Peter Parker's perspective:
It had been only one sleep since Michelle "MJ" Jones had found out about Peter's brief affair, however coerced, with The Black Cat. There was still no sign of her so Peter could concentrate on being yelled at by MJ.
"OK, Peter," said MJ. "I want to know why you didn't tell me anything. I know you were blackmailed, but I could've helped you. I certainly would have understood."
"I did talk to Flash," Peter made the best excuse he could come up with. MJ seemed even more angered by it, if anything. "Please don't slap me."
"I'm this close," MJ placed her right index finger underneath Peter's nose. "You've been a good boyfriend until now and a hero besides. So I'll just lay down some ground rules. First, I text you once an hour. I expect a response to every single one. Get me?"
"Done," said a relieved Peter. That was easily done.
"I'm not finished," said MJ. "From now on, at least three dates a week."
"The week we started seeing each other less," Peter reminded MJ, "I needed to help Flash with his homework."
"Finally," MJ seemed to ignore Peter. "I understand that Spider-Man is important. But if you're out of costume and it's past working hours, I can call Peter Parker to come back to his house or mine anytime I want."
"All right," Peter accepted these terms. Off a still-hard look on MJ's face, Peter corrected himself: "All right, MJ."
"Don't ever cheat on a sistah," MJ warned Peter. "Never go Eric Benet!"
Doctor Octopus' perspective:
Doctor Octopus had been removed from his cell in Ravencroft to participate in a hearing to decide if he was sane enough to go to a normal prison. The room was heavily magnetized so that everything that was made of metal in the courtroom, including Doctor Octopus' tentacles, was earthbound.
"And so," said Executive District Attorney Bobby Brown, "Mr. Octavius may be mentally extreme, but it is too based on egotism to consider him too insane to be treated as the criminal that he is."
"Can this court not realize that my client is sick?" asked Mary Bueno, Octopus' lawyer. "Mr. Octavius was a good man before the tentacles. We need find a way to free him of them before we even think of depriving him of mental aid."
"Your honor," said Brown, "This is speculation and theory. It is backed by no evidence that Mr. Octavius is truly needy."
"The state of New York is seeking to revise my client's sentence," said Bueno. "Therefore, the burden of proof lies with the state."
"I trust his honor understands," contended Brown, "That I have met the 'reasonable doubt' threshold that I would not be expected to exceed in a trial, much less a hearing."
"Court agrees," said Judge Ray Johansen. "Mr. Octavius will therefore be transferred to Ryker's Island tomorrow at noon. Court is adjourned."
"I'm so sorry," whispered Bueno to Doctor Octopus.
"Don't be," grinned Octopus as he finished the hacking he was doing on his phone. He felt the magnetic pressure on his tentacles vanish. "Never let a scientist near computerized equipment." He took out the security guards by whacking them in the face with the tentacles. Then he did the same to Brown and Johansen.
"Why so afraid?" Doctor Octopus asked a shivering Bueno. "I've proven you right about my state of mind. This will be a boost to your standing in the legal community. Provided, naturally, that you make no foolish attempt to stop me." He broke a exit hole in a wall and walked with his lower tentacles to make long strides, speeding his escape.
Spider-Man has seen me in Ravencroft twice before. But there are others who he has humiliated before. Perhaps I should look them up.
MJ's perspective:
Peter had taken MJ home from the play they had gone to. "Peter," said MJ. "Could you stay here until Mom goes to sleep?"
"I have to," Peter reminded MJ of the temporary rules she had set. "Why are you asking?"
"To be polite," MJ said.
When MJ's mother went to sleep, MJ said, "You told me you can make webs in new shapes now. Try a hammock right under the ceiling."
"Without the instinct of a spider," warned Peter, "You can't learn how to touch my webbing without sticking to it."
"Guess I'm on top, then," smirked MJ. Peter spent the next few minutes making a web hammock. He succeeded. MJ was impressed. He had improved his web skills over the previous year. If only he had improved the right things.
Peter picked up MJ, walked up the wall and carefully entered the web hammock with MJ on top of him. They smiled at each other for a few minutes before kissing.
"I like it so much better when we get along, don't you?" asked MJ.
