93: Something Happened ?!

"No, don't eat me!" the vagrant pleaded, his strengthened psyche shattered by Andrew's mental assault. All his arrogance and bluster vanished in an instant.

Gwen hurried over as fast as she could, praying nothing had happened. She was shocked to see the man simply standing motionless in front of Andrew's car after being so aggressive earlier.

"What's going on?" she wondered aloud. In no time, she perched atop the car's hood with a muted thump. "You both okay?" she asked Andrew and Pikachu worriedly.

Andrew nodded to indicate they were fine. Pikachu also danced excitedly in the car upon seeing Gwen.

Reassured of their safety, Gwen regarded the oddly docile vagrant. His entire demeanor had changed from the cocky killer from before. He seemed frightened, like a scared child.

After glancing around warily, his gaze fixed on Gwen. "Spider-Woman...you're Spider-Woman!" he exclaimed as if glimpsing a saving grace.

Confused by his bizarre reaction, Gwen responded, "Yeah, we just fought remember?" 

But the man seemed not to hear, pleading desperately, "Spider-Woman, you have to save me! They tied me up, injected me with something...you must help!"

Both Gwen and Andrew frowned, perplexed by this dramatics. Logically, Andrew's scare tactic should have just startled him, not reduced him to this cowering wreck.

"What's going on with him?" Andrew asked Red Queen privately.

"Master, he appears to exhibit dual personalities," Red Queen analyzed. "The violent psyche from earlier seems dominant. This current one is weaker. And he seems oblivious to his other half."

"Split personality?" Andrew understood instantly - his own shock tactic must have forced the savage personality to recede, allowing this timid one to emerge. But which represented the true core self, even Red Queen couldn't judge.

Gwen also heard the analysis on their shared channel. As she pondered how to proceed, Andrew instructed, "Gwen, web him up first then have police detain him."

Gwen complied, snaring the man in a large web cocoon. But he only grew more frantic at being restrained. "Why are you arresting me, Spider-Woman? They're trying to kill me, you must save me!" 

"They?" Gwen looked questioningly at Andrew. Sensing her intent, he nodded for her to continue.

"It's okay, this is for your safety," she soothed. "Just tell me first, who are you talking about?"

But her efforts to calm the man seemed futile. He kept pleading for salvation while anxiously scanning his surroundings. The sparse pedestrian traffic looked to him like threats lurking in hellish terrain.

Soon police sirens neared and cars encircled them. Hearing the sirens triggered the man to curl up tightly in the webbing, falling silent except for faint trembling.

The officers rushed out with guns trained on the cocooned figure. George approached Gwen for a status update. "Thank you again Spider-Woman, for capturing this criminal."

Gwen quickly clarified, "Actually I didn't catch him myself this time." 

George looked askance at the webbed vagrant. Didn't you do that?

Gwen went on, "When I arrived, he was already like this. My analysis suggests he has a split psyche. His violent side suddenly receded somehow, letting this gentler personality emerge."

She indicated back toward Andrew's car. "Right after he tried attacking that gentleman there." 

George's gaze followed her gesture, and he did a double take. "Oh, one moment please Spider-Woman."

He walked to Andrew's car where Pikachu instantly played dead. Andrew rolled down his window. "Uncle George, fancy seeing you here," he greeted politely.

George smiled. "A fortunate coincidence indeed. Might I ask what transpired with that man earlier?"

"It's all recorded on my dash camera," Andrew answered. "I'll send you the footage shortly."

Exchanging a few more pleasantries, George's eyes drifted to the 'stuffed toy' in the passenger seat. Sensing George's stare, Pikachu nervously tensed up. Please don't squeeze me again!

"Gwen has a most adorable plushie as well," George casually remarked. To avoid rousing George's suspicion, Gwen had already slipped away.

"Well, I'll let you depart. Just send me the dash cam video whenever you can," George bid farewell. 

In the car, Andrew instructed Red Queen, "Look into where that man first appeared, and his activities prior to today."

"Understood Master," she acknowledged.

Noting Pikachu's impatient fidgeting, Andrew added, "Let's swing by the market first to grab some food before meeting up with Gwen."

Hearing they were getting snacks, Pikachu instantly livened up. "Pika...chu!" he cheered.

Oscorp Industries

After much effort, Peter and Norman finally succeeded in engineering an inhibition serum. Lying before them was the original lab monkey, now endowed with bulging, steroidal muscles. At a glance it could be mistaken for a gorilla.

Exchanging resolute nods, Norman injected the turquoise liquid into the transformed primate. White plumes of vapor emerged from the quivering muscles. Slowly the monkey shrank back to normal proportions, scans showing its biology completely stabilized.

"Success! Now we just need to locate the rogue subject," Peter said excitedly. 

Seeing the results, Norman also breathed easier. Half the burden was lifted. Now they just needed to neutralize the vagrant before police caught up. That would minimize the damage.

"I sent Jack's men to search. We'll act as soon as there's any lead," Norman notified.

Just then hurried footsteps approached and the lab door burst open. "Trouble!" Jack blurted out urgently. 

