Evenings at Aunt May and Uncle Ben's house were quiet. But for someone like me, who had already seen the best and worst of the world in this life, the quiet was... unbearable.
So the building began.
The idea had been in my head for months: what if I could create a compact capsule that stored a highly viscous and resistant fluid? What if that fluid could be triggered under pressure from a mechanism hidden in the wrist, like a web launcher?
-Athena, register: new project. Code name: "Arachnowweaver."
-Registered. -Is this another attempt at the web shooter?
-Yes. Version number eighteen.
My room was an organized mess: test tubes, small vials of chemicals approved by my Uncle Ben, electronic parts, gears, springs, nozzles, even a small, low-budget 3D printer. All geared toward a single goal: compressing the artificial spider web into efficient capsules.
But it always failed.
The web was too dense. Or it didn't compress. Or the system collapsed under pressure. Or, worse, it exploded at the wrist.
-It failed again," I whispered, wiping away the sticky remnants of the last attempt.
That's when I heard a soft voice from the window.
- Trying to make a compact web again? -Gwen asked, leaning her chin on her hands from the frame.
I was taken aback.
-What are you doing here?
-I live two blocks away. May invites me over for the afternoon. And since you were cooped up here? -she smiled mischievously- decided to find out what you were up to.
-Curious as always.
-I'd better stay here and watch TV. Can I help you?
I told her the problem. Gwen sat down next to me without fear of the mess and started going through the sketches.
-Your idea is brilliant, but you are not using a stable containment structure. The capsule can't withstand the internal pressure without energy dissipators.
-Dissipaters?
-Yes, like little valves that gradually release pressure. Look at this," he said, pulling a pen out of his pocket and drawing a structure in my notebook. If you make the cartridge have internal layers like a bee panel, the pressure is spread out.
I looked at her in amazement.
-You... know about materials engineering.
-I learned it by watching documentaries with my dad. And reading a lot, of course.
-And why are you interested in this? I mean... this isn't a school project.
Gwen turned her gaze to me and said with a small smile.
-Because you're a fan of spiders, aren't you? -she gave me a mischievous look.
-Who says that?
-You talk about webs, structures, glands, adhesion to surfaces. And now you're trying to throw webs by the wrist... Peter, you're the president of the spider fan club, whether you accept it or not.
I laughed. A hearty, warm, sincere laugh that bubbled up from within.
-It's okay. I plead guilty.
-Then let your vice president help you," he added, holding out his hand.
For the next few hours we worked on a new prototype. Athena monitored the data while Gwen and I debated the best polymer, the ideal density, the activation mechanism.
For the next few hours, the room looked like a mix of workshop and failed cobweb jungle. There were traces of glue on the wall, on the desk... and one in my hair, courtesy of attempt number nineteen.
-Athena, ten cents that at least this one didn't explode.
-It didn't explode. But it didn't work either. The fluid is still too thick.
-Great," I said, dropping the screwdriver and plopping down in the chair.
Gwen was sitting on the floor, surrounded by parts, with a spring in her mouth and a frown on her face.
-You know? -I'm surprised you haven't ended up stuck to the ceiling yet.
-That was on attempt number eleven.
She laughed, and I couldn't help but smile too. Despite the chaos, it felt... good. We were working without so much pressure, like two kids putting something together just because they thought it was fun.
-Hey, what if instead of getting so complicated you just made it shoot like a squirt gun? -he asked suddenly, examining one of the capsules.
-A water pistol?
-Yes. Or sea, you aim and shhhh! Spider web. Not so much twist. Forget about weird compressors and sci-fi stuff.
I kept thinking. It wasn't a bad idea.
-But no, it's not that simple. I want it to be able to shoot large quantities fast, not just short bursts. For that I need compact cartridges, that hold the compressed web in a solid state... but when it comes out it becomes liquid and sticky, as if it were activated in the air.
- Solid that turns to liquid? -Gwen arched an eyebrow, -Sounds complicated.
-It might be, but if I make it like a water gun, I'm going to run out of webbing in seconds. I need something that stores a lot and shoots fast, so I can swing and catch bad guys without running dry.
She looked at me uncertainly. But she replied.
-So, let's make those cartridges like little spider web bombs. Solid and easy to store, but ready to fire and expand in seconds.
-Exactly. That way I can carry several and not worry about running out of webbing in the middle of a fight.
We set to work with the idea clear: compressed cartridges that were handy, easy to fire, and would release a good amount of webbing without me having to keep reloading all the time.
As we worked, Gwen asked me.
-Hey, Peter, why do you always talk like you're going to use this to fight villains or catch criminals? -Isn't it just supposed to be an experiment or a project?
I shrugged, trying to explain without going into complicated details.
-Well... because, you know, sometimes life isn't all science and games. There are bad things out there, people who do harm. And if I want this to do any good, it has to work in those situations.
Shaking his head, he asked curiously.
-That sounds like a superhero movie. But you're not a superhero, are you?
-Not yet," I answered with a smile, "but I want to be prepared just in case.
Gwen giggled and nudged me in the arm.
-Okay, "spider boy," go on with your secret mission to save the world. Just don't forget to make this thing work first.
-I'm trying," I said, "And that's why I need the web to be strong, to be able to shoot a lot at once, and to dissolve fast so it doesn't hurt anyone.
-Oh, I get that," she said, "But still, I can't get used to you talking like you're in an action movie.
-It's part of my essence.
You'll see, Gwen. It all connects.