Chapter 13: A Scorpion Tale

Chapter 13: A Scorpion Tale

“The Oscorp Board of Directors meeting can now come into order,” said Wilson Fisk, as he watched with a smirk but it faded slightly when Norman Osborn sat at the head of the table, unfazed and unfeeling as usual. “Certain allegations brought forth have cause great concern and as a shareholder, not to mention a citizen of this great city and state, I want to say that I’m appalled that this matter could get out of control. Oscorp has a certain amount of responsibility towards the people and this city and for reasons that baffle me, laws have been circumvented, causing a danger for the public and their health.”

“I wish to address this allegations and may I remind the other members of the Board that these are alleged,” said Norman in his usual calm and collected manner. “I feel that Oscorp has bent over backwards to comply with the regulations of the city, at great cost. We have done what we can to ensure everything is disposed of properly…”

“Yet, chemicals used here at Oscorp were found in a canel not far from here, causing the illness of seven children, along with the deaths of three more,” interjected another member of the board, a neatly dressed man with a haircut and a smug smirk.

“That canel was on my property,” said Norman Osborn. “Therefore, the children playing near it could be considered trespassing but that is a moot point as no laws have been broken.”

“Yet, I have here documented proof of a contract between Norman Osborn and Victor Von Doom, the ruler of Latveria,” argued Fisk as he pushed the contract on the table. Norman remained cool but he wondered where Fisk could have gotten such a thing. “Most of the items detailed seem harmless, even though trade and sell of items to Latveria are strictly forbidden. Yet, as you can, there are weapons, that were supposed to be manufactured for use of the United States Government.”

“I can assure you this contract and information has been falsified,” said Norman coolly. “I also will tell you that I would never sell any weapons to a known threat such as Victor Von Doom. Most of my business is here within the United States and if I do go overseas, I’ve never been to Latveria.”

“Yet, these transfers from an account belonged to a believed to be assumed name of Victor Von Doom to the Oscorp company account is right here,” said Fisk. “Not only that, but the death of an employee here at Oscorp has lead to the unfortunate necessity of calling this meeting of the Board of Directors. The question here, is, should Norman Osborn be suspended from his duties as Chief Executive Officer, pending a further investigation.”

“I do caution you to make a wise choice,” said Norman. “Not one based on fear or paranoia or you may live to regret what you make.”

“I sure hope that wasn’t a threat, Mr. Osborn,” said a member of the Board.

“No, merely an observation of what will happen, because this company will fold without me, I built this company with my own two hands,” responded Norman. “Very well, take your vote, it is my right to vote in case of a tie.”

“Indeed, Norman, and I do agree with you, this is not a matter to take lightly,” said Fisk. “All in favor of suspending Norman Osborn from his role as the Chief Executive Officer.”

Norman sat, but his calm façade broke when he saw the vast majority of the hands rose, in favor of suspending him.

“Gutless cowards,” thought Norman bitterly. “Even more worthless than my son.”

“And all in favor,” said Fisk and only a handful of hands found their way into the air. “I do apologize Norman, but the votes have spoken. You will be benched as it is, until we investigate further and I’m sure a further vote will be held to decide your ultimate fate.”

Norman rose to his feet, not even dignifying Fisk’s actions with a response. There was no doubt in his mind that the man would dig up something to use and skew it to work against Norman, but Norman Osborn would not be defeated so easily.

They would pay for trying to take his life’s work away from him.

-

“Gargan, this is Professor Farley Stillwell, an expert in genetic manipulation!” bellowed Jameson to the private decective as Stillwell just nodded. “Stillwell, Gargan here volunteered for the experiment to create a hero to finally bring Spider-Man to justice.”

“Indeed, well Mr. Gargan, put on the suit so we can begin,” said Stillwell as he handed Gargen a green suit, with a tail sticking out the end of it. “It’s extremely durable and flexible not to mention pretty much indestructible. Not even someone with the proportionate strength of a spider could rip this suit off.”

“Music to my ears, Stillwell,” said Jameson as he watched Gargen slip the suit on and he walked towards the area that the scientist designated.

“Sit down right beside that tank,” said Stillwell and Gargen did as he was told. “The animal within the tank is what you will be bonding with, much like I assume Spider-Man did to gain his attributes.”

“A scorpion?” asked Jameson.

