Reticence Saga

Severed Web

Chapter 20: Maze of the Taskmaster

"I hoped I would never be in this position again. A friend got attacked by a new symbiote, one that was stronger than even Carnage. The symbiote's gone, but someone very untrustworthy took it. And worse, my friend got left in a critical state from its removal. I can't help but feel that this is my-

An apple bounced off Spider-Man's head, Morph scolding, "You didn't do anything to make it your fault. Heck, you helped get it off Matt."

"Ouch, but-" started Spider-Man.

"It's your fault the symbiote got loose? How could you possibly be responsible for that?" asked Morph, "Stop blaming you for stuff you didn't cause. Even they know you couldn't have done anything."

Spider-Man paused. "Wait...do you see the audience too?" he asked.

"Oh, I see them almost all the time..." said Morph, his eyes staring in different directions.

Spider-Man took a step back before heading out towards the medical center, where Matt was still laid up. Spider-Man stepped in and asked, "Uh, Matt, how are you feeling?"

"Better," said Matt, "If sonic attacks don't kill you, you recover pretty quickly." Matt held up a hand, "And don't apologise. This isn't the first time one of those sentient goops has got me. But we shouldn't leave something like that on the loose. Or in the hands of a bounty hunter."

"Yeah, especially a guy like Haze Mancer," said Spider-Man.

"Haze...Mancer...wait I know that name," said Matt curiously before adding, "That's the guy who gave Taskmaster his early parole."

"You read his file?" asked Spider-Man.

"Well, I actually was there when the busting out happened," said Matt, "Would have stopped them, but then Skullface blasted me with some hi-tech cannon. You don't forget being hit with that freight train of a gun."

"I would have thought Fury would have sent someone after Taskmaster sooner," said Spider-Man.

"Especially with that thing," said Matt.

"Funny you should mention that," said Nick Fury, who had apparently entered the room.

Matt started, clutching his chest before the medical equipment kicked in. He breathed deeply before snapping, "DON'T YOU EVER KNOCK?!"

"Yeah, next time you want to scare somebody, tell them to come to your office first," said Spider-Man.

"Or, since I'm the Director of SHIELD, I can talk with you wherever I want," said Fury.

"I don't wanna be the first dragon to suffer a heart attack," snapped Matt.

"You're probably not the first," said Spider-Man.

"I wouldn't say that," said Matt, "Dragons are very hardy creatures."

"Well, you can rest all you want, because this mission is meant for Spider-Man," said Fury.

"What mission?" grumbled Matt, trying to sit up.

"The reason we haven't sent anyone after Taskmaster is because he's very good at covering his tracks," said Fury, "It's taken all this time just to find where he's currently based. Which has become more important considering the weapons he has at his disposal."

"Understandable...my ribs still hurt," muttered Matt to himself.

"You're talking about more than just the new symbiote, aren't you?" asked Spider-Man.

Fury glanced over at Matt and said, "Perhaps we should discuss this where we can't be overheard."

"Hey, I can keep secrets," snapped Matt, adding, "Especially when it comes to weapons that are probably illegal due to the level of firepower."

Fury sighed and said, "I shouldn't be telling you this, but I suppose you do have an invested interest." His wristcomp projected a small hologram of the cannon that Taskmaster stole.

"Ok...what the hell is that?" said Matt, leaning up.

"This is a prototype weapon developed by reverse-engineering Asgardian technology," said Fury, "Specifically the Destroyer armor."

"Ok...that's insane..." said Matt frankly, looking at the weapon.

"Why would you make such a thing?" asked Spider-Man.

"In case Asgardian trouble comes knocking when Thor isn't around," said Fury, "And before you ask, this is above board with Asgard. Odin provided some of the material needed to make this cannon."

"That's nice. You made a portable nuclear cannon. Even the NSC thinks Asgardian weapons are over the top," said Matt manically.

"And that thing's in Taskmaster's possession?" asked Spider-Man.

"Yes, and if Asgard finds out, there could be a lot of political complications," said Fury.

Matt said calmly, "Erm...doesn't Asgard literally have a watchman who sees everything?" Matt looked upwards, feeling a little exposed.

"It would seem that even Taskmaster isn't reckless enough to use this cannon in the open...yet," said Fury, "But we can't let him keep it any longer. If he can figure out how it works..."

"Ok, you're a superspy. The superspy. There is no way you don't know where that blaster is," said Matt.

"Thanks to Mancer, we now have a strong lead of where Taskmaster is based," said Fury.

"Wait...how'd you manage that?" asked Matt.

"Your brief bond with that symbiote gave it plasma irradiation, which is quite traceable to the right scanners," said Fury.

"Wait...I'm radioactive? That explains a few things," said Matt.


"You know, plasma isn't the same thing as microwave radiation," said Chip, "And that is probably the simplest reason this shouldn't work."

"Oh please, this'll work," said Draco, before turning to Matt, face down on a canteen table.

Fenris was sitting opposite and rolling his eyes. "I told him he couldn't drink me under the table," he said.

Draco looked at a glass and sniffed it. "One glass of Kr'ta?" he asked before Fenris, with a deadpan look pointed under the table to several dozen empty bottles.

"Oh dear God," said Chip

"Don't think we'll get another opportunity at this," said Draco.

"Note to self: study properties of demigod livers," muttered Chip.


"They shared at least once my stomach was pumped," said Matt.

"The point being that now that we know where the symbiote is, we need to retrieve both it and the Destroyer Cannon," said Fury.

"That's actually what it's called?" asked Spider-Man.

"You got a better name?" asked Fury.

"Well it's to the point, anyway," muttered Matt.

"And you're sending us then," said Spider-Man. "I'm afraid not," said Fury, "Lynch is in no shape to be out in the field right now."

"I'm fine." said Matt, wincing and sighing as his nanites read off a list of bloodwork that explained why Fury was right.

"We need a handpicked team of agents to retrieve the weapons," said Fury.

"I am not being benched..." snapped Matt, adding, "Wait a sec, I don't even work for SHIELD!"

"Not so fast there." Chloe walked in and pulled up a holographic paper on her wristcomp, "In the event that a captain or squad leader is incapacitated for medical reason, the second-in-command shall assume leadership until the captain or squad leader is fit for duty again. Which means what I says goes, and what I say is you're not going anywhere until you're better."

Fury turned at that, frowning. "How long were you listening?" he asked, as Matt yelled something about mutiny.

"Oh, I had a fly on the wall," said Chloe.

What looked like a bug flew over until it turned into Morph. "I brought a get-well present," said Morph, holding out a half-empty box of chocolates.

"I refuse to be bedridden," snapped Matt, before taking the box and looking. "Hey, you ate all the coffee ones...oh dear God," he said, getting a distant look of terror.

"Oh, and to make sure you get bedrest, he's going to be your nurse," said Chloe, putting Morph beside Matt's bed.

Morph put on a nurse's hat and asked, "Won't this be fun?"

Matt's eyes blazed at that...literally. "I will get you all back for this," he said darkly.

"In the meantime, we need to get back the sludge and the gun, right?" asked Chloe.

"Yes, before Taskmaster makes use of the Destroyer Cannon," said Fury.

"Right, I assume you're sending Spider-Man, who else?" asked Chloe.

"Well, if you insist on being leader, you should be going as well," said Fury.

