Ranma 1/2 used without permission Spiderman used without permission C&C is, as always, welcome and appreciated Amazing Spiderman Issue 4: Raising the Stakes ================================== "It's all set, Mr. Leung," Wu Long said as he stood in the Kingpin's spacious office. Long, who often went by the handle of Fixer, was Leung's most trusted lieutenant. The two had met in 1990, when Leung was making a play for control of Hong Kong's drug trade. The young, athletic man with shoulder-length black hair and a stony expression had proven invaluable in Leung's successful grab, and in many other operations since. "We make the pickup in exactly ten hours at Pier 47 at the Tokyo Bay." "Excellent," Leung replied, "You have come through for me yet again, my friend." "Of course, sir," Long said in his usual formal tone. Leung stared at him for a moment, the bright morning sun from outside spilling across the carpeted floor and Long's coal black Armani suit. Not for the first time, Leung wondered just what was going through his lieutenant's mind. "Is there anything else you require?" "Not at the moment, no," Leung said as he swiveled his chair away from Long. "Then I will leave and prepare the monthly reports. Good day, sir," Long said. Leung could scarecly hear his footfalls on the soft carpeting as he strode toward the door. The sound of the door opening then closing reached his ears as Long left the office. While Leung trusted Wu Long, that trust only went so far. Long had shown no signs over the years of even thinking about betrayal, but that meant little. Wu Long was one of a very small group of people in the Triad and other organizations whom Leung couldn't read into at all. In many ways, that fact had him concerned. Leung dismissed those thoughts. After the way Leung helped him, by taking a lowly street hustler and giving the talented young man something to look forward to aside from life in the gutter, Wu Long would not betray him. Leung was certain of Long's loyalty, the fixer having proved it many times over. Instead, he turned his thoughts again to the mysterious Spiderman. Who was he? Where did he come from? Was he a threat? On an almost instinctive level, Leung knew that the red-suited Tarzan wannabe would be trouble. The Kingpin turned his chair toward the picture window overlooking the Tokyo skyline. Things were proceeding exactly as they should. =================================== Today's the day! Gosunkugi excitedly thought as he stood by the main gate of Furinkan High. The money from the pictures he'd sold was almost literally burning a hole in his pocket, and he couldn't wait to spend it on a date with Akane. The thought that she may refuse had, oddly enough, not crossed his mind. For once, Hikaru Gosunkugi wasn't thinking pessimistically. Ever since aquriring his powers, his thoughts had been quite positive. There she is! Akane Tendo strode out of the doors, the sun casting an almost heavenly glow about her. Her bob of black hair shone in the light of Earth's star, forming a faint halo. Gosunkugi's pulse picked up dramatically as she moved toward him, Ranma notably absent. His being gone was all the better for Gosunkugi, who wanted to avoid a fight for now. The other students in the sea of people rushed past unnoticed by Gosunkugi, his eyes locked solely on Akane. So far as he was concerned, she was the only other human in existence. Okay, Hikaru, He thought to himself as she grew ever nearer, steady boy. You can do this, no sweat. Finally, Akane arrived within earshot of Gosunkugi. Gathering his resolve, he spoke. "Hey, Akane," he said, doing his best to keep his voice level and steady. She stopped at the sound of his voice, her lovely brown eyes casting their gaze over the small man. "Hi," Akane said, a curious expression crossing her features. She was surprised that Gosunkugi was actually talking to her. He more often than not kept to himself, not talking to anyone that she knew of. "Hey, listen, I just wanted to... well... that is..." Gosunkugi stammered. His resolve, so strong only seconds before, had vanished like a fart in the wind. "Yes?" Akane asked, wondering just what Gosunkugi wanted. "I mean.. would..." "Hey, Akane!" shouted a female voice from the crowd. "Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" "Okay!" she shouted, turning her head toward the source. "I gotta go, Hikaru. Bye." With that, Akane vanished into the stream of bodies, leaving Gosunkugi alone. He simply stood there motionless as Furinkan's student body poured out the gates, leaving him solitary in a matter of minutes. Without thinking, Gosunkugi's right hand lashed out at the stone surface. Confused and frustrated, he stalked off in the direction of home, not noticing the web of fine crackes his erstwhile fist left in the wall. =================================== Kenji Matsuhara cradled each case in his arms, their bulk proving slightly awkward. He cast his anxious