Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

17 - You Were Fooled

In the inky blackness of a dimension far beyond human comprehension, a colossal entity known as Morlun shifted restlessly on his obsidian throne. Tendrils of dark energy crackled around his hulking form, his crimson eyes burning with a cold, predatory hunger. He had tasted the power of the Spider-Totems, their life essence a potent elixir that could sustain him for millennia.

But his recent encounter with the Spider-Force had been a bitter disappointment. They had thwarted his attempt to claim their life-force, forcing him to retreat back to his desolate dimension. The humiliation gnawed at him, a festering wound in his cosmic ego.

"They grow stronger," Morlun rasped, his voice a chilling echo that reverberated through the void. "These 'Spider-Totems'... they defy the natural order. Their existence disrupts the Great Web of Life and Death."

Before his throne hovered a holographic depiction of a bustling metropolis – New York City. But Morlun wasn't interested in the city itself; his gaze was fixed on a single, gleaming structure at its heart – Spider-HQ.

"They gather their strength there," Morlun muttered, tracing the holographic image with a skeletal finger. "A nest of spiders, ripe for the taking."

A plan, insidious and cunning, began to take shape in his mind. A direct assault was unlikely to succeed. The Spider-Force, despite their limitations, had proven resourceful and formidable. He needed a more... subtle approach.

A serpentine being, its scales shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence, slithered out of the shadows, bowing low before Morlun. This creature, known as Veranke, was a master of deception, a shapeshifter who could assume any form at will.

"Veranke," Morlun's voice boomed, "you have served me well. Now, I have a new task for you."

He outlined his plan in a low, guttural voice. Veranke listened intently, her reptilian eyes gleaming with a twisted understanding. 

"You will infiltrate their Spider-HQ," Morlun concluded. "You will become one of them, gain their trust. Then, when the time is right, you will sow discord from within. Weaken their defenses, turn them against each other. When they are at their most vulnerable, I will strike."

Veranke, her serpentine form flickering and distorting, morphed into an unnervingly perfect replica of Gwen Stacy, a member of the Spider-Force. A cruel smile played on her lips.

"Consider it done, master," she hissed, her voice eerily similar to Gwen's.

Morlun, a flicker of satisfaction in his crimson eyes, watched as Veranke, disguised as Gwen Stacy, vanished into the swirling darkness, ready to infiltrate Spider-HQ and bring chaos to the heart of the Spider-Verse. The hunt for the Spider-Totems was far from over. It was simply about to take a more insidious turn. 

The celebratory atmosphere crackled with electricity at Spider-HQ. The successful rescue of Varian's friends, the liberation of the captured raccoons, and the temporary thwarting of Miguel's plans had brought the ragtag team of heroes closer than ever. Laughter filled the common room as Peter B. Parker, sporting a bruised cheek from a particularly close encounter with Miguel's security drones, regaled the others with a tale of his mid-air web-swinging maneuver.

Miles Morales, ever the enthusiastic one, bounced on a nearby couch, replaying highlights of the fight on his holographic communicator. Gwen Stacy, her usual stoic demeanor replaced by a rare smile, shared a plate of protein bars with a group of rescued raccoons who seemed to have taken a particular shine to her. 

Lashanie, her mismatched eyes sparkling with a triumphant glint, leaned against Varian's shoulder, her hand clasped tightly in his. "Well, Green Spinner," she said, her voice laced with amusement, "that was quite the operation. You and your furry friend certainly caused a stir."