Marvel Triple Action #57

By Jimmy O’Brian

MV1 Fanfiction Presents:

"One Man’s Love, One Man’s Hatred"

Featuring:

The Mighty Thor! The Amazing Spider-Man! The Uncanny Beast!

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Over the concrete jungle of New York City, two men…or rather, one man and one god…swing and fly, making their way to the one man who might help them…who, once again, isn’t as much of a man, but rather the furry mutant X-Man, the Beast!

"Dost thou truly believe Henry McCoy shall be able to aid us, slinger of webs?" Thor asks as they travel.

"If he can’t, Thor, then I don’t know who else could!" Spider-Man replies, joking but sounding worried under his common surface.

"Were Henry Pym in the area, we could seep him out." The Norse god suggests.

"Well, as far as I know, ol’ Hank isn’t in town, so we’re gonna have to ‘seek out’ the other genius scientist named Henry."

"For sooth, my friend."

As the two heroes pass a skyscraper, Thor speaks again.

"Can we be sure that the good Beast shall be at his home?"

"There’s almost doubt, if he’s still taking residence at the academy." Spidey answers.

"Academy, you say? Does our bestial friend teach at a place of learning?"

"Of course not, goldy, although I’m sure he could. He lives at Charles Xavier’s Academy for Gifted Youngsters…..which means mutants. You knew that, didn’t you?"

"Ah…..aye, of course I did. I must merely have forgotten , at some point."

"Anyway, I’m pretty sure that he’ll be there…..the X-Men don’t keep away from their mansion as much as certain other teams…" Spidey says a little facetiously.

"Spider-Man, both you and I know the Avengers all have honorable reasons to take leave from our headquarters." Thor replies, a bit surprised at Spider-Man’s apparent bitterness.

"I’m sure they do…..but…well, what if everyone just decided to take a break, or a leave of absence? What if Daredevil and I just decided to stop patrolling the streets?"

"I assume that another costumed samaritan would take over the task, if not the local authorities."

"Maybe you’re right…..but maybe not."

They still continue their journey in an awkward silence, until Thor finally decides to ask his h

question.

"Spider-Man…..dost thou have a quarrel with the Avengers, besides our frequent absences?"

"I…..I dunno, Thor. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come off as really angry. Sometimes I just get frustrated…"

"Your apology is accepted, friend, but what troubles thou? I am not merely a royal son, but I care to hear what would trouble my allies."

"Sometimes I get frustrated that you all work together as a team, as friends…and then other guys like me and Daredevil and Moon Knight and many others just work alone. Sometimes it’s good to not be this big, attention drawing group…but the closest we get to team pride is when we team up for a day or two."

"Ah, so you lack friendship, webbed one?"

"Not so much that…I have friends, like I said. But one man can only do so much…and street-lever heroes like me and the others, well…there’s too much loner in us to join a team, but there aren’t enough of us to make a big difference."

"Thou knowest that what you speak are lies, Spider-Man. You and the others similar make quite a difference in many different ways that the Avengers could never do themselves. You are all more personal heroes."

"I know, I know. Still, being a part of a big, important team…maybe one of us could bring that ‘person’ feel to the group."

"Perhaps, my friend. You were once a member of the Avengers, were you not?"

"I was a reserve member for a very, very short time, that’s all. Like I said, I was too much of a loner to be a real team-player."

"I can very well understand your troubles. Asgard and other personal matters take up much of mine own time, as well."

"Yeah, I bet it would."

Another misplaced silence leaves the heroes to their travels, but this time it is not awkward but comfortable, the two of them at ease and with a better understanding of each other.

Henry McCoy lays back on his bed, comfortable and relaxed as he holds To Kill A Mockingbird in dexterous his foot right in front of his face and a popsicle in his hand. He is in the calmest of moods as he reads, and is resting after a long workout in the Danger Room. The sweat is still evaporating from his blue fur, a side-effect from the enhanced mutation which took place in his body so long ago. He is happy and satisfied, for the moment.

The alarm of the academy, also sometimes called the X-Mansion, sounds off violently and very loudly, disturbing the Beast’s quiet afternoon.

"What in blazes?" he says to himself, and gets up quickly, running for the door.

"What could it be now? Or rather, who…Magneto? The Hellfire Club? Perhaps someone new…I truly am tired of the same mutant criminals we constantly battle. Is it too much to ask for a different challenge, sometime?" he says, his monologue unheard by any teammates.

Bounding downstairs like an animal, he quickly finds Storm, who has deactivated the alarm.

"Ororo? What happened? Why did you turn off the alarm?" he asks the exotic African mutant.

"It was an intruder alarm…" she begins in a relaxed tone.

"Wouldn’t that necessitate action, dear Storm?"

"You did not let me finish, Hank. It was accidentally set off."

"Oh? But all of our members know how to get in without setting off the alarms."

"These are not X-Men, Beast. They are friends, and they said over the intercom that they are here to see you."

