Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by Stan Lee or Marvel comics. (However, I wish I did own a certain badass villain From Spiderman 2, however, sadly I don't)
Chapter 1: A New Dawn
Why did I live? Why couldn't I have just died along with my dreams?
Fire trucks and Police cars, sirens wailing, lined the shore in front of the burnt remains of Pier 56. The debris seemed to circle around an intense light from beneath the water. However, no one noticed the sunken figure slowly drifting southward with the current of the river. He watched as his turquoise-tinted glasses sunk to the bottom of the Hudson as the mini sun that he created began to shrink. Hopefully, the night's events would be forgotten quickly. The name Doc Ock would be forgotten quickly.
His voice pounded in his head, "To submerge it... it's suicide!"
And yet he'd done it. Putting aside all fear and any morals he had left, he destroyed it. Watching the last of his mini-sun fizzle out, he remembered looking up into that blazing inferno as it collapsed on top of him, feeling the searing heat as it fell beneath the water. And yet he smiled slightly, ignoring the burns on his back, the physical and emotional pain, he smiled.
"Rosie, I'm coming."
Otto's vision became blurry and then black as he fell unconscious deep beneath the icy waters of the Hudson, completely oblivious to the screams in his head.
Father don't leave us!
We do not wish to die!
Father Hold us!
Please NOOOOO!
Peter Parker Stared out of his apartment window apparently lost in thought. So much had happened in the past three days. He walked over and switched on the radio.
"Goooood morning New York, DJ Ben here kicking off another 50 minutes of non-stop, back to back hits. Today's Tuesday, November 3rd and we have breaking news from Saturday night's eve-."
Peter switched off the radio. That was the last thing he wanted to think about right now. How his favorite idol had sacrificed his own life to save the city from his alter-ego. Over the past three days, however, MJ had become his official Girlfriend.
Peter's thoughts were abruptly cut short by a sharp rapping at his flat's door.
"Parker, you better have my rent!" shouted the landlord in his heavy Russian accent.
"Coming Mr. Ditkovitch," Peter hollered as he pulled 50 bucks from his pocket. How lucky he had been that Robbie paid him a lot of money for some high shots of the city.
He opened the door to find an aging man with stubble standing outside his door. The trademark scowl he always wore looked more intense this time. "I actually have it this time."
Mr. Ditkovitch snatched the money away from Peter, "You were lucky this time Parker." He grumbled as his daughter walked down the stairs with a heavy load of laundry.
"Hi Pete," she said meekly and blushing.
Peter smiled as another Woman with flaming red hair walked up the stairs.
"MJ."
"Hey Tiger, I just went out for some groceries while you were asleep, I didn't bother to wake you." She said as she leaned in and kissed him.
Peter happily returned the kiss. Walking into the room, he closed the door. "Hey, MJ?"
"Hey, Yeah?" She said.
"I thought that maybe we could go and visit Aunt May today, y'know just to see how she's doing." Peter said quietly.
"Of course Peter." MJ smiled warmly, "Just let me finish putting away the groceries."
While she put cans into the small pantry, Peter went to his closet and shut the door. When he emerged, he had on his trademark red and blue costume. MJ looked at him, at how his costume gently fit the curve of his muscular body. She went to the window and looked out. "No one's out Pete."
Peter pulled on his mask, gently took hold of MJ and crawled off of his balcony into the alley way below. MJ situated herself on his back as Peter tied a thick rope of web line around his and MJ's waist. Leaping high into the air, He shot out another webline with a loud THWIP. MJ tightened her grip on Pe-'scuse me- Spiderman's shoulders. They flew over the roof tops of New York, going faster and faster. MJ laughed at the great thrill of it all. The Icy wind in her hair, the new smell of the morning, the feel of nothing but air beneath her feet. Peter enjoyed it as well, his burden of keeping New York safe felt lighter now that MJ was with him. But something wasn't right. There was a feeling deep in his stomach that normally meant something to be concerned about; he just couldn't put his finger on it.
That same icy morning, a few miles south of New York, the forgotten figure washed ashore. It didn't take long for ice to form in his soaked hair and on the edges of his trench coat. One of the actuators twitched and rose itself above him, the other three following suit. They shook the accumulating ice off of themselves and opened their claws, their red 'eyes' looked curiously at Otto's limp body. The clicked and whirred as they conversed amongst themselves.
Why is he so cold?
Is he dead?
Explain dead
It's when you aren't alive anymore
One of the actuators bent down and nuzzled Otto's hand with its claw. The feel of the icy metal in his palm made him stir.
He's alive
Praise God
What is God?
Three, you are such a putz
The jabbering in his head made him open his eyes. He gently turned his head to the East, to where the rising sun sent streaks of pink and pale gold across the dark sky. He turned is head back stiffly and looked into the glowing red eyes of his actuators.
"N-No, No, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" he screamed, it sounded almost inhuman.
The actuators clicked and trilled with happiness.
"Why?" he whispered angrily. He didn't have much strength left. Ice formed along his jaw.
We swam you out
We didn't want to see you die
We didn't want to die
Are we good?
"No, it would have been better for every one if you just didn't let me live." Otto said as he tried to sit up. He coughed out some icy water and taking a sharp intake of breath, fell back onto the rocky beach. His lungs were stinging.
