Okay, before we get started, I would like to say something first...
To tbone/Tbone/TBONE/T bone: I get that you're eager for Tombstone's return in this story, but that's no reason to flood my review list and e-mail with multiple reviews asking of pretty much the same thing over and over again. You could've just put all your thoughts into ONE review and sent it (It's really hard communicating with an anonymous user). The funny thing is, I was already planning on bringing in Tombstone and Janice Lincoln for this Miles-centered chapter. I mean, what other stories could I explore with Miles besides his girlfriend and who said girlfriend's father is? Also, I ask reviews for opinions and reactions, not requests. You're lucky I was planning something you've been begging for. But after this, don't do it again. Please. Pretty please.
Anyways, now that that's out of the way, let's see how Miles is doing while Peter was in Symakaria. Enjoy.
Please leave a review after reading. Give me your full, honest opinion (about the chapter). I would really, really appreciate it.
I'd like to thank the following users for reviewing the previous chapter: roxasduelwielder, josephguy217, gammaxmen80, K2-Black-Panther, Spider-Man999, Redwall, Knox, Heinkelboy05, Spideysquad
To roxasduelwielder: You're welcome. And, yeah, I thought it'd be funny of Peter and MJ both asking Sable about the age difference between her and Spider-Man.
To gammaxmen80: Well, get ready for another Just the Facts with JJJ episode.
To K2-Black-Panther: I've done plenty of things that don't fit Sable's character (entertaining Spidey's humor instead of ignoring him, listening to some random loudmouth on the radio a.k.a. Jameson, being a bit of a hugger, etc.). Look, the whole "Sable being a mother" thing is something I still have to consider as she will be coming back to New York eventually. But, hey, thanks for commenting about Sable's web shooter and War Machine. Very much appreciated.
To Spideysquad: First of all, big thanks for the review. I'm glad you love it. And yeah, all that Sable emotion, just wow (even to me). As for why Doom, I guess I'm just worried. There's only so much small-time stories I can tell in this "one-shot collection" before everyone would start begging for something bigger. I still want to keep this isolated in Manhattan, but when the time is right, I'll try to add something more. The Raft breakout, HYDRA, and Latveria... that's all the potential stories I'll be teasing at this point. Until I'm ready, it's a tease for now. It's still a "Spidey and Friends" story.
To Guest: Probably not, but I'll most likely be using Doom at some point in this story.
Bystanders have captured footage of Spider-Man leaving Manhattan with Silver Sable on her jet. While the red-suited wall crawler is heading for Symkaria to help with the civil war, Kid Arachnid (secretly Miles Morales) is left to take care of the city in his mentor's absence. School is over and it's summer time. Plus, Miles can come and go from F.E.A.S.T. whenever he wants to so no one would really become suspicious of him. Of course, there's his new girlfriend, Janice Connolly. Yup, they're still dating.
Miles aims to prove to himself and to the people that he is capable of protecting Manhattan while their favorite web-slinger is unavailable. After eating breakfast with his mom and telling his best friend that he'll meet him at Central Park after lunch, Miles suits up as Kid Arachnid. The name still bothers him, but he's slowly growing into it. You would think that's weird considering he was okay being called "Spider-Boy," but it's clear he wanted a manlier name to go with his new black and red suit.
"Ah, what a beautiful day," Kid Arachnid said. "Swinging through the city, seeing your reflection on buildings, ignoring that giant mustache on Jameson's billboard..."
HONK! HONK!
"And chasing yet another tank truck," Kid Arachnid added sarcastically. "Why is this a running gag in my superhero life? Hopefully, I can stop this without blowing up another street. Or else, Jameson isn't gonna be the only one who will never let me hear the end of it."
Kid Arachnid swings as fast as he can towards the truck. Two thugs in tracksuits stole it and are using it to escape a police car. The police won't shoot because it would risk the truck detonating and killing innocents. Kid Arachnid wastes no time swinging towards the chase. His Spider Sense failed to alert him to an incoming pigeon (which his face ran into), but he stayed on track.
"It's Spider-Boy!" The thug in the passenger seat said, having seen the black-suited superhero through the mirror.
"Didn't you watch Screwball's channel? He's Kid Arachnid now," said the thug driving the truck. "Anyway, forget about it! Just shoot him!"
