Chapter 38

Peter raised his arms solely through sheer willpower. He braced himself for the expected agony, but to his surprise, the pain never came.

For a split second, he held his breath, trying to comprehend what was happening. His mind slowly registered the absence of the menacing shadow of the Green Goblin looming over him.

"Spidey, you sure know how to get yourself into trouble," came the familiar voice of Reed Richards.

At first, Parker thought his senses were deceiving him, but as the trembling in his body subsided and the world around him stabilized, he saw who stood before him. Reed Richards hovered in the air against the city skyline, with a remarkably designed weapon levitating behind him—clearly his own creation.

Parker traced his gaze to the opposite direction from Richards.

The Green Goblin was in a dire state. The impact had struck his abdomen. The scaly skin, which had withstood Parker's full-force punches, was now cracked, indicating the immense power behind the blow.

"What the...?" Parker wondered as he noticed that the impact site began to crumble...

"Surprised?" Reed Richards asked, drawing Parker's attention back to him.

---= Reed Richards =---

The Super Soldier Serum—an enduring legacy of Dr. Erskine—became the focal point of an insatiable scientific race. In Universe 1610, this substance had caused numerous calamities, enabling those who sought power without responsibility.

In my universe, the repercussions of serum experiments were equally catastrophic. Norman Osborn, possessing resources and ambition but lacking rational restraint, decided to test a new formula on himself. Unlike my methodical and cautious research, his actions resembled a bull rampaging through a china shop.

Osborn turned himself into a dubious experiment. His recklessness resulted in him becoming a monster instead of a hero like Steve Rogers, terrorizing New York's streets as the Green Goblin, leaving behind destruction and chaos.

Osborn's recklessness allowed me to develop a weapon ideally suited for neutralizing his mutated form. The Goblin's genetic structure was extremely unstable, enabling my device to work effectively.

"Yeah..." Peter murmured, watching the Goblin shrink in size. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He's reverting to his pre-mutation form," I replied.

"I can see your next question forming," I smiled, anticipating his barrage of questions. "But first, let's make sure you're safe."

"But I feel fine!" Parker protested, attempting to stand, but quickly collapsing back to his knees.

"Fine?" I raised an eyebrow, watching his struggle to maintain balance.

"...Alright, you're right," Parker admitted.

Judging by his expression, he accepted his condition with relative ease.

I began examining the data from Parker's suit. The readings were... disheartening. Despite his enhanced abilities and impressive regenerative power, his recovery without assistance would be a lengthy and exhausting process.

At this moment, it was clear that adjustments to the suit's software were necessary to accelerate his healing. Delving into the deepest levels of the suit's code, I implemented updates and algorithms designed for emergencies. These were modifications I hadn't anticipated needing—I had sincerely hoped Spidey wouldn't encounter an adversary capable of injuring him so severely.

As I scanned the lines of code, I noted that Parker hadn't wasted any time, striving to explore the depths of his software.

I sighed and added a new directive to the complex array of commands. Instantly, the suit's systems sprang into action: broken limbs were stabilized, and bruises began to heal thanks to a swarm of microscopic robots working in unison with Parker's unique regenerative abilities.

"Try standing now," I suggested to Parker, who had fallen silent for a few minutes.

All this time, Peter's eyes remained fixed on the retreating form of the Goblin. The green tint of his skin had nearly vanished, leaving behind only pale traces of the previous frenzy of color.

"Surprisingly, it feels much better," Parker said, standing confidently.

At that moment, the Green Goblin faded from view, leaving behind the unconscious body of Norman Osborn.

"Mr. Osborn?" Parker whispered, his voice trembling with shock, his eyes widening beneath his mask.

"How well do you know him, Parker?" I asked, observing his reaction, trying to read the thoughts hidden behind his impassive expression.

Spider-Man froze for a moment, his shoulders twitching slightly. He was clearly stunned and confused by this turn of events.

"Very well..." he finally whispered, his voice barely audible. "But it doesn't matter now."

I nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the moment, and added:

"It truly doesn't matter anymore. Focus on what's next, Parker."

He seemed ready to argue, but I pointed toward the street, where distinctive vehicles had already cordoned off the area.

"We need to act. Time is running out, Parker. We have to address the aftermath," I said, emphasizing the urgency of our next steps.

From the black, beast-like vehicles, SHIELD agents emerged, the clanging of doors closing behind them. Among them, standing out with authority, was the operation leader.

Agent Phil Coulson slowly surveyed the destruction—the signs of the battle between Parker and the Goblin that had marred the street and building facades. Then his gaze settled on us, a mix of respect and concern in his eyes.

"Hello, Dr. Richards, Spider-Man," he said with a slight smile.

"It's been a while, Agent Coulson," I replied dryly, closely watching his reaction.

Coulson merely smirked in response, while Parker managed only a brief nod, adding, "Hello."

"As I understand," I began, glancing at Osborn's unconscious body lying nearby under the watch of other agents, "Mr. Osborn will be spending several long years in prison?"

The words hung in the air, adding weight to the already tense atmosphere. Coulson nodded, his gaze firm and unyielding.

"He will answer for all his crimes," he confirmed. "SHIELD guarantees it."

—\\—

SHIELD agents cautiously approached Norman Osborn's body, lying on the shattered asphalt, to check his condition. They were professionals, adept at handling such crises.

