Author's Note: All properties are the rights of their respective owners, Marvel, Respawn Entertainment, etc.
First off, thanks to ravens18 for betaing this chapter, always appreciate the help.
As for reviews, Tristin: Glad you're enjoying it so far, hopefully you're all caught up. I still think those early chapters are by far the weakest and one of the things I'm going to try and work on during the holidays is expanding and improving the pacing of those first 4 or 5 chapters.
A Fan: I'm going to be cagey about this, but I will say I have ideas to include other Titans and Pilots, plans even. Whether or not those plans come to fruition is something else entirely and all I can say is that it's a definite 'maybe'.
Guest: Glad you're enjoying it and thanks for the support, I do intend to keep this story going.
If you have thoughts about the inclusion of more Titans then feel free to let me know, honestly I'm still amazed that this story has gotten as much support as it has, thank you all for coming along for the ride. Also, there will be strong sexual content in the last half of the first section of this chapter. I know the last one was only like four chapters ago, but I'm not planning another bit like that until chapter 42 or so. The reasoning is purely because of tone and mood and that sort of thing, don't ask me exactly which it is, I'm an engineer damnit.
The chapter title is Breaking Benjamin, and I only know this song because of its inclusion on the Halo 2 OST. It was written specifically for the Halo 2 OST. I'm not entirely sure what else to put here because I'm not a serious fan of the band or anything, I just like Mary O'Donnell and had the Halo soundtracks on in the background when writing and when this song came up I thought it fit. 2000's rock is just not really for me, by that point I don't think that 'Rock' is really the same as the Classic Rock that I prefer, it really lacks the same attitude that make the classics great.
Power Without Question - Chapter 28: Blow Me Away
After the fall, We'll shake it off, Show me the way
Only the strongest will survive
Lead me to heaven, when we die
I am a shadow on the wall, I'll be the one to save us all
Wanted it back, Don't fight me now
Don't make me beg, Blow me away
"Are you here for something specific, or do you just want to stare at my ass?" asked Felicia playfully as she heard the distinct 'woosh' of the Marauder's jump kit behind her while she lay prone, observing the home of a pop star.
A rearmed Marauder strode across the roof and sat next to the thief, slipping his helmet off as he took out a selection of snacks and pair of water canteens and set them between the two. "Well he began as he took a bite of his preferred jerky, "it is an incredibly lovely ass" he said with a grin. "But no, I found something tonight while responding to a silent alarm. Masked gunmen, they looked like a serious outfit, all wearing these" he said as he tossed the mask towards the Black Cat and took another bite, chewing as she examined the black and white wooden disguise. "Any ideas?"
Hardy frowned as she turned the mask over, "It's a reproduction, for one" she began, "so the mask itself isn't worth anything. It isn't even made to look old" she noted, setting it aside. "But I can ask around, I know one or two dealers who specialize in Asian pieces, they might be able to give me a lead on the buyer."
Cooper nodded as picked up a canteen, "Good, whoever these guys are they bought in bulk. I'd reckon there were at least thirty or forty guys at that auction house tonight." The thought led Cooper towards others. "Do you know of any Asian groups that use masks like this? Triads or anything? Could they be moving in to claim Fisk's turf?"
Felicia took a swig from one of the canteens as she thought it over before shaking her head. "No, I don't think so. They prefer to work in the shadows, something like that seems out of character" she assured. Sitting up so she was leaning against the wall, she silently chewed on a protein bar. "One more time, describe everything you saw" she said suddenly.
Cooper tilted his head and quirked an eyebrow but didn't question her as he recounted the entire scene in detail. Their dress, armaments, mannerisms, numbers, interactions, everything he could remember he told the Black Cat. "I thought so…" she said softly as the Marauder gave her a questioning look. "These guys are amateurs."
Matthew was shocked. "You're sure?" he asked, only getting a confident nod in return, her face reading 'of course I'm sure, what did you expect?' "What makes you say that?"
A single clawed finger extended into the night sky. "Too many guys. They could have easily accomplished the heist with a quarter of the manpower" she asserted before a second finger extended up. "I know you don't think so, but it's better to do things quietly. These guys didn't even try, and I know that place, it wouldn't have been that hard."
Cooper took a drink before pointing at Felicia, canteen still in hand. "Easy for you maybe" he countered before taking another sip.
The silver haired seductress merely gave the gunfighter a look akin to the one a teacher gives to a particularly annoying know it all student who wasn't nearly as smart as he thought. "It wouldn't have been that hard" she repeated before a third finger went up to join the first two. "No crime boss worth their salt would be that brash and single minded. There were millions of dollars of antiques in there, but they just wanted a file? They clearly sent enough manpower to steal half of the collection, so why didn't they?"
Cooper shrugged, there was no logical reason for the heist to go the way it did. He was left with a single uncomfortable conclusion. "So we're now faced with a group of criminals with unknown goals, powers unlike anything else, and to cap it all off, don't know what they were doing" said Matthew in summary. Stupid criminals may have been, well…stupid, but their unpredictability was dangerous in its own way. Felicia nodded, though the way she bit her lip suggested she had other things on her mind.
She slowly crawled her way towards him on all fours, her feline like movement befitting her moniker as her ass moved hypnotically before she reached him and pressed him down onto his back. "I hope you didn't come here to just talk about work" she purred as she kissed him, her lips moving to his ear as his hands settled on her delicious curves. "Because this kitty wants to play."
Cooper grinned, "I like the sound of that" he whispered huskily into her ear as he slowly ran his hands down to her ass, the suit clinging tightly to her form. Able to feel everything but the soft skin beneath, the ultimate tease that excited him so much. While he grabbed a handful of rear with one hand, his other pressed down on one of her supple breasts through her suit. His efforts elicted erotic moans into his ear as Felicia But as he felt himself begin to unravel under Felicia's ministrations, they ceased. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Matthew glared at Felicia, but quickly noticed the playful gleam in her emerald eyes. Her hands went to the clasps on his armor as she bit her lip in that way the Texan found oh so sexy. Though Cooper quickly collected his wits, "Here?" he asked.
But the Black Cat merely smirked back as she leaned back to have her back vertical as she slowly ground her voluptuous ass into his groin as she answered his question. "Why do you think I picked this spot stud? Highest rooftop in the area, and even then, look" she ordered, as Matt reluctantly took his eyes from her to note the small structures on the roof that effectively boxed the couple into their corner, obscuring them from any prying eyes. As Matt brought his eyes back to the insatiable woman sitting on his crotch, he matched her grin. "Now shut up and help me get you out of that armor" demanded Felicia breathlessly.
