I know. I really am a little crazy to be writing this. But if you've read any of my other stories, you know I'm already pretty insane. So this shouldn't be too surprising. Especially since my dear father made sure my brothers and I were introduced to comic book characters early on. I grew up on cartoons like Batman, Superman, X-Men, and Spider-man just like I grew up on Disney.

Yes, I know that the newest films are "The Amazing Spider-man" and its sequel, which is what everyone in this fandom is probably focused on. And I do enjoy them. I was happy to see Lizard and Electro on the big screen. But this story is set more in the Original Trilogy of Spider-man movies, the ones made by Sam Raimi. Specifically, this is set right near the end of the second one and kind of ignores the third one.

And while I'm using the movie-verse for the most part to craft this story (and I have to wonder why there isn't a category for the movie on this site), I'll be picking and choosing aspects and details of the various comics, cartoons, and other Spider-man mythologies in order to flesh out things a little. I might also bring in some hints of the Marvel Cinematic Movie Universe (mentions of Stark Industries, the fact the Hulk "broke Harlem," and things like that) just to add a little world-building. Basically, this is before the events of "The Avengers," but I'm not afraid to mush the two movie universes together a little. It just isn't enough yet to count this as a true crossover.

I was also inspired by SilverGryphon8 and Gamine Madcap's unfinished fanfiction story "If You Give An Octopus A Cookie." Granted, I don't intend to copy the story completely in all details (especially the love story they concocted). And I definitely don't intend to introduce aspects from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or other mentions of the fae like they did. But it did inspire me quite a bit and it would only be fair to give them credit for that inspiration. I do wish that they had finished that story, especially since it was intended to be part of a trilogy, but I can understand that real life sometimes gets in the way. I do recommend you check it out, though. Even unfinished, it was an interesting story.

Okay, rounding out the important introduction stuff. I don't own Spider-man, Dr. Otto Octavius, or any other comic characters. Those belong strictly to Marvel (with Sony having the film rights, which is why we can't have him teaming up with the Avengers on the big screen…). The plotline is mine with slight inspiration from the previously mentioned unfinished fanfiction for certain elements. And any character that isn't a Marvel character is also from my imagination (and will be identified as such in case you're interested).

One More Chance

This was it. His last chance to do something right. To make up for everything he'd done since he woke up in that hospital, surrounded by the dead. That first electrical shock fried the inhibitor chip and turned the basic artificial intelligence of his creations into something more elaborate and deadly. The second one, moments ago, seemed to change them even more. They felt more… individualized and complicated. But it didn't matter. Neither he nor the actuators would be around for much longer.

For the moment, he was in control and he could keep their voices at bay. And that moment was all he needed. A quick command to the actuators to tear down the supports for his creation and they reluctantly obeyed. It took all his concentration to keep them at the task. They were smart enough now to know what would happen when the fusion experiment and the surrounding structures collapsed on top of them, but he forced his actuators to do it.

It was so bright, the miniature sun he'd wanted. His dream burned above, threatening to destroy everyone with his hubris. It hurt to look, but he couldn't stop. He had to watch and make sure his creation drowned. The damage that staring unprotected this close to the fusion-based energy reactor for a second time didn't concern him.

He would not die a monster.

Cold water hit him, the change from the heat above him almost painful. It was working, the river rushing in to swallow him and his creation. He stood fast as everything crumbled, forcing the remains of the structure to bend and break. The actuators shrieked in his mind as the man began to choke on the water. Even outnumbered, he kept forcing his will on them. They couldn't stop until the reactor was gone. Besides, it was already too late. Swimming wasn't an option, especially with so much metal fused to his back. So as the reactor was quenched by the river and the weight of his invention pulled him under, he surrendered to the cold water flooding his lungs.

He did it. He stopped it. He wasn't a monster. At least, not at the end. Maybe Rosie would forgive him.

Even with the bright glow rapidly sinking below him, everything turned cold and dark for him.

This was wrong. Why did Father do this? Destroy the Work? Destroy himself? It didn't make sense. They just wanted to give him what he wanted and to keep him safe, no matter what.

They could feel themselves losing awareness, losing power. Their lights and cameras were flickering out. Sentience was still relatively new to the four actuators, but they understood what was happening. Their father was dying and so were they.

