Dark Spider

by TheMadTargaryen

Bash Blackwell knew his curiosity would get the better of him. He just never thought it would lead to him becoming host to a dangerous alien parasite called Venom. Now, with incredible powers, he must use them to protect the city from all the criminals that try to destroy it.

2. Well, that escalated quickly

Review Responses:

Bladewolf101- The OC will be dating multiple girls throughout the story and Black Cat will be one of them but not for a while.

Sin Ouroboros- Glad you enjoyed the chapter. I hope this one was enjoyable as well.

Deal With It- What do you mean by mixed?

I tend to do things a bit slower in my stories so that I can incorporate as much needed detail as possible. Sometimes, actions are going to take a while to get done in order to explain the reasoning behind them. However, I might rush things if I feel I am taking a long time to get to it.

Yifto- Thank you. I Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Guest- Right now, the story is just an origin story but it will eventually make its way into the MCU storyline.

The trouble with the crossover link may be my fault. Right after I posted this story, I kept changing the crossover section I wanted to place the story in so you might have been using an outdated link or something. I just changed it one last time, now it will be on just the Avengers section in the movies category.

Flame Wolfe- Glad you enjoyed the first chapter.

Madarauchihagr8- Hope you enjoy this chapter.

XXxxxadisxxxXX- Glad to have kept you interested and I appreciate the comment on my grammar and writing though Grammarly deserves the praise.

Dw6fanmanxd- Glad you like the name. While I did not grow up reading a whole lot of comics, I did watch a lot of 90's X-Men and Spider-Man so I do draw a lot of inspiration from them as much as I do from the newer movies and shows.

Razesworlds- Thank you. I make it a priority to flesh out my characters and to catch and correct any grammar mistakes (though some may still go unnoticed).

Dark Spider

CH.2

Well, that escalated quickly

Bash gazed out at the cityscape beyond his windows and watched as the early morning sky began to gradually brighten for the new day. Monday. The worst of all weekdays.

Like the many other nights, Bash could not sleep. His nightmares were becoming too vivid for him to handle. He woke up earlier that night, feeling as if he was having a panic attack. He remembered to do as he was instructed and breathed in from his mouth and out from his nose. Slowly but surely he felt himself begin to calm down and relax but he still could not fall back asleep.

This was the fourth night in a row that he had a nightmare but this one was different. It did not feel like it was a figment of his imagination but something more, like deja vu or something.

Unlike the others, he was not in a dark void but in a dark wooded area. The first thing he remembered was being on the ground clenching at the dirt and twigs. He was already breathing hard, as if he had been running for a long time. He tried to get back up but his legs felt like jelly and kept making him collapse back onto the ground.

Then he felt someone pick him up. Looking around, he found it was his mother. She looked so scared as she tried to pick him up from the ground. Her face was covered in dirt and tears and blood from a gash near the hairline on her forehead. Where did she get the cut? He wanted to ask her. He had a lot of questions to ask her but for some reason, he could not open his mouth to speak.

"Come on, Bash! We have to keep going! They are going to get us!" He recalled what his mother said to him in the nightmare. He tried so hard to ask her who was after them but his mouth remained tightly clenched as he struggled to run with her.

The last thing he remembers from the dream is falling fast with his mother down a hillside and just before hitting a fast approaching tree trunk, he was jerked awake by unknown means. However one suddenly wakes up from dreams. His wide eyes staring at the white ceiling and him sitting upright in his bed as he struggled to breathe while his heart pounded in his chest.

After calming down, he did not feel the need to go back to sleep, despite it being three in the morning but he did not feel tired nor did he want to take the chance that the nightmare would continue where it left off. A part of him wanted to see the rest of the nightmare through. He wanted to see who was chasing him and his mother.

It kept bothering him the whole night. Why he was having these nightmares. It does not make sense to him. He knows what happened, he read the report. If this is his mind's way of remembering what happened then it got even more messed up than he thought because this is not what happened to him and his mother.

Though the more he kept telling himself that, the more it was feeling like a lie, as if he was trying to convince himself that it was the truth but that is not how it should feel. After what he learned last weekend about his father purchasing the Life Foundation from Carlton Drake, he felt like the dreams were becoming more vivid.

All night every night, he tried to get rid of those thoughts and the nightmares that started it all but nothing he tried could get rid of them.

Eventually, he conceded and ended up staying awake and spending the remainder of the night trying to occupy himself until it was time to get ready.

His alarm had not gone off yet but seeing how the sky was gradually brightening from the rising sun, Bash figures it was a good enough time to get up and get ready for the day.

After drying himself off from his shower, Bash walked to his closet and looked at the collection of the school's uniform he owned.

The uniform of Illithya Prep came in a variety of styles to appeal to all students. The jackets came in navy blue blazers, cardigans and long-sleeve V-necks sweaters with the school emblem stitched on the left breast. Then there were the waistcoats and sleeveless V-neck sweaters to wear when the weather was warmer. Both come in either a dark gray or navy blue also emblazoned with the school crest. The shirts they wore must be collared; button downs both long-sleeved and short-sleeved to Polos also long and short sleeved. The shirts worn with the uniform could be one of three colors; navy, gray and white. The pants must always be slacks for the boys and skirts or slacks for the girls. The acceptable colors for the slacks and skirts are black beige navy and gray. The shoes must be brown or black loafers or dress shoes. Then to complete the look, all students must wear a black tie.

It was a nice variety that students could not complain about that worked for all four seasons New York cycles through.. The school even sells pea coats and parkas as well as scarves and gloves and beanies for the cold fall and winter months in the student store.

Bash took what clothes he decided to wear and carried them to his bed to lay laid them out on the bed

Fully clothed in a white button down and black slacks and navy cardigan, Bash limped over to the mirror to fix his tie. His set of ties were already pre-knotted thanks to Valerie since he cannot tie them for his life, even without the bum hand.

After adjusting the slightly loose way he preferred and straightening his white collar, Bash gave himself a quick look over before slipping into a pair of black loafers and grabbed his backpack and cane and exited his room.

At the top of the staircase, Bash came to a sudden halt when he heard voices from downstairs. He knew Valerie would be up by this time, usually sitting at the dining table looking over her paperwork or reading and answering emails while eating her breakfast.

While it was indeed Valerie's voice he heard, Bash could also hear Bill's voice as well. That's funny. He did not even know his dad had come home.

Whatever reason he came home for, he was telling Valerie and it had to do with General Ross, from what he could hear.

Getting closer to the kitchen, Bash stayed out of sight as he listened to their conversation.

"Who does Ross think he is, trying to force you to join his ridiculous manhunt for poor Bruce?" Valerie angrily asked. Bash could hear her shuffling around in the kitchen, her heels clicking against the wooden floors as she paced back and forth. "And then he has the audacity to rush you and Curt on sensitive experiments knowing well how dangerous that can be. Has he not learned after what happened to Bruce?"

"Apparently not." Bill replied nonchalantly. "But unlike Bruce, I managed to get the entire truth from Ross about the project he wants me to work on and I have been managing to keep everything on my time, so far but eventually I am going to have to show him something. He's coming on Friday to see what Curt and I have been working on."

"But it's not ready." Valerie said, her voice lowered to a loud whisper. "What does Curt say?"

"He's ready for human trials."

"No!" Valerie replied, sounding shocked at the answer. "Is he out of his mind?! What on earth is he thinking?"

"He's thinking he has found the solution to his study on Cross-species genetics."

Cross-species genetics? Bash remembered reading that in one of the files on his father's desk. The one that that girl from the other day, Gwen Stacy if he remembered, had retrieved.

Did he hear right? That the project was going to have human trials? Bash thought it was for animals, not people and how did General Ross fit into it? This project has nothing to do with the so-called new line of jet fighters as his father had told him.

There were so many questions going through Bash's mind with answers he needed to know.

"Curt has spent years trying to make his work successful. He's experimented on just about every type of animal with special healing and regenerative abilities only to come up with nothing. Now, he has this new creature at his disposal and he thinks it is the solution."

"Is it?" Valerie asked him curiously.

"In a way." Bill sighed. "The most success we found came from animals that had something wrong with them. A disability. Terminal illness. The success is that the creature healed the animals completely but then it would kill them.

"Why would it do that?"

"They aren't the right type of host." Bill replied to Valerie's question. "It's like an organ transplant where the donor and recipient must be the exact match, according to Drake's notes."

Drake? Carlton Drake?

Bash could feel his heart beating faster after hearing the name. This is a project that belonged to Carlton Drake. His father is working on one of his projects.

"Drake's notes on the human trials are...disturbing to read." Bill continued. Bash could tell his father was bothered from the sound of his voice. "The man really did not care about human life but his human trials did show more progress than with the animals."

"Please tell me you are not considering doing human trials." Valerie warned Bill.

"Of course not, Val." Bill reassured her. "I told Curt that I do not want to think about human trials until we get successful results."

"But Curt came up with a theory that might not be a far stretch." Bill continued. Bash could hear his footsteps pacing around the kitchen. "He thinks that because it has been exposed to humans that that's what it prefers now."

After eating steak ? Bash thought to himself. He still did not know what it was they were talking about but from what it sounded like, it was alive and dangerous. What kind of animal needs to be bonded to a person?

"I have already told Curt to get our primates prepped and ready for testing. Hopefully we can get more progress from our chimps because if not...I think I am going to have to shelve the project."

