***
"…And your sure that he was telling the truth…excellent well you know what to do …do it and get back here." The Arranger hung up the telephone.
"Well you were talking long enough." The kingpin was impatient.
"Bullseye went to see the thug who survived the raid on the Osborne condo he says The Goblin broke in and interfered, but Spider-Man showed up none the less just as we planned."
The Kingpin smiled. "Excellent and since the two have a history it should be no problem for us to convince Parker to see the light."
"The man mentioned Parker was hanging around with the actress, Mary Jane Watson, perhaps leverage may be applied."
"Precisely what I was thinking." The big man rose and headed for the door. "Have it done soon, that tenement Spider-Man and the Goblin firebombed was a legitimate concern of mine and when I get burned I want someone else to feel the heat."
The telephone ringing interrupted his thoughts. Knocking the arrangers hand out of the way he picked up the handset.
"Fisk."
"Wilson, this is Norman I've heard you went ahead and called a company vote for tomorrow."
"Norman you must understand, this uncertainty in the face of the recent attacks plays to the heart of the investors confidence in you. By call a vote wee show them that we are dealing with the matter even if you wont."
"This is blackmail. It's not my fault this lunatic is attacking Oscorp holdings and property
Tell it to the board tomorrow
There was a pause on the line. Norman came back on then sounding calmer. "How about we work this out just tonight. I have business at an Oscorp Warehouse tonight we could talk then in private."
"That would be fine Norman you know I always want to discuss things reasonably." He cut the connection and turned to Arranger. It is as we suspected he is running this Green Goblin and he is sending him after me again tonight. Well he will find things will be less easy then he would like to think.
Arranger rose from the chair. "I got it covered the Spider will be there."
***
The lambasting in the press that Peter endured kept him out of the webs for the next day or so. Good thing too since his costume was in tatters, ripped in a dozen places and sporting burn marks and in general smelling as if he had crawled through a sewer. MJ was incommunicado avoiding his calls. Not that he blamed her really. Since she had met Spider-man she had been mugged, shot at, almost blown up, and worst of all, for her, ditched by a guy who should feel lucky to be breathing the same air as her. Despairing that MJ would come around he concentrated on the situation with Harry and Ben Urich was the one who helped confirm Peter's admittedly shaky conclusions about the relationship between The Goblin and Norman. The kinds of experiments that Osborne had been paying to do were illegal and therefore would have been secret research. Peter was sure there was a connection that they were overlooking. Since finding connections was a job suited to the police he and Ben paid a visit to Detective DeWolf. She was only other person who would listen seriously to Ben's theories shed light on Peter's concerns…assuming she was in a good mood.
"I'm in a bad mood gentlemen so make this quick." Jean DeWolf tapped her fingers nervously sometimes glancing at the no smoking sign plated to the wall as though wishing it would spontaneously combust.
"I think I know who the goblin is." Peter volunteered
Ben cut him off. "What Peter means is that with the help of the police confirming certain suspicions might be helpful in cracking the goblin case."
"I heard the photographer Urich, I don't even look stupid." DeWolf smiled and turned to Parker. "So slick what have you got for me."
"I think the Goblin might be an ex-employee of Oscorp. Recently fired or on the records as being transferred."
"Well setting aside the sheer vagueness of that statement might you have an idea as to why an ex-employee of Oscorp would be riding around on a one man flying wing and blowing up the city."
Peter mentioned his discoveries. He left out the part Mary Jane played in it and that they had been hacking Osborne's computer.
DeWolf nodded "the scenario makes sense but…"
"Hell if there is doubt why not just ask this Octavius guy." Ben stated pounding on the desk.
Dr Otto Octavius was injured in a lab accident. He is still in ICU in a coma so asking him will be difficult if not impossible."
"When did this happen."
"Two days ago, that giggling green lunatic was seen leaving the scene. No Spider-Man insight I might add." At this, DeWolf looked meaningfully at Parker who looked steadily back at her.
"Well, what about the guys who hit the Hardy garden party."
"All dead the ones not killed by the Goblin disappeared after they made bail."
"Doesn't that seem suspicious to you detective?"
"Of course, it's suspicious, the whole bloody thing is fishy." The detective reached into her desk and pulled out a thick file. Ben's eyes light up as he got his first look at the rumored Kingpin file that was another urban legend in newsrooms all over the city. "Two of the guys in that raid were ex-employees of Oscorp. One had been terminated for frequent absences but one old timer who has worked there most of his adult life doesn't remember ever seeing either of them. The truck that was involved with the attempted hijacking that Spider-Man broke up was reported stolen from Fisk Imports last week and who's driving the truck none other then another ex-employee of Oscorp. In fact, as near as I can tell quite a few of the workers for both Fisk Imports and Oscorp have lengthier then average criminal records."
"That's silly Wilson Fisk is a respectable citizen and Norman …he's the victim here I'm sure of it some one is trying to get to him by going after Harry and maybe the other board members too."
Ben was just about to speak when his cell-phone shrieked loudly. He sheepishly answered it. And then glanced at Peter "Yeah he's here." He handed the telephone to Peter. "Call from the office."
"Hello"
"Hi Peter, it Glory, I got a call from your girlfriend
"MJ she called. That's great, what did she want.
"To tell you that she will be late to your date to Zanzibar."
In the background Peter could hear JJ screaming "He better not charge that lunch to the paper."
"Thanks Glo, I guess he's still mad about me not bringing my camera to the Hardy party."
"It will blow over. It will blow over faster if you bring in shots of the wall crawler stealing The Hope Diamond or kicking a cop or something."
"Peter said his good-byes and hung up the phone. MJ 's meeting me for Lunch at Zanzibar she must be so mad, she's forgotten she never actually invited me in the first place.
"Are we done here." DeWolf asked getting up from her desk. "Amusing as I find your life Parker it looks much better on Dawson's Creek then in my office when I am killing for a smoke."
Outside Ben whistled for a cab and the two men climbed in "Corner of 45th and ninth" Peter asked they settled in for the ride down town.
"So we learned that it is possible an ex-employee of Oscorp got hold of equipment that was being tested and created the identity of the Green Goblin to strike back at Osborne."
"We also know that Fisk is involved in this.
Are you sure Ben it seems strange."
Sensing victory, Urich closed in for the kill. "Peter look, you heard the same facts I did and remember it was Fisk's truck that was involved in the shipping robbery"
"That could have been a coincidence
"You don't really think that, do you?"
"Well there is some thing weird about that. Fisk was badmouthing Harry at the party to the other board members. They are later attacked by The Goblin. And Harry tells me that Felicia told him afterwards that it was Fisk's suggestion that she hold the party at Osborne's condominium. In fact, other then Osborne himself Fisk was the only member who knew that the site for the party had been changed but didn't attend."
"Look Peter I know you have some weird need to believe thee best in people but you can't walk around with blinders on."
The cabby stopped at the corner and peter jumped out. "Listen Ben can we talk about this later."
The reporter nodded and the cab pulled away. Peter jogged toward the entrance to the Zanzibar and slipped inside. Reservation for Watson…please" he spoke to the pretty hostess who smiled and looked at a screen and then frowned no reservation for you Mr. Watson.
