Chapter 15

"Wherein Kendrick questions love, and reminisces."

Okay, it is so here. Spider-Verse! I know I've been teasing it a while, but it is finally here. I really hope I don't mess this up.

Thanks to josephguy217 for reviewing. Glad you liked it, hope you stick around. :)

As always, thanks to Exile037 for reviewing. "The search for the Scorpion begins." I think with this chapter you'll see that they don't have to go too far to find Scorpion. Glad you liked last chapter, as for Spider-Verse, well here it is!

Kathryn Mosley walked into the large prison, with a tug in her gut. She didn't know what to expect from this encounter, but she was really hoping it went well.

She was in Ross Max Security Prison, which was named after its founder, Xander Ross, for the purpose of holding mutants and people of extreme danger.

And she was there to visit The Scorpion.

She walked to the front desk, held out her badge and walked through. As she walked to the cells, she saw how unlike a prison the place was.

The walls were made of solid steel, and practically unbreakable. Like, Kimmy Schmidt unbreakable. Instead of normal cells doors, there was reinforced plexiglass that served as the way for prisoners to get in and out of cells. That is, if they ever got out. There were no guards, the maintenance and watching of the prisoners were conducted by a computer named P.S.Y. The reason for that was, some of the inmates here could control human thoughts. There were precautions for this, of course, but they left no room for error.

If Xander Ross hadn't gone missing years ago, Kathryn was sure he would be proud of it all.

"Captain Mosley," she heard a guard call to her, pulling her out of her thoughts. "It's this way."

Here goes nothing.

As they walked down the many cells that lined the walls, Kathryn couldn't help but look into them. She recognized many of the people here, in fact she put a good number of them here. No matter who they were, they recognized her for the badge she wore on her shirt.

They continued to walk until they got to the cell Kathryn wanted to see.

In the corner of the cell in front of her, The Scorpion was curled up in a ball with its tail wrapped around itself.

"I got it from here," she told the guard.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. This is the most secure prison in the US right?"

"You're the boss," the guard said as he left, leaving Kathryn alone to face The Scorpion.

"Hello," she said, unsure of herself. This caused The Scorpion to turn towards her, but she noticed that it did not meet her eye.

"Do...do you speak English?" Kathryn asked, wondering if she was really talking to a giant scorpion.

"Yes," Scorpion replied.

Hoooly shit.

This thing might look like Curtis Lance, but it sure as hell didn't sound like him. If it sounded like any human, it sounded like Christian Bale playing Batman. It sounded like he was gargling marbles. It sounded like a monster straight from under a little girl's bed.

"Um, okay, then." she said, recomposing herself. "So, uh, are you aware that the news is referring to you as 'The Scorpion?'"

"That's not my name."

"Okay, what is your name?"

"Clarence."

"I'm sorry," Kathryn asked. "Did you just say you're name is Clarence."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I like that name."

"Okay then," Kathryn said, opening up the notepad that she always kept in her pocket. "I'm having a conversation with a giant scorpion named Clarence. Life is good."

She took the notepad out and looked at what she had written before hand. "Clarence, why did you attack Midtown's Finest?"

"Master told me to."

"Who's your master? Curtis Lance?"

"I don't know his name."

"Figures," Kathryn said, marking that down in her pad. "Why did he tell you to kill Spider-Man?"

"Kill the Spider-Man? No, he wanted me to capture him."

"Why?"

"I do not know."

"Okay, quick question," Kathryn said, looking at The Scorpi..er, Clarence, who still would not meet her eye. "This is for me, not the investigation. What is it like? Being a Scorpion, I mean."

"It was strange at first. I was dumb. More Scorpion than anything. But then, as the days click by, I notice my brain ability growing. I can speak in full sentences now. I think the DNA of my master is starting to overpower the scorpion part."

"You...you have the DNA of your master in you?"

"Yes."

"So, if we were to take a DNA test..."

"You could possibly identify my master, yes."

Kathryn smiled to herself.

Got you now, you son of a bitch.

"My master wanted me to give you a message," Clarence said, snapping Kathryn out of her thinking.

"A message?"

"Yes."

"A message for me?"

"Not for you in particular, just somebody."

"What's the message?"

"It is a warning."

"A warning?"

"Yes. He wanted me to tell you that it is coming."

"What? What is coming?"

For the first time since Kathryn walked into the room, Clarence looked her dead into her eye.

"The Goblin."

Kendrick woke up with a start.

He was just pulled out of a dream of the night Tyler Farroway died. Or, at least, what he thought had happened. Tyler confronting Dr. Lance. Dr. Lance shooting Tyler. Dr. Lance pouring acid on Tyler, while he's still alive. It was all too much for him. He had awoke, sweat pouring from every pore in his body.

