A Meeting Between Opposing Forces

"Alert the police to a robbery-in-progress at this address. Also, let Captain Abner know of my whereabouts."

[/Acknowledged. Sending . . . ]

The doorbell of the store would ring as someone would step inside, although this particular brand of person did not where the shopper attire of baggy sweatpants and a casual hoodie. Instead, a red-and-black skintight suit would be clear for all to see. A casual glance was spared across the room before the new visitor walked forward. Standing across the room from the armed intruder, towards the front of the store, stood the figure in the red ensemble, a webbed patterned marking the red mask of the suit before leading down towards the torso. It showcased a simple spider logo. The sleek dressed newcomer tapped his chest a few times with the fingers of both hands, having an almost cocky slant to his whole figure, a confident tilt of the arms and body to one side, as if he was unconcerned with the whole situation.

"Hey, dude. If you're going to shoot anyone, shoot me. Might be therapeutic for both of us."

Spider-Bite was here.

And he was cracking jokes once again.

Another tap on the chest.

"But I don't exactly recommend it. How about you put the gun down and go home? We can even talk about what's wrong while we do that. Alright?"

Despite his easy posture, Cassidy was prepared to snap both arms out at a moment's notice should the robber decide to turn the weapon on him. Two web-lines would fire, one to connect to the crook's chest while the other would go for the weapon, straight for the barrel. Even if it happened to fire, that web-line should hold and have it possibly backfire before being yanked away. The very same strategy he planned for the man with the gun if things went south, planning to reel him in with the first line and deliver a swift kick to send the man into one of the walls before sealing him to the wall with more pseudo-silk.

Wait, why was no one moving? This was not right. Something did not sit right. Cassidy's eyes glanced from one side of the room to the other as his lenses remained forward, narrowing slightly in anticipation. Why was no one responding? Then, he heard the door lock behind him. How did that happen? What was happening? Nothing on the sixth sense, so he assumed it was automated rather than done by hand. Was there something odd about the door before he walked in? That could wait later. Right now, his eyes scanned the entirety of the store, settling on the two men. The cashier and the robber. They were the only ones here. No one else. Not another heartbeat, not another soul. His sixth sense and sensors confirmed that much. As a door in the back opened, a woman stepped out. Quite the looker too with a rather formal yet older styled fashion of dress with a small bow and extended collars.

[/Warning! Connection to main cloud server compromised! Unable to establish connection. System functions still operational.]

What did this woman do? Who was she? And why did she have a gun pointed at Cassidy? Along with producing the gun, her slender hands pulled a small device from within her suit. The lenses narrowed as he leaned forward, bending his knees and spreading his arms out a little to get ready to leap into action. His built-in computer system into the new suit were telling the off-guard vigilante that it was a jammer, but offline. Other sensors were running to see if they could locate the other jammers, wherever they may be. Although, Cassidy would not need to know their locations to render them useless. After all, the young genius had a few ideas of how to get out of this situation.

And about half a dozen more for how to disarm and neutralize this unknown female before him. He needed to keep her talking.

Time for that ol' Spidey charm.

Spider-Bite brought his hands up to about a little above shoulder level with open palms and shrugged, "Y'know, I'm more receptive to roses and chocolates than a firearm. I'll even settle for a ten-dollar gift card."

Nothing but a similar nonchalance that the woman was exhibiting would be found from Cassidy. Another added benefit of the mask, the way it muffled his voice on top of the voice modulator installed to help tweak it here and there, was that no one could tell what he was thinking from under it. Only the lenses could convey a few emotions, and it was the basic emotions and emotes. Right now, the lenses were only slightly narrowed. Taking the situation seriously was paramount but also maintaining a calm demeanor would be just as important. Almost as important as acting annoying to get this girl to talk.

"What'd you do with those two guys? They with you? I mean, you are pretty enough to wrap them around your finger."

Cassidy smirked, pointing one finger at the very weapon the stranger was holding.

"Pretty dangerous with the little peashooter you got there. How about you set that down and we talk like normal people? Maybe over a pizza?"

He would wait a few moments, seeking an answer. If it was more of the negative sort, as in she failed to put the firearm away, the superhero would fire a web-line towards the jammer, ready to deal with gunshots possibly being fired his way by bending his body over to the left and away from the shelves before firing a second web-line to remove the gun from this woman's hand. On the other hand, if the response was more positive and she did stop threatening him, he would still fire the web-line and pull the jammer to himself still, but no further movements would be made from him. Cassidy would simply study the jammer before putting it into one of the compartments of his belt or, if it was a little large for that, resort to attaching it to the back of his belt.

"That's me. I'm a time waster. Waster of times. You got me. This is me right here. Wasting time," Spider-Bite kept his uppity tone, his social confidence.

