So if you haven't noticed, I've went and rewritten the first chapter to have an origin arc for Ryan, how he was bitten by the spider that would give him his powers, his relationship with his brother, aunt and uncle and how the death of his uncle will affect him.
If you haven't seen the rewritten chapter yet, I recommend you go do so now so you aren't confused by the way this one is opening.
Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man. I only own the OC Ryan Parker/Wolf-Spider.
"I swear, I hate these vending machines." Ryan grumbled as he stared at the vending machine that kept rejecting his note, even when he was smoothing it out. "Can't Oscorp fix them? They have the money and technology!"
"Don't know, let me recommend it to my bad." Harry replied sarcastically while shaking his head in amusement alongside Peter and MJ, the trio watching Ryan get frustrated with the vending machine 'keeping his bag of crisps away from him'. "But if you break it, you buy it."
"I'm sure this place has got plenty to spare." Ryan said dismissively.
The quartet, along with their class, were at the Oscorp Industries building for the school trip. They had arrived not too long ago and were waiting for the guide that would be showing them around the building, and their first stop was apparently going to be the labs which got Peter excited much to Ryan's exasperation, and MJ's amusement.
Ryan sarcastically suggested Peter buying one of the labs from Oscorp, and MJ had to slap him and Peter, the latter for looking like he was actually considering it, while Harry laughed at their antics.
"Everyone." Their attention was soo directed, like the other students, to their teacher who stood beside a man they could tell worked for Oscorp, given he was wearing a lab coat and whatnot. "It's time for our tour to begin."
"If you'll follow me, please." The man said, gesturing for them to follow him to the escalators. "And do not touch anything you see unless with permission."
"Could be a little be warmer, couldn't he." Ryan remarked quietly.
"That's Oscorp for you." Harry said with a sigh. "The scientists here are always like that, since they like to be working. But don't worry, from the looks of it, we're going to the prosthetics lab first."
"Everyone, stick together, and don't wonder off. Follow all the rules and don't touch anything." The teacher called, shooting the students stern looks since some were troublemakers and would no doubt not follow the rules.
As the tour went, the guide talked about the history of the company and all the genetic and medical breakthroughs they've done. However, only Peter, Harry, and Ryan and Mary Jane to an extent, were paying attention, everyone else was finding it too boring, and were just happy to not be in class.
Even the teach was barely holding on to staying away.
The prosthetics lab was something to see, Ryan will admit that, but he doubted the people getting a prosthetic would be too keen on being watched as their missing arm or lab was replaced.
They went up to one of the upper floors, into a work station. "Currently, our lab is studying a new experiment, known as Cross-Species genetics." The guide was saying. "The purpose of this is to be able to transfer animal or any other species' DNA into another lifeform. Intentionally creating a new species."
"Like a hybrid." Peter muttered in awe.
"Or that chimera story from Greek mythology." Ryan shrugged. "I don't see the purpose of mixing an animal's DNA with another's."
"Oscorp is always trying to think of ways that could cure diseases and even end cancer." Harry told him, his gaze turning downward as he muttered. "Even diseases like Oshtoran Syndrome."
Ryan, Peter and MJ gave their friend sad looks, knowing he was referring to the recent loss of his mother who died due to Oshtoran Syndrome. It's a rare heritable neurological disorder with additional organ systems involved as well, especially the liver, and the sympathetic nerve system.
Patients suffering of Oshtoran Syndrome present symptoms affecting their cognitive functioning, psychiatric health, movement control, liver (fatty infiltration, hyperplastic nodules), fat metabolism, abnormal adrenal gland functioning and additional issues which are caused by disturbed signalling functions in the nervous and additional systems due to functional changes in a part of the immune system.
"So what? You're trying to make freaks? Like those mutants?" Flash Thompson said, causing some muttering amongst the students at the thought of Oscorp creating mutants. Ryan shook his head. He didn't see what the big deal was with the hate against mutants, how they were a danger to humanity. Mutants were just as human as anyone else!
The guide shook his head. "No, you misunderstand. We are looking to discover the secrets hidden in the animal kingdom, and reproduce certain genetic attributes."
Peter raised his hand. The man nodded to him. "You mean, like when a woman gets Parkinson's when the brain cells that produce dopamine start to disappear. However, there is a species, the zebrafish, which has the ability to regenerate cells on command."
"If you are able to somehow pass that ability to the woman, she will insentiently cure herself." Ryan added, following his brother's train of thought. Hey, just because he wasn't as interested in science didn't mean he wasn't intelligent. Sometimes knowledge of this stuff as essential.
