The Dream Nexus, Part I


On-board the Aven-Jet… (The Avengers & Maria Hill)…

Shortly before the heli-destroyer made impact with Island M, Maria Hill led the Avengers back to the landing site and evacuated the area, leaving with the Avengers & Storm via the Aven-Jet while Coulson led the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents through one of the transport carriers that was left behind during the initial assault.

In the air, they watched in horror as the heli-destroyer was violently torn apart, killing hundreds on-board, along with Avery. The destruction of the Marauder removed a powerful asset from the rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. faction.

"My god." Hill gasped, covering her mouth as she watched the remains of the Marauder rapidly descent below to the oceans.

"H-how?! It barely held back the island!" Falcon questioned, looking out the Aven-Jet's windows alongside Hill.

"Magneto." The Vision pointed out. "He tore apart the ship's structural integrity with his magnetic abilities."

"Then… that must mean… Phantom and his team failed." Hill was ready to conclude the worst outcome.

"No." The Vision shook his head, closing his eyes and connecting himself to the technological infrastructure that monitored the fortress.

"The Reaper betrayed Magneto, he killed him." Vision stated, with a faint tone of surprise.

"Reaper? W-why? Why would he kill off Magneto?" Scarlet Witch skeptically asked.

"I don't know." Hill looked back at the aftermath of the Marauder's destruction, debris having scattered about the entire island.

"I'll radio Camp Zero and see where the Tri-Carrier is." Black Widow said as she walked over to the communications terminal next to the pilot's seat where Captain America sat at the helm.

"What's the next plan here, Director Hill?" Storm inquired. "The Marauder is gone, the ground forces have been killed off, and our allies are still trapped in that fortress. We need to get them out of there."

"But, what about the Reaper? He's still alive, so long as he's still alive, he remains just as if not larger of a threat than Magneto posed."

"The island's is nearing the end of the stratosphere, Hill. We'll need oxygen tanks to breathe once that island reaches the mesosphere." Cap informed Hill from the pilot's chair.

"Magneto's dead, Director, and you can't afford to send the Tri-Carrier after Island M. The best option now is to get our friends out of there." Storm advised her.

Hill took a deep sigh. "Damn it, Fury, why can't you be here to make these decisions?"

"We still haven't heard back from Stark and Rhodes." Hawkeye notified her from the corner of the cockpit, twirling an arrow in his hand.

"I'm not picking up any readings from the War Machine suit." Cap glanced over to the status monitor for each of the Avengers. "The Iron Man suit is still functioning. Shit, what happened to Rhodes?"

"The Tri-Carrier is within range, Maria." Black Widow informed her, getting off the communicator. "We can have a transport on-standby to extract Spidey, Specter Haven, and the X-Men at a moment's notice."

(Sighs) "Okay. Let's get a transport up there and let's try making an attempt to raise Stark and Rhodes, see if they can make contact with Phantom and Spider-Man and get our guys out of there."

"On it." Black Widow nodded and turned to radio in the Tri-Carrier.

"God help us." Hill whispered to herself, looking at the fortress.


Les Echets chamber… (Spidey's POV)…

Whatever had caused the gigantic quake above ground started to cause the entire chamber to begin caving in. The steel panels were falling off and the concrete that held up the entire room was crumbling off and falling down.

"Les Echets, let's get out of here!" The tall mutate named Moros ordered the rest of the Echets allied to Magneto.

They obeyed, disengaging battle with their enemy Echets and scrambling towards the entrance to the chamber. Tombstone used his dark energy and caused the ceiling above the entrance to cave in behind them, trapping the heroes inside. The remaining Echets looked at each other in confusion, unsure of who to turn to for leadership, all while trying to avoid getting hit from concrete.

"Web-head, let's think of something!" Nova nervously shouted out, dodging slabs of concrete from falling on him.

Come on, web-head, think… think! Wait… the rift in the ceiling! Where Magneto escaped through! That's our only chance!

"The rift!" Spidey pointed at the light emanating through the hole that Magneto caused. "Everyone, I'm going to jump up to the surface beyond that rift and shoot down a strong string of web, hold on to it and we're going to pull you guys up!"

"Got it, web-head!" Nova gave the thumbs up.

I can't pull everyone up on my own, though…

"Nova, grab Powerman and fly him up there with me, I'll need his strength to pull everyone up!" Spidey ordered.

"Awwwww shit." Nova glanced at Powerman. "You better have cut down some weight!"

"Just fly, bucket-head!" Powerman grabbed hold of Nova's hands.

"Oof! Heavier than I expected!"

"Hang on, everyone!" Spidey called out as he web-shot himself upwards through the rift, jumping through and landing on the rumbling ground next to the rift.

Nova popped his head out, lifting Powerman and shoving him out on the ground.

"Cut some weight for Christ's sake, big guy!"

"Why don't you get some muscle on those puny arms, Nova!" Powerman snapped back.

I'll never tire of Luke and Sam's banter between each other, it's just gold.

"Alright Luke, get behind me. Nova, let the others know to get ready!"

"On it!" Nova flew back down the rift and shouted aloud to get everyone to the center of the chamber right below the rift.

Spidey shot out several strands of webbing and tied them together into one rope-thick strand, throwing it down into the chamber.

"Grab hold everybody and start climbing!"

"Come on, get up there guys!" Nova's voice was heard shouting at them.

It's nice to see Nova take charge like this! It's moments like these that lets me know the guy has got the potential to be a great freaking leader!

"The chamber's starting to cave in!" Wolfe suddenly cried out.

"Nova, is everyone on the rope?!"

Nova was too busy shouting for everyone to hurry up. Spidey felt the edge of the rift starting to crumble down.

"Nova! Is everyone on the rope or what?!"

"Pull the damn web, Spidey!" Tiger yelled at the top of her lungs.

Yes, dear…

"Pull!"

Spidey and Powerman pulled back as strong as they could. The edge caved in, so Spidey had to quickly back-step away from the growing rift as the chamber was fully caving in. He saw each of them as he pulled back, Les Echets, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Wolfe (Professor X holding onto his back), Fox, Iron Fist, Tiger, and Nova flying in right behind her as the chamber caved in for good, dust and smoke rising up from the rift. The smoke itself was Firewalker's smoky form, he dissipated into flesh after he was out.

Everyone was gasping for breath, their hearts racing. They had to take a few minutes to gather themselves now that there was a significant lack of oxygen at the altitude the island is at.

"Is everyone all right?" Maelstrom worriedly asked, getting up.

"That was a hell of a pickle we were almost crushed in." Nova commented, gathering himself. "Shit, good fast thinking there, webs. We almost freaking died back there!"

Thanks, Nova… it makes me feel better knowing that, I guess.

"Reflexes like that, you could be my spotter." Wolfe joked, patting the dirt off of him and wiping his rifle off with a cloth.

"In your dreams, Wolfe." Fox coolly added. "Good job, Spider-Man, but now let's figure out where to go from here…"

"We're here to help in any-way we can." One of the Echets assured them.

Ah yes, these guys.

"Speaking of which, I know what you guys are but… what are your names?" Spidey curiously asked.

"I'm Maelstrom."

"Flurry."

"Velocity, man… Magneto couldn't have given me a cheesier name."

"Meh, Kinetic."

"Geode."

"Mercury, a pleasure."

"Name's Permafrost."

"Firebird."

"Mmm…" Firewalker hummed, gawking at Firebird.

"I'm Aspect."

"Tectonic, at your service."

I'm pretty sure I've already heard of a superhero or two with one of their names… but meh, it's not their fault for any copyright infringement, who cares?!

"It's great to meet all of you guys. We really appreciate the help back there, whatever made you guys want to help us out, we couldn't' have pulled through without you." Spidey assured all of them.

"See? I told you they're the good guys!" Maelstrom happily stated to his counterparts.

Ha, I'd hope we're the good guys. It'd be a shitty story if we turn out to be the bad guys all along.

Ah, crap… now I've opened up the possibility of having fan theories about whether or not we're the good guys in this story.

"Yeah, yeah, now, where the hell is Phantom?" Wolfe began scanning the area around them.

From the look of it, they were somewhere on the fortress grounds, close to what seemed like a servant's entrance into presumably the kitchens.

"Can you find him, Wolfe?" Spidey politely asked.

"I'm sniffing." Wolfe stalked about, sniffing the air and using his heat-signature detection to try finding Phantom.

Literally, the man acts like a dog.

The X-Men had separated themselves from the group, Professor Xavier having buried his face in his hands. Spidey walked towards them to see if he was okay.

"Thanks for getting us out of there, Spider-Man." Cyclops thanked him.

"Don't mention it. But, is Professor X okay?"

"No. He's sobbing over Magneto." Wolverine coldly told him, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Reaper took his mind! Damn it, I… I couldn't save him in time!" Xavier wept.

"He might still be alive, Professor, there may be a way to save him yet!" Jean Grey tried to lighten his mood.

"Yeah, we helped bring Nova back from Reaper's control, we might be able to do that for him!" Spidey suggested. "…after we make sure he doesn't try to massacre all of us, of course."

"Pfft… he had it coming, I say." Wolverine grunted.

"Don't worry about us, we're just grateful to be alive after that ordeal. Let's just stay on the alert, we're not out of the woods yet." Cyclops assured Spidey, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Gotcha."

"Web-head, look!" Iron Fist grabbed his attention, pointing up to a flying object in the sky that looked like it had found them.

"What? Is that… Iron Man?" Spidey tried taking a closer look.

Indeed it is! Finally, an Avenger on our side!

Iron Man flew in carrying what appeared to be an unconscious Colonel Rhodes in his arms. He landed several feet from them, bending at the knees upon his landing. He looked up without a greeting and slowly approached them.

"Iron Man!" Spidey greeted him. "Is he okay?"

"Can it, kid." Iron Man snapped, softly placing Rhodes on the ground in front of them. "He's… he's dead."

Holy shit, War Machine's dead?!

"Oh my…" Mercury covered her mouth.

"Two of Magneto's mutants cornered us in the dungeons while we searched for the missing New Yorkers… Rhodey sacrificed himself to save my life from Lady Deathstrike." Stark took a deep sigh of regret. "It should've been me."

"Mr. Stark, do not say such things, it is not your fault." Iron Fist tried to console him.

Stark ignored him, looking up at the X-Men.

"Is this the kind of things we can expect from mutants?!" He shouted at them.

"Don't compare us to what Magneto does, Stark." Wolverine threateningly answered. "We're not Magneto and his evil mutants, we're on your side!"

"First Manhattan and now this!" Iron Man wasn't having it. "An Avenger is dead! No thanks to your kind!"

No, no, no, don't give in to your emotions, Tony! Calm down!

"This wasn't our fault!" Cyclops argued.

"But a mutant killed him! You! You're the cause of all this!"

"We didn't ask to be born with these powers, Mr. Stark, we just are! Mutants like Magneto defended himself because humanity mistreats us and discriminates against us! The X-Men, the mutants fighting against Magneto, aren't responsible!" Jean Grey defended them.

"Aragh!" Stark shut her out, looking back at Rhodes' dead body. "He paid the ultimate price…"

"Tony, I'm sorry." Spidey crouched down next to the Avenger, calmly placing a hand on the shoulder of his armor. "But, the X-Men aren't responsible. They want Magneto dead as much as you do. Don't let your judgment control your morals. If you attack them, then you're only proving Magneto right."

Iron Man sighed. "I know, kid."

"May he rest in peace amongst the spirits of the past, watching over us and protecting us." Iron Fist quietly said a prayer for Colonel Rhodes.

"Thanks." Stark approved of it, looking at Les Echets.

"Who are they?"

"Defectors from Magneto's mutants. They kind of didn't like the whole kill all of humanity idea so we took them in with us." Nova confidently stated.

"You sure they're not just trying to trick you guys?" Stark didn't seem convinced.

"Positive." Fox spoke out. "What I've seen of their futures… betrayal against us isn't in their timeline."

"I'll take your word on it, specter."

"I found him." Wolfe finally picked up a scent. "I'll be back!"

Wolfe began scaling up the fortress walls by grabbing small cracked edges with his sharp claws and pulling himself up, disappearing into thin air.

"I assume he found Phantom, then?" Iron Man stood up from his crouched position.

"I guess so!"

I hope so! We still got Reaper to kill and Selena to save!


Fortress roofs… (Phantom's POV)…

After witnessing the spectacle of the Marauder's destruction and Magneto's death, Phantom recovered and began making his way towards the interior of the fortress. He looked up in the sky and could practically see the stars and space. He took careful breaths, realizing now that there was a greater lack of oxygen by the second.

