Reticence Saga
Severed Web
Chapter 15: Date with Danger
"Sometimes when you've had a bad turn, it's good to get out and going swinging to clear your head. Things have been a little tense at the Triskellion. We lost one prisoner, but gained two guess. Namely Lady NegaMorph's boyfriend and her pet who haven't been happy with the way she's been acting. I would like to help them, but talking down villains doesn't have a perfect success rate. And I don't even know anything about girlfriends."
Spider-Man was knocked out of his narration, for once, not by one of the mercs yelling in his ear but by almost having a mid-swing collision with Spider-Woman
"Whoa!" yelped Spider-Man, letting go of his line and dropping. Before he could shoot out a new webline, Spider-Woman extended a long tentacle and caught him.
"Easy there. You were a mile away," she said, landing, letting him go.
"Sorry, you'd think I'd be used to more people web-swinging through New York by now," said Spider-Man.
"Yeah...spider powers are getting more common," said Spider-Woman in amusement.
"Yeah, if I had known that would happen, I would have put a trademark on it," said Spider-Man, "So what brings you here? Out on patrol?"
"I was kinda hoping to run into you," said Spider-Woman, the symbiote mask sliding from her head to reveal Mary Jane Watson's face.
"Oh? What's up?" asked Spider-Man, the two wincing for a second, given they'd landed near one of Jameson's jumbotrons. Luckily they were able to tune his usual rants out.
"Well, you what time of year it is," said Mary Jane. Peter pulled off his mask and said, "Sure, end of the school year's coming, which means graduations and summer vacation."
"Well, that's not all that's happening," said Mary Jane.
Peter blinked a little, mentally running down the list. "I didn't miss your birthday, did I?" asked Peter.
"No," said Mary Jane.
"Uh...did I miss Aunt May's birthday?" asked Peter.
"No," said Mary Jane, sounding more annoyed.
"Did I miss the anniversary of you joining SHIELD academy?" tried Peter.
"It was only a few weeks ago," said Mary Jane flatly.
"Ok...erm...can I have a clue?" asked Spider-Man.
"Do we really have to dance around this, Peter?" asked Mary Jane.
Peter paused, as his brain pulled up the relevant memory. "Oh...oh, that dance," he said.
"Right. I mean, I know you don't go to Midtown High anymore, but I'm still a student there. So I was wondering..." said Mary Jane, playing with her hair a little.
Peter blinked before saying, "Sure...sure I'd love to." Mary Jane was about to say something before Peter quickly said, "Well, that depends if I can, we can. I mean, chances are someone like the Juggernaut or Shriek will be causing trouble that night. You know, gotta protect the city."
"Hey, most of the villains are in prison. We'll be fine. Name one villain who would crash a school dance?" said Mary Jane cheerfully.
The Splicers were walking on eggshells around Lady NegaMorph. She had not been in a very good mood when she had came home without Nightclaw and it hasn't improved since.
"She needs to get over him," said Manticora calmly, the splicers sat around a table eating take-out, well when they weren't wincing at her comments.
"I'd like to see you tell her that, behind a splatter glass," said Taurus.
"I'm not that stupid but we're running out of cash and she won't even let us run a heist," said Manticora angrily, before everyone jumped as a 'shrik' was heard and the table fell in half.
Falcore folded his wing. "Enough, we wait for order. Arguing will do nothing," he said calmly.
"So glad you came back," said Manticore dryly.
"We will wait for orders...am I clear?" said Falcore darkly.
"The next order we get is probably to get her more ice cream," said Akhlut dryly.
"And we should count ourselves lucky...lucky she chooses to drown her sorrows in sweets rather then take it out on us," said Falcore.
"Well it's not really doing us any good in the long term," said Flintwing.
"Fine, I will speak to her," said Falcore calmly, pausing briefly, "You all remain here!"
Falcore paused at Lady NegaMorph's door, sighing before knocking. "Mistress, may I come in?" asked Falcore.
"Go away," snapped Lady Nega's voice.
Falcore said, "My lady, your...staff are concerned. You have not exited your quarters except to demand Ben & Jerry's."
"Unless you've brought more, go away!" snapped Lady Nega.
"I fear they may choose their own...escapades," said Falcore, Lady Nega not replying immediately. "I mean they're growing restless and may start acting without orders," said Falcore.
The door clicked at that, slowly swinging open, Falcore gulping before walking in. "My Lady. You cannot dwell on the past," he said as kindly as he could, "What you need to do is start living in the present and do things for yourself." Falcore did his best not to wince when Lady Nega stomped to the door, wearing a rumpled dressing gown and somehow having nasty bedhead despite her hair being composed of tentacles. "Starting with a shower," said Falcore.
"What was that?" snarled Lady Nega, Falcore managing not to flinch.
"What I mean is...focus on good memories...like your first school dance," he suggested.
"I never had a school dance!" snapped Lady Nega, her eyes blazing red. Oddly enough, only one eye was actually shedding tears.
Falcore noted that, though he didn't let himself react, saying, "Then make your own good memories. Eating ice cream all day will make you ill and I would prefer to not guess which mouth it will come from."
"Then maybe I'll use your empty skull to puke in!" snapped Lady Nega.
"The point remains valid. You cannot take over the city if you are moping," said Falcore.
Lady NegaMorph paused and looked at her reflection in the door. She was a mess. She needed something to bring her out of her funk. "Fetch me some magazines," she told Falcore.
"What kind of magazines?" asked Falcore.
"I dunno. Teen magazines," said Lady NegaMorph. She paused, took another look at Falcore and said, "On second thought, have Manticora fetch them."
"Ooookay...anything else, my lady?" asked Falcore, a little unsure.
"Not from you. You wouldn't know a woman's needs if she slapped you with a list of them," said Lady Nega before shutting the door on his beak.
Falcore glared. "One day…" he muttered, sweeping his wing out as he walked off, slicing an old chair in half...
Gary sighed, looking at the far wall. While the gang had spoken on his behalf, he couldn't expect too much mercy. He'd worked for Me...Lady NegaMorph for several years as her lead henchman. It had been so much better when they were just cruising the galaxy. Until that...awful day...
2 years ago...
The ship shook from another blow, Megan and Gary catching some samples that dropped. "Danger...hull breach on deck 17...possible boarders," said the computer.
"Megan, we need to go. We don't even know who's attacking us," snapped one of the technicians.
"We're almost at the wormhole," said Megan, "We need to get these samples back to the Bladestorm."
"Molecular test...89% complete...no immune response," said the only functioning medical computer at that.
"See? It's working," snapped Megan before gunfire was heard outside, followed by screams and several cracks and tearing noises.
"Won't do anyone any good if no one's alive to deliver them," said the technician.
"94% complete...no immune response...mutations in recession," said the computer before a bang caused the three to turn, the blast door buckling like it was tin foil.
"I'm really hoping they're someone we can bribe to let us go," said Megan, dark energy powering up in her hands.
Through the crack, a black, slimy-looking tentacle slithered through, another joining it, what looked like ink dropping onto the floor before, with apparently no effort, the appendages tore the rest of the door open, a hovering mechanical suit hovering in.
"Computer, what is that?" asked Gary.
"Unknown lifeform," said the computer.
The technician took aim, only for one of the tentacles to spear out, into the troopers head, a sucking noise heard before the tech slumped down lifeless, his head making a hollow noise, before a whispering voice, seemingly from everywhere said, "You are the healer of thissss primitive ship?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that's my most important role," said Megan.
"You ssseek to heal the dark queen'ssss plague," hissed the creature, the visible organic materials pulsating.
"Dark queen? What dark queen?" asked Megan.
"The queen from the purple heeeero...ssssuch a dissapointment to her fatherrrrr," hissed the creature, a cruel batch of laughter heard.
"What is she to you?" demanded Gary.
The creature paused, before swiping Gary into the wall. "Know your placcce," it hissed.
"Leave him alone!" snapped Megan, firing bolts of dark energy at the creature.
The blasts shot forward and hit, before melting into the creature like water. "Tasssty," sneered the creature, before a tentacle grabbed her, "Your cuuuure is not wannnted...Shar viiirk forward our return..."
Megan shuddered with revulsion as the tentacle proved her face. Besides the obvious creepiness of the tentacle's touch, she could an aura of malevolent hunger probing at her mind.
"Your mind...such flaaavor," sneered the voice, before it finished, "You will be betterrrr exaaample...", the tip of the tentacle opening to reveal a sucker.
"What are you doing?" asked Megan, "Oh God, you're going to put your eggs into me, aren't you?"
The creature hissed in disgust before slapping the sucker onto her head. "Your ssssanity will not be neeeeded," it hissed.
"Get off of her!" snapped Gary, charging at the creature. The creature grabbed him by the throat, squeezing before throwing him back into the wall. Before Gary could get up, the creature pinned him against the wall.
The creature hissed, "You...have an aged miiiind...delicious...but witnesses are neeeeded..." before, under the dark glass, red glows...eyes were seen, Megan starting to scream.
A turgid stench hit Gary's nose, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. It was as if shadows had a sensible smell. But of more concern to Gary was the black streaks dripping from Megan's eyes. Her screams were starting to turn into laughter slowly, the creature also laughing, before it finally tossed her at Gary's feet. "I leave you to driffffft," it sneered. It floated back at the door.
"Megan, Megan, can you hear me?" asked Gary. Just then, Megan's skin seemed to bubble before changing grey. This wasn't a particular concern to Gary until the legs of Megan's pants torn, revealing reptilian legs unlike her alien form's.
"Megan! MEGAN!" cried Gary, neither of them listening as the computer said "Test effective..no ill effects."
Megan's suit was further torn when dragon wings and an extra pair of arms grew out. But instead of growing on her left side, she now had two arms on both sides. Her tail soon grew out, a draconic head at its end which hissed and snapped at Gary.
"Megan, wake up!" cried Gary, shaking her. Megan started laughing again, and it did not sound like anything funny. "Ma'cherie?" said Gary carefully.
Megan turned to look at Gary. Her face didn't look too much different, asides from the grey skin, sharp teeth, and five red eyes. But there was something wrong with those eyes, very wrong. "What's wrong?" she asked in a smug tone.
"Megan, are you still...yourself?" asked Gary nervously.
"No...I feel better," said Megan, shaking her head.
"Er, maybe we should get back to the others," said Gary.
"What others? They killed everyone," said Megan, grabbing the medical computer, saving the work on it before turning it off.
"I mean we need to get back through the wormhole," said Gary.
"Ok...let's learn how to fly a 400 crew starship in 3 minutes, otherwise let's get to the escape pod," said Megan sarcastically.
"Right, the escape pod," said Gary.
"Matt better come quick..." snapped Megan...
1 year later...
12 months before arrival of rescue team...
"Where are they?" snapped Megan, sweeping a tabletop clean.
"I'm-I'm sure they're just being delayed," said Gary, "That wormhole did give off some sort of energy that indicated time dilation."
