The Weight of Immortality - CH - 39 (Patreon)

The group had gathered at one of their favorite diners, enjoying a relaxed moment after an ordinary week. Harry and Hela sat across from Peter and Mary Jane, chatting and joking around. For Peter, these moments felt like a break from his busy schedule, especially with Mary Jane along, laughing and sharing stories from her latest modeling gigs.

Just as they were finishing their meal, Peter’s phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, his face shifted from relaxed to slightly concerned.

“Who’s that?” Mary Jane asked, noticing his expression.

“It’s Dr. Octavius,” Peter said. “My boss at work. They’re doing an equipment check, and he just reminded me the Grant Committee is coming in soon. I should probably get over there.”

Hela smirked, leaning back in her seat. “Quite the schedule you’ve got, Parker. Burning the candle at both ends?”

Peter chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, Octavius Industries isn’t exactly a huge company. I’m just a part-time lab assistant, but Dr. Octavius is doing some incredible work. If we can get the prosthetics to work right, it could be life-changing for a lot of people.”

“Octavius, huh?” Harry asked, remembering the name from his own readings on scientific advancements. “He’s pretty well-known in neural interfaces. How’d you land that gig?”

Peter grinned. “A little luck and a lot of persistence. Dr. Octavius took a chance on me, and I’ve been learning so much. It’s amazing to work for someone who’s really passionate about making a difference.”

Mary Jane nudged him playfully. “Don’t keep them waiting, genius. With all the work you’re putting in, maybe they’ll make you their full-time guy soon.”

Peter blushed, gave a sheepish wave, and hurried off, leaving the trio to finish up.

As soon as Peter left, Hela turned to Harry, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Octavius sounds like the kind of scientist who’d attract corporate attention. You think it’s strange he hasn’t sold out?”

Harry shrugged. “It’s unusual, yeah. People in his field would normally jump at corporate sponsorship, but it could mean he’s more focused on the science than the money.”

Hela raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like someone I know,” she teased.

Harry rolled his eyes, hiding a smirk. “Maybe. But people like that can be the tipping point in this city, for better or worse. We should keep an eye on it. Just in case.”

Peter arrived at the modest Octavius Industries building, smaller than the high-rise labs of his dreams, but inside, real science was happening. Dr. Otto Octavius, hunched over a workbench, was intently examining the latest model of the prosthetic arm they’d been working on. The arm was designed to respond to neural inputs and provide an enhanced range of motion for those who’d lost limbs. But with such delicate work, they’d encountered plenty of obstacles.

“Peter!” Dr. Octavius greeted him with a warm smile. “Thanks for coming on such short notice. I want everything to be perfect for the committee tomorrow.”

“No problem, Doc.” Peter quickly slipped into his lab coat and gloves. “What’s the latest on the neural interface?”

Octavius sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. “We’re close. So close, but I’ve been getting a lot of neural feedback that’s throwing off the precision. I think it’s something in the receptor layers we developed last month.”

Peter studied the data Octavius pointed to, his mind working quickly. “If we recalibrated the receptors to only activate in direct response to conscious signals, we might be able to smooth out the unintended feedback loops.”

Octavius’s eyes lit up with admiration. “Yes, exactly! Peter, that’s brilliant. Let’s run the numbers and see if we can make the adjustments tonight.”

As they worked side by side, Peter felt inspired. Dr. Octavius wasn’t just an ordinary scientist—he poured everything into his research, sacrificing personal time for the sake of his work. It was the same passion Peter felt when he used his camera to capture the city’s heart and soul, hoping that one day he’d be able to make an impact in his own way.

As Otto carefully maneuvered the prosthetic arm’s controls during their latest test, a sudden surge crackled through the machinery. Peter barely had time to react before a series of sparks flew, and the arm seized up, shuddering violently. Before they could stop it, the entire system went dark with a loud snap, and the prosthetic arm collapsed, damaged beyond repair.

Otto stared at the remains, his face a mix of frustration and despair. “The committee is coming tomorrow,” he muttered, rubbing his forehead. “And now… there’s nothing to show them.”

Peter, sensing the weight of Otto's disappointment, quickly thought of a solution. “Dr. Octavius, I might know someone who could help us fix this in time,” he offered, hopeful. “My friend Harry—he’s brilliant with neural interfaces and electronics. If anyone can get this back on track, it’s him.”

Otto looked at Peter, skeptical but desperate. After a moment, he nodded. “Alright, Peter. If you believe he can help, have him come in as soon as possible. We’re running out of time.”

Peter immediately called Harry, explaining the urgent situation, hoping his friend could help salvage Otto’s work before the committee’s arrival the next day.

As Peter ended the call with Harry, Dr. Octavius took a deep breath, visibly relieved but still worried. “If your friend can help us fix this by tomorrow, I’ll pay him anything he wants,” Otto said, glancing around at the half-finished prototypes and broken tools scattered in the lab.

Peter shook his head with a slight smile. “Harry doesn’t need money,” he replied, almost amused. “He’s… well, he’s already incredibly wealthy. I’ve seen the amounts he donates to charities. With that kind of funding, we could set up a hundred labs like this one.”

Otto’s eyes widened in surprise, his mind racing as he processed this. “So why does he do it? Why does he help?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Peter thought for a moment. “Harry’s always wanted to make a difference,” he explained. “Money isn’t what drives him. It’s more about… using his skills and resources to help people and make things better. He sees things in a bigger picture.”

