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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Twenty-Two Shattered Dimensions Part Two Into The Spiderverse
A hydroelectric power station located on a large dam, evening
"Wow, trippy," Spinneret said when the pair of spider-themed heroes tumbled through the portal. They fell several feet landing on a hard surface in a heap of arms and legs.
"Where exactly did Madame Web drop us?" Spider-Man asked rubbing his head after extracting himself the pile.
"Really, a falling joke?" Spinneret said getting to her feet.
"Hey, I couldn't help myself. Low hanging fruit and all that." Spider-Man said with a shrug.
"Just stop, okay?" Spinneret before she started giggling like a school girl. Her attempt to be serious had failed miserably "Alright I'll admit it was funny in a corny kind of way."
"Ahem," Someone nearby loudly cleared her throat. "Who are you two?" Demanded a woman who wore an exact replica of Spider-Man's black costume. Next to the female spider person stood another Spider-Man almost identical to Peter.
"I'm Spider-Man. She's my wife Spinneret," Spider-Man said pointing first at himself then at Spinneret.
"Impossible," The Other Spider-Man said shaking his head. "I'm Spider-Man and this is my fiancee Obsidian Spider." He indicated himself followed by his female companion.
"Are they clones?" Obsidian Spider asked the Other Spider-Man.
"They could be." The Other Spider-Man said.
"We aren't clones." Spinneret said.
"What are you then?" Obsidian Spider said hands on her hips.
"We're from another dimension a different reality if you will," Spider-Man said.
"Prove it, unmask," Obsidian Spider challenged.
"If you do the same." Spinneret said.
"Fine, we'll show you ours if you show us yours but you go first." Obsidian Spider said.
Spider-Man and Spinneret exchanged a look then unmasked. "Peter Parker pleased to meet you," Spider-Man said.
"Mary Jane Parker," Spinneret said.
The Other Spider-Man unmasked. "Also, Peter Parker." He said.
The Alien Symbiote slid away revealing the face of its host a second Mary Jane. "Mary Jane Watson." Obsidian Spider said.
"Wait, you're wearing the Venom Symbiote?" Spinneret said in disbelief.
"The what now?" Obsidian Spider said she was totally unfamiliar with the name "Venom".
"How did this happen?" Spider-Man asked.
"The Symbiote escaped from the Fantastic Four after I rejected it and bonded with MJ." The Other Spider-Man explained.
"It saved my life. In a fit of rage, Black Cat attempted to kill me when she saw me wearing the suit. I suppose she was jealous Peter chose me over her. Things got out of hand during our fight when Hobgoblin showed up. I tried to save her but Felicia was already weakened from our confrontation, she didn't make it..." Obsidian Spider's words fade away her expression told of terrible pain and guilt.
"I'm sorry." Spinneret said to her alternate self.
"Thanks," Obsidian Spider sniffed. She wiped away a few tears. "I decided to keep the alien costume so I could be a hero in honor of Felicia. I regret her death every day."
"It wasn't your fault MJ." The Other Spider-Man said as he put his arm around Obsidian Spider.
"I truly hope you're right, tiger." Obsidian Spider said.
"Excuse me, but have either of you seen an ancient tablet fragment about yay big?" Spider-Man said holding out his hands roughly six inches apart.
"No," The Other Spider-Man said. Obsidian Spider shook her head indicating the negative. "We're here to stop Electro."
"He found some sort of rock that made him go crazy." Obsidian Spider-Man said. "He plans to use the dam's energy to destroy the city."
"A rock, huh?" Spider-Man said scratching his chin thoughtfully. "I think we just located our fragment."
"Could you two use some help?" Spinneret offered.
"Sure, this is a big job." The Other Spider-Man said.
"Lead the way," Spider-Man said.
The four put back on their makes. They made their way deeper into the facility. Soon they were confronted by packs of razor-back four-legged creatures like wolves composed of crackling electricity.
"Let me guess, Electro's handiwork?" Spider-Man said while he dodged an energy attack from one of the creatures.
"I don't understand. He's never been able to create living energy constructs before." The other Spider-Man said. He used his twin web lines to pull down part of the ceiling on a group of creatures dissipating them with a loud pop.
"Obviously the tablet fragment has empowered him." Spinneret said following the lead of the Other Spider-Man. She used part of the wall and her web lines to destroy more of the creatures.