As he got up, he realized that the nightmares only started once Marshall left. He was staying at the hospital for a few days. He was there visiting his mom.

She was there with severe bruises, and a broken arm and leg. Her husband had hit her again.

Not having Marshall's snoring above him always threw Kendrick off now a days. This was a really bad time too, because now Ken had all these bad thoughts in his mind. It was kicking his ass worse than The Scorpion ever could.

Kendrick flinched as there was a knock on the door. He had been a little unnerved lately. He was scared that someone like Dr. Lance would sneak up on him. Then again, he had his spider-sense. If someone was after him, he would know.

On that note, he walked to the door, and opened it. He was a little surprised by who was there.

Jen Farrell. His ex/still/who-knows-anymore best friend.

This, Kendrick thought. This is what I do not need.

Ken turned and walked inside the room, as he heard Jen close the door behind him.

"What do you want?" Ken asked genuinely angry. "You here to yell at me again?"

"Ken..."

He heard pain in her voice. Serious pain.

As Ken turned to her, he realized that Jen's eyes were red. She had been crying. Hard.

"Ken," she said with a sniff. "I heard about your friend. Tyler. I...I'm so..."

Before he knew what he was doing, Ken wrapped the beautiful redhead in a hug, which she returned.

"I'm so sorry," Jen said, crying even harder. "I've been..I've been a huge bitch..."

"Come on now," Ken said. "You haven't been a huge bitch. A little one maybe."

She laughed. It was a little laugh, but it was.

"I...I love you," Jen said, not stopping the hug. "I've loved you since we were kids. I love you, and I want to be with you."

Ken...did not know what to say. At this point, he didn't even know how he felt. But he had to say something.

Say something goddammit!

"Jen, I..."

"No. No Ken, don't say anything. I know...I know I'm with Earl. I know you and Nicki are...something. But...just hold me. Don't say anything. Hold me."

And Kendrick did. He just held her. And then, just for a moment, he forgot everything. He forgot Spider-Man. He forgot The Scorpion. He even forgot Tyler.

He forgot everything except him and her. No nightmares. No pheromones. Just them.

How would this work? That was the real question. It seemed impossible. Although, this wouldn't be the first time he went through something impossible. For just a moment, he let his mind wander to something else that seemed impossible, but he made it through.

The War With The Inheritors.

It happened while he was taking time away from home. After his brother Drake killed himself.

Kendrick swung through the air. He could hear his phone ringing in his backpack. He ignored it though.

Probably just Marshall, he thought. Wondering where I am.

Where was Kendrick anyway? Not literally, he knew where he actually was. Lexington And First. But where was he going in life? Was he ever going to go back, or was this it? He didn't know if he could handle this. This life of never-ending crime fighting. It was a lot to think about. Stopping those thoughts however, he suddenly felt a tingle at the back of his head.

What did Marshall call it? Spider-Sense? Kendrick pondered. No, that sounds lame. I'm never gonna use that.

Spider-Man turned around and stopped. A large yellow flash opened in the air. He heard a voice come from.

"You should run little spider," the voice said as a woman in old timey clothes and long white hair fell from the portal. "The hunt shall be over too soon if you do not."

Oh dude. Seriously, what the shit?

Behind her, flew in many green creatures on gliders. They looked like they were in pain.

Life officially sucks.

Spider-Man jumped out of the way to avoid the fist of one of the green creatures.

"Dude, what's up with your face? You look like an avocado grenade just blew up in your face and gave you a rash."

"Ugh," the woman said, groaning. "The worst part of hunting the spiders are hearing the same jokes over and over again."

"Okay lady," Spider-Man said as he swung at her. "Who are you, what the hell are you talking about, and why are you after me?"

"My name is Bora of the Inheritors," she said as she blocked his punch. "I'm talking of the Great Hunt, and I am after you because you look delicious."

"Whoa, calm down girl," Kendrick said as Bora grabbed his foot that had been kicked at her. "At least buy me dinner first."

"Oh no, you poor misguided spider," Bora said as her mouth opened, and Kendrick's spider-sense was in complete overdrive. "You are dinner."

"Sorry! Change of menu!" Kendrick heard a voice say as he felt something cling to his back. Suddenly, he was pulled back and saw that it was a web, not unlike his own, that was attached to his back.

What. The. Shit?!

