THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-WOMAN: EARTH 2501
By Anguirus1955
Disclaimer: Spider-Woman, Spider-Man, and the other characters therein are all the intellectual property of Marvel Comics and, subsequently, Disney, and Sony for the time being.
Here it is, the chapter where Spider-Woman and the Green Goblin finally face off for the first time. This chapter is going to be kind of long, so I recommend grabbing a snack, or at least making sure you have some time to spare. This chapter also introduces Tony Stark in person, and he will be based mostly on his MCU incarnation, albeit without being Iron Man. He will retain the MCU Tony's backstory of his parents dying in a "car crash" when he was younger and him being filled with regret over how he interacted with them before they died, which will be a major influence on him and his actions in later story arcs as he interacts with another character who loses someone important to them by the end of this first story arc.
However, I would like to state that Stark will be relegated to mostly being a background character for the majority of the first few story arcs. He'll play an important role, but I plan to take a "Less Is More" approach with him for now. A little bit of Stark can go a long way, otherwise I'm afraid I might make readers get sick of him if I use him too much.
Obadiah Stane also makes an appearance here, and he's pretty much just like his MCU counterpart. So, when reading his dialogue, please imagine the voice of Jeff Bridges (who played him in Iron Man (2008)) in your head. If you do, then The Dude abides.
Also, as indicated in Chapter 001, Reed Richards exists in this universe as a well-known and well-regarded scientist. The Fantastic Four, however, do not exist. Reed Richards does not have superpowers. He does, however, have the nickname of Mister Fantastic, albeit usually as a derisive nickname given to him by jealous peers.
So, anyway, this chapter features Spider-Woman and the Green Goblin encountering each other for the first time in the story, and boy is it going to be a spectacle.
Soundtracks I listened to while writing this include Spider-Man (2002) by Danny Elfman, Spider-Man 3 (2007) by Christopher Young, Can't Buy Me Love (1987) by Robert Folk, Project A-Ko by Joey Carbone & Richie Zito, and Demolition Man (1993) by Elliot Goldenthal.
Please note that listening to this music while reading the story is not a requirement. I simply provide this as a little something extra to help enhance the reading experience, if you the readers so wish to do so. Most of this music can be found and heard on YouTube or any number of anime soundtrack websites.
Sudden and Suspicious Disclaimer: I also advocate the purchasing and obtaining of official soundtracks through legal means.
Music From Spider-Man (2002) - Complete Score: Norman's Troubles, Alone, Specter of the Goblin, The Clues, Revelation.
Music From Spider-Man 3 (2007): Harry Attacks Peter, New York Morning,
Music From Project A-Ko (1986): Morning Light Type-B, Morning Light Type-C, Max 5000, Explosion.
Music From Can't Buy Me Love (1987): Geek Groove, Siberia, Broken Moon, The Target.
Music From Demolition Man (1993): Machine Waltz, Museum Dis Duel, Action, Guns, Fun, Code 187.
Track Order Listing
01. Alone (Helen and Nora), 02. New York Morning (Gwen and Helen), 03. Specter Of The Goblin (Nora's reflection), 04. Morning Light Type-B (Entering the Expo Center), 05. Code 187 (Goblin crashes Expo), 06. Explosion (Spider-Woman vs. Green Goblin).
CHAPTER 008: The First Confrontation
Oscorp Corporate HQ, New York City, New York, Monday, April 23, 2040
Sitting at the head of the board table inside the Board Room, Nora Osborne smiled as she looked over a report on the company's stock and net worth over the past month. "Well, Gentleman, Oscorp is once again back in prime condition," Nora said proudly. She looked around at the other board members lining the table, with Old Man Balkan sitting directly across from her at the other end of the table.
"Our net worth has doubled since the last analysis was performed, our stock has stabilized, and we have once again received investment offers from the military and other security firms. Ladies and gentlemen, we are back on track," Nora finished proudly. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.
"Yes," Balkan said in agreement as well. "Which is why we've decided to sell the company," he added, smiling as he saw Nora's smile falter. Nora looked at Balkan curiously.
"I'm sorry... what?" she asked him.
"We've decided to sell the company. We've already engaged in talks with Stark Industries, and they've agreed to purchase the company for a very reasonable price," Balkan said calmly.
Nora was stunned, disoriented, and extremely confused. She could not recall having ever engaged in negotiations with Stark Industries for any reason. "When did this happen?" Nora asked Balkan, her eyes scanning the other board members and seeing uncomfortable looks on several faces.
"The decision was made a week ago, at a dinner conference with Tony Stark himself," Balkan said bluntly. His eyes bore into Nora's with satisfaction. "There are, of course, some caveats to this arrangement," Balkan continued, his lips turning upward in a smile.
"The most important one is that our CEO step down from their position so as to avoid conflict with Stark management following the acquisition," Balkan stated firmly. He watched as Nora squirmed in her seat. "It's for the good of the company, I assure you," he added.
Nora took a moment to gather her bearings. "Okay. Well, I... suppose I could do with a different position in the company. I suppose don't have to be at the top all the time," she said reluctantly. That was when Balkan's smile became more smug.
"Actually, Nora... you would have to leave the company permanently," Balkan said. Nora felt as though a knife had been stabbed into her heart. "Unless, of course, you'd be willing to take an entry-level position in Stark Industries," Balkan added in a thinly-veiled pompous manner.
Nora felt as though she'd been slapped across the face. "Y-You... you can't do this to me," she said. "My husband built this company! I've been keeping it afloat since his death! Do you have any idea what I've done for this company? How much I've SACRIFICED!?" Nora protested, her voice growing louder and more defensive with each statement.
"Nora, despite our recovery in the past month, we are still not fully secure at a financial level, and the investment offers we've been receiving lately are paltry in comparison to what we used to receive before the serum incident. Our employees deserve stability, and this decision all but ensures their continued prosperity for years to come," Balkan said. Nora glanced around at the other members of the board, looking for anyone willing to stick up for her.
"You have until May twenty-fifth to resign willingly, Nora. Otherwise... we will take executive action and force your resignation by the date of the deadline," Balkan said. He was practically oozing smug satisfaction with every syllable.
Nora looked to her right at Maximilian Fargas, a long-time friend of her husband. "Max, you can't let this happen. You can't just throw me out!" Nora pleaded. Max looked at Nora with shame and regret in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Nora. But... Balkan's right. It's for the good of the company. You can... use me as a reference on your resume. I'll be sure to put in a good word for you," Fargas said apologetically.
"Nora, the board made this decision unanimously. You have no choice," Balkan said. Nora felt her heart sink. For the first time since her husband's death, she wanted to cry.
Meanwhile, sitting in his chair, Balkan quietly smiled as Nora began to crumble. He had finally managed to kick her out of the company. Victory was his.
The Osborne Manor, New York City, Later That Evening...
