Back to GatefoldIssue #19 by Mike Exner III
|
"FOR THE DEATH OF OUR BROTHER"
Previously in the Amazing Spider-Man: Liz Osborn was exposed as the Rose Goblin and Norman was revealed to have been controlling and manipulating Liz from the start. After Liz had a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide, Norman and Peter faced off in a titanic battle that ended with the death of the Green Goblin. Then as Spider-Man took Liz from the scene of the chaos, the true Rose Goblin stepped from the shadows and promised revenge.
The rain fell in thick droplets of ice on the cold, dark metal of the fire escape. The window looked in on the darkened living room of Randy Robertson's apartment and the Amazing Spider-Man smiled. It was good to be home.
The window wasn't locked and Spidey was glad for that. Randy was probably on his way to the "Sloppy Goat" or "Wet Nipple" or whatever club it was he bartended at on Friday nights. Randy had made it crystal clear that avoiding the landlady was a high priority, but sneaking in and out of the apartment in this weather was an excellent way to break your neck. Pete hoped his roommate had enough common sense to come in through the front door when he got home.
Peter crossed the living area of the apartment and slipped into his own room. He quickly shed his drenched and torn outfit and examined the burn on his shoulder. The wound was the most severe injury he had suffered during his battle with Osborn but even it was beginning to look a lot better.* His cuts and bruises had nearly vanished entirely.
[*If you didn't read last issue, there's no hope for you - Dino]
Peter quickly slipped into a pair of boxer shorts and an Empire State University t-shirt. He left his room and leapt over the back of the couch, landing squarely between the cushions. He thumbed the remote control as his aching back settled tenderly into the sofa. A news program immediately materialized on the screen and Peter narrowed his eyes as a special bulletin crossed the news desk.
{{ "Moments ago a woman identified as the Rose Goblin was checked into the ER of Manhattan County Hospital. Sources tell us that the vigilante known as Spider-Man deposited the wanted criminal into the waiting arms of the hospital staff. Authorities from the New York Police Department have recently arrived on the scene but are unable to question the Rose Goblin due to an excessive amount of toxins found in her system upon arrival. The Rose Goblin was treated by physicians but is currently in critical condition." }}
Peter pressed the power button on the remote control and sighed deeply. He had heard this news report minutes before as he sat outside of an appliance store in the pouring rain. Detective Russ Anderson, the officer in charge of the Rose Goblin case, had appeared on the screen and informed the entire world that the Rose Goblin was being closely scrutinized and would remain under wraps. Doctors were questioned and informed the police in no uncertain terms that Liz Osborn's physiology was altered in a manner befitting that of a superhuman condition. All the evidence pointed towards this poor woman being the Rose Goblin and that was how the police were approaching the case.
Peter felt a single tear slip from his eyes. Liz Osborn was insane. She had tried to kill herself. She was stronger than ten men. Spider-Man had done the right thing in brining her to the hospital and phoning Anderson. It was the only thing he could have done. He had also called Dr. Ashley Kafka at Ravencroft.* Liz would be given the best care and eventually she would face up to the things Osborn did to her. Face up to them and knock them down. Of that, Spidey had no doubt.
[*The facility for the super-powered and criminally insane - Dino]
But the things that had happened still got to him. How could they not? Norman Osborn was finally gone from his life, but the damage left in his wake was a fearsome thing to behold. Harry Osborn was dead because of it. Liz Osborn was driven insane because of it. Gwen Stacey had died because of it. Little Normie Osborn was pulled from his mother's loving arms because of it. Peter knew that the boy had caretakers, but that wasn't enough. Nothing would be enough for that child ever again until his mother came back into his life.
Then there was the way that Osborn had used the Rose Goblin to taunt him about Mary Jane. Peter was sure that his wife was gone now. It was difficult to accept, but he was making progress. The pain and the hope he had felt was enough to nearly drive him insane though. The Goblin had done some despicable things, but right about now, this felt like the worst.
Peter closed his eyes. It was all just too much to think about. It was all too much to go over and over in his head. He needed to sleep. He let his mind drift away from the thoughts passing through his head and instead dreamed. Dreamed of an island far away where nothing dark touched him. The sun always shined. Shined on the face of his wife.
The sound of his boots clomping on the cold concrete of the warehouse soothed the man moving on his way towards the closed office door at its far end. His allies had commandeered this facility temporarily for their purposes and though it hardly suited the man walking across the complex, at least they had a place to rest and plot their next grand design.
The man could hear muttering from within the office and frowned. Their leader had been talking to himself more and more lately and it was becoming something of a concern. The man closed his fist around the doorknob of the office door and made no attempt to knock.
"McCoy, we must talk," said Prelate as he pushed the door open on its hinges. Inside, perched on top of an oak desk situated in the middle of the open space was a creature that resembled some primordial ape from before the dawn of time. Dark gray hair covered the entirety of his body and his arms were long and muscular. The hairy beast on the desk turned his eyes towards Prelate and, not for the first time, the villain marveled at the intelligence to be found there.
"Prelate, my compatriot. What brings you to my little haven of fur-balls and quadratic equations?" replied the Dark Beast known only as McCoy. Prelate did not trust McCoy, and he didn't like his silver-lined tongue either. McCoy often used his aptitude for the spoken word to worm his will over his followers, but Prelate was no fool.
"Why are we here, McCoy?" asked Prelate with a hint of menace in his voice. "New York is a cesspool. Toad has been acting funny ever since we got here."
"So I've noticed," replied the Dark Beast and smiled a sinister little smile of amusement. McCoy clapped his feet together and then hopped off of the desk, slinking over to hunker in front of Prelate. "Do you think it has anything to do with my new plan for our little band of brothers?"
