The date with Mary Jane happened a couple of days ago now, it was actually really nice and wonderful. Following the advice worked out, not that surprising in hindsight. It all worked and being together seemed to be going well. It seemed as if this was everything Peter was hoping for and it was only still beginning. It was great and put him on a high making him feel better about his current mission ahead of him not being so worried about the bounty.
Spider-Man was swinging to meet another hero, or rather a part time one and part time private Investigator. Which happened to be Jessica Jones, whom he encountered twice before now. His two meets didn't exactly show off her nice personality, perhaps this time would be different. In this case, Ava did say his special skills were requested, he wasn't going to turn it down. So now he waited for her arrival on a rooftop.
I really hope she's going to be nicer today, I wonder if Luke Cage is coming with. I'd love another team up with two avengers. Be cool too if Ava joined, could have a full on team up. Then again, I do love being a friendly neighborhood hero and considering how hectic everything has been lately, maybe a small stakes case would be just what this spider needs.
She arrived flying onto the rooftop looking a little bit unhappy. "Look, this is some serious business we're getting into. I'm on the track of some dangerous people and I didn't want to drag Luke into this." Jessica expressed, saying a less friendly word at the end of that sentence that Peter toned out.
"What dangerous people? I'm always glad to help." Peter replied, crossing his arms.
"Heard of A.I.M before?" Jones asked, looking serious.
Peter knew very well about them, remembering how they ruined both of the Alien's lives with their horrible experiments, it made him furious thinking about it clenching his fists together. "Oh yeah, I know them really well. Hurting a friend of mine with an experiment turned them into a woman on fire, almost could've hurt a lot of people."
"Sounds like the A.I.M I know. They're been trying to engineer powered people, weapons of mass destruction and other scientific crap trying to play god. Problem is, they break off into different small groups. Harder to take em out when they're all over the planet. Lucky for you, the guys we're after worked on the molton project. I'd take a guess and say one of their vics was your friend?"
"Yeah, bingo on that. Got her brother involved first, they ruined an entire family and I never even got a chance to thank them." Spider-Man replied furious under the mask remembering those events. "So, could there be more people like them? Given the same set of powers?"
"There is a chance, they're up to something. It's serious. Which is why I need your help, things might get hairy." Jones remarked, showing a few pictures of the A.I.M base from the outside.
Peter looked at it. "So uh, no pictures of the inside huh?"
"Nope." Jessica responded with her arms crossed and rolled her eyes.
"How about the number of bad guys?" Spider-Man asked, hopeful.
Jessica shaked her head. "No numbers. We're walking into a trap and hearing about your, let's call heroic adventures, sounds like you're prone to winging it."
He nodded and laughed a little. "Yeah, I'm pretty prone to that. Sounds like we got ourselves a deal. So, is this an official PI case or an Avengers thing?"
"PI thing, not Avengers, I'm mostly part time anyhow. Though we've got another wrinkle you should hear about, there is a case of mind control tied to this. Which is what got me on this, had a run in with a piece of crap who I had to make sure wasn't being recreated." She looked away and then cleared her throat looking back at Spider-Man. "There are control chips on the back of the neck, somehow overwriting the brain to make them susceptible to being used. So I was told. Could be a major problem, so let's do something about it and kick their asses." Jessica Jones said.
"Sounds like enough of a plan for me." Replied Spider-Man.
They started stacking out the location, there were a couple of normal looking civilians entering, along with one leaving heading off in a hurry.
"Hmm, should we follow after that guy? Could lead us somewhere interesting or give us information, or worse yet, they could be being mind controlled!" Spider-Man exclaimed watching the man walk off.
She shrugged. "Probably you should check on it, just in case. Sounds like you're going to argue with me if I disagree with you. And you'll be outta my hair until we can wreck their shop."
"Good guess and right on the money. Be right back." He replied and started to chase after the guy keeping on his tail.
Alright guy, where are we going? I have to say, this wasn't exactly how I was planning on my day to go. Only two days ago I was on my date and now I'm helping to bring down A.I.M instead of hanging out with MJ. I should really call them as soon as this is wrapped up. Fingers crossed this will be okay and not bring me too much difficulty. He thought to himself, then spotted the man knocking on a door after following him walking for a few blocks now. He entered and Peter could briefly see a woman frown upon answering the door.
