Chapter 2: Hello New York
Eric had settled into his new room on the Parker Industries Campus. The room was of decent size and equipped with a comfortable bed, a personal bathroom, a desk, a workbench, and a high-spec computer. He had arranged his clothes nearly in the wardrobe and drawers. He left his small tool kit on the work bench along with his laptop.
As he lay down on his bed, he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He still couldn't believe that out of all people that he was chosen for a prestigious experience, the technology he'd see, the people he'd meet and the things that he might get to invent. A smile crept across his face, the thoughts of the bullies all through his life and all his troubles with keeping up at school had left his mind. He walked over to his backpack and lift the inner layer of fabric that when removed revealed to circular wrist devises and his suit. He examined his web shooters and equipped them and tossed on his suit. "Back up web cartridges: check. Door locked: check. And finally city of massive buildings that making swinging a lot more vertically fun: Double check." He thought to himself. When he entered his room he found a note left to him be Peter B. Parker, the owner of Parker industries and The original Spider-man. Eric opened the note and it read. "This room is in a surveillance black spot so no cameras, security guards patrolling the area will swing by every ten minutes starting from the hour, when when the cost is clear you'll have a few minutes to open your window and get out before they circle back around. From your friendly neighbourhood friend in a high place. P.B.P. P.S: try and grab at least 6 hours of sleep, you need as much sleep as the next person." Eric checked if the coast was clear, no guards, he looked at his watch. "Perfect" he thought to himself as he quicky opened the window and crawled onto the side of the building. He shot a strand of web onto the window and bulled it slowly so the window would be opened every so slightly enough for him to push open, but just closed enough to look fully shut from outside. At this point he took a look around, crawled up a bit higher up on the building and dropped. As he dropped a couple meters he felt the wind rush through his suit, Eric, no, Spider-Man outstretched his hand and swing from the side of the building and as he reached the peak of the swing he let go of the web and shot another web on one building and repeated this action of "Thwip and release" He said to himself in a quiet voice. As he swung through the city, he marveled at how different it was from his old home in Connecticut. The tall buildings and bright lights were exhilarating, but also overwhelming.
Eric swung through the city with the wind in his hair through his mask and a sense of excitement in his chest. As Spider-Man, he had become accustomed to the adrenaline rush that came with swinging high above the streets of New York. The physical feeling of his body flying through the air was invigorating, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom and power as he soared through the city.
Below him, the sights of New York City rushed by in a blur of colors and movement. He passed skyscrapers and billboards, parks and street vendors, and a sea of people rushing about their daily lives. The sounds of the city surrounded him - the honking of horns, the chatter of crowds, and the occasional siren of a passing police car.
As he swung over Times Square, he heard someone yell, "We love you, Spider-Man!" "I love you too, Random Citizen!" He yelled back grinning to himself to himself, feeling grateful for the love and support of the people he was sworn to protect. He swung higher, feeling the rush of the wind in his face, and the thrill of the freefall that awaited him.
Eric pushed himself to swing faster, to fly higher, to feel the rush of the wind even stronger against his body. He was in his element, and it was a feeling like no other. He felt unstoppable, like he could take on anything the world could throw at him.
But as he swung over the Hudson River, his thoughts began to drift. He wondered about his friend Luz, who was off at summer camp, and he hoped she was having a good time. He thought about his own future, his career, and what it might hold for him. And he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy, even as he continued to swing through the city.
But the city and the people below continued to go about their lives, unaware of the inner turmoil Eric was feeling. As he swung on, he took comfort in the knowledge that he was doing something good for the world, something that made a difference in people's lives. For now, that was enough to keep him going.
Spider-Man felt a random Buzz in his left pocket along and heard his ringtone, he ending his next swing by landing on a rooftop, he quickly turned around and check to make sure the coast was clear, it was. He pulled out his phone and looked to see who was calling him, the name on the phone was "Miles". He hit answer on his phone screen and answered, "Hey Miles, how's it going?" Eric asked happily.
"Good thanks, hey Eric would you be able to do me a favour?" Miles answered back.
"Yeah sure, what'd you need?" Eric asked.
"How long would it take you to get to Empire State College's science building?" Miles asked back.
"That's the building with the glass roof?" Eric asked in return.
"Yeah." Miles answered.
"Probably a couple minutes, traffic seems to be good." Eric joked.
"Cool, see you there." Miles said then hanging up the phone.
