5 Hours Earlier…
Emma unlocked the door to her apartment. After leaving her shift at FEAST, she went and made a milk run on her way home. She laid the groceries on the table and then took a seat in the recliner. She took a breath running her hands along her face. The stress of everything was taking a toll on her badly. It seems like her kids are getting sicker and Noah is growing more distant, but Emma knows she has to push through this. Emma and Noah have been through so much she knows they can make it through this.
"Anna, Josh, just a little longer. We'll have you back, I can feel it." Emma breathed out her words.
After getting settled in her seat, she received a phone call from Angie, "Hey Angie, everything okay?"
"I'm fine, I was just listening to a few of the new visitors, one was ranting about how stressed out he was about providing for his kids. Kept saying, and I quote, 'After all the shit I've been through, serving our country they just throw me out like trash, not even my wife can handle it.' He was very stressed out. Made me think about you guys." Angie explained to her over the phone.
"Yeah. One thing I picked up after working at FEAST from all the single fathers that come and go, is that fathers take all the shit and get no praise." Emma gave Angie a pearl of wisdom.
"Is that the same with your father?" Angie asked.
"Hell no, he'd have wine and put his feet up on all his problems." Emma scolded.
"Well, I hardly knew my dad anyway, but at least I had you and Noah. Wait do you praise Noah?" Angie asked. A slight backfire on Emma's side.
"Young lady, don't you think like that. I love him, and I'll give him all the praise he needs."
"Good one, okay, I'm heading out. I have a few canvases to spray on the upper east side of town." Angie said her goodbyes.
"Okay, Angie, love you." Emma smiled.
"Love you too." Angie hung up the phone.
Deep in her thoughts, her daydreaming was interrupted by a doorbell ring. Making her way to check the peephole, no one was there. When she opened the door she found a box at her doorstep.
"What's this?" Emma looked down both hallways to see who left this but both sides of the hall were quiet as day. Going back inside, Emma placed the box on the table and then opened it up to find three small vials of black liquid and a note.
Emma grabbed one of the vials and looked it over, there was a small label on it that said, "Arachnid venom?" Emma read out loud.
Emma grabbed the note and read it silently.
"Your husband is not who he says he is. If you want to learn, the truth go up to the roof of your apartment and look inside the vent."
Reaching the apartment complex roof, Emma looked over the roof for the vent the letter mentioned.
"What am I doing? What would some person know about my husband that I don't."
As soon as she opened the bag her eyes widened in pure horror. Inside was the Arachnid's old suit along with several stacks of money and many weapons. The worst of all in the bag was a photo of her and her husband. Flipping over the photo, she found a note written on the back, "My light that guides me through the darkness."
This didn't seem real, it had to be some kinda lie, it had to be. Noah Monroe, her husband, one of the people who made her who she is today is the Arachnid?
"No." Emma dropped to her knees. Then the words crossed her mind when she saw Arachnid, "I made a promise to someone, and I will go to Hell and back to make sure I keep that promise."
"My god." Emma was on the verge of tears, "Who did I marry?"
She slowly made her way back to her apartment with her husband's bag and the vial still standing on the table.
Walking up to the wretched vial, the memories she had with her husband all of them feel tarnished by just one anonymous message. She glared hard to the point she was crying, and in her sudden fit of rage, she just slammed the vial on the table, causing the contents to expose her hand.
"What the?" Emma felt the black liquid seeping into her cuts from the glass shards of the Vial. She rushed to her phone to call 911, but she took a moment, and changed her mind and sent a message to Noah.
Now
Noah arrived at his Apartment, "Hey Emma, I'm home." Noah walked in to find glass bottles scattered and their portrait frames shattered in pieces.
Emma was seen laying on the wall in fetal position. Her knees covered her face, with another wine bottle in her grip.
"Umm… Emma what's wrong? What happened here?" Noah tried to soothe her shoulder, but she reacted angrily the second he touched her, "Don't you fucking touch me!" Emma shouted swatting Noah's hand off of her.
"Emma? What happened?" Noah asked while keeping his distance.
Emma looked up at Noah and then furiously threw her wine bottle at Noah which he caught with ease.
"OK Emma you're making me nervous what's going on?" Noah asked.
"What's going on? Hmm… let me see our kids are sick, dangerous masked criminals are all over the city, and to top it all off I've just learned that my "Loving" Husband is helping these criminals as the infamous Supervillian the Arachnid!" Emma spat.
"What?" Noah was shocked, but his facade was instantly waning. "What are you talking about how can I be the Arachnid I'm-"
"I can't believe this! You're still lying to me!" Emma yelled. Emma walked to the kitchen table then back to Noah, and dropped the bag in front of him, much to his disbelief. Seeing that he couldn't deny the evidence, he just dropped the act and sighed. "How did you find that?"
"It doesn't matter… I still can't believe this, you're a fucking murderer." Emma slammed a rugged right cross in Noah's face. Regretfully, Noah dodged it perfectly, sending Emma to the floor. She landed head-first into the shattered picture frames. Taking a glimpse at the fun photos of him, her, and some with their newborn twins. The memories rushed into her mind with the revelation of who the man she loved was after all these years. Everything culminated into years tarnished by one secret.
