15125/Just Another Day At Work

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Just Another Day At Work
Date of Scene: 23 May 2023
Location: Long Island City, Queens
Synopsis: One disaster leads to another but the day is saved! Sort of?!
Cast of Characters: Juggernaut, Spider-Man, Satana




Juggernaut has posed:
Business is business. Sometimes you're hired to go help overthrow a small nation. Othertimes you're hired to ruin The Hulk's day and othertimes you're just a high rent weapon of mass destruction being used to send a message. It's not glamarous but 'eh..it's a living. Even if the instructions can be abit dull.

Go here..something..something..shipyard..something something. Stolen equipment..something..whatever..something. Made us angry..whatever..something.

Destroy it all. Now -that's- something.

Indeed, when the beeper given to him by The Light goes off, and a deposit hits his account, presuming his schedule is clear, The Juggernaut doesn't ask too many questions nor does he sweat the details. If it fits his particular modus operandi..away he goes. He's reliable like that. It's why he can command such high fees. Being one of the most powerful beings on Earth helps inflate his prices as well. At least..it doesn't hurt.

Considering his power, one might say this little contract is slightly overkill. It's merely some group or agency that has run afoul of the interests of someone or someones, breached this agreement or that, and stepped into whatever tech-tech experimental weapon development of the week that has attracted the wrong eyes. Calling upon The Juggernaut to resolve matters is rather like using a bulldozer to overturn an ant hill. But it does leave quite the impression doesn't it. Craters and canyon like fissures litter the expanse of the industrial yard that was being used by this group. An entire warehouse has been overturned, its very foundation uprooted beneath it like a carpet being pulled out from under foot. Energy discharges from the weapons of security guards blast with futility into a billowing cloud of debris, fire and smoke while those with stronger survival instincts scatter, running for trucks and cars in order to escape the moving seismic event that has descended upon this work site. Some aren't so lucky though - tumbling through the air from a sudden shockjwave that shakes the entire docks and plumes an eruption of dust as another building falls.. and from this rolling debris cloud emerges the giant,..treading slowly and inexorably towards a docked cargo ship some distance away.Enery discharges from the guns from the thugs and mercenaries splash ineffectively against him like water-pistols as he rumbles out loudly, "OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE! Anybody gettin' out better get out!" At least he's being a gentleman about it.
Spider-Man has posed:
Well, this whole thing is a bit of a mess now isn't it?

He doesn't always have the best reputation. And while he can be remarkably effective in his campaign to make a difference for New Yorkers everywhere, sometimes things just go wrong. Actually that seems to happen a lot more then he'd like. He's been gifted with a whole lot of useful abilities and he has stopped a whole lot of very dangerous threats. But there always seems to be a lot of property damage left in his wake. A lot of scared people. And a whole lot of negative media attention.

All of which is to say that there are quite a few residents of New York who don't like him, don't respect him and, well, flatly consider him one of the bad guys. But there are a few that see through the Daily Bugle's media coverage. Many of them might be run-of-the-mill citizens, but even some in law enforcement believe that he helps more than he hurts. Enough that a friendly contact told him to stay waaaaaaay away from this place. He knows very well that some not so nice men are doing some not so nice things out of this particular industrial yard. But the police are on it, hoping that they'll lead them to even bigger figures in the criminal underworld.

It would seem that plan is off the table.

Which is why Spider-Man webs his way through the city, swinging high above the city streets, releasing his web-line at just the right time to go angling through the air and land in a crouch atop a water tower on a nearby building which -- conveniently -- overlooks the chaos below.

And what a scene it is. The destruction is pretty scary really. And shockingly complete. The reason for that is pretty obvious too and the masked crimefighter lets out an audible groan from his perch.

"Ahhhh geez, not this guy."

Despite his clear dismay, the wall-crawler none the less leaps from the top of the tower, plummetting down towards the scene of devestation below. He can't just walk away.

It would be nice sometimes if he could, though.
Satana has posed:
Satana is in the district for her own reasons. The ship Juggernaut is headed for has something she wants aboard it and she was planning on getting it this very day. This very hour, in fact. Indeed within the next few minutes. The destruction doesn't bother her in the slightest; indeed she's fairly impressed (and within her Basilisk rages as he tries to escape just to test his mettle against the being who did this).

