Legendary Virus

Peter thrashed and struggled. Norman’s grin returned. He turned and continued down the hall. They turned into a doorway marked fire exit. But, it wasn’t a fire exit. It was another room similar to the observation room he broke into earlier.

“Lockdown procedure delta,” Norman said to the air. The lights returned to white. The siren shut off and the fire exit door slowly shut. Peter thought that was strange since it was glass.

Norman must’ve noticed Peter’s intrigue towards the door. “That glass is two feet thick. It’s bulletproof. No one’s getting in.”

Peter sighed and stared up at the ceiling. It looked like the ceiling in the medbay. In fact, most of the rooms in the building looked like the medbay. It made Peter feel weird. The medbay was where he went to get fixed up. Where he felt safe. Usually, it was a sign that all the horrible shit was done. But, this place was the opposite. It was the most unsafe place he’d ever been.

Peter’s thoughts were interrupted by a thud. His head snapped to the door. Captain America was standing with his hand pressed against the glass door. He stood and stared inside for a moment. Peter would’ve rejoiced. But, Cap hadn’t put a dent in it.

Steve said something and then held his shield up. He did a punching motion and hit the glass with the edge of the shield. A small crack appeared. Another hit in the same spot. The crack got bigger. Again and again, the crack slowly grew in size. Eventually, it covered the whole door.

Norman grew more and more anxious. He knew it was just a few more hits until it would shatter. He grunted angrily and began searching through the cupboards and desks. His sly grin returned when he found what he was searching for. A small cylinder full of a green liquid. He pushed a button on the side a long sharp needle extruded from the end. He immediately plunged the needle into his neck and gasped. He stumbled for a moment before regaining his balance and preparing for the imminent fight. One more hit and the glass completely shattered. Huge chunks of glass rained down and shattered into tiny pieces on the floor. Steve stepped through the now empty doorway and lifted his shield. The glass crunched beneath his feet.

“I don’t want to hurt you. Just let the kid go and we can work on the cure together,” He said. His voice was steady and calm. Peter had no clue how he could remain so stoic. He always seemed to have control over the situation no matter how the cards were dealt.

“I don’t need your help,” Norman said. The grin on his face got wider and wider. Peter noticed the veins in Norman’s neck turned slightly green.

He lunged at Steve. He easily dodged Norman’s attack and ran to Peter. He unbuckled the first wrist restraint. He was about to move onto the next. But, Norman grabbed his shoulders and threw him across the room. He hit the wall. He instantly shook it off and threw a punch at Norman. Norman dodged it and they continued this for a moment. Peter had no clue how Norman was surviving a hand to hand fight with Captain freaking America. There must’ve been something about the serum he injected himself with. It made him stronger.

Peter took the opportunity to finish getting out of his restraints. It took longer than expected since his hand was shaking.

Norman landed a hit sending Cap hurtling through the broken door. Peter was still trying to unbuckle his left arm. Norman grabbed Peter’s arm and pulled it away from the leather buckle. Peter tried to shove him off. But, for some reason, he wasn’t strong enough. The serum did make him stronger. Cap returned before Norman could even get a word in though. He threw his shield and hit the back of Norman’s head. The man collapsed and Peter continued to unbuckle himself. With Steve’s help, he was out in no time. He jumped off the table and ripped the tube out of his arm. The two instantly began running down the hall.

“Tony! I got Peter. We’re heading to you.”

“You guys better hurry. They’re sending a group of armed guards to your floor,” Peter heard Bruce say through the coms.

The two slid to a halt when they turned the corner. There were ten guards blocking their path. All with guns trained on their chests.

“Stop right there! Hands in the air. Drop the shield.” They ordered. Peter slowly raised his hands in the air. Cap followed. Shield still in his hand.

“I said drop it asshole!” They barked.

Steve slowly lowered the shield. But, instead of dropping it, he threw it at the wall. It ricocheted and hit three of the guards in the face. The others began open firing. The two instantly covered their faces and ran back around the corner.

“Hold your fire!” A man shouted. “I need him alive!”

Peter instantly recognized the voice as Norman’s. The two decided to put as much space between them and the security guards even if it meant going all the way around them. They flew down the hallway and into the nearest stairwell.

“Guys where are you going? Fastest way to the roof is the north stairwell. You’re going the wrong way,” Bruce called through the coms.

“Bit of traffic that way. We’re taking the long way,” Steve shouted back.

Peter froze.

“Queens! Let’s go.” Steve shouted.

“No, wait. There’s a room full of kids. Osborne is experimenting on them!” Peter exclaimed.

