The Green Goblin turned off the low frequency sonics in Chrissy’s cell and uttered a password. The door opened. A hiss escaped the darkness. Snaking tendrils probed outwards, feeling into the light. Then the new incarnation of Carnage stepped forward.
The symbiote swam over Chrissy’s body in victory. Lashes of red and black dangled from the creature and writhed as if they had lives of their own. Large white eyes surveyed the surroundings.
The symbiote swam over Chrissy’s body in victory. Lashes of red and black dangled from the creature and writhed as if they had lives of their own. Large white eyes surveyed the surroundings.
“She is mine,” rasped the creature from an overly grotesque fanged mouth, sounding like broken glass raking a chalkboard. “I am whole once more, in natural symbiosis. Though she resists, her will is too weak to fight any longer. And who are you?” Crimson spikes protruded from the monster’s chest, aiming at the green-garbed figure before him.
“I am the one who freed you from the test tube.”
The spikes receded into the symbiote’s chest. “I have you to thank?”
“Yes. I am the Green Goblin. I wish your aid in torturing Spider-Man.”
The arachnid’s name brightened Carnage’s mood. “Where is he?” It hopped and stuck to the ceiling. “I’ll rend the flesh from his bones, pour his blood around the city, and then piss on his grave!”
“I have a different type of torture first,” the goblin stated.
“Who are you to suggest to me?” Carnage leapt from the ceiling and glared into his savior’s face.
“I am the Green Goblin.”
Sound waves burst from all corners of the basement. Carnage dropped to the floor. The symbiote unraveled, fleeing into Chrissy’s bloodstream, yet unable to hide from the bombardment. As quickly as it began, the sonics shut down.
“You’ll do well to remember that,” the goblin snarled. “And if that wasn’t enough to persuade you, take a look at the monitor behind you.”
The symbiote swirled out from Chrissy’s pores and once more consumed her body. It spun on the goblin, but the goblin pointed at a vid-screen. In it, Cletus Kasady was sleeping.
“How?” The creature asked. “We were separated. He died.”
“I brought him back from death’s door. Right now, he is too weak, but one day you can rejoin with him and not need to fight your host’s mind. Cletus will embrace you!”
“But I’m already bonded!” the symbiote roared. “It’s impossible to break the connection. I won’t be able to link with him again!”
“Yes, you will. I’ve perfected a process, but he must be stronger. Right now, who you possess is of greater interest to Spider-Man’s psychological torture.”
“And exactly who is Christina May Parker?”
“His daughter.”
Carnage’s mouth curved into a hellish grin and ungodly laughter escaped. The goblin joined in with satanic glee. What better tool to bring about the demise of my greatest enemy. Their laughter grew ever louder as the goblin outlined his scheme.
#
A cloudy night hung suspended over the city. The extra shadows and darkness were part of the goblin’s plan. Near the tops of the tallest buildings, the Green Goblin glided along while Carnage followed in Spider-Man fashion. It wasn’t long before they found what they were seeking – a crime in progress.
The goblin hovered as the symbiote dropped from the night. In the alley, rival gang members slugged it out over turf rights or drugs. Carnage didn’t care. Bloodlust rose in its throat and with a scream, it launched into battle. Claws formed on the ends of its hands, tearing into the juveniles. It was over in seconds. Blood splattered the alleyway. Carnage’s unquenchable thirst for violence craved for more. Basking in glory, the symbiote ambled up the wall to the goblin.
“Your technique needs a little fine tuning,” the hovering gargoyle offered. “How about this…”
The symbiote listened patiently. Inside, it wanted to tip the goblin from his glider and feast on his flesh, but the promise of Cletus kept it true to the goblin’s intentions. For now.
A few blocks further, three teenagers were accosting a couple. Carnage slid down the apartment complex and fired a burst of symbiotic webbing, pinning one attacker in place. The other two scattered.
Carnage leapt after the fleeing felons and yelled, “Spider-Man will stop them!”
Grabbing one by the neck, the symbiote slammed the youth’s face into the pavement, popping his head like a grape. Then it fired a burst that wrapped around the last accomplice’s feet. It yanked and the young girl slammed into the sidewalk, fracturing her skull. Carnage retrieved the stolen purse from her tattered body. After returning it, the Spider-Man impersonator swung into the night.
“Very good.” The goblin applauded as the symbiote alit on the roof next to him. “In the low light, you appear to be Spider-Man. Nice touch! Webbing one kid, killing another, and injuring the last will make the deregulators think that Spider-Man is crazy.”
“Won’t the Committee come after us?” the symbiote asked.
“Never,” the goblin assured. “They’re in my pocket. Actually, my bank account. Sightings of us are to be considered hoaxes, fabrications from members of the underground to try and reinstitute the rights of superheroes. Now, let’s go. The night is young.”
