SPIDERMAN_POISON
It's night in Manhattan. Spiderman is in a dark alley using the side of a building to hold himself up. His costume is torn and dirty. Parts of his body and face are visible through the holes and he looks as though he is weakened from the events that preceded his arrival.
He looks up to see a helicopter shining a light nearby. Spiderman notices some clothes hanging from a line further into the alley. He crawls up the side of the building he was leaning on, takes a few items from the line, and then jumps behind a garbage bin to quickly change. He looks down at his boots and sprays a light coat of webbing over each of them before leaving the alley.
His spider-sense suddenly begins to tingle, and he throws himself backward as SHIELD agents and police run by him. One of the police officers approaches him with a curious look on his face. He studies Peter for a moment and says, "Hey kid what are you doing out here? We're clearing the streets. Go home."
Peter looks puzzled and asks, "What happened? What's going on?"
The officer looks around for a moment and stares off into the distance. "Look kid, it's not safe out here right now. Spiderman could be anywhere. Get off the street. Now!"
Peter walked away as quickly as he could and was alarmed at the number of police and agents on the street and in the sky hunting him. "What the heck is going on? Why can't I remember anything before I arrived in that alley?" He limped across the street and paused to check his leg. "Not bleeding, but my leg is killing me," he thought. Peter looked up at the street sign and sighed with relief. "I'm only three blocks from Bleeker Street," he thought.
Peter looked around cautiously as he approached the Sanctum Sanctorum. As he touches the door knocker, the door opens all by itself. Peter walked in slowly and tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness. He is surprised when he hears a voice behind him that does not trigger his spider-sense.
"Mr. Parker. Doctor Strange is away currently. I am Wong, his servant, and caretaker of the Sanctum. Can I be of assistance?" Wong asked.
Peter began to speak but grew dizzy rapidly and passed out. He awoke much later dazed and confused. He sat up and looked around. He quickly noticed a wash basin, bandages, and a cart filled with many different tinctures and jars at the foot of the bed he was on. Wong entered the room drying his hands and smiling. "Oh good, you're up," Wong said happily.
Peter was confused. "What happened? I can hardly remember coming here. How long was I out? Why am I only wearing my boxers and socks?" he asked. Wong placed the towel on the cart and walked over to the other side of the bed to check Peter's bandage. "Fourteen hours, I think. The dressing needs to stay on a full day to draw out all of the poison," he said.
"Poison," a shocked Peter said. "How was I poisoned?"
"Truth be told Mr. Parker, I was hoping you could tell me," Wong added.
"Truth be told Wong, I don't remember much about what happened to me. The question on my mind right now is how do you know who I am?"
Wong walked over to a stack of books on the floor and pulled out a small book. He handed it to Peter and said, "After Dr. Strange found out who Spiderman was, you became required reading. He added you to the spell of friends of the Sanctum, which is why the door recognized you when you touched it."
Peter throws himself back on the pillows. "Great explanation. If only explaining yesterday was as simple," a frustrated Peter exclaimed.
"I'm not certain if this will help with your memory, but it may explain why the authorities seek to capture you," Wong said pointing to the television.
Peter's face is filled with shock and horror as he reads the banner on the TV screen that states "Spiderman sought in the murder of Nick Fury."
A warehouse in Brooklyn
Hammerhead and two of his henchmen approach Dr. Henry Miles, who is looking at his computer monitor. "Doctor Miles. What do we know?" Hammerhead said as he looked at Dr. Miles's screen.
"Well, they've yet to find him if that's what you mean." Dr. Miles reported.
"How long before this special poison of yours does its thing Doc?" Hammerhead asked.
"Based on my research, it should not be too long before it does its thing, sir. We know nothing of how his body will metabolize the poison, so in truth, it may take a bit longer than anticipated," Dr. Miles said.
"When this is over; when the world knows he's gone for good, the Kingpin will have to step aside, and I'll be the new boss. Every boss around the world will know that Spiderman died because of me, and I did what no one else could do. My place in New York would be guaranteed. Since he's on the run, how do we find him after he kicks the bucket?" Hammerhead asked.
Dr. Miles paused before stating, "There is a nano GPS chip that was injected along with the poison. Unfortunately, due to the acidic nature of the poison, the chip could not be turned on while the poison remained active in his system. It will turn itself on when his blood stops flowing."
"So, you're saying that when our Spider's taken his last breath, the chip turns on and we can find him? Hmmm. So, I guess it's safe to say that as of right now, either the poison hasn't done its thing yet, or your chip ain't working. Did I get that right doc?" Hammerhead asked.
"You did," Dr. Miles replied.