"Moi? Someone’s come to pay the lovable Beast a visit?"

"Yes, Hank. You should meet them at the front door."

"I’ll do that, Ororo." He says, as he begins bounding away again, abound with energy. Henry McCoy is a very friendly a social man, and he enjoys any company he can get.

Opening the door, he is greeted by a sight that would amaze most normal people, but delights the Beast.

"Thor! Spidey! What a pleasant surprise! Please, come in."

"Thanks, Hank."

"Aye, Beast. It is good to see you, my friend…although I wish it were under better circumstances." Thor says sadly, entering the mansion along with his current partner.

"Oh, no…you’ve come to me with a problem, haven’t you?"

"I’m afraid so, boy blue, and this one’s a doozy." Spider-Man states coyly.

"Something the two of you can’t handle together very well should be, my arachnid friend."

"Aye, Beast. A threat thrice that of the common villain." Thor says in a tone of worry.

"What ever do you mean, Thor?" the Beast asks.

"He means that we’ve got the Mad Thinker, the Trapster, and Namor all to deal with, and soon." Spider-Man tells his mutant friend.

"Namor? I thought he was a hero once more…..don’t tell me he’s returned to his old ways?"

"Not under his own will, it would seem. The King of Atlantis appears to be under the influence of a mind-control device." Thor says.

"Mind-control, huh? Not too original, even for his new buddies to come up with."

"Despite the usual ‘take over the already mistrusted hero’ bit, this is a big problem…if you throw the Mad Thinker’s android into the mix, you have a problem that we can’t take care of ourselves." Spider-Man states, hinting obviously at the Beast.

He continues. "Just a little while ago, all four of ‘em attacked Thor at the Avengers Mansion, and it was a good thing I came by to help…even though it was a really close fight, and they all escaped by teleporting*."

(*Last Issue- Don’t tell me you missed it! –Jimmy-)

"I assume you want me to make something to take counter act the device and then help you both bring Namor back to sanity?"

Spider-Man and Thor both nod in response.

"Then, of course, I concur, my friends. Alas, I’ll need to get at least a quick look at the mind-control device to even begin designing something to aid us."

"And that’ll mean seeing them again…" Spider-Man says, sounding and feeling fatigued.

"As bad as this sounds, guys…I’m really, really tired from the fight today…and I really need to get home for some things…so if we could just wait…" Spider-Man says uncomfortably.

"Sure, webhead. We should probably all take a rest…it’s getting a little late, and I’m sure a battle like that could be tiring in the greatest degree." The Beast says in an understanding voice.

"Fair enough, friends. Though currently I could easily last another year of battle, I shall retire to the Avengers Mansion and tend to the damage done there while Spider-Man returns to his personal life." Thor says egotistically, but in an amusing way to the others.

Smiling, the Beast agrees and says goodbye to them.

"We’ll meet here again tomorrow morning, at seven o’clock, alright fellas?" he says, walking his brief guests outside.

"Uh…well…..maybe it could be a little later…?" Spidey asks uneasily.

"Hahahaha!" the Beast laughs. "Alright then, eight o’clock."

"Thanks." Spider-Man says, relieved a little.

"Then it is done. Farewell to you, my friends. Until tomorrow’s morn!" Thor says loudly, and swings his mighty hammer until its velocity is great enough to pull the god’s mass across the sky.

"He certainly does know how to make a good exit, doesn’t he?" the Beast says, as he walks with Spider-Man a little further out of the mansion.

"Thor knows how to do a lot of showy things, but he’s still a good friend to have in a fight." Spider-Man says.

"Agreed. I suppose we will be seeing just how useful he is tomorrow."

"Yeah…..tomorrow. Alright, Hank, I’ll be seeing you at eight, then."

"Sleep well, Spidey. You’ll need it."

"Thanks." Spider-Man says, as he shoots a web and swings off.

Behind the wall of the academy, two shadowed figures watch on in sinister interest.

"Come, Android. We must follow them, to complete the plans the Thinker has provided for us."

The strangely shaped figure just sits silently.

"Let us go." The other figure says, and he leaps into the air, his winged ankles carrying him high, as the strange creation follows on foot below.

"Honey, I’m home!"

Spider-Man makes his return known, as he comes in through the window and removes his mask, revealing the face of photographer Peter Parker.

The stunning red-haired model named Mary Jane, whom he calls his wife, enters the room with little to cover her perfect body. Peter’s jaw drops. He’s seen her completely nude many times…..but he is still amazed by her beauty, even with clothing, as small as they are.

"Hey there, Tiger." She says in a sexy voice, leaning against the doorway and showing off all she has to offer.

"Well hello there, Ms. Kinky." He says happily, walking over to her and kissing her passionately, pulling her close.

"You like?" she says playfully, turning around so her husband can get a good look.

"Very much." He says.

"Well I hope you don’t like it too much…"

"And why is that?"

