Chapter 18
"Wherin Kendrick reflects and answers calls."
Thanks to WolfDragon for the review. And, just trust me on this, okay?
Thanks to Exile037 for the review. As for a cameo...sure, why not?
I also want to announce that the next arc after this will see Kendrick back in the present. And everything goes to hell.
Here's the official description, written by me of course:
Goblin. Fucking. Nation. It's all been leading to this. Secrets revealed, hearts broken, and a new character that will change Kendrick Durham's life forever (and that's not hype, this story will change forever). Be ready for the pentacle of Golden Age: Spider-Man, the story that's been building since Chapter 1! All this, and Kendrick vs Spider-Goblin!
Okay, I think that's all. Oh wait, I'm also writing a spin-off. After the conclusion of Goblin Nation, I'll be writing Golden Age: X-Men. After the huge changes coming in Goblin Nation, ones that will affect the entire Golden Age Universe, not just Spider-Man. If you like this story, I promise you that you will like this story. And Spider-Man will have cameos in the book. Wouldn't it be weird if Spider-Man was actually a member of the X-Men?
They burst through the petal and landed back on the bridge. They were back in the safety of the safe zone, but it didn't feel the same. They had lost one of their own, and there was a hole missing from each one of their hearts.
"They have to pay for this," Peter said looking down. "All the spiders they've killed..."
"They will pay Pete," Kendrick said.
"How?!" Gwen asked, losing her cool. "They're stronger than us, faster than us, more powerful in every way. How the hell could we even possibly stand a chance against them?!"
"We try," Kendrick said. "We try."
Slowly but surely, they walked back to the area where the other spiders were located. Kendrick was not in the mood, so he walked towards the back and sat on one of the streetlights that lined the park. Gwen went off and did...something. Kendrick was lonely. Surrounded by all these people that weren't him and yet were him. There was no other Kendrick Durham's here.
All his life, Kendrick had never felt so alone. He was never really popular, but at least he'd always had Marshall around. Now, it was just him.
"Hey, you all right?" Anya said as she walked up to him.
Maybe not.
"Huh? Yeah. Yeah, I'm...I'm good."
"That's good," Anya said. "Sorry I, uh, just dropped that whole thing on you. That was stupid..."
"No. No, it wasn't." Kendrick said. "Honestly, thanks for that. I'm...I'm glad I knew. I can't really thank you enough for telling me, instead of just staring at me like everyone else was."
"Yeah, those guys are dicks."
"So, are there any more you's around?"
"Why, so you can hit on them?"
"I guess I deserve that."
"I'm just kidding Kendrick," she said. "It's just...nothing has been happening in my life lately. I haven't really been on any guy's radar, so you just coming out and saying I'm...hot...it kinda threw me for a minute,
"Really? Guys don't notice you?" Kendrick asked. "What're they, idiots?"
"Well, they really just spend all their time fighting each other," Anya said. "Whether it's Avengers fighting the X-Men, or Captain America fighting Iron Man, seems like all we do is fight."
Just as she said that, Kendrick noticed two spiders fighting. One in the classic red and blues, and one in a red and black outfit that had red arms coming out of the back.
"Aren't those guys from your universe?" Ken asked.
Anya sighed. "Yeah. I should probably get over there in case things get out of hand."
And with that Anya Corazon started walking away. And then, she was gone.
"So, you get her number?" a voice called out.
New World Peter Parker walked up to Ken with a slight smile.
"We literally, literally, live in two different worlds," Ken said.
"Yeah, so if she gets pregnant, you can just go home."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Obviously," Peter said as he looked at the two spiders fighting. "Jeez, what's wrong with those two? We're in the middle of a big war, spiders are dying, good spiders, and they're trying to kill each other. Idiots."
"Well, they are Peter Parkers."
"Ha ha ha," Peter said, rolling his eyes. "Look, I think they're done anyway."
"About time," Kendrick said. "I think the leaders giving out jobs. We should go."
"Aw man," Peter said as they walked closer. "And I was hoping we could just chill."
"Go to as many worlds and bring us as many Spider-Men as you can. You up for it?" Kendrick heard the leader say.
