He lacked his fingers through her fingers. He squeezed her hand warmly.
"Alright," Cindy said softly. Her harsh glare remained fixed on their unwelcomed guest.
"With all due respect Ms. Moon you and Mr. Peter must certainly cannot." The lady social worker after she regained her composure. "How will you support yourselves financially?"
"I'll get another job." Peter offered.
"I'll do that to." Cindy blurted out then corrected her misspoken words. "Um I mean get a job of my own not a second job."
The lady social worker shook her head sadly. "Where will either of you find the required free time while attending school full time?"
"We'll find a way." Cindy said still glaring at the older woman.
"Yeah," Peter agreed.
"I'm sorry, while I do sympathize with your plight. I must enforce the rules. Whether you agree with the rules or not they are in place for your own good." The lady social worker said.
"How long do we have?" Peter asked his voice cracking under strain born of despair.
"Unless your aunt makes a full recovery in the next three weeks Mr. Parker Social Services will be forced to take action." The lady social worker said. She got to her feet and plucked her tan briefcase from the hardwood floor.
"Which would be?" Peter said. By a massive use of internal force he somehow kept his voice even.
"You and Ms. Moon will each be placed in a suitable foster home until suitable long term families can be found." The lady social worker answered. "Goodbye Mr. Parker, Ms. Moon." She leaned across the table and shook Peter's hand. Cindy refused her gesture.
Once the teens were alone silence reigned supreme. Other than the ticking of a wall mounted analog clock nothing was heard. Minutes stretched on. Neither Cindy nor Peter dared make eye contact with the other out of fear how the other might react.
"What can we do Peter?" Cindy at last said.
"I don't know Cindy." Peter replied honestly.
Tense silence once more enveloped the deeply troubled teens. Peter sniffed fighting back tears. Cindy for her part felt numb. Neither could believe their continued streak of terrible luck. It was one of the worst days of their young lives.
Mr. Negative's Headquarters China Town the next day, afternoon
"Hello," Mr. Negative said to the hulking oily skinned black beast that lumbered into his private office. He was seated behind his beautifully crafted traditional Chinese artwork inspired wooden desk.
Mr. Negative was impressed how effortlessly Venom had dispatched his detail of bodyguards comprised of some of his finest Inner Demons. He slowly clapped his hands approvingly.
"My prodigal son returns. To what do I owe this honor?" Mr. Negative said. "Why are you here chimera? What do you want of me?"
"We desire a long term position," Venom said cockily in his deep multilayered voice.
"What type of position?" Mr. Negative said. His eyebrows fluttered up then down with interest.
"As an enforcer or assassin," Venom said.
"Such an appointment within my organization must first be earned." Mr. Negative said not in the least bit intimidated by the sharp toothed, razor clawed, green slime drooling monstrosity leaning over him. The pointed tip of Venom's pink pensile tongue flicked about less than an inch from Mr. Negative's calm face.
"We've killed many underworld operatives." Venom boasted. "We've also squashed two out of three Spiders."
"Almost, this is far from impressive in my opinion. I owe you nothing." Mr. Negative said. "If they had died I would feel differently, but they lived."
"They ran away." Venom said.
"They ran you off during one such encounter." Mr. Negative said with a knowing smile.
"Wait how exactly did y-,,," Venom said temporarily at a loss.
"I have my sources. Nothing stays secret for long from me Mr. Brock former star photo journalist." Mr. Negative said. His smile grew wider. Venom reared back as if he'd been physically struck. "Yes I know who you are underneath my little creation. Don't look so surprised Eddie."
"Which doesn't change anything," Venom said a few seconds later once he'd regained his composure.
"Indeed," Mr. Negative said. He learned forward in his plush red leather chair. "I'll give you one chance and one chance only to impress me."
"What must I do?" Venom inquired.
"Simple, catch me a spider subdued but alive without any lasting damage done. Anyone will do. I am not fickle. All three are equal in my eyes. I simply must study one up close." Mr. Negative said sinisterly.
"A tall order," Venom said scratching his chin thoughtfully with a one of his long talon like fingers. "How long do we have?"
"One week from tomorrow."
"We accept." Venom said.
"Happy hunting," Mr. Negative said.
Osborn Mansion
Norman Osborn sat contentedly in his study. Hobgoblin was dead. Along with the unreliable miscreant died many dark secrets that must remain securely hidden by all means. Now only his loyal personal assistant Donald Menken knew Norman's darkest secret: his dual identity as the sole remaining goblin in town, the Green Goblin.
