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[b]Manhattan
July 4[/b]

[color=8493ca]"Spider-Woman. Now, let me say that again, true believers. Spider-WOMAN,"[/color] the voice of J Jonah Jameson blares through the internal comm system of my suit. One of the best thing Pete has given me is the comm system, which also allows me to wirelessly connect my phone. Swinging around the city is much better to the sound of the Ramones rather than the traffic below. Or as today, the grunts and growls of a possibly-intoxicated, middle-aged man. I'm still not exactly sure why I'm listening to Jameson, but I do have to admit he's fascinating. I can see how he managed to build a following of nutter butters. [color=8493ca]"Not only do we have some freaky government experiment running around our city, but its also a social justice, radical feminist warrior! Now you know I don't have to tell you, INFO BUGLE, listeners what this means. These liberal warriors want to change everything about your life. And now they'll send their freaky women to make sure that happens! Jackbooted monster women to make sure you comply!"[/color]

That scenario plays out in my head. Me and Wonder Woman showing up at some sweaty neckbeard's mom's house, kick down the door, and...what? Make him bow down to us? Do the dishes? What the hell is this guy even talking about?

I sigh and change over to music for the swing home. I dunno if it's because of the holiday or what, but criminals seem abnormally quiet for New York. In truth, it's been a quiet few nights of patrolling in general. A few stopped robberies and interrupted muggings is all I have to show for myself since the business with the truck. Not that I'm not happy I could help, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for more things like that.

As I fly over the city, my phone rings. I manage to answer it, and Peter's voice comes over the comms, [color=0054a6]"Hey! I know you're...out, but we're headed to Harry's soon to use the pool and watch the fireworks. You in?"[/color]

[color=ec008c][b]"Sounds like fun, Pete,"[/b][/color] I say as I flip a few times, just for the hell of it. [color=ec008c][b]"I should be back in Queens in a few. I'll head over when I get there."[/b][/color]

The air hangs thick with humidity and heat, so the pool will be realizing. Plus, I've seen more of Harry's dad than Harry since school let out. MJ keeps saying he's been busy setting up college visits, but I kinda feel like there's some trouble in paradise on that front. I hope I'm wrong, but my gut rarely is, much to my friends' annoyance.

As I cross over the Queensborough Bridge, I notice something weird going on near the Ravenswood Power Plant across the way. A ship carrying containers is pulling up to the docks there, which any other day would be normal. But on July 4th? At nine o'clock at night? Yea, that's weird, to say the least. On the dock, vans wait for, what I assume, is a shipment. The question is, what could possibly be getting delivered at this point in time?

[color=ec008c][b]"Nothing good, I bet,"[/b][/color] I mumble to myself and divert my course towards the meeting. Queens Bridge Park has a few people milling about it, so I land in the wooded area the closest to the power station.

I land with a soft thud in the dried out grass, scaring two twenty-somethings making out, safely hidden by the foliage. My eyes go big and I stammer to try and apologize. The girl attempts to pull her shirt down over the polka dotted bra the guy was really struggling with. He gets up, obviously drunk and no where near coherent. My eyes roll and I fire a small amount of webbing over his mouth to shut him up, [color=ec008c][b]"Oh stop. Don't worry, it'll dissolve with enough water, which you very clearly need. And you...in public? Come on. He's not cute enough for that."[/b][/color]

Moving on and through the trees of the park, I come up to the edge of the power plant, finding a high security fence surrounding it. Not a problem, as a simple jump takes me over to the other side. There, I find tall tanks that once held coal, now rusting since the plant changed over to natural gas. A catwalk runs from tank to tank, right over the place the cars are sitting. Slowly, I climb up the tanks and slink over the catwalk, perching myself above the vans. 

Below, I see two men standing side-by-side as the boat pulls up to the dock. They could not be dressed and more different, even if they are both of bulky builds. One is dressed to the nines, in a blue and grey pinstripe suit. It's obnoxiously Yankee-like, coming from this long-suffering Mets fan. His black hair is slicked back over a weirdly-flat head. The dude looks like an anvil. The other man is in a green, striped t-shirt and jeans, his brown hair receding dangerously close to the back of his head. Behind them are the vans with their men, waiting at the ready for their merchandise. 

[color=a36209]"This stuff better be as good as Rose says,"[/color] the man in green grumbles with a gruff, workman-like voice. [color=a36209]"I don't like being exposed like this after the bank job the other night. Someone's gunnin' for us."[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"Relax, Marko, would ya?"[/color] Pinstripes responds, sounding like someone doing a terrible impersonation of James Cagney. [color=7ea7d8]"Anyone gunnin' for the Maggia is gunnin' ta sleep with tha fishes. The Rose is tha best acquisition guy in tha business. We're gonna make a killing on this blow. Besides, Silvermane owns thaunion that works this place. We're safe as can be."[/color]

[color=ec008c][b]"Jesus did these guys major in 'Stereotypical Gangster' in college?"[/b][/color]

The boat finally finishes pulling up to the dock, and as the gangplank rolls down, a man in a jet black suit strolls confidently down with it. He has a blood red pocket square, and a rose red mask covering his face, with sunglasses covering his eyes. At night. Sun glasses at night. I seriously cannot believe this. The three of them look like professional wrestlers. But like, not good ones. The ones that get thrown out of the Royal Rumble in a few seconds.

