Greeting Again True Believers! First, let me apologize for taking so long to update, but I refused to post anything I was not pleased with. I wanted to make sure this chapter was up to my usual standards. I thank all of you for patently waiting. Now, on to the business at hand.
In an attempt to cheer up Gwen, our hero took her web slinging. She was thrilled to spend time with her favorite hero. That is, until a certain pumpkin toting party crasher came onto the scene. Let us see how the Spectacular Spider will handle him. I do not own the Spectacular Spider-Man.
On with the show!
Chapter 7: Rooftop Rumble
Gwen looked up. Fear, unimaginable fear raced through her body. She was looking at Oscorps' Goblin Glider. On it was a figure in an orange hood and cape. He had a sadistic grin on his face. His red eyes pierced right through her. Gwen wanted to run, but was frozen. Spider-Man quickly got in front of her.
"Hobgoblin, I presume?" he asked.
"Quite right," said Hobgoblin, taking a bow. "I'm sorry to make you wait so long, but I wanted this meeting to be perfect."
"What do you want?" asked Spider-Man.
A pumpkin bomb popped out of the glider's wing. Hobgoblin grabbed it, activated it and in a oily voice said, "Your demise."
Spider-Man saw the bomb coming. He jumped, webbed the bomb and threw it back. Hobgoblin dodged the attack, giving Spider-Man enough time to grab Gwen and jump off the opposite end of the building. Hobgoblin flew over to where they jumped. He scanned the area, but found nothing. He growled to himself as he flew away.
From the shadows of a fire escape, Spider-Man and Gwen emerged. "OK" said Spider-Man, looking around. "You should be safe here."
"You're going to fight him?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"I have to. If nothing else, it's the only way to make sure you get home safely." He jumped to the next level of the fire escape. "You stay here and keep in the shadows."
"Wait!" she shouted, reaching out to him. He looked at her. "Be careful." Spider-Man nodded his head and began climbing.
Hobgoblin continued to search the surrounding buildings where he lost Spider-Man. "Ooooooooooh, Spider-Maaaaaaaaaan" he called, mockingly. "Come out, come out, where ever you are." He continued to look, but saw nothing. Hobgoblin grumbled to himself as he stood on his glider. "This is getting tiresome."
"Then how about this for excitement!" Suddenly, Hobgoblin felt a foot collide with his back and fell forward, off the glider. Spider-Man shot a web line and swung towards his opponent. He slammed both feet in Hobgoblin's chest causing him to crash into a building wall.
Hobgoblin's glider automatically flew back to its master. It hovered patiently in the air. The Hobgoblin, now very angry, jumped onto the glider. He threw some more pumpkin bombs and pumpkin blades. Spider-Man kept dodging the onslaught of ammo.
"Hey, Web-Head," called Hobgoblin. "Who's your friend?"
"That was my new intern," he replied. "You know how it is; the first sign of work and they up and quit."
"Kids today," commented Hobgoblin. "Absolutely no work ethic. Too bad, she looked kinda cute."
That one got under his skin. Spider-Man turned around and punched the Hobgoblin right in the jaw. No low life calls my Gwen cute. As Spider-Man was turning around for another hit, something hard, metal, and big slammed him in the back. Spider-Man fell face first into a nearby roof. He didn't have time to get his bearings before he was hit by electricity. The shock almost made him pass out. He tried to stand, but was slammed down by some unseen force. Spider-Man could feel the pressure increase, pushing down harder and harder, trying to smother him. Spider-Man couldn't see what was holding him down, but he realized one of his hands was still free. Taking a chance, he blindly shot a web line. It hit a neighboring building. Using all of his strength, he pulled himself free from what he could now see was a large pile of sand. The sand started to move and reformed into Sand Man.
"What's the matter, Hobby?" asked Spider-Man. "Didn't think you could take me on your own?"
Hobgoblin slowly descended from his viewing spot. "Perish the thought Spider-Man. On second thought, JUST PERISH!" shouted Hobgoblin as he threw another pumpkin bomb. Spider-Man easily dodged the bomb, but did not have time to dodge the huge fist that hit him in the chest. Spider-Man was sent flying across the roof. As he started to get up, he took a good look around. He saw the Sinister Six (with the exception of Vulture of course) and Molten Man, all on Goblin Gliders. You have got to be kidding me, he thought.
