Danny continued his exploration of the strange, utopian New York. The city was peaceful, almost too peaceful, and despite the odd calm, Danny couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. His Spider-Sense wasn’t tingling, but he couldn’t ignore the feeling that something wasn’t right.

His thoughts were interrupted when the communicator Anansi gave him buzzed softly. Danny pulled it out and saw a faint signal coming from it. The signal wasn’t strong, but it was enough to catch his attention.

Without hesitating, Danny shot a webline and swung toward the signal. The closer he got, the more intense his unease became, even if his Spider-Sense wasn’t reacting. Something was happening, and he needed to be there.

As Danny approached the SuperMax Prison, he could hear the distant sounds of a battle. He quickly made his way inside, following the sounds of the struggle.

And there it was, he saw Fisk battling, someone bonded with Symbiote. Danny was frozen with fear. He had been bonded to the symbiote before, and it was not a good experience. His heart pounded in his chest, and he started breathing heavily. Seeing that ugly writhing goo again only brought back memories he had really wanted to forget.

Without thinking, he zipped up to the ceiling, and pulled out his communicator. “Sam, wherever you are, I need you to get to the prison. NOW! IT’S SERIOUS!” His breathing only got heavier, and he could feel the onset of a panic attack. “Not again… not again…” Danny whispered to himself. His heart was beating faster now. Like it was about to burst out of his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut to block out the sight, but that didn’t help at all. He could still hear the sounds of the battle below, and the impossible to miss wet slithering sounds of the symbiote. He knew he needed to get down there and help, but his body wouldn’t move.

---

Listening to them catch up, Alexander nodded where appropriate. Of course Danny survived and was with MJ, or at least the male twin apparently. Clearly Liz seemed unsure about, but wouldn’t have to wait for, Caty’s response. She was real cool about it. Better than Xander, that much was for sure…Although when it came to the existence of this Peter Parker, something told him that the name would be important to remember. Which, again, was followed by the universe’s swift answer.

Xander’s senses were highly attuned as a spider-mutant, and honed by his uncle, the master of kung fu. It was very difficult to sneak up on him, which made it rather shocking when it was his spider-sense that alerted him to the other’s presence. This other, that seemed to be a version of Peter Parker, left no doubt as being an enemy spider-totem. He exhaled, tempering his spirit for battle.

Grimacing somewhat as eight claws extended from his balled fists, the Tarantula stared him down.

“Well well, looks like Anansi sent one after my own heart. Never got to kill a Spiderine before.” Were his sneered words as he flipped into a three-point landing before the trio. ”I’ll hang your claws on my wall.”

The martial artist kept his composure in the face of such a threat, and was careful not to take an eye off of him. At the same time though, his peripheral focus kept on Caty and Liz to see how they wanted to handle this. While he never backed down from a fight, he had no idea what this guy was capable of. And if his spider-sense was anything to go by, the wrong move could have devastating consequences.

Liz was frozen in shock. This wasn't the Peter she knew. She couldn't imagine any version of Peter turning out like this. Just what happened to him? Every time she thought about making a move her spider-senses activated letting her know that the move she was going to make would end in certain death for her. Just what kind of monster was he?

Caty's experience as both a martial artist and hero let her know that the Spider-Man in front of them wasn't something to mess with, but she couldn't imagine they'd be able to escape without at least putting up some kind of fight. She trusted her and Xander's skills as martial artists, but wasn't sure how skilled Spider-Liz was.

“I'm sorry, but your trophy hunting days are over.” Caty said confidently, putting Liz at ease. She charged forward as if she were foolishly aiming for a straightforward punch, but before she was close enough to connect she extended her fingers a little more to press down on her web-shooters releasing a string of web at his face.

Without hesitation he grabbed the web and wagged his finger disappointingly at her. “Seriously?” He asked while pulling the web and her towards him and punching her with his free fist.

Caty was sent flying backwards but was caught by Spider-Liz. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah…” Caty said, getting to her feet. “But now I know what it's like getting hit by me.”

The Assassin stepped forwards, turning his gaze to Xander. “I hope you're better than your friends over there or this will get boring fast.”

Xander looked over at Caty to make sure she wasn’t rocked too badly by that punch. Clearly this opposing spider knew the talking tricks that Caty and Danny employed often…Perhaps that was a main aspect of Spider-folk…As well as the use of spider-sense. In which case, they’d have to rely on their limited experience fighting other spiders, namely their training sessions and, for Xander, that scuffle he had with symbiote Danny.

This first attempt was to throw off the spider sense’s direction. So, Xan lifted a table from a nearby restaurant and threw the topside first directly at this Assassin Spider-Man. Throwing it this way limited visibility for a second, and Xan took the opportunity to run after it. Although he was fully prepared to kick through the table if he had to, the wooden table exploded into splinters after what sounded like a gunshot.

When visual contact returned, the Assassin had two fingers pointed at where the table was, almost as if— Xander’s own spider-sense warned him, but instead of dodging, he used a more precise kick to his opponent’s arm. It was just in time to knock the aim away from his friends as a second shot went off. So instead of web-shooters, they were bullet-slingers…That was concerning.

