Swinging My Way Downtown

notyetcoloneldanvers:

Carol glanced over at his chuckle with a mirroring smile. She couldn’t even tease him since she spent a fair amount of her own time eating. “A good story, but a good truth, too. I mean we are supposed to be heroes and we’re all adults anyway.” At least she was supposed to be a hero. She had not seen Peter in those same classes and had never asked his program. 

“At least she got some good hits in,” she said as she studied the disturbed surroundings. Her imagination pulled up ideas of what had taken place here and she felt cold with focused anger. “We go get our girl,” she said with steel resolve. Carol crept close to the door and listened closely, not hearing anything she twisted the knob until the locking mechanism snapped and she could pull the door open.

Carol took a deep breath and pulled open the door to find the trailer housed a well designed open room with computers, electronics and other equipment. It reminded her of Tony’s workspace, but seemed out of place in a carnival. It was empty of people, but as she stepped inside she saw a collection of vials and a syringe on one end of a metal table. She did not know what had been in the vial, but she had a sneaky suspicion it had been used on Mary.

“So she was here at one point. Do you recognize any of this stuff?” She scanned the tables recognizing wires, chips, mother boards, fans, a whole collection of electrical engineering pieces. 

Peter’s face quickly turned from interested to sickened. All of these monitors covered every inch of the fair grounds, it was like someone had been watching them. He could see students playing games, eating food, walking around holding hands. The thought of them, even himself, being watched made his stomach turn. Even as a photojournalist, he believed in personal space. But this was too much. This, needed to be stopped by any means possible. Without hesitation he shook his head to bring himself to the task at hand.

Looking around the room he found the vials Carol spoke of, he picked one up to inspect it. “Diazepam? This is a minor sedative, but in the right doses it can knockout a horse. And in liquid form, it probably hit her bloodstream and she was out cold. But who would do such a thing and why her?..” No matter what thought passed through his head, nothing made sense. She was a normal student training to be an Agent of SHIELD. “Do you think they’re trying to send a message? The more I think of it, this could all be some way to get at SHIELD. The failure of security checks for the carnival staff, the kidnapping of Mary, the monitors, everything.. Or…are they simply after everyone with powers?..“ The words he spoke made him want to rip apart the computers in front of him. Even though he hadn’t told anyone about blue and red, he still felt connected to everyone he met. Especially Carol.

Peter looked at the computers in front of him and noticed there was a control panel connect all of them. “Maybe I can use this to access, something, anything.” He clicked and tapped his way around the computer with ease, but came into a problem. The main database was locked and obviously they didn’t have the password. In his youth he always wanted to do computer engineering, but biology always called to him. But he did learn a thing or two. Out of his satchel he pulled out a thumb stick, a very special thumb stick. “This is a hacking software I designed when I was a kid. If anything will crack it, this will.” He placed the USB into drive and let it work. “Cake.” Once the files were open he looked for anything special. Files on the campus layout, the staff, passwords to the SHIELD computers, and a file on every single student with powers. But, one file stuck out the most. “Arcade: Murderworld? Umm, doesn’t sound too attractive..”

This made sense, but unsettling sense. The screens of fellow students from a myriad of directions made her wonder what kind of checks had been done on the carnival staff that no one had noticed this little redflag.

“Going after the powered sounds possible given the hate I’ve seen, but it doesn’t explain Mary. She didn’t have anything that I know of so maybe she got too close to something.” She was thinking aloud to process.

She listened to Peter with a lifted brow. She knew he was working in the scientific program, but this was the first she had seen on hacking in his arsenal, and as a child no less. “Nice,” she said in approval as files flooded the screen and then she felt a thick weight in the pit of her stomach. “Sounds like a B-Movie’s C-level sequel,” she joked but given the rest of the files she wasn’t feeling the humor. She reached out over his hand to click it open, and studied the blueprints that came up. A round facility showing pulleys, trap doors, weights, and all other sorts of mechanics under the surface of the round building and up into the pointed ceiling. She squinted at the odd shape. “That stupid tent,” she said with a groan as the shape became familiar.

