~Editor-in-Chief's Office, The Daily Bugle~
The roar of publisher J. Jonah Jason penetrated the walls, echoing throughout the newspaper office...
However, the staff seed accustod to it, as they continued their work as usual while silently praying for poor Peter Parker... not everyone could endure their boss's rciless tirades after all...
"Parker, you're fired."
Today seed particularly unlucky for Peter. Having just lost his pizza delivery job, he now received another devastating blow.
Seeing the rookie photographer's confused expression, Jason puffed on his cigar and threw a stack of photos onto the desk, sneering, "Dogs catching frisbees, pigeons in the park, two old n playing chess... Tell , who the hell wants to see this?!"
Peter went on to explain, "I just wanted to show the warm side of New York—"
"Shut it! When you're so broke you can't afford a damn burger, when your landlord kicks you out for missing rent, then you'll realize how warm and fuzzy New York really is!" Jason didn't hold back his vulgarity.
The only reason he had hired this greenhorn in the first place was because Spider-Man exclusively allowed Peter to take his photos.
"I don't pay you to be an artist. I pay you because Spider-Man only lets you snap pics of him. But that web-swinging masked hero is old news! People want Tony Stark, that playboy billionaire, or those freaky mutants!"
Jason spoke rapidly, exhaling a cloud of cigar smoke before continuing, "Get this garbage out of my sight before I puke up my lunch!"
Peter silently gathered the photos. Life as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man wasn't easy... He had to juggle between school, cri-fighting, and part-ti jobs just to scrape together rent and living expenses.
Compared to Harry who inherited a corporate empire, or Sean, who's already a celebrated genius, or even Mary Jane pursuing her acting dreams, Peter's life seed downright shabby...
Constantly switching between insignificant Peter Parker and beloved Spider-Man left the young hero directionless, drifting without a clear purpose.
"Not even one photo? I really need the money..." Peter pleaded ekly.
"Miss Brant! Fetch so tissues. I'm weeping from the heartbreak!" Jason mocked rcilessly. Compassion wasn't in his vocabulary.
It was six minutes until deadline, and the front page remained empty, so the assistant editor rushed in...
With the Stark Industries frenzy fading and Tony Stark holed up in his mansion, public attention had shifted to the escalating mutant crisis.
Rumors swirled that the upcoming world leaders' summit would pass the Mutant Registration Act, establishing segregated communities to separate "dangerous" mutants from ordinary humans.
"Get out, Parker. And tell Spider-Man he's yesterday's news... He's not worth $300 a shot anymore." Jason waved dismissively.
He agonized over the front page. Should it feature the "rchant of death's" redemption arc? The playboy's publicity stunt? Or another Spider-Man takedown piece?
"Damn it! Even Hell's Kitchen has gone quiet!" Jason grumbled.
Daredevil, the Punisher... all those costud vigilantes had vanished without a trace.
"Why can't those mutants just stage a city-destroying sche already?!" The news business thrived on sensationalism!
As the dejected Peter turned to leave, the word "mutants" triggered a mory. He spun back around, digging through his bag for a set of beach photos.
"If I wanted bikini shots, I'd buy Playboy or Penthouse... they've got real skin." Jason glanced dismissively at the generic beach scenes.
"Look at this one..." Peter pulled out a particular photo... a naked, sludge-like figure.
"A streaker? Wait– is that Senator Kelly? The Mutant Registration guy?!" Jason's anger turned to glee.
He snatched the phone, barking orders: "Tell Grant the front page is set! Headline: «SHOCKING TRUTH Behind Anti-Mutant Crusader!» Screw Stark and Spider-Man!"
He scribbled a check and shoved it at Peter, flashing a rare smile, "Keep delivering this kind of gold instead of that 'warm New York' crap, and maybe... just maybe... you'll get a full-ti gig here."
Walking out with a $500 check in hand, Peter silently thanked his old classmate Sean. It was his tip about "unexpected news material" at Rockaway Beach that had led him there.
Skeptical but desperate, Peter had spent all day photographing the shoreline. Aside from a naked mutant causing panic, nothing noteworthy had happened... That was until he realized that said mutant was 'Senator Robert Kelly' himself...
An anti-mutant politician exposed as a mutant? The irony was too rich even for the Bugle's standards.
Jason would undoubtedly spin wild conspiracy theories; mutant infiltrators in governnt, secret plots... anything to sell papers. The Bugle thrived on controversy, hence its relentless attacks on Spider-Man even when he was beloved by New York.
Cashing the check, Peter wondered... 'How did Sean known Kelly would be there?'
But the young hero didn't dwell on it. With rent secured, he could breathe easier... at least until the next crisis...
...
anwhile, at Umbrella Labs, Sean reviewed files sent by the AI "Skynet", a cold smile playing on his lips.
The docunts contained damning evidence... Worthington's horrific mutant experintation. Bloody photos, live dissections... the atrocities that made even hardened observers recoil.
"Stryker's mutant gene database... What a treasure trove."
In this world, mutants were the key to evolution's next stage. The age of superhumans was coming, and Umbrella's rise would be built on their extraordinary gifts...
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