Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Marvel Comics are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holders.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
CONTENT/LANGUAGE WARNING –
THIS EPISODE CONTAINS EXTREME CONTENT THAT MAY OFFEND SOME READERS. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED
Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Forty Spider-Verse Part One: The Widening Gyre
Parker Residence Western Long Island, evening
"Give me another barkeep. I need a refill." Philip Watson said slurring his words as he lay half on half off the driveway. He waved around his half-empty bottle of booze.
"You've had enough dad." Mary Jane said pulling Philip to his feet.
"Damn you're strong Mary. I guess you ate your Wheaties growing up." Philip slurred.
"Dad you stink." Mary Jane said crinkling her nose. "Have you be drinking all day?"
"And last night, and the day before, and the night before that." Philip slurred then burped loudly.
Miguel who finally snapped out of his stupor was trying to reassemble the mall box Philip's car had destroyed. "I think I can fix this. There you go, good as new." He said putting the box back atop its pole only for the construct to collapse a second later. "Ah, well, back to the drawing board."
"What happened here?" Jennifer Walters said after parking her red sports car across the street. She surveyed the damage thinking of the liability involved. She sincerely hoped a fellow Spidey Inc employee was not the cause of this mini-swath of mayhem.
"A minor hiccup," Peter said with a forced smile.
"Right," Jennifer said not believing Peter for a minute.
"Are you a stripper?" Philip asked leering at Jenifer.
"No, are you a buffoon or just a drunk?" Jennifer said an expression of disdain on her face.
"Hey, my daughter and her hubby own this joint. I don't have to take sass from you or anyone else while I'm here." Philip slurred.
Philip squirmed free from Mary Jane's grip, an impressive feat for a normal human not in the best shape. He took a swing at Jennifer but fell flat on his ass passing out. Peter grabbed Philip before the older man hit the ground for a second time.
"I'll take him inside so he can sleep it off," Peter said to MJ who gave him a pained smile in return.
"What about our vehicles?" An angry neighbor asked Peter.
"Don't worry, I'll cover any damages," Peter said with a sigh.
"I'll come with you. I want to surprise Ben. He told me he'd be back by now." Jennifer said.
"Oh, he'll be surprised alright." Peter said, "Follow me, Miguel come with me too. I have a hunch about our new guest but need your assistance to confirm it."
"Sure thing, Pete," Miguel said.
"Tell Felicia I'm heading home," Flash said slapping Peter on his back. "Happy birthday, man."
"Will do, and, thanks, Flash," Peter said.
"I'm heading out too, Pete. Liz flips if I don't bring back Normie on time and it's getting late." Harry said checking his smartwatch, "Great party by the way, very you." Harry added with a wry smile.
"Yeah, it was, wasn't it," Peter chuckled.
"I'll see everyone off, tiger." Mary Jane offered. The party was over and everyone suddenly wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Thanks, Red," Peter said kissing MJ on her cheek. Jennifer and Miguel followed Peter inside. Aunt May, Jarvis, along with April and Mayday also remained behind.
Inside
"Stay were you are, no more touching each other, okay?" Anya said to Ben and Cindy.
Anya and Felicia finally managed to separate Cindy from Ben, no easy task. The lovebirds were seated in the living room on opposite sofas. Cindy and Ben continued to make googly eyes at each other.
"You can't keep us apart. Cindy is my destiny. I must protect my bride." Ben insisted he tried to get up only for Felicia to push him back into his seat.
"Down boy," Felica said. "There will be time for fun once we figure out what is happening. She isn't going anywhere and neither are you."
"Do you two work for Ezekiel Sims?" Cindy asked.
"Ezekiel Sims?" Anya said. "I've never heard of him. How about you Felicia?"
"Nah duh, his name doesn't ring a bell," Felicia said.
"A-Are you going to hurt me?" Cindy asked timidly her tone childlike.
"I won't let them hurt you," Ben said. He tried to get up again and once more Felicia pushed him down but this time it took much greater effort on her part.
"You're safe with us," Anya said. "We're the good guys." Anya frowned at Cindy taking in the other woman's semi-nudity. "Would you like some clothes?"
