Chapter 283: Robin's Malice
"No rush. You have three days completing these tests." Batman didn't immediately bringing Electro Max Dillon toward Oscorp Tower. Instead handing over one paper.
Max Dillon accepted with both hands. Tony Stark and Professor Morbius immediately stepped forward. Three heads gathered together.
"Environmental macro-electrical energy absorption and directional manipulation feasibility research..." Tony Stark—having just read the first line—raised his head, looking toward Batman. "I just thought Max hasn't conducted natural lightning absorption and manipulation testing. Haven't had time mentioning it."
Batman nodded, not arguing with Tony Stark about meaningless who-first-who-later questions:
"Remember preparing Max one Faraday cage—convenient for experiment initiation and termination."
Tony Stark raised his hand gesturing one OK sign, continuing lowering his head observing paper test items.
"Microscopic operation testing. Attempting making Max precisely manipulate micro-circuits—confirming electrical energy manipulation precision degrees."
"Form transformation testing. Attempting making Max transforming electrical energy into constant magnetic fields or electromagnetic pulses—testing whether capable transforming self-forms into such types."
"Bioelectrical and signal-level testing. Confirming whether Max possesses capabilities testing perception, decoding, or interfering with urban power grids, radio communications, even neural electrical signals."
"Vacuum testing, extreme atmospheric pressure environment testing..."
Numerous consecutive dozens of items. Each wasn't simply conducting surface data testing on Max Dillon's capabilities.
These things appeared excessively detailed, excessively professional—such that not just Tony Stark, even Max Dillon couldn't restrain shifting gazes from paper, looking toward Batman.
"These things give me only one feeling. You know what it is?" Tony Stark asked.
Batman remained composed. Max Dillon and Professor Morbius nodded.
Tony Stark didn't beat around bushes. Speaking directly:
"It's like you're not first-time contacting 'Electro Max Dillon.' Rather before him, you've understood and contacted another identical individual... even fought appearances."
Words barely finished—Tony Stark stared wide-eyed. He actually observed Batman's mouth corners slightly lifting. Immediately throwing previous questions behind—pointing at Batman exaggeratedly:
"Ha! You actually smile! I'd originally been considering requesting one mysterious Eastern doctor helping you treating facial paralysis symptoms!"
Batman's just-emerged smile immediately stopped—restoring jaw where every whisker wrote "serious" word appearances.
Tony Stark guessed half correctly. Batman had indeed contacted individuals nearly identical to Max Dillon—namely Superman's opponent "Livewire."
The guessed-wrong other half was Batman hadn't personally fought Livewire. Rather she was defeated by Batgirl—who'd learned most of Batman's skills—later "Oracle" Barbara Gordon.
Seeing Batman not explaining his questions, Tony Stark rolled eyes while closing metal mask:
"Jarvis, scan this paper's contents. Establish and perfect these testing plans."
"Yes, sir." Jarvis AI's voice sounded.
"Are three days sufficient?" Batman asked.
"Enough." Max Dillon nodded. "However I'll need Tony's assistance conducting detailed testing."
"I'll help you, Max." Tony Stark said.
As both conversed, the high-altitude-hovering Batwing began diving toward Empire State Building. Speed not only didn't slow—conversely grew increasingly faster.
WHOOSH!
Intense gales blew Max Dillon's worn yellow windbreaker continuously responding. The Batwing—at under twenty meters from Empire State Building—suddenly flipped fuselage, then following previous diving routes re-flying skyward.
When Max Dillon recovered awareness, Batman—just standing beside him—had already disappeared with Professor Morbius.
He looked upward again. That full-moon-shaped Batwing had already rushed into clouds.
Tony Stark's expression shifted. He rapidly whispered:
"Jarvis, mobilize Stark Group near-Earth satellites. Track that Bat-plane."
Max Dillon frowned toward Tony Stark:
"You want tracking Batman?"
"Naturally." Tony Stark chuckled. But quickly he also frowned. "Jarvis? Why not speaking?"
"Sir, please command." Jarvis AI said.
"Track that just-departed Bat-plane." Tony Stark urged.
Jarvis AI's voice seemingly carried several portions of bewilderment:
"Apologies, sir... I haven't discovered any aircraft matching your descriptions appearing within five-thousand-meter ranges centered on you within one day."
---
"Dr. Cho, has Professor Warren improved?"
After returning Professor Morbius to North Brother Island, Batman removed Arkham suit. As Peter Parker identity, he arrived at Metropolitan General Hospital at Professor Miles Warren's ward.
Batman's timing was precisely correct. Dr. Helen Cho was currently recording Professor Warren's injury healing conditions.
"I remember saying please reduce visitation frequencies. Patients require quiet spaces plus sufficient recovery time."
Dr. Helen Cho—hair tied in ponytail—seeing Peter Parker's arrival, raised eyebrows while speaking.
"I know." Batman produced his acting skills, appearing somewhat embarrassed while scratching rear skull. "Professor Warren helped me resolving memory fiber patent problems. I want early seeing him recovering."
"Then you should further reduce disturbing patient frequencies." Dr. Cho observed Peter Parker's briefly-flashed successful-entrepreneur-exterior-beneath youthful appearance. Her voice couldn't restrain softening somewhat.
"I will." Batman nodded.
"Oh right, telling you good news." Dr. Cho said. "According to brainwave instrument displays, Professor Warren approaches awakening increasingly closer... Naturally I'm not making you frequently visiting him. I'm only telling you this good news."
"Indeed good news." Batman didn't let himself continuously portraying youthful youth. Instead rapidly managing his facial expressions and body language—as though previous somewhat-embarrassed appearances were his subconscious manifestations.
"Mm... So I must issuing eviction orders, Mr. Parker." Dr. Cho smiled politely toward Batman.
---
Six hours later. Inside the Batcave.
Venom Robin stood dumbfoundedly beside Batman, observing Batman's hands—at dizzying speeds—writing Alfred AI code. Speed so fast that displayed codes nearly formed continuous sheets.
This wasn't Venom Robin's primary daydreaming reason. Rather beyond writing Alfred AI's underlying code, Batman had also divided half his attention observing monitors.
Monitor footage showed Metropolitan General Hospital surveillance. Batman continuously switched surveillance—observing Helen Cho
"Has Old Bat become attracted to this married woman?" Venom Robin thought maliciously.