Times like this I wish I could bug the house, get some sound. Though that'd cost me money and money is not in my vicinity. At least I got my old reliable eyes. Peter creeped over to a window, with the woman starting to yell at the guy. This didn't sense to bother him in the slightest. There was a distressing quality to that, the guy not moving an inch besides his mouth. This didn't last, when the woman grabbed the phone the man aggressively smacked it away.
Enough of that. Peter remarked and opened a window jumping right though webbing the guy up. "Hey, you alright?"
"Spider-Man? No, this didn't actually help." The woman replied looking frustrated.
"Ah, great. Always nice to be appreciated. So why exactly wasn't my assistance needed to take down this guy?" Spider-Man asked bewildered and sarcastically annoyed.
The woman sighed looking at him. "This guy is blackmailing me, I have a younger brother and they're threatening to kill him."
Peter looked at the man and searched the neck. "Lookie here. A little chip and if I'm right." He pulled it off. "Take this off and one problem solved."
The man looked confused. "Where am I? What's going on?"
"You came here to blackmail this kind woman, I think someone might have been controlling you for sometime." Spidey looked over at the woman. "Did he ever visit you before and threaten you?"
She shook her head. "No. It was three other people, each time."
"Woah, woah man! I was being mind controlled. Crap. I have been missing time lately, I thought I was drinking too much!" The man exclaimed, still catching up.
Spider-Man nodded. "Yeah, do you remember a single thing about these black outs? Seen anything unusual?"
"There was a dream I had, some weirdo in hazmat suits grabbed me while I was sleeping, had a chip. Kinda felt like it was only a matter of time until I was probed!" The guy exclaimed, shaking his head. "Were aliens controlling me? I mean those exist right? Or those mutants!"
"No worse, people playing god! Mad scientists! Completely outta there mind! What could be worse? I would rather fight some aliens over these creeps. Okay, get out of here. Go to the nearest police station tell them everything that's happened to you, but leave the woman out of it. Got it?"
The man nodded and rushed out the door.
"Now then back to business. Who are you? Must have a pretty important position to be worth all the trouble." Peter said, turning back to her.
"Work for a big time corporation, I deal with their accounts. Not that you'd know it judging by where I live. The money I see everyday, it's freaky. Those guys wanted me to transfer as much as I could into their accounts. We're talking millions of dollars!" The woman explained.
Spider-Man understood. "At least it's not billions. Look, I'm going to bring them down and on the bright side, shutting down this operation will get them off you and if you don't give them a cent, they'll be running dry on making up evil schemes. It's a win-win for everyone. I know a good cop who isn't out to get me like the rest of the police right now, you know bounties are fun. I'll give you her number and the address I'm heading off to, think you can call?"
"Yeah." The woman nodded.
Spider-Man sighed in relief. "Great." He then left heading right back to keep to his word on bringing them down.
He returned continuing to find Jessica Jones on the stake out, looking like she was contemplating if she'd smoke.
"Oh my favorites, sticks of death!" Spider-Man remarked, landing on the roof. "See anything else interesting?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh and seriously? Come on don't you think that's a little overkill? A good smoke is relaxing, even more so when I'm bored out of my mind." Jones replied and put it away.
Spider-Man shook his head. "What's the point of saving people if smoking is going to kill them anyhow! Should really throw those into the sun. Can you breathe in space?"
"No." She rolled her eyes. "Find anything worth wild?"
"Maybe, they're blackmailing at least one person for tons of money. Those other normal looking people could be doing the same thing, could be an entire blackmailing conspiracy going on!" He replied and looked down. "I might've also broken the control chip, how likely do you think they'll notice?"
Jones looked at him. "Highly likely. Let's get in there before they burn the building down." She remarked and flew down.
"Alrighty then." Spider-Man said and followed after her.
She approached the doors.
"Oh wait! I got a good sense of danger, it could be a trap." Peter interrupted and stepped in front.
Jessica stepped right back. "You make a fair point. I'd be pissed if I got myself blown up at the end of the case. Go ahead kid."
"I'm a grown adult." He replied and reached for the door, using all his strength to open it up wide, it was a strong door. "This isn't easy." Peter said while grunting, but nonetheless opened it up. "Tada! No danger yet. Good sign hopefully."