Noah walked over to help her up but she just smacked his hands away. Noticing her palm, she has some black residue on her palms, "Emma what's on your hand?"
"Doesn't matter." Emma walked up, and stood as firm as she could, "How did all of this start? How long have you been at this?" Emma demanded to know, pulling up a chair. "Sit down. I wanna know everything."
Noah hesitated to explain this, this is something he never wanted to explain to Emma…ever. Though regardless of his fears, he took the seat. "Tell me everything."
Noah sighed and then began to reveal his life as Arachnid. "It all began eight years ago. I got my powers when I was fifteen. When I realized what I could do, I was excited. I never intended to become a criminal but… I found it enticing. Realizing with these powers, I could do whatever I wanted. It felt good."
"When I last saw Arachnid, that was you, you killed those three creeps in front of me." Emma realized, "You said you made a promise to someone."
"That promise was for you, and…" Noah came forward.
"Don't, don't say their names." Emma put her foot down on the kids.
"Okay." Noah was obeying her demands, he was on very thin ice.
"I want the truth. Why didn't you tell me?" Emma asked, needing to know the truth.
"Because how could I have told you this? How could I ever tell you that I'm a wanted criminal? I didn't want you to worry. And I never wanted you to see me at my worst. Every time I put on the mask, it feels like I'm somebody else. I don't feel constrained to be who I really am deep inside." Noah explained from the deepest parts of his soul.
"Who are you when you put on that suit?" Emma asked.
"A monster. The truth is… I love putting on that suit, I love fighting, I love getting paid to kill, I love the thrill, and I love knowing that end of the day, nobody can stop me, not the cops, not the other rogues, and most certainly not Spider-Man." Noah was speaking the truth, Emma could tell in his voice. "I love the power."
"So why did you put the suit back on now?" Emma asked.
"I didn't want to. A few months ago, I completed my last few jobs and swore that would be the end of Arachnid. I would spend the rest of my life with you and our kids. But… I guess I always knew that no matter what that wouldn't happen the suit is a part of me. That isn't the reason I put it on again, though."
"Then what was?"
"I needed to find a way to save our kids, and finding a solution would be easier with the suit. I'm not gonna let our kids die, Emma. It's my fault they're like this, to begin with." Noah admitted.
"What?" Emma asked, "What is happening to them? Don't bullshit me. What is happening to my kids?" Emma asked as the alpha mom.
"...It's complicated," Noah admitted.
"I said don't bullshit me. Tell me, now!" Emma demanded growing furious.
"OK, do you remember when I told you that when I was a kid I beat cancer?" Noah asked.
"I do." Emma responded so he could resume his explanation.
"I didn't beat cancer, I was cured. My parents were working on a serum from a rare Arachnid spider, the serum was designed to make humans several times more resistant to disease and would promote faster healing, but they could never complete it. The serum was too damn complicated to perfect, not even the greatest minds of OsCorp could complete it. Then… I got sick, there was no saving me so my parents made a choice. They administered the only vial of their Arachnid serum into my bloodstream curing me but the side effects came later which were my superpowers."
"What does this have to do with my babies?!" Emma demanded to know.
Noah let out a long sigh then said, "The same serum in my body is now in theirs too but it's killing them, my body has adapted to the serum but theirs are reacting to it differently. They don't have much time, I can't say how much exactly but their time is running out, and I won't let that happen. I won't let them die, and I'll do whatever it takes to save them even if that means I have to spill blood. And to be honest I wouldn't have any other way."
Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing, this was not the man she knows and loves, "Okay, this is a lot to take in, but– I don't want our children's lives to be paid for in blood! Get out!" Emma growled under her breath.
"What?" Noah asked faintly.
"I SAID GET OUT!" Emma pointed as she yelled.
"Stay away from me, and don't even think of going near the kids. Just. Go. Away." Emma was furious beyond comprehension.
Noah just remained quiet and just walked but stopped at the door. Just then something lurking deep in Noah's psyche revealed itself he faced Emma his eyes turning a menacing green color. "I will save them Emma… even if I have to burn this entire city down to do it." Noah left the apartment with Emma slamming the door behind him.
MJ's apartment
Mary Jane was on her laptop going through notes regarding Arachnid and Noah Monroe's medical files, "Noah, how did this happen?"
"Oh hey listen I almost forgot, when me and… Noah were fighting Martin, I got this sense from him, like he was sending me a message through my mind." Peter texted to MJ.
"Oh well that's a new one." MJ replied, "Think you have the same trick?"
"Well I'm sure I'll find out soon, cya partner." Peter ended the text chat.
After digging through countless files and documents, she was given several hard knocks on the door. The sudden boom made her jump out of her seat.
She took a peek through her peephole and opened the door to find Noah looking very pissed off, "Did you tell Emma?"
"What, no. Noah, I swear I didn't tell anyone." MJ begged.
Noah stooped silently then, grabbed her by the collar and then threw her across the room. MJ crashed onto her couch letting out a brief scream of pain. She attempted to get up but Arachnid quickly grabbed her then picked her up off the ground. Noah then unleashed his spider legs aiming the top two and MJ's face.
