Author's Note: This chapter is a long one. It is a lengthy chapter of the Octopus Saga before it goes into the next villain.
The Octopus Effect Part Ten
The day was not over yet and as the sun shown brightly, far away from the heavens, George Stacy became more morose and lost than ever.
'I wish I can be as bright and fierce as the sun again.' he said in his mind. It wasn't even the first time he said that line though. There were countless times when George repeated that same sentence and nothing had changed. Right now George felt diminished, almost as if he had nothing left within him.
He sat on the table looking out the window and at the sun, shaking his head. George then sighed and turned to look at an object stationed at the table inches away from him. It was a bottle of scotch. He was wondering whether he should drink it.
"I've gone deep. Why are you going even deeper, George?" he asked himself.
He had lost his badge. He had lost his shield and above all else, he had lost his job. All because of that unknown agency that still to this day, was the bane of his existence. They had taken away his job and his pension, not to mention a promising retirement. He had not told his wife nor Gwen. He didn't want to burden them with his situation.
George looked back at the bottle. 'I promised Gwen I wouldn't….I shouldn't.' he kept thinking and thinking.
The urge to resist temptation was beginning to recede. Eventually his depression kicked in and his urge to drink won. His hand stretched forward and attempted to grasp the bottle.
That was when the phone rang.
George closed his eyes in frustration. Nevertheless, the phone blared bringing him back to reality. He got up from the chair with a grunt.
"What?" was the first thing he said when he picked up the phone.
"Ready to get back in the game?"
The strange voice sounded false and cold. "What? Who the hell is this?"
"Just a friend from up above."
All George could do from then on is listen.
It took a while before he was led to the large laboratory that Peter presumed was where Otto Octavius operated. The representative Rajit had told him to wait inside. Like anything else at OsCorp that was sleek, shiny and top of the line, the room boasted no exception. Aside from its emptiness, the large tables that were stacked in rows, served as good company with its stylish containers and equipment.
Suddenly the door opened and yet Peter didn't even turn around.
"I gotta say you guys have spared no expense in the robotics sector." joked Peter as he gazed at a mechanical arm being assembled within a small container.
"Those that work at OsCorp believe that every little bit counts." Suddenly Peter's hairs on the back of his neck grew upward. The voice sounded familiar.
Peter turned around as slow as he could and saw the man who visited his school and whom he fought against. He could now tell that the coat he wore hid the mechanical arms.
"Dr. Octavius." Peter said mustering what courtesy he had.
"Mr. Parker, pleasure to see you again."
'I'll bet.' Peter thought before speaking.
"I gotta say I'm impressed with the whole operation you got going on here. But I'm confused and yet interested in how a man who specializes in fusion is working with the robotics sector." Peter said.
"I take it you read my earlier work. Well, good for you. I must say fusion is actually a factor in what I'm currently conducting. What I'm doing is called Data Fusion and it-" Otto was interrupted.
"-is a certain level of combined information given by sensors." It was then that Peter realized something else. "You specialize in machine intelligence."
"Correct. I'm impressed by you even more, Mr. Parker." Otto said amused.
"I wouldn't even want to assume what you have planned next." Peter said trying to get Otto to reveal what indeed he had planned in the water.
"Well, since you asked so cryptically…" A smirking Otto said getting to what Peter was going with. "I'm planning to introduce a submarine capable of battling our foes overseas. This ship is called the Ock, in lack of a better word and it is designed to change not just the tides of the oceans but the tides of war."
"Wow…" Peter managed to nod like he always did but the uneasiness of what he was hearing made it almost impossible to fully agree. "That sounds…wonderful." He gave off a weak chuckle.
"You sound a bit skeptic in your tone there, Parker. You don't doubt me do you?"
"It just….it sounds too what's the word I'm looking for?…dangerous." Peter managed to say.
"Make no mistake that every possible flaw you are implying is accounted for. Nothing can possibly go wrong, Mr. Parker."
