Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Eddie woke to an alarm. A fire alarm screeched its high-pitched wail and the ceremonial guards were all gone.

Prince T’Challa had been removed and all that remained was the last of the buffet and the rest of the participants. On each of their table was a small vial of the same purple liquid.

Eddie figured an emergency had called them away so they were left to take the second dose themselves.

Stretching he noticed that he wasn't the only one to be waking up. He thought he recognised the young Asian woman he knew was called Cindy. He smiled genially at her but her mouth turned in disgust. Looking around, he saw that a black-haired thuggish-looking man was leering at her. The intent in his mind was plain for all to see.

As he watched the others wake up he noticed that eyes flicked not to just their own vial but to the others. Eddie grabbed his and stuffed it into his jacket pocket.

It was then the man made his move. Standing and stretching, he tried to nonchalantly walk over to Cindy, but she did her best to ignore him,

“Hey, so, yeah, fuckin Scorpion here, you wanna dance girl?” he asked and licked his lips.

Cindy made a 'euch' noise and stood to grab her bag.

“Hey, I'm fuckin talking to you.” As he stepped towards her, it was Eddie that moved in front of him.

“I don't think she’s interested man, so back off.” Eddie raised a hand to push gently on the man's chest.

“Yeah fuck off boy scout, I ain't into pretty boys.” Mac brushed past him and reached for Cindy. The intent was obvious though. He was grabbing for the vial and as the smallest, he figured that she must be the weakest as well.

“What is your fucking problem?” Eddie said and was about to grab Mac by the shoulder when Cindy roared at him. The costume she produced from nowhere last time spread over her.

As Mac stuck out a hand, she grabbed it and swung him around, lifting him from his feet and throwing him across the room.

“Nice try boy scout but we don't need your help,” she said. As Eddie watched, she turned and two large balls of webbing thudded against Mac. He groaned as one struck him on the head and the other hit him squarely in the chest.

“Uh, I can see that,” he said, rubbing the back of his head.

“Yeah, Eddie, Cindy, why don't we talk somewhere else?" The clean-shaven man held out his hand for Eddie to shake. "Uh, Sam Wilson, Agent of Shield. I was assigned to be Spider-Man's shadow but things eh, but things got a little weird. So, let's talk and yeah, not here.”

“Oh, I know a good place,” the baby-faced young man spoke. He was slimly built but smiled as he spoke “Scott, Scott Lang, or well, Ant-Man I guess, and it's Spider-Man right? Heh, hope Bird-Man here doesn't eat us,” he laughed at his own joke

“It’s Falcon, and no, just, no,” and Sam shook his head, “but uh, Mr Lang, that's not a great idea, I mean, you train under Hank Pym right?”

Scott nodded. “Sure, yeah, Hank, he’s cool.“

Sam laughed. “Oh shit. Yeah, he’s a cool guy alright, right up until I tell him who I work for and he blows me up or something. How about we get some food?" As Sam looked around Eddie was helping himself to a platter of sandwiches

“What? I was fighting in there,” Eddie said with a mouthful of food.

Sam shook his head and shrugged, "In a room full of super-powered assholes?” Sam rubbed his forehead. “You're outta line, but I guess you're right. But you maybe should have made sure the room was safe first.” With that, he headed over and helped himself to a plate of food and a coffee as well. The groups had split, but with the even numbers he knew his side would win.

Mac picked himself up and shook his head. “Hey, fuck you bitch, I'm the fucking Scorpion," but Aaron put a hand on his chest.

“I heard of you Mac, and not here, but uh, my employer, Mr Fisk might have a position for you but not here, not now.”

Mac dusted himself off, “Sure, but that fucking bitch is mine.”

Mac, Aaron, Wilson, and Adrian all left the suite, uncaring of the four people still eating and chatting.

“So, think they'll be trouble?” Eddie asked Sam, who took a bite of a cold slice of pizza but nodded,

“Oh yeah, those four, yeah.” Sam took out his phone and punched in a number and sent a text. He sighed as he read the reply. “So, it looks like I'm here to stay, where Spider-Man goes it seems that Falcon has to follow,”

“Oh hey, that's great, uh, Ant-Man, Silk was it? Yeah, you're great too, and you two. We should form a  supergroup. Spider-Man and uh his amazing friends.”

Cindy snorted, "Yeah right, dork.”

⁂

“How did this happen!” T’Challa yelled at the Dora Milaje, who was shaking her head as she draped another sheet over one of her sisters.

T’Challa was shaking, not just from rage but the dreamwalk had taken its toll. He was prepared to awaken to a new problem, but not this mess. That their security had been breached, and that his father was dead was a nightmare.

“We do not know my King. The sprinkler system was set off, delivering a nerve agent but the alarm was cut to the rooms. Only those affected knew what was happening. With orders to stay with you, no one was outside when this happened.” She shook her head, there were sixteen dead, not including the King.

“Klaue!” T'Challa yelled as the body was dumped onto a stretcher. He was dead, two shots in the chest and two in the head would kill anyone but that was the problem. The style, a surprise attack, and then finishing shots were not the style of the King. Even if he had been surprised he didn't own a pistol, not a simple powder weapon anyway. His ceremonial dagger was missing and evidence showed that Klaue had an accomplice. There was enough blood in the room the King was overwhelmed but had not gone down without a fight.

