Tony was intrigued by the recent buzz surrounding Green Goblin.
He tapped his helmet, its eyes projecting a holographic display.
After a quick glance at the gene serum data, Tony immediately spotted the issue.
"This was developed to treat some disease, but he got greedy. Fixing genetic defects, boosting physical prowess, enhancing cellular metabolism, and even messing with brain nerves.
In short, it's a mess."
He looked at Charlie. "What do you want me to do with this?"
Charlie asked, "Can you perfect the gene serum based on this?"
Tony shook his head. "No way. I can read it, but this isn't my expertise.
His research went down the wrong path. It'd need a complete restart. Even Dr. Banner would take ages to get it right, and success isn't guaranteed."
Charlie pondered. "What about just reverting someone who's been injected back to normal?"
"That's doable. Much easier. But there's a catch—since the serum messes with brain nerves, there's a high chance of dementia later in life."
Hearing this, Charlie wasn't too surprised.
If even a man cursed with knowledge couldn't crack it, who could?
But did this world's Tony have a Mind Stone in his head?
He wondered.
"What're you up to?"
Tony felt a chill from Charlie's stare, sensing malice.
Charlie waved it off. "Nothing, just super impressed you figured this out so fast."
Tony, pleased with the flattery, stood. "I don't know what you're planning with this, but since you saved me before, I'll do this one for free."
He headed to his lab.
"How long?" Charlie asked.
"Quick."
"No rush. This isn't the only thing I need your help with."
"No problem. I don't have a day job—plenty of time."
Charlie: "…"
He glanced at the waiter collecting glasses. "You have to work?"
"Mr. Spider-Man, I'm working right now."
"I don't."
Waiter: "…"
He hates this boundary-less Spider-Man.
Is this why every super-villain wants him dead?
The Lab
Tony meticulously prepared the serum antidote.
"Tony, someone's here for you," Pepper knocked.
Tony didn't look up. "I'm busy. Tell them to wait."
"Not sure that's an option."
Pepper shrugged, helplessly watching a man barge in.
"Tony, how long are you going to keep this up? Stopping weapons sales is costing the company big time."
Obadiah Stane's face was stern, his tone accusatory.
At the sound, Tony paused, rubbing his temples.
"It's my call. If you don't like it, I can arrange an early retirement for you." He was done explaining.
Obadiah's face darkened. "Tony, Stark Industries was built on your father's and my hard work. You trying to push me out?"
Tony turned, serious. "I know you and my dad worked hard to grow Stark Industries. Times have changed. We need to evolve, or more innocent people will die because of our weapons."
"What do those people have to do with you?"
Obadiah tried to persuade him. "We're not philanthropists. Our job is to make money, not lose it. You're accountable to the shareholders. We need their money."
Tony shook his head, handing tools to a robotic arm.
"We don't need the money. That's just an excuse. You just want more."
"So what?"
Obadiah didn't deny it. "Everyone's out to make money. Why can't I?"
"You can, but there's a line."
"Tony, you're lecturing me about lines?"
Obadiah laughed. "Is that what your father taught you? He didn't care about lines. If not for him, Stark Industries would've stopped selling weapons long ago."
Tony frowned. "You know what you're saying?"
"I know exactly what I'm saying. You don't know Howard, but I do."
"You're crossing a line."
"Hmph. Last time I'll ask: will you reopen weapons sales?"
"No chance. Decision's made."
"Fine. We're done here."
A cold glint flashed in Obadiah's eyes.
His hand, hidden in his pocket, twitched. The moment a sonic device activated, Tony felt a piercing pain in his eardrums. His heart seized, blood seeming to freeze.
His body stiffened, face paling as he collapsed, the arc reactor in his chest still glowing. But black tendrils spread rapidly from his heart, creeping up his neck.
"Tony!"
Pepper screamed, only to be knocked out by Obadiah's goon.
Tony's pupils shrank as he watched, unable to speak through near-suffocation.
He glared at Obadiah's smug grin, never expecting a betrayal from the uncle who'd been by his side for decades.
Obadiah crouched, greedily eyeing the arc reactor.
"Tony, you brought this on yourself. Closing the weapons pipeline left me no choice but to act early."
Early?
Tony's heart sank. He'd planned this?
Obadiah continued, "Don't worry, I won't kill you myself. We've worked together too long for that.
Just stay here quietly. Stark Industries will thrive under me. It's lost a foolish leader but gained one who knows business. Howard would approve."
With that, he deftly removed the arc reactor.
Without it, Tony's face twisted in pain.
He could feel his heart fully exposed to danger.
Obadiah stood and left the lab.
Tony's eyes filled with despair as he watched him go.
Outside, Obadiah hurried along.
"Everything ready?" he asked his lackey.
"All set."
"Good."
Obadiah entered the elevator, watching the doors close, his face alight with excitement.
"With the arc reactor, Stark Industries is mine."
As the doors nearly shut, a red-and-blue figure darted inside.
Obadiah startled. "Spider-Man!"
Charlie stood casually, ignoring the goon reaching for a weapon.
He nodded. "That's me. Sounds like you've heard the tales of Spider-Man."
Obadiah's face darkened, hiding the arc reactor behind him.
