SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SPIDER (CHAPTER 34)
2:00 pm Fisk Tower…
Wilson sat at his desk quietly as he wrote onto his logbook his schedule on how he intends to shift his political ambitions across Queens. Whilst, he was waging his discreet war for conquest against foes such as Spider-Man. The battle has taken a more favourable turn on his end.
His wife, Vanessa was slowly recovering in hospital with Wilson constantly keeping in touch with the doctors and nurses looking after her. Spider-Man's own ally, Ned Leeds had been removed of sorts and the public's perception of the hero is increasingly negative. However, one loophole to his seat in power remains to be answered.
"Sir. Your afternoon tea." His assistant, James Wesley said knocking on his office.
"Thank you, Wesley. Leave the tray here." Wilson said as he put down his pen.
"You've stayed quite some time for now. Got any fresh air?" James asked as he pushed the tray in front of the desk.
"I have my balcony, Wesley. I'm a busy man." Wilson answered as he got up from his chair to approach the food tray.
Opening up the tray, Wilson peered down and saw a plate of Japanese delicacies including a bento.
"The chefs wanted something healthier and appetising for you." James commented.
"Congratulate them." Wilson said in return.
"Well, I'll be off then. Enjoy your meal." James said before leaving.
After his assistant left, Wilson took his food to the desk and sat down to eat. As he was crunching down on a tempura prawn, his desk phone began to ring. Picking up the phone, Wilson answered in an annoyed tone.
"Who is it?" Wilson asked.
"Sir, it's Daniel Brito." Dan's voice spoke, "We had a day at ESU and we spoke with someone who may be of interest to you."
"Oh?" Wilson said again.
"He's said to be a top scientist and he worked pretty closely with Professor Warren." Dan said.
"If so, then may I meet him in person?" Wilson asked.
"Certainly. I'll be there soon as well." Dan said before hanging up.
Approximately an hour later, there was a knock on Wilson's door. Daniel Brito arrived with his broken nose and alerted Wilson who had finished eating.
"Sir, may I introduce you to someone?" Dan asked, "Say hello to Dr. Farley Stillwell."
A thin man with brown and grey hair approached the door meekly as he graced the presence of being in the domain of Wilson Fisk.
"Hello?" Farley asked carrying a briefcase.
"Doctor. Take a seat, I'll be with you." Wilson said getting up from his chair and motioning Dan to leave.
Wilson pushed the food tray aside and placed his finished food plates on top. He then motioned for Farley to take a seat on the guest chair while he sat down on his own chair.
"Enjoying the Tower?" Wilson asked.
"Magnificent. I guess it shows how far you've come." Farley answered while looking around.
"Hmph. So, we are familiar now?" Wilson said as he observed Farley's eyes darting about the place.
"Uhhh…" Farley replied as Wilson intimidated him.
"Take it easy. People who come to Fisk Tower first time are generally like this." Wilson said, "As you know, I hear you worked with Professor Warren on in the past."
"Yes, but we've worked on different projects." Farley answered, "He's been more successful than me and it's a shame he's gone."
"Doctor? I have to ask. Did you ever suspect Warren of anything?" Wilson asked.
"Suspect? As in, is he a criminal? No. I do know he works hard in his job. His last project became overblown though." Farley said dropping the briefcase to the ground.
"So, you don't know that he was a green furry freak of nature?!" Wilson asked raising his voice.
"What?" Farley asked.
Wilson slammed his fist on the desk frightening Farley before calming down.
"My apologies, not a great way to start. Let me clarify. Has Warren ever had strange behaviour?" Wilson asked.
"Oh. I've seen him look as if he talks to himself and sometimes in lunch groups, he would sit by himself. I guess you could say he was afraid of sharing secrets." Farley said.
"Strange enough. Tell me about his work. Tell me why would he be interested in spiders?" Wilson asked sitting back down.
"I can't speak for him but he's been admiring human beings with superhuman strength and stuff. He says they're the next stage of evolution that we can't wait for the next thousand years." Farley said, "Ambitious; but he means to help humanity as a whole."
"And now he's a monster prowling around our streets." Wilson said, "Come, let me show you the outside of this tower."
Wilson then invited Farley to his balcony and showed him the city view of Manhattan from up top. The height of the tower was enough to intimidate Farley along with the sound of wind gust.
"It could always be a little higher but… I like to think of the view as a symbol of how my dreams are shaped." Wilson said with a smile.
"Is there any reason we've come out here?" Farley said trying to avert his gaze away from the heights.
"I'm just showing off." Wilson replied, "Why don't we go back inside and see what's in that briefcase of yours?"
Wilson and Farley went back indoors with Farley opening up the briefcase through code. Inside the briefcase was a thick blueprint of a machine of sorts.
"This is the primary focus of my research. A machine called the Genome Amplifier. It's like an enhanced version of CRISPR gene editing. It's a faster and more efficient way of modifying multicellular organisms genetically." Farley said, "We've had trial runs with bacteria and such but…If we can change things in humans more accurately. It will be more than a published paper."
