SPIDER-MAN: ALL ALONE (CHAPTER 23)
FOREST HILLS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, QUEENS…
Peter kept his head down as he watched by the bedside while May's eyes continude to flicker. He reached out with one hand and felt his aunt's hand for a moment.
"She feels cold." Peter thought to himself.
May then quietly spoke after feeling Peter's firm handgrip.
"Ben?" May said as if she woke up from a dream.
"Shh…It's me, Aunt May." Peter replied reassuring her.
"Oh, Peter." May said with a weak smile, "I thought I took a strange journey into the afterlife for a second."
Peter felt a little concerned about the wording but reassured himself that May must be having dreams.
"You must really be leading life now, aren't you? Everyday you're getting close to graduating; an outstanding job… Oh and Gwen…" May muttered on.
"Yeah, it's all tight." Peter replied, "I'm just here as always to see how you're doing."
"Peter…" May said with a sigh, "We're all human here. We live as long as nature or God intends us to. This… Isn't some unexpected precedent despite what you feel."
Peter then decided to take back his words a little in regards to life being good. It obviously is not the case when he is dedicating a significant amount of time being the web-slinging hero that he is and juggling problems regarding his studies and family.
"You're the one person who's always going to support me throughout my life. The only. And that's cause you're only family member I know that's still around." Peter spoke.
"Oh, Peter. You've never had it easy." May said as she gulped, "Ever since you were given to us by custody."
This prompted Peter to think about his real parents. But the mystery never took hold of him that significantly with both Ben and May filling in. In fact, his family life felt normal until the day Ben was gone.
"Even though I don't know much about mum and dad… I'm grateful for your help and Uncle Ben's…" Peter said, "It's why… I have trouble seeing you like this."
"I have trouble seeing you down like this. It means I didn't do my job as guardian." May said back, "Peter, the world needs you to carry on so that there is a chance for change."
Again, the burden and responsibility are placed. For Peter, this may be what matters to him most right now.
13th PRECINCT POLICE STATION, MANHATTAN…
Commissioner Philip Dewolff and the rest of the police force were relaxed as they sat around the tea table and enjoying their lunches.
"I'm so glad that these operating systems have been superefficient in assisting our duties." Phillip proclaimed eating his shawarma, "I can't believe this law signed by Oscorp is doing wonders."
"Yeah, policing seems a little too easy." The lieutenant said throwing his coffee cup into the bin close to him.
"Are you saying you miss crime? That's kind of concerning." One officer added.
"Our job is making New York a safe liveable environment; not indulge in criminals to catch." Phillip said.
"Yeah, isn't that Spider-Man's job?" The lieutenant laughed.
As they were chatting, the station was then caught off guard by a sudden explosion that rocked them out of their seats. The explosion was ear-numbing and debris flew over the place. Officers were either knocked or severely injured in the process after this happened.
Phillip groaned as he felt something hit his stomach as he slumped against the wall. He then eyed the ceiling of the station in which he saw someone in green armour riding on a hoverboard-like glider. The engines of the glider roared like an aeroplane take off as Phillip looked up.
Jumping down from the glider, the green armoured assailant introduced itself as he plodded on the police station floor and observed the injured officers on the floor. His first words were a cackle as he mesmerised in the destruction caused.
"This is the commissioner, 10-33/10-34. Need nearby officers to take defensive positions." Phillip whispered to his walkie-talkie as he tried holding off his wound.
The green armoured man then started pacing towards Phillip before being jumped by an officer. With minor inconvenience, the officer was flipped over and stomped out cold. Multiple officers soon arrived with guns equipped some which are retooled technological weapons made by Oscorp. For Norman Osborn, this was hysterical to see.
Grabbing out a spherical silver object with a green glow, he rolled the object forward like a bowling ball which then discharged an EMP wave disabling the guns. The officers panicked for a little before charging at Norman. Shrugging at the sight of charging cops, Norman put them in their place with his superstrength and breaking any bone he could with delight.
