Back to GatefoldIssue #16 by Mike Exner III
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"PULLING STRINGS - Part Three - The Ancient Relic"
Previously in the Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Man battled a mind-controlled Doctor Octopus and Stunner to keep them from stealing an ancient Chinese artifact known as the Eye of the Sun. Matters were further complicated when the Collector showed up wanting a piece of the pie. Peter was supposed to take pictures but Angela Yin showed up and stole the job away from him. Meanwhile: Eugene, Randy, Jill and Aunt May all decided to go out on the town with Eugene and Randy vying for Jill’s attentions. What a tangled web we weave…
“This is insane!” Shouted Ben Urich over the din of the robotic army as it marched towards the amazing Spider-Man. Just a few minutes ago, Spidey had been embroiled in a battle with Doctor Octopus and Stunner for possession of the Eye of the Sun, a relic on display at the New York Museum of Natural Art. Now, as reporters, police and bystanders looked on in amazement, Spider-Man had acquired a new adversary, a being calling himself the Collector. A being that had just happened to bring an entire squadron of futuristic looking robotic drones to enforce his wishes.*
[*Happened last issue - Will]
Angela Yin was snapping pictures as quickly as she could, shucking one roll of film for the next and Urich was grateful for that. He was having a hard time scribbling his notes what with all the action going on around him. The hand that slid itself onto his shoulder didn’t help to keep him focused any.
“Indeed it is insane Mr. Urich. Perhaps New York wasn’t the best place for the Eye of the Sun to reside after all.” Said a voice in Ben’s ear and he turned to see Sekhemet Conoway standing right behind him. He was flustered for a moment by her dark beauty even though she wasn’t even looking at him. Still, he wasn’t a New Yorker for nothing. Turning back to look at Spider-Man crouched down before all his opposition, ready to strike, Ben smiled and answered with confidence.
“I wouldn’t say that Miss Conoway, in fact I’d say if you were looking to safeguard the piece. You couldn’t have picked a better place. Or a better man to do it.” Ben Urich turned to look back at Sekhemet again, but she was gone. He hadn’t noticed her taking her hand off of his shoulder. He scanned the mass of people gathering around him but could see no sign of her. Sighing deeply, he shrugged and turned back to his work. The Collector was harping on again about his superiority and the futility of anyone to resist him. It was going to be a long night.
“Are you going to dance or are you just going to sit there all night?” Asked Jill Stacey with a flirtatious smile etched on her beautiful face. Eugene looked up at her in mild annoyance and shrugged his shoulders. Jill looked fantastic, she was sweating lightly from the exertion of dancing and her hair was slightly messed. A strand of it kept drifting in front of her eyes and she had to blow at it lightly to move it away. Eugene hoped it never stopped bothering her.
“I’m not much of a dancer.” He replied, color creeping up into his cheeks as Jill kept a steady gaze upon him. When Jill had invited Eugene and May along with Randy and her to go out, Eugene had expected them to go somewhere to eat, or perhaps catch a late movie. Of course, holding true to Eugene’s luck, Aunt May had cajoled Jill into taking her home. As soon as Aunt May was safely inside her door, Randy had sidled up to Jill and suggested the club scene. Eugene wasn’t the dorky kid he’d been before he’d gone off to college, but he still wasn’t comfortable with the club scene. And he couldn’t dance to save his life. He’d been sitting at this same table all night.
“You are such a party pooper Eugene. I thought you wanted to hang out with me tonight.” Said Jill and Eugene smiled despite himself. She was good at using her words to mess with his head. He had come out so that he could be with her, but he’d never came out and fully said it.
“Jill, I…” Eugene started but Jill cut him off as if she wasn’t even listening.
“I mean, look at Randy out there.” Jill said and Eugene followed the direction she was pointing to see Randy, dancing with three girls surrounding him. He moved fluidly and he was obviously an experienced dancer. The girls around him weren’t as good looking as Jill, but they were attractive, all the same. “He got you into the club. He’s the life of the party. Trust me, I know. I’ve been dancing with him all night.”
Eugene flared with an intense feeling of jealousy as Jill spoke. He couldn’t stand it when Jill did anything nice to Randy because the guy was such a horn-dog and he took it all out of context. If she even so much as touched his arm, he was all over her, groping her and trying to get her to respond. It really pissed Eugene off. Jill caught the flash of anger in Eugene’s eyes and smiled. She leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“But to tell you the truth, I’m tired of dancing with Randy. I want to dance with you.” Jill said and Eugene pulled back and looked at her. Her lips were slightly parted and she was breathing heavily. Eugene wanted nothing more in the world at that moment than to kiss her. What made it worse was that he was absolutely sure that Jill knew it too. Eugene smiled and got up. Jill smiled too.
“C’mon, let’s show Randy how to really party.” She said and they walked towards the crowded dance floor together.
“All gathered here on this day should feel privileged to witness the coming of my presence. Stand aside, and none shall feel my wrath.” Said the Collector with an air of royalty evident in his voice. He scanned the mass of humanity before him briefly but still barely registered them. His eyes were locked onto one prize and one prize alone. The artifact seated upon a pedestal not one hundred feet from him. The Collector looked down at the control panel in his hand and pushed a few buttons. Commands were simultaneously issued to the robotic fleet in front of him and they began to march towards the artifact. Soon it would be in his possession.
Suddenly, the Collector was blinded as a sticky fluid slapped against his face, covering his eyes. The fluid began to harden and constrict on his face and the Collector reached up to pull it free. It was still sticky, but also strong and difficult to pull away. The Collector activated a small wrist-mounted laser and cut through the substance, practiced ease kept him from burning himself. He couldn’t believe that someone had actually attempted such a foolish act. Enraged, he looked over the masses again. His eyes soon found his quarry.
“Hey, old guy. You do realize you’re wearing a bag right?” Said Spider-Man as he fired more web-fluid toward the Collector. He’d been an Avenger long enough to hear tales of the insane Elder of the Universe that was always trying to turn the Avengers into his own personal G.I. Joe collection. Spider-Man knew the guy had practically taken out the world’s mightiest heroes on numerous occasions too. He couldn’t take any chances.
The web-lines shot through the air, but before they connected with the Collector, they fell harmlessly to the ground. A solid force-field bubble with a greenish hue erected itself around the Collector seconds before Spidey hit his mark. The web-lines slid right off of it. Spidey groaned.
“I know not who you are human. But if you wish to try the mettle of an Elder of the Universe, I assure you. You will be found lacking.” The Collector said and Spider-Man watched as the entire robotic squad turned away from the museum and began marching towards him. There were at least two dozen of the metal commandos and as Spidey looked them over, he had to admire the seamless way they moved. It was almost as if they were human. One of them raised a rifle-shaped gun and fired. A blast of pure heat issued forth and Spidey was barely able to dodge in time. His admiration for the design faded and was replaced by mild annoyance.
