Author's Note: All properties are the rights of their respective owners, Marvel, Respawn Entertainment, etc.

Guest: Wait, really? *Googles frantically* Huh, well...shit. So, I learned something today, besides why engineering majors don't normally write fiction stories. I honest to god never knew that was a thing and I do sincerely apologize for the comically massive amount of errors that have occurred as a result. I just wrote the way it felt natural without knowing that the way I was doing it was wrong. I am even more shocked that you're the first person to actually tell me this, some 37 chapters and 350k words into it.

Blaze1992: Thanks for reading and glad you enjoy, as to your problems:

1. I've mentioned this in respoding to another review, but trying to write around BT is a bitch from a power perspective. Giving Cooper a near impregnable sky fortress would only make this problem worse, at least with the warehouse type hideouts he is more vulnerable, as Hammerhead demonstrated. Another reason is to force Cooper to be a part of the city and make him more attached to it, having him be based on a ship above it would remove that.

2, Well spotted, nobody has gone after Cooper for his tech...yet.

3. I specifically picked the PS4 version of Spidey because it is so barebones. In my view the comics are an unmitigated clusterfuck that I can't get into and I like the simplicity of this new universe. As for why I haven't expanded it, that's a deliberate choice because I prefer to read and write stories with more depth than breadth. I'd rather have a small cast of well defined characters that interact, evovle, and are easier to follow. I have added some things, Cooper and the Punisher most notably, but beyond that? I've toyed with the idea of adding chatacters like Blade, Jessica Jones, Bullseye, or Elektra, but they felt really tacked on, like Kraven back in the first arc. There is some stuff like that coming, but they are more caemos than anything. As for those other ideas...I had to google them since I've never seen them before. I grew up watching 'Dogfights' and my dad's DVD set of 'The Rat Patrol' so you're more likely to see that stuff.

Yeah, I actually wrote it out both ways where Mathilda survived in one and didn't in the other. What ultimately tore it was that I didn't feel she had much left to contribute, she would go home and get her happy reunion and...that was it. This way there's still a loose end out there, and if you played the City that Never Sleeps content you know what's coming.

As always, reviews are welcome, though this chapter is a shorter one without a whole lot happening if I'm being honest. Mostly set up and some lighter moments with a sprinkle of action. With that said, I really just wanted to get another country song as the title since we haven't had one in a long time. That, and I finally remembered there are more country singers than just Johnny Cash. This is a 1990 Garth Brooks classic about escaping the hardships of life with alcohol. Really uplifting, positive message. Honestly, I'm fed up of people thinking this Lil Nas whoever singing 'Old Town Road' counts as country. This is a proper actual country song damnit.


Power Without Question – Chapter 38: Friends in Low Places

I've got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns

And the beer chases my blues away

And I'll be okay

I'm not big on social graces

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis

Oh I've got friends in low places


The chill of another beautiful fall morning greeted Captain Yuri Watanabe as she stepped out of her apartment building and onto the street. Dressed as she usually was, jeans, plaid shirt, leather jacket, with her badge and piece in her jacket, the veteran began walking to work with confident measured strides. She had just gotten off the phone with the Marauder and received an update about the worsening situation with Devil's Breath. Sable had been kept in the dark about the nature of the substance and the Pilot doubted they would be of much help. He had learned where Michaels was, the Bowery, and that he would be moved today at noon. Both agreed this was when they thought Li would make his move.

She still had hope that she could get Sablinova to listen to reason but had given terse permission for the Marauder and Spider-Man to prepare to intercede if something did happen. If her superiors learned that she had approved the two to interfere with Sable International operations she would take serious heat for it. But considering what was at stake, she had no qualms about playing her two trump cards.

Since her shift didn't start for another hour, she was able to take the time to walk to the precinct. Even if part of her was ready to get back to work, the part that won out was the one that had appreciated the full night's sleep and wanted to appreciate this beautiful morning before her responsibilities resumed. The usually bustling streets seemed quieter than she was used to, and the overbearing presence of the massive Sable APC and the white clad troopers alongside had an effect on the civilians trying to live out their daily lives through the crime wave.

Because of her position as NYPD Captain, she knew where Sable stationed their checkpoints, though the PMC made it a point to move them around every so often and at random to try to catch out Demon activity. There was a new one up ahead, and while she was enjoying taking the scenic route to work, getting frisked by one of the 'Storm trooper knockoffs' as Spider-Man called them was far less appealing. Instead, she simply decided to cut down an alley a few blocks from the precinct and out of sight of the checkpoint.