Hobgoblin came to the front. "When I came up with this idea of your demise I thought: what's the fun of putting on a show without audience participation?" Hobgoblin came off his glider and looked straight into Spider-Man's eyes. "So what do you think?"
"I think it's amazing that glider can lift Rhino. I guess miracles really can happen." Spider-Man shot webbing in Hobgoblin's face. Then gave him a one-two punch to the jaw. Doc Oc saw this and sent one of his tentacles to slam Spider-Man in the back. This time Spider-Man dodged the attack and back flipped over it causing Oc to hit Hobgoblin. Spider-Man then jumped off the edge of the building and web swung away.
"Don't just stand there you imbeciles, GET HIM!" shouted Doc Oc. The rest of the Six flew after him. Molten Man just floated there. Hobgoblin ripped the webbing of his face and jumped on to his glider.
He looked at Mark with rage. "If you ever want to be yourself again, you will stop standing around and rid me of that SPIDER!" He and Doc Oc then sped off in search of Spider-Man with Mark reluctantly following.
I have to separate them. I can't take all eight on at once. Spider-Man raced through the skies of the Big Apple, trying to shake the now aerial Sinister Six plus two. He looked behind him to see Vulture closing in on him.
"I have you now," he said as a laser pack rose from his back and opened fire. Spider-Man dodged the blasts, but one hit his web line. He was falling, but there was a flag pole right below him he could grab. Unfortunately, Mysterio was also right below him.
"Adukom Acelo Teranta!" A huge green dragon came flying straight at Spider-Man. Realizing his spider sense hadn't gone off, he dove right at the dragon and passed straight through it, slamming his shoulder into Mysterio. Mysterio had not expected Spider-Man to charge through his illusion and was knocked off his glider from the force of Spider-Man's blow. Before he fell too far, Rhino flew underneath and caught him. Spider-Man shot another web line before he became the Spectacular Spider-Splat on the pavement.
Spider-Man looked back to see Rhino catch Mysterio. "That's IT!" All I have to do to split them up is to get them off those gliders, he thought. That will be easier said than done, though. Spider-Man landed on a roof top and shouted, "Is that best you guys got? I've seen better moves in Circ de Soleil." That one got to Vulture. He dived straight at Spider-Man. This was what the Web-Head was hoping for. He waited just a few seconds longer and then jumped when he felt his spider sense go off. Vulture was now right where Spider-Man should have been and received a blast of electricity from Electro.
"Nice shot, Lightning Butt," taunted the web slinger as he landed on the side of the building. "But I assume your target was me, unless you wanted to look like an idiot."
"Shut-up!" shouted Electro. "Stop mocking me!" He threw another electric attack at Spider-Man.
The Spider leaped over the blast and ran at Electro. "I mock. I'm mocker." He then webbed Electro in the chest and jumped off the building. "I'm also a puller and a yanker." Spider-Man planted his feet back on the building and slammed Electro face first in to the wall. Suddenly, his spider sense went off. Spider-Man jumped from his perch and dodged a large fist of sand.
"What's the matter, web-Head?" taunted Marko. "Not so tough when you're not the only one who can fly."
"Are you kidding?" said Spider-Man with a chuckle. "Vulture can fly and he still can't hit me." A laser blast suddenly hit the building Spider-Man was swinging next to. He looked behind him to find Vulture back in the air, carrying Electro in his talons. "Wow, Electro, I guess you can't carry your own weight in a fight."
"That does IT!" shouted Electro as he charged up for a huge attack.
"NO, you fool" shouted Vulture in alarm. "Don't…" But it was too late. The charging electricity shocked Vulture, causing him to lose control of his flight teck suit. Unable to control his flight pattern, Vulture turned a sharp left just as Electro was about to fire his attack. Electro released his attack and hit Sand Man. The attack didn't hurt him, but it did destroy the glider he was on. Sand Man fell to the street below as sand went everywhere. Vulture crashed into a roof and slammed Electro into an air conditioning unit, knocking them both out.
"Another master plan perfectly executed," said Spider-Man. "Three down, five to go."
"Get moving, you imbecile!" shouted Mysterio. He was sitting on Rhino's shoulders, looking for Spider-Man.
"You try flying this thing with dead weight," Rhino mumbled back.
"What did you say?" replied the arcane wizard.