"HAH!" called Matt from his bed.

Chloe blinked. "Wait a sec...me?" she said.

"After all, this team will need extra muscle," said Fury, "And considering we're dealing with a symbiote, best send Spider-Woman as well."

"Uh, you certain about that?" asked Spider-Man.

"Well, Agent Venom might be viable, but Taskmaster already tried to get him once and Flash and his symbiote aren't so inseparable," said Fury.

"I'm bringing Silvana along then. Some reliable air support would be preferable," said Chloe.

"Silvana? The one who likes to eat metal?" asked Fury doubtfully.

"Makes sense. If we have to destroy it, maybe she can bite it," said Chloe.

That immediately put an image into Spider-Man's head.


Silvana had a pie in her hands with a lit fuse attached. She took one bite, which resulted in a big explosion.


"Let's try to avoid that," said Spider-Man.

"Plus our only other dragon won't wanna go anywhere minus Matt," said Chloe.

"Speaking of whom, where is Kala?" asked Matt.

"In the training room," said Chloe, "She's getting herself back up to speed."


Kala sent a fireball at a training bot, burning clean through it and the bot behind it, before grabbing a downward blow from another, her hands glowing and melting it. Then she shot a thin flame that cut through the robot's head like a welding torch. She looked around before snorting, smoke coming out. "Huh," she muttered disdainfully.

She picked up a towel and wiped her forehead. "Nothing builds up a sweat like playing with fire," she said before looking at her towel, "Actually, not that much sweat."

She looked at her hands, before at her reflection which flickered to the symbiote that had worn her. Kala jumped before seeing her reflection is normal. "Calm down, Kala," she told herself, "You're not infected. You've been given a clean bill of health."

A voice in her ear said, "But you landed your boyfriend in intensive care...a guy who survived being orbital bombarded and you almost killed him..."

Kala shook her head and said, "I'm not listening to a voice that can't be real in the first place."

"More real than you think...you think I'm that easy to be rid off?" laughed the voice.

"You're just the guilt I'm feeling. The real inner voice was killed months ago," said Kala.

"Oh please...it takes more than that to get rid of an other," sneered the voice.

"Ok, I'm going to start listening to music now," said Kala.

"You'll just end up killing hi...are you listening you music? Stop that!" snapped the voice as Kala put 'Eye of the Tiger' on at full volume.

The voice tried to keep yelling at Kala, but Kala just kept running around the training room as the music played. Eventually, the voice grew fainter and stopped altogether.

"And that shut her up," said Kala proudly.


The SHIELD jet was headed for Taskmaster's base, located in [CLASSIFIED]. The team was going over what they know. "I know some of you haven't had to deal with Taskmaster personally, so let me give you a brief overview of him," said Spider-Man.

"Ok, do tell," said Chloe calmly. Considering her recent gamma empowering, her hero alias has been changed to 'Moonshock'. She had reservations about the new moniker.

"First of all, his power is a combat chameleon," said Spider-Man.

"Huh?" asked Silvana.

"He can learn any type of move just by seeing it," said Spider-Man, "And he's got a photographic memory. So in addition to his own combat training, that makes really hard to fight."

"You mean if he saw me breathe fire?" asked Silvana in confusion.

"Well, I don't think he can copy powers, but he can copy how you throw a punch or kick," said Spider-Man, "Also, can you breathe fire? I've never seen you do so."

"I used to be able to...but I dunno if I can anymore," said Silvana thoughtfully.

"Don't try it in here," said Moonshock, "But what you're saying is that Taskmaster can only do what a normal human can."

"Doesn't mean he can't kick serious butt," said Spider-Man.

"So how do we stop him if he can learn our tricks?" asked Moonshock.

"I find the best way is do things he can't," said Spider-Man, jumping up and sticking to the ceiling for emphasis, "Also, he can only learn if he sees you."

"Easy enough," said Moonshock, checking a flash grenade

"Still, Taskmaster is not underequipped," said Spider-Man, "He's got your basic evil mercenary guns, grenades, swords, and lots of weapons, even if not all of them are as dangerous as the ones we're being sent to get."

"And now he has a super-cannon," said Moonshock sarcastically.

"And a new kind of symbiote," said Spider-Woman, "Think he'll use it on himself?"

"I dunno...this symbiote seems...picky," said Moonshock.

"That actually works for us," said Spider-Man, "Which means Taskmaster won't have anyone who can wear it."

"Except for us," said Moonshock dryly.

Silvana nodded. "If either me or Miss Lynch are possessed, we will be extremely dangerous," she said.

"If it can bond with you," said Spider-Woman, "You seem more machine than organic."

Moonshock shook her head. "My brother used to have such a symbiote in his rogues gallery," she said.

"Well, Mancer has a container for transporting symbiotes. I think we can borrow it," said Spider-Man.

"Yes...I'm sure he'll share," said Moonshock darkly.


But Spider-Man's team wasn't the only one closing in on Taskmaster's base. Though they may be the only who all agreed to go. "Why did I let you drag me into this?" asked Dark Start.

"Because you can't break out of these tethers," said Cyber.

"I do not want to be on the same planet as that...thing!" snapped Dark Start.

"Well, we can't really pass up the opportunity to have an anti-dragon weapon," said Leroy.

"Yes...one that then tries to eat us," snapped Dark Start.

"Dark Start, you're the newest in our little group, so I can understand why you don't see why this is such an opportunity right now," said Omnirus.

"No, I understand. I just wonder why I was nominated as the bait," snapped Dark Start.

"Because my Omnitrix prevents possessors from clinging to me and Leroy and Cyber are as non-elemental as footstools," said Omnirus.

"So? I refuse to be treated this way." snapped Dark Start till Leroy hit her with a frying pan.

"Give her a whack about every 15 minutes. Or when she comes around," said Omnirus.

Cyber said, "Seriously though, how do we stop her eating our brains?"

"You think a guy like Taskmaster wouldn't have a symbiote-proof cage to keep it in?" asked Omnirus.

"Knowing our luck?" said Cyber pointedly.


Eventually, the SHIELD jumpjet managed to get to [LOCATION CLASSIFIED]. "You sure this is the right place?" asked Spider-Woman, "I'm not really seeing anything except for flat lands and scrub brush."

Silvana sniffed the air. "Lotta metal around here," she said calmly before looking down. "Why do you people keep building down under?" she asked.

"Well, it wouldn't be well-hidden if it were aboveground," said Spider-Man.

"Why does it have to be underground?" gulped Silvana

"Is there a problem?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Last time I was underground, I died," said Silvana nervously.

"Yeah, I can see why that would cause a phobia," said Spider-Man.

"Nothing's going to happen to you this time," said Moonshock gently.

"Fine...fine..." said Silvana, before pointing at a small cave, "That's the door."

"That seems...too easy..." said Spider-Man.

Silvana sighed and went first, several hidden machineguns peppering her before she walked out. "You're overreacting. Just some loud noses," she said.

"Let's try to find the secret entrance," suggested Spider-Man.

"That wasn't the secret entrance?" asked Silvana.

"There's always a secret entrance," said Moonshock with a smirk.

"And considering you're a living metal detector, it should be easy for you to find it," said Spider-Man.

Silvana sighed before concentrating, "There's a hidden door 10 feet in."