"Don't lie to me!" Noah demanded coldly.
"Noah I've known you for a long time: You, Emma, Pete, and Harry are like family to me, and I swear for the sake of the years I've known you, I would never rat you out," MJ said, spoke from her heart.
"What about Spider-Man?" Noah asked aiming the tips closer to her face close enough to touch her.
"Especially not Spider-Man." MJ quickly responded to keep her from stuttering.
After hearing her words, he pulled back his arms and broke down in front of her, "What have I done." he broke down in tears and then jumped out the window.
MJ ran over to the window to find him swinging away, she quickly closed the window and pulled down the shades, and texted to Peter, "Pete, Emma knows Noah's other self. Find him ASAP."
Noah in his Arachnid suit drowned himself in whiskey while punching holes through the bricks with his superhuman strength. Noah used every bit of his strength leaving large holes in the walls in front of him.
"FUCK! GODDAMNIT! FUCK!" Noah yelled out, then ripped out an AC unit from the roof and slammed it into the brick wall in a fit of rage, shattering it into millions of pieces.
After more raging Noah just sat down burying his face in his hands.
Atop of the Empire State building with a new bottle of whiskey, Noah drowned his woes in solitude, "I warned you." the voice called him, "How I have hoped for this day, everyone you know, and love is gone. You are alone like the coward you've always been. You are nothing, and now It's time to show the city what the Arachnid is truly meant to be. Stop fighting it you know you're tired of it, just embrace it and you'll become the monster you held inside. It's time Noah, BRING FORTH THE ARACHNID INSIDE YOU!"
"SHUT UP! I'm not a monster." Noah yelled out trying to fight the voices inside but he was failing.
"Oh but you are, stop fighting, let go. There's nothing left to fight for."
"FUCK YOU!" Noah choked keeping the emotions from spiraling in his head.
"If you won't embrace it, then lemme embrace it for you!" The voice called like a cold, piercing arrow straight through his mind.
Noah tried to fight the evil trying to take control but it's too powerful, it's taking over and there's nothing he could do to stop it. The venom inside surged through his body, all the horrible memories coursed through his mind. As if the venom merged with his dark thoughts. At this moment Arachnid succumbed to the darkness inside, his eyes turned green, and he put his mask back over his face. Noah Monroe is dead, and all that's left is the venomous Arachnid.
Arachnid took in a huge whiff of air from his nostrils. "Ah, this feels good, embracing the venom. Go ahead and drown in your mire, Noah." Arachnid spoke out loud as if he's no longer himself.
Just then Arachnid heard something behind him and saw Otto behind him with his new mechanical arms. "Arachnid, truly an honor to meet you." Otto praised.
"Ah, I see I have a fan." Arachnid grinned and opened his own arms ready to kill in case this turns bloody or exciting.
"What beautiful work you've done in this city, what say we take our talents to the next level." Otto smiled, "I have a plan for this city Arachnid and I need your help in making them come to pass."
Arachnid pondered the thought for a moment then said. "OK, what do you need me to do?"
"Norman Osborn… An absolute stain on this city." Otto growled in his words.
"Bastard's just a piece of shit covered over lot's of glitter." Arachnid sneered.
"I couldn't say it better myself, young man. So what do you say?"
"Say no more, let's burn this city to the ground." Arachnid crossed his arms then asked. "So how are we doing that? It's gonna take more than the two of us to do that?
"Correct, we'll need more power, but we have this." Otto's mechanical arm held up the Devil's Breath vial, "Tonight. I want you to break into Rykers and the RAFT and release every inmate out. Make it as chaotic as you can."
"Sounds like a blast." Arachnid smiled under his cowl, "But I have a few conditions."
"Oh?" Otto was curious.
"Herman Schultz, I'm breaking him out myself along with a couple of others that you don't need to know about." Arachnid explained.
"Very well." Otto agreed.
"Cya tonight." Arachnid saluted and dropped down in a dive.
Hours earlier…
Making his way to FEAST, Spider-Man received a text from MJ, "Pete, Emma knows Noah's other self. Find him ASAP."
The text almost made Pete slip in his swinging, "What?" Spider-Man said out loud. Switching to his HUD, he gave MJ a call, "MJ what just happened?"
"Pete, Emma found out about Noah. He came to my apartment." MJ explained.
"Did he hurt you?" Peter asked.
"No, I'm worried he's going to do something dangerous. He came to ask if I told her, but I would never do this not even to him." MJ was honest.
"Did he ask anything about me? Or as Spider-Man." Spider-Man asked.
"Don't worry, I didn't tell him. He didn't even mention you."
"Okay." Peter replied.
"Well I'm gonna check and see if he's at FEAST. Keep me updated, alright MJ?" Spider-Man said, landed on the rooftop of FEAST.
"My God, Noah." Peter sighed in sorrow, "I should've known."
FEAST
Back in his everyday clothing Peter landed in front of the FEAST entrance and walked into the shelter. The first person she saw was Angie, "Hey Angie, have you seen Noah?" Peter asked.
