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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Sixteen Menaced Part III
Downtown Manhattan Campaign Rally of J. Jonah Jameson for Mayor, early evening
"Quick, get out of sight." J. Jonah said at Spider-Man waving the later away. "If we're seen together my campaign for mayor is dead in the water."
"Jeez JJJ way to hurt a guy's feelings. I thought we meant something to each other. Guess I was wrong." Spider-Man sniffed.
"We aren't friends, let all own anything else, you menace! And we'll never be friends! How many times do I have to tell you before my words penetrate your thick skull!" Jonah raged.
"Okay, Okay, I can take a hint. I know when I'm not wanted," Spider-Man said. "If you need me I'll be nearby, just shout."
"Go," Jonah urged as a large crowd began to gather.
Spider-Man slipped a spider tracer into the pants pocket of Jonah's grey suit without the latter noticing. "You just can't be nice to some people," Spider-Man grumbled. He quickly scurried up an adjacent building. He took up position on the rooftop where he observed the unfolding events from a safe distance so as not to be observed.
Within minutes Jonah was in full campaign mood. From his podium, he gave a fiery speech condemning supervillains and superheroes alike to a boisterous audience of several hundred. Loud chants of "lock them up" and "throw away the key" erupted when Jonah mentioned names like Daredevil, Menace, Prowler, Hobgoblin, Vulture, Spinneret, and especially Spider-Man. These slogans only served to inflame Jonah's own passions as he promised with raised voice to do just that and more using increasingly colorful language. Jonah described his foes as being "enemies of the people" and "glorified criminals" in the guise of "Halloween party rejects".
From his perch high above Spider-Man could not help but think the whole thing exuded an atmosphere of comedy not unlike a French farce more than it did a traditional political event. In spite of himself, Spider-Man started laughing. His enjoyment soon ended, however, when his spider sense buzzed intensely.
Seemingly out of nowhere Menace appeared. The grey-skinned, crimson-clad goblin swooped down plucking Jonah neatly from his podium in mid-sentence. Menace clubbed the struggling Jonah across his face with her free forearm knocking him out cold. Jonah's high priced bodyguards empty their semi-automatic pistol futilely at Menace who soared high overhead out of range.
'Here goes nothing.' Spider-Man thought. He leaped from the rooftop. He landed on the goblin glider. Spider-Man landed directly behind Menace. "Hi there, going my way Menny?" Spider-Man said.
Menace whirled around placing the limp body of the unconscious Jonah directly between her and Spider-Man. "Attack me, if you dare." Menace taunted.
"The old human shield tactic eh," Spider-Man said. "Not the most honorable thing to do."
"Honor is for those who lack true courage. I won't be constrained by such outdated concepts." Menace said as her glider transported her, Spider-Man and Jonah towards whatever preprogrammed destination she intended.
"Spoken like a true sociopath," Spider-Man said.
"Says the man who destroyed the personal lives of Harry Osborn and his father." Menace growled.
"Ah, so you're another member of the Osborn Clan I take it?" Spider-Man said. He needed to keep Menace distracted while he considered his options.
"In a way, I suppose I am." Menace said a hint of pride detectable in her voice.
"And here I thought I had put all of you behind bars." Spider-Man needled.
"Not quite walk crawler." Menace scowled.
"Let me guess you're Sarah St-," Spider-Man never got to fully voice his suspicion.
The gilder along with its passengers was violently pulled down onto a rooftop by a group of navy blue and red tendrils which snagged its underside. With a jarring thud, the glider hit the roof damaging its motor which shuddered then failed. Spider-Man was sent rolling off the crippled gilder as was Menace and the still unconscious Jonah.
Back on her feet, a few seconds later Menace eyed her latest challenger. Her eyes narrowed with immediate reconciliation. "I know you. You're that dolt Agent Toxic who tried to stop me before." She said. "You'll pay dearly for interfering in my business again do-gooder."
Menace tossed several pumpkin bombs from her satchel at Agent Toxic who skillfully dodged each resulting explosion. She then tried to tackle Agent Toxic. He merely swathed her away with his tendrils. Enraged by her combative failures Menace grabbed Jonah roughly around his neck. She hoisted Jonah high overhead with one hand.
"Come any closer I'll snap his neck! I swear I will!" Menace threatened.
A strand of webbing caught Menace's left foot tripping her. A second strand caught Jonah's back pulling him away to safety when Menace tripped. Neither had come from Agent Toxic.
"I thought you could use some help." Spinneret said placing Jonah gently at her feet.
"Thanks," Spider-Man said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Same here," Spinneret said.
"Let me go!" Menace shrieked. Agent Toxin had Menace on knees. Two tendrils one navy blue the other red were wrapped tightly around her throat.
"You're a proven threat to public safety goblin. Too many have already died at your hands. I take no pleasure in your demise. I'm simply doing what must be done." Agent Toxic said stoically.
"Stop," Spider-Man cried out.
"You can't execute someone without a trial!" Spinneret joined in.
