Power to Protect, Power to Destroy

New chapter of my crossover story, enjoy.

Reviews:

Wolfgirl2013: Yeah :)
Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, it's grim for him and not about to get better as you'll see.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Spider-Man, Stranger Things or their characters.

Chapter 22

Tom Holloway smirked at the disgusted Nancy as they sat at their respective desks. She couldn't believe he had the gall to show his face before her after not only all his comments, but how he had acted towards her. Before either of them could say anything to each other however, the door to Jonah's office opened and the man himself emerged, only to shout

"Holloway, my office, now!"

Before disappearing back inside. Smirking wider, Tom stood up.

"Yup, promotion time." He muttered, loud enough for Nancy to hear.

She watched him go with a dark glare until he entered the office and shut the door.

Sitting down, Holloway couldn't help but notice two complaint forms on the desk, as well as a TV/DVD player combo next to said desk, for which Jonah picked up the remote for.

"Would you care to explain why I have received two complaints about your behaviour?" Jameson snarled at Tom. "Namely, making misogynistic and inappropriate comments towards Nancy Wheeler and other female members of staff and, more pertinently, attempted harassment of Nancy Wheeler?"

Tom froze, startled at this, it wasn't the promotion he had been expecting.

"Mr. Jameson, this isn't...these ladies have clearly put their pretty little heads together to fabricate-" Tom began, regaining his smirk.

But it soon vanished at the sight of Jonah's face going red, a vein starting to throb in the man's temple.

"You should know better than to talk about them in that manner. It may have escaped your notice, but times have changed and that is the exact inappropriate condescension that you're in trouble for." Jameson warned him. "And as for the harassment-"

Holloway was quick to respond to that. "A blatant fabrication due to jealousy of my higher position sir. She is clearly scheming to-"

But with a sharp glare, Jameson silenced him by pressing a button on the remote, turning the TV on.

Holloway shrank back in his seat as the footage played, security camera footage of him indeed harassing Nancy Wheeler, even trying to grope her under her skirt before she slapped him, which he had of course followed up by threatening her. He nervously looked back at Jonah who glared at him.

"Sir, come on, look at how she dressed, she was asking-" He began lamely.

Jonah cut him off sharply. "Not another word, you're digging yourself even deeper! In case you forgot, here at the Bugle we report scandals, we don't make them. Word of this gets out then our reputation will be irreparably tarnished and I WON'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN TO THIS PAPER!"

Holloway shook his head frantically, this wasn't how things were supposed to go. "But sir-"

"Let me make this clear. I expect a vast improvement out of you and for there to be no more incidents like this or I'll have you out of here so fast your feet won't touch the ground." Jonah fired back at him. "Do I make myself clear."

"But sir, this is all-" Holloway tried to say but his arrogance was deflated.

Jameson was on his feet, clearly about to blow a gasket.

"Let me spell it out for you! Clean up your act or when I'm done with you, YOU WON'T GET A JOB TAKING PICTURES OF SNOW IN SIBERIA!" Jonah seemed to calm down just enough to lower the volume for his last demand. "Get out of my office!"

Tom scuttled out humiliated.

Indeed as he feared, all eyes were on him with malevolent glee, especially Nancy's, for they all easily heard Jonah's tirade. Then they heard another shout from the office.

"Where's my damn aspirin!?"

With a wry smile, Betty Brant took the pill bottle from her desk drawer and headed inside Jonah's office, sending Nancy a conspiratorial wink as she did so. Now Nancy knew who had lodged the complaints.

XXXXX

Swinging through the streets, having just stopped men who worked for Mr. Negative from stealing from an armoured car, Spider-Man was contemplating his next move when he began to get a call.

"Huh, from the chief, what's going on here?" He muttered before answer. "Chief, what's up?"

Hopper answered quickly, sounding tense. "Spider-Man, we need you down at the docks, Rhino's there and is running rampant."

"Rhino, seriously?" Spider-Man gasped. "Alright, on my way."

He ended the call and immediately got to work, heading for the docks.

'El did tell me Rhino was in town...he sure took his time acting.' He reflected as he hurried over. 'Hmmm, there was some event at the docks, some new container ship being unveiled by Osborn, but that event finished about half an hour ago'

He shook his head, whatever Rhino was up to he'd deal with when he got there and put a stop to his rampage.

XXXXX

Mike grimaced as he crouched behind the small shipping container.

'How did I end up caught up in THIS mess.' He wondered to himself.

Here he was, at the docks, having just finished getting pictures for the story on the container ship, as ordered by Jonah. He'd stayed behind after everyone left to get a few extra shots, now he was stuck hiding as Rhino plodded his way through the maze of containers.

"You cannot hide from me!" The brute yelled in his thick accent. "I know you're here!"

Mike grimaced, he knew it wasn't a bluff either.

'I've gotta do something, I already called the police for help but they can't do much against a monster like that...' He fretted.

He knew his only real hopes were escape or Spider-Man. But he felt the chances of Spider-Man actually showing up to save him like before weren't exactly great enough to gamble on. He had hope of course, hope that someone from the police could warn Spider-Man and he was on the way. But it seemed his only real hope right now was to attempt to escape.

He peeked out from behind the container he was hiding behind and cringed. There was Rhino, a hulking monstrosity of a man, huge in both height and bulk, his armoured suit covering everything except his mouth and the surrounding area of his face. Cold blue light flared in the eye-pieces of the suit as he stomped worryingly closer to Mike's hiding place, the sunlight catching just right off the horn, showing its deadly sharpness. Knowing he had to take the chance, Mike acted the moment Rhino turned his back to pummel another small container. He darted out and, keeping as low and quiet as he could, he changed to hide behind a stack of crates, just in time as Rhino turned and demolished his old hiding place.

"Argh, this is like chase of goose!" Rhino roared. "I HATE CHASE OF GOOSE!"

Mike tried to calm his breathing but knew he was in serious trouble. Rhino was getting even angrier and therefore, far more savage.

It had been a complete accident that Mike had stumbled upon this, but still he knew why Rhino was hunting him, he had evidence of what had really happened here. Rhino had been with the masked men who worked for Mr. Negative, breaking open containers that contained weapons so they could take them for themselves. Mike had taken pictures but the men had all fled and now he had to contend with Rhino. Seizing his chance he crossed along behind a low but long container and reached another hiding place. If he could just reach the crates stacked by the fence he could climb up and over and get away. But fate clearly had other plans as suddenly the crate he hid behind was yanked away, causing him to stumble and fall, before pushing himself back with his feet, until he was against the wall.

"Hello there little spy, finally found you." Rhino taunted as he stomped ever closer. "Time for the nosy reporter to pay price."

With that he reared up and Mike flinched, this was it. Rhino was about to crush him.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.