"I want to know what's going on, McCoy. I want to know why we're suddenly acting like a terrorist organization that gives two shakes about some little mutant dying in Nowhere, Wisconsin," demanded Prelate as he pointed towards the folded newspaper on the Dark Beast's desk.
"But…but aren't you enraged, incensed, outraged and just generally pissed off about it, Prelate? Don't you want to do something about it?" asked McCoy and his face scrunched up into a parody of anger and then he laughed out loud.
"This is pointless McCoy! This entire mission is pointless. I want the humans to suffer as much as anyone else but we have our own agenda. What's your stake in this? Since when do you give a damn about mutant rights?"
"Prelate, I'm crushed. I care about mutant rights. But, let's consider I didn't care about the cause for a second," McCoy said and then grinned a sharp-toothed little grin. "Even if I had no quibbles about that little snot being wasted by the police, you know how I feel about mind-numbing violence. Suffice it to say, I'm in it for the mass-murder and resulting hysteria."
"Or perhaps you only tell your followers what you want them to hear while you further your own agenda," Prelate said as he leaned to within an inch of McCoy's nose. "Perhaps you're insuring the loyalty of our newest member Marrow by avenging that dead young mutant when you couldn't actually care less. What are you going to be doing while we carry out the mission, McCoy? I'm oh so curious to know."
"Once again you misjudge me, Prelate-io. I've assured both you and Marrow that joining the Brotherhood of Mutants means that the vengeance you seek will be delivered to those you seek to inflict it upon. Marrow is angry at the flatscans for killing that mutant kid. We're simply going to deliver a little payback. Don't you trust me?"
"Not as far as I can throw you, McCoy. Why haven't we taken another shot at the X-Men? They must know by now that you've escaped from the Vault.* We should hit them now before they have time to prepare for us. I want Cyclops as a lifeless husk at my feet."
[*In the very amazing X-Men Unlimited #9 - Dino, the guy who wrote it]
"My sources tell me that the Cyke-ster is long ago in a galaxy far far away.* So to answer your question, all good things come to those who wait, my dear fellow. First we must make assuage for the youth killed in Tampa, and make dear Marrow happy. Then we can work on your grand designs."
[*See the Team-X limited series - Dino, who scripts it]
"So then we're finally going to earn our title as a terrorist group?" Prelate asked, ignoring the flippant tone in McCoy's voice for once.
"Indeed we are. Now gather the others and tell them to pack clean underwear. We're headed for the Statue of Liberty," McCoy said and watched as Prelate walked out. The smile never left his face.
"Oh Petey, wake up sunshine," said a voice from far away and Peter groaned deeply in his sleep. A hand placed itself on his shoulder and roughly shook him and Peter cracked his eyes a bit to register who it was that wanted to die. Light flooded his vision and Peter winced. He raised his hands to his face and rubbed at his swollen eyes and then took a look around. His blurry vision registered Randy with a bag covered in grease in one of his hands.
"I got you a Philly cheese-steak," said Randy as he plopped the bag of grease down in Pete's lap. "These things are the bomb, baby!"
"Randy, are you out of your mind?" asked Pete as he sat up. "What time is it?"
"Like two in the afternoon," replied Randy and then smiled as Peter finally came fully awake.
"Two in the afternoon! I can't believe it," Pete said and then sat up completely to fling the greasy bag onto the coffee table. He immediately grabbed for his neck. "Oh good lord! That's why I never crash on the couch anymore. My neck is killing me!"
"That's what you get, Pete. I don't know what you've been u to, but everybody has been worried sick about you man. Jill came by looking for you and Eugene wants to talk to you about some things. Heck, your Aunt must have called like half a dozen times too."
"Oh no. Aunt May," said Pete and Randy nodded his head in affirmation. Flaps of thin-sliced steak hung from his mouth and dangled to and fro.
"Gah, thas her name, bro," said Randy as he struggled to swallow what was in his mouth. Peter looked at his friend in horror and disgust. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Pete looked up. "Could you get that? My hands are a little messy over here."
"You're a little messy," replied Pete and made his way to the door. He opened it and there was Eugene staring at him with wide eyes.
"Peter! You're here!" screeched Eugene in a voice that would have made Angar the Screamer cover his ears.
"Got it on the first try, Gene. I'm here. Why don't you relax and come on in. Take a load off. You want a cheese-steak?" said Pete as he led Eugene over to where he had been sitting moments before. "I'm still a little bit asleep and don't think I'd do it justice."
"He means he's chicken," responded Randy around another huge bite of steak. Eugene chuckled.
"I love these things, though I haven't had one since I went away to college," said Eugene. Peter could almost see his mouth leaking saliva.
"Eat up then, Gene," Randy said and slurped on one of the various sodas strewn across the coffee table.
"Did you talk to Peter?" asked Eugene suddenly and Randy froze in mid-bite. Peter eyed them both suspiciously.
"Talk to me about what?" asked Peter warily. Both Eugene and Randy smiled around the food in their mouths.
"Talk to you about that dang cat of yours, for one thing!" spit Randy suddenly and Pete had to avoid small flying bits of food. "I can't believe you brought a possessed demon into my house!"
"Ok, first of all, this is our house. And secondly, Smoke is not possessed, he's a sweetie," said Pete and Randy almost choked on his sandwich.
"Sweet? Sweet?! Man, are you out of your mind? That thing tried to kill me!" sputtered Randy and both Eugene and Peter began to laugh. "Stop laughing, Eugene. I'm being dead serious over here."
"Oh, I believe you. But it's still pretty funny," said Eugene and then abruptly stopped laughing. "But did you talk to him about me maybe moving in?"
