The slightly cold white incandescent lights all illuminate one by one, lighting up the empty corridor. The white wall reflected the lights, appearing somewhat dazzling. With footsteps drawing closer, the laboratory door creaked open, and three nearly identical Spider-Men stepped in.
Just as the Amazing Spiderman was about to say something, Future Peter unhesitatingly navigated to the side of the experiment table and introduced, "This is my lab, Doctor Otto's lab is in the other room. If there is anything you do not understand, press this communicator to call him."
"That door leads to the data room. The warehouse and special items storage are downstairs. You would better descend from the staircase on the right side – it's faster that way. At the end of the corridor, in the preparation room, you will find everything you need. The lighting switch is on the left, and the power switch is on the right. Do not mix them up."
After talking, Future Peter strides to the data room. After a while, he brings a heap of files, laying them before the other two, "This catalog lists the current progress of experiments. For detailed specifics, look in the computer at the data room. For the password, call the AI with the communicator; it will recognize the voice. Since you two are also Peter Parker, you should be able to access it."
"By the way, there is a chemical lab on the third floor to the far right. I will complete some tasks assigned by Doctor Connors there. You can visit when you're free, and it would be great if you could help me finish them."
"Oh, also, there are some components in the mechanic workshop downstairs. Mr. Stark ordered me to assemble them, which are to be delivered by tomorrow morning. Don't forget."
"What else was there? Let me think… Oh, right, cryogenic research! But the lab researching cryogenic technology isn't in this building. It's in the one next door."
"Okay, let me see the time..." Future Peter glanced down at his watch, "Oh, it's time for work at the Lizard Serum Laboratory now, so I'm going to leave first. You guys carry on."
"Hey, wait, don't leave!" The Amazing Spiderman stopped him and asked, "Are these your everyday tasks? When do you foil crimes?"
"Um, usually every Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00." Future Peter answered. Peter seemed taken aback and said, "That doesn't seem right. I also patrol for two hours every Wednesday night. If you're future me, how can you cut down the time?"
"Please, do you know how busy I am these days? Well, you will realize sooner or later... With multiple projects underway concurrently, every lab needs me. They all say Peter is a jack-of-all-trades."
"It's not just me, even Gwen is swamped these days. She's working triple shifts in different biology labs under the Osborn Group. Old Osborn even praised her as the most diligent young researcher..."
"Cryogenic Technology, Biological Prosthetics, Lizard Serum, Mechanical Armor, Mercury Base, Solar Energy, Spaceship Decryption, Astronomical Observation, Near-earth Research... I could still spare two hours to foil crimes, I'm doing quite well!"
"Fine, I agree." Peter sighed and said, "Looks like I will be very busy in the upcoming two months."
"What on earth are you guys doing?" Amazing Spiderman questioned, "What about those supervillains causing chaos in New York? Who will handle them? What about the safety of ordinary citizens if no one is in charge?"
"Super villains? Who do you mean?" Future Peter asked.
"Um... the Sinister Six, haven't you heard of them? In my universe, they are the most evil criminals who commit wrongdoings in New York every day..."
"Who exactly are they, and what are their abilities?" Future Peter asked, stroking his chin.
"Sandman, who can manipulate sand, Electro, who has control over electricity, Doctor Octopus... okay, Doctor Octopus is a good guy in your universe, the Vulture, a winged fellow, Mysterio..."
"Apart from them, there's also Chameleon, Rhino, and so on. Have you not encountered them?" Amazing Spiderman spread out his hands, looking utterly puzzled.
"Sandman, let me think, it sounds familiar... Oh! I remember!" Future Peter suddenly realized, "The other day, Mr. Stark said a new guy who can control soil is helping a lot in building the foundation at the Mercury Base. That must be your Sandman!"
"And Electro, who can control circuits? I remember, Thunder said before that a guy with similar abilities to him is currently participating in the decryption of the Kree spaceship's circuit system. Could that be your Electro?"
"As for the others ... I guess they all must be really busy right now." Future Peter, shaking his head, said, "Nick Fury is almost going crazy, recruiting people all around the world. It's not just these guys with useful abilities, but even mutants with barely useful abilities need to go through screenings. Anyone with useful abilities can find a suitable post."
"You don't know how understaffed we are. If we were not so desperately short-handed, why would we let an outstanding talent like Doctor Otto take charge of an entire project group? Don't those decision-makers realize they are wasting precious research talent?"
Future Peter sighed, "Ordinary people excel in mental capabilities, but some tasks require more than just intelligence. The exploration of extraterrestrial space can be deadly for ordinary people due to the harsh space environment and even the slightest carelessness can lead to death."
