October somehow managed to find her way to the living room. She collapsed on the coach and passed out. When she finally came around again she heard two voices. One was her brother Reece and the other was a woman's voice which sounded strangely familiar.
"I was poking her with a stick from the backyard and she still didn't wake up. Is she dead?"
"No Reece, she's not dead."
The wind was suddenly knocked out of her. October's eyes flew open and she sat up gasping for air. She came face to face with Fusion who in turn licked her across her face. The back of her head was throbbing.
Well you did slam it against the door, genius.
"I guess your dog was trying to resuscitate you."
October turned to face a woman in her mid thirties. She was tall and slender with short jet black hair that she tucked behind her ears. She had pale skin and bright green eyes. They were almost catlike. She was wearing a white lab coat and jeans.
Why does this woman look so familiar?
"Your brother let me in. I hope you don't mind."
Monique! Now I remember...
Monique Catterton had worked at Oscorp with her father. She was into genetic research. A few years ago she had showed up at her father's lab for a surprise visit, but she also received a surprise as well. When she walked in the door there was Monique. October couldn't quite recall what she had seen, but she remembers she wasn't too happy about it.
"What the hell are you doing here?" October said angrily getting to her feet. She still had the paper Harry had given her clenched in her fist. She crumpled it into a ball and shoved it into her pocket.
"I see you remember me. Just cool down October. I have something very important to tell you," Monique said. "I think you need to sit down."
"I have something important to tell you as well. Get out of my house," October shouted. She felt incredibly dizzy and found herself almost toppling over the coffee table in front of her. Maybe she did need to sit down.
"Look I didn't come here to cause trouble, but there is something extremely important that you must know," Monique said in a gentle voice.
October walked up to Monique so they were nose to nose or would have been if October was tall enough. She stared up into Monique's face and growled, "I want you out of this house. Nothing you have to say could be important to me."
Monique sighed deeply. She turned away from October and knelt down by Reece. "Look Reece, you stay here. Your sister and I have something important to discuss." "
But..." Monique gave Reece a stern look and with that turned and walked out of the living room and down the hall away from the front door.
October stumbled after her. "Hey! Where do you think you are going?"
Monique ignored her comments, opened the door to the basement and began descending the stairs. October followed.
"I'm giving you ten seconds to get the hell out before I call the police."
At the bottom of the stairs Monique stopped at a large painting. She pounded the wall once and the wall slid open.
"What the..." October started.
The room which had been exposed was a laboratory. The room was very well lit by a large computer screen that took up most of one wall. Monique stepped in followed closely by October. They door closed behind her causing her to jump.
"How did you know this was here?" October asked.
"Your father told me."
"My father?"
"Yes."
"Do I sense some tension in here ladies?" Came an unfamiliar voice.
"Who's there?" October snapped.
"It's Lenny," Monique said.
"Do not be afraid." Came the voice again.
October's eyes darted around the room. "Lenny? Who is Lenny?"
"I am Lenny. Your father created me."
Monique put a hand on October's shoulder. October, being in complete awe let her rest her hand there. "Lenny is a computer program October," Monique explained. "That is one of the reasons I came here. I needed to show you this room. Lenny is the Artificial Intelligence your father created for the mechanical arms he developed."
"Wait a minute, then you are the one who was controlling my father. You-you made him kill all those people!"
Lenny sighed.
"I only did what was necessary to try and complete the project."
"Necessary? Necessary!" October was beyond angry. She had forgotten that Monique was still in the room with her. She didn't even seem to care she was talking to a computer and not a human being. "Your stupidity got my father killed!"
"First of all I am not stupid. I am brilliant. Secondly, your father isn't dead."
"You think I...wait, what did you just say?"
"Otto is very much alive."
"That is the other reason I came October. Your father is alive," Monique said.
"But, but they pulled his body from the water..."
"Who did?" Lenny asked trying to lead her in the right direction.
October looked down at her sweatshirt. Across the front in big bold letters was her answer.
"Oscorp," she whispered under her breath. "But why would they say he was dead?"
"He is a brilliant man and they want him all to themselves," Lenny said.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I don't believe you Lenny or you either Monique!" October shouted.
"October," Monique said reaching out for her again.
"Don't you start with me," October growled poking her in the chest. "I know what was going on between you and my father..."
"Nothing happened between Otto and me," Monique said sternly.
