Chapter 561 - Vortex (2/2)
”— collection of sports cars?”
”I suppose he does. So tell me... Candy... how did you meet Tony?” Samantha smiled as Candy chugged another tasteful glass of wine. ”Oh, it was at this night club! He just flew in and asked if anybody wanted to be his plus-one for tonight and I got the chance! Yay!” She smiled.
”I suppose he would do just that... picking up hooters with his superhero identity. How very lovely.”
On the other side, Tony called loudly, breaking the formal decorum with narrowed eyes. ”Norman!” He greeted, ”Who knew that the actual hero would come? Your idea for supersoldier serum has been a game-changer! I mean, passing the undeveloped serum through another biological host to fill the blanks and then develop it! Who knew it could be done like that!” Tony chuckled.
”I did.” Norman Osborn shrugged, ”But, the project's scr.a.p.ed off. That's why the tech is public. Whoever can become a superhero before the government up that poor bastard's butt, well... lucky for him.” Norman then tilted his head, ”What's going on, Stark? Why the sudden... need of showing friendship?” Norman inquired without losing his composure and the glass of wine in his hand as Tony leaned over ever so slightly and whispered.
”Because... I suppose that this is a good time as any to inform you that a certain facility is keeping track of you alongside any other businessmen like us who are trying to figure out the method of developing the serum again. A freebie from my side. Now, did you hear about today's development in Manhattan Highschool? It's a lovely place with quite the potential. Too bad that you are finding it and... got targetted for some sort of giant insect monster that was taken care of by our very own Carl Lucas and some chick in tights.”
Osborn's expression didn't change but he did take a sip of his wine to disguise his gulp while Tony continued in hushed whispers, ”Now, I don't know why a 'contracted' superhero would not harshly rain demise on a monster who has lost its mine. Maybe the monster was sentient and part of whatever Lucas managed to get in bed with. My point is, if you want something out of your life, hide in a dessert, and conduct your experiments there.”
”Why tell me this, Stark?”
”Oh, come on!” Tony smiled widely, ”I have been attacked by my own partner and almost got killed in a hellhole. One thing I have learned is that never trust anybody with your darkest secret, Osborn. I am sure, an industry leading in Bio-Tech must have some... gory details, too.”
Patting Osborn's back, Tony made his way somewhere else and continued to discuss a few minor details.
As the event came to an end and Candy slept soundly with a n.a.k.e.d and slightly exhausted Tony beside her, the man slowly sat up and wore a comfortable bathrobe before walking down to his new workshop.
”Jarvis, get me an access to Osborn's directories. Try to remain hidden from... you know, whatever the hell is trying to figure us out.” Tony grunted while pulling a steel stool and slumping down. ”Norman is a madman when it comes to trying crazy theories. Let's see if we can find something to help with our own situation.”
”If I may suggest, Sir,” Jarvis' voice echoed, ”Why not take Mr. Fury's offer. He has already provided us with one dose of the antidote.”
”An antidote with a bio-lock to the sequence? Yeah, no. That man isn't kind and no need to give him face for obstructing the inevitable. We need Osborn's data to kickstart our Project Extremis.
”Very well, Sir.” The voice agreed as Tony looked into the distance. ”One more thing. Tell Pepper that... I may be busy with Candy tomorrow, too. The woman is good.”
---
As Mary, Nik, and Anna slept peacefully, changes began to occur in the city. A man with half of his head covered from the top beat up a thug who almost forced himself on a young girl returning from her practices when a man in blue tights interrupted him by shooting the assaulter through both of his thighs and the p.e.n.i.s, providing a quick castration and calling the Ambulance alongside. On the other hand, a savage blast occurred in the labs of New York Hall of Science, ruining most of the public experiments going on. Meanwhile, a blonde youth in tattered clothes finally arrived on the outskirts of the city only to be stopped by a handful of muggers and inducing the youth's fist to glow raging gold. An asian girl accidentally covered her family in webbings and ran away in panic. A dark-skinned girl stood in front of the man with an eye patch as she inquired.
”Do you really want this?”
”You said that you'll allow me to help and lead a life as any girl my age should. I am holding onto your promise.” She said without any changes in her eyes. Both of them looked down at the form on the table revealing itself to be the admission form of Manhattan Highschool. At this moment, the man's cell rang and he looked at it curiously only for his to expression drop and him sighing.
”Fine. But we've got a task. I am contacting Luke. You should get ready.”
The girl nodded and left with measured steps. As she left, the man slumped down.
”S.I.N was a mistake...”
”Director Fury,” his communicator rang, ”We've got a situation. Our facility was breached for 13 seconds.”
”Hmph,” Nick Fure grunted, ”And? What's stolen?”
”Nothing, Sir. There's... a gif of a stick figure with giant b.r.e.a.s.ts... milking ink.”
”Great. Trolls can now detect our systems. Call Widow in. We need to tighten the security and find the location of the perpetrator.”
”On it,” the woman's voice faded.
”Not that it would lead to an arrogant playboy who happens to be a millionaire...” Fury whispered to himself. He suddenly thought of something and called in once again. ”Are the files of S.I.N—”
”They have been exposed, Sir. Not to the public. The breach originated from Osborn Corporation's headquarters. We are sending a team in.”
Nick Fury's expression turned for the worse. One of his best men had to be stationed in a task more important than this. Those matters originated from World War 2.
Unknown to everyone, a bulky blonde laying in what seemed to be a hospital room suddenly opened his eyes. He turned his head away to find a radio working slowly, describing a game of the past, and beside it was a picture of a beautiful blonde framed in a stern-looking uniform.