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***
7 June, 2013. 9:00
NYU lab
Peter Parker.
I've been checking my blood plasma values and watching the changes. Unfortunately, my mutation is progressing faster every day. Even in the long term, I can't guess when the conversion will begin. It could be a year from now, it could be tomorrow. I enter the calculations on my flash drive and switch off the programme.
I stretch and walk towards the exit of the lab.
"What are we doing today, Carrier?"
"The same thing we always do, Raj, try to conquer the world," I exclaim pathetically.
"What?" - The symbiote stammered.
"I'm just kidding. It would be good to go and see Firs, we had a very good talk about his research last time and I managed to get information out about his connection to the CII, but it seems that after that little defeat, Herr Gustav is in no great hurry to resume our party."
"Should I be worried about how you like this game, Bearer?"
"No, Raj. You know I'm doing what I need to do to get the information I need for Fury and to eventually learn the fate of my parents. Dealing with Fierce gives me absolutely no pleasure at all."
"I hope so."
"You don't trust me?"
"Just concerned. Firs has shown himself to be a brilliant manipulator. I'm afraid he might mess with your head as well."
"Then it's a good thing another voice in my head is you, right?"
Laughing with the symbiote.
"Actually, I want to unwind, it's been a while since I've flown around the city early in the morning, how about a patrol?"
"I'm in."
I walk through the streets and habitually turn into the nearest back alley to soar through the skies like Spider-Man.
I fly past high-rise skyscrapers and relax immensely.
"I wish I could disappear into this feeling of freedom and peace forever."
Suddenly, a shotgun blast sounds.
"Looks like we're only dreaming of peace, Bearer."
I sigh and fly towards the source of the sound.
***
A few hours ago.
Roxanne and Roland Gaina.
The twins started waking up in a small one bedroom flat whose landlord had graciously allowed them to stay at his place.
Roxanne's plan worked perfectly. During the general confusion in Raft, she and her brother had managed to pick up the very guard who had been harassing Roxy, infiltrate his mind and successfully escape, and the memories of the aftermath still warmed their souls to this day.
The boat, which the guard Leaves had managed to get hold of, started away from the island, and steered a swift course for the city, along Hudson Bay.
Half an hour later the vessel docked. And three men left it.
- Is this the sweet smell of freedom?" Rol took a deep breath.
- You've been a great help, Edwin," Roxanne stroked the chubby, balding man's cheek.
- However, you were too much of a loose cannon, and my brother doesn't like that, does he?
Roland picked up a stone from the ground.
- That's right.
The Latino walked up to the mentally controlled victim and struck him on the temple with the stone. Leaves died on the spot from the blow and collapsed on the ground. Roland, however, was not enough. He continued to strike and strike and strike until the skull was a bloody mess. But even after that, Rol continued to kick the corpse.
- Nobody touches my sister but me! - With at least his tenth kick, Hain shouted.
- I love seeing you so fierce," Roxanne said, kissing her twin.
Yes, those are fond memories.
For days they searched for shelter and lo and behold, Guyns luck smiled again. They came across dear Mr David Bronstein, an old man of sixty, and to the twins' surprise he showed them sympathy, noticing their vagrant rags, had to quickly change their prison robes, and allowed them to stay.
- Good morning," Roxanne said.
- Good morning," Roland replied, "you're so cute when you're sleepy.
Roxy jokingly poked her brother in the shoulder with her fist.
- Are you going to take a shower?
- Shall we go together? - Hein asked innocently, rubbing his nose against his sister's neck.
- You know we shouldn't do that while we're guests," the brunette moaned back.
- Come on, we can always hack into the old man's mind if he gets in our way.
- And yet Mr Bronstein has been good to us, Rol. When was the last time anyone was nice to us?
- We've never needed it, Rox," the brunet said, "we've always had each other and that's enough.
- I agree. Still, we need to decide what to do next.
- Can't we just extend this beautiful morning a little longer?
- I'm sorry, kid, but the facts are we're fugitive criminal telepaths in the care of a penniless 60-year-old man. This is a problem that needs to be addressed.