A small close quarters exchange of blows and blocks ensued, with neither quite getting the upper hand.

It ended with the Assassin going for a punch that Xander caught at the wrist to stop another shot from firing. At the same time, Xander threw a faked head kick that the Assassin still caught at the ankle, locking them in place for a moment. While there was a moment or two of struggle, Xander grit his teeth. From out of his ankle, spikes shot out and through the Assassin spider’s hand. After a grunt of pain, the Assassin threw a kick at Xander’s chest to make some space.

Just about to go on the offensive, his hand, shortly followed by his kicking foot were met with a disorienting tingling. A sort of numbness seemed to take them over momentarily as they’d come into contact with Spiderine’s tarantula spines. The Assassin shook his hand to wake it up.

“So you got some tricks up your sleeve…I like that.”

“And he's not the only one.” Caty said, attempting to distract him.

Assassin Spider turned his attention to Spider-Woman, but noticed that Liz was nowhere to be found. It was then that his spider-senses alerted him to a presence behind him, but it was too late. Liz's camouflaged arms wrapped around his neck to hold him in a chokehold before she revealed herself.

He aimed his fingers at her and attempted to shoot his bullet-slingers, but found they were jammed by something. Several spiders exited his devices giving him the answer to his query.

He laughed. “Invisibility and control of spiders. Anansi really doesn't play fair. He really does hate us Peters.”

Liz pressed down harder on his throat attempting to cut off his air. She knew with someone like him you couldn't take chances. He already showed he was willing to kill them. But it felt strange. She didn't want to do this. This was Peter after all. Not her Peter, but a Peter. She didn't know what happened that turned him into this, but she still felt for him.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Caty said, approaching him. “Anansi doesn't hate you. He's trying to stop you, but he never told us to kill you. If you're a spider-totem it means you're a hero, too. And if you think you're the only one who's lost someone or killed someone, get in line. I lost my dad and my girlfriend.” She looked at Liz as she said this. “I killed my father's killer and wanted to kill hers. But I didn't. I realized these powers were meant for more. That I couldn't let them or my anger, guilt or grief control me. You don't have to either. You can stop this.”

Assassin Spider-Man laughed horsely. Liz loosened her grip just a bit for him to talk. “You really drank that fool's kool-aid. Don't you see? Why is it that we have to suffer? So others don't? It stops nothing. We're targeted. Time and time again when we get close to people they get caught in the crossfire of this war that'll never end. Because we're all just playthings!” He flipped Liz over slamming her back to the ground. He then lifted his foot to stomp down on her.

“No. Not again. I won't lose her again!” Caty shot a web from both of her wrists. One latched onto Assassin Spider's numbed leg, allowing her to sweep him off his feet and onto his back. The other was caught by Liz, allowing her to be pulled towards Caty and Xander.

Caty then shot another web towards a nearby lamppost attaching it to the one she shot at the Assassin. She yelled up to the skies, “Anansi get us out of here now!”

“What about your brother and Peter?” Liz asked.

Assassin Spider-Man started to recover and was beginning to tear away at the web.

“They'll be fine.” She hoped. “He wants us, not them.”

Suddenly a portal opened underneath Caty, Xander, and Liz dropping them back into the Web of Life and Destiny where Anansi greeted them with a smile.

“The first ones back! I see it was a success!”

Xander had been ready to get back into the fray but the portal came and whisked them away. So…wait, all they had to do was ask and at a minute’s notice, Anansi could snatch them up?

“What the hell? If you can do that, couldn’t you just grab up these other spider-folks whenever you wanted? What’s the point of sending us in there then…? What stops you from snatching up the bad spiders and keepin them here? It’s not like you got a door to this place.”

Anansi frowned at the series of questions. “Look at how you all handled being randomly snatched up in a portal and told your lives were in danger. The people you're recruiting or warning don't want to leave their homes, like you didn't. But the message would be better coming from one of them, than the god that's responsible for it all. And would you invite the people who want to kill you to your home? Imprisoning them would only justify their anger and they're way too smart to stay trapped forever. Any more questions?”

“Yeah, just one. Who the Hell is Peter Parker?” Caty asked.

Anansi looked down with a hint of sadness before looking up ready to answer. “He's the best of the best. The true Spider-Man. He's iconic. Most totems are alternate versions of him. That's how heroic he is. Or at least how heroic he's supposed to be. But the ones you're facing, they hate me and the lives of trials and tribulations they've been forced to live. They blame me, but I don't control everything. I'm not The One Above All.”

“Who?” Spider-Liz asked. This was her first time dealing with any of this. She couldn't believe she was in the middle of a giant web that connected different universes.

“The True Supreme Being of the Multiverse. On a comparative scale that you humans would understand. I'm basically middle management.” Anansi answered a bit annoyed at his low ranking.

Xander was lost in the middle of all this multiverse stuff. So in this whole thing, this Peter Parker guy, who didn’t even exist in his and Caty’s universe, was the “True Spider-Man”. So if he’s where the idea came from, why didn’t their universe have a Parker? Then there was this One Above All stuff…which sounded like a bible description? So if that guy was ‘actual god’ then what was— Anansi answered that much. Middle management, so he wasn’t as powerful as his fancy title made it out to be. Instead of the spider-god, he was more like the spider bus driver.