[color=9e0039]"Gentlemen, gentlemen,"[/color] the masked man greets the others with a slight Cuban accent, [color=9e0039]"I am blessed to find you in good health! And I'm sure, in good fortunte. Well, if not before, you are now. This is the finest shipment I've ever brought to New York. All for the benefit of the Maggia."[/color]

[color=a36209]"Cut the shit, Rose,"[/color] the one called Marko barks at the smuggler. He turns to the men by the vans, [color=a36209]"Load up!"[/color]

[color=9e0039]"Is that how you greet an old friend?"[/color] The Rose smiles, but with a hint of malice.

[color=7ea7d8]"Ignore 'em,"[/color] Pinstripe waves his hand in Marko's direction. He picks up a briefcase and hands it to the drug runner, [color=7ea7d8]"Compliments of Silvermane."[/color]

Before he can take the case, however, my spider sense explodes with a warning. I spin around to try and locate the source of the danger. My eyes adjust from the bright lights to the darkened area away from the docks. Squinting in an attempt to see what the hell is going on, I fail to do so before the gunfire starts. Automatic, high powered rifles explode, ripping holes in the vans and downing half of the gangsters' men in the process. The Rose orders his men on the boat to retaliate, and they fire wildly into the dark. Above the river behind the gunfight, fireworks explode, bathing the bloodbath in red and blue hues.

[color=ec008c][b]"Dad was right,"[/b][/color] the realization comes to me. A gang war is here. Who knows why. Dad always says The Kingpin, whoever he is, keeps the families in line and keeps peace in New York. At least he did. Maybe there's a new player on the scene.

Well whoever they are, they outfitted their men with some fancy gear. They'll massacre the men on the dock if nothing's done. I didn't get into this to save gangsters, but I'll be damned if I let men get gunned down like dogs.

The [url=https://youtu.be/krokQtkvd9M]song changes over on my headphones[/url], and I swing down, marking five men, all dressed in black in a firing line moving forward at a steady place. I land between the two on my left. One is surprised, and turns, only to get a stiff punch in the face. When the other hears the commotion he turns his head, but not his body. I fire a webline to his gun and yank it from his hand, spinning him towards my rotating foot, clocking him across the jaw.

With the webline still attached to the rifle, I swing it above my head and bring it crashing down into the bridge of the nose of the third man, instantly dropping him. The fourth is the first to actually turn his weapon on me, but I clog it up with a well-aimed shot of web. The gun backfires strongly into his shoulder, and I hear it pop out of its socket and him scream in pain. I get low and make sure I stay positioned behind him as he drops to his knees, ensuring the fifth and final commando can't fire on me. When I make it to the injured man, I grab him and toss him into the final attacker, before securing both of them to the ground with webbing.

[color=a36209]"Wha...what the shit just happened?"[/color] I hear Marko ask in amazement.

Suddenly, I appear above him, standing on one of the vans. Behind me, a fallen spotlight illuminates me in silhouette, and I say mischievously, [color=ec008c][b]"I happened."[/b][/color] 

[color=7ea7d8]"Cripes!"[/color] Pinstripe yells in panicked surprise, wildly pointing his handgun my way. [color=7ea7d8]"It's Spida-Woman!"[/color]

His hand is quickly stuck to the side of the van, and I flip over Marko, dragging two weblines over his arms and ore-or-less cocooning him to the side of the van. Behind me, the other van speeds off holding their surviving backup. Meanwhile, the Rose and his men have already got the boat moving away from the docks, and I can hear police sirens in the distance.

[color=a36209]"I dunno who you think you are,"[/color] Marko fumes, [color=a36209]"but you just crossed the Maggia. You ain't gonna get away with that."[/color]

[color=ec008c][b]"Yea, well,"[/b][/color] I flick him on the forehead, [color=ec008c][b]"pretty sure I just saved your ass, buddy. Or should I have let the trained men with high power rifles go? Was that part of your plan? Enjoy the night in prison. It's the least you deserve for making me miss the fireworks. I love fireworks. And whoever your boss is, tell him Spider-Woman says these streets are no longer safe for the likes of you. Yea. That sounds vaguely threatening enough. Bye!"[/b][/color]

I swing off as the squad cars scream into the parking lot of the power plant. I don't know if it was a great idea to threaten the mob, but hey, what else are superheroes supposed to do?