"Yes, please, I'm cold," Cindy said.
"I can tell," Felicia said glancing at Cindy's hard nipples. 'Those things could cut glass.' She thought.
Anya was about to leave when Peter, Jennifer, and Miguel arrived. Ben took this opportunity while Felicia and Anya were distracted to jump across and start kissing Cindy like mad. Jennifer gasped at what she saw.
"Ben what are you doing!? Who is she!?" Jennifer yelled. Her skin turned green as her body mass increased straining her outfit to its breaking point.
"Jennifer this is Cindy," Ben said between kisses. "She's my bride and I'm her groom. We're meant for each other."
"Anya could you take Phil to one of the spare rooms, please and thanks," Peter said as Philip started to stir. The last thing he needed was having to explain an angry She-Hulk to a drunk. Anya quickly carried Philip from the room.
"Are you now!?" The half hulked out Jennifer said through gritted teeth. She scooped up Ben and hurled him straight through the nearest walk. "We're finished Ben! After the stunt you've pulled, don't ever call me again!" Jennifer calmed herself enough to physically revert then walked back outside.
Ben pulled himself free from the fragments of drywall and crawled back to Cindy. "Did she hurt you? Are you okay, my bride?" Ben said carefully examining Cindy for injuries while ignoring his multiple bruises and minor cuts.
"Miguel, have Lyla scan Cindy here for any anomalies," Peter said working on his hunch.
"Huh," Miguel said. For some reason he could not explain, he felt drawn to Cindy. The young woman was certainly attractive there was no denying the fact, yet this did not account for his intense sense of longing.
"Miguel, have Lyla scan Cindy!" Peter said more forcefully. Unlike Miguel, Peter felt nothing other than an occasional mild headache whenever he was around Cindy.
"Lyla please scan this subject," Miguel said to his wrist watch like device.
"Scanning," Lyla said.
Cindy cringed when Lyla's purple beam touched her Ben was about to place himself between her and the beam when the scan finished. A few seconds later Lyla announced her findings. "Female subject is a metahuman arachnid DNA type."
"Have you established why my brother Ben and your user Miguel are acting the way they are around the subject?" Peter inquired.
"I have gathered enough data to propose a probable theory," Lyla said.
"What is your theory, Lyla?" Peter prompted.
"Female subject is producing a large amount of spider enhanced pheromones. These pheromones in all probability influence the behavior of any male metahuman who also possesses arachnid DNA." Lyla reported.
"Hell of a trick," Felicia said somewhat impressed.
"Why am I unaffected?" Peter asked.
Lyla scanned Peter. A few seconds later she said. "You are biologically keyed to a separate pheromone signature, as a result, the female subject cannot influence your behavior with her pheromones."
"Lucky for your marriage MJ is a spider person too." Felicia laughed earning a dirty look from Peter.
"Lyla can a counter agent be developed to reduce or eliminate the influence of Cindy's pheromones?" Peter said.
"Unknown, further analysis required," Lyla reported.
"Um, Cindy, can you turn off your uh seduction ability?" Peter asked his skin blushed a deep crimson. He felt embarrassed asking such a thing.
"I-If you promise no one will hurt me," Cindy said between kisses from Ben.
"Yeah, she's been worried about her safety since we brought her inside," Felicia said.
"I swear you're safe with us. No one will harm you. You have my word." Peter said.
"Okay," Cindy said. She closed her eyes. Cindy appeared to concentrate hard for a moment. "There, it's off," Cindy said opening her eyes.
Miguel shook his hard. He could think again. The fog that had descended over his mind was gone.
Ben stopped kissing Cindy. He pulled back an expression of confusion then horror etched on his face. "What did you do to me, you bitch!" He screamed. Ben tried to strike Cindy who jumped away from him across the room.
"You promised no one would hurt me! You're a liar!" Cindy accused glaring at Peter from her crouched position.
"Ben chill out," Peter said placing himself between the two. Felicia did the same while Miguel took up a position directly in front of Ben.
"Chill out, chill out, she made me her slave! And you tell me to 'chill out'!" Ben ranted. His experience with Cindy caused traumatic memories from his ordeal with Jackal to surface.
