When you're a teenage superhero on a shoestring budget (in my case, you'd be lucky to even have the shoestring), you gotta find gear wherever you can. For me, it's the local electronic store…'s back dumpster.
Peter opened up the lid of the dumpster, looking inside to find all matter of trash. He recoiled slightly at the smell before returning to the task at hand. He filtered through the refuse, trying to find any bits of technology he could make use of.
"Let's see…" he let out, already finding something. "Old cell phone. Still in good condition. Might be able to get a few parts out of it," he stashed it in his bag before looking through it again, pulling out something else. "GPS tracking device? Hmm… could come in handy."
Okay, so not the most glamorous part of being a superhero, but like I said, not all of us are billionaire playboys. Besides, I would need every advantage I could get for when I caught up with the Green Goblin again. Always hate it when the bad guy gets away.
"Help! Police!" Peter perked up, turning to see a trailer truck full of cars being driven off with the owner of the lot standing off to the side. "They stole the cars!"
"Well, looks like shopping will have to wait," Peter remarked, pulling on his mask.
…
At Oscorp, Gwen was walking in the door as she spoke to Liz on the phone.
"Passed out? Are you sure?"
"Positive. And he was pretty defensive when I asked why. As if he was hiding something."
"Well, I know a way to find out. A bunch of guys on the team are going to Coney Island tomorrow to celebrate the winning streak. Harry should be there. We can talk to him then."
"Sounds good. I'll see if I can get Peter to come."
"I wouldn't hold my breath on getting 'Petey's' help on anything."
"Don't discount him so easily. I'll admit Peter isn't always… prompt."
…
"Yeah!" one of the thieves cheered from his seat. "We did it! We're rich!"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the drivers side window. The two thugs turned to see Spider-Man peeking over the side.
"Peek a boo," he let out.
"Spider-Man!" they let out.
"That's my name, don't wear it out!"
…
"And he's not exactly flexible when it comes to his priorities."
…
One of the thieves pulled out a shotgun and opened fire on Spider-Man. He quickly dodged and evaded the shots. He landed behind the cab of the truck, prompting the thief with the gun to climb out and try to shoot at him. Spider-Man easily evaded the shot before webbing the gun out of his hand.
…
"But that doesn't mean he's not caring or unfeeling."
…
Spider-Man then looked back, seeing the truck was heading for oncoming traffic. Thinking fast, Spider-Man climbed back toward the cab of the truck, webbing the second thug to his seat.
"Might want to buckle up," he remarked before webbing down on the break and removing the keys.
Once that was done, Spider-Man climbed out to the front of the truck and fired two weblines at buildings on either side of the street as the first thug moved to one of the stolen cars and set it loose, allowing him to drive off in it. . The force pressed him against the front of the truck as he worked to hold the truck back.
…
"And when push comes to shove, there's no one I'd rather have my back than Peter Parker."
…
As the truck approached the crosswalk, a blind man started to cross the street, making Spider-Man tighten his grip on the weblines. Slowly but surely though, the truck came to a stop, inches before hitting the man. He glanced up for a moment, then proceeded on his way, allowing Spider-Man to drop to the ground. He then turned back and saw the other thief driving off in one of the cars, prompting him to swing after. Within a few moments, Spider-Man managed to catch up with the thief, landing on the roof of the stolen car. The thief swerved the car, trying to shake Spider-Man off the car.
"Uh, you know I can stick to any surface, right?" he remarked.
Spider-Man then smashed the driver side window, before proceeding to grab the wheel and swerves it toward a nearby street lamp on a street corner that was devoid of civilians. He then grabbed the thief and swung away from the car, allowing it to crash and come to a stop. He then proceeded to web the thief upside down to another street lamp before swinging off.
…
Liz sighed on the other end of the call.
"Alright. Go ahead."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
She then hung up, proceeding to make her way inside.
…
Outside the building, Spider-Man swung to a nearby vent and opened it up, climbing inside. He proceeded to make his way through the vents before spotting a broom closet he could exit into. He then donned his Peter Parker clothes and made his way out, accidentally running into Gwen as she walked up.
"Sorry, i-" they both said at the same time.
"Peter."
"Gwen."
"What were you doing in a closet?" Gwen asked.
"Uh… was looking for something. Wrong place."
"Uh huh…" Gwen replied, before shaking her head. "Well, I'm glad I ran into you. Uh, so to speak. Listen, something really weird's going on with Harry."
"And this is news?"
