Electric Vultures.
Cassandra was traveling through the city with her new suit. Peter really knew how to make good stuff, this suit was a real work of art, even Batman would be impressed by it. Not to mention Peter made it despite not having access to the near unlimited money and resources like Batman does. Cassandra already knew where Peter was going to be, so she traveled through the city until she reached Time Square, and sure enough, Peter was standing on a roof top, clearly waiting for Cassandra to show up.
He noticed her as she landed "So, what do you think of the little gift I made you?".
"It almost makes me want to kiss you. Key word being almost. Thank you Peter. With this suit, it feels like I stand a chance against all those super villains" Cassandra said with a smile.
"It better, I made it for that exact reason. Still, it's not only the suit that matters, it's the person in the suit. And after everything I've seen you do, I almost feel sorry for any bad guy that has to fight you now" Peter said.
"Not as sorry as they are going to feel. So what's the plan?" Cassandra asked.
"City feels a little more under control… Miles is watching F.E.A.S.T MJ is tracking a Devil's Breath cure… Time for us to focus on finding Otto, and stopping whatever he has planned. Hang on, I will check in with Yuri" Peter said as he contacted the Police Captain "Yuri. we need to start tracking the big boys. Still no leads on Octavius?".
"No, nothing. Forensics can't even do a sweep of Times Square - everyone in that department but the intern is sick" Yuri answered.
"Me and Batgirl might be able to turn something up; let you know what we find" Peter said before hanging up "Alright, let's see what Time Square has for us" Peter said as they head down to Time Square where a police officer was standing.
"Spider-Man, Batgirl, here to lend a hand?" The Officer asked.
"Thought you might need one or two, officer" Peter said.
"You don't know the half of it, never seen anything like this Devil's Breath stuff. Forensics is havin' a hell of a time" The Officer said as he went back to work.
"News reports say this is where Otto released Devil's Breath… might've left some residue we can track…" Peter said as he picked up a sign "Hmm some residue on this sign. Maybe I can isolate it. AT-rich leader sequence… this looks promising. Oscorp's modified Cpf1. Definitely Devil's Breath. Should be able to track the dispersal path now…".
"Alright, let's see where it leads us" Cassandra said.
They began tracking the trails. It took a little time since the trail headed in several directions. But they were abale to isolate the building it came from. They then found an access hatch and used it to get inside. And sure enough they discovered something was inside. It was dark, but both heroes had a feeling they were in the right place.
"Well this is moody… Must be some way to hit the lights…" Peter said and saw a junction box and used his electric webbing on it "Let there be light… whoa" When the lights came on they saw a lot of stuff "Was Otto using this as a staging ground? Chaos of the prison break would've been perfect cover to move in".
"Let's see if any of this can provide us a clue of where he is" Cassandra said, Peter nods and they began to look around.
They find a work space with a recording and they turn it on "Norman. Feel like I can't turn around without seeing his face. He smiles for the cameras, collects his accolades… and keeps his boat heel pressed against my neck. Why can't anyone else see how selfish he is? How reckless? How… evil? If only they could be made to see the Norman I know… the man behind the mask…".
Cassandra sighed, Otto is delusional. Norman might be evil, but what Otto is doing now... whatever Norman did, it couldn't possibly be worse than releasing a plague on the city. How can Otto still believe he is in the right after everything he's done?
Still that was not the only recording he left, so she turned on the next one "Oscorp has snaked itself throughout the city, power, communication, public safety. Norman made his company essential, but also fragile. If a disaster were to occur, and a few small pressure points were tweaked... It would all fall apart. The public would see Norman for what he is: A leech on their lives. Yes... just a few simple steps, and he would be ruined forever".
'But how many other lives will be ruined first?' Cassandra thought in her head.
She turned on the next one "How many men would I need... well, let's see. First: some kind of disater. A hurricane, an earthquake, or... A plague. Next: assaults on Oscorp's power grid and emergency relief. Send the city into chaos. Let the people see the truth about Norman. Yes... Just a handful of men. No more than half dozen. A Sinister Six...".
A rather fitting name for a team of super villains.
She plays the next one "Martin has been arrested. Norman looks pleased. Believes he's safe. He has no idea: he's just put all the rotten effs a man might need into a single basket. With Martin in Raft... alongside Scorpion, Rhino, Vulture and Electro... a single swift kick is all it would take to send those eggs tumbling down the hill. Straight at Oscorp... and Norman. Yes... just one small kick... I think it's time for me to lace up my boots, and climb the hill...".
This made Cassandra think. The Raft was almost like Arkham, housing the most dangerous villain in the city... now she was really starting to think that putting all the most dangerous villains in one prison wasn't a smart idea. It just makes potential break outs much more likely and far more dangerous.
