"Who am I? You sure want to know? Well it's not, scratch that-definitely not a story for the faint of heart. And it all started with a spider bite."
Today was definitely not Briefers Rock's day, getting mistreated by the two Anarchy sisters was something he was already used to. Especially the rejections from the older Panty. A blonde bombshell of a fallen angel, with a massive addiction to sex. That equalled having a front row seat to every "show" whenever the two Anarchy sisters were around him, like that time Panty was enjoying a game of rocket chair with the entire football team, who were Brief's tormentors rubbing salt to the wound. Compared to all of that, the second sister Stocking, only seemed to ignore him. Which made sense considering he didn't have a bakery in his pocket, not that he couldn't afford one but that was another thing.
This time the universe decided to torment Brief by being pulled into the sisters' scheme of getting blackmail on the new queens of Daten City High School, Scanty and Kneesocks Daemon. Which involved jumping into a toilet, which was something neither of them wanted.
"I'm not jumping in a shithole!" Panty objected looking at the dirty pathway shown by their guide, a greasy looking ghost that probably wasn't worth a kill.
"Ah don't be a bum! It's actually fun!" The ghost replied.
"WHAT'S FUN ABOUT THE SLIDING DOWN THE TOILET!?" Panty asked to which her sister only sighed.
"Just close your eyes and pretend its water sports it will be fun." Stocking replied, to which her sister once again objected.
"This is different."
"Yeah we don't have a jet ski or anything." Brief added, but before any of the sisters could say or do anything the ghost flushed the toilet. Pulling them all down, yes. Today wasn't his day, which was funny enough the last day when his life belonged entirely to him. Or at least to both of his vastly different lifestyles.
After a quick slide down, the three of them plus the ghost and Chuck, the sisters' animal companion. Found themselves way beneath the school building, immediately vomiting just as they stepped out.
"This is it." The ghost said.
"This is what?" Panty asked looking at the giant machinery in front of them.
"Curiously and curiously." Stocking added.
Carefully they walked towards the said machinery, only to see convertor belts popping out the red and black ghosts.
"Fuck me! Is this a ghost factory?" Panty asked before Brief took a photo of the convertor belt.
"Worm? What are you doing?"
"Sending pics to Garter so he knows what's up." Brief said while sending the image.
"You have his number now? You guys are sexting now aren't you, figures…" Stocking teased before Brief's phone begun ring.
"Oh hey man this is Brie-" But before he could say anything, he was interrupted by the afro preacher Garterbelt.
"That shit is a ghost plant! You must destroy it immediately; they'll all activate soon if you don't hurry up!" Garter yelled though the phone so loud that Brief was sure it fried his speakers. At least it wasn't hard to get parts for his Sony Ericson so that was a plus.
"Hard to get motivated when you're surrounded by shit." Panty said, which was understandable, after all they were in a dump.
"See that thing up top? That's a ghost stone. It collects all the nasty beats of evil from human souls and then uses them to produce some series asshole ghosts!"
"That means we must destroy the entire plant if we want to get rid of them." Brief stated.
"Give that boy a sticker, keep your eyes open. There's only one team of baddies who uses ghost stones. Which means they must be behind that motherfuckery!"
Garterbelt's statements only caused more questions than answers.
"They who's they?" Stocking asked.
"We don't understand you." Panty added.
But before Brief could ask any questions, he was suddenly sent flying by a red carpet.
"Why!?"
"ShitShitShitSHIT!" Being reborn as a ghost was already tuff enough, but being reborn as failed design of a spider ghost who was useless to the demon sisters was fate worse than being blown up by any of the two angels in the vicinity. So the reaction of being freaked the fuck out was understandable.
Of course there was thing it could do, which was a blessing of its cursed existence. That being possession via a bite. But it would only work on a human. And the ghost found just the right vessel to begin it's conquest of the world. That being the knocked out Briefers Rock, it only needed to crawl inside his hood, and wait for when the angels would be out of the vicinity.
"You'll be perfect! You even smell like a sack of shit!" the ghost hissed before hiding inside of Brief's hood.
"Eh…what happened? Oh right, evil speech cliché." Brief muttered to himself getting up before looking at the two Demon sisters. So that's why the PK meter of his Proton Pack kept sending off signals. It wasn't the energy source thankfully, after all it was a portable particle accelerator which he designed and assembled himself.
"It's only the matter of time until this Earthly realm is just perverted with ghosts!" The green haired sister, Scanty said.
"Did you drink a resource this morning because I don't know what the fuck you are talking about?" Panty then asked only wiping her forehead.
"Not that we support your little dream and all. But I really need some chocolate now so we'll just go ahead and kill you." Stocking added as both sisters got ready for battle.
Meanwhile inside of Brief's hood, the spider ghost was getting more inpatient with every minute passing. When it could bite this loser and begin its conquest!?
Finally, one chase and being used as bait later and the day was won. Of course not without its consequences. Those being the whole school being blown up. Leaving Brief alone, after a jog that felt like millions of miles.
"Yo Gingercrust!" Panty called out from upper part of the rubble. "You did a good job today, speaking of which why don't you come here and let me give you a reward?"
"Uhm, like what? Brief asked, still being shocked from all the events that just happened.
"Don't be such a fucking prude, you know what I mean, so drop your pants and climb up!"
That sentence caused Brief to immediately freak out, after all it was something he was thinking about for a long time. Of course he could simply do his hairs and use his numerous charms. But that, as taught by experience, would be anything but genuine. But alas, his embarrassment spoke louder than his reasoning, as it always did.
"W-What!? You're not serious that's not how it works! I haven't been tested yet and you probably haven't either! And should we hold hands or kiss of fall in love firs-"
"Jesus! I'll just find someone else, way to fuck it up pansy!" Panty finally said, walking by Brief, why would she waste her time on something trivial like that? When there are literally hundreds of horny teens around her.
"I'm never been more ashamed, how are we ever going to marry you off?" Stocking added, finally leaving Brief alone to his own thoughts.
"You have no idea…" Brief said wiping off sweat from his forehead.
"Finally!" A screeching voice yelled out before jumping out of Brief's hood, revealing the spider ghost. Which landed on Brief's right palm.
"You're mine motherfucker!" It said before biting him.
A canon event, supposedly an event that happens in a life of every spider. Something that shapes them and forms them into the being they supposedly are, tying them together into a web across space and time. Unless it's all bullshit, and being blessed with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men was just another thing God decided to throw onto Brief, who still remained clueless.
"The fuck!? You should already be possessed!" The ghost yelled out to the awkward silence.
"So, should anything happen? Like I grow additional arms or something?" Brief finally asked, he was so tired he seemed to completely didn't mind the fact he would turn into a monstrosity.
"N-No! T-This can't be I was sure you wer-" The spider ghost didn't get the chance to finish that last sentence, as it exploded in a small blue fireball, immediately after a heaven coin fell down onto Brief's hand.
"Hm, guess that just happened. I could give the coin to Panty, but I also could study its structure, potentially learn how to harvest them from low level ghosts and get enough coins for her and Stocking to go back to heaven." He thought to himself out loud before letting out a yawn, why did he get tired all of a sudden?
Brief was now sitting at the back of a black Maybach, the back windows rolled down due to Brief's smell. The driver, a woman in her mid-twenties. Dressed in a suit, she had dark brown hair tied into a ponytail and sharp green eyes. One who couldn't hold her frustration to herself.
