Did yall ever notice the amount of spider people in the 616? Enough so that Peter himself doesn't need to be spider-man?
It's like he has the perfect out now more than ever. He doesn't need to be spider-man, man's can actually find ways to be happy and away from the crazy life he started when he was 15. But sadly, the writers wouldn't want that. But I also feel that Peter's uniqueness to being spider-man doesn't hit like it used to.
Because, when you have a lot of people who can become spider-man, even those across the multiverse, what makes Peter unique? Beyond being the OG to start it all? Maybe it's me getting old, pessimistic, and while part of me loves seeing different versions of spider-man and women. Enough so, people have other versions to love.
I feel now it's becoming redundant to see all these different versions of spider people. And there's not enough interesting stories like it was presented years ago of how different people handle the mantle. That not everyone, or other versions of Peter, is like the OG.
Small rant done. ON WITH THE STORY!
Chapter 9: Evening the odds
Cassandra was moving through the tunnel, following the same ways Peter went. Unlike Peter, she would use a gadget that sent out a strong wire that allowed her to propel herself forward to cover distance faster than running on the dirty waters, or whatever ground she could find.
She kept watch of the GPS tracker Peter put up that her gauntlet showcased; multitasking on her maneuverability, where she's going, and whom she may go up against, "Close," she murmured. She wasn't too far off from Peter's location, but she still had some ways to go.
"Batw…oman! D…o you r…ead?!"
Oracle came on her end, static on her end due to Cassandra being lower and away from the cave, "Read."
"Spider-man nee….ds… now! He's fig…thing….to venom!"
Behind the cowl, her basil eyes widen, "Venom…?!" Static ended up cutting off their communication. The power Oracle was using wasn't enough to keep a stable flow of communication between them.
It meant she would be on her own once more, but not completely, "Need to move!"
She pressed a button, causing the line launcher to ignite a boost in her movement.
Peter was sent hurling to a wall, causing a huge crack behind him, and sending debris down to his head that he ended up dodging out of the way. Not catching a breath, this monster was on him, not caring how battered his suit was becoming, when he found his mark the damage was enough that the pieces of tech that protected Peter were being torn apart by Cletus.
Or more specifically,the man who now calls himself Carnage laughed at the mere sight of him being in pain. His laughter was the kind of laughter Peter could hear in his nightmares, watching movies or tv shows from an unstoppable creature killing whoever ran.
The only difference was, he's real and leapt to him with such glee and excitement. Peter rolled out of the way, once again in the movie from mere sight alone. This fight was dangerous from the very fact that somehow, his spider sense wasn't going off from facing against Carnage. Carnage bounced off the wall and tried landing a swipe. Try being the right word, Peter dodged them with ease, countering his every move with punches and kicks that had Carnage stun for a few seconds. The great thing Peter leaned on was the years of experience of fighting tougher guys like Carnage, who really only had the brute strength and speed on his side.
That's when Carnage caught Peter's attack, "Faster spider," now having both hands on his bicep, he toss Peter over him hard, enough for him to yelp in pain, and morphed his other hand into a scythe, "FASTER"
Peter moved his shoulder out of the way, under-hooking his arm while quickly moving to where he wanted to be since the symbiote arms didn't provide the firm grip he needed. Thanks to Carnage's poor position from his attack, Peter would also under-hook his leg around the arm, and the other around the neck where he flipped him off.
Not wasting a moment, Peter leaped in the air from the mere strength of his hands, clocking him in the jaw with his two feet that sent his teeth flying, repositioning with a flip, he sended out two webs onto his chest where he twirls him right to the wall with strength that made this part of the sewer shake just a bit. Again, he wasn't done, he can't be done here with this kind of threat. Peter pulled him once he his feet landed on the ground, tussling out and uppercut and overhead to crash Carnage down.
But Carnage tanks that, laughing as his hands morph back to his five fingers, and landing straight on his feet. He would grab the webline that Peter still had clutch on both hands, pulling him for two hammerfist to be sent driven upwards to the chin, and with Peter floating in the air for a split second, Carnage moved quick enough to send another clutch fist t back down on the top of his head.
Peter was sent hurling to the ground, creating a web crack beneath him. He felt pain, immeasurable pain, the kind of pain he was used to, but it doesn't make it easier. The second he gave into the pain, the fact his spider sense wasn't working, was all Carnage needed to smash himself on top of Peter, bringing out the air just to breathe in.
For the briefest of second, Peter lost consciousness from how strong the attack, the world became dark, the area became bleak, but Peter fought it off, fought to stay awake, fought to keep fighting.
He soon heard the laughter rained from him, "DON'T GIVE UP NOW SPIDER!" Carnage's sharped hands swipe left and right at Peter, at first scraping his mask, making him bleed from left and right, but again, Peter stayed awake, his adrenaline pumping him through his vain, his heart running a thousand mile per second if it was possible, and soon guarded up to avoid some more immense damage.
And it didn't help that Cletus' followers were raving him up, "HE DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE!"
"SHOW HIM THE WAY!"
"MAKE HIM SUFFER!"
"CARNAGE!"
"CARNAGE!"
"CARNAGE!"
'Come on Peter…You're beyond being a punching bag!' Peter chanted to himself dodging one of his swipes, and moving where his bicep encircled Carnage's neck. It wasn't a complete guillotine lock because Carnage's own body made it hard for Peter to even get the grips he needed. But it was enough where Peter tossed him off, and kicked himself back to his feet.
