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

I'm currently reading through Red Storm Rising and very much enjoying it. At least enough to not wish to see any movies.

Also, I'm currently thinking of doing a spin off of this story, mainly to use some ideas I like and worked on before ultimately deciding they don't fit in Power Without Question. If this is something that sounds appealing, let me know and I'll make it happen.

Vansmoke: This was always an Insomniac Spider-Man story with some other elements showing up from time to time. I don't want to do a giant Avengers story, but it is clear in the game that those other characters exist and in certain circumstances it made sense for them to show up. There is also no relation to the MCU outside of some origins stuff, there will be no infinity saga for example, but for convenience I had some characters use their MCU origins. As for the point about Cooper's armor? BT-7274 could go toe to toe with Hulkbuster, but outside of BT the armor Cooper wears is about as strong as a modern NIJ Level III plate, but lighter, more flexible, and more ergonomic. As for broadening the universe? I'm kinda hesitant about that, and I don't agree that it's easier. It's a balance, obviously, I want there to be variety, but not so much that the entire story becomes an incomprehensible mess. I'm going to try new things, but, for the most part, they won't be from the MCU. Even if the story isn't exactly what you wanted, I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying it for what it is, hopefully that remains to be the case.

It's been too long since we've had a country tune, and while this isn't one of my favorites, it's one of the most mainstream and recognizable ones by Rascal Flatts. I remember seeing Cars in the theater when I was very young, though now I almost wish I could have seen the edit made for Britain, which featured a cameo by Jeremy Clarkson.

Power Without Question – Chapter 96: Life is a Highway

There's no load I can't hold
The road so rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long, whoo
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long

Spidey felt the island shake beneath his feet before quickly regaining his balance and jumping up into the air. Throwing an uppercut at a Maggia goon with a jetpack, the Webhead fired a pair of weblines and front flipped, swinging the thug around before throwing him downwards and slamming him into the metal roof of the Island.

On the opposite side of the platform, Silver Sable quickly spun and fired a single shot into the man's jetpack, disabling it so that the Wallcrawler could web the man down as he descended. On the other side of the platform, Yuri and Felicia had used their adhesive whips and grapple hook respectively to deal with the men that had swarmed the Island while the Don dueled with Cooper and BT on the Flight Deck below.

But now, every one of the thugs Hammerhead had brought with him lay knocked out or webbed down, swiftly defeated by the motely group that had fought against them. s a group, the heroes rushed to the port side of the Island, just in time to see Hammerhead rush at BT. In a series of stunningly swift moves for the size of the Titans duking it out, the Vanguard Titan rammed the barrel of its gun into the Don's machine and then swung the impaled Titan over its shoulder and into the deck. Down, but not out, Hammerhead's machine reared a fist back before a pod extended over the shoulder of BT and unloaded a salvo of rockets into the white Titan, tearing the machine apart with a series of explosions.

Immediately, Spider-Man threw himself off the Island, flipping over and firing a webline at the overhang to slow his descent before dropping down onto the flight deck, able to feel the heat coming from the burning wreck of Hammerheads Titan. He was quickly joined by Sable, Yuri, and Felicia, all of whom had descended to the flight deck as BT opened the hatch of the vanquished Titan.

Before the Webhead could question what was happening, the white machine began to hiss and shriek violently as his Spidey Sense went haywire. Cooper was the first to react, immediately shoving the now glowing Titan off the side of the ship and sending it into the water before a massive explosion caused those without adhesive feet to stumble as the ship shook. Water went up in a towering column before coming down on the deck in front of them as the ship stabilized once more.

After a second in which everyone regained their composure, BT turned around and dropped down to one knee. The hatch opened and Cooper emerged, climbing out of the cockpit and jumping down onto the deck to face the rest of their group. "Well, that was fun," drawled the Marauder.

It was as if a weight was lifted off the group's shoulders, Hammerhead was certainly dead, killed by the explosion that the Wallcrawler realized he himself likely triggered, if what Cooper had told him about Titans was correct. Looking at Sable, Yuri, and Felicia next to him, it was plain as day that none of the three women were about to shed a tear over the Dons death, and Peter couldn't find it in him to either. The Don had killed a lot of police officers and civilians, and had never intended for his takeover to be bloodless. Spider-Man was happy to see him gone, even if he wasn't happy that he was dead.

The Webslinger was equally happy that everyone had agreed to work together, he didn't know what the future held, but the group coming together was something he was in no rush let go. "Hey," he piped up suddenly, causing everyone to turn to look at him. "You all have dinner plans? I could really go for some pizza."

There was a momentary pause, "I must finish my business here, then return to Symkaria," said Sablinova.

"Right, you have a war to fight," recalled the Wallcrawler, audibly saddened by the Mercenary's refusal.

"I do not like to fight," insisted the Symkarian, "But I will do what I have to in order to help my people."

He studied her for a moment. Silver had changed showing that there was an honorable soldier under the stoic mercenary exterior, but he hadn't thought she would be so willing to display it. "I know, that's what heroes do."

Those words caused Silver to look at him and shake her head. "I am no hero," she insisted, "But you all have taught me a few things."

"Oh yeah?" replied Spider-Man, "Like what?"

"Like how to disarm my enemies with bad jokes," answered Silver without missing a beat, the corner of her lips only creeping up after she spoke.

"Actually, they're good jokes," shot back the Webhead quickly, only for everyone else to turn and look at him, giving what he assumed were disapproving looks behind their respective headgear. Backpeddaling somewhat, the Wallcrawler quickly amended, "But I understand that humor can be subjective."

The Mercenary then turned to Felicia, "Ms. Hardy taught me that my security systems need improvement," admitted Sablinova, though the ghost of a smile vanished when she said that. Only it reappeared when Silver looked at Cooper, "And you Major, you taught me it is sometimes best to be a 'buckaroo.'" Everyone chuckled at that as it dawned on Peter that Silver had told something approaching a joke, but before he could comment she had already turned to Yuri. "Watanabe, of course, has shown me how to deal with all of your… colorful personalities."