"I'm more durable than the rest of you. My suit shields me from all but the highest voltage electricity. I'll clear a path." Obsidian Spider said. She barreled through the remaining creatures. She used her tendrils to swath many aside.
"That's my girl. She's a real firecracker, eh people?" The Other Spider-Man said proudly. Spider-Man and Spinneret exchanged a concerned glance but remained silent. This was not their world or their rules.
The four heroes ran through the complex. They batted away stray energy creatures as they went. Before long they reached the top of the dam where Electro stood. A fragment of the tablet hung around his neck. He was slowly sucking the massive power turbines dry of electrical energy while sparking off small creatures. Upon leaving his body these would quickly grow to full size they would then scurry away.
"All this magnificent power is mine for the taking!" Electro declared.
"It isn't yours yet old sparky." The Other Spider-Man said.
"Bah, behold my true power insects!" Electro roared.
Electro drained all the power the turbines could generate. His body turned a translucent blue as he grew to enormous size. Electro towered twenty feet high over the dam which sagged under his considerable weight. He began hurling lightning bolts from his fingertips at the four heroes.
"You need to go on a diet tubby." The Other Spider said.
"How about we do the next best thing?" Spider-Man said. "I have an idea." The four heroes huddled together as Spider-Man gave them instructions.
Spider-Man, Spinneret, the Other Spider, and Obsidian Spider each went off in a different direction. They swung around in a circle dodging and jumping to avoid attack after attack from their huge adversary. Electro spun on his feet like a top becoming dizzy as he did so.
"Stand still so I can barbecue you bugs!" Giant Electro bellowed.
"No way," Spinneret shouted.
In his mounting frustration, Giant Electro jumped up and down on the dam. The top of the structure cracked causing him to lose his balance. He toppled backward into the reservoir. A huge flash of light occurred and a loud bang was heard as Giant Electro shorted out in spectacular fashion.
"Thanks, I'll be taking your fragment now," Spider-Man said after he snagged the fragment from around the neck of Giant Electro with a strand of webbing.
Spinneret and Spider-Man barely had time to say their goodbyes before they were whisked around via a portal to another world. Here they teamed with a noir version of Spider-Man and detective girlfriend Mary Jane to battle a steampunk Vulture retrieving two fragments. Next, the pair faced off against an anthromorphic lion Kraven the Hunter hired by Kingpin as they assisted a teenage Spider-Man to save his date Mary Jane (much to the chagrin of Spinneret). The prize from their latest adventure was another three fragments. Madame Web informed them they only had two more fragments to retrieve moments before they found themselves in yet another world.
Skyline of New York City, afternoon
"I wonder where we are this time?" Spider-Man questioned.
"I'm not sure." Spinneret said. Other than being on the rooftop of a skyscraper she had no idea where they might be. "Look," She exclaimed pointing at what looked like Hobgoblin battling two female spider themed heroes. One wore a pale blue costume with red eyepieces and matching red spider symbols. The other was clad in a violet costume with black eyepieces and matching black spider symbols.
"This isn't over!" Hobgoblin declared once he knocked the pair away from his glider which he then powered up to escape. The violet spider woman managed to tag Hobgoblin's glider with a spider-tracer.
"I couldn't agree more." The violet spider woman said.
"Hey sis what are mom and dad doing here? I thought they were away in Japan on business?" The pale blue spider woman said.
"Let's find out." The violet spider woman said. The pair swung onto the rooftop where Spider-Man and Spinneret stood dumbfounded.
"Nice retro costumes dad, mom," The violet spider woman said.
"Excuse me, but who are you two?" Spider-Man said.
"Duh, we're your daughters April and May." The violet spider woman said. "But when we're in costume I'm Solferino (purple) and she's Azure (blue) the Spider-Girls. Our code names are derived from our colors. You should know this dad they were your idea."
"Are you okay?" Spider-Girl Azure asked a note of concern in her voice.
"Maybe they lost their memories?" Spider-Girl Solferino offered.
"Oh no," Spider-Girl Azure. "I wonder if a villain is responsible?"
"Could be, it wouldn't be the first time some baddie messed with their minds. Maybe you're boyfriend Normie is up to his old tricks again." Spider-Girl Solferino offered.
"Normie has changed." Spider-Girl Azure snapped at her sister.
"Yeah right," Spider-Girl Solferino said. "Once a bad guy always a bad guy. They never change, especially if they are named Osborn."