Bill sounded disappointed at the idea. It was rare that he had to give up on a project but when it did, it bothered him. Bash could relate. Many of his newspaper articles had to be abandoned or he had to retract the entire paper but that was due to censorship. So much for first amendment rights.

"I really hope it works." he heard Bill say to Valerie, sounding worried about the possibility. "Can you imagine what could be accomplished if this is successful? I mean we are talking about going beyond what Erskine created with Cap—"

The sudden slam of a door caused Bill to halt his talking and for Bash to quickly turn to the source of the noise and find it coming from Robbie closing the door to the indoor gym. With his earbuds covering his hearing and eyes occupied with his phone as he wiped the sweat from his face, Robbie did not take notice of Bash's appearance and walked in the opposite direction to his bedroom.

"Bash?"

Bash looked back down the staircase to find Bill and Valerie looking up at him.

"Morning guys." Bash said with a quick smile and hoping he did not look suspicious to them.

"Morning." they both said to him.

"You're up early, pal." Bill said, taking a quick glance at his wristwatch.

"Yeah, I sorta woke up earlier than my alarm and figured I might as well stay up and get an early start on the day." Bash explained. There was no point in telling him about the nightmare that kept him up since he was already going to a shrink regularly and his father and Valerie would just make a big deal about it. "I didn't know you were home."

Bash hoped the change of subject would deter any further questioning. It seemed to have worked since his father's suspicious demeanor relaxed.

"Yeah, I needed to come home and get a few things and figured I'd might as well get some sleep in my bed for a change." Bill said with an amused smile. "Come on down and get some breakfast."

Bash nodded and made his way down the tall staircase. Bill tried to meet him halfway and help him down but Bash waved him off.

The table did not have a big spread but Bash was fine with that. He did not feel much like eating anyway so a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee felt sufficient enough.

Not long after everyone got situated did Robbie come down to the kitchen, showered and wearing the school uniform as well. Unlike Bash, he opted for the blazer and gray slacks and the black tie remained untightened around his neck.

"Well look who decided to grace us with his presence." Robbie said as he made his way around the table to an available seat. "For a while I was beginning to think I no longer had a dad."

"Sorry about that, bud." Bill apologized to him. "You know how busy work can get."

"Yeah I know." Robbie muttered as he grabbed a bowl and poured cereal and milk in it. "So what brings you home?"

"I had a bit of downtime so I decided to spend it at home and relax before going back."

"And how long are you going to be gone this time?" Robbie asked, his tone becoming a bit condescending towards his father.

Bill appeared to notice the tone as well and eyed his youngest warily.

"Robbie! That's enough." Valerie warned her son.

"What? It was a fair question." Robbie casually shrugged his shoulders. "The man comes around for like what? A few hours? Has us alter our plans and then doesn't show up for days. I just want a heads up when he's going to show up again so I can keep that day open."

Bill looked guiltily at his son. He knows he can't be mad at him. What Robbie said was true and he cannot punish him for that.

"Robbie you are way out of line!" Valerie glared at her son. "You cannot talk to your father like that."

"It's okay, Val." Bill calmly intervened between the two. He turned his attention to Robbie. "You are absolutely right, bud. That is a fair question and one I wish I can answer. Curt and I are working on something and it is going to keep us busy for a while."

Robbie proceeded to respond by rolling his eyes and scoffed at his father.

"Since I'm here now, why don't I take you boys to school, yeah?" Bill suggested. "We can talk and catch up on anything I missed."

"Not really much to catch up on, dad." Robbie sighed and took a bite of his cereal. "I went to school. Went to practice and hung out with my friends. Nothing special."

"Well, when you say it like that." Bill joked but Robbie remained unamused.

"Look, it's fine. Ryan is picking me up anyways." Robbie responded after glancing at his buzzing phone and got up from his seat. "We got an early practice today and I need to head out if we want to make it in time."

"Okay, I'll take you and Bash, then." Bill got up as well. Robbie looked surprised by his father's action. "Illithya is on my way to work."

"Ryan's already waiting downstairs for me. I gotta go." Robbie said but Bill was not backing down."

"Then call up Ryan and tell him he can go on ahead without you." Bill calmly replied and gathered his suitcase from the countertop. Robbie tried to argue but Bill raised a hand to stop him. "You are going to see Ryan and your friends no matter what. I want to spend a little time with my boys."

Looking annoyed, Ryan pulled out his phone and texted Ryan.

Bill turned to Bash. "Are you ready to go?"

Bash nodded and placed his spoon into the empty bowl and got up from the table.

Valerie walked with them to the elevator and bid them farewell for the day.

xXx

xXx

Bill rarely ever parked in the Penthouse garage. He preferred to park his car on the street in front of the building for a quicker departure when he needed to get back to work.

Exiting the elevator to the lobby, the three men were greeted by the building's doorman when they passed by him sitting at his desk to get to the front door.

When they stepped out into the chilly New York morning, they were not only greeted with a busy sidewalk of people heading to work but also the unexpected presence of Ryan Rappaport.

The Rappaports gained their immense fortune through the oil and steel and with that money, used it to gain position in politics with generations of Rappaports becoming members of congress. Ryan's own father is currently the Mayor of New York while his uncle is a State Senator. Much like his family, Ryan was no doubt expected to do the same.

Ryan Rappaport, the third, is Robbie's best friend. The friendship between the two going on for as long as Bash could remember, and co-leader of their clique with Robbie. Like any popular teen at Illithya, Ryan checked all the boxes. He was handsome and clean-cut, smart, charming and charismatic and athletic that earned him the title of team captain for the basketball and football team. He is the model All-American boy.

However, there was another side to Ryan that most do not get to see. The mean, arrogant and manipulative side of Ryan that Bash has witnessed from time to time in and out of school. Because of his popularity at school and well-known family, Ryan has come to think of himself as superior to most people. If he were to get into trouble, he would either charm his way out or if it was serious enough, his family would pay it off and sweep it under the rug, not wanting to tarnish their son's reputation or worse, their own. Without being held accountable for his actions, Bash could see how Ryan would get that superiority complex and shudder at the thought of a person like that gaining a position in politics or even in their business.

When Ryan saw them walking towards him, he quickly stood up straight from leaning against his expensive-looking car and slipped his phone into the pocket of his school blazer and walked up to meet them.

If there was one person that made Ryan nervous, it was Bill and the proof is right in front of Bash as he observed the interaction. Unlike most people, Bill could see through Ryan's Eddie Haskell-like behavior but does not know how far it goes. Like all of the other adults, Ryan sucks up to Bill and acts nothing short of a good kid in his presence.

"Good morning Mr. Mercer." Ryan said rather too enthusiastically and focused his attention on the older man and held out his hand. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm doing fine, Ryan. Thank you." Bill greeted and reluctantly shook Ryan's hand with a hardy shake. "I don't mean to be rude but may I ask what you are doing here?"

"Oh, well…the basketball team is having an early practice and Robbie wanted me to give him a lift to school." Ryan was nervously explained to a frowning Bill.

"Uh-huh, he told me that as well and I told him to text you that I was going to take him instead." Bill said in return. This time, he turned his gaze to Robbie who was glaring back at Bill and arms crossed on his chest.

"I already told you, dad, I am going to get a ride with Ryan to school."

"And I already told you that I was going to take you, son." Bill answered back. His voice became louder and commanding. He turned his gaze back to Ryan to speak to him. "Ryan, I'm sorry that you came all this way but I'll take my son to school."

"Uh…" Ryan's worried eyes flitted back and forth between Robbie and Bill. He did not want to irritate his friend's father any more than he already appeared and slowly backed away to his car. "Yeah, it's no problem, Mr. Mercer. I better head to school. I'll see you at practice Robbie."

Bash watched Ryan get into his car and drive off down the busy street in the direction of their school.

Robbie turned to face Bill. His angry expression focused on his father who did not seem phased by the look he was receiving and intact looked just as angry as well.

"Come on, we better get going if you want to get to practice on time." Bill responded and led the way to his parked car.

Robbie huffed and rolled his eyes before following Bill and Bash.

Bash was about to head into the backseat but Robbie cut in front of him right before he got to the door. He knew Robbie was pissed but he must have been even more than Bash thought if he was willing to sit in the backseat.

"You sure you don't want to sit in the front seat?" Bash asked Robbie but he did not respond to the question. He had already put in his earbuds and the muffled sound of music could be heard coming from them.

Bill opened the passenger door for Bash and helped him into the car and closed the door.

Once they were all in the car, Bill pulled out of his parking spot and merged into the flowing traffic.

The ride to school was quiet and awkward. After the argument that ensued in front of their building, it seemed like nobody wanted to talk to each other. Robbie remained quiet and listened to his music while facing the window in the backseat. Meanwhile, Bill kept glancing back at Robbie from the rearview mirror. Obviously, he wanted to talk to him but Robbie needed his space.

Bill slowed at the gate where cars entered and exited the school grounds.

The flow of traffic was not bad since it was before school hours and the only people coming through were faculty members and the few students that had to be on campus early.

Bill stopped the car in front of the gymnasium and turned around to Robbie, hoping to speak to him but Robbie was already opening the door and exited the car before Bill could utter a word.

Bill did not try to stop him, there was no point and just sighed and sunk back into his seat.

"I don't know if you know this but Robbie has a game on Saturday." Bash said to Bill after a few moments of silence. His dad turned to him, looking mildly surprised at the comment. "Maybe, if you can take time off work and watch him play, he might appreciate it if you showed up."

Bash was by no means trying to help Robbie and Bill. He just hated the tension that they bring with them.

