Sorry this took SO long… I really wanted it to be perfect because I kind of screwed up Jack's past so I want to make this past REALLY good. Anyway once again thanks to all reviewers! (More would be appreciated…) Also Spider-man 3 is out right? Well, I am not going to see it because I fear it would jeopardise this story and change the ending yet again! I've changed this ending several times and this one is perfect! In an alternative ending, it would be that the Green Goblin managed to recruit all kinds of super villains and only Jack and Octavius could stop them but that was crap so I scratched that idea. I mean Jack and Octavius weren't even going to be related in that story! I know that everyone loves a bit of family drama… and I must restrain myself from watching that movie… even if Harry Osborn is in it… DAMN YOU ALL!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Eh-em, I do not own any Marvel characters, Xiaolin Showdown characters the Click idea and Clarice but Henry belong to me. So I can sue you if you steal him without a license and permit. I also realise that I'm rewriting a lot of history here. So yea.
Chase sat against the fountain's ledge and listened as Kimiko explained the Spicers past. She told him of Jack's mother Kaia, the little brother Tobio and the violent father whom she had no idea what his name was. She told him of the third memory she had witnessed and the expression on Octavius's face when he saw the picture that Jack had carried. She mentioned the tentacles as well, which put an amazed expression on Chase's face. After 15 minutes of absorbing all that information in, he let out a whistle. This was only the surface of the lake and Chase was starting to get that nagging feeling about what was at the bottom. He looked at Curt, who lay between Kimiko and Chase, who was using his tongue to lick the cut on his cheek. Chase was surprised to find that the tongue was quite long and that the previously dislocated shoulder had healed itself.
"Chase?"
Chase faced Kimiko once again. The girl looked worried. He couldn't blame her. Jack still lay unconscious and Octavius was still enclosed in the glass ball. His tentacles lay sprawled out around him, the red light that served as their eye, a very soft red.
"Not enough evidence is shown here to explain why the doctor doesn't like being called uncle," said Chase and stood up. Pain run up his left leg from the dagger wound he had experienced earlier but he ignored it and instead hobbled his way over to his throne. Using a secret switch, located underneath an armrest, the seat sprang up to reveal a secret compartment. He reached inside and pulled out a rectangular object that looked suspiciously like a remote control for the television. He walked up to Kimiko again and showed her the remote. She eyed it with suspicion and took it. It was blue with four green buttons: the play/pause button, the forward button, the back button and one that said 'fire'.
"What does it do?" she asked and handed the remote back. Chase accepted it with another of his evil smirks. He pointed it at Octavius and pressed the 'fire' button. At the same time he had grabbed Kimiko around the arm. Tentacles of darkness engulfed them. Then they were gone. Curt jumped up and chirped loudly trying to wake up Jack. The boy still lay motionless on the ground. Curt paced around anxiously before settling next to Jack. In the meantime, Kimiko once again felt the familiar feelings of being an intruder in someone's memories. Chase kept a tight grip on Kimiko's arm and pressed the play button on the remote. Kimiko remained silent mostly from the disbelief she had to go through Octavius's memories. But it was because she had the awful premonition that these memories will be worse than Jack's. She looked at Chase who was staring straight ahead into the darkness that was slowly forming a scene. He turned to her and put a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet.
"Now Otto, behave and play nicely with your little brother."
"He shouldn't be here. Why don't you give him to your other wife?"
Kimiko and Chase diverted their focus from each other and stared at the now complete scene. It was a library, with bookcases all around and a small space in the middle where a desk was placed. A small boy about five years of age, with brown hair that went wildly about the place sat in the middle of the floor, reading a large book. A man, presumably his father stood behind him with another, smaller boy behind his legs. This one had jet-black hair and his brown eyes showed fear. The father gave a wince but directed the boy behind his legs to the other one, which was a younger version of Otto. Kimiko could now see the boy's brown eyes, hidden behind the sunglasses of the older version.
"Otto, this is Henry, you brother."
"Actually he is my half-brother." Otto replied coolly, already putting his little brother on edge.
"Still family."
