Chapter 10: The Invisible Hand
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter and I'm thrilled to say this story has over 200 followers! Thanks for all your support and I hope for more to come. In the meantime, I think you'll like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves at the secret OSCORP lab, as Otto was hard at work on his next test subject, Alex who was inside a giant container.
"It's not that kind of suit, Mr. O'Hiren. You will never be able to remove it." Otto warns.
"But it's tough right?" Alex asks.
"Indeed, but your skin will fuse to the armor. A thick titanium hide that will—" Before Otto could go on Hammerhead approaches him.
"Is it me or is your guy trying to talk my guy out of it?" Hammerhead asks as Norman walks over. "Look O'Hiern you'll be tough. Tough enough to bring down you know who."
"Then what's the hold up?" Alex asks.
Using his 4 mechanical arms, Otto sealed Alex up tight and the titanium alloy was poured in causing Alex to scream in pain.
Otto was about to reach for the abort button when Norman stops him.
"Better finish it Otto. You owe me a success. No more flukes like the Sandman. I need super mercenaries I can mass produce. No matter how many thugs we have to go through or how many doctors." Norman threatens.
As the procedure was going through the final touches, they began to take note of Alex's new appearance.
"What's with the Jungle Look?" Hammerhead asks.
"The animal kingdom offers many useful ideas. That armor is a part of him now. A thick impenetrable hide. The extras atop there provide offensive capabilities making him unstoppable." Otto grins.
"The good doctor has his quirks, but this approach is competence. Your Mr. Lincoln will be pleased." Norman states.
"Never use the L word. We call him the Big Man." Hammerhead glares.
"What's going on out there?" Alex calls out.
"Mind your own business." Norman calls out.
"Right my business. Better get to it." Breaking out of his container we see Alex was now in a large suit with a sharp horn atop his head making him mimic a rhino.
Bursting out of the lab, he took to the city.
"Because the Rhino don't want to keep Spider-Man waiting!" Rhino declares.
The next morning we see a car was racing down the streets after some thugs had robbed a store.
"Help police!" The owner yells.
"Must be two thousand in here. Score." One grins.
"Spidey's too busy busting big bads to deal with us." The driver laughs when suddenly the car came to a stop.
"Hey why aren't we moving?" Looking out they saw the car was floating in midair.
"Spider-Man may not be around, but maybe we can have some fun instead." Stepping out hiding the thugs gasp seeing Miss Martian in front of them.
"Who the heck are you?" One asks.
"Just think of me as the girl who's gonna teach you a lesson." Miss Martian smirks.
By the time the cops showed up they see the car was shoved in a dumpster and the three thugs were tied up.
"What the? This doesn't look like Spider-Man's work." One cop said.
Little did they know Megan was across from them smiling.
'Hmm I'm starting to see why Jaden likes doing this. Maybe he'd be open to a partnership.' Megan thought before walking away.
Hours later, we see Gwen talking to Eddy at the lab.
"So I hear it's Fall Formal time at Midtown. Jaden ask you out yet?" Eddy asks.
"Jaden…hasn't gotten around to that. He's been busy." Gwen frowns.
"Yeah that sounds like him. Always got stuff on his mind." Eddy chuckles. "Tell you what how I be your date. I'll even dance with you."
"Thanks Eddy." Gwen smiles but part of her still wished she was going with Jaden.
Meanwhile at Jaden's house, we see Jaden going through the mail and notices one from Wayne Industries.
Slowly opening it, Jaden eyes widen seeing his first paycheck and a big smile appeared on his face.
"Hey Mom check this out." Jaden said heading to the kitchen.
"Jaden what has you in such a good mood?" Maya asks.
"First paycheck from my new job." Jaden smiles showing it to her.
"Nice to see Mr. Wayne is keeping you busy. There's enough on this for some bills and even to fix your tux for the dance." Maya hints.
"Mom please. We've been over this." Jaden said.
