Part Two

            Their lips pressed against each other. Peter ran his gloved hand through her glorious red hair and traced his fingers against the back of her head. The intricate ballet of their lips gave way to the passion of the moment.

            The moment of truth was still fresh in his mind. Part of Peter had known what was to be revealed but he was surprised by it nonetheless.

            I love you. They were simple, short words, full of life-changing power. Their result was immediate leading to this exquisite moment now taking place.

            Peter removed MJ's jacket and gripped her arms tightly. Blood rushed to her face, matching her skin with the colorful strands of hair that swept across her head. She reached forward and removed his gloves with care. Every one of her movements forced his heart to throb harder. He backed away a foot and pulled off the top segment of his costume quickly. "Hold on." He turned to a space between two pillars and fired a light spray of webbing. The result was something that resembled a cot. "There." He detached the web-shooters from his wrists and grabbed MJ in his arms.

            "I've dreamt of this moment ever since I met you. I've wanted to be with you for so long." MJ said joyfully.

            Peter lay her down onto the cot and leaned in gracefully, "Right now, nothing else in the world matters. Nothing could spoil this." He moved alongside her body on the cot and ran his lips across her flawless neck.

            MJ rolled her eyes back and smiled, lost forever in the moment, "Oh, Peter."

            The Foreman stared at the ruined power plant from the safety of his office in a separate building. "Jesus, this is going to be my head." He said wearily wiping his fat brow.

            Flames were still spewing out from the plant, not too long ago an explosion had ripped through the installation and nearly caused a city-wide blackout.

            The Foreman, an overbearing man named Henry, stated grimly, "When I find the guy who caused this."

            There was a knock on his door. "Not right now." Henry replied to the knock, "I need to be alone."

            The knock persisted, stronger than before. Henry grimaced, "Who the hell is it? Come on in."

            The meek Max Dillon entered the office, "Hello sir." He was dressed in a heavy jacket, a white sweater and blue jeans.

            "Listen, I don't have the time right now, for whatever it is." Henry said. "Come back in a few hours when all hell isn't breaking loose, okay?"

            "Um, I needed to speak to you." Max bit his tongue; there was en edgy look in his eyes, "It's important." Max stated strongly, "I think you need to hear this sir."

            Henry sighed and shrugged in a resigned manner, "Fine, tell me what's on your mind, Max." He sat down in his seat wearily. "Let's make it quick please."

            Max nodded, "Sir, it's my understanding that you were going to let me go. In other words, I would be fired."

            There was an awkward moment shared before Henry responded, "I'll be honest with you. Yes, we are planning on firing you. I'm sure you know the reasons behind this decision."

            "I've heard." Max answered back and then looked out the window at the ruined plant, "I was wondering about something, sir." He struggled to find the words, "Considering the recent incident, I was hoping that I could retain my job and help conduct repairs."

            Henry frowned, "Sorry, Dillon. We have a sufficient work staff." He clasped his hands together, "And in light of your past difficulties, I doubt you could be of very much help, either way."

            Max placed his hands on the edge of the table, "Please give me a chance. I can do it, please, let me prove myself." He pleaded.

            "It's too late for that." Henry replied, "It's going to be dangerous work down there and I need reliable men. You're not reliable, Max." He backed away from the table, "There's nothing I can do."

            "Don't do this to me." Max begged desperately, "I've got nowhere else to turn. With this kind of a mark on my record, another electrical company won't touch me with a stick." He gulped, "I'll do whatever you want."

            Henry shrugged, "The matter is settled." He stated bluntly, "You are going to be fired soon. By the end of the week is when the notice goes out. I'm sure a man of your talents can find something to do." He watched Max lower his head and begin to cry. "Don't make a scene, try and finish the job with some dignity."

            Max grimaced, "Dignity? Let me tell you about dignity." He gripped the ends of the table and exhaled loudly, "Dignity is nothing but a word created to keep those that doesn't meet society's expectations from ever getting ahead in life. Who the hell tells me whether or not I have a shred of dignity?" He screamed standing up, "None of you have the right to judge me or demean me as a person."

            "Nobody has done anything of the sort." Henry retorted, "Now back off, Max and clam down!"