Both Peter and Norman understood instantly - their experiment had gone awry once more.

Inside the lab, Jack reported grimly, "With Spider-Woman's help, police arrested that homeless guy."

Hearing the news, Peter sighed in relief. At least the problem was contained before the rogue subject could cause greater havoc. 

But Norman sank into his seat, the blood draining from his face. He understood well the implications of this arrest. Once questioning revealed his involvement, he would be finished completely.

"Doctor Osborn..." Peter started to say.

But Norman suddenly exploded, "Get out, all of you!" 

Peter and Jack exchanged frowns at this abrupt shift in temperament. But their thoughts differed.

Peter sighed resignedly and slowly exited the lab. Jack on the other hand seethed inwardly at Norman's disrespect. But considering the precarious situation, he swallowed his pride for now and left with Peter, shutting the lab door behind them.

Alone in the hall, Jack regarded Peter curiously. "After how he just treated you, you still want to help him?" 

He went on, "You know, he even considered experimenting on you when you were knocked out?" Jack revealed what had occurred while Peter was unconscious. 

Hearing that, anger flashed across Peter's face briefly before he responded evenly, "In any case, he's still my good friend's father. I can't just stand by while he repeats mistakes."

Jack lit a cigarette, pondering Peter's words. "You're too soft," he concluded simply.

Inside the lab, Norman regarded the monkey they had returned to normal. All its vitals were stable and its physique restored. 

"The inhibition drug works. If combined with the enhancement formula, perhaps it could be controlled..." Norman muttered, inspiration striking. 

He swiftly pulled out his phone and dialed a number from memory. After several rings, a gruff voice answered. "Norman? You better be calling to report success."

Norman's expression soured, but he laughed obligingly. "General, the perfected version is still in progress, but we've made a new breakthrough."

The general's interest was instantly piqued. "Go on then."

"This new drug stimulates comprehensive physical development in subjects. But the side effect is the manifestation of a violent secondary psyche," Norman explained.

"However, we also engineered an inhibition agent that can restore them to normal upon reinjection."

After hearing Norman's summary, the general snapped angrily, "And how does this relate to the new Captain America I want?"

Chagrined, Norman continued delicately, "General, I understand this is far from your ideal outcome..." 

But the general cut him off sharply. "Okay Norman, let's not beat around the bush. You wouldn't reveal some half-baked prototype normally. Something's gone wrong and now you want my help, correct?"

Caught red-handed, Norman admitted reluctantly, "Yes General. I do urgently require your assistance." 

The general mused, "Your research shows some promise I suppose. Very well, I can provide some aid, so long as it doesn't entail military involvement." 

Norman noted the general's circumspection. Ready to cast off any association at the first sign of trouble. This didn't inspire confidence that the man would really lend assistance.

Still, for the sake of his own future, Norman swallowed his pride and confessed the entire incident with the homeless vagrant subject. The general's existing aid meant few details could be omitted anyway. Norman figured even if the man refused to help now, it changed little.

But the general's first reaction was to curse furiously. "Norman, have you lost your mind? Illegally experimenting on abducted subjects, then letting your creation escape? Do you comprehend the maelstrom that could stir up?"

Both understood how the court of public opinion could easily destroy someone in this country. The freshly fallen Jin Bing was a prime example. 

Before Norman could plead his case further, the general declared bluntly, "Consider our association dissolved, Osborn. The military wants no part in this, don't contact us again."

Desperately Norman argued, "General, you know I'm the only one capable of perfecting the enhancement formula! Aid me just this once more!"

But the general only laughed derisively. "You? Haven't you heard of Hammer Industries?" 

Momentarily confused by the non sequitur, Norman answered slowly, "Yes, led by Justin Hammer. Black market arms dealers..."

"They've replicated the Iron Legion," the general interjected, "and will be unveiling it soon. Once successful, the DoD will partner with Hammer Industries indefinitely."

The general chuckled before twisting the knife. "Frankly Norman, your super soldier research is pitifully sluggish by comparison. I've only humored you out of courtesy until now. But with or without you, it makes no difference to me." 

The line disconnected, leaving Norman reeling. From this point on, the military had washed their hands of him. Without that backing, there was no containing this incident. 

Utterly powerless, Norman sank into the chair before the experimental monkey, gazing hollowly. He finally grasped the depth of his naivete, daring to conspire with the military. 

Now he understood the yawning gap between himself and Howard Stark. And Tony Stark. 

A rasping laugh escaped Norman's lips, echoing through the empty lab.

Inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Nick Fury watched the footage of the homeless mutant shrinking back from Andrew's car, brows furrowed. "Andrew is certainly no ordinary man..." 

"Hill!" 

Responding promptly, Hill asked, "Orders, Director?"

"Get someone over to the NYPD," Fury instructed. "I need to know everything about this escaped experiment. Every single detail."

"Understood!" Hill acknowledged and hurried off to fulfill the task.

Fury watched Spider-Woman swing into view and easily take charge of the situation. "Interesting...could he be connected to Andrew somehow?" Fury mused.

To be continued...