Chapter 105
Arc 7 - Ch 22: Sinister Six
Date: Monday, September 12, 2011.
Location: House of M, Manhattan, New York
Camera operators moved about, making last-minute adjustments as the floor manager counted down silently with her fingers. In the center of it all sat J. Jonah Jameson, his signature mustache as impeccable as ever. He straightened his tie casually, but the movement didn't hide his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of a shark that had just caught the scent of blood in the water. As the countdown reached zero, he plastered on his best "hard-hitting journalist" expression and faced the camera.
"Good afternoon, New York! J. Jonah Jameson here, bringing you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No matter how much it might sting." He shuffled the papers on his desk dramatically to build suspense. "Today, we have a guest who's worn more hats than a Broadway costume department. Vigilante, agent, superhero, student, entertainer… and now, we're going to find out if he's earned himself a new title—"
Jameson paused for dramatic effect.
"Murderer."
"That's right, folks. Joining us today is none other than Tyson, the man behind the mask of Mirage. The same Mirage who we had on the show back in June."
The camera panned to reveal Tyson. Unlike his last visit, the young hero was maskless.
"Tyson. Welcome back to The Daily Bugle. I hope you're ready to answer some tough questions because our viewers deserve the truth."
"Always ready for the truth, Mr. Jameson. It's why I'm here."
"Well then, let's jump right in. The Battle of Times Square, or so it's being called. Care to shed some light on that little fiasco?"
Tyson nodded. "Where would you like to start?"
"The beginning, of course! It's strange, isn't it, how quickly you arrived on the scene. Almost as if you knew something was going to happen. Did you kick it all off on purpose? Create a little chaos to play hero?"
He shook his head emphatically. "No, absolutely not. I was with Spider-Woman that afternoon. She has a sort of... danger sense. It lets her know when something bad is about to happen. She brought me to Times Square."
"Spider-Woman, you say? Another masked menace. But let's stay focused on you for now, we'll get to her later. You talked down that man, didn't you? The glowing one."
"That's right. He wasn't a bad guy. Just confused, with powers he didn't understand or know how to control. Things could have spiraled out of hand, but I'm glad I was the first one on the scene to de-escalate."
"Hmm," Jameson grunted, scribbling something on his notepad. For a moment, it seemed like he might actually give Tyson some credit. But then his eyes narrowed. "And then, a man floated down from the sky. Magneto." Jameson's voice took on a sharp edge. "Erik Lehnsherr. Wanted by Interpol for terrorism and crimes against humanity. A man who's threatened the safety of every major city on the planet. And he just happened to show up in Times Square on the same day you did."
"This was not my first run-in with Magneto," Tyson began, "I hinted at it in what I said that day."
"Let's talk about what happened next, shall we? None other than Captain America himself, Steve Rogers, stepped out from the crowd. Care to elaborate on that, Tyson?"
"Yeah, it was wild. One minute I'm facing down Magneto, and the next, Captain America is there trying to talk him down."
"Captain America," Jameson mused. "The legend himself. A long-thought-dead hero coming to your aid is not exactly an everyday occurrence, even by New York standards."
"No, it's not," Tyson agreed. "But what was even crazier was that Magneto knew him. I mean, really knew him."
"Oh? Do tell."
Tyson's voice took on a more somber tone. "Magneto had been in Auschwitz as a child during World War II. And Captain America was part of the force that liberated the concentration camp."
Jameson seemed momentarily taken aback, his usual blustery demeanor subdued. "That's... quite a connection," he said. Then, remembering he was on camera, he cleared his throat and pressed on. "But even his childhood hero couldn't turn Magneto from his path, could he?"
"No, he couldn't. It was like watching a tragedy unfold in real time. You could see the respect Magneto had for Cap, but also the anger, the bitterness that had built up over the years."
Jameson nodded, then suddenly snapped his fingers, pointing at Tyson with renewed vigor. "And that's when Magneto exposed your identity. I knew it! You were a student at Midtown High. That's how you arrived so quickly when the Lizard attacked!"
"You're right, Mr. Jameson. Good digging."
A triumphant grin spread across Jameson's face, his chest puffing out with pride. But it quickly faded as he leaned in, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "How did you feel when he outed your identity like that? In front of the whole world, no less."
Tyson was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to his hands as he gathered his thoughts. "Surprised, at first," he said slowly. "Then angry. Really angry. Magneto didn't just expose me; he put everyone around me at risk. My friends, everyone close to me. Suddenly, they were all potential targets for anyone with a grudge against Mirage. But at the same time, there's a part of me that's... relieved. I don't have to act anymore, you know? No more hiding behind the mask, no more excuses for why I'm missing class. It's all out in the open now."
"A double-edged sword, then," Jameson mused.
"It's freeing in some ways. But I guess that's the price of being a hero, right? Putting yourself out there, taking risks so others don't have to," he paused before admitting, "It was my first day of classes at Empire State University. The day after the fight, I was expelled. I can't blame the administration. Having me as a student there paints a target on the campus."
For a moment, something that looked almost like respect flickered in Jameson's eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual skeptical glare. "A hero, you say, maybe. But let's get back to the action, shall we? Care to walk us through what happened?"
"After Magneto revealed my identity, things escalated quickly."
"And that's when we saw that expulsion isn't the only cost for being a hero." Tyson nodded grimly. The studio fell into an uneasy silence. "The girl who came to help you... We all saw how hard you took it when she died. Do you want to say anything about her?"
