Author's notes: While "The Symbiote Saga" is one of my favorites for the USM cartoon, I was unhappy with how some of it turned out. It's not really a stretch that Anti-Venom would perish while Carnage lived. Kinda like tossing a water bottle into a whole house on fire. But the logic behind everything was weak. I'm writing this for the heck if it even though Horror isn't for me. Enjoy!
Summary: Anti-Venom isn't dead. Spider-man sees the terror that comes with its return. Now he must enlist his friends to save another. One shot.
Disclaimer: RubinaLadybug does not own Ultimate Spider-man or any of its characters. Ultimate Spider-man characters and plot belong to Stan Lee (R.I.P.), Steve Ditko (R.I.P.), Marvel, and Disney.
Evolving Terror
It was lights out for the recruits at the Triskelion. A full moon grace the sky. A chilling wind swept the grand structure. Such gust gently rocked the waters. The whole building was supposed to undergo a peaceful night, save for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents working around the clock. But among the darkness excited chatter flickered. The owners of those enthusiastic voices carried supplies underneath their arms—metal poles and nets with steel cables and white, sponge-covered balls. They utilized their stealth and speed they had learned in class as they dashed past the roaming deputies, engineers, and scientists. Despite their tough yet odd exterior, these sneaks were actually students of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest academy. And while these heroes-in-training were learning to pilot their powers for good, they were teenagers beneath their masks and cover ups. It was a time for them to loosen up, unwind, and have fun.
Nearly everything was put together. The leader, another teen wearing a costume made from red and blue fabric, directed his teammates in what to do—such as gathering the supplies, setting up, and avoiding late night officers. He monitored everyone's activity. He was a hero who held responsibility close to his heart. Yet he was also someone for fun and a little mischief. He felt everything was going according to plan. Maintaining his headquarters in the students' sleeping quarters, he wasn't alone. Two other students were present as well. They were recently added to the roster. Their commander had nearly everything wrapped up.
Before leaving the room, Spider-man stopped. He turned to the other two students and offered, "Hey, the rest of us are sneaking out to play volleyball. You guys wanna come?"
He wanted all Academy students to feel like one big team. He sensed that one day everyone would need to unite to stop a malicious team. He knew he could start by making everyone feel welcomed.
"Thanks," Spider-woman replied. "But me and Patrioteer are still sore from today's exercise."
Spider-man held empathy. "Of course. Training without powers. Brutal as always."
"I think we'll call it early. Right, Patrioteer?"
The two heard no answer. They turned and saw their auburn companion was already asleep in his bunk, snoring away. He appeared completely knocked out. The new girl had to work without her symbiote while the new boy had to work without his armor. They had to learn to fight and protect themselves in case they suddenly became powerless. The method was one result in having the best of the best for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s teams.
As a leader and a friend, Spider-man wanted to be encouraging. "You'll get better. Trust me. You'll be smashing course records before you know it."
"Don't let us stop you from having your party," Spider-woman insisted. "Getting used to all this will take awhile. We'll join you next time, Tiger."
The girl flipped and sat in her upper bunk, above their mutual friend. She was prepared to make herself comfortable for the night. There was no telling what action would take place the next day. Or even during the rest of the night. Newcomers wanted to catch their rest whenever they could.
"Yeah, next time," Spider-man replied. "You both take it easy."
Looking to the doorway, he saw Agent Venom and Squirrel Girl beckoning him. It seemed everything was set up for the night. He began to dart out of the room with the other recruits. He muttered to himself, "I gotta see if Patrioteer will switch bunks with me."
The game played out without any interruption. Once the fun was had, the students quickly and quietly returned to their quarters. They watched for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents roaming the floors. When they arrived at their room, they kept in mind of the sleeping new recruits. They soundlessly flipped themselves into their bunks and slumbered peacefully.
Those sheltered in the Triskelion had the protection of great technology and superhuman strength. However, not all nights are serene. As the clock ticks on and the moon moves across the sky, the dozing brain begins to reach a deeper cycle, impending deeper thoughts.
Harry awoke with a startle. He sat up. He panted. As his eyes adjusted, he looked around him. All he saw was the room where all the recruits slept. Across from him was Spider-man with his bunkmate Agent Venom slumbering. He then looked up and saw Spider-woman catching her rest. Unbeknown to him, the other students had returned from their furtive game. Everyone appeared to be at ease.
Remembering where he was, he grew calmer. He knew he was among friends in a high protected building. But his heart continued to pound in his chest. His mind replayed horrible images. He decided to step out of his bunk to stretch his strained body. He figured a trip to the bathroom would do him some good. Without a word, he left the room.
One team leader also awoke. Gazing around at each of his teammates, he spotted an empty bunk. He recognized who it belonged to. He shot a web and left his own.
Harry entered the bathroom. The place wasn't as swanky as his penthouse. There wasn't even a bidet. But at least the stalls were cleaner than the ones at Midtown High. No graffiti scratched on the stalls. And two-ply toilet paper was available. He turned on the sink. The creaky faucet and the running water echoed around the empty space. Washing his face, he enjoyed the cool water relieving his tensed flesh. The running water gave a tranquil sound. It echoed throughout the empty room.
After drying off with a paper towel, he stood in place. His eyes gazed down at the sink. His body ached from his tough session. He was pushed far harder than he had in Gym class. Yet his buzzing mind prevented him from moving. He wasn't one to typically suffer nightmares. When he did, they reverted to the time when a green monster raced around the city. But that wasn't the case this time around.
As he crumpled the paper, he froze. He sensed someone approaching him. He learned to trust his gut feeling. Forming a fist, he swung behind him.
"Woah!" a familiar voice cried. The new occupant blocked his attack.
The blue eyes belonging to the novice recruit spotted the blue and red costume with the web design. He sighed relieved, "Oh, it's you, Spider-man. Sorry about that."
The experienced hero didn't feel fazed by the attempted assault. Or even insulted. His spider-powers granted him outstanding muscles. However, he was more interested in checking in with his friend. "It is lights out. Yet here you are wondering around like some sort of zombie. Everything OK?"
"Yeah, I just…" Harry accepted he shouldn't keep secrets from his teammates. He especially didn't want to worry his best friend. Concealing any truths would cause more damage and worry. He lightly confessed, "It was a nightmare. That's all."
Spider-man sensed it was a personal matter. His heroic self had ways in forming bonds with his teammates. This situation called for a different route. He removed his mask. Now standing side by side was the teen with floppy brown bangs and fostering blue eyes.
Seeing his best friend, Harry relaxed even more. He had learned to trust Spider-man. But he was always grateful to see his close buddy.
"Nightmare, huh?" Peter asked. His tone strayed from any jeering. He instead wore a placid, inviting smile.
Harry crunched the paper even more in his hands. "Yeah, a little dumb, if you ask me."
He tossed it. The crushed paper perfectly landed in the trash bin.
Peter watched the splendid shot. Casually, he shrugged. "I get them myself."
Harry turned surprised from the revelation. He stared at the young hero. "You do?"
"Yeah, sometimes about past missions." Peter's jovial voice turned grave, "And sometimes about those I couldn't save."
