The Invincible Spider-Man
Chapter 30: The Cost of Secrets
Peter stood there, gripping his mask tightly, unsure of what to say to Gwen. Gwen didn't know what to say to Peter either, as her head was swirling with questions.
Gwen walked up to Peter, and hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder. They both sat down on the couch.
"W-why?" Asked Gwen, tearfully.
Peter sighed. "I got bit by a radioactive spider at Oscorp. When I got these powers, all I wanted was to be noticed. I took part in an underground wrestling ring, and beat the champion. Then, I got cheated out of a cash prize. The man who cheated me got robbed, and I let that robber escape to get revenge. That same robber…was the man who killed Uncle Ben." Said Peter, his voice breaking a bit.
"Oh my god." Whispered Gwen.
"He told me that with great power comes great responsibility, and I decided to dedicate my life to using these powers to protect New York, and make sure no one else loses anyone they care about like I did." Said Peter, determination in his voice as his eyes welled up, as he remembered his uncle.
"I really think what you're doing is noble, I really do, but you're only 16!" Countered Gwen.
"I also have the proportionate strength and speed of a spider, so I'm much stronger than the average teenager." Replied Peter.
"Yeah but…what about side effects? What if you start eating flies, or grow 4 extra limbs? What about your cells and DNA being damaged by the radiation?" Asked Gwen.
"Gwen…it's been three years since I got bitten. I think that would've happened a long time back." Countered Peter.
"Again, you're only 16. I mean, so what if you can stop a bus with your bare hands, or lift 102 times your weight? You're not bulletproof, and the people you're going up against are dangerous. They don't care that you're just a kid, they will kill you. And if they find out who you are, if they can trace anything back to you, it's basically an invitation to these monsters." Said Gwen.
"I know, Gwen. But I can protect myself. Besides, the city needs me. You won't see the Avengers fighting Shocker or The Lizard." Countered Peter.
"What if you get fatally wounded? Your powers aren't unlimited." Said Gwen.
"Look, I've been shot before and nothing happ-"
"YOU'VE BEEN SHOT?!" Exclaimed Gwen, in terror.
"Okay, no I didn't mean it that way. I'm just saying that I'm doing something the police can't!" Said Peter.
Gwen sighed heavily, and shuddered a little.
"It's just…I lost my father to these super-criminals. I don't want to lose you too." Said Gwen, lowering her voice as she held Peter's hand.
"Believe me, you won't." Said Peter, reassuringly. Both stared at each other for a while.
"All units, we have an assault in progress. Location is underneath the train tracks in Harlem." Said Peter's police scanner.
"I…need to go." Said Peter, standing up and putting on his mask. Gwen slowly nodded as Peter approached the window.
"Be careful." She said.
"I will." Said Spider-Man, jumping out of the window and swinging towards Harlem.
Mac got off the phone with J Jonah Jameson, a worried expression on his face.
"Tombstone, sir. We have an issue." Said Mac.
"How so?" Asked Tombstone, who was fixing his suit and tie, looking at the glass window of his office, which overlooked New York.
"The Daily Bugle is sending a reporter and a photographer here tomorrow to write an article on the rivalry between Tricorp and Oscorp. I tried refusing but the editor shouted so loud I couldn't here myself think." Said Mac.
"That's perfect." Said Tombstone. Mac raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"If we can make Tricorp look like a picture-perfect, non-shady corporation, it will throw off suspicion in case they manage to trace anything back to us." Said Tombstone. "Also, we have another issue." Said Tombstone.
"What is it?" Asked Mac.
"Are you aware of Doctor Otto Octavius? It has come to my notice that he has retrieved some Oscorp Project, which he wishes to perfect." Said Tombstone.
"How is that related to our plan?" Asked Mac, confused.
"Let me paint you a picture. Imagine if Otto, is somehow persuaded to parade his project to many people…and then, hypothetically…something goes wrong? It would put Oscorp under a bad light, further ruining their already, not-so-spotless reputation. Especially why the new CEO, Alistair Smythe even considered giving the equipment to an ex-Oscorp employee." Explained Tombstone.
"So…you want to sabotage the experiment?" Asked Mac.
"Precisely, but what's the point if there aren't any witnesses? We need to somehow convince Octavius to at least bring a group of people to watch his demonstration. If people get injured, it would just be a bonus." Said Tombstone.
"You can leave the convincing to me. Also, I have contacted a person who can…exterminate the Spider." Informed Mac. "A man calling himself Sergei Kravinoff."
"Keep him on hold for now." Said Tombstone. "If Spider-Man interferes again, then we call the guy." Said Tombstone, snickering as he admired the view from his office. At this point, New York being under his control wasn't just a possibility.
