Peter Parker breathed in deep, savoring the smell of hot bacon and fried eggs. Mayday sat in her highchair, munching away at her pancakes. He grinned as he noticed she’d eaten her bacon first.
“Look at my little carnivore!” he laughed.
“Mmmm, bacon!” the toddler responded. “Yummy!”
“Want more?”
“Yes, please!” she said. “I love bacon.” He laughed, and walked over to her. He slid two pieces off the skillet and onto her plate.
“Careful it’s hot!”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
“Mmmm,” a new voice said. “What smells amazing?”
Peter spun to her. She wore gym shorts (his from the look of them) and a white tank top. Her red hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. His heart jumped. He’d gotten used to life without her. It was still a thrill to see her alive each and every day.
“Your favorite, MJ,” he said. “Bacon, two runny fried eggs, potatoes, and rye toast.” He sat the skillet down on the burner and turned off the heat.
She smiled. “It’s your first day at the new gig, I should be cooking you breakfast.” He shrugged as he pulled a plate from the cupboard.
“You had a rough night,” he said. “Bad dreams again I’m guessing. So when Mayday woke up… Plus, it’s moving day, so it’s a big day for all of us.” He set the plate down, turned back to the skillet and grabbed it. “I’ll have to throw my stuff into a burrito so I’m not late…” He scooped her eggs onto a plate.
“Let me do it,” she said. “You go get dressed.” She took two steps to his side, leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you!” he said, kissing her forehead. He dashed down the hallway, pulling off his pajamas.
“Go get ‘em Tiger,” she muttered under her breath with a smile.
“Look at my little carnivore!” he laughed.
“Mmmm, bacon!” the toddler responded. “Yummy!”
“Want more?”
“Yes, please!” she said. “I love bacon.” He laughed, and walked over to her. He slid two pieces off the skillet and onto her plate.
“Careful it’s hot!”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
“Mmmm,” a new voice said. “What smells amazing?”
Peter spun to her. She wore gym shorts (his from the look of them) and a white tank top. Her red hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. His heart jumped. He’d gotten used to life without her. It was still a thrill to see her alive each and every day.
“Your favorite, MJ,” he said. “Bacon, two runny fried eggs, potatoes, and rye toast.” He sat the skillet down on the burner and turned off the heat.
She smiled. “It’s your first day at the new gig, I should be cooking you breakfast.” He shrugged as he pulled a plate from the cupboard.
“You had a rough night,” he said. “Bad dreams again I’m guessing. So when Mayday woke up… Plus, it’s moving day, so it’s a big day for all of us.” He set the plate down, turned back to the skillet and grabbed it. “I’ll have to throw my stuff into a burrito so I’m not late…” He scooped her eggs onto a plate.
“Let me do it,” she said. “You go get dressed.” She took two steps to his side, leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you!” he said, kissing her forehead. He dashed down the hallway, pulling off his pajamas.
“Go get ‘em Tiger,” she muttered under her breath with a smile.
"Six Months Later"
First Day - Part One
Written by JD Mathis & Tony Thornely
Just outside the First National Bank and Trust of New York reporters and police officers had gathered to tape off the crime scene and report on the breaking news.
“This is Trisha Takanawa reporting from Bugle Cable News Network. Just minutes ago a group of armed men went into the bank behind me and attempted to rob it and its patrons.”
Her camera operator moved from the reporter and focused in on the armed men being carried out of the bank, “As you can see by the way they were cocooned, only one guess is needed to let everyone know who was responsible.” She then walked over to one of the bystanders. “Excuse me sir can you please tell us what happened in the bank?”
“It was Spider-Man!” the man exclaimed. “He’s back in action!”
“Are you sure it was him sir?”
“He stuck to the shadows mostly, but come on look at the webbed up crooks,” the man pointed out as others began to chant Spider-Man's name.
“If it is true and Spider-Man has returned, then the only question is where has….”
# # # # #
The Daily Bugle.
The office of J. Jonah Jameson.
Now.
“….that wall crawling menace been all this time?” J. Jonah could be heard shouting as he watched his news reporter continue her broadcast. “He vanishes without a word, and now all of a sudden he is back in action web slinging away. The people have questions like where did he go? Why did he leave? Why is he back?”
“And by the people you mean you right?” Joe “Robbie” Robertson asked as he continued to make notes on the future news story.
Jonah did not say anything but just huffed as he stared at the video monitor. “Just get the story for our front page Robbie,” said Jonah.
“I’ll pull Norah from the sanitation strike piece she was doing and pull Billy from the photographer pool, they tend to work well together,” Robbie said pulling out his cell phone.
Once Robbie walked out of the room, Jonah smiled at the screen and said in a whisper, “Welcome back wall crawler.”
# # # # #
Oscorp Inc.
Loading docks.
“Hurry the hell up will you fellas!!” a foreman yelled to the men in his employ. “The big wigs want this stuff transported to the newly built and ultra-secure research and development compound before the day is up!”
One of the men pushing a hover transport carrying several containers filled with live biological specimens stopped in front of the supervisor. “So why the speedy rush on this move anyway?”
“Because that is what the boss wants and…” the supervisor began to say but was cut off before he could finish by a rather large muscular woman.
“You are paid to work and not ask stupid questions,” she said as she motioned for the man to continue working. “You know the deadline yes?”
The supervisor looked rather nervous as he looked up slightly at the woman and finally spoke. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good,” she said as she looked away from him and over the others. “Meet the deadline or else we'll have to send you to talk with HR.”
The foreman’s eyes widened a bit as soon as he heard those last words. He suddenly rushed forward and began screaming out orders to the rest of the crew. The tall amazon like woman smiled slightly as the man ran with obvious fear as a motivation.
The ringing phone interrupted her moment of joy however, “Yes ma’am,” she spoke.
‘I need an update my dear,’ the voice on the other end of the phone requested.
“Transport will be moving out within the hour Madame,” The woman answered. “The route has been checked and rechecked so we should have no problems getting everything to the new compound.”
‘Keep up the good work and do not make me regret giving you this second chance Delilah,’ the woman said in a caring tone of voice. ‘You’ve been a valuable employee these last couple months.’
“Thank you ma’am and I will not let you down,” Delilah said before hanging up her phone.
# # # # #
A nearby alleyway
A costumed figure jumped out of the shadows and landed on a trash dumpster. He then reached up onto a window ceil and grabbed a black bag that had been webbed up there. ‘Spidey rule number seven always keep a bag with an extra set of clothes around for a quick change,’ he thought to himself as he started to open the bag.
“And always put them in a plastic bag so they stay fresh,” he said out loud as he removed his mask and placed it along with his gloves and web shooters in the backpack and began changing into the new set of clothes. “I can’t go to work looking like a college student who pulled an all nighter.”
After a few minutes, he peaked around the corner of the alleyway to make sure the coast was clear. ‘No Spidey sense going off,’ he thought to himself. Once he knew it was clear he zipped his jacket up, put the bag over his shoulder, and then exited the alley. Then in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the crowd of people that were coming and going around the nearby bank crime scene.
His phone vibrated a couple times letting him know someone just sent him a text message. The message on his phone read ‘Saw the news report. Nice job staying out of sight and getting the job done Pete.’
Peter Parker had a smile on his face as he began typing out his response as he weaved through the sea of people walking around New York. ‘Thanks. Getting back into the swing of things, no pun intended.’ He finished and then pressed send.
‘Good to hear. Thought you would want an update. Everything has been moved into the new place. MJ and May are settling in and the security system is up and running. I’ll be in after I finish up some business at the Mansion. Plan on sparring bright and early tomorrow morning. We’re both a little rusty. I’ll bring the doughnuts this time.’ The incoming text message read.
Peter stopped in front of a large building and looked in awe as he typed back a response with a smile on his face. ‘Deal. Bring jelly filled.’ He closed his phone and placed it back in his pocket as he took a deep breath to calm himself.
“A new lease on life starts now,” Peter said a few times repeatedly almost like a mantra.