Eric put his phone in his and turned around to stare at the city, he stared out to the city From the top of a building in New York City, He could see the bustling cityscape stretching out in all directions. Skyscrapers and buildings of all shapes and sizes fill the horizon, each one a unique silhouette against the glowing skyline. The streets are filled with people rushing to and from, cars honking and taxis weaving in and out of traffic. The sounds of the city are both chaotic and soothing, with the low hum of activity providing a comforting white noise. From this vantage point, it's easy to feel both the energy and the endless possibilities of the city, beckoning with its bright lights and vibrant culture. He gave a small jog towards the edge of the building and dived off, stretching his arms out and shooting his webs from one of his wrists. As he swung, he felt a rush of excitement, there was nothing quite like the feeling of being Spider-Man, soaring through the city, with the wind whipping past his face. He deftly dodged and weaved through the maze of skyscrapers and traffic, effortlessly navigating his way to his destination.
The sights were breathtaking as he swung higher and higher towards the top of the building. The city lights twinkled like stars in the night sky, illuminating his path. The neon signs and billboards, the busy streets and bustling crowds all seemed to fade into the background as he focused on his web-slinging.
The sounds of the city were just as captivating. The constant hum of traffic, the blaring sirens of emergency vehicles, the chatter of people on the streets, all blended together into a symphony that only the three Spider-Men could truly appreciate.
As he arrived at the ESC science building, he deftly landed on the rooftop, his Spider-Sense tingling, ready for anything. He quickly scanned the area, but saw no sign of Miles, he walked over and sat himself on the ledge with his legs dangling off and waited for Miles.
Just then, he heard a voice behind him say, "Hey there, kid."
Eric turned around to see Miles Morales, dressed in his Spider-Man costume. He grinned at Miles and said, "Hey, Miles. What's up?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something," Miles said, his tone serious. "It's about your responsibilities as Spider-Man. "
"Oh nice, is this gonna be a new lesson I'm gonna learn?" Eric said standing up excited.
"Uh something like that." Miles said. "quick question, you're like 14, 15 yeah?" Miles asked walking up next to eric, He looked out to ESC, a familiar place to him and his predecessor.
"14, is this going to be one of those "The talks", please tell me it's not." Eric asked doing the quotation sign with his fingers.
"haha, nah man, you ain't my kid so I'll leave that to your parents." Miles chuckled sitting down the same way eric was moments ago. "Take a seat man." Miles said patting the spot next to him.
"It's a crazy city huh?" Eric asked sitting next to Miles.
"Dude if you seen half the stuff me and Pete have seen over the years, it'd blow your mind." Miles sighed. "But listen, New York, it's a big place y'know?" Miles asked gesturing to the city in front of the two. "And well, we appreciate the help. So once the P.I.E.E is over me and Pete are gonna have something for you that we think you'll appreciate." Miles said putting his hand on Eric's shoulder.
"You guys don't have to get me anything, the training, the mentoring, heck, the P.I.E.E for crying out loud is more than enough." Eric replied.
"When Pete was a few years older than us when he got the bite, but even then a teenager trying to balance making ends meet for him and his aunt, dealing with the loss of a family member, trying his best at college and on top of all that, keeping his gig as the ole' wall crawler, It's a lot for a kid to handle." Miles explained.
"Shit, this is it, He's gonna ask me to hang up my web shooters." Eric thought to himself. The thoughts started to rush through his head, He'd go back to his standard normal life. Things would be the exact same way as they were before that spider had bitten him. "Miles, I can do this, you and Peter pulled me out of a dark place I was in, the teaching, everything, I'm putting it to good use." Eric said in a worried voice.
"Whoa, settle down, we're not asking you to stop being spiderman." Miles said with a small chuckle in his voice. "Just that we're thinking maybe that you should try other avenues." Miles continued. "Look, being Spider-man, it can take a lot out of you, and you gotta be willing to put in one hundred and ten percent, otherwise people, including you can get hurt, but you also gotta make sure you have time to keep your own head above water whilst making sure others heads are above water. So What me and Pete have talked about is, why not keep Gravesfield and the surrounding areas as your stomping grounds?" Miles explained.
"Well, New York has a much higher population density than what Gravesfield does. So statistically speaking…" Eric replied before being cut off.