Walking into the entry hall of her home, Helen Osborne sighed before making her way up the stairs and over to her bedroom. As she opened her door, she threw her backpack on the floor before throwing herself onto her bed. Band practice had been a rather long and tiring experience today, and Helen was eager for some rest.
However, she was also hungry. Hearing her stomach growl, she got up from her bed and made her way back into the hallway. As she approached the stairs to go back down to the kitchen, she noticed the light to her mother's room pouring out into the hallway from the open doorway. Curious, Helen made her way toward her mother's room.
"Mom?" Helen asked as she peered inside the doorway, only to see her mother sitting on the floor by her bed, nursing a glass of bourbon while tears streamed down her face. "Mom?" Helen asked with concern before she carefully approached her mother.
Nora looked up at her daughter with a tearful expression on her face. "Mom? Mom, what's wrong?" Helen asked her mother as she knelt down in front of her and carefully pried the glass out of Nora's hand, gently placing it on a nearby night stand.
"They did it. They finally did it," Nora croaked. "Balkan finally got rid of me," she added with a sob. Helen's eyes widened in response.
"Wait, what!?" Helen asked her mother in disbelief.
"B-Balkan and the b-board of directors... went behind my...my back," Nora sobbed. "They signed a-a deal to sell the company to Stark Industries," she continued. "And I have to resign as CEO a-and l-leave the company by May twenty-fifth... or they'll force me out themselves," Nora choked out as she brought her knees up to her chin.
Helen gulped and leaned forward to embrace her mother in a hug. "It's okay, Mom," Helen said as she wrapped her arms around her mother's back. "You're the CEO. There must be something you can do to stall this or force Stark to sign a new contract, right?" Helen asked her mother.
Nora shook her head in response. "The board voted unanimously. They can just veto anything I try to do," Nora explained mournfully. "I'm out. I'm through," Nora said as she hugged her daughter back, resting her chin on her daughter's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Baby."
The Grant Household, New York, Tuesday Afternoon, April 24, 2040
"Go for it, Tiiigeeerrrr!" Mary Jane sang into the microphone just as their song ended. She then frowned as she looked over at Helen, who was staring off into space. "Yo, Helen!" MJ snapped. Helen blinked and looked at her.
"Huh?" Helen asked absentmindedly.
"Where's the guitar solo!? You're supposed to do a solo with your keytar just as I hit the final note," MJ stated, crossing her arms and looking at Helen in annoyance.
"Oh," Helen said, her mind elsewhere. "Sorry, I'm just... I'll do better," Helen said. She then shook her head and took a deep breath.
MJ looked at her curiously. "Are you okay?" MJ asked Helen. Gwen looked over from her drums as Helen sighed. She glanced over at Glory, who shrugged her shoulders before looking back at Helen.
"It's nothing," Helen said. "Don't worry about it," she added as she readied her keytar.
"Are you sure?" Glory asked her with concern. Helen nodded her head in response. "Okay. If you say so," Glory said before reading her own keytar. Gwen slowly returned her focus to her drums as the group began the song again.
And, as before, Helen began to space out as her worries resurfaced. This time, she missed several notes before the end, prompting MJ to finally growl in frustration. "Okay, what is going on, Helen!? Seriously, something's keeping you from focusing, so spit it out already!" MJ snapped at her.
Helen stepped back and gulped. "Em-Jay, cool it," Gwen said sternly, prompting MJ to glance at her incredulously.
"Gwen's right, you need to cool it," Glory said as she set down her keytar, causing MJ to finally relent. "Helen, what's going on?" she asked her bandmate in a concerned manner. Helen fidgeted from the attention, unsure of what to say.
"It's... nothing, guys. I'm just feeling kind of tired is all," Helen lied. Nobody believed her.
"Bullshit," MJ spat.
"Look, guys? We're not getting any further tonight, so why don't we just call it a night?" Glory suggested, placing a hand on MJ's shoulder. "We can pick up this weekend," she added.
"Alright," MJ said with a sigh.
As the band began cleaning up their gear and putting everything away, Gwen made her way over to Helen. "Hey, what's going on?" Gwen asked her friend. Helen just shook her head.
"It's nothing," Helen replied yet again.
"Oh, come on," Gwen retorted. "Helen, something's buggin' ya. You've been out of sorts all day," she added.
"Talk to me, Helen. What's going on?" Gwen asked her friend. Helen glanced over at Mary Jane and Glory, who were busy talking to each other, before she returned her attention to Gwen.
"My mom... is being forced to resign from Oscorp," Helen revealed. Gwen looked at her curiously. "The board of directors went behind her back and... they decided to sell the company to Stark Industries. But... Stark said that my mom has to resign from both her position as CEO and the company itself for the deal to move forward," Helen continued.
"Well, your mom is still the CEO. Can't she fight back?" Gwen asked her. Helen shook her head.
"They voted on it unanimously. None of them have her back, and she has to submit her resignation by the twenty-fifth of May," Helen said worriedly. "My mom was a wreck yesterday. When I came home, I found her crying in her room, sobbing like a baby," Helen added.
"She's done everything for this company, and now... they're just gonna throw her out like trash," Helen said with a frown. Gwen quietly nodded her head as she processed what Helen was saying. "It isn't fair," Helen spat.
"Well, maybe you can try speaking to Mister Stark and see if he'll change his mind," Gwen suggested.
Helen snorted indignantly. "Yeah? How am I gonna do that?" she asked Gwen pointedly.
"Well... I don't know," Gwen replied sheepishly. Wait... didn't I see some posters Monday night advertising some kind of science expo coming up? Yeah, Gwen thought to herself. That's right, there's a science expo funded by Stark Industries taking place in May. Now if only I could remember where it's gonna happen, Gwen thought to herself.
"Helen... I have an idea," Gwen said with a smile.
"Go on," Helen implored her.
"I've seen advertisements around the city lately for some kind of big science expo or something that's being funded by Stark. I think it's supposed to happen some time in the middle of May. If we go there, maybe we'll find Mister Stark himself, and you can talk to him about changing the terms of your mother's resignation. Maybe he can find a position for her in his company or something," Gwen suggested.
Helen looked at Gwen curiously, before a smile spread out across her cheeks. "That's not a bad idea," Helen said in agreement, before her smile faded. "But I don't know if it'll work," she added with uncertainty in her voice.
"Well, it's worth a shot, right?" Gwen asked her in response.
"I guess so," Helen said. "Okay. We'll find out when the expo is supposed to start, and we'll take a trip to talk to Mister Stark," Helen said. Gwen smiled and held a fist in the air. Helen responded by fist-bumping her.
The Osborne Manor, New York City, Wednesday Night, April 25, 2040...
Alone in her study, Nora sat at her computer, slowly browsing the internet for advice on how to update her resume, when she heard a strange echoing sound. Glancing up from her computer screen, she looked around the room. The noise soon became a faint mad cackle. Worried, Nora looked around, seeing various tribal masks that her late father-in-law had collected adorning the walls by the bookshelves.