A small slender hand touched Peters shoulder breaking him out of his concentrated state of mind. Turning around he knew because his Spidey sense did not go off that it was not an enemy but the familiar sight of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's number one go to person.
“I know it can be a little overwhelming at first Peter,” Pepper commented as she began walking Peter through the front door. “But you are one of the most capable men Tony knows and he is sure that you will do just perfect as head of research and development. Now if you will follow me I will take you to your private lab.”
“I have a private lab?” Peter asked a tiny bit shocked and a whole lot of excited.
“And an office,” she said over her shoulder. “Come on, we have a lot to see.”
# # # # #
The streets of New York
A short time later
The convoy of transport trucks began pouring out of the old Oscorp building right on schedule. Delilah rode in one of the last armored cars of the convoy in order to keep an eye on the operation.
“All points respond,” Delilah said over the radio communication system. “Status check?”
‘Truck one reporting all clear.’
‘Truck two reporting all clear.’
‘Truck three reporting all clear.’
‘Truck four reporting all clear.’
‘Truck five reporting all clear.’
“Good. We are an hour away from the compound, I want everyone on their guard,” she said to everyone on the other end of the radios. “This equipment gets delivered and you all get paid a lot of money.”
Putting the radio down she sat back in her seat and tried to relax for at least a moment while the convoy moved along. As the lead truck moved forward no one noticed the homeless, men on each side of the trucks throw black disks underneath the first truck.
“And so it begins.” A man dressed in a golden armored suit stepped onto the road in front of the convoy. The driver slammed on his brakes, and the low squeal of the tires quickly filled the air. The man grinned as he pressed the button on his gauntlet.
The signal activated the disks, which in turn caused them to explode destroying the cab of the first truck, killing the men in it. The explosion set off a chain reaction, an explosion going off with each of the subsequent vehicles, flipping and upending each truck.
“Scavengers retrieve the equipment we’re being paid for!” the man said as he signaled his men to move in on the targets. A dozen or more men leapt from the shadows all dressed in a dark golden body armor. Each one brandishing laser rifles began shooting anyone in their way as they tore into the trucks.
In her armored car, Delilah shook off the effects of disorientation that the explosives had caused. Reaching for her radio, she yelled for extra security to attack. Kicking the door open, she stepped out and ripped off the jacket to the woman’s casual business suit she had been wearing. Rushing forward Delilah picked one of the armored men up over her head and threw him into the concrete wall of a nearby building. As she fought another two enemies, one lined up get a clean shot on her. Suddenly, a blast of shock waves knocked him off his feet and sent him sprawling.
“You called for backup boss?” the man known as Shocker asked as he and another man known as Clash, both dressed in black security combat fatigues stepped through a portal near Delilah.
“Make sure they do not get away with anything do you understand?!” Delilah yelled as she, Shocker, and Clash began taking down the attackers.
Blocking a punch Clash smashed his hands together causing a vibration of sound to attack the men’s inner ears causing them to become dizzy and sick.
“I recognize these guys,” Clash said as he side kicked one attacker before punching another one. “A bunch of low rent Vulture wannabes called the Scavengers,” he explained as he leapt over another attacker and landed a nice kick to the front face mask of another Scavenger member.
“Any idea who they’re working for?” Shocker asked as he blasted target after target.
Clash smashed his hands once more this time causing a shock wave, that shattered a couple of the weapons they attackers were using. “According to the dark web their boss is a tech thief that goes by the name Armada.”
As they continued to take, the Scavengers out no one noticed several of Armada’s flying drones swoop in and out of several of the trucks taking bits and pieces of the Osborn tech at will. Once they were finished, they zipped off into the air and back to their master.
“Time to go,” Armada said as he tapped a few buttons on his gauntlet.
Down below those members of the Scavengers that have not had their armor destroyed vanished in a blink of eye thanks to an emergency teleport system built into the armor. Others were not as lucky as they were left behind.
“Spot,” Delilah called out into the night air. A portal opened up behind Delilah and a man dressed in the same black security combat fatigues as Shocker and Clash step out.
“You called boss?”
Delilah pushed one of the men on the ground over on to his back and looked at him for a moment before saying anything to Spot. Once she was done looking around the area she turned her attention back to Spot.
“I want you to get our people back to the infirmary, and when you are done drop these fools anywhere but here,” she said. She kicked one of the Scavengers angrily.
“It’s gonna take a couple trips with my powers not at the same strength they used to be,” Spot commented as he began opening several portals beneath the injured personal.
“Just get it done quickly,” Delilah said as she turned her attention to other matters. “Shocker, several of the trucks are still running, check the cargo and then get the men that are still standing to start loading whatever can be salvaged on the trucks and get them moving.”
“You got it boss lady,” Shocker said as he began getting several men on to their feet and got them to work.
“Yo Delilah, you might wanna come check this out,” Clash shouted from one of the destroyed trucks.
Delilah made her way to the truck Clash was standing next to and shock her head in disbelief. “Is everything destroyed?”
“Looks like it,” Clash replied as they both looked in what was left of the truck that was carrying the live specimen containers. “But it looks like a couple of the containers may have busted open in the crash,” he said as he picked up a container that was not in the fire.
Delilah rubbed the bridge of her nose as she took everything in for the moment. “For all our sake we best hope everything burned in the fire,” she said her words mixed with anger and concern as she knocked the container that Clash held in his hand into the roaring fire.
As the container started to melt the label could barely be made out, ‘Specimen 02: Chimera Spider.’
# # # # #
A few blocks away from the ambush site, a young man with his trusty walking stick and bag filled with specimen jars he sets out on his adventure walking the back alleyways searching for new insects for his collection as he does every weekend. So far, he has found a couple good finds like a praying mantis and a butterfly for his collection. As he continued to search, he caught sight of an unusual looking spider’s web that seemed to shine with a silvery metallic look.
“Oh wow,” the young man said as he started to get closer. Taking out one of his jars, he inched closer so as too not to disturb the spider’s web, which would alert the spider who would then scurry off. He eased the container and lid over the spider, then quickly scooped, and closed it with in the jar.
“Nice catch,” he said eyeing the spider in the jar. “I cannot wait to show you off,” said the young man as he rushed off out of the alley and headed back to his dorm room.
# # # # #
Stark Solutions
New York City
“So your primary job is going to be an ideas man,” Pepper said as they walked through the facility. “Secondary is going to be managing the R&D team. There’s about fifteen lead idea engineers that we’ll expect results from. It doesn’t need to be a concrete product daily or anything like that, but forward momentum is important.”
“Got it,” he said. “I’ve been watching the TED talks and some of the leadership training Tony sent my way.”
Pepper nodded. “Good, we’ll be doing everything we can to help you succeed,” she said. “Now, if you’d like, I can show you your lab.” She led him into a large open space.
“Now Tony likes to call this space the Mindshare or the Brain Space,” she said. “I don’t know if he can’t decide or can’t remember which. But I think you can see why each name fits.”
The large space was full of people, tables and… stuff. One table held what looked to be some sort of gravity field manipulator, as each of the six scientists around it were floating a few inches off the ground. One stayed in his chair working on a laptop, slurping a floating ball of coffee out of the air with a straw. Another table held a scale model of a sports car, its hood removed and an arc reactor installed within. Each table and open space was the same, each with different projects and experiments.
“Wow, this is…”
“I know, right?” Pepper laughed. “It’s not often that you stop and think that you’re the dumbest person in the room, but… I always do here.” Peter slowly began to turn in awe. This was a dream come true.
One of the large exterior windows split and began to open, drawing a lot of attention. Peter hadn’t even noticed a seam before. There was a high pitched whine, and Iron Man flew into view. He hovered as the windows opened enough to allow him in, and finally flew inside and landed. The window began to close, and the teams turned back to their work. Only in this room, would Iron Man’s arrival draw so little attention.