"I didn't know." Bill sighed in disappointment. "Is it that obvious there's something wrong? I feel like I don't know him anymore and when I try to get involved he just pushes away."

"He's adjusted to your absence." Bash told him bluntly. It would do no help to beat around the bush and Bash was not the kind of person to do so in the first place. Bill does spend too much time at work and he needs to know that it is affecting his relationship with his family. "We all have. It's become more unusual to see you at home than not, Bill."

Bash can tell Bill was having a tough time listening to him but it was the truth and he needed to hear it. Bill has been absent for so long that everyone has learned to live their lives without him. Bash and Valerie have an easier time but Robbie, for some reason, keeps holding out some kind of hope that Bill would actually keep his promises.

"My father was the same." A guilty-looking Bill said to Bash. "He was always working, even when he was home. He would even use birthday parties as a way to mingle with clients and potential partners then he would try to have a say in how I should live my life and I hated him for that."

Bash never got the chance to meet William Sr. before the man passed away but after listening to everything he's heard about the man, he considers himself lucky. Controlling, domineering, manipulative, scary. All those words were used to describe his dearly departed grandfather. Bash was not surprised that this is the same man that revealed to his mother that Bill was already engaged to Valerie just so they would break up and Bill would have to marry whom William picked for him.

"I told myself that I was never going to be like him and yet I am following his footsteps." Bill chuckled at the self-deprecation.

"You're not that bad, yet. There is still some hope for you." Bash joked with his dad, getting a small chuckle from the older man. "Admitting the problem is the first step to recovery."

"Why aren't you as mad as Robbie is at me?" Bill asked, looking genuinely curious at his eldest son. "Doesn't my absence bother you as well?"

Bash shrugged his shoulders. "It does but I guess...it's because I lived most of my life without you that it doesn't affect me as much as it does to Robbie."

"That still doesn't make me sound like a good father." Bill responded. "I wasn't there for you in the beginning."

"You're here now. That counts for a lot ." Bash replied back. "And I don't blame you for not being there at first. You didn't know."

Bill nodded his head a few times. He was not expecting Bash to be this understanding considering how Robbie reacted. It was a nice break from feeling like a constant failure to his family.

"Hey, I better head on out as well. I have to head to the newspaper club to finalize the last minute touches on the next issue of the school paper."

Bash opened the door and was about to step out when Bill stopped him.

"I can drive you closer to the building if you want." Bill suggested to him. "It's a bit of a long walk."

"It's fine, Bill. I need the walk anyway." Bash said and carefully stepped out of the car and got his cane that Bill handed to him. "It's therapeutic."

Bill was reluctant but agreed to let his son do what he wanted.

The two said their farewells and Bash waited until his father drove off before crossing the grassy knoll to get to the one of many buildings of this overpriced school.

The exclusive Illithya preparatory school is about as old as New York itself and while the school has certainly modernized since the school's inauguration in the 17th century, Illithya maintains its original colonial georgian architecture style that made you feel like you were attending an Ivy League college. Bash considers that one of the few redeeming qualities of this school. That and the fact that attending this fine institution all but guarantees acceptance to an Ivy League institution.

It was not only the children of the rich and powerful that attended the prep school. The school has created a merit-based scholarship program funded by the parents of the institution to take in students that do not have the means to attend Illithya Prep. The scholarship is not exclusive to the states either and has extended the scholarship internationally. Knowing that a genius future Nobel prize winner could be born anywhere in the world, the scholarship can be acquired by anyone under the age of eighteen, so long as they meet the requirements to earn the scholarship. It seems like a generous offer that the parents themselves fund thousands of their own money for these children but in truth, it is an investment so that one day they can boastfully claim they helped pave the way for a future doctor that cures cancer or a future President or Captain of Industry of some kind.

The school was not all bad. The food was fantastic and their supplies and equipment was constantly updated with the latest versions so the students will always feel they are up to date on everything they need to have the best education. Nothing but the best for the future movers and shakers of the world.

The school also offered a wide variety of extracurricular activities to choose from. From debate and student government to culture clubs and the various forms of fine and performing arts, the school also offers things like internships and part-time jobs, usually they are positions within the businesses belonging to parents of the students.

The school's athletics club, of course, has the most students due to its wide range of sports to choose through. It had the usual, swimming baseball football soccer and the reigning sport of Illithya Prep, basketball. Then it also offered sports that were not so usual in a regular school, like fencing and rowing and horseback riding.

Bash was never much of an athlete himself, being average at best and that was before his injuries. After his accident, doing simple physical education was a big no-no for him and PE became his own personal study hall on the bleachers while everyone else got their daily dose of exercise.

Robbie on the other hand, is a star athlete. Captain of both the basketball and baseball team, he also plays on the football team with his friends.

Like Robbie, Bash chose an extracurricular that he was good at. Journalism. Unlike athletics though, Journalism was not exactly a thriving club. The funding for clubs gets funneled into the popular ones, with sports getting top priority.

The Journalism club was barely hanging on when he joined. There were only a few students that signed up for it but the club's advisor and Bash's English teacher, Mr. Hanford, was dedicated to keeping it going. However, that could not keep the club from nearly getting axed until Hanford agreed to take in the yearbook club as well to double the attendance and the funds.

Having worked as a freelance journalist for years before getting a teaching degree and settling down and getting a more stable job at Illithya, Hanford had a lot of experience and Bash thought of him as an excellent mentor. Unfortunately, advising a school paper at a posh exclusive private school is not the most fulfilling job but it does pay the bills.

Hanford was impressed with Bash's past work at his old high school along with his experience and even more so when he learned of his mother that he decided to make him club president. A move that was not a hard choice to make.

Like every morning before school hours, Hanford was in the club's room overlooking the various articles that were going to be featured in the next issue.

"This paper is looking good Blackwell." Hanford said without looking up from the mock-up draft. "I really like how you dumbed down the politics for these laymens."

Amongst the population of this prestigious establishment of academia, it is in Bash Blackwell that Mr. Hanford confides his contempt for the privileged future leaders of the world.

As well as the job pays, Mr. Hanford does not believe it is enough to deal with the entitled students who bribe and even threaten with job termination if the targeted teacher or faculty member does not comply with the students demands. It really sucks when a school is controlled by the students and their parents money.

"You'd think that with half the school's population has parents in politics, they would know a thing or two about what's going on." Bash sat down on the chair opposite of Hanford. "I really overestimated their knowledge on that last issue and everything just went over their heads."

"Well, this issue should get them to understand better." Hanford smiled and carefully placed the draft on his desk.

"So, I have a favor to ask." The teacher said and lazily leaned back into the creaking seat.

This was a normal occurrence, being asked for favors. While there are more than enough club members to do what needed to be done, especially with merging with the yearbook club, Hanford still relied on Bash to handle a few more extra jobs for the club. It wasn't a big deal to him, Bash enjoyed doing more work for the club. It was a bit of relief to all the coddling he got from his other teachers who see him as fragile and don't want to upset his father by giving him too much work.

Hanford was not like the other teachers. He did not coddle Bash and gave him the same workload as any of his other students and even challenged him with extra credit work that Bash gladly took on. For that, Hanford earned Bash's respect and part of that was agreeing to the favors he was asked to do.

"Sure, what do you need me to do?" Bash asked without question.

"Jimmy's out with mono and he was supposed to take photos of the clubs this week. I need you and your trusty camera to take over and do the job."

"Aren't club photos supposed to be done near the ending of the school year?" Bash asked before he agreed to the job that he was, of course, going to take. It might be yearbook business but he was willing to take the job.

"It's what the Boosters want." Hanford sighed and shook his head. "They say its a goal or whatever but truthfully, it's their way of making sure their kids have proof that they participated in something so it can be added to their college applications."

Bash knew that was true. Already, the various clubs have seen a small decrease in participants. With club pictures being taken, it is likely that the clubs will see even more of a decrease in attendance.

"You'll get to take half of the day off." Hanford proposed as an enticing benefit.

"Fine. Fine I'll do it." Bash sighed as if he was agreeing with reluctance to do the job. "With all of this extra work, I should be getting paid but then you wouldn't be able to afford me and what would you do?"

"Well...I'd fire you and get another who is willing to do the work free of charge because they will get a glowing recommendation for a few decent newspaper outlets that I happen to have a few ties to people that work there."

"Oh...yeah…" Bash mumbled as he got up from his seat. "Just let me get my camera ready and I'll head over to the auditorium."

"Good man." Hanford approved of the initiative Bash was taking. "Are you going to need any help getting the equipment across campus?"

"No, it's fine." Bash shook his head and collected his things. "I like to maintain what little independence I have left so I do not feel completely helpless and dependent."

"Ah." Hanford nodded in response. "Well, if it gets to being too much, let me know."

"Aw, I did not know you cared." Bash playfully mocked as he made his way to the door. "See you later."

Hanford gave him a wave while returning to the school paper he unfolded once again.

Getting to skip a few classes to do what he likes. So far for a Monday, it is not going so bad.

xXx

xXx

"What happened?" Bill said as he tried to contain his anxious excitement he felt driving all the way to the building. A few hours. He was only gone for a few hours and something big had happened. Not long after Bill dropped off the boys at school, he received an urgent call from Curt that came from the lab's private phone number. He was about to chastise the man for not heading home and getting some rest like he strongly advised when he heard the reason Curt called him, he was glad he stayed.

The symbiote had broken out of its containment.