The process to get himself out of his armor and equipment wasn't a short one in the best of times, and now, when he was…distracted, it was taking even longer. Every second felt like an hour as he lay on his back and under Black Cat, ditching the vest, exo, and jump kit while Felicia made herself busygetting his armored fatigues and form fitting bodysuit undone. As soon as those were off his shoulders, leaving his scarred chest open, his hands went out to do the same to her as he ripped her hood off to allow her platinum hair to glow in the moonlight, managing to make her look even more exotic. As Felicia leaned back in for a feisty kiss, Matthew yanked his gloves off before going for the zipper on the front of her suit.
But he wasn't content with letting Felicia control things, trailing his lips down her neck, he found a spot that caused her to moan with lust and enable Cooper to wrap an arm around her as he flipped them over. Instead of pressing her to the ground, he lifted her up as she instinctively wrapped her legs around him, hanging onto him as he stood. His manhood only got harder as she pulled herself closer to him and he desperately tore at her suit, the durable material not ripping as he worked the top to the sides to expose her breasts, still contained in the confines of her sports bra. His free hand ripped the offending garment down to expose the perky mounds of soft flesh to the chilly night air, her pink nipples standing erect in response. Going back to her mouth, his lips met hers, theirs tongues dueling for dominance as he continued to fondle her tits until the kiss broke and he heard her say "Down" and he instantly complied with her wish.
As soon as her feet hit the roof she dropped to her knees, her fingers yanking his pants down as she went, allowing his erection to spring out while Felicia eyed it hungrily. The Burglar worked her gloves off before she slowly grasped his hard cock and stroked it slowly, tongue coming out to lick the precum from the tip as she grinned up at him. "You must really want me stud. You're already so hard" she purred as she brought a hand down to cup his balls, causing him to bite back a groan. Matthew had closed his eyes and just drowned in the sensations when another hit him, the feeling of a wet and warm mouth around his sack, a tongue running over what was inside.
"Oh fuck" he groaned as Felicia switched to give the rest of his balls the same treatment, both of her hands still wrapped around his manhood and giving him firm, measured strokes in contrast to the fervent sucking taking place just below. Despite his heavy breathing, Matthew was still maintaining something like control and looked down to see those sexy eyes, glinting with mischief, staring up at him seductively. Even though she was on his knees before him, her mouth around his balls, she was in total control and he was but putty in her hands.
God damn, what a woman.
With a wet 'pop' she removed her mouth and smirked, placing her hands on his ass as she smiled and looked up at him, "Watch this" she commanded before opening her mouth and practically inhaling his cock. Her nose touched his groin as Cooper let out a breath and groaned at the sensation, with no gag reflex, she had no issue with his erection intruding deep into her tight throat as she lavished his manhood with her tongue. Slowly, she drew her head back until he was almost released, but as suddenly as the first time, she took him to the hilt again. His last vestiges of self-control were slowly ground to dust as Felicia continued her routine, the airtight seal of her lips, the wetness of her tongue, and the tightness of her throat saw to that.
Soon, there was only one possible outcome, "Such a good cocksucker, you're gonna make me cum" he managed through heavy breaths, but that only caused the woman responsible to redouble her efforts. She sucked, hard, and that finally pushed him over the edge, his cock erupted as spurts of warm cum shot into the back of her throat. His member twitched and throbbed, but Felicia maintained her suction, swallowing down every drop he dispensed.
"Hopefully you're not all spent yet" she purred after she released his cock from her mouth, licking her lips as she quickly finished the zipper that separated the two halves of her costume. With unabashed need, she shucked off her pants to reveal her pale and toned legs, leaving only her shoes, thong, and unzipped top to cover her. Reaching down, he grabbed her arms and got her to her feet, pushing her back to the wall as he ravished her ran his hands down her side as he pulled her bra down with his teeth to begin working on her nipples. But not stopping there, he trailed his lips down her body, lavishing it until he reached her sex.
With a smile, he removed her panties to the side, exposing her dripping slit as he gave her pink lips a long lick, causing her to shiver. "Delicious" he growled before diving back in, his tongue pressing inside as her juices flowed into his mouth and he savored her sweet and tangy taste.
"Matthew" she moaned as he teased her clit, her head pressed back into the wall, "fill me, now." Her words, and the need they had, brought his cock back to life as he sprang back to his feet and lifted her, pinning her to the wall as she steadied herself on his shoulders. Slowly, the pair lined themselves up until Matt could feel his cock rubbing against her cunt, which was moist and ready, and the thief moaned wantonly.
Without warning, he bucked his hips and thrust in, that moan became a cry, prompting him to pull back despite the strong legs wrapped around his waist. When he was nearly out he slammed back into her, sending her breasts bouncing as he shoved his erect prick as far as it could go, savoring the way her wet, velvety walls clamped down around his member. Felicia's weight served to impale herself even further around his manhood as he increased the tempo, pushing himself to fuck her faster and deeper as her pussy dripped around him. "God damn, what a pussy" he grunted as he continued driving himself deeper into her warm tunnel.
"Yes! Oh…fuck…me…harder!" she cried out, urging him to continue his unrelenting battering of her sex as she writhed around him, working her hips as well, only adding to their mutual enjoyment. "Harder! Don't stop!" begged the thief before she cried out as Matthew squeezed a nipple, drawing a gasp from her. That moan was drowned out by the sounds of impacting flesh as their hips slammed together rythmically. Every thrust brought them both closer to completion, the sight of Felicia's delightfully perky tits bouncing in time with his thrusts and the way her face was twisted with desire as she screamed out cries and demands to be fucked quickly brought Cooper closer to his own release. "I'm cumming! I'm cumming!" announced the heiress, loud enough for half the city to hear as Matthew buried himself in the deepest reaches of her magnificent cunt and felt it squeeze down around his cock and the platinum blonde quivered with her orgasm.
The overwhelming combination was just too much as Cooper succumbed to his primal urges and filled a second hole with his seed. His hot cum erupted out and painted the walls of her sex, signaling the end of their mutual climax. Tenderly, Matthew used the last of his strength to lift his lover off him and set her down, but neither had the strength to remain standing. Side by side and still mostly undressed, the two sat down with the backs to the wall they had just fucked against as they rested against each other. The silence was soon broken by Felicia laughing softly. "How did I go 8 months without rooftop sex?" she asked, completely serious.
