SPIDER-MAN: ALL ALONE
BONUS STORY: SOLACE OF THE SANDMAN (PART 2)
NOTE: No art commissions please.
13th PRECINCT POLICE STATION, MANHATTAN…
With Commissioner Philip DeWolff being put into critical care thanks to his past encounter with the Green Goblin; a new commissioner had to be put in place. But nobody was able to get into the position except for a DeWolff. Meaning the choice was between Brian, Philip's eldest son and Jean, the up-and-coming police officer whose talent rivals her brothers'.
Both Brian and Jean were athletes in the family before their father's job inspired them to live up to his image. Both of them inspired to honour their father's work by enacting a plan to do something about the vigilantes and other super-powered beings involved.
"Hi everyone. Sorry about the messy arrival yet again." Brian, the bumbling but determined young man said as he walked into the meeting room with a wheelie whiteboard.
Jean, who was more mild-mannered and disciplined stood next to her brother keeping an eye on his performance.
"I'm going to start this meeting with the latest phenomenon going about New York City and that's the strange sand storm sightings. All these sightings had been spotted in places like Bronx; Brooklyn and Queens." Brian explained.
As he talked, the officers in the room nodded and jotted their notes. It seems after all that they took Brian just as seriously as his father.
"Two weeks ago, I was prepared to assemble the unit responsible for tracking down our supposed electrical escapee from Oscorp. But so far… No new leads on Max Dillon." Brian briefed his team, "But now I've got word that perhaps a new elemental of sorts is on the loose."
"Ah, Dungeons and Dragons?" One officer said nodding his head.
"I'm so getting back at you for that last game, Jack." Brian said with a smile whilst Jean rolled her eyes, "But the point is… The unit meant to deal with Dillon will now be tasked with this menace."
"Any luck with Spider-Man? Heard he's been a little sneaky lately." Another officer asked at the meeting.
"He's still active." Jean informed, "We've gotten confirmation about him helping out an apartment block lately."
"Oh, we will catch the sucker all the right." Brian said determined, "Been studying him yesterday and the day before to get a feel on how he works."
"You thought about any idea on how to catch him?" An officer asked with curiosity.
"Why it's simple. To beat a vigilante, I'm convinced we need to be like them." Brian said, "And I'm thinking, it's no longer viable for us to use traditional policing ways of crime fighting."
The police looked around the room puzzled. The question lingered about employing vigilantism in the police force.
"I'll exclude animal DNA as resource, if that puts anyone at ease. I'm not taking chances with biological stuff." Brian said back, "Besides, I'm just training to be the best now. That's all."
"Well, any luck?" Jean asked chiming in.
"I got the hang of holding down my opponents better during judo class." Brian said flexing his muscle, "And with a little more strength, I'd be strong enough to hold down a super."
QUEENS COMMUTE TO MANHATTAN…
"Peter. I'm so sorry but it turns out we have another candidate whose qualifications match who we are looking for. But we will keep the resume you sent in for possible future positions. Best of luck for your career. Goodbye." A phone call message finished playing on Peter's phone.
"Ugh." Peter said putting the phone away from his ear whilst looking outside the New York neighbourhood.
Sitting beside other commuters; he kept his calm as he was sure not the only New Yorker making a struggle. In his current time, he would only choose to be Spider-Man when there is a small problem, he can fix but with police hostility, he has chosen to lay low.
Suddenly, there was an incoming phone call buzzing. In a hurry, Peter quickly returned the call without checking who it was from and received a voice that startled him.
"Spider-Man? Where are you?" Yuri's voice said startling him.
"Huh? Sorry? Who's this?" Peter said pretending he did not what was going on.
Standing up, he looked around and thankfully New Yorkers like to keep to themselves with their headphones and sleep. Whilst he was meant to take the train back to his apartment in Manhattan, he could not wait to get off at the next station.
"Uh, it's Yuri. I'm sorry but this is your number, right?" Yuri asked through the phone, "Hello?"
After the train stopped at Myrtle Avenue, Peter quickly stepped out onto the station platform and began to speak.
"Hello? Are you at a train station? Which one?" Yuri asked again.
"I hear you, Yuri." Peter said looking around as he prepared to exit the station, "Why are you bothering me?"
"I need your help, like always." Yuri replied, "By the way, why have you been brushing me off so much recently?"
"Come on, isn't it obvious? There's no need for me." Peter said getting past the ticket gate.
"The city may think so, but I still think you are vital." Yuri said back.
"Listen, I don't know what it is but New York is under law enforcement like never before." Peter said, "I can do something like save another cat but I have to trust you guys for catching the robbers now."
"Stop being so stubborn and let me tell you the real deal. Have you ever noticed those sand storms lately?" Yuri asked.
"Could be a weather thing, I dunno. Doesn't seem like it's causing any damage." Peter said aloofly.
"Well unless you investigate with me then we may face a bigger problem." Yuri stated.
"You want to know something, Yuri?" Peter said as he slumped near a store window, "After all the things I've done… As Spider-Man (whisper). I think a hero deserves a break. And that hero deserves it because some of the things he did… Are of consequence. So, I guess you gotta find some other hero to help your problems. I'm not available. Goodbye."
Without giving Yuri her word, Peter quickly ended the call before sighing. Part of him feels bad that he had to brush off Yuri when people probably still need his help. But the guilt of Gwen still haunts him tremendously as well as everything regarding Connors.
