Author's Notes: Hey guys it feels great to be back at it and I'm trying something a little new with this story. I hope that you enjoy my take on this universe, and I would just like to say I love each of the CW shows and I can't wait to see BLACK LIGHTENING on the CW as well. Anyways enjoy and I'll catch you all on the flipside.

P.S.: Also this takes place 2 weeks before the INVASION crossover event and after a strenous talk with the Green Arrow/ Oliver Queen *don't tell* I officially hereby claim nothing, except my own mental short comings. *tear drop*

"My name is Bruce Wayne. I was 10 years old when I saw my parents murdered, gunned down right in front of my eyes. Ever since, I have dedicated my life to protecting the people of Gotham City from the same sort of criminals that took my parents from me.

Through intimidation and fear, I have protected the innocent from the unimaginable and the impossible. By day I am merely a man, but at night I am a symbol, one which thrives in the shadows and cannot be broken or corrupted. I am vengence, I am the knight. I. Am. Batman."

Gotham City - 12:48 a.m. 2 weeks ago

Location: Undisclosed

The weather has gradually worsened in the last 15 minutes changing from a light drizzle to a heavy downpour. Even now, the rain pounds against the streets and leaves no building untouched. Even here on the very outskirts of Gotham City, a lone mansion on a hilltop stands amid this torrental-like storm passing over gotham. The unseen clouds are only made visible when the lightening thrashes out within the clouds themselves, and the sound of thunder quickly follows; crackling both near and far off in the distance. Amid the continous flashes of light, one could make out one of the many rooms held within the mansion.

At first glance, it would appear to be a library of sorts as the walls were covered with shelves and the shelves filled with books of many types of variety. On the southern wall stood a Grandfather clock, one which had been passed down from generation to generation. There was only a single door which led to this room and its handle slowly started to turn until a clicking sound echoed through the silent stricken room. As the door creaked open a man enters the room, carrying a silver serving tray under one arm and walks over to the middle window.

His reflection emerged amidst the streams of rain flowing down and the near blinding lightening sprouting up every few seconds. He sets the tray down on the window seal in front of him and shortly after starts adjusting his tie. The man's attire was well taken care of, as it was in near-pristine condition, from his black suit jacket all the way down to his shining black shoes. His undershirt was as white as pure fallen snow and his vest was a dark grey and together with his silver-peppered hair he looked rather dashing for a man of 57, at least he thought as much.

He stood in front of the window, arms kept behind his back as he stared out into night, where soon his eyes drifted down and to the right, where the garden was located. His eyes widened briefly and his mouth slowly gaped open when he saw the massive water puddle which was drowning the plants.

*mumbles in an English accent* "*lets out a disapproving sigh* I guess we can skip the gardner now can't we?."

Suddenly the watch on his right wrist started chiming, quickly taking his attention away from the flooded garden. He stares at the watch for a few seconds before pressing two small buttons on either side, causing the chiming to stop.

"Well then, time to get back to it then."

Taking a brief moment to adjust his his tie, the man picks up the tray, placing it back under his right arm, turns and walks to the other end of the room, where he stands in front of the grandfather clock. He opens the side-access panel and adjusts the time to 10:48 p.m., after which the moon dial above opens. A single blue laser appears and quickly scans his face vertically and then horizontally. Once that was finished it stated.

*female robot voice* "Authorization Requested."

*English accent* "PENNY-ONE."

"Authorization Accepted."

Seconds later the book shelf to the left slides outward and to the left, revealing an elevator hidden behind it. As the doors open, he steps inside and stood facing forward as the door and bookshelf closed behind him simlutaneously. After a few seconds it stops and the doors in front of him open and he steps out of the elevator onto a walkway.

To his left was a staircase which led to 12 display cases, each one occupied by a unique suit. To his right, a giant robotic T-rex stared at the elevator entrance. A few yards ahead and to the left was a custom motorcycle, which from the way it was built resembles a two wheeled tank. He paused for a moment and stared at the motorcycle, more specifically, the fresh mud which was now dripping, oozing off of the wheels as well as the trail of mud leading out of the cave.

