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!

8. Big Trouble in Little Cleveland

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="def0722884cb961486cb44261218f1aa"Issue 8/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="4f345d11249a7fe9b019086158cbeaae" "Yuck! Slime! Even the water in this world is foul!" A raspy voice shouted. "Actually, that's what's wrong with it! This world isn't em style="box-sizing: border-box;"run /emby fowls. It's run by these crazy hairless apes!"/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="49ad05946df4acdb031c949846d3f410" Howard wasn't having a good week. First, a dimensional breach accidentally transported him from his universe to this backward reality, where he landed in a vast hellscape that the locals called "Florida." Then, through various mystical shenanigans involving some kind of wizard, a barbarian warrior, and a giant, swampy creature called the "Man-Thing", Howard was further transported, landing this time in a horrible city known only as "Cleveland." There, he battled a Man-Frog and the dreadful vampiric bovine menace, the Hellcow known only as: Bessie./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="ebca393b671b6875a86578220b16f0d4" He had hoped that solving that last mess would get him in the good graces of the local authorities. He thought that they could help him in some way since he had no home, no food, and not a single other-worldly cent to his name. Instead, they had turned him away, frightened by his appearance. Howard was offended by that. If anybody should be frightened by appearances, it was him! All these hairless apes were disgusting to look at. You see, Howard wasn't a human. He came from a universe where the common duck evolved into the dominant species on Earth in mankind's place, and in Howard's personal opinion, his people had done a much better job with the place than these "humans" had. Now, trapped in a world he never made, Howard had nowhere else to turn./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="6a064fb7ab826653b1883baaf0ebb6d7" Howard stood on a shoreline, overlooking what some of the locals had called the "Cuyahoga River", just outside of the city, and contemplated his next move. The full moon sitting in the night sky reflected nicely on the water. Howard was happy that even this horrible reality had at least some vestiges of beauty in 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="d2c0e099157635c9910e18d27b1a0ebb" "Oh, there's nothing left that I could possibly do!" Howard wailed, hiding his face in his hands, his long orange bill sticking out in front. "I can't even find any blasted cigars anywhere! Where's a good smoke when you need one?"/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="1c79e6fd556529d3ecaea2be7e809891" He looked around, and then spotted a mysterious, strange tower in the distance, sitting on the other side of the river. The moon was directly behind it, framing it in a manner that emphasized its dark, foreboding nature./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="b56d57d8a54318d59bf6c5ba552ed94b" "Aw, what the hey? There's no way I can make a life for myself in THIS world, so why stick around? This place stinks, and I can't stand it a minute longer!" Howard shouted to 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="3248abb1352faf84ded99625c2345afa" With that, he promptly hopped onto a log that was stuck on the river bank, pushing it out onto the open water, and grabbed a long stick, which he used to paddle himself forward, directly toward the tower in the distance./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="3b9563e17de9dd4c13bfce6356cb4233"ONE DAY AGO/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="a1b6838c2726891f305cf363760cef11" "Argh, where's a good story when you need one?" J. Jonah Jameson muttered to himself. He was sitting alone in his office, looking through various websites on his computer, hoping to find em style="box-sizing: border-box;"something /emnewsworthy that he could look into. He froze, looking at a bizarre headline on his screen./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="e034806033f1633f2cc97eee5e293ebb" "Cleveland residents report sightings of a duck that talks like a person?!" Jonah read aloud. "What a bunch of crap! People will publish anything these days." He dismissed./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="f46d7d931f50c2ab263db788f59ceae9" Jonah got up, ready to accept that the week would be a slow news cycle, other than the soon-to-be-released story on the mass arrest of the Master Planner's gang. He looked out into the office and spotted his secretary, Betty Brant, chatting with his best freelance photographer, Petra 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="f55fa30dc61376b5dd807b31c9399799" "Well, maybe they know something that we could publish." Jonah grumbled, walking to the door to his 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="7e24d87fd4cea0ac0eaaafc457a4d7c8" Petra was sitting on the edge of Betty's desk, her head turned away from Jonah's office, while Betty was leaning back in her chair, staring at her computer and typing, while talking to Petra. Jameson opened his door slightly but stopped as he started to overhear their conversation./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="51df4a8ad37c1e96e8882d91f5926b89" "Yeah, my Aunt is still in the hospital, and she isn't fully lucid yet, but they're expecting a full recovery. I'm just worried about the bill, nearly a week in the hospital isn't cheap!" Jonah overheard Petra say./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="9713714d4bad168fd3bac4d22fe7be5e" "Yeah, the whole system is messed up, isn't it?" Betty said back./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="a70cb682ca06b9c7dbe9b196b4a0dcab" "Tell me about it. That's why I'm here, actually. I've got a few photos to sell to Jonah. It won't cover much, but every bit of cash helps." 