Chapter 64: The Horrific Harmonic Heist of the Hypno Hustler Part Two

The Horrific Harmonic Heist of the Hypno-Hustler. Part Two:

There was a haze and a mind numbing buzzing in their ears before they slowly woke up.

“Uh, did anyone get the number of the truck that ran me over,” grumbled Shadowcat as she shook her head and tried to move, but she found that she was tied up and she looked over. “Spidey, Spidey, Spider-Man, WAKE UP!”

“Five more minutes,” mumbled Spider-Man groggily which caused Shadowcat to look at him with an exasperated look. If she was able to move, she would have kicked him, really hard.

“We don't have five more minutes and we're like about to get toasted by the Hypno-Hustler,” said Shadowcat. “If I get killed by that guy, I would die of embarrassment. You know, if I wasn't already dead from the you know dying.”

“Yeah, I get what you're saying,” said Spider-Man as he tried to struggle out. “Kitty, you can phase us out, please tell me...”

“With this splitting headache I can't concentrate long enough,” said Shadowcat as she closed her eyes but she felt a ringing sensation that impeded her concentration “Trust me, you don't want to get stuck halfway inside an object. It hurts. I mean, it really hurts.”

“Awake, excellent, I would hate to see you snoozing with your demise,” said Hypno-Hustler. “I wish for you to be awake, when you see the crime of the century. Soon, the entire world will be witness to the biggest caper in New York. The Kingsley Megastore will be raided and will be rattled by the horrific harmonic heist of the Hypno-Hustler.”

“The horrific harmonic heist of the Hypno-Hustler,” dead panned Spider-Man.

“Wow, that's a mouthful,” said Shadowcat before she turned as far as she could. “Bet ya can't say that three times fast, Spidey.”

“The horrific harmonic heist of the Hypno-Hustler, the horrific harmonic heist of the Hypno-Hustler, the horrific harmonic heist of the Hypno-Hustler,” said Spider-Man without missing a beat.

“Wow, not bad,” said Shadowcat. “Now try the Sinister Six stole seventy seashells by the seashore.”

“I don't mean to break up the game that you're doing, but I'd like to get this show on the road, so you all need to chill, so I can break it down for you,” said Hypno-Hustler, sounding a bit agitated.

“Sorry, my bad, we'll try and be more considerate to the psychotic nutcase who's trying to kill us next time,” said Spider-Man.

“Yeah, but if we let him talk, we'll die of boredom,” said Shadowcat.

“You have quite the mouth on you for someone who's just the arachnid’s lackey,” said the Hypno-Hustler swiftly.

“Lackey!” screamed Shadowcat. “I'm not going to be called a lackey by some third string, lame D List Bad Guy!”

“Hey now, while I might not be the most prominent cat in the criminal underworld, let me lay this on you, kid, I'm pretty happening my own way,” interrupted the Hypno-Hustler. “Once this caper has reached its apex, we'll be swinging with the dragons and riding with the pixies all the way to the top.”

The other members of the Mercy Killers looked strangely at their boss, before they shrugged and looked into space, whistling nonchalantly.

“Us D List Bad Guys as you call us, are what makes this city the most happening place in the criminal underworld,” said Hypno-Hustler. “I've got a kicking little ballad that will lay some knowledge on you of why us D Listers are where its at and why the big bads wouldn't be so rad without us.”

“You just had to provoke him into singing another one of his stupid songs, didn't you?” said Spider-Man to Shadowcat agitated voice as he tried to free himself, but whoever had secured him had done it well, as the Hypno-Hustler had cleared his throat, as he strummed a few notes on his guitar.

You can have your Doctors, both Octopus and Doom.

Everyone trembles in terror, when the Red Skull enters the room.

Goblins and Kingpins and Scorpions as far as can be spied by the eye.

Galactus eats planets because he has to, no matter how many will die.

The Mandarin connects his rings and Kang will conquer.

The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants terrors all, everyone beware.

Magneto can attract metal as simply as turning on a switch.

And here comes the Juggernaut, bitch!

Despite all the powers, influence and respect, these villains demand.

Without us D-Listers, they would have nothing near the command.

White Rabbit has a shrill voice that would make you want to shoot.

