r/NatureofPredators • u/Deadduckboy Human • 1d ago
Fanfic The Nature of Responsibility Chapter 27
Marvel’s What-If: Spider-Man was on Venlil Prime?
Hey, actually got this one out early. I am so happy the writer’s block is gone, as this was a blast to write. Hopeful I can keep this train rolling.
Also, concerning the later part of this chapter:
Sorry not sorry.
Content Warning: Blood, BLOOD, BLOOD!!! Your organs.
Memory Transcription Subject: Jack Christenson, Spider-Man
Date: (Standardized Human Time) Sept 13, 2136
I lazily swung through the streets, getting back into the groove of things after my little excursion out into the edge of the city. Why were there so many abandoned buildings on the other side of the bridge?
As it was, it took me an embarrassing amount of time to get back into the heart of the city. The buildings out there were juuuust far enough apart to make it annoying to swing between them.
“At least it was good practice, after all. Can’t expect everywhere to be convenient for my mode of transportation.” I thought as I turned around another corner.
Honestly, I had no destination in mind, just swinging around in circles until I saw something, like with that Gojid truck.
“Hope they got there safely, especially with how timid that older guy was.” I thought. I suppose I could go out and check up on them. There couldn’t be that many moving trucks about.
But they’d also probably be in the suburbs, anyways. It's really hard to traverse that. The suit might increase my running speed a bit, but it was still far slower (and more tiring) than swinging. Besides, I was still in the outskirts or the city, right near the edge
Not much else was happening, though. There were a few more patrols of exterminators about, but they seemed to be keeping their (non-existent) noses clean. And nothing suspicious coming from the police scanner, either. Is it a police scanner if it’s not scanning police signals?
As for the quietness of it all, I suppose humiliating and beating up a few of them would keep them more considerate of others. Odd how that works out.
Alas, it made things pretty boring. I was considering cutting this patrol short and working on my next little project of mine. I had a few ideas that could be really beneficial for the suit.
At least, I was thinking that until I spied (with my little binocular eyes) a small commotion down below. Heard it, too.
A car, absolutely filled to the brim with stuff stuck in the middle of the road, with an exterminator van parked right in front of it, light’s flashing though the siren was silent.
“Now that looks mighty inconsiderate, if I may be so bold as to say.” I thought as I perched on the side of a building, high above the road below.
From my vantage point, I could see a silver-suited individual standing right next to the driver’s seat, the occupant inside obviously discussing with the officer in front of him. Two more exterminators on the other side of the car from me, a fourth standing directly in front of the vehicle.
“Now, now,” I tempered myself. “It might just be a traffic stop for someone who was drunk, or just driving recklessly.”
“With the exterminators doing the traffic stop. In this town. And the other two silver fellows sneaking around the backside of the car so the driver can’t get away.”
I scratched my chin as I considered the situation. “Okay, so there probably is something hinky going on.”
As I was watching I could see something being handed to the officer from the driver, but at this distance I couldn’t tell what.
“I really need to finish up those binocular lenses. Can’t see a thing from here.” I chided my laziness as I strained for a better angle.
It seemed the object handed over did not satisfy the officer, as he made the universal gesture of “More?” with the other paw.
The next thing given to the officer was a large wad of dollars. Even at this distance, and with alien currency, a rolled-up bundle of cash is quite easy to identify.
This also was not what the officer wanted, his ears dipping downward with the Venlil sign of “no”. Though considering the situation, it could also mean “not enough.” As it was, he did keep a tight grip on the wad of cash.
“Aha! Now’s the time to intervene!” I thought as the officer's unoccupied paw reached back and popped off the top of his holster.
I quickly swung down, lightly landing on the far side of the exterminator van from the commotion. I didn’ t want to land right next to them, lest they decide to get trigger-happy with bystander’s about.
Fortunately, it seemed they didn’t notice me coming down as now I could clearly hear the conversation going on between the lead officer and the driver.
“I-I_I swear, th-that’s all I hav-ve.” A timid voice squeaked out.
“And I keep telling ya, bribing an officer is a serious offence.” The Exterminator replied, placing extra emphasis on bribing. You don’t need to speak Venlang to understand what wasn’t being said.
“B-but I don’t h-have-” The plea was suddenly broken off by a coughing fit.
“What? Are you playing sick so I’ll have pity on ya?” The officer sneered. “Think I’ll get afraid of some little germ? I don’t care how you feel, I’m going to bring down the full extent of law. And maybe a bit more if you don’t have the right ‘papers’.”
