Sindel stood intently over the intricately drawn map spread out before her, her brow furrowed in concentration. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the parchment as she traced the routes with a slim, elegant finger, mentally calculating how much time had passed since Peter, Kitana, and Jade should have reached their designated point. A wave of unease washed over her as she pondered what crucial information they might uncover about the elusive Sinister Six and their sinister plans.
Just as she was lost in thought, the heavy door creaked open, and General Shao strode into the room with an air of authority. Clad in his imposing armor, he surveyed the scene, ensuring that the atmosphere was as still and undisturbed as the air before a storm. With a curt nod, he commanded the guards outside to ensure they were not interrupted, a protective measure that emphasized the gravity of their mission. The tension between them heightened, each aware that the fate of their world could hinge on the intelligence brought back by their absent allies.
"What is it, General?" Sindel asked with annoyance in her speech.
"I wish to understand why you have put so much of your trust into this... Earthrealmer." Shao seemed so disgusted to say the word.
"You mean Spider-Man?" Sindel asked. "My reasons for trusting him are my own."
"And what are those reasons? This Earthrealmer might be playing some long con with Liu Kang to gain our trust." Shao stated as he gestured out to the castle where Liu Kang was waiting for Peter to return. "The prof-"
"I will not have you telling me off about this prophecy." Sindel was sick of hearing about it. "I have no proof of this prophecy, Liu Kang has not done anything to show that this prophecy will become true and I trust Spider-Man. Until otherwise, I will not hear any more about it."
"Your judgment when it comes to humans is corrupt," Shao stated in a growl. "You were once friends with those humans-"
"I have had enough of you!" Sindel quickly silenced him with some of her hair being raised. "Leave me at once."
Shao snarled as he marched off and left the room. Sindel sighed as she recalled hearing about the prophecy. There is no way that Liu Kang and the child of her best friends were planning to attack Outworld.
Back with Peter and the others, they followed D'vorah through the deserted land until they came across a small base just below a trench on top of a hill. They looked closely using their binoculars and looked around at what they were dealing with. There were a few guards posted just outside of a bridge leading up to the base, and they saw various cages filled with D'vorah's creatures.
"Found one of their bases," Peter commented with a sigh. "But no sign of the Sinister Six. Weird."
"I see only a handful of soldiers with primitive weapons," Kitana scoffed when she saw their guns.
"Primitive?" Peter asks but then shrugs. "Okay, fair. You do have magic."
"That's a bit of an oversimplification of my skills," Kitana commented.
"Sorry," Peter quickly apologized.
"Focusing on the task," Jade called, getting their attention. "I don't see how they can be a match for us."
"Yeah, something isn't adding up" Peter muttered. "They must know at least I am here, so they would have added some sort of defense."
D'vorah then jumped ahead of them, standing up and preparing to charge. "This one must rescue her Hive!"
"Hey, hey, cool it," Peter quickly stopped her. "We will get them, and we will save them. But right now, we need to at least plan." He calmed her down, getting her to lower herself. "Kitana, come with me."
"Where are we going?" Kitana wondered as she followed him.
"Taking a closer look." Peter proclaimed as they walked downward.
"Can you believe this?" One of the soldiers asked, watching one of the creatures experimented on. "All these alien worlds and were babysitting overgrown bugs."
"I used to spray these creatures when they appeared in my house, and now that they are bigger, we wanna dissect them?" The other commented with a scoff.
There was then a screech as the creature escaped its confinement and charged towards the two soldiers. They shrieked in fear when the creature was captured. They turned and saw that they were rescued by Morgan Le Fay who marched over towards them.
"I should have asked for more than you, pathetic mortals." Morgan La Fey said.
That was where Peter and Kitana snuck around and got a view from a small distance upward. They saw Morgan La Fey, but that wasn't who caught Peter's attention. It was the men aside from her.
"Martin Li," Peter whispered. "Well, there's one of them."
"That is one of your enemies?" Kitana asks.
"Martin Li, yeah, he harnesses negative energy and corrupts people with it," Peter answered. "But that woman he is with, I've never seen her before." Then she looked and saw Beetle. "That is Beetle. Armored assassin."