""statistically speaking" you need to focus on your grades, sure when you're passing through NY change "Passing through" to "Swinging by", but it's way too much a trip for you to constantly be swinging from Connecticut to NY." Miles said firmly. "Look, we get it, you're a good kid and you wanna help. It's appreciated but you've gotta start somewhere, there's crimes in Connecticut, so keep Connecticut safe. A Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man needs a neighbourhood, so we're wanting you to keep your neighbourhood clear." Miles said firmly.
Eric's smile faded as he listened to Miles. He knew that Miles was right - traveling to New York from Gravesfield in Connecticut was taking up a lot of his time and energy. The only reason he had won the P.I.E.E was because Peter had asked if Eric could come along based on his project's quality rather than his grades was bombshell for him.
Eric nodded slowly, understanding what Miles was saying. He knew that he couldn't keep stretching himself too thin, and that he needed to focus on being the best Spider-Man he could be in his own community.
, feeling grateful to have Miles as his mentor he said. "Thanks, Miles. You've been a big help to me."
Miles put a hand on Eric's shoulder. "No problem, kid. That's what we're here for."
The two Spider-Men stood on the rooftop for a few more minutes, talking about their experiences as superheroes and the challenges they had faced. As Eric looked out at the city below, he knew that he had made the right decision in becoming Spider-Man, and that he had a great team of mentors to guide him along the way.
Finally, Miles checked his watch and said, "I've got to head out. Duty calls."
Eric nodded, understanding that Miles had to get back to his own responsibilities. "Thanks again, Miles."
Miles gave him a nod and said, "Anytime, Eric. Just remember to take it easy and not take on too much at once."
Eric smiled, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "I will, Miles. Thanks for everything."
As Miles swung away, Eric watched him go with a feeling of admiration and respect. He knew that he had a lot to learn from Miles and Peter, but he was ready to take on the challenge and become the best Spider-Man he could be. As he stood up he checked the time on his phone "eleven twenty seven, suppose that's time to head back." He thought to himself.
Eric swung through the city, lost in his thoughts. He knew Miles was right, but it was hard to let go of the feeling that he needed to do more. As he neared his campus, he slowed down his swinging and softly landed on the wall, he made sure to check that there weren't any security guards or anyone looking out the windows. "Good, at least tonight was quiet. Can't wait to get a proper night's sleep." Eric thought to himself. He crawled down to his window and opened it, jumped into the room and closed the window.
When he finally changed out of his Spider-Man outfit changed into his pyjamas and made his way to his desk. He pulled out his laptop and opened up a document, trying to distract himself from his thoughts. But it was no use - his mind kept wandering back to the conversation with Miles.
Finally, Eric decided to take a break and grabbed his copy of "The Good Witch Azura" from his bookshelf. He had picked up the book during a visit to the local library. He settled back into his bed and began to read, the story of Azura and her magical adventures taking him away from his worries for a little while.
Eventually, Eric's eyelids grew heavy, and he set the book down on his nightstand. He checked the time again - 1:19 AM. He knew he needed to get some sleep if he was going to be able to function as both a student and a superhero. As he drifted off to sleep, Eric couldn't help but think that maybe Miles was right - he needed to take a step back and focus on what was important in his own life.
As Eric woke up to the sound of his alarm clock, he groggily checked his phone and saw that it was already 8:24 am. With a deep sigh, he forced himself to get up and headed straight to the bathroom to take a quick shower.
Feeling refreshed, he slipped into a more casual but smart outfit, consisting of a collared shirt and khaki pants. He glanced at himself in the mirror, making sure he looked presentable enough for whatever the day had in store for him.
After getting dressed, Eric made his way over to his high-spec computer, which he had been eagerly anticipating checking out since he arrived on campus. He was pleased to see that the computer had a range of engineering, programming, and 3D modelling programs installed, and he couldn't wait to start using them.
As he checked the specifications of the computer, Eric couldn't help but feel impressed by the sheer power and capabilities of the machine. He knew that with this computer, he could create some truly amazing things. He looked at the clock and realized that Breakfast wasn't for another 10 minutes, so he sat at his desk and read the Parker Industries Brochure.
The P.I.E.E brochure is a detailed guide that provides information on the upcoming program. It is designed to give participants an idea of what to expect during their stay at the Parker Industries campus.
The brochure begins by outlining the activities that the students will be doing. It highlights that the theme of the program is robotics and participants will be working on a group project throughout the week. The project will involve designing and building a fully functional robotic piece of machinery that can perform various tasks.
