CHAPTER 39

Storm Chasing for Christmas

The Hierophant

What is mankind's nature?

It has been a question that has troubled him since he was young-

No, that would be a lie.

Mankind's nature only troubled him because of the differences he noticed between himself and others, even from a young age. Throughout his life, all he could find enjoyment in was the suffering of others- only through harming others could he find joy. And whenever he would indulge himself, he would be punished and looked down upon, as a monster. A freak. He soon learned to hate his inherent nature.

And, at a critical junction, where he was about to do something unforgivable, he was found by a priest. The man was cold and unfeeling, but he at least had a sense of purpose. The man stopped him effortlessly and fed him, giving him a lecture to likely try to set him on the right path.

"Mankind is different- Unlike animals, we're forever in pursuit of heaven."

The rest has faded into obscurity, the man's face and voice are but a faded memory. But he remembered desperately clinging onto that. If he spent his life in the pursuit of heaven, then surely he would be saved. Surely he would become normal. He joined the clergy in an attempt to emulate the man he could barely remember. The closer to the ideal person he was, surely the more likely he would be saved.

But, still, his life was without purpose- finding salvation was an unreachable goal. Each and every day was an ordeal. He had sacrificed everything he was for salvation, yet God had not saved him.

And, finally, despair set in.

As he prepared himself for the end, something appeared before him. It was not long until he realized that, finally, God had appeared before him. In exchange for devoting himself, he would be saved.

And he rejoiced.

OO

The Magician

It's Christmas time- you should be out and about, bothering people, getting presents.

Drinking eggnog.

Iiiiiiiit's booooooooooring.

You rock back and forth in your chair. You've got super-fire powers.

You shouldn't have to put up with this.

Glancing around you, look over at your sister. Sue looks just as bored, as she taps her finger on the table, idly scanning some sort of book. Seems like she's bored too.

Time for Action Plan Johnny.

Your sister will murder you if you try to sneak out. You, therefore, need to make sure she's with you on this. Had you been in the Baxter building, this certainly would have failed, as it would have during the summer months.

Carefully, slowly, you inch your rolling chair over to her. Slowly, as to not make her suspicious. Sneaaaaaakily.

You pause as she glances up and she lets out a sigh. "What is it, Johnny?"

Clearing your throat, you roll over to the table she's sitting at and give her your most innocent smile. "So, it's December Twenty-fifth, sis."

She raises an eyebrow, looking at you like you're an idiot. "Yes, Johnny. I know."

You grimace. She's using her 'professional bored professor voice.'

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell, I was just thinking that it's Christmas. And every Christmas we go out and have fun in the snow. And there's snow."

The eyebrow lowers as she gives you an annoyed look. "You know we're not supposed to be outside, Johnny."

You groan. "C'mon, sis. We've been cooped up here for months. It's time to go out for a bit!" She opens her mouth- probably to shut you down as you hold up a finger and start talking. Fast.

"Look- it's safer than any other time of the year. We can bundle up so its not easy to recognize us, and you can turn us invisible until we're a few blocks away from the Embassy. We'll only be out for a little while and then we'll be back! I know we have more freedom here, but even I can see you're bored to tears. Come onnnnnn~"

You sister glances at the window as she chews on her lip slightly- that means she's considering it. "I'll listen to whatever you say, even, but It's Christmas, Sis. I didn't do this for Halloween, despite how much I love that Holiday- nor did I say anything when it was Thanksgiving, and I saw how much it was eating away at you. "

You sit down and stare at her, seriously. "I'm not doing anything without you, Sue. But I'd like to see my sister happy on Christmas, at least."

She looks away and you sink your head in defeat. Yeah, you've lost this one.

"Get your heaviest coat, plus your scarf and gloves and hat."

Her voice is thick as she quickly clears her throat and brings a hand up to her face. "Did you hear me, or not?"

You're already up and moving.

It doesn't take long to get out of the embassy- the place has been almost deserted ever since you and Sue started staying here. DOOM's not here, but he's been gone pretty consistently since the holidays started up.

The two of you are bundled up and almost unrecognizable.

Time to enjoy a day out for Christmas! Well, you only have a few bucks between the two of you, but the spirit's there!

Well, naturally, there's only two things to be done. The first- Ice Skating! Then snowball fights! The snowmen! Then snow-angels!

Wait- you might've messed up that order some.

