Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 30: Behind the Mask: Please Allow Me

"You're kicking too much with just the ball of your foot," Gwen Stacy coached Kitty Pryde as they worked out in the apartment they shared. "You'll deliver a stronger blow if you hit the guy with your entire sole!"

Breathing heavily, Kitty shifted her feet before she kicked again, this time landing a good, solid blow on the padding Gwen was using to absorb the blows. They'd been forced to improvise by duct taping some couch pillows to a pair of old gardening gloves that Gwen wore on her hands, but it got the job done.

"You're coming along really well, Kitty," Gwen reassured her as they took five and sat down to drink some water. "Mr. Tajiri would be really impressed."

"Mr. Tajiri?" Kitty asked after she'd finally set down her water bottle.

"My old martial arts teacher," Gwen explained. "He taught me everything I know."

"Okay, yeah," Kitty nodded. "But I've got to say, Gwen-I really appreciate your teaching me this self-defense stuff."

"Well, why wouldn't I?" Gwen asked in confusion. "Especially with all the crap you have to go through for being a mutant."

"At least it's been quiet the last few weeks," Kitty sighed. "I just wish I didn't have to do this."

"It's not just because you're a mutant, though," Gwen pointed out.

"What do you mean?" Kitty blinked in surprise.

"We live in New York, remember?" Gwen reminded her. "New York City? Highest crime rate in the nation? And remember who we are? Young coeds? Living alone? Sometimes have to go out in public in the evenings?"

"Yeah," Kitty frowned. "I mean, it's not like this neighborhood is that bad, but-"

"-but you never know what might happen," Gwen reminded her. "And don't forget-supervillains can strike just about anywhere."

"It's a hell of a town, isn't it?" Kitty quoted in a singsong voice as they returned to their sparring.

SPIDER-WOMAN #30

BEHIND THE MASK, PART TWO

"PLEASE ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF"

Early August was one of Roderick Kingsley's favorite times of year. Not only was he able to watch the money roll in from the annual sales of his summer collections, he took a couple of weeks to relax from his busy schedule to enjoy the summer sun at his Long Island mansion. Normally he would be in the French Riviera by now, but circumstances required that he stay in New York. Fortunately, that was the advantage of modern communications-in 2007, technology like Facebook and Skype allowed business owners to stay in touch with their companies from almost anywhere in the world.

He had just finished another online meeting with his board of directors when his wife had come down to sit next to him, a pair of martinis in her hands. Handing one to him, Rebecca Kingsley began sipping at the other with satisfaction as Roderick rubbed at his eyes wearily.

"Stirred, not shaken?" he asked, sipping at his own drink.

"Always," Rebecca assured him. "So, what exactly are you planning?"

"Well, I've got those appointments at the Bar With No Name over the next few days," Kingsley reminded her. "It's really a high class establishment, except for the supervillain riffraff."

"Aren't you worried about being seen in a public place with a bunch of known criminals?" Rebecca raised an eyebrow.

"What do you think the disguise is for?" Kingsley smirked. "No one will recognize me. Trust me, it'll be fine."