Chapter 74: Preparing for the Worst
The plan had changed, but Batman wasn't surprised.
He'd already planned ahead for scenarios where Professor Connors wouldn't cooperate or refused to leave Oscorp.
Though Connors was staying to produce the stabilizer, Batman still needed to advance his plan to the next stage.
While appearing idle as "Clark" throughout Oscorp's various floors, pretending to be busy, he'd already embedded specially modified batarangs into ventilation ducts.
Unlike standard batarangs, these contained potent biological sedatives that would continuously disperse throughout Oscorp.
Batman had only used these batarangs once before—to calm Harry Osborn's emotions—but that didn't mean their only use was emotional regulation.
If a monster truly emerged within Oscorp, under this sedative's influence, the creature's aggressive urges would significantly diminish.
Simultaneously, Batman had planted surveillance software into nearly every computer, security camera, and experimental equipment he could access. The Prophet AI aboard the Batmobile parked near Oscorp would analyze and monitor everything.
The moment any abnormality or crisis appeared, Prophet AI would immediately relay information to the miniature earpiece Batman already wore.
A two-pronged approach—but still not Batman's complete plan.
After dropping the pizza box containing the hard drive into the garbage chute, Batman climbed the stairs all the way to the fifty-eighth floor.
This was the highest level normal Oscorp employees could reach. Every floor above was occupied by heavily armed soldiers.
Based on information gleaned from eavesdropping on General Ross's conversations with other officers, the fifty-ninth and sixtieth floors, plus the rooftop, likely held over two hundred soldiers.
This was why Batman hadn't chosen the ventilation ducts and needed a disguised identity to enter the tower.
"So many people concentrated here—beyond Ross's excessive caution, there might be reasons I don't know."
Batman remained motionless in shadows on the fifty-eighth floor. He'd removed his lab coat, revealing the black tactical suit underneath.
He'd installed the listening device on General Ross only an hour ago. In that time, aside from Congress, the White House, and the military separately calling Ross demanding he cease military supervision of Oscorp, Ross had only held one press conference to counter Batman's offensive.
Beyond that, no valuable information had been intercepted.
Facts proved Batman's deduction correct. Ten minutes later, General Ross—in Norman Osborn's office—received a call.
"The target will arrive at Oscorp Tower in approximately one hour." The voice on the phone was steady and powerful. "General Ross, I've temporarily held off Congress and the White House for you. Don't disappoint me."
General Ross's voice contained a trace of excitement. "Don't worry, sir. My scientific advisory team has provided analysis of all Oscorp biotechnologies."
"Banner's mutation is essentially gamma energy-triggered, uncontrolled and unlimited cellular regeneration and mutation. Professor Connors's limb regeneration research is essentially controlled, targeted cellular regeneration."
"Combining the two, I might achieve mass production of Hulks, building an unprecedented super army."
"Don't make any mistakes," the voice on the phone said.
"Understood, sir," General Ross said.
On the fifty-eighth floor, Batman's brow furrowed.
General Ross was after Professor Connors's limb regeneration experiments. Fortunately, he'd already arranged for Connors to transfer all core experimental data.
But now Connors needed to stay to produce stabilizer for Metropolitan Hospital patients. "Peter Parker" was clearly no longer suitable as the identity to extract the professor.
He needed to don the Batsuit again, waiting for Connors to finish producing the stabilizer before taking him away.
"Who is the target Ross mentioned on the phone?"
Batman left Oscorp Tower with this question, retrieving the hard drive containing core data from the garbage chute.
Gamma radiation, limb regeneration, Hulk...
General Ross mentioned on the phone that "the target arrives at Oscorp Tower in one hour." Beyond that, no information about this target existed.
Neither who the target was nor how they'd arrive was known.
"Barbara, query SHIELD files, keyword 'Hulk,' report the latest information to me."
Sitting in the Batmobile, activating "stealth mode" that currently only had silent operation, Batman headed toward City Hall subway station.
"Keyword queried. Latest information: SHIELD Director Nick Fury dispatched SHIELD agents Hawkeye Clint Barton and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff to Dharavi in Mumbai, India to locate the Hulk."
The Prophet AI aboard the Batmobile rapidly accessed SHIELD's internal files, extracting the most critical content.
"Query their method of travel to Dharavi."
Prophet AI searched SHIELD files again, quickly relaying the information to Batman.
This included the aircraft model Hawkeye and Black Widow piloted, takeoff time, landing time, and return flight time.
"Hack into that aircraft. Retrieve all communications records."
Everything from the abandoned shipyard had been transferred to City Hall subway station. Batman was now rapidly preparing web-fluid formula.
Plus dozens of batarangs, gel explosives, electrical devices, sedatives, anesthetics...
Nearly all tools and equipment were inspected one by one and loaded into Batman's utility belt.
He was preparing for a battle that might be imminent.
"Aircraft hacked. Communications records as follows. Play audio?" Prophet AI asked.
"Convert to text," Batman said. "Search for keyword 'Hulk.'"
"Converted. Confirmed mention of 'Hulk,'" Prophet AI said. "SHIELD attempted to arrest the Hulk, bringing him to the aerial carrier at sea, but midway received a codename directive transferring the Hulk to the location indicated by that codename."
"Bruce, should I attempt to decode the designation and locate the Hulk?"
Click!
Batman embedded three sharp blades into his forearm armor plating. He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the powerful physical strength belonging to Peter's body—strength he'd never slackened in training since crossing over.
"Not necessary, Barbara. The target Ross mentioned is the Hulk. He's about to arrive at Oscorp," Batman said. "Still uncertain what state the Hulk will be brought in..."
"But I need to prepare for the worst."