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Norman Osborn stood before the wall-mounted television in his penthouse office, with hands clasped behind his back. The live news feed showed his symbiote army flooding across the East River like a plague. Boats packed so densely they formed a floating highway. The cruise ship loomed behind them like a fortress on water. Every deck and every cabin held one of his creations.
The news helicopters circled at a distance, cameras zoomed in. Every channel was desperate to cover this. The NYPD had locked down airspace over Roosevelt Island, but they couldn't stop the world from watching.
Right now, the whole world was watching.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
He felt the symbiote beneath his skin stir in agreement. Sovereign. His masterpiece. The first true evolution of symbiotes, born from his ambition and tempered in his cruelty. Just like Norman, it carried the ambition of reaching the pinnacle of its species.
And it would, as long as it cooperated with Norman.
"Watch as my minions claim Ghost Spider and that feral little claw woman. They'll be my slaves before midnight." He tilted his head, imagining Ghost Spider—the friendly vigilante of Manhatttan—on her knees as an obedient puppet. The woman with sharp claws was just a bonus. "With them as my vanguard, who will be able to stop me?"
"Smooth performance," a soft, sultry voice came from behind him.
A woman sat in the high-backed antique couch behind him, one leg crossed over the other with perfect poise of a noblewoman. Raven-black hair spilled over a crimson silk dress, framing a face suited for paintings, with sharp cheekbones, full lips painted wine-dark, eyes so dark and mysterious, and her ripe and bosom figure was the icing on the cake.
Whitney Frost, the newest head of Nefaria Family of Maggia, a businesswoman on par with Emma Frost, and now, soon to be bride of Norman Osborn.
Norman's smile didn't falter at her doubts. "Performance is for peacocks, Whitney. Bright feathers to scare off predators they can't actually fight."
"You're a wolf then?"
"Incorrect, sweetheart." Norman took a seat beside her, eyes filled with confidence. "I'm the spider that's already spun the web. And the fly caught in my web is New York. They can only squirm helplessly as I pick their wings apart one by one."
The corner of Whitney's mouth curled up. "Ambition is a beautiful thing, Norman. But the spider that spins too large a web attracts birds. The empire that stretches too far collapses from its own weight. Norman, one should never bite off more than they can chew."
Norman forced his smile wider. "I can send more. I have reserves—hundreds more, if necessary. This is barely a tenth of my full strength."
"You lied to me," she said, soft yet threatening. "You never mentioned that you can control them. The symbiotes I supplied and the symbiote in my family—I turned them into your puppets. This is a betrayal, plain and simple."
Silence stretched between them. On the television, a reporter's voice rose in panic as the first boats touched Roosevelt Island's shore. Symbiotes poured out and converged towards one direction.
Norman forced himself to exhale slowly then his laughter filled the room.
"Does it matter?" He extended his hand toward her, palm up, like a gentleman offering a dance at a ball. "Does it matter if you'll become my queen in our new kingdom?"
Whitney's expression didn't change. She just stared at him as if weighing the offer against the risk. Calculating like all great minds did.
Norman waited. He was good at it. Patience was just another form of control.
The corners of her mouth slowly rose in a sweet, honey-like smile. She reached out and placed her hand delicately in his palm.
"My King."
The voice snapped inside Norman. His eyes went wide. His lips parted, mouth stretching into a grin that was too wide and showing too many teeth.
He looked unhinged, as unhinged as a man can be.
A man drowned in power and lust.
He drew closer and wrapped his free hand around her shoulder to bring her into his personal space.
"Our kingdom will require heirs," he whispered, voice trembling with barely-restrained excitement. "Strong ones. Beautiful ones. Perfection given birth. We should start working on it."
Whitney's smile didn't waver. She leaned into him coquettishly and rested herself against his chest. "It'll be my honor, King."
***
Meanwhile, Silver Saber International.
Silvija Sablinova sat on the edge of her bed with a straight back. She studied her reflection in the full-length vanity mirror, the new look bestowed upon her by Felicia.
Her silver hair had been pulled back into a sleek bun. She had applied just enough eyeliner to sharpen her already intense gaze, making her look less approachable and more dangerous. A touch of rose-tinted lipstick added color without softening her expression. Everything naturally it all melded together.
The look brought the best out of her regalness.
She looked like a queen more than a mercenary.
