Obadiah & Gwen

Against her better judgment Gwen had brought Obadiah to her secret lair of sorts. It was what she and Peter called their place before. She had added a sign saying it was under video surveillance outside and locked the solid steel door that had been unlocked previously. Inside she'd stolen internet and power from the lines running under the city. In the highest section of the abandoned subway station, she'd built a makeshift desk. The rest was state of the art, purchased with her income from Stark Industries. An ultrawide monitor along with three others arrayed around it and a large flat screen TV. The heart of it was a high-end desktop PC which she routed all data through. It was no supercomputer. All the things she wanted to do, she had to do manually. She had a firewall she'd liberated from the junk IT pile at Stark Industries on the rack above it was another rescue from Stark Industries a massive network attached storage with terabytes of space to store data recorded from her spider-bots.

Refusing to bring Obadiah here would kind of be like trying to put the milk back in a cow. He already knew she was Spider-Woman. She was sitting in an impressive looking, but worn chair, also a rescue from Stark Industries trash. Her fingers were dancing over the keyboard as she started mapping out where her spider-bots had found themselves. She saw one alerting it was near an active network port and took over manual control. She made an offhand reference to a video game she'd played a few times by exclaiming in a deep voice.

"Assuming Direct Control!"

Obadiah glanced down at her. She blushed.

"Sorry. Forgot you were here boss."

Obadiah laughed.

"Boss, I like that, but Obadiah is fine. Remember, we're going to be partners you and I. What are you doing now?"

Gwen pointed at the screen that was now the point of view of one of her spider bots.

"She's detected a network port. We're going to get her inside and she's going to give us internal access to their server. So, we can see what other naughty things they have been up too."

Obadiah squinted as he watched the screen that Gwen was using to navigate the bot.

"She?"

Gwen glanced up at him.

"Of course, that's why they're all pink. My girls are legion."

It crawled up the wall and into the jack. Then connected four of its legs to the four wire connectors inside the port. She switched the screen from its optics to a command line interface and cracked her fingers. Obadiah shook his head.

"You really did keep all the best toys for yourself."

Gwen blushed and focused on her screen while she responded.

"Well, in my defense you only asked for a tracker/guidance system. Not a full-featured spy-bot."

Gwen started trying to break into the system using known vulnerabilities. She didn't expect a drug cartel to have the best IT professionals working for them.

Tony

"Sir, it has successfully bypassed the encryption on the wireless modem."

Tony looked at the pink spider bot he had in the plastic case.

"Monitor the data it is sending."

"Sir I cannot. The data stream is encrypted with the same encryption as the cellular phone we encountered earlier."

Tony tapped the glass.

"Interesting. Can you determine the location of its home base, based on the IP address?"

"Tracking, Sir."

Tony took a drink of his green smoothie and worked on his design for the Mark III while he waited for Jarvis to do the trace.

"Sir, apparently the location of the data transfer destination is Twenty-six Federal Plaza."

Tony laughed.

"She has a sense of humor. I'll give her that. Do what you can to back trace it further."

"Trying, sir."

Tony tapped the hologram to finalize the Mark III design. Then turned his stool to watch the latest entertainment news. He stood up and got closer when he saw it was his annual Fireman's Charity Ball.

"Jarvis, do I have an invitation to that?"

"No, sir. Also, sir, my attempts to backtrack the home base past the FBI New York City office have failed. I apologize."

"Don't worry about it. Start the fabrication on Mark Three. Give me some hot rod red paint."

"Very subtle sir. The fabrication will take five hours to complete. What will you be doing in the meantime?"

Tony went back to his workbench and pulled out some tools then slipped on a pair of magnifying glasses with a camera attached.

"I'm going to see what makes this little spider tick, then I'm going to a party."

"Of course, sir. Should I arrange for security to accompany you?"

Tony spoke with a screwdriver in his mouth as he opened the plastic case holding the spider.

"That won't be necessary, Jarvis."

Tony zapped the spider bot with a jolt of electricity. It seemed to stun it briefly before it attempted to crawl out of the case it was in.

"Tenacious little bugger aren't you."

Tony grabbed it and rolled it on its side and jammed a mini flathead screwdriver in between where the bottom and top part of its casing met. It popped the casing apart. With the legs disconnected it lost all mobility. He pulled out the microcircuitry with tweezers and looked at the board. He admired it for several seconds.

"She's good, this is slick."

"Sir, it would appear this device used the new circuitry fabrication developed by Gwen Stacy."

Tony put the tiny circuit board under a camera.

"Identify those chips would you please, Jarvis."

"Sir, it has a central processing unit, blue tooth, wifi, and network interface. There is an additional chip I do not recognize. Should I access Stark Industries schematics, sir?"

"Go ahead Jarvis."

