Chapter 5: Help Me

2 years ago, Nueva York, Earth 928

The portal opened and Spider-Woman hopped out to find Peter B. Parker and Jessica Drew standing before Miguel's lowering platform at the command center. "Hey, guys, Mindy said you guys wanting to talk about. Gonna finally tell me when I can go see Miles?" she asked as she pushed back her hood and removed her mask.

Her pierced eyebrow raised as Peter glanced away, like he wasn't able to meet her gaze.

"Thank you for coming, Gwen…" Miguel said as the platform finally reached their level and the towering Spider-Man from the future. He slowly turned toward her as his mask retracted, revealing a sympathetic face.

"Not use to you looking friendly…" Gwen crossed her arms over her chest, "What's up?"

"Are you fully aware of what we do here?" he asked as he stepped down and walked between Peter, who continued to look everywhere but at Gwen, and Jessica.

"Kick the butts of bad guys who end up in the wrong universes?" Gwen asked, throwing some punches in the air.

"That is part of it… but the primary focus is protecting the stability of the Great Web," Miguel explained as hologram of a web appeared around them. "Anomalies have the great potential of destabilizing the Arachno-Humanoid Poly-Multiverse, and when that happens, universes collapse and everyone inside them dies. So, you can see how important it is for us to be cautious with Anomalies."

"Makes sense, so make sure no bad guys jump dimensions," Gwen nodded.

"Not just bad guys, Gwen," Miguel said with regret in his voice. "Anomalies can be anyone who doesn't belong in the role they're in… for example…" He pulled up a hologram of Miles Morales putting on his mask.

"W-What?" Gwen took a step back unconsciously.

"The spider that bit him was not from his universe," Miguel explained. "He was not meant to be Spider-Man at all. Had he not been bitten, had this freak accident not taken place, not only would the true Spider-Man of E-1610 not have died, but you and those you met a year and a half ago would not have been warped to that universe. Peter Parker, the one true Spider-Man of E-1610, would have defeated the Green Goblin, Prowler, and Kingpin that night, and shut down the collider without anyone even knowing anything happened. Miles was not supposed to be there that night. Miles was not supposed to interact with Spider-Man. The weight of fault for the near collapse of six universes including his own falls solely on his shoulders."

"No… no, you're wrong," Gwen shook her head, "He's Spider-Man. He's… he's my friend."

"I know this is difficult to hear, Gwen, believe me…" Miguel put a hand on her shoulder, "But Miles Morales being bitten by a spider and masquerading as Spider-Man was a mistake. He is a mistake."

"He is the first major Anomaly we've detected, one that is so unpredictable and dangerous, and it seems Canon is trying to repair itself from the damage he has caused…" he said sadly. "You see, Gwen, Miles Morales was still meant for greatness. According to our computers, Miles was meant to become a great scientist, and find the answer to travel between dimensions without cellular damage. Unfortunately, by pretending to be something he's not… he's ruined that opportunity. Ruined what time you two would have had together…"

"I don't … I don't understand…" Gwen replied as another hologram opened.

"Your connection with Miles, Gwen. I know you've felt it, haven't you?" Miguel asked with a seemingly sympathetic voice. "That's not an accident. You were meant to connect. It's Canon, Gwen, but not when you did. Your world was the world he would first discover. And you two would team up, work together and gradually fall in love and then…" a hologram appeared before her of an older Spider-Woman cradling an older Miles in her arms. "In every other universe, Gwen Stacy falls in love with Spider-Man, and in every other universe, it never ends well… but what happens when Gwen Stacy IS Spider-Man, or Spider-Woman as it were. Miles Morales is your Gwen Stacy. You and Miles would be together and happy for a time. And in the end, he would be killed, and you will fail to save him. And… there's nothing you can do for him…"

"But… but he's Spider-Man now, we've already met … what does that…" she said as Jessica stepped up beside her. Another Hologram appeared. In it, a scene played out of Gwen trying to get to some kind of rifle while fighting with Miles in a black and white suit. The hologram Gwen got to the rifle and held it out to Miles.