"Oh I'm not Watson my name is Parker as in Peter Parker. I 'm meeting Mary Jane Watson here.
The hostess smiled "oh yes she's already here."
The two headed for a quiet section of the restaurant peter saw here sitting in the corner looking as pretty as the first day he had ever seen her in school. After sitting him and taking a drink order, she retreated and Peter turned to the actress. "First I want to apologize for running out on you the other day but…I needed to track down the fight…not that it did me any good."
Mary Jane looked at him for a moment and sighed "Peter can I be honest with you." She ignored the wince and continued. "I went out to the coast to getaway from my father. He thought the only thing I could look forward to was being a trophy for someone like Flash Thompson or Harry. "When I saw you hook up with Harry I though like everyone else that you were friends with Harry cause his dad was rich but you showed us different. You genuinely liked him and he respected you.
This sounded like a speech she had been practicing for a while. Maybe she had been putting up with him for longer then she had intended.
" So when I realized you liked me too and that you thought a lot of me I thought. Maybe there's more to me then just Mary Jane the good time girl. You changed after your Uncle Ben died. You became more serious and …I don't know there was something about you that died after that night. Without it I thought you were going to turn into some colder darker version of yourself and I didn't want to see that happen."
Peter wanted to interrupt her and tell that it hadn't gone that way at all. He remembered the days following he Uncle's death. The tears and the guilt, oh yes the profound guilt, and his vow to never allow another innocent to come to harm because of his life as Spider-Man. Fat load of good that had done. People had almost been killed during the fire and building collapse. Now he was getting a Dear John speech from the woman he had carried a torch for as long back as he cared to remember.
"That's why when I came back and you seemed …just like when I left. And then I found out about the Spider-Man pictures…"
Spider-man again, would he always lose girls to his costumed alter ego. The girls usually lusted after the highflying super hero and only the super hero or they were grossed out by the very idea of him even knowing the webbed wonder.
"Peter I know you feel like I wanted to use you and Spider-Man and I swear that was never my original idea." She was still pouring out her heart.
What was she talking about "using Him" for what? What could she need with a smalltime photo geek and a local hero? She was a star and a big one at that.
"It's just that when the producers started talking about getting rid of me. I had to find a way, I didn't want to come back to New York a failure, I didn't want my father to have been right about me."
"MJ what are you talking about, you're the best."
"I appreciate that Tiger but I know the truth now, I wanted to take advantage of the thing you have going on with Spider-Man but I see now that that isn't what you are about at all. Oh I'm not good at this I will be able to explain better back at my hotel…."
Peter's spider sense flared to life. He looked around and spotted the waitress standing near him about to lose control of a tray with hot soup on it. He reached up, slipped around her, and caught the tray and steadied it one smooth motion. Thus, he wasn't paying attention to the well dress man approaching from the other side.
"Well isn't this a pretty picture" the new voice said as he slid smoothly into the booth beside MJ.
"Excuse me sir but we are having a private discussion" Peter said mildly annoyed at the man's rudeness."
"Yes you are, and yet you aren't doing anything about getting rid of me. Could it be my charm, my wit, the fact you need to grow a pair before you start dating real girls like this one…no wait I know." The ma snatched a fork off the table. A split second latest MJ jerked upwards. "Hold very still fashion girl the fork is sitting next to some vital territory on your body, you move or jerk an you'll be bleeding to death before you get out the door."
Peter stood quickly and the man turned his baleful gaze in his direction. "Don't even think that I am not talking about you too."
Peter sat slowly trying to find an opportunity to jump the guy who relaxed as soon as he was sure Peter would remain where he was.
"Ok lovebirds, here is how it will be. I am going to get up with the lady here and we are going to head to the exit. You are in front and the lady and I are following. You will climb inside the big car out front and sit like a good little prisoner."
The trio moved as one to the exit and hostess glanced quickly in their direction and then looked away. She seemed to realize that this was going to be something she should pretend that she had not seen.
Out front Peter climbed in to the limousine and slid over to the far side next to a scary looking guy MJ and the man climbed in behind and sat on the opposite side of the limo.
Peter could be so kind as to pick up the phone in front of you and tell the driver to go." Peter ground his teeth and did as he was told.
What is this all about" MJ demanded "Who are you?"
"This is a kidnapping; you both look smart enough to have read Robert Louis Stevenson so I doubt you need clarification beyond that. I am Bullseye assuming you live long enough you should check Interpol's web-site and do a search, the site has lots of content including a great picture of an Attaché I killed with a long stem rose."
"If this is for ransom, the Studio won't pay you a dime."
"I know, so tragic that you landed on the one soap that actually wants talented actors as opposed to fashion plates looking for face time."
"Leave her alone." MJ startled for a moment when she heard the forceful tone in his voice.
Bullseye turned to the scary guy "Tie him up and use the chains, plant the evidence on him."
"What are you doing to him" Mary Jane demanded
"Well as I am sure you danger twins have figured out by now Green Goblin is Osborne's step and fetch boy. "The fact that Peter's spandex suited wonder- boy has survived two exchanges with him makes him the perfect guy to send after The Goblin so he can finish him off for good."
"Spider-man doesn't kill and he's no hired thug."
"Oh No? I'm willing to bet that when the police pull your corpse out of the bay in an hour looking like The Green Goblin killed you; Spider-man will run to the one place where Goblin is guaranteed to be Oscorp. He and the green one will duke it out and when its over I will award the winner the prize of an trip to Valhalla."
"Why kidnap her then?"
"Parker, you always endanger the pretty girl, plays to the patriarchal need to be the crusading avenger riding to the rescue of the damsel in distress."
"Let her go, I'll bring Spider-man to you I wont let on it's a trap."
"Don't worry Peter, if Spider-Man makes it to my hotel he'll find everything he needs to rescue the both of us."
Peter looked at MJ like she was nuts but Bullseye wasn't paying attention.
"Fat chance kid I want Spider-man to come willing to play so I have to make it personal. After all he has cost my employer money and gotten in his way. That, plus The Goblin tried to kill him twice means the both of you are going down."
"Who's' your boss" MJ asked fearfully realizing for the first time that they were in lot of trouble.
"Haven't you figured it out yet Mary Jane." Peter fixed Bullseye with a grim stare "The only person who would be hurt by Spider-Man cleaning up urban street crime, who was either present for the Goblin's attacks or knew that Oscorp Board members would be there…Wilson Fisk."
The limo pulled to a stop. The big thug finished tying Peter in chains and pushed him out of the limo Bullseye gave Mary Jane a wink and then scooted out of the back. "Hope your not going anywhere."
"Should we do him before we dump him" the thug muttered as he pulled a gun from his jacket.
"Just grab his feet and toss him over OK let me do the thinking." Bullseye sighed.
The two men hustled Peter toward the railing of the bridge. He had moments to get out of this and then the solution presented itself. As the two men heaved, Peter concentrated on cling with his feet to the thug. The sudden weight swinging outward yanked the big man off his feet and caused him to topple over the side after Peter.
