A/N: Ok, this is just about the longest chapter I've ever written. I'm sorry it took long to write, but I assure you, it complicates the story a whole bunch. Hopefully this'll make things interesting. As always, don't forget to Review!
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"Rejected? Wha--what's that supposed to mean?" Otto asked fearfully. He backed up defensively a little although he didn't know why. He couldn't run from them, they were fused to his spine. He guessed it was reflex.
To refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. To refuse to hear, receive, or admit. Repell. To cast off. To throw back. Repulse. To spew out. Decline.
That is the exact definition exerted from the Webster's Dictionary.
Don't panic, don't panic, they can't be serious. They couldn't reject me, I-I'm their host. Their life source. Otto assured himself while breathing heavily. His whole life was passing in front of his eyes. Everything he achieved for, everything he was working on, and then pictured himself throwing it all away. After he worked so hard to get it right again, or at least develop a new style of living. "You-you ca-can't be serious." He stuttered frightfully. "You protect me. Remember a few months ago?" in his mind, Otto was crossing his fingers and hoping that someway, somehow they'd forgive him and change their minds. He couldn't live protoginast from them. He had just gotten used to living along with them!
We are taking control from this moment on.
And we don't care what you say, because we are taking control now.
The top right tentacle looked at the top left one strangely. We already established that. If tentacles could shrug, the top left one would have.
Otto didn't believe in begging to his tentacles, so he didn't. He was still going to have his pride, even if he wouldn't have his life anymore. It would be the only thing left to his name.
Now that we are dominate, you do not need that extra night of sleep. You are fine enough to go out today.
"I never allowed you to claim dominance! I'm still in control! You will listen to me! You will follow my orders and-"
Give it a break.
Otto stopped feeling pretty stupid at the moment.
Your question to us last night arroused questions and a full hardware examination.
We concluded that you are unfit to rule us.
We are stronger, more efficiant, more durable, and have faster brainwave functions.
We no longer need to heed to you.
In fact, we never did in the first place.
"But you can't be serious." Otto said with a nervous smile. "You-you're just getting back at me for yelling at you last night, aren't you? Well I won't do that any more. Ok?"
It's not going to work this time Otto.
"Come on, please? I need this life. It's the only one I've got."
You are always complaining about how you wish you were dead, and about loosing everything worth living for, and that your life is ruined. We've decided that if you don't want your life, we do. We can fix it, and run it on a different track. A more efficiant one.
We will no longer be heeding to anything but what is necissary for success.
"What would be considered necissary? Remember, if I die, you die." Otto pointed out to, hopefully, bring out some issues of tending to his needs.
The tentacles nodded a little. True…
So the necissary utincils would be: Food and water –twice a day (to break the nocternal fast and to start it), warmpth-only what's necissary to keep from freezing, four or five hours of sleep a night, and your coat, pants, shoes, hat, and sunglasses- to maintain our image.
"That's outrageous! Only four hours of sleep a night? How will I maintain?"
You will. They replied carelessly.
Now we are going now to get that precious object. The top right one declared. They began walking through the house. The top left one grabbed Otto's coat and threw it at him. Then his shoes, hat, sunglasses, and pants-followed by an apple. Get ready. We are going out.
"Will you slow down?! I can't dress that fast!" Otto exclaimed tearing off his pajamas and shoving his pants on, which was dificult given that his arms were full. He dropped his sunglasses and apple. "I can't get my coat on with you walking." He stated angrily. The set him to the ground with a "thump" and scrunched up to his back just long enough for him to get the coat behind him and then shot through the holes. The coat was hung up on his assistants and he rolled his eyes. He was getting too old for this. Otto jumped to catch the rim of the coat to pull it back down around his flesh, and dropped his apple and sunglasses. The tentacles grew tired of waiting and picked him again. He grabbed for his apple but missed. Otto almost lost his hat in the process but caught it while it was falling.
"Slow down!" He yelled at them. Otto finally got his coat down and around himself and was working on putting on his shoes. One almost fell but he caught it by the laces. His hat fell from under his arm, and he caught it with his shoed foot.
Speed up!
He got his other shoe on finally and was working on tying it. "I dropped my apple."
We will survive.
Well you don't eat. He thought annoyed as he placed the hat on his head. The tentacles rolled out like the marines and climbed up a building. "So, what's the MASTER plan?" he asked sarcastically.
