The Conceptual Deck

Chapter 4: A walk in the park

It wasn't until later that night, after what I thought was a well deserved pizza and nap break, that I realized I had another problem. I had envisioned some sort of warehouse guarded by crooks that I could sneak into and loot to my heart's content. I knew it wasn't going to be that easy, but it hadn't crossed my mind that the problem would be finding the warehouse in the first place. I had no idea where to look, and I couldn't exactly just look it up online. There were rougher neighborhoods of course but I wasn't looking for muggings. If I started cracking down on muggings then I would definitely be on Shield's radar by the end of the week.

The only solution I could think of, besides kicking down Wilson Fisk's front door, as his address was public knowledge, was to basically go out and get lucky. But wandering around the city at night was a good way to get arrested for scaring the hell out of people.

"I know you were set on this path but maybe its a bad thing." Ema pointed out. "We could still find someone to sponsor your work."

With a groan I rubbed my face as I laid back on the couch, the deck on the table next to me. The excitement from my earlier successes had fully faded as I wrestled with this new problem. Going to Tony Stark and asking for help was starting to look more and more inviting. Even if he was busy with

"The Expo!"

"What about it?"

"It must be filled with stuff to experiment with! All those leftover exhibits, plus we might even be able to snag some drones. They will be busted but if I combine enough of them together"

"It has only been 24 hours" Ema admitted hesitantly. "But I thought you wanted to stay away from stealing from innocent people?"

"Think about it Ema! It would be the perfect place to start, and get some practice in." I explained, pacing excitedly at this point. "The cops wouldn't shoot me unless I did something drastic, and if a few things went missing from around the complex it would be chalked up to the attack"

"You'd still be stealing"

"From huge major billion dollar companies. The only real risk is the heat we would get from people being on the lookout for their tech:

"But since you would be combining them with other things you probably wouldn't have to worry about that."

"Exactly! But if I want any chance of grabbing a drone I need to go tonight." I explained before looking over my shoulder at the clock.

"Alright. But I'm coming with you."

"No, I don't think showing you off is a good idea Ema" I said, shaking my head.

"Carson, we are in this together. You made me. I am not letting you do this without me. Besides, I can fly, I'll be much safer than you."

I debated it for a few moments before finally nodding, quickly getting dressed, my under armor going on under my normal clothes. I quickly called a cab as well, I would need one if I wanted to get there before midnight.

When I finally hopped out of the cab it was nearing ten o'clock. I made sure to stop far away from the actual expo, which was in Flushing Meadows. The area was drastically different from what I remembered, with a lot more buildings around. Though some of them did seem to be temporary set ups. I walked along the outskirts for a while, noticing that the police had cordoned most of it off and were patrolling the outskirts, Ema followed along, staying low for now.

"You need to be careful" I explained when she came out of my pocket, where she had stayed for the cab ride. "They are probably on the lookout for drones and what not."

She bobbed in the air in agreement, floating around my shoulders as we walked around the perimeter. The entrances were mobbed with camera crews and vans, but besides the patrolling police the outskirts were empty. Doing my best to seem like a passing rubbernecker I head slightly away from the perimeter before finding a large bush to hide in. I quickly stripped down to my armor, storing my clothes in a card before putting on my outfit, finishing the ensemble with a black scarf wrapped around my face.

"How do I look?" I asked Ema, actually having to talk normally to get past the sound reduction of the suit.

"Pretty serious" Ema answered, talking as softly as she could.

Eventually, after a moment to gather myself, I stepped out of the bush. I felt a bit ridiculous, but I steeled myself and kept walking. If there was anything I needed to get used to in this reality, with these powers, it was wearing a costume in public. Slowly I made my way closer to the perimeter fence, a chain link style barrier. Pausing for a while in the shadow of a tree I watched, noting the passing patrols. There seemed to be the occasional pair of cops walking around, but the real concern was the cop cars, shining their headlights into the shadows.

