Chapter 17: Goblin Genesis Part II

Chapter 17: Goblin Genesis Part II:

“Reports are coming in that a battle between Spider-Man and the criminal calling himself the Green Goblin may have taken a turn for the fatal,” said a news anchor over the radio as Gwen stopped what she was doing. Her father was out late again, this entire Goblin case had him working more time than he’s worked in years. Still her full attention was turned towards the news, she didn’t need Peter’s spider sense to guess something bad had happened. “The Green Goblin emerged from an abandoned factory just across the street from Central Park, where he reportedly had a battle with Spider-Man. He detonated bombs within the factory, blowing up the factor. The wreckage and the smoldering heat is too much and rescue units are trying to get inside, but it is feared that Spider-Man has met his demise. ”

“No,” thought Gwen in horror, her worst fear coming true. She could not even say any work and she trembled, as she heard news of the Green Goblin emerging from the factory with the blood soaked masked of Spider-Man. “No…this can’t be…no…Peter…what do I…I can’t believe this…no…no…they have to be mistaken…he can’t…”

She put her hand up to her head and turned to switch on the television. The news showed images of the battle. Gwen put her hand to her mouth as she watched the image of the Green Goblin hurling Spider-Man right through the window and then seconds later, the factory blowing sky high, with Spider-Man trapped inside. She looked, almost numb, wondering how she was gong to explain this to Peter’s aunt when suddenly her cell phone rang, which caused her to jump about three feet in the air before she answered it, with trembling hands and voice.

“Hello,” said Gwen in a shaken voice.

“Gwen,” rasped the voice of Peter on the other side.

“PETER!” shouted Gwen in absolute surprise and relief. “The news is saying that you were killed by the Green Goblin.”

“Got out just in time, need you Gwen, please,” said Peter in a pained voice over the phone. “I’ve made it to side street right behind the factory…not far…from…go to the end…turn right…hurry…need you…”

“Peter, I’ll call for the hospital, you sound seriously hurt,” said Gwen her voice trembling.

“NO!” shouted Peter in frantic voice but he suddenly hacked. Gwen nearly dropped the phone from trembling hands. “You…just you…explain when you get there…please Gwen.”

Gwen sighed, there was no way she could argue with someone that stubborn and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“I’ll be there right away Peter, don’t die, please don’t, hang on” muttered Gwen it took all she had to hold herself to together, as she walked outside. Having just gotten her driver’s license just a couple of weeks ago, it would be much easier to find out where Peter.

-

Peter laid in the alleyway, behind a dumpster, with a trash can obscuring him from the outside, the sirens of rescue vehicles in the distance. His entire body was racked with pain but the one thing that was crushed more than several of his bones was his spirit. He just survived by the skin of his teeth. Had he been one second slower in getting out, he would have been blown to bits. The Green Goblin trashed him easily, without breaking a sweat and ripped off his mask like it was nothing, before leaving him for dead. There was no way around it, he had failed to win.

As he listened for Gwen, his only salvation, the only person he could trust right now to get him safely to where he needed to go. His arm barely moved, there were bits of glass on his costume. Peter waited, wondering if he was going to die right here in the alleyway waiting for his girlfriend to arrive. His pained breathing signaled rib injuries.

“Peter?” asked a quiet voice tentatively.

“Gwen,” said Peter as loudly as he could manage, as he felt blood drip from his mouth and he managed to pull himself enough, where Gwen could see him. Gwen rushed over, kneeling down, trying to struggle to find the right words. “Please help me…I can barely move.”

“I’m here for you,” said Gwen as she reached out, grabbing Peter’s hands, pulling him up, walking towards the car. Peter’s legs dragged underneath him as she struggled to hold him but somehow she found the strength to continue, as she opened the back seat. Peter managed to climb in immediately, before Gwen walked over to the driver’s side.

“Get me out of here before someone finds out,” mumbled Peter weakly.

“We’ve got to really got to a hospital Peter,” said Gwen firmly trying to reason with him.

