Bat-Troll Rises

Branch Is Bat-Troll

Poppy, BroZone, Viva, and Tiny Diamond walk over to an injured Bat-Troll.

Poppy: Bat-Troll, are you okay?!?

Viva: We need a medic!

Clay: Everyone's in hiding right now.

Tiny Diamond: What do we do?

Spruce: Don't worry, I know how to handle back injuries. But first, we have to remove the suit.

Poppy: Wait! We can't! We'll know his secret identity.

Bat-Troll: Poppy... Please. It's time they knew.

John Dory: Time we knew what?

Poppy begins removing Bat-Troll's mask and reveals that he is Branch.

John Dory, Spruce, and Clay: Branch?!?!?

Viva: Your boyfriend?!?

Tiny Diamond: Branch?!? Man, I never would've guessed.

Clay: You're— You are... You're— You're...

Branch: Yeah. I'm Bat-Troll.

They remove the rest of the suit and Spruce went to work.

John Dory: I still have a million questions. Like how?

Branch: Ow!!! I became filled with a need over the years to strike fear into... Ow!!! Into the hearts of criminals.

Spruce: And you've been doing this for 4 years.

Branch: Well I donned the suit 4 years ago. It wasn't until last... Ow!!! Until last year when a crime spree began. And everyone needed someone to look up too.

Poppy: And I was the very first one to learn his secret.

Tiny Diamond: What?!? You couldn't let me in on it. I've always dreamed of being Bat-Troll's sidekick. I even have a costume.

Branch: Sorry, Tiny. But I don't... Ow!!! Need help in the field.

Tiny Diamond: Why not?

Poppy: He's afraid he'll get attached to that sidekick and eventually lose them.

Tiny Diamond: Oh.

Spruce: Okay, one more—

Spruce punches a misplaced piece of vertebrae back into place.

Branch: Ow!!! (Sighs) That feels better. Thanks.

Spruce: No problem.

Viva: Now what was that thing that attacked our home?

Branch: You know, something about him reminded me about a Country experiment.

He pulls out his mobile Batwave.

Branch: Peña Doro Prison, for lifers only.

Clay: So we're looking for an escapee?

Branch: That's right. And there's only been one escape in 25 years. Three years ago. Computer, run background file on project Gilgamesh.

Viva: Gilgamesh? Named after the warrior?

Branch: The ultimate warrior. A chemical plan to create super soldiers out of hardened prisoners. It was abandoned when they got more than they bargained for.

Poppy: And what was that?

Branch: They got Bane.

The footage shows Bane becoming so strong and attacking the scientists.

Branch: After he escaped, Bane went into business for himself as a freelance assassin. Price per job, five million dollars.

Spruce: The old Spruce would've love to hear his workout plan.

Branch: He doesn't do it the hard way. Bane's strength comes from a special drug called venom that pumps through tubes connected to his head.

John Dory: Whoah. You've certainly got smarter over the years.

Poppy: So someone's hired him to kill you.

Branch: It explains why Bane knew about Catwoman, Two-Face, and Riddler. He's been observing me fighting them. That's why he knows a bunch of my moves.

Spruce: We're just lucky he only broke your back once. One more back injury and it's over.

Viva: See? This is why I want you to stay, Poppy. There's a bunch of criminals and a venom powered mad Troll. Not even your boyfriend can stop him. Come on, Poppy. You understand, right?

Poppy: I'm sorry, I have to be there for my boyfriend more than you.

Viva: What?

Poppy: I have to support him because no one else will.

Viva: Then none of you are leaving. Clay?

Clay: I'm sorry, Viva, but we have to leave. I don't wanna lose my brother either. Let's move!

Viva: No. No, Poppy, wait! (gasping) Poppy, please! I want you to stay!

Poppy: Viva, I can't do that. But you can come with us. And I know you think it's risky, and maybe it is, but it'll be worth it. Family's always worth it.

Viva: No, no, no, I— I can't.

Viva closes the gate and Poppy became heartbroken when Viva refused to join them. Branch came over to comfort her.