"Jaden I really think you should go. You work hard. You should have fun." Maya insists.
"But I don't even have a date." Jaden reminds.
"I might know where you can find one." Maya hints.
"MJ again mom?" Jaden asks.
"Well I don't see you trying to ask a girl out." Maya counters.
"I uh I did try a few." Jaden pauses remembering Barbara and Kara. "I'll think about it and get back to you in the morning."
As Jaden made his way up to his room, Maya just watched her son and smiles softly.
"You always put others first Jaden. But you need to make sure you're happy too." Maya said.
In his room, Jaden was on his laptop looking online when he sees an article on Wonder Woman saving a bus he chuckles.
"How much would Flash lose it if I somehow was able to ask Diana to the dance?" Jaden asks imagining dancing with the Amazon princess.
However, as he did a blush appeared on his face before he snapped out of it.
"Uh maybe for her sake and mine I better not." Jaden said wondering who else he could ask.
Hawkgirl was way too scary and he had no idea how to contact Limelight. Then there was Megan. Sure she was nice, but she was new to Earth it might be for the best that she learns a little more about Earth before he asks her to do anything.
As much as he hated to admit it, maybe his mom was right.
The morning of the dance arrived, and as Jaden walked out of his home he saw Mary Jane walking out of her house.
"Hey MJ! Wait up!" Jaden calls out.
"Hey Tiger, what have you been up to?" MJ asks waving to him.
"You know, life." Jaden shrugs.
"Yeah I get it." She giggles.
"Listen Mary Jane can I ask you something? It's gonna sound a little weird but…" Jaden said nervously.
"What's up?" She asks noticing Maya peek her head from the window.
"I know this is last minute, but will you be my date for the Fall Formal tonight?" Jaden asks.
"Say yes. Say yes." Maya mumbles.
"I'd love to." She smiles.
"Yes." Maya cheers making Jaden groan embarrassed while MJ giggles.
"Aside from the giant amount of embarrassment I am feeling right now. Thank you." Jaden smiles.
"See you tonight." MJ winks before walking away.
Turning around Jaden saw Maya look at him with a smirk that said I told you so.
"Don't you dare." Jaden said as he left for school.
"Oh Ryan would have fallen out of his seat laughing if he knew I pulled something like this." Maya smiles happy that her son had a date and even happier because it was the girl, she originally thought he would love to meet.
At the school, Jaden and Harry sat down for lunch.
"Well dude it's official. I am going to the Fall Formal with Glory Grant." Harry declares waving to said date who waves back at him.
"I got a date too. I just asked her this morning." Jaden said.
"Seriously? That's awesome dude." Harry smiles when Flash walks up from behind.
"Cooper? With a date? Yeah that's a good one." Flash laughs.
"It's true Flash. I have a date." Jaden said annoyed.
"Oh please. I bet you show up alone or not at all." Flash mocks.
Narrowing his eyes, Jaden decided to teach Flash a lesson.
"Alright, I'll take that bet. If I show up with a date you have to dress up like a cheerleader for Halloween." Jaden bets.
"You are so on." Flash grins thinking it was an easy bet.
As Megan was making her way outside her powers went off and she could hear tons of screaming in the distance.
'Uh oh that's not good.' She thought when she noticed Jaden nearby.
Running over, she grabs his hand. "Uh Jaden can I borrow you for a second? I have a homework question."
"Uh sure Megan." Jaden said confused as she led him away.
"Ha. Face it Cooper, that's the only reason a girl would ever talk to you." Flash mocks as they ran down the hall.
"What's going on?" Jaden asks.
"My telepathy picked up something not too far from here. Something bad." Megan said.
"Oh great." Jaden cringed.
At the Midtown Mall, Rhino was tearing things up causing mass panic.
"Come out come out wherever you are." Rhino said grabbing a kiosk and throwing it into the air.
As a woman screams in horror, Spider-Man swings in and yanks her to safety.
