Chapter 8
I've got a vote for Otto's redemption. I'm still taking opinions though. The final verdict won't be reached for a while.
This chapter is kind of short, but what it lacks in length is made up for in plot development. Guest, this chapter will give you a taste of that redemption you're looking for.
I hope you're all well!
"What do you mean, world domination?" Nova asked Octavius. "Like, the whole world, or just a few countries? Cuz' a lot of bad guys say they want to rule the world, but then their plan only really accounts for a small area."
Danny admired Sam's ability to fill silences. It often went unappreciated, but it helped now. There was undoubtedly a storm of turmoil within Peter at the moment. An Octobot projecting Octavius's image had just appeared out of nowhere claiming to have information on a disastrous plot.
To be honest, Fury and most of the team had expected this eventuality. Octavius was not the type of man to change his ways in a single night. Even though they hadn't heard of hide nor hair of him in weeks, Doc Ock had undoubtedly kept the same sort of villainous company. And Spider-Man was the bane of most villains. It was only a matter of time before he stumbled across a plan that would involve Spider-Man. Peter was right. The man was a narcissist, and he considered Peter a younger version of himself. Octavius would likely tell Shield nearly anything so long as it helped Peter. The only question that remained was how willing Peter would be to listen.
The answer seemed to be: not very.
"I will explain everything," Octavius's projection said. "But please try to limit your interruptions. I don't have much time to—"
"Why? You're afraid talking to heroes will ruin your bad guy reputation?" Power Man said.
Octavius sighed. "I will just get to the point, then. Norman has rounded up—"
"The Goblin?" Ava exclaimed. "He's in Shield custody!"
Octavius' metal arms curled and uncurled as his image flickered. "Not for the past few days. Hydra played a vital role in his release so he could lead—"
"That's not fair! Fury hasn't told us anything yet!" Sam complained. "We shouldn't have to hear it from the psycho first!"
Octavius put a hand to his head. "Will you allow me to answer your questions?" he asked through clenched teeth. When there was silence, he spoke again, "Very well. The Goblin convinced Hydra that his latest plan is foolproof, and so they have funded his project. It involves biological manipulation. Norman knows enough to get by in that field, but of course, he knows that Hydra won't take kindly to failure, so he has forcefully 'hired' an expert," he finished, voice hard.
"Who?" Sam asked.
Octavius took one more deep breath and responded wearily, "Me."
"So you are here to save yourself," Peter said.
"I am in no danger," said Octavius. "At least, not currently. Goblin knows he needs me to make this work. What he doesn't know is that I have not allowed this to work, for now at least. He will eventually notice. That's why I am alerting you. I have no means of escape here. You must infiltrate this base and end the project."
"Why can't you just stop it yourself?" Peter asked.
"As capable as I am, I am only one man. They would kill me before I did much good. I may be the best person for the job, but I'm far from their only option. I will send you the coordinates and whatever information I have gathered of the area. You'll need to be careful; Taskmaster is overseeing everything, and Hydra has supplied numerous guards."
Peter considered this for a moment. "Fine, I'll tell Shield. But I'm not going."
"You're the only one who can do this."
"No, I'm not. My team barely handled Taskmaster last time. We're not trained in quiet infiltration. I'm not putting them in danger just because you want to see me."
Danny saw Sam move his head slightly, likely rolling his eyes at the comment. But Danny understood that Peter's decision was indeed for their safety. The few times they had broken into Hydra bases had been difficult and dangerous. And Peter had the most experience fighting Taskmaster. If he considered him a deadly villain, then Danny believed him.
"You don't understand," Octavius said. "You are the only person who can secure silent entrance."
"Why?" Peter demanded. "You're really saying—" he paused briefly, as if considering his words. "Do you actually have a reason, or is this just your usual psychotic rambling?"
Danny refrained from cocking his head at the slightly weak joke. There was a more obvious joke there, one closer to Spider-Man's usual comedy caliber, one that had apparently been on the tip of his tongue. You're really saying you only trust yourself to do the job. Compared to the past month, this avoidance wasn't unusual. But Danny looked farther back. Peter rarely allowed any topic to become taboo. He humiliated danger, punned villains down, and chatted amiably about the most diabolical plots. The only two things he had never spoken of often were his uncle and failure.
But now there was another: this Octavius business. Peter could hardly bring himself to say Octavius' name, either of them, let alone his newfound relation to the man. Even when Uncle Ben and worst-case scenarios found their way into conversations from time to time, Octavius now tightened Peter's lips more than anything. The fact that he wouldn't joke, couldn't joke about it . . . The fact that the few times Peter did discuss it brought something hard and haunted to his eyes . . .