Holding his mask, he looked down at it. He eyed the web design, the colors red with a black outline and white slits. "That's why I wear this. Sure, it hides my identity. I never want harm to come to those I care about. I even placed special one-way mirrors underneath the eye holes. But it covers my face so that the bad guys can't see me being afraid."
The two were quiet for a moment. The joy of being a superhero involved using great powers for great responsibility. Yet there were numerous drawbacks. Once a mission was completed, and the villains' evil plot was dismantled with them thrown in prison, more cases and scoundrels appeared. One wrong step and the hero's life comes to an end. Or even worse: The innocents pay the price.
"You know those you did save will always be grateful to you," Harry assured, placing on a smile. "I doubt I'd be standing here at all if you hadn't pulled me outta Anti-Venom. I would've suffocated under all that Carnage mush before it could regenerate itself."
Peter smiled back. Even if he didn't regularly received thanks, and he habitually was on the end of the media scorn, he continued to do what was right. He was glad to have support from those he cared about.
"So, this how you bond with all the students?" Harry asked. "Have a heartfelt moment around a knitting circle with scented candles?"
"Nah. Nothing that cheesy. We play games. Just a couple of hours ago we had fun playing volleyball." Peter proudly smiled, "If anyone asks, it was a team building exercise."
"At night?"
"The later, the better. It provides an opportunity for stealth, restraint, and poise."
Harry's eyes fell on the waste bin where he made his shot. Becoming excited, he suggested, "We should play a round of basketball. We hadn't had a match in ages."
"Definitely," the brunet nodded. While Peter wasn't one for sports, he did enjoy his games against his best buddy. They didn't have teams, keep score, or race around the court. Sometimes it was just the two of them shooting hoops.
The leader placed back his mask on. "Should be hitting the sack. Got another long day ahead of us."
The auburn boy took a deep breathe. Nodding, he was prepared to face whatever was thrown his way. He followed his leader out of the restroom.
It was unknown what terror awaited them.
Scattered puddles covered a basketball court in the city park. Grey clouds hung in the air. Cold wind swayed the aged nets. A storm had come through the metropolis. The rain had stopped. Now was the open window for a quick outdoor activity.
"Ah, feels good to get outta that stuffy, old Triskelion," Peter cheered.
"Nice break from wearing that heavy armor, too," Harry remarked. "Gotta give it time to breathe so it doesn't get moldy."
The duo stood on one of the courts. They wore pullover hoodies to keep themselves warm from the cold weather. One carried a basketball underneath his arm.
((I've been taking out my new team, The Midtown Marauders, for training. I can't believe the name Flash suggested actually caught on. So far, they've really proven themselves. Managed to stop several carjackers, two fires, and even a bank heist! As a reward for working like a well-oiled machine, I snagged some day passes for Spider-man, Patrioteer, Agent Venom, and Spider-woman. A.K.A., me and my friends. Sure, I've gotten closer to those from S.H.I.E.L.D., but I've known these guys long before Spidey made his debut. I had my doubts, but it's nice not having to wear two masks.))
"The court doesn't look too slippery," Peter observed. "You still wanna play? If I get injured, I have my healing factor to work."
Harry smirked, "You just worry about that healing factor kicking in after I whip you."
Peter accepted the challenge. The taunts his best friend delivered were never malicious. Prior to the class genius gaining his spider-powers, their old classmates at Midtown High jeered and mocked him for his lack of physical coordination. The insults bothered him less once he decided to keep up his charade.
The two boys stood at the half-court line. They intended to use only half of the court, freeing the other section to others. They squared up. The ball arose. Both players focused on it. As it descended, one hand smacked it. The two players raced down the court towards the basket. Shots were made. Shots were missed. Dribbling, blocking, lay-ups, jump shots, rebounding. Two by two the scores went up. Sometimes even by three points. Their energy was boundless.
The game was different from challenges gone by. It was no longer between the nerdy Parker and the popular Osborn. Though suits were off, it was between a newer version of Peter and Harry. Their competitive personae came about. They applied their newly acquired skills. They observed and followed the other one's every move, every step. Yet they kept up the fun. Laughter poured out.
Time swept by. No official clock was being used. Thickening clouds blocked out the sun. All that counted were the made baskets and a guess at the hour. The two sets of blue eyes stayed on each other. Their arrogant smirks smothered their faces. It was towards the end of the match. Before either boy could move, a roar of thunder interrupted the final play. They ceased their rapid movements and looked up.
The heavy rain began.
"Ack!"
The duo covered themselves.
"Shoot. Game over," Peter remarked, taking back his backpack. "We better split."
"What about Flash and M.J.?" Harry asked, holding the ball. "They were supposed to meet us here."
Peter took a look at his friend. He noticed his shaky fingers. "Let's get outta this rain first."
The duo raced off the court. Their feet pounded against the dirt patches slowly becoming mud. They watched their steps from the growing wet grass. Shelter from the falling water was scattered from the dense trees. But the harsh downpour made it difficult to see.
Whenever he was Spider-man, Peter could easily swing through the city. He sometimes used that transportation method in similar weather for his crime watch. But Harry was with him; the other teen didn't have his armor. He was in more danger of hypothermia. They needed to find temporary lodging.
"Look!" Peter called. "Up ahead!"
They managed to find a rundown shed.
"An old storage shack!" Harry noted. He then smirked, "Last one there buys pizza!"
The idea of a hot dish rekindled their spirits. They quickened their pace. Their competitive attitudes came forth once more. Step by step, they approached the mini building.
Peter knew he needed victory. He was financially broke. Fighting bad guys and training new heroes didn't leave him time to find a paying job. Eating something warm during the cold weather sounded nice. Stretching his arm, his palm touched the side wall. "I win!"
"OK, OK," Harry laughed, huffing. In the past he kept his speed around the scrawny teen as they performed laps in Gym class. The auburn felt no envy or anger towards his best friend. He rubbed his forehead. "I know what toppings you like. Now hurry up and get inside! It's freezing!"
They opened the door.
"Hello?" Peter greeted. "Anyone else hiding out from this wonderful weather?"
Only darkness greeted them. But it was bright enough to see. They carefully stepped inside. Inspecting the area, they came across old and broken groundskeeper's supplies—a mower, a weed whacker, a leaf blower, hoses, rakes, trashcans, pieces of wood. Dust coated everything. A couple of cobwebs lay about. A single window was smudged. Aside from a few leaks, the roof was sturdy.
"What a fine place to be," Peter remarked. "Reminds me of those five star hotels. We should be safe here."
"Yeah, sure," Harry mumbled. His fingers massaged his sore scalp.
The brunet turned his gaze towards the other teen. He saw him leaning against the wall near the door. Genuine concern took over him. "You feeling OK?"
Harry nodded. "Just a slight headache."
"You need my hoodie? I got my costume underneath but..."
"I'll be fine. Don't need your sweaty hoodie to stain mine."
Peter gave no comeback. He made a mental note to keep the rest of their day off as relaxing as can be. He pondered if the training earlier was still taking its toll. Before he could further investigate the matter, he heard some sort of light scratching. "Wait, did you hear that?"
"What?" Harry asked, looking back at his friend. He then heard the noise.
The two looked at each other.
