Chapter 5

Burns

Sam had spent all of the next morning pacing back and forth atop the shelter. She had her stolen suit on underneath a layer of lose clothing, ready to jump into action at a moment's notice. However long it took, she knew Leo could come for the Shelter out of spite for her.

Every little noise that seemed out of place, every car that honked too loud for too long, she was ready to pounce at them. Leo, like his mentor, was ruthless. He did not care who got hurt as long as he triumphed.

Hours she spent up there waiting for the inevitable. Keeping still was impossible. If she was not pacing, she was hopping in place or using a web line for jump rope. Whatever kept her on her toes.

The only thing that made it difficult to focus—beyond her anger toward Peter and his stupid motto—was her new ability. The other powers she possessed made sense, but the ability to melt something with the palms of her hands was unexpected. No way did Spider-Man have a power like that, so where did it come from? Was it just that her spider was different?

Whatever, at least it helped to keep her coffee warm, to the point of boiling.

A flock of pigeons flew by her head and almost made her fall off the roof. They soared just across the street to a bird coop atop another roof. Howard was there, because who else? He opened the coop door for them and fed them bird seed and bread bits.

He seemed to have been recovering, physically. A bandage was still stuck across his nose. There was a heaviness to his posture, though. The coop had an extra space now, and nothing to fill it.

Nothing but guilt.

As Howard fed the birds, the sound of a quiet 'thwip' could be heard as someone stepped onto the roof from behind him. He expected a familiar web-based hero, but instead found Samantha standing awkwardly near the door into the building.

"Samantha!" He called to her, "I could have sworn you were …ah, that's alright! How are you?"

"I should be asking you that," She approached the coop, taking a handful of the bird seed and helping him feed the pigeons, "Are you doing okay?"

Howard exhaled his frustrations, "I'm holding on. Without my wife, though …it's just so much harder, you know?"

"I know. I know these birds mean a lot to you."

"They're all I got left now that she's gone. For those …horrible men to do something so cruel …"

Her guilt made her hands run hot, so she stuffed them in her jacket pockets before they started to smoke, "It wasn't your fault."

"All I did was go for a walk with Pigey," Howard said, "Saw something I shouldn't have. If I had just kept to myself …"

There was no way to ease the blame he felt without revealing her secret. Howard had already suffered enough. Telling him who she was would not make it better.

She glanced up at him after a moment of silence, "Can I ask you something, Howard?"

"Of course, dear."

"If someone does a good thing, but they only do it out of guilt, are they still a good person?"

"Quite the scenario you have there," he hummed, "This about someone in particular?"

"Parker," she spat the name, "I know he does a lot for the shelter, but he only does it because he feels guilty. How am I supposed to trust someone that doesn't really believe in their own actions?"

"Ah, he told you the motto, huh?"

"Oh, you've heard it?"

"I don't think you know the full story behind that, dear."

Sam waved her hand, gesturing that he elaborated.

"When that boy was just 15 years old," Howard said, "His uncle was mugged and killed by a bad man. Peter says he saw that man robbing some wrestling ring just a few hours before. He feels that if he had just acted when he first saw him, he could have saved his uncle."

"That's my point though," Sam interjected, "Doesn't that mean he only does good as a form of penance?"

"It may have started that way, but I know him; I think he learned quick that actions—and sometimes a lack thereof—have consequences. He doesn't want anyone to suffer like he did just because he failed to act when he had the power to do something good. It ain't all about guilt, dear, it's empathy."

Perhaps, she wondered if she may have read Peter's words the wrong way. She just hated the idea of serving her talents to someone else being a requirement. It was her powers, so it should be her choice. No amount of obligation would make her do anything for anyone, ever again.

"Why does what he said bother you so much?" Howard asked.

"…Cuz' I've been there," She said, "When I was younger, I tried really hard to do things that made someone proud of me, but I never actually believed in them. It made me hate the things I would do. I don't like when someone's actions aren't genuine. It's …really hard for me to trust people. I need to know that their actions match their morality."

"And you think Peter's don't?"

"I …don't know, anymore" She leaned on the coop, "Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to be angry."

"And what's got you so fired up?"