"Crap! Time dilation's never this bad. They're probably laughing. We always had to stay on the ship anyway. They've ditched us," snarled Megan.
"That isn't so," said Gary.
"Isn't it?!" snapped Megan, "That dumb bitch Hannah could have been sent. She has just as much magical experience at me, apparently. But no... She was the captain's sister, sort of, so she didn't get sent on the life-threatening mission."
"Isn't she technically a clone of the captain?" said Gary carefully. The two had been stuck on the planet for a year, in the one place the gang always ended up: New York. This one was...interesting. Last month there'd been an invasion of creatures from a place called Asgard on Manhattan, the duo's home across the river on the mainland.
"It would explain her big, stupid ego, but I couldn't care less!" snapped Megan.
"Megan, I'm sure they're looking for us. And at least this time we aren't trapped on a planet with dragons and vikings," he said jokingly.
"They've had more than enough time to look for us," snapped Megan.
"Oh? We have no beacon. They would need to search every planet in the galaxy," said Gary, using the same old argument as before.
"Like they wouldn't know we'd go to Earth," growled Megan.
"Earth is still a big planet," said Gary, "They wouldn't know where to start."
"Lies! I'm sick of hiding. I'm sick of being abandoned," snapped Megan, her eyes glowing red.
"Megan, please, things aren't that bad," said Gary. Weirdwolf whined in concern.
"Yes it is. Matt's never coming for us, don't you get it? We're on our own," snapped Megan angrily.
"Er, in which case, we may start asking how to get back. I'm sure there's some spaceships that'll take us to the wormhole. Well, maybe not that far. But perhaps far enough to get another ship..." started Gary.
"Then we'll need money," said Megan, more or less to herself.
"Well, yes. I'm not quite sure how we're going to earn enough," said Gary.
"Who said anything about earn?" snapped Megan.
"What?" asked Gary.
"We're going to take the money we need. This city's rich. They're not gonna miss it," said Megan, more to herself.
"Megan, it sounds like you're planning on stealing," said Gary with concern.
"So what if I am?" snapped Megan.
"But Megan, that's...well..." said Gary, not really sure he needed to say something that obvious.
"And you two are gonna help me," snapped Megan, her hands glowing with magic.
"Megan, you're starting to scare me," said Gary, backing up. Weirdwolf whined as he hid behind Gary.
"First of all, 'Megan' isn't a workable name for a supervillain," said Megan, "I think it's time to use my old name again. 'Lady NegaMorph' sounds so much better." Gary gulped, before Megan said "And that pooch needs teeth..." firing the first bolt at Weirdwolf.
Gary sighed, looking around. Twelve months of that...he should have acted when she began making splicers. But now that he had walked away from Megan...he wasn't sure what to do now.
He looked down as Weirdwolf put his head in his lap with a whine. At least they'd been kept together...probably helped that Matt and Chloe had threatened to see how many blasts it took to knock the Triskelion down if they were separated.
Just then, their cell door opened. Weirdwolf looked up with a growl, but Gary put a hand on his head. Matt peered in. "Hey there..." he said, before saying, "We finally convinced Fury to let you out."
"Well, that's good," said Gary, "If only I had anywhere to go."
"Hey, you got us. Connors says that if Megan wasn't in there, the dough clone woulda just been a clone of Lady Nega," said Matt, playfully punching his arm before stroking Weirdwolf's back.
"I guess that would be true," said Gary, "I just wish I could get through to the real Megan, but her dark side just keep getting more and more control."
"What happened on that ship?" asked Matt, before the alarm went off. "But that can wait," said Matt with a sigh.
"Ok...let's try this again...without calling me a monster...I want...to BUY these magazines...for M-O-N-E-Y!" Manticora said, yelling the last part at the cowering cashier.
"Just take it! Take it!" yelped the cashier. Manticora rolled her eyes with frustration. You'd think a newsstand worker in New York would be more used to this kind of thing.
"Ok...I want...to give...my money..." Manticora tried, hoping this would work as she held up a few dollars "...TO YOU...IN EXCHANGE...FOR THESE MAGAZINES!" she screamed, holding the girl mags her leader had sent her for. At least this guy hadn't fainted...or when she tried New Jersey, tried to blow her head off. Manticora took a moment to snap at the bystanders, "What are you staring at? I'm a girl buying girl magazines. Is that so unusual?"
The bystanders ran for it, apart from one small kid who just grinned and said, "You look cool." before her mother dragged her off.
Manticora sighed before turning back to the newsstand guy, "Ok, let's try this again, civilly." She paused, looking over to see the newsstand guy had fled. "Oh son of a...where can I pin this?" she muttered, holding her dollars before she noticed a reflection...a dragon. "I'm not in the mood, Lazard...and I'm trying to leave the money for him," she snapped, swinging her tail to knock Lazard flying into an abandoned car before turning. "Really, I'm trying to buy these legally," she snapped, waving the magazines.
"You mind repeating that?" asked Lazard, "I think I hit my head."
Manticora rolled her eyes, before the newsstand guy, having returned, said weakly, "That's $5.94...EEK!" yelping as Manticora tossed the notes in the air, flicked her tail and the spine fired pinned the notes to the back of the booth.
"Keep the change," she snapped.
"So what's this about?" asked Lazard, snatching the magazine.
He looked before his eye twitched, slowly passing it back, Manticora taking it. "I may be a henchwoman but some things I won't steal...mostly cause I'd be laughed at," said Manticora before turning to see Gary, in his organic gargoyle form. "Nightclaw," she said happily.
Within one second and the next, his fist hit her in the face. "I normally won't strike a lady, but I think you count more as a monster than a lady," said Gary.
Manticora got up unsteadily, shaking her head. "That...I...PAID!" she snapped, pointing at the newsstand owner. "Tell them!" she snapped, the newsstand owner pointing with a shaking hand at the payment, the moment spoilt that the spine seemed to be melting the notes.
Gary glanced at the cover of the magazine before asking, "What kind of book is that?"
"Lady NegaMorph...wanted girl magazines. Don't ask me why. She's been in a mood all week," said Manticora, holding up one of the magazines.
Gary spun to look away. "Mon dieu," he muttered.
"Are...are we still fighting cause that's putting me off," said Lazard finally, pointing at the magazines.
"Wait, this magazine says it has an interview with Squirrel Girl," said Gary, looking at the cover.
"What? Really? Why her?" asked Lazard.
Gary flipped the magazine open and said, "Apparently she's selling a line of perfumes and... Zut alores..." Matt peered in before looking too, the two looking, even the newsstand guy joining in.
"Erm...guys? Fighting now?" Manticora said, before shrugging and knocking Gary and Lazard out by bopping their heads together. Manticora glanced at the picture they were ogling before snorting. "Sellout..." she muttered before taking off.
"Did you get them?" sighed Falcore, looking at a list he'd been given before passing her a tub of Ben & Jerry's. "Just in case," he said, Manticora nodding.
"Hey, does that zine have She-Hulk in it?" asked Taurus.
"Don't be ridiculous," said Manticora, "She-Hulk has higher standards."
Falcore opened one, flicking through before raising an eyebrow feather. "Page 17," he said, muttering, "That said, it's tasteful."
"Really?" asked Taurus, reaching for the magazine.
A blast of shadow energy nearly took his hand off. "Not your clumsy hoof!" snapped Lady Nega, marching towards them, "I want to read that before you make it illegible."
Falcore took the magazine back, putting it back on the neat pile and walking up, kneeling and offering it. "Your...magazines. Though I fail to see how this will help."
"You know nothing about girls," said Lady Nega, "Maybe I should fix that."
Falcore raised an eyebrow. "My apologies, I foresaw that so we teamed up to marker pen that chapter out of your spellbook while Manticora distracted you with ice cream last Monday," he said calmly.
Lady NegaMorph glared before chanting something and waving all four hands. Falcore and Manticora suddenly had blank looks on their faces before something seemed to shimmer between them.
Taurus peered in. "Boss, know it's not my place, but you just put your two best fighters out of commission," he said, before Lady Nega turned to look at him. The remaining splicers didn't see much, except Lady Nega shrieked, tentacles seen around her head, before Taurus, shaking like a leaf said "Comment withdrawn." in a weak voice.
'Manticora' blinked before asking, "What just happened?" She looked down at herself and said, "Oh, you've got to be kidding."
'Falcore' snapped "Why me? It was him...her who was a smartass!" he snapped.
Manticora, wearing the calm expression usually reserved for the birdman, said, "Interesting...I can see why you gloat, Manticora. This body is tough."
"That's your only reaction?" asked 'Falcore' incredulously.
"One body's the same as another. Lady NegaMorph made sure I was capable of fighting properly," 'Manticora' said sagely.
Lady Nega smirked and said, "Maybe I can make it permanent." Both of the duo snapping "NO!" in terror.
"Good. Now leave me be while I read," said Lady Nega.
"Come sis...brother. I should teach you how to use my wind blades before you hurt yourself," said 'Manticora' calmly, leading the glaring Falcore out.
Some time later, Falcore returned to Lady NegaMorph. Well, Falcore in Manticora's body. "Er, mistress, are you about done?" she asked.
"Just about. I will have a few jobs for you and Manticora. If you do it right, I might swap you back before the dance," said Lady NegaMorph, Falcore noticing several devices on Lady Nega's workbench.
"My Lady, those aren't what I think they are...are they?" she asked, walking over and picking one up.
"Put that down before you break it," said Lady Nega.
"They're mutagen bombs..." said Falcore with a smirk, "I have to admit I like the plan more. But why would you need them for some da...oh no...you aren't."
"I deserve to have some good memories," said Lady Nega, "And I doubt I could just walk into a school dance."
Falcore shrugged. "Could be worse. Might I suggest a test...to show you're serious first? Last thing we want is Lazard and his friends crashing the party," she said, evilly.
"I think I know just the place," said Lady Nega.
The shopkeeper looked up as the door opened, a teen in some sort of hooded cloak walking in, two similarly dressed figures with her. "Can I help you three? LARPing?" he asked.
"Yes," said the teen, lowering her hood to reveal a redheaded girl, "I was here to get my corsage, remember?"
"Ah...the last minuter. You're cutting it close," said the shopkeeper, leaning down behind the counter and coming back up with a small wrapped box. "Which school prom you going to if I may ask?" he asked, pausing. The young woman at the back...her hand looked like it had claws before she pulled her sleeve down over it.
"Just at the most popular school in the city," said the teen.
"Oh...they had to rebuild that after that monster invasion. Lucky you," said the shopkeeper cheerfully. This girl...something was...familiar but he blew it off.
"Yes, it's going to be a night no one will forget," said the girl.
The girl opened the box to see a orange-flowered corsage in it. "I asked for purple," she said darkly, the shopkeeper rolling his eyes. All these last minuters expected the moon on a plate.
"Sorry, you shoulda been earlier. There's some nice blue ones left if you don't like that," he said.