"You call your bastard son family?"
"Look! Just look after him okay?" cried the father exasperatedly and walked quickly out of the room. It seemed he couldn't stand his first son. The little brother looked nervously at Otto then cautiously sat next to him.
"Hi, I'm Henry." he said slowly. Otto gave him a glance and went back to his book. Henry sat in silence and looked at the book Otto was reading. It was one with complicated words so Henry quickly gave up. Chase and Kimiko approached as well, Chase still holding on firmly to Kimiko.
"Henry," Otto said suddenly "Want to play a game?"
That startled poor Henry but he nodded his head. Otto gave him a smile and marked the page in his book before getting up. Henry got up as well. As he did, Otto broke into a run and disappeared down the hallway. Henry guessed the game was chasings. Kimiko and Chase followed as well but it was more against their will. They easily caught up to Otto but Henry was having some trouble and was lagging behind. Kimiko really wanted to say something but every time she tried, Chase would tighten his grip around her arm. Otto swerved into a room. Henry stopped running and started walking towards the room. He entered it cautiously and peered around. It was the kitchen, the one given to the guests if they wanted a midnight snack. Otto was nowhere to be seen. Henry walked over to the fridge and opened it. Kimiko and Chase were very amazed and horrified to what happened next. It seemed that Otto was hiding behind a cupboard not to far away from the fridge. Otto crept up to the unsuspecting little brother and grabbed his head. Henry gave a surprised yell as Otto pushed the head into the fridge then grabbed the fridge door and slamming it on Henry's neck. Henry screamed with pain then gurgled from the crushed throat. The scream managed to reach the ears of a passing servant who immediately pulled Otto away from the brother who was having major trouble breathing. Kimiko put a hand to her mouth, in an effort to stop herself from screaming. Chase remained still with no sign of emotion. More servants flooded in, including the father. A jumble of voices echoed around the room, some telling others to call the hospital, others just shouting out of panic. Otto was left to himself in the doorway. Soon he left and went back to the library and picked up were he had left off in the book. Chase and Kimiko had followed him before the surroundings became darkness once again.
"Wha-what happened?" stuttered Kimiko, in an effort to regain her voice. Chase showed her the remote once again.
"It is called the Life Remote. It allows me to view the life of another from day of birth to the present day. We just witnessed one part of the doctor's life. Troubled childhood don't you think?"
"Don't make fun out of this!" hissed the girl, scratching Chase's hand that was still gripped around her arm.
"I'm holding onto you because then you wouldn't be able to witness this. So I suggest you stop hurting me." Chase said with a smirk on his face.
Kimiko stared at Chase and said nothing. Instead she grabbed the remote off him and played Octavius's life again. This time the surroundings revealed a park in the outskirts of a town. They found Otto again, reading yet another book. He seemed to have aged quite a bit, now looking like a seven year old. He also got a bit chubbier. Kimiko thought that the guy needed a life. REAL bad.
"Hello!"
Octavius gave a wince and turned around. Behind him was a girl who was wearing a green coat with grey baggy trousers. Her red hair was tied up and her blue eyes showed happiness and sparkles. Nothing to be overly scared about. The girl skipped over to Octavius and sat down beside him. The boy had the 'cootie' look on his face.
"What do you want Clarice?" moaned Otto. Clarice shot him a look and grabbed the book off him earning another look and moan of protest.
"Come play with us!" Clarice shouted gleefully and grabbed Otto's arm. Another protest.
"I don't want to play with you!" he yelled back, standing his ground, actually grabbing grass to avoid getting carried away by Clarice.
"You WILL come play with us! It will do you good! You can lose some weight!" teased Clarice and with another forceful tug, managed to get Otto to follow her down to the swings. Henry was there, sitting in on one of the three. He gave Otto an angry look as he and Clarice sat in a swing. Clarice had taken the swing on the far left and Henry had taken the swing in the far right so Otto had to take the swing in the middle. Octavius could only cringe at the thought. As he was about to sit down, Henry grabbed the swing, resulting in Otto sitting on the wood-chipped ground rather than the seat.
