Hello one and all! Welcome to my next Spider-Man story, Spider-Man: Survival of the Strongest! It's been long and coming but I've worked out all the kinks and planning and I'm ready to go! For those who read my first Spider-Man story, this is my gift to you! This new story picks up after Spider-man 2, and has ties to my first story as well. SO it does help if you read my first story, but it isn't necessary. Anyways, here you are, the next chapter of Spider-Man: Survival of the Strongest!
I do NOT own these characters, they are owned by Marvel Comics!
Spider-Man: Survival of the Strongest: Issue 2: Planning
Dozens of patrons strolled out of the colonial theatre laughing and talking about the performance they just witnessed. The sky was dark, and the air cool; complete contrast from the weather earlier that day.
One of the last people to exit the theatre was a slender woman; she hurried away from the double doors quickly. Her features were mostly hidden in the shadows of the night, her face lit occasionally by a nearby street lamp. Her expression was one of confusion and frustration. She finally stopped, retrieving her cell phone from her purse to glance at the time. 8:54.
She sighed in frustration, brushing several locks of hair away from her face, she takes a few more steps as she dials, the light of the phone revealing more of her features. She has long beautiful red hair; vibrant eyes that light up darkness in any corridor. She bites the lower of her full lips and brings the cell phone to her ear.
The woman turns down a second street and she's snatched up, a dark hand grabbing the top of her wrist and wrenching her from the ground. She screams loudly, dropping the phone, it clatters on the ground loudly; one of her shoes falls next. She writhes and screams, trying to break free of the grasp. It's no use. Another hand grabs her free wrist and she's pulled further from the ground until she finally stops, she whimpers and struggles again.
"I totally got you."
Her eyes open and fill with anger, at once she realizes whom her 'attacker' was.
"Peter…you aren't funny!" she screamed.
"I'm sorry MJ, I couldn't resist!" the masked attacker laughed.
They drop to the ground, falling into streetlight, the attacker revealing to be Spider-Man, the masked wall crawler that patrols the streets of New York. He rubs the back of his head; his slender body clad in grid like patterns and web designs. Mary Jane scoops up her cell phone and bag, breathing rather heavily.
"Look MJ don't be mad…" he said.
"Peter! I just ugh…I …why weren't you at the theatre!" She asked.
"Break in up the block. Three guys, couple of guns on 'em. Look I'm sorry I made you walk out here like this." Spider-Man said, stepping close to her.
"Tell me you at least managed to pick up the movie…" she added.
"Yep last copy of reservoir dogs." He smiled. "Look I'm really really sorry I didn't show at the theatre."
"I…" She sighs, her lips curving into a smile "can't be mad at you. Let's go."
He laughs scooping her up before running towards an apartment to the left of them. Spider-Man leaps onto the side of the building, running straight up and disappearing over the roof. From below a nearby observer shouts that Spider-Man kidnapped a woman.
Leaping through the night sky, the two have no troubles or worries, Mary Jane laughs as Spider-Man twirls in the air after leaping off of buildings. When he hesitates to spin a web line right away she lets out a shrill of worry and he settles that worry. Spider-Man releases another web line and plants his feet firmly to the side of a building. Mary Jane shifts uncomfortably as she waits for him to climb up onto the roof of the building to safety.
He sets her down on the roof and removes his mask, looking for the webbed pile of clothes he had left here earlier. He found them and began to quickly pull his clothing over the costume, hiding the Spider-Man symbol. He finally finishes, looking up to see Mary Jane smiling at him, moving hair behind her ear. Peter smiles back stepping toward her and placing his hands on her sides.
Mary Jane was amazing, simply the greatest woman he had ever known. From his sheepish longing since they were children to his full-blown adoration of her now, she had always been the girl for him. Not only had they finally got together, but also she knew his deepest darkest secret. Peter Parker was Spider-Man. Peter parker could shoot webs from his wrists, stick and climb walls; he fought some of the toughest criminals in the world. She loves him anyway. She accepts his burden and helps to shoulder it in her own ways. For this, Peter's love for her is solidified.
"Ready for food?" she asks him, her hands rubbing his arms.
"Starved, having these powers gives me an even faster metabolism." Peter says with a smile.
Peter scoops her up, hopping off of the side of the ledge, a web line slowing their fall until they land softly in the alleyway. They exit the alley and step into the brightly lit street, several cabs fly by honking loudly. Within minutes they're seated at their favorite Mexican restaurant; menu's in both of their hands.
"I know what I want." Peter said quickly, putting the menu down.
"Me too." Mary Jane said, smiling brightly at him.
They ordered, their drinks were brought right after. MJ smiles at peter, her hand massaging his. The two smile and gaze at each other, neither saying anything at first until she breaks the silence.
"Production got pushed back a week again." She said.
"What? Why, what happened to the 30th?" he asked.
"Something about Ted's wife being sick. And we can't do the play without a director." She said, taking a sip of her water.
"Speaking about productions, I saw the weirdest news cast today." Peter said,
"When you were eating with May?" Mary Jane asked.
The server came by, placing a bowl of nachos and salsa down in front of the two before rushing away again. Peter picked up a chip, taking a large bite.