Martin Li and Beetle approached Morgan La Fey as they approached the compound, conjuring a portal and entering the compound surrounded by their fence. That was when it dawned on the two that the woman was a sorceress, and she vanished with the two of them.
"Great, and they have magic of their own," Peter sighed and tried to figure out a plan. "I might have an idea..."
After returning to the others, Peter began to approach the bridge with no fear. He approached the guards as they all saw him approaching and began to take aim at him. Peter quickly raised his hands to get their attention, surprising them to see the Spider-Man raise his hands in a surrender form.
"Hold your fire!" Peter called out, not wanting to be gunned down. "I have come to surrender!"
That surprised all of the soldiers as they wondered what kind of trick this was. "Surrender?"
"Is he kidding?"
"I must admit, that I am outnumbered and outmatched by your high superiority..." Peter began to ramble while Kitana, Jade, and D'vorah snuck around the compound while all of their attention was on him. "And might I add what brilliance..."
"How long can he ramble on for?" Jade wonders.
"I have a feeling he can go on for quite some time," Kitana joked as she snuck around.
"...I congratulate you. For all of my battles..."
Kitana sneaked up on one of the Agents, making quick work by slicing his throat with her fans. Jade quickly knocked over one of the HYDRA agents, knocking them over with her staff smashing against their skull.
"And for all of my previous encounters..." Peter was starting to lose himself rambling.
"Shut him up already!" One of them cried.
Peter was then cuffed and dragged further inside. He easily spotted Kitana and Jade who were now dressed as the soldiers they had killed. This was their way of sneaking inside. And D'vorah had her own portion of the plan to follow.
"Report to the boss we have a prisoner." One of them said.
"Roger," That was when the soldier noticed a small bug on his shoulder. "What the hell?" He flicked the bug off of himself and got back to work preparing to radio it in. That was when several more bugs began to climb up his body. "What the fuck?!"
That was when a gigantic swarm appeared out of nowhere and surrounded the base. Kitana and Jade scattered and ditched their disguises and prepared to fight the rest of the goons off while they were blinded by the swarm of bugs.
"Well, that's my cue," Peter said as he broke his restraints with ease and shot two webs at the guards and smashed them into one another.
Kitana sneaked up on one of the guards, making her way over and stabbing him in the back. Jade used her staff as a distraction using her lights to cause the guards to focus on it, and not the person spinning it around. Jade then spun the staff and threw it towards the center and impaled one of the guards.
The relentless swarm of buzzing insects enveloped them, creating a shroud of chaos that concealed their movements. Peter, his heightened senses acutely attuned to the situation around him, seized the opportunity to engage the HYDRA guards. With agility and precision, he dispatched several of them, with swift strikes.
As the cacophony of wings began to dissipate, the moments of tension transformed into a surreal stillness. Once the cloud of bugs had cleared, the formidable team was revealed: Peter stood tall alongside Kitana, Jade, and, at the center of this spectacle, D'vorah. She emerged from the remnants of the swarm, her form gradually coalescing in a striking display of power and elegance.
Around her, her creatures stirred restlessly within their cages, a testament to her dominion over the insect realm, as they all stood in victory over the fallen Agents. "My Hive..."
"D'vorah, get them out of here," Peter said as they approached the compound. "Let's get in there and-"
Peter was suddenly knocked to the ground as the heavy doors burst open with an explosive force. In that chaotic moment, his instincts failed him; he didn't sense the danger approaching. The impact sent him tumbling backward, and a low groan escaped his lips as he lost consciousness, overwhelmed by the sheer power of the assailant who had struck him.
As the dust began to settle, the figure of his attacker emerged: Crossbones. This imposing villain exuded a menacing aura, his formidable physique accentuated by the military-style attire he wore. The stark white skull mask that obscured his face added to his terrifying presence, and the bold design featuring two crossed bones emblazoned on his chest showcased his malevolent identity. In stark contrast to the chaos around them, he stood tall and confident, ready to unleash further havoc.
"Well, well, well... Spider-Man," Crossbones said as he prepared to attack Peter again.
That was when Kitana flung one of her fans and struck one of Crossbones' gauntlets, getting his attention focused on where the fan was going as it landed in Kitana's hands. "Step away from him!"
"Ha! You care for this Spider-Freak?" Crossbones asked as he prepared to fight her. "I've gone toe-to-toe with the Avengers, you think you can do anything to stop me?"