It wasn't the prettiest part of Manhattan; graffiti tags filled the walls and trash blew in the breeze along the concrete. In one doorway, two men in hoodies were huddled together smoking cigarettes and speaking in hushed tones as they eyed Yuri who simply kept her eyes forward and walking towards her destination. At the halfway mark, two more hoody wearing men emerged from a shop ahead of her. Both of them turned towards the policewoman and she could see the leers on their faces before red tracksuit called out "Hey! What's a pretty little thing like you doing pass through here?" he asked.

Yuri ignored him, walking on at the same measured pace as blue tracksuit continued to eye her. "I think she's looking for a good time, and that she came to the right place" said the thug as he put a hand on Watanabe's shoulder and squeezed forcefully as the Cop refused to wince in response as she looked up at the man. "What do you say? Want to have some fun?"

"No" she said flatly and calmly, part of her shocked that this was happening not five blocks from an NYPD precinct.

"Well, that's a problem" replied red as he flashed a crooked grin. "I want to have fun, we're fun guys who just want to have a good time" he said, tone sickly sweet.

"And you" continued blue tracksuit as Yuri narrowed her eyes to watch red move to block the part of the alley his smaller compatriot already was from directly in front of her, "you look like a good time."

Yuri tried to take a step back, see if she could get out of this situation without a fight. But blue tracksuit simply held his grip and stepped forwards, trying to push her down as the oriental woman's body tensed and adrenaline began to flood her veins. "Not for you two" said Yuri with venomous calm, "you'll want to let me go now."

"No" replied the blue tracksuit as he reached behind his back, "I don't think we do." At that, Yuriko nodded, resigned to what was about to happen before she sprang into action. She picked her right leg up and jammed the heel of her boot down onto the man's toes as he cried out in pain as she followed up with an elbow strike to his nose, breaking it. As he wailed in pain, the Cop didn't let up, reaching out to get two handfuls of his mangy hair as she pulled his head down and rammed her knee into his broken nose.

Red Tracksuit finally registered what had happened as his friend went down and pulled a knife from god knows where before he rushed the woman. Unknowingly, he had brought a knife to a gunfight as Yuri drew her .357 and leveled the six shooter at the thug before pulling the trigger. The Magnum round slammed into the man's chest and stopped him dead in his tracks as he fell to the ground. Behind her, the other two hoodies joined the fight, one pulling a gun from his waistband and getting the revolver pointed his way.

Just as Watanabe was about to fire, a flash of movement in the corner of her eye caused her to react to the charging man with a crowbar as she sidestepped to avoid the blunt instrument. With an echoing 'ping' the metal slammed into the ground as Yuri lashed out with a kick to disarm the man. His weapon gone, the criminal went for the Captains gun instead, latching onto the Rhino with both hands as he drove her to the ground.

Yuri squirmed and thrashed as she fought against the man's weight as he pinned her to the concrete until she eventually closed her eyes and slammed her forehead into the man's face, breaking a second nose in the span of a minute as she scampered backwards. But before she could get her gun up the man came back at her and fell on top of the Cop once again. Only this time she had her gun at hip level, muzzle pressed into the man's gut and didn't hesitate to open fire, quickly putting two slugs through his stomach as he cried out in shock and pain and rolled off of her.

More gunshots echoed in the alley as the last criminal opened fire, semi-automatic held sideways in one hand as the other held his trousers up and he walked towards Watanabe. Still flustered from the close quarters experience, her first shot at him missed as he ducked before looking up again just in time to see the muzzle flash of the second shot before the round went through his head.

As he dropped to the ground, Yuri got to her feet and scanned the area, still breathing heavily after surviving the attempted rape. On either side, citizens carried on, unconcerned by the fight as Watanabe stood in shock. Her surroundings were far from silent, the groans and screams of the wounded men still filled the narrow alley as the Cop winced in pain, looking down to see red stain her shirt from her tumble.

Just as she was about to call the precinct and report what had happened, the report of a pair of energy pistol shots derailed her train of thought as she whipped around to see Silver Sablinova herself standing at the end of the alley, sneer on her face and weapons in hand. The Blue tracksuit man she had downed first lay face down, two smoking holes in his back and a bright chrome pistol that hadn't been there before on the ground next to his hand. "Thanks" said Yuri honestly, cursing herself for failing to check what he had been reaching for.

The Symkarian mercenary ceased her sneering at the downed men as she looked the Captain over, lip quirking in as close as Yuri had ever seen Sable get to a smile. "It was no problem, I'm impressed Captain Watanabe" remarked Silver Sablinova coolly, "you seemed to have the situation mostly in hand." Before the Cop could respond a fireteam of Sable troopers rounded the corner and the Symkarian shifted back into the hardass commander persona, "Sergeant, restrain these men and secure the perimeter for NYPD. Captain Watanabe will escort me to the precinct" she ordered with her usual authoritative air. Yuri watched as the troopers used their usual amount of care when fitting plasti-cuffs to her attackers before Sable beckoned her over, "Walk with me Captain."