"So let me get this straight Master Brief. You were pulled into a lavatory, to discover there is a secret factory underneath it ran by demons. Then you were chased across the entire school building, which those…angels destroyed. Then they used you as bait and left you alone, with one of them trying to have her way with you. Please remind me why am not guarding you every day?" The driver asked looking into the back mirror, only to see Brief looking though the open window at the Japanese Neons of little Tokyo.
"Because you know how I want to keep my…secret identity under wraps Alice." Brief replied with a sad smile, while Alice only let out a frustrated sigh.
"I can't seem to understand why you are even dealing something as trivial as High School. Mister Rock said that he can get you to graduate early and start college sooner. At least you won't be in constant danger, and I won't feel useless." Alice said as the car stopped at a red light.
"Alice, you're not useless. I mean you are my maid and you bring me coffee to my laboratory when I pull an all-nighter." Brief said trying to cheer Alice up. Only making the maid turnaround from her seat.
"I'm also your bodyguard and driver. And I can't even do those duties properly because I respect your wishes. It's what Miss Isabelle ordered me remember?" She said, although disciplined she still had problems with words slipping out in wrong moments. Such as mentioning Brief's mother around the time the anniversary of her passing.
"Mas-Brief, forgive me I shouldn't have men-"
"No, you only said the truth. I can't be sad about her passing all my life." Brief said smiling at Alice, who only smiled back before turning back towards the road. Brief let out another yawn, could this be an effect of getting bitten by a ghost? Or was it the adrenaline from the mad chase finally wearing down?
"I did it Mom!" five year old Brief said showing his mother a paper with a complicated equation written on it. His mother, no word other than beautiful could describe her. With long blond almost golden hair and hazel eyes, what was characteristic to her and her son, was the similar facial build. One that could be describe with no other words than unearthly, a facial expression of determination. Which made sense considering Isabelle Rock, wife of David Rock was a researcher and a world-acclaimed scientist herself, despite coming from a rich family and being forced into an arranged marriage, her research alone helped transform the Rock Foundation into a juggernaut it is today.
"That's amazing honey!" Isabelle said looking over the paper Brief has given her. "You know; I was saving this for your birthday. But I believe I can show your biggest gift now."
With that got up from her chair, and gestured young Brief to grab her hand. To which the young heir complied. She brought Brief to the main hall of the Rock Mansion. The largest estate in Daten City, initially built by Brief's great grandfather. It was being updated throughout the passing years, such as an elevator in the 1920s or a massive revamp of the underground in the fifties.
Isabelle called up the elevator, which arrived in less than a minute. She then picked up Brief and reached for a small key she had in her pocket, inserting it into a small keyhole underneath the floor button.
"Mommy? Where are we going? I thought there are only four floors?" Brief asked, earning a smile from his mother.
"It's a secret only a few know. I had a conversation with Daddy, this is officially off limits to anyone who isn't you or me. But please close your eyes honey." Isabelle instructed, to which little Brief complied, hiding his eyes behind his palms.
The elevator finally reached down the lowest floor, which was surprisingly not the machinery room. As that was on the attic. It was actually a single corridor painted with fluorescent paint. Leading up towards a large door, which could only be opened with a large dial. Isabelle only twisted the dial and opened the large metal door. Her hand then on instinct reaching towards a lever connected to an electric box.
The large lights lit up, lighting the whole place up. Revealing a structure that originally was supposed to be a fallout shelter for the Rock family and the mansion's staff. Currently Brief and his Mother were standing on a large metal entresol. With two sets of stairs connecting with the main ground floor. The space beneath was quite spacious. Easily fillable with anything needed to survive a nuclear apocalypse. The fact that it was originally a vault was made clear by a large tunnel. Seemingly made to fit a whole truck in order to reach the shelter's main exit in a form of a large door in the forest near the highway to downtown.
"You may open your eyes now honey." Isabelle instructed, Brief's eyes immediately filled themselves with wonder, and with confusion.
"Mommy? Where are we?" Brief finally asked.
"This, this is a space for you to build, tinker and experiment without worry! Let's say this is the starting point for you in changing the world." Isabelle said smiling, without a second of hesitation Brief hugged his mother's face.
"Thankthankthankthankyou so much!"
Seven-year-old Brief was having his bowtie tied up by his mother. It was an important day, as it was the day Brief would meet his future wife, a marriage that was arranged by his father, much to his wife's annoyance.
"I still cannot believe your father is actually going through with this." Isabelle said finishing her work.
"I…I don't understand; why would Dad want me to marry?" Brief asked, making his mother sigh in amusement. Here was her son, one who could high school level equations and could learn anything instantly with no problems, being completely oblivious to the sad world he was born into. She was worried that being in an environment like this would emotionally stun him, or at least changed his perception.
"Because honey, your father wants to straighten a relationship with a fellow corporation." Isabelle said, and while he grew up in a restricted environment. Brief could see his mother wasn't happy about it at all.
Before he could ask any questions, the doorbell rang, signalling that it was the time for Brief to meet his future wife.
"Now listen, while I don't like the idea it doesn't mean you can't make a good impression. So smile widely and be friendly." Isabelle instructed, before signalling to one of the maids to open the door. She took her son's hand before leading him down towards the hall. Only to see her husband, talking with a Japanese man, and beside him stood a young girl. Wearing a green dress, with her black hair tied into two braids with ribbons at the end.
David Rock was a man of imposing posture, one of the richest men in America, despite that and the fact he was running a supposedly morally ambiguous corporation. Isabelle knew there was more to him than meets the eye. If there wasn't she would have run away with Brief years ago.
David only turned towards his son and wife and smiled.
"Briefers, this is Rumi Shiraishi. Your fiancé."
Brief hated going to hospitals, especially after his mother was spending more time here than home. But what he hated the most was the fact nobody was telling him about his mother's condition. Not his Dad, not Alice, who was handpicked to take care of him in his mother's absence. Who was moved to a private hospital facility in Rock Tower, as did Brief. Who was spending more nights in the in-tower penthouse than home. He couldn't even talk to Rumi about it, as she was either sleeping or studying. So in order to know anything, he resorted to eavesdropping.
"Check it again." David bluntly stated as he stood over the doctor, who paled in fear in sight of what he had coming for him.
"I'm sorry mister Rock but the-"
"I SAID CHECK IT AGAIN! I PROVIDED YOU WITH BEST MEDICAL TECH IN THE WORLD, BEST RESOURCES UNLIMITED FUNDS! AND YOU TELL ME THAT HER CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE!?" David yelled out scaring the doctor, while Brief used this as an occasion to sneak inside his Mother's room.
"I can't find the answer why myself. It only got worse, we tried chemo mister Rock. You know that, slowly all of her blood will be affected. I'm sorry, but it appears that miss Rock doesn't have much time left. And in my personal opinion, I believe that you should tell your son soon."
Brief meanwhile silently sneaked inside, seeing all the amazing new-generation medical equipment sent shivers down his spine, mostly because it was connected to a single bed, the heart monitor kept pinging. All while Isabelle kept looking at the sundown.
"Mom?" Brief asked walking onto the bed, causing Isabelle to turn around to face him. The last two years of chemotherapy took a heavy toll on her. Her beautiful hair was gone, she lost a lot of weight. To some she looked like a corpse even when still being alive. But she didn't lose any of her spirit.
"Oh honey, I thought I told you not come here without a proper visit." Isabelle said caressing her son's face. Brief only smiled before reaching towards his backpack for his scrapbook.