The room wasn't large enough to camouflage another human. Then again, the one who had been bitten by a radioactive spider had faced stranger problems. He cautiously shuffled towards the back of the shed. Nothing had yet to alarm his senses. Harry followed. Perhaps there was a hole on the other side big enough to let someone crawl through. The tiny scratches persisted. They carefully shifted the old wood. Right as they finished, something scraped their sneakers.
The duo yelped. They pulled themselves back. As their hearts raced, they heard a squeak.
A runty rodent raced along the ground and left. The culprit was only a mouse.
The boys sighed with relief. They glanced at each other and laughed.
"You were so scared!" they teased. "No! You were!"
Harry took out his phone to check the time. "Better text Flash and M.J. Let them know where we're at."
Peter added, "Hope they didn't get caught in this rain."
The inside of the shack was serene. The storm was no longer raging. The patter of the rain gave a soothing sound. But such repose was soon to be dashed. As the weather continued, the duo still had no clue about the horror that awaited them. How in one lab a new life was forming, still growing from the past night.
To create more space, the two boys transported the field supplies towards the back. They piled up as much of the tools as they could. Now they had more room. They took turns practicing and playing with the ball. They at least had some entertainment as they waited for the pouring rain to stop.
Peter held the ball. He rotated it using his fingers tips. He then snapped it to one side, spinning and balancing it on his middle finger.
"Woah," Harry gasped. "Nice."
"It's just physics," Peter smiled. "I had a lot of practicing in learning how to control my equilibrium. Of course, it does help having spider powers."
The ball stopped. He allowed it to fall.
Harry leaned and scooped it up. He formed an arrogant smirk. "Lemme show you something I've been working on."
His eyes fell onto one of the trashcans. He planned to treat it has a hoop. He dribbled, prepping himself. He gripped the ball around his finger tips and propped up his arms. He was preparing to make the shot.
Far from them, a jolt of electricity ran through a mushy sample in a lab miles away.
Harry felt a shock. He dropped the ball. It bounced and rolled along on the dirty floor. He clamped his eyes.
"Harry?" Peter called. He at once noticed something was off with his buddy. The young Osborn always showed grace during Gym class. He was formidable with and without his Patrioteer armor. He was never one for being clumsy.
They had no idea of a new life spurning. The black and red goop swerving around in a beaker. Its activity was stronger than the previous night.
Harry stumbled for a moment. He took a few steps back and found support against the wall. He felt a giant pain pounding inside his mind. He placed one hand across his throbbing forehead. To him, it was like the side of his head had been whacked by a metal pole. He groaned.
"You sure you're OK?" Peter asked once more. "You seem a little…"
He noticed the clammy skin around the face and neck. Before he could offer any assistance, he felt the special alarm in his head go off. "Spider-sense? Now? What gives?"
The teen with auburn hair was unable to handle the overwhelming sensation. He tightened his closed eyes. Something inside his mind was pulling him in different directions. He began losing authority over himself. He swung his arms around, knocking down the lawn equipment. They banged and clattered as they hit the floor. He cried in agony.
"Harry!" Peter shouted. He backed himself to the safe side. He was cleared from any sporadic swinging arms or tumbling garden supplies. Something was definitely wrong with his pal. He debated if he needed to use his webs to hold him down.
The young Osborn paused. A moment of imperturbation graced the auburn. He no longer thrashed about. No more landscaping tools plunged and clanged. Opening his panicky eyes, he turned to the brunet. His breath became shaky. "Pete! Something's up! I feel—AAHH!"
White tendrils sprouted from his back. They wrapped around his arms, shoulders, chest, and torso. The muck rushed down towards his legs and feet, covering every inch of his body. Soon every piece of clothing was in a uniformed color.
Peter realized what was happening. He watched in alarm and disbelief as white goop consumed his friend. His heart raced. His memory came into play of what he had seen before. "No! It can't be! Not Anti-Venom!"
His eyes landed on the other boy's chest. He spotted the black arachnid symbol. He knew what it meant. He couldn't allow himself to be powerless. He removed his hoodie, showing his red and blue costume underneath. "Hang on, Harr! I'mma try using my taser webs on it!"
The wall-crawler had fought against these strange living beings on numerous occasions. He grasped how tricky they acted, both in their physical structure and tactics. They always brought trouble. If a creature as strong as a symbiote had a weakness, it was electricity. He prepped himself. He raised one hand in his usual webbing position. He couldn't allow the beast to gain full supremacy. Just as he was prepared to fire, the active symbiote made the hostage teen jump out of the way.
"No!" Peter shouted. He missed his target. He couldn't cease his assault.
The webbing hit the wall. The powerful blast set fire to the reaming dusty tools. Smoke began to fill the confined space. The two teens coughed as the tainted air stormed their lungs. The dry air prompted their eyes to water, making it difficult to see. The atmosphere began to grow hot.
The swelling blaze provoked the awakening symbiote. It was aware of what the adolescent hero was trying to accomplished. In addition to blaring sounds and electricity, fire was another weakness for it. It needed to escape the spreading flames.
"Pete!" Harry yelled. He could feel the creature taking more and more mastery over his body. His hands turned to claws. The slime began to take more shape of a biped. It was inching over his neck. He could feel its thoughts looking to govern him. As much as he tried to fight off the growing monster, his own strength was useless. His heart raced as despair took over. "I can't shake this thing! I can't—"
He shrieked as the remnants enveloped his head.
Through the smoke, Peter watched in terror. Beyond the black he was able to see the white. He could no longer see his best friend. "No! Harry!"
The creature was successful in its takeover. It was able to fully stand. Lifting its head, Anti-Venom roared.
As the fire continued to scorch everything, the revived symbiote took note. It only cared for itself. Equipping its shoulder, it busted through the nearest wall. It broke free from the flaming shack. It happily accepted the pouring rain on the outside.
Peter could only watch the symbiote flee. Such a monster never brought luck to his best friend. He realized the devastation they were in. "Shoot! I gotta save Harry! But first I gotta save myself."
Using his stamina, he broke through another wall away from the consuming flames. He coughed as smoke and clear air assaulted his nostrils. He managed to escape unscratched. Barely, he picked up the distinct scent of burning rubber.
The little shed collapsed on itself. Smoke escaped underneath the tin roof and coalesced. The rain put out the flames.
The brunet raced to the nearest tree. The droplets cooled his warmed flesh. His long, brown bangs fell over his face. He had no problems avoiding other people. The heavy rain must have sent everyone home. Behind the thick trunk, Peter quickly changed outfits. He carefully hid his backpack among the branches. Once his mask was placed on, Spider-man shot his webs. He pulled himself through the area. He searched for the returned symbiote. His mind buzzed with endless questions.
Before he could ask a single one, his phone rang. He perched himself on a branch. "Flash? Uh, no, I'm not with Harry…. Never mind the trip to the arcade! We got a bigger problem! Contact M.J. for me. You both meet Spidey at the park pronto!"
He hung up and sighed.
((Anti-Venom keeps getting stronger whenever it appears. Last time, not even a mob of Carnage-infested citizens overpowered it. Nearly took an army of heroes to mow it down. Even Captain America gave a hand. Can't do this alone. Gonna need my team to do this job.))
