Chapter 34: The Batcave Plan
Dense layers upon layers of black webbing had nearly bound Doctor Octopus into a sphere.
Batman didn't dump the anesthetized Doctor Octopus at the police station entrance. Instead, he brought him back to the abandoned shipyard.
He needed to repair Doctor Octopus's damaged chip overnight to prevent Dr. Otto from going on another killing spree after entering the police station.
The device wasn't difficult. Batman removed the broken chip and had it thoroughly understood within half an hour, then spent another hour completely repairing it.
Mainly the abandoned shipyard lacked proper tools. Batman was completely making do with whatever was available. Plus he needed to add a failsafe layer to this chip to prevent Dr. Otto from losing control again if it was damaged.
"Let me go, you..." The anesthetic effect gradually faded. Doctor Octopus looked furiously at Batman's pointed ears. "You vampire!"
Batman glanced at Doctor Octopus, then continued working, taking time to reply:
"You should be grateful I don't have an operating table here."
"Operating table? What are you planning?" Doctor Octopus asked amid his anger.
"Remove your tentacles."
Hearing about removing the tentacles, Doctor Octopus's emotions immediately intensified:
"These tentacles are part of me! When I break free of this black silk, you'd better pray I don't tear you to pieces!"
Black and sticky, the webbing with Batman's improved formula was wrapped ten centimeters thick, leaving Dr. Otto with desire but no ability, only able to twist his body futilely.
"Repair complete."
Moments later, Batman held the chip, walked toward Dr. Otto, pressed his head down, completely exposing the back of his neck.
"Don't touch me! When I get free, I swear..."
Before Dr. Otto could finish, the repaired chip had already connected to where the tentacles joined the spine. His head drooped.
Electronic signals once again replaced neural signals, taking over control of the tentacles from Dr. Otto.
"Hah!"
Dr. Otto took a deep breath. His face changed from the twisted expression when controlled by tentacles to that spirited scientist he once was.
He instinctively reached back to touch the chip, his face showing both fear and relief:
"I was controlled by the tentacles... My mind was constantly filled with mechanical noise, but now they've quieted down..."
Dr. Otto looked at this man who'd defeated his out-of-control self and rescued him from being a puppet controlled by tentacles:
"Who are you? How should I thank you?"
"I am Batman."
Batman spoke, then as a smile appeared on Dr. Otto's face, he stepped forward and slapped the back of his head.
He very much wanted the restored Dr. Otto to continue his fusion energy research, but Batman knew he couldn't make decisions for those thirty-plus dead officers.
Batman still dumped Dr. Otto at the police station entrance, leaving a note describing Dr. Otto's tentacle condition.
This time Batman didn't rush to leave. Instead, he remained in the shadows watching.
After dawn, a large crowd gathered at the police station entrance. They kept photographing the tightly wrapped Dr. Otto, but were soon dispersed by George Stacy who'd arrived after receiving news.
Only after personally witnessing George Stacy discover the note and carefully escort Dr. Otto to the detention room did Batman leave.
"Squid-Man sentenced to death. Dr. Otto..."
Returning to the abandoned shipyard, Batman removed his suit and began daily mandatory training.
Not just strength and agility, but also muscle memory, conditioned reflexes, danger sensing—comprehensive training.
"Dr. Otto killed over thirty officers, but that occurred while he was controlled by mechanical tentacles."
Batman didn't plan to interfere with the law's judgment of Dr. Otto. He'd never represented the law.
But viewing objective facts, Dr. Otto would very likely only receive a fixed-term or life sentence, and very likely even if imprisoned, the government would provide him experimental equipment and funding.
After all, regardless, Dr. Otto remained one of today's world's top nuclear physicists.
Only this way, Batman's plan to invest in Dr. Otto's fusion energy fell through, unless he could find another equally top nuclear physicist.
"...Such as Bruce Banner?" Batman's heart stirred. "Silver Sable's security company set out to find the Hulk to make General Ross's military stop protecting Oscorp."
"But currently Oscorp's matters are completely exposed. Finding the Hulk isn't very meaningful. Plus I don't plan to steal Dr. Otto's labor achievements."
"I need to choose other methods to obtain capital."
Training finished. Batman as usual showed his face at Peter's apartment and bought a Daily Bugle.
According to information Batman previously obtained hacking the NYPD system, this apartment had less than half a month remaining. Batman didn't plan to continue renting.
Now with Dr. Otto facing imprisonment, he temporarily had no better investment opportunities. Batman prepared to allocate funds to build his own Batcave.
However, currently the urgent matter wasn't the Batcave, but visiting the Osborns.
Batman hadn't forgotten the information he and Black Cat investigated on Oscorp's underground Level 3 last night. Currently the prime suspects were the Osborn father and son.
"Queens, Osborn Estate."
Hailing a taxi, Batman leaned back against the seat, taking advantage of this rare opportunity for brief rest.
"Seems the Batmobile can also be scheduled..."
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, Batman immediately entered sleep.
He was too tired.
Meanwhile on New York streets, a black-haired man in a suit was giving a street speech. At emotional moments, he couldn't help pulling out a handkerchief to wipe tears:
"I am Martin Li. Before becoming a successful businessman, I too wandered the streets. Every kind person I met helped me, giving me everything I have today."
"Friends, we were all once discarded like trash, but now someone is experimenting on our lives! Those white-coated devils think nobody notices when homeless people die?"
"Today I say: Enough!"
"After Oscorp's underground Level 2's fifty homeless corpses were exposed, I made a resolution."
"I will provide food, temporary shelter, emergency aid, and job training for the homeless and unemployed, so you'll no longer be society's outcasts!"
"Here there are no experiments, only hot soup and clean beds. No deception, only family helping each other. We'll build shelters with our own hands, letting every homeless person remember: your life is more precious than all experiments in the world!"
"I declare FEAST—the Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter and Training Center—established today!"
Thunderous applause. Martin Li looked at the surrounding homeless and beggars desperately clapping and cheering, tears streaming down his face.
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