Chapter 12: Mutant Mayhem Part II

Chapter Twelve: Mutant Mayhem Part II:

“Gwen, just saw the news about what happened, that guy going on a rampage where you live…” stated Harry, as he watched the after match of the carnage on the television screen.

“Relax, Harry, I’m fine,” said Gwen but there was a bit of worry in her voice. “Spider-Man managed to be in the neighborhood, thankfully, but I don’t know if it wouldn’t have made much of a different.”

“Why?” asked Harry curiously.

“This guy kept moving forward, no matter what stood in his way, I have a feeling that everything was just in his way to where he was going,” said Gwen. “Peter left shortly before then…I hope he got back fine.”

“Gwen, I’m sure he’s fine, providing he doesn’t come home in one in the morning, then he won’t be fine,” said Harry but he heard Gwen sigh over the phone in an exasperated manner. “Look Gwen, Pete’s done dangerous things more times than I’ve can count lately. If Spidey was there, it’s likely put himself in the line of fire. Call him though…”

“Can’t his cell phone got ruined, he needs a new one,” said Gwen in despair.

“Not that he ever picks it up when he does have it on him,” replied Harry before he added quickly “The thing is about Pete is the guy is focused on his work, maybe a bit too focused. That’s one way that he’s like my dad that kind of scares me.”

“Now, I’m sure he wouldn’t go to that level of obsession,” said Gwen trying not to sound too critical of Harry’s father, even though she had a feeling he might agree.

“No, no one can,” agreed Harry. “Listen Gwen, Dad’s lurking around, and I do have homework to do, but call me if Pete turns up.”

“Will do, bye Harry,” said Gwen but her worry amplified. She heard nothing about on the news, good or bad. Her father was at work, most likely helping clear up this mess involving the rampage of this Juggernaut, as he was being called.

-

“Is there any way we can break this substance?” asked Beast.

“Magneto blew up two cartridges full of webbing, an amount that is designed to hold a couple dozen moderately strong villains,” said Spider-Man with a strained voice. “But, I do have a bit of good news…”

“And what is this good news?” asked Cyclops who thought about using his optic beams to burn through the webbing but did not want to risk burning his teammates.

“In about an hour this should start to dissolve,” stated Spider-Man which got him some distressed looks from the rest of the team.

“We don’t have an hour, bub, not with Magneto out there,” responded Wolverine as he twisted, before his claws popped out as he struggled to shift into the right position.

“What are you doing, Logan?” asked Iceman.

“I’m busting us out, now don’t move, unless you want it to hurt in the morning,” said Wolverine as his claws began to tear through the webbing. The webbing ripped, just allowing all six of them to breathe and get to their feet.

“Unpleasant,” said Beast.

“Well, it is supposed to capture criminals,” offered Marvel Girl. “So I doubt it would be comfortable.”

“Never thought I would have my own webbing turned against me in such a way, thanks to me, Magneto got away,” said Spider-Man, kicking himself mentally. He should have not gotten lured into such an obvious trap but now the X-Men looked rather uneasy around him.

“I was beginning to think this was a mistake,” grumbled Cyclops as he turned away.

“Never thought I’d say this, but I agree with Cyclops on this one,” said Wolverine as he turned away and the other three even turned their backs slightly, leaving Spider-Man alone.

“Back to the Blackbird,” said Cyclops in a flat voice. “Maybe we can still find Magneto and stop him in time.”

-

Magneto lead his Brotherhood forward. Their attempts to test the genetic alteration serum was futile thanks to the X-Men but they would not be denied in their attempts to start the war that would allow mutants to take their rightful place as masters of the world. Magneto vowed to have his plan of a utopia where all mutants could live, even if he had to kill each and every human one at a time.

“This government holding facility should be excellent to carry out our plans,” said Magneto. “Especially since this is a holding area where so many of our mutant brothers and sisters have been placed. The time for revolution is now.”

“All hail Magneto!” cried Pryo in a crazed voice, as the other members of the Brotherhood raised their fists in the air as well, and moved forward, but a guard stepped forward, gun in hand.

“Halt there, unless you have the proper security credentials, you won’t be allowed to pass,” said the security guard but Magneto just dismantled his gun with ease using his powers, before Sabertooth and Blob moved in to hold the security guard. “Now listen here, I’ll call security, I’ll have you all locked up…”

“You’ll do no such thing,” said Magneto calmly. “You should be honored, to partake in such a grand experiment that will allow for the rightful rulers of the earth to take center stage and take power.”

“You’re Magneto,” said the security guard in a terrified tone. “That mutant nutcase, well we lock up stinking Muties here and throw away the key…”

“Shut your mouth,” said Toad, before he shot his tongue out and stuck it in the mouth of the security guard to silence him. The guard gagged at this action. “Magneto is the best thing to ever happen to Mutants, and he’s given us a chance.”

“Thank you Toad, but the time for talk is done,” said Magneto as he pulled out a syringe and inched closer towards the security guard. “This serum will do one of two things. Kill or evolve, either will benefit my cause greatly. One less human bigot to have to deal with.”

“You can’t do this to me, I have a wife and kids!” begged the security guard but Magneto refused to listen to any pleas, instead he stuck the syringe in the guard, injecting the serum into his system. The guard gave a twist and with a spasm, slumped to the ground, shaking violently as pain coursed through every inch of his body.

“Man, he doesn’t look so good,” commented Avalanche as he watched the human’s agony with widened eyes.

“The change is being to take effect, whatever it may be,” said Magneto as he watched as the security guard continued to thrash around violently, as if having a seizure, before he skin began to grow extremely white, all the moisture being drained from the serum. Seconds later he burst into flames and crumbled into dust, leaving nothing but a few tattered rags on the ground.“To the next one then…”

“I’m afraid not Erik,” said the voice of Charles Xavier as he wheeled himself forward, with the X-Men and Spider-Man appearing right around him, in a battle stance, ready for a fight.

“Charles, I must say, this is an unexpected pleasure,” replied Magneto casually. “I would really love to chat and catch up on old times, but it’s time to force a resolution to the mutant issue. My side has chosen, as has yours. But, we need not fight, I’m giving you one last opportunity to step away, and allow me to do what is necessary.”

“You know I cannot do that, allow you to experiment on humans, in an attempt to turn them into mutants, with a serum that’s could be potentially unstable,” said Xavier calmly, as the X-Men awaited for orders. “My X-Men will be around to stop you to the very end.”

“Such a waste, to spill so much precious young mutant blood,” responded Magneto remorsefully. “But I expected nothing less of you Charles. Brotherhood, dispatch with them, finish off the X-Men for good.”

“Contain them, my X-Men,” ordered Xavier, as the five X-Men rushed forward, to engage the five members of the Brotherhood. Spider-Man moved to join them but he was stopped by an invisible force.

“Spider-Man, do not be alarmed, this is Charles Xavier and I’m inside your mind,” said Xavier. “Don’t fight alongside the X-Men against the Brotherhood, they can handle themselves. Instead deal with Magneto and remove his helmet.”

“His helmet?” thought Spider-Man in a confused manner.

“Yes, Spider-Man, much like the Juggernaut, it blocks him from psychic based attacks and it’s the only way,” said Xavier. “I have faith in you, Magneto will underestimate you and may leave him open for the attack.”

“Right, I’ll try not to let you down, Professor Xavier,” communicated Spider-Man as he thought quickly of the best way to carry out the task that he was given and planned to give it his all to make up for the fiasco with the destroyed web shooters.

“Alright, this time you X-Men are going to be barbequed and we’ll feed you to the Blob!” shouted Pryo in a crazed voice, with a brand new lighter, as he manipulated a large beast made of fire towards them, but Iceman created a wall of ice in an attempt to cool the beast off. Wolverine knocked the Toad for a loop, before he resumed his battle with Sabertooth from earlier. Cyclops blasted the Blob but he barely was able to move, at least until Marvel Girl was able to move him off the ground.

“Not again, nothing can move the Blob, nothing!” shouted the Blob but suddenly the vibrations broke her concentration, as Avalanche moved forward. Another vibration and Cyclops moved forward, sending an optic beam blast, but the Toad bounced down, using his tongue to remove the visor from Cyclops forcing him to close his eyes.

“I’m going to hold onto those, buddy, wouldn’t want you to break them, would we?” cackled the Toad, before Beast leapt down and engaged the Toad in battle. Wolverine and Sabertooth continued their brawl, as Iceman and Pryo was fighting on the other end, with Magneto watching the proceedings, just as the Blob lumbered towards a helpless Cyclops. The battle between Marvel Girl and Avalanche continued, with his vibrations blocking her mental attacks.

“Pathetic, Charles, surely you could teach these students better, the Brotherhood will mop the floor with them,” said Magneto but Spider-Man leapt forward, in an attempt to grab the helmet. The Master of Magnetism was a bit too crafty, using the metal gate to block Spider-Man. Spider-Man bounced up and made another movement, but a piece of razor wire from the fence whipped forward. Spider-Man dodged under that as Magneto backed off, using the bolts from the fence as a projectile.

“Hey Magneto, think you can miss me just a little more?” taunted Spider-Man but Magneto continued to direct jagged pieces of metal towards Spider-Man. “I mean, you’re supposed to be a powerful mutant, yet you can’t catch me. What’s the matter? Getting rusty in your old age?”

“You’re not a mutant, but you’re more than a human,” said Magneto calmly as he directed screws right towards Spider-Man, threatening to rip his skin off the flesh at the rate they were moving. “I do express some deal of curiosity, Spider-Man at what precisely you are.”

“The guy who is about to beat you, maybe?” suggested Spider-Man but a large metal rod knocked the wind out of him, before a metal fence wrapped around Spider-man. Magneto stepped forward, hand raised, as the fence began to tighten around Spider-Man even more. Spider-Man fought valiantly, his spider strength matched against Magneto’s powers of magnetism. It was just by sheer force of will and determination that Spider-Man just barely was able to hold off Magneto’s powers, but he doubted he could do it for too long. He had to dig down deep.

“You intrigue me where most humans just disgust me,” replied Magneto.

“I thought you had established I was more than a human, magnet breath,” gasped Spider-Man as he fought with all of his might.

“Indeed,” said Magneto as he continued to exert his power. “But whatever you are, you are a fool to match wits and power with the Master of Magnetism.”

“Better to be a fool and die, then a bigot and live,” managed Spider-Man, as he was aware that he was just seconds away from being crushed. He had to find a way out. “Like you and your little Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorists…”

“Brotherhood of Mutant Liberators!” thundered Magneto causing several jagged pieces of metal to rise up and threaten to impale Spider-Man through the openings of his prison.

“What’s the matter, did I touch a nerve?” taunted Spider-Man as he managed to use Magneto’s momentary anger and lapse in concentration to give himself a little slack in his prison “I know humans who have thicker skin than you, Magneto.”

Spider-Man knew he was pushing it, but if he made Magneto angry and careless, his powers may fluctuate out of control, allowing for the opening that he needed.

Iceman slid down an ice slide but Pryo blasted it to bits with fire, laughing like a mad man. Sliding down, Iceman froze Pryo’s feet to the ground, at least temporarily, but Pryo broke out with a burst of fire and the battle continued. Sabertooth had Wolverine up against a wall, choking him, with Wolverine attempting to break free.

“I’m going to enjoy this, runt,” growled Sabertooth as he put his hands on Wolverine’s head, in an attempt to crush his skull, but he grunted in pain when he was stabbed. He backed off and Wolverine leapt at his enemy. Sabertooth was slammed into the wall hard and Wolverine knocked the wind out of Sabertooth. Another shot and he was slumped against the wall, before Iceman slid over and blasted ice, holding the unconscious Sabertooth in place.

“Figured you’d need a hand,” said Iceman, but a blast of fire knocked him down. Wolverine rushed forward, as Pryo turned, before he directed a demonic looking fire creation right towards Wolverine. Wolverine dodged the attacks, as the other X-Men continued their battles with the Brotherhood.

“Catch me if you can,” cackled Toad hopping around like a madman, bouncing from side to side but Beast grabbed him.

“I’ll be happy to take that challenge,” responded Beast as he flung Toad right to the ground. Toad bounced off the ground, right into a vibration on the ground, created from Avalanche, that caused him to bounce into the air and land on top of Avalanche. Both men clonked heads, knocking each other out, laid out on the ground.

“Open your eyes and face me,” grunted the Blob as he lumbered forward, but Cyclops blindly slid out of the way and Blob slowly turned, ready to go after his enemy once again.

“I don’t think you want me to do that,” said Cyclops, as Blob swung his fist. “Everyone stand back on the count of three. One, two, three.”

Cyclops opened his eyes and a full optic blast struck Blob. Blob was not moved at first but the continued force launched him off the ground, right into a fountain. The Blob landed with a splash and Iceman moved in to freeze the water in the fountain. The Blob attempted to move, but the ice held him in place.

“I believe this is yours,” said Marvel Girl as she handed the visor to Cyclops, with a smile.

“Thanks Jean,” replied Cyclops before he straightened up, now that his powers could be controlled again.

“Anytime, Scott,” said Marvel Girl, but she turned, as the battle continued. “Other than Pryo, looks like we have this pretty much wrapped up.”

With Toad, Sabertooth, Blob and Avalanche all taken out, that left just Pryo, who was giving Wolverine some headaches with his crazed and out of control use of fire, without any regard to anyone around him. Wolverine rushed forward, intent to get Pryo’s lighter from his hand, but a flick and a large flame erupted, directed right towards Wolverine. Quickly, Iceman moved in and caused a wall of ice, before Beast dropped down and grabbed Pryo from behind.

“Let go of me, ya wanker,” said Pryo as he struggled to get free, but his lighter was shot from his hands by a well timed optic blast by Cyclops. He tried to control the remaining fire, but the ice had slowed it enough. Pryo was launched into the air and dropped down, right next to Avalanche and Toad, before Iceman froze them in place.

“That should hold them,” said Iceman, but they watched, as Spider-Man was in the process of getting crushed by Magneto. “Looks like the web head could use a little hand…”

“No wait,” said Xavier inside the heads of his students. “Stand by, but don’t get in Spider-Man’s way, I believe he may have this under control.”

“Could have fooled me,” grumbled Wolverine but he watched with both eyes on Spider-Man, as he continued to be crushed within the gate.

“Admit it, I’m your evolutionary superior,” said Magneto but Spider-Man managed to use a sudden burst of spider strength to break free and he bounced forward, to catch Magneto right in the face with a punch. The master of magnetism was staggered but as Spider-Man moved forward, a metal gate was pushed right in front of him. Spider-Man attempted to leap up, but Magneto swiftly directed it in his path. “Clever, Spider-Man, you managed to break free, I do wonder how you did that but it doesn’t matter.”

“A little genetically enhanced Spider strength, here is another demonstration of my powers,” said Spider-Man as he bounced up, before he scaled the wall. He turned to point his arms but was struck by a sudden realization.

“Oh right, Magneto trashed my web shooters, guess I’m going to have to do this the old fashioned way,” thought Spider-Man, as he bounced, but he dodged several metal bolts directed by Magneto.

“The serum, it does work on humans, genetically altering them into a higher form of life but how?” voiced Magneto as the metal gate nearly missed slamming right into Spider-Man.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” taunted Spider-Man but Magneto caught him full on in the ribs, before Magneto ripped a chain off of a second gate and wrapped it around Spider-Man and in the tree. Spider-Man attempted to pull himself free, but Magneto ripped a metal pole off the fence and swung it right towards Spider-Man.

The pole was knocked out of the way by an optic blast.

“X-Men, now, Spider-Man needs our help,” said Cyclops as he rushed forward with another optic blast, but the gate blocked the attack, before Magneto flung it, taking out three of the five X-Men, leaving only Iceman and Wolverine standing. Iceman moved forward, on ice, blasting it towards Magneto, but Magneto used the pieces of metal lying around as a blunt force to shatter the ice slide and cause Iceman to spiral to the ground. Magneto raised his hand and the detached gate slammed into him.

“Spider-Man, remember the helmet, while he’s distracted,” said Xavier just as Spider-Man managed to break the chain holding him.

“Right, going to have to improvise here,” said Spider-Man as he picked up a large stick that had been detached in the metal, before he removed a spare web cartridge from his pocket and climbed his way up to the tree, where Wolverine attempted to make a mad dash towards Magneto but was stopped.

“You never learn, do you?” asked Magneto as Wolverine felt his claws rip out forcefully as Magneto slowly began to punish him, despite Wolverine’s struggles. “I’m going to remove that metal skeleton of yours through your skin boy.”

“Hope this works,” thought Spider-Man, as he raised the stick, with the webbing at the end. A whip and the webbing stuck towards Magneto’s helmet, before it removed it from his head.

It took Magneto a few seconds to realize what had happened and he turned right towards Spider-Man but he was stopped by an invisible force.

“Charles,” thought Magneto.

“Yes, Erik, I’m afraid this is for your own good,” responded Xavier, as Magneto dropped to his knees, bombarded by his own memories. Magneto struggled, in an attempt to fight the psychic attack but he was unable to fight, as Xavier was too powerful and he expended He passed out immediately, from the pain.

“Freeze, hands in the air all of you!” shouted another guard who had finally arrived with back up.

“Guess, we’re no longer wanted here,” said Marvel Girl as Iceman created a wall of ice.

“Well they told us to free,” said Iceman with a shrug, as the X-Men along with Spider-Man moved off, with the Brotherhood and Magneto incapacitated. “This should hold them off for long enough to let us get a clean getaway.”

“To the Blackbird, they can take care of Magneto and his Brotherhood,” said Cyclops as they entered the plane and it drove off, just as the security force had broken off.

“Got to hand it to you, kid, you really came through in the end,” said Wolverine. “Still think you got lucky against Magneto but hey, at least you’re in one piece.”

“Always a good thing,” said Spider-Man as he slumped forward. He would be feeling today for a while.

“Yes, Spider-Man, I admit you were a help,” said Cyclops slowly, truthfully without his efforts, Magneto might have gotten the better of them today. Most of it was luck, but it was now obvious that Spider-Man could hold is own. “I think I can speak for the rest of the team where I say that you’re welcomed to fight beside us anytime.”

“Yes, if the war goes on, I have a feeling we might need all the help we can get,” said Marvel Girl before hastily adding. “Not that you don’t have your own battles to fight.”

“Yes, Spider-Man, I agree with my students,” said Xavier. “I fear that we may need to work together all too soon.”

“Well at least we know the kid ain’t completely useless,” said Wolverine.

“Yeah this could be a start of an amazing friendship,” said Iceman as the Blackbird returned, as Spider-Man checked his watch.

“Eight O’ Clock, not too bad, at least this didn’t keep me out as late as the last team up,” thought Spider-Man.

-

Mac Gargen exited the Daily Bugle building, in an irritated manner in the early part of the morning. He had lost track of Peter Parker after that Juggernaut freak had decided to go on a rampage but Jameson would not hear any excuses. Rather he demanded that Gargen keep on the trail of Parker, no matter what it took. To be honest, the amount that he was being paid was not enough to put up with Jameson’s abrasive personality, but he prided himself in digging deep and finishing a job no matter how much it too.