Carnage landed on all fours, his claws digging and sparking the ground they fought on, the ground that now had Peter's blood, and the entire that shakes every time they connect blow for blow, "That's it! Feel it! The pain! The fact that I, and only me! Will give you what you want!"
"Yeah?" Peter started toying with his web shooters by the little scroll at the end of it. He saw his hud indicating he was switching modes from web shooters, to sonic blasters, "You noticed that I am in dire need of a haircut and shave?" Peter quipped, buying him sometime to get the level of frequency he wanted on the sonic waves. Weirdly enough, Carnage and his lackey's laughed at his joke, which didn't sit well with Peter, "Oh hell…You're not supposed to laugh at my jokes!"
Carnage shrugs, his sharp teeth already healed and his white lenses still display gleeness in what he wants to keep doing, "It was funny! It's part of your character! But no! I'm giving what my daddy couldn't!"
"Daddy? You're talking about Venom aren't you?" Peter asked.
"That's right!" Carnage pointed at him, "When Daddy escaped from Ravencroft he left behind a gift for me! To break out! To be free! To cause Carnage!"
'Ravencroft? Is that where Eddie disappeared off too after our last fight?' Peter questioned himself, but he couldn't keep being curious about it. It's something he'll have to attack later, yet now he has to be ready to fight again. Peter was now the one walking around, gripping his hands, ignoring the nagging feeling of his bloody arms that took chunk of the damage while only part of his mask by his cheek was cut wide open, "Oh I see, you wanna kill me like dear ole daddy wanted too. Simply because I didn't stay with him."
Carnage again howled in laughter, enough so he held his chest just as his army's did the same. It was so twisted seeing all these people, including Cletus laughing at him, almost mocking him.
It felt like a nightmare Peter was in once more. And it didn't help that any of these followers could jump in, or worse, get killed without Cletus needing to lift a finger. How do Peter even be able to save either of them from this monster, "Fuck no. I'm gonna make sure you become part of us. To become one of us," he then opened his hands wide, "Of course I have to make you suffer first, but, you will be part of my family, and that way, CARNAGE WILL RAIN ON GOTHAM AND FURTHER BEYOND!"
"Over. My. Dead. Body," tighten fist, knees bend, hands to face, shoulder lax, Peter was ready for round three.
"Sadly! I'm gonna need you alive, SPIDER!" Carnage charges at Peter, ready to hurt him, making him agonized in pain.
Expecting to be hit by a web shooter, Carnage didn't expect to be hit by not only loud frequency, but a low res of a sonic blast that kept him back just a bit, "UGH!" Cletus' symbiotic suit leeched a bit off him, enough where Peter can see a bit of the psychopath.
Not wanting to shorten out the function of his web shooter due to the high velocity of power he was putting out in his small device, Peter uses this chance to go on the offensive now, "Aww! Don't like that?!" Peter sent a flurry of attacks, body and head kicks that Carnage had to block because his symbiote was trying to stabilize itself.
Yet when Peter went for a spinning kick, he didn't think Carnage would recuperate as fast as he did. He caught Peter's leg in mid air, "Great thing about being my own child… IS THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE WEAKEN LIKE DADDY!" Peter was tossed to the ground, using his adhesive abilities, Peter tried stopping Carnage dragging him around the area. Try was the keyword, Carnage's ridiculous strength ended up pulling Peter anyways, and Carnage ran around with Peter being dragged.
Part of his skin felt the concert floor, the bleeding sensation was occuring more and more, but Peter grit his teeth and push past the pain. With the chunk of concrete still on both hands, using his core, Peter pushed himself up and slammed the two concrete in hand at Carnage's head.
Carnage felt that, but not enough. Still having his arms clutched on his legs, and being ragdoll anymore, Peter used his free leg to stick on Carnage's body, having top advantage where Peter brutally kept smacking him with concrete.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
It was enough where Carnage lost the grip of Peter's leg, now going on the ground, 'Keep fighting Peter!' Peter didn't stop, not even when the concrete all but disappeared. Peter fist kept pounding on Carnage, 'Don't let him have time to react!'
It had been awhile Peter let loose his strength, each time he punched, it buried Carnage face more and more to the ground. Quite possibly, they'll end up lower into the unknown of the Old Gotham sewers.
Again due to the lack of spider sense, he didn't take notice of Carnage's next move, using the piece of his symbiote tendrils to pierce through Peter's skin, "AHHH!" Peter screamed as they pierce through his chest, arms and lower stomach.
The pain worsened, so was his scream when Carnage stood up, lifting himself off the ground thanks to his tendrils, "Your good spider. Better than watching from afar! I guess that's why Gotham always tends to bring bad publicity to you compared to the bat's," Carnage then moves closer to Peter face, "When will you get it that they'll never trust you! That just like before, when you wore daddy! Or the countless times you went on a manhunt, Gotham fears. YOU! NOT THE BAT'S! SO WHY DON'T YOU EMBRACE IT AND IT BRING THIS CITY TO IT'S KNEE!"
Peter's hand clutches on the tendrils, "...Because I'm not like you," grunted, Peter headbutted Carnage, staggering him, but also using his feet on Carnage to push himself out of the tendrils. Backing up from the damage, backing up from the immense pain that traveled around his body, he didn't know he was grabbed by one of the crooks that joined Cletus' cult.