Peter nodded. Perhaps nothing else bad could happen between them after all.
MJ wished she could believe that.
Doctor Octopus' perspective:
Octopus was at Ryker's. He had studied the locations of the cells holding the inmates who he was interested in. With his tentacles, he had no trouble breaking out The Rhino. He came first because his incredible strength was ideally suited to freeing the others.
"I have a job for you," said Doctor Octopus. "Come, Rhino."
In time they had freed Hydro-Man, The Chameleon, Kraven the Hunter, and Mysterio.
"What is the catch, American scientist?" asked Kraven.
"Worry about the guards first," suggested Octopus. Sure enough, the guards came. But they were no match for super-criminals. Hydro-Man took up the front because he was immune to bullets. He and the others delivered outstretched watery fists, Rhino charges, and metal tentacles to the guards until they retreated.
"Come," Doctor Octopus lead the others into his minivan. "We have vengeance to prepare."
Mysterio's perspective:
Mysterio was on edge. He was now part of the group that its leader, Doctor Octopus, was calling The Sinister Six. Mysterio was the only member who lacked special powers. He had therefore replaced his old equipment very quickly to make up for this. He was relieved when he did for this was his only means of defending himself should a teammate turn against him.
"The meeting is called to order," declared Doctor Octopus. "We are gathered together by our hatred of Spider-Man. We each have a story to share. He stopped me from hitting the big time. Then he riddled me with gunfire."
"That doesn't sound like The Wall-Crawler," objected The Chameleon.
Octopus showed everyone his gunshot wound. Still, Spider-Man could have killed Mysterio in their last meeting. He had not. It was doubtful that Octopus' story was true.
"Rhino and I had a job to do for our country," said The Chameleon. "Spider-Man prevented us from being heroes to our countrymen."
"Yeah," said The Rhino. "Nobody makes me disappoint Mother Russia and gets away with it."
I know Rhino and Chameleon kidnapped an American war hero. I'd better get used to hearing them distort their odious motives.
"He ruined my greatest hunt," said Kraven. "And my reputation as an honorable hunter back in South Africa." Since it was Spider-Man, a human being, who he was hunting, Mysterio felt that Kraven got what he deserved. Still, Mysterio would put up with such despicable cohorts. His eyes were on the prize.
"He spoiled my fun," declared Hydro-Man. And by "fun" he meant the terrorism that he thought his powers entitled him to commit.
"I was a successful thief with two lovely ladies fighting over me before Spider-Man apprehended me," Mysterio finally took his turn. "I was informed that they don't wait for criminals to get out of prison." Mysterio was sure that at least this motive was honorable, though the reader may disagree.
"Now that we understand each other," said Doctor Octopus, "We must decide how to deal with Spider-Man."
"That won't be easy," lamented Mysterio. "He's too fast."
"So am I," said Rhino.
"But not as agile," argued Hydro-Man. "Little squirt's a handful to hold onto."
"He can even fight blind," noted Kraven. "Literally. I know from experience."
"I have a plan," declared Doctor Octopus, thoughtfully. "There is a photojournalist named Peter Parker. He is a master at getting pictures of him. If we follow him, he's bound to lead us to Spider-Man."
"I have a better idea," suggested Kraven. "We convince him to send Spider-Man to us."
"How do we do that?" asked The Rhino.
"Perhaps the lad has someone close to him," smiled Octopus evilly.
"Kidnapping goes against my code," objected Kraven.
"All in favor?" Octopus polled the others, raising his upper right tentacle. Four hands went up. Kraven was outvoted.
"Barbarians," Kraven whispered to himself.
"I heard that," Mysterio snarled.
Peter's perspective:
Leaving a restaurant the next afternoon, Peter and MJ were walking towards Peter's car. As they neared it, Peter's Spider-Sense began tingling. He whispered in MJ's ear, "Trouble. We've gotta get in the car fast!"
"Are you sure?" whispered MJ. No sooner had she asked that when six men in capes seemed to appear around the car out of thin air. Seeing Mysterio among them explained how they had seemed to be invisible.
Oh, no! I was going to start looking for them after dinner. This wasn't what I had in mind.