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="103d34ec5137a70bbeaeb5c117d9d3b3" Jonah looked down, silently closing the door and retreating back into his office, contemplating. He was a lot of things, and he knew it, but he wasn't the type of person to let his own employees down in times of need, even if they were technically "freelance." Jonah turned, then stormed back to the door, throwing it 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="156997dad1990aa3f934de84f960796d" "PARKER! Stop loitering around, I have an assignment for you!" Jonah 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="5680619bc878feb46916882508b2e9df" Petra and Betty both jumped in their seats. They whipped around, looking at Jonah in bewilderment./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="5f272a97a1ca1bd83ac7a53d5c4a3cd1" "Uh, actually, Jonah, I have some photos that I wanted to sell to you, I really think you'd like them!" 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="2543c70b81d5a0ccd67ab01f2e7a4e9e" "You can show them to me after I talk to you, now, get in my office, Parker!" Jonah 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="4a34e31643c5fd15b8268b5275d3cb33" He stepped aside, allowing Petra to walk in. Then 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="5875d0641f2197eb08bc5408a52368fc" "Brant, get me Urich, I want him on this assignment too! He can make up for all the time he wasted on his Kingpin article!" 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="27b53115a374961e434558459f243bc4" Jonah stormed back into his office and then sat himself down in his desk chair, and Petra sat herself down across from 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="ef7cffd5c6982f55cc405baa227be8f8" "It might take Betty a while to find Mr. Urich, how about I show you my photos now?" Petra opportunistically asked. Jonah grunted in agreement, and Petra pulled her camera from her backpack, flipping through the photos in its storage, until she landed on the series of photos that she had taken of her and the Master Planner's gang. Petra handed the camera over to Jonah. He grabbed it, scrolling through the photos. Delight lit up his face more and more with each photo until his entire face was split into an uncharacteristic 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="51d3efca67225168915ccbb4b6205009" "HA! Kid! This is perfect! As soon as this meeting is over, I'm making Foswell change his article! I can see it now, 'Spider-Woman caught redhanded working for the Master Planner!' Tell you what, I'll pay you three hundred bucks upfront for these!" 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="8bce3187d3023ba796d21766f6857401" Jonah noticed Petra perk up at that. Before she could say anything, the door to his office opened, and Ben Urich and Betty Brant walked in. Ben was an older man, in the late stages of his middle age. His dark brown skin was beginning to wrinkle with age, he had a five-o'clock shadow. Dark eyebags lined his eyes, beneath his clunky, square glasses. He wore a classic work-appropriate outfit: a white button-up shirt and tie, black dress pants, and leather shoes, but on top of it all, he wore a khaki-colored trenchcoat, and if you were up close and personal with him, you would smell the ever-present odor of cigarettes, an old vice he could never quite kick./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="a3776ba2e3a483ed9c765b13442ff5a2" "Urich! I've got the assignment of the century for you and Parker! I'm sending you two to Cleveland!" Jonah 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="249ba596fc3f0afbde8cac4c8a15dc3e" Petra, Ben, and Betty all stared at Jonah, silent. The silence permeated the air for a few minutes, as the three of them wrapped their heads around Jonah's words. Finally, one of them spoke, voicing all of their collective thoughts./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="da93cd3fa5595548952ba8c21ad01914" "Jonah...do you mean Cleveland, Ohio?" Ben asked, almost horrified. "I know we're having our disagreement over my Kingpin story, but don't you think this is taking things too far? There's no need to punish me like this."/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="71d1c32bc679e8a6ce8aee492fe36ef7" "Or me! I don't even know what I did!" Petra 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="aed218549b6c1d5dfbcf878f12478578" "The both of you will get a big fat paycheck if you go through with this, and all trip expenses will be covered by the Bugle." Jonah stated, in an uncharacteristically calm manner./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="f7c6b4bacd4100ad7a1645e2698ed1ea" Once again, the trio before Jonah were stunned into silence, their mouths agape./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="7e1529910fd0b48b53f555c09c16d7cd" "Uh, Mr. Jameson, are you okay?" 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="5f1ce7cb6d98bc419cca8107c60ecb59" "Of course I am Brant, why wouldn't I be!?" Jonah asked, his brows furrowing in confusion and agitation./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="8f4adca97992413e6eb84f1fe130e092" "Well, it's just that you're never this...loose with money. Do you think you might have hit your head on something?" She pressed./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="7f4609ff777769df03cbf50c6d5fac8e" "Forget about it, Brant. Do you two want this assignment or not?" 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="207affc0099dad52ab32379606ee943e" Ben started 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="4500c0cec8f5ea65aee06f5f0f6cab48" "I don't thi-"/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="410e934235145d892d1f02bbf495bc99" "Yes!" Petra said, cutting him 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="ae5ec22c3745a40cc6dffc5b0f0d0b38" Ben shot a glare at her, but Petra ignored it. She absolutely wasn't looking forward to leaving the city, but she'd do anything she could to get more money right 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="6eb9074515cfabbaba121664a4f7afeb" "Great! I'll get tickets for the both of you by the end of the day. In the meantime, go home, pack your bags, and get ready to head to JFK Airport! Now get out! I've got work to do!"