He flicked his web and began his descent. His body at once welcomed the cooler temperature. His mind pumped with adrenaline. Meanwhile, his heart filled with sorrow. He was unable to save his best friend from the symbiote despite his quick action. Reviewing and learning from the past moment, he mumbled, "Gotta remember that symbiotes are immune to my Spider-sense. It was probably telling me earlier that something was wrong with Harry."
He began his journey. His red boots raced across the muddy land. He searched. He had to re-locate his missing buddy. The symbiote was powerful with its muscular limbs and sharp claws. Any clues left were imprints. Anything that was destroyed was because it was in the creature's path. So far no civilians were near the incident. At least Spider-man didn't need to worry about their safety.
As he scanned for the beast's whereabouts, the rain stopped. The heavy winds, though, continued to blow. The black clouds blocked the sun. The city was already aware of the weather pattern. It was merely the eye of the storm.
"Not much I can do from here," Spider-man mused to himself. "I'm gonna need something higher than light posts and less leaves than trees."
He found another structure. He placed himself on top of the public restroom building. He scouted the area. In the distance he spotted trees rattling. The movement was off putting because of their natural stillness. He suspected something of great strength caused that unnatural trembling. Now all he needed was the right squad. He heard shuffling behind him. Turning around, he spotted a tall, black-suited teen and a slender green and red teen.
Spider-man became relieved for the assistance. "Nice to see my team. Sorry to call you on your day off."
"A little tough to meet up with you moving around like a bouncy ball," Agent Venom remarked. Though he was disappointed having his relaxing time canceled, he understood the severity of unchecked villains and other disasters. He truly had learned to be responsible like his hero.
"Yeah, my bad," the wall-crawler muttered.
"So what's the scoop?" Spider-woman asked. She had been surprised with the sudden contact she received. She was prepared to take on whatever duty was placed in front of her.
"We got a little situation here."
A powerful roar broke through.
Such a distinguished yowling caught their focus. It sent a panic into their spirits. They could only come to one conclusion. "Is that Harry?!"
"Anti-Venom," Spider-man corrected. "Harry reluctantly became its host once more."
"That sounds more than a little situation," Agent Venom remarked. He grew concerned recalling what it could do to him and Venom.
"Shouldn't it be gone?" Spider-woman asked. She was also aware of its strong power. She had witnessed the cleansing Anti-Venom could perform. All that durability while its host was paralyzed.
The web-head shook his head. "Guess my hypothesis was wrong. Sending Anti-Venom into the heart of Carnage didn't destroyed either of 'em. It musta only made Anti-Venom dormant."
Agent Venom asked, "So why has it been checked out all this time?"
"I wish I had an answer." Spider-man reviewed that long night. Carnage gathered itself together without slowing down. The one under the mask was terrified to believe he had lost his best friend. He wouldn't allow that chance to happen again. "Let's go bring him in. But remember, don't hurt him. He's one of us."
The remaining Midtown Marauders shot their webs and made their descent.
The white symbiote was running. It had been some time since it had its independence. The wind brushed upon its mush. It was, indeed, trapped within its host. All while the host was fully unaware of its presence. Its orange eyes darted. With its grand hunting abilities, it could see past what people viewed. It tried to feel out the location of whatever it needed to destroy. That was its purpose. There was an impurity present. And it planned to fulfill its mission until the very end.
It only stopped when it heard a stout voice commanded, "Hold it right there!"
Looking around itself, Anti-Venom spotted Spider-man. It ceased moving when red boots landed on patches of wet dirt and dead grass. As it was prepared to turn on its heels, it spotted Agent Venom behind him. Spider-woman was on its other end. It was surrounded.
"Enough with the running around," Spider-man ordered. "Triangles are more than pointy. They can be a very powerful shape. Now come with us so we can get our buddy back."
Anti-Venom acknowledged the threat. It refused to stop its mission. It roared. "Must purify!"
The white symbiote bolted. The trio put up their guard. It darted in the same direction as the black symbiote. Perhaps it had returned to finish its job. Petrified, Agent Venom couldn't move. The cleansing creature wasn't at all like soap. A mere touch of its claws or tendrils hit his own symbiote like acid. An overexposure could leave him comatosed.
"Harry!" Spider-man cried. "Agent Venom! No!"
Anti-Venom jumped over the teen in the black suit. His leap was as tall as a lamp post. It landed on the ground, dust sweeping up. It continued to run from the group.
"Huh?!" everyone shouted.
"Hey!" Agent Venom yelled. "Why didn't he go after me?!"
"That's a good question," Spider-man replied, confused. "Looks like we'll hafta ask Anti-Venom. Ready for the next race?"
They shot their webs. Their sticky vines caught on to trees and streetlights. They pursued it. Spider-man watched as Anti-Venom swooped through the trees. Branches shook. Any leaves that weren't thrown off by the strong wind tumbled due to the creature's magnificent strength.
Spider-man's mind continued to buzz. He glanced behind him. He spotted the other teens following, no questions asked. They had gained powers thanks to their symbiotes. What were once enemies had become a powerful resource. Yet the recently awaken symbiote appeared uninterested in them. Looking ahead, he eyed the white beast.
"Must purify!" Anti-Venom roared.
"We got that already!" the masked ruffian yelled. "What are you looking to purify? Are Venom and Carnage already outta season?"
A terrifying thought occurred to him. He ceased his webbing. "Uh oh."
"Uh oh?" the other two repeated. They stopped as well.
"Anti-Venom came back to complete some sort of mission," Spider-man recapped. "That's probably what's causing Anti-Venom to be, well, so anti. Someone's created a new symbiote!"
The others gasped.
"Who has the knowledge and resources to do this?" Spider-woman asked.
"Ock?" Agent Venom guessed. "HYDRA?"
"We'll worry about that later," Spider-man directed. "Right now, we need to bring down Anti-Venom. Before it can do anymore harm to Harry."
They chased after the white creature. The park was a massive piece of land. It comprised of benches, various pedestrian paths, and of course numerous trees. The team occasionally crossed wide pastures, perfect for picnic settings and disc throwing. The windy weather still prevented citizens and tourists from enjoying those outdoor activities. The grass was wet, and any dirt underneath was turned into mud. The trio hurriedly brushed past those open spots and kept at their hunt through the thick trunks and heavy branches. Their webbing continued to stick despite the wet bark. Thanks to their relentless pursuit, they eventually found what they were seeking.
"I spy with my little eye something white. And slimy."
The trio soon arrived at the new symbiote. It was standing in place. Its heard turned to all angles. Its orange eyes explored all sides. Newcomers and those unfamiliar with the park could find the entire place staggering. Between the similar-looking trees, the uniformly designed lamp posts, and the walls of endless skyscrapers, one finding its bearing could be troublesome. Anti-Venom was using its prowess beyond human capabilities. It attempted to use its senses to locate what it was hunting.
Spider-man was a hero. He was also a scientist. With his keen intention, he observed the creature's odd behavior. "We gotta find a smart way to surround it. Anti-Venom's got some serious leaping skills. That could land it on the U.S. Olympic's team for the long jump competition."
Agent Venom commented, "I don't think a host with a symbiote could join a single's competition, Spidey. We always work as a team."
"Forget the gold medals and cereal box endorsements. New tactic. Let's try racing around Anti-Venom like a tornado and everyone uses our webbing to snare it. We should move before Ant-Venom splits." The leader was prepared to take his steps when he noticed his teammates remained in place. "What's up?"