This time it was Peter's turn to stop laughing. Randy looked down at the couch and avoided Pete's eyes. He reached for the remote and clicked on the TV.
"Um, Eugene. When did you decide you wanted to move in with us?" asked Pete with a hesitation he hoped Eugene would be able to notice in his voice.
"I asked Randy last night at the club we went to," replied Eugene, either not noticing or selectively ignoring the tone of Peter's voice. "I thought about it a whole lot before I asked. I just thought it would be cool, y'know?"
"Uh, sure. Of course it would be cool. No doubt about that, but…what the heck is that?" said Peter and Eugene turned towards the TV screen both Peter and Randy were now gaping at. "Turn it up, Randy."
Randy Robertson fingered the volume on the remote control and the trio watched as a news crew struggled to bring coverage of the carnage before them. After five minutes of watching the report, Peter made an excuse about taking pictures of the scene for the Daily Bugle. Not a minute after that, Eugene made his own excuse and Randy was left alone to watch the news. He barely registered the departure of his friends.
Spider-Man swung low on an arc through the sky and landed squarely in the middle of the chaos. A mob of people were scratching and clawing and injuring one another in front of the Total Request Live studio in Times Square for no apparent reason. They weren't speaking, weren't flinging insults or spitting obscenities about their favorite pop star. All the crowd did was scream all at once in perfect harmony. To Peter Parker, the sound of that scream was more horrible than anything he could imagine. It was like the sound Death made as it rode a pale horse through a rift in Hell.
"People please. I know auditions for the brand spanking new Emergency Broadcast System are taking place today, but do my ears a favor and wait until you get inside with the Hollywood types before you start screeching ok?" Spidey said as he began webbing the people up one at a time in order to keep them from battering each other.
"What do you think you're doing, little Spider?" said a feminine voice at his back and Spider-Man turned. He found that it was a struggle simply to move and became acutely aware that something was slowly taking control of his body.
"Just doing my part to make sure everyone gets a fair shot at their fifteen minutes of fame, ma'am," replied Spider-Man as his body completely froze and was rooted to the spot. Without any command from his own brain, his legs flexed and propelled him through the air. He landed in front of a woman with a sinister smile on her face.
"You're a funny guy, Spider-Man. It'll be a real shame when I force you to wrap your hands around your own neck and pop your head off like a grape," said the woman. Her brow was etched in a line of concentration and Spidey could imagine her picturing him in her head. Making him do whatever she desired.
"You know, if you're going to kill me, might I suggest having me jump into a building over and over again. I recently went to a Limp Bizkit concert and now I'm obsessed with moshing," replied Spider-Man and then smiled as a shadow passed over the woman's face. She looked up just in time to see a green-clad foot slam into her face.
"I thought it was the flailing fists of the fabulous Frogman, not the flying feet," said Spider-Man as Eugene landed at his side. Spidey picked up the unconscious woman and webbed her arms and legs snugly.
"I felt I was in need of a change," replied Frogman. "Who's the chick?"
"Well, she's definitely not my newest girlfriend," said Spidey. "But now that she's asleep the crowd seems to have gotten a lot less raucous."
"Tell me about it. Was it just me or did that screeching remind you of the time I took Banshee by the toes and beat him around like a piñata?"
"Gene, you never even met Banshee!"
"I know, but that guy always bothered me," replied Eugene with a laugh that quickly faded as the sound of screaming people echoed through the city from a few blocks away. Eugene took the woman from Spidey's arms. "Head on over there Spidey. I'll drop the girl with the cops and then meet up with you."
"Sounds good, Frogger," said Spidey as he leapt into the air and started swinging towards the rising smoke on the horizon. Frogman watched him go for a few moments and then jumped down to the police. One hurried conversation later and Frogman jumped into the air again. He had to get to where Spidey was and help him. Something big was going down. He was sure of it.
"It's about time," said a whispery voice at Frogman's back and suddenly a great weight crashed into his back. Frogman hurtled down to the ground. He collected his legs beneath him and his jumping coils absorbed the force of the impact and stored the energy into the mesh of his suit.
"I've been looking all over the city for you, kid," said the voice and Frogman turned towards it. Standing across the street from him was the mutant killer known as Toad.
The screaming of the people Spider-Man had heard from blocks away had only intensified, as he grew closer. It wasn't as loud or all encompassing as the unanimous scream from the people in Times Square, but it was close. Spider-Man could hear the distant sound of sirens approaching and was only momentarily grateful. When he landed on the street and looked in the direction of the sounds of terror, all thoughts of gratification faded away.
A Starbucks' coffee shop sat across the street from where Spider-Man stood. Inside were three standing figures and a lot of people on their hands and knees. The people on their hands and knees were being made to scream by the people that were standing. What was making them scream was almost too horrible to watch.
Spider-Man recognized two of the three figures in the coffee shop. One was the mutant girl named Marrow, another was the mutant villain named Avalanche, and the final one was just standing off to the side observing the torture happening right in front of him with no emotion whatsoever on his face. Spider-Man blinked - the guy looked kind of like Havok - but the image stayed with him.
Marrow was slowly pulling spurs of bone from her body and then ramming them into parts of a young man's anatomy. The young man Spidey recognized too. His name was Reginald Valley. He was a well-publicized member of the Friends of Humanity.
Avalanche was shaking the entire Starbuck's coffee house with a strong tremor that kept all of the people trapped within in a state of panic. Spider-Man jumped into the air and swung across the street. This was no time for games. Reginald Valley could die at any second and he had to stop it. Spidey tucked himself into a ball and crashed through the glass. None of the villains heard anything because of the shaking, but Spidey immediately snatched Valley away from Marrow and jumped to the back of the room.
