The Super NKOTB
by Kittie

Episode Ten - Come Into My Parlour (The Spider and the Flies)

"Joe!" Jonathan leapt to his feet, sending his chair clattering to the floor.

"Man, relax," Jordan said, a hand flying to his chest. "What's the matter with you, he does that all the time!"

"But that's just it," Jonathan said slowly, his face going utterly pale. "He didn't do it."

"What?!" Danny was out of his chair in a minute and at Joe's side. "Joe, can you hear me?" He slapped gently at Joe's cheeks, trying to rouse him.

"Danny... he's not there. It's like he just... stopped."

"Are you saying he's—" Donnie cut himself off, not willing to say the word.

"No," Danny answered quickly. "He's breathing okay...."

"Oh man...." Donnie let out a relieved breath. "So long as he's alive and all...."

"So what's wrong with him," Jordan asked, his body practically vibrating from nervousness.

"It's—" Jonathan began, and then his eyes grew wide and his hands flew up to his head. "No, stop it! Get out!"

"Jon?!" Jordan flew to his brother's side, grabbing at his wrists. "What's the matter? Snap out of it!"

Jonathan's mouth worked, but no sound came out. He slowly sank to his knees, pain flashing in his eyes.

"Danny, do something!" Jordan yelled, panicked.

"Man, what is this," Donnie managed, just as the lights flickered out. "Hey!"

"Hey yourself," said an amused voice.

Donnie's head whipped around, his eyes searcing uselessly for who had spoken. "Who's there? Where are you?"

"I'm right here," said the man as he stepped out of the shadows. He was very tall, with sharp, pale features and dressed all in black. His hands rested casually in the pockets of his long trenchcoat, and he regarded the group with a smug smile.

"You're that spooky guy," Donnie burst out, without thinking.

"My name is Robert," the man said with a derisive snort, "And I'll thank you to refer to me as such."

Donnie grabbed him by the lapels. "Okay, Robert, what did you do to Joe and Jon?"

Then man vanished briefly and reappeared behind him, tapping Donnie on the shoulder. "I didn't do anything," he said smoothy, "but I'm sure my associate—" he gave a quick start and amended himself... almost fearfully... "My boss, that is... has some big plans for you and your friends."

"Well, call him off, do something," Jordan pleaded, desperately shaking Jonathan, trying to bring him back to awareness.

"Oh, I'm afraid that's quite impossible, Jordan," the tall man said.

"Why?!"

"Muh... muh...." Jonathan finally managed to get some sound out, but he couldn't finish the word. His voice cut itself off with a choked gasp.

"What?! Jon, what is it!"

Behind them, the letter magnets on the fridge began to rearrange themselves. MR M-

Then they all fell to the floor as Jonathan finally lost his inner fight.

"Mr. Who? What's he trying to—" Jordan went sheet white as he suddenly realized what Jonathan had been trying to say. "Mr... Man?"

"Hello, Jordan," whispered a familiar voice.

Jonathan's body slid to the floor as Jordan dropped him, his fingers going numb. "No...." he managed, staring up into flaming red eyes. "No, it can't be...."

The evil being gave a wet, fang-filled smile. "It's been a long time, my friend. Much too long." A clawed hand reached out toward them.

"Jordan," Donnie snapped, stepping forward, "Snap out of it man, we gotta get out of here! We—" His voice suddenly disappeared. His eyes widened in shock and his hands went to his throat. "What-?" he tried, but nothing but air came out of his mouth. "Hey," he whispered loudly. "Hey, what happened to my voice?! Jordan, snap out of it, what's wrong with you man! We gotta get—" And suddenly, he couldn't even breathe.

Danny shot to his feet and was at Donnie's side in a second. "Donnie, come on man, breathe!"

Donnie's hands clutched at his throat, fingers flexing desperately as he tried in vain to draw in air. Darkness started to seep into the edges of his vision.

"Let him go," Danny screamed, "Whatever you're doing, quit it!"

The red-eyed demon barely looked around. "I think not."

"But you're killing him!"

"That was the idea." He turned around and regarded Donnie indifferently. "But I do have need of you later. I might be persuaded to spare you now... but we'll have no more from you. Not a sound."

Donnie nodded vigorously, barely able to see anymore. He couldn't last much longer....

"Very well." Mr. Man shrugged and Donnie suddenly drew in a deep, ragged breath. "I expect you'll keep that promise."

"Donnie...." Danny pulled him to his feet, one arm around his waist to help hold him upright. "Are you okay?"

"Just... peachy," he rasped, and then shut his mouth with a snap. He wasn't sayin' nuthin'.

"Enough of this," Mr. Man snapped, holding Jordan by the hand. He glared at Danny and indicated Jonathan and Joe. "Pick them up. You're all coming with me."