"We call ourselves The Sinister Six," Doctor Octopus introduced his new team. "Ready to go down in history as one of the greatest journalists who ever lived?"
"I'm likely out of that field," said Peter. "I'm gonna be a scientist."
"I respect that," said Octopus. "But you'll make a lot of money covering the death of Spider-Man.
"I don't share the Doctor's love of science," said Mysterio. "Go for the money. It makes the world go round, after all."
"What makes you think I'm either capable or want to lead Spider-Man to the six of you?" asked Peter.
"Our leader says that you know how to get pictures of him," said Kraven. "Ergo, you know how to find him."
"Good thinking," admitted Peter. Although not good enough for them to realize that they already had Spider-Man in their sights.
"And if career isn't motivation enough, try future family," said The Rhino, lifting up MJ by the shirt collar.
"Let me go, you big bully," shouted MJ, kicking Rhino in the groin. "Ow!" MJ had only hurt her own right foot trying.
"I laugh at bullets," said Rhino. "But still, don't try that again, American bitch. It won't end well for you."
"Let her go," cried Peter. He was knocked a few meters away and on his back by a blast of water.
"Want some more of our power, boy?" asked Hydro-Man. "Or ya wanna cooperate?"
Peter had not begun to fight except that he could not afford to blow his own cover. Besides, this was a hostage situation. "You'll never get away with this. The Fantastic Four and Avengers won't let you get away with murder."
The Chameleon changed his appearance to resemble a man in a suit and said in an American accent, "No officers, your coroner doesn't think there was any murder here."
"What do you want?" Peter finally relented.
"Spider-Man," said Doctor Octopus. "Win, lose or draw, we will allow you and your girlfriend to live happily ever after."
"No," cried MJ. "Peter, he doesn't stand a chance against this many people. This city needs him. Don't."
But Peter was unwilling to give up his lover, particularly since he still needed to redeem himself. In addition to having cheated on MJ, it was his fault she was being kidnapped in the first place. In using his powers to get good pictures, Peter had made it clear that he knew more about Spider-Man than he let on, endangering MJ. That his ultimate secret was still safe meant little.
"You'll get what you want," promised Peter under his breath. "Just don't hurt MJ."
"No," screamed MJ. "He'll get killed. There's no sense in..."
The Rhino had covered her mouth. "You want to be free, don't you?"
"Chameleon," said Doctor Octopus, "Keep up appearances. But name our terms on the way 'home.'"
The Chameleon morphed into MJ. "My pleasure," he said in the girl's voice.
Peter reluctantly drove "MJ" home. He said to Peter, "Here's the deal, Parker. In three nights, Spider-Man will meet us at Moe's Goods at 534 Maggie Street, Brooklyn. If he's early or brings help, you can kiss MJ goodbye." "MJ" blew Peter a kiss to show that he meant business.
In his anger, Peter dropped The Chameleon off at MJ's house. He seethed as he walked The Chameleon through the door. Spider-Man had trouble with the entire Sinister Six individually. Fighting them all at once seemed hopeless. Yet he had to try. To do otherwise meant accepting that MJ would die.
MJ's perspective:
MJ was locked in the attic of a three-story building. No windows. Therefore, no way out. Although oddly enough, there was a television set.
"We'll feed you," promised Doctor Octopus. "Starting tomorrow morning. And you can see that there is a television set in case you get bored. You will remain for the next three days."
"What then?" asked MJ. "Am I free to go after you're done with Spider-Man?" But she had no intention of either of them dying.
"Bad idea," said the electronic voice of Mysterio from below. "She knows too much."
"You-you wouldn't kill me just for what I've seen, would you?" asked MJ, knowing that it was, at best, likely that Octopus would do exactly that. Sure enough, he left and locked the door behind him without answering.
MJ knew she was doomed. Her only hope was Spider-Man, and what chance did he have? With the leverage of a hostage, any of these punks would have been a favorite against Spidey, much less all six of them together.
MJ was tempted to blame Peter for having gotten into a relationship with her, especially since he had disappointed her. But she knew that was unfair. He did great things in costume. Besides, MJ had started the relationship by helping him to the doctor when the bite of the radioactive spider that gave him his Spider-Powers initially made him terribly sick. And she had embraced his friendship.