Phillip watched in horror as his officers were disposed before reaching for his gun and shooting at Norman. The bullet bounced off the armour much to Phillip's expected disappointment prompting Norman to turn around and grab Phillip by the collar.
"Who are you?" Phillip gasped, "What-do. You want?"
At first, there was no immediate reply as Norman relished in intimidating his victims with a cackle. Then he gave out his answer.
"To show you how power works between worms and birds." Norman answered before tossing Phillip aside to the wall.
Afterwards, Norman decided to patrol around the station and found other police staff cowering. They were not part of the force and were merely office workers. Glaringly, he took note of the computer screens and how they had the Living Brain OS installed.
In disgust, he picked up the computer hardware and threw it far across the room. Part of his motive was to limit the Living Brain's influence where possible and also make it advantageous for him that the law will not rise above him.
"Where-Oh, where… Are the dungeons?" Norman asked as he looked around the terrified crowd through his armour lenses.
The crowd continued to display fear with their whimpering and panicked responses prompting an annoyed Norman to pick up a man by hand.
"Your jail cells…" Norman clarified with a sneer.
"Just downstairs." The man answered before Norman let him go with a violent throw.
Stealing a keycard off him, he headed for the door that indicated where the holding cells were. Within the room, Adrian had been one of the few cellmates still delayed in regards to prison transfer as well as a court hearing. He had been slumping in his cell for a while as he relied on the police to look after him but now it was about change for him in the most unexpected way.
Norman plodded downwards in his armour as he scanned for Adrian. The prisoners that were still there opened their eyes to observe his entrance before Norman activated bat-like razor boomerangs from his arsenal and struck them down as they either pierced their heads or chests.
Adrian freaked out at the sight of Norman dispatching the prisoners before noticing his advance towards him. Before he got to his question, Norman talked first.
"Such fragility, those worms are." Norman said, "But not you… Adrian."
"Who are you?" Adrian fearfully asked.
"Someone you have known for a long time. Unlike me." Norman said before the mask lifted off him to reveal his hideous face.
"Wha-?!" Adrian said out loud before fearing for a heart attack, "What trickery is this?"
"This isn't deception, it's revelation for what you want." Norman answered back.
"What are you talking about? I have schemed at your company for months and even years." Adrian retorted.
"For a noble reason, I acknowledge. But circumstances change. It did for me. And will for you." Norman said with a smile.
"How can I trust a man with such a smile?" Adrian scoffed.
"Better to trust someone who you know will 'betray' you than one who pretends will not." Norman replied, "How's your 'friendship' with Marty go?"
"He's no friend of mine. Listen, I don't know what you want from me. Tell me or go away and let me rot…" Adrian said bitterly.
"I want to dismantle Oscorp back to the sketching board. To take it back from the leaches you have sought after." Norman said, "And put the company in good use. To do so, I need able people to aid me."
"You're mad, I can see." Adrian replied still not convinced.
"Ah, I knew it wasn't going to be easy to recruit you. But Marty… Is one of those leaches. He's taking all that I have built for myself and exploiting it for his own material gain. The same way, he fed off you." Norman said wagging his finger.
"Ha. All you did in life was take from others." Adrian answered, "If you excuse me, you'd finish me off like you did the rest."
"Oh, Adrian. Toomes. Toomes. Don't live such a petty life. Get some of the excitement. I can offer something of value. But it will depend on your little actions." Norman said.
Reluctant as ever, Adrian could not bring himself to help Norman ever and in his mind, the thought of working with him will make his own efforts feel hypocritical. Regardless of his choice, Norman decided to open the cell door.
"Wanna fly?" Norman asked.
"I have another question for you? What's your connection to the Spiders?" Adrian asked back.
Norman smiled at the question before giving out his answer.
"They will not go unnoticed." Norman replied.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE…
Some time later, Norman rode his glider close to where the Brooklyn Bridge traffic was and observed all the incoming and outgoing vehicles passing through. The bridge will be one of the first in terms of the plans he was conjuring.
With one spherical bomb in his palm, Norman looked for structural weaknesses on the bridge that he could collapse. He then flung forward one bomb that flashed before exploding and hitting a chunk of the bridge support beam.