"Because it won’t be staying on very long." She replies in a sultry voice, running her long-nailed finger over his muscular chest.

"Aw, honey…..you know I want to….man, how I want to….." Peter begins nervously. "But I’m so tired from today…..and I have to wake up early tomorrow…and I was tired all day, too, because of last night…and the night before…and the night be…"

Peter is interrupted by Mary Jane, who turns away angrily and walks towards the bed.

"You act like it’s a chore to be with me, Peter." She says coldly.

Coming up behind her quickly, he puts his hands on her shoulders and pulls her close.

"MJ, I’m sorry, hon…..I didn’t mean it like that. You know I’d spend every minute of my life with you, if I could."

She turns around and looks him in the eye.

"What about with me and our child?"

"Every single minute."

"Then how are we going to make this baby if you are always tired from work or from your going out as Spidey?" she asks worriedly.

"I don’t know, MJ…..I’m really not sure. I’m just really busy right now…there’s a lot going on, at the moment. I haven’t really planned out everything, and….."

Mary Jane still looks at him, love and longing in her eyes.

"Oh, Hell…..I’m ready for anything you’ll throw at me, honey."

"Now that’s what I wanted to hear!" she says, and throws him onto the bed.

"Hey now, I’m supposed to be the man and the hero, here!" he says, joking.

"Well, hero," Mary Jane says as she begins to remove Peter’s costume, "It looks like you’ve got a new villain to deal with." She kisses her husband again, holding her arms around his neck as he pulls her close to his body.

They roll with each other and enjoy being together, and both think about the life they’ll bring into this world. But before things can get more intimate…..

*CRASH!*

The window shatters, its shards falling on the floor on the side of the bed.

"What the Hell?" Peter yells in anger and surprise.

"Silence, Spider-Man!" the man hovering before him says.

"Namor! I can’t believe it….." Peter says.

"Ohhh no! Peter, what’s happening?" Mary Jane yells, fearing for her life.

"Just let me handle it, hon. How could you come here, Namor? To my home?"

The Submariner swoops down and picks up Peter as though he were nothing, holding him against the wall and nearly pushing him through it with his incredible strength.

"I? How can I come to your home? I ask you, how DARE you come to not only my home, but my kingdom? How dare you go there to help in its destruction? You and your wife are merely two people, Spider-Man. Atlantis had thousands of citizens…and they are all dead, now!"

Peter fights back, just barely escaping the grasp of the King of Atlantis and avoiding a powerful blow from him, which hits the wall and knocks a large hole in it.

"Namor, listen! Atlantis isn’t gone, as far as I know, and even if it was, I wouldn’t have helped destroy it…..I would’ve been one of the people trying to help it! You used to know that…..but the Thinker and Pete are controlling your mind…"

Peter doesn’t get a chance to finish, as Namor finally lands a powerful uppercut on his face, sending him flying back into the nearest wall, which he halfway breaks into.

"Peter!" Mary Jane cries from the bed, too afraid to move or do anything for her helpless husband.

Peter reaches up to fight back, and manages to rip off a small part of Namor’s headband, but it does little good as Namor pummels him further, knocking him further into the wall.

Standing over Peter, Namor speaks. "You are lucky that I don’t kill you now, liar. But the Thinker has made it clear that I let you survive, so that the others will come, and I may have my revenge!"

Peter can hardly understand what is being said and done right in front of him as he drifts away to unconsciousness, but he does realize what occurs as Namor calls in an ally.

"Android! Come, and take the woman."

Through the window comes the horrifying robot, which picks up Mary Jane effortlessly with its amazing strength. Mary Jane punches and kicks the creature to no avail. Holding the woman in front of Namor, he caresses her cheek as he looks her in the eyes. She tries to look away, but she hardly can move in the grasp of the android.

"Ah, such beauty is rarely seen in surface women…yours rivals that of Susan Storm. It is too bad that you are a surface creature…..and that you are the husband of this monster."

"Shut up! I don’t know what’s happened to you, Submariner, but I know that you used to be good, and this is just horrible!" she exclaims, pleading with him.

"Quiet, immediately! Let us return to the Thinker’s quarters, Android!" Namor says, and both he and the Android begin to leave out the window. Mary Jane cries out, "Peter! Peter!" Although he can hardly hear her, he collects his strength and raises his hand.

"Mary…..Jane…" Peter says, and then closes his eyes.

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Thanks for reading! This story ended up being so long, I stretched it into three parts, instead of just two! Lucky for me, I got a letter from Steve Crosby, who writes the Kree Civil War mini-series at the Epic Branch.

Thanks, Steve! I'll just give a few quick comments: I made Thor read a book because I wanted to accent the peacefulness of the scene. I hope you thought some of the scenes so far were funny. I was trying to think of a powerful hero with a villainous past…and Namor was the first to come up! I love him as a villain. Thanks for the posivite feedback, Steve. I really appreciate it.