Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Marvel Comics and Gargoyles & Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holders.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Small Town Spider-Man – Episode Fifty: Gathering Storm Clouds

By

Celgress

Watson Residence Cider Falls late July, morning

"Why are you here Gayle?" Maddie said staring hard across the dining room table at her estranged elder daughter.

"Jeez I love you too mom." Gayle said sarcastically between bits of her breakfast. "It has only been a night lay of the third degree, okay."

"Last I remember you needed space to find yourself." Maddie said.

"What can I say I got lonely." Gayle said shrugging. "Then remembered how beautiful Cider Falls is this time of year. I thought hey I'll visit my mom and little sister."

"Now you visit." Maddie snorted. "Where were you when your father was murdered by the Green Goblin or when I thought Hobgoblin killed Mary Jane? Tell me that Gayle."

"I was busy." Gayle said nonchalantly.

"'Busy'", Maddie repeated incredulously.

"Yeah busy, besides dad was a no good gambler and a drunk," Gayle said.

Maddie and Mary Jane collectively gasped at the insensitivity of Gayle's off of the cuff remark. Both were rendered temporarily speechless. Almost a full minute passed before anyone again spoke. During this interval of silence Gayle continued eating her meal seemingly unaffected by the tension she'd caused.

"Mary Jane I'll see you later. I have to lie down. I suddenly don't feel well. Could you please clean up?" Maddie said excusing herself from the meal not wanting to make a scene.

"Don't worry mom I'll take care of everything, go rest." Mary Jane said with a weak smile. Once Maddie had exited Mary Jane glared at her sister.

"What," Gayle said finishing her meal.

"Was that really necessary Gayle?" Mary Jane said bitterly.

"It isn't my fault our mother can't face reality, and for that matter never could." Gayle said.

"Why did you come back Gayle? I want the truth." Mary Jane said.

"Because I love my family sis, what other reason do I need?" Gayle said.

"Bull crap," Mary Jane shot back as Gayle gathered her empty plate and glass.

"Okay you tell me why I'm here." Gayle said.

"I don't know, yet." Mary Jane said her brow furrowing.

"Here's a hint," Gayle said depositing her plate and glass by the sink. "I'm a fan of superheroes, a huge fan in fact and Cider Falls sure has more than it's fair share these days."

Realization dawned on Mary Jane her mouth hung open her eyes growing wide. "I remember now your social media posts, those links you've sent me since leaving town. Gayle you're a member of PIT!"

"Member nah sis I'm the head of Chapter Seven SW America District of People For Interspecies Tolerance or PIT, as our organization is more commonly known." Gayle said turning around to make eye contact with Mary Jane a broad smile spreading across her lightly freckled face. "I guess there is no hiding it any longer. I've been sent here to make contact with the Amazing Spider Team. See if they'd be interested in partnering with PIT, assuming SHEILD will allow such an arrangement. They saved the World sis if the Amazing Spider Team endorses our cause PIT can go mainstream, believe me we need to."

"Why, what's happened?" Mary Jane asked apprehensively, her head already spinning from Gayle's admission.

"Haven't you heard, sorry I forgot you don't full politics that closely sis." Gayle said. "Senator Robert Kelly recently announced his candidacy for President."

"That bigot," Mary Jane spat out before catching herself.

"So you're familiar with him after all." Gayle laughed.

"Yeah," Mary Jane admitted sheepishly. "J. Jonah Jameson invited Senator Kelly to attend a talk given by radio host Leroy Embry last year. Embry turned out to be the internationally wanted terrorist Chameleon, it was a fiasco. Wait shouldn't Senator Kelly's career have been seriously undermined by his association with Chameleon considering his base is mainly made up of rabid superhuman haters? How is he in any position to run for president?"

"Sis Senator Kelly is if anything, other than a hatemonger, a survivor." Gayle said shaking her head at Mary Jane's naivety. "He's skillfully spun it as Chameleon pulling the wool over his eyes. His base sees him as the innocent victim tricked by a dastardly meta human."

"I see." Mary Jane said more than a little disappointed by Gayle's information.

"You haven't heard the worst part yet sis." Gayle said her expression becoming serious. "Senator Kelly has announced a plank in his platform called the Superhuman and Nonhuman Registration and Control Act which if passed into law would force all meta humans, mutants and nonhumans to make their civilian identities public and be pressed into government service as security agents under federal jurisdiction."

Mary Jane visibly flinched. "They can't do that, can they Gayle?" Mary Jane said after taking a sharp breath.

"I'm afraid they can." Gayle said. "If Senator Kelly becomes president super humans and nonhumans will be forcibly pressed into a type of governmental servitude little better than slavery."

