sorry.
I haven't been feeling well lately. Seeing the data dropping every day is making me quite depressed.
My grandmother's condition has been fluctuating, and with my leg in a cast making it difficult to move around, I've been struggling to do many things, which has led to the intermittent updates. I apologize for that.
Thank you to everyone who is still following my updates. I will gradually adjust my schedule and try to maintain a stable update schedule.
After settling the Vulture in the temporary containment area at SSC headquarters, the three did not linger.
The red dots on the magic compass were distributed across different areas of New York. Little Peter quickly glanced at the data and pointed to one signal with a relatively regular movement pattern, saying, "This one is hovering near the Hudson River, moving at a slow speed. Judging from the heat source characteristics, it's carrying large mechanical devices."
Tobey's Peter leaned over for a look, his brow furrowing slightly, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.
"What's wrong?" Garfield's Peter noticed the change in his expression.
Tobey paused for a few seconds, then lowered his voice slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, this should be Doctor Octopus. Otto Octavius."
Little Peter and Garfield exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes. They were both familiar with the name; Doctor Otto was famous in their respective universes.
"He's different from other villains."
Tobey continued, his voice heavy, " Otto was originally a very excellent scientist, even a good person. To study controlled nuclear fusion, he invented a smart robotic arm for himself to manipulate radioactive materials in experiments."
"The robotic arm comes with its own artificial intelligence and originally had a limiting chip to ensure that the robotic arm obeys its commands."
Tobey paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Later, an accident occurred during the experiment, destroying the restraint chip. The robotic arm's AI, now unrestrained, began to influence his brain, amplifying the darker side of his being."
"He wasn't born a bad person."
Tobey's voice was soft, "In my universe, we finally... made peace. He found himself again, even sacrificing himself to save the city. I've always considered him an elder."
After listening, Little Peter looked down at the slowly moving red dot on the screen and fell into thought.
If Tobey is telling the truth, then Doctor Octopus's situation is similar to Sandman's; both are essentially powerless. However, the difference is that Doctor Otto's robotic arm possesses independent AI, making negotiations much more difficult.
"Let's go take a look first." Little Peter put away the screen. "If we can talk, we can talk; if we can't reach an agreement, we'll think of another way."
Three red and blue figures once again disappeared into the night, speeding towards the Hudson River.
An abandoned dock on the Hudson River.
This place has been abandoned for many years. Rusty containers are piled up like mountains, and dilapidated cranes stand on the bank like silent steel skeletons. The river surface glistens with a dark light, and the evening breeze carries the scent of water and rust, making the scrap metal rattle.
Doctor Octopus stood in the open space in the middle of the dock.
Four thick mechanical arms extended from his back, gleaming with a cold metallic luster in the night. Each arm was equipped with sharp claws at its end, which were now unconsciously scratching at the ground, leaving deep furrows.
He seemed to be studying something; scattered on the ground in front of him were electronic components salvaged from nearby. The robotic arm deftly manipulated these parts, trying to piece something together.
Three figures silently landed on top of a container not far away.
Tobey's Peter looked down at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure, his throat tightening slightly. In his universe, he had clashed with Otto countless times, and had witnessed firsthand the moment when Otto finally rediscovered himself and sacrificed himself to save the city.
Seeing this man controlled by a robotic arm again now fills me with mixed feelings.
"I'll give it a try." Tobey a deep breath and jumped off the container.
Little Peter and Garfield didn't follow; instead, they remained on high ground, ready to respond to any unexpected situations.
The robotic arm's sensors detected the movement immediately. The four metal arms suddenly turned towards Tobey, their claws opening with a piercing metallic scraping sound. Doctor Octopus slowly turned around, his gaze behind his goggles locking onto Tobey.
But the next second, his movements froze.
The madness and fanaticism gradually faded, replaced by a sense of bewilderment and confusion. The four mechanical arms no longer assumed an attack stance, but instead slowly lowered, their claws slightly opening and closing, as if hesitating about something.