/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="78d697ae4e7bc79296a18f27205c5972" "But, wait, Jonah...!" Ben said, trailing 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="7052dba93ae7bdf482d3fcf6d7cc07a5" "WHAT Urich?!" Jonah irritably 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="76fd1d4fce6945a46d61b363e41a58ca" "What are we supposed to be doing in Cleveland?" Ben 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="3546786c4976ad50c49029564075e413" "You're looking for a talking duck!" Jonah said, grinning./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="d40080a218d97bd32fb62f9042cce7ba" Betty squinted at Jonah, looking him over./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="5efde2a76c5b33b5b5c9d5b9c47f7ac7" "Sir, are you sure that you didn't hit your 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="e7e1ca9074a5232724f570263700c26b" "Nothing! Just Jack and Shit!" Ben Urich 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="ceb34c5f58d26e57dfd357507f25e8cc" He and Petra were walking the streets of Cleveland together, searching in vain for the target of what they could only assume was J. Jonah Jameson's growing delusions. They had arrived in Cleveland the night before and had tirelessly scoured the city for a so-called talking duck ever since. It was now approaching the evening, and they were beginning to reach the ends of their respective ropes./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="8fd8b186e2d5f41f0ebdfccfc08fb17a" "I could be home right now, writing something important, or talking to a whistleblower, or infiltrating an organized crime meeting, but instead I'm here, in the armpit of America, searching for a fictional Disney character!" Ben shouted as they crossed a street filled with construction./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="8eec823154dd1b57db5713b9b055a091" His little outbursts were drawing the attention of the locals, who all looked at the pair strangely. Beyond that, ever since they had landed, Petra had noticed the increased amount of "looks" she was given by passersby, who looked at her with expressions of either dumbfoundedness, disgust, or, maybe even worse, a very em style="box-sizing: border-box;"specific /emkind of interest that she was not at all comfortable with. Especially when it was coming from older men./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="53e38d8a9d26eb7ff618449a2aece4e9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" And I thought it was bad in New York. /emShe thought bitterly./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="d20e93121918efa58c582924ed25b599" A car passed by, and Petra noticed an old woman in the passenger seat staring out the window at her. She was getting closer and closer to screaming along with Ben. She hated it here. They kept walking, passing by even more road construction. Once again, Petra was comparing the city to New York, where construction was also ever-present. The difference here was that it seemed to be...completely pointless./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="2b7c0ffa24f222f29b1c993b9e68a598" The duo made their way to a residential neighborhood full of apartments and shops. It reminded Petra of Brooklyn in a 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="fde402ac33f383d868127b7bfb097a45"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" 'Difference is, this place just isn't as cool. /emShe 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="975fa92ae25d4eb9c8822d269bc734ba" After a short period of time where they continued to walk, Petra overheard two young boys who were leaning against a building, idly chatting to each other./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="18edf96e5955afea4c66eea89ab901b0" "Do you know anything about what happened to Mr. Duck?" One of them, a boy with dark brown skin and curly black hair 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="f3182192cbb93f39730941f042e01ea1" He was wearing a red jersey and a pair of blue jeans. His companion, a blonde kid with pale white skin, dressed in a baseball cap and a brown sweater with the number 3 on it, 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="26d8b9cdb86aea632138593ea7f1c4e1" "I don't know. The cops wouldn't talk to me! Just told me to forget about it!" He said indignantly./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="b64eb02ce4d5566fade8a4fc6ce9dd9a" The mention of a "Mr. Duck" caught Petra's ear, and she tugged on Ben's jacket, halting him. With her head, she silently gestured to the boys, who must have been around nine or ten, and the pair approached 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="d6a5f926f96d30dae6fc924ff881b346" "Time to finally put my journalism degree to use today," Ben grumbled, "hey, you two! I thought I heard you say something about a duck?"/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="32a2e6216bb3e5041bccda2e5f6b1b0a" "Yeah? What's it to you?" The boy in the jersey 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="aee9be6bf12842664826a2cb455e90cb" "Do you mind if I ask a few questions about this duck character?" Ben inquisitively asked, standing right in front of the boys and looking down at 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="9a97d5c323caaaec455199df4106f9d5" Petra forced down a smile. Ben didn't seem to realize it, but he was slipping into his "grizzled journalist" persona, addressing the kids in the same manner as he would a corporate whistleblower, or a seasoned criminal ready to anonymously confess. Petra got the sense that he didn't work with kids much. The two boys glanced at each other, communicating wordlessly. After a few seconds, they nodded, then turned back to Ben./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="f0a45c28c0c369e2eafccb78cde0dab5" "Alright, mister. Whaddaya wanna know?" The kid in the baseball cap 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="7b6024cf4c2f01c9e3a85bf35dc958c7" "You said something about a duck, do you care to elaborate on that?" Ben 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="97ac780d1741aeb547c5e53676d36d59" "I don't know what elaborate means." One of them said. The other nodded in agreement./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="6e91322bd019aac05c34c6af90199434" "Oh. Uh..." Ben trailed 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="40862c6a88ba4bc4238b136a3309bb14" He glanced at Petra, and she giggled. He was clearly out of his depth when it came to kids. Petra patted his shoulder, tapping him out, then swapped places with him. She kneeled, bringing herself eye-to-eye with the kids./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="6e2aef627317a2f487a4fac994b4b096" "We heard you talking about someone named Mr. Duck, can you tell us about him?" 