The armor opened, and Tony stepped out. The armor began to dissemble into hexagonal tiles and collapse into itself until it became a hovering sphere about the size of a basketball. He paused for a second, then shrugged. Peter realized he was expecting attention.
“Hey Pepp, Peter,” he said, walking up to them. “How’s the tour so far?”
Peter motioned to the group. “It’s like walking into a room full of…”
“Us?” Tony asked. Peter nodded. “Yeah, it’s still surreal. Wait until your first meeting with the Think Tank. It’s like this plus Reed Richards, Hank McCoy, T’Challa and so much more.”
“Wow,” Peter muttered. Tony glanced at Pepper.
“Has he met Max yet?”
“Max?”
“Not yet,” Pepper replied.
“Max Modell,” Tony said. “Senior Director of R&D. Your boss.”
“I thought I was reporting to you,” Peter asked, frowning.
“You are, but as busy as we both are I needed someone on site with you. It’s more of a collaborative, mentor-style position than it is a boss-subordinate situation. And don’t worry, I’ve covered the… extra-curricular in an appropriate way.”
“He’s down in the experimental energy lab,” she said. “Good opportunity to see that project too.”
“Lead the way,” Tony said.
# # # # #
Hours after the Osborn tech robbery the man known as Armada soared through the air till he came to his destination and began descending downward through the air and lowered through the large open sky light followed closely by his henchmen the Scavengers.
“You know what to do with the score,” said Armada before he headed one way while the Scavengers went the other. Walking upstairs, he paused and took a deep breath before entering into the large spacious room. Once he did the door closed silently behind him.
“I take it everything went according to plan?” a creepy raspy voice asked as he feed what looked like a raw steak to a rather large bird in an even larger cage.
“Yes sir,” Armada replied as he watched the large bird eat the bloody steak raw. “We were able to get everything you wanted from the Osborn transport. The new aerial combat armor you outfitted the Scavengers with performed like a dream.”
“Good, very good,” the man said as he threw the last piece of meat at the large bird.
“Except…”
“Except?” asked the older man as he stared at Armada with the eyes of a predator-getting ready to attack his prey.
Armada gulped beneath his helmet as he prepared to deliver the other part of the mission report. “The transport had some heavy duty security guarding it,” Armada ejected a disk from his belt and tossed it in the air in front of him which then activated a hologram display screen that showed his employer the events of the night.
“Interesting,” the older man said taking a seat at the large mahogany wooden desk. He watched for a few more minutes as he tapped his boney fingers on the desk rhythmically. “It appears that some of my old colleagues have taken new jobs as well,” he then waved his hand in the air signaling Armada to turn off the display. “It does not matter now; our employer has built a new empire for himself. He has a master plan and no one will stop him from fulfilling his mission.”
“So what do you wanna do boss?”
The older man leaned back in his seat; the light shining slightly off his baldhead, a wide grin spread across his face under his hooked nose. He picked the glass of brandy up from his desk. Staring out the window, he simply continued to smile without saying a word.
# # # # #
Peter removed his goggles as the energy field around the strange generator dimmed. Max Modell turned to them. He was a tall, barrel chested man, with a thick red beard and hair to match. He removed his own goggles.
“Peter, it’s great to meet you. Tony’s shown me some of your work. It’s fantastic. I’m actually disappointed that you are just now entering the sciences full time. Some of your designs are superb. I spent a week just working with your adhesive formula. And yet, all you’ve been doing with that brain is designing tech for Spider-Man?”
Peter glanced at Tony and nodded. “Yeah, under the mask, Spidey is an old friend,” he said. “I guess I thought that doing any outside scientific work might expose him.”
“Well, don’t worry about that,” Max said with a wink. “That particular secret is safe with us.”
“So, can you tell me about this?”
“Definitely,” he said. He turned to the generator. “It’s really Grady’s baby.” He pointed to the chubby scientist tinkering with the generator. We know we exist in a multiverse- one universe among an infinity. What keeps our universes separated from one another is essentially quantum foam. Well, the generator is using a Von Doom radiation generator to access the quantum foam, opening up a rift to access potentially unlimited clean energy.”
“Replacing the need for limited sources, like the arc reactor technology,” Peter said. His mind raced through the possibilities. Then he paused. He was a good chemist and engineer. This was a completely different level from him. How could he keep up?
“Bound to happen eventually,” Stark shrugged. He glanced at Peter. “You’re pulling your ‘I don’t belong here’ face. Stop it. I hired you for a reason.”
Peter shrugged. “Sure, but this is on a level-”
“Do you understand the science?” Max interrupted. Peter glanced back at him. His tone was sharp, but his eyes were kind.
“Well, yeah,” he said.
“Then you don’t need to be worried,” he replied. He shrugged. “I get it. I am a biochemist. Not everything SS does is in my wheelhouse, but I am a smart enough person to get it. That is all I ask of you. Fair?”
“Fair,” Tony said. He elbowed Peter.
“Fair.” Peter glanced around Max. The generator was sparking. He frowned, and his spider-sense began to tickle on the edge of his awareness.
“Is it supposed to do that?” he asked. Tony and Max both shifted, while Pepper stepped several paces back.
“No,” Max said. “Grady?”
“There’s something off here,” Grady said. “A fluctuation in the Van Doom radiation output.” Tony’s frown turning into a grimace.
“Von Doom,” Max corrected.
“Is the VDR generator stable?” Peter asked, walking over to Grady. “The power source in dimensional travel always needs to be stabilized before attempting…” Suddenly, his spider-sense screamed.
“EVERYONE DOWN!” he screamed. He shoved Grady to the ground, Tony dove on top of Pepper, shielding her with his body and Max dived behind a console. A split second later, a screeching noise filled the air, and a concussive blast of energy hit the lab.
Peter sat up, his ears ringing. Through the spots in his vision, he could see the flickering colors of flames, and smell fires both paper and electrical. He shook his head and realized four new shapes were in the room. His vision sharped with another shake and he gasped.
A massive bipedal creature stood next to a woman. The creature’s skin was jet black, and flowed like a liquid, with tendrils flowing out and back into its form. Its head was featureless except for two narrow white slits for eyes, and a toothy fluke-like mouth. A long, thin tongue flicked in and out of its mouth. Peter realized after a moment that it was a symbiote. The woman wore a navy tank top and jeans, with a blue jacket over her shirt. Her hair had been replaced by a field of sparking energy. Peter stood and clenched his fists before he noticed the other two.
One was a young man, wearing a black and red version of his own costume. He was clearly young and wiry under the costume. The other was a girl. She wore a white and black costume with pink and blue webbed accents, with a hood over her mask. The mask had eyes like his own costume, outlined in pink.
“Where the hell are we, Electro?” the symbiote hissed.
“I dunno, Doctor V,” she said. “But I think we have to get out of here!” She spun and blasted the wall, tearing it open. The two sprinted away.
“Come on Gw- Spider-Girl,” the black-clad Spider-Man said. “Let’s go-”
“Wait,” she said. She was walking toward him.
To Peter, something about her voice was familiar.
“Peter?” she whispered. “Is that you?” His jaw dropped as he recognized the voice. She came within arms’ reach. He reached out and pulled her mask off.
“Gwen?!”
Next: First of all, don’t touch that dial, because the return of Spider-Man to M2K isn’t done quite yet! Check the other tabs for some back-up stories!
Then, come back for Amazing Spider-Man #51, as we learn more about Electro, Doctor Venom, Spider-Girl, and Spider-Man as the two heroes team up with Peter and Tony to stop their rampage!
“This is Trisha Takanawa reporting from Bugle Cable News Network. Just minutes ago a group of armed men went into the bank behind me and attempted to rob it and its patrons.”
Her camera operator moved from the reporter and focused in on the armed men being carried out of the bank, “As you can see by the way they were cocooned, only one guess is needed to let everyone know who was responsible.” She then walked over to one of the bystanders. “Excuse me sir can you please tell us what happened in the bank?”
“It was Spider-Man!” the man exclaimed. “He’s back in action!”