Plant Man is a character with very deep roots.

The Matador is a load of bull and The Big Wheel is out of gear.

The Scarecrow(no not that one) is not someone that we should fear.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here comes the Circus of Crime

The Red Ghost and his super apes are a product of another time.

Some of those criminals might not be somebody you know.

Some might be just a guy called Joe!

We are the D-Listers and we have our place.

We might not be the first to win the race.

It is our time to be respected and get our just due.

No matter how pathetic we might seem in your view.

Others might scoff at us, in their place we would.

The D List villains will be the ones to make the super villains look good.

And to you heroes would your triumphs seem as heroic, as grand, without that.

Without us, those evil doers would not look too evil and this business would seem very flat.

Somehow, Shadowcat managed to concentrate long enough to slowly phase her way out of the ropes. One of the Mercy Killers spotted her, but she knocked him out with one shot, before he could warn the Hypno-Hustler.

Time is running short.

Our plans might seem to be fruitless, it might time to abort.

Yet, whether its the Grizzly or the Walrus or The Gibbon or the Kangaroo.

The world of crime sometimes seems like a zoo.

The Lightmaster is none too bright, Blizzard's schemes run cold.

If he catches your grammatical errors, Spellcheck will make sure you're told.

The Trapster's history doesn't seem like a major feat.

Mostly because he's trying to live down that he was once called Paste Pot Pete!

Spider-Man was now free, thanks to Shadowcat, and both were making short work of the the Mercy Killers knocking them around, one by one, as the Hypno-Hustler continued his singing undisturbed.

We are the D-Listers and we have our place.

We might not be the first to win the race.

It is our time to be respected and get our just due.

No matter how pathetic we might seem in your view.

Others might scoff at us, in their place we would.

The D List villains will be the ones to make the supervillains look good.

And to you heroes would your triumphs seem as heroic, as grand, without that.

Without us, those evil doers would not look too evil and this business would seem very flat.

The Kingpin has nothing to command if there are no schmucks to take the fall.

Without us, Doctor Octopus wouldn't seem as all the ball.

We help keep the heroes occupied, to allow the big guys to plan, to plot.

We don't get too much recognition, not a whole lot.

The world needs balance, without us it would not scale.

Without us when the supervillian's schemes blow up in our face, it will be even more of an epic fail.

Its not really that can be hidden, we're not masterminds, we're just trying to make it in this world.

Sometimes all it takes is a fancy outfit and a gimmick to given this career a whirl.

Not all of us will be respected, I'm not a fool.

The music stopped, as outside of the window, a certain Merc from the Mouth stopped and waved.

(For a completely random and unneeded cameo apparence, hi I'm Deadpool!)

Deadpool turned and walked off whistling, and the Hypno-Hustler continued like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, unaware, that Shadowcat and Spider-Man were in the process of finishing off his Mercy Killers.

We are the D-Listers and we have our place.

We might not be the first to win the race.

It is our time to be respected and get our just due.

No matter how pathetic we might seem in your view.

Others might scoff at us, in their place we would.

The D List villains will be the ones to make the super villains look good.

And to you heroes would your triumphs seem as heroic, as grand, without that.

Without us, those evil doers would not look too evil and this business would seem very flat.

So the time has come for the end.

It is time for your spines to bend.

It just proves that we are going to be the ones to do the crime.

Tonight its your time.

the end has come at least.

Good night.

Good riddance.

With gratitude.

With glee.

When I'm done its time for the Hypno-Hustler to flee.

The Hypno-Hustler turned around but he spotted his Mercy Killers on the ground, except for one. One dove at Shadowcat, but she dropped to the ground and he landed confused, before Spider-Man jumped on his back and wrapped webbing around him to secure him.

Impossible you're free.

Nevermind, you're not not going to stop this crime spree.

So this twisted symphony has come to an end.

Your lives are something that at another time I will amend.

I have a timetable to keep, time to bring the house down.

Just remember, I might not be grand.

But I'm the Hypno-Hustler and against me you won't stand!

Hypno-Hustler let off a loud guitar blast, that caused a sizeable chunk roof to cave in and Spider-Man had to quickly shoot several lines of webbing to hold the roof up as the Hypno-Hustler tapped his heels together and miniature rockets retracted from his go go boots, his sequined cape fluttered, as he rocketed through the window.