The Green Goblin drifted off. Carnage touched a thin belt strapped around its waist. A decloaking chip was meshed into the buckle. The symbiote glared into a roof security camera. Baring its teeth, knowing full well that the device did not register its presence, it yanked the camera from the building and smashed it against the roof. Shooting out a line, it swung after the goblin.
#
“We’ve picked something up,” the pirate station tech’s voice erupted from an intercom in Carl and Mary Anna’s room. “The signal was cloaked but the decloaker picked it up. It’s deciphering now.”
“I’ll be right there,” Carl said, shaking sleep from his eyes. He slid out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweat pants.
Mary Anna sat up next to him. “Should I wake Dad?”
“No,” Carl answered. “It may be a false alarm. Anyway, he needs his rest. He was more worn out last night then he let on. Besides, there’s nothing he can do now that can’t wait until morning.”
Mary Anna pulled a robe over her shoulders and accompanied him to the pirating room. Jack Carter had made the call while Veronica ran data through the computer link. Frustration etched their faces.
“What’s the problem?” Carl asked.
“I don’t know.” Veronica punched keys on the keyboard intermingled with voice commands. “As soon as the scene loaded, Voice-Mode locked up. The transmission came from the roof of an apartment building near Radio City Music Hall. A scrambled code for Spider-Man was the keyword that activated the retrieval system, but something seems to be blocking our decloaker.”
“Impossible.” Carl’s brow furrowed. “That’s cutting edge. Who could have more advanced technology?”
Veronica shrugged. “It’s not a total block. I was able to identify and lock onto the hidden signal. Perhaps with some time, we can decode it. Right now, we only have one hazy picture.”
Static filled a monitor. Veronica’s fingers flew over the keyboard. The image enhanced slightly. “That’s as good as I can get it.”
The four strained against the fuzz. Using their imaginations, they made out a strange looking figure floating above the roof. Traces of purple and green distributed through the cloaked image. Something else blocked half the screen, as if another cloaked person stood in front of the security camera.
“Good work, Ronnie,” Carl praised. “Keep on it. Jack, feed into the surrounding buildings’ transmissions. Perhaps whoever this is has a variation of our own decloaker, a prototype of a more sophisticated model. With some tinkering, we might be able to lock onto its signal. In the morning, fill in your replacements and tell them to work through the day on this.”
“You got it,” Jack acknowledged. Veronica nodded.
Carl and Mary Anna returned to their room. Excitement built in Mary Anna’s heart. She knew the image was the Green Goblin. The person blocking the camera had to be Chrissy. She shared this with Carl. He felt the same.
Earlier in the day, Mary Anna learned that she had dated the grandson and son of the two previous Green Goblins. She told Carl of her past romance. Tomorrow, she wanted to call Norman and find out anything that could help bring her sister home.
#
The villainous duo scoured the city, continuing their frame of Spider-Man. At four separate locations, Carnage tore into common criminals, leaving witnesses believing that Spider-Man was the culprit. The goblin watched from his hovering pedestal. As the night wound down, they returned to his lair.
Barely detectable vibrations immediately brought an illness to the symbiote. The Green Goblin suggested that it might be from overexertion so soon after bonding. The costume sucked back into Chrissy’s bloodstream. The goblin placed her back into her cell, exactly as planned. He did not trust the symbiote to roam free while he bathed in his sacred fluid and rested through the day.
After turning the sonics on in her prison, the goblin removed two meal boxes from a refrigerator and set them in a microwave. In fifteen seconds, a buzzer dinged and he removed them.
First, he opened Richard’s door. The Parker son lunged at the opening, but the goblin easily caught him by the shirt and flung him to the rear wall. “Try that again and you’ll starve.” He laid the instant scrambled eggs on the floor along with a plastic spoon and a paper cup filled with orange juice. Next, he entered Amanda’s cell. She cringed as he laid the same meal down for her.
After changing out of his costume and pulling on sweats, he grabbed a bowl and a box of cereal. Adding milk, he took a spoon and opened Emily’s door.
The little girl slept soundly on a bed, unaware of his presence. Norman sat at the edge and nudged her. Emily’s eyes popped open. Not seeing a familiar face, she started to cry.
“There, there, Emily. Don’t cry. Dry those eyes.” He handed her a napkin.
Accepting it, she sat up. “I want my Mommy and Daddy.”
“Soon, Sweetie,” Norman charmed. “They sent me to take care of you until they get back. And I brought your favorite cereal.”
Emily looked into the bowl and smiled. She took the spoon and scooped a load into her mouth. “I want to go home. I want out of here,” she said between bites.