The change in Tyson was immediate and palpable. His shoulders tensed, and tears welled up in his eyes. He blinked rapidly, fighting to hold them back. The bright studio lights didn't help, focusing all attention on the young hero as he took a shaky breath.
"Her name was Jubilation Lee. She was a mutant, too. She was my best friend and... my girlfriend. We'd just started dating a few weeks earlier." He paused, swallowing hard. When he continued, his voice grew stronger, filled with a bittersweet warmth. "She was the most fun, charismatic person I've ever met. One of those people who, when she was around, everything just was better, you know? I used to put on small illusion shows for her of different anime and movies..." He cleared his throat, still battling against the tears that threatened to spill over. Many in the studio audience were wiping away tears of their own. "Jubilee had been there when Magneto went after me previously. She hadn't been in a fight back then. She kind of froze up. I know it hung over her head, like she was ashamed of it. But she'd gotten so much stronger since then. And she wouldn't leave me to fight Magneto and his group alone. Because she cared about me."
Tyson's voice cracked on the last words. He took a moment to compose himself before continuing, his eyes focused on some distant point beyond the cameras. "And now I just wish she hadn't arrived so quickly. I love her. And I miss her every day. And my life is darker without her in it."
Jameson was uncharacteristically quiet, his usual rapid-fire questioning style abandoned in the face of Tyson's raw emotion. He visibly wrestled with his next move, torn between his instinct for hard-hitting journalism and a respect for the young man before him.
"Your life is darker. Dark enough that you killed him because of her?"
The question hung in the air like a thunderclap. Tyson's eyes snapped back to Jameson.
"I said it then. I warned Magneto and everyone else. I did not hide what was going to happen. Magneto wanted to use me as a weapon of mass destruction. It was the third time he'd tried to capture me, and the only reason he hadn't come after me sooner was because he didn't know I was Mirage."
Tyson looked over the audience. "If I hadn't stopped Magneto, he would have killed millions. That's not an exaggeration. His weapon was close to the city, and I was the only missing component. Everyone in Manhattan, half of Brooklyn and Queens, the South Bronx, Bayonne, and Jersey City, all dead."
The studio was silent, every eye riveted on Tyson as he continued. "He killed my girlfriend. He tried to kill me. He tried to kill all of us. So I killed him."
Tyson paused, and when he spoke again, his voice was firm.
"Does that make me a murderer, as you asked at the start of the show? I suppose it does."
Jameson was visibly stunned. The veteran newsman seemed at a loss for words. The cameras panned across the studio audience, capturing shocked and tearful faces. In the control room, producers exchanged wide-eyed glances. This was far beyond what anyone had expected from the interview. Ratings were through the roof.
Jameson cleared his throat. "Indeed. But it raises questions, doesn't it? About powers, and the line between heroism and vigilantism. Where do we draw that line?"
"All I know is that I try to do what's right, to protect people," Tyson admitted. "I work for SHIELD. Is it murder if I kill a known terrorist while apprehending him? One who minutes earlier killed live on television? Everyone mentions that she was my girlfriend or that she was a mutant. But no one mentions he killed a teenager, barely an adult, just a girl. And if it wasn't me, who would've stopped him? Spider-Man? He doesn't work with the authorities, and as much as I respect him, I don't know if he would've been a match for Magneto. Iron Man? That's an obvious mismatch, and not in Mr. Stark's favor. It had to be me. Sometimes you have to make the hard choice."
The atmosphere in the studio had shifted dramatically. Gone was the adversarial tone of earlier, replaced by somber reflection. In homes across New York and beyond, viewers were grappling with the image of Tyson; no longer just Mirage, the mysterious hero, but a young man faced with loss, guilt, and the weight of impossible decisions.
Tyson took the moment to speak, his voice growing more solemn. "Later that night, I followed up on something Magneto said, that there were mutants living under the streets. I descended deep into the subways and found a community of mutants being hunted. These people, these mutants, they call themselves the Morlocks," Tyson explained. "Some of them have physical mutations that make it impossible to blend in. Others were thrown out by their families when their powers began to manifest. They were malnourished and fearful of society."
"And you're saying they were being hunted?" Jameson asked.
Tyson nodded grimly. "A group of professional killers targeting mutants. They were systematically exterminating the Morlocks. When I got there, it was..." He trailed off, visibly struggling with the memory. "It was a massacre. Bodies everywhere. Even children weren't spared. The survivors were terrified." The camera panned to show the studio audience, many of whom looked shocked or disturbed by Tyson's account. "I managed to stop the killing and capture most of them. But the damage was done. Dozens dead. A community torn apart. And for what?"
"These Morlocks... why haven't we heard about them before? Why haven't they come forward?"
"Would you?" Tyson challenged. "If showing your face meant risking violence? Discrimination? Being treated as less than human?" He shook his head. "I get protestors instead of violence because I'm too strong to be assaulted in the streets and because my appearance conforms to accepted standards of beauty. They don't have those benefits. They stayed hidden because they had to."
"And now?" Jameson pressed. "What's happened to them since?"
"I've offered them sanctuary at House of M," Tyson said. "We're providing medical care, food, basic human necessities that they've been denied."
"That's quite an undertaking. And you mentioned protestors? Anti-mutant sentiment?"
"The day after I brought the first group of Morlocks to House of M, protestors showed up. They were protesting outside, while inside were people who'd just watched their friends die. I want to be clear. I don't condone what Magneto did. His methods were wrong. But his concerns? The fear that mutants are being persecuted? That's real."
