Epilogue

There's water outside. Actually, there's water everywhere. He feels like a fish in an aquarium, only rather than being put on display, he's kind of just there. Dropped in a tank because, somehow, that was where he belonged.

It's claustrophobic, but he can't do anything about it. Waking up in a strange place with no recollection of who he was should be terrifying, but, oddly, he was feeling rather docile. Almost like it was something he should be used to.

But he didn't want to think about that. It made his head hurt. Instead, he busied himself through movement - as much as he could anyway. His legs dangled in the air, his hands limp at his sides as the four tentacle-like arms in his back carried him across the shadowy threshold of his lab. There wasn't much to do, so he checked the systems of the machines, making sure every server was running pristinely, and when that was done, he rechecked technological systems to his mechanical arms.

His brain felt addled and putting together coherent thoughts was tough, but checking on the systems and machines felt like second nature. His tentacle arms seemed to work almost of their own accord as if they'd done this a thousand times already.

He was kinda sleepy, but something was nagging at his brain. A niggling thought that told him he was missing something.

He ran through a mental checklist of things he's already done, but it did nothing to reveal what he'd missed. He only woke up just a little while ago, right here in this la, with a single message telling him to sit tight until he was contacted. He couldn't remember anything that happened prior to his waking up, but he did know that it must've been something violent. His head was tender and wrapped tightly in a bandage, so he figured something concussive worthy had happened.

But all in all, he couldn't remember much.

He needed answers.

Almost as if on cue, the giant screen on the large wall near the front blinked, its systems booting up even though Otto hadn't turned it on. Moments later, the screen brightened and a face appeared, staring down at him.

Red hair, narrow chin, blue eyes - there was something very familiar about him. But it was something that also left a bitter taste on Otto's tongue.

"Ah, Otto," the man said. "you're awake. Good."

Otto...so that was his name? Otto inched toward him, "Who are you?"

"My name is Norman Osborn, and I'm your friend."

"Why...why am I here?" Otto turned, surveying the room. "Where is here?"

"You're in a disclosed safe location. Your previous lab was attacked and everything in it destroyed. I moved you here to keep you and your research safe from those who wish to take it."

Huh, perhaps he wasn't as bad as Otto previously thought. This man was obviously a man of science and discovery, like Otto himself must be. No wonder if knew his way around such technology. Besides, it just felt right.

Well, not completely. Someone had attacked him? Tried to steal his work? His research? The very thought was appalling.

"I take it you can't remember much," Norman continued, thoughtfully, "How unfortunate. But I'm sure that won't stop you from doing your best work."

Otto's head twinged as if the very thought of being worked was unpleasant. He nodded anyway, "Of course. Of course. My...memories are faulty. I don't remember much...but I - I will not be bogged down by ailments."

Norman's smirk is sharp and amused, as if he expected such an answer. "Good. Now, Octavius, I need you to think. Can you remember anything?"

"I..." his head hurts, "I think I remember a...fight...maybe...something hit me. There was something red...red and blue, I think. It's...who did this to me? Who attacked me?"

A new picture lit up the screen. A red and blue clothed figure somewhere high over a building.

"He attacked you," Norman Osborn said. "He's known as Spider-Man. He's a menace to our society, as the Bugle will tell you all about, and was just recently been taken into SHIELD custody."

SHIELD? Another familiar term Otto couldn't place. But if they had taken this Spider-Man into their custody, that must be a good thing then, right? "He was arrested, then?"

"No, he was hired. He's working alongside SHIELD."

Otto frowned, inching forward to squint at his assailant. So...this SHIELD wasn't good after all. "How did this happen?"

"Spider-Man deceived you. He befriended you, Otto, got you to help him build his tech, than turned around and tried to steal your research. I managed to drive him away before he could succeed, but I'm afraid you didn't go unscathed."

So this Spider-Man was the reason he could remember so little. He was the reason Otto was locked away in this container, somewhere deep in the water. This...this menace tried to steal his research, take away his livelihood. That would not go unchecked. It sent an angry, piercing fire in his chest. Anger and rage that lit up his insides.

Norman must've noticed the look on Otto's face.

"Yes, I agree. Spider-Man brutality should not go ignored, nor will we allow him to hide in SHIELD sanctity. Together, we will bring him down. Thankfully, before he stabbed you in the back, you managed to save substantial information on him. You'll find it all downloaded into your mainframe. I want you to bring him down for me, Otto. Spider-Man has powers we can use, and I refuse to let his blasphemy against you go unchecked."

Otto was already sifting through the information, swimming in observations of theories about Spider-Man. Norman was right, he was an extraordinary creature. Extreme agility, advanced acrobatics, speed like nothing he's seen, adhesive abilities, and a sixth sense of some kind. Truly fascinating.

"You won't let me down, will you Otto?"

Otto looked down at the red and blue figure, the back of his throat souring. "Of course not, Mr. Osborn."

"Good. But you must be careful, Otto. Spider-Man will try to deceive you again. He knows of your memory condition and will do anything in his power to win your trust. You mustn't listen to him. It will be hard. Things may not make sense, but SHIELD cannot be allowed to prevail. Do you understand?"

Otto looked him in the eye, "Yes, Mr...Osborn?" that sounded correct, "Mr. Osborn. Spider-Man will not make a fool of me again."

"Then continue your work, Octavius. I expect results when I check back in."

"And you will get them."

The screen turned black and it was just Otto again. This time claustrophobia didn't annoy him, the confines of his space were easily ignored in favor of a new drive. He would not be taken advantage of a second time.

He was going to find Spider-Man and make him pay for what he's done.

Annnnd the end! :D :D

Lol, yeeeaaah, so I decided to end it this way for a few reasons. This story is kind of considered the "first episode(s)" of the series if Peter had grown up with Otto as his parental figure. So, after this, the basic direction of the show continues. Peter goes to Midtown High where he meets and befriends Harry Osborn and Mary Jane Watson. His team ends up going there with him. Their team relationship starts out rocky but gets better the more they work together. Peter continues trying to find Otto, of which Norman is making extremely difficult. But when he DOES find Otto, Otto doesn't remember him and has acquired somewhat of a hate for him, resulting in lots of emotional damage to Peter! Peter, of course, tries to get Otto to remember him, but with Norman's warning, Otto thinks Peter is just trying to trick him again.

This goes on for some time, even putting Peter in a dark place that his team helps him get out of, and he switches to trying to find a way to get Otto's memory back. Gradually, Otto develops a hate for Norman as well (as if he still not treated right), and Norman is still made out to be the Goblin.

The general direction of the series stays the same, only it's sprinkled in with Peter trying to save Otto and take down Norman. For the ending, I was going to have Otto's nanobots fix his memory problem sometimes in season four when they transformed him, which would include a very, very heartful, extremely emotional reunion between Otto and Peter :3 :D Anyway, I'm sure you guys can fill in the blanks for what happens throughout the series.

This was a lot of fun to write! Thank you again Melancholysunshine for letting me adopt this little AU! I loved writing Otto as a caring parental figure! Besides, it was so fun rewriting Peter meeting Harry and his team. I enjoyed this immensely.

Anyway, this story is officially done! WHOOP! WHOOP! Thank you, everyone, who read it, liked it, and commented! I love you! 3

-OfficialUSMWriter out!