Chapter Twenty-Two: Awareness

“It truly has nothing to do with me. I’m only here to help you.” Michael showed not the slightest trace of fear. No matter how much George doubted him, he truly had no involvement in this matter.

“Then why did you make the antidote?”

“Someone asked me to. After all, I am an expert in the field of medicine, with quite a reputation in genetics.”

Suddenly, understanding dawned on George. “Was it Spider-Man?”

“Think whatever you like. I am simply a law-abiding citizen. And, by the way, I have a lawyer.”

With that, Michael turned and walked away. George watched his retreating figure and couldn’t help cursing under his breath.

“Damn rich people.”

He had no way to interrogate Michael. Just as Michael said, he had a lawyer. Even if he brought him to the station, someone would bail him out. Besides, with no evidence, he couldn’t detain him by force.

So, all he could do was take the anti-genetic serum into the ward. No matter what, the priority was to treat the patients.

Because everyone was terrified of turning into monsters, morale was at rock bottom. No one dared to chase after the Lizard anymore, and the military was eager to take advantage of the situation. George was at his wit’s end.

Now, with a cure in hand, he could finally organize another assault on the Lizard.

…

Elsewhere, Gwen had found the doctor’s underground laboratory. Studying the plans scattered about, she realized Michael had been right.

But where was the professor now?

After searching, she discovered that the Lizard gene serum was already gone.

“Damn, I’m too late.”

By the time Gwen returned to the surface, night had fallen. Pedestrians hurried through the streets, and a tank rolled by on the next block.

“This is bad. The doctor hasn’t been killed, has he?” Gwen rushed toward Oscorp.

A young officer looked up sharply. “Chief, I’ve spotted Spider-Man!”

George pondered for a moment. This time, Spider-Man had actually helped. But he still couldn’t allow Spider-Man to run amok.

“Go arrest Spider-Man.”

“And the Lizard?”

“Leave him to the military. They’ve already lost a major, and they’re itching for a fight.”

The Lizard slithered out onto the street. He had hardly crossed a few blocks before helicopters converged, spotlights glaring down on his face. Blinded, he shielded his eyes with a scaled forearm.

The army swarmed in from all directions, quickly surrounding him and opening fire without hesitation. Against the full force of the military—and with tanks on the way—not even the Lizard could contend.

Bestial instincts dominated him, but that didn’t mean he was stupid. Spotting a sewer, he pried open the cover and slipped inside.

Soldiers surrounded the opening, but not one dared descend. Not until an officer strode up, bellowing, “First, second, and third squads—equip grenade launchers and get into the sewers now. Flush out the Lizard!”

After a moment’s hesitation, the soldiers nervously climbed down.

Swinging through the air on her webs, Gwen found herself in trouble, too. Many aimed stun guns at her, firing as she passed.

“Shit—”

Fortunately, her mask adjusted the light, so even the helicopter’s beams didn’t blind her.

“She’s heading for Oscorp,” George observed, catching on to Gwen’s intent. “Move!”

Gwen flung another web, vaulting onto a new building, but her spider-sense screamed a warning: danger lurked nearby.

There was no time to hesitate. She had to get through this building—going over the rooftop was fastest.

She took off at a run, accelerating. Suddenly, police officers rushed out from behind electrical boxes and pipes, stun guns aimed and firing.

Gwen flipped and rolled, dodging every shot, but then a familiar figure blocked her path—it was Chief George.

“Don’t move.”

The moment she stopped, the other officers closed in, surrounding her.

“Remove your mask and come with me.”

“You have to let me through. He—the Lizard is heading for Oscorp. He’s going to use the Canary Device to spread the virus across the entire city. Then everyone will turn into lizard people.”

The more George listened, the more familiar her words sounded. A bold suspicion formed in his mind.

When you’ve eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

“How do you know all this?” George asked.

“I went into the sewers. He has a lab there. The Lizard is Dr. Connors. His research was on cross-species gene splicing. He lost his arm, and to obtain the regenerative powers of reptiles, he combined ancient lizard DNA with his own, hoping to heal himself. That’s how he became what he is now.”

“Give me the antidote. Defeating monsters and protecting the city is our duty.”

George believed her; he already suspected the true identity behind the mask.

“No, only I can stop him.” Gwen refused. She knew too well how powerful the Lizard had become—only she stood a chance.

“I won’t let you—a civilian—take that risk. This is a job for police. Hand over the antidote.”

“The Lizard!” someone shouted.

Everyone tensed, glancing around. Seizing the moment, Gwen shot a web at a nearby helicopter and swung herself away.

“See you tomorrow, gentlemen.”

A quick-thinking officer raised his gun, but George stopped him.

The officer glanced over, only to see George’s face was thunderous.

“Head to Oscorp! If necessary, cut the power cables. Call Norman Osborn—find out where the main circuit breaker is and what company access we have.”

“Yes, sir.”

Gwen quickly reached Oscorp, but the Lizard was already scaling the wall.

Oscorp was a pharmaceutical giant, one of New York’s icons. The officer in command dared not order the tanks to fire—a single shell today, and he might be dismissed tomorrow for some obscure reason.

“Damn—”

He could only order his men to take the access routes to the east building, but Oscorp had closed for the day; elevators and public facilities were shut down. The soldiers had no choice but to climb the stairs.

Gwen swung on her web, landing on Oscorp’s wall, and began to climb.

“Who’s that?” the commanding officer asked.

“That’s Spider-Man. A hero of the city.”

“If only our soldiers had those abilities,” the officer replied enviously, watching Gwen ascend.

“Seems like a woman, too.”

“Yes, some call her Spider-Woman.”

“Anyone courting her?” the officer asked, licking his lips. If he could father a son like her, his career would be made.

“No idea. Who knows what she looks like under the mask? Maybe she’s scarred.”

The officer chuckled, glancing at his lieutenant.

“With a figure like that, I’d marry her even if the mask was her face.”