"No, I haven't seen him since you two left." Angie said with no hope to bring, "Hey did you see the news? About Martin."
"Yeah, and so did Miles." Angie answered with a slight sadness in her eyes.
"Hey Angie, I managed to rewire the computers by thirty percent." Miles said as he walked over to see the two.
"Hey Miles, you seem to be doing well here at FEAST." Peter smiled.
"Yeah…" Miles was a little down, must be from the news about Martin.
"Hey Miles look about Martin. If you don't want to work here anymore, May and I would understand." Peter assured him.
"Same with me." Angie assured him, though she does share a piece of the guilt for convincing him to come.
"I did want to quit when I heard. Then again, my dad once told me, "A hero is just a guy who doesn't give up." Miles answered. The mood was actually uplifting.
"That's true, assuming he's doing the right thing. We got you this job, I'd hate for you to keep doing it if you think it's wrong." Peter answered.
"Well the people here, nothing Martin Li did is their fault. They need help, and I'm helping them. I think dad would want me to stay. I think he'd be proud. That and Angie's a pretty good friend, she told me how this shelter changed her whole outlook on life." Miles gave a pretty outgoing reason to stay.
That last part from Miles gave a slight pink hue on Angie's cheeks.
"Oh Miles, there you are, I have a list for you can you get these supplies for us?" May asked him.
"Oh sure." Miles agreed.
"I'll give you a hand." Angie offered as she walked over to him.
With the two kids out in the city, Peter met with May in the kitchen, "You okay?" Peter asked.
"I'm getting by." May replied.
"I don't know how I feel about you running this place by yourself." Peter was concerned for his aunt.
"These people need help. If I lose a few hours of sleep, so be it. Besides we still have Emma." May stood firm in her words.
"Have you heard from Mr. Li since?" Peter asked.
"No, But the Martin I know couldn't have done that. Whatever's become of him, that's not the one I want to remember." May explained, "So, how're things with MJ?"
"We dodged a bad bullet, you could say, but… That's not what worries me." Peter was worried about something else, or rather someone else.
"What do you mean?" May asked.
"Have you heard from Emma or Noah?" Peter asked.
"No, why?" May asked.
"Just curious, can I ask you something… Somethings happened, well… rather critical between Noah and me."
"Of course, Peter." May put the box on the table.
Peter sat on the nearest chair as he began to explain, "I learned something about Noah that… I don't know how to explain it, but when Emma found out, it didn't seem to sit well with her." Peter explained as vague as she could, "Let's just say, I'm scared he and I are about to turn into what you think about Li, right now."
"Peter, don't go down that road. Remember those words that Ben taught you?" May asked.
"With great power comes great responsibility," Peter repeated.
"Now as true as Ben was in those words, in my opinion, though. There's no power in this world that can break your bond with Noah. Sure maybe it can be tested, beaten down to the point where you may fight, but your bond with Noah can never be broken." May gave her words of wisdom to her nephew.
"That actually helps. A lot more than I realized." Peter stood from her seat, slightly brighter in his outlook.
"But I'll tell you this, the only thing that can break your bond is if you let it break. Is that what you want?" May asked.
"No, I've known him for so long I can't leave him behind," Peter replied.
"Well, there you go." May smiled.
"Hey turn it up I wanna hear this!" A homeless person said.
Both Peter and May turned to look at the TV showing an unexpected News report, showing he truck the Devil's Breath was hauled away in.
"A spokesperson for the police has confirmed that this was the truck carrying the device used in the Grand Central Terminal attack-" The news reporter explained.
"Oh it never ends." May turned around to talk to Peter again, but he was already gone, "Peter?"
Peter back in his Spider-Man suit swung through the city in a breakneck speed, "Captain Watanabe. Leave a message." Spider-Man received only her voice mail.
"Yuri, where are you? Call me when you get this." Spider-Man left her a voicemail, "I just hope the Devil's Breath is still there, and still secure. If the Demons get to that truck, this just went from bad to catastrophic."
Making his way to the crime scene, he received a call from Arachnid, "Hey little bug,"
"Arachnid, what's going on?"
"Tonights gonna be fun. Better get the big boy pants on." Arachnid said in a rather devious tone, and hung up the call.
"What? What is going on?" Spider-Man said as he made it to the crime scene.
The truck looked like it has been ravaged, the doors were ripped open, guards were dead, and the case has been pierced open with no sign of the Devil's Breath vial.
"What is happening!" Spiderman thought to himself as he swung out straight for Rykers, "Oh great, another episode from Jonah." Spider-Man was not in the mood.
"Now, reports are coming in that Martin li, along with exhibiting freakish abilities like those of two certain 'you know who's' has lately seemed to display almost a split personality. This is hogwash and a clear attempt to evade justice for his crimes. Only a fool would believe that he's Mister Positive one moment, helping the poor with a smile, then suddenly he's Mister Negative, blowing up-wait a minute! 'Mister Negative!' That's gold, Jared, gold! Trademark it, stat! As I was saying, folks, Martin Li's evil side, or as everyone is now calling him, 'Mister Negative' has been revealed as the culprit for the City Hall bombing."