Gwen just glared at him, getting him to back off.
"Ok, ok, not the look. I mean, sure the football thing's kinda gone to his head, but you gotta admit he's really found his groove with it."
"It isn't that," she looked around, making sure they were alone before speaking again. "I found him passed out on the ground outside of the school the other day.
"What? Any idea why?"
"I don't know. But I'm worried about him. And so is Liz," the two began to walk off as she continued talking. "She told me the team's heading to Coney Island tomorrow. We're planning on talking to him then. It would mean a lot if you could be there."
"Sure I-" Peter suddenly remembered something. "Oh no. I promised Aunt May I'd go with her to the bank tomorrow."
"Oh."
"Look, it shouldn't take too long. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Alright. Well, I'll let you go. Don't the Octavius' have their big demonstration today?"
"Yeah, we're all pretty excited. You gonna be there?"
Gwen smiled in response. "Wouldn't miss it."
Peter smiled back before heading off, unaware of Gwen just watching him go off, brushing some hair behind her ear before heading off herself.
…
Inside his lab, Otto was making the final calibrations to the arms, making sure they were ready for the work ahead.
"That, I believe, should do it," he let out.
"I should hope so."
Otto looked up, seeing Norman walking into the room.
"I'd hate to think 'Dr. Octopus' has lost his touch."
"I told you I despise that nickname," Otto insisted. "What do you want, Norman?"
"I just wanted to wish Rosie good luck. Is she here?"
"No. She's setting up in the main lab. But I don't believe she would have anything to say to you."
Now there's no need for hostility, Otto. I was just wanting to say I wish nothing but the best for her and her project. I have no doubt it will be a tremendous success for all of us."
"You'll get your share of credit, if that's what you're concerned about," Otto challenged, standing up to face him head on.
"I know, I just wanted Rosie to know her work is valued. In fact, if this goes well…"
"Stop," Otto shut down immediately. "I can promise you now that neither I or Rosie will be another one of your resources for you to chew up and spit out when it no longer suits you!"
"My, how defensive, Otto," Norman remarked, smirking. "There's no need to feel… threatened."
The two just stared at each other for a moment. Then the lab door opened, allowing Rosie to enter.
"Is everything alright?" she asked, getting their attention.
"Just fine," Norman reassured. "Just a little… disagreement. Right, Otto?"
Otto paused for a moment before responding. "Right."
"Well, I'll leave you two to your work," Norman spoke, walking out of the lab. "Best of luck to you, Rosie."
"Thank you," Rosie replied as he walked past.
He exited the lab just as Peter walked in. "Peter."
"Uh, hey Mr. Osborn," Peter replied as he left, noting Otto's face. "Everything alright?"
Otto took a breath before turning back to the two. "Fine. Just a slight… difference of opinion."
"Are you sure?" Rosie asked, walking up to him.
Otto smiled before taking her hand. "Quite my dear. Now, I believe we have a world to change, do we not?"
Rosie smiled. "Right."
Rosie left the room as Peter helped Otto load the arms onto a cart for transport.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Peter inquired.
"Nothing that completing this project wouldn't cure," Otto insisted. "I'm fine, Parker. Really."
"Alright," Peter relented, about to push the cart out. "Guess we'd better get going."
"And Park-... Peter," Otto spoke, getting his attention. "I wanted to thank you. For all the hard work you've put in on this project, and… for being a good friend."
Peter was taken aback by that. "Uh… my pleasure. Honestly, I feel I should be thanking you. The words of advice you've given me over the past few weeks have been amazing. I'm… really honored to be working with you."
"Well then," Otto spoke, holding out his hand. "What's say we help change the world?"
Peter smiled, taking the hand and shaking his hand. "To changing the world."
…
A few minutes later, Otto, Rosie, and Peter set up in the main lab, with the reactor behind a shielded see-through wall. A crowd of reporters, scientists, and other interested parties gathered for the event. Among the attendees were Norman and Gwen, who gave a small wave to Peter as he looked out at the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Rosie spoke. "Thank you for coming to this momentous occasion."
"Uh, before we get started," Otto spoke up. "Has anyone lost a large roll of twenty dollar bills in a rubber band? Because we found the rubber band."
That elicited a chuckle from the audience as well as Rosie.
"Thank you, Otto," she replied before turning back to the crowd. "Well, now that I have your attention, what we are about to present may be the dawn of a new age of fusion based energy. This could pave the way for safe, renewable, and affordable energy for everybody."
