Chapter 90: Mr. Negative
"Hail Hydra?"
Batman rewound the audio and listened again.
Though the voice was extremely low—whoever spoke had clearly whispered directly into Norman Osborn's ear—the Oracle AI had successfully analyzed and clarified every word.
This made twice Batman had definitively heard the word "Hydra."
The first time was when Tony Stark paid a hundred million dollars for Batman's semi-complete AI model. Batman had steered their conversation toward the Tesseract, and Tony had mentioned it.
The second time was when SHIELD agent Phil used a Bat-signal to lure him to a rooftop—while Batman simultaneously hacked into SHIELD's internal systems from several floors away.
Coincidentally, both instances of learning about Hydra connected to the Tesseract.
And whether Batman hacked SHIELD or gathered information through other channels, everything indicated that Hydra—that massive World War II organization—had been completely destroyed.
Batman took paper and pen, writing a series of words:
Hydra. Tesseract. Gamma radiation. SHIELD. Super-soldier serum. Norman Osborn. General Ross. And an X symbol representing the codename Hawkeye and Black Widow had received while returning with Dr. Banner in custody.
He stared at these words for several minutes, then added two more: Schulman. FEAST Center.
"According to Norman Osborn's attending physician, Dr. Tannis Neves, four men in black tactical gear carrying weapons took Norman away."
"But the surveillance was blocked, and Tannis couldn't describe their appearances or identify their weapon models precisely. I can't determine from external characteristics which Hydra faction retrieved Norman Osborn."
"They mentioned General Ross, and giving him 'another chance'..."
Batman drew lines connecting Hydra to the other words, then specifically linked Norman Osborn, General Ross, gamma radiation, and super-soldier serum together.
"General Ross may have been secretly released by Hydra—or possibly another organization. Status uncertain."
"Norman Osborn's body was enhanced by a failed super-soldier serum. That serum itself was created at Ross's suggestion, substituting gamma radiation for Vita-Rays."
"I broke General Ross's legs. His purpose in recruiting Norman Osborn has at least a fifty percent probability of continuing serum research—and healing his own legs."
Batman added another location to this chain of words: "New Mexico."
"That's where General Ross tested his gamma bomb. Where Dr. Banner was struck directly by the radiation, gaining the ability to transform into the Hulk."
Beep.
Just as Batman prepared his next deduction, the modified gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system emitted a soft completion tone.
According to the instrument's electronic spectrum analysis, the gun oil scent Batman had detected outside Norman Osborn's isolation ward was indeed one manufactured by Stark Industries.
The model number: "SI-03." "SI" being the initials of Tony Stark's company, Stark Industries.
"Barbara, trace all Stark Industries orders from the past six months involving this gun oil and weapons compatible with it," Batman said.
"No problem, Bruce." The Oracle AI immediately shifted from audio analysis to hacking Stark Industries' systems.
Batman returned his attention to the paper covered with connected words, adding two more: Modified weapons. Stark.
Batman hadn't forgotten that when he'd first arrived in this world, the first gang transaction he'd encountered involved Black Cat selling Hammerhead Joseph weapons that had been tampered with.
Batman had already confirmed the modifications were Kingpin's subordinate Schulman's work, but he'd never traced the weapons' origin.
Now he needed to investigate thoroughly.
The weapons he'd confiscated had been completely destroyed in the muscle car's self-destruct, but that didn't mean only those forty-two guns had reached the market. Kingpin's remaining forces undoubtedly still possessed additional inventory.
Time to pay Black Cat a visit.
Late night, in the sixteen-story Hell's Kitchen building Kingpin had once used as his office.
The spacious, brightly lit, luxuriously decorated office contrasted sharply with the building's dilapidated exterior.
Black Cat wasn't wearing her white fur-collared black deep-V leather jacket. Instead, she'd changed into a black combat suit with silver trim, featuring obvious armor plating and complete coverage from neck down.
Her previously loose white hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and she now wore goggles over her eyes.
Kingpin's office now contained four suspended punching bags arranged in a square pattern. Black Cat positioned herself at the center, constantly dodging and weaving, finding opportunities to strike.
Thwack!
One bag flew upward from Black Cat's punch before swinging back down. She followed with a roundhouse kick—but this time the bag didn't budge.
Black Cat stared suspiciously at the bag that seemed rooted in midair. Her combat suit-covered hands produced a sharp snikt as razor-sharp claws extended from all ten fingertips.
Just as Black Cat cautiously prepared for a threat, she saw Batman's figure emerge from behind the stationary bag.
"Why?" Batman's silhouette appeared ghostlike, arriving without even a whisper of wind. "Everyone except Schulman was sent to prison. Why do you keep training?"
"Oh—Batman?"
Black Cat exhaled in relief. Her hands moved slightly, retracting the claws that had emerged from her suit's fingertips.
While simultaneously facing four punching bags had required intense focus but hadn't felt exhausting, the moment her concentration relaxed, sweat immediately poured down her forehead.
"During my time infiltrating Kingpin's organization, I witnessed this city's bottomless darkness firsthand." Black Cat took several deep breaths, gradually steadying her breathing. "Kingpin's gone, but new Kingpins will emerge."
"I don't want to end up like last time in this room—facing a powerful opponent like Bullseye with zero chance of victory, just waiting for you to swoop down and rescue me."
"I want to possess greater power."
Batman studied Black Cat, observing her microexpressions as she spoke, confirming she was telling the truth rather than attempting deception.
"The choice is yours. But you shouldn't want to become my enemy someday."
Black Cat grinned, pulling off her goggles and tossing them aside. "Hopefully not. It's rare for you to visit. Need my help with something?"
"Kingpin once had you sell a batch of Stark Industries military hardware to Joseph," Batman said. "Are any of those weapons still around?"
Black Cat nodded.
"Some, but not many. After I worked with the police to sweep up Kingpin's remaining subordinates, someone secretly contacted me wanting to purchase those weapons. After I refused, they never tried contacting me again."
"Who was it?" Batman sensed he'd grasped a key thread.
"He called himself Mr. Negative."