"Evil side, huh?" Spiderman said out loud. Then, memories of Noah and Arachnid together, to see Noah having two different sides is just scary, and how good he was at masking it.
Rykers
Rykers, home to every thief, murderer, gang banger, drug dealers, etc. A lot of the criminals here were put away by Spider-Man. Hundreds if not over a thousand criminals were locked away in this island prison. The Ryker's security guards were casually enjoying the night, like any other in this prison, quiet and full of bad decision-makers. But this quiet night is about to turn chaotic and bloody.
The Arachnid emerged from the water, jumping out like a viscous creature
"Well well well, is the Arachnid turning himself in?" The prison guard asked as the Arachnid was surrounded by guards.
"Sure am, I surrender." Arachnid replied sarcastically holding his hands up.
All of the guards kept their guns trained on Arachnid then one of the guards pulled out his cuffs then tried to slap them on Arachnid's arms, but the moment he came too close, Arachnid pulled out all of his spider legs and stabbed the guard straight through his head. Then the other he stabbed directly into the chest breaking him into two pieces.
He threw what was left of the guard over to the rest.
The other opened fire on them but Arachnid jumped up landing right behind one guard snapping his neck then grabbing his gun killing several others with headshots. After the gun went empty Arachnid quickily killed the rest with skill and swiftness.
"Rykers, is under attack by the Arachnid, we need backup at the-"
Arachnid swiped the radio from the guards hand then crushed it with his hand then killed the guard with his spider leg.
"No, no please, I have a family…"
Arachnid responded to his words with kicking the guy to the ground then delivered a hard stomp smashing the guards face into chunks of red pieces, and grey matter, "Heh, guards these days, real no-brainers." Arachnid was about to swing up to Rykers control until more guards showed up.
There had to be dozens coming in, "Wow, they really take security seriously here. This is gonna be fun."
"ARACHNID PUT YOU HANDS UP AND SURRENDER PEACEFULLY! DON'T MAKE THIS ANY HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE!" A guard yelled over a microphone.
"Funny, I didn't even notice this was hard." Arachnid said then charged over to the guards, Spider-Arms out and ready for blood.
Arachnid clawed his way through more guards, and made his way to the front room to Rykers. Suddenly Noah felt a bullet hit him in the back however oha just turned around to see a guard holding a rifle with the barel smoking.
"If it were that easy to kill me, i'd be dead already." Arachnid then webbed the gun out of the guards hands then immediately shot him into pieces. Arachndi then saw more guards, he just rolled his eyes beneath his mask. "Really? They could use some extra equipment."
Arachnid then threw the gun at the nearest guard killing him upon impact.
The prison alarms went off in the distance, "Spider-Man will be on the way. Let him come." Arachnid said.
Arachnid killed his way through Rykers, leaving a trail of dead or dying guards hung up or choking to death with poisoned webbing. As he made his way through the prison, the inmates cheered him on as he massacred the prison security.
More guards showed up but Noah just laded a venom canister into his web shooters and shot several webs at them. Then after a few seconds, the guards fell to the ground shrieking in immense pain.
The prisoners cheered their heads off to the performance before them, and Arachnid loved it, "ARACHNID! ARACHNID! ARACHNID! ARACHNID!" The inmates chanted.
Arachnid now found himself in the main prison where inmates were all in their cells surrounded by even more guards.
"Arachnid, don't let him reach the controls."
"Ugh, this is too easy." Arachnid said to himself moving forward, firing all of his venom shots at the guards, killing them with ease, ignoring all the inmates cheering. Arachnid then ripped the door to the control room open, where he found a young woman at the controls.
Arachnid approached the woman as she was shaking in fear at the very sight of him. "Please don't kill me. I'll do whatever you want."
"What I want is you out of my way." Arachnid fired a web and swung her out of the chair, slamming her into the wall, killing her on impact. With a smile under his mask, Arachnid reached for the microphone and tuned it to all channels in prison.
"To all inmates of Rykers, today is your lucky day. You're all about to make early parole, and the only condition is to cause as much mayhem as you can. Who wants their freedom? I'll even unlock the armory."
Arachnid could hear the cellblocks cheering for freedom.
"Okay then." With that, Arachnid flipped every switch opening every cell in Rykers. The prisoners cheered and tackled any of the nearby guards.
He opened every cell in Rykers, even set remote access to the armory, "Nothing better than a night of anarchy to end your night." Arachnid smiled.
"Arachnid," Otto reached Arachnid over their comms, "Move up to the RAFT. You have ten minutes to reach Shocker."
"Acknowledged Doc Ock." Arachnid then left the prison then swung over to the RAFT.
Arachnid swung from Rykers to the RAFT landing on the roof, he then saw a ventilation unit, then kicked it off sending it flying out, and entered the facility. He crawled through the vents before entering into the prison.
"So this is the inside of the RAFT? I expected more. Oh well."
Making his way for a small detour to the evidence room to fetch Herman's suit. He was met with more security guards.
"You know what killing you guys at Rykers was starting to bore me so i'll make this quick," Arachnid switched from poison webs to his blaster webs and dealt with the guards with ease. A few more from behind approached and Arachnid didn't even have to look to shoot them where they ran.
