Spider-Bat: New Way Home

Chapter One: Bad Medicine

Richard and Mary Parker, esteemed scientists at Oscorp, sat in Norman Osborn's office, engaged in a crucial discussion with Osborn and Dr. Otto Octavius.

"Please hear me out," Richard implored. "My wife and I have been trying to conceive, but due to Mary's medical condition, she is unable to become pregnant. We are aware that you have been developing a drug that could potentially cure her condition, and we respectfully request your consideration in allowing her access to it."

Norman leaned forward but remained silent, instead shifting his gaze toward Otto, signaling him to respond.

"The formula we have been developing is far from being ready for human trials," Otto stated firmly.

"I've seen firsthand what the formula is capable of!" Richard countered. "It is ready!"

"While it has shown promising results in lab animals and insects, I assure you, it is not yet safe for human application," Otto reiterated. "Several of our test subjects have exhibited severe complications. We have yet to determine the true origins of the alien compound. In cases where test subjects did give birth, they produced only black larvae, which hatched into unstable offspring. Would you truly wish to take that risk with your own child?"

Mary leaned in. "That's not entirely accurate. We have successfully utilized the alien DNA to cure our subjects while isolating the unstable components. Test Subject P is proof of that."

Norman chuckled, finally choosing to interject. "Test Subject P is an arachnid! Do you really want to inject yourself with something that has only shown success in a single spider?" he scoffed. "Besides, even if it were viable, all test subjects—and their offspring—are proprietary assets of Oscorp."

"Mr. Osborn, please be reasonable. We have dedicated over a decade to this company. Does that not warrant some level of consideration?" Richard pleaded.

"Your consideration comes in the form of a rather generous paycheck," Norman replied curtly, spinning his chair so that his back faced them. "My decision is final. Now, please leave my office." He waved a dismissive hand toward the door.

Mary and Richard rose, frustration evident on their faces. "Sir, I urge you to reconsider!" Richard pressed.

"I'm considering replacing the two of you if you don't leave my office immediately," Norman warned. "If you desire a child, I suggest you pursue adoption."

As they turned to leave, Mary suddenly paused and faced Osborn once more. "Isn't your wife expecting, Mr. Osborn? One would think you, of all people, would understand our struggle," she stated pointedly. "I also find it curious that she, too, was unable to conceive—until now. Fascinating how that worked out, isn't it? But I suppose, as you said, all test subjects belong to Oscorp." With that, she turned on her heel and exited the office, slamming the door behind her.

Norman swiveled his chair back around to face Otto. "Those two may become a liability," he remarked. "Restrict their security clearance and monitor them closely."

"Understood, sir."

"Additionally, contact Mr. Fiers," Norman instructed, his expression darkening.

Otto hesitated, knowing Karl Fiers was a hitman-for-hire, also known as The Finisher. "Mr. Fiers, sir? Are you certain that's necessary?"

"Relax, Otto. I have no immediate plans to utilize his services—unless, of course, they become a threat to our research."

"As you wish, sir."

Moments later, as Mary and Richard entered the parking garage, they were suddenly approached by another Oscorp scientist, Carl Brock.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Norman," Carl said. "I understand what you're going through. My wife and I were overjoyed when we finally had a child of our own. Little Eddie has brought immense joy into our lives. I believe I can help you achieve your goal."

"How?" Richard asked, intrigued.

"You mentioned the breakthrough with Subject P, but what you don't realize is that it wasn't the first success. There have been several others."

Mary furrowed her brow. "That's impossible. We work in the main lab. We would know if there had been additional breakthroughs."

Carl shook his head. "You work in the main lab, but Oscorp has another lab beneath the facility—one only a select few scientists are aware of. They've made remarkable advancements there. You should see what they've accomplished with bats."

Richard crossed his arms. "And how exactly do you expect us to access this so-called hidden lab if we don't have clearance?"

"Because... I do," Carl responded. "Meet me here tonight. I'll let you in through the back."

"What about security? Won't the guards see us?" Mary asked warily.

"I'll loop the security feed and disable the system that tracks door access."

"That sounds incredibly risky," Mary cautioned.

"I've done it before. Everything will be fine. Trust me. We'll be in and out before anyone even notices."

Later that evening, Richard and Mary met Carl at the designated location. True to his word, Carl led them discreetly through a back entrance at Oscorp.

"Are you absolutely sure security won't detect us?" Mary whispered, glancing around cautiously.

Carl nodded. "The security cameras are looped for precisely 9:00 PM," he assured her in a hushed tone. "I also placed motion detectors in the hallways. The guards just completed their routine patrol. They typically remain stationed at the front desk for the next thirty minutes. That window gives us ample time."

He led them to an elevator—one they had used countless times before. However, this time was different. Once inside, Carl entered a specific sequence into the keypad, triggering the elevator to descend beyond the known lower levels of the facility. When it stopped, he pressed another combination, and the doors silently slid open.

As they stepped into the hidden laboratory, Richard and Mary were taken aback by what they saw. Rows of enclosures housed test subjects—animals in various stages of experimentation. State-of-the-art equipment lined the walls, showcasing some of the most advanced scientific tools they had ever encountered. Yet, what caught Richard's attention most was the peculiar state of the animals and the strange, viscous substance coating their enclosures.

"Why are they covered in that black substance?" he asked, stepping closer.

