Post by Drake on Feb 16, 2014 19:04:22 GMT -5
Spider-Man #13: Spider War Part 3
Crushed Like a Bug
By Drake
Crushed Like a Bug
By Drake
Spider-Man landed nimbly on the edge of an apartment complex, looking over the Bugle. The large metal tower was the home to Daily Bugle Communications, a company J. Jonah Jameson built up from a small newspaper company to one of the greatest news sources in the world. The headquarters seemed to almost embody the spirit of New York. When it shined over the horizon, you knew everything was going to be fine. When it was burning, rubble crumbling down its sides, you knew the city had gone to hell.
Screw the Bugle.
Spider-Man leaped into action, swinging towards the crumbling tower. Some huge guy in a metal suit was playing King Kong and Spidey didn’t like it. Nobody messed with his city.
Spider-Man swung into the large gorilla of a man, kicking him into the hole he’d created, and causing him to land on and break a handful of desks and cubicles. The monstrous man stood back up immediately and faced the webbed wonder.
“Ox not like Bug Man,” the mob freak growled.
“Ox not speak English,” Spider-Man readied himself to dodge any attack Ox sent his way, “And I’m an arachnid. Is it really that hard to…yikes!”
Spider-Man flipped over Ox’s punch and landed on the villain’s back. Bullets ricocheted off the gangbanger’s invulnerable skin. Only now did Spidey notice the other mobsters. Some guys in classy clothes with machine guns. Old school mafia guys. Definitely the Kingpin’s men.
Ox reached onto his back, struggling to grab hold of Spider-Man.
“Ox crush Spider-Man!” Ox shouted while Spider-Man dodged the behemoth’s hands.
“Hey! Nobody smashes me but your mom…if you know what I mean,” Spider-Man joked, leaping over Ox’s head, firing web globs at other mobsters to cover up their guns, and nimbly dodging all attacks.
“Ox smash!” Ox slammed his fists into the ground, causing the floor to crack beneath Spider-Man’s feet. The hero jumped over the broken floor.
“That’s totally copyrighted, buddy,” Spider-Man retorted before noticing the Daily Bugle employee falling out the side of the building.
“Crap!” Spidey muttered, diving after the falling man. He caught the employee and swung him to another building.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Spider-Man ordered before swinging off.
“Go Spidey!” the man cried out. Spider-Man smiled. He had a chance to earn back his rep.
Spider-Man attempted to swing-kick Ox, but the gigantic superhuman grabbed Spidey mid-leap and slammed him into the ground. The teen hero saw stars…and pain. How was he seeing pain?? What did that even mean??
Spidey didn’t have time to think over his odd situation as he found himself continually smashed into desks and walls. This was it. Wow. Some freaking illiterate mobster was going to do him in. That was so not okay.
But Spider-Man didn’t have to worry about his death. The smashing stopped. In fact, Ox fell over, two bullets in his head.
“Get away from the kid,” Prowler stood over the new corpse, but he didn’t give the other mobsters a chance to fire. They were down before they could count to one. If they could count, that is.
“Your face is shiny,” Spidey muttered weakly as Prowler lifted him off his feet.
“You’re lucky Web contacted me in time, Spider-Man. Any longer and you would’ve been toast,” Prowler admitted.
“You killed an unkillable guy,” Spider-Man’s head began to clear, but the pain stayed.
“Super high powered bullets,” Prowler explained, “I only use the best.”
“But…but you killed him…!” Realization finally dawned on Spider-Man. What the hell had Prowler done? He broke superhero rule numero uno!! No killing!
“What are you…”
“You killed that Ox guy!” Spider-Man shouted, “We don’t kill!!”
“You don’t kill,” Prowler corrected, “I do. I’m not a hero. I never said I was.”
“I’d beg to differ.”
Both vigilantes’ had their attentions drawn to a new man. This man sported a suit and a huge gray mustache. Miles recognized the guy. It was…
“J. Jonah Jameson at your service,” JJJ approached the two heroes, and offered his hand to each of them, “And I’m going to make you two famous.”
“Weren’t you the one releasing all those crap articles about me?” Spider-Man asked.
“I was, yes,” JJJ admitted, “But I can see now, you’re a hero. Both of you.”
Prowler glanced at Spider-Man. His intent was clear.
“Prowler isn’t a hero,” Spider-Man argued.
“That’s your name? Prowler?” JJJ inquired. The vigilante nodded.
“Well, Prowler, I assure you, you’re a hero in my eyes, and you will…”
“This is bull shit!” Spider-Man cried out, running away.
“Spider-Man, wait!” Prowler called, but to no avail. Spider-Man had already swung away.
“Ignore the kid. He’s just naïve,” JJJ said, patting Prowler on the back. The vigilante flinched.
“No…he’s good,” Prowler responded, before turning to Jameson, “Make sure you feature him well. Get the cops off his back. Spider-Man’s a hero.”
“What do you owe him?” JJJ pushed, realizing something was up.
“Everything.”
…
Rio Morales and Aaron Davis sat around the kitchen table. Rio hadn’t been to work in days. Aaron had to admit that was probably smart. There was a war going on outside. It wasn’t safe. Wherever Miles was…
“Why won’t you leave?” Rio growled, her eyes crusty from crying so often.
