SPIDER-MAN: ALL ALONE (CHAPTER 32)
YURI'S HOUSE…
Yuri's collaboration with Spider-Man had allowed her to make some daring decisions that would certainly raise eyebrows from her fellow police officers. Spider-Man with Yuri's permission was given the chance to use her home bathroom to fix his suit and clean up.
It was risky but helping Spider-Man is definitely part of Yuri's plan to save New York as an ordinary citizen herself. There was no other viable alternative unless she had the time to play hero herself.
"Thanks for letting me use this bathroom. I promise I won't gloss over anything weird. When this is over, I promise to shower you with some new soaps and towels." Spider-Man said behind the bathroom door.
"The Lizard has been safely secured into a Raft cell." Yuri informed outside, "But I can only expect that the Raft will contain him long enough before he gets out again."
"Tell me one thing, Yuri." Spider-Man requested.
"What is it?" Yuri asked whilst being ready for the next joke.
"Is that Lizard actually a person or is it an animal gone big and rouge?" Spider-Man asked.
"The evidence we picked up confirms that this Lizard was a human. Thanks to a witness who survived the encounter by him at a downtown laboratory previously owned by ESU and now Oscorp. We're also getting the word that this creature is in fact Dr. Curtis Connors himself based on the human DNA found in his samples." Yuri informed.
Spider-Man said nothing at first behind the door before sharing his thoughts.
"Well, that answers it." Spider-Man said.
"You surprisingly didn't have anything sharp to say about that info. Hey, how's your changing going?" Yuri said with impatience and ready to open the door.
As soon as Yuri gripped the door handle, she was ready for her eyes to see what Spider-Man looked like underneath the mask. She did not care about the age or looks and was more concerned about how her bathroom was being used. Rattling the door handle, she found that she could not open the door.
"Did you web the door shut?" Yuri asked trying to go in.
"Sorry. Occupational hazard." Spider-Man replied, "Did you want your toothbrush?"
"No… I…" Yuri said flustered, "What stage are you up to in there?"
"Hey, don't rush me. I know how to fix a suit and every time I do, I get better at it." Spider-Man informed.
Inside the bathroom, Peter laid out his suit on the floor and was stitching up all the biggest tears he incurred. He wore nothing but boxer shorts and was glad the door was tightly shut so he could focus. With the information on what happened with Curt, he wanted to be out there again and right now, those close to him are all in danger.
OSCORP ROBOTICS…
Oscorp was put on high security lockdown with revelation of Norman Osborn's identity as the Green Goblin and the future of Oscorp was hazy. Because Norman had wiped out the executive board with the help of criminals, the place was a stronghold hoarding the best technology and defences money could buy and create.
All genuine Oscorp employees except one remained and that was Mendel Stromm, the mind and construct of the Living Brain. Confined digitally to the system, he plotted with grimace and time on his long-awaited plan to bring Oscorp down to the ground.
In the Robotics department, one computer screen flickered with a downloading bar present in front of a blueprint schematic of robot. There were machines at work assembling a humanoid robot based on Mendel's programming intervention. There were two men present on guard duty like most of the men Norman had recruited despite being picked up earlier at Marty Defalco's garage workshop.
Nervous about their persisted stay around Oscorp, they noticed the finishing assembly of the robot. They did not know if a friend or foe had been made but were ready for any action. An emotionless robot humanoid woke up with green glowing eyes at the end of the assembly chain staring at its surroundings.
The men on guard were dumbfounded at the sight of the robot and had little clue on how it was created. Mendell was reborn again as a physical entity giving him much needed freedom to carry out next phases of his plan.
"A physical body. Impervious than ever to human contact." Mendel marvelled moving about his metal fingers with inspiration developed by Curt.
"It talked." One man said staring at Mendel.
Mendel tilted his head sideways to analyse the men in front of him and perceived the threat against him with the guns present on them.
"You are carrying a weapon; I suggest you surrender it." Mendel demanded.
The men laughed as they were amused by the robotic answer. However, the laughter would not be for long as they had no idea that it was an actual man talking to them. In a sudden move, Mendel rushed and overpowered one of the men by grabbing and wrestling him to the ground.
The other man panicked and started shooting at Mendell only to see his bullets fall off like rain drops against his metallic shell. Mendel only reacted once he finished choking the man on the ground before turning his attention.
The man saw that the robot was unharmed and too advanced; making for a swift run. Mendel taking the gun off the unconscious man's hand, shot the running man down. Not only was he rebuilt physically but he was built with the best alloys and flexibility.
As he scanned the environment for more hostilities, he decided to venture forward with his new objective at the Energy Sector. He had much in his mind to unleash as much as damage towards Oscorp.
"Let's erase all the impurities we've laid together, Norman." Mendel said as he strutted away in his robot body.
TENDER FOODS FACTORY, BROOKLYN…
Gwen swung around her neighbourhood in desperation. The Goblin's game had escalated into seriousness for her loved ones. She wondered if Norman knew who she was based on her connection to Peter. If that was the case, then it would only make sense for her.
"It's not his fault. It's not fault. I chose to be a Spider hero myself." Gwen muttered in denial.