Jameson cleared his throat. "You're painting a disturbing picture. If what you're saying is true—"
"It is true," Tyson interrupted firmly. "And it's happening right here in New York. Not in some distant country we can pretend doesn't exist. Right here, under and on our streets."
"Let me play devil's advocate for a moment," Jameson said, regaining some of his usual argumentative tone. "Some would say that mutants with dangerous powers pose a legitimate threat to public safety. That registration is necessary."
"Some mutants are dangerous. We had this conversation last time I was on your show," Tyson acknowledged. "So are some humans with guns. Or cars. Or political power. We don't condemn entire groups based on the actions of individuals."
"But mutants can level buildings with a thought," Jameson countered. "Surely that requires some form of control?"
"What kind of control, Mr. Jameson? Imprisonment? Experimentation? Extermination?" Tyson's voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of steel. "Where does it end? And who decides which powers are 'too dangerous'? Would you put me in a cage? I'm one of those mutants who could level a building."
Jameson frowned. "That's not what I'm suggesting."
"Isn't it?" Tyson challenged. "Because that's exactly what happens when we start treating people as threats based solely on what they are, not what they've done."
The producers in the control room were frantically signaling Jameson to move the conversation along.
"Let's talk about House of M," Jameson said, changing tack. "And the services you're providing there."
"A safe place where mutants don't have to hide who or what they are," Tyson replied simply.
"And you fund this entirely yourself?"
"Yes. From my performances and investments. We haven't been running shows since the incident in Times Square, but they'll be starting up again soon. I've begun hiring some of the Morlocks within House of M. My hope is that this will help integrate the mutant community into mainstream life here in the city. Any mutant who finds themselves in need of healing, down on their luck, or ostracized, can find a home at House of M."
Jameson nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "You know, when you first came on this show, I had you pegged as just another vigilante. Maybe one who played along with the rules. But what you're describing now... It's different."
"It's the same mission, Mr. Jameson. Protecting people. It's just that sometimes the threats aren't as obvious as a supervillain attacking Times Square. Sometimes they're systemic. Prejudice. Fear. Ignorance."
"You mentioned healing. But you're only offering it to mutants?" Jameson remarked.
"I didn't mean to imply it's an exclusive service I'll only provide to mutants. It's the nature of my power. Anyone who saw the Battle saw that I can heal quickly. I can extend that healing to others, allowing them to recover rapidly from wounds. I'd be more than happy to put Presbyterian out of business, but I'm unable to heal humans, unfortunately. Without a triggered X-gene, my healing fails to function."
Jameson's eyes suddenly lit up. "Don't think I forgot you mentioned you were with Spider-Woman before the Battle in Times Square. Last time you were on the show, you claimed you didn't know there was a Spider-Woman, yet you were with her before the battle."
"I met Spider-Woman a few days after I'd been on the show last time. She'd just become active, and admittedly, I don't patrol much, so I hadn't encountered her before then."
"So the rumors about your relationship weren't true." Jameson leaned forward in his chair. "But you know her now, you were with her the day you were attacked and your girlfriend was killed."
Tyson held up a hand, his expression hardening. "Let me stop you there. There was nothing untoward going on between me and Spider-Woman at the time."
"HA!" Jameson barked triumphantly. "At the time! But there is now?" The statement hung in the air, not even pretending to be a question.
"Spider-Woman is a friend."
"Not a girlfriend?" Jameson pressed with barely contained glee at the potential scandal.
Tyson sighed and smiled wearily. "Just like last time, it seems that I'm forever destined to be a bachelor. I've become my own self-perpetuating meme."
The studio audience chuckled at the callback to his previous appearance. Jameson's expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced, but the young hero's measured, self-depreciating comedic response had denied him the scandalous headline he'd been fishing for.
The veteran newsman shuffled his papers, clearly regrouping for another line of questioning.
Before Jameson continued, something pinged within Tyson's metal senses.
Something... unique.
He tried to place the sensation. It wasn't adamantium, that much he knew. Then, recognition struck. This was a metal Magneto had sensed before, the last time, from afar at Alkali Lake.
Carbonadium.
The signature metal of Omega Red.
And it was getting closer. Too close.
Tyson reached out to stop it and halt it in its tracks before it could get any closer, but inexplicably, he failed. The Carbonadium was still moving in his direction.
Suddenly, the wall of the studio exploded inward, showering the set with debris. But Tyson was ready. With a thought, he sent Jameson's desk flipping up and spinning, creating a makeshift shield that protected the startled newsman from the rubble. Simultaneously, he reached out with his powers, pulling the metal from beneath the audience seats to form a hasty barricade.
People tumbled to the floor, dropped unceremoniously as their seats were repurposed. But his quick action had prevented any serious injuries.
Through the dust stepped Dr. Otto Octavius, better known as Doctor Octopus, advancing on four mechanical legs of carbonadium. But it wasn't the sight of the villain that unnerved Tyson. The space around Octavius felt wrong, distorted in a hauntingly familiar way. With a sinking feeling, Tyson recognized the sensation.
It was the same nullifying effect Magneto had experienced when Tyson wore the belt that disabled his powers.
Somehow, Octavius had found a way to circumvent his ferrokinesis.
"Dr. Octavius. It's good to see you awake. Or it would have been, had you just used the door like everyone else."
Octavius's lips curled into a sneer. "Spare me your wit, boy. We've already had enough banter for the day."
Tyson didn't miss Octavius saying 'We'. He searched for an angle, anything to throw the villain off balance. "I'm not sure why you have an issue with me, Doc. I saved your wife at the Stark Expo. Remember?"