gaze in all directions, struggling to find any evidence of someone spotting him. He could not afford to screw this up, not with what Leung was willing to pay for them. The request, demand really, had been simple. Get the cases at any cost. Nothing else mattered. Okay, so Dr. Sanzaki would be pissed once he found out how he had been betrayed. Yes, the university's recombinant genetics research would likely be halted. But, Kenji Matsuhara WOULD get paid. =================================== What happened!? Gosunkugi raved silently as he stood in his darkened bedroom. His bag and uniform lay haphazardly on the small bed, the shades on the lone window drawn. Gosunkugi couldn't believe how badly he had bombed. He had everything he needed! Enough money for dinner at a nice restaurant, one of those sappy romantic movies that girls seemed to go nuts over, and enough to spare for any unforseen emergencies. Ranma had been absent and the home team had the ball. Instead, he had fumbled at the five yard line! Where had all his confidence gone? His resolve? His nerve? What went wrong? When crunch time came, Hikaru Gosunkugi had crumbled. Still fuming at himself, Gosunkugi pulled on the red leotard. Once the form fitting material adorned his body, he reached into his chest of drawers and removed the blue sleeveless sweater from beneath his folded boxers. Nobody would ever think to look there for a piece of his costume. The mask and gloves went on last, changing Hikaru Gosunkugi into the Amazing Spiderman. Snatching the camera from the top of his dresser, he slapped in a fresh roll of film. Some web-slinging might clear his head. However, he secretly hoped he would run into another guy like the one who attacked that woman in the alley last night. While swinging on webs may do him some good, what he really wanted was the chance to bust a few heads. ======================================== God, I hate this place, Kenji thought as he walked through the well-lit dockyard. The salty smell of the sea mixed with the overpowering reek of diesel fuel and exhaust, creating a noxious odor that seemed to permeate the air around him. He loved his job, however. Mr. Leung was a generous employer, and rewarded his employees for a job well done. The two briefcases he held in a death grip in both hands were surprisingly light for things that could bring so much power. Now that's weird, Gosunkugi thought as he perched atop one of the cylindrical metal buildings that dotted the dockyard at the Tokyo Bay. The sound of machinery filled the air, longshoremen manhandling crates off of ships and onto the backs of flatbed trucks and other transport vehicles. He had often come here when the pressures of the real world seemed too much to bear. True, the smell was awful and the noise just as bad, but the place seemed to calm him. He couldn't fathom why, but it did. Often, only huge, burly men in dingy work clothes would be found there. Not once did he see a man as small as the one who walked beneath him. He was clad in a charcoal gray three-piece suit, and walked as though he was quite nervous. The two black briefcases in his hands swayed gently as he moved, his shoulders hunched and tense. Wonder what he's carrying? The time Gosunkugi had spent swinging to the dock had left his muscles warm and limber, the concentration having cleared his mind a great deal. His gaze followed the stranger to a large metal building not far from where Gosunkugi perched, the glow from the bulb above the door garishly illuminating the immediate area. As the man approached, the door opened, revealing another in a coal black suit behind it. The two exchanged words that Gosunkugi couldn't hear before disappearing into the building. Now this looks interesting, he thought as he leapt to the next building ============================== "You have them," Fixer said in a voice like arctic ice. Kenji simply stood there mute, the presence of that cold bastard terrifying him. The lights in the room were dim, just enough to see by in the dusty confines of the storage facility. Shadows lurked in every corner and crevace, hiding more than the light revealed. The smell of the air outside seemed to seep into the space, mixing with the scent of dust to create an odor far short of pleasant. He could make out vague shapes in the background, crates of varying size resting on the hard concrete floor. Before him stood six other men, all dressed in the same manner as Fixer. They seemed to be carved out of stone, each one standing motionless, their faces cold masks of seeming indifference. Kenji knew better, however. Any one of them could have him dead in a second. "Yes," Kenji said in a weak voice. Trembling slightly, he took a step forward, bending at the waist and placing the black briefcases on the ground. "Both sets." Straightening, he stepped back as quickly as he could. What's going on? Gosunkugi thought as he clung upside down to the metal