- Okay, I agree," Rol sighed. - And what, rob a cash car?
In response, Roxy only smiles.
A few hours later.
- I can't believe we're really gonna do this.
- Come on, we've known about these routes in the past and planned to pull something like this.
- When we were 16.
- And also then we didn't have the strength," Roxanne held out her brother's palm, "are you with me?
Roland squeezed her sister's neat hand confidently.
- Always.
The Guynes watched the road and, as soon as the collection truck appeared from behind the bend, they stepped onto the carriageway.
The driver immediately started to honk at them, but the twins used telepathy and made the man turn sharply off the road into an alley. The driver obeyed, but because of the abruptness of the change of direction, he lost control of the vehicle and the lorry rolled onto its side, passing the remaining braking distance, leaving behind it pillars of sparks and corroded metal.
The brother and sister leisurely approached the metal doors, but to their surprise the doors swung open and a wild-eyed guard emerged, firing a shotgun. Luckily for the twins, the man hadn't recovered from the accident at all and shot into the wall to their right.
Roxanne and Roland immediately got him under control.
- That bastard, you almost shot us! - growled the Latino, and was about to order the collector to put a gun to his head.
- Wait, we'll have time," Roxy cooled his brother's hot blood, "he'll help us get the money out first.
***
Same here.
Spider-Man.
I land on the wall of the building and see a battered lorry, the identification marks suggesting it's a collection truck.
"Not a pretty picture."
"Agreed, Raj."
I watch several people get out of the truck with bags of money in their hands. A security guard is among them.
- That's the last of them, sister," a brunette with a slightly yellowish skin tone says.
- Looks like it," the pale brunette replies.
- Then we can finish the job," the guy holds out a palm to the girl, which she accepts.
To my surprise, a slight bluish glow appeared near their heads.
- Now let's finish it, - the guy said, and the guard pulled out a shotgun from over his shoulder and put it to his own chin.
Okay, this one's dangerous.
Firing a web and ripping out the weapon just before it goes off. This guy was really ready to kill himself.
- Spider-Man?! - the criminals exclaimed with striking similarity.
- In person, - I look at the brunette and the brunette in turn, - you seem familiar, we haven't met anywhere?
However, the guy and the girl just hold hands.
The triggered flair signals hit so hard that they deafen me. Sensors have never screamed danger so clearly.
I don't know who they are, but they're deadly.
- Roxanne, come on - the brunet points his hand at me - I've always wanted to subdue a superhero.
Suddenly my head feels like it's being torn in half by a red-hot poker. I fall to my knees in pain.
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
"Bearer!" - I hear Raj's quiet voice in the periphery of my consciousness.
- What's going on?! - another quiet voice.
- I don't know, he's fighting back, Roland!
I'm trying to come to my senses. Roxanne and Roland.
- 'Guynes,' I wheeze quietly, rising to my feet and looking at my shocked opponents with a cloudy stare, 'you're twin telepaths.
I try to shoot a web at them.
- More power Roxanne!
As if on cue, the mental pressure intensifies, the twins' noses begin to bleed from the exertion, and Spider grabs his head again.
In Parker's own mind, meanwhile, an Apocalypse comparable to the detonation of an atomic bomb is taking place.
A click.
And the hero sees a laboratory. In the centre, Dr Connors is sitting at a computer, holding a test tube with a murky swamp-coloured liquid, and then in the reflection of the glass, instead of Kurt's face, the face of a huge reptile flashes.
Click.
It's night at the remote firing range. A wall engraved with "Oscorp." Masses of sandy material come into motion.
- Roxanne, it's still resisting!
- It's impossible! We've never applied so much mental energy! He should be a vegetable by now!
A click.
Two shadows shake hands, one of them developing a lilac cloak behind her back.
- Something must be done!
- Target! We must draw him away from us!
- How?!
Click.
It's a two versus three battle. A great number of scarlet stains are flashing, eventually turning into blood.
Click.
He sees a girl with brown hair and brown eyes like his own.
"Hate. Find it in your heart. The desire for revenge on the one who hurt you." came the command of two minds, merging into one imperious cry.
