Play Testers Wanted Pt. 02

"Easy. Strange contacted me about a new breed of vampires. It confirmed my own findings. I need to find the bitch that is spreading this shit. Now. What did she say?"

"She said Watson. She was struggling to tell me even that much." I explained and he nodded.

"Strong." Blade said in admiration of the woman. "She was well into the change and still gave us a clue. What the fuck does it mean though? Holmes and Watson? Watson street? Is there a company with that name?"

"Oh shit!" I said as the name made a connection.

"What is it?" He asked losing patience. "Listen motherfucker if you know something spill it!"

"I think she might, might mind you, have meant Mary Jane Watson." I said and Blade's eyes showed recognition. "You know her?"

"You could say that." He chuckled. "I caught her on the rebound when Spidey couldn't keep his dick in his pants, and he fucked Black Cat. MJ found out and I made her forget him for a long time. Pity to take out such a sweet piece of ass." He said and then saw my expression. "Relax Ghost, I'm not going to kill her until I verify that she is turned. Sun will be up soon perfect time to see if she has been keeping late hours." He laughed. "For what it is worth... I hope it isn't her. I am fond of MJ."

"Seventy-three?" I said reading the number hovering over his head.

"What?" Blade asked and I told him. "Ha! Let's see... you don't know what it means. Too fucking funny! It can only be one thing. It's been a little over two months since I got laid. Does that clear up your little mystery? Good. Now let's go pay MJ a little visit."

We slipped away from the park just as a taxi pulled up and we decided to take it instead of arriving in Blade's trademark vehicle. We sat in the back and I laughed when I recognized the driver, Harry Canyon. He took us to Brooklyn where Mary Jane Watson rented a one-bedroom apartment.

"I think I'm going to have to give up taking fares at night." Harry commented. "I hate these fucking blood suckers!"

"You've run into vampires too." I said and Harry laughed.

"Yeah. Smoking hot blonde crawled into the back there not an hour ago. She tried to fucking bite me! Nobody touches Harry Canyon! I had to vacuum out what was left of her just before I picked you guys up. What a mess!"

"How the hell did you take care of her?" Blade asked.

Harry indicated a small hinged plate near his foot. He nudged the cover up with his toe and beneath it a bright red button. He pressed it with his foot and two panels, one on the back of the front seats, spun open and emitted intense ultraviolet light. Blade laughed his ass off. We reached the apartment and I paid the fair. I paused when I felt the Exomorph's thoughts drawing closer. She had followed the cab the entire way here. The sun was clearing the horizon as Harry pulled away from the curb.

"What are you waiting for?" Blade asked.

"Just collecting my thoughts." I said as I gestured for the predator to cover the back.

Blade shook his head and went to ring the doorbell. Thirty seconds after ringing the bell a yawning and disheveled Mary Jane Watson appeared wearing a translucent teddy. Blade openly stared at her and she invited us both in. It was clear that she couldn't be a vampire. She had stood in the open bathed in sunlight.

"If this is about Michael... we broke it off months ago." She said as she went directly to the kitchen and began fixing coffee. "He went back to Europe shortly after that."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked.

"Michael Morbius is a rare breed," Blade growled. "It is a long story and I don't feel like sharing right now. I'm just glad MJ is alright. Just stick out your arm and I'll be on my way." He demanded.

"I just had an STD test... after that feverish three-way including Peter and Felicia. That little skank gets around more than the common cold." The redhead snapped. "Worst mistake of my life."

"Arm." Blade said holding up one of his gas-powered syringes.

"Fine!" She snapped and extended her arm so he could take a blood sample. "Now... get out!"

"I guess a hand job is out of the question." Blade fired back. "Pity... she has such a gentle touch."

"Asshole!" MJ growled and picked up a frying pan.

"Oh yeah, she takes it up the ass too!" He continued as he ducked the pan, she had hurled at him. "I got what I want, see ya later MJ."

"Later Tiger!" She replied smiling as she shook her head.

We left the apartment and the hunter looked grieved. He cursed and whistled. A jet-black Monte Carlo SS pulled up and he slid into the passenger seat. Behind the wheel was an elderly white guy that could only be Blade's legendary partner Whistler.

"Need a lift Kid?" Whistler called out.

"Yeah... I... ummm... never mind." I said as the mystical portal opened, and I took the hint. "I guess Stephen wants to see me." I said and the vampire hunters laughed as they drove off with a squeal of tires.