Arachnid found Shocker's cell and ripped off the cell door with the help of his spider arms, "Herman, you big cupcake, how've you been?"
"What the hell? What are you doing here?" Herman shouted.
"This ain't no social call, I got a job for you, perks for it: are your suit, cash money, and freedom."
"What do you want me to do?"
Arachnid kicked the case containing his suit over to him along with two pictures and said. "I want you to head over to Rykers and extract these two inmates away. Ask any questions now, and they'll be the last you'll ever ask. Simple really, find them and get them off the island. Big paycheck if you want, plus early parole. Whad'ya say?"
"Easy money, but I'll need a boat to get them off." Shocker suggested.
"Eastern shoreline, docking bay, twelve." Arachnid said, then walked away from the cell and left Herman with his suit.
"Heh, why the hell not." Shocker put on his suit and jumped out of the RAFT.
"Now the fun can continue." Arachnid then contacted Doc Ock. "Octavious, I've completed my objective now what?"
"I have disabled the cells for our designated targets. Secure Martin, Mac, Aleksei, Adrian and Max." Otto explained.
"Got it." Arachnid smiled.
Spider-Man arrived at the scene of the crime, but the Devil's Breath was missing. Overhead, a helicopter arrived with Yuri at the helm.
"The Devil's Breath is gone, but we got even bigger problems." Yuri called Spider-Man on the chopper.
"Ryker's?" Spider-Man asked.
"We have to hurry. Hop on." Yuri called. Spider-Man zipped over to the side of Yuri's chopper.
"What happened?" Spider-Man asked as Yuri took them to Rykers.
"It was a coordinated attack. Must've been planned form the outside. Arachnid showed up and started killing the front security force."
"What!" Spider-Man was shocked.
"I thought you guys were on neutral terms." Yuri asked.
"Yeah we are, but… let's just say… Shit happened." Spider-Man swore.
"You just swore, definitely not a good sign." Yuri noticed.
"Every Cell block is breached. We're minutes away from every prisoner in Ryker's walking right up fifth avenue." Yuri explained.
"What about the RAFT?" Spider-Man asked.
"Honestly with the Arachnid, I'm not sure how long it'll hold."
"Okay, what about Devil's Breath?"
"Sable's handling it."
"Do you trust them?"
"Compared to Arachnid, I'll take what help I can get. Besides, think I have a choice?" Yuri looked back at Spider-Man.
"Okay, I'll handle the escapees, stay clear of Arachnid I'll handle him." Spider-Man recommended as he saw a truck manned by the escapees.
Spider-Man dropped from the chopper and landed on the drivers side of the truck, "Should've worn your seat belt." He pulled him out of his seat and threw him over the red shipping container. Ahead of him, the truck was seconds away from crashing in a gas container. Aiming a web for the overhead light and jumped away from the explosion, and swung back at the docks.
To the side over at the docks, Herman was seen taking a speedboat away from the scene, "Yuri, Shocker's making a break for it."
"Dammit, that means the RAFT is compromised." Yuri realized.
"Arachnid… Noah, what are you doing?" Spider-Man asked himself.
"Spider-Man, let Shocker go. We need to contain the escapees here." Yuri had to swallow her pride and let the villain go.
Several of the convicts are surrounding Spider-Man, "Take'em out. Hurry!" Yuri shouted in the comms.
Spider-Man webbed his way into the group and kicked the first guy, "I'm on it." Spider-Man spoke while fighting. He threw a web bomb at the bunch and wrapped them up in an electric web. Sending them unconscious quickly.
"Attention all CO's, institute lockdown procedu-" the overhead speakers called, but it was interrupted by another call, "Spider-Man my favorite person to mess with. I see you found my invitation."
"Arachnid?" Spider-Man said even though he couldn't hear him.
"Time to start the party!" Just after Arachnid shut off the speaker, a few RPG shots were fired at Spider-Man.
"Who thought it was a good idea to bring rockets into a prison?" Spider-Man asked while beating his way through Rykers.
Spiderman juggled around the main yard to keep all the inmates from going ugly on all the guards. He webbed a handful of the escapee's, but they just keep coming.
Most of the security guards Spider-Man saw were dead, most likely by Arachnid. The Green webbing is a dead giveaway, "This isn't you, Noah. Not even Arachnid is this murderous." Spider-Man said to himself.
"Spider-Man, they're stealing a chopper." Yuri saw over in her chopper.
The chopper was about to leave but Spider-Man webbed it still. One of the inmates fired an RPG at him, and Spider-Man jumped to the chopper, dodging the rocket close, he shot through the side door of the chopper and pulled the two inmates out and webbed them to the nearby wall. Webbing his way back to the chopper collect the pilot, "License and registration, please." Spider-Man yanked him out and watched the chopper crash into the parking lot.
"No explosion, nice one!" Spider-Man commented.
"Okay, looks like things are somewhat under control, Arachnid's at the RAFT." Yuri called as Spider-Man jumped on her chopper.
