Chapter 27: A Deal for the Sun
Osborn Industries.
Harry Osborn was reviewing quarterly reports when his secretary informed him that a man claiming to be from S.H.I.E.L.D. was here to see him. A knot of tension tightened in his stomach. Osborn Industries had no dealings with S.H.I.E.L.D. Why were they here now?
Is it about Octavius? The thought made him irritable. He decided to be direct. "Send him in."
When the man entered, Harry was struck by his powerful build and the untamed aura he projected. S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't messing around, he thought, standing to offer a chair. "Please, have a seat."
Talon sat without ceremony. "I'm here to propose a cooperation."
Harry relaxed slightly. This wasn't a confrontation. "What kind of cooperation?"
"I need all the tritium in Osborn's possession."
Harry's demeanor cooled. He tapped a finger on his desk. "Tritium is one of the rarest elements on Earth. After Octavius's little stunt, our reserves are critically low. What do you offer in exchange?"
"I can cure your family's genetic disease."
Harry shot to his feet. "What did you say?"
The Osborn curse was his family's shadow, a legacy of genius and early death that no amount of money or power had ever been able to lift.
"It's true," Talon stated. "But the technology required—a regenerative cradle—is still under development by one of my associates. It will be ready soon."
Harry slumped back into his chair, disappointment and anger warring on his face. "You come to me for tritium with a promise of a cure that doesn't exist yet? Is this S.H.I.E.L.D.'s idea of sincerity?"
"The need for tritium is urgent. The cure will follow," Talon explained calmly.
"What could possibly be so urgent? Building a weapon? Trying to crack the planet in half?"
"I intend to power Dr. Octavius's fusion reactor. To finish what he started."
Understanding dawned on Harry's face. He, too, had seen the potential in the artificial sun. "I will give you the tritium," he said after a moment. "On two conditions. First, you cure my family's bloodline. All of it. Second, when the fusion technology is perfected, you share it with me."
Talon stood and extended his hand. A smile touched his lips. "You have a deal."
The terms were irrelevant. Once he had the power he sought, he would decide which promises to keep.
"Excellent," Harry said, shaking his hand. A formal contract was swiftly drawn up and signed. True to his word, Harry provided the tritium—a sphere no larger than a ping-pong ball, yet containing a significant fraction of the world's known supply. A mere fingernail's worth had nearly vaporized a city block; this amount held terrifying potential.
Leaving Osborn Industries, Talon considered his next move—a visit to S.H.I.E.L.D. to inquire about Vibranium. But his attention was caught by the chatter of passers-by. They were talking about him. About the message on the Moon.
He took out his phone. "Optimus Prime, find all news related to me."
Instantly, his screen populated with headlines. He clicked a video link showing an interview with Mary Jane Watson.
"...and he has this robot, a Transformer! It turned into a spaceship and took me to the Moon!" she gushed, her face radiant.
"The words on the surface... 'MARY WAS HERE'... how was that done?" the reporter asked.
"He used the robot's pulse cannons! It was like the most beautiful fireworks I've ever seen!"
The reporter leaned in. "And can you tell us, Mary Jane, who is this mysterious man?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of theatrical despair. "He got into a fight with my ex-boyfriend and left. I can't find him. That's why I'm doing this interview... Talon, if you're watching, I love you! Please don't leave me!"
Talon closed the video, utterly dumbfounded. The fickleness of some people is astounding.
His phone vibrated in his hand. The caller ID showed Peter Parker.
He answered, and a frantic, desperate voice spilled from the speaker.
"Talon! You have to help! Mary Jane... she's been kidnapped! By the Lizard!"
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