October turned her back to Monique. "First, I'm going to unplug you Lenny and then I'm calling the cops."
"I have proof. See for yourself. Seeing is believing," Lenny said.
On to the screen came four images. These images looked like live feeds from cameras. It looked like it was coming from a prison cell. That is when she saw him.
"Dad?" October gasped.
In one of the feeds Otto Octavius himself was visible. His hands were cuffed in front of him and he was wearing a strange looking collar around his neck. The feed was coming from the mechanical arms on her father's back.
"Dad?!"
Otto looked right into the camera and sighed deeply.
"Open the door Lenny," October demanded.
Lenny obeyed and opened the door.
"Where are you going?" Monique asked grabbing October by the arm.
"Where do you think?" October retorted withdrawing her arm from Monique's grasp.
"So you think you can just march into Oscorp and demand your father back?" Lenny asked.
"Well no."
"I'm afraid they will not let him go easily."
"I'm with Lenny on this one. You have no idea how much security they have guarding him," Monique said.
"How long have you known?" October demanded.
Monique fidgeted
"How long?"
"Two months," Monique admitted. "I'm working on a project with Oscorp so I have access to your father."
October threw her hands in the air in frustration.
"Look, your father didn't even want me to tell you in the first place," Monique admitted.
"What? Why?"
"He doesn't want you to get involved. He doesn't want you getting hurt," Monique explained. "But I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't tell someone."
Just then the doorbell rang.
"Who is it?" October hissed.
"Mr. Oscorp himself," Lenny said.
Perfect.
The doorbell rang four more times.
"Are you going to get that?" Lenny asked slyly.
An image of the front door appeared on the screen. Harry rang the doorbell again and looked at his watch. He had changed and was now wearing a three piece black suit and tie.
My father is alive and Harry knows...he KNOWS! And he's trying to make our family go under...
Harry looked up at the surveillance camera.
"October, I know you are there. Open the door. I have to give you something."
I have something to give you too Harry, a swift kick in the ass.
"October, just ignore him. He'll go away," Monique said.
October shot Monique a dirty glance and marched from the room.
She knew for two months and didn't tell me...
"October, don't say anything stupid..."
Harry is keeping my father prisoner...
October grasped the doorknob tightly. Her whole body was shaking. She felt her pulse throbbing in her temples and pain shot down her neck.
Pull yourself together girl. You can't let him know that you know.
She took a deep breath and threw the door open.
"We meet again Miss Octavius," Harry said flashing her a smile.
October clenched her teeth tightly together.
Don't say anything you will regret...don't say anything you will regret...
"Look I just came to drop this off," Harry handed October an envelope.
"Okay now just leave Harry okay? Just go..."
"All you have to do is sign the document. Just do it right now. It will make it easier on both of us," Harry pulled a pen out from his jacket pocket.
"My father wouldn't approve..."
"Your father is dead and he left you in quite a predicament..."
"Is he really Harry? Why should I trust you? You've always been jealous of the relationship my father and I had. My father was always there for me. Your father on the other hand, his company was more important to him than his own son."
Harry's eyebrows knitted together as he studied her face long and hard as if searching for something in her expression. They stared into each others eyes for what seemed like hours. Suddenly the expression on Harry's face changed. He swallowed nervously.
He knows. He knows I know.
Harry took a forceful step forward into October, but she held her ground.
"Stay away from Oscorp. I'm warning you!"
No, I'm warning you Harry. You picked the wrong family to fuck with.
Fusion was now standing at her side. He looked from October to Harry and back again. Sensing the tension he let out a low warning growl.
"It's okay Fusion. He was just leaving," October put a hand on the top of her dog's head reassuring him.
Harry reached a shaky hand into this coat pocket and pulled out his sunglasses.
"I'm serious. Stay the hell away from Oscorp," he growled as he put on his sunglasses. He quickly retreated down the sidewalk.
October bent down and took Fusion's head between her hands. His soft brown eyes were comforting to her. Fusion's attention immediately switched from the retreating figure of Harry to the shaken up face of his beloved master. He sat on his haunches and cocked his head to one side.
"Father's alive boy. We will get him back. I promise." Overwhelmed by her hatred of Harry and her longing for her father she collapsed on her knees and began to cry. She grabbed Fusion by his collar and pulled him close. Fusion sat patiently and let her bury her head in his neck.