“NO!” shouted Peter but he recoiled, the strain of yelling was a bit too much for him to bare. “We can’t if that happens…then the Goblin will know that I survived and he might finish me off.”

“Yes, but damn it Peter, I don’t know what to do,” said Gwen in an exasperated tone of voice. “This isn’t something that I can drive you to my house and patch you up with a first aid kit. You can barely stand, you need serious medical attention. I’m not going to lose you.”

“Baxter Building,” muttered Peter suddenly.

“Excuse me?” asked Gwen not quite sure if she understood Peter.

“Baxter Building, Reed Richards, he owes me a favor, in fact he owes me his life kind of,” said Peter.

“And why would Reed Richards owe you his life?” asked Gwen eyes narrowed, even if Peter did not see him. She had managed to get out of Peter that he was with the Fantastic Four on that one night but she never really got too many details other than that out of him.

“Saved him from Doom,” murmured Peter weakly and Gwen nearly stopped the car, it struck her exactly where Peter was that one night until one in the morning. He was fighting Doom, Doctor Doom, alongside the Fantastic Four, but this was not the time nor the place and she had a mission to do. The city counted on Spider-Man to save them and now it was up to her to get Peter the help he needed in time.

“Just hang on Peter,” said Gwen, unable to say much more than that. She was determined, if the situation was reversed, Peter would do everything in his power to save her, even if he had to go straight through hell. “Everything’s going to be alright, just hang on.”

“Thanks, Gwen, love you,” murmured Peter it was a struggle to speak right now.

“I love you too, Peter Parker,” replied Gwen but she kept focused on the task at hand.

-

“I don’t believe this, the story of the century, and there’s no photographer to cover it,” said Jameson in his usual loud tone of voice. “WHERE IS PARKER?”

“I’m checking around, Jonah,” said Robbie as he moved over to the phone. “Mrs. Parker…Daily Bugle speaking…your nephew is he home? No, he hasn’t arrived. Yes, I’ll be sure to call you if he shows up, tell me that Mr. Jameson wants to speak to him, yes I know but he’s a hard man to say no too.”

“Wasn’t home, what does that punk have better to do?” bellowed Jameson loudly. “The demise of Spider-Man and there’s no pictures to go along with it, it’s an outrage I tell you.”

“Maybe, Peter was caught in the blast, Mr. Jameson,” said Betty seriously and the members of the Bugle staff looked horrified at that possibility, even if it was false horror in one notable case.

“Possible but I won’t believe anything until I have proof,” said Jameson but he tried not too look too shaken. He had a reputation to maintain and he could not have people thinking that he was actually becoming a bit fond of the boy.

“Then maybe we shouldn’t be reporting on Spider-Man’s death without there being a body,” argued Robbie.

“All the other news outlets are jumping on the web head’s death, I have to report something, otherwise I’ll look like the laughing stock of the news media,” said Jameson without taking a breath. “Keep your eyes peeled for anything and when something new breaks, I want it all covered. Brock, you have another chance to redeem yourself, if Parker doesn’t turn up or…if something has happened to him, it will be up to you to come up with pictures.”

“Right JJ, I won’t let you down,” said Brock in a delighted voice. A small part of him had hoped that both Peter Parker and Spider-Man had met a grisly fate, they had both caused him headaches in recent months and cost him more money.

“Better not, Brock, I don’t think I even have to tell you what happens if you do,” said Jameson as he looked at the staff. “Well, why are you all standing around for? Everyone move it, get ready for the news as it comes in.”

Jameson turned, walking off. He thought he would be more pleased with Spider-Man’s demise but Robbie did bring up a good point. He would not be dancing in the streets without the web head’s corpse and until they could get through the debris, it might be a bit of time before they could verify anything.

-

Gwen drove up towards the Baxter Building, hoping that the Four were in fact there. She looked around, before she honked the horn of the car. She heard Peter give a wince of pain in the back seat of the car, as she got out, before she came face to face with Johnny Storm, the young hero also known as the Human Torch.