"What? No..."
"I put myself between her and all that falling glass," Tyson pressed. "Rosie was her name, right?"
For a moment, Octavius's expression softened, and there was a faraway look in his eyes. "Yes... Rosie."
But before Tyson could capitalize on this moment of vulnerability, another figure swung in through the hole Octavius had created.
"Spider-Man!" Jameson blurted out.
"No, that's the impostor." Tyson shook his head grimly. "Hello, Kaine. You coming here makes me wonder if you're stupid, or you're dumb."
Kaine tilted his head, considering Tyson's words with an eerie stillness. As Tyson observed the newcomer, he noticed the same distorted 'aura' around Kaine that surrounded Octavius. They'd come prepared for him, nullifying his most potent ability. A cold realization settled in his gut. If he were a betting man, he'd guess that these two weren't alone. The moment he'd been expecting, the confrontation was here.
The Sinister Six.
And it seemed he'd need to fight them without Magneto's power.
As if reading his thoughts, Octavius's mechanical arms writhed menacingly. "Your tricks won't save you this time, boy. We've come prepared."
Tyson assessed his options. The studio was a deathtrap, filled with civilians and limited escape routes. He needed to draw the fight away, to minimize collateral damage. But first, he had to buy time.
"Prepared, huh?" Tyson quipped. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing. You didn't think I'd come on live TV without a few surprises up my sleeve, did you?" As he spoke, his eyes darted around the studio, cataloging potential weapons, escape routes, and anything he could use to his advantage. His magnetism might be neutralized, but only within a limited distance around his foes.
In the background, Jameson's voice cut through the tension. "This is J. Jonah Jameson, coming to you live from what appears to be the setup for yet another battle in New York City. Mirage versus Doctor Octavius and... an impostor Spider-Man? Stay tuned, folks. This is about to get interesting."
Tyson couldn't help but shake his head. Leave it to Jameson to turn a life-or-death situation into ratings gold. But the newsman's words had an unexpected effect. They reminded Tyson that he wasn't just fighting for himself. The eyes of New York, maybe the world, were on him yet again. This wasn't just a battle; it was a statement.
With that thought, Tyson straightened his shoulders and met Octavius's gaze squarely. "Alright, Doc. You want a fight? Let's take this outside. Too many innocent people in here."
Octavius's laugh was cold and mirthless. "Oh, we're not going anywhere, boy. You're coming with us. Dead or alive... well, that's up to you."
Tyson assessed his options in a split second. He needed to change the battlefield to get these villains away from the civilians in the studio. With a cocky grin he quipped, "Alright then, let's go. You've got a car waiting outside?"
Without waiting for an answer, Tyson launched himself through the hole Octavius had created, plummeting into the open sky. Behind him, he heard Octavius bellow, "Get him!"
The rush of wind filled Tyson's ears as he fell. Reaching the ground, he touched down in a superhero landing.
Kaine had created a massive web between the buildings. Suspended within it were Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. His friends were trapped and helpless. The street was eerily empty, most pedestrians having fled when the villains arrived.
But not everyone was gone.
Tyson's eyes landed on House of M's car, still parked nearby. Maki was inside, lying low, watching, waiting.
As he began to formulate a plan, he noticed he was surrounded. Kraven stood closest to where Felicia lay on the sidewalk, seemingly unconscious. Rhino and Scorpion blocked the street. Doc Ock and Kaine landed on his other side, effectively flanking him.
Tyson counted aloud with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "One, two, three, four, five... I feel like someone's missing."
As if on cue, a subtle sound cut through the air, like an intense blow through a straw. He moved as soon as he heard the sound, but even his enhanced reflexes weren't enough. A dart struck his neck with pinpoint accuracy. He ripped it out quickly, but a feminine laugh from behind told him it was too late.
A beautiful black woman emerged from a nearby alley. "You used robots to fight your battles last time. Ironically, a primitive blow dart will be your undoing."
Tyson's cocky facade didn't waver. "Hate to tell you, lady, but poison doesn't really work on me."
Her smile widened. "Not poison. Potion. Magic. A weakening potion. You're no stronger than a normal man now."
Doc Ock began to gloat. "No matter how strong you are, there is always a counter. Magic, it seems, can do what science cannot." He gestured to the belts each villain wore. "Your magnetic abilities are neutralized by these. Something you devised against Magneto. A clever plan, but one we are now using against you." The villain's voice dripped with smug satisfaction as he continued. "Your illusions, your strength, both gone. Calypso was able to create potions to enhance our mental resistance. And another potion to weaken you, making you no stronger than any other man. What do you have left now, Tyson? What gifts will save you from all of us?"
Tyson could feel the potion's debilitating effects take hold as a wave of weakness washed over him. It was clear that his strength and agility had been reduced to those of an ordinary man.
"You've clearly gone through a lot of trouble and coordination for this ambush," he called out, desperately trying to buy some time while he analyzed the situation and his dwindling options. "To what end? Why are you all so intent on coming after me?"
His eyes darted between each villain. "I saved your wife," he said to Doc Ock. Tyson's gaze shifted to Calypso. "And you, I don't even know who you are." The voodoo witch smiled, clearly enjoying his confusion. Next was Rhino and Scorpion. "Hey guys, we worked together at Oscorp. I was an unpaid intern. How much bad blood could you really have against me?"
Finally, his eyes landed on Kraven. "Yeah, I did shatter both your legs during your little hunt. I guess that would piss you off." Despite knowing Russian, Tyson mocked the hunter's accent poorly. "The hunt is life, da?" Kraven's face darkened, his hands tightening around his spear.
