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Entwined Destines – Episode Nine The Ultimate Spider-Slayer Part Two Executed
"Take your turn to run and hide. I will catch you all the time. This night no longer shines. Your tears divine. You'll now be mine!"
"I'm the ringmaster you see in this horror game you flee. I take up every shadow believe me."
Left Behind
Five Nights at Freddy's game series (2014)
NYPA in Flushing New York, early afternoon
Police Academy Instructor Lieutenant Jean DeWolff pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Look, Parker, you have to use a gun. While we in the NYPD prefer not to apply lethal force there are times we have no choice but to do so such as when the lives of civilians or our own lives are endangered by armed criminals." She patiently explained.
"Could I try working my beat without a gun? You know, just for a little while." Peter said.
"You're engaged, correct Parker?" Lieutenant DeWolff asked.
"Yeah, I am," Peter replied.
"Do you think your further wife wants to be a widow?" Lieutenant DeWolff said.
"Well, no, but on the other hand, I'm quite quick on my feet. Maybe I could dodge any bullets fired at me." Peter said. The other police cadets assumed this was a joke and laughed. Peter immediately regretted his poorly chosen words
"So, you're secretly Superman, eh? Being faster than a speeding bullet and all that." Lieutenant DeWolff said once the ruckus had died down. "Parker I predict unless you stow your jokey attitude you'll wash out of this program by week's end. No one on the Force likes a clown, especially one with such a morbid sense of humor." She paused to allow another bout of laughter on part of the cadets. "Have we calmed down?" She asked the room more than a little annoyed by their behavior. No one dared replied, not even Peter. "Good, now, this afternoon we'll be covering both the practical and legal theories behind the proper application of lethal force. Turn your textbooks to page-," A dark-skinned male sergeant ran into the room interrupting Lieutenant Jean DeWolff before she could finish her sentence. "Now what," She groaned. "Yes, sergeant, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"Sorry for interrupting your class lieutenant but there is an emergency at Grand Central Terminal. Some wacko robot is tearing the place apart. The first officers on the scene were overpowered. We're gathering a special ops swat team to contain this sucker before anybody else gets hurt. I was told to fetch you because of your special ops training." The Sergeant explained.
"Class I have to go. You have the rest of today off." Lieutenant DeWolff said. She then quickly left with the sergeant.
Although they would not admit it everyone was happy to have half of a day off from their training, everyone except for Peter. This was no lucky break for him. He knew he would have to literally swing into action soon. No rest for the weary, as they say.
"Look I found a video feed of the incident?" One of the Police Cadets said waving around his smartphone.
"Is the stream live?" Another Police Cadet asked.
"I think so." The first Police Cadet said. "Wow, Ghost Spider is on the scene."
"How's she doing against the robot?" A third Police Cadet asked.
"I think it just killed her." The first Police Cadet said with dismay.
Peter felt his blood run cold at the news. "What happened to her?" He asked crowding around the smartphone along with several others.
"The robot grabbed Ghost Spider by her leg and slammed her hard onto the floor. Her body cracked the tiles." The first Police Cadet said.
"Ouch, that's got to hurt." Another Police Cadet said.
"Damn he's getting up." Another Police Cadet said thoroughly impressed by Ghost Spider's resiliency.
"Tough girl," Yet another Police Cadet whistled.
On the screen, Ghost Spider jumped at the robot intending to hit its head with a flying punch but the robot caught her around her neck before she could deliver the blow. It also grabbed her fist with another if its three ponged hands. Ghost Spider cried out in pain when the robot squeezed her fist breaking the bones in her hand. The robot then propelled Ghost Spider through one of the massive pillars which dotted the terminal. Ghost Spider fell several hundred feet away in a heap and did not move.
Peter did not wait to see more. He picked up his coat from off the back of his chair and sprinted out the door. Gwen was in serious trouble. He had to get to Grand Central Terminal ASAP. Luckily he carried his basic gear with his everywhere, better safe than sorry. His Spidey suit was under his uniform right now.
Grand Central Terminal
"Got it," Ghost Spider said her voice strained. "Run, I don't know how long I can hold back the debris." She urged the people beneath her makeshift canopy of webbing which held up tones of ceiling debris. Damn these webs were strong. She really needed to ask Peter what he put in the formula to give them such incredible tensile strength. By way of comparison, the webbing Oscorp had supplied her with had been weaker than wet noodles.