Matthew chuckled and shrugged, "I don't know, but I won't let it happen again" he promised.
There were times when Peter Parker hated the fact that he was Spider-Man, and this was one of them.
"Saved by the siren" observed Mary Jane dryly, all thoughts of their conversation having been replaced by the subtle humming of his sixth sense that pulled him to suit up and help with whatever situation was attracting that much Police attention. He turned back to look at the redhead's saddened expression.
It pained him to see her like that, he didn't want to do this to her, despite his bumbling attempts at reconciling with her, she seemed receptive, at least more than he had expected. To turn around and ditch her so quickly hurt him as much as the beating he had endured at the hands of Fisk. "Talk to you later?" he asked hopefully.
To his immense relief, his old next-door neighbor nodded reluctantly, "Go" she urged softly, but with all the weight of an order. Not needing any more prompting, Peter stood and rushed out the door, totally oblivious to the distraught redhead he had left in his wake.
Ducking into an alley before stripping off his shirt and pants to reveal the Advanced Suit underneath, he webbed them to the wall, slipped his mask on, and fired off a web line. In no time, he was swinging with practiced ease over the bustling Manhattan streets, a familiar number already dialed on his mask phone. "Hey, it's me" he greeted without preamble as soon as he heard the click, "what's with the units heading down third?" he asked.
Yuri, ever business like, gave him a straight answer, "It looks like our old friend Herman Schultz is at it again." Schultz, a short and stocky inventor born in Brooklyn, had been one of Peter's first 'super' foes. Though it was his invention that made him a step above the human rank and file, the 'Vibro-Shock Gauntlets' were fascinating pieces of technology, and quite effective to boot. A career criminal, the newly dubbed 'Shocker' had used the Gauntlets to devastating effect and pulled several successful heists before Spider-Man had taken him down.
Now, it seemed, he was back. "Shocker" quipped Peter, but the pun was so lame that he didn't put much into the word. Then he had a thought, "didn't he just get paroled?" asked the Webhead as he continued to swing through the air, chasing after the sound of sirens.
"Yeah, well" began Yuri, "guess it didn't take" supposed the Captain, though Peter knew she was more focused about bringing him down first, figuring out motive would come later.
Handspringing off of a chimney, Peter did his best to allay her worries, "No worries – Herman's just a big cupcake. I'll have him back in Ryker's by bedtime" he assured confidently before the line was cut and he planted his feet on a building, running along the vertical surface with ease that would ignite the competitive steak in his Texan friend. "Just had dinner with my ex after saving her from masked criminals…" he mused before reaching the corner of the building and leaping off before firing a webline at the next building and transitioning back into a swing, "and now I'm gonna go beat up a maniac who uses shock waves to rob people. What a perfectly normal life you have Peter Parker."
As if a reminder that his life was stranger than most, his boss called him with a concern he would bet even the Marauder didn't have to consider. "Peter, I just want to make sure you haven't left any equipment you've built for your…friend…around the lab" asked Otto. "It's no bother to me" he assured, "but if the grant committee stops by again –"
Peter did appreciate the man's concern, but he had been doing this long enough to have some idea of how to be discrete, except for the previous night where he hadn't, and had taken the proper precautions. "Don't worry Doc, I make a point not to leave anything there. But I know my 'friend' appreciates you looking out for him. There's a lot of people who don't like him very much" he admitted honestly. Cooper had it worse, but the criticism seemed to roll off his shoulders.
'They aren't out there in the thick of it like we are. When lives hang in the balance, you must make split second decisions and live with them. The people who criticize how what we do like Monday morning quarterbacks? I'd wager they know as much about fighting as they do about fucking.'
The Marauders colorful words never failed to get a chuckle out of Peter, and was thankful that Otto's answer separated him from that group. "That buffoon Jameson and his audience of sheep? Please" he answered, almost as if had been insulted at the insinuation he might agree with the Editor. "The people who do great things in this world are those who don't let bullies like him stand in their way. People like us!" It caused Peter to smile to hear his mentor praise his alter ego, and the inclusion of Peter in the comparison to the Webslinger brought him back to Mary Jane's comment about if he needed the spandex onesie.
But he was quickly nearing the origin of the sirens and had to cut the conversation short. "You said a mouthful Doc, take care" he said in closing before hanging up. Seeing as he seemed to be in the right area, he came to a stop atop a traffic light and took a second to catch his breath and gather his bearings. No sooner had he done that when a storefront just below him exploded as a bulky yellow colored figure leapt out and came to a stop on the sidewalk. The Wallcrawler recognized the oddly dressed man in an instant. "Hi Herman."
"Seriously?" returned the robber before growling lowly and pausing, the vigilante could tell he was deciding if he would stand his ground or try and run. Schultz chose the latter, turning and pointing his gauntlets downward and directing the vibro blasts into the street, shattering the asphalt and launching himself forwards. Using this unique method of locomotion, Herman bunny hopped up the street with impressive speed as Spidey dutifully set off in pursuit. "Give it up, you're never going to catch me" called back Shocker.
"That's what you said last time!" reminded Spider-Man dryly from his position half a block behind the fleeing criminal.
"I don't want to hurt you" returned Schultz, somewhat sincerely if the Wallcrawler was to judge, "it'll just slow me down."
"Wow, that's…considerate" responded Peter as he maintained his position behind Herman, looking for an opportunity to take the man down cleanly. He would have to admit that Shocker was good, the man was moving with efficiency and poise, it was evident he was making a beeline for whatever destination he had in mind. "What's the money for, Herman?" asked the Webslinger conversationally as he webzipped up to the top of an arch the Shocker had just passed under and launched himself off the top, closing the gap just a little bit more.
"What do you care?" asked the robber angrily as he hung a right and resumed heading south.
"Actually, I don't" admitted Peter, "just trying to make polite conversation" he explained before grunting in exertion as he yanked himself forwards with his right hand before using his left to launch a line of artificial silk high to swing like a pendulum.
The other participant in this chase was less then bemused at Peter's hospitality attempts. "Argh, I'm done talking" retorted Schultz angrily as he launched himself forwards once again, cratering the street in the process.