“Are you sure it was him sir?”
“He stuck to the shadows mostly, but come on look at the webbed up crooks,” the man pointed out as others began to chant Spider-Man's name.
“If it is true and Spider-Man has returned, then the only question is where has….”
# # # # #
The Daily Bugle.
The office of J. Jonah Jameson.
Now.
“….that wall crawling menace been all this time?” J. Jonah could be heard shouting as he watched his news reporter continue her broadcast. “He vanishes without a word, and now all of a sudden he is back in action web slinging away. The people have questions like where did he go? Why did he leave? Why is he back?”
“And by the people you mean you right?” Joe “Robbie” Robertson asked as he continued to make notes on the future news story.
Jonah did not say anything but just huffed as he stared at the video monitor. “Just get the story for our front page Robbie,” said Jonah.
“I’ll pull Norah from the sanitation strike piece she was doing and pull Billy from the photographer pool, they tend to work well together,” Robbie said pulling out his cell phone.
Once Robbie walked out of the room, Jonah smiled at the screen and said in a whisper, “Welcome back wall crawler.”
# # # # #
Oscorp Inc.
Loading docks.
“Hurry the hell up will you fellas!!” a foreman yelled to the men in his employ. “The big wigs want this stuff transported to the newly built and ultra-secure research and development compound before the day is up!”
One of the men pushing a hover transport carrying several containers filled with live biological specimens stopped in front of the supervisor. “So why the speedy rush on this move anyway?”
“Because that is what the boss wants and…” the supervisor began to say but was cut off before he could finish by a rather large muscular woman.
“You are paid to work and not ask stupid questions,” she said as she motioned for the man to continue working. “You know the deadline yes?”
The supervisor looked rather nervous as he looked up slightly at the woman and finally spoke. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good,” she said as she looked away from him and over the others. “Meet the deadline or else we'll have to send you to talk with HR.”
The foreman’s eyes widened a bit as soon as he heard those last words. He suddenly rushed forward and began screaming out orders to the rest of the crew. The tall amazon like woman smiled slightly as the man ran with obvious fear as a motivation.
The ringing phone interrupted her moment of joy however, “Yes ma’am,” she spoke.
‘I need an update my dear,’ the voice on the other end of the phone requested.
“Transport will be moving out within the hour Madame,” The woman answered. “The route has been checked and rechecked so we should have no problems getting everything to the new compound.”
‘Keep up the good work and do not make me regret giving you this second chance Delilah,’ the woman said in a caring tone of voice. ‘You’ve been a valuable employee these last couple months.’
“Thank you ma’am and I will not let you down,” Delilah said before hanging up her phone.
# # # # #
A nearby alleyway
A costumed figure jumped out of the shadows and landed on a trash dumpster. He then reached up onto a window ceil and grabbed a black bag that had been webbed up there. ‘Spidey rule number seven always keep a bag with an extra set of clothes around for a quick change,’ he thought to himself as he started to open the bag.
“And always put them in a plastic bag so they stay fresh,” he said out loud as he removed his mask and placed it along with his gloves and web shooters in the backpack and began changing into the new set of clothes. “I can’t go to work looking like a college student who pulled an all nighter.”
After a few minutes, he peaked around the corner of the alleyway to make sure the coast was clear. ‘No Spidey sense going off,’ he thought to himself. Once he knew it was clear he zipped his jacket up, put the bag over his shoulder, and then exited the alley. Then in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the crowd of people that were coming and going around the nearby bank crime scene.
His phone vibrated a couple times letting him know someone just sent him a text message. The message on his phone read ‘Saw the news report. Nice job staying out of sight and getting the job done Pete.’
Peter Parker had a smile on his face as he began typing out his response as he weaved through the sea of people walking around New York. ‘Thanks. Getting back into the swing of things, no pun intended.’ He finished and then pressed send.
‘Good to hear. Thought you would want an update. Everything has been moved into the new place. MJ and May are settling in and the security system is up and running. I’ll be in after I finish up some business at the Mansion. Plan on sparring bright and early tomorrow morning. We’re both a little rusty. I’ll bring the doughnuts this time.’ The incoming text message read.
Peter stopped in front of a large building and looked in awe as he typed back a response with a smile on his face. ‘Deal. Bring jelly filled.’ He closed his phone and placed it back in his pocket as he took a deep breath to calm himself.
“A new lease on life starts now,” Peter said a few times repeatedly almost like a mantra.
A small slender hand touched Peters shoulder breaking him out of his concentrated state of mind. Turning around he knew because his Spidey sense did not go off that it was not an enemy but the familiar sight of Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's number one go to person.
“I know it can be a little overwhelming at first Peter,” Pepper commented as she began walking Peter through the front door. “But you are one of the most capable men Tony knows and he is sure that you will do just perfect as head of research and development. Now if you will follow me I will take you to your private lab.”
“I have a private lab?” Peter asked a tiny bit shocked and a whole lot of excited.
“And an office,” she said over her shoulder. “Come on, we have a lot to see.”
# # # # #
The streets of New York
A short time later
The convoy of transport trucks began pouring out of the old Oscorp building right on schedule. Delilah rode in one of the last armored cars of the convoy in order to keep an eye on the operation.
“All points respond,” Delilah said over the radio communication system. “Status check?”
‘Truck one reporting all clear.’
‘Truck two reporting all clear.’
‘Truck three reporting all clear.’
‘Truck four reporting all clear.’
‘Truck five reporting all clear.’
“Good. We are an hour away from the compound, I want everyone on their guard,” she said to everyone on the other end of the radios. “This equipment gets delivered and you all get paid a lot of money.”
Putting the radio down she sat back in her seat and tried to relax for at least a moment while the convoy moved along. As the lead truck moved forward no one noticed the homeless, men on each side of the trucks throw black disks underneath the first truck.
“And so it begins.” A man dressed in a golden armored suit stepped onto the road in front of the convoy. The driver slammed on his brakes, and the low squeal of the tires quickly filled the air. The man grinned as he pressed the button on his gauntlet.
The signal activated the disks, which in turn caused them to explode destroying the cab of the first truck, killing the men in it. The explosion set off a chain reaction, an explosion going off with each of the subsequent vehicles, flipping and upending each truck.
“Scavengers retrieve the equipment we’re being paid for!” the man said as he signaled his men to move in on the targets. A dozen or more men leapt from the shadows all dressed in a dark golden body armor. Each one brandishing laser rifles began shooting anyone in their way as they tore into the trucks.
In her armored car, Delilah shook off the effects of disorientation that the explosives had caused. Reaching for her radio, she yelled for extra security to attack. Kicking the door open, she stepped out and ripped off the jacket to the woman’s casual business suit she had been wearing. Rushing forward Delilah picked one of the armored men up over her head and threw him into the concrete wall of a nearby building. As she fought another two enemies, one lined up get a clean shot on her. Suddenly, a blast of shock waves knocked him off his feet and sent him sprawling.
“You called for backup boss?” the man known as Shocker asked as he and another man known as Clash, both dressed in black security combat fatigues stepped through a portal near Delilah.
“Make sure they do not get away with anything do you understand?!” Delilah yelled as she, Shocker, and Clash began taking down the attackers.
Blocking a punch Clash smashed his hands together causing a vibration of sound to attack the men’s inner ears causing them to become dizzy and sick.
“I recognize these guys,” Clash said as he side kicked one attacker before punching another one. “A bunch of low rent Vulture wannabes called the Scavengers,” he explained as he leapt over another attacker and landed a nice kick to the front face mask of another Scavenger member.
“Any idea who they’re working for?” Shocker asked as he blasted target after target.
Clash smashed his hands once more this time causing a shock wave, that shattered a couple of the weapons they attackers were using. “According to the dark web their boss is a tech thief that goes by the name Armada.”
As they continued to take, the Scavengers out no one noticed several of Armada’s flying drones swoop in and out of several of the trucks taking bits and pieces of the Osborn tech at will. Once they were finished, they zipped off into the air and back to their master.