Not seeing a practical alternative to accepting, Yuri holstered the Rhino revolver and stepped up alongside the mercenary before the two women walked down the street towards the Chinatown precinct as ambulances and police cruisers streaked towards the alleyway. "Did you go looking for trouble this morning or did it happen to find you?" asked the silver haired woman lightly.

Yuri snorted, "I don't make a habit of looking for trouble, I leave that for Spider-Man and the Marauder" she said dryly before adding, "but there seems to be more than enough trouble to go around these days."

Sablinova 'hmmed' in agreement, thought there was more on her mind than she was letting on. "I'm sure it's helpful to have them available to help. At your beck and call…and able to do things you can't do" said Silver as she flashed a hint of contempt, "like sending them into my Main Operating Base to interrogate a VIP" she accused. Yuri kept up her poker face, even if she had told the Marauder where to find Standish, she certainly hadn't ordered him to do something as brash as barge into the camp in Central Park.

Instead she merely shook his head, "I'm flattered, but I don't think anyone can control either of them" she admitted wryly, "especially me." Both of the masked vigilantes were fiercely independent, even if they were both prone to take risks. "If they were there then it was of their own accord" assured the Cop as they made their way up the steps of the building.

Watanabe turned to the Symkarian and saw the grimace on her face, "Regardless, tell them to stay away from my operation today. Any interference will incur…severe penalties" she assured with threatening iciness before spinning on her heel and heading down the steps to one of the stark white vehicles, leaving Yuri with another phone call to make.


Rustling his hair to make it not look like he had spent more than the normal amount of time wearing his mask, Peter entered the backdoor into the lab of Octavius industries. He had a few hours to get some work done with Otto before he had to book it to the Bowery if he wanted to meet Cooper in time to oversee Michaels' transfer. It was clear that the Pilot was taking this very seriously, having said something about 'pulling out all the stops.' Part of Peter was concerned that the Texan might have been going too far, but all that concern got him was a reminder of what was at stake.

Pushing the thought of seeing Devil's Breath unleashed from his mind, the young scientist stepped into the lab and saw Octavius hard at work on the next phase of the project. So far, the prosthetics were far and beyond what Parker had thought possible, a perfect combination of modern and futuristic technologies to achieve something straight out of science fiction. Octavius had made it clear that there was only more to come, true integration of the link technology Pilots used to control their Titans. "Morning Parker" greeted Otto, "or is it evening? Ah, doesn't matter" finished Octavius dismissively with a forced chuckle to try and inject some levity. But it was clear to the assistant that the Doctor was running himself ragged and starting to fray under the stress. "Check the neurosensors, would you? We need a faster response time."

"On it" answered Parker as he quickly set to work on the prototype headgear. Next to it on the table was the green and yellow striped helmet, other than the paint scheme the one that Cooper used to this day was almost identical. Though the composite armor plating had been removed, the visor and breather were still in place, watching Parker as he worked. Otto's creation appeared nearly identical to the internals protected by armor and insulation and was almost as capable. After Peter finished fine tuning and streamlining the systems to get the reaction time where Otto wanted it. "2.8 Milliseconds" Peter announced triumphantly as he held up the prototype.

Otto had prepared the arms for a test of dexterity and reaction time as Peter prepared the prototype. Unlike the Militia helmet they didn't have a method of wirelessly transmitting the data the helmet picked up efficiently enough, so they had to use a hardwire connection. With an encouraging smile, Peter handed the prototype to Otto, who slipped it on before Parker moved over and was ready on the emergency stop. Tentatively, one of the carbon fiber arms picked up a tennis ball from the bucket on the floor before tossing it in the air. Out of reflex, Otto reached out with his arm as the mechanical double did the same, extending to double its normal length to snatch the ball from mid air.

Peter stared in shocked amazement as the arm collapsed back into its original shape before tossing the ball to its opposite, "Yes!" cheered Parker quietly as Otto gave a small smirk of confidence before having the second arm toss the ball back to the first. From there things progressed rapidly, with the two arms picking up three more tennis balls and beginning to juggle casually. Faster and faster, more balls were added to the display until the bucket was empty and both arms were a blur as they kept all the balls in flight. Peter was in awe at the sight while Octavius had the happiest and most triumphant expression his young protégé had ever seen plastered on his face. Proving that the arms worked, Otto began directing the arms to put the balls back in the bucket until they were all back where they started.

"I'd call that a mild success" said Otto in sheer understatement, the grin etching itself deeper into his sagely features.

