Chapter 14: Rumble Under the Bronx
"Okay Doc," Spider Man said as the Aliens closed in. "Looks like we found the nest, time to get the cavalry!"
"Yes of course Spider Man. I won't be gone long."
"Take yer time Doc." Sabertooth said. "I'm lookin' forward to this." Dr. Strange faded from view as the aliens closed in. "All right bugs!" Sabertooth yelled. "Come get some!"
The aliens in front of them and behind them charged at once.
"Terrific Creed!" Shadow Cat exclaimed. "You've pissed them off!" She phased out just as one of the aliens slashed at her. She glared at Creed, disgusted that he was enjoying this. She almost hoped he would lose the fight.
It was all Spider Man could do to avoid the aliens' attacks and the acid that flew through the air due to Sabertooth's attacks. This was going not going to be fun.
Venom paced impatiently in the main room of Four Freedoms Plaza. He should have gone with the searchers, they were doing something. Meanwhile more innocents were dying. For the first time, Brock and the Symbiote regretted their hatred of Spider Man. It had been this hatred that had kept Venom from joining him in the search. Around him, the other heroes idly passed the time seemingly unconcerned. But each of them harbored their own concerns.
The Fantastic Four, X-Factor, Avengers and Fire Star were all considering the descriptions of the monsters they were about to fight, trying to prepare for the worst. The members of X-Force were worried about their fallen comrade Shatterstar, the first to be taken out of the fight. His ankle had been seriously mangled by one of the aliens. The Hulk and Cloak & Dagger had their own reasons for being apprehensive. The Hulk's hand no longer hurt, but he was unsure of his ability to fight the creatures. His primary weapons were his bare hands, and he knew that if he broke the shell of one of the things, his hands may very well be dissolved into nothing. Cloak remembered the feeling of one of those things in his cloak. He wasn't sure he wanted to feel it again. And Dagger's light bolts had been virtually ineffective.
All their thoughts were interrupted by arrival of the astral projection of Dr. Strange. "We have found the nest. You must come to their aid immediately. I have the teleportation spell ready."
"Good luck everyone." Reed said. Cyclops did a double take.
"You're not coming?" he asked.
"No, I'm going to stay here to continue my study of these creatures."
"Well yer gonna miss one hell of a fight Stretcho." Thing said. "We'll see you when we get back."
"Come home safe Mommy." Franklin said, only slightly worried.
"I will honey, be good now." She smiled at her son as she, and the rest faded away.
Next: Nightmare in New York 2!