A Real Game-Changer
Felicia Hardy is in the state-of-the-art medical lab that her current boss, Bruce Banner, calls his second home. The foppy looking scientist/doctor is busy meeting with a brilliant bio-chemistry scientist, Dr. Helen Cho, from South Korea's leading medical R&D facility… U-Gin Genetics Infinite Labs. She has designed and (with the help of funding and a production team from Stark Industries) built a revolutionary new device that will advance the field of medicine exponentially… it is a bed-sized apparatus that uses a similar concept to the three dimensional printing process… only instead of models, this device can regenerate damaged tissues, organs, and even lost limbs. It has been dubbed 'The Cradle' by Dr. Cho even though Tony calls it 'The Coffin' under his breath (to which Bruce has elbowed his rich friend in the ribs for a time or two).
Felicia has been working for Dr. Banner just over a month now ever since Erik Selvig returned to London to continue teaching at the University of London and Jane Foster started her circuit tour of all the well known Universities in the US and Europe discussing her findings and theories on the fundamentals of the recent Convergence and its effects on physics. It was the perfect opportunity to infiltrate Avengers Tower and find out how connected Spider-man is to the superhero team.
Harry Osborne demanded this be done… and if there is even the slightest chance that Felicia can get a blood sample from the Wall-crawler… then she MUST get it. Felicia Hardy is willing to complete her mission… but she has come to like Bruce Banner. He has been very kind to her, very grateful for all her care and help. But this is a job… and the job must get done!
Recently, Felicia watched as Dr. Banner took a few blood samples from Spider-man in order to study the 'healing factor' of his biology and see what the masked web-slinger's genes could reveal when compared to the rate of healing of the Hulk, Captain America, and some Mutant named Logan who comes around occasionally. She has been trying to get her hands on at least one of the three vials taken for a while now… and it looks like she may get her chance tonight… for Dr. Banner and Dr. Cho have been making eyes at each other since she arrived two weeks ago to talk business with Tony and Pepper and medical science with Bruce.
"This new device of yours is truly remarkable… just absolutely amazing, Dr. Cho." Bruce says as he looks at the images of the first ever prototype on his StarkSlate tablet. This first Cradle is in Seoul, South Korea.
"I couldn't have finished this vision of medical advancement without your research and input into stem cells, Dr. Banner… so this new technology is partly your creation as well." Helen Cho says as she smiles brightly to the somewhat disheveled looking Bruce Banner who blushes a little at his colleague. He sighs as he looks down at the floor for a moment lost in thought.
Felicia wonders what is holding him back as she approaches with the freshly made tea that these two enjoy drinking together. They so want each other! She just has to push Bruce a little more and perhaps he'll finally cave in and asks Dr. Cho out on a date.
"Here is the honeyed jasmine tea as requested." Felicia says as she stops before the pair. Felicia knows her disguise is perfect… shoulder length blonde hair and thin rimmed glasses set perfectly in place. Her clothing is a nice, simple designer style that is a light gray in color with white accents… muted colors that allow her to be looked over so she can better blend in.
"Thank you so much, Felicity." Dr. Banner says to his Personal Assistant. She has been using the name Felicity Howell as an alias whilst here in the tower. No one is suspicious… and that's saying something with Maria Hill aas head of Security here in Avengers Tower.
"Oh you remembered my favorite drink." Dr. Cho says with a smile to Bruce as she takes her cup and sips at the lightly sweetened tea. Bruce smiles behind his cup as he drinks down the liquid and a new faint blush colors his cheeks. Felicia smiles as she walks away giving them some privacy.
"Of course… how could I forget? It has become my new favorite since you introduced me to it." Bruce says finally. He then clears his throat as he builds up the courage to say what he wants next… His brown eyes look to his PA… Felicia smirks to herself as she keeps an eye on the pair across the lab. She notices Bruce turning back to Dr. Cho.
