TheUnknown325: I'm keeping Venom to his roots and keeping him an evil villain.

The Uncanny R-Man: Yep the Danger Room is always fun. Well that was Logan talking but yeah Lance/Max fight would be good too. I've always wondered what exactly his limit is for that power, and yeah Kurt did make a nice save. Yep you got them all right.

Mark C: I'm glad that you liked the Danger Room, and yeah that is a good to wonder how much range Peter's spider-sense has, I've always wondered about that. Glad you liked that last bit I tried to get the feel right for that scene.

Spicy Sweet: Thanks for that really, I do my best when writing and to make sure everyone can get a nice picture in their mind. Damn I was looking forward to a long review oh well hopefully next time that won't happen. It's happened to me a few times too.

Episodic: Oh yeah lots of trouble on the way you can bet that as I set up several story plots.

Sean Malloy-1: I rethought that TMNT I'm not going to do it, as for DD and Electra I'm thinking about it but not right now.

Multifan: Don't worry I don't think she will mind Spyder/Jamie. Well I didn't want to come up with a new Spider-X uniform, no I didn't base that simulation from Trask's facility or Area 51. Yeah I figured that was a nice way to explain Kurt's problems with the watch. No Fantastic Four in this fic sorry.

Slickboy444: Yep Peter is finally getting back into his old self. Don't worry Max will get some violence his way eventually. Trust me lost of evil on the rise.

Laser Crusader: I'm not insulted it's just a matter of personal tastes, although I consider Hellfire my crown jewel of my fics, don't get me wrong I love this too. I like getting most of those because I means my work makes others happy, I do get the flame review now and then but that's okay.

Aaron: Well Lance will over time he's still used to thinking of the X-Men as the 'enemy' so it's hard for him to get over that.

KaliAnn: Oh I got plans for Wanda, Tabitha and Lance that I think you'll be surprised by.

Jenskott: Thanks I really tried with the DR scene there, Lance will eventually blend in more. Yeah you'll see Lance and the old gang of his meet later. Yeah I like Rogue with or without the make-up too. Yeah that is true about X-Men writers they're in the Marvel universe so why not show it.

Prometheus: Yeah I thought about that but I like the visor better for Scott and it allows better control of his powers. Not sure if his spider-sense can have improved range only refined I guess.

Scarletdragonyarmouth: Yeah got you with that opening scene didn't I. Don't worry the AGU will return soon.

X-Over: I'm not sure if there will be those types of heroes in Bayville.

Jaguar: I'm not exactly sure how many I can fit in but no Fantastic Four or Avengers, it all depends on how the story turns out.

And thanks to everyone else for their reviews as well.

AN: The four heroes were Daredevil, Cloak and Dagger and finally Moon Knight

THE RETURN OF SPIDER-X

CHAPTER 5: EVIL ON THE RISE

-Oscorp, New York-

Norman Osborn was working late as usual in the New York HQs of this company. His private office was on the top floor along with the boardroom and had a great view of the city. With the Bayville fiasco he had been strained to make up for all the lost people, equipment and research. Thankfully the facility was insured because of all the military projects but that didn't mean he was out o the woods. The VENOM Project was a complete and utter write off now. All the data gone the man that crated it dead and the only sample missing. The genetic programs were set back as well but he had backup plans for that.

Thanks to Trask and his information on mutants he may have the key to a new field of bio weapons. Making people themselves into living weapons of destruction. He would soon have that as Trask was preparing to expose these mutants to the world but Norman already had a lead in the competition with the knowledge Trask had given him so far.

He knew that since the Second World War, the military had been trying to remake the legendary super soldier program a success to strike gold once more like they had with Captain America. Well Norman knew that if he could gain enough genetic sampling he was sure he could come up with a way to infuse this x-gene into other humans making them super human. The military would love this since the formula that Stromm had created before he had the man fired and jailed for embezzlement, his formula was still unstable in the test animals. So this would have to do.