"Then surely you wouldn't mind dealing with us a little bit more?" suggested Cooper suddenly before giving a nod to the Webhead. "Dinner sounds good, I think. Let's all meet at my place in a couple hours. Spidey'll get the Pizza, I can cover drinks. Any objections?"

"Nope!" answered Peter eagerly, grinning from ear to ear behind his mask.

Yuri answered next. "I don't have any."

Felicia smirked, "As long as I get to spend the night afterwards." Cooper reached around her and gave the Black Cat an affirming squeeze before all eyes turned to Sable.

The Mercenary hesitated, but finally relented with a nod. "Very well, I have none. Allow me to make arrangements for repair of In Amber Clad and I will join you for this… pizza I have heard so much about."

Her tone caused Spidey to perk up. "Wait, are you saying you've never had pizza before?" he asked. Silver shook her head and the Webhead's jaw dropped, "Trust me, you're going to love it."

Dressed in street clothes, Yuri Watanabe turned and headed down an alley to a door on the side of what had once been a workshop for a now out of use subway line and knocked on the door of the hideout. She wasn't completely sold on this, but she was not keen to push away the few friends she had left after leaving the Force. One of them opened the door to interrupt her inner dialogue. Cooper offered a small but genuine smile, and he looked much better, brighter almost, "Hey Yuri, come on in," he said as he stepped aside. "Sorry about the mess, I'm in the middle of packing."

"It's fine," she assured, trying to force a smile before stepping inside. She was happy that Hammerhead was dead, it was a relief, but now she had a few hours to examine what it had cost her and was starting to question where she would go from here. "Where's everyone else?" asked Watanabe, noting that nobody else was inside the refurbished structure.

"Felicia's in the other room, she should be out in a minute, and Pete's late… as usual," supplied the Texan in his southern drawl, managing to elicit a small smile from Yuri. "I gotta go pick up Sable here in a bit so you're going to be stuck on your own until either I get back or Pete shows up."

Yuri nodded, "I'll manage," she assured easily.

Cooper chuckled a bit, "Before I go, there were a couple things I wanted to talk to you about real quick. First, I heard about your Rhino, and I think I have a replacement," he said, striding into the living room and towards an end table that had a pair of nice wooden boxes. "Tell me what you think, will it do?"

Taking the offered box, Yuri cracked it open to reveal the weapon neatly nestled in the green fabric lining. The blued revolver had an emblem of a bucking horse behind the cylinder and a distinct rib over the barrel with three rectangular slots cut in it. On the six inch barrel itself was a marking that read PYTHON .357 to denote the model and caliber of the Snake Gun in the box. "I had the timing on the cylinder lockup redone so the gun is nice and tight."

To test that, Yuri carefully pulled the gun out of the box and inspected it, flicking the cylinder out before pressing it back into the big I-frame with a satisfying click. Carefully, she pulled the hammer back, feeling the internals work together smoothly before she pulled the trigger and felt the hammer drop on an empty cylinder. "It really is," she agreed before putting the gun back in the box, "And you're just… giving this to me?" she asked, getting a nod back. Then Yuri looked over to the second box Cooper had out, "What about that one?"

"This is another Python, almost the same as that one," he said, "I have four of them and Felicia isn't letting me take all of them to France," explained Cooper. Then he tapped the box that he still had and said, "That Python there is for Yuri Watanabe. This one? This is for the Wraith… if she has a use for it."

Yuri understood the question, "She would, there are still a lot of Maggia guys out there, and more criminals besides. And if you're leaving then someone has to take care of them, and sometimes just webbing them up isn't always going to work."

"And a snakebite will," agreed Cooper, "You sure you're up for this Yuri? I'm not saying you're not, but I just want to make sure." His tone was low and sincere, clearly out of concern, but there seemed to be something else on his mind.

Yuri met his gaze and gave a certainty filled nod, "I am. Listen to me, Cooper, I've been a cop all my life, it's all I wanted to be. Just because I turned in my badge doesn't mean that's changed. I don't want to be a Punisher or a Marauder, I just want to do what I should have been doing when bureaucracy and regulation wasn't getting in my way."

The Marauder raised an eyebrow, "That's it?"

"That's it," affirmed Watanabe.

Smiling, Cooper nodded, "Good, because this isn't all I have to give you," he reached back, pulling out a binder, and opening it to reveal some of its pages. "In this binder is everything I'm leaving behind, the safehouses, the weapons, everything. I want you to have it, keep an eye on it, keep it out of the wrong hands, use it if you need to." The Marauder closed the binder in his hands and, after a moment of hesitation, offered it to her.

Tentatively, Yuri opened the binder and flipped to a random page that showed a safehouse, where it was, and what was there. "And you're just going to…let me use all of this?" asked Yuri, disbelief in her voice.

"Pretty much," affirmed the Marauder in his calm drawl, "Even if you want to do things…differently, I still trust your judgement Yuri; always have, always will."

Letting the words sink in, the Lawwoman finally nodded, "Thanks Cooper, I…I needed to hear that." Inhaling deeply, Watanabe stood up a little straighter, squared her shoulders, and felt a bit more like herself, "I won't let you down."

The Marauder smiled, "I know," replied the Pilot confidently. "Now come on, I want you to give me your opinion on something, I think you're going to like it. Follow me." The Marauder led Yuri down a flight of stairs to an underground. Heading past the sparsely packed shelves with weapons and ammo, and more than a few neatly packed boxes, the Marauder came to the open area where the vehicles were parked and gestured to one, "So what'd'ya think?"

It was a muscle car, an old one, painted a somewhat subtle shade of purple except for the rear quarter panels, which were black. And Yuri knew which muscle car it was too, "A Barracuda…" she murmured.

"You like it?" called down Cooper, now fully dressed in his Marauder gear, though his helmet was in hand. Watanabe nodded as she ran her hand along the hood over the car, admiring the massive air scoop. "It's a '71 I took from Hammerhead's chop shop, she was too nice to leave in his care."

Watanabe couldn't help but crack a small smirk, "You're not wrong," she admitted. "I know a bit about these actually, my dad had one, a '68. I remember going in rides in it when I was little before he…" she said, trailing off, knowing that he replaced it with bribe money from the Maggia. "Before he got a new car and put it in a storage unit. I always meant to restore it but…."

