ALL NOVEL Chapter 54: Meet & Greet
Chapter 54: Meet & Greet
Anne had been a hit. He assured her it was her looks. But she stuck her tongue out and called him a hater about her inevitable popularity.
Admittedly, Jeremy York was once popular, but only in middle school and freshman year. His parent's death and meticulous efforts from external hands had set what should have been a promising individual life down a road of no return.
‘I didn’t return. At least not in the sense of correcting myself.’ Thought Cole. Jeremy had died, which was set in motion by a lot of people.
He observed Anne maneuvering through the crowds. Her smile is bright, and genuine happiness radiates from her. He had a thought. He had done this; he had no idea what path Anne would have traveled, but from his original memories, she hadn’t smiled much.
Anne had been a cat burglar who happened to torch her haunts afterward. He had compiled a database on her, like he had most of the people under him, and determined she was working for an organization.
He shrugged mentally. He suspected it was the thieves guild. It was quite the coincidence that the enemy of her guild had attacked him. He later put two and two together after he had time to think about the past occurrence that her excitement to retrieve information from their assailers was based on their apparent membership.
He cast his eyes back toward her. ‘I wonder if her parent's demise was because of the murderous guild or a contract placed by someone else.’
Interest piqued, he pushed the command out to the batcomputer. Alfred, the name of his artificial intelligence, had requested funds to purchase some KORD TECH. He relented, remembering the hideous bug-themed craft had unlocked the company's gear in his storefront. He couldn’t wonder what the young A. I would come up with.
Cole hadn’t been approached, but three individuals were interested in him or his dad's technology. The store reality warping abilities had allowed him credence in acquiring companies and building not of this universe. It was easier to place it as a subsidiary of York that had been placed in his name alone.
He was circumspect at best and annoyed at worst. He retrieved his hand, shaking the adult's hand while keeping his mask intact or reattaching it. His slippage had caused him a lot.
“York?” He queried, flexing his hand, surprised at the young man's grip. He chuckled softly, noting how things were going to be.
“It’s Jeremy,” he corrected, “I’m not associated with the Yorks any longer. What can I help you with, Mr?”
“Randsfield. I’m with CCC companies incorporated.” Cole blinked, and screens appeared before him.
‘Interesting. The founder CEO's daughter had an accident. Not much was public, but it was a head injury.’
“…. We were hoping your father's invention could be used to help Ms. Casparet.” Cole had ignored half the man's spill while reading about the situation.
He sighed. Peter didn’t correctly explain the sophomore event to him, but he can imagine most hoped he didn’t have the gall to show.
“I’m sorry for your founder's daughter's accident. I’m afraid my,” he emphasized. “Technology won’t be sold outright. She is more than welcome to “
Randsfield interrupted, his tone aggressive. “Please, you're just a student, a delinquent who stumbled upon your father off the book discovery.”
He lowered his voice. “Look, kid, this doesn’t have to be too difficult. We’re willing to offer you ten thousand. What-“
He turned around. “Contact my lawyers if you’re even capable of that. And tell your boss to fire you before he approaches me again.” He parted the crowd that undoubtedly was listening in and moved further away.
He wasn’t even mad, just disappointed, but he shouldn’t be surprised. He looked around, searching for Anne. I bet they thought it was funny how his trust was being illegally exploited, but not the supposed companies.
He was sure his family was pulling their hair out and trying any legal approach possible. Little that would do unless they managed to kill him, but that also opened up another possibility: his companies might disappear with him.
He had to message Anne to find out where she went. Some Baxter people had taken some students for an impromptu view of the building and its many departments.
‘I wonder if Reed Richard’s was always experimenting with cosmic rays. He was interested in them. If he wasn’t mistaken, outside of the standard super soldier serum, only forces like the rays could boost his abilities.
Anne had sent a chain of messages. She was approached because she was suspected to be related to him. He chuckled. He supposed the school had leaked he was funding her to attend the school.
She had managed to meet most of our class, but once it was known that she had come with him, many unwelcome eyes landed on him.
He sighed, praying one of the idiots didn’t come and profess their love for her and demand he unhand her.
Anne, on the other hand, viciously threatened those who had problems with me. That made him smile. He knew Anne would remain loyal regardless of the contract strictures.
If she keeps this up, he might handle her issue himself instead of the one promise he granted her to assist her. How tough can a guild be? He doubted they were an equal to The Hand, but he wouldn’t underestimate them.
The Baxter building shuddered. Alarms have begun to ring overhead and throughout the building. Cole put down his punch, liking the alcohol Anne had added, but the building had been rocked again, and the cup spilled from the table, splattering his limited edition Nike dunks.
Cole acted immediately. He massaged his temple, and the screen appeared before him as he ignored the screams of fear and worry emanating from the ballroom.