MJ turned on the TV. She felt that she may as well have enjoyed her last days of life. She only hoped how tough she had been on Peter lately dissuaded him from coming. No sense in them both dying.
Peter's perspective:
The three days were difficult for Peter. This was by far his most difficult test to date. He had barely beaten his old foes in the past. How could he possibly survive them all at once? What could he do?
On the second day, Aunt May asked, "Peter, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Peter humored her.
"Then why do you look distraught?"
Peter had no answer. He was apparently unable to hide his dilemma from his aunt.
"Whatever it is," said May, "I'm sure you can handle it. You've done an excellent job of supporting us as you've aged seventeen to eighteen. But let me tell you something I told your late mother when she gave birth to you. It was very painful for her. I could see that she wasn't sure if she could take it anymore. I said, 'I know it's hard. Sometimes problems seem larger than life. But try. I have faith in you.' And then... out you came."
Peter hugged his aunt and smiled. He had needed that.
Spider-Man's perspective:
So when the time came, Spider-Man felt more confident on the trip to Moe's Goods. What he found was a closed business. Most likely The Sinister Six had taken out Moe or whoever was running it.
Spidey entered through a window. He saw MJ tied to a chair. Could it have been that easy? Spider-Man walked faster towards her once the Spider-Sense started tingling. but before he could free MJ, her arms passed through Mysterio's illusory ropes to zap Spider-Man with a taser.
Spider-Man needed his Spider-Strength to stagger back instead of falling down. He was knocked around by a charging Rhino. Spider-Man managed to land on his feet, but fell as the ground proved surprisingly slippery. The reason why became clear as Hydro-Man re-formed himself.
As Spidey tried to roll a safe distance away from both The Rhino and Hydro-Man, his waist was tightly encircled by one of Doctor Octopus' tentacles.
"What a disappointment," said Doctor Octopus.
"Try a fair fight and maybe you won't be," suggested Spidey. He was answered by Kraven and Mysterio pointing guns at him.
"Oh, no," grinned MJ. "Who will save me now?" She changed into The Chameleon's default form.
"Let's show 'im our real prisoner," chuckled The Rhino. It was going to be salt in the wound.
The Sinister Six brought Spider-Man to MJ.
"I did the best I could," apologized The Web-Slinger.
"I told Peter Parker you shouldn't have come," sighed a depressed MJ. "Guess we'll die together."
Most likely. But Spidey had one card left in his hand. "Which of you wants to brag about my corpse?"
"Oh, no," Doctor Octopus shook his head. "We're not suckers. Sorry."
"Do we have to give credit to the big Russian idiot?" Hydro-Man pointed at The Rhino. "No offense, Chameleon."
"I'll show you an idiot," promised Rhino, preparing to charge.
"No," warned Octopus. "This is exactly what Spider-Man wants."
But it was too late. Rhino charged into Hydro-Man, tearing him apart in a huge splash of water! But he soon formed a puddle on the ground. Out of the puddle reached an arm that punched at The Rhino, launching him through a wall and two stories to the ground!
"Don't screw with Hydro-Man," declared the solidifying aquatic criminal before he jumped out after The Rhino.
"Stop, fools," cried Kraven.
"Cease," commanded Doctor Octopus.
As his opponents kept trying to talk sense into The Rhino and Hydro-Man, Spider-Man managed to squeeze out of Octopus' tentacle and ran to MJ. "Hold onto me." MJ did so as The Web-Slinger smashed through another wall and began web swinging to get them away. Spider-Man would get MJ to a safe place, then tackle The Sinister Six for good!
Can't get rid of me that easily. Not after you took three days of my girlfriend's life away from her.
Kraven's perspective:
The Rhino and Hydro-Man had finally calmed down. Doctor Octopus led his team back up to the attic to discover that Spider-Man and MJ were gone.
"Look what you did," complained Doctor Octopus.
"What did we do wrong?" asked Hydro-Man.
"Need you ask?" asked Mysterio.
"But he was holding The Wall-Crawler," The Rhino pointed to Doctor Octopus.
"Don't. Even. Think. about. it." snarled Octopus.
