Spider-Man: A New Spiral

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***

12 July, 2013. 16:00.

On the road to New York.

Peter Parker.

Okay, it's been one hell of an educational three days. And it all started with a single, nascent male friendship bonding glass of whiskey. First Tony and I discussed how I'd come to live like this, working for Shields, and I colourfully described Fury's spying on my house, with the obvious message, "We know who you are and we're watching you," omitting the details of my secret identity.

Our conversation then flowed smoothly into a discussion of parents and the proportion of children in different families. It's funny, Tony and I had very different stories, he grew up in wealth and luxury, but his parents weren't exactly warm to him, my aunt and uncle sometimes had to work multiple jobs to keep us warm and cosy, but my childhood and time with my family are my happiest memories.

Tony even wept, it grieved him, the relationship he had with his parents and the fact that he hadn't managed to fix things before they died.

Calming down a bit, Stark quickly changed the subject to a discussion of science. I shared my knowledge of mechanics and engineering for a long time; after all, I'd built web-shooters myself in my time, and the suit, even if the futurist's knowledge of these areas was much greater. But I'm good at genetics.

Recognising me as his fellow inventor, Tony immediately dragged me to a demonstration of his armour. I could barely convince him not to get drunk in the suit and demonstrate the flying capabilities.

Then morning came.

The futurist was hungover, but I didn't care. Thank you, spider metabolism, youth, symbiote, in short, many factors.

And so, after drinking, waking up, antihopeless breakfast and mocking observation of our tossing and turning by the sleepy Phil, the inventor moved on to the most unexpected, but damn sweet thing for me.

Stark had got it into his head that he was going to make me a personal armour as a gift for "saving him".

I remained silent and nodded quietly, accepting the idea of a gift.

I was already drooling under my mask.

Glad to be pleased, Tony offered to help me create a design for the armour.

And that's where I went wild.

All day long, the billionaire and I, and my new friend, (you bet, after such a royal fitting), designed a version of the suit called "Iron Spider".

I was going to cram in a lot of stuff, but Tony was stopping me at the corners. One hundred percent he didn't want my version of the armour to be better than his. Surely he'd scoop up some of my ideas.

Eventually, towards evening, we opened a new bottle of cognac, discussing how we could seamlessly integrate micro-missiles, repulsor technology and electromagnetic emitters. I even wondered, would Tony really give me armour with an arc reactor so easily? Then Stark suggested that I create Spider Manipulators in addition and I, humming, let my paws out of my rucksack in a demonstration. Tony liked the execution, but promised to improve the technology. We'll see.

As I worked, I paused to report my location to my girls, not enough to worry the pregnant Redhead. I was also reporting back to Natasha. Fury, you see, was very busy.

On the third night, while we were washing the finished concept, Tony got into a relationship rant. He complained about a strange romance with his subordinate Pepper Potts, and I, in a purely masculine, brotherly way, shared my view of the world and my opinion that if there's a hot redhead hanging around you, why the fuck isn't she in your bed? And also that if he suddenly finds himself a supervillain, but which can be induced to anti-heroism, also a reason to think and invite her to your bed. Of course, if the passja will not mind the presence of another lady in bed.

Why? It worked for me.

The most famous womaniser in the local universe heeded my advice.

And so, after some entertaining conversations, sound work and getting to know each other, we parted as good mates at least.

- Well, I'd say you did a pretty good job, Agent," Colson said to me as I finished my bottle of mineral water.

- Don't be, it's my job.

- But you didn't talk to him about the Avengers," Phil pointed out reasonably.

- Let's just say my intuition kicked in. If the Avengers are needed, Stark will be there, I trust him.

- We'll see," the brown-haired man snorted.

We're on our way to New York now, safely talking about little things. Phil, for instance, had grown to trust me completely, and was telling me in great detail about his past adventures and his current team.

- You'll like Fitz and Simmons, you should meet them.

- I will.

It's as we speak that Spidey Sense kicks in.

I turn around sharply, and what I see truly scares me.

Behind LOLA, a motorbike rolls steadily by. A motorbike on fire, leaving a trail of flames behind it. And its driver is staring at Phil and me with his skull on fire.

- Fire up the engines, now!

- What?

Now Colson sees our unexpected pursuer.

- Don't ask questions, just get out of here!

