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Another Strand In The Great Web – Episode Forty-Three Spider-Verse Part Four: Caged With The Beasts
Earth 621-B
City Hall NYC the next day, morning
It felt good being back in his old duds. "Out of my way." Norman Osborn now clad in his Green Goblin costume said pushing a frightened security guard aside. Green Goblin was surrounded by a large group of supervillains and Goblin Cult thugs.
"W-What are you, you people doing!?" Mayor J. Jonah Jameson stammered.
"Taking over the city and this building along with it. Haven't you been paying attention, old man?" Menace now back in her own costume said easily knocking Jonah on his ass with a shove. Angered by her blatant show of disrespect, Jonah considered confronting her than glancing at the mob thought better of it. "Get out of here before I decide to make an example of you."
"Now Menace is that any way to treat the former Mayor of New York?" Green Goblin faux admonished.
"F-Former mayor?" Mayor Jameson sputtered indignantly.
"Yes, Jonah, you're being retired. Don't worry we'll see that you receive a comfortable pension and a nice house somewhere out in the country where you can play checkers." Green Goblin said eliciting a chorus of laughter from the other criminals.
"You'll never get away with this!" Mayor Jameson declared getting to his feet.
"And who exactly is going to stop us? Jonah for years you schemed for a world free of masked vigilantes like Spider-Man, congratulations you succeeded. Spider-Man and his equally meddlesome friends are gone." Green Goblin said eliciting more laughter.
"B-But I..." Mayor Jameson began to protest but found himself at a loss for words. The supervillains left him where he stood he was of no consequence to them.
"Have fun, boys, and girls. Ransack the place." Green Goblin said the gathered mob readily complied running off to find anything of value they could loot or destroy.
"There's one thing I don't understand?" Menace said to Green Goblin.
"What would that be, my dear?" Green Goblin said as the pair casually strolled toward the mayor's office.
"Sure most of the superheroes are gone along with a good chunk of SHIELD but there are a few dogooders who were outside of the city and what about the American Government? That energy shield you and Ock rigged can't hold forever. We have the city but how are we going to hold it?" Menace asked worriedly.
"Ah, now we come to it, my dear. It's time we called in our first round of reinforcements. Luckily I'm not the only one with designs on world domination." Green Goblin said removing his mask. He sat down at Jameson's desk. He grabbed the Mayor's high-tech communication unite before putting his feet up on the desk. He entered a well-practiced number and waited for someone to answer. "Hello, Victor, Norman Osborn here. Boy oh boy, I have news for you. Once you hear it I hope we can help each other achieve our mutual goals, now then."
One lengthy conversation with a feared genius-level dictator later, Green Goblin disconnected and put back on his fearsome mask. "What is our next move?" Menace inquired gleefully anticipating the possible answer.
"We evaluate Secret Weapon Number One." Green Goblin said sinisterly.
A Stark Industries Black Site Warehouse several hours later, afternoon
"Behold, Secret Weapon Number One aka Cletus Kasady aka Carnage, once reunited with his symbiote that is." Green Goblin said. Floating in a tank of life-giving fluids was the legless, badly burnt, comatose body of the notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady.
"Is he alive?" Menace asked fascinated by the grizzly sight.
"Barely," Alistair Smythe reported from a nearby console. Green Goblin and Menace had freed him from captivity in return for his assistance with Norman's "Secret Weapon No. 1". Alistair continued, "Honestly, I have no idea how he clings so stubbornly to life. By all rights, Mr. Kasady should have expired upon atmospheric reentry two years ago."
"You know, don't you, our little friend?" Green Goblin said to Alistair Smythe holding up a writhing canister of red-black goo.
"Nasty, keep that thing far away from me!" Menace said taking a step back.
"Of course, dear, besides, it only has eyes for one human. Isn't that right, little friend?" Green Goblin said pinging the glass of the jar with his fingers the symbiote shivered at the stimuli but then calmed. He turned his attention back towards the renegade inventor. "Carnage will be fully under our control once revived, correct Smythe?"
"As far as I can determine, that is correct. I have implanted top-level restraint mechanisms into Mr. Kasady's brain and heart. However when dealing with unknown variables one can seldom be certain." Alistair Smythe said eyeing the captured symbiote. Inside the tank, once it drained of fluid at a command from Alistair, mini-bots dutifully attached gleaming gray-colored artificial legs onto Kasady's lower body.
"Fair enough," Green Goblin said. Unlike his comrades, Norman Osborn was confident he could control Carnage he had controlled Venom the creature's parent when it was bonded to Mac Gargan, how much more difficult could controlling the offspring prove? "Let's get the show on the road." He began to unfasten the jar. "It's high time you came out and played, my slimy little friend." Green Goblin cackled. Menace and Alistair Smythe stood back at what they hoped would prove a safe distance should things go amiss.
Underground Lair of the Superior Spider-Man
It had taken him a half-day of work but finally, it was finished. A new harness with four familiar metallic tentacles along with a pair of green goggles and a green octopus symbol was added to his grey and black costume. Otto Octavius was Superior Spider-Man no more. Long live Superior Octopus.