"Everything. This city, the criminals that just hurt whoever they want, the suffering my friends are going through and how helpless I am to stop it."

"You're far from helpless," Howard assured her, "You defended Miles from Ernie, yeah? You stick up for the people you care about. You do good things because you want to share the kindness you've been shown. That ain't guilt …"

"…I was just giving a helping hand," She recited.

Though May was the one that showed her around F.E.A.S.T., it was the mercy of Spider-Man that put her on track. He could have taken her to jail and satisfied his twisted moral code, but he chose to be kind. He chose to give her a chance to be better.

He helped her so she could help everyone else.

A sudden scream, a loud thumping and an explosion of smoke just across from the shelter. Civilians started running away from something dangerous. Whatever it was, it was only getting closer.

"Did you see that-?" Howard asked the empty space next to him, void of the young woman he considered a friend. Only the sound of a 'thwip' filled that space.

…

Stomp after stomp brought the large machine closer. Black cars drove up onto the street and parked right in the center, blocking traffic and any travelling pedestrians. The men that stepped out brandished their guns and threatened everyone to step back.

From the leading vehicle came Leonidas with a remote in his hands. More of the Sable Mechs tore through the basketball court in front of the shelter. They fired off randomly to scare people away.

"I bet you're out there somewhere, girlie!" Leo shouted, "You like the people here so much?! Come out and protect them! Otherwise, we'll use them to send a message to the rest of the city!"

Miles had come out of the shelter to see what was going on, only to immediately regret it upon seeing the Mechs. The moment the leading Mech saw him, it made for the nearest vehicle and picked it up with its metal hands.

There was no time for him to get away as the car was thrown at him. Perhaps he could have caught it, like Spider-Man would, but he had rarely used his newly found powers since getting them. If he did nothing, the innocents behind the door would get hurt. So, Miles put out his hands and squinted his eyes.

The car came to a halting stop right before hitting the building, but Miles did not feel anything. All he did feel was a gust of wind as someone came swinging in next to him.

"Beat it, kid!" Sam scolded from underneath her armored mask, "Don't make me ask twice!"

"Okay! Okay!" Miles rallied the other residents, "Everyone inside! Come on!"

He gave Sam a quiet 'thank you' before locking the doors behind him.

She tossed the car to the side, shaking out her arms and she strolled down the steps.

"There she is!" Leo proclaimed, "You really do care about these people!"

"Someone has to," She growled, "The city, the mayor—these people are forgotten about by them. Not me; I don't forget, and I don't abandon people. You want them?! You go through me!"

Leo grinned, "With pleasure."

The Mechs began to fire and Sam leapt out of the way with a thwip of her wrist and swung around the open area. She made sure to stay high up so none of the bullets would hit any pedestrians below.

She slingshot herself toward one of the 5 Mechs and posed on top. The other Mechs aimed their sights at her but could not fire, "Friendly Fire Not Active," It said, "Please enable manually."

"God damn it!" Leo slammed the button on the remote, "Just kill her already!"

"Friendly Fire Engaged."

They fired a small missile her way, which completely missed and instead struck the other Mech down in one blow. The bullets from their mini guns followed her as she leapt to the next Mech and allowed them to tear each other apart. By the time she finally hit the ground again, only three enemies remained.

Another series of missiles fired from the Mechs, this time too many for her to web up after dodging and slipping to the ground. Two missiles flew straight toward F.E.A.S.T. and the web she shot to stop them was not quick enough.

They were stopped by webbing before hitting the shelter, but it was not her doing.

Spider-Man came flying in from above and swung the missiles back into the sky, webbing them up to contain the blast as they exploded. The crowd cheered as their hero came to save them.

"Scram, webs!" Sam scolded, "I got this! These are my people!"

"They're my people, too," Spider-Man shot back, "You may think I do this out of guilt, but your wrong. Tragedy may have created Spider-Man, but I forged who I am now! The people I've lost—that pain taught me what it means to care about something bigger than me when no one else will! I care about this city! These are the people that taught me how!"

He was standing his ground against her. The pain of losing his uncle is what originally fueled his crusade, but over the years, he began to understand what it really meant to be a friendly neighbor. May never had super powers, and she was always helping at the shelter. She was more of a hero than he ever was, and only wanted to live up to that.