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="58f61c60a4129115144132082528fe51" "Yeah, he's this dude named Howard from another universe or something that we were talking to! And he doesn't wear any pants!" The boy in the jersey exclaimed./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="f8c27af96c7be7044da62a7ba66d5509" Petra was alarmed at 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="86aa2b243519b80af1e52c6e868ec196" "No pants? And he was talking to you?!" She shouted, outraged. The other kid jumped 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="59f2f8da1d952c4d001a7addbce3880d" "Well, yeah, but it was different, because he's a duck, and they don't wear pants in his world! It's funny though, he was wearing a blue suit and a funny little hat, so I guess ducks in Duckworld still wear that kinda stuff." Baseball hat kid 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="e842fa39d1937708b45652a06652c1e8" "Oooookay? So you're saying there's actually a talking duck walking around Cleveland right now?" Petra asked skeptically./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="d76bc41586edd891d4829b48a225a72a" "Yeah, but we lost him after a guy named Garko turned himself into a Man-Frog and tried to eat us. We don't know where he went after 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="fb7e2ddf40836f011cb0130236d17091" Petra stared at them, dumbfounded. If she had been skeptical about an anthropomorphic duck in Clevland before, then she definitely didn't believe it 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="0f55b990c7e3d25a37347a359e45a1b9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" Must have been the kids' imaginary friend or something. Then maybe they started talking about it, and rumors must have spread online, that's all. /emPetra reasoned./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="721d68c3e6746fd5f35bbf593f09537d" "Um, well, thanks for the information, you two have a nice day." she said, as she stood up and began to walk away, with Ben Urich following after. She turned back to the two boys, then shouted, "And don't talk to strangers with no pants!" and then kept walking./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="bd50550960e21a161f2f7be829bb09e4" "Okay, so this is obviously a bust. What now?" Petra asked, glancing at Ben./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="007503911f6867f7d02b1b0148f84e02" "Well, I guess the only thing to do now is get dinner before we ship out back to New York tomorrow. What a waste of a day." Ben bemoaned./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="b033b14cba2061746c0d88ccfb8d27bc" "Argh! How in hell did the lunatic who designed this freaky tower forget to install a blasted door?" Howard the Duck shouted, as he scaled the side of the strange, narrow tower./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="cacf90a45334719e3d417e47e883bba7" It had taken him a while to finally arrive at the unnerving monument, and to his surprise, he had discovered that the entire thing was made of plastic credit cards, of all things. All of them were of different varieties, some were inscribed with the words "American Express", and others boldly said "Master Card." All of them seemed to be expired. Howard couldn't get a good look, considering how precariously he was hanging on to the side of the tower, but if he had to estimate, he would say that he was maybe three-fourths of the way up, nearly to the top. He spared a quick glance to the ground below and immediately felt woozy. He was starting to have some serious second thoughts about this./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="868b627cb7d5d7573d8ca6b10ec2fb9f" "Okay, so maybe I don't wanna end things anymore, but I seriously need to find a place to rest before I lose my grip!" He 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="e0f2997b5e0c5e20797f4414742d22c1" As if the horrid universe that had trapped him here had heard his plea and finally gained a little sympathy, an answer to his cries suddenly appeared, in the form of an open window just above. Howard scrambled to it, hopping on and resting on his ledge, with his webbed feet touching the floor of the strange room it led into. Howard barely got to feel a sliver of a sense of relief, as he took stock of what was in front of him. A dark, dungeon-like room was before him, with a few skulls that seemed to belong to those strange hairless apes scattered across the floor. A golden battle-axe rested, cutting into a wooden stump that lay in the middle of the stone floor. The strangest thing, though, was the scantily clad redheaded woman who was chained to a pillar right in front of Howard. Her outfit looked like it had been ripped straight from a sword and sorcery board game's cover. She stared at Howard, wide-eyed./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="7a8c7f7d5c9495f9dbb3f236f1d6aa3b" "Y-you're a duck!" She stuttered./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="4343fa6263aea6f77289e4c91bfed877" "So everyone keeps telling me," Howard drawled, "what's with the chains, sweetheart?"/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="140b8b69b63d41c7b2d3c2ac17baeab3" "Some freak kidnapped me and made me wear this really uncomfortable underwear! He won't let me go, can you get me out of this? Please?" The woman begged./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="736af19547992602baf4c10b1fe55ef9" Howard, understanding the urgency of the strange situation, quickly waddled over to her, ready to find a way to help her out of the chains, when he was suddenly struck by a blast of electricity. Howard collapsed to the floor, groaning, and quickly blacking out from the surprise attack./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="189fa57f95ee9d2b2df2366292533bce" "Hey, duck guy! Wake up! Wake up!" A faint, distant voice called to Howard./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="f1517fc008f3307240a5a17a898fcb81" He slowly opened his eyes, and the same woman he had been talking to before came into focus./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="1016b285d76d236fc30b95d19f3c41cc" "Huh? Wha-whas