Nora!
Nora stood up from her chair and turned around, looking worriedly around the room for the sound of the voice. "Who's there?" she asked nervously as she looked around.
Oh, Nooorraaaa!
Nora gulped as she searched for the source of the voice. "Where are you? Show yourself," Nora demanded of the voice. It sounded oddly familiar, though.
Over here, Nora! By the mirror, the voice called out to her. Nora slowly stalked over to the mirror by a bookshelf and saw only her reflection staring back at her.
And then... her reflection winked. Here I am, Nora, the reflection said to her. Nora stepped back in shock from the madly grinning reflection of herself.
What's wrong, Nora? You're acting like you've never seen me before, the reflection admonished her, raising a hand in the air and wagging a finger at her. You scaredy cat, the reflection teased her.
"What the hell?" Nora asked rhetorically.
Don't be shy, Nora. I'm here to help you, the reflection said.
"W-What are you?" Nora asked her reflection fearfully.
What am I? Why, Nora, I'm your greatest creation, the reflection replied with a smirk.
"My... creation?" Nora asked her reflection curiously. "What does that mean? How did I create you?" Nora asked. The reflection frowned.
You don't remember? It was just last month, Nora. Helen was performing with her band at a club, and you were nursing some Guinness, the reflection recalled. Nora's eyes widened as the repressed memories began surfacing again, flooding back into her brain.
"Oh my god! The serum!" Nora gasped. Her reflection grinned madly in response.
Bingo!
Nora felt a rush of different emotions flooding through her. "Oh my god. Oh my god... w-what've I done?" she asked herself fearfully.
What have you DONE? Nora, you've FREED yourself! Nora, look at me. Look at me, the reflection said to her as she tried to look away. Nora looked her reflection in the eyes. Listen to me, Nora. We can do great things, you and I. I can do the things you can't, and say the things you won't.
Nora listened to her reflection as she spoke. Nora, I can help you take back what's yours, the reflection said with a smile. Nora looked at her reflection curiously, before glancing over to another mirror across the room. She knew now what lied behind that other mirror.
"But... I'm out. The company made their decision. I can't overturn that," Nora said forlornly. The reflection rolled her eyes. "And then there's Helen. I've done what I can to save up for her college tuition, but I don't know how long I'll be without a job. What if I have to tap into that college fund just to keep ourselves afloat? Oh god, what's gonna happen to her health coverage!? She's listed as a beneficiary under my health plan, but with my resignation... will she still be covered? Will I have to switch over to a new provider?" Nora panicked.
"I should be able to stay on my current plan with Helen under me until I find a new job, but what if Balkan cuts that off? I know that bastard will try to find some loophole or excuse that'll let him get away with it. He'll do whatever he can to make things difficult for me, and Helen too," Nora ranted. "And I can't do anything about it," she added worriedly.
Maybe YOU can't... but I can. We can both right what's wrong. We can take back what's ours. All you have to do is let me guide the way, the reflection said with a predatory grin.
"How?" Nora asked her reflection. "All I can do right now is just collect that final paycheck and put it away in the bank. What can either of us do?" Nora asked fretfully.
Nora's reflection grinned from ear to ear. Just do as I say, Nora, and all of our problems will disappear...
Empire State Expo Center, Brooklyn, New York City, Saturday, May 19, 2040
Stepping off of the bus and onto the sidewalk, Gwen, and Helen made their way toward a large, grand facility with shining reflective windows. The Empire State Expo Center had been built shortly after the 2027 earthquake had devastated much of the area. Funded and constructed by Stark Industries, the expo center was leased to the city for various conventions and recreational events. During science fairs and expos, Stark Industries would allow other companies to have their own rooms and halls inside the building, but the nicest halls would always be used by Stark when showing off their own projects.
The building had several solar panels lining the roof and several bracing columns for additional structural support in the event of future earthquakes. The expo center had at least three floors above ground, and a large basement for emergencies. There were also multiple fire escapes on each floor and multiple emergency exits on the ground floor.
Gwen and Helen were both wearing casual clothes, with Helen wearing a yellow T-shirt and blue jeans, while Gwen was wearing blue jeans and a purple shirt partially covered by a green sweater with long sleeves.
As Gwen and Helen made their way to the front doors, the smell of food began to reach their noses, causing Gwen to smile. "Hey... I smell corn dogs," Gwen said hungrily. Helen rolled her eyes at Gwen.
"Focus, Gwen. We want to find out if Tony Stark is here in person. Then you can go stuff your face," Helen said firmly.
"Gotch'a," Gwen said, nodding her head in agreement as the sound of people talking echoed throughout the interior of the expo center. More smells wafted through her nostrils, including pizza, burgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, plastic, metal, rubber, and the various odors of the people around her. All around the interior there were advertisements for various tech companies, with signs pointing to which halls held which company.
Walking over to one sign, Gwen saw a map for the building. "Okay, it looks like room where Stark is showing off their own stuff is up on the next level. If Tony Stark is here, then that's where he's likely to be," she pointed out to Helen.
"Okay, how do we get there? Stairs or elevator?" Helen asked Gwen as she looked around the main lobby of the expo center, seeing various food stands and several display models of concept vehicles. There were a handful of elevators near a corner of the lobby, along with a small number of staircases being used by only a small number of people. There were, of course, a few security guards seen milling around near those staircases, but they didn't seem to be off-limits to anyone.
"I'd say we take the stairs to be safe. I'd rather not get cramped into a metal box filled with a dozen people at once," Gwen said in response. Helen nodded her head in agreement.
The two girls quickly made their way over to the nearest staircase, with Gwen nodding her head at a security guard near the door. The guard glanced at her and nodded his head in return as the girls made their way up the stairs. The staircase seemed to be connected to all of the levels of the building, although a sign was posted near the entrance of the set going to the basement, stating that expo activities were on ground level floors and above.
Helen and Gwen quickly made their way up the stairs to the second level and entered another large hall, one filled with mroe people and food stands. Gwen started drooling as she saw a burger stand over near the center of the hall. "There," Helen said as she pointed to the large set of doors with the Stark Industries logo plastered above them on a fancy-looking sign.
"That's where Stark should be," Helen said. "Let's go," she added. Helen began walking forward a dozen feet before she noticed that Gwen wasn't walking alongside her. Turning around, Helen noticed Gwen standing in front of a burger stand.
Helen growled in frustration before she started marching over to Gwen. "Gwen! Come on!" Helen snapped at her.
"Hold on a minute," Gwen said as she observed the menu of the burger stand. "Oh my god, they have a pineapple burger? I gotta try that," Gwen said.
"Gwen, you can eat later! We need to find Tony Stark!" Helen snapped. Gwen tore her gaze away from the menu and looked at Helen with a curious expression. "You were the one who suggested we come here in the first place, remember!?" Helen added in annoyance.