It meant that they all had a piece of Carnage symbiote inside them, which meant just like from the bit of the fundraiser, Peter now noticed that even then his spider sense was a lost cost here, "BREAK HIM!"
The crowd of Cletus' army was just about to do so, if it wasn't for Carnage using his tendril to push them all off of Peter, from left and right, and away from the center of their fight, "NO! NO ONE INTERFERES!" Peter didn't let himself go on his knees, still stood up, hands still up ready to fight as Carnage walked towards Peter, "HE'S MINE!"
Suddenly, a batarang was caught by Carnage's hands. For a brief second, he inspected it and before he could make a comment about it, an explosion occurred, causing fire and burns that made him howl in pain.
Cassandra came onto the scene, back to back with her partner just as when the crowd rounded around Carnage and the duo, "You sure took your time," Peter jested, but also stifled a bit in pain from his joke.
"Sorry. You ok?" Cassandra asks in concern, as both watch around the army getting ready to do something as Cletus controls his symbiote that howls and screams from the fire that hurted him.
"Been better," Peter again would modulate his web shooter; switching from sonic blasters and web shooters. He began wrapping his hands and arm, mending the bleeding, but forming his hands in boxing wrap, "Seems Carnage doesn't like fire, and every single one here has a piece of him."
"Making them strong."
"Exactly. Be ready."
"Always."
Carnage got control of himself, huffing and puffing in pain, but better now as he stared at the two partners, "OK THEN! EVERYONE INTERFERE!"
The army of Carnage followers ran at the two heroes, and the two heroes did what they did best.
Fight back, against all odds, evening the odds.
Bruce saw a lot of things when he was Batman, the only Bat, the leader of his family he adopted just as it once adopted him. He's gone up against the likes of small crooks, sociopath types to the psychopath types, to even further beyond with people with special abilities, aliens, and god-like beings. Sometimes, they were alone as he stood against them, but other times, he wasn't alone.
He had friends.
He had family.
He had people he could trust to help him win the battles.
Bruce saw a lot of things, and this was no different as he watched Peter and Cassandra fight not only this creature that was similar to the darker variant that Peter once wore, but his little small legion of army that seemed to be power by a connection of sorts.
A symbiotic connection.
His blue eyes never left the screen, his scowl only seemed to grow, his hands, body, it all egg to do something, to do anything. Peter and Cassandra were holding their own for sure; his powers, her skills that they both developed over the years means they can go toe to toe with meta-humans or alien-like beings that would present more of a challenge for a regular person.
But that didn't let the feeling in his stomach go away. The pit of stomach that wanted to, no, needed to become what he always was.
He wanted to be it again, his true self, the bat, to fight against the injustice that yearns to take over Gotham once more
"Alfred, how's our connection?" Barabra asked.
"Becoming stable as we speak thanks to the satellite coverage. I presume we're gonna borrow Peter's spider bots to give them both cover?"
"Exactly so! His little toy's have various utilities to annoy these sons of bitches."
Bruce took notice of movements coming from one of Peter's gsp. Smart thing he did with those devices is that it also works as a way to detect whoever was moving around nearby. Now Bruce was running a million things in his head of who could pass by these gps signals. He knows Cassandra is already on the battlefield, so who else could it be?
It was then Bruce's eyes slightly widened. Barbara got a glance of his small shock expression, "I know, I see it too. But you and I both know Bruce that he doesn't like to be a part of the sidelines. No matter what happened to him."
She had a point. But it didn't make it easier knowing his first son is out there, going to face the worst of the worst once again.
All Bruce can do is hope he doesn't get hurt like the last time.
This is what Cassandra wanted, wanted for the past year. A fight, a challenge, one that she has to face that can get her killed if she doesn't move correctly.
She hated feeling this, the rush, excitement, knowing full well she's getting exactly what she wanted, what she urned for.
A challenge, a fight, a whole array of people she has to take down, and with all of them being stronger than the average person thanks to Carnage.
She doesn't need to hold back as much.
A punch here.
Kick here.
Moving.
Wheeving past all these foe's.
Batarangs being flung around her, hitting their targets.
Suplexing a person into the other.
Countering for a straight knee to their chin, while simultaneously adding a backhanded spin kick.
This is what she trained for, and she wasn't alone, "Covering your six guys!"
Oracle and Alfred were taking control of Peter's spider bots, zooming around and blasting people around them including Carnage, who seemed to be agitated, "Of course you would bring friends!"
He would try to destroy the spider bots, but taking a note from Cassandra a second ago, Peter grabs Carnage by his waistline, suplexing him back head first to the ground, "That's the beauty of me! I'm never alone!" Moving agile as ever, he teep someone right at Cassandra, allowing her for the back of her hand to dent them in their nose.
They weren't done with the army, both switching enemies as they went for the individual attacks; Peter's more flamboyant flying kick at the Carnage army, and Cassandra straight forward, flying elbow striking down at Carnage's temple.
It also helped that Peter was using his webbing in unique way to keep much of everyone of them; he other randomly spun his web at the enemy's, capturing them and swinging them around to one another, somehow creating a web sledgehammer and started swinging all around him along with moving, flipping, anything that keeps them off him or Cassandra.