"I don't know what the hell it is you people think you're doing, but you've got to stop this!" yelled Spider-Man over the frantic screaming of the people and the tremendous shaking of the complex.
"Butt out, flatscan. You don't know who these scum are. They and all of their kind deserve to die for what they did and nothing you do or anyone else does is stopping justice from being served!" screeched Marrow and flung lances made of bone at Spider-Man. Spidey easily dodged the lances and deposited Reginald in a chair. The shaking was getting worse.
"I know exactly who these people are," said Spider-Man as he launched himself at Marrow. He collided with her and sent her hurtling out through the window he had burst through. "But they don't deserve to die just because you're angry."
Spider-Man landed on the sidewalk and felt the rumbling sound of Avalanche step out of the Starbucks after him. The sidewalk split beneath his feet and Spidey leapt into the air to avoid losing his balance.
Spider-Man's spider-sense went off and he twisted in mid-air to avoid hurtling bone spurs that sliced in front of his nose.
"This isn't just because we're angry. People like these killed a mutant child in Tampa just because he was different!!" screamed Marrow again. "Ignorance like that has to be punished. We're going to show the world that we deserve to be treated the same as anyone else!"
"You can't force people to treat you equally through terror," said Spidey who struggled to keep an eye on the mysterious man in the Starbucks while dodging bone shards and waves of seismic vibration. "Killing people you're angry at and forming a mob in front of the TRL studio isn't going to help matters. Did N'Sync terrorize the Backstreet Boys' fans so they'd listen to their music? I think not."
"Guess Mastermind failed in her part of the plan," said Avalanche and winced at the look Marrow gave him.
"Mastermind? The chick with the funky mind powers?" asked Spider-Man in mock surprise. "I get the mind part, but why not call her Mistress-Mind or Duchess-Mind or something a little more feminine?"
"That's it, webslinger. This isn't about equality anymore. It's about vengeance! Retribution!" shrieked Marrow. "Nobody is going to forget what happened to that child after today. Nobody!"
"I couldn't agree more," said a voice at Spider-Man's back and saw the mysterious man finally come out of the Starbucks. "But I think it's time we made our leave."
Before Spider-Man had time to react, a band of energy shot into his field of vision and crashed into his head. Spider-Man was sent plummeting to the street. As darkness enveloped him, he could still hear the people in the coffee shop screaming for his help.
"I remember the last time we fought you little worm.* You embarrassed me that day. But I'm a whole different man now and I've got your number," said Toad as he battered Frogman's face with a stiff right hand.
[*In MU Amazing Spider-Man #266 - Dino]
"Toad, this is ridiculous. That was a long time ago. Give me a break, ok?" replied Frogman as he struggled to fight the amphibian like adversary off of him.
"Forget it, kid. I'm big time now and I've got a big time crew. You're the biggest shame of my life, and for that you're going to pay," sneered Toad as he whipped his prehensile tongue out of his mouth and wrapped it around Eugene's throat. Frogman felt the tongue squeeze around his neck and begin to burn through his suit at the same time. Either Toad was going to choke him to death or cut his head off using the acid from his tongue. Or both.
Frogman jumped into the air and slammed Toad back-first into the hard brick of a nearby building. The grip Toad had on him loosened momentarily and Eugene struck Toad in the face with his fist.
I'm glad you're fighting, punk. Makes this all the sweeter," growled Toad.
"It must take a lot of practice for you to talk while your tongue is occupied," said Eugene as he kicked Toad in the crotch. "You'd make one heck of a ventriloquist."
"Can you throw your voice too?" Eugene said as he belted Toad again. The guy was strong - a lot stronger than he was back in the day - but Eugene's suit was an improved model. He could take this guy, he just had to fight smart.
"Not as well as I can throw you," replied Toad and suddenly Eugene felt Toad take hold of him with a grip like iron. Toad raised Eugene over his head and flung him headfirst into the wall Eugene had rammed Toad into moments before. Eugene felt something give and a great cracking sounded in his ears. For a moment he thought that the wall had given way. Then he felt the blood flowing down his face and knew it had been his skull and not the wall that gave way.
When Spider-Man woke up the people in the Starbucks were still screaming for his help. News vans and police cruisers had just arrived. News staff with camera equipment and gun-toting police officers stood side by side and watched Spider-Man struggle to his feet.
His vision cleared slightly, but there was still a large red-haze over his perception. He looked away from the police and the newscasters and towards the screaming people in the coffee shop. Through the haze of his vision, Spider-Man could see a menacing dark figure standing in front of the coffee shop. The people inside were screaming for his help and obviously the man standing in front of the shop was holding them inside somehow.
Spider-Man shot a line of webbing at the dark figure and felt it latch onto him. He pulled with all of his might and the dark figure came hurtling towards him. The limp way it slipped through the air caused Spider-Man to catch the figure in mid-air. Through the red haze Spider-Man could see that it was the corpse of Reginald Valley he had pulled from the Starbucks. No villain was holding the people back. Why were they staying inside?
Then Spider-Man's spider-sense exploded and his vision cleared. He saw the panel that the villains must have stood Reginald Valley on top of. He saw the expressions of terror on the people inside as the panel began to slide upwards. He felt the large piece of parchment underneath Reginald Valley's body and turned the dead man over. Etched in a dark red scrawling that could be nothing but blood were these words.
IF THIS MAN MOVES, YOU ALL DIE.
IF YOU MOVE, YOU ALL DIE.
FOR THE DEATH OF OUR BROTHER…
Spider-Man had time only to cry out in anguish once. Then there was nothing but white light and thunder as the world in front of him transformed into fire.