Plus there were still other things, such as Doctor Octavius was still in a coma from his accident and they still couldn't get those arms off him. The harness had been fused to his body and the doctors were having difficulty in finding tools that would cut through the metal. Apparently the good Doctor had made that device too well it was a shame that harness had some interesting uses. So far they had cleaned him up but there was damage to his eyes and slight brain damage as well, they weren't sure if he would wake up anytime soon.

"Mr. Osborn you have a call on line two," His secretary told him through the voice box on his desk. "It's Mr. Fisk."

Norman sighed many thought of him as just a major business man and philanthropist but he knew what he really was, too bad that it was too late when he realized that Wilson Fisk was actually the legendary Kingpin of Crime. It was a name that was only whispered in the shadows and who most of the criminal world didn't know who he actually was except for those who were major players.

Norman hit the speaker on the phone line, "Hello Fisk what can I do for you?"

Fisk's deep voice was heard from the phone, "As you know I am engaged in a few little skirmishes over the city and I've had enough of this, I want those weapons you promised me soon."

Norman tried not to sigh. He had been contracted by Fisk to give him new weapons to help him thankfully he was paying him well at least and he found a use for those weapons that the military had passed over. "You do know you need an individual that can actually handle that glider."

"Yes I believe that I have found a suitable candidate for it, how long will it take for you to send me the equipment?" Fisk asked over the phone. He very much wanted to get this little turf war over and done with as soon as possible and this would give him a much needed edge.

Norman thought about it, "I'll have to pack it up myself and so it should take two or three days top for it all to arrive to you."

"Very well that will be fine, I'll wire you the money for the equipment." With that the line went dead and now Norman sighed as he leaned back in his chair. Now he would have to waste time packing all that equipment up because he didn't trust anyone with it. He got up and told his secretary that he was going out for a bit.

He rode the elevator to the sub basement and stepped out into underground security facility. The men guarding the place knew not to question him, he just put his security card into the slots and walked on to the more secure areas. These levels only a few of the more trust worthy of his employees could work with projects that were very sensitive and some could be considered illegal but when in business you have to know that some rules have to be bent or broken to get to the top.

He finally came to a large steel door and put in his key card only he had the key to this storage area. As the doors opened he walked in to see a row of costumes. They were all the same, brown gloves, with a vest, a dull grey shirt under it that was actually an experiment thing and light weight body armor. There was also a hood and cape as well as a gruesome looking light brown mask. In the corner were a few of what were called Goblin Gliders, and there were other weapons lined the walls. Also there were razor sharp bat-like throwing weapons as well as small pumpkin bombs as well as other weapons.

This was all part of the modified equipment that had been passed over, Fisk wanted something that would strike terror and fear into others so Norman had thought about it. He looked at a few possibilities and he come up with a persona for the new weapons and equipment. He called this the Hobgoblin arsenal. He looked at the grinning mask that would be worn by whoever Fisk picked to be this 'Hobgoblin' and even he had to admit the mask would give a fright to those that saw it for the first time.

'Well this is what he wanted so I hope he's happy with this," Norman thought to himself as he started to pack up one of the suits for Fisk. Even though he was being paid well enough for this equipment he really wished there was some way to get out from under the thumb of that man. Because even though he was being paid there was really no choice in doing this. You either did what you were told or one night you went to bed and the police would be standing over your corpse the next morning.

-Magneto's Base-

Magneto was watching as the new recruits were gathered in front of him by Sabertooth and his other Acolytes. They were in the large metallic chamber where in the center was his new machine that would mutate any human into a mutant. Although they may not be X-gene mutants this was better then human at least and soon he would have a loyal army of followers that would help him to place mutants as the dominant species of this world.

The crystals however that he was using he found had limitations, one being that unlike the one he had in Asteroid M, the ones he had gathered were showing sighs of flaws forming in them. At best he guessed that these crystals would have limited use before they shattered. He was working on a device to use one whole crystal in one powerful burst of mutagenic energy wave that could blanket a good sized city and turn its inhabitants into mutants. A city full of his kind would be created and then it would be a safe haven for all of those in the world who would be persecuted for being mutants.

