DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY MARVEL PROPERTIES OR OTHERS USED
Writing started Mar 7 2018
Ended Mar 11 2018
Note: The month is wrong on the previous chapters dates of writing and completion. I'm 22 and still have trouble remembering a month has changed. 1st world problem indeed. I've also might have used a few incorrect your/you're in every chapter so far, not sure but I have a feeling.
Peter Parker, Manhattan streets
Once Peter is finished eating and talking with Johnny, he decides to head to the Daily Bugle to talk to Joe Robertson. Robbie Robertson was currently running the reborn Daily Bugle, Peter's oldest former place of employment. Peter thought it would be best to get there on foot since he wouldn't have to find a secluded place to change in and out of his costume. It would also give him an opportunity to see first hand what people think of him and Parker Industries.
The Bugle was only a few blocks away but it felt 100 miles away. As he was walking down the street different people he passed gave him cautious looks. Some who were even in groups would whisper little snippets wondering if hes the guy who brought Parker Industries to the brink of collapse. He did his best to avoid getting attention, but as he got in front of the Bugle's building however things didn't go his way. Across from the front door was a newspaper stand, which caught Peters eye due to one of the headlines. 'THREAT OR MENACE'. Peter just stared at it,eyes wide, and quickly reads the front sections. He quickly heads inside before the man in the newspaper stand asks him he needs to buy a paper to read the rest.
He heads up the elevator to the where the office is for the Bugle and gets ready to talk to Robbie, to ask him a big favor. As he gets to the right floor he sees a familiar face, Betty Brant. One of his long time friends and former colleague here at the Bugle see's always looked out for him and is one of the most honest people he knows. She sees him and greets him.
"Hey Peter, long time no see."
"Afternoon Betty, hows it going."
"The usual journalist and editor life, nothing unusual. Except for everything regarding you." Betty says with a slight smirk.
"Well that's not news, I'm amazing." Peter responds sarcasticallly.
"Psh, Spider-Man's amazing, just cause you know him doesn't mean it rubs off." Betty says in a humored fashion.
"Fair enough, is Robbie in?"
"Hmmm he should be making his run between the different editors. But be careful when moving around the floor, a lot of people have written something regarding whats been going on with you and Parker Industries."
"Thank for the heads up Betty, we'll talk later."
"See ya Peter." Betty says as she goes back to her desk to continue working.
As Peter is roaming the office looking for Robbie, and gets a few looks. Eventually he finds Robbie heading back to his office. Right when Robbie is about the close the door he looks over his shoulder and sees Peter walking towards him. As Peter approaches Robbie, Robbie greets Peter.
"Good afternoon Peter, interesting for you to come here isn't it."
"Afternoon Robbie, well I come with an interesting proposition."
"Well come on in we can talk in my office."
As they each sit around Robbie's work desk Robbie asks the obvious.
"What kind of proposition do you have Peter. It's kind of ballsy for you to show your face."
"I want to offer you a chance to interview Harry and I regarding Parker Industries."
"Why would I want to do that."
"We both know that I'm the talk of the town and being the talk of the town means a lot of sales and views. Not only that, but the Bugle is the only place I can trust to tell the truth and not completely throw us under the bus."
"So you want me to go easy on you and your screw ups."
"I don't want pity, I want understanding. I let a lot of people down, thousands of employees had to be let go to stay afloat. Even then I don't know if we can keep going the way we are now. I don't even know if I can keep the promises I've made. This isn't about getting off easy, but telling the truth. I made the choice to bring this company down hard, but I did it to protect those I let down from something far worse. I did this to protect their privacy, their lives, from a fucked up group always trying to take over the world. Go ahead, talk about all the bad decisions I've made, but if you don't give the reasons or motivation behind them then you're lying to yourself and everyone."
Robbie looks at Peter after his passionate speech with a thoughtful look. He's known Peter for a long time and knows his heart is usually in the right place, but he can't just take an interview for a person who he used to work with.
"If I'm going to give you an interview, it better be for a good reason."
"When everyone was locked out of their Webware's we also created back ups of everyone's data. Just this morning we were able to slowly start retrieving peoples information. Given enough time we can get it back out to everyone, they won't have lost a thing. It also means we can maybe prove he had nothing to do with blacking Manhattan out with that bubble."
"It sounds like you don't have a whole lot right now."
"But were stilling trying, isn't having backups for people a good enough precaution. It meant we were ready for something bad to eventually happen. Hydra just happened to be trigger to us forcing this and causing this disruption."
"To normal people ya that will fly with them, but to others back ups of peoples information would mean you were with Hydra anyways."
"You're not a normal person along with a bunch of others and you know that assessment is out of this world. I don't need everyone to be on my side. I just need to set the record straight."
"That's fine, but we can't really have an interview if you only have promises and a little progress. I'll wait a bit see how far you get. Then we can talk about a proper interview."
