Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Plan in Motion
Peter leaned heavily against his desk, ignoring the aches that spread through his battered body. His mind, sharper than ever despite the exhaustion, was focused on one thing, bringing down Osborn for good. No hesitation, no looking back. This time, it ended on Peter's terms.
Across from him, Silver Sable worked methodically. Her silver hair fell in loose waves down her back, gleaming under the low light as she spread a holographic map across the desk. Key locations lit up on the map, each representing a vital piece of Osborn's crumbling empire. She tapped one of the glowing red markers.
"Alistair Smythe," she said, her voice steady. "He's still running the Spider-Slayers. We need to take him out first. With Smythe gone, Osborn loses a lot of his technological edge."
Peter nodded, rubbing a hand over his face. "We'll hit him hard. Fast. Don't give him time to regroup."
"Agreed." Sable crossed her arms, studying him with her sharp gaze. "Once Smythe is out, we move on Crossbones. He's been overseeing Osborn's mercenary operations."
Peter leaned closer to the map, the names swirling in his mind. "Crossbones won't be easy. He's dug in with a small army. If we don't coordinate it right—"
Sable cut him off. "I already have a team tracking him in Symkaria. Once you handle Smythe, I'll handle Crossbones. We hit them in quick succession."
Peter gave a small, grim smile. "That leaves Osborn exposed."
Sable's lips curved into a smirk, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Exactly where we want him."
The weight of Osborn's name hung between them, heavy and oppressive. They both knew what this mission meant, how deep the scars ran for both of them.
Peter exhaled sharply. "I can't let him get into my head again, Sable. He knows how to tear me apart from the inside. Every time I get close, he drags up Gwen... Mayday... all the things I've lost."
Sable's gaze didn't waver. "That's exactly why we'll win this time, Parker." She knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders with surprising gentleness. "Osborn thrives on manipulating your guilt. He weaponizes it. But you've changed. You're stronger. Don't let him use your past to control you."
Peter's jaw tightened, his knuckles going white as his fists clenched. "What if I can't shake it? What if I freeze at the wrong moment?"
"You won't," Sable said with certainty. "Because you know what's at stake. And because I'll be right there with you."
Peter's lips pressed into a thin line. "He doesn't just make me feel guilt. He makes me feel... empty. Like no matter what I do, I'll never be enough."
Sable's expression softened, just for a moment. "Parker, if you were really empty, you wouldn't care. But you do care. That's what makes you dangerous to men like Osborn. They fear people who feel things deeply."
Peter gave a bitter chuckle. "Feels more like a weakness."
"It's not." Sable stood, pacing toward the window, her silhouette framed by the early morning light. "You've already proven that. You've cleaned up the city, eliminated threats, done things others wouldn't dare. You're not who you used to be, and that's a good thing. But you have to keep control. We do this smart, or we don't do it at all."
Peter nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "So, we start with Smythe. Take him down, disrupt Osborn's tech network."
"Then Crossbones," Sable added, her voice hardening. "With the mercenaries out of the picture, Osborn will have no one left to protect him."
Peter stared at the map, his mind spinning through every detail. "And once he's alone..."
"We finish it," Sable said without hesitation. "No hesitation. No second chances."
Peter looked up at her, meeting her gaze. "If we're doing this, we need to be prepared for anything. Osborn's always got something up his sleeve. We need an exit strategy."
Sable nodded, appreciating the practicality. "I've set up extraction points around the city. My people will keep the airways clear, and we'll have cloaking tech to cover our movements."
Peter leaned back in his chair, exhaustion pressing heavily against him. "This has to work, Sable. No mistakes this time."
"It will," she assured him, her voice firm. "We're not going in half-cocked. We plan everything down to the smallest detail. And when the time comes, we strike without mercy."
Peter's hands rested on the desk as he absorbed her words. "Osborn's got loyalists. Some we know about, like Smythe and Crossbones, but there are others in the shadows."
"We'll flush them out," Sable said confidently. "One by one. They won't see it coming."
Peter's mind cleared as the strategy solidified. "We hit Smythe tonight. Take down his lab. After that, Crossbones won't have the resources to hold out for long."
Sable's silver eyes gleamed in the dim light. "Once they're gone, it's Osborn's turn. And we make sure there's no coming back."
Peter stood slowly, his body protesting with every movement. His side ached from the earlier fight, but the pain was just another reminder of why he couldn't stop now.
"You should rest," Sable said, her voice practical but laced with concern. "We need to move tonight, and you need to be at your best."
Peter gave her a tired smile. "You giving me advice about resting? That's a first."
Sable's expression softened, just a fraction. "You're no good to me dead on your feet, Parker."
He nodded, conceding the point. "A few hours. Then we move."
She gave him a rare smile. "I'll be here."
Peter hesitated at the doorway to his room. "Thanks, Sable. For... everything."
"For not letting you fall?" she guessed, raising a brow.
"Yeah," Peter said softly. "For that."
Sable's silver gaze held his for a moment longer. "I told you, you're not alone in this. We finish it together."
Peter offered her one last, grateful nod before retreating to his room. As he collapsed onto the bed, the storm inside his mind began to quiet.
This time, Osborn wouldn't slip through his fingers. His empire would crumble piece by piece, and when it did, Peter would be there to make sure it stayed down.
And with Sable by his side, there was no doubt, they were going to end this.
Thanks for reading everyone
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