Chapter 10

Wednesday, February 5th, 1986

Hill Valley

2:42 P.M.

Knock knock knock.

Doc looked up from his book, frowning. The knock repeated itself. "I wonder who that could be," he muttered, half-rising from his chair. "Jules, could you get the door?"

Jules nodded and wound his way over. Standing in the doorway was a fairly young man with thick, curly red hair under an "S.A." cap. He was wearing a dark brown jacket and carrying a notepad. "Uh, hello," he greeted Jules, peering into his camera eye. "Dr. Brown?"

Doc fully got up and came over, frowning. "Yes, can I help you? If you're selling something, I don't want it."

The man smiled at him. "My name's Harry Parker, Dr. Brown. I'm a reporter with Scientific American."

Doc's eyes widened. "Scientific American?"

"Yup. I was on my way to interview an earthquake scientist in San Francisco, but unfortunately, that fell through. We stopped here to pick up food and fuel for the ride back, and I'm glad we did! I saw you in action yesterday. You were incredible."

"Thank you," Doc said, blushing a little as the tentacles chittered. "Although, really, the tentacles did all the work. I was just there."

"Well, good for them too. Those tentacles are the reason I'm here, Dr. Brown. I think you'd be a much better article than the earthquake scientist, and my editor agreed. I'd like to interview you for my magazine."

Doc felt like jumping for joy. Great Scott! A chance to be in Scientific American? How can I say no? "Of course! Come in, come in! Scientific American is one of my favorite magazines!"

"Great! Let me just get my photographer, Ronnie. Yo, Ronnie! We're in!" Harry yelled, walking back toward a van parked in the Burger King driveway.

Albert turned to Doc, clacking his pincers worriedly. Are you sure this is wise? We know the press can be tricky.

This is Scientific American. They won't try to be tricky -- they love this sort of thing. And we'll lay some ground rules right off the bat. Doc clapped his hands, smiling brightly. I haven't been this excited since I won my award for my theories in temporal physics. Our own article in Scientific American!

It is rather exciting, Jules agreed, wriggling with anticipation.

Harry returned, trailing an older man with long grey hair tied into a ponytail. He was carrying a very expensive looking camera, which promptly caught the attention of the tentacles. "Ronnie, Dr. Brown. Dr. Brown, Ronnie Harris."

"Nice to meet you all," Ronnie said, keeping a firm grip on his camera as the tentacles examined it.

"Likewise. Now, before we begin, I just want to say that I don't want this article to have a negative slant against my kids. The tentacles are not evil beings, nor am I a madman. And I did not murder those Libyan terrorists that kidnaped me. The same accident that fused me to the arms killed them." He gave them a hard stare. "I'm not a Doc Ock clone."

Harry nodded seriously. "Message received and understood, Dr. Brown. I'll do my best to be objective."

Doc relaxed. "Thank you. Most of the reporters we've met seemed determined to paint me and the kids as utterly evil."

Ronnie gave him an odd look. "You call them your kids?"

"They call me Father. The tentacles aren't mere extensions of my own body. They're sentient beings."

"Really? That's amazing. And kinda weird. No offense," Harry added hastily.

"None taken," Doc smiled. "We fully acknowledge that we're not what you would call an average family." The tentacles nodded and chirped.

"Did you design them to be sentient?" Harry asked, starting to jot down notes.

"No, I intended them to be like the original Dr. Octopus arms -- I originally had an inhibitor chip that limited their A.I. attached. The accident destroyed the chip and allowed them access to my higher brain functions. Look, why don't we start at the beginning. That way we can answer most of your questions in the most efficient way possible."

"Sounds good to me. Mind if we take a seat?"

"Not at all, make yourselves at home." Harry settled himself into a chair. After fiddling with his camera equipment, Ronnie did the same. "It all started in January, when I bought the latest copy of Spider-Man. . . ."

Wednesday, February 5th

3:15 P.M.

