Part 8 - Gods and Wolves

Chapter 131 - Missing in Action

Gwen could tell something fishy was going on the moment she landed on top of the Empire State Building. She hated formal dates, but Miles had somehow managed to get just the perfect balance between that and the usual take-away pizza. A table and two chairs was made up nicely with a few candles. Miles himself wasn't in his spider suit, or a full on tuxedo, but he seemed to have made some effort with his clothes for once. He smiled at her and stood up, putting his hand on her shoulder, then said:

"Hey." In his best imitation of his fourteen year old self.

Gwen laughed and rolled her eyes.

"I didn't bring any scissors for my hair, so watch where you get your hands stuck."

He chuckled, kissing her on the lips.

"Should I…go and put on a nice t-shirt or something? You've made a pretty big effort and I feel out of place." She asked.

"Whatever makes you comfortable, but you're perfect whatever you're wearing."

"Alright. I'll go change. Be right back."

Miles sat back down in his chair as Gwen warped away. He put his hand to his pocket, making sure he hadn't dropped what was in it. He was nervous, but he hoped she couldn't tell. That being said, they'd known each other for long enough to tell when something was up. He had a feeling she'd figure it out, but it was a leap of faith he was willing to take.

Gwen returned a few minutes later wearing something a bit smarter than her spider suit. Miles pulled her chair out for her then went over to one of the AC units and brought back a couple of boxes. He put one down in front of Gwen and kept the other. As they tucked in, she kept casting glances at him, trying to figure out what he was up to.

"Did I forget a big occasion? It's not someone's birthday, is it?"

"Well…" He struggled to find an excuse that wasn't a lie, but didn't reveal his true intentions. "It's four years to the day since we met, it's six months since I turned eighteen. I just figured why not do something nice for a change?"

"I'm glad. Take-away pizza every week was getting a bit predictable. But it's not about the food, right? It's about being together and stuff."

"Yeah…being together."

"So, where'd you get the table and chairs? Certainly comfier than an air vent."

"I just kinda asked the guy who owns one of the cafés we sometimes go to if I could borrow them. Turns out if you look out for the neighbourhood, the neighbourhood looks out for you. But please don't set this as the new norm. The candles alone cost me ten bucks, and I don't have a job."

"Don't worry, I won't." She replied with a grin.

As the evening went on, Miles became more and more distracted. Finally, as they were moving to their usual spot on the edge of the tower to watch the sunset, all was revealed.

"Hey Gwen, hold up a sec."

"Yeah?"

"I…want to ask you something."

"Anything."

She had a strong feeling she knew where this was going now, but she kept it as just a feeling in case she was wrong and he just wanted to ask what she wanted for her birthday in three months. He took a deep breath to get control of his nerves and stared into her eyes.

"Gwen, we've been through so much together over the last four years, and you've always been there for me. I mean…except that time on the boat but that was a big mess and…yeah."

He paused for a second, trying to get a grip on himself. This scared him more than any fight; even more than the nuclear winter. He stuck his hand in his pocket.

"I know what we've been up against before now won't be the last, and if there's anyone I'd want to face whatever else is out there with, it's you. Gwen…" He got down on one knee and fished out a little box which he opened to reveal a silver ring with a dark blue sapphire. "Will you marry me?"

Gwen could feel her heart pounding as she knelt down in front of him.

"Yes."

They threw their arms around each other. Miles put the ring down as they held each other, kissing every now and then, but knowing they had the rest of their lives to do that. Now they wanted to savour the moment.

"There's nobody else I'd want to face the future with." Gwen whispered.

After a few minutes, they broke apart and Miles put the ring on her finger. He was grinning uncontrollably, and she was as well. They hugged again, feeling each other's hearts beating almost in perfect sync.

"I love you, Gwen."

"I love you too, Miles."

A couple of days passed, the first of which the pair spent entirely together. The second, they decided not to because Miles' family wanted to throw a party and Gwen needed some quiet time to gather her thoughts. That didn't worry Miles; she quite often needed a bit of alone time after something major happened in her life.

"To Miles and Gwen." Miles' dad toasted to the gathered members Morales and Davis families.

"To Miles and Gwen!" Everyone replied.

As they tucked in to a celebratory lunch, Miles' phone began to ring. He figured it would just be another of his friends calling to congratulate him. He frowned when the number was labelled 'Miguel O'Hara'. Maybe all the spider people had found out somehow? Still, Miles left the room to take the call.