A split second after the last onlooker fled Ghost Spider just barely dodged a purple laser bolt fired from the tail of the crazy robot which had caused this near disaster. Freed from her pulling on the webbing the bundle of debris fell to the floor with a loud crash. She had to perform some well time acrobatics so she was not crushed.
Instructively Ghost Spider fired a strand of webbing at the purple colored robot. The webbing simply slipped off. She next tried two strands with the same outcome. "Huh, that's a new one." Ghost Spider said.
"My outer layer is constructed of an advanced non-stick polymer. Your pathetic webbing will never find purchase. A simple yet effective defense to one of your greatest offensive implements. Wouldn't you agree?" The robot said in an eerie electronically generated voice.
"Smart, for a robot." Ghost Spider said.
"I'm not a robot. I'm a cyborg. The ultimate spider-slayer, you pretentious fool. Consider me your executioner!" Executioner Spider-Slayer said. "I had hoped your partner would have accompanied you. What a pity I can't execute you both at the same time."
"He was busy weaving. You know how it is with us spiders. Spring is coming and we need to be ready." Ghost Spider said.
"I won't miss your irritating banter nor that of your partner." Executioner Spider-Slayer said.
"Excuse me, do I know you? Because this doesn't ring any bells." Ghost Spider said gesturing at Executioner Spider-Slayer.
"Enough, now you meet your just end pest." Executioner Spider-Slayer declared.
Executioner Spider-Slayer emitted an unseen electromagnetic pulse from its mouth. Ghost Spider swayed on her feet. She found herself immediately disorientated. Ghost Spider had no way of knowing but Executioner Spider-Slayer in his previous life had long speculated Spider-Man must possess a form of advanced warning sense to survive so many near misses. Furthermore, he had summarized this warning sense could be inferred with by manipulating the electromagnetic field around Spider-Man or by extension Ghost Spider. It would appear his theory was correct. Ghost Spider due to her compromised stated failed to react in time to prevent Executioner Spider-Slayer from grabbing her left leg. He used her body like a club pounding the tile floor not once, not twice but three times before he released her.
"Child's play mere child's play." Executioner Spider-Slayer said. "I had hoped for more of a challenge, pity."
Enraged by his dismissal of her skills Ghost Spider struggled to her feet. She barely noticed the boy streaming the encounter on his smartphone from a safe distance. With a mighty yell, Ghost Spider jumped forward aiming a punch at Executioner Spider-Slayer's head or what she thought was his head. Her attack, however, was intercepted before she could reach her target one painful trip through a pillar and a broken left hand later she woke up in a heap on the floor when Executioner Spider-Slayer kicked her chest cracking two ribs.
"Argh," Ghost Spider cried out as she skidded across the floor about a hundred feet.
"If you want to live for another minute you better flee little spider." Executioner Spider-Slayer taunted. "I grow bored of our dance. You better entertain me. I think a game of hide and seek would hit the spot." He stomped over to where Ghost Spider lay and dragged her to her feet. "Run and hide little spider. I'll give you ten minutes then I'll come find you. And don't think of leaving this building or I'll kill everyone I come in contact with until I again find you. Their deaths will be on your head."
With no other options, Ghost Spider did just that. She ran for her life. Gwen hadn't felt so afraid since she was in the clutches of Green Goblin atop the George Washington Bridge. This thing was hunting her like an animal, a wounded animal. She wanted to cry. She felt utterly helpless. No, she was not helpless. She was a hero like Peter. He always found a way to survive, to win and so would she. That thing was coated in anti-stick polymer. All she had to do was lure it somewhere she could use that fact to her advantage, but where?
Ten Minutes Later
'I hope this works.' Ghost Spider thought. She was standing on top of a train waiting for her opponent. She had rigged the train to start moving any time now.
"A poor choice of battleground. I hoped for something more creative from you." Executioner Spider-Slayer said jumping atop the train.
"One question before we fight. How did you find me so quickly?" Ghost Spider inquired while clutching her sore ribs with her good hand.
"Simple, my body is packed full of sensors which can track your unique biochemical signature. Whenever you flee I can trace the trail you leave behind." Executioner Spider-Slayer explained.
"Good to know," Ghost Spider said. 'Yes,' She thought the train is moving.
The train picked up speed at a very fast rate. The three pongs on each of Executioner Spider-Slayer two lowest limbs dug into the steel so he would not be flung off. Ghost Spider glanced up at the newly installed overhead electric cables. She knew city planners would curse her for what she was about to do.
"Come get me, tough guy." Ghost Spider said assuming a defensive stance. She winched as a spike of intense pain passed through her body caused by her injured ribs and her broken hand.