*Mumbles to himself* "I just cleaned that bloody thing this morning." *Mentally sighs* How is it that he always finds a way to make my job even more tedious? Must be an acquired skill set.

A fluttering sound from above caught his attention and his gaze as he looked up to see hundreds of barely visible shadows hanging from the ceiling.

Ahh, I see our friends are still hanging around. Bat's; as charming as ever.

He quickly turned and made his way down some steps to the center island where an oversized chair sits in front of a giant monitor surrounded by smaller monitors on either side. As he reaches the island he stops and looks over at the console to the left of the chair. He spots a a plate with a half-eaten apple and a small bite-sized piece of steak still leftover. The man walks over to the console and quietly sets the tray down on the console and picks up the plate looking at the leftovers.

*mumbles in a sarcastic tone* "Why do I even bother?"

After placing the plate on the tray he turns to man sitting in the chair; the main is dressed in a black turtle neck, as well as black slacks and onyx black mountain shoes. He was motionless as he sat in the chair, his hand on his chin, staring at a grid map of Gotham City on the screen. He leaves the tray with the plate on the console and walks over to the man, standing next to the chair and watches the screen along with the other man. The man in the seat leans forward, pressing a single key on the keyboard in front of him;

*low growl* "Report in."

A slight crackle sound came from the speakers on the giant monitor, but after a few seconds it clears and a familiar voice came through.

*Middle-aged Male, stern* "Azrael reporting in. Founder's Island is all clear. No sign of them."

*Young, playful female voice* "Spolier here, and why is it that I always get the creepy places?"

* stern voice* "Spoiler,"

Spoiler: "Sorry, Amusement Mile is all clear."

"Wildcat, any sign of them on your end..." *sounds of a struggle* "Wildcat?"

Sounds of a struggle continue and with it the echoing of men shouting, glass shattering and wood breaking.

Wildcat: *older, tired voice* *sounds of people grunting* "Give me-one" *smashing glass* "-ugh, why you little sh-" *sound of someone's head cracking against a wall, followed by silence* *breathing heavily* "Sorry 'bout that; Iceberg Lounge is clear. No one knows a damn thing."

*silently sighes* "Nightwing, tell me that you have something."

Nightwing: *young male* "Sorry boss, none of my usual contacts know anything that we don't already know. Its like these guy's just disappeared; dropped off the map."

Azrael: "Perhaps a fellow crusader heard God's call to arms and decided to dispense divine justice unto the flith which plagues the streets of Gotham."

Wildcat: "I hate to agree with sir nutso here, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Maybe dropping a few of these punks will teach the rest to stay in line."

"If someone were crossing off criminals they would leave some sort of trail to follow. At the very least we would have heard rumors or found they're bodies, or parts of them."

Spolier: "Besides that, some of these people aren't exactly easy to take down much less take out. I mean, you'd have to be like, Superman or Supergirl to even stand a chance of taking them down solo."

Wildcat: "Oh yeah, tell that to Bats here."

Batman: *low growl followed by a heavy sigh* "Regardless any evidence is most likely washed away by the storm. Which means we have nothing. For the first time in years the streets are quiet and the storm is just picking up. Time to pack it up and call it a night."

Nightwing: "Yeah well, despite the weather, I'm gonna keep patrolling, see if there is something that I missed."

Spoiler: "I'm not ready to call it a night. Need some backup?"

Nightwing: "What the hell, why not. What about you Wildcat?"

Wildcat: *jokingly* "Kid, I'm always up for a fight."

Nightwing: "What about you Azrael?"

Azrael: "As an instrument of God, I shall gladly dispense divine justice and cleanse the streets of of the corrupt and villianous scum."

Nightwing: "Uhhh, so that's a yes, right?"

Azrael: "...Yes."

Batman: *smirks a bit* "Fine. But keep in radio contact and let me know if you find anything."

Nightwing: "Roger that boss."

The Batman turned off the intercom and lets out a heavy, exhausted sigh as he leans back against the chair, placing two fingers on his right temple.

Batman: *mumbles* "I'm missing something, something important." *looks over at the man standing beside him* "Alfred, how far along is the rendering from the Arkham Asylum and Blackgate?"

