Welcome back to A Song Of Spiders And Dragons. Last time, after a run in with Martin Li himself, our terrific trio sent the evidence they discovered behind his office to Yuri, hoping this'll be enough to get them to take him seriously as a suspect. But just as he left, Martin Li activated his powers and had the trio jumped. Now long story short there's an agreement to discuss new leads over dinner at MJ's place. But first, the trio has to swing into Octavius Industries, as Doctor Octavius apparently has good news. So, what awaits at the lab? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens at Octavius Industries, where our terrific trio is just arriving after hearing there's good news.)

Octavius: Is that you three?

Spider-Man: Yeah, Doc, it's us.

Octavius: Excellent, I'll be with you in a moment. Feel free to look around!

Spyro: Look at all this equipment! Where did all this stuff come from?

Octavius: I called in every favor that I was owed. There were actually more than I remembered. And there were a few loans taken out. It's like we're starting again, fresh as a spring daisy!

Cynder: Please tell me those loans weren't of the predatory variety.

Octavius: It won't matter if this works. This time things will be different!

(And with that, the group finally sees it, the prototype prosthetic arm, and it's way more advanced than the one from before City Hall.)

Spider-Man: You've been busy.

Octavius: (Finally joining the group) Helps that I've had a brainstorm. A whole new way of looking at prosthetics. Posit the question: "Why restore people to what they were, when we can make them better?"

(At this point, Spyro and Cynder are looking at each other concerned. That's a dangerous line of reasoning Doctor Octavius is using. But he seems ecstatic to show them what he's been working on, so they agree to leave it be for now.

Octavius: (Finishing fiddling with a remote control) Okay, that should do it. Time for a test run. You ready?

Spider-Man: Let's do this.

(And with that, Doctor Octavius flips on the remote control and the prosthetic springs to life, more fluid than anything the team has ever seen. But just as he goes to pick up a mug with it, the arm seems to freak out. Or more accurately, Doctor Octavius' arms start to lock up. He can't control the arm)

Spyro: Doctor Octavius? Are you okay?

(But Doctor Octavius keeps trying to push on until ultimately the cup drops from the prosthetic)

Octavius: DAMN IT! This is all your fault Norman, you son of a...! (Throws the controller down in anger) Damn it all!

Spider-Man: Guess we know how you're voting next election. (Getting a look of "WTF" from Doctor Octavius) Sorry, I make jokes when in stressful situations. It's a bad habit.

Octavius: (Regaining his composure, then with a chuckle) It was a good joke, Peter. I just overreacted.

Spider-Man: No worries. Hey, why don't you take a break? We'll get this cleaned up then go for another test.

Cynder: (Realizing this is the only chance they'll get) Doctor Octavius, forgive me if I'm prying here, but it seems you Osborn have a bit of a history.

Octavius: Do we ever. We were lab partners in college. At one point we were friends, and decided to start a business. We both had a vision of changing the world, but we pursued it in different ways.

Spyro: (Putting it together) Wait a minute, you were there when Oscorp got started?

Octavius: I'm one of the namesakes. Back in grad school everybody called Norman and I "The O's". Throw "corp" on the end, and it's a pretty catchy title.

Spider-Man: So... what happened? What split you up?

Octavius: Norman grew more obsessed with genetics. (Defnintely hiding something) He started an experiment I considered unethical, to put it mildly. Then there was... (Not wanting to remember it) Point being there was an incident, lawyers were involved, and I left in exchange for a cash settlement. Used it to start this company, but it didn't last long. Been relying on grants ever since. If this doesn't work, I'm ruined.

Cynder: Don't talk like that, Doc. This will work. I'm sure of it. We'll get the controls fixed up and we'll give it another shot.

Octavius: In that case, I'll put on a fresh pot of coffee. Be sure to run a diagnostic of the control unit, there may have been a short.

Spider-Man: Will do!

(While Spider-Man tinkers with the controls, Spyro and Cynder move off to the side, to discuss further)

Spyro: Am I the only one who's nervous about where Doctor Octavius is headed?

Cynder: Not even remotely. I'm more concerned about what just happened with that test. It looked like his hands just locked up.

Spyro: I saw that too. This is strange.

Spider-Man: (Finished with the control unit) Good to go here!

Octavius: (As Spider-Man tries to hand the controls to him) You know, Peter. Why don't you do the honors this time?

(As Doctor Octavius, clearly having something up with his arm, moves a mug into place, Spider-Man fires up the remote control, and the prosthetic springs to life. Just as fluidly as before, and more fluidly than any prosthetic on the market now, it picks up the mug, leaving everyone agast)

Spider-Man: It works. It really works!

Octavius: Phase one is done then. Phase two: Neural Interface.

Spyro: Sounds like a lot of work to do by yourself.

Cynder: Sure you couldn't use a hand, or six?

Octavius: After today's debacle, I don't know. And the funds are still pretty tight.

Spider-Man: Don't worry, we'll work it out. What's a few bucks when you're changing the world?

Octavius: (Seeing everybody's in agreement as he picks up the other mug) To changing the world.

(And in a moment of being funny, Spider-Man uses the prosthetic arm to toast by using the mug it's holding, as the scene ends for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for today. Finally, a somewhat happy ending to a chapter of this story! At least, as far as we know. Now there's an incident in Doctor Octavius' past, and something seems up with his joints. But all of that will come in later. For now, there's other things to do. And to see those, tune in next time! Same time... same channel!