New Age of
Spider-Man
The Big Apple Part 1
Jumeirah Essex House, New York City
Peter's eyes darted around the immaculate lobby. While the extravagance was a bit of a shock it wasn't entirely unsuspected; he was after all traveling with Norman Osborn. Norman was the father of Peter's best friend Harry and had a net worth of somewhere north of a billion dollars. Norman was in New York City overseeing the recent establishment of several new offices and laboratories in his company's pharmaceutical division. Harry had been forced to make the trip with his father in order to "get a feel for the business world" was how Norman had put it. Thankfully in order to make the trip less dull Norman permitted Harry to invite a friend, and he chose his best friend Peter Parker. Not only would he make the trip more entertaining, Peter totally geeked out over anything science related so the idea of getting an opportunity to see the kind of high tech labs ran by Norman's company was too good to pass up.
"Harry I'm going to be honest," Peter said to his friend while still marveling over the lobby. "This place might be just a wee bit nicer than where I'm used to staying when I travel, but just a wee bit."
"Pete it's just the lobby," Harry smirked. He really enjoyed moments like this.
Unlike most wealthy kids Harry hadn't always enjoyed the perks of money. When he was born his family was dirt poor, but around the time Harry was three Norman ditched his meager job as a lab tech and got a better paying one with Stromm industries. It was one of those big money evil corporations according to Norman, but he was desperate and he had a lot of mouths to feed. Stromm industries were run by a former college professor of Norman's, Dr. Mendel Stromm. Because of their relationship Norman quickly rose through the ranks and the fact that his experiments made the company millions didn't hurt his ascension either. By the time Harry was eight his family was living fairly well, and that was when Dr. Stromm mad a few bad decisions that cost the company millions. The investors voted Stromm out and assigned Norman the position as the new CEO. In a short time Norman pulled some strings, and along with a significant investment he managed to convince the board to change the name of the company from Stromm Industries to Oscorp. Ever since then Harry and his family had enjoyed unimaginable wealth, but it came at a price. Harry's mother was unhappy with the amount of time Norman dedicated to his work and filed for divorce. Harry's siblings went to live with her while Harry stayed with his father; Norman feared that the woman would make his son weak.
"Yeah, a lobby I could fit my entire house in." Peter whistled then looked over at the woman who approached as quickly as her expensive heels would let her.
"Mr. Osborn, I have spoken with the building manager and your penthouse suite is ready and completely furnished to your specifications." The young woman spoke as she handed Norman a card key.
"Thank you very much Felicia." Norman smiled as he gently took the card from his assistant. "I trust they have also set up your apartment in a timely fashion."
"Yes sir, and if you don't mind I would like to retire for the night. We have an early morning ahead of us tomorrow." She smiled back at Norman, Peter thought there was something more in that smile, but he did have a habit of thinking that there was something more to everything, which on occasion had caused him to drive himself nuts.
"You may go Miss Hardy." At Norman's dismiss she turned and walked to a nearby elevator. "Come on boys lets go take a look at our temporary home."
Peter followed Norman and Harry over to a grander looking elevator all the while keeping his eyes on Felicia. Her naturally wavy blonde hair was pulled up in a bun, the blouse she wore had a few buttons at the top left open giving the slightest glimpse of her bra and the black pencil skirt she wore definitely gave her a naughty secretary look that drove a fifteen year old Peter Parker's hormones crazy.
"Boys lets go." Norman said. Apparently Harry had also been distracted by Felicia as neither them took notice of the elevator doors sliding open.
While Peter had been amazed by the lobby he was completely blown away by the penthouse. It was easily as impressive, if not more, than Norman's mansion, which Peter had frequently visited. Even Harry looked impressed.
"This is wow." Peter marveled for a moment then set his sights on the couch. He leapt over the back and landed comfortably on the cushions. Laid out in front of him was a glass coffee table clearly of designer fashion, and mounted on the wall across from that was a ninety inch flat screen television.
"Even bigger than the one back home." Harry took a seat next to Peter. He reached over and picked up an Xbox 360 controller seated on the table. "Up for some Cod?"
"You know it." Peter enthusiastically grabbed the second controller.
"Glad to see you're settling in." Norma leaned against the couch and glanced down at the two boys. "I had your things placed in your room. I figure you boys would want to share one, that way maybe some of that brain of yours Peter will rub off on Harry. Well you guys have fun. I need to go get ready for a business dinner."