Next Issue: Spider-Man has just witnessed the brutal horror of hatred unleashed upon his city. How will he cope with what has happened? What fate is in store for Eugene? What does the Sandman have to do with all this? Stop on by next issue and find out.
The rain fell in thick droplets of ice on the cold, dark metal of the fire escape. The window looked in on the darkened living room of Randy Robertson's apartment and the Amazing Spider-Man smiled. It was good to be home.
The window wasn't locked and Spidey was glad for that. Randy was probably on his way to the "Sloppy Goat" or "Wet Nipple" or whatever club it was he bartended at on Friday nights. Randy had made it crystal clear that avoiding the landlady was a high priority, but sneaking in and out of the apartment in this weather was an excellent way to break your neck. Pete hoped his roommate had enough common sense to come in through the front door when he got home.
Peter crossed the living area of the apartment and slipped into his own room. He quickly shed his drenched and torn outfit and examined the burn on his shoulder. The wound was the most severe injury he had suffered during his battle with Osborn but even it was beginning to look a lot better.* His cuts and bruises had nearly vanished entirely.
[*If you didn't read last issue, there's no hope for you - Dino]
Peter quickly slipped into a pair of boxer shorts and an Empire State University t-shirt. He left his room and leapt over the back of the couch, landing squarely between the cushions. He thumbed the remote control as his aching back settled tenderly into the sofa. A news program immediately materialized on the screen and Peter narrowed his eyes as a special bulletin crossed the news desk.
{{ "Moments ago a woman identified as the Rose Goblin was checked into the ER of Manhattan County Hospital. Sources tell us that the vigilante known as Spider-Man deposited the wanted criminal into the waiting arms of the hospital staff. Authorities from the New York Police Department have recently arrived on the scene but are unable to question the Rose Goblin due to an excessive amount of toxins found in her system upon arrival. The Rose Goblin was treated by physicians but is currently in critical condition." }}
Peter pressed the power button on the remote control and sighed deeply. He had heard this news report minutes before as he sat outside of an appliance store in the pouring rain. Detective Russ Anderson, the officer in charge of the Rose Goblin case, had appeared on the screen and informed the entire world that the Rose Goblin was being closely scrutinized and would remain under wraps. Doctors were questioned and informed the police in no uncertain terms that Liz Osborn's physiology was altered in a manner befitting that of a superhuman condition. All the evidence pointed towards this poor woman being the Rose Goblin and that was how the police were approaching the case.
Peter felt a single tear slip from his eyes. Liz Osborn was insane. She had tried to kill herself. She was stronger than ten men. Spider-Man had done the right thing in brining her to the hospital and phoning Anderson. It was the only thing he could have done. He had also called Dr. Ashley Kafka at Ravencroft.* Liz would be given the best care and eventually she would face up to the things Osborn did to her. Face up to them and knock them down. Of that, Spidey had no doubt.
[*The facility for the super-powered and criminally insane - Dino]
But the things that had happened still got to him. How could they not? Norman Osborn was finally gone from his life, but the damage left in his wake was a fearsome thing to behold. Harry Osborn was dead because of it. Liz Osborn was driven insane because of it. Gwen Stacey had died because of it. Little Normie Osborn was pulled from his mother's loving arms because of it. Peter knew that the boy had caretakers, but that wasn't enough. Nothing would be enough for that child ever again until his mother came back into his life.
Then there was the way that Osborn had used the Rose Goblin to taunt him about Mary Jane. Peter was sure that his wife was gone now. It was difficult to accept, but he was making progress. The pain and the hope he had felt was enough to nearly drive him insane though. The Goblin had done some despicable things, but right about now, this felt like the worst.
Peter closed his eyes. It was all just too much to think about. It was all too much to go over and over in his head. He needed to sleep. He let his mind drift away from the thoughts passing through his head and instead dreamed. Dreamed of an island far away where nothing dark touched him. The sun always shined. Shined on the face of his wife.
The sound of his boots clomping on the cold concrete of the warehouse soothed the man moving on his way towards the closed office door at its far end. His allies had commandeered this facility temporarily for their purposes and though it hardly suited the man walking across the complex, at least they had a place to rest and plot their next grand design.
The man could hear muttering from within the office and frowned. Their leader had been talking to himself more and more lately and it was becoming something of a concern. The man closed his fist around the doorknob of the office door and made no attempt to knock.
"McCoy, we must talk," said Prelate as he pushed the door open on its hinges. Inside, perched on top of an oak desk situated in the middle of the open space was a creature that resembled some primordial ape from before the dawn of time. Dark gray hair covered the entirety of his body and his arms were long and muscular. The hairy beast on the desk turned his eyes towards Prelate and, not for the first time, the villain marveled at the intelligence to be found there.
"Prelate, my compatriot. What brings you to my little haven of fur-balls and quadratic equations?" replied the Dark Beast known only as McCoy. Prelate did not trust McCoy, and he didn't like his silver-lined tongue either. McCoy often used his aptitude for the spoken word to worm his will over his followers, but Prelate was no fool.
"Why are we here, McCoy?" asked Prelate with a hint of menace in his voice. "New York is a cesspool. Toad has been acting funny ever since we got here."
"So I've noticed," replied the Dark Beast and smiled a sinister little smile of amusement. McCoy clapped his feet together and then hopped off of the desk, slinking over to hunker in front of Prelate. "Do you think it has anything to do with my new plan for our little band of brothers?"
"I want to know what's going on, McCoy. I want to know why we're suddenly acting like a terrorist organization that gives two shakes about some little mutant dying in Nowhere, Wisconsin," demanded Prelate as he pointed towards the folded newspaper on the Dark Beast's desk.