"But this could be so much more rewarding if we connected on an emotional level…" insisted the spider themed superhero, "wait, I forgot. You don't have any emotions" he taunted, only to get nothing in reply. "C'mon Herman. At least talk to me so we can make it interesting" he pleaded as the Shocker launched himself up onto a two-story building and used that as a starting point to ascend further. While the Shocker was using his vibration blasts to go up, he wasn't making as much forward progress, giving Peter the opening he had been waiting for. Gotcha he thought as he snapped off a webline and yanked himself to the criminal, causing both to tumble down to the roof. Spider-Man quickly got the upper hand, pining the criminal down, "gotcha" he declared smugly. "Now let's talk—"
"I said I'm…" began Herman as the white eye lenses widened at the yellow waves emanating angrily from the rhombical gauntlets, "DONE" continued Herman, punctuating the word as he slammed the armored fist into Peter's chest, the waves it generated shaking every molecule of his body as the blow sent the red and blue clad hero sprawling backwards, "talking" he finished as he directed his next blasts down onto the roof and launched himself forwards once again, leaving a still recovering Spider-Man behind.
"Noted" breathed the Wallcrawler as he sucked in gulps of air to replace what had been forcibly knocked from his lungs before he pushed himself back up to his feet. The day he let the Shocker get away from him with one punch was the day he hung up the webs. Taking a running start, he web zipped to the top of the wall before him and was once again soaring through the cool night air. "Seriously Herman, why are you robbing again? You know the police are watching your every move" he called out. "I mean, we all know you're kinda dumb, but I didn't think you were this dumb." When he didn't get an answer, the Webslinger decided it was time for some conjecture. "You must be desperate" he guessed, "which means you're not just stealing for yourself. You must be working with someone" he mused before he had another, more worrying, thought. "Or for someone. You can tell me who it is now, or make me punch it out of you later. Your choice!"
Shocker finally cracked and gave his pursuer an answer, even if it left the Webhead wanting. "I've said enough" he grunted angrily before turning hard right around the corner.
The Wallcrawler doggedly swung after him, swinging around the corner only for his sixth sense to warble angrily in warning. Even without it, he knew what the bright yellow light up ahead signified. "Move! Move! Move!" he chanted as he snapped off a line and yanked himself towards a streetlight to get out of the way of the powerful blast as it let off a concussion wave not unlike an explosion as it shot passed. Figuring Schultz was growing even more desperate the longer the chase went on, Peter was on alert for the telltale yellow signature of more blasts, and he didn't have to wait long.
The wind pressed his mask to his face as Spider-Man tore through the city, firing a webline to pull him abruptly to the right as the blast from Herman's gauntlet passed by close enough to rattle his bones. Without missing a beat, the wallcrawler webzipped to a lamp post and launched himself from it before transitioning straight into another swing as another blast went by below him.
At the apex of his swing he flipped over and was close enough, "Last call!" quipped Peter as he fired off another webline that stuck to the Shocker's suit. Slamming into the robber, the momentum from the impact drove Schultz to the ground where Spider-Man got the upper hand, webbing down one gauntlet as the other one swung up at him. Pushing back, Parker felt that familiar feeling at the base of his skull as the webbed down gauntlet warbled and he flipped away just as it broke free from his webbing. Ominous yellow energy built up, the gauntlet charging to unleash a punishing blast at point blank range.
Fortunately for Peter, he was quicker on the draw, a blob of webbing wrapping up Herman, pinning the gauntlet to his chest before two more fastened him to the street. "You know what Herman?" asked the webhead as he crouched down next to the robber. "You have like zero personality…but your suit is awesome" he conceded, "can we talk design details?"
Unsurprisingly, all Peter got in return we angry grunts and muffled curses from the still struggling Schultz. "Maybe later" muttered Spidey as the pattern continued until police arrived to take Herman away, led by his favorite Captain.
Sitting atop a SWAT truck, Spidey watched a pair of officers guide Schultz away as Watanabe turned to look up at him. "Good work Spider-Man. Did you learn anything about his motive?" she asked.
"I tried" said the webslinger in reply, "but he wasn't very talkative" he admitted. "Plus, I think he hates me."
"You have that effect on a lot of people" deadpanned the Captain with a shrug.
Peter couldn't help his shoulders from sagging slightly, getting a slight quirk from Yuri's mouth as he did so. What was it about him that attracted people with dry senses of humor? "But you love me, right Yuri?" he asked in his best puppy dog tone.
Watanabe tried to keep a straight face, but the right side of her mouth betrayed her, cracking into a half smile as she rolled her eyes. "I tolerate you" she corrected.
"Wow" answered Spider-Man as he brought his hand up to scratch the side of his head in thought, "that might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Yuri merely shook her head in exasperation before turning away and getting back to her duties. Spider-Man took his leave, moving through the city without a specific destination in mind. "Oh, it's MJ" he said in surprise as he saw the reason his phone was ringing before clearing his throat and answering. "Hey MJ, you're up late" he said, doing his best to sound casual.
"Just catching up on the news" she answered, fighting fatigue from her rather eventful evening. "Looks like you had quite an adventure with Shocker tonight."
"Yeah" agreed Peter as he ran up the side of a building, "he was unusually combative" he answered automatically before remembering what he had been doing before dealing with the unusually combative Herman and mentally cursing himself. "Anyway, thanks for dinner. What do I owe you?" he asked, deciding to be a decent gentleman first and foremost.
"How about a favor?" she asked, pouring on the charm that he found oh so very charming indeed. "You still have that mask from the gallery?"
"Yeah" he answered automatically. "I'll swing by the FEAST Center in the morning to ask Martin Li about it" he explained.
"Martin Li?" responded a clearly confused MJ. While the man was a well known and respected philanthropist, few knew about his past before FEAST. Even Peter didn't know all that much. "Why?"
Thankfully, the answer was simple. "He has a degree in art history" explained Parker as he came to a stop on a rooftop to survey the area and catch his breath for a second. "If anyone knows about the origins of that mask, he will" assured the webhead.
"Just keep me in the loop" responded a mollified MJ. "Like I said, I think there's a bigger story here. And I plan to be the one to break it" said the redhead, her determination and confidence coming to the forefront and Peter had no doubt that she would be the one to break the story, as much as he hoped there wasn't one to begin with.
Leaping from the building, Peter began swinging casually through the city again. "Uh, sure" he agreed as he tried to avoid stepping on the still sore toes from their past break up. "So I can call you, like whenever?" he asked hopefully, though he did his best not to show it.
"Yeah" she replied happily, "whenever, whatever." With that, the reporter hung up, but not before the words plastered a small smile on Peter's face, a bit of hope that things might be looking up as he did a backflip in celebration.