He spun though the air flexing his arms broke the chains binding him he stretched out an arm and fired a web-line toward the bridge. There was a loud splash of the thug hitting the water below. Peter swung underneath the bridge quickly climbing the web-line he skittered up the bridge support and flipped over the railing to watch the limo cruising away. Spider-man could easily follow but Peter would be hard pressed to do so without drawing attention to himself.
He stood fuming for a second; MJ was dead if he couldn't stop them before they got to Oscorp. Then he wondered what evidence had she been talking about. What would she have left at her hotel that Spider-man would get? Peter began to wonder. She had been trying to be honest with him during the meal. Opening her life to him and telling him her secret fears, hopes, how much she admired him…she knew. The chill spread down Peters back and spine. Mary Jane Watson knew he was Spider-Man and had been trying to tell him something in the car based on that knowledge. She must have known that he could do nothing in front of her since at that point he still believed he had a secret identity. She was trying to communicate something to him.
She must have known that he would survive the death trap and come after them. How could he his costume was in tatters after the tenement rescue? Unless….
Flagging down a cab Peter headed for Mary Jane's hotel. There was a brief episode when he arrived with the concierge deciding the poorly dressed man couldn't possibly know a star of Ms Watson's caliber. Peter ran down the block and ducked to an alleyway. He slipped out of his shoes and hung them around his neck. He ignored the drunken stare of the street bum as he began to climb the wall. The bum decided that he had consumed too much Thunderbird since people did not climb on walls. Peter reached the roof and ran across leaping to the cornice of the hotel roof he climbed to that rooftop and found an entrance to the stairwell. Snapping the lock he descended to the right floor and looked down the hallway. A hotel detective was marching down the hall peter waited for the ma to leave but he seemed to have found something interesting on the floor to keep his attention because he loitered for ten minutes.
Peter headed for the roof and considered he had to get into that room. He glanced over the side of the roof and saw that far below some of the windows on the floor were open. "Bonus" he hissed in triumph and he skittered down the side of the building to the ledge where MJ's floor was. A dark voice whispered that he could be doing this for a living and that it would be a whole lot more rewarding then chasing flying lunatics and power mad crime lords. Then he heard an older more carefree voice." Peter you may not know it yet but you have been given great gift's which in turn gives you power. And with great power comes great responsibility"
Peter slid in into the room and looked around. Champagne was chilling next to a plate of snacks, on the bed was a package with his name on it. He picked up the card attached. "To my real hero - who needs a better tailor." He read.
He opened the box and inside was a. Lycra-spandex bodysuit in red and blue with Tabai boots and gloves. The ensemble was thin enough to be worn under his everyday clothes. Judging from the receipts, she had included. The costume had been ordered through a half dozen different places. None would ever connect their individual work to the finished product in his hands a new Spider-Man suit.
Peter slipped into the suit and stood in front of the mirror. Pulling the mask on he looked at the finished product. He looked every inch the hero MJ thought he was. Every inch the hero he had vowed to become after Uncle Ben's death. "If you've been pulling strings with god Uncle Ben, thanks."
His spider sense flared and the wall-crawler turned and sprinted for the window hurling himself out of it and free into the air. He let himself fall for just a second before he fired a web-line and swung low into the streets. Then it was up into the setting sun. It was time to finish this.
"Bad guys, killers and Kingpins beware…Spider-man is back with new and improved ass kicking power."
***
Norman Osborne stood in the darkness wrestling his demon. His demon was winning. "This is the moment we have been waiting for."
"This is wrong it's gone too far"
"I agree; Fisk has been squeezing you, forcing you out, Using Harry's weakness against you."
"We tried to kill Harry."
"Those who would taste power must be prepared for the bitterness of the brew. If the only casualty of your raise to power is Harry then it will have been so easy."
"But I…"
"Enough talk, time to fly, we have company and Death is an impatient mistress." The Goblin smirked as troops deployed through the warehouse. So Fisk wanted to play games. He noted the presence of Mary Jane Watson in their ranks. Harry had mentioned liking her and she and Parker had been seen around town. "So I get to deal with the other big pain in my ass lately …bonus."
***
Spider-man crouched on a cornice over looking the warehouse. He had watched the security team head into the building. "Gatecrashers, well the more the merrier." He wondered how he was supposed to pull this off. Bullseye and his hit team would be trying to kill him the Goblin would be trying to kill him. "If Mary Jane weren't in that room would I even think of going in there?" He lied to himself knowing full well that Goblin was a menace, Kingpin was going to kill anyone who stood between himself and vengeance on Goblin and that included Harry and Mary Jane. For better or worse he had to take them both out tonight.
***
The troops fanned out across the floor of the warehouse. Mary Jane struggled against the teams nervous manhandling.
"You apes want to back off."
"You have to forgive them Ms Watson." Came a voice behind her. She turned to see Bullseye in a trench coat. He stepped into the dark structure and doffed the heavy coat revealing a body-hugging suit in black with numerous pouches. He pulled a mask into place. "When things don't go my way Bullseye throws a fit and when I throw things …people tend to die."
"Oh Bullseye how scary, did you stay up all night thinking up that name." She was defaulting to her normally brassy persona in the hopes some means of escape would present itself.
"Oh I admit it may lack the urban street thug appeal of Parker's Spider-Man but it is functional. He pulled a throwing star from one of the pouches and hurled it. The star passed over MJ's shoulder imbedding itself in the helmet of a solder standing behind her. The severed strap of her purse parted and fell to the ground. Bullseye paused and took a bow to applause that only he could hear while the soldier nervously pulled the razor sharp star from his helmet. She tried for a little bravado. "Big deal I've been to The Shrine Circus. They have guys that can do tricks like that."
"You're right, I guess I'll have to do better then that. I wasn't aiming to cut the purse off your shoulder."
The guard behind her handed her the earring that had been dragged from her ear without her even feeling the tug. MJ felt her insides size with fear. She realized Bullseye was holding back for the big contest the contest she had been sure Peter would win until a few seconds ago.
***
There was a moment where time slowed for everyone in that warehouse. Not just those who by dint of their abilities could move faster then anyone anyway, not his effect happened to everyone there. A singular moment where time telescoped outward and every heartbeat seemed to take seconds to go by. There was a rustle at the back of the building and Fisk stepped forward to address the shadows. As he saw the figure standing there.
"Norman? Is that you? Come out. Come out and we'll talk."
"Talk Fisk, is that what you want to do? Yes, we'll talk, like we did in the beginning."
"Norman you knew what you were getting into. You wanted the power that having me involved with your business could give you that's why your let me launder the money from my criminal enterprises through Oscorp legitimate holdings."
"I never intended to hand you my company."
"You knew it would come to this one day if I can't get the reins of power one way it will happen another."
"I won't let you squeeze me out or bleed me dry anymore Fisk."
"Is this the bit where your hired goon makes some spectacular pyrotechnically enhanced entrance?"
"Why Wilson I wouldn't think of upstaging your own hired killers."
"Is this a private donnybrook or can any friendly neighborhood Spider-man cut in." The wall crawler landed next to Mary Jane and grabbed the men holding her tossing them skyward.
"Excellent, everyone here. Let the final judgment begin." The figure stepped to the light as the Green Goblin touched a remote control. His glider rose from a spot near the back of the room. Two bombs launched which in turn blossomed into a cluster of flaming death. The strike team scrambled for safety. Spider-Man pushed MJ to the side, she was shocked until she realized The Goblin would orient on him first, then take out the rest. If he took her to safety The Goblin would relentlessly follow.
