Here's Chapter Five. I'm thinking about bringing in the Howling Commandos in future chapters what do you guys think? Offer is still good if you have a Marvel character you want in this I'll try to work him or her in. Thanks for the reviews enjoy.
4: The Shadows Lengthen
Doctor Curt Connors was working late as usual in his lab at Empire State University. He was mid experiment when a sound drew his attention to the doorway. A ruffled man in a wide brimmed hat stood in the doorway.
"Um, excuse me but the campus is closed." He said eyeing the phone on his desk if he lunged he just might…
"Curt, you have to help me." A voice from Curt's long forgotten passed froze him in place.
"B…Bruce?" He asked. The man stepped forward into the light. The face was scruffy and he looked like he had been through a hurricane and a sandstorm, but it was Bruce Banner. Curt Connors gasped seeing his old friend alive once more.
"Been a long time Curt." Bruce said sitting down. Curt could only nod. As much as it brought him joy to see his old friend he remembered the very reason he had disappeared. Bruce carried within him a dark secret not unlike Curt's own. Bruce noticed his friend's apprehension. "Don't worry; the Hulk and I are finally on the same page."
"The Hulk and you? You mean that you are two separate entities?" Curt asked becoming intrigued at the notion.
"Yes, we were from the beginning but I was to focus on getting rid of him that I never tried to communicate with him."
"And because you only wanted to destroy him he never helped you." Curt said. Banner nodded. "So why had you come to see me?" Curt asked pouring a cup of coffee. He offered on to Bruce who took it.
"Because I, we need your help."
"Me? What could you possibly need me for?"
"I want you to help me find a way to turn into the Hulk at will." Bruce said.
"You can't be serious!" Connors yelled. "Bruce do you know what that monster did to…"
"I am not a monster!" A gruff voice growled from Bruce's throat. Bruce touched his head.
"Please don't insult him." Bruce pleaded. "If you can find a way for you to let me turn into him at will then we can be aware of our actions. We can control our rage."
"Okay Bruce I'll do what I can."
"Thank you."
Peter was working alone tonight. He was avoiding his unresolved feelings about Tony's death by trying to find the new Goblin he saw the other night. As he swung through the city he heard a scream. He changed directions and headed towards an ally. He saw a man being held against a wall by another man only he head was a burning skull.
"Why do I have to always deal with the weirdos." He sighed.
"You have demon stink all over you, where is he?" The Ghostrider demanded.
"I swear to you I don't know, I'm just a drug dealer man. I don't know nothing bout no demons." The guy whimpered.
"Look into my eyes." The rider hissed. The man didn't want to but he was drawn to look at the black orbs.
"Hold on there don't you know this is a no smoking ally." Spiderman yelled kicking Ghostrider away from the man. The guy fell and looked at Peter. "Get out of here." Peter ordered.
"Don't have to tell me twice." The guy said dashing out of the ally. Spiderman was grabbed and thrown against a way. The bricks shattered where his hit them. Peter soon found himself face to face with the Ghostrider.
"Do not interfere with the spirit of vengeance." He hissed then made a sniffing noise. "You reek of Mephisto." He roared.
"Mephis-who?" Peter replied.
"The Prince of Lies, the First of the Fallen, the Devil!"
"Uh, okay why don't you put me down and I'll web you in the face!" Peter fired his webbing at the Ghostrider's eyes but the streams burned to ash before they could touch. Peter was lifted and tossed down the ally.
"That was a mistake." The rider growled and advanced on Peter. Right as he reached out to grab him again he stopped. He turned and fired a blast of fire at a shadow in the ally. There was an angry squeal and a small black form jumped from the shadows and ran down the ally away from the two. Ghostrider pulled his chain from his shoulder. "Back to hell." He ordered and lashed out with the chain. The chain wrapped around the little beast and began to glow red. The monster screamed as it burst into flame as was reduced to ash before Peter's eyes.
"What the hell was that?" Peter asked as Ghostrider rewound the chain around his shoulder.
"Darkling." He grunted as he walked away from Peter.
"Wait. Who are you?" He called after the man. Ghostrider whistled and a bike reefed in flame rolled up to him. He straddled the bike and turned to look at Peter.
"Ghostrider." He said and gunned the bike and took off. Leaving Peter in the dusk very confused.