Blasted damnation… soon enough, it'll be impossible to breathe.

With time running out, he had to locate the others and locate Reaper's laboratory so that he can finally stop him. He tried to tap into his mental connection with Selena to locate her.

Channeling the connection, he saw images of a large lab, remembering that he had seen them before in the vision that Reaper had given him days earlier. She was strapped into a machine similar to the one that he was strapped into during Project Vitruvian. His heart raced… but at long last, he was able to find the source.

No, I can't let him complete the experiment! Whatever happens, I need to stop him and save Selena!

He turned to find the tallest tower in the fortress. He could see the glass ceiling that opened out at the roof of the tower. That's where Reaper's laboratory was.

Suddenly, he heard rustling near him. He disappeared and waited for the attacker to reveal himself.

What the hell?

Wolfe reappeared. "I see you, Phantom! It's okay, it's just me!"

"Wolfe." Phantom reappeared. "Thank god, you guys made it out?"

"Just barely. Where's Magneto?"

"Dead."

"Well hot damn, that's the best news I've heard all day!"

"It's not over yet." Phantom stopped him short. "Where are the others?"

"Follow me."

Wolfe led Phantom through the fortress roofs, finally nearing the edge of the grounds towards a service entrance. The hunter leapt off the roof and down to the ground, where Phantom saw that everyone else had grouped up.

"Phantom!" Spidey greeted him first. "Man, am I glad to see you're still alive. Then, again, I'm not sure if anything can kill you."

Not sure either, Spider-Man. However, after what we witnessed in Chicago, I think I found a vulnerability where I can actually be killed.

"I'm glad to see you all alive." Phantom nodded at everyone.

"Phantom, these are defectors from Magneto's…" Spidey was beginning to introduce them.

"I know who they are. I thank you all for your help."

He had already read the minds of Les Echets, dynamically learning their names and intentions based off of what the web-head was thinking and what everyone else was thinking.

Les Echets, the 'failures'. They're definitely not what I had expected. However, neither did I know that Magneto had experimented on more than just the Athena-Class mutates.

Phantom looked down and saw Colonel Rhodes' dead body on the ground in front of Stark, he already read what had happened, biting his lip.

War Machine… Shit. An Avenger is dead. This will not bode well when the rest of them find out.

"I'm sorry, Stark." Phantom solemnly gave his condolences.

"He died a hero, Phantom."

"I know." Phantom kneeled down and placed his hand on Rhodes' forehead.

"Until Valhalla, brother."

"Phantom." Xavier wheeled forward, his eyes red and irritated. "Please, tell me what's become of Eric?"

Of course, I waited for him to speak up.

Phantom stood back up and looked at the devastated mutant. He could sense Xavier trying to read his thoughts.

"I'm sorry, professor. After Reaper had taken hold of his mind, he forced the mutant to destroy the Marauder… and then he killed him shortly after."

"No…" Xavier bit his lip. "You're…You're lying…"

Why in the world would I lie about that? I cared nothing for Magneto, I really didn't. But, I probably would've felt better if his death came at my hands, and not Reaper's.

"The Marauder was destroyed?" Stark didn't sound so surprised. "So that's where the quake came from."

"I saw the Reaper kill him myself. There was nothing I could do."

"You could've stopped him!" Xavier yelled at him, tears in his eyes.

"Professor, calm down!" Wolverine tried to hold him back.

I could've, but even if I had the opportunity, I wouldn't have done it. Magneto was honest to God, too dangerous to keep alive. I stand by that… even if his actions were heavily influenced by Reaper.

"I… I'm sorry." Xavier sighed. "I just… I've spent my entire career trying to make peace with him. He and I agreed on everything except the way humanity treated us… Magneto was a good man… corrupted by the actions of the Reaper."

"Then let God judge him now." Phantom stamped.

Just then, Stark received a transmission from Hill. She informed them that they were able to escape Island M and that the Tri-Carrier was slowly following the island upwards. They were sending in transports to evacuate them from the island.

"Hill, are you insane?!" Stark shouted at her. "Don't you let that ship get any higher! It wasn't fitted for space-travel!"

"We know what we're doing, Tony! We have engineers on this ship too!" Hill argued.

"You better hope those amateurs know what they're doing then! Otherwise, you'll all blow up in a nuclear reaction failure!"

"You'd think they would stop using nuclear energy to power up helicarriers after what happened in Manhattan." Spidey murmured.

Heh, I agree.

"I'm not leaving this island without my daughter." Phantom spoke out to Hill. "You all can evacuate, get to safety. This is my fight. I only ask that one of the transports wait long enough to carry Selena back home."

"Phantom, we can't allow you to do that!" Hill argued over the communicator.

"If Reaper falls here then the threat will be eliminated, Hill." Phantom assured her. "I won't abandon my daughter. You'll have to kill me to stop me."

"Phantom…"

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, Hill!" Phantom turned to everyone else. "This is my fight and my fight alone."

I won't let any of the others risk their lives for this. The humans on this island are already dead. Killed by the hands of Magneto and Reaper. I won't let another innocent die because of them.

"No, Phantom." Spidey stepped forward. "We're not going to let you do this on your own."

"I told you to stop being a hero, kid."

"And I told you to stop being so stubborn!" Spidey yelled back. "I'll stay behind to help you save your daughter!"

Stubborn kid.

Spidey walked around to stand next to Phantom, facing the others.

"You better count me in. I'm not going to let that creep even touch Selena!" Powerman vouched, stepping up and standing next to him.

"We're with you 'til the end, Phantom. You know that." Tiger joined in.

"Agreed. We began in New York, and if this is the end, then we shall see it through, together." Iron Fist joined in.

(Sighs) "And here I wanted to grow up, become an adult, maybe go to college, find a nice lady, get married, and have a few kids. But nooooooo, I've got to be the superhero!" Nova complained.

"Nova!" Spidey, Tiger, Powerman, and Iron Fist all said in-sync.

"Yeah, yeah, you already know the crew isn't complete without me!" Nova gave a faint grin, joining in with the team. "Let's squash the Reaper."

Wolfe heartily chuckled, joining in. "Hell fucking yeah, I'm in! That bastard deserves a round between his eyes, too! I wouldn't miss a chance to do that for the world!"

Firewalker ignited, floating over to join them. "You guys really think ya'll can go on the glory without me? I'm with you, Phantom-man!"

Fox then slowly approached Phantom, stopping right in front of him.

Fox… No, I can't possibly ask her to do this. She's done enough…

"I can't ask you to help me any more than what you've already done, Fox. I thank you so much for…"

Fox placed a finger to where his mouth would be on his mask.

I've never let anyone shush me like that before…

"Now, what kind of a selfish woman would I be if I didn't help you in this, Phantom?"

"I…"

"You recruited me for a reason, didn't you? You formed up Specter Haven for a reason. That reason is here and now. I don't know what future lies in store, for either you or me. But…"

"What?"

"I honestly don't want to go on unless you're there." Fox softly told him. "I found the phantom that was always there, in my dreams. Now, I'm compelled to help him in this mad journey."

I… I wouldn't want to go on without her either…She's… she's one of a kind.

This definitely lifted up Phantom's spirits. "Thank you, White Fox."

"Thank you, Phantom." She joined in on his side.

All that was left were the X-Men, Les Echets, and Iron Man.

"We'll help in whatever way we can." Maelstrom offered.

"No." Phantom held up his hand. "Reaper will, without a doubt, attempt to take hold of our minds in that lab. I think by keeping our numbers to a minimum, we'll be better prepared in-case Reaper decides to control some of us."

Those mutates are powerful enough on their own. If Reaper takes a hold of even one of their minds, it could devastate us in an instant.

"Good idea." Wolverine agreed. "Although, the X-Men are ready to…"

"It's all right, Wolverine." Phantom stopped him too. "Magneto is dead, and so now I won't obligate the X-Men to help me further. Reaper is our enemy."

"We can't let you do this alone." Cyclops argued.

"I know. I thank you. But, this is our fight." Phantom approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, glancing at Xavier, whose silence defined his state of mind.

"Professor." Phantom crouched down so that their faces were leveled. "Please, don't let Magneto's ruin what you've done for the mutants of the world. Let it strengthen your resolve. Continue to fight civilly for the rights of mutants. Whatever comes next, I promise you, Director Hill and the rest of this rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. will be there to defend you. I can vouch for them."

"Thank you, Phantom." Xavier seemed touched by his words. "I'll… I'll do my best."

He then turned to Iron Man.

"I'd join you in the fight if my suit wasn't in near-damaged state. I'd be more of a liability. I can't be deadweight to you guys." Stark solemnly informed him.

"I understand, Stark." Phantom nodded. "Make sure these guys aren't attacked when they reach the Tri-Carrier. Inform Hill that they're with me now. They're… new members of Specter Haven."

He referred to Les Echets.

"We can't even disappear like you guys can, though." Flurry pointed out.

"You don't need to disappear or reappear to be in Specter Haven." Firewalker answered. "Look at me, I just turn into fire and smoke."

"We'll give you a home and a purpose, if you would have us." Phantom offered to them.

They all looked at each other and happily nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure they're good." Iron Man assured him. "I'll also make sure they have one last transport on standby to pick-up your daughter."

"Thank you, that's all I can hope for."

"You know, I'll admit. I didn't expect this to happen after our first encounter in Manhattan." Stark chuckled, quickly reminiscing on the past.

"I didn't either." Phantom returned the courtesy. "When you guys find Fury, let him know… he was right."

"About what?"

"About everything."

"I'll pass the message along." Stark nodded.

"Alright." Hill was still on the transmission. "I'll send the transports now. Stark, I'll pinpoint the extraction point on your map, make sure you're there ASAP… Godspeed to the rest of you."

"Don't let Fury down, Hill." Phantom said his farewell.

With that, the X-Men and Les Echets left the fortress grounds led by Iron Man. Stark carried his fallen Avenger in his arms as they made their way through the bloody courtyard and out towards the extraction point.

Phantom took a deep breath, glancing at who remained at his side.

I'm honored to have found such allies… no… friends, who would stick through this final fight with me. I don't know if we'll make it out alive, and although I would prefer they stay out of this fight, I'm humbled that they would do this… for me… for Selena… for the safety and security of the rest of mankind.

Let's end this story, let's stop the Reaper.

"Let's do this." Phantom beckoned them.

They walked through the service entrance and by following the source of the mental connection he had with Selena, Phantom traversed the fortress' upper levels, leading the team closer to Reaper's laboratory.


Reaper's Laboratory… (Spidey's POV)…

The heroes reached the doors to Reaper's lab on the tallest tower of the fortress. As they had ran through the fortress, they could feel their lungs tightening, as the fortress was almost out of the stratosphere. Once ready, Phantom and Wolfe slammed the doors open.

Phantom withdrew his sword, Wolfe his rifle, Fox her katanas, and Firewalker ignited into his fiery form.

Spidey web-swung up to the wall parallel to the door, Powerman and Iron Fist readied their fists, Nova flying up and readying his energy attacks, and White Tiger turning on her electric claws and ready to pounce.

The laboratory was immense, like a giant observatory with the glass-panned ceiling looking out into the stars and space. In the middle of the lab were two giant steel casings with Selena and a black-haired teenage boy were strapped down, unable to move.

Holy moly! It looks like Reaper really is trying to re-create the same project that created Phantom! But with… Selena?! Who's that other guy?!

"Daddy!" Selena cried out.

"Selena!" Phantom rushed in on emotion and sprinted towards her.

Right before he reached her, Reaper appeared out of thin air, and slamming Phantom backwards using a red-electrical blast from his right bracer. Phantom was shoved backwards back to where the others stood.

I knew it! Sneaky, sneaky Reaper!

"Tsk, tsk, still being emotionally motivated, eh, Phantom?" Reaper chuckled. "Welcome, my dear friends, welcome to my grand laboratory."

Why do bad guys always do that? "Welcome, my friends." Uhm, we're here to stop you dude, let's cut the chit-chat and get to rumbling, already!

"Let her go, Reaper! This is between you and me, leave my daughter out of this!"

"Ah, right you are, Phantom! This is between you and me, but I never said that I would play fairly in this perpetual battlefield you and I fight."

"You bastard…" Wolfe grunted, aiming down on his rifle.

"Ah, watch your tone, Wolfe. Spare us the behavior of an alcoholic in these proceedings." Reaper hushed him.

"Tell us, freak. Why, Why are you doing this? What do you gain from all this?" Firewalker questioned.

