The shoot began.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft mechanical hum. Five members of the board stepped out in a measured line, suits immaculate, expressions carved from skepticism and authority. General Slocum led them, his eyes already scanning the space like he was inspecting a battlefield instead of a corporate facility.
Mendel Stromm stood waiting just outside the elevator, hands clasped behind his back. His smile was polite but tight, the kind that belonged to a man who knew this visit carried consequences.
"Gentlemen," Stromm said, inclining his head. "If you would follow me."
They moved as a unit, their footsteps echoing faintly as they walked straight into the testing lab.
Inside, the lighting shifted. It was much brighter. The camera panned slowly across the space before settling on the Horizon Glider.
The hidden fans activated, sending controlled gusts of air through the room. The glider hovered in place, cables nearly invisible, and the stunt guy was standing on it in a green suit while maintaining his balance.
General Slocum barely glanced at it.
Mendel Stromm cleared his throat, gesturing toward the glider with restrained pride. "We have solved the horizon glide and the multi-G balance issues."
Slocum turned his head just enough to acknowledge the statement, his face unmoved. "I have already seen the glider. That is not what I am here for."
A door behind the glider slid open.
Norman Osborn stepped through.
He moved confidently with a composed smile set carefully in place. His eyes flicked over the room, taking in the board, the General, the tension that hung thick in the air.
"General Slocum," Norman said smoothly. "Good to see you again. Mr. Balkan. Mr. Fargas."
"Norman," Maximilian Fargas replied.
"Mr. Osborn," Henry Balkan added with a polite nod.
Norman walked down toward them.
"Always a pleasure to have our board of directors pay us a little visit."
General Slocum did not return the smile. He stopped directly in front of Norman, hands clasped behind his back.
"I want to see the progress report on human performance enhancers."
Mendel Stromm straightened slightly, stepping forward. "We tried vapor inhalation with rodent subjects. They showed an eight hundred percent increase in strength."
Slocum's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Any side effects?"
Stromm hesitated. His fingers twitched once at his side. "In one trial, yes."
Norman spoke immediately. "It was an aberration. All the tests since have been successful."
Slocum turned his gaze back to Stromm, holding it there. "In the trial that went wrong, what happened? What were the side effects?"
Stromm swallowed. His shoulders stiffened. "Violence. Aggression. Insanity."
The word hung in the air longer than anyone wanted.
Slocum shifted his weight slightly, studying Norman now. "What do you recommend?"
Norman tried to maintain his composure. "That was only one test. With the exception of Dr. Stromm, our entire staff certifies the product ready for human testing."
Slocum raised an eyebrow and looked back at Stromm.
"Dr. Stromm?"
Stromm exhaled slowly. "We need to take the whole line back to formula."
Norman's smile tightened. His eyes hardened for just a heartbeat before he masked it. He looked at Stormm and whispered. "Back to formula?"
General Slocum turned fully toward Norman now. "Dr. Osborn, I am going to be frank with you. I never supported your program. We have my predecessor to thank for that."
Henry Balkan stepped forward slightly, glancing between the two men. "Norman, the General gave the go-ahead to Quest Aerospace to build a prototype of their exoskeleton design. They test in two weeks."
Norman's jaw clenched subtly. His hands curled for just a moment before relaxing again.
"And if your so-called performance enhancers have not had a successful human trial by that date," General Slocum continued, "I am going to pull your funding. I am going to give it to them."
He turned away, already done with the conversation.
"Gentlemen. Ladies."
The board followed him toward the exit, their footsteps echoing once more.
Norman remained still, watching them leave. His smile was still there, but it no longer reached his eyes. The camera lingered on his face as the lab lights reflected off his pupils, something darker stirring beneath the surface.
Alex's voice cut through the tension.
"And cut."
...
[1 hour later] [Meeting Room]
A long glass table stretched across the center of the room. Board members sat on both sides. No one spoke. The silence itself felt procedural.
Norman Osborn stood at the head of the table.
He looked composed. He was wearing a blue suit. The smile was back, perfectly measured. If anyone did not know better, they would think he had already won.
