Denise was in the kitchen secretly listening in on the conversation. Clones? That want to kill her kids? She was glad that this young clone of Danny was on their side. Including Caty that was at least three on their side. She just hoped Caty was okay out there all alone. With how withdrawn she's been lately she was concerned. Maybe it was time for Denise to come out of retirement.

[hr]

[color=E137E3]"There's no way you can guarantee that. Clone or not, you're not immortal. You don't even have powers. There's no way I can always protect you. I've never been able to protect you. I..."[/color] Caty felt herself beginning to break down. No matter what Liz was saying about how she doesn't blame her, that doesn't matter. Caty's not ready to forgive herself. She should've known better. She was smarter than that. More calculated than that. How could she have killed Liz!?

Liz removed her hands from Caty's and placed her right hand on her cheek, wiping away her tear. The other hand she pointed behind her and in the darkness of the alley it started to faintly glow green. [color=99d6ff]"My sweet, hero... You don't have to protect me anymore. I can do that myself."[/color] A blast of energy released from her left hand killing a spider that had been observing them.

Caty turned around to see the dark stained ground where the spider used to be. She then noticed a faint glow in Liz's left hand. [color=E137E3]"What did you just do?"[/color]

Liz sighed. They were out of time. [color=99d6ff]"I was telling the truth when I said I wasn't here to fight you. I just didn't tell you the full truth. I thought we had a little more time. But there are others. Not other me's, other you's. I just killed one of their trackers."[/color]

Caty stepped back trying to process all of this. A clone of her girlfriend was one thing, but clones of her? Why would someone clone her? Where did they even get the DNA? The thought sent a shiver down her spine causing her to wriggle in place. She shook that thought out of her head. One of them was tracking either her or Liz. Just why couldn't she have some holiday without some freak messing with her? She just couldn't take it anymore! Caty let out a SCREAM louder than the one she let out when she first got bit.

Some pedestrians passing by heard the scream, but once they looked inside the alley they'd see nothing. Caty and Liz were gone.

Meanwhile they were on the roof continuing their conversation. [color=99d6ff]"Seriously?"[/color] Liz asked.

[color=E137E3]"There are psycho clones, no offense---"[/color]

[color=99d6ff]"None taken."[/color]

[color=E137E3]"Of me trying to kill me."[/color]

[color=99d6ff]"Well, only one wants to kill you. The other just wants to prove she's better."[/color]

[color=E137E3]"You're going to tell me everything."[/color] Caty said with a face that said she had absolutely no time for bullshit.

[color=99d6ff]"I can't tell you everything, but what I can tell you is that they're not supposed to attack you before Christmas. Sort of like a Krampus gift to you. We've only been released to get a feel of the battleground. Except we each kind of do our own thing. There's a clone of Danny at your house now."[/color]

Caty's eyes widened. She was about to leap off the building when Liz grabbed her wrist. [color=E137E3]"What're you doing? I have to save them!"[/color] She couldn't believe how strong her grip was.

Liz shook her head. [color=99d6ff]"They're fine. She's not going to hurt them."[/color]

Caty raised her eyebrow. [color=E137E3]"She?"[/color]

[color=99d6ff]"Yeah. A cute little button named Dani. An error in the cloning process. She's younger and a girl. But she's not who you need to worry about and they'll be able to handle whatever comes their way. You need to worry about your clones."[/color] Liz let go of Caty's wrist and let her fully come back to the conversation. [color=99d6ff]"One's not so bad. Actually... she's kind of this hot goth version of you. Totally uninhibited. She's meant to replace you as Caty and Spider-Woman."[/color]

Caty was perplexed. For one, her girlfriend or girlfriend's clone was obviously crushing on her clone. This was all so much to take in that she didn't even know how to feel about that. [color=E137E3]"And the other one?"[/color]

[color=99d6ff]"She's a mute version of you. Precise and lethal. Essentially you if you trained to be a spider ninja assassin."[/color]

[color=E137E3]"Oh great. I'm going to die on Christmas."[/color] Caty said fully coming to term with her fate.