Web of Spider-Woman

by ComicChick19

Finally! Petra Parker has graduated from High School, and is off to College at Empire State University in Manhattan! But with this new phase of her life comes a new set of challenges, enemies, romance. and adventures! Can she finally achieve a proper work/superhero/life balance? Probably not. Also posted on Ao3 and Wattpad!

5. Rampage: Prelude

p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: center;" data-p-id="ea8de82fa4e4571df3b18b61bdd15b95"Issue 5/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="95e60739b2172e3a885171b469ea7f5b" "YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU HAD THOSE PICTURES YESTERDAY BUT YOU DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY BRING THEM TO ME?!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7841faf03e55622417b74f41af15703b" Petra's ears were ringing. She was standing in the publisher's office in the Daily Bugle, suffering through yet another one of J. Jonah Jameson's infamous tirades, alongside Robbie Robertson, the Bugle's editor-in-chief, and Frederick Foswell, one of the many reporters in the building. Due to two very unfortunate gunshot wounds received during a confrontation with the police yesterday, Petra couldn't take her photos from her fight with the Kingpin and the Master Planner's men straight to the Bugle. This had upset Jonah./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5b59e1131e499b8473472b8fe58474e8" "Look, something important came up after I took the photos, and I didn't have time to come to the Bugle. You em style="box-sizing: border-box;"know /emI would have come straight to you otherwise." Petra defended, speaking through gritted teeth./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="eaee43d4efedf29d80bdbd1b9692c169" "Is that so Parker?! Well, I say this is another one of your schemes at PRICE GOUGING me! You punk kids are always trying to take advantage of my HONEST, GOOD NATURE for an extra buck! And after all the good I've done for society!" Jonah lamented./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dc7daa48280be9378639a8146940bdaf" "Is it em style="box-sizing: border-box;"really /emprice gouging if all I ever do is ask for a fair payment for my photos, Jameson?" Petra retorted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c54e1d8e239b09bb76e35e0b26d49a58" "Petra has a point, Jonah. Face it, she could be selling those photos to any other news site in the city, and making a lot more, but the kid's been loyal to us from the very beginning." Robbie butted in, coming straight to Petra's defense./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="60fd308bfc56115c58c35f29ae0329f4" Robbie raised his arm, placing his hand on Petra's shoulder, in a show of support. Robbie had always been the voice of reason within the Bugle, being the only one there that wasn't ever afraid to call Jonah out. The middle-aged man smiled at her, the lines on his face dark brown face deepening with the grin, and Petra smiled back. He was dressed in his typical brown suit, with a mustard yellow button-up shirt. If not for the way he had his short grey hair cut, and his lack of glasses, Petra would think that he was trying to cosplay as Dwight Schrute. She supposed Robbie was half right. She had since become sort of loyal to the Bugle, but she only came to them consistently because they were the only ones who always ran stories about Spider-Woman./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b32732886673856a60d7accdeeca1a4a" "Humph!" Jonah grumbled. "It's a MUTINY in here I tell you! A MUTINY! Now why don't you let me see these photos? I'll bet they aren't even half as good as you say they are, Parker!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3e26774725ef4445a0f05b73922e337a" Petra pulled out her digital camera, handing it to J.J. He started scrolling through the series of photos. Petra could see Jonah's gleeful, greedy excitement growing on his face. The camera had managed to capture both images of the fight, and Spider-Woman's stand-off with the NYPD. She knew that Jonah would want those photos to further slander her name. At first, aiding in her own image's destruction had bothered her, but she had since come to accept it. There was no way to stop Jonah's slander, so she figured that she might as well make some money off of it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="516f7a7aec90d035ee6e18e3f23d51ca"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Besides, /emPetra thought, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"half the time he ends up having to publicly retract his articles about me when they're proven wrong, and by then I've already been paid, and there are no takebacks then. /emJonah pushed away his giddiness and returned to his patented sour expression./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7819c11bdf33fdcc1ae332d49f8b9a11" "I don't see why you felt the need to bring these to me in person, Parker! They're mediocre at best! This could have been an email! But, I suppose I'll be em style="box-sizing: border-box;"nice /emand give you 60 bucks for them, and don't bother asking for any more!" Jonah complained./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cb7a519ae334c0dc577aa5cb050a6b4c" Petra was used to this, it was a part of his game. He would tear down any photos brought to him, and try to convince the photographer that they were a lot less than they were worth. It had worked on Petra at first, but she had finally learned, and now she was masterful at getting her fair share of the cut./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1233aa076ed08ce0c98facaddf026902" "Well gee, J.J., if that's how you feel, then I guess I won't waste any more of your time! I em style="box-sizing: border-box;"guess /emI'll have to try my luck at the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Globe /em!" Petra said with a smile, turning to walk out of J. Jonah Jameson's office./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5a8dd2316ae48a8260e526cc10838ce0" Petra could feel Jonah's eyes bugging their way out of their sockets behind her as her threat of going to the Daily Globe, the Bugle's main rival, sunk in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d4bef6ecd27a9d1ffe10a491405824cd" "The em style="box-sizing: border-box;"GLOBE /em?! After everything I've done for you?" Jonah exclaimed, outraged. Robbie butted in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9bc160785ff598cdbb1773c2dc83da90" "Petra has the right to go to the Globe, Jonah. She's still working freelance, despite how often she's asked em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you /emfor a salaried position here, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"and /emher years of loyalty to the Bugle." Robbie said, shooting an admonishing glare toward Jonah./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8410c8e647551e01d192f0fe2aaae4ea" Petra was at the door now and reaching for the handle. She grabbed it and started to turn it, slowly. Just as the handle let out a em style="box-sizing: border-box;"click /eming noise, Jonah finally gave in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="390a0f5ab83bc8fc18cbcd2f470ab47b" "FINE! A HUNDRED FIFTY! How does that sound?" Jonah grumpily shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="238439c18db9d37baf752493c6144be9" "Two hundred fifty, and I want the check on my way out." Petra coolly replied./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6c3bada78ac110c5512e03c175275b0e" "THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS," Jonah shouted angrily while pressing the intercom button on his table. "BRANT! WRITE PARKER A CHECK FOR $250!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="305eee75a35d66f03a99a05daaa4008d" Betty Brant, the Bugle's intern turned secretary, looked through the window to Jonah's office from her desk, gave a thumbs up, then pulled out a checkbook and started writing. Petra smirked at her victory. Jonah then shifted his attention to Frederick Foswell, who had been sitting in the room the entire time, silently watching the negotiations take place. With his green pinstripe suit and pencil mustache, as well as his short blonde hair, Foswell looked like he belonged in the 1930s./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a5cb0f8159aeae77691ad61485a983f7" "Now, what do you want Foswell, you haven't said a word since you came in!" Jonah asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bfb59729d1df456c6394090029468e7c" "I just wanted to talk to you about that article Ben Urich is writing, sir." Foswell said, his long face twisting into an easy smirk that pushed his black mustache upwards./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="06b5ecc733715eec96adcdc2d2ee6b01" "That Kingpin theory article that he's been working on?" Jonah asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1bffa790b1bab4d6646d146bfe16c68b" Petra perked up at that, turning her full attention to the conversation taking place in front of her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c3f795d127cf18f3d211ac4dd3a6b286" "Exactly right, sir. He's got em style="box-sizing: border-box;"nothing /emin that article that gives any sort of credence to that idea. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"One /emguy slowly gaining control of all the criminal organizations in New York? How crazy do you have to be to believe that shit, Jonah!?" Foswell said, a charismatic flair in his voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f642378d0987122752a4198c74f2f111" "Well, I-" Jonah stopped and noticed that Petra was still in the room. "What are you waiting around for, get out! And don't come back without more pictures! Or if I need you to fix something!