Despite not having gotten any physical reaction from her, he obviously got a much more verbal one. Cassidy's little tricks seemed to be annoying a little. After all, who wanted their time wasted? No one, not ever. Although, there was one thing he could account for. Before he could even make the thought of going for the jammer, the woman picked it up. And crushed it in her barehand in front of him. Considering it was made of plastic, wiring, and circuitry with a metal frame, that was no human feat of strength. Not with one hand. This person was obviously a metahuman, which changed the entire situation. What other powers did she have?

And how did she get to the jammer before he made a move for it?

That was concerning. Cassidy had a few different ideas, but the most he could deduce was that she had some form of advance reflexes or able to somehow read that he was going for that jammer. Then there was the fact she had enhanced strength and durability to crush that thing without any sort of strain or damage to herslef.

And no one could forget this woman, most likely a spy or soldier or agent, was probably from the Agency and has good aim.

Well, time to do what any investigator does.

He tapped the side of one of his lenses before resuming conversation, lowering one hand while keeping the other up, and then waving the gunwoman off. The lowered hand would fire off a web-line, intending to cast a wide net of webbing before yanking back the line back and the crushed pieces into his hand. These would definitely fit in the compartments now. No matter if damaged or not, having it as evidence would be important, even if it turned out to be useless.

[/Recording . . . ]

"Whatever happens next is up to me? How about you and me just chill, look at the stars, and stare longingly at each other before heading our separate ways."

Despite being ready to leap at a moment's notice, the vigilante's posture had remained the same as before, relaxed, calm, jesting. Then, the lenses narrowed a bit, and along with it came a more serious tone.

"Or, maybe, how about I choose none of the above? What does that get me? Put the gun down and talk. Maybe then I'll stop wasting your time."

Spider-Bite made the obvious show of looking her up and down, doing this several times while speaking before stopping.

"Because I'm assuming by the fact that this was so coordinated and setup beforehand, that this is much more professional and organized than the regular hood or gang. That and you're reference to Subject 16 tells me there were science shenanigans happening, and you all lost him like the idiots you are trying to play God. Ever read mythology? A sci-fi novel? Never goes well."

He paused, letting her absorb the information for a moment.

"Either way, all this tells me you're don't exactly scream 'friendly' right now. Maybe government, but definitely not friendly. So why should I trust you, tell you anything, or even bother convincing you that I know nothing about this Psi stuff if you're just going to be another stooge with a stick up their butt, ready to shoot me anyway?"

Raising his arms up and aiming both web-shooters at her, Spider-Bite had effectively created a standoff, ready to fire his webbing into whatever shapes and sizes he would want for what came next.

"So, do you really want to go toe-to-toe with a guy who can fold you like origami, or are we going to talk about this like adults and establish a bit of trust? Like first putting the gun down and telling me who you are exactly."

"Specialist? What do you specialize in? Not listening? Put the gun down."

Cassidy's stance shifted, moving a little from one side, to another. Partly because he could never keep still for more than one moment of time, and another because it seems standing a little too still was a bad idea. Good to keep his legs nice and ready should he need to literally leap into action. Then, this Specialist spoke and took a step forward. Spider-Bite followed suit, taking a step forward as well, keeping his web-shooters trained on her. His eyes checked the room, although his lenses gave no indication. They only narrowed when the woman talked about one of his friends being turned into a pin-cushion.

She must be talking about Elia. Really? Okay then.

This was not Fate. This was not someone who possibly knew his secret identity nor was it someone who tried needling him like this literally days, if not maybe a week, after that event. Besides, Elia . . . Elia wouldn't want him to react to this like he had then. All he had to do was keep his center and resort to his one trick.

"Well then, it seems we both have a lot in common. Except I've been listening to you blab this entire time, and you still haven't put the gun down. How are we going to make this relationship work if you don't hear out my concerns, sweetums?"

That's right. Just keep being the wise guy. Be annoying, weird, just whatever it took to get her to either make a move or spill something. At least, that was the plan until the Specialist decided to drop a piece of information that was concerning. She was going to meet with MIRA. Either that meant a meeting or an attack. Something to force the organization to spill the beans concerning Psi.

"Yeah, what evidence? Seems to me you're operating off a lot of hearsay and my perfectly stellar reputation. You think MIRA would send anyone to work with me after what happened? After what I nearly did? They're scared of me and for good reason. So, check your facts, lady."

The mask glowered at her, "In any case, you're not getting anything out of MIRA either. They'd probably kick your tuchas harder than I could if you pulled this stunt with them. You really need to brush up on your people skills."

His arms, more relaxed now, were still homed in on her position.

"Like putting the gun down. Final warning."