"Dr. Cho-um-Helen." Bruce starts and quickly corrects his professional slip to make his next words more personal. "Would you like to go out for dinner… tonight… with me?" Bruce then asks. The Korean woman smiles and her lovely face gets even lovelier to Bruce as he looks at her.
"Yes, that would be wonderful, Bruce." Helen replies as she calmly reaches out with her left hand to grab his. Bruce smiles as he feels her slender fingers squeeze his. Their eyes are locked and they look so happy and giddy in this moment.
"Excellent! And it is about time you two." Felicia says as she approaches once more and looks at the two of them. "If I might make a suggestion… there's this wonderful Greek place here in Midtown called 'Grecopoli'. They make the best chicken gyros… and their baklava is heavenly." The blonde says really selling the place to her boss and Dr. Cho.
"That sounds perfect." Helen says as she looks to Bruce's blonde PA.
"Then it's settled… that's where we'll go." Bruce says to Helen then he looks to Felicia. "Do they take reservations?" He asks his PA.
"I'll call it in." Felicia says with a smile as she pulls out her cellphone and starts dialing and walks away leaving the pair alone. She smiles as she sets up the reservation for her boss and his date. 'Excellent… now I can complete this mission tonight.' Felicia thinks as she ends the call. She then starts txting Harry Osborn… her real boss. Her thumb lingers over the send button as she thinks about how she won't be taking care of Bruce anymore and how her absence will affect him. She frowns slightly and then presses the send button anyways. Now all she has to do is wait for Bruce to go out on his date and she'll get a crack at the sample cooler.
_
"Let's wrap this up, gentlemen. We've all got things to do and places to be tonight." Harry says as he hops off his glider and eyes the stacks of gold bars. He then watches Alex in his Rhino suit, Doc Ock with his mechanical arms, Adrian, and the Lizard pushing and pulling on the wheeled sleds as they work together to unload the subway car of stolen booty.
"I know a couple of guys who can fence this stuff for us." Adrian says as he breaks away from pushing the last sled off.
"That'll be helpful… where are they located?" Harry asks as he turns his wild, wide eyes to the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
"Canada." Adrian answers as he eyes Harry cautiously.
"Excellent… then looks like me and my cold-blooded compadre are going north with you. We leave with a quarter of our haul in two hours." Harry then says with a shark's grin and walks away. Adrian just watches the Osborn boy leave. A frown lingers on the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent's face.
_
"This was all you were able to get?" Dr. Otto Octavius says in his hissy sounding voice as he lowers his hi-tech goggles to inspect the small dart that Harry had stuck Spider-man with.
"That was all I was able to get. Now can you work your magic up or not Doc?" Harry asks sternly as he eyes the hunched, greasy looking scientist with a glare.
"There's les than three CCs here… I've worked wonders with less material before… and it isn't magic… it's science." Doc Ock says snippily as his lower pair of metal arms walk him across his lab to the work station he has set aside for Harry's special project. He pushes the dart into a collector machine and the small sample of blood is taken into the device.
"How soon can I expect to see results?" Harry then asks as he rolls his neck. His condition is worsening by the day and the green that started under his hair line has begun to creep around his throat and along his jawline. Harry's bright blue-gray eyes now look more green as the yellow bleeds through from the pupil spreading out to the edge of his iris. His teeth have sharpened as well and his pointy ears have elongated. Harry Osborn is running out of time.
"Tomorrow morning at the earliest." Doc Ock says as he starts the barrage of testing.
"Just make it fast." Harry says with a growl in his voice. He storms off. Harry soon finds himself in one of the public bathrooms. He is looking into the large wall-length mirror and he can clearly see the changes in his body… the green tint to his skin, the yellowing of his irises, the thickening and lengthening of his now claw-like nails, and his ears are pointier and longer. He IS a monster.
He is still dressed in his armor. He dare not take it off now. The venom he injected himself with to do this mission has warped him… permanently… and if he does take off the armor… then his body can't alter the transformation and restore him back to how he was before. He'll be stuck this way. Forever… unless… ping. Harry looks down at his computer screen on the underside of left forearm… there's a txt message from Felicia.