The two of them saw a big explosion of electricity, "Maybe we can still get this under control." Yuri told Spider-Man.
"Love the optimism, but what Arachnid is doing here, I'm honestly scared to death." Spider-Man had to bring the bad news as he saw an old friend, "Look out!"
A jolt of electricity shot toward the chopper. Yuri was losing control, and Spider-Man was struggling to keep sticking on the side, "Yuri."
Spider-Man made it to the side door and ripped it open, "I'm slipping." Yuri was about to fall out on her side.
"Gotcha." Spider-Man dropped inside and held her close. He pulled the stick away from them and when the chopper was falling, he webbed them both out of the chopper before the crash made an impact.
The chopper crashed in smoke, and debris. Spider-Man and Yuri gently slid down to the ground, "You okay?"
"Yeah." Yuri tried to catch her breath.
A jolt of electricity was shot behind them and found Electro floating above the ground, "Welcome to the party. Just in time for the fireworks." Max shocked the cells, and set all the RAFT inmates out and free. Taking his exit, he left the inmates to deal with the two.
All the inmates carried shock collars, and for some reason, some of them had a blue skin hue, "Looks like we made parole boys." the first inmate out said. The rest of them cheered their heads off.
"Electro, why is he letting everyone out?" Spider-Man asked.
"I'll head for the main control center and see how bad the situation is." Yuri pulled out her gun.
"Got it, I'll go join the party." Spider-Man jumped over to the cell block, "Everyone just quietly go back into your cell and lock the door behind you! Okay? Please?"
None of the inmates complied and just went to kill Spider-Man.
"We're gonna gut you Spider-Man." one of the inmates called with a shiv in hand, but Spider-Man quickly disposed of him, and webbed him to the wall.
He webbed a nearby trash can and threw it at a few of the inmates taking them out quickly.
He gave the last inmate a big uppercut and launched him in the air and beat him out cold by slamming him back down.
"Catastrophic event detected." the intercom called.
"That doesn't sound good," Spider-Man said as he was trying to open the blast door. As soon as he cracked open the door, his senses called him to duck due to the oncoming heavy debris.
The door exploded open and the cause was the big man before Spider-Man, "Hi Rhino."
"I hope you like surprise, Spider." Rhino called in his heavy Russian accent.
Running to the next corridor Electro was seen behind him, and Spider-Man had to chase after both of them.
Spider-Man parkoured his way up to catch up on their trail. The door was cracked open but no longer able to be opened, but Spider-Man was nimble enough to dive right through, and receive a phone call from Yuri, "Hey what's your status?"
"Me? Just trapped in a prison with every criminal I've put away in the last eight years. All let loose by Arachnid, no biggie." Soon after replied his sense spiked to a danger behind him, and his neck was wrapped by a green tail with a spike on the end. Only one man fits this description.
"This is too good to be true." Mac Gargan, the Scorpion, smiled at Spider-Man's expense.
"Scorpion, can you hold on a minute? I was in the middle of a phone call and it was business." Spider-Man held his finger at Mac, but the explosion kept him from continuing their talk, but he was free from Scorpion's stinger.
Spider-Man looked back up to find Scorpion leaving the scene, and more prisoners arriving.
"Lost you there for a second there, you okay?" Yuri returned the call.
"Not really Electro, Rhino, and now Scorpion are all on the loose. What's going on in the rest of the prison?" Spider-Man said as he was fighting the lesser prisoners.
"Camera system's almost up. I'll give you a sit rep soon." Yuri responded.
"Okay I'll keep tracking Arachnid." Spider-Man hung up the phone.
Finishing up the last inmates, Spider-Man dashed for the next gate, but the electricity sent Spider-Man a sense to jump to the ceiling.
On the other side of the room, Electro was seen "C'mon Spider-Man, I thought this was a chase!" Electro flew up to the roof.
"Gotta stop this guy."
Spider-Man raced up to the roof while avoiding Electro's shock blasts. They made it outside with Electro at full power and Spider-Man in pursuit.
Just before he could get any closer to Max, Arachnid arrived and planted both feet into Spider-Man's face. Sending him tumbling to the nearest dock, "Spider-Man, you were always such a waste of talent."
"Arachnid, what're you doing?" Spider-Man struggled to ask.
"Say hello to the new and improved Arachnid, Spider-Man." Arachnid threw out Spider-Man so he can resume his chase for Electro.
"Noah, what happened to you?" Spider-Man thought to himself.
Electro was nearby, deep in Spider-Man's gut, this isn't a simple chase. They're luring him somewhere. He close to web Electro and stop him at the nearby tank. He planted his feet to trap Max, "Gotcha." Electro looked up at Spider-Man and only smiled. At the corner of his eyes, a green figure was fast approaching Spider-Man. Hoisting him tight, Adrian Toomes hauled Spider-Man high in the air, "Vulture?!"
"Long time no see! We're going to have so much f-" Spider-Man webbed his face blind giving the chance to drop and resume his pursuit of Max.
"Sorry, no time to talk." Spider dived down.
On his way down, the tank Electro was stuck on exploded by his powers, "Still with me, huh?"
"Okay, I got the security cameras back online." Yuri called Spider-Man.