"What I'm trying to say is…do you think that the world is ready for something like this? I mean I could see this thing making every headline on TV and even in the history books. But it's just…too much."
"The world needs to be strong in order to evolve. This assures our protection."
"Protection from what? Terrorists?" Peter said skeptically.
Otto went with another route entirely. He gave a sigh. "When I was a boy I failed to protect a boy from bullies who shared no passion with hard work. I hid while they did their dirty work and broke him. This is me trying to make it up to him. This country shouldn't stand in the corner and hide while countries wage war and jeopardizing the lives of innocent people. "
"I get it." Peter had no choice but to agree. It was indeed compelling to hear. 'But that doesn't mean I'm letting him get away with making such a monstrosity.' Peter thought. "I'm curious. Richard Parker...my dad...he uhh...was a different world onto his own, wasn't he?"
"Richard Parker?" Otto frowned.
"You pointed out that I've done research on you and I did." Peter said. "My dad's name was also brought up."
"I take it you want answers for his death. I don't blame you, Parker. I would want to know what happened to my parents and why they left me all alone." Otto said sympathizing.
"Yep." Peter said.
"Richard Parker may have been the backbone of all of OsCorp, Peter. Whatever ideas he shared made him a rival to Norman Osborn. Now me and him on a first hand basis, we...often times, butted heads. Yelled at one another, disagreed with one another, and failed to do work with one another."
Peter listened on.
"He...didn't come to my defense when I was improperly let go from this company."
"Do you think that was his intention? To just leave you in the dark?" Peter asked. He tried not to let his bitterness show.
"Your father was a good learner but he was never a good listener to what I thought and what I thought...was a million times better than what he had always came up with. Your father did not only do the unforgivable as leaving me in the dark, he sold me down the river. He turned me in and found out what I truly had planned. But apparently he felt intimidated."
Peter had no answer.
"I asked you here because I feel you and I have a connection that me and Richard never had, Parker. You're smart and you could very well be a great asset here at OsCorp." Otto pointed out. "You're not like your father. You don't have his qualities. You're more than him."
Peter looked puzzled and became more uneasy. Otto had placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Join me, Peter. Make your potential...actual. Who knows? You could get answers for why Richard Parker did the things he did."
Peter did the only thing he could do from that point on. He left.
Brock came into the news area with a surge of confidence in his system. He had worked out in the early morning as he always did to feel mentally and physically sound and that was the crux of his philosophy.
'When you feel and look good, you're gonna do good.' he had always said.
He came into JJ's office without even knocking. Immediately Jameson looked up at the abrupt intruder. No formalities were issued.
"Here's how it's gonna go down. You say I'm doing well. Let me prove to you that I can do even better." Eddie started.
"I'm listening." Jameson said leaning back against his chair.
Without the slightest hint of hesitation, Eddie began. "Something big's gonna go down with Octavius' reintroduction of that machine he's building. Let me go there, get some photos. If there's even a chance that Spidey shows up, I want to be there getting everything."
"Oh watch out, Eddie's manning up all of a sudden." A snarky Betty Brant said as she came in and put some files on Jameson's desk.
"Look Brock, I get that you're willing to do whatever it takes to get the scoop. But I have to give that new kid Parker a chance. We can't just discard this poor boy on the shelf so he can collect dust. I already called him and informed him of the task." Jameson said.
"I don't think he can do it. He's in school for crying out loud. I get him and like him as well but-"
Jameson then stood. "First of all Brock, knock next time, second, I get to make the judgments and criticisms around here. After all I'm the boss, hence your employer. If Parker is going to be on it, he's going to be on it. If not, then I'll give you your shot."
"I want this." Eddie said forcefully.
"This is a chance to prove Parker that he's willing to do whatever it takes to get the story. This is a test. You'll get yours if you have the strength to be patient."
"You patient?" Betty Brant raised an eyebrow.
"You know what I mean!" he said ignoring her.
"If Parker isn't there, we lose the story! You know that!" Eddie said.