"Yeah, I know," Gwen replied, nodding her head. "But, come on. I didn't eat breakfast this morning," Gwen said in protest as Helen began tapping one shoe on the floor impatiently. "Just let me get this burger and we can go find Stark," Gwen said before the person in front of her was given their burger and walked away.
Helen brought a hand up to her forehead and groaned in frustration. Gwen quickly placed her order, handed the money to the cashier, and watched with anticipation as one of the cooks began working on the patty. The smell of the meat was intoxicating.
"You know what? I'll go find Stark myself," Helen said impatiently as she turned around and began stomping over to the room holding the Stark products. As Gwen continued waiting for her sandwich, she noticed someone walking up next to her. Turning her head, she saw the face of Peter Parker as he took a bite out of a hot dog.
"Peter? What are you doing here?" Gwen asked him as he chewed his hot dog.
"Um, Gwen, this is a science expo. Why wouldn't I be here?" Peter retorted after swallowing his food. "Besides, what are you doing here?" he then asked her.
"Oh, I'm here with Helen. We're gonna find Tony Stark and ask him to change his mind about making Helen's mom leave Oscorp," Gwen replied. Peter looked at her curiously.
"Um... I'm missing some context here," Peter said in confusion.
"Oh, Stark Industries just purchased Oscorp last month and the CEO demanded that Helen's mom step down from her own spot as CEO and leave the company. We're trying to see if Stark won't change his mind and let her stay with the company in some other position or something," Gwen explained.
Peter silently brought his hot dog up to his mouth and took another bite, slowly chewing on it while nodding his head in understanding.
Meanwhile...
Inside the showroom for Stark Industries, Mendel Stromm was looking around nervously. He had to find Tony Stark and get the man to change his mind about Nora, but the presence of several Oscorp Board members was making this difficult. He could see Balkan speaking with Obadiah Stane over near a corner. Stane was busy chuckling at something Balkan was saying.
Stromm soon noticed another familiar face entering the room, only it wasn't an Oscorp or Stark Industries employee. He watched as the young woman maneuvered her way through throngs of people, a determined expression on her face. She must be here to find Stark, Stromm thought to himself.
As Helen squeezed herself through several narrow gaps between various people, she soon found herself making her way to the wall. Looking around, Helen saw the face of Henry Balkan as he talked to a large bald man who appeared to be Obadiah Stane, the second-in-command of Stark Industries. Should I try talking to him? No, I need to find Stark himself. Besides, Balkan is already talking to him and could try to make him ignore me. If I'm gonna do this, I need to find Tony Stark and corner him while he's alone, Helen thought to herself.
Just as she began looking around the room again, she saw a man with a nice suit, neatly combed jet black hair, and a familiar mustache and recognizable trim walk out the door of the room and into the hall. Helen quietly began making her way out of the room in an effort to follow him. Unbeknownst to her, both Stromm and Balkan had spotted her.
Back In The Hall...
Walking toward a burger stand, Tony Stark hummed a happy little tune to himself. He smiled and waved at every person he passed by. As he neared the burger stand, he slowed down and looked around the hall at the various signs and displays for other tech companies and individuals hoping to gain recognition. The smell of food, however kept his focus on the burger stand ahead of him, where he noticed a girl with blonde hair and a green jacket talking to a boy with brown hair and glasses.
Approaching the duo, Tony cleared his throat to get their attention. The two teenagers looked at him, with the bespectacled boy's eyes widening in recognition. "Um, excuse me, but... are you in line?" Tony asked the girl courteously.
"I've already placed my order," she replied, nodding her head.
"Ah. What're ya getting?" Tony asked her as the cashier approached him.
"The pineapple burger," she replied. Tony raised an eyebrow and nodded his head.
"I've had that one before," Tony said to her. "It's pretty good. Personally, though? I prefer the Big Classic," he added. He then looked at the cashier. "Big Classic, please," Tony said. The cashier nodded his head and told the cooks, who were just finishing up the pineapple burger.
The man handed the wrapped-up sandwich to her and she eagerly held it up to herself for inspection, licking her lips in anticipation. "I'd give it a minute to cool first," Tony warned her. The girl nodded her head.
"By the way, what's your name?" he asked the girl curiously.
"Gwen," she replied as she unwrapped the burger and sniffed it.
"Well, Gwen, I'm Tony," Tony said.
"Tony Stark," the boy next to Gwen said enthusiastically. Tony smirked at the boy in response to the recognition.
"Right your are!" Tony said with a grin as he held out his hand. "And you are...?" Tony asked the boy as he shook his free hand.
"Peter. Uh, Parker. Peter Parker," Peter replied nervously. Tony smiled and nodded his head at Peter.
"You into science, Pete?" Tony asked him in a friendly manner.
Peter nodded his head enthusiastically. "Oh, boy yeah," Peter replied. "I've been a science nerd since elementary school," he added.
"Really? Have any idols?" Tony asked him. Peter nodded his head in response.
"Hm. Is it someone I might know?" Tony asked him eagerly, expecting the answer to be that Peter was looking right at him.
"Well, how well do you know Reed Richards?" Peter asked him in response. Tony faltered ever so slightly.
"Uh... R-Reed, um... Reed Richards?" Tony asked Peter, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah. I'm actually studying a lot of his work with physics. Do you know that he's been contracted by the Department of Energy to work on a new source of renewable energy for the past five years? According to the newest issue of Science Now, Richards is working with John and Olivia Octavius," Peter said excitedly.
Tony blinked at Peter. "Um... y-yeah, wow. That's, uh... that's really e-extraordinary," Tony said, stammering slightly. Hearing Peter gush about Reed Richards instead of him had caught him off guard.
Meanwhile, Gwen decided that her burger had finally had enough time to cool down. She opened her mouth and took a large bite out of the sandwich. Immediately, her gaze softened, her muscles relaxed, and her chewing began to slow down as her lips curved upward in a smile while she chewed. She felt at peace with herself and the universe as she slowly chewed on the most delicious burger she had eaten... in the last two months.
As Gwen slowly ate her food, she noticed Helen making her way through the throngs of people in the hall, her steely gaze fixated on Tony Stark. Gwen raised a hand and waved at Helen as she approached them, while Peter continued unintentionally bruising Tony Stark's ego by praising Reed Richards. Helen didn't seem to notice Gwen waving as she continued her march toward Tony Stark.
Tony soon noticed the dark-haired girl approaching him from the corner of his peripheral vision, and he turned his head to face her. She didn't seem pleased to see him, but he had never met her before, so he was a bit curious about that. "Um, hello," Tony said politely as he held out a hand for the girl to shake.
"Mister Stark, right?" she asked him tersely. Tony nodded his head, noting the slightly cold tone of voice the girl was using. "Is something wrong?" he asked her carefully.
"My name is Helen Osborne," she said, fixing him with a glare. Tony's eyes widened slightly at the name. "You made my mother cry," she added with a frown.
