Chapter 2: Digital Shadow
Peter was sweating bullets as he approached the microphone in the recreation room in the X-Men's base.
Last time I make a bet with Gwen Stacy and lose. he thought as his eyes swept across the room, perusing the assembled crowd of allies. In the middle of it was Gwen herself, her fingers sweeping across her phone's touchscreen as she selected the piece for her victim.
"Got a good one here. Miracle of Sound, Digital Shadow. Indie rock."
As if on cue, the opening chords of the song began as Peter took hold of the microphone.
"Digital jungle. City of wind. Vigilant hunger burns within." he began.
Don't screw this up.
"Back into the batch, I sweep and scan. Hack into the patchwork, pierce the plan. There is always some kind of way out of here…"
A dim cheering resounded from the crowd.
"Freedom is a green light- won't back down! Freedom is a green light!"
He paused for breath.
"Into the circuits I rush and I run- every trace I erase! Out of the mainframe I'm coming undone- headstrong I race through the maze!"
The cheering became more distinct.
"You can't catch a digital shadow! Deep into the city grid I go! You can't catch a digital shadow! Deep into the city grid I go!"
Another opportunity to pause.
"Interconnected- colors flash. Grid is infected- system crash."
The sound of applause began to rise.
"Back into the sprawl- no security! Hacking the walls of your privacy! There is always some kind of way out of here…"
More applause.
"Into the circuits I rush and I run- every trace I erase! Out of the mainframe I'm coming undone- headstrong I race through the maze!"
Cheers and applause echoed through the rec room.
"You can't catch a digital shadow! Deep into the city grid I go! You can't catch a digital shadow! Deep into the city grid I go!"
Peter took a deep breath.
"freedom is a red light- won't back down! Freedom is a red light!"
The song's bridge played while Peter refocused.
"Black Hat connection to the techno-social lie…cyber-metropolis my code to modify."
Another pause for breath.
"Into the circuits I rush and I run- every trace I erase. Out of the mainframe I'm coming undone- headstrong I race through the maze!"
"You can't catch a digital shadow! Deep into the city grid I go! Rush and I run- coming undone! (You can't catch a digital shadow- deep into the city grid I go!) Rush and I run- coming undone! (You can't catch a digital shadow- deep into the city grid I go!) Freedom is a green light!"
The song ended, and Peter scanned the roaring masses.