goin' on?" He sleepily muttered. The fog of sleep left his mind entirely when he looked 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="e8f82d0632ead3ececf89f89048fcb09" "Wha?! What happened to my clothes?! What am I wearing?! What's going on?!" Howard exclaimed./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="0887918442c947989cac9d65fcf992f7" His clothes had been removed, and replaced with a brown, furry loincloth, and a strange gold necklace. Atop his head, a stereotypical Viking helmet sat, horns and everything. Slung over his side, a sword sat concealed in a golden sheath. The redhead looked down gloomily. She was no longer chained to the pillar and was kneeling next to 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="367e2f7d266a2e73998d8584b37d869b" "We're both prisoners of a guy who calls himself Pro-Rata, the Mad Financial Wizard," she said, "and I, uh, had to change your clothes. He made 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="164e174e6584ed3313dec2023314b5b7" "How touching, she's embarrassed!" A booming, malicious 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="f4e18223610c3c4514dbde8c0b764a85" Howard and the redheaded woman both turned to see a tall elderly man, dressed in a dark purple hooded robe. His sickly pale skin was covered in wrinkles, and grey hair formed large, bushy eyebrows, and a long, pointy goatee on his face. His eyes were a deep red./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="d0d11f600744d4fd43944e233555661f" "Follow me, woman and water-fowl, if you wish to ever escape my tower!" 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="94f4dd2347576f887ea65874e349ec1d" He swiftly turned away, walking off to an adjoining room. The redhead stood. Howard looked up at her, and she looked back, both trepidatious. Hesitantly, they both stepped forward, following after the strange madman. Pro-Rata was in the room, facing them as they entered, standing on a raised platform in the back. Strange machines lined the walls in the back 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="46c396658be0f6d65b6f79c94e00ff50" "Gaze upon the office of Pro-Rata! I, who shall soon be the Chief Accountant of the Universe! Look on, and despair!" Pro-Rata gloated./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="567c10b9801a82a4416a1baf83886382" His office was filled with all sorts of mystical-looking vases and trinkets, along with tidbits of technology strewn all over./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="c547af75ce44a943773063dd1a0c83bf" "Now, behold my Cosmic Calculator, which both of your fates are tied to!" 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="18ecafd39cb68b2f59e287b684ed1d69" Pro-Rata picked up an old, clunky calculator, the kind that printed its results on paper, and held it so that Howard and the redhead could get a good look at it. Aside from the number pad, all sorts of colorful buttons littered its surface. A large key-shaped jewel was inserted into the side of the machine, and beside it stood an empty indent, shaped just like the key./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="dad1e3130e54dda0b687457113def286" "Observe! There is a jeweled key here, but the space next to it is empty, in need of another key to activate it!" He said, pointing his spindly fingers at the empty keyhole. Howard only then noticed how long and sharp Pro-Rata's fingernails were./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="d48fa248b5f17f9b2c0ec99a3ea5e403" "I must have the missing key by midnight! At that hour, the Stellar Balance Sheet comes into alignment...the Astral Audit may be taken...and I...I alone shall collect the Cosmic Dividend!" He shouted menacingly. "You two shall retrieve it for 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="f53872c616445ad347d7c9d19d25b986" With that, Pro-Rata waved his hands, and across the room, a boom sounded, and reality flickered, as a bizarre light show emanated from a single infinitesimally small point in space. The light show stopped, and the fabric of reality itself seemed to warp in that same spot, growing larger and larger. Howard realized with a start that nothing was being warped, it was- a hole! A very bright, psychedelic hole, which shimmered and swayed around its edges./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="a1e9b8775dff6430c152c81826f7361d" "Go forth through this dimensional portal, retrieve the key, then bring it to me! If you fail me, then I shall have no choice but to kill 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="8d46971a7239b4d8f647b65ed6d7570a" "Look fella, I'm not interested in any of this wacky stuff! How about you find some other schmucks that are willing to do your dirty work?" Howard 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="24d97f4c1f50e4e33b0b1e57443307bd" Pro-Rata didn't say anything, he simply walked up to Howard, bent over, grabbed him, and then tossed him through the portal, with the redhead following soon after./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="675e7161c4c431cdf615a9d1ae0d609c" "This place has some good reviews, maybe we can eat here?" Petra asked, turning her old, cracked phone to Ben./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="5f1c836d65c078a0cfb1d862785e2392" "It's on the outskirts of the city though." Ben 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="706e3c957dc736b19e64dc36c16f9137" "That's okay, we're driving, and this city's a lot smaller than ours, so it probably won't take long. Besides, I wanna drive more, I don't get to do it much back 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="74b2091d9d9235c9fa8f39eaec596dcc" Petra hit the directions button on Google Maps, then rested her phone on her lap, moving her hands back to their rental car's steering wheel. Soon, the light turned green, Petra lifted her foot off the brake pedal, and the car started to roll forward./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="b763b24833f11126a6cd98505fc0a78c" "WE'RE GONNA DIE!" Beverly, as Howard had now come to know his redheaded companion, screamed./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="13b3ebffb539637efacdb6448a42dd2b" The duo had, after much struggle, managed to acquire the missing key to the dreaded Cosmic Calculator, but