But the ship? This will not do.

While every other figure on the ground is running away from Juggernaut, Satana is moving toward him, on an interception course. She stops in front of him, fists on her hips, legs apart, looking up at the giant.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that."

Beat.

"Yet. I have business on the ship. When it is realized, please feel free to turn it into the world's largest foil ball."
Juggernaut has posed:
"..The hell?"

Oh if only ne knew. Perhaps there is some part of him on the inside that does know but Juggernaut has never been particularly intune with all of that outside of things he's gleaned just from..experience and being what he is. At the moment, though, he's simply briefly dumbstruck by Satana brazen audacious appearence ..both physically and the sheer guts on her as well.

But if a drop dead gorgeous and yet mysterious entity ordering him to stop what he was doing worked as simply as that..well he wouldn't be much of a Juggernaut would he? Especially in this town. So he shakes it off and quite noticably doens't stop his thunderous approach. A steady walking series of steps that is no doubt triggering seismometers within range even as it leaves deep imprints of his feet in the concrete of the dock.

"Beat it chica." he rumbles, heavy bass voice rippling through the area towards Satana as he lifts a massive arm up and points at her with a finger as thick as a large tree branch. "I don't take orders easily, especially from folk sticking their nose in my business. You got something on the ship? Too bad. I thought I'd grab it for a new paper weight. I like collecting things.."

He remains blissfully ignorant of Spider-Man's presence however and Satana's distraction -does- allow some of the mercenary thugs to begin regrouping and managing a proper retreat. A few brave souls are finding cover and taking aim, Satana falling in their sights now...
Spider-Man has posed:
This is New York City. The unexpected is almost routine here and at times it is pretty easy to get pretty darned jaded. To feel like you've just seen it all already and that nothing will really surprise you.

Still, Peter never really expected to see someone casually walk up to that particular looming, armored monster and tell him to just stand down and stay out of her way. That's a new one. And Spidey pretty much thought he was beyond the point of seeing too many new ones.

There's really too many things to focus on right now. There is no threat greater than Juggernaught of course. But that's a pretty big bite to chew on all at once. The fleeing crooks are of some concern. Gathering them up will at least mean his holding off from hitting this place weeks ago wasn't entirely in vain. And of course there are those few gunmen who seem to be made of sterner -- or suicidal -- stuff still standing and apparently deciding to make the unlikely interloper their target of choice.

But in the end there's really only one choice. One priority. So Spider-Man angles his descent to drop inbetween Satana and the armored menance bearing down on her. "Are you a few cards short of a deck lady? That's the goddamn Juggernaunt!" he says. Good thing Aunt May isn't nearby or he might just get his mouth washed out with soap, no matter whether or not he's all grown up now.

With that declaration, Spidey doesn't stand on ceremoney. He doesn't even try to stop the Juggernaught. Instead he brings up both hands and sprays a stream of webbing towards those eye-slits in that armored helmet. He doesn't wait to see the result though, instead lifting one hand skyward, spraying another line of webbing towards a crane overhead as he takes to the air once more, swinging towards Satana with the apparent intent of carrying her bodily out of the way.

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Satana has posed:
"You don't s...." And then Satana is in the crook of Peter's arm, being hauled out of the way.

"What the HELL do you thi..." Her first reaction is odd. Not quite as odd as her decision to walk in front of the Juggernaut and calmly ask him to stop, but it's still ... off. Somehow.

What comes afterward is even more off.

"Oh my..." Satana murmurs. "Aren't you the strong one..."

Wha...?

"Oh thank you!" she says, clutching Peter in feigned fear, pressing herself very tightly against him. "You saved me from certain doom!" She breathes the next into where she guesses his ear is directly. "How ever shall I repay you?..."

Is she flir... Yes. Yes she is. In the middle of carnage. She's either crazy or there's something else Peter doesn't know going on. (Why not both!?)
Juggernaut has posed:
It's a timely save. The thugs open fire, sending cerulean blasts criss crossing across the field to hurtle towards where Satana once was and the general vicinity of Juggernaut's monstrous presence. It's like they don't know who he is or something.

