New York Shutdown
As the charge nurse whose responsibility was to oversee the treatment team, Peter was at the emergency department throughout the morning of the first day he was back to work. The clock announced 12.45. Peter was having his coffee in the staff room, waiting for an afternoon round to start at 1 PM, when a disheveled colleague appeared. He slammed the door, accidentally though, so hard that it startled Peter and woke other nurses from their nap time.
“Open the TV!” He panted. They usually didn’t open the TV in the on-call room because nurses were here just for a quick rest, coffee or checking their phones, and the noise from whatever program playing on the TV tended to interrupt their activities.
Nevertheless, they opened it in time to watch a clip cut from the speech of a new villain team currently broadcasting on the YouTube. The evil spokesman on the screen who referred to his assembled party as ‘The True Avengers’ was rumbling how his superior assembly was going to deliver despair and destruction no one could ever imagine to New York. He praised, eyes gleamed with malice, that their evil scheme went by the code ‘New York Shutdown’ would make the city remember them forever.
They were so typical and disgusting. The Cliché kind of villains that made Peter wanted to vomit.
Peter and the others made a beeline for the office of the head of nursing as soon as the news ended. There was a group of nurses from different departments gathering around it already. Jemma was waiting for her subordinates who were not in charge to present. When she deemed everyone here, the matron began to give them a briefing on the situation they were going to face.
“As many of you already saw the news, there is a group of idiots out there trying to shut down New York.” She began, voice serious. “The Dean of the hospital just finished the discussion with the chief of police. These are what we already have about them: the terrorist group is disorganized and evidently employing strategies of post 9/11 terrorism which make them both unpredictable and dangerous. Also, it’s highly possible that it could be some villain mastermind behind their mobilization. However, that’s the police’s job to further their investigation, not ours. What we should keep in mind, which is the same with the police and the Dean asked us to, is to be prepared for the worst scenario. Follows your protocols and hope for the best that no one gets injured.”
The head of nursing staff finished with a grimace. At her speech ending, every nurse went back to their positions with trepidation. They knew from the experience that today was going to be one of the most difficult days in their career.
Five years of working at Midtown Hospital, Peter had seen the ugliest aspect of battles between heroes and villains many times he lost count. Injuries of all kind on adults and children. The antiseptic smell of the hospital and the combination of scent from blood and bodily fluid. He could tolerate this, actually, – he did that on daily basis anyway. However, there was always people crying, screaming, sobbing and prayers in every corner of the hospital. It was indeed the materialized form of the concept ‘agony’. That was what made him angry because these people weren't supposed to be here. They weren’t supposed to be the one who suffered from the pitiful fights that began when some entitled bastards wanted to be or have something that didn’t belong to them.
Needless to say that, each attack always exhausted every medical staff. By the end of the day, doctors and nurses alike had to lie down and have saline solution injected into their veins. Peter never was in that situation. He might be luckier than his colleagues because of his super endurance. But sadly, he couldn’t get away with the stress from sensory overload caused by the hyperstimulation of the distressing environment and his cursed enhanced sense.
Back to the present, Peter already ordered his team to call all of their doctors and physicians who originally didn’t have a shift today to come to the hospital. He hoped that this was just for a preparation and the terrorists would be neutralized before they could start causing havoc.
Unfortunately, his dread had been confirmed when the city of New York just announced for its residents to shelter-in-place, just 30 minutes after the broadcast of the True Avengers’ speech.
Pound for pound, they were nothing on par with the supervillains because this assembly basically was a result from the aggregation of nameless and low-grade villains. However, by combining their force together and their pure lust for destruction, they made the most dangerous enemy of New York citizens. Their loose organization gave them a significant advantage. With each fraction remained the liberty to plan their attacks individually, this invited chaos. And sadly, their chaotic strategy worked as they managed to siege some schools and hospitals of different boroughs and successfully shutting down the metro. The social network was horribly abused to support their nefarious agenda. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube became the platform for announcing the next locations to attack, inviting anarchist out there to join, and even hosting the pool of which squad had the highest kill count. Many anarchists and opportunists soon, after seeing their success, pledged to be their ally and help spread rumors, set buildings on fire, block the road and terrorize civilians under the hashtag #trueavengers.
Shortly after that, the heroes entered the battlefield but the villain assembly was the worst kind of cancer that kept multiplying. The mobile network went down several times and panic ruled New York.
It was like his worst nightmare where his beloved city got reduced to the anarchical state of violence.
The smaller hospital in the closest radius of Midtown just got attacked by one of the armed fraction. Fortunately, they could evacuate people on time. Most of their patients were urgently transferred to Peter’s hospital. This and the increasing wave of injured civilians coming to the hospital, every department of the hospital from the administrative clerk to the triage to the ER team had been working to deliver medical care for two hours now. Peter was worried sick for his aunt and the girls. He hated that he couldn’t have time to give them a call. No one had the luxury of taking a break to give a call to their own families. In his profession, time was their primary enemy. They couldn’t waste any minute as it could mean life-or-death to their patients.