"Henry!" shouted Clarice, scolding Henry for doing such a thing. Henry gave an indifferent shrug and let go of the seat, which hit Otto in the head. Otto gave a surprised yelp as the seat connected with his head. It wasn't one of those plastic ones either. It was a swing made out of wood. So it hurt a lot. Otto turned to his brother and gave him a push off the swing.
"Otto!" Clarice shouted again, getting off her own seat to help the aiding Henry. Otto gave another moan and went off to get his book again. Instead Clarice tackled him to the ground.
"You will come and say sorry!" Clarice said as she had Otto pinned beneath her. Henry was heard to chuckle, if rather croakily from the fridge incident. Clarice heard the chuckle so got up and tackled Henry as well. Otto found this his chance to get away but his chances slipped away as quickly as they formed when Clarice threw Henry on top of Otto, earning a whimper from both boys.
"Now apologise to each other!" threatened Clarice. The boys looked up to her and then at each other. Henry gave a punch to his brother, who immediately lashed out with a kick.
"STOP IT!!!" yelled Clarice. The boys looked up at her again.
"Apologise or… I won't be your friend anymore." she replied with a 'huff' and turned around on her heels. This seemed to have a surprising effect on the boys. Henry immediately apologised and maybe he would if Otto hadn't clamped a hand over his mouth.
"I am sorry Henry. It won't happen again." Otto drawled, every word dripping with sarcasm. In return, Henry bit Otto's hand causing Otto to stiffen up. The hand slowly moved away, letting Henry speak again.
"I'm sorry too Otto." Henry replied back, his sentence dripping with sarcasm as well. It was a wonder the boy could speak at all. The voice was croaky and hoarse as if he had shouted too much. Clarice turned around with a happy smile on her face and gave a hug to each of them, a little too hard from the looks of it. The darkness came again to claim Kimiko and Chase. Kimiko had the cutest look on her face and Chase had the disgusted one.
"My perception of the doctor has been dramatically lowered." he grumbled.
"Oh come on they are kids! It's called young love. Isn't it sweet?"
"Sweet makes me puke. I can barely stomach you."
Kimiko delivered a kick to his crotch as a result. Chase slid down to his knees in pain and agony, as any boy in his situation would do. Kimiko waited patiently for Chase to get up again.
"You know," panted Chase as he struggled to get on his feet. "I have so far seen no evidence on why he doesn't like to be called uncle. Have you?"
"It's quite obvious actually. Henry is his half brother and a bastard son. Octavius wants nothing to do with him. Jack comes along and Octavius chooses to ignore him as he is Henry's son." Kimiko explained and after a sigh, helped Chase to his feet.
"But he isn't ignoring Jack because the brat is following him around and he seems to have no problem with it!" Chase growled back. He straightened up and dusted himself off.
"Doesn't matter, let's get on with this." Kimiko sighed again and pressed the play button. The darkness fled and left another scene. This time it was only Otto, now a sixteen year old. He lay on the couch of his home with what seemed like a packet of Oreo cookies. He had shot up in height and he was still chubby as ever. He seemed to be alone and extremely bored. Suddenly he sat up as a door closed and a female voice rang out.
"Otto! Are you here?"
A young, teenaged girl came into view from around the living room's corner. She had long brown hair with soft brown eyes and wore a pink skirt with a white top. Otto quickly hid the packet of Oreos and stood up as the girl advanced towards him. He gave a warm smile in return.
"Hello Rosie." he replied. Rosie gave a smile of her own and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, making him blush. She laughed and took off her bag that was concealed behind her back. She reached inside and grabbed a couple of books, setting them on a nearby table.
"Thanks again for helping me." Rosie smiled as she sat on the chair. Otto followed suit as she opened her books and pointed to a question.
"This one has me confused." she explained. Otto looked at the question and raised an eyebrow.
"Emc squared has you confused?" he asked with a suspicious tone to his voice.
"Well what does it stand for? What is the purpose of E? Why does the mc part have to be squared? And… why does your breath smell of Oreos?"