Kitana smiled as she prepared to fight him off. "Let's find out..."
Kitana charged forward, exchanging a flurry of blows with Crossbones. She attempted a strike, but Crossbones parried, countering with an attack of his own. Kitana nimbly dodged, only to receive a punch to the stomach. Staggering to her knees, she then summoned a whirlwind with a raise of her hands, propelling Crossbones through the air.
Jade joined in, her kick sending him tumbling further. Meanwhile, Peter, recovering, ensnared Crossbones with his webs, delivering an electrifying punch that coursed through the villain's body, spun him around, and slammed him into the ground. The electric shock targeted his nervous system, incapacitating but not killing him.
"Whew!" Peter cheered with a groan. "That... hurt..."
"Are you alright?" Jade wonders.
"I should be alright," Peter groaned as he felt the wounds. "Man, Crossbones knows how to hurt a guy." That was when his senses went off, causing him to look towards the doorway. "Get down!"
Li came charging out of the destroyed doorway and swung his sword, causing a giant shockwave of Negative Energy that sent the doors flying around the battleground. That was followed by Beetle flying out of the pathway from the facility and releasing dozens of missiles to attack everyone. Peter, Kitana, and Jade leaped out of the way to avoid the missiles while D'vorah just took them and survived easily.
D'vorah quickly took to the skies to fight Beetle head-on, using multiple arms from her back to begin striking at Beetle.
"Spider-Man!" Li cried out as he spun his sword.
"Li, buddy, it's been too long," Peter greeted as he got back up. "How have you been? You're looking... great. Prison really agreed with you."
"Seriously!?" Li asks as he prepares to charge up more energy. "You're going to make jokes?!"
"Dude, we've known each other for years," Peter felt offended as he shot out a web, latching onto a watchtower to send himself flying. "When have I never made jokes?"
"It's constant with him?" Jade asks when she heard that comment.
"Every... freakin... time!" Li cried in anger.
"Li, buddy, you don't belong here," Peter informed his enemy, latching onto the side of the facility. "Just give up, let us take you home."
"So I can go back to that prison!?" Li cried in anger, suddenly he absorbed the energy from all the downed soldiers which transformed him into his giant ghostly Demon form.
"What is that?!" Jade asks.
"He built enough Negative energy at once to turn himself into a demon!" Peter explained quickly, webbing some debris and throwing it towards Li. "Break the mask, he will lose control!"
Kitana quickly charged ahead, throwing her fans, and used her magic to send them flying upward and knock the Demon mask. Up with D'vorah she was tackling Beetle and using her insect limbs to attack Beetle from all sides, trying to penetrate his armor. Beetle shot a flamethrower to shove D'vorah off as she backed off from fear of the flames.
As Peter glanced at Jade, he noticed the vibrant energy radiating from her charged staff. Their eyes met, and in that brief moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them—they were both inspired by a sudden, shared idea. Without hesitation, Peter sprang into action, his heart racing as he leaped into the air with agility. He shot out a thick webbing that firmly latched onto Jade, seamlessly integrating their movements. With a swift, coordinated motion, he used her as a projectile, launching her towards the ominous Demon mask. As Jade soared through the air, she gripped her staff tightly, channeling her power. With a fierce determination, she swung the staff down on the mask, bringing it crashing to the ground in a shattering explosion of dark energy and bringing down Li's giant demon form
Li fell and groaned as he tried to stand back up. But Peter approached him and tried to calm him down. "Li, please... stop this."
Li suddenly had a spark of inspiration; he pivoted sharply and clasped Peter's hand tightly. In an instant, shadows began to swirl around him, conjuring up haunting glimpses of his past. Dark silhouettes of the loved ones Peter had lost over the years materialized, their forms flickering ominously in the dim light.
Each spectral figure represented a painful memory, a reminder of the mistakes that had lingered like shadows in his heart. The air was thick with sorrow as Kitana and Jade stood nearby, their expressions a mix of shock and horror as they witnessed the painful tapestry of Peter's life unfold before their eyes. The atmosphere grew heavy with the weight of regret and loss, revealing a side of Peter that had been shrouded in darkness for far too long.