rafters. In the dim light, he saw seven men facing the nervous man who had placed the briefcases on the hard concrete floor. The voice of the man in the center of their ranks sent cold chills up Gosunkugi's spine, he had never heard a tone that cold. Pulling his camera free of the belt he wore beneath the leotard, he affixed it to the beam to which he was adhered. The light was adequate, and the angle was just right. If this was some big underworld deal, then the pictures would probably be worth a king's ransom. Especially when the Amazing Spiderman came by to bust it. Without warning, the tingling sensation hit him in the base of his skull, blaring that danger was just beyond the doorway. He cast his gaze to the plain brown door, wondering what had set that weird feeling off. The door burst inward, and all hell broke loose. Several men, clad in black three-piece suits, charged in through the doorway, each pulling weapons from their suits. The eight already in looked stunned for a second before leaping into action, each diving behind whatever cover they could find. THIS can't be good, he thought as the weapons were brought to bear. ===================================== "Get the cases!" Wu Long shouted as he brought his .45 caliber weapon to bear, raising just above the crate that sheltered him from the hail of bullets that was sure to begin. His gaze fell on the two briefcases that still rested where that worm Kenji had dropped them in his panic. Raising his head, he saw one of the intruders making a break for the cases. Wu Long raised his Smith & Wesson over the crate, simultaneously drawing a bead on the troublesome little punk. Without even a second thought, he squeezed the trigger. The gun jumped in his hand, the report sounding like little more than a polite cough through the suppressor affixed to the barrel. The round slammed into the interloper's skull, sending blood and brain matter out the other side as his body spun from the force of the impact. The dead man hit the ground in a boneless heap, knocking the twin briefcases over as he did. He didn't have time to wonder who they were, the sound of bullets screaming through the air forcing him back under cover. All that mattered now was survival. Discerning the identities of the ones behind this could come later. If there was a later. Gosunkugi remaind affixed to the rafter, unsure of what to do. One the one hand, he wanted to just leave the way he came. There was no sense in becoming a statistic. On the other hand, he also wanted to get down there and give the bad guys what for like they did in the movies. Whatever this was about, he knew it couldn't be good. The contents of the briefcase had to be something valuable for people to use guns to get it, in his opinion. His curiosity was definitely piqued, but he was also leaning toward just making a discrete exit and calling the police. This wasn't just a few bullies or a mugger, after all. Going down there could get him killed. As he was about to grab his camera and leave, he saw the small man who had brought the briefcases sneaking between some boxes. The muzzle flashes from the discharging firearms brightened the area in intermittent bursts as he darted in the shadows. The strange sense, which had been buzzing in the base of his skull throughout the duration of the battle, flared again, causing him to look behind the man. Another, his form barely visible in the deep patch of shadow, was aiming a large gun at the oblivious target. Deciding that he couldn't just let the poor guy get a slug in the back, Gosunkugi aimed his left arm at the man in the shadow. The thick stream of webbing shot out of the spinarette like a bullet, colliding with the aiming gunman and adhering him to the concrete floor. Okay, Gosunkugi thought, now I'm outta here. Before he could reach for his camera, the sense flared again, this time screaming danger aimed at him. Without thinking, he activated his camera and dropped from the rafter just as a bullet sparked off the metal. Shouts came from all directions about the strange intruder that was clinging to the cieling as he hit the ground and sought shelter. So they knew he was here. Gosunkugi was terrified, cringing behind the crate as stray bullets splintered the wood. Wu Long's face remained impassive as he darted from behind his ruined cover. Keeping low, he fired at two moving shapes, one screaming and falling as the bullet tore into him. While Long's face was calm, inside he was furious. The operation, which had taken months to plan and execute, had gone to hell in a handbasket in only a few short seconds. That spineless worm Kenji had disappeared, but that wasn't important. The briefcases were still out in the open, neither group willing to make a move toward it with all the flying lead in the air. He cast his eyes upward when shouts came of some man hanging from the rafters. His curious gaze soon beheld a slight man in a red suit