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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode One: One More Chance Part II
"It's hiding in the dark. Its teeth are razor sharp. There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart."
"I feel it deep within. It's just beneath the skin. I must confess that I feel like a monster. I hate what I've become. The nightmare has just begun."
Monster (2009) Skillet
New York General Hospital, evening
Felicia Hardy stood at the vending machine trying to purchase a candy bar to sate her appetite when something caught her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a huge shadow move down the hallway. Felicia froze the seconds ticking into infinity. She recognized the thing she had seen almost immediately, it was Venom! But how she wondered? Wasn't Gargan currently working with the Thunderbolts? Whatever the case, Felicia knew there was only one reason Venom would come here now, he was going to kill Peter! She had to somehow stop him.
Felicia dropped her candy bar. She ran after Venom watching in horror as he tossed security guards and hospital staff alike aside with impunity. Venom made a beeline for the operating theatre. He was about to pass through the double doors when Felicia drop kicked him in his back.
Venom spun around black tendrils lashing out wildly in every direction. When he spotted his attacker Venom snarled. "Black Cat, we won't let you stop us. Spider-man must die by our hands."
"You're not going to touch Spider-Man Gargan, er, is that you Eddie?" Felicia questioned.
"How very observant of you. We the one true Venom have returned." Venom declared. "Stand in our way and we'll break me than your nose this time little kitty cat." Venom said alluding to an encounter years ago when Venom had beaten Black Cat to within an inch of her life.
Felicia involuntarily cringed at the intensity of the unpleasant memory. "I don't care. I won't allow you to harm a defenseless man let alone one who is my dear friend." She assumed a defensive stance as best she could in her street clothes.
"We were hoping you'd say that little kitty cat." Venom said crouching low. "Let's dance."
While Felicia knew she was no match for Venom she had to try. Peter or Mary Jane would do the same for her if the positions were reversed. Her only chance was to taunt Venom into making a mistake of some sort then capitalize on it. She did, however, have one small advantage over Venom. She was a bit faster and more agile than him. Time to find out how useful her speed and agility edge would prove.
"Bring it, ugly," Felici said.
Venom charged at Felicia who narrowly jumped out of his way. Stopping on a dime Venom eyed Felicia then tried again and third a third time without success. Growing agitated Venom fired twin web lines from his hands in an attempt to ensnare his foe. An attempt that failed when Felicia somehow avoided both strands.
"Stand still so we can crush your skull." Venom said.
"No thanks," Felicia said.
Felicia saw a fire extinguisher. Remembering how Peter once told her that symbiotes did not like certain chemical compounds like bug spray she got an idea. Felicia somersaulted to where the extinguisher was. She broke the glass cutting her hands in the process. She aimed the extinguisher at Venom then unloaded the foam into his slobbering jaws. With a yell of discomfort and annoyance Venom backhanded Felicia away bouncing her off the nearest wall. The fire extinguisher rolled away.
Venom picked Felicia up before she could recover. His large left hand encircled her throat. He began to squeeze slowly. Felicia struggled her feet kicked the air futilely as she was lifted off her feet. Felicia's face turned blue from lack of oxygen.
"We should kill you for your interference!" Venom hissed. "But unlike some, we could name, we possess a sense of honor. Nighty, night little kitty cat." Venom choked Felicia into unconscious then tossed her aside roughly. "We and Spider-Man have a date with destiny."
A few moments later a female figure knelt by Felicia. She gently nudged the former thief. With a groan Felicia awoke.
"Felicia, what happened?" Mary Jane asked. When Felicia had not returned Mary Jane went searching for her friend. Following the string of badly beaten medical personnel she had found Felicia.
"V-Venom i-is here." Felicia managed between coughs. "H-He's g-going to k-kill Peter..." Mary Jane's eyes went wide. She ran into the operating theatre. "W-wait," Felicia called after her but Mary Jane was already gone. With great effort and acute pain, Felicia used the wall to get to her feet. She stumbled after her friend.
Operating Theatre
The medical team had just finished removing the bullet from Peter's abdomen. They were sealing up his incision when Venom burst through the doors. A few he threw aside the rest save for the chief surgeon who bravely stood his ground wisely scattered.
"Get out of here." The surgeon demanded. "This man is in critical condition. Have you no decency, whoever whatever you are?"
"This man has ruined our life. By all rights, we will have our vengeance this day." Venom said. "We can see you are a good person who has helped many. We do not wish to hurt you, but we will. Step aside or face our wrath."
"No," The surgeon said defiantly.
"We warned you." Venom said swatted the man out of his way and halfway across the room where he collapsed in a heap. "What a shame." Venom added almost regretfully.
Venom turned his attention to the man who lay helplessly on the operating table in front of him. An oxygen mask was on the man's face. He was hooked up to various monitoring devices. Venom approached the prone Peter Parker his tendrils quivering in anticipation. The moment Eddie Brock and the alien symbiote called Venom had waited years for was here. Within seconds they would take the life of their hated enemy. Peter Parker would die by their actions. They could hardly believe this was real that the day had finally arrived. They loomed over the bed relishing their impending victory.
"Sow the wind reap the whirlwind." Venom said softly reciting one of Eddie Brock's most treasured Bible verses. It was about justice deferred a subject Eddie held dear. "Now I become death the destroyer of worlds." He said quoting yet another religious text as he lifted his talon bearing hands overhead ready to strike.
"AAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Venom screamed his symbiote convulsed uncontrollably in pain from a sonic projection beyond the range of human hearing. Thrashing around he saw the source of his torment. In the doorway of the operating theatre stood Mary Jane Watson-Parker. Held in her hand pointing directly at him was her smartphone.