“Taneleer, I’m hurt. Is that any way to treat your friendly neighborhood robot inspector?” Spidey said as he leapt towards the robot that had fired at him. The robot thrust its weapon down at his head as he crouched before it, but Spidey simply caught both of its arms in his hands. Spider-Man pulled forcefully and the metal twisted in his grip as he tore the arms from the robots body.
“Just as I thought, faulty manufacturing. I’m going to have to penalize you for that. Tanny. How about you turn off the robots and let me know why you’re after the Eye of the Sun?” Spider-Man said as he reared back his fist and struck the next closest robot to him. Its head launched from its shoulders and it fell, sparking violently, to the ground. Spidey ducked another shot from a heat rifle and kept moving.
“You dare mock your betters human? Perhaps your sense of humor would be better served in entertaining the vast scores of beings I have as my collection? Tell me, would you not be honored to be considered among my flock?” The Collector said as Spider-Man crushed two more of his robotic minions. The Collector pushed a button and the remaining robots shot into the air, propelled by anti-gravity discs that formed from their feet.
“To tell the truth, I’ve never performed very well in front of an audience. I tried stand-up once and they said if I ever came back my arms would be my legs and my legs my arms and, well, you know how it is.” Spidey said as he dodged the shots of heat all of the robots were firing from the air. The ground was getting noticeably hotter as each blast hit the asphalt. Spidey jumped up into the air and landed on one of the robots’ head.
“Guess that’s what I get for trying to entertain at the Kingpin’s birthday party.” Spidey said and dodged just before a blast of heat from another robot could strike him. The blast tore through the robot Spidey had been perched upon and it sputtered to the ground.
“Oh well, live and learn I guess.” Spidey said as he landed once more on the ground, the robot landing heavily behind him.
“Enough of this!” Yelled the Collector and pressed another button on the display panel in front of him. The robots all began to glow from inside and Spider-Man could feel the heat they were emanating from their bodies. They gathered in the air and began to latch onto each other, their bodies beginning to melt and flow into one another. “You have tried my patience for the last time human. I had these robots made by a brilliant Kree scientist in my possession. When they face an adversary they cannot vanquish they merge and become unstoppable.”
Spider-Man watched as the liquid hot metal the robots had once been formed into a much larger robot. It stood at least forty feet high and still radiated an intense heat. As it advanced upon him, Spider-Man found himself wanting to back away so as not to be fried where he stood.
“You wouldn’t happen to be related to the Molten Man would you?” Asked Spider-Man as the huge robot fired white-hot blasts of heat from its hands. The street liquefied underneath Spider-Man and he strained his muscles to leap as far away as he could manage with the crowd of people still surrounding him. The robot simply turned and kept up its pursuit.
“Ok, ok, so you’re a little sensitive about your roots. I can understand that. But taking out your frustrations on insects, spiders and other cute, cuddly animals is definitely not the way to go.” Spider-Man said as he struggled to bounce around the tight circle he had to move in. Keeping out of range of the robot was difficult and he didn’t want it to get close enough to fire another one of those blasts of heat energy. He had to think of something fast.
Suddenly a rock sailed through the air and connected with the side of the robots head. There was no real face on the robots’ head so there was no expression, but it tilted its head to the side as if puzzled. Another rock sailed through the air and hit the robot again. It diverted its attention away from Spider-Man and scanned the crowd. There, standing before the robot, oblivious of the police who were yelling at her to come back to the barriers, was Sekhemet Conoway.
“I’m getting sick and tired of every time I try to locate or donate a prized artifact, somebody tries to steal it.” Sekhemet yelled at the top of her lungs and chucked another rock at the huge robot. Spider-Man couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The rock sailed through the air and connected with the robots head again. This time though, the rock simply melted into the head. Spidey jumped into the air towards Sekhemet as soon as he saw that. The robot was heating up.
“Now what I think you need to do is take that old man you’ve got pulling your strings and go back wherever it is that you came fr…” Sekhemet said but she was cut off as the air was thrust from her lungs. Spidey had her in his arms and was leaping away just as another blast of pure heat fired from the robots hands. The police backed the crowd further away as the ground in front of them became liquid hot. Spider-Man landed with Sekhemet still in his arms and she hopped out of his arms. Then she promptly punched him in the nose.
“Don’t ever put your hands on me again unless I say I want them there. Gloves or no.” Sekhemet said and Spidey looked at her in disbelief. Sekhemet held his gaze with her dark eyes and then shifted them to the robot behind him.
“Now go stop that thing and save my artifact.” Sekhemet said and turned and walked back up the steps of the museum towards the throng of reporters. Spidey just shook his head and turned towards the robot again. The woman was obviously whacked, but she’d given him an idea. The robot seemed to need to become charged up before he fired one of his blasts of heat. Still, he was hot enough that Spidey couldn’t strike him without burning himself. He needed gloves.
Spider-Man shot webbing over his hands, making sure that his wrists were still uncovered so he could fire more webbing if he needed to. Once his fists were adequately covered in fluid, he jumped nearer to the robot again. His webbing was somewhat fire resistant. He might be able to strike the robot before it burned away. If he could get close enough.
“Hey hot boy. Time to take a chill pill.” Said Spidey as he jumped straight for the robots head. He reared back both of his fists and arched his back. Once he was above the robot, he brought down both fists on its head. The robots head caved in from the force of the blow and the crash of sound was thunderous. The robot slumped to one knee and Spidey smiled. Suddenly his spider-sense blared in his head and the smile faded as he saw a giant hand swinging towards him. He couldn’t avoid it as he was still in the air and it slapped him forcefully to the ground.
The robot rose to its feet again and pressed one giant foot down on Spider-Man before he could get up. The heat wasn’t as intense now, but somehow Spidey doubted that was going to last long.
“It seems that your effort has finally been proven in vain human.” Said the Collector as he began to approach Spider-Man. The superiority in his voice was really starting to get on Spidey’s nerves.
“Yeah well, at least I’ve got more style sense than you. I mean, if you’re going to wear a big sack of potatoes as an outfit, at least accessorize with a paper bag for that ugly face. I’ve got one at home I haven’t worn in ages. Want me to get it?” Spidey said as the Collector looked down at him. The Collector simply smiled, but not with good humor.
“Defiant to the last. I think I prefer it that way. Still, I wonder if your tongue will be capable of anything more than to scream when you’re fried from the inside by the heat of my automaton, human.”
“You know, if I’m going to die and all, the least you could do is call me Spider-Man. I mean, Hu-Man sounds so bland. And I have enough problems with the press as it is without having my name misquoted.” Spidey said, but he was beginning to sweat. The heat was growing and no matter how much he struggled he couldn’t lift the foot from his body.
“Spider-Man. A fitting name for a creature about to be crushed underfoot and burned alive. And an adequate lesson for anyone else who would dare defy the Collector.” The Collector said with a sneer. “It was child’s play to take over the mind of one of your pitiful race and have him acquire the artifact for me. But you had to interfere little insect. You brought your fate upon yourself. The blame is your own.”