The Parker Industries campus layout is also included in the brochure. It provides a detailed map of the campus, showing the location of the classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities. This will help the students navigate the campus more easily and find their way around.
Breakfast and lunch times are also mentioned in the brochure. Breakfast starts at nine am, and lunch is at one pm. Dinner is served at six thirty pm. The meals are served in the cafeteria, which is conveniently located close to the dormitories.
The brochure then goes on to explain the different activities that will take place throughout the week. All activities will be themed around robotics and will start at ten am and continue until four thirty pm. There will be a break for lunch, and the students will have time to socialize and interact with each other.
Overall, the P.I.E.E brochure provides a clear and detailed overview of the program. It outlines the activities that the students will be doing, the campus layout, and the mealtimes. It also highlights the importance of teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity in the project. The brochure will help participants prepare for their stay at Parker Industries and get the most out of their experience.
As he left his dorm room and walked towards the cafeteria, Eric took in the sights and sounds of the Parker Industries campus. He couldn't help but feel excited about the day ahead, knowing that he would be working on robotics projects with other talented students.
When he arrived at the cafeteria, he was greeted by the delicious smell of breakfast. He quickly grabbed a tray and made his way down the line, selecting eggs, bacon, and toast. He also grabbed a cup of coffee, knowing that he would need the caffeine to keep him alert during the day.
As he sat down at a table to eat his breakfast, A group of other students at with him, one was a Caucasian girl with long brown hair, the other was an Asian girl with short black hair and the last was a boy of African descent. As they sat around one the Caucasian girl said "Hey, I'm Denise, this is Johnathan and Marcy." Eric remembered the Marcy girl, she was one of those three girls that disappeared for a few months last year back in California. "Good to meet you, I'm Eric." Eric said taking a sip of his coffee. "So did any of you guys hear the news?" Johnathan said. The other three shook two Caucasian kids shook their heads. "Well what if two people at this table knew that…" He continued only to be interrupted By Marcy who was fidgeting with excitement and loudly whispered "A certain Peter B. Parker is going to be handling our orientation.". "No way, you guys are so full of crap, it'll be some executive, or someone hired specifically to deal with kids that'll do our orientation." Denise said rolling her eyes. "Oh yeah? Well, how come we overheard some of the staff saying, "The boss himself is coming."" Marcy argued back, mimicking one of the guards.
"Well, maybe it's one of the heads of that department or something?" Eric suggested despite already that this information was indeed legit.
"Then why would there be a bit of a fuss over someone in management?" Johnathan rebottled.
"Well, we won't know until Ten, but I'm telling you, you wouldn't see a big wig Like Parker with just a bunch of kids." Denise said whilst folding her arms.
"Why not? He's taken pictures with the previous lots of the P.I.E.E" Johnathan asked raising an eyebrow.
"Why would he? He'd show up at the end shake hands, get a picture for publicity and that'll be it. I'm telling you guys, big wigs like him don't care about typical people." Denise said.
"Oh, how you couldn't be further from the truth on that one Denise." Eric thought to himself, knowing that Peter Parker, was the most caring individual on the planet.
Eric looked at the three random students switch topics to robotics, each talking about potential ideas, it was nice. Never had he been surrounded by likeminded individuals like himself, sure he was friends with Luz. "Crap, I forgot to text Luz." Eric thought to himself, he sat his coffee down and whipped out his phone and rapidly texted his friend. "Hey Luz, hope you're doing good. Everything is all fine here. Met a few folk who are pretty cool people, gonna be at my orientation later, will text later." The message read, he put the phone in his pocket and turned to his new acquaintances and joined in the conversation.
Eric and the other participants of P.I.E.E. made their way to the orientation hall after finishing their breakfast. As they entered, Peter Parker greeted them with a welcoming smile. "Good morning, everyone. I'm Peter Parker, and I'll be your guide throughout this program," he said, his voice confident and friendly.
He went on to explain what the students should expect from the program and why they were chosen. "You're all here because you've demonstrated exceptional creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This program is designed to help you develop these skills further and give you an opportunity to apply them in real-life situations," he said.
Peter's speech was inspiring, and his enthusiasm was contagious. He encouraged the students to have fun while learning and not to be afraid to take risks. "Remember, this is a safe space where you can experiment and make mistakes. Failure is an essential part of the learning process, and we encourage you to embrace it," he said.
