theknightshift | inbox (etraya)

[ Often enough. He's also dealt with all manner of toxin and gas and poison. He knows what to look for, how to separate clean data from the corrupted. ]

Well not this specifically, but I've had to develop antidotes for a variety of things. This isn't that different.

[Though Bruce is just a non-powered human, it's easy for Kirk to imagine his counterpart having plenty of experience doing chemistry because of his work as a vigilante]

Hopefully that's true.

[A fresh pair of eyes could make a difference]

You've worked with your world's Dr. Langstrom as well?

[He's curious, and not from a scientist's standpoint. It could explain why some of these other Gothamites haven't been the most friendly]

I have, yes. He was my friend.

[ it costs him nothing to admit and regardless of Kirk's current state, it doesn't make the statement any less true. If he cannot help his world's Kirk Langstrom, perhaps he can do something to help this one. ]

[The answer is somewhat surprising to Kirk, given how their first meeting went. But maybe that's part of why this alternate Batman has taken an interest. For someone who seems to have cloaked himself a persona of being Gotham's dark knight, Kirk is wonder if this is a human with deep-seated commitments to saving people. Even going so far as to avoid killing.

Of course, this could all still be a trap but Kirk remains interested. He looks at Bruce, still keeping his expression neutral and hidden behind his goggles and helmet]

I've been told that there's at least one version where he had mutated.

[ Bruce doesn't have Kirk's acute senses. Not in the way a metahuman would. But meta or not, people are people and they are easy enough to read if you know how. He looks up from the items he's looking at to regard Kirk and the neutral way he's presenting himself. He could believe it if he didn't know better. ]

He was addicted to the serum.

A serum that turned him into a giant bat.

[A Man-Bat one could even say. Kirk remains calm as he finishes setting up and fetches some samples from the fridge]

[ Bruce grunts in the affirmative. ]

A problem you don't have.

[ Which is already the advantage here. Kirk did not have to fight an addiction. He just had to undo the effects of a poor choice and weigh what becoming human again means to him compared to his existence now. No biggie, right? ]

[Kirk would almost argue that he has a different kind of addiction but that's understating his hunger for blood. It's literally what he needs to survive. He's an apex predator. A monster. The hungry, greedy beast is part of his core and cannot be tamed so easily like an addiction. Maybe he's been one for too long now and has forgotten what it means to be human. Maybe the damage is permanent.

He answers Bruce in a deadpan tone]

No. Just the diet of a vampire bat.

[ That's a problem of another sort. An addiction of a different kind, because Kirk Langstrom didn't need the serum. But he did need to eat. ]

We'll do something about it.

[ He reaches for Kirk's notes and thumbs through them until he reaches a particular place. ]

I think if you redistribute the ratios here, you'll increase the longevity.

[He sounds so convinced and committed. Kirk remains wary but so far Bruce seems to know what he's doing. He nods as he looks over where Bruce is pointing out]

Interesting. It may work.

[Kirk points out another part of his notes. He's going treat him like a fellow scientist until proven otherwise]

I'll have to do an adjustment here as well to take into account potential side effects.

Edited 2026-03-08 04:00 (UTC)

[ He is committed for better or for worse. He reads over the page and picks up a pen to write out a few formulas in the margin. ]

These compounds cause liver damage with prolonged use. The nanites could theoretically correct the damage. But it may reduce the potency.

The nanites can patch that up but I'd rather not push their healing capabilities unless it's necessary. They have a limit to how much they can fix.

[It's part of why even with his superpowers, he usually prefers being tactical and efficient instead of just brute forcing through every fight he's in]

Noted.

[ He adjusts the ratios. ]

You won't get a full twenty-four hours with this. How long can you manage before you feel feral?

It's not ideal but I can go about two or three days before that happens. It's still possible to stop me in the early stages of that if you're prepared.

[Or simply strong enough to restrain him like what his Superman would do]

[ Something to record in his own notes. ]

You said you had ideas about stretching the formula to twenty hours? Show me.

[Kirk begins to scribble some hypotheticals]

They branch off from what you've provided to me so far. It would involve increasing the ratios for several ingredients. Part of the challenge though is working out the potential side effects. What was harmless at a lower dosage could cause some issues at this level.

Such high dosages of this compound are not safe long term.

[ He's seen the effects. Not pretty. ]

But you may not feel the side effects with the nanites correcting the damage. You could half it here [ He points at one of the hypotheticals. ] and get sixteen hours. Possibly eighteen if you're careful.

[Kirk does some more scribbling near where Bruce points]

A conservative approach for now just in case. We'll stick to sixteen hours for now.

[ Sixteen hours. Doable and preferable to the handful of hours he was getting out of the original formula. Bruce is mostly satisfied with that. They wouldn't know the full extent of the side effects without monitoring him. ]

I'll keep an eye on you once you start using the modified formula. Unless you have objections.

[ Not that those would matter. Bruce will watch him regardless. ]

[Kirk is already under the impression that Bruce will watch him regardless. Best to keep cooperating for now]

No. It'll help to have a second pair of eyes for this. We don't know yet the full range of side effects are.

Can you keep an accurate log of any symptoms?

[ He's read Kirk's mission debriefs. The man is thorough. But it's different when it's something personal. Bruce just wants to know if he can keep that same efficiency. ]

I can try but any potential psychological effects may be harder to monitor.

[Kirk can't blame Bruce for asking. A doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient. But what choice does Kirk have? And there are so many ways this could still go wrong so Kirk can see why Bruce would have plenty of questions]

I'll be watching too. If your Superman cooperates, then we should have an accurate record of any side effects.

[ Not that Bruce trusts Hernan. But Kirk does, so he'd likely be willing to help if Kirk is the one to ask. ]

It should be enough. I trust him.

[More than anyone else in his life]

We can keep checking in here.

[Because like hell he trusts Bruce to be in the tower again]

Then we have a plan.

[ It's fine, Kirk. Bruce will break in because he does not trust Kirk to be completely forthcoming. ]

Look forward to working with you, Dr. Langstrom.

[ Do you Bruce? Do you really? ]

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