I may not be the smallest fish in the tank, but I sure as hell don't want to face the Ghost Rider.

And my gut is telling me the Rider is here for me. But what does the Blaze want with me? If it is the Blaze.

Phil, on the other hand, didn't bother to show off and switched off Colson Airways.

The LOLA starts to gain altitude and I almost exhale, but I'm suddenly reminded of the Racer's ultimate weapon.

And indeed, in a second we are frozen in place.

I jump into the backseat and see the chain that the Spirit of Vengeance had hooked us with.

I let out my claws and am about to unhook the obviously unnecessary piece, except the weapon glows and bursts into flames.

"Bearer, what is that creature, it reeks of powerful energy?" - Raj remarks fearfully.

"You bet, meet the punishing weapon of heaven, preying on sinful souls."

"But why is he attacking us!"

"That's a damn good question, brother!"

Meanwhile, the Racer had clearly decided not to brood and throw us from heaven to earth. Literally.

Grabbing the chain with both hands, the Spirit of Vengeance yanks the implement towards him and LOLA crashes.

The car goes down and we are thrown a few metres across the deserted off-road.

I slowly climb out of the battered car.

I get to my feet and look at Colson passed out in the driver's seat.

- Phil! - I try to look at my partner, but my instincts kick in.

I jump away from where the chain hit.

I turn around and see the Racer slowly approaching me.

- What do you want, Blaze?! Why are you attacking me?!

- Not Blaze," the Spirit of Vengeance slowly growls.

I see.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm going to have to fight Ghost Rider.

Help...

- All right, Skull, let's go!

I release Sting and begin to concentrate the Bite energy as the skeleton and I are swallowed by the funnels of the orange portal.

The next second I find myself in some obscure graveyard.

- Your tricks? - I glance at the demon, but judging by the way he's looking around, the Spirit of Vengeance has nothing to do with it.

- It's not Rider, Spider-Man, it's me.

I turn around at the voice and see a transparent, bluish astral projection. It's supposed to be her. But the astral projection is not just anyone, but, judging by the deep cloak, the beard and the eye amulet around his neck, Dr Strange himself.

- Time is short, Spider, I just want to inform you that I'm trying to get to the place where I teleported you as soon as possible, I anticipate your question, I can't move myself, as there are special Runes installed in this place, they should weaken the Rider enough until I arrive, just hold on, - the spirit of the Sorcerer Supreme says and dissolves.

Oh, great.

- Okay, Skull, do you hear....

I don't have time to finish, because once again I have to dodge the attack of a chain burning with hellfire.

In response, I fire a web and throw the Racer into the nearest Tombstone.

He rises to his feet in the same second and opens his mouth, releasing a powerful hellfire.

I use all my spider speed, agility, and the rest of my luck, getting out of the line of attack.

Grabbing onto a tree.

Okay, think! Physical attacks are useless against it, my technology is useless too, Raj is not an option, this cake is made entirely of fire. So it's just energy.

Charging my palms with Bite energy.

Meanwhile, Rider approaches the tree and raises his hand, shooting out a stream of flame.

I jump back, finding myself on the ground again.

I turn around, but the Spirit of Vengeance is at my side with astonishing speed.

- Try this! - I hit the rider's torso with both hands, throwing him back a dozen metres with the released bioelectricity.

I stare for a while at the furrow in the ground and the light smoke.

"Do you think he had enough, Bearer?"

In answer to the symbiote's question, Racer rises from the pit and his eyes burn much brighter now.

"No. Not even close."

The Spirit of Vengeance whistles.

Spidey Sense warns me and I jump up, dodging the burning bike coming at me from behind.

Now he's summoned his chariot of hell. Great.

As the engine warms up, the Rider starts coming at me, bringing the bike to a standstill at the same time.

As I'm about to dodge, the bike is thrown off.

- I'm sorry I'm late," Dr Strange levitates beside me and announces.

A spectacular appearance, Stefan.

- And you took your time...by the way, you still haven't introduced yourself," I stand up in a Spider stance and look at my thrown opponent.

- I am Dr Stefan Strange, Master of Mystical Sciences, and Supreme Enchanter of the Earth," Mr Grey Whiskey declares pathetically.

Meanwhile, the Racer throws his own bike aside.

He's clearly pissed off.

- I hope you can restrain this bloke, Doc?