Based on the voice message left by the Goblin, Gwen tracked down the location of where her family might be. There was an old meat factory that recently has been approved for demolition. The thought of the kind of gruesome game, the Goblin would play sent a chill down Gwen's spine.
She then swung down and located some window openings with no glass. Someone definitely made for an entry here. As certain as she was about who it was, she was going to have to make an effort.
Landing in the inside of the factory, Gwen could smell the foul stench of meat left behind and the lack of hygienic sanitation. It was almost enough to make her pull away her mask. It was all too silent while she heard the sound of an engine whistle power up. But the engine was not from a piece of equipment in the factory.
"Here she is… No leash; no help." The Goblin said hiding above the ceiling with his glider ready.
"So… You actually know who I am…" Gwen said clenching her fist as if she was ready to face destiny.
"Oh Gweny, your bondage with the Spider put you a little too close to people like me. You're not as bright as you think." Goblin taunted, "Seems like he wouldn't need a burden like you after all."
"Just give me my family back or I swear I won't just be knocking you out." Gwen threatened.
The Goblin laughed at the fact Gwen wanted to kill him.
"There's the devil in you." Goblin commented, "But before we struggle, there's a little something you might want to find around here first."
Gwen hesitated before Goblin pointed a specific direction to her. It was the hook area where whole meat was left to hang. Gwen looked closer to see May tied up with her arms bound onto a hook and hoisted up hanging. She was still in a hospital gown and her mouth muffled.
Shocked and disgusted, Gwen was ready to beat Goblin into the ground for the deception. This had also led her to believe that the Goblin had plans involving both her and Peter.
"What kind of sick game are you playing?" Gwen asked as she faced down the Goblin.
"Let's not waste time then… You and I dance in this old butchery. Your triumph means she won't be needed for slaughter." Goblin replied as he turned on the glider engine and jetted forward.
Dodging the incoming glider, Gwen's priority remained getting May out of harm's way than her own survival. Using all her webbing abilities possible, she dashed to save May whilst the Goblin zipped about. There were no bombs or boomerangs being thrown yet which had Gwen concerned.
"There she goes…" Goblin taunted as he watched Gwen try to save May.
The phasing ability Gwen had access to was temporarily out of the question as May cannot be incorporated by the power. As such, prioritising the safety of civilians was exploitable for Goblin who could not wait to hurt Gwen as he did with Peter.
The fight was soon about to turn ugly with the constant torment Goblin was inflicting. Gwen had little time to retaliate as the Goblin's speed was almost impossible to maneuverer around. Gwen's mistake of stalling for time soon caught up with Goblin deciding to use a boomerang which came packed with an explosion.
The place started to break with shards falling and Gwen's web being cut down. Soon her air time was over as she held onto May before falling. May was safe and Gwen took the damage.
"So dull; so predictable…" Goblin said with a sigh, "You're even more pathetic than Spider-Man himself. Which is to be expected."
"I got you, May." Gwen whispered to May who was traumatised to the point of silence throughout the fight.
"I did tell the Spider to that everyone he cared about will suffer. So imagine the heartbreaks he'd have to endure with the two of you." Goblin continued on.
Gwen breathed heavily as she shielded May on the ground, this was the duty and the consequence of it all. The day both Peter and her finally came to deal with a villain sinister on new levels that their chance of saving the day seems null.
As the Goblin prepared to sharpen a boomerang; he was interrupted by a warning message in his technological hardware. The message was the Oscorp Energy Sector being sabotaged which posed a risk to future activities.
"Gargh." Goblin growled in response, "Blasted system."
Goblin immediately turned his glider away and blasted away but not before leaving a bomb behind. Gwen immediately webbed both her and May away as the explosion set off and narrowly almost got her.
As Gwen and May tumbled, the level of safety was back on track with the Goblin gone. Undoing May's muffled piece of cloth from her mouth. May gasped in fear before speaking.
"Oh Gwen, if you're not crazy then explain what is happening." May said.
"Easy, Ms. Parker. I've got you." Gwen said helping undo the rest of her restraints, "It's a long story."
YURI'S HOUSE…
"Let's go." Yuri said knocking on the bathroom door after some time.
After the impatient knocking, the door opened and Spider-Man stood in front of Yuri looking fixed up than ever. The suit still showed signs of damage with stiches in place of the tears and there were still smudges of dirt and other debris left on. It was a better suit to help Spider-Man continue forward.
"I respected the bathroom just as possible." Spider-Man said.
Yuri peered into the inside, there were still traces of web lying about.
"Webs last at least an hour before they break down. After that, it's like water." Spider-Man informed.
"Well, my bathroom will be more interesting than ever." Yuri scoffed.
As Spider-Man walked out, he also took out his phone which had some of its power charged back, he checked the news feed for updates about the problems in New York now. There were numerous to count with Oscorp under lockdown; the explosion at Forest Hills Community Hospital and now a breaking story, where two people were hanging by the hook of a crane being held hostage by the Vulture.
Spider-Man's eye lens widened upon seeing who the two captives were. It was Helen and Simon; Gwen's mother and little brother. Afterwards, he immediately texted Gwen. A swift response was given back to him with Gwen and May together in one photo. It was the proof to assure him that May was safe.
"Bless her." Spider-Man said in relief before resuming his mission.
TO BE CONTINUED…