This chapter is more of a transition chapter. It's where Spiderman gets them out of the building and finds shelter until S.H.I.E.L.D can come. Not one of my best, but needed as a transitory chapter.
They had run almost a mile into the complex when Power Man stopped and all but dumped Nova on the floor. Spiderman turned, absurdly annoyed about the halt in their progress. "What is it Power Man?" The superhero had his hands on his knees and was panting heavily. "Hate to be a drag Spider, but-" He paused to gasp for air. "I haven't eaten for two days and I don't think I can stand anymore." Spiderman cursed himself as he readjusted the survival pack he had situated on his back. "Sorry, I forgot." He looked around.
Most underground facilities had an aircraft wing designated for quick escapes. He did a few quick mental calculations and estimated they were about five corridors away from a hangar. He faced the weakened teen in front of him. "Can you make it another quarter of a mile?' Power Man grimaced, but stood and hoisted Nova onto his shoulder once again. The two started forward for a second time, now at a slower pace. After what seemed like hours, Spiderman and his friend reached their destination.
They glanced around. All of the planes were dilapidated and old- most of them missing wheels, windows, and sometimes whole wings. Power Man scowled. Great! I guess we're stuck here. Spiderman did not quit, but hunted for one in a slightly usable condition. There were none. He was about to give up hope when he spotted a decrepit, little helicopter that was almost hidden under the shadow of a larger plane. When he finally reached it he set Iron Fist and White Tiger on one seat and pulled Power Man and Nova up onto another. Power Man glanced at the gas tank with concern. "This copter ain't going to take us far. We got fifty miles at most, and we don't even know which direction to go." Spiderman rolled his eyes. "Have a little faith!"
Power Man grumbled. "Faith. That's all that's keeping me going. Do you even know how to fly this thing?" The Spider coughed. "Well, in theory yes, but in real life…" Power Man sighed but still strapped him and the others in. Spidey pressed a button that looked like a set of doors, and the roof began to slowly rasp open, leaving room for the helicopter to take off. Spidey stared at the controls. "It can't be too hard, I mean I'm a science and mechanics geek." Power Man grinned. "It sounds like you're trying to convince you more than me."
Spiderman concentrated, trying to block all distractions (*cough* Power Man *cough*) out. After studying it for a bit, he realized that this wouldn't be so difficult. Soon they had flown out of the underground lair and into the open, snow filled, skies. They flew for a while in peace… but then they started to run out of gas. Power Man tried to keep his voice controlled and calm, but Spiderman could hear the alarm throughout every layer. "What are we going to do? I'll be fine, but you guys-".
The Spider held up a hand. "I thought about this before we went up in the air." He motioned for Power Man to pull everybody in. "My web fluid has the strength and endurance of metal many times over." He held his hands up. "I'm going to put us inside a web-sack, so when the plane explodes, we'll be safe. It should cushion our fall as well." Power Man raised his hand. "Should?" He asked. Spiderman smiled. "What's life without a little bit of a risk?"
The engine shuddered, cutting their conversation short. "Okay, hold on!" Spidey lifted his hands and covered them in a cozy little ball of webbing. The helicopter lurched causing the people in the ball to roll over each other. Even though sound was muted in the ball, they very clearly heard the sound of several metal pipes exploding at once. And then they were falling lower and lower. Spiderman had never been a particularly religious person, but he found himself praying as he fell. By the looks of it, Power Man was engaged in the same activity.
Before they knew it, it was over. They landed safely if not gently, and after a further examination, everyone looked fine. Power Man had a queasy feeling in his stomach. It felt like they were …rolling? Spiderman used a blade concealed in his web-shooters to burn a hole through their safe bubble revealing that they were in the middle of a partially frozen lake. Power Man swallowed down his nausea. They were bobbing.
Spiderman thought for a minute, then braced his feet against the inside of the ball and shot a line towards some trees. Then he began the time-consuming, tedious, task of pulling them to shore. Power Man honestly wanted to help, really he did, but he barely had enough strength to stay awake. After about ten minutes Power Man felt the web/boat bump against land. He sighed in relief. He hated riding in machines-aircraft, cars, boats, trains; they all made him absolutely nauseated.
Spiderman ripped a bigger hole in the side of their inventive crash-protector, allowing Power Man to pull the others out. While Power Man staggered around in the snow, Spiderman surveyed their surroundings. Well what do I have to work with? Snow, snow, more snow, some trees, and more snow. He almost laughed. At least we won't die of thirst or heat stroke. He turned to ask Power Man what he thought, only to find the burly teen passed out next to his other teammates. Spiderman scrunched his face in concentration.
