Chapter 3
Cutoff Date
"I've to ask one thing. Why the weird mask?" Brigadier General Theodore Pretsman asked Norman Osborn. He was from the army and today was the day that would make or break Oscorp. Osborn stood along with his scientists and waited for the word. The question about the suit's strange mask had thrown Osborn off slightly.
"Oh the mask." Osborn said. "Well that's something the design people came up with. You know being a battle suit and all. Well we thought to give it that little special touch. Something to say that we mean business and we know what this suit is used for."
"Well, it's certainly a menacing mask." Pretsman said as he studied the twisted and distorted features of the mask. It had large reflective yellow eyes, a gaping mouth that had a mesh in place so the flier wouldn't choke on debris. A tiny nose and very elongated cheek bones.
The suit was of the same color and the armor was composed of a complicated system of alloys which made the suit practically indestructible.
The glider was basically a curved piece of extremely light and flexible material with three engines built in. One to propel the glider and the other two for steering. It was controlled by a series pedals by the user to control speed, lift, and angle of turn.
"Goblin-esque" Pretsman said remarking on what the entire set-up looked like.
"Really?"
"Well that's one soldier's impression. What you have Osborn is just what we are looking for. Now what is the status of the ehancers."
"Ready for production." Osborn said with a gleaming smile. "As soon as you give the word we'll have it ready by the next training period."
"Now the enhancers haven't had any problems, have they."
"Not at all."
"Actually," Owens chimed in. Osborn looked at him in contempt but Owens look at the general. "We've had some cases were the specimens have experienced side effects."
"Side effects? Such as?"
"Paranoia, delusions, psychotic behavior in general, sir."
"What happened to the specimens that experienced this behavior?"
"The ones that did experience this behavior ending up killing the other speimens. It happened when we did it with mice."
"Can this be fixed?"
"It already has." Osborn declared. "As you know any trial has some difficulties. I assure you that this will not affect any soldiers."
Pretsman thought about what he just heard and quickly thought about the situation. He looked at Owens. "What is your name?"
"Doctor Oswald Owens, General." He said meekly
"Doctor Owens, what do you think we should do about these enhancers?"
"We should delay them." He said nervously. "Until we can prevent these type of side-effects."
Osborn suddenly felt that Owens had destroyed his chances in the company. "Now that's not necessary-"
"Really, Doctor Osborn. You see the army can't afford to have something they have spent billions on to cause it's own soldiers to kill and harm others. Now I'll be here for a couple more days in the city, checking out what the competition has. Contact me if you have any developments."
Pretsman picked up his hat and walked out of the lab. Everyone in the room was stunned as to what happened. Owens feared that Osborn was going to lash out at him. Osborn turned and glared at him before he quickly followed Pretsman out of the lab.
"General!, General!" Osborn called at him as he walked down the halls. "Can I have a word with you?"
Pretsman turned to face him. "What is it, Doctor?"
"Now don't you think your statement was a little premature. I mean the flight suits out of Lexcorp had many more defects. Why the sudden scrutiny?"
Pretsman looked at Osborn like a solider looking at his men. "Budget cuts, Doctor Osborn. Simple as that. We can't be as reckless with our spending. Blame the voters for that one."
"Now if we did work out these defects, you would award us the contract?"
"Yes," Pretsman pulled away. "Now if you excuse me, I've got a meeting to attend." He quickly walked away from Osborn and headed towards the exit.
Osborn stood and tried to figure out what to do. In his years with the company he never had to deal with such a crossroads. Should he drop the whole idea of the enhancers? If he did, it would probably destroy the company. Or, should he go back and try to work as fast as he and his team can on taking care of what had to be done in just a couple of days?
He turned to the doors of the lab, loosened his tie and rushed back into the lab. The deadline was on.
There seemed to be a fevered pitch in the air at Hamilton High. The students seemed happier as the clock wound down the school day. Many people seemed excited for the day to end, including Terry McGinnis and Peter Parker.