"Ok, I'll go and see if I can get to it," said Spider-Man.

The inside of the cave looked...mostly normal, apart from alot of discs on the floor, and the turrets clicking harmlessly. Fortunately, the spider-sense allowed Spidey to know where the remaining traps were.


Taskmaster watched as Spider-Man walked through the cave. He had expected the annoyance to avoid the shots, it was just a shame that lizard had walked through first.

"Wander right in, spider," said Taskmaster, "You won't be leaving so easily."

He smirked as the others caught up. "Well, well...a werewolf, a lizard, and a symbiote queen walk into a cave. Sounds like a bad joke," he smirked, looking at the controls.

"I can bag that symbiote if you want me to," said Haze Mancer.

"But it would be over too quickly," said Taskmaster, "There's so much to observe here. I think we should push them to their limits."

"Why not just shoot them? Why run this out?" said Haze, his disgust for prolonging things clear. Yes, he was a bounty hunter, but he always made it quick

"First of all, I have a hefty score to settle with Spider-Man," said Taskmaster, "And secondly, I want to see what these heroes are capable of."

"Urgh...and people wonder why I hate taking Earth jobs," muttered Haze, before whistling as, on the screen, Silvana soundlessly removed part of the lift doors and took a thoughtful bite. "Oh, you're missing the best part," smirked Haze.

"That metal eater may cause a problem," said Taskmaster, "Not to mention she'd lead them to me too quickly."

"You wanna take on that thing? I think I will stick around..." said Haze, thinking 'For the entertainment value.' "So, what about those other aliens?" asked Mancer.

"Keep them away from each other...for now," said Taskmaster.

"Oh, yes...give me the easy job, jackass. I'm charging for this," said Haze, readying his weapons.

"The job should pay for itself," said Taskmaster.


The group headed down the tunnel, Moonshock seeing several small cameras following them. "Shouldn't we have been attacked by now?" she asked.

"Well, I'm waiting for something to trigger," said Spider-Man.

On cue, there was a click and the door behind them sealed. "You had to say it," said Moonshock darkly, Silvana cracking her knuckles and heading for the door, a small canister falling in front of her.

Silvana sniffed and said, "That's not a bomb." Just then, the canister shot a blast of gas into Silvana's face.

The others ran up in time for the smoke to dissipate. "I'm ok...I think..." she said, before looking at them and going bug-eyed. She could see skeletons, metal dragon skeletons, embedded in the walls.

"No...NO...NOT AGAIN!" Silvana screamed, backing up.

"Silvana?" asked Moonshock.

"Dead...all dead..." gibbered Silvana, shaking like a leaf

"Silvana, calm down. I think you're seeing things," said Moonshock. Then Silvana looked at them. But she didn't see her friends. She saw the horrible undead monsters that were the failed attempts at making metal Shar-Khans.

"NOOO! GET BACK!" she screamed, remembering when those things had broken loose, strong enough to even bring a Ferrus dragon down. How one had grabbed her. She began levitating up shards of metal, sending them out at them. The creatures quickly ran away from the shards.

"Yeah! You're not killing me again!" snapped Silvana, sending more shards out before one sent some sort of sticky cable that glued her arm to the ground. "Get off me!" she snapped, trying to pull herself free.

One of the creatures said in a rasping voice, "Silvana...it's us...your friends."

"Get away from me!" snapped Silvana, sending a telekinetic shockwave out.

The three creatures were knocked flying, Silvana getting up with a growl, her fear fuelling her rage. She barely noticed her onboard computer saying, "Hallucinogenic toxin detected. Beginning purge sequence."

What she did notice was the feeling of needing to throw up. "Bad...time..." she muttered before doubling up. There was a revving sound in her throat before she spat out a green slime.

The world seemed to melt at that, the monsters melting into her friends. "Urgh...my stomach feels like the time I ate the food mixer," she grumbled, looking at her friends, right up till her eyes bugged out and she giggled faintly.

"Looks like spitting out that toxin scrambled her circuits," said Spider-Man, "Don't think she'll be in any condition to go into the base."

Silvana giggled once more before passing out cold.

"Yeah, looks like she'll have to wait outside," said Spider-Woman.

"That's nice. I don't like caves," giggled Silvana.


"And that's how to take out a heavy hitter," said Haze smugly to Taskmaster.

"Right, wouldn't want them to cheat their way through," said Taskmaster.

"I thought the only way through your maze was to cheat," said Mancer with a smirk.

"There's a fair chance to get through," said Taskmaster, "A slim chance, but fair. Someone that can manipulate metal like that would be breaking the rules."

"That fear gas is gonna cost extra," said Haze calmly.

"Put it on my tab," said Taskmaster dismissively.

"Tabs get called in at some point," warned Haze, watching as the remaining three headed down a tunnel.


"Ok, the three of us can handle whatever Taskmaster still has up his sleeves," said Spider-Man, "We just don't know what to expect."

"Also we need to stay together. We can't let him separate us," said Moonshock thoughtfully, before a trapdoor dropped her silently out of sight.

"Right, so we need to check to see if we're all in...sight?" asked Spider-Man, pausing and looking around to see a distinct lack of Moonshock. "Oh, not again," he groaned.

"So, should we hold hands or something?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Um...isn't that kind of awkward in a supervillain lair?" asked Spider-Man.

"You could try," said Taskmaster's voice from speakers with amusement.

"Oh, we were starting to think no one was home," said Spider-Man.

"And yet you walked in anyways," said Taskmaster.

"What did you do with Moonshock?" snapped Spider-Woman.

Taskmaster chuckled, "Oh, she's taking her own path. Don't want it to be too easy for you."

"You know, I wouldn't be against taking it easy," said Spider-Man.

"But how do you know your limits if you're never pushed to them?" said Taskmaster, "Besides, I've yet to see your girlfriend in action. Let's start with something easy...for me." The door behind them sealed and the lights flickered out, before hidden saws began shooting along the walls towards them.

"Guess what? It's easy for us too," said Spider-Man. He nimbly jumped between the saws, Spider-Woman following close behind him.

"Very good...very good..." said Taskmaster calmly, adding, "Lets up the ante, shall we?" before a blast of flame came from the wall, lighting up to show several turrets aiming.

"I'm getting a deja vu feeling," said Spider-Man.

"From the last time you fought Taskmaster?" asked Spider-Woman.

"No, from the last time Fury put me through a training course he customized," said Spider-Man.

"Does your symbiote like the flames?" asked Taskmaster, the flamethrowers turning to focus on Spider-Woman.

The symbiote seemed discomforted by the heat, but Spider-Woman didn't fun. "I don't just use the symbiote," said Spider-Woman before shooting flame-retardant webs at the flamethrowers.

The flamethrowers shuddered before exploding, only for several more to fold out. "Always wondered what extreme cold would do too," said Taskmaster, one of the new turrets firing a pressurised stream of steaming liquid that instantly froze the wall it hit.

"This is starting to be overkill," said Spider-Man, spraying webs over the turrets.

"I believe in pushing people to their limits," said Taskmaster.

"And I believe in pacing people first," said Spider-Man.

"Where's the fun in that?" said TaskMater smugly


Moonshock looked around a corner, muttering darkly. She'd dropped about 30 feet. "I almost broke my tail," grumbled Moonshock.