in their efforts to escape, they had ended up being pursued by a flying creature known as a Bhandbird, a pterodactyl-like menace that hungered for them. Howard and Beverly rode upon a steed with the head of a bird, which cried out in terror as well, through its yellow curved beak./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="6c7e834883046991fc0e6dab4016ff8d" "I think I hate this place even more than your universe, Beverly!" Howard 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="5eadd24f210fd29f3a1d16496088c146" "I think I'm inclined to agree with you, Howard!" Beverly shouted back./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="e574544e3e8d0befbf8511f508c6f817" The Bhandbird swooped over them, ready to lay claim to its latest meal when all of a sudden, the air around them turned orange, and everything turned brighter. With a flash, the world around them disappeared and was replaced with the familiar location of Pro-Rata'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="b4455bce887c9f8a63cfd9e09a9159cc" Pro-Rata stood before them, grinning. That grin turned into an expression of sheer terror as he looked behind them. Howard and Beverly turned, and were just as horrified to see that the Bhandbird had been transported with 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="5d1bcb7f8a65da8d294296ae3ed2ada4" "I uh...I think you might have rang up more than you bargained for wiz..." Howard 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="c7011ec37596702fc286cfa59e6b241f" "The Bhandbird! I must have hit the wrong decimal!" Pro-Rata 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="8f475b28390e28dae29cb64956ca11f6" He was sitting in his chair at his desk, hunched over one of his many mystical calculators./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="a45e61611166b31ac8460fe116ade9cb" "Stand aside!" Pro-Rata cried. "I must send the beast back before-!"/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="d2614cba23b06121ce8faff28b80435b" At that moment, the Bhandbird moved, stretching its body out to full height and length, breaking the walls and roof around it with a loud-/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="194ebebbbf18c6052de3a73f0c97f60a" -BOOM!/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="d0e887e4bb600f7bf02392e93ed6f3a0" Petra heard the sound coming from somewhere close by, but she couldn't exactly pinpoint the location, not from the booth she was sitting in. She and Ben Urich were eating diner at an old diner, sitting opposite each other, and chowing down on their food. When the sound came, both Ben and Petra turned their heads, looking for the source. Petra dropped her food and then started digging around in her backpack for her wallet, ready to drop some money and leave. Ben was ahead of her though, slamming cash onto the table and jumping from his seat. Petra zipped up her backpack and did the same, following./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="fa2076fcba4c2377065c1d879458dd1f" "That sounded like an explosion, looks like we finally have something to investigate!" Ben shouted as they rushed out of the diner's 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="3dcdb6ab8186e615ad857ee35eec0c5e" "Let's split up Mr. Urich, I'll try to find a good place to get pictures, you go do your thing!" 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="596c11ef4ec83c605084b16961c3f9e6" "Are you crazy? We don't know what's going on, it's not safe for you to..." Ben turned to Petra, only to find that she was already gone, without a trace, "...damn crazy kids, she's gonna get herself killed!"/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="237d88e2ca5a4d322bcb438f4d991cba" Meanwhile, Petra scaled up the side of a building, hopping on the roof and whipping her backpack around. She unzipped it and dragged out her suit. She had hoped she wouldn't need it during her little vacation, but oh well. She was at least glad that she had time to stitch up all the holes and tears from her last battle before she left New York. Petra changed in record time, stuffing her clothes into her bag and webbing it to the side of the building, out of reach for any regular humans. A news helicopter was flying overhead, presumably heading to the source of the explosion. Thinking quickly, Petra shot a web onto the bottom of the chopper, then climbed the line, letting herself be dragged behind 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="3c23cc33dac7cbfb97edd042651a6e46" "GIVE ME THE KEY! IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE OF CONTROLLING THIS WRETCHED BIRD!" Pro-Rata shouted to Howard./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="153089e94dfa2cedf8d74ec5f207fd74" Howard looked down at the jeweled key in his hand, then looked back at Pro-Rata hesitantly./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="f496f4f3becdd4e368342677dc525dcd" "I'll brook no dawdling, duck! Give me the key and you and the woman go free!" Pro-Rata shouted, his patience growing thin./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="9293035a40437d34c28c465e37358a80" "While YOU set yourself up as a God, right?" Howard said suspiciously./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="dd8c9cfc12102619d8feb5530ad7b36f" Howard walked to the ledge of the destroyed building, now completely open to the night 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="e2a2d6370137572492da917872a0fbdb" "Stop! What do you think you are doing?!" Pro-Rata shouted, panicking./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="6cfa0521bcc262848cf1c3cf1616e9b1" "Sorry, pal! But if that Cosmic Calculator of yours is so powerful, then it shouldn't belong to anybody!" Howard said, chucking the key 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="ddb738ae01ba1eeafb0e4e179a61cf97" "Fool fowl! You've doomed us all! Now...we are all prey for that monstrosity!" Pro-Rata shouted, pointing to the Bhandbird./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="a6dab256e023aa66579e3ff977b894ec" The Bhandbird screeched as it took in its surroundings, seemingly dazed by its sudden change in location./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="0b1e61af9216c742adb77958af8f2600" "Excuse me, but did anybody lose this?" A voice called from below./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="ce7c68c075d017b963d25093fef3a074" Everybody froze, then turned to the edge of the tower. A red and blue hand, with a strange metal bracelet fixed around its wrist, reached up, then planted itself on the floor. The hand pulled itself up, bringing with it the rest of its body. It was...a woman...wearing a red, blue, and black costume, with large white eyes. Howard thought it looked incredibly bizarre./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="aec45b08623f19594c04dc39feaae56b" "Hey, uh, did somebody drop this? I was just swinging by and-" The strange woman paused, then looked around. "Hey, what's going on here?" 