Turning to Kaine, Tyson's voice grew serious. "But you... I don't know what your issue with me is. I haven't done anything to you personally. You, on the other hand, killed my friend's father and attacked her twice, trying to frame me for it. On top of that, you destroyed my apartment." He jabbed a finger towards the trapped Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. "And now you target my friends again. It's me who should have a grudge against you," he finished. Kaine said nothing, merely cracking his neck from side to side.
Tyson's voice grew harder as he addressed Octavius once more. "You think you've got me beat? I admit, you've done your homework, but you underestimate what my friends and I are capable of."
As he spoke, Tyson's mind was working overtime. He knew he wasn't completely cornered. Maki was still unnoticed in the car, so he had a potential ally.
And there was something else, something the villains had overlooked.
Each of them had that 'aura', the anti-magnetic field. Tyson could see they each had a belt and could feel the field projected in his senses. But one of the six didn't have a field, and Tyson saw he didn't have a belt. Kraven. His eyes flickered to Felicia, still lying on the sidewalk. He tried to hide his smile as he realized what had happened. Kraven hadn't noticed that she was awake.
She'd stolen his belt.
Tyson's smile grew wider. Never trust a thief. The pieces were falling into place. Tyson might be weakened, but he wasn't out of the fight yet. Not by a long shot. He had Maki in reserve, Felicia had made her move, and now a chink in the villains' armor that he could exploit.
Slowly, deliberately, he raised himself onto his toes and began to float above the ground. The villains watched him warily, muscles tensed and ready to spring into action. But as Tyson made no aggressive moves, they held their positions.
"Magneto's power wasn't just metal manipulation. Ferrokinesis is the most obvious, flashy use. But surely you're familiar with how mutants are classified?" Octavius's eyes narrowed behind his glasses, clearly not appreciating the impromptu lecture. Tyson continued undeterred. "Magneto was an omega-level mutant. Meaning his power was unsurpassed by any others. But remember, Magneto's true power was magnetokinesis. Complete control over magnetic fields."
Tyson's lips curled into a sly grin as he snapped his fingers with a resounding crack. It seemed like nothing had happened. The villains tensed, muscles coiled in anticipation, but no attack came. Only in silence did they notice all the light signals had winked out. All the electronic signs and billboards had also ceased functioning.
Octavius let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "That was your big plan? An electromagnetic pulse? You thought you could disable my arms with a mere EMP?" His mechanical limbs whirred and clicked menacingly as if to demonstrate their continued functionality. "My arms were designed to contain a fusion reactor magnetically. Plus, we're wearing belts that interfere with your magnetic powers in an area around us, fool."
Tyson's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "You made one big mistake, Doc. Do you know what the most powerful force in the universe is?"
Octavius scoffed. "If you're implying that your ability to manipulate electromagnetic forces is the most powerful force in the universe, you're a greater fool than I believed," he began laughing.
To everyone's surprise, Tyson joined in Octavius's laughter. The young hero's mirth was so genuine, so unexpected, that it gave the villain pause. Octavius's laughter died away, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Tyson's laughter subsided, but his grin remained. "No, you simpleton. All those degrees, all that genius, and you still haven't realized." He paused, savoring the moment.
"The greatest power in the universe… Is the power of friendship."
For a moment, silence reigned. Then Rhino's deep, rumbling chuckle broke the spell. "Friendship? What is this, a kid's cartoon?"
But Tyson wasn't done. His grin turned predatory as he delivered the punchline.
"The EMP was just to disable all the nearby cameras, so that no one at home sees what I'm about to do to you."
The implications of those words hung in the air for a heartbeat. Then, Kraven's deep, accented voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"You don't have the power of friendship," he sneered. "Your friends are captured. Your friend, Tony Stark, is busy fighting your friend, The Lizard." A cruel laugh escaped the hunter's lips. "You weren't my first hunt of the day."
"You'll be my final hunt."
"You're right. This will be your final hunt."
Kraven hefted his spear. But before he could move, Tyson snapped his fingers again.
The spearhead in Kraven's hands suddenly came alive, extending into long, thin metal spikes. The hunter had been holding the spear low, and the newly formed needles pierced through his legs with sickening ease.
A normal man would have screamed in agony. Kraven laughed. "You think this will stop me?" he roared.
"The hunt—"
Tyson didn't let him finish. He snapped his fingers once more, and the world around Kraven exploded into chaos.
The metal of the spear became a whirlwind, a storm of shrapnel that sliced through the air. Cuts appeared all over Kraven's body.
But something was wrong.
Kraven should have been torn apart, yet he stood there, laughing in the face of what should have been certain death. His skin was tougher somehow, resisting damage that should have been fatal. But Tyson had more cards to play. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Muse hurtling into the metal cloud.
Muse joined the swirling metal, and Kraven lost track of the dagger as it flew behind his back and jabbed between his shoulder blades. The hunter grunted, struggling to reach behind his back to pull it out. The enchanted blade sank deep, drinking his blood with an almost palpable thirst.
Tyson charged forward, since his speed was reduced to normal man's, he used his magnetism to launch his own adamantium skeleton, increasing his speed massively as he approached Kraven. He held his hand out as he moved, and Nexus, his ninjato soulsword, appeared in his hand.
"You should have stayed in the jungle," Tyson growled as he closed the distance.
Kraven bared his teeth, still trying to reach the dagger embedded in his back. "And you should have died with your little friend in Times Square."