"So I guess we're talking again, cool" drawled the wallcrawler contently as he carried on through the night, stopping the small-time crime that popped up, nearly getting a nasty surprise when a random pedestrian tried to gun him down when he stopped to push a stalled car out of traffic, and recalibrating police towers when he wound up near a precinct. The hours flew past when he got an unexpected phone call as the sun just began to peak over the horizon.
He passed the last hour or so on the rooftop of the homeless shelter, snacking on a doughnut and coffee as he flipped through his social media and texted Cooper. Apparently, the Pilot hadn't been idle, knocking out one more of Fisk's construction sites and was now getting a rest and rearm in. The Texan had a few choice words over text that Peter didn't want to repeat about how he handled the MJ situation. Soon he had stopped responding, and BT sent him a message that the Marauder had passed out from near exhaustion.
Not long after 8 AM, Peter, now dressed in civilian clothes, dropped down and made his way through the shelter towards Li's office on the second floor. Opening the door just a crack and slipping his head inside, Peter saw Li writing something on a pad as he knocked. "Peter!" said the philanthropist with a smile, "what can I do for you?"
Parker stepped into the well-furnished office, backpack in his hand. "Sorry to bother you Mr. Li, I have a friend, Mary Jane, she's a reporter" explained Peter as Li slid the notepad into a drawer and turned to face the scientist. "She's doing a story on art imports and she found this piece" he lied. Sighing, "she wanted an expert opinion on it, and I know you have a degree…" he rambled nervously.
But Li just smiled reassuringly, "And this might be the first time I actually get to use it" he joked. "Let's see what you have." Peter pulled the mask out, the massive thing barely fitting in his pack with its ornate carvings and spikes lining the face. "Interesting" said Li in surprise, almost sounding out of breath as he gingerly took the disguise and examined it. "Where did she find it?" "Uh…I'm not really sure" lied Peter as he sensed Martin's unease with the mask. He had never seen the man this shaken before. "Why? What is it?"
Li looked lost in thought as he held the mask up, "It's a replica of an antique Chinese opera mask" he explained absentmindedly. "I haven't seen one in years" he mused as he turned it around to have a look on the inside. "This symbol here" began the philanthropist as he pointed to the Chinese character at the top of the mask, "roughly translates to 'Demon'."
"Demon?" parroted Peter as Li turned around. The philanthropist looked distant, like he was thinking of something as Peter remained silent.
After a moment, Li looked at Peter. "My father read me ghost stories with that mask and symbol in it when I was young" he explained as Peter nodded. "Scared the hell out of me." There was no humor in the tone as he handed the mask back to the younger man. He squared up and turned serious, "Peter, listen. That mask, it's…it could be connected to dangerous people" revealed Li in hushed tones. "Mary Jane might want to find a different story" he advised.
Peter knew the mask was connected to dangerous people, but he hadn't expected Li to realize that. Was the group well known in China? How come he had never encountered or even heard of them before? If they were well connected, then… "Do you think she might be in danger?" he asked.
"I don't know" answered Li honestly as he looked up at the portrait of his parents. "Why take the risk?"
Peter knew that those words would do the opposite of deter MJ, but he nodded anyway. "I'll let her know, thanks for the help Mr. Li" said Peter, stuffing the mask back in his bag and excusing himself from the office.
Once outside, he pulled his phone out and dialed the last number that called him. "Hey" greeted MJ, Peter was unsurprised that she was up and alert so early in the morning.
"The symbol inside the mask means 'Demon'" he explained without preamble. "It really spooked Mr. Li. Never seen him like that. He even said you should drop the story" rattled off Parker, no small part of him hoping the redhead would take Li's advice.
But that wasn't MJ's style. "Fat chance" she answered instantly before pausing in thought. "Do you think Mr. Li knows more than he's letting on?"
Even though he knew she couldn't see it, Peter shook his head, phone still pressed to his ear. "No, I think he just had some weird flashback or something" suggested the wallcrawler. He had seen that look before on Cooper, they usually happened whenever he saw something that reminded him of his first life in Texas. 'The Thousand Yard Stare' as Matthew had called it. "I know his childhood was pretty traumatic."
"Yeah, makes sense" agreed MJ as she moved the conversation along. "Demons huh? Catchy name" mused the reporter out loud. "Okay, gotta get writing. See you soon."
With that the line went dead, "Well, that went about as well as I could've hoped" drawled Peter as he found the next person to call and waited for a probably groggy Texan to pick up. "Hey Cooper, it's me. Just wanted to give you an update on the mask MJ found for her story."
"Damn, you work fast" drawled the Marauder, sounding more awake than Peter would have expected. "Alright, well don't leave me in suspense, what've you got?" asked the Pilot, spoiling for a fight as always, even if it was hidden beneath a casual blanket.
"I had Mr. Li take a look at it; he said the symbol on the inside means 'Demon.' He seemed to recognize the mask, said it might be connected to dangerous people" explained Peter as he made his way downstairs. "He really freaked out when he saw it."
"Hmmm…interesting" said the Renegade Pilot on the other end of the line. There was something guarded in his tone that Peter couldn't quite place. "Thanks for the info, I sent photos of the one I grabbed to a few of Cat's old sources. I'll let you know when I hear back from them."
"Alright, sounds good Coop" replied Peter as he made his way outside. "I assume you'll be working today?" asked Peter as he made his way out of sight down an alley way and checked that it was clear before hoisting himself up onto the roof of the building with his webshooters.
There was a laugh on the other side of the line. "You know me, riding to the sound of the guns" said the Pilot as Peter heard the distinct sound of a weapon being loaded and round chambered. "I'll be on the streets in an hour, call if you need me" said the Pilot before disconnecting and resuming his preparations.
With some time to kill, Peter suited up, ready to get back out into the city.
Matthew Cooper felt that drip of adrenaline that he felt every time he suited up. Currently standing in the under suit and armored fatigues as he checked that he had all his weapons laid out before he started suiting up. In a well-rehearsed routine, he strapped on his armored vest, jumpkit, exoskeleton, pads, and webgear until in a few short minutes he was fully armed and ready for combat. The versatile Mastiff shotgun in his hands, precise G2A5 on his back, and Smart Pistol on his chest meant he was as dangerous as he could ever be outside a Titan.