He needed to go find a shelter, but he also needed to keep his team safe. He opted to leave his team and go find a place to stay. They had just flown from one of the most remote places in Montana to a place most likely in Canada. He figured he didn't have to worry about his team. He shivered. I hope I find a place soon. If I don't, we'll all get frost bite. After about twenty minutes of aimless wandering, he located a small, empty cavern. It wasn't big enough to fit all of them, but with some help from his webbing it just might. He stuck his head into the cave, and after determining there was no danger, he tossed the survival pack into the corner and raced back to his friends.
When he arrived, he was pleased to see them all huddled together- awake. He cleared his throat to get their attention. They looked up. "Guys, I found a place to stay." White Tiger grumbled at him, "About time!" Iron Fist rubbed his frozen nose. "Are we walking?" Spiderman puckered his brow. "Can you?" Every one nodded. "Good." He said relieved. "Follow me, it's not far."
When they reached the cavern, everyone's spirits seemed to lift. Even Nova, uncharacteristically silent, nodded in appreciation. "Power Man, you got enough juice in your tank to take down those two trees?" The Spider asked pointing to two large trees on the right. Power Man went over, and with two powerful side-kicks he knocked them down. Spiderman then turned to Iron Fist. "Iron Fist, I need you to chop these into sections of four. The K'un-Lun hero nodded and proceeded to do as the Spider asked.
Next the Spider addressed White Tiger. "White Tiger, I need you to cut six grooves at the end of each trunk and one in the middle." Groaning about her icy fingers, she hopped to work. Reluctantly Spidey turned to Nova, not knowing what to do with a solemn and serious Nova. "Nova, when she's done fit them together to form three walls and a roof." Nova also nodded and went to work.
Spiderman was flabbergasted. Now Nova wasn't talking and he was obeying orders? On a normal day, that would have made the Spider happy, but today it just made him wonder if he had permanently damaged his relationship with Nova. When the other four finished and put together Spiderman's little project, they were enclosed in a roomy space that barred the snow and most of the wind. Because the logs were of all different sizes, air still got in allowing them sufficient ventilation.
White Tiger shuddered. "It's nice to be out of the wind and snow, but I'm still freezing, and starving. Spiderman stood, hit with a sudden idea. "White Tiger, will you cut a hole for me on this side. About the size of a door?" White Tiger gave him a strange look but complied. Spiderman then ducked out the hole and left the four alone. Within minutes he was back, carrying a huge stack of wood on a piece of damaged metal.
He grinned shaking snow off of his mask. "It's the door to the helicopter. He deposited the wood onto the floor, then turned and fitted it into the frame he had told White Tiger to make. "There, now we can come and go."
The Spider took the majority of the wood and put it in a dry corner. The rest of it he put in the center and solidified with webbing. "Nova, can you light this up?" Nova lifted two fingers and blasted the wood. It flickered to life, dancing with a merry little flame. Their impromptu shelter was soon dry and warm.
Spiderman stood and retrieved his survival pack from the corner and began to pass blankets to all. After ensuring everyone was warm and comfortable he held up two packages he had found in the bag. "We've got dehydrated potatoes and chicken, and ramen." Iron Fist chuckled. "I choose this ramen. I don't understand how one could go about dehydrating a chicken." Power Man and White Tiger seconded his motion, while Nova shrugged and looked away.
Spiderman took one of the foldable pots and went outside to fill it with snow. While he was away, Iron Fist tried to approach Nova. "Tell me what is bothering you my friend, perhaps I can help." Nova shook his head. "I'm fine." He muttered, but the tense way he was sitting defied his answer. Iron Fist didn't have time to press him for more information before Spiderman came back through the door with his snow- soon to be water.
Fifteen minutes later Spiderman ladled soup into four inflatable bowls and handed everyone a set of plastic ware. Spidey realized exactly how hungry they had been when they wiped out a whole gallon of noodle soup in less time than it had taken him to prepare it. Spiderman pulled up his mask and looked into the bottom of the pot. It was all gone. He had waited to eat, wanting his team to get what they needed before he fed himself. He sighed, wishing he had brought snacks of his own. He reached over and half heartedly prodded the survival pack.
Iron Fist and White Tiger looked ready to about pass out from exhaustion, and Power Man was already there. Spiderman toyed with his mask in his hand giving them what he hoped was a reassuring look. "Go to sleep guys, I'll cover you." Too tired to argue, they both fell victims to the embrace of sleep. Nova took his helmet off (turning himself back into Sam) and cradled against his chest. Then he too fell into sleep's greedy clutches.
Peter walked over to him. In his sleep his face looked peaceful, almost angelic in quality. Gone were the worry lines and angry set of his mouth that looked so out of place on his youthful face. His hands, instead of being balled up at his sides, were relaxed gently holding his helmet next to him. Peter noticed that his laugh lines were also back, something that he hadn't seen Nova/Sam do for a while.