Peter?
He spoke, his voice no longer hoarse and cold, but carrying a long-lost, human weakness and trembling. He stared at Tobey's face, as if confirming something, " Peter Parker? Is that you?"
Tobey's eyes welled up slightly. He removed his mask, revealing his young face, his voice trembling slightly. "It's me, Doctor Otto."
Doctor Otto took a step forward, his four mechanical arms swinging unconsciously behind him. He looked Tobey up and down, his eyes filled with concern and worry.
"How are you?"
This seemingly ordinary greeting brought tears to Tobey's eyes.
In his universe, Otto would ask him this every time they met.
"I..."
Tobey a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm, "Trying to do better."
Otto paused for a moment, then gave a gentle smile. The smile looked somewhat weathered on his stubble-covered face, but it was incredibly genuine.
"Okay, okay. You've always been a good boy, Peter."
Just then, one of the mechanical arms behind him suddenly twitched violently, its claws slamming into the ground, sending debris flying. Otto's body jolted, and the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by pain and struggle.
"No..."
Tobey immediately stepped forward to help him, but Otto suddenly stepped back, a mechanical arm blocking between them with its claws open.
"Don't come any closer!"
Otto's voice turned low, "It... it's coming again..."
" Doctor Otto, calm down!"
Tobey stopped and raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "You can beat it. You've done it before!"
"I can't do it..."
His consciousness was engaged in a fierce tug-of-war with the AI of the robotic arm.
At times, Otto's conscience would prevail. He would look at Tobey with pain and guilt, apologizing and saying that he shouldn't have become like this, that he was sorry for Peter's trust, and that he should have been a scientist, not a monster.
He would even raise his hand, wanting to pat Tobey's head, just like he used to do in the lab. But halfway through his reach, the robotic arm would suddenly twitch, interrupting his movement.
At times, malice takes over. His eyes turn cold and crazed, his four mechanical arms assume an attack stance, and he lets out Doctor Octopus's characteristic arrogant laugh, saying that Spider-Man wants to stop him from creating a greater world.
Even in this state, his attack would experience a subtle delay the moment it approached Tobey.
Two consciousnesses repeatedly swung back and forth within the same body, each switch accompanied by intense pain and the loss of control of the robotic arm.
Otto's forehead veins bulged, sweat streamed down his cheeks, and his teeth clenched so tightly they seemed to be engaged in a life-or-death struggle with an unseen enemy. The dock floor was riddled with craters, containers were torn with deep cracks by pliers, and scrap metal was ripped into pieces that flew through the night wind.
Tobey stood there, watching this scene, his heart breaking.
He wanted to help, but didn't know how. This was a battle of consciousness; his Silk and fists were useless. He could only call out Otto's name again and again, trying to awaken his true self.
" Otto, think about your research! Think about your original intentions! You wanted to provide the world with unlimited clean energy, not to destroy anything!"
"Think of Rosalie! She wouldn't want to see you like this!"
"You said it, Otto! You said you would use your talents to do the right thing!"
With each shout, Otto's body would stiffen slightly, as if his mind could briefly regain control.
However, the robotic arm's AI was simply too powerful. Without the constraints of a limiting chip, Otto's consciousness was like a small boat in a storm, which could be completely swallowed up at any moment.
Finally, after a violent convulsion, Otto's body stopped struggling.
He slowly raised his head. The pain and guilt on his face vanished, replaced by coldness, madness, and paranoia. Four mechanical arms slowly unfolded behind him, their claws opening and closing with a piercing metallic scraping sound.
Doctor Octopus is back.
"Spider-Man." His voice had completely transformed into the cold, robotic quality of an AI, "It's you again. You always ruin my plans."
" Doctor Otto..." Tobey's voice carried a hint of despair.
There is no Doctor Otto!
Doctor Octopus roared, and a mechanical arm swept across, whistling through the air as it slammed into Tobey. "That weak scientist is dead!"