"Sir, it is a modified and micronized version of the guidance module for the Jericho missile. Sir, it appears to work in tandem with other guidance modules so it can be used for precision guided bomb or missile strikes. Possibly bullets as I see reference to guided bullets and artillery shells as being ready for live fire testing."

Tony quickly popped that chip from the board.

"Well probably best that doesn't have power."

"Yes, sir. It would seem that all broadcasts from the device have stopped."

Tony pulled the rest of it apart looking at each piece.

"She must have developed ten different systems for this robot. It has Gwen Stacy's fingerprints all over it."

"The pink was a nice touch, sir."

"You mock me for my hotrod red, and compliment pink?"

"It is subtle, and understated, sir."

Tony shook his head and took the disassembled bot and put it into a plastic case.

"Time to go crash my party."

Obadiah & Gwen

Gwen had breached the server with the second vulnerability she tried. She started poking around. Within ten minutes she found the buried treasure she was looking for. She went into a command prompt and typed a few commands. A bar appeared on the screen. Gwen looked at Obadiah.

"It will be several hours. I can't download them any faster without alerting them."

Obadiah stood up straight.

"What is 'them'?"

"Oh, unencrypted backup files. It's basically all of their important data in one package. And because they're criminals they're using their own email server."

"Good. What is your endgame here?"

Gwen motioned to the screen.

"I'm going to find out the source. Find out where they're distributing them to and give it all to SHIELD."

Obadiah leaned down on her desk.

"Let me propose an alternative. You give it all to me and we take care of this quietly, in house. With Tony's recent… statements we don't need any more bad press."

Gwen shook her head.

"I can't do it. I need… the information, it had a cost. I need SHIELD to pay it."

Obadiah scratched his forehead and paced for a few moments.

"What is the deal you made?"

Gwen sighed.

"I need to get a juvenile out of jail, get his record erased and get him into my private school."

Obadiah tapped his forehead.

"How about this: You make your deal with SHIELD, provide them with the information for New York City and anything else stateside but Stark Industries stays out of it, you let me handle Afghanistan? SHIELD takes care of the record. I'll take care of the school, full tuition paid for next three years."

Gwen pondered for a few minutes.

"They'll be able to track the source with the data I'm grabbing. And even if I don't give them it, they'll be able to get it themselves from the servers. Why are you sure its Afghanistan?"

Obadiah paused in his stride and rubbed the top of his head.

"Where else is it going to be? It's the biggest source for heroin in the world. Tony was going on and on about Stark Industries weapons in the hands of terrorists. I just need specific locations if you can get them. Can you wipe their servers?"

Gwen nodded.

"I guess, but I can't touch their individual computers. I just don't have enough bots out there. Or even built."

Obadiah pondered for a few moments.

"What about a virus?"

"I have some but that would be really obvious."

Gwen spun around and clicked around on her computer.

"There was the crypto I built to get back at Liz… but never used."

A smile crept across Obadiah's lips.

"You wrote a virus to get back at someone?"

Gwen blushed.

"I'm not really proud of it, and I never used it. I just need to make it less… picky about what it hits."

Gwen clicked around and then opened a screen of code. She changed a few lines of code.

"God, I hope this doesn't get out into the wild. I don't really have time to make it surgical."

Obadiah rubbed his chin.

"What kind of damage would it do?"

Gwen blinked a few times.

"Oh… it's a nuclear weapon. It will hit everything that is out there now. I wanted to make sure any file, picture, well everything about her was erm… encrypted. I was in a bad place a few months ago."

Obadiah patted her on the shoulder.

"I'm glad we're friends and not enemies. Get all the data you can, then use the virus. That way SHIELD gets the guns and the cartel. We get the rest."

Gwen nodded. She wasn't sure why she was still taking orders from him. This was her lair, her crypto virus, her bots… She shook her head and saved the file then sent it to all her bots. All she'd have to do was press a button on an app on her phone or on her computer to launch it. Obadiah checked his watch.

"I need to get ready for a function… say why don't you get your boyfriend and get dressed up. I'll get you in."

Gwen felt like crying suddenly as she was reminded Flash had basically dumped her over voicemail and blocked her. She shook her head and forced back the wave of emotions.

"Uh… that might not be a good idea."

His chin dipped as he looked her in the eyes.

"Trouble between the two of you?"

Gwen shrugged slightly.

"He dumped me."

Obadiah patted her on the back.

"Then you need to get out there. I happen to know several young men that will be at the ball tonight that are much better suited for you. Your star is rising. You can't have someone like Flash Thompson dragging you down. Senator Thomas's son is sixteen, he's going to be there tonight. You might like him."

Gwen gave a slight roll of her eyes.

"And I'm sure if I'm dating his son, it wouldn't hurt our chances at that five-year contract."

Obadiah smiled and patted her on the back.

