Chapter 9: Living Laser Loser
"One, two, three and queen me." "Queen you? But this is checkers." "Yes. And we are girls. So queens instead of kings." "Um...ok." This is embarrassing. I'm getting beaten by my own pokemon. "Ok...um...I move..."*Beep* *Beep* YES! I answered my wrist com. "Ello?" "No time for saying hi." "Yet there's time for that?" "Also no time for questions." "Ok then. So how about you tell me what the emergency is?" "Living Laser spotted downtown." "Living what?" "Living Laser. His name tells it all. Suit up and meet us downtown." "Okay then." I shut the communicator off. "Sorry Eevee but I got to go. We'll continue our game later. Ta-ta" "Later." And I was off.
"So what did I miss?" "Not much." "No time for chit-chat. Spidey's in trouble! I got him!" We all did our little poses...what? "Maybe we can take this guy down without, you know, tearing down the city!" "Yea well maybe we can. Put me down tiny...ow." "That's Power Man to you." "Yea...whatever." "Anyone read the wiki on bad 80's light show guy?" I sighed an pulled out my phone. "Here." I tossed it back to Nova. 'Subject: Parks, Arthur A.K.A The Living Laser. Former Stark industries employee. Made completely out of live, active photons...' "Wait, wait, wait. He's made of what?" I took my phone back, then explained. "Photons. It means..." He got bigger. "Yea...he can do that." "I'll fry you like bacon!" As tasty as that sounded...I really didn't like the sound of that. There was a sonic rupture and then the Living Laser was gone...and I mean gone. Poof.
"What just happened?" "I thought he was gonna fry us like bacon. What is he, vegan?" "There's the sound again." Wanna know where the sound came from? Well I'll tell you.
*Pause* He's a scientific genius! He's an avenger! The Golden Avenger in fact! Behold Manhattan's very own...Iron Man! *Resume*
What? I got it from Pete. "He...He's awesome! He like built his suit in a cave with some empty soda cans and a few paper clips." "Wow...I don't know whether to laugh at you...or laugh at you." "Laugh all you like now." And with those few words...Peter resumed his awe struct. "Whatcha think they're talking about." "I don't know. Probably some hero biz or somethin'." When we were all talking about how to track that light show Pete had his mind on something else.
"Ok so how are we suppose to track him?" "Ask people if they'd seen where a green laser went?" "Oh great idea. We could also ask them if they saw where you're brain went!" That got plenty of laughs. "Well...um...We could ask them...where your...um..." That sure didn't help Nova. "I rest my case." "How about we go over and get Web-head out of his awe struct?" "Great idea."
"What's your deal?" "Huh? Oh um..." "Well I gotta jet. Hey kid. Come down to the plant tomorrow and I'll give you a tour." "Ok I'll admit...that was cool." "Just get back to the helicarrier...and other places. And you! Stay away from him."
I went back home. "So...how was your night?" I plopped on my bed. Eevee on my stomach. "Horrid." "Aww...I'm sorry." I just looked at her. "What do you want?" "What do you mean?" She acted surprised...but I knew she wasn't. "You are only nice to me when you want something. So what is it?" "I want you to swallow your pride and actually ask Danny if he wants to go to the movies or something." "WHAT?!" I bounced up. "Well...it's not like you could actually be afraid right? So the only logical...answer...is...oh my God you are afraid! You're afraid that he'll say no!" "Well..." I started messing with a strand of lose hair. "I can't believe it! A demon like you actually afraid! And of something so small! I can't believe it." She started victory dancing on my legs. "So? What if I am? It's a normal teenage girl thing." "But you're not normal. When are you gonna get that? You are so far from normal that even 'Out of the Ordinary' doesn't cover it." "Whatever. I got training tomorrow so if you don't mind." I rolled over on my side trying to knock Eevee off. "I'm going to bed."
I got up early. I changed, had some breakfast and went over to the S.H.I.E.L.D Heli-Carrier.
"We waiting?" "For Bug-Boy? Why?" "Patience is a virtue." "So is punctuality." "Spider-Man's late. We train without him." "He'll show up." Power Man crashed some bots...with a bot. 1000 points. "Yea sure. I think you're confusing showing up with showing off." I spun around and fairy blasted...well I don't know how else to describe it...about 10 bots. 1000 points. "But what 'problem' will he have? And by problem I mean lame excuse." Tiger slashed some bots. 1000 points. "Back to why I should be team leader." Nova was getting chased by mini, flying bots. "A man cannot lead before he has found himself." Iron Fist smashed somewhere around 15...1000 points. "Well I'm here wreaking major havoc." Nova blasted the mini bots. 1000.
