Marvel: King of Mythology Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Science Fair

“Hey, Peter.” I didn't know why, but he seemed exhausted, “You good?”


He didn't look good, definitely exhausted from something.


“Y-Yeah, you guys done setting up your projects?” He asked, looking a little nervous.


“Mhm,” I pointed at the miniature bridge that we spent way too much effort in building. “Just need to connect a few things and it will be ready for display in around five minutes.”


I saw him turn pale, but I couldn’t point a finger at why.


“I am just waiting for Gwen to come back to connect these.” She was in the washroom, and I didn't want to be the one completing the project alone. “What about your project?”


“Yeah, Peter.” Both of us were spooked by the sudden voice, especially Peter. “What about ‘our’ project?”


This made both if us turn to the right to see a tall African-American guy, with quite a great physique standing near us.


“L-Luke!” Peter said, “When did you get here?”


Lukas Cage.


Yeah, that was all I knew about this guy –his name. And that he hung out with Peter from time to time.


There were a few others, but I just never paid attention to them. And well, neither did they.


“I got here way before you.” He frowned, “And I hope you have brought the project that you said you were bringing with you.” 


He was quite aggressive with his words, but it didn't seem like he was bullying Peter –unlike Flash, whom I haven’t seen in a while.


This was more like a friendly banter with an angry undertone.


And an oozing amount of ‘I told you!’


Don’t ask me what I mean, even I don’t know. It just feels like it and it is quite difficult to put into words.


“Yeah, I brought it.” Peter said, but he still refused to make any eye contact. “I just left it in the classroom, I will get it now.”


“I’ll come with you.” Lucas said, but was immediately denied by Peter.


“No!” He sounded a bit too serious with that ‘no’. “We will be late if you don’t set up the table. So, you do that and I will fetch the project.”


Lucas didn't look too amused with that, “Peter, I am asking you for the final time. Is everything alright?”


I wondered too, but the boy with the glasses answered with the same.


“Everything is perfect.” He said, “Just give me fifteen minutes, no ten.” 


Lucas stared at him but ultimately gave up. 


“Just go, we are already quite late.” The taller guy sighed and this was when I saw Peter practically bolting out of the place.


“Just ten minutes!”


Quite in the cartoonish manner, he rushed out of the place –leaving me and the African American guy staring at each other.


“So, Lucas, huh?” I said, “I think we haven’t met before.”


I extended my hand, and he accepted with a handshake.


“Yeah, and you are Michael Moore?” He looked at me, as in analyzing. 


“Yeah,” I said, “Didn't expect that you would know me.”


That was a lie. My name had been quite famous on campus, or well… infamous. 


“I heard your name in the past but well, I saw you for the first time a few days ago when you confronted Flash to help Peter.” He explained, making a lot of sense. “Thank you for helping him.”


“Ah, don’t mention it. Flash just had to be taught that he cannot always get what he wants.” I said and I meant it.


“I would have ended up getting involved if it continued any longer, but still it might have been too late.” He sighed, “So, truly… Thank you for helping him.”


“You seem like you care quite a bit about Peter.” I said, not hiding my smile. 


It was good that the boy at least had some people with him.


Especially after I heard about the rejection that he went through. But I cannot talk about it.


I just heard it, never seen.


“He is a good guy, just with an unfortunate luck.” Lucas said and I couldn’t deny.


I heard about his parents’ death when he was barely a kid, something that I could relate with.


And to make it worse, he also lost his uncle who was like a father to him more than his actual father.


Then of course, the recent rejection.


It was as if his life was written to be sad.


“But well, good luck for today.” He said, “I’ll go prepare a table and pray that Peter is back in time.”


“Good luck to you too.” I said with a smile, “And he will be on time. After all, both of your grades depend on this.”


“Exactly.”


This was all he said before moving towards a table to the far corner.


There were a lot of interesting items.


An instant freezer that was I think filled with liquid nitrogen to freeze anything instantly.


Solar powered car.


A magnetic train system.


There were a lot of interesting projects.


Wait…


Is that…


“Is that a baking soda volcano?”


It wasn’t me that voiced out the thought, it was Gwen. Although I felt the same.


“Took you a while.” I said, “And it does look like a soda volcano.”


Did they really make a baking soda volcano for a fair of this size?


“A girl locked herself up in the washroom.” Gwen sighed, “So, it took a long time to even access the place.”


What's wrong with everyone? 


Locking themselves up.


“Everyone seems depressed these days.” 


She shrugged, “Just the weather, I think.” She then looked at the project, “Let's finish connecting it before the guests arrive.”


Guests, there were going to be special guests for this event.


But was that a big deal?


No right?


…

…


“I hope you won’t disappoint me, Harry.” Norman Osborn, the man who was invited as one of the special guests for the event reminded his son. “I hope you will not embarrass me.”


Next to him was a rather handsome guy, barely in his early twenties.


“I won’t, dad.” This was Harry Osborn, Norman’s only son and the best friend of Peter Parker. 


“I already know that Peter’s project will be better than yours, but try not to look like a fool in front of his project.” Norman said, immediately making Harry feel depressed.


Harry wasn’t dumb, but he wasn’t on the level of intelligence that Peter had.


No one was.


“Now, don’t be too harsh on him, Norman.”


Except Reed.


“I am sure he has worked hard for his project.” The hero cum researcher gave the boy a smile, “Isn’t that right, Harry?”


Harry tried to look cheerful, hiding his sadness at being ridiculed by his father. “Yes, sir.”


“Reed is right, Norman.” Next to them was a woman, one that worked very closely with Reed. “I had seen sneak peeks of his project and I will say that it is quite good.”


“You are over evaluating him, Susan.”


This was Susan Storm, a genius researcher that had more reasons than to be a judge for coming.


“I am not.” She said with a pleasant smile, “But I am interested to see what the students of this university are capable of. This is one of the rather prestigious ones, after all.”


“You will not be dissapointed.” Norman assured, “And I believe you said something about a reward in addition to the ones already discussed?”


Susan nodded.


“Yeah, I am thinking of providing an internship for the winner at the Baxter Building.” She suggested, “They can learn about research and if they do well, I don’t mind funding their future projects either.”


Norman looked at her, amused. “That isn’t too bad of an idea.” He said, “But I already feel like I know who might win.”


Unknown to him, the person in his mind was going to do something totally different than winning.