Executioner Spider-Slayer slowly stomped forward so he could maintain his grip on the train top. Ghost Spider sprayed her webs on the prongs of his lowest set of limbs. As she had thought these were not coated in the polymer. Ghost Spider then jumped down through the hatch into the conductor's compartment kicking on the emergency brakes as she did so as well as removing the tool box she had left on the deadman's peddle. The train came to an abrupt halt. Executioner Spider-Slayer was flung forward directly into the overhead high voltage electric cables. Although well insulated he was not so protected he took no damage. In fact, Executioner Spider-Slayer was nearly incapacitated by the surge of power he received, nearly. Meanwhile, Ghost Spider stayed below under the control console to protect herself from the intense shower of sparks. When she thought it was safe she emerged and in great pain made her way back onto the roof.
Her foe was nowhere to be seen through the smoke. "Guess I took care of him." Ghost Spider said surveying her scorched surrounding.
"Not quite," Executioner Spider-Slayer dropping down behind Ghost Spider. Although sparking and smoking with several LEDs inlays fading in and out he remained for the most part intact.
Ghost Spider spun around to confront him but as fast as she was he was even faster. One of Executioner Spider-Slayer's upper limbs encircled Ghost Spider's neck another encircled the wrist of her uninjured right hand. Ghost Spider struggled against her capture as he lifted her off her feet. She kicked him multiple times until Executioner Spider-Slayer punched Ghost Spider in her torso with another of his upper limbs taking her breath away. She tasted blood. His tail then whipped around until it was arched above his. The laser emitted began to power up.
"You led me on a merry chase but in the end I still caught you. Now you are executed. One down one to go." Executioner Spider-Slayer announced.
Ghost Spider spot Spider-Man and her hope returned. She had to buy Peter enough time to stop this thing. Maybe some vital information would also help. "If only you weren't made of non-stick polymer my webs would have worked and I would have beaten you." She croaked.
"Perhaps, or perhaps not. Alas, we shall never know." Executioner Spider-Slayer said.
Spider-Man formulated a plan. He removed a cartridge from one of his web-shooters which he then shook violently. He tiptoed up behind Executioner Spider-Slayer and slipped the cartridge into the seam between the cyborg's neck and body, a seam which had been opened up more by the power surge damage. Executioner Spider-Slayer dropped Ghost Spider roughly. He spun around backhanding Spider-Man with two of his upper limbs.
"Come to save your partner I see. Good, now I can execute you both at the same time." Executioner Spider-Slayer said.
Executioner Spider-Slayer lifted a lower limb to moved closer to his prey but instead froze. A loud pop was heard. The cartridge exploded filling the interior of the cyborg with sticky webbing. Executioner Spider-Slayer shuddered as his already damaged seams bugled from the pressure being excreted. His remaining green LEDs went out one by one his eyes being the last to go dark.
Spider-Man did not even care about the apparent victory he rushed to Ghost Spider's side. He gently helped her to her feet. "Can you stand on your own?" He asked.
"I, I think so." Ghost Spider said. "What about that thing!?" She pointed at Executioner Spider-Slayer.
"I'm not worried about it right now I'm worried about you," Spider-Man said.
"We've still got a job to do. We're superheroes remember." Ghost Spider said. She limped over to Executioner Spider-Slayer. "Help me pry off its chest plate." Reluctantly Spider-Man helped Ghost Spider pull off the chest plate. She reached inside with her good hand and plucked out a bundle of circuits and wires followed by a second bundle. "There, it shouldn't be causing any more trouble for a while."
"Hey, look, there's a human brain in here," Spider-Man said pointing at the brain. Before either Spider-Man or Ghost Spider could do anything the brain quivered then seemed to increase in size finally it explored in a bloody mess from the stress of the situation.
"Gross," Ghost Spider said before she collapsed from a combination of sheer exhausted and her injuries. Spider-Man caught her before her body could hit the train top.
Stacy Residence in Queens, evening
"Peter, you could learn a few things from Ghost Spider and her partner Spider-Man." Captain George Stacy said with a broad smile. "In spite of having to deal with that fearsome robot Ghost Spider still had time to save my Gwenie after she was pinned under falling debris." He sat in his old beat-up brown leather recliner as was his custom when he wanted to relax after a hard day at work.
"Ah, dad don't call me that. I'm not a child anymore." Gwen said. She lay on the living sofa her covered by a pink comforter her left arm in a sling. On the love seat next to Gwen sat Peter who had just finished getting her a bowl of cotton candy ice cream, her favorite kind.