And Cassandra was able to dismantle, break, hurt, each one of them with being precise and quick about it. Again, Peter and her would exchange fighting enemies, being synchronized, being one.
Being the Bat and the Spider.
Now she was up against him, Carnage, and Cassandra would not hesitate any move she needed to throw out. Carnage tried swiping at her, Cassandra moved, two quick flurries to the body as she moved behind him. He morphed his hand into a hammer fist, she ducked, back flipping where the ball of her foot impacted into his jaw.
Seeing from the back flip alone, he spawn tendrils out to dent her like her partner, "You're an annoying piece of work! I prefer your boyfriend! GIVE HIM BACK!" She not only back flips some more, but jumps in the air while throwing two batarangs at him. He dodge him easily, wagging his fingers in confidence when she landed, "Ah uh ah, not catching me like before bat's!"
If she could, and she is under her cowl, Cassandra smirks as she precisely knew he would dodge. The batarangs dink each other, ricocheting right behind him. But her smirk fell when his tendril destroyed them, causing an explosion that caught some of his army in the process, "My bad people! I'm still learning about my strength and senses! Now…" giggling softly, he got low, "Where were we Bat's?"
Before Carnage could respond, he felt someone trying to get the sneak out of him, but he ended up getting blasted by the spider bots before he could react. Dick jumps to the scene, on top of Carnage's back, and whips out his famous escrima sticks to shock Carnage, "We were getting to the good part!"
Being astounded and fearful of seeing Dick 's presence here, Cassandra had no time for that. She quickly rushed to Carnage, taking out batarangs and setting them to charge. Dick flip off Carnage, just when Cassandra launches herself to stab her batarangs into Carnage's shoulder, and then thrusting her feet hard to his midsection of his body.
Pushing him back, with an added explosion erupting. Carnage growled, yelled, and shrank on the floor as the symbiote needed to do its best to keep itself in proper shape. The fire irritated it so much that it affected Cletus just as much.
Not a time to rest, they both like Peter was handling the army that was just about dwindling, "Shouldn't be here!" Cassandra said to Dick as he fought side by side with him.
"And you know I have to be here!" Dick responded, decking one, two, and three with a quick succession attack with his escrima stick.
Peter landed by the two, the trio being wrapped into a group with each person taking out their sides of the army, "At the same time! We don't want to see wha-"
"IT WON'T COME TO THAT!" Dick yelled in frustration, just as well as smacking a person so hard with his stick it sent them flying. With his army down, the trio and two spider bots stared at Carnage now, "I promise…"
Carnage suit was still recovering from the blast, the fire still bothering him, and he could see his army was being taken out, "No… I WON'T GO DOWN ALONE LIKE THIS!"
Carnage sent multiple tendrils at the trio heroes; each one of them dodging, moving since the tendril's weren't just long, but can redirect itself to the hero's. Peter being closer, hit Carnage with more of his sonic blaster before clubbing him with his web sledgehammer. The suit got agitated as Carnage tried to swipe at Peter with his morph scythe. Dick was up next, sending both of his escrima sticks up in the air, then kicking both of them into Carnage's body where it automatically sent a shock to his system.
The shock stagnated him, "GAH!" Not wasting the chance with the lack of tendrils being thrown around, Peter got close, applying a corkscrew spin while avoiding an attack from him and managing to him as well with the ball of his feet, and again clubbing him right under his chin with the web sledgehammer. Being low on the ground, Cassandra ran towards Peter, using his shoulder to leap off him, and used her gauntlet that spun out a gun of sorts, and began burning Carnage with it, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The symbiote howled in pain, Cletus howled in agony as he too felt the tremendous burn. Cassandra wasn't gonna stop.
She didn't want to stop.
Just then before Peter could step in, Peter spider sense went alive for once, head turning to the ceiling knowing something was gonna hit, "MOVE!"
Suddenly, a more higher intensity of a sonic wave blast at Cassandra, only being able to avoid it thanks to Peter moving her out the way. This person reveals herself from the top above, her sound wave being strong enough to break open the top of the sewers and destroy the spider bots. Dick grabs his escrima stick that fell on the floor after Cassandra's attack, and would have proceeded with an offensive move if this woman hadn't hit first. She sent a sonic wave at him, then to Peter and Cassandra before they could get up. Peter was the only one strong enough to resist, protecting Cassandra for a moment before he tossed her away from the attack. While not being directly assaulted by the sonic wave like Peter, Cassandra tried to fight off the sound wave trying to bust her ear drum since the cowl provided some protection.
But Dick ended up suffering the most, clutching his ear, "AHHH!" He screamed in pain.
Peter saw it, his ears bleeding, seeing him in pain once more, "NO!" Peter let out a war cry of a roar when launching himself at the woman that was hurting his family. Easily seeing the attack coming, she ended up blasting Peter through another section of Old Gotham's sewer system just before he could do anything, "Carnage! We need to go now!"
Being somewhat affected by the sonic wave, and still reeling from the burn, Carnage hesitated when seeing his army lying down on the ground, unconscious, "NO! NOT WITHOUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS SHRIEK!"
"YOU HAVE ME AND YOU'LL GET MORE! NOW MOVE! THE SPIDER WILL BE BACK ANY SECOND!" She said, making note that her sonic wave did enough damage to the rest of the group but Peter can still come back and take them down.