"Now, I didn't say that. But it is true. It would definitely help us. Its nice to see you're taking ownership of Stark Industries."

Gwen sighed. It was not like she was going out as Spider-Woman tonight after the absolute failure last night. So, it was sit in her grungy lair watching bars go across screens, go home be depressed, go to Peter's and hear him rant about her alter ego being the source of evil in the world.

"I'll go get ready."

Obadiah smiled.

"That's the spirit. You already impressed the Senator. Wear that dress of yours and my birthday present that'll take care of his wife. You'll be dating Adam Thomas in no time. Maybe even visiting their place in the Hamptons."

Gwen's shoulders were still drooped. She didn't feel much like dating for the contract. Obadiah put his arm around her shoulders.

"Gwen, do you want the life you saw this morning when you looked out over the city with me?"

Gwen nodded. He shook her gently.

"Then you need to make friends, make the right connections. You had Senator Thomas eating out of the palm of your hand at dinner. I'm going to make it clear your going places. Hell, if you were working full time at what we pay you? You'd be making more than a senator does a year. And you're fifteen. That's not even counting your bonuses. Your stock options."

"I'm just a kid from Queens. I don't belong with people like that."

Obadiah shook his head and continued to squeeze her shoulders gently.

"No, you run your own lab, you're a Lead Project Engineer at a Fortune 500 company on the track for an executive office. Queens is where you came from, not where you're going. By the time you're twenty-five, Tony Stark will be a forgotten has been. So, when you're at the ball that is who you are. Keep your chin up. Who is better, the kid from Queens who made something of herself, or the man who had everything handed to him because his father was wealthy? You tell me."

Gwen mumbled.

"The kid from Queens."

"Say that again so I'll believe you."

Gwen spoke up.

"The kid from Queens."

He squeezed her shoulders one more time.

"That's better. I'll see you there. Feels strange leaving you in this area of the city alone at your age. Hell, you're probably better off than I am."

Gwen followed him out and locked the door. She looked up at the setting sun. Flash's house was on the way home. She could just stop… She put the breaks on that thought. No, this was better. She couldn't be who he wanted. She had Spider-Woman. All this crap with Obadiah and Stark Industries. She bit her lower lip before she admitted the last reason. She had liked the way Miles looked at her. She shook the thought away. He was with Peter. Bro code. She would not touch him even if the pair broke up.

She let out a long slow breath and pulled her hood up as she walked. The night was getting a bit chilly for April. A black SUV rolled up and started following beside her. The heavily tinted window on the passenger's side rear door went down. The passenger leaned out. He was a larger man with red hair and a well-trimmed red beard. His grey eyes had a sparkle to them. He spoke with an Irish accent.

"Now what is a wee little lass like you doing out alone in this neighborhood at this time of night?"

Gwen rolled her eyes and leaned on the SUV's door. She kissed him on the cheek.

"She's walking home to get changed to go to a charity ball tonight, Uncle Liam."

He leaned his elbow on the door, their noses almost touched. She gave a soft giggle. He spoke more softly.

"Oh, is she now. You'd think her boyfriend would be walking her home. Its what a gentleman would do."

"Well… I don't have a boyfriend currently."

He motioned with his head.

"Why don't you hop in Wendy."

Gwen shook her head.

"If dad sees me riding in your car, he'll ground me for life, and he'll find something to arrest you for."

Liam patted the seat beside him.

"Come on, live on the wild side. He'd do well to remember we used to be best friends back in the day. In fact, twas him told me to check on yea."

Gwen rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.

"I don't believe that for a second."

She piled in beside him. He put up his window and motioned for his driver to move on.

"No, it's the truth I tell yea. He says to me, Liam, I'm worried about Gwen. Why he calls you that godawful name I'll never know. Your mam wanted you to be Wendy, she did."

Gwen gave him a look of disbelief.

"My dad, Mr. By the Book himself, dad, went to his brother-in-law who is a member of the Irish mob to check on his daughter?"

Liam nodded.

"You bet he did, lass. Out of the blue he walks into me bar. Has himself a drink of the black. Tells me how much trouble you been since your mam passed. Says, Gwen, she's out of control. Says, could you talk to her? She has always listened to you. Says, I'm your favorite uncle."

Gwen held up her hand and wiggled.

"It's a tie at best."

Liam laughed.

"So, Wendy, my favorite niece what has been troubling yea? I know your boyfriend has up and taken a runner. You want me to have a conversation with him about the error of his ways?"

Gwen shook her head.

"I'm your only niece."

"Doesn't make the statement any less true, now does it lass?"

Gwen smiled in spite of herself. Her mother had always called Liam the charmer of the family.

"I feel like I'm losing myself Uncle Liam. I… think dad just wants you to talk to me because he thinks I'm up to illegal things."

Liam looked her up and down.

"And are yea now?"

Gwen wiggled her hand.

