Norman Osborn went down into the RND section of his company, going to meet up with Doctor Otto Octavius about the status of the projects being worked on, as well as the ruse to meet having a deeper meaning for coming to visit. Both of them caught on they were enemies, but neither could do anything at this moment having a stalemate, for this conversation and meeting.
"Hello, doctor. What exactly is your status on the arms? I want a demonstration of them, after all they're your greatest creation, besides the now lost formula." Osborn said, taking a jab at him believing he was part of the attempt on his life.
Otto cleared his throat. "Yes sir, the arms are coming along nicely. I'd happily show you and our newest creation down here, a fusion reactor!"
"Indeed Otto, I've been hearing the rumblings of this fantastic power source you seem to have created." He replied.
They went around the section, Otto put on his arms now heading towards the reactor. "As you can see, my arms are a necessity for containing the energy safely and doing a good portion of the work at a safe distance!"
Osborn looked more unstable now when Otto looked back at him. "Sounds spectacular, yes I'm very happy seeing all this my good doctor. You are a very valuable asset to this company, it'd be such a shame if you befell an unfortunate fate."
Octavius looked concerned, starting to sweat. "Quite right I am too valuable to be lost, right Mr. Osborn?"
After a sinister look, a response was given. "Of course, you have nothing to fear, from Norman Osborn, not to worry. Though, accidents happen." He walked away smiling leaving on a very creepy note leaving Otto unsettled.
Elsewhere in the city, it was a school day for Peter and his friends, who were in class with Doctor Conners with only a minute left.
"See you all tomorrow, good work everyone." Conners said kindly, then kept Peter and Gwen behind to speak. "You both continue to impress me, staying on top of this class. I haven't seen such an interest since my entire time of teaching. Back when I had research partners and my arm." He sighed. "It's truly impressive and makes me feel like I'm doing something right here. Thank you both."
"Thank you Doctor Conners, this class has taught me a lot and you've given me such an incredible chance to learn more!" Gwen expressed.
Peter nodded in agreement. "You've helped us a lot doctor. I've learnt a lot about fields I never even knew of. It's been very fascinating."
"Yes, even more impressive considering how many absences you had and your injuries you experienced." He pointed out.
He looked embarrassed. "Yes, well you know, busy and bad luck."
"And you Gwen, so far you've been an excellent assistant. I'm very grateful for having my two best students to date. Unfortunately, I wanted to avoid this, but my funding is drying up. I might lose my lab in the coming months I'm afraid. Doctor Warren received funding from Norman Osborn, quite a significant amount in fact he's bragged about it a lot. I've asked if, assuming my lab closes, that he could take you on as an assistant, Warren was greatly impressed by your work." Conners expressed.
Gwen looked unsure about his words and then upset. "I can't believe Harry's father would do this! Giving a grant to Warren and not you doctor Conners!" She looked boiling with rage.
"It's really weird and nasty he'd do that to us. Maybe I'm overthinking it." Peter replied.
"That's wrong! All this nonsense is completely wrong! I can't believe this, I'm going to talk to Harry to convince his father to fix this funding."
Peter looked at her. "Would that really be alright? I mean wouldn't that be crossing some boundaries asking Harry to do that? I mean I'm all for it, but wouldn't it hurt your relationship? I just am concerned for Harry if his dad-"
"Come on! This dad's a jerk and has more than enough money to help out doctor Conners, it's ridiculous."
Doctor Conners put a hand on her shoulder. "I apologize for telling you, worrying you wasn't my intention. Please, you both should leave. I don't want to cause any more trouble. I wanted to keep you both informed."
Peter brought Gwen towards the exit. "Thank you doctor, we appreciated it."
They walked out and Gwen was looking extremely angry. "Come on! We can't let this happen to him! I've learnt so much from him and I don't wanna loss this opportunity, even if doctor Warren is obviously a talented person. It wouldn't be the same and besides, he kinda gives me the creeps."
"Really? I always found him more, weirdo type of guy." Or a complete psycho.
She sighed. "How about we take some time to cool off, then talk to Harry?"
"Yeah, I guess we should."
They walked off having a bit of time to relax.
Elsewhere, Doctor Otto Octavius rushed back to see Menken in his office immediately closing the blinds. "We need to talk right this instant!"
"What's the matter now Otto?"