"Blue is not my color. Don't you at least have red ones?" asked the girl.
"I told you, the red ones were sold out first," said the shopkeeper.
"I want...a red one..." said the girl with surprising ferocity, causing the shopkeeper to take a step back.
"Look, take it or leave it," he said.
One of the girl's companions said, "You know it would easy to turn this one red, right?"
"It's...the principle. Plus the more we buy legally, the less attention we get," snapped the girl.
"Excuse me?" asked the shopkeeper.
"I thought the point of coming here was to draw attention," said the other companion.
"Good point, Falcore." said the girl.
The shopkeeper froze at that, before he said, his brain making the connections, before he said "Maybe...I could take one last look in the back?" in a shaking voice.
"Don't worry," said the girl, her eyes turning red as three extra ones opened, "It'll be red in a few seconds." The shopkeeper gulped before pressing the silent alarm button under his counter, in time for an orb to stick to his chest, a green liquid in it. "Have fun," said the girl, she and her companions leaving as it began to beep.
Dakota and Wolf-Bat landed on the rooftop, looking down. "A silent alarm in a flower shop. This cities getting paranoid," said Wolf-Bat, the two peering down.
"Not without reason," remarked Dakota. Just then, windows were broken as what looked like vines came out. "Ok cue," Dakota said, pausing and smirking, "Let's do some pruning, Wolf-Bat." before she jumped down.
"Well, you have the machetes to do that," said Wolf-Bat, jumping after her.
The two landed easily, Wolf-Bat grumbling as most people ran from them, screaming about mutants before the door to the shop was torn off and some sort of...plant man ran out, hissing. "How often to plant monsters attack this city?" asked Wolf-Bat.
"Unless they have a counterpart to Poison Ivy here, probably not that often," said Dakota.
"You...you work for heeeer..." hissed the plant man, swiping a vine like arm out at them.
Dakota and Wolf-Bat dodged the vine. "Ok, this isn't a mindless plant, I think," said Dakota.
"You work for Negaaaaaa..." hissed the mutant.
"That we mostly certainly do not," said Wolf-Bat.
The mutant shrieked before lunging at that, smashing Dakota aside to reach Wolf-Bat. Wolf-Bat yelped and backwinged as fast as he could. "Why couldn't I have gotten extra powers, like a supersonic screech and/or howl?" he muttered.
"How would that help?" snapped Dakota, the plant man hissing again.
Wolf-Bat slashed before his nanites said, "Class B mutagen detected...preparing antigen."
"What, really?" asked Wolf-Bat. However, he was distracted at the wrong time and a vine wrapped around his legs.
"You did thiiiiis..." hissed the plant guy angrily, the other vine suddenly sprouting spikes.
"I've never seen you before in my life!" yelped Wolf-Bat as he flew up. The plant guy was pulled up with him, but the upward ascension came to an abrupt halt when the plant's roots reached their limit.
"You not escaaape..." snapped the mutant, Wolf-Bat's wristcomp saying "Antigen ready...please administer." a dart loading.
"Hey buddy, I've got something to treat your root rot," said Wolf-Bat before aiming down and firing the dart.
The mutant yelped staggering back as he started to shrink. Wolf-Bat hovered back down to the ground as the mutated foliage started drying up and crumbling. The plant guy soon reverted to a normal shopkeeper.
Dakota got up unsteadily from where she'd been knocked before turning on her comm, "SHIELD, this is Dakota. We're new to this verse, but do shopkeepers turn into plant people and back in this dimension?"
"Well, he couldn't an Inhuman. The Terrigin Mist wave was months ago and they don't take that long to emerge. Anyways, mutations of any kind don't tend to wear off," said Fury, "Scan for any alien DNA."
Dakota turned to the shaking shopkeeper, saying "Excuse me, could you hold still?" before making the mistake of smiling: raptors should never smile to calm someone down...and the shopkeeper had seen Jurassic Park more than once.
"Huh, he runs pretty fast for someone who was rooted to the ground a minute ago," remarked Wolf-Bat.
"Great..." muttered Dakota.
"You got your butts kicked by a veggie?" laughed Matt.
"You got disarmed by a walking tree once," pointed out Chloe.
"He was a friend...sort of," said Matt.
"It was one of Megan's, found this," said Chris, tossing a broken orb over, "Got her smell all over it."
Matt looked over the orb. "Probably contained a small payload of mutagen. Not particularly strong stuff if it could be countered that easily. Seems to be reactive to the environment it's exposed to."
"So a guy who runs a flower shop would turn into a plant mutate?" asked Chloe.
"Why?" said Matt in confusion, "Did he send her the wrong flowers or something?"
"Maybe she wants to see if this stuff will work on plant DNA," said Chloe.
"Better ways to do it," said Chris calmly.
"I guess we need to keep an eye on any botany-related places to see if she'll strike again," said Chloe.
A beep was heard at that...actually three beeps at once. Comm messages. "Ok...that's...weirdly in sync," said Matt, calling his up.
An image of Lady NegaMorph's appeared on his wristcomp. "Hello there," said her recorded voice, "I'm sure you've noticed what season it is. There's love in the air, along with some mutagen. But you can do something about that last one." Matt and the other exchanged a look as Lady Nega continued, "Yet another crime dear Lynch put against me. I was sucked into his mayhem long before I could enjoy my school dance."
"She's not be serious, is she?" asked Matt.
"Imagine, for all my power and beauty, I've never gone to a school dance," said Lady Nega.
"Maybe that's because you were never in school," said Chloe dryly.
"Well, I'm not about to miss my junior prom. I've got almost everything I need: my dress, my corsage, my ride, and my chaperones. All I need now is my date and a place to dance at. You know, there are a lot of high schools in New York, plenty of proms to attend. But Midtown High seems to be the most popular place for any villain to go to."
The group paused as Megan continued. "Now, I understand SHIELD and Lazard, stupid name by the way, will want to stop me. So I had my splicers plant far bigger mutagen bombs in every public area in the city...and in the school. If dear Gary doesn't take me to the dance..." Lady Nega said with a evil grin, "Oh, and I wouldn't do anything like calling off the dance or trying to arrest me when I get there. All I want is a lovely, memorable evening. And if I can't have one, no one else will. Well, at least not the 'lovely' part, but I can make it very memorable."
She paused at that, saying "Is it off? What do you mean it's still going? I can't see the...turn it off, TURN IT-" before the line went dead.
"She's not really that crazy or petty, right?" asked Matt.
"Well, I think this kinda confirms she's crazy enough," said Chris.
"And she is definitely that petty," said Chloe.
"Look, we just deal with this before Fury finds ou-" began Matt.
"Lazard, my office, now!" snapped Fury's voice on the intercom.
"He got the same message, didn't he?" asked Chris flatly.
"You told me she stole that...splicing technology," said Fury icily.
"She did," said Chris, "I'm living proof of that."
"She seems to claim otherwise," said Fury.
Matt said calmly, "Well of course she'd say that."
"He haven't really been able to get a full inventory of what she's acquired before we got here," said Chloe.
"You willing to risk the city on that hunch?" said Fury.
"I never said that," said Chloe, "Let's not forget that underneath all the megalomania, dark magic, and stolen genetic tech, she's still a teenage girl."
"Chloe..." said Matt warningly before he said, "So we're letting her have this dance? At a high school? I've dealt with high school. Will it save time if we set the school on fire before the local bullies see her?"
"The problem is if she doesn't go, she'll set off who knows how many mutagen bombs," said Chris, "I doubt we'll be able to find every one in time."
"All she wants is a school dance...and maybe Gary as her date. I'm...failing to see too much world domination," said Chloe.
"Nick, I know-" started Matt before Fury gave him a deadly glare. "Director Fury," restarted Matt, "I know you're usually in the business of dealing with global threats, but even some of them can't be wanting to take over the world everyday. Maybe some of them do want a little bit of their old lives."
"Megan's one thing...but she keeps her deals. Plus she won't set off the bombs if the prom goes well," said Chloe in agreement.
Chris nodded, "Just let us handle this. If she see's SHIELD, and she even sets off one bomb, it'll be mass panic."
"No offense, but you three look a little too old for high school," said Fury.
"Who would notice?" asked Matt blithely.
"I don't think that's going to quite fly under the radar," said Fury, "I don't think you'll be able to attend as guests. But you can attend as chaperones."
Matt blinked. "Chaperones?" he said.
Chloe said, "At a high school dance?"
"But wouldn't chaperones have to, well, chaperone someone?" asked Chris.
"Fortunately, we have some ideal agents for this mission for you to escort," said Fury.
"Who?" said Matt suspiciously
"I'm going to prom?!" yelped Spider-Man.
"You're saying that like you're going to a death match," said Matt.
Chloe sighed. "Look, we don't exactly wanna go either but we need to be on site to disarm Lady Nega's bombs before she turns the Big Apple into the Big Zoo." before she smirked "So...who's the lucky girl?" in a teasing voice.
"MJ...MJ asked me to the dance..." said Spider-Man, clutching his head.
"And that's so terrible because?" asked Matt.
"I was expecting something else to happen," said Spider-Man, "I expected Doc Ock or Loki or even Galactus to attack and give me an excuse not to go."
Matt blinked before he said in confusion, "Ok...so...the girl of your dreams...wants to go to the school dance with you. You have not had to prompt her in any way to do this...and that's bad...how?"
"I've...not had good experiences with dances," said Spider-Man.
A younger Peter is standing near a punch bowl when a younger Flash dunks him into it.
A younger Peter is walking through a door when a younger Flash trips him and causes him to knock over another girl.
An older Peter is sitting out one dance when a robot bursts through a wall not far from him.
"Oh, it's like me and how Fa-EEEEE!" said Matt before squeaking and crumpling, Chris and Peter jumping back...with good reason as Matt's squeaking was thanks to Chloe deploying the 'Megan knee'.
"You are not jinxing this!" she snapped as Matt made what sounded like a bubbling noise from ground level.
"Well, Flash is a lot nicer now so you won't have to worry about him," said Chris, "And as for-" He stopped when Chloe gave him a glare. "I think you'll have enough backup for this," said Chris, "It's not like you don't have a suit to wear or you don't know how to dance."
"And Kala will insist on coming too. She's going stir crazy," said Chloe with a sigh, adding, "And she's probably found out by now."
"The important thing is that you're going to have a good time...and make sure Megan has a good time," said Chris.
Matt squeaked, "Yes...we do not want a case of 'Carrie'." before coughing, managing to say, "Does Stephen King even exist in this world?"
"Which movie do you mean?" asked Peter.
"Wait, how many movies are there?" asked Matt.
"I've seen enough to know just what would happen," said Peter.
Megan looks like she's having a fine time at the dance until a bucket of pig's blood is dropped on her. Immediately, her eyes turn red and the gym is lit on fire.
"You have seen the film...saves time," said Matt with partial relief, adding, "This has to be the perfect night for her."