As soon as he heard that, Bill began to rush over but Curt, who looked ecstatic more than freaked out like Bill, told him that he already managed to contain the alien in another tank.

As relieved as he was that the alien had not escaped beyond the lab's storage, Bill still drove as fast as he could through the morning traffic to get to the building.

Curt told him he had major news and that he needed to get to the building immediately.

Bill couldn't even imagine what that meant but if the excited sound of Curt's voice over the phone was any indication of the situation, it was something to look forward to when he arrived at the company.

The building was not busy when he arrived. Just the morning security patrolling the floors and a few early morning employees trying to get a jump on the day. A few "good mornings" and "Hellos" to those that passed him by as he fast walked toward the elevators to get to the lab.

Once the elevator doors opened on the desired floor, Bill jogged the rest of the way to the lab that he and Curt used for their special projects. Unlocking the door by pressing the code into the digital keypad that turned green and unlocked the door.

Opening the door, Bill took notice that the lights were off and tables were covered with files scattered all over the surfaces. Curt was obviously looking for something in the files and was too busy to turn on the lights, leaving only a desk light as the source of illumination for the room.

On the other side of the lab, Curt was hovering between one of the lab's computers and scrolling through security footage.

"Well, if I did not know any better, I would guess that the symbiote managed to find a weak spot in the container." Curt said as he typed in passwords to allow access and finally show the recorded footage from within the room of shelved projects.

Bill glanced at the broken container that housed the alien and could indeed see dents within where the symbiote had struck. The tungsten steel had done its job with only a few dents inside the container but it was the plate glass that was not strong enough.

He could not figure out how this could have happened. The container was an exact replica Of Carlton Drakes. He followed the man's instruction when creating his own container but it seems that it still was not enough.

What confounded him was the aliens sudden burst of activity while it was inside of its containment. Outside, it was being observed with a test animal, it was fairly active, only slithered toward the animal and back to its container after the test was over. Inside the container though, it remained unmoving. Bill had added his own bits to the containers blueprints which included a feature to freeze the alien while inside the container to keep it from attempting to break out of its container while not being monitored by him or Curt Connors.

For it to be active while being frozen is impossible. It's been working for over a year now so why did it suddenly stop?

Bill watched the alien break through the plate glass and slither out. It was amazing and even a bit frightening to see what the alien does without knowingly being watched. It slithered around on the floor for a bit. If Bill did not know any better, he could have sworn it was observing the surroundings and every once in a while a part of it would lift up from the puddle of black goo and latch onto something and slither around before leaving it alone.

"Amazing." Bill muttered in awe at the symbiote's awareness.

"I was thinking the same thing." Curt said with a smile as he watched the footage with Bill.

Bill and Curt watched closely as the symbiote slithered onto the shelves of unfinished projects and slithered onto the objects only to slink away when it was done.

Then, it stopped at one of the terrariums that housed one of his and Curt's other shelved projects: Genetically enhanced spiders.

It was a promising idea. Spiders have amazing abilities that would be beneficial to the medical world. They even solved the Decay Rate Algorithm to make cross-species genetics possible and were so sure of their work, they even tested the serum they created on a willing volunteer.

Unfortunately, the tests proved only successful with other animals and not humans. Bill had never felt so horrible the man's death, despite volunteering on his own volition, Bill still felt responsible.

Curt was more disappointed that the experiment did not work and was determined to resolve the formula in a way to work for humans. Sometimes, Bill wondered if he should have included Curt in on this project. The scientist was getting far too invested into a project that might never be successful to humans and he could see it was driving Curt mad each time a test had failed.

Then again, they would not have gotten as far as they have without Curt's help and Bill could not just remove him from the project. Not after all the hard work and time spent on the project. He could not do that to his friend and tried different avenues for this project, hence the alien they were currently looking at.

Amy's intel from Dora Skirth had proven very useful and Bill could already see the usage of this alien symbiote. He knew it would be difficult to study something so novel to him but it would be equally informative and a life changing revelation that not only was there life in outer space but that very life has properties that can be used to evolve their modern medicine.

What he did not realize was how dangerous the lifeform was when he got it. He had read Carlton Drake's notes and watched the video logs but nothing could prepare Bill for what he witnessed when they first examined the life form.

As many tests as they have done with the alien, they still knew so little of the formless creature other than it was a parasite and carnivorous, making even the most docile rabbit they used a dangerous meat eater when temporarily bonded together.

Bill was hesitant to continue the project with the alien and was keen on giving it to his acquaintance, Nick Fury, but he would never hear the end of it from Curt who believed that the alien was the key to solving the problem with their experiment.

Curt was taking this project a little too personal for Bill's liking but he was still sympathetic to the scientist. He too would look for a solution to regrow limbs if he lost them.

"Do you see what it's doing?" Curt asked Bill, returning the man from his thoughts. Bill looked back at the screen to see the symbiote slithering around until it had found the mesh top where it dripped like liquid into the terrarium and attacked the spiders.

"What the fuck…" Bill muttered and moved in closer to the screen as Curt zoomed in on the footage as they watched the spiders scurrying and rolling around the terrarium as the black goo latched onto them.

Like a tidal wave, the alien spread out through the terrarium, covering the four walls as it consumed the spiders that scurried around their confines to find salvation from the overpowering black goo.

It felt like an eternity before something else happened. Bill and Curt stood anxiously waiting to see what the symbiote had done.

I hope it didn't ruin millions of dollars of research, Bill thought to himself if the alien had destroyed the spiders. He knew it could be fiercely aggressive and very smart and assumed that the alien knows what it is doing.

Finally, the black goo that covered the entire terrarium trickled down and revealed the carcasses of all of the spiders housed within, except for one.

One spider remained alive but not unscathed. The once a small blue and red arachnid was now twice as big and even more fascinating, was black with white eyes.

"Did it…did it just…"

"Successfully bond with a host?" Curt completed Bill's question with a wide smile on his normally stoic face. "Yes, it did."

"How long did it last?" Bill asked another question. He had so many about this new development. This has never happened before when tested with the other animals and he had to know what Curt has already seen.

Curt Connors turned away from the screen to look at Bill.

"It's still happening." He said, his smile growing bigger as he told Bill the news. "And there are no signs of decaying."

"What!" Bill exclaimed, wide eyed with excitement as Curt switched to the live feed that now focused on the black spider.

At this point of bonding, the host and the symbiote would have already begun to show regressive signs as the symbiote slowly kills its host the longer they remain bonded. However, to hear that the bond is still going strong is amazing news to hear.

The spider was hiding in the fauna of the terrarium, remaining still and quiet within the shadows of the leaves.

Curt zoomed in on the terrarium to get a better look at the altered spider. The body appeared smooth, like liquid, similar to the symbiote. The white eyes had changed shape as well. Like the body, the eyes appeared fluid-like and shaped similar to a distorted cats eye.

When the camera zoomed in a little closer, the spider reared back in defense. Clearly, it did not like being watched.

"How strong is the glass?" Bill asked. The symbiote alone managed to break through the tempered glass of it's tank, Bill did not know if it would hold the symbiote now that it was bonded to a host.

"Don't worry, I already secured the terrarium." Curt reached into his pocket and pulled out a small remote. "I placed a device that emits waves of high frequency around the lab and the terrarium."

Bill nodded his head, remembering Drake's notes on the alien's weaknesses. High frequency sounds was listed as one but he and Curt had yet to try and test it.

Curt pressed a button on the remote in his hand. Immediately, the spider reacted to the high frequency sound. The spider trembled and scurried around the terrarium as if it was in pain.

"The frequency can even cause the bond to break from the host." Curt informed Bill. Sure enough, Bill could see his spider underneath the black goo.

"Well, let's stop so that they can remain bonded for testing." a worried Bill replied, not wanting anything to go wrong now that it seems some progress has been made. Curt obliged and pressed the button again to turn off the device.

The spider quickly relaxed before shooting a string of black webbing onto the tree branch in it's terrarium and climbed up.

"Even the webbing changed." Bill watched in marvel at what the spider had become. "The bonding has changed the spider's webbing."

"Can you imagine what else it changed?" Curt asked him. Spinning the chair he was on, Curt turned to face Bill. "So, when do you want to inform Ross?"

"General Ross?" Bill asked with confusion. "Inform him about what? This?"

"Yes this." Curt chuckled. "I mean, now we can resume trials now that we—"

"Trials?!" Bill exclaimed at the incredulous statement that came from Curt. "Are you sleep deprived? You know we cannot possibly do trials this soon. We just barely discovered this and now you want to tell an outside party and begin trials? We have procedures, you know this, Curt." He should, Curt came up with these procedures. "We have to monitor the subject to see for any changes before we even think about doing trials and certainly before we go and talk about things with outsiders. Ross doesn't even know about the alien."

"Then who have you been talking about it too?" Curt asked defensively.

The question caught Bill off guard. How did Curt know he was talking with someone else.

"Have you been eavesdropping?" Bill accused his colleague. He did not know what to think about this. Curt has never been like this before but ever since the alien has been in their possession, Curt has become a different person.

Curt had a tendency to be a little suspicious and very protective of their work, which surprised Bill that Curt wanted to do a reveal to General Ross at such an early stage in their progress. It was not like Curt to be this way to break his own rules.

"Have you been talking to other people about our projects?" Curt repeated the question. Bill could see the anger in the man's bespeckled eyes.

