Prologue
By Gareth Dunn
Based on Characters by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
Pools of sorrow and waves of joy echo through me as Ben's last message to me, the realisation of the life of responsibility that lies ahead. The power what I have must be contained inside me, even sitting here, trying to keep it all in, I can still feel it seeping out, lusting to be set free. It's like a monster chewing at my bowls, gnawing at my flesh, bursting my brain. Oh, I want to keep it in, if I don't it will surely escape into my world again as it done tonight, it will kill as it did tonight, and shatter all I hold dear as it did tonight.
But I need to let it out, that was what he said; to use it to shape the world for the good of all; but will it help the world? Or destroy it? The monster is still hurting my head, giving me the many macabre visions to come. A false Demon born in fire, A dead Lover killed in air, An old Friend falling into hell, Aliens rising from the void. Am I ready for them? Ready for the horrors of this world and the next? Ready for the inevitable loss? Should I end my life before I have to see any other end theirs indirectly, but surely, by my hand?
With all this power, what stops me from changing the world into what I want? What stops me from perusing every sin I haven't committed? A reassuring voice, his voice, tells me, it is responsibility that stops me, and his last words speak again, thundering into walls of doubt and uncertainty, breaking them away with all but six words.
"With great power comes great responsibility"
"I know what I have to do" I whisper into the air as I vault through the window…And forever into the night…
I stalk the New York rooftops waiting like a guardian angel to the innocent and a devil to the guilty.
Days Later…
"Parker" says a voice behind me
I turn, startled by the fact that he's already deducted who I am.
"Detective Stacy" I reply in turn, failing to cover the surprise in my voice.
My mind absorbs his details, greying hair, old suit and an older overcoat, but sparks of youth blaze of him.
"You found me out" I say; a slight laugh which carries onto Stacy
"Yeah, wasn't so hard after linking the Spider-Man sightings and when my daughter says you keep disappearing"
The image of the love of my life, Gwen, runs through my conscience with a glimmer of guilt. I've been so caught up with my powers lately I forget about her. I go to apologise but he speaks before I can…
"You've been busy" he chuckles "My officers are getting jealous"
"You won't tell anyone about me will you?"
"No, on the contrary, there is this case I need your help with"
He reaches into his many pockets and pulls out a bag holding an orange sphere; it strangely resembles a pumpkin. He throws it to me with a low-res surveillance picture
"Unexploded grenade" he says before I enquire what's the orange thing is. "Stolen from Oscorp, and recovered from a crime scene. Witnesses say he was like a 'Demon riding wings'. I thought to catch a fancy-dress wearing weirdo, you need to send another one after him "
"I'll do my best"
"I'm sure you will," he says while I swing into the New York twilight