Post by Drake on Dec 26, 2013 23:51:08 GMT -5
All Star Spider-Man #10
Darkest Nights Part 5: Goblin City
By Drake
Darkest Nights Part 5: Goblin City
By Drake
This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all! He wasn’t moving fast enough. Thwip, thwip, each webline Miles fired carried him a little faster, but still he couldn’t make it. It wasn’t going to happen…there was no way…
He’d make it to school on time.
Miles landed in an alley across the street from Midtown High. He quickly changed into his civvies, allowing his Spider-Man costume to rest under them in case there was an emergency. No more deaths, he’d promised himself, no more mistakes. Miles hung his backpack loosely over his right shoulder, allowing the left to rest. He’d been shot again yesterday during his post-breakdown helicopter chase. It had occurred to him too late to use his camouflage ability. By that point, a SWAT sniper had managed to graze his shoulder. It wasn’t as bad as his…first injury, but it still hurt.
The doors swung open wildly as Miles walked into Midtown’s science building. The school had grown a lot recently. Despite the recession, its graduation rate had doubled, and so had its funds. Peter would be impressed. Hell, he’d helped the school get out of its ten year slump before Miles came along. The guy was a standard philanthropist. He knew what it was like to go through tough times. After his uncle Ben had died…
Miles shook the thought out of his head. Thinking about Peter’s Uncle Ben made Miles think about…
“Miles! Miles, wait up!” Oh God…not now.
Ganke Lee ran up to Miles’ side, patting him on his left shoulder. Miles grimaced.
“Miles, please, just talk to me. One month’s long enough,” Ganke begged. Miles wouldn’t look him in the eye. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Not now, Ganke,” Miles growled.
“Listen, Miles, I screwed up. I know that!” Ganke threw his hands in the air for added emphasis. Miles couldn’t deal with this. Not now after everything that had happened.
He swiveled around to Ganke and for the first time in weeks he met his gaze, “Are you? ARE YOU SORRY??”
“Miles…” Ganke glanced around. People were giving them weird looks, but no one would say anything. Not after what happened to Miles’ dad.
“No, Ganke, you want me to talk, then listen,” Miles began, but he whispered this time, “I told you explicitly not to get involved with Spider-Man! Of course you went and ignored me, and listened to Tommy. Tommy, for Christ’s sake! The kid’s got more issues than I do! And. You. Listened. To. Him. Not me, him. I’m Spider-Man, but you didn’t trust me.”
“Miles, you could’ve died,” Ganke argued.
“I could die any day! I could’ve died when I fought with the Avengers, and did I see you ‘helping’ me then? No! It was only after Tommy told you……you just wanted the thrill, Ganke. Let me tell you, being Spider-Man isn’t fun! It’s life and DEATH!” Miles openly yelled the end, causing the few remaining students in the hallway to give him a look. A teacher exited their classroom, but stopped themselves from scolding Miles after realizing who he was. They quietly reentered their room.
“Miles…I’m sorry about your dad,” Ganke said, dozens of emotions leaking from his eyes, “I am, but…”
“No buts, Ganke. If I can’t trust you to stay out my Spider-Man business, to stay safe, then we’re through,” Miles pushed Ganke aside.
“It’s time for class, Ganke. Finals are in a couple of weeks. I recommend you stop following me and go to class,” Miles spit out.
“Miles,” Ganke stood back, distraught, “We both have bio first period.”
…
RING!
The final bell of the day rung. Miles’ day had gone without a single emergency, a single time to ditch school and kick ass as Spider-Man. It was weird. Like, eerie calm before the storm weird.
“Miles!”
Miles had to admit that Ganke was stubborn. He should’ve expected as much. This was the kid who refused to read the instructions on the LEGO Death Star and wouldn’t leave his room till it was built.
“Was I not clear, Ganke? I’m not going to associate with you anymore,” Miles spat out.
“I think it was implied that you wouldn’t hang out with me if I threw myself into danger. I won’t anymore. C’mon, Miles, we’re best…”
“I can’t trust you, Ganke.” He couldn’t. Not after his Dad’s death. He knew just how serious being a superhero was. Miles hurried away from Ganke. The shorter teen kept up.
“Miles, please…”
“Ganke-!” Miles turned around quickly, unknowingly swinging around and hitting a girl. Her books fell out of her pale hands as she watched them clatter to the ground.
“I’m sorry…” she began.
“No, I’m sorry,” Miles quickly swiveled back around and helped the girl pick up her books, meeting her brown-eyed gaze. She was average height, thin, but athletically so. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He knew this girl. It was…
“Katie,” Ganke almost fell to the ground, rushing to help pick up the books, “I’ve got it!”
By this point, Miles had already handed all of Katie’s books back to her. The girl blushed as she stood back up.
