Just a Quick Note: I don't own any of the characters, worlds, or universes mentioned here (aside from a few original characters). They all belong to their respective creators and companies.

This is a work of fiction, created simply for fun and maybe a bit of inspiration. No offense or infringement intended.

***

Connors intensely stared at the decay rate algorithm, his mind swarming with equation derivatives. Previously, he had tried every biochemical combination, every permutation, yet the correct answer always eluded him.

As much as he would have liked to trust in the genius of Joe Petersen, what he had offered him was too good not to have a caveat.

Those were his honest feelings deep down in his heart. However, at the end of the day, his obsession with regenerating his entire arm superseded his thoughtfulness.

With an almost perfect solution freely presented to him, Connors felt his impatience was justified.

Reclining in his seat, Connors released a deep sigh, the crazed zeal in his eyes clearing a bit.

"God, I hope this works. The pressure I've been getting from Norman is enough to drive me into depression." An annoyed expression crossed his face as he absentmindedly touched his amputated arm.

"His desire to save himself from his own genetic deterioration increases day by day. If I don't show promising results…" Connors slowly contemplated. His fate was hanging on a balance and his future at Oscorp was ultimately decided by corporate judgment. Failure to produce substantial results that can be commercialized wouldn't bode well for a scientist like him. A dying man like Norman Osborn was the most unpredictable and dangerous.

"Phew~" Connors spontaneously gazed at the ceiling, the dim light of the overhead bulb subtly reflected on his glasses.

He then picked up the sheet of paper containing the precious formula and placed it close to his face. "I should prepare for experimentation and observe the results born from the formula's addition."

"There's so much to do and I don't know how long it will take to finalize the experimental data."

Connors stood up and carefully filed the formula with his secret research notes. He placed the thick file in his laptop bag and zipped it tightly.

Looking at his monitor, Connors quickly saved and uploaded his work to his cloud. After shutting his computer, he momentarily glanced at his incomprehensible handwriting on the whiteboard.

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He couldn't leave it like that. He took a duster and wiped everything. As for the papers on the ground, they weren't as important as what had been written on the board. That was Connors' sound decision.

***

Meanwhile, as Dr. Connors hurried to begin his experiments now that he had found a stable pathway, Joe casually walked through a secluded hallway on the other side of the campus.

A subtle grin played on his face as he reminisced about the past, especially this hallway that he had marked as his own special territory. Of course, it was what the past Joe liked to imagine. The campus was a public space, so there was nothing that he exclusively owned.

'Very few people venture into this part, so it wouldn't be easy to be spotted by the insane fans and paparazzi.' Joe analyzed before his mind shifted to the decay rate algorithm he had written to aid Dr. Connors in his cross-species research.

This formula was created by Richard Parker - Peter's dad — when he was a scientist at Oscorp. While Connors was interested in Class Reptilia, Richard Parker's research was centered on arachnids, especially the spider. Richard Parker's work on cross-species interaction between man and spider could be considered nothing short of a miracle. If his research managed to enter the medical world and healthcare system, many physical ailments would have been solved.

However, that's where the problem lies. The corporate hegemons behind Oscorp wanted to monopolize his research for their own greed and benefit. For these men and women of power, their only language was eternal profits and commercial success.

They didn't care about the grandeur of saving the world if they couldn't monopolize the shit out of Richard's research.

Richard, on the other hand, walked the righteous path. He was wise enough to tamper with—or more accurately, modify his formula at the genetic level using the Parker genes. This meant that the decay rate algorithm would only work perfectly with someone of Richard's bloodline. His foresight was truly incredible, and only he knew this vital information. Everyone else remained oblivious.

Despite this seemingly unexpected maneuver, Richard Parker and his wife were done in by an 'accidental' plane crash when they were on the run from Oscorp. Deemed useless by the corporation, his fate was sealed. If they couldn't use him, destroying him was also an option.

"Power - such a seductively simple thing. Either you have it all or you have nothing," Joe murmured, a mirthless smile etched on his lips.

If Richard Parker had possessed the power to defend his honor and life, he might have narrowly survived Oscorp's schemes. But, unfortunately, he lacked the strength to fully safeguard his legacy. He was, after all, just a simple man. The authority wielded by an influential corporation like Oscorp was not to be underestimated.

At the end of it all, the decay rate algorithm Joe had given Dr. Connors was flawed. However, the flaw will be a major oversight if the doctor impatiently rushes for results.

The world operated on the basis of equivalent exchange. Even though Joe had given much in the exchange, the devil's deals were always twisted. He hadn't been truly upfront with Dr. Connors, an innocent man with a dark fate. There was something else he wanted to observe from Connors.

'Let's call it an outsider's perspective. What path will his fate take? What choices will he make? Will anything change at all?' A torrent of questions flooded his mind.

"Oh, Gwen made me promise to call her if I came to campus. I can't forget about that," Joe sighed, knowing that if he didn't call or text her, he could get grey-ticked in real life.

Joe sank his hands into his pockets and pulled out his phone. He unlocked it and scrolled to Gwen's name on the favorites. Her profile picture was there with a goofy smile directed at him. He chuckled softly, shaking his head before calling her.

Beep!

The phone rang for some time before it went to voicemail. "Hi, it's Gwen. Please leave a message. Talk later."

Joe arched his brows, both worried and annoyed he couldn't reach her. 'Maybe she's in class or somewhere she can't pick up my call. I hope she didn't deliberately ignore me.'

'But... Whatever.' Joe shook the matter off his head. He wasn't entitled to everything. Gwen had her own life to deal with. Missing one phone call wasn't the end of the world. Joe felt he had to be understanding of everyone around him as much as he liked keeping control over everything in his life.

"Just checking up on you." Joe left her message and pocketed his phone.

"Now then..." Joe glanced at his watch and nodded to himself. "Let's see if Pete has completed my task."

As the current head of R&D, Peter had to show him, the CEO of the nascent pharmaceutical company, something promising.

Joe tested him on finding a cure for influenza. He wanted to gauge his research intelligence and practicality. After all, Peter was one of the smartest people in the Marvel Universe.

***

[Word Count 1251]