"It's wreaking havoc...oh never mind." "Let's put it to a vote. All in favor of changing the team's name?" There was a huge blast from the one wall. "What the heck?!" "Are we under attack?!" "Behold. Science has made what's perfect even better." We just looked at him. "Don't worry. It's all good. I'm working on a new level. One that you don't quite comprehend and...Woah!" He flew backwards. Then forward. Then...then all over the place. He wound up crashing the whole room. "Are you crazy?" He finally stopped and looked around. "How do you like me...now?" Tiger and I facepalmed.
A few days passed. I went back up to the Heli-Carrier and we went back over to the Conference Room. "Why are you guys so upset? This Armor rocks! Remember Wednsday?" Little flash back. "Don't think of it as the answer to all my problems. Think of it as the answer to all our problems!" We just looked at him. "Thursday?" Another flash back. My suit was still a bit burned! "I mean...I got my own repulsors!" We kept staring at him. "Yesterday?" Another flash back with the Melter.
We left the room. "This isn't working. That suit..." "He's totally throwing off our rhythm in the field!" And I knew a thing or 2 about rhythm. "We can't get the villain without destroying the whole town!" The alarm went off. "Guess who's back." Fury turned around. "Go get him." "What about Spider-Man?" "I'm only sending you." "Fine with me. Let's go team!" In a matter of minutes we were down town.
"We're gonna make this easy on you." "Give it up before we short-circuit you." There was a flash of blue light. And guess who was there. "What is HE doing here?" "If only I knew..." "And what are you supposed to be?" "You don't know? I'm your friendly neighborhood Iron Spider!" "You can't stop me." "Maybe they can't. But I can." "WHAT?!" "Calm down Latara." She had a point. Peter pressed a button...and metal 'arms' came out of the suit and almost hit Power-Man and I. "Maybe you should hang back until you got your learners permit." "Jealous?" "Afraid for my life is more like it." Living Laser blasted Spidey. Thank God.
"Should we help him?" "Why? He's 'good'." "We should still help. We are a team." Curse Danny's good nature! I don't think it went to well by the way Pete was saying 'No the light bulb's that way!' He crashed about 4 times before finally stopping. We rushed over to him. "The road to enlightenment can be a painful one." "I'm fine. I got this." "No you don't!" "You had your chance. It's my turn." I'm just going on record here and saying...Nova's an idiot. "Great job Bucket-Head." "I'm just warming up!" Yea...stupid. "You've got a lot to learn about how energy works." "He's getting away!" And like that Laser disappeared.
"That went well..." "Face it Junior Stark. In that suit you stink." "You can't control it." "He never touched me!" "He didn't have to." "You're your own worst enemy." "Stark made this for me!" "Yea well you sure picked him over us in a hurry. How about you work on your own. We don't need you!" I was hurt. Not physically though. "You're...you're serious?" "Seems that way." "You know...Stark is who he is because he followed his own path. You sure you're following yours?" "Where'd you get that? A fortune cookie."
I went back home. "This...this stinks!" I fell onto my pillow. "What's wrong now? Living Laser again?" "Yep." It sounded muffled, my face being in my pillow and all. "Well...if it makes you feel any better..." She grabbed my cell and put it beside me. "There's a message for you." She hopped off of my bed and onto her cat bed. I sat up and took my phone. I went into my texts and looked at the new message.
Danny-You ok?
Latara-Yea. Why?
Danny-You didn't seem it.
Latara-Well...I am.
Danny-Sure...
Latara-Are you doubting me?
Danny-Not quite. I'm just good at telling how people feel.
Latara-Right cuz your such the people person.
Danny-Well...
Latara-I know, I know. I'm just worried about Pete. Something seemed...wrong.
Ava-Guys check the news!
Latara-Why?
Ava-There's something you might want to see.
I grabbed my lab top and typed in 'DailyBugleNews'. The screen read...'Explosion at Stark Labs. Supposedly Iron Man's suit has been taken over. Who's responsible for this? And what's there motive?'
Ava-Did you read it?
Danny-No.
Ava-Not you!
Latara-Yea I did. What do you wanna bet that the Living Laser has taken over Stark's armor?
Danny-It's possible. But Peter's armor had the crack.
Ava-But something could of happened and the Living Laser could of still taken the armor over.
Latara-I'll tell the others.
Luke-No need.
Sam-Let's go kick his butt!
Ava-You gotta wait bucket head.
Luke-We need a plan.
Latara-No...we need Pete.
Sam-Seriously?
Latara-Yes.
Luke-Worth a try I guess.
Ava-Latara meet us at the Heli-carrier.
Latara-Okie Dokie. See ya soon.
"So what's up?" "Something has happened to Iron Man." "And..." "Living Laser has taken over his armor...at least that's what we think." "So you're going back out?" I slipped my glove on. "No der. Later!" I ran out the door and went over to the Heli-carrier.