Thug #2 (the one in the passenger seat) looks out the window again with a gun in his hand, preparing to shoot Spider-Man's sidekick out of the sky. However, he was gone, which confused him. Thug #1 (the one driving) did she something from the mirror on his side. Kid Arachnid crawling on the side of the tank.
"He's on the left side!" Thug #1 shouted.
Kid Arachnid webs the door off its hinges and says, "Who taught you guys to drive?"
Kid Arachnid web-pulls Thug #1 out of the car. He uses Impact Web to safely glue him to a wall. That just leaves the guy in the passenger seat. Thug #2 quickly turns his gun towards the sidekick, but Kid Arachnid grabs his arms and pushes him, causing him to shoot up, riddling the roof with bullets.
"No guns in the car!" Kid Arachnid quipped.
Kid Arachnid grabs the gun off the thug's hands and throws it out of the door-less doorway. Only now does Kid Arachnid notice that the truck is swerving left and right with no one working the wheel. Since he's sitting on the passenger seat, he might as well do it himself. Two problems, though. One, he doesn't know how to drive. Two...
"Die, runt!" Thug #2 shouted as he pulled out a knife.
Kid Arachnid manages to use one arm to deal with the thug, preventing himself for getting stabbed and punching the thug in the face. The thug persists and keeps trying to either punch or stab Kid Arachnid. It ends up in a slap fight with Kid Arachnid using one arm while trying to keep the truck from hitting civilians. The people run for their lives as Kid Arachnid determines to keep the car on the road and away from the sidewalks. That was proving a lot more difficult with the thug constantly trying to kill him.
"Dude, we are going to die!" Kid Arachnid said.
"You killed my friend!" Thug #2 shouted.
"Hey, I don't kill. First rule Spider-Man taught me," said Kid Arachnid.
Kid Arachnid tries to hit the brakes, but his struggle with the thug causes him to accidentally break the brake pedal. He incapacitates the thug by shocking him with his bio-electric powers.
"Great! The brakes are busted," Kid Arachnid complained. "Nice job, man. Can't wait to hear from Jameson when this thing blows up... if I live to hear it, that is."
Kid Arachnid throws the unconscious thug out of the car and glues him to a wall with Impact Web. He jumps out of the car and leaps to the back. He fires two web shots at the truck's bumper and starts pulling, trying to stop it himself. It was barely working, but it was working. His heels scratched the road as the truck dragged him. People continued to run and scream to get away from the chaos. Everyone is well aware of Kid Arachnid's track record with tank trucks. Maybe that's why criminals keep stealing them. To make Kid Arachnid look bad.
"C'mon! C'mon! C'mon, K.A.!" He said to himself. "Wait, the wheels."
Kid Arachnid holds the two web lines with one hand and uses the other to fire web shots at the rear wheels. Unfortunately, that only ends up unscrewing the rear wheels from the truck. The truck's rear descends and the bumper hits the road, creating that very uncomfortable metal-scratching-the-road sound and releasing hot sparks like during welding.
"Oh, c'mon!" Kid Arachnid complained.
Kid Arachnid stops pulling and propels himself to the front of the car. He attempts to use his super strength to push on the front and stop the truck. It's working. Unfortunately, the tank of the truck starts leaking gasoline and the hot sparks were igniting them. When he finally stopped the truck, his Spider Sense went into overdrive. The trail of gasoline was lit up like gunpowder, heading towards the tank truck.
Kid Arachnid jumps high and web-pulls the tank off the truck. Using his super strength, he pulls the tank high in the sky. He fires an Electric Web shot and causes the tank to explode. The blast sent him falling down fast and towards the blazing fire caused by the gasoline trail. The electricity from his fingers goes out of control and creates an even bigger fire. He had to rush out of the flames before he gets burned alive.
The people can only watch the young superhero run away while the fire gets worse. Kid Arachnid extinguishes himself as he watches the blazing fire from a rooftop.
"I know I'm a rookie, but do I really stink that bad?" He whined. "Well, your move, Jameson."
Meanwhile, in The Raft, Lonnie Lincoln (a.k.a. Tombstone) is in the prison cafeteria making soup. Yup, Tombstone is now working with The Raft's kitchen staff. Being the great cook he is (as said in his bio, written by Spider-Man), he made some changes to the prison's soup that everyone loved. Because of that, he was allowed to become a cook. Of course, he was still under heavy surveillance just in case. So far, he hasn't pulled anything sinister like food poisoning or anything. Every soup he makes is greatly loved by the staff and the prisoners.
