Volume Zero: Chapter 7, Defense of Emerald Crown Station

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The station quaked as if it were in the grip of an unnatural earthquake. It was the Psycho-Axe's and they were ready for a battle. The commander cursed under her breath and swiftly grabbed her radio, firmly strapped to her waist. "All personnel! This is Commander Stone. Immediate battle stations now!" she bellowed in a commanding tone. Suddenly, a piercing siren blared, ratcheting up the tension. She then look to the lieutenant eyes stern and commanding, "Lieutenant, rally as many officers as you can and fortify the front entrance!" the lieutenant immediately dashed off with lightning speed and urgency, understanding the order he was given.

Turning to Sergeant Vermella Bridget, the commander issued her next order, "Sergeant, do the same. Secure the rear of the station and hold the line there!" Sergeant Vermella simply nodded and swiftly left the room. The commander then fixed her gaze on the bewildered Spider-Man, who appeared to be in a state of shock. She then looked at Spider-Man, who was in a state of shock. "Spider-Man, I need you to listen to me," Spider-Man looked at her, his eyes conveying a sense of dread. In his mind, he felt that he had failed. He was too late to warn them of the impending Psycho-Axe attack, and he felt a weight of responsibility.

He had overcome many obstacles during his time as a vigilante, but nothing to this scale. Robberies of convenience stores, banks, car theft, and even small-time gangs. He had brought them down and triumphed. But those achievements meant nothing compared to this magnitude of the current situation. The Psycho-Axes are more cunning than they let on. They are barbaric, but smart and dangerous. He almost died while trying to infiltrate the Psycho-Axe base, and who knows what the Shrouds are capable of. He felt out of his depth, facing adversaries far more formidable than any he had encountered before. He felt like giving up.

"I know there's a lot going on right now, and you might feel like giving up. But you can't. You said you wanted to help, right? To help the people of Beryl-Vil, Vale, right?!" she stated with conviction, her words carrying the weight of a shared purpose. Hoping to reignite the fire within him, she looked directly into his eyes, searching for a spark of determination.

He stood in silence, feeling overwhelmed and unsure of himself. With a heavy sigh, he murmured, "I-I don't know if I can do this—"

In that moment, the commander stepped forward, taking hold of his shoulders, and shook him gently. "But you can't give up! Not now. Thanks to you, we wouldn't have come this far in this crisis. You've taken down several of the Psycho-Axe lieutenants. That's a feat in itself. You made it back from the Psycho-Axe base, alive," she said, her voice a blend of support and determination, her words meant to soothe and inspire.

As he met her unwavering gaze, he was genuinely surprised by the depth of her support. The commander then took a deep breath and continued, "When I look at you, I see a kid who thinks that he is way over his head. But this same kid did so much and asked for nothing in return." The commander sighed for a moment before continuing, "You defied all odds and you survived. Each perilous task I sent you on you survived each one. You're brave enough tackle any challenge." She told him her words carrying kindness. "It may seem impossible now, but we can overcome this. If we stay strong together." Her voice resonated with unwavering hope, her eyes reflecting the strength of her conviction.

"We need you. So are you still willing to help us?" she questioned, her words lingering in the air, waiting for his response. Spider-Man contemplated for a moment, weighing the options before him. He knew that if he stayed, he would likely be late returning home, and he dreaded the long explanation he would owe his worried grandmother.

But then again, lives were on the line. If he left, Beryl-Vil the officers would be in greater danger. Not to mention civilians as well would also be in danger as well. The casualties could escalate drastically, and if they managed to break through the blockade that was another grim possibility. Their weapons and vehicles could cause significant collateral damage across the city of Vale and their rampage might spread to the other districts like the residential area.

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