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cc4b0e19968c9680da28640c387a5ba6" "But, I-" Petra stuttered, wanting to hear more about the article. Anything that could point her in the direction of this new crime boss would really help./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c3578b00ba05bb333727647a3f430641" "OUT!" Jonah snapped./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a399a55eec485e88f11cde26d120f460" Petra knew she had no leg to stand on, so she slinked out of the office. Closing the door behind her she turned to Betty Brant. She was a pretty girl, just a few years older than Petra herself, with short, dark brown hair that was curled at the ends, and pale white skin./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="438128ae077a628afc697e095a55b718" "Sheesh, JJ's even more wound up than usual today, isn't he?" Petra asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b5d639d53f9c3380d00312f3f0228d7e" She moved to lean against Betty's desk, almost sitting on it. Betty levied a tired gaze at her friend, her bright green eyes conveying how tired she was, and smiled, then handed Petra her check. Her slender frame sagged into her swivel chair. The two had met when Petra had started freelancing for the Bugle when Betty had only recently started the internship, and although they were relatively close in age and got along well, they still hadn't hung out together outside of work./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6512905f0adcb0094205fc18b941229c" "Ugh, he really is! But I can't complain too much, he em style="box-sizing: border-box;"did /emgive me a scholarship so I could keep at getting my Journalism degree after all." Betty said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="267bf11404c81f0ff7954ae65dd7fa88" "Yeah, you're right. Beneath his grumpy exterior, I'm sure he has a heart of gold. And beneath that, I think he's just an old goat." Petra said, jokingly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="51fd144a91e0def770b35efba807f009" The door to Jonah's office opened, and Robbie walked out. He turned to Betty./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3abd2b93bd90ccde72488d78d68f6071" "Hey Betty, can you go find Ben and ask him to stop by the office? Jonah wants to em style="box-sizing: border-box;"have a talk /emwith him." He politely asked as he closed the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ad05cb3835378836c8c5b506b1c7f23b" Betty stood up and stretched, yawning. She scratched at her sleeveless button-down dress, which had an orange color that interestingly contrasted with her eyes. It had a nice brown belt with a gold-colored buckle wrapped around her waist./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3a9907630e868ea440daea8b98d6835d" "Ben's not in any trouble with Jonah, is he Robbie?" She asked, concerned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf6da47ba3f38ca4fd7de45ccd328e8d" "Let's hope not. You know how Foswell likes to criticize Ben's crime pieces? Well, he really has it out for his latest one, and he's taking it up with Jonah." Robbie said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="353718f09803b2186a4e2b1e09ed07d9" "Ugh, how can Foswell criticize Ben when his own pieces aren't up to par? Remember the verbal lashing he got from Jonah for omitting a bunch of info from his last article?" Betty asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="452db69af99b07508da24d3b7cf990a6" "Ha! I was there when that happened," Petra said. "The guys' a real sleazeball. He's probably just jealous of Ben's Pulitzer."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0c8085e9331cd768319d03f59dd00ba8" "Let's not talk bad about any of our co-workers behind their backs, you two," Robbie interjected./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3479105c63f2a552c32a027500454ae8" They nodded, and Betty walked out from behind her desk./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="16b005d518c6ccb8da17942873dc6474" "Welp, I'll go get Ben. I'll see you around Petra!" Betty said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf94cd9cbe8b7ba4f7f5c38638f1f9d9" Betty waved goodbye to Petra as she walked away, her heels clicking against the floor as she went. Robbie turned to Petra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="30533ecf542743347ff709246d6cf1d3" "I'll walk you to the elevator, Petra." Robbie said, and the two walked off./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d643e2a3f0b2043ba1e7fce5b666d1ad" As they went, Robbie turned to Petra and began to speak. "So, you're attending ESU, right?" He asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="12ed9c7eba01cf6eb724c3dc7adb35fb" Petra turned to him and nodded. "Uh, yeah, why do you ask?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="74e56d9319d3cc6a520db31152ded516" "Well, it just so happens that my son Randy is also starting his first year of college there. I figured you two might make good friends!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f4bfc3ccc13fc311a35f7bb8aab31005" "What's his major?" Petra asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2b1e78857340bfd1f7eb67c19d257db4" "Social work, with a minor in political science!" Robbie said with a proud grin./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8a106d83f5ceb95ca968bfb7c84de93e" He pulled out his phone and showed Petra a picture of Randy. He was almost the spitting image of his father, with his similarly framed face, and the same shade of hazel eyes. The biggest differences between the two were from the effects of age, as well as Randy's short, dark, and curly hair./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5ac39653b3eff775613ee47ceff7b26d" "If I see him, I'll talk to him I guess, although I'm not sure if we'll run into each other. I'm a biochem major, and my minor is in engineering. We'll probably be in completely different buildings for the entirety of the next four years." Petra said with a chuckle./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b0389031adcb03580e7242431a446f1e" They reached the elevator, and Robbie pressed the button for Petra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="265b76ef0c49864a5f8dc8f4eb85c7c8" "Oh well," Robbie said, slightly disappointed, "if you do run into him, be sure to say hi!" He said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a0742f81f1501c90234863315b08ccc5" The elevator opened, and Petra walked in and pressed the button for the first floor, waving goodbye to Robbie. As soon as the elevator doors closed and Robbie couldn't see her, Petra hit forty-three, just three floors below the top floor of the Daily Bugle building. It soon reached its destination, and Petra stepped off. Looking around in every direction, Petra relied on her spider-sense to make sure that nobody was around to see her. She slipped into a janitor's closet, again making sure that nobody was looking, and then closed the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d32e4dbaef66a65bf72460b67a63effa" She slid her leather jacket off and then stripped off her white t-shirt, which had a graphic print of a terrible chemistry joke on it, and then took off her blue jeans and sneakers. Petra then grabbed her costume from her backpack, which she had recovered from Empire State University earlier that morning, and stuffed her clothes inside. Wincing as she raised her right shoulder, still freshly wrapped in tight bandages, Petra shimmied into her costume's shirt, then did the same for the pants. She then lifted her shirt and wrapped her belt that contained her web fluid capsules and her camera around her waist. Petra slid her shirt back down, put on the rest of her costume, with her backpack on her shoulder, and then started walking to the closet's window. As she went, she tripped on a broomstick, her spider-sense going off uselessly as she did, and fell into a shelf of supplies, letting out an "oof!" as she went./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c7be40bf1fceadfaefe8b21d043cabd9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Ow. /emShe thought. She looked up, and her spider-sense went off again, but there was nothing she could do as a whole wall of supplies that had been knocked over by the broom she tripped on fell on top of her, letting out a loud em style="box-sizing: border-box;"crash /em! Petra whimpered as a bottle landed on top of her head./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d21756806618f4d76ccb92125d029a81" "Is somebody in there?" Petra heard someone ask from outside the door./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c4580c14a56513642a31ae6d4322999d" Petra scrambled to get up, making more noise as she went, and ran to the window. Throwing it open, Petra practically dived out of the window, latching on to the outside of the building with her wall-crawling ability. At the last second, she slammed the window shut from the outside and ducked her head out of the way, just as a man poked his head into the room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8ab7ded4aed7641e2d819166ea7b6312" "Goddamnit, this place is a wreck! That damn janitor is a slob!" Petra heard the man say to himself. Petra winced, feeling sorry for the poor janitor who would have to deal with the wrath of the upset employee. She heard the door shut, and Petra sighed with relief, then jumped off the wall and began swinging. She still had about half an hour until her first class of the day started, so she had enough time to swing to the university, change, and get to class on time./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ebdd322cd4206170293730006e0ed078" Her path eventually led her to 42nd Street and Madison Avenue, where she passed right by the