She sprinted for a corner of the warehouse, forgotten in the frenzy of activity as the two faced off.
"I've waited a long time for this moment." The goblin clenched his fists with barely suppressed emotion. "You have gotten in my way for the last time."
"How's about we dispense with the cheesy super villain dialogue and cut right to your bitch slapping you useless pile."
"Let's finish this."
The glider was doing pre-programmed bombing runs. They were scattering the strike team and frying some where hey stood. Bullseye ran and dodged around the explosions and hopped onto several boxes where he could get a clear view of the fighters. He lived for moments like this.
The Goblin threw the first punch that Spider-Man easily caught. He hurled The Goblin away. The green fiend rolled smoothly to his feet. He fired a laser blast from his gauntlets. Spider-Man leapt forward evading the blast and landing next to The Goblin. He was trying to take him out quickly but his blows where largely evaded by the wired reflexes of The Goblin who grabbed at Spider-Man and sent a massive electrical jolt through the wall crawler's body. He slumped to the ground. The Goblin beating on him.
"The Itsy-Bitsy Spider made Goblin scream and shout" the maniac threw Spider-man up against a crate and kicked him hard in the stomach. "The Goblin got pissed off and took the Spider out." He grabbed Spider-man and threw him to the ground. "The Goblin got the last laugh as the spider bled and died" He paused to deliver a blow.
Spider-man fired off web-lines on either side of him. The Goblin turned laughing. "You missed."
"No I didn't" he pulled the two shipping crates off the pile they were on. the two met in midair right where The Goblin was standing. The goblin staggered. Spider-man back flipped off the ground and launched a kick at him, then began raining blows on The Goblin's chest and head driving him backward. He delivered a spinning kick that sent the Goblin sagging to the ground. Spider-man gathered up the fallen menace and was about to hit him again when The Goblin began laughing. "What's so funny?"
"I'm picturing how you're going to have to explain to Parker how his girlfriend got fried while you were beating on me." The goblin activated the voice command circuits in his suit. "Acquire Target…" his helmet display lit up and he saw Mary Jane sheltered amidst some boxes. "Lock on and destroy"
Spider-Man thought the villain had lost his mind until his spider sense told him the goblin glider was changing course in mid air.
The glider swept higher. A chain-gun popped out of the undercarriage of the Glider and began pursuing MJ around the room firing bursts in her direction. MJ dashed around the boxes and crates trying to find cover from the glider that was now focused on her and her alone. Spider-man dropped the goblin and watched in horror. "You giggling dirt-bag." He leapt to the ceiling then swung down catching MJ and dragging her out of harms way. The glider was now pursuing the both of them in the confines of the building.
***
The Goblin rose from the floor and looked around he saw the remains of the kingpin's strike team ushering their boss toward the exit. "Where you going Round-Boy we have unfinished business."
"Kill him." The trooper covering Fisk's escape from the building turned and opened fire on the goblin. He laughed, slipped a pumpkin bomb from his belt that he tossed at the trooper. who went to bat he bomb away it exploded on contact turning the man into a flaming pyre before his knees even buckled. The other stared in horror. Turning he saw a second pumpkin bomb coming toward him. He tried to shot at it, but this one split apart as it neared its target. Flying blades flew toward the man skewering him in a half a dozen places.
The goblin smiled as he closed on Kingpin and launched a powerful kick meant to cripple him. He was more then shocked when the big man grabbed his leg and wrenched it hard. Kingpin's lips curled into a sneer upon hearing the grunt of pain from behind the Goblin's mask. "May I assume Norman neglected to inform you that my substantial weight is almost entirely muscle." He grabbed the man and hurled him first to the right, then the left, battering him against the crates and boxes around him. He then raised the goblin high and brought him down in a smash that voided the air from the smaller man's lungs. "Where are your quips and witticisms now, freak." The kingpin grabbed the man around his throat and began to squeeze cutting off his lungs and further depriving him of air. "Any last words."
The goblin gasped something The Kingpin loosened his hold for a second before snapping his neck when the gurgle became a single word. "Clear" the goblin slammed his palm against the kingpin's chest and fired off another electrical charge. The bigger man was thrown backward sagging against the door to the outside.
The goblin dragged himself to his feet and began limping toward the kingpin.
***
Spider-man dodged around the warehouse. He had tried virtually everything he could think of to avoid the glider's blasts. It was following too closely and he could get no real height if he dropped MJ the glider would cut her down in a second if he tried to escape with her the glider would be right behind. What he needed was for the glider to be diverted or stopped but he didn't see The Goblin being quite that accommodating. Then he saw the goblin standing over the fallen Wilson Fisk "MJ do you trust me"
"What, Yeah sure I do. Why?"
"I am going to toss you to The Goblin when you land, use him as a shield I'll take care of the rest and get out of the way as soon as its safe. You'll know what I mean."
"Ok!"
He swung them low "Hey Goblin catch" he launched MJ through the air to land on The Goblin sending both crashing to the ground. she immediately rolled him on top of her. The Goblin cursed realizing the glider wouldn't care what was in the way it would still strafe their position. He screamed out in a panicked voice. "Abort Target Lock, abort …abort."
She smiled and rolled them over this time rolling free of the tangle of body Spider-man dropped feet first onto the goblins chest from fifteen feet up. He began to pound The Goblin. The Goblin grabbed the wall-crawler's fist and kicked out at him Spider-man fell backwards and flipped to his feet and fired a web-line snagging the goblins chest he dragged him forward "Get over here" and delivered a shattering uppercut. The goblin flew backwards and would have landed except that he was dragged forward yet again by another set of webs. "Come here" it was a kick, this time, which sent The Goblin high into the stacks landing near the sheltered Bullseye.
MJ scramble forward for where she had hidden "that was amazing."
"Yeah I guess Uncle Ben was wrong. That allowance I spent on Mortal Kombat wasn't a total waste." He hugged her briefly "Get out of here I called Harry He is sending he cops. They should be here soon if they aren't here already." He shoved her toward the door.
He turned and leapt to the top row of boxes with an eye to finishing the fight then taking out Bullseye whom he guessed would be fresh and ready to dance.
When the last kick deposited the goblin near Bullseye the assassin smiled. Well there was no reason he couldn't cheat a bit obviously The Spider had a bit of an edge with The Goblin being on the ground and not on his glider. Time to take advantage. He moved toward The Goblin, just getting off the ground where he had fallen. He saw Bullseye closing in and sneered touching the control on his suit. Bullseye turned and seeing the glider coming around. He pulled out a powerful pistol and shot at a control receiver he had noticed on the glider's undercarriage it shorted causing the glider to ram into the boxes and come to a rest. Bullseye smirked and turned back toward The Goblin to see him hurling a pumpkin bomb at him. The gun was already in his hands and Bullseye reacted without a thought, shooting the bomb and watching it sheer apart, the two halves landing on either side of them. "Oh shi…" they chorused as Spider-Man landed near them. The explosion took out the top of the crates and the rest of the centre pile of boxes.
