REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!
Chapter 217: New Element
Deep into the night on North Brother Island, Professor Connors and Dr. Banner worked without rest, developing the gamma antidote.
Ten meters away, four mechanical tentacles writhed as Dr. Octavius directed them in assembling a proton accelerator.
Beside the incomplete accelerator, Batman operated complex experimental equipment, running tests on the vibranium sample T'Challa had gifted him.
"I thought vibranium was just a legend. Never expected to see it in person."
Behind him, the mechanical arms labored industriously. But Otto's expression remained relaxed, casual enough for conversation with Batman.
"A metal theoretically capable of perfect kinetic energy absorption. If it weren't physically sitting in front of me, I wouldn't believe it existed."
The experiment didn't occupy Batman's complete attention. He was multitasking—conducting deep analysis of vibranium's energy absorption properties while conversing with Otto, simultaneously considering Alfred AI construction protocols.
Otto assembled the proton accelerator, clearly in excellent spirits. His increased talkativeness reflected that mood:
"But you and I both know that's purely theoretical. Nothing 'perfect' exists in reality. Even if—"
"Even if vibranium possesses nearly extreme vibrational absorption capacity and perfect periodic atomic arrangement—" Batman continued Otto's thought seamlessly. "Sufficient force will conduct through vibranium. But weaker impacts get absorbed completely."
"Energy is conserved. Even minimal energy doesn't vanish. So when weak impacts strike vibranium, where does that absorbed energy go?"
Clean energy achieved. Controlled fusion realized. Working alongside top-tier scientists like Banner and Connors. Otto had few reasons for bad moods.
Completing the accelerator assembly, Otto retracted his mechanical arms and approached Batman's workstation:
"You already formed a hypothesis, didn't you? Otherwise you wouldn't have asked me to build an apparently unnecessary proton accelerator."
Batman nodded slightly, positioning the vibranium beneath a sonic cannon.
This cannon matched the Batmobile's model—a replacement component Batman had prefabricated.
But the sonic cannon's frequency adjustment capabilities allowed diverse applications. Currently: vibranium molecular division.
Under precisely modulated sonic frequencies, the palm-sized vibranium's molecular spacing expanded. Batman extracted exactly 0.5 grams.
Then he divided those 0.5 grams into one hundred identical portions. Fifty portions underwent varying durations of proton bombardment through the accelerator.
Otto collected the remaining fifty portions, placing them in completely radiation-shielded vacuum containers.
Four hours later.
With no immediate tasks but unable to sleep, Otto wandered to the artificial sun, recording data.
Dr. Banner's brow remained furrowed, apparently wrestling with some theoretical problem.
Professor Connors approached Batman carrying a colorless, transparent test tube:
"Batman, this is the first antidote. For The Leader."
Batman nodded silently, gesturing for Connors to set the tube aside.
"How did the experiment go?" Connors asked.
"Different samples increased mass by 0.00004%." Batman reported. "Identical proton count. One additional neutron."
"Regardless of kinetic force magnitude, vibranium absorbs energy and stores it, forming its own isotope. Once accumulated energy reaches critical thresholds, it releases."
Connors was a biology specialist, an expert in reptilian biology. Batman's technical explanation left him somewhat confused:
"Please speak English."
"I've discovered a vibranium isotope." Batman simplified. "Next step: isolate it."
"The purpose being...?" Connors asked cautiously.
Batman glanced at him. "Saving someone."
That single word conveyed more than extended explanations. Connors understood immediately.
Work continued until dawn illuminated the sky again. Only then did the three scientists and Batman pause their respective tasks.
"This is Norman Osborn's antidote." Banner held a pale green vial. "But like The Leader's dose, I can't guarantee one hundred percent effectiveness. Prepare for worst-case outcomes."
Batman accepted the vial, placing it alongside the transparent serum in a small carrying case.
He'd already anticipated Banner's antidotes might prove ineffective. After all, Banner himself couldn't cure his own condition.
Completely resolving the four gamma creatures required genetic-level editing. That approach would likely prove more effective.
Which required Professor Miles Warren's expertise. Among Batman's scientific contacts, only the hospitalized Warren specialized in genetic engineering.
Even Banner's genetic knowledge remained relatively superficial.
Coincidentally, Connors mentioned Warren:
"Batman, is Warren okay?"
North Brother Island wasn't isolated from the world. The three scientists received external information daily. The Oscorp Tower incident hadn't escaped Connors's awareness.
"Past critical danger." Batman confirmed. "I'll find who did this. Trust me."
As Warren's friend, Connors maintaining composure after learning of Warren's critical injuries demonstrated his trust in Batman.
Partly because Connors definitively knew Batman was Peter Parker.
"I know." Connors nodded. "My regeneration serum research continues. Hopefully I'll achieve results soon and restore Professor Warren completely."
Batman didn't respond. He turned to find Otto and Banner both staring transfixed at something diamond-shaped inside a vacuum container beside the particle accelerator.
"What is this?" Banner adjusted his glasses, examining the diamond shape carefully.
"Vibranium isotope. An entirely new, unknown element." When Batman remained silent, Otto provided explanation.
"You created a new element, Batman." Despite not performing the work himself, Banner rubbed his hands together excitedly. "This belongs in the history books."
Batman shook his head slightly. Historical recognition held minimal appeal. He collected the carrying case and vibranium isotope, departing North Brother Island.
Simultaneously, inside the California villa at San Diego's Brock Beach.
Tony Stark wiped oil and ash from his face with paper towels, stepping across the particle accelerator with faint excitement. Using tweezers, he lifted a triangular object radiating cold blue luminescence.
"Congratulations, sir." The Jarvis AI announced. "You've created a new element."
"Tesseract isotope. Hopefully it can replace palladium."
Tony's expression showed limited excitement. Creating the new element was one thing. Whether the reactor would accept it and successfully power the arc reactor core remained uncertain.
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