It was an inevitability.
It was a holiday from school that day, which was good since Peter didn't know what he'd say to Gwen when he saw her. Besides, it was time for him to head to Tricorp.
"Hey May. I'm heading to Tricorp for the Bugle, I'll see you later!" Said Peter as he approached the door.
"Be back on time, Peter!" May called out, as Peter left. He put on his Spider-Man suit and swung towards Tricorp, when he got a call from Harry.
"Hey Harry, what's up?" Asked Peter.
"Pete, listen. All of us are planning to go meet Flash on Sunday tomorrow, he's staying with his grandmother. I was hoping you would come." Said Harry.
"Of course. Just text me the address, I'll be there." Said Peter, gripping the phone tightly so he doesn't drop it. He remembered how when he started out as Spider-Man, and he dropped his old phone from a height. He shook his head, chuckling as he swung to Tricorp.
"Hey, I'm here!" Said Peter, panting as approached Ned.
"I literally came here like 3 seconds ago, where'd you come from?" Chuckled Ned.
"Call it great timing. Shall we head in?" Asked Peter, as both of them entered through the sliding glass doors. There were many employees going up and down the escalators, as Peter and Ned approached the receptionist.
"Ned Leeds and Peter Parker, from The Daily Bugle. We're here to see Mr Lincoln." Said Ned.
The receptionist nodded. "Mr Lincoln is a little busy right now, so he will see you in about 30 minutes in the Conference Room on the 33rd floor." She informed.
"Ooookay. Guess we'll wait." Said Ned.
This was a great opportunity for Peter to find out if Tricorp was connected to Rhino. "Um, excuse me? Can I use the restroom real quick?" Asked Peter.
"Level 12 has a washroom." Said the receptionist, gesturing to the elevators.
"Got it. Thank you." Said Peter, hurrying to the elevator.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that Lincoln's office is on the top floor." Thought Peter, as he pressed the button for Floor 78, so as to not make the other employees in the elevator suspicious.
When the elevator opened up, Peter walked out and started looking for an air vent. "A building this big would definitely be using one vent system for a range of floors." Thought Peter.
"Voila!" He thought, after spotting an air vent in the corner of the corridor. Floor 78 wasn't as packed with people, so Peter stealthily took off the cover and snuck in.
"Just need to keep moving up…" Thought Peter. The vents were a maze, and Peter kept running into dead ends. All of a sudden, he heard a voice.
"Sir, I have to say that your plan is a little…unorthodox. I mean, I've already perfected the second exoskeleton. I don't see why we need to attack Oscorp, let alone sabotage a person…" Said the man.
"Mason, you lack forethought. Oscorp runs this city's technology. Taking it out will tighten our grasp on New York." Said Tombstone.
Peter concentrated his senses, trying to locate where the sound was coming from, and using his senses to navigate the maze.
Eventually, he reached another end of the vent-maze. This air vent was closer to the ceiling of a large room. Peter spied on a shorter, skinnier man as he conversed with a larger, pale man with sharp teeth.
"Tombstone. But who is the second guy? And what "second exoskeleton" are they talking about? A second Rhino?" Thought Peter.
"Yes sir. But, we need another subject to test the Scorpion armour." Said Mason.
"Okay, Phineas. Tell Mac to start looking for test subjects too." Said Tombstone, as Phineas left the room. Tombstone got a call.
"What? Right. Tell them to head to the Conference Room. I'll be there." Said Tombstone, as he left the room too. But before he could leave, Peter took out a Spider-Tracer and expertly flicked it on Tombstone's back through the iron vent cover.
"If Tombstone really is developing some Scorpion-like armour, there's no way in hell that it's in there. Wherever he is hiding it, I'll be able to find it now." Thought Peter, as he unscrewed the vent and hopped out.
"Ah, I can breathe again!" He said to himself, as he headed to Tombstone's desk. He switched on the computer, and saw all the files he needed.
"What's this…Jason Stryker MUTANT DNA? Mind manipulation? That must have been the DNA fused with the chemicals in Rhino's blood! Tombstone, or maybe the Phineas guy basically created a mind control serum using DNA from a mutant, with other chemicals to cause amnesia." Said Peter, shocked. "This is all the evidence I need!" He thought, heading back into the vents and straight to the conference room.
Meanwhile, Ned entered the Conference Room, only to see a huge albino man with sharp teeth sitting at a round table.
"Oh, I hope you're not unnerved by my appearance." Chuckled Tombstone. "I'm Lonnie Lincoln." He said, shaking Ned's hand who took a seat at the table.
"So, Mr Lincoln, my partner and I are here to ask you how you feel about your rivalry with Oscorp." Asked Ned, taking out a notepad. As soon as he asked that question, Peter walked in with a camera.