Baxter Building. She wondered about Jackie, and how she was doing at that moment. She wanted to stop by, needing someone else to talk to about her Aunt May, other than MJ, but she quickly shot that idea down. Jackie still didn't know her identity, and even if she did, she probably wasn't even home at that moment. If anything, she was probably either at or on her way to Empire State University, the same destination that Petra was off to./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="be2e36ab4184abcfc3f668d5cb088b1e"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Besides, /emPetra thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"I don't want her to see me with the state that my suit is in. /emPetra hadn't had any time to stitch up the various holes and scratches in her costume that her last fight had left behind. She was at least grateful that her blood had washed out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="10ce57418c20bc7ee7ba1281c5b81786" Petra kept swinging for a few more blocks, until her spider-sense went off, alerting her to something below her. Taking evasive action, Petra twisted to the left, landing on the side of a skyscraper. A silver blur shot up into the air from below, right where she had been about a second ago. It stopped moving when it was just above her level, and Petra got a good look at it. Petra groaned, realizing who it was: Stilt-Man. Dressed in a full suit of dark, silvery armor, with a strange metal hood covering the back of his head, and only the lower half of his face exposed, the stilt man stood tall at nearly 40 stories, his extended hydraulic legs holding him in place. Around his shoulders was a brown satchel filled with...jewels. Petra sincerely hoped that this guy wasn't basic enough to have robbed a regular jewelry store. He was facing away from Petra and looking down below him. Petra looked down as well and saw Daredevil, far below in his dark red devil suit, standing on top of a roof and glaring at Stilt-Man, the double D logo on his chest barely visible from her distance. Petra decided that now was probably a good time to set up her camera, and stuck it to the wall behind her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="10b3ca1e998c3297fcfede9abd01c929" "What are you gonna do now, Daredevil? How can you possibly stop the invincible might of span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"Stilt Man/span, when I'm all the way up here?!" Stilt Man boasted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2cf7234c48ce1da1b80ca1cc14998d5e" Petra stuck to the wall, watching everything unfold in front of her. Far below, Daredevil threw one of his billy clubs at Stilt Man's leg, the long cable that was attached to the end, allowing it to wrap itself around the hydraulic menace's legs. Daredevil pulled tight, and Stilt Man's legs were brought together, briefly knocking him off balance./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4820013d04a6ade8841073ff5cfa046c" "Fool! My suit's built-in gyroscope allows me to perfectly maintain my balance! Your feeble attempt to stop me is useless!" Stilt Man shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="411f455877ec9a44fba31eae98224a6f" "I wasn't trying to stop you, I was just setting you up for your em style="box-sizing: border-box;"trip /em!" Daredevil shouted, turning to look at Petra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="30af4c3b2b4a901490648915f31a1fe3" Petra picked up on what Daredevil was subtly putting down and leaped into action./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="32a0e21f456b49a8a4a3c90f06cbdb3e" "Jeez, you've gotta have an ego the size of Texas to be talking like that, Stilty!" She said as she jumped from her position on the building, hitting Stilt-Man with a flying kick and sending him toppling over towards the roof Daredevil was standing on./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="545b0f658f14cff1bd6481d75c8e029d" "Then again, without your ego, how could you ever take yourself seriously when you look like em style="box-sizing: border-box;"that /em!" Petra taunted as they crashed onto the roof./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fde71f26b43f2502491c5610d68237a8" Stilt Man was laid out face down on the roof, with his legs still stretched onto the ground several stories below, and tied up by Daredevil's billy clubs. Petra leaped from his back and landed next to Daredevil./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b997a3b8e2426efd2687efa73e7881ce" "How's it going, Double D?" Petra cheerily asked him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1604de0440385b172662e353d7b922f9" Daredevil, or Matt, as Petra had eventually come to know him, sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="01687334bd3ba58de22fb3d27d35835e" "Do you have to call me that?" He asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="64f3ad37b7f6c2db971fb2d1297e9278" "Yes." Petra curtly replied./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="672b64b96cef81e8d1ba48dcf8833b11" Daredevil shifted his focus to Stilt-Man, ever so slightly tilting his right ear in his direction./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5db6adcf65b56336520b9b4fe25ed8c2" "Stilt-Man's still conscious." He said, tensing up and sprinting towards the downed villain./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7cb15509da9bfabebcccbd1a41d2044a" "It doesn't matter how many times I team up with you, those powers of yours still freak me out!" Petra shouted after him, before running towards Stilt-Man as well./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7b940f2cd6924c9010cea97fb44a8a03" "You em style="box-sizing: border-box;"stick /emto the sides of buildings, Spider-Woman." Daredevil responded./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a41179f3f51faf537b69ddb741cacb6" From his position on the ground, Stilt-Man screamed, then pushed himself up, retracting his extendable legs back to regular length, freeing them from the binding cable of Daredevil's billy clubs./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="593f376577c579b81c3ef41c11e86f80" "Neither of you can possibly stop me! My armor is too strong for either of you to do any real damage, and neither of you can catch me!" Stilt-Man said, unclipping a silver canister from his waist and pulling a pin from its top. He tossed it, then extended his legs, stopping when he was nearly fifteen feet in the air./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="335ed4776ed6ab44930675469e1a7142" "Dear lord!" Daredevil exclaimed as the canister landed near the two of them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9154d33f3076657ebdf77a0eeeeb76e8" Petra's spider-sense picked up on whatever Daredevil's abilities had detected, and her eyes widened. Daredevil grabbed Petra and tackled her behind one of the roof's many a/c units, shielding them from an explosion from the canister./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1041b3696e2986c4740fcf33fe7fc4cc"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" This freak is just straight-up throwing grenades! /emPetra thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"He's gotta be nutty in the head or something!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e1d4a850aa23fcc9f3ad195b3da3d274" "Are em style="box-sizing: border-box;"these /emthe kinds of guys you usually end up wrestling with Double D?!" Petra asked. Behind the a/c unit, she could hear Stilt-Man's metal boots stomping on the ground, approaching their position./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2953140a77579f68d5b0016091308ef5" "Believe me, kid, fighting this guy isn't my ideal way to spend a Tuesday morning," Daredevil said. "When I say go, we jump out and attack him together. Use your strength to topple his legs, I'll go for the head." He ordered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5d8424d33f3ca920364db7d4a6be3b81" "Yes sir," Petra sarcastically said, giving Daredevil a mock salute. "But how are you gonna reach him? He's, uh, really tall, and you don't have your rope club thing."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="09b67c5706a36fdd7051e0bd40980826" Daredevil smirked and reached for the holster on his leg, pulling out two metallic, red Escrima sticks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="571a59ec93b1bcc9dfe7dac73c26f452" "I always have a spare. Now!" Daredevil shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1e8e6eab3544356b47c5ac25bc995491" Petra and Daredevil jumped out, and Petra dove for Stilt-Man's left leg. She grabbed it and hoisted it into the air. Stilt-Man barely even wobbled and looked down at Petra./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4a0bd6b226e25d58609e7cf226890eb9" "Ha! It takes more than that to knock me off balance!" He smugly said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7ac3d6c1e1cd128bf0401612b988fbc5" He grabbed another grenade from his waist and chucked it at Petra. Petra let go of his leg and dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blast and any shrapnel that the explosion created. She landed on the ground with a roll and quickly sprung up. Daredevil threw one of his Escrima sticks at Stilt-Man, hitting him dead center in the forehead. Stilt-Man let out a startled "ow" and rubbed at the spot where the stick had impacted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cd78b32a37f2a2fb1ca11722b679e461"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Interesting, it looks like his mask isn't as heavily armored as the rest of his body. /emPetra realized./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3d0fd59b7f0b13a805b8abc3e08f8d35" Stilt-Man grabbed another one of his grenades and tossed it, this