Otto then lowered the top half of the green suit he was wearing as he stepped onto a platform where the arms were held. Peter then inputted a few commands on a console, allowing the harness to close around his torso. Otto then attached the neural interface to the base of his neck, activating it before zipping up the suit. After a few moments, the arms extended out the back fully alive and active.
"While I initiate the initial fusion reaction, my husband will be using these four metallic arms to maintain and control the fusion energy for future use."
"A small affair I assure you," Otto replied.
Otto then walked over to the shield, raising one of his arms and allowing the pinchers at the end to fold back so a small grabber could extend from the center. Rosie then went over to a console and pressed a few buttons, causing a small container to rise up containing a golden crystal inside.
"The fuel source for this project is one whole gram of crystallized tritium," Rosie continued. "It must be carefully measured considering there's only twenty five pounds known to exist on the planet."
"We are of course obligated to thank Norman Osborn and Oscorp Industries for providing it," Otto remarked.
"Happy to pay the bills Otto," Norman replied.
Otto then inserted the arms into four access ports on the shield, placing the tritium at the center of the machine. With the substance in place, Otto, Rosie, and Peter put on protective goggles as Rosie readied herself at the console.
"Ladies and gentlemen…" she addressed. "Fasten your seatbelts."
She entered the start up command, causing lasers to emit from eight different vantage points on the reactor. One by one, they hit the tritium crystal, causing it to ignite. After a few more minutes, the reaction took hold, causing a miniature sun to emerge within the reactor.
"Looks like we have a successful fusion reaction," Peter noted.
There was a torrent of applause from the crowd. Even Norman applauded as he watched on. Rosie went over to Otto, who was using his arms to manipulate and contain the reaction.
"What's it like?" she asked.
"Like holding the power of the sun… in the palm of my hand," he turned to Rosie, taking her hand and smiling. "We did it."
"We did. And no one is going to take this from us."
It was a fantastic moment. I was proud to be a part of something so momentous. Like I could help change the world outside of swinging from rooftops and punching bad guys. Everything just seemed so right… which made me wonder why my spider-sense was going off the scale.
Peter lifted his goggles, looking around for any sign of danger. A super villain attack, a piece of faulty wiring, anything. He then glanced at the ground, seeing a stray paperclip on the ground inching toward the machine. It suddenly flew forward, colliding with the wall guarding the machine. He heard some metal creaking above him, seeing light figures seemingly being pulled toward the machine. Fearing the worst, Peter slowly made his way out of the room while Rosie monitored things on his console. Something on the screen seems troubling, prompting her to try and correct it.
All of a sudden, several pieces of metal, watches, necklaces, and other items were pulled toward the machine, colliding with the wall.
"Rosie?" Otto asked, using his arms to try and maintain the reaction.
"Everyone remain calm," she tried to reassure. "It's only a spike. It should soon stabilize."
Suddenly, a burst of energy from the reactor shot out, tearing out a chunk of the wall shielding them from the reactor and causing the metal items to get sucked into the reactor. Soon pieces of metal plating tore off the walls, causing the people to duck down in a panic. Gwen instantly ran over to a nearby fire alarm and pulled it.
"Everyone, clear the room!" she called out.
The people started making their way toward the exits, with Norman making his way through.
"Rosie, shut it down!" Norman demanded. "Shut it down, now!"
"No, I can stabilize this," Rosie replied, handling the console. "It's under control!"
Norman growled before stepping forward. "If you won't, I'll do it myself!"
He shoved her aside, causing her to collide with a terminal, much to Otto's shock and aggravation.
Stay away from her!" he snapped, swinging one of his arms at Norman and knocking him aside.
"Mr. Osborn!" Gwen let out, rushing to help him up.
As she helped him, one of the terminals on the other side of the room was pulled toward the reactor. Seconds before it hit them, Spider-Man swung in, scooping the two up and putting them on the ground safely.
"Spider-Man!" Gwen realized.
"What are you doing here?" Norman asked.
"Kid told me something was happening here," Spidey replied. "Turns out he was right."
"Peter," Gwen pieced together. "Is he-"
"Already safe. Your turn. Go!"
"Come on," Norman let out, ushering Gwen away.
Spider-Man then swung out, perching himself above Otto and the reactor.
"What are you doing?" Otto demanded.
"Pulling the plug on this science project!" Spider-Man declared, spying some nearby power cables.
"No!" Otto let out, smacking Spider-Man away as he leaped toward them, colling with the wall.
