The Hobgoblin Chase

Hobgoblin leapt from building to building, roaring incoherently as Gwen & Kori chased him across the city with a serious sense of urgency -- he was carrying X'ara in his grasp, and both women knew that the Tamaranean was most likely dead if they let Hobgoblin escape. And chasing him was not easy in his current state -- he was fast.

"Gwen? You there?" Peter asked over Gwen's communicator.

"Not a good time, Pete... but sure," Gwen said as she frantically tried to keep up with the now disgraced fashion mogul turned hulking monstrosity.

"I know -- I'm watching the footage from the show right now. Anyway, I called to tell you -- I think I know what's up with Hobgoblin."

"Is it gonna help me take him down? If not, it can probably wait..." Gwen suggested.

"Wouldn't be calling if it didn't," Peter assured Gwen. He'd been in situations like this before, and he knew time was of the essence better than anyone.

"It's just a theory, I think the antidote's working as expected and the serum is being purged from Kingsley's body. This reaction's probably some kind of 'extinction burst' -- so, the serum's overloaded Kingsley's system. In short, it will burn out eventually."

"Gotcha. So if we wait it out, Gobby's roid rage'll eventually just end?"

"I think so," Peter explained. "By the way, you need any help? Say the word and I'll be there ASAP..."

"'Preciate the offer, Pete, but I don't think you'll get here in time," Gwen told her mentor as she & Kori tried to keep up with the rampaging monster. "Kori & I have got this... I think."

"Right. I'll leave you to it," Peter answered. "Good luck out there."

Gwen then turned to Kori to explain the situation. "Kori! I've got good news. If we can keep Hobgoblin busy long enough, that Goblin juice'll lose its effect on him."

"That is good news... but our priority right now remains to rescue X'ara," Kori pointed out determinedly. "She will NOT come to any more harm..."

"I know the drill -- rescue first, kick bad guy's ass second," Gwen replied as she fired a webline and swung ahead of Kori. "We've got this, Kori. We'll save your friend."

Kingsley, still clutching X'ara in his grip, continued to try and elude his followers. He looked at the **** alien in his grasp, and rage filled his eyes. "YOU...RUINED...ME! MAKE YOU SUFFER!" He then turned to see he hadn't yet shaken his pursuers, and took another massive leap. "GET LOST!" He roared.

Gwen and Kori continued the pursuit, not slowing down for a second. They finally saw a chance to strike and lunged at Kingsley -- Kori fired off a starbolt, hitting Hobgoblin and causing him to let go of X'ara. Unfortunately, while Gwen did catch X'ara, she could see the ground growing closer at a very disturbing speed, and had no chance of pulling out of the fall in time. "Shit shit shit shit shit!"

Gwen suddenly found herself floating in midair, still clutching X'ara. She looked over to see Jean, who had caught up with them.

"Looks, brains, and absolutely perfect timing. You really do have it all, Jeannie," Gwen quipped, flashing a grin at Jean as they floated to safety, landing gently.

"Heh. You really know how to charm a girl, Gwen," Jean replied as she set her friends down. "How's X'ara?"

"****, but alive," Gwen confirmed as she set the Tamaranean down. "We should get her to safety, but..."

The pair looked around, and took notice of their surroundings. "...I think we might have bigger problems."

Hobgoblin had led them to a large storage facility. Gwen immediately recognized the place; this was an Oscorp warehouse -- the facility where Norman Osborn had first developed the Goblin formula. If Kingsley had more serum stashed anywhere, it'd be here...

"I think we might have just stepped in some real shit here..."