time in Daredevil's direction. Thinking fast, Petra shot out a web. It caught the grenade, and Petra quickly swung it around, bringing it close to Stilt-Man. It went off, and the force from the explosion caused Stilt-Man to lean backward, nearly falling over entirely. Daredevil ran towards Petra while raising his arm in a lifting motion, and she, picking up on what he was trying to say, kneeled on the ground with her back turned to Stilt-Man. When he was right in front of her, Petra brought her hands up, catching Daredevil's foot and lifting it, launching him into the air towards Stilt-Man. Petra turned just in time to see Daredevil tackle Stilt-Man, the two of them landing on the ground with a thud, Daredevil standing triumphantly on top of Stilt-Man before he jumped off of him. Just before Stilt-Man could get back up again, Petra ran over and started webbing him to the rooftop. There was no way he was going to get back up now. Stilt-Man was about to say something, but Petra webbed his mouth shut, not in the mood for another supervillain rant./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5088c78acd7f9a3b68969e5f941b5880" "Never a dull moment with these guys, amiright Double D?" Petra said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fd2e9757a463e455ef1316e0290797f0" Daredevil tilted his head, listening for something./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="de748b05c94013d1038aba7bf73184be" "The police are on their way, let's move." He said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bd104fb638e809fc8a00be0ec7c0ed97" Petra shot out a web, grabbing her camera and yanking it towards her. She caught it in her hands and then attached it to her belt. They both ran for the roof's edge, leaping off and landing on the building across from it, continuing to sprint until they reached the end of the roof and repeated their process./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d046d7759cdefe03bf7fc8ecc8186d4c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Interesting day so far, and it's not even...the...afternoon! Oh no. I forgot about my class, I'm gonna be late! /emPetra thought, quickly beginning to panic./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0f231725c0c2db147e5ccec97f185578" "Shoot! I have to go Double D, it was nice catching up with you! I'll see you later!" Petra shouted, splitting away from Daredevil and running for the side of the roof that faced the street. Daredevil nodded and continued running. Petra leaped off and started swinging towards ESU, hoping beyond hope that she would make it on time. Her first class of the day was a beginner's class for engineering, not that she was a beginner when it came to engineering things. She was mentally kicking herself for the delay, but what was she supposed to do, let Daredevil fight Stilt-Man by himself?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ab4469840c17052f943171ccac697d35"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Well, /emShe thought, em style="box-sizing: border-box;"he probably would have been fine, but it would have been rude to just pass by and not help him out./em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7c7f61201b4baef4556677662abb4b5e" Petra finally made it to ESU, discreetly landing in an alley across from campus. After changing back into her civilian clothes, she crossed the street, dashing as fast as she could towards campus, running through the main gate, which provided the only way in past the brick walls that separated the campus from the rest of the bustling city, and past the stone entrance sign, with the school's name and motto, "excelsior" inscribed upon it. She made her way across campus, desperately searching for the right building to enter. Her eyes landed on the physics building that her class was in, a long and square six-story structure that had an exterior mostly made up of windows, which stood in stark contrast to most of the architecture on campus, which predominantly had brick buildings with slim, tall windows and intricate patterns on the roofs. Sprinting past the large fountain at the center of campus, Petra entered the building. Now in the front lobby, she grabbed her phone and opened it, checking her class schedule. Her class was in room 432. After walking to the elevators at the other end of the lobby, Petra pressed the button, summoning the elevator to her floor. Thirty seconds passed, with Petra anxiously tapping her left foot on the ground, and nervously glancing around her. Finally, the doors slid open, and Petra jumped inside, pressing the button for the 4th floor, and then repeatedly pressing the button for the doors to close. Despite this, they took their sweet time to close shut, causing Petra to press the button faster and faster./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="49632f415e64a7b3d3102acef91c479a"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" I should've just taken the stairs. /emPetra thought as the doors finally gave in and started to close at an agonizingly slow pace./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f0d6dad5c885b58addfeda430be2510"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" This elevator looks really old! I'll bet it hasn't even had any maintenance since the 1980s! /emPetra worriedly thought, glancing around at the beat-up-looking box that she was standing in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c2f184e2daf157e92656303bd5ef2de0" With a sharp creaking sound, the elevator began to lift into the air, making a deep rattling sound as it went, which only concerned Petra further. Her spider-sense never went off, but the elevator still didn't seem very safe to her. She figured that the university had never bothered to fix up the machine as a method of saving money. The elevator made a dinging noise, announcing its arrival on the 4th floor, and the elevator doors once more slowly slid open. Petra stepped off and into a plain white hallway with rectangular ceiling tiles and old office-style overhead lights. Greatly relieved to be free of the insidious death trap, Petra began to strut down the hallway at a comfortable pace, only to again remember how incredibly late she now was. Sprinting the rest of the way, she finally found room 421. She grabbed the door handle and slowly opened the door, hoping to not be noticed by the class or the professor, only for it to make a loud creaking sound. The professor, who had been speaking to the rest of the class, which was seated in the lecture hall-style room, went quiet and turned to look at Petra. Suddenly, all eyes in the room were on her. There must have been about a hundred people in that room, and not one of them tried to hide the fact that they were staring. Petra gulped, then awkwardly walked to an empty seat in the 9th row, her footsteps echoing in the large room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6ba78b4ebfadcfc54df27424631926ae" "Excuse me, sorry, excuse me, coming through, so sorry." Petra muttered as she squeezed past the other students in the row so that she could sit in the only empty seat there./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9adc643112028675981f6d74f5e7c9d3" "Right, anyways..." The professor started, going back to whatever she had been discussing before Petra had barged in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="599de6e51caa1b3b14842b4a2710872e" Petra took off her backpack, setting it on the ground, then pushed down the folded-up seat and plopped down on it. She lifted the tiny desk that was folded on the side of the right armrest and set it down, then reached over and grabbed her laptop from her backpack, placing it on the desk and opening it. She glanced to her right, only to notice a blonde girl side-eyeing her. The girl quickly shifted her attention back toward the front of the class, and Petra was struck by a vague sense of familiarity. She had long blonde hair with bangs that reached just above her eyebrows covering her forehead, and a black headband. An olive green jacket covered her, and she wore faded and ripped blue jeans with chains hanging from the waist. The jacket tipped Petra off. It was the punk girl who had nearly hit her with her skateboard yesterday! Petra glanced down and saw the very same skateboard flipped upside down by the girl's feet. She looked back up at her and waved, giving an awkward smile. The girl glanced at her but rolled her eyes and scoffed, then leaned her head into her left hand, obscuring Petra from her vision./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6d59f9295f3fb8662ac7fa0120c8ac31"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Okay, that's weird. What did I do? /emPetra wondered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9ade4b7ea20747060a6e53d27d55211e" She leaned back in her seat and started listening to the professor as she continued to speak. After a few moments, Petra glanced back at the punk sitting next to her, still confused, and a little mortified, at her situation. If the punk had noticed Petra's staring, she didn't say anything, or acknowledge her in any way. With a sigh, Petra turned away again. She decided to look to her left and see who was sitting on that side, and she turned her head in that direction. Petra's eyes widened, and her jaw went slack./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2d8d63a5a1f1653dbec4e5d8d717387c"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Oh...my...god. No way. /emPetra thought, her whole body suddenly going stiff./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d50e0a6a4a6c9e2e4dae8cfdcd8fbaf0" There, sitting right next to Petra, was Jackie Storm. AKA, the Human Torch. AKA, the famous member of the Fantastic Four who just so happened to be her- or more accurately