As LadyKayoss and sakuuya correctly deduced, yeah, it's that von Doom from Latveria. Besides, so far, Octavius himself has been the only Marvel based character in the story, so I decided that another one couldn't do any harm.
To shadowhawk: Great picture, but I never open email attachments. You never know what viruses might be in there.
Read and review while you still can...only the epilouge left after this.
Chapter 11: Endgame
Josie and the Pussycats were now going into a jazzy version of Coldplay's "Speed of Sound." Chuck, Nancy, and Midge were now collecting the ballots.
The ballots were separated into piles, and counted. Two piles were higher than the rest, and the same height. Chuck and Nancy, counting the ballots, shook their heads. The Faculty Royalty ballots were counted, and counted again.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Weatherbee announced, clearing his throat. "I believe this is the first time in the history of Riverdale High in my recollection…"
"How far do you go back?" Jughead remarked in between mouthfuls of brownies. "1863?"
"Ha, ha," Weatherbee replied. "There are two ties. Archie and Veronica are tied with Adam and Betty for Student Royalty. Dr. Octavius and Coach Kleats are tied for Faculty King."
On the rafters, Reggie and Victoria were frantic.
"What's taking so long!" Reggie exclaimed. "The royalty should have been chosen by now!"
"I have placed an eavesdropping device near the punch bowl, indistinguishable from the rest of the artificial flowers in the vase." Victoria pointed downward, and then to a small earphone in her right ear. "We will know exactly when royalty is chosen. It didn't take much for someone of my superior intelligence to rig it up."
"So what's happening, Princess?"
"There is a tie. Octavius might not be chosen Faculty King."
Reggie thought on this unexpected turn of events. Oh well, if the Mad Doctor wasn't chosen, he could always just drop the dead octopus on Archie. Come to think of it, he wouldn't mind if Veronica got some slimy dead octopus on her designer dress either.
"Chuck, Nancy, and Midge will be handing out slips of paper for the runoff ballot. Please write the name of the student couple you favor on one and the Faculty King you favor on the other."
Josie and the Pussycats now began to play Train's "Ordinary"…
"Now, as soon as the Faculty King is chosen, and it will be Octavius, if you've done things properly, and he comes on stage and the school song plays, you go up, pull the rope, and run. Don't even look back to see what happens. Understand, Reginald?"
"Of course, Princess, but wasn't the whole point about outing him?"
"The tentacles will instinctively protect their master. They will come forward to shield Octavius, but everyone will see them. We will not out Octavius. Octavius will out himself."
"But I'm not going to watch the fun?"
"You're not even supposed to be here, remember? You pull the rope and run, and we never even saw each other. You say a word implicating me, and I'll put my hand on a stack of Bibles and say you're nuts."
"You supplied the dead octopus, the bucket, and the pulleys."
"Yes, Mantle, but your fingerprints are on the bucket. I wear gloves." Victoria smirked.
"After counting three times, we seem to have reached a decision on Royalty," Weatherbee announced. "The Royalty is as follows: Prince and Princess Jughead Jones and Trula Twist, Underclassman Princess and Prince Crystal Silver and George Kingbridge, King and Queen Archie Andrews and Veronica Lodge!"
Josie and the Pussycats started playing the school song with a punk beat. There was much loud, appreciative applause. No one deserved the honor more.
"Not yet, Mantle…"
"We have also come to a conclusion as to our first Faculty Royalty. Let's give a big hand to Faculty King and Queen Dr. Octavius and Miss Grundy!"
Josie and the Pussycats started playing the Beach Boys' "Be True to Your School." The new teacher and his queen were crowned, and then they stepped up on stage to join the student royalty.
Octavius waved his scepter around. "Geraldine, it's been a long time since I danced," he whispered.
"Don't worry, Otto, for me it's been even longer," Miss Grundy whispered back.
"Now! Pull, Reggie, pull!"
Reggie jerked the rope with all his might, watching the bucket tip and the octopus fall.
What?
Octavius looked up, and as he did, four shimmering steel tentacles burst from his coat, whipping around to shield their master.
(splat!)
However, the weight of the dead octopus fell full force on the teacher. Octavius was knocked clear off his feet, falling face forward as he slipped on the goo.
"Run! Reginald Mantle, I told you not to wait! Get out of here!"
"Princess…we're in this together!"
"No, we are not. This is more than your usual practical joke, Mantle. You're facing serious trouble. Fortunately, I wore gloves, and both my father and I hold diplomatic immunity in America. You'll be taking the fall if you get caught."
"Princess…at least a date?"
"Go!"
Reggie finally went, running out of the auditorium as if there were hot coals under his feet.
Pandemonium now reigned in the gym. Veronica squealed. "Eww! What is that? Whatever it is, don't get it on my dress! It's a Coco Chanel original!"
Meanwhile, the Faculty king was struggling under the weight of the octopus. His gold plastic crown was now rolling around to the side.
Archie bent over. "Dr. Octavius? Are you all right? Moose! Moose, get over here and help me get this mess off him!"
Moose ran to Archie. "Duh-uh-uh, don't worry, Doc, I'll get it off ya!" The blonde-haired football player and the Student King both grasped the slippery creature, and to the best of their ability, dragged the mess off their teacher.
Octavius began to sputter and cough. Everyone else stepped back, and gasped.
"Doctor Octavius," Miss Grundy said in horror, "what on earth are those metal things on your back?"
Weatherbee now rushed over to the fallen king. "My dear God, Reggie Mantle was right! It wasn't just some cock-and-bull story! The science teacher I hired was…Doctor Octopus!"
So...what do you think will happen? Read and review!
