Small Town Spider-Man

by Celgress

Universe 7531. What if Spider-Man along with his friends and foes lived in a small town rather than New York City? What would change? What would remain the same? Could Peter still keep his secret? Join Peter, Mary Jane, Gwen, Harry, Ben Reilly, Flash Thompson, Eddie Brock, Kaine and a plethora of others as our young heroes and villains come of age in middle America.

2. Chapter 2

Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Marvel Comics are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holders.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Small Town Spider-Man – Prologue II: Welcome to Cider Falls

By

Celgress

"Hi I'm Peter Parker. I'm fifteen years old and I live in Cider Falls, New York with my Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Cider Falls is a small town with a population of twenty to thirty thousand, depending if you count the outlying areas or not. The only things really notable about my home are the apple growing industry, after which the town takes it's name, and Oscorp Industries and the more recent upstart Fisk Industries. Oscorp is run by my best friend Harry's father Norman Osborn while Norman's bitter rival, and one time business partner, Walter Fisk runs the aptly named Fisk Industries. Besides being partners Norman and Walter used to be the best of friends until Roderick Kingsley joined Osccorp as vice president, a position Walter felt was rightfully his. Rumor has it Kingsley did everything in his power to undermine Walter, who was eventually accused of insider trading and expelled from the company. Walter vowed revenge and soon set up his own rival firm.

The government contract Walter was accused of insider trading on (or would it be around?) has put Oscorp and Cider Falls on the map, in both a good way and in a not so good way. The details of the contract are hush, hush but Harry has told me it is some sort of top secret military project involving bioengineering, freaky huh? Whatever the nature of the contract it has brought big money to Cider Falls turning the IPO of Oscorp into an overnight success. Sure the company had lots of cash before but now it is on the verge of becoming a multi-billion dollar a year business, impressive for a third generation company that use to exclusively make auto parts. The influx of capital has attracted some of the best and brightest minds in the country to our fair town. One of the most famous or infamous depending on your view point, being the disgraced former professor of cybernetics and biogenetics Dr. Otto Octavius, allegedly dismissed from MIT for 'unethical experiments'. On the not so bright side along with the increase in cash has come an increase in population, estimates run as high as twenty percent in the past year, and an increase in crime. Acts previously unheard of in Cider Falls are becoming all too common; including drug abuse and armed robbery.

This has generated plenty of work for our police department and our other emergency personal. Including the father of one of my good friends Gwen Stacey, chief of police Captain George Stacey. Chief Stacey, as everyone calls him, can be gruff at times however under his rough exterior beats a heart of gold. I feel sorry for Chief Stacey and the entire department up until now the toughest things they've handled were minor drunken brawls after a Saturday night dance. I guess this is the price of progress, huh?

Many long-time citizens are becoming concerned with the direction the town is headed. One of these being the abrasive owner/publisher of our local newspaper the Bugle J. Jonah Jameson the other is my own Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben is the public face of the voices in town council who want to keep Cider Falls the peaceful little hamlet it is while Norman Osborne is his opposite number. Thankfully it hasn't gotten personal yet, in spite of Mayor Robbie Robertson having to almost physical break up the debates at times. I'd hate to lose my best friend Harry over an argument neither of us have any control over.

Uncle Ben, along with Aunt May, is also the driving force behind the most successful apple orchards in the entire valley. Maybe you've heard of them B&A Parker Ltd? Our apples are shipped all over the world. Since the age of ten I've helped out with the harvest each year starting in August continuing into September when I have free time from school. Having recently turned fifteen this was the first year I was old enough to help run some of the heavy equipment. Because of the business we live on the outskirts of town, in a large house set in front of the orchards. It is a great place. I have three passions science, photography and enjoying the scenery. Fortunately the latter two mesh rather well. I can't tell you the amount of time I've spent sitting in the crook of my favorite tree while gazing up at the stars.

Our nearest neighbors are the Watsons who live across the road. Originally they grew apples and some other crops themselves, however due to Philip Watson's mismanagement the family nearly lost everything several years ago. Afterwards Philip's wife, the long suffering Madeline, forced him to get a salaried position at Oscorp. From what I can tell Philip hates working at Oscorp. I kind of suspect he has a gambling problem, but I'm not sure. The Watsons' daughter Mary Jane, who is the same age as me and Harry, is my usual focus of interest when I visit. I have a terrible crush on the red head, but outside of Harry or maybe Gwen, I'd never admit it to anyone. When we were little kids Mary Jane was more a tomboy, a rather rough and tumbled type. However over the past couple of years she has blossomed into a rare beauty. Someday I hope to ask her out on a date. If only I can work up the courage.

School starts in just over a week. I can hardly believe it I'm finally a high school freshman, yes! I love school. Don't get me wrong I enjoy goofing off as much as the next teenager. However I also like learning. I hear the leading scientist teacher at Cider Falls High Miles Warren is a regular dynamo. I hope I can convince Mr. Warren to let me work with him for some extra credit. If it weren't for Flash Thompson and his buddies, such as Kenny "Kong" McFarlane, my life would be almost perfect.

The group of jocks led by Flash relentlessly torment me. I've never figured out why. I think it is simply because I'm not that athletically gifted. Uncle Ben has a different theory. He thinks it is because Flash's father is a jerk who treats Flash like dirt. The elder Thompson certainly is a piece of work. A Failed baseball player and current police officer with a huge chip on his shoulder, who even Chief Stacey has a hard time reigning in. Thank goodness for Eddie Brock.

Uncle Ben is good friends with Eddie's grandfather who runs a cluster of cherry orchards up the road. Eddie is two years older than me, he is the big brother I never had, Eddie looks out for me and my friends. He keeps Flash & co. off our backs whenever he can. It was rough the last couple of years not being in the same school. Still I got through and now things are looking up Eddie and I are both in high school yay! This is going to be a great year. I can feel it in my bones, as Aunt May would say. What can possibly go wrong?

To Be Continued

Please tell me what you think of the background setup people, reviews and IMs are always welcomed.