"Now, now, you boys play nice or no cookies."
Both villains looked to see Spider-Man clinging to a building and waving as they passed. "You who," he sang.
"I got 'em!" shouted Rhino as he hit the gas. Unfortunately, he was facing the wrong direction. The glider flew forward, catching Rhino off balance. The glider zig zagged as Rhino tried to regain control.
"Look out!" cried Mysterio as they headed for a crash landing. Rhino used all his strength to level out the glider.
"Nice try, Web-Head," said Rhino, looking back at Spider-Man. He turned around just in time to see the overpass. "Awww, crud." Mysterio jumped off Rhino just before he slammed into the bridge. Mysterio landed safely on the street below. He brushed himself off and then looked in the direction of where he had seen Spider-Man. He was about to run in that direction when a huge bulky mass known as Rhino landed on top of him, pinning him down.
Spider-Man from his perch saw the whole scene, "Well…that worked out nicely." He shot a web line and made haste to find the remaining three adversaries.
From her hiding place, Gwen could see the battle as it began with Spider-Man hitting Hobgoblin into a building. She watched as her hero dodged every attack thrown at him.
"He, Web-Head," called Hobgoblin. "Who's your friend?"
Gwen flinched, ducking more into the shadows, making sure she could not be seen.
"That was my new intern," he replied. "You know how it is; the first sign of work and they up and quit."
Ok, that was uncalled for, she thought irritably.
"Kids today," commented Hobgoblin. "Absolutely no work ethic. Too bad, she looked kinda cute."
Gwen felt her whole body shiver and her skin crawl. No one calls me cute but Pete. She saw Spider-Man turn around and punch the Hobgoblin right in the jaw. That is just one more reason why I love him. She wanted to shout out a warning when she saw one of Doc Oc's metal tentacles slam Spider-Man in the back. NO! She could no longer see the fight, but she heard a cry of pain and a flash of light. For a few short moments, there was nothing but silence. Fear and anxiety started to take Gwen's mind. What if he's hurt? What if he's been caught? What if he's…Gwen refused to let herself think the worst. She began to climb up the fire escape. She got to the roof just in time to see Spider-Man ram his shoulder into Mysterio, sending him to the ground and his glider crashing onto the roof.
"Don't just stand there you imbeciles, GET HIM!" shouted Doc Oc. Gwen watched as the rest of the Six flew after the Webbed Wonder. She looked back to see Molten Man just floating there. Hobgoblin ripped the webbing off his face and jumped onto his glider.
He looked at Mark with rage. "If you ever want to be yourself again, you will stop standing around and rid me of that SPIDER!" He and Doc Oc sped off in search of Spider-Man with Mark reluctantly following.
Yourself again? Gwen thought. Is that why he attacked the Hotel? He's being blackmailed? I have to find Spider-Man, she decided. Gwen was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice the metal tentacle slithering down to her. I have to tell him… Her thoughts were cut short as she pulled off the roof and into the air.
"Well, well, well," said Doc Oc. "What do we have here? It would seem one of the arachnid's fans thought they would play hero." Gwen struggled to get out of Doc Oc's grasp, but she didn't budge.
Mark came flying up. "What are you doing?" he asked, annoyed. "Spider-Man is the one the Hobgoblin wants."
"I know, but the Spider will be much more cooperative if we threaten his girlfriend," smirked Oc.
"That's not part of the plan!" replied Molten Man angrily, "The Hobgoblin…"
"I only agreed to this for the money and to rid myself of Spider-Man. I could care less what that lunatic wants," retorted Doc Oc.
Gwen continued to struggle. "You've robbed companies, hurt innocent people and blackmailed the police captain," she accused. "I'd say you and the Hobgoblin are on the same level of crazy."
"I would recommend you not to say anything," said Oc as he held Gwen over the street. "That might make rethink of letting you fall."
Gwen looked down. She felt her stomach clench she had not noticed just how high she was. It must have been a good 40 stories to the street below. Ok, maybe this was a bad idea, she thought. I have to get out of this somehow. She frantically looked around for something or someone who could help her. As her eyes landed on Mark, Gwen got an idea. She prayed this worked.
"You must really be proud of yourself, Mark," said Gwen, trying to sound brave. "You're one of the Sinister Six. Quite the step up from arsonist. Liz must be so overjoyed."