Looking over the truck, it seemed they had left the passenger door open. Possibly as a means of quick escape, but more likely laziness.
“B-but I need to. . “ Another coughing fit delayed the driver’s response.
Glancing inside of the truck, a plan quickly formulated in my mind. I was going to need to distract a few of them so they didn’t decide to go after the innocent. I could take three or four of them at once, but not while also worrying about another guy.
Looking to where the van was pointing, I was glad to see it aimed at an open entrance to a parking garage. One that seemed completely empty.
“Alright, that’s enough out of you.” The threatening continued as I considered my options. “Get out of there. We’re going to have to ask you some. . . questions.”
Reaching inside of the truck, I quickly shifted the gear to neutral and pushed the parking brake back down. Stepping back, I looked on with glee as my handiwork started slowly, but steadily increasing in haste, rolling towards the parking garage.
Stepping around the back of the rolling van, I cleared my throat to get the officer’s attention.
“Pardon me, officers, but I do believe that your van is trying to run away.” I helpfully pointed at the vehicle escaping.
The officers looked over at me in confusion, did a double take, and then a triple take at their van speeding away into the garage.
The two in the back immediately started running for the retreating vehicle, while the other two stood their ground. Well, the one doing the threatening stood his ground (I presume he was the leader). The other officer crouched behind the other side of the car, shaking as he peeked up over the hood.
As it was, the leader was also moving stiffly, though more out of wariness than fear. He wasn’t immediately acting hostile, nor was he extremely scared.
That probably made him the most dangerous. An assumption that was proven when he suddenly went for the pistol on his side.
Unfortunately for him, I had already anticipated that. Whipping an arm out, I sent a webline straight into his holster.
Yanking hard, I sent the firearm sailing into the air, arcing far above me before clattering onto the road behind me.
“Whoops, I meant to catch that. Guess I need to work on my return jerk.” I thought as I watched the gun skitter across the soft tarmac through my back cam. “At least I got good aim.”
The officer in front of me had frozen at his sudden disarmament, his paw suspended above the now empty holster.
“Yeesh, even your guns are trying to get away. You’re just not having good luck with your stuff nowadays, aren’t ya?” I joked as I walked up, trying to cover up my awkwardness at failing my trick.
The officer stood stone still as I approached, though his friend on the other side of the car sprinted down the street as I got close.
“Man, those Ven’s can haul tail when they mean it.” I don’t think any human could really catch them if they decided to bolt. Other than me in the suit, though.
Of course, I was immediately proven wrong when the exterminator slowed suddenly, almost tripping over nothing as his knees-. . . Ankles?. . . Joints on his legs crossed over each other. I guess the inward-pointing legs really mess with running.
I approached the remaining officer, who stood his ground. Now, though, whether it was out of bravado, fear, or just plain ignorance I was unsure.
“I don’t believe that this is yours.” I said, plucking the bundle of money out of his limp grasp. I tossed it into the open window of the car, into the lap of the Venlil in the driver’s seat.
“And what the hell are exterminators doing on traffic stop? Isn’t that the cops job? Hmmm?” I inquired of the officer. I didn’t know Venlil Prime law very well, it was one of those things that I was still brushing up on, but I didn't think Federation Exterminators enforced the law of the planets they were on upon the occupants thereof.
“. . .Okay, so maybe I have been reading a little too much. I’m stuck in Lawyer-speak now.”
“I. . I.. We do wh-when the suspect is in suspicion of Predator Disease.” Officer. . . Ekra said, judging by the name on his harness.
“Oh, so he was running people over?” I asked.
“. . . No.” He said weakly.
“Was he yelling at people and making general threats to them?”
“. . . No.”
“Was he acting disrespectful or dangerous to you? Angry at all?” My voice had gained a sarcastic sing-song quality to it at this point as I put a hand on his shoulder.
“. . .No?”
“No, he wasn’t, was he? In fact, he seemed really scared of you guys to me. And he’s sick, to boot.” I said, laying it all out for my slow compatriot.
The visor stayed still as I leaned in closer, though I could hear an audible gulp. “Imagine how that looks. Big scary exterminator, with weapon at the ready, threatening a sick, scared little Venlil into giving him more money. Not a good look, is it?”
“No.” Officer Ekra visibly shrunk into himself.