There was a moment of awkward silence before Yuri pulled herself together, shoulders straightening before speaking to nobody in particular. "Always liked the body style of '71. This one … it's not exactly original, is it?" she asked, now looking at Cooper. It was no surprise to her when the Pilot shook his head. "Do you know what all was changed?"

"Well, I did give it a look, and as far as I can tell there have been a few changes. It's been lowered, which made me realize it's on all new suspension, shocks, dampeners, the whole thing. The wheels, tires, and brakes are actually bigger, the tires especially are much wider, 305s on the back and 295s on the front. Even with the new suspension making it lower and leaner, and help the thing corner pretty damn well, I think those big fender flares make sure this thing still looks like a muscle car," began the Pilot, and Yuri silently agreed. "But those aren't the best bits. The interior was redone, modern satnav and everything, and all the body panels were lined with Kevlar so it's bullet resistant. The best part is what's under the hood," explained the Pilot as he popped the hood to reveal the monstrous motor inside. "Supercharged 426 Hemi Hellephant crate motor, this thing's got a thousand horsepower going through a G-101 4 speed manual. The first two gears are short, meant for the quarter… this thing is a nine second car, easy. It's seriously quick."

"What are you going to do with it?" asked Yuri.

"It's a slick ride, but not really my style. I think it suits you though." With that, he pulled a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them to Watanabe.

The Lawwoman looked down at the set of keys in her hand and pocketed them, "Thanks, this means more than you think Matt." When she had left the precinct, she had expected that she would be totally on her own, and the Marauder had proven that wrong.

"I'm just glad I can leave it all with someone I trust," he replied before pulling out another key and unlocking a red and black striped Dodge Viper. "I'm going to go get Sable, should be back in a bit."

With that, he pulled the door open and settled down inside, firing the car up as the booming exhaust note filled the garage. "Cooper!" she yelled, getting his attention as the car rolled forwards and he rolled his window down. "Thanks! And no speeding tickets!"

Matthew grinned, "They can't give me a ticket if they don't catch me!" he called back before gunning it and screeching the tires as he smoothly guided the Viper up a ramp and towards the surface. Yuri was left shaking her head as she watched him go, before unlocking the Barracuda and putting both the Pythons and binder in the passenger footwell and heading back upstairs.

Once back on the ground floor, a sultry voice spoke from the kitchen, "Hello Captain, managed to get me alone again." Yuri didn't answer but that didn't seem to deter the platinum blonde, "I'm about to mix myself an Apple Martini, you want one?"

"Sure, if I'm stuck here with you, I'll probably need a drink," replied Yuri, but it didn't come off as bitchy as it could have.

That was reinforced when Felicia smiled, "I do like the feisty ones, and the others should be here for a while," said the Thief as she began mixing the two cocktails. "If you want to show me why they call you 'Dirty Yuri' then now might be the time to do it, unless you'd prefer an audience?" Felicia gave a wicked grin as she picked up the two drinks and carried one over to Yuri.

Mildly annoyed, Watanabe accepted the cocktail, "I get you joking in high pressure situations, but why do it now?" she asked as she sipped her drink.

Still smirking, Felicia sat down on an armchair across from Yuri and crossed her legs, "Who said I was joking?" asked the Thief with feigned innocence.

Yuri rolled her eyes as she went back to her drink and tried to move along from the topic. "So why France?"

With In Amber Clad at anchor in a secluded dock in Brooklyn, Silver Sable strode down the gangway and onto dry land. Already, mere hours after killing Hammerhead, the ship was being crawled over by personnel from both Oscorp and SHIELD in an effort to assess and repair the damages sustained by the LHP. Oscorp was lending its aid after a lengthy and heated phone call with Norman Osborn himself, and already it looked like the much-needed munitions and equipment would begin shipping overseas to Symkaria in addition to the company's engineers aiding in repairs to In Amber Clad.

Fury was the one responsible for securing the dock that was serving as safe harbor for In Amber Clad and had arranged for a SHIELD Gulfstream G550 to take her back to Symkaria later in the evening from JFK. But it would take some time to get the jet to New York and then refuel for the transatlantic flight. That meant she had the time to take up the offer for dinner before she left, which was fortuitous, since she desired to speak with Cooper before she departed the city.

Striding down the length of the dock, past the oncoming tide of workers and equipment going to the ship, Silver found a red sports car waiting outside the gate along with the expected array of blacked out SHIELD vehicles and supply carrying trucks. Approaching the red car, Silver was not surprised when the window rolled down to reveal Cooper sitting in the driver's seat of the car. "Hey Silver, hop in."

Settling down inside the tan leather passenger seat and closing the door, Silver was startled when Cooper suddenly gunned the throttle and the car lurched forwards. While the Pilot weaved through the traffic, Silver allowed herself to relax somewhat after the eventful day she had, and relishing the success they had met. After a few short minutes, Sable noticed that they were ascending onto the Brooklyn Bridge, from which the In Amber Clad could be seen, workers crawling across the ship's deck like insects from the vantage point. It made a rather impressive sight, but as the began to cross the bridge, traffic became heavier and Cooper was forced to slow, much to his annoyance.

This did, however, give Sablinova an opportunity to clear her throat and speak. "Major, there is something I wished to speak to you about."

Looking at her, and clearly intrigued, Matthew nodded, "Alright, I'll bite, what is it?"

"Before I left Symkaria," began the Mercenary, "Loyalist forces launched a counterattack against Sable International. They had Titans as a part of this counterattack."

"Titans?" asked Cooper, "You're shitting me."

"No, I am not. I saw them myself," replied Sablinova, though she could see that he gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter upon hearing the revelation. "But these were not IMC Titans. These were of a new design, created by an unknown group."

"Not sure if that's better or worse," murmured Matthew as he relaxed somewhat.

"It is better, these Titans were not as capable as those the IMC used. If they had, then we may not have been able to fend off the attack," admitted Sablinova. Taking a breath, she confidently said, "The munitions and equipment Oscorp is sending to us will help to ensure that, when they return, it will be an even fight."

