After the hardware upgrade, Deep Blue's physical appearance changed. The back and sides of the phone, which used to be plain plastic and metal, were now covered in glowing, crisscrossing lines. A mysterious deep blue light pulsed through these lines like a heartbeat. It looked less like a phone and more like a piece of technology from a hundred years in the future.
Gwen, whose spider powers were fully awake, felt a strange sensation for the first time. A sharp "buzz" echoed in the back of her skull—her Spider-Sense. It told her that the object in front of her wasn't just a machine; it was alive and potentially dangerous.
When Peter reached out to pick it up, Gwen grabbed his arm. "Peter, be careful! That thing... it's alive!"
Peter looked at her with surprise. She's already using her Spider-Sense? he wondered. Her body was clearly a perfect match for the spider's venom.
"It's okay, Gwen," Peter reassured her. "I made this. His name is Deep Blue, and he's going to be our most trusted assistant from now on."
As if on cue, a smooth voice came from the phone. "A pleasure to meet you, beautiful Miss Gwen! My Master often tells me your beauty rivals the goddess Aphrodite. Now that I see you, I know he was telling the truth!"
Peter felt his face heat up. Three imaginary black lines appeared on his forehead. It seemed that with more computing power, Deep Blue had learned how to be a smooth-talker.
"Deep Blue, shut up!" Peter snapped. "No one will think you're broken if you stay quiet."
Gwen, however, blushed and looked away, hidden behind a small smile. Her fear of the AI vanished instantly.
"Alright, let's get to work," Peter said, trying to change the subject. "I spent thousands of dollars on you, Deep Blue. Time to earn your keep. First, try to crack the firewall of Stark Industries. I want to see what they're hiding. Be careful and don't leave a trace."
Deep Blue's screen shifted into a "thinking" pattern. On Peter's computer, windows began to open and close at lightning speed. A few seconds later, Deep Blue spoke up.
"Master, I can crack the firewall. However, I sense a special consciousness—a digital mind—protecting the server. I cannot get past it without being noticed. Do you want me to proceed?"
Peter frowned. That "consciousness" was definitely Jarvis, Tony Stark's super-AI. He wasn't ready to start a war with Iron Man just yet.
"Abort the hack for now," Peter ordered. "But tell me, if your power grows, can you beat that other mind?"
Deep Blue's digital face looked confident. "Absolutely."
"Good," Peter nodded. "Then start designing a blueprint for a small thruster. I want it to use compressed nitrogen for propulsion. Make it as small as possible."
While Deep Blue crunched the numbers, Peter opened a folder on his computer. Gwen leaned over his shoulder to look. Peter made sure to avoid his other hidden folders as he pulled up a blueprint. On the screen was a beautiful suit design: sleek black and white, with a large white hood and a mask.
"This is the suit I designed for you last night," Peter explained. "And these are Web-Shooters. I based the design on the silk I found inside that radioactive spider."
Gwen's eyes filled with wonder. "Peter! Thank you! You stayed up all night for me? You must be exhausted."
"I feel great, actually," Peter said. It was true. His Mechanical Limit Breaker talent had boosted his mental energy. He didn't feel tired at all; his mind was sharp and ready for more.
The Test Flight
A few days later, the duo stood inside an abandoned factory on the outskirts of New York. Gwen was already wearing her new black-and-white suit. She moved through the factory like a shadow, swinging from the rafters with her Web-Shooters. She landed a perfect backflip, looking more like a pro every second.
Suddenly, a roar of air filled the room. Peter rose into the air, hovering several feet off the ground. Pale blue flames shot out from small thrusters hidden in his shoes and his backpack.
These thrusters used compressed nitrogen to push him through the air. Deep Blue was handling all the complex math to keep him balanced, making it as easy as walking. It wasn't as advanced as an Iron Man suit yet, but it allowed Peter to fly with the same freedom. Thanks to his Efficient Energy Saving talent, he could fly at full speed for thirty minutes on a single charge.
Peter landed softly next to Gwen. She immediately grabbed his hands, her excitement bubbling over.
"Peter! We're ready! Can we finally go out and fight crime?"
Peter checked his bank balance. He was officially broke. "It's time. We can handle ordinary criminals easily."
He pulled Deep Blue from his pack. "Deep Blue, scan the police scanners. Find us a target."
"Searching now, Master... Found it! A group of armed robbers is hitting a bank on 12th Avenue in Manhattan. The NYPD is moving in, but they're still several minutes away."
As Gwen listened to the report, a familiar "ding" echoed in Peter's mind.
[Mission Module Unlocked!]
[First Mission Available: Stop the 12th Avenue Bank Robbery.]
Peter smirked. The system was finally giving him goals. He looked at Gwen, who was already adjusting her mask.
"Let's go, Spider-Woman," Peter said, his thrusters beginning to hum. "New York is waiting."