Chapter 10: Secrets in the Shadows

The Oscorp auditorium buzzed with chatter as students from various schools filled the seats, awaiting the CEO's arrival. Beneath the surface of this public showcase, far from the polished speeches and enthusiastic students, a storm brewed.

Norman Osborn strode confidently onto the stage, his tailored suit gleaming under the bright lights. He paused at the podium, green eyes scanning the crowd as he adjusted his tie.

"Welcome!..." he began, his voice rich and commanding, "To Oscorp! Where innovation and ambition know no bounds. Today, you stand at the crossroads of possibility, on the edge of a future defined by visionaries like yourselves."

Applause broke out, and Norman let the moment breathe before continuing.

"At Oscorp, we believe progress is not a privilege for the few, but a gift for the many. Whether it's groundbreaking advancements in medicine or sustainable technologies to preserve our planet, we push boundaries to improve the human experience."

His words carried an almost hypnotic cadence, balancing inspiration with undertones of control.

"But.." he said, his tone deepening, "..progress requires sacrifice. Great minds must dare to dream where others fear to tread. At Oscorp, we dare. And that is why we will shape the future."

More applause filled the room, the students captivated by his poise. Norman gave a faint smile and nodded. "Enjoy your visit to Oscorp. It's my hope that some of you will find your place here someday."

As Norman exited the stage, his expression shifted. A security guard approached, whispering into his ear. His jaw tightened, and he nodded.

"I'll handle it," Norman said, his polished exterior unwavering as he walked briskly toward the elevator.

....

Deep below the glossy surface of Oscorp Tower, General Thaddeus Ross stood waiting in a sterile hallway. His face was a mask of impatience, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

Norman stepped out of the elevator, extending his hand. "General Ross. A pleasure to see you again."

Ross ignored the greeting. "Let's skip the pleasantries, Osborn. I'm here for results."

Norman's smile didn't falter, though his eyes hardened slightly. "Of course, General. Follow me."

They walked in tense silence, their footsteps echoing off the metal walls. Norman led Ross into a massive underground lab, where a glowing green pod dominated the room. Scientists hovered around it, their faces tight with concentration.

"This.." Norman said, gesturing to the pod, "Is the next step in human evolution. We are on the brink of perfecting the serum."

Ross eyed the pod warily. "Brink? I don't want 'brink.' I want results. Now."

Norman turned to one of the nearby scientists. "Dr. Meyer, show the General our progress."

The scientist hesitated, sweat beading on his brow. He glanced nervously at Norman, then at Ross.

"Well?" Ross demanded.

Dr. Meyer's voice cracked as he spoke. "General, the serum... it's not ready. All the test subjects... They lost their sanity. We were forced to... dispose of them."

Ross's gaze snapped to Norman, his expression darkening. "Dispose of them? You told me the serum was stable."

Norman's smile grew tight. "Hiccups in the process. These are necessary challenges in revolutionary science."

"Hiccups?" Ross growled, his voice rising. "You lied to me, Osborn. You're wasting my time and the military's resources. Consider your funding cut. I've got other scientists who can deliver."

Norman's face remained impassive, but his fists clenched as Ross turned and walked away without another word.

The silence in the lab was deafening. Then, with a sudden snarl, Norman grabbed a security guard's gun and shot Dr. Meyer, the sound of the gunfire echoing through the chamber.

The other scientists froze in terror as Norman's gaze swept over them, his voice cold and venomous. "You're all staying here until this serum works. No food. No breaks. No failure."

....

Peter Parker leaned over his makeshift workbench, the dim light casting shadows across his determined expression. His laptop hummed quietly as he poured through the data he had stolen from Oscorp.

"Alright, let's see what else you're hiding." he muttered, clicking on a file labeled Super Soldier Program: Private Development.

The screen filled with diagrams and reports, detailing the experiments Norman had just spoken of. Peter's eyes widened as he read about the serum's effects: enhanced strength, increased durability, but a complete loss of sanity in every test subject.

"Crazy.." Peter whispered. "But... brilliant."

Another file caught his eye: Spider Augmentation Trials. He opened it, his heart pounding. The report detailed experiments to inject the super-soldier serum into genetically modified spiders, creating hybrid organisms capable of producing revolutionary silk and transferring enhanced traits through venom.

Peter's breath quickened as he scrolled through the report. The final entry read:

[Project terminated. Core data stolen by traitors. Spiders incomplete.]

Peter frowned, clicking on the attached notes. His stomach dropped as he read:

[The traitors, Richard and Mary Parker, neutralized. Knowledge lost.]

His vision blurred, and his hands shook as he reread the words.

"My parents?" he whispered, the words catching in his throat.

His mind raced, piecing together the fragments. Oscorp's betrayal, his parents' death, the spiders. It all came back to this.

Peter clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. "Norman... you killed them."

He leaned back, forcing himself to breathe as his thoughts churned. The data he'd uncovered wasn't just information, it was a weapon.

Looking at the vials of spiders on his desk, Peter's gaze hardened. "You wanted to perfect them, Osborn? Let's see how much further I can take this."

....

The van roared down the empty stretch of road, its tires kicking up dust and gravel. Tony Stark gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes darting between the rearview mirror and the horizon ahead. The adrenaline of his escape had worn off hours ago, leaving him with nothing but the pounding of his heart and the hum of the engine.

He knew he had only a slim lead. Ryker's Island wasn't just a prison; it was a fortress. They would have already sounded the alarms, dispatched law enforcement, and activated every surveillance tool at their disposal.

'They'll track me.' he thought grimly. 'They always do.'

But Tony Stark wasn't a man to leave things to chance. He had planned for contingencies like this long before his imprisonment. Beneath the layers of charm and arrogance, he was a strategist, a man who calculated risks and prepared for the worst.

....

The sun dipped lower on the horizon as Tony approached a desolate industrial zone. Rusted warehouses and abandoned factories stood like silent sentinels, their shadows stretching across the cracked asphalt.

He slowed the van, turning down a secluded alley. The area looked like a forgotten corner of the world, precisely why he'd chosen it. Hidden deep within was a nondescript storage facility, its faded exterior concealing something far more valuable.

Tony parked the van and climbed out, his boots crunching against the gravel. He moved quickly, unlocking a rusted side door with a key he'd hidden under a loose brick years ago.

Inside, the air was stale, carrying the faint scent of dust and oil. He moved through the dimly lit space until he reached a hidden panel on the far wall. With a quick sequence of button presses, the wall slid open, revealing a sleek, modern vehicle with tinted windows.

'Plan B.' Tony thought, smirking despite himself.

He knew he couldn't stay here long. The van was a liability now, a glowing beacon for anyone tracking him. Wasting no time, he walked back outside and poured gasoline over the van's interior and tires. He struck a match, tossing it onto the fuel-soaked fabric. Flames roared to life, consuming the vehicle in moments.

Tony watched for a second, his face illuminated by the fire, before slipping into the new car. The engine purred to life as he adjusted his seat and pulled out of the alley, leaving the blazing van behind.

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