"It seems to be pretty random." Ema stated after about fifteen minutes of watching. "Probably to keep people from taking advantage of patterns."

"Okay then this is as good a time as any" I responded, double checking that the coast was clear.

With a muffled grunt I struggled up the tree next to me, pulling myself up the branches before jumping over the fence to avoid the sharp point on top. I stood up straight on the other side, before putting an arm out and leaning on the fence.

"My knees are already sore"

"Learning some movement skills might be a good idea." The ghost pointed out, flying over the fence to her spot over my shoulder. "Maybe some martial arts too."

I nodded, making a note to work on something to help that as well, I looked around and hurried to the closest building, some sort of refreshment stand. Most of the lights were off in this section, meaning I was extremely difficult to spot. Relying on that I made my way deeper into the dark section of the expo, occasionally peering into the buildings. I was beginning to doubt the severity of the attack when I walked around a corner without checking, only to have to leap back behind cover.

Standing up I peaked around again, watching as a few cops and a half dozen other people mulled about, standing around a building with a hole in the side of it. Lights pointed down at the wall and the small crater next to the building, though there was another hole a bit higher up. I could see flashes of light from inside the building as people with flashlights looked around. I focused as best I could to hear what they were talking about, but the wind and rustling trees covered it too well.

"I could investigate?" Ema asked as quietly as she could, her shell pressing against my hood.

I shake my head, leaning my back against the structure we are hiding behind. Eventually I decided to move on, walking past the group, staying hidden among bushes and trees. We stumbled upon another building that was cordoned off with police tape, but had no one in it. The side of the building was riddled with holes and divots in the concrete, looking like someone had peppered it with a sizable gun. One of the windows was shattered enough that I could sneak in and take a look.

I climbed in, careful not to snag the edges of glass, Ema floating behind me. I slowly made my way deeper into the dark building, flicking on a flashlight. I keep it on its lowest settings, scanning the room slowly, making sure to keep the beam low. The bottom floor was mostly open, and had several areas that were clearly showing off new technology. A company selling their latest phone, another showing of next year's tablet. The nearest was showing various computer parts, showing off a display model with all the bells and whistles. I walked closer to that display, wondering what some high end parts combined with my laptop would do.

"Are you going to take this stuff?" Ema asked, floating around the nearby tables. "This tablet might be an interesting find, you could What's wrong?"

I didn't respond, instead looking at the glass case in front of me. I could see my reflection, just barely, from the low light Ema's scans were taking off. I looked terrifying, like I was a burglar. Like a looter, taking advantage of a crisis to grab whatever he could. Ema slowly drifted over to me, looking down at our reflection now.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't take any of this shit can I?" I ask, looking around the room at everything set up.

"Having second thoughts?"

"...Yeah." I admitted after a pause. "I didn't think I'd care. But if I'm going to be a hero"

"I thought this was more about being prepared for all of the crazy things that can happen in this reality?"

"Maybe. But I can help. I might not be able to fight on the front lines, I'm not sure I have the temperament for that." I admitted, picking up what appeared to be an advanced harddrive, only to put it down. "But I want to be a good guy. I can't do that by looting."

I said to myself as I scanned my flashlight along the venues. There was a lot of good stuff here, and this was just a basic building. There were bigger, more impressive ones further in. After a long moment I let out a resigned sigh.

"Cmon, let's go. Maybe we can still find one of those drones. I have no issues grabbing one of those."

After another moment I clicked off the flashlight, heading back to the window before I could change my mind. I get back outside and head to the next building, staying out of the obvious lights. I could see that the next few buildings still had power, bright lighting casting shadows and blinking. It seemed like bright neon lights were the theme this year.

I slide back fully into the shadow, walking back around to the opposite side. I look both ways before rushing across the gap, following a line of bushes before hiding behind a tree. Suddenly I froze, the sound of footsteps and talking teaching my ear. I watch Ema glide up to hide in the branches as the voices slowly get closer until eventually I can understand them.

