Spider-man 2099UG #6

*NOTE: This issue occurs about 1 week after THOR 2099UG #3, at the same time as Morbius 2099 UG #8 and before the events in Captain America 2099UG #1!!!!

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She runs, although she has paid her protection money this month, help is in short supply since the Fall of Alchemax. (See issues 2-5 of this book and related issues). She is still several blocks from her home and relative safety. From the sounds of the nearing catcalls, she knows she will be dead or dying before she ever reaches it.

She hazards a glance back, and as she expected, the street surgeons were gaining on her. Her lungs ached, her healthy lungs, and she begins to grow angry. After all that she has been through the past few months what right do these fiends have to violate her, and steal away her life or health? The vultures will probably sell her very own organs to the hospital that will be charged with her care!

On foot, she takes the ramp that will take her to the neighborhood between Nueva York and Downtown. She passes a sign with an arrow pointing toward her destination that reads Midtown Manhattan. She knows there are even fewer Public Eye patrols in Midtown, but it is home. Midtown was the first attempt of the inhabitants of New York to rise above their past. They built upward as the city could not expand out any more, and the lower class got left behind. When the Megacorps came to power and moved even further up, they left Midtown as their legacy.

As she runs, she stumbles and falls, and Loreen curses as she gets up. The gap between her and her pursuers just closed considerably. She kicks off her shoes and runs for all she is worth but soon she can feel her advesary's hot breath on her neck. He laughs.

"You are ..huff... quick lady....huff, huff.... best workout, I've...huff... had all week... huff... but the game is over Glitch!"

As the lead surgeon grabs for her blouse, Loreen makes a profound decision. Will she submit to these animals killing her by picking her apart for spare parts, or will she die on her own terms? At that critical instant she swerves and jumps!

Once clear of the ramp, she plummets through Midtown toward Downtown in a perfect swan dive. She knows she will die but only closes her eyes.

Then she is snatched from midair by strong arms. She dares to open her eyes and realizes she is in the arms of SPIDERMAN! She is in shock as the thread thin filiment on which he swings grows taunt and he lightly touches down on a lower ramp, nearer home.

"Are you OK Miss?"

Still unable to utter a word she nods vigorously. Spiderman nods once and is in motion in an instant. Loreen watches as he artfully gains altitude and speed and tears into the street surgeons above. She had never seen a battle so brutal or one sided, but she can't pull her eyes away.

"I am tired of monsters like you feeding on the weak! The war starts here!"

She suspects he speaks of more than just the street surgeons of Nueva York... as if he was declaring war on all the evil in hearing distance. The blood splatters and Loreen for the first time realizes the terrible awe that Kenny saw in this man... and she knew a little fear too. And with the memory, a tear fills her eye.

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(ELSEWHERE IN Nueva York)

Ruth Cambridge has had happier periods in her life. She can't think of any but she has had some. In fact the only thing she can think of is how much she resents being locked up here in the Nueva York Maximum Security Detention Center run by SHIELD. Four months ago her life took a steep nosedive on the Night the Heroes died. (See Marvel's 2099 Apocalypse) That night many heroes had been beleived killed for daring to oppose the status quo. The only mistake Ruth made was reporting the real story that night. When other staions recycled old jingles, her team at NYFAX gave the public the facts.

SHIELD agents soon stormed the NYFAX building and shut her down, but not before shooting Jack Whitlow in his crowning moment, or taking the rest of them into custody.

What had upset Ruth the most, above any other injustice of that night, was that destroyed Jack on the one night she had seen him as a man worthy of her respect. It was the best broadcast of his life, and the passion he had shown in his eyes had not been seen since she had worked with him oh so many years ago, before he began poisening himself with drugs and riding on his past genius. She hated to admit it, but she would miss him.

Since she and the rest of the staff had been incarcerated, Ruth had been interogated, stripsearched, beaten, and generally degraded. They had tried to break her without success and the guards had nick named he Rock. However after all this time with no real hope, she was beginning to crack. She truely doubted she would survive the week. She really hated letting the SOG's win.

As she lay there on her cot in the darkness, she hears a noise that fills her with a sudden anxiety... the sound of her detention cell being unlocked. So late after shutdown, she knew it could only be one thing, a group of troopers out for a late night diversion. She sits up and readies herself to fight.

