SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SPIDER (CHAPTER 35)
Note: I just want to make a statement regarding the rating of the story. As you all know, it is rated 'T' for teen; however, I will acknowledge there are moments from time to time where it is tense and violent. And also swearing. Yes, there are characters getting killed off now, but I promise none of them will be too gratuitous to read (i.e. no 'Fatality' style deaths).
And speaking of the thing that happened last chapter; there will never be any details going into it just so the story stays truer to its rating. With that said, enjoy reading.
4:00 am U-Genetics…
Miller sat alone in the dark lab room watching the centrifuge spin around. He had disposed of the company's director and had been slowly sowing the seeds for his return as an accomplished scientist. However, the plot had been taking some bizarre turns which can be attributed to Miller's own luck.
"Done." Miller cackled as the centrifuge finished its work.
Taking out three tubes from the centrifuge, he held them in the palm of his hands and had his eyes glued. The tubes contained a mysterious orange liquid with properties Miller had certainty about.
"No time for clinical trials." Miller said as began to open up one tube.
After opening up one tube, he drank the liquid down his throat.
"So far; so good." Miller optimistically said before drinking the other two.
After consuming the contents of each tube; a reaction from Miller followed. The tubes dropped out of Miller's hands and Miller dropped to his knees clutching his chest.
"Urgh." Miller growled as he felt the effects kick in.
The skin on Miller became flaky while his eyes began to shift colour. Afterwards, his hair reacted and began folding to a different hair colour. Twisting and turning, Miller experienced a change in morphology.
The pain ended after several minutes and Miller opened his eyes. Looking around, he turned on the lights and began to observe the change that had happened.
"My skin has changed." Miller said looking at his hands before touching his own face and hair.
"I'm different…" Miller said again while walking around.
Upon finding a tiny mirror, Miller saw that his own human form was no more and that he possessed the appearance of Richard Hanz, the man he had killed. Seeing the appearance caused Miller to smile.
"A risk worth the reward." Miller said, "But it's only a baby step."
5:30 am Parker residence…
Peter had finished stitching up his suit and was about to test it on. On the other hand, he felt tired due to the lack of sleep he experienced overnight.
"Maybe I'll try it on after resting." Peter yawned before falling back onto his bed.
Closing his eyes, he began to dose off. It had been exhausting for Peter despite the days ahead of him stressful. His first priority in mind was saving Ned while the second was Gwen and her problems. After a few snores; Peter woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing.
"Who's calling?" Peter grumbled forcing himself to get up.
Picking up the phone, Peter saw a message delivered to him by Phillip.
'Have you seen this site yet?' The message read.
Peter checked the message in detail and found a link to a website named 'The Watchful Eye'. Clicking onto the link, Peter came across the details of the website.
"What's all this?" Peter said scrolling through the site in confusion.
Peter picked up on the blogs with headlines such as 'Hell Kitchen's Menace' and 'Behind the Construction Site'. He then found that each one was about alleged crimes that were happening in New York which also referenced Wilson Fisk.
"Who the heck is writing this?" Peter wondered before scrolling through more.
After questioning the legitimacy of the reporting; he clicked onto a post talking about Wilson's alleged business in drug trafficking.
"Someone has been blowing the whistle on Fisk way before I cared." Peter said, "Maybe I can investigate whatever this site is saying and see for myself. And maybe, I can get close to Fisk and know what's happening with Ned."
8:30 am Stacy residence…
Gwen carried a box of house items to the family car. Her home was about to become a memory ever since the attack from Anton. It was George's idea that the family move somewhere secure. Gwen agreed with her father but was also reluctant about leaving some things behind.
"Hey, mum. Got the last of my stuff out." Gwen said placing the box on the grass lawn.
"Ugh. Where's the storage people?" Helen complained as she held her phone near the ear.
"Seriously, how much of the house are we taking with us?" Gwen asked back.
"Just as much as anything that's important in life." George said arriving behind Gwen's back carrying two boxes.
"George; don't break your back." Helen warned concerning at George's wobbling.
Gwen then walked up and took the boxes out of the George's hands with ease catching him by surprise.
"Thanks, Gwen. You've been pulling your weight recently?" George asked.
"Yep." Gwen instantly answered to avoid suspicion about her super strength as she placed the boxes down.
"That's one thing to praise." George replied before turning to the house again, "Hey, Simon. Hurry up, son."
Gwen's little brother was holding onto his game console as he reluctantly stepped out of the house.
"Are we really leaving all this behind?" Simon asked looking back.
