Oscorp — Experimental Laboratory (Basement)
Hammerhead had just arrived at Oscorp with the two test subjects chosen by Tombstone.
They were now deep within the building.
Separated from the rest of the tower.
In a secret laboratory where only a select few were allowed to enter.
Flint Marko looked around the place suspiciously.
— What is this place...?
Norman Osborn stepped forward calmly.
His hands behind his back.
— My dear Flint... This place is a secret laboratory, where my assistant Otto Octavius and I conduct experiments designed to make people like you... stronger.
Aleksei immediately frowned.
— People like us? What's that supposed to mean? Are you insulting us?!
— Not at all. That wasn't my intention.
Norman maintained his usual calm demeanor.
— What I mean is that you're men rejected by society, who ended up at the very bottom despite having potential that nobody recognized in time. You've had to do things you're not necessarily proud of... but you had no choice. The world is cruel, and if you want to survive, you have to get your hands dirty. You're the ones who know that best, aren't you?
Aleksei exchanged a glance with Flint.
Then leaned toward him.
— Hey, Marko, at first I didn't think I'd like him, but now... it's the opposite. He totally gets it without me even needing to punch him. Did you see that?
— Yeah, that's true.
Flint remained cautious nonetheless.
— But about this thing where you make us stronger, how exactly does that work? What are these experiments?
Otto opened his mouth.
— Well, actually, we—
But Norman discreetly raised a hand.
A simple gesture.
And Otto immediately fell silent.
— You know what? I think actions speak louder than words. And let's be honest: we don't have much time. So we might as well get straight to the point. Unless, of course, you'd rather pass up the opportunity of a lifetime.
— Yeah, he's right. Come on, Marko!
— Yeah... well... it's not like I have many other options anyway. Let's do it.
Otto then resumed his role.
— Wait! It's better to do this one at a time. So... who wants to go first?
Aleksei immediately raised his hand.
Like an overexcited child.
— Me! I'll go first!
A slight smile appeared on Norman's face.
— I see you're motivated, dear Aleksei.
— Very well. Lie down on this table.
Aleksei obeyed without hesitation.
A few moments later, he was securely strapped to the operating table.
Above him, a syringe filled with a strange liquid was waiting.
Behind a reinforced glass window, Norman, Otto, Hammerhead, and Flint watched the scene.
— So... what exactly are we waiting for?
Norman never took his eyes off Aleksei.
— A little patience... Watch closely: this is the next stage of human evolution.
A few seconds passed.
Then the transformation began.
Aleksei's body suddenly started convulsing.
His muscles swelled.
His skin warped.
His bones cracked under the effects of the mutation.
Screams of pain echoed throughout the laboratory.
Flint instinctively stepped back.
Horrified.
Right before his eyes, his friend was literally changing shape.
His muscle mass increased at an absurd rate.
His skin thickened.
His body became broader.
Larger.
More monstrous.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun...
Everything stopped.
Silence returned.
The man who rose from the table was no longer truly human.
A gigantic humanoid creature with the appearance of a rhinoceros now stood in the middle of the laboratory.
Aleksei stared at his reflection in a glass panel.
Then his eyes lit up.
— Wooo... I... I turned into a FUCKING RHINO! Did you see that, Marko?! I even have a horn!
— Holy shit... this is insane...!
Norman seemed fascinated.
Almost amazed.
— And that's not all, my dear Aleksei! You now possess the strength and durability of a rhinoceros. Do you understand? You've become far stronger. You are superior to man!
— Oh hell yeah... damn right! I gotta test this out!
Rhino immediately raised his arms.
Ready to smash everything around him.
But Otto intervened instantly.
— NO, NO! DON'T BREAK THE EQUIPMENT!
The shout was so sudden that Aleksei froze on the spot.
Otto took a breath.
Then tried to regain his composure.
— Everything here is essential! If you break it all, we won't be able to make your friend stronger. You'll be able to test your new abilities afterward.
— Exactly.
Hammerhead crossed his arms.
— Be patient, Aleksei. Once Flint is ready, you'll have a mission for the Big Boss. It'll be the perfect opportunity to test your new powers.
Norman nodded.
— Now that Aleksei is done, let's move on to the next one. Otto, I'll give you ten minutes to prepare Flint's procedure.
Otto slightly lowered his head.
— Uh... yes, sir.
Flint looked at Rhino.
Then at Norman.
Then back at Rhino.
— Uh, by the way... am I going to become a rhino too? Because honestly... I'm not really a fan of that.
Norman's smile became more mysterious.
Almost unsettling.
— Oh no, no. You'll be something else. You'll find out soon enough.
He paused briefly.
Before adding:
— But one thing is certain: you'll be extremely powerful. That, you can be sure of.
New York — The Corner Café — Terrace — Day
Peter froze.
Completely stunned.
— She... she really just asked me if I'm Spider-Man...? No... she can't be serious. She has to be joking...
A laugh suddenly escaped him.
Instinctive.
Forced.