"Down goes Brooklyn." Norman said as he readied his next explosive.
The eye lenses on his mask scanned for more structural weaknesses as Norman flew around at a pace to ensure his work pulls off. He cackled as he not only heard the sound of his bombs exploding but also the sounds of panicked civilians from afar as the bridge began to lose support.
Just as he was about to make another blow, Gwen quickly arrived on scene lunging at Norman in the air before Norman swiftly moved aside from her. The presence of a Spider person is just what he needed.
"Ah, the female Spider… An excellent figurine." Norman said as he watched Gwen latch onto a bridge support beam.
Norman then got out one of his sharp boomerangs before launching three at Gwen's direction. Gwen immediately sensed the danger and dodged as they hit the beam. She gasped for air as Norman launched his assault against her.
"That's some speed." Gwen commented as Norman chased her.
"Slow down for me…" Norman menaced.
As the chase around the bridge went on, Gwen found herself outmatched as Norman's glider speed outpaced her web swinging. Norman immediately grabbed Gwen's neck before cackling.
"You are quite the fast hare. But I am the hungry wolf." Norman said as he held onto Gwen.
The grip from Norman was tight that Gwen had trouble activating phasing abilities before Norman made his next move.
"I have a proposition for you, Ms. Spider." Norman spoke.
"I-I'm not interested." Gwen groaned as she saw part of the bridge beginning to break.
"Oh, but I don't want to part ways with you…" Norman said sadistically, "The heartbreak you will get from Spider-Man and those lambs up there will be astounding."
While Gwen was still in Norman's grip, Spider-Man finally showed up to join the fight and tried to launch himself at Norman before missing. However, Norman managed to let Gwen go which prompted Spider-Man to catch her mid-air before using a web to land onto a bridge foundation platform.
"You okay?" Spider-Man asked.
"I guess so. The people up there though." Gwen replied catching her breath.
"Oh yeah, big trouble. Say, who's that 'shining' knight in the green?" Spider-Man asked again before preparing to save the civilians from above.
"No idea. I'd hoped you know but I guess we know he's trouble now." Gwen answered.
As the two decided to do two separate roles of rescuing and facing off Norman. The feat would prove difficult as Norman's glider speed and own physical versality made it a challenge for either to accomplish separate goals.
"Two little spiders spinning their webs…" Norman giggled as he toyed with both Spider-Man and Gwen swinging about in mid-air.
Soon, Norman deployed more boomerangs which swiftly cut their swinging webs clean. For Spider-Man, he quickly deployed his suit gliders to maintain air time as he picked up on his foe's abilities.
"Geez… Who is this guy?" Spider-Man asked himself.
"Tch… Little wings for the Spider. An adorable asset." Norman mocked as he watched Spider-Man glide slowly.
Gwen also realised to make use of her wing gliders in this battle as he watched Spider-Man go toe-to toe with Norman. While still not enough; it would suffice to lessen the chance of them falling flat into the water.
"The time is nigh; I was so ready to fight you. How unfortunate with how feeble you are." Norman commented.
"Nice that you view me so highly but sorry that you're disappointed, your flashiness." Spider-Man snapped back.
"Stop bantering, we got people to save." Gwen yelled out.
"I'm on it!" Spider-Man said as he continued dancing around with Norman.
"It's your life or theirs." Norman taunted, "Saving. Saving. Saving."
As Spider-Man and Norman twirled around the area, Gwen had no other choice but to check on the civilians herself. She could hear cries of help above and swung up to see that there were indeed people struggling to run from the chaotic scene. All the while, Norman started tossing as many bombs as he could.
Spider-Man's own sense was going off the wire sporadically with Norman throwing bombs and chasing him around. As the fight continued, Spider-Man still wondered who was behind the green mask.
"Something feels familiar about this guy" Spider-Man thought as his breath was getting shorter with each web swing.
"I am entertained by this insufficiency. And to think, the girl of yours is doing all she can to save those above the bridge." Norman said wickedly.
Spider-Man clutched onto a beam as he tried to recover his stamina from all the air time. However, time was scarce as rubble began falling from above.