“Thanks…uh, Miles,” Katie muttered. She didn’t know his name. Or kind of did. Whatever. It wasn’t weird with how big their school was.
“Katie Bishop, right?” Miles almost laughed. Katie was the girl Ganke had had a crush on since sixth grade.
“You know me?” Katie asked.
“Yeah,” Miles admitted. Ganke glanced between the two teens, mouth agape.
“I’ve…got to go,” Miles walked past Katie, ignoring the girl’s glances as he passed her.
“Bye,” Ganke said to Katie, running to catch up to Miles. He got no response.
“What. The. Hell,” Ganke whispered.
“What is it now?” Miles growled.
“I can’t believe…” Ganke paused, scanning over Miles’s expression, “You don’t realize…?”
“Just leave me alone, Ganke,” Miles pushed open the doors, leaving Ganke to just stare at him in shock as he left the building.
Ganke struggled to understand, “Oh my God. Katie…she…”
…
Swinging above Manhattan, Spider-Man couldn’t help but feel alone. Peter was off the mic. He’d actually not contacted Miles since his meeting with Harry Osborn. It was weird, and certainly not welcome with Miles’ current mindset.
Spider-Man landed gracefully atop a rooftop. It was peaceful today. No cops in sight. Of course, his peace was broken.
“Just give me what you got!”
Spider-Man leaned over the edge of the building, staring down into the dark alley below. A guy was holding a few people at gunpoint. A family…the parents, and one child. A boy. Anger swelled in Spider-Man.
“Please, just take the money and let us go,” the father threw out his wallet. He motioned to his wife with his hand. The movement caused the mugger to freak. He fired.
The bullet ricocheted off the wall after Spider-Man leaped down and hit the man’s arm to the side.
“What the hell, man?!” Spider-Man flipped to the ground, landing between the family and the mugger, “You just gonna kill that guy??”
Spider-Man grabbed the mugger by his collar, causing him to drop his gun. The family ran away.
“Please, Spider-Man…”
All Spidey could see was red. Nothing made sense except one thing…this man had been about to kill that man, the boy’s father, the woman’s husband.
“WHAT THE HELL??” Spider-Man threw the mugger against a wall, “You were just going to take that man away from his wife…HIS SON??”
“Please don’t hurt me!” the mugger screamed.
“Like you weren’t going to hurt them??” This was it. This was the time. Spider-Man couldn’t hold the anger in any longer. The man had to pay…what if it had been him? What if he’d killed his father??? Spider-Man raised his fist.
“Please! I got kids!” Spider-Man stopped. The mugger realized he was doing something right.
“I swear to God, I only meant to take the money. ‘Just freaked out. Have kids to feed, y’know, wife’s hospital bills to pay. Swear to God, man,” the mugger was crying now. Spider-Man’s arm dropped to his side. What had he been about to do? Kill the man?? What the hell was wrong with him???
Spider-Man backed away from the would-be mugger, “Go…just go,” Spider-Man pointed away, “Don’t do this again.”
“Thank you! God bless you!” the man ran away, terrified. Spider-Man collapsed against the wall.
What the hell had he been thinking? He was just going to…kill that man? He would have done it. He knew it. Tears began to cascade down Miles’ cheeks under the mask. He pulled his mask off. What was wrong with him??
He needed to call Peter, needed to talk to someone…Miles reached down to his mask, tears dripping onto his hands, and began to activate the communicator.
“Yo, Spider-Man.”
Miles swiveled around to the voice, pulling on his mask. Just a few feet away, shrouded in darkness, was a man wearing a purple cloak.
“Who are you?” Spider-Man asked. He tried to sound threatening, but he just couldn’t manage it.
“Ah, no greeting for a creepy, mysterious man…” Spidey could just make out a yellow, sharp-toothed grin under the hood, “…Miles?”
How did he know his name??
“Who are you??” a little louder this time. Spider-Man was getting back in control.
“You’re asking the wrong questions, Miles,” The hooded man said, leaning against a wall, “What you want to ask is: why am I here?”
Spider-Man considered his options…why not?
“Why are you here?”
“There you go!” The man stood up straight and clapped, exposing purple-gloved hands and dark, eerie green arms, “Now you’ve got it!”
“You see, Miles, my man, my Spider-Man, I’m here for one reason and one reason only. I want to make a business deal,” The hooded man explained.
“Why would I make a deal with…with you?” Spider-Man growled.
“Oh, it’s not what you think. Well, maybe it is. I don’t know…I can’t read minds. Hahahaha!” The man’s laughter was creepy, like the clowns from horror movies.
