Doctor Octopus's new battle suit used a completely different control method from the previous tentacles.
In the past, the tentacles had to connect directly to his spine, autonomously reading Otto's neural signals and converting them into electrical impulses to drive the limbs. That was why, back then, Batman had only needed a sonic disruptor to paralyze Otto's mechanical tentacles—and even Otto himself had been severely affected.
But the suit Otto now wore had no such vulnerability. It didn't require any device implanted in Otto's body to read neural signals. Instead, it relied on countless micro-sensors hidden throughout the suit that detected Otto's bioelectric signals. Through those bioelectric signals, both the suit itself and the custom system Batman had built specifically for him could interpret Otto's intentions and successfully control the tentacles.
Of course, the suit wasn't flawless. Because it used bioelectric signals to operate the tentacles, it required a certain degree of conscious physical coordination from Otto. It couldn't respond instantly to pure thought the way the old, directly neural-linked tentacles had—like an extension of his own limbs moving at the speed of intent. Even the tentacles themselves were no longer one-hundred-percent mechanical. Batman had constructed them from a material similar to the one used in his own cape, reinforced with only a minimal metal skeleton. This gave them enough strength to lift heavy objects when needed, yet allowed the tentacles to retract completely into the flat backpack on Otto's back when they weren't in use.
"Thank you, Batman." Doctor Octopus slowly descended from the air. The four tentacles behind him obediently shortened, folding themselves away until they vanished entirely into the pack on his back.
Professors Connors and Banner followed the tentacles with their eyes all the way to Otto's back, both silently marveling at how four tentacles—each easily two or three meters long—could disappear into such a thin, flat backpack.
Banner had always been shy, but this time he actually spoke up first. "Batman… how did you do that?" "I mean, the way the tentacles all folded back in."
Batman maintained his persona, treating himself and Peter Parker as two separate people. "Parker Industries has a material called 'memory fiber.' Peter supplied me with some, and I used it in the construction of the tentacles."
"Thank you. And thank Peter for me too." Doctor Octopus let out a long breath as he spoke to Batman.
From the moment he'd put on the suit, Otto had felt a deep, long-absent calm settle over him—like a man who'd lived with constant tinnitus suddenly hearing silence again. Ever since arriving on Brother Island South, even while sleeping, Otto had remained in a state of high alert. The slightest sound would jolt him awake. He had never complained about the fear that came with living on the same island as two scientists who could transform into monsters. At first he'd even tried to adapt to it. Only when he realized that prolonged tension was affecting his experimental work did he finally bring it up to Peter Parker when the young man visited the island.
Now, at last, Otto felt at peace. His mind had returned to its optimal state.
"Memory fiber?" On the other side of the lab, Banner was still mulling over Batman's answer. After a long hesitation he asked, "Batman… do you think Peter could make me a pair of pants out of memory fiber too?"
The moment the words left his mouth, before Batman could respond, Banner himself froze in mortified embarrassment, stammering, unable to get another word out.
Batman's expression didn't change. His gaze drifted downward to Banner's pants—absurdly baggy trousers that hung on Banner's slim frame like a skirt. He had no choice but to wear them that way. He couldn't exactly change clothes in the middle of turning into the Hulk. Anything too tight would simply explode off him the moment he transformed.
So there stood Doctor Octopus in his sleek new battle suit, Professor Connors in normal civilian clothes since he wasn't currently transformed, Batman himself in his intimidating Arkham combat armor… And then there was Banner, lab coat over comically loose clothing, looking like a bedraggled hobo.
"There's no need to feel awkward, Dr. Banner," Batman said in his low, gravelly voice. "I already prepared something for you."
With that, Batman flicked both wrists downward. A pair of pants—one purple, one green—appeared in his hands. He had made them at the same time as Otto's suit and tentacles, using an extremely elastic material specifically for the Hulk and the Lizard Professor—not the "memory fiber" that the materials-science layman Banner had mentioned.
With his mind finally settled, Doctor Octopus seemed to have regained the bold, confident scientist he once was. Confidence practically radiated from him; he was itching to throw himself back into nuclear fusion research.
But on the other side of the lab, an entirely different scene was playing out. Batman stood motionless, one pair of pants in each hand, holding them out toward the two scientists like a statue.
"…Thank you," Banner muttered, still embarrassed. Professor Connors, on the other hand, accepted the gift without hesitation.
The two men exchanged a glance, then—following Otto's earlier example—ducked behind the privacy curtain to change. A few minutes later they emerged, still wearing their lab coats, neither making any particular effort to show off the new pants underneath.
Banner looked visibly happier. He started eagerly toward the nuclear fusion device where Otto was working—only for a strand of black webbing to shoot out and block his path.
Connors was heading back to his corner to meditate, but another strand of Batman's webbing cut him off just the same.
"What's going on?" Banner asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"The thing that has to come will come," Connors said. He knew exactly why Batman had stopped him. He looked at Banner. "It's time I faced the power inside me head-on."
Batman gave a slight nod. "Exactly, Professor Connors. Try transforming into the Lizard. Hulk and I will be right here to help you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the light around them dimmed. Banner had already transformed into the Hulk.
Hulk stood with his massive arms folded across his chest, every muscle deliberately flexed and bulging. Hearing Batman call him "Hulk" instead of "Banner," he gave a satisfied nod and let out a low grunt through his nose.
Connors glanced at Batman, then at Hulk—who was very obviously showing off his muscles just to provoke him—and recognized the taunt for what it was.
"Hoo… I must stay calm. I will not be swayed by external provocation. I am capable—and it is my responsibility—to control the power within me, not to become a monster driven by instinct."
Connors took several long, deep breaths. Images of the past few weeks flashed through his mind. In human form, he and Banner had been friends learning emotional control from each other, and he and Otto had collaborated on cutting-edge prosthetic research.
But now he was about to become a monster again…
Connors squeezed his eyes shut. When he snapped them open once more, they had turned completely into golden vertical slits.
"Heh heh. Big lizard's coming," Hulk remarked from the side.
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