Click.
A suburb of New York City. A remote house. Skins of slaughtered animals hang on the walls. In the study, he sits and makes plans.
- Craven," comes a voice full of anger and hatred. My voice.
I crack my eyes open and, on instinct, jump on the wall, crawling up.
***
Same place
The Gaina twins.
- He's really gone," Roland asked in shock, wiping the blood from his face.
- Yes, so let's get out of here quickly," Roxanne said mopping up her own blood, losing consciousness a second later.
***
Five minutes later.
Peter Parker.
I saw the house, I know the approximate address, that's where that cowardly bastard crawled after he threw me off the fucking bridge!
I can feel the anger spilling over with renewed vigour.
"Carrier?" - The symbiote's timid and uncertain voice.
"What is it?" completely out of the mood to talk.
"Where are you going?"
"Don't you get it, Raj? I've seen Kraven, I know where he is, now the bastard can't hide from me," I answer rudely, not in the mood for sentimentality.
"But what about those two?" - the Clintarian remarks.
"What, they're not important," I wave them away, "only the Hunter turned prey matters now."
"There's something wrong with you, Peter."
"I'm fine, Raj!"
I run across the roof, but stop, grabbing my head.
A click.
A man in a red cape and carrying a hammer holds out his hand to me.
The obsession disappears as quickly as it appeared.
"What was that? Raj, your tricks?!"
"What do you mean, Bearer?" - Concernedly clarifies the symbiote.
I'm about to explain, but the image of Kravinoff throwing me off the Washington Bridge reappears in my mind.
"Never mind!" - I declare, once again filled with anger. - "We have work to do."
I shoot out a web and fly towards the centre.
*
Twenty minutes later.
Baxter Building.
I land on the roof of the Fantastic Four building and enter my personal access code.
I walk down to the lab, not seeing anyone on the way.
I enter Mr Fantastic's sanctum sanctorum without knocking.
- Reid, you in here?!
- Spider-Man? - the elongated neck of the smartest man on the planet emerges from the doorway. - Hey, what brings you here?
- I need some help. Can you lend me the Fantastic Car?
- Erm, Richards looked extremely puzzled, sure.
- Thanks, mate.
We went to the centre of the lab and Reed began to set up his invention for flight.
- Where is everyone?
- Out on the town. Sue insisted, the scientist was entering the autopilot data.
- Why aren't you with them?
- It's an important experiment.
- Sorry to interrupt.
- It's okay," Richards entered the last of the console commands, "I see you have an urgent matter.
I'm grabbing my head again.
Click.
I'm talking to George and he's showing me the photos. They're dated, the day of the accident Uncle Ben and Aunt May were in.
- Spider, are you all right? - Mr Fantastic's voice brings me back to reality.
I shake my head.
- Yeah, I'm fine, Reed.
- The car's ready.
I hop into the Fantasmobile and take Reed's place, entering the coordinates.
- When are you gonna start your own vehicle? - Reed tries to lighten the strange situation with a modest attempt at humour.
The sunroof opens.
- When I get my licence. Thanks for the car.
Transport takes off.
*
Twenty minutes later.
In the sky over the suburbs.
"Carrier! Carrier!"
The scream of the symbiote in my head distracts me from thinking.
- What is it, Raj," I ask the question out loud out of annoyance. - In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to operate the Fantastic Machine.
"You've been unresponsive to the navigator's indication for ten minutes! If it weren't for the autopilot set up by Mr Fantastic, you'd be off course."
- Everything would have been fine! Stop boring me! Better help me sort out the problem!
"I want to, but you've completely shut down and I don't understand what you're doing!"
- WE hunt Sergei Kravinov, but Kraven the Hunter, aka the cowardly scum who lives his last day!
"I have never felt such malice from you, Bearer."
- Oh, believe me, I have reason to be angry, I'd even say hate. That bastard threw me off a fucking bridge! How could I forget, put it behind me?! I got distracted by life's troubles, by you turning up. I won't make that mistake again.
I'm pushing the steering lever, increasing speed.