"Okay, Darklings, Ghostriders, and the Devil. I think its time to pay a little visit to the Sorcerer Supreme." He said swinging off towards Greenwich Village.
The War Goblin stood atop on of the many buildings overlooking the city. He smiled evilly. 'Soon this city will be mine.' He thought. His comlink beeped. He walked over and picked it up.
"War Goblin reporting." He said.
"Parker is heading towards the Sanctum Santorum to see out strange." Mordo's voice spoke through the link. "Stop him no matter what the cost."
"It shall be done Baron." He spoke and snapped his fingers. His glider appeared from the pocket dimension and War Goblin jumped on it. The jets screamed as he lanced towards Greenwich Village. Peter could see the seemingly unordinary Victorian home of Doctor Strange. Suddenly his spider since flared. He switched directions just in time to avoid the War Goblin's glider streaking by. "Catch me if you can wall crawler." He laughed and kicked the glider to full speed.
"Answers are going to have to wait." Peter said and went after the War Goblin. As he pursued he noticed that the War Goblin's movements didn't match either Norman or his son Harry Osborn. If anything the War Goblin moved like him.
"Come on hero what are you waiting for an invitation?" War Goblin yelled turning and charging at Peter in a matter of moments. He raised a gauntleted fist and pointed it at Spiderman. Five small stinger missiles leapt from War Goblin's wrist towards Pete. Peter cursed and barley dived out of the way. The missiles lanced off into the night exploding against the buildings they struck. Pete turned to see three pumpkin bombs falling towards him. He quickly webbed the bombs and tossed them into the air. The bombs exploded harmlessly above their heads.
"What no new tricks? You're just a cheep knock off of every other Goblin out there." He said landing on a nearby building.
"Oh really?" War Goblin smiled and held out his hands. Red symbols etched into his armor began to glow. Beside War Goblin two shadowy demon gliders appeared. The screeching beasts salivated in anticipation of their next meal. "This new enough for you?" War Goblin asked as the monsters charged Spiderman.
"Me and my big mouth." Peter muttered dodging the demonic creatures as War Goblin's laughter echoed over the beast's roars. He swung out of the way just as the first demon glider smashed into the building where he was. He turned as the other sailed past him. Peter cried out in pain as the monster's jaws ripped through his side. He kicked the beast and fired a zip line web to the building he was just on. He pulled with all of his might building his momentum and slammed into the glider that had hit the building. The monster screamed in agony as it dissolved into black shadow. 'Well at least they kill easy' he thought. 'Now where is the other one?' He turned to see the second glider only feet away jaws open ready to tear into him. When a grappling hook shot right through the creature. The monster screamed as electric current rushed through its body. Finally the beast dissolved. Peter looked up to see Blackcat swing down to him.
"Looked like you could use some help." She smiled at him. 'Oh my god she's so hot, but I got to concentrate on the Gob…where did he go?' He looked around and saw no sign of the Goblin. Cat watched him and laughed.
"What's so funny?" He demanded. "I was almost turned into a human chew toy."
"You're letting our little thing get to you." She teased.
"I am not!" He yelled. She laughed again and shot her grappling hook and swung off.
"Fine then don't follow me." She said. Peter watched her go and shook his head. He followed her. What else could he do?
When they had gone a small rip in the sky opened and War Goblin slipped out.
"Interesting." He said. "Perhaps I can use this information to my advantage." He let out a cackle and headed back towards his lair in Hell's Kitchen.
Ghostrider had be following Blackheart's sent for hours before he finally came to an upscale apartment complex. He dismounted his bike and waved it off. The bike rolled into an ally down the street. The rider sniffed the building and spat a glob of fire on the ground.
"This place reeks of Blackheart." He growled then sniffed again and stiffened. "And others." He unslung his chain. He turned back to the complex as a shadow shot towards him. The shadow slammed him to the ground and took shape. Ghostrider stared at the grinning face of Thog.
"What's new Rider?" He asked flipping back and avoiding the chain.
"You're going back to hell." He spoke rising.
"Cut to the chase eh? Alright I always hated drawn out fights." Thog hissed. He jumped forward and kicked Ghostrider in the head. Before he could rise Thog grabbed his leg and threw him against a wall. Ghost rider pointed his open palm at Thog. A jet of hellfire shot out enveloping Thog.