"You like that, Silver," Felicia said lazily from where she sprawled across the bed, chin propped on one hand, "with your natural dignified aura, it's a waste to make you look younger or prettier."
"I already am both of those."
"Yeah, right. For this, I leaned into the queenly persona. This will make people want to kneel in your presence."
Silvija's lips curved into a faint, amused smile as she met Felicia's gaze in the mirror. "Eight out of ten."
Felicia blinked and sat up slightly. "Wait, what?"
"Your makeup skills," Silvija clarified, one eyebrow arching. "This isn't your best. You can do better."
A lot better if Silvija considered every new look Felicia had used in these scarce two days. Felicia didn't apply any fancy makeup—she considered everything from face to figure to clothes to one's natural demeanor.
"Fuck you," Felicia laughed, grabbing a pillow and hurling it at her. "You smug bitch. I don't want him spending all his time with you. We're still rivals, remember?"
Silvija caught the pillow without looking and put it on her lap.
"We are," she agreed softly, a hint of warmth in her voice now. "But that doesn't mean—"
BANG. The door slammed open before Silvija could say anything more.
Ava burst in like her ass was on fire, phone clutched in one hand. "Sis! You gotta see this! Now!"
Silvija snapped to full alert mode. Something that startled Ava must be important. "What is it?"
Ava leaned over Silvija's shoulder and held the phone. The screen showed a live news feed from Roosevelt Island. The hundreds of symbiotes. "This is beyond fucked."
Silvija's blood went cold at the sight. Just one symbiote would give trouble, yet such a large quantity was unleashed upon the world.
"Norman's gone completely insane."
Felicia arrived beside Silvija in an instant and leaned over Silvija's other shoulder. Her eyes widened as she took in the footage.
"Isn't that darling…? Gwen, Natasha, and Laura are also there. Can they handle this symbiote army?"
"I don't know," Silvija replied with a trembling breath. "It's way too many."
"We have to help him. Now."
Ava turned her head slowly, staring at Felicia like she had just suggested flying to the moon.
"You?" She let out a short, mocking laugh. "What the hell can you do besides shake your big lolas and look pretty?"
Felicia's eyes flashed. Her claws slid out quietly, each curve of which gleamed ominously under the light. "At least I'm trying to help. What are you doing? Sitting here praying your sister's boyfriend gets torn apart?"
"That's exactly what he deserves," Ava shot back, baring her teeth in a feral grin. "Cheating bastard."
"You can only talk shit when he's not around. The second he shows up, you become a submissive bitch. Mhmm, submissive kitty would be the better word." She tilted her head mockingly. "So much for the White Tiger representation, hermanita."
"Say that again," Ava hissed, taking an aggressive stance. "I dare you."
"I will say it again, you immature brat," Felicia growled. "I shouldn't have taken your side. Having a traumatic childhood doesn't give you a free pass to be a jerk. Grow the fuck up, kid."
"Enough."
She grabbed Felicia by the collar of her jacket, Ava by the strap of her tank top.
"If you two don't stop right fucking now," Silvija said, voice low and menacing, "I'm going to beat the shit out of you. Both of you."
Her presence had the kind of authority that made soldiers obey into paying attention. Rage only amplified this aspect of hers.
Both women went silent.
Ava looked away, jaw clenched tight.
Felicia smacked her lips. "You're right."
Silvija released them and stepped back. "Felicia, get your suit. We're going to Roosevelt Island."
"The world already knows that suit is mine."
"Whatever suits you." Silvija turned to Ava, who opened her mouth—probably to argue or make excuses. "If things get too heavy, you run. Your amulet's faster than any symbiote. Use it."
Ava's jaw snapped shut. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her face—feral and alive with the thrill of violence. She cracked her knuckles. "Nah, Sis. We live together, we die together."
Silvija felt something warm in her chest. Pride of watching Ava grow, maybe. Or just relief that she had a strong warrior to help Dante.
She smiled softly. "Let's go. I'm fucking tired of sitting on the sidelines while he fights alone."
"Same!" Felicia chimed in agreement. "If he wants to fuck things up, I wanna be there. I didn't want to become stronger to be powerless at home."
"You might not get a normal life after this?" Silvija asked in a heavy voice. "Are you sure?"
"I have a trick to cover my identity. They won't know it's me." Felicia struck a pose with a hand on her hip. "It'll be the debut of new Felicia. I need to get something. Be back in a second."
