Chapter 239: He's Not Convinced!
The moment Venom Robin bared his fangs, Batman knew trouble was brewing.
Banner and the others knew former Venom had massacred at FEAST shelter, knew Batman had engaged Anti-Venom in major combat on neighboring North Brother Island.
Their understanding of symbiotes remained: extremely dangerous entities.
Indeed, the instant Venom Robin's "Fuck Batman" escaped, all four scientists simultaneously completed transformations. Oppressive, terrifying presence assaulted the senses.
Tentacles, tail, claws, and fangs transformed last second's laboratory into next second's hellish, nightmarish scene.
White lights and moonlight bathed the four monsters. Green scales, green muscles, and green octopus armor created verdant coverage everywhere. Even gray-black skinned Morbius's face acquired sinister green tones.
They resembled evil spirits. Even Moon God Khonshu couldn't help furrowing his brow.
HISS!
Sensing threat from four monsters, Venom Robin opened his mouth, scarlet tongue extended, adopting imminent attack posture.
But at that sword-drawn moment, Batman stepped forward, positioning himself before Venom Robin, using his shoulder to block Hulk and Lizard Professor's primitive terrifying presence.
"Dad!"
Venom couldn't restrain a low shout, hiding behind Batman while extending his head to observe the four scientists transformed into monsters.
In that instant, he seemed reverting to the Robin who could hide inside Batman's body anytime, acting cute for chocolate.
Hearing this address, Professor Morbius's entire face wrinkled. He'd once again fallen behind this bizarre North Brother Island's rhythm.
Extraterrestrial symbiote calling Batman "Dad"?
Morbius felt tonight personally witnessing a deity already qualified as extraordinary. But this current scene refreshed his understanding again.
The other three scientists relaxed instead. Hearing this familiar address, Banner and others knew at least Venom retained previous memories.
When Venom was formerly just an awakened symbiote mass, Batman had brought it to North Brother Island's laboratory for combating Anti-Venom.
The three scientists then found Venom's constant "Dad" address absurd, even believing Batman's mask also concealed similar pitch-black symbiote mass.
But at least that period's Venom was a chocolate-loving, non-threatening little guy—quite useful for "Anti-Venom" protocols.
Banner and others' previous intense reactions stemmed from worrying whether Venom—after becoming Eclipse Knight—had lost previous memories, reverting to that vicious alien monster.
But hearing Venom call Batman "Dad," Banner and others relaxed, knowing Robin retained former memories. At least wouldn't represent threats.
Accompanied by rustling sounds, Doctor Octopus's tentacles, Lizard Professor's scales and tail successively withdrew. Only Hulk dissatisfiedly flexed overdeveloped biceps, snorting through his nose.
But under Batman's eye signal, Hulk didn't charge forward provoking Venom—instead flexing muscles toward Batman before reverting to honest, unassuming Banner.
Seeing others return to normal state while only Morbius maintained his vampire's gray-black gaunt appearance, Venom Robin extended his hand, tugging Batman's cape:
"Dad, he's not convinced."
Professor Morbius froze momentarily, explaining:
"This is my normal state."
"He's still not convinced. Dad, let me help discipline him." Seeing Lizard Professor and Hulk disappear, Venom immediately emerged from Batman's back, rubbing fists together preparing to fight Morbius.
"Robin!" Batman pressed Venom Robin's shoulder. "He's Professor Morbius."
"I don't care what Mo—"
Venom Robin muttered something, somewhat dissatisfiedly shrugging his shoulders, shrugging off Batman's pressing hand, then observing the white bandage-composed combat suit wrapping his body:
"What's this?"
"This is not armor, but covenant's external manifestation. Its form follows heart, its light reflects will. The form currently visible represents thy Robin's inner mirror." Khonshu finally had opportunity speaking.
Venom Robin seemed only now discovering the laboratory still contained a falcon-skulled humanoid figure. He tugged at his white cloak while looking up toward Moon God Khonshu:
"How does it compare to Batman's?"
"No comparison possible." Khonshu raised his head slightly, voice carrying slight pride.
Venom Robin curled his mouth, revealing two rows of white, sharp fangs:
"You gave me this?"
Moon God Khonshu slowly nodded, then heard Venom Robin continue questioning with crisp voice:
"Who are you? If I call Batman 'Dad,' should I call you 'Mom'?"
North Brother Island's laboratory instantly quieted.
Batman remained expressionless, but Banner and others obviously suppressed laughter. Morbius surreptitiously glanced toward Moon God Khonshu, worried Robin's statement would anger the deity.
But Moon God Khonshu simply stood in position. Surrounding moonlight scattered like wind-blown sand. His voice gradually faded:
"I am neither thy father nor mother."
"I am Moon God Khonshu. Thou art my proxy."
"Tch." Venom Robin crossed both arms before his chest, completely unconcerned about Khonshu's departure, redirecting attention toward Batman.
"When you need me, I'm Robin. When you don't need me, you sever me, making me Khonshu's proxy?"
Professor Morbius pricked up his ears attentively.
Octavius retreated aside, rummaging through cabinets, finding chocolate previously prepared for Venom but unfinished. Using tentacles to grasp it, he extended it from safe distance:
"Robin, you know Batman doesn't mean that."
Instantly, Venom Robin's white wicked eyes narrowed. He grabbed Octavius's tentacle, preparing to fling this interfering guy away when Batman caught his wrist:
"Come back with me, Robin."
---
"I thought you genuinely served SHIELD. Never expected someone habituated to espionage couldn't change their nature. Tell me—when did you hook up with Hydra?"
Ant-Man Hank Pym crossed both arms, leaning against his chair back, sitting face-to-face with Wasp Janet across the table.
An inverted glass beaker rested on the table. Inside the beaker, Natasha—merely fingernail-sized—punched and kicked the glass wall futilely.
"Natasha, you know how much we hate Hydra. Why serve them?" Wasp Janet pressed her hand against the beaker bottom, watching Pym Particle-shrunk Natasha making useless efforts inside the glass.
"I never said I was Hydra." Natasha looked upward through glass at normal-sized—but to her current perspective, giant-like—Ant-Man Hank Pym. "How did you obtain this information?"
Wasp Janet giggled:
"SHIELD Director Nick Fury personally informed us. The very day you arrived in New York."
Natasha's heart sank.