Well, Nova and I both know the answer to that question.

"I'm not usually one to spoil the details of a project, but…" Reaper paced around, stopping at a desk. "I ask each of you to answer a question for me."

Everyone looked at each other, in confusion.

It's going to be something whacked out and crazy like "What's the computation of Pi? If you do not answer, your friends will die!" or "What is the answer to life, the universe, everything?"

and I don't think he'll laugh if we say "42".

"Imagine you lived your life being judged by everyone for what you became, for a set of powers you came to inherit by some freak accident, and you're actively discriminated against because of what you can do. You mean no harm to them, all you meant to do was live a normal life, even with the side effects of what you've become.

"But, your personal life is affected. Your spouse, your children, all judge you for what you are… using terms like 'abomination' to describe you to others. With no emotional support from anyone, what do you expect to do? Reason with the people who judge you? Or start telling yourself that maybe they're right, maybe you're a mistake waiting to be erased?

"Then comes an entity, a mutant, who understands your pain, who understands the struggle you're enduring, and gives you an alternative lifestyle? You end up falling in love with a species outside your own. You, a mutate, living amongst mutants who accept you for who you are, despite what the rest of humanity thought.

"You strive to protect mutants, lookout for mutants, fighting for their rights to vote, to marry, to coexist with humanity. But, as the false idea of diplomacy fails, you become hunted by these humans. They send massive Sentinels to destroy your world. So, you evacuate all of mutant-kind to a safer place, a haven called Genosha.

"There, you live in a mutant utopia, away from the eyes of humans. You live in harmony… or so you thought. You watch your home be burned down by hordes of humans. They rape, they pillage, and they devastate your home. And in a last minute decision out of desperation, you're given tools to help you travel back in time and correct the wrongs so that the future can play along to your advantage.

"I ask you all, given that situation… Would you have done the same as I? Changed the past so that the future plays out differently?" Reaper curiously asked.

Hahaaa, Nova and I already saw this happen. Good re-cap, though.

"So that is what happened." Iron Fist better understood it now. "All of this is revenge for what happened to you."

"Precisely, Mister Rand. All for revenge."

"That gives you no right to be committing all these atrocities. Whatever happened in your future is done, it's over with. You returning to the past has only wiped the future clean. The people you witness die might still be alive today." Fox spoke out against him. "Instead of being the harbinger of death for humanity, you can improve on the points diplomacy failed in, strengthen the relationship between humans and mutants."

"Ah, my dear and beautiful Fox, Project Chronos… the most important specter of all. Always the voice of reason. Beautiful as always." Reaper smiled beneath his mask. "You're right, I could've done all that, and much more. But, I've seen too much, have seen too many of my beloved friends die… and I'll do everything in my power to avenge them in the past, so that their children and their grandchildren will never have to feel judged or discriminated by a species that judges one another for their satisfaction."

"Then why are you doing this to my daughter? Selena? She's done nothing to you, she doesn't deserve to be put through this." Phantom tried to appeal to Reaper once more.

"As I've mentioned before, Phantom. You and I share much more in common than you believe. Perhaps this Selena didn't do anything to me… but the Selena I knew judged me, forced me out of the house. After all I did for them…"

You were a turd to your family, that's all you did for them.

"What is it that you're planning to do, exactly?" Powerman questioned.

"Project Vitruvian, Part 2." Reaper chuckled. "With the combined formula of the entire Athena strand of genetic material, I believe I've found the perfect mixture. Along with the infused power of the Infinity Gems of Time and Power… these creations will be unstoppable. They will be my children… the Masters of Time… they'll help me right the wrongs committed in my future… and we'll transform all of humanity into mutates… so that the next generation will be mutants… no more dying, no more sorrow."

Masters of Time? What kind of sick, twisted, and hallucinogenic drug is Reaper on?

"You're insane, dude." Nova shook his head.

"But first, I'd like to introduce to you all something I've been practicing for a while. No worry, nobody will be hurt, I give you my word."

Practicing? If he starts showing us card tricks or pulling a rabbit out of his hood, I'm walking out of here.

"Like it means anything." Wolfe angrily murmured.

Reaper slowly approached them, examining each of them, the faint screams of his screaming effect prevalent in the ambience.

"Wolfe… Bruce Melle, a man who's one in the same with the environment around him, a master with the sniper rifle." Reaper seemed to be introducing each one of them, starting with Wolfe.

"You miss your wife and daughter, don't you? You miss Diana's little laugh, her smile, every time she ran to you as you came home from another hunt. You once told your wife that you had felt that you've done so much wrong in this world, so much hurt and pain, that the only thing you must've done right was fathering Diana. Your pride and joy."

"You… You leave them out of this!" Wolfe's voice went hoarse. Phantom glanced over and saw that the hunter's eyes glistened.

"If you could have them back again, trade in this life for them, would you do it?" Reaper curiously asked.

"They're dead!" Wolfe barked. "They're dead and they're never coming back! So don't you think for a second that you can trick me!"

Oh boy, I see what he's doing here… Actually, I don't… but he's up to something! Mark my words!

"Just as I thought." Reaper moved to Firewalker.

"Firewalker… Drake Ashbell, the young man who had the whole world even with so little in the middle of an urban neighborhood. Your mother took great care of you, even after your father left your mother. She nurtured you to be of a good and kind spirit, always sticking out for others, always doing the right thing first. You'd do anything to have your mother back in your life, wouldn't you? So that you could laugh with her and receive life advice from her, just like old times. If you could have that life back, would you take it?"

Firewalker hesitated. "I've moved on, freak. My momma is walking with God, now. She knows she lived a good life… I know what I gotta do to honor her."

"Hmph… 'God'… what a laughable concept." Reaper moved to Fox.

He's… he's gathering information about us… he's reading our minds RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!

"White Fox…. Carmen Salvador, a beauty in the eyes of every young man who ever laid eyes on her, a woman who held her forbidden fruit, her purity of virginity, to her until she met the love of her life. Until his betrayal, he gave you everything you ever wanted in a man. He gave you love, he made you smile, laugh, and made you feel like the luckiest girl in the world. You loved him, very much. If you could be with him again, and he never come to betray you again, would you accept that?"

Fox bit her lip. "Nothing in this world will ever give me the strength to forgive his betrayal. The things they did to me… in my experiment… nothing will ever wash that away."

"Pity." Reaper moved onto Powerman.

I'm telling you, Fox, get a room with Phantom and I can almost guarantee you'll get all that and much more from that guy. You're both practically itching for romance.

"Powerman… Luke Cage, debatably the strongest young superhero in your little gang administrated by S.H.I.E.L.D. Yet, you wish for more, don't you? You wish to be better than what you are, because you fear failing those around you, you fear failing your friends and never being accepted by those around you. You want a chance to prove yourself to the people who think low of you, don't you? But most of all, you want a chance to impress Selena, you fancy her, after all… Would you accept that life if offered?"

"I have friends who assure me each and every day that I'll never fail them. I do my best to make sure of that... And… as far as Selena goes… that's something for her to decide." Luke sighed, glancing over to Selena.

"I see." Reaper moved to Iron Fist.

Poor guy…

"Iron Fist… Danny Rand, the Champion of Eternal K'un-Lun, City of the Immortals. You were granted the great responsibility of the Iron Fists but you bear a great burden in doing so. You fear that you will never live up to the honor that befits a hero of the Iron Fists, so you meditate every day to ensure your soul doesn't stray far from your teachings… but no matter what you do, you always find flaw because you are not in K'un-Lun, where you belong. Would you give this all up to return to the City of the Immortals, Danny? Serve as the Champion as you so rightly are?"

"My place is amongst my friends, Spider-Man, White Tiger, Powerman, and Nova. As Champion, I will one day be called back to K'un-Lun, I know this… but my teachings have taught me to help others when others need help… and right now, my friends need me… even Lei Kung would understand that." Iron Fist confidently told him.

"Hmm…" Reaper moved on to Nova.

Stick it to him, Iron Fist! Fortune-cookie warrior of K'un-Lun!

"I needn't even ask. I already know." Reaper shook his head, moving on to White Tiger.

"What the f—?" Nova couldn't understand why he was skipped, then realized because he was already under Reaper's control once.

I almost laughed at that. Nova looked offended, as though he wasn't good enough to be asked a question.

"White Tiger… Ava Ayala, protector of the Jade Tiger Amulet. Your reputation is preceded only by title, the title your father, Hector Ayala, passed onto you. Since then, keeping the tiger in-check has been a burden to you, hasn't it? You wish for a life where you lived it normally as a teenager, who could go out and have fun, enjoy yourself for the riches of youth. If only your father was still here… would you give it all up … just to have your father back?"

"Would I give this all up?" Tiger glanced at Spidey. "Never… never in a million years."

"Hmm… interesting…" Reaper moved on to Spidey last.

I'd hope not. Not after everything she and I have been through.

"Spider-Man… Peter Parker, the amazing web-slinger from Manhattan. All through being Spider-Man, like White Tiger, you never quite lived the normal life you wanted… but as your Uncle Ben once said, 'with great power, comes great responsibility'. You failed him when it mattered the most, you let your Uncle Ben die, and you used revenge as justification for your mistake. Would you give up being Spider-Man… to have Uncle Ben back and you live a normal life?"

"What do you think, Reaper? I'd never give up what I have now." Spidey inched closer and whispered, "Do you know how much of a loser geek I was before Spider-Man?"

"Hmm… I never thought of that." Reaper walked back towards the steel casings.

Of course you didn't…

"You forgot to ask me." Phantom spoke out.

"I didn't. I already know what you desire the most."

"Desire? Wait, what?" Spidey questioned.

Suddenly, they heard a rustling on the floor in the laboratory. A white hooded figure stood up, holding his head as though it was throbbing. It was Taskmaster.

"Taskmaster?!" Phantom cried out.

Damn, not only is he a favorite villain amongst most people but damn, this guy literally pops-up when you least expect it. He's like a zit that just won't go away!

Taskmaster regained his senses, seeing what was going on. "All of you, run! He's going to-…"

Reaper slammed him backwards onto the wall with an electrical charge, returning his attention to the rest of them.

"Sleep, my dear friends…" Reaper smiled as he flicked his fingers and a white mist began to spread from the vents around the laboratory.

Poison gas! We're all going to die!

"Crap, crap, what is this?!" Nova tried to avoid it but was caught in the mist.

Everyone inhaled it and slowly began dropping down into deep sleep. Spidey was the last one to remain standing as everyone else lied around him, unconscious.

No, I won't… I won't let it control me!

"Rest, Spider-Man." Reaper slowly approached him. "All of your troubles will come to an end."

The web-slinger dropped to his knees, struggling to fight the mist, before succumbing to the chemical reaction, and blacking out into nothing.

Damn it!


First Dream-Sequence: Peter Parker (Spidey's POV)…

"Peter! Peter, wake up!" A faint female voice called out from behind a closed door. "Peter, don't make me come in there to get you up, it's time for school!"

Argh, must've overslept past my alarm clock again… Damn it.

Peter slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was still in bed. He quickly shot up and sat up on his bed.

"I'm up, Aunt May!" Peter called back. "I'll be down in a minute!"

I swear, I'll never be able to wake up on-time. All that late night studying for those finals, man… that'll get ya.

Peter walked over to his closet and pulled out what he was going to wear for the day.

Jeans, blue collared shirt, white undershirt, and some stylish sneakers? Sounds good!

He pulled them out and quickly changed into them, making a quick run to the bathroom to style his hair.

Grabbing his one-strapped backpack, he took a quick look at his smartphone. He had already gotten a "Good morning, babe!" text from Ava.

Ah, that's a lot of kissy faces in one text. "Hey sexy. Ill pick u up in 30 mins, k?"

Pete sent the text and ran downstairs. Aunt May was already placing his plate of pancakes, eggs, and bacon on the table while Uncle Ben was busy trying to fix something inside the oven.

"Morning Aunt May, Uncle Ben!" Peter smiled at them.

"Good morning, Peter! Here, hurry up and eat your breakfast so you can get moving to pick up Ava and head out to school."

Yummy, her breakfasts are always so good!

"You know I'll be on-time, Aunt May, no need to rush." Peter assured her with a smile.

"Morning, Pete!" Uncle Ben greeted, standing back up from looking inside the oven.

He wore an orange collared shirt and regular work-jeans, his brown eyes very prevalent behind his glasses, which only added to how aged he looked.

"Your Aunt here seems to have broken something inside here. If I can't get it fixed by this evening, we might not be able to have her meat loaf."