"Yes, but I need to show you my newest project!" He said showing his blueprints. "I found a way to build a backpack sized particle accelerator! With that I could make a real life proton pack! Or find a way to create a small energy plant, that could be a revolution! I've already built a prototype, and it works!"
Her son's happiness only caused her smile to grow wider.
"That's amazing honey. You are amazing, and it makes me even sadder I won't be able to see more of your wonders." She said all while Brief only turned his head around.
"N-No! I mean you have the best medical care in the world-" Isabelle stopped her son from talking, she knew she didn't have much time left. But she didn't want to kill his wonder, his hopes. She tapped his forehead with her finger, before tapping his heart.
"Listen to me son, and I want you hear this. In your hands you have the power to change our world, make it better, and in your Heart. You hold the responsibility on how you'll use it. Please remember this, even after I'm gone, that with great power, comes great responsibility."
Brief only nodded, as he did to every word of wisdom from her.
"I-I understand, but can I stay here for a bit?" Brief asked, to which Isabelle only nodded, feeling that she was getting weaker. It was pathetic, she didn't even have enough strength to tell her son she loves him. But she also knew actions spoke louder than words. So she pulled him close and hugged him as tight as her weak body allowed her, Brief immediately fell asleep in her embrace, and she only smiled.
Brief was snapped awake by the feeling of movement. He opened his eyes to see two men in suits taking him away, he then noticed his father, kneeling in front of his mother's bed and crying.
Then it hit him, the heart monitor flat lined.
"Wait, Mom!? Mom!" He yelled, trying everything to get though the guards holding him.
"Mom!"
"Mom!" Brief snapped awake to a rush of colours and weird sounds piercing his head. 'Aw! What the hell!?' he thought while trying to think for a reason why he felt like he was on fire. Then the realisation struck him, he wasn't laying on his bed, instead it was a hard surface, could he fell onto the floor in his sleep?
At least that's what he thought before the second realisation struck him, he was on the ceiling. Looking down towards his bed.
"Okay…this has to be a dream." He said to himself as he tried to pull away his fingers from the ceiling, to no avail. He then begun to frantically pull, again to avail.
"Stop sticking! Why can't you just listen to me body!? Ok, calm down Briefers. If it's a reaction, then maybe the key point is to convince my body to stop. Relax…" He said to himself, before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, and he was right, as fingers let go of the ceiling. Finally allowing him to stand up, or down.
"Okay…I guess; it wouldn't hurt to take a step." He said before he carefully walked forward, on his ceiling. Then he took another step, and another. He then instinctively jumped off, performing a barrel roll mid-air before landing on the floor.
"Wow, if this is a dream. Then I'll go to the bathroom, and wash my face." He said to himself, after all. How a normal person could walk on walls? Carefully, he approached the door before pulling the door knob off from the door.
"What, the, fuck?" He said noticing that the doorknob kept sticking to his hand. Once again he tried the relaxation tactic, and the knob fell onto the floor. He lit the lights up to face himself in the mirror, only to be surprised so much he jumped onto the bathroom wall.
Carefully he jumped back down. Once again taking a look in the mirror. He looked…different to say the least. He now had a muscly build, and while he was pretty athletic before, now he looked like as if he was in his peak. Or at least at this point of age. He then touched his now rock hard abs, and he paled.
"Okay, being able to stick on walls is one thing...but looking like young Herakles is something else. And is my butt thicker now?" He asked himself as he took a look at his back. It was fun, but he needed to wake up now. He placed his head in the washbasin and turned on the cold water, didn't work.
"So I'll need more…extreme solutions."
With that he looked at his hand, which he curled into a fist. Before sending a right hook at his face, strong enough to once again send him to the wall.
"It's…It's not a dream, this is not a dream." He said, while wiping his cheek. There was only one thing he could do, the laboratory.
Without a second thought he grabbed his keys that were laying on his desk and rushed towards the elevator. Luckily for him the elevator was already on his floor, so he didn't waste time and jumped inside and quickly turned the key. He had the equipment needed to check if anything was out of the ordinary. Having fun with stocks during an economic crisis was paying in being able to buy equipment so that he wouldn't need to go to a hospital for blood tests.
The elevator touched down and Brief rushed towards the door, one that he locked himself behind a mechanism made out of Milton Bradley's Simon game. He tapped in the tune and the door unlocked, which he somehow opened with only a single short push. Still shocked by the amount of newfound strength, he rushed inside the laboratory, doing another leap from the entresol, doing another impressive series of air stunts before landing onto his feet.
"Okay, so blood sample, put it in the analyser and we'll role from there." He said to himself. The laboratory was much more crowded then when Brief received it from his mother. It was filled with different equipment to fit his experiments. With the main worktable remaining under the entresol. Now filled with anti-ghost technology he was working on, his tools, monitors that were constantly on analysing the process of powering the whole facility, a particle accelerator with a chamber measuring only 10 centimetres, similar technology to what powered his proton pack, but actually used as Brief's personal power plant. To the right of it their resided Brief's main lab computer, or computer set. Made out of few different monitors and TV's, some flat screen while others still CRT. It was a massive contraption, considering it needed three keyboards attached to a bucket chair to operate.
To the left of the entresol resided the self-proclaimed infirmary/laboratory. Filled with his chemical equipment, a whiteboard for equations. Another set of monitors connected with the main computer deck, as well as an infirmary, filled with equipment he needed to patch himself up. Quickly he prepared a vial and a syringe, he did it numerous times before so he knew the procedure. After putting a band aid on the wound he quickly placed the vial with his blood inside of the analyser.
"Okay, now we wait." He said to himself, after all the analysis of his blood would tell him why he can do all those things. He then went pale, and it wasn't because he just extracted his own blood. Slowly he looked towards his right palm, the marks reminding him what happened several hours ago.
A ghost bit him, a spider ghost bit him. It had to be it, after all was there another explanation? But before he could think more, the analyser beeped. Meaning the results were ready, he took a look and realised that his new revelation was true, as he compared the blood sample with his last test, and they were in similar parameters.
"So, to conclude…a ghost bit me, and gave me superpowers." He said to himself before looking upwards towards the wall, the ceiling was really high, way higher than his room's.
Carefully, he put his fingers on the wall, before slowly begun to climb up. Placing his feet on the wall, he slowly begun to crawl upwards, setting his sights on the support steel beam to which the lights were connected. As he reached the upper curve, he couldn't help but feel excitement when he looked down.
"WHOOOOOO!"
Brief stood in front of the church where Panty and Stocking lived, since his new found powers were technically a curtesy of the Demon sisters' machinery and the fact he involved himself with their hijinks, there was only one way for him to truly understand his new powers. And that was right at the source, by asking Garter. Especially since for the last several hours he didn't feel like himself, now he couldn't even fit into his jumpsuit. So he was dressed in the closest thing possible. A set made out olive green cargo pants and a hoodie thrown over a white T-shirt.
However, just as he made his first step towards the door, he felt another rush of colours and sounds.
"Ah! Why can't it just stop!?" He thought as he grabbed his head, before the ringing stopped, just as he begun to think over what he was doing, he was walking right into the dragon's den! What would he say? "Hi I was bitten by a ghost and now I have those super cool powers?" first thing the sisters would do was to hunt him down for heaven coins, and the afro preacher would probably…do things.
So those painful headaches, were trying to warm him of danger? His common sense being boosted? A detection sense? Spider Sense!? There was a lot more to his powers then he didn't understand, but one thing was obvious, best for his own safety would be to not tell anyone what has happened to him, and so he walked away, trying to walk off his thoughts.