"I'm a fire demon you ignorant shit." Thog hissed walking through the blaze. "Flame doesn't hurt me, but it will you." He brought his fists together and a cyclone of blue flame swirled from his hands. The blue flame washed over Ghostrider but did not burn. The flame was cold and began to extinguish the hellfire that flowed over Ghostrider's body. "Once the frost flame puts out the fire Johnny Blaze will be flayed alive by my flame." Thog laughed. Ghostrider drew his hands in he had little time left as his flame around his skull flickered. He threw his arms out as a corona of hellfire exploded out from his body the flame slammed into Thog and threw him a hundred feet. As Thog lay their motionless Ghostrider collected his chain and wrapped one end around Thog's neck. He threw the other over a bar above them. Thog awoke as he was hoisted up into the air. The chain glowed as his demonic energy and slowly began to strangle Thog.
"What's Blackheart's plan?" Ghost rider asked punching Thog in the gut.
"Like I'd tell you Rider. You are a simpleton." Thog hissed. Ghostrider willed the chain to tighten and brought his fist into Thog's gut again.
"Tell me what Blackheart is doing here." He demanded.
"Go to hell!" Thog gurgled.
"No you. " Tiring of the interrogation Ghostrider snapped his chain. Thog's body hit the pavement before his head did. Ghostrider stepped over the corpse and prepared to enter to complex but the sun's first rays struck his hand. Johnny Blaze cursed he would have to wait until night fall the deal with Blackheart he turned and trod through the ashes that was Thog and sought out his bike.
"Okay Bruce, lets give it a try." Curt said as he prepared to blast the serum with gamma rays to activate it.
"Curt are you sure, if I…"
"Go green."
"Yeah, and we can't contro it. We might…" He trailed off not wanting to think what an angry Hulk would do to the city. Curt placed his hand on Bruce's.
"Don't worry." He spoke walking over to the table and taking a scalpel in his hand.
"Don't do that, you'll just make him mad." Bruce warned, but Connors should his head. He drew the scalpel across his hand drawing blood. "What are you…" Bruce began but he was cut off as scales erupted from the wound and spread over his arm. Connors'
"I have my own defense and can slow you down if need be." Connors said. Bruce looked at Curt as if seeing him for the first time. The pain and fear behind Curt's eyes matched his own before he came to an agreement with the monster inside of him. Perhaps when this was over he could help his friend come to terms with his inner demon.
"Do it." The machine hummed to life as it irradiated the serum after a few seconds he turned off the machine and took the vile and placed it in an injector gun.
"Okay Bruce you know the drill." Curt said. Bruce rolled up his sleeve and made a fist. The injector gun clicked as the icy fluid shot into Bruce's veins. He grimaced and grunted as the serum dulled his feeling. After several minutes his body returned to normal. He looked around.
"Here it goes." He said and closed his eyes. "Hulk, you want some air?" Bruce's muscles flexed and grew. His skin turned green and he grew to stand over ten feet tall. Bruce's clothes were shredded to pieces by the change. When it was finished Curt Connors stood looking into the green eyes of the Hulk.
"Bruce are you in there?" Curt asked.
"Banner is here." Hulk replied. "You do good lizard man, make Hulk like Jen."
"Uh, thanks I guess." Curt replied. The door opened and Peter walked in.
"Doctor Connors, I hop I'm not…" He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Hulk.
"Little man see nothing okay? Or I smash." Hulk warned slamming his fist into his hand. He turned back to Connors. "Lizard man is this one okay to keep secret?" Hulk asked. Cut nodded.
"I trust Peter he knows my secret and he will keep yours wont you Pete?"
"Yeah sure just don't hit me." Peter said holding up his hands. Hulk snorted.
"Not worth our time. I change back now." Hulk shrank and Bruce Banner reemerged gasping.
"Good…good job Curt." Bruce said as Connors handed him a lab coat to cover his nakedness. Connors handed Bruce a cup of coffee. He turned to Peter.
"What did you need?" He asked Peter who was still eyeing Bruce Banner.
"Well since we're all meta-humans here, I guess I can speak freely. Doc do you still have the piece of Venom I gave to you?"
"Uh…yes I do, but I've made no advances in our research you wanted to do." Curt said.
"Well we may not have the time to research." Peter stated sitting down.
"What happened?"
