SPIDER-MAN: ALL ALONE (CHAPTER 13)
CONNORS LABORATORY…
The mood was celebratory as Peter and Curt reviewed the progress on their research as part of the ESU curriculum. The two sat together with a sushi plate on the table in between while looking at an academic report that was sent in.
"Well, colour me sort of surprised." Curt said looking through the report, "You've been doing exceptionally well so far despite the amount of time you spent here. Have you attended any of the classes on campus?"
"Classes? Well, to be honest. I really just listen to the lectures online." Peter stated as he bit down a tuna roll.
"Guess your high school teachers were right about you." Curt said back, "Anyway, it's obvious I am proud of you, Peter. I must admit I was sceptical when taking you in."
"Okay?" Peter replied.
"I mean… This project is only a part of my work and while I had help here and there, I kind of wanted to keep things to myself since this is about my arm." Curt said, "Believe me, it's actually hard to run a lab with robotics and lizards at the same time."
"So um… If you don't mind me asking. How are the lizards going since most of the work we did was on the prosthetic arm?" Peter asked finishing another piece of sushi.
Curt then took a deep breath whilst his eyes had the look of grief. With enough courage, he answered Peter.
"One of the lizards… Died." Curt replied.
"Old age; experimentation?" Peter asked back.
"It was my fault… Not because I didn't care for them but I tried something and it didn't work…" Curt said shaking his head.
"I am sorry to hear." Peter mumbled, "Wish I could help."
"Come. Let me show you." Curt said getting himself off the chair and requesting Peter to follow.
The two went over to the cage that housed the reptiles. Curt was correct in what he had said as one lizard out of the two was indeed missing. Peter's own curiosity then continued its hold as he questioned Curt.
"Doctor, what was the experiment on?" Peter asked.
"I…I took one of the lizards out to the biology department and had its tail removed. In my own spare time, I developed a serum containing DNA material encoding tissue repair and radiated it. Then I injected it back into the lizard and I failed to get what I wanted." Curt explained.
"You did all that without me around?" Peter continued to ask.
"Yes." Curt answered, "And I'm not to going to stop… I was so close."
"Maybe if I-..." Peter said.
"Forget it, Peter. It's damn near impossible." Curt insisted, "Sorry… But I'm not going to drag you down with my personal problems."
Peter said nothing in return as he took Curt's word to respect his privacy. The two then went to sit back down.
"Please…Let's not go down that rabbit hole. Let's celebrate you and your achievements, Peter." Curt said.
"Right." Peter said smiling back.
As the two continued to eat their food, Curt looked at the time on his phone.
"Oh, it's getting late. Either we can get drinks or depart for today." Curt said.
"Shoot. I gotta check on my aunt I guess." Peter said, "Alright, um… I'll catch you next week. See you later."
"Okay, see you later. Peter." Curt said back as Peter got up to take his leave.
PARKER RESIDENCE…
Peter excitedly returned back to his old house even though Curt refused to share details on his own arm regeneration project; he had academic results to share with May.
"May? Are you home?" Peter asked.
As Peter walked, he listened to sound of King's soft footsteps as he looked around. His call was then answered in the living room. In front of Peter, May was on the ground unconscious on the floor. King was there continuously circling and sniffing her. Peter thought she fell asleep but his worries began to pile on him.
"May?" Peter said touching and shaking the back of her shoulder.
There was still no response from her prompting Peter to turn her over. In desperation, he tried to perform CPR on her but the attempt did not bring her back.
"911." Peter said as he lifted his phone up to call them.
As he waited for the pick up while watching over May, he hurried through his emergency.
"I got an unconscious person in my house, please send the nearest hospital to me!" Peter demanded.
As he finished the call, Peter continued to do the same CPR procedure. It was through at least two more attempts did May's eye open up a little before shutting. No words were uttered either.
"Come on, May. Don't give out that easily." Peter said in desperation.
As he stayed with May for minutes, the sound of sirens was also drawing closer. This time, the ordinary citizens will have to do the saving instead of him. After one knock on the house door, Peter rushed forward and opened the door. The chief paramedic greeted him with a clipboard.
"Hello, Mr. Parker. Where's this person you speak of?" The chief paramedic asked.
"Inside the living room, hurry." Peter said as he led the paramedic.
After taking May out of the house, the paramedics lifted May onto the sick bed inside the waiting ambulance. They strapped on an oxygen supply mask for May to keep her lifeline stable. Peter was distraught seeing this kind of image that it was hard to know what he has to face in the future.
"We'll be taking her to Forest Hills Hospital. She will be in the emergency unit." The chief paramedic said, "When we can arrange visits, we'll let you know."
"Can you give me an idea on why she isn't waking properly?" Peter asked.
"We'll have to find out." The chief paramedic said, "Right now, you'll have to entrust her care in our hands."
"Trust…" Peter muttered in concern as the healthcare professionals left the residence.
OSCORP HEALTH SERVICES…
"Your blood sugar levels; pressure and blood count levels all have significantly improved." Norman's personal GP said looking at the health report on the computer screen.
This morning, Norman felt ecstatic in the inside, he had taken something that actually performed a miracle for him. The concern of declining health had dropped for him as he had hope for his future.
"Have you taken some kind of miracle drug, sir?" The GP asked.
"Come on, Kowalski… I formulated my own guide for better health. I'm merely doing my check-up." Norman said stretching his arms out.
"Yeah, it's just compared to your previous data; this is an outlier. There has to be an explanation." The GP asked with suspicion.
"Well… Between you and me, if there was something I want to share. I will share it. But for confidentiality's sake and my family's… I won't." Norman said.
Soon, there was a beeping sound. Norman looked under his sleeve and saw his smartwatch pop up a notification regarding an upcoming meeting.
"Another meeting." Norman grumbled as he tucked his smartwatch away, "Well, thank you, doc. You did me good."
The doctor watched as Norman left the room for his meeting on another floor with newfound confidence. For Norman, the misery within him was shrinking as if a new force or feeling is starting to take over.
WORKERS FORTUNE, QUEENS…
Sometime yesterday beforehand, Adrian had been lying low from his activities as he drank as the only customer in the bar. His friends had pretty much all been arrested and he had so many foes cornering him ranging from the Spiders; police and Marty's gang.
"Adrian, for god sakes. I know I run this bar but drinking won't beat out the problem." The bartender said.
"Like I care." Adrian said as his claws clinked onto the glass, "I'm old and alone. Family gone. No friends to help and a jail for me to die in."
"Yeah, I mean this bar will surely be burnt down next." The bartender said sharing his grief, "What are you going to do with Marty?"
"I know the snake is going to betray me." Adrian said, "But he doesn't have the smarts to take me down. I must admit… I think it will be okay to spill some blood."
"Another way to shut yourself out of society." The bartender answered.
"Curse society…" Adrian said back, "I'll take whatever riches a man like him stashes. Perhaps, my business is making things to steal now. And I don't care if anyone sees something wrong with that. I've lost so much already."
Adrian's phone buzzed as a text message from Marty was delivered. The message read, 'The docks at College Point. Meet tomorrow night.'
"I'm ready for this stupid vibranium gig." Adrian murmured as he got up from his chair.
Looking at the text from Marty, Adrian stood up and left some change near his drink. Leaving the drink unfinished, he picked up and donned his helmet whilst walking off into the night to do one 'last' scavenge with his wings spread out.
TO BE CONTINUED…