Tony blinked in confusion. I... I did what? Wait a minute... is this about her mother's rejection of my offer? "Um, okay. Your mother is... Nora Osborne, right?" Tony asked Helen cautiously.
"Yes. And you made her cry. You forced her out of her job at Oscorp," Helen replied curtly, her eyes boring into Tony's with a stone-cold glare. Tony raised an eyebrow at her.
"Forced her out? I only said she had to step down as CEO so as to prevent conflicts within the company. I never said she had to leave Oscorp permanently," Tony said.
"Liar!" Helen shot back. "The board of directors told her that you wanted her to leave the company permanently!" she added. Tony tilted his head in confusion at the girl.
"Um... what? No, I told Mister Balkan that Nora was welcome to take a position as Director of the Special Projects division, which is what Oscorp will be designated as within Stark Industries following the merger. While she wouldn't be CEO anymore, she'd still be in charge of what the Oscorp Division does. She'd just have to answer to others higher up, but according to Mister Balkan, she rejected the offer and decided to resign instead," Tony explained.
This time, Helen was the one who was confused. "Wait... how many board members did you speak with when you decided to buy Oscorp?" Helen asked him.
"I only spoke with Mister Balkan, but since he's the senior-most member of the board, I figured he would pass everything down to the rest," Tony replied.
Helen's face soon softened as realization dawned on her. "Oh. Oh my god," she muttered as she brought a hand up to her face. "Oh my god. Balkan? You only spoke with Balkan?" Helen asked him.
"Uh... yeah. That's what I just said," Tony replied, nodding his head. Gwen continued eating her burger as she watched Tony and Helen speak with one another, while Peter stood quietly nearby, looking around awkwardly.
"Mister Stark... Mister Balkan has been after my mother's blood for years," Helen said. "He was hoping to become CEO of Oscorp after my father died, but when my mother was selected, he made it his mission to find a way to get rid of her," Helen explained. Tony slowly absorbed the information given to him.
"I see," Tony said as he realized what had happened. "I gave Mister Balkan the perfect chance to get rid of her, didn't I?" he asked Helen. She nodded her head in response. Taking a deep breath, Tony reached into one of his suit pockets and pulled out a small rectangular card.
"Here. Give this to your mother," Tony said as he handed a small card to Helen. "Tell her that there was a miscommunication, and that I would be glad to speak with her over the phone or in person to work out the details of her, hopefully, staying with the company in a new position," Tony said as Helen pocketed the card.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find Mister Balkan and have a discussion with him," Tony said firmly as he looked over to the Stark Industries showroom. He could see Stane and Balkan slowly making their way out of the room toward him. "A very serious discussion," he added with a scowl as he began marching toward the two men.
As Tony walked away, Helen turned to look at Gwen, who was still eating her burger. "Thanks for all the help," Helen said sarcastically. Gwen simply smiled contently and nodded her head as she continued chewing and swallowing her food. "Is that thing really that good?" Helen asked Gwen after a minute.
Gwen eagerly nodded her head in response. Helen crossed her arms as a thoughtful expression overcame her face. "Well... [sigh] okay. Why not?" Helen asked herself before walking over to the counter of the burger stand.
"Hi, Helen," Peter said after a minute, causing Helen to nearly jump out of her skin.
"Jesus! Don't scare people like that!" Helen shrieked at Peter as she quickly turned to look at him. Peter blinked at her in confusion.
"I...I'm sorry. I thought you'd noticed me earlier," Peter said timidly.
"By the way, what are you doing here?" Helen asked Peter.
Peter looked at her strangely. "Um... it's a science expo. Why wouldn't I be here?" Peter replied. Gwen nodded her head in agreement with Peter as she finished the last few bites of her burger, prompting Helen to roll her eyes and nod her head.
"Right," Helen said, before turning around and stepping over to the counter of the burger stand. At that moment, Tony's sandwich had just finished being made.
"I'll take it over to him," Gwen said as she glanced over at the man. "Besides... I could use some entertainment," she added under her breath as she started carrying the wrapped sandwich over to the three men. The idea of watching three grown men bicker was not exactly the definition of entertainment, but it would at least give her something to do until Helen decided to leave the Expo.
Meanwhile, Tony had just reached Stane and Balkan. "Hello again, Mister Balkan," Tony said with a clearly unhappy tone of voice. Balkan noticed Helen standing by the burger stand in the background and tried to hold back his frown.
"Hello again, Mister Stark," Balkan said as courteously as possible. Stane glanced between the two men, confused as to why Tony's attitude had changed.
"Tony, is something wrong?" Stane asked him.
"Oh, I'm about to find out," Tony said as he looked Balkan in the eyes. "So, Balkan, did you actually tell Nora Osborne my offer, or did you lie to her so that she would leave the company and let you take over?" Tony asked him pointedly.
"What!?" Stane asked Tony incredulously. "Tony, what the hell are you talking about? What makes you think Henry here lied about anything?" he asked his employer.
"Well, I just had a very interesting discussion with a young Helen Osborne about your... history, so to speak, with her mother," Tony said. He stared Balkan in the eyes, looking for signs of dishonesty.
"And you're going to believe the daughter of that woman over a man who has been loyal to his company for decades?" Balkan asked Tony, trying to keep his tone in check.
"Well, you're clearly willing to sell your company to me, so you can't be that loyal," Tony retorted with a smug grin. "Besides, I've given my card to Helen, so her mother can talk to me directly over the phone or wherever and I can, and will, find out if you actually told her the truth about my offer, or if you lied to her," Tony added.
Balkan let out a small grunt of anger. "That woman will bring nothing but ruin to you and the rest of us if she stays with the company. The best thing you can do is keep her away from Oscorp and Stark Industries," Balkan said firmly as he glared at Tony.
"I think I'll decide that for myself," Tony said with a sneer. "After all, I get to decide if I want to go through with buying your company or not." Balkan frowned at Tony, while Stane just scratched his head in confusion at the entire situation.
"Hey, Mister Stark!" Gwen called out as she reached the three men. They all turned to look at her. She then raised her hand and held out Tony's still-wrapped burger. "You forgot this," she said to him.
Tony blinked at her and coughed indignantly in embarrassment before slowly reaching out the take the burger from Gwen's hand.
"And, uh, I take it that you're Helen Osborne?" Stane asked Gwen. Tony, Balkan, and Gwen all turned to look at the man in equal condescension.
"No, Mister Stane," Balkan said with a sigh. "This girl is blonde, while Helen Osborne is a dark brunette," he added as clarification for him. Stane's eyes widened and he briefly looked away and chuckled nervously in embarrassment.
"S-Sorry about that, ma'am," Stane said to Gwen after he turned to look at her.
"No problem," Gwen said. "Apology accepted," she then added as an afterthought.
"Right. Now, what were we talking about again?" Stane asked Tony and Balkan. Tony immediately returned to sniping at Balkan for his lies, while Balkan responded by blaming Nora for all of Oscorp's recent failings.