The two teenagers proceed to bicker back and forth about Normie Osborn and his family as well as the merits of redemption until Spinneret interjected. "Ah, girls we're not your parents, at least not exactly. We're from another dimension or the past or both. I'm not sure how things work exactly in the multiverse, it's confusing."
"We've been sent here to locate two lost fragments of a mystical tablet that can destroy all reality." Spider-Man finished for Spinneret. 'This must be the future which might come to pass which Madame Web mentioned.' Spider-Man thought he then added to himself with a slight shake of his head. 'One of my daughters is in a relationship with Normie Osborn, Normie freakin' Osborn. How did that happen?'
"Heavy," Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"We'll help any way we can." Spider-Girl Azure said.
"Yeah, we're here for you for however long you're in our world." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"What did I miss?" Asked a red-haired girl with twin pigtails when she landed on the roof. She was outfitted in a primarily black & red getup with a blue chest pad with a red spider symbol painted on it and a red helmet which had white eyepieces. Spider-Man and Spinneret could not help but think The whole thing resembled a uniform of a football player more than a superhero costume.
"Nothing squirt, other than Hobbie running off before we could kick his butt like usual." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Hey don't call me that! When we're in the field you're supposed to use my codename. I'm Spiderling, remember?" Spiderling said.
"How could we forget." Spider-Girl Azure said with a slight chuckle. "Nothing to report, Spiderling."
"Mom they're picking on me again," Spiderling whined to Spinneret.
"Um, Annie she isn't ou-." Spider-Girl Azure tried to say.
"I'm Spiderling!" Spiderling said. "I'm glad your back mom, dad. These two treat me like a baby when you're away. I hate it!"
"Because you are a baby." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"I'm eight you guys are only sixteen," Spiderling said.
"Yeah, but we didn't fight crime until we were fourteen." Spider-Girl Azure said.
"So, I'm more mature then you guys were at my age," Spiderling said.
"Why you little twerp!" Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Dad, she's threatening me again!" Spiderling said. She got behind Spider-Man.
"Stop fighting girls," Spider-Man said. "I can't believe I just said that."
"Mom, did you bring me back something nice from Japan?" Spiderling asked. "I was good just ask Grandpa and Grandma."
"As if," Spider-Girl Azure said. "You were a little terror like usual."
"Shut up, I was good just ask Grandpa and Grandma. They'll vouch for me." Spiderling said.
"Only because you have them wrapped around your little finger, same goes for Benjy." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"They liked me better than you two is all," Spiderling said.
"Save your breath brat these aren't our parents." Spider-Girl Solferino said. "So, you can stop brown nosing."
"They aren't? You aren't?" Spiderling said looking up at Spider-Man and Spinneret for confirmation.
"I'm afraid not," Spider-Man said.
"Sorry," Spinneret said. Spiderling quickly backed away.
"We're from another dimension, another timeline may be a little bit of both," Spider-Man said. "We're here searching for a couple of dangerous tablet fragments that could endanger all of reality if they should fall into the wrong hands."
"We are unfamiliar with this world and could use your cooperation," Spinneret added.
Spiderling brightened at this. "I'll be your guide. I can show you around. I know this place like the back of my hand."
"Not so fast squirt. I think they'll need more help than you can offer. We'll handle things from here." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"No fair, I want to help too." Spiderling pouted.
"You can help by being safe at home where we won't worry about you." Spider-Girl Azure said patting her little sister's head.
"I'm not just some dumb kid! I can do stuff you know!" Spiderling said.
"Mom and dad, our real mom and dad made us promised we'd make sure you stay out of trouble." Spider-Girl Azure said.
"Yeah, for once do what we tell you." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Use my code name and I might," Spiderling said with a huff. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Spiderling we need you at home." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Okay," Spiderling reluctantly said. "But I want all the dirt on what went down soon as you guys get home, promise?"
"I promise," Spider-Girl Azure said.
"Ditto," Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Okay," Spiderling said. "Nice meeting you not-dad and not-mom." She added before she swung away on a strand of webbing with a loud yahoo!
"You're sister certainly is a ball of energy," Spider-Man said with a chuckle.
"This is nothing. You should have seen her when she was a toddler." Spider-Girl Azure said.