"... ain in the ass, picking . pieces most of the injuries brutal."

"couldn't pay me, was like running minefield.surprised more people"

"No kidding, and the worst idiots moving to investigate the beeping... exploding in their face's"

"Kinda glad they all exploded though, can you imagine people getting their hands on drones like that? Scary shit."

"Get used to it kid, you're going to be seeing a lot more of that kind of crap now. Cats out of the bag. Stark may make the best shit but - What the fuck is that?"

I was beginning to piece together what they were talking about. By the sounds of it, the drones had all exploded after Stark had finished fighting Vanko. Which means I wasn't going to be finding anything beyond chunks of scrap, if that. I was so wrapped up in the realization that this whole trip was for nothing, I missed how close the voices were getting. I curse in my head, hoping my suit's power would be enough.

"What's what?"

"Uhh I thought Never mind, I think it's just a weird shadow. Let's get back, our shifts almost done"

"Alright."

I held my breath, listening to the two people slowly walk away, still talking to themselves. Eventually their voices fade and I slowly let the breath out before turning and stepping out of the shadow.

"Cmon, lets get the hell out of here." I call up softly to Ema, who floats down without a word.

With a frustrated curse under my breath, I scanned the area, looking for the best way back, before heading through the fairground until I had made it back to a familiar spot. Still frustrated, I took another corner without checking it first, stepping out and right into a surprised police officer.

"Wh- where the hell!" He shouted, stumbling back before pointing his flashlight at me, eyes going between me and Ema. "Hey, what the- what is-? You're not supposed to be here!"

I stumbled back, biting back a shout. The officer took a step toward me, forcing me to step back away. His hand fell down to his gun, the flashlight still pointed right at me.

"I don't know what the hell is going whatever the hell you're doing, but you need to stop and put your hands on your he-"

I slowly raised my hands until they were pointed at the officer, activating my gloves. Out sprayed a billowing smokey cloud, immediately obscuring the area. I held the effect open, the cloud growing and billowing out.

"What the- Hey, stop it! Get downHey!"

I turned and ran as fast as I could, darting to the nearest patch of shadow I could find. I could hear the officer behind me calling for backup, shouting into his radio and coughing. I kept running, rushing around the buildings, staying in the shadows but not stopping until I got to the building that had been active before. Everyone who had previously been focused on the building was now on high alert, some even had their guns drawn as they scanned around with their flashlights.

I ducked down as a powerful flashlight swung in my direction, slowly crawling along the bushes. I kept crawling until I reached the final stretch, a gap before the chain link fence. I could see where I had originally entered, the tree on the other side.

"C'mon, you have to go." Ema urged me before gliding out ahead of me. "Move!"

Frantically I looked along the fence for a way to get out without actually climbing before giving up and preparing myself. I could hear cops shouting and searching for me. With a huff I stood and sprinted to the wall, trying my best to jump as high as I could. Between my desperation and adrenaline I managed to get my hands around the bar that runs along the top, pulling and lifting myself with my feet. My arms burned but with a grunt I all but threw myself over the top, frantically scrabbling with the tree to keep from breaking my neck on the way down.

I impacted the ground rougher than I would have liked, but my armor kept me from being seriously hurt. The sounds of people looking for me were still echoing in the park as I quickly got up and hobbled away. Blew past the bush iI had changed in before, running until I reached another lower fence. I jumped up, hefted myself over and dropped to the other side. I collapsed with my back against it, my heart pounding as I sucked in air. I listened out as best I could, desperately trying to figure out if I was still being followed. I sat there for a for a while, until my heartbeat finally stopped being the loudest thing I could hear.

"Fuck that went well."

"Well" Ema began, somehow moving her parts to seem sheepish. "It could have been worse?

I cursed as I slowly changed out of my suit and into my normal clothes. With a flick I summoned my bike, hopping on and riding away. I had a long bike ride ahead of me