As soon as Norman was out of the room Harry paused the game. "Can you believe him?"
"What?" Peter raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"No offense Pete, but that be more like Peter comment. Agh, that gets on my nerves." Harry's shoulders slumped as he let the controller slide from his hands.
"Look, Har." Peter waved his hands around as he looked for the words to help his friend. "Parents do that, you know. They all have this thing that they want us to be, like a second chance for themselves. Sometimes they lose sight of what we can do and only focus on what we can't, but trust me Harry your dad thinks you're great. He just—look at his shoes. You have a lot to live up to, so he is going to be hard on you." Peter put a hand against his forehead. "I suck at this."
Harry slumped down further and looked away.
"It's like my uncle Ben always tells me. Everyone has a thing that they can do, and they owe it to the world to do that thing. I think that is what your dad wants from you. Just do your best." Peter looked at Harry hopefully thinking that maybe he had pepped his friend up.
"Pete." Harry brought his eyes up to meet Peter's. "Do you believe any of that?"
Peter paused, and while he had tendency to over think things, he never really dove into his Uncle Ben's philosophy. For years he took it at face value.
"All that stuff about your dad actually not being disappointed in you? Of course, but as for that other crap. I think if you can do something great you owe to yourself to get what you can for yourself because everyone else is doing the same thing." Peter was able to tell that this bit of truth brought Harry out of his funk. "I mean that's what your dad learned and look at him now."
"Yeah I guess you're right." Harry picked his controller back up. "Let's play. This time I will beat you."
Felicia looked in the mirror and knew she would never get her makeup right. When she arrived at her apartment she fully planned on turning in early, but the note she found waiting had other plans. It was from her Employer Norman Osborn, and he wanted to have dinner with her. It wasn't an absolute shock, her and Norman have been on and off ever since she first interned at Stromm Industries. She liked to believe that their little romp hadn't had an effect on Osborn's marriage and she was probably right. Norman was a man who was only out for himself. He would have driven his wife away at some point. It was just odd that for years their relationship had been casual, and this was the first time he ever wanted to have an actual dinner with her. Maybe that was why it seemed like her makeup would never be perfect.
"This is going to have to do." Felicia got away from her desk and got dressed; she might as well make sure her outfit was looking its best since her makeup wouldn't be.
Just as she finished latching her necklace there was a pounding at the door by the fist of an impatient man. As Felicia opened the door she felt Norman's eyes scanning her hungrily; her little black dress had brought many a man to their knees, but Norman was steady. He knew what he wanted.
"I'm glad to see that you found my note." Norman's tone was firm, rather devoid of emotion. Felicia had grown use to his manner.
"Dinner with my boss is something I would never miss." Felecia returned the gaze he gave her when she had answered the door. For a man in his forties Norman had an exceptional build, reminiscent of an Olympic athlete. "And dessert may be just a wee bit more fun."
"You think your dad is out of the building yet?" Peter called from the kitchen with a mouth full of roast beef sandwich.
"I don't know. Why?" Harry called back still seated on the couch playing Xbox 360.
"Well," Peter paused to swallow the last bit of food. "That is some good meat."
"It should be its kobe."
"Really," Peter reached back into the refrigerator and eyed the package in which he had found the meat. "Never thought I would get to try it. Definitely a fan." Peter tossed the meat back in the fridge and headed for the living room. "Anyway with your dad gone, we are free to check out the city."
"Um, bad idea." Harry looked up at Peter, the expression on his face saying that he thought his friend had lost it. "My dad would be totally pissed if we ran around the city at night. This place is dangerous."
"Harry it's not that bad. We are in the rich part of town plus, I just want to check out one place." Peter took a seat next to Harry. "I want to see where the X-men took down Magneto."
"If you're talking about that secret war crap that happened like a month ago, if you have seen the news or read anything you would know that the government stepped in and took down those mutant terrorists." Harry had dropped interest in his game and gave his full focus to convincing Peter that it was a bad idea to go to a mutant warzone. "They probably have sentinels crawling all over the place with all that had happened there."
"Harry, I know you don't believe that propaganda, and sentinels wouldn't be around if the mutants aren't." Peter looked at Harry with bright eyes. "This is history happening right now. Not now now, but come on. We have to see it."
"We can go when there is light out. When we won't get robbed or murdered." Harry threw his hands in the air.
"We can't get near it during the day." Peter argued. "I saw when we were driving into the city. The whole area is liked sectioned off, and it won't be as guarded at night."
