TWO

I just want to know the truth

Want to know the truth!

Broken home

All alone

*Broken Home-Papa Roach*

A dark cloud hung over Harry as he stood at his father's desk. His heart was black and vengeful. He ran his fingers over the sheaves of notes his father had laboriously prepared, the tasteful Poncetti inkwell and finally, his fingers rested upon the silver photo frame. It held a snapshot of him and Norman Osborn at his high school graduation. So long ago and yet it seemed to Harry, it happened just yesterday.

When you are grieving for a dead loved one, all of a sudden every faded memory become as clear as crystals. The sight of Spiderman carrying his father's limp and lifeless body tormented him every night he shut his eyes. The torment turned into an obsession. An obsession to destroy Spiderman. In his mind, his father's death must not go in vain and the perpetrator must be severely punished. *Everyone has a weak point,* Harry mused, *Spiderman will be sorry when I find out his*

"Mr. Osborn, you're wanted in the conference room immediately." A female voice crackled over the intercom.

"I'm on my way." Harry replied, sullenly. With his father's death, Harry has a new role to play in the vast Oscorp empire-a puppet prince. Just another guy to fill up the chair at board meetings.

* * * * * * * * * * *

He did not see her until he bumped straight into her. By then, it was too late. Sheaves of papers scattered all over the corridor. Realizing what he had just done, Harry quickly stooped down and helped her picked up the papers.

"Thanks." She said, glancing up at him.

For a moment, he was dumbstruck. The woman looked just like-

"Ma-Mary Jane?" Harry stammered.

The woman turned to face him, a quizzical look in her eyes. It was then that he got a closer look at her. Her hair was in a darker shade, almost burgundy. Her nose was sharper than Mary Jane's. *No, not MJ.* He thought, as he glanced at her nametag.

Emily Wakelin. Trainee researcher.

"I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else." Harry apologized.

"S'okay. I'm sorry I was such a klutz. My dad said that if an insurance company had to pay for every person I walked into, they'd go bankrupt in less than a year." Emily replied , jokingly

Harry laughed, "No, no. It was my fault. I should've looked where I was going."

"O.K. I think we should quit apologizing and introduce ourselves. Hi, I'm Emily." The woman said, extending her hand.

"I'm Harry."

"Harry? As in Harry Osborn's Harry?!" Emily asked, excitedly.

"Is there another Harry Osborn walking round here that I don't know about?"

Emily blushed, "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, I owe so much to Mr. Osborn. Without him, I doubt if I'd be here talking to you."

Harry's expression clouded over upon hearing his father's name.

"I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to-"

Harry waved away her apology, saying, "I'm glad someone appreciates my dad as much as I do." He glanced down at the sheet of paper he was holding.

~Recombinant DNA technology in scorpion neurotoxins~

"Sounds interesting." Harry said.

"It's a research I'm conducting. If it works, it will open up a whole new dimension in biological warfare." Emily quipped, "If you'd like, I can show you the progress I've made so far."

Harry glanced at his watch. He was going to be late for the meeting. *F- the meeting. Those old fogeys don't need me there anyway.* He thought.

"I'd love to." Harry smiled.

* * * * * * * * * *

"The DNA sequence coding for the neurotoxins produced by the scorpions is identified. Radioactive probes are then attached to the sequence and the sequence is cut by restriction endonucleases. These DNA sequences are then modified and incorporated into the genes of a virus, such as polioviruses, which specifically affect the human nervous system. In low doses, these viruses will temporarily paralyze the system but it can be lethal as well in high doses." Emily explained in gist her research to Harry.

"Of course, this sounds very good theoretically but practically, there's much to be done and the side effects have to be studied extensively." She added.

"Side effects?"

"It might occur that these genes would itself get incorporated into the human host genetic make-up." Emily said and paused.

"And then what happens?"

"Mutation will be likely and these people might become mutants." Emily added.

Harry was about to ask more questions when his cell started ringing. It was his secretary, asking him if he had decide to abandon the meeting altogether.

"I've got to go. Maybe we can meet again some other time to discuss this further." Harry said.

"I'd like that."