An arrow shot past her at that. "You know, I heard all about you royals in my travels. Meant to be the ultimate predator. Now I hear you whinin' about a little fall." The shot in the wall exploded, spreading an incredibly strong peppermint smell, Moonshock yelping and covering her nose.

"That's hardly the worst thing you could shoot at me," said Moonshock.

"True, but now you can't smell anything else," said the voice.

Moonshock sniffed before yelping, only smelling peppermint.

"Yeah...can't find what you can't smell," said the voice, a small canister rolling to her feet, a thermite grenade.

"Yeah, just keep bragging," muttered Moonshock as she kicked the grenade away.

There was a flash before she was thrown off her feet by a fireball. "Yeah, I don't have to bother with small arms, kid," said the voice, Haze walking into view.

"And I don't even have to get close," said Moonshock before shooting lightning at Haze.

The blast shot through Haze harmlessly before a blue beam hit her from a side corridor, her leg, where it hit, freezing. "Good thing I've got thick fur," said Moonshock as she rubbed her frozen leg.

A second concussive blast knocked her flying. "Man, you mutts were seriously overrated," said Haze, drawing a machete-shaped energy blade.

"Just wait until I'm warmed up," said Moonshock.

"Take your best shot, lady," said Haze mockingly.

Moonshock put a hand on the floor, sending a jolt of electricity through the floor in Haze's direction. Haze jumped out the way, firing rapidly, Moonshock forced to shelter her face, before something dripped on her shoulder, burning her.

"You know, silver doesn't have to be solid to hurt you," said Mancer, "In fact, it can do more damage as a liquid."

Moonshock looked up in horror and jumping forward, as a stream of liquid silver nitrate fell down, more opening to fire. "I thought you fought fairly?" snapped Moonshock, sending electricity into the nozzles, melting them shut.

"I fight pragmatically," said Mancer, "Only an idiot would try to take on a werewolf in a fair fight." Moonshock turned to the voice before screaming as a stream of silver hit her, a sizzle heard. "That sounded like it hurt," said Haze, reloading a rifle with another silver nitrate filled round.

"You know everyone has a pain threshold," said Mancer, "It's only a matter of time before you hit yours."

"I'm not that easy to deal with," snarled Moonshock, dodging another shot and almost staggering into a silver plated buzzsaw in the wall.

"Been wondering how well you'd withstand wolfsbane, but I don't think you're going to last that long," said Mancer. Moonshock didn't have time to react before a cloud of dust blew into her face. "Then again," said Mancer smugly

Moonshock coughed, feeling very lightheaded now. "This is almost too easy," said Mancer as she got his last round ready.

Moonshock twitched at that, her heartbeat speeding up as her eyes blazed green, around the same time Mancer's scanner beeped. He looked at it before muttering, "Oh shit."

Electricity started crackling around Moonshock as she suddenly surged in size, her black fur turning electric yellow. Mancer backed up, firing the last canister into her chest, electricity crackling over it and evaporating it. Moonshock towered over Mancer, a pillar of muscle, electricity-sparking fur, and anger.

"Hey...it's just a job..." Mancer said, before Moonstruck roared "WOLF-HULK SMASH!"

Mancer immediately decided it was time to cut and run.


Taskmaster watched as the new Hulk chased his associate. "That's new," he mused, noting where the wolf left herself open to counters. "Ok, let's look in on the other contestants," he muttered.


"This place is a maze. That's gotta be the fourth dead end by now." Spider-Man muttered

"How is he able to build all of this?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Hmm, I don't give away my contractors, professional courtesy. They like their privacy," said Taskmaster, the blastdoors sealing before hatches opened, water starting to pour in.

"I always wondered what kind of spider you are," said Taskmaster, "Let's see if you're a diving bell spider."

Spider-Woman began firing webbing over the holes, only for new hatches to open. "Not going to be that easy, girl," sneered Taskmaster.

"We gotta find the next door," said Spider-Man.

"Oh, there's a door control. You just have to find it," sneered Taskmaster.

"And it's probably already underwater," said Spider-Man before taking a breath and diving under. Several lit buttons were seen in the depths, glowing faintly in the murky water.

'Ok, just gotta hit the right…' thought Spider-Man as he reached for one button. But a twinge from his spider-sense told him no. He moved his hand to another, hitting the control and the door opening with a bubbling noise before the two Spiders were swept through it and down the corridor beyond.

The two of them coughed up the water they swallowed. "Remind me to not give you too many guessing games," said Taskmaster, "Your spider-sense makes it too easy to suss it out, doesn't it?"

There was a clunk down the hall, the water pouring down a hole ahead.

"I'll need to think of a more appropriate challenge for your girlfriend as well," said Taskmaster.

The Spiders managed to come to a halt just in time, clusters of spikes below in the hole. "Reflexes are still sharp, I see," said Taskmaster.

Spider-Man looked down the pit and said, "Do you put your recruits through this?"

"Only the ones who I think has what it takes to make the cut," said Taskmaster, "Or the ones I want to dispose of quickly."

"Man, not the best of schools," gulped Spider-Man, before a low whine began from hidden speakers.

"We've seen how your girlfriend can take the heat. Now let's see how tough her ears are," said Taskmaster.

The whining began to get louder and louder, the air starting to ripple, more so as the whining got too high to hear. Of course, anyone would be covering their ears at this point, but Spider-Woman's symbiote was shrieking and writhing with pain. "Must...stop...noise..." groaned Spider-Woman.

"Now we're getting somewhere...and my speakers are only at half strength," said Taskmaster, apparently turning up the sound even more as the sound ripples in the air were so powerful it was like standing in a heat haze.

Spider-Man was already sure his ears had started bleeding, which was nothing compared to Spider-Woman's agony. "No! Mary Jane!" he yelled. He probably wouldn't have yelled her name where Taskmaster could hear, but nothing could be heard above the noise.

This time several red organic-looking spears shot out, impaling almost all the speakers with unerring accuracy.

Spider-Man blinked in surprise as the noise died down. But he was a little concerned about Spider-Woman. She was showing a fang-filled mouth that looked very Carnage-like.

"Too much nooiiise...neeeed sssilence..." she hissed, slashing through the last few speakers.

"Uh, Spider-Woman, you hear me?" asked Spider-Man. She hissed at him, showing a long tongue.

Spider-Man looked up to see the glowing optics of Taskmaster's cameras. "Sorry, commercial break, Tasky," he said, sending webbing over all the cameras.

Then he pulled off his mask and said, "MJ, it's me, remember?"

Spider-Woman glared at him, her solid white eyes narrowing before she seemed to come to some of her senses. "The...nooiiise..." she hissed.

"The noise is gone. You took care of that," said Peter, "Don't forget who you are, MJ. You're not the symbiote, you're the woman wearing it."

Spider-Woman paused before the white symbiote eyes turned back to her human eyes, the other facial symbiote features melting back to her face. "They don't really prepare you for how the noise hurts more with a symbiote," said MJ, "He's gonna make it worse. I just hope Moonshock's ok."

Then Mancer was thrown past a T-junction, Wolf-Hulk stomping past before seeing them, her eyes solid green.

"Uh, looks like she's more than fine," said Peter before putting his mask back on.

"You...you with puny Mancer?" Wolf-Hulk snarled.

"Not at all," said Spider-Man, "We don't like him any more than you do."

