This Is The Path I have Chosen

Part One

"The fact of the matter, Mr. Parker, is that he's suffered some serious injuries. He could be in recovery for over a month and we still haven't run any checks for possible brain trauma." The doctor said cautiously.

Standing in front of him was uncle Ben, his face grave, the lines and wrinkles deeper than ever. "I understand."

The doctor nodded slowly, "Until the police find the men who attacked your nephew I suggest you don't bring it up."

"Fine." Ben replied quietly watching Peter Parker lie in his hospital bed. "Thank you for everything."

Peter had told the police and the doctors that he had been attacked by a group of men, he had tried to resist and was beaten for it. Ben knew that wasn't the truth, he had seen his nephew like this before.

Ben walked to Peter's bedside. He had been placed in the Intensive Care Unit and for the most part was watched closely. "How are you doing, kiddo?"

As if snapping out from a daze his eyes slowly focused on Ben. "I'm sorry." Peter mumbled, "I couldn't stop him, he was too much for me. I'm so sorry to do this to you."

"Its alright. They pulled the bullets out and bandaged the wounds." Ben grabbed Peter's hand and squeezed it gently, "Don't sweat it. Just relax and get better."

"He's back." Peter said quietly but urgently. "I thought he was dead, but he's not."

Ben shook his head nervously, "Please, just relax."

A tear ran down Peter's face, "I'm so sorry, uncle Ben. This is the second time I failed you."

"Second?" Ben frowned but shrugged it off, "Listen, it doesn't matter. None of it does, just get some sleep. You'll feel better then, I promise."

"This shouldn't have happened." Peter remarked, "I'm the good guy. I'm not supposed to lose." He said disorientated. His eyes darted across the room nervously, as if looking for an unseen enemy.

Why was this happening to him? This never happened to Superman, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, none of them. They were heroes that always managed to win the day, so why was Peter lying in a hospital beaten and broken?

His eyes finally closed and the world around him turned into darkness.

Norman Osborn emerged from his room inside their penthouse. He was feeling rather proud of himself. His victory over Spider-Man still was fresh in his mind.

"Harry, are you awake?" He yelled out loudly, "Its already seven!" Norman remarked checking his watch.

The younger Osborn emerged from his room, dressed in shorts, on the lower floor. "I just got a call." He said grimly, "Its about Peter?"

Norman raised an eye curiously, "Oh? Has something happened?"

"He's in the hospital." Harry responded, "He was getting robbed and fought back."

"Jesus Christ." He said. Norman clenched his jaw and contemplated the situation for a brief moment. "Get dressed, Harry."

"We're going to see him?" Harry asked.

Norman nodded, "Of course. He's practically a member of the family and I'm going to make sure Parker gets the best care available."

"No!" The figure's face contorted in agony. "Stop the pain!" He screamed stumbling across the lab. "My head's splitting apart." The poor fool could feel formula Green pumping through his veins, invading every part of his body and mind.

The world around seemed to become distorted revealing its true self. He began to form a deep hatred for society and those that lived in it. He held his hand in front of him as it turned to a sickly tone of green.

"Ah!" He exclaimed, "Stop it! This isn't the way it's supposed to be!" The man fell across a table and howled unable to tolerate the horrible agony for another moment.

With that long scream it all stopped. The pain no longer ripped him apart and he was free to stand on his own. He looked around completely lost for a moment.

Everything seemed like a dream. His life, his family, all of it didn't seem real; nothing before taking the formula did either. He understood what a rush this must have been for Osborn. It was a rush, he now felt unbound by rules and law.

He could do almost anything. When he touched his jaw it became apparent that the formula had done more than set free. It had transformed him.

"What the hell?" He stood up and walked into a nearby bathroom and gazed at himself in the mirror. Slowly he opened mouth to scream but found he had no strength to do so.

The figure's crimson eyes glowed brightly. "This is most unwelcome."

Uncle Ben walked into Peter's hospital room to find that his nephew was gone. He frowned for a moment and gripped the coffee cup that he had brought tightly.

A million possibilities ran through his mind. The most prevalent of which was that Peter had died somehow. He looked at the empty spot where his nephew's bed had been and stood there, frozen.