"All those people you swore to protect..." Li tried to prey on his insecurities. "...You can never escape them."
Peter was beginning to lose as he loosened his grip on fighting back. But that was when he got stronger and grabbed Li by the shirt and raised him up high. "I know I can't escape them, but the difference between us, Li... I accepted them."
And with that Peter knocked Li out cold, sending his unconscious form falling and hitting the dirt. Peter panted as he sighed and watched the ghosts of his past vanish. Beetle then crashed into the ground due to D'vorah damaging his jetpack. D'vorah then crashes on top of Martin Li and is about to impale Martin with her bladed back limbs.
"D'vorah!" Peter called out, saving his life. "Don't do this."
"This one must do what she needs to protect her Hive," D'vorah stated.
"Then let us take him, let us take them all," Peter proclaimed. "It's done, you have your hive back. We will take it from here."
D'vorah saw he was right and tossed Martin aside as she released her Hive creatures. She then approached Peter as Kitana and Jade prepared to fight her. "This one owes you a debt," D'vorah tells him.
"Don't mention it, D'vorah," Peter said to her and handed a small device. "That is to summon us if they come back. Just try to stay out of trouble and try not to eat anyone who isn't these guys."
"This one makes no promises," D'vorah stated as she vanished with her swarm big and small.
Peter chuckled as they watched the bugs spit on Peter as he stood there and showed a small sign of disgust. "Uh, you're welcome?"
Martin was amazed that Spider-Man still saved his life even with all the bad he has done. In his silence, he started to contemplate things. Suddenly Beetle gets back up and sees that he is surrounded. Beetle fires a missile in front of them and flies off to report this to his employer.
"He's running away. Cowardice We should follow" Jade said.
"He does that a lot. We'll find him another day. At least we stopped their plan." Peter promised.
To their surprise, that was when General Shao arrived with Goro and his soldiers to take the prisoners back to the palace. "What happened here?" Shao asks.
"Spider-Man saved us and defeated some of our invaders," Kitana stated with pride. "Take these prisoners to the castle, we shall meet you there." Said Kitana as she pointed to Crossbones and Martin Li.
"Good idea," Peter said, spitting some of the bug juices up. "We should regroup. Tell Liu Kang what we discovered, maybe he can get a message to a few friends of ours to figure out who that woman was."
The three of them nestled closely together atop their horses, Kitana and Peter sharing one as their bodies pressed together for warmth as they braved the chill of the evening air. Peter, his arms wrapped securely around Kitana's waist, made sure to keep her steady, their shared laughter mingling with the rhythmic sound of hooves striking the ground. Jade sat in the second horse leading them ahead, glancing back over her shoulder, and caught sight of Kitana's radiant smile, a sparkle in her eyes as she reveled in Peter's protective embrace.
Peter, equally at ease, relished the closeness, enjoying the warmth that radiated from Kitana as they journeyed onward. Kitana had never felt so cherished, her heart swelling with affection as she sensed Peter's trust in her to hold on throughout the ride.
As they made their way back from the vast expanse of the desert, the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the landscape, guiding them back towards the familiar sights of Sun Do.
As they made their way through the streets, they easily got the attention of everyone who was out at the time.
"Welcome back," Sindel said as she saw them get off the horse. "I trust your adventure as... eventful?"
"Well, we didn't find much," Peter sighed as he gestured to the approaching Shao and others. "We found this base and some sorcerer with my enemies. Sadly we couldn't figure out who they were working for because all the soldiers were killed."
"Sorcerer?" Liu Kang asked, worried he might have an idea who this was.
"Yeah, she looked familiar, but I am not all too familiar with sorcerers," Peter shrugged. "Maybe Strange can help you out with that."
"I will keep that in mind," Liu Kang said with relief because the sorcerers he was thinking about weren't female.
"We will question the prisoners," Sindel promises. "But it looks like you could use some freshening up."
Peter sighed when he heard that with a moan. "Ooh, a bath. That is definitely what I need after dealing with the desert, sentient bug-people, the mysterious military group, and being puked on by a sentient bug, a nice bath is exactly what I need..."
The prisoners were dragged off to the dungeon while Sindel smiled and eyed Peter with a proud look in her eyes. She knew that Peter could be trusted and knew that he was more than willing to fight to defend Outworld like his parents were.