"And that's when I woke up to discover--"

A loud knock at the door caused Doc to break off. Both Harry and Ronnie blinked a little, startled at being taken out of the story. "Doc? Can I come in?"

Doc grinned. "My assistant, Marty McFly," he explained to his visitors. "Yes, come on in."

Marty opened the door, looking puzzled. "Hey. I saw the van outside -- are you busy with a repair job or something?" Noticing Ronnie and Harry, he added, "Are they the customers?"

"No, we're not here for a repair job. I'm Harry Parker, reporter for Scientific American. This is my cameraman, Ronnie Harris." Ronnie gave Marty a wave. "We're interviewing Dr. Brown for an article about his arms."

"Hey, that's great!"

"Isn't it?" Doc agreed. "I was just telling them about how the arms became sentient."

"It's fascinating stuff," Harry said, reviewing his notes. "After he's finished, would you mind giving us your thoughts, Mr. McFly? Dr. Brown here says that you were involved in a lot of this."

"No problem -- and please, call me Marty. When people say Mr. McFly, I look for my dad."

Ronnie suddenly snapped his fingers. "McFly! You're the son of George McFly, the sci-fi author! He writes some damn good stuff."

"So everybody tells me," Marty chuckled as the tentacles buzzed. "So, Doc, where were you?"

"When I revived in the hospital. Anyway, I woke up to a rather splitting headache. . . ."

Doc finished his narrative after a half-hour, Harry writing down notes at a frantic pace. Marty added in his own thoughts on the whole situation, although he admitted he didn't see what use they would be in the article. "You never know," Harry told him. "People love adventure stories -- and of course your famous name will help sell the thing to my editor. Now, Dr. Brown, you said you designed the arms as improvements on the original Doc Ock ones. Can we see the plans?"

"Of course," Doc said. "Jules, could you get them? They should be in my desk." Jules chittered and went to look.

Ronnie shook his head. "Boy. I bet the reporters were all over you both after all this."

"Him more than me," Marty nodded. "Although I had to beat off my fair share for a couple of days."

"At least nobody starts gawking the instant you step outside," Doc said a bit bitterly. The tentacles nodded, Albert making some very derisive sounds. "Oh, Albert, that wasn't nice."

Harry frowned. "Just out of curiosity, what do they sound like when they're talking to you?"

"Well, they're all clearly robotic, but they don't all sound the same. Albert's voice has a lower pitch than all the others, for example. And the voice seems to fit the personality -- Jules is the most analytical of the four, so his tone is often clinical." Doc chuckled. "If they're all speaking at once, it's almost like an odd barbershop quartet."

Jules returned with a stack of papers. "Thanks Jules. Here we are, gentlemen. The plans that started it all."

Harry and Ronnie eagerly took the papers and looked them over. Even Marty, who'd seen them before, craned his head to get a peek. "Boy, you sure don't spare anything with the detail," Ronnie commented.

"I'm meticulous," Doc said, blushing while Marty smirked. "Besides, it's better to be overly detailed than not detailed at all. Much easier to pare down a design than to add onto it. Most of the time."

"Ahh, yeah."

Doc suddenly had a thought. Jules, did you take all of my plans?

Just the ones in the open drawer. I figured that the other one was locked for a reason.

Doc relaxed. Good. I keep the plans that mention time travel in the locked drawer.

Father, why don't you tell people about the time machine? Verne asked with a chitter. I'm sure people would stop saying that you're crazy when you reveal such an incredible invention. You'd be famous in a good way. Don't you want that?

Sure, who doesn't? But I don't know if the world is ready to handle time travel yet. Traveling through the fourth dimension is extremely dangerous. One wrong move, and you could create a paradox that means the end of the space-time continuum and the world. The tentacles shuddered and pulled closer to him. Don't worry, kids, Marty and I know to take precautions. I might unveil the time machine sometime in the 21st century. We seem to have a better hold on things in that time than in this. Then again, you never know. . . .

"Dr. Brown?"

Doc belatedly realized Harry was trying to get his attention. "Sorry. Having a conversation with them," he apologized. "What did you say?"

