Peter observed as Jonah hesitantly prepped the camera, a million thoughts racing through his head. For one, he'd never seen his former Bugle boss so submissive before. Granted, it was likely that the Goblin had used Randy's life as a bargaining chip, and speaking of the younger Robertson, how had he ended up in this, anyway? Had it just been a wrong place/wrong time scenario, or had he been sought out specifically? If so, why?
But the biggest thing going through his head was a simple question: what exactly did the Goblin intend to say or do during the broadcast? The obvious answer was that he was planning to kill him, but Peter was getting the sense that there was more to it than that given what his nemesis had said to him just a minute ago. Whatever it was, it likely involved Mary Jane and May, and for that reason alone, he had to figure out a way out of his restraints. He'd already been wracking his brain trying to think of something; sheer brute force wasn't likely to cut it against Adamantium, and even if he did make progress on that front, such exertion would draw too much attention. Perhaps the Goblin had some kind of control that would release him? He hadn't shown any such signs yet though, and as Jonah indicated the camera was ready, Peter knew he was running out of time.
"Alright, everyone!" the Goblin called out dramatically as if he were directing a production. "Places, and... action!"
Peter glanced over to his aunt and girlfriend; the latter made eye contact with him briefly, her expression conveying great concern even as she was clearly trying her best to be strong. He then turned back to face the camera, bracing himself for whatever was to come.
"Babe, would you mind coming in and getting the flour off the top shelf, please?"
"Coming right up!" Hobie replied as he hopped up from the couch. It had been a long day and an even longer way until dinner, but he just knew it would be worth it for Mindy's famous home-cooking, not least of which would be her chocolate chip cookies. However, before he could take more than two steps in that direction, a sound from the TV caught his attention.
"Hello, New York City! Tonight is a very special night, a night that has surely been stirring around in your heads for some time now! Tonight is the night where you will see the end of Spider-Man!"
The Goblin then stepped out of the way and gestured behind him, revealing none other than Spider-Man himself, who was seemingly contained behind him. Hobie could almost feel his jaw hit the ground as he stared at the sight before him.
"Hobie, what are you..."
His wife didn't even get to finish as she came alongside him; he didn't need to see her to know she was just as caught up on what she was looking at as he was.
"Yes, folks," the Goblin spoke up again. "Your hero, the one who has saved all your miserable lives countless times over is now completely at my mercy! Oh, and we have some other special guests as well..."
The camera then panned over to reveal three women, one closer to his own age and two older ladies as well.
"First up, we have Ms. Mary Jane Watson!" the Goblin announced, coming up alongside her and clutching her face in his hand. "Hmm, a fine specimen, isn't she!? Next up, we have this sweet lady here, a pillar in her community, Ms. May Parker, as well as her dear friend, Ms. Anna Watson. What if I told you that these three all have a connection to Spider-Man? Ooo, you're curious now, aren't you? Whatever could it be!? Don't worry, citizens, you'll find out when we come back!"
The TV then went to their regular programming, and Hobie quickly made his way towards his room.
"Hobie, where are you going?" Mindy questioned as she followed closely behind him.
"I'm going to help him," he stated plainly as they entered their bedroom.
"Are you insane!?" she questioned him vehemently.
"Maybe," Hobie replied, "but I don't care. Someone has to do something."
He then yanked open a drawer at his work desk, pulling out some old lock picks as well as some other supplies he believed he might need.
"Babe, you can't do this!" she said. "Please, just stay here!"
"I can't, Mindy," he said, turning and leaving the room. "Spider-Man helped get me out from under the Kingpin's thumb; without him, I'd be either dead or back in jail."
"So, what, you're just going to break into county and get your suit back?" Mindy asked. "Do you even know where you're going after that?"
"I'd recognize the walls of the old stadium anywhere," Hobie said. "Me and a buddy of mine used to sneak in to watch games. I can at least get in undetected; the rest I'll have to figure out."
He then grabbed his jacket, slipping it on before Mindy grabbed him by the front of it and turned him to face her.
"Hobie, please," she said. "You're not a superhero."
