"You're sure it was her?" Luigi Gambono asks, sitting at a table in an isolated section of an open air cafe as he and some of the other assassins discuss last night's events in their civilian garb.
"No doubt. I've seen enough video to know the real deal." Johannsson, the Sniper says, wearing khakis and a blue Hawaiian print shirt with black sunglasses.
"Yes, rematch time." Maria says cheerfully, seated next to her uncle.
"Not so fast. We need to figure this out. What's she even doing here?" Luigi says as he sips a drink.
"She must have been hired by LaMuerto for extra security." Piett Vorhees, King Cobra hisses as his forked tongue dips into his drink.
"I don't think so. Seems the guards were completely surprised that she was there." Johannsson says.
As Piett ponders he looks up to notice Maria staring at him. "Something I can help you with?"
"It's just so cool. It's just like when I was back at the circus. I mean we've got the acrobats, the contortionist, the marksman, the strongman. It's just so awesome. Speaking of which where's the other half of the team?"
"That Bruiser fella ain't into the whole team up thing. Neither is that creepy ninja and couldn't get a hold of Boomerang." Herman Schultz, the Shocker says as he eats. "Their loss I suppose."
"Yes, but it's going to make it even harder to get the job done without a coordinated effort. Any one of them could tip off Black Tarantula if they jump the gun." Luigi explains.
"Personally, I think we should take out Spider-girl first. She could throw off everything." Cobra suggests.
"I'm liking this idea." Maria says with a smile. "But how are we supposed to find her? It's not like she's wearing that suit twenty-four seven."
"I have her aura traced." Sniper says as the others give him odd looks. "Every living thing has it's own unique signature, like a finger print. I can detect it and hone in on it. I tried last night to get a read on LaMuerto but he's hold up in that place tight. And so much security around that place made it nearly impossible to get a read on him. I was lucky to get as close as I did. But I definitely got one on Spider-girl."
"And you can track her from it?" Maria asks as she leans on the table. He gives her a nod in confirmation. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"Hold on. We're not going after the hero." The elder Gambono protests. "We can't risk bringing any type of attention around here. The wedding is only a day away. If even the slightest hint that we're here gets out, it'll be even more difficult to get at LaMuerto. For now we have the advantage, she has no clue we're here."
"Unless Claw spilled the beans to save his own skin. That's what I'd do." Shocker says casually.
"Still, even if she does know we're here, she has no idea how many or who we are. And, with Sniper here, we'll be able to trace her every move, which puts us one more step ahead of her. So for now we'll continue as planned. Let the others do their own thing. Working together we stand a much better chance to succeed."
"Do what you want uncle, I've got a spider to squash. Let's go Snipes." Maria says, getting out of her chair and begins to head out with Johannsson. Luigi stands and takes her by the wrist.
"If you'll excuse us for a moment." He says as the two step outside.
"That's not going to be pleasant." Piett says, sipping his drink.
"Kids. Exactly why I never had any." Herman says as they get back to the conversation.
Outside of the restaurant, Luigi chastises his niece. "Will you just listen to me for once? This is no time to go in guns blazing. We have a job to do so let's do it. You'll have your chance at Spider-girl when the time comes."
"I'm sick of you telling me what to do like I'm some six year old who needs you to hold her hand every five seconds."
"I'm trying to keep you safe."
"From what?" She shouts, demanding an answer.
"From ending up like Ernesto." He says, causing her to stop in her tracks. "I loved my brother. After he died I told your mother I would always look out for you, no matter what."
"Uncle Luigi, I'm sorry." The two move a short distance away and stand on a small wooden bridge that overlooks the river. "Mom never told me. How did my dad die?"
"You know about the Wakandan Civil War. We were hired by White Wolf, T'challa's brother and actually helped take the city. Me and your dad made into the palace with the vanguard force to take out the Panther. Almost had him until we got separated. We were a lethal team but alone we didn't stand a chance. You're old man took the fight to him something fierce but in the end he just couldn't hold up. The Panther fled the country when the things started to heat up. I had your mother flown in and a few days later you were born. Wolf made everyone in that mission honorary citizens of the state and seeing as how you were born there..."
"I'm actually Wakandan?"
"A little bit. Of course T'challa came back after a while. There were a lot of things that went down that I'm not going to go into right now but long story short, we came to an agreement that allowed us to come and go peacefully."
"That's why you're always so...overbearing."
"I know you're seventeen now and you don't need me always criticizing everything you do. I just want to keep the promise I made to your mother."
"Thanks." The two share a short hug. "I promise I won't do anything reckless. Why don't we head back. Don't want to seem unprofessional or anything."
That night Maria takes a stroll on her own down the streets as she reaches the brightly light river front. "You there?" She says quietly, looking out at the water.
"What's this all about?" Holger says as he emerges from his hiding spot a short distance away.
