JTF Volunteer Miles Morales and MJ sit down next to the base's friendly weapons dealer. He also takes five to sit down and grabs a chair to relax from sorting weapons and cataloging any firearms recovered from the streets.
"Glad you can catch yourself a break, Miles." MJ says. "I hear Paul Rhodes is quite a character."
"He's not that bad if you do good enough." Miles looks towards the ground and rubs his eyes. "Just wish he'll make it back sooner than later."
"Well, he can take care of himself." The weaponsmith says. "But we'll need him if we want heating and better electricity up and running. Good news is we're getting some help. Heard some people and spider-man rescued all those doctors from the garden and we're bringing them back to the base."
"Wait, they're bringing them here!?" Miles then tilts his head up and rises from his seat. "My mom said she was working at the hospital in Madison. Any chance they got her?"
Just then, the JTF weapons dealer stands up straight as Mile's dad leads a group of people through the entrance, obviously all checked for signs of green poison. Jessica Kandel looks around the place before she's escorted into the medical wing. Finally, medic John Oxton steps out as the Madison Field Hospital crew took over the medical wing.
Then, Jefferson Davis pulls the weaponsmith to the side and chat for a few minutes. The Weaponsmith suddenly nods and takes four JTF soldiers with him out of the base. He waves to MJ and Miles before leaving the safe base of operations.
Wanting to find out about who is inside the medical wing, MJ and Miles leave the security wing and head inside the medical facility. It didn't take Miles long until he finds his dad and his mom hugging each other tight. MJ could hear Miles saying her name once to get her attention. Then, a tear slivers down her eye as he joins his mom and dad in their family reunion.
-Spider-Man-
Spider-man is the last personto enter the base of operations with agents Springfield and O'Connor. They head for the medical wing where the recently rescued staff fumble in a room with lack of good medical equipment. As they step inside, Jessica Kandel is working diligently on a laptop in her office. Faye Lau was also in the room, making herself quiet as doctors and nurses worked around her.
"Well, look who it is." Jessica steps out of her office. "Thanks for getting me out of the garden. I've been in some hostile work environments, but Jesus. Of course, its not like this is going to win any prizes either. Antique equipment, zero staff, and patients lining out of the door- this isn't going to cut it."
"We are doing the best we can, Dr. Kandel. Any suggestions you might have, I'm happy to listen."
"Plus, Mary Jane and Doctor Oxton worked their ass off before you showed up and I'm sure they don't want to be back in here." Spider-mansays in his head.
"I know. I know." Kandel sighs while giving a nod. "Beggars, choosers, all the crap. What matters is beating this thing, but I can't do that without knowing anything more about it."
Finally, Faye Lau hands Jessica a binder containing a file from CERA. She went on as the virologist opens the binder and reads the file. It had what to expect from a file, name, birthdate, history, and former occupations along with any information CERA cooked up.
"Here's a good place to start. CERA is pretty sure a Dr. Gordon Amherst had something to do with the outbreak."
"Gordon Amherst…" Spiderman thought. "I've heard of his name in Oscorp before. I need to double check the archives."
"God… that asshole." Kandel growled. "Saw him present a paper in Columbia once. He nearly started a riot. But if he's part of this, I need to talk to him. Anything you can find- notebooks, laptops, close personal friends – I need that too. And we need to talk about live samples, and antibodies. You're going to be busy."
"And you'll be doing what?" Freya asks.
"Fixing this. Saving lives." She takes the binder with her into her office. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll get started."
"Well, I like the grit on her." Shane says before leaving the room with Spider-man and Freya.
As they step out, the base itself still looks like it has fallen to shit. But they at least put the first building block to make it better, starting with the medical wing. Now that John is free as a bird, he can help his fellow agents on the field. Just then, Miles and MJ walk up to Spider-man and the two agents.
"Thanks for getting my mom out of there." He says to the three. "I'd be happy to return the favor."
"Maybe there is. In the meantime, is that arms dealer in the security wing around?" Shane asks. "I would like a better assault rifle, so I don't have to rely on sniping hoodlums. Plus, I haven't heard a word from Oliver."
"We lost contact when he got in contact with Captain Benetiz." MJ says. "And the gunsmith is out right now. He left to steal guns and ammunition from the Rioters."