"Sorry I'm late, I was photographing the outside of the building." Lied Peter.
"No worries, come take a seat." Said Lonnie, gesturing for Peter to sit.
"Now where was I? Oh yes, we are in a competition, but I never view Oscorp as too much of a threat now that Norman Osborn is in jail. Alistair Smythe is a good person, and I don't view him as an enemy." Said Tombstone.
"Bullshit." Thought Peter, as Ned continued taking notes.
The interview went on, and Peter was impressed by how well Lonnie was covering up his lies.
"So, what inspired you to form Tricorp?" Asked Ned.
"Well, growing up I had a genetic disorder which made me look like what I am, so I was often shunned at my school. Children can be cruel, after all. So I always had this sort of…fire. That I wanted to be better." Explained Tombstone, as Peter discreetly scoffed.
"Well, this has been a great interview, Mr Lincoln. Thank you for accepting our request for an interview." Said Ned, shaking his hand.
"Of course! It was my pleasure." Said Lonnie, as he shook Peter's hand too.
"Great to meet you, Mr Lincoln." Said Peter, with a little conviction in his voice.
Peter and Ned both exited the building. It was almost 3 pm.
"I'd say that went pretty good. What'd you think?" Asked Ned.
"Went really well." Said Peter, as he synced his phone with his Spider-Tracer. Tombstone was still in the building.
That's when he got a call from Doctor Octavius.
"Oh hi, doctor." Said Peter.
"Peter, I have everything set up for the demonstration. I just need to tweak the equipment a bit, and I may need a little help with that." Said Otto.
"I'll be right over. Where's the address again?" Asked Peter.
"I'll send you the address. Thank you, Peter." Said Otto, as he texted Peter the address.
Peter entered the lab where Otto was working. On a huge table were 4 tentacles spread across. Otto was focusing on the wiring.
"Oh Peter, there you are!" Said Otto, rushing over.
"So this is OCK-8?"
"Yes! And I am this close to finally perfecting it. We already have the neural interface ready, but the electrical signals are taking a while to move along the tentacles." Said Otto.
"How does this connect to the brain anyways?" Asked Peter.
"It basically attaches itself to the spinal cord, thereby connecting to the basal ganglia of the brain. The neural interface is also connected to an inhibitor chip which helps to regulate control over the arms." Said Otto. "Mendel and I originally made this to handle fusion reactions back in the day." Explained Otto.
"Oh, so what do you wish to accomplish with this now?" Asked Peter.
"I just want to close that chapter of my life. I'm not lying when I say that I enjoyed working at Oscorp, for the most part. Then Norman murdered Mendel and then went to jail himself. This is my life's work and I don't want to leave it as unfinished business." Sighed Otto, staring at the arms.
"I understand, doc. This is gonna work." Reassured Peter, as Otto nodded. Peter walked over to examine the wiring in the tentacles.
"Hey doc? Did you try insulating the wires? That may help impulses move quicker from the spinal cord to the tentacles. Sort of like an artificial myelin sheath, like on neurons." Suggested Peter.
"That could work. That's a good idea, Peter." Said Otto.
"And I guess we could use a metal like Gallium for faster response time?" Asked Peter.
"Gallium could work really well. I'll try working on those things. I plan to finish this by next week." Said Otto.
"Fingers crossed." Said Peter.
Mac walked in Tombstone's office, with a look of disappointment.
"I couldn't find any test subjects for the Scorpion exoskeleton. No one fits the profile." Informed Mac.
"That's where you're wrong. Mac. I already know someone." Said Lonnie, sitting on his desk.
Mac raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"You, Mac. A soldier turned personal bodyguard. You would be perfect as The Scorpion. In control, and of sound mind and body." Said Tombstone.
"Are you sure about this?" Asked Mac.
"Yes. Now, look what we have here." Said Tombstone, as he took off the tracer planted on his back and put it on his desk.
"It looks like-"
"A GPS device. Someone planted it on me." Said Tombstone.
"Could it have been the reporter and the photographer?" Asked Mac, picking up the device and examining it.
"Not possible, they were in my line of sight the whole time. Send it to Mac, he can reverse-engineer it so we can find out who is tracking me. Could be an employee of Tricorp." Said Tombstone.
"Okay, also what about Otto Octavius?" Asked Tombstone.
"As Scorpion, you will find who wants to track us. Octavius comes next." Said Tombstone, grinning.
The flight had been delayed by 30 minutes, yet it had been an hour since the man arrived at the Switzerland Airport. He looked young, with black hair and a large suitcase.