"Don't… Miles… don't make me do this… please…" she said in the hologram as Miles stood glaring before her. He then rushed her, and she saw herself pull the trigger, engulfing Miles in a wave of electrical energy. He went flying backwards into what looked like a secured warehouse wall, destroying it to where it all crumbled around him. Gwen watched herself rush to the wreckage and pull it off. "Miles, I'm… I'm so sorry…" the hologram Gwen cried as she carefully pulled Miles' broken body into her lap. "I'm so sorry…"

"This is going to happen once you two see each other again…" Miguel sighed, turning to face the horrified teenager. "I know, I wish there was another way, but Canon Events cannot change. First, his father will die saving a young girl as one of Miles' arch enemies attacks. And then, this will happen. They're Canon Events. There's nothing you or anyone else can do to change that."

"But he already… he…" Gwen shook her head, and Miguel pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Gwen. There's nothing you can do. Canon cannot be changed any further without endangering everyone. Miles and his father are going to die. Just like your father… when the time comes for your other Canon Event. Be ready to say goodbye…"

Gwen shoved away from him and took in all the images of Miles dying all around them. She began to breathe heavily as her eyes went to Peter, Jessica, and Miguel.

"No, I can't… I can't, I …" Her eyes fell on Jessica, who was staring impassively at her. "Did… did you know about this?"

"Yes," Jessica replied almost robotically.

"And did you?" Gwen turned to Peter, who still couldn't meet her eyes.

"Sometimes, bad things just happen, Gwen, and you just have to learn to roll with those punches…" Peter still avoided her eyes.

"There's comfort, though, Gwen," Miguel said, holding out his hands. "In knowing that it's all Canon, you don't have to feel responsible. You don't have to worry about what if's. All you have to do is… accept it."

"You all … you all knew all along… did everyone know?" Gwen asked, fury building in her soul as her world crumbled around her. "Did… did Mindy…" the silence answered it. "I'm going to talk to her… right now…" Gwen angrily punched in the code on her watch and opened a portal.

"Kid, wait!" Peter called, but she was already leaping through.

"That could have gone better…" Jessica crossed her arms and sighed.

Gwen shook her head as she landed on Earth 1610 alongside Mary Jane, Jessica, Peni, Hobi, Pav, and Noir. She had no idea why that particular unwanted memory jumped to the forefront of her mind, but she had more important things to think about.

"Let's get to Rio," Gwen said, glancing toward the direction of Miles' apartment. "Something isn't right… I can feel it. Miles is in trouble."

The Spiders took to the air swinging through the air toward the familiar home of their friend. Gwen entered first as the others followed behind her.

"Oh, hey, Gwen, what's up?" Miles glanced toward his girlfriend and smiled softly.

"Hey, Miles, you ok?" Gwen asked, "Why are you sitting in the dark? Is your mom home?"

"I'm great, Mi Amor," he said, sitting back and kicking his feet on the table. "I've never been better."

Gwen narrowed her eyes on his shoes then looked up at his relaxed face. "You… tied your shoes…"

"First time for everything, right, Gwen?" He gave an odd smile.

"So… Rio around?" Gwen asked, crossing her arms.

"Oh, she said she had to go out for some groceries or something. Who knows how long that might take…" Miles shrugged.

"Have you seen Peter?" Gwen asked. "He was looking for you…"

"Nope, but he's probably around here somewhere…" Miles said, "Let me go get my suit and I can help you look…"

"Go ahead and get started. I'll contact you," Miles said, walking into his bedroom.

"Anyone else kinda creeped out?" Noir asked, "Cause he's kinda creepy…"

"Miles! Wait, we need to…" She drifted off as she opened the bedroom door and saw the black flesh-like suit with the large, white Spider symbol on his back and chest with the legs connecting over his shoulders and across his waist. Miles glanced back to look at her through the mask, and it blinked at her. Not like their mask lenses would flex with their expressions, actually blinked.

She recognized the suit instantly and she felt like her lungs were being squeezed shut. "What's wrong, Mi Amor… like my new suit?" He asked.

"I'll let you know if I find anything," he said, opening the window and firing a black webline from the white patch on the top of his knuckles.

"See you in the air, Gwen." She stood there for a moment before she stumbled backwards; only Jessica's grasp kept her from hitting the ground.

"I can't… I can't… I can't…" She shook her head as tears filled her blue eyes. "I can't face this…"

"You have to, Gwen," Jessica said sadly.

"But it's…" Gwen whispered through sobs.

"I know what it is, honey…" Jess wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so sorry…"

"Do you think… we saved his dad… think we…" Gwen asked through her wheezing sobs.