Alex raised his hand slightly.
"Scene B2. Take 1. Action."
Scene B2 | Take 1
Norman Osborn straightened, palms resting lightly on the table as he addressed the room. He looked happy and proud as he announced. "As of today, Oscorp Industries has surpassed Quest Aerospace as the principal supplier to the United States military. In short, ladies and gentlemen of the board, costs are down, revenues are up, and our stock has never been higher."
A murmur of approval moved through the room.
Henry Balkan smiled and clasped his hands together. "Wonderful news, Norman. Wonderful. In fact, it is the reason for selling the company."
The room shifted.
Norman blinked once with a surprised expression. "What?"
Balkan continued, "Yes. Quest Aerospace is recapitalizing in the wake of the bombing. Expanding. They made a tender offer we cannot ignore." He took his cup of coffee while looking at Norman.
Norman looked serious. "Why was I not told?"
Balkan replied after taking a sip of his coffee. "The last thing they want is a power struggle with entrenched management."
Fargas did not hesitate. "The deal is off if you come with it. The board expects your resignation in thirty days."
Norman stared at them, disbelief hardening into something sharper. "You can't do this to me." He made a hand gesture with a little laughter that comes with disbelief. "I started this company." The laughter turned to pure rage instantly. He yelled. "You know how much I sacrificed."
He stopped.
Then Willem Dafoe's eyes widened slightly and he broke character completely. He looked at Fargas. "Max, please. I woke up at six in the morning. My coffee machine broke. I went to take a bath and the geyser was not working. Rats infested my garage and my car's engine. I had to take an Uber to work and now you tell me you want my resignation?"
The room exploded in laughter.
Crew members laughed loudly. Someone clapped. One of the board actors bent forward, shoulders shaking. Even Alex dropped his head, laughing into his hand.
Willem grinned unapologetically. "Hahaha. Was that good?"
Alex pointed his finger at the junior actor who was playing the role of Fargas. "Are you kidding me, Max? Have some mercy on the guy. He's been through a lot."
The actor also improvised while smiling. "Don't point at me. Balkan paid us to kick him out."
Willem looked at the other junior actor. "How could you?"
There was a moment of laughter and lots of on-the-spot improv, but then the shoot resumed.
The room settled again.
"Scene B2. Take 2. Action." Alex gave the cue.
They did the scene from the start...
...Norman stared at them, disbelief hardening into something sharper. "You can't do this to me." He made a hand gesture with a little laughter that comes with disbelief. "I started this company." The laughter turned to pure rage instantly. He yelled. "You know how much I sacrificed."
He stopped and looked at Fargas. "Oh, Max. Please."
Fargas did not look away.
Fargas replied, "Norman, the board is unanimous. We are announcing the sale after the World Unity Festival. I am sorry."
Norman was breathing hard and looked devastated.
Henry Balkan said. "You are out, Norman." He took another sip of coffee with a cold stare.
The room held its breath.
Norman slowly lifted his head as he thought for a moment. He rubbed the corner of his lips. The smile returned. This time, it was wrong.
"Am I?"
The camera pushed in, focusing on Willem's expression.
Alex raised his hand.
"And cut."
The room exhaled.
Willem stayed still for a moment longer, then finally relaxed, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Alex nodded, satisfied.
"That," he said quietly, "is how you lose a company and gain a monster. Great job, everyone."
After another break and prep, they shot a couple of extra scenes to show a functioning Oscorp before the wrap-up.
...
[Next day] [Morning] [Park]
Alex and Scarlett were jogging early morning. The city was still half asleep, which was Alex's favorite version of it. He could run freely without people stopping him for selfies or paparazzi stalking him. His guards were all spread around the area in civilian clothing.
Scarlett stretched her arms overhead while jogging, "I forgot how nice this is," she said. "Just running without any camera flashes."
Alex smiled. "Give it time. A paparazzo will probably jump out from that trash can any second."
Just then, a gust of wind blew the lid off the trash can behind them. Alex and Scarlett spun around, hands instinctively moving to shield their faces from a potential flash. Instead, a bemused pigeon hopped out, cocking its head at them.