"Could've all escaped from secret tunnels with how long you were screwing around, these smartasses are slippery." Jessica said following him inside, finding nothing at first, but noticing a false wall. "Mine turn." She punched right through it, throwing it away finding a more high tech looking hallway.
"Ladies first or spider sense first?"
She gave a little chuckle, or scoff, it was hard to tell. "Yeah, I'd rather not die like I said, go on first."
Spider-Man looked back at her. "Makes me feel extremely appreciated." Regardless he moved onwards going for the hallway to find a couple of hazmat looking guys, who started to run away, but he webbed onto them pulled them right back in for an uppercut to the face. "We're in the right place." He webbed them to the ground as Jessica Jones peaked forward, finding herself surprised.
"This place is a little bigger than expected." She remarked and moved aside.
Spider-Man came over confirming this. The place led down into an underground office type of place, it was huge. There were a few more civilians around looking unsure of what was going on.
At the end of the room there was a large man wearing a helmet looking down at all the people surrendered by more of the guys in hazmat suits, A.I.M. "Looks like we have guests, I suppose this was only a matter of time."
"Make it easy for yourself, come down here and avoid an as-" Jessica was cut off by some of the A.I.M guys pointing some high powered rifles. It didn't look as if they'd be firing bullets.
"I don't think they appreciated that." He whispered.
Jones rolled her eyes again and sighed. "Going to make it hard huh?"
The man stepped forward. "This is a major operation. It's fascinating you of all people would come here to stop me Jessica Jones. The Controller! You have a vendetta against those who control minds."
"Can't blame me for holding a bit of a grudge against dickheads like you." Jessica replied decisively scanning the room.
Oh great. I wasn't given all the information. Spider-Man was disappointed and also looked around the room trying to figure out how best to fight back.
"Some people aren't deserving of having control over themselves. They're weak and have some stronger harnesses, their abilities, their talent, their positions in life. That's true strength. True power. I have controlled a lot of people and I have access to a lot of information. All of A.I.M and our partners have moles hiding in plain sight. People who don't even know they're giving us secrets and money." The Controller explained clearly very proud of what he's accomplished, having a massive ego.
"Wow, you are really proud of controlling people huh? Can't manage to do a single thing with your own two hands? Reminds me of someone." Jessica mocked him.
This made the villain various, making him come a little closer, getting distracted enough for Spider-Man to creep a little away, getting ready to move into attack, going to start off shooting webs at those foes.
"The man who hurt you was weak, a pathetic little crepe who had powers like a god and barely used it. Only used it for petty self reasons. I have grander ambitions, my friends and I are going to seize control of a lot of people. You two won't leave here without being under my control and with that, I've got two more valuable pieces on the chess board." The Controller said confidently, looking over at his men to attack.
Spider-Man moved first, dropping a web net onto them and keeping on spraying out webbing tangling them all up. The civilians were another story and more people were coming from two other side doorways. Crap.
"Thought it'd be that easy! I have many under my imminent control!" He exclaimed at the top of his lungs.
"Hmm, imminent you say? Would be worth a shot, knocking you out!" Spider-Man replied and leaped at him, unfortunately it wouldn't be so easy with A.I.M's people breaking free and pulling out some shock batons starting to hit him making a defensive shield to protect their boss.
Spider-Man jumped back to Jones. "We might be in a little trouble. Let's try not to hurt the people being mind controlled!"
"I'll try." She replied with a shrug getting jumped at and starting to toss them off across the room, sorta gently.
While she did that, Spidey used his webs trying to web up the civilians just to keep them from being a problem, though his web supply was getting short. He decided to attack The Controller head on again, this time he'd have to leap over his guards and land on him from above.
Spider-Man took a deep breath and leaped into the air webbing onto the ceiling putting himself in position to shoot like a cannonball right down on The Controller's head.
"He's up there! Shoot him!" The villain cried out as the A.I.M soldiers opened fire as Spidey came crashing down landing on his target knocking him out. This stopped the civilians at least making them all look around confused, but not A.I.M. Now being surrounded they all started to shock him and tried to put a chip on him.