Bummer, oh well! We can just take a trip and eat out somewhere instead!

"That sucks, Uncle Ben, I hope you can fix it."

"Me too, kid." Uncle Ben grabbed a toolbox that was at his feet. "How's your studying been going?"

"Eh… It's been all right… I think!" Peter stumbled.

I thinkI studied some last night, I'm pretty sure I did!

I must've studied pretty hard.

"Well, don't study too hard. You've got to get your sleep."

Easier said than done, especially with all those late nights at Ava's.

Wolfing down his food, Peter glanced over to the television, where J.J. Jameson, news anchor for Daily Bugle Communications, was reporting a crime wave that was recently infesting NYC. He stated that with budget cuts to the police department, enforcing the law will be a lot more stringent in the coming months.

"…vigilante justice is expected to follow." Jameson finished his report.

"That sucks." Peter finished his food, gulping down his orange juice.

Well, better get the bat-signal to start working out here, then. Or start putting money to the police again!

"Damn shame what's been going on." Uncle Ben commented, sipping a mug of coffee and watching the television screen.

"It's just the way things are, Uncle Ben."

"This city needs heroes, Pete. There's enough evil in this world, we shouldn't have to be fighting enemies on the home-front."

I guess he's right. But what the heck does he want? Masked superheroes running around and saving the city from evil? C'mon, give me a break. Nobody can keep their secret identities with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram dominating society these days.

Speaking of which… let me check my phone.

"Go get your teeth brushed and get on out of here, Pete!" Aunt May picked up his empty plate and glass.

"Thanks, Aunt May!" Peter ran back up and did so, running back down.

"Catch you guys later!" Peter said as he ran out of the door and to his car.

On the road to Ava's house, he made a stop at a stop light. On the corner of the street, he saw a teenager get pulled into an alleyway by two thugs. He could hear them threatening to beat the life out of him if he didn't give them his wallet. The young teenage boy had no choice but to give it to them… they still beat him up anyway.

I better look away before they go after my car and beat me up too!

As he reached Ava's house, she was already waiting for him on the steps. She looked lovely as ever, wearing a short white long-sleeve dress with black flats, her make-up beautifully done, and her smile vibrant as he pulled in.

"Hey, morning babe!" Ava happily greeted him, opening up the passenger door and sliding her tanned, beautifully toned legs in first.

Mmm… thank god for summer.

She sat down and kissed Pete right on the lips.

"Hey kitten!"

Peter pulled out of the driveway and started to drive en-route to Midtown High.

"So, how did you sleep?" She curiously asked.

"Eh, okay, I guess. Overslept again."

"Again? Petey, you need to wake-up when it goes off, not 15 minutes later."

I know that! Maybe I just need a new alarm clock then, maybe start putting my alarms on my smartphone.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I was just up all night studying for this chemistry final...I think."

Or was it psychology? Shit, what the hell happened last night?

"Leave time for yourself at the end of the night, Petey."

"You mean the nights when I don't sneak over to your place when your father's working?"

Heheh, she knows what I mean.

"Yes, Pete." Ava smiled. "Speaking of which, he didn't look so good this morning."

"What time did he come back from work last night?"

"I fell asleep before he did so I didn't notice." Ava shrugged. "He was asleep on the couch this morning before I left. He looked like he was out all night."

"What does he do again?" Peter curiously asked.

"Something to do with working at the zoo. I think he looks after the White Tiger exhibit during off-hours or something. He never tells me."

"Gotcha."

"Soooo… you want to sneak over again tonight?" Ava placed her hand on his thigh.

Damn… If we didn't have to go to school…

"I would love to." Peter smiled.

They finally reached Midtown High and Peter parked in the student parking lot, helping Ava out of the car and locking it. They both walked towards the entrance, through the busy hallways and at their first period classroom, where they sat next to each other.

"Hey buddy!" Peter heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Harry, what's up bud?!" Peter shook hands with his best friend, Harry Osborn.

Ah, Harry Osborn! My good rich-guy friend who doesn't judge me or the price of my car!

"Oh, you know, helping my father out at the company, managing contracts… all the things a rich guy's kid would be doing. I had to negotiate four contracts yesterday, actually." Harry condescendingly stated.

"Sounds pretty cool, what kind of companies were they for?"

"Well, stormin' Norman is investing in a company called G. Goblin, supposed to be dealing with military-grade chemicals or something like that."

Goblin? What a weird name for a company. G. Goblin? Ha, kinda like… Green Goblin? Green Goblin… where have I heard that before?

Meh… must be the name of some video game boss or something.

"Sounds spooky." Peter's eyes widened.

"Tell me about it." Harry laughed.

"Babe, watch my purse real quick." Ava placed her hand on Pete's shoulder. "I need to run to the bathroom real quick."

"Sure." Peter nodded, watching her suggestively as she walked out of the classroom.

Man, do I love seeing her walk away…

"So uh… how many months is it now?" Harry inquired.

"Geez, it's been… gosh, how many months now?"

Harry chuckled. "You don't know?"

"I swear, I know it."

"Uh-huh." Harry shook his head chuckling.

Jeez… what an episode of amnesia today.

Glancing over to her purse, he noticed a green gem-necklace that was shining beneath the sun that was hitting it from the windows. He took a closer look at it. It looked more like an amulet than anything. It had the shape of a tiger on it.

"A tiger?" Peter asked himself.

A… jade amulet? Jade… Jade…

Jade Tiger Amulet?

Where have I seen this before?

"Alright, class…" the teacher stalked into the classroom.

He was a tall, black-suited, white-haired man with a white tie above a black dress shirt. He looked awfully familiar.

"I'm your substitute teacher today, Mr. Eisenhardt." The man informed the class.

Eisenhardt? Why does he look familiar?

Ava shortly returned, speed-walking back to her seat. As she sat back down, the jade amulet seemed to suddenly disappear from where it was. Peter quickly noticed this.

"Ava, what was that amulet you had on your purse?" Peter whispered.

"What amulet, Pete?"

"The one on your purse?"

Ava looked at her purse and opened it. There was nothing there.

"I thought there was something there."

"Uh…Are you okay, Pete?"

"I'm…fine…"

What the hell…?

After taking roll call, Mr. Eisenhardt started the class. "Alright, class, today we'll be covering the working mechanics behind magnets, and how they affect the balance in nature."

Magnets?

"Umm… Mr. Eisenhardt?" Peter quickly raised his hands.

The substitute teacher scowled at him with his piercing blue eyes.

"Yes?"

"I don't think that was the subject of what we were learning in class yesterday."

"Oh?" Mr. Eisenhardt crossed his arms. "And what were you learning in class yesterday, Mr. Parker?"

"We were learning about… Umm…"

Crap, what were we learning about yesterday?

What the hell? Why can't I remember anything about yesterday?!

Or anything at all for that matter?!

"Uh…"

"Mr. Parker?" Eisenhardt repeated himself.

I… I can't remember. I can't remember anything… why?

"Nothing, forget I said anything."

Mr. Eisenhardt rolled his eyes as he returned to the board and began drawing out magnets with the chalk in his hand.

"Peter, what the hell?" Ava whispered to him. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah…" Peter slowly shook his head. "I'll… I'll be right back."

I need to clear my head, man.

He shot his hand up. "Mr. Eisenhardt, I need to use the restroom."

"Restroom? We just started class!"

"I can't hold my own piss, what can I say?" Peter wisecracked.

Eisenhardt sighed. "Go."

Peter walked down the empty hallway, trying to shake the suspicion that he couldn't remember anything off of him.

Damn it, Peter. What the hell's wrong with you? Maybe you drank too many energy drinks last night? Maybe all that late night studying fried your brain?

He entered the men's room and splashed his face with some water from the sink, trying to wake himself up.

"There's something up." He concluded. "This must be a new high that energy drinks give off."

"It ain't the drinks, buddy!" A voice spoke from around the corner.

Whoa!

This startled Peter, seeing a yellow janitorial bucket approach him. Holding the mop that slopped into the bucket was none other than the school custodian, Stan.

Ah, Stan the Man. He's probably here to kick me out so that he can clean up the stalls.

"Stan! Whoa, man, you scared the crap out of me!" Peter held his chest, feeling his heartbeat.

Stan chuckled. "I do that sometimes, kid! I can see you're having some sort of a crisis!"

"Something like that."

"Aye, well… we've not much time before he gets ya, kid. We've got to hurry." Stan looked around the bathroom, ensuring nobody was listening.

"Wait, what?!"

He gets me? We've got to hurry? This is a bad joke!

"Listen, kid. The reason why you're having trouble remembering is because you're dreaming. This is all a dream, Spidey!"

A d-dream? But… how?

How can this all possibly be a dream?

"Spidey? What the hell? What is that?" Peter stepped back. "Stan, if this is a joke."

"Stop being stubborn, web-head, and think! Put the puzzle pieces together! Norman Osborn's G. Goblin investments? Green Goblin? One of your most dangerous enemies! White Tiger's Jade Tiger Amulet? What gives her the power of the Tiger? Mr. Eisenhardt, none other than Magneto himself! Please tell me you see this!"

"Wait…" Peter finally came to the realization.

Green Goblin… He's… he's Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn's dad became the Green Goblin!

White Tiger… Ava Ayala is White Tiger's secret identity, she guards the Jade Tiger Amulet!

Magneto… We've… we JUST fought him! With… with Phantom and Specter Haven!

Holy hell…

Reaper's got us trapped in our own dreams!

Wait… all this is a dream?!

Damn it! Life was actually going good there for a moment! I was… normal!

And Ava?! Damn, I know I have Ava in real life but I have Ava as a normal guy!

Shit.

"Oh, thank the cosmos!" Stan took a sigh of relief, having read Spidey's mind. "I was worried you wouldn't remember, even still. Come on, kid. We've got to get you out of your dream-sequence."

Stan beckoned him outside of the bathroom, fast-walking down the hallway.

"Wait, there's a way out of the dream?!" Peter followed behind him.

"Yeah, kid. I didn't expect the Reaper to trap you guys in here, I had to intervene before it was too late!"

"Who the hell are you? Phantom?!"

"No time for questions, Spidey!" Stan stopped and looked both ways before turning the corner, closer to the janitor's office.

What the…? Who is this guy?!

"Fine. Can you at least tell me what's going on?!"

"Reaper will have realized by now that you're fully aware that this is a dream. So, now the people in this dream-sequence is going to do everything in their power to stop you from escaping."

"By doing what?!"

"Mm… probably kill you."

What is this?! Inception?!

"That's not helping!"

"You asked, kid." Stan shrugged, reaching his office and quickly opening it.

Before they walked in, a figure stepped out from the far end of the hallway. Peter recognized him as Nick Fury

"Nick Fury? What he's doing here?"

"Get inside, kid! We need to get you out of the dream-sequence!" Stan urged him.

"Parker! I'm ordering you to stop!" Nick Fury called out, starting to walk his way, his eye flashing a bright red.

Ah, an agent of Reaper, no doubt!

Stan grabbed Peter by the shoulder and pushed him inside, locking the door behind him. Peter looked around the small office. It had several toolboxes, appliances, and a desk .

"Parker!" Fury had reached the door and tried to open it, violently shaking the doorknob. "You're going to be under arrest if you don't cease and desist!"

Jeez, now I know this is a dream. Director Fury doing all the dirty work, arresting teenage kids?

"Not long before this entire school is itching to tear that door open." Stan grunted, walking towards the blank wall behind the office.

"What now?"

"I'm going to tear open a portal into the Dream Nexus." Stan explained as he suddenly began channeling a blue-shaded form of energy between his hands.

"The… Dream Nexus?"

"It's Reaper's network of minds that he's trapped over the decades. No one other than him has gone through it, so you shouldn't have to worry about facing him there! You're going to have to find the dream-sequences to your other friends. Once inside, you're going to have to convince them that the dream isn't real and wake them up!"

"Wake them up? Back into reality?"

And how in the world do I do that?

"Their subconscious won't re-awaken their bodies until you decide to wake up." Stan blasted the wall with the energy, opening a whirlpool-like energy before it shifted to some sort of levitating landscape in the middle of space.

Fury was violently shaking the door at this point, continuously shouting Peter's name and demanding that they open it. More and more footsteps were heard, all joining in to violently open the door.

"And how do I wake up?!" Peter questioned.

"Once all your friends have awakened and re-joined you in the Dream Nexus, a portal will open up which will give all you the ability to return to a state of consciousness." Stan stood behind him. "Try not to screw this up, web-head!"