We are going to rebuild the fusion reactor. That last attempt would have worked if you hadn't listened to Spiderman and shut it down.
What?! The fusion reactor?! But it's failed twice in a row! Otto exclaimed. His tentacles had gone nuts. They couldn't rebuild the machine! It caused nothing but trouble both times, and he was not ready to try it again without working the kinks out first.
The past performances have no effect on the current happenings.
What? Yes they do, Otto was bound to them because of the past, he was wifeless because of the past, how could they say that the past didn't matter anymore?
They don't. Now act accordingly to our movements so we won't make fools of ourselves.
Although Otto didn't want to comply with his tentacles' commands, he didn't want to make a fool of himself either. So he obeyed and pretended as though he was controlling them. They brought him to a warehouse where a new supply of tritium was going to be shipped to Oscorp Industries the next day. They arrived atop the building and he peered inside. Guards were everywhere, not a problem for the great Doctor Octopus. Despite his hatred for his tentacles' attitude and decision, he did want to rebuild the fusion reactor deep down. He felt as if it could have worked, and part of him agreed with the tetnacles when they said that it would have been successful that last time if he hadn't listened to Peter and shut it down.
He carefully watched the guards strut by in military fashion as he thought up his strategy. Before he could say anything, the tetnacles broke through the skylight and dropped in – they obviously had other plans.
The guards all stopped their patrol at once and ran towards him arming their guns. "Freeze Ock!" one of them yelled.
Rising up on his bottom tentacles, Otto glanced over the guards' heads. A vault stood in the distance with a bronze plate that was hard to make out, but said 'Tritium' on it.
I see it. He told them. His tentacles squealed in delight and sprinted for it disregarding the shooting security guards. Watch out! They're going to hit me!" Otto exclaimed as he tried to dodge the firing bullets.
You will not die. The tentacles told him carelessly. They had decided to ignore their programming to protect their master.
They tore the vault open and all looked inside causing Otto to drop to the floor. He was pretty high up, so he didn't catch himself as well as usual and embraced the floor with his hands and knees.
The cops who had been frantically running to keep up with his long, metallic steps looked at each other puzzled as to why Doc Ock was acting the way he was.
Otto stood himself up again and brushed his pants off. Thanks for the help. He said sarcastically.
The tentacles ignored him and walked inside. There it is. The top left one lunged for it happily. Be careful with it! Heeding he top right tentacle's warning, it slowed down and carefully pulled the ball of tritium from its stand.
The cops had run in and Otto was the only one who noticed. They're here, could we go now before you allow me to be shot? The tentacles lifted him above the authorities and over; who knows if they really listened to him or not. They lowered him to the ground unexpectedly and began throwing the men around lik a circuit blew. What are you doing? Stop! Stop it this very instant! He yelled at them trying to stop their strong arms with his bare hands. Of course he didn't win and the room was quiet; every single life taken.
Otto looked around the room angrily as he breathed through his teeth. "We agreed on…AS FEW CASUALTIES AS POSSIBLE!!" he burst out.
'We' didn't agree on anything. You might have told yourself that in your own little world, but this was our heist and you had no say in the matter. Why do you seem to have such a difficult time grasping that concept?
"Because I'm still in charge! My life is all I have left, and I will not stand by and watch you destroy it more than it has already been."
We are sorry you feel that way. The tentacles replied without compassion. Nonetheless, it has no effect on us and will never have an effect on our judgment. The right top tentacle had seemed to take up the role as the new leader. Obviously they, like people, couldn't stand to share leadership for very long, which made Otto wonder about what the other tentacles' take on it was…no, they were only machines. They could not become irritated or jealous, much less merciful. He didn't know why it hadn't hit him before; the tentacles weren't going to resign their power, they were striving in it. An entire law enforcement squad killed, and free tritium! He had hoped in the back of his thoughts that they'd look down and see how pitiful their host looked and would resurender to him. But, what was he thinking? It would take a miracle for that to happen. Otto hung his head and his tentacles carried him out.
They got home and were eager to restart their project. The warehouse that the tritium had been held in was over the Brooklin Bridge so Otto didn't get back to his appartment 'til just after dark. He was hungry given that he had missed two meals.
The tentacles allowed him to cook himself a small dinner before they started off again to a stockhouse carrying the most high tech and hard to find equipment including most of the pieces of machinery he needed to rebuild the fusion reactor.