Meanwhile, as Gwen stepped away from the three arguing men, she began to feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as her spider sense immediately kicked into high gear. She looked around the hall of the expo center, scanning for signs of danger. After a few more seconds, her entire body was on alert and her eyes were quickly widening as she glanced over at the windows of the building, where the sensation of danger felt the strongest.
Gwen stared at the window for a few seconds, anxiously waiting in anticipation. Just as Gwen opened her mouth to say something, the windows and the walls surrounding them exploded in a shower of glass, smoke, and debris. People screamed and dove for cover as they were showered with burnt debris and glass, while more people exited the various showrooms to investigate the commotion.
People scattered as the smoke and dust cleared, while a mad cackling could be heard emanating from the hole in the wall. Gwen looked on with wide eyes as a shape emerged from the smoke, hovering in the air. Said shape soon took on the form of an armored person on some kind of hoverboard, like a comic book character come to life.
As soon as Gwen snapped out of her stupor she looked around and saw Peter and Helen hiding behind the burger stand, neither of them appearing to be injured. Good, Gwen thought to herself as she quickly noticed a sign for a restroom near the elevator. She quickly began running toward the restroom as she grabbed hold of her jacket and prepared to change into her costume the moment she could get herself secluded in a bathroom stall.
Meanwhile, everyone else in the large hall watched as the smoke and dust settled, revealing an armored menace with a goblin-shaped helmet or mask on their head. The armor of the suit was green, but also polychromal, with a slight purple tint showing up when reflected from certain angles in the light. The Goblin had a utility belt looped around her waist, just underneath a purple tunic lined with pockets that covered their already-armored torso. A purple loincloth hung down over the groin region, just below the utility belt, to complete the medieval appearance of the armored villain, while the yellow-orange eye covers on their mask made it impossible for anyone to tell where the Goblin was looking.
"HEEELLLOOOOO, BOYS AND GIRLS!" the Goblin cackled as she rode her glider into the hall. Everyone backed away in fear, with people tripping over themselves and crawling along the floor to find safe hiding spots.
"My god," Balkan muttered in shock. "That... that's our glider," he said in fearful realization. B-But then, that means... "OH MY GOD!"
The Goblin turned her head to look in the direction of Balkan's voice. "AH! There you are!" she sang with glee before reached back and grabbing a small orange sphere from her utility belt. She held it up in her gloved hand and pressed a button before throwing it into the air. The orange ball soon produced a series of spinning blades as it flew through the air and spun around at high speed, heading straight for Henry Balkan.
Balkan's eyes widened as the small spinner flew through the air, before gasping as it sliced his throat, spraying blood everywhere. Tony and Stane both dove to the floor and crawled over to hide behind a potted plant and bench nearby. "Stane, what the hell's going on!?" Tony asked in a panicked tone.
"I don't know!" Stane replied fearfully. "Where the hell is security!?" he cried out as he saw the Goblin retrieve the spinning death ball as it returned to her. Just then, five security guards appeared near a showroom doorway.
"Freeze!" one of them shouted as he held up his service pistol. The Goblin snickered before retrieving another orange ball and throwing it at the five men. The small orange sphere lit up and then exploded, sending shrapnel flying everywhere and cutting the men to ribbons. At this point, everyone in the halls had begun to run around in a panic.
The Goblin then turned to see more Oscorp board members running away, only to activate a small turret on the underside of her glider and target them through her helmet's display system. "BYE BYE!" she exclaimed gleefully as she opened fire, sending streams of hot lead into the black suits of the board members. The men and women screamed as they fell, bleeding, to the floor.
Meanwhile, Tony and Stane had gotten up and were rushing over to an emergency exit. "Come on, get everyone out of here!" Tony shouted as he held the door open for the various visitors of the expo. "Watch the steps! Watch your step! Watch your step!" he added as he ushered person after person into the stairwell.
"Ah, Stark!" the Goblin exclaimed excitedly as she turned her attention to him. Tony gasped and looked at the Goblin fearfully. "It's your turn now!" she exclaimed as she began gliding toward him.
Tony glanced at the people he was ushering to safety. If he stayed at the door, they'd be caught in the attack. "Stane! Stay with these people! Get them out of here!" Tony shouted as he ran away from the door to draw the Goblin away from the others.
"Tony!" Stane shouted. "Tony! What are you doing!?" he asked incredulously as Tony dove for cover behind a large trash bin.
Tony looked out from his cover and saw the Goblin raise up a sharp metal pike from her glider. He gulped as he saw her raise her arm back and prepare to throw it. "Oh shit! What the hell was I thinking!?" Tony asked himself.
His eyes widened just as the Goblin threw her arm forward and let go of the pike, only for it to fly backward from her grip. Tony blinked in surprise, while the Goblin looked at her empty hand in confusion. "What the hell!?" she asked in disbelief.
"Looking for something?" a female voice asked from behind her. The Goblin turned around and narrowed her eyes at the black and white costumed figure hanging from the ceiling. "You know, the Renaissance festival doesn't start until August," Spider-Woman said while holding the pike in one hand.
"I think I'll keep this somewhere safe until then," Spider-Woman added before she began spreading some webbing over the spear and sticking it to the ceiling. "That should hold it for a while. Now, let's figure out what to do with you," she added with a stern tone.
"The Spider," Goblin spat in contempt.
"Woman. Spider-Woman," she corrected her. "And you are... I dunno, some kind of goblin or something?" she asked the Goblin.
The Goblin didn't respond. "I'll take that as a yes," Spider-Woman said. "So, Goblin, do you want to let me to wrap you up nice and pretty for the cops, or should I beat you into submission first?" Spider-Woman asked her.
The Goblin pressed a button on her wrist pad and the small turret on her glider came to life.
"Oh shit," Spider-Woman muttered in response. She then sprang from her spot on the ceiling as the Goblin opened fire, filling the panel with holes. She ran across the ceiling before reaching out and shooting a web rope at a nearby wall to sling away before twisting herself mid-air to land with all four limbs on the wall.
The Goblin turned her glider and deactivated the turret before speeding forward, pressing another button to activate a pair of metal blades on the underside of the glider. Spider-Woman quickly leapt from her spot on the wall to plant herself on the ceiling before leaping onto the top of a burger stand. She then leapt backward to crouch on the floor before noticing Helen and Peter hiding under a metal bench.
Oh, come on! You idiots couldn't run with everyone else!? Give me a fucking break, Gwen thought to herself as she saw her two friends cowering together. "FOUND YOU!" The Goblin exclaimed before pulling two Goblin Blades out of her belt and throwing them into the air. The small orange spheres sprang to life and flew forward, prompting Spider-Woman to make a dash for the bench and leap over it.
She then turned her head and noticed the spinning blades maneuvering to go under the bench. "No!" she exclaimed in horror before she leapt onto the ceiling and shot her arms out to shoot two streams of webbing down at the bench. She then twirling herself around and pulled at the bench, tilting it to knock it over and provide cover for her friends.