Peter tried to think what else they could be after? They'd need to get their hands on a lackey or minion to get any actual answer. The computer would only take them so far. As she placed her hand on his, his face froze for a minute. That was the closest she had ever been to him. Other than the occasional side hug which was all that he could handle, for the most part. "Ok Parker, you're trying to rescue a classmate. Not fish for a kiss. Be cool. Besides, she's rad and you're just...bread? That's doesn't rhyme. Anyways..", he thought to himself. Truly this was not the place or time for him to let his emotions turn. "Is it just me, or does that not look fun at all?" he said while looking at the screen with her. "To me, it could be another H.H. Holmes Murder Hotel. But, that couldn't happen.. right?.." Deep down he wanted this to be nothing more that a dream, and that he'd wake up any minute in class and realized he slept through an entire lecture.

Peter continued with Carol down the path taking pictures of anything that might look useful, if not now then later when he develops the images. “I think I’ve seen her a few times in the library, it’s the only other place I go if I’m not in the cafe.” He lightly chuckled. The missing pictures helped to remember what she looked like but not who she was. Another student yes, but what was so special about her that she was kidnapped. Questions filled his head as the my walked. “An assignment would make sense. But then again if word gets out the SHIELD is letting a bunch of teenagers do their work, how is the world supposed to trust them with the bigger problems? Actually, that sounds like a pretty good story..” As they walked Peter noticed the a disturbance along the path. Branches and twigs broken, drag marks in the dirt, and serval different foot prints. A type of struggle perhaps? Taken into the trailers? He bent down to get a closer look. “Carol, there was definitely…a struggle that occurred here. If she was an agent to be, she put up one hell of a fight, the teachers woulda been proud.” He followed the tracks right up to the door of the trailer where another piece of clothing was found. He then stood back up and stared back at Carol. “What should we do?…”

Carol glanced over at his chuckle with a mirroring smile. She couldn’t even tease him since she spent a fair amount of her own time eating. “A good story, but a good truth, too. I mean we are supposed to be heroes and we’re all adults anyway.” At least she was supposed to be a hero. She had not seen Peter in those same classes and had never asked his program. 

“At least she got some good hits in,” she said as she studied the disturbed surroundings. Her imagination pulled up ideas of what had taken place here and she felt cold with focused anger. “We go get our girl,” she said with steel resolve. Carol crept close to the door and listened closely, not hearing anything she twisted the knob until the locking mechanism snapped and she could pull the door open.

Carol took a deep breath and pulled open the door to find the trailer housed a well designed open room with computers, electronics and other equipment. It reminded her of Tony’s workspace, but seemed out of place in a carnival. It was empty of people, but as she stepped inside she saw a collection of vials and a syringe on one end of a metal table. She did not know what had been in the vial, but she had a sneaky suspicion it had been used on Mary.

Looking around the room he found the vials Carol spoke of, he picked one up to inspect it. “Diazepam? This is a minor sedative, but in the right doses it can knockout a horse. And in liquid form, it probably hit her bloodstream and she was out cold. But who would do such a thing and why her?..” No matter what thought passed through his head, nothing made sense. She was a normal student training to be an Agent of SHIELD. “Do you think they’re trying to send a message? The more I think of it, this could all be some way to get at SHIELD. The failure of security checks for the carnival staff, the kidnapping of Mary, the monitors, everything.. Or…are they simply after everyone with powers?..“ The words he spoke made him want to rip apart the computers in front of him. Even though he hadn’t told anyone about blue and red, he still felt connected to everyone he met. Especially Carol.

“I’m not familiar with the application process of this place, but I guess I can assume that you are no ordinary intellectual. And well, I can manipulate magnetism, toss around metal with my mind,” he looked at him, “you’d have figured it out sooner or later, roomie. So are you the missing in action 107 resident?”

“Hm, you come forth as being more optimistic than that, though I don’t disagree. Still, should have some ambition.” he commented, not wanting to sound like he knows better or anything, he’s just not so willing to accept yet that there’s nothing he could do to fight against the ‘cruel reality’ that he’s experienced so far.

"Recruited? Interesting. I'm really only here for education. Needed something a bit harder. NYU just didn't cut it." It was a small lie, SHIELD promised to keep his identity secret as long as he didn't cause trouble, but obviously that was asking too much. "What kind of abilities do you have? If you don't mind me asking?" Peter knew not to pry too much, especially with someone new. Except it didn't always work out that way.