Turning towards the Major, she locked eyes with him, "I want your help to make sure it will not be an even fight."

Matthew nodded, but didn't answer, instead downshifting and pressing the accelerator, sending the car forwards with a deep bellowing roar from the engine before slowing back down as the car came down off the bridge. Only then did he take a breath and verbally respond to the question, "I don't like Mercenaries and I don't want to be a Mercenary." Sable made to respond, only for Cooper to cut her off, "I wasn't done yet, and that isn't a 'No.'" The Pilot worked his jaw, clearly deep in thought, "What did you want me to do?"

Sablinova was surprised by that response, having expected a definite answer from the Marauder, either an enthusiastic agreement or outright refusal. Now faced with this unanticipated scenario, the Symkarian was faced with a conundrum, what did she want the Marauder to do? "I want you to come to Symkaria, act as an advisor. Teach us how to fight these Titans, assess their capabilities. You are the closest thing in the world to a Titan Expert, it is that expertise that I want."

The car came to a stop at a red light and the Pilot turned to regard her with a curious expression. "Not me to add a few more kills to my tally?"

"No, I could not ask you to do that. This is my fight, not yours," replied the Mercenary quietly.

"Just because it's not my fight doesn't mean it's not worth fighting," returned the Marauder before the light turned green and the car got moving again. "I knew that there was going to be a change after beating Hammerhead, leaving New York and all, I just didn't imagine that this is what it would be."

"You are leaving New York?" Silver blinked in surprise. The Major gave a nod in reply, "Why?"

"Felicia picked out a place on the French Riviera, we wanted to spend some time together before figuring out what we were going to do next," Cooper responded. "I know I don't want to stop being a Pilot, and I don't think Felicia wants to stop being the Black Cat. I'll talk to her about it, but I think I can get her to agree to this."

Sable let out a small sigh of relief, "That is good to hear. There is a Sable International base near Toulon you could be assigned to. You could even transport BT-7274 aboard In Amber Clad and have him remain at our facility. I would rotate my officers through there, allow you to teach them about this new threat and how to defeat it."

Cooper seemed to think it over. "You've convinced me," he said, but there was clearly more he had to say. "But before I commit to anything, I need to talk it over with Felicia. I think she'll be okay with it, but I need to be sure."

"Very good, I will send you what information we have on these Titans. I hope to begin training in two weeks, pending your reply." Matthew nodded again, causing Sable to sit back in the leather seat, "But enough business, I am genuinely curious if this Pizza is as good as everyone says."

Cooper snorted, "It's better than that shit they serve in Chicago."

Sablinova gave the Pilot a perplexed look, but did not respond as Cooper went back to driving, getting the Viper through Manhattan. In no time, the red Dodge was slithering down into the underground parking garage below his hideout before Cooper brought it to a stop, putting on the parking brake before turning the car off and climbing out. "Alright, everyone else should be upstairs, come on," beckoned the Marauder.

Sablinova forced herself to stop surveying the man's assorted arms and equipment, noting the Marauder's ridiculous green Hypercar alongside the Titan and amongst the racks of small arms, and then set out after the Major. "Hey everyone!" called out the Pilot as he pushed open a door at the top of the stairs to reveal a nicely furnished space with a distinct rustic air and splashes of americana, "Sable's here."

He stepped out of the way and allowed the Symkarian to see that everyone else was there, gathered around a bar, holding their respective drinks. Felicia Hardy was easy to recognize with her silver white hair, as was Yuri Watanabe in her plaid shirt, though her leather jacket and holster were laid out across a chair. The only person in costume was Spider-Man, holding a soft drink in one hand and his other arm wrapped around the biggest surprise, the reporter, Mary Jane Watson.

The reporter regarded Silver with a small look of shock before reaching into her purse and withdrawing a bill and handing it to Spider-Man. "Hey Sable! Glad you could make it!" greeted the Webhead as he waved the Mercenary towards the bar.

"Come on over, I'll grab you a drink," encouraged the Marauder as Sable followed him towards the bar, "Lemme guess… Vodka martini?"

"That will do," replied Sablinova, doing her best to not sound surprised as Cooper opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Vodka. While Silver waited for Cooper to prepare her drink, she turned to the masked Webhead and tilted her head slightly. "The costume is not necessary Spider-Man," she said suddenly.

The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at her, "It isn't?" asked a clearly confused Spider-Man, one eye lens widening while the other narrowed.

"No," replied Silver, not entirely able to suppress a smirk as she felt the corner of her lips creep up, "It is not." It was then that Matthew set a drink down next to Silver, and the Mercenary took a sip, appreciating the drink before her smirk widened ever so slightly, "Your secret is safe with me Mr. Parker."

Spider-Man's shoulder's slumped noticeably, giving away that she was in fact correct, not that the Mercenary had any doubt. The Webslinger then looked around at the others before finally settling on Mary Jane and then pulling his mask up to reveal the face of Peter Parker. "But how?"

Taking another sip of her martini, Silver couldn't fully help but look at Mary Jane out of the corner of her eye. After all, it had been her social media where she posted the identity of her boyfriend, and after seeing the way she interacted with Spider-Man, deducing the Webhead's identity hadn't been very difficult.

Sable was enjoying seeing the look of bewilderment on Parker's face too much to tell them that, however.

"So," began Peter as he looked up at Silver as the Mercenary sipped on the glass of water, "What'd you think?"

Everyone was gathered around the rustic styled dining table at Cooper's place, where the four pizza boxes from Eddies lay open and mostly empty. Those around the table had gotten their fill, and the mood had been quite jovial up to that point, but everyone fell silent as all eyes turned to the Symkarian Mercenary, awaiting her response. As always, the Mercenary kept her composure as she wiped the marinara sauce off her face and pondered the question, "It is… good." Peter couldn't help but give a lopsided grin, which Sable had to promptly shoot down. "I do not see how it qualifies as 'Italian,' however."

"Because it's not, not really," explained Mary Jane, "This is New York, anything that has marinara or alfredo sauce on it qualifies as Italian."