Alfred presses a red button to the left of the console in front of them, which in turn causes a small section of the floor behind them to compress down and open up. A holo-table slowly rises from beneath just as Alfred makes his way over to it. Once it was situated, he turns it on and taps the top of the table causing a virtual 3d image of a loading screen to appear.

Alfred: "Its currently at 97% sir. Shouldn't be more than a few more minutes before-"

Alfred turned around only to see the Batman, or Master Bruce as he has known him since the day he was born; standing there, silent, his hand slowly stroking the stubble on his chin.

There is something that I'm not seeing. Some clue that is right in front of me. 7 inmates, 4 from Arkham, 3 from Blackgate; taken within minutes of each other and dissappeared without leaving a single trace. It seems impossible, but nothing is ever what it seems, still; all of them were in high security lockup, and yet the perpetrators broke in, disabled the security and got past dozens of guards without even firing a shot. Impressive.

Alfred: *concerning tone* "Master Bruce, is everything alright?"

Bruce looked up as Alfred's words snapped him from his thoughts.

Bruce/Batman: "Its nothing Alfred. Just-"

Before he could finish, a beeping sound came from the holotable and the loading screen changed; the screen now said Rendering complete, which meant that it was time for some detective work.

Bruce: "Nevermind. Pull up the rendering of Blackgate; since it was the first to be hit."

Alfred could tell that Bruce was holding something back and yet he complied without saying a word and started tapping on the keyboard in front of him. The massive waterbed to the right started swishing and suddenly a large platform started rising out of the water in front of them. Bruce walked onto the platform just as 12 metal poles sprouted from the outer rim of said platform. Each one had 5 blue lights which whirled to life and within seconds, Bruce had before him a bright blue, minaturized rendering of not only Blackgate Penitenuary but also of the surrounding island on which it was located.

Bruce: "Alfred, show me the Southeast wall of the compound. That's where they made their escape.

Alfred: "Right away sir

He pressed a few keys on the keyboard and within moments the model slowly turned until the Southeast portion of the model was facing Bruce.

Bruce: "Enlarge. Full scale. Add in realistic features."

Once more his trusted friend and butler types a few keys and within moments the image enlarges to the size of it's actual counter-part. At the same time the model had changed, as layers and layers were added making it into a more realistic version. Every detail could be seen from the way the strands of grass were swaying in the nonexistent wind to the cracks and inditations one the wall of the facility itself.

Alfred: "Well, it looks like Lucius outdid himself once again Master Bruce. I may dare say he deserves a bonus this time around, yeah?"

Bruce looks over and shoots him a smirk.

Bruce: "I'd say making him Head of Wayne Enterprises is bonus enough Alfred."

Bruce took a few steps forward, towards the 500 ft section of wall which was laying on the ground just a few feet from the gaping hole which now covered the Southeastern wall. He first looked at the edging on the wall which layed on the ground, paying extremely close attention to the edging.

Bruce: "The outer wall in made up of 50 inch Carbine-Titanium composite, which has a melting point of 1800 degree's and yet the edging suggests that something cut through it like it was nothing. Something extremely hot."

Alfred: "Well then, perhaps we should as some of the local firebugs if they know anything, yeah. What was that chaps name...the one that tried to burn down city hall just before Christmas eve? Had that Jetpack and went by the name...oh bloody hell what was it he called himself?"

Bruce stood up and walked over to the gaping hole, once again paying close attention to the edging.

Bruce: "Garfield Lynch; the Gotham Gazette called him Firefly."

Alfred: "That's right, yeah...well he did look like a bug when you left him tied up and his equipment squashed on the pavement just outside the GCPD. Perhaps he's putting together a team of like-minded individuals to take you down a peg or two?"

Bruce: "I've considered it at first, but I eventually ruled him out. For one, Lynch had a run in with Clark a few weeks back and has been locked up in Stryker's Island ever since awaiting trial. Plus, his weapon has a burning point of 1200 degrees; it would have taken him 4, maybe 6 hours to cut through that wall. And according to the scans from the drones the wall was melted at 2300 degrees, way more than was needed."