When the door finally opens, light pours in and she is temporarily blinded. She uses one of her hands outstretched to try and sheild some of the light but her vision returned too slowly. When her vision finally compensates she sees four SHIELD troopers with energy rifles escorting a striking blonde woman. The woman wears a black buisiness suit with a skirt that showed most of her leg via a long slit in the side. This compliments the woman's very long and very slender legs. Her well toned young body makes Ruth green with envy. The woman also exudes confidence and smells of a MegaCorp.

Ruth barks out in a voice used a might too infrequently now. " Why are you here? What do you want?"

The five stand there and say nothing, when siloetted by the bright light another figure comes into view, a figure she recognizes. A portly man, Engineer, director, and long time friend, not to mention fellow prisoner here. She does not move but whispers his name... " Kelly..."

Then Kelly is joined by another figure, a woman this time and another former buisiness associate. " Mirielle Bradly. " and then finally a blonde woman that had served as Ruth's research assistant, whom she nicknamed "Book."

Still unmoving, and a tad confused, a tear of joy fills Ruth's eyes but she dare not let them fall. " What is going on here?" she demands.

That is when he walks into view, slow, trepidatious at first, but then with confidence. Ruth finally rushes forward as she can hold the tears back no more. She grabs the newcomer in a vicelike embrace. "JACK!" She lets up a little and looks in his eyes. " How did you...."

The woman that escorted the NYFAX team to her cell rudely interposes and hands Ruth a set of clothing similar to what she wore while Producing NYFAX news. Ruth looks down and accepts them and for the first time the woman speaks. " Get dressed Mrs. Cambridge... NYFAX has a story to cover."

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(Hellhouse 2099)

The man known as Marker slowly swirls the freshly poured vintage wine around in his glass. He is pleased, master of his home and destiny. Bringing the glass near his nose he breathes in deeply the aroma of his drink and nods. Finally he allows the crystal to touch his lips and allows the vino to pour. His palate quivers in ecstacy. Once he swallows he sits back, spent.

While still distracted by the experience, a hologram formed before him. Marker had thought it a joke of sorts to program the holoagent of the Hellhouse in the form of Blind Al, the unwilling companion of the TwenCen Deadpool. He called her only Al and she serviced both the mansion and the Hellhouse.

"I hope I ain't disturbing you Marker."

"Of course not Al, what is it?"

The obviously blind woman wrinkles her nose in distaste and readjusts her glasses. "The guests have arrived with only 8 exceptions."

"And who were they?"

"Nick Paige, Junkpile, the FIVE, and the Fed."

Marker nods again as if in thought. " Yes, I expected as much. Thank you Al."

She vanishes as Marker stands. To call him ancient would be a kindness. Although imposible to tell his age he had seen 100 years come and go quite some time ago. Those who would bother to notice would see that his movements are somewhat slow, but unerringly precise. His body is still hard from years in a profession that demanded only the absolute devotion to the craft. Marker had given it, for he had been an assasin since before the end of the Heroic age, and it is said that when it came to killing, Death himself now asked Marker for advise. In the year of 2099 there is no deadlier man alive, and the DEADPOOL is a large part of that truth.

As he makes his way to his Hellhouse, he realizes how rare days like this have become. Marker is happy. He has a lavish home, he has good wine, and today he will do what he loves, deciding who is worthy to live and who is to die.

Years ago, Marker left New Orleans, and forged an Empire of death. He was in his own right a successful assasin, even managing to bag a few Marvels before the end of the Heroic age. With time he went into semi- retirement and instead became a broker of death. He had a simple system. Negotiate the price, and split it with the assasin that bagged the kill.

The competition between assasins was at first friendly, but as the fees became sizable, the competition became deadly. The battles became so bloody that Marker laid down the five Rules of Coduct.

One: Never cheat the house.

Two: Hellhouse is a sanctuary and no cardholder may harm another here.

Three: Whomever landed the killing blow gets the fee.

Four: Only 100 may hold a DEADPOOL card at anyone time... if you want one, take it.

Five: Break any rule, and the next DEADPOOL called will have your name on it.

So now here he is and the rules have never been broken in over 12 years. He is a power to be reckoned with and not even the Megacorps will oppose him directly as he guides the top 100 deadliest insurance policies of the age.