We walked into the lab and found Peter and his armor. It was past 1 a.m. "What are you doing?" "Repairing..." "We heard about Iron Man." "Yea well...it's my fault and...and I'm gonna fix it." We all looked at each other than back at Pete. "I got into Stark's computer. It seems like Living Laser has taken over the place." "Did you tell Fury?" I kinda nudged Ava. She just looked at me and mouthed 'What?'. "Not yet. I wanna handle this on my own. Look I know I let you guys down." "You did blow it. Big time." I walked over to him. "We all make mistakes. It's part of being human...more or less." He looked up at me. "We'll never kick you out Web-head. No matter how bad you blow it." "We were always in this together." "Even when you're a major screw-up." "Which is often." I added. "We'd never let you fly solo." "And we should get going. Before Fury can send in the cavalry." "Isn't that...breaking an order." "Well..." I acted like I was thinking about it. "Nope. Can't break an order that was never given." "Just do us a favor...lose the armor." "Hold on here. Let's think about this. It's not going to be like before...is it?" "Oh no. Nothing like before. I'm on my path now." "Good to have you back web-head."
We rushed over to Stark's lab. "After you." Iron Fist nodded and broke the door. "Knock Knock!" We all got into our poses...again. "Nice. Now check this out!" "Think you have what it takes to defeat me? Would you kill Stark to do it?" Just then Pete...Iron Spider blasted through the roof. "Time to bring it. Spidey Style." Living Laser kept blasting at us. Of course I wasn't paying attention. I was trying to figure out how to wake up Stark. "Shadow, look out!" "Huh?" I looked over to see a green light heading right towards me. Lucky for me Iron Fist was near. "Thanks. Now could you please get off me?" "Your...welcome. I guess." I just smiled and went back to trying to actually hit the guy. "Spidey...any time now!" "Hey Sparky. Look what I can do." He snapped his fingers and and electrical spark went through the suit...Iron Man's not Peter's.
"I am to good at this." Laser was forced out of the suit..again Iron Man's. "How dare you!" "I see your fashion sense took a jump. Wanna help me clean up?" "Yes! I mean...yes." The two were fighting Laser when we were...actually we were waiting for the plan. "So...what's next?" "I've got it all worked out. Shadow." I looked at him. "I need a portal or whatever to Stark's Control Station." "Huh?" "Um..." "Oh...oh never mind." I was being funny and created a fake string, pulled it and down came a portal to the control station. "Mature." "What?" "Never mind. Come with me."
"I'm ready. You're close to the thing and he's right on your tail." "What thing?" "The Thing! With the...thing! That does the...Thing!" I looked over at Tiger and mouthed 'What?'. Her answer? 'No clue.'. A few minutes past. "Woah...that wasn't part of the plan. Can't you do it?" It was quiet again for a few minutes. "You can do it." I looked at Danny. "You...you really think?" He just looked back at me. "Um..." Minutes...seconds...both later Peter pulled two handles. "It seperated his own structure. To a point where...he couldn't remain in his form." "Where'd you think he ended up?" Both Iron Man and Iron Spider shrugged. "I don't know."
"Well...we should get going."
"So...are we all good? I'm just checking." "That's you idea of an apology?" Peter sighed. "I'm sorry." He wheeled his chair over to Danny. "You know Danny...you were right. It's better to be an uncool me then a cool someone else." "Where'd you hear that? A fortune cookie?" "All right all right...get out of hear before I remember that you shouldn't off been anywhere close to Stark Labs." We dashed off.
"So...how was your...night?" "Not bad." "Good." Eevee was drinking some tea that was in a bowl. "Where'd you get tea?" "I made some." I turned around. "Uncle!" I hugged him. He laughed a bit. "Do you want some." I let go of him. "With the week I've been having...yes please!" A few moments later I was reading and drinking some tea. Then my phone dinged. I grabbed it. There was a text.
Peter-Hey guys...I just wanted to say thanks...again.
Latara-Enough with the thanking us already. It's getting so flippin' annoying.
Ava-She's right you know.
Luke-It is getting pretty annoying.
Sam-You got that right.
Danny-I agree.
Peter-Well the point is...I'm glad to have you guys as a team. I couldn't ask for a better one.
Ava-Wow...
Latara-Yea that's...that's really sweet.
Danny-Deep.
Luke-I feel the same way bro.
Sam-Yea...I guess you're ok Web-Head.
Peter-I'll take that as a compliment.
Latara-Mainly because it's to late for a verbal battler between you two.
Ava-Definitely.
Luke-Yea.
Danny-At least wait until tomorrow. It'll be a new day.
Latara-But it's past 2...isn't it already tomorrow?
Ava-I think he means later in the day.
Danny-No I really mean tomorrow...as in at least 22 hours.
Latara-Oh...that's even better.
Peter-Oh never mind!
Sam-I think you made him mad.
Latara-Sure...night!
Ava-Night.
Luke-Later.
Sam-...
Danny-Good night.
"Well...wonder what's next." "Yes. I'm sure it'll be thrilling." "Well...night." "Good night Latara."