"I could go and help out." Spidey says. "Do you know where he is?"
"Umm… yeah. My father sent him to a port at…"
Suddenly, Miles's radio lets out a couple of beeps. Miles pulls it out and presses a button. He didn't dare hold it close to his ear once the receiver screams out of the other end.
"This is gun runner. My team is down and got new friends who want my head. Send backup now!"
"That was the weaponsmith." Miles massages his ear. "He clearly needs help. He's at the port of Hudson Yards."
Spider-man says no more and runs out of the base. He leaps into the air and swings his way for Hudson Yards. Meanwhile, Shane slips off and heads over to the Lincoln tunnel checkpoint as Freya yawns and heads up to the electrical hub, perhaps to check on Cade.
-Later-
It took him several precious minutes to make it. As he lands on top of the empty subway tracks, he can see the battle unfolding at the port. A group of men in orange jumpsuits and face masks spray bullets down at an abandoned car. The rioters are all gone, either killed or have run off with nothing. Whoever these people in orange are, they are to be taken with caution.
"Come on, piggy!" One of them shouts. "We don't need any permission to kill. Boris, get him out of there."
A soldier wearing a belt of shotgun shells charges brandishing a shotgun. He circles around and pumps it once. He peeks over as spider-man prepares to fire a web from his hiding spot. Then, a gunshot rings out. The rusher falls back.
"Come on, send another, Rikers. You convict trash!" The gunsmith shouts from behind the car.
"Wait…" Spider-man gasps as he puts the pieces together. "These people are from Rikers? I wonder how many there are roaming the streets, how dangerous they can be. Forget it, you have to save the gunsmith."
"Oh, you think your slick. You JTF are nothing." The Riker raid leader yells. "Hobbs, go flush the pig out."
The Riker tosses a grenade up into the air. Spider-man drops down and knocks the grenade out of the air of his webs. The grenade explodes harmlessly nearby their feet knocking them back. Spider-man lands on his feet and lunges for the nearest Riker.
"Hey, I hate to say it, but the orange doesn't suit you. It just screams 'I escaped from prison'." He speaks.
"Spider-Man thinks we're going to turn tail." The Rikers ringleader knocks on twin steel doors of a pick up." That's really funny. Bernie, time for you to shine."
The steel doors swing open from a heavy kick. A massive man steps out of the truck brandishing a heavy machine gun and starts firing. Spider-man quickly jumps to the side and shoots a wad of webbing at the heavy's barrel, forcing it to overheat. The heavy weapons soldier roars and tosses his gun to the side.
"You made a god damn mistake, bug!" He uses his machine gun like a battering ram and charges. Spider-Man jumps over the massive gunner and brings him charging to a pile of cars. He rams headfirst and falls over. The JTF gun runner rolls out of cover and kicks off the heavy's helmet and puts two shots onto the head before swinging his barrel toward the Rikers as they fight Spider-man.
Spider-man dodges a shotgun being swung around before sending his knee up at a Riker's face. The riker flies backwards onto his back. Spider-man sets his sights on the ringleader. The ringleader quickly digs through the box. He pulls out a M60 light machine gun and starts blasting away. He laughs as Spidey leaps up and over him.
The ringleader spins around and pulls the trigger. There's a click. The gun jammed on him. Spider-man shrugs and races forward to send a couple punches to the stomach and drive a foot to his head, sending him spinning to the ground.
As Spider-man checks the area for more escaped convicts, he notices the gun runner stacking hauling a crate of weapons up to the truck the Riker's stole to pick up the merchandise. Spiderman slowly shakes his head.
"You decide to wait to pick up their guns?" Spider-man asks.
"Hey, I took some of them down on my own." The JTF gun runner snaps. "Besides, you would like me to arm your federal agent friends with the best stuff."
"Well…" Spider-man nods slowly. "They are putting a lot on the line to save the city. It takes more than guns to get the job done."
The gunrunner mutters to himself, making Spidey raise a lens with his mask. The gunrunner stops talking to himself and looks at Spider-man.
"I assumed you don't really know what's going on." The gunrunner replies. "Simply put, we are at war with street gangs, prisoners, and anyone else who wants to control the Big Apple."
"So, you're telling me there's Riker inmates all over Midtown?" Spider sighs under his mask. "What about the raft?"