A desperate attempt to hide his discomfort.
— Me? Spider-Man? Very funny, Gwen.
But the more Peter laughed...
The more serious Gwen remained.
Her eyes never left his.
— I'm not joking, Peter. I'm seriously asking you.
Peter's smile slowly faded.
— Wait... do you realize what you're saying? You really think I swing through the air shooting webs?!
— Breathe. Stay natural.
Gwen didn't look away.
Her voice remained gentle.
But firm.
— Looking at you, you wouldn't guess it, I'll admit that. But I know you, Peter. We've known each other forever, and I didn't start having these doubts right away. It was after Spider-Man appeared that I noticed you changing. Maybe other people didn't notice it the way I did, but it definitely wasn't normal. You changed physically and in the way you behave. I had this feeling that something was off, but I couldn't explain it.
— Alright... it's fine. They're just assumptions...
— And that's not all...!
— ...Shit.
Gwen took a slow breath.
Then continued.
— One day, Spider-Man saved me and told me I had a beautiful smile. At the time, I remembered that you had told me the exact same thing, in the exact same way. On top of that, when I saw you at school, you had injuries on your hand that looked just like the ones Spider-Man had when he helped me. And you disappear without ever explaining where you go. Harry eventually gave up on it, but I couldn't. Since the recent incident, my doubts have only grown.
— Okay... maybe I was careless a few times. But to imagine all this... it's terrifying.
— You know, you can trust me. I won't tell anyone. It's just that I can't get this idea out of my head, and I'm worried about you. We used to tell each other everything... but now, I feel like you're hiding something from me.
— Should I tell her? No... I can't. It would put her in danger.
— Peter... I'm asking you again. Are you...
She suddenly stopped.
Peter's phone had just vibrated.
Peter immediately looked down.
A police radio alert.
— Saved by the timing! I feel bad about leaving Gwen, but... I have to go.
He looked back up at her.
— Gwen, I...
Gwen immediately understood.
And her expression slightly darkened.
— You have to go, don't you?
Peter lowered his head.
Embarrassed.
Guilty.
— ...Yeah.
A silence passed between them.
Then Gwen simply nodded.
— Alright. Go.
Peter felt even worse.
— ...Sorry.
He stood up.
Took a few steps.
Then quickly walked away.
Crossed the street.
And soon disappeared into the New York crowd.
Gwen remained alone at her table.
Staring into space.
Her drink still untouched in front of her.
— Peter... why won't you tell me the truth...?
New York — New York Central Bank — Security Perimeter — Day
Peter arrived at the scene as quickly as possible.
The entire street had been sealed off.
Police vehicles blocked every entrance.
Armed officers held their positions behind several makeshift barricades.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Tense.
And in the middle of it all, Peter quickly spotted a familiar face.
George Stacy.
Without wasting a second, he discreetly circled around the perimeter.
Then slipped behind the police car where Gwen's father was standing.
— Mr. Stacy!
George immediately turned his head.
A relieved smile appeared on his face.
— Ah, there you are! Always showing up when you're needed, it seems!
A slight smile formed beneath Spider-Man's mask.
— Gotta support my partner! So, what do we have today?
George immediately became serious again.
Then gestured toward the street.
— Well... apparently, a rhinoceros man and a guy who can manipulate sand.
Spider-Man remained silent for a second.
— Huh...? Seriously?!
— I'm very serious. And on top of that, they're looking for you.
— I can't believe it...
George gave him a questioning look.
— What? What's wrong?
— I'm willing to bet it's Tombstone again. That guy wants my head, and every time he fails, he creates more monsters to come after me.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice echoed through the entire street.
— SPIDER-MAAAAAN! WHERE AAAARE YOOOUUU?!
Spider-Man briefly closed his eyes.
Then let out an exasperated groan.
— Raaahh...
George allowed himself a small amused smile before returning to a professional tone.
— Go ahead. My men and I will cover you. If things go south, we'll be there.
— That's reassuring. Thanks, Mr. Stacy.
— Don't thank me, Peter. It's just my job.
Spider-Man immediately froze.
— Uh... please try not to say my first name when I'm wearing the costume.
George blinked.
Then ran a hand across his face.
— Oh right, damn it! Sorry!
Further down the street, the Sandman seemed to be losing patience.
— Alright, where is this Spider-Man?
Spider-Man stepped out of hiding.
— Right here!
He calmly walked forward.
As if he were taking a stroll.
— You can also call me Web-Head, the Web-Slinger, or—
He never got the chance to finish his sentence.
The sand giant's arm suddenly transformed into a massive hammer.
And slammed down toward him.
Spider-Man leapt to the side.
The weapon crashed into the ground with tremendous force.
— A sand hammer?! This is insane!
The Sandman immediately followed up.
One strike.
Then another.
Then another.
Each impact made the street tremble.
Spider-Man dodged as best he could.
Until a giant sand hand finally managed to grab him.
— Shit!
— Go, man, your turn! Get him!
