Hey look I did it! Yay for me! "Nuff said, enjoy.
The flight to the raft was quiet. It wasn't necessarily a long trip, but it was quiet nonetheless. Clearly the three heroes had a lot on their minds. Peter was about to fight Kraven and get Ava her amulet back, Luke was concentrating on flying a Quinjet that was almost ready to fall apart, and Ava was worried. The version of Peter that was from her world couldn't beat Kraven, and despite his continued success, she naturally had her doubts about the new Peter in the back of her mind.
Wow, the tension in here is thicker than the Kingpin's fridge after raiding a grocery store. I gotta get these two to loosen up a little. If Sam were here he'd make a fool of himself every ten seconds but I guess the incredibly funny and handsome Spider-man will have to do.
"Hey guys, did you ever realize that if you rearrange the letters in 'Raft' you can spell 'fart'?" Spider-Man said with a chuckle.
Luke looked at him, trying to hold back a smile.
Ava gave him that look that just screamed; 'You're an idiot.'
Glad to see some things never change.
"We're actually getting close so anytime you two wanna get ready for landing…" Luke said as he reduced the thrust. "We're coming in, any it actually doesn't look like anyone's home."
"Weird, the S.H.I.E.L.D. files said he was last seen here." Spider-Man looked out the window. "Maybe he moved out?"
"I hope not, I plan on getting my amulet sooner rather than later." Ava was getting tense, her determination was evident through her expression but anyone could also see she was nervous.
Luke landed the Quinjet on what he assumed was a helipad, the Raft looked like it had seen better days, although it wasn't falling apart. Evidently it had been built to last. As they stepped out of the Quinjet, the cool ocean breeze was pleasantly refreshing.
"So what's the plan webs? Split up and search for clues?" Luke asked his much shorter and younger friend.
"What, do I really seem that cliché?" Spider-Man asked, almost a little offended. "Nah, let's stick together. We're pretty much flying blind here, plus I can't wait to see Kraven's face after I put the smack on him."
They entered the prison and oddly enough, they were back outside. The entire roof had been destroyed, and the plant life grew all through the complex. It looked like a concrete jungle, the symbolism was not lost on Spider-Man.
Great, so Kraven did a little remodeling. He needs to hire a new interior decorator this place is filthy.
"So where do you think he is?" Ava wondered, curious if either of her friends had a theory.
"Well if his ego is as big as his facial hair, I'd guess he made himself some kind of throne room. Probably big and screaming compensation." Spider-Man joked, but he was still kind of serious.
"Honestly that doesn't sound too crazy." Luke agreed.
"You two stay up here, I'll hop down into the 'jungle' and see if it's safe."
Spider-Man jumped from the destroyed corridor and down into the brush. He surveyed the area and neither saw nor sensed any immediate threat. He turned around and web-zipped back up to his friends.
"Seems all clear to me, at least unless the dirt and bugs are planning to kill us." Spider-Man gave the okay and they made their way down. Ava rode on Spidey's back while Luke just jumped. His strength and impenetrable skin made the fall hardly noticeable. "Thanks for flying air Spidey, please stow all tray tables in the upright position and be sure to thank the stewardess on your way out."
It was impressive how much vegetation was present on an island prison, the trees grew up and over the entire cell block, and the grass had pushed up through the cracks in the ground. It was easy to forget this used to be a supervillain detention center.
As they walked towards the center of the island, Ava finally spoke up.
"This is it isn't it? If Kraven is really here I can get my amulet back." She sounded hopeful, and scared.
"Yup! Then we get White Tiger back and can rescue Danny!" Spider-Man was as cheerful as ever, his optimism was almost contagious.
"Peter, what you're doing here means a lot to me. I guess whatever happens, it feels good to be a hero again." Ava smiled at him, she wanted to reclaim what belonged to her, and restore her place as the White Tiger.
"No problem, and you were always a hero. Even if you weren't fighting bad guys, you never stopped being one, powers or not." Spider-Man reassured her. "Now come on, we're almost there."
As if it was an unspoken rule in the evil handbook of doom and super villainy, at the heart of the Raft stood a massive throne, and trees on either side. In the center sat a single figure. His tattered lion's head vest and glowing green amulet around his neck gave away his identity. It was the hunter, Kraven.
"I knew it was only a matter of time before you came for me Ava. You're amulet has served me well, and I have had plenty of time to learn its secrets." Kraven stood up, and walked down the steps toward them. "It would also seem that you have brought friends, they will do you no good."
"They're here to get my amulet back. It doesn't belong to you and if you won't give it up we'll take it." Ava's anger swelled inside her, Kraven had no right to bear her amulet and she was taking back today.
"Face it Kraven, it's three on one. You're hopelessly outnumbered, so give up, or don't. I've really been itching to punch someone." Powerman readied himself.
"Three? Who else…you." Kraven's eyes narrowed as he focused on the third standing before him.
"The one and only." Spider-man jumped in front of his friends. "Now do you really think you can win?"
"Please, you are but children before my might. I have beaten you all before and I'll do it again." Kraven was angry, he would not be mocked like this.
"Oh yeah? You and what moustache?" Spider-Man had to make a moustache joke, it was like a rule.
Come on jungle boy, let's dance.
So I finally changed the cover image to a drawing of mine I just did. To anyone that noticed it's similarity to the cover of Ultimate Spider-Man #156 (aka The Death of Spider-Man Part 1) I assure you that is in no way, shape, or form a bit of foreshadowing of future events. I didn't do that on purpose. *Wink wink*. So get that idea out of your heads. Don't think about it.