“Time to go,” Armada said as he tapped a few buttons on his gauntlet.
Down below those members of the Scavengers that have not had their armor destroyed vanished in a blink of eye thanks to an emergency teleport system built into the armor. Others were not as lucky as they were left behind.
“Spot,” Delilah called out into the night air. A portal opened up behind Delilah and a man dressed in the same black security combat fatigues as Shocker and Clash step out.
“You called boss?”
Delilah pushed one of the men on the ground over on to his back and looked at him for a moment before saying anything to Spot. Once she was done looking around the area she turned her attention back to Spot.
“I want you to get our people back to the infirmary, and when you are done drop these fools anywhere but here,” she said. She kicked one of the Scavengers angrily.
“It’s gonna take a couple trips with my powers not at the same strength they used to be,” Spot commented as he began opening several portals beneath the injured personal.
“Just get it done quickly,” Delilah said as she turned her attention to other matters. “Shocker, several of the trucks are still running, check the cargo and then get the men that are still standing to start loading whatever can be salvaged on the trucks and get them moving.”
“You got it boss lady,” Shocker said as he began getting several men on to their feet and got them to work.
“Yo Delilah, you might wanna come check this out,” Clash shouted from one of the destroyed trucks.
Delilah made her way to the truck Clash was standing next to and shock her head in disbelief. “Is everything destroyed?”
“Looks like it,” Clash replied as they both looked in what was left of the truck that was carrying the live specimen containers. “But it looks like a couple of the containers may have busted open in the crash,” he said as he picked up a container that was not in the fire.
Delilah rubbed the bridge of her nose as she took everything in for the moment. “For all our sake we best hope everything burned in the fire,” she said her words mixed with anger and concern as she knocked the container that Clash held in his hand into the roaring fire.
As the container started to melt the label could barely be made out, ‘Specimen 02: Chimera Spider.’
# # # # #
A few blocks away from the ambush site, a young man with his trusty walking stick and bag filled with specimen jars he sets out on his adventure walking the back alleyways searching for new insects for his collection as he does every weekend. So far, he has found a couple good finds like a praying mantis and a butterfly for his collection. As he continued to search, he caught sight of an unusual looking spider’s web that seemed to shine with a silvery metallic look.
“Oh wow,” the young man said as he started to get closer. Taking out one of his jars, he inched closer so as too not to disturb the spider’s web, which would alert the spider who would then scurry off. He eased the container and lid over the spider, then quickly scooped, and closed it with in the jar.
“Nice catch,” he said eyeing the spider in the jar. “I cannot wait to show you off,” said the young man as he rushed off out of the alley and headed back to his dorm room.
# # # # #
Stark Solutions
New York City
“So your primary job is going to be an ideas man,” Pepper said as they walked through the facility. “Secondary is going to be managing the R&D team. There’s about fifteen lead idea engineers that we’ll expect results from. It doesn’t need to be a concrete product daily or anything like that, but forward momentum is important.”
“Got it,” he said. “I’ve been watching the TED talks and some of the leadership training Tony sent my way.”
Pepper nodded. “Good, we’ll be doing everything we can to help you succeed,” she said. “Now, if you’d like, I can show you your lab.” She led him into a large open space.
“Now Tony likes to call this space the Mindshare or the Brain Space,” she said. “I don’t know if he can’t decide or can’t remember which. But I think you can see why each name fits.”
The large space was full of people, tables and… stuff. One table held what looked to be some sort of gravity field manipulator, as each of the six scientists around it were floating a few inches off the ground. One stayed in his chair working on a laptop, slurping a floating ball of coffee out of the air with a straw. Another table held a scale model of a sports car, its hood removed and an arc reactor installed within. Each table and open space was the same, each with different projects and experiments.
“Wow, this is…”
“I know, right?” Pepper laughed. “It’s not often that you stop and think that you’re the dumbest person in the room, but… I always do here.” Peter slowly began to turn in awe. This was a dream come true.
One of the large exterior windows split and began to open, drawing a lot of attention. Peter hadn’t even noticed a seam before. There was a high pitched whine, and Iron Man flew into view. He hovered as the windows opened enough to allow him in, and finally flew inside and landed. The window began to close, and the teams turned back to their work. Only in this room, would Iron Man’s arrival draw so little attention.
The armor opened, and Tony stepped out. The armor began to dissemble into hexagonal tiles and collapse into itself until it became a hovering sphere about the size of a basketball. He paused for a second, then shrugged. Peter realized he was expecting attention.
“Hey Pepp, Peter,” he said, walking up to them. “How’s the tour so far?”
Peter motioned to the group. “It’s like walking into a room full of…”
“Us?” Tony asked. Peter nodded. “Yeah, it’s still surreal. Wait until your first meeting with the Think Tank. It’s like this plus Reed Richards, Hank McCoy, T’Challa and so much more.”
“Wow,” Peter muttered. Tony glanced at Pepper.
“Has he met Max yet?”
“Max?”
“Not yet,” Pepper replied.
“Max Modell,” Tony said. “Senior Director of R&D. Your boss.”
“I thought I was reporting to you,” Peter asked, frowning.
“You are, but as busy as we both are I needed someone on site with you. It’s more of a collaborative, mentor-style position than it is a boss-subordinate situation. And don’t worry, I’ve covered the… extra-curricular in an appropriate way.”
“He’s down in the experimental energy lab,” she said. “Good opportunity to see that project too.”
“Lead the way,” Tony said.
# # # # #
Hours after the Osborn tech robbery the man known as Armada soared through the air till he came to his destination and began descending downward through the air and lowered through the large open sky light followed closely by his henchmen the Scavengers.
“You know what to do with the score,” said Armada before he headed one way while the Scavengers went the other. Walking upstairs, he paused and took a deep breath before entering into the large spacious room. Once he did the door closed silently behind him.
“I take it everything went according to plan?” a creepy raspy voice asked as he feed what looked like a raw steak to a rather large bird in an even larger cage.
“Yes sir,” Armada replied as he watched the large bird eat the bloody steak raw. “We were able to get everything you wanted from the Osborn transport. The new aerial combat armor you outfitted the Scavengers with performed like a dream.”
“Good, very good,” the man said as he threw the last piece of meat at the large bird.
“Except…”
“Except?” asked the older man as he stared at Armada with the eyes of a predator-getting ready to attack his prey.
Armada gulped beneath his helmet as he prepared to deliver the other part of the mission report. “The transport had some heavy duty security guarding it,” Armada ejected a disk from his belt and tossed it in the air in front of him which then activated a hologram display screen that showed his employer the events of the night.
“Interesting,” the older man said taking a seat at the large mahogany wooden desk. He watched for a few more minutes as he tapped his boney fingers on the desk rhythmically. “It appears that some of my old colleagues have taken new jobs as well,” he then waved his hand in the air signaling Armada to turn off the display. “It does not matter now; our employer has built a new empire for himself. He has a master plan and no one will stop him from fulfilling his mission.”
“So what do you wanna do boss?”
The older man leaned back in his seat; the light shining slightly off his baldhead, a wide grin spread across his face under his hooked nose. He picked the glass of brandy up from his desk. Staring out the window, he simply continued to smile without saying a word.
# # # # #
Peter removed his goggles as the energy field around the strange generator dimmed. Max Modell turned to them. He was a tall, barrel chested man, with a thick red beard and hair to match. He removed his own goggles.
“Peter, it’s great to meet you. Tony’s shown me some of your work. It’s fantastic. I’m actually disappointed that you are just now entering the sciences full time. Some of your designs are superb. I spent a week just working with your adhesive formula. And yet, all you’ve been doing with that brain is designing tech for Spider-Man?”
Peter glanced at Tony and nodded. “Yeah, under the mask, Spidey is an old friend,” he said. “I guess I thought that doing any outside scientific work might expose him.”
“Well, don’t worry about that,” Max said with a wink. “That particular secret is safe with us.”