***
"…And your sure that he was telling the truth…excellent well you know what to do …do it and get back here." The Arranger hung up the telephone.
"Well you were talking long enough." The kingpin was impatient.
"Bullseye went to see the thug who survived the raid on the Osborne condo he says The Goblin broke in and interfered, but Spider-Man showed up none the less just as we planned."
The Kingpin smiled. "Excellent and since the two have a history it should be no problem for us to convince Parker to see the light."
"The man mentioned Parker was hanging around with the actress, Mary Jane Watson, perhaps leverage may be applied."
"Precisely what I was thinking." The big man rose and headed for the door. "Have it done soon, that tenement Spider-Man and the Goblin firebombed was a legitimate concern of mine and when I get burned I want someone else to feel the heat."
The telephone ringing interrupted his thoughts. Knocking the arrangers hand out of the way he picked up the handset.
"Fisk."
"Wilson, this is Norman I've heard you went ahead and called a company vote for tomorrow."
"Norman you must understand, this uncertainty in the face of the recent attacks plays to the heart of the investors confidence in you. By call a vote wee show them that we are dealing with the matter even if you wont."
"This is blackmail. It's not my fault this lunatic is attacking Oscorp holdings and property
Tell it to the board tomorrow
There was a pause on the line. Norman came back on then sounding calmer. "How about we work this out just tonight. I have business at an Oscorp Warehouse tonight we could talk then in private."
"That would be fine Norman you know I always want to discuss things reasonably." He cut the connection and turned to Arranger. It is as we suspected he is running this Green Goblin and he is sending him after me again tonight. Well he will find things will be less easy then he would like to think.
Arranger rose from the chair. "I got it covered the Spider will be there."
***
The lambasting in the press that Peter endured kept him out of the webs for the next day or so. Good thing too since his costume was in tatters, ripped in a dozen places and sporting burn marks and in general smelling as if he had crawled through a sewer. MJ was incommunicado avoiding his calls. Not that he blamed her really. Since she had met Spider-man she had been mugged, shot at, almost blown up, and worst of all, for her, ditched by a guy who should feel lucky to be breathing the same air as her. Despairing that MJ would come around he concentrated on the situation with Harry and Ben Urich was the one who helped confirm Peter's admittedly shaky conclusions about the relationship between The Goblin and Norman. The kinds of experiments that Osborne had been paying to do were illegal and therefore would have been secret research. Peter was sure there was a connection that they were overlooking. Since finding connections was a job suited to the police he and Ben paid a visit to Detective DeWolf. She was only other person who would listen seriously to Ben's theories shed light on Peter's concerns…assuming she was in a good mood.
"I'm in a bad mood gentlemen so make this quick." Jean DeWolf tapped her fingers nervously sometimes glancing at the no smoking sign plated to the wall as though wishing it would spontaneously combust.
"I think I know who the goblin is." Peter volunteered
Ben cut him off. "What Peter means is that with the help of the police confirming certain suspicions might be helpful in cracking the goblin case."
"I heard the photographer Urich, I don't even look stupid." DeWolf smiled and turned to Parker. "So slick what have you got for me."
"I think the Goblin might be an ex-employee of Oscorp. Recently fired or on the records as being transferred."
"Well setting aside the sheer vagueness of that statement might you have an idea as to why an ex-employee of Oscorp would be riding around on a one man flying wing and blowing up the city."
Peter mentioned his discoveries. He left out the part Mary Jane played in it and that they had been hacking Osborne's computer.
DeWolf nodded "the scenario makes sense but…"
"Hell if there is doubt why not just ask this Octavius guy." Ben stated pounding on the desk.
Dr Otto Octavius was injured in a lab accident. He is still in ICU in a coma so asking him will be difficult if not impossible."
"When did this happen."
"Two days ago, that giggling green lunatic was seen leaving the scene. No Spider-Man insight I might add." At this, DeWolf looked meaningfully at Parker who looked steadily back at her.
"Well, what about the guys who hit the Hardy garden party."
"All dead the ones not killed by the Goblin disappeared after they made bail."
"Doesn't that seem suspicious to you detective?"
"Of course, it's suspicious, the whole bloody thing is fishy." The detective reached into her desk and pulled out a thick file. Ben's eyes light up as he got his first look at the rumored Kingpin file that was another urban legend in newsrooms all over the city. "Two of the guys in that raid were ex-employees of Oscorp. One had been terminated for frequent absences but one old timer who has worked there most of his adult life doesn't remember ever seeing either of them. The truck that was involved with the attempted hijacking that Spider-Man broke up was reported stolen from Fisk Imports last week and who's driving the truck none other then another ex-employee of Oscorp. In fact, as near as I can tell quite a few of the workers for both Fisk Imports and Oscorp have lengthier then average criminal records."
"That's silly Wilson Fisk is a respectable citizen and Norman …he's the victim here I'm sure of it some one is trying to get to him by going after Harry and maybe the other board members too."
Ben was just about to speak when his cell-phone shrieked loudly. He sheepishly answered it. And then glanced at Peter "Yeah he's here." He handed the telephone to Peter. "Call from the office."
"Hello"
"Hi Peter, it Glory, I got a call from your girlfriend
"MJ she called. That's great, what did she want.
"To tell you that she will be late to your date to Zanzibar."
In the background Peter could hear JJ screaming "He better not charge that lunch to the paper."
"Thanks Glo, I guess he's still mad about me not bringing my camera to the Hardy party."
"It will blow over. It will blow over faster if you bring in shots of the wall crawler stealing The Hope Diamond or kicking a cop or something."
"Peter said his good-byes and hung up the phone. MJ 's meeting me for Lunch at Zanzibar she must be so mad, she's forgotten she never actually invited me in the first place.
"Are we done here." DeWolf asked getting up from her desk. "Amusing as I find your life Parker it looks much better on Dawson's Creek then in my office when I am killing for a smoke."
Outside Ben whistled for a cab and the two men climbed in "Corner of 45th and ninth" Peter asked they settled in for the ride down town.
"So we learned that it is possible an ex-employee of Oscorp got hold of equipment that was being tested and created the identity of the Green Goblin to strike back at Osborne."
"We also know that Fisk is involved in this.
Are you sure Ben it seems strange."
Sensing victory, Urich closed in for the kill. "Peter look, you heard the same facts I did and remember it was Fisk's truck that was involved in the shipping robbery"
"That could have been a coincidence
"You don't really think that, do you?"
"Well there is some thing weird about that. Fisk was badmouthing Harry at the party to the other board members. They are later attacked by The Goblin. And Harry tells me that Felicia told him afterwards that it was Fisk's suggestion that she hold the party at Osborne's condominium. In fact, other then Osborne himself Fisk was the only member who knew that the site for the party had been changed but didn't attend."
"Look Peter I know you have some weird need to believe thee best in people but you can't walk around with blinders on."
The cabby stopped at the corner and peter jumped out. "Listen Ben can we talk about this later."
The reporter nodded and the cab pulled away. Peter jogged toward the entrance to the Zanzibar and slipped inside. Reservation for Watson…please" he spoke to the pretty hostess who smiled and looked at a screen and then frowned no reservation for you Mr. Watson.