“Right, whatever you say Tanny. I’m just glad you’re calling me something besides Hu-Man. Although I don’t think ‘Little Insect’ is really that big a step up.” Spider-Man said as he pushed with all his might against the giant foot pinning him down. The heat was starting to become unbearable and he knew he didn’t have much time.
Suddenly, there was an explosion as the head of the robot was ripped from the body. Spider-Man felt the heat drop considerably even though the foot remained pressed down on his body.
“Who dares!?” Cried the Collector as he turned to look upon the person that had destroyed his robot.
“I dare.” Said a voice that Spider-Man instantly recognized and he smiled, despite the incredible weight on his body. He never would have thought that the voice he’d been dreading not an hour ago would have been his salvation.
“And who might you be human? Speak quickly, before I still your tongue for eternity.” The Collector said as he glared at the man standing in front of him.
“I am Octopus. The man you used as a puppet, a pawn. No one does that to me. No man, no alien, not even an Elder of the Universe. Now, simply because you played God with the wrong man, I will personally see to it that none of your designs come to fruition.” Doctor Octopus said with an edge to his voice that Spider-Man had never heard before. The Collector simply laughed.
“Then come and challenge me human, and let us see if your greatest efforts can still my fury.”
Norman Osborn stood in his office and smiled. It had been but a few days since he’d taken over the duties of Oscorp again but he was pleased with the way things were developing. Still, taking back his company from Jent hadn’t been his only reason for coming back to New York. There was the matter of Spider-Man to deal with. Things were progressing according to plan. Despite what the boy thought, Peter Parker and Norman Osborn’s fates were intertwined. Norman had begun to have a revelation of sorts. Soon Peter would realize that it was destiny for both the goblin and the spider to be united once more.
Norman pressed a button on a control panel concealed beneath his desk and a section of his office wall slid away. There within was the costume of the Green Goblin. Norman smiled at the thought of wearing the costume again but he cast thoughts of it out of his mind. A time and a place for everything, his time would come again soon, but not yet. He shifted his gaze to the outfit next to his own. A variation of the costume he wore. It was blood red and fitted for a more feminine body type. The costume of the Rose Goblin.
He pressed a button on his desk and a number was dialed automatically. There was only one ring before it was answered. The person on the other end of the line said nothing as per the instructions Osborn had given. After a few seconds of listening to the steady breathing on the other end of the line, Osborn spoke.
“It is nearly time, time for you to reveal yourself to our enemy. When next I call, you will put the plan into action and prove yourself to me. My love.” Osborn said and then pressed a button that cut off the line. He smiled and took an ancient dagger from one of his drawers. He twirled it in his fingers and pictured it driving forcefully into Spider-Man’s heart. Then he began to laugh.
“Welcome back.” Said Robbie Robertson as he shook J. Jonah Jameson’s hand with vigor. The entire staff of the Bugle had quieted upon Jonah’s arrival. None of them had heard that he was getting out of the hospital today. Jonah had left of his own accord and hadn’t told anyone. He’d broken his arm and three of his ribs and had a pretty nasty concussion. Still, the mere presence of him had stilled the hustle and bustle of the Bugle completely. He smiled in his tight way and let go of Robbie’s hand. He turned to the entire room and spoke gruffly.
“Get back to work.” And like magic, everyone immediately turned to whatever task they’d been doing and began working frantically. Robbie smiled right along with Jonah and they walked back together towards his office. Glory thrust messages at him as soon as he was in range and smiled in her winning way.
“Welcome back boss.” She said and Jonah smiled back. It was good to be back at the Daily Bugle. He’d long stated the old adage that ink pumped like blood through his veins. This was his true home, the place where he felt the safest. The clean-up and construction crews had done remarkable things with the place since he’d been hospitalized. It was starting to look like a respectable place to work again.
“Robbie, I need you to ok these two stories for the main and entertainment section as soon as possible.” Said a voice from behind Jonah and he turned to see Betty Brant standing there. She smiled at him briefly and then pushed the papers into Robbie’s hands.
“Let me take those Robbie.” Said Jonah as he pulled the papers out of Robbie’s grip. “I’m out of practice.”
“Jonah, you’ve got a lot of things to catch up on, I think…” Robbie started, but Jonah cut him off.
“Nonsense, a couple of extra stories to edit won’t hurt my production any. Have to make some effort to get back into the groove of things and this is as good a place to start as any. Now you three get back to work. And as soon as Parker gets here, Miss Grant, tell him I want to speak to him immediately.” Jonah said and then slammed the door to his office shut. The entire Bugle became silent when he did it and looked over to Robbie for a brief second. Robbie just chuckled and shook his head.
“He’s back.” He said and then took Jonah’s order to heart.
Doctor Octopus avoided one of the Collector’s force blasts and lashed out again at the protective barrier surrounding his adversary. When he’d been watching the Collector best Spider-Man, he’d nearly toppled the great robot that had vanquished the web-slinger right there. If anyone were going to beat Spider-Man, it would be Otto Octavius. Still, Octopus had planned on at least letting the robot make Spider-Man suffer a bit before he interfered. The revelation that the Collector was controlling Octopus from the beginning changed everything.
He remembered everything that had happened to him, the battle with Spider-Man, convincing Stunner to appropriate the Eye for him. Everything. But there had been a single driving desire in his mind to get the Eye of the Sun during all that time. That was mind control. Octopus had safeguards against mind control just in case he ever battled a seasoned telepath, but the Collector had walked through them as if they were tissue paper.
Octopus wasn’t sure why the Collector wasn’t simply overtaking his mind again. Perhaps it was for the glory of taking an adversary one on one without resulting to underhanded tactics. Octopus smiled as he dodged another force blast from the uncanny device the Collector was using. This Collector obviously didn’t know who he was dealing with.
Stunner moved into position and on cue and drove her fists into the street directly behind the Collector. The force with which she did it caused a small tremor to shake throughout the ground. Octopus had surmised from watching the mobility the Collector had that his force field didn’t penetrate into the ground and stopped there instead. Octopus thrust his arms underneath the field as it was lifted off the ground by the tremor and took hold of one of the Collector’s legs.
“You dare lay hands upon one old enough to have seen stars born from nothingness, grow to their maturity and fade away? Truly your race reaches too far for their own good on the excuse of pride.” Said the Collector as Doctor Octopus struggled mightily to yank him from his feet. The ploy wasn’t working and Octopus was pinned himself as the force bubble set itself back down on top of his arm. The Collector turned as Stunner slammed her fists into the force field barrier.
"Foolish little human girl. But wait, what is this? You are not even human. Just a cleverly disguised holographic projection. Not worthy of even my slightest consideration.” Said the Collector with a mild chuckle.
“Consider this ugly.” Said Stunner with rage as she pounded on the force bubble again and again.
“Is she yours Octopus? I can see that one with her spirit would be appealing to you. Perhaps your death isn’t a fitting punishment for your meager attempt to dissuade me.” The Collector said as he turned to face Stunner.
“You will not harm her ageless one. I vow that you will meet your end if you do.” Shouted Octopus as he beat upon the force field with his three remaining arms and struggled to pull himself free.