REGARDLESS

You're just going to enjoy a good Christmas day with your sister. Ice-Skating, is the first on the menu- after you've gone and made a fool of yourself and let Sue out show you in every way, you sit and groan, rubbing your sore lower back.

Well, at least you didn't fall on your face.

Anyway, you're waiting on Sue, who's grabbing you both hot chocolates with your last couple of bucks.

WITH Marshmallows. ALWAYS with marshmallows.

Regardless- your babe-sensor is going off. Twice. There's a red-haired girl talking with a Goth girl- brown hair with her bangs dyed white. They seems to be looking around the area and talking.

You quickly brush yourself off and head over to the two very attractive ladies giving your smoothest smile. As You approach, you wave. "How are you two ladies doing on this fine day?"

The goth glares at you, turning away. "Better, before you showed up."

The redhaired girl smiles at you as she gives a warning glance at her friend. "I'm sorry about that, Um- I didn't catch your name?"

"It's uh- Johnny."

You watch the girl carefully- she's being friendly, but that kind of friendly of a girl is one who doesn't really want to deal with you, but is playing you for something. Twenty times later- you learn to see the signs.

Regardless, you give a nice, polite smile and extend your hand. "Well, sorry for bothering you, I think I see my sister coming. Miss..?"

Her smile is perfectly friendly as she extends her hand towards you. "It's Jean."

She glances over at her friend and nudges her forward. "Don't be impolite, Rogue."

The one known as Rogue glares at the red-head now known as Jean as she extend her hand after taking her mittens off- she shakes your hand as you feel your gooseflesh ruse as her finger accidentally brushes your wrist. The girl quickly pulls her hand back and stuffs back on her mitten as the two girls exchange looks.

Yeah- that uneasy feeling in your stomach's acting up again.

"Sooooo, Um are you waiting on some friends or are you two here alone?"

Please don't be lesbians again. Please don't be lesbians again.

Jean tucks her hair behind her ear as she smiles, shaking her head. "Well, we were supposed to meet up with some of our friends, but I think we're just wasting our time now."

She sighs as her breath condenses in the cold air. "So, you said you were waiting on your sisters?"

Your stomach tightens again. "Uh, yeah. She should be coming back. Any time now. So, what are you two up to?"

The goth, Rogue, scowls and looks away, but you notice that she's working very carefully to control her breathing. "Um- is your friend okay?"

Jean smiles at you as you notice a few people shifting in the crowds. You see your sister in the distance as she gives you an unhappy look.

"She'll be fine. So, we're from upstate and visiting for the holiday, so do you think you'd be willing to tell us about the city? I hear there was some sort of crazy person in a goblin costume?"

Sue's coming closer, her cheer gone, as you give an apologetic smile. "Well, I should really get going, so It was nice meeting you-"

Jean grabs your sleeve and looks a bit worried. "Is something the matter, Johnny? I hope I didn't offend you by asking."

Yeah, you're really getting a bad feeling in your gut.

You give a tight smile. "Sorry, it's just its Christmas and my sister looks upset so I figure I'd take her home. Sorry to bother you."

The girl's smile tightens some as you pause as you see, for a moment of a second, the goth chick's breath hitch and a flash of fire appears before she quickly gets her breathing under control.

Jean glances over at her friend as you take a moment to step back and wave. "Well, I'm sorry for having to leave so fast, but I've got to get going. I hope your friend feels better."

You say the words without freaking out and then turn and move towards your sister at a fast pace- the smile on your face fading into a worried look. As you meet her, you nod forward and keep walking- refusing to look behind you. "Keep moving, sis."

Something about your tone and face drains the anger as she matches pace. "What's the matter Johnny?"

You briefly, as you keep moving, tell her of the situation you encountered- especially the scene at the end. Your stomach's also still bothering you as you glance around as you keep moving. Sue looks rather concerned- especially with how the Hobgoblin was brought up by the girl.

You think about the next course of action.

The two of you keep moving- ditching the hot Cocoa to try to get back to the embassy- slipping into an alley, Sue quickly turns the two of you invisible as you hear a loud noise nearby-

*Bamf*

Down the Alley- you see a bunch of smoke and a figure in a bunch of identity concealing clothes, along with the two girls from earlier, who are looking around Alertly. The two other than Jean seems not to see anything when you see Jean look over in your direction, right at you.

You grab Sue's hand more tightly and start running.

Ohshitshitshitshitshitshit!

Sue, even though you can't see her, sounds panicked. "Jesus, Johnny, what the hell did you do?!"

