-He'll be here soon," Pete looked more and more like a statue, staring out at the horizon. One of the gargoyles we'd been hiding near. The stone statues scowled mockingly at our efforts, wrapped in their old, cracked wings. Their creepy demonic faces, with their mouths open and tongues sticking out, were irritating," I must appear. He needs my blood.
-You're so sure about that?
-Yeah. Most likely," Parker shook himself, barely hesitating, regaining a steely confidence in his own words, "he's had several opportunities to kill me, but every time that psycho just cut me up...
-Um, Pete. I don't mean to sound like a prude or a douchebag..... But he really is a psycho. You didn't think he just liked torturing you and stuff?
-No," Parker grinned mirthlessly beneath his mask and ran his palm over his head, raising his eyes to the sky, "I mean, he does enjoy it.... But behind the madness lies a cruel and sharp mind. He is clever, cunning, and ruthless. If he had the will, he'd have killed me the first time he saw me.
-Oh, old chap. I think you're wishful thinking," I said, folding my arms across my chest and standing beside Peter, covering my face with my hat brim and collar. "He's a psychopath, and you shouldn't think there's some incredible purpose behind his madness. Normal people don't organise this sort of thing.....
-I know. -But I still believe what I'm saying. He's up to something and he needs my blood to do it.
-Well, let the bastard try to get it," the manipulator crawled quietly out from under his coat, flicking his claws near my face, adding to the threat, "he'll pay!
-No," Pete stood up to his full height and put his hands on my shoulders, gazing into my eyes. Which is kind of funny, considering we were both wearing masks, -I wanted to ask you something...
-I tried to pull away, but the persistent Spider wouldn't budge, -Listen, mate, -I understand, but I'm going through a tough time in my life right now. And did things go bad with you and MJ?
-Wh-what?
-Let me deal with my relationship with Gwen and Felicia. Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying this. But if we're alone in 30 or 40 years, then we can try.
-...
-Well, I just can't! And then the potency will wave goodbye and you can...
-Fuck you.
-Ha-ha-ha!
My laughter was probably heard even by people walking along the street, even though we were standing on the roof of a ten-storey building.
Seconds passed, and Parker's anger was replaced by laughter. The stupid joke had done its job, releasing the built-up tension and fatigue from my friend. He really didn't look like much, and his suit, frankly, stank.
-Stinky neighbour Jew-man," I waved away the stench and wept a little, "couldn't you wash your clothes? If you had come to me after your studies, everything would have been done.....
Raising his hand and sniffing, taking a good breath, Parker coughed up a wet, frightening laugh.
-Fuh, you're right. I'm too caught up in this whole Goblin thing. I don't even have time to wash myself....
-Starina," I draw out my vowels and jerk back. I remembered that teenagers didn't like to bathe, but Peter had never suffered from such a thing, -You should get some sleep. Clean yourself up. Jesus Christ, you're dragging girls around on the web! How come the forums aren't flooded with comments about this?
-Don't exaggerate. What did you expect? That I'd smell like roses? Do you know how hot it gets in the sun?
-Why did you make it so tight? I bet it's rubbing on my privates, too, huh?
-Well... Yes... I had to lie to MJ about it being from running. You're running with me, by the way, if she asks.
-Fucking awesome, my scepticism was a shovelful of scepticism. -Are you sure you can handle a Goblin?
-Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Can you please stay out of our fight?
-Pete.
-I know, I know. But... I have to deal with my own problems. I can't always rely on others.
-That's true. But this is about people's lives, not your ego.
-I know! -But this is my enemy," something in his voice scared me, "I have to deal with it myself. It's my responsibility
-Yes, yes... For more power.
-Fuck you...
Lightly punching me in the shoulder with his fist, Peter literally exhaled, as if to get rid of the last of his fears. Well, I didn't blame him. I guess of all the supervillains I'd ever seen, the Goblin was the second most dangerous. And it wasn't the powers or his futuristic toys. The local Joker was dangerous precisely because of his sick mind. There's no telling what a madman is up to.