All Peter could do right now was doing his job and trusted that the people he loved would keep themselves safe from harm.
Fatigue and fright had weakened the hospital staffs’ spirit and the last straw that broke it was the message confirming them that the villain squad was on their way to Midtown Hospital.
Peter along with his colleagues received this bad news when he was in one of their units, they were giving care to their other tired fellows. Most of them in the room were from the primary. These nurses were ‘the jack-of-all-trades’ who managed most of preliminary care and interventions. Every patient had to pass through their hands first. Undoubtedly, they were among those who worked the hardest in the hospital and the news crushed the last ounce their strength.
“Where are the heroes – the Avengers? They should come to save us!” They demanded with frustration, clearly upset and betrayed.
One of the young nurses started to sob. Then, others followed.
“Why they have to do this—this horrible thing to us!”
“Because they don’t understand.” Peter found himself offering them the answer. His hands were still firm when he practiced saline injection to one of the sobbing nurses. He observed them. Most of them were young, perhaps just graduated from the school. This might be their first time of villain attack.
Everyone suddenly stopped and looked at him.
The truth was Peter understood their distress. When he was younger, he too could feel his blood boiled with fury. And admittedly, many times, he doubted his decision and almost went back to the idea of using his power again so he could avenge those people who committed the unforgivable crimes and protect his beloved one. Gradually, He began to understand that his wrath didn’t stem from hatred towards villains. It was from the lack of faith. He was just afraid that the people who belittled lives would win and what he and others had fought for would become meaningless. But Peter was an adult now and he understood himself better. He regarded his nurses and offered them his confident smile before sharing his belief to them.
“These people have lived a miserable life that they don’t understand that kindness and the will to help other people are the true strength of humans. But we do. We have to continue what we always do. In the end, the power that protects will triumph. And they will fall like they always do.”
Peter always felt awkward giving people consolation. He didn’t have his way with word and evidently hadn’t been trained to speak with a degree of eloquence. However, he thought he did a right thing here, seeing his nurses started wiping tears with their hands. They would be ready for another round.
“Well said, Parker.” Jemma complimented him and it startled Peter. No one ever realized that their matron visited them.
“Did you just compliment me?” Peter asked, befuddled. He needed a confirmation because her compliment was rare. She snorted.
“I have a new job for you. Follow me.” She told him.
On their way to exit the hospital building, Peter was given the information about their most recent situation. The police led with Captain Stacy, Gwen’s father, just arrived here thirty minutes ago to consult with the Dean and the hospital board. According to their reliable source, the police authority believed that one or two fractions of the villain assembly would reach here within two hours or less. Everyone agreed that evacuation should be the last resort because Midtown had too many patients in their care. It was logistically challenged and risky. The police planned to construct a barricade outside the hospital entrance. Captain Stacy also asked for permission to use the hospital ground to temporarily shelter civilians around the area that soon to be caught in the confrontation and set a communication line to keep both of them update about the situation.
And these were to be Peter’s task.
They were already outside and Peter could see Police officers moved a barricade to close the hospital gate. He saw Captain Stacy who was busy ordering his subordinates. Gwen’s father also recognized Peter and gave him a grim nod.
Jemma was looking at him, expecting his answer for her request. Peter analyzed the area, trying to figure out the solution.
“There was no room available in the hospital and the number of patients admitted still increase. We need to save rooms for those life-threatening cases.” Peter began with acknowledging their urgent problem. “But we could utilize the lawn and empty space behind and around the building.”
His chief nurse nodded approvingly. Seeing this, Peter continued.
“We could set medical tents and ask patients of no immediate care to stay there and have the triage see their wounds. Another tent for civilians, separate the zone.”
“Good plan. Get the triage and primary nurses with you. Trainees as well. Send the critical ones to the building. You stay on the ground and take care of the management and the communication with the police.”
Peter closed his eyes and willed himself to not be overwhelmed with the responsibility. He couldn’t hesitate nor could he waste any minutes. Everyone’s lives were at stake.
“I’ll do my best.”
The villain fraction arrived with a car full of more than ten armed combatants. Its enhanced leader clearly absent. As their car was within view, making a turn at the corner of the road, the police began to fire. Soon, they engaged in an intensive fight and the squad abnormally started to retreat which led the police to follow in an attempt to force them into a submission. But it was a decoy because as soon as the police moved, another fraction of terrorists leaped from their hiding and tried to round the police.
Amidst the firing, Captain Stacy collapsed on the pavement.
Peter took his medical kit and urgently ran into the battlefield. Many staffs screamed at him to stop but Peter kept moving. No way in hell that he was going to let Gwen’s father died.
