Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel or Spiderman 2 characters yada yada... though the Andy and Liz I do...

Author's Note: I'm REALLY sorry about how long this took. School's been a bug. And I got stuck at one point.. the article part of course. (I got help on that from another Ock/Alfred lover..) But I've finally got this done. So enjoy!

Chapter 2

Gradually, Otto started to awaken, his confused head aching dully. He opened his eyes and was met with that never-ending darkness. And he remembered. He remembered he never died, that his arms had saved him from death and because of it, he was blind. People were always warned not to look at the far off sun; he had been standing right under it, staring up at it.

He groaned and stretched out his cramped legs, stretching his arms out. Then, as soon as he started, he stopped. His tentacles were being unusually quiet; he had almost forgotten they were there.

He craned his neck, knowing it would be useless to see but tried to hear at least. He heard a scratching to his left and then a tentacle seemed to appear out of nowhere beside him.

Father, we are here.

"Course you are," He grumbled irritably. Slowly, he began to shuffle over to the entrance of the cave. He felt the other three tentacles coil to his sides and he could tell they were about to lift him up. "Don't." He said firmly, he wanted a stick. He wanted a long stick that could help him know if there was anything he might trip over. He did NOT want his tentacles to move him or tell him where to go. He still had some pride left, some dignity.

Feeling foolish, he felt his way over to an old oak tree and broke off a branch. He let his hands run along the branch, measuring how long it was and found it suitable. All the while, his arms were silent as he lowered the stick to the ground, waving it across the ground as he moved.

He had always felt a deep respect towards blind people, but now that he was blind he did not have that feeling anymore. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming; to not be able to see was horrible for him, horrible for a scientist. He would never go back to being a scientist now; but he guessed he wouldn't have anyway with the tentacles protruding from his back.

By now he was growing slightly annoyed from the silence. He was used to the voices in his head, and with them being silent, he almost felt insecure. Sure, this would help him not walk into things, but it did not tell him where he was going. Angrily he threw down the stick, and waited for a response. They were silent for awhile, then...

We have been working out things, Father; while you were sleeping.

"And what are those...things?" He said warily, but partly relieved to hear their soothing voices.

They did not answer his question though. We will help you Father, but you must cooperate with us.

He went silent, not liking the sound of this. Planning on things behind his back, they were being downright mysterious and secretive with him. Things were coming down too fast on him; he wanted to get away from all this madness.

We're going tomorrow.

A hushed silence. Then, "What do you mean?"

We're leaving for the city, tomorrow.

"What! When was this arranged? I never heard of it!" He cried out, his anger starting to rise.

Course you didn't. You do not know what is best, so we arranged it for you.

"I never asked for you to arrange anything for me!"

No you didn't...

"Then why did you do it?"

Oh Father! Why do you think? You are weak, yet we are strong. We know what is best, and have made plans for ourselves and you.

"But...but I don't want to go back there!" He stuttered back. He was sick of the hate and fear in everyone's eyes that he had seen the last time he was there. He was sick of being known as a murderous maniac that no one cared for. He was sick...

But you will not see the hate and fear.

Irritated he responded back, "Stop that! Stop looking into my head, seeing my thoughts!" At this, they grew silent for the moment. Still glowering, he started to trudge back in the direction of the cave, not caring that the tentacles were partly helping him get there without going the wrong direction.

He didn't feel the least bit guilty of his outburst. He didn't always need to agree with them, he didn't always need to let them control him. He could be angry when he wanted, who were they to take control of everything in his life? No, he should get more freedom, more choice. They would just have to accept that.

He could tell he was getting to the cave because of the drop of temperature. The cave got rather chilly and sometimes he wondered why he stayed there. When winter came, he'd better find another place to stay unless he wanted to shiver in his worn trench coat all winter. And the tentacles were little comfort to warmth, seeing as how they were machines. Sure they could block a harsh wind by curling around him protectively but if it was cold out and they made contact with his skin, it usually followed up in a chill coursing up his spine. And sometimes the reason wasn't always because of cold.

He sighed, easing himself on the ground and felt the tentacles coil around him. He cringed, but then found him absently putting a hand on the head of one. Sure, he could deeply despise these...creatures at times. But he still couldn't help feeling a bit happy they were there. They gave him the little comfort he couldn't have, probably that he'd never have again. Don't think like that. He scolded himself; you'll get out of this nightmare somehow...