“Scorpions are the natural enemy of the spiders, so it is merely fitting,” said Stillwell as he activated a switch, causing a hook above the tank to remove the scorpion and lower it right onto Gargan. “I will now bombard you with a small dose of radiation, that will cause your DNA to merge together.”

“Bombard?” asked Gargen in horror. “Radiation? I’m not an egghead, but isn’t that stuff supposed to be deadly…”

“Relax Gargen, this is what you wanted, a chance to take Spider-Man down and teach him a lesson,” interjected Jameson in his usual boisterous manner. “Besides, think of the humiliation, are you going to really lie down and take that?”

“No,” said Gargen. “What are you waiting for? Blast me with the radiation!”

“As you wish, Detective Gargen,” said Stillwell as he turned a knob and the radiation bombarded Gargen and the scorpion. His body began to turn and twist, contorting, turning from its usual bulky manner into something more slim. His eyes grew yellow and his skin slightly paler, with a bit of a greenish tinge.

“I feel the power, I feel it, I’m going to use it to take down Spider-Man, so now one has to be embarrassed by that glory hound again,” said Gargen as he could imagine Spider-Man’s defeat at his hands. It was a glorious image to say the least.

-

“Let’s book it before…” stated a criminal, as his two partners followed him, with stolen merchandise but Spider-Man swung down from a building and knocked him down in mid sentence.

“Spider-Man, get him!” shouted the second criminal as he swung a pipe but Spider-Man webbed him right in the eyes, causing his sight to be altered, before he spun him around and threw him to the ground.

“Really, get him, is the best you want, I must have been fighting the super villain types a bit too often, because quite frankly, the garden variety thugs you guys are is a bit bland,” said Spider-Man as he dodged an attack from the third thug. “Really now, I could have phoned this one in tonight. I could have beat you guys sleeping.”

“You really think you’re such hot stuff,” said the villain but Spider-Man pulled the pipe from his hand, before he was knocked down and webbed right to the light post. Quickly, the other two thugs wer4e captured and webbed up. “When we get out of here we’ll…”

“Make you rue the day that you ever existed, you wall crawling creep,” retorted Spider-Man in a bored voice. “Yeah, like I haven’t heard that one a million times before from different thugs, some of them far scarier than you could ever hope to be.”

The thugs continued to squirm and Spider-Man turned, but suddenly a figure swooped down and knocked Spider-Man right on his back with one punch, right before his spider sense could even kick on. It did after the second attack, as he turned to face his opponent, the tail swung at him. Spider-Man leapt up and shot a strand of webbing, but his enemy ducked the attack and plunged a hand forward right to the chest. Spider-Man was grabbed by the throat and hoisted off the ground, before he was thrown against the wall with a thud. He narrowly missed getting impaled with the tail of his enemy.

“Let me guess, the newest super powered nutcase trying to make a name for himself at the expense if your poor, friendly neighborhood, Spider-Man,” responded Spider-Man but Mac Gargen was not in the mood for any of the web heads tricks. He turned around and knocked Spider-Man right to the ground, before he turned his tail and shot a stream of acid from it. Spider-Man threw himself to the ground, causing it to splash against the wall, burning a hole through it.

“Wow didn’t know I could do that, well I guess you learn something new with these powers,” said Gargen as he rushed forward and grabbed Spider-Man but the wall crawler shot webbing up, before he pulled Gargen up with him. “Oh no you don’t, I’m not letting you humiliate me again…”

“Gargen?” asked Spider-Man as he got smashed in the wrists, causing his enemy to slip out of his grip. Gargen dropped to the ground and turned, before he shot acid up, dissolving Spider-Man’s webbing, causing the wall crawler to plummet to the ground. “Something’s off about you, no wait, don’t tell me, let me guess. Lost a little weight, I see.”

“Keep it up, Spider-Man, you’re really starting to make me mad,” said Gargen as he grabbed Spider-Man, before he flipped him right towards the wall. Turning in mid air, the wall crawler managed to avoid most of the impact right as his enemy charged him and nearly smashed into the wall. “Knew this was the best I ever did, this radiation made me invincible.”

“Wait a minute, you doused yourself with radiation?” asked Spider-Man as he dodged an attack from his opponent before he made a “whacko” hand signal, but Gargen grabbed Spider-Man and threw him up high into the air. Spider-Man nearly landed with a thud, but pulled himself up and Gargen climbed up to meet him. “Seriously, Gargen, you were pathetic before. Now you’re pathetic, with powers and…”

“See how pathetic this is, Spider-Man,” said Gargen as he whipped his tail violently towards the web slinger. Spider-Man winced as it caught him right in the chest. He avoided being impaled next but Gargen rushed forward, and grabbed Spider-Man. Spider-Man struggled, but Gargen threw him down with all of the force he could manage. The Scorpion turned, before he shot a metal spike right from his tail. Spider-Man dodged the attack.

