Post by johnreiter902 on Jun 15, 2024 23:48:48 GMT
BIRTH OF THE VIGILANTE
By aarnathx
GOTHAM CITY
Entering the dimly lit room, Commissioner Thomas Wayne Sr. immediately headed for the nervously pacing Doctor.
“What’s so damn important that you INSIST on waking me up at this hour?”
The Doctor paled. “T-The project, Sir. It’s done.”
Wayne was taken aback momentarily. “So soon? Your earlier estimates indicated the project’s completion no sooner than three weeks from now. What happened?”
The doctor motioned towards a plate glass window set in the far wall, opening into an adjoining room. “The subject himself, actually. He responded to the treatments far more readily than anticipated.”
Striding over to the window, the Commissioner’s eyes took in the scene: hospital bed, medical equipment, monitors for various vital signs, and an unmoving body strapped to the bed. Mounted on stands next to the still form, packages of intravenous drugs were being fed into the man via tubes connected with his arms. The sheet, pulled up to the man’s mid chest, rose and fell with his steady breathing.
Sitting in a chair next to the bed, a raven-haired woman watched the unconscious man intently. Clad from neck to toe in a black, form fitting uniform, her lithe muscles shifted with smooth power beneath the cloth.
Turning back to the doctor, Wayne jerked a thumb at the woman. “How long has SHE been in there?”
“Since the beginning,” the doctor replied. “Several Policemen tried to remove her during the more… unpleasant procedures, but it didn’t work. They’re down the hall in the intensive care unit.”
Wayne grunted in response, dismissing her from his thoughts. “So, how IS he?”
Flipping open a chart, the doctor scratched behind his ear. “The modified Venom serum has boosted his strength to nearly double that of an Olympic weightlifter. All other bodily functions- reflexes, speed, healing ability- all of them have been doubled as well. His nervous system has been modified to reduce his pain receptors output.”
“Meaning?”
The doctor shrugged. “Meaning he doesn’t feel pain to the extent you or I might. Oh, he still FEELS it, but not to the degree that it would interfere with his functioning.”
Wayne nodded. “Go on.”
“Moulded plates of a Kevlar-polymer composite have been implanted subcutaneously beneath the skin of his chest, abdomen, arms and thighs, rendering him virtually bullet-proof,” the doctor continued. “Each plate is wafer thin, so as not to interfere with range of motion or dexterity.”
Wayne leaned closer to the window. “Excellent. Excellent work, Doctor. When will he be ready for action?”
“I’d give him another two days or so,” the doctor replied. “I have a few tests I’d like to perform before sending him out.”
Wayne barely heard the doctor’s answer. His mind was focused on one thing only.
“And when he IS ready,” Wayne whispered. “Watch out, Owlman.”
-To be continued in THE GATHERING STORM-
By aarnathx
GOTHAM CITY
Entering the dimly lit room, Commissioner Thomas Wayne Sr. immediately headed for the nervously pacing Doctor.
“What’s so damn important that you INSIST on waking me up at this hour?”
The Doctor paled. “T-The project, Sir. It’s done.”
Wayne was taken aback momentarily. “So soon? Your earlier estimates indicated the project’s completion no sooner than three weeks from now. What happened?”
The doctor motioned towards a plate glass window set in the far wall, opening into an adjoining room. “The subject himself, actually. He responded to the treatments far more readily than anticipated.”
Striding over to the window, the Commissioner’s eyes took in the scene: hospital bed, medical equipment, monitors for various vital signs, and an unmoving body strapped to the bed. Mounted on stands next to the still form, packages of intravenous drugs were being fed into the man via tubes connected with his arms. The sheet, pulled up to the man’s mid chest, rose and fell with his steady breathing.
Sitting in a chair next to the bed, a raven-haired woman watched the unconscious man intently. Clad from neck to toe in a black, form fitting uniform, her lithe muscles shifted with smooth power beneath the cloth.
Turning back to the doctor, Wayne jerked a thumb at the woman. “How long has SHE been in there?”
“Since the beginning,” the doctor replied. “Several Policemen tried to remove her during the more… unpleasant procedures, but it didn’t work. They’re down the hall in the intensive care unit.”
Wayne grunted in response, dismissing her from his thoughts. “So, how IS he?”
Flipping open a chart, the doctor scratched behind his ear. “The modified Venom serum has boosted his strength to nearly double that of an Olympic weightlifter. All other bodily functions- reflexes, speed, healing ability- all of them have been doubled as well. His nervous system has been modified to reduce his pain receptors output.”
“Meaning?”
The doctor shrugged. “Meaning he doesn’t feel pain to the extent you or I might. Oh, he still FEELS it, but not to the degree that it would interfere with his functioning.”
Wayne nodded. “Go on.”
“Moulded plates of a Kevlar-polymer composite have been implanted subcutaneously beneath the skin of his chest, abdomen, arms and thighs, rendering him virtually bullet-proof,” the doctor continued. “Each plate is wafer thin, so as not to interfere with range of motion or dexterity.”
Wayne leaned closer to the window. “Excellent. Excellent work, Doctor. When will he be ready for action?”
“I’d give him another two days or so,” the doctor replied. “I have a few tests I’d like to perform before sending him out.”
Wayne barely heard the doctor’s answer. His mind was focused on one thing only.
“And when he IS ready,” Wayne whispered. “Watch out, Owlman.”
-To be continued in THE GATHERING STORM-