What angered T’Challas was the simple DNA scan that showed that whoever it was was a member of the royal family. With him being the only member there, even if the DNA wasn't a match, it was enough to cast doubt on his involvement.

“Find them. I don't care how. Just do it. Switch the investigation from Klaue over to this mystery assassin. I want him found!” he yelled.

The surviving Dora Milaje nodded and saluted. “Yes, King T’Challa.”

“My King, we have disturbing reports. It seems some of the Dora undergoing their first dreamwalk had nightmares. Of a creature devouring their very souls. A nightmare in black and white.” Okoye reported.

T’Challa blinked as he looked up at her, barely registering the words, “A nightmare?”

Okoye moved over and slid an arm onto his shoulder, “I shall take care of it. Mourn your father, and when you are whole, I will report.”

“No. I want top-level surveillance on Venom. Find out where and how he is. Ororo can supply you with an address. Spare no quarter on this. I want to know how many of these things are, and how to eliminate them if they prove to be uncooperative.”

Okoye raised an eyebrow, “no quarter?”

T’Challa glared at her, “That is what I said. Complete surveillance. Stealth technology, subharmonic microphones, thermal and infrared cameras. Throw everything at this. If he moves I want to know. He will not bring those things into our midst.” T’Challa looked up, “You have your orders. This is priority one. Even my father's death is below it.”

Okoye knew better than to argue and began to type on her wrist communicator. It was not her place to question him, only to follow orders. He was unsettled. Normal for a man who was suffering the death of a parent, but this was more. His dreamwalk had granted him knowledge of a new foe. One that the King could not ignore.

T’Challa stared at the table once more. The message echoed over and over in his thoughts.

Beware the one in black, the devourer of everything. Beware the nightmare in black, the false spider.

Beware the Venom.

⁂

"It is with great sadness that today, I must announce to the world that my father, King T’Chaka has passed away. He was a great man, a towering inspiration to us all and it was his ideals that I aspire to today. After a brief visit home, my family and I have agreed.

For hundreds of years, Wakanda has hidden from the world, afraid of how we would be judged. Afraid of how we would be seen but today we feel that we can hide no longer."

Behind T'Challa a large LCD monitor flickered into life and played a video.

"Wakanda has been the leading nation in technological advancements. The leading nation in medical research, cybernetics, and in weapons technology. We kept this a secret as we understood that men can be blinded by greed. That revealing ourselves would place not just ourselves but our neighbours in danger.

As the times move forwards. Pioneers like Tony Stark have brought technology into the future. In cooperation with StarkTech, Wakanda will be sharing this technology with the world. We have watched for centuries and waited. We believe now is the right time to come forward. Now is the right time to put ourselves at the front of the world's community, where we can do the most good. We wish to do this before those who would use their power can do irreparable harm. Wakanda will offer its technology, and its aid to those who need it, wherever it is needed."

⁂

As T’Challa paused the press conference, a tall African woman with long silver hair strode into the room. She smiled as she saw him and he stood to greet her.

“It is good to see you Ororo,” T’Challa said as he kissed her and she moved into his embrace.

“Not with good news I am afraid,” she said back and they sat together. “Charles has been in contact with this Venom, the one you call the devourer.”

T’Challa sat forward raising an eyebrow in concern, “No one was hurt?”

Ororo shook her head. “No, Charles erased us from his mind but we rescued a young mutant from his home. She swears that they saved her.” She shook her head, “But that does not sound like what the news is reporting, what J.J. is screaming about every night. What if we’re wrong about him?”

T'Challa pursed his lips, “The legends are very clear. The last time a devourer landed on Earth was centuries ago." T'Challa had accessed the archives and found the digital record of the battle. "It took a team of Dora Milaje and the Black Panther months to track it down and kill it. Only the King survived. A devourer on Earth is not a good thing Ororo, and you need to get your people ready to deal with him.”

Ororo sighed, “Then I will warn Charles, and we should move sooner than we had hoped.” Ororo stood, “and sadly if he is as much a threat as you say then it must be right now."

T'Challa stood and moved over to where she was standing,

“Right now?” he said with a smile, and Ororo laughed, and shook her head, taking his hand and kissing it,

“You are a King now, and this might not be allowed. Your father was never one to,“

T'Challa stopped her speaking with a kiss, as their lips separated he held her close. “My father is gone Ororo, and while he held to the old ways the world is different, I am different. We can discuss this when you get back, yes?”

Ororo nodded with a huge smile. “I will only be gone a few weeks, wait for me. My king,” and as the winds picked up around her she lifted herself off and out of the open window.

⁂

Peter sat and watched the conference over and over. He had several windows open. Each one was paused on different frames of the video presentation.  Liv was watching as well, and she stared at him, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.

“Uh, Liv, can we,” as Peter looked around, he saw her shaking her head.

“No, whatever scheme you’ve thought of. Whatever plan you think will work for you to get your hands on Wakandan technology. No. Not ever, and I mean that Peter. I love you but I'm not about to let you start an international incident because you want a Wakandan jet. MJ still hasn't forgiven you for what you did to her toaster dear, you should start there first.”

Peter huffed, crossing his arms. “It was only a little fireball, it wasn't like it hurt anyone.”

Liv raised an eyebrow, ignoring his tantrum.

"Iron Man can fly. A Venomjet would be cool," he mumbled to himself as he went back to staring at the still frames again.