Laid out nearby was the deck of 52, the Marauder's most wanted in Manhattan. As soon as Wilson Fisk's Ace of Diamonds card had been removed, it now looked like someone else was vying to replace him. After his conversation with Parker, the SRS vigilante had no doubt that Martin Li knew who that might be. That small detail that didn't match up with Peter's story had already been sent to MJ on the terms of confidentiality, and the reporter was already looking into the man's life.
But if Li was somehow connected to this new faction and the possible gang war that could break out, there were more ways to stop it than by scrounging through records to find clues to unravel the mystery. There were the options Cooper preferred, like hitting weapons stockpiles to keep one side from fighting with anything more deadly than two sticks and a rock. Those were the options the Marauder preferred, and the one he was about to carry out.
Late again groused Peter internally as he hurriedly waved his keycard over the door, granting him access into the lab. Inside he saw Doctor Octavius sitting at a small table with a man Peter instantly recognized as Lance Corporal Texidor. Peter also recognized the left arm the man had as being the one created by him and Otto, the mechanical bits exposed in an artwork of metal alloy and carbon fiber. "So how does it work?" asked Texidor cautiously as he gripped the bicep of the prosthesis with his good hand.
"Just like a natural hand" explained Otto calmly. "You think of what you want it to do, and…" he said, gesturing towards the blue solo cup sitting on the small table. Slowly but surely, the fingers of the hand unballed from the fist they were in as Texidor reached out and gently closed them around the cup.
All three held their collective breaths as the man shakily picked the cup up, but pick the cup up he did. First a quarter of an inch, then a half, then one inch, then two, then four. "Yes!" Peter said excitedly as he beamed brightly, both he and Otto sharing a moment of accomplishment. But that moment was short lived as the door to the lab opened and two men in jumpsuits came in followed closely by a smartly dressed woman holding a clipboard. "Hey! Hey, what do you think you're doing?" demanded Parker.
"This site's been declared a safety hazard" said the woman heartlessly as she shoved the clipboard into Peter's hands. As Spider-Man scanned through the legal jargon on the page the men began to remove items from the shelves.
"Stop that right now!" screamed Otto, the man having ever raised his voice caused Peter to nearly leap to the ceiling in shock as he looked around. "This is highly sensitive equipment" he insisted as he took a bag back from one of the city workers just as Peter sighted another with a particular crate. Leveling a look at the man that got him to give Peter the box without argument, Parker gave a sigh of relief. If Cooper found out the city had taken his helmet…Otto sighted the box Peter was holding, face twisting in realization. "That's it, I'm calling the mayor's office directly."
"Peter Parker" said a voice from the door. "How the hell are you?" asked none other than Mayor Norman Osborn himself in a dark green suit, arms raised in surprise as he strode towards Peter like he owned the place.
"Speak of the devil" sneered Otto as both he and Peter put down the boxes they had and faced the former CEO.
Using his foot to push the box containing the old striped helmet away, Peter looked up, somewhat stunned at Osborn's appearance. "Mr. Osborn…" he began.
But the mayor clapped a hand down on his shoulder and smiled, though the expression didn't quiet reach his eyes. "Oh please, how long have we known each other? It's Mr. Mayor" he corrected before breaking into a forced laugh. "It's Norman. Norman" he said, still smiling and utterly ignoring Dr. Octavius.
But Otto wouldn't be ignored any longer. "Norman, what do you think you're doing?" asked Otto, eyes narrowing.
Turning back to the woman who must have been his assistant, the Mayor took hold of another clipboard. "The grant agreement you signed has strict safety provisions" he explained without a hint of remorse as he handed Otto the list of infractions. "This isn't your first violation."
"Those were excused…"
"By me" interjected Osborn, cutting off Octavius before his voice turned serious. "We should have confiscated this equipment long ago."
"But I've had a breakthrough" insisted Otto as he stepped aside to let Norman see Lance Corporal Texidor, still seated and confused at the activity going on around him.
But Osborn was unfazed, extending his hand as he stepped forwards. "Thank you for your great service to our country" said the Mayor as he shook the veteran's hand. Placing a hand on his back, the CEO led the man away from Otto. "These folks will escort you to Oscorp robotics, where you will receive the latest in prosthetics, no charge."
As Texidor walked away, Otto spoke up, a vitriol in his voice. "This isn't about safety infractions, is it?" said the Doctor accusingly.
"I'm trying to help you Otto" insisted Norman, his tone implying that he thought he was the good guy. "You're free to continue your work…in a secure environment" he said with a smile that almost made Peter's skin crawl.
"At Oscorp."
Norman just smiled knowingly. "You always were the smartest guy in the room" said Osborn condescendingly.
"You haven't changed a bit" sneered Otto, the man's optimistic demeanor faltering.
"Neither have you" returned Norman before he refocused his attention on Peter. "Hey, Peter. Harry will be coming back from Europe early next year. Maybe the two of you can start that business you always talked about" suggested Norman coolly. "This is opportunity knocking" said the Mayor, though Peter felt like this was the kind of knocking that Cooper preferred to do.
With that, the Mayor and all the other city workers left the pair in the dark and empty lab as Peter turned to see Otto struggling to sit down. "Easy, easy" he encouraged as he steadied his boss into the folding metal chair. "They didn't take everything, maybe we can start over…"
"Peter" said Otto sadly, "There's no 'we.' Without the grant from the city I can no longer pay you" said Octavius sadly. "I need some time to think. If I were you…I'd look for a new job."
A flash from the corner of his eye caused Cooper to cease punching the Fisk Goon under him and activate his phase shift as he turned and sprinted towards the source, the next floor up at the top of the under construction high rise. Jump kit firing as he grabbed hold of the exposed concrete just as he was pulled back. Looking up, he saw the look of shock on the man's face, the rocket launcher he was wielding still smoking as Cooper reached out and grabbed his leg, yanking and pulling him off the edge and onto the ground below.
Dropping down to the same level, the Marauder kicked away the rocket launcher and stood over the groaning man before grabbing him by the vest and slamming him into a nearby pillar. Then again, and again, before finally dropping him to the ground, the construction site now silent, though not a peaceful one.
Blood and shell casings littered the ground, the air heavy with cordite as the Pilot reloaded his weapons, the faint sound of approaching police sirens indicating he wouldn't need to stick around for very long. The fighting had taken its toll on the Marauder's ammunition supply, all he had left was lethal ammunition for both his main weapons, and that was what was loaded as he jumped off the building and freefell towards the streets below.
