The lab windows revealed a scantily starlit night, yet inside the lab was a disarray. Otto stood amidst the debris, his two tentacles steadying him against the ground and hoisting his body up. His limbs moved like legs, taking strides forward until he reached Dr. Octavius Parker.
"Are you also Spiderman?" Otto gazed downward at the four tentacles protruding from Parker's back. Unlike Doctor Octopus's, these seemed more akin to the legs of an arthropod, ending in sharper points. They bore more resemblance to weapons than tools.
"I am not Spiderman." For the first time, Parker admitted his identity. "I am you, from a parallel universe."
With a derisive snort, Otto turned, commanding his tentacles to latch onto the ceiling as he began clearing the scattered remnants.
Parker flared up, speaking in an indignant tone, "Don't you believe it? I've done better than you. I replaced Spiderman to become the sole hero of that world."
"Really? Then you must be quite remarkable. Go back to your universe, why are you here? Do I seem idle enough for you?" Otto stooped to pick up the fragments littered on the lab table, a trace of regret crossing his face.
The lab was constructed with the finest materials, sadly, the constituents of the mechanical tentacles sprouting from Otto's back were superior. The lavish amalgamation of molten steel and vibranium endowed the tentacles with unparalleled toughness. Even a gentle swipe could shatter a lab table.
"Where did you take them?" Parker questioned.
"Who are you referring to?"
"The Spidermen."
"They left with the S.H.I.E.L.D Agents. S.H.I.E.L.D is investigating the matters related to cosmic travel. If you chase their car now, you might still catch them." Otto responded, as he placed his glasses back on and began reviewing the documents at hand. Although weary, the savage chaos had helped vent his frustration, leaving him considerably calmer.
"So, you just plan on staying here?" Parker advanced a couple of steps, questioning Otto, "Content with a life of consistent defeats to Spiderman? Don't you wish to conquer him?"
"Why should I defeat him?" Otto retorted without hesitation.
"He wrecked everything you had! If not yet, he eventually will! That's just who he is. His indecisiveness and cowardice will doom the world!" Parker's tentacles trembled, his tone seething with concealed rage.
Setting down his documents, Otto paused for a moment. The four mechanical tentacles supporting him swiveled to turn his body around. The reflection of the moonlight off his glasses prevented Parker from discerning his eyes. However, he was certain that Otto wasn't incensed at his provocative words.
"Are you jealous of him?" Otto inquired.
"I told you, I've conquered him. I handled matters better than him!" Parker emphatically restated, "I eradicated all criminals once and for all. From that point forward, New York remained eternally safe."
Suddenly, Parker noticed the familiar glint in Otto's eyes when he took off his glasses, perhaps, at one point, Parker had viewed Spiderman in a similar light.
"You are not me." Under the moonlight, Otto firmly declared, "Otto Octavius would not prance about New York for hours each day like Spiderman. He is aware of the futility of such actions."
Before Parker had a chance to respond, Otto stepped slightly closer, peering into his eyes as he questioned, "So, New York is safe. But what about the East Coast? The entirety of the East? The West? The Americas? The world?"
"You are not me, you are still Spiderman." Otto stressed again. "Only foolish youngsters wound up in their vanity may believe that peace can be achieved through defeating all criminals."
"As for Otto, i.e. me, I know that crime in this world can never be obliterated entirely, because that's just how humans are." Placing his glasses back on, when his back faced the light, Parker could discern a more mature thought process in his eyes.
"The existence of so much wickedness in this world leading to wars, bloodshed, and death essentially stems from the fact that the resources are limited. Humans have no choice but to vie for the scarce resources available."
"This leads to countless futile conflicts. But with infinite resources, all humans can have a better life. While this wouldn't completely eliminate crime, it would certainly be a marked improvement over the current state."
Drawing closer after his speech, Otto had his body suspended by the tentacles. Leaning over Parker, he asserted,
"All along, I've been an energy scientist. My only method of saving this world is providing humankind with inexhaustible clean energy, eliminating the need for conflict over resources. That's what I am supposed to do."
"And you, if you agree with the method of saving the world by defeating all criminals, then you are not me, because I would never consider such a method."
After delivering his piece, Otto resumed cleaning the lab while Parker stood there in silence.
Ever since swapping bodies with Peter Parker, he had been incessantly hustling, establishing his own lab, crafting stronger equipment, combating more criminals, inventing surveillance devices to monitor the entire city, while constantly guarding against Spiderman's reprisal.