"Our fun has only begun my enemy." Norman Osborn said glancing down at his tablet. A story was displayed that chronicled the exploits of notorious crime lord Mr. Negative. "My gloves are off."
Hell's Kitchen, night
Scarlet Spider surveyed the mayhem around him. Broken bodies lay strewn everyone. He'd warned the gang members but they hadn't listened. No one ever listened.
Scarlet Spider had used Kingpin's resources wisely. He'd bought every high tech gadget and useful weapon he could get his webs on along with crate upon crate of ammunition and military grade explosives, enough to found his own small army in fact.
"Stay down," Scarlet Spider hissed his voice low. The heel of his right foot slammed into a struggling thug's face. The thug's nose broke with a sickeningly wet crack. "Next time I crack your skull instead twit." He threatened the mournfully moaning thug. They never learned no matter how much he dished out their richly deserved punishment. He thought his mind filled with burning rage.
Scarlet Spider hated these blasted criminals with every fiber of his being. It had been men, and he used the term in its loosest possible sense, such as these on the order of other even lower men who had destroyed his world by taking away his family. They deserved everything he did to them and worse. They were a waste of space every last one. He should take those at his feet out of this world. It would be a better place without them he was certain.
No that wasn't Scarlet Spider's call as much as he might wish otherwise they should face justice rather than summary execution. While he might mutilate the occasional criminal, honestly most everyone he came in contact with, he didn't commit murder in cold blood. Killing in the heat of battle was another matter. It was justifiable on a certain level, at least Scarlet Spider thought so although his fellow spiders would vehemently disagree (especially Peter Parker who had been torn up inside ever since Hobgoblin's demise). He webbed each of the injured criminals to the dirty floor. Without another word he swung away on a webline. He needed to get out of here before he changed his mind and did something he'd later regret.
From a nearby rooftop a man clad in a yellow bodysuit which left only his mouth, chin and nose uncovered watched Scarlet Spider leave. On his waist was a brown utility belt with many compartments. His was called Daredevil and he had recently dedicated his life to cleaning up this city. Stealthily the once Matt Murdock made his way into the building across from his position.
He nudged a random cocoon encased thug not so gently with his foot. "Wakey, wakey," Daredevil said cheerfully.
"Uh, what da hell are you supposed to be?" The thug groaned.
"You're worse nightmare punk-oh." Daredevil said. "Now tell me where can I find the Rose?"
"No way man," The thug shook his prone head best he could. "If I tell ya I'm a dead man."
"Believe me if you don't you'll wish you were dead." Daredevil threatened.
"Piss of freak!" The thug yelled.
"Remember you asked for it." Daredevil pulled a collapsible black baton from his belt. He extended it with a snap. He then proceeded to mercilessly beat the thug with it. "Spill or I swear I'll break every bone in your disgusting body."
"Okay, okay stop, I give! I give!" The thug cried hoarsely.
"Good, sing stole pigeon." Daredevil said. He brandished the baton menacingly in his hand.
The Rose's Secret Hideout somewhere in NYC later that night
"So we can join your team?" Black Cat asked hopefully by her left side stood Shocker.
"Only if each of you can defeat at least one of the Spiders in combat, without assistance from his or her partner," Rose said in his cultured voice. "Otherwise I cannot accommodate your request."
The Rose reclined upon a gold trimmed, red velvet mock throne. To his right said stood a bored looking Dr. Octopus. Who wore a grey trench coat over his ample body eyes covered by dark sunglasses. Dr. Octopus' arms were crossed over his chest. To Rose's left stood a trio of business suit wearing burly goons with semi-automatic pistols hooked onto their belts.
"I am assembling a team of A list talent. No substandard applicants need apply." Rose said. He gestured at Dr. Octopus. "Take the good doctor here. He came within a hair's breadth of terminating not one but two of our vaunted Spider Trio at the same time at that." Dr. Octopus nodded proudly. A smug grin formed on Dr. Octopus' round face.
"We can do it. I know we can." Black Cat said.
"What are you thinking?" Shocker whispered in Black Cat's ear after elbowing her roughly in the ribs.
"Hush, I know what I'm doing. Trust me." Black Cat whispered back.
"Off with you then." Rose said. He waved his hand dismissively at the pair. "Come back only if you succeed, otherwise this is farewell. Do I make myself clear?"
"Ah huh," Black Cat said. She ushered Shocker outside before he could protest the deal.
"Do you think they'll come through boss?" One of the burly goons asked.
"It matters not." Rose said. "Either way I'm sure others shall, given time."
To Be Continued