"The boy hasn't let me down yet. I'm willing to take a risk. After all, that's what good reporters do." He looked at Betty.
"I'm living proof." She nodded with a smirk.
Eddie surrendered. "Fine. But is there anything you'd like me to do so that I won't feel like a fifth wheel?"
"You want to involve with anything that can mutter 'Spider-Man'? Fine. Stick to the city like glue. Get me some photos of that weird wallcrawler. Why? Because the Daily Bugle can never have too much Spider-Man."
She went into the darkness without hesitation.
It was like one of those nooks that Mary-Jane only saw in movies, a study in which someone would go through the trouble in making extra space in the room to keep top secret paraphernalia in. The makeshift pathway was narrow and the sides look as if it were crudely done with a large drill.
Obviously it was dark and ominous. Mary-Jane's hands grasp the side of the walls beside her and no light switch had been found. Eventually she found herself climbing down a flight of spiraling stairs, very slowly so as to not lose her footing. She found herself in new ground and from what she could tell, it was another room entirely.
Eventually dim lighting crept up ahead.
"What the hell is that?" she whispered.
She went closer and soon she got to the point where the dim light wasn't so dim after all. The room was still dark and opaque save for a few lights on. A few old computers were stationed. Some looked broken and some were turned off. One in particular was still on.
There was a slight beeping occurring and it was that sound that drew Mary-Jane in.
In high school, Mary-Jane had taken some computer classes to raise her GPA. She was interested in knowing what kind of stuff was going on in OsCorp and in Harry's house in general. The reason being,
'No chamber such as the one I'm in should be in this house.' She shuddered in thought.
She sat down next to the computer. She tapped the space key and computer blazed with the OsCorp logo. Soon a couple of codes were running down rapidly on an open page. Almost immediately, lights in the entire room turned on. Mary-Jane stood up as she saw a large glass container in the middle of the room behind the computer area.
The container was fit large to be a cage of sorts. She walked over to the chamber and saw something that made her lose her breath. The shock was indeed almost unbearable.
In the middle of the container, a glider of some kind rose from beneath the ground. Steam was given off below. The glider sounded as if it were powering up. It was a surprising revelation and a terrible one at that.
"Harry? He…can't be!" she gasped.
Harry Osborn couldn't possibly be the infamous Green Goblin that the Daily Bugle and police were pursuing. She couldn't form another opinion, a logical explanation much less form another thought. All Mary-Jane knew was that she had to get out of here.
Suddenly an arm pressed around her neck and a wet cloth was pressed to her nose and mouth, making it difficult to utter a scream. But she could feel the effects of the substance making her close her eyes and pass out.
School began as a tedious one like always. Peter wished that winter season would come faster so that he could get some rest. He got out of his social studies classroom, while getting a strict look from his teacher.
'Apparently he's not happy that I criticized his teachings. Not my fault human beings were embedded with opinions…' Peter thought.
School was half done and Peter was grateful for it. He would go home and try and be ready for Dr. Octavius. He had the distinct feeling that something big was about to go down soon.
"Petey Parker!" a voice called out from behind.
Turning around, he frowned in confusion as Liz made her way over to him, apparently looking pleased.
"Hey, Liz."
"Never got the chance to say thank you."
Peter didn't quite catch that. "What do you mean? Thank me for what?"
Grinning, Liz held up a paper with both hands. On top of the heading, an 'A' had been stamped.
"Oh…" Peter nodded and understood. He had tutored Liz for several days. It was a bit nice to know that she put in some effort as well. "Well done, Liz. I'm proud of you."
"And I heard you're single now…"
"Oh umm….that doesn't have anything to do with schoolwork." Peter turned red in the face.
Liz put on a reassuring front. "Relax…I'm not here to ask you out. Just wanted to tell you to be careful of Gwen. She's got 'stalk-itus.'
"Ummm…what do you mean? What does Gwen have to do with this?"