Otto leasurly enjoyed his little plate of mashed potatoes and his few minutes of free time. He took the last sip of milk and cringed. That milk that he had found in the refrigerator must have gone bad. At least it hadn't curtled yet.
Otto wiped his mouth on a towel. The tentacles weren't going to wait any longer. It's time to go. They said as they picked him up hurredly. The top right one was definitely taking the role of leader. He sighed and leaned over to grab his gloves. If only I could control them. He thought to himself. The top left tentacle turned towards him and cocked its head interestingly reading his thoughts. Father isn't happy? It thought to itself. "Ok, let's get this madness for tonight over with." Otto grumbled slipping on his gloves. The top left tentacle shot its head back around as if it had been looking the other way the entire time.
He walked out and across the rooftops towards that stockhouse.
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When he arrived there, all was quiet. He knew that, as usual, that was going to change. Only but a few security guards trotted around, much less than the other building. He crawled as quietly as he could across the building and set down easily on the pavement. It was difficult to accomplish, but the tentacles carried him quietly behind a dumpster.
We do not want trouble this round.
We have no time for fun. They told him.
Otto raised his eyebrow. Fun? So that's what they call it.
So, despite how we loathe it, we must hide under your coat until the given time.
I do not loathe it! I love being next to Father! The top left one protested.
Be quiet. The top right one snapped and hissed. This got the guards' attention. "Hey, what's over there?" one of them asked. Another officer perked up to the hissing behind the dumpster and he and a few other ones jogged over.
The tentacles all turned suddenly. Hurry! We must get under your coat!
What if I say no? Ock tested.
Then you will be dealt with severely. The bottom left one snapped open in his face.
You can't kill your life source.
Yes, but you'd be surprised what you can live through. The bottom right tentacle stated menecingly.
Otto gulped to that and, without doing or saying a thing, the tentacles shot under his coat just as the authoritites arrived. He gasped when he saw them. "What are you doing here this time of night?" one quizzed.
Ock had to think up a plan as quickly as possible. Make them go away! "I…uh…um…" he coughed, Otto had caught a cold when he was in that icy water. He made his voice sound gruff. "I—could ya help a guy out?" he shakily took off his hat to beg with. "Just need a few tens to satisfy my cravin'; you know how it is." He said pretending to be interested in one of the men's watches.
The man pulled his arm away and then urged him to get up. "Get outa here," they said pulling him up and pushing him along. "Go stay somewhere else."
Ock crouched over, limped around the corner, and sat down. He placed his hat back on his head. "So what now?"
The tentacles came out and although they didn't have faces, he could tell that they were scowling. That was the worst impersonation I have ever beheld.
I liked it. Father makes a great drunkard. The top left one said happily.
Ock blinked stupidly. Could one of his tentacles actually be favoring him when the majority had rejected him? Of course that wasn't really a complement, but it was as close as they had gotten and the thought behind it was sweet.
No Otto didn't. He missed lines that should have been said.
And his accent was off key.
No, Father was perfect!
No he wasn't. We could have done better.
Father did his best. We must respect that.
What do you know? Your IQ is below 115.
It is not!
He is right. You're only saying that to create an atomosphere of insecurity.
This is impossible. They aren't individual beings, they share the same thought pattern. How could they interact with eachother like this? A few putting down, a few standing up, it's crazy. When they each adopted individual names for me, I was impressed. But how they are showing signs of feeling and emotion…it's incredible. Otto had trailed off in his own train of thought and wasn't paying attention to where the fight was leading.
Stay out of this, or you will be discontinued for treason!!! The top right one burst out aggressive enough to almost make Otto's ears ring. This got his attention and he looked back up at his tentacles to see the top left one shrink down and wrap around him. The top right one had…somehow…hurt its feelings…or something like that. What had it been doing to get the top right tentacle so angry? …Could it have possibly been protecting him?
They are mad. Did I do something wrong Father? The top left tentacle asked innocently.
Otto was speachless, I- you- I don't know.
We must get the necissary pieces and get out. We have no time for this nonsense. The top right one stated.
Fine. Otto got up and the tentacles went underneath his coat. He tured up his collary, dipped his hat, and hoped that no one would recognize him. He walked back through the gate and towards the doors. The guards spotted him and one of them stood in front of him.