"Hey Miguel."

"We have a problem. We're having a Spider Summit in one hour."

"Err…right. Any advice on how to escape an engagement party, then?"

"Not really. Who's getting married?"

"Me and Gwen."

"Oh. Well congrats and all that, but I'll see you in an hour."

Miles had found it extremely hard to escape from the party, but eventually persuaded people with a promise to his mum he'd be back for dinner. Miguel, or Spiderman 2099, let Miles into the penthouse flat where most of the other spider people of the multiverse were gathered. He looked around for Gwen, but couldn't see her so sat down next to Peter B Parker.

"Hey bud. Heard you popped the question to Gwen. Congratulations."

"Thanks, man. Have you seen her?"

"No, not for a while."

"So not today?"

"Nope."

"Maybe she just missed the call or something?"

"Probably. Why anyone bothers picking them up is anyone's guess."

"Speak for yourself. I needed an excuse not to have to drink another glass of champagne."

Peter chuckled, then went quiet with the rest of the room as Miguel climbed up on top of a table in the centre.

"Thank you for coming. As I said, we have a problem. Or rather, someone else has a problem and needs our help fixing it. May I introduce, for those who haven't been cursed with a visit from the most laid back God in history, Dei Volente or Max as he's usually called."

Miguel stepped down and Max took his place, looking around until his eyes came to rest on Miles. Miles noticed Max looked quite upset.

"This is gonna sound ridiculous to call a 'Spider Summit' about, but someone murdered my fiancé. And sure, all you people probably don't care cos most of you have lost a loved one at some point. The thing is, I know everything there is to know cos I'm a God, but I don't have a clue who did it."

"What do you want us to do about it?" Asked one of the countless Peter Parkers in the room.

"I need you to keep an eye out. It was a spider person who did it and I know that much because the guy left webs hanging on the walls."

Miles' phone started ringing again, getting some irritated looks from the rest of the spiders.

"Sorry…" He muttered as he pulled it out to see Gwen's name. "I've got to take this."

He managed to escape the Summit a lot easier than the party. He hit the green button and put the device to his ear.

"Hey Gwen. Where…"

"Miles, this is George; Gwen's father."

"Oh…hi Mr Stacy. Is everything OK?"

"We need to talk. Can you come here ASAP? Don't wear your suit; I can't have any links between my daughter and Spiderwoman."

"Yeah. OK. Gimme a couple of minutes and I'll be there."

"I'll text the address."

"Right. Be there soon."

Miles made his excuses and jumped to Earth-65. He swung to a suburban part of New York he'd never been to before. It definitely wasn't Gwen's house; he'd been there before. Police cars were gathered outside. George Stacy spotted him coming and jogged over.

"Hello, Miles."

"Hey, Mr Stacy. Is…everything OK?"

"I'm coping."

"What's happening? Is this about me and her?"

"I don't know, Miles. If I did, I would tell you. But if you mean me objecting to your marriage, that's not what this is about. On that note, I certainly approve of you two being together. She was miserable for a couple of years, then she met you and it was as if someone had pressed a button and she was happy again. There is no-one else I would prefer to see her with."

"What's happening then?"

"Do you know this place?"

"No."

"It's the house of the leader of Gwen's band. Gwen would come here once a week, without fail, for years to practice with them. But no more. Someone attacked her and the other three. Those three are dead, and Gwen is missing. Other than being her husband-to-be, I called you because there were webs on the walls."

"Could she have tried to use her shooters to fight back?"

"I know she fought back; she'd never go down without one. As for her shooters, I found them under the floorboards where she hides her suit. Her phone was in her room as well."

"That explains why she's not at the Spider Summit."

"Spider Summit?"

"Long story. So, if Gwen didn't fire the webs, who did?"

"We don't know, but there are some other pieces of evidence which may help."

George led Miles into the house, up a flight of stairs and to a door which was closed.

"There are dead bodies in here. Are you OK with seeing that?"

"I've seen people incinerated by thermonuclear bombs. I can handle three dead bodies."

"Of course."

George handed him a pair of disposable gloves and put another on himself before opening the door. Other than the three dead people on the ground, the first thing that caught his attention were the holes in the walls. It was as if someone had stabbed enormous spikes into them. There were a couple of the same marks on the floor and roof. Miles carefully made his way over to one and looked at it carefully. He noticed a tiny fragment of something a sort of goldish-brown colour which he carefully removed and showed to George.

