SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SPIDER (CHAPTER 18)
Note: Apologies for the delay.
7:30 pm The Rockdrum, Harlem…
The techno music from nightclub blared out into Spider-Man's ears as he crawled through the ventilation system. The cheers from the crowd as well as the DJ changing tune was enough to make his ears feel deaf.
"This place sounds unbearable so far." Spider-Man complained as he wriggled his way through.
"I thought you don't mind dance clubs and stuff. Unlike me." Ned said into his ear.
"This music is the death of me. It's also the worst-case scenario I had with crawling in ventilation systems so far." Spider-Man said.
"You mean it's worse when it's loud than it stinks?" Ned questioned.
"Actually, it stinks alright…" Spider-Man said, "Anyway, I'm wiggling my way through until I figure out where Lonnie is."
"And now ladies and gentlemen... The event you're all waiting for. The ROCKDRUM!" The DJ announced from the dancefloor below Spider-Man.
"Wow…So this place actually runs more with its name." Spider-Man noted as he listened to the cheers from the crowd.
"Feel free to dance for the night or feel free for the physical action of the night!" The DJ added.
"Physical? Oh, that may be a sight to see." Spider-Man joked.
Spider-Man then peered out through one grate and watched the crowd push through to get to the other room. The flow of the crowd continued until they started backing out. Spider-Man watched as a large hulking albino man in a black suit that reminded him of the one Ian Malcolm wore in Jurassic Park. His hairstyle which is white in colour seems stiff with the strands of hair sticking up and unmoving.
"The…Pale looking man." Spider-Man said to Ned.
"You found him alright." Ned confirmed.
Lonnie Lincoln was in scene pushing the crowd away before he had sway on what comes next.
"Get in line, boys and girls. Next one who tries pushing in gets the ring." Lonnie said.
"And people freak out from him; even though I'm sure they're used to him." Spider-Man said.
Spider-Man watched as Lonnie walked back giving him his own cue to go after him.
"Drat…This ventilation system is all dead ends now. Better take another circle around this place then." Spider-Man stated.
7:25 pm The Lumina…
John Jonah Jameson was out for the night celebrating a nice private five-star meal with his wife, Marla. He could not resisting the temptation of the success he had with one of the latest articles he had sent out to publish.
"So, John… Are you smiling because of your paper or is it about seeing me?" Marla asked.
"Um, I'm just the happiest man on the planet right now." John smiled as he played around with his lobster.
Marla nodded in silence as John continued eating his meal.
"John…I'd love spending time with you. But I really don't feel like any of the good food here." Marla said.
John noted his trembling wife and tried to comfort her.
"Marla, what are you shaking for?" John said, "Salad is getting cold."
Marla started to stand up and leave before John insisted, she stay.
"Marla, come on. Please just sit down and whisper to me the problem. No need to make others around look at us." John stated convincing her to sit.
"Ever since that spider monster went around the university few days ago. I've been traumatised about so many things." Marla said, "I can't sleep and I can't-"
"Relax…Pretty much all of New York knows about that thing. Besides… The police took care of it." John assured her.
"Do we have confirmation on whether this is…Spider-Man?" Marla asked.
"Oh honey…I do not want to see you be afraid. That arachnid is getting his due and this is where it goes from the next level." John said.
"So you're certain that…" Marla stated.
"Yes, I'd have cracked one of the greatest conspiracy theories in New York. The whole world actually." John confidently assured, "Besides, that's not just it."
Marla then changed from her paranoid state to a more calm and rational state of mind.
"I'm probably gonna get that promotion to TV if my reporting breaks out. As in, I get the news host chair and stuff. And…Well what do you know?" John excitedly said.
"I am so happy for you, John. Guess this night is worth to remember." Marla said before kissing John on the cheek.
7:35 pm Rockdrum office…
"I swear on my life, boss. I thought it be a good way to keep the money going." A man said panicking hard in front of Lonnie.
Lonnie laughed before standing up from behind his desk. His muscular build overshadowed the men who work for him.
"Your life, Rick?" Lonnie replied, "Well, you're absolutely right that you bet your life on it."
Walking towards the man, Lonnie took a hammer from the desk and signalled for two men to take hold of the man in trouble.
"Here's the bet, Rick." Lonnie said lifting the hammer up and plunging it down.
The heinous act continued as Lonnie repeatedly struck the hammer down bashing his victim's skull until the blood and brains began to show. After the bashing was done, Lonnie lifted the hammer and took little breathes for his own stamina.
"The meat wagon." Lonnie instructed before the men dragged the body away.
Lonnie then sat down on his chair with the portrait of him. There were other men standing tall in his office in black suits and blue buttoned shirts. They were ready to defend their boss at any moment despite the fact Lonnie had one thing going. He was desensitised to pain.