"Oh heck no! I've almost been controlled one time too many thanks!" Spider-Man shouted out and used all his strength to push them all back. A couple landed in front of Jessica Jones who smashed their heads together.
He jumped up and kicked another one right back, then noticed all the people were still standing around without moving or really reacting. Spidey grabbed onto one of the A.I.M people deciding on creaking their hazmat suit open. "Hey there! Talk now! Or I'm going to get really angry. What's wrong with these people?"
"They're fine, once you inevitably destroy the chips, it'll be over. Lying wouldn't matter now you'll figure it out anyhow. Your brain isn't that small. The lack of any ambition you possess is pathetic. We created a powerful device and it won't end with us." They exclaimed cocky.
Spidey rolled his eyes. "You smarties are very overconfident aren'-" He was interrupted by The Controller getting back up, revealing his limited use of mind control.
"Spider-Man, kill the woman." The Controller said, staring at him intently, having a clear challenging time keeping control.
"No!" Peter shouted and tried to fight back, but was finding it hard to move wanting to attack Jessica Jones. "I refuse to be controlled again. This isn't happening." He said determined to try to fight back and hold himself still.
Jessica Jones came over looking unafraid.
"Stop where you are now! Kill Spider-Man!" The Controller shouted at her as she stepped beside him.
"Not happening. Never again." She replied lunging over to the villain hitting him so hard he partially flew across the room smashing through the window of his office.
With that, Spider-Man got control back after starting to sweat and had to pull up his mask a little to catch his breath. "That was intense. How did you resist his control?"
"I have experience." She looked over at Spidey. "You held up well against him, all things considered. Faced mind control before?"
He shrugged. "Does an alien parasite trying to take over my body count?"
Jones looked bewildered. "An alien? You're kidding." She walked over to another of the A.I.M guys and knocked them out as they tried crawling away.
"Wish I was. That black suit wasn't cosmetic." He replied, webbing up the rest of the A.I.M personnel, just getting to the last of his webbing having to switch out. "The police might arrive soon. You know, I wouldn't want to keep secrets."
She scoffed. "Yeah, maybe wasn't the best call keeping you in the dark about who we came here to take down. Mind control is a personal hatred. Don't expect an apology. I really needed the backup taking these guys down and confirming my suspensions about their conspiracy. He wasn't lying, that loser is the tip of a very large iceberg."
"Oh great. How big are we talking? Titanic destroying big?" Spider-Man asked with a disappointed sigh.
"Don't worry, your part in this is over. This grown up territory now." She replied pulling out her phone calling up Luke Cage.
Spider-Man rolled his eyes. "I am a grown up. Man is in the title." He then proceeded to take off the chips of all the civilians, getting them to gather around. "Hey, so this is probably pretty weird, but don't fear. It's over now. The police will arrive soon and everything will be explained. It's over."
The people all looked confused and were talking amongst themselves as Spider-Man headed outside, finding Officer Dewolff along with a couple others waiting outside. "Good thing I held off on calling the calvary yet. I trust these people. We think it's not right what's going on. The bounty." She explained.
"Appreciate it, call them now. Do I have a story for you." Spider-Man replied, crossing his arms taking a look back.
Sometime passed along after talking to her, getting Dewolff up to speed, heading into an alleyway as more police arrived to handle the situation.
"That was a lot. A conspiracy for mind control by a secret group of terrorist scientists working in multiple groups?" She was surprised by all that.
"I'm not kidding around. Got a feeling we both won't learn more than that, would I happen to be correct about that?" Spider-Man replied, jumping onto the wall wanting to move a little.
She looked over at the cops. "Yeah. I bet more feds will be involved and none of us will be hearing about it. From my understanding, you have enough problems as it is."
Spidey gave a little laugh. "Ah true, true. I'm not a super spy, I already have my hands full being loved by New York."
"Well, I can let you know legally speaking it's being fought against. Having a bounty to get someone dead or alive isn't exactly legal." She expressed and looked back. "Should get back to the party. No offense. I respect you more after everything, you are a hero."
"Thanks, I very much appreciate it, Dewolff and your help." He crawled up the wall peeking down at the street below.
Jessica Jones showed up behind him. "Had the right idea running off. Answering their questions is nauseating."
"And getting shot at."
She looked into the air. "Looks like the sun is going down. Going to be past your bedtime kid?"
