SPIDER-MAN: ALL ALONE (CHAPTER 19)
BLACK MARKET HIDEOUT, MANHATTAN…
Marty's men laid hurting on the ground as the ware goods were broken after attempting to lay a hand on Norman. Norman imposingly stepped across the place letting them know who they are dealing with. Marty who was bleeding from the forehead tried to move away but to no avail as Norman grabbed him by the neck.
"W-Wait…" Marty said gasping for breath.
"I offer my gratitude…" Norman said, "And you stabbed me in return."
Norman glared at Marty who was desperate for his life before dropping him onto the ground with his super strength right before closing and grabbing the suitcase that he originally brought over with the armour inside.
"Guess, I'll find better friends." Norman mumbled attempting to walk away.
"Wait! Don't go…" Marty begged while clutching onto his head still, "I-I'm sorry for attacking you. It's just…"
Norman then responded with maniacal laughter before punching down a man on the ground who was about to recover.
"You really think I care about 'sorry'?" Norman asked mockingly.
"You're obviously the great Norman Osborn." Marty said, "You know how much of a great deal you are. I obviously didn't know that you were capable of…Such violence."
"Tfph." Norman said changing to an oddly calm demeanour, "How about we start over?"
Marty nodded and then using a handkerchief, he covered the wound on his head and began to lead Norman back into a small office area.
"I admit… I always have guards with me when I do these 'business' talks. But since you knocked their headlights out… I guess I'll have to challenge myself." Marty said as he hastily cleared the desk.
As Marty sat down on his chair, he watched Norman calmly seat himself whilst glaring back. From then on, Marty knew he had no power over this man and had to cave into his demands.
"You know how much my company has been raided over the past few weeks?" Norman asked, "At first, I thought it was that dirty bird working for you."
"Oh, Adrian? We're totally on bad terms now so consider the commonality we have there." Marty muttered.
Norman slammed his fist on the table leaving a deep mark before continuing.
"You think that I just sit in my office all day while my slaves work?" Norman asked, "I have my own eyes around this city. And you think it's impossible that I don't know where all this stealing backtracks to?"
"Shit. No more. No head bashing please… I'll do what you ask. I can get my men to tinker that armour." Marty said cowering.
"You want a more meaningful life than your pathetic crime syndicate?" Norman asked, "Then you help me out. And who's to say? A piece of Oscorp is a piece of legitimate power."
Despite being at Norman's mercy, Marty knew the chance to gain something out of Oscorp would be momentous that he almost did not care about not being a boss. Norman smiled after making the proposal.
"That sounds sweet coming from you." Marty remarked with an anxious grin.
YURI'S HOUSE…
Spider-Man gathered with Gwen and Yuri to discuss the recent attempt to steal Greenwave fuel cells from Oscorp in Manhattan at the dining table.
"I kind of like hanging around this little 'precinct', you know. There's not a mess of paperwork in sight." Spider-Man said sitting relaxed.
"Keep your feet off the table." Yuri insisted whilst rolling her eyes, "And let's talk."
"Any info from Vulture himself regarding this robbery?" Gwen asked whilst having her feet on the table as well.
"Oh, you two." Yuri said rolling her eyes as she looked at the two with their feet on the table, "To answer your question… No. He didn't say anything. Keeps to himself and mostly obeys precinct orders. Which makes it feel like he isn't the perpetuator for all of Oscorp's attempted raids."
"Shoot. Remind me that there was a guy at the docks that we let slip when we caught Vulture?" Spider-Man said sitting back properly.
"Yeah, there was some guy. Had the oiliest hair I'd seen in a guy." Gwen commented.
"You're all such gifted detectives." Yuri said getting up from her chair, "Let me grab some 'paperwork' now for your info."
As Yuri left the table, Spider-Man and Gwen took the time to talk amongst themselves.
"A solo swing for a big robbery? Why didn't you tell me this?" Gwen asked.
"I didn't know it was big. I just thought doing a little friendly neighbourhood routine would help me catch a breather. I swear I didn't know the plot was thicker." Spider-Man insisted.
"You know, I already can catch onto when you're not telling things accurately." Gwen said back.
"It's real!" Spider-Man said, "All of it."
"Everything okay here?" Yuri asked coming back with sheets of paper clipped together.
"Yeah." The two Spiders both stated.
"Good, because here is your prime target." Yuri said placing the paper down, "Marty DeFalco, the next wannabe Kingpin with Fisk out of the picture."
"Oh, that's the face I remember." Gwen said.