At that moment, the Goblin sped forward and slammed herself into Spider-Woman, knocking the younger female to the ground as the spinning blades sped upwards to avoid the bench and sliced a metal pole with a series of directional signs on it. The pole fell over and crashed between Peter and Helen, causing Helen to shriek in fright.
Spider-Woman shot out a stream of web to catch the blades and pull them into each other, causing both instruments of death to tear their blades into one another and break apart. At that moment, the Goblin grabbed Spider-Woman and pulled her up onto her glider. "Thanks for the lift. What's the fare?" Spider-Woman asked the Goblin, only to receive a punch to face.
Crying out in pain, Spider-Woman grappled with the Goblin before she punched her in the gut as well. "Oof!" Spider-Woman let out from the impact of the Goblin's fist against her abdomen. Goblin then backhanded her across the face. "Ack!" she let out painfully before the Goblin pulled and arm back and slugged her.
Spider-Woman fell from the glider before grabbing onto the bottom and swinging herself back up around behind the Goblin. She quickly kicked at the back of the Goblin's legs. The Goblin stumbled before producing a blade from her left arm and swinging forward, making a shallow cut into Spider-Woman's side and costume as the heroine quickly turned herself just in time to avoid all but the tip of the blade.
The sting of the cut, however, threw her off balance, and the Goblin was able to kick her off of the glider and send her falling to the floor. Spider-Woman quickly shot a web rope at a nearby wall and pulled herself onto it, reaching down with her right hand to feel her left side and look at a the blood. "Fuck!" she swore before she looked back up at the Goblin.
The Goblin then realigned her glider and rushed forward, forcing Gwen to shoot a web rope to hoist herself up to the ceiling. The Goblin crouched and pulled glider up before using the blades of her vehicle to slice through the webbing. Behind her mask, Gwen's eyes widened in shock as she fell to the floor. She quickly rolled over onto her side and stood up, only to hiss from her wound as she stretched.
The Goblin then turned around and swooped down, aiming her blades at Spider-Woman. Spider-Woman then held up her arms and shot her webbing at the bottom of the glider, doing her best to avoid the blades. Once her ropes were secured, she held on tight and rushed forward, sliding across the floor and pulling back on the web ropes.
The glider halted and sent the Goblin flying through the air before she crashed into the ground, while the airborne vehicle soon powered down and fell to the floor. Pushing herself up, the Goblin groaned before turning around and looking over at Spider-Woman, her orange eye covers concealing the anger and hatred burning in her eyes. "You little bitch," the Goblin spat at Spider-Woman contemptuously.
"Look who's talking!" Spider-Woman shot back at her before she shot out a rope of web at the green armored villain's legs. She grinned beneath her mask as she pulled the Goblin out from under her feet and brought her in toward her before grabbing her legs and lifting her into the air as she spun herself, and by extension the Goblin, in a circular fashion. "Tell me something; Can you fly without the glider?" Spider-Woman asked the Goblin before she let go of her legs.
The Goblin sailed through the air with a cry before crashing into a hot dog stand. "Hm... nope. I guess not," Spider-Woman said to herself as she slowly began marching over to the wrecked hot dog stand. She reached down to feel her side and noticed that her injury was already starting to heal itself. "Huh," she muttered in fascination, before she heard the creaking and groaning of plastic and wooden planks shifting beneath the weight of her foe.
The Goblin soon stood up from the wreckage of the hot dog stand, soft buns and mustard bottles falling to the floor and getting squished beneath her armored feet as she turned around to face Spider-Woman. "It seems I underestimated you," Goblin said.
"That you did. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way," Spider-Woman said as she approached the Green Goblin. "I personally prefer the way where I just wrap you up in a web and leave you hanging from the side of the building," she added, smirking under her mask.
"Oh, I don't think so," the Goblin said, shaking her head in disagreement before pulling out a small pumpkin grenade. Spider-Woman poised herself with her fingers near her wrists, ready to catch the next grenade with her webs. "Careful! This one is incendiary," the Goblin warned. Spider-Woman stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening behind her mask.
"I've got enough to set your ass on fire, along with everyone else here. Even those two over there," the Goblin said as she pointed beyond Spider-Woman to Peter and Helen near the burger stand, both of whom were frozen in fear. The Goblin then returned her focus to Spider-Woman. "Actually, you know what? Screw 'em anyway!" she said with a cackle before throwing the pumpkin grenade in their direction, sailing past Spider-Woman.
"NO!" Spider-Woman cried out as she shot a web toward the orange grenade, missing by centimeters. Her eyes widened and she shot out streams of webbing at Helen and Peter, sticking both of them before pulling them in her direction. "Whoa!" Peter yelled out as he finally realized what was happening.
Spider-Woman jumped into the air as she pulled the two teens toward her before landing in front of them to shield them. "Oh my god!" Helen cried out fearfully as Gwen shot a rope out at the overturned bench and pulled it back into her hands, holding it up just as the pumpkin grenade bounced on the floor and detonated.
Helen screamed in fear as Spider-Woman held the metal bench in front of herself, using her own body as extra shielding to protect Helen and Peter from the explosion and its extra flames as they spread around her. Gwen grunted in pain and screamed through gritted teeth as the heat washed over her, her costume bearing the brunt of it but the cut in the side allowing the searing heat to still affect her.
The Goblin quickly snapped her head to look at Helen as she heard the girl scream. For a brief moment, a sensation of recognition flickered inside the Goblin's brain. Girl? Girl? He-Helen? Helen? Helen? Helen! Helen! Oh my god, Helen!
Just as Nora opened her mouth to say Helen's name, the Goblin took control again and forced Nora back into the recesses of her mind. The Goblin quickly called the glider back to her and hopped aboard as she prepared to flee. She then took one last look at Spider-Woman as she dropped the metal bench once the fire had died.
Spider-Woman let out a sigh of relief before turning to look at Peter and Helen. They were both staring wide-eyed at her. "A-Are... are you guys okay?" she asked them. Peter blinked and glanced around the room before pinching himself to make sure he was still alive. Helen's jaw simply dropped in awe at Spider-Woman for having both saved her life and put herself in harm's way.
"I'll see you later, Spider-Bitch!" the Goblin called out as she neared the hole she had made earlier. Spider-Woman snapped her head over to look at the Goblin. "Save some barbecue for me!" Goblin added with a cackle as she turned the glider around.
"Oh, like HELL you're getting away!" Spider-Woman snapped angrily. She quickly shot out a rope of web at the underside of the Goblin's glider. She soon found herself being pulled into the air as the fiend took off and exited the Expo Center. Spider-Woman dangled from the underside of the glider thanks to her rope web as the Goblin sped through the air.
