"So three more this week?" Peter Parker stood in Jay Jonah Jameson's cramped fourth floor office in the daily Bugle reading through the possible story layouts.

"Yes three more! I want pictures for this Peter, big pictures! This is our headliner for tomorrow. Unless you can find me a political affair or some major cover up."

"I don't get it though, there's been some thirteen homeless gone missing before this. Why are we just now reporting on it?"

"Because the other news outlets are, that's why! The damn Globe is running a full page spread! Just get me something I can use by nine tonight! Nine sharp, understand?" The grizzled older man slammed his hand on the desk for emphasis or threat, probably both.

"Yeah, I got it J.J. I'll find something." He rushed out of the office to avoid annoying Jameson any more than he had already. That man is scary when he's angry.

So, let's see a ton of homeless people have gone missing over the span of three months, all downtown residents. All at night probably, but maybe I could catch something today if I'm lucky. Gotta stop off at home for my costume and a meal. I hope MJ is cooking!

Much to his dismay though back at his apartment MJ had little interest in cooking.

"Peter, you were supposed to take me out tonight!" She folded her arms in front of her. Her long red hair tossed back behind her shoulders in aggravation. He knew the pose well.

"Errrr... I was?"

MJ threw her hands up over her head and groaned. "Unbelievable! You're going off chasing some bad guy aren't you?!"

"I have to MJ, I'll make it up to you later?" The last word squeaked out from between his lips cautiously.

She picked up a book from his end table and hurled it at him. Thank goodness for light paperbacks. "Oh no you won't! Not this time! I'm going out with the girls then! I'll catch you whenever you're done playing hero." She grabbed her cardigan sweater from the sofa and stormed out.

"I guess lunch will be to go then.."

"What a fine day this has turned into!" Peter in costume flew through the air towards fifth street slinging from one web to the next. To his side he clutched a bag from his favorite deli, a last second decision for food but nonetheless one that cheered him up a little. That deli makes the best chocolate chunk cookies! He found a nice vantage point near a hotel's roof and stopped to eat, pulling up his mask and forcing the sandwich into his mouth a bite at a time beneath the fabric. Oh, if only the villains of this city could see me now. Bored and stuffing my face.

It was about a half-hour after he finished his meal that a homeless man ran panicked past him on the ground below. Oh there we go! A clue Scooby! He swung down to interrupt the man's path.

"Hiya. Nice day for a jog right?"

"Spider-man! You have to help me! They're after me!" the man flailed and choked on his own words.

"Whoah there, slow down now who's after you?"

"They are! The sewer people! There was one in that alley, he came up through the manhole and tried to get me! Said he was gonna take me to his leader! I am way to old for this shit!"

Peter glanced back in the alleyway. "That way?"

"Yes! Now if you don't mind I'm getting far away from here!" He kept right on running at quite an impressive pace for a guy well into his sixties.

"Well, look's like it's sewer time for me, take in the sights, maybe see some mutant ninja turtles. Glad I already ate today..."

The alley was clear of everything but clutter, and the manhole sat askew. Peter peered down into it and heard rustling. "Oh this is just not my day.." He jumped in.

Everything was black, not even enough light to see your hand in front of your face. He searched his waist for his small clip light and clicked it on. A thin cone of red light came into view illuminating nothing but tunnel ahead. Peter walked on taking a deep gulp of air and trying to breath through his nose as little as possible. It could certainly use a Glade plug-in or two down here..

Up ahead a shadow loomed. then several others scrambled to the same spot.

"This isn't going to be good.."

A spastic voice came from the shadows. "It's a bad one.. grab it! Take it to the leader." the shadows moved forward towards Spider-man.

"Awwww hell no." Peter flipped himself onto the roof of the pipe and skittered past the mob above their heads coming to a large open cave area. He shot a web to the ceiling and pulled himself up. The people swarmed around the ground below him.

"Get the bad one!"

"He's too high.."

"Can't reach.."

"Leader gonna be mad."

Peter raised an eyebrow. These guys were not dealing from a full deck, maybe not even a half deck. "Where's your leader? Tell me where he is?"

"Uh oh."

Prolly shouldn't."

"He'll get mad"

Okay, I've had about all I can take from these goons. Spidey raised his wrists and shot webbing around the group cocooning them together in a tight ball. "Now then." He flipped down to the ground to stare at the wiggling mass of people. Most of them looked malformed in some way, an ear too big, eyes sunken back, jawlines that didn't quite match up with their face. "Urrrgh.. umm nevermind. Geeze. I was gonna make a joke but just... geeze!" Spider-man took a moment to rub his forehead. "Look, where is your leader as you call him?"

"Promised not to tell.."

"Can't say.."

"Just go straight."

"Whoops."

Peter laughed under his breath and took the path straight from where he came in, sure enough there was another tunnel that led out into another cavern. He felt a huge rush of wind overhead as though something flew about the room. "Uh oh."

"Who dares to come here?!"

Peter froze. Oh god that sounds like.. "Morbius?"

A shape dropped down in front of him and landed on the cold wet ground with a reverberating noise. It towered over him. It is Morbius! Oh god and he's bigger than he was before. This is gonna be really really bad.

"You know my name?! Who are you?!" The vampire leaned forward in the dark studying him at the edge of Peter's light with his head cocked to the side in concentration.

Peter stepped back and motioned to the spider logo on his costume. "Just your friendly neighborhood Spider-man."

"YOU!" Morbius hissed and bared his teeth.