Carnage hated the position he was now in, but if he needs to sacrifice another family just to keep going, then he'll do it, "...Apologies brothers and sisters. It's not your time today."
With a snap of his fingers, Carnage would leap to where shriek was, both disappearing. With the sound wave stopped, Cassandra and Dick were now getting their head wrapped around what just happened.
And as Peter came swinging, he noticed everyone screamed, wide awake, crying out for help as their brain's were coming udon. Knowing now what was killing them, Peter acted fast, "BATWOMAN! SONIC BATARANG AT THE HIGHEST SETTINGS!" He yelled out, while configuring his web shooters back to sonic mode.
Cassandra nodded, shaking off the amount of damage Shriek did to her she whip out a few sonic batarangs, putting them all to the highest settings, and dishes them to the ground, "COVER DICK'S EAR'S!"
She did so, providing him with ear buds just when the sonic batarangs released a devastating sound wave that could destroy a normal person's ear drums. And Peter released an array of sonic waves on his end in the area, moving around, making sure it was enough to destroy a piece of the symbiote.
He knows Carnage wasn't as effective to sonic waves as Venom, but dousing it with large amounts of sonic waves to small bits of him should do the trick. Peter grunted, feeling his ears were on fire as he was in the epicenter of the sonic waves.
But he pushes through the pain, pushes through the amount of damage he had taken, the blood that left his body from his fight, he pushes through all that to save everyone who doesn't deserve it.
And it did the trick, while the army suffered a semi stroke and their ears being plunged out, they no longer were suffering from the stroke attack. Once the sonic batarangs outlive their usefulness, and even Peter web shooters combusted in the process of the large amount of usage he had to put in today, Peter let out a sigh of relief, "...Jeez," He turn to Cassandra, who helped Dick up, "What a night right?"
Cassandra didn't answer, quickly rushing to Peter as he was about to collapse. She caught him, even Dick in his somewhat dizzy state, to help Peter from falling, "Yes. What a night."
Dick couldn't help but having a small smirk, "AND YOU TWO WANTED TO DO THIS ALONE!" Dick shouted, due to his ears ringing and still reeling from the attack.
But it did make Peter and Cassandra chuckle.
Carnage burst out of the steel cover that kept the sewer closed. Behind his back was the woman Shriek as he led them into an alleyway where Carnage fell to his knee. Shriek helped him to the wall, letting him stand by the wall as his symbiote submerged back to his skin slowly, revealing only the human body of a tired Cletus Kasady. He felt his body slump on the wall and Shriek sat by him, worrying about him.
If someone was to look at Shriek, they'll think she's a rock star with the black and white jump shoot she wore, boots that made her tall as Cletus, spiracle earrings that can't be seeing as clear with huge her black hair was, and a diamond shape tattoo mark on the left side of her eye. She had the looks to kill, and the will to kill all together.
Cletus waved her off, chuckling, smiling as he pushed his red hair back, "Tonight…Was all that I ever imagined. Meeting him, fighting him," he again crackled as Shriek smiled at his own clear definition of happiness, "For only a split second, I thought he wouldn't find me, that I made sure to disappear enough where he wouldn't find me."
"But he did, proving how smart the spider is," Shriek said, wrapping her arms around Cletus as she leaned her head on his shoulder, "You sure about wanting to do this?"
Cletus nodded, "Converting him to my view, my world, will be my greatest challenge. I finally have something more to do than just kill people, or make a cult of my ideals. I can, no we can kill them all, but with him by our side? It'll be complete-"
"Carnage," she moved his chin to her direction, her lips taking his, feeling every bit of him as he did her. It last for a few seconds before she departed, smirking more, "And maybe I can test more of my power," she mention, letting her left blue eyes, brim bright in yellow hue, with little smoke coming out before she deactivated her powers, "I heard you mention that filth of a place to the spider," She said, frowning, "Think that was a good idea?"
"Babe, I want the spider to know me, about us. I mean," he looked at his hand, calling forth his symbiote, "I know a lot about him then he realizes, but I don't care much about who's under the mask. Only the spider."
Peter watches as Dick and Cassandra make sure they've gotten the right amount of people from Cletus' army out to the police. One thing he noticed was Dick was somehow fine from the ordeal he dealt with not too long ago. Peter felt he shouldn't be there, but here in an ambulance,being looked at and treated.
But instead he was, then again, Peter took the most beating out of the trio; his suit was battered up, dirty up, it did provide protection, but Carnage was able to do some onslaught damage, enough where his arms armor was torn to shred, his pants was just as sliced up as his arm, part of his mask now had opening and cut and bruises being noticeable, his eye lenses was slightly cracked as he made sure to up the material of it long before he fought Carnage. But the more important part of his suit, such as his upper and lower body, seemed to be more fine with the added armor he had.
It's too bad that the more armor Peter puts on, the more likely it'll end up slowing him down. A normal person wouldn't have been able to carry around the amount of armor Peter was, and at the same time, he's too hardened to rely on it as a crutch, "And done!" said an EMT worker who helped patch up Peter.
She definitely would've had problems patching up the arms and hands if it wasn't for Peter tearing it up for her.