“Guessing that’s new to you, as well, Gargen,” said Spider-Man but Gargen jumped forward. The detective had a mad look in his eyes, as he tried to grab Spider-Man and launch him right over the side of the building.

“Now you’re going to know what it feels like, Spider-Man,” said Gargen as Spider-Man struggled, kicking and thrashing in the tight grip of Gargen, as his legs squirmed, kicking back and forth. “Only I’m not going to throw you in the dumpster, you’re going straight to the concrete and splat. The city will thank me, the Spider-Man threat will be eliminated thanks to New York’s newest hero, the Scorpion!”

Spider-Man was launched right over the side of the building. The newly dubbed Scorpion turned, before he walked off, satisfied with his work.

Spider-Man hung onto the side of the building, webbing wrapped around the flagpole, shaken up from the battle with some bumps and bruises, not to mention a few broken bones, but still alive.

“Gargen, you just made a mistake of all super villains, not checking for a body when you try and off someone,” thought Spider-Man as he shot webbing forward, grabbing Peter Parker’s camera, before he swung back, wincing slightly. There was a slight cut on his arm that would need some attention and then he would go after the Scorpion. “He might be a deluded hero for now, but I have the strangest feeling that this guy might be a problem later on.”

-

Midtown High was buzzing, as it was days before the big dance. Everyone talked about who they were going with, while those who did not have dates were ridiculed.

The dance was the furthest thing from the mind of one Peter Parker. Sure he was going with Gwen and would have a good time, providing of course there was no where that Spider-Man was needed. Nine times out of ten, his work as Spider-Man interfered greatly with his life as Peter Parker and Peter had a feeling that his social life was going get a bit more muddled as more super villains arrived on the scene. Gwen had been understanding and quite helpful in many cases, in fact Peter was glad she knew.

“Rough morning?” asked Gwen as she walked up to Peter. Peter turned, he did look a little rattled come to think of it and there were a couple of bones that caused a great stabbing pain in his arm.

“You better believe it,” said Peter. “Gargen decided to get a makeover…it seems that he took Spider-Man’s little humiliation of him a bit too seriously. I got some good pictures, I hope Jameson’s impressed.”

“He better be, considering how much you risked life and limb to get them,” said Gwen. “You should really get that looked at.”

“Not now,” muttered Peter, as he saw Harry and Liz walking towards them, laughing at something. He caught sight of Flash Thompson, who tried not to look put off by the fact that his ex-girlfriend was with another guy.

“Thanks for walking me to school, Harry,” said Liz.

“Of course the hard part is meeting your parents,” said Harry. “The way your dad looked at me…well not exactly the most inviting look.”

“Dad, can be like that,” agreed Liz. “I never really got the feeling that he liked Flash too much but I suppose it’s his duty to disapprove of everyone his daughter dates. Still, both of them warmed up to you a little when I introduced you…”

“Yes, the last name Osborn,” responded Harry casually, trying not to sound too bitter.

“It must be hard, with that name, people looking at who your father is, and not you,” said Liz quietly.

“You get used to it after a while,” said Harry in a flat voice. Truthfully he had very little friends because of this. It took a while for him to warm up to Peter and Gwen, because he thought they were like the rest but in time they proved differently. “People don’t realize that I’m not my father’s clone, I’m barely his son given the amount of time he’s bothered with me…”

“Anyone who has bothered to know you realizes that,” said Liz. “And there’s nothing wrong with that, because you’re a great person and I’m glad I agreed to go to the dance with you and get to know you.”

Liz gave Harry a small kiss on the cheek and walked off. He watched as Gwen and Peter gave him knowing looks, along with scandalized looks that many of the so called in crowd was giving them and the whispers about how it was wrong.

-

Norman Osborn locked himself in a secret lab deep underneath his mansion, with instructions that he was not to be disturbed, no matter what. He moved his work on the formula here, trying to perfect it to its most powerful form. He was incensed that he was in danger of losing everything he built. The Osborns were a proud and prestigious family for years, but Norman’s father drank away most of the fortune, before subsequently drinking himself to death. Norman spent most of his adult life rebuilding the fortune, with what became Oscorp and he was damned if Fisk and those fools on the Board of Directors would take it away from him.