Then again, it's often said that descriptions of the brute and his power doesn't do him justice and so it's perhaps not that out of the question that, illegal contraband and stolen experimental weapons in hand, they think shooting at him will do something.

It really doesn't. He just stands there, coming to a stop -now- in shock and surprise as Spider Man darts skywards with Satana in his garasp while around him small explosions and bursts of blue-white fire blossom or wash over his immense figure with all the impact of a light breeze. So much so he doesn't even acknowledge them yet.

"Hey! Spider-Man! Are you in on this!" he bellows, cranking that massive arm that had been pointing at Satana to instead track the duo's retreat. "I don't know what you're trying to pull but stay out of my way!"

That said, oh so eloquently, he starts forward again..and this time after a few steps at a casual pace..he begins to head into a slow jog and then a full on run..attempting to close the distnce to the cargo ship now..with a bit of extra pep in his step now that so much interference is arriving.
Spider-Man has posed:
Not fully knowing what's going on is pretty much Peter's default state. His is one of the brightest minds on the planet -- at least it could be if he fully applied himself -- there are times that when he pulls on that mask, he seems to turn off his brain. Or at least lets basic impulsiveness take over. For good or ill.

the rapid string of reactions the attractive young woman in his arms seems to go through is a little surprising, but really, he's not about to complain. As often as not grabbing some helpless bystander so suddenly gets him beaten about the head as he tries to swing them to safety. Which is pretty distracting. Not that Satana isn't distracting in a very different way. "Thanks, I work out," he reflexively say before giving his head a shake. "I mean I don't work out," he quickly clarifies as the crest of the swing's arc brings them up to the ledge of the nearby building. Very smooth that.

"Look, you'll be safe up here," Spidey hastens to assure her. Probably. Though there are few guarantees when someone with the strength and power of the Juggernaut are on the scene. Entire neighborhoods demolished is certainly not out of the question. "Just stay here and I promise I'll come back to get you down when this is all over," he promises.

And before he can blurt out anything else he might rather not, the wall-crawler leaps back into the fray, hurling himself bodily from that ledge and contorts himself wildly in mid-air, spinning until he can line up the charging, armored monstrocity in his sights. "You know I can't do that Juggy! Why don't you do what the nice lady asked and take a chill pill," he suggests, those web-shooters firing once more.

He does not aim for the charging monster, not this time. That path is one that will lead to him being dragged around like a tin can tied to the back of a monster truck. No, he instead goes for the rubble-strewn ground beneath the Juggernaut's feet, seeking to disrupt his footing and maybe slow down the charging monster that way.

Meanwhile the ground is rushing towards him at an awfully terrific rate. Or vice versa. It should probably make him a little nervous either way.
Satana has posed:
Satana watches Spider-Man's babbling with increasing amusement, eyes glinting with it (and a hint of malice). "Can I give you a kiss before you g..." And Spidey is gone. Shrugging, Satana looks down from the ledge and takes a step out. This causes cries of alarm at first as onlookers see it, but then those cries of alarm turn to cries of amazement as she just floats to the ground. Looking around she purses her lips, eyes narrowed, and considers.

"I really do want that McGuffin," she decides. "And the spawn of Cytorak there is not being very neighbourly."

And nothing annoys Satana more than someone being unneighbourly. Unless it's her, of course.

She spreads her arms and twists her fingers into tortured shapes while eldritch words drip from her lips. A circle forms in the air before her, leading straight into an otherworldly place full of flame and stone and the screams of souls in eternal torment.

"My home!" she says, pleased, hopping up and down and clapping her hands like a teenager spotting her idol of the moment. A few more gestures and the portal moves, toward where Juggernaut and Spider-Man are fighting it out. It tilts to be parallel with the ground and slides into Juggernaut's path, ready for him to step into while he's distracted by a bug.

"Let's see how much he enjoys this. And let's see how much Mephisto enjoys having that brute trashing his domain." Why not get two enemies at the same time, after all?

