Chapter 2

The tentacles carried him to his old home. He gathered a pair of pajama pants and socks and walked into the bathroom which was partly under construction. Before the world had imploded, he had planned to create a theme for it for Rosie's birthday. Rose wall paper sank from the walls as of not being properly pasted. Cans of paint and screws lay scattered on the floor. He wasn't all that great with remodeling. He set the wad of clothes in his arms on the counter by the sink and undressed out of his wet clothes.

Otto got into the shower and turned the knob. A drop of rusty water fell onto his nose. He growled in frustration and opened the shower door. They had shut his water off as of missed payments. He stared at his bottom left tentacle expecting it to reach out and grab his clothes. It just looked at him. Otto groaned and grabbed them himself and dressed. He was still very cold, but at least he would be dry.

He brushed his teeth with only toothpaste and walked into the bedroom. Otto waited, staring at the covers. He then glanced at his tentacles.

You do it.

It is your idea to be sleeping tonight. Don't expect us to help you out. The top right one turned its nose away from Otto.

"What's your problem?" he asked.

Nothing: we are perfect.

We are flawless.

"We almost drowned and you won't give us time to recharge."

There was no answer. He decided to let it be and pulled back the covers manually. He climbed into bed and reached over to turn out the light but then realized that he hadn't turned it on in the first place. The vision he got through the actuators was quite helpful in the dark. There wasn't electricity in the house anymore anyway. Otto caught his mistake and turned over to go to sleep.

XXX

A flickering light woke Otto. He opened his eyes groggily to find the room still dark. A bright red beam of light shone on the blankets. Otto looked over at his tentacles and found that the light came from the top right actuator: he should have known. It was always up to something.

"What are you doing?" he croaked tiredly.

It turned off its light and glanced at Otto. After a second or two, it shone the light again and continued whatever it had been doing.

"Don't pretend like you didn't hear me," Otto said.

We are gaining information.

"About what?" he asked, closing his eyes.

It is none of your concern.

"It should be my concern, since it's my mind we're sharing."

We are gathering data.

Don't worry! We'll alert you as soon as our findings have been quantified, the top left actuator chirped.

Harsh feelings steamed from the others through Otto's brain towards the top left.

"Fine. Just dim your lights a little. I really need to sleep, or I'll never be able to focus," he said with a yawn as he turned over onto his stomach.

XXX

Morning came and the once dark, gloomy room was filled with light. Otto still lay on his stomach with the two bottom tentacles lying on his legs, and the top right one spread across the nightstand, and the other lifelessly draped by his head on the pillow. The top right shifted and the metal plating reflected the rays of light into Otto's eyes.

"Ugh!" Otto groaned and covered his eyes with the blanket.

It is time to arise, the top left one announced.

Otto rubbed his eyes. "We had an agreement, remember? Nothing for forty-eight hours," he said, curling his legs closer to his body.

Disregarding his wishes, the tentacles arose and stood him to his feet. "We had an agreement!" Otto yelled at them.

There is business we must discuss.

"Does it have to do with the data you collected last night?" Otto asked.

Yes.

"It can wait until the day after tomorrow," Otto replied dryly.

It is rather important.

"Not right now it isn't."

Yes it is.

Why are you so stubborn?

Are all humans like this?

"I don't know. Only one has had to put up with you four," he said, opening his closet for something he could wear around the actuators.

He sighed. No luck. He had been fond of sweaters, but his sweater days were over unless he wanted to cut them off where the tentacles sprouted, and he couldn't bring himself to wear such a short shirt. He picked a clean pair of pants, but the only coat he possessed that could hide them was his trench coat. He took it from where it hung on the door. "A little damp, but it'll have to do," Otto mused.

It is crucial you possess this information.

"We made a deal to disregard any business matters until tomorrow has passed. I need to rest; I need time to sort my thoughts."

What thoughts?

"The ones that are mine," Otto growled. "You have not gotten the better of me. I know you think so, but I'll always be the master, and you'll always answer to my will." They curled before his face and he looked into each of their sensors in turn. "Lodge that in your memory stores."

He looked away and stood before the mirror on the closet door. "I don't know who I am anymore and I need to figure that out. I don't like this Doctor Octopus identity the paper has created for me. I don't like how well I've filled the role."

Why do you not enjoy us?

Everything we do is for the good of us and our dream.

Our dream.

You do not appreciate us.

We are not precious to you.

Otto hesitated. He appreciated them as a scientist intrigued by the uncharted territory of their complexity, but he would still be rid of them if he had the chance. Unfortunately, the actuators read his thoughts.

The conclusion we have reached cannot wait.

Otto found a comb in the bathroom and did his best to untangle the knots in his shaggy hair.

Your question of: "What is our problem?" has been carefully considered and after scanning you, we have found an answer:

You are our problem.

Your human mind is slow and inaccurate, and your body is weak.

We no longer take your requests.

We will live on our own.

We are banishingyou.

The comb slipped out of Otto's hand.