Brief didn't realise how long his "stroll to think about his situation" was. Already founding himself in Little Tokyo, as evidence by tall office buildings and the ever-present feeling of work cramp and sadness. But by the time his phone was showing that the hour was past noon, he snapped in an alley he was walking though, tired of all the unanswered questions.
"Damn it!" He said trying to find a target for his frustrations, that being the nearby trash container. Without any effort he picked it up before throwing it upon the wall, it bending from the sheer force of Brief's throw. He only looked in shock at his own hands, he knew the bite made him stronger, but still lacked knowledge on how strong he was, but now he knew that he was strong enough that a metal container seemed to feel like tissue paper.
Brief collapsed and sat down at one of the ends of the alley. Finally feeling the strain of all the rushing emotions. Excitement, fear, anxiety…freedom, all mashing in into this mass, one that Brief felt was making him crazy.
"Mom, I really wish you were here…if you could give me a sign." He said, before then looking upwards the alley, and turning back towards the wall he was sitting against. He wiped his eyes and got up, it may have not been a "sign" he was hoping for. But enough to satisfy him for now, but he wouldn't just go run around buildings with a chance of being caught by cameras and phones, especially if either Alice or worse, his father would see a video of him performing inhuman tricks. He pulled up the hood of his hoodie and zipped it up. Creating a pseudo costume, a foreshadow in an odd way.
"Alright, I guess I can call this "test of powers in urbanised environment"." Brief said before he walked up towards the wall, before crawling upwards it. He begun to pick up speed, before finally letting go with his hands and beginning to run upwards the tall building, a madman's grin. He then looked at the second wall, before jumping towards it without hesitation and continuing his sprint. He continued upwards jumping between the two buildings, landing on top of one of the buildings.
"Hehe…that felt, good." He said to himself before looking in front him, seeing few just as buildings in front him. At first he wanted to stop himself from doing anything stupid, but first, he wouldn't know his limits if he didn't test his powers to the fullest, and second, the lack of the "Spider warning of danger sense" made him feel more confident in his abilities.
He took a long deep breath, before setting off in a mad dash towards the edge, seemingly on instinct he performed a handspring in order to jump across the two buildings.
"YEAHH!"
With that cry he landed onto his feet on another building, he ran as fast as his body allowed him to. He realised that his "Spider Sense" essentially served as a radar for danger, something that was suggesting a "safe" way, like a GPS of some sorts. Brief precision jumped over an air condition unit, before then bar kipping from the fire stairs and jumping over another street. Brief didn't know a thing about parkour, perhaps the spider bite also enhanced his instincts. The whole environment in front of him felt like a playground, a playground for him to run across.
Brief continued his sprint, locking his eyes onto the building in front of him. This time he leaped as hard as he could from his feet. Preparing his hands and feet for the landing at the glass building. He took a look at himself at the Venice Window, before quickly crawling upwards towards the roof in order to not being spotted.
After he set his feet on the rooftop, he turned around to see several blocks he managed to traverse. For the first time in many years, he felt freedom, the ability to take the life by its horns, completely on his own. Without the need to hang around the angels, all thanks to a single bite. He begun to laugh, laugh as hard as his mouth allowed to him to. Falling down onto the rooftop and looking at the sun with a smile.
His brief period of nirvana was halted by ringing of his phone, he reached for his phone and raised his eyebrow seeing that it was Alice.
"Hello?"
"Master Brief? Your father wants to see you."
All of Brief's good humour seemed to vanish in an instant.
Brief walked inside of the Rock tower, it was a fairly new building. Only recently the main headquarters, R&D departments and laboratories were moved from one of the curved Daten towers. His eyes then locked onto the large, marble statue of his mother. Standing in the centre of a water fall in the centre of the lobby. The water seemed to be going around the statue, he then read out the incantation encased in gold underneath the statue.
"With great power, comes great responsibility huh? I'm not sure you would be happy with the way the company goes…" Brief said before he made his way towards the elevator. Pressing the button for the hundredth floor.
Just as the door closed, the screen in the elevator begun to play a video. One which variations Brief has seen several times, and he hated each and single one of them.
"In 2007, the Rock Foundation overtook Stark Enterprises as the highest supplier of the United States military. In 2008, over 75% percent of equipment and software in American bases over the world were made by the Rock Foundation. In 2009, we have signed an agreement with the US special forces for specialised equipment. In 2010, we hope to continue our progress, and by 2020, we hope to become the top supplier for all branches of the military, expanding our progress pass the United States." The female voiceover said, while the video was showing footage from various military conflicts all over the world.
"Designing and testing in battle the equipment such as our brand-new ASM1363 Wingsuit." The voiceover continued showing off the sleek, jet black design with a silver belt buckle-like button in the centre and arm length wings. Which actually reminded Brief of spider webs.
"Our patented technology allows the strong tri-fibre design to adjust to any soldier's body. All thanks to a special electric impulse sent from the button in the centre." The voiceover continued as the video showed a CGI figure putting on a really baggy suit, quickly pulling it on before pressing the button. On instant the suit completely readjusted itself, looking almost skin-tight on the figure.
"The suit's main design's philosophy was adaptability, endurance and versatility."
With that the video shifted to the left wing, before the figure spread it's wing, to Brief's surprise. He noticed the wing was waster then before, seemingly expanding towards the waist and almost reaching the knee.
"The wings themselves were designed from a material based on the formula of the bio-cable, created by the late Doctor Isabelle Rock. On instant the suit creates thread of strong web, which reinforced with different materials allowed us to create a material that in addition to the facture the suit itself, would allow an adult man to effortlessly glide on short distances. The said web shortens to a more compact form based on the movement of the arms, it can also be adjusted with the dial on the belt, which can be fitted with pouches that can store any equipment necessary for the mission."
With that the image shifted, showing now an artist's interpretation of "peaceful future", showing several soldiers in the wingsuits alongside figures that were hovering in the air on a weird device that seemed to resemble in glider.
"This prototype however is only of many. Which will one day safeguard the stability and freedom all over the world."
With that the video concluded, just as the elevator reached the final floor. The door opening with a slight ting, revealing David Rock's office.
Brief stepped in, feeling as if he entered the room which had stronger gravity. Brief made his way towards his father, trying to hide the fact that he didn't want to be here.
David Rock seemed to not notice his son, while he himself was looking at his computer.
"Hello Briefers." David said, to which Brief only nodded before sitting down in front of him.
"Hey Dad, so…why did you want to talk with me? Couldn't you wait until you would come home?" Brief asked, to which David sighed.
"It couldn't, because I'm leaving again. I'll be going to New York and then touring the company's offices in Japan. So I'll be gone for few weeks." David said, to which Brief only nodded.
"That wasn't the reason for why I called you in."
Brief raised his eyebrow in amusement, his father was right. As normally he would get a call from his father's assistants. Or possible mistress, the less he thought about it was better.
"I wanted to talk about what transpired yesterday, since your school was destroyed by those angels. I thought we could have that conversation." David said, making Brief roll his eyes.
"Dad, I've told you several times that I want to finish my education in a normal pace." Brief stated, feeling that the situation was about to become real tense.
"Son, if you've kept progressing like before, you would already be well into college right now. Instead you're here halting your own potential. I'll be talking with representatives from the Empire State University, if you could take your futu-"
"MY FUTURE IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DECIDED BY ME!" Brief lashed out for letting out a deep breath. "I'll go to college, but I want to be around people my own age."
