[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/XV1PIyT.jpg?2[/img][/center] [color=f26522]"Half an hour, Gwen!? Are you serious?"[/color] MJ shouts at me backstage as I struggle to get my mind straight after the run in with the Enforcers. She's right to yell, of course, at least from her point of view. This show is big for her and the rest of the band. To her, I'm half an hour late because I just don't care as much as she does. She doesn't know that I had to stop both a bank robbery and save people from an explosion. Okay, sure, I didn't actually stop the robbery but I tried. MJ doesn't know that I'm a superhero, so I just stand there and take her berating. [color=ec008c]"MJ, I know,"[/color] I nod and look down at my feet. [color=ec008c]"I'm not going to give you any excuses. All I want is to make up for it by rocking the beanies off those hipsters out there."[/color] She considers it for a few moments. I know she wants to continue screaming, but the pull for the spotlight is even stronger than her anger. I know she'll probably be mad for a few days after this, but no way in hell is she going to not start the show. [color=f26522]"Fine,"[/color] her eyes narrow at me, [color=f26522]"but this is not cool, Gwen. Not cool at all."[/color] [center]**********[/center] After tearing the house down at the gig, Pete and I head back to Queens in the subway. After saying goodbye to the girls at their stops, the two of us walk home together, hand-in-hand. [color=0054a6]"So they threatened to keep targeting civilians if you interfere again?"[/color] Pete asks worriedly. [color=0054a6]"That is some cold stuff."[/color] [color=ec008c]"It's cowardly,"[/color] my words come through gritted teeth. [color=ec008c]"But even worse is the fact that I think it's probably going to work."[/color] Pete gives me some side eye, [color=0054a6]"How? You're not gonna stay out of their way, are you?"[/color] The question has been rattling around in my brain since the Russian strong man put it forth. On one hand, not trying to stop the Silk Cartel's takeover of the crime world of New York would be one hell of a dereliction of duty. At the same time, I can't put civilians in danger. The reason I am on this mission to begin with is to make sure innocent people never get hurt again under my watch. If I go after the Enforcers and their boss, it means I'll be knowingly doing just that. Then again, letting the Enforcers run wild probably isn't the safest idea either. [color=ec008c]"Until I figure something out, I'm giving them a wide berth,"[/color] I finally decide. [color=ec008c]"I'm not going to give them carte blanche, but until I can figure out a way to take them down outside of reach of civilians, I don't have a choice."[/color] [center]**********[/center] [b]Two Weeks Later[/b] I put the kitten into the arms of the waiting girl and rub the little fluffball's head, [color=ec008c][b]"Now remember not to let her out of the house, okay?"[/b][/color] "Good job, Spider-Woman!" the roasted nuts guy on the corner cheers and throws me a bag. Shrugging, I catch the snack and pop a few in my mouth before swinging off. It's nice to do some random acts of kindness, especially because I need something to make me feel better about not going after the Enforcers and the Cartel. For the past week I've stayed away from their operations, and it shows. They've been carving out sections of the city at an alarming rate, causing my Dad to really worry and work insane hours. Add on top of that the fact that since I can't take on their crimes, I've been putting away Maggia member after Maggia member. At this point I'm probably actively helping the South American gang take over the city. Which just makes me feel extra special good inside. Hooray me, ancillary gang war participant. It's made even worse by the fact that the Enforcers seem to be rubbing my face in it. They've been causing some serious collateral damage in their wake. No deaths, thank god, but they've definitely left their mark on the city. It's impossible not to notice. [color=8493ca]"The Enforcers, ladies and gentlemen!"[/color] Jameson's voice starts back up as I listen to his daily show. [color=8493ca]"A group of highly trained, dangerous individuals who have cleaved a path of destruction across our fair city. Banks robbed, property destroyed, and mayhem spilling into the streets. All the while the notorious 'Spider-Woman', someone who claims to be a hero and protector of the people of New York, is nowhere to be found. Why is that, INFO BUGLE listeners? Is it because she is afraid of four normal humans? Is it because she's unable to stop them? Or maybe Spider-Woman isn't the hero she wants us to believe she is. Maybe she's in league with these Enforcers and needs to be stopped? Let's hope Captain George Stacy can get the job done and bring her in. And who knows, maybe he'll need some help from us. Keep you eyes peeled, Bugle listeners!"[/color] Triple J has been having a field day ever since the Enforcers started running wild. I mean, he's been on my case since day one, of course. But this is different. He can smell blood in the water and is sending his little fish after me. His listeners, according to Pete, who's been reading their message boards, are all saying they're going to bring me down. Jameson's propaganda is starting to get dangerous for me, and that's not good. I need to take down the Enforcers. [color=ec008c][b]"Pete,"[/b][/color] I call my boyfriend. [color=0054a6]"Yea, babe. What's up?"