Author's notes: I was watching "The Symbiote Saga" with my younger sister, who has seen only a handful of USM episodes (and Spidey-related media). I pointed out how this USM cartoon only featured characters that matter to the immediate storyline and questioned what happened to Norman. She imagined that Norman could've tried to get a backup generator going after the initial Carnage outbreak and got trapped in the generator room. Since we'll never know, here's a fanfic with an idea. Enjoy!
Summary: [Set during "The Symbiote Saga"] A battle between a Carnage father and his Anti-Venom son. With Spider-man trying to mediate.
Symbiote Side Mission
"Uh, oh. Uh, oh. Not good," Spider-man muttered to himself. "Definitely not good."
Anti-Venom was an unstoppable force. It cured any citizen of New York City infected with the Carnage symbiote in an instant. A quick tap of a palm to chest was all that was needed for some. Its primary target was Venom. However, its prey was no ordinary victim. Agent Venom was following orders to guide the run alongside other heroes. Anti-Venom eagerly sprinted, discounting the cracked sidewalks and asphalt.
The idea was to get it to pursue the black symbiote while also leading it to the heart of the chaotic Carnage infestation. The peak of the building where HYDRA was working housed Carnage's nest. The Carnage-covered people sought to destroy Anti-Venom because Anti-Venom could destroy them. Spider-man was sure of his plan. He only doubted when Anti-Venom fell through a gaping hole. The area was near Oscorp.
"Blast it!" Spider-man cried.
No one else noted the missing attacker. The wall-crawler needed to return Anti-Venom back to the chase. He dropped himself down the same hole. The space contained unreliable lighting. He spotted the debris from the collapsed, damaged structure. Dry wall crumbled while wires dangled above.
"C'mon, Harr, where are you?" he asked himself. He assessed the area as he stealthily moved about. The heroes needed to rescue the city. The one under the red mask also wanted to save his best friend.
Spider-man came to an open space between rubble. His eyes spotted something white and tall.
"All this disease," Anti-Venom grumbled. "It must be purified!"
It was searching for its target. Agent Venom had fallen off its radar. It seemed to be mad. Mad at all the roaming symbiotes. Mad with its power in cleansing them.
The web-spinner couldn't loose track of the white symbiote. There was a mission to complete. He approached with caution.
"So, uh, Anti-Venom," he casually called.
His white eyes met with the flaming orange. A shiver rushed down his spine. Anti-Venom showed no interest in fighting him. But he still needed to watch himself.
"How's about we get you back to that icky home of Carnages, huh?" he asked. "You can relax and watch some TV while I keep those annoying Carnage-covered citizens away?"
Anti-Venom rejected his proposal. It screeched, "Must find Patient Zero!"
Using its powerful legs, it leaped for the web-slinger. It extended its claws to rip apart the red and blue fabric.
"Hey, now!" Spider-man yelled. He managed to dodge the rushed attack. "No need to be this hostile!"
At full force Anti-Venom charged towards the web-head. The teen hero jumped, leaving the white symbiote to crash into a wall. The remains of the building shook while chips from the ceiling dropped.
Red boots landed on the ground. So far, the detour was between Spider-man and Anti-Venom. They were safe from any Carnages searching for it. As white claws once again aimed to slash the web-spinner, Spider-man quickly skirted.
"To find Patient Zero, we need to stop fighting," he reminded. He then asked, "Why do those Carnage people wanna go after you, anyway? Do you owe them money?"
Anti-Venom was prepared to attack but stopped. It stood in place. Silently, its burning orange eyes stared forward. It seemed fascinated with one particular spot.
The hero turned surprised. He ceased his sporadic movements. He gazed in the same direction but was unable to see past the darkness. "New game? You know playing I Spy doesn't go well in the dark."
Out from the shadows came a rather tall Carnage.
"Is that?!" Spider-man's eyes widened as he gasped. "Norman Osborn?!"
The towering Carnage laughed manically. Such a horrid howl was eerie to hear. It was similar to a certain green villain Spider-man had already faced.
Questions arose in the teen hero. No doubt the battle between himself and Anti-Venom caught the attention of any nearby Caranges. Symbiotes could also sense the presence of other symbiotes.
As his emotions ran wild, all Spider-man could shout was, "Where were you?!"
Unknown to the hero, the father was present with his son lost in a coma. Once the Carnage outbreak occurred, the power had ceased throughout the city. His son, relying on life support, was in danger. When the power remained off, he panicked. He darted towards the backup generator room. He was successful in putting the electricity back on. But something was wrong with the mechanics. He was stuck in the room. His only exit came when he succumb to the power of Carnage.