Danny clenched his fists at his side, but did as he was told. Together, they might have been able to fight him off, but with Jonathan and Joe unconscious, Jordan in shock, and Donnie scared out of his wits, he was on his own. "Okay, so where are we going?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Robert, bring the boy," he ordered, indicating a shell-shocked Jordan. "You," he barked, pointing at Donnie, "Try to keep up."

Donnie just nodded. He was not going to say a word.

~*~

"Jordan, snap out of it!" Danny lightly slapped at Jordan's cheeks, alarmed at the vacant look in his eyes. "Look at me!"

Jordan didn't respond at all.

Across the room, Mr. Man let out a light chuckle and Robert did the same, completely oblivous to the dark glare Mr. Man shot in his direction. Mr. Man rolled his eyes and turned back to Danny. "Let him be. It might be better for him if he is... incapacitated."

"Why?" Danny demanded, ignoring Donnie's motions for quiet. "What do you plan to do with us? And how did you find out about our... abilities?"

Mr. Man gave a haughty shrug. "For a genius, you certainly are stupid."

Robert snickered into his palm as Danny just glared at them, pressing hard against the invisible sheild that kept him and the other confined. Even at full strength, he couldn't break through.

"I gave you your powers," Mr. Man announced triumphantly.

Danny went a sickly shade of white. "What?"

"Did you really think that lightning strike was an accident? No, it was carefully planned. I knew the five of you were there, and I knew Robert was nearby. I waited until you were all huddled together and I struck. The outcome was even more than I had hoped for."

"You mean you gave us these powers on purpose?"

"I initiated the change, yes."

"But why?"

"So that I could transfer the powers to myself. You see, I wasn't sure if it would work. It was the most powerful spell I had ever attempted, and I certainly was not going to try it on myself. The amount of energy it produced was enormous, and I felt it would be better for the six of you to share the impact. It might have killed just one. Now that I know it worked, I will drain your newfound powers for myself. Unfortunately for you, the process will kill you."

"Why did you choose us?"

"You were convenient. I lost that one years ago, thanks to his meddlesome brother. This was a perfect opportunity to regain what should have been mine. Robert was... an interesting addition to the plan. He worked at your studio, and for a long time I sensed a delicious evil in him. If our friend Jordan was not... preoccupied... at the moment, I'm sure he would recognize him. Robert does not know that I was watching him long before I recuited him."

Robert gave a start and turned to face Mr. Man. "Really?"

Mr. Man ignored him. "He used to delight in sabotaging the equipment in the recording studios, causing accidents of varying intensity. Apparently, he was never caught, though now that I have seen his bumbling first-hand I cannot understand why. Before I enhanced his abilities, he was merely an outcast. He was a loner, the unassuming type that instilled vague uneasiness in people. He was 'Spooky,' as young Joseph said."

Mr. Man smiled thinly and snaked an arm around Robert's shoulders. Robert squirmed uncomfortably. "His home life was quite interesting as well. He was always trying to invoke minor demons and such, never very successfully, although it was quite amusing to watch. I knew he would be the perfect man to help me in my plans."

Mr. Man then removed his arm from Robert's shoulder and faced him, his face growing cold. "However, he has just outlived his usefulness."

"What?" Both Danny and Robert said it at the same time. Mr. Man simply grinned and lashed out, his claws raking across Robert's neck.

The tall man 's eyes bugged out, his hands flying to his ruined throat as frothy blood exploded forth, splattering on the walls and floor.

Donnie let out a choked gasp and turned away as Danny felt his stomach flip. Robert was gurgling, groaning, his body slowly sliding to the floor. Mr. Man simply watched him dispassionately and licked the blood and torn flesh from his claws. Mr. Man smirked and gave a mock salute. "Goodbye Robert. It's a shame your powers were useless to me... you might have lived longer."

He turned back to Danny, who was staring open-mouthed at the body and the pool of blood that continued to grow around it. "Gruesome, but necessary. I should have rid myself of him the second I realized he had overlooked Joseph's powers, but I decided to give him a second chance. It was a mistake I won't make again."

He snapped his fingers and a splash of black lightning leapt from his fingertips and struck Jordan. Before Danny even had a chance to react, Jordan was on his feet and walking slowly toward Mr. Man, his eyes wide and blank. "Come here, Jordan," the demon was saying, his voice low and soothing. "I wish to make you immortal. You will live on forever within me, as it should have been when you were a child. We were such friends, Jordan...."

Donnie opened his mouth as if to shout for Jordan's attention, but at the last second he gasped and put a hand to his throat, clamping his lips shut. Danny spoke for him. "Jordan, don't listen to him! He'll kill you, come back!"

Storm clouds slowly gathered above them as Mr. Man began to laugh.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12