dropping to the floor as a bullet ricocheted off his former perch. Spiderman?! he thought in surprise as he crouched in the small patch of shadow. What was he doing here? Was he working with the other group? Long forced his mind back to the task at hand: survival. Looking back to the cases, he gauged his chances of successfully reaching them and escaping with his hide. If he went out, he could get killed by either a stray bullet or a well-aimed shot. On the other hand, if he failed to get them, Leung WOULD have him dead. The Kingpin didn't tolerate failure. Screwing up his resolve, Wu Long darted out towards the toppled cases. Keeping as low as he could, his feet pounded the dusty concrete as he closed in on his target. He caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye as he ran, his brain identifying it as another running full- tilt to the same destination. Taking aim, Long silently cursed when his .45 dry-fired. He holstered the weapon while alterig his trajectory slightly, charging into the oncoming man. The two collided with bone-crunching force, hitting the ground hard enough to stun both men for a brief moment. Rising, Long met the oncoming rival with a quick strike to the stomach, which was blocked easily and countered with a left cross. Long ducked beneath the swing, and engaged his opponent full-on. Oh, I do NOT need this, Gosunkugi thought as he crouched behind a black shape for cover. The muffled reports of weapon fire was everywhere, fear driving him closer and closer to total panic. He'd never been in a gunfight before, and swore to whatever Kami were listening that he'd never get in another if he got out of this one alive. His sense flared again, Gosunkugi leaping backward almost on instinct as the bullet pocked the floor of the storage building. Landing in a crouch on the back wall, he fired a web at the source of the bullet. He heard a muffled grunt of surprise as the sticky substance rammed into him. That's IT! Gosunkugi thought as he leapt back into the rafters. His fear was rapidly giving way to anger, adrenaline singing through his veins as his confidence returned with a vengeance. Memories of being a nobody, pushed around relentlessy by everybody, came unbidden to his mind as his vision became tinged with red. I'm NOT that spineless wuss! he mentally screamed, I'm Hikaru Gosunkugi, the Spiderman! Growling softly beneath his red mask, Gosunkugi scanned the shadows below for the other shooters. His extra sense pointed him in their direction, the muzzle flashes providing even more information. Turning in the direction of the nearest two, he sprung off of the rafter, his body becoming a ballistic missle as he streaked through the darkness toward them. The two, who were re-loading their weapons, didn't notice him until it was too late. Before they could even make a sound, Gosunkugi's fists slammed into their faces sending them into the grip of unconsciousness. After securing them to the floor, he leapt in the direction his sense pointed him next. Where's the other one!? Wu Long thought angrily as he wrenched his knife free from his opponent's chest. The man in the black suit dropped to the floor, blood pouring from a myriad of wounds along with the fatal strike to the heart. One of the two briefcases was conspicously missing, its mate resting on its side on the floor. The sounds of muffled gunfire were absent as well, a fact that did not escape his notice. Looking to his left, Long's heart nearly leapt into his throat as he beheld a red-clad man with his back turned. His arms were in front, his head down as though he were examining something. This is my lucky day after all, Long thought as he placed a full clip home. Cocking the gun, he took careful aim at the mysterious Spiderman's back. Just put a bullet in him, and take back the case. Easy as pie. Uh oh, Gosunkugi thought as that weird feeling surged yet again. Dropping the briefcase, which was rather light, Gosunkugi spun around and fired a web at the man who was busy aiming a large gun at him. His web hit the hand aiming the firearm, encasing both in a sticky ball. The man, who Gosunkugi recognized as the one with the icy voice, gazed at his hand in mute astonishment for a brief second before raising the long silver knife he held in his other hand. Gosunkugi twisted his body, muscles in his arms straining a little as he pulled on the thick thread of silken web he still held in his right hand. He felt some resistance just before the weight on the other end stopped pulling back. "Crook, wall; wall, crook," Gosunkugi said as the black- clad gangster flew in an arc over his head and slammed into the metal wall of the storage building. "Play nice!" The sounds of footsteps charging out the exit reached Gosunkugi's ears. Turning about, he saw three men scurrying out the exit, the other briefcase firmly in the grasp of the man in the center. He briefly considered going after them, but