If the Specialist did not put the gun down anytime soon, Cassidy would make his move. In a flash, his left arm would fire a web-line, not aimed at the Specialist, but instead it had immediately turned to the bottom of the shelf next to her, the one she placed a hand on. Yanking with all his might, he would send it toppling over and sliding straight into her legs, seeking to disrupt both her stance and throw her aim off. A second web would fire, again not a her, but at one of the shelves behind her and tugging, sending it flying right into her back just moments after his initial attack.

Hopefully, both attacks would disrupt her ability to stand or do anything to retaliate, especially if the shelf from behind sent her towards him. If this plan worked, he would extend one leg, kicking the shelf away so he would not be caught by it as well, and reach for the Specialist's throat to pin her down. A three-step maneuver to send her into the ground and disorientate her enough.

Afterwards, he could begin working on removing that gun and toss it aside before using his webbing to try and pin her down to the ground further.

"Direct deez-. Whoa!" his sixth sense was tingling! That's what he got for making a "deez nutz" joke. No one ever liked being on the receiving end of that, did they?

Before he could fire off his attacks, this woman was on the move, making an attack as she dropped the gun.

The sharp metal piece flew straight for the suit's chest as Cassidy leaned backwards as his legs bent down and his spine curved unnaturally, even for a gymnast, as the piece flew overhead and into the window behind him before inserting itself into the window, impaling it and cracking the surrounding glass. Immediately standing up straight once more, Cassidy noticed the knife flying from the aisles and towards the fire extinguisher. Spraying his vision, he leapt into the air and attached himself to the ceiling. Even without his sight, as he rubbed at the lenses for a second before giving up on that endeavor, he could still locate her. The sound of her heartbeat, the vibrations of the changing air currents she made by moving, and the suit's ability to see in x-ray, infrared, and sonar. Nice tools taken from the suit Daystar had given him and implemented into this all-new costume he himself designed. The three visions would overlay in his HUD, providing a general picture of everything in the room. And where the Specialist hid.

Unlike the Specialist, even as he landed on the ceiling, such movements were muted by the suit's sound dampening technology. He could not access the camouflage function with the fire extinguisher contents on his face and body. That he needed to either wait out or get off himself.

So he decided to opt for a certain solution to his problems. Firing a web-line, he picked up the gun before attaching it to his belt, keeping it for safe keeping. More evidence. Crawling along the ceiling, he would position himself so he could kick over the aisles, sending the woman's cover into falling on top of her, perhaps even keeping her pinned. Either way, it should slow her escape as he fired a net of webbing over the tipped over aisles, intending to keep them toppled over as well as trap her under it.

"We got a mess in Aisle Four!" he smirked before moving onto the next phase of his plan.

His next move was to fire a web at the assortment of BIC lighters and ripped the packaging apart before flicking and setting a pair of them ablaze. He brought both up to the nearest sprinkler, letting the heat and smoke from the lighter being in close proximity trigger it. This system would spray water. Hopefully, it would be enough to make the floors slick.

Unless someone had sticky feet, someone would end up unable to move without risk of falling onto the ground.

"For all our customers here, watch out for those wet floors and have a splendid day!"

These quips were just writing themselves now.

There. He had her.

Or, at least, he did. His vision trained on her as the sprinkler system came on, and yet she disappeared. Spider-Bite did not even need to look at the grenades, although he saw them clear enough. No, his sixth sense was warning him of the imminent explosion. Certain vibes, certain sensations, he had learned to associate with certain dangers, certain attacks.

And certain weapons.

Instinct took over. He had to get away. Pushing off the ceiling and firing a pair of webbing, he launched himself through the store window, the one that had been cracked already by the impaled piece of metal resting in it. His entire body smashed through the glass before the explosion went off. Instead of hitting the ground, air and fire rushed out and sent him off-course as his limbs flailed a bit before the entire front of his body slammed into the side of a nearby car. He slid down and off the vehicle before falling on the ground, lying there.

The armor had mitigated the impacts of both the explosion and his collision along with own inherent resilience. Still, he got up, planting a hand on the nearby car and pulling himself up while groaning. The circular-styled red spider symbol on his back had a few burns, and there were small cuts and tears from embedded pieces of debris and shrapnel, surrounding the red logo on the black material. But nothing had managed to pierce through the suit. He had made it out just in time.

"Ow."

He got up, rubbing and stretching his back before immediately turned his attention to the store. It was trashed. Totaled. Nothing could be salvaged, probably not even the jammers. The only salvageable jammer had been the pieces he collected from earlier. His attention turned skyward as he leapt several stories to reach one of the nearby buildings' walls. He crawled along it, searching for where the back entrance would lead.

And where the Specialist had gone.

Where are you? I'm going to teach you what for. Seriously, an explosion is overkill.

All thoughts he muttered under his breath as he continued his sweep, searching for any clue through his lenses and sensors.