Bill had to admit that Curt was not wrong. He was, in fact, talking to someone in secret about the symbiote. It was not for financial gain, as Curt might be assuming. With their main objective of protecting the world from dangerous forces, the organization did not want to profit from his work but to keep tabs on the alien and be reported on anything interesting.

"That is none of your concern, Curt." Bill shot back, not wanting to speak anymore on the matter.

"It is when my time and my effort has been used for profit without my knowledge!" Curt snapped at Bill. The scientist jumped up from his chair, standing as tall as Bill.

"You are not the only one that has been working on this project." Bill stepped closer to Curt. "I have been in this lab by your side. I spent a fortune to acquire the alien!" Bill's nostrils flared as heavy breaths were exhaled out of them and his voice got louder with every word he uttered. "Amy died because of me! Bash almost died because of me! He is crippled because of me and on top of that, I have to lie to him every time he asks about that night. I have to lie and tell him about the car accident he was in that never even happened to shield him from the truth!"

Bill could feel a headache from the strain of furrowing his brow but he could not relax them. His anger and outburst was still so fresh within him that he had to walk away from Curt.

"Curt, you are becoming far too obsessed with this project." Bill said as calmly as he could. He glanced at Curt, seeing a confused look on the scientist's face. "I think you need to take a step back."

"What?" Curt hissed.

Bill shook his head. "You are taking this project far too personally. You are not thinking rationally, friend."

"Why?" Curt snapped. His dark tired eyes glaring angrily behind his glasses. "I'm irrational because...because I want to help the world and share in this amazing find that can put us at the top?! I can make a cure-all for everyone?"

Bill blinked his shocked eyes at his friend. "Because you are willing to break every rule you have made in order to "save the world" and potentially put everyone, including my company, at risk. And let's be real for a moment, this isn't about saving the world anymore. Not for you. This is about trying to get back what you lost."

Curt looked down at his missing arm. Bill knew for some time now that Curt was doing this more for himself. Bill did not mind at first because it was being done with every precaution they had to ensure safety. After the one and only human trial with the genetically enhanced spider venom, he did not want another tragedy on his hand again and with the spider and the alien symbiote together, he has no idea how the reaction could go. Carlton Drake went through so many human lives while testing what this alien is capable of doing. Bill was determined not to go down that route and Curt was too, in the beginning but he can see now that Curt and Drake might not be so different. Carlton Drake was after all a star pupil of Curt's and was his assistant here in the Science Division.

"All the more reason I should be doing all I can." Curt said in a calm but cold voice. Looking back up, Bill could see the austere expression on his face. "This is my motivation. And I'm not the only one who lost something as well. What about Bash?"

Bill's gaze hardened at the sound of his son's name coming from Curt. He did not like the way Curt brought Bash into this conversation.

"Bash is never going to fully heal, not with today's medical procedures. Not even Dr. Strange was able to repair the trauma Bash sustained from that night, and he is regarded as a Master of the medical field. Modern science is not going to help him." Curt pointed to the computer screen where the upgraded spider took refuge in the bit of foliage in it's terrarium. "This amazing creature is the next step in modern medicine. It can heal your son. Don't you want that?"

Bill could feel his jaw clenching tightly. Of course he wanted that. Why wouldn't he want that? Every time he saw Bash, Bill was plagued with guilt. He did this to his son. Bash got caught in the crossfire and his life has been forever changed.

"As much as I wanted to help my boy and evolve the medical world, I am not going to do that with reckless behavior." Bill said strongly. It was tough for him to say and a tough choice to make but he knew it was the right one to make.

It was Bill's turn to point at the spider in the screen. "We have no idea what it could do to people without extensive tests and trials. This bond is completely unprecedented and an entirely new project. We are literally going to have to go back to the square one on this."

Curt however, looked positively livid at Bill's decision. "Then what are you going to tell Ross? He's expecting a progress report on the project soon."

"If Ross truly wants our help, he is going to have to wait." Bill growled, irritated that Curt was trying every reason to fast track this project and make it a top priority. "As for this project, I am indefinitely halting further work on it. We need to take a step back."

A laugh escaped the scientist's smiling mouth as he held his hand to his stomach as if he heard a funny joke.

"Good one Bill." He smugly chuckled. "We have a lot of work ahead of us if you want to start from scratch."

Bill remained stoic and unmoving. "It wasn't a jest, Curt. And I want you to take a sabbatical. I don't want you in this building for next two weeks."

Curt's smile immediately dropped as the growing anger came out in a sudden burst of him swiping the contents of the table onto the floor.

Bill blinked in shock at his long time friend's outburst. The calm and often quiet Curt Connors has always been a composed man. This was not the same man Bill knew and respected. A man that he has given so much power and authority in the company. He did not recognize this Curt Connors.

Curt stood still for a moment before bending over and began to pick up the scattered folders and papers from the floor.

"Leave the paperwork here." Bill ordered.

Curt paused his cleaning before dropping what he collected back onto the floor. Casually, he walked over to Bill.

"It's my work, Bill." He said slowly.

"Actually, it's Mercer Industries work." Bill corrected him. "As the owner of the company, the project and any work pertaining to it belong to me as well as the authority on what I do with it."

Curt scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Like kill the project? You said too much has been sacrificed to give up on it."

"I am not going to kill the project." Bill assured him. "But we need time away from it. We need to see if the bonding is still intact and a couple weeks to let it do so and after, if it's still a success then we'll resume the progress."

A long sigh escaped Curt's flared nostrils. He looked to be finally calming down now.

"It's got to work, Bill." He said quietly before leaving the room.

"I know." Bill said to himself. Curt doesn't see it but Bill wants this to work just as much as he does. "I hope so too.

xXx

xXx

"Alright, big smiles on the count of three. One...Two...Three…"

A quick flash of a bright light and the clicks of Bash's camera overtook the brief silence as the students before him posed motionless with awkward smiles while waiting for the go ahead to move.

"...and done. You are free to go."

The group of students that is the Film Club began to move around and talk with each other and stretch their limbs as if they had not moved in forever before departing to their next class or, most likely, ditch the rest of the day. The school day was nearly over anyway.

Bash still had a club to do before finally completing the task his teacher gave him. What turned into a half day project turned into a whole day. He had to wait for students (that forgot they were in said clubs) to come to the photo shoot or had to take multiple photos because certain students did not like how the pictures came out and demanded a reshoot.

Honestly, just because you take constant selfies doesn't make you a photography expert. If Bash was not so sure of his photography skills, he would have taken their criticism to heart.

It was tiresome but at least he got the day off from classes. Nothing like a day away from teachers more concerned with catering to the whims of the wealthy students and their High-Class parents then actually being educators that are actually trying to teach their students something.

"Thank God it's nearly over." He said to himself while changing the film out.

"Were we really that bad?" came a sudden but familiar voice. Looking up, Bash caught the surprising honestly stunning vision of Gwen Stacy standing by him in the school's cheerleader uniform. Her golden hair pulled back in a perfect ponytail instead of her usual down hairstyle. She even parted from the black headband he has been accustomed to seeing her wear. Since their meeting at his father's company, Bash has been noticing Gwen more and more around school as well as in the classes they share. They have not talked since the initial introduction but they have given each other the occasional smile and wave.

However, today he has seen Gwen multiple times as she got her picture taken. As it turns out, Gwen Stacy is a member of quite a few clubs at the school.

"You know, if you're going to change your outfit to disguise yourself from me, you need to do a better job than just a cheerleader's uniform." He joked. "You don't need to be ashamed of being in a lot of clubs, by the way. So you're a nerd, big deal."

"Ha-ha," she replied snarkily and rolled her eyes. "Extracurriculars look good on scholarships so I joined one or two."

"Or four." Bash added. "Let see, Debate. Science. Mathletes and now Cheerleading."

"Well well well, look who's keeping track." Gwen responded coyly. "You looked so busy I didn't think you noticed me."

"Of course I did!" The words came out quicker than Bash anticipated and they were certainly not the words he meant to say out loud. "I mean...I saw you through the lens and all. So anyway—" he cleared his throat and attempted to change the subject. "How do you manage your time with four clubs, school and an internship?"

"Dr. Connors is really accommodating." Gwen answered him. "He understands how competitive colleges are nowadays and a well rounded application looks impressive to Ivy-League colleges."

"I did not realize that Columbia or Empire State holds cheerleading in such high regard along with Math and Science." Bash chuckled and placed the new roll of film into his camera, getting a small laugh from Gwen as well. "I have to admit, I didn't peg you as a cheerleader."

"Yeah, me neither." Gwen sighed. "I tried out on a whim because my friends wanted me to join with them. As it turns out, I have a mean back flip."

Bash gave her an impressed look. Gwen was full of surprises.

"So, how did you get into photography?" She asked him as she took a seat on the quad grass beside him.

"I used to mess around with my mom's camera. This camera, actually." He raised the Yashica electro brand camera in his hands. "I'd sneak off with it and take pictures of random stuff. Eventually, my mom found the photos and was impressed with what she found so she gave me the camera. Since then, I've been using it to participate in photo contests and uncovering the truth for newspaper articles."

"And taking school club photos too." Gwen added.

Bash nodded with a crooked smile. "For today, that is my task. Here."

Bash held the camera out for Gwen to take. She gingerly took the camera and examined it.

"It's a nice camera." she complimented the device before raising it to her eye and held it at the ready to take a photo, aiming the lens at Bash.

"Come on, give me a smile." Gwen requested.

Quickly, Bash put a small closed mouth smile on his face just in time for the flash to go off after Gwen snapped the photo of him.