The red symbiote maintained its demented demeanor. Sharp teeth formed its deranged smile. It set its erratic eyes on the white creature. It didn't matter who was the host of what. All the tall Carnage could do was think about its calling. It was the duty of all Carnages—eliminate Anti-Venom.
Inhaling deeply, Carnage shouted, "Destroy the purifier!"
Its deep voice echoed. It rushed towards Anti-Venom.
Spider-man gasped. He couldn't allow either one to harm the other. Running, he set himself in front of Anti-Venom. He pleaded to the tall Carnage, "No, wait! That's your son—"
A red hand swatted the wall-crawler aside.
He rolled across the dusty ground. His head spun. "However this happened… Good thing Norman isn't fused while being a Goblin! That'd open up a different can of worms. And I am not looking to be a fisherman at the moment."
Through his blurred vision, he watched as red claws battled against white ones.
"Must purify!" Anti-Venom charged towards the tall creature.
Carnage laughed wildly. He easily evaded the white symbiote's cleansing touch.
Spider-man frantically watched as the father and son, albeit taken over by symbiotes, were going at each other. He needed to stop the feud. Coming to his feet, he raced towards the controlled Osborns. He shot his webs to form a barrier between the two.
Both the white and red symbiotes halted their movements. They spotted the other past the spread webs. Anti-Venom tried to claw himself through the thick blockade. Carnage laughed at the feeble attempt. He raised his own hand.
Spider-man tried to gain their attention. He shot his web to hold back the red symbiote's arm. Carnage glared at him.
As he held the reign, the wall-crawler implored, "Norman! Is there a way for you to fight this?! I know it's not a Goblin, but you promised your son that you wouldn't go down this path again!"
Carnage dismissed the web-head's words. He slashed apart the webs holding him back. Both Carnage and Anti-Venom bustled to the other side where they could face each other once more.
The web-slinger decided another approach. He tried to cut off Anti-Venom from its path. "Harry! You don't wanna fight your dad, do you?!"
"Must scour this whole mess!" was his given reply. The host showed no signs of being conscious. Anti-Venom was fully in charge.
Spider-man's pleading on both sides seemed hopeless. He tried to keep focus on the current objective. Yet it seemed Anti-Venom was only interested in its present target. Despite the dour situation, the web-slinger tried to do what he could. "I'm not gonna let you two continue fighting! Not when things were just getting better between you two!"
He hustled towards Anti-Venom. He jumped and aimed a kick. As his red boot was about to imprint on the white symbiote, his attacked was stopped. Anti-Venom caught Spider-man's foot.
"Uh, I don't suppose you plan on tickling me—" Spider-man's comment was interrupted with a yelp. He was flung towards Carnage. "What is with both Osborns using me as bait?!"
The red symbiote couldn't move in time. The masked ruffian crashed into it. The two landed far across from Anti-Venom. Spider-man fought against his dizziness. He heard footsteps pounding towards him. He shot a web to lift himself up. He moved himself off of Carnage. He barely caught the white symbiote rushing to the red one.
"No!" Spider-man cried.
Anti-Venom seized Carnage. It firmly held the other symbiote in place. The destructive symbiote was now powerless. The red slime began to burn away. Starting with the man's lower limbs, his usual business suit slowly surfaced. A strange pleasure came for Anti-Venom. It was designed to burn out symbiotes. It was accomplishing that task effortlessly. Before he could do anymore, something else caught its attention.
"Patient Zero!" it exclaimed. It had to eliminate Venom. The black symbiote was the cause of all the disease spreading like currency.
It immediately dropped its victim and bolted out. It didn't see who was underneath.
"Norman!" Spider-man cried. He sped and leaped. He managed to catch the fully exposed businessman before the older Osborn could hit the ground. "Norman, you OK? Can you hear me?"
The man didn't open his eyes. He only groaned.
"He's unconscious," the hero resolved. "Just like everyone else after coming in contact with Carnage then Anti-Venom."
He noted the white creature had vanished. He muttered, "I gotta return to Agent Venom and the rest of my team. But I can't leave my best friend's dad in danger. This whole area could collapse on him. I gotta move him to safe location."
Pulling the man's limb arm around his neck, Spider-man lifted himself up. His spider-strength easily handled the weight of a full grown man on his back. He shot a web. He swung himself up while carefully holding the older Osborn. The two made it to the cleared air.
Because Anti-Venom was nowhere to be found, the area was peaceful. Citizens cleansed of their Carnage curse were still lying on the ground, untouched. Spider-man located an empty bench. He hopped over. Gently, he placed down his father's best friend.
"Don't worry, Norman. I'll get your son back. I won't let anything happen to Harry."
He shot his web and began his way out.
He intended to keep his promise.
End Symbiote Side Mission
Norman as The Red Goblin, see Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #794-800, 2018.