"Whoa careful." Firing a web he hits Rhino in the face allowing him to put the woman on the third floor.
Jumping down, Spider-Man lands across from him.
"You know normally people wait until Black Friday to become animals. What's your deal?" Spider-Man asks as Rhino ripped the webs off his face.
"You just you. And payback for all those times you took me down." Rhino growls.
"Wait? O'Heirn?" Spider-Man said seeing his face.
"Not anymore. Now I am Rhino!" He declares grabbing a bench and throwing it at him.
Jumping out of the way, Spider-Man fires a web at his arms to tie him up, but Rhino breaks free.
"Your goo is useless now." Rhino grins.
'First Marko becomes Sandman and now this? What's the Big Man's next move? Turning Flash into a monster?' Spider-Man thought dodging his attacks.
Rhino was about to throw a punch when a strange energy stopped him in his tracks.
"Hey what are you doing?" Rhino asks.
"Search me." Spider-Man said when Rhino was thrown back.
"Need a hand?" Looking up Spider-Man saw Miss Martian flying nearby.
"Miss Martian?" Spider-Man said surprised.
"What? You thought I was gonna let you have all the fun?" Miss Martian smirks.
"Hey always happy to have an extra hand." Spider-Man said.
"Who the heck is she supposed to be Spidey? Frog Girl?" Rhino mocks.
"Excuse me? Do I look like a frog?" Miss Martian glares.
Charging in, Rhino tried to flatten them but at the last second both dodged.
Firing a web, Spider-man swings onto Rhino's back.
"Yeehaw! Ride'em Cowboy!" Spider-Man said trying to steer him.
"Get off of me!" Rhino yells charging deeper into the mall.
"Whoa there! Whoa there! Down! Stop!" Spider-Man screams holding on tight.
Gasping Miss Martian flew after them.
As Rhino smashed through the structures. He jumped onto the second floor with Spider-Man holding onto him like he was a bull at a rodeo.
"Look out!" Spider-Man yells as the people jumped out of the way to avoid being crushed.
When Rhino rams into a pillar, Miss Martian used her powers to stop the rubble from falling.
Panting heavily, Miss Martian and Spider-Man look down at the rubble.
"Is this a regular thing with you?" She asks.
"Only recently." Spider-Man said.
'Spider-Man we got to get him out of here before he brings the whole place down.' Miss Martian said using her telepathy.
'Easier said than done.' Spider-Man thought. "Hey Needle Nose what do you say we take this outside?!" Yanking with all his might Spider-Man tries to steer him towards the door only to see they were charging right at a mother with her baby carriage.
Gasping he jumps off Rhino and pulls the two of them out of the way just in the nick of time.
"Maybe do your shopping another day ma'am." Spider-Man suggests.
Running to the fountain, Rhino smashes causing water to shoot out.
As Spider-Man and Miss Martian join up Rhino throws the fountainhead at them forcing them to dodge.
Pulling back we see Rhino was a little soaked as well.
"We need to lure him somewhere deserted so he can't do anymore damage." Miss Martian suggests.
"This is New York, where are we supposed to find anywhere that's deserted?" Spider-Man asks.
"You're the local hero you must know somewhere." Miss Martian points out.
Growling Rhino turns to them.
"Hey. If you two freaks are done arguing let's get back to crushing." Rhino glares.
"Freaks? Uh have you looked in a mirror?" Spider-Man asks.
Charging in, Rhino attempts to flatten them.
As they jumped out of the way, Rhino grabs Spider-Man by his leg.
"Uh oh." Spider-Man gulps as Rhino threw him out the door and flying into the streets.
"Spider-Man!" Miss Martian gasps flying after him.
Smashing into a Sporting Goods store, Spider-Man groans in pain.
"That's gonna leave a mark." Spidey groans as Miss Martian flew down next to him.
"Okay we need to work on this teamwork thing. We do a lot better when we have the adults as backup." Miss Martian cringed.