            "You don't think I hear the jokes. You don't think I hear when people ask how many Dillon's it takes to fix a light. Trick question, because Dillon would be too afraid to climb up the step ladder. I've heard every one of those jokes; I've seen them all laughing, even you."

            Henry's face exhibited his outrage at this confrontation, "That's it, I'm calling security. You are out of here, today." He reached for the phone only to have an electrical charge emerge from the device and zap his hand. "Ouch." He exclaimed and rubbed his hurt palm, "What the hell was that?"

            Max smiled and outstretched his hands, "When I destroyed the power plant, something happened. I was transformed into something greater than you could ever hope to be, sort of ironic in a way when you think about it."

            "You destroyed the plant?" Henry clenched his jaw, "I should have known. Only you would be that petty."

            "Petty?" Max nodded, "Maybe you're right. But that's behind me now; if everybody thinks I'm a joke what until they get a load of the new and improved Max Dillon! I'm a still joke, huh? What do you think of me now?"

            Electricity crackled forth from his hand and coursed through his body. His hair moved as if being pushed back by immense force. The glow from the electrical energy was so immense; Henry was forced to cover his eyes. Max laughed as his entire body became a giant light bulb. The electricity burned away at his clothes and turned them to ash in seconds.

            He stretched his open palm towards Henry, "Am I still a joke?" Bands of electricity streaked forth and began to fry the plant foreman. Max sneered at his former boss, "Answer me!"

            Down by the edges of the wreckage of the plant, the plethora of workers trying to make their way through the carnage turned their attention to the top floor of the small building that overlooked their position. "What's that?" One technician exclaimed.

            Electricity poured out of foreman's office and expanded throughout the entire building. "I've never seen anything like that?" Another stated.

            The electrical bands expanded one last time and suddenly contracted back into the office. There was silence as all watched in collective shock. Suddenly, the entire building exploded in a furious explosion that threw the workers to the floor. Debris expanded in every direction, tearing apart any that remained standing.

            Fire began to spew from the ravaged building and sirens began to sound. In a hole on the side of what remained of the foreman's office, a vengeful Max Dillon watched with glee at the damage he had wrought. He smiled and then vanished from sight as he wrapped himself in the security of his newfound power.

            Peter crouched on the roof of the building quietly, dressed in his Spider-Man costume. A storm was brewing on the horizon, a thunder storm, by the looks of it. He raised an eye at the approaching footsteps from his rear.

            "You shouldn't brood so much." MJ cautioned, "Before you know it, you'll have gray hairs." She looked reinvigorated, full of energy and momentum. "What's bothering you?"

            "The future." Peter replied. "I need to face up to what's happened. Nothing is going to change that, but at least I can leave it behind."

            "I'd say we both have to make tough decisions very soon, tiger." MJ stated, "But at least we can cross those bridges when we reach them together."

            Peter smiled, "That's an uplifting thought." He stood up and took a sniff of the humid air, "I have to go see him."

            "I understand. Do you want me to stay here?"

            "No." He answered, "I could use some support." He outstretched his hand towards her, "Do you want to see my world?"

            MJ smiled, "Seriously?"

            Peter nodded, "Definitely."

            "Cool." MJ approached Peter who helped her get a secure grip on his back with some patches of webbing here and there.

            "Hang on." Peter said eagerly as he fired a web-line that connected with a nearby building. He made sure he was secure and readied himself. "Get ready for the ultimate spin!" Peter tugged on the line and they were off.

            Hurtling from the warehouse, he wasted no time in firing off another web-line that changed their course drastically. Peter grinned at the sight of MJ cheering on his back. "If you liked that, you'll love this!"

            Peter tugged on the line and went into a wild flip that sent him spiraling past flag poles and a variety of ledges.

            "Whoo!" MJ laughed like she was on a rollercoaster. This was the most amazing, simply fun experience of her life. Peter fired another line bringing them to the top of the city. They were high above the street, overlooking the entire skyline from an angle that few had ever had the pleasure of seeing. "Tiger!" She screamed.

            "Yes?" Peter asked maneuver through the city with ease.

            MJ grinned, "This is the best day of my life!"