The Goblin looked down to see Spider-Woman dangling below her. "Oh, you just don't know when to quit! Well then, how do ya like THIS!?" the Goblin spat as she activated locking mechanisms on the glider to keep her feet in place while she turned the vehicle on its side before shooting down toward a busy street.
Spider-Woman's eyes widened beneath her mask as she pulled herself up and swung herself around to avoid several fast-moving trucks on the road. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shiiiiiiit!" she screamed before using her legs to run across the top of a particularly tall truck.
She then shot out an arm and sprayed a web-rope at the back of the Goblin before pulling herself up to land on the top of the glider. "Ah-ah-ah! No free rides!" the Goblin quipped before spinning the glider from side to side. Spider-Woman simply held on to the vehicle as it flipped over and over, before the Goblin stopped spinning and shot towards a building.
The Goblin then pulled the glider upward to fly parallel to the side of the building as they both raced into the skyline. The wind whipped past the two opponents as they went higher and higher into the air. Spider-Woman's hood caught the air and got pulled back to reveal her fully white mask, while the pull of the air against her hood forced her to take more aggressive action.
Spider-Woman quickly grabbed the Goblin's helmet and pulled back on it, forcing her opponent to cry out before elbowing her in the gut in retaliation. "Rraaggh!" the Goblin snarled as Spider-Woman held on tight. She then turned the glider and shot downward toward the streets below.
The air rushed past both opponents yet again, with Spider-Woman still holding on as firmly as possible as the Goblin continued elbowing her in the ribs and stomach. Eventually, the punishment reached the point where Spider-Woman had to let go and hold herself as she groaned in pain while the glider slowed down. After a few seconds of heavy breathing, Spider-Woman felt her second wind coming back to her, and she grabbed onto the Goblin yet again.
As the glider neared the tops of the cars moving along the street, it pulled up and straightened out, while the Goblin and Spider-Woman grappled with one another as the Goblin unlocked the foot latches on the glider to turn herself around. Spider-Woman punched the Goblin in the gut, before the Goblin kneed her in the groin. "Ow, my pussy!" Spider-Woman cried out in pain.
"Ha! Try pushing a baby through there, Spidey! THEN you can whine about how much it hurts!" the Goblin quipped before she grabbed Spider-Woman's masked face and slammed her helmet into her head, causing the masked heroine to stagger. "Want some more!?" the Goblin teased her before reactivating both arm blades and slicing into Spider-Woman's arms.
"Aaah!" Spider-Woman cried out painfully as she leaned herself back to let the next swing of blades fly over her. She then inspected her arms, seeing large gashes in them bleeding out through her suit. Still leaning herself half-way off the glider, she shot out two ropes of webbing at the Goblin's arms, only for the Goblin to twist her arms so that her blades sliced through the webbing on the opposite arms, freeing her.
"So, it would seem that your webs do have a weakness to them," the Goblin sneered. Spider-Woman looked over the Goblin's shoulder and gasped. "What?" the Goblin asked her before turning to look back around. "OH SHIT!" Both opponents screamed as the glider nearly plowed into a train before the Goblin pulled it upward at the last second, narrowly avoiding the screaming monorail train as the glider sped over it.
Once they were clear, the Goblin craned her neck to look back, only to see that Spider-Woman had disappeared. Nora glanced around at the buildings around her as she slowed the glider down a bit. "Now, where did you go?" the Goblin asked rhetorically before she turned around to face forward on the glider.
As soon as she did, she saw Spider-Woman standing directly in front of her with an arm extended, just before a glob of webbing covered her helmet. "GYAAAAAAGGHHG!" she cried out in frustration before she grabbed the white glob and pulled it away from her helmet. She shot her arm forward to slug the younger female.
Spider-Woman caught the punch, only for the Goblin to crouch and deliver another blow to her midsection. "Aargh!" Spider-Woman cried out in pain before the Goblin grabbed her by the arm and twisted it, causing her to cry out again. The Goblin then let go of the arm only to punch Spider-Woman in the face again, this time disorienting the younger female before kicking her off the glider.
Spider-Woman quickly regained her senses and shot out a rope of web at a nearby building before swinging herself around to try catching up to the Goblin again. The Goblin cackled as she sped up her glider and turned a corner, disappearing from Spider-Woman's vision. Spider-Woman quickly shot another web rope to swing herself around to the corner of that building, only to find that the Goblin had effectively disappeared.
"Shit!" she swore as she clung to the side of a building. She quickly began crawling up the side before pulling herself up onto the roof and looking around the cityscape for signs of the green menace. The Goblin was nowhere to be seen or heard. She had vanished.
"Dammit," she muttered in frustration before she started turning around. "Wait a minute... the Expo! Shit, I gotta get back there!" she scolded herself before she started web-slinging her way back across the city. As she did, she began thinking of various excuses to tell her friends for why she had disappeared.
Tell them I hid in the bathroom? Maybe. Tell them I just... ran away? I suppose, buuuut... ah, screw it! I'll just tell them I was hiding in the bathroom, Gwen thought to herself. Still... who the hell was that goblin-looking bitch? She can't be a normal human. Is she like me? Did she get superpowers in a lab accident or something? Or maybe she's a mutant? Whoever she is, I've got a bad feeling this won't be the last I've seen of her.
TEASER FOR NEXT TIME!
In the next issue of The Spectacular Spider-Woman, Gwen and Nora meet again in person, with neither of them knowing the other's secret identity... for now.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay everybody! I've been busy lately.
So, the Green Goblin's final form is now a combination of the 2002 movie suit and the traditional tunic outfit, but without the hood. I mean, the helmet already has a point on the back of it, so why bother with that?
I'd also like to say that I had initially planned this to be two chapters, but the first half was simply Nora getting the boot and then planning her attack... which was extremely short and not even half of a full chapter on its own, so I combined it with the second half to form one big chapter.
As you can all tell, despite my belief that Iron Man is often over-exposed these days, I do believe that Tony Stark can be a likable character if he's used sparingly and is well written. In this particular series, I still plan on making Tony a victim of his vices like in the movies, but I'm not going to give him more focus than necessary. This is, after all, Gwen's story.
And, of course, the Green Goblin and Spider-Woman have finally had their first battle. I didn't want to make this a carbon copy of the battle seen in the 2002 film, but I did want to include certain elements of it, such as the Goblin killing various members of the Oscorp Board of Directors in revenge.
Also, this battle showcased Gwen's minor regenerative abilities for the first time in an obvious manner. Gwen doesn't have Wolverine levels of healing, but she is still faster than most normal people when it comes to healing her wounds. The rate of her healing, however, depends on the depth and severity of the wound itself, though. The deeper the wound, the longer it takes to heal. A paper cut can heal in seconds, while a deep gash (like the ones she received from the Goblin during their fight) can take several hours (if she stays still and doesn't reopen it) or even 1-2 days (if she doesn't stay still and keeps agitating it).
As always, please be sure to let me know what you think of the chapter and/or story so far in your reviews!
