Oscorp Research Complex
The underground laboratory was unusually quiet.
The explosion at the parking structure had failed to destroy the portal's power supply, but the damage had forced several scientists to restart the system. Miles stood before the massive holographic display, reviewing the resistance's movements.
Behind him, a heavy security door opened.
Two Vipers escorted a familiar figure into the room.
Norman Osborn.
His hands were restrained, his green eyes lowered, and his expression appeared exhausted. His clothes were torn, and a small cut marked his forehead.
One of the Vipers pushed him forward.
"Prisoner secured, sir."
Miles barely glanced at him.
"Leave us."
The guards exchanged looks before stepping outside.
The door closed.
For several seconds, Norman remained motionless.
Then his shoulders began to shake.
A low chuckle escaped his throat.
It grew louder.
And louder.
Until he was laughing uncontrollably.
Miles slowly turned.
Norman lifted his head. His exhausted expression disappeared, replaced by a wide, disturbing grin.
"How long do I have to pretend to be fucking Norman? That wuss coward!"
Miles stared at him.
Then he sighed.
"You could at least try to stay in character."
Norman's head tilted.
"Oh, please. I'm getting tired of playing the pathetic father. The trembling hands, the frightened eyes, the constant begging. It's disgusting."
His green eyes glowed brighter.
"Do you know how humiliating it is to pretend to be someone who can't even control his own body?"
Miles approached the table and placed his tablet down.
"You agreed to the arrangement."
"I agreed because you promised me something interesting!"
Norman suddenly pulled against his restraints.
The metal cuffs creaked.
"Instead, I'm sitting in a room pretending to be a prisoner while you play scientist with that ridiculous machine!"
Miles didn't react.
"The resistance believes you're helpless. Harry believes he can save you. Spider-Man thinks he can stop me."
He leaned against the table.
"Their reactions are exactly what I need."
Norman slowly smiled.
"Ah. So that's the game."
He looked toward the surveillance screens.
One displayed Harry Osborn standing beside Spider-Man after the explosion.
"Your little performance has made the boy emotional."
Miles glanced at the screen.
"Harry will come for his father. He won't be able to resist."
Norman laughed.
"And when he does?"
Miles's expression turned cold.
"We'll see how far Spider-Man is willing to go to save him."
Norman leaned closer.
"And what about me?"
Miles looked at him.
"What about you?"
The Green Goblin's smile widened.
"When do I get to stop pretending?"
Miles studied him for a moment.
"When the time is right."
Norman rolled his eyes.
"You young people are always in a hurry to change the world. You have no appreciation for the fun of destroying it."
Miles ignored the remark and returned to his tablet.
But Norman wasn't finished.
"One more thing, boy."
Miles stopped.
"What?"
Norman's expression became serious.
"Don't forget who you're dealing with. You may have given me that serum, but you don't own me."
Miles slowly turned.
For a moment, the two stared at each other.
Then Miles smiled.
"I know."
He walked toward the exit.
"That's why I haven't given you a reason to become difficult."
The door closed behind him.
Norman remained alone.
The silence lasted only a few seconds.
Then he began laughing again.
"Oh, Harry..."
He looked directly at the nearest surveillance camera.
"Daddy's coming."
Resistance Headquarters
The atmosphere inside the command room was tense.
Harry stood before the main display, watching the recording of his father repeatedly.
Peter sat on the edge of the table, his damaged suit partially removed so Gwen could examine the shoulder capacitor.
Frank stood beside Nick Fury.
"We can't rush into another operation without knowing what Miles is planning."
Harry turned toward him.
"He's holding my father!"
"And he knows you'll come running."
"So what? We're supposed to leave him there?"
Frank's expression hardened.
"I'm saying we don't give Miles exactly what he wants."
Harry looked away, breathing heavily.
Peter watched him carefully.
He understood that this wasn't simply another mission for Harry.
It was his father.
Whatever Norman had become, whatever he had done, Harry still wanted to believe there was something left to save.
Gwen tightened a small component on Peter's shoulder.
"Stop moving."
"I'm not moving."
"You are."
Peter glanced at Harry.
"Frank's right. Miles wants us emotional. He wants us to make mistakes."
Harry turned toward him.
"Easy for you to say. It's not your father."
The room fell silent.
Peter didn't respond immediately.
He looked down at his damaged suit.
"You're right. It's not."
Harry looked away.
Peter continued.
"But I know what it's like to lose someone and spend every day wondering if you could have done something differently. I don't want you making a decision you'll regret because Miles knows exactly where to hurt you."
Harry clenched his jaw.
"I just want my dad back."
Peter nodded.
"Then we'll find him. But we're going to do it properly."
Mary Jane, who had been standing beside Harry, gently touched his arm.
"Harry, please. We just got through one disaster. Don't make us go through another."
Harry looked at her.
His expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
Mary shook her head.
"You don't have to apologize for worrying about your father. Just don't forget that we're here, too."
Nick Fury finally spoke.
"We have another problem."
Everyone turned toward him.
He activated the holographic display.
A series of intercepted transmissions appeared.
"Our surveillance team detected unusual movement near three rebel supply routes. Medical supplies, ammunition, food distribution. All three locations have been compromised."
Quin frowned.
"How?"
Ganke studied the information.
"Someone gave them our routes."
Frank crossed his arms.
"An inside leak?"
"Possibly."
Ganke zoomed in on one of the locations.
"These routes were only shared with senior commanders."
The room grew quieter.
Peter looked at the screen.
"Miles isn't just preparing to defend the portal."
Nick nodded.
"He's preparing to attack our entire operation."
Frank turned toward the others.