A swing with his grapple later, and he was parkouring through the city like only a Titan Pilot could, the adrenaline rush slowly subsiding. Even with that, he didn't say no to the opportunity to get another one. His radio crackled to life, "Marauder, Shocker is robbing a bank on East Thirty-First. Get down there ASAP and take him down" ordered Yuri as the waypoint appeared on his HUD.
"Copy that Captain" replied the Marauder as he activated his STIM and took off like a bat out of hell towards the bank. "But didn't Spidey deal with him last night? Is this a copycat?" asked the Pilot.
"He's definitely the real deal" answered Yuri grimly. "A guard released him from his cell a few hours ago and gave him his suit back. The guard that did it, he's dead. Whoever's responsible didn't want any loose ends."
"Damn" cursed Cooper, but any more in-depth thought was replaced with a clear minded alertness he knew all too well, 'the zone' as some liked to call it, though to him it was the Gunslinger's Trance. "I'm close, but if you want me to do this, it might get messy."
"We need him for questioning, so bring him in alive" she said before adding "he doesn't need to look good to answer questions." With those uncaring words, the radio went dead, leaving the Marauder with his thoughts as he approached his destination.
It didn't take long for him to find the right building; the police helicopter circling overhead and ring of cruisers was kind of a dead giveaway. Landing on the steps of the bank, Mastiff shotgun at the ready, the Marauder moved in slowly until he saw the lobby was ruined, but clear. Activating his cloak, he slipped inside and ran along a wall until he perched himself on a large windowsill in a crouch, weapon ready. Reaching across his body awkwardly, he pulled out a pulse blade and tossed it down towards the vault, smiling as he saw the distinct form of the Shocker get highlighted by the pulse. Just as the pulse wore off, he saw the robber pick up two bags and turn towards the lobby.
Without hesitation he keyed his holo-pilot as the fake dropped down and strolled confidently right into line of sight with the vault door. "Schultz! Drop the bags and place your hands on your head or I will use lethal force! This is your only warning!" called out the Pilot, tone brokering no argument.
"Aw shit" cursed Herman, "screw you!" he bellowed as Cooper watched a beam of seismic energy ripple through the air and distort the hologram below. "Just let me have the money Marauder! I didn't hurt anyone!" he shouted as he stepped forwards towards the lobby. For good measure, the Pilot threw two gravity stars, Herman getting caught in both and suspended between them. The two explosions sent Schultz flying across the room and Cooper dropped down.
"I'm playing for keeps Schultz" growled Cooper, "and your life is on the line. Are you really going to play hardball?" In response, the Shocker raised one of his gauntlets as the Marauder dove and rolled away, jump kit carrying him just out of the blast.
The Shocker raised his opposite gauntlet and charged up a follow up shot. "If you don't kill me, THEY will!" he shouted. But before he could fire, the building warble of the gauntlet was cut off by the thunder of the scattergun as one of the orange bolts clipped Herman in the thigh, taking his legs out from under him as he clattered to the floor.
"So we're playing the fucking pronoun game now?" muttered Matt as he advanced towards Herman, his yellow suit now having a distinct dark splotch on one leg. "You tell me who THEY are, and I'll get you a deal, this is your last chance."
Just as Cooper was about to pull out a set of cuffs, Shocker rolled over and unleashed a full blast from both gauntlets into the Marauder at point blank range. Cooper could feel the air get knocked from his lungs as his armor buckled, thankfully keeping the assault from turning his ribs to dust. Arms flailing wildly, the shotgun went skidding across the floor as he fired his jump kit, slowing him down just as he slammed into the bank wall and collapsed to the floor. "I talk, I die, they made that VERY clear" shouted Herman as he charged up his gauntlets again and began to approach the Marauder. But Cooper wasn't going to lie there and take it as he squeezed his left hand and his battered body was pulled between his dimensions and he tried to move to no avail.
So instead he just drew his G2 and shouldered it, the reticle placed right where Herman had been as he waited. Steadying his breath, his finger began tightening around the trigger of the semi-auto battle rifle until he felt the tingle of the phase shift and color returned to his vision.
Crack - crack - crack - crack!
The first shot had been off, but Cooper corrected. The second winged the robber in the left arm before the final two shots slammed straight into his torso, just below his ribcage. "Holy…you…you just…Fuck" screamed Schultz as Cooper grit his teeth through his own pain as he got to his feet and staggered towards the robber. As Cooper got closer, Shocker raised another gauntlet only for Matt to jump up and use his foot to pin the hand to the floor beneath his boot as he drew and raised his axe. "You're not gonna'…" said Herman in shock as the axe came down and Schultz raised his gauntlet.
The weapon buried itself in the gauntlet, sparks erupting from the ruined device as Cooper drew the Smart Pistol and aimed it right at his face. As Schultz was about to scream, the muzzle snapped down and the Marauder pumped two rounds into the other gauntlet, destroying it as well. "Now, tell me who hired you" snarled Cooper as Schultz muttered something incoherent. Heartlessly, Cooper moved his other boot and placed it down on the man's wounded stomach, slowly applying more pressure. "Who damn it" growled the Marauder.
"I don't know who or what they are under those masks" hissed Schultz through the pain as Matthew slowly let up on the bullet wounds. Cooper bit back a curse, he should have seen it sooner, sending the Shocker out like this twice in 12 hours had been careless…or amateurish.
The Smart Pistol lowered as Herman let out a sigh of relief. "Asian masks?" asked the Marauder as the robber nodded slowly. "Fuck" he said aloud as the blue visor looked down at the yellow eye holes of the mask. "For your sake Shocker" said Cooper lowly as he holstered the MK6 and pulled out a set of his Rigid Cuffs, "you better hope these guys aren't nearly as scary as you seem to think they are."
Spider-Man landed in front of the bank just as he saw Cooper emerge, dragging a bloody Shocker behind him as Cops moved in to secure the bank. After handing custody over to the NYPD, the SRS Pilot made a beeline for Spidey but didn't say a word, merely nodding towards a rooftop and firing his grapple. The Superhero joined him a moment later, far away from prying eyes and ears. Peter watched as his friend leaned tiredly against a wall and slid down to sit, wincing the whole way as he clutched his side tenderly. "Are you okay Matt?" asked Parker worriedly as he sat alongside.
Peter stared at the man's bloody gear, wondering if he looked that bad to the people who saw him after a tough fight. "Yeah I'm fine" said Cooper dismissively, "and quit starin' alright? The blood ain't even mine" he drawled.