Tobey dodged to the side, shooting out Silk that stuck to a container in the distance, using it to create some distance. He knew that Otto's true nature had been completely suppressed, and now standing in front of him was Doctor Octopus, who was completely controlled by the robotic arm's AI.
"Shall we get started?" Tobey shouted towards the high place.
Little Peter. and Garfield's Peter. both leaped off the container, flanking Dr. Octopus from the left and right. Garfield shot out two Silk, which precisely stuck to the joints of the two mechanical arms on the left, pulling them off course. Little Peter., using the pull of the Silk, flipped in the air and kicked Doctor Octopus in the chest.
Doctor Octopus snorted coldly, and his remaining two mechanical arms simultaneously returned to defend, one blocking Little Peter's flying kick, while the other claw aimed straight at Garfield's face.
Three people and one machine engaged in a fierce battle on the abandoned dock.
Doctor Octopus's four mechanical arms are a combination of offense and defense, covering a vast area, and their claws are strong enough to tear through steel plates. Although Little Peter and his two companions are agile, subduing Otto without harming his physical body is extremely difficult in the narrow dock area.
While dodging the attacks of the robotic arm, Tobey still tried to wake Otto: " Otto! I know you're still in there! Don't give up!"
"Shut up!"
Doctor Octopus roared, and a mechanical arm slammed into Tobey, deforming the container behind him. "He's gone! Now only Doctor Octopus remains!"
But Tobey noticed that when Doctor Octopus said this, his body trembled slightly, and the movement of one of his mechanical arms showed an extremely brief pause.
Otto is still fighting. He hasn't given up.
Just then, JARVIS's voice came through Little Peter's earpiece.
" Mr. Parker, an unusual energy signal has been detected moving rapidly towards a densely populated area in downtown New York City. Based on the current trajectory, the signal is expected to enter a densely populated area within eight minutes."
While dodging the attacks from the robotic arm, Little Peter quickly asked, "Can you confirm what it is?"
"The exact identity cannot be confirmed at this time, but the energy characteristics are consistent with previously detected extraterrestrial life forms."
Little Peter's expression changed.
Regardless of who the energy signal came from, the consequences would be disastrous if it entered a densely populated area. They must deal with Doctor Octopus as soon as possible and then rush over to handle the situation.
However, Doctor Octopus a formidable force in both offense and defense, and even with the three of them working together, they can only barely hold his own. Subduing him without harming him is virtually impossible.
We must find another way.
Using the pull of the Silk, Little Peter somersaulted through the air and landed beside Tobey. He spoke rapidly, " Tobey, this can't go on. His robotic arm's AI is too powerful; without a limiting chip, we can't control it at all."
"I know," Tobey gritted his teeth, his face filled with anxiety and helplessness, "But we can't hurt him, he's just being controlled."
Just then, JARVIS's voice rang out again.
" Mr. Parker, based on remote scanning analysis of Doctor Octopus's robotic arm system, its core control module is located on the back base and is directly connected to the robotic arm's AI. If we can physically intrude into its control system and briefly suppress the AI's operation, theoretically, we could buy Doctor Otto time to regain control."
Little Peter's eyes lit up. "You mean...?"
"It is recommended to use nanomaterials to construct physical intrusion probes."
JARVIS's voice was calm and rational. "The armor's nanomaterials can establish connections with any electronic system. As long as the probe can reach the core interface of the robotic arm, it can infiltrate and suppress the AI in a short time. But this requires sacrificing a portion of the nano-armor."
Little Peter looked down at his left hand.
The materials for the nanosuit are limited. After discarding the armor on his left hand, his left arm will be unprotected and will not be able to recover in the short term.
However, this is currently the only way to temporarily suppress the AI without damaging the robotic arm or harming Otto.
He looked up at Doctor Octopus, who was battling Garfield, and then glanced at Tobey looked anxious.
Little Peter a deep breath, and the nano-armor on his left hand began to flow, writhing like liquid metal. " Tobey, Garfield, hold him down and buy me some time. I'm going to hack into his robotic arm system."