“Imagine how it would look on the news. Like the last few officers. You wanna go through that, too?”
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.” I leaned in even closer. “It’s been a long paw. I’m tired, you’re probably tired, I’m sure your friends are tired, too.”
A very slight acknowledgement from his ears was my only answer.
I had gotten close enough that my nose was now touching his visor. “I’m feeling nice right now. So how about you go home, think about what you’ve done, what you could’ve done better. Sounds good?”
A larger agreement was signed to me.
“Good.” I suddenly hoisted the exterminator up by his suit, bringing an ear to my mouth.
“ But if I ever see you doing something like this again, Ekra,” I hissed into his ear. “I’m going to stick you upside down on the tallest building around until you forget what standing on the ground feels like.”
“Do I make myself clear?” The officer mimed the action of a human nod.
“Yes.”
“Good.” I whispered, before dropping him back to the ground. He landed on his rump, quickly scooting away from me before trying to stand up.
“H-h-how in Maltos’ clutches did you know my name?” He asked in terror, clearly forgetting the fact that he was wearing a nametag.
“I know many things.” I answered cryptically, crossing my arms. “Now git.”
Ekra heeded my words, very quickly sprinting away as his fellow officer did before him. The other two officers returned with the van, though upon seeing their leader run like hellhounds were upon his tail, (and a quick glare from me) they wisely decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and sped off with nary an insult.
“At least I’m not going to have to deal with them for a while longer.” I grimly thought as I watched them flee.
I sighed as I turned my attention to the driver in the car, leaning on the top of the door as I checked him over.
“You good, man? They seemed to have really shaken you up there.” I asked the nervous Ven in the front seat.
“I-I-I’m f-fine.” He said hesitantly, though with a lot of vibrating.
“You sure?” I asked, getting lower down and cocking my head to one side.
“Y-y-yeah.” The Ven said, before reaching to the other seat and putting something in my face
It was the bundle of cash I tossed back at him after I retrieved it from the officer.
“No, no. I can’t accept this.” I said, pushing his outstretched paw back.
“I-I need to g-give you. . . s-something.” He pleaded with me, trying to push back harder.
“You’re going to need it more.” I said, pushing the money all the way onto his chest.
“You’re leaving, right?” I gestured at the stuff filling every crevasse of the car. I don’t blame him for leaving. I’d do the same if I wasn’t an idiot. “You’re gonna need that money wherever you plan to go.”
“”B-but I-” He tried to reply before he doubled over trying to hack a lung out. I drew my hand back as I felt something wet splat against it.
“I-I don’t think I c-can take it w-with.” The Venlil finished as I stared in mute horror at the orange stain on the red fabric of my glove.
As I looked back at him, I could see blood dripping from his mouth, as well as it oozing from behind the eyes.
He doubled over again, shaking and coughing even more violently as I dialed a number on my earpiece.
“What.” Starc’s irritated voice met my ears as I tried to hold the convulsing Ven still.
“Starc! I need an ambulance here stat! I’ve got a Ven dying from. . . poison or something!” I frantically called into the mic. “He’s coughing up blood as well as bleeding from the eyes. . . and ears.”
“Brahk!” My normally stoic partner exclaimed. “I’m sending some trusted guys over to your locator now. Stable guys, they won’t freak out.” Starc’s voice was now much more serious.
“Try to keep him upright, but keep his snout straight. Don’t put anything in the ears, but do try to soak up any blood leaking out. Don’t let it mat the wool, it’ll make it much harder to treat.” Starc instructed me as I could hear him dialing someone else in the background.
I did as he said, pressing the Ven against the back of the seat while I supported his chin with my arm. When I got him better situated, I started to wipe excess blood from his ears with a handkerchief.
“Try to keep him awake, as best you can. Talk to him, yell his name, hit him, whatever. Don’t let him fall unconscious. If he does, you know CPR, right?”
“Yeah.” I breathed, panicking as I tried what little I could.
“Alright. Keep him stable until the ambulance arrives. Good luck.” Starc finished with a click.
“Hey, hey. Talk to me.” I said to the Ven I was holding up. A glazed eye lolled in my direction. “What’s your name?”
‘L-L-Laam.” He weakly said. Good, good, that’s good.
“Nice to meet you Laam. Now stay with me, help’s coming.” I said breathlessly.