The fantastic machine is accelerating.
After five minutes of flight, hovering over the approximate location I...saw?
"Are we there, Carrier?"
Well, at least Raj has stopped nerding out and become useful.
- Somewhere in this neighbourhood, a remote estate, we need to find it.
I follow the navigator's directions and after a while I see the house I saw earlier. I land the Fantastic Car and jump out and walk to the front door.
A gut feeling kicks in. Crossbows erupt out of the ground, firing at me.
"At least I know it's that house," I sardonically remark as I dodge the arrows.
I fire an electric web and break the traps. I keep walking.
I get to the front door and kick it open with a kick from my foot.
- Honey, I'm home! - I make an evil joke.
As I walk forward down the corridor, one of Kravinov's students runs out at me.
I calmly dodge the knife.
- Where is your master?
The kid just runs back, shouting menacingly at me.
I intercept his arm and strike at the articulation of the elbow, breaking my opponent's arm.
- AAGHA! - The guy drops the knife.
Grabbing him by the throat.
- I ask again, where's Kraven!?
But he passes out, and only a second later I see a dart sticking out of his neck. I look at the wall and I see a mechanically operated blowpipe.
- You're so afraid of me that you knock out your own men?! - I throw the hunter's servant aside. - Well, I'm here! - I'm spreading my arms out. - Come out and fight me!
I go on and break down the door at the end of the corridor.
Inside, the torches are lit.
I find myself in a large arena-like room. The entire space is enclosed by a metal net. There are several pipes and bridge-like structures under the ceiling. The arena is dotted with rocks, boxes, and artificial trees.
At the other end of the room, he appears.
- I must confess, I didn't expect you to find me. But I knew we'd meet again. You are my failure! I am the King of Hunters! Kraven! I never miss my prey! - my opponent pointed his crossbow at me. - Today you die!
He's bragging too.
- No. Tonight you die.
Kraven activates the nets, but I dodge all the traps falling from the ceiling. They're filled with stun suppressors, made of metal, but it doesn't matter. They can't even touch me.
Hunter presses the detonator and a series of explosions erupt in the arena. I grab onto the metal structure under the ceiling and avoid the damage. However, the explosions are not that destructive and are designed for one thing only: to spread a smoke screen around the arena.
Suddenly, the space begins to distort slightly. Several dozen bodies lie in the arena that weren't there before. However, after a second, the mirage disappears.
- The smoke won't stop me Kraven! - I'm crawling across the platform. - You can spray all the gas you want, your potions, they won't work on me anymore!
I jump up and I'm right in front of the Hunter.
- None of your tricks can reach me anymore.
And the enemy in front of me is still the same - disgustingly confident, condescending, and smug.
Space distorts again.
For a second, the picture changes, and instead of smugness, fear appears on Kravinoff's face.
- Please, mercy, don't hurt me!
A second later everything normalises and I see the same smug Hunter aiming a crossbow at me.
I wrench the weapon away with a web shot and in one leap I'm beside Kraven, grabbing him by his lion waistcoat.
- If you were going to use potions to induce hallucinations designed to pity me, you shouldn't have drawn your weapon right afterwards! - I strike, knocking Kravinoff back and knocking out several of his teeth.
I come closer.
Sergei tries to lunge at me with his fists.
- What's wrong, hunter," I block his lunge and push him into the railing, "have you lost your fuse? Where's your fighting spirit?
I fire a web and wrap it around Kraven's neck. I leap over the chimney, throw the thread over it, return to the bridge, and tighten the web. Kravinoff's body rises into the air.
He greedily grasps the noose with both hands, trying to delay his execution.
***
Another dimension.
The underworld.
Mephisto.
The lord of the realm of sinful souls, doomed to burn forever in the damned fire, sat on his black throne of human bones. Suddenly, the Prince of Lies sensed something and raised his head upwards.
Something had changed, and it risked hurting, including Mephisto himself.
***
Galaxy C's Edge
An ancient cosmic energy entity, felt the call of its new champion and rushed towards him.
***
In an unknown location.
The man sitting on the throne raised his head.
- Finally.