“I know you do, honey, but you’ll have to wait a little longer. I brought new games and toys for you last night after you fell asleep.” Norman pointed to a stack in the corner. “Also, I fixed the flat panel so you can get any cartoons you want. But I have to get going now.”
“No,” she whimpered. “I’m escared.”
“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he said before walking out.
Her sobs increased until he shut the door and lowered the volume to her monitor. Of all the Parker clan, he felt sorry for her. In some ways, she reminded him of himself after he had lost his father. When her family was gone, Mary Anna would be the only one left to care for her. He planned for them both to raise her.
#
The first rays of sunrise shined through the bay window. Peter awoke earlier than Mary Jane, climbed out of bed, and stretched. His back felt fine and his muscle aches were just shallow pains. Not as quick as they used to be, his recuperative powers were better than none.
Letting his wife sleep, he slipped into the bathroom and showered. The warm water further eased his muscles. He seemed almost like his old self. After toweling off, he launched across the room and stuck to the wall above MJ. She shuddered awake from the thud. He slid down and plopped back in bed.
“You’re mighty chipper this morning,” she yawned.
“I feel great! We just need one lucky break and Chrissy will be back with us.” He kissed her as a knock sounded on the door.
“Dad, it’s me. You have to see this!”
Peter leapt from the bed, yanking on a pair of jeans while in flight. “What is it?” He pulled open the door.
“We got a picture from the pirating station,” Mary Anna gushed. “Come on.”
Mary Jane donned a robe and they followed their daughter the long way through Safehouse instead of the secret passage. Carl, Veronica, and another man huddled in the pirate station, staring at a flat panel.
Peter saw it first. His mouth dropped. The goblin hovered on a glider, different than one used in the past. The costume was almost identical. Hands behind his back, he appeared to be glaring at a figure that obscured half of the scene with a red haze. A lump caught in Peter’s throat.
“What more have you got?” he asked dryly.
“This is it,” Veronica answered. “I spent all night decoding this image. In a few days I can probably have the whole thing. It only lasts about thirty seconds. The audio, however, may take longer. The technology is more advanced than ours, but not that much that I can’t decipher his encrypted signal.”
“Do you know where that is?” Peter asked.
“Sure,” she replied. “We knew just after intercepting the signal.”
“What?” Peter roared. “And you never woke me? I could have tracked them down!”
“Hold on, Mr. Parker.” Carl laid a hand on his shoulder. “We didn’t know what we had when Ronnie picked up the signal. It could have been anything. It was hours after the incident when we were able to identify who it was. Come for a walk with me.”
“But…” Peter blurted.
Mary Anna cut him off. “Dad, please.”
Peter wanted more answers, more information. He did not want to wait, but something in his daughter’s voice suggested that he listen to Carl. Abruptly he stormed out into the hallway.
MJ started to follow, but Mary Anna tugged her arm and shook her head. “Trust me, Mom.”
“Here.” Carl handed Peter a decloaker chip.
“What’s this?” he asked.
Carl began walking. Peter followed next to him.
After a sufficient distance from the door, Carl said, “It’s to hide you from all forms of technological detection. When plugged into a CPU, it can also access all forms of surveillance and tap into supposedly cloaked signals. We call it a decloaker. The goblin apparently has one that’s more sophisticated. That’s why it’s so hard getting a bead on him. Now you’ll be on a little more even ground. At the very least, it will hide you from the police monitoring devices so you can swing through the city relatively invisible. Only bystanders will see you.”
“How reliable is this?” Peter asked.
“Well, until last night, I thought it was foolproof. Give Ronnie a few days and she’ll make it so that we can track the Green Goblin back to his den.”
“How many of these are there? Does everybody have one so that they can all pick me up?”
“No. Since the goblin has an advanced version, I’m sure that he can pick you up. The general populace doesn’t even know they exist. I’m willing to bet that the government doesn’t either. One of my undercover operatives pilfered a copy of the design from Osborn Industries and…”
“Osborn Industries!” Peter interrupted. “That tears it! Harry Osborn must really be back.”
“Mary Anna told me about him. I’m sorry. I know that he was your friend, but he has to be stopped.”
“Exactly. I’m going to give Liz a call, get a VIP pass for the plant. Perhaps I can find something.”
They stopped walking in the basement. A tunnel pierced the earth in front of them. “Where are we?”
“The old sewer system. It will be safer if you come and go from down here. There is no surveillance in the tunnels. Take the second left, third right, and sixth ladder up. We can safely assume that the goblin can identify you through security cams and trace you back here if you continue to use your alley window.”
“Can he already know from the other night? Plus, wouldn’t he be able to tap into your security system and see me or MJ?”