He looked terrified. "It's Osborn, he threatened me. I nearly killed him! He's clearly onto us and I think that Green Goblin could be sent to kill us!"
"You're paranoid. Besides, the wheels are in motion. Osborn will be dead, soon enough before he could pull off anything to harm you." Menken said confidently.
"How can you be so certain? I think I've got to act first!"
"For the last time Otto! We must act smarter, 10 steps ahead. It's the only way to beat an enemy like Osborn and his green partner."
Otto frowned. "Fine, I'll get back to work."
"You should, at this rate, you are starting to outlive your usefulness! Get out of my sight and keep your mouth shut! Waste of a brilliant mind!" Menken said outbursting, having had enough. "Don't you even dare think of stepping in my office again and wasting my time like this Otto!"
He grit his teeth and clenched his fists. I'll show you, all of you! I refuse to be treated this way any longer! No, what could I possibly do? He's right. Otto walked off slowly feeling crushed and wanting to escape Ozcorp. He'd saved enough money to make a run for it and after tying up loose ends, Otto would finally do it.
Unknown to him, The Green Goblin was watching from monitors and listening devices enjoying the sight of this, coming up with a plan to get rid of both of Norman's enemies if it succeeded with the horrible grin coming back.
Back over at ESU, Peter and Gwen came over to Harry, wanting to discuss everything happening with doctor Conners, hopefully with clearer heads. Mary Jane was off spending time with Sally who she'd gotten closer to.
"Hey Harry, what are you up to?" Peter asked.
"Uh, not much. Why?"
Gwen cleared her throat. "Harry, I don't mean to sound upset, but it's about your dad. I've had some time to think clearly about it, I just wanted you to know your father is kinda screwing over doctor Conners."
"What do you mean? Why would he do that? I've told him that Doc Conners is a pretty great teacher and how much he's been doing for you." He replied confused.
"He gave funding to Warren, but nobody else. It's weird." Peter explained quickly.
"Why him? I didn't even know dad knew who Warren was. What a weird thing to do, should I talk to him?" Harry asked.
Gwen scratched her head. "It could be pushing it right? Peter thinks that it would push our boundaries, so I'd say no. I don't want to pressure you into talking to your dad about this whole thing. I mean you've been doing better lately right?"
"Not really, he's been so distant at times lately. You've seen it right? Maybe he wasn't even listening when we told him about how awesome Doc Conners is!"
Peter nodded. "It's true! I swear he's been acting off since that Hobgoblin attack, I'm so sorry he is Harry. I wish he'd talk to you!"
"Me too! I hate not knowing what's going through his head, I mean last time we got attacked I stayed with you for months and this time was even worse, now he won't tell me anything happening, it sucks!"
"I didn't realize how bad it was, Harry." Gwen admitted.
"You've been pretty focused on learning with Doc Conners in the lab, I've taken a backseat haven't I? Sure as heck feels that way!"
She frowned. "Come on! That isn't fair, having learning from Conners has been what I've always been dreaming of and has given me a equiset taste of what working at a true laboratory could be like!"
"Learning science stuff has always been more important to you!"
"I wish you'd appreciate everything I've learnt a lot more, it's going to be my future! I'm going to be working hard and I bet you'll be living off all that money you've got! You haven't even thought about the future!"
Oh no. Please universe give me a reason to leave. This is very unpleasant. My friends really aren't working that well together. I hate seeing them fighting, but should I really be getting in the middle of this? He wasn't really given a choice as both turned to him looking like they both wanted him to take sides. Fortunately, his phone rang. "Oh no! It's my job! I completely forgot important phone call and day at the office!" He ran off, lying as it was actually Captain Stacy.
His friends continued getting angry with each other as he went away. "Hello? Captain Stacy, what's up? Very glad you called when you did."
"I'm glad your available, some incident happened at Ozcorp and-"
"Say no more, I'm on my way! Actually, do you have any details?" Peter then asked starting to run looking for a place to suit up.
He sighed. "Nothing yet, only the police and the fire department are needed right now."
A few minutes early, said incident occurred as Doctor Octavius was hard at work using his arms sabotaging the fusion reactor, not wanting to let Osborn have access to it. He thought he was being smart and safe, now having to step near it then recommended for a moment, but two men walked in the department unknown to him, preparing to make the reactor explode which would kill Otto in theory.