“So, can you tell me about this?”
“Definitely,” he said. He turned to the generator. “It’s really Grady’s baby.” He pointed to the chubby scientist tinkering with the generator. We know we exist in a multiverse- one universe among an infinity. What keeps our universes separated from one another is essentially quantum foam. Well, the generator is using a Von Doom radiation generator to access the quantum foam, opening up a rift to access potentially unlimited clean energy.”
“Replacing the need for limited sources, like the arc reactor technology,” Peter said. His mind raced through the possibilities. Then he paused. He was a good chemist and engineer. This was a completely different level from him. How could he keep up?
“Bound to happen eventually,” Stark shrugged. He glanced at Peter. “You’re pulling your ‘I don’t belong here’ face. Stop it. I hired you for a reason.”
Peter shrugged. “Sure, but this is on a level-”
“Do you understand the science?” Max interrupted. Peter glanced back at him. His tone was sharp, but his eyes were kind.
“Well, yeah,” he said.
“Then you don’t need to be worried,” he replied. He shrugged. “I get it. I am a biochemist. Not everything SS does is in my wheelhouse, but I am a smart enough person to get it. That is all I ask of you. Fair?”
“Fair,” Tony said. He elbowed Peter.
“Fair.” Peter glanced around Max. The generator was sparking. He frowned, and his spider-sense began to tickle on the edge of his awareness.
“Is it supposed to do that?” he asked. Tony and Max both shifted, while Pepper stepped several paces back.
“No,” Max said. “Grady?”
“There’s something off here,” Grady said. “A fluctuation in the Van Doom radiation output.” Tony’s frown turning into a grimace.
“Von Doom,” Max corrected.
“Is the VDR generator stable?” Peter asked, walking over to Grady. “The power source in dimensional travel always needs to be stabilized before attempting…” Suddenly, his spider-sense screamed.
“EVERYONE DOWN!” he screamed. He shoved Grady to the ground, Tony dove on top of Pepper, shielding her with his body and Max dived behind a console. A split second later, a screeching noise filled the air, and a concussive blast of energy hit the lab.
Peter sat up, his ears ringing. Through the spots in his vision, he could see the flickering colors of flames, and smell fires both paper and electrical. He shook his head and realized four new shapes were in the room. His vision sharped with another shake and he gasped.
A massive bipedal creature stood next to a woman. The creature’s skin was jet black, and flowed like a liquid, with tendrils flowing out and back into its form. Its head was featureless except for two narrow white slits for eyes, and a toothy fluke-like mouth. A long, thin tongue flicked in and out of its mouth. Peter realized after a moment that it was a symbiote. The woman wore a navy tank top and jeans, with a blue jacket over her shirt. Her hair had been replaced by a field of sparking energy. Peter stood and clenched his fists before he noticed the other two.
One was a young man, wearing a black and red version of his own costume. He was clearly young and wiry under the costume. The other was a girl. She wore a white and black costume with pink and blue webbed accents, with a hood over her mask. The mask had eyes like his own costume, outlined in pink.
“Where the hell are we, Electro?” the symbiote hissed.
“I dunno, Doctor V,” she said. “But I think we have to get out of here!” She spun and blasted the wall, tearing it open. The two sprinted away.
“Come on Gw- Spider-Girl,” the black-clad Spider-Man said. “Let’s go-”
“Wait,” she said. She was walking toward him.
To Peter, something about her voice was familiar.
“Peter?” she whispered. “Is that you?” His jaw dropped as he recognized the voice. She came within arms’ reach. He reached out and pulled her mask off.
“Gwen?!”
Next: First of all, don’t touch that dial, because the return of Spider-Man to M2K isn’t done quite yet! Check the other tabs for some back-up stories!
Then, come back for Amazing Spider-Man #51, as we learn more about Electro, Doctor Venom, Spider-Girl, and Spider-Man as the two heroes team up with Peter and Tony to stop their rampage!
"The Boss"
Written by JD Mathis
The shining Oscorp tower located within the newly built heavily secured Oz Compound was many things and today it served as the base of operations and war room for its new Chief Executive Officer Victoria Hand. When news hit that Hand was taking over it spread like wildfire and everyone instantly began acting like Norman Osborn was back at the helm. But what a lot of people found out quickly was that Victoria Hand was the new boss.
The day had been extremely long and busy. Cleaning up and putting out the multitude of messes and fires left in the wake of Liz Allens scandalous run as CEO was not an easy task. Pushing past the two large doors that lead into her office Victoria was greeted by a familiar face.
“I see you've made yourself at home Norman,” said Victoria as she walked into the room while removing her suit jacket. Placing it on the back of the chair in front of her desk she walked over to the wet bar and began to make herself a drink.
“Not going to offer your guest a drink?” Norman asked as he continued to review camera footage of a recent Oscorp operation.
“Guests stay,” Victoria stated. She took a sip of the liquid before saying anything else. “And I'm hoping you'll be gone before the ice in this drink begins to melt.”
Norman's eyes never left the screen but you could see a smirk on his face begin to form after what Victoria had just said to him. Not many would talk to an Osborn like that; however, the woman that stood before him was much more than meets the eye.
“We had a deal Norman and...”
“Yes and I am honoring that deal my dear,” Norman said before she could finish. “I'm going after a certain individual and am need of a couple of your more special employees.”
“And who would that be?” Victoria asked taking another sip of her drink.
Norman pulled up the files of the two individuals he had his eyes on. “These two, Shocker and Clash”, Norman replied as Victoria moved behind the chair Norman was sitting in and leaned on the back of it peering over his shoulder.
“Sound and Sonics hmmm,” she looked at the screen for a moment wondering what Norman was planning before coming out and asking. “Who could you be going after that you would need this unlikely of duos?”
Norman once again smirked towards the screen as he pulled up the files on his current target. “I have a special project and I need a special individual to make it work,” Norman said as he showed her the target. “I need…”
“Carnage!” Victoria exclaimed as she almost spit out her last bit of drink. “Norman I thought you were sane but if you plan on going after someone like him I'm starting to think you've lost it again.”
Norman's attitude changed in an instant but not to from sane to madness. Pushing the chair back to catch Victoria off guard, Norman spun around and quickly put his hand on the woman's throats and pushed her into the glass window causing her to drop her drink in the process.
“I assure you I am still and will forever be in my right mind my dear,” Norman said in a calm and collected voice. “The old Norman would have pushed you through the window for your tone and attitude. However I am not that man anymore.”
The expression on Victoria's face at the moment was not that of someone who should be afraid but that of someone who was bored and waiting for the yammering to be over with really. She smiled as she brought her left elbow down on to Norman's arm releasing his grasp on her throat and with her right fist struck Norman in the chest. Staggered by the blow she quickly caught him with a straight kick to the chest knocking him back into the chair.
“I believe we had this discussion once before Norman,” she said as she spun around and brought the sharp end of the heel of her expensive $800 dollar dress shoe to rest slightly on the man before hers throat. “Even back in your Goblin days when I first met you, you never scared me like you did any of the others. It's because of our past is the reason I took the job so the Osborn legacy could still be preserved.”
She lowered her heel from his throat and placed her foot back in the ground. She then placed her hands on each of the arms of the chair Norman was sitting in and leaned down close to his face. “But remember one thing my dear Norman, you may run things out there the way you want to, but in here I'm the boss!” She exclaimed pushing his chair backwards to the desk.
Norman held the tiniest smile as he stood up and straightened his suits jacket and vest. Only a select few have ever stood eye to eye with him and lived to see another day and Victoria Hand was clearly one of the few. “Still the same girl I found all those years ago,” he said straightening his tie. “And what if the men I choose for this suicide mission?”
“Take them”, Victoria replied as she walked back around the desk and stopped at the chair her jacket rested on. “If you actually plan on going after that monster you'll need all the help you can get”, she picked her jacket up and tossed it over her shoulder. “I'll also be sending one of my guys with them to make sure my investments come back in one piece.”