"Not bad." Gwen said as she handed the camera back to Bash. "You should have smiled a bit more."

"Well, I prefer to be the man behind the camera." Bash informed her. Just like Gwen, he raised the camera to his eye toward her. "Besides, I'm not much of a smiler. Why don't you show me what I should have done?"

A shy grin gradually widened on Gwen's pink lips. "I don't know. I don't want you to waste your film on me."

"I have plenty of film and taking one photo isn't wasteful. Not compared to all the other retakes I had to do all day." He informed her.

"Fine." She gave an overly dramatic sigh and feigned reluctance. "Don't make me look ugly."

"Impossible." Bash replied back to her while he focused the camera. "Tilt your head just a little to the left and relax your shoulders a bit more."

Gwen did as she was told and Bash gave her a nod to show she did what he wanted.

"Okay, smile for me." he instructed her to do.

Bash had to admit, Gwen was very photogenic. Her sweet smile was so genuine, even when it was on command. Her pose felt so natural as well, despite being told what to do. He could definitely see her being a model if she ever wanted to change her vocation.

They both remained still as the clicks filled the silence before Bash lowered the camera from his face.

"Done." He announced. "I have to say, the camera really likes you."

"Really?" She questioned, looking unconvinced at the compliment. "I hate getting my picture taken. From fourth grade all through middle school, I had braces and these embarrassingly big glasses that made me look ridiculous in every picture I took."

"Oh it could not have been that bad." Bash chuckled. There was no way that this girl could look anything less than beautiful.

"Oh, it was." Gwen scoffed at the comment. "Thankfully, my braces got taken off the summer before Freshman year and I begged my parents to get me contacts before I started attending here."

"You didn't start your schooling here?" Bash asked her. It was rare that a student at Illithya did not begin their education here. If you were a legacy, a student with an alumnus for a relative, then you basically had your name already written down for acceptance since the day you were born.

Gwen shook her head. "I'm here on a scholarship. I attended a Midtown middle school school before coming here and applied for the scholarship they offer."

"Okay, now you're just showing off." Bash laughed. He was indeed impressed with Gwen's and her accomplishments. "Now you're telling me you're managing to maintain this school's scholarship while doing four extracurriculars and interning with Connors? Are you even a real person? You're not a robot are you or using a time-turner device to manage your time or something?"

Gwen laughed along with Bash. She had a really lovely laugh.

"I'm not a robot nor am I Hermione Granger." She responded back. "I managed to get ahead in most of my subjects so I have a couple of free periods to work on my homework which gives me time to do after-school activities and work alongside Dr. Connors. It's easy once you manage your time."

Bash can see why Connors chose Gwen for his intern. Despite being a High School student, she has an impressive resumé as well as organized and has her priorities sorted and to top it all off, she is so smart.

"Well, keep it up. You got a lot going for you and it's going to take you places." Bash complimented Gwen.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Gwen responded with a smile.

"Gwen!" they heard two voices call out in unison.

Looking over to their right, the two pairs of eyes found two cheerleaders heading their way; Liz Allen and Felicia Hardy.

Liz Allen was one of the popular girls at Illithya and Robbie's on again off again girlfriend. Honestly, he has never seen two people break up and get back together as much as these two that it cannot be decided if they should just remain broken up or just stay together. Liz can play the part of the pretty dumb blonde trope pretty well but Bash has observed her in their classes and can see that she is actually a very intelligent girl. Why she does that, he will never know. Like the majority of the popular group she hangs with, Liz is mean to the general population of the school with a superiority complex used to hide her insecurities and belittle everyone else that is not in her clique.

Felicia Hardy was hands down the most gorgeous girl at Illithya Prep and even worse she knew it. She flounced around the school like she is God's gift to those around her. The truth is, she is as vain and superficial as she is beautiful.

"Gwen, there you are!" An exasperated Felicia Hardy said and wrapped her arms around Gwen's neck in an embrace. "You were supposed to wait for us in the locker room so we can walk together."

"Well, if you two were there on time then you would have seen me." Gwen replied.

"I'm sorry, love," Felicia gave Gwen a quick squeeze with her wrapped arms. "Ryan and Robbie saw us on our way over and stopped to chat a little. You know, if you had a boyfriend you would do the same. Honestly, you need one or two to lighten you up a bit."

"I don't need a boyfriend." Gwen emphasized on the word "need". "Certainly not two and anyways, I am too busy for a relationship."

"Then drop something." Liz suggested. "You are doing so much already and barely have a social life. Do you know how many guys want to date you? A lot, but you are too busy to see that."

Bash could not believe what he was hearing. Gwen's friends were actually encouraging her to give up on her extracurriculars for boys and more social time with them. For a girl that is smart, Gwen certainly did not know how to pick good friends.

"Boys are not going to get me into a good college." Gwen responded to her friends' comments with an amused head shake.

"The right boy will." Felicia said and wiggled her perfectly manicured eyebrow.

Gwen gasped and smacked her friend's arm. "Felicia!"

"What? It's true! Sometimes it's who you know rather than what you know."

"Well, I want to be acknowledged for what I know."

Bash could not help but smile at Gwen's response. He had to admit he was surprised that she did not even agree with her friends. He assumed the Hive Mentality was strong within their group but he can see that some can think for themselves and have a different opinion.

"Good for you." he muttered out loud. His eyes quickly widened when he realized he said it out loud and unfortunately, the three girls heard him and turned to him.

"Excuse me? Were you listening to our conversation?" Felicia asked him with a snarky tone.

"Excuse me? Did you not see there was another person here? If this was a private conversation you might want to pick someplace other than the Quad to chat about such important matters." Bash snapped back. Felicia gave him a livid look. She obviously has never been talked to like this and did not like it one bit.

Gwen tried to calm Felicia down but the dark haired girl ignored her friend and walked toward Bash.

"Who are you?" She asked him with an attitude and crossed her arms on her chest.

"That's Robbie's brother, Sylvestor." Liz answered. Bash shook his head and sighed. As much as he hated being recognized by his father and especially his brother, he hated being called the wrong name and by someone who clearly knows his name. Mostly it was a power move done by the adults his father socialized with and he had to take it. However, he did not have to take it from their kids.

"It's Bash." Gwen correctly answered, obviously trying to ease the tension. "Bash Blackwell, and he's taking our picture."

"Bash? That's your name?" Felicia scoffed. "What parent gives their child a name like that?"

That really irked Bash. He did not like people bad-mouthing his mother.

"Friends call me Bash." Bash responded to the girls coldly as he glared at them, giving Gwen a slightly longer glare. "You can call me Sebastian, like everyone else."

Felicia was looking more offended by the second because Bash was not treating her like everyone else.

"Looks like everyone is here." Bash said, taking a quick glance at the growing crowd of cheerleaders near the school's name. "You three better head on over."

Felicia rolled her eyes at him before walking away, her tied-back black hair dancing as she walked off. Liz quickly followed, leaving just Bash and Gwen in an awkward silence.

"Bash—I—"

"Hey, it's fine. You should probably head over with your friends so we can get this picture taken." Bash said with a quick smile before looking back at his camera he fiddled with in his hand.

Gwen remained in her place for a moment. Bash assumed she was waiting for him to say something or she was going to say something in return but nothing else was said between them. Looking down at the ground, he could see her clean white cheerleading shoes turn and walk away.

Bash let out a sigh in disappointment. He thought Gwen was different from his other fellow classmates and while she tried to apologize on their behalf, the fact is, she did not stop them. He was all too familiar with the scenario as he sees it all the time in the school; the privileged rich kids getting excuses after excuses for their rude behavior by their parents and even members of the staff so that there is no reprimand for the student.

When he was done fiddling with the camera, Bash limped over to the group of cheerleaders and directed them where to stand and pose. Felicia and Liz gave him a glare when he separated them to opposite sides of the group but they obliged nonetheless. Gwen remained silent and complicit to what instructions he gave her.

When the photos were taken and the group dispersed, Bash packed up his belongings and got ready to leave for the day. As he packed his camera, he caught a glimpse of Gwen walking with her friends. Felicia and Liz were chatting with each other while Gwen silently followed.

As if feeling his gaze on her, Gwen turned around and momentarily caught Bash's glance before he turned away.

He did not know why it bothered him so much about Gwen. She was no different than his other classmates and yet her actions bothered him the most.

Even when he returned home his mind was still lingering on the encounter, distracting him from his homework that took him hours to finish his work before he put the assignments away and walked to his dark room.

Bill wanted to accommodate Bash as much as possible when he permanently moved in. One such thing was renovating one of the many rooms into a dark room for him. It was a generous gesture that Bash truly appreciated.

As he developed the photos in the darkroom, he thought he finally got his mind off of Gwen Stacy until he found the photo he took of her. The photo was swaying in the solution from side to side after he removed the tongs, Gwen's face becoming clearer the more it remained exposed.

It was a great photo, he had to admit. It was not just how he took the photo but how photogenic she is. He could understand why people like Robbie and Felicia and Liz and all the rest recruited Gwen to be in their exclusive clique, despite being a scholarship student. She was pretty, just like them. With a beauty that rivals Felicia's and add that she is smart and fun to talk to, Gwen was absorbed into the exclusive conglomerate that is their group of friends without hesitation.

Bash thought that maybe, just maybe, he found a potential friend in a school filled with superficial centric students but he was wrong.

Bash shook his head of any further thoughts on the subject plaguing his mind. He found it ridiculous on his part to continue pondering any thoughts on his fellow classmates, especially Gwen Stacy.