[/color] he answers on the other end. [color=ec008c][b]"I'm gonna do something stupid."[/b][/color] [color=0054a6]"Oh yea, what's that?"[/color] he asks, half-listening. [color=ec008c][b]"I'm gonna go talk to the cops,"[/b][/color] I respond and hear him drop something on the other end of the line. [color=0054a6]"Gwen what the hell are you thinking?"[/color] he chokes, clearly eating something during our conversation. [color=ec008c][b]"I'm thinking I need someone to help me set a trap for the Enforcers. I think it's the best move I've got."[/b][/color] It's something I've been thinking about for days, keeping it to myself until now. If the Enforcers want to make sure they extra a civilian price for me getting involved in their comings and goings, it means I have to take the possibility of human casualties out of the equation. The only way to do that would be to get them away from civilians. There's no way I can do that on my own. The minute they see me coming they'll put normal people in danger. So I need someone to lead them to somewhere they can be neutralized in a safe way. [color=0054a6]"Ugh,"[/color] Peter grumbles. He doesn't like the plan, but I think he realizes it's the only way. [color=0054a6]"Fine. But be careful."[/color] [color=ec008c][b]"I actually need you to call a number while not being traced and tell the officer to meet me on the roof."[/b][/color] [center]**********[/center] [color=fff200]"I cannot believe I'm doing this,"[/color] Jean DeWolff mutters to herself as she takes a drag of the cigarette that hands on her lip. She pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and looks down at her watch. She has already been up here for ten minutes. Whoever is meeting her here, and she has a good guess who it is, is late. She hates when people are late. I know because she was my father's partner at one time. They were so close at one time that Jean was almost like an Aunt to me. The cop never had any children of her own, and she had seen me as kind of a surrogate, I think. At least until her and dad had a bit of a falling out after he was promoted. Still, Dad has put her on his new squad, so hopefully that means the fence is mending a bit. [color=ec008c][b]"Lieutenant DeWolff,"[/b][/color] I announce my presence behind her. She turns, startled, and points her firearm at me. I put my hands up, crouching on the ledge of the roof, [color=ec008c][b]"Listen, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't use that. I've been shot at way too many times the past month. I'd hate to get shot at by someone I'd like to consider a friend."[/b][/color] She lowers the gun, [color=fff200]"You know I'm on the team that supposed to arrest you, right?"[/color] [color=ec008c][b]"Yea, but I mean, this is parlay, right? No shooting or arresting?"[/b][/color] I shrug. [color=fff200]"Par what?"[/color] [color=ec008c][b]"Parlay? It's a...pirate thing. You know what, never mind,"[/b][/color] press my left palm to my face and wave my right hand dismissively. [color=ec008c][b]"Look, I need help with the Enforcers, and coming to the police is basically the only thing I can think of."[/b][/color] An eyebrow raises above her glasses. Her stance softens and her head tilts at me. I can tell she's intrigued. Whether that means she'll actually help or not remains to be seen. [color=fff200]"And what do you expect us to do about them?"[/color] she asks, unimpressed. [color=fff200]"We've had about as much luck as you have against them. Actually, scratch that, we've been trying to stop them."[/color] That one hits me right in the chest, I gotta admit. [color=ec008c][b]"Listen,"[/b][/color] a sigh escapes. [color=ec008c][b]"I've wanted to go after them. But the last time, at the bank and with the RPG attack, they said they'd continue to target innocent people if I interfered. I couldn't have that on my head."[/b][/color] She considers my words carefully, [color=fff200]"Let's say I do believe you. What could we do to help you? They don't seem to be dumb."[/color] [color=ec008c][b]"They're not,"[/b][/color] I agree. [color=ec008c][b]"But their leader, the Black Tarantula, whoever they are, is ambitious. Too ambitious for their own good. We use that hunger against them. I already stopped them trying to wipe out some of the Maggia's lieutenants at a drug delivery. I figure, you spread the word through some undercover officers that another shipment is on its way..."[/b][/color] [color=fff200]"And they jump on the opportunity to finish the job they start,"[/color] DeWolff nods along. [color=fff200]"It makes sense."[/color] [color=ec008c][b]"Once they're neutralized you can move in and arrest them,"[/b][/color] I offer. [color=fff200]"And what about you?"[/color] she raises her chin. [color=ec008c][b]"Hey, you guys can try,"[/b][/color] I shrug. [color=ec008c][b]"The docks on the south side of Queens. I'll be waiting for them there."[/b][/color] I swing away, hoping to all that is holy this plan works.