Chapter Two

Jason Macendale was a bit apprehensive as he walked into the LuthorCorp building in Metropolis. He'd been surprised to get a call from Lex Luthor asking to see him here today, and was even more puzzled when he'd received the specific instructions that he was expected to follow.

He stepped into the elevator in the main lobby and waited as the metal doors slid shut. As they did, he reached into his pocket and produced the identification card that had been given to him. As he had been instructed to do, he held the card up to a small screen on the elevator wall. He was then prompted to place his thumb on the screen for identification. He did so. A moment later, the screen displayed the message "Identity Confirmed: Jason Macendale." The elevator hummed to life and began to rise.

"What am I getting myself into?" Jason wondered aloud.

Jason watched the numbers on the screen as the elevator went up. They came to stop at a rather unexpected number. Level 33.1.

The doors slid open, and Jason found himself in the middle of some kind of huge laboratory. A group of scientists in white lab coats surrounded a huge metal vat full of a thick green liquid, jotting down notes and monitoring the readings on a large bank of computer screens.

"Jason!" a voice called out. Lex Luthor strode across the lab towards him and extended a hand. "Glad you could make it."

Jason realized his mouth was hanging open. "Um. Yeah, no problem." He accepted Lex's handshake. "Lex, what the hell is all this?"

Lex smiled. "You probably read that my father finally closed down CADMUS Labs," he explained. "He and I had been fighting over that particular LuthorCorp acquisition for years. I'd been using it as a means to house my various off-the-books projects, so I had to relocate."

"And that green goo you've got brewing in that vat?" Jason asked.

Lex laughed. "It should look familiar," he said. "You're the one that sold it to me."

"That's the…?" He looked around at all the scientists, and quickly lowered his voice. "Do they know what this is?"

"I'm sure they have a vague idea," Lex said. "Don't worry, everyone here has the highest level of security clearance, and everything is kept completely confidential."

Jason took a few cautious steps toward the vat. It was only then that he noticed the huge row of canisters behind the vat, each filled with the same green liquid. Jason did indeed recognize the substance. It was the Green Goblin formula, created by Norman Osborn.

"Lex, I sold you the very last sample of this formula in existence. What I gave you was only a very small amount."

"And I have a very good team of scientists," Lex replied. "They were able to analyze it and make more of it. Lots more, as you can see. Except, well, we've been having some problems. That's sort of why I called you here."

"Oh?"

"This serum supposedly gave Norman Osborn, and then, later, Harry Osborn, incredible strength and agility," Lex said. "It's what turned each of them into the Green Goblin."

"Yes, that's right…" Jason said, slowly. He didn't like the way Lex was looking at him.

"So why is it, Jason, that every subject we've tested it on has failed to exhibit those traits?"

"What do you mean?" Jason asked, taking a step away from Lex.

"I mean that we've injected dozens of test subjects with this formula, and we've seen a very wide range of results, ranging from upset stomach to graphic, debilitating hallucinations. In a great many cases, sadly, the serum has proven to be fatal. But not in one single case, Jason, not one, has any of the subjects exhibited anything like the strength and agility that Norman and Harry Osborn got from the serum."

"I… I don't know, Lex, that is very odd… but why call me?"

"Well, Jason, I was hoping you could tell me if there was anything else found at OSCORP that could be of use to me. Any notes that may have been left behind on the proper administration of the formula, or any modifications that we'd need to make to get it to work." Lex took two steps toward Jason.

"I don't think so," Jason said, taking another step back.

"Well that's too bad," Lex sighed. "Because I would hate to think that you sold me a fake serum, especially considering how much I paid you for it."

"A fake-?! Now hold on Lex, I sold you the remains of the serum that we found at OSCORP, I never made you any promises about what it could or couldn't do!"

"Jason, Jason, calm down," Lex said, stepping right up to him and placing his hands on Jason's shoulders. More than a hint of menace had crept into his voice. "I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just… suggesting that it might be in your best interest to just, double check. Make sure there aren't any notes or plans that you may have forgotten about."

"Lex," Jason said, glaring back at Lex. "There is one thing you should know about that formula. It also drove both Norman and Harry completely insane. It may have given them incredible power, but at the cost of their minds."

"What are you saying?" Lex asked.

Jason shoved Lex's hands off of his shoulders. "I'm saying maybe you've been breathing these fumes too long." He turned away from Lex and walked back toward the elevator.

"Jason," Lex called after him.

Jason paused in front of the elevator doors as they slid open. He looked back over his shoulder at Lex.

"I'll be in touch," Lex replied, the same mysterious smile still on his lips. Jason nodded as he stepped back into the elevator, trying to shake off the cold chill that was running down his spine.