Wilson pretended he understood the science. He was more interested in knowing how this may fit into his own plans. If this machine was made; he would have the opportunity of sending super humans to fight against Spider-Man as well as Miller himself.
"Consider me invested. You know I've been meaning to restart my whole science division. Ever since that green vile monster sabotaged everything." Wilson said clenching his fist.
Farley was afraid of a temper tantrum and kept his cool about the situation.
"This machine… It's little far away. I've still got years and resources to make this thing happen. I've-." Farley tried to say.
"Don't you worry," Wilson said placing a hand on Farley, "I'll support this project for my end and most importantly…Yours."
"Thank you. Though-." Farley replied before being stopped again.
"I have all the money and negation skills to fast-track your work. When I do; you'll be held to my company standards. Understood?" Wilson asked.
"I'll think…" Farley replied before Wilson interrupted.
"Don't. Act now. Act so you can see your dreams come true. My company has a reputation and I'd like to think about starting a new company of sorts. One run by you through big chance." Wilson said as persuasively as possible.
"Okay. Maybe I am throwing away an opportunity." Farley said giving in to the persuasion, "What next?"
"I'll get you to sign some papers." Wilson replied.
7:30 pm Parker residence…
Peter had been spending most of his day trying to finish up some touches onto his suit and was still stuck with the head wear. He tried to implement a new rubber padding of sorts to improve electrical shock resistance the next time he faced someone like Electro.
"Man, this is tricky." Peter said while using the tweezers to stitch parts of head gear up.
After several tries, Peter stopped working and checked his phone. His friend list had been dwindling and he had been doing his best to stay in touch with Philip Chang; who had been responsible for his gear in the past. Nowadays because of study, help from Philip was limited. With Ned out as well, the people close to him are becoming more absent in his life.
Only Gwen and May were there for him at this time. However, Peter feared he would risk them both. May is his parental and financial support; she was nearly lost from Peter once and Peter needed to look out for her as she grew older. Gwen on the other hand had been supportive of keeping a close relationship with him. With her own abilities as Spider-Woman; there was a new risk he had to prepare for and he was now worried about Miller.
"Peter Parker. Your friends are leaving you." Peter said before putting the phone down on his desk and bracing his own head.
Soon there was a knock on the bedroom window causing Peter to look up. Outside, he saw Gwen in her suit waiting and he walked up to let her in.
"I'm surprised you're aren't scouring. Also, why couldn't you give me a call or so? Are you just gonna come in dressed like that?" Peter asked.
"Peter… My life's not the same anymore. I'm just…Worried." Gwen said.
"It's okay. I'm glad you're here. You don't want to be swinging around too much when the Grinch is prowling around." Peter joked.
Gwen giggled and flicked a bit of snow she caught from outside.
"Hey! You were always hiding that. Weren't you?" Peter said flicking the snowflakes off.
"I also came to say something else." Gwen said.
"What?" Peter asked.
"My family and I… Are planning to move house." Gwen answered, "It's for safety reasons mainly."
"You're leaving?" Peter asked.
"Yeah." Gwen answered back.
"Whereabouts?" Peter wondered.
"Nowhere; actually. We've been planning to move to Brooklyn. I mean… New York is always going to be our home. It's just safer there; especially compared to Queens and Manhattan. Plus, they do have some nice houses over there." Gwen explained.
"Oh, nice." Peter said, "I'm glad you're not too far to reach then."
"Afraid of being heartbroken again?" Gwen teased reminding Peter of his previous relationship.
"Actually more…" Peter said, "You know what my biggest fear is right now? It's when people close in my life start to leave. Be it when they pass away; move to another state or country or… When they're convicted of a crime they didn't commit."
"Peter, I wish I could help you free Ned." Gwen said in shame.
"I keep reminding myself that he can survive." Peter said, "I keep thinking that what I do as a hero is benefiting people out there."
"I say you've done your fair share. Even though you are reckless; you get away with what you do most of the time." Gwen replied.
"Heh." Peter said before walking to the old photographs sitting on his bedroom draw.
Peter stared at each memory going from him; Uncle Ben and Aunt May to friends like Harry Osborn and Mary Jane. Right down to him and Ned and then Gwen herself.
"I miss some of those people." Peter lamented.
"Just curious? Do you know that Flash and Liz have left New York?" Gwen wondered.
"Those two? No, where was this information from?" Peter asked.
"Social media. In case, you follow." Gwen replied.
"Ah, then no. Don't care for Facebook and that stuff." Peter said, "Ironic when I'm in the need of friends."
Peter lied on his bed sideways acting aloof in front of Gwen. Gwen then decided she had enough of the disengaged Peter and thought about something that would make things more enlightened. She took off her mask and smiled. She then forced herself onto the bed with Peter.
"Uh, hi. Why the sudden change in emotion?" Peter asked.
Without hesitation, Gwen nudged closer making Peter feel shy. Their noses started to touch before Peter felt Gwen kiss him. Her arms wrapped around him before he reciprocated. Gwen then got up for a brief moment and began tugging her costume off.
"You know, this is what we need after all that chit chat." Gwen said.
Peter agreed and followed.