He doubted that the Government would do something like bomb one of their own cities, even if the entire population was nothing but mutants.

He took a closer look at the three before him. First there was Flint Marko, he was in his mid 20's with short brown hair and a very large physic. He had just been taken out of Riker's Island maximum security prison of New York City for various crimes including theft, breaking and entering, assault, resisting arrest and a few other crimes.

Next to him stood an eighteen year old young woman with a slim build with blue eyes and her short black hair was put into a long ponytail in the back. She liked to be called Delilah and she was basically a very troubled young woman. She had been running with gangs and been put into more half-way homes then most girls her age. Although she was also a fighter in fact she had even been arrested once at an illegal underground fighting club. She had taken down three SWAT officers before they managed to subdue her. She had a natural talent for fighting and that was what got his attention from her.

Lastly was a seventeen year old boy named Morrie Bench. He was fairly large for his age looking like a football player or jock in this black T-shirt that showed that despite his age he was very strong. He wore his light brown hair in a mullet of all things. He was another teen that no one would miss at all. Just another person who social services never found a decent place for. He was also a trouble maker and had been part of a street gang in New York. He had been picked because of his ruthless behavior to others, and he like the others they were all survivors.

They all looked around the place looking at all the equipment and wondering why they were there. All they knew was that they were going to be given a chance to improve their lives. "Okay will you let us in on the grand plan already and why we're here, what the hell is that thing, and why does that freak look like a reject from the Island of Dr. Moreau?" Morrie asked jerking his thumb at Sabertooth who gave loud growl at the kid.

Magneto floated over to them, they all had seen the Acolytes use their powers at least once when they had been recruited and it was still surprising to them to see someone display powers like this. "I am here to offer you something I think you all will enjoy. Power. This device behind me once calibrated to your bodies will change you in ways you will not be able to comprehend. You will gain abilities and powers that are beyond humanity. In fact you will evolve to a level beyond human."

Marko rubbed his chin liking this idea, "So what's the catch? Cause there's a lot I could do with powers, hell I might never have been caught if I had some."

Magneto figured that the actual criminal of the bunch would be interesting in using his powers for crime. He would have to make a decent offer of money for him to stay like the others. In fact only Pyro and Sabertooth were the only cheap ones working for him and he wished he could get more loyal followers. How Xavier was able to pull it off he never knew, "I will be in need of your services."

"So we work for you?" Delilah smiled at him in a sultry way, she liked men with power and strength to use it. She was very intrigued by all of this.

"Yes, I have a group in Bayville that needs to have their ranks replenished as well as my own here." He then went into the basics of what he was doing and what the two teenagers will be required to do when they arrived in Bayville that is if they agreed. He also told them that this was a one time offer and if they didn't say yes to him he would have his resident telepath Mastermind wipe their memories and put them right back where they were.

That left the three of them in silence as he had his Acolytes lead them to a place to rest and think of his offer. He knew that mot if not all of them would agree to his terms. Their lives were much to talk about and what he offered them was something far greater then they could ever hope to have.

But now he had to look in on Mystique and the young girl she had brought with her. He hadn't seen much hope for that one, she was pale looking, frail and looked like crap. Why she wanted her he couldn't begin to fathom, he didn't consider her worth his time and if this was the best that she could get then maybe it was time he rethought his choice in having her work for him.

He found her walking to the girl's room, "Mystique why did you bring that child here? She's weak and I'm not even sure her body can handle the transformation."

"She has potential trust me on this, she just need to gain her strength," Mystique said defiantly to him. She had a feeling that Sandra would be worthy after she went through the machine, Destiny was hardly ever wrong. But she couldn't tell him that, Irene was one of the few secrets she kept from him given that if he knew she had something she knew that could see the future he would want her and that was something Mystique couldn't allow. "Just give her a chance, you know that once she's ready the process could take away most of the damage done to her body."

