Play Testers Wanted Pt. 12

"Fate sent me," I stated, and she wasn't expecting that.

"Fate." She frowned. "Why is she interfering?" And my thoughts went directly to Istus, the Colorless goddess. "Ha! She wants it back does she, well she isn't going to get it!"

"Get it, get what?" I asked as she turned hostile.

Her lovely form vanished in an instant and I was forced to backflip away or be crushed by her gigantic spider form. Her plated exoskeleton looked tougher than ever. As I feared there was no sign of our previous conflict she was once more at full strength. The enticement was just a delay so she could regenerate. Instead of flinging out webbing this time her abdomen glowed with that sickly green illumination.

"Come on and embrace me Ghost man," she purred. I activated both blades and went on the offensive. While she seemed to be able to track the black blade the Ghostfire eluded her detection and bit deep. She in turn lashed out with an area effect poison attack. It was strong enough to stagger me and allow her the chance to close in for a bite. I eluded it if barely and her drool marked my arm where she had tried to bite it off. I activated the plasma projector and locked on as we attacked, dodged, and adjusted our strategies on the fly. She was doing more damage with her poison attack than with actual combat. I was gaining some measure of health back when the black blade struck and fed from her.

"What great treasure are you hiding?" I asked as I launched a five hit combo that gave me back a nice chunk of life back.

"The Loom, and it isn't for the likes of you!" She shrieked. The next poison blast had a different feel to it. I felt my limbs stiffen as I fought off the effects of a paralytic attack.

"Nice try," I said and discharged the shoulder mounted plasma cannon. She let out cry of pain when the blast took out one of her glaring multifaceted eyes. So, enraged in her pain she launched herself off the pinnacle into the abyss. At first, I thought she was robbing me of victory until I saw that she had anchored a tow line to the side of the pillar. The line vanished into the depths. I was about to cut it when I spied a second line and at the end of that one the last boss chest. The line looked frayed and if I tried pulling it up surely it would fall into the depths. I saw only one way of getting it. I attached the Darksaber to my hip and dove off the pinnacle. I impacted the chest, clutched it tight, and curled into a fetal position. I felt the transition between one realm and another. Had I entered the Loom? I tried and succeeded in forming a sphere-shaped shield around me. I had nearly finished looting the chest when I spied the ground or what passed for ground.

I struck the floor of the Loom. It had a spongey consistency and absorbed my impact quite nicely. I felt an intense burning sensation in my lower abdomen and cried out. I lay immobile and gasping for breath.

"Damn that hurts!" I cried through gritted teeth. I couldn't take it any longer. I sent my armor back and lay naked on that unnatural surface. I blinked away the tears and stared at the spot just below my belly button. "What the hell is that?" I cursed seeing the stylized crimson hourglass design framed with a black border. Then there she was, the spider queen in all her dark glory. She strode out of the darkness larger and more hideous than before. "I'm fucked." She walked right past me like I wasn't there. Naked and vulnerable I slowly sat up as she and a host of her brood strode towards the center of the Loom. A soft ruddy glow began to pulse from the hourglass. It grew brighter and the color cleaner with each moment.

"Lay still champion," Istus whispered as the nightmare realm of the Loom changed. The hanging cocoons were gone and in their place crystal chandeliers. The killing ground of a spider's lair was now a grand palace of light, shadow, and darkness. "Better, don't you think?"

"Yes goddess," I replied. "What is this mark?"

"What does it look like?" Istus asked in response.

"The mark of a black widow," I said, and she shook her head. I looked again. The black lines of the hourglass were more intricate, and I saw it as an X, no it was a Roman numeral ten. "Ten?"

"Yes, my champion, a ten or more precisely a decade, a Black Decade." She crooned happily. "Now champion, let me show you how to use the Loom and the Webway that is attached to it."

"It feels familiar," I said as the last of the pain receded and I got to my feet.

"As it should, you've encountered the Ia' Kandri and the Great Machine. The Webway is a road where all those shortcuts come in handy. Watch and learn." She purred as she added the Loom to her realm and grew stronger from it. She was the goddess of time and space after all. I placed my armor back on and followed her to the heart of the Loom. Istus found the center and stood there taking in its essence. I waited patiently as she made her claim official.

"What is a Black Decade?" I asked once she was the Mistress of the Loom.

"It is a title from an ancient time. It marks you as my champion to others that might challenge you in or around the Webway. It is a great honor to be a member of that elite group. Now, bear witness to the Loom and beyond the Webway."