“What?”

“We have to bring them with us.”

Steve nodded and followed Peter down the stairs towards level 70.

Peter slowly crept the door open and snuck into the hallway. The two snuck down the hall all the way back to the door labelled ‘enhanced’.

“We need a key card,” Peter said. Steve swore under his breath. Peter began searching the ceiling for air ducts. Nothing.

“You can use mine,” a voice said. Peter turned. Gwen scanned her card and the door opened.

Peter instinctually backed away. His hands were curled in fists ready to fight.

“I’m here to help,” She said.

“I’m having a hard time believing that,” Peter replied.

“I don’t care if you believe me or not. But, there’s more kids downstairs and we need to get them out. I know you have no reason to, but, you have to trust me.”

“How do I know this isn’t a trick?”

Gwen held something out in her hand. It was Peter’s backpack. He had completely forgotten about it. “I know who you are. And I saw what Norman has been doing to these kids. Please,” She begged.

“Queens, we gotta go,” Steve said. He had gathered the kids up and was ready to go.

Peter hesitated. He didn’t want to trust her. But, there was a nagging voice in the back of his head telling him to. He sighed. “If there’s more somewhere I have to find them.”

“What do you mean?” Steve asked.

“Get them out of here, I'll meet you on the roof.”

Steve nodded and took off. The group of kids followed close behind.

Peter dug through his bag and put on his web-shooters. He swung the bag across his shoulders and tightened the straps. “Let’s go.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tony was in a creepy looking lab. He was typing on the computer trying to figure out how Oscorp had found out about Peter. His empty suit stood behind him guarding his back.

“Find anything yet?” Bruce asked over the coms. Tony had asked him to stay at the tower. They couldn't risk him hulking out in a public building in the centre of the city. He had gratefully accepted this order. He was just fine being the eyes of the operation from a few blocks away.

“Nothing. They don’t even have a record of him entering the building this morning. They didn’t want anyone to know he was ever here I guess…” He replied.

“Tony! I got Peter. I’m heading to you,” Steve said in the coms.

“You guys better hurry. They’re sending armed guards to your floor,” Bruce said.

There was no response from Steve. It made Tony anxious. But, he knew Cap could handle it.

He continued his wild goose chase to find any reason that Oscorp could possibly know about Peter’s blood. Then it hit him.

“Friday, show me the security footage outside the lab last night.”

“Will do Boss.” A holoscreen appeared in front of him. It showed the lab. He saw himself and Peter walk in. Steve walked out. And eventually, Peter walked out. But, he noticed the door remained open after Peter left. Tony swore under his breath. A few minutes later, someone walked by. They stopped and listened. Tony instantly recognized the girl's hair. It was bright blonde. The same girl from the elevator. Gwen. He sighed and wiped the screen away.

“Guys where are you going? Fastest way to the roof is the north stairwell. You’re going the wrong way,” Bruce called through the coms.

“Bit of traffic that way. We’re taking the long way,” Steve shouted back.

Tony didn’t like the sound of that. “Bruce, you got eyes on Rogers?”

“Uhhhh,” There was the familiar clacking sound of a keyboard. “Yea they’re on level 70. Headed to the south stairwell.”

“What? They’re going to the other side of the building!” Tony said. He wanted to go find them. But, he had to figure out who this Gwen girl was.

He had finally found a useful looking file. And sure enough, it contained Gwen Stacey’s notes on Peter’s blood. He skimmed through it before plugging his USB in. It copied the information and he deleted it from the server. He couldn’t have anyone seeing those notes.

“Rogers, what’s your 20?” Tony said unplugging his USB.

“I’m headed to the roof now. Start-up the engines,” Steve replied. “You better make some room. We have a few unexpected guests.”

Tony wasn’t really sure what that meant. But, he didn’t care that much. He took a deep breath and allowed the suit to reassemble around him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter followed Gwen down the stairs and through the halls. He was constantly keeping track of where there were and how to get to the roof from there. Just in case. They ended up in front of the lab he had broken into earlier.

“This is it. I saw some employees bring a few kids down here.”

“Ok let’s go,” Peter said.

“My card doesn't have clearance. This is one of Norman’s private labs. Only a few people are authorized to go in.”

Peter didn’t move. He knew a way in. He had gotten in earlier. He just wasn’t sure if Gwen knew. It could be a trap.

“Peter we don’t have time for this. There’s security everywhere.”

“If this is a trick I swear…” He sighed and jumped up into the air duct. He crawled to the grate and looked around. It didn’t look like there was anyone there. He slowly opened it and jumped down. It was empty. His spider-sense didn’t go off. So, no one was hiding in there either.