"What! You think this is what I WANT!" Mark shouted.
"Then why don't you just turn yourself in?" she spat back. "Or do you enjoy making your sister cry?"
Marks whole body started to radiate with extreme heat. He was generating so much heat that his glider was starting to overheat. Not what Gwen had intended, but it was working just the same. Mark started to feel himself fall. That was when he looked down to see his half-melted glider give out. The engine shut down and fell. Out of pure instinct, Mark tried to grab on to something. Luckily, he found something to hold on to.
Unfortunately, it was Doc Oc's glider. "No you fool! LET GO!" As he yelled, Oc was trying to shake Molten Man off his glider. This tactic was not fairing very well. It did, however, make Gwen quite dizzy. Doc Oc swayed and swerved in an attempt to free himself from the fire being, but the longer Mark held on, the more the metal glider heated up causing Oc's feet to start to burn. Doc Oc was forced to raise himself up by standing on the glider with his mechanical arms. At the same time these maneuvers were making Gwen feel queasy. Any more of this and she was going to hurl.
"Just land and let him down!" she shouted.
"Now is not the time to mouth off, girl!" sneered Oc.
"You have better idea, oh great Master Planner?" Gwen asked.
Realizing the girl was right, Doc Oc had no other choice. He flew to a nearby building. Mark let go of the glider and landed on the graveled roof. Oc landed the glider and got right in Mark's face. "What were you thinking? You could have killed us both!"
Mark got angry again. "Hey, you want to point fingers? Blame yourself. You're the one who said you could fix me."
"You are correct and I am almost to that point, but if you want to be free from this affliction then you will do as you're told," retorted Oc.
"That's not true!" shouted Gwen. Mark and Oc looked right at her. "You don't have to do this. You could be a hero. You could… AAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Gwen was cut off as Oc threw her into a stair well door.
"Like I said, keep quiet," said Oc. He looked back at Molten Man. "Now, if you wish to be free of me and Hobgoblin, finish her off."
Mark looked at Gwen as she got up and leaned against the door for support. Having no other choice, he created a lava ball and threw it at Gwen. She looked up just in time to doge the attack. The lava ball hit the stair well door and exploded causing half the door way to burn up. Debris flew everywhere. Gwen covered her head with her hands. She looked up to see Mark coming closer, his hands smoking.
At first, Gwen was frozen with fear. This was the third time she had been captured by villains, but this time she wasn't going to make it easy. Picking herself up, she ran for the far side of the roof. Gwen didn't get ten steps before she could feel intense heat on her backsite. She looked behind her and jumped to the left, barely missing another lava ball. Gwen hid behind a large pile of debris. As she moved her hand, she felt something smooth and cool to the touch. She looked down and her eye widened with surprise.
Mark was slowly approaching the spot where Gwen was hiding. "Look, this is nothing personal. I really don't want to do this, but I have no choice" said Mark apologetically.
"I was told with great power comes great responsibility," said Gwen as she stood up. "But then again, you never took responsibility for anything did you?" Before Mark realized what happened, Gwen doused him with the fire extinguisher she had found. Mark gasped in pain as the chemical spray hit his body. He slowly backed up, trying to get away from the spray. Gwen was feeling quite proud of herself until one of Oc's tentacles had once again wrapped around her waist.
"I have to admit, I underestimated you," said Doc Oc as he brought her to face level. "But the time for playing the hero has come to an end." Gwen used all her strength and slammed the fire extinguisher onto OC's head. When Gwen was free, she immediately ran as Oc clutched his head.
She headed right at Molten Man. "Hey, Lava Loser!" called Gwen. "Bet you can't hit me!"
"That's a sucker's bet!" shouted Molten Man, creating the largest lava ball yet.
"You little PEST!" cried Oc. He transformed two of his tentacles into spinning blades and lunged at Gwen, but he couldn't reach her. Oc looked back to find that the two tentacles he used to lift himself off the glider were melted to it and it was holding him back. Molten Man threw his lava ball straight at Gwen. At the same time, Oc, struggling against the weight of the fused glider, sent his spinning blade tentacles at her again. Acting fast, Gwen threw the fire extinguished at Oc. His blades cut through the metal of the fire extinguished, causing a smokescreen. Gwen held her breath and disappeared into the chemical fog. Before either Doc Oc or Molten Man could reac,t they were hit. Molten Man was hit in the face by Doc Oc's blades and Oc. was hit by the lava ball. It lost some momentum going through the chemicals, but was still powerful enough to sent Doc Oc flying backwards. Mark hit the roof and was knocked out cold while Oc banged his head on his glider. Out from behind an air conditioning unit came Gwen. She walked over to the eight limbed villain.
