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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Twelve Web of Shadows Day One Part II – Day Two Part I: Deepening Crisis
"I'm waking up to ash and dust. I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust. I'm breathing in the chemicals."
"This is it the apocalypse."
Radioactive (2012) Imagine Dragons
Harlem Day One, late afternoon
"How do I get myself into these messes?" Spider-Man wondered aloud while dodging a pumpkin bomb flung by an assassin riding a goblin glider.
[Watch out Peter two more are behind us.]
'Thanks, partner,' Spider-Man thought.
Shooting a webline Peter swung around behind the nearest assassin. He landed on the goblin glider and put his hands over the man's eyes. "Guess who," He said.
"Get off me, bug!" The assassin demanded.
"Only if you say the magic word," Spider-Man said. Spider-Man jumped aside an instant before the goblin glider collided with the other two goblin gliders. Their owners had thought if they rammed the glider where Spider-Man stood they would crush him regardless of the likely injury or death of their comrade. "FYI the magic word was please, some people." Spider-Man admonished.
"Good work Spider-Man." Luke Cage said when Spider-Man tossed the three webbed up assassins at his feet and those of the Acting Director of SHIELD Philip Coulson.
"Okay, I not only helped you guys secure a truce between the Rolling Sevens and the Park Avenue Gang by chasing down their respective leaders across the city, which took hours I might add, but I also stopped these assassins. Will you please order your agents to help me save New York from this Demonic Symbiote Invasion?" Spider-Man said more than a bit annoyed with the errands he had to run.
"First we need to find out who sent these assassins," Coulson said. "They are using old Oscorp Tech do you have any idea how they might have obtained it?" He asked Spider-Man
"Another errand, why am I not surprised." Spider-Man groaned. "Sing birdies," Spider-Man said to the assassins.
"We ain't saying nothing web head." One of the assassins said.
[I can make them talk Peter.]
'Okay, but don't cause them any lasting damage.' Peter thought.
Three tendrils extended from Spider-Man's body. "Either tell us what we want to know or we'll make you one of us." The Venom Symbiote said through Peter.
"I don't want to be one of those things." The second assassins said.
"Me either," The third assassins said.
"We're working for Kingpin." The first assassin said. "He hired us to take out the gang leaders so both sides would remain at war. He was hoping to take over their territories once they became weak enough. That old buzzard Vulture is the one mass producing Goblin Tech for him."
"We thank you for your cooperation gentlemen." The Venom Symbiote said through Peter withdrawing its tendrils.
"We've got to stop Kingpin." Luke Cage said.
"Agreed," Coulson said. "Do you think you are up for one more mission Spider-Man?"
"Of course I am." Spider-Man said wearily. "But when I bring in Kingpin and Vulture we deal with the invasion, no more side projects."
"You have my word." Coulson said.
Headquarters of the Kingpin, some time later
"Fancy meeting you here Cat," Spider-Man said spotting Black Cat when he landed atop the building.
"Spider nice look." Black Cat said admiring the black costume. "Does Spinneret know? I thought she hated your black costume because it reminds her of a certain slobbering monster who shall remain nameless."
[Sorry Peter.] The Symbiote inwardly winched at Black Cat's comment.
'No worries, you weren't yourself when you did those things. I see that now.' Peter thought.
"About Spinneret I-," Spider-Man began.
Spider-Man never got a chance to finish his sentence. The roof access doors burst open. Out ran a group of Kingpin's goons pursued by a large swarm of Vemonized people. Spider-Man and Black Cat watched in horror as any goons one of the creatures touched became infected rapidly turning into a new classic Venom type monster of his own.
"Holy Hannah, its Night of the Venoms!" Black Cat exclaimed wide eyed.
"And here I thought telling jokes was my department," Spider-Man said. "Don't let them touch you Cat." He warned dodging several tendrils.
"I sure picked the wrong night to get into the crime fighting game." Black Cat lamented dodging tendrils. In spite of her best efforts, however, Black Cat was overwhelmed when several of the creatures dogpiled her.
"Cat," Spider-Man yelled, "not again!"
The creatures moved away from Black Cat a few moments later revealing a new recruit to the ranks of the Vemonized. "Join us Spider. Become one with us." The Vemonized Black Cat urged.
"I'll save you Cat. I swear I'll make this right, somehow," Spider-Man said retreating from the swarm which soon covered the rooftop completely.
Spider-Man was at a lose. He had no idea what to do until he spotted what he hoped would be his salvation, Vulture! It would appear the over the hill villain was fleeing the scene, typical. If he brought Vulture in SHIELD would have no choice but to help him, right?
"Hi mind if I catch a ride? I've used up my frequent flyer miles." Spider-Man said landing on the villain's back.
