Chapter 2

The Culprit

Harry Osborn had suffered enough the past few months. He had to deal with the fact that his mother had died along with the fact that heart had been ripped out when Mary Jane decided to walk out on him. All that remained was a shallow hull of a man who no longer felt like he had meaning. As he sat there, blankly staring into his cup of Americano, he was startled by the sudden appearance of Peter and Gwen.

"Hey buddy, how are you keeping?" Peter asked as he hugged Harry. "We haven't heard from you in ages. We were beginning to get worried."

"It's just what you would expect really." Harry sighed as he stared down at his hands. "I've just been trying to figure out where I stand in life. My dad doesn't want to know me anymore since Oscorp expanded. Plus I miss my mom and I miss Mary Jane. It's like you're the only guys left."

"What did we tell you, Harry?" Gwen said as she sat down opposite him. "Mary Jane left for a reason. She had to leave because she had no family left in New York and she didn't want you to give up your life so you could be with her. Besides, you have family."

"Really?" Harry quizzed as he quickly glanced up at the fair blonde. "Who do I have, Gwen? You? Peter?"

"Yes." Peter answered swiftly. "I don't understand why you don't see it like we do. You've always been a part of the Parker family since high school. You need to snap out of this depressing pit you're put yourself in and live your life. If your father doesn't want to know you then that's his choice. It shouldn't stop you from living your life."

"That's just what I wanted to hear." Harry replied sarcastically.

"I know it's not what you want to hear." Gwen said. "But Pete's right. Come with us. Have a good time like you use to. We care about you that's all."

"Yeah...Yeah alright." Harry sighed as he paid the bill and got up to leave. "So where are we going?"

"We're going to grab a take out and go to my place." Gwen replied with a smile. "So grab your coat Mr Osborn cause I'm paying and I'm taking no for an answer."

Over at Oscorp, Norman and the mysterious Mr Larson were taking a stroll through one of the many new labs that had been installed. They were continuing their discussion on the car bomb incident until they had both come to a conclusion on the culprit. Larson's theory was a far-fetched one but as he divulged deeper into it, Norman was beginning to see sense.

"Tell me." He asked. "How long has this man been working for the Kingpin? Before the company when bankrupt that is?"

"My sources tell me that he had worked for Kingpin for exactly four years." Larson replied. "He was one of his strong henchmen who could easily get the job done. They had a deal going. Kingpin would provide him with the technology and in return, he would do the work for a good price."

"He must still be working for him." Norman theorised as he rubbed his chin. "For many years now, Wilson Fisk has been jealous of the progress that Oscorp has made. So he obviously intends to kill me where he can ruin the company. This guy is still doing his dirty work, but without any file information on his true identity, we can't even check and locate his ware bouts. This is going to be difficult."

"Well he does go by one other name." Larson replied. "His name is The Shocker. He is a well known felon on the police archives. He has escaped Ryker's Island on no more than six occasions, all been foiled by Spider-Man and he was once a member of the notorious Sinister Six, two years ago."

"The Shocker hey?" Norman muttered. "Yes, I've heard of him. I guess we should...you know…prepare ourselves."

"Dispatch, all units report to Union Square station. We have reports of a Terrorist gang roaming the main platforms. One man is presumed to be armed and very dangerous with hi-tech weaponry. All officers are to approach with caution."

Another morning dawned upon the city as a police dispatch call was picked up over Peter's ham radio. Excited, he changed into his costume and leaped out of the window as Spider-Man. Swinging from building to building, Spider-Man located the trail of police car that were already making their way down the main highway. He let go of his current webline and clung onto the wall which took him opposite the station entrance. He noticed that the SWAT team and the cops had barricaded the entrance and cordoned off the street, attracting curious passing civilians. He swooped down and landed on the street side to get an idea of the situation.

"What's going on?" he said as he asked the SWAT commander. "I hears the reports. It sounds like Shocker."

"We can handle this on our own Spider-Man!" the commander replied. "I'll thank you to clear the area otherwise you'll be arrested for trespassing."

"Oh come off it!" Spider-Man replied as he waved his hands mockingly. "You guys can't get within a reach of that nightmare. I'm can handle this."

"Alright." The commander replied as his thought it over. "But make sure that we can arrest the other terrorists. ALL UNITS STAND DOWN!"

Shooting his webs to form a slingshot, Spider-Man propelled himself into the main lobby where he was immediately confronted by the armed terrorists. He had to be careful there were hostages in the room. As he clung there on the pillar, he fire web balls to the disable the terrorist's guns.

"All this because you couldn't get a discount on the subway." He mocked as he jumped down and pummelled the men.

Three more terrorists emerged from the platform to see what the fuss was all about when they spotted the wall-crawler. Spider-Man dodged the barrage of gun fire as he threw his fists at the men before webbing them to the ground.