"Doctor Octopus…your fired," she said proudly. "Trump, eat your heart out."
"Well done." Gwen's blood ran cold as she spun around to see the Hobgoblin hovering a few feet above her. "For an intern, you learn pretty quick."
"Just lucky, I guess," replied Gwen nervously.
"Well, then," he smiled as his glider produced a pumpkin bomb. "Let's see if that luck holds out. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Hobgoblin threw his bomb at Gwen, who was already running. The bomb hit the roof and went off. The force of the explosion hit Gwen and blew her right off the roof. She could still hear the Hobgoblin's laughter as she fell to the street below. All she could do was scream as the pavement came closer and closer. When she thought it was all over, Gwen felt an arm wrap around her and pull her back up.
"The captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign. We ask that you remain in your seats for your own safety. Once again, thank you for choosing Spider Air for all your travel needs."
"Spider-Man," Gwen gasped.
"I'd think you'd be use to this by now," he commented as he dodged another pumpkin bomb. "Besides, didn't I tell you to stay hidden?"
"I couldn't just stand by and let you take these guys by yourself," she defended.
"But you don't have any powers! You could have been killed!" he remarked, dropping to let two pumpkin blades wiz by.
"You could be killed too. Just because you have powers, doesn't mean you're invincible," she countered.
"Just because you're right, doesn't mean this argument is over," Spider-Man retorted.
He landed on a roof, let go of Gwen, and shot a web ball at Hobgoblin. It hit him square in the face. Taking the opportunity, Spider-Man climbed to a better vantage point and shot more web balls at him. While Hobgoblin was distracted, Gwen was looking for some way to help. Her eyes fell on a pumpkin blade stuck in a wall. She picked it up and threw it at the goblin. She smiled as the blade was heading straight for its target. When it took a dive, her smile faded. The blade hit the glider instead. This caused it to sputter and spark.
Hobgoblin noticed this. "Looks as though your inter is getting better. It would seem we have to finish this another time." With that, he grabbed another pumpkin bomb and threw is at Gwen. Spider-Man dived as Gwen stared to run. The bomb hit the roof and exploded, knocking Gwen off the roof again, but she was caught by Spider-Man.
He pulled her back up and asked, "This isn't what I had in mind when I invited you out. Sorry about that."
Gwen was breathing a bit heavy. "Aside from the life threatening falls, the super villains, and almost getting blown-up, it was actually fun. Thanks." Spider-Man took her hand and helped her to her feet.
"If you want, I can call you a cab," he suggested.
"And how do I explain the costume to the driver?" she asked with a bit of sarcasm.
"Costume party?" suggested the Web-Head.
Gwen let out a small laugh. "I'd feel much safer if you took me home."
Under his mask, Spidey smiled. "Your wish is my command." With that, he wrapped his arm around Gwen and headed back to the Stacy residence.
The two returned to the house in about twenty minutes. Spidey opened the window he left unlocked and helped Gwen inside.
"Thanks again for taking me out," said Gwen. "I hope I wasn't too much trouble."
"Not any more than usual," replied Spider-Man. This earned him an amused, but disapproving look.
"Ha, ha, very funny," she remarked.
"Well, I have to get going. Good night, Gwen."
"Good Night Spider-Man. M-maybe we can do this again sometime?" she asked with hope in her voice.
Spider-Man thought for a moment. "I'll have to think about it. You really could have gotten hurt tonight. I'd never forgive myself if that happened." He was quickly brought out of his thoughts as a pair of lips touched the side of his mask. He just stared at Gwen as she blushed slightly.
"Thanks for caring," she said softly. She could not see his face but he knew he was smiling.
"Anytime," he said as he shot a web line and swung off into the night. Gwen just stared at the window as she removed her mask and wig. Pete, she thought, I love you even more.
GO Gwen! She took down Oc! Didn't see that coming. Ok, maybe I did, but that's beside the point. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please review.