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="1a6bc9bdcade407348b71b714165d51c" "Spider-Woman! I've no notion what you're doing here, but I shan't waste time on the likes of you! Give me the key, or die!" Pro-Rata shouted, pointing his hands at the strange interloper./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="46ee4efa384119e6d4ec1a1913001495" "Whoa, buddy, point those hands somewhere else, I don't know where they've been!" Spider-Woman quipped./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="08154c2031ad3d22c49f91943243787e" "So be it!" Pro-Rata 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="5ad3df5fccc304c2f51af26cee41847b" His hands began to glow a horrid yellow, as he prepared to send a blast of mystical electricity at 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="66d5a85498bcffc920586695d0efaee9"em style="box-sizing: border-box;" He's gonna kill that chick! I've gotta act fast! /emHoward 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="329322d540a9279c126673b8742e1645" Thinking quickly, Howard grabbed the sheathed sword that was slung around him and chucked it at Pro-Rata, whose back was turned away from him. The sword collided with Pro-Rata's back, making him stumble forward and miss Spider-Woman with his blast of electricity. Pro-Rata turned to Howard, enraged. He lunged at Howard, tackling him to the ground and wringing his hands around his neck. Howard pushed back at Pro-Rata but struggled against the full weight of the human financial wizard on top of him. Beverly ran to Howard's aid, kicking Pro-Rata in the side. He cried out as the blow connected, then stood up, letting go of Howard and preparing to strike back at Beverly. Before he could, Howard grabbed onto his leg. With Pro-Rata distracted, Beverly drew her left arm back and then threw it forward with her hand curled into a fist, connecting with Pro-Rata's face, and knocking him onto 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="09f4c0897e634471a1d3e8182795eb55" "Pig!" Beverly shouted at him contemptuously./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="192caace372a5e08f8c8355c20c15294" While this altercation took place, Spider-Woman pulled herself completely onto the top of the tower. The Bhandbird roared, and she shot a web at its beak, sealing it shut before it could attempt to devour anyone. Petra jumped at it, landing on its head. She folded her hands together and lifted them up into the air, bringing them back down to collide with the Bhandbird's head. It let out a muffled cry of pain through the webbing that kept its beak closed. Spider-Woman did it again, stunning the creature. It stumbled back and toppled over onto the debris of the structure that it had destroyed. Spider-Woman hopped off and began webbing the creature to the debris. It writhed around as the webs piled up, but eventually, it became too difficult for it to strain against it, and it gave out from exhaustion./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="a625bf80c916be501d0e0eb3634aebee" Howard pushed himself 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="8c3ec926022bff13559394232f017cb5" "Thanks, Beverly." He said, his voice raspy from being choked./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="56838ec6ac13794f8e3a8eeeda72ecbf" All of a sudden Howard was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. Pro-Rata stood above him, his face bruised and missing a few 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="3cba10b6ccc0ebc208a22797ea9c3ebf" "I could reduce the both of you to mere atoms with a single spell, but there is no budgetary logic, no way to justify the expenditure of magic! But Spider-Woman's death will net me the Gem-Key!" Pro-Rata said as he powered up another blast to aim at Spider-Woman, walking past Howard and Beverly./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="6d4200c2888f4d36e95c6584fa05ccdc" Spider-Woman turned, somehow sensing the danger before it even appeared, and dodged out of the way of Pro-Rata's magic blast. Spider-Woman kept flipping and dodging as more blasts were directed at her, not a single one connecting with its intended target. She periodically tried to get in close to land a blow on Pro-Rata, but every time was met by a blast that she was forced to dodge. Eventually, Pro-Rata had Spider-Woman backed up to a ledge, with nowhere for her to go but down. He crept closer and closer to her, laughing maniacally. Howard had enough and ran up to Pro-Rata, tackling him from behind, and pushing the two of them over the edge, as Spider-Woman cried out behind them. Howard and Pro-Rata fell, both screaming in terror as the ground grew closer and closer. Pro-Rata, farther below Howard, hit the ground first with a sickening splat. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around Howard and he began to swing away from the ground, mere inches away from impact. He looked up to see the so-called "Spider-Woman" with her arm outstretched, holding onto a web stuck to the top of the tower, holding him in her other arm. They landed back on the tower, with Beverly running towards 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="95c94483dd95475db9f760b20baf0d31" "Howard! Are you okay?!" 