"She's been following you, Petey. Hence, stalking you?"
"Oh no…" he muttered. Gwen couldn't possibly be onto his secret still. 'Could she?'
"I just thought you should know before you start feeling like someone's walking in your shadow." Liz said.
"Why are you telling me this?" Peter frowned.
"Just…call it doing another person a good thing." Liz shook her head as if not getting the whole concept herself.
Peter could only nod in response.
Liz shrugged. "Whatevs. See ya around Petey." She landed a gentle fistbump to Peter's shoulder.
He finally left his locker as soon as he saw him. Pushing up his glasses so as they wouldn't fall from his face, Arthur went over to Peter Parker.
Arthur was not one people would call confident but he made up for it being a science whiz. Ever since Peter had saved him from being the next school punching bag, Arthur was hesitant being around a hero like him.
Why? Because he felt miniscule in comparison to Peter. He had worshipped him like a God and the only way he could truly respect Peter was to stay away from him. All due to his shyness. But now, he was going to have to break the habit. He had to thank him otherwise he would regret it later in his life.
Arthur made his way over to him and cleared his throat.
"Hey." He said awkwardly.
"Oh hello ummm…." Peter pointed at him with his index finger apparently showing he was trying to remember who he was.
"Arthur Witskavitch."
"Oh yeah, yeah." Peter nodded.
"I just wanted to say that you know that day when you saved me?"
"Saved you?" Peter said nervously and Arthur could see his surprised look. 'Perhaps he's just confused.'
"You know, saved me from Flash and his cohorts outside of school?" Arthur clarified.
"Oh right, right." Peter now remembered. "I just couldn't let that happen to you. Nobody would have done it for me. So I thought I would be the first one to start the cycle. If I did something like that, chances are that someone here or in anywhere else, would do the same thing."
"Hmmm...that sounds logical." Arthur accepted it and the idea seemed bold. 'I'm going to have to look it up.' he thought.
"So anyway, you're welcome." Peter gave him a nod and walked away before giving him a wave of farewell.
"Thank you?" Arthur asked awkwardly.
Otto was very intrigued with Parker and he remained pensive about him ever since the boy left. There had been a quality in Peter Parker that he considered daring.
'The boy has a strong moral core, to be sure.' he thought.
That was evident when he pointed out the errors that his machine implicated. Parker had said that the device was too dangerous and too powerful to maintain. Anyone who would even control it, would be seen as a threat. Otto had half a mind to yell at him for his lack of vision.
'I guess I'll have to prove him wrong.'
Otto sighed and tried to get rid of the thought of Parker from his mind. He had to concentrate. Today was the day his machine would see the light of day. Spider-Man was not to interfere. If he was to interfere, Otto would deal with him as quickly as he can.
As Connors got into the room, he knew what that meant. Not wanting to hear anything else, Otto spoke.
"Let's begin."
All the vehicles were soon loaded with the necessary equipment, Otto would need such technology so that the machine would be a success. There were countless computers and remotes. This time they would go to a parking lot and unfortunately, the whole event would have to be seen by the public through holographic projection and satellite tampering.
Guards were placed at several perimeters around the large parking area. Limousines began to arrive as expected and security clearance was conducted. Immediately the people in suits that Otto had seen the other day came back and seated themselves. Several of them looked uncomfortable as they saw Otto.
"Thank you all for coming again. Let us hope that we are protected from Spider-Man this time around. I understand that some of you may come to fear me, but these arms that I have underneath my coat are only used as a precaution. Rest assured, you are in safe hands."
The people started to feel a bit better now.
"Now the point of designing this weapon for the military should be clear by now. We've had continuing trouble with countries such as Iraq, Iran, and even Afghanistan. With the Ock...we could attack them from the east coast, launching missile and firepower to the cities and central hubs there."
A holographic map was projected from a small briefcase. A map showing an outline of the entire Middle Eastern territory was shown.
"The weapons will target the most important parts without fail."