"I'll bring you back once I have my little bauble!" she calls out to Juggernaut just as his foot starts going down to where the portal is.
Juggernaut has posed:
The docks shake, splinter, chasm apart as Juggernaut nears the anchor point of the cargo ship--only for Spider-Man's efforts successfully trip up the behemoths footing.

Had he been simply walking that might not have worked, but the unexpected slip up causes him to slide as the rubble is pulled from his tread. He might have managed to regain his balance. It's a poor Juggernaut that can't simply run...but to do so he slows, intending on coming to a stop as he twists at the waist to see the incoming Mr. Parker.

"That does it! Now you're just making me ma--"

And so he promptly doesn't see the portal slide towards him and he goes tumbling into it, tipping over like a falling skyscraper.

"What the hell?!" he roars, seeing the brimstone and fire erupting and perhaps thinking he needs to stop being so literal even as his eyes flash with the furious red energies of the crimson cosmos at this unfortunante predicament.

There are certain things that are the bane of a Juggernaut sized seismic event. Obviously if there is a psychic with the skills and a way to get his helmet off..that can be a K.O. It's about the only thing that can actually harm him. Extremely powrful magics dircted at him must contend with his armor and inherent resistance though magical weapons have -some- luck depending on their unique properties. He might giggle at Thor's hammer but be less inclined to want to have Excalibur chopping at him.

Teleporters? Now that's unfair. But to Mephisto's realm? Well..now -that- might be problematic for more parties then just him especially as Mephisto likely has Cyttorak on speed dail and the embodiment of physical power, Cyttorak's avatar, loose in his realm..may not have predictable results.
Spider-Man has posed:
Some might say that people's differences are not as great as the things that they share, that unite them. That might not be entirely true when it comes to Cain Marko and Peter Parker. But they do share something at least.

"What the hell?!" Spider-Man exclaims, an unheard echo to the words of the plummetting Juggernaut who is swallowed up by that suddenly appearing portal. True, the webhead played a bit of a roll in that, but it was entirely unintended. Still, it's hard to deny that it is a solution to the big, flashing problem that didn't have another one handy. That being how to deal with the armored monster of a man.

Still plummetting to the ground, another webline shoots out, catching a ledge overhead and latching on as he brings that rapid descent to an abrupt stop, just inches from the pavement, leaving him dangling there. Not that he takes a whole lot of time to catch his bearings. There is the portal out there of course, and a host of villainous henchmen armed with some fairly high-tech weapons to deal with. That has to be his priority.

The source of the portal isn't hard to track down. It's pretty much directly in his line of sight, right there, floating above him. "So you... and I... and then you go and do that..." he says, gesturing somewhat inarticulately towards that gap in reality right in the middle of the devestated dock. "Well why did you go and let me think you needed saving if..." he starts to blather before giving a put upon sigh and turning his attention to the business at hand.

So much for his good deed for the day. He'll need to earn his good karma points another way.

Fortunately there's a whole lot of little fish out there to deal with and flipping into a standing position, Spidey races across the ruins of that yard, throwing himself aside to dodge fire when needed, but rapidly approaching the limited cover the gunmen have managed to find. "Hey, I have good and bad news for you," he calls out, popping up out from behind his own own makeshift barrier to spray webbing right in the face of one of the thugs still standing. "I won't kill you like the Juggernaut probably would have. Good news!" he says cheerfully.

Then he is off again, moving with astonishing speed as he hurdles the last few barrels that stand between him and the rest of the armed criminals. "Bad news! You might wish you were dead when you wake up in police custody in a few hours."

And with that, the fray is well and truly joined.
Satana has posed:
Satana chuckles and gestures, gathering souls of those who'd died at the docks behind her to pull her through the air toward the ship, alighting on its bow.

"He looks like he has things under control," she says to herself as she watches Spider-Man. "I'll just pop in and..."

And pop in she does. To the captain's stateroom, shooing away any stragglers who hadn't yet realized that the Juggernaut was going to turn their ship into a projectile or whatever. With great care she cuts her way into the captain's safe, using a jet of unnatural--profane--flame from her fingertip until the door clangs onto the deck. Inside she roots around, picks up a little box, opens it and smiles at a little ruby-ridden amulet.

"There you are my darling!"

And with that she reverses course, strides to the bow of the ship, and jumps off, landing lightly on the pier.