"Oh I'm not Watson my name is Parker as in Peter Parker. I 'm meeting Mary Jane Watson here.
The hostess smiled "oh yes she's already here."
The two headed for a quiet section of the restaurant peter saw here sitting in the corner looking as pretty as the first day he had ever seen her in school. After sitting him and taking a drink order, she retreated and Peter turned to the actress. "First I want to apologize for running out on you the other day but…I needed to track down the fight…not that it did me any good."
Mary Jane looked at him for a moment and sighed "Peter can I be honest with you." She ignored the wince and continued. "I went out to the coast to getaway from my father. He thought the only thing I could look forward to was being a trophy for someone like Flash Thompson or Harry. "When I saw you hook up with Harry I though like everyone else that you were friends with Harry cause his dad was rich but you showed us different. You genuinely liked him and he respected you.
This sounded like a speech she had been practicing for a while. Maybe she had been putting up with him for longer then she had intended.
" So when I realized you liked me too and that you thought a lot of me I thought. Maybe there's more to me then just Mary Jane the good time girl. You changed after your Uncle Ben died. You became more serious and …I don't know there was something about you that died after that night. Without it I thought you were going to turn into some colder darker version of yourself and I didn't want to see that happen."
Peter wanted to interrupt her and tell that it hadn't gone that way at all. He remembered the days following he Uncle's death. The tears and the guilt, oh yes the profound guilt, and his vow to never allow another innocent to come to harm because of his life as Spider-Man. Fat load of good that had done. People had almost been killed during the fire and building collapse. Now he was getting a Dear John speech from the woman he had carried a torch for as long back as he cared to remember.
"That's why when I came back and you seemed …just like when I left. And then I found out about the Spider-Man pictures…"
Spider-man again, would he always lose girls to his costumed alter ego. The girls usually lusted after the highflying super hero and only the super hero or they were grossed out by the very idea of him even knowing the webbed wonder.
"Peter I know you feel like I wanted to use you and Spider-Man and I swear that was never my original idea." She was still pouring out her heart.
What was she talking about "using Him" for what? What could she need with a smalltime photo geek and a local hero? She was a star and a big one at that.
"It's just that when the producers started talking about getting rid of me. I had to find a way, I didn't want to come back to New York a failure, I didn't want my father to have been right about me."
"MJ what are you talking about, you're the best."
"I appreciate that Tiger but I know the truth now, I wanted to take advantage of the thing you have going on with Spider-Man but I see now that that isn't what you are about at all. Oh I'm not good at this I will be able to explain better back at my hotel…."
Peter's spider sense flared to life. He looked around and spotted the waitress standing near him about to lose control of a tray with hot soup on it. He reached up, slipped around her, and caught the tray and steadied it one smooth motion. Thus, he wasn't paying attention to the well dress man approaching from the other side.
"Well isn't this a pretty picture" the new voice said as he slid smoothly into the booth beside MJ.
"Excuse me sir but we are having a private discussion" Peter said mildly annoyed at the man's rudeness."
"Yes you are, and yet you aren't doing anything about getting rid of me. Could it be my charm, my wit, the fact you need to grow a pair before you start dating real girls like this one…no wait I know." The ma snatched a fork off the table. A split second latest MJ jerked upwards. "Hold very still fashion girl the fork is sitting next to some vital territory on your body, you move or jerk an you'll be bleeding to death before you get out the door."
Peter stood quickly and the man turned his baleful gaze in his direction. "Don't even think that I am not talking about you too."
Peter sat slowly trying to find an opportunity to jump the guy who relaxed as soon as he was sure Peter would remain where he was.
"Ok lovebirds, here is how it will be. I am going to get up with the lady here and we are going to head to the exit. You are in front and the lady and I are following. You will climb inside the big car out front and sit like a good little prisoner."
The trio moved as one to the exit and hostess glanced quickly in their direction and then looked away. She seemed to realize that this was going to be something she should pretend that she had not seen.
Out front Peter climbed in to the limousine and slid over to the far side next to a scary looking guy MJ and the man climbed in behind and sat on the opposite side of the limo.
Peter could be so kind as to pick up the phone in front of you and tell the driver to go." Peter ground his teeth and did as he was told.
What is this all about" MJ demanded "Who are you?"
"This is a kidnapping; you both look smart enough to have read Robert Louis Stevenson so I doubt you need clarification beyond that. I am Bullseye assuming you live long enough you should check Interpol's web-site and do a search, the site has lots of content including a great picture of an Attaché I killed with a long stem rose."
"If this is for ransom, the Studio won't pay you a dime."
"I know, so tragic that you landed on the one soap that actually wants talented actors as opposed to fashion plates looking for face time."
"Leave her alone." MJ startled for a moment when she heard the forceful tone in his voice.
Bullseye turned to the scary guy "Tie him up and use the chains, plant the evidence on him."
"What are you doing to him" Mary Jane demanded
"Well as I am sure you danger twins have figured out by now Green Goblin is Osborne's step and fetch boy. "The fact that Peter's spandex suited wonder- boy has survived two exchanges with him makes him the perfect guy to send after The Goblin so he can finish him off for good."
"Spider-man doesn't kill and he's no hired thug."
"Oh No? I'm willing to bet that when the police pull your corpse out of the bay in an hour looking like The Green Goblin killed you; Spider-man will run to the one place where Goblin is guaranteed to be Oscorp. He and the green one will duke it out and when its over I will award the winner the prize of an trip to Valhalla."
"Why kidnap her then?"
"Parker, you always endanger the pretty girl, plays to the patriarchal need to be the crusading avenger riding to the rescue of the damsel in distress."
"Let her go, I'll bring Spider-man to you I wont let on it's a trap."
"Don't worry Peter, if Spider-Man makes it to my hotel he'll find everything he needs to rescue the both of us."
Peter looked at MJ like she was nuts but Bullseye wasn't paying attention.
"Fat chance kid I want Spider-man to come willing to play so I have to make it personal. After all he has cost my employer money and gotten in his way. That, plus The Goblin tried to kill him twice means the both of you are going down."
"Who's' your boss" MJ asked fearfully realizing for the first time that they were in lot of trouble.
"Haven't you figured it out yet Mary Jane." Peter fixed Bullseye with a grim stare "The only person who would be hurt by Spider-Man cleaning up urban street crime, who was either present for the Goblin's attacks or knew that Oscorp Board members would be there…Wilson Fisk."
The limo pulled to a stop. The big thug finished tying Peter in chains and pushed him out of the limo Bullseye gave Mary Jane a wink and then scooted out of the back. "Hope your not going anywhere."
"Should we do him before we dump him" the thug muttered as he pulled a gun from his jacket.
"Just grab his feet and toss him over OK let me do the thinking." Bullseye sighed.
The two men hustled Peter toward the railing of the bridge. He had moments to get out of this and then the solution presented itself. As the two men heaved, Peter concentrated on cling with his feet to the thug. The sudden weight swinging outward yanked the big man off his feet and caused him to topple over the side after Peter.
