Empire State University

“I can’t believe you even think that’s an option,” said Greg.

“Greg, you said it yourself, we’re both too young to have a kid,” said Mattie.

Earlier today, Mattie Franklin, the latest to claim the mantle of Spider-Woman, discovered she was pregnant. The father? Her boyfriend, college student Greg Willis and also the young hero called Gravity. Both met as members of the New Warriors and began a relationship.

“That doesn’t mean we have to go down that route,” said Greg. “Look…we screwed up and we have to face those consequences.”

“You’re not the one whose life is going to be thrown into upheaval by this,” said Mattie.

“What, you think I wouldn’t help you?” asked Greg. “This is my kid, too. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Not the first time a guy has made that promise to a girl,” said Mattie. “You don’t understand what this is going to do to my life. I’m the one who has to carry this kid around for nine months, I’m the one who’s going to have to get maternity leave from high school. Which means I’ll most-likely have to repeat some classes, which means college is going to be delayed—assuming it’s even an option because how can I live on-campus somewhere and attend classes full-time when I’ve got a kid? You? You don’t have to deal with that.”

“We don’t have to go down that route, we can put the kid up for adoption,” said Greg. “It’s going to be hard, I know. But—”

“But what? You don’t know what I’m going to go through. You don’t know what I’m going through now.”

“Then tell me, let me help,” said Greg.

“What good will it do?” asked Mattie. “You can’t understand. And the minute things are going to get too tough, you’re going to bail.”

“Mattie, I love you, I would never let you deal with this on your own.”

Mattie’s eyes widened. “You—what?”

Greg sighed. “I was…I was hoping to tell you under…better circumstances. But…yeah, I think I love you.”

“You think?”

“Okay, I know,” said Greg. “This is a big deal, I understand. But this isn’t something we can just get rid of.”

“I just want you to acknowledge that we have options,” said Mattie. “And I don’t want you to close any doors just yet, okay? Can you promise me you’ll at least think about it?”

“I—”

Mattie’s cell phone began to ring. “Dammit…” she muttered, picking it up and looking at the call ID. “It’s Robbie.”

Greg muttered a curse under his breath. He knew what the call was about. When Mattie was in the bathroom, they each received a message from Eddie, telling them the Warriors were meeting up in Hell’s Kitchen to address a crisis.

“What are you talking about, Robbie?” asked Mattie. “I never got any text messages from Eddie.”

That was because Greg deleted said message, knowing that Mattie would jump into action to help her friends. And also knowing that he didn’t want to risk her in her current condition.

“Maybe it didn’t go through, I don’t know,” said Mattie. “But yeah, I’m with Greg right now. Yeah, we’re on our way.”

She dropped the phone and moved to her backpack, pulling out the red and black skintight outfit she donned in her alternate identity. “That was Robbie, apparently something big is going down and he wants us to get to the Crash Pad. The others are already there.”

“Mattie, wait.”

“What? Why? If there’s something going on, we should know about it.”

“Yeah but you shouldn’t go around fighting supervillains when you just found out you’re pregnant.”

Mattie sighed. “Look, we don’t know what it is. But I do know that I at least want to be in the loop, okay? We need to find out what’s going on and how we can help. Besides, if nothing else there’s no reason the team should be down two members.”

“Right, fine,” said Greg. He went to his dresser and pulled out the blue and white costume he wore as Gravity. “On one condition, though.”

“What’s that?” asked Mattie as she began disrobing to don her costume.

“I’ll fly us both over there, I don’t want you web-slinging right now.”

“Oh fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

FULL CIRCLE

Part IV: Truth & Consequence

By Dino Pollard

Hell’s Kitchen

A back room in a Vietnamese restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen had now become the unofficial base of operations for the rejuvenated Folding Circle. Diego Casseas, former soldier and chosen as a consort to one of Tai’s daughters, produced a child possessed of the ability to manipulate the Darkforce, abilities granted to the baby by the Universal Wellspring.

It was power Casseas took for his own, becoming the Left Hand. He gathered the other children—Midnight’s Fire, Silk Fever, Bloodstrike and Smiling Tiger. Together, they tried to steal the power of the Universal Wellspring, but Casseas apparently fell to his doom.