"Looks like some lead band singer dude." Spider-Man chimed," Like Kurt Cobain. No offence to him."
"He's been on good conduct time for a while running an automobile repairs business that disguises a hidden crime syndicate." Yuri said.
"Well, we have an ID on the guy. Let's apprehend him." Gwen said getting off her seat.
"You'll have to pause for a moment. He's a crime boss with a technological edge. Don't mistake him for a mere man." Yuri warned.
"I guess you're right, Yuri. It's certainly interesting what people could yield to commit crimes." Spider-Man said, "Spider-Woman, let's finish this business."
OSCORP BOARD ROOM…
"Ladies and gentlemen, for her outstanding strategic methodology. We, the board of Oscorp would like to congratulate Donna Menken for her unanimous promotion as CEO. In these difficult times, we wish her the very best in pushing forward the company's interests." The COO addressed.
After the address, the room clapped for Donna who raised her hands for the appraisal.
"Thank you, you're all so wonderful." Donna said with glee, "I know it's been-."
But before Donna could finish, the door was kicked open with Norman dressed in a dark green business attire coming in alongside five men. Norman's face looked gross in front of the board with apparent veins on him being green.
"What the fu-?" One board member blurted upon seeing Norman.
"My personal sacrificial lambs." Norman greeted without a care.
"Norman? What happened to you? Furthermore, we have much to discuss." Donna said.
"Oh, we do… Donna." Norman said menacingly as one man closed the door behind them.
Staring down the board with sheer anger, Norman began to speak again.
"I know the tale that's about to unfold here." Norman said, "I know the vicious little knives you are all pocketing and I know how ungrateful you all are."
"Norman, if you don't understand what is happening. Then I'm afraid now is the time to hear. We have decided… That you are no longer our CEO due to suspect behaviour that you have demonstrated here at Oscorp." Donna said before pointing to the presentation screen in which she showcased Norman choking out the security guard.
"You lecture me… On the principles of Oscorp? The company I've inherited and built?" This isn't a dream…" Norman gloated stepping forward, "Oh, Donna…Look at yourself. No surviving family members; no spouse…No one to remember you."
Norman then whistled for a command and the men with him soon took out gas masks and wore them on their faces. Norman then took out his own which was more monstrous looking in design. In fact, it looked to be based on one of the masks hanging on the wall of his loft.
The mask had a light green texture to it as well as bulging yellow eyes. The mouth even had sharp tooth grin design to it layered on top of the mouth filters. As Norman put it on, he stared deep into Donna's eyes. And without hesitation, he got out two metal spherical looking devices with ticking sounds that had a green glow in them as well as a silver layer and threw them onto the table heavily.
The board gasped before the devices stopped beeping and exploded with a toxic gas. It was all too late for the board as one suction of the gas led to a strong reaction for breath. As it filled their lungs, some tried to move before Norman had his gas-masked men shoot the board members down with silencers.
Donna was anaphylactic as she choked and stared in shock at Norman with his mask on. As she felt her insides hurt, she ceased to move with her eyes going cold in seconds. Norman put his foot on her body before crunching a hip bone to add further insult.
"You pig…" Norman cursed bitterly before turning to his crew, "Welcome to your first day at work."
OSBORN LOFT…
"Dad, come on. Just a little more."
"Well, son...We're probably going to have to wait till you're older. This story kind of gets violent from here on."
"But it's just a fairy tale…"
"Back then, this used to be a story to scare others."
Norman bleakly looked out the window with his mind still fresh on the killing of the board staff. His mind soon began warp his vision of what he imagined taking back Oscorp would be like.
"In a few hours, you'll understand what we've just accomplished." Norman's evil conscious lectured.
"How am I going to get away with murder?" Norman said back.
"Don't think you're some holy angel, Osborn. You've spilled more than enough blood in your lifetime. Even before I was here." Norman said with grin.
As he talked with himself, the Living Brain decided to come into the room as a holographic projection of Emily.
"You have indeed taken Oscorp to the next level. You've shown more of its true colours." Emily spoke.
Turning around to look at the hologram, Norman with his blank face talked back.
"I have nothing more to be ashamed of. And soon, you'll be dealt with next." Norman said.
The hologram of Emily then disappeared without a word leaving Norman alone. Norman turned back to the window and reminisced on the monster he became as well as the memories of Harry he shared in relation to a fairy tale that he remembered.
"Tell Harry, that the Green Goblin will make things right." Norman said to himself.
TO BE CONTINUED…