Peter found himself too busy watching the area around him; the amount of people, a dozen or so, that wanted to be a part of Cletus cult escorted by both police and ambulance team, the officers eying Cassandra dirty from her mere presence, and Dick keeping everyone in line with his positive attitude, "Mr spider-man?" A slight touch from his shoulder got him to jump slightly, and then he was brought back to reality seeing the slight surprise, "I uh..Finish patching you up," her tone while concerned, sounded more with a Spanish tongue then English.
Peter took notice of the bandages, hands, arms, and legs, "That…You did. Sorry, just..Mind elsewhere."
The light skinned women nodded, "At least that's something we have in common. This job involving every second counts to save a life, brings that a lot."
"Yep," Peter swung right back on his feet, feeling the soreness of his body kicking in, but that can't stop him right now, "And all we gotta do is keep going and save as many lives as we can," Peter turn to the EMT worker, "Even those who don't exactly deserve it."
A little snort came from the women, getting Peter curious, "Sorry. Sound like my husband. He used to tell me that a lot when he was a police officer."
"Was?" She then frowned, looking away from Peter with her hands consciously holding her arm. That's when Peter knew what the, "was" part meant, "Sorry, I shouldn't have even asked at all."
"No. No," she shook her head, "You couldn't have known. Cops still dies around here in Gotham. People say it's changing, but deep down, Gotham is still Gotham," she then points to the unconscious army of Carnage being put into multiple ambulances, "Case in point."
She wasn't wrong, the women he noticed that had the tag of Morales had a point. Gotham was still Gotham. Underneath all the glamorous look of change, Gotham was still Gotham. And Peter still has a duty to protect this city, "Just means I have to work harder. Thanks again Ms Morales."
"Anytime Mr spider-man!"
"Please!" Peter put his hands up when walking back momentarily, "Mr spider-man was my father, just spider-man."
At least he got her to smile, and that's what she needed for the time being.
Peter went over to Cassandra and Dick, seeing that they were just about wrapped rounding Cletus' small army, "Are they all still alive?" Peter had to ask, just in case Cletus somehow was able to pull a fast one and murder them all.
"Yeah actually," Dick answered, "They're all still unconscious at the moment, not suffering from symptoms of what stroke does to a person," Dick felt himself frown since he of all people knows what's that's like, "Once they wake up, its straight to the precinct where commissioner Dewolff will get her answers."
Peter nodded, still eyeing the little stained blood by Dick's ear, "You sure you're ok? You took a huge sonic blast th-"
"Peter," Dick gritted his teeth, eyebrows knitted together at the annoyance, "I'm good. We have more important matters to worry about than me."
"I'll say!" In came commissioner Dewolff, "Mind telling me what the fuck am I hearing about someone who's playing copy cat with Venom?"
"Carnage," Cassandra corrected.
"Oh great," Dewolff eye-rolled, "Like that makes it any better so please! Someone run me down with what the hell happened in Old Gotham sewers?"
"Jist of it? We found the murderer who took his inspirations from calendar man," as automatic like a routine there use too, Cassandra pulled out a chip from her gauntlet and handed to Dewolff as Peter kept on explaining on what they found, "Guy name is Cletus Kasady, we got enough deats in there for people to go on the manhunt looking for him, but also yes… He has a symbiote like Eddie Brock so you all need to tread lightly," Peter made note, his tone made sure there was no way he'd sugar coat it.
"Fuck…Another one," Dewolff sighed, pocketing the chip and taking out a cigarette to ease the stress, "So what's his motives on the killings, or hell! The small army he has been batching up?"
"Carnage," Cassandra again answered.
Dewolff eyebrow raised just when Dick cleared his throat, "He essentially wants to tear down Gotham, go on a rampage, and see the city burn."
"And well… Also wants me to join his lunatic goal too," Peter couldn't forget to add.
Each and everyone looked at him with various glances; Dewolf was already tired from the ordeal, but now she was shocked to hear someone was crazy as Cletus want's Peter of all people on his side. Dick lip was kept straight, yet turned away slightly at the mere thought of Peter joining Cletus. It won't happen, but to imagine if he got Peter wasn't a very good thought to think about.
Cassandra stiffened, ever so slightly, ever so quickly so no one notices, but Peter did when Dick didn't. Peter can tell she was having flashbacks when he had the suit on, how it brought emotions, feelings, urges that he never let on till he wore it. And not to mention, it made him stronger, faster.
Yet more angrier.
More angst than he was when he was a teenager.
Less logical.
And mirroring just a bit with what Bruce was going through after he killed Joker, only he stopped himself from going down that path, thanks to her.
And even when things are complicated now between them. Peter moved just a bit, he squeezed her hands, and she naturally squeezed back before letting go from one another. Their little assurance that everything will be alright was still there regardless of how they felt with one another at the moment.
Dick couldn't help but smile just a bit at seeing that.
"So we're dealing with the usual crazy nut that wants carnage, is Carnage, and want's the great spider-man with him. As if this city needs another version of a new clown prince of crime," Dewolff said.
It sends shudders to just about everyone in the group from different forms. The idea that Cletus now was something of a new, twisted version of Joker did not sit well with either one of them, "He's also has a partner in crime; has meta-human capabilities blasting high level of a sonic waves, enough to burst someone's ear drum," Peter added.