- Of course, Spider-Man," the mage raises his hand and points it towards the Racer. - In the name of Agamotto, I call upon you to surrender control to your host, Spirit of Vengeance! In the name of the power of the Ancients, be gone!

A stream of bright neon-green acidic energy shot from the Sorcerer Supreme and shot through the Racer's body, lifting him into the air.

Suddenly, my sensors went off.

- Something's wrong," Strange's surprised and frightened voice confirmed my lousy premonition a second later.

The Rider was in the air for a while, but then it began to be covered in black smoke. And then it caught fire, burning out the spell flows and throwing Strange and me away.

- What's going on, didn't you say the Runes of this place would make it weaker?! - I'm asking Stefan a question.

- It does. The Rider is weakened," comes Stefan's focused voice, "except it's not the magic of the Spirit of Vengeance.

The Rider himself falls to the ground and rises up in a completely different form: two long horns have erupted from his skull and flames have spread all over his body.

- 'This is the power of a demon,' the mage once again pointed his palms, 'in the name of the storm Havat...'

- I've had enough sorcerer, - something prophesied, if the voice of the Hound was deep and sharp, now it sounded something from a completely different world, roaring and annoying.

The omnitool raised his hand, a dozen chains shot out of his palm and braided around Stefan's body.

In the next second, the metal was covered in fire, which travelled over to Strange.

- AAAAAA!!!!!!!

- 'This is only the beginning, mortal,' the False Racer lifted the wizard by his hair, 'look into my eyes.

I tried to fire a web and save Doc from the Punishing Gaze, but the False Rider's bike flew into me.

- NO!

It can't be.

- Now it's your turn," the demon turned in my direction.

I'm about to raise my hand and feel like I can't move.

The False Racer approaches me with his palm raised.

- What I like about you, mortals, unlike mages, are not able to protect themselves from dark forces, such as telekinesis. That's why it feels so good to torture you," he grabbed me by the throat. - You have no idea what it took for me to break a few unalterable rules to get into the skin of the Spirit of Vengeance for a while. But I had no other option," the demon gave me a hard look. - Why you? What's so special about you? It doesn't matter, it's over, look me in the eye!

No, no, no!

"Raj, urgent, symbiotic mask, close off access to my eyes!"

The alien obeys the order.

Feeling the pressure from the force, but nothing irreparable.

- Why didn't it work? - wonders the False Racer.

Interesting fact, the Ghost Rider's Punishing Gaze, the most powerful tool of the Spirit of Vengeance, which affects the soul, has a number of limitations: firstly, the victim must have a soul; secondly, two eyes; thirdly, nothing must interfere with the contact of the gazes, as at the moment symbiotic eyepieces are interfering.

But I cannot but take advantage of the situation.

- I'm not afraid of your Punishing Gaze," I say pathetically, "because I have no soul!

In response, the demon throws me into the nearest grave.

- So you'll just die!

Is this really how it ends?

He killed the doc and he's gonna kill me.

I can feel the invisible bonds holding me back weakening, and a strange power rising inside me.

No way! I'm not gonna die! Not after everything I've been through!

This unknown power grows larger.

- Let me go," I feel my body changing, "NOW! - In the end I don't recognise my own voice, which has become too deep.

In the next second, additional arms burst out of the sub-ribs, in a familiar sensation.

Before I can be surprised, frightened, or feel pain, I feel a growth, a change, an enlargement.

Limbs begin to be covered in grey fur and my face is ripped open by spider stings.

I experience the metamorphosis into Spider-Monster, yet, it feels natural. My vision is changing. Obviously due to the appearance of four more eyes on the monster spider skull. I raise a clawed, three-toed hand in bewilderment. One of six.

- You! What happened to you? - The demon wonders at my transformation.

- Everything flows, everything changes, - I find the strength to answer in a deep, sonorous voice.

There's no time to reflect. I have to fight for my life now. I'll think later.

On instinct, I raise my head and begin to growl, clawing with my maws.

I put all six arms out and fired a volley of organic webbing.

- Not bad, monster," the False Racer breaks the strands, "but not good enough.

I, on the other hand, leap out of the way, not giving him a chance to do anything.

I'm stronger, faster, fiercer, and deadlier!

I run up and strike the skeleton with my clawed paw. I simultaneously strike with my two middle limbs, and with my lower limbs I grab the enemy's legs, pulling him away and then driving him into the ground with all six arms.