"Yeah well sadly they're not here. It's just us. I'm still working on it but I know we need to focus, dodge his moves and coordinate our attacks." Spider-Man lists.
"Right. Right. He's at his most dangerous when he charges so let's slow pace." Miss Martian suggests.
"Now you got it." Spider-Man said as Rhino charges in and smashes through the front door.
Using her powers, Miss Martian lifts up a shelf of bowling balls and throws them at Rhino in an attempt to slow him down.
As one rolled under his foot Rhino crushed it.
"Huh? That always works in Tom and Jerry." Spider-Man said a little disappointed.
Moving in Rhino rams into Miss Martian knocking her into the wall.
As he was about to charge in she phases through the ground making him run face first into it.
Panting heavily sweat ran down Rhino's head as he turned to Spider-Man.
Charging at him, the hero jumps over making him smash into the weights.
Looking around Rhino noticed a fridge of drinks by the register.
Grabbing the drinks, he started gulping them.
Landing on the upper part, both heroes looked down at him.
"What is he doing? Getting himself a drink before he crushes us? A little overconfident." Miss Martian glares.
"Or maybe it's something else…I got an idea." Spider-Man said.
Firing a web, Spider-Man yanks the drink away from Rhino.
"Hey break's over." Spider-Man calls out.
Growling Rhino leaps at them but at the last second Miss Martian makes them both intangible causing Rhino to smash right through the wall.
"Where are you?!" Rhino said looking around.
"Hey Needlenose over here!" Turning around he saw Spider-Man and Miss Martian jump down a vent. "Catch us if you can!"
"You can't run from me!" Rhino jumps down after them to see the room was full of pipes.
"Wow you look tense. Hey Miss Martian I think this guy could use a nice steam." Spider-Man suggests.
"Good idea." Using her powers, Miss Martian yanks all the vents out making them blast Rhino with tons of hot steam.
"What's a matter Rhino? Don't like the humidity?" Spider-Man mocks.
Growling he tried to punch him but Spider-Man dodges causing Rhino to break another vent releasing tons of steam into the room.
"My first mistake was trying to take you head on. Break that fancy suit of yours." Spider-Man said.
"Nothing can do that…big man's friend told me so…I'm impenetrable." Rhino pants.
"True but that also means nothing can get out. Your face is the only part of your body where you can sweat under normal circumstances that would work." Spider-Man starts.
"But in a hot room like this. You're not doing too well." Miss Martian realized wiping sweat from her forehead. "Phew. And I don't think you'll last much longer."
"I gotta…get outta here." Rhino said going for the ladder.
"Sorry no can do." Using her powers, Miss Martian breaks another pipe blasting Rhino just before he could climb up. "Bet you never seen a frog do that." She smirks.
Swinging in Spider-Man knocks Rhino to the ground, but this time he was too tired to get up.
"And she's done for. Come on come all and check out as we have transformed a rhino into a turtle." Spider-Man jokes making Miss Martian giggle.
"I swear I'm gonna crush you…promise Big Man I'd crush you." Rhino pants.
"Big Man?" Miss Martian asks.
"You losing it a bit Alexander?" Spider-Man asks.
"Only mama calls me Alexander. You're not my mama. Mama…mama." Rhino pants starting to hallucinate from dehydration and sweating.
"Wait Spider-Man. Who's the big man?" Miss Martian asks.
"He's a guy who's been sending villains after me, but I don't know who it is." Spider-Man said.
Walking over to them, Miss Martian puts a hand on Rhino's head.
"So Alex tell us who is the big man?" Miss Martian asks.
"The name is…Mr. Lincoln." Rhino said under her trance before collapsing.
"Lincoln?" Spider-Man said interested.
As the police pulled up, both heroes came out of the hole.
"All yours officers." Miss Martian pants.
"You're gonna need a crane." Spider-man said as both left.
