I had to wait another five minutes after the bell. Apparently, Connors had been held up by knowledge hungry students. When I used to attend her lectures, that happened often. Soon, the stream of students, mostly female, dwindled, and the professor walked out of the office. Externally, the woman was surprisingly similar to Kurt Connors from my world, as much as a man and a woman can be similar.
She wore simple everyday clothes with a lab coat over them. Her chestnut hair was in a slight, I would say, creative disarray. A thick folder of documents was pressed to her chest with her single arm. So, in this world as well, Connors had not escaped injury and subsequent amputation.
"Professor Connors," I called out to the woman as she walked past.
Karen, that was her name, stopped and looked at me with an attentive gaze from behind thick glasses. She frowned, trying to remember something, but didn't recognize me. Not surprising. I didn't look much like my father, and given how many years had passed since his death, recognizing Richard Parker's son wasn't so easy.
"Yes? Did you want something?" the woman asked politely.
"Hello. First, I'd like to introduce myself. I am the son of Richard Parker, Peter. I understand you worked with my father."
"Yes, your face did seem familiar," Connors nodded to herself, then, recollecting herself, added, "It's a shame what happened to your parents. Richard was a good man and a friend of my husband."
"Yes, it's a shame. I never knew my parents, and I wouldn't mind getting to know you and your husband, perhaps hear a few stories about them," I began. Connors nodded absentmindedly. "But right now, there are more important matters. As I understand it, you've been trying for many years to understand the regenerative mechanisms of lizards."
Connors frowned and looked at me distrustfully.
"Surely, young man, you haven't followed in your father's footsteps and taken an interest in science?"
"Your skepticism is unwarranted, Professor. Not long ago, I came across the research of a person trying to create something like the infamous Erskine serum. Their work reminded me of your articles." I couldn't tell her that I knew the formulas she had never published, the ones her counterpart from my world had used.
"Many scientists around the world have tried to replicate Erskine's success, but I've never heard of new super soldiers," Connors answered with a fair amount of distrust.
But they exist, even if with varying degrees of success and sometimes with a host of side effects. Not surprising that Connors didn't have that information, and I wasn't supposed to know it either.
"That woman is in a coma after testing her drug on herself. I have some ideas on how to help her, but I lack experience. I thought you might be able to help." Actually, I lacked equipment and resources, and I was hoping to use her laboratory, but I couldn't say that directly. "Besides, her research could help you with your project."
I took out a flash drive and rolled it between my fingers in front of Connors.
"Well, let's see what you've found. But I wouldn't expect anything worthwhile from someone who tests their own developments on themselves." I barely suppressed a chuckle. If only she knew what her counterpart in my world had done to himself.
Connors walked quickly toward her main workspace. I hurried after her.
Someone was already working in the laboratory when we arrived. The front door was open, and from the next room came the hum of a work station and the rustle of pencils.
Could it be Gwen? To my shame, I didn't remember when she started working for Connors. And it wasn't a given that things had worked out the same way in this world. In fact, there was a non zero chance that my acquaintance's place had been taken by some Gwydion. Better not to think about it.
All of Karen's skepticism vanished the moment she saw Stans's formulas. The woman's eyes opened wide in surprise, and she began hastily flipping through pages of documents and scans of handwritten notes. I hadn't tried to catalog or organize Stans's research, so I doubted Connors could have figured everything out so quickly. More likely, she was just recognizing them.
"I don't understand..." the woman whispered.
"What exactly?" I asked.
"I thought Richard hadn't left any records behind." Karen turned a shocked gaze to me. "Peter, this research isn't just similar to mine. It's your father's project."
What? No. Bullshit. I had seen Richard's notes. I knew what was stored in his abandoned warehouse along with that old machine. Richard had never worked on a super soldier serum.
"Are you sure?" I asked in disbelief.
"Of course. We started this project together back in college. But then... our views diverged, and soon after, I enlisted. When I returned, Richard was no longer alive." Connors was slightly flustered, remembering that time. "But this. This is definitely a development of our old project."