"Ever thought about starting a food business, Lonnie?" Ethan the chef asked.
"Our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Guy suggested it to me once," said Tombstone. "And I told him, if it pays, I'm in."
"Well, you're good at it. A whole lot more rewarding than selling drugs," said Ethan.
"Don't be too optimistic, Ethan," said Tombstone.
"Are you sure there's nothing else out there for you, Lonnie?" asked Ethan. "A family, perhaps?"
Tombstone's hand froze when Ethan said "family." This made the big guy think about his daughter, Janice. Even now, she still doesn't know who he is. And now that his wife has told him that her skin is starting to become impermeable like his (before Spider-Man doused him with a counter drug), he worries more he won't be able to see her. He's supported her behind her back, but now he's stuck in this prison serving soup. He did enjoy cooking, though.
"Okay, Lincoln. Time to go back to your cell," said a Raft guard. "Are you done?"
"Pretty much," said Tombstone.
Tombstone is cuffed and escorted back to his cell. Suddenly, the guard escorting Tombstone was hit with a tranquilizer dart. The guard who incapacitated the guard approached Tombstone and unlocks his cuffs. This guard's eyes were glowing. That spooked Tombstone a little.
"When the alarm goes off, run," said the guard. "The chopper is heavily guarded, but the speedboat is easier to get to."
"What the hell is going on here?" Tombstone asked.
"Freedom," said the guard.
Before Tombstone can ask another question, the guard shot himself in the head. Then the alarms go off. Tombstone takes the dead guard's gun and makes a run for it. He shoots every Raft guard trying to stop him. He ends up getting shot twice - one bullet to the left shoulder, one on the right forearm - but he shakes it off and keeps running. As the glowy-eyed guard said, the speedboat is better accessible. He kills all the guards guarding the speedboats and steals one.
He starts driving the speedboat towards Manhattan. The rest of the Raft's security staff would've found out he escaped by now, but he wasn't counting on his escape being easy.
"Daddy's coming home, Jan," said Tombstone.
In the apartment belonging to Janice and her mom, Miles showed up with an injured shoulder. He needed a little patching up, but he didn't want his mom to worry or find out what he's been up to. So, he goes to his girlfriend. Lucky for them, Janice's mom is away so they have the place all to themselves. Good thing Mrs. Connolly keeps a first aid kit around.
"What exactly happened again?" Janice asked as she treated his shoulder.
"The latest truck chase with Kid Arachnid. I got startled and hit something. Hard," Miles lied.
"And you came to me instead of your mom, because why?" asked Janice.
"You were... closer from where I was," Miles lied.
"Well, I'm glad you're okay," said Janice. "I'm no doctor, but I think that shoulder will be fine as long as you don't do anything else today. I'll call F.E.A.S.T. and tell them you'll be missing from work today."
Miles' phone beeps due to a notification. Jameson's latest episode is on.
"I know I'm a hypocrite for asking this since I also listen to his podcast, but why do you listen to him?" Janice asked.
"He's hilarious," Miles said nonchalantly.
Miles and Janice listen to the latest episode of Just the Facts with J. Jonah Jameson.
"Listeners, be sure your children are listening because I have a Math lesson for them," said Jameson. "Kid Arachnid plus tank trucks equals what? KABOOM! That's right! KABOOM! Every time that black-suited newbie chases a tank truck driven by criminals, it always ends with something going on fire and endangering people who just want to go about their day walking down the street in peace. And that's what happened today. Another tank truck, another explosion. As much as I criticize Spider-Man for the damage he causes, his protege is far worse. That's like, what, the fifth tank truck he's destroyed. The fifth time he's almost killed innocent civilians. The fifth time he's proven that he's too green to do this vigilante justice. If he really wants to go on with his mentor's delusional antics... JUST CHASE BICYCLES!"
And that's the end of that episode.
"You think Spider-Man is gonna give Kid Arachnid a hard time for this?" Janice wondered.
"Well, if innocents are endangered, he won't be happy," said Miles. "I mean, I told you how I met him once. He's a nice guy, he can also be kinda serious."
"Must be hard for Kid Arachnid. Living up to his hero's expectations," Janice said sympathetically.