"We all agreed. It's for the better. We might change our mind but look what's happening around our neighbourhood. There's no guarantee." George answered looking at his family.
Gwen gave her house one look again. She knew she had to leave Forest Hills as an adult one day but the reason was not behind it.
"Alright, we gotta wait for a truck. Don't we?" Gwen asked.
After asking the question, she then took one look at the phone and wanted to send Peter a text message.
9:25 am Private warehouse, Whitestone…
Peter was back in action as Spider-Man donning the newly improved suit which has more resistance against both electrical and vibration attacks. Feeling confident; Spider-Man wanted to tackle a small but very important crime to help him on his own quest to save his best friend.
Arriving on top of a warehouse near the East River, Peter made clear observation of the bright skyline and the rest of the Queens neighbourhood.
"This is like near the place where I had that fight with two of Chameleon's buddies. The flying bug man and the wind guy." Spider-Man said referencing the time he fought Beetle and Cyclone back to back.
Taking out his phone, Spider-Man looked at the blog which referenced a warehouse being used for drug storage.
"According to this 'reliable' source; they say that Fisk has been letting shady business to go through here and hustle quantities of crystal meth and ice. And even then, we had a law that prohibits the use of illegal substances." Spider-Man commented.
Wasting no time, Spider-Man opened the rooftop hood and snuck in. There was chatter among the men and women inside.
"20 ounces of that stuff? You do know realise the price market for it has dropped low?" One man said.
"It's gotta be done in baby steps now that the boss is mayor." The other replied.
"Mayor? They are totally talking about Fisk." Spider-Man said crawling on the ceiling.
"Yesterday, I thought the boss wanted us to transport other stuff; something for a machine?" One man's voice continued.
"The boss will shuffle anything in; so long as it's profitable and we're well fed too." The conservation continued.
"He's one heck of a businessman. Give him that." One man said in reply.
Spider-Man looked down from the ceiling and tried to see how many people were stationed in the warehouse.
"Eight…Nine? Seems like a reasonable amount of people here." Spider-Man said eyeing the potential amount of people he could be fighting.
"Hey, quit talking money and let's haul this stuff outta here." One man said giving direct orders for someone to carry boxes to the truck container.
Two men carried a heavy box as instructed and laid it down to bear. Before they left the container; their voices were muffled alerting the instructing man.
"What's that noise? Huh?" The man asked upon shock seeing the two men inside the container sprayed with webbing and tied down.
"Oh sh-; looks like one of those Spider-freaks is here!" The man shouted before more yells.
The man freaked out upon seeing his fellow workers being strung up and gagged by web.
"Hey." Spider-Man said behind his back prompting him to try draw out a gun, "Not so fast."
Spider-Man disarmed the man with ease before sending a web shot forward which pinned the man down.
"It's so fun to play stealth missions in video games; am I right?" Spider-Man joked.
"What the hell do you want? What have I done to draw your attention?" The man asked.
"Well; supposedly you were smuggling drugs like crystal meth; ice. But I also want to know if I could get a phone call from your boss. The one and only, Wilson Fisk." Spider-Man said.
"I don't know what you are talking about. And we're not smuggling drugs today." The man replied.
"You didn't prove yourself innocent there. Anyway; does the name 'Kingpin' ring any bell then?" Spider-Man asked.
The man nodded before saying another word.
"That's how we address our boss." The man admitted.
"Alrighty, how about you show me your phone and dial his number for me?" Spider-Man requested.
"He's a busy man; I don't think-." The man responded before Spider-Man shot a web at his mouth.
"Okay, lie still." Spider-Man said before frisking the man for the phone.
Upon finding what he was looking for; Spider-Man then instructed the man to dial Wilson's number.
"With the tip of your finger; call him for me. I don't care what your private info is; this is an urgent call." Spider-Man said with a slight bit of seriousness.
Content with Spider-Man's words; the man used a tip of his finger to press the numbers meant to call Wilson. After the number was entered; Spider-Man waited for the call.
"Welcome to Fisk Industries; you have called the phone service…" The automated call stated.
"Ugh." Spider-Man said as he waited before saying what he wants to say.
"This is the Spider-Man. I want to speak with Mr. Fisk; the billionaire wearing a fat suit." Spider-Man said.
In a few minutes; the phone line was scrambled and Spider-Man heard Wilson's booming voice.
"Spider-Man. You better be the real one wasting my time." Wilson answered.
"Sure am. Listen; I've busted one of your warehouse operations. But I've got more matters to settle with you." Spider-Man answered back.