"So you didn't have that much trouble with the trig exam?" McGinnis asked as they walked the halls.
"Not really, once I know what I'm doing I pretty much can work right through it." Parker said to him.
"Really, only you and Max could have done so well."
Parker snorted. "Please I'm not Max. I'll never be Max. She's far and above my level of intelligence."
"You're just being modest."
Just as Parker was going to reply. Both Mary Jane Watson and Dana Tran ran up to them. They appeared to be excited about something. The same excitement that had been seen all over the school.
"What's going on?" Parker asked
"Didn't you hear?" Dana said to him
"Here what?"
"Harry Osborn is throwing a party at his place. You know the massive penthouse on the Lower East Side."
"This is the first I've heard of it." McGinnis told him.
"Really," Mary Jane chimed in. "practically everyone in the school is invited. Including us."
"How do you know you're invited?" Parker asked
"Simple, tiger." Mary Jane went into her bag and produced a small plastic card.
"A cred card?"
"No, a pass. What will allow us to get into Osborn's party. You want to come?"
"I don't know." Parker said reluctantly. "I'm mean I've got some work to take care of at home and-"
"He'll go." McGinnis told her.
"Good, the party's at 8. Be there." Both Mary Jane and Dana walked away from McGinnis and Parker. They now stood in the middle of the hallway as other students passed them by.
"Why did you do that?" Parker demanded
"Simple, you shouldn't pass up an opportunity to be with your girlfriend. I just hope I've got a chance to be with Dana tonight."
"Why?"
"My job, it pays real well. But there are some strange hours."
"Who do you work for again?"
"Bruce Wayne."
"Oh right, the reclusive billonaire."
"He's not reclusive, just plain old." McGinnis wanted to go away from his nightly activities. "So you coming to the party?"
Parker shrugged. "Why not, Mary Jane will be there and my Aunt will be fine with it. She'll think I've made friends although I can't be out too late. You understand."
"Not at all."
Night settled on Gotham and while many in the city left for their homes out in the suburbs or worked another late night. Things were picking up at the massive penthouse on the Lower East Side. Guests were starting to arrive and the music was blaring to almost ear piercing levels. But in a room far away from the action. Things inside were equally as loud.
"I don't understand why I can't have this party?!" Harry Osborn shouted
Norman Osborn rushed to get his things together. He only stopped by to get a change of clothes when he discovered the party going on. Normally he wouldn't mind but tonight wasn't good. He had the deadline set by Pretsman breathing down his neck and now his son decided to throw a massive party for his friends. More like people he just picked out of his high school and said come on by.
"It's just I'm very busy and I don't think now is the right time." Norman Osborn said as he finished putting on his tie.
"It's never a good time for you. You're always putting things off. I'm sick of it."
"I know you haven't done much but go to school and come back here. Well after tomorrow you can do anything you want."
"That's not good enough."
Norman Osborn was getting frustrated again. He had to deal with the growing prospect of company failure and now his son is moaning about how he can't throw his party.
"Believe me Harry. I would do more but I can't. There is something very important at the office that I need to take care of. Now could you either tell these people to go or limit the number of people coming into the place."
"No, I'm going to do this whether you want to or not."
Norman was getting very sick of his son's whining. He turned at without thought grabbed his son and slapped him.
"Now you watch your mouth." Norman said angrily through his teeth. Just a couple of days ago I saved you from being sent to juevie. You ought to be thankful I'm pouring money into a treatment program to get you clean. You come back and treat me like some dreg asking for creds. Well you watch yourself, son. Otherwise I may suddenly just cut you loose." Norman Osborn then released Harry from his grip and then stormed out of the room.
Harry turned to face the mirror to see if his father had left a mark on him. He checked and found nothing. He then waited a minute or two for his father to be gone. Once that passed, he left the room and went back to the party as if nothing had happened. That was somewhat of a family trait. To have the ability to put on a good facade.