"And I assume no one here has much on her because she's more new?" The trio unfortunately nodded as Dewolff took another drag on her cigarette, "Ok, one step forward, and one step behind. But at least we know who and what we're dealing with. We still got a batch of sonic blasters that Wayne tech lent us on our last deal with venom."
Peter shook his head, "Won't work as much unless all of them can be used in high intensity without losing power or combusting. Fire is the ideal source against this one."
"Heh, so now we can legally use a flamethrower huh?"
"Just don't go loco with them commissioner," Dick jokes.
"Hm. In the meantime, I got my work cut out, what else do you three have plans for? It's actually good you two are not alone for once," Dewolff mentioned, "Are the rest of your partners coming back?" She also asked.
"Doubt it," Peter commented, "Nightwing here wasn't part of the plan."
"But they needed help regardless," Dick quickly said.
"Only us," Cassandra said, "We'll keep Gotham safe."
Dewolff could only nod, and hope to god that maybe, just maybe, she can hope that more of their partners come back. Because she has a gut feeling that this is only just the beginning for something worse to come to Gotham.
November 9th
"And again Gotham, We want you to stay safe as much as possible. Make sure you're not out too late, and if so, have someone close to you proceed to your home. We have Gotham finest, and Gotham's heroes on the case when it comes to catching the Carnage killer. So as our morning goes off, be mindful of your surroundings, get to your home safely, keep your family as safe as possible, and have a great wonderful day! This is Vicki Vale from the Gotham Gazette."
"Anddd Cut!"
Vicki with her wonderful looks and dress that she wore a coat due to it getting a bit colder, had to let out a soft sigh when tapping the table. Since 7 in the morning she had to make sure to repeatedly tell people to be careful more than ever when going about Gotham. Not only today, but for the past few days she needed to do her job in making sure everyone in Gotham is aware of Cletus Kasady's mere existence.
Not only that, but the potential danger he will bring more in this city that's just trying to be better than yesterday.
Having to get up, dealing with the usual people that tell how good of a job she did, or her partner for the morning news also complimenting on the interviews she handled today, she needed to find the person of the day that was at one point handling the camera work.
And just as she exited the newscast room into the office she knew so well, she found Peter right in front of her; wearing the classic look of white button up shirt with tie, regular black pants, shoes that looked to be uncomfortable to wear due to his need to likely be free and flexible, and headphones slacked around his neck. He also had a cup of coffee that she can smell the second they almost bump into one another, "Light on the sugar and half and half milk," he then presented to her with a small smile on his apparent tired face, "As you like it."
She took it in, taking a quick sip, and Vicki couldn't deny that Peter knew her a bit too well not to fuck up what she likes, "Wow, now that's a gesture I haven't seeing you do since you were a kid."
Peter couldn't help himself chuckle lightly on the countless times he needed to get on Vicki's good side when he started to work at the Gazette as a teenager, "This was practically everybody's advice when confronting you on your worst days, and boy, you had a lot to deal with back then."
"Yeah, constant need to prove my worth," she pull out one finger, "Dealing with JJ's constant rants on vigilante's all day and night," then another finger, "Trying not to get kill when I dig deep in conspiracy crime stuff," another finger, "And also having to monitor a new intern that just so happens to be the only one to get photos of spider-man when quite frankly," she would whisper her next bits, "He was taking selfies of himself."
Peter groans, getting Vicki to giggle at his slight annoyance of him starting the whole selfie trend, "I didn't start that trend Vick."
"You did, accept it, but moving on!" She quickly took his hand, dragging him across the office.
"Hey! Whoa! Where's the fire here?!" Peter asked as his coworker was dragging him into the unknown. Didn't help people look on curiously too. Soon enough, Vicki opens up the janitor room, pulling Peter in, and closing the door behind them, "Ah..The ole classic headquarters of us talking in secret away from prying ears," Peter commented, "I miss those times. So who's gonna turn on the light this time?" Vicki did so, lighting the small cramped room full of mops, chemical bottles for cleaning, brooms, and extra deep cleaning materials just in case someone was sick in the office, "And you wonder why some people thought you were sleeping with me."
Vicki gawks at those gossip rumors, "And it all started the second you became 18 too! Like come on! I'm into older men like freaking Bruce Wayne for example."
"Odd how you even made that happen," Peter snidely said
She slap him on the shoulder for the comment, with him making a small ow sound just to make her feel better, "Because I am a very beautiful women that he so happenly wanted to get to know more of back in the day," she then suddenly pout and stomp her feet, "Hey! Stop side-tracking me!"
Having his moment, Peter again chuckled, "Sorry sorry, couldn't help myself. So, what do you need to talk about?"
Vicki took more sips from her coffee before putting it aside, "First off, you look like you haven't been sleeping more than usual," She noted, her face becoming concerned now as well as her voice, "Everything alright on your end?"
Peter sighed, rubbing his eyes before responding to that particular question, "Uh…Been a bit complicated I won't lie about that. I mean dealing with the prospect of a stronger Venom, my girlfriend and I not talking as much from our fight," Vicki couldn't help but cringe at that. She wanted to ask more about that but she'll need to find another time for that, "Dick is back bringing in some issues, oh and Al came back which is making the mansion just a bit more lively, and Bruce is trying to be more in tune with everything now transpiring," Peter pause, with Vicki simply listening and wanted him to let it all out, "...Just been one of those days where its overwhelming, and I can't exactly do much without making more problems prop up."