Tunnels beneath the Osborn Mansion and Oscorp Industries, afternoon

It had taken a nearly a week, but Chief Stacy had finally obtained his search warrant. He and his officers were now practically ransacking the secret passageways that honeycombed an area of five square miles running from the Osborn Mansion to Oscorp Industries Headquarters. Even with most of the department present, including two new recruits, it was slow, difficult and painstaking work. The tunnel system was simply too extensive for a detail search of every nock and cranny.

"This would go a lot quicker if you'd cooperate." Chief Stacy said to an aggravated Lily Osborn and her stoic assistant Donald Menken.

"Speak to my attorneys. I have nothing further to say, except I don't appreciate being treated like a common criminal." Lily said. Menken only nodded.

"Nobody is treating you like a common criminal. You're far from being a common criminal, Menace." Chief Stacy said placing special emphasis on the last word.

"Need I remind you Chief Stacy, my short lived altered ego was never convicted of any crime." Lily said. "Furthermore the only people I went after were those masked vigilantes who murdered my dear husband Norman and caused me to suffer a well-documented nervous breakdown, just ask my doctors."

"Your husband was a masked criminal mastermind." Chief Stacy added.

"Whatever he may or may not have been my Norman deserved a fair trial not to be illegally entrapped, publically humiliated and then killed with impunity by a group of costumed so called 'heroes'." Lily said.

"I'm not here to debate you on the circumstances surrounding the Green Goblin's unmasking and death." Chief Stacy said pinching the bridge of his nose. "That is settled history. I'm here because of Jennifer Walters' abduction."

"She's fine, isn't she?" Lily said.

"Why yes but that…" Chief Stacy began only to have Lily cut him off.

"Whoever abducted her did no long term harm." Lily said.

"Right ma'am," Menken agreed.

"A crime was still committed, a rather serious one." Chief Stacy said not quite believing what he was hearing. "Listen here…."

"Sir the southeast quadrant is clean." Newly transferred, from Tulsa Oklahoma, Sergeant Patrick Mulligan said entering the spacious chamber with two uniformed police officers. Patrick Mulligan was a medium built man with shaggy dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes and boyish good looks at odds with his thirty years of age. Chief Stacy noted Lily's grin at Mulligan's reported but didn't comment.

"Alright," Chief Stacy said calling his new second in command Lieutenant Jean DeWolff, a tough talking police woman originally from Chicago Illinois, on his police radio who also stated she'd found nothing in her search of the northwest quadrant. "Let's call it a day people. Don't look so smug we'll be keeping our eyes on both of you." Chief Stacy warned Lily and Menken before storming away.

"Pompous ass," Lily said barely under her breath. "Bye now Chief Stacy come back any time." Lily said loudly, waving cheerfully at the departing officers.

"Thankful they are gone." Menken sighed once Chief Stacy and the others were out of sight. "We should fill in these tunnels at once ma'am."

"No, we'll need a new scientist soon to replace that worthless runaway Dr. Meyer." Lily said.

"Pardon me ma'am wouldn't housing and equipping such an individual here prove problematic now that the police suspect our involvement in Ms. Walters' abduction?" Menken said obviously concerned by Lily's proclamation.

"Not at all, we already have Dr. Meyer's results to build upon including several remaining vials of his serum. The next person won't require nearly as extensive setup." Lily said dismissing her assistant's worried musings. "The question is who should I bring in? Let me see, hmmm." The ensuing silence was deafening as Lily carefully considered her options. Barely noticeable at first a low buzzing filled the chamber. "What is that irritating sound? Where is it coming from?"

"What sound ma'am?" Menken asked having not yet heard anything.

"Don't you hear that Menken that buzzing sound? I think it is coming from the grates" Lily said pointing up at the air circulation system.

"Wait I think I hear something…." Menken never finished his sentence.

An immense swarm of glowing, yellow bees burst through the grates swarming Lily and Menken both where rapidly engulfed by the angry, stinging bees. Unlike Lily who had the advantage of greatly enhanced healing and general resistance to most toxins Menken had no such advantages. Within well under a minuet Menken slipped into a coma from which he'd never awake. With a burst of herculean effort Lily jumped up and ran out of the chamber followed by literally thousands of bees. Luckily for Lilly there were several small decontamination chambers scattered throughout the tunnels. Thinking fast she ran into the nearest one activating it. Sealed away from her insectoid assassins Lily was shadowed by cleansing water and antiseptic foam. She had no idea where those crazed bees had come from but once safely on the surface she intended to find out.

Meanwhile in the chamber from whence Lily had fled the bees gathered together forming a vaguely humanoid shape which hovered in midair. Swarm looked down at the dead Donald Menken with satisfaction that at least one of his tormentors had paid the ultimate price. "Lily Osborn may have escaped my clutches for the time being but I'll have my revenge soon, if not against Lily directly than against her family. One way or another she'll pay dearly for what happened to me." Swarm broke apart into smaller groups of bees that flew back through the air vents.