Wolf-Hulk glared, before she shrunk down to Moonshock. "Quill-faced jerk shot me up with silver nitrate," growled Moonshock. There was a sympathetic wince at that before Moonshock said, "We need to get out of here. This place is a death trap. Wolf-Hulk smashed her way through dozens of things: disintegrators, spikes, acid traps. All he needs is to be lucky once."

"Even so, don't you think we've been a bit too lucky so far?" asked Spider-Woman as she put her mask back on.

"I...did see that the traps seemed to hesitate a little..." said Moonshock thoughtfully.

"Not lucky enough," said Spider-Man, "Taskmaster is definitely putting us through the ringer."

"We have to be close though. There's only so much space," said Moonshock calmly.

"Still, almost makes wish I had stayed back at the Triskelion," said Spider-Woman.

"True," said Moonshock, "I wonder how well Matt's being taken care of now."


"Morph, if you don't stop this, I'll kill you...for real," said Matt in a manic tone.

"Now, now, nothing helps internal trauma like some hot chicken soup," said Morph, holding up a bowl. The fact that it had a chicken foot sticking out of it made it far less appetizing.

"Morph, don't you dare. It's chicken soup, not chicken foot soup. HELP! SOMEONE! SAVE ME FROM MY NURSE!"

Thankfully, Matt's pleas for help were heard. Kala just happened to be walking by and saw Matt's plight. "Morph, what do you think you're doing?" asked Kala.

"Just giving Matt some soup," said Morph turning around. However, he moved a little too fast and hot soup sloshed out of the bowl and onto Matt's chest.

Mattr bugged out. "AAAAAARGH! SECURITY!" he screamed.

"Morph, vamoose. I'm taking over here," said Kala.

"Let me see your nursing license," said Morph.

Kala glared before setting Morph on fire. "Ok, time to hit the showers," said Morph before walking out.

Kala knelt by Matt and said, "Oh, you poor baby, you wanna show me where it hurts?"

"Oh...just my entire chest..." said Matt through gritted teeth.

"How about I be your personal nurse for a while?" asked Kala.

"Well, you couldn't be worse than Morph," said Matt.

"Ok, I can be so much better," said Kala in a coy tone.


"I'm sure he's fine," said Moonshock, before sniffing the air, "I may not smell skull head...but I can smell where Mancer was now I'm away from that peppermint bomb of his."

"Well, I guess we just head to the next room and see where it goes from there," said Spider-Man, "I think we may get a clue about where he is."

Moonshock sniffed the air before saying "That way." pointing down one of the corridors.

"You sure?" asked Spider-Woman.

"That tunnel's clear. Just some spike traps," she said.

"That at least won't be so hard," said Spider-Man.

"We only need to go halfway. The second half is sulphuric acid sprayers," said Moonshock, heading into the tunnels.

"Oh, great," said Spider-Man dryly.

Moonshock paused halfway before sliding across the wall. "There," she said calmly.

But just then, a trapdoor opened beneath her. "Oh what-" started Moonshock before she fell down it.

"You really think I'd make it that easy?" sneered Taskmaster

"Do we got after her?" asked Spider-Woman.

"She got awfully riled up the last time she was separated," said Spider-Man. With that, the two Web Warriors jumped down the trapdoor.

The room below found Moonstruck looking dazed. "Ow...I think I landed on something soft," she groaned, a muffled voice saying under her "You think?"

"Is it me or did that sound like-" started Spider-Man before Moonshock was lifted up and swung at Spider-Man.

Omnirus stood up at that. "Ok, I may be willing to fight, but actually landing on me is crossing the line," he snapped.

"What are you doing here?" asked Spider-Man.

"Same reason you are, I assume," said Omnirus, "Not every day a dragon-eating symbiote shows up."

"You're after that thing too?" snapped Moonshock, grabbing Omnirus, who was careful (for now), to keep his voice from anything rage-inducing.

"Not to wear it myself," said Omnirus, "Couldn't wear it if I wanted to. My Omnitrix repels anything trying to take over me."

"Then who wants it? And where is it?" snarled Moonshock.

"Who wouldn't want it?" asked Omnirus, "And I assume it must be close if Taskmaster has dumped your big...muscles on me."

"Because it's insane?" said Spider-Woman pointedly.

"And yours was the craziest of them all, but you've got a firm control over it," said Omnirus pointedly.

"That hardly means you can control it," said Spider-Woman harshly.

Moonshock nodded, "Yeah...so you can leave."

"Leave? After all the training I've been through to get here?" asked Omnirus.

"How long have you been down here?" asked Spider-Man.

Omnirus shrugged, "I dunno...what day is it?"

"Haven't you gotten hungry or thirsty?" asked Spider-Woman.

"I can eat anything," said Omnirus, stretching our four long green tongues to rip a piece out of the wall and swallow it.

"Ok...that was weird...and gross," said Spider-Man.

"Don't you usually travel with your cronies?" asked Moonshock.

"They dumped me here and left to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet," said Omnirus.

"Really?" said Moonshock, skeptically.

Omnirus said in an annoyed tone, "I had the bad luck to land outside a cafe offering discount coconut cake. But it hasn't gone completely to waste. I bet you three have been rushing your way through this place."

"If you meet avoiding deathtraps for the last 3 hours then yes," said Moonshock angrily.

"Well, I've been taking the time to train while I've been down here, honing my different powers and skills," said Omnirus.

"Are you saying you've been level-grinding?" asked Spider-Man.

Omnirus opened his mouth to object before saying in an annoyed tone, "Yes."

Moonshock snorted and said, "What a nerd."

Omnirus glared and said, "There are benefits to extra training. Which you slackers wouldn't know about."

"Slacker?" said Moonshock coldly.

"Yeah, not everyone just coasts through on their muscles and lightning," said Omnirus.

Spider-Man and Spider-Woman exchanged a glance before slowly stepping back from Omnirus as Moonshock snapped "WHAAAAT?"

"Still operating on those barbarian skills, I see," said Omnirus.

Moonshock began to twitch at that, Omnirus grinning before turning to the Spiders. "And you two, you're just teens," he laughed, not noticing as Moonshock hulked out behind him before he said, "And look at you back up in fear." Then he felt something dripping on his head. "Where in a flood trap recently?" asked Omnirus.

A second later, a large paw hand grabbed his head before he was turned to face Wolf-Hulk. "Ah...is it too late to say I was joking?" he asked. Then he sniffed and asked, "What smells like gamma?"

"Wolf-Hulk things puny fuzzball talk too much," snarled Wolf-Hulk, readying a throw. "Oh no," muttered Omnirus before he was thrown down the tunnel out the room, screaming before there was a 'clang' and a faint "Ow."

"How often can Moonshock hulk up like that?" asked Spider-Woman.

"If she's like Bruce Banner, whenever she's angry enough," said Spider-Man with concern, as Wolf-Hulk turned to glare at them.

Just then, there was a flash of green light and a blue and black blur rushed out of the tunnel and hit Wolf-Hulk. A blue and black wolf skidded to a halt, balls between his large toes and a lizard tail stretched out. "Well, you gonna calm her down?" it snapped at high speed.

"You started this, you finish this," said Spider-Woman.

"You know him?" snarled Wolf-Hulk at them before snapping "I SMASH YOU TOO!"