You've got to run. Run and get to safety-if they won't show their powers in front of people, then you need to get somewhere with a lot of people. And even if they do come for you, it'll be a cool fight that will be on youtube, which will lead Peter on the path of rescuing you.

Looking around, you spot a subway entrance a ways down the road- you whisper your plan to Sue as her hand clenches tightly.

As the two of you near the entrance, you think you've got the all clear when, at the entrance you hear a noise and see blue smoke- as the three of them are standing there.

The Redhead looks around as the goth takes off a glove and touches the redhead's face before her head snaps towards you immediately.

You hear her voice in your head- faintly as she seems to be talking out loud- without moving her mouth.

-From what little I got from this guy earlier, he's got the same way of thinking I did- find areas where people were at and escape in the crowds.

-Seems I was right.-

You curse audibly as Sue yanks onto your hand, as you mutedly hear her yelling at you to run.

OO

THE DEVIL

The voice is smooth, like velvet, but tinged with Satan's own malice and guile.

"Is it done, yet? Phineas?"

His name was Phineas Mason. He was a technician who worked for the mob. That's an understatement- he's a savant with technology, sciences, and engineering. He was on the outs, what with the new conflicts brewing in the background. The master planner was moving in on the Kingpin's turf.

There's also those symbols those punks have been spray-painting recently in the past week or two. Just juvenile punks who with nothing left to loose. They spray the symbols.

Of a green and purple goblin. Out of the way and nothing more than a punk movement in the wake of the hobgoblin. Nothing to worry about.

But Phineas knows better. He might not know the devil's identity, but he exists. He's owned him for months now. With a man with nothing left to lose, a job that promises protection in agreement for building equipment was nothing to scoff at.

"…Yes. It's done, Sir."

The voice chuckles from behind him. "Good. Good. And Oscorp's security?"

"…It will be down, as planned. I have directions to the department where you want to be. Just get me into the systems and I'll get you whatever you want to know."

"Good. You know, Phineas, I'm rather fond of our… working relationship. Unlike my predecessor, I realize that having a support system can be very useful. It keeps the pests out of our hair and us well informed. So, if I find that you have betrayed me, I will be very… cross."

He swallows reflexively. The person funding him, whoever it is, has money to get things done. Has the money to get rid of him. He nods his head as tears pool in his eyes.

"…I-I understand."

A hand claps him on the shoulder.

"I knew you would."

The door behind him closes, finally leaving him alone. And Phineas Mason, the Tinkerer, allows himself to cry.

Peter Parker

You sigh as you see your breath form condense in front of you. Nearby, you hear the laughter of Stella from the other side of a snowman. Wiping the rest of the snow from your face, you hear your phone go off.

Pulling it out, you look at the name- its Johnny. Answering it, you're immediately confronted by a woman's voice. It takes you a minute to identify who it is due to how out of breath and exhausted they sound.

It's Sue Storm.

"PETER. We NEED help- people- powers. Johnny's trying to hold them off but-"

The phone cuts off after she gives you a rough location. You stare at your phone and try to call back, but it goes straight to the answering machine. Stella looks at you, a little worried and curious.

You give Stella a grim look. "Trouble- I need you to cover for me."

Stella stares at you before she sighs. "Fine. I'll cover for you."

The both of you head inside as you quickly head downstairs to the basement and get ready- calling Felicia and Gwen. Felicia's incredibly hesitant to go but she'll look into things for you. Gwen's, surprisingly, able to go- after the morning, her father was called in to work for several matters. She'll meet you there.

As you head out- telling your aunt and uncle that you're heading out to give Felicia her present, you see Stella sullenly staring at you as the door closes.

THE FOOLS

FOOL ALPHA

The hospital was a lonely place. It was a scary place too.

Only Daddy can help her.

Her disease recovered, her health improved.

But she's been having strange relapses. A fever and sudden dizzy-ness and fainting.

She dreams of a red demon, grinning with black teeth.

It's going to eat her daddy.

But-but her daddy knows a hero! He gave her the picture of him and Spider-man.

He'll certainly be able to beat up the demon and save her daddy.

So that she and Daddy can live happily ever-

William Baker looks down at his daughter's flushed face and weak breathing as he calls for a nurse. Her letters to Spider-man clenched into a hand as he desperately fights back tears.

OO

FOOL BETA

It's been a number of months- but a hero's job is never done!