In reality, he survived and he once again gathered his former charges together so they could take control of the power vacuum in New York’s criminal underworld following the death of Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime.

“Hammerhead is out of commission,” said the Left Hand. “Most of our competitors are quickly falling into line after our demonstration, but still some are trying to stand up to us.”

“And now, the New Warriors,” said Bloodstrike. “Thought those guys would be gone. Seriously, who would pick up that name again?”

“They weren’t as coordinated as the last team, but they definitely knew what they were doing,” said Midnight’s Fire. “Taylor had a hand in their training, I’m sure of it.”

“Then what we need to do—” began the Left Hand.

“What you need to do is shut up and listen.”

A figure shimmered into view, standing before them on the table. He wore a blood-red cloak with a hood that concealed his face and each hand wielded a Glock, which he held at the ready.

“And just who might you be?” asked the Left Hand. “You know what, forget it, I don’t even care.”

He extended his namesake, the Darkforce energy ensnaring the new arrival. The cloaked man vanished and then rematerialized behind Casseas, pressing the Glock against the back of the Left Hand’s skull.

“I wouldn’t do that again. I didn’t come to fight, so why not a gesture of goodwill on your part?”

“And why should I give you that much?” asked the Left Hand. “More than that, why should I believe you’re not here to fight when you’ve got a gun pressed against my head?”

“Self-defense, Casseas—you threw the first punch. I’m here to make you and your friends an offer.”

“Lower the gun and we’ll talk.”

“You’re not in a position to make demands.”

“Min Li?”

The Vietnamese woman called Silk Fever powered up, her body engulfed in bright hot flames. The cloaked man looked at her and then noticed Bloodstrike and Smiling Tiger both advancing on him as well.

“I can put a bullet in your head and then teleport out of here before they can blink. You wanna take the risk or you wanna relax?”

“Stand down,” said the Left Hand and the Folding Circle stepped back, Silk Fever powering down.

“Good.” The man lowered the gun and took a seat at the table, propping his feet up on it.

“Let’s start with the obvious,” said the Left Hand. “Who are you?”

“Just call me the Hood.”

“And that disappearing act of yours?”

“One of many abilities I’ve got access to.”

“And you came about these abilities how…?”

“None of your concern,” said the Hood. “I heard about your recent proposal to the various factions. You want Fisk’s spot.”

“When are you going to get to the point?” asked Casseas.

“Hammerhead was just the beginning,” said the Hood. “The New Warriors attacking you shows that you’ve got a weak spot with them. You need to make an example of both and I’m the one who can help you do that.”

“And what do you gain from this arrangement?” asked Midnight’s Fire.

“I’m looking for a job,” said the Hood. “I’ve got no interest in running the show. New York’s underworld is a total clusterfuck right now, and the last thing I want is to be in charge of that. So just give me a simple job where I can make some money.”

“What kind of job would that be?” asked Casseas.

“I’ll be your own, demonic-powered hitman,” said the Hood. “How does that arrangement sound to you?”

“And what could you possibly have to offer us on either Hammerhead or the Warriors?” asked Casseas.

“Hammerhead is being held at Ryker’s right now. Turns out he had a few outstanding warrants. I can get in and ice him without being seen or tripping a single alarm.”

“And the Warriors?” asked Casseas.

The Hood smiled. “Oh, nothing much. Just their true identities.”

The Left Hand smiled, reaching across the table. “Welcome to the team, my friend.”

Crash Pad

Gravity and Spider-Woman hovered over the Crash Pad, held in the air by Greg’s mutant ability to manipulate gravitational fields. He slowly disengaged that field, restoring gravity to the pair as they descended down to the Crash Pad. The skylight opened up and they touched down in the middle of the Crash Pad’s meeting room.

At the meeting table sat their fellow Warriors—Speedball, Ricochet, Rage, and Joystick. Also at the table was Eddie, although clad in a suit of armor sans the helmet and a new arrival. A young woman with lavender skin and red hair, complete with pupil-less eyes.

“What’s going on here?” asked Spider-Woman. “Eddie, what the hell are you wearing?”

“This is my Hornet armor that I used to wear back when Rico and I were with the Slingers,” he said.

“And who’s the new chick?” asked Spider-Woman.

“You can call me Blink,” she said.

“And you’re here because…?”