"OK, you can come back now."

The portal flips itself around and inside Mephisto's domain, Juggernaut sees a hole that leads to the docks now. He'll have to jump and climb a bit to get through it, but ... home is in sight.

Satana walks over to where Spider-Man is ringing bells and punching clocks with alacrity.

"Do you need my assistance or can I go home now? And ... do you perhaps wish to join me?"
Juggernaut has posed:
Only teh far-sighted mutant seeress, Destiny, could have seen what might have occured had Satana not intended on bringing Juggernaut back when she did. The mercurial whims of hellish entities are difficult for any to fathom in full, especially when rival powers and magical principalities and their champions are involved. A primordial embodiment of strength and destruction.. Cyttorak is at the very least a relative of Mephisto and such magicks at war can have quite the unique effect on an avatar left to their whims.

So needless to say she just averted a supernatural disaster of various ilks by enabling the colossal brute to come stumbling in, trailing hellfire behind him, body awashed in a crimson glow and the energies of the crimson cosmos crackling wildly around him.

The entire area lurches as he staggers, stumbling to a knee to brace himself, splitting the ground from a surge of strength and putting a hand up to his head, already dizzy from the supercharge of supernatural forces rolling through him.

You probably don't want to see the condition he left the place behind him in. Even if it was Hell. You can always make it worse and break it.

"What's -going on-!>" he bellows, voice shaking the area as he staggers, almost drunkenly, to try and regain his senses. "What -was- that?!"

It hasn't even occured to him that Satana isn't quite nearby but Spider-Man aint to far from the behemoth and the rolling smell of brimstone still about him.

As to the remaining thugs? Most have gotten the hell out of there - so to speak. Those that can't escape any longer, have dropped weapons and raised arms.. surrendering to Spider-Man's good graces.
Spider-Man has posed:
Look, Spider-Man's a little busy right at the moment. A host of criminals with high-tech weapons won't disarm themselves afterall. So while he is dodging and weaving, punching and web-shooting to the faces, chests, arms, legs and yes, occasionally groins, of the unfortunate thugs, it's possible that the wall-crawler might have lost track of just where Satana got to. It's fair though. She did the heavy lifting. It's just unfortunate that he won't get a proper chance to thank her for taking care of that particular nightmare scenario.

Of coruse, in hindsight that might prove to be a good thing. Because while not every crook is dealt with quite yet, that suddenly becomes pretty irrelevent when Satana reappears. And promptly brings the Juggernaut back from wherever he's been too.

"OH C'MON," Spidey shouts, gesturing towards the armored figure standing a dozen or so feet away before motioning towards the young woman who's just invited him back to her place.

Timing might not be everything in life, but Peter has pretty much reached the conclusion that Fate, Lady Luck, the Universe or whatever you want to call it really likes to have a good laugh at his expense.

The costumed young man doesn't even pay attention to the remaining gunmen -- who are hastily disarming themse3lves, apparently deciding that surrendering to Spidey is a whole lot better -- and less suicidal -- then waiting for the returned monster to finish his work. For his part, Peter doesn't hesitate either. His solution? Those web-shoots come up once more and he just empties them, webbing spewing forth to completely coat the armored man and the piece of dock he stands on. Then it is a matter of trying to hurriedly break the section Juggernaut stands on off from the rest of the dock and set him adrift.
Satana has posed:
"Yes. I brought him back," Satana says, looking puzzled between Spider-Man and Juggernaut. "I don't want to interfere with his work. I just needed to get the Amulet of Rez-Noor." She shrugs fetchingly, form subtly morphing into Spider-Man's feminine ideal. With all the skank dials turned to eleven.

"If he'd been more reasonable about things, I wouldn't have had to send him to Hell. But he's not destined for Hell so I couldn't keep him there. His soul is owned by another."

There's something chilling about someone's wet dream made manifest talking so calmly and certainly about souls and Hell. Especially after demonstrating that the latter is very much real!