"Neat app, huh Venom?" She said her expression grim. "It allows any ordinary cell phone to emit high-frequency sounds. The sort your kind can't stand to be around. Peter created this app so I'd be safe from creeps like you when he isn't around. That's what love's about Eddie, I know it's you in there, caring about others and keeping them from harm. But you wouldn't know anything about that. Because your heart is so full of hatred there's no room left for anything else. I pity you, I really do."
Felicia stumbled into the room. She stared in awe at what she saw. "I've got this Felicia." Mary Jane said never taking her eyes off Venom who lay against one of the operating tool carts withering in pain. "Get Peter and the surgeon to safety. I'll join you shortly."
Felicia nodded. She limped over to Peter's bed carefully unhooked him then pushed his cart outside. She woke up the surgeon and he stiffly walked out behind her. Once Mary Jane knew Peter, Felicia and the surgeon were safe she noted the battery level on her phone. Not good, she thought seeing how low it was. The main drawback of the app was power consumption. It was a battery killer.
Mary Jane surveyed the room searching for something, anything that could potentially stop Venom. That might do the trick she thought. Against her better judgment, Mary Jane got as close to Venom as she dared to turn up the oxygen tanks to full blast she also spilled a jar of unknown chemicals onto Venom. She started to retreat only to have her foot snagged by one of Venom's many tendrils. Her phone flew from her hand. Thankfully the app remained one.
"Get off," Mary Jane said kicking at Venom.
"W-Why n-not ss-s-tay a while, while, long-ger," Venom stuttered. "W-We s-so -en-joy you-your company, ss-w-weetie."
Mary Jane was being drawn inextricably towards Venom when she felt a pair of strong hands grab her. She glanced up. Felicia had returned! "I told you to go." Mary Jane said.
"Good thing I'm a bad listener," Felicia said.
With great effort, Felicia and Mary Jane managed to pry Mary Jane free of the weakened Venom. Mary Jane pulled a cheap lighter along with a package of cigarettes from her pants pocket. She had purchased them both a few days ago when the stress of everything had almost overwhelmed her. Well, in her defense they were about to be put to a very good use. She lit the package on fire.
"Hey Venom, catch," Mary Jane said throwing the flaming package at Venom. She and Felicia ran like hell outside. When the flames touched his chemical drenched body he ignored. A split second later the oxygen filling the room exploded into a fireball that engulfed Venom along with much of the operating theatre incapacitating man and symbiote, sending both into a regenerative coma.
Outside
Wearily Mary Jane checked on Peter. She prayed he was okay. Leaning over him she stroked the damp hair from his forehead. Peter's eyelids fluttered then slowly opened.
"Mary Jane what happened? Where am I?" Peter said his voice hoarse.
"You're safe tiger, that's all that matters." Mary Jane said. She gently kissed his forehead tears falling from her eyes onto his face. Standing next to them Felicia smiled.
"Do I smell smoke?" Peter said crinkling his nose.
"Maybe we should get out of here." Felicia suggested noting the burning room behind them.
"Maybe we should." Mary Jane agreed. The two women wheeled Peter's bed away while staff rushed to and fro and fire alarms began to blare.
"Why do I have a feeling I missed something important." Peter said.
"Whatever gave you that idea." Mary Jane said innocently. She and Felicia exchanged knowing looks and smiles.
"Did anything interesting happen while Peter was out Felicia?" She asked her counterpart
"Not that I can recall Mary Jane. What about you?" Felicia said playing along.
"Nah-uh," Mary Jane said. "Just another typical day."
Roof of a Neighboring Building
Mephisto in his red pigeon form watched the burning hospital. Inside he was filled with a combination of rage and dismay. He could hardly believe Venom had failed him. How could two mortals prove so hard to get rid of? This situation was beyond infuriating. If only he was not bound by certain cosmic laws he would destroy them directly himself. The only positive is there was still time. Surely he would find a way to deal with them before their accursed second daughter was born or they were reunited with their first born daughter. Both children, although in different ways, posed threats to his future plans. Threats that he would not suffer.
Reluctantly Mephisto flapped his wings. After circling the scene in a long loop pattern he flew away. There would be other days other opportunities. As a wise one once said - "The most dangerous enemy is the one you don't know you have." A fact he would gladly teach the Parker Family at his earliest possible convenience.
Sanctum Sanctorum
Tony Stark did not often seek help from those technically outside the Avengers. However, this was a special circumstance. Recently Tony Stark had been party to a grave mistake that could yet cost a young man who Tony briefly called friend his life. He must make things right, assuming he could.
"Can it be done?" Tony Stark in his Ironman exosuit asked Dr. Stephen Strange Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.
"It can be done." Dr. Strange answered leaning forward slightly in his plush leather chair. "However, I would be remiss if I cast such a potent spell upon an individual and those around him without first consulting that individual. To do otherwise, would be mystically unethical I'm afraid. There are risks involved with any spell, especially one as all-encompassing as this one would be. If you can obtain permission from Peter Parker Spider-Man, I would be happy to enact an enchantment that will create a blind spot regarding his civilian identity in the minds of the general public, alongside anyone else he would rather not know who he really is."
"I understand," Tony Stark said. He turned to leave. "I'll return when Spider-Man is well enough to come with me." Adding in his own mind "if" Peter even survives the night that is.
"Very well," Dr. Strange said. "I await your return with Peter Parker. Until next we meet, farewell Ironman."
"Farewell, Dr. Strange." Tony Stark said leaving the library.
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
Minor spoiler, the new title pic for this story (used with permission of the artist) might give the sharp eyed an idea where this story is eventually headed.