"I hope she's not expecting to be crowned queen," said Chloe. Everyone looked at Chloe with skeptical looks at that. Chloe said "Of course." in a dark tone.
"That should make sure they aren't nosy or troublesome," sneered Lady Nega smugly.
Falcore said, "You lied about the bombs in the main city, why? We only had enough to mine the school."
"If they knew that, they'd just cancel the dance or move it," said Lady Nega, "This is the only way I can go."
"And what about us? The Lynches will find some way to be on site. You should not go without us...and we will need disguises," said Falcore, adding, "Perhaps some anti-gen..."
"That's easy enough," said Lady Nega, "A few 'don't notice me' glamours will do the trick."
"We'd need to be noticed somehow. As I said...a cure might..." before she gripped her head.
"You must think I'm a moron. You'll take the glamour and like it," Lady Nega snarled, "You don't have to shadow me all evening. You can dance if you want to."
"I'd prefer my original body for that. Manticora has already chopped the fridge in half. I'm afraid the cookie dough ice cream was a casualty," said Falcore calmly.
Two of Lady Nega's eyes twitched at that and said, "Perhaps I should a cap on Manticora's powers."
"Or put us back in our own bodies?" tried Falcore, "It seems adding several female splices together makes for...quite the hormone mix and I'd prefer my focus tonight."
"That just makes it all the more interesting," said Lady Nega.
Falcore glared. "At least say if it reverses by itself," she said through gritted teeth.
"Maybe..." said Lady Nega coyly.
"Uuuuurgh...so...when do we head out?" said Falcore, her ear twitching before she stepped to the side, pushing Lady Nega the same way before a wind blade demolished the wall.
"SORRY!" called Manticora.
"Ok, I'm definitely deactivating her powers," said Lady Nega.
"Wise decision," said Falcore, "As for our departure."
"We've got until Friday, there's no rush," said Lady Nega.
"But it's Monday..." said Falcore through gritted teeth.
"Yes, an entire week," said Lady Nega happily.
"But that's not fair," said Falcore, losing a little composure.
"I know," laughed Lady Nega, adding, "I know you too well, Falcore. I know you're planning something to escape. So I'm...holding a hostage."
Falcore's eye twitched and she said, "If I go mad, it'll be on your head."
"You'll be fine. You might even enjoy yourself," said Lady NegaMorph, before saying, "Now go get my date. Somehow I think he might be reluctant."
"I have until Friday, I don't need to see her right away," said Gary with annoyance, "She can use a weblink like everyone else."
"She wants this to be traditional, meaning she'll want you to ask," said Chloe.
Gary gulped and Wierdwolf said, "Gary dead."
"Can't I just ask her over video chat?" asked Gary.
"Video chat? Who are you and what have you done with Gary?" asked Matt.
Gary said, "We were stuck here three years. I had time to explore the technology of the modern world." in a slightly scathing voice.
"That wasn't a smooth transition, was it?" asked Chloe.
Gary paused. "Not exactly..."
1 and a half years ago...
Megan sighed, opening the door to the apartment they'd managed to rent, pausing as she smelled smoke. "Gary...are you making toast?" she said, walking towards the kitchen and pausing.
Gary had made toast...out of the toaster which was merrily burning away. "I can explain..." said Gary.
"Can you still explain?" asked Matt.
Gary said sullenly, "No."
"Anyways, you don't have to worry," said Chloe, "We'll be meeting Megan on neutral territory."
"Are you sure it's neutral?" asked Gary.
"Of course," said Chloe, "We'll be having our hair and nails and getting a facial afterwards."
Matt nodded. "Yup nice and, wait...are we going to a spa?" he said with worry.
"Oh, I don't think you'll really- KALA, NOW!" called Chloe.
Matt turned and blasted an incoming net before blowing a hole in the wall and throwing himself out, screaming "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" flying off towards the city, screaming mostly incoherently.
Kala looked at the singed net before saying, "On the bright side, that's the closest we've ever gotten."
"There's always another day," said Chloe, "Once your powers reboot, you'll probably be able to bag him."
"Why were you gonna drag him to the spa anyway? He once said he'd rather eat compost casserole and the meatloaf then go to something like that," asked Kala.
"Precisely for that reason," said Chloe.
"Did he upset you?" asked Gary sagely.
"Generally or specifically?" asked Chloe.
Gary thought about it for a second before simply saying, "Yes."
Matt looked over at Chris and asked something, though it was a bit hard to tell what considering his mouth was covered with webbing. "Heck no," said Chris, "Do I look like I want to be here?"
Matt glared, presumably planning some sort of vengeance. His vengeance in particular was towards his sister and the one responsible for the webbing. "Why exactly did we need to bring him here?" asked MJ.
"Revenge," said Chloe happily, a nervous attendant filing her claws.
"Can't you get your human form's nails done?" asked MJ.
"I haven't been able to shift back since the Savage Land. Techo's programming a holo-guise but it will take some time," Chloe said.
"So wouldn't coming here as a dinosaur draw more attention?" asked MJ.
"Where else could I get my nails done?" asked Chloe.
"As long as she doesn't eat the clientele, we're fine," said the apparent owner, "She comes in twice a week."
Chloe paused and said with a laugh, "No...this is my...first time." looking both ways. Under his gag, Matt smirked. His revenge was already formulating. "Do not even think about it," hissed Chloe, the attendant jumping.
"Uh, I'm going to get some new lipstick," said MJ before walking off.
"You want me to do what? It's clearly a trap," Gary said, Chloe sulking in the corner.
"You turn one attendant into a triceratops lady for 5 minutes and they ban you for life," she muttered darkly.
Matt said, "Look, we don't like it either but these mutagen bombs are real."
"Can't I do it online like teens usually do these days?" asked Gary.
"Don't you owe it to Megan to ask her to her first dance in person?" asked Chloe.
Gary paused before saying, "That's a low blow...but you are right."
"So when is she supposed to be here?" asked Matt.
"There was an attachment for you," said Chloe, passing Gary a data chip.
"Why isn't he calling?" snapped Lady NegaMorph.
Manticora said, "I told you, you wanted it done proper. He's not gonna video chat you to ask."
"He's not that old-fashioned," said Lady NegaMorph.
"He was alive during the French Revolution," said Manticora bluntly.
"Ok...shut up," said Lady Nega sulkily before sending another call request.
"Attempt 417 in progress," said the computer.
Gary paused as he felt a tingle in his upper leg. "There it is again," he muttered.
"Just answer it!" snapped Chloe, Gary taking out a small mobile.
"Wait...you had a mobile...all this time...we coulda traced..." said Matt, his eye starting to twitch as Gary managed to reply.
"Bonjour?" he asked before wincing, holding it at length.
"GARY, WHY HAVEN'T YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE?!" snapped Lady NegaMorph's voice.
"Because I haven't heard it ring," said Gary.
"It was set to vibrate for power-saving," said Lady Nega with annoyance.
"Is that what that tingling was?" asked Gary.
Lady Nega's voice paused before saying, "Matt, I know you and your friends are there. One of you slap him,"
"With pleasure," said Chloe before smacking Gary upside the head.
"Ow," said Gary gloomily before Lady NegaMorph said "Now then...is there something you want to ask me?" in a happy voice, as Gary's phone screen began to flash the low battery sign.
"Oh, right. Megan, would you go to the dance with... Hello?" asked Gary.
Lady Nega looked at the now-dead phone, the splicers slowly backing for the nearest door, before she snapped "CLOSE ENOUGH!"
"I think the phone went dead." said Gary in a weak voice.
Matt patted his back, "It'll be close enough."
"Matt, we'll need to give Gary a proper education in cell phones later," said Chloe.
"Ok, Gary, what do you think...goes on at a school dance?" Matt asked, Peter with him. The team had decided to try and make sure he knew what to do, after explaining to the Web Warriors about Gary's past.
"Well, dancing, right?" asked Gary.
"Define dancing," said Matt carefully, silently praying that it wouldn't be what he thought it was.
"Do they still do waltzes?" asked Gary.
"Wow...he really is out of touch," said Sam, him and Ava the only ones free to help.
"Hey, I was dead for several centuries and on a ship for the rest of it," said Gary in a hurt voice.
"Maybe he should listen to what kind of music teens listen to these days," said Ava.
"I got my iPod," said Sam passing it over and hitting random when Gary had gotten the earpieces in.
Gary waited before saying, "So is this like-" before he suddenly clutched at his head and screamed with agony.
"Sam...is that human music?" asked Matt, taking one of the earpieces and listening. It was Earth music, but it was rather loud, and not particularly melodic. He carefully removed the earpiece and dropped it. "Ok, it might be human...or a banshee. Let's try something else," Matt said, hitting random on it again.
Gary stopped wincing and said, "Ok this is better...but rather confusing."
Matt listened before looking confused. He admittedly hadn't really spent long times on Earth since he'd been introduced to Nullspace...but this music... "Ok, Sam, you have weird music tastes."
"Well pardon me for variety," said Sam.
Ava sighed before saying, "How about we listen to something he's actually expected to dance to." With that, she selected one of the slower songs on the playlist.
Gary paused...this song sounded right. He could imagine him and Megan slow-dancing to the tune. Of course it would be luck if it played or not...but still.
"One little thing," said Matt, "You think you can manage to kiss her when the moment's right?"
Gary paused before saying in a low voice, "Only Megan..."
Matt sighed and said, "That may be a bit much to hope for, but we'll figure it out when we can."
"That said...Lady NegaMorph will detonate her devices if I do not..." continued Gary with a sigh.
"Take one for the team," said Sam before Ava punched his shoulder.
"Ok, if you can, get her detonator off her. If we get that, her plan's kaput," said Matt.
"Dresses don't have pockets, do they?" asked Gary.
"Not usually but I doubt she'll let that thing out of reach," said Chloe.
"Just don't get too handsy," said Ava, "It's going to give off the wrong message."
"Agreed, the last thing we need is a Carrie situation," said Chloe.
"Well, at least the girls at Midtown High are nicer than the boys, right?" asked Peter.
"Uh, yeah, sure," said Ava.
"Ok...so we know what to do. We try and find these bombs and diffuse them if Gary can't get the detonator. Then we hogtie Megan and give her brain a good scrubbing," said Matt, clapping his hands together.
"Right, I should be helping out with finding those bombs and-" started Peter.
"Not so fast," said Chloe, "Someone will need to stay on the floor and keep an eye on things."
Chris grinned. "You will go to the ball, kid," he said evilly.
"You won't be alone," said Ava.
"You'll probably be the only one with a date though," said Sam.
"Just make sure their date goes smooth before we disarm the bombs," said Chloe.
"Sure," said Peter before muttering, "I just hope my own date doesn't become a disaster."
"Why? You and MJ were made for each other," said Matt.
Ava cleared her throat and said, "Sam, don't we need to work on that other mission?"
"What other mission?" asked Sam before Ava grabbed him and pulled out of the room.