"Oh, those guys are being looked after by some special people. Rikers Island on the other hand had a massive riot when the guards stopped showing up for work and escaped the island. They are out for blood for any cop or JTF in the city. The Rikers likely have put a bounty on your head. Anyways, can you help me load the truck so I can arm your division friends."
Spider-Man nods and helps the JTF gun runner load up the truck with guns, ammunition, and attachments into the truck. Spider-Man closes up the back of the truck. Spider-man pats the truck twice. The gun runner makes an ok symbol with his fingers before driving the truck out of the port. Spider-Man leaps up to the air and swings for Oscorp. Perhaps he'll find answers there in the buildings archives about Doctor Gordon Amherst.
-Monica Rappicini-
Everything is peaceful in her Rappacini's clever operation of keeping her group of talented scientists, engineers, and armed security personal well fed and thriving in secret to the point they are hopeful for the future. The supplies of scraps of metal and tools to specific parts was done by the help of volunteers from the outside who have no idea what the big picture is. It's just going great like a symphony.
"Ma'am!"
"Yes." The chemist answers and spins her head to the door. It opens, letting him inside. He walks in with his body shaking a little.
"Our men got the stuff." He reports.
"Good." Monica flickers a smile, happy that went well without problems. "Head back to your post."
"Wait, Ma'am." The scientist freezes, not moving a muscle. "There's just something that's bothering me."
"Feel free to express your thoughts. After all, you're in a building that's kept you well fed with our amazing state of the art technology."
"That's true." The subordinate nods. "But have you looked at the recent observation reports I've conducted on the people who delivered the supplies? You'll find they are barely human yet have fascinating resilience to carry out their goals.
"Goals?" The lead chemist asks. "Such as?"
"Well, those chemicals we gave them in exchange for ammunition are part of their plan to, and I quote, clean up the city?"
"Clean up the city?" Monica blinks a couple of times. "You sure that's what you heard?"
"Yep. We made sure our observations are correct. They're organizing to carry out extreme tasks of burning any contaminated areas."
"They have any doctors or medical professionals?"
"Likely not since they're just burning anything in sight." The scientist shakes his head, getting himself back to the point. "The point is that we are literally playing with fire. If we aren't careful, they'll come by and do a sweep of the entire building."
"I wouldn't be worried with them." Monica fires back with confidence. "We are A.I.M.! We have the technology to handle anything that dares to attack us. The Scientist supreme would want A.I.M. to rise up and take control of this… disaster. Unless you want to express your doubts to him personally."
"No!" The scientist starts to sweat. "Not what I mean at all. I'm just… cautious about this operation as you are."
"Good." Monica nods. "If you don't have anything else to report, then we are finished."
The scientist nods and leaves the room. Monica grins and turns around to continue working on her plan from her laptop, a plan to bring AIM back from the dead when the Dollar Flu outbreak began.
-Spider-Man-
Spider-man lands on top of a building as something he didn't notice until now surrounds a part of the city. A massive wall with bio-hazard signs painted in black and yellow. Oscorp would likely be on the other side of the heavily fortified wall along with it's collection of records in the archives. He remembered the name Amherst when he gave a talk about some project out in Russia at Oscorp's sponsored party.
Suddenly, his Spider sense starts tingling. He spins around to a man in a blue hood and his face covered in some sort of scarf or face mask. Spider-man gets into his stance and raises his fists. The hooded man raises his hands and walks slowly to the wall crawler.
"Relax." The hooded man replies. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Good." Spider-man lowers his fists. "But I don't usually talk to strangers, especially that you snuck up in front of me."
"Fair enough." The stranger lowers his hands. "What you're doing up here, by the way?"
"Just patrolling the streets for crime, the usual." Spider-man replied, not wanting to give his main goal away.
At that moment, Spider-man notices the orange circle glowing from his wristwatch. The man is an agent. Spider-man's pose grows a bit more relaxed. He could trust this man.
"You're a Division agent." Spider-man points to the wristwatch. "You could have just told me that and flashed your wristwatch."
"True. But I had no idea which way you would jump, so I couldn't just do that without being sure."
"I've met some already." Spider-man replied. "Now, mind telling me who you are?"
"How about we stick to code names, Spider-man." The mysterious division agent flickers a grin under his scarf. "Call me Mars."