Today's article is 6,500 words. Hope you enjoy reading it.
In the following days, SSC headquarters was even busier than usual.
The three underground detention areas have been temporarily converted into work areas. The doors of each cell are open, and the people inside are no longer prisoners, but patients waiting for "repair".
Little Peter conducted a detailed risk assessment and developed solutions for everyone, and then they split up to carry out their assigned tasks.
Otto Octavius's makeshift laboratory was the liveliest place.
He occupied most of SSC's engineering lab, with four robotic arms operating different instruments simultaneously: one soldering circuit boards, one mixing chemical reagents, one scanning brainwave data, and another holding a coffee cup.
The Green Goblin's suppression device was more complex than he had anticipated.
The limiting chip for robotic arms only needs to suppress a program that clearly defines the target; the logic is simple and the output is stable.
But Norman's situation is completely different. The Green Goblin personality is not an external program, but a product of the amplification of the dark side of his own personality.
It shares the same neural circuitry with Norman's true nature; they are intertwined, making it impossible to simply "suppress" one without affecting the other.
Otto spent a full day and a half repeatedly scanning Norman's brainwaves, analyzing the differences between the two personality rhythms, and finally designed a "dynamic inhibition scheme".
It's not about permanent suppression, but real-time monitoring.
The device continuously scans Norman's brainwaves, and automatically releases a small amount of neural inhibitory signals when the rhythm of the Green Goblin personality begins to increase and exceeds a safe threshold.
Norman's consciousness remained completely unaffected; he was even unaware of the device's existence.
Otto showed the finished product to Little Peter; it was a small silver patch, thinner than a coin, "Like a smoke detector fire extinguisher. It only sprays water when there's smoke; when there's no smoke, it's quiet and doesn't cause any problems."
Little Peter took the patch and examined it from all angles. "Where should I put it?"
"The back of the neck, at the location of the third vertebra. That's where the nerve plexus is most densely packed, and inhibitory signals spread most rapidly."
Otto pointed to the back of his neck, "It's about the same spot you pricked with those nanoneedles the other day."
Little Peter nodded, then asked, "What about the side effects?"
"So far, there seem to be no obvious side effects." Otto paused, "But there's one problem. This device needs regular calibration, about every six months. After he returns to his original universe, someone will have to do this for him. Otherwise, over time, the threshold will drift, and the suppression effect will decrease."
Tobey said, "I'll figure that out. I can write the calibration program into his system and have his own AI assistant remind him regularly. Or... I can get Harley to help him."
Otto glanced at him but didn't say anything. He knew who Harley was; Harley Osborne was Norman's son and Tobey's best friend.
Otto's new limiting chip was completed quickly. With SSC's advanced equipment and materials, the new chip was half the size of the original, but its performance was three times better. He had everyone help him install the new chip, and the four robotic arms moved around a few times, flexibly and freely, without any signs of going out of control.
"How are you feeling?" Tobey asked.
Otto smiled, "It feels... very good!"
The energy stabilization device for Electro, which Garfield was in charge of, was also completed the following day.
Max Dillon's problem is that his body has become energy-based and cannot stably maintain a physical form. He must constantly absorb electricity to stay conscious. This causes power outages wherever he goes, and he also loses control of his electrical discharges when he gets emotional.
Garfield used insulating protein as the core material, along with SSC's miniature energy regulator, to create a stabilizing device that could be worn on the chest. It could recycle excess energy in Max's body to maintain his physical form, while automatically releasing buffer currents during emotional fluctuations to prevent him from losing control.
Will this work?
Max looked at the small, round device on his chest, somewhat uncertain. He had been deceived too many times in his life, and he remained instinctively wary of any "help."
"You can try it." Garfield didn't say much, just pointed to the switch on the device.
Max hesitated for a moment, then pressed the switch.
After a slight buzzing sound, the electric arcs jumping on his body surface gradually subsided, the originally translucent energy body solidified, and his skin returned to its normal color. He looked down at his hands, then touched his face, his fingers trembling slightly.
He picked up a glass from the table next to him and held it tightly in his hand. The glass didn't break, nor was it shocked by the electric current; it remained firmly in his grasp.
Max's eyes reddened.
He said softly, his voice trembling, "I... I haven't felt this way in a long time."
Garfield patted him on the shoulder without saying much. He knew that for Max, being able to hold a cup like a normal person was more important than any amount of strength.
The biological stabilizer that Tobey helped the Sandman adjust also went smoothly.
Flint Marko's body is made of sand, and his particle structure is extremely unstable, collapsing whenever he gets emotionally agitated. The stabilizer Little Peter gave him earlier could only provide temporary relief. Tobey adjusted the formula based on the Sandman's specific condition and created a miniature slow-release device that could be implanted into the body to continuously stabilize his particle structure.
"How long can this device last?" the Sandman asked.
Tobey said, "At least two years. You'll need to switch after two years, but by then you should have adapted to your abilities. I'll also give you the formula; if there's a risk of it getting out of control later, you can find a place to do it yourself."
The Sandman nodded, then asked the question he cared about most, "What about my daughter's illness? You said you could help her."
Tobey glanced at Little Peter.