Chloe grabbed Matt and Chris at that. "Gary, come along. Let's get you set up," she said, dragging Matt and Chris out with her.
Gary turned to Peter and said, "I think your reluctance has more to do with yourself than her, am I right?"
"I...MJ isn't safe around me. I can't go a week without some supervillain attacking. It's surprisingly regular," said Peter gloomily.
"That seems to be a common thing for heroes," said Gary, "But Mary Jane is hardly defenseless."
"Yes, but she wants to be a journalist. How can she live the life she wants if me and supervillains get in the way?" asked Peter.
"Actually, I think she would be able to balance those two careers rather easily, if those other comics I've read are anything to judge by," said Gary, "And I think she wants more than just that."
Peter looked confused. "Comics?" he said before Chloe yelled "GARY!"
"Er, perhaps another time," said Gary before walking away.
"Well, the day I've been dreading has arrived. I was really hoping something would happen to keep me from going. But nothing all week. It's as if the bad guys were taking time off. The only thing that happened was that UFO landing on the other side of Queens. And they were just looking for directions. So now...here I go. I might actually get lucky and nothing'll ruin this for MJ,"
Peter walked up to the door. Tonight was the night. Peter knocked on it and fought not to bolt off. Mary Jane and him were just friends, right? They had their first kiss when they were 12 and that didn't work out. Surely there was nothing more serious between them.
Just then, the door opened and Peter fought not to let his jaw drop. Mary Jane was wearing a black strapless dress that had loosely connected long sleeves. "Uh, Mary Jane, you look...wow," said Peter, dumbstruck.
Mary Jane just chuckled and said, "Face it, tiger. You just hit the jackpot."
"So, ahem, I'm not sure about how we'll get there..." started Peter.
Just then, a limo rolled up. The back window rolled down, revealing Harry's face. "Hey, Pete, can I offer you a ride?" he asked.
"Harry," said MJ happily, waving, Peter sighing with relief. As per usual, Harry had saved his bacon...at least when it came to non-hero stuff. "Why didn't I get more limo rides from you before?" asked Mary Jane as she walked to the door.
"My dad says that if I was going to be picking up chicks in a limo, it couldn't be his limo," said Harry.
"Seriously?" asked MJ with some annoyance.
"I'm sure he'd realize we're just friends, but, well, you know how my dad tends to be...picky with my friends," said Harry.
"Not completely mellowed out then," said MJ, Peter and her getting into the back with Harry.
"He's getting better," said Harry, "Ever since he's permanently Goblin-proofed himself, he's been a whole new man. He just backslid a bit when I was Anti-Venom."
"I'm really sorry about that," said Peter.
"You don't have to keep blaming yourself," said Harry, "So...supervillainess coming to the prom."
Peter rolled his eyes. "All she apparently wants is a perfectly normal dance," he said.
"It wouldn't be so bad if she wasn't threatening everyone," said MJ.
"Well, she is a supervillain," pointed out Harry.
"But somewhere deep inside is the girl she's supposed to be," said Mary Jane.
"Well if everything goes right, we'll catch her and Matt and his friends can snap her to her senses," said Peter.
"Hopefully," said MJ, "But it doesn't mean we can't have our own fun."
"Yeah, Matt said he'd handle it," said Peter.
Meanwhile, Matt, Kala, Chloe, and Chris were 'chaperoning' Gary to the dance. There were enough holo-cloaks to make everyone look human. Though Gary and Kala didn't need holo-cloaks for that. Matt tried not to remark on that since Kala was a little sore about her powers taking so long to come back. But at least she looked nice in that dress.
"Ok, now then, you make her enjoy every minute of this night," said Matt, adding, "Because what don't we want?"
Gary said nervously, "A Carrie." Matt had made him watch the film...
"Correct. Chloe, Chris, you'll be in charge of diverting the jerks away from Megan," said Matt.
Chris grinned. "That should be fun," he said.
"I feel like I'm being type-casted for some reason," said Chloe.
"Chloe, I'm giving you reason, nay permission to eat anyone who messes with Megan," said Matt, Chloe actually perking up.
"So what will we be doing?" asked Kala.
"Kala, we will actually try to have a date," said Matt, Chloe opening her mouth only for Matt to turn and fix her with a glare.
"That would be nice for once," said Kala, smiling sweetly.
"Yeah...any objections?" said Matt, grinning and revealing the holo-cloak didn't cover teeth.
"Only if the heavens don't rain fire," said Chris, holding a hand out the window.
Matt glared and blasted Chris's hands with fire. "There, it rained fire," he said icily.
"I think you mistook the meaning of my words," said Chris, waving the fire out.
"Doesn't matter, I'm having a date with Kala," said Matt.
The limo finally pulled up. "Ok, game faces," said Matt, reaching for the door. The group got out of the limo and looked around. There were plenty of teens heading for Midtown High's gym, but no sign of Lady Nega. "Wait, is she actually late?" asked Matt.
Just then, they heard the sound of hoofsteps and they looked to see a carriage being driven down the street. The carriage itself was being pulled by Taurus who, as he slowed, said darkly, "One word...just...one word...I dare you."
Chloe, however, was tilting her head back and forth. "Guys, you notice something a little weird?" she asked.
"Asides from the minotaur pulling the carriage?" asked Matt dryly.
"What minotaur?" asked Kala.
"Kala, honey, what are you seeing pulling that carriage?" asked Matt.
Kala shrugged. "Big horse, stallion I think," she said.
Matt and Chloe looked at one another. "Makes sense. She wouldn't want a panic. Luckily it doesn't work on cameras," said Matt, taking out his phone and taking a pic, Taurus heard yelling "Oh come oooon."
"So who's driving the carriage?" asked Kala.
Matt and Chloe looked at the coachman, who happened to be a ghostly skeleton. The skeleton noticed their staring and politely tipped its top hat at them. "You don't wanna know," said Matt.
The door opened and Manticora stepped off, for some reason wearing Falcore's body armor. "Do I have to say it? Fine. Ladies and gentlemen, behold your future ruler, Lady NegaMorph," she said in a bored tone, somehow reminding Matt of Falcore.
Then Lady NegaMorph alighted from the carriage. She did clean up rather nicely. She wore a little black dress and matching opera gloves. Her makeup was less gothic and more tasteful. It certainly helped that she was in human form this time. "No need to bow," Lady NegaMorph said smugly, before glaring some chuckling heard.
"I thought the idea was to have a normal dance," said Matt.
"This is Megan..." said Chloe.
Matt nodded, "Point taken."
Gary walked up to Lady Nega, who turned to look at her, and, for a second almost made him forget it was her sickening other using her voice. "You look lovely," said Gary.
"Why...thanks. You look fine yourself," said Lady NegaMorph, offering her arm to take before pulling him closer. "Remember, you screw this night up for me and all I need to do is push a button," she hissed at him before being all smiles again.
"Would it kill you to act like the real Megan for one evening?" muttered Gary.
Ah, ah, ah..." sneered Lady Nega, taking a small disk out of her dress, a single touchscreen button on it, "Like I said...one little button."
"Just where were you keeping that?" asked Gary.
"That's a secret. Wouldn't want you taking it," said Lady Nega before hissing, "Now let's start the night right. Compliment me."
"I just did," said Gary.
"Something more specific," said Lady Nega.
"Erm...it compliments your eyes?" he tried, a long silence heard before Lady Nega smiled.
"Very good...now, shall we?"
"Man, we're gonna have our work cut out," said Matt, as the couples walked into the school.
"Yeah, we need to make sure that none of the troublemakers- Oh look, there's Peter and Mary Jane," said Kala. The two turned to look to see the couple. "Aw, it's such a cute couple," said Kala, squeezing Matt's arm, Matt twitching as he felt the blood supply to his hand cut off...Kala was definitely getting better.
"Maybe we should go over and say 'hi'," said Matt.
"Oh, give them a little space," said Kala, "They need time to relax."
"Ok. Come on, honey. Let's go mingle," said Matt, walking in.
The peace didn't last long. Lady Nega's little intro had practically painted a picture on her back for every bully and asshole in the school.
"You know, if you hadn't announced yourself like that, you wouldn't be getting all the negative attention," said Gary after Lady Nega a third girl a case of frog lips.
"I'm their future overlord. I need to start early," said Lady Nega loftily.
"I thought you just wanted a normal date," said Gary.
"Normal for us." said Lady Nega, Gary getting a distant look.
"You know, as much as I'd like to have dinner alone, I'm sort of questioning the surroundings," said Gary. This was mainly said because they were in Megan's room.
"It's because as soon as we even talk about Matt and company, something will happen. So I've decided we'll have a nice private meal. I'm even making a chocolate souffle," said Megan happily.
"Is there ice cream?" asked Gary.
"Of course," said Megan.
Gary smiled before pausing. The door had opened and what looked like a mouse with bat wings had glided in, looking behind it before scuttling into cover. A second later, Morph ran in. "Did a mutant mouse come in here?" he asked, adding by afterthought, "I definitely didn't accidentally make it and now have to get rid of it to cover up my mistake."
"If one came in here, would it have been trouble?" asked Megan.
"It bit its way through a bulkhead and ate Matt's hat," said Morph.
"That's the fourth hat this year," said Gary.
"I can't keep replacing them without him noticing," said Morph before pausing, slowly lifting the mallet.
"Erm...Morph?" said Megan nervously, the two staring at his sudden focussed look before turning to see said mouse next to Megan's pride and joy dessert. "Morph, don't you dare," said Megan.
Morph seemingly wasn't listening. "I'm a good aim," he said, swinging.
Megan covered her eyes as she heard a splat, before opening her eyes...to see the mallet had hit just next to her creation, happily intact...right till Morph yelled "WOO HOO! GOT IT!" The souffle bubbled before deflating with a noise not unlike a whoopie cushion being sat on.
Morph looked at the soufflé and said, "You knew that was gonna happen eventually, right?"
Megan twitched before starting to snarl...
"Point to you," said Gary darkly.
"Anyways, these young people may as well know who their future queen is. It isn't if I have a civilian life to hide behind," said Lady Nega. However, the look on Gary's face made her pause. "Gary..." she said in confusion.
"Is anything left of Megan in you?" he asked a little harshly.
"I still have her memories," said Lady Nega.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," snapped Gary.
"She's weak. She doesn't deserve you," snapped Lady Nega.
Gary's earpiece beeped. "No Carrie," snapped Matt's voice. Gary, who had been winding to lay out a tirade on Lady Nega, reined himself in with difficulty.
Lady Nega, misunderstanding it as a victory, said "That's right. I'm better than she ever was."
Gary clenched his hands into fists, but held his tongue. As much as he'd like to snap at Lady Nega, there were too many innocent lives at stake.
"Good..." said Lady Nega smugly, before she was all smiles again, "Shall we dance?"
Gary sighed and said, "I guess so."