He flips a coin in the air as he leaves his study and catches it with deliberate flair. He is on his way to announce the newest Deadpool!

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(NYFAX bldg. Uptown)

They have not been here for four months. The building is all the buzz with activity as hundreds of workers work on maintenence, equipment repair, and other jobs. The blonde woman who had freed them from the SHIELD detention center had introduced herself as Mrs. Foster but offered no explaination of the current state of affairs. She leads Ruth, Jack, Kelly, Book and Mirielle through the chaos without a word. Of course it is Jack that breaks the silence.

"So Ruth, any idea what's going on?"

"Not a one. How did you make it out alive? The SHIELD agants shot at you at close range and killed you... I saw your body."

"Ah! You said that the news biz wasn't show buisiness, but that fall was my greatest performance. By the time they realized I wasn't dead President Rogers, or whoever was pulling his strings, wanted all the prisoners detained, so I was taken to a medical facility."

"You sound aweful smug Whitlow."

"Why shouldn't I be? Rogers got what Doom got and we can score one more for the good guys, and I had a big part of that score Ruthy girl. Some TwenCen power of the Press and we kick some shockin oppresive dictatorship! News is a tool again and we are to thank for it."

"As if you have forgotten Jack, we just spent months in detention and were close to giving our lives for the story!"

Jack smiles. "It was worth it Ruth. It was worth it."

Finally they reach their destination, the offices of the former executive producer. The door opens slowly and behind an expansive desk in the center of the room is a man. Their escort speaks.

"I have them Mister Stark."

"Thank you Mrs. Foster. Leave the Black Card with my secretary as you go."

She hesitates but ultimately nods and turns to leave, closing the door behind her. The man she called stark stands, dressed head to toe in an expensive suit of deepest ebony. Fot long moments he says nothing but walks out from behind his desk and over to the penthouse window to survey the city.

Ruth can only bear a few moments, then speaks to the man. "May I inquire as to why we are here?"

" Ah, Miss Cambridge," he replies, " Right to the point, as I expected. Very well. I am T. Osborn Stark. I am putting NYFAX back on the air as of today, and you will be my producer."

" STARK?"

He smiles a predatory smile. " No relation."

"Then you are the Executive producer?"

He nods, back still to the party, when Jack finally gets his nerve. " What the hell gives you the right to play games with our lives any more than the SOG's you freed us from?"

This indeed elicits a response from the man named Stark. He turns for the first time and looks Jack in the eye. " I gave me the right Whitlow. You have one chance. You couldn't cut it at Alchemax news anymore cause of your junkie mentality and you find redemption on the night you nearly loose your life here at NYFAX. Make no mistake, the only reason you are here is that on that night you gave the single best broadcast of your career. I am giving you a chance to do it again, but I can just as easily put you back where I found you. "

"I won't be your puppet."

" I don't want a puppet. I want an anchor man. But there are a few rules this time."

" What rules?"

"Simple really. Ruth runs the show. I guarentee you won't be sleeping with the Executive Producer this time around so I expect your strict adhearence to her every whim. Her word is law here. I want only quality broadcasts. And finally, no drugs. A junkie does me no good."

Mirielle speaks for the first time. "Why now Mr. Stark? It isn't like you couldn't have freed us at any time. Why free us now? And more importantly why should we do what you ask anyway?"

"Very good, Miri is it?" he answears "The mind of a reporter should always dig a little deeper for the truth. 2 weeks ago Alchemax fell to an attempted coup by Stark Fujikawa. It is beleived that the company's CEO Miguel O'Hara was killed."

Jack snorts. " We've been in prison, not the arctic. Even we heard that. It is old news Stark."

Stark smiles a predatory smile that chills Jacks blood. " You will address me as Mr. Stark."

Jack looks down suddenly uncomfortable. Stark resumes talking. " What the general public does not know however is that there has been private messages for the media, and with Alchemax and Stark Fiji in shambles we are in a position to dominate the telecasts. Today I want you all to cover the story of the decade... the press conference with Miguel O'Hara, CEO of Alchemax."

Kelly just whistles.

