When Peter retracted his Nano Vibranium Spider Suit and appeared as an ordinary passerby at the address on the note, he knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman with graceful features answered.
She stepped outside, looking at Peter through the fence with a hint of curiosity. "May I help you?"
Peter pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. "Hello, my name is Peter. I was referred by Dr. Curt Connors."
"A letter of introduction from Dr. Connors?" The woman unfolded the paper, her expression shifting slightly as she glanced at Peter. "Mr. Peter, please wait a moment. I'll inform Otto."
Peter nodded politely.
A few minutes later, he finally met this universe's version of Doctor Octopus—or rather, Dr. Otto Octavius, as he clearly hadn't yet become the mad scientist influenced by mechanical tentacles.
In this world, Dr. Octavius was a round-faced man with a bit of a paunch, wearing circular glasses that made him look more like a businessman than a scholar.
Peter thought if Otto smiled, his cheeks might jiggle.
It was hard to reconcile this image with Spider-Man's future nemesis, Doctor Octopus.
But Peter wasn't surprised.
A chubby version? That's nothing. He'd even met a female version before!
"Are you one of Connors' students?" Dr. Octavius asked, eyeing Peter up and down.
He didn't find Peter's age odd. For professors like him and Connors, having older students was normal.
However, he didn't recall ever seeing Peter at Connors' lab. With Peter's distinct, Eastern features, he'd have remembered.
Peter replied, "I'm not Dr. Connors' student, just a friend."
"A friend?" Dr. Octavius frowned slightly. He didn't have time to entertain Connors' friends—he was in the middle of a crucial phase in his research. Unfortunately, funding had dried up, halting his progress.
With a furrowed brow, he asked curtly, "What do you want from me?"
"I'd like to ask if you could introduce me to Norman Osborn, the CEO of Oscorp," Peter said, unfazed by Otto's cold demeanor.
Dr. Octavius studied him carefully. "Norman Osborn is bedridden. I doubt he'll see visitors."
There was a noticeable edge to his voice.
Peter sensed there might be some friction between Otto Octavius, Oscorp, or perhaps Norman Osborn himself.
"But what if I told you I might have a way to cure Norman Osborn's illness?" Peter said calmly.
"What?! Are you serious?!" Dr. Octavius leaned in, practically pressing his face against the fence in excitement.
"Otto?" Mrs. Octavius peeked out from inside the house.
Realizing he'd overreacted, Otto gave his wife a reassuring smile before regaining his composure. He turned back to Peter. "Do you really have a cure?"
Peter nodded. "In fact, I have more than one method."
Dr. Octavius stared at Peter for a long moment.
Peter's face remained calm, exuding quiet confidence.
"Come in," Dr. Octavius finally said, stepping aside to let him through.
They sat down in the living room.
Without wasting time, Dr. Octavius asked bluntly, "Mr. Peter, does Curt know about your methods?"
Peter nodded. "Of course he does."
Dr. Octavius frowned.
"And he still sent you?"
The reasoning was simple.
The conflicts between Curt Connors, his biological research, and Oscorp had become quite the buzz within their circle.
Dr. Octavius was equally disgruntled about it, but what could he do?
At the end of the day, he was just a scientist—without power or influence, even if he had the will, he lacked the means.
Peter replied, "That's not a conflict."
"Looks like you gave him something he couldn't refuse?" Octavius asked.
Peter smiled faintly.
Octavius gave a slight nod, as if lost in thought.
After a moment, he began to speak slowly.
Dr. Octavius did have some ties with Oscorp, officially listed under one of their atomic physics labs.
Originally, Oscorp had wanted to hire him directly. But fully aware of Oscorp's shady dealings with the British military, Octavius refused—he had no interest in designing weapons that would be used to slaughter people on the battlefield.
So, he declined.
However, scientific research requires extensive funding, and in the end, he had to compromise.
Eventually, he became affiliated with one of Oscorp's labs, providing civilian technology in exchange for financial support.
But this arrangement was far from ideal for either side.
As a result, Oscorp often made things difficult for him regarding funding.
And in turn, he often slacked off in protest.
Curt Connors, ever-absorbed in his own research, was unaware of these details. He simply assumed that Dr. Octavius, as a "special consultant," had some influence with Norman Osborn—so he recommended Octavius to Peter.
What Connors didn't know was that Dr. Octavius's relationship with Oscorp had recently deteriorated to the breaking point.
Due to his worsening illness and the looming shadow of death, Norman Osborn had grown increasingly desperate about Connors' research on the mutagenic serum. He even went as far as cutting funds for other "non-essential" projects.
Though the funding Octavius received was always meager—barely a drop in the bucket—even the smallest morsel is still meat.
And for Octavius, who was practically penniless, that funding was the lifeline sustaining his research.
But no matter how furious he felt, there was nothing he could do.
You can't twist the arm of someone who holds all the power.
After all, the money wasn't his.
If they didn't want to give it to him, he had no say in the matter.
Still, the thought of his forced-abandoned research filled him with growing resentment.
Listening to Octavius's story, Peter was slightly surprised.
"Doctor, the project you're working on… it's not miniature nuclear fusion energy, is it?"
Dr. Octavius looked at Peter, startled.
"How do you know that? I never even told Curt about it!"
Peter:
Should I tell him I saw it in a movie?
Just… not your movie.
(Note: I hit a block halfway through writing yesterday. The plotline of The Amazing Spider-Man is too short, so to expand it, I've outlined some future story arcs.)
(End of Chapter)
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