Spider-Woman's- friend! Jackie glanced back at Petra, slightly jumping in her seat when she saw Petra staring at her. She gave a small, awkward wave, and then shifted her attention away from Petra, not so subtly trying to get Petra to stop staring. Petra coughed into her hand, and then turned away, suddenly realizing how creepy she must have seemed from Jackie's perspective. So there Petra sat, sandwiched between two blondes, one who clearly felt some kind of disdain for her, for reasons that Petra did not know, and one who Petra knew as Spider-Woman, but not as Petra Parker, and who probably thought that she was a weird stalker fangirl now./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6a3d603895f33e48e7faea79a050daac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" What even is my life right now? /emPetra asked herself./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0109ce9f7f84ffd286efcb174ec7d0ab" Every once in a while, Petra would glance back at Jackie, and the other girl sitting next to her. Jackie was only half paying attention to class, looking away from the professor whenever she could to look at a video on her phone discreetly, worry evident on her face. When Petra (stealthily) looked closer, she saw that Jackie was watching a short clip of her encounter with the police yesterday, which seemed to be taken from a phone camera. Only then did Petra realize how Jackie must be feeling at that moment. She must have seen the incident online at some point yesterday and been worried out of her mind for her. Petra was touched, but she also started to feel guilty. Although Petra had ended up being (relatively) fine, for all Jackie knew, she was lying dead or barely hanging on to life in an alley somewhere. And Jackie had no way to contact her, so how could she check in to make sure her friend was alright? Petra knew she would have wanted to be able to make sure Jackie was okay if the situation were reversed. She felt like a jerk now for not giving Jackie any way to contact her. As time went on, Petra felt like making conversation with Jackie multiple times, wanting to let her know that she was alright, but she always stopped herself before she opened her mouth. She was in a class full of people who could overhear. And besides, Jackie still didn't know Petra's identity, so there was nothing she could say without outing herself, with dozens of other people surrounding her who would most likely hear her as well./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7ecd1b25ccd842cec0ab0c792abf97b3" Another fifteen minutes passed, and the professor wrapped up the class. Everyone started packing up their things and standing up to leave. Petra shoved her computer in her bag, hoping to get out as quickly as humanly possible. As she stood up to leave, she spared another glance at Jackie, only for them to lock eyes./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="14c42d31623b245c3d96460f91eaa863" "What?! What do you want? An autograph?! Please, just stop staring at me, it's getting em style="box-sizing: border-box;"really /emweird!" Jackie suddenly erupted, a tired sort of anger filling her voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7e66b47ddef98572e2e9f464ba382297"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Oh jeez, what am I doing? She's probably had to deal with people bugging her all day! /emPetra thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="43588a2f1777638b5923892665b19162" "Uh, sorry." Petra sputtered out./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0b6fe42e11ce8cc72d054dc6030804c9" She looked away, only to see the punk with some kind of grudge against her glaring at her, obvious disgust in her eyes. Moving past her and leaving Jackie behind, Petra made it out of the confines of the row. As Petra walked to the door, she discreetly looked back one more time at her friend. Jackie was facing away from the door so she didn't notice. She was talking to that other girl who was sitting next to Petra, and a guy that Petra hadn't seen before, who must have been sitting next to her. He had dark brown skin and long wick dreadlocks that stuck up in almost every direction imaginable. From what Petra could see, he had lots of piercings on his face, and a denim vest that must have at one point been a jacket before its sleeves were cut off, with lots of patches all over it. Petra looked away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="32f2f42c22c36babe444bc72482258df" Petra left the Physics building, making sure to take the stairs this time, and found herself by the water fountain outside. Checking the schedule on her phone, she saw that her next class, which was the only other one she had that day, was in the Humanities building. Petra let her excitement for this next class push the embarrassing encounter in her engineering class out of her mind. This class didn't contribute anything to her major or her minor, but she wanted to take it for fun. Walking into the Humanities building, Petra found her classroom on the first floor and walked inside. It was a smaller room than her engineering class, and could probably only fit about twenty people. The only seats in the room were individual desks, all lined up in a semi-circle to face a desk near the front of the classroom that had a small TV behind it, and a whiteboard attached to the wall. Most of them were already full, a variety of people her age sitting at them, with only two empty seats in the back, both of them right next to each other, and one of them being at the end of the row on the left side of the room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ca4bd766379936ad163d5a24de1ac54a" Petra moved to the empty seat on the inside, sitting down and observing the class around her. Another couple of minutes passed by, and the professor walked in, closing the door behind them. They had tawny-beige skin, and dark brown hair that was shaved very closely to their head. They were dressed in a simple black pantsuit./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3bbf334bae4698d54727aaee548c37bf" "Good afternoon class," The professor said. "My name is Dr. Blake, my pronouns are they/them, and I'm your professor for Women and Gender Studies!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ea18baf70d464b88e34df71e905843b" The professor was interrupted from speaking any further when the door burst open, and someone walked into the room. Petra couldn't get a good view of whoever it was, there were too many people in front of her blocking her view./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4a4cbc62e40aba0cc1106ab94b34245d" "Um, are you the professor for WGS?" Whoever it was asked, almost timidly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="461987b882b7fd9470b7b18a98875824" For some reason, the voice sounded eerily familiar to Petra, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. If only the mystery person that the voice belonged to spoke in a more brash, confident tone, Petra might have recognized who it was then, and been more prepared for the emotional whiplash she would experience when she saw their face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dbf645d1aa908dc7208ebf9a2e3b839d" "Yes, it is," The professor said cheerfully, gesturing for the student to come in and sit down./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e9bf53ba7923de513f5e5a9798d99f0d" "Um, actually, I'm not a part of this class, or, I'm not supposed to be. I didn't sign up for it, I think there must have been some kind of mistake with my scheduling! I just wanted to ask you about it and see if there was anything you could do?" The mystery student asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5eb7af5c8a483517f50063783fbf003d" "Hm, that's weird. I'd suggest you go talk to your academic advisor about that. But I'm not sure they will be able to do much, the university doesn't allow students to drop classes for the first three weeks," The professor said. "Why don't you just sit down over at that empty seat, and we can talk more after class."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4e2c1c3de9bcc3b8201f2ff5a0e2eb4c" "But, uh, I don't really want to take this class. Y'know, I'm a dude. I don't really wanna sit through a class about bashing men or whatever."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a06dafd3e9f13355cab491162a949e1f" Petra rolled her eyes. A few people in the class snickered, while others scoffed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="226454ea546b9786fd7c9e2eef2abb69" "Well, I can assure you that this class, and feminism, is not about "bashing" men. Why don't you sit down and listen? You may end up changing your mind!" The professor suggested./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="388b4df553d7b36346b097554e811043" With a sigh, the student began to make his way toward the back of the room where Petra was sitting. Finally, Petra got a good view of him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0e44c5802d183eba26122de311943cf7"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" No. Please no. No! This can't seriously be happening! /emPetra thought, outraged./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c873abb643337360d2ae26aa3dd3e78d" Approaching the empty seat that sat to her right, with an arm awkwardly scratching at the back of his head while he gazed at the ground, was none other than Flash Thompson. Petra couldn't believe it! This was supposed to be her fun class for the semester! She sincerely did em style="box-sizing: border-box;"not /emwant to spend it with 'Fearless' Flash Thompson, the bane of her high school self's existence. As Flash got closer to the seat, he looked up, spotting Petra staring at him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f37a3b215258b9e964da4d95784015b3" "Parker," Flash groaned. "Of course em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you /emwould be in this class."