He spun though the air flexing his arms broke the chains binding him he stretched out an arm and fired a web-line toward the bridge. There was a loud splash of the thug hitting the water below. Peter swung underneath the bridge quickly climbing the web-line he skittered up the bridge support and flipped over the railing to watch the limo cruising away. Spider-man could easily follow but Peter would be hard pressed to do so without drawing attention to himself.
He stood fuming for a second; MJ was dead if he couldn't stop them before they got to Oscorp. Then he wondered what evidence had she been talking about. What would she have left at her hotel that Spider-man would get? Peter began to wonder. She had been trying to be honest with him during the meal. Opening her life to him and telling him her secret fears, hopes, how much she admired him…she knew. The chill spread down Peters back and spine. Mary Jane Watson knew he was Spider-Man and had been trying to tell him something in the car based on that knowledge. She must have known that he could do nothing in front of her since at that point he still believed he had a secret identity. She was trying to communicate something to him.
She must have known that he would survive the death trap and come after them. How could he his costume was in tatters after the tenement rescue? Unless….
Flagging down a cab Peter headed for Mary Jane's hotel. There was a brief episode when he arrived with the concierge deciding the poorly dressed man couldn't possibly know a star of Ms Watson's caliber. Peter ran down the block and ducked to an alleyway. He slipped out of his shoes and hung them around his neck. He ignored the drunken stare of the street bum as he began to climb the wall. The bum decided that he had consumed too much Thunderbird since people did not climb on walls. Peter reached the roof and ran across leaping to the cornice of the hotel roof he climbed to that rooftop and found an entrance to the stairwell. Snapping the lock he descended to the right floor and looked down the hallway. A hotel detective was marching down the hall peter waited for the ma to leave but he seemed to have found something interesting on the floor to keep his attention because he loitered for ten minutes.
Peter headed for the roof and considered he had to get into that room. He glanced over the side of the roof and saw that far below some of the windows on the floor were open. "Bonus" he hissed in triumph and he skittered down the side of the building to the ledge where MJ's floor was. A dark voice whispered that he could be doing this for a living and that it would be a whole lot more rewarding then chasing flying lunatics and power mad crime lords. Then he heard an older more carefree voice." Peter you may not know it yet but you have been given great gift's which in turn gives you power. And with great power comes great responsibility"
Peter slid in into the room and looked around. Champagne was chilling next to a plate of snacks, on the bed was a package with his name on it. He picked up the card attached. "To my real hero - who needs a better tailor." He read.
He opened the box and inside was a. Lycra-spandex bodysuit in red and blue with Tabai boots and gloves. The ensemble was thin enough to be worn under his everyday clothes. Judging from the receipts, she had included. The costume had been ordered through a half dozen different places. None would ever connect their individual work to the finished product in his hands a new Spider-Man suit.
Peter slipped into the suit and stood in front of the mirror. Pulling the mask on he looked at the finished product. He looked every inch the hero MJ thought he was. Every inch the hero he had vowed to become after Uncle Ben's death. "If you've been pulling strings with god Uncle Ben, thanks."
His spider sense flared and the wall-crawler turned and sprinted for the window hurling himself out of it and free into the air. He let himself fall for just a second before he fired a web-line and swung low into the streets. Then it was up into the setting sun. It was time to finish this.
"Bad guys, killers and Kingpins beware…Spider-man is back with new and improved ass kicking power."
***
Norman Osborne stood in the darkness wrestling his demon. His demon was winning. "This is the moment we have been waiting for."
"This is wrong it's gone too far"
"I agree; Fisk has been squeezing you, forcing you out, Using Harry's weakness against you."
"We tried to kill Harry."
"Those who would taste power must be prepared for the bitterness of the brew. If the only casualty of your raise to power is Harry then it will have been so easy."
"But I…"
"Enough talk, time to fly, we have company and Death is an impatient mistress." The Goblin smirked as troops deployed through the warehouse. So Fisk wanted to play games. He noted the presence of Mary Jane Watson in their ranks. Harry had mentioned liking her and she and Parker had been seen around town. "So I get to deal with the other big pain in my ass lately …bonus."
***
Spider-man crouched on a cornice over looking the warehouse. He had watched the security team head into the building. "Gatecrashers, well the more the merrier." He wondered how he was supposed to pull this off. Bullseye and his hit team would be trying to kill him the Goblin would be trying to kill him. "If Mary Jane weren't in that room would I even think of going in there?" He lied to himself knowing full well that Goblin was a menace, Kingpin was going to kill anyone who stood between himself and vengeance on Goblin and that included Harry and Mary Jane. For better or worse he had to take them both out tonight.
***
The troops fanned out across the floor of the warehouse. Mary Jane struggled against the teams nervous manhandling.
"You apes want to back off."
"You have to forgive them Ms Watson." Came a voice behind her. She turned to see Bullseye in a trench coat. He stepped into the dark structure and doffed the heavy coat revealing a body-hugging suit in black with numerous pouches. He pulled a mask into place. "When things don't go my way Bullseye throws a fit and when I throw things …people tend to die."
"Oh Bullseye how scary, did you stay up all night thinking up that name." She was defaulting to her normally brassy persona in the hopes some means of escape would present itself.
"Oh I admit it may lack the urban street thug appeal of Parker's Spider-Man but it is functional. He pulled a throwing star from one of the pouches and hurled it. The star passed over MJ's shoulder imbedding itself in the helmet of a solder standing behind her. The severed strap of her purse parted and fell to the ground. Bullseye paused and took a bow to applause that only he could hear while the soldier nervously pulled the razor sharp star from his helmet. She tried for a little bravado. "Big deal I've been to The Shrine Circus. They have guys that can do tricks like that."
"You're right, I guess I'll have to do better then that. I wasn't aiming to cut the purse off your shoulder."
The guard behind her handed her the earring that had been dragged from her ear without her even feeling the tug. MJ felt her insides size with fear. She realized Bullseye was holding back for the big contest the contest she had been sure Peter would win until a few seconds ago.
***
There was a moment where time slowed for everyone in that warehouse. Not just those who by dint of their abilities could move faster then anyone anyway, not his effect happened to everyone there. A singular moment where time telescoped outward and every heartbeat seemed to take seconds to go by. There was a rustle at the back of the building and Fisk stepped forward to address the shadows. As he saw the figure standing there.
"Norman? Is that you? Come out. Come out and we'll talk."
"Talk Fisk, is that what you want to do? Yes, we'll talk, like we did in the beginning."
"Norman you knew what you were getting into. You wanted the power that having me involved with your business could give you that's why your let me launder the money from my criminal enterprises through Oscorp legitimate holdings."
"I never intended to hand you my company."
"You knew it would come to this one day if I can't get the reins of power one way it will happen another."
"I won't let you squeeze me out or bleed me dry anymore Fisk."
"Is this the bit where your hired goon makes some spectacular pyrotechnically enhanced entrance?"
"Why Wilson I wouldn't think of upstaging your own hired killers."
"Is this a private donnybrook or can any friendly neighborhood Spider-man cut in." The wall crawler landed next to Mary Jane and grabbed the men holding her tossing them skyward.
"Excellent, everyone here. Let the final judgment begin." The figure stepped to the light as the Green Goblin touched a remote control. His glider rose from a spot near the back of the room. Two bombs launched which in turn blossomed into a cluster of flaming death. The strike team scrambled for safety. Spider-Man pushed MJ to the side, she was shocked until she realized The Goblin would orient on him first, then take out the rest. If he took her to safety The Goblin would relentlessly follow.