Carl folded his arms. "That's not just some ordinary compound. It's alien in origin. It's using them as hosts."

Mary's expression tightened. "That's not what we observed in our trials. The test subjects in the main lab were never enveloped in the alien material."

"That's because those subjects were exposed to radiation," Carl explained. "The radiation forced the compound to detach itself. But here, without that interference, it's thriving."

Richard's mind raced. "Norman claimed they didn't know where the compound originated. Was that the truth?"

Carl hesitated before responding. "Not entirely. We don't know its exact origin, but we do know when it arrived."

Mary and Richard exchanged glances. "When?" they asked in unison.

Carl smirked. "Do you remember that meteorite crash in Smallville?"

Richard furrowed his brow. "The government recovered that wreckage almost immediately."

Carl nodded. "That's what they wanted people to believe. But it wasn't just a meteorite. It was a spacecraft. A witness reported seeing two individuals retrieving an infant from the wreckage. By the time they returned with help, both the individuals and the child had vanished—along with the pod the child had arrived in. The only remnants were traces of this black substance and a few green meteor fragments."

Mary's eyes widened. "If the government acquired the alien compound first, how did it end up here?"

Carl sighed. "Have you heard of Robert Bruce Banner? A young nuclear physicist—only eighteen, yet already a PhD graduate. When he first obtained the compound, he assumed it was dead, burned up from atmospheric entry. But after studying witness reports, he developed a new theory: the compound wasn't trying to destroy the spacecraft—it was trying to breach it to reach the child inside. When it failed, it burned upon reentry."

Richard remained skeptical. "If it was truly lifeless, how is it active now? And how did it end up in Osborn's possession?"

"Gamma radiation," Carl answered. "Banner discovered the compound wasn't dead—just dormant. He revived it using Gamma rays. But Gamma research requires immense funding, and the government wasn't willing to bankroll him. So, he made a deal with Osborn. In exchange for financial backing, he handed over part of the compound."

Mary inhaled sharply. "You're telling us that not only do we have a sentient alien compound, but there may also be an actual extraterrestrial living among us?"

Carl smirked. "Exactly." He walked to a metallic containment unit in the center of the room and pressed a button. A small glass vial emerged from within. The black substance inside pulsed, shifting restlessly.

"This," Carl said, "is what allowed Subject P to produce non-erratic offspring. It's also what made Norman's wife conceive."

Mary took the vial, inspecting the compound as it writhed inside. "How is this different from the unstable samples?"

"This isn't the same compound. This is its offspring—an evolved variant. It has adapted to Earth's atmosphere, much like humans evolved over time. But its evolution is accelerated. Injecting just a trace amount into your system will repair your cellular deficiencies and enable you to conceive—just as it did for Osborn's wife."

Richard wandered through the lab, examining the other experiments. His eyes landed on a group of shelled creatures feasting on bright green pellets. "What are these tortoises eating?"

Carl joined him. "That's 'Super-Food.' It's a synthetic formula designed to replicate the Super-Soldier Serum that created Captain America. And those aren't tortoises... they are turtles. They only look like that because the Super-Food has enhanced their growth. Norman is still refining the process, but he believes Banner's Gamma research will aid his breakthrough."

Richard's gaze then shifted to a glass enclosure containing a bat. The creature looked weak, almost skeletal. "Why does this bat look so malnourished?"

Carl's expression darkened. "Norman is testing how long the compound can sustain a host without nourishment."

Richard frowned. "That's inhumane." He grabbed a handful of the green pellets and tossed them into the bat's enclosure.

"No! Don't—" Carl started, but it was too late.

The bat ravenously devoured the pellets. Within moments, its body convulsed, and it began to grow—rapidly. Within seconds, it had tripled in size, its wingspan pressing against the glass. The enclosure groaned under the strain before—

CRASH!

The glass shattered, sending shards in every direction as the enormous bat unfurled its wings. It shrieked and swooped wildly through the lab, its movements erratic.

Carl dove for cover beneath a desk as the bat hurtled toward Richard and Mary. Richard raised his arms defensively, but—

"Ahh! Damn it!" he shouted, clutching his arm. "It bit me!"

Mary grabbed him, dragging him toward the elevator. "Carl, let's go!" she shouted.

Carl scrambled inside just as the bat lunged at him. He frantically keyed in the elevator sequence, and the doors slid shut mere inches before the bat could reach them.

As they caught their breath, Mary looked down and realized the vial she had been holding was shattered. The black substance was gone. Unbeknownst to her, it had already bonded with her.

Still shaken, she turned to Carl. "How did the bat grow so quickly?"

"Bats have short lifespans—five to ten years, unlike turtles, which can live over a century. That's why its transformation was so rapid."

When the elevator reached the main floor, Carl checked the motion detector feed. "The coast looks clear," he whispered. "Move quickly and stay quiet."

As they stepped out, Mary's foot crunched against a shard of glass.

"Who's there?!" a security guard's voice rang out.

Carl shoved them back into the elevator. "Go to the third floor. Take the fire escape down. I'll handle this."

Richard and Mary hesitated, but complied. They slipped out and drove home, their hearts pounding.

When they arrived, both felt unwell—feverish, weak.

"Is it just me, or is it burning up in here?" Mary murmured, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"I was about to ask the same thing," Richard replied. "Maybe we should lie down…"

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