Peter let out a weary sigh as he stepped into the dimly lit baths nestled within the castle. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and the faint aroma of heated herbs, an odd yet soothing combination that promised relief. He slid into the warm, inviting waters, feeling the tension of the day melt away. The echoes of his earlier battle with the Sinister Six reverberated in his mind; though he hadn't captured any pivotal leads, the day hadn't been a total loss. With Crossbones now in custody, there was hope that answers would soon emerge, guiding him to the elusive villains.
The warm waters enveloped him, wrapping him in a comforting embrace as he allowed his weary muscles to relax. The tumult of encounters flashed through his memory, the chaos and frenzy of action now fading into soft ripples in the bath. Each moment spent soaking in the warmth felt like a healing balm, nurturing not only his body but also his beleaguered spirit.
Unbeknownst to Peter, the gentle sound of footsteps on the stone floor drew closer. Kitana, with her graceful demeanor and stealthy presence, approached the room with quiet curiosity. The ethereal glow of flickering torches cast shadows on the walls, creating a realm where secret encounters thrived. She slipped inside, her eyes shining with mischief and intrigue as she took in the sight of him, wrapped in only a towel herself.
Peter happened to hear her light footsteps and turned around and shrieked when he saw the princess was there. "Kitana!" He shrieked when he noticed that she was only wearing a towel. "Uh, hi!" Peter stared at the princess for a good moment when he saw that Kitana had also let her hair down and it looked pretty good. The towel left little to the imagination, but Peter quickly looked away out of respect. "Sorry, if you want, I can leave..."
Kitana chuckled as she removed her towel, placed it down on a clean area, and slipped into the waters. "It's fine. I wouldn't mind the company..." Peter quickly tried to move away and get out, but Kitana was quick to stop him. "It would be rude to leave when a princess is asking for you to stay, wouldn't it?"
Kitana then used some slight strength to move him closer, watching how nervous Peter was getting with how close they were. She had to admit that he looked pretty cute when he was blushing.
Peter took a deep breath, doing his best to find a moment of calm, but the proximity of Kitana made it nearly impossible. She sat gracefully beside him, exuding an air of confidence that added to his unease. While he fidgeted, acutely aware of his own racing heart, Kitana appeared completely at ease, her posture relaxed and her expression serene. As a seasoned warrior and a princess, she had likely encountered countless perilous situations, honing the ability to mask any hint of anxiety. It struck Peter that she might not be nervous at all, while he felt like a bundle of nerves, his mind racing with thoughts as he struggled to keep his composure in this weighty moment.
"I must say, you held yourself well out there," Kitana complimented as she looked over and noticed how quietly Peter managed to move away from her. She liked a challenge... Kitana began to slowly move her way back towards Peter to close the distance between them while Peter tried to keep a distance between them. "You assessed the situation better than I have seen most."
"Well, it helps with having so much experience not assessing the situation," Peter tried to make light as he saw he was cornered while Kitana still made her way over towards him.
Kitana then got closer to Peter but kept a little distance between themselves. "Can I ask you something?"
Peter was worried about what she was going to ask. "Depends..."
"What happened with that woman you spoke of? Gwen?" Kitana asks.
Peter sighed as he saw that was a fair question. "Well, that... that's a hard memory." He looked away in sorrow when he remembered what happened. "She was killed by my enemy, the Green Goblin. It... it was my fault." He began to tear a little at the memory. "I got her killed... she was there because of me..."
Kitana glanced at Peter, her heart aching for him as she approached with gentle determination. She placed her hands softly on his shoulders, her touch warm and reassuring, hoping to ease the tension that knotted in him. Peter felt a slight flutter of nervousness at her proximity, the way her presence wrapped around him like a comforting blanket, but he chose to embrace her kindness, allowing himself to lean into the support she offered.
Realizing he needed a distraction, Kitana searched for a way to lift his spirits. With a thoughtful smile, she reached into her bag and pulled out a bar of fragrant soap and a fluffy washcloth, her movements fluid and graceful. She handed them to him, a flicker of confusion crossing Peter's face as he processed her intentions. Kitana then turned away, her back to him, giving him a moment to ponder what she meant by this unexpected gesture, the soft rustle of the water filling the air as she shifted.