In his youth, Lonnie was believed to have developed his pain resistance at some point in his life due to his experimentation with drugs. This was in addition to the fact he was born albino. The reputation of this fact was enough for people like Hammerhead and Wilson Fisk to take him seriously.
"Gentlemen. Tonight is…Really eventful. Everyone wants to have fun." Lonnie said, "Sadly, you can't sell fun for everyone."
Lonnie continued walking around his office talking to his guards.
"It's times like these; where people loosen up and spend their hard-working day." Lonnie said, "Take all the drinks and sugars they can."
Lonnie then stopped and punched down on the floor before grabbing Spider-Man's leg and dragging him out.
"And sniff out worms that hide from us." Lonnie said glaring down at what he dragged out.
"Ouch, that was rough. By the way, I'm a spider." Spider-Man answered after feeling the physical force of Lonnie.
Lonnie casually ignored the hole he made and began conversation.
"The Spider-Man. What a miracle to have you for the day." Lonnie said.
"You know me? Argh…I think I have a splinter. How did you know I was under the floor?" Spider-Man asked whilst in a little pain.
"Oh, I always smell the funniest of things around here and I'd catch plenty of people before spying on me and my business." Lonnie replied.
"Yeah about your nose. Feels like you cut it." Spider-Man noted looking at the drawn back nose, "So you're the legendary Lonnie Lincoln?"
"Oh dear… Apologies. I am double L indeed. But I have a name to uphold here." Lonnie said, "Tombstone…"
"Tombstone…" Spider-Man repeated.
"Yes, I should have been dead a long time ago but…I've felt nothing… In a long time." Tombstone explained.
"Are you saying you're a zombie?" Spider-Man questioned.
"I am the superior life form. A being of in destruction." Tombstone gloated.
"Well, now I believe in horror movies now." Spider-Man joked before Tombstone stepped on his face with his leather boot.
"So, before I stomp you to pieces. Why come to my club sneaking around? I've never asked for you." Tombstone said, "But now you're here… I'm happy."
"I'm actually here to dig up dirt on the Kingpin. You know… Wilson Fisk?" Spider-Man answered.
"You should run to him then. I've only shook hands with him… Let's say, two times." Tombstone stated, "Never liked the man."
"Cool. Um, just get the boot off first please?" Spider-Man said.
Tombstone surprisingly took his boot heel off before continuing conversation.
"He's running a crooked business in Queens and I need to know whether I can find some info on the kinds of stuff he's involved in to bring his empire down." Spider-Man said.
"I liked the jokey mouth better." Tombstone said, "But if you want something out of me. Like a word. You may have to be part of my ring."
"Oh my…A proposal. Lonnie, stop. My heart can't take it." Spider-Man said still lying on the floor.
Tombstone then pushed his boot down on Spider-Man's face again before giving out his next word.
"It's time to show you what I mean…" Tombstone said smiling while revealing his razor-sharp teeth.
"Oh god…This really is a vampire nightclub, right?" Spider-Man wondered looking at them.
8:25 pm Rockdrum Ring…
The Rockdrum at heart was simply a cage fight for people. It was Lonnie Lincoln's twisted sense of business of ensuring only the fittest get to survive in Harlem. Men and women are both thrown in. Sometimes the fights are bloody; sometimes they are cancelled and sometimes tragedies happen.
From Lonnie's point of view, to keep up a fight helps build a resilient community. Tombstone walked into the crowd leading to cheers to which he proudly reciprocated. Two men are near the end of their fight with one man beating down another.
As the fight approached its end, Tombstone walked to the electrified cage fence and gave the approval for the man to finish off his opponent. The man immediately snapped the neck of his opponent giving out many cheers from the crowd.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. Looks like Paco takes home that victory. And now we have another contender to throw in. This one is special." The announcer said from afar.
The crowd waited in anticipation before the answer was given.
"I give you the…AMAZING Spider-Man!" The announcer shouted to which people both cheered and booed for.
Spider-Man casually walked into the scene feeling nervous. This was like the wrestling contest he went to back in the day all over again except death is treated like a regular thing given that nobody batted an eye for the last man. Spider-Man watched as the dead man got pulled away from some ring ladies.
"This place is twisted." Spider-Man said beneath his mask as he was goaded closer to the cage ring.
"Alright, just got to beat this guy right?" Spider-Man said as he entered facing the man.
The cage gate closed and the announcer was about to shout out the start of a new round.
"Hold up a minute." Tombstone interrupted catching everyone's attention.
"Paco here is obviously gonna get his ass whooped. Perhaps someone else should give this round a shot." Tombstone added.
Spider-Man watched as Tombstone opened up the gate door and motioned the man out of the ring. The gate closed again and Spider-Man was left to face the infamous Lonnie Lincoln himself. The crowd soon found itself excited.