The formula work was redoubled. There would be certain parties within the government who would pay big money for such a serum and perhaps Norman would be able to make enough money to buy off enough of the Board to see things his way, not that he should have to. Oscorp was his company.

Yet, in the back of his mind, Norman thought that he could use the formula for his own personal benefits, as he imagined the power it would give him. No one would dare challenge him but Norman shook his head. The entire thought of being one of those super powered nutcases seemed rather beneath him but then again, the power he could have and the fear he could inspire was quite intoxicating.

-

The Scorpion dropped down, clutching his stomach, as he looked in a mirror. He had called Jameson and Stillwell to meet him at his apartment, because there was some nasty symptoms that cropped up every so often and his face was even more disfigured. It appeared that he was mutating out of control and he burst through the doors and up towards where Stillwell and Jameson were waiting.

“Look at this, look at my face,” said Gargen in a crazed voice. “I’m getting uglier by the moment…”

“An unintentional side effect, the scorpion DNA is assimilating with your human DNA a bit more than I had intended,” said Stillwell. “It will take some getting used to, but you’ll learn to adapt.”

“Adapt, adapt, I didn’t sign up for this!” shouted Gargen as he rushed forward, in an attempt to grab Stillwell but he managed to hold his temper.

“Listen here Gargen, you signed up for revenge on Spider-Man and you didn’t accomplish that either!” boomed Jameson. “The web head was supposed to be finished with the power you were given.”

“What?” demanded Gargen. “I beat him and he splattered onto the concrete, there’s no way the web head can be alive.”

“The photos in the Daily Bugle say differently, you incompetent buffoon,” said Jameson but Gargen reached forward, grabbing the loud mouthed publisher by the throat and began to squeeze tightly.

“Listen here, Jonah, I’m not one of your copy boys that you can push around,” said Gargen with a snarl. “I HAVE REAL POWER! I could kill you easily, both of you in fact, it wouldn’t take much.”

“Now, let’s not be hasty,” said Stillwell but Gargen swung his tail, knocking a large piece of the wall out.

“Fine me a cure, now or I’m really going to be upset,” said Gargen as he dropped Jameson, before he looked at Stillwell.

“The deal was that you were to finish off Spider-Man, do that, and I’ll find a cure,” said Stillwell and Gargen turned.

“You better not double cross me, Stillwell,” said Gargen as he turned, before he smashed through the wall and jumped down.

“Can he be cured?” asked Jameson in an uncharacteristically quiet tone of voice.

“No, it was a one way process,” said Stillwell, hoping that he could stall for long enough, to find a way to eliminate Gargen, before he grew too dangerous, powerful and quite frankly unstable.

-

The Scorpion moved through town, looking for instances of criminal activity. If he found the crime, he would find a way to finish off Spider-Man. Impatiently, he dropped down, causing the citizens to back off, rather fearful.

“Alright, I’m looking for the web creep and I’m going to get very annoyed if I don’t find him,” grunted Scorpion as he stepped forward, before he whipped his tail around, causing it to smash right into a building, where a crowd watched fearful, but a web shot out, catching the debris.

“Everyone get out right now!” shouted Spider-Man as he swung over. “Man, Gargen, I thought you were some kind of hero but now you’re partaking in behavior that’s not very heroic…”

“Shut up, I’m going to make you wish you weren’t born,” said Scorpion as he swung his tail and nearly smashed it into the brick wall, before he turned and shot a spike from it. Spider-Man barely avoided it. A stream of acid shot towards Spider-Man but he dodged, before he managed to use his strength to pull up a manhole cover. Flinging it like a discus, Spider-Man was stunned when the Scorpion punched it in mid air, denting it, before he dove right at Spider-Man.

“You know, you’re taking to this power thing all wrong,” said Spider-Man as he shot webbing in an attempt to wrap Scorpion up but he broke it immediately. “You should be using your power for good, you know with great power comes great responsibility, you know all that good stuff.”

