At the Bugle Planet,
It was afternoon, and the sky was already darkened by black clouds, hiding the sun's rays and plunging New York City into a depressing atmosphere. Lightning flashed, and the sound of thunder echoed throughout the building.
On the top floor, Petra and a journalist friend were having a private discussion with the new media director.
"Incidents like this are slowly increasing. Although crime has been concentrated for decades in the two major East Coast cities—Gotham and New York—my instinct tells me that something serious is about to happen."
"Lois, your journalistic instinct scares me. If you don't want to give them to the authorities... maybe I could analyze their blood," said the pseudo journalist-scientist with blonde hair.
"Thank you, Kara. As you probably know, the Bugle Planet is not an ordinary newspaper. Founded by my mother and her friends, this media institute reports the most difficult information to uncover.
Recently, our investigation teams reported that the number of people falling ill with a previously unknown virus is increasing exponentially," she continued.
"Seriously? Another epidemic?" asked Kara.
"It would be nice if that were all... but let's stop talking about that. There is good news: the disappearance of the psychopathic killer Carnage! It's already on the front page of our channels."
"How do you know that?!" asked a shocked Petra.
"Yes, I know that—and also that our cover girl helped the one who defeated him, and that you covered for them."
"It was self-defense! Please, Lois, don't turn this into a media scandal."
"Who do you think I am? And even if I wanted to, I couldn't—because you would be surprised to know who Alex Al-son really is."
"You know his name? Even with my company and my inventions, I couldn't find anything about him... wait! Tell me—wouldn't you also know where MJ went?"
"Yes, I know... behind you."
"Eh?" With her spider sense, Petra avoided the tap on her shoulder and prepared to throw a punch, stopping just before the redhead's nose.
"Oula, my dear. I know it's not okay to leave without warning, but there's no need to start fighting."
"MJ! It's you! You're back! Where have you been?"
"Sorry I didn't say anything. I had to clear my head after my assault," she half-lied.
"I don't care—I'm just glad you're okay."
The two women shared a warm hug.
"Hi Mary Jane, I hope you're well. I'm really sorry I couldn't help you."
"It's okay, Kara. Supergirl can't be everywhere at once."
"So, boss, what was that terrorist incident?"
"Nothing major, but it made an excellent sub-section in the newspaper."
"Tell me, cover girl, do you have superpowers? And don't worry—the Bugle Planet is the first company to accept and pay metas and people with extraordinary abilities."
"Yes. I don't know how I managed to turn part of Carnage into my symbiotic armor, but yes, I am very strong, and thanks to Alex, I can control it perfectly."
"Perfect. If it's Alex, there's no problem!" said Lois confidently.
"Lois, you seem to know everything. Do you also have superpowers?"
"Yes! I am an incredible investigative journalist who has many friends."
"..."
ALERT
ALERT
"What is that?" asked Spider-Woman.
"A defense system. This building is not just an ordinary structure," replied Lois.
"Nothing surprises me anymore. What's the emergency?" said MJ.
"Viral contamination!"
"Fuck!"
...
Unknown point of view
"Fuck! Why am I the one who has to handle this job? I really need to find a way to leave this company."
My name is Leslie Gesneria, aka Agony. I was a security force officer of the Life Foundation. I and other personnel were experimented on using the remains of a dead symbiote—we were transformed into artificial symbiotes.
Recently, a former client of the Life Foundation—a business magnate who became the crime king of New York, nicknamed the Kingpin—called on the company's services.
He entrusted me with the mission of recovering samples from people infected with a new, highly contagious disease. What could be better than an artificial symbiote to protect against infection?
Arriving at the dilapidated building, there were no signs of life. One of my abilities is to sense other symbiotes, but I can also detect living signatures on a smaller scale.
When entering the apartment at the given address, a foul smell hit me.
I immediately shut down my sense of smell.
In addition to the odor, the house was in complete disarray. The furniture was destroyed, the floor and walls were cracked, the light bulbs were broken—nothing was intact.
The targets of my mission were scattered on the ground, their bodies starting to rot. After confirming they were dead, I used the device I was given to extract the necessary biological data.
Once again, a disgusting job.
Crack
The sound of the front door opening echoed.
Shit.
Using my senses, I almost panicked.
She-Venom!? How? Just a minute ago, her presence was miles away.
I don't stand a chance alone.
Looking around, I rushed toward the bedroom wardrobe. At the same time, a young male voice was heard.
A man? She-Venom's host wasn't Spider-Woman?
Just after hiding,
The bodies, supposedly dead, started to move.
What is this mess?!
But my attention quickly shifted to the person entering the room.
Through the gaps in the wardrobe, I could see him. For a symbiote, he was small—between 1.55 and 1.60 meters.
The symbiote looked more like a costume than an organic second skin.
Another of my abilities is to suppress my presence, but my strength level is low. If only Donna were here...
Fortunately, his gaze fell on the zombies.
"Zombies?"
Like me, he called them zombies—after all, something dead that moves can only be called that.
But the next moment, an overwhelming pressure filled the room. I had never felt anything like it—even compared to the psychopath Carnage.
The black body of this Venom contracted, releasing a terrifying aura, expanding from a slim form to a towering 2-meter figure, now fully resembling a true symbiote. His mouth remained closed, his eyes narrowed. He looked at the zombies like mortal enemies.
"Venna! Someone is playing in my city—a very dangerous game. A zombie infection, no less! There is no way they will ruin my plans.
Help me increase the spread of the AL-Dream—no more limits! Time is running out. Focus on women, children, and the elderly. In a short time, the whole city will turn into hell."
With his words and anger, a purple energy burst from him. It was not coming from the symbiote—his host was something else entirely.
The next second, extremely fast tentacles shot out from his body, skewering all the zombies in the building like guided missiles.
As an artificial symbiote, the presence of a real one paralyzed me. I don't know if it was fear or stress—I accidentally knocked over an object.
Time stopped for me.
Oh no... I don't want to die. I haven't become a hero yet. Even if we work for questionable people, we artificial symbiotes want to do good. Unfortunately, even if the symbiote armors are dead, an ancient and malevolent whisper guides us toward the wrong path.
Alex's gaze fell on the wardrobe.
He approached slowly, his footsteps audible, his claws scratching lightly against the wall.
One step.
Two steps.
Three...
...
Arriving in front of the wardrobe—
Mew
A cat jumped out and ran through the window.
Was it just a cat? The situation is serious. A zombie epidemic is about to begin. I don't have time for this.
Without further thought, he also jumped out the window.
...
Five minutes later, Agony caught her breath.
My God... I'm still alive. That's it—this is my last mission.
Rushing from rooftop to rooftop, she had no idea Alex had never left, hiding and waiting for her to lead him to her base.