"You'll always be my little girl, Gwenie." Captain Stacy insisted. "It's like I always tell people I don't care what J. Jonah Jameson says, Spider-Man and Ghost Spider are a-okay in my bed. Did I ever tell you kids about the time Spider-Man saved me and a young child from Doctor Octopus?"
"Only like a million times," Gwen sighed but then smiled.
"Spider-Man is a hero don't let anyone tell you differently. Same goes for Ghost Spider. Every person in this city owes them both a great deal, including us. Always remember that, kids." Captain Stacy said.
"I will sir," Peter said secretly glad there was at least one person in a position of authority who approved of his and Gwen's crimefighting efforts.
"I still find it hard to believe your aunt actually married Dr. Octopus." Captain Stacy said. "I don't care what he says there is no way he's changed. Psychopaths like him never reform, not truly. He's conning your aunt somehow. Mark my words Peter."
"I hope your wrong but I you're right sir," Peter said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Peter, stop calling me sir. How many times do I have to tell you, call me Captain Stacy or George." Captain Stacy said.
"Sorry sir, ah, I mean Captain Stacy," Peter said.
Captain Stacy shook his head. "Sometimes I don't understand what my Gwenie sees in you."
"I look good in a speedo." Peter joked.
"He does," Gwen confirmed after licking ice cream off her spoon.
"You two are just, I don't know." Captain Stacy said. He smiled in spite of himself.
Although he wished their stay was under better he had to admit it was nice to have a young couple so very much in love under his roof again. He could not help but think of his long deceased wife. If only she could see the wonderful young people their children had grown into she would be as proud he was.
The Fisk Building the next day, morning
Wilson Fisk sat behind his desk reading the latest headlines from Bugle Media on his tablet. He learned with no great surprise on his part that Spencer Smythe had failed. Far worse than Spencer's fail, however, had been his attack on Grand Central Terminal in which several innocent bystanders were seriously injured. Fisk knew he had to make sure the event was not traced back to him by the police who had taken the remnants of the Executioner Spider-Slayer in for analysis. It was only a matter of time until they traced the core technology back to the recent incident at Oscorp. Fisk did not trust Black Cat to keep her mouth shut should she be arrested by some slim chance. There was only one option open to him. Black Cat must be eliminated. A simple matter considering he knew her civilian identity. But, who should he call upon to skin this particular cat? He would have to give the matter some thought.
Osborn Mansion two days later, afternoon
"Would you please leave us alone dear. Business matters such as these are best discussed one on one." Doctor Otto Octavius said after entering the room where Harry Osborn lay in a hospital bed purchased for his long-term recovery.
"Harry, I'll be right outside if you need me." Mary Jane said before she left. Harry acknowledged her departure with a grunt nothing more.
After taking off his heavy winter coat which he draped over one of his metallic arms Dr. Octavius used another artificial arm to pull a chair up beside Harry's bed. He then took a seat. "Now then, I understand you require my expertise in cybernetics. My considerable talents are at your disposal, young Mr. Osborn." He said cheerfully.
"I don't know what Peter had told you, but I'm in no mood for visitors even to discuss business," Harry grumbled.
"I fully understand why you feel the way you do, Mr. Osborn. May I call you Harry? I find a level of familiarity helps foster strong business relationships." Dr. Octavius said.
"Call me whatever you want. I couldn't care less." Harry said despondently.
"Tell me, Harry, what do you want?" Dr. Octavius said pointing one of his tentacles at Harry.
"Other than to walk again, revenge I suppose. Revenge against Black Cat and whoever employed her. Their actions ruined my life." Harry said with a fire in his eyes which was the first bit of emotion he had shown since Octavius began chatting with him.
"If I could promise you revenge against those who have so grievously wronged you would I have your full cooperation in our endeavor?" Dr. Octavius asked.
"I'd do anything to pay them back tenfold for my suffering, that of my dead employees and that of my sweet Mary Jane," Harry said with conviction.
"Very well, I promise you together we'll make them pay dearly for their transgressions." Dr. Octavius said with an evil grin on his face. "Do we have a deal?" He asked reaching out with one of his organic hands.
"We have a deal," Harry said after only a brief hesitation. He took Octavius' offered hand and shook it.
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
For those who are curious, you now know the point of initial divergence between this universe and 616 Canon. Spider-Man managed to save both the child and Captain Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man 90. Spider-Man became far more confident in his own abilities in this universe as a result of saving Captain Stacy so did not hesitate and was able to later also save Gwen.