She sprinted for a corner of the warehouse, forgotten in the frenzy of activity as the two faced off.
"I've waited a long time for this moment." The goblin clenched his fists with barely suppressed emotion. "You have gotten in my way for the last time."
"How's about we dispense with the cheesy super villain dialogue and cut right to your bitch slapping you useless pile."
"Let's finish this."
The glider was doing pre-programmed bombing runs. They were scattering the strike team and frying some where hey stood. Bullseye ran and dodged around the explosions and hopped onto several boxes where he could get a clear view of the fighters. He lived for moments like this.
The Goblin threw the first punch that Spider-Man easily caught. He hurled The Goblin away. The green fiend rolled smoothly to his feet. He fired a laser blast from his gauntlets. Spider-Man leapt forward evading the blast and landing next to The Goblin. He was trying to take him out quickly but his blows where largely evaded by the wired reflexes of The Goblin who grabbed at Spider-Man and sent a massive electrical jolt through the wall crawler's body. He slumped to the ground. The Goblin beating on him.
"The Itsy-Bitsy Spider made Goblin scream and shout" the maniac threw Spider-man up against a crate and kicked him hard in the stomach. "The Goblin got pissed off and took the Spider out." He grabbed Spider-man and threw him to the ground. "The Goblin got the last laugh as the spider bled and died" He paused to deliver a blow.
Spider-man fired off web-lines on either side of him. The Goblin turned laughing. "You missed."
"No I didn't" he pulled the two shipping crates off the pile they were on. the two met in midair right where The Goblin was standing. The goblin staggered. Spider-man back flipped off the ground and launched a kick at him, then began raining blows on The Goblin's chest and head driving him backward. He delivered a spinning kick that sent the Goblin sagging to the ground. Spider-man gathered up the fallen menace and was about to hit him again when The Goblin began laughing. "What's so funny?"
"I'm picturing how you're going to have to explain to Parker how his girlfriend got fried while you were beating on me." The goblin activated the voice command circuits in his suit. "Acquire Target…" his helmet display lit up and he saw Mary Jane sheltered amidst some boxes. "Lock on and destroy"
Spider-Man thought the villain had lost his mind until his spider sense told him the goblin glider was changing course in mid air.
The glider swept higher. A chain-gun popped out of the undercarriage of the Glider and began pursuing MJ around the room firing bursts in her direction. MJ dashed around the boxes and crates trying to find cover from the glider that was now focused on her and her alone. Spider-man dropped the goblin and watched in horror. "You giggling dirt-bag." He leapt to the ceiling then swung down catching MJ and dragging her out of harms way. The glider was now pursuing the both of them in the confines of the building.
***
The Goblin rose from the floor and looked around he saw the remains of the kingpin's strike team ushering their boss toward the exit. "Where you going Round-Boy we have unfinished business."
"Kill him." The trooper covering Fisk's escape from the building turned and opened fire on the goblin. He laughed, slipped a pumpkin bomb from his belt that he tossed at the trooper. who went to bat he bomb away it exploded on contact turning the man into a flaming pyre before his knees even buckled. The other stared in horror. Turning he saw a second pumpkin bomb coming toward him. He tried to shot at it, but this one split apart as it neared its target. Flying blades flew toward the man skewering him in a half a dozen places.
The goblin smiled as he closed on Kingpin and launched a powerful kick meant to cripple him. He was more then shocked when the big man grabbed his leg and wrenched it hard. Kingpin's lips curled into a sneer upon hearing the grunt of pain from behind the Goblin's mask. "May I assume Norman neglected to inform you that my substantial weight is almost entirely muscle." He grabbed the man and hurled him first to the right, then the left, battering him against the crates and boxes around him. He then raised the goblin high and brought him down in a smash that voided the air from the smaller man's lungs. "Where are your quips and witticisms now, freak." The kingpin grabbed the man around his throat and began to squeeze cutting off his lungs and further depriving him of air. "Any last words."
The goblin gasped something The Kingpin loosened his hold for a second before snapping his neck when the gurgle became a single word. "Clear" the goblin slammed his palm against the kingpin's chest and fired off another electrical charge. The bigger man was thrown backward sagging against the door to the outside.
The goblin dragged himself to his feet and began limping toward the kingpin.
***
Spider-man dodged around the warehouse. He had tried virtually everything he could think of to avoid the glider's blasts. It was following too closely and he could get no real height if he dropped MJ the glider would cut her down in a second if he tried to escape with her the glider would be right behind. What he needed was for the glider to be diverted or stopped but he didn't see The Goblin being quite that accommodating. Then he saw the goblin standing over the fallen Wilson Fisk "MJ do you trust me"
"What, Yeah sure I do. Why?"
"I am going to toss you to The Goblin when you land, use him as a shield I'll take care of the rest and get out of the way as soon as its safe. You'll know what I mean."
"Ok!"
He swung them low "Hey Goblin catch" he launched MJ through the air to land on The Goblin sending both crashing to the ground. she immediately rolled him on top of her. The Goblin cursed realizing the glider wouldn't care what was in the way it would still strafe their position. He screamed out in a panicked voice. "Abort Target Lock, abort …abort."
She smiled and rolled them over this time rolling free of the tangle of body Spider-man dropped feet first onto the goblins chest from fifteen feet up. He began to pound The Goblin. The Goblin grabbed the wall-crawler's fist and kicked out at him Spider-man fell backwards and flipped to his feet and fired a web-line snagging the goblins chest he dragged him forward "Get over here" and delivered a shattering uppercut. The goblin flew backwards and would have landed except that he was dragged forward yet again by another set of webs. "Come here" it was a kick, this time, which sent The Goblin high into the stacks landing near the sheltered Bullseye.
MJ scramble forward for where she had hidden "that was amazing."
"Yeah I guess Uncle Ben was wrong. That allowance I spent on Mortal Kombat wasn't a total waste." He hugged her briefly "Get out of here I called Harry He is sending he cops. They should be here soon if they aren't here already." He shoved her toward the door.
He turned and leapt to the top row of boxes with an eye to finishing the fight then taking out Bullseye whom he guessed would be fresh and ready to dance.
When the last kick deposited the goblin near Bullseye the assassin smiled. Well there was no reason he couldn't cheat a bit obviously The Spider had a bit of an edge with The Goblin being on the ground and not on his glider. Time to take advantage. He moved toward The Goblin, just getting off the ground where he had fallen. He saw Bullseye closing in and sneered touching the control on his suit. Bullseye turned and seeing the glider coming around. He pulled out a powerful pistol and shot at a control receiver he had noticed on the glider's undercarriage it shorted causing the glider to ram into the boxes and come to a rest. Bullseye smirked and turned back toward The Goblin to see him hurling a pumpkin bomb at him. The gun was already in his hands and Bullseye reacted without a thought, shooting the bomb and watching it sheer apart, the two halves landing on either side of them. "Oh shi…" they chorused as Spider-Man landed near them. The explosion took out the top of the crates and the rest of the centre pile of boxes.
***