-How did you even get him here?
-Well. The thing is," I could see that he was embarrassed by his answer, which only made it funnier, "I think I know who's hiding under the Goblin mask. And planted a note in that person's house.... I think it's Norman Osborne.
But Peter understood my genuine surprise in his own way, and began to explain hastily how he had come to such conclusions. Gesticulating vigorously, jumping from topic to topic, Parker nevertheless gathered some good evidence.
-It took a bit of work, but I was able to get into Ozcorp, where we saw a similar glider, only older. I had to get a security pass. I had to get it wickedly, really," Pete said, scratching his head and clearly embarrassed by his own behaviour, as if he was doubting his own conclusions. "That's where I found the evidence of the failed work on the super-soldier serums. It's a mishmash of Dr Connors' work, the reports on those spiders, and the recollections of scientists who worked with Dr Erskine. It's creepy.
At this point, Pete almost snapped into explanation, sitting down on his favourite topic, but, apparently, having caught something in my emotions, he quickly switched back.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. And then all this news about Ozcorp, the fall of shares, the cancellation of the contract with the army and other troubles.... And the finale was an explosion at the restaurant where the corporation's shareholders were meeting...
-You think he got rid of them to take over the company? -Maybe.-Maybe," Parker shrugged his shoulders, because he probably didn't know what the madman was dreaming about, and squatted down again, "now he can continue his work on serums, and he needs my blood to improve it or to make a sample. Fuck knows what level of work he's on. So much I didn't have time to find out.
In the course of the story, answering my unasked questions, Peter got all tense, stopping the conversation with a wave of his hand.
-He's here. My spidey sense is starting to sound an alarm.
-Good. I'll be right here if you need me.
The answering nod was the last thing Peter had time to do before the battle swirled around him.
***
-HA-HA-HA-HA!
The goblin continued to laugh. No matter how many punches Peter threw, the crazy bastard only gifted him with more of his evil laughter. His mask was sliding off to the side and blood was gushing out from under it, showing that the "friendly neighbour's" blows were reaching their target.
Both of them were badly bruised, and the battle glider was a pile of scrap metal with smoke billowing from it. Parker himself was covered in non-threatening wounds and his suit was in shreds, but Spider-Man steadfastly continued the fight alone, not even stammering for help.
"All in all, it went much better than I feared."
It had been a long time since he had switched to his natural webbing, straining his own body, exhausted by the Goblin's constant bombardment.
But even that act of fighting had passed and now I just watched my best friend pounding his enemy's face fiercely and furiously, putting all the strength and emotion into his blows. They just stood opposite each other, ignoring defences and dodges, pummelling their opponent in the face, with shouts and pathos.
-You! All of you! Only! Psycho! And a murderer!
-YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!
I had to end it. Stop it before it went too far. But...
As I looked around at what the roof and the gargoyles guarding it had become, I realised it had all gone to the same place. It was lucky that the building was abandoned long ago and only the rare homeless and pedestrians witnessed the battle between the two supers.
-Why did you do it? Why would you kill so many people?
-Ha... Ha-ha-ha-ha!
Exhaling heavily and spitting blood, the Goblin burst out laughing, spreading his arms out to the sides and allowing Spider to pummel his defenseless body. Pieces of armour and suit creaked, metal crumpled, and the criminal's face became more and more bruised and bruised.
-That's enough, Spider," I stepped out of the shadows, hiding my hands in my pockets, but ready to fight at any second, and came close to Peter.
-I know! Damn it!
The final blow sent the exhausted Goblin into a knockout. The Halloween-masked weirdo was a star on the roof, laughing uncontrollably, making Parker really mad.
-He won't answer you. He's just a psychopath," I walked over to the fallen Goblin and pulled the mask off his face, revealing a view of some left-handed guy. His eyes were spinning crazily, looking up into the sky every now and then. He could hardly control himself, and his face was now and then adorned with a smile. "It's not Osborne..." he said.
