Chapter 125: I Believe in Him
Thousands of miles from the Middle East, in Manhattan's City Hall subway station, Batman placed a virtual phone call from his computer.
"Sable, it's Peter. Peter Parker." Batman addressed Silver Sable on the other end using Peter Parker's youthful tone.
"I am Peter..." Inside the containment unit, the pitch-black symbiote—fed chocolate by Batman continuously for a week until its size matched the original Venom—mimicked Batman's voice.
Batman shook his head at the symbiote in its container, transferring call permissions from the computer to his Arkham suit's systems, then moved away from the unit.
"Peter Parker?" Sable's voice held surprise over the phone. "My rescue equipment has finished production?"
Two weeks had passed since Batman arranged for Sable to commission rescue equipment from Parker Industries. Sable had long been eager to update her security company members' gear from top to bottom, transitioning toward a rescue operation.
"Yes. Before delivering this equipment, I hope you can help me with something." Batman said. "More precisely, I want to hire you to execute a rescue mission."
"Ha. Never thought my first rescue mission would come from a student like you." Sable chuckled. "No problem. What are the specific details?"
"Rescue Tony Stark." Batman stated.
"Him? Peter, are you joking? He's been missing for a full week. Even the military can't find any trace of him." Sable fell silent for several seconds on the phone, as though Batman had amused her.
"I'm not joking, Miss Sable." Batman maintained his Peter Parker identity. "I received my initial funding from Tony Stark, which enabled me to establish Parker Industries."
"I learned from Batman that you're converting your security company into a rescue operation. I'm hoping you can help me."
"I'm willing to pay—whatever amount necessary. I need you to take this contract."
Sable remained silent for several more seconds.
"Does Batman know about this?"
Batman shook his head slightly.
"He's not concerned with it."
"Don't misunderstand—I'm not trying to come between you two, though... well..."
Sable seemed unsure how to describe what she perceived as "naive college student Peter being ruthlessly used by Batman."
"I understand your desire to save Tony Stark. But if even the military can't locate his exact position, my rescue team going to the Middle East would most likely return empty-handed."
"What if I've already found Tony Stark's exact location?" Batman said.
Batman had thoroughly investigated everything within a hundred-kilometer radius after pinpointing Tony Stark's position. He'd even sent Tony specific evacuation routes.
According to surveillance footage Batman had hacked from the Middle Eastern cave through City Hall station, Tony Stark had clearly received this information.
"What? You found him before the military?"
Sable's voice pitch jumped sharply over the phone. She was beginning to understand why Batman had taken interest in this young man who hadn't even graduated from Empire State University—and chosen to utilize him.
Batman's voice remained calm, maintaining Peter Parker's tone.
"That's correct, Miss Sable. I've already located where Tony is imprisoned and provided him with evacuation routes."
"If you're unwilling to accept this rescue mission, I imagine any other rescue company would eagerly compete for this contract."
Sable couldn't help her urgency. A series of sounds transmitted through the phone—chairs scraping, combat boots striking the floor forcefully.
Clearly, Sable had been lounging in her chair with feet propped on the desk as during Batman's previous visits. Now she'd finally gotten serious.
"I'll take it! If everything you're saying is true, I must accept this contract! I'll even complete this rescue mission for free!"
Sable wasn't stupid. On the contrary, she'd keenly perceived exactly how beneficial this rescue mission from Peter could be.
Her security company had just transformed. Relying on Parker Industries' rescue equipment to build a reputation in the industry would take time.
Perhaps three years. Perhaps five. Only then would "Silver Sable International" gain recognition and professional credibility.
Tony Stark's abduction and disappearance in the Middle East had dominated news coverage this entire week. Nearly the entire world knew about the world's richest man, playboy Tony Stark.
And if what Peter said over the phone was true—if her rescue company saved Tony Stark when even the military had proven helpless...
She could imagine the attention and fame such an operation would bring. She'd complete her company's transformation in an incredibly short time, making the "Silver Sable International" rescue company name legendary.
Sable had no fear of failing to follow through after an explosive debut. Parker Industries' rescue equipment wasn't for show—it had been approved by both herself and Batman.
"When do we leave?"
Sable asked with barely contained eagerness. After speaking, she felt a sense of déjà vu.
She considered carefully and realized this moment resembled when she'd agreed to Batman's request to testify against Kingpin.
"Depart immediately. I'll send you a satellite map marking your search route for the next forty-eight hours. Once you locate Tony Stark, escort him back immediately." Batman said.
As the words left his mouth, Batman operated the portable computer on his Arkham suit to transmit the satellite map.
On the other end of the line, receiving the satellite map sent from Parker Industries, Sable studied it carefully for a moment before asking:
"I have one more question... Are you certain Tony Stark can escape from those terrorists on his own?"
"Your map's search route avoids all terrorist gathering points in the area—as though I just need to take my team for a leisurely stroll through the skies and easily complete the mission."
"I don't believe a playboy can escape from there."
This time Batman fell silent for several seconds. He looked toward the nearby workstation's computer screen, watching the surveillance footage of Tony Stark hammering the armor's outer shell with heavy, resounding strikes.
Even through the screen, across thousands of miles, Batman could feel that Tony Stark had changed.
He might remain arrogant and proud. Still a playboy.
But Tony Stark forging armor in that cave bore striking resemblance to Batman's own experience—thrown into the demon's pit by Bane, climbing upward again and again, refusing to surrender.
After a long moment, Batman responded to Sable, still using Peter's youthful tone:
"He's not alone. I believe in him."
***
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