Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 2

Chapter 5

Scrambling around, Peter eagerly went from one point to the next, checking each item to ensure that his solar energy device would perform up to his expectations. He only had a few minutes left before the board would enter the room and he would present it before them, so everything needed to fire on all cylinders. Admittedly, he'd been checking the thing and making little tune ups for the past hour, but anything that ensured the board's approval was worth it to him.

After completing the check yet again, Peter looked up to observe the board members beginning to file in. He turned away from them, shut his eyes, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He thought back to the encouraging words May, M.J. and Harry had given him this morning (his best bud getting a little ribbing in too, of course), each of them reminding him of the hard work and passion he'd poured into the project and to trust that. They also had reminded him that he'd only been a science protege since he was, like, five, so he had the knowledge and then some to go with the work ethic and passion. Frankly, their encouragement was why he was grateful to have people like them in his life, as his own neurotic, always-waiting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop brain would never let him actually logically think through that stuff on its own.

"Peter."

He turned to see none other than Thomas Fireheart, the big boss himself, extending his hand before him.

"Mr. Fireheart, sir!" Peter said perhaps a little too enthusiastically as he shook the man's hand. "I apologize; I guess I'm just really excited today."

"I'd say that's perfectly reasonable," the man replied. "But I must also say that, from what I've heard of the ambitious nature of your project, I think I speak not only for myself, but everyone on the board when I say that we're all eager to learn more about it this morning."

"Thank you," Peter said gratefully. His boss then turned towards the board members, who were chatting amongst themselves, some standing and others sitting.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the board, thank you for being here this morning," Fireheart began, his words prompting total silence and those still standing to take their seats. "Today, you will hear from one of our brightest minds, one who has not only created something impressive, but who has a grand vision for how his invention may help change our world."

The man then turned to Peter, gesturing his way.

"Peter, you have the floor."

"Thank you, Mr. Fireheart," he began before turning to address the rest of the room. "Well, good morning, everyone! My name is Peter Parker, and admittedly, I had an icebreaker in mind for this morning, but then, well... I forgot the ice."

Fortunately, his joke got at least a couple tiny but still noticeable chuckles, which convinced him that thinking it up hadn't been a complete waste of time.

"Forgive me," Peter said with a slight chuckle of embarrassment, extending his hands towards the group for a moment. "You see, I have this nasty habit of making terrible jokes when I'm nervous. Then again, I suppose that's only natural, because today, my hope is to show you not simply an alternative energy means, but the future of clean, affordable energy that is accessible to anyone. Today, I will be..."

Peter's words were suddenly cut off, interrupted by the worst possible sound he could hear right now: his phone going off.

"Okay, that's embarrassing!" he said as he took out his phone. "Excuse me just a second folks while I..."

He was about to just silence it and turn it off when he saw who was calling him. Peter hesitated for a moment, staring at his phone and withholding a groan as he considered his next words. Finally, he looked back up to the group.