Peter chuckled, they had been doing this long enough for him to know that spitting out tough guy like one liners was Cooper's coping mechanism, just like his own quips and rambling. A closer examination suggested the blood was from splatter and maybe a few puddles, but the damage his gear had taken was definitely real. A few scales of the armor on his chest had been chipped away from bullet impacts, his gear was scratched and scuffed, and his webgear was barely hanging together. "Alright, but you were a little rough on ol' Shocker in there, don't you think?"
"I took him down, and he'll live" replied the Marauder with a shrug. "Are you really going to chew me out that much?" he asked tiredly. "Besides, arc rounds don't work so good with all the insulation in his suit. Moot point anyways, used them all at the Fisk hideout beforehand." Now Peter felt kinda bad, his friend had to go from a Fisk hideout to taking down Shocker while he moaned about his job situation to Mary Jane. "And in this line of work, you fight with what you have, not with what you want."
The gruff soldier's wisdom that Cooper seemed to have a never-ending supply of never ceased to amaze Peter as he nodded at the words. "When I dealt with Herman last night, I thought he might have been working for someone, did he tell you anything?" asked Peter.
"You've already met them" answered Cooper evasively, staring off with something clearly on his mind.
Peter thought back to what Mary Jane had told him on his way to the bank. "Those 'Demons' with the masks?"
The striped helmet bobbed up and down, "Got it in one. These guys are making big moves if what MJ told me is true. Shocker was sent to get money to finance their buildup I reckon." There was a pregnant pause as both vigilantes pondered the development. "If they're expanding this fast then they're bound to butt heads with Fisk's Syndicate sooner rather than later, we need to take them down before that happens."
"Agreed" replied Spider-Man instantly. "You head back and fix yourself up. I'll fill Yuri in and try to find out where the Demons are based. Then we hit them together."
"Sounds like a plan" returned the Marauder as he slowly got to his feet, using his rifle to prop himself up. "Before I go, I'm going to call Yuri and clock out." With that, he worked at the TACPAD on his wrist before waiting as Spider-Man was connected to the call. "Captain, Shocker is neutralized and in custody" reported the Pilot.
"Good work" said the hard-nosed policewoman. "We have a special cell waiting for him at the RAFT. We'll make sure he stays behind bars this time" continued the Captain, clearly relieved to have another problematic piece off the board.
Cooper took a labored breath, "good. Listen, investigate his link to the 'Demon' group that hit the auction house the other night. Shocker was working for them, though I'm not sure it was by choice. I was able to get that much out of him but not much else." Parker raised an eyebrow, wondering how the distinctly less talkative Cooper had gotten anything out of Herman, before remembering the state the Shocker exited the bank in.
Yuri snorted, shaking Spidey from his thoughts, "Demons?" she said derisively, "sounds like a Daily Bugle headline."
Peter, despite his experiences with JJJ, leapt to the defense of his former employer. "The Bugle is a perfectly fine news organization" he piped up.
Yuri was unimpressed, "Not sure I'd call it news" answered the Captain dryly, getting a wry chuckle from the Marauder alongside Spider-Man.
"Well I've heard they have some really good reporters" returned Spider-Man, pointedly ignoring the sputtering laughter coming from Matthew next to him. "Anyway, have you had any more reports on Demons…er…guys with masks?" he asked.
"Let me get back to you" replied Yuri. "By the way Marauder…how badly did you hurt him?"
Cooper chuckled, "Pretty bad" admitted the Pilot, "but thankfully he doesn't need to look good to answer questions, right?" There was a sigh from Yuri before the Marauder spoke up again. "I need to rest and rearm; I'll be back on station as soon as I can. Marauder out" he signed off before cutting the line. "Don't burn the place down while I'm gone" said the Marauder with a forced grin in his tone as he gave a half salute and jumped off the building.
Cracking his neck, Spider-Man turned to face Manhattan. "Alright, time to do a little Spidey work out in the city."
Cooper's Logbook – Submachine Gun: C.A.R. SMG
There are a ton of ways to win a fight, you can use stealth like Felicia or overwhelming force like Frank, but there are other ways. For a Pilot, speed is life, and Bull Halsey's motto of 'Hit hard, hit fast, hit often' serves as the de facto strategy for Pilots. And when I have the need, the need for speed, then all I want is my C.A.R. (SMG).
I'm so sorry, I couldn't resist.
Still, this weapon is a favorite and is ideally suited to the high mobility warafre and hit and run tactics Pilots specialize in. C.A.R. stands for 'Combat Advanced Round' an it is in fact that round that makes the gun special. The 6.19mm Advanced Cartridge is a shrunken 8.19mm in effect and that was why the R series carbine platform was chosen as the basis for a SMG to fire this new round. Even still, the internals had to be reworked significantly and the weapon bears little resemblance to the one it is based on. Still, the result is a compact and lightweight weapon that dones't compromise on lethality when compared to the R-97, Alternator, or Volt. Assault rifle grade ballistic performance from the 6.19 out to 50 meters will take people by surprise.
That isn't the only trait the C.A.R shares with its bigger brother. Like the R-101, it operates on a closed bolt, just like the legendary MP5 SMG and matches the superb precision and controllability of the H&K. With a similar cyclic rate of 850 RPM, it shoots like the 9mm too but has better armor penetration and higher velocity. Though the best feature of the weapon is definitely the ergonomics. Enough weight to tame the power of the cartridge but well balance to make it easy to handle. A short barrel and adjustable stock make the weapon very pointable and handy, ideal for use in vehicles or Titans. Lastly, the controls, lifted from the R-101, are exactly where you want them to be, fully ambidextrous, and intuitive. Overall, this weapon offers a complete package that is a joy to shoot.
Versatile, easy to use, reliable, and lethal. If I'm going somewhere and need to get there fast, then I trust this gun to get me there.
Closing Notes: One of the things I wanted to highlight in this chapter was the difference between Spider-Man and the Marauder by having them both go up against Shocker. As you can tell, that boss fight in the bank was a lot faster by just having Cooper use a gun, with a lot less damage done, which was intentional. I'm not trying to say anything profound here, just pointing out the obvious, that, and that I thought the fight dragged on way too long and was kind of a snooze.
Obviously, I want to continue to emphasize the differences in they way they both operate, especially towards the end of the main story and in the DLC as well. If you have thoughts on that or anything else, feel free to review and let me know.
Next week, when he finds who he's looking for, listen in awe and you'll hear him Bark at the Moon.
Stay Frosty, Misfit Delta out.