"Then we secure every supply station. Nobody moves alone. Double the patrols, and verify every transmission."
Gwen looked at another screen.
"Wait. There's something else."
She enlarged a transmission record.
"This signal came from inside the Oscorp complex. It's not a normal communication channel. It looks like a live broadcast."
Peter stood.
"Can you trace it?"
"I'm trying."
Suddenly, a familiar voice came through the speakers.
A deep, distorted laugh.
Everyone froze.
Then a green holographic symbol appeared.
A goblin-shaped figure.
"Well, well, well..."
Peter's expression changed.
"Green Goblin."
The transmission flickered.
A distorted image of Norman Osborn appeared.
He was seated in a dark room, his hands apparently restrained.
His head hung low.
"Harry..."
Harry stepped forward.
"Dad?"
The image slowly lifted its head.
"Harry, please..."
His voice trembled.
"Help me."
Harry approached the display.
"Dad, we're coming. Just hold on."
Norman looked toward the camera.
For a fraction of a second, his expression changed.
A faint smile appeared.
Then it vanished.
"Don't come here, Harry. It's dangerous."
Harry's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Miles... he's changed. He's not the boy you remember. He'll destroy everything."
Peter narrowed his eyes.
Something about the broadcast felt wrong.
The trembling voice.
The desperate expression.
The way Norman kept looking toward the camera.
Peter's spider-sense wasn't warning him, but something about the recording bothered him.
(That's strange.)
The image suddenly distorted.
A second voice emerged from the speakers.
Louder.
Crueler.
"HAH! HAHAHA!"
The screen turned green.
The image of Norman disappeared.
In his place stood the Green Goblin.
His eyes glowed like emeralds beneath his metallic mask.
"HELLO, NEW YORK!"
Harry stepped backward.
"No..."
The Goblin spread his arms.
"Did you miss me?"
He leaned toward the camera.
"Because I certainly missed all of you."
Peter stepped forward.
"What do you want?"
The Goblin tilted his head.
"Spider-Man! The little neighborhood hero! Still playing savior, I see."
He laughed.
"Tell me, does it ever get exhausting? Running around, saving everyone, pretending you can actually make a difference?"
Peter remained silent.
The Goblin looked toward Harry.
"And there's my boy!"
Harry's face tightened.
"Let my father go."
The Goblin suddenly stopped laughing.
"Your father?"
He tilted his head.
"Oh, Harry. You really are a disappointment."
Harry stepped closer.
"Shut up."
"You still think that weak, frightened man is in there somewhere? You still think you can bring him back?"
The Goblin moved closer to the camera.
"Let me tell you something, Harry. That man has been hiding behind fear his entire life."
Harry's fists clenched.
"You're not him."
The Goblin smiled.
"Now you're beginning to understand."
The transmission ended.
Nobody spoke.
Harry stood motionless.
Mary approached him, but before she could say anything, Peter turned toward Nick Fury.
"That wasn't a normal hostage broadcast."
Fury looked at him.
"Explain."
"Miles wanted Harry to see that. He wanted him angry. But the Goblin wasn't acting like someone trying to negotiate."
Gwen crossed her arms.
"He was enjoying it."
Peter nodded.
"Exactly."
Frank looked toward the dark screen.
"Then we need to know what we're walking into."
Ganke studied the last transmission.
"Maybe Norman isn't really a prisoner."
Harry turned sharply.
"What are you saying?"
Ganke hesitated.
"I'm saying Miles could be using him. Or maybe..."
He looked at the screen.
"...maybe your father is working with him."
Harry's expression hardened.
"No."
Peter stepped between them.
"We don't know that yet."
Harry looked at him.
"He's my father, Peter."
"I know."
Peter placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And we're going to find out the truth."
Oscorp Complex: The Real Green GoblinThe transmission had ended.
Norman sat in the laboratory, watching the last few seconds of footage on a monitor.
His expression was unreadable.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Did you see his face?"
Miles stood near the portal.
"Harry?"
"The boy looked absolutely miserable!"
Norman threw his head back.
"Oh, this is wonderful!"
Miles didn't share his enthusiasm.
"You almost revealed too much."
Norman's laughter stopped.
"What?"
"You were supposed to keep him uncertain. Instead, you practically told him that you're not his father."
Norman slowly turned.
"And what exactly do you expect me to do? Cry? Beg? Tell him I love him?"
He laughed again.
"I'm not his pathetic father!"
Miles approached him.
"You need to control yourself."
The Goblin's eyes narrowed.
"Careful, boy."
A mechanical arm extended from behind Norman's chair.
It rested against the floor with a heavy metallic sound.
"You may have found a way to awaken me, but don't mistake that for control."
Miles stared at him.
"I don't need to control you."
"Oh?"
"I only need you to do what you're good at."
Norman's smile slowly returned.
"And what would that be?"
Miles looked toward the portal.
"Destroying things."
The Goblin leaned back.
Then he began laughing.
"Now we're talking."
He stood, and his mechanical restraints fell away.
The green lights in the laboratory reflected across his armor.
For the first time, he no longer pretended to be Norman Osborn.
He was the Green Goblin.
And he was finally free to act.
"So, Miles..."
He walked toward the exit.
"When do I get to meet Spider-Man?"
Miles watched him leave.
"Soon."
The door closed.
Miles returned his attention to the portal.
The blue energy field flickered.
For a brief moment, a human silhouette appeared inside it.
Miles stepped closer.
His eyes widened.
"Father?"
The silhouette vanished.
Miles stood motionless.
Then he whispered:
"I'm almost there."
But somewhere else in the facility, the Green Goblin was already preparing his next move.
And this time, he wasn't planning to pretend.
End of Chapter 44.