The students listened intently, nodding, and taking notes. Eric was impressed by Peter's speech, and he felt more excited than ever about the program. He'd never in a million years think he'd end up in something this spectacular, and now that he was here, he was determined to make the most of it.
As the orientation came to an end, Peter opened the floor to questions. The students asked about the projects they would be working on, the facilities available to them, and the mentors who would be guiding them.
Peter answered each question patiently and provided additional information that was not covered in the brochure. As the Q and A section ended Peter walked around shaking hands with the students, He eventually made his way to Eric, as soon as their eyes locked a small grin appeared on Peter's face. "Eric Neil I assume, Saw your project you had done the other day, it's good to have another like minded individual on board with us here." He said shaking the young lad's hand. "Y-yes sir." Eric stuttered. He had met Peter Numerous times, even on a first name basis with the man, but in such a formal setting like this and meeting not only his inspiration as Spider-Man or his mentor, but his benefactor was a overwhelming for anyone of Eric's age. "No need to call me sir, I'm going to be keeping an eye on everyone's work here, including yours." Peter laughed, gave Eric a pat on the back and move onto another student to chat with.
With the orientation over, the students dispersed to their respective groups, eager to start their first project. Eric joined his team who consisted of the three previous people he had met, and they made their way to the lab. They were buzzing with excitement, eager to start their work.
As Eric put on his lab coat, he couldn't help but smile. He felt grateful for this opportunity and was determined to make the most of it. The first project might be challenging, but he was ready to face it head-on.
As the activity started, Eric quickly got to work, using his knowledge of programming and engineering to contribute to the group's project. He was impressed by the creativity and problem-solving skills of his teammates, and he knew that they would be able to create something truly amazing together.
As the morning progressed, Eric found himself getting more and more absorbed in the project. He was impressed by how quickly they were able to make progress, and he knew that they were onto something truly innovative.
By the time lunch rolled around, Eric was feeling tired but exhilarated. He quickly grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water before heading back to the project area to continue working with his team.
As the afternoon wore on, Eric found himself getting more and more tired. He knew that he needed to stay focused.
As the activity came to a close, Eric felt a sense of satisfaction and pride in what they had accomplished. He knew that they had worked hard and achieved something truly amazing, and he couldn't wait to see what the rest of the program had in store.
Eric and his team, Denise, Jonathan, and Marcy, gathered at the cafeteria for dinner after a long day of brainstorming ideas for their project. Marcy almost tripped over her own shoelaces, but Jonathan caught her just in time. The team laughed it off, and Marcy apologized for being so clumsy.
As they sat down to eat, Eric and his team were excited to talk about their project as they sat down for dinner in the cafeteria. Denise began by describing her idea for an optical/neural interface that could generate images to cure blindness. She explained that the interface would be implanted directly into the brain and would use a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence to stimulate the visual cortex and create images for the user.
Jonathan was impressed with Denise's idea and shared his own thoughts on the project. He explained that he wanted to work on the R&D side of things and help develop the technology that Denise was proposing. He mentioned that he had experience with programming and electronics and could contribute to the project in those areas.
Marcy, who had been listening attentively, shared her idea for the project as well. She proposed creating a robotic device that could assist people with mobility issues. The device would use artificial intelligence to learn the user's movements and provide assistance where needed. Marcy explained that the device could also be programmed to adapt to different environments and scenarios, making it useful in a variety of situations.
As they discussed the project further, Eric suggested that they combine Denise's idea with Marcy's. He proposed creating a robotic device that could assist blind people with mobility issues. The device would use the optical/neural interface to provide the user with visual information, while also using artificial intelligence to learn the user's movements and provide assistance where needed.
They all agreed that it was a great idea and began brainstorming different features and functionalities that the device could have. Marcy, who had a talent for sketching, even started drawing some rough sketches of the device on a napkin.
Throughout the dinner, they got to know each other better and even shared some funny stories. Marcy, who was known for being a bit clumsy, accidentally spilled her drink at one point, but the team quickly came to her aid and helped her clean it up. They all laughed and joked about it, and Marcy appreciated how welcoming and supportive her team was.