"If I'm not, I'm walking the line. I just…"

Liam nodded.

"Well, if yea are, you come by it honestly don't yea."

Gwen looked out the window.

"I don't recognize myself Uncle Liam. I don't recognize the things I'm doing. I see this life all I need to do is reach out and take it. And overlook… things. I'd never want for anything."

Liam's face got serious. It was a rare occurrence for Gwen to see him like that.

"Now, yea got me worried, Wendy. What manner of thing are you into?"

Gwen leaned her head on the tinted window.

"Do you know who killed mom?"

"No, I don't. I tell yea if I did, they wouldn't be long for this here earth. Your grandda'd skin me alive if I ignored an offense of that type."

Gwen closed her eyes and sighed.

"I do. I… everyone thinks I hired someone to hurt him."

"You're being serious with me aren't yea lass?"

Gwen nodded.

"He's never going to walk again. Has to eat through a straw. Can't even form words. He's never going to be more then a lump that… just exists."

Liam took a deep breath and crossed himself.

"Wendy, if yea did this, then you did right by your mam. If that is what yea are concerned about. Your conscience is clean. Though I wished yea had told me. Your mam didn't want you in this life."

"It is so much worse Uncle Liam…. So much worse."

Liam looked to the front.

"Park and take a walk lads."

His driver parked the car and the pair were left alone.

"Wendy, tell me what this is all about, lass, please."

Gwen rubbed her face.

"I have this chance. I could own… everything. I could be one of those people that picks up a phone and half an hour later someone who bothered me on the other side of the world wouldn't be bothering anyone again. Rich, beyond your wildest dreams."

"I can dream of a lot."

Gwen looked out the window again.

"Do you know what I was doing half an hour ago?"

"I am sure I do not lass, why don't yea tell me?"

"I was hacking into Sorera cartel computer systems so I could… I could find something for someone. Then they asked me to wipe out all of their data. I did it without a second thought."

Gwen pressed her fingers against her head a few times.

"He just gets into my head. Makes it all seem… justified. It was small at first. Now I'm about to open pandora's box and hope it closes itself before it escapes… Why am I not just telling the authorities… what is wrong with me?"

"You're starting to lose me lass."

Gwen sighed again.

"Did dad tell you I had a part time job?"

Liam nodded.

"Some internship, you're filing paper work or something for some big company."

Gwen looked at Liam.

"No Uncle Liam, I'm designing weapons, weapons that have ended up on the streets. My boss, my mentor. He tells me it will be fine he'll take care of it. But he just keeps dragging me deeper and deeper. How can I say no? We need the money. Miles's mom needs the money. Aunt May needs the money. The worst part is, I want him to drag me deeper. I like it. I'm enjoying it. I want a penthouse apartment. I want to be important. It is like I'm in this race with myself. Like who I was is being left behind and this other one, who likes expensive clothes, shoes… Thinks a boy from Queens who treats her right isn't good enough for her, because he's not the right kind of people."

Liam took a while to digest her verbal diarrhea.

"Wendy. Yea have to simplify it. Your Uncle Ben, God rest his soul, would give you some flowery shite about roses blossoming or some fucking thing. Yea know me, I'm more plain spoken. Yea gotta do right by you. If it don't feel right then yea don't do it lass."

Gwen nodded.

"That's just it. I don't know what's right and wrong anymore. I miss Uncle Ben."

Liam patted her hand.

"We all do, Wendy, We all do. Yea know me, yea know what I do. I like to think I have a code of ethics I follow, lines I stay within, and expect my boyos to do the same. I set those boundaries by what I feel in my gut. Your gut is never wrong. Like I told yea when we had that conversation about men. If yea feel unsafe, yea probably are and if your gut says your boss is dodgy, he probably is."

Gwen looked at her smartwatch. She reached out and gave Liam a tight hug. He groaned.

"You're getting a wee bit stronger there lass. Almost broke my back."

"Sorry. I missed you. I need to go Uncle Liam. Whether my boss is dodgy or not. I need the money."

Liam held up his hand.

"One second there, Wendy. Yea thought yea'd get out of here without a birthday present from your favorite uncle?"

He offered her a small, wrapped box. She pulled the paper off neatly as she always did with wrapping paper. She folded it and opened the green velvet jewelry box. Inside was a beautiful golden crucifix on a silk thong necklace. Liam motioned to it.

"I know its not flashy, but… when I saw it, I thought, Wendy will love this."

"It is perfect Uncle Liam."

She hugged him again and kissed his cheek. He waved as she hopped out of the SUV. He leaned down.

"Wendy, if what you're doing becomes too dodgy for you. Come see me, I'll find you work you can do with a clean conscience, okay?"

Gwen blew him a kiss.

"I'll come see you anyway. I'll just tell dad talking to you is helping."

Liam laughed and waved to her.