“I think not human. I have been within your head, within your body. I’ve seen the love you hold for this woman. Been with you as you made love to her. There is a link that transpires from this place to your compound. I will simply cut that link and destroy the machinery that the real woman is encapsulated within. Then perhaps you will know the pain that I know when a possession is taken away.” Said the Collector and another device materialized in his hand. He manipulated it and suddenly Stunner cried out in an ear splitting shriek.
“Otto, what’s happening to me?” Cried Stunner as she began to fade away. Spider-Man had seen Stunner fade away before, but never like this. It was as if her body was closing in on itself.
“Oh god, Otto. It hurts. Make it stop. Please make it sto…” Stunner screamed and then she was gone, flashing away with a pop of light and sound.
“Damn you Elder. You will die for that, I swear it!” Octopus yelled at the top of his lungs. Tears streamed down his face and his voice was hoarse and ugly. Spider-Man knew that things were going to get ugly real quick if he couldn’t stop the Collector and Octopus from tearing each other apart. He summoned all his strength and began to push.
“You are an easy target now human. As simple as it would be for me to kill you right now and end your miserable life, I will not. I will simply transport you back to your home. There you can pick up the ravaged pieces of your pitiful existence and mourn your lost love.” The Collector said and another device flashed into his hand. It floated into the air and like a dart flew at Doctor Octopus. He tried to strike at it with his remaining arms but he couldn’t connect. It collided with him and he was transported somewhere else.
The Collector turned and looked back towards Spider-Man. The foot was beginning to rise as Spidey put all his strength behind shoving it off. The Collector walked over to him and pressed another button on the control device he held. His force field faded away.
“You’re a monster Taneleer. There was no reason to kill her.” Said Spider-Man through gritted teeth and the Collector simply looked at Spider-Man inquisitively.
“Is there not a need to strike at the bug that draws blood from your veins and spreads infection? Answer me this human?”
“She was a person you maniac, not a bug. I don’t know if I can stop you, but there are cameras and reporters and people who will spread the knowledge of what happened here today. They’ll tell all about what you did here and then maybe you’ll find yourself being collected by the Avengers one day, instead of the other way around.” Spider-Man said and grunted as he tried to slide out from under the massive foot holding him down. The Collector placed his foot on top of it and pressed it back down.
“The Avengers have but a simple reprieve at the moment from being collected by my personage. When the time comes, they will be part of my vast assortment of possessions, just as the Eye of the Sun is about to b…” But suddenly the Collector stopped speaking, and Spider-Man could see why. Behind the Collector, holding one of the weapons that the Collector’s team of robots had been carrying was Sekhemet Conoway.
“I’m getting really tired of hearing you talk.” Said Sekhemet Conoway as she pressed the gun into the Collector’s back. “You’re not taking the Eye of the Sun. You’re not killing Spider-Man or anyone else here. If you don’t leave right this second, all that’ll be left of you will be that funky looking outfit you’ve got on.”
“Miss Conoway, don’t do this. He’s not worth it.” Said Spider-Man as he kept struggling to lift the foot pressed down on him. The Collector had removed his foot but Spidey had lost a lot of his strength.
“Oh, he’s worth it. Aren’t you Collector? An Elder of the Universe with a crutch for collecting things, killed while collecting an artifact that I’m sure would just go up somewhere in that vast collection of yours, never to be looked at again. There’s a nice little twist of irony in that, don’t you think?” Said Sekhemet as she pushed the Eye of the Sun underneath the Collector’s nose. Spider-Man could see the Collector was worried. Spidey wasn’t sure how invulnerable the Collector was, but those weapons had done quite a number on the asphalt of the street. The Collector didn’t seem to want to take the chance.
“So woman, you, who know nothing of the significance of the item in your hand would slay me simply to insure that it remain in your possession?” Asked the Collector and Spider-Man didn’t like the tone of voice he was using.
“You’re damn right.” Said Sekhemet and then suddenly the Collector whirled around, snatching both the gun and the Eye of the Sun from Sekhemet’s grasp before she could move. Spider-Man wasn’t sure how it had happened. The Collector had moved almost too fast for his eye to follow.
“Then you shall be its keeper for eternity.” Said the Collector as he crushed the gun in his free hand. He gripped Sekhemet by her shoulders and turned her around. He took the Eye of the Sun, which was glowing strangely, and thrust it into her back. Sekhemet Conoway screamed and Spider-Man made one last herculean effort to throw off the foot. It slid off of him and he jumped to his feet, throwing his body between the Collector and Sekhemet.
“You fool, you’ve interrupted the process.” Said Sekhemet and the Collector as one and Spider-Man was disoriented for a moment. The Collector stepped away and Sekhemet fell to her knees, promptly passing out. Spider-Man turned to the Collector and grabbed him forcefully.
“What did you do to her?” Said Spider-Man as he clenched his fists tight around the Collector’s garb. The Collector smiled thoughtfully and pushed Spider-Man away. Spidey fell to the ground roughly and cart-wheeled to a standing position.
“I had simply attempted to give her the gift. But you interfered Spider-Man. As an Elder of the Universe I was required to appropriate the artifact not for my own collection, but for another, more private reason.” Said the Collector as another device materialized in his hand.
“Now you have interfered and my task is at an end. The artifact will be of no use to the enemy now that it is connected to this human in the way that it is. Hopefully, it will remain as such.”
The Collector pressed a button and a light appeared at his stomach that slowly began to spread along his body, growing brighter by the second. Spider-Man recognized it as the same light that had blinded him when the Collector had first appeared.
“You fought valiantly human. I must nod my head to you in that regard. Perhaps one day we shall meet again. Perhaps it will be the day when that artifact the woman guards is brought into play again. I hope this is not so. For on that day, I will surely kill you for your effrontery.” Said the Collector and then the flash of light encompassed the entire area, momentarily blinding everyone there. When the effect of the light had faded, the Collector was gone.
“Miss Conoway, are you alright? Said Spider-Man as he stooped to pick Sekhemet to her feet. She shrugged off his hands and pushed him away abruptly.
“I’m fine. Didn’t I tell you about those hands of yours?” Said Sekhemet as she began to walk towards the authorities. Spider-Man could see the charred hole in her clothing and the Eye of the Sun settled part of the way in her back. He wasn’t sure what it meant and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. He began to follow Sekhemet for the briefest of seconds before he realized he’d forgotten all about Ben. He hadn’t gotten any pictures at all for Ben. He knew he was dead and he scanned the area for any sign of Urich. Ben wasn’t around. Spidey groaned and slapped his head with his palm.
“Spider-Man.” Said a voice from behind him and Spidey whirled around to face the person who’d called his name. There standing in front of him was a man in a long trench coat and a blue suit. He approached Spider-Man and flashed a badge. Spidey sighed deep in his chest and slumped his shoulders. He really didn’t need this.