As they finished up their dinner and said their goodnights and each returned to their dorm rooms for the night. "Seven thirty four." Eric said to himself as he checked the time on his phone, he had received a few texts which he started to read. "Honey, we're so proud of you. If you need anything of have forgotten anything please feel free to ask." Read the text from his mother. "I'm only a quick drive away if you need anything, make us proud kiddo." Read the text from his dad. "Hi Eric hope your liking your science camp." Read the text from Camilla Noseda. "Summer Camp is going well cant call or text which is a bummer but oh well :p hows the turbo nerd stuff?" read the text from Luz. He replied to each text, hammering away at the phone's touchscreen keypad. "Good. Working on robotics project with new team, so will have pretty cool stuff to show at summer camp." Eric replied. "issue with that" Luz texted. "Yeah?" Eric replied again, waiting a few minutes for Luz to text back. "Camp councillor said no visitors except family soz my guy :'( " the text stung a bit for Eric, not seeing luz the whole summer was going to be rough, but he didn't want it to dampen his experience here, especially with the project he was now going to be working on. "That's fine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, can't be helped I suppose. I'll make sure to send pics of what's cooking here tomorrow." Eric responded. "kl kl, well im gonna hit they hay ttyl :D" luz's final text read. Eric looked at the time and he thought it was a bit early to go to bed, especially for a Friday "She's probably had to do physical activities or something." Eric thought to himself. He checked for the coast to be clear, couple guards were lingering around. "Well, may as well get changed." He said walking from the window to the door and locking it, giving it two nudges and checking the handle to make sure it was firmly locked. Eric Put on his Spider-Man Costume and Began stood at the window and saw the guards leave, as soon as they were out of sight he climbed out like the night before and started swinging.
He felt the rush of the wind on his face and the thrill of the city below him. It was a feeling he could never quite explain, but one he always craved.
As he swung through the city, Eric saw police cars racing down the road. He knew that wherever they were headed, it wasn't good. He followed them, moving quickly and staying out of sight. It wasn't long before he arrived at the scene of a crime where the cops were under fire from a few crooks, and none of the other Spider-Men were there. Eric knew he had to act fast.
Without hesitation, he swung into action, landing right in the middle of the fray. The crooks were taken aback by his sudden appearance, and it gave the police the chance they needed to regroup. Eric moved quickly, dodging bullets and webslinging around the area. His Spider-Sense was tingling, alerting him to danger at every turn.
Eric landed on the rooftop of a nearby building and peered over the edge to the street below. He could see a group of police officers taking cover behind their cars while a handful of criminals, wielding guns, fired at them from across the street. Eric immediately approached one of the officers and asked what was going on.
"Yo Officer, looks like you guys could use a hand." Spider-Man said taking cover behind one of the police cars next the Police officer. The police officer was a south Asian man in his mid 40's. "No offence kid, but we could be using a more experienced Spider-Man right about now." He said reloading his gun. "Since I'm here it doesn't seem like you've got much of a choice." Eric said raising his voice of the sounds of gunfire. "Fair point, if you can try and get some of the heat off us me and a couple of the others can grab two of our injured and pull them back." The cop suggested before taking a couple shots at the crooks, unsure if he'd hit any. "Sounds like a plan, keep the streets clear, keep your folks out of sight and I'll handle these guys." Spider-Man said before web zipping up to the top of the building. He quickly analyzed their positions and movements, coming up with a plan. He landed behind one of the criminals, quickly webbed his gun out of his hand, and used his enhanced agility to disarm him before he had a chance to react. Eric then swung his body around, kicking two more criminals with a double spin kick before knocking them out with a powerful punch.
"You know, I'm sort of disappointed at the lack of banter, you guys usually toss some form of insults that I can use to make you guys look dumb." Spider-Man said dodging one of the crooks who came at him with a crowbar before tripping him up and webbing him to the floor. "Honestly, you guys are letting the new guy down here." He said in a smug voice.
The remaining criminals turned their attention to Spider-Man, firing at him with their guns. Spider-Man used his spider-sense to dodge their bullets, and with his web-slinging skills, he moved quickly around the area, making it difficult for the criminals to target him.
Using the environment to his advantage, Spider-Man jumped off a nearby wall and landed on one of the crooks, sending him sprawling to the ground. Eric then swiftly webbed up the other two criminals, binding them tightly with his webs.
"How many did you guys say there was?" Spider-Man yelled to the cops.
"Seven of them!" One of the cops yelled in return.
"Let's see, one, two, three, four, five , six…" Her counted walking around, he looked for the last criminal until he accidentally stepped on the one in the floor.