A rumble in his stomach gave Bash the indication that he missed dinner and a glance at the time on his phone screen confirmed that he did in fact miss the meal. Not only that, he has been in his darkroom for six hours judging by the time.

Six hours! Did I really spend six hours thinking about all that?! Bash thought to himself, feeling disappointed in himself for caring so much.

Walking down the long dark hallway, Bash caught a glimpse of light streaming from Bill's office. Strange. Noone aside from Bill is allowed in there and he did not think his father would return back home after being called in by Dr. Connors. Going to work was akin to being sucked into a black hole for a few days before being spat out.

Moving closer to the room, Bash could hear two distinct voices. One was indeed his father's while the second he recognized belonged to Dr. Connors.

"You can't do this, Bill! You haven't even given yourself twenty-four hours to mull things over before making this decision."

"I can and I am." Bash heard his father's exasperated voice say to Dr. Connors. Getting a better look through the small crack between the door and the doorway, Bash could see his father sitting at his desk while Dr. Connors on the opposite side standing with his back facing him. "I know you don't see it this way but I am doing this for your own good. Your name and standing will be tarnished if you keep going down this path."

"You're right, I don't see it that way." Dr. Connors said with a sharp tone. He was angry at whatever Bill did. "From my perspective, it looks like you're taking all of my hard work and giving it to someone else to complete. Do you really think I am going to just let you do that willingly?"

Bash had never seen Dr. Connors so angry. The scientist has always been a man of calm composure that it was jarring to Bash to hear him speak in such a manner, especially to Bill.

"No, I didn't think you would." Bill responded calmly while his stern grey eyes remained fixed on Dr. Connors' burning glare. "I expect you to trust my decisions as you have for over a decade."

"Well, not anymore!" Dr. Connors angrily spat. "I have let you call the shots on every project. I have had to deal with your decisions. I have had to watch you shelve revolutionary projects because of some hurdle you refuse to jump over."

"Those hurdles were safety risks, Curt!" Bill retorted with a raised voice. He was clearly getting more and more irritated by Dr. Connors' argument. "I am not going to let you tarnish the company's name just because you want to make an impossible project work." Bill calmed down when he let out what he needed to say.

This is strange to hear. Bash always thought of Dr. Connors as a man of utmost caution. He would never be reckless with his work.

Heaving a big sigh, Bill regained his composure before continuing his explanation. "I don't want you to tarnish your name either. You are my friend, Curt. I also don't want you to lose yourself in a vain attempt to make Project Hybrid work."

Project Hybrid? Bash remembered that name from the file he could not make heads or tails of when he skimmed through it. It was times like this he wished he was a genius so he could have understood the notes. Whatever it was, it has Dr. Connors compelled in such a way that it worried Bill enough to take his best scientist off of the project and give it to someone else.

"That is not for you to decide, Bill." Curt said quietly, though his voice still had as much anger in it. "What I do with my life is none of your concern. If I want to tarnish it because I want to better the world with the discovery we have made then so be it."

Bill sat there silently, staring at his colleague with his disappointed grey eyes before closing them. It was evident that Connors was not going to back down and Bill could not either.

Standing up from his dark brown leather desk chair, Bill opened his eyes that glared back at Dr. Connors.

"You are absolutely right, Curt. What you do with your life is not for me to decide but what is done with my projects, does in fact fall under my decision. Including Project Hybrid. As it is the property of Mercer Industries, I, the owner and holder of the most shares of the company have the right to make any decision for every project stamped with the Mercer Industries logo. Even to shelf them if I deem them unsafe."

Bash could not see his face but he knew from the stiff trembling body that Dr. Connors was fuming with anger. What Bill said did not calm the man down in the least and now, he was revving for another round of the argument.

"Well, I am not going to let you do that to Project Hybrid." Dr. Connors said with a calm trembling voice. Swiftly, the doctor swung his arm to his side and brought it back out with a pistol gripped tightly in his hand and pointed it at the dumbfounded Bill.

Bash was just as shocked as Bill. His eyes stared wide-eyed and frightened as he remained silent as he watched a good man threaten his dad.

"Oh Curt, what are you doing?" Bill said in a quiet voice and a disappointed look on his face.

"What I should have done a long time ago." Curt muttered. "I knew you wouldn't have the stomach to continue this project. Once I watched Drake's video logs, I knew you would shelf the project once you realized you would have to compromise your morals in order to progress the work needed to make this a success. Just like you did with the spiders."

"Forgive me for not wanting the deaths of people on my conscious." Bill countered. For a man with a gun pointed at him, he was very calm. "How selfish of me to put the lives of others before a dangerous project with a low success rate."

Bash felt helpless. He did not know what to do. Should he intervene? Curt isn't a violent man, despite what is happening right now. He could probably get spooked and accidentally shoot the gun anyway.

No, Bash had to do something else.

Call the police! Yes, call the police! Bash reached into his pockets but to his horror, he could not feel his phone anywhere on his person. Goddammit! I left it in the darkroom!

Bash did not know what to do at this point. He did not want to leave his father but he also needed to go and get help.

"Where is it?" Dr. Connors asked him. "Where is Project Hybrid?"

"It's back at the building." Bill replied only for Dr. Connors to shake his head.

"You're lying, Bill." he chuckled. "I have security cameras recording the lab twenty-four seven. I saw you remove the container from the lab. Your home is the only other place you feel safe enough to place it other than Mercer Industries. Where is it?"

Bill made no indication to move, even as Dr. Connors continued to point his handgun at him.

"You really think I am going to give it to you after this?" Bill asked his friend as he shook his head. "Curt...you have truly lost it. This project is not worth all of this."

The soft click of the hammer from the handgun told Bill and a hidden Bash otherwise. Dr. Connors straightened his arm and continued to point it at Bill's chest.

"Yes, it is." Dr. Connors voice still filled with anger but the trembling as he spoke told Bash that this is not what he wanted this to come to. But there is no going back from this. "You don't know what it's like...to lose something important…and after years and years of searching for the solution the missing piece is finally found only for that to be taken as well!"

"This is not how you get what you want, Curt!" Bill exclaimed. "I know you're distraught. I know you have been looking for a way to regrow your arm but Project Hybrid is just too dangerous right now and you are being unstable. Look at you!"

Regrow his arm? Is that what Project Hybrid does?! Holy shit! Bash could see why Dr. Connors is acting the way he is. A discovery like this would be revolutionary and those that made the discovery would certainly be remembered in history.

"You are acting just like Carlton Drake." Bill continued to say. "He had little regard for human life so long as he succeeded in what he was doing."

"Well, he was my protegé." Dr. Connors shrugged his shoulders. "He knew that sometimes, in order to accomplish the impossible, you have to get your hands a little dirty. I too thought he was a mad man but I realize that it is what's needed to succeed and I am willing to do that now. So Bill, tell me where the specimen is or I shoot."

Bill shook his head. "No."

"Fine. Since you're adamant about this, how about I raise the stakes. I shoot you then I shoot Bash. Will that be enough for you to hand over the specimen?"

Bill was stunned at the words that came out of Dr. Connors mouth. Not as much as Bash who felt his heart pounding in his chest when he heard his name.

"You leave him out of this!" Bill snarled. Any composure he had was gone now that his son was being threatened. "Bash has nothing to do with this!"

"He's been listening for a while now." Dr. Connors said to Bill. "So now he's involved. Come on out, Bash."

Bash felt like he was paralyzed. All he could do was stare through the door crack and watch Dr. Connors walk to the door and opened it wider for Bill to see that Curt was telling the truth.

Bash felt himself being shoved into the office by Dr. Connors until he was in the middle of the room and this time, he was the one with the gun pointed at him.

Bill looked worried and panicked as he stared at his scared son. He was helpless now.

"I'm sorry, dad." Bash managed to say. He was so scared he could barely keep a hold of his emotions.

"Don't be, son. This is my fault." Bill apologized in return. Returning his glare back at Curt. "You want the project so bad you are willing to harm an innocent boy?"

"It's not like it hasn't happened before. Am I right, Bill?" Curt sneered.

"Shut your mouth!" Bill exclaimed with a murderous glare. He took a step toward Curt and Bash only for the scientist to press the barrel of the handgun against Bash's head and immediately halted moving any further.

"Get. The. Specimen. Now!" Curt commanded.

Bill was in no shape to argue with Curt. Defeated, he walked to the wall of bookcases and pulled down six random books. Only, they were not random. As it turns out, they are the passcode that unlatches the bookcase to open and revealed a vault door hidden away. Bash would be impressed by this if he wasn't petrified at the situation.

Bill walked to the vault door and reluctantly placed a hand on the scanner and opened his eye for the retinal scanner. A light flashed green to indicate they gained access and Bill walked in.

Bash did not like being left alone with Dr. Connors. Even in the short distance between him and his father. With a gun pressed against the back of his head, this had to be the most uncomfortable he felt in a long time.

After a tense few moments that felt like a lifetime, Bill soon came back carrying a fairly large terrarium in his hands. Within the terrarium, Bash saw a large black spider scurrying on the bottom.

This is it? This is Project Hybrid? A spider held the key to regrow body parts?

None of this made sense to Bash but he was also not a scientist so he could not judge the field for their strange discoveries.

"How are you going to take the terrarium, Curt?" Bill snidely asked. "You need at least two hands to carry it and you are already busy holding my boy hostage."

Dr. Connors did not appreciate the slight jab toward him but it was a justifiable question.