"Is it still my responsibility?" Peter questioned himself as he looked at the ground and stared.
After groaning at the fact that he wasted his train ticket, Peter contemplated about if he should just walk all the way to Manhattan. It was then he caught what appeared to be sand in his eye.
"Huh?" Peter questioned before seeing a cloud of sand move in one direction seamlessly through the sky.
A couple of other people also watched and were mesmerised by the sight. It is not an everyday occurrence to see. The sand shifted throughout the air as if it were a creature on its own.
"Oh, that is weird now that I see it in person." Peter commented with interest.
It took Peter a couple of seconds before his curiosity made his choice, he decided that while Spider-Man was not needed yet, it was still something worth following with caution so that he may gain something out of the phenomenon.
104th Avenue, QUEENS…
Since the showdown at Oscorp, Yuri was supposed to be awarded a medal of honour for her endeavours but instead of accepting her reintegration as captain of her branch, she resigned out of weariness and pressure. She also felt that her alliance with Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen could ruin things for her if discovered had she continued working with the NYPD.
Parking her car on the streetside, she began her new investigation. Taking on a role as a private investigator was a liberating choice as she can decide how to tackle crime by her own means even without Spider-Man supporting her.
"This must be the place." Yuri said looking at the information on her phone.
Walking up to the door, she knocked and waited for a reply. Before the door was opened, a woman answered from behind.
"Is this the police? Thank god, you came." The woman spoke.
"Um, I'm former police. I'm a private investigator, I'm here to pick up your calls about a 'sand monster'?" Yuri answered, "Are you Mrs. Marko?"
"It's Alvarado actually. I don't use Marko anymore." The woman answered back.
"Okay. Mrs. Alma Alvarado then?" Yuri asked, "May I speak with you?"
With the door unlocked, Yuri came face to face with a Hispanic woman whose curled hair seen better days and looked as if she had a hangover.
"You… You definitely look like a cop." Alma commented, "Keemia, someone wants to talk to you."
Keemia arrived soon enough and greeted Yuri.
"Hello. Keemia? I'm Yuri. I'm here to know about this 'sand monster', your mother is talking about." Yuri introduced.
"Got any kids of your own, officer?" Alma asked.
"Uh. No…" Yuri said laughing it off, "Kids are too much for me."
Realising Keemia was still here, Yuri quickly changed her tune to avoid making things awkward.
"Sorry, Keemia. I didn't mean to say that. Could you tell me a little bit about what your mum was saying… About a 'sand monster'?" Yuri questioned.
"It's daddy." Keemia said without trying to look at Yuri.
"Um…" Yuri replied perplexed before looking at Alma for an answer.
"OK, to tell you the truth. The 'sand monster' is my ex-husband. He's a dangerous and unholy being who came here and threatened to take my daughter away." Alma said.
Yuri looked at Keemia and studied her. Her expression may be shy but there was no plain evidence of harm inflicted on her.
"Keemia. How would you describe your dad?" Yuri asked.
"He's a nice man." Keemia answered.
"I'm sorry. Uh… She doesn't always comprehend the situation she's in." Alma said with a chuckle, "I mean, just look at all the sand in our home."
Yuri observed from behind Alma the carpet and floors had traces of sand scattered. It was a nest of evidence to confirm the 'sand monster' had been here.
"Mrs. Alvarado? I'm going to need you to describe-." Yuri tried to start before being interrupted.
Turning around, she saw a police car stroll by and stop near the house. From the car, Jean exited alongside another police man. After exiting, Jean noticed Yuri standing in front of the house and smiled. Yuri widen-eyed stared back.
"Oh my god. Didn't expect to run into you here." Jean said with excitement and outstretched arms.
"Tsk. Jean. I'm surprised you'd show up here seeing as you are vice commissioner." Yuri said as she hugged her friend.
After Jean let go, she helped to catch up some speed on what she was up to. She and Yuri were college friends and went through police academy together. They used to buy drinks for each other before they became absorbed in the world of policing.
"Wow. I'm kind of jealous on the time off you got. Overseas training? That's eye opening." Yuri said.
"The French police." Jean reminisced before asking her own question, "So, I hear you're not NYPD anymore?"
"I've stopped. But I'm still a law upholder." Yuri responded.
"Yeah. Private investigating only works if people know you first and foremost. Which is why you should have taken those medals." Jean warned.
Yuri bit her lip, Jean is her friend but she remained sceptical about spilling the secret of Spider-Man to her.
"Oh, excuse me. We're here because of the 'sand monster' case right? And we've both decided to come here because the monster stopped at this house?" Jean asked.
"Um, yeah. Allow me to introduce Mrs. Alma Alvarado here and her daughter, Keemia." Yuri said, "Also, where's your brother at the moment?"
"Brian? Oh he's currently tracking the sand storms with his own squad." Jean informed before the two proceed with their investigation at the door.
BROOKVILLE PARK, QUEENS…
Late at night, Flint cowered in fear as he crawled towards the bushes. Unfazed by the twigs and branches, he phased through and hid. It was a rough day for a wanted man like him. He sat and thought about what he had been through.
"Forgive me, Keemia." Flint whispered to himself as he lay hidden.
But his safety would not be guaranteed when there is a man/monster hunt going on. The park soon lit up with flashlights as police worked tirelessly trying to trace his presence and soon, Flint was going to have no choice but potentially fight back.
TO BE CONTINUED…