I stood as she opened my mind to the intricacies of this new manner of long-distance travel. She touched the gem the Ia' Kandri had given me and activated it full potential. Instead of having to happen upon the shortcuts I could now teleport directly to them and use them to slip passed guardians and watchdogs like Heimdall of Asgard. I thanked her for her gift and grew restless to catch up with Steph.

'Title Earned: Master of the Black Decade. Bonus Earned: Advanced Plasma Caster Schematic. Bonus Earned: Smart Disc Schematic.'

Troubles and Tribulations:

I stepped out of the Webway. I exited it into the alley next to the Baxter Building the same portal I had first used to reach Ossus and my training with Ventress. A moment later my commlink burst into activity. I adopted my mundane shape and street clothes. I walked down the alley and through its overwhelming stench. What the hell man?! Reaching the street was little better. The street stunk to high heaven. I reached out and found Steph's mind. I psychically knocked and her relief was reassuring.

"You are safe!" She sent and a moment later a portal opened, and she rushed out and hugged me.

"Hey, I got you." I said as I held her close. "What is going on?"

"Let me show you," as she gestured at the portal altering its destination. "Hold your breath."

The portal deposited us atop a warehouse looking out over New York Harbor. She was right, the stench was far worse here and its source was clear. The towering piles of garbage lined every inch of land that bordered the water. There must be trillions of tons of filth, plastic, and miscellaneous shit that had been deposited there. I tracked the heaps of trash for miles and as far as I could see.

"It is everywhere." Steph explained. "It isn't just New York, or just the Eastern Seaboard, it is the entire planet. Wherever there is a coastline there is garbage deposited by some unseen force from the ocean."

"Atlantis... did Namor do this? Can he do something like this?" I asked.

"Officially no," She said. "Unofficially he has allies that leant their power to his."

"I take it putting it back isn't an option." I said and she just shrugged.

"Stark is working on a solution," Steph explained.

"Correction!" Toni said from above us. "Stark has a solution. Watch and hope."

The crimson suit flew over one block of garbage leaving a trail of glittering fog. The cloud drifted down and covered the filth. Nothing happened at first.

"Work... damn you!" Toni cursed as she urged her solution to break down the garbage. "Yes!" She whooped. "Let 'er rip Fury! It works."

Six helicarriers appeared on the horizon from the direction of Avenger Tower. They split up and launched waves of aircraft. Those aircraft sprayed the coastline. Toni transmitted her success to the World Council, and they did the heavy lifting. They established the Phoenix Protocol. It took on the immediate problem of removing the existing garbage and initiate long term plans for processing and recycling all future waste. It was something that could no longer be ignored. It reminded me of comics when they first introduced Namor of Atlantis. I wondered if someone at Numenor was not so subtly hinting at ecological issues that needed to be attended to in the real world. Toni landed next to us and with a sweeping gesture that she had this in hand with help from several heavy hitting organizations worldwide.

"I look on this as a good thing," Toni stated quite seriously.

"You don't have to smell this," Steph laughed.

"Oh yeah, air filtration," Toni giggled. "Where have you been Ghost?"

"Looking for a solution to those," I said pointing at the six icebergs dominating the harbor.

"Good, what are they?" Toni asked and I explained.

"My best guess is that they are powerful minions of the Many Angled Ones." I said and felt Steph shiver. "Yeah. I fear a major crossover event is on the horizon."

"The box?" Steph asked.

"No clue what was inside, but I have the means for making Elder Signs. It should help us keep those things under control I hope." I shrugged. "I can't make guarantees."

"We can only do our best," Toni offered, and Steph agreed. "Speaking of, I have a world to clean up. I'll be in touch." She flew off and landed on a nearby helicarrier.

"I'm starved, how about dinner?" I asked and Steph offered me her neck. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her neck.

"You are... warm... oh my god! You are cured!" She said blinking away tears of joy. The kiss was breathtaking and left us both hungry for more. My stomach rumbled and she laughed. "Well let's get you fed and then we'll celebrate. Maybe something exotic?" Steph offered.

"Did someone mention me?" Shuri's voice came over my commlink.

"Princess? We didn't mention you by name." I stated and she purred.

