Alex arrived at Oscorp Tower at 6:30 AM. The sun was just starting to rise over Manhattan. The building's glass exterior caught the early light and turned it into streaks of orange and gold.
Security recognized him now. The guard at the front desk nodded. "Early start today, Mr. Carter."
"Field trip. I'm helping Dr. Connors with the presentation."
"Right. Midtown High. Bunch of kids coming through at nine." The guard scanned Alex's badge. "You're cleared for Sub-Level 2 today. Special access for the tour."
Alex's pulse quickened slightly. Sub-Level 2. Where the spider labs were located.
"Thanks."
He took the elevator down. The doors opened to a sterile white hallway.
Fluorescent lights hummed overhead. The air smelled like disinfectant and something chemical he couldn't identify.
Dr. Curt Connors was already in Lab 7. He stood in front of a series of glass enclosures, reviewing data on a tablet. His right sleeve hung empty. The arm he'd lost years ago in a military accident.
"Mr. Carter. Good morning." Connors looked up. His expression was tired but focused.
"Norman said you'd be assisting today."
"Yes sir. Whatever you need."
"Mostly just helping me wrangle teenagers." Connors smiled slightly. "I'm not great with kids. Too used to talking to other scientists. You're closer to their age. You can translate."
"I can do that."
Connors gestured toward the glass enclosures. "These are our cross-species specimens. Spiders genetically modified with DNA from various animals. The students will observe from the viewing deck upstairs. They won't come down here directly."
Alex looked at the enclosures. Fifteen spiders. Each in its own climate-controlled habitat. Most were the size of quarters or half-dollars. A few were smaller.
Specimen 15's enclosure was in the corner. Larger than the others. The spider inside was dark, almost black, with distinctive red markings on its abdomen. It moved differently than the others. Faster. More aggressive when Connors walked past.
"That one's scheduled for termination this week," Connors said, noticing Alex's attention. "Too unstable. Keeps escaping. We can't risk it."
"What makes it different?"
"It has all the modifications. Strength, regeneration, enhanced senses, modified venom. We were trying to create a comprehensive specimen but the combination makes it aggressive. Unpredictable."
'There it is,' Alex thought. 'Specimen 15. The one that's supposed to bite Peter.'
"Is it dangerous to humans?"
"Potentially. The venom has unique properties. We've only tested on mice. Results were... unusual. Increased muscle density. Enhanced neural activity. But also extreme stress responses. Half the test subjects died within forty-eight hours."
Alex filed that information away. Peter would survive. The timeline proved that. But knowing the venom was that dangerous made this whole situation feel heavier.
Connors continued explaining the project. Alex listened and asked questions. Learned which modifications came from which animals. How they were integrated. What results they were seeing.
The conversation was fascinating. Connors was brilliant. Obsessive, like Norman had said, but in a way that made his explanations clear and detailed.
At 8:30, Connors checked his watch.
"Students arrive in thirty minutes. We should head to the observation deck. Make sure everything's ready."
They took the elevator up to Level 3. The observation deck was a long corridor with floor-to-ceiling windows looking down into the research labs. Perfect for tours. Students could see the work being done without entering sterile environments or touching sensitive equipment.
Alex walked along the corridor, memorizing camera positions. There were four cameras covering the main viewing area. But there were gaps. Corners where the camera angles didn't overlap. Places where someone could move without being clearly recorded.
He noted them mentally.
Just in case.
...
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