“Very well,” Norman said as he walked around the desk. “Anything else?”
“Yeah,” Victoria said stopping in her tracks. She then looked over her shoulder at Norman “Next time you want to discuss matters like this make an appointment,” she then walked out the door of her office leaving Norman alone.
Once she was gone, Norman took his cell phone from his inner pocket and pressed a single button. “Everything is ready,” he said to the person on the other end. He then closed his phone and smiled. “Another piece of the puzzle in place,” he said as he began whistling while walking out of the office.
The end….for now.
The day had been extremely long and busy. Cleaning up and putting out the multitude of messes and fires left in the wake of Liz Allens scandalous run as CEO was not an easy task. Pushing past the two large doors that lead into her office Victoria was greeted by a familiar face.
“I see you've made yourself at home Norman,” said Victoria as she walked into the room while removing her suit jacket. Placing it on the back of the chair in front of her desk she walked over to the wet bar and began to make herself a drink.
“Not going to offer your guest a drink?” Norman asked as he continued to review camera footage of a recent Oscorp operation.
“Guests stay,” Victoria stated. She took a sip of the liquid before saying anything else. “And I'm hoping you'll be gone before the ice in this drink begins to melt.”
Norman's eyes never left the screen but you could see a smirk on his face begin to form after what Victoria had just said to him. Not many would talk to an Osborn like that; however, the woman that stood before him was much more than meets the eye.
“We had a deal Norman and...”
“Yes and I am honoring that deal my dear,” Norman said before she could finish. “I'm going after a certain individual and am need of a couple of your more special employees.”
“And who would that be?” Victoria asked taking another sip of her drink.
Norman pulled up the files of the two individuals he had his eyes on. “These two, Shocker and Clash”, Norman replied as Victoria moved behind the chair Norman was sitting in and leaned on the back of it peering over his shoulder.
“Sound and Sonics hmmm,” she looked at the screen for a moment wondering what Norman was planning before coming out and asking. “Who could you be going after that you would need this unlikely of duos?”
Norman once again smirked towards the screen as he pulled up the files on his current target. “I have a special project and I need a special individual to make it work,” Norman said as he showed her the target. “I need…”
“Carnage!” Victoria exclaimed as she almost spit out her last bit of drink. “Norman I thought you were sane but if you plan on going after someone like him I'm starting to think you've lost it again.”
Norman's attitude changed in an instant but not to from sane to madness. Pushing the chair back to catch Victoria off guard, Norman spun around and quickly put his hand on the woman's throats and pushed her into the glass window causing her to drop her drink in the process.
“I assure you I am still and will forever be in my right mind my dear,” Norman said in a calm and collected voice. “The old Norman would have pushed you through the window for your tone and attitude. However I am not that man anymore.”
The expression on Victoria's face at the moment was not that of someone who should be afraid but that of someone who was bored and waiting for the yammering to be over with really. She smiled as she brought her left elbow down on to Norman's arm releasing his grasp on her throat and with her right fist struck Norman in the chest. Staggered by the blow she quickly caught him with a straight kick to the chest knocking him back into the chair.
“I believe we had this discussion once before Norman,” she said as she spun around and brought the sharp end of the heel of her expensive $800 dollar dress shoe to rest slightly on the man before hers throat. “Even back in your Goblin days when I first met you, you never scared me like you did any of the others. It's because of our past is the reason I took the job so the Osborn legacy could still be preserved.”
She lowered her heel from his throat and placed her foot back in the ground. She then placed her hands on each of the arms of the chair Norman was sitting in and leaned down close to his face. “But remember one thing my dear Norman, you may run things out there the way you want to, but in here I'm the boss!” She exclaimed pushing his chair backwards to the desk.
Norman held the tiniest smile as he stood up and straightened his suits jacket and vest. Only a select few have ever stood eye to eye with him and lived to see another day and Victoria Hand was clearly one of the few. “Still the same girl I found all those years ago,” he said straightening his tie. “And what if the men I choose for this suicide mission?”
“Take them”, Victoria replied as she walked back around the desk and stopped at the chair her jacket rested on. “If you actually plan on going after that monster you'll need all the help you can get”, she picked her jacket up and tossed it over her shoulder. “I'll also be sending one of my guys with them to make sure my investments come back in one piece.”
“Very well,” Norman said as he walked around the desk. “Anything else?”
“Yeah,” Victoria said stopping in her tracks. She then looked over her shoulder at Norman “Next time you want to discuss matters like this make an appointment,” she then walked out the door of her office leaving Norman alone.
Once she was gone, Norman took his cell phone from his inner pocket and pressed a single button. “Everything is ready,” he said to the person on the other end. He then closed his phone and smiled. “Another piece of the puzzle in place,” he said as he began whistling while walking out of the office.
The end….for now.
"The Many Lives of Otto Octavius"
Written by Tony Thornley
“It will be sufficient,” Otto Octavius said as he inspected his new laboratory. His two natural arms were folded as he strode carefully, slowly, through the facility. He wore a white tailored suit, with an Egyptian cotton shirt and black silk tie, and his ever present sunglasses. His latest stint in the Vault had resulted in a severe drop in his weight, and he looked like a new man as a result. His four mechanical arms were a buzz of motion around him, reaching out to various equipment, inspecting and investigating. A thin smile spread on his lips.
Monica Rappaccini, AIM’s Scientist Supreme, was unmoved by Otto’s aloof behavior. She suppressed an eye roll, and simply nodded.
“It should be more than sufficient,” she said. “You are in our debt Octavius. You are the head of our researchers in the Eastern United States. That means you have a responsibility to science. We provide the means, the funding and the personnel. You provide the results.”
Otto turned to her. She felt several of her researchers bristle and reach for their firearms. He stared for a long moment and nodded.
“Very well,” he said. “Then results you shall receive. And my demands?”
“Doctor Curt Connors is already en route,” she said. “The other researchers, subjects, and… minions will be along shortly.”
“Connors?” Otto said. He turned back to the lab. “Excellent. And Dillon?”
“Max Dillon is much more… difficult,” she said. “After his attack on Los Angeles he went off grid. We are attempting to find him.”
“Edward Brock?”
“No longer possesses the Klyntar symbiote that you desire,” she said. “We are looking at alternatives.”
Otto paused, cocked his head slightly, and then continued. “Very well, I am eager to begin work then.”
“Very well,” she said. “I’ll leave researchers and assistants for you. We look forward to your results.” She spun on her heel, met the eyes of her Lead Researcher, nodded, and marched out of the lab. Otto stopped at a worktable, shed his jacket, and hung it on a nearby hook with one of his metal arms.
It was his time now. With the facilities and resources AIM provided, he could accomplish his goals, his dreams and his aspirations. And now, with his Sinister allies at his side…
He would be unstoppable.
Monica Rappaccini, AIM’s Scientist Supreme, was unmoved by Otto’s aloof behavior. She suppressed an eye roll, and simply nodded.
“It should be more than sufficient,” she said. “You are in our debt Octavius. You are the head of our researchers in the Eastern United States. That means you have a responsibility to science. We provide the means, the funding and the personnel. You provide the results.”
Otto turned to her. She felt several of her researchers bristle and reach for their firearms. He stared for a long moment and nodded.
“Very well,” he said. “Then results you shall receive. And my demands?”
“Doctor Curt Connors is already en route,” she said. “The other researchers, subjects, and… minions will be along shortly.”
“Connors?” Otto said. He turned back to the lab. “Excellent. And Dillon?”
“Max Dillon is much more… difficult,” she said. “After his attack on Los Angeles he went off grid. We are attempting to find him.”
“Edward Brock?”
“No longer possesses the Klyntar symbiote that you desire,” she said. “We are looking at alternatives.”
Otto paused, cocked his head slightly, and then continued. “Very well, I am eager to begin work then.”
“Very well,” she said. “I’ll leave researchers and assistants for you. We look forward to your results.” She spun on her heel, met the eyes of her Lead Researcher, nodded, and marched out of the lab. Otto stopped at a worktable, shed his jacket, and hung it on a nearby hook with one of his metal arms.