"But…but aren't you enraged, incensed, outraged and just generally pissed off about it, Prelate? Don't you want to do something about it?" asked McCoy and his face scrunched up into a parody of anger and then he laughed out loud.
"This is pointless McCoy! This entire mission is pointless. I want the humans to suffer as much as anyone else but we have our own agenda. What's your stake in this? Since when do you give a damn about mutant rights?"
"Prelate, I'm crushed. I care about mutant rights. But, let's consider I didn't care about the cause for a second," McCoy said and then grinned a sharp-toothed little grin. "Even if I had no quibbles about that little snot being wasted by the police, you know how I feel about mind-numbing violence. Suffice it to say, I'm in it for the mass-murder and resulting hysteria."
"Or perhaps you only tell your followers what you want them to hear while you further your own agenda," Prelate said as he leaned to within an inch of McCoy's nose. "Perhaps you're insuring the loyalty of our newest member Marrow by avenging that dead young mutant when you couldn't actually care less. What are you going to be doing while we carry out the mission, McCoy? I'm oh so curious to know."
"Once again you misjudge me, Prelate-io. I've assured both you and Marrow that joining the Brotherhood of Mutants means that the vengeance you seek will be delivered to those you seek to inflict it upon. Marrow is angry at the flatscans for killing that mutant kid. We're simply going to deliver a little payback. Don't you trust me?"
"Not as far as I can throw you, McCoy. Why haven't we taken another shot at the X-Men? They must know by now that you've escaped from the Vault.* We should hit them now before they have time to prepare for us. I want Cyclops as a lifeless husk at my feet."
[*In the very amazing X-Men Unlimited #9 - Dino, the guy who wrote it]
"My sources tell me that the Cyke-ster is long ago in a galaxy far far away.* So to answer your question, all good things come to those who wait, my dear fellow. First we must make assuage for the youth killed in Tampa, and make dear Marrow happy. Then we can work on your grand designs."
[*See the Team-X limited series - Dino, who scripts it]
"So then we're finally going to earn our title as a terrorist group?" Prelate asked, ignoring the flippant tone in McCoy's voice for once.
"Indeed we are. Now gather the others and tell them to pack clean underwear. We're headed for the Statue of Liberty," McCoy said and watched as Prelate walked out. The smile never left his face.
"Oh Petey, wake up sunshine," said a voice from far away and Peter groaned deeply in his sleep. A hand placed itself on his shoulder and roughly shook him and Peter cracked his eyes a bit to register who it was that wanted to die. Light flooded his vision and Peter winced. He raised his hands to his face and rubbed at his swollen eyes and then took a look around. His blurry vision registered Randy with a bag covered in grease in one of his hands.
"I got you a Philly cheese-steak," said Randy as he plopped the bag of grease down in Pete's lap. "These things are the bomb, baby!"
"Randy, are you out of your mind?" asked Pete as he sat up. "What time is it?"
"Like two in the afternoon," replied Randy and then smiled as Peter finally came fully awake.
"Two in the afternoon! I can't believe it," Pete said and then sat up completely to fling the greasy bag onto the coffee table. He immediately grabbed for his neck. "Oh good lord! That's why I never crash on the couch anymore. My neck is killing me!"
"That's what you get, Pete. I don't know what you've been u to, but everybody has been worried sick about you man. Jill came by looking for you and Eugene wants to talk to you about some things. Heck, your Aunt must have called like half a dozen times too."
"Oh no. Aunt May," said Pete and Randy nodded his head in affirmation. Flaps of thin-sliced steak hung from his mouth and dangled to and fro.
"Gah, thas her name, bro," said Randy as he struggled to swallow what was in his mouth. Peter looked at his friend in horror and disgust. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Pete looked up. "Could you get that? My hands are a little messy over here."
"You're a little messy," replied Pete and made his way to the door. He opened it and there was Eugene staring at him with wide eyes.
"Peter! You're here!" screeched Eugene in a voice that would have made Angar the Screamer cover his ears.
"Got it on the first try, Gene. I'm here. Why don't you relax and come on in. Take a load off. You want a cheese-steak?" said Pete as he led Eugene over to where he had been sitting moments before. "I'm still a little bit asleep and don't think I'd do it justice."
"He means he's chicken," responded Randy around another huge bite of steak. Eugene chuckled.
"I love these things, though I haven't had one since I went away to college," said Eugene. Peter could almost see his mouth leaking saliva.
"Eat up then, Gene," Randy said and slurped on one of the various sodas strewn across the coffee table.
"Did you talk to Peter?" asked Eugene suddenly and Randy froze in mid-bite. Peter eyed them both suspiciously.
"Talk to me about what?" asked Peter warily. Both Eugene and Randy smiled around the food in their mouths.
"Talk to you about that dang cat of yours, for one thing!" spit Randy suddenly and Pete had to avoid small flying bits of food. "I can't believe you brought a possessed demon into my house!"
"Ok, first of all, this is our house. And secondly, Smoke is not possessed, he's a sweetie," said Pete and Randy almost choked on his sandwich.
"Sweet? Sweet?! Man, are you out of your mind? That thing tried to kill me!" sputtered Randy and both Eugene and Peter began to laugh. "Stop laughing, Eugene. I'm being dead serious over here."
"Oh, I believe you. But it's still pretty funny," said Eugene and then abruptly stopped laughing. "But did you talk to him about me maybe moving in?"
This time it was Peter's turn to stop laughing. Randy looked down at the couch and avoided Pete's eyes. He reached for the remote and clicked on the TV.
"Um, Eugene. When did you decide you wanted to move in with us?" asked Pete with a hesitation he hoped Eugene would be able to notice in his voice.