“I know you’re a busy man web-slinger, so I’ll only take a minute of your time. My name is detective Russ Anderson. I have a few questions to ask you, about the Rose Goblin.” Said Detective Anderson and Spider-Man’s head jolted up. Getting reamed out by Robbie and Ben Urich could wait. The Daily Bugle could wait. The world could wait. Spider-Man had business to take care of.
Next Issue: Roses are Red begins, with the return of the Rose Goblin, 'nuff said.
“This is insane!” Shouted Ben Urich over the din of the robotic army as it marched towards the amazing Spider-Man. Just a few minutes ago, Spidey had been embroiled in a battle with Doctor Octopus and Stunner for possession of the Eye of the Sun, a relic on display at the New York Museum of Natural Art. Now, as reporters, police and bystanders looked on in amazement, Spider-Man had acquired a new adversary, a being calling himself the Collector. A being that had just happened to bring an entire squadron of futuristic looking robotic drones to enforce his wishes.*
[*Happened last issue - Will]
Angela Yin was snapping pictures as quickly as she could, shucking one roll of film for the next and Urich was grateful for that. He was having a hard time scribbling his notes what with all the action going on around him. The hand that slid itself onto his shoulder didn’t help to keep him focused any.
“Indeed it is insane Mr. Urich. Perhaps New York wasn’t the best place for the Eye of the Sun to reside after all.” Said a voice in Ben’s ear and he turned to see Sekhemet Conoway standing right behind him. He was flustered for a moment by her dark beauty even though she wasn’t even looking at him. Still, he wasn’t a New Yorker for nothing. Turning back to look at Spider-Man crouched down before all his opposition, ready to strike, Ben smiled and answered with confidence.
“I wouldn’t say that Miss Conoway, in fact I’d say if you were looking to safeguard the piece. You couldn’t have picked a better place. Or a better man to do it.” Ben Urich turned to look back at Sekhemet again, but she was gone. He hadn’t noticed her taking her hand off of his shoulder. He scanned the mass of people gathering around him but could see no sign of her. Sighing deeply, he shrugged and turned back to his work. The Collector was harping on again about his superiority and the futility of anyone to resist him. It was going to be a long night.
“Are you going to dance or are you just going to sit there all night?” Asked Jill Stacey with a flirtatious smile etched on her beautiful face. Eugene looked up at her in mild annoyance and shrugged his shoulders. Jill looked fantastic, she was sweating lightly from the exertion of dancing and her hair was slightly messed. A strand of it kept drifting in front of her eyes and she had to blow at it lightly to move it away. Eugene hoped it never stopped bothering her.
“I’m not much of a dancer.” He replied, color creeping up into his cheeks as Jill kept a steady gaze upon him. When Jill had invited Eugene and May along with Randy and her to go out, Eugene had expected them to go somewhere to eat, or perhaps catch a late movie. Of course, holding true to Eugene’s luck, Aunt May had cajoled Jill into taking her home. As soon as Aunt May was safely inside her door, Randy had sidled up to Jill and suggested the club scene. Eugene wasn’t the dorky kid he’d been before he’d gone off to college, but he still wasn’t comfortable with the club scene. And he couldn’t dance to save his life. He’d been sitting at this same table all night.
“You are such a party pooper Eugene. I thought you wanted to hang out with me tonight.” Said Jill and Eugene smiled despite himself. She was good at using her words to mess with his head. He had come out so that he could be with her, but he’d never came out and fully said it.
“Jill, I…” Eugene started but Jill cut him off as if she wasn’t even listening.
“I mean, look at Randy out there.” Jill said and Eugene followed the direction she was pointing to see Randy, dancing with three girls surrounding him. He moved fluidly and he was obviously an experienced dancer. The girls around him weren’t as good looking as Jill, but they were attractive, all the same. “He got you into the club. He’s the life of the party. Trust me, I know. I’ve been dancing with him all night.”
Eugene flared with an intense feeling of jealousy as Jill spoke. He couldn’t stand it when Jill did anything nice to Randy because the guy was such a horn-dog and he took it all out of context. If she even so much as touched his arm, he was all over her, groping her and trying to get her to respond. It really pissed Eugene off. Jill caught the flash of anger in Eugene’s eyes and smiled. She leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“But to tell you the truth, I’m tired of dancing with Randy. I want to dance with you.” Jill said and Eugene pulled back and looked at her. Her lips were slightly parted and she was breathing heavily. Eugene wanted nothing more in the world at that moment than to kiss her. What made it worse was that he was absolutely sure that Jill knew it too. Eugene smiled and got up. Jill smiled too.
“C’mon, let’s show Randy how to really party.” She said and they walked towards the crowded dance floor together.
“All gathered here on this day should feel privileged to witness the coming of my presence. Stand aside, and none shall feel my wrath.” Said the Collector with an air of royalty evident in his voice. He scanned the mass of humanity before him briefly but still barely registered them. His eyes were locked onto one prize and one prize alone. The artifact seated upon a pedestal not one hundred feet from him. The Collector looked down at the control panel in his hand and pushed a few buttons. Commands were simultaneously issued to the robotic fleet in front of him and they began to march towards the artifact. Soon it would be in his possession.
Suddenly, the Collector was blinded as a sticky fluid slapped against his face, covering his eyes. The fluid began to harden and constrict on his face and the Collector reached up to pull it free. It was still sticky, but also strong and difficult to pull away. The Collector activated a small wrist-mounted laser and cut through the substance, practiced ease kept him from burning himself. He couldn’t believe that someone had actually attempted such a foolish act. Enraged, he looked over the masses again. His eyes soon found his quarry.
“Hey, old guy. You do realize you’re wearing a bag right?” Said Spider-Man as he fired more web-fluid toward the Collector. He’d been an Avenger long enough to hear tales of the insane Elder of the Universe that was always trying to turn the Avengers into his own personal G.I. Joe collection. Spider-Man knew the guy had practically taken out the world’s mightiest heroes on numerous occasions too. He couldn’t take any chances.
The web-lines shot through the air, but before they connected with the Collector, they fell harmlessly to the ground. A solid force-field bubble with a greenish hue erected itself around the Collector seconds before Spidey hit his mark. The web-lines slid right off of it. Spidey groaned.
“I know not who you are human. But if you wish to try the mettle of an Elder of the Universe, I assure you. You will be found lacking.” The Collector said and Spider-Man watched as the entire robotic squad turned away from the museum and began marching towards him. There were at least two dozen of the metal commandos and as Spidey looked them over, he had to admire the seamless way they moved. It was almost as if they were human. One of them raised a rifle-shaped gun and fired. A blast of pure heat issued forth and Spidey was barely able to dodge in time. His admiration for the design faded and was replaced by mild annoyance.
“Taneleer, I’m hurt. Is that any way to treat your friendly neighborhood robot inspector?” Spidey said as he leapt towards the robot that had fired at him. The robot thrust its weapon down at his head as he crouched before it, but Spidey simply caught both of its arms in his hands. Spider-Man pulled forcefully and the metal twisted in his grip as he tore the arms from the robots body.