He then turned to them. He looked a little surprised to see Kendrick, but he quickly composed himself.
"And you two," 616 Spider-Man said. "Me and...Kendrick Durham...you two look dependable."
"Jeez, I got old," Peter said.
"I'm not old!" 616 Spider-Man said. "I'm only..."
"What can we do to help?" Kendrick asked, interrupting what would probably be an annoying conversation.
"Uh, yeah," 616 Spider-Man said. "I need you two to go to this distress call we've been getting. We don't know who sent it, but it might be a Spider-Man that needs help."
"Or Spider-Woman," Peter said. "We don't discriminate."
"Or Spider-Woman," 616 Spider-Man said. "Right. You guys think you're up for it? I can get some others on this."
"No, we got it," Kendrick said. "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. We got this."
"...right," 616 Spider-Man said as he gave them a small device. "We don't really have this to spare, so I hope you guys can share."
"Yeah, we can..." they both said as they reached for the dimensional teleporter, then both grabbed it at the same time.
"Dude..." Kendrick started.
"He was giving it to me." Peter said.
"No, he was clearly looking at me as he was handing it over."
"Yeah, because he was wondering what was wrong with your face!"
"We're all doomed," 616 Spider-Man said as he walked away.
"Y'know what, paper rock scissors for it." Kendrick said.
"Deal."
They both showed two fists and started the game.
"Paper, rock, scissors," they said in unison. "One, two,..."
"Three!"
Kendrick had scissors. Peter had rock.
Peter had won.
"Well, shit." Kendrick said.
"Hey I say that a lot too." Peter said as he took the device. "Hey look, he already had it set to go towards the distress signal."
"Yeah yeah," Kendrick said. "Just open the portal."
The Inhuman Spider-Man rolled out of the way.
Ever since the Terrigen Mist had unlocked his inhuman gene and given him spider powers, life for the young teen had been pretty strange.
But nothing could compare to this.
There'd been an alert. Someone was attacking Attilan. And they were looking for the spider.
Two people in old style clothing, one a man, one a woman, each with long white hair. They were both wrapped up in flowing locks of red hair.
"If you think you can attack Attilan and not face the consequences," came the voice that the red hair came from. "You are mistaken."
Queen Medusa had them. Maybe he wouldn't have to get involved.
"If you think this can hold us," the white-haired woman said. "You are as foolish the spider is, thinking he can hide."
Suddenly, they pulled, and they both ripped out patches of Medusa's hair, making her scream.
They tore Medusa's hair. He didn't even know that was possible.
"Medusa!" he yelled out as he lunged out them. They were here for him, there was no way in hell he'd let others suffer for him.
Not again.
"Aw, see brother?" the woman says. "The spider has finally shown himself."
"You want me," Spider-Man said as he landed. "Fight me. Leave everyone else alone."
"You're a fool," the white-haired man said. "There will be no fighting involved. Just eating."
Spider-Man lunged at the intruders and punched the man in he face. He was surprised when it was actually his hand that was hurt, while the man didn't even flinch.
"While I enjoy a good meal as much as the next guy," Spider-Man said, trying oh so hard not to lose it. "You're in my home, my city, and you're causing a..."
"Oh shut up!" the man said as he lifted Spider-Man up by his neck. "All you Spider-Men, all you do is preach!"
He couldn't break free. This couldn't be the end. It couldn't. He looked around him at his fellow Inhumans. At least...at least they would live. That was what was the most important.
"Argh!" the man yelled as he dropped Spider-Man to the ground. His head was on fire. Why was his head...
"Crystal!" Spider-Man yelled at the Orange-haired teen who was standing away from him. "Get out of here! They're after me!"
"I can't just let them kill you!" Crystal yelled back.
"You poor misguided child...," the woman side before she charged at Crystal while the other one was trying to put out his head. "You couldn't let us do anything!"
"Crystal!" Spider-Man yelled.
Before he could get her, a large blue circle opened up above her, and two...of Spider-Man came out. Both were wearing a similar costume to him, red and blue with a small. One only had blue under their forearms and on their legs, while the other had a more complex costume with a mixture of red and blue and was slightly taller.