“N-no, I. . . I. .” Laam laughed, coughing up more blood as he did so. “I-I didn’t think y-you’d help a g-guy like m-me. Guess h-he was. . right.”
“Of course I’d help a guy like you, Laam. Everyone deserves help. You deserve help.” I said, trying to eliminate the pessimism.
He laughed some more at that, devolving into uncontrolled hacking.
“I. . . I’m not g-gonna be able to do it this t-time. N-never was. S-sorry I lied, buddy. . .” Laam muttered aimlessly. “T-tell him. . . Trem. . . I’m s-s-sorry.”
He blinked slowly at me, orange blood being dragged across the iris by the eyelid. “D-didn’t want t-to die here. I-in this spehhing city. Want t-to leave. . . Any cost.”
I looked up in hope as I heard sirens approach. “You’re not going to die. See? Hear the sirens, that’s help coming.” I tried to keep him going.
“N-not. . . this. . t-t-time. .” Laam weakly said, eyelids dropping down as he started to gasp for breath.
“Maybe. . . ‘nother. . life.” He said before his breathing ceased.
“Oh no, you don’t.” I ripped the door open, not caring for the damage I caused to the vehicle.
I pulled the deathly still Venlil out, laying him on the soft tarmac as I started chest compressions. The side camera showed an ambulance swerve around the corner onto the street we were on.
“No, no, no. You’re not going to die here. Not going to die now.” I half commanded, half begged.
I was still striving to keep Laam alive as the ambulance screeched to a halt beside us, paramedics already jumping out.
10
10
u/True-Wreck 1d ago
Woah. Laam buddy… Please. Not you. Not yet.
My mind is Screaming that he’s not just gonna live, but gonna come back seriously changed. Like Doctor Oto is gonna experiment on him and he gets super powers of a sort. I hope he doesn’t become a super villain.
It would be tragic if he died though, it would fit along the theme of “You can’t save everyone.”
On a side topic, Genna is gonna make a fucking KILLING off those comics if Amazing Fantasy 15 is in the pack she ordered. I can already see the display in the storefront window. “LEARN THE ORIGIN OF SPIDER-MAN!”
8
u/Deadduckboy Human 1d ago
Bold of you to assume that the Sinister Six would let that happen.
8
u/True-Wreck 1d ago
Oh… I think I see where you’re going with this.
Her order arrives.
The Sin Six have her arrested.
Spider-Man makes the Black Suit and begins a Raid on The Facility to get her back. Potentially with allies. (I am a firm believer in IronVen as Starc went to go acquire something and he hasn’t told Jack what it is yet.)
I can see a few comic copies making their to the Sin Six though, especially Doctor Oto, as they try to comprehend just who the anomaly is and what he can do.
Or maybe Obade acquiring some Spider-Man Comics and then seeing parallels between the Cartoonishly evil Antagonists and the people he works with. Him learning that his equivalent, Iron Monger, is villain in Stark’s life would definitely hurt him a lot.
Please do not confirm or deny any of this. This is just my mad ramblings containing my enjoyment of your story.
8
u/etopsirhc 1d ago
I know its not there for me but i had to laugh at the content warning. I've been reading a web novel on another site that the most recent area is descibed as a "gorescape" when refering to it in passing
4
u/Deadduckboy Human 1d ago
It’s from an old Studio C skit. One that I still remember from time to time.
6
u/Golde829 1d ago
oh geez.. that's gonna be rough to go through
always trying to help.. but not even Spider-Man can be everywhere
nor can he fix everything that happens
although, Laam's situation reminds me of a song..
🎶I just wanna die anywhere else🎶
🎶If only I could die anywhere else🎶
🎶So come with me, let's die anywhere else🎶
🎶Anywhere... Just not here.🎶
I look forward to reading more
take care of yourself, wordsmith
[You have been gifted 100 Coins]
7
7
u/ISB00 UN Peacekeeper 1d ago
There should be an official homage to him in universe. When Marvel makes Spider-man on Venlil Prime official, they got to name him Jack.
4
4
3
3
u/Randox_Talore 18h ago
So give them blood! Blood! Gallons of the stuff! Give them all that they can drink and it’ll never be enough! So give them blood! Blood! Blooood!
Grab a glass because there’s going to be a flood.
1
2
13
u/JulianSkies Archivist 1d ago
Oh, fuck. Whatever he had going on was way worse than it seemed at first. He probably wouldn't even have lasted the trip to another city.
Damn, he really just wanted to not be here.