"And that's why you've been here more consistently as of recently?" With the question out there, Peter nodded, "Well for one thing, it's good that you're balancing your job out with the whole other routine, you know? It's good to see you being a good boy again for one."
Peter frowned, "Hey! I'm always a good boy!"
"Sure sure, if you say so," Peter only could've pouted in the end, "But now important business, Carnage. I know you know a lot more than most so how can I help out more from my end?" Vicki asked, having her arms crossed when leaning behind the cabinet full of cleaning materials.
"So far," Peter ruffled the back of his hair, "Dick is looking into this Ravencroft company, apparently it's probably a place that held both Eddie and Cletus, and quite possibly is how they created this new symbiote for Cletus."
"Ok, I assume you know who's funding it and keeping it under wraps?"
"That's the tricky part, there's no actual real link to who's funding it, no trace, no name, its like whoever built it up, made sure to bribe a lot of people to keep it well hiding," Peter explained, "We found traces to people who did little bit of this and that to help it going, but nothing that leads to who really fund it."
Vicki eyebrow shrewd, she knows that to stay hidden from these types of things, everything has to be handled in a physical form. There would also need to be people, very high people, to even approve of its location. Her journalist brain was on the run on this one and she had a few ideas who it could be, but really, one stood out above the rest, "Let's take the obvious one out the list, and probably the only one who likely could be even connected to Cletus," she saw it in Peter eyes, the knowing answer, but unsure without clear evidence, "Wilson Fisk. He was targeted in the fundraiser, and maybe him being hidden is a way to avoid Cletus."
"That's what I have in mind," Peter said, agreeing on Vicki's deduction, "It makes sense, but there's little to no evidence of anything linking to Kasady. However…" Peter hands tapped his chin, his brain also working overtime piercing the clues together with Vicki, "It would also make logical sense to try to make a new form of a symbiote base on Eddie, to cure his dying wife."
"But in the process, created Carnage, and then also went to another source to try to cure his wife?" Vicki blew a huge breath from her mouth at the rabbit hole they were going in, "Jeez…" Then something nagged at her, a missing piece that they were overlooking, "But then where is Eddie in all this?"
Peter shrugs, "I've tried to track him down before, even now he's ducking low, probably shape shifting his face to stay off the grid more. He probably is still dealing with what happened to his wife and maybe whatever went down at Ravencroft."
Vicki heard the tone of Peter's voice becoming grave about their last fight, her hand consciously placed on his shoulder, "That wasn't your fault Peter."
Peter briefly had his eyes away from Vicki, "It was my fight, not hers."
"Yet she chose to fight back against the bastard that manipulated her into trying to kill you," Vicki spoke with clear anger over what Eddie put Peter through, "How can you have sympathy for a man that only wanted to have everything you have? A job here? A great girlfriend? And People that care about you? I never understand that thing about you Peter, the thing to not hold hate on those that do you wrong."
That's when Peter looked at Vicki directly, "...Eddie is nowhere near Osborn, or even Jackal Vicki. He's just a person who let jealousy, envy, and the symbiote consume him in anger and hate. I'm not gonna forgive him for what he did, he killed his own wife, even if it was directed at me, he did it. But to have hate? To hold onto that knowing he destroyed his livelihood forever? No, that's just not me to hold that on a person like Eddie Vic," the conversation was again getting sidetracked, so Peter needed to make sure to tell Vicki what she needs to do on her end, "I'll send you some data I acquired on Wilson business. We need more evidence to flush that place out and shut it down. We also need more info on Cletus' partner," Peter pulled out a picture of her just before his spider bot was destroyed, "We're a bit spread thin at the moment."
"And so that's where I come in," Vicki said, taking the photo and examining who this person is, "She seems to love metal from her looks I'll give you that," her little joke lightening the mood, making Peter chuckle lightly, "What else you need me for?"
"If you can, dig some more stuff on Cletus, anything that explains his motives will help on how to catch and stop him. Just remember to be safe out there alright?"
"Heh, you know me. Danger finds me," Peter groan, a response he's too familiar of hearing, "Oh! Before I forget," she took out a small envelope from the inside of her coat, "I actually managed to track down the great white shark."
Peter found himself surprised to hear that out of nowhere, "That's… Actually big. He's been keeping a low profile with all the gangs being in shambles from Kasady."
"WHERE THE HELL IS PARKER AND VALE?!" Shouted the one and only Jonah Jameson, looking for the duo, "SHE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT VIGILANTISM! GOD DAMN IT!"
Both couldn't help but sigh and laugh at the irony of reality coming back, "And so duty calls," Peter said.
"Indeed."
At the very least, the duo cracking their heads on what they're dealing with left them in a good head space on how to approach next into stopping this incoming carnage that wants to rain over Gotham.
I still think fighting is something I need to work on a lot more. Like I have the visual preface in mind with my experience with various martial arts, but explaining is a lot harder. I hope it was done well enough to be tolerable to read.
Something I still have to focus on but haven't found the time is showing how people feel about batwoman entirely, there's instances of distrust with the police force but I wanna find time to express that while Cassandra isn't Bruce, what he did as the bat is something people fear more of these days, and so will fear Cassandra as well.
Because what's to stop Cassandra from ending up like Bruce one day? Cause all it takes is one bad day. See ya guys and gals whenever!