The first camera footage he hacked had been moments, but he saw the culprits. Spiderman was engaged against three members of the Sinister Six. He hadn’t been tracking the point in Spidey Origin he was in, but he now knew.
Rhino, a human mutate, was the cause of the building shuddering. Like a juggernaut, the beast of a man was charging head first, like his namesake, through different parts of the building.
‘Swarm?’ He thought. He had to pull up reports on the man—a recent nuisance. He didn’t discover much about him; outside of he was considered dead. His research had changed him. The scientist was riding a colossal bee and was swarming around a fleeing Peter.
Goblin was in attendance. Cole sneered. He despised Osborne on a level that only a true Spiderman fanboy could. He never understood why Spiderman gave that family so many chances.
He was on his glider, tossing a bomb through the windows of the tower and laughing manically. ‘Department of Defense had determined to rescind the research grant earlier here than he recalled.’ He peered through the screens, making them transparent. He scanned the room with his tech.
Norman wasn’t in the ballroom. Did he go to view the labs with the other group? He switch feeds. The goblin throwing bombs through one of the upper floors he vanished inside.
“Calm down, the authorities have been not-“
Whatever else he said, he didn’t hear it. He dived away from the wall just as it exploded. An enraged Rhino emerged from the hole after Parker, who slid across the ground, his costume ragged, one of his eyes closed and blackened, he held a broken arm, and blood pooled at the corner of his mouth.
Principal Morita's eyes bore into him before the enraged Rhino made him divert his attention back to the students.
Parker looked around, assessing the surroundings. Cole noted the dread in his eye. He was losing, and now his class was about to pay for his inability to stop them.
Rhino brought his hands down in a devastating blow that would have crushed the current Spiderman, but as expected, Parker dodged. Unfortunately, the shockwaves reverberated throughout the ballroom, sending students, faculty, Baxter staff, and corporate men and women tumbling.
Angelica: Are you guys alright? Masked individuals have hit the New York City Bank. Sinister Six?
Cole slid across a table and rolled across the floor. He used his forearm to block a wall falling on some students. The air was thick with dust and debris, and he deactivated the cameras. He hoped it was enough to secure his identity.
“Go,” he growled under the flashing red lights and dust. The students ran, not even wondering who saved them.
‘Which was the distraction?’ He thought. His cousins fathom why they would divide their forces.
His mind turned over ideas in a manner of seconds before he came to one conclusion.
‘Spiderman?’ He looked back at the two fighting across the ballroom, spiderman's webs all but useless against the freakishly powerful beast of a man.
Anne: Fantastic!
He at least had one less worry. Anne hadn’t been allowed to go all out. He knew she was excited to use the technology she had been given, and he was sure the injection of Naqudah had enhanced her to a certain degree.
Jeremy York: I’m well. Anne?
Anne: I got the green guy. He’s quick. The scientists and students have evacuated.
Jeremy: Be careful.
“Alfred, compile all biodata on her; I'd like to see what changes have sprouted.” He subvocalized.
“As you say.” It was the artificial intelligence response.
Angelica: She’s engaging the Goblin? Is that wise?
Jeremy: I’m here. If not anyone else, I can ensure her safety.
Anne: I see the big guy is spanking the spider. Haha. Angelica, why don’t you come into the action, nerd?Maybe burn some steam off.
Angelica: En route. Traffic is bad. Thank god you’re wearing the rings.
Angelica: I’m taking to the skies.
He disengaged from the chat. Angelica was about to fly here under her power. Cole's eyes opened, and he activated the bio-contacts. The lights had just gone out.
Cole had hidden in the corner; under a cloud of debris and flashing emergency lights, he was practically invisible, plus he had equipped the suit that further hid him.
Principal Morita had begun herding the students outside. The man looked back, searching for him before he shook his head and left.
The unnamed agent had a weapon that screamed S.H.I.E.L.D and was firing on the rampaging Rhino, giving Spiderman a chance to save some students trapped under debris.
Rhino had ignored the blast against his tough hide. He had Parker by his throat. Half his mask was off; anyone, literally anyone, could at least determine he was a teen.
“Pathetic.” He hissed, his voice spreading across the destroyed room. The agent rolled out of the way, gun drawn toward the corner; he could barely make out the glowing eyes.
Rhino's neck muscles flexed as he peered around and over his shoulder, steam blowing from his nostril like a locomotive.
Cole smiled; let’s see what Spiderman Rogue gallery can do. He thrust his hand out. The batarangs sailed through the air, whistling; one impacted the weapon, and the other pierced the hide of the Rhino.
The agent is aware that the beeping explosion tossed the weapon away. Rhino growled but didn’t even flinch as he savored the agony of crushing the larynx of Spiderman.
The beeping intensified and exploded. The Rhino roared at its huge hand grabbed at the burned even bigger burned arm. Parker was unfortunately flung away; at least he was alive, right?