If you're not good enough as you are, work harder! Try harder, until you've reached your limit. If you've done you're best, your efforts will surely be rewarded. That's what pops says.

So, to start with- one hundred pushup. One hundred sit-up, and one hundred squats, along with running ten miles.

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Also, there's learning to take falls and doing difficult building climbs- starting small with the playground and park.

When you master that? DOUBLE IT!

Start picking fights with boys- learn how to fight!

Sure- everyone's kinda scared of you as you're the toughest girl, but you've got a goal.

You're going to force Spider-man to make you his sidekick!

And if he turns you down, you're going to still show up and kick butt anyway!

Anya Corazon, the Amazing Spider-girl!

OO

FOOL OMEGA

You wave and smile at Aunt May and Uncle Ben as they see you head down the street to the playground. In reality, you're heading the other way already.

You're inventory has been confirmed. One high-frequency blade 'Raiden MKII' along with the multi-ammunition personal armament 'Ocelot MKII.' Both were believed to have been confiscated into civilian custody.

This is a lie.

You might have allowed the assumption that your armaments were out of your hands to Peter and the girl he deigns to allow call herself his 'girlfriend' but this is an impossibility. Even without them, you are skilled in twelve different ways of killing an individual without use of your chains.

In the meantime, as much as you love your brother for the affection and concern he gives you, it can be too much. Even if you are a child, you were raised for the sole purpose of being a weapon. Being able to enjoy a civilian's life is enjoyable and you will die first before you let anyone harm Peter for all of the wonderful experiences he's granted you.

You love him, you truly do. Deep down, he's somewhere between a brother and a father to you, if what you've come to understand about families is correct. If he had appeared a few years later, whilst you were in the midst of becoming an adult, you might have viewed him even more differently.

If the world was an idyllic place, perhaps you and he could live out the rest of your days with him as brother and sister. Happily and innocent.

He is the person you love most, and desire to protect the most.

Whether this stems from your experiences and emotions or your programming- it is irrelevant.

The world will end before you would ever try to harm him.

That's why, you will step in- you will be what he cannot be.

He is an unsullied light.

A true hero.

And you are his shadow.

"The funny thing about big events- things that change the status quo- is that at the time it isn't apparent. Sometimes, its just a video that catches on and the world stops to watch.

"And then, there's sometimes, when the world knows what's happening as everyone takes a collective breath.

"When Spider-man appeared, in the midst of that battle of the superhumans- I think this was one of those moments.

"The world saw that there were not only those that took the law into their own hands, like Iron Man- but those who stood above normal men, to protect them.

On that Christmas Day...

The world changed.

Super-heroes and Super-villains stopped being things outta comics and fantasy.

They became something real."

End
To Be Continued…

Equipment:

**Limited Police Information: Peter Parker now has access to police logistics and information (limitedly) through Gwen Stacy. If you need to find out anything the police know on minor matters, she can tell you. More classified subjects are above her level.

*-Assumed that Peter gets respectable gifts

STRONG WEBBING INVENTED. This thick substance is able to go through your webshooters, but just barely. It also requires more use per cartridge, meaning that you have less usable- not advisable for web slinging unless larger cartridges are in use.

(Fake) Glasses- Hides the fact that your sight is now perfect to the unaware.

Hard drive- a removed computer hard drive. Contains files left by your father.

Richard Parker's Bag - Has a lock on it. A bag that belonged to your father- holds blueprints and notes on his works, as well as a warning.

Web Shootersx2- Roughly made, but they do the job. Each one can fit six cartridges- has rotating cartridges that can change between webbing types.

Web fluid (6x)- Six cartridges worth of regular webfluid.

Strong-web-fluid- Six cartridges worth of strong webfluid.

Spider-man costume (Durable) - You can't wear it under your clothes, but it reduces both your agility bonus and the damage you take by one. It does, however, boost your fellowship bonus by one in the costume.

Spider-man costume (sonic-proofed/Agile)- It's too thick to wear under your clothes, but your agility isn't decreased. However, you can't hear anything while in this costume and it can be sweltering during warmer months, but it should protect you from the Hobgoblin's Sonic Laugh.

[Equipped] Spider-man Costume (Stylish/Agile)- It's a light, thin material that allows you full mobility. However, it offers you no extra protection. You're friendlier looking, so fellowship rolls to those not hostile increase by three. This costume also offers you no protection from the cold- better wear some thermals or you might get frostbite... everywhere!