Spider-Man held out his hand, "Are you with me, or not?"

Here she was, again, offered a helping hand when she was too stubborn to ask. She had convinced herself that if Peter did not truly believe in what he did, then he could not be trusted. Perhaps she was just blinding herself out of fear of getting hurt again. It was hard to accept, but Peter—Spider-Man—was as real a person as it got.

She swallowed her pride and took his hand.

Once on her feet, the Mechs began to mobilize against them. The thugs finally got brave and charged them head on with their crowbars and guns.

Sam and Peter gave each other a nod before leaping into action.

The thugs were easy for Spider-Man to round up. A few web bombs and tethers dispatched them with ease. When one tried to shoot him with an AK, he webbed up the weapon and swung it around and back at him.

The Mechs were only focused on Sam. She charged at them before diving Into a slide and webbing ones legs. Her momentum carried her around the Mech as she wrapped up its feet with webbing and pulled hard. It went down with a loud crash as circuits exposed themselves, and she used her scorching hands to rip them out. Two left.

As Sam exposed the circuits on the next Mech, Spider-Man fired an electrified web bullet straight into the chasee. It short circuited instantly and fell over. One left.

Spider-Man fired a webline at Sam. As she caught it in her hands, they looked to the final Mech and ran toward it with the line held low. It just missed reaching for them as they slide across the ground and yanked the webline through its legs. It fell front first and smashed its optical sensors. It was over.

Every Mech destroyed, every thug webbed down or knocked out. All that remained was the leader.

Leo tried to run after ditching the remote, but there was too much debris in his way. When he tried to climb over a toppled car, Sam landed atop it with her head cocked to the side smugly, "Where do you think you're going?"

He ran in the other direction, only to be stopped by a webline to the back as he was pulled back to the ground. Sam stepped over his body and picked him up by his shirt as she prepared a scorching fist.

She had not hesitated to unwind her fist immediately on the man. Her fist did not reach his face, however. It was stopped quickly by Spider-Mans palm.

His hand singed on contact, yet he kept his grip tight and fought through the pain.

"The hell are you doing?" Sam asked.

"You're better than this," Spider-Man argued.

"Maybe I'm not," She spat.

"Yes, you are."

"And how do you know? Maybe this is just the difference between you and me; I know how to finish the job."

Out of frustration, he tossed her fist aside, grabbed Leo from her, and knocked him out in one punch before webbing him to the ground.

"You think I don't know why you're so mad at me?" He asked, "Why you're looking for every excuse to tear me down?"

"Enlighten me," she bowed curtsy.

"I didn't save May."

Sam had no remarks to give out, her false confidence outing itself in court.

"I chose to save the city over the most important woman in both our lives. I know she meant a lot to you, and I let her die, but I did it because it's what she wanted."

"Screw what she wanted-" She tried to turn away.

"No," he grabbed her arm tightly, "You're missing the point of this," he pointed to her chest, "Of this symbol, and everything it is supposed to stand for."

She had no comebacks, only the silence of the flaming debris around them. When he released her arm, she decided to just let him speak.

"People see me and think they're safer," he said, "But it's not really me they're seeing. Spider-Man inspires people to be better. When I started this almost ten years ago, it was to make up for my uncles' death; I'll admit that. But then I saw the impact that I had. Sure, the Bugle made people hate me, but I also taught people how to look out for their neighbors. I became the person that cared about everyone, especially when there was no one else to do it. I have the power to make real change, so I make it my responsibility to do just that. When you help someone, you help everyone."

"And what about me?" She asked, her voice cracking, "Do I have to spend my life giving everything I have to someone else, even when I have nothing left?"

"You don't have to do anything; we choose it. I choose to give back to my city. I choose to act when I know I can help. Because I know what would happen if I didn't. It could have been anyone's Uncle that night, anyone's aunt or brother or father, but it was mine. I don't want anyone else to suffer like that. I don't do any of this out of obligation."

"…You're just giving a helping hand."

"I was given these powers," he said, "But I choose to be Spider-Man."

"…Who does that make me?" She asked.

"That's for you to decide."