"So, since I'm sidelined, what's say you and I hang out somewhere?" Miles suggested. "Maybe just walk around the park, go to the arcade again, or just a walk?"
"How about we just play a board game?" Janice suggested. "Scrabble?"
"Not really a fan, but okay," said Miles.
"I'll get it. You stay here and don't move," said Janice.
While Janice goes to her room to get the Scrabble board, Miles' Spider Sense goes off. There was something dangerous outside. He looks outside the window. His Spider Sense seems to be luring his sight towards a large man wearing a large coat and a fedora. He can't see his face, though, especially not from a high angle and the hat he's wearing. This man is walking towards the building he's in. Miles can't help but feel that he could be coming to Janice's apartment.
"Uh, Jan, are you sure we can't just go out?" Miles asked, hoping to get away from the danger.
"You asked me to be your nurse, and I say no going out for you, mister," Janice said from the other room.
Janice comes back with the Scrabble board. Miles couldn't think and relax because his Spider Sense is driving him nuts. The stranger in the coat is coming. He can feel it. He tried to act calm, but Janice noticed his uneasiness.
"Afraid of losing?" Janice teased.
"Um... not really," Miles said nervously.
After the two have taken three turns each, someone knocked on the door, startling Miles. Janice answers the door, much to his worry. To his horror, it was the man in the coat and fedora. He can see his face now, and he recognized him... from pictures. It's Tombstone. Janice, however, doesn't recognize. If anything, she was weirded out by his skin tone.
"Hello, miss. Is your mother home?" Tombstone asked.
"No, she's at work," said Janice. "You her new boyfriend or something?"
Tombstone chuckles and says, "Just an old friend. I came here to give her this."
Tombstone gives Janice an envelope full of cash. $2000, to be exact. Miles knows this must be from Tombstone's drug operations. But why would he give them to Janice's mom, he wondered.
"Mom has been pretty tight on money as of late," said Janice. "Knowing her, she'll just add this to my college fund."
"Well, you must special for her to waste so much," said Tombstone. "What's your name?" He already knew, but he pretended not to.
"Janice," Janice answered.
"Nice name," Tombstone smiled.
"Should I tell mom you stopped by?" Janice asked.
"No," said Tombstone. "I've done my part for her. Nice to meet you, Janice."
Tombstone walks away, having done what he wanted to do. To see his daughter for the first time and to support her financially, as he always did before he was arrested the first time.
"Strange but nice man," said Janice.
"Uh, Janice, um... I have to go," said Miles. Thinking of a lie, he says, "I just got a text from my mom. She wants me to run an errand. Don't worry. It won't require much arm work."
"Oh, okay," said Janice. "Take care. Make sure you don't stress that shoulder."
Janice gives Miles a cheek kiss before he leaves. He smiles and blushes. It's the first time she's ever kissed him. Well, anywhere, at least. Next thing he knows, she'll kiss him on the lips while his guard is down. Does Spider Sense warn you of incoming surprise kisses, he wondered.
At the Alchemax plant in Harlem, Tombstone is stealing chemicals to restart his drug business. He had to kill a couple of workers on the way in. He shot them quite easily. Just when he thought it was gonna be easy, a certain web-slinger comes in. Just not the web-slinger he tangles with a lot. It's the new web-slinger.
"Out of prison and already back to making drugs. My friend would be very disappointed," said Kid Arachnid.
"I'm disappointed he didn't come and see me himself," said Tombstone.
"He's fighting a civil war right now. So, it's my turn to take you back to prison," said Kid Arachnid.
"We both know I'm not going back without a fight," said Tombstone.
"Spidey says you love a good challenge," said Kid Arachnid. "Allow me to give you one."
Kid Arachnid goes for a Swing Kick, but Tombstone times his swing correctly and whacks him out of the air with a lead pipe. Kid Arachnid only has his absent Spider Sense to blame. His wasn't as strong as Spider-Man's.
"Wish I brought my favorite sledgehammer to this fight. Didn't have time to recover it during the breakout. Too bad," said Tombstone.
"Okay, Grave Duster, let's do this," Kid Arachnid said with determination.