"Switzerland Airways flight to San Francisco is now boarding, at Terminal B3." Said the PA announcement. The man got up, and walked briskly to the terminal, handing his boarding pass. He was wearing a white suit with light grey stripes, and his eyes were as cold as the Atlantic Ocean.
The man sat in the airplane as it took off. He'd only been on an airplane once, when his asshole of a father sent him away. Now, he had a score to settle.
He inconspicuously got up from his seat, and walked towards toilet, which was near the cockpit. While in the washroom, he put on a purple mask and snuck out of the washroom.
The flight crew was busy handing out snacks, so they were too busy to notice the man discreetly slip into the cockpit, with a gun.
He aimed the gun to the pilot's head, who gasped. The man also had a knife to the co-pilot's neck.
"I have a bomb on this aircraft. And if any one of you try anything stupid, such as contacting the authorities or resisting, this plane goes down. There are many children on this plane, and their untimely deaths will be on your hands." Said the man, in such a calm and collected voice, it was terrifying. Then, he pocketed the knife, and took out a small detonator.
"W-What do you want?" Asked the co-pilot.
"I want you to redirect this flight, tell the radar crew you wish to stop for fuel." Ordered the man.
"Where?" Asked the pilot, trembling with fear.
"New York City." Ordered the masked man.
The masked man snickered as he put the gun away.
"Anything stupid, and you'll die knowing you killed 300 people. That's more than Jack The Ripper." Said the man, walking out of the cockpit, back into the washroom and taking off his mask.
He walked back to his seat and opened the suitcase, which was empty. There was no bomb.
"Attention passengers, this is your Captain speaking. Due to having a very menial amount of reserve fuel, we will be making a quick pit stop at JFK Airport in New York City. We truly apologize for any inconvenience caused." Said the Captain, over the Passenger Announcement System.
The man chuckled and stared out the airplane window, looking at the clouds passing by.
Well, there's chapter 30! I have to say, I never expected this story to reach Chapter 30. Originally, I was planning on abandoning it after Chapter 3, but I decided to keep going! Tombstone is finally making his move and will Tinkerer find out where Spider-Man lives? And who exactly is this masked man? Read on to find out!
In other news, I finally finished Ghost of Tsushima, and wow it was amazing! Probably the best game I've played in 2020, unlike…*sigh* Joel…
I also played The Avengers Beta and it's honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. Gameplay is a little button mashy, but it's fun anyways and that's what matters most. I'm also going to start studying Psychoanalytic Deduction extensively, so wish me luck, haha.
BruceDianaWayne: I think Season 3 is the best time to let Gwen know about Peter, when he's 3 years into his life as Spider-Man. And maybe DC can step up and be as good as Marvel now. My dream is to have both the Marvel and DC Fandoms live in unity, haha.
Shawna1999: I wanted to make Peter actually be like one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe, just like he is in the comics. I wanted to add moments with Aunt May because she is an integral part in Peter's life and I really don't wanna undermine that. I never expected this story to blow up like this and every review helps to make me improve the story! Rollerparty has been giving me some constructive criticism to help me improve the story, and I am extremely grateful for that. And I got the idea to respond to reviews like this from redbird12, so all credit goes to him! Check out his story too: "The Extraordinary Spider-Man: Vol 1"and "Along Came a Spider-Man"
Spidey: That's why I like what Marvel has done with Flash right now, and that's honestly a really heartfelt moment.
Guest: Haha, I love adding cliffhangers! I hope her reaction was good enough though!
Valt: Gwen would obviously support Peter in his Spider-Endeavours, but she would also fear for his safety, especially since she lost her father to the same madmen that Peter fights on a daily basis.
redbird12: Thank you! And to answer your questions, I wanted Flash to be more than just a bully, and I wanted to make Rhino less of just a dumb brute, and instead give him a sympathetic backstory, so two birds with one stone, I guess. There was also an episode of Ultimate Spider-Man I had watched about 5 years ago where someone Flash knew became The Rhino, but I really don't remember lol. So far I have planned up till Season 5, and this may sound over-ambitious but hopefully at least 8 seasons, because there is so much you can adapt from the comics. As for a return from Daredevil, hmmmm…I may have an idea about that. My favourite DC movie and my favourite movie of all time is definitely Batman and Robin. It's just such a criminally underrated masterpiece and deserves much much more love! I mean, Mr Freeze is the funniest villain OF ALL TIME.
I'm kidding, obviously. My favourite DC film and favourite film of all time is The Dark Knight. It's just on a whole another level in terms of storytelling, characters, acting (obviously), cinematography and themes in general. And I'm also hoping you and humanspidertobey can continue ACaSM, haha.
Yours Truly,
Shadow Strike.