The duo kept their position. Their eyes had widened. They upheld their determination to help out a friend. Yet there was a panic as well. Their bodies were prepared to fight. However, they appeared tense.
Agent Venom yelled. "Our symbiotes don't want to go near it!"
"They must be aware of what Anti-Venom can do," Spider-woman guessed.
The leader analyzed the situation. The two battles between Agent Venom and Anti-Venom had knocked out the former. The white symbiote had also caused pain to the red one. Spider-man wanted to save his best friend. He also understood he couldn't endanger the other two. They weren't only his teammates; they were his companions as well. It was his job to find a solution.
"Then stay there and follow my lead. I got something else up my sleeve." He turned forward. Serving as a hero, he made sure to always take up his responsibilities. He refused to lose anyone else. "It's gotta work… Like last time..."
He marched towards the tall creature. His movements displayed his authority and also his sympathy. He stood only a couple of feet away. He removed his mask. His loose brown hair spilled out, and his blue eyes met with the white creature. "Harr, it's me, Peter. I'm your best friend."
Anti-Venom heard the familiar voice once more. It saw the revealed adolescent. It gazed at the human face. It froze. Its glowing orange eyes scanned the brunet. It found the genuine blue eyes. Neither side moved.
Seeing the impact, Spider-woman only took a couple of steps forward. She recalled how she visited the young Osborn when he needed her whilst in his coma. She pulled aside her own symbiote. She revealed her green eyes and red hair. "It's OK, Harry. It's only us. Your friends."
"We don't leave teammates behind!" Agent Venom did the same. He uncovered his own blond hair and blue eyes. He had considered his own symbiote to be a part of him. He had become a part of a team outside Midtown High. He carried pride in his pals. "You know what I say! Awesome bros before evil foes!"
The trio stood still, waiting to see if their reaching out produced any effect. After some shifting, Anti-Venom revealed the teen's head underneath. The auburn with blue eyes popped out. "Pete? Guys? What's going on? Where are we?"
He looked down at himself. He spotted the white muck with the black marking. He recognized them. Immediately, he cried out, "Is this… Anti-Venom?!"
All the terrible memories began to swirl in his mind. He was combined with the horrendous creature against his will. He was aware of the coma he fell into. He hated waking up only to find himself once again dominated by it. Being mixed with it nearly took him away from his loved ones forever.
Peter spotted the anguish and terror that engulfed his buddy. He understood the other boy's reaction. Despite his own qualms, he had to regulate the situation. He was the leader. "Relax, Harr! We're here to help! You've been through this before! Just focus on removing yourself from the symbiote!"
Harry became frightened. Looking up, he spotted his pals. They were standing by. He took in their gestures and words. He worked to follow his friend. He closed his eyes and grunted. He tried to aim his attention on his given task. His struggle, however, wasn't the same. He picked up his failing job. He sensed the symbiote's autocratic intention. Overcoming with doubt, he shouted, "I can't! It's not coming off!"
"What?!" Peter shouted back. "How? It can't be that strong?!"
Rather than be pulled off, the white symbiote retreated. It slithered apart, revealing more of the young Osborn's clothing. Growing smaller and smaller, it withdrew into the teen's skin. It was almost like Anti-Venom was never present at all. Falling unconscious, the host landed on the cold, wet ground.
"Harry!" Mary Jane and Flash cried.
Peter uttered nothing. He dashed from his spot. He reached their fallen partner first. Taking the collapsed teen into his arms, he studied his friend. His clothing had been stained from the puddle. His face received small amounts of mud. More importantly, Peter found him still breathing, still with a stable heartbeat.
The other two members raced towards him.
"Is he…" Mary Jane began to ask but trailed off. She bit her lip fearing the worst. For a moment she was back at Oscorp overlooking her good friend in his coma.
"He's OK," Peter calmly announced. His voice broke through the redhead's racing thoughts. "Just knocked out."
"Now what?" Flash asked. He watched as his commander stared down at his closest friend. He couldn't allow his own hasty action to harm either of his allies again. He had matured as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. He was open to listen to his leader.
Before anyone could suggest a move, the rain dumped down once more.
"Let's get him to some shelter," the girl suggested. Her red symbiote took over her face once more. "We can move him to the Triskelion once its safe for him. There has to be a way to check out this symbiote thing, isn't there?"
"Yeah," the masked ruffian replied. "For now, let's get him outta this bad weather. Make sure our buddy is alright. We can't risk him getting hypothermia."
He placed his mask back on. Spider-man spotted a dilapidated snack shack. He gathered the fallen host into his arms.
The three shot their webbing and headed for a nearby shack.
"It doesn't make any sense," Spider-man griped.
The young Osborn was safely lying on the floor. Over him was a worn-down blue tarp to maintain his body heat. He was positioned away from any water falling from the leaking roof that pooled together on the concrete ground. He wasn't in a coma like the first time he came into contact with the symbiote. However, he had yet to awaken.
The shack was quiet. Ropes and cords covered metal shelves. All items were stored away in crates. A construction to build a new shack was underway. As a result packing in the current one was done.
White slits in the red mask analyzed the slumbering adolescent and the recent event.
((I'm beyond frustrated. I thought my original plan had worked—to let Anti-Venom take down that Carnage sludge. It's also not great seeing my best buddy impaired by the symbiote once more. I only wanted to be a brave and caring leader. Now it seems one of my teammates is paying for my mistake again.))
He squeezed a fist.
Agent Venom and Spider-woman were distraught as well. Their bond amongst each other developed as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents over living as simple Midtown High students. The benefit came in that social circles were knocked down in favor of true friendships. When they worked together—fighting super villains or defeating a training course—it was nice to be group. It seemed their tight bond could overcome anything. They couldn't believe a close friend was in danger. It was strange. What gave them their power tormented the other. They also spotted the gears working within their leader's mind.
Spider-woman inquired, "Trying to use the scientific method to solve this?"
"It is the science nerd in me," Spider-man confessed. "I just gotta know the answer. Take apart the puzzle. See how it—this symbiote—was formed."
Spider-woman placed a caring hand on her rector's shoulder. He released a sigh. She understood the tribulation a leader was undergoing from his teammate. She also understood the pain a friend was bearing through because of a friend.
Agent Venom wanted to also give a hand. He was mystified. "Didn't we get Harry checked out?"
Spider-man nodded. "Yeah. Twice. Once through S.H.I.E.L.D. and once through Oscorp. He was clean."
"Even the best of machines can't detect everything," the girl countered. "Machines can make mistakes. Human errors can occur."
The wall-crawler lowered his head. "Yeah, human errors."
"Let's pay attention to what you decided earlier. Maybe we should focus not how Anti-Venom came back, but why it did."
Spider-man had learned not to reject other people's ideas. He learned to listen to other people's ideas and suggestions. He turned hopeful. He now needed to be something else he was great as, a scientist. "Anti-Venom is like a bulldozer combined with a donkey."
Agent Venom grew confused. "You're saying he's an a—"
"No! I'm saying Anti-Venom won't stop until it completes its mission. Remember what it did back when Carnage infected everybody? Maybe it can lead us to where this new symbiote is. Then we can find a way to contain them both before Anti-Venom decides to do anything reckless."