“It’s my responsibility to destroy you, Spider-Man, if I do, I can be back to normal,” said Scorpion as he turned before he attempted stab Spider-Man with his tail but Spider-Man turned, before he shot his webbing around the tail. This proved to be a mistake as his webbing was melted and then Scorpion jumped forward, grabbing Spider-Man by the shoulders and roughly throwing him into the air, causing him to land with a thud against the brick wall. Spider-Man was slumped, knocked silly and Scorpion jabbed his tail right towards Spider-Man, but he just moved out of the way and shot webbing but Scorpion slashed at the webbing, but he slumped forward, clutching his chest. “No, the mutation, it’s making me uglier and it’s changing me again, I have to get a cure, I can’t look like this.”

“You know, you weren’t much to look at anyway, before,” quipped Spider-Man, which enraged Scorpion further, as he swung his tail. The hero blocked the attack, but winced as some of the acid from the Scorpion’s tail got on him. Fortunately, his gloves blocked most of the attack, but still he felt a slight burning sensation and was knocked backwards, with a swing from the tail, before Scorpion sprung for the attack, grabbing Spider-Man and roughly shaking him, before he was thrown down to the ground. Spider-Man turned and narrowly blocked most of the blow with Scorpion’s tail.

“You can’t beat me, law of the jungle, Spider-Man,” said Scorpion as another swing with his tail caused Spider-Man flying, before he landed right through a brick wall with a thud. Spider-Man struggled, turning around, but he got knocked around with a couple of vicious punches. “Scorpions prey on spiders, you don’t have any chance in beating me, no chance at all.”

A stream of acid was released, causing the support beams to snap and a large metal piece of equipment to fall right towards Spider-Man. Spidey turned, weakened, but saw a section of the floor had been softened up because of the acid.

“One chance, better make it count,” said Spider-Man as he smashed the floor and slipped right into the hole he created and dropped down, just before he was smashed.

Scorpion stood back, as the dust cleared, with more debris following. He turned, with a nod, there was no way, Spider-Man could have survived that. He turned.

“Stillwell better give me a cure now,” said Scorpion as he turned around, as several children looked at him, scared and even repulsed by his not so inviting looks. “What are you brats looking at?”

-

Stillwell worked, studying the experiment. He would have to find a way to temporarily shut the Scorpion suit down, before he disposed of the creature. Suddenly, the Scorpion dropped down, right beside Stillwell. Stillwell turned fearful.

“I did the job, Stillwell,” said Scorpion viciously. “Where’s my cure?”

“Working on it, Mr. Gargen, I need more time,” begged Stillwell but Scorpion grabbed him by the throat, before he smashed him into the wall.

“No more time, cure me now!” yelled Scorpion. “Look at my face, I’m losing my humanity. I don’t have much time. I’m becoming a freak even more by the second.”

“Listen here, Gargen, you were the one who wanted the power,” said Stillwell.

“You didn’t tell me the experiment would do this to me,” argued Scorpion as he threw Stillwell to the floor, before his tail swung and smashed into Stillwell, sending him flying. Unlike with Spider-Man, who could take the blunt of the blow, Stillwell was slumped down against the wall. Scorpion turned and raised his tail, before he impaled Stillwell with it. His venom pumped right into the scientist, poisoning him. Scorpion ripped the tail from Stillwell’s chest a gaping wound, as the scientist did not move. “Jameson, Jameson did this to me as well. I already taken care of you Stillwell and Spider-Man and Jameson, he’s next.”

Scorpion smashed up the computers in his rage, before he walked off, the lab exploding as he left. The thought that killing Stillwell eliminated any chance in returning to normal only briefly crossed his mind. He would make Jameson find him another scientist or the publisher would pay the price.

-

“Mildly burned,” said Gwen trying to remain calm, as she watched Peter sit down, his hand a bit raw. “You’re lucky it wasn’t worst. I think that should heal.”

“It will,” said Peter as he winced, putting burn paste on his hand, before he wrapped it over. “The Scorpion came close to offing me that time. Just have to regroup and figure out a way to beat him.”

“Good thing your aunt wasn’t here, in the state you were in,” remarked Gwen calmly as she sat down next to Peter.

“Thanks for coming over on such short notice, I might have not been able to treat this without your help,” said Peter as he looked at his tattered costume. “Completely trashed, thankfully I have a spare, but the problem is that the Scorpion is still out there, putting people in danger. He’s getting more unstable at the minute, whatever was done with him, it’s causing him to lose his mind.”

“Well his DNA was tinkered with, that might be something a lot of people insane with such vast changes,” said Gwen. “His scorpion instincts are taking over from his human instincts I’d imagine. Still, as much as I’d like to show faith in you, the fact is that in a straight up fight, don’t take this the wrong way Peter, but you don’t have a chance in defeating the Scorpion.”