The man smiled in surprise and impressed at the teens' intellect. "Very observing. Yes, something like that is the goal of our Cross-Species project." He then turned to the group. "Now then, there is something I must check. Please feel free to look around. But do not disturb the workers, or mess with anything."
With permission to move around, the group separated into groups and went their own way. Ryan, Peter, Mary Jane, and Harry – who had been in the back, looking bored – were looking at the cases that held some spiders.
"Now look at these guys." Ryan chuckled as he looked at one, a Funnel-Web Spider. "Careful you don't encounter one of these guys. I hear they are pretty venomous."
"An Australian Funnel-Web Spider is one of the world's most dangerous spiders." The teens heard and looked to see none other than Norman Osborn, Harry's father, standing there with a small smile. "I see you are enjoying yourselves."
"Hey dad." Harry greeted, getting a nod in response from his father.
Peter then noticed one of the cases was empty. "Hey, what about this one?" He asked, pointing to it.
Norman took a look at it and blinked. "Ah, that one held a Wolf-Spider, which is currently being worked on in the lab. These spiders are also part of the Cross-Species Project. However, the ones you see here are perfectly normal, as they are set to be genetically-altered as part of the Cross-Species project. But once they are picked for the experiments, they'll be placed in an storage area where they'll be safe and away from the public eye, so as to not cause an accident or harm."
"And the Wolf-Spider is the first subject?" Ryan asked with curiosity.
"Indeed." Norman nodded with a small smile. "Wolf-Spiders are known to not present much of a threat to people, so we figured working on one shouldn't present much of a problem. Say, I hear you kid have a school trip to a genetics laboratory next week at the Columbia University, correct?"
"Yes sir." MJ nodded.
"Hmm, I hear they are also working on spiders there as well." Norman mused, putting a hand to his chin. "Though I doubt it's the same work we're doing on our spiders. Harry, you will tell me how that goes, won't you?"
"Sure." Harry nodded.
"Um, Mr. Osborn." A nerous man came up to the CEO of Oscorp and whispered something to him. Whatever it was, Norman did not like to hear it as his expression shifted to one of contained fury.
"What?" He hissed then regained his calm composure as he turned to the four. "I'm sorry, kids, it appears I have an urgent matter to attend to. Do enjoy the rest of your time here. Harry."
"Dad." Harry said and they watched him leave with the nervous scientist.
"What do you think that was about?" Ryan asked, getting headshakes in response from the other three.
They were unaware of a eight-legged arachnid crawling out of the air vent above them.
"What do you mean, it broke out?" Norman asked with a furious tone as he entered the lab where the scientists had been working on the Cross-Species project. The lab chosen to be used for the gene-splicing and genetically-altering of the subjects.
"W-We're not sure how, sir." The head scientists said with a nervous gulp, knowing he may end up fired because of this. "We took our eyes off it for several minutes, and when we looked back it had somehow broken free and escaped. We're not sure where it could have gone, but it would've crawled into the vents or somewhere dark like all spiders like."
Norman groaned in frustration, but kept his temper in check as best as he could in light of this news. "Do what you can to find the spider and put it back before it does any damage, or worse bites someone. I don't even want to imagine what a genetically-altered super spider's bite would do to a human being when it hasn't been tested properly yet."
"Yes sir." The scientist nodded and they got to work on looking for the missing arachnid.
"Man, if Mr. Osborn was right, then I can't wait to see what the genetics lab is got going with their spiders." Peter said as they were checking out more displays.
"I swear, I'll call in sick that day so I don't have to see anymore science stuff." Ryan said with an eyeroll. "Interesting as it is, it's probably just a similar thing Oscorp's doing to these little guys."
"Oh don't ruin his fun, Ryan." MJ said as she held Peter's hand. "He's just excited. You know how he gets."
"Yeah, especially when he talks about that Otto guy." Harry joked with a snort.
"Hey! Otto Octavius is an amazing scientist." Peter said defensively. "I hope I can work with him one day."
"You'll be the next Einstein if you keep at it, brother." Ryan said patting his brother on the shoulder. He joked about Peter's obsession with science, but he liked that his brother had a path picked for his future... which was more than he can say for himself. He didn't know what he'd be doing after he graduated from school. Maybe he'll study abroad, travel the world, or think MIT.
"What about you, Ryan? Got any part-time jobs going while you're in school?" Harry asked curiously.
Ryan sighed and shook his head. "Nah. Maybe delivering pizzas or work as a part-time photographer for the Daily Bugle... though I dread ever having to work there."
Mary Jane looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong with the second choice? The Daily Bugle cover some great news." She said. In fact, she herself wished to work there one day as they were one of the top five news businesses in Manhattan.