He gazed off in his blindness, thinking all the while. He couldn't believe how it was so peaceful...sometimes too peaceful. He could think without any distractions, because his sight was gone. He didn't see any movement or change because everything was black. He could go on and think like this forever, and not one distraction...

Father?

Except that one.

Father...

Otto sighed and leaned his head back against the cave wall, a weary sigh escaping his lips. "What now?"

We have to do it. You know we do.

He didn't have to ask them what they meant. He hated to admit it, but they were right. He couldn't stay here forever; he had to go into the city at some point.

"Maybe so...but why so soo..."

He was cut off by sharp click, and he felt the tentacles jerk in response. He heard them start hissing madly, clacking their claws with mad intensity.

"What is it? What's the matter?" Otto asked with concern, wondering where the click came from...it sounded familiar...

How dare him! What are they doing here?!

Before Octavius could ask what the arms meant he heard arguing coming from the entrance of the cave. The first voice was a girl's. "Andy, you idiot; I told you not to take a picture, I think he heard you!"

"Pipe down Liz, it's not my camera that's going to hear us, it's your jabbering mouth!" A boy this time; "Now shut-up and let's get out of here! Boy, and everyone thought he was dead. Wait till we show the newspapers..."

In an instant, the tentacles were there. Octavius heard a scream from both the kids and his eyes widened. He couldn't let his tentacles do any more harm that he'd already done. "Stop!" He shouted out, grabbing at his mechanical arms. They ignored him as they grabbed the camera out of the boy's hand and crushed it.

"Hey! That was my dad's, what did you do that for?" He heard the boy gripe, followed by a yelp of fear as the two of the tentacles advanced for them, while the other two blocked any escape.

"Stop it," Otto pleaded at his creations. "...don't kill them at least!"

He heard the tentacles mentally sigh as they obliged. Alright Father, but they cannot go. We can't have Spiderman know we have lived just yet...

He reluctantly agreed, at least he would not have two other deaths on his hands. It was then that he noticed the silence of the two and felt as if he was being stared at. Well duh, he thought to himself, who wouldn't be staring at you? Then he realized he'd been talking out loud to the tentacles, and he felt the nape of his neck turn hot. Most likely he was blushing. He would have to get out of the habit of talking to his tentacles out loud. No one else could hear them, so most likely they would think he was insane. Not that they thought that already. He sighed and turned away, though his tentacles remained by the kids. Nobody understands...

"Dude you creep, why'd you have to wreck my camera?" The boy snapped. Otto found himself startled by the boy's confidence...and annoyed. He wasn't a creep...at least HE wasn't, his arms on the other hand... "Can't have you putting the news all over the city that I'm alive," He mumbled, loudly enough for the kid to hear.

Still, he kept his back to the two kids. The boy wasn't one to give up easily, Otto would give him that. "What, they're going to find out sooner or later! You think you can just sit out here forever? You know what Liz," The boy, or Andy, turned to the girl. "I think he's afraid of Spider-man." Octavius's felt a prickle of anger jump into his emotions, half from the tentacles and half because he was actually insulted. "I am NOT afraid of that...bug." He spat, but still did not turn around. But he could tell the arms were waving menacingly over the kids.

Still the boy did not have the good sense to be quiet. "Yeah, you're like a mouse hiding from the hawk. And Spider-Man's the hawk. I always knew you were gutless."

That did it, despite the aches and pains on his body; the pain seemed to subside as the anger came on full force. "I AM NOT afraid of him!" He whirled around, his fists clenching, feeling the tentacle grab the boy around the waist, and squeezed hard enough for the boy to gasp in pain.

Otto found himself smirking cruelly as the boy tried to struggle out of his grasp. The boy groaned, yet tried to stifle it. This made Otto smirk even more, the boy was trying to keep his pride.

He wanted to squeeze harder, and harder still, make the boy suffer. Kill the boy; yes kill him...but...

"No!" Otto Octavius snapped out of it, he was becoming Ock once more; he couldn't have it happen again. He backed up and scolded the arms, and surprisingly they loosened their grip. But only a little bit.

Then as the boy caught his breath a bit easily, Otto heard the girl gasp... "Oh my gosh! Are you...are you blind?"