"What... what are you doing?" Peter wonders.
"Would you mind...?" Kitana asks. "My back is hard to wash..."
Peter felt a jolt of confusion course through him as he processed Kitana's request, his gaze shifting from her captivating eyes to the bar of soap and washcloth in his hands. The weight of her royal status hung heavily in the air, making it clear that declining her request would be seen as discourteous. With a hesitant yet obedient nod, he decided to proceed.
"That feels great," Kitana commented. "Just like that..."
He lathered the soap into the washcloth, watching as creamy bubbles formed, glistening under the soft light. Slowly, he turned his attention to the elegant curve of Kitana's back, his fingertips brushing against her skin as he began to wipe away the day's worries. Each stroke of the cloth seemed to ignite a quiet pleasure within her, her posture relaxing as he moved gently down her back, the warmth of the washcloth leaving a trail of comfort in its wake.
Once he was finished, Peter was kinda hoping that would be the end of it, but that was when Kitana turned to face Peter. "What?" Peter asks.
"You washed my back, now I wash yours," Kitana said as she took the supplies from his hands. "Come on, turn around."
Peter let out a long sigh, a mix of resignation and curiosity swirling within him. He slowly turned around, allowing Kitana access to his back, the warmth of the air contrasting with the chill of the water. As she dipped the washcloth into the soapy water, he felt the light, cool touch of the fabric against his skin when she began to rub it over his back.
The sensation was unfamiliar and made him question his emotions, yet he tried to dismiss any awkwardness; after all, it seemed innocent enough. Kitana, however, was lost in the moment, a playful smile dancing on her lips as she diligently scrubbed his back. Her eyes darted over the landscape of his skin, tracing the myriad of battle scars that crisscrossed his back like a map of his past. Each mark told a story, a testament to the struggles he had faced, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him as she continued her gentle task.
"There, was that so difficult?" Kitana asked as a joke.
"Having a princess wash my back in a bath while both of us are in the nude?" Peter asked sarcastically as he explained his point. "I am surprised I am not being held at spearpoint by your mother at the moment."
Kitana let out a soft, teasing chuckle, a musical sound that filled the air as she observed Peter's nervous demeanor around her. His eyes widened slightly as he caught her gaze, and he felt a familiar flutter in the pit of his stomach—an almost forgotten sensation that began to awaken from its long slumber.
As Kitana leaned in closer, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders, Peter couldn't help but be mesmerized by the intensity of her stare. She tilted her head ever so slightly, her lips forming a delicate pout that drew him in like a magnet. He mirrored her movement, slowly puckering his own lips, and their faces were mere centimeters apart, their breaths mingling in the charged atmosphere between them.
Just as the world around them seemed to fall away, the door swung open with a creak, shattering the intimate moment. One of Kitana's servants entered the room, and in an instant, both Peter and Kitana sprang back, hearts racing as they broke the spell that had momentarily bound them.
"I am sorry, madam," The servant said as she quickly laid down some fresh clothes for the two and rushed out. "My apologies."
As Peter looked away, he cast a quick glance back at Kitana. She stood there in the water, seemingly composed, yet he could see the faint flush rising on her cheeks, betraying the turmoil beneath her calm exterior. In all her ten thousand years of existence, she had never experienced such a dizzying rush of emotion, the way her heart raced at the mere thought of Peter Parker. It was as if his presence ignited something deep within her, rendering her both vulnerable and exhilarated, causing her to nearly lose her composure.
Meanwhile, Peter was shaking as he tried to shake off the overwhelming feelings that were threatening to engulf him. The connection he felt with Kitana was unlike anything he had ever known — intense and electrifying, yet he struggled to believe that someone as extraordinary as she was could ever truly be interested in someone like him. Doubt gnawed at him, urging him to step away, to regain his clarity.
"This was fun, Peter," Kitana tried to get back control of the situation. "We should do it again."
"Yeah... ooo-h wait no, I mean yes... only if you want to because this was very nice and stuff. I'm sorry I honestly don't know what to say." Peter stuttered as he watched Kitana leave.
Kitana laughed as she got out of the water, making sure to keep the towel nearby to not show off too much as she wrapped it around herself. She then looked over towards Peter and strutted her way out of the room.
"Goodnight, Peter."