“Fine. What’s the next move…?”

“We wait.” Anansi answered, simply.

An alternate dimension. Through great detective prowess, located the enemy Totem.

---

Oliver gives Spider-Connors (he really needed to ask his Superhero name..) a 'kinda-sorta' gesture. Clearly not as convinced as he was that Anansi would keep things under control in their main timeline. After fighting the Human Fly, he was pretty confident there was no oversight in their main timeline. Seriously. That was.. traumatizing. He could stomach mobsters and mad scientists, but seeing the eating habits of a fly but, y'know, human-sized.. If it weren't for the feeling of responsibility that would have made him consider changing careers. "I'm not putting any money on it, but here's hoping he decides to be a merciful deity and keeps our New York from falling to pieces while we're gone."

Intending on picking Otto's brain about his Spider-Bots a little more, Oliver turns to find him.. totally missing. His Spidey-sense was blaring, but too late. Someone had already slammed right into him. And given he hadn't heard any mechanical wings- it probably wasn't this world's Vulture. Spider-Totem? Quickly, he was able to confirm that yep, it was. And he seemed pissed- and seemed to know Arachnid.. Or at least a version of Arachnid. "Oh boy.. Here we go." With a breath to steel himself, Oliver swings into action.

Chasing after the Spider who attacked Arachnid, Oliver lets loose a couple web shots, aiming to connect them with their enemy's feet to leave him glued up in place. Success or fail, he yanks on his swinging line to gain enough oomph to flip over and land in a crouch next to the Arachnid, to show his solidarity. To his discomfort, his Spidey Sense had yet to stop going off.. This guy was dangerous.

"See, these types of collisions are why we gotta start considering air traffic while swinging. It's just not safe in the Manhattan Skyline anymore. Anyways, how about we exchange numbers, call our insurance, and call it a day?" Was he using comedy to deflect from his nerves? Yeah. Did he expect it to actually reduce this spider's hostility? No. But he was gonna try anyway, juuust in case at some point in his life his luck went from terri-bad to decent. You never knew.

Otto couldn't believe what was happening. The most shocking part of the ordeal was this Spider-Man's bizarre question. Steal his body? Again? Just what kind of weird and psychotic villain was he in another universe? He guessed he wasn't all too different in his universe. He didn't steal a body, but he did steal some DNA. "I think you have me mistaken with someone else. I'd never steal someone's body. I love mine. But I am Otto, just a heroic one."

Spider-Man wasn't entirely convinced. His Spidey Sense alerted him to the incoming webs. He lifted his feet at the right time to avoid them before dropping his feet and standing on them like a real spider. He looked at the incoming Spider-Man. He had to admit he was rather impressed with his costume. His jokes could use some work, but it reminded him of when he used to throw quips at his enemies to get through his battles.

"I agree with my friend here." A familiar voice said landing behind Spider-Man. "We don't want to turn this into a fight. Let's just cool off and talk about getting you out of my universe?"

The eyes on Spider-Man's mask widened at the voice. He turned around pulling his mask off. "Doc?"

"P...Peter?" Connors couldn't believe it. In his universe Peter was one of his lab assistants along with Oliver. An accident turned him into the Lizard and he was killed. Why was the multiverse so cruel? Why would it continue to curse the man that is Peter Parker?

Peter was starting to feel conflicted. Doc Connors was alive, happy, and the Spider-Man of this universe. He was starting to recall his own, how much he fought to save the man inside the monster. He knew the good doctor's moral code. If he were a hero here there wa no way he'd join their plan and he couldn't bring himself to kill him. "It's really good to see you, Doc. I'm sorry I turned out this way. Please don't join their cause. I can't guarantee they'll spare you."

Spider-Man pressed the spider on his chest and a portal opened up beneath him.

"Wait!" The Emerald Spider yelled, but it was too late. Once again Peter Parker was gone.

Danny’s heart continued to race, his body still trembling from the overwhelming fear that had gripped him. He couldn’t help but glance at the communicator again, hoping—praying—for a response from Sam. But the silence from the other end only filled him with more dread.

Sam’s taking too long… Danny thought, panicking once again. I can’t wait. Fisk doesn’t have time.

He looked down at Fisk, who was struggling beneath the symbiote’s attack. Fisk, who had been nothing but a juggernaut of a man, was now being overpowered by that thing… The black tendrils constricting around him tighter and tighter.

Everything inside Danny told him to run. To escape while he still could. But he couldn’t let that thing have it’s way with Fisk.

He swallowed hard, forcing his legs to move forward. The memories of his own time bonded with the symbiote replaying in his mins, but he couldn’t let them stop him. Fisk was fighting, and so would he.

“Alright… alright, you can do this.” Danny whispered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. He racked his brain for a plan. He wished he had a sonic disruptor handy, but he wasn’t prepared to be fighting symbiotes today…

“Alright, listen up, you ugly lump of goo!” Danny called out, hoping to distract the symbiote. His voice cracked slightly, but he pushed forward. “You want a fight? Take me on!”