"Look doc, I don't have to remind you of the amount of time, money, and effort I've personally put into our little project now, do I?" Hammerhead asked.
"I am fully aware Hammerhead. I've been here every step of the way for the last nine months. And…forgive me if I'm assuming, but I'm feeling somewhat threatened right now," Dr Miles added.
"Don't worry doc. When I make a threat, you'll be fully aware. If I seem a bit threatening, it's because patience is not in my nature. I want this thing done. Today!" Hammerhead said.
"Barring any unforeseen issues, we should have the results you're looking for today," Dr. Miles replied.
Hammerhead walked around the desk and stared Dr. Miles in the face. "Unforeseen circumstances, huh? There's another thing not in my nature doc…forgiveness."
The Sanctum Sanctorum
Peter screams "Nick Fury is dead, and they think I did it?!"
Wong flashes him a curious look. "You don't remember anything from yesterday. How do you know that you didn't kill him?"
Peter looked offended when he said, "Because I would never kill anybody. Not Nick Fury or anybody for that matter!"
Wong looks at the bandage around Peter's leg with a confused look. Peter noticed and asked, "What?"
"Those bandages are soaked in a special potion designed to remove all types of poisons from the body," Wong said, pointing at Peter's leg.
A confused Peter waits for Wong to finish, but runs out of patience and blurts out "And?"
A desperate Wong began to unwrap the bandage. "It's green. We have to move quickly," he said as he grabbed a jar off of the cart and hurried into the bathroom. As he turned on the tub's faucet, Peter got out of bed and limped into the bathroom behind him. Wong grabbed Peter and flipped him into the tub, then poured the contents of the jar into the tub. A surprised Peter watched as the water in the tub changed colors repeatedly. Wong Turned off the faucet and stepped back. He began chanting and the wound on Peter's leg suddenly began to glow. "What's happening?" Peter asked.
"This was a very serious poison. It's designed to attack your nervous system in different ways and your heart, brain, and liver. There is also some form of metal in there," Wong added.
"I'm tingling all over," Peter replied nervously.
"Yes. I'm sorry. This is somewhat extreme, but someone went to great lengths to make sure that this poison killed you. It has already taken your healing ability to its limit," Wong said.
"Will it kill me?" Peter asked as he began to shiver.
Wong lifted his hand and the water glowing around Peter's leg formed a small ball that flew into his hand. He opened the glowing ball and a strange purple mist quickly appeared and dissipated before his eyes, leaving behind a tiny metal capsule. He handed it to Peter and smiled. "No, mister Parker. Not today."
"What's this? It looks like it could be a GPS tracker," Peter said studying the device. "Wait a sec. It's getting warm. I think it just turned on," Peter added. "Should I destroy it?"
"So, it wasn't on the whole time you were here?" Wong asked.
Peter stood up and reached for a towel hanging from a hook attached to the tub. "Well, I'm still not sure how it got there, but if it was SHIELD, they wouldn't wait to activate it. Whoever did this designed it with a death trigger."
"Death trigger?" Wong asked.
"Kraven hit me with one a while ago. It's a GPS designed to turn on once my blood stops flowing. Just in case I managed to get far away from him, but died from whatever poison he injected me with. This sounds like him with a much stronger poison," Peter said.
"Hmm. And now that it doesn't sense any blood flow, it turns on," Wong suggested. So, you think Kraven poisoned you again?" He asked.
Peter wrapped the towel around his waist and went back to the bedroom. "Honestly, no. The Kraven I knew is gone, and….hmmm. It just occurred to me that this little GPS is going to bring those responsible for trying to kill me…right to me. I need to get ready. They could be here soon," Peter said holding up his damaged costume.
"Are you healed enough to fight if you must?" Wong asked.
Peter lifted his arms and stretched. "Well, thanks to you, I'm feeling better by the second. I'll fight if I have to." He began looking over his costume again and rolled his eyes. "But…given all the heat on me right now, and the condition of this costume, it's clear that I can't do it as Spiderman. I need to do something these guys wouldn't expect."
"I may have just the thing," Wong said as he began to make a large circle with his hand and a portal to the Kamar-Taj armory opened.
Peter's eyes lit up as he looked inside. He nodded and smiled and looked at Wong with delight. They both pointed to the same thing in the armory and said, "That one!"
Hammerhead's warehouse in Brooklyn
Dr. Miles was studying the blinking red dot on his computer screen when Hammerhead and two henchmen walked in.
"Good. Very good," Hammerhead said smiling. "Give the team his location and tell them it's time to pick him up. Hey, wait a minute. I know that place. I don't want to take any chances doc. Make sure the whole team goes. The order is simple. Kill anyone standing between me and Spiderman."
End Part One