Sitting there in the decontamination chamber her body filled with pain from the mutated beet venom Lily's mind wondered. There was only one person in the valley who Lily knew of that was obsessed with bees, the AWOL (absent without leave) Dr. Meyer! Lily's eyes narrowed a plan forming in her mind. Meyer would soon regret his attack on her person.

Down Town Cider Falls, evening

I was swinging around town on a peaceful patrol Scarlet Spider by my side. It was a warm, humid night. The sort of midsummer evening that I should have spent at a water hole with my fiancé. We were finishing our second sweep around town when I spied something odd on the high school rooftop. Getting Scarlet Spider's attention we headed for the school landing on the rooftop not far from where I'd spotted the abnormality.

"Greetings, I am Andreva specialist operative of the International Order of Hunters. I have been commissioned to cleanse this fair town of all abnormals such as you." The cloaked figure stated coldly her voice sounding artificial, mechanical even. "Make peace with whatever deities you believe in." Andreva tossed back her hood raveling her obsidian crimson scarred mask.

"Lady we have no quarrel with you." I said keeping what I assumed at the time to a safe distance from this wack job.

"Yeah why so hostile," Scarlet Spider laughed.

"Foolish abnornals," Andreva said.

Without warning I was snatched off my feet by some powerful, unseen force. What the heck was going it? Then it dawned on me this hunter Andreva had psychic powers, like certain mutants I'd read about. Struggling vainly to break free I kicked my feet wildly through the air. I watched in horror as Scarlet Spider sailed towards Andreva's outstretched arms. Knowing I had to stop this I managed to fire twin strands of webbing covering Andreva's mask. Andreva screamed in frustration wobbling on her feet. My plan worked Andreva's telekinetic hold loosened allowing us to escape.

"Come on Scarlet let's get out of here." I cried.

"No way, we can take her Spidey!" Scarlet Spider yelled aiming a dropkick at Andreva's upper body.

Before Scarlet Spider could make contact Andreva cut the webbing from her head with a small hidden knife and then caught Scarlet Spider's ankle of his extended, right leg with her right hand. Andreva twisted her wrist breaking Scarlet Spider's ankle with a sickening crack she then roughly pushed him aside. Scarlet Spider howled in pain clutching his injured leg as he rolled around on the rooftop.

I landed off to Andreva's left. I attempted to pepper her with blows to no effect. She was fast that much was for certain. I detected something else however was at play. Andreva's fluid bobbing and weaving remained me of my own movements brought about by spider sense. Was it possible besides being psychic this hunter also possessed a form of early warning instinct? Either way engaging her in hand to hand combat was extremely challenging even relying on Master Shang-Chi's excellent training. I entertained no illusions my less polished teammates would stand little chance against her one on one. While I couldn't lay my hands on her neither could she touch me. Our stalemate continued until Andreva abruptly changed tactics faking right she went left clutching my left wrist with her left hand. Before I could get free an intense electrical shock wracked my body. I fell to my knees. Andreva held onto me tenaciously.

"The adulation of your fans has deluded you Spider-Man." Andreva said her voice calm. "Ones such as you are not superhero material, trust me I know. Now welcome the sweet release of death pretender." Andreva slowly withdrew a large machete type knife from her belt with her free hand. Holding the weapon high overhead it's double edged surface gleaming in the pale moon light.

I squeezed my eyes tightly shut anticipating the blow that would end my criminally short life. It never came. Long seconds passed, apprehensively I opened my eyes. There standing before me was a beautiful sight Arachnia holding a steam pipe bigger than herself ripped from the rooftop.

"Hi honey." I said weakly.

"Darling how many times must I warn you about getting involved with people who play rough?" Arachnia joked.

"I know," I sighed regaining my foot with difficulty. "Say where has my latest playmate got to anyhow?"

"I gave her a time out with this." Arachnia said holding the steam pipe over her head. "Though I doubt the school will be happy."

"Hey its' summer what can they do, expel us." I said my spider sense then went crazy. "Ma, Arachnia watch out!" I yelled.

Arachnia dropped the steam pipe an instant before it was torn in three by two magenta energy discs. I soon saw their source Andreva the Hunter had returned! No longer holding her deadly blade each hand was now occupied by seemingly self-generated energy discs which floated slightly above her fingertips. Andreva flung one disc at me the other at Arachnia. We easily avoided them.

"Another amateur, how quinte," Andreva said zeroing on Arachnia.

Andreva and Arachnia exchanged a series of blows most of which missed their marks until Andreva delivered a high jump right kick followed immediately by a devastating left knee. Arachnia doubled over in pain Andreva's vicious knee attack having impacted hard with Arachnia's solar plexus. I could tell several of Arachnia's ribs had been fractured by the crunching sound I heard.