-But how could it be? I was sure. Wait a minute, but I sent the letter to Norman.
So he must have something to do with it.
-That's right. But we don't have time for this now. The police are already here," he nodded toward the approaching helicopter, directing Qi into his eyes to get a better look at the machine and the inscription with the name of the police department on it, but it wasn't necessary.
The chopper erupted into a ball of fire and the new glider whizzed over our heads, accompanied by a fresh selection of the psychopath's laughter.
Before I could finish my sentence, the moron lying motionless grabbed hold of his jacket, unzipping it, showing us a bent sheet of armour. Pressing a couple of buttons, waiting for the click, the fake Goblin opened his suit.
-"Watch out," Pete reacted before the fake Goblin and me, thank God, so most of the blast wave passed us by, only slightly bruising us, "fuck! Did he kill himself?!
I was going for a much sharper expression. It was a fucking Claymore mine, with that clichéd "Explosion on this side" sign, decorated with green scribbles and some Goblin-style scribbles.
Jumping to my feet, shaking off the remains of the bomber, I barely had time to shoot a tentacle into the sky, shooting down one of the glider-drones that were flying straight at us.
-It's all too much of a mess," I said, cursing and grumbling to myself as I realised there was no point in hiding my own capabilities, "Shit.
A chain of explosions ripped through the long-suffering roof, destroying what little was left of Pete and the fake. Pieces of gargoyles were flying around in shrapnel, and the roof shook dangerously, promising to drop us to the floor below if the fun didn't stop.
But then one of the gliders hovered in the air, and a large carcass fell from it in front of us, and I realised that the fun was just beginning, because two more men joined the parade of non-humans after the beastly man I knew.
One of them looked like a shark, as big as a shark, with beady black eyes that stared at us unblinkingly. The mutant opened its mouth and showed us a creepy smile and four rows of teeth, each of which was the size of my finger. I didn't know this guy, even my old memories were tumbling, for such a colourful frame I would definitely remember.
-Fuck.
The third guy to jump off was a bloke who looked like a frog. His nickname "Toad" came to mind. He was squatting on his haunches, flapping his huge eyes at Peter and me.
And the final chord was the appearance of the original Goblin, and for some reason neither Pete nor I had any doubts that this one was the real one. Grinning madly, he looked different from the fake. More focused, more dangerous and threatening.
Leaning close to his vehicle, the Goblin jerked one hand behind his back, where one of his signature bombs fell a second later. Like a flock of crows, the rest of the gliders were circling directly above him, and I was sure they had a lot of explosive gifts hidden inside.
Web-shooters?
-Already changed the cartridge.
-Tuning?
-Combat. With shades of brown trousers.
-Analogous.
-Who are you taking? A straight-up zookeeper or a psycho with bombs?
-The way you put the question makes me doubt it," Peter said, stepping aside and preparing to take flight to meet his enemy, "three on one, are you sure?
-Oh, I don't know. But they've got a good chance.
Peter grinned understandingly, but only glanced at the tentacle under his coat that was urgently sending a message to Rand and Murdoch.
-"Enough games, let's get this done.
An animalistic growl came from the Brotherhood team leader's mouth. With his arms outstretched, showing off his claws on his fingertips, Sabertooth grinned belligerently, then sprinted off, determined to end our battle with a single leap.
His companions were in no hurry, piously confident that the "big boss" would handle everything on his own.
"You're in for a disappointment."
Manipulators barely half a metre away from my body, twisting it around its axis, and my Qi-infused heel slammed into the big man's jaw, sending him into a short flight.
Everyone froze in amazement. Even myself, for that matter. It was only my steely stamina that allowed me to remain calm.... Well, almost.
-In the shadow of a ruined world, amidst the chaos and shadows, you, Sabretooth, will sink into the abyss. I am the reflection of your fears, the reflection of your fall. Like ink in water...
-Man!