Meanwhile, Rosie slowly picked herself up, unaware of another bolt of energy shooting out from the reactor. It hit the terminal, causing an electric jolt that shocked Rosie. She cried out in pain, getting Otto's attention as she fell to the ground.
"Rosie!"
Before Otto could get to her, another bold shot out, hitting him in the back of the harness and shocking him. The energy fried the systems of the harness, even causing the inhibitor chip in the back to short out and burst. Spider-Man shook his head, snapping back to reality as he looked up at Otto and the reactor. Deciding to work fast, he got to his feet, only to feel a pull on his wrists toward the machine.
"My web shooters…" Spider-Man deduced.
One of the web shooters then flew off his wrist, flying into the reactor. This prompted Spider-Man to grab his remaining web shooter, preventing it from flying off.
"Oh no you don't," Spider-Man let out.
He fired his web shooter at the cables, quickly wrapping his hand around the web before backflipping away before yanking hard on the web. This pulled the wires out of the wall, allowing Otto to drop to the ground and the reactor's energy shootout before retracting back in on itself, destroying the reactor in the process. Spider-Man looked back at the remains of the reactor and the two geniuses behind it laying out cold on the ground. He lowered his head in sorrow.
…
Later, police and EMTs arrived at the scene, treating the attendees and taking Rosie and Otto in for specialized care. As they loaded Rosie and Otto into the ambulances, Peter made his way through the crowds to find Gwen.
"Gwen!" he called out, getting her attention.
"Peter!" Gwen replied, rushing over to him. "Thank goodness. Spider-Man said you were safe, but-"
"I stepped out when I saw things were going wrong. I just happened to catch Spider-Man swinging by and got him to help."
"How fortuitous," Norman commented, walking over to them. "You must send my regards to Spider-Man when you get the chance."
"Uh… sure," Peter replied, looking back at the departing ambulances. "So, what's gonna happen to them?"
"It's too soon to say. I'm stopping by the hospital later. I assume you'll be there as well."
"Definitely."
…
Later that day, Peter was back at home, working on rebuilding his web shooter. He even decided to take this opportunity to upgrade the web shooters with some of the components he gathered earlier. While he was working on it, he was reading some online articles about the accident, hoping to get more word on the Octavius' condition.
The news I could find wasn't much. What's more, a lot of them painted the doctors Octavius as mad scientists. I knew the truth, but convincing others wouldn't be easy. I knew as soon as my web shooter was finished, I should head down to the hospital and check on them myself.
After putting the last component in place, Peter donned his new web shooters. He had taken taken the nozzles and placed them on circular bands that had a select number of web cartridges on them, allowing him to switch to a new web cartridge on a dime. Ready to test them, he turned toward his nightstand and aimed it at a soda can sitting there. He fired the web, already prepared to yank as he made contact. He pulled hard before realizing the web connected to a lamp sitting next to the can. He quickly ducked under the lamp, allowing it to smash against the wall and prompting him to wince in response. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Peter?" Aunt May's voice let out, causing Peter to panik.
He quickly rushed toward the door, cracking it open to greet May.
"Is everything alright?" she asked. "I thought I heard something break."
"Uh, knocked over a lamp while I was straightening up. Don't worry, I'll clean it up."
"Alright. Just be careful. I don't want you to cut yourself."
"Don't worry May, I'll be careful."
Peter then closed the door, leaning against it and let out a sigh of relief.
…
At Manhattan General, Rosie Octavius was lying in a hospital bed still unconscious from her ordeal. Several doctors were looking her over as Norman Osborn walked into the room.
"How is she, Doctor?" he asked.
"She suffered a serious shock to her nervous system," the head doctor replied. "We were able to stabalize her, but she's still comatose. It's too soon to know when she'll wake up."
"What about Otto?"
"That's… a little trickier. Physically, he's fine but…"
Norman raised an eyebrow. "But what?"
"Well… it's best you see for yourself."
…
Norman was led into a different hospital room. Once inside, Norman was shocked at the sight before him. Otto was laid out on a hospital bed with each of his metallic arms hanging from restraints attached from the ceiling.
"From everything we could gather," the doctor informed. "It appears that the accident fused the harness to his skin."
"Then why keep the arms restrained?"
"They… moved sporadically when he first arrived. They almost seem to act as a subconscious response."
"Intriguing…"
Just then, Otto let out a groan, getting the attention of Norman and the Doctor as he woke up.
"Where… where am I?"
