Spider-Byte: Multiversal Madness

Chapter 10: Swingin' With The Mandem

Melody stumbled into the new world, falling from the sky. She winced in pain as she slightly glitched.

She quickly gained her focus and swung towards the city of Mumbhattan. All she saw was endless cars and people, but not her black and red spider-asshole.

She found a skyscraper to land on, checking her suit's UI. Just as she thought, the location was unknown. She let out a deep breath as she observed her surroundings.

The city didn't seem like there were any disturbances...the only noises that were heard were your typical police sirens and vendors shouting. As Melody looked down at the bustling streets, the blend of voices and traffic sounds created a chaotic symphony that oddly felt like home.

Her Spidey-Senses triggered. 'Miles has to be near!'

She turned her head to a building behind her, seeing a silhouette of a male body on it. "Miles? Miles! Get over here!" She waved hysterically at the silhouette, her heart pounding with a mix of worry and relief. As the figure turned towards her, she squinted, hoping it was Miles and not just a random stranger...on a building.

The person came charging towards her, but as they stepped into the sunlight, their features were shown. The person jumped off the building, playing a loud note on an electric guitar, making a large crotchet appear. He proceeded to RIDE it like a hoverboard over to Melody.

That FOR SURE was NOT Miles.

Melody felt the dread creeping over her skin as she powered up her suit, preparing to release a you know... cute...little, powerful nano-blast. Seeing this, the male stopped right in front of her, putting his hands up. "Yo, no need for me to get... blasted, innit. You ain't seen two other Spider-People 'round here, 'ave ya?"

Melody scanned the person in front of her. He was definitely a Spider-Man. He wore a red suit with black webbing and a denim vest adorned with punk patches and studs. His mask was...spiky at the top, and he had fingerless gloves. Instead of rocking the traditional onesie with no shoes or simply just sneakers, he wore black high-top boots. And of course, we can't forget the electric guitar in his hand, filled with stickers.

"So, you just gonna stare at me or you gonna tell me, Iron Woman?" The guy asked, putting his guitar behind him.

Melody shook out of her gaze, "I'm sorry, why should I even listen to you? Or trust you? I don't know you."

The guy groaned then stretched, "You really finna make me do that whole intro speech thing? Fine then."

[Hobie's POV]

A'ight, my name's Hobie, Hobie Brown! I was bitten by a- wouldn't you like to know? And for the last three years, I've been the one and only...

Wait wait wait wait you really think I'm gonna show you my secret identity? C'mon out of it.

That is when I'm not playing shows, antagonizing fascists, staging unpermitted political actions slash performance art pieces, or having a laugh at the pub with the mandem.

I'm not a role model, I was briefly a runway model, I hate the AM, I hate the PM, I hate labels.

I'm not a hero because calling yourself a hero makes you a self-apologizing narcissistic autocrat-

[3rd Person Pov]

Melody cut him off, laughing, "I thought you hated labels."

She cleared her throat, "Well, I'm-" Hobie cut her off, "Yeah, I know who you are. I know Gwendy. Good mates, actually. Always nattering on about her pals. Figured I'd bump into you eventually, so consider me a fan. Melody Myers, the kid from 1610, Ghost-Spider, blah, blah, blah... I'm more into the name Iron Woman, though!"

"Wha- why Iron Woman?"

"Like Iron Man from the Avengers comics... except, well, you're definitely not a man."

Melody stayed quiet, confused.

Hobie continued, "You know, the self-proclaimed 'genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist'."

Still nothing.

"He made his own robot-looking suit out of nanotech? The leader of the Avengers?"

"What's the Avengers?"

...

"Anyway, have you seen the other spider-people? I was called in for backup, reckon you were too... but I never saw you at the Spider-Cult before..."

"I'm here to get Miles, I don't know anything about anyone else."

"That other kid from 1610...? He's here? How..."

He changed the subject. "Huh...sneaking into another dimension, I respect that." Hobie chuckled. He then muttered, "The big man won't be too happy about that-oh, look Gwendy NOW decides to update her whereabouts."

Hobie glanced at this special techy watch, similar to one Gwen had. "They're at Alchemax. You should come along, Mike might be there, I dunno."

"It's Miles."

Hobie swung away first, "I don't believe in correction!"

"This guy is something else..." Melody mumbled to herself before swinging behind him.