Kid Arachnid web-zips himself towards Tombstone. Tombstone dodges the kick, leaving Kid Arachnid to crash into a work table. Tombstone grabs a dolly and throws it at the rookie superhero. Kid Arachnid stops it with a web shot and web-throws it at Tombstone. Tombstone uses the pipe to swing it away like a baseball. Kid Arachnid fires a web shot at the pipe, trying to web it away from Tombstone's hand. Tombstone persists and starts winding up the pipe with the web. He pulls on the pipe hard and pulls Kid Arachnid towards him. Tombstone times it correctly and punches Kid Arachnid in the stomach.
"A challenge, huh?" Tombstone questioned. "You've got guts, but not the flare. I'm really disappointed."
Tombstone prepares to bludgeon Kid Arachnid with the pipe, but he webs himself out of the way. Kid Arachnid fires an Electric Web shot and then web-zips himself towards the drug dealer again for a successful kick to the face. He punches and kicks Tombstone repeatedly, hoping to wear him down. Tombstone's newfound vulnerability doesn't mean he's still not a tough customer. He's still a 6'7'', 300+ pound beast. Tombstone shrugs off the punches and punches Kid Arachnid hard in the face, knocking him down.
"Give me a real fight, rookie. I dare you," said Tombstone, growing bored.
Tombstone raises his fist and brings it down, but Kid Arachnid tumbles out of the way, letting the big fist hit the floor instead. Kid Arachnid tries to web Tombstone's legs together to get the upper hand. He lands a super strong uppercut that knocks Tombstone on his back.
"How's that for a fight?" Kid Arachnid said.
Tombstone responds by using the pipe to rip the webbing off his feet. Kid Arachnid fires more web shots, but Tombstone accepts the hits as he charges at Kid Arachnid. Kid Arachnid jumps up and over the charging behemoth, but Tombstone whacks him out of the air with his pipe. Tombstone throws a small table at Kid Arachnid, who was too late to dodge it. Tombstone whacks Kid Arachnid with the pipe a couple more times before punching him in the face again.
"Are you sure you're not on steroids again, man?" Kid Arachnid grunted in pain.
"I'm afraid this will be our only dance, rookie," Tombstone said as he raised his pipe.
"DAD, STOP!"
Tombstone and Kid Arachnid turn their heads to see...
Janice.
She puts herself in between Tombstone and the injured superhero, begging the former not to hurt the latter. Tombstone lowers his pipe as he looks at his daughter with awe. They see each other face-to-face again. Only this time, she knows who he is.
"This guy is your father?" Kid Arachnid asked, shocked.
"It's okay, Dad. I know," Janice said. "Just, please, don't hurt him."
"If you know who I am, then you know you shouldn't be here," said Tombstone.
"But you wouldn't hurt me, would you?" Janice asked. "You think I don't know that mom has been getting money from her ex. I hear her shouting on the phone when she thinks I'm not listening. I know you were the one supporting me. I know I should be scared, what with you being a drug lord and all, but I'm not. You care."
"Which is why I never wanted to be involved in your life," said Tombstone. "Besides, your mother wouldn't let me even if I wanted to."
"But you wanted to," said Janice. "That's why you came to my apartment. You wanted to see me."
"Baby girl, all I wanted was to see you just one time," said Tombstone. "But I know you're too good for me. That's why I'm skipping town."
"You're leaving?" Kid Arachnid questioned.
"I can't stay here in Manhattan," said Tombstone. "Not for long, at least."
"But you will be back, right?" asked Janice.
"You know who I am, Jan. Why would you care?" Tombstone asked curiously. "I'm not saying I don't want you to, but... why?"
"I just found out you're my dad," Janice replied, uncertain. "I don't exactly know how I'm supposed to react. Should I be angry that mom never told me? Should I be angry that you never told me? Should I be scared that my dad is a murderer and a drug lord? Should I be grateful that you've been providing for me all these years?"
Tombstone gets down on one knee to see his daughter at eye level.
"No matter what I've done or who I've killed, you're my special little flower," Tombstone said. "Seeing you grow up from the distance, well, call your old man a softie but I never wanted to stay distant. To keep you out of my type of work, I would. But to see you, my own flesh and blood, I wouldn't."
"Wow. Tombstone's got a heart," Kid Arachnid mumbled, surprised.
"Dad, if you really care, then you have to go back to jail," said Janice. "I'm glad you want to provide, but with money made from the suffering of others? I'm surprised mom could stomach spending that."
"She was desperate. I was just lending her a hand, whether she wanted it or not," said Tombstone. "But I can't go back, baby girl. I got loose ends to tie up outside of town."