"Stand down Agent Toxic. Menace is beaten." Spider-Man said. The tone of his voice left no doubt he meant business. Spider-Man used military lingo because he strongly suspected from their actions and speech patterns whoever now wore the Toxic Symbiote was a current or former member of the armed forces.
Agent Toxic ignored the protests of Spider-Man and Spinneret. His tendrils began to squeeze the breath from Menace's body. Unwilling to watch somebody regardless of his or her actions be killed directly in front of them Spinneret and Spider-Man took action. With no other viable options, they attacked Agent Toxin head on.
The battle was short yet brutal. Spider-Man attacked high while Spinneret attacked low. Both utilized sonic screamer devices built into their belts. This disorientated Agent Toxin enough for him to release Menace. But not long afterward Agent Toxin retaliated by entangling Spinneret and Spider-Man in tendrils then bashing them into the rooftop cracking the structure. Winded the two were temporarily at the mercy of Agent Toxin until some quick thinking on Spider-Man's part saved them. Spider-Man remembered that Symbiotes hated bug spray. Luckily by adjusting the chemical mixture of one of his web shooters on the fly he emulation the formulation enough to leave a bad taste in Agent Toxin's proverbial mouth.
"Are you okay?" Spider-Man said helping Spinneret to her feet.
"Uh, yeah I'll be fine." Spinneret said. "Where's Jonah?"
"Dammit, he's gone and so is Menace," Spider-Man said scanning the rooftop for any sign of Menace or Jonah. The stricken goblin glider remained there so they could not have gone far. "Luckily I slipped a spider trace into JJJ's pocket earlier."
"Go find them." Spinneret said. "I'll continue our dance with Mr. Congeniality here."
"Hey, the jokes are my department," Spider-Man said smiling behind his mask. "Be careful he's a tough nut to crack."
"Don't worry I can keep him at bay, I think." Spinneret said. "You find Menace and Jameson."
"Make me proud, my love," Spider-Man said.
"You too, my love," Spinneret said. Spider-Man then swung away on a web line. "Where were we?" Spinneret turned her attention back to the now recovered Agent Toxin.
"I'm an agent of the United States Government. You're obstructing justice by keeping me here." Agent Toxin said.
"What can I say. I've never been one much for government officials who think they are above the law or morality." Spinneret said assuming a defensive stance. "You'd have killed Menace if we hadn't stopped you."
"I have no choice. Menace is a clear and present danger to public safety." Agent Toxin insisted.
"Then arrested Menace." Spinneret countered. "No one person no matter how powerful or justice their cause should be judge, jury, and executioner."
"You're being naive." Agent Toxin said. "In the real world threats should be removed if necessary."
"Death is never the answer." Spinneret said shaking her dead. "Even the worst of people can change. They should be given that chance whenever possible. I learned that lesson from the best person I've ever known, my partner Spider-Man."
"Your partner is too idealistic for his own good." Agent Toxin said the man behind the living suit recalling his military service in Afghanistan where he lost his legs to an IED after his company was led into an ambush by an interpreter he thought was their friend. "In my experience, people seldom change so drastically. A bloodthirsty terrorist for example almost always remains a bloodthirsty terrorist."
"Maybe," Spinneret said. "But I'd rather be idealistic like him than jaded like you any day."
"I hope you never face a situation that tests your idealism." Agent Toxin said.
Spinneret could not help but laugh bitterly at his words. "I already have, on several occasions. And my idealism came out the other side stronger for it."
"Adversity does forge great strength." Agent Toxin conceded. "I don't want to fight you any longer."
"Me either," Spinneret said. "But I will if I have to."
"I know you will." Agent Toxin said. He turned his back on Spinneret. He walked away from her without saying more.
"What are you doing?" Spinneret asked. She was uncertain of what to do next. Had he given up?
"I'm leaving matters in the hands of you and your partner. For both your sake I hope nothing goes wrong." Agent Toxin said glancing over his shoulder before he swung away on a navy blue tendril.
Apartment of Harry Osborn
Harry could hardly believe what just happened. Menace the latest goblin crashed through the sliding glass door of his living room balcony with an unconscious J. Jonah Jameson in tow. Menace tossed Jonah on Harry's sofa than doubled over. Harry watched with rapt attention as Menace slowly, painfully morphed into his current girlfriend Lily Hollister! Lily then proceeded to tell Harry how she had stumbled upon one of his hidden stashes of goblin paraphernalia and was accident infected by Goblin Serum after breaking some vials. Lily decided to use her newfound ability along with Harry's old Green Goblin equipment to secure victory for her father in the upcoming mayoral election. Things spiraled out of control and before she knew it, Lily, as Menace was a murderer.
"Harry, help me." Lily panted. "Spider-Man, Spinneret, and Agent Toxin are after me. Agent Toxin tried to kill me."
"Lily I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I destroy everyone around me." Harry said pacing back and forth around the room.
"Together we can beat them, Harry. You and I. I know we can. The Green Goblin and Menace working as a unit will be unstoppable. Hurry get ready, they're coming." Lily said smiling manically.
"Lily I ca-," Harry began.
