[center][hr][hr][img]http://i.imgur.com/4BkayPC.png?1[/img][hr][hr][/center] [b]B R O O K L Y N V I S I O N S A C A D E M Y 0 2 : 2 4 P M[/b] “Okay, class. Now I want to talk about a certain someone – no, a certain [i]someones[/i] – who’ve made a much more recent mark in our world’s history. Can anyone tell me who those may be?” Miles stifled the yawn that threatened to escape his mouth and tore his attention from the ceiling, glancing to his right where his best friend sat. Ganke returned his gaze, eyebrows perking upwards as he scratched his cheek. Miles shrugged, nodding towards Ms. Stewart, who watched the class with keen, expectant eyes. “Anyone?” she prompted. “The president?” someone tried from the back of the room, voice tinged with uncertainty. “Yes,” said Ms Stewart, “President Kelly is definitely one of those people. If not for him and the Kelly Act, the world would be a very different place. But I’m thinking of others. People that are… larger than life, if you will.” “Superman?” “Yes! Good. Anyone else?” “The Flash?” “Yes.” “What about Captain Marvel?” “Yes, Captain Marvel. That’s right.” “The Spider-Men?” Miles straightened up in his seat. He tried to hide his surprise as best he could, with little avail. He didn’t know whether he should be anxious or excited at would be said next. He could never be sure what people thought about him; about the Spider-Men. It was always a mixed bag. Some sided with the Daily Bugle, absorbing and spewing its words as if they were gospel (SPIDER-MENACES! NEW SPIDER-MAN AIDS THE KANGAROO IN ROBBERY!), while others said they were heroes, just doing what they could to help out. Either way, Miles found it difficult not to take what people said to heart, and so he listened with a cautious interest, honing in on a dent in his desk in the case his attention would be needed elsewhere. “Okay, good. Superman, the Flash, Captain Marvel and the Spider-Men. Can anyone tell me what they all have common?” “They’re all awesome?” asked Ganke. “Ha. Maybe so, Ganke, but this isn’t the Superhero Fan Club. Come on. Anyone?” Ganke slouched in his chair, grumbling under his breath. “They all have powers?” “Yes! Very good, Lana. They all have powers. People like them have been called different names over the years. Charles Xavier called them mutants. Some call them metahumans. Posthumans. Others, of the more… [i]opinionated[/i] type, call them aberrations. Unnatural. Monsters. And then there’s those like Superman, and Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel, who use their powers to take the law into their own hands. What would you call them?” “Vigilantes?” “Criminals?” “Heroes.” “Good. Good. Heroes, vigilantes, criminals. All very valid titles, I would say. Wouldn’t you?” The class gave a chorus of nods and yesses. “Okay. Now, for your assignment, I’m going to split you into groups of six. Three of you will be pro-superheroes, three of you anti. In two weeks’ time we’ll be holding a debate, one group on each day. I’ll be choosing the groups. Did everyone get that?” [hr] “Dude.” “Yeah, Ganke?” They were in the cafeteria, sitting at a table near the back. Miles and Ganke chewed away at their food as students milled about the building, their individual chatter forming a wall of never-ending gossip and hearsay that breezed all around them like a pleasant smell. Ganke was a great friend – the greatest. When Miles got bitten by the spider, he’d been a rock for him, an anchor to keep him grounded. It was he that helped Miles come to terms with powers, and it was he that supported him when his uncle threatened to turn his whole world on its head. Despite his outward immaturity, Ganke was one of the most rational people he knew. He was invaluable. “Think about this assignment for a second. We could totally ace it.” “And how do you plan on doing that?” “We’re in the same group. We’re both on the pro-side. [i]And[/i] you’re an actual, honest-to-god superhero. We’re winning team material.” Miles scoffed. “Oh, yeah, right. Because I can just say, “As a superhero, I find your claims to be stupid, and quite frankly, offensive.”” “That’s not what I mean.” “Then what [i]do[/i] you mean?” “I mean, that… Hey, what did you say Spider-Man told you that one time on that roof?” “With great power comes great responsibility.” “Miles. Don’t you see? That’s the greatest bomb you could ever drop on those anti-superheroes.” “That’s… a really bad analogy, Ganke.” Ganke paused, then winced. “Ooh, yeah, I see it now.” “Anyway,” said Miles, finishing the last of his food, “I’m gonna see if I can squeeze in some patrol time. Cover for me if I’m late for class?” “You know I’ve got your back, brother,” he assured, winking. At that, Miles returned his tray and left, exiting the cafeteria at a half-jog. In less than a minute he was out of the school grounds, overlooking the streets of Brooklyn in a black and red suit. [i]Now think,[/i] he thought, [i]Where would Spider-Man go?[/i] As if reading his mind, three police cruisers sped past, sirens shrill as they flashed. [i]Huh. Well, that's convenient.[/i] He pulled on his mask, and without another thought, leapt into the air. [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/MLff2Eo.jpg?1[/img][/center]