“Hello,” said the Torch brightly as he got a good look at Gwen. “Please tell me you’re here to see me.”

“I’m here to see Reed Richards, it’s kind of an emergency,” said Gwen, ignoring the Torch’s blatant and poor attempt in hitting on her, side stepping him, as she looked inside. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but why would you want to see him?” asked the Torch.

“My boyfriend has been hurt badly and he told me to bring him here,” said Gwen and the Human Torch looked confused for a brief second.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I would have thought that the first place someone who was injured would want to go would be a hospital,” said the Human Torch with a look of complete bewilderment.

“Johnny, I hope you’re not trying to pester this poor young lady,” said the Invisible Woman as she walked outside before he stopped when she caught sight at the body in the back seat and eyes widened “Spider-Man?”

“Spider-Man, no way, I thought he was dead, you know it’s all over the news, he got killed by the Green Gremlin or whatever they’re calling that guy,” said the Human Torch as he looked at him, trying to get a good look at Spider-Man’s face, but the Invisible Woman put up a force field. “Ah come on Sue, I just want to take a peak”

“No, there’s a reason why he normally wears a mask and if he wants to tell you who he is, it’s his choice,” said the Invisible Woman as she turned to Gwen. “Now you wanted to see my husband…”

“Yes, Spider-Man seems to think that he can help and he does owe him for something involving Doom, that we’re going to have to have a long talk about later,” said Gwen and the Invisible Woman, nodded, before she put a stasis field and lifted Peter out of the back of the car, able to shield his face from detection, not that he needed much cover due to the fact he was bloodied and bruised.

“This should get him to my husband’s lab right away, where the specialized equipment should be able to help,” said the Invisible Woman, as Gwen nodded, before she followed the two heroes inside of the Baxter Building. The state Peter looked in would be in her nightmares for some time to come but she resolved to remain strong.

-

The news of Spider-Man had spread even more and the Green Goblin was gleeful when he heard of the terror that he had spread. No matter if it was his intention or not, Spider-Man was a figure that many looked up to, larger than life. It was beyond their grasp to be like him, he was untouchable, a hero, someone who could save them all. However, the Goblin had removed that security blanket, and Spider-Man was proved to be someone who could not even save himself. Spider-Man met his demise and as he looked at the bloody tattered mask in his hand, the Goblin sneered when he recalled the person who was underneath the mask. It was such a waste, a bright young mind like that to swing around town in a hallway costume but it was necessary for Spider-Man to meet his demise, as any other hero who decided to foolishly step in his way.

The Green Goblin dove down, letting a crowd get a glimpse of him, holding up the bloodied Spider-Man masked as children screened in terror before he shot off into the distance. The next phase of his plan would be completed tomorrow.

-

“It’s not as bad as you would think,” said Mr. Fantastic as his computers had just finished scanning the battered Spider-Man, after being administered a sedative to ease his pain. “He was correct to think he could come here, given the situation, it could have been worse.”

“Could have been worse?” asked the Thing. “Guy took a clobbering, if you ask me the fact he’s alive is a miracle.”

“Yes, maybe, if he was caught in the explosion, but he got out in time, any more damage, and there would be no choice, he would have to go to the hospital,” said Mr. Fantastic. “Slight concussion is the worst of it, some minor trauma but something that would easily be healable with our advanced equipment here at the Baxter Building. The broken bones and the mild burns and bruising go without staying. He’ll have to stay for another day for observation but I’m sure Spider-Man will make.”

“So he’s going to be just fine,” said Gwen.

“Physically, yes,” inputted the Invisible Woman. “Mentally…well I think that might be another matter entirely.”

“His obsession with the Green Goblin, I was afraid something like this might happen,” said Gwen.

“It’s a risk we take each and every day,” said The Invisible Woman. “But it doesn’t get any easier.”