Ryan nodded. "That's true. However, it would mean that I would have to work for J. Jonah Jameson." He said, scoffing as he crossed his arms. "He's nothing but an egotistical jerk who only wants to make people look bad. I mean, have you seen he's last headline? "Orphans cluttering the streets! No room in society!" That guy likes writing false news more than he likes hearing the sound of his own voice!"
"It can't be that bad! I mean, I may end up working there one day as a photographer." Peter argued.
"I won't even be surprised if you do." Ryan shook his head.
Time passed and the group drifted off. Ryan leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he just looked around with his eyes. He shook his head at seeing Flash Thompson and his buddies messing around as they always do. Peter showing MJ some displays of stuff that weren't spiders, and Harry had gone off to get a soda from the vending machine... one that would actually work and take his money.
Cheeky bastard.
Unbeknownst to him, the genetically-altered wolf-spider that had escaped the lab and scurried through the vents was hovering over him from a metal bar. Its eight eyes looked down at him. Its primal instincts were drawn to him for some reason. Slowly and carefully, it created a web line and began to lower itself down to the young man.
"Alright everyone!" Looking up, Ryan saw the teacher. "Gather around. We'll be heading up to the top levels to see more."
A few students groan at that. Rolling his eyes, Ryan pushed off the wall, and approached the gathering group of students.
The students were soon gathered in front of the teacher. "Alright then, let's get going."
"Further into the Temple of Doom." Ryan joked, getting chuckles from MJ and Harry while Peter shook his head at his older brother's antics. "You know, I'd be a great Indiana Jones."
"No, you wouldn't." Peter scoffed.
"Would so!" Ryan argued. "Exploring ruins and temples, setting off ancient booby traps-"
"Being afraid of snakes." MJ cut in with a smirk, getting a look from Ryan.
"Okay, I'd argue with the writers on that one. Seriously, why snakes? Why not... sharks or something?" Ryan asked, getting headshakes from his brother and friends at his ridiculous question. "Or even a cat? Heck, make Indy afraid of spiders-AHH!"
Ryan yelled out in pain when he felt something pierce his right hand and looked to see a spider. Quickly, he smacked it off his hand and stomped on it, then shook his hand as pain coursed through it.
"Ryan, are you alright?" Peter asked, looking at him in concern as did MJ and Harry, the trio had been walking ahead of Ryan when they heard him let out a yell of pain, though it didn't attract anyone else since it wasn't that loud of a yell.
"Yeah, just..." Ryan blinked and shook his head as his vision blurred for a second and he started feeling his head aching and pulsing. "Woah... just, got a bug bite."
MJ's eyes widened. "One of those spiders?"
"It was a spider, but... maybe one from those cages." Ryan said, jerking his left hand to where the normal spiders were placed in their cages. "I'll be fine. It's only a spider bite."
"It could've been venomous." Peter argued.
"I'll be fine." Ryan insisted, though his voice sounded a little weaker and his vision blurred once again but he shook it off, taking in several deep breaths and exhaling. "They most likely took the venom out to prevent any complications should one of the scientists get bit."
"He's right." Harry nodded, though still eyed Ryan with concern. "My dad mentioned that they didn't want to take any risks, so the spiders are depleted of their venom before being brought here since they are captured from the wild. The only thing I'd say is you'll have a nasty bite wound."
Peter and MJ looked at Ryan with concern, but he waved them off and walked ahead glancing down at his hand where he saw two red puncture marks. That spider had a nasty bite.
'If it wasn't venomous... why am I feel so weak and dizzy?' Ryan thought, exhaling quietly as his headache got worse. The sooner this trip was over, the soon he could go home and sleep it off. Maybe he'll feel better the next day...
Sorry if the chapter wasn't that good, especially the bit about Ryan being bitten by the wolf-spider, I was trying to make it interesting, as well as the body's reaction to the bite. I mean, Peter felt ill after he got bitten by the spider, which was a radioactive spider, so I wonder how the body would react to the bite of a genetically-altered spider.
Now, there's the difference in terms of the spiders that will bite the Parker brothers. Peter's will be a radioactive spider, while Ryan's is a genetically-altered super spider, and yeah the Cross-Species thing is a reference to the same thing from The Amazing Spider-Man movie.
Now, this does leave wonders for what abilities the spider bite will give to Ryan, aside from the superhuman strength, stamina and speed.
Should he have organic webbing like the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man or make his own web fluid like Peter does?
Does anyone have suggestions for powers? Or what affects the wolf-spider bite could've done to Ryan's body?
Let me know in the reviews, please.
