TENSEN 2099: What Has Gone Before

Part II

Continued from What Has Gone Before: Part 1...

Tensen was initially disoriented upon his arrival to the latter twenty-first century, but he did remember one thing, one being from his past -- Thanatos! But while he knew of his nemesis' evil nature, he could not remember his own name -- nor could he remember how to use his own superhuman powers. Spider-Man jumped into the fray to save Tensen while onlookers made special note of them both: "It's the Prophet of Thor! First Spider-Man, the Harbinger ... and now the Prophet!" The battle continued, and Spider-Man was amazed to discover that not only his claws and punches were having no effect upon Thanatos, but also that the being could apparently read his mind -- and knew much more about the wall-crawler than he had previously let on. Tensen again persisted in his attempt to take down his foe, and it was then that Thanatos observed: "Don't you see? Your transition to this sphere has robbed you of your powers ... or at least mutated them in ways you don't yet understand!" Thanatos then batted Tensen aside, nearly disemboweling him in the process, before turning his attention to Spider-Man. By this time, Alchemax technicians had assembled a weapon which they fired at the duo, knocking them into the Virtual Unreality portal.

In Virtual Unreality Spider-Man awoke on the other side of the portal to behold a giant version of himself a la Gulliver, with a crowd of human beings around him. A giant version of Thanatos announced that these people were mourning Spider-Man's passing. He also announced to Spider-Man that "In a sense, you're in purgatory. Technically, you're in interspace. Everywhere, all at once. A place one step removed from the Nexus of All Realities. Welcome to my second home. I, who have been marooned on Earth, discorporated, powerless since the end of the Heroic Age ... until the first tests upon the Virtual Unreality portal some weeks back gave my nebulous form the energy it needed. Enough energy to possess the body of a newly deceased vessel ... one whose last thoughts were hatred for you, Spider-Man. For him, I shall abandon you here. And for me, I shall draw enough strength from here, my place of power ... to devastate your precious world of 2099!" He and Spider-Man then fought, and Spider-Man bit him, injecting him with spider-venom which enabled him to escape the giant Thanatos' clutches.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Tensen escaped from his Alchemax captors using the first of his newfound powers: energy "fire" from his hands, and a spherical force shield which he used to avoid the guards' laser fire. He then ran to the Virtual Unreality portal to try and rescue Spider-Man.

Injured! Spider-Man saw Tensen's outstretched hand in the aether of Virtual Unreality, and took it. Instantaneously both he and Tensen were transported to Spider-Man's secret identity, Miguel O'Hara's apartment. Tensen was still bleeding profusely from Thanatos' onslaught.

Back at Alchemax Tower, Tyler Stone demanded to know what had happened to Spider-Man and Tensen. One of the workers related that he fired upon Tensen, who was amazed to learn that the air warped around him to "swallow up" the laser fire. He then stepped through the warp, and demanded to know Spider-Man's whereabouts from Jordan Boone. Boone told him that Spider-Man was still inside the portal, and Tensen shoved the scientist aside, anchored himself on an arm from the portal's mechanical probe, and leaped into the portal.

A few minutes later, Thanatos' face, though severely distorted, filled the portal. Jordan ordered the portal closed as a massive arm started to come through the portal. The power went dead, and the cackles of Thanatos' laughter turned to screams as the madman's face blew apart, and the arm carbonized and fell to the laboratory floor. Thus apparently ended the saga of Thanatos.

Back at Miguel O'Hara's apartment, Spider-Man used a heat sealer to stop Tensen's wound from bleeding, a painful experience. It was here that Spider-Man asked his new friend his name, to which he replied that he didn't know. After Spider-Man unmasked himself, the two of them got to talking about the past several hours. Tensen told him:

"What 'happened' is that being a prisoner held no attraction for me ... even in 2099. So I broke free and headed for the portal to help you because you seemed ... familiar somehow .... I have powers, Miguel. I don't fully understand them. I had other abilities, once, I think. But somehow, from the result of the crossover, or perhaps the time trapped in Interspace ... they've changed. When I wish to shield myself from harm, I warp space in front of me. Anything that enters the field vanishes into ... whatever, anything except for myself, and whatever I'm touching. In that instance, control is possible .... When I used that mechanical arm as an anchor, I was able to enter the portal and find you. Then I saw Thanatos coming after us. Instinctively I created a warp field around us. Apparently, my power is psionic in nature. I do not know this world, and I found myself instinctively wanting to go to the place you felt safest."

Tensen then told Miguel of his desire to explore this new world of 2099, and as Miguel thought about where to go first, Tensen latched onto that thought and transported them there, to Stark Tower, the highest point in all of New York City. Miguel urged Tensen to tell him about Thanatos:

"I regret I don't have much to tell. There was a great battle, I think. Many beings from different ... worlds. I don't recall when and where it occurred ... but it did. Thanatos spoke of killing one called Thor. Perhaps he did. Then again, there's no reason to believe the words of such a creature. Then there was a massive flash of white, and ... the rest is blank, except ... I think I have ... or had a child. A daughter. In my own time and world. I can still feel her ... as an amputee feels his missing leg. A ghostly sensation, a haunting memory. Either way, she is long gone now."

Tensen then told Miguel to show him where the city's "despondent and desperate" were. After a quick change into Spider-Man, Miguel and Tensen went Downtown, where a gang assaulted Father Jennifer D'Angelo, the priest at the Church of Saint Patrick's. The duo defended the church against the evildoers, and Tensen demonstrated another of his new abilities, bolts of scarlet force from his eyes. After the battle was over, Tensen, now officially retitling himself "The Net Prophet," had a few things to tell his webbed friend:

"I thank you for your introduction to your world, Spider-Man. But I think it's time for me to experience it through my eyes, rather than yours. The good Father supplied me with dehydrated food. I shall be fine for now .... Go in peace, Spider-Man."

And the Prophet was gone...

SPIDER-MAN 2099 #12-14