Chapter 251: Research on Moonlight
"Where is this again?"
Norman Osborn opened his eyes, discovering before him no longer appeared pitch-black, dimly lit Batcave with only electronic equipment glowing faintly, but rather an island resembling primitive forest.
"An island." Batman said.
Nonsense... Norman Osborn didn't dare glaring at Batman, only dissatisfiedly glaring at a nearby tree.
Six hours ago, Batman had returned from outside, saying he'd bring Norman Osborn somewhere.
Norman Osborn had readily agreed. The dark, damp Batcave absolutely wasn't where normal people should stay. He couldn't wait leaving there.
So with eyes covered and ears plugged, Norman Osborn only knew he'd boarded a vehicle, traveled underwater for some distance, then journeyed extensively for fully six hours.
During which he'd fallen asleep twice, awakened again by rapid driving's g-forces.
After fully six hours passing thus, Batman had finally brought Norman Osborn to the destination: "An island."
"If I'm not mistaken, I'll be living here alone temporarily?" Norman Osborn scrutinized the island. "This isn't New York State anymore, correct? I felt you'd practically traversed half America's distance."
Batman neither confirmed nor denied, tossing a transparent bag groundward:
"Inside contains sufficient food lasting five days. After five days, I'll decide based on circumstances whether continuing food drops or taking you away."
"This is your observation and treatment methodology for me?" Norman Osborn didn't pick up the ground-level bag, looking at Batman while asking.
"The serum treating you is under production." Batman similarly observed Norman Osborn. "The island's quite safe, sufficiently large, enabling better observation."
"Hopefully so." Norman Osborn said.
Batman observed Norman picking up the ground-level bag, stepping progressively into Bat Island's jungle. He didn't deliberately linger here, turning to depart Bat Island.
With Professor Connors plus nearly omnipresent monitoring networks and miniature sensors across the island, Batman didn't worry Norman Osborn would locate still-under-construction Parker Manor.
Unlike North Brother Island—slightly crowded accommodating one large laboratory—Hoffman Island's overall area exceeded North Brother Island by over six times.
Parker Manor, underground Batcave, Batwing takeoff and landing platforms all occupied the island's most central zones.
As one of Batman's few trusted individuals in this world, Professor Connors had currently transformed into Lizard Professor, stationed in tree clusters near Parker Manor.
Even if Norman Osborn wanted entering underground facilities, Lizard Professor could completely discover and intercept immediately.
Moreover, Batman would determine Norman Osborn's position and condition through sensors, deciding anytime whether appearing on the island.
Currently Norman Osborn had just entered Bat Island's jungle—hadn't even penetrated exterior zones yet. At most occupying peripheral zones.
Batman didn't observe him too urgently, instead returning to South Brother Island.
He hadn't forgotten the stone tablet matter, preparing consulting Professor Morbius about this object. Batman recalled Morbius saying after becoming vampire, he'd continuously researched various nations' mythological legends.
Venom Robin was also at North Brother Island, not having followed Batman and Norman Osborn through fully six vehicle-jostling hours.
When Batman returned to North Brother Island's laboratory, here they again enjoyed dinner—one entire roasted tender lamb, plus several thick-cut steaks, massive piles of various fruits and vegetables.
But unlike noon's lunch when several scientists occasionally conversed happily, current Dr. Banner and Professor Morbius both remained silent, big eyes staring at small eyes with not-far-away-seated Venom Robin.
Beside Venom Robin, Dr. Octavius used tongs holding one large steak piece, raising it beside Venom Robin. But Robin didn't even glance at it.
"?" Batman expressed confusion through eye contact.
"Old Bat, they want tricking me into eating those tasteless things." Venom Robin—seeing Batman—rapidly spoke.
Venom Robin ate chocolate primarily for chocolate's contained phenylethylamine—identical component present in human brains. Everyone in the laboratory knew this clearly.
Dr. Octavius's face showed zero embarrassment, grinning while explaining to Batman why laboratory atmosphere appeared so bizarre:
With Venom Robin present, the three scientists dared not fully throwing themselves into respective experiments, only sitting idly doing things not requiring concentrated effort.
But idling meant idling. So Dr. Octavius and other scientists reached immediate agreement, deciding tentatively having Venom consume normal human food, seeing whether deeper research could proceed regarding symbiotes—these miraculous alien lifeforms.
But Venom possessed absolutely zero interest in human food. Despite three scientists' persistent coaxing, he stubbornly wouldn't even glance at steak or roasted lamb.
"Symbiote energy sources are phenylethylamine." Batman said. He'd already secretly researched this problem.
"What about moonlight?" Dr. Banner's interest piqued. "Robin's body composition also includes Khonshu's moonlight. Whether from proxy perspective or theoretically, moonlight should similarly supplement his energy."
Venom Robin blinked:
"Moonlight? Physically meaningful solar radiation reflected by lunar surface?"
Though becoming Moon God Khonshu's proxy, Venom Robin's Khonshu understanding didn't even match Professor Morbius's.
Professor Morbius corrected:
"Last night Dr. Banner—through research—confirmed Khonshu's moonlight isn't actual moonlight, but rather some energy whose external manifestation resembles moonlight."
"Theoretically Venom should indeed be able supplementing energy from moonlight."
Dr. Octavius continued:
"I'm genuinely curious how Robin absorbs moonlight."
Batman expressionlessly observed the three scientists. He knew that wasn't "slight curiosity." If not for Batman considerations, Robin might've already been subdued by three monsters, forcibly pressed onto examination tables.
Venom Robin jumped from his chair, rapidly hiding behind Batman.
Last night when freshly becoming Eclipse Knight, facing fully-manifested four scientists, Venom Robin had shown zero fear—conversely rubbing fists together wanting fights.
But when Banner and others shed monster exteriors, revealing respective scientists' crazed ideas—Venom Robin conversely felt slight fear.
"Old Bat, I don't want them researching me." Venom Robin hid behind Batman, quietly speaking.
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