Previous Events
Introduction
(The Batcave)
The inside of the cave was so quite that every drop of water that fell into the ancient pools of water far below the walk ways could be heard until the sounds of fighting erupted from the computer. Bruce looked at the older man attempting to beat the younger faster looking thief. Each time the older man was hit he didn't fall, but instead he seemed to redouble his efforts. Bruce studied the fight and watched as slowly the older, larger man began to slow. It was going to happen now despite how much stronger he was.
(On the screen)
"It's all a Joke. Mother forgive me." The older man says before he is picked up and threw out of the plate glass window.
Bruce watched the would be thief as he ransacked the apartment, but didn't take anything. It was not a simple robbery, but it was meant to look like one. Soon the police came in and the smarter of the two detectives figured that this was some kind of assassination. About an hour after the cops had left a man that looked like The Question arrived and shot a grappling hook up to the apartment and began to search. He watched how the man looked over every detail attempting to see what the police stumbled over. His searching lead him to a red button which opened up a secret compartment. That secret compartment held a uniform and various tools familiar to those that worked as vigilantes.
The sound of footsteps wasn't lost on Bruce as he heard the familiar sound of Diana's boots hitting each step. She walked up behind him and watched the screen. The world looked depressed and scornful of heroes. She softly touched Bruce's shoulder and he turned toward her.
"Is this happening now? A different universe, but one where this is currently going on?" She asked.
He shook his head no and looked at the screen again for a second.
"This happened twenty five years ago. I've watched the events before, and I fear that what happened there is starting to happen here." He said as he walked up the stairs with her.
She brought his hand down to her pregnant stomach as they walked and he could feel the slightest kick.
"What happened there?" She asked.
"The government outlawed heroes. A strict enforcement was made, and only one hero worked outside of the law. He uncovered a plan that would go on to kill millions even though it promised world peace." Bruce answered as he opened the door for her.
"What happened to him?" She asked.
Bruce's shoulder slumped for a second. He knew that if the events held here like they did there he would share a similar fate with Walter Kovacks or Rorschach as he called himself.
"He was too late to stop the plan, but he died telling the world. They killed him to keep him quite, but he had left his journal at a newspaper, and that newspaper ran with it. They informed the world and the world turned against the man responsible. Once that was done... What was feared happened. In a fit of paranoia the people of the world attacked each other. A war to end all wars was launched and nothing could stop it. If nothing had been done I believe that like on our world they would have seen through their differences, but it didn't happen." He said as they closed the secret door behind the grandfather clock.
"Oh gods... Perhaps it would have been better to not tell the people." Diana said.
"Perhaps, but I understand what Rorschach the man that uncovered it was thinking. What was done wasn't freeing men and women, but it was imprisoning them in fear. They feared an outside force more than themselves, and that heightened their sense of paranoia to a point that couldn't be controlled. Letting them know helped to release some of it, but not enough." he said as he looked into the eyes of the woman who had come to mean more to him than he could ever explain.
"What part of that is happening now?" She asked.
"The government is pushing to outlaw masks. They plan to outlaw those of us without powers, and attempt to control those with powers. I've researched, and they already know who Clark is and they are watching Lois. The moment they are ready to strike they will attack her to get to him." Bruce said as held her hands.