"I fought a new Goblin last night. He had the technology of Osborn but he had other powers. Ones that are not tech based."
"What are you talking about Pete?"
"I was nearly torn to pieces by demons alright!" Peter yelled. Curt and Bruce stepped back.
"Demons?" Bruce asked.
"Yea demons you know hellspawn." Pete said rubbing his head he was messed up. He hadn't been sleeping lately and his rendezvous with Cat were not helping.
"But why do you want to know if I…" Curt began but he realized the answer already. The look of horror that erupted from Connors' face showed he understood what Peter wanted. "No." He said. "You can't let that thing have you, it won't let go you'll be lost." Curt stammered.
"If the black suit is my only option then I may have to." Pete said.
Steven Strange sat in his study meditating. He was searching. Last night in his dream his old master the Ancient One had told him that the dark forces were at work in the city. But try as he might he could sense nothing amiss. Finally after another fruitless attempt he exited his study to find Wong standing in front of him.
"Ah Wong is something the matter?" Strange asked. Wong frowned and shook his head.
"The sun bleaches the Saharan sand and the rain falls in the Amazon. Today nothing is the matter." Wong spoke. Strange instantly withdrew to his study and Wong followed. After they were in Wong and Strange cast spells to hide them from prying eyes and ears.
"What is it Wong." Strange asked sure now that they were safe to speak freely.
"I have felt uneasy for several weeks sir. I am certain that we are being watched and perhaps spelled to keep us unaware of what goes on outside our home." Wong spoke nervously.
"I know I have sensed it too." Strange said he quickly went to his book self and drew out a green pouch. Strange reached into the bag and tossed a handful of dust into the air and muttered an incantation. Purple lines of magical energy circled the room and both Strange and Wong. "As I guessed a dampening spell to keep us ignorant of the movements of our foes.
"But who could have done this without our notice?" Wong asked.
"The spell is Mordo's but the power behind it comes from a different origin and thus I did not perceive it as a threat. He looked closely at the line and the symbols within. "They are Asguard. That is why I did not detect the spell."
"What should we do?" Wong asked.
"You can do nothing" Hissed a voice behind them. Strange and Wong turned to face their aggressor.
"Lillith." Strange spat. The demon queen laughed as the room fell away from them the elaborate illusion faded into nothingness. Instead where the Sanctum Sanctorum was now there was the fire s
wept plane of hell. "All an illusion we have been gone for some time." Strange spoke as he raised his hands to begin a spell. A bolt of lightning struck the sorcerer knocking him to the ground. Strange looked to see Loki armed with the hammer of his brother Thor smiling at them.
"Simpletons both of you." Loki sneered. "Illusions better than those have failed to fool even my simple minded half brother."
"Enough we must finish this." Spoke a voice like a thousand needles stabbing your body. The dark form of Mephisto appeared in the flames. "You have finally seen through our façade, no matter we are too far along in our plans for you to stop us."
"Maybe so but I can still try." Strange said and raised his hands a blinding light caused the villains to scream. Strange mumbled and incantation and a rift opened in the air. "Go Wong hurry and find help." Strange ordered. Wong nodded and jumped through the rift. Strange was about to follow when a red baton stuck his head and knocked the Sorcerer Supreme unconscious.
Wong landed hard in Central Park. He quickly dusted himself off and made his way towards 42street. He knew they would be watching the Sanctum but he and Doctor Strange had set up to smaller bases in the city should the Sanctum be compromised. He quickly made his way to an old rundown theater and entered the building. He quickly raided the weapons cache for his fire's breath spear and several powerful potions and spells. Next he set out to find help, but he didn't know where to turn. A man in a black ski mask ran past as a lady screamed that her purse had been snatched. Wong turned to stop the man but as he raised his hand to begin a spell, Spiderman dropped down and landed don the crook the grabbed the purse and handed it to the lady then he webbed the guy to the side of a building. As Spiderman was about to swing away Wong grabbed him.
"Spiderman you must help me." Wong pleaded.
"Wong, what's wrong?" Peter asked.
"Doctor Strange has been captured I need you help to save him."
"Okay come with me and we'll discus it at a safe location." Peter said. Wong nodded and followed Peter in the form of a small tornado.
Strange has been captured now, but at least Bruce can control the Hulk. If Peter puts on the Black Suit again will he be able to survive?