It's a go.
Will have your Bloody Mary tonight.
Harry grins wide and wickedly revealing sharpened teeth as he reads and rereads the text message he received from his inside spy… Felicia Hardy.
"And they say Black Cats are unlucky." He says and chuckles in a strangely elated and giddy mood as he stands there in the men's restroom in the Oscorp Building. It is enough to bring some levity to the current situation… and make Harry not care about how Spider-man and a few buddies from his super friends bunch, The Avengers, nearly stopped him from executing his big heist today.
No… soon… he'll have enough of Peter Parker's blood to help him self-heal and Harry will be free of the Osborn curse… and he'll get revenge on his former friend for abandoning him. Harry smiles and laughs madly as he looks into his twisted reflection… he knows the perfect way to start cutting down Peter Parker.
_
Avengers Tower… mid-afternoon.
Three-thirty PM and Spider-man is in full outfit as he enters the training area. He stops short as he sees the ever gorgeous, Natasha Romanoff. Spider-man swallows hard behind his mask as he watches the redheaded woman stretch and bend to limber up in her skin tight nanomesh body suit. He is about to walk over there and talk to her… possibly make a fool of himself in the process… but Captain America walks up to her first… and they kiss! Yet again Peter Parker wishes he was someone else. Spider-man sighs trying to shake off this jealousy and approaches the couple.
"Okay, I'm here for the late afternoon routine." Spider-man says in a somewhat despondent tone. Could this day get any worse?
"So you're the new recruit that Tony let in." Captain America says as he turns to look Spider-man over critically. "You're awfully skinny. How old are you?"
"Nineteen… twenty next April." Spider-man says and his voice cracks a little with his nervousness at finally getting to meet THE Captain America! But it is tempered with a certain amount of jealousy… for Cap gets to be with the Black Widow and Spider-man… well, has no one at the moment. And like that his internal turmoil is chilled by the still ever-present grief of losing Gwen several months ago.
"You're still just a kid." Cap says unimpressed.
"I'm not! I can help! I have helped! Please, let me show you, Captain America, Sir!" Spider-man says as he starts to panic that Cap will kick him off the team without a chance to prove himself.
"Alright." Cap says and nods his helmed head. "JARVIS, let's do set-up one hundred and eleven." The super soldier says and suddenly panels along the wall, ceiling, and floor start moving. The trio move off to the entry door as this happens. Spider-man is the last to move as he watches everything come out, extend, and link together until a jungle of metal beams, poles, and platforms appear to fill the entire training area.
"Let's see what you can do. Just beat me to the other side of the room." Captain America says then runs off to Spidey's left. The super soldier is soon running up the wall a couple of steps… turn… catch a bar… pull up (like it's nothing!)… leap… catch… spin one rotation… leap again… and so on navigating the craziest jungle gym Spider-man has ever seen… like a boss!
"Okay… I've got this." Spidey says under his breath then leaps long to catch a bar, flip up, pose, then leap away performing his own crazy twists, spins, and flips through the air as he hurries to catch up to the living legend. Then the other shoe drops, so to speak… and some of the bars and platforms start retracting. Some disappear for good, others reemerge at timed intervals.
"Really?" Spider-man says as he lands on a horizontal pole and sits there for a moment to watch Cap spin, flip, and jump his way through the obstacle course. 'spidey sense' tingling… Spider-man leaps away as the bar he is crotched upon starts to retract. He throws a web line and swings to a platform then starts jumping his way through this crazy thing once more. He expertly darts and weaves around obstacles and finishes by letting his web line catch on a bar. As he is spun up and around one rotation, Spidey lets go and flips as his continued momentum flings him to the wall where he sticks his landing… by sticking to the wall… he manages to beat Cap by a second.