Otto nodded thoughtfully, the worry lines on his face softening slightly. “Well, then maybe he’s exactly who we need,” he said, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes. “Let’s just hope he can get here soon.”

As they waited for Harry, Peter and Otto quickly began cleaning up the damage from the earlier surge, salvaging whatever parts they could. Peter felt a renewed sense of determination, knowing that with Harry’s help, they just might be able to pull this off in time for the committee’s arrival.

Peter watched the surveillance camera screen as a sleek sports car pulled up to the lab's front gate, a sight that instantly caught Otto's attention. Peter turned to Otto with a grin. “That’s Harry’s car,” he said, nodding toward the screen.

Otto, raising an eyebrow, pressed the button on his desk, and the gates slowly opened to let the car park inside. They both watched as Harry stepped out, followed by Hela, her presence as striking as the car itself. Otto’s face fell slightly as he took in the scene, an uneasy look flickering in his eyes. “Why did he bring his girlfriend?” he muttered, almost to himself. “Does he think this is some opportunity to show off?”

Peter, however, was quick to disagree. “Actually, no,” he said, shaking his head firmly. “Hela’s not just here to stand around. She’s pretty brilliant when it comes to science and tech. Harry wouldn’t bring her just to impress anyone — she’s actually part of the team.”

Otto’s skepticism softened a bit as he observed the two of them approaching the building with purpose. “If she’s even half as talented as you say, maybe this visit will be worth it,” he admitted with a small nod. But he still seemed wary, as if unsure what to make of Harry and Hela’s presence.

As Harry and Hela walked into the lab, Peter greeted them with a casual wave. “Hey, glad you both could make it,” he said, relief evident in his tone. “Otto, this is Harry Potter and Hela Black.”

Harry, catching the slightly cautious look on Otto’s face, extended his hand with a friendly smile. “Dr. Octavius, it’s great to finally meet you. Peter’s told me a lot about your work here.”

Otto accepted the handshake, giving a respectful nod before glancing at Hela, who offered a small, knowing smile. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, “but I’m here to help too. I have a bit of a background in engineering and physics.”

Otto’s wariness finally gave way to genuine interest. “Well, if Peter says you’re both up for the challenge, then welcome to the team,” he said, motioning them toward the damaged prosthetic setup.

Harry and Hela exchanged a quick look, both ready to dive in, and together they followed Otto to assess the damage. Whatever doubts Otto might have had about their arrival quickly faded as they began brainstorming, bringing fresh insights and ideas to the table that left Otto quietly impressed. It was clear they weren’t just here to watch — they were here to get the job done.

In just an hour, Harry and Hela transformed Otto's prosthetic arm from a malfunctioning prototype into a fully functional marvel, enhancing its control and even adding advanced features to improve its dexterity and response time. Peter watched with awe, and even Otto, who was rarely impressed, found himself at a loss for words as he tested the arm’s newfound capabilities.

Otto marveled at the arm’s smooth movements, flexing its fingers and testing its grip with more precision than he’d thought possible. “This… this is incredible,” he murmured, glancing at Harry and Hela, still stunned by their skill and speed.

Harry gave him a small nod, recognizing the depth of Otto’s dedication. “Dr. Octavius, if you ever run into any funding issues, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be happy to help keep your work moving forward.”

Otto looked at him, surprised by the generous offer. “Harry, thank you. I wasn’t aware you were so invested in this field. It’s rare to meet people willing to back innovation purely for the sake of progress.”

Harry just smiled, choosing not to elaborate. Neither Otto nor Peter had any idea that the funds Harry so freely donated were the redirected assets of criminals he and Hela had taken down. To Harry, it was about making sure the money went where it was truly needed—places the system often overlooked.

Otto, grateful beyond words, extended his hand to shake Harry’s again. “Your support means the world to me,” he said, “especially knowing there are people like you and Peter who believe in what we’re doing here.”

As they wrapped up, Peter couldn’t help but admire Harry’s dedication, though he didn’t fully understand the source of his resources. In Peter’s eyes, Harry’s generosity was just another sign of his character. He couldn’t have known the lengths his friend went to ensure that the money landed in the right hands.

The next day, the committee arrived at Otto’s lab, eager to see the newly improved prosthetic arm. When Otto demonstrated the arm’s smooth functionality and advanced features, they were stunned by its precision and responsiveness. As Otto showed the arm's range of motion, grasping and manipulating objects with ease, the committee members exchanged impressed glances.

By the end of the demonstration, they didn’t just approve the project—they increased its funding, recognizing the potential impact of Otto's work. Otto was overjoyed, feeling the weight of past struggles lift as his work finally received the recognition it deserved.

Later that afternoon, Otto gathered everyone in the lab, his excitement barely contained. “I wanted to thank each of you for all your hard work,” he said, looking around the room. “To celebrate, I’m inviting you all to dinner tonight. Harry and Hela, you’re both welcome as well. I couldn’t have done this without your help.”

Peter and the rest of the lab team cheered, sharing in Otto’s happiness. Peter nudged Harry, whispering, “Looks like you really made a difference here.”

Harry just grinned, glad to have supported the project. He and Hela accepted Otto’s invitation, eager to join in the celebration. As the group looked forward to the evening ahead, the mood was filled with excitement and camaraderie, marking the beginning of a promising chapter for Otto and his team.