"How does it look?" he asked.
"Well it looks like the entire population of the Raft has escaped. Including Martin Li. That makes SIX of your worst enemies that are now on the loose." Yuri explained.
"If it's okay, Yuri, I'd prefer you not to count Arachnid as one of my enemies anymore. As much as that still seems to be the case." Spider-Man defended his friend.
"This is serious. I have to go, some of them are heading into the city." Yuri signed off on the call.
"This is nuts." Spider-Man said to himself.
Catching up with Electro once again, he turned back and saw the web-slinger. Max Pulled all the metal materials from the heaviest steel canisters and sheet metal. Like the door before Scorpion arrived, Spider-Man dived through the oncoming debris and kicked Electro with both feet. He took off further up the roof. Spider-Man quickly caught up.
"Keep chasing, party's almost over." Electro called from above.
Spider-Man webbed around the hole on the roof and jumped up found himself on the roof of the RAFT. Climbing up to the helipad Spider-Man confronted Electro who leaned by a cell tower, "How do you like my new suit?"
"Dashing, where'd you get it?" Spider-Man asked.
"It's an exclusive club." Electro leaned on the tower.
Vulture arrived from behind Electro with Rhino arriving on the side. Charging first straight for Spider-Man but he easily flipped over him.
The moment gave Vulture a moment to charge after him, but he just webbed him in the face and threw him over to knock down Rhino.
By now all the supervillains Spider-Man put away are here on the roof: Rhino, Electro, Scorpion, and the Vulture.
Just then a helicopter came in showing Mister Negative inside he fired a blast of energy which was dodged. Mister Negative jumped out and then clenched his fists. The moment gave Scorpion a chance to strike but he just flipped under his tail.
In the middle, Arachnid decloaked right in front of the Supervillains. "Special reunion Spider-Man I've just released every supervillain you've put away in here."
Arachnid then turned to the villains with Martin approaching, "Remember, he said not to kill him. But he said nothing about putting him in a world of hurt." Arachnid added popped both sides of his neck.
"Good idea, in fact we don't have to do this if you don't want to. That's always an option." Spider-Man offered.
"We definitely want to." Rhino was about to charge until Arachnid spoke up.
"Some more than others, Lexi." Arachnid then backed behind the villains. "Here boys, have a Spider on me, but save what's left for me when you're done."
Vulture and Rhino were the first to strike at Spider-Man. Spider-Man punched Vulture and kept Rhino's big fist from striking him hard. Scorpion struck from behind with his tail which stumbled Spider-Man. Vulture was about to strike next but Peter kicked him in the face. Spider-Man swung around the cell tower and planted a kick in Scorpion's face. Mister Negative shot another blast of energy, but he barely dodged it to land a web strike on Rhino. He zipped around Rhino on his back, Vulture flew over to catch him and fly him up. Kicking his way out, Spider-Man landed back on the roof only to be met with Scorpion's stinger from behind. The pain instantly traveled in Spider-Man's body giving him an instant numbing sensation.
Electro was approaching while Rhino, Vulture and Mister Negative were kicking him down. Arachnid stood beside Scorpion as Electro arrived to give the Spider a good shock to his system.
Arachnid approached and stomped on his back hard with his left foot.
Spider-Man crawled away from them, but his hand was pinned by a familiar robotic arm. A figure emerged presenting himself infront of the Spider-Man. As soon as he laid his eyes on them his eyes widened behind his mask in shock and horror.
"Doctor Octavious?" Spider-man said, shocked beyond belief.
Spider-Man looked over to Arachnid, "Arachnid, help." Spider-Man tried to reach his friend, but he only stepped back and cloaked out of the scene.
"First and final warning." Otto picked up Spider-Man by the leg and brought him face to face. "Stay out of our way."
Otto then threw the injured Spider-man off the roof and turned to the Supervillians.
"Each of you has a job to do. Your debts will be repaid when we're done." Otto explained and then ordered. "GO!"
Arachnid decloaked back while the rest made their way off the roof. Otto finally left, but Arachnid remained on the roof to watch Spider-Man being rescued by the police, "There he is." Yuri called out.
Over in Times Square, a crowd of people was rooting for Mayor Osborn at one of his rallies. Holding their signs showing off their support for him. Little did they suspect that over the screens above them, Arachnid and Otto climbed down with the Devil's Breath vial. Otto's arms break apart the screens he touches. Reaching a perfect place to unleash the bioweapon, Arachnid dropped beside him.
"All these years. All these lies. It's over. Time to give them the truth." Otto gave the vial to one of his arms and held it over the crowd.
"How the mighty will fall." Arachnid smiled under his mask.
"You should go. I only brought one gas mask. Oh, and don't forget to spread the message." Otto suggested.
Arachnid said nothing and took his advice. With him gone, Otto cracked open the vial, and the red fumes dispersed when pierced. All over the people, infection started spreading. Otto placed the gas mask over him, and smiled at Norman's mistake. Climbing back up, he starts prepping for the next phase of his plan.
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, this is where the real story begins.
Please leave a review, I'd really like to hear some critisicsm.