Magneto regarded her coldly as he considered all of this. Mystique had been right when she had found Max Dillion his powers were immense and so far she was one of the few faithful members he had. But lately she hadn't been doing too well. Under her they had lost Lance, Tabitha and even his own daughter. Although Tabitha hadn't been one to believe in his own plans and his daughter was still after him for revenge but still they were still losses.

"You are already on thin ice Mystique and you had better be right about this." He told her as he left, she knew that if she was wrong about this then she would face his wrath. But Mystique had faith in Irene and besides Sandra was a girl in pain and suffering who was all alone in the world with no one. She knew what that was like and unlike her, Mystique wanted to be there for her since she never had that.

She opened the door and saw that the lights were dimmed and Sandra was on a bed shaking. "Sandra?" The shape shifter asked as she walked into the room. She only heard a moan as she walked over and saw that the withdraw symptoms were pretty bad at the moment, she was shaking a lot and covered in sweat.

"Help…please…make it stop…" She whimpered out and Mystique went to the girl and stroked her hair.

"It's okay, you'll be able to get through the worst of this child," She softly said to her.

"I can't…it's too hard…it hurts too much…" She started to cry from how her body was crying out for the drugs it craved. Mystique held the girl close to her and felt her weak arms wrap around her. It felt strange to try and comfort this girl but it also felt good. She had never been able to hold her own children like this, it was one of the few things she regretted about staying out of their lives. She always missed out on being a mother not once but twice and she was never able to do anything like this. She was starting to wonder if part of the reason she took Sandra in was some type of maternal instincts.

Sandra felt the woman holding her and she felt better, she didn't want to be alone anymore and this woman had taken her out of the hellhole of a life she had been living and had never left her side for long since she was battling this. She owed her so much and she never had anyone in her life that actually cared for her. She could feel it in her voice and in her touch and in this embrace. She felt for the first time loved, even in a small way it was nice to feel that and it somehow gave her a bit of strength.

Mystique held Sandra close until the crying stopped then she didn't know why but she started to hum a tune that she had sung to Rogue when she was little to get her to sleep those few nights when she had taken her in with Irene. She had done this alone in her room when she was pregnant with Kurt as well and for a minute for the first time in years she felt like a mother again and it wasn't that bad a feeling for her.

Sandra fell asleep and Mystique laid her down and moved some of her wet hair away from her face. She felt sorry for this girl and she also felt like she was just starting to care for this young woman. There was just this helplessness about her and for the first time she felt a connection to someone. She had such a void in her life for years but strangely she was wondering if this girl could help her fill that. Maybe even she could fill the void in her life but those were thoughts for another time. She gently caressed her face and she knew that she would find the strength to overcome this she just knew it.

-Elsewhere-

In a darkened apartment building the only sound was the grunting of effort of a man on a workout bench as he was pumping weights. He was bench pressing a large amount of weight for a man but he was a very large one at that, looking like he was a body builder. He was working with a clear focus as he lifted the bar one last time and let it rest. "It's not good enough," He said looking at his body, true he was more fit then ever but he wanted to be stronger he needed to be stronger to face his enemy again.

He got up and walked through the messy apartment and looked at the papers he had gathered. On a table with a mess of take out food containers that he still hadn't clean up he looked at the articles. Normally he only looked for one particular content. But the title of 'Serial Killer Strikes Again' caught his attention. He had heard of this, looks like this killer had just ranked up eight confirmed kills so far.

Well he didn't care about that, some crazy psychopath was out there cutting people up wasn't his business, his business was only one thing.

Revenge.

That was the only driving force he had left in him, the need to pay back that person that had caused him so much pain. Then he found what he was looking for, he cut out the two new ones and walked over to a wall by his workout equipment. On it were dozens of articles that he had collected all of them showing the same thing over and over again, pictures and articles of Spider-Man.

"You can't hide, you can't run and you will suffer before you die wall-crawler." The deep voice man said with pure hatred and venom in his words as a fist slammed into one picture of Spider-Man.

NEXT UP CHAPTER 6: CONFRONTATIONS