Meanwhile, Peter and Mary Jane had been going around the gym, catching up with some old friends. Well, Mary Jane was mostly, Peter was trying to keep Gary and Lady Nega in sight. But then a familiar voice said, "Hey, Peter, great to see you again." Peter turned to see Principal Stan.
"Stan, I wouldn't have thought you'd be here," said Peter.
"It's the prom. I'm helping with chaperoning you kids," said Stan cheerfully.
"Your suit looks nice," said Mary Jane.
"Why thank you," said Stan, "And you two look splendid yourselves. You know, I always thought you two would make the best couple here."
Peter spluttered a little as MJ laughed. "Sorry about her," she said, pointing to Lady Nega.
"Believe it or not, I've seen worse villains trying to dominate a party. Why, I recall back in the day when Baron Zemo, that would be Heinrich Zemo, not Helmut Zemo. Anyways, there was this big shindig with the major Allied forces..."
Kala walked up at that. "Problem, Matt found one of the bombs," she muttered.
"Where is it?" asked Mary Jane.
"I'm on the roof, water tank. I can smell the plasma detonator on it. This thing blows, it'll contaminate the sprinkler system," said Matt.
"A classic two-fold trap," said Stan's voice, "When the water's contaminated, she can just set off the fire sprinklers and get everyone. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if she had a few contingencies. Even though I have combed over the school several times already."
Matt blinked. "Is that Stan L-" he began before blinking, "Ah, whatever. I also wouldn't be surprised if this bomb's a decoy. She'd know I could sniff the charges out. The others probably have conventional chemical charges."
"So how do we know that disarming that one won't make her set the rest off?" asked Peter.
"We don't...but I do the next best thing," said Matt, climbing up and opening the top before draining the detonator. "One charge down, the detonator's a damp squib," he said.
"Let's hope we'll get the rest before she notices," said Peter.
"Oh...they got the water tank bomb," said Lady Nega with disappointment, checking a wrist device.
"Oh, that is a shame. I suppose you'll have surrender to SHIELD custody now," said Gary.
"Oh no. I got more set up all over the place. How was that punch by the way?" said Lady Nega. Gary spat out the mouthful that was in his mouth.
"Oh please, I was joking. That's just too cliche," she said. Gary glared before she said, "Though...given they're not playing along..."
Meanwhile, Chloe had left the gym and was wandering around the halls. Officially, she was looking for places where the mutagen bombs could be hidden and she really was looking. But a part of her was also looking for a place where she could be alone with Chris...
She walked round the corner to see two jocks in front of some nervous kids. "Urgh...OK, what are you doing? And if you say 'Nothing' or 'just playing', I know that you'll be lying," she said, walking forward, glad her holo-cloak including some hard shoes to explain the clacking of her claws.
"Ease up, babe," said one jock, "It's a party."
"Not the sort of party you're thinking of. Hop it before I throw you out," said Chloe icily.
"I don't know how they do proms over in Australia, but this is how we do it in America," said the other jock.
Chloe raised an eyebrow. These guys were clearly flunking. "Ooookay. Get out," she said, walking forward.
The other jock said, "Ian, she's a teacher, man."
"Nah, she's way too young to be a teacher," said the first jock, evidently Ian.
"I'm one of the people helping here now get lost before I call Principal Stan," snapped Chloe, the raptor in her wanting instead to knock their silly heads off.
"Yeah, sure you are," said Ian.
"I'm betting she got bored with whoever came with her," said the other jock.
"Well, Brian, I think we can keep her entertained," said Ian.
Chloe growled at that, the jocks not looking as her holo flockered for a second, though their victim did. "Erm...I think you should listen," he gibbered.
"I think I might get a more intelligent answer out of you. Why did they drag you here?" asked Chloe.
"Don't you dare say a thi-" began Brian.
Chloe grabbed the thrown punch by the wrist and squeezing unconsciously. "Were they after your money or something?" she asked kindly as Brian yelled in pain, forced him to his knees.
"They wanted my study material for the exams," said the would-be victim.
"Oh...the principal will be interested in that. Run along, I'm going to give them a lesson," said Chloe kindly, letting go of Brian, waiting till he'd gone before turning to Ian and company. "I really hate bullies," she said, adding, "It was a bully that gave me my look." She had planned to turn of the holo-cloak at that, only for the button to be jammed. "Uh, excuse me a moment," said Chloe as she tried to unstick her button.
Ian smirked, leaning on a locker, which began to beep. "The heck?" he said.
"Uh, did someone leave their science project in there?" asked Brian.
Just then, a blue light came out of the locker vents and swept across the hallway. It seemed to flash when it swept over Chloe. A second later, the locker blew off its hinges, drenching the two in glowing green goop. Chloe jumped onto another one to avoid the small puddle. "Guys, two morons called Ian and Brian just set off a charge," she snapped, peering through the slits of the locker she was on to see another, "She's wired the lockers."
"Strange, I thought I searched the lockers," said Stan's voice, "Usually, I'm quite observant when it comes to peculiarities."
She blinked, looking at the orange blob in her vision. "They're cloaked. I can see their power source," she said.
Matt chipped in, "Can you drain them like I did up here?"
Chloe shook her head. "No chance. I'd detonate them all and we'd have a tidal wave," she said, hearing snarling. "I'll...call you back," she said turning in time to see a door shutting down the hall. "Great...Jurassic Park meets High School Musical," she grumbled, slapping her holo-cloak and causing it to finally shut down.
Chloe shook her feathers and flapped her wings a bit. It was probably psychosomatic, but it felt like the holo-cloak pressed down on her feathers when she had it on.
"You need backup?" asked Matt over the line.
"I got this. They got drenched in that stuff the Combine use for medical mutations. Give me five minutes," she said. Then she heard a reptilian hissing sound. "Better make it six," said Chloe.
She turned and tail-whipped a lunging Ian, who was almost completely mutated to a raptor. "It's certainly helped his reflexes," she muttered, turning to see a fully-formed raptor, probably Brian from the rags, stalking out hissing. "Raptors are clearly not pack predators. Screw you, National Geographic," she muttered in a sarcastic tone before the two charged her.
Chloe jumped up and did a split to kick both in the snout. She landed with a small grimace. "Ow, I need to do more stretches," she muttered.
The two raptors were already up, hissing, before chittering to one another and slowly splitting, obviously planning the same again. "I take it back...still idiots," Chloe said, spraying some water from a drinking fountain over the floor. Chloe was a bit concerned she wouldn't get enough water, but the raptors didn't give her a lot of time.
She blasted a bolt into the floor, the two raptors being thrown flying and making hissing moans as she walked forward, instinct making her hiss at them. "Antigen complete," said her wristcomp.
"Take your shots," she hissed, firing the darts into them. As the raptors started changing back, Chloe took the time to make some observations. "Lady NegaMorph could have used a less curable form of mutagen to threaten the school work. She had the time to set up these bombs and yet not fill them with more permanent stuff. She might not be taking this particular scheme that seriously," Chloe remarked to herself.
She carefully opened a few more lockers and realised how wrong she was. Each one had a different payload. She seemed instead to be using...everything. "Just how far is she willing to go for a date night?" asked Chloe.
"Oh...someone found one. I was saving that for the morning recess tomorrow," said Lady Nega with a mock disappointed voice.
"Megan, you don't need to be this cruel just to have one night," said Gary.
"I told you. My name is not Megan. She's gone," snapped Lady Nega angrily.
"I actually spoke with Falcore earlier. Or I think it was Falcore. He noticed that you've only cried with one eye," said Gary.
"Urgh...Manticora should keep her mouth shut," snarled Lady Nega.
Gary blinked before retuning his brain, "I thought they marker penned that spell out."
"Body swap spell," said Lady Nega, "They actually don't require that much effort in this universe."
"Please change them back. Just thinking about it is giving me a headache. I think she...he...whatever was hitting on me," said Gary.
Lady Nega paused at that, her eyes briefly glowing red. "I thought I made it clear that you were off-limits," she said. Her voice was not raised, but there was a dangerous calm to it.
"They've been living with the wrong hormones for... How long have they been swapped?" asked Gary.
"Nearly a week," said Lady Nega.
Gary stared. "I'm...Falcore really does have good self control..." he said in shock.
Lady Nega sighed and waved a glowing hand. "There...a week was probably a little far anyway," she said.
Falcore's voice was heard yelling, "Thank God, finally!"
"I just hope the psychological damage isn't lasting," said Gary.
"They'll be fine," said Lady Nega, "They may need separation from the others for a while."
"Good. Now please...give this up. Let us help you," said Gary.
"Do I look like I need help?" asked Lady Nega mockingly.
"Yes...yes you do," said Gary sadly.
"Then you don't know me as well as I thought you did. Now then...in a while we'll be the king and queen of this little party," said Lady Nega smugly.
"I'm...not sure that's likely to happen," said Gary.
"Why not?" asked Lady Nega.
"For one thing, we don't even attend this school," said Gary.
"So? I said in my backup emails what I wanted," snapped Lady Nega.
"What backup emails?" asked Gary.
Lady Nega paused before taking into a com, "Falcore, did you send the follow-up messages?"
Falcore said icily, "No...but I did find out that when a manticore's in heat, they're very distracted. Thanks for that by the way..." before he hung up, Lady Nega twitching.
"There is a slurry of images connected to that statement that I don't even want to imagine," said Gary.
"Hold on...I'm busy wiping those images from my mind..." said Lady NegaMorph in a distant weak voice. After a few cleansing breaths, Lady NegaMorph said, "No matter. We're popular enough that the others will surely vote for us anyways."
Gary paused. It was starting to become clear that the Lady NegaMorph personality was starting to lose her grip on reality in favor of this perfect date. "So...there wouldn't be any shame in being runners-up, would there?" asked Gary.
"Second prize?" snarled Lady Nega.
"I mean, just being nominated is honor enough, right?" asked Gary.
"This isn't the Emmys," snapped Lady Nega, "Second place is just a fancy term for losing."
"Soooo..." said Gary nervously.
Lady Nega said, "If I lose, everyone does."
"Can't you make an exception? I mean, the messages weren't delivered after all," said Gary.
"Never," hissed Lady NegaMorph angrily.
"Uh, will you excuse me? I need to use the bathroom," said Gary.
"Hurry back, love," said Lady Nega, suddenly all sweet again as Gary walked off, looking around before spotting Peter and MJ, running over.
"We have a problem..." he said nervously
"How bad a problem?" asked Peter.
"Megan expects me and her to be made king and queen of the prom," said Gary.
"You did tell her she doesn't qualify, right?" said MJ.
Gary nodded. "I don't think she's firing on all brain cells at the moment. She's losing her grip," he said.
"And I'm guessing she's not going to be a gracious loser," said MJ.
"Not even close. We need to find the rest of her bombs before the crowning or find a way to cheat for her," said Gary.
"I think we should focus on the bombs," said MJ.