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(Hellhouse 2099)

Venture is in a foul mood. The cyborg slams down a strong drink on the bar and broods. He lost someone he was supposed to protect (See last issue). Venture is a prideful man, being nearly one of the best at what he does, but it seems everytime he and the Spiderman come at odds, the hero wannabe always lands on his feet. Now he has beat Venture out of the slot of Miguel O'Hara's bodyguard. Now with his primary employer Alchemax out of the picture, Venture has come here to kill something and make a lot of money at it. Anything to take his mind off his first botched job in 20 years.

Most every DEADPOOL assasin has the same types of goals, and that is why the room falls to silence when Marker walks in. The aged assassin speaks.

"Welcome Deadpool. A few have declined this gathering so your odds are improved. Today I have to offer the most lucrative Deadpool of all time. The catch is there are 2 targets."

Venture's interest is piqued. The Deadpool is never signed for a set dollar amount, but rather a percentage of the hiring party's total worth. The last Deadpool alone made an assasin an instant Black carder, and if this one exceeds that then Venture is in! However when the targets are displayed Venture's heart sinks.

"Although it was reported that your targets died in the Fall of Alchemax 2 weeks ago, we have intellegence that prooves otherwise. Your targets are Miguel O'Hara, CEO of Alchemax, and his bodyguard the so called Spiderman!"

There is an excited rumble through the room as Venture curses. It would have been hard enough to protect the snot nosed scientist under normal circumstances, but nigh impossible with over 90 assassins gunning for him.

As Marker leaves, Venture is approtched by Al, the hologram. "You been missed Venture."

"Hello Al. I've been busy."

The holoreceptionist shakes her head. "What's chompin them nerves Vent?"

"The target Al. I need to find Miguel O'Hara before this mob does."

"Why? You know the game Vent. You've played often enough. Let the young bulls wear him out so he is an easy kill. Why get in there early and take on a fresh target?"

Venture sighs. " Ah, it doesn't matter. I can't even find the SOG."

Al cocks her head. " I know where he is."

Venture's head comes up as he brings his good eye to bear on Al. "What did you say?"

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(Babylon Towers)

Miguel O'Hara is in a suprisingly good mood. He has over the past two weeks faced nearly every villan he has ever encountered, lost the largest MegaCorp in the world, and nearly died, but today he is better. He is going to hold a press conference with what is left of the press and tell the world his new life begins today.

As he stands in front of the holo-reflector, his mother Conchata fusses over his appearance and tries to straiten his clothes. " You will do good today son."

"I hope so, but I'm really doing this for me. It is sort of a mental process to take me that first step to an unknown future."

"What are you going to say?"

"I don't know. How long until the conference?"

"Two hours."

"Good! I'm starved. I'll think about it over lunch. Let's go." He then turns to a VERY attractive holo- agent. "Lyla, take messages. I will be back after the press conference."

"Okay, Miguel."

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(Later on a rooftop)

The assassin is good. He had found out where the money would be today... the easy half. As he assembles his rifle he tries to imagine the lifestyle he will enjoy in just an hour or two.

Once the weapon is put together and ready he allows himself to look up over the small wall nearby and look down. He is on a rooftop overlooking the former lawn of Alchemax. It is still ruble strewn but has a platform setup with PA equipment and a lot of chairs for the press that will be here for the show.

`Yes,' he thinks. `That O'Hara is one stupid SOG to have a press conference at a time like this.'

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( Later still at the press conference)

Miri Radley was not accoustomed to working with camera men, choosing instead to rely on her hover cams when in the field, but again Mr. Stark had demanded quality broadcasts. He was not opposed to hover cams in general, but insisted that cameramen be used when possible. Also she was flown here in a traffic reporters GravCopter by a kid named Sinner Lee. She could see a lot of changes coming. But at least she was out of that SHIELD prison and working again... even if it is for NYFAX.

Suddenly the crowd begins to mutter and many reporters try to get a little too close to the CEO of Alchemax as he climbs to the podium and are met with the blunt ends of Public Eye rifles. Miri had seen Miguel O'Hara only a few times in her life but always found him an attractive young fantasy.

Ah well. It's show time.

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(The rooftop)

The assassin had had his sights set for nearly 10 minutes, but Miguel had not gotten up to speak yet, and the other speakers blocked a clear shot. But now, after a long wait, Miguel was getting up.

