Ultimate Spider-Woman: Change With the Light

Chapter 105: Flight Of The Killer Bee

"You didn't have to do this, Gwen," Randy Robertson said to his girlfriend before taking another bite of his kitfo.

"Maybe not, but you always spoil me," Gwen Stacy said, a playful smile on her face. "That gives me the legal right to spoil you right back. How is it?"

"Delicious," Randy said, returning Gwen's smile. "You definitely picked the perfect place."

Gwen and Randy were dining at the House Of Menelik, an upscale restaurant that served some of the finest Ethiopian cuisine in New York. Named for the Ethiopian king that defeated an Italian attempt to colonize his country, the House of Menelik was popular with African-American intellectuals, entertainers and politicians, as well as foreign dignitaries from African countries. Randy particularly enjoyed the restaurant's ambience and decor, which spoke to Africa's rich cultural heritage.

"I have to ask, though," Randy said, "how did you get us a table here? It's pretty upscale, and…well, no offense, but…"

"None taken," Gwen said, touching his arm reassuringly. "I've been plugging Derrick Deja and Tom Ferguson's Better In The Dark podcast on Fire Hearts-Fire Passion," she continued, referring to her social media network, "and Tom asked if he could return the favor somehow. He knows one of the managers, so…"

Randy just smiled and finished off his kitfo. Derrick Deja and Tom Ferguson hosted an entertainment talk show and podcast at HABQ-FM, the radio station Randy worked at. They also produced and directed independent plays, and both Randy and Gwen had appeared in their works.

"It's kind of expensive here, though," Randy said when he finished eating. "Are you sure-"

"Of course I am," Gwen said, touching him reassuringly again. "You just do so much for me, it's the least I can do."

Randy's smile widened at that. For most of the time they'd been dating, Gwen had been strapped for cash. Randy sometimes had to pay for her when they went out, and she'd never been happy about it. Her career was picking up recently, and she had some money to spend.

And if Gwen wanted to spend it on him, who was he to argue?

SPIDER-WOMAN #105

FLIGHT OF THE KILLER BEE

I am you and you are me.

I am we and we are I.

I am everyone, and everyone is me.

They hate me for following my natural instincts, they hate you for following your natural instincts.

They hate all of us.

But we will return their favors in kind, myself and my kin, so intertwined and yet so distinct.

Even one of us can be fatal, and together we are a living nightmare.

I am Swarm.

You are Swarm.

We are Swarm.

"Three weeks?" Gwen asked her friend Liz Allan in surprise as they walked down the subway stairs. "You're not doing it on the Fourth of July weekend?"

"A lot of our relatives already have plans for the Fourth," Liz said, shaking her head. "It wouldn't be fair to make them have to drop everything at the last minute."

Gwen had to admit that made sense. Still, she could hardly believe that it would all happen on July 10, in just under three weeks.

"So you're really going through with it, huh?" Gwen said.

"After everything Harry and I have been through, we deserve it," Liz said. "I know getting married is a big step, but I really think Harry and I are ready."