"Dr. Richards, I understand you created the substance to counteract Osborn's transformation?" Coulson asked, studying my reaction closely.

"You could say that," I nodded.

At that moment, Coulson's men, having confirmed that Osborn was in a relatively stable state, cuffed him. The collar around his neck looked almost identical to the one used on Namor.

"Will he stand trial?" my question caught Coulson off guard, causing him to freeze momentarily and force a smile.

"I see," I said coldly, sensing the tension in the air. Coulson's demeanor spoke volumes more than words.

Coulson sighed heavily, "We can't avoid a trial, Dr. Richards. It's impossible."

He then glanced around the area and added, "The battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin wasn't something that went unnoticed. Spectators used their mobile phones to capture the fight... Many people witnessed Mr. Osborn's transformation back to his human form."

It made sense, but it also meant that Norman might evade some consequences for his actions.

Coulson seemed to notice my concern, quickly adding, "Don't worry, Dr. Richards. He won't be able to simply buy his way out of this."

"I hope so," I replied, watching the agents load Norman into a vehicle.

Coulson looked around, confirming his subordinates had completed their task, and said confidently, "Rest assured, Dr. Richards. Osborn will face justice."

Coulson's statements were resolute as he prepared to leave. My experience told me that trials in this world could be unpredictable, especially when influential figures were involved.

"Now that this is resolved, it's time to take care of you," I said, turning to Parker.

"Huh?" Parker was surprised, but before he could respond, we had already left the battleground via teleportation. "Teleportation? Why am I still surprised by this?"

We arrived at the Baxter Building, where I could help him recover.

"Follow me," I said, heading to the lab.

Peter followed without protest. In the lab, I directed him to the scanning platform.

"Stand here," I instructed.

Once Spider-Man stood on the platform, the scanning process began. Though I trusted the suit's data, this process was necessary for me to focus on other issues, diverting my mind from Osborn's case.

Moments later, a complete readout of Parker's condition appeared on my screen.

"Chronos, initiate catalyst creation," I ordered the system, preparing for the next phase of Parker's recovery.

---= Some Time Later =---

With the necessary compounds integrated into Parker's body, his recovery commenced at a remarkable pace. According to my calculations, he should fully recover within three days.

"Reed," Susan began firmly, her voice tinged with hidden concern.

I knew my actions might not sit well with my friends, especially after they had exhausted their strength in Limbo.

"I explained everything, but perhaps not as convincingly as I should have," I admitted. Susan and the others looked fatigued, their faces strained.

"Sue, you were all worn out, and Peter's life was in danger," I continued, trying to justify my decisions.

Their reactions were reserved, but I sensed they were beginning to understand my reasons. After all, our friend's life was at stake.

---= The Next Day =---

News of Norman Osborn's upcoming trial quickly captured the public's attention across the United States. The internet buzzed with discussions, and the news spread rapidly through Western media.

"The trial of Norman Osborn is set for June 15," announced the news anchor on one of the main channels.

"Well..." Johnny mused, switching the TV off. "What made this tycoon leave his cozy tower and get involved in such matters?"

"Who knows with these rich folks," Ben shrugged.

My phone suddenly vibrated, breaking the silence in the room. I pulled it out, my eyes widening at the message on the screen.

"Well, I'll be..." I muttered, surprising everyone with my tone.

My sudden exclamation caught everyone's attention, and they looked at me questioningly.

"What happened?" Sue asked, voicing the collective sense of unease.

"I've been called to testify at Osborn's trial," I replied.

Everyone in the room knew my attitude toward such matters—it always seemed like a waste of time to me.

"I know that look," Sue said with a slight smile. "Tell us what you're thinking."

"Well..." I smiled back, acknowledging how well she knew me. "I've never been a fan of these proceedings," I began, feeling the tension rise. "Everyone knows Osborn will try to drag this out as long as possible. He'll use every opportunity to paint black as white and vice versa, all to manipulate public opinion."

"And he'll skillfully use this time to rewrite the narrative in his favor," I continued, seeing my own concerns reflected in Sue's eyes. "That's what makes these processes so tedious for those seeking the truth."

"You don't believe this trial will end the way you want it to," Sue stated.

I nodded.

"It will likely come down to a compromise, given public opinion."

---= Norman Osborn =---

Norman Osborn had never felt so weak...

"Has he?" a voice echoed in Norman's head.

Never had he felt so powerless. After raising the company inherited from his feeble father to its current standing, Norman had believed himself stronger than ever before.

"Hahaha, oh Normie, don't pretend I'm not here," the same terrifying voice echoed again.

He tried to distance himself from the voice, to convince himself it was just his imagination...

"Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you!" the voice almost snarled.

The voice was so horrifying that Osborn couldn't resist its pressure. He lifted his eyes for a moment... In the darkness, he saw two yellow dots.

"That's right," the Goblin said. "Normie knows who's in charge here, doesn't he?"

"You're not here..." Norman whispered. "You're not here. You're not here. You're not here."

"Oh, you're hurting my feelings, Normie," the Goblin replied, his terrifying voice devoid of any remorse or hurt. "I've always been with you."

How long had the Goblin been there? Since the day he injected himself with the OZ serum? No, he had appeared much earlier, from the moment his father left him alone in the dark... In that old house where his father had tried to rid Norman of fear...

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