“No,” agreed Gwen as she watched Mr. Fantastic set up the equipment to work on Peter before she turned to the Invisible Woman. “Do you…”

“Worry about Reed?” asked the Invisible Woman. “Yes, all the time and believe me there are times where I feel helpless, but at least I have powers. In a way I think that’s what makes someone like you stronger. You don’t have super powers, but yet he relied on you to save him and you got to him in time.”

“I would feel better once he’s out of the woods,” said Gwen.

“He will be, in time, now go home and get some rest, we’ll do everything we can to make him recover as quickly as possible,” said the Invisible Woman and Gwen paused, looking reluctant to leave. “You should be able to visit him first thing in the morning.”

Gwen gave a short nod before she walked off, legs feeling like jelly and she imagined Peter’s face, pained and in agony. She wished she could do more but it was great that he had people he could rely on.

-

“So nothing from Peter,” said Harry the next morning.

“No Harry,” said Gwen flatly over the phone.

“He takes pictures of Spider-Man and you know what they’re saying on the news,” said Harry.

“That Spider-Man was killed by the Green Goblin, I know but there’s been no bodies pulled out of the wreckage yet or any remains found,” said Gwen as she sounded worried enough but because of Peter’s current physical and perhaps mental state.

“No, but my dad’s body was never found, the explosion could have vaporized his body,” said Harry.

“Wasn’t it more of an implosion than an explosion that got your father?” asked Gwen.

“Maybe, but the point is that Peter could have suffered the same way,” said Harry. “Man, I really feel bad now…the last time we talked, I really went to town on him, over something that really wasn’t his fault, it’s just I’ve been under a lot of stress.”

“I’m sure Peter understands that,” said Gwen. “He wanted to talk to you after words but figured you needed a little space.”

A knock on the door caused the conversation to be stopped.

“Call you back Gwen, someone’s at the door,” said Harry. “Bye.”

“Bye,” said Gwen quickly as Harry hung up the phone, before he walked forward and opened the door, where Captain George Stacy stood on the outside, with several police officers.

“Captain Stacy, what can I do for you?” asked Harry in surprise.

“No delicate way to put this, but we managed to get a good look at the glider that the Green Goblin was using and it was registered Oscorp property,” said Captain Stacy in an even voice.

“A glider was stolen not too long ago, in fact right before my father’s death,” said Harry.

“Look, there was no police report filed, I’m just following procedure,” said Captain Stacy. “The fact remains that the only people who could have gotten clearance had the surname Osborn.”

“You can’t be serious, you mean to say that you’re accusing me of being the Green Goblin?” asked Harry.

“No one is accusing anyone of anything, we just want you to go down town and ask a few questions, verify your whereabouts at several times,” said Captain Stacy. “Come quietly and…”

“There is no need for any verifying because that whelp cannot be the Green Goblin!” cackled the Green Goblin as he flew outside of the window and threw a pumpkin bomb inside. The Goblin laughed as he held up another pumpkin bomb. “Really you thought that little punk, was the Green Goblin? Seriously, Captain, that insults me to the point of revulsion.”

The Goblin tossed his bomb right towards the ground.

“Everyone scatter!” ordered Captain Stacy as the police, along with Harry, dove behind the sofa, just in the nick of time as the bomb exploded. The Green Goblin cackled, as the police rose up. “Hold your fire.”

“Wise move, it wouldn’t work on me anyway,” said the Green Goblin coldly. “Let it be known that Spider-Man has been exterminated like the pest he is and now I right another wrong. Anyone who gets in my way will be annihilated.”

The Green Goblin flipped a sonic toad on the ground and sound waves from the weapon stunned the police force, as the Goblin burst out the window, cackling like a mad man. He had delivered his warning, now it was on to fry the biggest fish in the criminal pond.

-

“Hello Gwen,” muttered Peter groggily as he focused his eyes towards his girlfriend, who rushed over, giving him a light hug before she kissed him in relief. The mild pain he suffered was all too worth it.

“I see you’re a bit better,” said Gwen.