"Yeah, all about Oscorp's new technology." He said, swallowing, "They're these really high tech suits."
Mary Jane's brow rose as she washed down nachos with her water.
"Yeah, super powered suits. Both with super strength, one supposedly can fly. These suits are definite attention grabbers, it seems perfect for the up and coming villain." He added sarcastically.
"Don't think that way, I'm sure they're under heavy security if they're that important. Wait, you said it was an Oscorp thing? Was Harry on TV too?" she asked.
Peter sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes with two fingers. He hadn't seen or heard from Harry since he discovered who peter also was. Their last conversation was one of desperation, peter had been trying to save Mary Jane from Otto Octavius and only Harry knew where he was. Peter rushed off to stop Doc Ock and hadn't heard from Harry in a really long time.
"No," He finally answered.
"I'm sorry." Mary Jane immediately replied.
"I wonder if Dr. Conners knows anything about these suits. He's worked alongside Oscorp employees before. Maybe he has some Intel on them." Peter said, changing the subject.
"Its worth a shot." She added, stirring her water around.
The waiter set their food down; it steamed its wonderful smell through the air. Peter started eating without hesitation and didn't stop till he was completely finished. Mary Jane ended up taking some food to go.
They walked slowly back towards Peter's apartment, hands entwined. They talked long and deep into the night before finally arriving at the apartment. It was really time for a new one; he was still living in the same cruddy place. Not to mention the landlord still hounding him for money. MJ helped him fix the place up, it looked much better compared to the stained walls that used to stare at peter late at night. She stayed nights at his apartment all the time.
Instead of taking the usual route, peter runs quickly up the side of the apartment, Mary Jane swinging from his back. He pulls the door to the outside open and they jump inside.
"I love doing that!" Mary Jane giggled hugging him tightly.
"Then why do you scream so much?" Peter asked, grinning.
"Quiet you." She replied, her lips finding his.
They embrace, lips burning for one another. Mary Jane's arm hooks around and pulls the shade to the window down; their silhouettes remain entangled.
Outside a figure moves in he shadows, lenses pick up the reflection of the window and the silhouette of peter and Mary Jane settles in the lenses. An eye blinks and the figure moves.
Elsewhere…
A knock sounds on the door, the room is extremely dark, and a figure sits alone at the end of the room. Its completely immersed in shadow, the large window behind it shows the entire city, brightly lit even now. The figure sighs loudly, and then grunts. The knocking sounds again.
"What is it!" the figure calls out in a raspy voice.
The door opens, light flooding the room, the figure that was submerged in darkness yells. A man steps in, closing the door quickly behind him, and clawing around in the dark. The figure says nothing to the man, it sits and watches.
"Sir, everything is in place for tomorrow night." The man says, still trying to find a chair.
The figure laughs. "It must be hard not to have a light. I don't need to see right now, as my eyes are adjusting from the last transformation."
"Very funny sir." The man adds sarcastically
"They still believe you are Dillon Matherson?" the figure chuckles.
"They don't have a clue otherwise. The suits will be all set by tomorrow." Dillon answers
"Excellent. You are bringing those boys with you tomorrow aren't you? Don't let them screw it up."
"Yeah sir, and they aren't no boys. Ones pretty old, the other couple years younger than me. Could we turn on a light?"
A desk lamp flickers on at the mention of the word, it illuminates half of the room, and the half the figure is not in. the figure remains behind his desk, sheltering his face from the light.
"Happy?" he hissed.
"Sorry. I couldn't see a damned thing." Dillon replied, taking a seat in front of the being. "So what exactly is the plan, I'm still confused."
"You are to get those suits, and bring them here to me. When you do we will find suitable candidates to operate them and eliminate spider-man. No one kills friends of mine." The figure hissed again.
"Are we sure Roderick bit it? He's not lyin' low just like Chicago?"
"NO." the figure snapped, "He would have at least contacted me. We have a chain of communications we need to keep."
Dillon nods, he lets out a long breath of air before scratching his head.
"So when do I get my share of this money?" he asked.
The figure lunges out of the shadows, grabbing Dillon by the throat. The young man gasped and clawed at the man's hand, choking in pain. The figure grinned, his skin being revealed for the first time. Strips of flesh hung off of his skull, bits of hair picking up light from the desk lamp. Under the torn flesh is dark red skin, covered in a slimy substance. The figures ice blue eyes burn with intensity.
"Do as your told, you ask too many questions."
He releases the gagging matherson before sliding back into his dark corner.
"rrghh…gak!" Dillon spits, slumping to the floor, holding his throat in pain.
"Get out of here, I don't want to see you until you have the suits." The figure sneers.
Matherson struggles to his feet and takes off, running out of the office, slamming the door shut behind him.
The figure sits in silence once again, its hand moves across the desk to a drawer. The drawer slides open, inside is a metallic circle, it appears to be broken, and several pieces hang out of it.
"Soon…soon you will be fixed."
Things are shaping up, just who is this spokesman for Oscorp? Why is he stealing the super powered suits and just who is this mysterious figure he works for? He seems to have it in for Spider-Man, but peter doesn't have a clue! Who was hanging around outside Peter's window! This and more next issue of Spider-Man: Survival of the Strongest! Thanks please review! – Peechman