"Otto," Norman spoke. "Otto, are you alright?"
"Osborn? What… where am I?"
"You're at Manhattan General," the head doctor informed. "You were in a terrible accident."
"Rosie?" Otto let out, instantly sat up. "Where's Rosie?!"
"Take it easy," the head doctor insisted, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She's alright. She's healing. You need time to heal as well."
Norman noticed how fidgety the arms were in their restraints, causing him to narrow his eyes. He then pulled the doctor aside before speaking to him quietly.
"How soon can you begin surgery?" Norman inquired.
"We're prepping the operating room now. There's no telling the extent of the damage the melding of metal has done to him already."
"Do what you can for him, Oh, and when you remove the arms, do not dispose of them. I might have some use for them."
"I'll… I'll do what I can."
Norman nodded before stepping away, leaving the head doctor to turn back to Otto.
"What were you two talking about?" Otto demanded. "What does he want you to do?"
"It's alright, Doctor," the head doctor insisted. "Just relax."
One of the nurses was coming over with a canister of anesthesia, causing Otto to panic.
"What are you doing?!"
"Just take it easy," the head doctor pressed, trying to get him to relax.
"Get off of me!"
"Just take a deep breath," the nurse insisted, about to place the mask over his face.
"I said get off!"
As Otto shouted, one of the arms snapped free of its restraint. It grabbed the nurse and pinned her against the wall, causing the doctor to back away in shock. Otto was awestruck of the act he had unknowingly committed. He turned toward another one of the arms, trying to do the same with them. He focused for a moment, causing it to snap free of its restraint as well.
"That's… not possible… the interface was fried. I shouldn't…"
The arm moved close to his face, just stopping short of it. It snapped its pinchers, just as Otto envisioned it in his mind.
"Just like… any other limb…"
He turned toward the doctor, snapping his other two arms free and planting them on the ground as his free arm shot out and grabbed the doctor by the neck.
"Tell me where Rosemary Octavius is," he demanded, his other two arms raising him off the bed. "Now."
…
As Norman walked down the hall of the hospital, the fire alarms started blaring out, causing him to look up in confusion. He then heard a crashing sound from the distance, causing him to look back down the hall and see emergency doors begin to close. Just then, a pair of metal arms tore through them, revealing a royally ticked off Otto behind them. Norman backed away in surprise.
"Otto?"
"Osborn…" Otto snarled.
"Freeze!" new voiced declared.
Otto turned to see several security guards aiming their tasers at Octavius.
"Put your arms up!"
Otto smirked in response. "If you insist."
Otto then shot his arms out, two of them slammed the guards against opposite walls while the other two knocked the guards into the wall behind them. One of the guards even crashed through the window and fell toward the ground below.
…
Several seconds earlier, Spider-Man swung through the city, heading toward the hospital.
"New web shooters seem to be holding out alright," he noted. "I hope the Octavius' are alright."
As he approached the hospital, he saw the security guard falling out a window. Thinking fast, he swung upward before releasing the web line and going into a dive, heading right toward the security guard. He managed to grab him and shoot a web line to stop their fall.
"Whoa," he let out. "You medical types play hot potato hardcore."
"Spider-Man?!" the guard let out. "You gotta stop that guy!"
"What guy?"
"The freak with the arms! He's gonna tear this place apart!"
That was all the description I needed. It was still hard to believe that Otto Octavius would hurt someone like this. Still, it was clear that Spider-Man was needed.
…
Back inside, Norman slowly backed away as Otto stared him down.
"It must feel strange for you," Otto mused. "To feel fear. Vulnerability. At the mercy of others with power over you."
"Otto, listen to me," Norman insisted. "You're not well. You need help."
" 'Help'? From you?" Otto chuckled a little. "That's rich. You don't help people. You only take what you want from them and leave them broken and with nothing! And I won't let you do that to me and Rosie!"
"Otto-"
Just then, one of the arms shot out and grabbed hold of Norman before pinning him to a wall.
"Silence! You imperious moron!"
At that moment, a web shot out, snagging the arm and prompting Otto to look up and see Spider-Man clinging to the ceiling.
"Dr. Octavius stop!" he pleaded.
Upon seeing him, Otto's mind flashed back to the accident and Spider-Man's presence during it. He narrowed his eyes at the sight.
"You!" he cried out, shooting another arm out at him.
Spider-Man saw the arm shooting out at him. He quickly leaped off the ceiling to dodge the arm. He fired a web line and tried to swing away, only for another arm to shoot out and grab him by the arm, pinning him to the wall next to Norman.