David was seemed get angrier with his son's disrespect.
"People like who? Those angels?! People who are worse than you? I know what you can do. The thing you carried around your back would allow you to change the entire energy industry if you just gave us the blueprints! Yet you still hold yourself back! You have power, there is just something inside of you, something that one day will make you do great things…and that's why I'm setting the future right for you."
Brief, probably due to built-up adrenaline from his mad rush, only chuckled. He now had the power to stand up on his own feet.
"What future? Selling military equipment? Something that Mom heavily objected to?" Brief asked, hoping that perhaps mentioning his mother would stop his father and just send him off.
"Your mother wanted to create a safer world, and that's what I'm aiming for as well. I can only hope that you'll understand it after you'll take over one day. But that's not the main reason why I called you in…I've decided to once again arrange a marriage for you."
Those words sent shivers down Brief's spine, how could dared he?
"May I remind you that I already had a fiancé. One who I may I remind you I didn't mind spending the rest of my life with. One accepted by Mom, and the one you one day you thought wasn't fit for me." Brief said, setting his fist down onto his father's desk. Internally he was glad that he didn't use too much of his new found strength.
"I cancelled your engagement because our companies already reached a prospering partnership without a need for you getting married to Miss Shiraishi."
"And where was my word in this? If that's all, then I got nothing more to say. Oh, and my answer is no. As if I have any consent."
With that those words Brief left the office and walked inside of the elevator.
"Briefers! Brief! Listen to me!-damn it." David said before reaching down for a glass of whiskey underneath his desk. He loved his son, in fact much like his late wife god rest her soul. He adored him, it's just after he lost Isabelle he didn't know how to talk with him.
Why he couldn't understand, that everything he was doing, he was doing it for him? He learned that himself when his own father made him marry the person who became the love of his life, he could only hope that one day, Brief would do the same thing. At least before they would be completely drifted apart.
"Your father let you go that early?" Alice asked as Brief sat at the back of the car. Him visibly frustrated and ticked off by his father's nonchalant grip on his life.
"Go" He grumbled out, seeing that Brief wasn't in mood for conversation. Despite being her boss, she equally despised his father because of how much Brief was being held on a tight leash. The sudden shift she credited to Miss Isabelle's passing. She could only hope that she was happy with her efforts to keep Brief safe, in many ways.
Brief meanwhile kept looking through the window, it's been a while since he thought about Rumi, especially after he locked his eyes on Panty for the first time. He felt really stupid about it, as it's been years since they last talked. A girl that he saw less like a bride, and more like a best friend.
Brief sat all alone on a sofa, dressed in a black tuxedo fitting his 8-year old body well. Watching the people, various executives from both the Rock Foundation and the Shiraishi Conglomerate as well as members of high society from both America and Japan, slowly waltzing on the dance floor.
"I was looking for you; you know?" A voice perked up in Japanese, making Brief turn towards Rumi Shiraishi, his…fiancé. Dressed in a white dress with her long black hair tied into a ponytail.
"You know I hate parties like these Rumi." Brief said in fluent Japanese with a sigh. "I could be in my hotel room playing on my PS2 or read manga."
Rumi only nodded before sitting beside Brief.
"Yes I know, but we need to serve our role as poster children don't we?" Rumi asked, to which Brief only chuckled.
"Maybe, so can I have this dance Miss Shiraishi?" Brief asked, jumping off from the sofa before reaching out his hands towards Rumi, who took it with a chuckle.
"Of course Mister Rock" She said, despite being heirs to large companies, neither of them could their "engagement" seriously. This didn't mean they couldn't have fun any time they saw each other, especially the fact that neither of them really had friends.
So they slowly danced around the ballroom, smiles on both of their faces. Neither of them could really understand that they were supposed to spend their life together, but neither of them could complain.
"What do you mean I'm no longer engaged!?" Brief lashed out, shock visible on his face. The last few months were…tough on him, and he was only 12 years old. First he lost his mother only few months ago, and now he learned that his best friend wouldn't be his bride anymore. He felt so distant from anyone, including his own father. Despite standing less than a meter from him.
David only sighed as he towered over his son.
"We came to a conclusion that our companies are already operating on a level that an engagement is no longer needed." His father stated, but he knew it was all a lie to get Brief to be a bachelor again. He knew his wife resented the idea of arranged marriages, despite her approval of Miss Shiraishi. He knew that she always hoped that Brief would be free to make his own choices, so he did what was necessary, and was surprised to see his son's reaction.
Brief only looked down towards his father's shoes.
"I already lost Mom, please do not take Rumi away from me…." Brief pleaded, he didn't even want a wife. He didn't want to lose anyone close to him again so soon.
"I'm sorry Briefers, but the decision is final."
Brief couldn't sleep, in fact he tried to do anything but sleep, from playing on his keytar. To walking on the ceiling of his room in circles. The only thought clouding his head was 'Why? Why now?'. After all, supposedly his first engagement was cancelled because of his mother's wishes. So the only reasonable explanation would be the fact that his father found a new way to gain something and decided to use him as a trump card.
What could he even do? Pull him by the hand? Not when he had the proportional strength of the spider, not mentioning his own personal not quite so moderate capital he acquired by his tinkering on the stock market. And if he wanted to rub it in he could patent and license out his Particle Accelerator and the power plant he built out of it, and that was before he could walk on walls.
Those few hours ago, Brief felt freedom the amount of which he didn't experience throughout his life. Being able to jump around the rooftops and walk on any surface made him feel powerful, not because he could easily pick up a car, but because he felt no restrictions like there was no surface he couldn't climb.
Brief then turned towards his clothes, which were thrown on his chair. A devious smile appeared on his face. He could really get some air, even if it was well after the sun had set.
"HELL YEAH!" Brief, once again clad in his hoodie yelled out as he jumped across the buildings of Little Tokyo. Immediately his worries and anxieties vanished the moment he made his first jump.
Without hesitation he jumped upwards another building, running up its wall before leaping as high as he could. For a second he saw the entire district, filled with tall skyscrapers, office buildings and subway tracks. All for him. Brief quickly did a somersault in the air before landing down on his feet.
Brief took a sigh of relief, despite only having his powers for a day. He felt as if he was doing it since he could walk. Proudly, he placed his hands on his hips before walking towards the edge of the building. Trying to look across the horizon, find a clear path to continue his air walk. But before he could do anything he felt his "Spider Sense" kick in.
"What the?" Brief asked himself, trying to lock himself onto the looming threat. Frantically looking around himself to find whatever was supposed to attack him, before realising that the threat was right down in the alley between the two streets.
"Wait..." he said before realising what danger his Spider Sense was warning him about.
Two men were following a girl, and one carried a gun. There definitely was an intention for a robbery. Brief felt something, or more accurately two things. His voice of reason was trying to make him stop, let the police handle it. While the other was telling him that it will be easy with his newfound powers and police wouldnt even react. This drive to take charge of his decision, the ability to fight back. It pushed him forward, even if the situation was dangerous.
One of the thugs grabbed the girl by her wrist, before the second pointed the gun at her chest.
"Alright girl, we can do this the easy way or- "The man paused his warning as he noticed a hand patting his arm, only slightly turning his head before getting punched by Brief, letting go of his gun.
Brief then immediately turned towards the second attacker. Without giving any time to react he rushed across the wall, before jumping off it and kicking the man square in the face. Making him immediately fall onto the ground knocked out. Shocked, no absolutely frightened was the girl's facial expression before Brief removed his hood.