“Just as I thought, faulty manufacturing. I’m going to have to penalize you for that. Tanny. How about you turn off the robots and let me know why you’re after the Eye of the Sun?” Spider-Man said as he reared back his fist and struck the next closest robot to him. Its head launched from its shoulders and it fell, sparking violently, to the ground. Spidey ducked another shot from a heat rifle and kept moving.
“You dare mock your betters human? Perhaps your sense of humor would be better served in entertaining the vast scores of beings I have as my collection? Tell me, would you not be honored to be considered among my flock?” The Collector said as Spider-Man crushed two more of his robotic minions. The Collector pushed a button and the remaining robots shot into the air, propelled by anti-gravity discs that formed from their feet.
“To tell the truth, I’ve never performed very well in front of an audience. I tried stand-up once and they said if I ever came back my arms would be my legs and my legs my arms and, well, you know how it is.” Spidey said as he dodged the shots of heat all of the robots were firing from the air. The ground was getting noticeably hotter as each blast hit the asphalt. Spidey jumped up into the air and landed on one of the robots’ head.
“Guess that’s what I get for trying to entertain at the Kingpin’s birthday party.” Spidey said and dodged just before a blast of heat from another robot could strike him. The blast tore through the robot Spidey had been perched upon and it sputtered to the ground.
“Oh well, live and learn I guess.” Spidey said as he landed once more on the ground, the robot landing heavily behind him.
“Enough of this!” Yelled the Collector and pressed another button on the display panel in front of him. The robots all began to glow from inside and Spider-Man could feel the heat they were emanating from their bodies. They gathered in the air and began to latch onto each other, their bodies beginning to melt and flow into one another. “You have tried my patience for the last time human. I had these robots made by a brilliant Kree scientist in my possession. When they face an adversary they cannot vanquish they merge and become unstoppable.”
Spider-Man watched as the liquid hot metal the robots had once been formed into a much larger robot. It stood at least forty feet high and still radiated an intense heat. As it advanced upon him, Spider-Man found himself wanting to back away so as not to be fried where he stood.
“You wouldn’t happen to be related to the Molten Man would you?” Asked Spider-Man as the huge robot fired white-hot blasts of heat from its hands. The street liquefied underneath Spider-Man and he strained his muscles to leap as far away as he could manage with the crowd of people still surrounding him. The robot simply turned and kept up its pursuit.
“Ok, ok, so you’re a little sensitive about your roots. I can understand that. But taking out your frustrations on insects, spiders and other cute, cuddly animals is definitely not the way to go.” Spider-Man said as he struggled to bounce around the tight circle he had to move in. Keeping out of range of the robot was difficult and he didn’t want it to get close enough to fire another one of those blasts of heat energy. He had to think of something fast.
Suddenly a rock sailed through the air and connected with the side of the robots head. There was no real face on the robots’ head so there was no expression, but it tilted its head to the side as if puzzled. Another rock sailed through the air and hit the robot again. It diverted its attention away from Spider-Man and scanned the crowd. There, standing before the robot, oblivious of the police who were yelling at her to come back to the barriers, was Sekhemet Conoway.
“I’m getting sick and tired of every time I try to locate or donate a prized artifact, somebody tries to steal it.” Sekhemet yelled at the top of her lungs and chucked another rock at the huge robot. Spider-Man couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The rock sailed through the air and connected with the robots head again. This time though, the rock simply melted into the head. Spidey jumped into the air towards Sekhemet as soon as he saw that. The robot was heating up.
“Now what I think you need to do is take that old man you’ve got pulling your strings and go back wherever it is that you came fr…” Sekhemet said but she was cut off as the air was thrust from her lungs. Spidey had her in his arms and was leaping away just as another blast of pure heat fired from the robots hands. The police backed the crowd further away as the ground in front of them became liquid hot. Spider-Man landed with Sekhemet still in his arms and she hopped out of his arms. Then she promptly punched him in the nose.
“Don’t ever put your hands on me again unless I say I want them there. Gloves or no.” Sekhemet said and Spidey looked at her in disbelief. Sekhemet held his gaze with her dark eyes and then shifted them to the robot behind him.
“Now go stop that thing and save my artifact.” Sekhemet said and turned and walked back up the steps of the museum towards the throng of reporters. Spidey just shook his head and turned towards the robot again. The woman was obviously whacked, but she’d given him an idea. The robot seemed to need to become charged up before he fired one of his blasts of heat. Still, he was hot enough that Spidey couldn’t strike him without burning himself. He needed gloves.
Spider-Man shot webbing over his hands, making sure that his wrists were still uncovered so he could fire more webbing if he needed to. Once his fists were adequately covered in fluid, he jumped nearer to the robot again. His webbing was somewhat fire resistant. He might be able to strike the robot before it burned away. If he could get close enough.
“Hey hot boy. Time to take a chill pill.” Said Spidey as he jumped straight for the robots head. He reared back both of his fists and arched his back. Once he was above the robot, he brought down both fists on its head. The robots head caved in from the force of the blow and the crash of sound was thunderous. The robot slumped to one knee and Spidey smiled. Suddenly his spider-sense blared in his head and the smile faded as he saw a giant hand swinging towards him. He couldn’t avoid it as he was still in the air and it slapped him forcefully to the ground.
The robot rose to its feet again and pressed one giant foot down on Spider-Man before he could get up. The heat wasn’t as intense now, but somehow Spidey doubted that was going to last long.
“It seems that your effort has finally been proven in vain human.” Said the Collector as he began to approach Spider-Man. The superiority in his voice was really starting to get on Spidey’s nerves.
“Yeah well, at least I’ve got more style sense than you. I mean, if you’re going to wear a big sack of potatoes as an outfit, at least accessorize with a paper bag for that ugly face. I’ve got one at home I haven’t worn in ages. Want me to get it?” Spidey said as the Collector looked down at him. The Collector simply smiled, but not with good humor.
“Defiant to the last. I think I prefer it that way. Still, I wonder if your tongue will be capable of anything more than to scream when you’re fried from the inside by the heat of my automaton, human.”
“You know, if I’m going to die and all, the least you could do is call me Spider-Man. I mean, Hu-Man sounds so bland. And I have enough problems with the press as it is without having my name misquoted.” Spidey said, but he was beginning to sweat. The heat was growing and no matter how much he struggled he couldn’t lift the foot from his body.
“Spider-Man. A fitting name for a creature about to be crushed underfoot and burned alive. And an adequate lesson for anyone else who would dare defy the Collector.” The Collector said with a sneer. “It was child’s play to take over the mind of one of your pitiful race and have him acquire the artifact for me. But you had to interfere little insect. You brought your fate upon yourself. The blame is your own.”
“Right, whatever you say Tanny. I’m just glad you’re calling me something besides Hu-Man. Although I don’t think ‘Little Insect’ is really that big a step up.” Spider-Man said as he pushed with all his might against the giant foot pinning him down. The heat was starting to become unbearable and he knew he didn’t have much time.
Suddenly, there was an explosion as the head of the robot was ripped from the body. Spider-Man felt the heat drop considerably even though the foot remained pressed down on his body.