"Who knows, if this is your future you just might." Spider-Girl Solferino said with a chuckle of her own a chuckle Spider-Man and Spinneret did not entirely care for given its implications. Oh well, at least Annie was cute.
"Any idea where these tablet parts could be?" Spider-Girl Azure asked the pair.
"Usually, the fragments sort of come to us," Spider-Man said.
"So a no," Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Pretty much," Spinneret said with a shrug.
"Guess we better get looking this is a big city." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"Maybe Normie can be of help?" Spider-Girl Azure said snapping her gloved fingers. "The Oscorp surveillance network covers most of the city. I'm sure Normie would allow us access."
"If those stones can do what they say it can, Normie is exactly the type guy we should keep knowledge of the tablet form." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Normie has changed. He wants to help us." Spider-Girl Azure said.
"A guy who wears the Venom Symbiote hasn't changed. No good can come from that thing." Spider-Girl Solferino said.
"You'll never forgive Normie will you?" Spider-Girl Azure.
"How can I after what happened to Wes." Spider-Girl Solferino said her voice full of anger.
"What happened with Wes wasn't Normie's fault or mine. Wes m-," Spider-Girl Azure said. Before she could finish she was cut off by her sister.
"Don't just don't," Spider-Girl Solferino warned.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have,-" Spider-Girl Azure said.
"You're right you shouldn't have." Spider-Girl Solferino said. "We'll help them find the fragments on our own, without help from Normie or anyone else."
"Okay," Spider-Girl Azure said sensing the matter was not open to debate.
Spider-Man wanted to ask May and April what happened with Wes and why Normie was in possession of the Venom Symbiote (damn was that blasted thing in every reality?). He also was curious why May was with Normie Osborn. However, he knew better than to stir the pot. Whatever lay between the sisters was none of his business. He was not their father. His little girls were at home safe with Aunt May and Jarvis.
Spider-Man and Spinneret made ready to follow the Spider-Girls. Spider-Man hesitated, he glanced around as if troubled by something. "What's wrong?" Spinneret asked.
"I'm not sure," Spider-Man said. "For a fleeting instant, I thought I sensed danger nearby. It was like we were being watched somehow, weird." He shook his head as if to clear out mental cobwebs. "All this dimension-hopping must have put my spider sense on the fritz." He joked to release the sudden tension he felt. The four then web slung off the roof the Spider-Girls in the lead.
"I thought you said they couldn't detect us?" Mysterio said. He stood with Spider Reaper on a nearby rooftop.
"Don't worry their senses can't penetrate my cloaking technology. I assure you we remain invisible to them." Spider Reaper said.
"Then why did Spider-Man seem to sense our presence, hmmm?" Mysterio asked.
"A minor hiccup caused by transdimensional travel nothing more. The field has now stabilized we are quite safe." Spider Reaper replied confidently.
"Why have we let Spider-Man and his partner seize the fragments? Should we not have taken them?" Mysterio said.
"As I've already explained, we work smarter not harder than our enemies." Spider Reaper said with a groan of displeasure. "When Spider-Man and Spinneret deliver the final fragments to that meddler Madame Web then we strike. Our goal can be accomplished much easier once our friends have done all the legwork for us."
"And I'll become a true master of illusion with the tablet in our possession. I can hardly contain my excitement." Mysterio said. He lovingly stroked the fragment in his possession.
"Indeed," Spider Reaper said. 'Enjoy your cheap parlor tricks made real Mysterio while I gain the true prize, ultimate power over the very fabric of creation.' He thought. "Come we must follow them so we'll be ready to strike when the time arrives." Spider Reaper and Mysterio followed the four heroes out into the city. Soon reality itself would bend to the will of Spider Reaper and his enemies would be dust!
To Be Continued
Author's Note -
I hope you all have so far have enjoyed my loose rendition of "Shattered Dimensions". Unlike the 616 comic books, the games are only semi-canon so I've given myself more leeway with events portrayed within. The first reality featured was inspired by a fanfiction I read years ago titled "Bereft of Peter Parker" in which MJ bonded with the Venom Symbiote (sadly it was only one chapter and has since vanished from the web). Don't worry about Miguel he'll have a starring role in my upcoming adaption of "Edge of Time". The other realities mentioned, besides the obvious MC2/RYV combo, are a variant of Spider-Man Noir and a variant of the Spectacular Spider-Man Animated Series (damn I loved that show and wish it had received a proper conclusion).