"I know what my uncle said but I think it's in everyone's best interest if we take out Spider-girl before tomorrow. And I have the perfect plan for it. We don't have to confront the spider, we just have to kill whoever is behind the mask."
"What are you getting at?"
"You can track her aura, right? Is she in the area?"
Holger stops and uses his ability to scan the area before turning back to Maria. "She's definitely out and about."
"Good. Uncle said he doesn't want us to draw any unnecessary attention. People get killed in this city every day. All anyone will know is that some random tourist got knifed in a mugging." She tosses his an ear piece. "Just mark her, point me in her direction and I'll do the rest. Uncle and Cobra will just think she's a no show, it'll be all that much easier to handle Black Tarantula, and no one's the wiser. You in?"
"Yeah, I'm in. But just in case." He pulls out a collapsable tube from his backpack. I keep this close assassination targets. I'd planned on using it to take out the guards around the estate. It fires a dissolvable dart filled with poison from a local insect. One shot and their out for the count. We hit her with this and it makes it even easier. If you can get her into position for me to take the shot we can be on our way in a matter of minutes."
Maria hesitates for a second before giving a confirming nod. "Alright, let's do this."
A short time later in the bustling night streets, Mia takes the group of May, Wes, and Fred to see some of the Delvadian night life. "And this way we have the cities liveliest night club. Of course if you want to get in there's a two hour wait in line, and that's if you're on the bouncer's good side."
"So I take it we won't be getting in there tonight?" Fred says, scratching the back of his head.
"That's cool. I wasn't that up for dancing the night away anyhow." May responds.
"Yeah. Besides, we still have a big day ahead of us." Wes comments as May nods in agreement.
As the group continues down the street May's spider sense kicks in. She looks around the area and glances upward, spotting a shadowy figure on a nearby rooftop out of the corner of her eye. She takes Wes aside, whispering to him. "I think someone's following us. I'll head that way and see if I can't get the drop on them." She then turns back to Fred and Maria. "If you guys will excuse me I have to use the ladies room." She separates from the others and continues looking over her shoulder as she moves through the thick crowd of citizens and tourists.
"Sniper do you read me?" Maria says into her earpiece.
"Read you loud and clear. She's headed east of your position, headed toward the vendors tables. She must have seen you. Probably the reason she broke off from the others." He pauses talking a look down below. "That's...troubling."
"What is it?"
"Nothing we need to worry about at the moment. I'll tell you about it after this is done. Now get on her!" He says over the mic. Unknown to him, a short distance away stands another figure that moves along the roof tops.
"Alright, alright. I'll see if I can't get her moving back your way for a clean shot." As she moves in closer through the crowd she notices her target has stopped at one of the vendors for a short time before speeding off up the street. "Great, she's on the move again." Maria continues her pursuit as she follows the directions of Sniper, heading this way and that, trying and falling short at every turn to pin down the illusive prey.
"You got to get her back in this direction or I can't get a clean shot. I'm loosing sight of the both of you." As he says this he begins to sense that he is being watched from a short distance away. He quickly takes notice of this and slowly moves for his pistol.
Maria continues on unaware of what is transpiring with her partner. She continues shadowing her target, before finally getting her to make the huge mistake of getting out in the open. "Sniper I've got her take the shot." She says, receiving no reply, however. "Sniper, take it." Again she gets no answer. "Whatever." She says, frustrated as she moves forward with her own plan, knife in hand.
May's spider sense quickly alerts her to the danger as she quickly spins around, grabbing hold of the assailants arm. Maria looks up to find the reason she stopped at the stand, a long, woven scarf wrapped around her face and forehead to conceal her identity. "Didn't expect to see me so soon, huh Spider brat?"
"Well I was hoping to get at least a fifteen to twenty year vacation from you but hey, what are you gonna do about that revolving door judicial system?" She jests. As the two are about to commence fighting, the sound of gunfire shutters through the busy streets, sending everyone scurrying through the streets in a mass panic. Maria takes the opportunity, jolting her wrist enough to toss the blade high enough to catch it in her free hand, swiftly swinging at her targets head. May quickly leans back, releasing her grip on the girl as she continues attacking viciously.
"Anytime would be nice." Maria says over her headset, though still receiving no answer. She thrusts her blade forward as May leaps into the air, kicking the blade out of her hand.
"Give it up. Last time you had a shotgun, a partner, and surprise on your side. Looking at you know, you're minus all three of those."
The acrobat takes note of the girls bare arms. "And by the looks of it you're missing one key element of the spider motif, where as I..." She flicks her right wrist as a long, curved blade tears through her sleeve. Charging forward again she finds that her target is no less illusive.
"Yeah but other than the webs I can still do everything a spider can. Duh." May jokes as Maria swings the blade. She easily steps back and, with great accuracy, grabs the blade by it's sides. With a little bit of force, she manages to snap it in half. "There now you're unarmed. Now let's talk about what you're doing here."