"Oh crap sorry about that, you good down their?" Spider-Man said with genuine intent yet still sounding as if he were mocking the trapped criminal.
"Beat it, bug." The criminal grunted.
" "Beat it, bug." Well, suppose that'll have to do." He said walking back to the cops.
With the criminals taken care of, Spider-Man turned to the police officers to make sure they were safe. A few officers rushed passed him to start removing any and all weapons from the criminals and to start cutting them free one by one so they can slap the cuffs on them. The Police officer that Spider-Man had spoken to when he arrived was following at the back of the lot. "Well Kid, looks like I owe you an apology." The cop patting the young Spider-Man on the head. "All in a day's work, or, night technically speaking." Spider-Man said patting the dust off his outfit. "So, you related to the other two Spider-Men?" The Officer asked. "Sorry, trademark secret, NDA, Y'know. Superheroes secret oath and stuff." He said trying to keep any form of identification hidden. "When I was Younger I worked with both the Spider-Men, I think you'll fit right in kid. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check in with my men." The officer said giving Spider-man a Thumbs up.
As eric watched the cops do their job, he saw the other Spider-Men, Peter, and Miles, swinging towards their location. Peter asked Eric how he had dealt with his group of crooks. Eric explained his approach and added that he had also made sure the cops were okay.
Peter and Miles were impressed with Eric's bravery and quick thinking, thanking him for his help. The three Spider-Men then made their way to their next destination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As they swung away, Eric couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and fulfilment. He knew he had made a difference, and that he was living up to the legacy of Spider-Man. Eric was ready to face whatever came his way, knowing that he had the skills, the knowledge, and the courage to take on any challenge.
After Eric bid farewell to Peter and Miles, he swung back to the Parker Industries campus, his spider-sense alert for any potential threats. He made sure to take a different route, just in case someone was keeping tabs on his usual swinging pattern.
As he approached the campus, he noticed that there weren't any guards patrolling the area. He had a feeling that his earlier antics with the crooks might have distracted them. Nonetheless, he was grateful for the momentary reprieve.
Eric landed on the roof of his dormitory and looked around again, making sure that there were no lurking guards or suspicious activity. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for his next move.
With one fluid motion, Eric vaulted himself onto the window sill of his room, carefully pushing it open without making a sound. He then slid through the window and landed on the carpeted floor of his room.
Once inside, Eric quickly shed his Spider-Man suit and changed into his normal clothes. He paused for a moment, taking in the familiar surroundings of his dorm room. He was glad to be back, even if it was just for the night.
As he sat down at his desk, Eric couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. He had managed to pull off another successful Spider-Man mission without getting caught. He knew that he was playing a dangerous game, but he couldn't deny the thrill that came with it.
Eric glanced at his clock and realized that he had a few hours before his first class of the day. He decided to get some rest and sat down on his bed, picking up a book to read before he dozed off.
Eric changed into his pyjamas and went to his bed to relax for the rest of the night. He grabbed his favorite book, The Good Witch Azura, and opened it to where he left off the night before. Eric loved this book series, and it was the perfect way to wind down after a busy night of superhero activities.
As he read, Eric couldn't help but think about the events of the night, He was glad that he could help the cops and take down those crooks.
As he opened the book, Eric felt himself being transported to the world of Azura, where magic and wonder were a part of everyday life. He became so engrossed in the story that he lost track of time, reading well into the night.
The characters came alive in his mind, and he found himself rooting for the brave young witch as she faced the dangers of the magical world. He could feel the tension as Azura battled against the dark forces that threatened to destroy everything she held dear.
Despite the excitement of the story, Eric felt himself growing more and more relaxed as he read. The stresses of the day melted away as he lost himself in the pages of the book.
Finally, after reading for a couple of hours, Eric felt his eyes growing heavy. He put the book down and snuggled into his pillow, feeling content and at peace.
Eric closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze from the window on his face, and drifted off to sleep. He had no idea what tomorrow would bring, but he was ready to face it head-on as Eric Neil first, and Spider-Man second.
Yellow, then neon blue, then purple, then black. The yellow crackled as if small pieces of electricity, followed by a swirl of Neon blue and Purple and Black blotches. Swirling until the size of a fist then….nothing.
Eric opened his eyes, looked around the room, nothing. He shrugged "Eh just the wind." He said to himself before closing his eyes and falling asleep peacefully for the rest of the night.