So Richard and Connors had tried to recreate the super soldier serum in their youth. And then these records somehow ended up with Stans. This was so different from what I knew about Richard's past from my world. But a super soldier serum was certainly better than what Richard had created there.
But now a new question arose. How had Stans gained access to Richard's records? Wait. If there was no Venom project, what had caused his parents' death? I needed to find out if my father had left anything to Aunt May, and if not, personally check that warehouse container. And I also needed to question Stans.
"Dr. Connors, could we learn more if we find a way to bring Stans out of her coma? Will you allow me to use your laboratory?"
"Yes, of course. It's the least I can do in gratitude for this." Connors pointed at the screen. Yes, I had promised to let her use Stans's development.
Just then, I heard light footsteps behind me.
"Professor, I'm finished for the day. All the test data has been saved." My heart skipped a beat when I heard the voice of the girl who had died in the past because of my mistake.
"Meet," Karen drew my attention. "This is Gwen. She's my assistant and student."
Thank God she wasn't a student.
I turned and met the girl's gaze. Damn, it really was Gwen. My Gwen. Alive. And she was as beautiful as ever. I tried to smile as warmly as possible, but it didn't come out well.
"Peter Parker," I managed to push out of my dry throat.
"Gwen Stacy," the girl answered and shook my hand firmly.
Too firmly. Her grip was like a vise. Or was I just that weak? And why was she looking at me so intently? What suspicion?
"Gwen helps me with experiments," Karen explained, then continued, addressing Gwen. "Peter's data could be very helpful to us. You need to see this, Gwen."
This Connors relied on her assistant much more than Kurt had.
"Ah, I..." the girl hesitated. "I'm sorry, I have to be somewhere else urgently. I have... an appointment. Yes. I'll look at it tomorrow, alright?"
Throwing one last suspicious look at me, Stacy hastily retreated. That wasn't the Gwen I knew.
"Strange," Connors murmured. "She's usually more serious about her work."
But Karen quickly shook off her momentary thoughtfulness as soon as her eyes fell on the monitor.
"I need to get to work immediately," the woman whispered, as if forgetting my existence. "If I can combine the serum with the regeneration formula..."
And she had already forgotten her promise to help with a cure for Stans. That actually worked in my favor. I had access to Connors's laboratory, and there should be everything I needed to create an antiserum containing plasma cell antibodies capable of fighting the antigen introduced into Stans's blood. If it wasn't already too late. The course of the process could have been complicated by various factors, from the doctors' intervention to Stans's condition before the injection. If I hurried, I could even stop by the hospital where Stans was being treated.
8:45 PM, same place.
I stood behind Karen with the ready made medicine for Stans and watched the woman. She didn't notice anything around her, completely absorbed in her work. At first, this version of Connors seemed more reasonable to me, especially given her remark about experimenting on oneself. But that was no reason to let her guard down.
The documents on the flash drive did not contain the emitter schematics I had designed for Stans. Even if Connors performed a miracle and combined the two developments, she still couldn't do without my help. Karen was a good technician, but this wasn't her level. I would not repeat the mistake of the other Peter Parker, who gave a nearly finished device schematic to a biologist. In fact, Connors trying to combine her research with Stans's serum would buy me extra time to prevent the appearance of the Lizard. That beast had already given me enough trouble in the past.
"Dr. Connors," I called out to the woman. She responded immediately. "I've finished the medicine."
Karen looked in surprise at the flask in my hands.
"So quickly?"
"It's almost nine o'clock, actually. I suggest we call it a day. I can come back tomorrow to work with you. I've been working on this project for quite a while now." Karen didn't seem thrilled with my suggestion.
"Yes, you're probably right. I'll finish up soon and go home too. Goodbye, Peter." Too hasty an answer.
"Professor, I just hope you'll be sensible, and I won't have to do something similar for you." I motioned toward the flask with the medicine. "Don't rush to use the serum, even if you think it's ready."