"Agreed," said Peter, "We've taken care of the one in the water tank and we're dealing with the ones in the lockers. What could be left?" Everyone turned to look at the balloons in the rafters. "Who ordered those things?" asked Peter.
Gary gulped. "Matt, Chloe, Chris...we have a problem," he said into his com.
"How can the balloons be filled with mutagen and still be hanging up there?" asked Chris as he, Matt, and Chloe headed back towards the gym.
"It's probably in gas form," said Matt, "Probably a little helium mixed in to keep it light."
"Wouldn't that affect the mutagen?" asked Chris.
"Not likely...unless it'll make people lighter than normal and give them squeaky voices," said Chloe.
"Ok...how do we get people out of the gym?" said Chris calmly, the three walking along.
Matt paused before turning on his com, "Principal...is there any way you can start sneaking people out the gym without our 'guest of honour' noticing?" before there was a click and Matt paused, his earpiece falling in half, the group turning to see Taurus, Manticora and Falcore behind them.
"The mistress will not tolerate interference," Falcore said icily, his wing still glowing from his wingblade attack.
However, Chloe noticed that Manticora looked rather disheveled and her eyes looked a bit manic. Taurus's dress uniform was also a bit tattered. "Manticora, what have you been up to?" asked Chloe.
"None of your business!" snapped Manticora, shooting a spine at Chloe she barely dodged.
"Nothing...thank God," said Chris after a sniff.
Falcore said coldly, "Enough. Leave and no harm comes to you. I will not make the offer again."
"Your mistress is about to douse dozens of innocent students with mutagen. You think I can just walk away from that?" asked Matt.
Taurus paused, "I thought her plan was going well."
Falcore pausing before his eyes glowed red for a second and he said, "If that's what she wants."
"That's not what she wants yet," said Chloe quickly.
Manticora tsked and said, "You guys are about to blow it, aren't you? Couldn't keep a girl happy for one evening, could you?"
"Enough. They clearly won't see sense. Kill-" began Falcore, their opponents getting ready before Kala's voice yelled "MATT!" everyone turning to see Kala.
"We were supposed to be dancing. You said you were going to the roof for ten minutes," Kala snapped, stomping forward.
"Kala, we're supposed to be disposing mutagen bombs, remember?" asked Matt.
"No, you were. And you said, and I quote, 'we found one, be back in a minute'," snapped Kala furiously.
Falcore glared and said, "Go away, human." readying a wingblade to even his partner's horror before Kala snapped "SHUT UP, YOU...GIANT...FEATHER DUSTER!" shooting a fireball from her hand at Falcore who was knocked down the corridor.
The others slowly turned back to look at Kala, who was looking at her smoking hand. She soon recovered and cried, "Yes! I've got my fire back!" Taurus and Manticora looked at one another at that, flinching as Kala aimed her fist and yelled "HA!" only for a few fiery sparks to spit out with a noise best spelt as 'Pfrrrt'.
Kala shook her hand, but nothing more came out. "Well, it's better than it was earlier. It'll come back soon," said Kala. She turned to Matt and said, "I'll be leaving the rest of the fighting to you." She started walking away before turning back and saying, "But you still owe me a dance."
"GET THEM!" yelled Falcore, flying down the hall in a rage.
"Kala, get clear," called Matt before shooting plasma blasts at Falcore. Falcore rolled around the blast, knocking Matt flying, his eyes focussed on Kala. "Kala, look out!" yelled Matt as Falcore flew right at her.
Falcore grabbed her at that, his wing ready before she snapped, "Get off of me!" Falcore pausing...a mistake as it turned out as his eyes crossed with an undignified squawk and he fell over, doubled up. Matt, Chris, and Taurus cringed in male sympathy. "Fresh," said Kala, kicking Falcore in the stomach for good measure.
Falcore just made a whine. His ears were hearing Flintwing's voice...though the rest of his body was supplying many painful counter arguments.
"Can you guys keep fighting without him?" asked Chris.
"Sure, I'm good to fight," said Taurus, "Let's just keep it clean."
Taurus rammed him a second later, as Manticora charged at Chloe."I've wanted a shot at you for ages" laughed Manticora, fighting with a mix of martial arts and using her tail to stab.
"You're good," said Chloe as she blocked Manticora's attacks. Then she delivered a powerful kick to Manticora's midsection that knocked her over. "But there's room for improvement," said Chloe.
"Improvement? I'm a diamond belt, you fake. Yeah, Lady NegaMorph told me all about you," sneered Manticora, rolling back onto her feet.
"I wouldn't rely on Lady NegaMorph for accuracy," said Chloe.
"Oh yeah? I'm a freak just cause you wanted my life," sneered Manticora in the air of someone who wasn't gonna believe a word Chloe said, before she tore the door off an empty locker and threw it at Chloe.
"As if I'm actually that petty," said Chloe.
"I don't see why you shouldn't be, considering you're a bigger freak than I am," said Manitcora. Chloe twitched, the voice of the personality Sauron had put in her head hissing angrily. "I mean, least I look cool. You look like a failed extra from Jurassic World," Manticora sneered, hopping out the way of a slash. "It's really surprising you thought you could come to this dance just by putting on a disguise. You have no place among humans."
Chloe hissed, closing her eyes before Queen Dakota opened them. "Insolent INSECT!" she hissed, firing a blast of energy at Manticora before lunging and grabbing her. "Not so cocky now, eh?" she hissed before she shrieked as Manticora, grinning, stabbed her stinger into the reptilian's back, delivering a nice dose of her venom.
"You know, I'm curious to what it does. Even the boss doesn't know," she teased, "Legend says that the sting of the manticore causes instant death. But I hope that's wrong. I hope it'll be slow."
Dakota hissed, the pain pushing her back down and Chloe back out. "Not that easy," she hissed, grabbing Manticora again and sending a full power electrical charge through, Manticora juddering before slumping down unconscious.
"Chloe!" yelled Chris before bashing Taurus into the wall and running to her.
"I'm fine," said Chloe, wincing a little, "Nothing a little TLC couldn't fix."
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" snapped Falcore's voice, the mutate swooping down and grabbing Manticora, slashing his way out a wall with her.
"Oh great. I get to walk...again," muttered Taurus sulkily from behind the shocked couple.
"You're not beating the three of us," said Matt flatly, "I suggest you leave while you have your dignity."
"I think you're counting your victory too early," said Taurus, "Lady NegaMorph has yet to reveal her big party favor."
"What's the favor?" snapped Matt.
Taurus paused. "Nope, I like my brain where it is," he said quickly, smashing his way out the wall, yelling "Peace out, suckers!" as he ran into the night.
"I wonder how many repairs this school gets per year?" asked Chloe conversationally.
"I think it's better not to ask," said Matt.
"Ok, it's time to reveal the king and queen of the prom," said Principal Stan cheerfully, Gary gulping and Lady NegaMorph looking smug. "Now I'd like to take the time to thank everyone for coming here, even those who have moved on to bigger, better places. It's always good to see a familiar face again," said Stan.
A few people clapped as a light was shone on Peter and MJ for a minute. "And it's my honor and privilege to announce this year's Senior Prom King and Queen are none other than Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson," said Principal Stan.
Lady NegaMorph stared, mouth open as applause went up. "Those little..." she began.
Gary grabbed her arm. "We're junior year," he said in a desperate voice.
"Junior?" snarled Lady NegaMorph, her extra eyes opening.
"We're not senior year yet," said Gary quickly, "Which means we still have a chance-" Just then, there was some applauding.
"They just announced the Junior King and Queen, didn't they?" asked Lady Nega.
"Yes," said Gary.
"And it wasn't us, was it?" she asked.
"Er...no," he said.
Lady NegaMorph growled, her form flickering before she snapped into her comm. "Flintwing, Akhlut, are you in position?"
"We were wondering when you were going to let us get started," said Flintwing's voice.
"Megan, what are you doing?" asked Gary.
"I told you, I'm not Megan," said Lady Nega as her skin turned grey and her hair became tentacles, "I am Lady NegaMorph."
On cue, two shapes smashed through the windows, causing panic among the people there. "Oh don't leave now," said the hippogriff, "The party's just about to really start."
This more or less caused everyone to panic, some running for the door where the second shape blocked the way, walking into view. "Like the lady said," it said.
By this point, Lady NegaMorph had fully shed her human disguise. "So what do you say, boys and girls? How about we really have fun and pop a few balloons?" she asked.
Gary yelled, "NO! Megan, this is enough!" finally losing it.
"It's not even close," said Lady Nega, firing a blast that knocked him into a wall.
Meanwhile, Peter and MJ had ducked around the stage. "It looks like it's time for you to spring into action," said Stan, who was also back there.
"You know, Stan, you didn't have to make us the Senior King and Queen," said Peter.
"Didn't have to," said Stan, "Seems a lot of people missed you two being together."
"I wish I could have had the dance, but we've got work to do," said MJ. Then her dress and sleeves started spreading over the rest of her body before red coloring appeared and she was wearing her Spider-Woman suit.
"Wait, your dress was your symbiote the whole time?" asked Peter.
"Saves money and time, doesn't it?" asked Spider-Woman.
"Then what are you-" started Peter.
Stan said wisely, "Peter, sometimes it's best to let a lady keep her secrets."
"Ok, fine," said Peter as he started taking off his tux. Unsurprisingly, his Spider-Man suit was under it. "We need to get the other kids out of here before Lady NegaMorph starts releasing the mutagen," he said.
"You two can take the witch and the hippogriff," said Stan, "I'll deal with that big dolphin-dog."
"His name's Akhlut," said Spider-Man after he put his mask on, "It's an Inuit legend, apparently."
"Inuit legend?" asked Stan before rubbing his chin, "Hmm...why didn't I think of that?"
"Ok, who wants to go first on the DNA roulette?" laughed Lady NegaMorph happily.
"Mistress, we can't be mutated again, right?" asked Flintwing, looking up at the balloons.
"Of course not," said Lady Nega, gently putting her hood up when Flintwing turned her back.
"Megan, this has gone far enough," said Gary, getting back up, his eyes glowing.
"You already said that," said Lady Nega in a bored tone.
"And this time I mean it. I'll...I'll fight you if I have to," said Gary angrily.
Lady Nega looked before throwing back her head in laughter. "Get real, Gaheris. I have a variety of powers, magical, alien, and draconic. You couldn't even lay a finger on me," she said.
"Then why haven't you used them on me?" said Gary angrily.
"I'm giving you a chance to realize what you think you're doing," said Lady Nega.
"I've been giving the same chance for over two years," snapped Gary, "And if talking you down hasn't worked, well, maybe I really do need to act."
Lady Nega glared raising her hand as if to blast, her hand shaking before she snapped, "Flintwing, Aklet, rip him apart."
"It's Akh-" started Akhlut before a mop smacked him in the face. He paused before he said in a muffled voice, "Who...did...that?"