"Otto was taken aback at the last question. Rosie gave him a mischievous smile. The boy smelt his breath before answering her in an offending mock tone.
"My breath does not stink, neither Oreos nor anything else." he replied indignantly. Rosie gave another laugh, making Otto chuckle. He looked at her and then calmly leaned in and gave a gentle kiss on her lips, a small, fleeting one, which did indeed take her aback. Chase was disgusted by this action and looked away as Kimiko was glued to the scene in front of her. As Chase looked away, he was surprised to notice another girl yet this one was more familiar. The dark red hair was still tied up in a ponytail and a black jacket with blue, denim jeans and a red top was now her favourite thing to wear but her blue eyes were no longer full of happiness and sparkles. They watered and tears ran down Clarice's face as she watched Rosie kiss Otto back but held her lips against his for a much longer time. Otto ran his hand through her hair and they broke their blissful contact, much to Kimiko's disappointment. Clarice stared for a while longer before silently leaving. Rosie and Otto didn't notice the appearance and disappearance of the stranger and instead went back to the problems with a satisfied look on both their faces and Rosie's arms around Otto's waist. Kimiko gave a sigh as darkness swamped the scene once again.
"Wasn't that beautiful?" she asked Chase who gave a grimace.
"If you hadn't been so fixated on their kiss you may have noticed Clarice walk through the doorway." Chase replied as the grimace faded away. Kimiko stared at him and grabbed the remote off him. The scene came on again. Kimiko rewound it to the kiss moment but instead at the kiss, looked at the doorway and did indeed see Clarice. She paused it and darkness came once again.
"OMG that was 'the' look." she said with a gasp.
"Excuse me?"
"You know… 'the' look."
"I'm sorry, I'm a 1500 year old being. I do not know the slang of 'the' look." Chase snapped back.
"Fine stupid. There are three 'the' looks. One is the one girls give to boys as a sign they want to be kissed. The one that parents give to their children and then the one a girl gives to a boy when they feel used and are in an emotional state of mind. Clarice just gave him the third look."
Chase stared at Kimiko with a blank look and instead played Otto's life again. It was in a forest, which reminded Kimiko of the one near the temple. On a path nearby Otto and Henry walked along it in silence. Henry was a sixteen year old as well and looked like a spitting image of Jack except Henry's black and spiked up hair was sleeked back except for two bangs that hung in front of his face. Otto was looking around, staring at everything other than his half brother. Henry simply looked ahead of him. He suddenly stopped like something had caught his eye. Otto stopped as well, looking at his brother.
"Are you coming?" Otto sighed. Henry ignored him and walked into the thick bushes and disappeared. Otto gave a groan and followed him. As he emerged from the bushes, he found himself in a clearing with a view of the New York City in the distance. He realised he was on the edge of a cliff, not a very high one, created when construction was beginning on a hill but due to a mistake a bulldozer started carving up the wrong hill, leaving instead a cliff 20m tall.
"Remember brother?"
Otto turned around and found Henry. The younger sibling was looking at the city before looking straight at Otto, delivering a cold stare. Otto flinched at this but kept his cool.
"What are you talking about?" Otto asked. Henry paused and then tugged the neck of his black school uniform, revealing a jagged scar of where the surgeons had to cut to fix his crushed trachea.
"Remember how you gave this to me? Remember how you tried to kill me?" Henry said in a smooth voice, a change from the previously croaky one Kimiko and Chase had encountered when Henry was five. Otto gave the scar a good look before looking at his brother's brown eyes again.
"I never did get my revenge for that." Henry hissed now advancing towards Otto who stood motionless. Henry grabbed Otto's green coat but earned no changed reaction from Otto.
"Why did you try to kill me? What did I do to you? TELL ME!" yelled Henry, shaking Otto with each word. Otto said nothing, making Henry even angrier. Suddenly Henry smiled like a maniac and made Otto move backwards. Kimiko gasped as Otto's foot reached the edge of the cliff.
"Tell me or I'll push you off the cliff." Henry giggled madly. He waited for Otto's answer but nothing came. Henry gave an angry howl and let go of Otto just as he was about to say something.