"Ok, this is starting to get out of hand," said Spider-Man.

"I agree," said XLRWolf, "Let's speed this along." With that, he touched his Omnitrix which caused his body to start altering. Strangely enough, he actually slimmed down, getting a body frame closer to that of a greyhound. His claws also became longer and sharper, looking like lances when they were closed together. The biggest change was a pair of turbines that appeared on his hips.

Wolf-Hulk howled before trying to bring her fist down on Omnirus. At least she tried to, Ultimate XLRWolf sidestepped her easily. "You're gonna have to be quicker than that," he said.

Wolf-Hulk growled at that, before some webbing covered her eyes. "You're not going to make her less angry by antagonizing her," said Spider-Man.

XLRWolf paused. "Good point," he said, dodging another blow.

"So I guess we just let him just keep dodging her until she wears herself out?" suggested Spider-Woman.

Wolf-Hulk turned to them at that. "Puny bugs," she growled.

Ultimate XLRWolf zipped in front of her and said, "Focus on me, won't you?" With that, the turbines on his hips let out twin sonic blasts at her. The wolf snarled at that, before sending electricity in all directions.

"Hmm, bit harder to stop than I thought," said U-XLRWolf, "Be right back." With that, he zipped up one of the tunnels.

"Hey!" called Spider-Woman before they were both knocked flying when Wolf-Hulk clapped her hands.

Two second later, the blue and black blur returned. Wolf-Hulk paused she felt something was shoved up both her nostrils. She sniffed, before falling backwards with a crash, two garlic cloves up her nostrils. "Super smell plus garlic means out like a light," sneered XLRWolf.

"I thought that only worked on vampires," said Spider-Man.

"Anything with a strong sense of smell would be knocked out by that," said XLRWolf, "If I had used horseradish, I might have given her brain damage."

Moonshock reappeared as she shrank down. "Geb dis out bah dose," she managed weakly.

"Allow me," said Spider-Woman, extending two slender tentacles and plucking the cloves out.

Omnirus turned back before he said calmly, "Now then, we can fight...or we can get out of this funhouse."

"How do we know you're not just going to run off with the symbiote as soon as we've found it?" asked Spider-Man.

"You don't. But how much longer do you think you can last here? I doubt Taskmaster will leave real food out for you guys," said Omnirus.

Moonshock grumbled, "Fuzzo has a point. I do not wanna hallucinate you as hamburgers."

"So how are we supposed to get back to him?" asked Spider-Woman, "Trapdoors typically only work one way."

"In the interest of speeding this along and keeping a certain someone from tearing more holes through walls..." said Omnirus before tapping his Omnitrix and shifting into Frankenvine. "Going up," he said before stretching his arms up, ripping the cover off the trapdoor and stretching through it.

"Hey!" snapped Moonshock before yelping as some vines grabbed her and lifted her up.

"Hold onto your fur." snapped Omnirus, before stretching down to grab the Spiders.

Shortly after that, they were back to where they were. "You sure Taskmaster is behind that hidden door?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Why else would there be a trapdoor to keep from going in?" asked Moonshock.

"The kids have a point. It's a bit cliche," said Omnirus, shifting back.

"Either way, I expect Taskmaster has one last surprise in store for us," said Spider-Man.

Moonshock sniffed the air before stomping over to the hidden door and tearing the panel away. "I am not in the mood. TASKMASTER!" she yelled.

They were expecting a control room. Imagine their surprise when the hidden room was an arena. "Congratulations," said Taskmaster's voice, "Very few people ever find this arena."

"TASKMASTER!" yelled Moonshock, looking around.

"No need to shout," said Taskmaster, "I'll be there in a moment. I just need to make one last preparation."

"Prepare?" said Moonshock before feeling something drip on her arm. Moonshock looked up to see a purple and black flowing down from the ceiling. "Oh no," she said before a particularly big glob landed on her face.

"I wanna see what I paid for," said Taskmaster as Moonshockr staggered around, pulling with futility at the spreading symbiote before she began shaking, the symbiote face forming.

"Oh, this isn't good," said Spider-Woman. The symbiote finished covering Moonshock before the black parts lit up yellow.

The symbiote let her long tongue roll out. "Well...thissss is new," she hissed looking at herself before at the group.

"Ok, I'm sure there's a way to get that symbiote off," said Spider-Man.

"I don't think there's an immediate rush," said Omnirus.

The symbiote began to advance before looking at Spider-Woman and backing up with widened eyes. "The one who spawned usss..." it hissed.

Omnirus and Spider-Man looked at Spider-Woman at that, before Omni hissed quietly at her, "Maybe you can tell it to play nice?"

"I don't think you should count on it," whispered Spider-Woman.

The symbiote however looked confused. "Why are you with theesssse humanssss?" it asked, advancing suspiciously.

"Well, these are my friends," said Spider-Woman. Omnirus gave her an odd look. "Ok, more like allies," said Spider-Woman.

The symbiote hissed at that. "The queen does not need friends..." she hissed, her scythe blade forming.

"Uh, that's quite a scythe you got there," said Spider-Woman nervously.

"Ssscccyyyttthhheee..." hissed the symbiote, "We like the sssound of that. Scythe will be our name."

"Interesting," said Taskmaster from above before Scythe shrieked and lunged at the group.

Of course, Omnirus was the first target so he quickly transformed, becoming a ghostly fish-like creature in chains. Scythe leaped right through Ghostjaws. "Intangibility for the wing," said Ghostjaws.

Scythe turned to hiss before firing a bolt of lightning at Ghostjaws. Ghostjaws dived into the floor before coming up behind Spider-Man. "I hope you've got a plan for this," he said.

"We can't use sound, not with Spider-Woman," said Spider-Man, avoiding a spine of symbiote shot at him.

"Too bad I can't just possess her," said Ghostjaws.

"Can you?" asked Spider-Man.

"I just said I can't," said Ghostjaws.

"Why not?" asked Spider-Man.

"Because there's already a parasite on her and that would make the head too crowded..." Ghostjaws paused as he thought it over.

Scythe laughed. "Can't hurt me?" she taunted, before lunging at Spider-Woman.

Spider-Woman extended her arms into large shields to block Scythe. "Guys, a little help here!" she snapped.

"Nobody can save you from us, traitor!" hissed Scythe, pounding away at the shields, before Ghostjaws bit down on her shoulder from behind. "Ouch! That actually hurts!" snapped Scythe.

"Well these teeth aren't just for my good looks," said Ghostjaws, "Now clear your head."

"Why would I-" started Scythe before Ghostjaws ghosted into the symbiote-covered werewolf.

Scythe staggered back, clawing at her head and hissing. "Out of our head! This host is MINE!" she roared.

"Only if you can explain why you're hitting yourself," said Ghostjaws's voice before Scythe punched herself in the face.

"STOP THAT!" hissed Scythe. Then her hand grabbed her nose and started pulling hard. The symbiote hissed angrily at that before starting to concentrate.

However, a tear opened up in the back of the head and Moonshock's face popped out of it. "Ok, this is way too close for comfort for me," she said.

The symbiote began trying to return at that, before Moonshock's eyes flickered to green. "It's no picnic in here either, Lynch," she snapped in Ghostjaws's voice.

"Why can't you possess this slime?" asked Moonshock.