Suddenly a loud beep occurred from the monitor behind him. 'That's not supposed to happen.' he wanted to say. But Otto remained silent.
That was when something went wrong. He saw to his horror the machine was acting up. He was miles away from the river and he immediately regretted ever leaving the place. Otto's heart was beating rapidly. The people behind him were unaware of what was happening.
"Umm…there's actually a bit of a delay. Not too worry, ladies and gentlemen. It will be up and running in a matter of moments." Otto said as convincing as he could.
He then went to his laptop where he typed in several commands. All of them were in vain as the same sentenced loomed on the screen. There was nothing more Otto could do. Every code and command issued the same sentence.
'My God! What have I done?' he thought in horror.
WEAPONS SYSTEMS ACTIVATED IN TWO MINUTES
The worst part about it was that the missiles were about to be deployed to the city.
Harry burst into the very laboratory he woke up in. He was outraged by what had happened. Connors was there seated, looking as if he had lost someone special himself. He was in a complete daze.
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out?" Harry yelled at him as he barged in..
Connors made no motion that he heard him.
"Answer me and maybe I'll just fire you and not sent you to prison for the rest of your life!" Harry said.
Connors looked up at him in sadness. "I tried to tell him. I tried." he whispered.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Harry frowned.
A look of horror spread across Connors' face. "The device isn't ready. It's unstable. But he's so...stubborn."
"I'm not talking about the friggin sub! I'm talking about Mary-Jane being taken. Someone kidnapped her, man! I know you had to be the one involved."
"Oh..." Connors gulped and began to shed a tear. He nodded and looked away from him.
"I'm gonna ask you one more time." he then grabbed Connors' lapels with both hands. "Where is she?"
"I don't know. I didn't want to be part of this. Any of it! I only wanted to help people. I know now why Richard Parker died now." he added the last part with complete solemn.
"You've lost it." Harry said to him with disgust. "I'm going to find out what the hell happened."
"You can't. You shouldn't have come here, Harry." Connors said looking sorry for him now.
"What are you talking about now?"
"They know you're here now. They're going to prepare you." Connors said. "I should have protected you."
"What are you-"
The door behind him opened revealing Rajit along with several guards to his sides.
"Mr. Osborn. Glad you could come here." he smiled unpleasantly.
"What is this?" Harry said backing away.
"Your legacy continues, Mr. Osborn." Rajit said matter of factly.
Harry didn't know how it all happened. Guards grabbed him kicking and screaming at them but it was to no avail. They were too strong. He thought he saw a glimpse of Connors running away as fast as he could...until he was led out of the room.
Gwen did not have time for this any of it. She was trying to get her protein at the local GNC downtown when a disturbance occurred. She made her way over to the corner of the store where several guys were surrounding someone. Someone very familiar. Gwen overheard the conversation between him and two other big guys at the gym.
"I just want to be left alone!"
"I'm just sayin' you're small, you could get hurt."
"And for a smart kid like yourself, you're sure are a stupid one at that. Eating protein ain't gonna get you jacked. You have to be able to lift man."
"Yeah just like I'm about to lift you!" the other guy said.
"Hey leave him alone!" Gwen cried out as she finally recognized the boy. It was the unfortunate kid who was close to being part of the dance prank.
"Oh my God! Let's get the hell out of here before we look like bad guys." the guy said very annoyed before walking away.
The other guy did as well. "We were just giving some constructive criticism, you know!" the other guy said as well before going away.
"You alright?" Gwen said to him as they were alone.
"Sort of. I knew I shouldn't have come here." the boy said.
"What's your name?"
"Arthur and yes I know who you are. You were there when those guys at school were trying to get me ridiculed."
"You just need to man up. Come on, get yourself out of here before people like that hassle you."
"I didn't know you people of your caliber cared about my reputation. Cared so much, that you would rather break me. That seems logical." Arthur said when he and Gwen were out of the store.
"I'm sorry is all I can say. Besides that's all behind us."