Otto flexed his tentacles experimentally. "Perfect," He said softly. "The circuitry is perfect. It feels wonderful to shed my borrowed identity like a snake sheds its old, useless skin. Now that I have proven myself the Superior Spider-Man I can be my true self again but vastly improved. Doctor Octopus reborn as the Superior Octopus!" He turned his attention to his servants the three spider-powered clones of the late Gwen Stacy. "I must go. I expect your own gear to be fully prepared once I return, my Octotets."
"We won't disappoint you, master." One of the Gwen Clones said. The three looked admiringly at their caretaker, their master, their everything.
"Where are you going, master?" Another of the Gwen Clones asked.
"To make our little family complete by claiming my bride the only woman who could ever be my equal, Anna Maria Marconi." Superior Octopus said.
"How romantic," The third Gwen Clone swooned while the other two happily agreed.
"Quite," Superior Octopus concede with the barest hint of happiness in his voice.
Parker Residence on Western Long Island
"The entire area is encased by an energy doom that extends out past the next neighborhood over." Aunt May reported as she entered the living room. She and Jarvis had decided to go for a drive to assess the situation while things remained relatively calm.
"It's the spider-sickness all over again," Jarvis said shaking his head remembering the events of "Spider-Island".
"It's worse." Mary Jane said. She added ruefully. "We've lost most of our resources, areas such as Avengers Tower and the Baxter Building are likely in the hands of the unfriendly forces so they are off-limits, and worst yet almost all our heroes, including Peter." She wiped a few tears from her eyes. 'No more crying MJ. You've got to be strong, as hard as that will be, for them.' She reminded herself.
"Don't worry mom. We'll win somehow." April said.
"Yeah, momma, we have right on our side. Like papa always says 'right is right'." Mayday said.
Mary Jane smiled at her daughters. "That we do."
"And you have me, kiddos so you aren't completely alone." Andrea "Andi" Benton said. "I didn't agree with Coach and Felicia making me stay behind when things went sideways but I'm glad they did now." She ruffled Mayday's hair then April's playfully causing the girls to giggle.
"So, what's our game plan, fearless leader?" Andi asked Ben who sat tinkering with the right arm gauntlet of his Iron Spider exosuit.
Cindy sat possessively on the arm of Ben's chair. She occasionally glared at Andi. Cindy clearly perceived the teenage punk girl as a possible threat to her odd relationship with Ben.
"I don't know, and I'm not our leader," Ben said dismissively.
"Okay, MJ you're our leader then," Andi said turning her attention to the pregnant wife and mother.
"Oh no, I can't." Mary Jane said rubbing her distended belly.
"Okay, I guess I'm the leader," Andi said uncertainly.
"Why can't I be the leader?" Cindy pouted.
"Ah, because you have no experience being a superhero," Andi said.
"You don't either," Cindy countered.
"I have more experience than you do," Andi said.
"Do not," Cindy said.
"Do too," Andi said. "I've been Mania for several months fighting crime with the Coach and Felicia. From what I've heard you've been locked in a bunker for a decade-plus never going outside or seeing anyone until Ben showed up."
"Unlike you, I don't need a slimy alien to give me powers," Cindy said sticking her tongue out.
"God, you're so childish." Andi lamented.
"Fine," Ben snapped stopping his work. "I'll be our leader if only to end your pointless bickering."
"Yay," Cindy said clapping her hands an action that caused Andi to roll her eyes and mutter something not so nice under her breath so April and Mayday would not hear.
"Okay, that's settled. What is our plan of attack, Ben?" Andi said after taking time to compose herself.
"I haven't decided, yet. Give me time." Ben said he knew he would need time lots of time which they likely did not have.
Ben wished Peter was there. Peter always knew what to do. But Peter was not here and goodness only knew where Peter was or if Peter would ever return. No, Ben refused to entertain that notion. Peter would return somehow, someday, Peter always had before no matter how dire things seemed this time would prove no different. Ben's job was to make sure Peter's return would not be a bitter one a job he promised himself to accomplish no matter what.
Apartment of Anna Maria Marconi, a short time later
Otto's reunion with his beloved Anna Maria did not go as smoothly as he expected, in fact, it was a disaster. Initially, Anna Maria did not recognize him in his new getup. She threatened to "bash his head in" with a rather large skillet (that looked comically large given her diminutive stature) if he did not "get the hell out of her apartment". The problems he hoped would evaporate once he unmasked only intensified.
"Elliot, is that really you?" Anna Maria asked her voice filled with confusion. The skillet shook in her hands.
"It is I, my love," Otto said.
"Why are you wearing this strange outfit?" Anna Maria said.
"I'm afraid I've been keeping things from you," Otto said.
"You have, Elliot, such as?" Anna Maria said her eyes narrowing while her grip on the skillet tightened.
"For one, my name isn't Elliot Tolliver. I am in reality Doctor Otto Octavius the former Doctor Octopus, former Superior Spider, and current Superior Octopus." Otto confessed.
"You mean you've lied to me. You've been lying to me since we met." Anna Maria said. She paused for a long moment. "I want you out. Go, I don't ever want to see you again."
