I do not own Doctor Octopus. I own Kat and Halley.

Our Future

kod

The girl Halley Megan Rhesus had seen more then one psychologist, and all of them had given the same verdict: perfectly sane, just rebelling. And eccentric. Very, very much so.

Halley was a sharp contrast from Mae. Barely hitting five feet, she stood thin but short, weighing only just 110 pounds. Her clothing was written on, jeans torn and shirts cut up, but all done in an almost-maybe-sort-of neatness. Her hair was (at this moment) in dreadlocks coming down to her shoulders and splayed in every direction, dyed red and green at the tips. (This had given her the name "Christmas tree") That, of course, could change, as she was one of those people who insisted on looking radically different every month, which inspired the concept of people meeting her five or six times over. She was also wearing a too-short shirt baring 'Save the Animals!', part of her activist and speaking out nature, and a pair of flannel plaid red and white pants. Barefoot, she stalked around one of the two apartments that had been gifted to her, pacing next to the window.

It was crazy, what she'd done. But Kat was her best friend, since as long as she could remember, and at this point in time, she almost maybe sort of wanted to meet Doctor Octopus. He sounded sort of interesting. And the threat was interesting, too. So she abruptly decided a prompt, 'oh hell', and called the girl up, asking her and her octopus companion to live with her.

Her biology major (specification in neurology), was another reason. Halley had heard the screeching and clicking in the background as Octopus had spoken – did those things attached to the doctor talk to him? She knew all about the inhibitor chip, the artificial intelligence, the things he'd spoken of at the demonstration (though Kat's friend's friend), and it interested her as much as it terrified her. A few very, very nice contacts had managed to get her some more interesting facts – the entire thing with the wires in his spine, how and what and the connection.

She had no idea when they'd get here, no idea what to say or do or what. It was clear that Kat and the mad scientist had some sort of decent relationship – otherwise they wouldn't be escaping together.

She sat down at mulled about this while the TV blared in the background. There was a person in front of Kat's apartment complex speaking into a microphone, live, of course. The words didn't reach her though, and the big red print upon today's Daily Bugle had moved out her mind faster then….then a lot of things.

There was a sharp rap. She turned, her stomach twisting. Otto Octavius was hanging in front of her window. Behind him, Kat's head was seen, her arms around his neck.

She opened the window with a shaking hand. The man dropped inside and the girl dropped off him, and dropped her bag.

"Uh, Hi, Kat."

"Halley!" The girl ran over and hugged her dreadlocked friend, lifting her off the ground, "Oh my god, I've missed you SO much, but now since all of this crap happened I've missed you even more and I don't know I'm just...oh and thanks for the apartment, I would never have thought of you to do this or to do whatever, and Oh, my god, how can I thank you or whatever?"

"Kat, I can't breathe," squeaked Halley. She was set down by Kat and looked up and down Otto.

"Nice to meet you, Halley." Otto Octavius replied, watching the girl from behind dark lenses, his voice a smooth, emotionless tone. All four actuators were open behind him, all four of them watching her.

"Hi."

Stunned would be a clear understatement. Frozen on the spot, jaw half dropping, staring at the doctor, Halley just…just stared.

"I trust you are surprised," Otto continued leisurely, smirking, "In which case, I shall continue to speak. I mean you no harm, as long as you don't call the press, tell anyone we're here, or let anyone over your house. Is that clear?" One tentacle snapped over his shoulder.

Halley's dreadlocks bounced.

"I'll take that for a nod. I don't think you need me to explain it to you, if you saw what I did to Harry Osborn."

"You did that!" Kat peered at him, frowning, "Bad tentacled Doctor!"

"He deserved it." Octavius replied, shrugging, "And if you heard what he said, you would think so to."

"So..um…………..hungry?" Squeaked Halley, still not moving.

"Yes, actually, we think so." He smiled smugly over at Kat, who just glared back, crossing her arms, "Would you care to get something for us?"

"SURE!" She bolted.

"That's HORRIBLE, Otto! The poor girl's scared to death of you and you're like…enslaving her or some shit! BAD OTTO!" She pointed a disapproving finger at him, "You're better then that."