There was one more recording, so Cassandra turned it on "This is my final recording. Peter, if you're listening to this, please know that I did what I thought was just. It may have been extreme... but when it comes to Norman, half-measures will never do. O all that I risk by taking this next step, the loss of our friendship will pain me the most... and I hope your new friend Cassandra will survive what's to come... I can tell she had it rough, and I hate the thought of destroying her chances for a second chance at life... I hope, she will get to live out her life, in a world free of Norman's corruption. I hope if we meet again... It will not be on opposite sides".
Cassandra puts the recording down and leans on the table for a bit. Otto was such a nice man... it's so sad that he would throw his life away like this just for revenge. Cassandra has seen what revenge does, and the outcome is never what they expect.
"Do you think... he knows?" Cassandra asked Peter who had been standing behind her.
"I don't know... but hearing that... god why would he...?" Peter said as he rubbed his head.
"Revenge... it can turn a saint in to a demon... I've seen it before" Cassandra answered.
"Then we need to stop him before everything goes to hell" Peter declared. Cassandra nods and they walk up to a table "Good ol' Rhino. My second favourite Russian. Looks like Otto recorded messages for his crew…".
They turned on the message "Aleksei. I've followed your career with great interest. The world sees you as a witless dullard; I see a warrior with a poet's heart. I know you desire freedom from the battle suit you're sealed inside. Help me achieve my goals, and freedom shall be yours".
"So what is his story?" Cassandra asked.
"Aleksei Sytsevich, AKA Rhino. A former mob enforcer who became Rhino after having an experimental combat suit grafted to his skin, making him far stronger and tougher than even me. But after a while he felt trapped, and wanted to be freed. People spent years trying to find a way to safely remove his suit, but it looks like Otto is already figuring it out" Peter said.
"So he follows Otto due to the promise of freedom" Cassandra mused as they moved on to the next table.
"Mac Gargan AKA Scorpion AKA Crazy Pants McCrazy" Peter said as he turned on the recording.
"It's rare for me to admit this Mr. Gargan, clearing your debts was more difficult than I anticipated. You are in arrears to some… demanding individuals. Once the reservoir job is finished, your financial obligations will be finished as well. Otto Octavius is nothing if not persuasive" Otto said.
"Gargan was turned into the Scorpion by an experiment bankrolled by Jameson, in a desperate attempt of the old loud mouth to create someone who could take me down. You can guess how well that turned out" Peter said.
"I have a pretty good idea. So his motivation is to clear his depts" Cassandra said.
"He has been involved with more than a few dangerous people" Peter said as they moved to the next table "Old man Vulture… I've tangled with him more than anyone else here…".
They turned on the message "Adrian, what bitter irony that your miraculous Wings should have wrought such horrors on your body. Thankfully, you are now working for me. When our work is settled, the treatment I've developed *will* cure you. You won't shuffle off this mortal coil just yet, my friend".
"Adrian Toomes. He created wings that allowed him to fly. But it ended up giving him spinal cancer. So now he follows Otto in order to find a cure" Peter said.
"Desperate to prolong his long life for a few more years" Cassandra said and they moved on to the next table.
"Electro. Total live wire, that one" Peter said and they turned on the message.
"Max. When you first conveyed your dream to me I thought you insane. But as I dove deeper into the problem. I discovered a way to give us both what we desire. I promise you, when we are done, you will be pure energy. Or so close to it as to make the difference irrelevant" Otto said.
"Max Dillon, AKA Electro. He was involved in an unspecified accident which granted him the ability to absorb electricity and deploy it in destructive blasts. He was the first super powered villain I ever faced. His goal is to become pure energy, and with Otto's help, he could get closer" Peter explained.
"Your rogues gallary is nearly as chaotic as mine" Cassandra admitted she then noticed another table... and it was about a man she didn't want to see again. Still, she turned on the message.
"Oh Martin. When I first realized it was you targeting Osborn these past weeks I was shocked and saddened. But then, as the situation evolved before my eyes I felt inspired. You took the bold steps I had always dreamed of, Martin, and you took them without hesitation. I am honoured now to jam you on this path towards true justice" Otto said.
"LIES!" Cassandra shouted as she hit the table so hard it broke in half "All you did was release a monster!".
"Cassandra" Peter said as he put a hand on her shoulder "I know you are upset. But the Li I knew... the Li you met. He never would've done any of this. I want to believe there is still good in him".
"I wish I could believe that, Peter... and I really hope I am wrong" Cassandra said in a sad tone.
Peter wanted to say more, but now was not the time so he walked over to a table and saw a map "What's this now… Otto must've used this map to plan, but it's blank… unless there's something here I'm missing…".
"Look and U.V. bulb" Cassandra said as she turned to turn it on "Nothing".
"It's not getting power. Wait for a sec" Peter said as he went to restore the power to the U.V. "There we go. Hidden markings. Otto's tasked the villains to destroy Oscorp holdings throughout the city… he's trying to take apart Norman's empire piece by piece… Li's going after the Devil's Breath antiserum using something called Icarus? Scorpion must be trying to poison the city's reservoir… another Oscorp-owned property. Rhino's targeting Oscorp's shoreline properties… which is he hitting first, and why? Electro's disabling Oscorp power plants… makes sense. What's Vulture doing in Times Square? Need to keep our guard up… Seems like the last stage of the plan is a direct assault on Oscorp… and, most likely, Norman…".