"I tried to kill you, because I thought you would take away my family," whispered Otto, just loud enough for Henry, Kimiko and Chase to hear. Henry's eyes widened as Otto toppled backwards. "I guess I was wrong. Sorry."
Otto plummeted downwards. Thanks to instinct, his hands reached out to grab protruding bushes and branches to try and slow down his fall. Henry looked from above yet the expression on his face couldn't be seen. Kimiko and Chase suddenly found themselves at the bottom of the cliff, looking up at Otto who was falling faster when there were no more bushes or branches to save him. He landed on the ground on his back, making an audible and sickening crack ring out. Otto was silent and barely breathing.
"Otto? Shit… OTTO!!!"
Kimiko and Chase turned around and found Clarice once again. She appeared slightly thinner and was more depressed but as soon as she saw Otto she rushed up to the fallen body and looked around to see if anyone was nearby. She fell on her knees and carefully cradled Otto in her arms. Everyone heard a twig break and Henry stepped out of the bushes. Clarice and Henry exchanged looks in silence.
"Go get help." she whispered. Henry flinched and stared at his brother before switching back to Clarice. An intense look of anger was on her face, making Henry run off in search for help. Clarice stared at the spot where Henry previously stood and burst out crying. She hugged onto Otto tighter and before anyone knew it (well Kimiko had the sneaky suspicion) Clarice bent down and kissed Otto. On the lips. With a passion. With her tongue in his mouth.
"Dude." Kimiko and Chase said in unison. Clarice realised what she was doing and broke off the contact with a blush on her cheeks. She set Otto down on the ground carefully before sitting 2 metres or so away from him. Chase also noticed a small smile on Otto's lips. It seemed that Otto wasn't quite unconscious yet and had the pleasure of enjoying another kiss. How did he get the ladies, Chase would never know. The scene turned to darkness yet again leaving the cliff behind and in its place two very surprised people. Nothing was said. Silence… Kimiko pressed the play button again and no one commented on anything. Instead they watched the new scene unfold. It was back at the house, in the living room where it was Otto and Henry again. Otto, surprisingly enough could walk despite the fall on his back. But then again, the brothers where now adults, both wearing a black and white tuxedo with a black armband around the well, arm.
"Talk about Four Weddings and a Funeral." grumbled Otto as he loosened up his bowtie before untying the whole thing and throwing it somewhere across the room. Henry sat in an armchair and rubbed his hands trying to make them warm. Otto gave a sigh and looked at his brother.
"We are married." Henry said suddenly.
"To the love of our lives hopefully." nodded Otto.
"Our father is dead and buried."
"That is why I said Four Weddings and a Funeral, even though they were only two weddings."
A sigh from Henry's behalf. In the next room, people were heard talking and having a good time.
"What happens to Dad's business?" asked Otto.
"I get it."
"Said who?"
Henry glared at his brother and the maniacal smile came to his face yet again. He took a rolled up piece of paper and handed it to Otto. Otto accepted it and after unrolling it, he set to read it. His eyes skimmed the page and his frown deepened as Henry's smile grew.
"The will doesn't lie brother." mocked Henry. Otto looked up and threw the will back to Henry.
"Congratulations." Otto muttered as he went to walk out of the room.
"Did I mention you're exiled?"
Otto stopped in his tracks and turned around. Henry got up and walked towards him with sinister steps.
"Said who?"
"Me failure." spat Henry, taking Otto aback.
"I don't like failures in my family Otto. You are a failure and therefore must be exiled so you can't make this family a fool." Henry continued.
"Last time I checked, I have a PhD in Nuclear Energy. I am also ten times smarter than you and everyone knows it." Otto smirked back, unaffected by Henry's words.
"Then explain how I got the papers that state that you name is now Otto Octavius."
Otto stared as Henry revealed more papers, this one with a certificate and a small paragraph briefing on the name change. Otto's eyes moved to the bottom of the paper and were horrified to find his signature there.