I looked over my shoulder and spied a grinning MJ watching me from her front window holding the frying pan. I stepped through the portal followed by the cloaked Exomorph and spied a freshly washed Doctor Strange. She wore a bright blue fluffy bath robe. She was drying her hair with a towel as the gate closed behind me. I directed the hidden predator to settle quietly in the corner.

"Welcome back Ghost." Steph Strange said in greeting.

"Curse?" I asked and she nodded. "Must be a bitch being a woman... no?"

"I am a woman normally. Dormammu laid a particularly nasty enchantment of the Eye of Agamotto. The curse is random and only about half the time is it triggered. His pride was hurt when he was bested by a mere woman. I don't know how you guys stand having that thing swinging between your legs all the time."

"I am kind of fond of my junk." I replied and she laughed. "Where is Bryce?"

"She's in her lab processing those blood samples Blade collected. The syringes have a built-in scanner that allows her to test for various substances. In this case the vampire virus. What is that look for?"

"Nothing." I said smiling seeing the triple digit number above her head.

"You are fibbing, but I'll let it slide for now. Bryce found something." Steph said half a second before Bryce called out.

"Holy Shit!" She exclaimed. "Get in here! I don't believe this."

We rushed in and a dozen holographic screens filled the air. Bryce was in full manic mode. The Sorceress Supreme worked on calming her and after a bit she collected her thoughts and brought one screen to the fore and showed me a portion of a DNA chain.

"Gene expression or suppression is key to the vampire virus. In the case of the Darkhold virus it can be expressed in either sex. However, the Bathory Virus, I named it after Countess Elizabeth Bathory, can only be transferred to female victims. When a male is exposed to it the effects are catastrophic. It breaks down the red blood cells in a body wide cascade failure killing them in an excruciating way. That is the downside of this strain. I guess I shouldn't say strain, mechanically it isn't related in any fashion to the Darkhold version. While it creates vampires, they are unconnected. The positive side of the virus is that the first-generation victims of the original carrier do not suffer many of the weaknesses imposed by the Darkhold. They can endure sunlight and while silver weapons can injure them the allergy to the metal is greatly reduced. Their healing factor is greatly improved as well."

"How do you know so much about the first-generation victims?" I asked.

"One of the samples Blade took was from a first-gen." Bryce responded, and I felt a pang of sadness.

"MJ... it has to be her. The cop died and ashed. Have you told Blade?"

"Not yet... I just... oh shit...!" She cursed as she tried to tell the hunter how much danger he was in. "Blade?!"

"Hush... I'm hunting right now." He replied on his headset.

"You really need to know my results." Bryce pushed.

"Fine," He growled. "I've lost sight of her anyway. What did you discover?"

"The first-generation vampires can survive in the daylight and aren't highly allergic to silver." Bryce said and he cursed a blue streak. "I would assume that any other typical weaknesses are out the window as well."

"For fuck's fuck..." Blade cursed. "Is there a cure?"

"I haven't cracked it yet. I know how it differs from what you are used to. When I learn something, I'll let you know." She replied frowning.

I knew that Blade was a loner, but could he handle himself? I glanced at the Sorceress Supreme and she made a dismissive gesture. She did however push Bryce to seek out a cure. I felt useless at this point. I couldn't go back to the Baxter Building after Reed discovered that I had violated his wife. Speaking of violating, I turned my attention to Stephanie Strange and the three digits hanging over her head. I hadn't had much practice with what Archimedes called 'sex craft'. I pulled up my HUD and went through which skills were passive and which needed activating. The double dragon needed charging before I could use that, I had learned that early on. I decided to start off slow and see what the level zero skills could do.

"You looked stressed Steph; can I call you Steph?" I asked initiating the skill and I saw that her bare feet had a pale aura around them. "How about a foot rub?"

"Seriously..." She began and I thought I was about to be shot down. "I'd kill for one."

"Sit back and relax." I said as she plopped down on a couch she conjured out of thin air. "Leave it to me." I told her as I sat on the floor and took her right foot into my grasp.

The skill was synergetic and soon I had a virtual roadmap to relaxing her. I began at the lit areas and rubbed lightly. As I worked more areas lit up and they were color coded. The darker the spot the harder I rubbed. I stayed away from them for now. When my thumb moved close to them, she would whimper and when I pressed elsewhere, she grew frustrated. It was as if I were playing with her tits and ignoring her nipples. I made her wait until I picked one of the dark spots. When my thumb dug into it, she let out a sound that would have given a corpse an erection.