Meanwhile, at Norman's penthouse, Mr. Hammerhead was in his office just getting off the phone.
"I'm impressed. Rhino's still underground and OSCORP already has the contract to build his prison cell." Hammerhead said as Norman walked down to him.
"After our success containing Sandman who else would the city call?" Norman smirks.
"Meaning you get paid coming and going. Sweet." Hammerhead points out.
"Very sweet, but these midtown brawls are starting to raise heads. Best cool down for a bit before people start asking questions." Norman suggests.
Grabbing his arm, Hammerhead makes Norman look him in the eye. "We cool down when the Big Man says so. Or do you want people to know who created Freak 1 and Freak 2?" He threatens.
"Please, there's nothing you have to trace it back to OSCORP or me." Norman scoffs.
"Really? What about Dr. Octavius?" Hammerhead points out when the door opens revealing Harry.
"Dad! I got straight As on my midterm, the Varsity Football team and I'm going to the Fall Formal with one of the hottest girls in school." Harry lists.
"Harry, can't you see I'm in a meeting?" Norman interrupts. "Get out."
"Yes sir. Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt." Harry said walking out with a dark tone in his voice.
Meanwhile, atop a rooftop, Spider-Man lifted up his mask as he and Miss Martian each gulped down a bottle of water.
"Phew. I am gonna need a shower after today." Miss Martian said as Spider-Man took out the Spider-Wave.
"Hmm Lincoln…" Spider-Man types before seeing something. "Here it is. L. Thompson Lincoln. Whoa this guy is a total philanthropist. Says here there have been a few criminal rumors about him in the past but none of them passed."
"Sounds like a good place to start." Miss Martian said.
"I'll check it out. Keep that telepathy thing of yours ready in case it gets ugly." Spider-Man said swinging away.
As the sun was setting, Spider-Man entered a large building.
As two guards with tazers tried to stop him, Spider-Man webs them to the ceiling before approaching a desk.
"I'm here to see Mr. Lincoln." Spider-Man said to the man behind the desk.
"Then you should make an appointment, but perhaps we can make an exception to the hero of the day." As the chair spun around Spider-Man saw a tall man with pale skin and white hair. "I am L. Thompson Lincoln."
"You mean the Big Man." Spider-Man corrects.
"I've been called many names, my personal favorite…is Tombstone." He declares standing up.
"Back off. I just took down the Rhino a man in a suit doesn't—" Before Spider-Man could finish Tombstone knocked him off his desk and to the floor.
Stomping on his chest, Tombstone pins Spider-Man under him.
"Don't move. Listen and I'll tell you the facts of life." Tombstone said.
"Not really in a listening mood." Spider-Man said.
"You're not fooling me. I can tell you're still worn out from your last fight. Listen closely. Whoever the Big Man might be has nothing against heroes. No hero can thwart enough crime to dent his income, but you, you frighten criminals off the streets entirely. Except when you're off battling the Rhino and then the Big Man's army of petty thugs think themselves to be under your radar." Tombstone explains getting off him and walking back to his desk.
"So as long as I keep fighting crime you'll keep making these goons?" Spider-Man realized getting up.
"Now you're learning, but there is a way out. Come work for me. You can still save the world like the pro heroes. I'll even pay you. All I ask is that you remember to look the other way on the occasion…any occasion I choose." Tombstone said taking out a case of money.
Pausing Spider-Man hated to admit it, but this was not an easy deal. If he said no more super-powered villains would be made and Tombstone's goons would rob while he's exhausted, but if he said yes it would stop and so would a lot of money troubles, but then he would have to look the other way at who knows how much crime.
"I can't…I can't ever look the other way again." Spider-Man declares saying no. "Put down the briefcase Tombstone. Let's put an end to this before any more people get hurt."
"If you insist." Tombstone said as the doors opened and 2 police officers came running in. "Officers, Spider-Man has trespassed on my property, assaulted my employees and threatened my life."