- Idiot! Physical damage is harmless to me.

- I know," I growl.

I store the bioelectricity of the Bite in all six limbs.

In a single volley, I unleash all the power I've built up.

- AAAH!

The demon's scream tells me I'm on the right track.

I don't slow down the pace and continue to attack in a confused manner, not giving it a break: with my upper paws I just hit it, disorienting it, with my middle ones I bind it with threads, and with my lower ones I also use "Bite". And after the series, I change the attack pattern, giving each pair of hands a new turn of attack.

That's pretty damn cool!

The False Racer covers himself in fire and it makes me break the distance.

Then my gaze catches on his skull. I don't know if it's his eyes, for I see things on a whole other level now, or if he's losing control, for I can feel something in the vibrations coming from him, but the bright red glowing mark clearly didn't just appear above his head.

Weakness. It must be exploited.

I'm getting closer again. I release a web as a distraction, and the demon buys it.

- You're just trying to delay the inevitable, Spider! - False Racer wheezes furiously, trying to break free of my steel grip.

But the six limbs of the Spider-Mutant are the six limbs of the Spider-Mutant.

- 'Perhaps,' I claw, 'but if you're just a stowaway in Ghost Rider, then get lost!

I open my mouth and shoot out a corrosive acid.

It reacts with the mark and there's an explosion, throwing me several metres away.

A wave of energy spreads across the graveyard, explodes in a blinding flash, and then dissipates.

I lie there for several minutes, unable to move a finger.

In the process, I feel a change that is exactly the opposite of what has recently occurred: my body weight, height, and muscles become smaller. The face regains its human appearance as the Spider's Stingers retract and the skull smooths out the deformity.

With a slight discomfort, my arms, inexplicably retract into my subcostals, and the wounds that were left in my sides from the lacerations heal.

And here I am again, only my suit is torn. At least it's not in shreds. Just shreds. That's what a technology suit is.

"I'll have to repair it and make it resistant to this kind of damage. Maybe we can get some unstable molecule fabric from Reed." - I ponder sardonically.

"Carrier, what was that?" - asks in a shocked tone for the first time in the entire fight, Raj.

"Good morning sunshine, very glad you could join us."

"I.... sorry, just didn't know what to do after your mutation. Re-mutated. The medicine wasn't on hand now."

"Yes, that's true."

Rising to my feet.

"Only it doesn't seem to need it now, apparently the mutation has reached a new level," I hold onto my slightly numb arm. - "Controlled.

As controlled as possible.

I approach the body of the Racer.

The Vengeance Spirit's skull is gone, now in front of me is a blond man with long unshaven stubble, lying unconscious with his eyes closed.

- Well, hello, Johnny," I smirked, "I don't think I'm going to wake you up, mate, you know.

I limped over to Doctor Strange's body.

I get down on one knee and turn the obviously dead Doc by the shoulder.

His eyes are completely white, as if covered in a milky haze. There's no pulse or breath.

- How is it, Stefan? - I ask in a sad voice.

Even though I didn't know the Doctor Strange of my world, I had immense respect for most of his copies from other Marvel worlds. I've always liked him.

I only come to my senses from my sad thoughts when space is illuminated by a bright pink flash.

Has the demon returned?

My paranoia is not justified, however, and a beautiful pink-skinned maiden dressed in green appears in the area of the recent battle site. Her clearly non-human origins are also given away by hair that looks like energy smoke and eyes without pupils or even irises.

- Oh, Stefan, what happened to you? - The girl said sadly, approaching the doc's body.

She didn't even notice me.

- Did the Racer do it? - After a few minutes, she asked me a question.

- No. Not Johnny himself, but whoever invaded his body.

- Unbelievable, you can't get into a Vengeful Spirit, that's the rule, unless you.... - the girl thought about it.

- Um, I apologise for interrupting, but who are you?

- Numecet. I'm from the race of the Ancients, but for Stefan Strange, I'm just a friend, - the girl sadly notes and, kneeling down in front of the wizard, raises his head. - Please, my love, come back," a tear rolls down her cheek.

She says these words very quietly, but I hear them.

The drop falls on Strange's cheek and, before my eyes, heals him.

Stefan regains consciousness, gasping loudly for air and grabbing his head.

- N-numecet? - Doc asks, confused, raising his eyes to the Ancient One. - Why are you crying?