-I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I couldn't help it, I guess you could see my embarrassed grimace through the mask, let's get started.
The tentacles shot forward before I had even finished speaking. Two steel manipulators rushed forward, and while the first tried unsuccessfully to catch Toad, the second slammed full speed into the shark-man, hitting the big man in the chest.
The toothy master of the seas yelled, spat, and tried to gnaw at the metal, clawing at the claws with his paws, but he managed to stay in place, though his feet left two long furrows on the ground.
I rushed after him, intending to get rid of Sabertooth and, if not to knock him out, at least to tie up the restless mutant, who was already beginning to come to his senses.
Goblin's grenades were exploding over our heads, as he had set a minimum delay to detonation on all his bombs. The psycho had learnt from his mistakes, and now not all of his grenades were detonated on touch, which spoiled Parker's life.
-Don't get distracted, kid! -Don't get distracted!
That's what I'm talking about. As soon as I let that thing out of my sight, Sabertooth was back in the fight, throwing a piece of concrete the size of a dinner table at me!
Growling, swearing, and threatening, he tried to engage me in close combat, avoiding my tentacle, but each attempt failed. Otto Octavius' nimble crafts deftly dodged the blows, and the few that could reach them were ignored due to the strength of the alloys.
My sixth sense screamed at the danger, and as my hand filled with Qi, I caught a glimpse of Toad's huge, slimy tongue lashing out at my head. The slimy limb slipped out of my hands, but that was enough time for the manipulator to finally catch up with the mutant, knocking it into the ground and pressing it down with all its weight.
But it was not without consequences. Seeing his partner's defeat, the crazy shark went into berserk mode.
"Well, at least she's not screaming about blood and skulls."
I had to add a couple more limbs to calm the pissed-off mutant, but even so, he managed to slip out of the grip and slowly made his way towards me while I was forced into hand-to-hand combat with Sabretooth.
"Shit, Pete. I'll be demanding compensation when this is all over."
And while all of Victor Creed's strength and animal fury were useless against metal tentacles, once he got to his flesh and blood body he was able to show why he was so beloved by many fans.
Fast, strong, animal-like agility, and most shitty of all, extremely skilled. He didn't fight like a man at all, and as a result, I missed more and more of the blows that were ruining my health and my coat.His Qi-fuelled fists were able to bend around his defences, doing incredible damage that I'd be afraid to do to a human, but I wasn't fighting a human.
Regenerating constantly, raging more and more, and attacking more aggressively and faster with each passing second, Saber Tooth made me bleed a lot.
-Bastard!
I jumped back, calling all my tentacles back to me, and together with the body of the knocked out Toad, I spun on the spot, creating a real blender that threw the shark off the roof.
But more importantly, a few particularly lucky blows land right on Creed's beastly face, throwing the persistent creature further away.
"And apparently I broke Toad's leg with that kind of antics."
But I couldn't delay or delay it, so, using all the speed I could muster, I launched myself at Victor, clamping his hands and head, then pepper sprayed the mutant's nose with pepper spray, sanding it all down with a Taser, landing the full charge into the restless bastard's neck.
-R-R-R-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-ARGH!
-When are you gonna stop?
The shark had climbed right up the wall and was now running straight at me with its paws out to the sides. It had chunks of concrete in its mouth... And some furniture?!
But being alone, without the help of its associates, the toothy mutant was easy prey. He lacked the speed and agility of Toad, and lacked the experience, strength and intelligence of Sabretooth. Therefore, I simply and without intricacy clamped his mouth claw and prescribed a dozen blows to the body in the region of the liver, sending the poor guy into a knockout.
-Crazy mutants.
Just in case, the usual rebar was torn from the roof of the building, which I wrapped around each of the losers.
But it wasn't them I was worried about. All this time there was a real madness of cacophony of explosions going on in the background. It had been quiet for almost a minute now, which meant that the fight was either over or had moved into a much more intense phase, and I sincerely hoped for the latter.
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