Chapter 6

Proper Introductions



Night had settled on Gotham City. Cameron Bullock liked the feeling of cool air on his face as it came through the ocean. He couldn't escape from looking into the neon lights and sparkling towers. Every night he would look out the window and find that the city shined like a jewel. Of course down on the streets and the many levels above there was much dirt to the glitter.

Bullock decided to walk to a restaurant near his apartment. He still kept his guns and badge on him although he kept his badge in his pocket. He never removed them until he was in his apartment or going to sleep. It had been such a long time without either of them. He would feel strange not carrying such things.

The streets hummed along its usual activity and as Bullock neared the restaurant, he looked down an alley that served as a place for people to leave broken furniture or their garbage behind. He would find that on some days there would be nothing in the alley and that meant it was a good day for Gotham. Bullock could've only thought of a couple of days when that was the case.

When he looked down the alley Bullock thought he saw something lurking in the shadows. He thought it could have been a rat but he had a feeling that there was something there. Something he had to look into.

He walked slowly down the alley and kept a hand on his gun. The only sounds were that of his foot steps as he moved deeper and deeper into the alley. Then he heard of a bottle shatter. Bullock pulled out his gun and spun around. There was no one. Then he heard a crash and once again looked. Still, no one. He had finally made it to the dead end and then realized he felt a little silly.

"Well, at least I didn't step in anything." Bullock said to himself. He took one step and suddenly felt his foot glued to the ground. He looked down and noticed that a substance that looked very similar to the webbing found on the perps during his investigation.

"Looking for me?" A voice called to him from above. Bullock aimed his gun and looked up. There was a figure clinging to the wall. Even in the dim light he could see the large white eyes and how they reflecting the ground. "I see you've been looking into my work . . . Captain Bullock."

"How did you get my name?"

"Quite simple, your name and face have been plastered all over the net. You're a celebrity in this town. Ever get any fan-mail?"

"Nothing that does have a prison address on it. Or shouldn't be handled without latex gloves."

"Nice remark"

"Humor is a prerequisite of the job."

"Same here," Spidey paused. "and I know what prerequisite means."

"Why are you running around my city?"

"Simple," Spidey changed position and now sat against the wall. "I need to get to know the territory, the buildings are much taller than where I used to live?"

"Can't imagine where that would be?"

"That be the Big Apple"

Bullock snorted. "You must have a strange definition of tall?"

"That depends on what your definition of what "tall" is." Spider-man said with a cheesy southern accent.

"You know Peter Parker?"

"Do I?"

"Apparently he's been putting pictures of you for the wire services."

"I know that."

"Really?"

Spidey did a flip and landed on the other wall. "I let him. You see I got tired of having my name and face slandered across the net. This Parker kid comes along and while he makes my name better for the viewing public. I help him get out of problems."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Better than most."

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing?"

"I want you to do your job. So I can have an easier time. I don't exactly make money on the merchandise on this sort of thing. What I don't want are SNAFU's or things that will be dangerous for the both of us."

"You mean me or the department."

"More towards you. This kind of life isn't something someone should aspire to. It's got more problems than one person can deal with. You occasionally do something good and your rewarded. But many times . . . that isn't so."

"Sounds like my line of work. Except you guys get to hide behind the mask. Although we've got the laws. But we can stand here all night in philosophical debate. And personally I'm hungry. So if you can get this stuff off my shoe. We can go take care of our mutual errands."

Spider-man saluted him. "Sure thing, boss."

He jumped down from the wall and came to where Bullock was standing. Spidey was a few inches shorter than Bullock. Bullock noticed that the mask went completely around Spidey's head. He lifted the leg held down by the webbing and pulled the sticky strands away from the shoe.

"That's it. Now, drag that shoe across some grass and it'll be good as new."

"Thanks, by the way what's that stuff made of?"

"Oh that stuff is natural."

"Natural?"

"Yes, sir" He pulled back a sleeve on his arm revealing a patch on his wrist. "Now take a look at this, this is wicked cool." He pulled his middle and ring fingers across his palm. Just as the fingers touch the back of his hand. A fine white string suddenly appeared and splattered across the wall. Bullock noticed some definite web patterns in the splatter.

"Whoa!" He said in amazement

"That's an appropriate response for this type of show." Spider-man said as he rolled up his sleeves. "Now if excuse me, I'd like to finish my little exercise routine here."

"Go ahead."

"Thank you" Spidey then fired a web-line and then disappeared into the darkness of the city.