Maria dashes down a side street, prompting May to give chase. The acrobat scales the side of a building with the heroine in hot pursuit. As she reaches the rooftop, May is surprised by a smoke bomb, obscuring her vision. Her spider sense triggers, though she can not determine from which angle. She moves back to the edge of the roof to minimze the risk to herself. "You really want to know why I'm here? Well, I came for one job but I saw an opportunity to kill two spiders with one big stone." Maria says through the cloud of smoke.
"No worries May." She thinks to herself. "You can't see her but you can still hear well enough." She listens, patiently awaiting any clue as to the whereabouts of her opponent. After a short while, she hears the sound of footsteps along the roof, moving faster and faster, before suddenly cutting off. In a flash she turns her gaze skyward as the younger Gambonno comes down in an aerial attack, swiping with the jagged edge of what remains of her arm blade, but coming up short. She firmly performs a handstand as May kicks her hands from under her and she tumbles across the roof.
Now taking seizing the moment, the heroine leaps forward and tackles the girl to a lower roof. Maria kicks her off and the two split, preparing to go another round. "Maria, come in. Do you read?" Sniper says over the earpiece.
"Finally. I'm a little busy right now."
"Call it off. We've got new orders from the boss."
"No, I've got her right in front of me!" The acrobat protests with May giving her an odd look. "She's not walking away from this one." Maria rushes forward, throwing punches and kicks that May dodges as they come from every possible angle. She throws a left that looks to be coming up short, only for another hidden blade to come from beneath her shirt. "Gotcha!" Before her arm can fully extend she is stopped by a stinging pain in her neck and collapses.
May looks up to see her rescuer is none other than Tarantula. "Looked like you needed some help. Though aren't you a little underdressed to be super heroing tonight?" He says with a smile.
"Guess I am. But when duty calls a hero has to work with what they've got, right?"
"I here that." Tarantula says as he picks up the unconcious acrobat, putting her over his shoulder. "I'll take care of her. Oh, and try to stay out of trouble from now on. You are supposed to be enjoying yourself."
"Oh I plan to do just that." She says as she watches him leap off. A short while later, May reunites with her friends near the scene of all the excitement. "Hey, you miss me?"
"You're alright." Wes says as the two share a short hug.
"Don't you know it. This place just gets more and more crazy the longer we stay. Just like home." May jokes as the group hear police sirens getting louder.
"Well looks like funs over for the night." Fred says, putting his hands in his pockets.
"It's cool I guess. Probably should get back and get some sleep anyway. Big day tomorrow." Wes says.
"We've got a little business to handle in the morning, but maybe we can all meet up say about seven o'clock." May says.
"Sounds like a plan Mayday." Fred says as they all depart for home. After seeing Mia home, the young man receives a text from his associates to meet up. He gets suited up in his Boomerang gear and heads for the meeting point at the warehouse. Waiting for him are Sniper, Cobra and Maria Gombono. "So whats up? Some last minute strategizing?" He is answered by a punch to the face from Cobra that knocks him to the ground. Boomerang attempts to return the favor with a pair of his signature weapons. The serpentine villain easily evades both projectiles as they glide passed either side of him, then lunges forward, tossing Boomerang around the room until Sniper snaps his fingers.
The elder marksman crouches down to the aussie as he gets to his knees. "I'm going to ask you once. How much are they paying you?" He says coldly to the young man.
"What are you ...talking about?" He asks as he struggles to get up.
Maria skips over to him playfully, before violently kicking him in the side. "A few hours ago in the market place. We tracked Spider-girl there."
"Spider-girl? What's she doing down here?" Boomerang asks as he doubles over in pain from the kick.
"That's what we'd like to know."
"And you have the walking handbag and the circus freak pound on me because..."
"Because you were with her."
"No I was with some friends. Not that it's any of your business." This response earns him a powerful punch to the face by Cobra.
"I scanned the area with my aura read. You were right next to her until the whole thing happened with Maria."
Boomerang pieces in his head what went down, putting two and two together. "I wasn't hired by anyone else. And I only met this girl a few days ago. She's just down here for holiday, that's all I know, honest. If I'd known it was Spider-girl, I'd have personally put one in her."
Sniper pulls away the young man's visor and stares at him for a moment before helping him up. "Alright, but I don't think it's pure coincidence you happened to run into her. Maybe she's got better sources then we thought. We're going to need to handle this with a little more tact then before. We're just lucky our friends got to Maria before the police did."
"Sorry for roughing you up." Maria says with Cobra giving a nod as well.
"Don't worry about it. So what's next?"
"We let our friends know who we're dealing with and expect the worst from this. I'll give Shocker a ring and I suggest that you do the same with your uncle." Sniper tells Maria.
"That's going to be fun." She says sarcastically.
As the others prepare for the morning, Boomerang gets himself together, slowly coming to terms with the revelation of his old friends identity. "Alright mates, tomorrow morning is spider season."