"To you it might Red, but not for all of us," interjected Felicia as she sipped her wine. "Some of us have a taste for the finer things."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it Felicia," drawled Mary Jane, "You're rich."

"No," replied the heiress as she flipped her platinum hair over her shoulder. "Now that we've got the wealth of the Maggia," began Hardy as she leaned over and planted a kiss on Matthew's cheek, "I'm filthy rich."

MJ rolled her eyes as Peter tried to suppress a chuckle, mostly succeeding. "Well, some of us have to work for a living you know," deadpanned the Associate Editor.

"It's not working if you enjoy what you do," commented Cooper before finishing off a slice of his pepperoni.

That comment immediately got a grumble of discontent from Yuri, "Only because you were never the one who had to do the paperwork that came along with it." Peter snorted at that, prompting Watanabe to shoot him the glare she gave when he was getting on her nerves. "You weren't any better. Do you know how much of a pain it was to pick up the crooks you webbed to the sides of buildings?"

Peter looked at Yuri wide eyed, "Uh… no," admitted the Queens Native sheepishly. A giggle to his right caused him to throw a small glare at Mary Jane. "You were able to get them down though, right? I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Yeah, we managed," assured Yuri. "It ended up being good practice for the fire department to learn how to rescue people trapped in burning buildings. At least the fact that the webbing dissolved made clean up a lot easier."

"The webbing dissolves?" asked Sablinova, her emotions unreadable behind her calm expression.

Peter nodded back at the Mercenary, surprisingly comfortable with the Symkarian seeing his face and knowing his identity. His sixth sense hadn't ever chirped or even hummed, and while he still couldn't figure out how she knew, Peter was certain she was not keen on sharing her knowledge.

An approving hum emanated from the Mercenary, "I see, that is a very interesting feature. Did you come up with it yourself?"

"Uh huh, back when I was in high school," confirmed the Queens Native, "I remember staying late in one of the labs to make the web fluid when I first started." Smiling fondly at the memory, Peter held up one of his hands to show off the newest iteration, "The first ones I made were a lot bigger and had less capacity. But I've been able to simplify the mechanism and improve the formula a lot over the years, makes it so I can wear them wherever I go."

"You should be proud, they are an effective weapon," complemented Sablinova before pausing, "Have you ever considered selling them?"

"Oh no, never," answered Peter instantly, "That would just be… wrong, like selling part of me, you know?" he asked, getting a nod back from Sable in return. "Plus, it's all top secret Spidey tech, I don't want it to be traced back to me."

"Understandable," conceded the Symkarian, but there was a slight undertone of disappointment. "Should you ever change your mind, Sable International would be happy to add such an effective less lethal weapon to our arsenal."

That was a reasonable and flattering offer, and the candidness was unexpected from the usually stoic Symkarian, especially considering the way their earliest interactions played out. It was almost a shame that it was only now, right as she had to leave once more, that their working relationship had improved. Still, better late than never.

"If I may Matthew," began the Mercenary, "I am also curious about your pistol that fires the guided bullets. That was always a weapon of great interest."

"Ah, the Smart Pistol, wait a second, I'll go grab it," replied Cooper as the Texan stood up and went into the room Peter knew was his office before coming out a few moments later, holding the oversized handgun up as he walked back to the table. Standing next to the Symkarian, Matthew dropped the magazine and pulled the slide back to eject the round in the chamber before handing the empty gun to Silver.

The gun always looked big in Cooper's hand, but now that Sable was holding it, the MK6 looked positively massive, dwarfing the laser pistols she typically used. "It is lighter than I expected," commented Sablinova before looking up at Cooper, who had sat back down next to Felicia, "Did you make this yourself too?"

That caused Peter to smirk and Matt to let out a bark of laughter, "Nah, that's a bit beyond my abilities. It was a last gift from the man who taught me how to be a Pilot, Captain Lastimosa. He was BT's pilot before he got killed on Typhon and left BT to me," explained Matthew. It was as much as he had ever said about Lastimosa, and always with a somber tone. "That pistol was in the SERE Kit of the original chassis BT used. I had to pull the kit and that gun kept me alive, gave us a fighting chance, got me here. Don't even bother asking if I'd ever part with it, there isn't a gun in the world like it, and that one is mine."

"Sounds like you love that gun more than me Cowboy," quipped Felica with a fake pout. The rest of the table chuckled at the joke, even Matthew.

"You're the one I love when I want to have fun darlin," assured Cooper as Sable finished her inspection of the weapon and passed it back to the Marauder, who held it up and looked at it fondly. "This? This baby is what I love when I have to work. She may not be pretty, but she is dangerous."

"Hmph, I wonder if I could get Robbie to agree to giving me my own gadgets for work," mused Mary Jane before looking down at her watch and turning to Peter. "Speaking of work, I need to head to the airport soon."

"Airport? Where you heading?" asked Cooper before he knocked back a swig of root beer.

"I'm going to Symkaria to cover the civil war there for the Bugle," answered Mary Jane. "Robbie thinks…."

"Then I have proposal for you Ms. Watson," interjected Sablinova suddenly, causing the entire table to turn and look at the Symkarian. "The country, it is not safe. You know this, yes?" she asked, getting a nod back. "Then I can protect you while you report on the events that are taking place."

"While I what? Only report what you want me to?" snapped back Mary Jane suspiciously. Peter placed a calming hand on her shoulder to try and make sure she didn't fly off the handle at Sable, who sat there with the same calm expression.

After a moment of silence, the Symkarian pursed her lips slightly while she thought out her response. "I give you my word I will do no such thing," began Silver with quiet poise, "I wish to offer you the security you will need while you are there, because the Ministers and their Loyalists would not be so accommodating of your journalistic ethics. And because if there is anyone whom I trust to show the plight of my country to the world, it is you Ms. Watson."

Peter looked to his girlfriend, and was relieved to see she was chewing on her lip, a dead giveaway she was deep in thought, clearly mulling over the offer. Peter moved his hand down from her shoulder to take her hand in his and give her a reassuring squeeze. Mary Jane looked down at his hand, then back up, and smiled. "Okay," answered the Associate Editor, "I accept. How do I meet you once I get to Symkaria?"

The Mercenary cracked a small smile, "You will travel with me. Meet me at JFK tonight at 2100 hours this evening."

"Alright, I'll be there," assured Mary Jane with resolute confidence. "Any advice on what I should bring?"

And then, in a calm tone that gave away nothing, Sablinova replied, "You should see if you can bring your boyfriends webshooters."

"Alright, we're here," called the cabby as he brought the taxi to a stop outside the gate of the entrance to the terminal that handled the private flights for JFK International Airport. MJ took a deep breath and pulled out her credit card, covering the fare as she and Peter both filed out of the backseat. Under most circumstances Mary Jane would not have splurged on the expense of a cab, but considering the amount of luggage she had it was worth it. Since she wasn't traveling commercial that had allowed her to bring a few extra bags, ensuring she had everything she needed and then some. The downside was that there was no way she could carry it all by herself.

But having a superpowered boyfriend did have its perks.

With ease that only came from having Spider like strength, the Queens Native pulled MJs bags out of the trunk, passing her the lightest one along with her backpack while he picked up both of the heavier ones. "Don't drop those bags Tiger, the stuff inside costs more than you make in a month," she teased with a grin as she closed the trunk of the cab and turned towards the gate.

"It depends on the month," muttered the Webslinger under his breath, causing MJ's grin to widen before it faded somewhat. Each step closer to the plane was one step closer to leaving Pete behind for a few months, and that realization weighed on her more than the redhead expected. "I'm almost finished with the arms, so I might be able to take you out someplace nice when you get back."

"Mmmhmm, and pay me back for buying the pizza tonight," she reminded with a glimmer in her eye, watching as he stammered for a second before realizing she wasn't being serious. "I was kidding," she confirmed when he looked down at her, "I suppose I should be thanking you, I'd be dealing with preflight check-in just to fly coach if I hadn't gone with you. I'd say sixty bucks in pizza was worth it."

"Oh, well… in that case, you're welcome," replied Peter, still blushing somewhat as MJ couldn't help but giggle a bit at him. It had been good to see Matt and Felicia again, and to see them seem to be on good terms with Peter after everything that had happened. They had been good friends that it would have hurt if she left and the two hadn't been on speaking terms. Peter had a tendency to shut people out and the fact that Matt seemed intent on not letting that happen was a relief. She also got to meet Yuri, even if the former cop didn't seem like one for conversation, especially with the reporter who was in the process of doing a write up of her career using police records she shouldn't have access to. "I just wish you didn't have to leave so soon."

"I do too, but we both know I couldn't Tiger," she replied as the couple walked inside the terminal that managed the private planes.

Looking around and feeling horribly out of place amidst the others there all wearing designer clothes compared to the couple in their street clothes, Mary Jane's eyes settled on one other man who stood out. He was a middle aged, balding, Caucasian wearing a black suit and tie, walking towards the couple and removing his sunglasses to reveal a pair of brown eyes as he gave them a warm smile, "Hello again Mr. Parker."

Peter's face lit up in surprise, "Agent… Coulson, right?" he asked, getting a nod back from the Agent, "Good to see you again, what are you doing here?"

"SHIELD is loaning out one of our Gulfstreams, I'm here to oversee that. Speaking of," he said as he turned towards the redhead, "Are you Mary Jane Watson?" he asked. The Associate Editor nodded back as he extended his hand. "Phil Coulson, Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division." MJ shook his hand firmly, "Miss Sablinova is expecting you; would you and Mr. Parker; please follow me?"

Coulson led the couple through the terminal and out into the chilly New York night air until they arrived at a waiting private jet, engines emitting a high pitched whine as it sat on the runway. "This is your plane," said the Agent over the engine noise as a few more men came out, "We'll take your bags, you get on board when you're ready. Have a nice flight." With that, he took the bag that Mary Jane was carrying before suddenly adding, "Oh, and Mr. Parker, meet me in the terminal before you leave, I need to speak with you."

Before Peter or MJ could ask questions, the man had turn and left as the others took the bags Peter was carrying, noticeably struggling with them as they lugged them to the open cargo hold. The two turned to face each other, Peter opened his mouth to say something but no words came out, so MJ took his hand and spoke first. "I know you're worried Pete, and I don't blame you for that, but this is something I feel like I have to do."

The Webhead managed a weak smile, "You're right, I am worried, but I know better than to try and stop you before heading off to take on the world. When I do it I need to put on a spandex onesie first." They shared a weak laugh at the lame joke, but the attempt was something Mary Jane appreciated nonetheless. "Just promise me that you'll be careful?" he asked hopefully.

She couldn't begrudge him that, considering she often asked for the same thing. "I promise I'll be careful."

"And would it be too much to ask you to avoid sneaking into places you shouldn't be?" he pressed, voice wavering.

The redhead wanted to say yes, not because she thought he didn't trust her, but because she knew he cared. Sadly, she couldn't, "You know I'm going to go wherever the story is Pete. This is too important not to."

"Yeah, you're right," Peter admitted as he reached into the pocket of his jeans and came back with a hemispherical object with a flash drive taped to it, "That's why I grabbed this for you. It's one of my Spider-Bots I send into hard-to-reach places. The program to control it is on the drive, you can put it on your phone or tablet. It has audio and video recorders and an effective range of 300 yards. You can sneak it into places, so you don't have to go yourself."

Taking the offered bot, MJ looked it over, noting the eight small legs and little dimmed eyes, "Aw, he's so cute and cool, just like the guy who made him." Stuffing the bot in her jacket pocket, the redhead looked back up at Peter. "Alright, I have to get going. Stay safe for when I get back, and I'll call you tomorrow when I get to Symkaria, alright?" He nodded and held her gaze for a moment, "Love you Pete," she said before leaning up and into a kiss that was a bit deeper and more passionate than she intended, but it was the last one she was going to get for a while, so she allowed herself to enjoy it while she could.

Eventually, reluctantly, she did pull away. "Love you to MJ, now go get 'em Tigress," he said. With a smile, MJ turned and headed up the steps, stopping at the door to turn around and wave goodbye before finally entering the jet and taking a look around.

"Hello, I'm Specialist Mayfield," a woman in a uniform with SHIELD badge pinned to her jacket greeted her, "I'll be serving as stewardess effectively, go ahead and take a seat. We'll be taking off shortly."

In the very back, the Associate Editor could see a neatly made bed, forward of that was a set of four plush leather seats arranged around a table for meals, and then in the space immediately aft of the entrance was taken up by four chairs, arranged in pairs facing each other on either side of the central aisle. And sitting in one of those chairs, facing forward, was Silver Sable, the Mercenary perusing a tablet.

Swallowing her unease, Mary Jane headed back, hoping to slip past the silver haired Symkarian but only made it three steps before a pair of piercing blue green eyes snapped up to look at her. "Ms. Watson take a seat," said the Mercenary, calm, but with the weight of an order as she nodded towards the seat across from her. As she did, the door behind her closed and she began fastening her seatbelt as the jet began to roll. "You are nervous, yes?"

"A little," admitted the redhead, "I've never been on one of these before," she lied as she tried to relax and act natural.

It was an act that did not live up to Sablinova's scrutiny however, "No, that is not why you are nervous," said the Mercenary matter of factly. "You can tell me, and I will not judge."

MJ wasn't convinced, her issues would have been trivial to Silver, but another look at the intent gaze of the Symkarian finally caused the redhead to crack. "It's just that, this morning I was covering a gang war in my home city and now I'm on a government jet to go halfway round the world to a little known country to cover an actual war." Pausing a moment to collect her thoughts, MJ concluded by saying, "I'm just starting to think I'm a little out of my depth is all."

"That is because you are Ms. Watson," replied the Mercenary as if it were obvious, "And this is now showing because it is clear that there is no going back." Mary Jane felt herself pale a bit, Sable's point only emphasized as the aircraft turned onto the runway and began to rapidly pick up speed. The whine of the engines grew into a howling roar as the nose of the jet pitched up and Mary Jane looked out the window to see them lift off into the night. While the aircraft climbed steadily, the Associate Editor could see the skyline of New York City in the distance until the jet began to bank and level off, heading out over the ocean and leaving her home behind. "Do you truly wish to not go?"

MJ didn't even have to think, shaking her head emphatically, "No. I need to do this, nobody else will."

Shockingly, Sablinova cracked a small smile, "That is good. You are doing something of incredible courage Ms. Watson. You have every reason to be afraid, but you have not let that fear control you. There are not many who can claim the same."

"Mary Jane," said the redhead suddenly, "You can call me Mary Jane, or MJ if you'd like Ms…."

"Sable," finished the Mercenary, MJ nodding before the Symkarian continued. "I know that you will do your job and that you will do it well. You will have the freedom to go wherever I can guarantee your safety, and the only material I will request that you do not publish is that which could offer strategic or tactical information related to my combat operations to the enemy. Are these terms agreeable?"

"I can work with that," assured Mary Jane, "But why are you so concerned with my safety? I can take care of myself."

She could see that Sable did not agree, not from the slight twitch of her lips before the Mercenary calmed her expression. "You are not completely helpless, but I cannot take that risk. As to why? The war, while going well, is beginning to drag on longer than I anticipated. I believe that something is propping up the Ministers, preventing the loyalists from collapsing like some expected. The civilian toll has begun to spiral beyond my ability to manage, and I do not wish to see the people of my homeland suffer. International aid would be of immense value in preventing the situation from worsening. If the reporter bringing attention to the situation were to be killed, then all hope of that aid coming would be quashed."

Mary Jane understood where the Mercenary was coming from, and the words had a sobering effect, just as much as the sincerity in them. Sablinova did truly care about her people and did want MJ to succeed in helping them.

Looking up, Mary Jane was about to answer when she saw the small smirk on Sablinova's face as she spoke. "That, and I do not wish to incur the wrath of your boyfriend."

Standing still, resting with his arms behind his back, Crimson surveyed the room and the two dozen or so pairs of eyes that were looking back at him. The former Apex Predator had been summoned to the capital, Anianna, along with every other senior commander fighting for the Ministers to report their status to the Ministers and devise the strategy for the next phase of the war. Among those grim looking men gathered were the two in charge of the different sections of the front, the regional commander in charge of the defense of the capital, and the commander of the Loyalist air forces. None of these men held a rank below General Dywizji, equivalent to a western two star general.

The looks Crimson was getting varied widely, but the Titan Pilot ignored most of them, they came from people who didn't matter, doubly so because he was one of the few who could claim any sort of success in the preceding months. That didn't mean that he didn't get any questions.

"How soon will you be able to replace the Titans you lost?" asked one of the nameless Ministers that Crimson had filed under 'Mostly Irrelevant,' so much so that the Pilot hadn't bothered to remember the rotund man's name.

While the first deployment of their Titans had been effective, it had also shown that they had shortcomings, at least compared to those that he was used to. Hell, the came up short compared to standard IMC Titans. Of the 32 that went out, thirteen were lost, five in the town, eight more when some of the Pilots got cocky and tried to push across open ground and fell prey to Sable artillery and air support. But they had destroyed 17 Sable armored vehicles and repulsed the PMCs attack, which was what they had been tasked to do.

The former Apex Predator smiled a bit behind his helmet, "We already have, sixty new units have been produced and are manned by certified pilots," he reported.

"That is good to hear," said a chilling voice that belonged to someone that mattered. Crimson had heard simulacrums with warmer tones than the most powerful woman in the room, a woman known only as Madam Hydra. "Unlike some projects that continue to lag behind schedule."

Even if her eyes didn't move, everyone else's did swing towards the head of the advanced fighter aircraft programs which had suffered another delay following the first flight of their prototypes. Crimson remembered that before the fighting began, he had been promised air superiority, the greatest threat was thought to be the Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft vehicles Sable International had procured. They were aware that the PMC had purchased aircraft, but the skill of the air forces Silver Sablinova had assembled had taken everyone in the room by surprise. An earlier part of the day's meetings had been an assessment of those air forces, with particular note of a pair that had distinguished themselves, the 'Galm Team.' Crimson held a certain respect for them, if they had been Titan Pilots then he would have wanted to test their mettle himself.

But they weren't, they were stick jockeys, a Titan Pilot's slightly derisive nickname for their airborne brethren, and so Crimson had to contend himself with issues on the ground.

"Time is, unfortunately, against us. The windfall of circumstances in America that has favored us so is no longer present. Our window to seize the initiative in this war is closing fast and so the time to strike is now." The tone of voice Madam Hydra used had not changed in the slightest, her icy gaze scanning the room before she continued. "And so that is exactly what we are going to do. Crimson, how soon will your Titans be able to get into action?"

"Deployment can begin as soon as the word is given," replied the former Apex Predator. "How long until contact is a matter of where exactly this attack takes place and how fast you can get us there."

"Very good," returned Madam Hydra with the slightest of nods before looking to some of the other assembled officers. "Now, suggestions?"

"Surprise was a key element to the success of the first Titan deployment, we should replicate this," offered one, getting a round of approving nods in return from everyone else except Crimson and Madam Hydra.

"But if we wish to strike quickly, we will not be able to move units a great distance," offered another. "That means that the options for this attack are limited."

Now Madame Hydra spoke again, "It seems that the first Titan deployment may offer us the best opportunity," The woman used a tablet to bring up a map of the front lines on the large display. "As you can see, the first Titan deployment blunted Sablinova's advance in that area, but the push to the north did not stop, creating a salient. This is what we will exploit. Since the area to the north of the salient is lightly defended, Crimson will penetrate the Sable lines and then turn south… there," announced Madam Hydra tapping her tablet to draw a circle. "Prokhorovka, once there you will be poised to encircle and cutoff several Sable units, giving us the advantage we will need for any further offensives. Crimson, what do you expect a timeline will be to carry out this operation?"

The Apex Predator considered this for a moment. "Three weeks to get to a launch off point if we use the same methods as last time. From there? Another two to get to Prokhorovka, depending on how stealthy we need to be and what kind of resistance we meet."

"But you can do it?" asked one of the Ministers.

"My Titans can make the push and get to Prokhorovka no problem," assured the Pilot. "The hard part will be turning the flank if they realize what we're doing and pull their armor back. If they don't and all the Titans have to deal with are backline forces? Then they won't have a hope in hell."

"Then we will launch an assault with conventional forces as well from the front, give them nowhere to run," interjected a uniformed officer, slamming his fist down in a dramatic display. "And to ensure the success of this gambit, I can offer the Totenkopf Division under the command of Rupert von Manstein. They are eager to join the war for us."

"It is good that you are committed to the success of this operation General," Madam Hydra's words caused a chill to fill the room once again. "Should it fail, it is likely that my superiors will reevaluate our continued support of the Symkarian Regime. It is our position that our involvement here cannot be known by Sable International, and this is the best chance to soundly defeat this effort. Is this understood?"

The room didn't respond, letting the words of the woman sink in.

"Then I will take my leave. You all know the consequences of failure."

Cooper's Logbook – Vehicle: 1971 Plymouth Barracuda 'Hemi Super Cuda'

In the pantheon of classic American muscle cars, the Barracuda isn't the most widely beloved. Mainly because the first two generations of Barracuda, form 1964-1969, had a lot in common with the even less memorable Plymouth Valiant. The second generation did get a few better engine options, especially in the last couple model years, but it was the third generation that is most fondly remembered.

That was because the Barracuda lost all commonality with the Valiant and instead shared the E-Body architecture of the then new Dodge Challenger. The ones everyone wanted had their names shortened to 'Cuda or, with one specific engine, Hemi 'Cuda, so called for the hemispherical combustion chambers of their engines. The 'Cuda could have either 383 or 440 'Magnum' V8 motors while the Hemi 'Cuda had the legendary 426 cubic inch Hemi Elephant V8.

The 1971 that the Maggia had, and you can tell it's a '71 because that was the only year with four headlights, was originally a regular 'Cuda with the 383, but that is not the case any longer. This is now a Hemi 'Cuda, in fact I've taken to calling it the Hemi Super 'Cuda because of the engine. Straight from Mopar, this cast aluminum block engine, complete with supercharger, has more than double the power output of the original 426 Hemi with which it shares its displacement and not much else.

Europeans may scoff at the sub 7000 rpm redline, or the comically oversized displacement, or the supercharger, but the truth is that the Hellephant can propel this 3800-pound slab of American steel from zero to sixty in under 3.5 seconds, and that's pretty damn good. Of course, the rest of the car was given the same kind of attention, and other than the frame, seats, and steering wheel, there aren't many original parts left on it. Modern tires, suspension, steering, and brakes do wonders for the handling. The four front headlights got replaced by those from the Hellcat, meaning they're rings with ducts in the center to feed more air into the engine bay, modern infotainment in place of the old 8 track player, and even a back up camera.

In an interesting piece of Chrysler trivia, the color is both old and new. Originally called In-Violet, the same color is now 'Plum Crazy,' which is a fitting descriptor of the car as a whole.

Closing Notes: We are now moving towards the final story arc, but there are still some loose ends to tie up in New York and some other stuff to do before we get there. One of those things is getting Yuri situated, including getting her a new gun, and I admit to bouncing between three or four different ones before making my decision. For a while, I had her using a 629 Stealth Hunter before eventually going back to a .357 and choosing the Colt Python. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Python, it is widely regarded as the finest revolver ever made.

The car was a bit easier, after seeing 'Nobody' I knew I wanted her to have a Mopar, except have it actually be a good one. As far as the car itself, Imagine a '71 Cuda that was given the same treatment as the Super Charger Concept and you're pretty dang close. Yuri's whole theme will be 'old school' stuff, which is why she carries a revolver for example, and this seemed like a good fit.

Next chapter sees more departures, because some birds you cannot change, they're a Freebird.

Stay Frosty, Misfit Delta out.