Chapter 282: Batman Descends from Sky
"How's Professor Connors's condition?" Inside the Batcave, Batman inquired quietly about North Brother Island's situation.
"Not a major problem." Dr. Banner's voice carried confidence. "Though in unconscious state, Connors's brain remains abnormally active."
"I believe his lizard body completed one evolution—consuming excessive energy causing unconsciousness. Dr. Octavius is helping him intake nutrient solutions."
"Maximum three days, Connors will awaken in human form."
With Dr. Banner present, many scientific research matters completely didn't require Batman personally executing them—saving Batman considerable effort.
But because this world lacked Lucius's existence, equipment, tools, and weapons development still required Batman handling personally.
"Future deeper relationships with Tony Stark—I might commission him helping me craft some tools and equipment, even vehicles."
Tony Stark was primarily an extremely excellent mechanic and engineer. Secondarily—a scientist creating new elements overnight, a businessman developing Stark Group into multinational enterprise.
But currently both parties hadn't established trust relationships where Batman felt comfortable letting him craft equipment.
Unless Batman walked before Tony Stark lifting his mask, telling him: "Hey, I'm your good buddy Peter."
This obviously wasn't realistic.
Thoughts turning, Batman was preparing removing Arkham suit departing the Batcave, preparing as Peter Parker identity once again visiting Metropolitan General Hospital observing Professor Miles Warren.
Precisely this moment, Tony Stark through encrypted communications contacted Batman:
"Bat-man, I've told our Electro about your matter."
This quickly?
Batman remained composed:
"How is it?"
"He agrees helping you protecting Norman Osborn. But has one requirement." Tony said. "He wants meeting Morbius and Harry Osborn once."
"If no problems, half an hour later Empire State Building rooftop."
Batman looked downward at Venom Robin, refusing:
"Professor Morbius is acceptable. But Harry Osborn isn't."
Max Dillon's voice sounded through encrypted communications:
"Harry had an accident?!"
"He's fallen into unconscious state. Currently under my supervision." Batman said.
Through encrypted communications, Max Dillon remained silent several seconds:
"Does Professor Morbius know about this matter?"
"He knows." Batman said.
"Good. Then I must at least meeting Professor Morbius once." Max Dillon said. Then Tony Stark's voice sounded again. "See you in half an hour."
Finishing speaking, Tony Stark didn't await Batman's response—directly closing encrypted communications.
"Tony Stark's call?" Seeing Batman disconnect communications, Venom Robin asked.
Due to encrypted communications, unless like Tony Stark opening channels to Max Dillon, others couldn't know specific conversation contents.
Therefore even though Venom Robin clearly stood beside Batman, he still didn't know what communications discussed.
"Correct." Batman said. "Help me guarding here. I'll return quickly."
Venom Robin sighed helplessly:
"Genuinely don't know what's worth guarding about those consciousness-lost individuals."
---
Half an hour later. Empire State Building rooftop.
Tony Stark still wore Mark IV armor, leaning against the rooftop's television tower.
Beside Tony Stark, Max Dillon's body showed golden electrical light flashing. Both feet left ground—suspending mid-air.
Different from previous pure energy forms, current Max Dillon—while maintaining electrical current release capabilities—still preserved human appearance.
"Max, I'm remembering we still have one thing not experimentally tested." Tony Stark opened metal mask, looking upward at sky.
Max Dillon followed Tony's gaze toward sky. Just preparing inquiring when he suddenly observed sky cloud layers—like cream—sliced by knife.
Breaking through cloud layers was one entirely pitch-black aircraft.
Max Dillon hadn't seen this peculiarly-shaped aircraft. While still bewildered, Tony Stark also discovered that high-altitude aircraft, speaking:
"We'll discuss later. That bat's arrived."
Bat?
Max Dillon re-examined that aircraft. Only then noticing its overall shape was clearly one giant wings-spread bat.
Under Max Dillon's observation, the Batwing's cabin opened. Two pitch-black figures simultaneously leaped downward.
After Max Dillon's body mutation, his senses obtained massive improvements—observing both individuals jumping from the Batwing clearly. Precisely Batman and Professor Morbius.
But regardless how Max Dillon observed, he felt those two individuals' jumping positions completely weren't directly above Empire State Building—deviating at minimum over two hundred meters.
If following current vertical direction falling, these two people would inevitably crash hard onto New York streets.
"...Did they jump crooked? Tony, you're certain not requiring greeting them?" Max Dillon frowned asking.
One was Batman who'd indirectly saved himself. One was Morbius—once jointly serving at Oscorp Group, plus due to electrical shock treatment reasons having multiple interactions.
Emotionally and logically, Max Dillon couldn't possibly allowing these two individuals thus crashing downward.
"No need." Tony Stark leaned against television tower, appearing too lazy moving whatsoever.
Max Dillon's body golden electrical light grew increasingly bright. Within electrical light, his skin also gradually became semi-transparent—entire person transforming toward pure energy form.
He prepared once situations turned wrong, immediately flying outward catching Batman and Morbius.
But very obviously Tony Stark's completely-motionless appearance represented the best response method.
Only observing when distance from Empire State Building remained five hundred meters altitude—WHOOSH!
Batman's rear cape suddenly spread open—seemingly transforming into one giant bat wing, making his entire person change from vertical falling to gliding toward Empire State Building.
Similarly, Professor Morbius also spread both arms. One pair of wing-membrane wings extended from both hands' pinky fingers continuously to body sides' waist-abdomen areas.
"Whoa, two vampires." Tony Stark joked from aside.
He finished speaking—within several seconds, Batman and Professor Morbius had already glided across sky, precisely landing before Max Dillon.
Then one released cape, making it re-transform into wind-fluttering soft forms. One retracted wing-membrane wings.
"Max, long time no see." Professor Morbius stepped forward. But his full-head black long hair immediately became stimulated by Max Dillon's surrounding electrical fields—standing upright strand-by-strand. Frightening him into rapidly stopping steps.
At North Brother Island, Professor Morbius—hearing Max Dillon wanted seeing him—unhesitatingly followed Batman boarding the Batwing together.
Regarding several individuals who'd previously interacted, plus mutated within the same accident, Professor Morbius's heart consistently carried guilt plus inexpressible warmth.
After all, from all perspectives, this also counted as sharing hardships together... though disaster occurrence sources were Morbius himself.
Similarly, Max Dillon wanting seeing Harry Osborn and Professor Morbius also stemmed from identical psychology. Batman—half an hour ago when Tony Stark spoke—immediately understood his thoughts.
Because understanding, Batman hadn't refused Max Dillon's requirements—even exceptionally bringing Professor Morbius departing North Brother Island.
"Don't fear. I can freely control whether releasing electricity." Max Dillon's voice carried several portions of relaxation. Already-toward-pure-energy-form-transforming body slowly restrained electrical light again—re-transforming into human appearance.
"You're certain not making my hair stand upright again?" Professor Morbius's mood also appeared quite good, smiling while joking.
"Naturally." Max Dillon said, then spreading both arms.
Both men fiercely embraced once before separating. Max Dillon looked toward Batman:
"Alright. Now I can reassuredly protect Norman."
***
10+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces