Chapter 54: Professor Connors' Limb Regeneration Research
"Dr. Octavius."
The Manhattan precinct, bombed by an unknown assailant, had relocated to another station, transferring case files and officers along with it.
Now in the new station, Batman—as Peter Parker—arrived at Dr. Octavius's holding cell.
Next door to Otto was Kingpin's cell, but Batman didn't spare him a glance. Instead, he watched Otto sitting with his head lowered, lost in thought.
"Peter?"
Hearing his name, Otto looked up with surprise. Seeing him, he smiled genuinely the next second.
After Norman Osborn halted his fusion research, Peter had immediately visited his lab.
Now imprisoned, besides the SHIELD agent, the first visitor was still Peter.
"I heard Manhattan precinct was destroyed. Thanks to you, people trapped under the rubble were saved," Batman said. "Today the station released the person you rescued, saying he was cleared of suspicion."
"Yes, I saved one person. But it wasn't enough."
Otto was no longer fixated on sentencing himself to death. After the SHIELD agent's visit, he now understood his future goal.
"Peter, you probably don't know yet—in a few days, after removing these tentacles from my back, I'll regain some freedom."
"I'm planning to continue my fusion research. I've also figured out how to raise funds."
Batman stood separated from Otto by the cell's iron bars. His current identities—Parker Industries chairman and Empire State University student—neither sufficient for police to open the bars for a face-to-face meeting.
Batman showed appropriate curiosity, using Bruce Wayne's masterful acting to express surprise.
"Really?"
"That's right." Otto pointed at the mechanical tentacles behind him. "Before that precinct was destroyed, someone claiming to be from SHIELD wanted to recruit me. After I refused, they wanted to take my tentacles."
"I was so focused on creating fusion energy that I subconsciously overlooked the technological content of these tentacles I'd casually built. There's currently nothing in the world like this mechanical structure that connects to nerves and responds like natural limbs."
"I should develop this technology further—not as tentacles, but as prosthetic limbs."
Batman nodded slightly. Without lowering his voice, using Peter Parker's youthful tone, he agreed.
"If you could create prosthetics giving disabled people the same limb function as normal people, this technology definitely deserves promotion."
Discussing technology clearly animated Otto. Aside from giving police statements, he'd barely spoken this much.
"But first I need to solve preventing mechanical programs from controlling the brain. Perhaps using a method to 'read' neural signals rather than directly interfacing like I did."
"I'll price the prosthetics only slightly above cost. With tens of millions of disabled people worldwide, there's still enormous market demand. I can use that money to research fusion energy, further changing the world."
"I'll contribute to this world in my own way. It'll ease my conscience somewhat."
Even though SHIELD had used its authority to expedite Otto's legal proceedings, even granting him some freedom, Otto hadn't forgiven himself.
He'd shouldered the blame for being controlled by mechanical tentacles, losing rationality and killing thirty-one officers. He'd decided to change the world for it.
Batman watched this genius without speaking.
He came from Gotham, where that world's technological development had long surpassed this one. Both fusion energy and perfectly controlled prosthetics could be developed there.
Yet even in this relatively backward era, Otto's fusion research was only one formula correction away from success. Now even his proposed prosthetic control method matched what Gotham's era had already proven effective.
So Batman considered briefly before telling Otto:
"Doctor, once while doing experiments at school, I accidentally invented a new material."
Using Peter's engineering student identity, he fabricated a story, describing the Bat-cape's secondary material as a chance discovery.
"By providing network technical services to large companies, I raised funds recently and acquired a factory to manufacture this new material."
Otto's eyes lit up. Looking at Peter—flannel-shirted, chin covered in several days' stubble—his eyes filled with admiration.
"Peter, you're much smarter than I was at your age."
"Owning a factory, I believe you'll eventually expand the business. I can provide you with facilities, funding, equipment you need. I want to partner with you, Dr. Octavius."
Batman revealed his true purpose for visiting Otto.
"Prosthetics, new materials, fusion energy..."
Otto repeated these three phrases, eyes gleaming. If not for the bars separating them, he'd definitely embrace Peter properly.
He could already envision the future world they'd change together—one where energy never depletes, new materials apply to every field, disabled people run freely.
...
"Another failure. Where exactly is the problem with limb regeneration experiments?"
Oscorp's twentieth floor, inside a laboratory.
Professor Curtis "Curt" Connors looked at the dead white mouse in the glass container, sighing. His empty right sleeve hung at his side, swaying slightly with his exhale.
He wasn't just Oscorp's scientist director holding certain shares—he was also a reptilian scientist.
Years ago as a military surgeon performing field surgery on the wounded, he'd unfortunately been injured by explosions, losing his right arm to amputation.
Since then, Connors abandoned surgery to desperately research reptilian regeneration systems and various reptilian biology.
But recent times brought nothing but misfortune. Oscorp's troubles halted numerous experiments.
When research finally resumed, the cost was his friend Norman Osborn's disappearance.
This morning's board meeting—some guy called Batman brawled with Hell's Kitchen's crime emperor Kingpin, throwing Oscorp into chaos again.
Now experiments failed repeatedly. Successive ordeals nearly exhausted Connors' patience.
After a long moment, he adjusted his glasses with his remaining left arm, rallying his spirits once more to study reptilian regeneration genes.
"Prosthetics only treat symptoms, not the root cause. Not just for myself, but for others like me."
"I must develop limb regeneration technology!"