"I won't let you hurt anyone," said Janice.
"The criminal world is a cruel world, Jan. Even if I promise, I won't be able to keep it," said Tombstone. "It's just not how this type of job works. I've been doing it for too long to stop."
"You won't stop even for me?" Janice asked.
"I wish I could, but I'm no saint, Jan," said Tombstone. "You know who I am, and that is who I am. But in spite of all the products I've made over nearly 20 years in this business, my greatest creation... is you, Jan."
Tombstone places his hand on his daughter's shoulder in a very comforting manner as he smiles. Janice couldn't help but shed a tear. Is this killer really her father? Is he really as bad as everyone says he is? She holds his hand and sheds a few more tears.
"Uh, I hate to ruin the moment, but he's still a criminal who escaped from a supermax prison," Kid Arachnid reminded. "Just make it easy on yourself, Lincoln, and go back to prison. For your daughter."
"Sorry, kid. No can do," said Tombstone. "I suggest you focus on bigger problems."
"Unless we're talking about Kingpin or Rhino, what could be bigger?" Kid Arachnid joked.
"Von Meyer escaped The Raft months ago because someone let him out. Same happened to me," Tombstone informed. "Our rescuers killed themselves afterwards. Something's fishy."
"You expect me to let you go while you have me chase some silly theory?" Kid Arachnid questioned.
"It's up to her," Tombstone said, referring to his daughter.
Janice was torn here. She knows that the right thing to do is to turn her father in, but she didn't want to. She was hoping he would redeem himself and believes he needs freedom to do that. He cares about her, which means he's capable of love and compassion. Maybe her emotions are clouding her judgment, mostly because she doesn't know what emotion is dominant concerning this situation.
"Just go," Janice decided.
Kid Arachnid protested. "But..."
"No," Janice interrupted. "Dad, just go."
Tombstone just takes his stuff and leaves. He left some chemicals behind, though. Maybe his emotions are getting to him too. Kid Arachnid didn't move as Tombstone gets on his motorcycle and heads for the outside of Manhattan. He's a fugitive now, and he doesn't want to stay in New York for long.
"I am in so much trouble with Spider-Man," Kid Arachnid said worriedly.
"Don't worry, Miles. I'm sure he'll understand," said Janice.
"Wait, what?! You kn... you knew?!" Kid Arachnid asked, shocked.
"How do you think I knew to come here? I followed you," said Janice. "You're a terrible liar, you know. Plus, you showing up at my place with an injured shoulder after footage of Kid Arachnid walking off the tank truck explosion with the same injured shoulder seems highly suspicious. Also, I recognize your voice."
"Okay, you got me," Kid Arachnid surrendered as he took off his mask. "So, uh, are you angry?"
"Superheroes hide their identities to protect those they love. I understand," said Janice. "I'll keep your secret on one condition. I want in."
"You... you want to be a superhero?" asked Miles. "Look, that's nice and all, but this is way too dangerous."
"I just want to help," said Janice. "I can be your girl in the chair or your field partner. Whatever works. Besides, indestructible skin, remember? I can handle myself."
"Okay, good point," said Miles. "But if we're gonna do this, you need a codename. I can't just tap into my comm-links and say your name on the field. Just trying to be safe."
"Then call me... um... Beetle," said Janice. "Beetles have hard shells. I have hard skin..."
"And beetles are your favorite animals," Miles finished. "Okay, I guess you're my girl in the chair... Beetle."
"I trust you won't track down my father," said Janice.
"I can't believe you're defending him," said Miles.
"Hey, I don't like it either. But he cares about me. That's enough for me," said Janice.
"This better come back to bite us in the future," Miles hoped.
Miles returned home with a sorta sad look on his face. As he grabs orange juice from the fridge, his mom notices his surprisingly sour mood. He sits down and drinks the orange juice through the bottle instead of pouring it in a cup. He knew his mom was gonna talk to him about his mood, but he chose to stay in the kitchen because maybe he needed to talk to her.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Rio asked. "Did you and Janice break up?"
"No, we're still together," said Miles.
"Bobby and Tanner bullying you again?" Rio asked.
"No," said Miles.
"Then what's wrong?" asked Rio.
"Mom, do you ever feel like there's such a thing as doing the wrong thing for the right reason?" Miles asked.