"Spider-Man curse you!" Vulture said.
"No need, I think I'm already cursed. But enough about me. I hear you've been working for Kingpin providing him with goblin based weapons, bad birdie," Spider-Man said.
"Foolish insect can't you see the dire peril we are in?" Vulture said his gaze directed downward to the streets which were crawling with the Vemonized. "How can you tell your usual bad jokes at a time such as this?"
"Hey, I'll have you know my jokes are top quality." Spider-Man said. "And I'm well aware of the current crisis. Which is why I'm here. If I turn you in Vulture then SHIELD will help me put a stop to the demonic symbiote invasion that is overtaking our fair city. So, what do you say take one for the team?" Spider-Man paused here. He knew Vulture would likely never agree to help him under normal circumstances so he appeal to the man behind the persona. "Adrian for all your faults I know you care about my Aunt May very much. Unless I can resolve this situation peacefully my wife and I might both die. Aunt May would be left to raise our daughter alone. She is not in the best of health. We both know how difficult it would be for her. Help me save her form experiencing any further pain in her life."
"Alright," Vulture said after a pronounced pause. "I'll help you for May. But I won't surrender to SHIELD. I know someone who might be of assistance. He has developed an ultra sonic weapon that can be broadcast over great distances. I believe hearing once that Venom and his ilke have an aversion to high frequency sound. I've worked with the man several times. I believe you know of him; Phineas Mason the Tinkerer."
"Wait just a minute isn't Tinkerer currently incarcerated on the Raft?" Spider-Man said.
"Together we can surely free him." Vulture said. "That is the deal, you don't have to accept it. Be warned I will not surrender myself to SHIELD, even for May."
Spider-Man sighed deeply. So this what he had come to. Help two known supervillains or let New York City and perhaps the world be overrun by demonic symbiotes. As much as he feared he was making the wrong choice he could not side with Vulture and Tinkerer, at least not yet. He had to give SHIELD once more chance first.
"Sorry, Adrian no can do," Spider-Man said. He covered the Vulture's eyes with webbing and steered Vulture into a nearby building knocking Vulture out cold.
By the time Spider-Man returned to the SHIELD field base in Harlem it was being attacked by a horde of Venomized civilians. In spite of his best efforts Coulson, and Luke Cage along with the other SHIELD personnel were infected. Spider-Man barely escaped with the webbed up Vulture in tow. He spent that night wondering the streets of New York unsure of his next move, as was the Venom Symbiote, all the while an angry Vulture verbally berated him.
Hell's Kitchen Day Two, early morning
Wolverine fiercely fought a large group of Venomized people. The legendary member of the X-Men was slowly giving up ground when some of the infected were pulled away from him by strands of webbing. Wolverine gave a neutral grunt when he saw his savior.
"Mind if I lend a hand or rather a web?" Spider-Man said. "Looks like you could use some help Wolvie."
"How many times do I have to tell you to not call me 'Wolvie' bub?" Wolverine growled fending off more of the Vemonized. "Any ideas what these things are?"
"Oh nothing special just your run of the mill demonically possessed symbiotes who have infected people," Spider-Man said casually.
"I think we better scram there are too many of 'em even for the two of us bub," Wolverine warned.
"Good idea," Spider-Man said. The pair ran off with the restrained Vulture before they could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
By now much of the landscape of the city was covered with gooey black symboite constructs which mainly stretched between the tall buildings. These increased in both size and complexity as the trio slowly made their way towards Manhattan, which seemed to be the epicenter of the infection. After passing through a very thick tangle of these constructs Spider-Man, Wolverine and Vulture stumbled upon a horrific sight. There in an alleyway between four buildings crouched a Hulk sized four head monster roughly in the mold of classic Venom. The creature was surrounded by pods that contained captured, unconscious civilians who were ghastly pale. Long, undulating tendrils of black symbiote matter connected the pods to the Venom Monster. It was clear this thing was somehow feeding off the unfortunates. Spider-Man felt the Venom Symbiote shiver in fear. At the macabre display Spider-Man could not help but wonder why these people were being consumed rather than infected to create more of the Venomized which seemed to be the usual MO of the entity. Speaking of the Vemonized a sizeable number of them were crawling their way down the symbiote construct walls on all fours. At unheard command from the Venom Monster they ceased their downward movement. The multiple heads turned their attention to the new arrivals. The two heroes and one villain watched as the tendrils pulsed and the Venom Monster underwent a small growth spurt.
"Gross," Wolverine snarled.
"Ignorant beast," Legion said in its multilayered voice each head talking at once. "You and your friends will become one with us. All shall become one with us."
"What about these fine folks?" Spider-Man asked in disgust pointing at the sickly people in the pods. "Aren't they worthy of joining up?