"I'll leave you the cleaning bill for this mess." He said as he grabbed one of the webbed up goons. "Now tell me bright eyes, where's Shocker?"

"He-he's gone down into the subway tunnel." The goon replied. "You can't catch him now."

"Oh I beg to differ, buddy." Spider-Man said as he webbed the man's mouth. "And that's for the fact that you don't have any Polo's. Your breath stinks!"

With that, he headed down onto the subway tracks as the SWAT moved in to secure the area. Once he made it onto the service path, he used his spider-sense to track the Shocker. He did just that. The Shocker was a mile ahead down the southern rail, carrying a bomb on his back. Spider-Man knew he could catch up to him, but he had to be careful because of the oncoming trains.

"I better stick to the walls before I become a subway sandwich." He thought as he scaled the dimly lit tunnel wall. No pun intended."

He eventually found Shocker who was approaching a service control room. Spider-Man checked his bearings by mapping out his location in his head. With a sudden realisation, he knew where his opponent was going.

"Oh no you don't!" he yelled as he leaped down, blocking the Shocker's path. "Blowing up Oscorp is a definite no-no. Besides would you rather blow up the Bugle? See that, I would help you with."

"Get out of my way Spider-Man!" Shocker growled as his gauntlets sent the wall crawler hurtling into the wall. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into so keep out!"

"Oh but I do." Spider-Man replied as he pulled himself out of the wall and made a punch at Shocker, knocking him off balance. "I don't know why you want Norman Osborn dead, but I figure it was you who decided to blow up his car the other night. What did he do? Run over your cat or something?"

"How very funny!" Shocker sneered as he leaped to attack the wall-crawler. "But Osborn is the one person who has ruined me and the rest of Fisk Enterprises and I want revenge!"

"In a subway tunnel?" Spider-Man replied as he dodged Shocker's attacks, realising the damage they were causing. "I'm pretty sure that Osborn takes a limo not the subway. Anyway, I thought bombs were not you thing?"

"Oh I'm going to silence you once and for all!" Shocker growled as he directed his attention on the wall-crawler.

Oh but I'm loving this conversation!" Spider-Man joked as his mid leap was countered by the Shockers gauntlets.

The shock of the Shocker's gauntlets, propelled Spider-Man upwards, through the subway tunnel and up into the street. He skidded across the street via a water main and used his webbing to slow him down. As came to a halt, he tried effortlessly to pick himself up off the street. He was in a lot pain as he winced at each agonising step. His costume was ripped down the back revealing his cut up and grazed spine. The Shocker had done a number on him. He staggered down the street before he shot his webs and sung off away from the area. He couldn't go after the Shocker again unless he wanted to get himself killed.

"Ouchy…Ouch...Ouch!" he squealed as he clung on the ledge. "I think I should learn when I've really pissed off a madman or not."

Jameson was having a field day as the event made the afternoon headlines. To him, he was convinced that the public would see that Spider-Man was behind the whole event. As he sat there, smoking his Cuban cigar, Peter entered the office, still groaning under his breath at the pain he had endured.

"Geezers Parker what the hell happened to you?" Jameson asked mockingly as he watched Peter struggle to sit. "Is this what happens when you actually get off your ass and do something?"

"I got pictures for you….Mr…Jameson." Peter replied, struggling to get his words out. "I…I hope you won't be disappointed?"

"Well let's see what you got then?" Jameson said as he scanned the photos. "They must be good if you got beaten up in the process. Let's see…ah…crap…crap…oh look more crap!"

"You've got to be serious?" Peter moaned as he scowled at Jameson. "I nearly broke my back, taking these."

"Yeah but they're nothing new. It's the same old stuff." Jameson huffed as he threw the photos to one side. "I want photos of Spider-Man showing to be the bad guy not the hero. You of all people should know that by now."

"Yeah well maybe you're too fussy!" Peter snapped unexpectedly. "Now if you don't want them then I'll sell them to the Daily Globe. Hell even the New York Times would pay for these!"

"Calm down, calm down will you?" Jameson replied as he took in the message. "Alright, I'll give you seventy bucks for them and an extra twenty for this one of the menace being pummelled by this guy right here."

"Deal." Peter agreed without further comment.

As he went to get his pay check, his cell phone began to ring. It was Gwen and it was listed under emergency call only. Answering it, Peter was taken by surprise at the distressing tone in Gwen's voice.

"Oh Peter come quick!" she cried. "It's Harry; he's been rushed into hospital. The doctors won't say why but we need to get over there. He's at Park Hospital. Please get over here and meet me?"

"Ok Sweetie hang on. I'll be over." Peter replied as he rushed for the elevator.