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="79993a1a4168da92c2fe807a76638956" "And of course em style="box-sizing: border-box;"you /emwould wear your high school letterman jacket in college," Petra said, disdain dripping from her voice. "Let's make both our lives easier and just NOT acknowledge each other. Sound good?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f9d9dba3d420d6b62b82d87c84c88b02" "Fine by me. Bitch." Flash muttered./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="676044eece25b0c840346b3ab2dcdc1e" Petra's eyes widened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3a2e3d396f8420858df9094d85843dd7" "Wow! I'm em style="box-sizing: border-box;"almost /emnot offended! You didn't misgender me, and you used an insult that you use on em style="box-sizing: border-box;"women /em." She mocked, an exaggerated look of surprise on her face, and her hand over her heart./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4bf533cd312fd14eb9bdb919e8b1a8cd" "Shut it, Parker." Flash said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="555cd7c25733401072d8fc55235d7c4c" Petra leaned back in her chair, satisfied, and turned her attention back to the class. It seemed to pass by relatively fast, with Petra enjoying it for the most part, aside from Flash's constant presence by her side. When the class was over, Flash stood up and dashed out of the room. Petra was amused, it was almost like he was afraid. Petra gathered her things and stood up. She stopped to talk to the professor for a little while, before leaving the room to wander around campus for a bit. Petra found herself in the campus dining hall, standing in line for a bowl of pasta and meatballs. She was almost at the front of the line when her phone started ringing. Petra pulled it out, about to decline the call, when she saw what number it was- the hospital! Petra hurriedly stepped out of line, answering the call and placing her phone against her ear, moving to a location in the building that wasn't filled with people./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="92d99a8d049d7a90c574be1f13b2b0e3" "Is this Petra Parker?" A voice on the other end of the line asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6bbce5f7c9c6a9e9a1b4a76b9fd9a5ea" "This is she, what's going on?" Petra asked, simultaneously dreading and anticipating whatever the caller was about to tell her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7f0f00a5a8b4eacfedd833a8bb24ac80" "We need you at the hospital as soon as possible, Dr. Romita needs to have a conversation with you." The caller said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e4486b9ffd07d6dbadc9f415b643cc25" "O-okay. I'll be there as soon as I can!" Petra said quickly, before hanging up and rushing out of the building./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="51551af70dd28e9ccb7401c8066a0320" Gwen Stacy sat at a table in the ESU dining hall, waiting. She had agreed to meet up with some people for lunch. One of them was her friend Harry Osborn, and another was a friend that she had met a few months ago at a local concert, Hobie Brown. The last person was Jackie Storm. She had heard all about her being on campus, even out of high school people still loved to gossip, but she had been surprised to learn they were in the same engineering class. Even more surprising was that they had ended up getting along!/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="95406d000378a052be4ec8b896ed8b7b" Gwen heard the sound of quick footsteps coming from behind her. She turned to see who it was, thinking it was one of her friends, but instead, she saw that girl she had almost run over, Petra Parker, running past her. Gwen still felt bad about almost hitting her, but every time they met, she seemed to rub her the wrong way./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a920bd3e0c421f5b4d42e981923a6f72"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Okay, /emGwen thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Maybe some of that can be explained away. She might have just been caught off guard by being sat next to a celebrity in class, and she probably had a good reason for being obnoxiously late. But the way she acts around people! Ugh!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bff79285f767b9015d395301ce057baf" Petra ran out of the doors, and Gwen turned back to her table. Deciding that she didn't want to dwell on someone that she didn't even like any further, Gwen shook all thoughts of Petra Parker away and went back to waiting./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="79c3bc32d14a2a44a898fc23ea87d6bd" Petra made it to the hospital via web-slinging in record time, taking just a little over 30 minutes. Her switch back into civilian clothes was also the fastest she had ever changed. She ran into the hospital, stopping at the receptionist's desk. After waiting, May's doctor, Gerry Romita, approached Petra, taking her to May's room on the fourth floor. They didn't say much as they walked together down the white, sterile hallway of the fourth floor. Petra was holding her left arm at the elbow, nervously looking around her, and Dr. Romita was awkwardly going back and forth between looking ahead and back at Petra. He reached up and adjusted his square black glasses, then cleared his throat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="54251c536a0daf213a8c4e670e3cc184" "Listen, Petra, I want to assure you that we've been doing everything we can for your Aunt. I know how much you two mean to each other, I've been your family's doctor for years after all," He sighed. "But things aren't looking good for her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="935ba9419e8772dc5a8b7b2196c9d3fd" Petra stopped in her tracks and looked up at Dr. Romita. She couldn't say that it was surprising, she had seen it coming from a mile away, but it was still...shocking. In that moment, Petra was brought back to the night Ben died, and how lost she had felt- before that feeling was replaced by her drive to make the man who had taken him from her pay. A new resolve once again began to burn within Petra. She had failed Ben, but she would do everything within her power to help May. Gathering her strength and putting on her brave face, Petra walked back up to Dr. Romita, speaking up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="91ab297a930a236e44d1d75b4659ac19" "Okay...okay. What's wrong with her? And is there anything that you can do?" She asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2777ce4be1faf6d85673f4809334b709" Dr. Romita continued to lead Petra to May's room, stroking his short, dark grey goatee thoughtfully./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b6f96544861d16cf951925d1975057d5" "Well, Petra, we finally know what's wrong with her. It's- well, it's incredibly bizarre! I've never seen anything like it before. We analyzed her blood and found a trace amount of radioactivity in it. Somehow, trace amounts of radioactive particles have entered her bloodstream. Radiation at this low a level can normally be treated, but your Aunt had coronary artery bypass surgery a few months back, and the radiation has taken a toll on her heart, which is still healing. The radiation poisoning, in tandem with her heart condition, makes it incredibly difficult to treat. We're afraid that anything we do to treat her radiation poisoning could potentially further damage her heart and cause cardiac arrest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="70e12796f09b020bc0b81e68b553fcb0" His words hit Petra like a ton of bricks./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2c4230c9aab850768cb1323a71af0467"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Radiation!/em em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Oh my god! /emPetra thought./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2cde7f64b6a8139b98c5102a25d6e67f" A memory came back to Petra. About six and a half months ago, May had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery, but there had been a lot of unexpected blood loss, and she had needed a quick blood transfusion. So of course, Petra had stepped up and donated her blood, but she hadn't thought of the ramifications of what her blood would do to May! Her blood was still radioactive ever since the spider bite, even as her body, with its newfound resistance to radiation, worked to expel the radioactive material that was within her. So as far as Petra was concerned this was her fault. And if she couldn't figure out a way to save her Aunt, then she'd once again be at fault for the loss of someone that she loved./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d5f21a9101f0736048a1fe012e8a9fa" "I... I see. Is May awake right now?" Petra asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a61bb69067606f37f247a778c74b1f8c" They reached May's room, and Dr. Romita put his hand on the door handle but paused just before he turned it./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3932670ae8ef257e224b1c26729b1982" "I'm sorry. But no. She was in a lot of pain, so we had to give her a sedative. She's been unconscious all day." He said, then turned the handle, pushing the door open./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cf4ac4214390519080c3589be5353398" Petra walked in, then jogged up to May. She kneeled at her bedside and grabbed May's hand, folding both of hers around it. May was asleep, just as Dr. Romita had told her she would be. Despite her condition, she looked peaceful, her chest rising and falling as she slowly breathed in and out. Petra