"You're here to—"
"Yeah, my webbing's out, so I had to take the elevator. Sorry for crashing."
Seeing Charlie's politeness, Obadiah relaxed slightly.
"No problem. I'm honored to share a space with Spider-Man."
He forced a smile, quickly regaining composure.
He figured Spider-Man didn't know about Tony.
He'd always known Spider-Man and Tony were connected.
If Tony hadn't pushed him so hard, cutting his profits, he wouldn't have risked this move.
Still, he cursed his men's carelessness.
How had they missed Spider-Man's presence?
One slip, and he'd be done for.
He just hoped this guy would leave soon and not derail his plan.
The elevator descended in silence.
No one spoke.
Obadiah grew anxious watching the floor numbers tick down.
He'd never felt such tension.
"Ding~"
Finally, the elevator reached the ground floor.
Obadiah wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Mr. Spider-Man—"
Before he could finish, Charlie leaned in and whispered, "Hail Hydra."
Obadiah: "?????"
"What?" He was baffled.
As the doors opened, Charlie shook his head. "You don't get humor. Sorry about this."
Under Obadiah and his men's horrified stares, Charlie grabbed the elevator doors, his terrifying strength erupting.
The just-opened doors were forced shut.
"Bang bang bang!"
A series of muffled thuds, then silence.
Soon, the elevator returned to the top floor.
The doors opened, and Charlie tossed a sonic device, shaped like a car key, in his hand.
"This thing almost wrecked my ears. Total symbiote kryptonite."
Spider-Man's senses were razor-sharp. The moment the sonic device activated, even through walls, he'd felt something off.
And just in time, too.
Iron Man owed Spider-Man another life.
With that, he shot webbing, dragging Obadiah and his men out.
"You're too late. Tony's already dead. You can't save him," Obadiah said, bruised around the eyes, as Charlie headed to the lab. "Work with me instead. We can make a fortune."
Charlie paused.
Obadiah's face lit up. He's tempted.
But then Charlie turned, annoyed. "You mocking me for being broke?"
Obadiah: "…"
"No, not at all! I just want to partner up for bigger money than Tony could dream of. Trust me," he scrambled to explain.
Charlie scoffed. "I hate when people talk money with me."
"But Tony's dead. He can't help you anymore," Obadiah pressed.
Charlie grinned. "You know nothing about protagonists."
He turned and headed to the lab.
At the lab door, Pepper lay unconscious.
Charlie's ears twitched, catching her heartbeat.
Still warm.
He stepped over her and entered.
Seeing Tony collapsed and unconscious, Charlie frowned.
He's not actually dead, is he?
In the movies, Obadiah was practically suiting up as Iron Monger, and Tony still held on.
He should've lasted longer.
Was the Six Paths Spider Totem at play?
Charlie slotted the arc reactor back into Tony's chest.
"Bzzz~"
The reactor flickered, its magnetic pull realigning the fragments in Tony's heart. Tony jolted.
"No!"
Tony gasped, snapping awake.
He glanced at Charlie, dazed, then recalled what happened.
"Where's that guy?"
"Outside."
"So you saved me again." His smile was bitter, face still pale.
Charlie shrugged. "Just lucky."
"What about Pepper?"
"Outside, napping."
"Thanks."
"You should've said that first."
Charlie reached to pull Tony up.
Tony hesitated, then took his hand.
He wasn't resisting as much anymore.
In the living room, seeing Obadiah and his men's sorry state, Tony went through the movie playbook.
Confusion, questions, anger, arguments.
In the end, he didn't forgive them.
Soon, George arrived with a team of officers.
"Spider-Man!"
George froze, seeing Charlie there.
Charlie waved. "Good to see you, officer."
George glanced at Obadiah and his crew. "You came here to nab criminals?" he asked Charlie.
Charlie shrugged, nodding toward Tony. "Not my deal this time."
Tony stepped forward. "Officer George, I'll provide all the evidence. Obadiah's yours."
"No problem."
George was no stranger to handling corporate power struggles.
He didn't need to dig for evidence—the winner would hand it over.
The loser would rot in prison.
Soon, George took Obadiah away.
Charlie suddenly remembered something.
"Crap, the baby's still at the drop-off. Gotta go pick him up. Hit me up when you're done."
He said to Tony, then hurriedly swung off the rooftop.
"Baby? Drop-off?"
Pepper, now awake, rubbed her head.
"I must've misheard. Baby drop-off?"
Tony nodded firmly. "I heard it too. He said baby drop-off."
Pepper: "…"
"So, Spider-Man's a dad?"
"News to me."
...
In the Elevator.
Handcuffed, Obadiah sighed deeply.
He'd failed.
But no matter. He still had a chance.
Glancing at the transparent elevator wall, he saw a red-and-blue figure swing past on webbing. He cursed loudly.
"Sh*t, he said he was out of webbing!"
George: "?????"
"Sir, you know nothing about Spider-Man."
...
Night, Coffee Shop.
Baby Kingpin watched helplessly as the staff locked the door and hung a "Closed" sign.
His heart sank into despair.
That guy didn't forget me, did he?
No, I don't want to stay here.
You idiot staff, call the orphanage!
Get someone to take me away.
Also, I'm hungry. I need milk.