"I know," he conceded. "But I can't just stand by while the man who saved my life needs my help."
His wife appeared to at least somewhat relent, though her head was now hung low.
"Hey," he said gently, placing his finger under her chin, lifting her head up slowly so her eyes made contact with his again. "You used to always tell me that I was more than what I had made of myself, that I could do more, be more when I stopped focusing only on me. Do you still believe that?"
His wife narrowed her eyes as a tear streamed down her right cheek, though she never averted eye contact.
"You know I do, Hobie."
"Then trust me also when I tell you this: I will fight with everything I have to make sure I come home to you, baby," he assured her.
Mindy then threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly as he reciprocated her gesture. If he was being honest, he was terrified at what could be about to happen, but his mind was made up.
"Go," she said once they finally separated. "Be the man who saved Spider-Man."
He cupped his wife's cheeks in his hands, planting a deep kiss on her lips before heading out the door, bracing himself as he prepared to do the last thing he'd ever expected: become the Prowler once again.
Peter struggled harder still against his restraints, though it was all to no avail. The Goblin's mocking laughter only made things worse, like a gallon of salt being poured onto a large wound. He couldn't give up though; he had to find a way out of this, especially since he now knew what was going to happen next.
"Oh, how happy it makes me to see you squirm and struggle like this!" the Goblin cheered gleefully, clapping his hands. "Ever a fighter, even to the end!"
Ceasing his efforts and breathing deeply, Peter turned to his nemesis.
"Goblin," he said, his tone much calmer and more sincere this time, "don't do this. You want me to beg? Alright, then I'm begging you: please, let M.J, May and the others all go. This has always been between me and you, Spider-Man and the Green Goblin. No one else needs to be involved in this but us. You can do whatever you want with me; I won't resist or struggle, no matter how you plan to kill me. Just... please, let them go."
Peter had expected the Goblin to laugh at his plea, knowing this effort was likely futile anyway. Instead, however, his long-time foe tilted his head seemingly in curiosity before slowly approaching him, stopping once their faces were about a foot and a half apart.
"I won't lie, your plea is touching, Spider-Man; yes, even when hitting against my stone-cold heart, it moves even me to sentiment..."
Frankly, Peter couldn't tell if the Goblin's sincerity was genuine or mocking. He didn't have time to decide which one though, as his enemy suddenly grabbed him by his throat, producing protests out of M.J. These were ignored by their opponent, whose eyes now conveyed a deep, powerful rage as he spoke once more.
"... but you see, no mere death of yours would satisfy me, no matter how torturous. You have long been a thorn in my side and a stain against my reputation, destroying my goals and cutting off my ambitions at every turn."
The Goblin leaned in closer still, his teeth gritted in anger.
"No, Spider-Man, the only thing that will satisfy me is if I take all of that from you, too."
The Goblin then released the grip he had on Peter's throat, allowing him to gasp for air until its flow through his lungs became regular again. His enemy then turned back to Jonah, motioning for the broadcast to continue.
"Let's roll!"
Peter observed as the light from the camera turned back on, indicating the broadcast was live once again.
"Hello again, New York City!" the Goblin spoke up, his arms again wide in gesture. "Before the break, I told you that the three ladies I showed you all had a connection to Spider-Man, and I promised that I would reveal to you what it is. Well, if there's one thing that I want you to know about me, it is that I am a man of my word..."
The Goblin then sauntered over towards Peter, whose heart rate was now threatening to spike...
"... so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen," the Goblin continued, "I present to you the man behind the mask, the true identity of Spider-Man, himself..."
The Goblin then grabbed Peter's mask and yanked it off all in one swift motion, revealing his face beneath.
"... Peter Parker!"
Time seemed as though it had stood still after that, as Peter just stared into the camera at first, his body seemingly in shock. His most treasured secret was now out there for all the world to see.
"That's right, folks!" the Goblin carried on, "your supposed savior, the one you count on to keep you and your kids safe, is just some kid that's been stumbling through this, making it all up as he goes along!"