"Not bad." Captain America says as he nods his head at the boy once his feet are flat on the matted floor. "You adapted seamlessly… and your agility is excellent… but how's your stamina? JARVIS… initiate open floor format." Cap then adds and soon the floor is cleared of the crazy jungle gym. Cap even pulls his shield from off his back.
"I heard Nat gave you a run for your money the first time you went toe-to-toe with her." Captain America says as he rolls his neck and shoulders to limber up before taking a fighting stance with shield at the ready. "Care to give me a go?"
"Yeah, I did." Spider-man says as he scratches at the back of his neck in embarrassment. He has never been more thankful that his face is covered up than right now. "And… let's do this." Spidey then adds confirming the invite to fight. He is still looking towards the matting when his 'spidey sense' tingles and he jumps up and flips as the shield comes flying in.
"Never give your opponent an opening… in the field… that could mean the end of you." Captain America says as he rushes in throwing punches and kicks to keep Spidey moving, evading, and forcing him to fight back. In less than eight seconds, Spider-man dodges and weaves, blocks a kick with a kick, and secures Cap's feet to the mat with well placed webbing. He then flips up and back as the shield comes flying back in. Cap catches it expertly and swipes the edge down to cut through the webbing and free himself.
"Alright… you wanna fight, let's fight." Spider-man says and shoots a web line at Cap's head. Cap dodges. Throws shield. Rushes in behind it. Spidey sees it coming. Flips backwards kicking the shield off course. Cap tackles him though… they go down. Roll around for a minute. Spider-man on top! Gets one solid hit in before Cap flips him. Captain America on top! Manages to pin Spidey's legs by folding him in half.
"Gah! This is awkward!" Spider-man squeaks in a high pitched voice… then he sprays webbing in Cap's face. Cap groans and grabs at the webbing. However, as he pulls away slightly to do so… Spider-man takes full advantage by planting his feet to the star-blazened chest. PUSH! Captain America is thrown off of Spidey. He gets the webbing off in time to see Spider-man swing towards him to kick. Cap sidesteps the blow and grabs Spidey's legs. Spider-man gives an awkward scream as he is thrown off his web line and onto the mat once more. Cap is on him in a flash, Spidey manages to move out of the way but not enough. Cap snags him by the ankle.
"Ahh!" Spidey yells as he is flung backwards as Captain America incorporates his super human strength. Spider-man manages to turn and impact the wall on hands and feet. 'Okay… I've had enough.' Spider-man thinks and turns his head to look over his shoulder. The shield comes flying in. Spider-man flips away from the wall. Lands in a crouching pose then quickly throws two web lines… one for the shield after it ricochets, the other for Cap's waist. He yanks his left hand to bring the shield around towards Cap just as he yanks his right hand to bring Cap just a little closer… in a split second, the shield hits Cap… but the super soldier manages to get his gauntlet up in time to deflect the edge. He takes the bludgeon though. Spider-man flips over Cap and lays down enough webbing to immobilize the super soldier. As soon as he lands… Spidey is panting.
"Whew. That was a close one." Spider-man says as he puts his hands to his lower back and stretches backwards. His spine pops and he groans in relief… then Captain America tackles him… and Spidey squeals in surprise.
"Okay! Ya got me. Normally, I wouldn't throw in the towel… but jeez… you're friggin' Captain America." Spider-man says as he presents his hands whilst laying face down on the mat. Pinned.
"You certainly are stronger than you look, kid." Captain America says with a smile as he stands and helps Spidey stand as well. "Now I want to know how strong. So follow me, kid." They make their way down the curving corridor and enter the spacious gym. Spider-man has seen this place whilst walking towards the main training areas but never once has he entered. They walk past the normal weight benches and Spidey looks between Cap and the equipment they leave behind.
"Uh, Captain America, sir… aren't we supposed to be lifting weights?" Spider-man asks curiously and points a thumb behind him.
"We will be." Cap says as he stops in front of a solid metal bench by a side wall. "Lay down." Cap says in his commanding tone. Spidey gives no protest and does so.