Rage flashed across Tyson's face. He slashed once as he passed Kraven, moving right through the cloud of shrapnel, it parting under his power like a curtain. The blade sang through the air in a perfect arc of death.
Kraven didn't even have time to look surprised.
For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the whirlwind slowed to a stop. Metal fragments clattered to the ground, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
Kraven stood for a moment.
Then his head toppled to the ground.
Blood fountained from the stump where his head had been, but it all seemed to curve, heading in the same direction.
The dagger embedded in the now-dead Kraven's back.
From the blood-soaked remains, a figure began to take shape. It started as a vague, humanoid outline, then quickly solidified. It had Kraven's build and stance, but its substance was wrong. Instead of flesh and bone, it was composed entirely of swirling, crimson liquid.
A blood elemental.
Tyson held his hand out, and Muse reappeared. He held it, along with Nexus, cutting a fearsome figure. The other villains took involuntary steps back, their earlier bravado evaporating in the face of this unexpected occurrence. Even Octavius, for all his scientific genius, seemed at a loss for words.
Tyson, however, simply finished the hunter's final declaration.
"Your hunt is over. Mine is just beginning."
The blood elemental that was once Kraven tilted its head, as if considering his words. Then, it turned toward Scorpion and lunged.
A heart-stopping scream pierced the air. Calypso's eyes were wide with horror. "Kraven! No!"
The scream seemed to galvanize the other villains into action. Rhino, all muscle and momentum, charged at Tyson with a bellow that shook the very ground. But Scorpion, who had been closer to Kraven, found himself face-to-face with the blood elemental. The creature that had once been the world's greatest hunter was just as strong and fast as it had been in life.
Tyson didn't wait to see how that particular matchup would play out. With a thought, he took to the sky, putting himself out of Rhino's reach and making it difficult for most of the other villains to get to him. Up here, he could think and, most importantly, survive.
A plan began to form in his mind, risky but potentially game-changing. Tyson projected an illusion of himself inside the House of M car, where Maki waited, ready for action. The illusion spoke quickly, "Maki, I'm going to go out on a limb and trust you."
As the illusion disappeared, Maki's gaze snapped to the real Tyson hovering above. He hurled Muse towards the car. But as the weapon neared the vehicle, it slowed, still under Tyson's magnetic control.
Maki, understanding dawning in her eyes, reached out and grasped Muse's hilt. The effect was immediate and dramatic. Her skin paled, and she felt her canines lengthen into fangs. Vampiric speed and strength surged through her, transforming the already deadly assassin into something truly formidable.
She wasted no time. In a blur of motion, Maki was out of the car and engaging Doctor Octopus. Muse flew from her hands, only to be replaced instantly by copies of the weapon. The blade was beautifully lethal in the assassin's skilled grip, and Octavius's mechanical arms struggled to keep up with her barrage.
Tyson didn't linger to watch the spectacle. There were other pieces to move on this chaotic chessboard. His eyes found Felicia, who had finally dropped her act of unconsciousness. She sprang into action, engaging Kaine. Tyson watched longer than he meant to, confused. Felicia wasn't just distracting the spider-clone; she was giving him a hell of a fight.
Shaking his head, Tyson sent his sword hurtling towards Jessica and Peter, still trapped in Kaine's web. Exerting his will over the metal as the blade neared them, it sliced through the sticky strands. The two spiders fell free, but their descent lasted only moments before they swung into action, joining the fray.
What had started as a one-sided ambush was rapidly transforming into an even match. The 1v6 odds had shifted to a much more manageable 5v5.
But Tyson knew the battle was far from won. His eyes locked onto Calypso, the wild card in this fight. Magic was the one variable he couldn't accurately predict or counter. It had to be dealt with.
He descended towards the beautiful brown-skinned woman, whose eyes were still fixed on the blood elemental that had once been Kraven. As Tyson neared, she spoke.
"You killed him."
His response was simple and direct. "I did. He wouldn't give up the hunt. I told him before, I'm no one's prey."
To Tyson's surprise, Calypso fell to her knees. Her next words came out in a rush, filled with a fervor that bordered on madness. "Kraven is dead! His weaknesses killed him. I even gave him power, and it was not enough. But he died as he wanted to. On de hunt. He was not worthy." Her eyes locked onto Tyson, a new light burning in them. "Not like you. You are de true apex predator." She bowed her head in a gesture of supplication that took Tyson aback. "I submit to you, Mirage."
Tyson weighed the potential trap against the possible advantage.
"Then take off and disable your belt."
Calypso complied without hesitation. Tyson felt the anti-magnetic aura around her snuff out like a candle. He approached and placed his hand on her shoulder. In an instant, he absorbed her powers and memories, confirming the sincerity of her surrender.
She was born in Haiti, daughter of a powerful voodoo priestess and a father she never knew. While other children played in dusty streets, she was learning to identify herbs and roots, and memorizing incantations. By the age of seven, she had witnessed sacrifices, exorcisms, and rituals. At twelve, she experienced her first possession. For the next decade, she immersed herself in voodoo, seeking power rather than wisdom. She learned to create zombies from the recently deceased, to craft potions that could drive men mad with desire or terror, and to curse her enemies. When her mother died, poisoned by her hand, she inherited all her books and fetishes. For years, she had lived in her older sister's shadow, Eloise, who had been their mother's first choice as successor. While she had raw talent, Eloise had discipline and wisdom, following the traditional path of a mambo priestess. The sisters had maintained an uneasy relationship until Calypso discovered a ritual hidden in their mother's most forbidden grimoire, one that would allow her to absorb another practitioner's powers through the consumption of their heart. She lured her sister to their mother's grave, drugged Eloise, and carved out her still-beating heart. As her sister's life force flowed into her, Calypso felt her powers expand exponentially.
