Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 12: Target Practice

"Hey, girlfriend!" Liz Allan greeted Gwen Stacy as she entered Liz's apartment Sunday morning. "Kitty told me all about your getting the Kingsley job!" she continued, wrapping Gwen in a hug before the other woman had a chance to say anything.

"Yeah, I still can't quite believe it myself," Gwen replied as she sat down and took a sip of the tea Liz had poured for her. "Kingsley was pretty weird, though. Just the way he stared at me and the rest of the models was kind of creepy, though…"

"Did he actually do anything?" Liz asked in a frown.

"No, not really," Gwen answered. "He just gives me this really bizarre feeling. And then there's his brother Daniel-the guy's a robot who never seems to say anything. All he does is follow Roderick around, and then stand there and look scary."

"But you're still keeping the job, right?" Liz asked.

"I have to for now," Gwen grimaced as she tried to keep her teacup from shattering under her spider-strength enhanced grip. "Again, Mom really needs the extra cash. She's still going through a hard time because of the divorce with my dad."

"The hearing's on Tuesday, right?" Liz noted as Gwen nodded. "I'll come with you-it sounds like you could use some support."

"You're sure?" Gwen asked in surprise.

"Positive," Liz assured her. "What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't help you when you needed it?"

Gwen reached over and hugged Liz.

"You don't know how much that means," Gwen said softly, a smile on her face. "You're a true friend, Liz."

"Hey, I know you need all the help you can get," Liz assured her. "Just please, promise me one thing…"

"What's that?" Gwen asked.

"Take care of yourself," Liz told her. "Don't worry about Harry, Felicia, Marie-Ange, your money, Randy's dance video, classes, anything else. You and your mother come first. I know how much you can let these things get to you."

SPIDER-WOMAN #12

"TARGET PRACTICE"

I sit back and read the newspaper, pleased to see that my little stunt at the Libertine has attracted attention. It's not front page news, of course (the latest round of debates on overturning

Jameson v. Kelly does that, with Jameson predictably wrapping himself in the Bill of Rights and accusing Senator Kelly of running the Constitution through a paper shredder), but being on page six still suggests that it was shocking to most of my fellow diners that night.
After finishing my breakfast, I turn on the television and turn to the business channel, where Norman Osborn is skillfully deflecting questions about the safety of his operations, insisting that the investigations into his supposed illegal chemical dumping are baseless and that he will be vindicated. I can't help but laugh at this, given everything I've heard about Oscorp over the last few years. Even so, Osborn is a master of spewing bullshit and making it seem like sugar-he'd have made a hell of a politician.

It's as I'm thinking this that I boot up the computer and begin writing my first logbook entry:

Entry #1:

The Hover Disc is in perfect working order, as does the voice distorter and other aspects of the pumpkin mask. The Jack O' Lantern equipment provides full disguise capabilities such that the operator is not subject to having his or her true identity compromised.

I find the reaction of my fellow diners to have been extremely pleasing, my frightful appearance as Jack O' Lantern and my unusual behavior leaving them unsure whether to expect a murderous attack or enjoy their meals in peace. I now understand the appeal of functioning as a costumed hero or villain, considering the reaction of ordinary people to my strange costume and outlandish name. My initial suspicions were confirmed in that these citizens, faced with something outside their own familiar experiences, reacted with fear and suspicion.