“It’s possible he’s discovered this location, but I doubt it. The only electronic security we have monitors if our boundaries have been viewed by more than just a random patterned security device. We never registered any, but if the goblin has a sophisticated decloaker, he may have more. Also, we have no electronic or digitally conveyed data to tap into. We contact each other personally or through an intercom system based on projected acoustics. Nothing is in here that he can view.”
“Seems to me that you have all the bases covered.” Peter smiled. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I know how,” Carl said. “But I’ll tell you when the time is right.
#
Mary Anna dialed Norman Osborn’s private cell line. Her signal flashed to the pay phone on the street corner, then to the deli across town, to Empire State University’s housing office, the Daily Bugle, and then through twenty-six other programmed locations before a ring. This safeguard ensured an untraceable line.
After the fourth ring, a groggy voice answered, “Osborn here.”
“Norman,” she uttered, having not spoken to him since their break-up. “It’s me.”
“Mary Anna.” He recognized. “So nice to hear from you. It’s been a long time.”
“I know, but I just couldn’t deal with talking to you. Now, I need a favor, your help.”
“You should know that our break-up had nothing to do with you,” he affirmed. “There was something I had to do on my own. I’m sorry I hurt you. That was not my intention. Perhaps one day I’ll reveal what caused my actions. You have been on my mind lately. I’ll do whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” she exhaled. “Have you talked to your mom recently?”
“As a matter of fact, I have. I’m sorry to hear about Chrissy. You and your family must be going through a lot right now, especially since I saw on the news that Spider-Man kidnapped your mother.”
“My mom’s okay. That was just a big misunderstanding. Chrissy is who I’m worried about. I hate to dig into your past, but I just learned about the Green Goblin.”
“What?” Norman’s voice tinged with anger.
“I don’t mean to offend you,” Mary Anna soothed. “With my sister missing and some Green Goblin having kidnapped her, you’re my only hope. My parents are in New York with me trying to track him down.”
“What makes you think that the Green Goblin took Chrissy? My mom said that your mother received some datcard in the mail. Anybody could have fabricated it.”
“That’s not all. Last night, a surveillance camera picked up the goblin hovering near Radio City Music Hall. Somebody was with him, but the image was too blurry.”
“How… How did you get a picture?” He seemed surprised.
“Some pirate friends of mine are helping.” She felt guilty since they used a stolen part from Osborn’s own company. “I know that the Green Goblin used to be your father and then before him, your grandfather. Is there anything you can tell me that might help?”
“What would I know about that? I was too young to remember. They’re both dead.”
“Maybe not,” she cleared her throat.
“You think that one of them has come back from the grave?”
“You mean your mother didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“She had your father’s body exhumed. He wasn’t in the casket. There was some type of goopy residue.” Silence sounded from the other end of the line. “Norman? Are you all right?”
“Um, yea,” his voice quivered. “I have to go now. Where are you and your parents staying in case I find anything?”
“I wish I could tell you, but really can’t. Please understand. We’re hiding from this Green Goblin and he might lock onto the transmission. Can I call you again tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll have my phone with me.”
“Goodbye, Norman. And thanks.”
A tear dribbled from the corner of her eye. After all this time, she still felt something for him. She never understood the reason for their break-up. There was no other girl, nothing she saw coming. One day out of the blue he just dropped the bomb.
She heard remorse in Norman’s voice as if he wanted back into her life. That scared her. She had found Carl and fell madly in love. She was having his child. A confrontation between the two would tear her apart; however, she knew Carl was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was different than Norman, but both had valiant qualities that attracted her. Both were leaders, one in business and the other in the underground. Norman had loved her in a high-class way while Carl was more down to earth. The major difference was that Carl fought against an unjust law while Norman followed it whether he agreed or not. She admired Carl for standing up for what he believed in
Regaining composure, she applied a little make-up. Smiling in the mirror, her heart swelled. She left the room in search of her love.
#
Norman sat stunned at the edge of his bed. How did they see me? Can they have some device as advanced as mine? What happened to my father’s body? That infernal wallcrawler must be playing with my mind. Well tonight, we’ll play with his. He walked down the hall, observing Cletus’ slumbering form. I may need you sooner than you’re ready. Shutting the door, he locked it and proceeded to the basement.
Trace in Progress scrawled across one of the many vid-screens. Most phones that rerouted their calls varied between three and six locations. Norman’s technology accessed the phone companies, the FCC, satellite telecommunications providers as well as local pirating hackers in an effort to track the origins of certain calls. Sometimes the process took minutes, sometimes hours. The more transfer points, the more difficult and longer the trace. No matter, Norman knew that his equipment could trace any signal, from anywhere. It just took time.
Continue to Chapter 9.
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Not Yet Published (but I am trying) 