Suddenly a voice called out.
"Look out!" someone screamed.
Gwen looked up and saw a missile hit a building a block away. Debris rained down.
Perched on top of a gargoyle, Peter gazed out to the city skyline when his cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Peter! I can't..." the signal was getting bad apparently. "Otto. Planning machine...Will destroy city. Parking garage downtown. Stop him!"
"What? I can't-hello?"
The line went dead but whatever was said was enough for Peter to start searching into his backpack and putting on his suit.
'OK...that dramatic call means something big's going down, folks.' Peter thought as soon as his costume was on and as he let out a webline and swung off, he began to grow a modicum of worry. He hoped it wouldn't grow.
To his horror, his worry did grow as Peter saw what was emerging from the Hudson River.
Otto saw the problem get to the point where it was going to go out of control. But no matter, he would fix it. He had always fixed things. This machine would be no different.
'I must fix it, I must fix it, I MUST FIX IT!' he told himself in his head. But then he realized he said it out loud.
The people behind murmured to one another in confusion.
"There seems to be a problem ladies and gentlemen." he then turned away from the screen and as several people gasped in fear, Otto realized it was a mistake. Now people could see the map and tell what was going on.
Several police car sirens blared in the parking lot. It was unexpected Otto saw when the cars stopped in front of the audience and him. One officer he recognized was the inactive George Stacy.
"Otto Octavius, we have a warrant for your arrest...stand down and put your hands in the air!" he said as he aimed his pistol at him.
"I can fix this! I can fix this country!" Otto declared trying to make him as well as the people who were now standing up and getting away from him.
"You're not fixing anything here, buddy! Give yourself up!"
"What have I done?"
"Crimes against humanity." George stated.
Otto could not afford to be captured and so he chose the only option he had. He took off his coat and sprung his mechanical arms loose.
Mary-Jane woke up with a gentle wind whipping her face. She looked around and saw that she was laying on a bench. She recognized the house behind her. It was her mother's. Yet the feeling of strangeness was unsettling.
'Oh no…not again! What the hell's going on here?'
A note then lay by a plant pot. Mary-Jane frowned and picked it up.
"You should not have been there. It was lucky we got you out when we could. We're trying to help people and we helped you.-A friend.
"A friend?" Mary-Jane frowned as she looked around the area to see if there was anyone watching. 'Was it Spider-Man?' she frowned.
"What do you mean Mary-Jane Watson was taken from us?" Rajit yelled in his office.
"We had her sir but then a group of people ambushed us and took her from our van." a man answered.
"It must be them." Rajit said after a while as he pondered. "The same people that were spying on Norman Osborn. There's nobody else."
"Sir...we should forget about her and start preparing an evacuation. Otto's experiment has gone out of control."
He struggled to find another solution but there was none. "Fine but see to it that Harry Osborn undergoes the procedure first!"
"He already has." the man assured him.
Peter swung down and saw where the commotion was occurring. Gunshots were heard and screams of struggle were heard throughout. Peter did a backflip before landing on top of a police car and saw his opponent.
"Yo, Octavius!" he cried out at the maniacal man with the strange arms.
Otto had indeed turn around and looked deranged.
"You need to stop what you're doing right now!"
"My name is Octopus!" he cried out.
'Say what?' Peter wanted to say.
"You're the reason why my project has failed. You distracted me! You're in my head. Always in my head! Why can't you just leave me alone?" he screamed.
"I just stop the threats, man and so far I'm looking at one. Now shut this whole thing down!"
"It can't..."
Peter saw the control area. 'If I could find a way to shut it down myself, the whole city can be saved!'
"Well, I'll do it then!" Peter leapt up and tried to go over Octavius when he was yanked away and placed hard on the ground.
Several arms had punched him in the chest but Peter braced himself and launched back with a volley of hits of his own. He avoided the arms and went through them until he was pounding Otto in the head and in the stomach, which made him double over and spitting out blood. It was too much damage done. Otto was down. Finally, Peter calmed down when he realized this would be what the Goblin would want him to do.