"I asked Randy last night at the club we went to," replied Eugene, either not noticing or selectively ignoring the tone of Peter's voice. "I thought about it a whole lot before I asked. I just thought it would be cool, y'know?"
"Uh, sure. Of course it would be cool. No doubt about that, but…what the heck is that?" said Peter and Eugene turned towards the TV screen both Peter and Randy were now gaping at. "Turn it up, Randy."
Randy Robertson fingered the volume on the remote control and the trio watched as a news crew struggled to bring coverage of the carnage before them. After five minutes of watching the report, Peter made an excuse about taking pictures of the scene for the Daily Bugle. Not a minute after that, Eugene made his own excuse and Randy was left alone to watch the news. He barely registered the departure of his friends.
Spider-Man swung low on an arc through the sky and landed squarely in the middle of the chaos. A mob of people were scratching and clawing and injuring one another in front of the Total Request Live studio in Times Square for no apparent reason. They weren't speaking, weren't flinging insults or spitting obscenities about their favorite pop star. All the crowd did was scream all at once in perfect harmony. To Peter Parker, the sound of that scream was more horrible than anything he could imagine. It was like the sound Death made as it rode a pale horse through a rift in Hell.
"People please. I know auditions for the brand spanking new Emergency Broadcast System are taking place today, but do my ears a favor and wait until you get inside with the Hollywood types before you start screeching ok?" Spidey said as he began webbing the people up one at a time in order to keep them from battering each other.
"What do you think you're doing, little Spider?" said a feminine voice at his back and Spider-Man turned. He found that it was a struggle simply to move and became acutely aware that something was slowly taking control of his body.
"Just doing my part to make sure everyone gets a fair shot at their fifteen minutes of fame, ma'am," replied Spider-Man as his body completely froze and was rooted to the spot. Without any command from his own brain, his legs flexed and propelled him through the air. He landed in front of a woman with a sinister smile on her face.
"You're a funny guy, Spider-Man. It'll be a real shame when I force you to wrap your hands around your own neck and pop your head off like a grape," said the woman. Her brow was etched in a line of concentration and Spidey could imagine her picturing him in her head. Making him do whatever she desired.
"You know, if you're going to kill me, might I suggest having me jump into a building over and over again. I recently went to a Limp Bizkit concert and now I'm obsessed with moshing," replied Spider-Man and then smiled as a shadow passed over the woman's face. She looked up just in time to see a green-clad foot slam into her face.
"I thought it was the flailing fists of the fabulous Frogman, not the flying feet," said Spider-Man as Eugene landed at his side. Spidey picked up the unconscious woman and webbed her arms and legs snugly.
"I felt I was in need of a change," replied Frogman. "Who's the chick?"
"Well, she's definitely not my newest girlfriend," said Spidey. "But now that she's asleep the crowd seems to have gotten a lot less raucous."
"Tell me about it. Was it just me or did that screeching remind you of the time I took Banshee by the toes and beat him around like a piñata?"
"Gene, you never even met Banshee!"
"I know, but that guy always bothered me," replied Eugene with a laugh that quickly faded as the sound of screaming people echoed through the city from a few blocks away. Eugene took the woman from Spidey's arms. "Head on over there Spidey. I'll drop the girl with the cops and then meet up with you."
"Sounds good, Frogger," said Spidey as he leapt into the air and started swinging towards the rising smoke on the horizon. Frogman watched him go for a few moments and then jumped down to the police. One hurried conversation later and Frogman jumped into the air again. He had to get to where Spidey was and help him. Something big was going down. He was sure of it.
"It's about time," said a whispery voice at Frogman's back and suddenly a great weight crashed into his back. Frogman hurtled down to the ground. He collected his legs beneath him and his jumping coils absorbed the force of the impact and stored the energy into the mesh of his suit.
"I've been looking all over the city for you, kid," said the voice and Frogman turned towards it. Standing across the street from him was the mutant killer known as Toad.
The screaming of the people Spider-Man had heard from blocks away had only intensified, as he grew closer. It wasn't as loud or all encompassing as the unanimous scream from the people in Times Square, but it was close. Spider-Man could hear the distant sound of sirens approaching and was only momentarily grateful. When he landed on the street and looked in the direction of the sounds of terror, all thoughts of gratification faded away.
A Starbucks' coffee shop sat across the street from where Spider-Man stood. Inside were three standing figures and a lot of people on their hands and knees. The people on their hands and knees were being made to scream by the people that were standing. What was making them scream was almost too horrible to watch.
Spider-Man recognized two of the three figures in the coffee shop. One was the mutant girl named Marrow, another was the mutant villain named Avalanche, and the final one was just standing off to the side observing the torture happening right in front of him with no emotion whatsoever on his face. Spider-Man blinked - the guy looked kind of like Havok - but the image stayed with him.
Marrow was slowly pulling spurs of bone from her body and then ramming them into parts of a young man's anatomy. The young man Spidey recognized too. His name was Reginald Valley. He was a well-publicized member of the Friends of Humanity.
Avalanche was shaking the entire Starbuck's coffee house with a strong tremor that kept all of the people trapped within in a state of panic. Spider-Man jumped into the air and swung across the street. This was no time for games. Reginald Valley could die at any second and he had to stop it. Spidey tucked himself into a ball and crashed through the glass. None of the villains heard anything because of the shaking, but Spidey immediately snatched Valley away from Marrow and jumped to the back of the room.
"I don't know what the hell it is you people think you're doing, but you've got to stop this!" yelled Spider-Man over the frantic screaming of the people and the tremendous shaking of the complex.