Peter glanced towards the others; their reactions were all across the spectrum. May's face indicated her shock, her jaw down to the floor, which was similar to Jonah's expression. Anna Watson's was a little different, her narrowed eyes displayed more confusion. When he came to M.J. though, the only thing Peter saw in her eyes was fear. There was no way to know whether it was fear for him or herself, but, despite his own shock, he already knew both answers were equally valid now.
"Is THIS your hero, New York!?" the Goblin shouted, continuing his tirade. "Is this the one you've been counting on? This young man with no training, no money or resources, and no regard for his own life!? Well, I say: no more!"
The Goblin then walked over to Harry, extending his hand. His son in turn presented him with a long sword that looked as though it was sharp enough to cut air. Peter watched as his foe admired his weapon, looking it over with a gradual smile on his face as he walked back to where he'd been just moments ago.
"Make no mistake, Manhattan: this city belongs to the Green Goblin now," Peter's enemy declared, pointing his blade at the camera, "and my first act as your ruler is to rid this world of the lying, miserable stink of Spider-Man!"
The Goblin then turned back, walking over towards Peter.
"But if you're worrying about your loved ones, fear not," the Goblin assured him. "I've been going back and forth on this even until now, but I've decided that I'm NOT going to kill them. No, I think I will simply leave that task to your enemies, who now all know who you really are, and their connection to you."
Peter's fists clenched, his blood boiling in red-hot, volatile anger.
"And you will die knowing that there is absolutely nothing you can do to save them."
The Goblin then raised his blade, preparing to land the killing blow.
"Goodbye, Spider-Man."
Suddenly, the room was thrown into pitch-black darkness as the lights were shut off. The sound of men being hit could be heard, the groans and yells piercing through the darkness. Peter glanced around vividly, his head on a swivel as his eyes fought to adjust to his new surroundings while he tried to deduce who the late arrival was. Whoever the individual's identity, they seemed to be making short work of the Goblin's forces... that is, until the lights came back on, revealing none other than the Prowler, who was currently holding one of the Goblin's men with his fist drawn back. Peter could now see that all but two other men in the room had already been knocked out, their bodies lying in various locations on the floor or against a wall.
"My my," the Goblin replied, his clapping laced with sarcasm. "How truly impressive this was. I expec..."
Prowler then aimed his right arm in the direction of the Goblin, firing a cable out of its gauntlet. Seemingly undeterred, the Goblin caught them like a kid catching a ball in the yard, immediately yanking his new foe towards him. The Prowler attempted another strike, seemingly hoping to use his momentum to his advantage, only for his target to instead snag him by his wrists before delivering a powerful blow to his helmet, slamming him straight to the ground hard.
The Goblin then picked up this new player in the game, who was clearly still stunned by the blow.
"Wow," he said, shaking his head as he turned back to Peter. "I have to say, I was bracing myself for some of your allies to come to your rescue, but I never expected THIS..."
The Goblin then returned his attention to Hobie, raising his sword in his hand.
"It was a valiant effort, to be sure, but, unfortunately, not enough."
"No!" Peter yelled. Before the Goblin could run his friend through, however, a loud crashing sound came from above them. He glanced up to see none other than Fireheart and Matt as they descended down into the building. More of the Goblin's men arrived on the scene, with Peter's horn-headed ally engaging them while Fireheart came up to Peter, trying to free him from his restraints.
"It won't work, it's adamantium," Peter clarified.
"The restraints may be," Fireheart said as he raced behind Peter. "But the rest of this isn't."
The man then began tearing away at Peter's resting point, ripping it apart through sheer brute force and allowing him to get the separation he needed from the adamantium and free himself. As he grabbed his mask off the floor, he found that the Osborns were escaping on their gliders, heading out through the hole in the ceiling that had just been made.
"Get them out of here," Peter said, gesturing towards his loved ones.
"You can't take them by..."
"DO IT!" Peter yelled, refusing to take any other answer. He then fired a web, pulling himself through the hole in the roof and after the Goblin.
Their rivalry had to end tonight, no matter what.
Here we go!
Continuing to pray for you all; stay safe and healthy!
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14
