Chapter 250: Lizard Professor's Intimidation
"I need your assistance."
At North Brother Island, Batman addressed the four scientists.
"Let's hear it." Dr. Banner said. "Since you're asking, presumably you can't accomplish this alone? Does Hulk need appearing?"
Currently lunch period. The four scientists sat around a square table. The table displayed various foods possessing extremely high nutritional and monetary value.
Food, clothing, utilities, housing—beyond certain unavoidable freedom limitations, Batman had never shown any stinginess toward North Brother Island's scientific team regarding lifestyle matters.
Seeing Batman speak, Banner and others unhesitatingly set down their food, looking over.
"Dr. Octavius, I need you creating an ankle monitor with concealed internal injector."
"Dr. Banner, I need you providing this ankle monitor with twenty-four-hour gamma radiation fluctuation detection devices."
"Professor Morbius, you'll create a miniature blood analysis device loading into the ankle monitor, enabling constant transmission of blood testing information to this laboratory."
"Professor Connors, your assignment is relatively complex..."
Batman rarely displayed hesitation.
Professor Connors immediately grew anxious. Why assign others properly, yet stall at him?
As the four scientists' sole member who'd earliest learned Batman's mask concealed Peter Parker, Professor Connors continuously harbored faint guilt.
Whether Batman or Peter Parker—both had contributed to Professor Connors without expecting returns.
Yet Professor Connors's assistance thus far numbered few instances.
Dr. Banner could help developing gamma inhibitors, could lead most experimental projects. Dr. Octavius had successfully achieved controlled nuclear fusion.
Only newly-arrived Professor Morbius and Professor Connors similarly contributed minimally, conversely consuming considerable effort from Batman and Peter due to their existence.
"What's my assignment?" Professor Connors couldn't restrain asking.
"I need you going to neighboring Hoffman Island." Batman said.
Professor Connors swallowed food, feeling Batman's hesitation somewhat excessive:
"That's simple. When should I go?"
"In Lizard Professor form." Batman supplemented.
RUSTLE!
As Batman's words fell, three of four scientists couldn't restrain standing upright.
The one not standing was Professor Morbius. He looked bewilderedly left-right, not knowing why the other three reacted so dramatically.
Hoffman Island he knew about—that island formerly used for various disease isolation, later serving as detox facility.
Professor Connors's lizard appearance he also knew clearly. Morbius had witnessed it his first North Brother Island day.
He himself had already transformed into current inhuman monster appearance—unable even restoring normal human form. Naturally he assumed Connors—who could transform into lizard, could revert to human—had already perfectly mastered his inner beast.
Morbius didn't understand why the other three stood up.
But though he didn't understand, Banner and Octavius understood. They clearly knew Professor Connors had genuinely unified with his internal lizard.
But having Connors maintain lizard form at Hoffman Island—heaven knew whether unpredictable events might occur.
"Batman, this seems somewhat inappropriate. What are you planning?" Dr. Banner still spoke first. "The ankle monitor you want Octavius creating isn't for Connors, correct?"
"Correct." Batman confirmed Banner's thinking.
"You're not afraid of accidents?" Dr. Octavius observed Batman.
"I have comprehensive protocols." Batman said.
"I can go. But I want knowing why." Professor Connors looked down at his empty right arm. "New threats?"
Handling North Brother Island's four scientists, Batman needn't concealing extensively like handling Norman Osborn. Speaking quite directly:
"Norman Osborn—whom I rescued—has awakened. But he appears having lost memories."
Dr. Banner extracted glasses from shirt pocket, donning them while sitting back in his chair, listening as Batman continued:
"Ordinary prisons cannot confine him. Mental hospitals similarly. Plus delivering him under government jurisdiction—I worry he'll once again encounter Hydra's surveillance."
"Indeed accurate. Plus even specially-constructed prisons aren't safe. For instance, the Cube Prison that previously confined me." Dr. Banner nodded, acknowledging Batman's statement.
Professor Morbius silently noted "Cube Prison"—this unfamiliar term—continuing to prick up ears listening to Batman and Banner's conversation.
"I've constructed a secure detention zone at Hoffman Island. But it's unfinished. Even if completed, memory-lost Norman Osborn isn't suitable confining inside."
Batman observed Octavius and Connors also slowly sitting, continuing:
"I need observing Norman Osborn temporarily, ensuring he won't experience problems again. Hoffman Island represents natural isolation location."
"I appear in lizard form on the island..." Connors frowned. "I understand. I need observing him plus certain degrees of intimidation, confirming he genuinely reverted to Norman Osborn?"
"Simultaneously confirming whether you—after maintaining lizard state long-term—can still restore rationality." Batman said. "Plus beyond Dr. Banner, you're most capable of directly suppressing Norman through appearance and strength."
The four scientists—regardless of reasons, regardless of monster transformations—actually appeared extremely pure from Batman's perspective.
Moreover, they currently represented allies rather than opponents. Batman needn't treating the four scientists like handling Gotham's villains.
Compared to Gotham, Batman spoke considerably more directly.
His directness didn't trigger Professor Connors and others' aversion. Conversely, all four including Professor Morbius nodded repeatedly, believing Batman spoke correctly.
"Hoffman Island genuinely doesn't possess conditions allowing Professor Connors maintaining lizard form long-term. If this opportunity could kill two birds with one stone... I agree with Batman's concept." Dr. Banner first expressed agreement.
Professor Connors himself possessed zero questions. He hoped more than anyone further mastering his inner beast. This opportunity was genuinely rare:
"When departing?"
Batman's voice remained low:
"Now."
---
Inside the Batcave, Venom Robin cautiously observed Norman Osborn sitting on a chair not far away. One hand firmly protected chocolate piled before himself.
GURGLE GURGLE...
Norman Osborn's stomach produced sounds. Venom Robin understood this meant hunger.
But Robin turned deaf ears. Conversely accelerating chocolate consumption speed—fearing Norman Osborn competing with him.
GURGLE GURGLE...
Five minutes later, Norman Osborn's stomach already resembled post-rain pond frogs—calling sounds forming continuous chorus.
Venom Robin hesitated briefly, still picking up one chocolate bar and tossing it from distance.
PLOP!
The chocolate struck Norman Osborn's head, then dropped to floor.
Norman Osborn seemingly hadn't reacted whatsoever, clutching his head while observing Venom Robin. Thirsty, hungry, situated in unfamiliar environment, his and his son's safety unknown—he couldn't restrain feeling slight grievance.
"I'm not trying bullying you." Venom Robin—observing Norman Osborn's complex expression—panicked slightly, rapidly pointing groundward. "I wanted giving you chocolate."