Haiti felt too small for her growing ambitions. She adopted the name Calypso, after the nymph who enchanted Odysseus, and set off to explore the world. In Jamaica, she learned the secrets of obeah. In New Orleans, she studied with Creole witches who practiced their version of voodoo. In Brazil, she delved into macumba and candomblé, adding their spirits to those she could call upon. Her beauty and charisma were as potent as her magic. Men and women fell under her spell, giving her shelter, money, and devotion before she inevitably tired of them. It was in Africa that she met Sergei Kravinoff, Kraven the Hunter. She was immediately drawn to his primal energy, his obsession with becoming the ultimate hunter. Under her influence, he began to see himself not just as a hunter of beasts but as the apex predator of humanity.
When Kraven had slayed every beast, he'd lost the will to hunt, until he encountered rumors of a demon in New York City. They traveled to Manhattan, but despite weeks of searching, the demon remained elusive. Frustrated and needing to prove his prowess, Kraven turned his attention to the city's heroes, Spider-Man and the mysterious Mirage. She encouraged his obsession. When reports emerged of the Lizard, Kraven saw yet another worthy adversary. But he failed to defeat his prey; he was captured and imprisoned. Rather than abandoning him, she waited, biding her time. When Kraven was finally released, she planned a new ritual.
Yet when it came to the final confrontation, even with their prey weakened from her potion, Kraven was no match for Mirage. As he fell, she felt grief, but also a sudden clarity. She had been following the wrong hunter all along. She understood that this hero had proven himself the superior predator.
"Run to House of M," Tyson instructed her. "If you're not there when I arrive, you'll become my prey."
"I understand," she said, before turning and sprinting away from the battlefield.
As Calypso's form disappeared into the distance, Tyson turned his attention back to the ongoing fight. The Kraven blood elemental was still pursuing Scorpion, the villain's mechanical tail lashing out ineffectively against the liquid form of his pursuer. Rhino had engaged Spider-Woman and Black Cat, and the three locked in a battle of strength versus agility. Spider-Man and Kaine were a nearly even match. And Maki, empowered by Muse, continued to keep Doctor Octopus pinned down, her blades a constant threat to his mechanical arms.
Doc Ock was the next largest threat as far as he was concerned. The scientist's intellect made him dangerous, especially since he had created the anti-magnetic belts. If anyone could devise a counter-plan on the fly, it would be Otto Octavius. Decision made, Tyson dove into the fray, joining Maki in her assault on the mechanical-armed villain. As he approached, memories of his battle with Magneto flashed through his mind. He recalled how objects launched by Magneto's power continued their trajectory even after leaving the mutant's magnetic field. It was that very principle that had led to Jubilee's tragic demise.
Now, Tyson planned to use that same concept to his advantage.
Octavius was fully engaged with Maki, his mechanical arms blocking and parrying her relentless attacks. The doctor's face was a mask of concentration, sweat beading on his brow as he struggled to keep up with the empowered assassin. He was so focused on the immediate threat that he had left himself completely open to Tyson's approach.
Tyson reached out with his powers, feeling for the metal debris scattered across the battlefield; the remnants of his attack on Kraven, shattered lamp posts, and even fragments of a destroyed vehicle. With a thought, he condensed the metal into dense spheres. As Maki pressed her attack, forcing Octavius to commit more of his arms to defense, Tyson saw his opening. He launched the metal balls forward, accelerating them, but aiming precisely.
Octavius sensed the new threat at the last second. Two of his arms whipped around, trying to swat the incoming projectiles out of the air. But there were too many. While he managed to deflect some, a few sailed past his defenses. One struck his shoulder, eliciting a cry of pain. Another grazed his temple, leaving a bloody furrow. But it was the sphere that directly impacted his anti-magnetic belt that proved decisive.
The belt sparked and sizzled, wisps of smoke rising from its damaged circuitry. Octavius's eyes widened in realization and fear as he felt the protective field around him falter and die.
Tyson didn't waste a second. With the anti-magnetic barrier down, he reached out with his powers and seized control of Octavius's carbonadium limbs. With a gesture, he commanded the mechanical appendages to wrap around Octavius, pinning the villain's arms to his sides and effectively neutralizing him as a threat. The doctor struggled against his own creation, but it was futile. The tools that had made him so formidable were now his prison.
"No!" Octavius roared.
"Shall I finish him?" Maki asked, her voice carrying an edge that made it clear she wouldn't hesitate if given the order.
"No. I want to see if we can help him first. Go capture Scorpion, then help with Rhino. We need to end this quickly." Maki darted off, rejoining the fray.
Tyson turned back to Doc Ock, considering how to best restrain the brilliant but dangerous scientist. He couldn't risk Octavius breaking free or regaining control of his arms. With a gesture, Tyson spread his fingers. The four mechanical arms were ripped from their base.
"No!" Octavius screamed. "You barbarian!"
Ignoring the doctor's protests, with precise control over the metal, Tyson fused the carbonadium, creating a virtually inescapable binding.
"It's over, Doc. Maybe now you'll have a chance to remember the man you were before all this."