"Oh, okay. Um…I'm sure this is fine." Spider-Man said looking around every corner.
"Take it easy. First timers are lucky." Tombstone stated.
"I look forward to whatever freaky deaky thing you're pulling." Spider-Man said putting up his fists.
Tombstone in response decided to rip out his shirt revealing his muscular build. Spider-Man noted fissure-like scars on his chest that feel like they came from a rock. Furthermore, the name 'Tombstone' had been skin carved making it the most unpleasant tattoo Spider-Man had seen.
The crowd had cheers and whistles before the phase of chanting began for Tombstone's name.
"Well, Spider. It's time to hit me." Tombstone said.
"Alright… Hips squared." Spider-Man said curling his fists up.
"Let the fight begin!" The announcer called.
Thanks to spider-sense, Spider-Man first shot web at Tombstone's face leading to increasing boos from the crowd. Tombstone tried punching Spider-Man before he dodged and got behind him.
"Now I have you." Spider-Man said leaping up to kick him.
As the kick was happening, Spider-Man then realised his mistake once his foot made contact. It hurt him quite a bit like how kicking a huge stone would feel. Spider-Man dropped down in pain and almost cursed.
Tombstone turned around and grabbed Spider-Man by the shoulders and threw his entire body against the cage. Spider-Man regained his senses and held onto the cage. Unfortunately, the cage was electric and shocked Spider-Man off.
"Ugh! It's like Electro and Shocker rolled into one." Spider-Man said tried to stand up.
Tombstone got the better of the hand and grabbed Spider-Man again pummelling him as hard as he can. Spider-Man in retaliation tried to punch Tombstone but to no avail.
"No matter what physical hits I throw; I don't think he's taking it." Spider-Man said as he tried to defend himself.
The fight went on for a few heavy minutes until Spider-Man could not take it anymore. Tombstone was winning the game and it would seem Spider-Man could be finished any time soon.
"Such a disappointment, I thought you had the strength to take me on." Tombstone said.
At this point, there was no way. The only way out was if Tombstone won and Spider-Man would get nothing out from him. Tombstone was way more difficult to handle compared to Hammerhead who at least only had his big bulging forehead as an obstacle.
As Spider-Man lay beaten on the floor and felt internal bleeding. If not for his powers; he would be a skinny Peter Parker dying. Tombstone cradled the body of Spider-Man as he beat him and lifted him in the air before throwing him down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Tombstone strikes again!" The announcer shouted leading to cheers.
Tombstone relished the cheers but suddenly felt empty after the victory. He had been trying his best to look for an opponent who can crack him open and he had high hopes that Spider-Man could do it. To Tombstone, the thought of super strength not being able to break him left much to ponder.
Outside alley near the Rockdrum…
After the match, Tombstone had requested photos from an errand boy of his. To savour the victory, he wanted New York to know how easy it was to beat Spider-Man and make sure that Wilson can respect what he has done.
"Randy…Take the next shot." Tombstone ordered as he guided rebellious African American teen youth around the block holding a camera.
Spider-Man still breathing recognised that this may be the son of Robbie Robertson and that he understands why he and his son are distant now. One was a law-abiding citizen and one was a teen with an ambition to go bad.
"Rob…'s son." Spider-Man whispered as Tombstone dangled him upside down.
Finally, Tombstone and Randy reached a garbage bin.
"You let me down, Spider." Tombstone said, "All that you worked for? I've taken that all away."
With that being said, Spider-Man was thrown in.
8:35 pm Daily Bugle meeting room, 4th floor…
The next day, John had big plans on what the Bugle was going to publish. The meeting was in session minus Ned Leeds and Peter himself.
"Where are those boys today?" John asked.
"Ned called in sick apparently. Peter has no word." Betty answered.
"What is going on with Parker? Missing out on all this." John said, "Anyway, big announcement. Everyone knows about the freak attack at the F.E.A.S.T. centre in Queens right? From last night?"
Everyone in the room nodded taking down notes.
"Good. And let's also note one thing. No Spider-Man." John said, "See? This makes the whole 'Man-Spider' thing more plausible."
"Man-Spider?" One reporter asked.
"Yeah, that's one name I'm changing." John said, "See Robbie?"
Robbie wanted to roll his eyes again but felt more inclined to agree with John.
Meanwhile, Frederick picked up his phone after it buzzed.
"What are you doing, Foswell?" John asked.
"I've just got news regarding Spider-Man." Frederick answered.
"Huh?" John asked confused.
To John's surprise, Frederick showed a screenshot of Spider-Man being held beaten by Tombstone. It was also a Daily Globe article, titled 'SPIDER-MAN HITS THE GRAVE'.
TO BE CONTINUED…
End note: I like to think that Tombstone in this iteration has inspiration from 'The Warriors' as well as bit of Fight Club in him with the way he sets up fights.