“She’s a friend, helped us out as did Hornet,” said Joystick, glaring at the pair. “While the two of you were mysteriously absent.”

“Hey, easy,” said Speedball. “I told you, Mattie said she never got the message.”

“And what about Gravity? Was he also out of service or is it just a bit hard to check your cell phone while you’re sticking it to your jailbait girlfriend?” asked Joystick.

Gravity took a menacing step forward. “Do you wanna run that by me again?”

“Did you not hear me?” asked Joystick. “Would you like me to say it louder?”

“Everyone just chill, okay?” said Speedball. “Look, we got through the battle just fine, so let’s just move on from here, okay?”

“What is it that’s going on anyway?” asked Spider-Woman.

“A group called the Folding Circle,” said Rage. “They’ve got powers from the Universal Wellspring and they’re led by a guy who calls himself the Left Hand.”

“In English?” asked Spider-Woman.

“Long story,” said Rage. “Basically, we fought them before. And by that I mean the old New Warriors.”

“Heh, old New Warriors,” muttered Ricochet and Hornet elbowed him. “Ow!”

“The Left Hand apparently died and the Circle moved on to Madripoor for a bit,” said Rage. “Then…they just kinda broke up, I guess.”

“No one heard from them in a long time but they just popped up on the radar again, vying for the Kingpin’s top spot,” said Speedball. “Oh, and somehow the Left Hand is back from the dead. I really, really, really hate it when bad guys come back from the dead.”

“So what’s our next move?” asked Spider-Woman.

“Our next move…?” muttered Gravity.

“Why don’t we talk to Hammerhead?” asked Blink. “The Circle was trying to kill him, maybe he knows something?”

“Yeah, but why would he talk to us?” asked Ricochet.

Blink shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt to try.”

“New girl’s got a point,” said Speedball. “What’ve we got to lose by checking him out?”

“How are we going to get in, though?” asked Hornet. “I don’t think they’ll just let us waltz right in and talk to a prisoner.”

Blink smiled. “You forget, you’ve got a teleporter with you now.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Ricochet. “Feel like blowing off some steam and what better way to do it than by pounding a scumbag?”

“Don’t make me laugh, Rico,” said Joystick.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Ricochet.

“Well, you kind of hit like a girl,” said Joystick.

“Hey—!”

“I’m the ex-con here, I’ve got superhuman strength, I’ll take care of Hammerhead,” she said. “Unless Rage wants to do it?”

“No thanks, don’t really have a stomach for that sort of thing,” said Rage.

“What should I do?” asked Spider-Woman.

“Nothing, that’s what,” said Gravity.

“Excuse me?” asked Spider-Woman.

“Look, we’ve been over this, you can’t—”

“Whoa, ix-nay on the ondescension-cay,” said Ricochet. “I understand she’s your new girlfriend and all, but that doesn’t mean she needs to be coddled. Mattie can take care of herself.”

“Hey Rico, ix-nay on the ecret-identity-say,” said Spider-Woman, motioning to Blink.

“Okay, first off, enough Pig Latin, it’s stupid,” said Gravity. “Second, I know Mattie can take care of herself, but there are special circumstances.”

“Dude, she took out the Boogeyman practically on her own,” said Ricochet. “Firebrand, the Iron Trinity, the Jury, Psionex, Fin Fang Foom…do I really need to go down the list of times she’s proven herself?”

“I think you just did,” said Spider-Woman. “And thanks, by the way.”

“No problem,” said Ricochet. “Look, she may be a massive pain in the ass—”

“I hereby withdraw my thanks.”

“—but she can handle herself,” he concluded. “So butt out and give me one reason why she should sit this one out?”

“Because she’s pregnant, how’s that sound?” asked Gravity.

“Oh come on, you can’t tell me that’s a legitima—” Ricochet silenced himself once the reality of Gravity’s words sunk in. “…could you say that again? I don’t think I heard you right.”

“Oh great…” muttered Spider-Woman, turning her back to the group.

“I said Mattie’s pregnant,” repeated Gravity.

“…oh,” said Ricochet. “…okay, maybe she should sit this one out.”

NEXT: Blink and Joystick confront Hammerhead and the Folding Circle set their trap for the Warriors! But who’s waiting in the wings? And can the Hood really be trusted?