Gargen was broken out of his thoughts, finding himself pulled up the Daily Bugle Building by several lines of webbing. He screamed and thrashed, before he came face to face with Spider-Man.

“Spider-Man,” said Gargen as he came face to face with Spider-Man.

“Hello, Gargen,” responded Spider-Man calmly. “I understand Jameson’s hired you to do a job.”

“That’s really none of your business,” protested Gargen roughly. “Let me down, let me down, or you’ll be sorry.”

“Oh, I know your job, I see you sulking around, nearly as much as I do that Peter Parker guy,” said Spider-Man. “Look, Parker might have helped me out once when I was drugged by Mysterio but that’s in the past and he owed me one. The kid doesn’t know anything about who I am, heck he doesn’t even get photos of me right. Never shoots my good side but I let him take photos out of the goodness of my heart. So, listen to me and listen to me good, detective, I want you to stop falling the Parker boy and tell Jameson that it’s really none of his business who I am under this mask. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Spider-Man, yes it is, now let me down,” begged Gargen and Spider-Man swung over, before he lowered Gargen, right into a dumpster.

“Just a warning if I ever catch you following anyone around again to try and pry into my personal life,” said Spider-Man before he swung off, glad that he had a spare pair of web shooters. He ignored Gargen cursing and sputtering in anger, as he swung off, to make a change into Peter Parker and head off to school, hoping this would be the last he would ever see of the man.

-

Several pieces of metal ripped and contorted, as Magneto casually walked from the cell that he was placed in.

“Ignorant fools, using a metal prison to contain the Master of Magnetism,” said Magneto with a disgusted look. “Leave it to humans not to do the proper amount of research.”

Magneto left, ignoring the pleas of his Brotherhood. They could stew for a while until they were needed and while Magneto reevaluated his plans.

-

“Good to see you got home safe,” said Harry.

“Yeah, Spider-Man really redirected that Juggernaut’s attention, if it wasn’t for him, I would have been flattened,” said Peter but he closed his eyes. He could not even bare to imagine the amount of deaths.

“You’re safe, good enough for me,” said Gwen.

“Yeah, just wish I would have been able to get some pictures,” replied Peter.

“Not that you didn’t try,” said Harry.

“Kind of hard when you’re trying not to get killed,” said Peter.

“Not that it never stopped you before,” muttered Harry but Gwen looked at a bulletin board with interest.

“Look, Peter, an assembly, Dr. Bruce Banner giving a lecture,” said Gwen with a look of interest. “The morning before the dance even…”

“Who is this guy and why should I care?” interrupted Harry.

“Only the foremost expert on Gamma radiation and its scientific applications in the world,” explained Peter.

“Right, I’m sure that’s stimulating to some people,” said Harry but science of any type had never appealed to him, mostly because of his desire to be as much unlike his father as possible but he spotted a familiar face. “Look, there’s Liz, I’ll let you two geek out, and ask her if she wants to walk to class.”

-

“Spider-Man assaulted me, Jonah,” grumbled Gargen as he put his hands on the desk, looking the fearless publisher of the Daily Bugle in the eye, angered beyond belief at his embarassment. “I want that wall crawler to pay for humiliating.”

“Keep your pants on Gargen,” responded Jameson. “Don’t you think I would have taken down that wall crawling reprobate if I could but…I have the perfect idea.”

Jameson was struck by inspiration, he wondered why he had not thought of it before.

“What is it, Jonah, anything to get my revenge on Spider-Man,” answered Gargen eagerly.

“A colleague of mine wanted a volunteer for an experiment, one that I think you will enjoy the results of,” responded Jameson but Gargen’s curiosity was piqued. “So Gargen, how would like you like to have the power to become a hero and take down the greatest threat this city has ever know in Spider-Man?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice, Jonah,” said Gargen with an eager grin. He would make Spider-Man regret the day he was born. 


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