“He has rocket powered Go Go Boots,” said Shadowcat in numb shock.

“Of course he does,” dead panned Spider-Man but suddenly, his spider sense went off completely as the support beams began to collapse. The half conscious band members had managed to either walk out or be dragged out, as the entire hideout was collapsing right around Spider-Man and Shadowcat. Spider-Man grabbed onto her and began to swing out of the building, but it was very hard to deal with falling rubble.

“We're not going to make it,” muttered Shadowcat but Spider-Man just closed his eyes, trying to calculate what would be the least painful area of exit and he managed to maneuver them around.

“Go intangible, right now,” said Spider-Man sharply and Shadowcat closed her eyes and they went right through the rapidly collapsing wall, just managing to get back on the others side of the street. “Okay?”

“I'll let you know when my stomach manages to catch up with me,” said Shadowcat with a weak smile. “You never cease to amaze me.”

“I do try, but when we got out, I think we got further away from Hypno-Hustler,” said Spider-Man as he squinted and managed to catch a gathering crowd and fireworks. “The Kingsley Megastore, the grand openings in five minutes and the concert....its one large benefit, for the benefit of the Hypno-Hustler. If you're not feeling up to it, you don't have to come...”

“No, I'm okay, just a little dizzy, trying to phase in that situation isn't exactly the most pleasant thing in the world,” said Shadowcat, who decided now might not be the best time to tell the web slinger that they came perhaps a half a second away of being stuck in a wall just as it was crumbling. She did not quite know the physics of what would have happened but it would have been fatal. “So, how are we going to stop him? The last two times, we've kind of been embarrassed.”

“This time, I've got a plan,” said Spider-Man.

“Or at least I think I do,” thought Spider-Man. “Oh well, better than nothing.”

XXXXX-XXXXX

The entire crowd was assembled at the newly created Kingsley Megastore(the fifth in the state), as Roderick Kingsley made his way to the stage, with a pair of armed bodyguards.

“I am pleased to introduce the brand new Kingsley Enterprises Megastore, where all of the goods that you've come to know and use will be available and much more,” announced Kingsley in a proud voice, as he looked around. “I hope to make today the best opening of one of my megastores, but only you, the citizens of New York can do so, by opening your hearts and your wallets. Half of the profits of today will be donated to charity. So please keep that in mind as you prepare to shop on this day. Now, right now, to dedicate the opening of the store, please enjoy this free of charge musical performance by one of the top underground bands in New York...”

“Thank you, Mr. Kingsley,” said Hypno-Hustler, as he walked up and grabbed the microphone, with the guitar in his hand. “Ladies and Gentlemen, the entire city of New York is really ready rock.”

“You're not the band I hired,” protested Kingsley roughly, but two of the Mercy Killers grabbed Kingsley and pitched him off the stage, laughing.

“The other band was indisposed, a tragic accident, with their tour bus driving off of an unfinished bridge, we're going to dedicate this performance to them,” said Hypno-Hustler as a couple of security guards moved forward but a note he had strummed had put them in a trance and once the amplifier was turned on, he strummed out a few notes. “Now, don't fight it, you're minds are opened up, thanks to my magic dust that I spread throughout the city, so just relax, there's no harm, there's no hurt, there is just the Hypno-Hustler! Who has you under your control?”

“The Hypno-Hustler,” droned the crowd.

“Who are you going to obey?” asked Hypno-Hustler with a fist raised.

“Hypno-Hustler,” droned the crowd.

“Who do you adore?” asked Hypno-Hustler in a booming voice.

“Hypno-Hustler!” chorused the crowd in their monotone.

“Who's going to stop me?” asked Hypno-Hustler as he waited in anticipation with the crowd.

“Spider-Man!” droned the crowd and Hypno-Hustler looked confused, but Spider-Man had swung down right outside of the crowd.

“You must be spending all your time in Squaresville if you think you can attack me when I have about four hundred or five hundred people under my power!” called Hypno-Hustler as he strummed a tune. “Plus, you would never harm any harmless civilians.”

“You're right, I'm not going to fight you,” said Spider-Man as he managed to see Shadowcat sneaking in from the other side, as she walked towards the sound system. He needed to keep Hypno-Hustler occupied for at least another minute. “The only thing I'm going to fight is the urge to vomit if I hear another one of your awful tunes.”

Hypno-Hustler, just snapped his fingers, but the Mercy Killers turned around and caught Shadowcat right on the stage, but she became intangible and dove right through it, before she slid out from underneath him.

“Stop them, in any way you can!” yelled Hypno-Hustler, as the group of zombified citizens just moved forward and began to aim punches right towards the ribs and the head of Spider-Man, knocking him around.

“Hey, stop, that, hey that was a little low!” shouted Spider-Man wincing as he was hunched over, before he attempted to scale the walls, before he was pulled back down into the masses and beaten down, as Shadowcat was caught in the crowd was well.

“Well this didn't go....as planned,” said Shadowcat weakly as she dropped to the ground and came back up to grab Spider-Man by the arm, just as he was smacked right in the face by an old lady.

“Understatement, much,” said Spider-Man, as they moved around and Spider-Man spiraled up, before he grabbed a rope, bringing down a tarp to slow down his pursuers. “That should slow them down.”

“But not stop them?” asked Shadowcat, as they moved around, as it did not trap everyone. “How did you stop them last time?”

“I rang the fire alarm and everyone got out of their trance,” said Spider-Man. “And I don't see any fire alarm around here, do you?”

“Nope, we're screwed,” said Shadowcat, as she ducked around, but they ran into another wall of people, including Gwen. “Oh, hi, Gwen...hey that hurt!”

Gwen had just promptly just punched Shadowcat right in the face, but Spider-Man had grabbed her from behind and pulled out another pair of ear plugs, as he shot several lines of webbing, to ensnare the crowd and to partially block them from advancing.

“Adjust that, slide that into there, put slot A into Tab B, twist that, push that, and there,” said Spider-Man.

“Huh, Pet...Spider-Man, what's going on?” grumbled Gwen as she shook her head. “And why does my hand hurt?”

“Maybe because you punched me as hard as you could,” said Shadowcat, as she rubbed the side of her face.

“Oh, my God, Kitty, I'm so sorry,” said Gwen in a horrified voice but Shadowcat waved her off.

“No, no sweat, that sequined nutcase put you under his control,” said Shadowcat. “Just think, about four hundred or five hundred or more of those things and you should have everyone out of his control.”

“Not going to work, because that was the last pair I had,” said Spider-Man and suddenly the crowd moved. “My webbing isn't going to hold for that long.”

They quickly ducked out of an alley way.

By now, the web slinger and his companion have been sent straight to the ground.

As to my tunes, you're will is still bound.

Tonight is the day where I want to collect.

Open your hearts and reflect.

For I want you to dig down deep.

Of the benefits I shall reap.

“Can we please shut him up?” asked Shadowcat as she threw her hands up.

“No, he's revealing his plan, we need to block that sound system, bring people out,” said Spider-Man.

“Well, didn't you pull the fire alarm at school when he put the entire prom under his control?” asked Gwen.

“Yes,” said Spider-Man. “But there's no fire alarm out here, is there?”

“No, but there has to be something shrill that can override it, right?” asked Gwen but she frowned.

Everyone come forward.

One by one.

Checks, cash, credit, stocks or bonds, anything will do.

All I need is a donation from you.

Perhaps I could see that today the biggest heist in criminal history.

The world is going to see the final chapter of the story of me!

So open up your wallets, your purses, and your pockets.

Open them wide and one at a time.

“Remember that time when Flash Thompson plugged a wire into the school's sound system and plugged it somewhere it shouldn't be during the football game during our Freshman year?” asked Spider-Man.

“My ears are still ringing and that was years ago,” said Gwen as she winced. The feedback loop was a loud, shrill annoying sound.

“Go forward, pretend you're still under his control, we'll keep the Hypno-Hustler busy, you need to switch the plug of the sound system one slot down,” said Spider-Man to Gwen.

That's it, don't hold out.

Don't be shy, don't be greedy.

Open your pockets, to one that is truly needy.

My dream is to continue but I need your help.

My mother must be looking up at me with scorn in her eyes.

But even she cannot deny.

My ambitions are strong.

And my powers are stronger.

Dance my puppets, open your wallets.

This groovy, glistening cat, will not deny.

That I'm the king of all that is grand.

“Here's a song for you, its called all webbed up” shouted Spider-Man as he swung right in, but the crowd had grabbed his ankles. Shadowcat pulled him down through the crowd, but they were trapped in the middle, trying to shove their way out.

“We've got to hang in their, got to buy Gwen some time, hopefully she can get up there,” thought Spider-Man, as he was being pummeled, and Shadowcat was not faring much better.

Next, yes a check with a lots of zeroes.

Yes, a credit card, with untainted credit, you're my hero.

Pennies, nickles, dimes, quarters, any coin will do.

Or you can make it paper, in fives, tens, twenties, fifities, and one hundred dollar bills too.

All this is adding to my dream.

The time where I can be considered the one with the grandest scheme.

You see this city is financing a quite a bigger caper.

The time where everyone around the world can hear my melodies.

Spider-Man suddenly swung right over the crowd, ducking and dodging, before he made his way right to the Hypno-Hustler, but he was pulled off the stage by some people nearby and once again attacked. Hypno-Hustler and his men opened up their bags, as Gwen reached the front.

“Come on, you can do better than that can you!” shouted Spider-Man to the Hypno-Hustler.

“Hold him, please, I want to look him in the eye, before I finish him off,” said Hypno-Hustler, as a knife slightly retracted right from his boot as the Mercy Killers piled on Spider-Man and Hypno-Hustler stepped forward, and grabbed the mask, as Spider-Man was held.

Now the time, its for you to get out and look in my face.

Face to face, I'll see yours, time to quicken the pace.

The mask comes off.

For the world can see.

Your secret identity.

The web becomes untangled.

Unhinged.

Unraveled.

Unspun.

Soon the world will see what lies underneath.

(The mask is pulled up as Spider-Man struggled)

Don't deny me.

(The mask is pulled halfway over his nose)

Tonight the world sees who is under the mask.

(The mask is nearly off)

Behold, Spider-Man unveiled!

The mask is pulled off and the face of Peter Parker is revealed to the world with the Hypno-Hustler looking at him, with irritation as he had no idea who this person was underneath the mask.

“Congratulations, you're truly brilliant, you exposed my face,” said Peter dryly as he watched Gwen from behind the gang out of the corner of his eye. “I would applaud you, if I could move, but considering you just unmasked me when everyone was off in magic pixie land thanks to you putting them in the trance and they won't remember this when they wake up, you didn't think this through! So good going, genius!”

“What a drag, Spider-Man is a nobody, such is the world that we live in,” said Hypno-Hustler, as he reared back his boot, in an attempt to kick Spider-Man in the throat, right with the knife, just as Gwen had switched the plugs and quickly slid off the stage.

A loud shrill siren echoed throughout the entire town and the Hypno-Hustler was staggered, several people in the crowd, staggered clutching their heads, as Shadowcat came from the ground and grabbed Spider-Man's mask and then the web slinger himself, before they went intangible, right as the sound system began to smoke and there was a loud pop.

“No, this can't be, my beautiful symphony!” cried Hypno-Hustler, as he dropped to his knees but the entire crowd was still shaking off the affects and he grabbed the bag of ill gotten gains. “Time to blow this joint, my Mercy Killers!”

“While I'm sure that would be something that you do quite often, that's not going to happen, you and me, Hustler, if you think you can handle it,” said Spider-Man as Hypno-Hustler just looked around and realized that his sound system was blown when it was tampered with and he stepped back, but Spider-Man had webbed his boots right to the stage, to prevent him from blasting off.

“Get him!” yelled Hypno-Hustler, as the Mercy Killers stepped back and rushed Spider-Man. Spider-Man used a series of acrobatic moves and avoided their attacks one by one, as Hypno-Hustler managed to cut himself free, but he found his propulsion systems was gummed up with webbing and so were his men. Hypno-Hustler retracted the knives from his boots again, and he rushed Spider-Man and aimed a kick but the web slinger ducked it. The Hypno-Hustler tried to kick Spider-Man time and time again but he ducked and dodged, before he shot lines of webbing, at each knife and ripped them from the boots.