"Alright Robbie, sorry if I got on your nerves, but the Bugle is the only place I trust."
"Don't worry Parker, your young and a bit naive to have run a company like you did. We'll see how things go, but the writers can have free reign on you as long as its not too harsh and within reasonable limits. They don't know what you've told or even who you are, that's just the way things are."
"Fair enough, at least you don't have Jonahs roaring yells."
"I can get close to it, but he's not doing so well. Word has it on the internet that he loves his rants now more than ever. Especially on you at the moment. I'd say give him a call or something, seeing him right now might not be the best thing."
"He's on my list of people to see, I guess I'll give him a text instead. Thanks for the heads up."
"I'm richer than you at the moment, but I aint a jerk. Now if you don't mind I got tons of emails to get through and prints to look over."
"Alright, I'll talk to you later Robbie. Good luck."
"I don't need it Peter, you do."
With that Peter walks out of Robbie's office and head out the building, giving Betty one last wave goodbye before he goes down the elevator. Going down the elevator Peter decides to text Jameson to see how he's doing and his reply is simply and straight to the point. FUCK OFF PARKER YOU PIECE OF SHIT.
'Damn and I thought my day was crappy.' He decides to back off on Jonah and go to see someone special like him.
Peter Parker, Outside the Daily Bugle
Once Peter is outside and starts walk towards his next destination, the attention he's been trying to avoid is suddenly right on him. First one person near him sees him and slow approaches him saying
"My sister worked for Parker Industries, now she's out of a job!"
Then more and more people start grouping around him telling their side.
"YOU put dat big energy dome over the city!"
"All MY wedding pictures were on my Parker device. Now they are gone."
"I had stock in your company. WHOSE gonna pay for that!"
"GET HIM!"
Obviously this attention wasn't good or would lead to anything worthwhile so he decides to run and successfully hides in a dead end alley by hiding in the shadows whiling sticking on one of the walls.
'Hiding on a couch somewhere safe sounds like a great idea right about now.'
From here Peter decides it'd be better to travel as Spider-Man since he wouldn't be directly faulted for anything Parker Industries did and save a few people. Once he was changed he started web slinging in the direction he believed Miles Morales would be. He hadn't checked in with him since he helped saved him and other heroes from Regent, and he wanted to see how things had progressed with him.
After a few minutes he sees Miles in his black Spider-Man costume scanning the landscape.
'At least he's planning his movements that's good, but let's see if he'll notice me sneaking on him.'
Peter decides to test Miles, see if he's paying attention to his surroundings even though he isn't in battle or on pursuit. As he sneaks up behind Miles he already knows how he is going to greet him.
"Hello, young Padawan." Peter says mimicking Jedi Master Yoda's voice.
Miles jumps up and yells "WHAT THE?!" while slipping and landing on his butt.
"Need more practice you do." Peter responds continuing to use Yoda's voice.
"Why did you sneak up on me? Why are you speaking like that?" Miles barks back.
"Just wanted to see how you're doing and also giving you a sense of true wisdom obviously."
"That voice was dumb."
"That 'voice' is one of a wise master."
"Whatever man, whats up."
"Nothing much, you know just adulting. Having to pay bills, dealing with super villains, stopping the failure of a multi-billion dollar corporation the usual stuff.
"You know I think the 'you' from my old universe was more responsible than you."
"Maybe, maybe not. What you got here, any smug thugs."
"Still looking around, others already have other parts of the city so I came here."
"Nova and Mini Marvel?"
"Ya along with Bombshell and Goldballs. Don't need fancy tech, just a cellphone and a few texts to organize."
"Better be encrypted texts, don't want some shady fellow at the CIA selling you out."
Miles just stays quite and doesn't respond.
"Kids these days, I'll help you guys out with that you just need an app."
"Okay."
After a while they eventually spot some foos robbing a store and get ready to swing on in.
"At least 2 guys with guns, along with the getaway driver." Miles says
"No problem youngling, I already did this today. But now we can do it twice as fast."
"How'd you do it?"
"Follow my lead you must, young padawan". Peter finishes as Yoda.
CHAPTER END
AN:
So the beginning of this chapter is based on ASM Issue 789 somewhat with some details moved out because of just how compressed the time line of events has become compared to it was in 789 at the time. Other aspects to this issue will come back later, but I have a few more things before I get there and see the consequences of subsequent issues including 797 and on. The return of the Green Goblin is interesting, hopefully it's super epic. THEY EVEN HAD A SIMILAR IDEA TO SOMETHING I WANTED TO USE. I'll still use it, but I'm not sure when that will be.
For now I can probably do about 2-3 chapters a week each 2k-3k words in length, depends how quickly ideas come to mind to move things along. Also need to plan other key events and see what I'm going to do regarding fights and dialogue.