The gang debated the plan. It seemed everyone could agree upon that. What was most important to their current mission was saving their friend. Their concentration broke after hearing a groan. The teen lying on the floor slightly moved. He turned his head from one side then the other. He scrunched his closed eyes. Without opening his lips, he moved his mouth. He could feel the cold, hard ground underneath him. He could feel the thin, crunchy tarp over him.
"He's waking up!" Spider-man announced. He tried to keep himself from shouting. He was, though, relieved in seeing his friend responding. So far it was only Harry, no Anti-Venom.
The other duo grasped that they had to make the reluctant host comfortable, lest Anti-Venom returned. They discretely removed their symbiotes. They now exposed their usual street clothing underneath.
The leader knelt next to his teammate. "Harry? You OK?"
A pair of blue eyes slightly opened. His ears heard the familiar voice. However, his sight at once took in the red fabric. "Pe… Spider-man?"
Seeing how the quartet was alone, the web-head removed his mask. The stretchy material uncovered the brown hair and blue eyes. He looked directly at his pal so he would relax. "Yeah, it's me. It's us."
The auburn heard the plural. He turned and spotted the other teens. His vision allowed him to see someone with red hair and green eyes and someone with blond hair and blue eyes. His groggy mind pulled together who else he and Peter were aiming to meet up with later. "M.J.? Flash?"
The girl smiled and greeted, "Hey, Harry. Good to see you awake."
The other boy, though also smiling, sourly added, "Some day off this turned out to be, huh?"
Peter felt guilty. He wanted time to enjoy being a teen—goofing off with friends and hanging out at teen locals. He was tired of others paying for his mistakes. With their current situation, he tried to stay positive. He added, "At least we're outside getting exercise and fresh air. Err, earlier in the day, we were. Better than getting our butts whipped on the training course."
Harry took in his surroundings. He spotted old posters and closed tool boxes. He could hear the rain tapping against the metal sheet roof. Several drops of water had been dripping from the cracked ceiling. He questioned, "How did we get here? Weren't we…"
He gasped. Bolting himself to a sitting position, he quickly examined himself. He patted his chest. He brushed his hair. He surveyed his arms. He couldn't see any white goop surrounding his body.
"Harr," Peter called. "Take it easy. Anti-Venom isn't out right now."
The young Osborn gave his attention to the brunet. His facial expression clearly showed he wasn't convinced. He argued, "But it's still a part of me, isn't it?"
"Well… Uh…" Peter stammered as he struggled to find a correct response.
Fear and anger over swept the auburn. Harry clamped his eyes. "I knew it! I can't get rid of it!"
"Harry! Calm down! We can't do anything if you're freaking out a little—"
"A little?! There's a symbiote I didn't order inside of me! Its taken over me again and treating me like a joyride! How can I stay calm when it sent me into a coma?!" Harry stared at his leader. His friend. He looked at the other two. He could see they were at his side. He felt an arm on his shoulder. He noticed the red material attached to Peter.
The brunet understood his pal's anxiety. As a leader, he had to oversee the situation. As a friend, he knew others relied on him. He gently reminded, "You're not alone. Not this time."
Harry heard his buddy's assuring words. He huffed to calm himself. Once his mind cleared, he confessed, "I… I could hear its thoughts. It sensed an entirely new symbiote."
The trio of web-slingers gasped.
The girl turned to the brunet. "Looks like your hypothesis was correct."
Peter released his hold on his companion. He turned away and grunted. He always enjoyed slinging his veracity in the faces of his teammates and even his superiors. As often as his life was on the line, he felt the right to brag. However, because of the disastrous situation, he felt no joy. Instead, a new problem sprung forward. His blue eyes landed on the auburn, who looked back at him. Using a firm and steady voice, Peter asked, "Where was it heading?"
Harry heard the inquiry. He looked at the ground as his mind searched his memories. It was tough when he was first greeted with a blackness, his unconscious.
"Somewhere…" he replied, trailing off. His mind recalled nothing but darkness whilst he was being roughly handled. He shut his strained eyes. He placed his hand on his throbbing head. "Somewhere in the city. Definitely."
"That narrows it down. It's like the old saying of finding a proverbial needle in a haystack."
Like the other night, the quartet was unaware of the activity forming a life. A new sludge was moving on its own. Its prison was a glass beaker. Yet it was sloshing around as it reached for the top edges. Freedom was so close yet out of its reach. Despite its distance from the S.H.I.E.L.D. heroes, its presence was in reach to another symbiote.
"Ah!" Harry cried. He placed both hands against his aching head. He clamped his eyes together once more in pain. Strange sensations ran through his body.
"Harr!" Peter yelled. "What's wrong?"
"It… It can feel it!" the auburn answered, grunting. "Anti-Venom… is trying to get to it!"
Peter glanced at the other boy and girl. They showed their own anxiety and concern for their friend. They had managed to handle their symbiotes. They had bonded. Turning back to Harry, Peter asked, "Is there a way you can control it?! Maybe you can get Anti-Venom to lead us to this new symbiote. Maybe if we let Anti-Venom take care of the symbiote, it'll leave you alone."
Harry gave his focus on Peter. His blue eyes wanted to give trust, but doubt and terror overtook him. He didn't have time to respond. White slime exploded from his backside. It crawled and wrapped itself around his arms and legs. It spread once more along his torso. The teen's cries of anguish bounced against the shack's shaky walls.
"Oh, crap!" Flash yelled.
"Harry!" Peter and Mary Jane shouted.
Once the young Osborn's face and hair were covered, Anti-Venom made its return. It flashed its orange eyes opened. It took in its surroundings. Even though no symbiotes resided outside of their hosts, Anti-Venom could still sense them. It narrowed its eyes as it softly growled.
Peter glanced between his other friends. Their eyes were locked at the white symbiote. Gaining his courage, he took a step forward. "Harry, can you hear me?"
Anti-Venom turned towards the leader of the trio.
The brunet replaced his red mask. Spider-man coolly called, "Easy, Anti-Venom."
The other teen boy and girl re-activated their own symbiotes. They silently watched as they stood guard.
"We're on your side," the web-slinger calmly continued. "We know that there's a nasty new symbiote out there that you wanna get rid of. That's cool; that's cool. You might need some help. The three of us can tag along. Why don't you lead us there? We can catch a burger or a burrito on the way, if you want. Lots of excellent choices here in New York."
He felt his heart racing. His nerves were uneasy. His quips left his mouth as he struggled to find a solution.
Orange eyes landed on Agent Venom and Spider-woman. While it had no interest in them, they were preventing it from its journey. "Disgusting filth!"
Anti-Venom summoned its tendrils from behind. It thrust them forward with lightning speed. Those easily shoved aside Agent Venom and Spider-woman. The duo yelped as the white goop scorched them like acid. Their own symbiotes slowly began to burn away.
"No!" Spider-man shot his webbings towards two heavy paint buckets. Gripping his webs, he yanked them. The swift move tossed the paint buckets towards Anti-Venom.
The creature growled from the unexpected attack. The metal cans dropped and banged as they smashed against the hard floor. Such a burst of noise shook the beast. Anti-Venom screeched. Weakened, its tendrils released its enemies. Agent Venom and Spider-woman slid to the ground.