Scarlett let out a relieved laugh. "Well, that was anticlimactic."
Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess I was wrong. But we shouldn't let our guard down completely. Stay close."
They continued their jog, the park slowly coming to life around them. Birds chirped, leaves rustled, and the distant sounds of cars and chatter began to fill the air. After 10 minutes, they sat on the bench near the park. Their hoodies and sunglasses were still on. One of the guards brought them water. They sipped their water quietly, observing the growing crowd of early risers strolling through the park.
"So, how is the shoot going?" Scarlett asked.
"Pretty good so far," Alex replied. "We've got some great shots, and the crew's been working well together. And I've got something for you to keep you busy."
Scarlett nearly choked on her water.
She coughed once, then twice, then stared at Alex like he had just casually announced gravity was optional now. "You finished writing the script?"
Alex tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction with a calm smile. "Yes."
Her eyes lit up immediately, all fatigue from the jog evaporating on the spot. The last two movies Alex wrote and directed earned her global recognization and she even won an Oscar for Best Actress, and those two movies got multiple Oscars. So, a new movie at the peak of her stardom was like a dream come true.
She leaned forward on the bench, elbows on her knees, excitement practically vibrating through her. "What is it about?"
"It is called Lucy," Alex said.
She repeated the name. "Lucy."
"It is completely different from Lost in Translation and Alien," he continued. "No quiet melancholy or space horror. This one is fast, dangerous and Philosophical in a slightly terrifying way."
Scarlett blinked. "Alright. Keep going."
Alex nodded. "Lucy is a carefree student. She trusts the wrong boyfriend. He tricks her into delivering a briefcase to someone she thinks is a business contact. It is not."
Scarlett frowned, already hooked. "Of course it is not."
"She is abducted by a criminal group," Alex continued. "They intend to turn her into a drug mule. They surgically implant a package inside her. The chemical leaks into her system."
Scarlett's breath slowed. "And?"
"And instead of killing her," Alex said calmly, "it unlocks parts of her brain that humans do not normally access. Lucy gains telekinesis, telepathy, control over matter, time, and information."
She straightened. "So like a superhero?"
"Not exactly a superhero," Alex replied. "She becomes dangerous to everyone. Including herself."
Scarlett stared ahead at the trees swaying gently in the park. "So, she wants to survive, I guess?"
"That's her goal at the start. With her former captors hunting her," Alex added, "she seeks out a neurologist who might understand what is happening to her and help her survive what she is becoming."
Scarlett turned slowly toward him. "Who plays the neurologist?"
Alex took a sip of water. "Morgan Freeman."
There was a full two seconds of silence.
Then Scarlett's voice jumped an octave. "Morgan Freeman?"
Alex nodded once. "Yes."
She laughed, sharp and incredulous. "Wait. I am going to do a lead role in a film. A lead role. And I am going to work with Morgan Freeman."
"The Morgan Freeman," Alex confirmed.
She pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. "The voice of God himself is going to explain neuroscience to me on screen."
Alex smiled. "Something like that."
She shook her head, stunned and grinning. "This is like a dream."
"You can log into your Titan account and read the full script when you get home," Alex said. "I uploaded it last night."
"You can't just casually drop something so important while jogging in a park like a menace." Scarlett stood up and took off her sunglasses.
Alex laughed. "I wanted to see your face."
She pointed at him. "You are impossible, Mr Wilson."
He shrugged. "You love it."
She extended her hand toward Alex. He took her hand as she pulled him up before hugging him.
"Yes, I do," Scarlett whispered.
A moment later, she pulled back and ran toward the car, parked on the other end of the street. "Let's go, let's go, let's go... I can't wait to read the script."
Alex followed, "Oh, by the way. Don't tell the others. I want to surprise them when they least expect."
She glanced back while running. "You got scripts for everyone?"
"Oh, yeah. Something cool and new for everyone..." Alex replied.
---[I've started writing a Castle ff. Don't ask for release date, just dropped 1 chapter yesterday on pat reon. Let me stock up for a stable updates.]
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[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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