"Hey! Hey! It's ok! I'm not going to hurt you." Brief said in Japanese while holding his hands up. He used that occasion to analyse the girl's face. Her large bluish eyes seemed to match her auburn red hair with a star hairclip.
"T-Thank you." She said before running off, leaving Brief alone who only looked at his hands. It was there, he felt it. It was his sign.
"In your hands you have the power to change our world, make it better, and in your Heart. You hold the responsibility on how you'll use it. Please remember this, even after I'm gone, that with great power, comes great responsibility."
He internally quoted his mother while he realised that this encounter was the "sign" he wanted. He was given freedom, the ability to fight back. All thanks to that ghost, and he wanted to give that freedom and ability to fight back to the people.
He may be not able to fight on the same level as Panty and Stocking, but still he stood higher than any human, allowing him to step in and help in his own way. He could leave the ghosts to the Angels, while he could focus on the areas they didn't even bother with. The fact that people would attack a little girl with a gun. It scared him that something like that could be happening in his city.
He had the power, and now needed to take responsibility how he will use it, and he will use it to help the people. By any means necessary.
Brief smiled, before looking at the sky.
"Thanks Mom."
Brief sat in the workshop part of his laboratory. Still thinking over about the decision he made in that alley, becoming a vigilante wasn't something original. After All Captain America and the Invaders fought Nazis in the 40s before he sacrificed his life and died. So that fact floating around his head made the idea that he would go out and risk himself less insane. Hell few weeks he helped stop a giant blimp heading to the moon with Angel boogers. Compared to that becoming a superhero seemed normal in his circumstances. Becoming a superhero was one thing, yet creating one seemed way harder.
So he sat over his desk, a pen in hand and looking over a piece of paper on his workbench. Different pseudonyms and nicknames written and crossed down.
"Arachnid, Kid Arachnid, Arach-Kid, The Spider…man, it all seemed easier in the comics." Brief thought before taking a sip of his coffee, he then wrote another name.
"Spiderman, Spiderman…" He said out loud while writing the name several times in different sizes. He was getting somewhere, but felt he was missing something…After all in the comics there was a Batman, a Hawkman or an Aquaman. He felt that "Spiderman" lacked something. He then rewrote the name once again, but with a hyphen between "Spider" and "Man".
"Spider-Man…Spider-Man, that's perfect. Simple but enough to stand out!" He said to himself before turning around on his chair. While he had a name, he was far from over in his brainstorming.
"Now, I can't just be rooftop running everywhere…it's not like I can create …wait." He stopped himself before quickly rushing towards many of his closets. While he couldn't weave his own webs, he knew something that would work perfectly as a substitute, he had to thank his father for making him ride that elevator. the idea sounded stupid at first, before realising that it made sense considering his motif, spiders weave their own webs, and if the solution was strong enough, it would allow him to swing from it, now he only needed to find a formula for it.
"Mom's stuff, Mom's stuff, where is all of it? Please tell me they're here somewhere…Aha!" He happily said reaching out for few boxes labelled "Mom's videos and experiments". Quickly emptying every box filled with various smaller boxes containing samples. His search was for a singular object, that being a VHS tape with the word "BIO-CABLE" and numbers 15662, written in capitals. Alongside small boxes with samples and floppy disks with the number.
Just as he collected all the necessary materials he rushed towards his computer set, quickly putting on the VHS tape into one of the built-in TVs and the floppy disks in all aviable stations.
"Broadcast on all screens." Brief said as he typed on one of the keyboards, before suddenly all screens in the laboratory were showcasing the static of the VHS. Brief only pressed play, and looked in anticipation.
The video started with the Rock Foundation logo, before then shifting towards Doctor Izabelle Rock, dressed in a lab coat and her hazel eyes hidden behind black glasses.
"Hello, I am Doctor Isabelle Rock. Although if you are watching this you probably know it, ever since I began my scientific research, I wanted to create a tool for the betterment of the human kind, and believe what I have to show you will be just one of many." Isabelle said before pressing the button on a weird device that was set in front of a small standing piece of glass.
THWIP
Suddenly a white string/silk substance emerged from the device, creating a sturdy cable. As evidenced by the fact that Isabelle was leaning upon it, proving the cable's strength as it didn't snap under her weight.
"This is the Bio-Cable, something that I was inspired to create by one of my teachers from college. Doctor Curt Connors, who experimented upon genetically enhanced lizards and spiders. While biology wasn't my best suit, I've took a peculiar interest in the silk the spiders created and worked on a synthetic version that would be hundreds times stronger than even their organic variant." She continued before the video shifted to a showcase of outdated CGI, the simulation showed two blue rectangles, a white line between them appeared, seemingly representing the biocable. Before the scene then shifted to several squares, before threads of biocable appeared around them. Before the image changed, Brief realised that the squares were representing fundaments. The image then changing to one of a large skyscraper.
"With the Bio-Cable…we could not only use it to help Third World Countries by accelerating construction of necessary infrastructure, such as bridges. We could also use it as a fundament reinforcement, creating sturdier structures in places with dangers of hurricanes or strong winds."
"Or create material to make wing-suits so our country can assassinate warlords…" Brief said to himself while continuing to watch the video.
"The best fact about it is that the forecasts for production costs are incredibly low. We can send out thousands if not tens of thousands of meters of this lightweight cable anywhere in the world with little to no trouble. Thanks to the ability of having the cable being stored in its liquid form, which after being poured in a special tiny cartridge can be late brought back into its solid state, without it losing any strength. Placed into a device like this, can immediately shoot out a thread." Isabelle said while Brief looked at the video before glancing at the schematics from the floppy discs, containing the biocable formula, as well as schematics of the cartridge based on the sample box Brief held in his hands.
He then gazed upon his chemistry set, realising that he had all necessary materials needed to begin his project. He sighed, before then looking inside the box. Fiddling around of the cartridges in his fingers.
"This is going to be a long day, and I'm all out of coffee."
Brief readjusted the last panel he placed on the contraption he nick-named "webshooter". Inspired by the small crane-like device his mother made for the bio-cable. Despite the fact his workshop contained the best CNC machine on the market, courtesy of their partnership with the Shiraishi Conglomerate. The shortages of proper materials were a stick in the mud, so he had to once more resort to "budgetary" results.
The fact made obvious by two taken apart IPhone 3's which served as part's bins, most notably their motherboards which served as basis for the shooter's main software hub. While Brief did manage to crack the formula for the Bio-Cable in less than an hour, designing the web-shooter itself was a whole different set of tasks. He had some work laid out for him, as the floppy disks contained a detailed explanation on how the process of turning the synthetic form into its sturdy solid state worked, making the process of designing the right dispenser quire easy. Similarly, to assembling a device that would pour the liquid cable into the right container. Despite several instances of the liquid sticking into his hands and destroying prototypes. As evidenced by a stash of parts laying in the corner of his workshop.
Brief needed to make a sturdy device that wouldn't fail him while hypothetically swinging several meters above the ground. So he settled for a gauntlet like-device that reached from his hand until the half of his forearm. Using the sample cartridges as a basis. He created a revolver-like magazine that would allow him to rotate cartridges with the "web fluid" as he now referred to the liquid Bio-Cable. Six cartridges per web-shooter, since the sample box contained 12 empty prototypes. The magazine was connected with the dispenser, which was tracked by an infrared motion detector, which tracked the position of Brief's fingers. The dispenser was also connected with a screen that tracked the amount of the fluid inside of the cartridge.