Something told me Connors would be spending the night in the laboratory. But as I said, without the emitter, the formula wouldn't work. Moreover, the highly inert compounds in one part of the formula would prevent the other from taking effect. Connors couldn't develop an emitter herself. And to activate the compounds without external influence, if anyone could do that, they must have forgotten more chemistry than I had ever known.
Calling a taxi, I headed to the public hospital where Stans was being held. Ignoring the incessant chatter of yet another talkative driver who introduced herself as Susan and managed to tell me about the hard life of a lonely girl looking for a guy in five minutes, I arrived at my destination. I asked Sue to wait for me, and she readily agreed. Putting a confident expression on my face, as if I knew exactly where and why I needed to go, I walked past the registration desk and headed straight for the elevator. From the hospital's website, I knew they kept coma patients on the fourth floor, but I didn't know Stans's room number. I would have to improvise. It shouldn't be too difficult.
Getting out of the elevator, I unexpectedly came face to face with an old acquaintance.
"Bobbi? What the hell are you doing here?" I exclaimed, but remembering we weren't alone, I jumped out of the elevator, grabbed the girl's elbow, and pulled her toward the coffee machine.
"Parker," Bobbi whispered, barely focusing her gaze on me. "I wanted to talk to the Doc. I thought you had already helped her."
"That's exactly what I'm about to do. Hey, I don't like the way you look. Dilated pupils, shifty eyes, excessive sweating. Are you on something? I told you to lay low."
"Yes, yes, you're right. I need to disappear, lie low somewhere," Bobbi hastily agreed. As she spoke, her hands had a life of their own. She would hug herself, then start wringing her elbows. "And get something to eat. Yes, I need to eat."
"What is wrong with you? You could get caught up in Cindy's case. The hearings are already underway. Pull yourself together."
"It's just the weed. Too strong," Bobbi made an excuse and broke free from my grip. "I'll go. You help the Doc. You promised, Parker. You promised," she repeated, moving toward the elevator.
What was wrong with this woman? Why hadn't nature equipped her with a survival instinct?
"Hey, what room is the Doc in?" I called after her.
"Four fifteen," Bobbi answered, already standing in the elevator. Then she added in a half whisper, apparently convincing herself. "It's okay. Parker won't turn us in. No need to worry."
"Idiot. And these are the people I save." At least now I knew what room Stans was in.
Wait. Room. What if Bobbi was covering her tracks? What if she had decided to eliminate Stans so she wouldn't lead the cops to her when she woke up? Damn.
I rushed to the room. I needed Stans alive. She might be the only link to my father. Bursting into the room, I immediately heard the sound of working equipment. She was still alive.
I examined the woman. No signs of an assassination attempt were visible. The patient lay quietly under an IV drip of saline solution. I had probably suspected Bobbi for no reason. Maybe the drugged girl really just wanted to talk to her friend.
Either way, I didn't have much time. In half an hour, Flash would be picking me and MJ up, and I still hadn't dressed for the evening.
Pinching the IV tube, I disconnected the bag and poured the contents into it. Apparently, the doctors suspected intoxication since they were administering sodium chloride, commonly known as saline solution. At least it shouldn't interfere with the antiserum.
I heard rapid footsteps in the hallway, and I hurried to move out of the visible part of the room. Waiting for the nurse to leave, I retreated from the scene of my good deed and soon found myself listening again to Susan's confessions. Not only did she drive me to the clothing store, but she also helped me choose. That seemed a bit beyond a taxi driver's duties. One way or another, twenty minutes after leaving the hospital, I found myself standing at my front doorstep with a bag of clothes in one hand and Susan's business card in the other. So this was how local girls pursued men. I needed to be more careful. I was only glad I had managed to insist on a classic cut black shirt and pants, not the acid bright horror with short sleeves that Susan and the saleswomen had recommended. In that outfit, I wouldn't even be able to hide my web shooters.
There was very little time left. Just enough to take a shower and change. Honestly, I no longer wanted to go anywhere and regretted not scheduling the date with MJ for another day. It seemed I needed to remember that this body got tired much faster than the one I was used to.