"I hope he messed up the place. That was Mephisto's domain. I hate that bastard."
Juggernaut has posed:
Spider-Man's strength is signifigant. In fact - far more then most would even consider given his frame and the general use of his abilties. He's actually -quite- powerful.. but even so they stand upon the reinforced industrial docks used for cargo shipments and massive crates. It's not an easy break, even with Juggernaut having been stomping around - else the bruiser woudl have long ago descended into the waters below. That's not to say that his actions can't bear fruit but..there just isn't enough time and the goliaths strength is..well...incalcuable by any mortal means. Thus when he starts moving.. there's a delay and then the webbing starts to shred and he..stumbles drunkedly?

"Ugh. My head.." he rumbles. , staggering forward and shredding up the concrete violently as he trips a few steps -away- from the duo. He keeps one hand onto his helmet as he weaves and bobs back and forth and then fully dislodges himself form the webbing at last with a shower of rocks and dust accompanying him.

"Where the heck am I.." he grumbles before staggering away from them. The earth shaking with his steps and a whine of metal twisting and groaning as he reaches out to gasp hold of a steel girder to support him and contorts it like so much wet twine as he passes. It seems the ship itself will remain intact for now and Juggernaut's bank account will probably take a hit as a result.

"Man. I need to sleep this off." he grumbles and grouses as he starts stumbling away back into the lingering clouds of dust and ruin from his earlier assault. Whatever magical hangover is happening to him from that jaunt to hell seems to have done the trick and for now the day is saved.
Spider-Man has posed:
It is quite the effort and while it is not difficult to question his intelligence sometimes when that mask slips on, he puts all that scientific knowledge of leverage and stress points to use, puts all the damage that Juggernaut has already done to the wharf and puts his own prodigious strength to work. It's a pretty good effort really. But on his best day Spider-Man doesn't exactly knock down buildings. Catch a car hurled through the air, sure, he can manage. But he's not going to be knocking down neighborhoods. Or breaking through reinforced concrete in a few seconds. Even damaged reinforced concrete. That doesn't mean he doesn't try though. Indeed, he's still straining when Juggernaut breaks free from all that webbing.

He does fortunately have more web cartridges on him this time. That's a nice change of pace. But stalling the beheamoth for another few seconds seems like a waste so the costumed young man strains against the literal immovable object as he staggers around. "He's a freakin' menance! Have you taken a look around? If he gets loose into the neighborhood... who knows why he's here tonight..." Peter bites out. He might not be a muscled brute, but every last muscle is straining now.

"All those innocent people out there..." he says as the armored man seems to regain his footing, as he starts towards him again.

And then walks right past him, muttering to himself.

Well, the Universe taketh away more often then not. But occasionally she gives too. Peter strains for just an instant longer before giving up his efforts to break away a section of that wharf, straightening up and turning to watch as the Juggernaut simply staggers away. He's not completely unaware ofjust what's going on though, even now and when a couple of the disarmed thugs try to sneak away in the aftermath he rather casually kicks a barrel there way, letting it bowl their feet out from beneath them.

He also does finally glance back towards Satana -- and is probably grateful that his mask conceals any obvious reaction he might have at the sight of her. He does manage to lift a hand, pointing her way as he shakes his head slowly. "You... you are something else..."

'Nuff said.
Satana has posed:
"Innocent people?" Satana asks pleasantly. "There are none. Not within several blocks' radius. You have to go to the Kindergarten up on seventh before you find the first innocent soul."

Satana sidles up to converse more quietly. "You're close," she murmurs. "But even you have the stain of sin about you." She looks Spider-Man up and down, sniffing slightly. "You are guilty of sloth, Mr. Spider-Man. I can smell it on you. Not now, but a deep stain in the past. A time when you were too lazy to be what you are now."

She looks the hero in the eye covers. "Tell me I'm wrong."

Deep in Satana's eyes the pinpricks of Hellfire itself can be seen by those who look carefully.

"No," Satana says, looking away from Peter now and gesturing at the destruction and carnage around her. "Sinners. Ever last one of them. And as I do the Whoreson's work for him, these will all wind up in Hell. With me."

She turns to face Peter again, all the gravitas she'd been building up vanishing in a trice as she looks now more like a squealing fangirl. "I've got JIM MORRISON at my place! He serenades me whenever I feel down. Isn't that great!?"