"Butt out, flatscan. You don't know who these scum are. They and all of their kind deserve to die for what they did and nothing you do or anyone else does is stopping justice from being served!" screeched Marrow and flung lances made of bone at Spider-Man. Spidey easily dodged the lances and deposited Reginald in a chair. The shaking was getting worse.
"I know exactly who these people are," said Spider-Man as he launched himself at Marrow. He collided with her and sent her hurtling out through the window he had burst through. "But they don't deserve to die just because you're angry."
Spider-Man landed on the sidewalk and felt the rumbling sound of Avalanche step out of the Starbucks after him. The sidewalk split beneath his feet and Spidey leapt into the air to avoid losing his balance.
Spider-Man's spider-sense went off and he twisted in mid-air to avoid hurtling bone spurs that sliced in front of his nose.
"This isn't just because we're angry. People like these killed a mutant child in Tampa just because he was different!!" screamed Marrow again. "Ignorance like that has to be punished. We're going to show the world that we deserve to be treated the same as anyone else!"
"You can't force people to treat you equally through terror," said Spidey who struggled to keep an eye on the mysterious man in the Starbucks while dodging bone shards and waves of seismic vibration. "Killing people you're angry at and forming a mob in front of the TRL studio isn't going to help matters. Did N'Sync terrorize the Backstreet Boys' fans so they'd listen to their music? I think not."
"Guess Mastermind failed in her part of the plan," said Avalanche and winced at the look Marrow gave him.
"Mastermind? The chick with the funky mind powers?" asked Spider-Man in mock surprise. "I get the mind part, but why not call her Mistress-Mind or Duchess-Mind or something a little more feminine?"
"That's it, webslinger. This isn't about equality anymore. It's about vengeance! Retribution!" shrieked Marrow. "Nobody is going to forget what happened to that child after today. Nobody!"
"I couldn't agree more," said a voice at Spider-Man's back and saw the mysterious man finally come out of the Starbucks. "But I think it's time we made our leave."
Before Spider-Man had time to react, a band of energy shot into his field of vision and crashed into his head. Spider-Man was sent plummeting to the street. As darkness enveloped him, he could still hear the people in the coffee shop screaming for his help.
"I remember the last time we fought you little worm.* You embarrassed me that day. But I'm a whole different man now and I've got your number," said Toad as he battered Frogman's face with a stiff right hand.
[*In MU Amazing Spider-Man #266 - Dino]
"Toad, this is ridiculous. That was a long time ago. Give me a break, ok?" replied Frogman as he struggled to fight the amphibian like adversary off of him.
"Forget it, kid. I'm big time now and I've got a big time crew. You're the biggest shame of my life, and for that you're going to pay," sneered Toad as he whipped his prehensile tongue out of his mouth and wrapped it around Eugene's throat. Frogman felt the tongue squeeze around his neck and begin to burn through his suit at the same time. Either Toad was going to choke him to death or cut his head off using the acid from his tongue. Or both.
Frogman jumped into the air and slammed Toad back-first into the hard brick of a nearby building. The grip Toad had on him loosened momentarily and Eugene struck Toad in the face with his fist.
I'm glad you're fighting, punk. Makes this all the sweeter," growled Toad.
"It must take a lot of practice for you to talk while your tongue is occupied," said Eugene as he kicked Toad in the crotch. "You'd make one heck of a ventriloquist."
"Can you throw your voice too?" Eugene said as he belted Toad again. The guy was strong - a lot stronger than he was back in the day - but Eugene's suit was an improved model. He could take this guy, he just had to fight smart.
"Not as well as I can throw you," replied Toad and suddenly Eugene felt Toad take hold of him with a grip like iron. Toad raised Eugene over his head and flung him headfirst into the wall Eugene had rammed Toad into moments before. Eugene felt something give and a great cracking sounded in his ears. For a moment he thought that the wall had given way. Then he felt the blood flowing down his face and knew it had been his skull and not the wall that gave way.
When Spider-Man woke up the people in the Starbucks were still screaming for his help. News vans and police cruisers had just arrived. News staff with camera equipment and gun-toting police officers stood side by side and watched Spider-Man struggle to his feet.
His vision cleared slightly, but there was still a large red-haze over his perception. He looked away from the police and the newscasters and towards the screaming people in the coffee shop. Through the haze of his vision, Spider-Man could see a menacing dark figure standing in front of the coffee shop. The people inside were screaming for his help and obviously the man standing in front of the shop was holding them inside somehow.
Spider-Man shot a line of webbing at the dark figure and felt it latch onto him. He pulled with all of his might and the dark figure came hurtling towards him. The limp way it slipped through the air caused Spider-Man to catch the figure in mid-air. Through the red haze Spider-Man could see that it was the corpse of Reginald Valley he had pulled from the Starbucks. No villain was holding the people back. Why were they staying inside?
Then Spider-Man's spider-sense exploded and his vision cleared. He saw the panel that the villains must have stood Reginald Valley on top of. He saw the expressions of terror on the people inside as the panel began to slide upwards. He felt the large piece of parchment underneath Reginald Valley's body and turned the dead man over. Etched in a dark red scrawling that could be nothing but blood were these words.
IF THIS MAN MOVES, YOU ALL DIE.
IF YOU MOVE, YOU ALL DIE.
FOR THE DEATH OF OUR BROTHER…
Spider-Man had time only to cry out in anguish once. Then there was nothing but white light and thunder as the world in front of him transformed into fire.
Next Issue: Spider-Man has just witnessed the brutal horror of hatred unleashed upon his city. How will he cope with what has happened? What fate is in store for Eugene? What does the Sandman have to do with all this? Stop on by next issue and find out.