Kendrick landed in front of four people who were dressed in similar attire as him. A skinny but muscular guy in a red and blue suit that was very similar to his own, except for some minor details. While Kendrick's gloves were red and blue, his were just red. The same situation with the feet. (Okay, I really don't want to describe the normal Spider-Man costume. You know how he looks.) Next to him, was a girl in an all black costume with a white spider design that went all the way down her body to her knees. She had a black mask that covered up her eyes, but left her nose and mouth uncovered. It also allowed for her long brown ponytail to fail out the back. Basically, she was extremely hot. Lastly, there was a girl with short brown hair, a red jacket, and a black skin-tight costume with a red design going down her middle, that resembled a black widow. She was wearing a black mask that only covered her eyes, leaving her forehead, cheeks, and mouth and nose uncovered. Standing right next to her was a skinny kid in an all black with a red spider on his chest, with a red triangle on the outside of it. His eyes were similar to Kendrick's but the outer edge was red instead of blue, and his fingers on his black glove were red.

WHAT THE SHIT?!

"Spider-Man of Earth-60127," the hot one in black and white said. "We're here to help..."

"Well, you all like trustworthy and well dressed," Kendrick said as he ran at them full speed. "Just get me the hell out of here!"

He ran at them, and heard Bora say something along the lines of "You'll all die soon enough!", but Kendrick could seriously not give a shit if he tried. He just had to get out of there.

A blue portal opened up behind them, and they all jumped inside. They were currently surrounded by blue. He didn't know where the portal was taking them. Kendrick just knew he was happy to get out of there.

"My...my head...," he said to them. "...I seriously thought my spider-sense was going to kill me. It's never gone off like that before."

"The Inheritors have the effect on all of us," the hot one in black and white said.

"There are more of them?! We are so fucked!" Kendrick said, losing it. "And who are you guys, because all this time, I've been referring to you in my mind as hot one in black and white."

Upon seeing her blush, Kendrick realized what he just said.

"Smooth dude," the red male one said.

"Uh, I was just through a traumatic experience, I don't know what I'm saying."

"My name is Anya," the hot one in black and white said. "I'm Anya Corazon of Earth-616."

"Well, if we're doing introductions now," the kid in black and red said. "I guess I'm up. My name is Miles Morales, and I'm from Earth-1610. I think. Or, was it Earth-610?"

"It's 1610," The one in red with short brown hair said. "I'm Jessica Drew. I'm from Earth-1610 too."

"And, uh, who are you?" Kendrick said, turning to the last spider in red and blue.

"My name is Peter Parker," he said as he took off his mask, revealing a brown haired teen with a big smile. "They don't really have a number for my world yet, so they've been calling me the New World Spider-Man."

"Y'know, I don't know why," Kendrick said. "But I have the feeling that you and me meeting is supposed to mean something. Like, it's a big deal or something like that."

"Yeah, me too." Peter said, putting his mask back on. "Weird."

"And, what about you?" Jessica said. "Who are you?"

"My name is Kendrick Durham," Ken said to his new comrades. "I am Spider-Man from, what did you say? Earth-60127. Now, can someone please actually explain to me what is going on?!"

"Just a minute," Anya said. "We're here."

"Where is here exactly?" Kendrick said as the blue space opened up, causing them to fall out on their feet. Kendrick stood up, and found himself surrounded by a lot of Spider-Men. People dressed like him. A lot of them adults. A few of them teenagers. It was...weird to say the least.

"We have arrived at our destination," New World Spider-Man said as they landed in crouches. "Earth-13. Thank you for riding air Spiders. Please pick up your luggage at the front."

"Ho...ly..." Kendrick started.

"Shit?" Jessica said, a slight smile on her lips. "Yeah, I think we all had that reaction at first, Ken."

"Yeah," Kendrick said, taking everything in. "Still, what the shit? Can someone explain this to me? I am so confused."

Yeah! Spider-Verse!

I know I teased this for, like ever, but here it is!

Okay, let me explain the time-line a bit. This takes place while during the time Kendrick was missing, after Drake's death. Actually, most of the time he was gone, he was fighting in the Great Spider War. As far as New World Spider-Man, this takes place after Spider-Man: New World 2, but before Araña: New World. So, no New World Araña in this one. Sorry.

Also, I want to say that this is canon. I mean, I know that Marvel has final say in stuff like this, but it's not like they're gonna come out and say "Anya Corazon, Miles Morales, and Ultimate Jessica Drew did not save Kendrick Durham." I mean, as long as nothing I write conflict with the actually published book, I'm golden. So, whenever you read something featuring these characters, just know that this actually happened to them, they just won't mention it. So suck it, continuity freaks.

NEXT: Spider-Verse! Do I have to say more?! I make fun of more stuff that was fucked up in the actual event, like how they messed up the Ultimate U's number! Kendrick learns who he is (or was) in the other universes! Spider-Gwen appears!