"Doesn't work that way," said Ghostjaws, "You need to stick with me if you want this jelly off."

"Fine...just no killing my friends," snapped Moonshock, her eyes flickering back to green before she got a smug grin, before Ghostjaws said through her, "Ok, now get off, you sentient licorice."

"You can't make me," hissed Scythe.

"Yes...I...can..." hissed Ghostjaws, more of scythe coming off.

"How are you doing this?" demanded Scythe.

"Sheer willpower, which Moonshock doesn't have enough on her own," said Ghostjaws.

"Hey!" snapped Moonshock, one of her eyes blazing yellow.

Then Spider-Man shot a line of webbing at Scythe and said, "Let's speed this up, shall we?"

"No! Get off us!" snapped Scythe, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman pulling while Moonshock and Ghostjaws pulled the other way. It was too much before Scythe gave out. The slimy creature got yanked off and splattered against a wall. The symbiote bubbled something that could possibly be translated as 'ow'.

"Impressive..." said Taskmaster, a container grabbing the symbiote.

"And that would be my cue to leave," said Ghostjaws before exiting Moonshock's body, flying over, and grabbing the container. He paused briefly before saying, "Thanks for the help, losers."

"Hey, you can't just-" started Spider-Woman before Ghostjaws and the container turned invisible.

"He...can..." gasped Moonshock, getting her breath back.

"Well, that's disappointing. But then, there's not much you can do with a symbiote that picky," said Taskmaster.

"That's not all we're here for," said Spider-Man, "Fury wants his cannon back."

"Then by all means...try and take it," said Taskmaster before an orange beam lanced out and almost hit the gang.

"Aha, now I have you," said Moonshock before charging towards where the beam came from. A second later, an orange blast knocked her back and skidded her across the arena. "Ow..." she groaned, her chest smoking.

"You ok?" asked Spider-Man.

"Do you guys have super-endurance, rapid healing factors, or invulnerability?" asked Moonshock.

"No," said Spider-Man.

"Then you might want to avoid being blasted," said Moonshock.

Another blast shot down at that, barely missing Spider-Woman and blowing a hole in the wall. "Handy little toy Fury had made," said Taskmaster, "Pity he was so careless with it." He fired another shot at that.

"Ok, any suggestions on how to get close?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Use Moonshock as a shield?" suggested Spider-Man.

"I heard that," snapped Moonshock.


Omnirus grinned as he emerged from the cave, throwing the canister up in the air and catching it. "Eaaasy money," he chuckled.

Just then, a tiny version of himself with a white robe, bird wings, and halo appeared beside him. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" he asked.

"Wait, aren't you supposed to be part of a pair?" asked Omnirus, "Where's the other guy?"

"I dealt with him," said the little angel, holding a used roll of duct tape. "Well, since I'm here, you know what that means," said the little angel.

"That I've gone too long without real food and having hunger hallucinations?" asked Omnirus.

"No, you left those poor heroes to face pure horror and traps, while you just think of money, and after they helped you too," scolded the angel.

"I got what I came for. And it saves them the trouble of having to take this symbiote back with them," said Omnirus, "Surely they can take on a guy who looks like a washed-out grim reaper."

"But do you not forget the weapon he used on you?" scolded the angel.

"What weapon?" asked Omnirus.

"You know, the cannon he blasted you with and made you lose an afternoon," said the little angel.

"Oh, that weapon," said Omnirus.

"They will surely perish," said the angel dramatically.

Omnirus said sarcastically, "Oh dear, what a tragedy." before yelping as the angel grabbed him by the collar.

"You're going back to help them...NOOOOW!"

Omnirus blinked and the angel disappeared. "I really need to change my diet," said Omnirus. He was about to continue before seeing a used-up roll of duct tape in the grass. "You know...I think I'm gonna help," he said in a nervous voice.


Meanwhile, Moonshock and the Spider-Couple had been dodging blasts for quite a while. "Doesn't he ever need to reload or wait for it to cool down?" asked Spider-Man.

"It's Asgardian tech," snapped Moonshock, sending a bolt of lightning.

"As such, is throwing lightning at it a good idea?" asked Spider-Man.

"You have a better idea?" snapped Moonstruck before a blast hit her.

"I could do this all day," gloated Taskmaster.

"Wow, you guys really are pathetic enough to need my help," said a familiar voice.

Moonshock looked to see Ghostjaws had returned. "If you think you're getting in me again..." she growled.

"I'm not, you're not my type," said Ghostjaws, "But there is a new trick I've picked I wanted to show." He tapped his Omnitrix and transformed. His body became longer and more sinewy, becoming black with purple fins and markings. The claws and fangs became much longer and now his esca was replaced by a long dorsal fin that glowed dark purple at the end. Overall, he now resembled a floating viperfish with arms.

"Ultimate Ghostjaws," he sneered, before floating up through the air, like he was swimming in it. "Take your bessst shot, skull boy," he hissed.

"Oh, so you're just going to turn invisible or intangible?" asked Taskmaster.

"Actually, there's other trick I have," said Ultimate Ghostjaws. Then the lights on his dorsal fin and along his body lit up for a second. The next second, everything plunged into darkness.

Moonshock was heard yelling, "YOU JERK!" Taskmaster trying his lights to no avail.

"Whoa, this isn't your everyday darkness," said Spider-Man, trying to turn on his mask's night vision.

"Course it's not." sneered U-Ghostjaws's voice from all around.

"Where are you?!" snapped Taskmaster.

"Ah, your photographic reflexes aren't much good if you can't see, can you?" sneered U-Ghostjaws. His gun was pulled out his hands at that, a clunk revealing it was now down in the arena. "Wanna try fighting up close?" asked U-Ghostjaws. Then Taskmaster felt a weightlessness around him, as if he was going through the floor. Then he found himself falling.

The light came flooding back at that, blinding everyone for a second, though Moonshock ran forward, grabbing the cannon. "Not so tough without your fancy gun, are you?" asked Moonshock.

"I've seen all I needed to see," said Taskmaster before striking at her legs.

Moonstruck fell backwards with a 'oof', though keeping an iron grip on the blaster.

However, now Spider-Woman was able to grab Taskmaster with her tentacles.

"Nice try," he sneered, dropping a small orb that began to whine.

Spider-Man shot some webbing at the orb and said, "Not this time." He then shot another webline at Taskmaster's back, resulting in the orb getting stuck to him.

The orb exploded at that, from an overload, knocking him into U-Ghostjaws's hands. "Going somewhere?" he hissed

"This would almost be unsporting...except I always come prepared," said Taskmaster before taking a UV light from his belt and shining it on U-Ghostjaws.

U-Ghostjaws shielded his face with a hiss, Taskmaster smirking before a whining noise got his attention. "Think it's funny, do you?" Moonshock snapped, readying the cannon.

"Hey, watch where you point that thing," said U-Ghostjaws.

"You can turn intangible. You gonna surrender, you move-copying nutter or do I check to see if you regenerate?" snapped Moonshock.

"I would not test her," said Spider-Man, "She's had a hard day."

Taskmaster grumbled before slowly raising his hands.

"Now, just to make sure, we have gotten everything, right?" asked Spider-Woman.

"Well, we got Taskmaster, the Destroyer Cannon, Omnirus can hand over the Scythe symbiote..." said Spider-Man. Just then, Ultimate Ghostjaws disappeared. "Well, two out of three's good enough," said Spider-Man.