"What is that?" Asked the detective.

"I've no idea, but it's slightly squishy. Can you do some tests on it?"

George took it carefully and nodded. Miles looked at the three dead bodies sadly, then back at Gwen's dad.

"I'll find Gwen and bring her home. I promise."

A few hours later, it was discovered the squishy goldish-brown thing had spider DNA. That confirmed the attacker was a spider person, and it might narrow things down. Miles returned to Miguel's world. Spiderman 2099 was just clearing up after the Summit.

"Welcome back, Miles."

"Gwen's been kidnapped. I need to talk to Max. Any idea where he is?"

"I'm here." Said Max from a corner.

He drained a beer. Miles raised his eyebrows.

"Should you really be getting drunk with so much power?"

"It doesn't affect me, but I wish it did. I could face anything with Grace by my side. Now she's dead, and she's not even in Bastria. Whatever is stopping me seeing who did it is what's stopping her going there. I don't want to live so alone."

"I know you don't, Max, but Gwen's been taken. I need to know something."

"Sure."

"Were there any holes in the walls of wherever it is you live?"

"Yes. Weird ones. I thought it was just someone's really bad aim with a sword."

"I think it's a spider with extra legs. Miguel, are there any spiders that grew extra legs?"

"A few. But there's spiders with pig snouts, spiders who belong in a 1930s movie…"

Miles sighed and collapsed onto the couch, running his hands through his hair then letting out something between a roar and a scream. Miguel rushed over and sat down next to him.

"Calm down, Miles. Screaming won't help."

"It helps me." Miles snapped back.

He stood up again and looked at Max again.

"The person who killed Grace and kidnapped Gwen has to be the same one. It's the same evidence in both places. Is there anywhere you can't see at the moment, Max. If there is, that's where they are."

Max shrugged.

"The omniverse is a big place. Give me a few minutes."

"Right. I need to make some calls."

A few minutes later, Peter B Parker, Peni Parker, Spiderham and Noir were gathered in Miguel's apartment. Miles paced, his fist clenched. This made the other spiders in the room slightly nervous. Peter had eventually had enough.

"Miles, you need to calm down."

"No. I'm going to find this guy and I'll kill him."

"That won't get you anywhere."

"If somebody kidnapped MJ, wouldn't you do the same?"

"Probably…yeah. But I've told you before not to do things like I do."

"You think I'm doing this cos that's what you would do?"

"You're going to get yourself killed. Clearly this guy overpowered Gwen and we all know she's the better fighter out of you two."

"I don't care if I get killed. I'd die for Gwen any day."

"Sounds like a pretty bad moto." Said Noir.

Max clicked his fingers all of a sudden and stood up.

"I've got it, or something at least: dimension 6257."

"Suit up, everyone. Max, you're staying here." Miles replied.

Max glared.

"I'm going with you so I can slit this guy's throat."

"No. If you can't see anything about him, he's got something planned for you. You're staying here."

"Make me."

"As your dad, I'm telling you you're staying here."

Max raised his eyebrows, as did the Spider Gang. Only Miguel didn't react, but he knew about the God and Miles' relationship and the instruction wasn't aimed at him.

"Dad, you slimy…"

"Alright, that's enough. Max, you can stay here with me to watch the multiverse." Miguel intervened before the tidal wave of expletives hit.

The God sighed, then nodded reluctantly.

"Fine. But I'm not doing nothing. I'll get a friend of mine to help you out. And be aware that he knows about the temporal reset. His kind see time like High Elder Gods, although not as far into the future."

The Spider Gang punched dimension 6257 into their watches and jumped.

Crossovers in this Chapter

None really, other than with another Spiderman cartoon (I think it was called Ultimate Spiderman, or something...). You'll see soon enough if you've watched it.

Note

And here comes another 'welcome to part *insert part number*' note! Part 8 is a very spidery, and I know that for a fact unlike my old promise about part 4 that I'll need to go back and check whether I removed it...
Anyway, this part is another 10 chapters of web slinging shenanigans, so I hope you'll enjoy it. Personally I think it's up there as one of the better ones. There's a couple of old crossovers making a comeback, but nothing too crazy.