Then, Stan pushed Peter through the portal, right as the office door burst open and the attackers came rushing in.

"Good luck, Spider-Man! Tell Phantom, I'll be waiting for him!" Stan chuckled, waving goodbye at Peter as he swung through into the Dream Nexus. "Excelsior!"

Before his dream-sequence's portal closed, Stan had shape-shifted into a strange-looking humanoid with a large cranium and white robes. His white eyes had no pupils… but he was still waving goodbye right as the portal closed.

Falling through what seemed like a whiplash-inducing rollercoaster of cosmic mayhem, Peter crash-landed bum-first onto a hard-rocky surface.

Owwww, owww… Holy hell, that was intense!

What the hell did Stan mean by 'Tell Phantom, I'll be waiting for him'? Wait for him to do what? Ugh, I'll worry about that later, but first things first…

The Dream Nexus was a vast levitating formation of flat rock that perpetually floated in… space. Like outer space-space. There were stars and galaxies off in the distance.

Around the flat rock were archways that opened into different realms. These were obviously the portals to the other dream-sequences that Stan was talking about. The area was illuminated by these standing pillars of blue-rock that glowed.

In the ambience, there were whispers and sounds of people screaming.

That must be something that mixed Phantom's and Reaper's whispering and screaming effects together… Hmm…

Peter stood up, trying to gather himself from his crash-landing. He soon realized that was now wearing his Spider-Man costume, fully equipped with his web shooters.

"Well isn't that convenient." Spidey joked with himself. He walked towards the first archway that led into a dream-sequence.

He peeked in. It was Iron Fist's. It looked like it was taking place back in K'un-Lun.

Of course he'd be dreaming about K'un-Lun…

"Well, let's go get the human fortune cookie back." Spidey walked through the archway and into the dream sequence.


Second Dream-Sequence: Danny Rand... (Spidey's POV)…

Spidey felt the rush of cold air blast through his costume as he found himself on the snowy mountaintop paths of K'un-Lun, walking out of the portal. Then, came the loud sounds of celebration in the forms of music and fireworks, blasting through the night sky.

Jeez, I know it's a dream but damn does it feel real, cold wind and everything! At least it's not AS bad as Yukon weather.

He web-swung closer to the center of the celebrations within the village. There, he landed on a two-story house and looked over the edge to watch what was going on. In the middle of the Tibetan-style village houses was a long stretch of dirt path cleared out with two crowds of villagers standing on opposite ends and watching as the big archway at the end of the dirt path swung open.

"Behold, people of K'un-Lun! Our Champion, Daniel Rand, Iron Fist, has returned!" A strong and loud voice called out into the crowds of villagers.

Okay, so Reaper played on Danny's desire to return to K'un-Lun… Hmm…

Spidey looked down to the archway, it seemed to be the entrance to the village. Iron Fist emerged in his signature green and yellow costume. He smiled as he waved to the cheering crowds.

From the crowds emerged a tall, black-masked individual. He was very muscular. He had golden bracers covering his forearms, a golden sash covering his lower abdomen. In the middle of his chest was a golden medallion with several blocks stacked on top of each other, the medallion being held by black sashes that ran through his back.

"My master, Lei Kung." Iron Fist greeted him, taking a polite bow.

"Iron Fist." Lei Kung greeted him in return. "It is an honor for our champion to finally return from his adventures on the other side of the world."

Lei Kung turned to the crowds. "Rejoice!"

The crowds began to cheer on once more.

"Go, celebrate your return, and once you are ready, come and see me near the entrance." Lei Kung instructed him.

I didn't really know just how important Iron Fist is to these guys… Well, this IS a dream… this may very well be a lot of what Danny desires.

"Yes, master."

Spidey leapt down to the ground level, right behind Iron Fist. Danny quickly turned around, thinking he was under attack.

"Whoa, whoa, Danny! Take a chill pill, it's just me!" Spidey held up his hands.

"Whoa, Peter, what are you doing here?"

"Long story, but… mind if we talk somewhere private?"

"Uh…" Iron Fist looked to his master, who was intently watching the conversation take place.

"Sure, Peter, anything."

They walked over to an alleyway in-between two of the village huts. They found a villager already passed out drunk behind a bale of hay.

Man, these Tibetans know how to party.

"Is everything all right, Peter? I am, admittedly, a little bit surprised you followed me all the way out here to K'un-Lun after we departed in New York a couple days ago."

"What?! We said goodbye?!" Spidey was shocked.

"Yes. My time with the team was over. You, Ava, Luke, and Sam got accepted to college. Do you not remember?"

"No I… wait, we actually got accepted to college?!"

Being the fact this is the human fortune-cookie, I'm saying that's a good sign!

"Yes, Peter." Iron Fist let out a small grin. "Now, is there any particular reason you are here? Or did you want to celebrate my homecoming with my master and me?"

"Danny, listen to me! All of this, this isn't real!" Spidey insisted. "We're in a dream!"

"A dream?" Iron Fist asked in a skeptical tone. "Okay, Peter, did you really come all the way from New York just to tell me that?"

Naw, did I really?! C'mon, Danny, use your head!

"I'm being serious! We're being trapped in our dreams by Reaper! Remember him?! We were just fighting with alongside Phantom and Specter Haven!"

"Peter, you are not making any sense." Iron Fist shrugged.

"What is going on here?" Lei Kung appeared into the alleyway.

"Master Lei Kung." Iron Fist bowed. "This is my former team-mate, Spider—…"

"I know who he is." Lei Kung aggressively pointed at Spidey. "I know just what kind of individual you are, Spider-Man. Our champion has given you enough of his time. You have wasted your time in coming out here to seek his assistance again."

Well excuuuuuuuuuuuuse me! Lei Rude Kung!

"Master, I can speak for myself—…"

"Silence, Iron Fist!" Lei Kung shouted at him, turning his attention back to Spider-Man.

"You must leave K'un-Lun, immediately, Spider-Man."

Spidey sighed. "Okay, I know you're a construct of Danny's mind! You're not real. Danny, he's not real! We've got to get out of here and back to the portal!"

Lei Kung's eyes flashed red. "Such insolence!"

Such big words you're using, Lei Rude Kung!

"Master?" Iron Fist noticed the red in his eyes as well. "What are you…?"

"Step aside, Iron Fist." Lei Kung pushed him. "I will gladly take this insect out of K'un-Lun!"

Lei Kung made the first swing, punching Spidey at the chest and causing him to fall through the hut behind Spidey, landing on his back in the middle of a meditation session of a monk.

If I had a dime for every time I get knocked the hell backwards through a wall, I might just pull a Tony Stark and tell everyone I'm Spider-Man.

The monk in question looked awfully familiar.

"St-Stan?!" Spidey looked up. "What are you doing here?!"

Here we go, the age-old timeless concept of Stan Lee cameos.

"Trying to help you, web-head! Try convincing Danny that he's dreaming by asking him a question about time!" Stan advised. "The best way to wake a dreamer is to have him start thinking logically. He'll realize that none of this is real. Just like you did!"

"Stand and fight me with honor, Spider!" Lei Kung shouted through the hole in the hut.

"Oh and… try not to let that guy re-organize your bones, Spidey." Stan added, returning to his meditation.

"Aren't you going to help!?"

"Already did, web-head." Stan closed his eyes.

Thanks for the advice, Stan… you're definitely "the man"…

Before Spidey could react, Lei Kung picked him up by his collar, his eyes glowing a bright red. "I don't know how you escaped your dream-sequence. But, you're foolish to think that you're going to wake-up your friends."

Aha! So this must be Reaper's subconscious inserting himself in each sequence to make sure we never wake up!

"What are you talking about, master?" Iron Fist stepped in.

"Danny!" Spidey struggled to speak. "Danny, please realize that this is all a dream! If you don't believe me, tell me everything you did yesterday! In detail! Try to remember!"

"I do not see how that will help." Iron Fist was confused.

"Do not listen to him, Iron Fist!" Lei Kung advised, keeping his grip on the wall-crawler.

"Wait a minute." Iron Fist was obviously starting to think. "I do not… remember anything."

No shit, Danny! I could use some help here!

"We're still on Island M, Danny!" Spidey coughed out. "We're still fighting… the Reaper!"

"The Reaper!" Iron Fist came to the realization. "Reaper made us all fall asleep!"

Oh, thank the lord he came to his senses!

"Master…" Iron Fist tapped Lei Kung's shoulder.

As Lei Kung turned his head, Iron Fist swung a powerful fist and knocked his master backwards several feet, having him drop Spidey, and knocking down another wall in the hut and sending him rolling into a crowd of villagers.

"Whoa, now that's what I call a punch!" Stan commented while still in meditation.

You can say that again, Stan!

"Are you alright, Peter?" Iron Fist helped Peter back up.

"As good as I'll be. Holy cow, I'm glad you realized this was a dream!"

"All that meditation helps you concentrate on what is real and what is not. It was not hard for me to put two and two together and realize the façade that is this place." Iron Fist explained. "Now hurry, we must get out of the village."

The two heroes ran out of the hut only to be met with arrow-fire from the angered villagers. They ran down the alleyway and down a back dirt-path that was leading out to a field of crops next to the mountain path.

"Arrows?! That is no way to treat the champion of K'un-Lun!" Iron Fist commented as they ran.

"They're not real, Danny! They're subjects of your dream-sequence! They'll kill the dreamer if the dreamer realizes this is a dream!"

"How revolting!"

"Iron Fist!" Lei Kung yelled out from behind them. "You cannot leave your people a second time, Daniel! You promised you would stay with us!"

"Lies! I never promised that!" Iron Fist yelled back.

"Come on, we're almost back at the portal!" Spidey assured him.

Dodging arrow-fire and a large mob of angry villagers led by Lei Kung behind them, the two heroes finally reached the archway that led back into the Dream Nexus.

Iron Fist looked back at K'un-Lun one last time.

"Until next we meet, my beloved land." He made the run inside with Spidey running in after him.

As they jumped through into the Dream Nexus, the portal closed behind them, right as Lei Kung charged at the portal. Catching for breath, the two of them took a moment to gather themselves.

"So… do you mind telling me what this place is?" Iron Fist looked up and marveled at the stars and the galaxies surrounding the Dream Nexus.

"Reaper's Dream Nexus." Spidey explained. "It's where Reaper's trapped the minds of the people he comes across for decades."

"Fascinating. I am sure that this place would be of great significance to Dr. Strange."

Jeez, I'm sure that guy would go to town on this place and probably trap Reaper's subconscious here too!

"I'm sure." Spidey agreed, making his way to the next portal archway. "Come on, we've got to save the next person!"

"Peter."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for saving me back there. I… I had almost lost myself in K'un-Lun." Iron Fist sighed. "Fate would see to it that my beloved land is denied to me, even in my dreams."

"You'll see K'un-Lun again, I promise, Danny."

"Thank you." Iron Fist faintly smiled. "Now, onwards to saving our friends. Who is next?"

Spidey peeked into the archway. It was the training simulator on-board the original helicarrier. They could see Luke running through, smashing the robots back and forth, trying to best them all.

I shouldn't be surprised that Luke's dream would be training inside the training simulator.

"Let's roll." Spidey beckoned, the both of them walking through into the dream sequence.


Third Dream-Sequence: Luke Cage… (Spidey's POV)…

As soon as the two of them stepped in, they had to duck from getting hit by a robot's torso being flung at them at full-speed. Powerman was training real intensely into this whole combat session, dodging lasers and punching through entire groups of training bots.

The training session suddenly stopped, the alert horn being sounded off. Powerman glanced over to the command booth, giving thumbs up to whoever was inside. He looked over at Iron Fist and Spidey and approached them, trying to catch his breath.

"Danny! Peter! I didn't know y'all would be joining me on this training session here!" Powerman greeted them heartily.

Aha, so that's what he's always trying to get us to do… these insane training sessions that he does on his own!

"Where do you think we would be?" Iron Fist curiously asked.

Powerman wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead, taking off his shades and wiping them. "Well, you were probably meditating and web-head here was probably busy with Tiger. None of y'all ever have time to train when I want to."

"That's… actually spot-on." Spidey commented.

Busy with Tiger doing what, exactly? I'd like to know what I had going on in my dream still applies here.

Powerman shrugged. "So, you two going to train with me, or what?"

"Luke, wait. We've got to tell you something." Spidey stopped him.

"What's up, webs?"

"Okay, so I don't know how to exactly say this but… we're all in a dream right now! This is all a dream! We're being held hostage in our own subconscious by the Reaper!" Spidey let it all out.

