1309/Thwippin' on the Dock of the Bay

Thwippin' on the Dock of the Bay
Date of Scene:	22 April 2020
Location:	Chelsea Piers
Synopsis:	Spider-Man catches up with Jessica and shows her the prototype for the Spider-Comm system.
Cast of Characters:	Jessica Drew, Peter Parker

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Jessica Drew has posed:
The cloud ceiling over New York is so low that Jess feels like she could reach up and run her fingers through the grey roiling clouds. Rain or shine, the young woman is out pounding the pavement along the Chelsea docks. A light rain blows off the Hudson misting her rainproof hoodie, clinging silver to her running tights. It is just cold enough that even with her heightened metabolism she is looking forward to a hot shower on returning home. Without her daily run, the mutated woman feels like a caged animal needing the release of a long run on the savanna.

Peter Parker has posed:
The grey day is reflected in the world around her, but it is suddenly interrupted by a flash of ratty-looking color - red and blue, above the sidewalk and near the roof of the bowling alley. It is either the uglist flag in Chelsea, or it is the shape of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Chelsea is your neighborhood, after all.

He is looking around, sipping from a gas-station x-large cup. Spider-Woman is supposed to be around in this area...

Jessica Drew has posed:
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Jessica slows her pace leaning backward to counter her forward momentum. That red and blue streak dropping from the sky is unmistakable for anything but who animates it. Turning and walking back to him, hands on her hips, taking the splayed loose runner's steps after a long course, she complains, "Spidey, you know you could really scare someone like that, right?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey drops to the street, then says, "I am about as scary as a Teletubby to those who know me. Even the bad guys know I am willing to throw a punch, but they never have to worry about me going all Punisher on them." He beckons to Jessica to the breezeway between the bowling alley and the record store, stepping backwards to lead the way while still facing Jessica. "How have things been going for you, Miss Drew?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Depends on their PTSD levels, Spidey. The Punisher would be the master of PTSD come to think of it." Checking in with herself obliges a frown considering the state of her latest investigation, she mediates with, "Been better and worse, I suppose." Having said that aloud she caps that with a thoughtful half smile.

"How about you?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man nods. "I have experienced a reversal of fortune. A job has opened up which will make the Spider-Comm system a reality." He chuckles. "At least, I can afford myself."

He reaches into his backpack and takes out three items - a pair of black sunglasses, a set of thin cotton gloves, and a set of Bluetooth headphones. "I also wanted to show you the prototype for the Spider-Comm system. I have the protocols set up for one user, but I will be able to afford expanding it. Willing to give it a try?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Absolutely!" Jess is reaching for the phone with a smile, then withdraws her hand to peel off her damp gloves. "That was quick work come to think of it.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey watches as she puts the earbuds in, then puts on the gloves. Spidey places the sunglasses on Jessica's face, then takes a deep breath. "Okay. Your unit would be matched to your voice, but since this is the prototype, it has no voice-matching encryption."

He takes a deep breath, then says, "Spider-Comm On. 'The world that the children made.'"
And everything changes. Jessica can still see the world around her, but there is a HUD setup along the edges of her vision. There are multiple boxes, each with their own function - chronometer, compass, IM Interface, Database, even Internet. Looking down at her gloved hands highlights the hands in question, and raising them causes a virtual keyboard to appear at the bottom.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Mouth opened into unvoiced awe, Jess turns slowly in place watching the compass spin then stops to tap at the keyboard. She mutters sotto voce, "This has got to look weird. Voice recognition will be great. I see the value in typing though, of course. Can't always be running my mouth."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey grins. "The finished products will have subvocal mikes. You won't even have to speak out loud in the finished version. Hang on. Database, Vulture."

A panel opens up, opaque but in color.

ADRIAN TOOMES / VULTURE
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Flight Suit capable of powered flight

Under this is a list of four entries, sorted by date, listing Spider-Man altercations with the Vulture.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Sweet," she exclaims with a cultured British accent. Deliberately she reorients herself to look at Spider-man with the overlay of the panel which seems to be chest level on him and not obscuring his face.

"I'm so chuffed about this. Each of us can enter data into the base, I take it. The files being open to us all?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man nods as an AR sign appears over his head:

SPIDER-MAN
(Mostly Harmless)

"All have access. your edits will be marked as to who wrote them and when, so files can be updated. The lenses will have cameras built in, so others can see what you see if you wish." He pauses, then says, "Location, B & M Audio/Video."

Instantly, three red pointers appear at varying distances within the city's boundaries. Each pointer has a sign that lists the locations, a phone icon to call, and their hours of operation.

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Well, well," she mutters. "So much for the last bastion of privacy falling. This is marvelous, simply marvelous." Jess adjusts one of the earbuds, and fiddles with the fit of the glasses.

"You said these were resilient. Right?" She removes them and puts them back on, "Taken one to the face with them on yet? Will they shatter or cut your face?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man smiles thoughtfully, tapping the eye-lens of his mask. "Layered behind a lens with the same kind of plastic used in safety glasses. No chance of shattering. They'll bend first, but they won't crack."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Guess what I have?" Jess reaches into an inside pocket and pulls out a bright red half mask with a yellow triangle outlined in red blazoned on the forehead. Like Spider-man's the eyes are elongated white ovals, also outlined in black. "This is utterly amazing. It must cost the world to do from start up though. Who is banking all of this for you?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "It didn't cost as much as you think. I modified existing tech, did a lot of dumpster-diving, wrote most of the code myself. But until now, I couldn't make the whole network a reality. Now I can. I recently got a job that gives me the funds and the access to higher-tech fabrication equipment. If you want, I can take a 3-D picture of the mask, and can fab the lens to match it."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"It's the reason, I have it with me. Would you consider fabbing two or is that too extravagant. I wash my headgear, believe it or not." Laughing, she spreads her arms in a what do you want gesture, "Think about what the Avenger's clothesline must look like! I'm particular about that. Please." Her head tilts to one side as she tries to assess his expression under his mask. "Are you going to be needing financial help with this at all?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey smiles. "I think I'll be fine as far as financial help goes."

Because being paid 80K a year for your own lab at Stark has some benefits.

"And I can make two, of course. You'll have to be responsible for configuring those rigs, though. I can provide you with a manual on USB to help you set them up, but sure." He smiles noticeably under the mask. "...We need to be able to communicate with each other. To help each other. I just want to make that possible."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Excellent! It is so worthwhile but not necessary for you to defray all the costs." Jess waggles a finger at him. "Just so you know."

Taking off the glasses, she hands them to him, then removes the earbuds. "Erm, should I keep these or are they prototypes?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man blinks and says, "I'll take those back." He takes out a small camera as he takes the prototype back and takes a picture of the mask. He adds, "I just remembered something. A feature. If one member of the netwoek needs help, then their location can be pinpointed by other members. The thing is...it has to be approved by at least one other person verified by the network, and only if we think you're in trouble. So you get to keep your privacy."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Privacy is a concern for me. Old fashioned, don't you think? Well, when it is up and running text me." When she smiles, it is brilliant. "Thank you for all the hard work! I'm off here, I actually have an appointment with a client. Keep in touch!"