gazed at her for a while, with Dr. Romita standing behind her in the doorway, watching on. She didn't know what to do. She knew she needed to do something to save May, but she was at a complete loss. As she sat there, head level next to May, MJ's words from the night before came to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3b93408147ee04528ccc76bf516bb005"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" "If you're struggling, just reach out, okay? Don't just sit on it, or wait for someone else to notice that you need help. Okay?" /emMJ had asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d076916278c038a72800616891a0268" Petra's head shot up, an idea forming in her mind. Maybe she couldn't help May herself, not without a great deal of money to fund her own experiments, but there em style="box-sizing: border-box;"was /emsomebody who could! Petra said a quiet good night to May, then thanked Dr. Romita, before hurriedly leaving the room, and then the hospital. She changed into her costume and then started heading towards her house, swinging where she could, but mostly hopping from rooftops due to the low heights of the various residential buildings./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0feee752094d27a2047d8c5ff8bb399f" After finally arriving in her neighborhood, Petra changed back into her clothes in one of her many hiding spots and then walked the rest of the way home./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2da7fa14fc3db0bb77ad95e8d531e179"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Of all the stupid, idiotic things I've ever done in my life, this sure takes the cake! /emPetra thought. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Sure, I gave May my blood because I wanted to help her, but I also did it because I didn't want people to think I was just some ungrateful leech! I must have known, on some level, deep down, I must have known that it was a bad idea. I was selfish all over again, and now May is paying the price. Well, no more! I'm going to fix this!/em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d5d9425ed8ee6a516124b534da35ed5" Petra pulled out her phone and then began searching through her contacts for the right number to call. It had been so long since they had spoken, and the last Petra had heard, he was still living in Florida, but she had no other ideas for who to turn to. Dialing the number, but making sure to type 67 beforehand to make sure her number was blocked, Petra hit call, anxiously hoping the person she had in mind would pick up. Her ringtone sounded for about 30 seconds until finally, someone picked up on the other end of the line./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c4d676ad1fb80ac63170193aed7f2986" "Who is this?!" A voice on the other end of the call asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b886f32fcad8030d000aba7d59dae8fb" "Is this Dr. Curt Connors?" Petra asked, changing her voice slightly to sound more like her voice when she talked through her mask./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f150e15bc00dcbf4b24291209ff546d2" "Yes, now who is this?" Dr. Connors asked, agitated. "I don't like answering calls from blocked numbers, you're lucky I'm giving you the time of day! Answer me!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cd6c1871051214446fc26409fd486c87" "Dr. Connors, this is Spider-Woman! Do you remember me?" Petra asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8da932f4e7d91abfb1239dfed0bf1fe2" "Oh sure, and I'm Buddy Holly." He said, sarcasm lacing his speech./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0896708a5fbc030e28bb8a5e7771b423" "The Lizard. I know. Would em style="box-sizing: border-box;"anyone /emother than Spider-Woman know?" Petra asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b42b521b6ca999646533835c08b5eb28" She could hear him sigh over the phone./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cf1143c86e47091d6788b087c983b6e7" "No, I never told a soul, and neither did the rest of my family." Dr. Connors said grimly. "I was hoping to forget, but everything keeps reminding me. And now you, too."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5c5d2d8b6efff1290025732d7f32f7f4" "I'm sorry that I had to mention it, doc. I just needed you to know it was me." Petra said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aad91a1570b2b5fb479707241bf426ff" "No, I understand. Is there something that you need from me, Spider-Woman?" Dr. Connors asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bcf54c1b2db183ac19c09160e27bdb3f" Petra sighed./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="04bce36d52f6a11f03ebccc2a2e2e110" "Yes, there is," She said. "I have a...friend. A good friend, who needs help. She's been suffering from radiation poisoning..." Petra started, before launching into the full explanation of May's condition./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2cd475839c28c4dd7aa4cce41fc6eb94" Dr. Connors was silent on the other end of the line for a moment, as he considered what Petra had told him./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0ce3d8166471e4985e37810b33b10587" "That's...certainly horrific. How did your friend get exposed to radiation in the first place?" He asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aee7fe48cbc3c8e7bcf002af532a2b14" "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you," Petra said, quickly shutting down that line of questioning. "Please, do you think there's any way you can help?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="41ae3e97714c6b4182d3399a36f698c1" "I would certainly love to, especially after what you did for my family and me, but I don't think I can be much help. I'm down in Florida, and when it comes to radiation, I'm a bit out of my depth." Dr. Connors said regretfully./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="904f3fbd14158ab5369e2ebef26fe82c" Petra sighed. That was what she had been afraid of./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1fed86f6a111f78fac1430f934e7d8b1" "But, would you be okay with me passing you along to someone else?" Dr. Connors tentatively asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="96a22ac4f62ee05ebf058f6b8b0593e7" Petra perked up. "Yes, please! Anything that can help me!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="db34d37e936bd86b89d580c4eda3d4ac" "Well, I recently struck up a correspondence with Dr. Reed Richards for a joint project. He told me that he and Anthony Stark have been working on a potential cure for people who were given abilities through exposure to gamma radiation. He mentioned a new serum called ISO-36. I don't know much about it, but it em style="box-sizing: border-box;"could /emhelp. I can get you in touch with him if you want?" Dr. Connors said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1d69ffb5b9ed3b5a44ae7e3201d11bcc" "That's okay, doc, I know how to get in touch with him!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8c493a7d5badc6c397f95f5739490af1" "Oh, right. You probably know all the superheroes in New York." Dr. Connors chuckled./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d321d1f1fdf2a08abf674dd4c191d9c1" "Sort of. And sometimes I wish I didn't." Petra dryly responded. "Thank you so much for your help, Dr. Connors!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="603a216c2e9d051ca6b257276c617c92" "Of course, Spider-Woman. Anything to help. As far as I'm concerned, I still owe you my life. Have a nice evening and good luck." He said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="53b1f96a81c6c61f6d0f825ea6129c3b" "Thanks, you too." Petra replied, then hung up./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1f64667aa9581edff2160b0346db7a6b" Petra crouched on a rooftop directly across from the Baxter Building, attempting to cool her nerves, her fingers curling around a small cylindrical object in her right hand. Realistically, she knew that Reed Richards wouldn't turn her away, not while an innocent person's life was at stake, but her mind was filled with all the what-ifs of the situation. What if he turned her away? What if Reed Richards didn't actually have a way to help cure her Aunt? Petra shook her head, then stood up to her full height. She looked at her hand, at the vial she was holding. Dark red liquid sloshed around inside of it as she moved. It was her Aunt's blood, a sample that Petra had stolen from the hospital earlier that night. Petra had assumed it would be needed by Dr. Richards if they were to use this new serum of his to cure her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1bb22d63f1d5db41b115dda453b56e96" Taking a deep breath, Petra leaped off the edge of the building and swung onto the Baxter Building. Standing sideways on the building, she looked around, puzzled. She had no idea how she was supposed to get inside the building. She figured that she should have thought this through a little more. The last time (and the only time) that she had come here, back when she was just starting out as Spider-Woman, she had jumped through an open window, but that had turned out to be a trap set up by the FF, who had been unsure if she was a threat to them. Petra walked around the side of the building, looking through various windows, hoping to catch someone's attention, but most of the rooms were empty, with the lights turned off./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1276b7c6dbdc6c4c2241e7de0f351400"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" What am I doing? I'm peeping into their windows! They're gonna think that I'm a creep! /emPetra thought, self-awareness returning to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="49aa1bbbd7a6052d2eb3fb2c344a5ecc" Petra's spider-sense