"Agreed, he'll never get it past NSC customs," muttered Moonshock, before saying, "Let's just meet up with Silvana and go home so I can eat an aspirin the size of a jumbotron."


Outside of the base, they noticed a lack of Silvana. However, they did find a note.

"Dear Guys, got hungry and smelt a decent meal by the road," read Moonshock.

"You know, I think I saw a diner while we were flying here," said Spider-Woman.

"Oh dear God," muttered Moonshock.


The diner was pretty easy to find. It seemed pretty normal, except for the sheriff car in a tree nearby.

"Something seems oddly familiar about this," said Moonshock.

Someone, apparently the diner's chef, ran up. "Hey...you Spider-Man?" he snapped at Spider-Man, "You gonna help get those freeloaders outta my diner?" Moonshock however had walked in, not surprised to see Omnirus's henchmen at a table, several pie tins around them. What she was surprised to see Silvana with them.

"Uh, yeah, did you try turning the hose on them?" asked Spider-Man.

"Not since the cyborg tossed Sheriff tankersons cruiser in the tree," said the diner owner, adding "That and that lizard ate the hose nozzle." pointing to Silvana, who was eating, with every sign of enjoyment, a cup.

Moonshock covered her face and said, "I really need to teach her table manners."

The experiments all tensed up as Silvana waved at Moonshock. "Hi," she called, saying, "You wanna try some of this saucepan?" The experiments looked worried.

"Ok, young lady, you've eaten enough of other people's property for one day," said Moonshock.

"But they said it was all covered...though I did wonder about the car in a tree," said Silvana innocently. Moonstruck reminded herself that, in dragon years, Silvana was barely a teen and had literally come from another time.

"I never said that," snapped Cyber before grinning wildly at Moonstruck, "Hey, doggy, dinner's on you!" before he threw his half-eaten pie in her face, Leroy pulling one of the plasma pistols he hid with his extra arms and shooting an extinguisher, causing white extinguisher smoke everywhere. Of course, as soon as the extinguisher foam had cleared, the experiments were long gone.

Silvana blinked before slurping the foam on her face up. "I don't think they paid," she said thoughtfully.


Haze, meanwhile, was far away, waiting near his ship and waiting for communication from his other employer. He wasn't disappointed as his ship's comm came to life. "Mr. Mancer, we've been over your report and my employer wants you to actually confirm it," said the black-suited humanoid on the other end.

"What more needs to be said?" asked Haze offhandedly.

"Did you or did you not see this person?" said the man, an image of Moonshock appearing on Taskmaster's CCTV.

"Seen her? She threw me through a wall," said Haze.

"Very well. My employer is adding an extra million to your payment," said the officer, adding, "Do I need to recommend you lose this frequency?"

"I know my business," said Mancer, "Don't know why you'd be interested in her anyways."

"That's not for you. Don't call us again," said the officer, the line going dead.

"I am never workin' with those weirdos again," Mancer muttered.


Mancer wasn't the only one handing something in...

"For once in your lives, behave yourselves. This isn't just any authority figure that's coming," said Omnirus.

"Yeah, yeah...the Virks have some new top dog after Taleth vanished," said Leroy smugly.

Dark Start adding, "I heard she's a real nutcase."

"She doesn't take disrespect very well," said Omnirus.

"And she still hired us?" said Cyber.

Omnirus was about to object before saying, "Maybe she's not that good at judging character."

Suddenly, a portal opened up in front of the group. "Neat," said Cyber before taking a picture.

Four Shar-Virk troopers walked out, aiming their staffs at the group, before a fifth figure walked through.

The fifth Shar Virk was oddly enough in human form, if you didn't count her horns or her draconic eyes. She was wearing Shar-Virk armor that looked higher-grade than the trooper's, including shoulder pauldrons shaped like dragon heads.

Omnirus's brain meanwhile was going through the following 'That can't be Lumina. If it was her parents would have killed her by now for letting her dress up like the Dark Lord Sauron's cousin...nope...' before his mouth said "Ma'am."

The female chuckled, "Tenebra will do...or your future overlord."

"Uh...you climbed up the ranks in record time," said Omnirus.

"Yes, I did," said Tenebra smugly, before her smile fell, "Now then, to business. My spies told me that some local villainess here created a very interesting symbiote. One in your possession."

"Yes, you'll not likely find another like it," said Omnirus.

"Show me," said Tenebra darkly.

Dark Start brought out the container, in which the purple and black slime raged against its sides.

"Check it," said Tenebra, one of the troopers running his wristcomp over it.

"Genuine...some DNA abnormalities, but nothing we can't fix," he said.

Tenebra smiled and picking up the container. "You are gonna be so useful," she said happily.

Cyber said, "Ok...how much do we get paid?" before he gulped as all four experiments each got a blue laser dot on them, the guards aiming.

"Hmm...that depends...how much are your lives worth?" Tenebra said with a chuckle.

"Not even a gratuity?" asked Leroy.

"Do you even know what a gratuity is?" asked Dark Start.

Tenebra said, "You're not getting a penny. I'm being generous by just letting you live."

"You're certainly filling out the criteria for evil overlord," said Omnirus.

"Evil Empress," corrected Tenebra, walking back through the portal, the guards keeping their aim till they followed.

Once the portal closed, Omnirus snapped, "If I ever have to deal with her again, it'll be too soon."

"Wait...what if the Lynches find out who we sold that goop to?" added Leroy, Omnirus going bug-eyed.

"Hopefully they'll forget about it. There's plenty of things to keep their minds off of it," said Omnirus.

"What could possibly do that?" scoffed Dark Start.


Chloe walked through the Triskelion, headed for the medical bay. She was in a good mood. She was at least 50% confident that Fury was happy to have the cannon back and hopefully her brother was ok too.

She walked in and said, "Hey Matt, hope your insides..."

She trailed off as she saw who was taking care of Matt. Instead of Morph, it was Kala. And while Kala was dressed as a nurse, she didn't seem quite the kind of nurse who practiced medicine. Considering her uniform's plunging neckline and the amount of legs she was showing. "Oh, Chloe, you're back," said Kala a bit awkwardly.

"Kala...Matt's meant to be recovering," Chloe growled.

"I am recovering," said Matt, "I'm feeling much better. I just needed some old-fashioned TLC."

Chloe's eye twitched at that. "Now, I assure you, we haven't done anything-" started Kala.

Chloe just held up a hand to stop her. "I've been covered with a symbiote, possessed by a ghost fish, and taken a pie to the face," said Chloe, "So I am going to back to the base and take a very long, exfoliating shower."

As soon as Chloe left, Kala asked, "Do you want to continue…"

"No, the mood's definitely gone now," said Matt flatly.

"Right, you need me to warm up your bed or-"

"Kala, let's save this for when I'm well enough to be back at the bunker," said Matt.

Kala pouted and muttered, "You're no fun."


It's a new year which means a new chapter. We see the return of Taskmaster and the weapon he stole earlier. And this is the last we'll be seeing of Haze Mancer. The symbiote named Scythe won't be appearing again in this story, but it will be appearing in later fics. The next set of chapters will be another trilogy, though they're still be worked on. The wait for these shouldn't be as long. Keep an eye out for them and please review.