"Yes, and the only way we can escape this dream-sequence is if we convince you that you are dreaming!" Iron Fist added.

Luke's eyes widened. "Wait, so you're saying… this is all…"

"Yes, unfortunately." Iron Fist frowned.

Whoa, that was quick of him to come to the realization…

"Oh no, what are we going to do?!" Luke began laughing. "Aw man, you guys need to put down the Playstation and hit the gym a little bit more. We can start with a training sesh."

Damn you, Luke.

"Luke, no, wait!" Spidey tried to stop him.

He placed his shades back on and looked back up to the booth. He gave whoever was inside thumbs up and the training session began.

"Well, let's do this, Danny." Spidey looked at him. "Maybe a training session will convince him to hear us out."

"Very well."

Oooooh, why do I have a bad feeling about this?

Suddenly, the gates opened throughout the training room and hundreds of training bots came rushing out like maniacal warriors, shooting lasers at all three of them. The difficulty level was obviously maxed out, per Powerman's preference.

Iron Fist charged up his fists and began punching through multiple training bots at once, a lot quicker and more precise than he usually does during training sessions. Spidey shot several strings of electric web and tying up multiple bots together, short-circuiting them and causing them to explode one by one.

Powerman, on the other hand, was attacking the bots at full force. Bashing their heads together, sending bunches of them flying in all directions. This was the Powerman they only see when they're really getting attacked.

"Wow, Luke is really getting into this training session." Iron Fist paused between punches to tell Spidey.

"You're telling me! This is the hardest I've ever seen him fight!" Spidey agreed.

Why doesn't he fight this hard when we're out there fighting the bad guys? Maybe because they're easy work?

After several more minutes of the intense training session, Powerman let the man in the booth know to shut it off. He turned to face his two extremely fatigued friends.

"That was… extremely exhilarating." Iron Fist gasped for breath, leaning down on a railing at the far end wall.

"You're telling me." Spidey joined him on the railing. "I ran out of webs, twice, so I had to re-use the web I already had strung out."

Jesus… What a hell of a workout!

Powerman chuckled. "Well, that's just a warm-up for me most days."

"Well, now that we have indulged you, Luke. Do you mind hearing us out?" Iron Fist approached him.

"What's up, Danny? Still convinced this is all 'a dream'?" Powerman gestured the words.

"Luke, this is serious." Spidey approached him. "Don't you remember the Reaper? He trapped us into our dreams!"

"Who's Reaper?" Powerman started to pay attention.

C'mon Luke, don't be so thick-headed!

"He is an evil entity." Iron Fist vaguely answered.

"That sure narrows it down." Powerman sarcastically answered and shrugged.

Let's see if I can jog his memory…

"Luke, try to remember what you did this morning, what you did last night." Spidey tried to jog Powerman's memory.

"Uh… that's kind of… private."

Private?! What the hell does that mean?

"What do you mean? Do you not remember?" Spidey continued.

"I, uh… I spent some time at Selena's place." Luke scratched his head. "It's why I missed last night's training session with the rest of you guys."

"Selena?" Iron Fist questioned. "Selena Escobar?"

"Phantom's daughter?" Spidey added the question.

Shit… Yeah, Phantom's daughter. Well, Reaper wasn't wrong, Luke really does have a massive crush on Selena.

"Phantom? Who?" Powerman was confused. "I don't know who that is… Her parents are Maria and Fernand. They seem like good folks."

"I guess Reaper has made it so that we do not have any recollection of Phantom in our dreams." Iron Fist concluded.

"Of course he did." Spidey sighed. "Okay, so he remembers last night. Oh, hate me for asking but, do you remember what you did last night?"

"That's really personal, webs." Luke got a little defensive. "I don't understand what this is all about—…"

"Hey, big guy!" a female voice cried out from the other side of the training room.

The three of them turned to see Selena walk towards them wearing sweatpants and a sports shirt in the same color scheme as Powerman.

Aha… Definitely looks like something Luke would be dreaming about.

"Hey, Selena, baby!" Powerman dropped the conversation and ran towards her, hugging her and twirling around, giving her a warm kiss.

Whoa…

Spidey's eyes widened, as well as Iron Fist's when they saw this.

"We should probably never mention this to Phantom." Spidey gulped.

"Agreed." Iron Fist nodded.

While hugging, Selena glanced over to the two of them, her eyes flashing a bright red.

"Uh-huh. Well, we found Reaper." Spidey sighed. "It had to be Selena."

"Yep." Iron Fist shook his head.

After they stopped hugging, Luke turned to Spidey and Iron Fist.

"Selena, you remember Spidey and Iron Fist."

"Of course I do." Selena smiled. "How are you two?"

We're doing great, considering you want us all dead, Reaper.

"Alright, cut the chit chat, Reaper." Spidey blurted out. "We're going to get our friend out of here!"

"Whoa, whoa, web-head." Luke intervened. "That's no way to talk to a lady."

"That is not a lady, Luke. Trust us." Iron Fist assured him.

Well, Selena IS a lady, but the projection of Selena in this dream-sequence isn't… let's clarify that!

"What the hell has gotten into you two?! Y'all have known that Selena and I have been dating for a while, why are you acting this way?!"

"Oh for the love of… Luke, just do me a solid and just think for a moment. Do you remember anything that led you up to being here! Here, right now, in this room?!"

"Of course, I just came back from…" Luke started speaking, obviously struggling to remember. "Uh… Shit, where was I?"

"This is a dream, Luke." Iron Fist placed a hand on his shoulder.

"This… this can't be right." Luke tried to deny it.

"Do you remember us fighting the Reaper alongside Phantom?!" Spidey questioned him, ignoring Selena's scowl.

"Reaper?... Yes…" Luke began to remember. "We are on… some sort of island, right? And it's… it's flying up in the air?"

There we go, keep remembering, big guy! Make it quick, too!

"Keep going." Iron Fist encouraged him.

"Oh my god… Reaper gassed us!" Luke finally remembered.

"Yes!" Both Spidey and Iron Fist said in-sync.

"Then what does this all…mean?" Luke turned to Selena, who was glaring at him with her eyes glowing a bright red.

This startled Luke.

That was creepy! Just turn around and your girlfriend has just suddenly become a red-eyed demon!

"What the hell?! Selena, what's wrong with you?!"

"That's not Selena, Luke, that's Reaper's subconscious! He's trying to stop us from escaping!" Spidey explained.

She began to approach them, slowly, while they backed away. "Luke, don't leave, we're just getting started. I thought you wanted to show me something, impress me!"

"Don't listen to her, Luke." Spidey advised.

"Sorry, girl, it's not happening today." Luke denied her, still freaked out by her red eyes.

She gritted her teeth, forcefully shape-shifting into Reaper's form right before their eyes.

"I'm getting tired of your meddling, Spider-Man!" Reaper withdrew his swords and charged at them.

Powerman held him back with a powerful punch that sent the Reaper flying all the way to the other side of the training simulator.

Holy hell! That was an incredible move! I didn't think Luke would've able to do that.

"Hurry up, guys, get to the portal!" A familiar voice called over the speakerphone.

"Stan?! Is that you again?!" Spidey shouted out.

"The very same." Stan laughed. Spidey looked over at the control booth, the shadowy figure that was controlling the training bots was Stan.

I have a feeling that that guy is going to be popping up out of nowhere for the rest of the dream-sequences in some way.

"Come on, Luke!" Iron Fist urged Powerman, who seemed to want to fight Reaper some more.

Don't be a hero, Luke!

"I'll send in some of these bots to keep this guy off of you, just hurry!" Stan told them, starting up another training session in which hundreds more of training bots appeared from the gates and charged towards Reaper.

Reaper, getting up from having been punched back, readied his swords and began slicing through them in a magnificent display of red electricity flying everywhere, causing rows of bots to violently explode. Powerman stood, watching him, waiting for Reaper to run after him again.

Reaper obviously doesn't need a training session to show us just how powerful the guy is! Even here, in a dream-sequence!

"Luke, let's go!" Spidey webbed up Powerman from the back and pulled him hard, throwing him through the portal into the Dream Nexus.

Iron Fist quickly ran in and Spidey took one last look at Reaper.

He began using his electric charge attacks to blow away whole groups of bots at once, disappearing and reappearing in-between charges. Reaper's attacked were reminiscent of Phantom's style of fighting, but with two swords instead of one. He was significantly more aggressive than Phantom, however. With the fighting style he had, Taskmaster could easily outmaneuver him, if it weren't for his random electric blasts. Nobody can predict that.

That's insane, it's going to take all of us to even remotely get a chance at taking out Reaper.

With the portal closing, Spidey stepped through, into the Dream Nexus.

"Jeez… that was insane." Powerman thought aloud, getting up from having been web-thrown into the Dream Nexus. "What the hell… where are we?"

"This is Reaper's Dream Nexus, Luke." Iron Fist notified him. "This is where he has trapped the rest of our friends."

"What the f-… So, I assume that you're both real and you're not other projections of Reaper trying to trick me." Luke curiously questioned. "Right?"

Holy shit, I never even thought of that. What if we can't escape? What if we keep dreaming even if we wake up? I need to watch Inception again.

"That's a good question." Spidey surprised himself. "I'm pretty sure we're both real, though."

"Good." Luke took a sigh of relief, taking a look around the Dream Nexus. "So, is this place in outer space or something?"

"Not sure about that one." Spidey answered for him. "Pretty sure this is all in Reaper's mind. It's kind of like a cage for the minds of people he's imprisoned."

"That's not good." Luke sighed, glancing at the two of his friends. "Thanks for getting me out of there, guys. I'm not happy that it was just a dream but… I'd rather be alive than imprisoned."

"You know it, big guy." Spidey assured him.

"Yes, but we must hurry, friends." Iron Fist beckoned the both of them to the next archway.

"What are we doing now?" Powerman curiously asked.

"Waking up the next guy…" Spidey explained as they ran over to the next archway.

Peeking in, they saw some sort of futuristic grand hall, the walls a white color with black floor-tiling. At the end of the hall stood a projected banner of the Nova Corps. Spidey knew the symbol because Nova has the symbol practically pasted around his whole room.

"Looks like Nova's next." Spidey commented.

This should be interesting… Let's see what Nova dreams about on his off-time.

"Let's go save the bucket-head." Powerman proudly stated as he stepped in first, followed by Iron Fist, then Spidey.


Fourth Dream-Sequence: Sam Alexander… (Spidey's POV)…

The three heroes walked through the portal into some sort of backroom near the grand hall. It was convenient for them, having the portal concealed away. They walked out of the backroom into a large crowd of Nova Corps officers, all formed up for some sort of ceremony.

They split into two crowds on opposite sides of the grand hall with an aisle drawing down the middle, leading up to a stage where a blue-dressed lady with white-hair stood alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and Groot.

Huh, this looks like something Nova would dream about. Everybody he really likes outside Earth is here, especially the Guardians of the Galaxy.

"Well, none of this should be real." Spidey whispered to the others.

"What do you mean?" Powerman whispered back.

"Nova is the last living member of the Nova Corps. All of these people, except for the Guardians of the Galaxy, are dead." Iron Fist explained.

"That's right." Spidey sighed. "So this entire ceremony is all a bit morbid."

Incredibly morbid. It's probably the equivalent of seeing Uncle Ben again for Nova, on a larger level.

"Our illustrious Nova Corps…" The white-haired lady spoke. "We gather here today, on the beautiful planet of Xandar, to recognize a noble hero in the universe. Our own, Sam Alexander, has returned from his service on Planet Earth, and with that, he re-joins us in good health, and we celebrate his successes with honors."

The Nova officers all clapped.

"To recognize his successes, his own team, the Guardians of the Galaxy, have joined us here today." The white-haired lady continued. "And now, without further ado, Sam Alexander, please step forward."

From the entrance to the grand hall, Sam came walking out. Clad in his armor, holding his helmet at his side, he took a deep and confidant breath, and walked proudly towards the front of the hall. The Nova officers clapping as he walked forward.

Sam sure loves recognition. I guess this is his dream of returning to the Nova Corps after working with us on Earth. Damn shame that they're all dead.

"Have you spotted Reaper's subconscious here yet?" Iron Fist was looking around, peeking past the shoulders of the officers.

"Not yet." Spidey looked around. "It's probably one of the Guardians, to be honest."

"That won't be fun." Powerman commented.

Sam reached the end, standing in front of the white-haired lady, pounded his chest with his fist and slightly bowed.

"Thank you, Nova Prime, Irani Rael." Sam thanked her.