"Okay?" Spider-man says as he looks up at the ceiling and the shiny metal bar with chains attached… wait… chains?
"JARVIS… set the super bench to one ton, please." Cap says and suddenly Spidey can see a green light go on over head on the ceiling. "Okay, Spider-man… lift the bar." Cap says gently and Spidey curls his fingers around it and lifts. The bar comes up off of the resting hooks and Spidey pushes it all the way up… then down, like how he has done in gym class, and up again.
"This is easy." Spider-man says as he does a full rep of ten.
"Put it up." Cap says and Spidey puts the bar back on the hooks. "JARVIS… increase weight to three tons." The light on the ceiling goes yellow then green and Spidey lifts the bar once more… this time there is a slightly notable difference… but not too much. They continue this until they go beyond ten tons… then Spider-man starts to show sighs of strain. He perseveres until around twenty tons.
"Can't… do… this… anymore." Spider-man says as he shakily pushes the bar up with each word. Captain America takes pity on the poor boy and spots him. The bar is placed back on the resting hooks and Spidey just lays there sprawled out and panting heavily. "I-I-ah… can't… oooh gawd…" Spider-man mutters out in near incoherence as he lays there on the bench.
"Come, trooper… time to walk it off and hit the showers." Captain America says as he pulls a limp Spider-man up onto his feet.
"I just wanna sleep it off… can't I sleep it off?" Spidey says tiredly and near pouting.
"Not until you've had a quick shower, kid. So come on… let's get this over with."
"Yes… sir… Captain America… sir." Spidey says mustering up a lethargic cheer and salute… to which he 'ow's immediately following as he strains his tired arm muscles. "Just throw me in the hot tub… I'll float." Spider-man then says as they enter the locker room/shower area across the hall from the gym. Steve helps Peter out of his outfit but after getting his boots off, Peter gets a second wind and insists on finishing up undressing by himself. Steve tells Peter he'll stick around close by and that if he needs anything just holler.
Peter manages on his own and after a long thorough soak in the hot tub, he takes a quick dip in the pool (which is salt water so it doesn't have a bunch of chemicals in it). Refreshed and his suit freshly cleaned, Spider-man heads out on his Spidey-bike for his secret Roosevelt lair and manages to make it home in time for supper around six-forty.
"I made spaghetti with meatballs just how you like it." Aunt May says as Peter comes in after putting his bicycle away in the garage out back.
"Hmm… smells so good, Aunt May." Peter says and pecks a quick kiss to her cheek then takes his backpack off and sits it down just inside the living room area past the opening between it and the kitchen. "I am starving!"
"You know, ever since you took this summer internship at Stark Tower… your punctuality has improved… though you still do come home late from time to time. Speaking of which, did you get my text message and pick up a half gallon of milk?" Aunt May then says as she watches Peter fix himself a large plate and start wolfing down the food. He then hums and his eyes go wide as he remembers and stretches backwards to reach his backpack. He opens it as he swallows his mouthful and fishes out the half gallon carton.
"I didn't forget. 1% as requested." Peter says with a smile to his Aunt as he hands over the carton. She accepts it and smiles at him as he goes back to eating. His eyes look up at her for a moment and he gets a look on his face questioning her stare. Aunt May shakes her head and turns to put the milk away in the fridge.
"You're a good boy, Peter." She says then faces him with a somewhat melancholy smile. She then kisses the top of his spiky haired head. "And I'm so proud of you." She adds in a near whisper then walks away. Peter looks back over his shoulder as she goes. There is silence until she returns a few minutes later… Peter has filled his plate with a heaping second helping and Aunt May is dressed in her scrubs.
"I'm pulling a twelve hour shift at the ER tonight. I'll be home around eight AM… so you behave yourself. No wild parties." Aunt May says and plants a quick kiss to Peter's forehead.