“What?” Aaron struggled, “I’m trying to help! I…”
“Answer me honestly,” Rio repeated, “Why won’t you leave?”
Aaron sighed and massaged his temples. This was getting ridiculous, but maybe…maybe Rio should know the truth. Why he’d come back now…
“Rio, Miles needs to know,” Aaron explained.
“He should never know,” Rio argued, glaring at Aaron.
Aaron returned Rio’s gaze, but with compassion, not hate, “Jefferson’s gone now. Miles needs a…”
“Don’t you say his name!” Rio shouted, standing up.
“Rio, please…” Aaron begged, “Miles needs to know…”
“Don’t!” Rio interrupted, but Aaron continued.
“…That I’m his father.”
“You are not his…”
DING DONG
The doorbell rung. Rio turned away from Aaron, hands clenched into fists.
“We’ll talk about this later.”
Rio stomped over to the door and slammed it open, “If you’re another reporter, I swear…”
Ganke Lee stood with his hands on his knees, struggling to breathe, “Ms. Morales, it’s me. Please let me in.”
“Oh, Ganke…” Rio let the boy in. Ganke pulled the door closed after him. “I…”
“Who is it?” Aaron entered the scene from the kitchen.
Rio glared at Aaron, “It’s Ganke, Miles’ best friend.”
“Oh, hey Ganke-man, remember me?” Aaron asked, his yellow teeth forming a smile.
Ganke’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t heard that Aaron was alive…and back. What else hadn’t Miles told him?
“Uh…hi, Mr. Davis,” was all Ganke could manage.
“What’s wrong, Ganke? Why aren’t you in school?” Rio asked.
Ganke glanced at Miles’ mom, realizing what he needed to say.
“It’s about Miles…”
“Is he alive?” Rio shouted, only to find herself interrupted by the doorbell again. “Damn it!”
Aaron walked over past Rio, patting the woman on her back, “It’s fine, Rio. I’ll get it. You take Ganke to the kitchen and talk.” Rio shrugged Aaron’s hand off, but agreed to do as he suggested. She led Ganke back into the kitchen.
Aaron approached the front door, a thousands thoughts on his mind. But one did prevail amongst the rest as he opened the door…
It’s time.
…
Miles practically crashed into the warehouse upon reaching it. He was exhausted and beaten to a pulp. Nothing he’d ever faced before had been like this.
“Peter…” Miles called weakly, taking off his mask, “Peter…”
But Dr. Parker did not respond. In fact, nobody did. Miles was left to writhe in pain on the ground alone.
This couldn’t last. Miles couldn’t handle the pain any longer. He needed help. The young hero forced himself onto his feet and limped forward. He was surprised to discover Peter was the only one there. Why the hell hadn’t he responded to him when he called??
“Peter…” Miles cried. Finally, the ex-Spider-Man noticed him. He ran over to Miles and grabbed hold of him.
“Oh, Miles, I’m sorry…I…I was just…” Peter couldn’t finish a sentence as he carried Miles over to an open table. He set him gently down.
“What’s wrong?” Miles asked, before erupting into a coughing fit. Peter collapsed into a chair.
“It’s my family…they’re gone.”
“What?” Miles tried to sit up, but found himself writhing in pain, almost falling off the table instead.
“I went home…there was a note. The Goblin has them. He said I’d know where to find them,” Peter emotionlessly said, before whispering, “I tried to leave this life…”
“Oh my God…if he’d taken them, then…” Miles forced himself up. Suddenly, his pain didn’t seem to matter. What if the Green Goblin had…?
“That’s the worst part, Miles,” Peter still wouldn’t meet the young Spider-Man’s gaze, “He’s taken your family too.”
“No!” Miles cried out. He tried to stand, only to fall on the ground. Peter ran over to him and helped him back onto the table.
“Ganke…I sent him after them…he…”
“He’s not at Midtown. We can only assume the worst,” Peter admitted.
“NO!” Miles pushed Peter away, tears leaking down his face. This couldn’t be true…how did Peter take it all this time? How had he kept those he loved safe??
And then it hit Miles. Peter hadn’t. His uncle died. Gwen Stacy died. Jean DeWolff died. The list didn’t end there…
“What do we do? Where do we go?” Miles muttered barely audibly.
“I’m sure the Goblin has them at ParkerCorp’s headquarters,” Peter said.
“Why?” Miles looked up, only to discover Peter too was crying.
“It used to be the headquarters of OsCorp. This is Harry Osborn we’re fighting. He’s…he’s a monster, but he is predictable,” Peter explained, “I know where he is in the tower. Underground, probably in some tunnels I never knew about. It’s Green Goblin’s MO.”
“Well, I’m gonna kill him,” Miles growled, pushing himself off the table. Peter saw the fall coming this time. He caught Miles before he could reach the ground.
“No…no you’re not,” Peter whispered, setting Miles back on the table. He walked over to his desk.
“What are you talking about?” Miles asked, anger bubbling further to the surface. Peter returned to Miles with a needle in his hand.
“No! No nononono!” But it was too late. Miles was too weak to dodge the needle. Before he could react, Miles had fallen onto the table, consciousness leaking away.
“I’m sorry, Miles. This is my war. This is my fault. You’re not ready for this.”
And with Peter’s final word, everything went black.