"Ghost man! I must explain to your fine self. You remember that elegant piece of software I wrote to alert me when someone spoke my name. I found out that I was being spoken of but not directly. So, when other specific words are spoken aloud, I will know. They include 'fine', 'ass', 'exotic', 'perfection', and others. My humble self has a personal chef here at the embassy if you so choose to visit me." Shuri explained and I fought the urge to laugh. "Oh, you can bring Strange with you, if you want."

"You are very generous," I replied, and Steph glared at me playfully. "We'll be right over."

"You or me?" Steph offered.

"Let me," I said as I placed my hand on her shoulder. I was shocked that when I reached out for the Wakandan Embassy I found it instantly. There was no delay between wishing to be there and folding space to my whim. "Here we are."

"How? I felt something but what was that?" Steph asked as we approached the front gate of the embassy.

"I have honed my ability to fold time/space." I explained.

"Whoa," she exclaimed, and I saw a glint of childlike joy. "Life is always full of surprises."

The embassy guards were expecting us. We were escorted to the front door where Shuri waited for us. The princess was dressed in tight jeans, a bright blue silk blouse, and her ever present bracelet. She informed us that her brother was otherwise occupied. For the Black Panther that could be anything from combatting villains or perhaps dealing with the trash situation. Shuri leapt into my arms and hugged me. I hugged her back and she gasped.

"Ghost man, grabbing my ass like that!" She cried out in shock.

"I didn't grab your ass Princess." I replied.

"I know. What the hell is wrong with you?!" She purred and we all laughed. "Come on you two, my chef is waiting for us."

She led us to a private dining area. It was small and intimate compared to some of the larger rooms where parties were held for diplomats and politicians. Instead of a single chef there were in fact three chefs at work on our meal. Conversation turned to the spectacular event that had changed the world. One morning every inch of coastline was covered in garbage from the ocean. Shuri, Toni, Susan, and other brilliant minds went on the attack. Wakanda had long ago solved its recycling issues. With this event they decided to share the tech with the rest of the world. It was a part of their ongoing program of sharing their advanced society.

"Morning..." T'Challa mumbled as he stumbled into the room wearing a dark loin cloth, a layer of gleaming sweat, and a smile. "Afternoon... aw hell..." He mumbled as he smacked his lips together. "My mouth is dry." I handed him a glass of water. "Thanks." He said when I reached out and plucked a long red hair from his shoulder.

"I see our guest is still here." Shuri giggled. "It would take an Asgardian to wear out the Black Panther."

"Indeed," T'Challa agreed. "She is a force of nature." Angela, Thor's sister, strode into the room like a conquering heroine. Like T'Challa she was covered in sweat and other stains I suspected were other bodily fluids. She wore a bed sheet awkwardly wrapped around her curvaceous form.

"Looking good Angela," I remarked, and she laughed.

"Of course, I do," Angela declared cupping her ample tits. "Ghost, it is good to see you."

"Back off she-devil," Shuri snapped. "I let you bed my brother..."

"Let?" T'Challa murmured. "Am I a mere man whore to be passed around like a party favor?"

"No," Shuri said. "You are far too picky for that." She continued and we all chuckled as food was brought out. Conversation died as we ate and munched happily. I didn't miss that the sheet Angela was wearing fell open a bit more as the meal progressed. "You! Strumpet! Collect yourself, your mountainous tits are spilling out!"

"Jealous?" Angela fired off as she thrust her chest out and the silk sheet was unable to keep her cleavage in check.

"Not in your wildest dreams," Shuri declared. "My ass trumps your meager breasts."

"You just called them perfect," the redhead fired back.

"Mountainous is hardly perfect," the princess snarled.

"Ask his cock when it is trapped between them poor little princess," Angela teased.

"And you wondered why I wanted to go to a diner." Steph finally spoke out.

"I am going back to bed, thanks for the meal." T'Challa escaped before I could utter a single syllable.

"Well Ghost man," Shuri said still standing with hands on her luscious hips. "You are awful silent."

"Silence is the domain of the wise man," I said, and Steph called bullshit. "If and I am saying if Shuri's ass is geometrically perfect, I would be unkind to perfection. If I were to say that Angela's breasts were shaped in the way only the divine can manifest. I fear the taste of them would haunt me in the afterlife."

They both smiled and then Steph glared at me. "Have a care you silver tongued devil." Steph purred.

"In that case... if I were to say that no one sucks cock like the Sorceress Supreme. I would be failing her ability to please immensely." I tried and she nodded approvingly.