"I was asking what this diagram was for," Harry asked, passing over one of the blueprints.

Doc looked at it. "Oh. This is my plan for the inhibitor chip." He turned and showed them the empty socket. "The thing I told you exploded in the accident."

"Ah, yes, I see."

The tentacles hissed at the sheet of paper. "Come on, you weren't even sentient until after it exploded. You had no chance to be mad at it."

That's true, Jules admitted as he and his brothers stopped hissing. We still dislike it though. It represents being apart from you.

"I supposed I can agree with that," Doc nodded, patting Jules. "I wouldn't want to be apart from you now either."

"You know, Harry, we could use some of these as illustrations in the article," Ronnie said, leafing through the pages. "Do you have a photocopier, Dr. Brown?"

"Not a whole one, I'm afraid. Just random parts."

"The library will let you copy anything for 10 cents a page," Marty informed them.

"Great, we can all drive on over."

Doc suddenly smirked. "Actually, I have a better idea. . . ."

Wednesday, February 5th

3:32 P.M.

"WOO-HOO!"

Doc couldn't help but laugh at Marty's enthusiasm. The teen was riding piggyback on Doc's back as they headed for the library via tentacle. Behind them, Harry and Ronnie followed in their van, Ronnie leaning out the window and snapping pictures as fast as he could. It was quite a sight, and plenty of people stopped to stare. Doc waved at them.

Marty was grinning from ear to ear. "This is so cool, Doc! This is beyond words cool!"

"We told you!" Doc said. "I could travel like this all day!"

If you'd let us, Albert said a bit sarcastically.

You have to understand, I don't want to get too dependent on you. What if, heaven forbid, something happened to you four, and I had to function on my own for a time?

We won't let anything happen to us, Albert said firmly.

Accidents do happen, kids.

We'll do our best to stay out of trouble. We want to be able to assist you and take care of you.

I thought I was the father here?

You're the father when it comes to not letting us eat junk food, Tommy informed him, making Doc giggle.

They finally reached their destination. Doc touched down on the library steps, making sure not to get in the way of any other patrons. Harry burst out of the Scientific American van, eyes wide. "That was great, Dr. Brown! Simply fantastic! I can't believe how fast you were going! Marty, what was it like riding up there?"

"Heavy-duty," Marty grinned. "Doc's right when he says it feels like flying."

"And I actually was going fairly slow," Doc added with a small smirk. "Their maximum speed is 50 miles per hour."

"It's still incredible. Ronnie, you get some good shots?"

"A boatload," Ronnie said. "Before we go in, though, how about a few of you climbing up this fine building?"

"I'd like to ask permission, first," Doc said. "We don't want anyone slapping us with a lawsuit, after all."

"Good point," Harry nodded. "Copies first then."

They entered the library to a lot of shocked stares. The head librarian gaped for a second, then managed to collect herself. "Er -- can I help you?"

"We need to use the copy machine," Harry explained politely. "And we'd like your permission for him to climb up the side of the building."

"Pardon?"

"It's for a Scientific American photoshoot," Ronnie said, holding up his camera. "We're doing an article on Dr. Brown and his arms."

"We promise to be careful," Doc said as the tentacles nodded and chirped. "The kids will do their best not to damage the building."

"Well, I can certainly let you use the copier -- climbing up the building is something else again. I'll talk to my boss -- if he says it's okay, then you can go ahead."

"Thank you, ma'am." The group proceeded to the copier. "Okay, how much change do we have?"

As Harry, Ronnie, and Marty counted up their change, three teenagers, two boys and a girl, ventured closer to Doc. "Man, those things are wicked," one of the boys said, adjusting his glasses. "Dr. Octopus is the best Spider-Man villain out there!"

"Nah, Green Goblin's cooler," the other boy said.

"No way! Doc Ock rocks! He could kick Gobby's ass anytime!"

"Nuh-uh, Gobby would toast him."

"Goblin's just a regular dude! Ock has two super-strong tentacles welded to him! Of course he's going to win!"