"No wild parties. Check. I'll make sure my boss knows that." Peter says with a grin adding to the joke. Aunt May smiles and shakes her head at him. "Love you and be careful, Aunt May." Peter then adds and waves as she walks down the steps and to the car. He is thankful that his paid internship with the Avengers has helped by allowing his Aunt to drive the car to and from work rather than take public transportation. Peter then shuts the door and locks it. He then heads up to his bedroom, shuts the door, and promptly puts his ear buds in and selects a song on his IPod… it is 'Titanium' by David Guetta.
As the song starts to play, Peter can't help but begin thinking about how hard Captain America was on him at the mid-afternoon training today. Is the National Icon aware of the friendly neighborhood Spider-man's crush on a certain redheaded super spy? Of course not! Peter shakes his head at his silly thought and quells the sudden panic that had started to rise in his gut.
It was frustrating though! Captain America was as agile and quick as him… as strong… able to overcome his 'spidey sense' (even use it to his advantage!) and pin Spider-man down! That damned boy scout even managed to do it all in front of Natasha's watchful eyes… and she was smiling about it all!
'Oh god! She must think I am a total loser now!' Peter thinks as he rolls over and frowns in his mounting anger. He then huffs and has a new line of thought. 'You know what… I don't need such drama! I don't need… Natasha.' Peter thinks and he curls up at the thought… but he knows he has to let go of his crush on the redheaded super spy. He's known from the moment he found out that she and Captain America are together. 'Such is my luck.' He thinks then and rolls over onto his back and sighs. That's when he remembers Tony's advice about 'branching out'… of course he was talking about Peter's photographs… but it can be applied in other ways. 'I'm gonna take Tony's advice and take some photos to a couple of other papers tomorrow… take some 'me' time for a change. See how that goes.' Peter nods his head and starts a steady, deep breathing exercise that Bruce taught him one day. It doesn't take long… but soon enough, Peter is sound asleep… and all before eight o'clock at night!
_
8:00 pm… Avengers Tower… Med-lab…
Felicia walks around the Med-lab area tidying up and making sure Bruce didn't leave anything out. She then makes a few swipes and taps on her smartphone like she is texting… then she presses the 'send' button.
This triggers an inside computer to run a specialized hacker program which manages to shut down the cameras on all levels. It is enough to keep JARVIS and the security team busy… but it will only last for five minutes… tick-tock… tick-tock.
Felicia manages to open the sample fridge and fish out the large vial of Spider-man's blood. She checks to make certain there aren't anymore vials before she pushes the shelf back in. She smiles as she opens the false bottom of her bottle of body spray and slips the vial inside. It will stay cool in there for up to eight hours. She then stands and starts to close the door to the sample fridge… but someone else's hand upon the door prevents her.
"What are you doing?" Comes the husky voice of Natasha Romanoff and Felicia looks up a bit startled at the redheaded woman.
"I was putting a sample away for Dr. Banner. He was very specific about the time frame for it." Felicia says as she shuts the door then turns away keeping her prize close.
"What's that in your hand?" Natasha then asks and looks to the other woman's hands.
"Oh? This? It's my favorite scent… lilac and lavender." Felicia says holding the bottle up for inspection then sprays some on her wrist. "Want a spray?"
"No, thanks." Natasha says then walks away casually. Felicia sighs silently and makes her way out of the Med-lab… she then heads to the supply closet where she takes off her outer clothes to reveal her skin tight black catsuit underneath. She puts her face mask on and changes her blonde wig for one that is white. As soon as it is in place, she puts the bottle in a pouch on her belt. Gloves on… The Black Cat then flicks her wrist and reveals her diamond-tipped claws. She leaves the supply closet and makes her way to the large floor-to-ceiling windows. She quickly cuts a large hole then uses the specialized shooter on her left forearm to throw out a drop line of Oscorp nanoline (which is the same webbing that Spider-man was getting from the company). She then repels from the balcony and makes it to the ground. Once there… she disappears into the streets.