"Do you have an ID?" Otto's eyes reflected confusion. "Sir, only memebers of the staff may enter the facilities." The man stated dryly.
Otto was silent. Say something! "So," he finally began, "You have to have an ID to get in?"
"You must have an ID to get in." the man confirmed.
Be on your toes and ready to obey. He told them. "Hm. Could I see what an ID would look like?"
"Yes, sir. I have one right here." The man said digging in his pocket and handing Otto his licence.
"Ah." Ott commented. We are not going to obey you. Great. He thought looking down at the picture of the rather scrawny security guard. "You sure look healthy and muscular in this picture. Do you have a trainer?"
"Yes I do. In fact, I have a picture of her in my station. Wait right here." He said running off.
"Oh, I will." Doc Ock assured the college aged security guard. Stupid, stupid, little man. He thought. Otto quietly walked through the doors and into the room. Hundreds of crates stood stacked on top of each other in isles. "So, how are we supposed to find a few parts in this mess?"
We read labels and search. How else?
So you begin looking for the laser-electroning canaster, and I'll look for a 3345927 K.U.T.
I'll search for the carbonate field.
I'll search for the HA342E cable.
"Wait, wait, hold up." Doc Ock stopped them. "What makes you think that I'm actually going to help you on this? There's no reason to. I mean, when I needed you most, did you help me out? Hm? Frankly, since I'm just the human nucience, I'd be glad to just take a seat and let you all figure it out." Otto finished proud of his stand.
Oh aren't you great. Now, you are going to help.
"No I'm not." He protested bravely.
We aren't going to do this all day, we have things to do.
"That's too bad." Otto said uncaringly. He sat down on a crate as he awaited the tentacacles to get on with the heist. His appendages wanted so badly for him to respect them, but he had a hard time surrendering completely to a body part; it would be like fearing and respecting a foot because it's the only thing between standing and falling.
You are testing our patience.
You do not want to witness anger.
"You cannot express true anger because you are not true beings." Otto explained to assure himself for he began thinking about what they could possibly do to him.
We are able to express true anger, but we won't have to if you cooperate.
Otto didn't move from his position. He thought to himself: If I keep up sturdiness like this, I may overtake them again. Otto was so consumed in this spark of hope that he didn't heed his tentacles' warnings.
All of a sudden, they caught him off guard when the bottom left one grabbed his arm and lifted him into the air. He didn't know what was going on and that scared him. A blade stuck out from the top right tentacle's center. Oh no they wouldn't… He thought as it lingered closer. But they did. The top right one slit his side – not deeply enough to cause death, but enough to cause extreme pain and a nasty scar for the rest of his life.
The bottom left tentacle released his arm and they allowed him to sit long enough to give in and say that he'd help. But to their dismay, he said nothing of the sort. He only huttled over and gripped his bleeding side in agony. The tentacles watched and waited but the top left one was different. It's protective program had been stronger or something. And so it watched with almost human emotion; taking every tear that stained their host's face carefully in. It wasn't exactly sure why it felt different than the other three agitators. They all seemed not to care about him. The top left one had sympathy for some reason and almost couldn't bear the sight of its master in pain. It was about to comfort him when the top right one spoke to it: If you comfort him, you will not see then next morning. I promise. It threatened. With this idea now in mind, the top left tentacle remained where it was in fear of the one over.
The tentacles were going to make Otto help, but his handicap soon prooved to slow him down, so they went about without him.
When they got home, Otto didn't even get dressed. He took off his hat, gloves, shoes, and coat, then went straight to bed. He breathed heavily as he forced himself to let go of his wound. It would never heal with his hand in the way. The night stretched on and he and his tentacles had fallen asleep, or it would seem that way. The top left one had been waiting for the other three to shut down and they finally had.
It scooched closer to Otto and layed across him lovingly. The cold metal against his skin woke him and his eyes shot open.
Don't worry Father. You have me here.
A small smiled crept onto Otto's face and he rested his hand on the segmented arm. He sighed and went back to sleep more content now knowing that at least one person- well not even a person- was on his side.
There were only two hours before six in the morning and the tentacle had accidentally fallen asleep. If the others found out about what it was doing, who knows what they'd do.
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Well, there you have it. I've already started on chappie 4 so it hopefully won't be as late as this one. Again, don't forget to Review!