"Such a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Parker." Norman Osborn remarked, dressed in a business suit as he stepped through the doorway. "Don't worry about your nephew."

Ben faced Norman and shook his head angrily, "Where did you take him?"

"To the sixth floor. They have better doctors. Believe me, Mr. Parker, I want Peter to have the best of care, and he wasn't receiving it here." He took a step towards Ben and gestured in a friendly manner, "We both want what's best for him. The only difference is I can supply it."

"You had no right to do that without consulting me." Ben retorted, "I could have you arrested for kidnapping."

Norman laughed, "Please, Mr. Parker. I don't see why you're being so hostile to all of this. We both want what's best for Peter, don't we?" He grinned mischievously.

Ben grimaced, "Don't play games with me, Mr. Osborn. You took him from this room without my permission. Regarding, whether or not I would have agreed with you is irrelevant. You're not his father."

"Neither are you." Norman replied, "It seems to me you have no more a valid claim to Peter than I do."

"I am his uncle."

Norman chuckled, "That was good. Very funny." He leaned against the wall beside the door, "You're his uncle. You've never raised kids and I'm amazed he's become such a strong man despite you two."

Ben shrugged, "Well, Mr. Osborn, it came as a big shock to me that Harry has a shred of decency in him with a father like you."

"What did you say?" Norman asked.

"You heard me."

Norman pointed his finger at Ben's face, "Listen up, you old fool. I'm going to make sure Peter has a future whether or not you like it. Besides, you're not in a position to do anything, granpa."

Ben grabbed Osborn's shirt and slammed him against the wall, "Don't push me! Don't, because I'm so angry right now, I could kill you!

"Then do it." Norman said coldly and waited for Ben's response. After a moment passed the tycoon scoffed, "Just as I thought. You're weak, a sniveling little coward. I'll make sure Peter gets the parenting that he sorely missing."

"Over my dead body." Ben let loose his hold of Osborn and with a degree of restraint walked towards the elevators down the hall. Leaving Norman behind rather pleased with himself.

"Hi." Said Harry as Ben walked into the hospital room, "Did my dad let you know about the transfer?"

"Yeah." Ben replied annoyed. He took a step towards Peter hooked onto an array of machines and drugged up. "How's he doing here?"

Harry shrugged, "Fine, I guess. MJ said she would drop by and try to cheer him up." He sighed deeply, "I can't believe this. This shouldn't have happened, not to Peter. Doctor Warren said he'd be better here."

Ben nodded, "So I've heard." He stood over his wounded nephew, "Just keep breathing, kiddo." He grabbed Peter's hand; "We'll make it through this."

The figure showed up at the gates of the old, abandoned steel mill. He was shrouded in the remains of his business suit, shredded when he had transformed.

He had maintained a close enough eye on Osborn to know that this was his base of operations. He slid the gate open and used the cover of darkness to slip through unseen by any that may be watching.

The moon lit his path towards the center of the mill. He gazed at his surroundings nervously, expecting the Green Goblin at any moment to appear and attack.

He found a set of lockers perched suspiciously against a wall. The former man of industry smirked and ripped away the door of the locker. "Here we go, Osborn, I knew you wouldn't let me down."

The figure pulled out a satchel full of pumpkin bombs and gazed at them skeptically. "Don't tell me you're making a garden on the side." He pulled out a pumpkin and flung it carelessly across the ground to further inspect the locker.

The pumpkin detected the impact and automatically responded by detonating the explosives within. The impressive ball of fire that erupted and caught the figure's attention flew off into the atmosphere.

"Well-done, Osborn." He commented. "I like this!" After pulling out the glider the figure quietly inspected its design. "Maybe, I'll just take one for myself."

The figure, calculating as ever, decided that he would have to get things under control before acting on his newfound power. First, he'd have to get around his deformity. "That shouldn't be too hard." After that, he'd have to redesign the costume for his own use. "I can do that, easily." After all of this was finished, then the figure could take the necessary steps to save his business and empire. "I hope you don't mind a little competition, Osborn!"