decided that since the suppressed gunfire in the confines of the room had ceased he had no reason to pursue them. Let them get away with the other case, it wasn't his problem anymore. Now, let's see what's in here, Gosunkugi thought as he picked up the briefcase. He tried the latches, surprised to find that they wouldn't budge. His eyes fell on the combination system between the two latches, all the numbers set to zero on the silver inset. Screw this. Grabbing the top and bottom halves of the black leather briefcase and bracing the hinge against his stomach, Gosunkugi pulled the two apart with little effort. Oh, wow... he thought as he stared at the interior of the case. The inside was made of a padded black substance, much like foam rubber in its texture. Set behind a small transparent window in the center of the padding was a rectangular-shaped device. Its bright yellow color was a stark contrast to the midnight hue of the padding. The black design on the small device drew Gosunkugi's eye, three triangles rounded at the base pointing to a small dot in the center. Radioactive? The cold grip of terror clamped around his chest, threatening to cut off his air. He was holding a radioactive gizmo in the palm of his hand! The almost delicious anger that had carried him through the past few minutes dissipated, leaving his mind and body weary and in need of some well-deserved rest. Gosunkugi forced his way past the feeling of lethargy that had begun to steal over him, focusing his mind on finding a solution to the problem he now faced. Great! He thought sarcastically as he searched for the other case. I just let those goons get away with the other one! Some big kick-ass super hero I turned out to be. Gosunkugi sealed the briefcase shut again with a few well-placed patches of webbing. Still kicking himself for letting the other get away, he tucked the case under his left arm and leapt up to the rafters yet again to retrieve his camera. After replacing the camera, Gosunkugi decided against selling the pictures he had taken of the fight. While Gosunkugi was certain the pictures would be hot sellers, he also knew that they could be traced back to him by anyone with half a brain, and that included whatever parties the goon squad represented. Gosunkugi'd had enough excitement for one night with the Yakuza, or whoever they were, and really didn't want another confrontation anytime soon. It wasn't like he was a crime fighter or anything after all. ====================================== The night air felt cool through the material of the leotard as Gosunkugi swung through Tokyo's concrete canyons. The buildings surrounding him blurred past in a rush as he sailed through space on a webline, the briefcase firm under his other arm. He had to get this to the proper authorities, and fast. While the crooks may have had the other device, they couldn't do anything without its mate, right? One thing was certain, Gosunkugi had to get it to a safe place, and what safer place could there be than a police station? However, just walking into the nearest precinct, either as Spiderman or as Hikaru Gosunkugi, was definitely not an option. Maybe if he left it with a cop... Well, what do ya know, he thought as he saw two likely looking police officers walking the sidewalk far below. "God, I HATE walking the beat," Shinji groused as he trod the sidewalk. Flourescent streetlamps cast pools of illumination on the concrete surface of the walkway, the shadows of the two officers muted by the soft light. The streets were nearly deserted, the crickets and the footfalls of Shinji and his partner, Kensuke the only sounds. The occaisional barking of dogs broke up the symphony of insect calls from time to time, the sound echoing off of the concrete walls of the city. "Quit complaining," Kensuke said, a note of irritation in his voice. "At least we aren't on the beat in the worse parts of town." "Guess I just got used to a car," Shinji said. "We'll get it back as soon as the mechanic gets done with it," Kensuke said for what felt like the hundredth time. "Wonder if we'll run into Spiderman tonight," Shinji said after a few moments of silence. "You never know," Kensuke said noncommittally. Truthfully, he hoped that he wouldn't stumble across another of the Spiderman's pinatas. His legs ached from hours of patrolling the beat, and his feet were practically screaming at him to get off. "Bloody hell!" Shinji exclaimed, jumping backward a little. Kensuke started as well at the sight of a black briefcase bound with strips of a silvery silken substance. "Gentlemen!" rang a voice from above. Kensuke and Shinj cast their eyes upward, soon finding the source of the voice. Oh, I don't need this, Kensuke thought as he gazed at the red-suited man standing atop one of the streetlamps. A large black spider was printed diagonally on the sleeveless blue tunic, the red leotard clinging to his small and wiry frame. "Take a look