“Gwen, I’m afraid you’re right, scorpions prey on spiders, they are much stronger physically,” said Peter in a slightly defeated voice, but he brightened up. “His mind degenerating into something more primal and animalistic, less rational and less like the private detective. Physically I can’t beat him but if I can exploit his weaknesses, The Scorpion could be defeated. He’s like every other villain that I’ve faced, he has his weaknesses.”

“Yes,” said Gwen nodding as she thought hard, trying to recall everything that she knew about scorpions and what might allow to defeat them, as Peter did the same.

-

The Daily Bugle office was nearing deadline, when The Scorpion smashed right through the front door, as several members of the Bugle looked up in shock.

“M-m-may I help you?” asked Betty Brant in a shaken voice.

“Jameson, where’s Jameson?” demanded Scorpion as he reached forward and flipped over a desk. “JAMESON, WHERE ARE YOU?”

“What’s the meaning of this?” asked Robbie Robertson. “What are you doing here?”

“This is between me and Jameson, stay out of my way!” snapped Scorpion as he stepped forward.

“I’ll handle this Robbie,” said Jameson as he walked from his office, before the Scorpion rushed forward.

“You’re going to change me back, Jameson, find me a scientist, anyone, change me or I’ll kill everyone in this building!” shouted Scorpion in a crazed voice, as he shook Jameson madly.

“Look, Gargen, we can talk about this in my office,” said Jameson, but Scorpion shoved him down. “Look, the cure, there is none, it’s permanent, one way, Stillwell...”

“WHAT?” demanded Scorpion as he raised his tail an attempt to impale Jameson, but a strand of webbing shot out and spun Scorpion around, where Spider-Man stood, facing off against Scorpion. “You? Why won’t you stay dead?”

“Just too stubborn, I guess,” said Spider-Man as he sprung up, dodging Scorpion. “Everyone get out now, I’ll hold him…that means you too, Pickle Puss!”

“Listen to me you disrespectful whelp, this is my office, I call the shots, and…” said Jameson but Spider-Man managed to just barely block an attack from Scorpion, directed right at Jameson.

“No, you won’t cheat me, you wall crawling freak!” shouted Scorpion as he spun his tail around, but Spider-Man ducked down and shot several strands of webbing, but Scorpion snapped them, before he leapt up and knocked Spider-Man backwards, causing him to fly right through a glass window, landing him Jameson’s office with a thud, as he saw Eddie Brock look up with glee. “I’ll be back for you, Spider-Man, right now, Jameson’s going to pay right now, for making me like this.”

Scorpion grabbed Jameson, the publisher struggled, but the villain leapt out of the window, running quickly to a destination. Rushing inside, Ned Leeds and Robbie looked to pick Spider-Man up.

“I’m fine, the only thing that’s injured his my pride,” said Spider-Man as he picked up, brushing the glass off of his shoulders, once again counting himself lucky, before he moved to the window that Scorpion and Jameson just left from. “Now, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to save Jameson…the things I do in the name of great power coming with great responsibility.”

Spider-Man swung out, following Scorpion.

“Oh no,” thought Spider-Man in horror where he realized where the villain was heading. “Nuclear power plant…he’s completely lost his mind now.”

-

“Gargen have you lost your mind?” demanded Jameson but he looked, as Scorpion’s hands had turned into some demented claws, with stingers at the end. He was becoming more deformed and less human by the second.

“I’ve figured it out, Jameson and there’s nothing you can do about it,” said Scorpion as he chained Jameson to a pipe, his face growing more deformed, as he looked at Jameson with yellows like eyes. “Radiation turned me into the monster I was, radiation can change me back to normal and that’s what’s going to happen right now.”

“But, millions will be killed!” shouted Jameson.

“It’d make a hell of a news story, though Jonah!” yelled Scorpion, absolutely beyond sanity and reason. “Too bad you won’t be around to report it! Because, you’ll die first!”

Scorpion looked at the reactor, studying it for a brief moment, not that it exactly mattered with his plans.

“Overloading this thing should be a snap, I’ll turn back to Mac Gargen, even if it kills me!” cried Scorpion as he stepped forward, but webbing wrapped around his hands and he was spun around, with Spider-Man kicking him right in the chest. Scorpion bounced back to his feet and turned. His tail swung but Spider-Man leapt up.

