Chapter 278: Perfect Body and Perfect Energy Source
"Director Fury, I don't believe independently dropping Hawkeye into New York—not even informing him of missions—represents correct choices."
Inside Helicarrier command room, Agent Hill addressed Nick Fury.
"So conversely, Batman also doesn't know he represents Hawkeye's mission objective, correct?"
After closing encrypted communications with Batman, Nick Fury—black-faced—used one eye glaring at Agent Hill standing beside him:
"As long as Hawkeye and Batman make contact—whether they conflict or cooperate—everything falls within my next-step plans."
Agent Hill shook her head. She knew Nick Fury wouldn't preemptively tell her next-step plans. But currently beyond Hawkeye, another problem existed:
"Garrett has arrived in New York. He currently hasn't contacted any Hydra. Instead investigating Batman's leads."
"You're not afraid Garrett and Batman making contact?"
Nick Fury glanced at Agent Hill:
"Afraid of what? You worry Batman being absorbed by Hydra?"
"Relax. I possess considerable certainty confirming Batman isn't Hydra. Plus I possess more absolute certainty—Batman won't join Hydra."
"Oh right, New Mexico's gamma facility still couldn't find any Batman cellular tissue residues?"
Agent Hill shook her head:
"Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons didn't collect any data. Moreover I don't agree with your viewpoints, Director Fury."
Nick Fury seemingly-smiled-yet-didn't while observing his capable assistant:
"Speak your insights, Agent Hill?"
Agent Hill spoke bluntly:
"I believe Batman isn't any known individual's disguised identity. For instance, we previously suspected he was missing-sixty-one-years American Captain Steve Rogers."
"But Steve couldn't accomplish battling gamma facility monsters afterward, not leaving half a cellular tissue at original locations."
"Then what identity do you say he possibly is?" Nick Fury lit one cigar while asking.
"Vampire, or some similar creature." Agent Hill said.
"Vampire? Haha!" Nick Fury laughed heartily. But quickly his smile stopped. "However you've reminded me, Agent Hill."
Agent Hill observed Nick Fury bewilderedly.
"One year ago, SHIELD intelligence collected rumors of vampires possibly existing in Japan. You still remember?" Nick Fury asked.
Agent Hill nodded:
"Agent Thirteen infiltrated one Yokohama, Japan underground location, personally witnessing self-proclaimed Daywalker hunter slaughtering vampires... Though unsuccessfully absorbing Daywalker into SHIELD, Agent Thirteen still maintains contact with him."
"Wait—this isn't your next-step plan, right? Hawkeye, Garrett, Black Widow, plus Daywalker?"
"Making SHIELD agents, Hydra spies, Batman, plus one vampire hunter treat New York as forest—letting them mutually become each other's hunters and prey?"
Nick Fury exhaled smoke rings, observing white soft smoke slowly rising through windless command room. He extended his hand patting Agent Hill's shoulder:
"This represents one small portion of my plans."
"However you can already arrange Agent Thirteen Sharon Carter proceeding toward Yokohama, Japan."
---
Manhattan, New York. Stark Tower.
"I need re-introducing to you, Batman."
Tony Stark—holding wine glass—approached Max Dillon's side, using glass-holding hand embracing Max's shoulder:
"This individual is Stark Group Chief Electrical Engineer. Can release some electricity."
Tony seemingly couldn't restrain wanting showing off something to Batman. He rapidly beckoned Max Dillon unbuttoning his shirt.
Max Dillon cheerfully complied. Only observing his chest prominently also possessing one miniature Arc Reactor emitting cold-white light.
Tony Stark rapidly placed his wine glass aside, using hand-back patting Max Dillon's body:
"Capable storing and releasing electrical energy. But itself lacks electricity-producing capabilities."
He used another hand's knuckles lightly knocking Max Dillon's chest miniature reactor:
"Possessing nearly unlimited energy sources. But must requiring external equipment demonstrating effectiveness—reactors."
Tony Stark's hands—CLAP—closed before Batman's eyes:
"One plus one exceeds two. Perfect body plus perfect energy source combinations produce our 'Electro Max Dillon.'"
Max Dillon cheerfully closed his shirt:
"I originally thought this life could only exist as energy forms—unable eating, unable hugging my daughter and wife. But Tony Stark used his intelligence resolving this problem."
Tony Stark rapidly shook his index finger negating Max Dillon's statements:
"Not me. Us. We two—New York's best engineers jointly—resolved this problem."
"Congratulations." Batman's voice remained low.
Compared to Morbius transforming into vampire, Professor Warren severely-injured unconscious, Harry falling into deep comas—
Max Dillon's conditions unexpectedly appeared optimistic. Though Batman's face lacked smiles, he'd genuinely feel happy for Max Dillon.
But words reaching lips, Batman spoke remained cold, emotionless questioning:
"Reactor stability, compatibility testing—which stages have they reached? Do reactor output fluctuations and your discharge capabilities possess delays or overload critical thresholds?"
Tony Stark dissatisfiedly shouted toward Batman:
"Please! We're engineers, inventors. What you mentioned—we've already tested."
Max Dillon nodded, still cheerfully smiling.
He'd heard about Batman from Tony Stark... or rather during this period, their topics beyond Max's body and reactors—most discussions were Batman.
From initial targeting and hostility, to Peter Parker requesting Batman creating new elements saving Tony, then that rainy-night first cooperation.
Could say Max Dillon both possessing "Electro" capabilities while restoring normal human appearances—Batman contributed significantly within this.
According to Tony Stark's phrasing, approximately "Batman is some magma someone excavated from beneath Arctic icebergs."
Therefore Max Dillon possessed zero hostility toward Batman. Only cheerfully observing Tony Stark's slightly-exaggerated body movements contrasting sharply with Batman resembling emotionless stone.
Sure enough, Batman's next sentence still used cold tones asking questions obviously stemming from caring about Max Dillon and others' safety:
"Under extreme emotions, severe injuries, or external strong electromagnetic interference—do you possess certain protective mechanisms?"
"I need ensuring you won't unintentionally lose control of your abilities—causing irreversible harm to people around you, or daughters you attempt hugging."
Max Dillon was adult—an engineer conversing happily with Tony Stark. He wouldn't be foolish enough not hearing concern within words.
Thus he gently smiled, telling Batman:
"Relax. These we've already completed testing. Even under unconscious states, beyond mosquitoes and fleas, I won't harm other creatures."
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