To whoever above that decided to grant him the spider-sense, Peter would give them a proper thank later because had he not had it with him, Peter might not be able to come any close to Captain Stacy. He would be killed as soon as he stepped his feet out of the safe zone. The tingling feeling in his skull was the only thing that kept Peter alive. Peter dodged several bullets that were aiming at his way. Unfortunately, because Peter never seriously practiced this skill to its fullest capacity, one bullet finally succeeded in piercing itself on his thigh. Peter staggered as pain rushed through his nerve system but he willed himself to move forward to where Captain Stacy was lying.
“Captain Stacy!”
“Peter... here is not safe.” Thankfully, Gwen’s father was still conscious although barely, looking overtired. He was bleeding profusely. Peter immediately pressed a clean gauze on his opening wound on the stomach. Peter forced himself to think. If he could get Captain Stacy back to the hospital, they still had a chance to save him.
“Hold on, Captain. I’ll get us out of here.” Peter promised. Then, his sense was going off like crazy. Peter looked up to the man who now stood before him.
“Oh, look at this. It was a little male nurse.” He cackled. He was its leader and clearly an enhanced one. His entire right arm was a mechanic chainsaw. The man’s left arm was comparatively normal, with the exception that he had sharp claws instead of fingers. His bloodlust eyes and cynical smile told Peter this man didn’t plan to spare their lives. Peter automatically shielded the captain’s body with his own. If he attacked them, he would go through Peter first.
“Where was your cute skirt, faggot?” Just a brief moment, Peter considered pleading him for Captain Stacy’s sake. The idea went out the window when the bastard insulted Peter’s profession.
“Your father borrowed me. He looked wonderful in them though.” Peter taunted back. Immediately, The man's face twisted in rage, clearly having a tantrum of a child. He slapped Peter with his claws, left red lines on his face which blood started seeping.
“Say that again! And I’ll fucking kill you!” He screeched.
Peter stared back, giving the chainsaw man his disdain look.
“You’re the cheapest and ugliest cosplayer of Edward Scissorhands I ever saw.” Peter spat at his face. He prepared for any opportunity where he could punch the man in a dick with his full strength. Only this way he could get Gwen's father and him out. However, as the man raised his chainsaw hand, he knew that he was going to get cut in half. Instinctively, Peter quickly shut his eyes, preparing to die in a very grotesque way.
There was a sound of something got chopped off, but his body was still intact. Peter opened his eyes.
His attacker was now writhing in pain on the street, howling and clutching his bloody shoulder, his chainsaw arm now across the street. Standing between Peter and the incapacitated leader was the man in red, a katana in his hand dripping with blood, and a Hello Kitty Backpack slung loosely over his shoulder. He was the person Peter had been waiting for an entire week.
“Wade!” Peter couldn’t help but smile, relief and happiness filling his body at the mere sight of his Merc. Wade came back.
The masked mercenary kneeled down in front of him and gently lifted Peter’s chin, white lens inspecting his bleeding cheek. Peter cupped his gloved hand.
“I’m alright.” He said.
“Sorry for being late. Took me forever. Couldn’t find any available phone booth.” Peter let out a soft laugh. Wade smiled and it could be seen through the mask.
There was the sound of gunfire and people shouting around them. Another fraction just came.
“Get back to the hospital, Peter – I’ll be with you shortly.” Wade whispered. Peter nodded before he effortlessly lifted Captain Stacy up, arm carrying him. Wade’s eyes widen in shock. Peter hid his smirk.
“Be careful, Wade.” He said one last time.
The Merc just gave him his thumb up.
When Peter was back safely to the hospital ground, Deadpool finally paid his attention back to the villain troop who clearly was uneasy of the mercenary’s unexpected appearance. They all had heard of his reputation.
The immoral mercenary casually stalked toward them, swinging his bloody katana. Unafraid and uninterested of guns that pointed at him.
“Hope I’m not late for our girly party!” He said saccharinely. “Let’s see why not we begin our fun time with -- you fucker who shot my boy step out so I’d personally return the favor.” Deadpool let out a deadly growl, any faked merriment in his tone evaporated, replaced with cold fury.
In panic, the squads began to shoot him and Deadpool easily evaded them all. It looked like he was dancing rather than avoiding bullets. That was truly the skill possessed by the first-class mercenary, but the terrorists couldn’t appreciate it a bit, overwhelmed with horror. To be frank, it was hard to enjoy that crazy move of the merc when you were clearly on his opposite side.
The backpack full of weapons dropped unceremoniously on the ground. Deadpool huffed in annoyance. “Fine. Since I’m feeling generous today –“
“I’ll fucking unalive all of you instead.” He snarled. And the armed terrorists, even the most experienced one couldn’t help themselves but took a step back in fear of the most dangerous man’s wrath.