She dashed out of the room.
Ava laughed. "More like the debut of three badass women saving one dumb guy from his own stupid decisions."
Silvija shook her head, but she was smiling. She grabbed her tactical gear from the closet and strapped everything useful.
Felicia returned a few moments later in her Black Cat suit. The correct choice since the suit was easier to move around in than casual clothes. "You really think we can handle that many symbiotes?"
Silvija showed a calm smile. "Chance or not, we're going to fight like hell."
It wasn't just about Dante anymore. It was between Norman and her. The billionaire had made use of her by having her protect a massive torture chamber. Now, she would make him pay for this decision.
And she had the perfect excuse for this decision.
She didn't know Norman to be the mastermind behind the symbiote plan.
Ava pushed them both from behind. "Start walking now."
Silvija took the elevator up to the third floor first, her mind already running through tactical scenarios. The numbers weren't in their favor. They never were.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Anna sat at the reception desk. Her brunette hair pulled back in a neat bun, posture immaculate. She looked like she belonged in a corporate lobby, not a mercenary headquarters. But Silvija had learned long ago that appearances meant nothing in this line of work.
"Anna," Silvija said to get her attention. "Keep an eye on everything for me while we're gone. If anything happens—"
"Wait, Miss Silvija."
Anna pushed back her chair and stood, then bent down behind the desk, rummaging through something out of sight. When she straightened again, she was holding a custom semi-auto 12-gauge using the Benelli M4 base with matte black finish, shortened barrel, an extended magazine tube, and the other good stuff.
Anna somehow held the 12-gauge in one hand like it weighed nothing. She rushed to the elevator, tossed it up, grabbed it from the other side, and presented the firearm's grip to Silvija like a mother handing the birthday cutting knife.
A present Silvija loved from the bottom of her heart. She could imagine its explosiveness just from its dangerous look.
"You might not get another chance to be his guardian angel." Anna smirked. "An Angel with a shotgun."
Silvija took the shotgun, feeling its weight settle into her hands.
She hadn't expected her usually reserved receptionist to pull out such a sick shotgun. Then again, nobody around her was normal. Even Piotr and Amy Chen had absurd backgrounds. One turned out to be a mutant and the other had deep ties to an all-assassin female clan.
She frowned slightly, looking up at Anna. "You're stronger than you look."
Anna flexed her right arm to show off nonexistent biceps with a completely straight face. "I work out every day."
"This is really adorable." Felicia reached past Silvija and jabbed the elevator button. "But we're on a clock here, ladies."
Anna waved her hand as the door slid close. "See you soon, Boss."
Silvija didn't get down to the parking lot right away. She returned to the supply unit on the second floor to fetch some ammunition packs for her new gift. Only then they took the elevator to the parking lot.
The elevator door opened to two friendly faces smiling at them. They were waiting down there for her.
"Commander, did you think we would let you go alone?" The towering Piotr punched his palm with a grin. "Comrade made a promise to me. I won't let him die before he fulfills it."
Beside him, Amy Chen stood with twin swords strapped to her back. "I want to get back to my post. That alright with you, Commander?"
The two didn't have to accompany her since it wasn't a merc mission. They weren't being paid for it, yet they chose to accompany them to hell.
Silvija's chest tightened. Her throat suddenly thick with emotion she hadn't expected. She tossed the shotgun to Ava and crossed the distance between her and the two with hurried steps.
She wrapped her arms around both of them.
Piotr froze for half a second, surprised, then patted her back gently with his massive hands, careful not to crush her. "Commander, don't do this."
"I'm so glad to have you two," Silvija said quietly, voice muffled against Amy's shoulder. "So fucking glad."
Amy stiffened in the hug like she had been electrocuted. She stood there, arms pinned awkwardly at her sides, face flushing red.
"Listen," she groaned. "I'm trying to get over you. This isn't helping."
Silvija pulled back with a laugh. "I hope you'll find someone better than me. Someone who'll treat you for the great woman you are."
Amy rolled her eyes. "So melodramatic. Don't we have a boyfriend to save?"
"He can hold out for an hour," Silvija said confidently. "Whose man do you think he is?"
Amy and Piotr burst into laughter. Felicia also chuckled. Only Ava had a sour face as she watched her older sister open herself emotionally more than she had ever been.
She wasn't sure if she liked or hated the change Dante brought in Silvija.
***
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