"Come on, come on! I've gotta hurry, this isn't going to work if I'm even a moment off!" Otto was saying to himself. "I must do it now! Come on, work you blasted machine!" It seemed to be working to overload. "Yes!" He was pleased, until he realized the safety door was closed.
The man who appeared as Norman Osborn, from Otto's perspective waved to him through a clear glass window, strong enough to take the blast. "What a shame, you are such a bright mind. And now, you'll die."
"What! Osborn! Let me out!"
"I don't think so." The other man said revealing himself to be, seemingly Donald Menken. "You are going to die today."
"You two tricked me! I won't let you get away with this!" He exclaimed, completely furious banging on the glass with all his arms.
Goblin smiled. "You believe those arms will break the glass? Someone with super strength couldn't even break though, fast enough!" He exclaimed and laughed as the reactor nearly overloaded, Menken left, as Goblin stared on smirking.
"Stop! I'll get out of this and when I do, you're finished!" He shouted and then the reactor exploded, blasting him, making the harness around Otto attach to his skin, burning it and injuring him, not killing him. Goblin didn't realize it and walked off, having messed with all the footage, wanting to make up a narrative.
Otto slowly tried to pull himself back up, but just couldn't manage it. His robotic arms lifted up banging on the glass. "Osborn, Osborn. Dead man." He muttered to himself.
Spider-Man arrived at Ozcorp finding Captain Stacy waiting outside with a swat team getting ready to head in, along with him speaking to Norman Osborn.
"You have no idea what happened?"
"No Captain, I don't know. It's almost like I blacked out, I believe I might've been attacked or something. The cameras went out, I was alerted so I headed to the security room. Then, nothing." Osborn expressed, it wasn't sure if he was speaking the truth or lying, covering for his friend unbenounced to them.
"Are there any other witnesses?" Stacy then asked.
"Yes, Donald Menken. I saw he was nearby the experiment that exploded, in the division I have no clue what he was doing there."
Stacy looked interested. "Did you see him after people started to leave the building?"
"No, I haven't. He must still be inside."
"Do I have your go ahead to move on in? Looks like a lovely property." Spider-Man said, interjecting in.
He nodded. "Go, take a look if you can figure out what happened."
"Aye aye, Captain!" He swung off heading inside of the building wondering what he'd find and something less important. Can't believe it took so long to make that joke. I mean it was so obvious!
Heading inside, he found that an explosion must've occured in the department mentioned where that Donald Menken guy was. Looking around, he found the now broken glass and Otto knocked down. "Good heavens." Spider-Man muttered to himself. "Hey? Are you okay?" He asked reaching down to check on him. On pure instinct Otto's arms started waving around knocking Spidey back, it got the drop on him considering how destroyed everything was and the danger could've been anything. "Watch where you are swinging those things!"
Otto got up. "You, I should've known you figured out I was going to escape. Did you work with Osborn? No, he told you about my old concepticel experiments. Of course, everything is making perfect sense at last! You were here to kill me, Doctor Otto Octavius! Weren't you?"
"Oh okay, I'm glad everything is making sense for you. What's making sense? Why would I be here to kill you?"
"You knew what I did in the past and that I was going to escape this life today, so you came under orders from Osborn to make sure I was taken out!" He started swinging his arms at Spidey.
Spider-Man stayed out of the way leaping to the ceiling. "Hey now, let's talk about this clearly, something is wrong and maybe you've hit your head? Let's go outside and talk about this with the police."
"No, not a chance. I won't go to jail, I see this is the inevitable way life has gone. A true tragic shame I say, at least would've." He touched his harness. "It's stuck, I am a freak of nature now. Unless I'm something greater now, the next stage of evolution!"
"Having new limbs is the next stage of-" Spidey was interrupted by Otto shooting his arms into the ceiling tearing it apart pulling him down, then managing to knock him into a wall hard. "You're pretty darn good with those extra arms. Would be quite the juggler! Have you considered joining the circus? Sure they'd love to have you join their mary little group! Imagine the performances you could give!"
Otto wasn't enjoying Spidey's wise cracks as much and tried impaling him with his swift moving arms instead destroying a wall. That was a close call! These arms move at an extraordinary rate! My spider-sense almost got surprised, twice now! I've gotta be more careful! This guy is actually dangerous, no more games. He decided on taking him down quickly, rushing towards Otto going to knock him out.