Peter shared his delight, but not his subtlety, "I'd call that unbelievable!" whooped the Queens native in joy. He then turned to see Otto trying and failing to disconnect the cable at the base of the prototype as Peter's joy turned to concern, "Do you need some help?"

The elder scientist nodded, "Yes" he admitted quietly as Peter nodded and stepped behind him to remove the cable from the headgear. As soon as it was disconnected the indicator lights on the arms flickered off as Peter gently removed the prototype and turned to Octavius. "Doctor, what's going on?" he asked candidly.

"It's become that obvious?" asked Otto dryly before taking the prototype back from the assistant. "My doctors call it a 'degenerative nerulogical disorder', probably caused by overexposure to toxic chemicals in my…reckless youth" explained Octavius.

"I'm sorry" offered Peter genuinely, "is there anything I could do?" Octavius was too good a man for Peter to watch suffer like this, and to think it would only get worse…

"You already are" assured Otto as he gestured towards the prosthetics. "The worst part is it only affects the muscles – the mind continues to work, but it can no longer do" explained the Doctor sadly. Peter simply stared in silence as he digested this revelation that the man he looked up to had time going against him. "You're the only one who knows, Peter. I'd like to keep it that way."

Well, it wasn't as if he wasn't used to keeping secrets. "Of course" he assured without hesitation, the man had done so much for him that honoring his request was the only choice Parker would make.

Otto nodded thankfully before taking a deep breath and looking down. "Uhh….if you'd like to seek a position with more of a future…" he began before Peter cut him off.

"I came here to work because of what you got up here" he said as he gestured to his own mind, "that's not going anywhere. So neither am I" promised the young genius.

Otto was visibly relieved and quite emotional as he embraced his protégé before the two got back to work.


Miles Morales was experiencing something new; he was in trouble. Not the kind of trouble he got into when he missed his curfew because he was at his buddy's playing video games and working on their pet projects. Not the kind of trouble he got into when he didn't keep his room as tidy as his mother would have liked. Nor even the kind of trouble he got into when he got fed up that asshole at school shoving him into lockers and punched him in the face. No, this time he was in real, serious, trouble.

He had thought his dad had been exaggerating when he told him stories about teenagers who went down random alleys and got mugged. Miles had always chalked it up to his job as a Police Officer meaning he saw these sorts of things in disproportionate numbers and that it would never happen to him. But only now, as he stared up to the two masked thugs who were blocking his way, did he begin to reconsider that position. "Whaddaya' doin' here?" asked the one in the leather jacket.

Before the teenager could explain himself, the thug shoved him to the street with ease as the wind was knocked out of Morales and he coughed before the thug drove his boot into his gut while he was still on the ground. Snarling in anger, Miles charged the man, burying his shoulder into the goon's stomach as he managed to push the man back as his buddy shouted "Ho! We got a fighter!"

Eager to prove him right, Miles managed to force his attacker to the ground as he reared his arm back and punched the man in the face once, then twice as the mugger threw up his arms to block the weak blows before the other came up behind and ripped the teen off the thug. Morales grunted as he was thrown into a brick wall and slumped to the ground, groaning in his side as it throbbed in pain, the teen sat up to face the two thugs who loomed over him. "You just made your last mistake, punk" threatened one of them before the one in back was plucked up by a white line before being unceremoniously dropped back to the blacktop.

The lead one turned around and saw his friend sprawled out on the asphalt before he looked up in horror to see a similar white line pull him up as Miles eyes followed the man. Streaking down from the building overhead, a red and blue clad figure rammed his feet into the man's back and slammed him into the ground before back flipping off. "Does it seriously take this many guys to rob a teenager?" asked the brightly colored figure as Miles noticed for the first time the half dozen other thugs in the alley.

Blinking back the haze and glare from the sun, Miles stared up in awe at the white spider logo that covered the man's back outlined by black piping and black webbing on the red sections that extended down to his shoulder blades and also formed a 'belt' around his waist. The teenager watched in awe as he began firing bursts of webs at the thugs before using his lines to rip one off of his feet and whip him around before slamming him into his compatriots.

And that was just the beginning as Miles was a spectator while Spider-Man bounced from wall to wall and flipped acrobatically around the muggers so fast he had a hard time keeping up. Powerful punches and kicks staggered the men and sent them back before one came at Spider-Man who simply fell flat on his back and stuck his feet up before using his whole body to launch the attacker into his two accomplices before webbing all three down. Miles then looked up in awe as the man extended his hand down to the teen, "You hurt?" he asked genuinely.