Spider-Man swung through the broken door. "Surrender Menace it's over!" He said. Spider-Man paused when he saw Lily and a confused looking Harry. "Wait, you're Lily Hollister?"
Lily voiced a guttural scream of rage. She rapidly transformed into Menace. She attacked Spider-Man who sidestepped her first attempted but fell victim to her second which carried them through the door. Using her clawed hands, Menace scaled the brownstone followed closely by Spider-Man.
"Don't hurt her Spider-Man! She doesn't know what she is doing! The Goblin Serum has affected her mind!" Harry called his head peeking out the damaged door frame.
A short while later on the rooftop Menace and Spider-Man exchanged blows. Menace's attacks became ever more desperate and vicious as she continued to lose ground to Spider-Man's more calculated counter strikes. At one point she showed some strategic thinking when she faked left then right then instead struck directly forward entangling her claws in the bottom edge of Spider-Man's mask. When Spider-Man tried to pull free his mask slid up his face above half way. Spider-Man quickly disentangled himself. He was sure he got his tattered mask back down before Menace got a good look at his face. Spider-Man then ended the fight by covering Menace's eyes in webbing followed by her whole body. Next he decked her hard. Menace reverted to Lily who collapsed in a heap on the rooftop.
"Is it over? How is Lily?" Harry asked frantically as he emerged from a roof access door.
"She's out cold but otherwise she's okay," Spider-Man said wearily.
Harry went to pick Lily up but Spider-Man stopped him by stepping between the pair. "What are you doing?" Harry demanded to know.
"What are you doing?" Spider-Man said turning the tables.
"I'm taking her someplace where I can look after her properly away from prying eyes," Harry said.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that," Spider-Man said.
"Why not?" Harry asked incredulously.
"She's dangerous. Her condition is unstable. She needs to be someplace where she can't do harm to anyone else including you or even herself." Spider-Man said.
"You mean prison," Harry said his expression darkening.
"I'm afraid I do," Spider-Man said.
"But she's sick. It isn't her fault. It's mine. If I hadn't been so careless with the Goblin Serum this wouldn't have happened. She shouldn't have to pay for my mistakes. Please, don't take her away." Harry said.
"I'm sorry Harry. I have no choice." Spider-Man said.
"Bullshit," Harry said. "You're only saying this because she's a goblin. You've never gotten over what my father did to you."
"Harry this isn't the time nor the place," Spider-Man said.
"To think I spared your life at the cost of years of my own. I lost my wife and son because of you. Yet now you won't help Lily. My father was right you are no good. I should have left you to die in that explosion!" Harry snapped.
"Goodbye Harry," Spider-Man sadly. He scooped up Lily's cocooned body. A moment later he was gone.
"You better run ungrateful coward!" Harry yelled.
The Raft three days later, afternoon
"I received a note that you wanted to meet with me." Norman Osborn said taking a seat in the small library next to Lily. Both wore standard issue orange jumpsuits as did every other inmate in the facility.
"I have information about Spider-Man you'll find very interesting," Lily said not making eye contact. Both pretended to read their respective books while at each of the two doors there stood a pair of heavily armed and armored guards
"Oh," Norman said nonchalantly flipping through his book The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli.
"Spider-Man is your son's friend Peter Parker. I saw his face." Lily said her voice barely above a whisper.
At that moment it was like a fog had been lifted from Norman's brain. Lost memories came swirling back including one which involved a very special project of his. A project that would prove invaluable in the weeks and months to come.
"I want revenge on him. I know you do as well." Lily said.
"What do you suggest?" Norman said.
"We kill his family then him," Lily said with barely disguised glee.
"Not yet," Norman said.
"Why not?" Lily said.
"I have something far better in mind. If we kill his family and him right now its game over. I want his suffering to be prolonged for as long as possible." Norman said. "First we take everything away from him. Starting with his self-appointed role as protector of New York City. To do so we'll require a distraction. Something to keep him occupied while we marshal our forces in secret."
"How do you propose we do that?" Lily inquired genuinely curious what this evil genius had in mind.
"You'll find out, when the time is right. You're only concern is to be ready to move when I say so. My people on the outside will handle the rest." Norman said. "I'll be in touch." He put down his book and got out of his seat.
Visions of revenge danced through Norman's head as he walked out of the library a wicked smile plastered on his face. Yes, his secret project would do a fine job distracting Parker from the bigger picture. Better yet he could use it to inflict pain upon Parker and Parker's family. The poor fools would never know what hit them. Too bad Professor Warren was dead (as far as he knew), otherwise Norman would have sent the Jackal a gift basket. The fruits of the Jackal's immoral research was the gift that kept on giving.
To Be Continued
I want to thank ItsDannyz. You've been a great help with brainstorm ideas for this series my friend.
Author's Note -
Norman is gradually laying the groundwork for my eventual version of Goblin Nation. But, unlike in canon, what is his "distraction"? Hint, I want to make this story a family based one (as I've stated before). Can anyone guess which Spidey related character or characters could be on their way relatively soon?