in the case, guys," the Spiderman said, "then go to Pier 47 in the Tokyo Bay. There's something in the storage building you just might find interesting." With that, the mysterious Spiderman leapt up into the shadows, the two officers following his progress up the side of the nearest building. "Did you..." Shinji started. "See that?" Kensuke finished. The two continued to stare up into the darkness for several seconds before returning their gaze to the black briefcase that lay on the sidewalk in front of them. Removing his apartment keys, Shinji knelt before the case and began to saw at the thick webbing holding it shut. After a couple of minutes and some minor swearing, he finally managed to sever the silken strands that kept the case sealed. "Well shit on me," Kensuke whispered in stunned amazement. "Guess we'd better call for backup," Shinji said in the same tone. Grabbing the small radio transmitter affixed to the shoulder of his blue top, Kensuke placed in the call to Dispatch. =================================== While Gosunkugi was certain the pictures would be hot sellers, he also knew that they could be traced back to him by anyone with half a brain, and that included whatever parties the goon squad represented. Gosunkugi'd had enough excitement for one night with the Yakuza, or whoever they were, and really didn't want another confrontation anytime soon. It wasn't like he was a crime fighter or anything after all. ====================================== The night air felt cool through the material of the leotard as Gosunkugi swung through Tokyo's concrete canyons. The buildings surrounding him blurred past in a rush as he sailed through space on a webline, the briefcase firm under his other arm. He had to get this to the proper authorities, and fast. While the crooks may have had the other device, they couldn't do anything without its mate, right? One thing was certain, Gosunkugi had to get it to a safe place, and what safer place could there be than a police station? However, just walking into the nearest preceint, either as Spiderman or as Hikaru Gosunkugi, was definitely not an option. Maybe if he left it with a cop... Well, what do ya know, he thought as he saw two likely looking police officers walking the sidewalk far below. "God, I HATE walking the beat," Shinji groused as he trod the sidewalk. Flourescent streetlamps cast pools of illumination on the concrete surface of the walkway, the shadows of the two officers muted by the soft light. The streets were nearly deserted, the crickets and the footfalls of Shinji and his partner, Kensuke the only sounds. The occaisional barking of dogs broke up the symphony of insect calls from time to time, the sound echoing off of the concrete walls of the city. "Quit complaining," Kensuke said, a note of irritation in his voice. "At least we aren't on the beat in the worse parts of town." "Guess I just got used to a car," Shinji said. "We'll get it back as soon as the mechanic gets done with it," Kensuke said for what felt like the hundredth time. "Wonder if we'll run into Spiderman tonight," Shinji said after a few moments of silence. "You never know," Kensuke said noncomittaly. Truthfully, he hoped that he wouldn't stumble across another of the Spiderman's pinatas. His legs ached from hours of patrolling the beat, and his feet were practically screaming at him to get off. "Bloody hell!" Shinji exclaimed, jumping backward a little. Kensuke started as well at the sight of a black briefcase bound with strips of a silvery silken substance. "Gentlemen!" rang a voice from above. Kensuke and Shinj cast their eyes upward, soon finding the source of the voice. Oh, I don't need this, Kensuke thought as he gazed at the red-suited man standing atop one of the streetlamps. A large black spider was printed diagonally on the sleeveless blue tunic, the red leotard clinging to his small and wiry frame. "Take a look in the case, guys," the Spiderman said, "then go to Pier 47 in the Tokyo Bay. There's something in the storage building you just might find interesting." With that, the mysterious Spiderman leapt up into the shadows, the two officers following his progress up the side of the nearest building. "Did you..." Shinji started. "See that?" Kensuke finished. The two continued to stare up into the darkness for several seconds before returning their gaze to the black briefcase that lay on the sidewalk in front of them. Removing his apartment keys, Shinji knelt before the case and began to saw at the thick webbing holding it shut. After a couple of minutes and some minor swearing, he finally managed to sever the silken strands that kept the case sealed. "Well shit on me," Kensuke whispered in stunned amazement. "Guess we'd better call for backup," Shinji said in the same tone. Grabbing the small radio transmitter affixed to the shoulder of his blue top, Kensuke placed in the call to Dispatch. ===================================