"Catching some air?" Norman laughed, "No matter, now the girl's gonna entertain me."
Norman then left for Spider-Man to be crushed under some rubble before Spider-Man quickly moved away from any dangerous rubble fall. He then informed Gwen of the danger.
"He's after you!" Spider-Man said over the ear comm.
As Gwen finished guiding away a mother and her son, Norman showed up behind her gliding.
"I am touched by this. It's such a shame…" Norman said as Gwen turned around.
"You're going to answer why you're tearing down the Brooklyn Bridge." Gwen answered back.
Norman responded by gliding towards Gwen which prompted a bit of panic as she looked at the sharp edges of the glider. The insanity and bloodthirsty glee of this new foe is enough to make her move as she watched for any sign of bomb or boomerang.
However, one move she did not anticipate was the release of hallucinogenic gas from Norman's gauntlets once he got close. The gas hit Gwen on the face causing her to choke. As this happened, Spider-Man had thrown his own web bomb onto Norman causing the bomb to spew out sticky web and latch onto Norman's armour.
"Ugh." Norman said before dodging Spider-Man's mid-air punch.
As he prepared to faced Norman, he was caught off guard when Gwen tackled him to the ground. The gas's effect is making her panic as she tried to attack him. While this was happening, Norman smiled beneath his mask.
"Snap out of it!" Spider-Man begged as he tried restraining Gwen.
"Let this be the fight of your life." Norman laughed, "Unfortunately, I have to run. Till next time, Spider-Man."
Norman then decided to fly off leaving the scene as part of Brooklyn Bridge collapsed into East River. Norman's departure then gave Spider-Man the opportunity to say something out loud.
"Gwen! Gwen! Snap out of it." Spider-Man said holding her wrists.
With no cure in sight, Spider-Man had think quickly before slamming Gwen onto the concrete to knock her out. She then slumped as she was brought down. Her heart rate however was still intact.
"Please don't be mad at me when you wake up." Spider-Man said as he held onto her.
As he looked over the collapsed road of Brooklyn Bridge that divides each side, Spider-Man pondered on the emergence of the new foe.
"Some armour and gear that was…" Spider-Man noted.
J. JONAH JAMESON APARTMENT…
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is I; J. Jonah Jameson and I know what you're thinking." John started, "When is the last time New York cared it was in danger? Why was I so silent?"
John cleared his throat as he delivered the news into the microphone.
"Well, people like me who care for the city's welfare can FINALLY shout again when it's time for us to ask… Who was that green humanoid sky surfing yesterday?" John asked, "What is Spider-Man's game now?"
"I'll tell you what, we know this green buzzer is dangerous. Dangerous! Attacks the 13th Precinct and leaves so many of our fine officers fighting for life including beloved Commissioner Dewolff." John continued, "And guess who is locked there? Spider-Man's old friend, the Vulture a.k.a Adrian Toomes."
John's moustache twitched as he scribbled the next bit of words he was going to say on a notepad.
"And then look at Brooklyn Bridge! What a mess! A fine New York icon tarnished. This is a new low for Spider-Man's collateral damage. Appalling!" John said, "Anyway, I have a word from a guest named 'Amelia' who would like to speak out as a witness to what has happened."
"Yeah, I was there." The guest spoke over the microphone elsewhere, "Trapped in my car and then out of nowhere, the bridge shook. I stopped. Got out of the car and noted it was fight involving Spider-Woman and later Spider-Man. I kind of wanted to capture what was happening but I also realised the danger I was in-."
"Well, you're lucky to be alive." John interrupted, "I'm relieved that people got out of their cars even though they lost them in the water. Happy insurance spending."
"Uh, Spider-Woman-." Amelia tried to speak again before John cut in.
"Well folks, I guess we should ask ourselves who this green knight with a monstrous face is. So, I'll be opening a survey on my website to ask viewers what should we name this fiend." John said, "And as always, feel free to share your concerns about Spider-Man and Spider-Woman's vicious antics with me."
TO BE CONTINUED…