- I'm just glad you're okay, High Enchanter," the sorceress says with a smile, wiping away the wet wipe that has dried.

- What happened? - asks the mage, looking around lost. - Spider-Man?

- Hey, Doc," I answer, still holding onto my numb hand. - I think we need to talk.

Stefan nods thoughtfully and turns back to Blaze's unconscious body.

- How did you manage to defeat the Ghost Rider? - The mage's tone was a mixture of surprise and respect.

- I wouldn't say I defeated him, more like I didn't lose," I felt my numb arm return to normal, "I managed to exorcise the demon.

Stefan just nods and touches his chin thoughtfully.

- But as far as I know, it's impossible to be possessed by a master of the Spirit of Vengeance, it's an immutable rule, - the Master of Mystical Science turned to his friend, - Who could have so much power and cunning to break an immutable rule?

- I think you know the answer, Stefan," Numecet replied in her velvety voice.

- Is it Mephisto? - The mage voiced his guess.

And all I do is shiver.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," I waved my hands, forgetting all about the pain. - Mephisto? Is that the demon Mephisto? The demon who bargains for souls, the ruler of the Underworld, the Prince of Darkness, that Mephisto?!

- That's right," Stefan nods. - But how do you know about him?

- Oh, nowhere, absolutely nowhere! I sure as fuck didn't say or do a fucking thing!

I was fucking fighting a fucking Mephisto who's taken over Ghost fucking Rider!

How did I even survive?!

- I'm sorry, darling, I have to get back to Mibl, you understand," the ancient waved her hand and opened the portal.

- Yes, of course, thank you, Numecet, - smiled warmly and thanked his friend the High Enchanter.

- What else are friends for? - The girl vanished in the pink glow of the portal.

- She likes you," I said, tiredly turning the subject to something I knew a little about.

- I know," Strange said sadly, "but, alas, it's not always possible to get what you want. Let's not talk about it.

- Whatever you say, Doc," I look up at Stefan, "I thought we were going to talk?

- Yeah, but not here," the mage walks towards the unconscious Blaze.

I approach the warlock examining the host of the Spirit of Vengeance.

- He's alive, but his sensorics are overloaded from the recent mind invasion, and having the spirit of Zarathos in his soul makes the damage even more profound.

- So what do we do?

- We go to Sanctum Sanctorum.

A second later, the three of us are swallowed by a familiar portal and we find ourselves in an ancient house.

- Welcome to my sanctum sanctorum, Spider-Man," the wizard says pathetically.

I have to admit, the place is impressive. It looks ancient, but not old, there are paintings on the walls and the whole space is dotted with hundreds of artefacts: chests, staffs, ancient books, ancient armour and other things.

Dr Strange lifts Johnny's body with telekinesis.

- I think we should take him to his cell, where he'll regain his strength.

I just follow the doc, eyeing the legendary Sanctum Sanctorum.

- What happened to your suit?

Oh, right.

- The aftermath of the battle.

"Raj, suit."

In the same second, the symbiotic fabric reveals my Black Uniform.

- Interesting, that's the only way Strange reacts to a metamorphosis. - I think we should get back to discussing why I made contact and, most likely, why you were attacked by Mephisto.

Oh, that's right, I completely forgot about that "little" detail after the fact.

- How did you know where to find me? And why was I attacked by Mephisto in the first place? I'm not even asking how he managed to capture Ghost Rider. Oh, yes, I am, and I'm asking you a lot! - I'm reacting emotionally. - So how did all this happen?

- Let me start at the beginning," Strange says patiently. - Breathe. Just calm down and focus, so we can have a meaningful discussion about what happened.

I might have flared up, but this technique has been helpful in all my training and has been promoted by all my mentors, so I just breathe.

Calming down, rationality returns to me.

- Shit, there's a friend of mine left on the motorway! I've got to get back there right away!

- Don't worry, Spider, I sent Phil Colson to the hospital as soon as I moved you and Racer.

- You did? Thank you.

- You're welcome," the brunet smirks. - I'm a doctor after all, I couldn't leave a wounded man behind.

- All right," I sigh deeply again, "I've calmed down.

- Good.

We reached the Cell and left Johnny in it.

- I gave a mental order to my butler to follow our friend who fell victim to the demon," Stefan turned back to me, "now we can talk.