“Hmmm. Every little bit helps I suppose.” Peter face smiled happily, this was a job and he had to get through it no matter how distasteful the situation was. A girl was missing and something needed to be done. Or atleast the ground work first, and then the heavy lifting. “I thank you very much Dudeson.” He didn’t mean to pronounce her name wrong, it just slipped out. “This interview has been very informative and I’m positive we’ll see the safe return of the young student.” Peter stood up and stuck his hand out for a goodbye handshake, still smiling as wide as ever.

marvelscarnival

“Of course,” she said trying to keep it light and congenial. Until he got her name wrong. Her eyes darkened, but the lightly held lips stayed steady. “Dodson,” she corrected sharply. How difficult was it for this peon to get right? She paused for a beat before putting just her fingertips in his hand. “I’m sure it will all work out.”

“You’ve been very helpful Miss Dodson, I’m sure all of us here at Marvel Academy appreciate your cooperation.” Peter let the camera hang back around his neck and took out the notepad to write down the words that were just given to him. “I just had a few more questions before I let you go. Do you remember the last place the girl was sighted? What was she wearing? Any information like that would be very helpful. We at the Marvel’s Chronicle just wanna try and help find the girl by any means possible. We are a school of heroes, mutants, geniuses, and then me.” Peter let out a laugh and smiled at the redhead. Journalism was the only way he knew of to get information without putting on the suit. Plus, it was about time he caught the scent of a good story. New York was always booming.

@theonewithgreatresponsibility

She looked up with a mask of polite concern on her face. “We don’t know where she was seen last. The agents who came to talk to us mentioned she had been coming out of the campus, but none of my staff recalls seeing her. Unfortunately all we know is what your school has been able to tell us. We are currently circulating her picture in case anyone sees her or remembers anything. If you’ll excuse me, I do have a carnival to run.” Nosy little dweeb wasn’t he? She held back the distaste she felt talking to someone who needed to work for a living as opposed to her who did it for a hobby.

Marvel on the Midway - PLOT DROP 03

Academy staff are searching for Mary Colina. Colina was an Espionage student, 19, black hair, 5′2″. She was last seen Monday night heading out of campus.

Anyone with any knowledge of Colina’s whereabouts should contact the main office. The faculty will be searching the carnival and surrounding neighborhoods of the city as well as questioning students.

A student is missing, but is it just the one? Can the staff find her or will the students need to take matters into their own hands? Surely the carnival has nothing to do with the disappearance.

The redhead stepped away from the camera of the reporter who always seemed to be hovering around the school. With a student missing there was the chance of more scrutiny. She hoped the carnival and new Arcade were ready to handle it all.

He chuckled in response to his light laughter and shifted his eye contact a bit to rid of the awkwardness. “Combine those and you’ll be living the life most dream of.” Even though he’s not too hot about fast food and the likes, Erik knows that it’s the common social convention to be obsessed about pizza.

Peter sighed in relief and let out a smile from the corner of his mouth. “Well atleast you have a name. It’d be terrible to know I have a stalker and never know their name.” He lightly laughed wanting to follow the library rules even at this hour. The thought of someone else in the building with them crossed his mind, but he had been there so many times at this time that it was surprise he finally found someone besides himself. “So tell me Erik, what brings you to this school? Or are you simply visiting us?”

“Thanks,” she said softly. “Quoting Star Wars always helps.” She sniffed and wiped at the wet trails on her cheeks.

Tony hummed, he had heard about the whole gas synthesise to achieve energy. But it’s not enough power to keep up with the arc reactor, especially if he wants to use his iron man suit. “Thanks but that’s not the energy I am looking for. Something clean and able to power say… a giant machinery.” It sounded far fetched and rather simple, but it acted a good enough lie for him. The genius smiles at the other’s rather cheesy joke, it’s been a long time since he had been able to hold conversations with someone who is able to understand him in in English. 

Peter couldn’t believe it! The statement doesn’t even sound possible! “Personally I would assume you loose information as take in more alcohol but whatever floats your goat.” Peter had done plenty of odd things, but mainly in his spider-suit. eating pizza upside down, reading upside down, sleeping upside down.. Yeah not too different than drinking and studying.. Maybe. He meets Tony’s hand with his own and smiles back, but the name almost rings a bell. “Tony Stark? Hot dog, why does that name sound familiar..Anywho I’m Peter Parker it’s nice to meet you! But yeah, I enjoy taking some time alone to just think to myself. It helps eve- WAIT TONY STARK?!?!”