"If anyone can stop a Canon Event properly, it's you two," Jessica nodded, "But before that, we have to find Peter…"

Gwen closed her eyes as her own recorded voice from the algorithm echoed in her mind. "Don't… Miles… don't make me do this… I'm so sorry…"

"We have to find Peter…" Gwen breathed, "and until we do, we can't let Miles know we're on to him…"

Miles slowly crawled into the window of his uncle Aaron and let the black mask slide back away from his face. "Hey guys…" he said looking to Rio and Peter who were almost cocooned in black webs. "Wanted to check on you, make sure you guys were still hanging out."

"Mijo… this isn't you… you have to know this is wrong…" Rio said, remembering the trick her son had picked up from the man restrained beside her, to use the mouth to distract from the hands, "Please, Miles, come back to us…" She said as she finally reached her phone and pressed the emergency contact button to make a call to her husband.

"Come on, Miles, fight the suit. You're tougher this this. You're tougher than me…" Peter continued for her.

"I know you have to still be in there! Why else would you bring us to Aaron's old place?" Rio said loudly and clearly.

"Don't worry, they'll be more joining you soon," Miles said, before glancing toward Peter, "And you know exactly why that is don't you. You've been bonded with us before. You do know what coming, don't you?"

"I won't let you do that to them…" Peter glared daggers at Miles.

"You're not quite in a position to do anything, Spider-Man…" Miles mocked, crossing his arms.

"You know if I keep pushing, I could get out of this," Peter glared back, "You know how strong I am."

"I know how strong you were, before you let yourself go…" Miles smirked, "And say you did get out. Think you could make it to Mayday before I do?"

"What?" Peter asked as a chill ran down his spine.

"The young always taste the best…" Miles stated, leaning in and licking his lips hungrily.

"Miles, get away from them!" He turned quickly and his mask formed over his face as he stared at his father, who had his gun trained on him.

Miles fired a black webline, knocking his gun out of his hand before diving out the window. "Miles! Wait!" Jeff yelled, running to the window. "Are you alright?" He asked, turning to his wife and Peter. He moved quickly to his wife first and began pulling at the black webbing.

"Yes, he didn't hurt us…" Rio said as she was finally freed and embraced her husband.

He placed Rio on Aaron's old couch and turned to Peter and began working at freeing him as well. "What happened to my son, Peter?"

"He got stuck in one of the worst concepts of hell, Jeff; there's no other way to describe it. That suit is a parasite. It starts out affecting his emotions before it finally takes over his body while he remains completely aware of everything…" Peter replied. "The longer he stays in that suit, the less likely we'll be able to save him. We have to hurry…" Peter quickly began to work at getting the black webbing that completely covered his watch.

"Gwen and whoever else is trying to help Miles, Peter B. here."

"Peter?!" a familiar voice cried out through the com.

"Mary Jane?!" Peter replied in shock. "Ara you OK?!" She asked worriedly.

"Am I… WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Peter yelled in a panic, "Please tell me you didn't bring Mayday! It's the…"

"Symbiote, I know, Peter, and do I look like I'm stupid?" Mary Jane replied, "Only an idiot would take a toddler into a fight."

"Heh…" Peter scratched the back of his neck before continuing. "If you know, then what are you…"

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Mary Jane fired back. "I will not let you face that thing by yourself ever again, do you hear me, Peter Parker?"

"Yes, dear…" Peter sighed as he signed off and reached for his mask that had been left abandoned on the coffee table. "I have to catch up."

"Not without me," Jeff stepped up, picking his gun up off the ground and holstering it. "That's my son."

"Alright," Peter nodded as he pulled on his mask. "Rio, think you can make it home alright?"

"Yes," she nodded and embraced her husband again. "Mi Amor, please bring our boy home…"

"Me, Emo and his buddies will have him back by dinner." He squeezed her back.

"And come back safe yourself, both of you," she said, glancing between her husband and the hero.

"SP/DR to search party: Miles sighted, preparing to engage to slow him down," Peni's voice spoke through the wristband. "Location: Williamsburg Bank Tower…"

"Miles…" Gwen's voice spoke through the group com.

"Why in the world would he go there?" Peter asked.

"Because… he's still in there! Hurry, everyone!" Gwen replied desperately.

"Let's move!" Peter put an arm around Jeff's waist, and they were out the window.

The towering SP/DR mech landed on the roof of the clock tower where she had lost sight of Miles. Peni glanced around the various monitors in the cockpit but showed no sign of her friend. "Miles? Miles? Where are you?" She called, hoping that he was in more control than the parasite attached to him. Her eyes widened when she felt something collide with the mech and sent her tumbling off the tower.