Unfortunately his foe was getting quicker on the uptake, using his arms to again attack Spider-Man now managing to grab onto his lag. Having a hold of his lag, he dragged Spidey across the ground and flung him onto the ceiling, onto whack him once more flying back though the department crashing into a machine.
"You won't defeat me. No, I've got great plans now. Ambitions that I need to fulfill and so I shall, Otto Octavius was weak. Osborn, Menken, you. All of you sought to destroy me! Now, I am much stronger and better than ever!"
Spider-Man approached carefully seeing how deadly his foe was, as expected naturally facing a dangerous enemy couldn't stop the qwips. "Listen here, Doctor Octopus! I've about had it up to here with insane super villains coming around to kick this poor spider's butt. How about we wrap up our tango?"
"Hmm, Doctor Octopus huh? Yes, I think that'll do fine, wonderfully in fact! Yes I am Doctor Octopus! And now, indeed, let's finish this fight simptent!" He exclaimed, raising his arms into the air, seeming to make them extend further.
Peter slapped his head. "That was meant to be an insult! I wasn't trying to help you get onto super villain weekly! Huh, I'd actually read that. Say someone should make that!"
The good doctor had far too much of Spider-Man's quips and rushed towards him, at an alarming rate. "Shut your pathetic mouth! I've had it with being talked down to!" He used two of his arms walking on them and used the other two to fight with Spidey swinging at him, fortunately the hero was getting better at avoiding attacks and managed to get one good punch to the face making Otto fall down. Without spider-sense, he might've fallen for this trick as he was perfectly fine and used his arms trying to grab Spider-Man. One arm managed to push onto him, shoving Peter into a wall tightening his grip. He used all of his strength to get the mechanical arm off breaking free, only to not be fast enough to avoid another incoming hit. Fortunately he was fast enough to avoid a follow up, webbing onto the arm coming his way making it suck to a wall in theory. Then he webbed Otto's face and glasses, now he couldn't see anything waving around aimlessly. Peter used this chance to punch him back, beating on him, finally seeing to get an advantage in the fight. Shockingly Doctor Octopus had a backup plan, one he was preparing in the case of Osborn making an attempt on his life, from his perspective. The backup plan was simply a powerful flash that sent Spider-Man back for a moment as he didn't expect such a device. It took a minute for his sight and senses to return, fast enough for Otto to start making his escape.
"No! That was a rookie mistake. Where would squidward be heading now? Wait of course, obviously he'd be going-" He was interpreted by his thought being completely correct as he heard some loud bangings. "Great." Spider-Man rushed outside finding the Doc causing a lot of destruction.
Police were opening fire and the villain was shouting only one thing. "Osborn! Osborn!" Over and over again.
Captain Stacy and officer Carter escorted him away.
"He seems angry with you." Carter pointed out sarcastically.
"Can it Carter! We need to move it now!"
Spider-Man webbed Doctor Octopus to the ground, but failed thanks to his arms ripping it loose and throwing over police cars making people run away.
"You're getting on my nerves Doc!" Spider-Man leaped up and managed to crack him across the face, then saw he grabbed an officer throwing them into the air.
Immediately Spidey didn't hesitate leaping into the air grabbing a hold of them swinging away bringing them to the ground.
As he saved the officer, Doctor Octopus started to escape climbing up buildings, leaving now in a hurry.
"Not a chance!" Spider-Man exclaimed, chasing after him, only to have a problem happen with the Doctor ripping out part of the building starting to make it crumble down. Stopping the bad guy was always second to saving peoples lives, starting to weave a large web net for anyone who slipped out or needed to get out. On the brightside the firefighters were already there, keen to help out Spider-Man with getting anyone in danger to safety.
After everyone was certainly safe, Doctor Octopus was long gone.
How the hack does a giant octopus man escape! Spider-Man shook his head. I've looked everywhere, where could he have gone?
Captain Stacy approached Spidey. "Did you find Octavius?"
"No, I haven't yet. He's gone, probably off the radar for now. He was rambling a lot, mostly about Osborn and some Menken guy, even me betraying him, trying to kill the guy. That's crazy right?" Spidey asked and wondered allowed.
"Unsure, we'll bring them both in for questioning. Thankfully, while you were inside we found Menken, we'll get to the bottom of this."