He turned to the door and opened it. Gwen stood there with her arms crossed.

“I told you, you can trust me.”

“You haven’t done a lot to earn my trust.”

“Can we please just focus?”

Peter rolled his eyes and moved towards the observation room. He looked through the window. There were three nurses standing by a screen. Across the room, two kids were strapped down to tables. Just like Peter had been.

“Ok, I’ll go in and take down the nurses. You untie the kids and then we get the hell out of here,” Peter whispered.

Gwen nodded. Peter took a deep breath and prepared for the fight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve had finally reached the roof without any issues. He thought it was strange. But, he wasn’t going to question it. He opened the door and the night air blew against his face. They were so close to getting the hell out of there.

“Get to the plane!” He shouted to the kids. He held the door open and counted them up again as they ran past. They were at the same number they were when they had left the lab. They did it. He still had the feeling it was too easy. They didn’t have any complications. He had an uneasy feeling that it wasn’t over. Peter still had to return.

He followed the last kid to the plane and saw Tony.

“Where’s Peter?” He asked instantly.

“He’s fine. He went with some girl to find a few other kids,” Steve replied.

“What girl?”

“I don’t know. She’s the one who scanned us into the lab.”

“Bruce?” Tony said into his com.

“One minute… Gwen Stacy,” Bruce said.

Tony’s face went white as a sheet.

“Tony, what’s wrong?” Steve asked.

“She’s the one that took Peter in the first place!” He shouted.

“How was I supposed to know that?”

Tony buried his face in his hands.

“Tony, he can handle himself. He wouldn’t have gone with her if he didn’t trust her.”

“I’m going to find him,” Tony said. Steve grabbed his arm before he could leave the plane.

“Tony… If you bust in there you could put Peter in more danger than he already is. Give him five minutes. After that, you can go in there guns blazing.”

Tony sighed. “Fine. But, if he’s hurt… That’s on you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter snuck in through the door and took the nurses out easily. Gwen walked in and looked slightly impressed. They quickly untied the kids and returned to the hallway. Just as Peter was about to open the stairwell door, his spider-sense went off. He backed away from the door when he heard voices. One voice, in particular, stood out to him. Norman Osborne.

“What?” Gwen asked.

“He’s in there. We gotta find another way.”

“C’mon!” Gwen said heading down the hallway. The three followed her. Peter heard the stairwell door open and footsteps not too far behind them. Norman knew they were there somehow.

Gwen stopped in front of a door. “This should lead you to the roof. Hurry though.”

“You’re coming too,” Peter said.

“They want you, not me. I’ll buy you some time.”

Peter didn’t have time to argue. He could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer. And by the sound of them, there were a lot of them.

He opened the door and ran in. Ten floors worth of stairs was a lot more than Peter expected. He knew they couldn’t get all the way up there in time. He ran to the centre of the stairs and shot a web. It stuck to the ceiling instantly.

“Grab on,” Peter said to the kids. One climbed onto his back and one held onto his shoulder. It was a bit awkward. But, they squeezed through the small gap between the landings and landed on the top step.

Peter opened the door and the two kids ran to the plane. Peter followed behind them. The second he climbed onto the airstair, he was enveloped into a hug. He instantly knew it was Mr. Stark. He hugged him back.

“No wait I’m mad at you,” Tony said letting go. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“What the hell was I thinking? What the hell were you thinking? You didn’t tell me I was the cure? You were just sending me to school like nothing was happening!” Peter shouted.

“You trusted that girl after she kidnapped you? That’s just asking for it.” Tony said.

“She seemed to be more open about my blood situation than you were.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. But, I was trying to avoid this exact situation.”

“What did you think I’d show up to school and tell everyone?”

“You’re right. Omelette’s on my face. You ok?”

Peter nodded. “Fine.”

“Alright, Steve. Let’s get her in the air,” Tony said over his shoulder.

“Wait! We have to wait for Gwen,” Peter saw the look of hesitation on Tony’s face. “I wouldn’t have made it out here if she wasn’t there.”

“You wouldn’t have been here if she wasn’t there.”

“Tony,” Peter said. It was the first time he’d ever called him that. Tony took it seriously.

“Fine. We’ll wait.”

“Tony, they're sending armed helicopters your way. They know you’re there.” Bruce’s voice said into Tony’s ear.

“How long?” Tony asked.

“Five minutes maybe.”

“She’s got five minutes to get up here. But, if she doesn’t make it, we’re leaving.”

“She’ll make it.”