"The one where I'm keeping your friend on leverage? Yeah, I thought so." Wilson replied.
Spider-Man turned around to the man he got the phone on and walked back to him.
"Sorry; private conversation." Spider-Man said before knocking him out and continuing the conversation.
"He better not be dead yet." Spider-Man warned.
"Rest assured; he's not. But I'll have the story about his misdeeds ready when the time is right." Wilson taunted.
"You won't get away with what you done. Besides; remember that burning building where Frederick used to live in. You've got a lot to answer there as well." Spider-Man said referencing the Flowerbed Apartments in which Frederick's niece was involved in.
"Any one with the exception of the nosy will suspect that it was a gas leak accident." Wilson said, "If you're still concerned about your friend. Let me tell you something."
Spider-Man listened while hearing Wilson's own breath.
"Your friend will be transferred to another prison. Out of New York; more importantly. He will be at a prison at Delaware." Wilson said, "Somewhere, he can make new friends and perhaps start a new life if possible."
"That's bullshit. How is that possible?" Spider-Man asked.
"Special requests can be made from my end. Once, he's out of the city; your help network will be cut off. And if I find more people linked to you; you can expect the same." Wilson said.
"You-?!" Spider-Man replied in anger.
"He'll be out of the city by tomorrow. In case you have time and know where it's headed." Wilson said, "If you try break him out; you'll face the city's judgement. Goodbye."
Before Spider-Man could cut off the call; Wilson did it for him leaving him shaken. Standing in the middle of the warehouse; Spider-Man made his decision.
"Screw this. How is there law if he's the one in charge?" Spider-Man questioned.
7:35 pm Hanz residence…
Miller arrived home to his new 'family' after taking guise as the head of U-Genetics. There were many loopholes for him to cover with the nagging wife of Richard Hanz being one of them.
"Where have you been, Richard?" The woman asked in a demanding manner at the door.
"I've been busy now." Miller laughed nervously in Richard's own voice, "I've reset the work at the company thanks to popular demand by others."
"Excuse me? When were you a 'workaholic'? I know you're CEO but this is a strange change in habit for you." The woman said again.
"That's something I want to talk about with the whole family." Miller said before noticing the skin on hid hand peel a little indicating the formula he took had some side-effects.
"Get the kids; I need them to understand…" Miller said.
After gathering each member to the family room, Miller began explaining.
"Kids… Uh, wife. I have to explain what's going with daddy's work." Miller said while grinning.
"That's another thing; since when do you talk like that?" The wife questioned.
Miller laughed nervously as he eyed both the wife and the two young children; one boy and girl.
"In my scientific endeavours; I…Came to a realisation about the work I did. I met an old friend of mine; Miller Warren. He was the professor at Empire State University who I'm sure you heard got fired. Great man… Smart one; also. He had one of the most sensible minds about biology and genetics." Miller said.
The family was dumbfounded at Miller's words. Even more; it was nothing the children were interested in.
"After being fired; he came to check on the work here and he gave me some 'constructive criticism'. Of course; I listened. I mean… Even with everything wrong; he was smart when it comes to this genetics stuff." Miller continued, "And he told me to change it up…"
"I see now. Your work schedule changed; is that all?" The wife asked sitting with a bored expression on the couch.
"Not all. Instead of using tiny microscopic cells; why not use the whole organism?" Miller said with his eyes lighting up.
"What?" The wife asked.
"Why do people always think small with science. With Miller's mind, we can dream of 'impossible' possibilities." Miller gloated.
Turning around, Miller grinned revealing his canine teeth and glowing yellow eyes.
"My dear, I need your help on this one." Miller said before the sounds of screaming from both the wife and children could be echoed.
8:25 am Astoria Police Precinct …
Yuri arrived in her leather attire before she could change into her uniform. Her job as an officer had drastically changed with more patrol duties rather than office paperwork. This was something she found exciting before considering the possibility of quitting her job.
"Morning, Watanabe." One officer said.
"Morning, what's the latest catch?" Yuri asked.
"Spider-Man. He suddenly raided a warehouse yesterday." The officer replied reading from the computer screen desk.
"Wow. That is sudden. Any reason?" Yuri asked putting her bag down near her locker.
"Well, they were drug traffickers. But he could really go after anyone. Speaking of which, the captain is looking for you." The officer said closing down the article on screen.
"Am I in trouble?" Yuri asked.
"Nah, he wants you go there and investigate." The officer replied.
TO BE CONTINUED…