Rhino immediately got ready.
A huge grin on his face.
— Here we go! I'm gonna turn him into spider skewers!
— Everyone! Open fire!
At George Stacy's command, the police immediately opened fire.
A rain of bullets poured down on the two criminals.
Rhino came to an abrupt stop.
Completely outraged.
— You dare shoot at me?! Me?! The mighty Rhino?!
— Rhino, forget about them! They can't do anything to us! Focus on the mission!
— But they shot me!
— Who gives a damn?! Your skin is invulnerable, remember?!
Rhino thought for a second.
Then nodded.
— Oh yeah, that's true...!
Spider-Man stared at them.
Dumbfounded.
— You two really talk a lot, you know that?
Taking advantage of their ridiculous argument, he managed to free his right arm.
A web immediately shot out.
And splattered right across Rhino's face.
Blinded, the giant began flailing wildly in every direction.
Spider-Man took the opportunity to spot a nearby fire hydrant.
Then yanked it with all his strength.
The structure gave way.
A powerful column of water immediately burst forth.
And slammed directly into the Sandman.
The result was immediate.
His body began losing cohesion.
His sand became heavy.
Wet.
Unstable.
Spider-Man freed himself completely.
Then rushed toward him.
His punches came one after another.
Fast.
Precise.
— And to finish things off... take this!
The final blow sent Marko flying directly into the fire hydrant.
Another wave of water drenched him.
His body became even more distorted.
Unable to regain a solid form.
— Nooo! Seriously, you've got to be kidding me?!
— Alright... that's one problem solved.
But the moment that thought crossed his mind, his spider-sense activated.
Too late.
Way too late.
A gigantic shadow appeared behind him.
Rhino.
The punch came like a train moving at full speed.
And hit Spider-Man head-on.
The world flipped upside down.
His body flew across the street.
Smashed through the bank's doors.
Then landed in the middle of a massive pile of cash.
— All this money... damn, with this I could buy so many things...!
— Still alive?! Here I come!
Rhino charged again.
Spider-Man immediately rolled to the side.
Then leapt toward the bank's ceiling.
His hands instantly latched onto it.
Rhino crashed through the spot where he had been a fraction of a second earlier.
Then stopped.
Completely confused.
— Huh? Where did you go?!
A voice echoed from above him.
— I'm right here! Helloooooo...!
Rhino looked up.
His face fell.
— Damn it, what are you doing up there?! Get down here!
Spider-Man flashed a wide grin beneath his mask.
— Awesome, a rodeo! YEEEHAAAWW!
He dropped down.
Landing directly on the giant's back.
Then firmly grabbed his horns.
Rhino immediately lost control.
Spider-Man used all his strength to steer his charge.
The giant smashed through several partitions.
Demolished desks.
Blew through walls.
And ended his charge straight into the bank vault.
Spider-Man jumped outside at the last second.
Then violently pulled on the massive metal door.
With a deafening crash, it slammed shut.
Locked.
Rhino was trapped inside.
— AAAAHHH, LET ME OUT, DAMN IT!
Spider-Man placed a hand against the vault door.
— You may be a rhino, but without any running start, good luck breaking through that door!
Rhino's screams continued to echo from behind the steel.
But Spider-Man was already no longer paying attention.
He quickly exited the bank.
And rejoined George Stacy outside.
— Alright, the two idiots are out of commission. Well... one of them is locked inside the vault, so, uh... by the way, how exactly do you plan on keeping them imprisoned? I mean, size-wise... they're pretty impressive.
George crossed his arms.
Already thinking about the problem.
— We'll send them to Ryker. That's clearly the prison with the best chance of containing individuals like them. We'll just have to... build special cells specifically for them.
— Let's hope that keeps them locked up...
George watched Spider-Man for a few seconds.
Then a slight smile appeared on his face.
— By the way, how did your outing with Gwen go? She told me you invited her out, just the two of you.
Spider-Man immediately stiffened.
— Oh, that...
The image of Gwen instantly returned to his mind.
Their conversation.
Her serious expression.
Her question.
Then his sudden departure.
His awkward excuse.
The way he left her behind.
His smile gradually faded.
— It was... nice. But I had to leave in a hurry to come here. I kind of feel like I let her down...
George gently shook his head.
— Peter, you just stopped two criminals from causing chaos. Don't feel guilty. Gwen is smart, and she knows you. She knows that if you left like that, it must have been important.
— Yeah... well, about that...
He hesitated.
He wanted to tell him about Gwen's suspicions.
Her questions.
The danger that represented.
But before he could continue, a police officer came running over.
— Captain Stacy!
George immediately turned his head.
— Yes? What is it?
— It's a call for you. Yuri Watanabe wants to speak with you about a case... It concerns someone called the "Big Boss," or "Tombstone," I think.
Spider-Man suddenly looked up.
— Tombstone...?! You found information on him?!
George allowed himself a smile.
— Not me...
His eyes met the hero's.
— But my colleague did!
TO BE CONTINUED.