Anti-Venom took a moment to recover. It needed to break out. Seeing there was no clear exit, it made one for itself. It smashed through the wavering wall.
"No!" The hero witnessed the escape. He couldn't allow the symbiote to run free. He had the chance to go after the wanted beast. Instead, he stayed behind to inspect his friends. "You two OK?"
The symbiotes regenerated themselves. The red and green covered the girl. The black and strains of white covered the boy. They managed to lift themselves up.
"A little dizzy," the girl replied.
Rubbing his sore shoulders, Agent Venom grumbled, "Offering to be on the same team didn't work. What's it gonna take?"
"Anti-Venom is such a lone wolf-type," Spider-man remarked. "We gotta catch up with it if we wanna see where it's going. We can't leave Harry at its mercy. From the looks of it, Anti-Venom doesn't have much of that in the first place."
Agent Venom and Spider-woman didn't need further explanation. They understood their friend needed help. They scrambled to their feet.
The girl asked, "So what's the plan? Follow Anti-Venom to this new symbiote?"
Spider-man looked at his alleys. He never dreamed he would team up with his childhood friend and his once bully. Much like how he never dreamed he would wear tights and fight crime. Life was interesting. He debated his end goal. He understood the white creature would do what ever it took to find and eliminate the new symbiote. It didn't appear like it wanted to consider its host's needs.
"We're gonna hafta take it down and bring it back to the Triskelion. Even if it means taking down Harry."
The trio refused to give up their search. Their webs pulled them forward throughout the empty park. They could only hope the newly resurrected symbiote hadn't vacated the mass piece of public land. As S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, they were taught the importance of completing their mission. They had also witnessed firsthand the dire consequences should they fail. And failure could mean more than a few scrapes and bruises.
Rain had yet to continue. However, the weather remained bleak and chilly. Darkened clouds had returned over the city. Soft thunder was growing louder with each roar. The wind was beginning to pick up. The low temperature prevented anymore people from visiting the park.
As Spider-man and his friends traveled, they found Anti-Venom approaching the basketball court. Time moved in an interesting manner. Despite the long battle, it was only an hour or two ago that the pair of friends were playfully competing against each other. The court had always been a battleground to some. To settle scores by gaining scores. And there was one last showdown.
Anti-Venom heard the thunder. It was cautious for any lightning. It ceased its running at the court. The surface was covered with puddles. Many of them reflected the broken sky or the surrounding trees. Its orange gazed down at a rather large one. It spotted a white symbiote. It had gained enough awareness to realize it was looking at itself. It soon felt the presence of oncoming symbiotes. Turning around, it spotted the annoying trio aiming towards it once more. The two symbiotes and their leader surrounded it. Once again they formed a triangle, trapping it.
Spider-man flicked his web and flipped. "That wasn't so nice of you to run out on us like that. What type of friend does that? Can't take you out for a fancy dinner if you plan to dine and dash."
Anti-Venom growled. It despised the tenacity the trio dealt. It only wanted to seek the new symbiote and eliminate it. Spider-man and his teammates prevented it from its job.
The masked ruffian stood his ground. He felt he received some luck in the storm's mild pause. He stared down the creature. "You can't run forever. I'll chase you inside and outside the city. Even to New Jersey if I have to. I'll do what I need to save my friend. So what you gotta say for yourself?"
Anti-Venom glared back at the white slits in the red mask. It felt deep within something changing. Steadily, it replied, "We will do our job to the bitter end. Symbiotes are a disease. They must be eliminated."
"Wait," Agent Venom asked, his eyes widening. "It can talk? Like, in full sentences?"
"It hasn't done that before," Spider-woman remarked. "Has it?"
Spider-man became impressed. He was also angered. If the creature was becoming more sentient, it had to pay for what it had been doing. He worried how much dominance it had over his friend. "You came back for a reason. You could've chosen any new host. Why Harry Osborn?"
Anti-Venom heard the rage in the last question. It stared back at the leader. It answered, "Host had contact with symbiotes. Host has acclimated. We share viewpoint."
Spider-man glanced at his teammates. He then turned back to the white beast. "I don't think you realized that Harry has changed his opinion. These so-called hosts have bonded with their symbiotes. These two are his friends. And don't try the he's-jealous-of-their-powers line. He's proud to be Patrioteer."
"Symbiotes are parasites. They are impure. They bring bad memories."
Spider-man could feel his fury rising. Anti-Venom remained in its place. His encased buddy was nearly in arm's reach. He fought to listen.
((What could Anti-Venom mean? Let's recap. The first symbiote, Venom, put Harry in the hospital. When I became Carnage, Harry took back Carnage to become Venom in order to take down The Goblin—who was Harry's dad, Norman Osborn. Then Doc Ock created an entirely new symbiote thanks to his enlistment with HYDRA. The Anti-Venom was forced on to Harry by Doc Ock, which left him in a coma. It nearly killed Harry when Anti-Venom was ready to take down Carnage. Luckily, Harry survived and came back as Patrioteer.))
"OK, so Harry has had some rotten luck when it comes to symbiotes. But look how helpful they've become. You gonna take away the strength from Agent Venom and Spider-woman? You gonna take back all the hours they've clocked in as heroes? That doesn't sound very nice."
"Purging must be done. Once completed, then their will be no more parasites."
"In case you hadn't noticed, Anti-Venom, you're a symbiote, too. You plan on cleaning out everything like a high school locker on the last day of school? Then what about you, smart guy?"
"All will be terminated once cleansing has been completed."
The wall-crawler shut his mouth for a moment. He discerned what the beast had communicated. He muttered, "If it's Anti-Venom's plan to destroy itself after everything is said and done… Oh no! Gotta stop it before it destroys its host!"
Spider-man shot his webs towards the beast's feet, ensnaring it. He then sped towards it. He decided to get physical for this confrontation. Last time when he, Agent Venom, and Patrioteer infiltrated HYDRA's headquarters, he was able to touch the new symbiote without any consequences. He yelled, "I'm gonna get Harry outta this symbiote! Even if it means tearing that thing off like a bed sheet!"
While Anti-Venom struggled to liberate itself, Spider-man raced. He stopped himself from charging into it. His red gloves were set against the white goop. He was set to rip it off like a soiled tablecloth. However, upon contact, he felt a burning sensation. It passed his costume and contacted within his own skin. "Youch!"
He yanked himself away. He then leaped backwards for his own protection. Staring at his hands, he felt like he had touched a burning stove.
"What's happening?" both Agent Venom and Spider-woman asked. They spotted the peculiar reaction. The teen in the black suit was more surprised based on their last encounter.
The web-head grunted. Notions raced within his mind. This new reaction was unexpected. He sought for any plausible explanation. Once the burn had passed, he replied, "Ock created Venom using my blood. From his old work, we got Carnage and Anti-Venom. Anti-Venom musta evolved to be able to cure my own spider blood."
He grumbled, "I'm just as vulnerable as you guys."
((Could it be that Anti-Venom really evolved? Is that why no machine could pick it up before? Those scans were looking for the old version of the symbiote before its update. Kinda like the common cold.))
He turned back to the white beast.