“Now, didn't your mother tell you not to play with knives?” taunted Spider-Man and Hypno-Hustler, enraged, had rushed Spider-Man, in an attempt to nail him with the guitar, but Spider-Man ducked it. Spider-Man dropped down and disarmed the Hypno-Hustler, before he was sent off the stage with one punch to the jaw and he was sent flying, to a loud round of cheers from the assembled crowd.

“We'll take it from here, Spider-Man,” said a cop who had just arrived, as Roderick Kingsley just stepped off, looking absolutely incensed as he looked at his smoldering, blown sound system.

“You web slinging buffoon, I ought to have you arrested!” shouted Kingsley as he began to poke Spider-Man in the chest. “That was a state of the art sound system, and you destroyed it. I paid a fortune for that!”

“I can't believe this, your people were almost robbed and you're upset about a stupid sound system,” said Spider-Man.

“Well that nutcase wouldn't have been here to begin with, if it wasn't for people like you,” retorted Kingsley sharply with one more look of deepest loathing, as the Hypno-Hustler and the Mercy Killers were cuffed and sent, likely for a nice stint at Ravencroft. “As far as I'm concerned, you should be sent right to Ravencroft along with the menaces you create.”

“You didn't seem too quick to condemn me when I rescued you from Hammerhead and his mob,” said Spider-Man and he paused briefly, before he added. “You know, when you ran like a coward.”

“Some day, someone is going to make you pay Spider-Man and I hope to see it,” said Kingsley, as he stepped off, as the crowd just looked on. “Now leave right now and don't ever step foot on any property owned by Kingsley Enterprises or I will press charges and have you unmasked and put in a straightjacket.”

“Fine, I don't want to see you or any of your cheap, tacky merchandise again in my life,” said Spider-Man as he swung off into the city, as he looked at Shadowcat, who nodded from a nearby street corner, as he swung by.

“The nerve of some people, Kingsley, like he couldn't afford that, he is the type of person who lights of cigars with hundred dollar bills and uses them as toilet paper as well,” thought Spider-Man. “Billionaires, can't live with them, can't punch them out in public for risk of looking like a jerk.”

XXXXX-XXXXX

“I have no idea what just happened,” said Harry, as he shook off the cobwebs standing with Liz and Gwen. His head was still buzzing. It was a feeling that he knew all too well.

“That's what I'd want to know,” said Peter.

“Wait a minute, you actually showed up?” asked Harry.

“Been here for a while, then everything just went poof, like I was floating on air,” said Peter.

“Do we even want to know what happened?” asked Liz.

“Something tells me no,” said Gwen dryly.

“Would we even know if we were awake?” asked Peter. “Maybe if we get in there right now, we'll get something decent.”

“Yeah, at an overpaid, over inflated price,” said Gwen.

“I did say maybe, you know,” said Peter with a shrug.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“The state of the art lightweight armor developed by Advanced Idea Mechanics is said to be resistant to many physical attacks and also most forms of weaponry, while the wearer is able to maintain flexibility and also be able to withstand heavy amounts of heat and cold,” announced a newscaster on the radio, as Wilson Fisk sat in the back of his limo. “Even the most super powered beings would not penetrate the armor. The funding was pulled recently and AIM is under heavy investigation for unethical and questionable business practices and experimentation on kidnapped homeless people and immigrants to develop their technology. The remaining fabric samples will be collected within the next week and disposed of.”

“They will be collected, indeed,” muttered Fisk, his interest piqued. He must have a closer look at this technology before it was foolishly destroyed and he quickly dialed his cell phone. “Hello, Ryker's, this is Wilson Fisk. I wish to inquire about the release three prisoners for my work release program, as we previously discussed. If it should be done discretely, Ryker's will be funded well.”

Fisk sat back, a smug expression on his face. With Silvermaine about ready to be released from jail and the mysterious Master Planner, not to mention the so called guardian devil of Hell's Kitchen interfering with his operations on a regular basis, he needed an edge and this abandoned experimental technology provided it for him.

As the Kingpin, he knew he had to take every advantage to keep his empire in check.

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