“You know, I don’t know why you’re obsessed with turning back into Gargen, your looks have actually improved,” said Spider-Man as Scorpion charged him but the wall crawler jumped up. The crazed villain smashed right into a door, before Spider-Man swung around and knocked him for a loop with a huge punch. “Then again, with your end of the spectrum of ugly, it’s kind of hard to tell!”

“I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done to me!” shouted Scorpion, as he turned his tail upwards and a sickly stream of acid was just narrowly avoided, but Spider-Man dropped down, dodging an attack, before he bounced off the ropes. “A spider can’t beat a scorpion but this time I’ll put you down for good, and then it’s bye-bye for everyone.”

A strand of webbing was wrapped around the tail and Spider-Man leapt up, before he managed to pull Scorpion up. The villain hung upside down, thrashing around, as Spider-Man rushed over before he broke the chains holding Jameson.

“Out now!” shouted Spider-Man forcefully.

“You better take him down,” grumbled Jameson but he turned around, much to the shock of Scorpion.

“You’re actually hoping Spider-Man wins, Jameson?” asked Scorpion.

“Given that you’re the alternative Gargen, I would be rooting for Doctor Doom!” shouted Jameson loudly. “You’re an even bigger menace than the web head is and…he’s the only one who might have a chance in taking you down.”

“Admirable sentiments, fuzz head, now book!” shouted Spider-Man and Jameson, after shooting one more nasty look towards Spider-Man, left, just as Scorpion freed himself and dropped down. He attempted to impale Spider-Man with his newly created hand stinger claws but Spidey did a back flip and Scorpion was momentarily stuck in the wall. Spider-Man grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall and swung with all his might, denting it right in Scorpion’s head, before he sprayed him with the contents in the object. “This should cool you off.”

Scorpion’s tail swung and caught Spider-Man, knocking the web head to the ground. He dodged an attempted spike to the chest from the Scorpion’s stinger before he wrapped Scorpion against a pole. Scorpion broke out and grabbed Spider-Man before he flung him right inside of the panel to the reactor.

“This time, you wall crawling freak, I’m going to finish you off for good!” shouted Scorpion.

“You’re calling me a freak?” asked Spider-Man as he ducked his head, before rolling out of the way of an attack, and a spike shot right at him, narrowly missing shredding his elbow. “Ever take a good look in the mirror lately, Gargen? I mean, you mean Doom look like a teen heartthrob.”

“SHUT UP!” shouted Scorpion as he attempted to destroy Spider-Man with one of his most vicious attacks yet, but he had been lured right into Spider-Man’s web and right into his trap.A strand of webbing tucked the release valve. Spider-Man slid out of the way, as liquid nitrogen bombarded Scorpion. Scorpion struggled, but he was cooled down and unable to function. The suit protected him from being killed but he was kept in place.

“Time for you to cool down, Scorpion, you’re finished,” said Spider-Man as he turned, to contact the proper authorities, as Scorpion offered very little movement, having been frozen in his tracks.

-

Spider-Man dropped down right in front of Jameson, who watched Scorpion hauled off to Ravencroft for treatment.

“I hope you learned a valuable lesson from this Jameson,” said Spider-Man but Jameson slowly turned, as if outraged that Spider-Man dared speak to him in such a tone.

“There wouldn’t be any need for Gargen to be turned into that thing, if it wasn’t for you, if it wasn’t for you, there wouldn’t be any of those super villain nutcases!” bellowed Jameson before he added in a slightly lower and quite nasty tone of voice. “Besides, you can’t prove anything, Stillwell was killed and the only way you can testify against me if you remove that mask in court.”

“Got me there, I’m afraid,” thought Spider-Man desperately. He could not reveal his secret identity, not without endangering a lot of people he cared about.

“Well, I guess I’ll stick around, to make your life more interesting,” said Spider-Man as he swung off, ignoring Jameson’s rants about how he was a menace and a reprobate and all kinds of other comments that he had grown to love from the jolly one.

-

Dr. Bruce Banner arrived in town on a plane, walking forward in a calm manner, which was definitely a good thing given certain circumstances about Banner. He was giving a lecture at Midtown High that day and hoped that at least some of the students would be interested enough in what he was saying. These lectures tended to be hit and miss.

Still it kept his mind calm and busy, and prevented the path to frustration and possible anger. The anger that would unleash the monster from within Bruce Banner. 


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