Outside Oscorp
Night had fully fallen over the city, and the imposing Oscorp building rose like a shadow of steel and glass against the dark sky, its interior lights glowing cold and distant. Across the street, partially concealed by darkness and sporadic traffic, a police car had been parked for hours.
Inside it, George Stacy sat in silence, alert and focused, watching Oscorp's main entrance without taking his eyes off it.
Time seemed to crawl by mercilessly.
A short while later, a police officer who had stepped away hurried back to the car.
"Captain Stacy," he said, adjusting his cap. "Norman Osborn just left Oscorp."
He finished while yawning, visibly tired and not even trying to hide his boredom. "Now it's just the security guards doing internal and external patrols. Do you really think we still need to keep this surveillance going?"
Of all police duties, this one was undoubtedly among the most tedious.
Hours spent sitting around, waiting for something to happen… and most of the time, nothing ever did.
George didn't answer right away.
His gaze remained fixed on the building ahead—serious, focused, as if he were trying to see something beyond the obvious.
There was a strange weight in his chest.
A bad feeling.
George Stacy had been on the force for decades. He had seen everything: petty crimes, conspiracies, all kinds of inexplicable situations. And over the years, he had learned one essential truth—his intuition rarely failed him.
"If you're feeling sleepy…" he finally said, without looking away. "Go grab some coffee. There's still a café open on the corner."
The officer didn't argue. He opened the car door and stepped out quickly, almost relieved to have an excuse to move around.
George was alone for a few moments.
He stifled a yawn, discreetly rubbed his eyes, and continued to observe every detail of the building, every suspicious movement. Even a seasoned veteran like him wasn't immune to the fatigue of long, monotonous surveillance.
Still… something felt off.
What George didn't notice was the white figure that, silent as a ghost, landed atop a streetlight just a few meters behind the car.
"Cortana… isn't that my father's car?" Gwen asked softly.
She was wearing a small, discreet earpiece—almost invisible—specially prepared by Arthur for her. Through it, she could communicate directly with Cortana while receiving precise, real-time information.
[Yes, Gwen.]
Gwen took a deep breath.
"We can't let him see me entering Oscorp… that would cause serious problems."
She knew her father's temperament well. George wouldn't just get angry—he would try to arrest her and demand to know absolutely everything.
Following Cortana's instructions, Gwen moved with precision. Her body felt light, almost weightless, as she navigated through the blind spots of the external surveillance. In moments, she was already near Oscorp's side entrance.
She was now wearing a stealth suit prepared by Arthur. Unlike her usual white outfit with pink accents, this one was black, still bearing the same pink details.
At that same moment, the officer who had gone to buy coffee returned, carrying two steaming cups. As he lifted his head, he caught something strange in the corner of his eye—a silhouette far too fast to identify.
"…What was that?"
He frowned, trying to recall what he had seen. He couldn't make out a shape, a face, or clothing. Just a blur.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and returned to the car.
"Captain, here," he said, handing one of the cups to George. "Hot coffee."
"Thanks," George replied automatically.
Boom.
A muffled, heavy sound suddenly echoed from across the street.
George stiffened instantly.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice low but alert.
The officer beside him nodded, now serious.
Without exchanging another word, the two opened the car doors and stepped out. Their hands immediately went to their waists, ready to draw their weapons. With slow, cautious steps, they moved toward the alley from which the sound had come.
They quickly found the source.
A manhole cover had been torn out of place.
Not removed—ripped out violently.
The metal was warped inward, crushed, with the unmistakable imprint of a massive fist stamped at its center.
George's expression changed instantly.
He drew his gun in one swift, practiced motion.
"Stay alert," he said, his voice steady but tense. "He's nearby."
"I'll call for backup right now," the other officer said, reaching for his radio.
Above them, hidden by darkness and height, something moved.
On the rooftop of a nearby building, the Lizard crawled slowly along the wall, his muscles taut, claws digging into the concrete without making a sound. His reptilian eyes watched the two officers with calculated coldness.
"Better not cause unnecessary trouble before getting the serum…"
Despite his monstrous form, his mind remained sharp.
He knew that if he attacked now, it would trigger a firefight—sirens, shouting, more police. Chaos. All of it would make entering Oscorp far more difficult.
After memorizing his route of entry, the Lizard withdrew silently, disappearing into the darkness.
---
Inside Oscorp
The moment Spider-Woman entered the building, Cortana took control.
The monitors in the security room began displaying perfectly synchronized footage… on a loop.
"I'm going to the bathroom," one of the guards said, standing up from his chair. "I'll be back in two minutes."
"Go already," the other replied without taking his eyes off the screen. "Nothing ever happens here anyway."
"Ah… what a boring job…"
[Gwen, you can enter now. The cameras are looping.]
[The two serum vials are stored in a freezer on the third floor.]
"Okay… thank you."
[You're welcome.]
With the security system compromised, the risk of Gwen being discovered was minimal. In addition, she could move silently across ceilings and walls, and her Spider-Sense would react instantly to any imminent danger.
She advanced swiftly and precisely.
Soon, she reached the second floor.
Then Cortana's voice sounded in her ear again—this time, more urgent.
[Gwen… Peter Parker is here.]
[He just entered Oscorp.]
Gwen clenched her teeth.
"Okay. Then we need to finish this as fast as possible," she said firmly. "Keep me updated on his position in real time…"
Time was now working against her.
---
(End of Chapter)