"Otto!" Spider-Man pleaded. "We're trying to help yo-"
Just then, another arm shot out, pinning him against the chest.
"Do not insult my intelligence, 'hero'," Otto challenged. "I don't know what you did to sabotage the reactor, but it nearly killed my Rosie!"
"Sabotage? No, I was there to help."
"The same kind of help 'he' provides, no doubt," Otto remarked, turning to Norman. "Of course… it was at your behest. As an attempt to destroy me and claim my work."
"Otto… please," Norman pleaded.
"Oh, but I survived. And more than that, I have… evolved. I am now one with my arms. They respond to my thoughts like any limb. The ultimate fusion of metal to flesh and bone! Oh, you failed Osborn! And your failure has given me new life!"
He then tossed Norman aside, causing him to tumble to the ground as Spider-Man watched on, shocked at how far the good man he once knew had fallen.
"Otto…" Spider-Man let out, only for one of his arms to go right toward his face.
"Not anymore," Otto countered. "Otto Octavius was weak. Call me… Doctor Octopus!"
It was unbelievable. Otto Octavius, a good man and genuine mind… acting like this. Sure, there was Connors, but that was the Lizard formula making him act feral. This… this was all him. I knew I had to stop him, I just didn't know how yet. First step, getting free of those arms.
"Listen, doc," Spider-Man spoke up, getting his attention. "You sure you thought this through. The next spider person that finds you at the mercy of a killer sun machine might view this as a cautionary tale."
Doctor Octopus responded by slamming Spider-Man into the ground repeatedly.
"Glib! Does not! Equate! With clever! Spider-Man!" he declared with each slam.
On the last one, Spider-Man shot a web at the ground, keeping him from being dragged back up as he kicked the arm at the pincher, allowing him to backflip free.
"Yeah, well the ratio of arms to sanity hasn't been established either," Spider-Man countered, trying to keep a brave face.
"Impressive Spider-Man," Doctor Octopus mused, walking toward him and flashing the claws of his arms. "I can't decide if your tendency toward bad humor is due to an inability to remain quiet, or to mask your own sense of fear."
On that last word, an arm shot out toward him, Spider-Man leaped over it, but another one smacked him in the face, knocking him into a reception room and sending everyone running away in terror as Doctor Octopus followed him in.
"Actually, neither," Spider-Man replied, getting on one knee as he approached. "My fans just expect a certain amount of quippage in every battle."
Otto tried slamming an arm down on him, but Spider-Man easily avoided it. While the fight continued, Norman made his way down a nearby stairwell, taking out his cellphone.
"Hello? Police?"
Back at the fight, Otto raised himself on two of his arms as he continued shooting out the other two to attack Spider-Man, forcing him to leap out of the way every time.
"Come on, doc," Spider-Man pleaded. "You're a cephalopod, I'm an arthropod. Can't we just hug it out?"
Keeping ahead of Otto wasn't easy, due to the confined halls of the hospital. Seizing his opportunity however, Spider-Man leaped onto one of the arms and swung forward off it, landing on a wall behind Otto before leaping onto his back. He looked down and saw the neural interface fused to his skin and the inhibitor chip fried as a result.
"The inhibitor chip…"
Before Spider-Man could respond, two of the arms grabbed him by the wrists, flipping him onto the ground hard. He tried to leap away, but another arm grabbed him by the chest and slammed into opposing walls repeatedly.
"You're starting to wear down, arachnid," Doctor Octopus mused. "But my arms never tire. And soon, they'll crush-"
Just then, the sound of sirens rang out, prompting Otto to look out a nearby window and see police cars pulling up.
"I think those guys are with me," Spidey mused.
"So it would seem…" Otto lamented, looking down a hallway. "Forgive me Rosie… I will return for you."
Otto then tossed Spider-Man aside, causing him to crash into a table as Otto made his escape.
…
As the police arrived at the scene, Otto slipped out the back, a trenchcoat over his arms as he slinked off into the street. As he crossed, a cab came barreling toward him. Just then, two of Otto's arms shot out, flipping the cab into the air and causing it crash onto a nearby car. Otto then retracted his arms, continuing to make his escape.
…
Meanwhile, Spider-Man swung out into the city, hoping to find any sign of Otto, but was coming up empty.
"Paging Doctor Octopus…" he let out in a desperate attempt to find him, but it might made him sigh in defeat. "Oh man…"