"They are unclean. They are riddled with imperfections. They're bodies and minds and weak. Adding them to ourselves would only lessen our perfection." Legion said. "They are fit only for consumption, not addition. We strip what nutrients remain unmarred feed upon these to increase our power."
"And dress size," Spider-Man joked. "What are you up to XXXXXXXXXXXXX-L?"
Legion snarled while Spider-Man and Wolverine exchanged glances. Wolverine and Spider-Man leaped into action but not before Spider-Man cut Vulture free. He decided the villain would be of more use if he was not tied up.
While Wolverine used his claws to sever tendrils from the pods. Spider-Man fended off the descending Venomized as best he could. Vulture even helped out using his sonic scream. Spider-Man had to be careful to avoid being in the direct line of these attacks otherwise the Venom Symbiote would go into painful convulsions that left him temporarily defenseless. The trio was holding their own until the Venom Monster lumbered forward. It easily batted Wolverine aside who was grabbed by three of the Venomized and promptly infected.
"Wolverine," Spider-Man called out. "I'll stop you! I don't know how but I will!" Spider-Man threatened the Venmon Monster.
"Why not join us instead. Your addition would greatly add to our perfection." Legion coaxed. "You're wife is in her with us. She makes an ideal host. Don't you want to be with her again Spider-Man?"
"We will be together again, but on our own terms not yours," Spider-Man said before he fled with Vulture.
An intense but short lived chase then ensued between Vulture who tried to escape and Spider-Man. With great effort, Spider-Man managed to catch Vulture. The fighting pair crashed into Central Parker were they were rapidly surrounded by SHIELD agents under the command of Black Widow. Beside her stood Winter Soldier.
"I brought him like I promised Coulson," Spider-Man said. "Now help me end this mess."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Black Widow said in her thick Russian accent. "Acting Director Coulson is missing along with Special Agent Luke Cage. I was called in by D.C. when I returned from an Avengers mission on the West Coast to assume command of this operation. My orders are to quarantine New York City and the surrounding area until such times as the situation has been resolved."
"That's my plan to end the outbreak," Spider-Man said. "And FYI Coulson and Luke Cage have both been infected. I saw so myself. Coulson promised if I captured Vulture then SHIELD would help me put an end to the outbreak."
"I know of no such agreement." Black Widow said. She turned to Winter Soldier.
"Don't look at me." Winter Soldier said. "I have no idea what he's blabbering on about."
"Unbelievable," Spider-Man muttered shaking his head. He was beyond frustrated. His Spider Sense tingled as the Venom Symbiote also voiced its concern in his mind.
"I'm afraid we going to have to take you into protective custody." Black Widow said. She, Winter Soldier and the SHIELD agents all drew their weapons and pointed them squarely at Spider-Man.
"You can't see serious. I'm one of the good people. I'm trying to stop the invasion before things get any worse." Spider-Man said in disbelief.
"That remains to be seen." Winter Soldier said.
"We have received reports that you've killed civilians by throwing them off the office tower in which Wilson Fisk the reputed Kingpin of Crime does business." Black Widow said.
"They were infected. Plus I'm pretty sure they are still alive." Spider-Man protested. "My wife and one my best friends could die or worse unless we work together not to mention thousands maybe millions of other innocent people yet here you are arresting me." Spider-Man pleaded.
"Don't make this any more difficult than it already is Spider-Man." Black Widow said.
"Anything you say Natasha." Spider-Man bitterly said using Black Widow's real name. "Remember though next time the Avengers need a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man tell them they can find somebody else. First Tony now you. I'm done working with people who don't trust me or care what happens to my loved ones." He let them handcuff him in spite of internal protests from the Venom Symbiote.
Spider-Man and Vulture who was also arrested were taken to the makeshift camp that had been set up for refugees fleeing the city. They were sat in a corner and told to wait by a pair of SHIELD agents. They did not wait long, however, before the latest catastrophe occurred. A distraught Electro showed up searching for his missing sister. Before Spider-Man could intervene the situation spiralled out of control. Black Widow immediately shot Electro in his chest in spite of Spider-Man telling her not to after which his aforementioned sister appeared. Unfortunately, the girl was infected and in turn infected Electro. The resulting Venomized Electro rampaged through the camp until Spider-Man and Vulture drove him off with great difficulty but not before most everyone else get infected including Black Widow and Winter Soldier.
By that evening Spider-Man was no closer to saving New York than he had been the day before. He was about to try one last time to ask Marie Hill for help when he witnessed the SHIELD Helicarrier plunge from the sky after being swarmed by the Venomized. With no other viable options he finally decided to take Vulture up on his earlier offer. Goodness help him he was going to free the Tinkerer.
To Be Continued