Only then did the teen realize truly who it was who he was looking at as he took the offered hand and sprung to his feet. "Y…you're Spider-Man! The amazing Spider-Man! You…you're the Spectacular Spider-Man!" He rambled as the teen continuously shook the hero's hand.

"And a few other choice adjectives Jameson uses" remarked the webhead dryly as he steadied the teen's hand. "Look" he said candidly as he turned serious, "that was really brave, but next time leave the fighting to the pros, okay?"

"Ok" answered Miles before reflexively asking, "but what if there aren't any around?" The question caused the hero to come to a stop as he paused to ponder the question.

To Miles' utter delight, his idol turned back around and the blank white eye lenses looked straight at him. "Well…you can't just go around swinging at someone twice your size. I mean, don't get me wrong…" he began before quickly amending the statement before Miles could point out what was hypocritical about his advice. "I fight guys who are stronger than me all the time, but when I do it I hav-"

"Like that time you fought the Rhino on the Brooklyn Bridge?" asked Miles excitedly. "That was so awesome!" gushed the teen as he began to ramble on. As Morales' mind queued up another example, the Superhero cut him off.

"Perfect example" interjected the vigilante quickly before Miles could continue on his tangent. "If the other guy's bigger, you gotta be quicker" explained Spider-Man. Miles nodded in understanding, the advice seemed obvious, but you had to start somewhere. "Ok?"

"Ok" replied Miles, "but that's easy for you to say" pointed out the teen. He was definitely no Spider-Man, hell; nobody was like Spider-Man. Scorpion, Rhino, Electro, even other heroes like Captain America or the Marauder couldn't move like the wallcrawler could. "I just can't do what you do."

Spider-Man cocked his head sideways, looking the younger man over before nodding in understanding, "Alright, put 'em up" he ordered.

The teen stared back dumbly at the hero, jaw hanging open as his mind checked and rechecked that he had heard correctly. "Seriously?" he asked in shock as he took a step back, thinking that this wasn't exactly what he was hoping to get out of this encounter.

"Yeah, come on" encouraged Spidey as he half raised his own fists, making it clear this was just a friendly exercise and not the real thing. Gesturing with his hand, the webhead asked Miles to approach and he did, trying to remember what his dad had taught him before the wallcrawler held up his hand. "First thing…don't let the adrenaline get to you" he said calmly, spoken like a true veteran. "Breathe slow, breathe deep, relax" he emphasized. "Hips square to your opponent" he commanded firmly as Miles complied, "let your opponent make the first move."

Miles nodded as Spidey continued his instruction by pointing down, "Use your feet…and when they go off balance…" he explained as the teen shuffled his sneakers and Spider-Man turned his head to expose his chin before holding his palm up in front of it and tapping the back of his glove clad hand against his face. "When you see an opening…" he began encouragingly.

Hesitantly, Miles moved his balled fist in slow motion to impact the superhero's hand. "Like that?" he asked tentatively.

The masked face nodded, "Yeah, yeah that's it" he affirmed as Morales drew his hand back. "Okay. Now only this time, just let me have it" Spider-Man said as Miles nodded and did as he had been told, squaring his hips and shuffling his feet, eyes locked on the expressionless mask. "Right on the jaw, okay?" said the Wallcrawler as Miles saw his opening and lashed out. "I can take – urgh!" growled Spider-Man as he turned and stumbled away, hand clutching his bruised jaw. "Oh shi…." Hissed the masked hero as he turned back and Miles all of a sudden realized he might have overdone it a bit.

"Sorry" he offered meekly as he saw his life flash before his eyes, fearing the worst and that his hero would want retribution.

To the teen's immense relief, Spider-Man just took the haymaker in stride. "No, no, no, it's all good" he assured as he worked his jaw inside his mask. There was a smile in his voice as he looked back at Miles, "you keep that up and uh…you'll be fine" he assured. "Alright, lesson's over. I gotta go."

Miles watched his hero walk off and remembered one last thing he had to say. "Hey! Uh…thanks."

Spidey pointed back at the Teen, "Anytime" he finished amicably before firing off a webline and acrobatically swinging away.

Miles watched, beaming like he hadn't in a very long time before looking down at the hand he was still subconsciously flexing as what had just happened settled in. "I just punched Spider-Man" he realized, part of him hoping that this didn't make him a criminal while most of him was too elated at meeting his hero to care. After taking a few seconds to sort himself out and let reality sink in, the teen got moving again.

Heading back up the street towards the FEAST shelter, he was interrupted by a ringing in his pocket as he pulled his phone out and answered. "Yo Miles, what's up?" asked Ganke Lee, the ever excitable friend who was a programming wiz while Miles did the hardware.

Having only just gotten his nerves under control, the teen quickly lost his composure once again. "Bro, you are not gonna believe this – I just met Spider-Man!" he revealed. He knew Ganke was a Marauder fan, but still, the chance to met one of them was once in a lifetime.

"What?" returned a shocked Ganke, "That's crazy! Hey, did you show him our hacking app?"

Miles felt like punching himself for his stupidity, "Oh man!" he moaned, "I totally forgot."

And just like that, his friend turned on him, "You suck" shot the other teen with no real malice behind it. "He totally would have bought it off you. And then we'd be like famous!" said Ganke excitedly, though Miles thought there was probably more to it than that.

"Yeah, I'll show him next time" promised Miles, though he was ninety nine percent sure there wouldn't be a next time. "I gotta go, I promised my mom I wouldn't be late" he called as he looked down at the time and grimaced.

"Cool, later" answered Ganke simply before hanging up, leaving Miles with his thoughts as he continued down the streets. Ever since his dad had died he hadn't gone out much, just school and home every day, head down and unaware of how the city had changed in the wake of the attack that had claimed his father's life. The streets felt mellowed as people were more prone to keep their heads down as if they were in fear of having them blown off. As the teen continued on he saw a car accident as bystanders crowded around to get a decent look. After that was a checkpoint manned by the Private Security Firm the Mayor had brought in.

Getting in line, he looked down at his phone and saw the time. There was no way he could get through this line in time and he looked for alternatives. He noticed that the guards were all focused on checking papers and left the small drones out to make sure nobody slipped past, if that drone were to become suddenly disabled then he should be able to easily get through. Deciding he had nothing to lose if he tried, he opened the app he and Ganke had been working on and found the drone's signal. Tapping the icon on his phone, the hacking app uploaded a virus to the drone.

To his utter amazement, the drone's IR sensor flickered out as the essential flight systems rebooted and kept the drone aloft. Deciding he might as well go through with this, he checked that nobody was looking before vaulting over the fence and crouching down before charging across the street. "I can't believe Sable systems are unsecured" he whispered to himself as he used a car for cover before crossing over the next wall and catching his breath. "Maybe I'll send an anonymous tip" he mused.

Looking past the gate to the garden he was in, he saw more patrolling Sable troops, causing his mind to race. He didn't fancy his chances getting by and he looked for alternatives. No open windows or doors, no alleys either, he couldn't go around. But then he thought like his hero, "Maybe I can go up…that scaffolding, bingo." Clambering his way up, he soon got his footing on the wooden construction. Making his way forward, he disabled a few more drones before dropping down and hopping the wall into a public area just across from the shelter.

Proving that there was a god, not thirty seconds after he escaped danger, his phone rang loudly. Quickly looking at the screen, he saw the Caller ID as his mother and answered instantly. "Oh, hey mom" he greeted, trying to make sure he regulated his breaths. Breath slow. Breath Deep. Relax he mentally chanted.

"Hey Honey" greeted his mother's soothing tones. "Did you make it to the FEAST shelter okay?"

Miles did what any decent teenager would have in this situation, he lied his ass off. "Uhh, yeah" he answered in the least suspicious way possible. "Almost there" he informed nervously, hoping his mother wouldn't call him out on this, he might not survive the tongue lashing he would get if she knew.

Thankfully, he was still being looked out for and his mother, with her fiery Latin temperament still intact, didn't notice his lie. "You don't have to work at that shelter, you know" she offered tentatively.

"You said I did" replied Miles, slightly peeved that he might have just taken all of those risks for no reason.

"No, I gave you a choice" corrected the woman gently.

"Yeah" conceded the son as he looked up at the Shelter and heaved out a heavy breath. "And I chose this over more therapy" answered Miles. Not like that's much of a choice he groused internally. "I mean, it was helpful. The guy said everyone grieves in their own way. This is mine."

"Okay" replied Rio, "I'm sorry" she said, figuring she had hit a nerve with her prying.

"Mom" he answered firmly, cutting her off.

There was a slight pause, "…yeah?"

"Just because I don't want to talk about it doesn't mean I don't love you" he explained quietly. He knew he had been shutting her out, but he would still do anything for his family, and she was his only family left.

"Oh honey…" she answered quietly, "I love you so much. We'll get through this" she promised as she began to choke up.

"We will" returned Miles with a faint smile. "I gotta go, I'll call you when I'm on my way home" he promised before hanging up as he finished crossing the street and when he saw a white blur heading his way. The car pulled up to a stop alongside the curb before the driver gave the engine a rev, rock musing blaring from the open windows before they were rolled up and the car switched off.

Out came a broad shouldered man Miles guessed to be in his mid-twenties wearing blue jeans and an old Houston Astros jersey, aviator shades covering his eyes. The man's fingers danced on the hood of the Mustang as he removed his sunglasses to reveal blue eyes that seemingly lit up in recognition when the fell on Miles. "You Morales?" he asked in a calm drawl as he extended his hand and the teen nodded. "Name's Cooper, Matthew Cooper. Welcome to FEAST" he introduced warmly.

"Yeah, happy to be here" returned Miles as he looked back at the car and noticed the badge on the back. "Nice car" he complimented, "Shelby?" he asked. Part of him had always liked cars, and while he preferred futuristic electric cars, his dad had instilled a respect for the old school.

"Sure is, GT350" answered Cooper with a nod as he led the teen up the steps. "If you want, I'll give you a ride, let you feel that Voodoo V8 in action" he offered as the two made their way inside to the lobby.

"I wouldn't be so quick to take him up on that offer. It's only a matter of time before one of his passengers dies of a heart attack" quipped a familiar face awaiting them inside the shelter. Peter Parker gave a lopsided grin as he pointed his finger at Matt. "I made the mistake of riding with him once, aged five years in five blocks."

"That's 'cause you don't know how to handle real speed" defended the Texan wryly, a glimmer of mirth in his eye. "One of the problems with you New Yorkers is that you think the subway counts as fast" he drawled with a dry chuckle tacked onto the end. It was easy to see that the two were good friends, the banter flowed easily between them. But the conversation soon became more serious, "so where do you need us Pete?"

It didn't take Miles long to figure out the dynamic the pair shared as Peter's eyes darted around. The Queens Native was the more high strung of the two, mind working as fast as his while the southerner was more laid back, though his eyes glowed with attentiveness nonetheless. "May told me they were having trouble with the ovens; they aren't heating up right. Could you take a look at that?" asked the New Yorker. The Texan merely nodded and strolled off towards the kitchen as Peter turned his gaze to Miles, who instinctively straightened. "Miles, why don't you just start by getting comfortable with the place. Meet a few people" instructed Parker before pointing to a simmering coffee pot. "You know what, everyone loves coffee" he suggested before clapping the teen on the shoulder.

Miles nodded, "Coffee, alright" he said with a nod as he picked up the pot.

Peter made to follow his friend into the kitchen as Peter gave him one last glance. "And I'll be back in a little while to check on you, is that cool?" asked Parker, thought his tone made it clear that that was very much a question.

"Yeah…" answered Miles tentatively, "yeah, I should be fine" he assured, getting one last nod before the older guy walked off. He decided to swallow his pride and go up to the first person he saw with a half empty cup and offer a refill, then the next, then the next until he was halfway across the room that was the size of the gym at Midtown. "Coffee?" he offered to a man sitting at one of the cheap folding tables, hunched over and studiously working on a crossword puzzle.

The man glanced up and nodded, "Thanks" he grunted quietly before setting back to work as Miles filled his cup.

"Need help?" offered the honor roll student.

"Not unless you know what the hell a 'quark' is" answered the man sarcastically.

Miles cracked a smirk, "It's a subatomic particle" he offered happily. "You know, the basic building block of protons, neutrons, hadrons…" he prompted. "Subatomic" parroted the homeless man in realization as he looked up at Miles and flashed a genuine smile, "That fits! Good one kid" he complimented. Morales just nodded in return and resumed his coffee run as he snaked his way through the beds, shocked at just how many there were, and how many were occupied. He didn't think there were that many homeless people in the city, he hardly ever saw any on the streets. Because they're here he realized, beginning to understand the value of FEAST.

The sound of irate grumbling knocked him from his thoughts as he saw a stereotypical looking crotchety old man mumbling at and smacking a television set. "…piece of junk…aw hell!" he cursed as Miles made his way over to investigate. "Damn hunk of junk!"

Miles looked the TV over, it was an older model, bulkier and had a rotary dial and buttons on the front face. The same kind he had taken apart a dozen times, just to see how they work and to find out if he could put them back together. "Mind if I take a look?" he offered.

The older man turned around, startled, "Eh?" he chirped as he squinted his eyes at Miles.

Miles thought that, as usual, people doubted his technical abilities because of his age, so he explained. "We have a couple of CRTs at school, I know to fix these when they—"

"CR what?" asked the man in genuine confusion. Ah, that would be the issue realized Miles. "No, you just smack it a couple times" insisted the white haired man as he began to do just that. "Get it going."

"Or…" offered the youth, "it could be a loose coax cable" he suggested.

"Alright, alright" conceded the man as he backed off and gestured wildly towards the static filled television, "Be my guest. Mr. Smarty pants. Please, go ahead." Smiling cockily, Miles set the coffee pot down on the floor and set to work. Pulling out the cable, he inspected it and blew the dust out before screwing it back into place. His ears told him that static was replaced with the news as he stepped back in front of the screen.

"…tributes continue to pour in for Officer Jefferson Davis, the hero killed in the City Hall bombing, as reports emerge that he used his own body to shield others in his last moments of life…"

Miles smiled a bit, his father may have died, but he went out doing what he thought was right. For some reason or another, that thought helped keep Miles at peace. "Hey, new kid" called the old man sitting and watching the screen, "I'm empty here." Tearing his eyes away from the news, he picked the pot back up and filled the man's cup. "Hero? Man didn't do nothing heroic except getting himself blown up" snorted the old man derisively.

The comment made Miles sick to his stomach, and he balled his fist before realizing the geezer wasn't worth getting mad over and he turned to move on, try to forget about the man's comment when a hand clamped down on his shoulder and stopped him in his tracks. "Hey Ernie" said Parker as Miles looked back at the hand holding him in place and who it was attached to. "I see you've met Miles. He's going to be helping out around here. You may have heard of his father – Jefferson Davis." Miles looked at Peter in shock, hoping the guy would stop when he noticed Parker hadn't come alone. "Pretty great that even though he's got a lot of stuff going on right now, he decided to come and help volunteer. Don't you think?"

"Uh, yeah, yeah" answered Ernie weakly. "Thanks" he grunted before muttering something to himself and standing. "Listen kid, I'm sorry about your dad. He was a hero I guess, just like him over there" he said, nodding towards the Texan standing straight in the doorway, arms crossed, and eyes narrowed at the old man.

Miles cocked his head in curiosity as he turned back to the old man. "Why? What'd he do?"

"What I had to" answered Cooper, drawl absent and tone cold as ice, "nothing more…nothing less."

With that, the Texan turned and made his way back towards the kitchen, "C'mon Miles. Let's see if Aunt May needs a hand in the kitchen" prompted Peter as Miles looked back at Ernie one last time before turning to follow.

When the two entered the kitchen, Miles saw Cooper helping a kindly looking older woman in her early sixties carry plates of sandwiches when he heard a strange gong like sound. "Are those…church bells?" he asked, confused.

"Not quite" drawled Matthew as he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, stopping the sound. "Those are Hells Bells…'cause there will be hell to pay if I miss this lunch date" he quipped coolly, the easygoing joking tone Miles expected absent as he gave the woman an apologetic smile. "Time for me to head out, take care ya'll, and nice meeting you Miles" he said with a wave as he left.

"I gotta go too Aunt May" said Peter suddenly. "But I brought some help" he offered as the woman turned to look at the teen for the first time.

She gave a warm smile, the same kind his mother had. "Hi Miles, nice to see you! Grab an apron, wash your hands, and I'll show you around." Miles nodded and began to do just that.

While he was fumbling with the ties on the apron he called out to Peter's back, "Hey Pete, thanks for that back there."

"Course" replied the older man with an easygoing smile before turning to follow Cooper out of the shelter.


Cooper's Logbook – Sniper Rifle: D-2 Double Take

The Double Take is a curious weapon, developed as a way to create higher hit probability by solving this complex problem with a very simple solution: shoot more bullets.

Even simpler was the way they went about solving it, they took a page from the playbook of the old west by simply making the gun a side by side. There are two barrels firing caseless ammunition with an energy firing mechanism like that in the Volt and Devotion. Obviously, the shots don't hit dead center, but as long as your aim is close then at least one will hit, and if you aim really well then both bullets will hit and not very much will survive that.

Of course, this weapon is actually usable because the entire package is well thought out. Caseless ammunition and energy actuated systems make it lighter and more compact, paired with a bullpup construction to make it a manageable length, the holographic sight is easy to use and excellent.

Interestingly is the way that others tried to solve this problem beforehand. Many have turned to rapid fire bursts like the G11 and AN-94. Still others have turned to flachettes like Styer in their ACR program. But the best attempt was the XM-16E2 developed by Colt, which simply stuffed two projectiles into each 'bullet.' The D-2 is much simpler, peeling back the futuristic tech all it boils down to is lock, stock, and two smoking barrels.


Closing Notes: I know its short, but after the massive chapter last week I wanted to keep it brief and give the story a bit of time to breathe, especially with what's coming in the next chapter. Though it was fun to write an action sequence with Yuri, mainly because I do really like that Six Gun. But really this one was pretty straight forwards, leave a review if you have anything to say, good, bad, or otherwise.

Next week will be a chase sequence where everyone has to go like a Bat Out of Hell.

Stay Frosty, Misfit Delta out.