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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Forty-Four Spider-Verse Part Five: Hellscape
"As my soldiers dance drunk on blood lust in the air. Shouts and barks, grief and death. Raise your blades along with me with the world cowering at our feet. Stay cruel until the end and descend. Break it all. Take it all. Everything you see is yours to take."
Clattanoia (2015) – Overlord
Special Note - Important
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Special Note - Important
Earth 621-B
The Reclamation Sector of Goblintropolis formerly NYC six months later, afternoon
"Work is purpose. Work is fulfillment. Work is productivity. Productivity sets you free." A computerized feminine voice intoned in an endless loop generated by unseen speakers. The voice was omnipresent. It came from nowhere yet everywhere.
Flanked at regular six-foot (or one-meter) intervals by gleaming silver and blue armored red-eyed Goblin Bots, a long line of people in ratty clothing shuffled towards an ugly metal building. The squat structure was surrounded by mountainous piles of snarled metal some of which were burning. Above them, noxious fumes swirled into the cloudy grey sky tinted with sulfurous yellow.
"Passcode," Snarled Rhino who guarded the building entrance. His grey suit had been visibly upgraded with what appeared to be Stark Industries tech.
"Passcode, provide it!" Rhino's companion Shocker demanded. He also wore an upgraded Star Industries tech yellow and red suit.
"Bub, are you deaf or just stupid?" Rhino asked poking the hooded figure with a meaty finger. "What is the passcode, chump?"
"Liberty, chump," The hooded figure answered.
A powerful explosion triggered by a hidden device on the body of the hooded figure tore the building in half. Klaxons blared and people screamed as in a chaotic swarm the Goblin Bots attacked the hooded figure with their energy weapons. Silk threw off her cloak and backward somersaulted to safety. From the piles of trash emerged two smaller figures outfitted in purple and pink Spider-Man-type outfits.
A series of pelts immobilized the bots in impact webbing. Ben Reilly in his old Scarlet Spider costume landed on Rhino's broad shoulders. He performed a hurricanrana (a pro wrestling maneuver) with his legs flipping Rhino onto Rhino's head. Rhino was hopelessly stuck in the pavement head down due to his horn.
"Silk, Spider-Kids get the civilians to the rendezvous point! I'll deal with the local wildlife!" Scarlet Spider instructed.
"Come along kids." Cindy urged kicking away an errant Goblin Bot. Silk and the Spider-Kids herded the frightened people to safety.
"You're dead meat bug boy!" Shocker declared charging his gauntlets threateningly.
"Shocker, help me! Get me free and we'll take him out together!" Rhino pleaded.
Shocker reluctantly turned his building blast in Rhino's direction. "Cover your ears you big lug."
"Hey," Rhino protested.
"Aw, how cute you want to take me out wine and dine me. Sorry fellas I'm a one person kind of spider." Scarlet Spider taunted before he swung away on a strand of webbing after impact webbing the pair. "Good luck explaining this to your boss, bye." He called over his shoulder waving at the villains.
A deserted lot, two hours later
"Another mission well done." April the Purple Spider-Kid said giving Mayday the Pink Spider-Kid a high-five.
Mayday giggled. "That was almost fun." She agreed. Both were unmasked and stood with Cindy awaiting pickup. Ben was with the last group of workers to be evacuated he promised to return soon.
"Yeah, what a couple of big dummies," April said giggling. "They were total pushovers, huh Cindy, Cindy?"
"Hush," Cindy said. "Don't you sense it? Something is here, something dangerous."
"How observant," Green Goblin said appearing as if from nowhere with a huge group of Goblin Bots, Menace, Beetle, and various Goblin Cultists. Our intrepid trio was surrounded. Cindy immediately placed herself between the children and Norman. She was ready to attack at a moment's notice. "There is no need for violence, I came to talk."
"Then talk," Cindy said her voice low.
"I have a message for your betters." Green Goblin said.
"We're not your messengers," Cindy said definitely.
Faster than seemed possible Green Goblin grasped Cindy around her neck with his right hand choking her until she turned blue. "You are what you have always been a mere nuisance playing dress up along with a pair of failed science experiments. Do not provoke me further it is because I need your messenger service that any of you survive this encounter. Know your place, useless twit."
"You're killing her, stop!" April said running to attack Green Goblin. Menace interjected herself between them swatting April away. All the while Mayday stood paralyzed by fear.
Green Goblin released Cindy who lay on the ground coughing violently. "Now listen carefully, messengers." Green Goblin said.
