Okay, off to the reviewers:
To moonjava: Thank you. I do too.
To Agent Silver: Nice analysis. On your question, May probably told him.
Off to the story! Will the captured Austin stay loyal to May, or will he accept Noreen's offers of power and accept his birthright?And if you think you know the answer...read on! And review!
Chapter 13: The Sinister Six Completed
The figure that spoke stepped out of the shadows.
Noreen Osborn, costumed as the Girl Goblin and maskless, paused in front of him. "My darling Austin," she whispered.
"Holy mother of Christ!" yelped the guy who looked mostly like a pile a sand someone sculpted into a human being. "What are those things out his back!"
"I told you, Flint, those are his tentacles," the electric redhead snapped. "His father is Doctor Octopus."
"Not by choice," Austin muttered.
Another girl, wearing a green armored bird suit, spoke next. "I told you, this is the guy from my biology class. I'm telling you, this guy's a frickin' genius. Did things with chemicals the professors never saw before…"
"Austin, my darling, my love…" Noreen whispered again.
"Why do you keep calling me that?" snapped Austin. "I am not your darling, I am not your love. I am just a California boy trying to be normal in a city full of whack jobs like yourself."
Noreen merely shook her head. "Austin, Austin, being normal is highly overrated. When we first met on the college steps that day, I was just a normal girl, living the ennui of being a college student and heiress. Then I found a way to become more. I took that opportunity, and now look at the power I wield. All six of us have power. The six of us are so much more than normal. Why do you want to turn from your destiny?"
"I make my own destiny, Noreen," Austin replied.
"Of course, it's easy to see how you were led astray. Here you were, a science geek, no dad or any male role models to speak of at home. At fourteen, you were forced to confront the truth of your mother's one night stand, the identity of your father, and a mutilating accident that left you with immeasurable power. And you, like I, came out of your hardships that much stronger."
"But then you fell in with the wrong crowd. You fell in love with a girl whose father was a murderer, a criminal everyone thinks is a hero. The fact is, all of us—are indirectly or directly a victim of Spider-man's crimes and lies. We're all in the same boat."
"And you, Noreen, are just all kinds of crazy."
Noreen chose to ignore this. "I wanted to come and get you, to have this talk with you. Flint over there, and Philomela, and Alexei, and me—our fathers are dead because of Spider-man. Miranda—the girl who retrieved you—her father is in jail because of him. And your father is in the mental institution because of the dirty deeds of your girlfriend's father."
"Where he belongs," said Austin.
"You're with us now, yes you are," said Noreen. "My love, you're going to discover, with me, what kind of young man you truly are. You're going to take my hand and open your eyes and see that the world isn't black and white, that there are many shades of gray in between. You are going to lash out at those who oppressed you, all the Brandon McClouds, Mandy Wilsons and Brittany Gibsons of this world. Those who wronged you. Join me, Austin Smith. Together we'd be unstoppable, combining the brilliant criminal mind of Doctor Octopus and the physical strength of the Green Goblins. The world would be ours and everyone shall bow to our slightest wish!"
Then Austin said something completely unexpected. "Noreen…that's a great idea! Together, we could destroy Spider-man!"
"Yes!"
"We could take over the world!"
"Yes!"
"And all of mankind would tremble beneath our mighty fists!"
Noreen could barely contain her excitement. "Of course! So will you join us, then?"
"Hell no!"
"What!"
Austin stepped back. His tentacles swirled about him and began to hiss. "Just shut up, Noreen! I have no idea what you're talking about! You are totally nuts, totally manipulative, who would backstab, lie, cheat, connive, and do or say anything to get what you want! And come to think of it, I'm beginning to think you were that way even before you stuffed yourself full of Grandpa's secret recipe. And if you think for a moment that I'm going to—"
"Your 'girlfriend' is going to die tonight," Noreen said calmly. "And then, if you still can't behave, I'll kill your little brown-haired cousin, Rachelle isn't it, the one who used a vacuum on Flint here. And then, because I don't do things half-assed, I'll kill Magni, your redhead half-sister. Your mom and aunt are over in California, but I'll find a way to get to them too. And I'll kill them, in the most painful and horrible and drawn out way I can think of."
"Seriously, Austin Octavius Smith, I really want to respect and love you for the brilliant, strong, powerful young man you are destined to become. But there are things you have to learn and I will have to teach you the hard way. I'll let you slide with this one. After all, you've been under the influence of a very powerful and manipulative man. But right now, the six of us have a lot to do. And after we get it done, you will know exactly who you are, and I think you, like me, will like what you see. But if you continue to resist, you will pay the price."
"Okay, okay, please," Austin said, lowering the tentacles. "I'll do it…Just leave my family alone."
"The Sinister Six is complete, Grandpa. Green Goblin's daughter—Electro's daughter—Vulture's daughter—Sandman's son—Kraven's son—and finally, Doctor Octopus' son. Now what?"
"The bugs are at Empire State University. Go after them—make me proud. Don't trust the Smith boy too far—he's slippery."