"You're not going to give up on this are you?" Harry sighed.
"Nope." Peter smirked.
"Fine."
Ground X, Site of Secret War Final Battle, New York City
"See I told you this place would be barely guarded." Peter had trouble keeping his voice down to a whisper as he peered through the blackness at the location of an authentic superhero battle.
"Too many for me." Harry's voice was so low Peter barely heard him.
"Alright, on three we make our move." Peter explained as he hunkered down into a sprinting position.
"But-"
"1."
"This is-"
"2."
"Why do I let-"
"3." At that Peter was off with a start; he dashed down an alley and slid under the yellow police tape that surrounded the area.
A few yards ahead the pavement ended in a wide crater that was about ten feet deep. Upon reaching the edge Peter wasted little time and dropped over the side. A few seconds later Harry followed noticeably out of breath. With all the adrenaline and excitement Peter hadn't noticed how winded the run had made him. All around them was the remnants of a harsh battle. Some of the debris had been cleared away, but much remained: pieces of buildings, and personal items that somehow found their way into the crater.
"There, we saw your mess. Can we go now?" Harry did his best to grab the oxygen he needed to form words.
"Come on we need to check this place out." Peter pushed away from the side of the crater and began to carefully wind his way through the wreckage with Harry reluctantly trailing behind. "You know Harry, all of this destruction was primarily Magneto's doing. Could you imagine just one little new gene in your dna sequence and you would have the power to do this."
"You sound like you want to be a super villain." Harry nonchalantly commented as his eyes scanned the shadows feeling like anything could be watching them.
"To be honest I think it would be pretty cool to be a super villain, but I think my conscious would tear me apart." As Peter admired the area he did his best to imagine how the fight had gone down.
He had spent countless hours online researching everything there was to know about the Secret War. It was all very hush hush about why the battle had taken place. Some claimed there was an artifact of great power discovered beneath New York and Magneto wanted for himself, but the X-men showed up to stop him. In his mind Peter could see Magneto tearing up pieces of the city to use as projectiles, hurling them at Cyclops and the others. It was easy to imagine how the arrival of wolverine changed the tide of the battle.
"Stop." Harry's hand was on Peter's shoulder and he clasped his hand over Peter's mouth. "Listen."
Peter put his daydream on hold and did as his friend instructed. There was the faint sound of footsteps that quickly died out. He raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"I think someone is following us," Harry whispered then pulled his hand away from Peter's mouth.
"Maybe security?" Peter looked behind them, but could make nothing out in the darkness. "Let's go, I've seen enough. I'm good."
He began to lead Harry to the side of the crater, but took care not to head back the way they had come in order to avoid whoever it was that was stalking them. The boys used all their willpower to keep their pace steady, but fear was creeping into their minds and they began to move faster. Their footsteps pounded against the ground loudly as they rushed towards safety.
A dark figure stepped into their path. Peter skidded to a halt. Harry stopped before he crashed into Peter. Behind the frighten boys arrived two more darkened figures.
"I told you this was a bad idea." Harry murmured.
"Uh, hi." Peter waved.
Per Se, New York City
Norman rapped his knuckles against the table; he hated to be kept waiting. Across the table Felicia shifted uneasily. This experience was new to both of them, but he couldn't help but smile at the fact that she had no idea why he had truly asked her there. He had the upper hand, and that is exactly how he liked it.
"I had hoped I could wait until after we ate to do this, however I grow impatient." Norman reached into his pocket and retrieved a small velvet ring box and placed it on the table in front of Felicia.
"Norman I—" Felicia put her hand against her chest and took a deep breath.
"Yes it is what it looks like, but please allow me to explain." Norman opened the box giving Felecia a look at what he surely believed was the largest diamond the girl had ever seen. "This is a proposal, but don't be mistaken my dear I do not have feelings for you. You have been a wonderful assistant and a very entertaining distraction, but I now need you for a new job. Ever since my divorce from my wife I have lost some favor in the company. There are a number of hypocrites on the board who cheat on their wives on a regular basis, but have lost faith in me because of my marital discord."
"I don't understand." Felicia grabbed her glass of wine and drained it.
"I need a wife to make me appear more appealing, and I would like to promote you that position. Trust me it pays very well." Norman lifted his own glass and drank it more slowly.
"Exactly how well?" Felicia bit her lower lip. Norman knew he had her hooked.
To be continued...