Xavier Institute Salem Center New York, evening
"And he said we might be safe here behind the institute's defenses, but the people outside are helpless. We said cannot save most people much less everyone. He said we are hiding while others suffer and he and his followers will make sure they suffer a lot." Mayday reported.
"Thanks, Mayday," A heavily pregnant Mary Jane said. "Do you have anything to add Cindy, April?"
April remained silent.
Cindy said bitterly. "Why ask me? I'm nothing but a messenger a mere nuisance playing dressup who can't even protect her young teammates."
"The Green Goblin could have captured us or worse if he wanted," April said tears in her eyes. "He didn't think we worth bothering with. We aren't heroes we're just little kids, science experiments."
"At least you two can grow into the role of a hero, I'm a joke," Cindy said.
"Stop it, stop it," Mayday cried.
"Is that what he called you and your sister 'science experiments'?" Mary Jane said her voice low. Her fists clenched.
"Yes, mama," Mayday sniffed.
"Failed science experiments," April added.
Mary Jane took a deep calming breath before she dared speak. "Nothing, I repeat nothing that evil heartless old man says is true. He's a liar, a creep, and a fool."
"Except for one thing, we can't win," Cindy grumbled.
"That's not true. We can win it'll take time is all." Ben said. "Look at me, I thought I would never recover my full powers after what the Jackal did to me but I was wrong. I don't need the crutch of the Iron Spider tech any longer"
"Yeah, sure," Cindy said.
"Then Green Goblin's won. He's beaten us with words. I'm only glad your father isn't here to see this." Aunt May said shaking her head.
"Or the Avengers," Jarvis added.
"Dad wouldn't give up, and the Avengers wouldn't give me," April said.
"Right, Dad would find a way to win," Mayday said.
"None of them would hide in here they'd find a way to stop the Green Goblin for good," Cindy said.
"Green Goblin should be back in prison where he belongs," April said.
"I wish we could put him in jail," Mayday said.
"Out of the mouths of babes." Max Modell said entering the cafeteria with a cup of coffee. "Cage the tiger and you may walk the forest without fear."
"What do you mean?" Mary Jane asked thoroughly confused.
"An energy shield or rather an inverted energy shield around a point where we have contained Green Goblin and his forces, or as many of them as possible. Logistically it would be difficult, but it could work." Max Modell said excitedly the gears in his brilliant mind turning.
For the first time in months, our ragtag band of heroes felt a strange sensation, hope. Mary Jane prayed the feeling would last. They needed a win a big win and soon.
Goblintropolis Command Center the converted Oscorp Building
"How are we feeling today, dear Mania, or should I call you Venom?" Green Goblin asked Andi who was strapped into a large sphere of metal circles that pulsed with energy. The entire contraption was suspended from the ceiling via a large arm of metal and wires.
"Just swell, how are you feeling Normie?" Andi asked with a smirk.
Green Goblin pressed a button on his left gauntlet sending a surge of energy through Andi. Andi's body convulsed in pain. Her clothing transformed into black slime covering her body.
"I'll tear you apart when I'm free!" Mania raged her mouth full of fangs and a serpentine tongue.
"Still not ready to cooperate I see. Yes, I've heard all this before." Green Goblin sighed. "Smythe, why aren't our control measures working as they did with Carnage? By all indications, the Carnage symbiote is both stronger and better integrated with its host." Green Goblin said turning to Alistair Smythe for an explanation.
"Ah, well, the situation is so complex. There are so many variables. Taking into account each of their power levels, and abilities, not to mention Carnage's obvious insanity, how we have kept Carnage under control for this long is a mystery. He could even be faking it. I suspect he enjoys being tortured." Alistair Smythe said a shiver ran down his heavily modified spine.
"Let us not dwell upon the implications of the latter." Green Goblin said with disgust."Alright, we'll deal with this later. Tell me, Smythe, what is the timeline for Project Disruption?"
"If all proceeds according to plan, we'll be ready in two maybe four weeks." Alistair Smythe answered. "The timetable had to be pushed back some, as you know, due to Otto's recent uncooperative stance."
"Otto," Green Goblin said. "Remind me that the next time I and Otto meet I should crush him. I grow weary of his moodiness."
"I will do so, with great pleasure, master." Alistair Smythe with a bow and a smile.
To Be Continued
Next – The adventure continues
Author's Note – Back from the dead. First of all, I apologize for the short chapter length. I needed to get back into the habit of writing after a long hiatus. I whipped this up to see if I still had the passion, good news, I do.
This time skip was always my plan. Don't worry I will explain what happened to everyone in the coming chapters and we will also (eventually) catch up with Peter and the other "lost" heroes.