The first thing you’d notice about Curt Connor’s laboratory was the table full of chemicals and notepads with formulas scribbled in. The second thing you’d notice are the boards littered with hastily put together sticky notes. Yet, somehow, maybe because it was surrounded by the sleek and clean Wayne building with its rows of laboratories that lined this floor, the lab didn’t feel as messy as it looked.

“Mr. Connors,” Lucius Fox said, the glass door sliding open. Curt perked up and saw the acting CEO of Wayne Enterprises with a boy that looked to be about 16 wearing a lab coat staring at his laboratory and the neighbouring labs with their glass walls like a kid in Disneyland. “This is the intern Mr. Wayne and I have been talking about, Parker.”

At the mention of his name, the boy snapped to attention and turned to face Curt.

Peter extended a hand. “My name is Peter Parker, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’d return the greeting,” Curt said. “But as you can see I’m a little tied up at the moment.”

Peter noticed the stump that was once his right hand and immediately threw out his right hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t notice.”

Curt smiled. “You’d be the first. Don’t worry about it.”

They shook hands. “The pleasure is all mine, Parker.”

“I’ll leave you two to it, then,” Lucius Fox said with a smile as he left the lab.

Parker walked towards one of the whiteboards, scribbling down the formula in his notebook.

“Peter Parker, huh?” Curt said. “I take it you’re Richard Parkers son?”

Peter nodded, turning to face him. “Yep. I heard you used to work with him. My dad, I mean.”

Curt nodded. “Yes, he was an excellent scientist, passionate about his work. He would have made millions if it wasn’t for that accident.”

Peter looked at the chemicals on the table, mouthing out their names.

“I see you have his passion for learning, too,” Curt said with a chuckle. “Since you don’t seem to be hearing me.”  

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Peter said. “It’s just… I’m being paid for this so I want to get this right.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Curt said. “You’re a very intelligent boy.”

Peter chuckled. “My grades say otherwise.”

“Grades are just an arbitrary test of intelligence,” Curt said. “Anyone can be a genius with just enough work. Don’t worry about the formulas, just tell me, what do you know about my work?”

Peter cleared his throat. “Um… let’s see. Your research is on human and animal DNA, you’re trying to fuse animal DNA with human DNA.”

“Yes,” Curt said. “I’m sure you’ve read the papers? You already know the drill.”

Peter nodded. “Yes.”

“Well,” Curt said. “Let’s get to work then.”

“Wait, wait,” Peter said. “Before we start… would… would what we’re doing here be able to heal paralysis? Like spinal injuries and…”

“That’s the end goal,” Curt said. “To be able to heal any human malady by integrating the DNA of various creatures. Is that all you have to ask?”

“No… uh one more question,” Peter said. Curt nodded, beckoning him to go on. “Would you… be able to remove DNA elements from your body? Like let’s say someone had the DNA elements of a cow… or… a spider. Would this research help remove them?”

Curt chuckled. “Well, I’m sure once we figure out how to add these elements into a human body we’ll be able to remove them. Now let’s get to work, Parker.”