"Wait you can't listen to him. I know this looks bad like really bad but he's the badguy." Spider-Man gestures.
However, when the cops saw the webbed-up henchman they were otherwise convinced.
"Uh oh." Spider-Man gulps. 'Uh I need that escape route! Now!'
As the shots were fired a strange energy coated the bullets and made them fly out the window breaking the glass.
Using this opening Spider-Man jumps out and sees Miss Martian flying alongside him.
Landing atop a tall building a few blocks away Spider-Man and Miss Martian sat down.
"Thanks for the save back there." Spider-Man said taking off his mask.
"Who knew businessmen could be so deadly?" Miss Martian asks before noticing the conflicted look on his face. "Hey, why the long face? Now you know who the big man is."
"M'Gann what am I gonna do? If I keep fighting crime Tombstone is gonna make more dangerous villains for me to fight and even if I beat him his thugs are gonna do their thing while I'm distracted. I can't do this on my own." Jaden groans holding his head.
"There's something else…what else did he say in there?" M'Gann asks.
"He offered to pay me. Pay me a whole suitcase of money to look the other way whenever he says." Jaden said making her eyes widen.
"You didn't say yes did you?" M'Gann asks concerned.
"What? No. I can't ever look the other way. I made that mistake once." Jaden said.
Slowly M'Gann scoots next to him and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, it'll be alright. You just need to take a deep breath and we can figure something out. This is tough but you just need to look at your options and come up with an idea." M'Gann assures.
Looking at her comforting and supportive face, Jaden remembered how much help she was against the Rhino and helping him escape Tombstone.
"Well I might have one." Jaden said getting her attention. "Spider-Man can't be everywhere at once, so either I need a clone or…some backup. What do you say?"
"You want me to help?" M'Gann said surprised.
"I mean I can't exactly ask the League to help deal with a few petty thugs while they're off saving the world, but maybe I can find others I can ask for help. People I can trust. Like you." Jaden said making M'Gann blush slightly.
"We do make a good team. Plus I could use a little more experience." M'Gann admits.
"Then it looks like the Big Man will have to deal with more than just one hero from now on." Jaden smiles.
"Spider-Man and Miss Martian." M'Gann declares as they shook hands sealing it.
"Well as fun as this was I have one more thing to deal with tonight." Jaden said getting up and putting on his mask.
"Is it another supervillain?" M'Gann asks.
"Crazier…it's time for the dance." Spider-Man declares before swinging off.
Giggling M'Gann watched him leave. "See you, round partner."
That night at Jaden's house, we see Jaden wearing a tux for the dance with his phone in hand.
"Hey Bruce uh it's me Jaden. But then again I guess you knew that." Jaden said as he pinched his nose. "Listen. Things are a little crazy on my end and I need to talk to you. Call me back as soon as you can. Bye." Jaden said hanging up.
"Jaden are you almost ready?" Maya calls out.
"Uh yeah coming mom." Putting the phone in his pocket, Jaden made his way downstairs to see his mom waiting for him.
"You look so handsome in that." Maya smiles.
"Mom." Jaden blushes.
"You know you never did thank me for suggesting Mary Jane to you." Maya smirks.
"Please not now." Jaden groans.
"Say it. You owe me that much." Maya smirks leaning in.
"Fine. This one time ONE time. You made the right call." Jaden said.
"That made my day." Maya smiles in victory.
"Sometimes Mom I think you're an evil mastermind." Jaden deadpans.
"Love you too Jaden. Here I picked up the corsage." Maya said handing it to him when the doorbell rang.
Making his way to the door, Jaden answers it to see Mary Jane in a beautiful black dress that made her look drop dead gorgeous.
"Whoa MJ…you look amazing." Jaden said making her giggle.
"Face it Tiger you hit the jackpot." MJ smiles.
Jaden may have dealt with Rhino and Tombstone but this day was far from over in terms of excitement.