He stiffened, and quickly turned around; he guessed they were around 14 or 16. That comment had struck a nerve; he did not want anyone to know of his predicament. It was obviously a new weakness, and he'd rather not have Spider-man know of it. Or Peter Parker, as it were.

The silence however, answered her question. The boy clutched at his waste and coughed. Then he straightened up, "Whoa awesome...wait till Spiderman hears of this!"

"He will not hear any such thing!" He spat bitterly. "Because you two aren't leaving here, not since you found me. I don't need the press crawling around here, mixed in with the annoying police. Trying to get a story and capture me at the same time..."

"But we...we won't tell anyone!" The girl argued.

"What?! Cripes, Liz, course we're going to tell people. We'll be famous for this; we might even be rewarded..." He was cut off by a glare of Liz's.

Otto quirked an eyebrow; glaring at the kids with sightless eyes, "I thought as much," He said off-handedly and turned around, trying to look busy. But really, he had nothing to do. He didn't want to show that to them though, he too, had his pride.

"But what about our families; they'll call the police, you know they will. They'll know something is up!" The girl warned him.

Otto felt himself slipping away, more and more it seemed he was losing control of himself. "Well, what do you think they'll think now? That some abductor took you two, or a madman that is supposed to be dead?" He replied and then added indifferently, "You two were the ones that decided to risk a picture."

"But..." He interrupted her, "And what were you doing down here anyway?"

There was an uncomfortable silence, then...

"We didn't believe you actually died. The story was too vague...too simple." The boy answered, exchanging glances with his sister.

One of the tentacles coiled back to him and nudged something in his hands.

What now?

The girl had it Father; it's a bag of things. Knowing he could not see, they continued on. They have a Daily Bugle newspaper in here too.

Otto slipped the newspaper out of the bag, frowning. The way the tentacles mentioned it out of the other things bothered him. Give it to the girl. He told his tentacles, they did so, knowing what was on his mind.

He heard her squeak as the tentacle curled it's way to her and then a confused gasp as the paper was dropped on her lap. "Read it." He said shortly.

He heard a shuddering gulp, "R-read it?"

He only nodded.

RAMPAGE AT THE RIVERSIDE
DOC OCK DECEASED - WEBSLINGER STILL AT LARGE

By J. Jonah Jameson

A scene of massive carnage took place by the river last night, as crime partners Spiderman and Dr. Otto Octavius had a falling out.

The reason for the dispute is uncertain at this time, however it is this reporter's opinion that the two master criminals probably quarreled about divvying up the loot from the National Bank robbery they had pulled off earlier this month. Dr. Octavius, aka 'Doc Ock', had used most of the funds to rebuild his infernal machine, while Spiderman undoubtedly intended to keep most of it for himself. The ensuing battle caused Doc Ock's creation to sink to the bottom of the river, and resulted in immense property damage, estimated at over $100,000.

The mad scientist fought to his last breath to keep his invention afloat, but was bested by his partner, who used his web-like threads to bind the tentacled terror to his own machine, causing him to drown. NYPD and Fire marshals arrived at the scene but were too late to apprehend the surviving member of the robbing pair - Spiderman had disappeared without a trace, as he had done so many times before.

The only remaining witness, actress Mary Jane Watson, was rescued and suffered no serious injuries. Watson, fiancé of Astronaut and local hero John Jameson, was kidnapped by Doc Ock earlier that day for ransom purposes. She remains reluctant to aid authorities in the capture of Spiderman, probably in fear of retaliation by him. We can only hope and pray that this dangerous menace won't elude the police for much longer.

Nervously the girl looked up, Ock of course did not see but this time neither did the tentacles. Both were shaking with rage. Otto was losing his sane side, and this time he didn't fight as much. Scientist he may be, but this was an outrage. He was furious.

"Partners," Ock snarled, "Fought to my last death?!" The tentacles snapped their claws in their fury, but also hissing with excitement. The time to leave, was now.

He steadied himself and then, without a glance to either of them, (wouldn't have been much of a difference anyway) he stomped out of the cave.

He stopped once he got to the edge of the river, forgetting what was very important; what Spiderman was not to know. "Glasses?" He muttered to his mechanical arms. Obligingly, they set them upon him, as if they had been waiting for him to give permission.

"I shall need your help. This will not be easy; I will need your eyes." He could almost hear the tentacles purr with their delight. He smiled himself, he was back in business- and this time no one would stop him. Not even Parker.