"Regular guy! Goblin's got super strength, the Goblin Glider, and the pumpkin bombs! Plus he's absolutely insane!"

"So's Ock! Look, who do you think is better?" the bespectacled one suddenly asked Doc.

"Dude, what do you think he's going to say?" the girl asked incredulously.

Doc smirked as the boy blushed. "Well, yes, it is pretty obvious I prefer Dr. Octopus, but I admit, Norman Osborn has his qualities. Although I think any fight of theirs would end up in a stalemate, as Spider-Man would take advantage of the chaos to bring them both in."

The three teenagers laughed. "Good point. So you're really going to climb up the buildings with those things?" the second boy asked.

The tentacles screeched. "He didn't mean anything by it," Doc said sternly. "Sorry about that -- they're a little sensitive about being called 'things.' And yes, I will be climbing up if we get permission."

The teens stared. "It's true? They do think?" Doc and the tentacles nodded in a tired way. "Holy crap. That's really cool."

The tentacles chattered happily. "They say thank you," Doc reported. "They are getting an article on themselves, after all."

"We'll be sure to pick up the next issue of Scientific American," the girl promised. "I'd love to see how they work. I'm Melanie, by the way -- these two are Darryl--" the one with the glasses nodded "-- and John. We're all comic book fiends."

"So am I," Doc grinned.

"Hey, Doc, you got any quarters?" Marty called, prompting a few "shush" looks from the other patrons."

Doc pulled out his wallet and looked. "About a dollar's worth," he called back, handing the quarters to Verne. Verne extended his smaller pincers to get a better grip on the coins and handed them over to Marty. "Hey, neat! Where'd those come from?"

"I added them in," Doc said. "I wanted them each to be able to specialize."

"Can we see the other ones?"

"Sure!" Doc demonstrated each attachment as Marty, Harry, and Ronnie made their copies. Marty wandered over as he finished up. "You have got a cool best friend," Darryl informed him.

Marty laughed. "Never thought I'd hear that from somebody. Showing off for some fellow comic book geeks?"

Doc and the tentacles nodded proudly. "And they're quite the appreciative audience. Even if one of them thinks the Green Goblin could take 'me' in a fight."

"All he has to do is stay out of reach," John argued. "And he can throw those pumpkin bombs pretty far."

"True, but Doc Ock could simply catch them and throw them back. And you have to take into account the reach of the tentacles. Mine can extend up to 13 feet, and I think the real Dr. Octopus's can stretch even farther."

"You want to weigh in?" John asked Marty.

"Like I'm gonna go with anybody but Doc Ock. Besides, my favorite villain was the Vulture. That wing harness was bitchin'." Tommy squeaked in protest. "Not that you guys aren't cool too."

The librarian came over, holding a cordless phone. "My boss said it would be all right if you climbed up the side of the building. He thinks it would be good publicity -- although secretly I think he just wants to see you do it."

"All right then, thank you. I'll tell Harry and Ronnie the good news."

"No trouble. Although I had an idea while I was talking to Mr. Pierce. You're doing all this for a photo shoot, right?" Doc nodded. "Well, why not climb up a more impressive building? One we all know? This one looks rather dull, I'm sad to say."

Doc blinked. "Er -- are you suggesting I climb up the Clock Tower?"

"I'd go there," the librarian winked.

"And you already know you can climb it," Marty said, warming almost immediately to the idea. "After your little late-night outing a few days ago. Sounds cool to me." Darryl, John, and Melanie all nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, I know. I'm just worried about getting in trouble. The last thing I want is to further the image of us as an evil Dr. Octopus." The tentacles chattered in agreement.

"I don't think the police will give you any trouble -- you did save one of their own yesterday."

"I'm more worried about the Hill Valley Historical Society."

The teenagers laughed. "If those two ladies bitch you out after you gave them your life savings in donations, that just proves they have nothing else to do with their time."

Harry and Ronnie came over, carrying a large stack of paper. "Are we good to go?" Harry asked.