“Hahehe….oh, I crack myself up. Anyway, I’m here to make a deal with you. I want you to work with me,” Miles didn’t have a chance to respond; the man continued, “I’ll let you keep hero-ing. Hell, I might help you some! But here’s the catch, you stay out of my way. I’m in the city to make it and to make it good. You stay out of my way, making it good gets a whole lot easier.”
“Like I’m going to help you!” Spider-Man leaped towards the man. The hooded figure flipped over him, holding his hood down as he landed.
“Oh, Miles…you’ll understand one day. Maybe you’ll even join the party. I’d love to have you…” The hooded man continued, “But until then, there’s another reason you’ll help me. The city’s in danger. Scorpion’s coming.”
“What?” Miles stopped. The name sounded familiar, but Miles couldn’t place it. Not with that thought on his mind…how did this man know his name?
“Maximus Gargan aka the Scorpion—the unofficial ruler of Mexico. He’s in charge of every crime, super and normal, in that entire shitball of a country. And he’s coming to town, big time. Lord only knows why, but he’s set the Big Apple in his sights, and nobody will be safe unless we stop him,” the hooded man finished.
“You can’t just expect me to believe you…or trust you,” Spider-Man admitted.
“Miles, you really have no choice. War’s coming and there will be a winning side. Lemme just tell you, it won’t be the good side,” Goblin chuckled, “A Goblin City is on its way, Miles, and you have a chance to be part of it!”
“It doesn’t matter,” Spider-Man shook his head, and poised himself to attack, “Even if you were my own father, I wouldn’t agree to help you.”
The hooded man remained emotionless, “Pity about your father, by the way.”
His father…wait, what if this man…
“WHO ARE YOU???” Spider-Man cracked, leaping towards the man. The mysterious man rolled under Spidey.
“I swear I’m going to kill you…” Spider-Man reached out towards the hooded man. The man kicked him away. Spidey flipped back up and tackled the man. The villain pushed Spider-Man off but the hero tried to pull the hooded man down with him, grabbing ahold of his hood and pulling it away.
The man stood over him, revealing a face Spider-Man recognized all too well. The papers, the videos…he’d seen that face. That look. The green skin, purple armor and hat, and the sickly yellow smile to match his eyes.
“…Green Goblin?”
“The one and only,” the villain declared, arms out wide.
“You killed him…” Spider-Man teared up, seeing red again.
“I’m sorry, could you say that louder? I couldn’t hear you,” Green Goblin leaned down, his hand cupping his ear.
“YOU KILLED HIM!!” Spider-Man slugged him, and then flipped up and tried to kick the Goblin. The emerald villain reacted quickly, faster than Spidey’s spider sense could pick up on, and grabbed ahold of Spider-Man’s leg and threw him upwards. The hero landed on a roof with a thud.
Green Goblin floated up to meet the hero on a collapsible glider.
“Now, Miles, I never said I killed your father….I killed your father. There, now I said it!” Green Goblin laughed maniacally. Spider-Man tackled him off his glider. The villain threw him away.
Spider-Man leaped off the ground and used the force to throw a punch twice as strong as usual. Goblin sidestepped the attack.
“C’mon, Miles, I don’t want to hurt you,” Green Goblin dodged another attack, “I promise. Cross my heart.”
Spider-Man continued to throw a frenzy of punches. Goblin dodged them all.
“Fine. I’ve got no choice then,” Green Goblin, faster than Spider-Man could see, reached down into the belt at his waste and pulled out a small orange pumpkin-shaped device.
Spider sense!
Too late, Goblin pressed a button and the bomb exploded…into gas. Green gas. It didn’t hurt. It just…
“Wha…” Spider-Man struggled to stand. His vision was going woozy. Was that a dragonfly?
“Night night,” Goblin tapped Spider-Man and he fell over. But it wasn’t over. The hero grabbed the Green Goblin’s ankle.
“I’ll bite your legs off,” Spidey quipped, head spinning.
“Not if I don’t do it first.”
Both supers turned their gaze to a man standing across the roof. He held two Uzis in his hands and wore gray spandex and a purple mask reminiscent of Spider-Man’s.
“Step away from the boy, Goblin,” the masked man commanded.
Green Goblin stepped away, hands in the air, “And who is this I have the pleasure of talking to?”
“The Prowler,” the masked man growled, “Your worst nightmare.”
He unloaded his SMGs. Goblin leaped off the building. His glider flew to him and he landed nimbly on it. Green Goblin flew off into the setting sun, laughing hysterically.
“See you later, Spider-Man! HAHAHA!”
Prowler took a second to make sure he was gone, and then approached Spider-Man. This was it. He was going to die…
The last thing Spider-Man remembered before the blackness overtook him was Prowler staring down over him, lifeless white lenses glaring into Miles’ soul.
That’s it, folks, for Darkest Nights Part 1!
NEXT UP: Spider War!