went off, and she leaped from the side of the building, just as a high-powered electric shock went off where she had been standing. Petra shot off a web line and swung around the building, landing on the other side./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="86075c12fc7185e7e5658c4382ed8abe" "What the fracas was that?!" Petra shouted. Her spider-sense went off again and she leaped away./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="21930614dfc7b76863f1403b42819e77" Another shock went off, and Petra once more leaped away from where she was standing. Having enough, Petra shot out a web line and shot herself onto the roof. Petra landed with a low crouch, before jumping to her feet and observing her surroundings. Petra rolled to the right, a warning from her spider-sense letting her dodge a large object that seemed to be thrown at her just in the nick of time. Petra realized that it wasn't just some object that it wasn't just some object that had been thrown at her, but some large orange, rocky thing./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5789ae3628bff1287ec2a84274e8a1d9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" "THE Thing!" /emPetra realized./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5ef6ccf934c56ae3663ee0690a7b136a" The Thing stood up, facing away from Petra, before turning around. As he moved, Petra felt her spider-sense alert her to something behind her. She whipped around but saw nothing there. Her spider-sense went off again, and Petra realized what was happening, but she was too late. A strong, invisible punch landed on her gut, and Petra keeled over, wrapping her arms around her stomach./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d22c0031fbd4961a209c38866c5bbc22" "Ow." She groaned./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="258f96b0f77659812e342dfc80dd14ec" Her spider-sense went off again, but Petra was still recovering from the blow she had received from who she assumed was the Invisible Woman. Something wrapped around her, constricting her movement and lifting her into the air. Petra squirmed, trying to unwrap herself, but to no avail. She stretched her head as far as she could, trying to get a look at what was holding her. From the edges of her vision, Petra could see that it was Mr. Fantastic, his body elongated and his torso wrapped around her. Mr. Fantastic stretched his neck out, bringing his head in front of Petra so that she could see his face, the silver streaks of hair that clashed with his otherwise brown hair glinting in the moonlight. As he got a good look at her, his eyes widened and he quickly unwrapped himself from Petra, leaving her standing unsteadily on the ground./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b9bceda69fd935080b2c7d248a699d56" Mr. Fantastic began to speak as he brought his proportions back to that of a regular human, "Stand down everyone! I don't think we're under attack, it's just Sp-"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f22144df92fb9bdc202884f092390d96" "Spidey!" Another, very bright, voice shouted./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6951ce5fbf30c156fe4f4655f3bfe1a0" Petra was suddenly tackled to the ground, a set of arms wrapped around her side. Petra yelped in surprise, taken off guard by the sudden attack, with her spider-sense only barely ringing in the back of her head. Petra had a good idea who it was./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="50464635d115c434f74186d885a47eac" "OHMYGOSH! You're alright! I was so worried after I saw what happened on the news!" Jackie Storm shouted, pulling Petra into a tight hug from their position on the ground./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8d864fb2018b3c726c2838520415ba78" "Heh, yeah. I'm fine, no thanks to your family here. It is nice to see that you were worried about me, though" Petra said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d633eb2dda2e545f024f13db985ac2c" Jackie scoffed. "Yeah, you wish, I was just worried I wouldn't have anyone other than the jolly giant over there to hang out with." She said, gesturing towards the Thing, who was approaching them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="82dda55515f6320fc6b5418f37761888" Jackie unwrapped herself from Petra and helped pull her to her feet. Jackie eyed the holes and tears in Petra's costume, then slung her right arm around Petra's shoulder, moving the two of them to face the rest of the Fantastic Four, and pulling the two closer together./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6496f3b00759ef4be77eeff21e969c95" "We're sorry for attacking, Spider-Woman. We received an intruder alert from our security system, and we couldn't see you very well in the dark." Susan Richards-Storm, who was suddenly visible, said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a09c5113d66c9fc9960b63ffba1dfb4" She approached the pair with her white-gloved hands resting on her hips. Dressed in the same costume as Jackie, and with a similar complexion and hair color, Susan Richards-Storm looked almost the same as her younger sister, the difference being her obvious age difference, and her shorter hair that just barely reached her shoulders./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2db154af134464fcca5dbb9a4e72ac32" I didn't realize you and Spider-Woman were so...close, Jackie." She said, turning to her younger sister./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d2a56c481f519c86c9f5128099be6340" "Yeah, prob'bly 'cause that little punk is always sneaking around everywhere!" The Thing, also known as Ben Grimm, said, standing with Susan. "Who knows what kinda trouble she's out there making when she isn't here?" He glared at Jackie with what Petra assumed was his rocky face's version of a grumpy expression. It certainly looked the part./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9644ad728626fd3eb4b5599c5f1380b9" From her position at Petra's side, Jackie rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at Ben, simultaneously flipping him off. Mr. Fantastic joined the others, standing alongside them./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="10ed57647a7937452e97fed773c75b02" "Says the guy dressed for a swim shoot." Petra muttered under her breath, looking at the Thing's blue Fantastic Four uniform, which simply consisted of a single, tight pair of blue shorts with the number 4 on its white belt line. Jackie stifled a chuckle after hearing that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="eb9a7b433790dcd61f987b6f88c9c971" "What brings you here, Spider-Woman?" Reed Richards asked, an inquisitive, if a little cautious, look on his face./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="46e157b2cc6e337e94790082e305695b" "Yeah, that's what I wanna know!" Ben shouted. "If yer here to ask for a job again, you can shove off! We're not in the market, an' we certainly wouldn't hire a lousy little bug like you!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1b0371ada08309d8acc2ca1099f499f4" "Calm down Ben! Let her speak!" Susan admonished./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="806b3da24fb4d1ff98962ebb63a8c9b3" Ben grunted, and Susan gestured for Petra to speak./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7a325839636de24ecf1808e6e9641c00" "Well, first off, I'm not a bug," Petra said, glaring at the Thing, "the proper thing to call me would be an arachnid. Second, I'm here to ask for your help!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5bc47a35c7337af00548408e2a2de1dc" Petra pointed at Mr. Fantastic, singling him out from the bunch./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="38d76b92731b2583f329e4e003757563" "I have a friend, she's really sick, and it's all my fault! A regular doctor just won't be able to help her with her condition, but I think that you can! Please, can you help me?" Petra begged, separating herself from Jackie, who looked at Petra worriedly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f9c956093e9d333ccdde9e91cf79333c" Reed brought his hand to his clean-shaven chin, seeming to contemplate Petra's words./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e361dec886050c98433736c2cd5a5dc8" "I see, and you say that other doctors aren't able to find an effective treatment for her?" He asked./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="12a16ee5c599740f92443870c2aa8558" "She already told you everything, why don't we skip all this and just help her, Reed?" Jackie said, butting in./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bf2825bd819adc2ec1e3c019a1572fbb" "It's okay Jackie," Petra said, "yes, that's what the doctor said. I reached out to Dr. Curt Connors, and he told me that you might have something that could help with her treatment!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b4e3f9588d3883396aa123cf79369ec" "I know everyone says a lot of crap about Spidey, Reed, but she's a good person! Please, if she says she needs help, then let's help her!" Jackie said./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1dd6cac7ac274d04122b5bd50939cf29" Petra and Jackie both looked at him, a pleading expression on Jackie's face, and a terrible attempt at puppy eyes being expressed with Petra's mask's lenses./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="073cf9d07f9ac6be461753e56d8eeb5e" "Well, I suppose I can never turn away someone when a person's life is at stake. Come with me, and let's discuss specifics." With that, Reed Richards turned around, heading towards the roof access door, with the rest of his team in tow. Petra lingered behind, slightly afraid to follow, before Jackie turned around and saw her standing there. She gave Petra a small smile, then grabbed her hand, pulling her inside./p