Spider-Man looked away. "Nope." He decided on swinging off leaving behind and felt a little annoyed. Not the most cheerful lady. I know someone I like a heck of a lot more. Peter called up Mary Jane, finding it a little funny calling happened at the sametime as the leaving for their date. "Is there a pretty lady on the other end of this call?"
"Perhaps there is, sounds to me I have a sweet talker on the line." She replied, sounding like she was smiling.
"Yes, it's hard not being a sweet talker when talking with the finest woman in the entire world! You're a delight to hear, wait until you hear about my day! Though, let's hear about yours first!"
She laughed a little. "Been alright, actually I went out with Ava."
"Oh boyo." Peter remarked with sarcasm. "I'm kidding, that's great you two are hanging out kinda surprised you two ended up being friends."
"We are getting along pretty well together. She's nice, doesn't actually have a lot of friends or people to talk with. She's seen some serious crap being in The Avengers even not being in all their missions. Ava's pretty cool, pretty fun. Has a great taste in food, we gotta eat out together sometime." Mary Jane said, sounding pretty happy about her day. "We might go out to a club tomorrow, I wanted to take her out, maybe be her wingwoman."
"Better not try replacing me already!" Peter joked.
"Yeah, not a chance, I already got the best catch." She replied back.
Peter smiled listening and kept on swinging.
Elsewhere, trouble was continuing to brew, nothing could ever be so simple when it came to capturing a super villain. The Controller was looking confident sitting in the back of his transport vehicle having a helmet over his head stopping him from being able to use his dastardly powers.
"This guy a mutant?" One of the officers wondered.
"Who cares. Going to be The Raft's problem." The other responded.
The Controller laughed. "I'm not going anywhere near prison. No, no. I'm going to be getting out of here. My people will arrive in a minute and your lives won't last too long, not long at all. They're smart. A good bunch of allies. Our attack will be swift. There will be no escape."
"Yeah right!" One of them laughed, then heard an explosion and the truck stopped. "Oh, crap get ready! We don't-"
They didn't last long getting blasted through the truck, A.I.M's weapons were strong enough to get through it like cardboard. Simply enough they busted the doors to the back wide open.
"Get me outta here! And take this stupid helmet off!" Controller shouted, then too heard a shout from one of his own people.
A.I.M was opening fire on an unknown threat. "Kill it! Kill it! Oh my god!" One of them was screaming at the top of their lungs. "What is that thing!"
"Wha-What's going on!" The Controller tried asking, getting no response as everything became settled down and silent, unsettlingly so. "Who's out there?"
"The boogeyman. A demon from the depths of hell itself. What do you think?" A horrifying unnatural voice asked.
The Controller was shaking in fear. "What are you?"
"One who has questions! Weeks before we got approached by a man in black working with the police, he took our family away wanting information on Spider-Man. See, I'd like to find this man. And it turns out he was an asset belonging to you people or a partner of yours! Ringing any bells? Talk!" The voice demanded.
He was confused trying to shake his head. "We have many operations and assets out there, your description isn't helpful, there are many implanted in law enforcement! Working for us and many other groups! I don't have the information you need!" Controller felt the monster's touch and tongue.
"You're no help to me, but there is other information you know about. Congratulations, for now you get to live!" The voice said, giving him a pat on the head and pulled off the visor on the helmet.
"Dear god! What are you?"
The creature laughed. "The city's new protector. A lethal protector!" It exclaimed leaping out of the vehicle webbing the man down, leaving him with the horrible sight of all his men all dead with black webbing left behind with some of the men left to hand from light posts, completely lifeless. It was gone once more police arrived.
Thank you all for reading, this chapter ended up being longer than I thought it would be, funny how that turned out. Anyways, obviously next chapter will be dealing with that new lethal protector on the loose continuing to cause chaos and they've got some scores to settle. It's exciting being there at the point of writing you know who and I look forward to what's coming up.
I liked having Spider-Man team up again with Jessica Jones, though part of me wasn't sure if I should've done more with the team up. Didn't want it to go on any longer and delay the coming storyline. I don't want to drag out the series and want to start wrapping up stories as there are quite a lot of plots going on. Whatever, all that matters is hope you are all enjoying where everything is heading.