She returned the slight bow and turned to Star-Lord, who handed a black sashed golden-medal to place around Nova's neck.

"For your efforts on Earth, we present you the Nova Medal of Exemplary Service." Irani Rael presented to Nova.

Exemplary?... eh, that's debatable.

"Alright, let's go wake him up." Spidey broke from the group and started walking down the aisle.

"Web-head!" Powerman tried to stop him, but ended up following him, Iron Fist followed.

The Nova officers began glaring at the heroes as they walked towards the front. The Guardians spotted them first, Gamora, Drax, and Groot blocking them before they reached the end.

"What is the meaning of this?" Irani Rael demanded. "Who are you three? Identify yourselves!"

"Web-head? Luke? Danny?" Sam saw them. "What the hell are you guys doing here on Xandar?!"

Not for the ceremony, if that's what you think, Sam.

"We're here to wake you up, Sam! We're in a dream, right now!" Spidey explained with little to no respect to the ceremony. "Reaper! I know you're here somewhere!"

"Webs, what are you talking about?!" Sam demanded. "I thought our work as a team on Earth was over! You didn't need me anymore!"

"Nova, you're a part of my team! Why would we never want you to leave?"

I mean, yeah, we fight a lot, we butt heads a lot, but Nova's practically family at this point in our history as a team. It's next to impossible to replace him now.

"I don't know, you were too busy getting busy with Tiger to care about the rest of your teammates." Sam crossed his arms. "It wasn't enough that your team splits for you to have to come all the way out here to ruin my homecoming ceremony?!"

Busy with Tiger? Good, we're still together in everyone's dreams… that's a good sign… good sign.

"Sam, think this through." Powerman tried to be the voice of reason. "We're still on Island M, we're all trapped here by Reaper!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sam shrugged.

"I think we should resume Nova's ceremony, friends." Star-Lord stepped in, flipping off his visor that covered his face. His eyes flashed red.

"Jesus Christ, Reaper…" Spidey sighed.

Of course he'd choose to look like Star-Lord. We've all heard of Star-Lord right?

Wait, you haven't? C'mon, you know, Star-Lord! The legendary outlaw?

Forget it…

"Psst… Spidey." A familiar voice spoke out from the crowd.

Spidey glanced over and saw Stan clad in Nova Corps armor trying to whisper at him from the crowd. "Try appealing to Nova Prime, show respect to the Nova Corps. Then, convince Sam."

Holy shit, he's just going to keep making cameos, isn't he?

With that, Stan the Nova Corps officer walked away.

Alright, I'm following your lead here, Stan.

Spidey took a deep sigh. "Nova Prime."

"Yes?"

"We've arrived all the way from Planet Earth to speak to our friend, Sam. We apologize for the disrespect, but we believe everyone in this entire room is in danger." Spidey appealed to the projection's judgment.

"We're in danger?" Irani Rael began looking around the hall. "Who poses the threat?"

Spidey pointed at Star-Lord. "That man is an imposter. He's not the real Star-Lord."

Heh… will the real Star-Lord please stand up?

"What?!" Star-Lord defensively questioned. "This is nonsense!"

"That's impossible. What are you trying to play at here, web-head?" Sam placed his helmet over his head and crossed his arms.

Trying to wake you up and save you, that's what!

"Sam, try to remember how you got here. How did you get back to Xandar? Hmm?" Powerman played the logical thinking card.

"I… I got here with…" Sam absentmindedly started to think. "Uh… I got here with… some of the guys… I think? Shit, why can't I remember?"

Because you're in a dream, fool!

"Do you remember Island M? Phantom? Specter Haven?" Spidey paraded the questions to quickly get Sam's train of thought moving.

"Phantom… Phantom… why do I remember that name?" Sam began scratching his chin.

"Don't listen to them, Nova!" Star-Lord urged him.

"Why?" Nova pondered. "They were my friends, but they never had a reason to lie to me."

Welllllll….

"They're lying!" Star-Lord pleaded.

"Mmhmm…" Nova was unconvinced.

Suddenly, he came to the realization. "Shit! We're still on Island M, aren't we?! We're trying to help Phantom fight off Reaper and his shenanigans!"

Holy hell, that took a while for him to remember…

"Sweet Jesus! Yes!" Spidey nodded. "Now, let's get out of here!"

"B-but, it's my homecoming ceremony!" Nova pleaded. "Let me enjoy the moment, at least this once!"

"Nova!" The three heroes yelled in-sync.

"Awh, damn it!" Nova sighed, looking at Irani Rael. "I'm sorry, Nova Prime. I'll have to respectfully decline your award. It was good seeing you again, for real."

Damn, I should've known Nova would try to enjoy his dream.

"Grrr… No!" Star-Lord shouted, violently shape-shifting into Reaper, withdrawing his swords again.

Here we go again!

"You won't escape my grasp a second time, Alexander!" Reaper threatened.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Irani Rael was shocked. "Nova Corps, arrest this man!"

"Groot, get me my gun!" Rocket shouted. "What did you do to Quill, imposter?!"

The Nova Corps officers withdrew their weapons and gathered up in formation, aiming down at Reaper.

Spidey, Nova, Powerman, and Iron Fist slowly backed away behind the formation.

Reaper took a deep chuckle. "Playing your own projections against me, Nova? I hope you enjoy seeing the death of the Nova Corps, one more time!"

"No!" Nova cried aloud.

Shit, this is going to get messy…

In a split second, Reaper clashed his swords together and disappeared, reappearing behind the Nova officers and sliding his swords across, be-heading a number of them instantly, blood splattering in all directions. The remaining Guardians of the Galaxy tried to stop Reaper, but he supercharged his bracers and practically obliterated the whole of them with the power of his Infinity Gems.

"NO!" Nova cried aloud again, trying to fly up to fight Reaper, but Powerman held him back.

"They're not real, Nova! They're just projections! The Guardians are still alive, trust me!" Spidey urged him.

"No! I won't let him kill them! I won't let the Nova Corps die a second time!"

Reaper maniacally laughed as he continued to mow down the large groups of fighting Nova Corps officers. Their laser-fire and Nova power had little to no effect to Reaper's awe power. He was too fast, disappearing and reappearing, pirouetting between the officers and swinging his swords in all directions.

This is starting to scare me, seeing just what kind of devastating destruction a fight with Reaper entails. I've never seen anything like it.

In order to keep Nova from bursting through Powerman's arms, he webbed up Nova to Powerman, trying to continuously hold him back as the four of them started making their way towards the backroom portal.

Reaper noticed them trying to get away. He sliced off another pair of Nova Corps officers before starting to levitate towards them. Suddenly, a laser shot him directly on his back. He cringed in pain for a brief moment, turning to face whoever shot it. It was Irani Rael.

"You will not disgrace the Nova Corps today, monster!" She defiantly stated at Reaper.

He chuckled. "Foolish projection."

He supercharged his right bracer and blasted Nova Prime into oblivion, tearing apart the front wall of the grand hall.

"Nova Prime!" Nova cried out. "You bastard!"

He broke his arms free and clapped his hands together, sending a wall of energy and blasting Reaper away through the walls, temporarily knocking him out.

For as powerful of an offensive Reaper can launch, he really doesn't have strong defenses against us. Then again, this is only a dream. Our powers are probably amplified anyway.

"Come on, fool!" Powerman grabbed him again and shoved him into the backroom where the portal was.

"I told you this was going to be morbid." Spidey sighed, following Iron Fist inside.

"No, no!" Nova began crying. "I could've saved them…I could've saved them!"

"It's okay, Nova, stop your crying." Powerman tried to calm him down as he walked through the portal into the Dream Nexus.

Spidey and Iron Fist followed through, the portal closing behind them seconds later.

"It's not fair! It's not… fair!" Nova cried into a pile of rocks. "That damned bastard is going to pay! He's going to pay! Son-of-a bitch!"

"Nova, calm down." Spidey tried placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't tell me to calm down, web-head!" Nova yelled at him. "I really didn't want to re-live the destruction of the Nova Corps again!"

I'll admit, that was pretty grisly back there.

"Nova… it wasn't real." Powerman advised him. "Please, don't let it take you."

"I'm good, man…" Nova sniveled, wiping his face. "Ugh… Reaper's going to pay."

"Back in the fight?" Iron Fist wondered. "I am sorry that you had to endure that nightmare."

"Hell fucking yeah." Nova gritted his teeth, not even caring about his environment or his surroundings. "I'm going to wipe that smile off of Reaper's masked face."

"We're in the Dream Nexus." Spidey explained to Nova. "Now that the four of us are good, let's make our way to the next portal… which should be…"

"Tiger." Powerman concluded.

"Or Specter Haven." Iron Fist added.

Oh boy… I wonder what kind of stuff Ava has in her dream. I'm honestly a little nervous here.

"So what, we've got to save each one of us, one-by-one until we're all awakened?" Nova questioned.

"Yeah, pretty much." Spidey shrugged.

They reached the next archway portal. Taking a peek inside, Ava was studying homework in a bedroom inside an actual house, not like her room in the helicarrier. This set the tone for what was going on.

"This should be interesting." Iron Fist commented.

"Uh… do you guys mind if I go in alone on this one?" Spidey politely asked.

"Why?" Nova questioned.

"I think it'll be easier if I'm the one to convince Ava this is a dream. She might have elements or parts of her dream that only I can help her understand that they aren't real. It shouldn't take long, really."

I don't think she'll like the four of us just bursting into her room like that unexpectedly.

"Alright, but we'll be watching from out here in-case you run into trouble." Powerman assured him.

"Thanks."

"That means don't start sexing Ava up, though." Nova pointed out. "I've seen enough disturbing things for today."

"Oh, shut up, Sam."

Spidey took a deep breath, stepping into Ava's dream-sequence.


Fifth Dream-Sequence: Ava Ayala… (Spidey's POV)…

As soon as Spidey walked in, he noticed that Ava had stepped out of her room. The portal itself lied inside her walk-in closet. He glanced around the room, seeing what kind of stuff she had. Her bed was a white-tiger print bed spread with black and white faux fur pillows.

The green-colored walls had rows and rows of awards and recognitions from Midtown High along with pictures of her shaking hands with several important-looking people at school events. She had a corkboard with a calendar and notes that annotated missing and assignments due.

At her desk, she had a laptop with an essay pulled up on a word-processor. She had a tab opened up to Facebook as well. As he navigated over to it, he saw that she had a picture of him and her as her Facebook profile picture. This sent butterflies into his stomach.

Well, happy that Ava's still crazy in love with me in her dream! I was worried for a moment that maybe she secretly doesn't love me…

Suddenly, he heard footsteps walking down the hallway, too heavy for it to have been Ava's. Without thinking, he hid into her closet, closing the sliding doors and peeking through the wooden blinds.

"I've got to work late again, darling." An older sounding male spoke in a latin-accent.

"Alright, daddy, I understand." Ava answered.

Spidey peeked through and realized it was Hector Ayala talking. Her father was still alive in her dream.

Of course, Ava still wishes that her dad was still alive.

"I know I'm always away during the nights, but I promise I'll make it up to you in time."

"Ah, don't worry about it, daddy. I know you're busy. I think you should take the time to go unwind at a bar or something. Maybe see if you can start dating again?"

Hector chuckled. "Perhaps in time, kitten. But first, there is work for me to do."

"I'll see you tomorrow then, dad." She hugged him.

"I love you, querida hija…" Hector smiled.

"I love you too, papa." Ava answered.

As Hector walked away, Ava poked her head through the window to see him starting up his car and pulling out of the drive-way. Spidey could see that she was wearing a very tomboyish style of clothing. She wore a long black tee that barely covered her white gym shorts underneath.

That's really… sexy.

She ran to the other window and poked her head through. "He's gone, Pete!"

"Good!" a voice called out from the other side.

What the fuck? Is that… is that me?!

Spidey watched as a ladder poked through the window and Peter came climbing through the window. Ava provocatively bit her lip and pulled him through the window. They both stumbled and landed on top of her bed.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on here?!

"Gosh, I had missed you!" Ava began kissing Peter intensely.

"I have too, kitten!"

"You sure you're ready?" Ava softly asked, gasping for breath.

Ready?! For what?!

"I'm ready." He assured her, beginning to pull at her shirt and shorts.

Hell no, hell no, hell no!

"Oh hell no!" Spidey opened the closet and causing Ava to scream in shock.

"What the hell?!" Peter was shocked, zipping his pants back up.

"You better zip that shit up, Parker!" Spidey ordered him. "God… this is so weird!"