"Damn it Steph, it is just a foot rub." Bryce laughed.

"His hands are magic." She said and we all chuckled. "MMMMM... feels so good!" She said as she extended her leg as far as it would go, and I got a peek up her robe.

I continued to rub and enjoyed the view as the Sorceress Supreme whimpered and stretched like a great cat on the couch. The skill informed me it was time to change feet. I repeated the process with her left foot. I focused on the lighter regions first and she growled like my cock was brushing against her labia. I relented quicker this time and was rewarded with her robe falling open in front as she arched her back and her tits spilled out.

"Steph... oh never mind." Bryce said rolling her eyes. "Your tits are hanging out."

"I don't care..." Steph moaned. "Let 'em see them for all I care. He's going to get an eyeful when he does my legs."

"He's going to get a handful if you keep this up." Bryce said irritated.

"Are you two an item?" I asked and they threw out different answers. Ouch.

"We were an item," Bryce growled. "Cheeky bitch."

"Jealous slut..." Steph fired back. "You want it as bad as I do."

"I do not." Bryce replied unconvincingly. "I hate sharing you."

"I could leave." I said starting to take my hands away.

"No!" Steph cried out in alarm and Bryce conceded.

"Don't stop on my account." Bryce stated defeated.

One moment I was sitting lightly stroking Steph's foot the next I was prone and the Sorceress Supreme's hand was curled in an arcane gesture. Her foot settled onto my groin. She began rubbing my junk and her face had a primal hunger to it. Bryce giggled at the sudden change of power. Steph made another mystical gesture and my uniform opened freeing my erection. They both let out a sound of appreciation. I laid flat and stared up at the ceiling as her feet began to grip and stroke me. Steph was able to get a groan from me. Once she heard one, she wanted more. I almost missed it. The bright colored geometric pattern on the ceiling had a noticeable defect. Humans are designed to see patterns so when we see a break in one, we are very good at isolating it. I picked up the basic shape of the object. It could be a mask.

"What is it?" Steph asked noticing that I was staring at the ceiling.

"I think there is a mask attached to the ceiling." I muttered as I noticed a distinct shimmering over and around the object. "Just like the secret portal..." I muttered as things went weird.

The scene froze as the mask tumbled downward and I caught it. My HUD kicked on automatically notifying me that I had received a trophy and a unique item. A swirling icon displayed the words 'Congratulation! You've earned the Heads-Up Trophy'. I examined my prize. I held the Jackal Helm of Anubis in my hands. It was a mystical artifact with three properties listed as unknown. Could it be cursed? I had no way of understanding until I put it on. I never hesitated. I pressed the mask to my face, and it did the rest. The transformation was quick and a bit terrifying. I felt its power coursing through me, and I liked it. All my senses were heightened and that was overwhelming. A timer was counting down, so I deactivated the mask and the scene resumed without Steph or Bryce noticing. Even though the mask was minimized my sense of touch was still improved. It made the foot job from Steph even more intense.

"Look how hard he's gotten." Steph moaned.

"About damn time," Bryce commented. "How long has it been?"

"That isn't important." Steph fired back.

"Says you," the other laughed. "You haven't had to live with a morose and sex starved sorceress."

"Oh." Steph said frowning. "Want to uh... share him? He's already up... I'll let you go first if you want."

"Nope. You ride him while I let him... OH Man! What the fuck now?!" Bryce snapped angrily. "It's Reed. He wants to talk to him. Sit here," She said. "That way he doesn't see your erection."

I walked into her lab and took her seat as the screen activated showing a haggard Mr. Fantastic. He looked sleep deprived and downtrodden. The first words out of his mouth was an apology. It was his fault that Susan had been vulnerable. It was his suit that had done the real damage. Sure, there had been other men in the past but this time it was obviously his fault. Steph clamped a hand over her mouth when she heard that. So, one rumor appeared to be true.

"What do you want Reed?" I asked and he fidgeted before answering.

"I need a favor." He said appearing crestfallen. "If you do it, I'll consider all things forgiven."

"This must pretty damn serious after I fucked the Storm Sisters. What do I have to do?" I asked not wanting a lasting feud with one of the most brilliant minds alive.

"I want you to recover the Darkhold." He said and Steph cried out when she heard that.