By that point, the civilians started coming out of hiding to see the results of the battle. They took photos and videos and livestreamed to their social media; 'Spider-Man teams up with new bug-themed hero'. A hundred rumors would start spreading before it could be stopped.

"We should go," Spider-Man said, "The Bugle is gonna have a field day with this one."

He webbed away and vanished into the city. Sam stood there a few moments more, taking everything in, before finally following his lead as people cheered for her.

…

The authorities arrived soon after along with Damage Control. Thankfully, the Shelter did not suffer too much damage in the attack, but the basketball court was going to need serious repairs. Of all the responders to the event, the Daily Bugle was the most prominent. Almost everyone being interviewed talked about the hot new super heroine in the city.

So much for keeping her head low.

Both webheads hung out on top of the shelter just out of sight of everyone below. Sam perched herself on the wall and Spider-Man stuck next to her.

"I'm sorry," Sam said.

"You're what?" he chuckled, "Since when do you apologize?"

She laughed mockingly, "I can take it back."

"No, by all means, continue."

She shrugged him off, "I just …I was a bit of an ass to you. Most people I've met have lied to me and put on a mask so they can get something from me. I was worried you would be the same, because …you talk about saving lives, but you chose to let May die. Rather than understand why you made that choice, I just held onto all this anger for you. You didn't deserve that. No one could have made that choice, but you did."

Spider-Man readjusted himself, "Someone has to. Everything would crumble, otherwise."

"It would, huh? But why you?" She glanced up at him, "Why does it have to be you making those choices?"

"It doesn't," Spider-Man said, "I choose to take that burden."

"But saying it's a burden implies some form of resentment. Do you resent being Spider-Man?"

He thought about this for a moment. Not because the answer was hard, but because he was not sure she would want to hear it. "Yeah, sometimes," He confessed, "But the good I do outweighs all that."

"I just don't think I'd be very good at that."

"You've already been doing it. This way is just …a little more flamboyant."

Even before she got her powers, she was helping around the shelter where she could. She saved that man and his daughter, fought the Maggia, and protected the Shelter like a true hero. But, she was reckless. Her actions hurt Howard in more ways than one. If she really wanted to protect people, she had to learn to do it the right way.

"…Okay," She stood up, "Let's do it your way."

"My way?" He asked.

"I want you to train me."

Spider-Man jumped to his feet, "Really?"

"Don't get too excited; I'm still gonna do my own thing. That means I ain't taking orders from you. I fight who I want, when I want, how I want. I just …need someone to show me the ropes."

He smiled under the mask, "You got it ...Spider-Girl."

"Uh uh," She shook her head, "Absolutely not."

"Oh! Uh, Spi-Spider-WOMAN! Woman!"

"No, no, not that either."

"But it's derivative!"

"Exactly! I wanna make my own identity! I don't just wanna be an offshoot of you!"

"Well, what are we supposed to call you, then?"

Sam shrugged, looking down at her hand and feeling the heat come off it. Whatever this power was—Name pending—It made her unique. She should try and reflect that somehow.

"I think I have some ideas," She grinned.

THE STUNNING SINGE

Deep in the basement of an abandoned apartment complex, a broad shouldered, hard headed man flipped a coin in his hands over and over as he watched the footage back. The News just would not stop talking about it; Spider-Man's new super powered partner taking on five Sable Mechs and an entire gang of criminals.

It was Leo's fault, of course. He got too big for his britches, overstepped in the ladder of power. Those Mechs were supposed to be delivered to Leo's boss once he had acquired them, but instead, he went behind his back.

"Mr. Hammerhead, sir," a Maggia thug came into the room, "We just got word about the transport Leo is on. Should we intercept?"

"Nah," Hammerhead said, juggling the coin between his fingers, "He failed his mission and disobeyed me. Let him rot for a while; that'll teach him a lesson. Start working on those shipments, instead."

The thug left with barely a word, too afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Hammerhead deepened his focus on the superheroine on the TV. Watching her in all her glory made him smile with pride. "Look at you," He said, "Really coming up in the world."

Hammerhead smoked a cigar, letting out a puff as he leaned back in his chair.

"See you soon, kiddo."

End of ACT 1