It was his time now. With the facilities and resources AIM provided, he could accomplish his goals, his dreams and his aspirations. And now, with his Sinister allies at his side…
He would be unstoppable.
"Memories"
Written by Tobias Christopher
We find Spider-Man and the Human Torch tied up upside down and hanging over a vat of Mountain Dew Baja Blast, at the mercy of the villainous Angar the Screamer.
"In like, five minutes, you two are gonna die, man!" the man dressed as a hippie shouted. "You're going to die drowning in this capitalist vat of soda!"
"Well, I guess this is it, old friend," Spider-Man said, tied back to back with Johnny. "There seems to be no way out of this."
"Yeah, but at least I get to die with a good friend," Johnny said. "We've sure had a lot of wacky adventures, huh?"
"Yeah," Spider-Man said. "Remember when Aunt May's sewing machine was stolen?"
Johnny and Spider-Man knocked on the door, being lead into a home shared by four old women.
"You know who we are?" Spider-Man asked. "We're here on behalf of your bingo partner May Parker. You do remember your bingo partner May Parker, don't you?"
"Looks like we caught you ladies at breakfast," Johnny said as he spotted the sewing machine. "What are you having?"
"Cheesecake,"
"Cheesecake! The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast," Spider-Man said as he looked at Johnny with the sewing machine. "We happy, Johnny?" Spider-Man asked as Johnny opened the box to a glowing golden light. "Johnny! Are we happy?"
"Oh, we're happy," Johnny replied.
"You have to understand, we did this with the best intentions," one of the old women said as Spider-Man shot webbing at a woman on the couch, sticking her to it.
"I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?" Spider-Man asked. "Oh, you were finished! Well, allow me to retort! What does May Parker look like?"
"What?"
"What isn't a country I ever heard of! Do they speak English in What?" Spider-Man asked.
"What?"
"English, old woman, do you speak it?"
"Yes!"
"Then what does May Parker look like?"
"What?”
"Say what again! I dare do, I double dare you, say what one more gosh darn time! What does May Parker look like?"
"She's old!"
"Go on,"
"She's wrinkled,"
"Does she look like a Golden Girl?"
"What?"
Spider-Man shot webbing at her shoulder. "Does she look like a Golden Girl!"
"No!"
"Then why are you trying to screw her like Blanch Deveraux's boyfriends?" Spider-Man asked.
"Spidey, dude, Golden Girls are on in like, ten minutes, we gotta roll," Johnny said as he carried the sewing machine out.
Spider-Man quickly ran after, closing the door behind him.
"Good times," Johnny said as he stared down at the vat. "Hey, remember the time we got into trouble when we helped Franklin with his math homework?"
Johnny, Franklin, and Spider-Man stared out into the city, where several 50 story Muppet Babies were destroying buildings.
"You forgot to carry the 1," Spider-Man said as he looked at Johnny.
"Or how about the time Walt Disney came back to life and got ahold of the Infinity Gauntlet?" Spider-Man asked.
"Why does it feel like Disney's taken over our universe?" Spider-Man asked.
"Better question: where did all of our Jewish friends disappear to?" Johnny asked as he looked around. "And why does your Aunt May look younger and more Italian?"
"Of course, there's also the time that they we visited the set of that movie they were making about the Fantastic 4," Johnny said.
"Fant4stic?" Johnny asked as he looked at the script.
"Well, at least they got Apollo Creed's son to play you," Spider-Man said. "So that's a plus."
"Yeah, you're right, there's no way this movie can fail," Johnny said with a laugh. "It's not like they're going to cut everything that's Fantastic about the Fantastic 4 out of it, right?"
"You spent four days in the shower after walking out of the theater," Spider-Man said.
"I still feel dirty," Johnny whispered. "I guess this is it, we're about to die. Too bad we don't have a way to break through these ropes, or maybe burn through them."
There was an awkward silence between the two heroes that lasted a good ten seconds.
Sixty seconds later, Angar the Screamer had been defeated, having been knocked out by the escaped heroes.
"So, what now?" Johnny asked.
"Well, there's a Golden Girls marathon, and we have an entire vat of Baja Blast..."
"In like, five minutes, you two are gonna die, man!" the man dressed as a hippie shouted. "You're going to die drowning in this capitalist vat of soda!"
"Well, I guess this is it, old friend," Spider-Man said, tied back to back with Johnny. "There seems to be no way out of this."
"Yeah, but at least I get to die with a good friend," Johnny said. "We've sure had a lot of wacky adventures, huh?"
"Yeah," Spider-Man said. "Remember when Aunt May's sewing machine was stolen?"
Johnny and Spider-Man knocked on the door, being lead into a home shared by four old women.
"You know who we are?" Spider-Man asked. "We're here on behalf of your bingo partner May Parker. You do remember your bingo partner May Parker, don't you?"
"Looks like we caught you ladies at breakfast," Johnny said as he spotted the sewing machine. "What are you having?"
"Cheesecake,"
"Cheesecake! The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast," Spider-Man said as he looked at Johnny with the sewing machine. "We happy, Johnny?" Spider-Man asked as Johnny opened the box to a glowing golden light. "Johnny! Are we happy?"
"Oh, we're happy," Johnny replied.
"You have to understand, we did this with the best intentions," one of the old women said as Spider-Man shot webbing at a woman on the couch, sticking her to it.
"I'm sorry, did I break your concentration?" Spider-Man asked. "Oh, you were finished! Well, allow me to retort! What does May Parker look like?"
"What?"
"What isn't a country I ever heard of! Do they speak English in What?" Spider-Man asked.
"What?"
"English, old woman, do you speak it?"
"Yes!"
"Then what does May Parker look like?"
"What?”
"Say what again! I dare do, I double dare you, say what one more gosh darn time! What does May Parker look like?"
"She's old!"
"Go on,"
"She's wrinkled,"
"Does she look like a Golden Girl?"
"What?"
Spider-Man shot webbing at her shoulder. "Does she look like a Golden Girl!"
"No!"
"Then why are you trying to screw her like Blanch Deveraux's boyfriends?" Spider-Man asked.
"Spidey, dude, Golden Girls are on in like, ten minutes, we gotta roll," Johnny said as he carried the sewing machine out.
Spider-Man quickly ran after, closing the door behind him.
"Good times," Johnny said as he stared down at the vat. "Hey, remember the time we got into trouble when we helped Franklin with his math homework?"
Johnny, Franklin, and Spider-Man stared out into the city, where several 50 story Muppet Babies were destroying buildings.
"You forgot to carry the 1," Spider-Man said as he looked at Johnny.
"Or how about the time Walt Disney came back to life and got ahold of the Infinity Gauntlet?" Spider-Man asked.
"Why does it feel like Disney's taken over our universe?" Spider-Man asked.
"Better question: where did all of our Jewish friends disappear to?" Johnny asked as he looked around. "And why does your Aunt May look younger and more Italian?"
"Of course, there's also the time that they we visited the set of that movie they were making about the Fantastic 4," Johnny said.
"Fant4stic?" Johnny asked as he looked at the script.
"Well, at least they got Apollo Creed's son to play you," Spider-Man said. "So that's a plus."
"Yeah, you're right, there's no way this movie can fail," Johnny said with a laugh. "It's not like they're going to cut everything that's Fantastic about the Fantastic 4 out of it, right?"
"You spent four days in the shower after walking out of the theater," Spider-Man said.
"I still feel dirty," Johnny whispered. "I guess this is it, we're about to die. Too bad we don't have a way to break through these ropes, or maybe burn through them."
There was an awkward silence between the two heroes that lasted a good ten seconds.
Sixty seconds later, Angar the Screamer had been defeated, having been knocked out by the escaped heroes.
"So, what now?" Johnny asked.
"Well, there's a Golden Girls marathon, and we have an entire vat of Baja Blast..."