"Why are you losing your tempers?" asked Kraven. "We can pick up their trail. We can still claim our quarries. This is far from over."
"Perhaps we should split up," suggested The Chameleon.
"Yes," agreed Mysterio. "Spider-Man has us fighting among ourselves."
"Go," commanded Doctor Octopus. "I will make sure they are not hiding here."
Kraven smiled. He preferred hunting solo anyway. Although the others were not sure. Regardless, they could not afford to be turned against each other again.
Spider-Man's perspective:
Enough distance had been built for Spider-Man to feel that he could safely hide MJ, so he dropped into the alley in which he had left his clothes.
"How come we're stopping?" asked a surprised MJ.
Spider-Man retrieved his credit card. Holding it out, he said, "We're near The Carlton." He pointed up at the logo of the hotel. "Don't go home. Use this card to get a room for the night. Make up something to your mother."
"You're going after The Sinister Six again," said MJ. She looked afraid for Spider-Man.
Spider-Man tried to be gentle about this. "I'm not done with those dicks."
"No," said MJ sharply. "You can't handle them by yourself. Get help."
"The Fantastic Four are still looking for Doctor Doom," said Spider-Man. "The Punisher would probably help, but he's too brutal for my taste. I'm on my own."
"Then we need to leave town," said MJ. She began whispering to protect Spidey's secret. "No arguments. We have no choice. The Sinister Six knows that Peter Parker knows Spider-Man, so you won't be safe when you take off that mask. You know science and journalism. I'm told that I have a future in acting. We'll be OK."
"We will," Spider-Man agreed. "It's New York City that won't be OK. I have to stop The Sinister Six."
"If this is about making it up to me," said MJ, "Don't. I forgive you. I've just wanted to make sure you learned your lesson. But I never thought getting you killed was the way to do it."
"Good to know," said a relieved Spidey, "But it's not that at all. When Uncle Ben died, I learned that with great power comes great responsibility. I'm not going to back away from that when it becomes inconvenient."
"Inconvenient?" snapped MJ. "It's six against one. You can't beat those kinds of odds. You're gonna get killed. It's not cowardly to walk away under these circumstances."
"I know I'm usually a pushover when it comes to you," sighed Spider-Man, "But I can't do what you ask. I can't run and leave this city at their mercy. And they've got one weakness. They may be a team, but they can't work as one. I've got a chance. But even if I lose, you knew all along that it could come to this."
"And it has," MJ relented. She wept away a tear and hugged him. "I guess I can't be irresponsible either. OK, Spider-Man, do what you gotta do."
As MJ walked towards the Carlton, Spider-Man called, "I'll be back when this is over."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," said MJ, not looking back.
I continue to be not the best with relationships.
Spider-Man immediately began web swinging in search for The Sinister Six. Of course, this team of super-criminals had to be looking for him. Some time later Spider-Man saw Hydro-Man on a rooftop. The aquatic criminal gave Spider-Man a middle finger salute. "Bring it on, Wall-Crawler! Just don't expect me to feel it."
Hydro-Man was right. Spider-Man could no more hurt him than the water he was largely made of. But he could be shocked. Spider-Man pulled out the taser he had knocked Hydro-Man out with once before.
Then a wide spray of water came at Spider-Man! It was spread too thin for him to dodge so he had no choice but to throw the taser away. Otherwise, he would have been zapped himself by the short-circuit.
"Uh-uh, Web-Head," shouted Hydro-Man. "Not this time. Seein' as how that was your only hope, you better be runnin' home to mama!"
"No, there is another," said The Web-Slinger as he web swung away from giant water-fists. "I know, gotta stop watching so many movies." With that, he divebombed Hydro-Man, turning him into water spread across the roof.
Spider-Man had no time to waste! He leapt onto a parapet and webbed up the spot in which Hydro-Man's watery remains were gathering. Spider-Man kept his Web-Shooters going so that he webbed up that spot thoroughly. His webbing gradually spread and re-layered throughout the roof. Within minutes, the entire roof was covered in webbing.
Seeing that Hydro-Man was vainly struggling to get out from under the webbing, Spider-Man asked, "Why so quiet of a sudden?"
"Shut up," cried Hydro-Man.