"Disappointing," Andreva said recalling her knife through the air. It flew into her right hand. She prepared to behead the kneeling Arachnia.

"I won't let you kill my family!" I declared tackling Andreva knocking her down.

Andreva powered out from under me, her strength clearly greater than my own. She swung her blade at me I dodge four times until she generated another energy disc in her left hand flinging it at me, then another, another and another. I was growing tired when a wave of crackling purple energy slammed into Andreva's chest puncturing her black clad armor. Out of the gaping hole smoke and sparks poured forth. Andreva stumbled backwards a step freezing in place, her arms and legs making whirring sounds before ceasing their motion.

"Gee whiz, a robot go figure." I said confused yet amused by the unexpected turn of events.

"I am no android abnormal filth!" Andreva said indignantly her artificially enhanced voice sounded strangely modulated.

"Well excuse me, what are you some kind of cyborg?" I said. Andreva remained quiet. I had obviously touched a raw nerve.

"Forget her we need to get out of here." Arachnia said limping up next to me while holding her midsection.

"Hey did you do that my love?" I asked.

"Sure did my first combative use of bio-energy stings, not bad huh?" Arachnia said.

"Nice job," Scarlet Spider said clapping as he too limped over.

"I'll remember you three." Andreva said in her flattering voice.

"I'm sure you will here's another parting gift." I said webbing up her legs. Scarlet Spider followed suit webbing up her torso, "bye bye."

"Thanks for the save Arachnia," I said as we swung away from the disabled Andreva.

"We owe you big time." Scarlet Spider said.

"Don't mention it." Arachnia said.

"Hey why were you out and about tonight in the first place?" I said.

"Aunt May told me you two were out patrolling so I decided to join." Arachnia said, "Although I do have an ulterior motive."

"Aw and here I thought you missed us." I joked.

"My sister Gayle wants to meet us, by us I mean the Amazing Spider Team." Arachnia said.

"We really don't have time for fans." I said.

"She isn't a fan well not really. She's more than that. She's a big wig with PIT." Arachnia said.

"The anti-hate group that wants full meta human, mutant and nonhuman acceptance by mainstream society?" Scarlet Spider asked.

"The same," Arachnia confirmed.

"I don't know." I said skeptically.

"C'mon Peter, Gayle only wants to help us." Arachnia pleaded.

"Yeah c'mon Peter what harm could meeting her possibly do?" Scarlet Spider said joining Arachnia's side.

"Fine, but if anything goes wrong remember this wasn't my idea." I said conceding defeat. "We'd better tell Gwen, might as well bring the whole gang along."

"Thanks tiger, you're one in a million." Arachnia said as we swung out of town.

"One in a million," I softly repeated. I only hoped we were doing the right thing.

Dr. Meyer's Bee Keeping Field

Fury the Goblin whizzed by overhead on her gliding dropping a series of eight, high yield incendiary pumpkin bombs filled with a napalm derivative below her four dozen hives where consumed in flames. Laughing manically at her handiwork Fury made another pass throwing her pair of remaining incendiary pumpkin bombs through the windows of Dr. Meyer's large farmhouse lighting it ablaze. Fury's enhanced ears were filled with a mad buzzing.

"Right on schedule," Fury said the enraged swarm of bees taking up a position directly in front of her.

"Lily Osborn's lapdog," Swarm said as his constituent bees formed a vaguely humanoid shaped being.

"Dr. Meyer I presume what a weird new look not much of an improvement, but beggars can't be choosers." Fury said.

"Insolent pup I'll crush you!" Swarm threatened.

"Try," Fury taunted not budging an inch either verbally or physically.

Angered beyond reason Swarm attempted to covered Fury and thereby sting her to death as he had Donald Menken earlier that day. Almost at once however Swarm pulled away from Fury after briefly making contact. Swarm felt wooziness spread throughout his bees that had touched Fury's body. They had instantly become sick, weak and disorientated.

"W-What d-d-did,,,," Swarm stammered slowly reassuming his humanoid shape a dozen feet away from Fury.

"What did I do?" Fury asked teasingly. "I coated my outfit in industrial strength Oscorp insecticide that's what Doc, enjoy a free sample courtesy of Lily Osborn." Fury sprayed twin high pressure streams of green gaseous insecticide at Swarm further harming his bees. The potent concoction would have killed lesser insects those eradiated by gamma rays however were only temporarily stricken by weakness.

Unaware the effects were temporary, concluding this was one confrontation he couldn't win Swarm escaped. His bees flying away fast as they could muster in their sickened state. Taking her que Fury triumphantly headed back towards the Osborn Mansion to report her victory.

To Be Continued