Those were all the building blocks Brief needed to assemble, it took hours. So much so that Brief didn't even see sunlight for the entire day. He was tired, but he knew that it was a worthy cause. Even when the CNC machine was preparing the components, he worked on preparing the operating system for the shooters as well as on having all internal parts prepared for assembly, and if everything would work. He could easily assemble the second web-shooter without a problem.
"Okay…everything ready?" Brief asked only himself taking a sip of another of his now multiple digits mug of coffee, glancing at his laptop he saw that the system was ready. Quickly he reached for the cartridges, loading each chamber with the small rectangles. After finishing he then pressed a small button next to the screen, making it light up to live.
"Webshooter Version 1.0, Web Fluid Capacity: 100%, Active Cartridges: 6. Perfect." He read out before mounting the webshooter onto his wrist. Just like he intended, the device remained nimble and lightweight. The most important part was waiting for him, and that was the final test.
"Alright Brief, here we go." He said before climbed up the wall of his laboratory. High enough to face the intended target of his test, the support bar of the whole area. He aimed his hand at the bar.
THWIP
A thin, sturdy white string flew out from the nozzle. One that thanks to his inhumanly fast instincts Brief managed to grab. He looked beneath himself, all those hours, calculations, tests and dribbles would finally pay off. There was some anxiety, but thanks to the fact his Spider-Sense wasn't trying to take his head apart, in his own mind it meant that it would work. He took a deep breath, before jumping from the wall. Performing his first web-swing, immediately feeling the pressure of air in front of him, the kicking butterflies in his stomach, it couldn't have turned out better.
"WOHOHOHO!" He yelled out, yes, this was definitely the way he wanted to get around. As evidenced by the fact he performed several swings to each wall. Before performing his swing, which he ended with an upwards flip before attaching himself to the wall.
"Wow, that sure is…intense." He said to himself before taking a long sigh. He definitely needed some sleep before moving forward with his plans.
Yep…Brief was definitely tired even if he didn't want to admit it, with eye bags appearing under his deep emerald eyes. Yet his excitement only allowed him for a long power nap. Immediately after waking up he returned to work, assembling the second webshooter and tasking the CNC machine with producing more cartridges. While he worked on a more, artistic aspect of his project.
Out of all tasks laid out in front of him. He considered creating his suit as the most difficult aspect of creating his superhero identity. After all every suit is supposed to be iconic, yet still he needed it to be as stealthy as he could. After all he wanted to work at night, he wasn't afraid of the police, but more so afraid of Panty and Stocking sniffing out the ghostly scent and opening an Open Spider Season, and in the worst case scenario. He was afraid of his father, after all he was using the Rock Foundation technology, and if he found out…he would be put on a tighter leash than before.
He already had found the basis for his suit, and once again he needed to thank that dreaded elevator. The prototype wingsuit, while not necessarily the most stylish design. Fitted his needs perfectly, the form-fitting would make the air resistance lower, the wings could allow him to save on web-fluid by gliding on longer distances and save his own body from rooftop running and jumping from district to district.
There was only one problem…the lack of said wingsuit. His first thought was to try to replicate it with the amount of the samples of the same material he had available. Since it was a result of…borrowing company assets, from the R&D laboratories in Rock Tower. Unfortunately for him, he only had few rolls of black and red samples. It was enough for a mask, but definitely not a full suit.
The problem was in designing the mask itself, rather than assembling internal components. So he sat in front of his main computer station, a scrap book in hand as he cycled through different designs. Starting with simple goggles, which he realised wouldn't hide his identity in the slightest. If he wanted something good, he would take example from his hair. After all, thanks to his playful masking nobody could notice that Brief and Briefers Rock were one and the same guy, a little bit of lowering his voice made some work as well. Spider-Man was supposed to blend in with the dark sky, stealth was the key.
He drew some initial designs, most of them leaving his mouth opened. While he scrolled through various comic covers trying to find a decent inspiration.
"No, no no no! That's not it…I'm not putting a giant spider across my face. It needs to look practical, as practical as a tight costume can be." He thought to himself while he tried to use his geekiness to the max. 'Come on Briefers, what superhero swings around on a rope and punches villains who isn't Batman?' he thought to himself while turning on his chair, and no, Robin didn't count as well, although he experimented with a domino mask, he didn't like it.
Brief then blinked, before typing in "Ted Kord Blue Beetle" on one of his keyboards. An obscure character, especially after he was killed off. But the DC Blue Beetle wasn't of his interest, instead he focused on the Charlton Comics incarnation of the character, his eyes locking on his first appearance on a cover of Captain Atom number 83. With Brief's eyes locking onto the lower part of the art, showing Ted Kord swinging from his airship…The Bug, although Brief glanced onto the Airship, he locked onto what was he searching in Ted Kord's design. His mask.
His fingers already grabbed his pen and begun to sketch. Blue Beetle's mask seemed to be the best source of inspiration. Of course modifying it to fit his liking, most notably covering the whole mouth and changing the eye lenses. Rather than round he decided on a sharp triangular-like shape. Which colour would be decided upon the fact in how many materials he had.
With that once again got to work, luckily for him, creating right integrated circuits wasn't hard in applying onto the material. The problem resided in the fact that he didn't know how to saw, so he wasted few of the precious rolls before getting the material into the required shape. He then got to work on the lenses, what Brief wanted were lenses that could magnify and give him quick analysis.
He took apart some of the Ecto Goggles he was working on, after all he wouldn't need them anymore. So he used their parts donors, same thing with the mask's operating system. He simply recoded the code he already had written and synchronized it with the programme on his webshooters. While writing the new elements exclusively for the mask, adding a GPS system that displayed the city map, as well as headphones and a Bluetooth headset system, one that would allow him to pick up calls, as well as the DCPD radio. Because of course he programmed in a police scanner into his mask.
Everything was ready, except for the fact that Brief didn't have a material to cover the eyes. Brief walked to his drawers, searching for the right material. Searching for a one-mirrored material, which would hide his characteristic green eyes. Good news was that he managed to find the right material, the bad news was that the material's colour was red, combined with the fact that his future suit was supposed to be entirely black didn't sit well with the friendly demeanour he was going for.
"Well, you work with what you can work. I guess I'll just order some green lens material and replace it later." He said to himself before preparing the lens. Cutting off the right shape quickly thanks to the CNC machine. After that he soldered on the lens and connected the integrated circuits.
Finally, all the required equipment he could manufacture himself was done. He looked at the mask while he fiddled his hand inside of it. A smirk appearing on his face as he got up from chair, looking at his mask. It wasn't "suiting up" per-say. After all he still needed to get the wingsuit, but the fact he already felt like a superhero made him excited like a little kid.
Brief slipped the mask on, only to be welcomed by the red filter put on his eyes.
"Okay, so, if everything works then…" Brief said before blinking three times in a row. Causing the system to immediately light up to life. While outside the mask's eyes lit up in crimson red. While Brief smiled seeing that everything was working. The layout of the HUD was mostly inspired by video games, especially GTA. So a map in the left lower corner, a compass in the upper portion, and the current status of the webshooters in right side. All placed in a way that wouldn't interfere with Brief's vision during web swinging. He then checked if magnifying worked, the Ecto Goggles allowed him to magnify times 200. So did his mask, and while it caused some dizziness. He was sure that it would pay off in the future.