"So, what good is my ass then?" Shuri growled. I touched her thoughts and sent her some images. "Ghost man you pervert you! MMMMM!! Pile on!!"

"Stand back!" Steph cried out and I sensed it too. A portal opened in the ceiling and a naked figure fell through it and crashed into the table with enough force to break it in half. I lifted the shattered wood off the figure. "Loki?!" Steph growled and began making arcane gestures.

"She's unconscious," I said as I scooped the Asgardian into my arms. "Room?"

"This way," Shuri said clearly pissed off at being interrupted. "She is covered in frost."

"Yeah, I noticed that," I added seeing Loki's nipples, lips, and skin had a decidedly blue tinge to them. "Think she escaped the realm of the frost giants?"

"Jotunheim," Angela stated. "It is possible. I wonder what mischief she was up to this time?"

I tucked Loki under warm covers and sat by her side. Shuri left for a short period of time and returned with a portable medical kit. She went to work cursing under her breath the entire time. "Asgardian whore... look at you... spikey blue nipples... she's alive... if she were human, she'd be dead. Her core temperature is only forty degrees Fahrenheit. She must have ice in her veins. You Asgardians are a sturdy lot." She said addressing Angela.

"That is why your brother enjoys my company so much," Angela laughed. "He fucks like an Asgardian."

"Yikes woman," Shuri hollered. "He is my brother so keep the details to yourself."

"If you were one of my people you'd rejoice at his accomplishments. Take Ghost man, he is a heroic slayer of women. Aren't you lover?"

"I do okay," I laughed.

"Okay?" Steph fired back. "You've fucked every woman in this room."

"Ghost?" Loki murmured in her sleep.

"You see," Angela stated and pointed. "Even unconscious she senses his sexual power."

"Her core temp is rising," Shuri informed us. "She's going into heat."

"I have that effect on women," I said as I placed my hand on her ass.

"My core temp is rising now," Shuri purred. Loki's eyes snapped open and she screamed. Shuri followed with a string of curses.

"Calm yourself," I ordered using Kaia-Jutsu. Loki and Shuri responded to it. Loki's eyes were still open, but she stopped her ear-splitting cry. Shuri on the other hand had a mild climax and leaned against me. "What was so important you fell from the ceiling Loki?"

"Escape." She whispered. "Had to escape. Had to warn Ghost... you about them."

"Them?" I asked as Shuri stiffened seeing the expression on Loki's face. "What did you do Loki?"

"She was so damn cute," Loki purred. "Long white hair, like spun platinum, eyes like sapphires, and a body like a succubus." She paused as she licked her lips. "It was just a bit of mischief, that is my domain, and what was the harm."

"What did you do Loki?" Angela asked this time.

"We snuck into the vault," Loki admitted. "It was supposed to be just a quick peek. I had no idea how dangerous she was. She took it, she took the Casket of Ancient Winters!!"

"No fucking way, first Bobby Drake and now this. This isn't a coincidence." I snapped. "Someone or something is collecting ice magic or abilities. The question is why?"

"Could it be connected to the ice burgs?" Steph asked. "Maybe the Many Angled Ones are at work?"

"I need to fashion at least one Elder Sign then. Sorry ladies, I need to go." I informed them.

"If there is fashioning to be done, you will do it here, in my lab." Shuri demanded. "I will help you if I can."

"We will help him," Steph added.

"I have a book of sorts that will impart what you need to know." I stated as I found a patch of laboratory floor to inscribe the reading circle for Steph.

"What is that? Those appear to be Elder runes. They are, aren't they. You've been busy." She said the excitement building. I took out the pyramid 'book' and let her examine it. "Where did you get this?"

"From them, the Elder Things, I spent a few weeks there or was it months. I lost track of time." I said and explained how the book worked.

"You charmed them out of a book?" She asked and I shook my head.

"No, I had to take out a rogue Shoggoth and I got the book in payment," I explained.

"Shoggoth?" Angela asked when conflict was mentioned.

"An almost indestructible blob of plastic flesh the size of a frost giant." I explained as I examined and reexamined the spell circle for flaws.

"We must go hunting these Shoggoth! They will sing songs of our bravery and skill for generations!" Angela shouted.

"First things first," I stated as I handed the pyramid to Steph. I showed her how to open it and what to expect. "Now into the circle and I'll charge it for you." The Sorceress Supreme entered the mystic circle and held the book near her chest and hesitated. I sent raw magical energy into the circle's heart rune and set it ablaze.