The assassin takes his time. Breathing evenly as he takes aim as his years of training have taught him. He gets O'Hara in his sights and says a single phrase as he prepares to pull the trigger. "Big money."

But then the weapon is wrenched from his hands at the critical instant! He spins with fire in his eyes ! And then realizes his mistake, for the cyborg Venture is the last thing he ever sees.

Standing over the body Venture shakes his head. " Well, you just opened one out of 100 spots boy." He unbundles the power wrap from the weapon and an antenae extends from one ear. He speaks into the microphone that mysteriously appears.

" I want to make a call."

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(Babylon Towers)

Lyla watches the press conference on the vidscreen. She was suprised to see that NYFAX was again transmitting but her intrest in that little mystery faded when finally the other speakers stopped talking and Miguel was finally able to get up.

The Holo-agent sighed. She was after all just a program, but somehow over the past few months she had become much more... becoming more than her original programming. She honestly has begun to have feelings for the man of the screen before her, but after her last malfunction she dare never reveal this again.

The Vid screen rings out. " And now, Migueul O'Hara, CEO of Alchemax."

Then the phone begins to ring. She at first thought was going to ignore it, but then remembered that Miguel had asked her to take messages. She turns loose a small portion of her mainframe for the task and answears the phone as she continues watching the press conference.

" Hello, you have reached the apartment of Miguel O'Hara. He is out but..."

Suddenly the visual kicks in and a large man with cybernetic implants and a large hat. He is gruff and rough looking. " I know he is out! He is shocking below me right now. I have a very important message for Mr. Ohara that you must give him ASAP! Do you understand?"

The man is one that is familiar to her, one that had once pursued Miguel (See Marvel's Spiderman 2099 #2) and this memory causes a long forgotten subroutine to surface. "There was a horrible man in black! And he went through there! Okay Lyla? Good girl!"

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(The Press Conference)

Miguel speaks fluidly now, being nearly 2 minutes into his short speech. The reporters are glued to his every word.

"At this time I see no reason to assume that Alchemax is completely old news; but then again, I see no reason to bring any sort of life back to the company at present. My board of advisors and I will review any proposals that come by, but again there is no official word on the fate of Alchemax from me. We have lost a lifetime of achievements and technology in the explosion, and it is doubtful that much of the technology we have used to get us this far will be replaceable."

The report goes on, but the press soon realizes that they have gotten all they are gonna get. Miguel finishes speaking and is replaced by a spokesman of Alchemax. Miguel is quickly ushered into a waiting aircar and speeds away. They do not see that they are being followed by a NYFAX Gravcopter.

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(Babylon Towers)

Miguel returns home exhausted, but excited all the same. What would the future hold for him? It didn't matter. He would face it with a new outlook. He walks in with his mother and yells for Lyla and she materializes.

"Hello Miguel."

"Hi Lyla. The press conference was a success."

"I know. I watched it from here."

Miguel tilts his head with a tad of confusion. "That's... good Lyla. I'm turning in for a nap, wake me up in an hour."

"No."

This gets Miguel's attention. "What? Are you malfunctioning again Lyla? I..."

She blurts out the words as quickly as she can, Miguel swears he can almost hear tears hidden in her voice. "No Miguel I am not. Miguel what is a Deadpool?"

Slowly Mig's eyes come up to meet Lyla's and suddenly he understands. He rushes for his mother and yells. "Lyla! Download all essential portions of your program to CD now!"

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(Outside)

"This is Mirielle Radley for Nyfax news. Within moments of his concluding words at the Press conference, giving no explaination for his miraculous return from the grave, Miguel O'Hara has returned here. Safe to his home at Babylon Towers. Here he can enjoy the quiet while he ponders the fate of Alchemax, and thus the world. Good night Mr. O'Hara, we hope you can sleep well knowing our fate hinges with you."

Sinner Lee looks over at Miri and smiles " You are pretty good. That was a good broadcast. Hey, after we get down do you think maybe we could..."

BABBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miri turns in time to see the devestation and being the hardened street reporter she is she begins to report. " My God! Babylon Towers, the Home of Miguel O'Hara has just been blown apart!"

NEXT ISSUE!!!!! The fate of Miguel O'Hara, the Deadpool! More Venture, and a new supporting cast member!!!! Things are really gonna change for the first hero of the second Heroic age.