"What do you want to do, huh, beat the crap out of her? That won't solve anything." Miguel said.
"I'm sorry," Cindy said softly.
"You're sorry, you're sorry, woopdidoo you're sorry! I guess everything is okay now because you're remorseful." Ben continued to rant. "My girlfriends left me! I was drugged into having sex with a stranger, some of it in public in front of my nieces and their friends for God's sake, but everything is okay because you've apologized! You better not get pregnant! I don't want a child with you! A slaveholder would make a lousy mother!"
"I said I was sorry! You don't have to be so mean!" Cindy said starting to cry.
"Ben you've said enough. This isn't helping." Mary Jane said having come inside. Anya now stood next to MJ holding a teeshirt and sweatpants in her hands having returned from her errand.
"You're right, Mary Jane. I need to clear my head." Ben said. He went to his room and came back fully dressed a record time. "Maybe I can catch Jennifer if I'm fast enough. I'll be back, sometime."
"After I sort out matters here, we should talk, bro," Peter said.
"I agree, bro," Ben said before he left.
"I sent our guests home." Mary Jane said.
Anya offered Cindy the clothing which she took as she rose to her feet. "I thought he would hurt me. I needed to make sure he wouldn't." Cindy said trying to excuse her mind-altering trick more to herself than to anyone else.
"So you raped him, honey?" Felicia said in her trademarked no-nonsense some would say insensitive manner. Cindy did not know how to reply. She got dressed instead of saying anything.
Peter explained to his wife Cindy's ahem seduction power. "Cindy, I would suggest you don't use that particular ability again unless under dire threat. People don't take kindly to being brainwashed especially when love or lust are involved." Mary Jane said.
"I'm sorry I caused your friend any distress. He seems like a nice guy and a good kisser." Cindy said. "If his green girlfriend won't take him I'll give him all the sex he wants, it is the least I can do. He made me feel good." Miguel and Peter looked away while Felicia smirked at Cindy's brashness.
"I'd ah keep that generous offer to myself if I were you, Cindy. I doubt Ben will be receptive." Mary Jane said.
"I could always make him accept my offer," Cindy said. "Ezekiel told me I can control any man with spider powers if I want."
"Wait, you know Ezekiel, Ezekiel Sims?" Peter said. Cindy nodded her head vigorously at the mention of Sims.
"I told you don't do that!" Mary Jane said mortified by the very thought of Cindy's power of seduction as her husband called it.
"Okay," Cindy said now fully clothed.
Peter was on the cusp of asking Cindy to tell him how she was connected to Ezekiel Sims when Johnny Stormed showed up. "How much longer will this take?" Johnny Storm asked. "My charges are getting real antsy."
"Might as well get all this craziness over with one pull," Peter said. "Send them in."
One lengthy explanation from Miles and Jessica later. "And that's everything. Will you help us?" Jessica finished.
"I would but I'm not sure how," Peter admitted. "Maybe if I sleep on it I'll come up with something by morning."
"That's it!?" Jessica said. "We come to you for help and your answer is to 'sleep on it', unbelievable."
"In my defense, we aren't running a dimensional rescue service. Spidey Inc and the Web Warriors have limited resources. If I'm being honest, the Avengers could probably help you more than we can." Peter said thinking about Superior Spider-Man, the Cindy/Ben/ Ezekiel Sims situation, and Lily Hollister's hopeful cure to name but a few of the things on his plate. "Besides, we have our own problems to deal with right now."
"Are you a coward or something?" Jessica accused. "You need to help us. It's the right thing to do."
"Excuse me, how dare you call my husband a coward. Peter is the most heroic person I've ever met." Mary Jane said. "If there is a way to help you he will find it."
"Says you," Jessica snorted. "Excuse me if I'm skeptical."
"Come on Jess this guy ain't shit. He's nothing like our Peter was." Miles said tugging on Jessica's arm.
"You're right Miles. Johnny take me back to your place." Jessica said. "We'll come back if this one grows a spine."
"Sure thing, babe," Johnny said. Looking at Peter he added apologetically, "Sorry, buddy."