“On the mend, I guess,” replied Peter as the rest of the Fantastic Four were off, although Reed said he would return in a while.

“I thought I lost you for a minute,” said Gwen quietly as she relieved her grip slightly.

“You weren’t the only one, there was a time where I was about to give up but I had to keep fighting and I got out,” said Peter as Gwen sat down in the chair beside the bed. “If it wasn’t for you showing up when you did and getting me here we might not be here having this conversation.”

“I think Dr. Richards is to thank about as much as I am,” said Gwen with a smile.

“Dr. Richards wasn’t the one who inspired me to keep fighting unbearable pain,” responded Peter. “You truly are amazing, Gwen Stacy, don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

“Nice to see that you’re your usual sappy self, Pete,” said Gwen but she gave him a warm smile.

“And I mean everything I said in that pained, delirious state,” said Peter. “A sentiment that is cheapened with each passing week by others but…”

“We’re not others Peter, we’re us, whatever we are, whether it’s for better or for worse, that’s a matter of opinion,” said Gwen as she looked at Peter but her relieved expression slowly gave way to something more apprehensive. “And the world does believe that Spider-Man is dead.”

“The world does believe that, but the Green Goblin knows that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same,” said Peter and Gwen opened her mouth, but he weakly raised his hand. “He seemed to know me, whoever is under the mask is someone that Peter Parker has met before.”

“You’re sure?” asked Gwen.

“Positive Gwen, I’ve only been surer about one other thing before,” said Peter. “And that’s how I feel about you.”

“What are you going to do?” wondered Gwen.

“What can I do?” responded Peter weakly shrugging his shoulders, but there was no other alternative. “The same thing Spider-Man always does when he gets knocked down for the count. He brushes himself back up and goes after the villain again, only this time the stakes are going to be higher. He knows who I am and a demented unhinged lunatic like the Goblin won’t hesitate to put the people I care about in jeopardy. He has to be brought to justice.”

“Anything you do, won’t erase the fact he knows,” said Gwen, eyes widened slightly at the implications. Peter mentioned that he feared that someday the wrong person would learn his identity and now I has come true.

“You’re worried that I might do something I’ll regret,” said Peter.

“I know you too well to worry about something like that,” countered Gwen. “The only thing I’m worried about is the fact that this obsession with stopping the Green Goblin might kill you and if I lose you, I don’t know what I would do.”

“I don’t want to lie to you and say that everything’s going to be alright,” said Peter as he gripped her hands tighter and looked right into her eyes. “Because we’re both too smart to believe that would be the case but as long as he’s out there, there’s only one thing I can do. I can’t change the fact, because that’s who I am.”

“And no matter how much I worry about his safety, anything less than that would be opposite of the reason I love him,” thought Gwen in despair.

“Do you have faith that Spider-Man can triumph over all?” asked Peter.

“I have faith in Peter Parker,” replied Gwen firmly, with full conviction.

-

Outside of the Wilson Fisk estate, two of the snipers looked up, hearing a loud whirling sound from above, before a glider flew onto the property. One of the snipers took a shot but the pilot of the glider dodged the gunfire, before he threw a pumpkin bomb down. The Green Goblin laughed with mirth as the platform where the sniper stood blew to bits, causing him to fall to his doom. The second sniper was disarmed by a razor bat, before the Green Goblin threw a pumpkin bomb, catching him point blank in the chest and knocking him down. The guards attempted to shoot from below but a sonic toad had caused them to be put off balance.

“Really Fisk, surely with all your dirty money, you could afford a better security system,” said the Goblin with a shake of his head, as he raised a hand. An energy blast from his hand fried the security system, as he crashed right through the window. Two more bodyguards leapt up in a futile attempt to attack the Green Goblin, but the Goblin made sure work of them before he came face to face with Wilson Fisk, who reached over the table, but the Green Goblin flew right towards him, with the blade at the end of the glider right underneath his throat. “I wouldn’t move, Fisk, one wrong move and your throat gets sliced open.”