“Who dares!?” Cried the Collector as he turned to look upon the person that had destroyed his robot.
“I dare.” Said a voice that Spider-Man instantly recognized and he smiled, despite the incredible weight on his body. He never would have thought that the voice he’d been dreading not an hour ago would have been his salvation.
“And who might you be human? Speak quickly, before I still your tongue for eternity.” The Collector said as he glared at the man standing in front of him.
“I am Octopus. The man you used as a puppet, a pawn. No one does that to me. No man, no alien, not even an Elder of the Universe. Now, simply because you played God with the wrong man, I will personally see to it that none of your designs come to fruition.” Doctor Octopus said with an edge to his voice that Spider-Man had never heard before. The Collector simply laughed.
“Then come and challenge me human, and let us see if your greatest efforts can still my fury.”
Norman Osborn stood in his office and smiled. It had been but a few days since he’d taken over the duties of Oscorp again but he was pleased with the way things were developing. Still, taking back his company from Jent hadn’t been his only reason for coming back to New York. There was the matter of Spider-Man to deal with. Things were progressing according to plan. Despite what the boy thought, Peter Parker and Norman Osborn’s fates were intertwined. Norman had begun to have a revelation of sorts. Soon Peter would realize that it was destiny for both the goblin and the spider to be united once more.
Norman pressed a button on a control panel concealed beneath his desk and a section of his office wall slid away. There within was the costume of the Green Goblin. Norman smiled at the thought of wearing the costume again but he cast thoughts of it out of his mind. A time and a place for everything, his time would come again soon, but not yet. He shifted his gaze to the outfit next to his own. A variation of the costume he wore. It was blood red and fitted for a more feminine body type. The costume of the Rose Goblin.
He pressed a button on his desk and a number was dialed automatically. There was only one ring before it was answered. The person on the other end of the line said nothing as per the instructions Osborn had given. After a few seconds of listening to the steady breathing on the other end of the line, Osborn spoke.
“It is nearly time, time for you to reveal yourself to our enemy. When next I call, you will put the plan into action and prove yourself to me. My love.” Osborn said and then pressed a button that cut off the line. He smiled and took an ancient dagger from one of his drawers. He twirled it in his fingers and pictured it driving forcefully into Spider-Man’s heart. Then he began to laugh.
“Welcome back.” Said Robbie Robertson as he shook J. Jonah Jameson’s hand with vigor. The entire staff of the Bugle had quieted upon Jonah’s arrival. None of them had heard that he was getting out of the hospital today. Jonah had left of his own accord and hadn’t told anyone. He’d broken his arm and three of his ribs and had a pretty nasty concussion. Still, the mere presence of him had stilled the hustle and bustle of the Bugle completely. He smiled in his tight way and let go of Robbie’s hand. He turned to the entire room and spoke gruffly.
“Get back to work.” And like magic, everyone immediately turned to whatever task they’d been doing and began working frantically. Robbie smiled right along with Jonah and they walked back together towards his office. Glory thrust messages at him as soon as he was in range and smiled in her winning way.
“Welcome back boss.” She said and Jonah smiled back. It was good to be back at the Daily Bugle. He’d long stated the old adage that ink pumped like blood through his veins. This was his true home, the place where he felt the safest. The clean-up and construction crews had done remarkable things with the place since he’d been hospitalized. It was starting to look like a respectable place to work again.
“Robbie, I need you to ok these two stories for the main and entertainment section as soon as possible.” Said a voice from behind Jonah and he turned to see Betty Brant standing there. She smiled at him briefly and then pushed the papers into Robbie’s hands.
“Let me take those Robbie.” Said Jonah as he pulled the papers out of Robbie’s grip. “I’m out of practice.”
“Jonah, you’ve got a lot of things to catch up on, I think…” Robbie started, but Jonah cut him off.
“Nonsense, a couple of extra stories to edit won’t hurt my production any. Have to make some effort to get back into the groove of things and this is as good a place to start as any. Now you three get back to work. And as soon as Parker gets here, Miss Grant, tell him I want to speak to him immediately.” Jonah said and then slammed the door to his office shut. The entire Bugle became silent when he did it and looked over to Robbie for a brief second. Robbie just chuckled and shook his head.
“He’s back.” He said and then took Jonah’s order to heart.
Doctor Octopus avoided one of the Collector’s force blasts and lashed out again at the protective barrier surrounding his adversary. When he’d been watching the Collector best Spider-Man, he’d nearly toppled the great robot that had vanquished the web-slinger right there. If anyone were going to beat Spider-Man, it would be Otto Octavius. Still, Octopus had planned on at least letting the robot make Spider-Man suffer a bit before he interfered. The revelation that the Collector was controlling Octopus from the beginning changed everything.
He remembered everything that had happened to him, the battle with Spider-Man, convincing Stunner to appropriate the Eye for him. Everything. But there had been a single driving desire in his mind to get the Eye of the Sun during all that time. That was mind control. Octopus had safeguards against mind control just in case he ever battled a seasoned telepath, but the Collector had walked through them as if they were tissue paper.
Octopus wasn’t sure why the Collector wasn’t simply overtaking his mind again. Perhaps it was for the glory of taking an adversary one on one without resulting to underhanded tactics. Octopus smiled as he dodged another force blast from the uncanny device the Collector was using. This Collector obviously didn’t know who he was dealing with.
Stunner moved into position and on cue and drove her fists into the street directly behind the Collector. The force with which she did it caused a small tremor to shake throughout the ground. Octopus had surmised from watching the mobility the Collector had that his force field didn’t penetrate into the ground and stopped there instead. Octopus thrust his arms underneath the field as it was lifted off the ground by the tremor and took hold of one of the Collector’s legs.
“You dare lay hands upon one old enough to have seen stars born from nothingness, grow to their maturity and fade away? Truly your race reaches too far for their own good on the excuse of pride.” Said the Collector as Doctor Octopus struggled mightily to yank him from his feet. The ploy wasn’t working and Octopus was pinned himself as the force bubble set itself back down on top of his arm. The Collector turned as Stunner slammed her fists into the force field barrier.
"Foolish little human girl. But wait, what is this? You are not even human. Just a cleverly disguised holographic projection. Not worthy of even my slightest consideration.” Said the Collector with a mild chuckle.
“Consider this ugly.” Said Stunner with rage as she pounded on the force bubble again and again.
“Is she yours Octopus? I can see that one with her spirit would be appealing to you. Perhaps your death isn’t a fitting punishment for your meager attempt to dissuade me.” The Collector said as he turned to face Stunner.
“You will not harm her ageless one. I vow that you will meet your end if you do.” Shouted Octopus as he beat upon the force field with his three remaining arms and struggled to pull himself free.
“I think not human. I have been within your head, within your body. I’ve seen the love you hold for this woman. Been with you as you made love to her. There is a link that transpires from this place to your compound. I will simply cut that link and destroy the machinery that the real woman is encapsulated within. Then perhaps you will know the pain that I know when a possession is taken away.” Said the Collector and another device materialized in his hand. He manipulated it and suddenly Stunner cried out in an ear splitting shriek.