He looked back at the wall laying on the ground then back at the gaping hole;

I've seen this before, I know I have, but where?

For some inesplicable reason, his hand reached up and rested on his right pec, where a particualrly nasty and memorable scar exists. He didn't even realize what he had done, until he look down and saw his hand; that is when it hit him, like a freight train, he knew.

Bruce: "Alfred, did the drones scan the other side of the wall for any abnormalities?

Alfred was unsure of the question, more specifically, he was unsure as to the relevence of it, but regardless he pressed a few keys and within seconds he had his answer.

Alfred: "Yes I do believe they did sir, but why do you-"

Bruce: "Switch controls over to interactive mode, if you will."

Once more Alfred remained silent and did what was asked of him.

Alfred: "The rendering is now interactive sir."

Bruce nods before slowly walking to one side of the wall; he kneels down and places one hand under the corner and slowly begins to lift it up. Once the wall was standing straight up he turned it to face him and Alfred, afterwards he released his grip. Alfreds eye's widened as he stared at the warped sections which distinctly looked like...

Alfred: "My word sir, are those-"

Bruce: "Someone incredibly strong ripped the wall out, after it had been cut through with something ungodly hot."

He didn't even try to hide the disdain in his voice, it was a sound that Alfred heard all too often, but this one was more fierce. Bruce turned and slowly made his way back to Alfred and when he did, there was a cold, frightening aura rushing off of him.

Bruce: *cold, disdained tone* "There were no footprints found outside the walls or inside beside the GCPD forensic team and the inmates themselves. Our perp was able to cut through the a 500 ft section of Carbine-Titanum, free 3 inmate from Blackgate and 4 from Arkham within minutes and dissappear without leaving a single trace."

The brooding man walks over to the main console with Alfred not far behind and after taking a seat he furiously taps the keys on the keyboard.

Alfred: "Sir, I insist that you tell me what's going on, now Master Bruce."

Bruce: "Think about it. Our perp had super-strength, could cut through metal like it was butter, is extremely fast and left no footprints at the crime scene. We're dealing with a Kryptonian Alfred.

Alfred's eyes widen and his mouth gaps open; suddenly his mind flashes back to a night nearly 7 years ago, a night that was burned into his mind. He snapped himself from his thoughts, just long enough to ask.

Alfred: *confused tone* "Sir, you can't be suggesting that Superman or his cousin for that matter had something to do with this, are you?"

Bruce: *keeps typing* "No, but despite the claim that they are the last son and daughter of Krypton, with both know that there is more than one Kryptonian on Earth."

Alfred: *shocked tone* "My word. But, what would a Kryptonian want with a bunch of criminals, sociopaths and pyschopaths from your rogues gallery?"

Before Bruce could answer the monitor in front started beeping as a screen appears before him, one that shows a real-time map of the Earth, one that quickly zooms in on the United States.

Alfred: "Sir is that what I think it is?"

Bruce: "Nanite Tracer signal. They must have finally metabolised. With this I'll at least be able to track one of them and maybe through him, learn where the others are hiding."

The map on the screen is quickly narrowing the tracer signal down to a city street.

Alfred: "Bravo Master Bruce, you have once again outdone yourself." *looks confusingly at the map on the monitor* "I don't recognize the area, or the street."

Bruce: "That's because he's not in Gotham."

Alfred: *mildly shocked tone* "But, if he's not in Gotham then where is he?"

Last Thoughts: Hey ladies and gents I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I know that it's a little shorter that what I usually put out but I have another story that I'm also currently working on at the same time and so...yeah my problem I know. Also I wanted to let you guys know that the Odd chapters (1,3,5 etc.) are going to be from the Dark Knight's point of view and the even (2,4,6 blah, blah) are going to be from the Girl of Steels point of view. Just so there's no confusion, I got this idea from reading palmtreedragons and his own CW fanfic Shades of Gray.

So I would like to thank him for the idea and hopefully it works out if not I'll go back to the way I was writing on previous fanfics. Thanks again and stay tuned for future updates. THX