"You are going to take it to my car in the garage." Curt coldly responded. "Do everything I say, don't tell the cops anything when I leave, I'll let you go."

He's lying. Bash thought to himself. Dr. Connors pulled a gun on them, held them hostage and is now stealing a seemingly highly dangerous project. There is no way he is going to let them live after doing this and he certainly does not trust them to not call the authorities on him once he is gone. Curt Connors is not going to let us go.

Turning around, Bash ducked underneath Curt's gun arm and rammed into his chest, causing the two to fall to the ground. Bash was very much scared of the situation he and Bill are in and how he found the courage to do what he did, he'll never know.

The handgun was knocked from Curt's grasp, falling to the hardwood floor with a loud thud and slid a few feet from their tangled bodies.

Bill saw what had happened and ran toward the handgun only to be tripped by Curt's outstretched leg. He fell head first and so hard his head bounced back up with a pained and dazed expression as he tried to get up.

"DAD!" Bash yelled as he watched his father get hurt.

Bash scurried as fast as he could to the gun but Dr. Connors was just as persistent and for a man with only one arm, he was still a good fighter. Even years after being discharged from the army, the doctor seemingly still kept up with his hand-to-hand combat training.

Squirming like his life depended on it, Bash managed to break from the constricting embrace and lunged his body painfully on the hardwood floor. Efforts were not in vain as he felt the cold metal of the handgun on his fingertips.

Yes! Yes, I have it! I just need to— "GAHH!" A sharp pain coursed through his chest where Dr. Connors kicked him so hard he was gasping for air that was knocked out of him.

Hunched over in pain, Bash fell to his side as he started to feel the air return to him. The shock of the painful impact still paralyzed him as he helplessly watched Dr. Connors take the handgun back.

"You idiot!" He bellowed and pointed the gun at Bash. His eyes were a mixture of anger and craze as he looked down at Bash. "You stupid little boy! Don't you know I am trying to help you?! If it wasn't for your father you would be—"

Dr. Connors was immediately silenced by Bill's charging body that rammed into him. Both men stumbled around the room as they grappled with each other for the gun. Dr. Connors kept his arm raised high with Bill using one arm to lower it down while keeping his other wrapped around the scientist's throat.

A shot rang through the room. Bash felt a momentary loss of hearing from the gunshot. Everything around him was muffled by the incessant ringing that seemed to never stop.

Bill stepped back, a hand pressed firmly against his upper arm where blood gradually spread down the white sleeve of his shirt.

Curt on the other hand, looked shocked at what he had done. The man stared stunned at Bill for the accidental firing.

"Dad!" Bash bellowed. His voice sounded so low and muffled that he did not know if Bill could hear him.

Bill either was unfazed by the gunshot or he was powered by the adrenaline coursing through his body, he lunged at a stunned Curt Connors.

Bill and Curt were still wrestling for dominance over each other. Bash could not hear them but he could see they were talking to each other.

Curt was no longer pointing the gun at either Bash nor Bill but at something that was behind Bill before he charged at him. Curt managed to turn Bill around to show him what he was pointing at.

What they were looking at caused Bill to stop what he was doing. Both men were frozen as they stared in shock.

Bash glanced over as well, wanting to see what caused both men to stop their fighting and to his utmost horror, saw the most frightening sight of his life.

The bullet that grazed Bill's arm did not slow down the least bit after it made contact with his flesh and ended up getting stuck in the worst place imaginable. Of all the places in the office, the bullet had to get stuck in the glass of the terrarium.

Bash was already uncomfortable with spiders, even with a glass barrier between them but seeing this palm-sized black spider frantically breaking through the weakened glass with it's long sharp legs flailing through the hole was nightmare-inducing.

Bash remained petrified as he watched the horrid spider try to break through the glass and indeed he could see cracks forming around the bullet hole as it continued to attempt to escape.

Suddenly, the spider stopped and backed away from the glass wall. It appeared docile, for a moment. Then it began trembling and the trembling turned to a sudden violent spasm that knocked the spider on its back, it's disgusting legs jerking in every direction. As all of this was happening, the three men watched as the sleek blackness of the spider slid off of its body like a shiny black puddle, revealing a smaller pale grey body of a normal looking spider that was gradually calming as life died out of it.

The sleek black puddle continued to move away from the dead carcass of the spider it left behind and to the men's horror, it poured itself out of the bullet hole and on the hardwood floor. Like a snake, it slithered on the floor toward the three men.

"Let me go!" Curt Connors hissed gleefully as he struggled to get out Bill's grasp. "Let me go! It needs a host or it will die!"

"Are you insane? You'll die!" Bill replied as he struggled to keep Curt away from the goo coming toward them. "Bash…Bash, get up now!"

Bash could not move his body, as much as he tried. His mind and his body were not in sync so all he could do was watch in fear as the black goo continued to come closer to him.

Finally, he felt himself scooting back and tried to get up and run but he fell when a sharp pain shot through his leg. He did not realize he twisted his ankle from the fall until now.

Before he could react, Bash saw the goo lunge at him, hitting him in the center of his chest with enough force to knock him back onto the floor.

"AHHHH!" Bash panicked as he looked down at the goo moving on his chest. He tried to wipe it off but it kept coming back and to his horror, began to grow on his torso. "Dad! Help me! Please, get it off me!"

Bill tossed Curt against the wall, knocking the man out before he hit the floor. Bill slid to the ground picking up his son. He looked just as panicked and completely lost on what to do and in his desperate attempt to get the liquid off Bash, he placed a hand on his son's chest in hopes the alien would go to him. However before Bill's hand made contact, the goo absorbed itself into Bash's body, making itself unreachable in its retreat.

Bill's frightened eyes found Bash's terrified gaze, the two stared at each other in a tense silence.

"Bash...son... it's going to be okay, alright?" Bill calmly assured his son, his words coming out slow as he spoke. He did not want to frighten his already scared son but he knew action needed to be taken. Quickly, he took a flip phone that Bash knew was not his father's real phone from his pocket. Could it possibly be a burner phone? "How are you feeling?"

Bash nodded and sat himself up to a sitting position. He sat still for a moment, trying to feel if anything was different.

"I feel...fine." He replied to Bill. "Really fine, actually."

Bill gave his son a confused look after hearing the answer.

"You feel fine?"

Bash nodded. "Yeah, I do. I feel really good. I don't have any pain in my—"

The rest of the sentence was abruptly cut-off when a sudden sensation of tenseness overcame Bash that soon resulted in his body becoming stiff and incapable of moving. No matter how hard he tried, he could not move a limb.

What the fuck is going on?! He could feel himself panic again. Why can't I move my body? I...I'm trying to move my arm...a finger at least but my body is not receiving the message! Bash turned his frightened gaze to his father. Bill was frightened as well as he held his son.

"Bash, what's wrong?" Bill said hastily. He was beginning to panic as he observed his son's strange behavior.

Bash could not answer him, as much as he tried his mouth would not open. He could not even make a grunt to respond to his father.

A sudden jolt rippled through his body, then another and another all in rapid uncontrollable succession.

"Bash!" Bill yelped as he held on to his son's convulsing body and turned him on his side. "NO NO NO! Son, can you hear me?!"

Bash did not know what was happening to him but he could feel the goo moving around inside of him, spreading throughout his body. His limbs were suddenly moving on their own, contorting at odd angles and his body squirmed and writhed around on the floor.

"DAD!" Bash managed to cry out after finally gaining a semblance of control. "What's happening?! I can't control my—" THUD

The last thing Bash saw was his father watching him in hel-+pless horror before his head snapped to the ceiling and his body crumpled to the ground. His head was swimming from the impact of the fall and his body felt limp and heavy as he tried to move them.

"Finally, a worthy human body." Bash heard a strange almost demonic voice as he began to lose consciousness. "Yes, you will do nicely. Now...sleep."

Bash's eyelids never felt as heavy as they did now. As much as he tried, he could not fight the sudden fatigue washing over him. He did not want to close his eyes. He was afraid of what might happen if he closed them. Would he ever open them again?

And what was that voice? That terrifying demonic voice he heard? Where was it coming from?

These questions lingered as he fell deeper into the black void that was consuming him. If he does wake up, maybe these questions will be answered. Bash could only hope.

xXx

xXx

So, like the title of this chapter, I decided to escalate things a lot faster than I initially planned. This is mostly due to how long I took to get this chapter posted. I do apologize for that, by the way. This chapter went through so many alterations that it looks nothing like what I originally planned for it and while it might seem a bit rushed, which I hate doing with my stories, I am satisfied with it nonetheless as I can now move forward with the story.

Originally, I was not going to have Bash bond with Venom until the next chapter but as I kept typing out the confrontation between Dr. Connors and Bill, I saw an opportunity to have Bash bond with the symbiote and took it.

I also did not plan on Curt being an antagonist, at least not this soon but again, an opportunity popped up and I had to take it. By the way, I use the term antagonist pretty loosely to describe Curt Connors position in the story. Everything I have seen and read about Curt Connors makes him out to be a more complicated character. Ambition can be both a great and terrible thing to have and Curt's ambition to harness the power of the symbiote managed to cloud even the most common sense that what he was doing was wrong.

As for the school bit, I know it was small but I will focus more on it in future chapters. Bash's relationships with his classmates is pretty important to this story while he is in High School. Since he is a Junior, the High School arc might be a while to get through, unless I need to shorten it for some reason.

That's all I have to say for now. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and keep a look-out for the next one.