"If they pull this of, Osborn will not be the only one they ruin. The entire city would never recover from something like this" Cassandra said.
"Exactly. Which means we need to stop this, Project Icarus. There must be something else here" Peter said as they looked around "Icarus, that's it".
They open a suitcase. There's a screen in it and it turns on to reveal Otto "Hello, Spider-Man and Batgirl. We've never been properly introduced. I'm-".
"Otto Octavius. There is no Icarus is there?" Peter demanded.
"No. Martin needs no assistance to secure the antiserum. Icarus was a ruse to get one or both of you into position" Otto answered.
"Into position…?" Peter asked before he noticed there is a bomb inside the case. He quickly grabs Cassandra and jumps out of the building through ventilation shaft, but gets in the claws of the Vulture, making him drop Cassandra.
"Spider-Man!" Cassandra called out as she quickly followed them.
They arrive at a small power plant, where Electro is waiting "Trap failed?".
"Softened him up. Time for Plan B" Vulture said.
Electro smirked before he looked at the two heroes "Well would you look at that. Two on two. I would say it's a fair fight... but you two are hopelessly outmatched".
"I got Electro" Peter said.
"Leave Vulture to me" Cassandra said.
The two heroes split up, each taking on one of the villains. Vulture flies at Cassandra who managed to leap up and land on his back. He tried to shake her of while she punched him in the head. She was forced to let go as he tried to slam her against a wall, and she landed on a roof top. She looked up to see Vulture glaring down at her.
"I am so tired of dealing with children playing hero!" He said in annoyance.
"Do you even know what you are doing? If Octavius succeeds, the city will never recover!" Cassandra said.
"You don't know him very well. He has back up plans for his back up plans. Once our goals have been reached, the city will be restored. And I must admit, a city without Norman Osborn will be far more pleasant" Vulture said.
Cassandra knew trying to reason with him would be pointless. So she got ready to fight. Vulture launched energized knife-like projectiles from his wingtips, Cassandra dodged them the best she could. This wasn't going to work, she needed to get closer to him. She activated the suit's cloaking, disappearing from the villain's sight. It worked, Vulture was clearly confused of where she went.
"What the? Where did you go!?" He demanded as he looked around. Cassandra was behind him and readied her grappling hook. She turned of the cloaking, and fired her grappling hook at Vulture's leg "What!? Get of me!".
He began flying around with Cassandra closing the distance fast, thanks to her grappling hook. When she reached him, she grabbed on to his chest, and proceeded to punch him in the face over and over again. Vulture was getting angry and grabbed Cassandra by the neck. His grip was strong for an old man, likely the result of his suit. He then punched her in the face, almost knocking her of, but she grabbed on to his leg and climbed on to his back. He began to spin around, trying to force her to let go. It almost worked, but Cassandra was able to hold on to him and forced him to fly in different directions. She managed to catch a glance of Peter fighting Electro. She got an idea and managed to force Vulture in to flying towards them.
They reached Electro who reacted out of instinct and grabbed on to Vulture, just as Cassandra let go of him, giving him a nasty shock before he quickly let go "Ah man...".
Peter took this opening to swing kick in to Electro. Vulture was stunned by what happened and could barely stay conscious. Cassandra used the opening to grapple back on him again. She noticed his suit was damaged, so she ripped out the wierring froms his wings, causing him to lose control and crash in to the ground. The Vulture was grounded.
Meanwhile Electro was reaching his limit. He began draining power from a generator, but Petter fired webbing at it, causing it to explode. Electro too the full brunt of the explosion and was sent flying down on a walk way. He weakly tried to get up but was webbed down. Both heroes landed next to him and looked down at the villain who slowly lost consciousness due to over exerting his body.
"What's happening?" Otto's voice came from an ear piece Electro was wearing.
Peter used his webbing to pull it in to his hand "Electro's been grounded".
"Spider-Man, I presume? If you really cared about this city you'd be helping me expose Osborn for the criminal he is!" Otto said.
"By killing innocent people?" Peter asked, still having trouble believing that Otto didn't understand what he was doing.
"I would've restored the power!" Otto argued.
"You're sick. You need help" Peter said.
"I have all the help I need. And we are not stop until Norman gets that he deserves" Otto said.
"And how many people will have to die for that to happen?" Cassandra demanded.
"Stay out of our way and there will be no needless death. But if you continue to interfere, then their deaths will be on your hands" Otto said darkly, and turned of the communication before either hero could retort.
Both heroes left the villains for the police. The battle was rather taxing, so they decided to take a quick break... they would need it for the things to come.
.
Tell me what you think.