Alarms sounded as whatever it was that attacked her began ripping apart the suit's armor plates. She fired off the back rockets of the suit and launched a series of weblines from the ports to try to slow the fall but still crashed into the streets below. Even with the shock absorbers of the cockpit, the impact knocked the air out of her for a moment. Other than the damage alarms ringing around her, she was most horrified by the fact her spider-sense hadn't gone off once.

Her eyes widened when something began to rip into the cockpit, pulling it apart. "Miles? Miles, please stop!" She begged, realizing he was using his cloak.

"Peni… you shouldn't have come after me, Peni…" Miles' voice hissed as his black suit slowly uncloaked halfway into the cockpit.

"Miles… we just…" She yelped when he threw his first punch, and again and again and again, striking the teenaged pilot repeatedly with no restraint. The attacks came too fast and without her spider-sense giving her any warnings.

There was nothing she could do but take it. By the time he was done, Peni was bloody and bruised heavily. She managed to open her least bruised eye, "Ad… Addy…" She breathed, reaching upward.

Miles placed his fists on either side of her and began lowering his face toward her. A slit formed on the mask and began to open into a mouth, with six rows of jagged, shark-like teeth.

Before he could bite the wounded girl, the sound of a slot machine win sounded behind him along with a flair of his spider-sense before he was kicked off the mech.

"Mary… Jane…" The monster that used to be Miles growled, glaring at the red-and-white battlesuit-clad redhead glaring right back through her goggles.

"That'll be Jackpot to you, slimy," Mary Jane replied, reaching for her gauntlet again, causing the slots to spin again.

"Step down, son," Jeff said, stepping forward with his gun drawn.

Miles turned to him and gave a monstrous, almost demonic roar as a slightly elongated tongue escaped the grotesque mouth.

"GET OFF MY BOYFRIEND, YOU FREAK," Gwen swung in and kicked Miles from behind.

With another roar he turned and held her by the throat. "You… betrayed… me… again…" the monster hissed as he closed the clawed fingers around her throat.

"Miles!" Gwen forced out, reaching up to pull off her mask, so he could see her face. "Miles, it's me. It's Gwen. Fight it! This isn't you!" She cried out, fighting to get the claws off her throat.

The monster hissed as he continued to close his fist around her neck.

"Miles!" Peter rushed forward but was knocked back by the monster's free hand.

"Miles, Son, that's Gwen! You have to wake up!" Jeff called out, "Wake up, son! Let her go! Come back!"

Mi…S…" Gwen clawed desperately at his arm and kicked wildly now, almost on instinct as her face began to go from red to a tint of blue. Her actions slowed as his fist got tighter and tighter. She managed to use every ounce of her strength to force two last words out as her eyes began to roll back and bits of foam formed on the corners of her mouth. "M…My… Arm…or…" she managed to push through the constriction.

The effect was instant.

She hit the ground rough and gasped as she filled her stinging lungs with air. She forced herself to sit up as she coughed and tried to get as much air into her as possible.

"Miles?" She wheezed, looking up at the trembling creature.

"Gwen…" His voice spoke as the mouth closed completely and resealed into the mask. "Dad…" He sounded terrified. "Gwen… Papa… help… help me… please… Gwen, help… Papa, ayúdame… please…"

"Miles!" Gwen cried as loudly as her now-hoarse voice could. "Keep fighting! Fight it! We're here! I'M here!"

As quickly as the trembling started, it stopped, but the beast containing Miles continued to breath heavily as if struggling to contain its host.

The other Spiders finally arrived and surrounded them.

"No 'ere t' run, mate," Hobie said, staring hard at the monster. With a roar similar to a cornered animal, Miles dove for Gwen, ripping the band off her arm and placing it on his own.

He hit the first button he could and opened a portal. "Lyla! Disable Gwen's watch!" Peter called into his but the beast had already dove through the portal.

"Disabled, but he's already made it through and on the run," Lyla replied.

"Where did he go?" Gwen breathed as Hobbie and Pav helped her to her feet.

"He hit the home button, Gwen," Lyla replied, "Earth-65… oh… oh, dear…"

"What's wrong now?" Peter sighed as Mary Jane stepped up beside him.

"As soon as he set foot…" Lyla's hologram turned toward Gwen. "Canon Event setting in place…"

"ASM-121…"

To Be Continued