"Why, what did you do?" asked Rio.
"Uh..." Miles paused.
"Miles," Rio said in a scolding tone.
"Janice found her dad, but he's a criminal. I wanted to turn him in, but she wanted him to be free to redeem himself. So, I let him go," Miles confessed. "Please don't tell anyone. Janice will kill me."
"Well, that's... that's heavy," Rio reacted. "Does her father love her?"
"He's been secretly providing for her. High school tuition. School project budgets. Everything she buys at the mall. All he wanted was to be a part of her life, but he can't," said Miles. "I don't know... I feel like I just did a bad thing."
"But Janice wanted to let him go?" Rio asked.
"Yeah, she did," Miles answered.
"Well, I don't have an easy answer here, Miles," said Rio. "All I can say is you have to trust Janice. If she made the wrong choice, you have to be there to help her see that. But if she made the right choice, then you have to be there for her."
Miles stops to think about his mom's words. Can he really support Janice's decision to let Tombstone, a dangerous drug lord, go free? His contemplation was cut short by a notification on his phone. Another episode of Just the Facts is on its way.
"Folks, the tides of the Symkarian Civil War have been shifted. Prime Minister Klaus Limka - the traitor who ignited the war - is dead," Jameson reported. "But his hired army, now known as the Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind - or U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. for short; terrible name, great acronym - is still fighting his fight. Fortunately, Manhattan's own Mary Jane Watson and her online influence are bringing in more countries, including our own, to aid Silver Sable in her war. Unfortunately, it would seem that a virus from our own streets has infected another country. And that virus is - you guessed it - SPIDER-MAN! According to Ms. Watson's interviews, that red-headed menace has been seen fighting U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. And the rebels, the women, and the children are actually... praising him for his efforts. GAH! It's bad enough Spider-Man is a city phenomenon... or national phenomenon as my intern Jared just told me... but now Spider-Man getting involved in a civil war is making him a global phenomenon? GAH! WHAT WORLD ARE WE LIVING IN WHERE A MENACE WITH A MASK BECOMES A SYMBOL OF HOPE TO A DYING COUNTRY WHEN THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME AND FACE?! Why does nobody listen to me? I am a man of the people and it's my job to prevent my fellowmen - New Yorker, American, or foreigner - from worshiping a false idol. WHAT IF SPIDER-MAN WANTS TO INFECT THE MINDS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD WITH HIS SO-CALLED HEROISM?! He's a vandal, a troublemaker, a narcissist, a destroyer, a glory hog, a menace to modern society, and the people of Symkaria actually want to praise this masked menace as a hero? What's next?! A medal of honor from the President?!"
Jameson paused to breathe.
"Okay, I need to lie down, folks! I admit, I am appalled by the thought of Spider-Man being renowned as a war hero, only because the world doesn't know what a threat/menace he is," Jameson said. "JARED, UNSUBSCRIBE FROM MS. WATSON'S CHANNEL! IF I SO MUCH AS CATCH YOU WATCHING A VIDEO OF A MAN, WOMAN, CHILD, OR SOLDIER PRAISING THAT GRANDSTANDING IRRITANT, I'LL MAKE SURE THE NEXT JOB YOU GET DOESN'T PAY YOU ONE CENT!"
And so that ends another episode of Just the Facts. More of Jameson's anti-Spider-Man rants and more of Jared getting treated like no intern should ever be treated. Poor Jared, everyone in New York thought.
"That man is so full of anger," Rio commented. "Why listen to him, Miles?"
"I guess we're just waiting for the day he finally lightens up and says something nice about Spider-Man... or to just laugh as his blood pressure rises," Miles said jokingly.
Not my best work, but I just wanted to get this out of the way. I have better things to do than be pressured by requests that I don't want to accept or just want to put an end to. In this case... Tbone. Have mercy on my soul, please.
Leave a review if you like. No requests, just your full, honest opinion on the chapter, please.
And please tell me what you think of Jameson's podcast in this chapter. I'd really appreciate that. Not a lot of people react in their reviews about Just the Facts with JJJ and that's honestly kinda sad. I put so much work into it.
Notes:
- Tombstone's breakout is linked to the chapter where Swarm broke out. That Raft breakout plan by the Demons I've been teasing, I'm still working on it but I don't mind reminding everyone of it.
- Tombstone will return... someday.