"NO! Absolutely not!" She objected in the strongest language possible. "Fuck you Reed! You want revenge and want him cursed by that damned book!"

"Cursed?" I asked and the Sorceress Supreme explained.

"Just touching the damn thing is dangerous. If it gets into your head and convinces you to read it you could end up as a vampire, a werewolf, or worse. I forbid it!"

"I have built a containment unit." Reed said after Steph calmed a bit. "It should contain the power of the book."

"Note he said should," Bryce added unconvinced. "You can't be positive without actually having the Darkhold. It's a best guess on his part."

"Stay the hell out of this Bryce!" Reed shouted and Bryce screamed back at him and then staggered back as she fought the transformation gripping her body.

"What the hell?" I asked as I saw a definite green coloration to her skin and a noticeable growth. "Banner?"

"Yes," Steph nodded. "Bryce Banner a gifted scientist and occultist. She understands both better than most. Keep it together kitten."

"Well?" Reed asked annoying an already volatile Bryce. I held up my hand towards the monitor and he waited. "Fine."

"Want a foot rub?" I offered and Bryce laughed. "Magic hands." I continued and she reverted to normal avoiding a dire situation. "Where is the book?"

"Held by a cult calling themselves the Darkholders. I have isolated their location, sending coordinates. Swing by the Baxter Building and pick up the containment unit."

"Don't... please." Steph begged. "Take it from me, curses aren't to be trifled with. I don't want anyone to go thru what I have."

"Listen to her." Bryce pleaded. "We both want to spare you the pain involved. I can see you are determined. What's you plan?"

"This." I said and telekinetically lifted her off her feet. "I don't plan on getting anywhere near it."

"A good plan but let's see if we can improve upon it." Steph offered.

We spent two hours working and reworking the plan until it was the best it could be given how little we knew about the cult. Steph gave me a promissory note in the form of a dick hardening kiss. She was able to open a portal to the penthouse of the Baxter Building. The Exomorph and I entered the darkened lab and listened. Archimedes informed me that the entire floor was empty save the homeless man still in his coma.

"I guess Reed didn't feel like a face to face right now." I said and looked through the lab until I found the containment unit. "Into the inventory with you." I muttered and noticed something odd. "Hold the fuck on. What is this?"

"Reed appears to have left the files on the prototype armor open for you to peruse." Archimedes explained.

"It might as well be written in Greek." I said.

"That's Reed all over. The armor chooses your three strongest features and enhances them. In your case your agility is your key statistic, followed closely by stamina, and finally strength. Any skills enhanced by those statistics are buffed as well."

I touched the mind of the Exomorph and explained that we had to split up. It raced silently for the steps while I went to the roof. This mission to the cultists base was the perfect chance to push my limits. I reached the roof and activated my GPS. I got a green icon and launched myself off that side of the building. I activated the glide wings and picked up as much altitude as I could. I almost crashed when I spied Avenger's Tower. My fan boy side balked as I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go. Gravity and momentum decided for me. I slammed into the corner of a skyscraper at about thirty miles per hour. Thank goodness for my armor. It soaked most of the impact damage, but that didn't mean I wasn't battered and bruised. I clung to the glass side of the building with ease. I feared I would simply slide down until I reached the ground. My HUD announced I had uncovered a new trait to my armor. I had gained spider climb in the most embarrassing way possible. I used it to climb to the roof of the building and launch myself towards my objective.

A block away from the cult headquarters I switched on my active camouflage and aimed for an old office building overlooking a fenced in garage. It was well lit, and six guards patrolled the area. Three roamed the fence line while the others hung close to the main entrance.

"Somebody knows I'm coming." I whispered to myself. "Hmmm... it is a little too bright. Let's see if I can fix that little problem." I was about to search out the nearest power substation when I realized my error. "Gods... I almost launched myself into another amateur mistake." I said thinking out loud. "If I cut the power the entire place goes on high alert. Time to rely on good old-fashioned skill and stealth."

To test the waters, I plucked a shuriken from my inventory and flung it across what would be the airspace above my goal. I threw it hard enough to land far beyond the fence on the far side. No obvious alarms blared but I waited to see if the sentries were alerted. A seventh figure appeared confirming my fear, there were sensors covering ground and air. Maybe I would have to nix the power supply. I rethought my attack plan. If I were an evil organization and my place was suddenly surrounded by police or worse yet superheroes what would I do? There had to be a secret entrance slash exit. The vampires have been using the sewers so why not cultists.