'No! You're not winning, Goblin!' he said in his head.
Instead Peter grabbed Otto by the lapels now.
"I said shut it down, Doc!" he said. "You're jeopardizing the lives of many innocent people! LOOK!" he then shoved Otto's head toward the explosions, heard in the city square.
"I said I can't shut it down. There's no way!" he cried out desperately.
"Fine then. I'll do it."
"Hey wait a second!" A voice called out to him. It was George Stacy. He was limping as he made his way over to him as best he could.
"Don't have a second, chief!" Peter said about to activate his web-shooter.
"I just wanted to say thank you is all!" George Stacy screamed as he flew off.
'You're welcome.' Peter smiled.
Eddie told Gwen and the kid she was with to watch out. Instead, he grabbed them both with his large arms. They avoided the pieces of debris and got them inside a store.
"Hey there." he told her once they were out of danger.
"What? How did you-" Gwen said amazed at his arrival.
"I'm everywhere." he grinned.
"What's going on?" the kid next to her shouted amongst the chaos.
"I don't know but it's a sure bet Otto Octavius is behind it."
"That guy who showed up in school?" Gwen frowned.
"I don't know. He's some guy who has four mechanical arms on his back."
"What the-" Gwen started to say.
"Well that's pretty peculiar." the boy said out of nowhere.
"Ya think?" Eddie raised an eyebrow at him. "But I'm thinking the same thing you guys are thinking: where do all these guys come from?"
"OsCorp." the boy said all of a sudden.
"What are you talking about now?" Gwen asked.
But there was no time to explain, the glass windows erupted from the sonic boom of the missile.
The whole store then shuddered and soon the ceiling collapsed on top of the trio. There was nothing Gwen could do to escape it. 'Peter...' was the last thing she thought.
Peter as Spider-Man could have solved almost anything from petty larceny, gang wars, the occasional bad guy, but what he was about to do was downright crazy. The machine was on all legs and began to walk slowly to the shore.
'The whole world is going to crazy if this doesn't stop.' Peter thought.
Making his way back to the harbor, Peter saw the hull of the machine and as he perched himself on a pole, he wondered what he was going to do.
"What the hell do I do?" Peter asked.
The shaft inserted itself back into the hull apparently trying to recharge. It would soon sent out another missile. Peter knew now what to do. He hoped his web was strong enough.
'I hope those Bugs Bunny cartoons paid off.' Peter thought frantically as he landed on the large tube. He unloaded the opening with as much as webbing as he had. So far it looked plugged pretty tight.
"Let's hope it's strong enough!" Peter said as he poured web after web inside and on the surface as well.
Peter could feel another missile about to launch when he stopped and jumped away. He landed perched on top of a wooden pole looking at what was going to happen.
"Please don't. Please don't fire!" Peter repeated over and over.
An explosion occurred on the surface of the machine. Its hull blew apart with incredible force that Peter jumped away from the shards of debris. In a loud bellow, the machine hit the ground, dead.
"I saved the day, yay. Now I gotta save the civilians!" Spider-Man muttered as he swung away from the wreckage.
Harry experienced the whole thing from the beginning. He was numb and paralyzed when the procedure had been done. But it was more than a procedure. It felt as if it were torture. It was a painful rebirth.
But it was worth it.
He felt more alive than he had ever been in his life. Nothing seemed to stop him or hold him back. Harry thought his anxiety was gone. He felt such confidence that he felt he could win against anything that came across his path.
Rajit had asked him a question when he was in the container.
"What do you feel like doing now?"
"Changing the world. Just like father wanted." Harry finally said without hesitation.
'And I know how to do it.' he thought.
Author's Note: WHEW! I know it's a lot but I hope you enjoy it. I'm taking a break. Hopefully I'll come back next week and write the next chapter. I gotta rest in the meantime. Recuperate is a better word. Thanks for reading, people! ;)