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="99eeb198ee7b511f39646696b6801bbb" "I dunno. Ask me after the holy terror leaves my body." Howard said, clutching his heavily beating heart with his hand and panting./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="9a9d331ded0a665361e2a4178b3b128b" "I can't believe you're real! Jonah didn't go bananas after all! An actual talking duck!" Spider-Woman exclaimed./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="9e5e430fe57740fd2a649ff14547d9f0" "You're not exactly Ms. Normal either, y'know." Howard 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="e90b31c3fd06bd9e53ece29008081813" A news helicopter started to approach the tower, a spotlight shining down to try and get a good view of the 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="3972f9ee609b5c2efdd66e1e30bf284f" "Uh, sorry. Look, I don't know what just happened, but do you guys wanna get out of here? Unless you two em style="box-sizing: border-box;"want /emto be the latest stars of the evening news." Spider-Woman 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="7189549ea5443a39d02616730613ed31" Beverly wrapped her arms around 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="0eff8bf85766280302231fc9749ae11e" "Um, yes. Please. I don't want to be here anymore." She 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="64b9c1205db62194505d38f51f2662c7" "So, what are you gonna do 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="dd7dbbdb613548dd269361f894417ade" She, Howard the Duck, and Beverly, all sat on top of a roof, sitting on the ledge and looking out at the horizon./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="539ff3525b1a70931b54e919c94689b1" "No clue. All I know is I need a good cigar." Howard 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="5cce3298bc6e0f2d2ba1d51b5c39ed8f" "It's really late now, and I need to put on real clothes. I'm going to head home." Beverly said, standing 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="298d0e4b562cad663d131aa36ac8da43" Beverly started walking to the roof access door but hesitated before she could grab its handle./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="e39c6c33d05546373dff00b11c0e487c" "Uh, Howard, do you have a place to stay?" 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="0c4a84a06c96b16a555ca17ca2c4b4f2" "Um, no. My place is pretty far from here." He said glumly./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="d46004dfbb9a0383dfc78319ce644e26" Beverly turned to face 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="aa0460c6902b7c2b7c8be253e1215e55" "Oh, sorry. You could crash at my place for a few nights if you want?" Beverly offered./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="a48436b93230ff6a83fb1b50c6efba58" Howard perked 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="cfce2c23ccdc148ba2e47794739b9924" "Really? Thanks, Beverly, you're a lifesaver!" Howard 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="664f5491649fb92ee04c068ca5599e26" Howard stood, then waddled over 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="2cf4291da3fae07b34afe23bbda974a4" "Seeya Spidey!" Howard called 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="d12a967aa4946036d3e425e79b521a99" Petra stood 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="1163288a87208bb9ffef0bd8a6266130" "Wait! Uh, Beverly, I have some clothes you could wear on the way home! It probably isn't too safe to walk around at night without any." Petra said sympathetically./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="aa3a18c1e155920de140210e541fd0f8" She ran to the other end of the building, then crawled down its wall, grabbed her backpack, then jumped back 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="34826f9fc87f762f9472465ceb3696e8" "Thanks. I wasn't too sure about that either." Beverly said gratefully./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="4ebfedcdf68a90f7394214e40d7cb355" Petra grabbed her only change of clothes from her bag and then handed them to Beverly./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="c3da2bbf2022c7ea28cd3df7bd7cd4f8" Petra started talking. "Uh, they might be a little big on you, since I'm taller, so they might not be too comf-"/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="0194d7ac6f4ee26521bf4e869788a7d5" "It's okay, don't worry!" Beverly said as she slid Petra's pants 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="cfb377ac2262dddee8cd34c0c074e879" "You two have a nice night, and stay safe!" Petra said, leaping off the roof and swinging 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="3af8f69e56b8e34dd16185878baca0ec" "Do you know how stupid that was, Petra? For all we knew, that could've been a terrorist attack, and you ran right into it!" Ben shouted at Petra, as the two moved to sit down in their plane seats./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="cfbc8492e724c97fdb1512aeaa012220" "I'm sorry! I just wanted to get some good pictures, and I guess I got carried away!" Petra defended, looking away from Ben./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="5055867d695325536aabff46f3441ed1" Petra didn't regret what she did- although she did lose a good pair of clothing during the whole ordeal, which had led to her surprising a very tired retail worker when she had popped into their store to buy a change of clothes while wearing her costume./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="e9907571a496a0c38bf66418ff362a89" "Crazy, stupid kid." Ben 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="cb330e9070f46511abd2558b7a61ed2c" Petra looked away, sorry for the concern she had caused. Ben chuckled, and Petra cautiously looked at him, confused./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="36e00a7eff1350ee476bada6f75d8b27" "What's so funny?" She 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="57d2de6537c5b3982dccef042c626449" Ben chuckled some more./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="d317e0088e559d503ee9e31784c2838d" "Heh, nothing. It's just that what you did reminded me an awful lot of myself when I was younger. I think you'd make a good journalist, that's all." Ben said with a smile./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="f91bc132fe76b226c0c0e70d9f67bebe" Petra smiled, then looked down at her lap./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="5a6bb2063f17bbcb54b09d06c8e98397" "Thanks." She 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="3f69351f1fb548005ba724284ecc20b0" Overhead, the seatbelt sign started flashing, and the plane began to move, soon taking off, leaving Cleveland behind in the dust./p