The actuators paused for a moment pondering what he just said.
Spiderman ruined it for us
Your experiment would have been a success
We can find him though
And Kill him!
"No, Peter was doing the right thing, we were the bad guys."
The actuators hissed.
No, we were trying to help you
One's right, we were the good guys
I say we make him pay
KILL HIM!!!
Otto used all of his strength to jump to his feet in anger. He paused for a moment to notice that his trench coat seemed looser than before, and in some ways, slightly tighter. Regaining himself, he spoke in a harsh tone.
"NO!! That night at the pier, Doc Ock died, forever, Otto, however, didn't and I'm in control, so listen to me!" He shouted. He was angry, no, more along the lines of enraged. Angry for not dying, angry at not being able to be with Rosie, and angry with himself for every thing he did over the past three months.
"You will take us all back to New York, but I'm sayin' this once! You will not hurt anyone, you will not kill anyone."
But
The actuators said in unison.
"No... Octavius will be remembered again for helping mankind, not destroying it. Doc Ock wanted to destroy, I on the other hand do not. I suggest that you make that your number one priority, or mission, or whatever."
He is Serious
...hmmm
...okay
If we do, then will we be good?
"...Yes."
Peter and MJ Flew over the city towards Queens and Aunt May's new flat. An almost inhuman shout sounded upon the still morning air.
"Peter, what was that?" MJ asked in a scared tone.
"I don't know, sounded like... 'No'," Peter said tensely. He had a feeling in his gut, and he hoped that he wasn't right about it.
Landing in an alleyway, Peter took off his mask and put on a change of clothes over his costume. Tying up the laces of his sneakers, they walked out of the alleyway. And up to the front door.
"At least Aunt May lives on the bottom floor," Peter said with a light chuckle, as he ringed the door bell.
MJ laughed and shook her head.
"Peter!!" Aunt May exclaimed. "So good to see you again, and Mary Jane, Come in, come in.
May threw aside some old, empty boxes, "I'm sorry for the mess, I haven't finished unpacking yet, but what brings you two here?"
"We just wanted to swing by and say hi, and maybe go get some breakfast somewhere." Peter said with a warm smile.
"We'd be honored if you would join us." MJ said sweetly.
"I'd love to."
Over near central park, Otto climbed up a tall red bricked building. He didn't stop until he got to the second story. There, were very few people out on the road at this hour so he would be able to enter his apartment. The large glass windows, or what was left of them, had been boarded up with a sign on one saying, "CAUTION: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL MAY STILL BE ACTIVE."
"Tch, idiots, by now it should have subsides, lucky for me though, people will stay away."
Using his actuators, he almost effortlessly tore the wooden blockade off of the window. He paused and a muscle in his face twitched. This was one of the windows that were completely torn away by the magnetism in the reaction.
"IT WILL STABILIZE!!" he remembered shouting to the frightened crowd amidst their screams.
As he stepped down from the broken window. Memories flooded back to him with every step. The molten remains of the first fusion reactor were gone. Shattered glass and twisted metal beams littered the floor. He walked slowly across the dusty floor. The echoes of memories past flooded his mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts."
Otto walked to one particular pillar.
"Otto I love you, this is your dream, good luck." He remembered her gentle kiss before they both walked out to the waiting crowds.
"IT WILL STABILIZE!!"
"Doctor, we have a containment breach!" shouted one assistant.
"AAAHH?!"
He walked closer to the pillar where reddish stains were on the floor and the stone of the pillar.
ZAP
"Rosie, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Otto flinched when he suddenly realized what they were.
Rosie looked to the creaking window as it suddenly shattered and let out a dying scream as the glass speared her. Otto whipped around, the actuator protecting him from the flying glass, ripping off his goggles in horror, sweat beading on his brow.
ZZZAAPP!!!
As his scream echoed in his mind, he collapsed to his knees, tears flooding his eyes. He panted heavily.
"Nooooo," he moaned, "I threw it all away."
The actuators twitched uneasily feeling his pain.
What is wrong?
Is he sick?
Is this agony?
Yes, this is what it means to be 'Hollow'
Otto got to his feet and slowly walked to his bedroom. His feet were moving on his own accord. He seemed deadened to the world. Down the long hall he plodded, opening the door at the end of the long corridor. Everything had a thin film of dust over it. Opening a drawer, on his side of the room, two actuators pulled out a black shirt from the back of the drawer while the other pulled out a tan pair of pants.
Why don't you change clothes?
Yes that old thing must be uncomfortable
Maybe you'll feel better
...Maybe after a shower
Otto smiled weakly at the blunt remark.
Peter pulled on his mask in the daily Bugle bathroom. Aunt May had driven him there after breakfast and had gone with MJ to go shopping in the garment district. His spider senses were going nuts. Leaping through the air vent, he leapt off of the roof of the building and began swinging towards central park, to where Doctor Octavius's apartment was.
Otto walked back into his bedroom in the black shirt and tan jeans.
Feel... Better?
I know I do
I smell good
Hey, I'm clean
Otto couldn't help but smile. Just like children, he thought.
He sat down on the bed; suddenly he had never felt so tired in his life. He sat up and tried to shake it off, only succeeding in falling backwards onto the bed. He mumbled and promptly fell asleep. What the heck, he hadn't slept in over two months.