"Thanks Captain, glad to hear that. Think I might keep searching the city and maybe go on patrol, don't really want to go back to ESU cause-"
Stacy stared at him.
"Oh look at the time!" Spidey exclaimed and swung off.
"Crazy kid." He smiled and walked off.
He had officer Carter come up to him. "What exactly is the plan now sir?"
"Find Octavius. Alert everyone. Think you could do that?"
Carter looked unhappy. "Yes, sir. I can."
Elsewhere, Doctor Otto Octavius had escaped and had built himself a crummy little lab before, which he never figured would come in use. Until today, now that everything has changed. "My enemies want me dead, including Spider-Man. I won't let them win and I'll defeat Spider-Man, I won't that little man stop me. Doctor Octopus!" He began saying into a recording device. "This laboratory, it'll do me well for my goals." Otto brushed off some dust with some projects. The first one being, The Rhino. "Back in the day, I knew Osborn used my research to create a robotic version of my original creation. A Rhinoceros is a perfect use of a weapon, but a robotic one I see now has its limitations. My arms will do me well, but the power of the armor around the subject could be spectacular, a great power." He smiled and looked closely at his old plans. "Time for a rebirth of old plans, done better."
That wasn't all, after the interrogation of both Norman Osborn and Donald Menken, both were released heading back to Ozcorp where Menken was pulled aside to speak about the short shadow war between them.
"Your intentions of killing Norman end today." The man who looked like Osborn, but most certainly wasn't him in the driver seat again said.
"Why are you speaking in the third person? It's true, you've gone insane. If you intend on threatening me or killing me, it won't end well for you." Menken replied confidently.
Goblin smiled. "Oh Menken, you have such a small time thinker. I wouldn't have confronted you if I already didn't have a contingency. See, there is security footage of Donald Menken causing the accident meant to kill Otto, it's not fabricated in the traditional sense of the word. See, someone looking exactly like you did indeed cause the accident and there is evidence the police will discover, including an unfortunate recording I happen to have."
"What on earth are you talking about? That'd be impossible, nobody can fake apprerences like that! And this recording, it's bull too surely!"
The Goblin moved in close with his twisted grin. "You've heard of The Chameleon, haven't you? He's been a great help as of late. He's been a great help for a lot of people from my understanding, not you of course!" He laughed. "You see, nobody will be able to spot the difference! And with the tape of you threatening Otto, well it wouldn't look so good for you Menk? Can I call you that? Menk?"
Menken looked furious and grabbed him. "I won't play your games, Osborn."
"First of all, no Osborn here. Secondly, you will or you'll be heading to jail for the rest of your miserable life." He said gleefully. "Oh and third, let go of me or I'll be inclined to tear off your arms and-"
He let go, taking a step back.
"Thank you, now. Go be a good boy and do what I'm paying you for Mr. Menken. And no more games, I won't appreciate them." Goblin smiled at him and walked off.
Menken clenched his fists, clearly he was caught, but this wasn't going to be the end. After all, he had more than his foe realized, kept up his sleeves and more secrets that The Green Goblin wasn't aware of.
Thank you all as always for reading, this chapter like The Black Cat vs Hammerhead one, I nearly considered putting into two. This one certainly ended up on the longer side then I was expecting, but that's good as the arrival of Doc Ock should be important and take its time.
I wanted to apologize again to any Doctor Octopus fans, I do feel badly about how I've handled the good old doc, only bringing him into Chapter 60 and having hardly any build up for his arrival, along with potentially an underwhelming first appearance. (He'll be back next time) I wanted to give more originally, but I've gone against it. Doc Ock is a villain I love and I want to give the character love. I can promise, as long as the current plan continues along, Doc will be getting some better chapters. If I could've done things differently, *Spoilers?* I might've made him a mentor figure like in Spider-Man Ps4 or taken inspiration from Shadowstrike's story, which is worth a read for sure if you've enjoyed this.
Moving on, more stuff with Green Goblin and Menken. And the reveal Chameleon is helping out, I thought it was good to not drag that out as most of you probably already guessed it was something to do with him. I also wanted to have this blackmail set up so The Goblin wouldn't have to worry about Menken, along with the continuing tease that he may in fact be the other Hobgoblin. There are going to be two more main suspects coming clearly soon, keep an eye out for them. I'm hoping to pull off his mystery well and have the eventual reveal be a major surprise, as nothing will be simple with that Goblin.