“What do you want from me?” asked Fisk.

“Everything, Kingpin,” said the Green Goblin.

“That name holds no meaning to me,” said Fisk dryly.

“Please, let us not play dumb,” said the Goblin as he casually threw a razor bat, impaling another bodyguard that tried to get the drop on him. “I want to make a deal with you.”

“Just who are you anyway?” demanded Fisk.

“Someone whose life you ruined when you took everything away from him,” said the Green Goblin but Fisk had a look of confusion on his face. “You’re right, that doesn’t narrow it down at all but the fact of the matter is this, I want everything you own. All your businesses, legitimate or otherwise, along with every dime you have to your name. Sign it over to the Green Goblin.”

“And what if I refuse?” asked Fisk, remaining cool.

“Other than the obvious perk of remaining alive?” asked the Green Goblin and Fisk nodded trying not to look intimidated, but the large man had never been closer to the point of terror in his life. “I have bombs planted in areas all over New York City. There wouldn’t be enough time to disarm them all, not that I would let you even get close enough. If everything is not signed over to me, by seven this evening, I’ll wipe out everything.”

“You’re bluffing,” said Fisk.

“Is that a risk you’re willing to take?” mocked the Green Goblin. “Everything by seven, bring it to the front lobby of Oscorp.”

“Why there?” asked Fisk.

“If I wanted you to know that, I’d have to kill you first,” said the Green Goblin. “And any tricks and my finger will slip, blowing everything to kingdom come.”

The Green Goblin flew out, as Wilson Fisk turned. Any other fool would just leave the city immediately, but the destruction would cost Fisk billions, something that he could not afford.

Still he did not become the Kingpin for nothing. He planned to think of something and the Green Goblin would rue the day he ever decided to put on that costume.

-

“The Green Goblin’s out there, he’s threatened to blow up the city,” said Peter frantically as he frantically stitched together a Spider-Man mask as quickly as possible, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Besides, Dr. Richards said I was fine, the equipment here did the work, mostly, other than some aches and pains here and there, and there are a couple of ribs that will have to heal naturally but I’m fine.”

“I heard what he said but he strongly advised not going against the Green Goblin or any other criminals for that matter unless you had a bit more time to rest,” said Gwen sitting right beside Peter. “You might be well enough to walk out of here without any problems but against the Green Goblin, you do remember what happened last time you fought him?”

“Vividly,” said Peter in a dry voice. “Now hand me that red thread, I’m almost finished.”

“I should string you up by this for having such a blatant disregard for your own health, Peter Benjamin Parker,” said Gwen but she did as she was asked.

“It’s not as if I’m doing it for myself, the millions that the Green Goblin will kill and believe me, he will kill them,” said Peter as he put the finishing touches on the new Spider-Man mask. “He’s a lunatic, he’s completely out of his mind but somehow the most brilliant enemy I’ve ever fought. He’s obsessed, Gwen.”

“Kind of reminds me of someone I know,” muttered Gwen.

“Don’t compare me to him,” said Peter a bit more roughly then he wanted to, as he slipped the mask on slightly taking a deep breath to calm himself. “Even if Fisk does agree to his ransom, what’s to stop the Green Goblin from blowing the city to bits anyway. Millions will die, including you and that’s not something that I want on my conscience.”

“If there was some other way, I would encourage you to take it, but I know there isn’t,” said Gwen as she wrapped her arms around Peter, as the mask covered all but his mouth, which was not uncovered for long. The kiss lingered for as long as necessary, before the two slowly broke apart. When they did, Gwen pulled the mask down the rest of the way.

“Well, no use waiting around,” said Peter as he took a step, trying to hide the grimace of pain from Gwen, who frowned, not fooled even one bit. He walked forward, turning to the nearest window and gave Gwen an apologetic look before Spider-Man swung out, wondering if he had made the biggest mistake of his life in an attempt to go back into battle this soon. 


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