Little Peter stepped forward, holding a medical report, " Flint, based on your genes and your description of Emily's condition, in your universe, she has a rare blood disorder, right?"
The Sandman nodded nervously.
Little Peter handed him the report, "Targeted therapy + bone marrow transplantation, the cure rate exceeds 80%. We have prepared the corresponding medications and treatment plan. After you go back, take this report to any major hospital, and they can treat you according to this plan. We have prepared the medications; we cannot help with the cost."
The Sandman took the report, his hands trembling. He looked at it for a long time, then suddenly lowered his head and covered his face with his hands.
Sand slipped through his fingers, and his voice was hoarse beyond recognition. "I... I don't even know what to say..."
Tobey said softly, "You're just a father trying to save your daughter. You didn't do anything wrong."
Little Peter repaired the Vulture's mechanical wings himself.
Adrian Toomes's mechanical wings had been slashed by the Green Goblin's blade during the previous battle, and the power system was also damaged. Little Peter. replaced the damaged parts with materials from Stark Industries and added a safety lock to the control system. If the mechanical wings' attack parameters exceed the threshold, they will automatically lock to prevent them from going out of control and injuring people.
"You don't trust me?" Vulture frowned as he looked at the instructions on the security lock.
While adjusting the mechanism, Little Peter said, "It's not that I don't trust you. I'm just giving you an extra layer of insurance. You wouldn't want to injure innocent people one day because of a mechanical wing malfunction, would you? This lock only works in attack mode; it doesn't affect normal flight at all."
The Vulture was silent for a few seconds, then finally nodded. "Alright. You're right."
He paused, then said, "Actually... I did those things for my family. My company was ripped off by the government and is now drowning in debt. If I didn't get involved in those black market transactions, my whole family would starve."
Little Peter said, "I understand. But the approach is wrong. With your skills, you could get a job at any airline if you could modify these things like that."
The Vulture snorted, neither replying nor refuting.
Of the six, Venom is the most difficult to deal with.
Little Peter found Eddie Block the following afternoon. Instead of talking in the cell, he took him to the terrace of the SSC building. A gentle evening breeze blew, and the lights of New York spread out below. The view was expansive, and there was no sense of oppression from being imprisoned.
Eddie stood on the edge of the terrace, the Symbiote slowly wriggling beneath his skin, forming a thin layer of black lines. He didn't look at Little Peter, but stared at the distant city skyline at night.
"What do you want to talk to me about? If it's about persuading me to separate from the Symbiote, then forget it. I've already said, we won't separate."
Little Peter walked over to him, leaned against the railing, and said, "I'm not here to persuade you to separate. I just want to know... what exactly is your relationship with it?"
Eddie turned his head and glanced at him, seemingly somewhat surprised.
What does """ mean?
"From what I understand, Symbiote usually devour the host's consciousness, turning the host into its tool. But you're different. Although your emotions are amplified, you've managed to maintain your individuality and avoid assimilation, which is rare."
Eddie was silent for a moment, then spoke, "It's not a monster. At least, it's not to me."
"It's a living being, with its own consciousness and emotions. It can be angry, fearful, and excited. It possessed me not to control me, but because... it needed me, just as I needed it."
"When I was at my lowest point, I lost my job, my reputation was ruined, my girlfriend left me, and everyone thought I was a failure. It was this plant that stayed with me. It gave me strength and the courage to live. We are partners, not parasites and hosts."
Little Peter listened quietly without interrupting.
"Of course, it also has problems."
Eddie continued, "It's too impulsive, and it indirectly affects my emotions. When I encounter something unpleasant, I want to act violently, even murder. Every time I have those thoughts, it's like we're fighting in my mind. It's exhausting. Sometimes I wonder if my life would be simpler without it."
He paused, a bitter smile playing on his lips, "But without it, I might have died in some ditch long ago. So..."
Little Peter thought for a moment, then said, "I have an idea. Not to separate you, but to help you establish a better communication mechanism."
Eddie raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
" Symbiote's impulses are essentially emotional responses, right? When it's angry, it wants to destroy; when it's fearful, it wants to flee. If we could create a device that converts its emotional signals into information you can directly perceive when it's emotionally agitated, you could detect and soothe it more quickly, instead of waiting until it's about to lose control before trying to suppress it."
Eddie paused for a moment, seemingly considering the feasibility of the plan.
"Like... giving it a mood indicator?"
"About the same."
Little Peter nodded and continued, "More accurately, it's a two-way communication interface. You can sense its emotions, and it can more clearly receive your wishes. This way, your cooperation will be more seamless, and it won't easily get out of control."
The Symbiote wriggled beneath Eddie's skin, seemingly quite interested in the idea.
Eddie looked down at his arm, then looked up. "Why did you help us? You should know that we might still lose control when we get back."
"I know."
Little Peter said calmly, "But I could also imagine that when the Green Goblin asked you to run away together, you refused. That shows you have a way to communicate with him. All I need to do is make things more harmonious between the two of you."
Eddie remained silent for a long time.
Then he held out his hand. "Then give it a try."
Little Peter smiled and took his hand.
A wisp of the Symbiote extended from Eddie's wrist, gently touched the back of Little Peter's hand, and then withdrew, as if in greeting.