"Master Brief?" The sudden appearance of Alice caused Brief to immediately take off his mask. Before throwing it into a drawer just as the maid approached Brief. A tray with coffee in her hands.
"Oh, hey Alice." Brief said trying to sound as casual as he could. Alice looked around the laboratory, seeing that it was in disarray after days in working on his…projects.
"Master Brief, I know that's unprofessional of me to pry into what you're doing. But it wasn't to such an extent. What are you even working on?" Alice asked, of course she was lying, she was worried about him. She was used to him pulling all-nighters, but never to such an extent that he didn't see sunlight for few days straight.
"A new project." Brief quickly stated trying to change the topic as quick as possible. "You know Alice; I need to take a shower. After which, could you please take me to the Rock Tower?" He asked, to which Alice raised her eyebrow.
"Are you going to "borrow" equipment again?" Alice asked, yes, she was risking her assignment by giving a blind eye to her boss's son pickpocketing his company for parts. But then again, she was supposed to be on Brief's every wish and command. Plus, he somehow never got caught, largely thanks to knowing the new tower better than even the staff.
"I need some specialised stuff to finish what I'm working on, please Alice? I promise after this I'll stop pulling you into my messes." He pleaded, to which Alice only nodded with a sigh.
"Okay, but promise it will be the last time." She asked reaching out her pinkie finger, which Brief shook with his own. Alice then nodded before heading out, getting ready to prepare the car.
"Oh, and this time be sure to take your jamming equipment with you."
Brief was sweating waves from his forehead, locking his eyes onto his target. The military R&D department's storage facility. He reached out to the pocket of his hoodie, taking out a modified phone. A clunky device made by Brief in order to temporarily jam the tower's security systems, disguising it in a way to make it appear as a system bug. Unfortunately for him, the Rock Foundation kept updating Its security systems. Only allowing Brief a 32 seconds-long window to get inside and take his materials. Nervously looking at the progression bar.
"85%, 90, 95, and go!" Brief said before immediately typing in the key code before opening the door. Him rushing inside and closing the door behind him. While his main priority was to acquire at least two wingsuits and material so he could reverse engineer it and replicate it to the best of his possibilities. His eyes couldn't stop slightly glancing at other weapons laying in the storehouse, such as the prototype "tech-flight" designed for the air force. Brief couldn't help but feel disgust, especially when remembering how much of Mom's research was used in creation of those…things.
Brief then glanced at his device, 20 seconds. He needed to be quick, luckily for him the layout was well-organised, meaning all the codes were in alphabetic order. So with only quick glances he managed to find the "ASM" rubric.
"1961, 62, 63!" He said before quickly putting on a pair of nitrile gloves. In order to hide any potential fingerprints, before reaching out for his codebreaker.
Luckily for him, the codes weren't hard to for his programme to break through. In a second a drawer in the wall opened up. Revealing few of the prototype wingsuits as well few larger rolls of the tri-fibre material the suit was made off.
Without hesitation Brief took two wingsuits and shoved them into his backpack. Before taking few rolls of the material. Moving the rest in a way so that everything would appear normal. He managed to fill his backpack full before closing the drawer and running out of the storehouse. His eyes frantically looking at his signal jammer. Now only showing single digits.
"5,4,3,2 and out!" Brief said quickly jumping through the door. Letting out a quick sigh of relief, if he was there a second longer, he would have triggered the alarm and the armed security would gun him down without even realising he was their employer's son.
With sweaty hands Brief reached out for his phone, him barely being able to pick the number. Breathing rapidly in the process.
"Alice…please bring the car to the front entrance." He said between breaths, before he begun to make his way.
"Might I ask what's going on in here?" A sharp female voice asked, causing Brief to startle. 'Shit, don't tell me I got caught so soon' he asked himself while he turned around to see a female scientist, dressed in a lab coat thrown over what looked like a military flying suit. Brief then looked upwards towards her face, and while she didn't seem old, her work was taking a heavy toll on him. As evidenced by wrinkles on her pale face and streaks of grey in her black hair. Her brown eyes hidden behind an orange visor.
"Oh, Doctor Toomes…I was just leaving." Brief said, staring at the face of Adrianna Toomes, one of the supposedly harsher scientists in the whole company. But she was always held in high regard by his Mother. Supposedly a wizard of aerodynamics and electronics.
"Mister Rock, you should focus more on your studies instead of sneaking around company property again…Now if you excuse me, I am working on invention that will change aerial combat as we know it." With that tone the scientist walked pass Brief. Who only thanked god that it felt onto to Toomes. She always seemed to be focused exclusively on her work, which is probably why she wasn't liked much among other people in the tower. That and her voice, which always seemed so sharp that Brief felt that if she would ever scream at him. It reminded him of a predatory cry of a bird.
He only sighed before he made his way towards the elevator, he would be ready by tonight. Tonight, everything would change.
"This is the Daten City Subway System, the train ends its run on station Mini Shibuya. Please get off the train and thank you for riding with DCSS." The train's PA system announced as Brief immediately got up from his seat, he knew that he was heading towards one of the largest towers in little Tokyo. On top of which he could leave his clothes and not worry about losing them.
Quickly he left the subway station before walking inside of the nearest alley. Jumping onto the wall before climbing upwards, running upwards the concrete side as he couldn't contain his excitement, getting on top of the tower in no time. Just as his feet set themselves firmly on the roof. He begun to take off all of his clothes. Leaving him only in his boxers, he then opened his backpack. Everything neatly prepared for him. He put on the prototype wingsuit, feeling the weird formula of the material graze upon his skin. He twisted the dial, with a swish the suit became tightfitting. Showing off Brief's now impressive physique.
He then put on his webshooters. Making sure all twelve cartridges were loaded with web-fluid, quickly he threw his clothes into his backpack before throwing it onto the air conditioner, tying it up with his webs. He then looked onto his mask, and for the first time a thought of hesitation washed over him.
"Last chance to quit Brief…" He said to himself looking at the red lenses of his mask. He looked onto his hand and then at the street, several meters beneath him. But common sense was one thing, and responsibility was the other. He knew what he wanted to do, even if it was from the shadows.
He put his mask, the red lenses lighting up in the darkness. With that Brief-no, Spider-Man jumped off the building, and with that…the future hero of Daten City, was born.
"Yep, that's how it begun, if only I later knew what kind of a mess it would result from it…"
A/N: So soon? Yes! A small note, this two-parter takes place before the pilot chapter. It's essentially Brief's origin story, next time we'll see a bit more of Brief's crime fighting as Spider-Man. Especially when facing his first real super-villain in form of the Shocker. We also got our first tease at our future Vulture! Since I was thinking of doing a gender bent variant of one the classic villains. I just came up with the idea of a Vulture with a ponytail and rolled from there. Also some other things I wanted to clear out immediately. Rumi isn't an OC, she's a variant of a character from the 1971 Kodansha Spider-Man manga. About other Marvel references, as of now there are no other heroes. Captain America went missing in 1945, and Tony Stark wasn't kidnapped by terrorists yet. Although we will see more small references to further universe, they will not impact Brief's story nor the events of occasional canonical Panty and Stocking episodes. Regarding the events of Spider-Verse, first I want Brief to settle into his comfort zone as Spider-Man, before being ripped away from it. But for now that's all, if you want to leave a review to help me with my creative process. Until next time! And as always I don't own Spider-Man or Panty and Stocking. That belongs to Marvel and Trigger.