9:30 pm U-Genetics; Greenwich…
Wearing tattered clothing; Miller walked up to a small corporation building with a plain company logo located in one of Manhattan's neighbourhood. The company had significant meaning to his past when he was the esteemed professor at Empire State University. He noticed the female receptionist leaving the building before plodding forward towards the door. The receptionist noticed Miller in return before questioning him.
"Sir, are you okay?" The receptionist asked whilst holding her phone.
"Is your boss still in the building; I need to talk him. I'm an old colleague of his." Miller explained.
"Dr. Hanz? Yeah, hang on. Let me call him and see." The receptionist said.
As the receptionist called for her boss; Miller waited patiently in the cold before a man wearing a neat business suit greeted him from behind the glass automatic door.
"Richard. It's good to see you." Miller said with a smile and wave.
"Miller? What are you doing here at this hour?" The man questioned.
"Can I come in? It's freezing." Miller said in return.
As the door opened; the receptionist went home before Miller entered the building. Richard, the man who let Miller in was perplexed to see someone he worked with enter the premise.
"I wasn't expecting anyone. I heard you were fired and stuff." Richard said while being suspicious.
"Yes, it was a mistake. I'm here for unfinished business." Miller said, "How's the work here?"
"I'd say we're doing good. What do you mean by 'unfinished business'?" Richard asked again.
"You and I have been partners in making scientific miracles. You've made my work possible in the past." Miller said, "I owe you."
"I don't see what exactly. We don't have any business arrangements with you since your firing." Richard said.
"No, no, no. Please…. Hey, can you at least just show me what's the latest around here? I promise to leave after that." Miller requested.
10:30 pm Parker residence…
Peter woke up covered by blanket as he looked around the room. He noticed Gwen was gone and left his house already. The window was even closed keeping the room as warm as ever.
"Did we just-?" Peter questioned waking up before panicking after looking beneath the bed sheets.
Peter quickly found his boxers lying on the floor and picked it up quickly. After tucking on the boxers, he breathed a sigh of relief and stood up out of bed.
"First time I had sex." Peter said, "What a strange feeling."
As he staggered to his desk; he remembered that his suit was still unfinished. Furthermore, he hoped Aunt May did not hear them.
"Aunt May probably will cry tears of joy if she knew what happened." Peter said, "Okay, focus Peter. Don't let all that distract you."
With that in mind, Peter went back to work and vowed that his duty as Spider-Man will continue on.
10:35 pm U-Genetics Underground Laboratory…
"So fascinating…" Miller said wearing a lab coat as he walked with Richard in the underground lab.
The lab had a similar setting as with other biological labs Miller had walked through. However, the U-Genetics had recently been spending money on equipment required for their own science project. This came in the form of large culture tank tubes which were used to grow animal cells.
The tubes contained a greenish liquid to them which fascinated Miller and made him ask questions out of curiosity.
"What's growing in those tubes?" Miller asked.
"Normal human stem cells. Sometimes we use them for mice as well." Richard explained.
"And they just hold billions of teeny tiny cells?" Miller questioned again.
"Well, yes. We have these tanks to hold these cells so we can use them as reserves for stem cell treatment." Richard said, "And it's been our company's pride ever since."
"Pride? Sorry, but this is far off course from what you and I had worked on." Miller said with a bit of hostility.
"We worked on genetic engineering and cloning. We've shifted our focus because-." Richard replied back.
"You shifted focus because you aren't a real scientist, Richard. You're a suit who profits." Miller accused.
"Well, let's be honest. It's what a business like U-Genetics does." Richard proclaimed.
"You're thinking too small. If I took charge of your company innovations; we'd be moving beyond headlines!" Miller snapped.
Richard was unimpressed by the attitude of Miller's and was becoming agitated by his presence.
"Well, this has been a rude reunion. In fact, you've illegally came into this place." Richard said, "Get out."
"Oh, Richard. You better know I feel more at home here. Of course, I wasn't planning on having you be around any longer." Miller said before revealing his razor-sharp teeth.
Richard tried to scream but the sounds he made were stifled when Miller got the better of him. The next moment, he was a corpse lying on the floor dead by the claws Miller grew out.
"Now, the security and work here are all mine." Miller said before noticing a ringing phone out of Richard's pocket.
Picking up the phone; Miller scoffed at what it was.
"And his family…" Miller said before throwing the phone aside.
Looking at the tanks and how they operate; Miller's intelligent brain picked up on how he would convert the area to his new hideout.
"First; I need to clean up again." Miller said looking around with his piercing yellow eyes before looking at Richard's dead body.
Picking up Richard's corpse; Miller dragged the body to the top of one empty tank. He then opened up the tank hatch and dumped the body in suspension. The body began reacting a little before Miller hopped down and tampered with the tank settings. This slowed the mutation of the body before Miller figured out what to do next.
"What if I take his looks? I can masquerade with his company face. Something like that old Nicholas Cage movie. The one where he disguises himself as the other." Miller said before looking at the other tubes.
Going to each tube one by one; he had all the tanks dump away their old contents as he began starting his own scientific empire anew.
TO BE CONTINUED…