"OK," said Spidey, hopping off to a lower rooftop. He drew his phone and dialed 911. "This is Peter Parker and I just saw Spider-Man dispatch Hydro-Man on a roof near me. He's under a lot of webs. Look around the area where you traced this call. Better be careful. He's made of water and, therefore, hard to catch."
"I'll make sure the boys know that," promised the operator on the other side of the line. Police choppers soon arrived with a large vacuum cleaner and steel container with which to hold Hydro-Man.
The five remaining members of The Sinister Six were not going to attack with the police nearby. That gave Spider-Man time to reflect on his situation. Why had Hydro-Man fought alone? The obvious answer was Spidey had created more bad blood than he thought. They must have split up. That gave him a chance. Maybe ten percent. This many super-fights would still be wearying.
Spider-Man took off again. He was tackled from behind by a leaping Rhino. Spidey shook out of The Rhino's hold quickly and used web lines to slow his own fall a few times as he fell to the ground to meet his large opponent.
"I'm squashing you, bug," threatened Rhino as he charged. Spider-Man jumped over him and tried to to use his webs. No more Web Fluid. He had used most of it up trapping Hydro-Man.
Spider-Man relied on his agility. The Rhino was very fast, but they did come more mobile. This enabled Spidey to deliver hit after hit without getting hit in return.
With The Rhino reeling, Spider-Man delivered three haymakers at The Rhino. He finally managed to hit Spider-Man, knocking him away. But by this time, The Rhino had been hit so much that he fell to his hands and knees. A flying kick knocked him out.
After calling more police to take care of Rhino, Spider-Man, a little weaker, but no less determined, filled his Web-Shooters with full Web Cartridges.
When the police force sent after The Rhino arrived, the leader shouted, "Shoot him!"
Spider-Man was barely able to dodge the first series of shots before the police had to reload. There were half a dozen officers and they could aim, so trying to get clean away could be risky. Spidey gulped. "What seems to be the problem, officers?"
"You know what you did Wall-Crawler," accused one officer. The others seemed to not know why he had apparently ordered this attack.
"That's The Chameleon," Spider-Man pointed at the leader.
"Prove it," said one officer.
"When's the last time he had a pizza?" asked Spider-Man.
"A few days ago," said the leader. "What of it."
"But I had pizza with you - no, I had pizza with the Sarge today," said another officer. "Spider-Man's telling the truth."
The Chameleon gritted his teeth as he dropped the gun and raised his hands before returning to his true form. "Your boss is dead. Too bad. You're going to be dead soon yourself, Spider-Man."
Spider-Man's tiring bones even though only half The Sinister Six were beaten would seem to prove The Chameleon right, but The Web-Slinger would go down swinging!
MJ's perspective:
Two in the morning. Guess I may as well accept that I'm not sleeping tonight.
MJ knew exactly why she had been unable to sleep. She was worried about Peter. He was going to get himself killed. And it was going to be MJ's own fault. Why had she allowed him to go? This was suicide.
MJ checked local news on her phone. Her heart jumped upon finding out about the captures of The Chameleon, Hydro-Man and Rhino. Peter was alive. Could a miracle happen?
Spider-Man's perspective:
A miracle was happening. Spider-Man knew it.
Peter Parker's friend, Flash Thompson, had told him that sometimes on the football field, you could get in a zone in which nothing could stop you. Spider-Man hoped he was in that zone.
Since two of the three remaining super-criminals were sneaky, Spider-Man figured that they would stay low, so Spider-Man did as well. At one point, he saw a line of thugs firing assault rifles at him. He had to twist about to avoid the bullets. He cried in pain as he was hit by an explosive shell. Not a square hit or he would have been killed. It still hurt badly and his costume was torn.
The gunmen were gone. To nowhere in particular. It was like that had never existed.
Mysterio.
Spider-Man dived away at the urging of his Spider-Sense. Still, he watched in the direction of the warning. He caught a glimpse of the shell that had missed him and ran towards the shrouded Mysterio. Spider-Speed gave Mysterio no time to move so Spider-Man would again not know where he was; instead, Spidey dived into him, knocking the bazooka away, and webbing him up.