Spider Reaper's Earth, night
Spider Reaper sat on a throne made of dark grey material. The throne was connected to the wall and ceiling of the dimly lit chamber by spokes that radiated out from the seat. These diagonal spokes were interlaced by smaller horizontal spokes creating an immense web pattern. Dozens of Spider Soldiers lined either side of his throne.
"Report," Spider Reaper said to the helmetless Spider Soldier who stood before him. She wore her blonde hair in a crewcut style.
"Earth 12777, Earth 87966, and Earth Earth 99913 have each been subjugated." The version of Gwen Stacy reported. To her left stood another helmetless Spider Soldier this one a version of Harry Osborn.
"What of the escapees from Earth 87966, General Stacy?" Spider Reaper asked. His electronically enhanced voice rumbled.
"Logistics traced them to Earth 621-B." General Gwen Stacey said.
"Interesting," Spider Reaper said getting up from his throne. He had visited that Earth once before in search of a mystical reality-altering tablet as he recalled. He walked down a series of steps to stand in front of Gwen.
"It is a world of limited value. A low priority target." General Gwen Stacey said.
"In which case, a task force should experience few if any issues retrieving the escapees." Spider Reaper said. "Send the Blue Orb Squad. They've been itching for a fight lately. This should be a nice distraction for them."
"But they trashed the last four Earths they were sent to so badly we couldn't even strip-mine those worlds for raw materials. Those worlds were net-zero resource gains." General Gwen Stacy said.
"Are you questioning my orders, General Stacy?" Spider Reaper said.
"Of course not, master," General Gwen Stacy said. She saluted Spider Reaper then turned on her heels and departed to carry out her instructions. Harry Osborn who had remained silent throughout the exchange followed General Gwen Stacy in lockstep.
Houston Texas several hours later, evening
Scarlet Spider and Hummingbird were on a typical patrol when hell descended. From a swirling patrol emerged five figures: a blue-skinned white-bearded Hulk, a Ghost Rider surrounded by yellow-green flames, a heavily scarred version of X-23, a female Loki, and a green scaly gremlin faced Modok. The five were clad in blue uniforms with grey trim. On the chests of their jumpsuits was a blue orb outlined in fiery red.
"Target acquired, metahuman arachnid humanoid detected." Gremlin faced Modok said.
"You fool he's not one of those we seek. The energy signature does not match. He's native to this universe." Blue Hulk scoffed at his companion.
"Who cares, he's here let's have fun." Scarred X-23 said. With a sadistic grin, she unsheathed her Adamantium claws.
"Works for me." Female Loki said.
"And me," The Ghost Rider said.
"Ah, hell, why not. We'll find our targets eventually." Blue Hulk said. "It's party time!"
"Maybe we should retreat?" Hummingbird said fearfully.
"You do what you want. I'm facing these freaks head-on." Scarlet Spider said his temper getting the best of him as it often did. "I know I can take them." He was wrong.
Parker Residence Western Long Island, twenty minutes later
Aunt May knew she heard something. Jarvis did not believe her but he followed her downstairs anyway just in case. With a golf club in his hand, Jarvis and Aunt May turned on the living room lights. What she saw caused Aunt May to shriek.
"Please help him." Hummingbird said cradling an unconscious bruise-covered Kaine in her arms. His Scarlet Spider uniform was in tatters. Hummingbird was not in much better shape. Her face was swollen from the serve beating she had taken. Hummingbird collapsed atop Kaine unable to stay awake.
"What now," Peter said rushing into the living room Mary Jane, Miguel, Anya, Cindy, and the twins soon followed all in their bedclothes except for Cindy who wore what Anya gave her earlier. Aunt May could only point. Philip Watson had thankfully gone home hours ago much to the relief of his put upon daughter and everyone else.
"What is everyone doing up at this hour? Do you know what is going on in Houston? Some group of villains is running amok tearing apart the city. It's all over social media." Ben said having chosen that moment to come home. Ben shot Cindy a dark glare which she either failed to acknowledge or missed altogether. Ben then spotted Aracely and Kaine, "Oh."
To Be Continued
Next Up – Spider-Verse heats up!