I'm literallyarguing with myself for almost scoring big with Ava. I mean, of course I want to score big with Ava, but ME, not a projection of me! I'll fight my own self!

"Who are you?!" Ava demanded. "What the hell are you doing in my room?!"

"Ava, it's me, Peter!" Spidey de-masked himself, exposing his face.

"What the…fuck?" Ava cursed aloud, covering her mouth in shock of the two Parkers. "Who…what?!"

"Ava, you're dreaming right now!" The real Peter tried to convince her. "Reaper's got us trapped right now in our dreams, all of this isn't real!"

"What… what are you talking about?" Ava was lost and confused at this point.

"Hey buddy, why don't we talk outside?" The dream Peter placed a hand on real Peter's shoulder.

Dream Peter's eyes flashed red.

Reaper?! Really?! He's trying to score big with Ava?! That sick…twisted…mother-freaking…

"Oh you sick… twisted… bastard." Peter quickly re-masked himself and glanced at Ava. "Excuse me, kitten."

He grabbed dream Peter by the shoulder and pushed him through the window, jumping out with him. As dream Peter landed onto the ground, he had already shapeshifted to Reaper's form.

"Peter! What the hell are you doing?!" Ava ran over to the window. "Ohhhh my god!"

"You're trying to bed my girlfriend you son-of-a-bitch?!" Spidey marched towards Reaper's downed body and tried punching him across the face, but Reaper quickly caught the web-slinger's punch.

"Not so fast, web-head!" Reaper grinned beneath his mask, blasting Spidey backwards several feet to the side of the house.

"Jesus, that actually hurt." Spidey felt the rush of pain on his back.

Shit, I hope Reaper doesn't make diced meat of me right here right now! After what he did to the Nova Corps… I hope not!

"Who's helping you, wall-crawler?!" Reaper demanded, withdrawing his swords and approaching Spidey slowly and menacingly. "There is no way you're navigating the Dream Nexus on your own!"

Just ask Stan Lee, Reaper, I'm sure he'd be happy to answer that for you in some weird twisted form of a cameo.

"Hey, I'm just that good, fool!" Spidey web swung himself on the side of the house, shooting shots of web at Reaper's face, but the specter kept disappearing and reappearing out of sight.

Jumping back down to the grass, Spidey was blindsided by an electric blast attack from the invisible Reaper. He was knocked backwards several feet into another house, crashing into the kitchen.

"You've got to outsmart him, Spidey." A familiar voice spoke.

Spidey looked up and saw Stan cooking at the stove. "Jesus, Stan, why are you in so many places?"

Seriously… He's probably the most credited person on Earth for how many places he's been in the Marvel universe!

"Marvel Magic, Spidey." Stan chuckled. "Just avoid getting stabbed. If you die in the dream-world, your mind belongs to Reaper forever."

This reminds me a lot of Inception… So if I die, my mind goes to limbo… got it, Stan.

"That's comforting." Spidey got back up. "Thanks for the advice, Stan."

"Anything, Spidey. Excelsior!"

Spidey ran out and spotted Reaper slowly climbing back up the house wall to get into Ava's bedroom. She was screaming at him to get away.

"C'mere, little tiger!" He threatened.

Get away from her, freak!

"Not today, Reaper!" Spidey yelled at him, shooting a string of web at his leg and pulling him back down to the ground.

"You've become a nuisance, Spider-Man." Reaper gritted his teeth as he got back up.

"I have a knack for that."

"Not anymore." Reaper supercharged his bracers and blasted in Spidey's direction.

Crap…

In that split moment, something jumped out of nowhere and pushed Spidey out of the blast direction. Spidey looked up and saw White Tiger… Hector Ayala, having saved him from harm's way.

Whoa! That was… awesome!

"You all right?" White Tiger asked as he helped the wall-crawler back up.

"Whoa, Ava's dad…" Spidey's eyes widened at the tall male White Tiger.

Hector Ayala, the original White Tiger before Ava Ayala… that's pretty cool.

"I'll take that as a yes, then, friend of Ava's." He patted Spidey on the shoulder.

They both turned to see Reaper approach them.

"Aha, Hector Ayala." Reaper clapped his hands together. "This will be fun."

"Whoever you are…" Tiger turned to Spidey. "Please save my daughter, get her out of the house, protect her!"

"What are you gonna do?!"

"I'm going to stop this madman from killing her." Tiger assured him, turning his attention to Reaper. "Now, go!"

I'm trying to figure out why these past projections have been trying to save the dreamers. Nova and now Ava? What does this mean?

Spidey was about to swing into the house before he realized Ava had run outside to see what was going on.

"D-daddy?!" Ava spotted White Tiger.

"Hija! Get out of here!" Tiger shouted before Reaper blasted him away with an electric blast.

"No!" Ava ran after him but Spidey rushed in to hold her back from running towards him.

"Let go of me!" Ava protested.

"Ava, this is all a dream! Your father isn't alive anymore!"

"I don't believe you!" She argued.

Dazed, White Tiger got back up on his feet, seeing Reaper slowly approach him with his swords withdrawn. He quickly jumped after him, swiping him left and right with his claws, dodging a massive swing from Reaper's swords. But, the specter was too fast, even for White Tiger. He kept disappearing and reappearing, knocking Tiger off of his battle strategy and slashing him across the chest.

In a matter of seconds, Reaper outmaneuvered White Tiger's slashes and side-stepped behind him. He then stabbed White Tiger in the back with both of his swords, lifting his body upwards in impalement.

Oh dear god… no…

"Daddy! No!" Ava cried, tears rushing down her face.

Damn it… She relived her father's death…

"Hija… Run!" Tiger coughed out before Reaper discarded his dead body aside, placing his attention back to Ava and Spidey.

"Let's get out of here!" Spidey grabbed Ava by the waist and web swung up to one of the other open windows of the house, getting inside.

Reaper walked around the house and kicked the door down, slowly approaching them.

Spidey pulled Ava through the hallways and back into her room, locking the door behind him.

"Ava, please remember, this is all a dream!" Spidey tried to calm her. "None of this is real!"

I feel like I'm going to keep repeating these words over and over and over again for a while.

Reaper reached the door, trying to kick it open, but Spidey was holding it back.

"I… I can't…" Ava sobbed. "Dad…"

"Oh jesus…" Spidey sighed, trying to hold Reaper back behind the door.

He then spotted Stan's face in the window across the lawn in the other house. He held up a sign with a heart on it. Half of it had Tiger's face on it while the other had Spidey's face on it. He then wrote, in large red lettering…Kiss her spidey!

Of course… the power of true love… Thanks, Stan. You couldn't have gotten more cliché with that.

"C'mere, Ava!" Spidey got off the door and gently pulled her hand.

He de-masked himself and kissed her passionately on the lips. She lost herself in the kiss, embracing him and holding him close. As they let go of the kiss, she looked into his eyes.

"Web-head?" She softly asked.

"It's me, Ava."

Oh thank the power of Stan Lee!

Reaper tore a hole through the door with his sword. "Here's Reaaaaperrrrr!"

"Come on, Ava, let's get out of here!" Spidey opened her closet door, the portal ready to close back up.

He pushed her through and jumped in right after her. The two of them landed in front of the other heroes in the Dream Nexus just as the portal closed behind them. Powerman and Iron Fist helped them back up.

"Whoa, are you guys okay?!" Powerman worriedly asked.

"I thought you said you were going to help!" Spidey inquired.

"What are you talking about?" Nova sternly asked. "Nothing happened the whole time we were watching the portal. Ava was just sitting there the whole time."

"What happened?" Iron Fist then calmly asked.

"Reaper attacked us." Ava explained. "He played on my memories of my father to exploit my weakness… as well as… other things."

She and Spidey exchanged looks.

"I don't even want to know." Nova shook his head. "Trying to get that mental image out of my head."

Ava looked down and realized that the portal has changed her into her White Tiger costume, just as the portal changed Spidey's into his.

"So, what is this place?" Tiger looked up and around the Dream Nexus. "Is this Reaper's subconscious?"

"Yes, it was meant to serve as a prison to our minds." Iron Fist explained.

"Well, we already know that Reaper knows we're here. I wonder why he hasn't come after us in here yet." Spidey wondered aloud.

"Perhaps this is a part of his mind that he cannot directly access or he has placed safeguards to protect even himself from this place, thinking that no one else could access this place." Iron Fist thought up conclusions.

"Well, let's get a move on to the other guys, then. Before Reaper shows back up." Nova grunted.

"You're right, let's go." Spidey beckoned the others to the other archway, but Tiger pulled him aside real quick.

"Thanks for saving me, Pete." She thanked him. "I hope you weren't… like… surprised of what you saw in my dream or anything."

"Well, I can tell what's on your mind now."

"It's not just that." Tiger giggled.

"Riiiiiight." Spidey hugged her. "Don't mention it, kitten."

"Shoot me, I'm going to hurl." Nova commented, waiting on them to get a move on.

"Can it, Nova!" The two lovers shouted at him, their shouts echoing throughout the Dream Nexus.

"It looks like the next dream is Wolfe's…" Iron Fist took a peek into the portal.


Author's Note: So, let me apologize now for the really long chapter! I had intended this chapter to be the second-before last chapter for the story but I underestimated how much content I would be putting into the story! :( I thank the readers for their patience, I really hope you've enjoyed this one though! :D I enjoyed returning to the roots of the Ultimate Spider-Man series when portraying the dream-sequences of each of the characters and I really hope you enjoyed it too! :D Next chapter will be The Dream Nexus, Part II, and it leads into the final showdown between Phantom and Reaper at the very end.

Clues to look out for. Stan Lee's involvement in the Dream Nexus is both a play on his cinematic cameos as well as a mentioned theory of Stan's involvement in the Marvel universe. I took upon the theory and added it into the story arc, essentially introducing him to the trilogy. He plays a much larger role at the end of the whole series. I'll leave it to the die-hard Marvel fans to figure out who he is as I continue! :)

As always, feedback is greatly appreciated and I thank you for taking the time to have read all of this! :D Also, I've opened up a poll on my profile (It's my first time using it, so I hope it works out) as to what I should call the third story of the Phantom trilogy. I came up with a few that'll maintain relevancy to the story but I'd like the community's feedback on it. I'll leave it up for a few months before I get to work on the next story!

Reader Responses:

The Story's Shadow: Aw, well I didn't really think it was a bad username, I'm glad you took it upon yourself to make a change for the better, though. The new username fits you! Well, I thank you, my friend! :) I do my best, although, I really hope I portrayed a good amount of development in this chapter alone, giving the readers a more in-depth knowledge of each of the characters. Thanks for the feedback, friend! :D I hope you've enjoyed this chapter!

Sport21: Thanks man, I appreciate it! :D So, Reaper has made an attempt to control Spidey's mind, we'll see more of an attempt on his part in the third story by playing on his vulnerabilities that we'll see at the end of this story. Don't worry, the epilogue will wrap up most of the questions at the end of the story as well as open up possibilities for the next story. Thanks for the review! :D

Death Fury: Thanks partner, I appreciate it! :D I messaged you back in regards to your question, by the way. I'll mention that Stan Lee's involvement in this chapter opens up that possibility for a "higher being" being in control at the end of the trilogy. I hope you've enjoyed it! :D Thanks for the review!

Romeosami7: Really? Haha, well thanks! :D I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! I appreciate the review!

Jetcore: I do quite enjoy the length of your reviews, my friend! Lol, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter just as much, even if it's ungodly lengthy. Ha, I'll let you know if Marvel ever does pick me up… However, other companies like Dark Horse Comics are hiring, so I might throw my hat in to go working as a writer for them. Who knows? Place your vote on my poll on my profile for the next title, please! :D

I completely agree, I've been avoiding television and Civil War ads just because I don't want it spoiled for me. I'm pretty stoked about seeing it opening-day this Friday. Oh, thank god, I really didn't want any of the Avengers to get killed off here!

Lol, I appreciate it, but I'm still figuring out whether or not I'll end up going there. I'll be heading to Rome sometime this year to celebrate my long-delayed honeymoon, however… It's been a long-time coming.

Thanks for the review, my friend! :D

The Night Hunter: Thank you, my friend! :D Yeah, I knew that Magneto's helmet was the only thing standing between him and Reaper's control, but I made it a bit more logical having Reaper's influence over him grow over the span of several decades. Til now, where Magneto was still his thrall even without the helmet. Thanks for the review, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! :D

Burke23: Lol, yes, definitely! :D Thanks!

Thanks for reading! :D