"Oh boy.. here comes the dance." Peter dodged the first swoop and the claw slash that came after it. "What happened to you?! I heard you were at Dr. Strange's place working on a cure which I'm assuming failed and now you're kidnapping homeless people?!"

"I've kidnapped no one! I need the blood or else I'll die! My friends bring me blood! Now though you made the choice easy I'll just take YOURS!" he paused with both of his arms at his sides, claws spread in anticipation.

"You don't sound like yourself. How about we both just stop this fight and we'll find you some help okay?" Peter ducked another claw swipe aimed squarely at his head. "Okay... I'm running out of patience here." He pulled back his arm to give Morbius a punch which landed on his jaw. It was decently effective making the vampire fall back a bit, but it hurt Peter's fist. FUCK! It's like punching bricks! Morbius was always a dangerous opponent to try and fight at close range.

Morbius growled. "There is no help for me! That's why I'm not with Strange or Richards or anyone! They can't help me!"

"Well you can't go kidnapping people and drinking their blood! You're being a monster. That what you've turned into Morbius? A monster? You know we aren't so different you and I but I don't go around kidnapping..!"

At that Michael's pupils contracted in rage. "We aren't so different?! WE AREN'T SO DIFFERENT?! Tell me because I can't see your face, do you appear human?! When you walk down the street do people run from you?!"

"Uuuummm..."

"And when you go home you can hold the ones you love without fear of hurting them?! Can you lay with a woman without endangering her!?"

"Whoah.. personal! Too personal!"

"Does the very sun sap your strength, and do you need to hold someone down kicking and screaming to take what you need to survive?! And sometimes, SOMETIMES do you keep holding them down draining them because you're starving and you've lost control and their heart gives that final contraction, that final second of life that you feel slip away!? Well do you you arrogant, self-centered, IMBECILE!?"

"I uhhh..."

Morbius stepped forward into the light with deadly intent and much to his surprise Peter was incapable of movement and stood frozen in fear. He was caught completely off guard by the vampire's rant.

"Enough." A hooded figure stepped from the shadows leaning on a cane. "He's partially mad you know. The vampirism may be affecting his mind."

Peter turned to Morbius being able to see the glassiness of his eyes in the glow. Definitely not normal. Though at least this was distracting Michael enough for the moment. "And who are you?"

"I was the leader of these people. They're not bad, just simple, we've been down here for generations. If they have done any evil it was only due to Morbius' influence."

Michael panicked. He wasn't crazy! At least he didn't feel any different. I feel the same as ever.. same as ever right? Of course. Crazy bah! Perfectly sane. "My friends only borrowed those they deemed bad from above to feed me. They'd never harm an innocent."

Peter groaned. "Oh please do you think I'd be down here in the oh so scenic sewers if only rapists and murderers disappeared?!"

"They told me! They promised!" He yelled the words but the questions were overtaking his mind. No easy answers were found.

The cloaked figure clicked his cane twice about the cement. "They don't understand. Here, ask them."

Shadows slowly shifted in from the edges of the room. They stood and watched the three men now standing in the center.

Michael glanced nervously about the room. "Keever are you here?"

"Yes I is here."

"Keever the people you brought me.. you said they were bad. what made you say this?"

"Cause they is bad."

"No no, what makes them bad."

"They live above."

"Is that all?"

"They wear bad clothes."

"Okay what about robbers and thieves?"

"They bad."

"And policemen?"

"They bad."

"And old ladies and puppies?"

"Them too."

The cloaked figure spoke up again. "They don't understand you. When you first came here you healed them and brought down food for them. They'd do anything to please you. When they learned that you needed blood.. well. They wanted to help. You've changed since then though, your mind is being affected and your influence is tainting these good people.."

"Oh god..." Morbius fell to his knees. "I'm not well am I? I.. need help."

Peter inched forward. "It's okay, we'll call someone. Just come with me for right now and..."

Michael's eye widened "NO NOT YOU! They trusted me.. I was trying to help. STAY BACK!" He seemed highly unstable, even the denizens hiding in the dark shrunk back in fear.

Peter put his hands in the air in front of him and stood still but Morbius rose to his feet with his fists clenched at his sides looking ready to murder if need be.

Peter whispered "You used to be a doctor... You healed the sick."

Morbius lost what little sanity he had punching the concrete ground with a loud growl. It shattered around his fist spraying small pebbles and bits up into the air to clatter as they fell. Peter found himself cursing his naivete at even coming down here alone but when Michael stood and next looked at him there was a newly found hint of compassion and recognition. He whispered into the darkness "What have I become?" and flew off into the shadows down the tunnel with a rush of wind.

"Dammit Morbius wait!" It was too late, he could never catch him down here. Morbius knew the tunnels and could see in the dark, he'd travel fast. Peter rubbed the back of his neck through his costume.

"Perhaps you should go. I can handle my people, they're confused but will be better with time."

Peter nodded and took his way back through the tunnel entrance. Once outside he took a moment to curse and punch the air in frustration. Inside his pocket he found his cell phone and dialed MJ.

"Peter, what do you want?"

"Hey MJ, I'm sorry about today. I just want to make some time for us okay? No hero stuff, no Daily Bugle, just you and me and that little Italian place you like tomorrow night?"

"You mean it Tiger?"

"I really do. I'll meet you at seven?"

"Sure, and hey sorry for going aggro on you earlier."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I love you."

"I love you too hot stuff." She giggled and hung up. Peter sat and listened to the tone for a moment before mumbling to himself. "Peter Parker you are one lucky bastard." He knew the truth, that Morbius and he were very much alike.