"Now you're really invisible," said Spider-Man as he got a distance away, and called the police on Mysterio.
Spider-Man continued patrolling for his two remaining opponents. He dropped to the floor when he heard Kraven the Hunter shout, "Face me, beast!" Spider-Man looked around to see Kraven.
"What kind of hunter announces his presence?" asked Spider-Man.
"You seem to literally have eyes in the back of your head," explained Kraven, shooting his rifle at Spider-Man. Spider-Man was unable to completely dodge the bullet, and his left shoulder was grazed. The night had taken its toll on The Web-Slinger; he was half dead.
Still, he managed to avoid the remaining bullets. Kraven drew a spear out of a holster on his back and charged. Spider-Man huffed and puffed as he grabbed the spear pole to keep from being run through, but was unable to keep himself from being pushed down onto his back.
"You are my greatest catch, Spider-Man," grinned Kraven as the spear moved closer and closer to Spider-Man.
Ulp! Touching my chest. Fight, Spidey! Fight! You promised MJ that you'd make it, and you've disappointed that great woman enough lately as it is.
Reporter Edward Brock was covering this fight for the New York Globe. His take would be that Spider-Man discovered hidden strength with his life in danger. In reality, love for both New York and MJ drove him as he whacked Kraven in the head three times with the spear shaft, knocking him out!
Spider-Man needed to rest before webbing up Kraven and calling the police.
I'm beat. And the most dangerous of them all is still left. In my sorry shape, he's an overwhelming favorite. But I should worry about that at this point!
Doctor Octopus' perspective:
If the reports were right, all of Doctor Octopus' comrades had failed. But he had wisely stayed behind. He would continue to take no chances. Knowing Spider-Man would come after him eventually, Octopus chose to make his stand in the narrow attic.
You may have beaten those other idiots, Spider-Man, but without room to move, you don't stand a chance here.
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man looked around for Doctor Octopus, the sole survivor of The Sinister Six. But a couple hours passed without finding him. He must have returned to his hideout to wait for Spider-Man. Surely Octopus would not have run from a fight.
Spider-Man went to and entered the hideout. "Outstanding," called Doctor Octopus.
"I wish I could say the same for a 'fearless' leader who lets everyone else take all the risks," shouted Spider-Man as he climbed the stairs in the direction of Doctor Octopus' voice.
"I prefer 'brilliant scientist,'" Octopus defended his actions.
Spider-Man entered the attic to see Doctor Octopus waiting for him.
"Here is where you fall short at the finish line," declared Doctor Octopus. "And don't think I forgot about you shooting me up and trying to kill me months ago."
That was The Punisher. Octopus is so nuts he's rewriting history.
Spider-Man dodged the tentacles but he knew that it was a losing battle. He had no room to move. Then again, neither did Octopus. He began slinging webs everywhere.
Doctor Octopus was amused. "Where are you aiming Spider-Man? Time to end this."
He lashed out with a tentacle, but Spidey webbed it into other webs hanging around. They rinsed and repeated with the other tentacles. Ordinarily, Octopus could have gotten his tentacles free, but the short proximity between ceiling and floor meant that so much webbing got the tentacles tangled up like they were in seaweed.
"No," shouted Doctor Octopus. "It is not possible. Six against one."
"I know," said Spider-Man sweetly. "That's so sad, Doc Ock."
Peter's perspective:
Sunrise. The good guys had won somehow. After the police had taken Octopus away, Spider-Man had changed back into his normal clothes. He returned to The Carlton. He needed to see MJ again.
Peter visited MJ in her room. She looked like she had yet to get to bed, either.
"I'm back," said Peter.
"You did it?" asked MJ, her eyes welling up with joy.
"I did it," said Peter.
MJ hugged him and cried.
"I'm glad to see you too," said Peter. "You're a great girlfriend."
When MJ could talk through tears, she said, "A great girlfriend wouldn't have let you go after six all those guys by yourself. But I see you're hurt, so I'll help you work out the kinks."
Peter chuckled. "Who could say no to that?"
I think Spider-Man's earned a break. Hopefully I have because I'm also taking one. But bookmark my profile hear at . In two or three weeks, I'll be back with a sequel fic. Webs away!