Danny hoped there would come a day when his friend could smile easily again.
"I would not encourage you to head into needless danger," Octavius said tiredly. "I am only saying this because Hydra has wasted nothing on security. They have installed the most complex security system I have ever seen. It requires full biometrics."
"Exactly how full?" Sam asked. "Again, I've heard 'full' used to varying degrees of fullness."
Octavius considered him for a moment. "It scans fingerprints, eyes, DNA. Everything is required to enter." He turned back to Spider-Man. "And it won't accept fakes."
Danny saw it, watched as Peter became even more rigid with each word Octavius uttered. Danny hoped Octavius wasn't saying this simply to bait Peter. If he was doing this to kidnap Peter or complete some other ulterior motive, the doctor would soon find himself hunted by all of Shield. The only reason they weren't destroying the Octobot right now was the chance that he was speaking the truth.
"That's great to know," Peter said, voice suddenly upbeat but hollow. "But Shield has a gazillion spies on call. You don't know half the tech we've got on hand. We'll get someone out there in a jiffy."
It was hard to tell with the image so small, but Octavius seemed to be studying Peter. "Very well, remain stubborn. Just know that the lives ended by Hydra and the Goblin's new plan will be on your hands."
"If you're so worried about this, just end it yourself!" Peter rebutted. "It sounds like you have access to a lab, and we all know how dangerous you are with one of those! Use the Goblin's stuff against him! Make him a cure while you're at it! You don't seem to be doing much else except completing his disastrous project!"
"I do not understand why you insist on ignoring the obvious!" Octavius rebuked. "If they realize I am even remotely involved in their undoing, I will never be able to obtain information from their midst again! Think of all the future plots I can warn you of! All the secrets I can uncover! Is your rebellion worth that?" Octavius paused. "We have already discussed this sort of scenario, you know."
Danny tried not to, but he joined the others in glancing at Peter. He had never told them the specifics of the conversation he had had with Octavius when the scientist had broken into his home. Peter didn't say anything for a moment, but his jaw was working beneath his mask.
"How can we trust that you're telling the truth?" he said at last. "You've orchestrated half of these sorts of things! Why are you turning a new leaf now?"
Octavius didn't answer right away. Nothing was said for the longest time, and then—
"I suppose," Octavius said quietly, "at some point, I assumed my life was all but over. I could either continue exploring science restrained by those more powerful than I, or lay down my life. I will admit I did not like the idea of leaving this Earth before I could unravel its mysteries. But nothing ever changed except the extremists I worked for. Now, for once, I seem to have a future." A metallic tentacle gestured at Spider-Man. Peter looked ready to argue, but Octavius continued quickly, "Please, let me finish. I don't have much time left before they check on me. I . . . have a chance to obtain a future that is different from my present, but right now it is threatened by my past."
It was hard to tell since they had never seen such an emotion from the man in the hologram, but Danny thought he sounded sincere, if not a little . . . regretful.
"The Goblin's project involves a new version of Venom," Octavius continued, his voice full of what might have been regret. He opened his mouth to say more, but this time Peter interrupted.
"Oh, well that's just great! That's most of our worst enemies all huddled in one place! Guys, is it just me, or is this sounding more suspicious by the minute?"
"You've got a point," Ava agreed. "Octavius, spill the details now or we're walking."
"I don't have the time, but everything you need to know is right here." The Octobot threw a small flash drive at their feet.
"Why didn't you just drop that off in the first place?" Peter asked. "You're not usually a messenger type of guy."
"I wanted to make sure you were all right. I imagine the other night was quite an ordeal."
Danny narrowed his eyes. The mood of the moment had already been tense, but now it was completely rigid.
"How do you know about that?" Peter demanded. "Are you stalking me?! I should have known! You've always been a stalker!"
"I am not leaving my future to chance," Octavius replied. "Are you still acting like I've ruined your life? I should have known you've always been an insolent teenager. I once was, after all."
Peter began advancing towards the Octobot. The robot scuttled away.
"Besides," Octavius continued, image flickering because of the movement. "If you were not aware of my watchful eye, you can blame your beloved Shield as much as I. They're aware of my Octobots. Ms. Ayala would not have found you without my help."
Peter stopped in his tracks, leaving the Octobot to slip away into the night.
He didn't move for the longest time, and when he did, his movements were slow. Decisive. Vindictive.
"Is there something you wanted to tell me, White Tiger?"
Spider-Man's wide eye lenses had never looked so intimidating.