“Otto, what’s happening to me?” Cried Stunner as she began to fade away. Spider-Man had seen Stunner fade away before, but never like this. It was as if her body was closing in on itself.
“Oh god, Otto. It hurts. Make it stop. Please make it sto…” Stunner screamed and then she was gone, flashing away with a pop of light and sound.
“Damn you Elder. You will die for that, I swear it!” Octopus yelled at the top of his lungs. Tears streamed down his face and his voice was hoarse and ugly. Spider-Man knew that things were going to get ugly real quick if he couldn’t stop the Collector and Octopus from tearing each other apart. He summoned all his strength and began to push.
“You are an easy target now human. As simple as it would be for me to kill you right now and end your miserable life, I will not. I will simply transport you back to your home. There you can pick up the ravaged pieces of your pitiful existence and mourn your lost love.” The Collector said and another device flashed into his hand. It floated into the air and like a dart flew at Doctor Octopus. He tried to strike at it with his remaining arms but he couldn’t connect. It collided with him and he was transported somewhere else.
The Collector turned and looked back towards Spider-Man. The foot was beginning to rise as Spidey put all his strength behind shoving it off. The Collector walked over to him and pressed another button on the control device he held. His force field faded away.
“You’re a monster Taneleer. There was no reason to kill her.” Said Spider-Man through gritted teeth and the Collector simply looked at Spider-Man inquisitively.
“Is there not a need to strike at the bug that draws blood from your veins and spreads infection? Answer me this human?”
“She was a person you maniac, not a bug. I don’t know if I can stop you, but there are cameras and reporters and people who will spread the knowledge of what happened here today. They’ll tell all about what you did here and then maybe you’ll find yourself being collected by the Avengers one day, instead of the other way around.” Spider-Man said and grunted as he tried to slide out from under the massive foot holding him down. The Collector placed his foot on top of it and pressed it back down.
“The Avengers have but a simple reprieve at the moment from being collected by my personage. When the time comes, they will be part of my vast assortment of possessions, just as the Eye of the Sun is about to b…” But suddenly the Collector stopped speaking, and Spider-Man could see why. Behind the Collector, holding one of the weapons that the Collector’s team of robots had been carrying was Sekhemet Conoway.
“I’m getting really tired of hearing you talk.” Said Sekhemet Conoway as she pressed the gun into the Collector’s back. “You’re not taking the Eye of the Sun. You’re not killing Spider-Man or anyone else here. If you don’t leave right this second, all that’ll be left of you will be that funky looking outfit you’ve got on.”
“Miss Conoway, don’t do this. He’s not worth it.” Said Spider-Man as he kept struggling to lift the foot pressed down on him. The Collector had removed his foot but Spidey had lost a lot of his strength.
“Oh, he’s worth it. Aren’t you Collector? An Elder of the Universe with a crutch for collecting things, killed while collecting an artifact that I’m sure would just go up somewhere in that vast collection of yours, never to be looked at again. There’s a nice little twist of irony in that, don’t you think?” Said Sekhemet as she pushed the Eye of the Sun underneath the Collector’s nose. Spider-Man could see the Collector was worried. Spidey wasn’t sure how invulnerable the Collector was, but those weapons had done quite a number on the asphalt of the street. The Collector didn’t seem to want to take the chance.
“So woman, you, who know nothing of the significance of the item in your hand would slay me simply to insure that it remain in your possession?” Asked the Collector and Spider-Man didn’t like the tone of voice he was using.
“You’re damn right.” Said Sekhemet and then suddenly the Collector whirled around, snatching both the gun and the Eye of the Sun from Sekhemet’s grasp before she could move. Spider-Man wasn’t sure how it had happened. The Collector had moved almost too fast for his eye to follow.
“Then you shall be its keeper for eternity.” Said the Collector as he crushed the gun in his free hand. He gripped Sekhemet by her shoulders and turned her around. He took the Eye of the Sun, which was glowing strangely, and thrust it into her back. Sekhemet Conoway screamed and Spider-Man made one last herculean effort to throw off the foot. It slid off of him and he jumped to his feet, throwing his body between the Collector and Sekhemet.
“You fool, you’ve interrupted the process.” Said Sekhemet and the Collector as one and Spider-Man was disoriented for a moment. The Collector stepped away and Sekhemet fell to her knees, promptly passing out. Spider-Man turned to the Collector and grabbed him forcefully.
“What did you do to her?” Said Spider-Man as he clenched his fists tight around the Collector’s garb. The Collector smiled thoughtfully and pushed Spider-Man away. Spidey fell to the ground roughly and cart-wheeled to a standing position.
“I had simply attempted to give her the gift. But you interfered Spider-Man. As an Elder of the Universe I was required to appropriate the artifact not for my own collection, but for another, more private reason.” Said the Collector as another device materialized in his hand.
“Now you have interfered and my task is at an end. The artifact will be of no use to the enemy now that it is connected to this human in the way that it is. Hopefully, it will remain as such.”
The Collector pressed a button and a light appeared at his stomach that slowly began to spread along his body, growing brighter by the second. Spider-Man recognized it as the same light that had blinded him when the Collector had first appeared.
“You fought valiantly human. I must nod my head to you in that regard. Perhaps one day we shall meet again. Perhaps it will be the day when that artifact the woman guards is brought into play again. I hope this is not so. For on that day, I will surely kill you for your effrontery.” Said the Collector and then the flash of light encompassed the entire area, momentarily blinding everyone there. When the effect of the light had faded, the Collector was gone.
“Miss Conoway, are you alright? Said Spider-Man as he stooped to pick Sekhemet to her feet. She shrugged off his hands and pushed him away abruptly.
“I’m fine. Didn’t I tell you about those hands of yours?” Said Sekhemet as she began to walk towards the authorities. Spider-Man could see the charred hole in her clothing and the Eye of the Sun settled part of the way in her back. He wasn’t sure what it meant and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. He began to follow Sekhemet for the briefest of seconds before he realized he’d forgotten all about Ben. He hadn’t gotten any pictures at all for Ben. He knew he was dead and he scanned the area for any sign of Urich. Ben wasn’t around. Spidey groaned and slapped his head with his palm.
“Spider-Man.” Said a voice from behind him and Spidey whirled around to face the person who’d called his name. There standing in front of him was a man in a long trench coat and a blue suit. He approached Spider-Man and flashed a badge. Spidey sighed deep in his chest and slumped his shoulders. He really didn’t need this.
“I know you’re a busy man web-slinger, so I’ll only take a minute of your time. My name is detective Russ Anderson. I have a few questions to ask you, about the Rose Goblin.” Said Detective Anderson and Spider-Man’s head jolted up. Getting reamed out by Robbie and Ben Urich could wait. The Daily Bugle could wait. The world could wait. Spider-Man had business to take care of.
Next Issue: Roses are Red begins, with the return of the Rose Goblin, 'nuff said.