"Hey, don't I know you?" the taller one said as he landed with both feet on the woman's head, stopping her.
"All you spiders look the same to me," the woman said as she swatted him away. "All with the same horrid sense of fashion."
"Oh burn Ken!" the shorter Spider-Man said as he punched he woman right in the face, which didn't seem to phase her. "She was totally talking about you, right?"
"Hey watch it Peter," the taller Spider-Man, apparently named Ken said as he picked up Crystal and moved her away from the scene. "I still have a secret identity, y'know."
Peter? Spider-Man wondered. But...Peter was...it can't be...
"Hey yo Spidey!" Ken said motioning towards Spider-Man, who was standing there. "We gotta get outta here! We just came to get you!"
"But...but we can't leave!" Spider-Man said. "They might destroy my city."
Peter sighed. "He's right."
"Goddammit," Ken said. "All right, well, I don't know what we're supposed to do here..."
"Nothing," a voice said. "We'll take it from here."
The rest of the city, the rest of the Inhumans were standing proudly, surrounding the battlefield. They were looking menacing, ready to destroy the intruders. The intruders looked at them and laughed.
"You think this will stop us?" the woman yelled. "We will destroy all of you!"
Suddenly, both of the intruders were pierced through the chest with what looked like red snakes. Upon more examination, it turned out it was Medusa who had stabbed them.
"No," Queen Medusa said. "It it you who will be destroyed."
Suddenly, the intruders were ripped apart, their blood and intestines blown all over the place.
"Ew," Peter said.
"Is it kinda sad that I'm not even sad about their deaths?"
"Not even a little."
"Will...will someone please explain to me what the hell is going on?!" Spider-Man asked.
"Yes, explain it to me as well," Medusa said, who now had a small bald spot that was already starting to grow back. "Explain to me who you are and who these corpses are."
"Well, I'm Spider-Man," Ken said.
"And I'm Spider-Man," Peter said. "We're from a different dimension."
"That...is not the strangest thing I've heard," Medusa said. "What are your names? You real ones."
"Um...," Ken said. "I'm not really sure about..."
"You say you are from another dimension," Medusa said. "So what is the harm of showing your faces to us?"
The two spiders looked at each other, before the taller one took off his mask.
"Kendrick Durham at your service," Kendrick said, holding out his hand, which Medusa shook with her red hair. "Annnnnd that is freaky."
"And who are you?" Medusa asked the other one.
"My name," the other one said as he took off his mask, revealing a brunette teen. "Is Peter Parker. At your service, of course."
It really was him. And the other Inhumans knew it. They were looking at him like he was an alien from another world. Which, he kinda was.
"Uh, was it something I said?" Peter asked.
"I'm just glad everybody's not looking at me anymore."
"It's...it's you..." Spider-Man said as he walked up to them. "Dad?"
"So...you're my son," Peter said. "In a world where I'm dead."
"Yeah," the inhuman Spider-Man said, who revealed himself to be Ben Parker the second. "You were killed fighting Norman Osborn."
"Who's Norman Osborn?" Ken asked.
"He's...he's..." Peter said. "What happened?"
"He had attacked us at our home...I was just three years old...he...killed Mom...and you...you died killing him."
"Your mom...," Peter said. "Who was your mom?"
"Mary Jane Watson," Ben said.
"Mary Jane...?!" Peter asked. "But...but I'm with Gwen...and...me and MJ?"
"Look Pete," Kendrick said. "I know you're probably going through all kinds of feelings right now, and trust me, you know that I wouldn't do this unless I had to, but we have to go. Now. The Inheritors will be back any minute now if we're still here."
"Yeah...yeah, you're right," Peter said before standing up. "Ben...we need you to come with us. Until the Inheritors are dealt with, us being here will put all the people you care about in danger."
"I...I understand," Ben said. "But...how did you know I needed you?"
"You sent us a distress call, right?" Ken asked.
"Uh, no...I wouldn't even know how to do that even if I could," Ben said, honestly.
"Well, if you didn't...," Peter started.
"That would be me," a voice said as it walked behind them. Peter and Kendrick turned around and had a surprised look on their faces.
"Daisuke?!"