Flintwing flew at Gary with glowing angry eyes and talons out. Just then, a pair of weblines shot out, grabbed her hooves, and robbed her of her forward momentum. She fell with a 'oof', looking over her shoulder. "Who did that?" she snarled, before she heard a second growl from Gary's direction, turning to look at him in time for a grey fist to knock her head over tail across the gym
Flintwing rolled to a stop before shaking her head. "Cheap shot!" she snapped. Then more webbing started pinning her to the floor.
"I hope that fire retardant webbing I made works," said Spider-Man as he tried to wrap up Flintwing.
Flintwing's eyes began to glow at that, the web beginning to boil. Spider-Woman said, "Looks like it needs work still." before Flintwing pulled herself free.
"First you, then Gary," she snapped, yelling "YOU KNOW HOW LONG PREENING THESE FEATHERS TAKES?!"
"Less time if you just burn what's stuck in them?" asked Spider-Man.
"I still have to brush out the ashes!" snapped Flintwing before shooting fire at them.
Lady NegaMorph smirked, pulling out a BB pistol, aiming at one of the balloons. "Time for some fun," she muttered, firing. Greenish gas was released from the balloon, but it wasn't lowering to breathing level yet. "Too much helium," muttered Lady NegaMorph.
"Told you!" called Akhlut.
Lady Nega shot another balloon and snapped, "Shut it!"
Gary, in gargoyle form, walked up to Lady Nega and said, "This ends now. You have to stop."
"Or what? You'll hit me?" asked Lady Nega mockingly, "We both know you were raised to chivalrously to even consider striking a lady."
Gary hung his head at that, Lady NegaMorph laughing before Gary lifted his head to reveal glowing white eyes...and punched her, sending her flying. "You...you hit me…" she said in shock, more surprised then hurt.
"Name aside, you are no lady," said Gary.
"I...I..." said Lady Nega before her eyes turned reptilian. "I'll tear your wings off!" she roared.
"And that's the secondary reason I was reluctant to strike back," said Gary.
Lady Nega, now looking more draconic, roared, swiping and unfortunately for her plan, knocking a hole in the wall...a hole the students decided was a perfect emergency exit.
"Everyone head for the exit in an orderly fashion," called Spider-Woman. There was a pause before the pause was broken as Flintwing was thrown through some doors. This seemed to snap them out of it, the students running for the 'exit'. "Orderly! Don't jam the exit!" called Spider-Woman.
Flintwing got to her feet before looking up at Spider-Woman's back before spitting a fireball. It missed but if there was one thing symbiotes hated, it was fire.
"Er, Spider-Man, I'm having a little trouble getting close," said Spider-Woman. Her tentacles kept writhing away from the fire attacks.
"Maybe we can stop that fire," said Spider-Man, looking up at the sprinklers thoughtfully.
He fired a web shot at the back of Flintwing's head, the splicer turning with a shriek. "WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE FEATHERS?" she snapped, spitting multiple fireballs at Spider-Man.
"You really shouldn't be throwing fire indoors," said Spider-Man, dodging around the blasts.
"Why not?!" snapped Flintwing.
Just then, the fire alarm went off. "Because of that," said Spider-Man before the sprinklers started spraying. Flintwing quickly got drenched, but she happened to be standing under a cloud of mutagen gas and the water was bringing the gas down to her. Even Lady Nega paused at that, her eyes widening before she flew up and out the window through a gap in the gas as Flintwing began to cough.
"Uh, is it me or she starting to molt?" asked Spider-Woman, noticing red feathers were falling off of Flintwing.
"Looks like she's shedding too," said Spider-Man as fur was falling over her lower half. In fact, it looks like her wings and tail were shrinking as well.
"What are you doing to me?" yelled Flintwing as her talons were losing their edge. Happily, Flintwing had some clothing on to everyone's relief. "No...NO...WHAT DID YOU DO?" Flintwing screamed, looking at her hands, her eyes still avian, and her nails still having a...talon-y look.
"Wait, that mutagen's an antidote to her mutation?" asked Spider-Man.
"Huh, what are the odds?" asked Spider-Woman.
"Wait, you mean if I can get one of those balloons," started Akhlut only to be whacked with the mop again, "Would you stop that?!"
A roar above got everyone's attention, Lady Nega in her dragon form landing, holding Gary. "I'd like my minion back," she snarled, squeezing Gary.
"Mistress, get me out of here!" shrieked Flintwing, having to hold her top up. She wasn't as broad-shouldered as she was a few minutes ago.
"Urgh...Manticora must have found the emergency cure by accident," muttered Lady Nega, adding, "Now we have to start again. Now then Spider-Man, do you hand Flintwing over or do I see how much I have to squeeze before my ex pops?" Gary yelled in pain as she squeezed again.
"You wouldn't. You love him too much to hurt him," said Spider-Man.
"Ha! And how would you know about love, Spider-Loner?" laughed Lady Nega.
"Because he has me!" snapped Spider-Woman before extending her arm, her hand morphing into a cudgel which hit Lady Nega in the face.
"Ow...really? Can I at least finish my menace?" snapped Lady Nega before Matt and Kala ran into view, Kala pausing in horror. Flintwing was, apart from the claws and eyes, her doppelganger. Matt however looked between her and back at Lady Nega.
"I wasn't sure if I recognized her before, but now..." growled Matt before shooting plasma fire at Lady Nega.
Lady Nega screamed, throwing Gary aside to throw up a shield, Matt sending another blast. "You spoiled BRAT!" roared Matt, his eyes going red. "It was bad enough you grabbed the local version of me, but Kala," he began, Lady Nega glaring before trying to blast Matt, so she could grab Flintwing.
"Thought I couldn't cross that line? Bet you thought I couldn't smash Gary either," sneered Lady Nega before raising a fist over Gary. But before she could bring it down, it froze in place and started shaking.
She looked at it with a glare, grabbing it. "No...I'm in control…" she snapped, before glaring as the rogue hand slowly twisted to face her and extended a middle finger, before trying to poke her eyes.
"Well, this is interesting," said Spider-Man, "What exactly are we watching?"
"You remember how I said that Shar-Virks have a split personality?" asked Matt, "It looks like the real Megan is finally fighting back."
Lady Nega covered her eyes. "Hah...try hitting me now," she said, before the rogue hand grabbed her horns and bashed her against a wall. "I call...foul," she groaned.
"As much as I'd like to root for her, this probably won't last long," said Matt.
Indeed, Lady Nega was clearly getting control. "Urgh...much better," she said, before her eyes glowed with black light.
"HIT THE DECK!" yelled Matt before a blastwave of black magic knocked everyone over, Lady Nega grabbing Flintwing. "Now, you are coming with me. We need to get you all fixed up," she said.
"Wait, no, no, this isn't how I'm supposed to be," said Flintwing.
"Darn right, you're not," said Lady Nega.
Flintwing turned to look around in panic before she said "Matt?" in horror before she was grabbed.
"Well, heroes, you've spoiled my night. But you've at least given me new ideas," said Lady Nega, "Akhlut, stop getting swabbed in the face and get over here."
"I can't fight a guy with a mop-" began Akhlut.
"He's just an old- Oh, wait, is that him?" asked Lady Nega, "Huh, now that is bizarre. Ok, just get over here, leave him alone."
"But you said-" said Akhlut before Lady Nega grabbed him too.
"WE DO NOT HURT HIM!" before she smiled at Stan. "I'm so sorry...love your cartoons." before taking off.
Matt paused before he said, "What the hell was that last part?"
"I guess it was just my remarkable personality," said Stan, "Though I'm not one to boast."
"That...was me...Megan..." said Kala in horror.
"Yeah, she got the local me and Chloe too," said Matt, "I don't think she got Chris though."
"You don't think...Taurus..." started Kala.
"Oh dear God in heaven, no," said Matt, "Not even considering that."
Chloe said, "Plus I checked. He's still serving in the US military here. He's over in a NATO base in Europe."
"So, what's she going to do with her now?" asked Spider-Woman.
"Probably not as pleasant as her first mutation," said Matt.
Falcore pushed the doors open to Lady Nega's lab. "Lady NegaMorph, we will have words," he snarled.
"Drop the Thor impression, I'm not in the mood," said Lady Nega, sounding rather drained.
"I saw you bring her in. You are going to let her go or so help me you will not leave this room alive," snarled Falcore, panning around for where Flintwing might be.
Lady Nega glared, "Take her and get out...but if she reveals our location..."
"She won't," said Falcore.
Lady Nega waved to someone and a scared humanized Flintwing coming out. "Matt? Is that you?" she asked.
"Yes and no," said Falcore.
"She said those other people did this to you," Flintwing said, waking forward.
Falcore glared at Lady Nega who smirked briefly. "Yes...mostly. All that matters is you're safe here, Sara," he said, tenderly.
But you're a..." said Sara.
"Awesome?" joked Falcore, adding "Cute and Fluffy?" causing Sara to chuckle.
Lady Nega meanwhile glared, reaching for an injector gun, loaded with a glowing red serum.. She lifted it and aimed at Sara's back, before, to her, she saw her and Gary hugging happily. "Urgh...she's a bad influence," she muttered, putting the gun back down, "I can always turn her another day," she muttered.
"So...we cancelled PE forever," said Matt, the group outside the gym on the street while a SHIELD hazmat team got rid of the gas inside.
"We almost lasted the night without causing property damage," said Chloe, her and Matt fistbumping.
Matt said, "New record...maybe one day we'll last the day?"
Peter and MJ had moved over to a quieter place. "So, that thing you said earlier, did you mean it?" asked Peter.
"Which thing?" asked MJ.
"The thing about me having you?" asked Peter.
"Well, I was hoping that I had dropped enough hints for you to pick up," said MJ.
"Uh, well, it's just that we're..." said Peter.
"Superheroes?" asked MJ.
"I was going to say old friends," said Peter, "I mean, we never tried anything after we kissed when we were 12."
"So what if we kissed now?" asked MJ.
"What, but, we..." sputtered Peter.
Mary Jane just wrapped her arms around his shoulders and said, "Peter, I think we're grown up enough to know what's between us. For once, stop doubting yourself and enjoy the moment."
"I...I guess so," said Peter before leaning down to her face.
Matt and Kala walked around the corner at that, arms around one another before pausing, unnoticed as the couple kissed. "Let's find somewhere more quiet..." said Matt in a low voice, lifting up Kala and taking off silently.
Stan watched before saying, "Stan, old boy, looks like your work here is done... Except now I'm gonna have to get the gym rebuilt again. When is Fury going to make that thing more solid?"
In memory of Stan Lee
1922-2018
'Nuff Said
I wanted to make a special chapter that focused on Peter and Mary Jane's relationship. They're my preferred couple, especially in the fourth season. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one missing their relationship. And it seemed to be a good opportunity to say farewell to Stan, one of the greatest writers of this century and the last.
Anyways, there's gonna be another hiatus while we're getting things ready for the next few chapters. Keep an eye out for new chapters and please review.