"I suppose, although the librarian just suggested a new location for our photo shoot. How do you feel about me climbing up the Clock Tower instead of the library?"

"The Clock Tower is our local landmark," Marty explained. "30 years ago, lightning hit it and froze the clock permanently at 10:04. Practically everyone in town knows about it."

Harry grinned. "Sounds great! And it probably has more visual appeal than the library."

"Mind if we tag along to watch?" John asked eagerly.

"They're my new fan club," Doc said with an embarrassed grin as Harry and Ronnie looked at him. "They saw the arms and came over to talk."

"We won't get in the way or anything," Melanie promised. "We just want to see them in action."

"We've even got our own car," Darryl added. "It's a crappy car, but it's a car."

"If you want to follow us, we're not going to stop you -- as long as you stay out of the way," Ronnie said. "Otherwise, the more the merrier."

"Great!"

Doc was still a little hesitant. "Climbing up the Clock Tower is a bit more serious than climbing up the library. I couldn't ask anyone if it was okay."

"Doc, you've already done it," Marty pointed out.

"Climbing up the Clock Tower in the dead of the night is a little different from climbing up the Clock Tower during the afternoon."

We don't want to make trouble for anyone who might see us, Jules agreed, hissing and clicking as Doc translated. The risks outweigh the rewards.

It was fun the last time we did it, though, Tommy said. And nobody seemed to notice any damage we did.

"Come on, Dr. Brown, it's a great idea," Harry said. "Ronnie will get some great new photos of you." Verne perked up, interested. "And like Marty said, you did it once. Where's the risk?"

"You'll be fine, Doc," Marty nodded.

Doc considered that for a long moment. Then he grinned as his daredevil side took control. "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

"All right!" Darryl cheered as he and his friends raced for their car. Harry, Ronnie, Marty, and Doc thanked the librarian again, then Harry and Ronnie got in the van as the tentacles helped Marty back up onto Doc's back. "Comfortable up there?" Doc asked.

"Great, Doc. Let's do it!" They set off, followed by the Scientific American van, Darryl's old Mustang, and a crowd of curious onlookers.

It was a very large mass of people who finally arrived at the Clock Tower. The people already there seemed briefly puzzled by all the fuss, then spotted Doc and understood. Jules put Marty back on the ground. "I must say, it feels very weird to be at the center of so much attention," Doc admitted, looking around.

Marty smirked. "You gotta admit, Doc, you're a bit of a showoff. Plus I bet a lot of these people heard about how you saved that kid and that police officer yesterday. News travels fast around here."

"I think you're right. Oh well, at least they're not throwing things at me." The tentacles whirred in agreement and nuzzled him to try and lighten his mood. Doc smiled and patted them, then turned toward the Clock Tower.

"You can do it, Dr. Brown!" John cheered, while Darryl and Melanie clapped.

"Be careful!" someone else called -- from the sound of it, it was one of the Preservation Society ladies.

"Camera's all set! Go for it!" Ronnie yelled.

Doc looked at the tentacles. Ready kids?

Ready!

Okay, just like we did last time. And remember, try to keep damage to a minimum.

The tentacles nodded, then grabbed ahold of the bricks and mortar. With slow, sure steps, they began to climb.

The crowd went eerily silent as Doc ascended. The only sounds were the steady thuds created by the tentacles and the frenzied clicking of Ronnie's camera. Doc closed his eyes and simply focused on enjoying his climb up.

Finally, they were at the top. Doc perched over the clock like some strange gargoyle. For a moment, the silence lingered. Then, to Doc's astonishment, the crowd -- the entire crowd -- erupted into loud cheers. Everyone seem thrilled that he and the kids had made it up there. Using the zoom functions in the tentacles, Doc could see Ronnie answering questions while Harry was accosted by a Preservation Society lady. He could also see Marty, John, Darryl, and Melanie all giving him a round of applause.

Doc grinned as the tentacles buzzed. Right then, they all felt truly on top of the world.