"How can you say that. We love each other. I gave you my mother's ring." Otto said gesturing with one of his metallic tentacles at the diamond ring Anna Maria wore.
"Here, take it back." Anna Maria said. She took off the ring and threw it at his feet. "I would never have accepted it if I knew who you were."
"I implore you, Anna, be reasonable. We share a deep connection. We belong together. You are my intellectual equal." Otto insisted.
"Maybe, but you aren't my moral equal. You're a liar, a thief, and a murderer. I've read all about your crimes so don't bother denying them. Also, I saw your little broadcast yesterday Elliot, or should I call you Doc Ock instead?" Anna Maria fumed.
"Don't call me that. I'm not that person anymore, I'm better, I'm superior." Otto insisted growing annoyed at Anna's words.
"Keep telling yourself that buddy, get out!" Anna Maria said swinging the skillet at Otto.
Something inside Otto snapped. His vision clouded with red. Before he realized what he had done, Otto lashed out with one of his metallic tentacles. He slapped Anna Maria hard knocking her into the large old-style refrigerator that dominated her kitchen. She hit with a sickening crack.
"No, Anna Maria, what have I done!?" Otto cried in alarm.
Otto ran to Anna Maria's side. He cradled her small unconscious form in his human arms. He examined the deep bruises and swelling on her face and head. She was rapidly growing cold.
Otto knew he could not live without her. He must save her but how? His thoughts went immediately to the mind transfer technology he still possessed. No matter if Anna Maria's body was beyond repair he would find her a new vessel a better vessel. Where could he find a suitable vessel for her brilliant consciousness on such short notice preferably one without an established consciousness, a blank slate if you will? Otto would have snapped his organic fingers if they were free when the solution came to him in a blinding flash of his trademarked brilliance (instead he rubbed the prongs of one of his tentacles together): there was still a spider-powered clone of Gwen Stacy in storage! The spare Gwen Stacy clone would make a perfect host for Anna Maria as the proto-clone of Peter Parker had made the perfect host for him. Once Anna Maria's beautiful mind was safe in its new home they could put this nasty business behind them. They would be happy together he knew they would be.
"You'll be better than ever, you'll be superior in both body and mind just like me. We must hurry, my love or it'll be too late." Otto said leaving the apartment via the open window through which he entered his precious cargo held close.
Otto made sure to grab his mother's ring they would need it. He vowed to wed Anna Maria once she recovered from her present ordeal nothing would stand in his way, nothing! She was his. She would always be his.
A World Inside The Dimensional Rift
The SHIELD Helicarrier crashed into the battlefield in fiery fashion taking out a large number of enemy soldiers with it but also most of its doomed crew. But the hordes kept coming. So numerous were they that the heroes of Earth 621-B almost lost heart more than once. If not for a rousing speech from Captain America they may have broken rank during the latest grueling assault.
"If this is our final stand let history never forget our valiant names and what we stood for, onward!" Captain American finished with a shout.
Captain America charged headlong into the swarm of Spider Soldiers and vicious Man-Spiders. He batted many aside with his mighty shield. All around Cap other heroes inspired by his words and actions somehow found renewed strength to continue: She-Hulk and the Thing were there bulldozing through the enemy ranks, Jane Foster aka the newly minted Thor was using her mystic hammer to electrocute many enemies, Ironman alongside Ms. Marvel Carol Danvers led the aerial heroes in a series of bombarding strikes, meanwhile, Spider-Man and the ground-bound heroes cleared away large swaths of enemies at a frenetic pace.
The epic battle seesawed back and forth with neither side maintaining an advantage for more than a few minutes until the booming voice of Spider Reaper was heard seemingly emanating from the clouds. "My forces have wasted enough time with you insignificant fools. My prize, your world, has for the time being eluded me. Retreat my army, I repeat retreat." The swarm did as instructed. They moved back vanishing in a wash of multicolored energies. "Behold my power and despair. By way of a dimensional warp, I scatter you, troublesome interlopers, throughout space-time. May you never return to trouble me again." Spider Reaper declared.
The orange-red tinted cloud deck that had persisted since the battle began gave way to an enormous swirling void of dark purple energy. Everyone and everything on the planetoid's rocky, barren surface was drawn inside no matter how much it resisted the inexorable pull: rocks, dirt, people, everything flew through the air. Even powerhouses such as She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel were no match for this potent force they too succumbed in due course.
Before vanishing inside the void, Spider-Man's thought of his family and his homeworld. He wished he could have done more for both. He felt like an utter failure. Peter knew Uncle Ben would be ashamed of him this day.
'I failed, guys. I failed Earth. I failed everyone. I'm sorry. Please Ben honor your promise, keep them safe. I'm counting on you, brother.'
To Be Continued
Sorry for the extra-long wait between chapters. I hope to do better in the future.
Next – The adventure continues, stay tuned.
Author's Note -
This story takes place just after Jane became Thor and sometime before Carol took the mantel of Captain Marvel. In other words, we are a couple of years in the canon timeline before the younger generation of superheroes (Kamala, Riri, Nadia, exact) became active in 616. Most of these characters will eventually show up (Miles and Amadeus already have) as the story progresses, but that's for the future.