"Who is clever now?" smirked Henry. Otto's hands shook in anger.
"You bastard…" hissed Otto.
"Thank you. Now here is what I want you to do. After tonight, I want you to tell your beloved wife Rosie all about the name change. I also want yo to never see me again. I want nothing to do with you. Do not mention to anyone we are related, do not speak of me as I will not speak of you, is this clear dear MR Octavius?" Henry continued, enjoying this every step of the way. Otto gave a small growl and found he agreed to what his brother just said.
"I hate you." Otto said, as two women, both wearing beautiful white dresses stepped into the room. Kimiko was surprised to find the woman that she had seen in the hospital when she was taking a tour through Jack's mind. This time she looked healthier as she approached Henry with a worried look on her face.
"What is wrong dear?" she whispered, linking her arm through his.
"Nothing Kaia. Just talking to Otto about our first night as married men." smiled Henry. Rosie, the second bride, looked at her husband. Otto avoided her eyes as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and escorted her out.
Darkness had come again after that. That wasn't however the last memories that Kimiko and Chase saw. They witnessed a day in his life as Octavius, how he got his tentacles, Rosie's horrible death, his battles with Spider-man, the creation of his mini-sun and his fall into the icy river. But most important of all was how he met Jack. They saw everything. They saw the tripping of Rosie's gravestone, the showdown and then the most important thing of all.
"So we are living voodoo dolls to each other? Cool…"
"No Jack. Not cool."
Curt lay next to Jack with his scaly, reptilian head on Jack's knee. Suddenly a flash of light appeared scaring Curt and making him jump up. Chase and Kimiko appeared, the girl looking slightly paler.
"Not a word of this." Chase whispered. He grabbed Jack and hauled him next to Octavius's enclosed glass ball. He examined both their hands before changing one of his own into a claw and giving Jack a small scratch on his palm. Chase's suspicions were confirmed as the same scratch appeared on Octavius's palm. This caused Octavius to wake up. He groaned in pain making everyone (awake) to look at him with caution.
"I see you're up." sighed Chase. Octavius looked up with a hand to his forehead trying to ease the headache to his head. The tentacles, previously sprawled around him, slowly reared up and examined everything.
"What happened?" asked Octavius with a groan as he tried to stand up.
"You drank a dangerous soup and went slightly crazy." explained Chase as he kicked the glass ball, making it break. Jack stared to wake up as well, causing Kimiko and Curt to come over and help him.
"That stuff that looked like spinach soup?"
"The very same."
Octavius sighed as he tried to get up using the aid of his tentacles. He shook a bit but eventually got his footing.
We went crazy? Awesome… giggled Bubbles. Jack moaned and his red eyes fluttered open. He noticed Octavius and the concerned look he was giving him and the numbing pain of the aches and bruises of the fight.
It is your entire fault. I am in pain and it is your entire fault
Octavius gave a smile as Jack said this via brain transmission. He then noticed Chase give them a peculiar look.
"How does this bond of yours work?"
Jack and Octavius widened their eyes as Chase said this. Kimiko put her hands to her mouth; luckily she was behind Jack so they didn't see her reaction.
"Do you feel each others pain or does it go to a more deeper level?" Chase asked again.
"How do you know?" Jack snapped back, the tentacles hissing behind him. Chase shrugged.
"It is quite easy to spot. During the fight, Curt accidentally stabbed the Doctor in the stomach. The you turn out to have the same thing when Curt never harmed you." Chase explained. Octavius stiffened at the reply.
"Don't tell." whispered Jack.
"We won't." Kimiko replied trying to find her voice. Jack and Octavius gave a sigh of relief then waited as the wave of silence past over them.
"Are you still going to help us?" Octavius asked. Chase responded with a cheeky smile.
"I do like mysteries. This is no exception."
GAH! 12 pages of writing! My fingers hurt… oh well, savour this update as well. The next update will be in three weeks time because I have holidays. BTW believe it or not this story is ending soon! 11 chapters to go and here is some more good news! I will have it finished over the holidays and when I come back, I will have two updates a week. WOOT!!!!!