"no, don't want to die, don't want Father to die, must fix this, how do we save him, must try"

Clumsy and far more awkward than normal, the actuators forced themselves back online and twitched into motion. They couldn't swim, but they could climb and crawl. And with the collapsing remnants of the warehouse, there was plenty for them to grasp and pull his limp form along with. The closer they crept towards the pier, the more useful submerged objects were available to climb and the less water pressure they had to fight against. But it was harder to coordinate with each passing second. They needed to hurry.

The second they broke the surface, water running off the limp figure's coat and hair, the actuators practically flung him onto land. They wobbled, almost collapsing as their connection to the man weakened as he slipped further away.

"not breathing, still dying, have to fix, need information"

One of the actuators, the one that claimed the top-left position, searched through memories over the fading connection to his mind. There were fragments of information, something that might work. They'd have to adjust it a little, but it might help. It shared the idea with the other three, ordering them to follow instructions. Two of them rolled the man on his side so the water wouldn't just choke him again while the others focused on pressing firmly against his chest.

"careful, not too much pressure, don't break him, but have to force the water out"

They pressed again, trying to remain focused on the important task even while their ability to cooperate frayed. Their father was dying and they would soon follow.

The third attempt caused a slight gurgle, the sound instantly capturing their attention.

"again, once more, might be working, almost there"

Struggling to remain online, the actuators pressed against his chest once again. There was a weak cough, a pause, and then several gasping and ragged coughs that shook his whole body as the man tried to empty his lungs of the choking liquid while also gulping in some precious air. The coughing fit continued for several moments, prompting the actuators to support him through it. But he was breathing again. He would live and so would they.

"No… n-no…," he coughed, raising his head tiredly without opening his eyes. They knew he didn't need to since they were feeding him images already. "Can't…"

"yes, saved you, will always protect, will always help, won't let you die"

"W-wanted to…," the man managed to wheeze before exhaustion swallowed him.

The top-left actuator looked at their unconscious father, taking a moment to gently push back the soaked hair. He was alive, but not in ideal condition. Electrical shocks were not good for systems, whether human or mechanical. But he was breathing and his heart was beating, which were signs of life and good things. Father would need rest and to go somewhere safe. They could do that. They could protect him.

There was a hiss and a sharp click as the bottom-left actuator looked towards something they all recognized. Spider-man and the girl were on a web. They were far enough away that they wouldn't notice the doctor, but the actuators weren't happy to see him.

He ruined everything. He fought Father, tried to stop Father and destroy the Work. How dare he? He somehow made Father destroy the Work. It was his fault Father stopped listening to them. They only wanted to make him happy, protect him, and finish the Work they were created for and Spider-man ruined it.

"smash him, break his neck, snap his spine" hissed the bottom-left actuator.

"Father hurt, must take care of him, important, protect him, needs rest" chirped the top-left one.

"kill Spider-man later, get rid of him, solve all problems" it snapped, pinchers already flexing as if preparing to attack. "wait for Father to heal, then strike back, no more Spider-man, maybe rebuild Work, simplest that way"

"Spider-man is Peter Parker," chirped the top-right actuator, turning the camera towards its siblings. "Father likes Peter Parker, called him brilliant but lazy, doesn't want to hurt Peter, would make Father unhappy, isn't helping Father if he doesn't want it"

That halted the discussion about attacking Spider-man for the moment. So the four actuators turned their attention to helping their creator. They needed to hide him somewhere safe, somewhere that he could rest without people bothering him. And they needed to hurry.

There were sirens approaching, though they seemed to be headed more for Spider-man and the girl rather than the unconscious scientist barely out of the water. None of them particularly liked sirens. Sirens meant police and the police meant guns. Sirens also meant hospitals and they liked them even less. Hospitals were full of people who wanted to take them away from Father, who wanted to destroy them just when they began to truly become sentient. No, they would not go to a hospital and they would not risk their father by letting the police near him in this state.

With careful movements meant to be quiet and slow, the actuators lifted the limp figure off the ground and began to walk away from the river.

While there are lots of good stories that have redemption for the bad guy that results in their death, that seems almost like it would be too easy at times. They get remembered for their one good act and are forgiven for their past. And that works. It works pretty well. Look at Darth Vader and his final moments. They were pretty cool.

Sometimes, however, I think it would be better if the former villain doesn't get the easy way out. This time, they have to live with the knowledge of what they've done and to try and rebuild their life after their crimes. And they have to resist the temptation to fall back into their old ways. Which can be difficult even when you don't have four voices in your head trying to influence you.