"On the other hand, mutants or unusual beings with special abilities are the ideal choice. Ordinary people are responsible for research on earth, upgrading and replacing technology. People with special abilities implement the technology..."
"Right now, both sides are much in need of people, regardless of whether they have special abilities or research capabilities. They surely must be implemented into this plan already. If the people you mentioned truly possess such miraculous abilities, they would have certainly been apprehended by Nick. He wouldn't let go of any labor force of this kind."
Peter and the Amazing Spiderman glanced at each other. The Amazing Spiderman shrugged his shoulders and said, "Alright then, let me see what you guys are researching. You should know that I am a top-tier researcher at the New York Delray Institute..."
After ten minutes, the Amazing Spiderman fell onto the table, face-first. He sighed, then sat up, holding the documents in his hand, showing signs of a headache. "What the heck is this? How can it be possible to freeze a person in his original state and still keep him completely unhurt?"
"And this, molten steel? Does data on this kind of material actually exist? When did Earth come to have this kind of material?"
"My god, a mechanical base layout? Is this something that Iron Man came up with? The Iron Man from my world doesn't possess this technology. I've never heard of it before..."
"The Mercury base, solar energy, what are you guys trying to do? Has humanity started the era of space colonization?"
Peter was familiar with the data and was recording it effortlessly. He said, "Some parts indeed are challenging. I couldn't understand it at first either. If you don't understand, you can go next door to seek Doctor Otto, or call Doctor Ethan and Mr. Stark, Doctor Connors is also a choice. At least one of them will be able to answer your questions."
The Amazing Spiderman looked awkwardly at the door outside. "You want me to go ask Doctor Octopus? That's a bit..."
Five minutes later, inside Doctor Otto's lab, the two topmost tentacles of the four were holding up a whiteboard, while one on the side held a pen and the other an eraser. Doctor Otto was speaking energetically while doodling:
"How many times have I said it, the data you've calculated were flawed. Didn't you check it with the machine? Can this even work?"
"Pay attention, this model, right here... and here, are the focal points of our following experiments. You, run the calculations on this model now. And you, boot up the machine..."
Peter and the Amazing Spiderman, sitting in front of Doctor Otto on their stools, exchanged looks, sighed, and then each went to work on their separate tasks.
Just when the Amazing Spiderman set his hands on his hips, studying a machine he'd never seen before, a loud 'boom' echoed through the room and the doors were kicked open. A band of SHIELD agents stormed in. Reflexively, Peter leaped backward, knocking into Doctor Otto who was still recording data.
Doctor Otto almost fell over. Feeling the shift in his balance, he instinctively controlled his tentacles to find support from the ground and stabilize his body. One of his tentacles was close to an experimental table, and when it swung, it caused sparks to fly from the table, frightening Peter who was still reviewing a document.
Peter's spider-sense tingled, he quickly jumped back, bumping into another tentacle. That tentacle swung toward the future Peter.
The future Peter's spider-sense tingled. He instinctively punched, causing the tentacle to be deflected. Doctor Otto was immediately thrown onto the ground. Instantaneously, his four long tentacles began to flail wildly, entangling all three Spidermans.
Squad leader Coulson, looking at the tangled mess of Doctor Otto and the Spidermen, opened his mouth in speechlessness, seemingly not knowing what to say.
After a while, Doctor Otto managed to stand up from the ground. Coulson waved his hand, ordering the SHIELD agents to untangle the twisted tentacles.
Coulson cleared his throat and said, "SHIELD Agent Coulson. I heard you have several Spidermans here. Come with me."
Finally, the Amazing Spiderman, Peter, and future Peter, who were released from the tentacles, sighed and then followed Coulson out the room.
Half an hour later, in Nick Fury's office, Nick looked at the Amazing Spiderman and said: "You mean to tell me that, beyond our universe, there are infinite multiverses, and within each universe, there are Spidermen, Iron Men, Doctor Otto, Doctor Connors, Doctor Ethan, and numerous other geniuses???"
The Amazing Spiderman swallowed hard, because he was certain that he saw a green light in Nick's eyes.
Elsewhere, Doctor Otto was alone, cleaning up the mess in his lab. As his tentacles picked up shards of a broken lamp, he suddenly heard some noise from the hallway.
As the lighting system in the lab was damaged, the room was plunged in darkness. Doctor Otto took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, he then saw a figure with four tentacles appear at the entrance.
As the moonlight grew stronger, Doctor Otto saw that the figure at the door was Spiderman-
A Spiderman with octopus tentacles.