The Symbiote Saiyan Book 5: The Tienshinhan Saga

Crane in a Cage

Master Shen did not get any sleep last night. How could he? He was hooked up and stretched vertically to a machine with his lids forced to be constantly open. Water swelled from his eyes for even the ability to blink as stripped from him. Every time he attempted to relax, the machine would fill his eardrums with a high-pitched sound whenever his heartbeat rate became too low.

On the monitor, he was forced to watch the semi-finals that took place, the first match between Tienshinhan and Violet Killgrave, while the second match featured Son Venom and Launch/Pistole. He didn't care for the second match, but there was a reason why the Green Goblin made him watch the tournament. Just by Tien's mannerisms, he could tell that the newly anointed Bullseye was starting to become conflicted. It was a noticeable difference between his match against Yamcha yesterday. He could sense that it was the combined encouragement of Violet and Launch. He was disgusted with his apprentice that the two women were starting to influence him. That Daredevil fellow and the short Krillin guy should have eliminated them before they sunk their teeth into Tien, even if they were enemies of the Crane School. He prayed to Kami he would get to Tien and Chiaotzu in time before the change in their hearts would be complete. To think that old fool Roshi would become the least of his worries.

"Oh dear Kami, I hope you haven't done any-oh no!" Norman Osborn exclaimed as he was stunned to see Shen captive in the laboratory where the Green Goblin had been reborn.

Happy that his son Harry was asleep upstairs and wasn't here to see this, Norman rushed over to see if he could free Shen.

"Is this part of your twisted game? Trying to free me just so you could give me false hope?" Shen spat at the businessman.

"Honest, I-ARGH!!!" Norman tried to explain before grasping his head and yelling in pain. With dramatic effect, Shen watched in horror as Norman Osborn morphed into the Green Goblin, somehow keeping his business suit intact.

"Oh, looks like you didn't fall for that trick. Then again, it takes one snake to know another." The Green Goblin said.

"I may be evil, but I am nowhere near as sinister as you and King Piccolo." Shen scoffed.

"Don't you dare compare me to my bastard of a father. Otherwise, I could pay Tien and Chiaotzu another visit. Wouldn't want your prized assets to get hurt, right?" The Goblin threatened.

"If that happens, then I will be sure to hurt Harry." Shen countered.

"Ohhh boy! Did you hear that, Norman? He just threatened your son. Are we going to do something about it?" The Goblin said out loud, as if there was there was an entire audience nearby.

"Are you kidding me, I just saw you transform twice. You are Norman Osborn!" Shen angrily shouted.

"In a way, yes, I am now Norman Osborn, but to think Osborn is some sort of self accomplice? Oh no, no, no. He's more or less a personal friend. A necessary victim in the long run. You, on the other hand, have less than 24 hours before I send you packing to Fisk." The Goblin explained as he transformed his business suit into his own purple attire, all by firing a magical beam at himself.

Shen was silent, but the Green Goblin knew it wasn't a lack of a good comeback. It was something else.

"Ahhh, even after all this, you still fear Fisk. Norman said he was a creep, but to be powerful? If I didn't have Son Venom and his friends in my sights, he would have been an interesting individual to tango with." Gobby said.

"Then why don't you? He can certainly give you a run for your money." Shen responded.

In response, the Green Goblin laughed as if what Shen had said was a joke. After a full ten seconds, the Goblin stopped and wagged his finger in front of Shen's face.