Across the battlefield, Kaine watched as Octavius was neutralized. The clone realized that the tide had turned decisively against them. The battle was lost, but he wasn't ready to give up. His thoughts turned to Gwen, his ultimate goal in all of this. With the heroes spread thin, he saw an opportunity. House of M itself might be vulnerable. If he could reach it, he might still have a chance to find Gwen.
He turned and fled, disengaging from his fight with Peter. Firing a webline, he swung from building to building, heading towards the Flatiron Armory that housed House of M.
"Kaine!" Peter shouted, immediately giving chase.
The two spider-powered individuals swung and leaped through the New York skyline. Back on the ground, Tyson finished securing Octavius. Rhino and Scorpion were putting up a fierce fight, but they were clearly outmatched against the combined might of Maki, Spider-Woman, and a now-seemingly-powered Felicia. It wouldn't be long before they fell. Calypso was gone, having surrendered earlier. Octavius was captured and rendered harmless without his mechanical arms. Kraven... Tyson's eyes darted to the blood elemental that had once been the hunter. It was still fighting Scorpion.
That left Kaine.
He realized he couldn't see the clone anywhere. Peter was missing too. A sense of unease settled in his stomach. Reaching out with his magnetic senses, he searched for the anti-magnetic aura of Kaine's belt. He found it, rapidly moving away from the area, heading south. Without hesitation, Tyson took to the sky.
Why was Kaine fleeing south? What was his endgame?
He could see two figures in the distance, leaping and swinging between buildings. Peter and Kaine.
Suddenly, an unmistakable cackle cut through the air.
He hadn't forgotten that sound.
The maniacal laughter of the Green Goblin.
It was close, too close for comfort. Tyson halted his pursuit, hovering in midair as he searched for the source of the laughter. There, on a nearby rooftop, he spotted him. Norman Osborn, decked out in his full Green Goblin regalia, crouched atop his glider like some twisted gargoyle.
Should he confront Osborn now? Or continue after Kaine? Before he could decide, the Goblin made the choice for him.
Osborn swooped down towards the ongoing battle below. To Tyson's shock, the Goblin didn't attack the heroes. Instead, he began harrying Rhino, peppering the lumbering villain with small explosive pumpkin bombs.
This had to be some kind of trick. Norman Osborn, playing the hero? It didn't add up.
Making a split-second decision, Tyson abandoned his pursuit of Kaine and returned to the main battlefield. As he approached, he reached out with his powers, grabbing hold of Osborn's glider and holding it in place.
The Goblin's head snapped around in indignation. "Let me go!" Osborn shouted, his voice a mixture of frustration and... was that desperation? "I can stop him!"
Tyson hovered closer. "Why are you playing hero, Osborn? What's your angle?"
Norman's response lacked its usual manic edge. "I'm cured. I'm here to help."
Tyson opened his mouth to argue, to call out what had to be an obvious lie. But movement at the corner of his vision gave him pause. People were returning to the area from outside his EMP range, smartphones out and recording the ongoing fight.
The warning from Jeryn Hogarth, his lawyer, echoed in Tyson's mind. Going after Norman Osborn publicly could be a legal and PR nightmare. Tyson gritted his teeth, frustration warring with practicality. After a moment of internal struggle, he settled on a course of action and released his hold on the glider.
"I'm so glad that Oscorp was able to clear you of your madness, and that you've decided to turn over a new leaf," Tyson announced loudly, projecting his voice to ensure anyone recording would hear. "The city could use more heroes."
Without waiting for a response, Tyson turned away. He cast a quick glance at the ongoing battle. Jessica, Felicia, and Maki seemed to have things well in hand, especially with the addition of the blood elemental that had once been Kraven.
Taking to the air, he flew off about a block, but ducked just under a building's edge. From this vantage point, he had a clear view of Norman without being immediately visible himself. The Green Goblin hovered on his glider, watching the battle unfold below.
Norman's hand moved to one of the pouches on his suit, fingers closing around a pumpkin bomb. His mask couldn't hide the malicious intent radiating from him as he drew back his arm, preparing to throw the explosive into the melee below. The target was Rhino, but truly it was Felicia, who was engaging the large villain up close.
As Norman prepared to release the bomb, Tyson reached out with his magnetic powers. The pumpkin bomb suddenly stopped moving, as if frozen in Norman's grip. To anyone watching, it would have appeared that Norman simply fumbled and dropped his weapon.
But in reality, Tyson guided it back toward Norman's belt pouch, where he stored his other explosives.
Norman looked down at his empty hand in bewilderment. Then came the realization.
Too late.
The bomb detonated at point-blank range. But that was just the beginning. The initial blast triggered a chain reaction, igniting the other bombs in Norman's pouch. The resulting explosion was catastrophic, far larger than any single pumpkin bomb could produce.
A blinding flash of orange and green light erupted from where Norman had been hovering. The shockwave rippled outward, shattering nearby windows and setting off car alarms. The glider spiraled downward, trailing black smoke. Of Norman himself, there was no immediate sign, just a dark silhouette tumbling through the air, engulfed in flames.
Tyson didn't stay to witness the outcome. He pushed off from his hiding spot, accelerating away from the scene. He didn't want anyone connecting him to what had just occurred. To all observers, it would appear to be nothing more than a tragic equipment malfunction.
The wind whipped past him as he picked up speed, leaving behind the battlefield. His senses stretched out as he searched for any sign of Kaine's anti-magnetic aura. The two Spider-Men had gained significant ground during his brief confrontation with Osborn, but he was determined to catch up. As he flew south, Tyson snorted derisively.
"I'm here to help my ass," he mumbled under his breath. "No redemption arc for you, Norman."