Interesting developments here in this chapter involving a kiss. I won't tell you who but I'm pretty sure you all can guess.

For the next chapter, I'm planning on following Dr. Octopus and his first encounter with Spider-Man.

Edited on: October 18, 2004

Italics in "" marks is Norman's split personality talking.
Italics in ' ' are regular thoughts.

Chapter 4: Aggravation

The next morning found Alandra half asleep at her desk. She had been at Oscorp until almost 4 in the morning. Harry had left well before then leaving her with Norman, who made it his job to annoy her. She turned her laptop off and laid her head down on her desk.

'I'm almost wishing that I hadn't brought him back. Why is it that he pesters me so much? One minute he was trying to kill me, the next he's…just be aggravating,' she thought. She sighed and sat up as the door to her lab opened and Norman walked in. He had a grin on his face and was holding something.

"What do you want now?" she asked.

"You will assist me in making repairs to my glider," he said. Alandra rolled her eyes at him and laid her head back down on her desk. Norman frowned as he walked over to her desk. He then grabbed a handful of her hair a pulled up on in. Alandra cried out in pain as her head was jerked up. "I said assist me with my glider."

"Let go of my hair!" she hissed at him.

"What if I refuse?"

"I'll make you."

"Ha! I'd like to see you try," he said in an amused tone. Alandra jumped up, nearly knocking her chair over. Norman smirked as she raised her hand to strike him. Suddenly, he let go of her hair. The door opened and Harry entered. He was looking at a sheet of paper.

"Alandra, I just got a fax…" he trailed off as he looked up and saw her and Norman standing toe-to-toe glaring at each other. "Um…is there something wrong?"

"Nothing," Norman said with a snarl.

"Everything's fine," Alandra added, also with a snarl. Harry shook his head and glanced back down at the paper in his hand. With a sigh he turned back around and left the way he came.


Eddie Brock was a man of many skills. In High School he excelled in sports as well as academics. In college he was on the Dean's list every semester. And now, he was a reporter and a photographer. Everyone said he was on top of his game. Unfortunately, he didn't believe so.

'I can't believe Brad wants me to go out to Oscorp. I can't even believe I'm going. I've officially sunk to a new low. And now I have to drag the Parker kid around with me,' he thought as he drove through the city. He glanced over at his new 'charge', Peter Parker, who was staring out the window. 'What did I ever do to deserve this?'

"So, you really know Harry Osborne?" Eddie asked to break the silence. Peter looked over at his with a smile on his face.

"Yeah. We went to High School together," Peter replied.

"So, how do you get all those photos of Spider-Man?"

"Well…I prefer not to give away my trade secrets," Peter said with a bit of a grin. Eddie shrugged his shoulders and concentrated on driving while Peter returned to looking out the window.


Alandra stood with her back against the lab wall. In front of her, Norman tinkered around with his glider. He began to mutter and threw a wrench across the room. Alandra smirked a little but held her tongue.

"What?" Norman finally asked, turning around.

"Nothing. I just think your wasting your time. There is nothing wrong with it. I checked over it myself," she said, crossing her arms in front of her.

"That's why I'm checking it. God only knows what you did to it!" Norman said, glaring at her. Alandra only smiled and started to walk away.

'Stupid woman...thinking she knows everything,' Norman thought. 'If only she would shut up.'

"Well then, I guess that means you don't need my help," she said as she walked passed him toward the exit. She heard Norman growl but ignored it. 'He's such an immature idiot!' she thought. 'He could at least be grateful for bringing him back to life.' While she was distracted with her thoughts, Norman walked up behind her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. All Alandra could do was let out a choked gasp.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" he yelled in her face. He's eyes were burning with rage. Alandra tried to pull away from him but he was too strong. She attempted to use her free hand to hit him but he caught it. "Your nothing compared to me. I'm stronger, faster, and smarter than you'll ever be," he said in a low menacing tone. He looked into her eyes and again found he was starting to loose himself in them again.

"I'm not some little doll that you can order around," Alandra said. She remembered the last time she used those words. The memories of the experiments preformed on her flooded through her mind. She was almost glad that Norman was holding her. If he weren't, she more than likely would have crumpled to the floor.

"Really?" Norman replied with a bit of a sneer.

"Harry didn't tell you what I did to my last employer. I blew up his lab with him in it," she said in a low, cold voice. "So I suggest you not mess with me. There are so many way's…" Norman pulled her forward and captured her lips with his. The kiss was long and passionate. After a minute or too, Norman pulled away. Alandra looked at him with wide-eyed shock.

"N…Norman…" she chocked out. Norman grinned at her and let go of her.

"There, I knew that would shut you up," he said in an amused tone. Alandra's jaw dropped for half a second and then she narrowed her eyes. She brought her fist up and decked him across his face. She then turned and stomped out. Norman returned to his glider, laughing all the way.

Alandra walked down the hall to Harry's office. The door was open and she saw two men talking to Harry. She recognized one as Peter Parker, a friend of his. Harry saw her at the door and motioned for her to come in.

"Dr. Detrick, I was just getting ready to get you" Harry said as Alandra entered the room. Any evidence of her anger was now gone, though Harry knew something was wrong. "Alandra, this is Eddie Brock from the Daily Bugle. And you've meet Peter."

"It's nice to meet you," Eddie said. He looked her up and down. He was impressed to say the least. 'Oh man, what a babe!' he thought as he shook her hand.

"And you," she replied back. "It's nice to see you again Peter." Peter nodded at her and smiled.

"So, is Brad here today?" Eddie asked. Alandra shook her head.

"He didn't show up today," she said. Eddie frowned a bit.

"Oh. Well, can you tell me what you've been working on?"

"No. All projects and experiments done here at Oscorp are all for the United States government. Everything is top secret," Alandra said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry smile.

"Well, thank you for your time," Eddie said. Peter glanced questionably at him for a second.

"Well, I'll see you later Harry," Peter said. Harry nodded and said his goodbyes. Then both men left. Harry breathed out a sight of relief as he closed the door behind them.

"I would have security make sure they leave without making any unnecessary stops," Alandra said, sitting down on the edge of Harry's desk.

"No need to worry. I've already thought of that," he replied. Alandra grinned a little. Harry sat down next to her and sighed. "So, how is it going with my father?"

"Quite frankly, I think he was insane long before the exposure to the gas," she said. Harry laughed a little. "He's a vile pig. You want to know what he did in the lab?"

"What?"

"He kissed me!" she said in an exasperated tone. Harry tried to keep from showing his amusement. "It's not funny!"

"He's only trying to irritate you. Just ignore him," Harry said laughing. Alandra glared at him and left the room. 'Those two are going to end up killing each other,' he thought.


Later that evening, Dr. Octavius hid in the shadows of Alandra's apartment building. He had spent the better part of the day planting bugs so he could monitor her. He watched as she parked her car and entered the building.

'Soon my dear, you will again meet me. Then, with your help, I will obtain the finial component for my wonderful machine. Then I, Octavius, will dominate this city and then the world!' he thought as he watched a light appear in her window. He turned and headed back toward the manhole he had come from. He easily lowered himself down with the use of his tentacles and replaced the lid. He then used the tentacles to carry him quickly through the tunnel.