Anti-Venom had been slashing away the webbing that held it in place. When it was freed, it faced the web-spinner. It noticed the leader's reaction to its skin. A twisted grin almost came across its face. It seemed like it wanted to take advantage of the situation.
Agent Venom hated what happened to him when he first faced Anti-Venom. Because of his bond with Venom, he learned how the auburn took control of Venom long before he did. He later understood and accepted that Harry had no handle over himself, let alone a newly created symbiote. He grasped that his buddies—Spider-man as Peter and Harry—needed his assistance. Finding his courage, he shouted, "No way we're letting you hurt our friend!"
Before anymore damage could be done, he and Spider-woman stepped in. The black symbiote used his webbing to pull Spider-man away. Meanwhile, the red symbiote used her webbing to pull Anti-Venom. While her webs began to burn away, she managed to move quickly enough to separate the creature from the masked ruffian.
The leader sighed. "Thanks for saving my buns."
Agent Venom replied, "You've saved my buns more than I could count. Mostly because I suck at algebra."
Spider-man needed a new plan. He never would have guest the creature known as Venom and his once bully could team up for good. Looking at Spider-woman, he saw the good she had done with a monster like Carnage. He wanted all his companions to be safe. He had to find a way to separate the host from its symbiote. He barely noticed lightning with thunder roaring behind. He looked up. The basketball hoop was the tallest post in their immediate area. Lightning was attracted to high posts. He figured something could work.
"Agent Venom, trust me on this plan." He didn't wait for a response. He lowered himself and then jumped to the top of the hoop. He addressed to Anti-Venom, "Hey, ugly! No way we're gonna let you take your snake oil cure to the city. You wanna be set free? You'll have to purge me first!"
Anti-Venom ignored Agent Venom and Spider-woman. It spotted the annoying web-spinner. It did wish to rid the web-slinger. It now had to means to do so forever. Without hesitation, it raced towards the hoop the wall-crawler was perched upon. It used its hind legs to leap.
"Gotta time this just right," Spider-man mumbled.
Anti-Venom was reaching out for him. Its claws were ready to slash. The lightning was striking. The surge of electricity came up from its high source. Spider-man leaped away from the top. He landed on the ground. He turned and watched his plan in action. He heard Anti-Venom let out a screech of pain. The web-head eyed the injured monster as it fell to the ground.
"Harry!" he cried. He shot his webs. The other duo became stunned from the impromptu idea their leader created. They followed suit. The three of them created a net. They caught Anti-Venom before it could be squashed like dough. Because Spider-man's material was synthetic, the burning didn't happen. It did happen with Agent Venom and Spider-woman's.
Once the creature was safely on the ground, Spider-man rushed to his pal. He stopped his feet upon seeing someone underneath the white goop. Though electricity can be a symbiote's weakness, it was still thick enough to protect its host from any danger. He saw a small amount of auburn hair and fair complexion. He could hear a little bit of moaning.
"Harry!" Agent Venom and Spider-woman shouted. They wanted to aid him. Their bodies, however, refused to move. Plenty of Anti-Venom still encased their friend. One touch could lead to more burning. Their webbing was also useless. Despite their massive strength and agility, they felt helpless.
Spider-man felt the same way. The newly evolved beast could harm him as well. He clenched a fist. As his heart raced and his mind shook, he barely saw the young Osborn conscious. It seemed the auburn was also adapting to the symbiotes taking over him. When the other boy showed enough conviction, he was able to hold himself. He, too, was evolving.
"Harry! You gotta fight it!" Spider-man encouraged. "Remember that you're Patrioteer! A hero! You're the one in control!"
The auburn boy was aware of his surroundings. His eyes and his mind were able to keep track of Anti-Venom's movements. He could hear his companions calling out to him. He took in his best friend's supportive words. His persistence grew. He grunted as he tried to pull himself free.
The white symbiote began to lose its tall figure. The white and black blob created a sphere with one side opening. Out from it sprung the young Osborn.
"Harry!" everyone cried.
"I'm not going back!" he bellowed in grit. "I'm sick of being controlled! I'm not some experiment! I'm not Anti-Venom! I'm Harry Osborn! Patrioteer!"
As he tried to dash out of his prison, two tendrils kept its tight grip over his wrists. He closed his eyes and grunted. He pulled. He tugged himself with all his might. His sneakers smudged against the grimy basketball court. Sweat poured down his face. He huffed as he dragged himself forward. But the white restraints prevented him. They held on to him like glue.
Spider-man saw his pal's determination. Symbiotes could control their host, rampaging against everything. A strong host, on the other hand, controlled his symbiote. The wall-crawler grew puzzled as to who was winning. He witnessed what was forestalling his buddy from loosening himself. He came across another terrifying realization. "They bonded!"
"What?!" The other two gazed on in disbelief.
"Hang on, Harr!" Spider-man shot his webs. They snagged on to the auburn's wrist. He tried tugging on his white vines. He gained little traction.
Harry could feel himself being pulled back. He felt himself losing his strength. He was no stranger to symbiotes. He had once craved the amazing abilities it granted him. He was also forced to serve as its host. With devastating results. All that time he spent in his coma allowed the two to draw a connection. Also realizing the conclusion, he flashed his eyes open. "Spider-man!"
He stared at the hero in blue and red gear. His eyes widened with fear.
"Peter! Help!"
His screams filled with terror echoed. The white goop began covering him once more. His legs, torso, arms, and finally head were coated. He was engulfed by Anti-Venom. The webbing once holding on to the young Osborn broke away. The white monster stood tall. "Must purify!"
It stood on its legs no problem. A satisfied grin came across its face. While the trio helplessly watched, Anti-Venom began searching once more for why it returned. It quickly felt a lead. Having returned, it used its speed to run off. The trio, shocked by the revelation, was unable to keep up with its improved speed.
The clouds had finally departed. Night had come about. The black sky sparkled with stars and a giant full moon. The wind swept to become a gentle breeze. The storm had ended.
Agent Venom and Spider-woman looked at each other. They were angry. They were crestfallen. All this power they had been granted against their will and they had failed one of their teammates. Their friend. Knowing who was hurting greater, they turned their focus to the wall-crawler.
"What do we do now?"
Spider-man felt a huge sorrow encase his heart. He didn't wish to make a mistake regarding Anti-Venom. He thought he had a second chance. To properly save his best friend. He didn't tell Harry that one of his nightmares in failing to save someone was him. Spider-man knew what the evolved symbiote wanted. He couldn't allow the chance to lose his best friend permanently. He clenched a fist. "We go after him."
Agent Venom and Spider-woman looked at each other. Having battled against the crazy symbiote, they understood the risks. To themselves and to their own respected symbiotes. However, they understood who was true victim that needed rescue. They turned towards their leader. They nodded.
The remaining Midtown Marauders shot their webs. They swung themselves forward. Their leader headed the pursuit of the newly revived Anti-Venom.
"Hang on, Harry," Spider-man muttered to himself. "Don't let that symbiote win. We're gonna do everything we can to save you."
The desperate, fearful cries rang in his ears. The terrified expression burned his memories. He couldn't risk losing his best friend like he almost had once before. He had to find a way to defeat this new terror.
The group pursued their companion with only the dead of night following them.
The End
For Anti-Venom's true origin, see Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #569, 2008.
