A/N: Based on Detective Comics #376 (June 1968) Hunted or Haunted. A descendent of Bruce Wayne uses a time machine to go back in time to discover the secret identity of the Batman.
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The Batmaniac Murders Book I: Rediscovery
By
AJ
Part 1
The year is 23_, the place New Gotham, a city built on the ruins of the old Gotham City after the null-nuclear war. New Gotham is one of peace and tranquility, the picture perfect setting of a Utopia where nothing sinister seems to happen. No crime has been committed for at least 150 years. Even crime is considered a myth and the generation who would commit them was believed long gone.
This night seven masked men gather in a hidden cave to finish their discussion from their previous meeting. Among their group, they are known as the Batmaniacs. Their leader, Tomas Wayne at the previous meeting had been discussed his time travel adventure to the past. On this night an argument ensues.
"Are you certain, Tomas?" one of the Batmen asked. "There were people who actually committed crimes?"
"I find that hard to believe," another said.
"Believe it gentleman," Tomas said. "Remember I went back in time and saw it with my own eyes. A man stole a briefcase out of someone's vehicle and Batman solved the crime."
"I can't believe that. There's no such thing as crime."
"You're making that up."
"No," Tomas said. "I saw it myself. First why do we gather? Just to admire a man who dresses as a bat? He was called the Greatest Detective, why?"
Several pairs of eyes stared back at Tomas Wayne, as if questioning his sanity.
"Well you cannot get me to believe that there was anything as frightening as crime. It's nothing but a myth. And at this point, I am resigning from the "Batmaniacs." It is after all such a stupid idea anyway. I did admire Batman, but to think that he could be so violent. I'll return the costume later."
"Todd, wait," Tomas called, but the man left without another word.
"I think we all should be going," another said. "I have to get back to my wife. It's our son's tenth birthday and we are putting on a show for the Mayor's wife in three days. We need to rehearse the new routine."
"Jon, you believe me don't you?"
Jon didn't say a word, but nodded. He usually trusted his friend. The others were not so willing to believe.
Another headed toward the door. "Jason, you're not going to leave as well?"
"Look you wanted us to be a part of this group, and we wanted to believe in a man who was a hero who saved lives, but to believe that he fought crime . . . that's a little hard to believe."
Tomas Wayne watched in dismay as his fellow Batmaniacs left, as if turning their backs on what he believed was a great man. The cave was empty, silent except for the sound of the surf coming from outside. In truth, the cave that he discovered wasn't the true batcave. It was near the sea, but it didn't contain any of the items that the original Batman would have used. The only thing he found was a small bat-shaped piece of metal. Still, it was a symbol of the very man he admired and he took it as a sign that the cave may have been used by the original Batman.
The leaving of his fellow Batmen was a blow to Tomas, not so much to his ego, but to the original Batman's legacy. Only his friend Jon seemed to understand. It was Jon who helped him to gather what he could on the Batman, from old photographs to small bits of old video film showing that he truly existed, but none showed that he had been a crime fighter. It was those pieces of information that intrigued Tomas Wayne so much that going back in time to get answers had been the only way.
Having gone back, and seeing for himself that Batman not only was a great detective and crime fighter, Tomas discovered that Batman also had a young partner, a young protégé named Robin. Tomas had not heard of Robin until the moment he had gone back in time. He hadn't even gotten a chance to tell his fellow Batmaniacs the surprising news. The one thing he neglected to discover and one of the reasons for him going back in time was to find out the Batman's identity. All too soon the time machine brought him back to the present. And unfortunately, the time machine could only be used once. It had been his only chance. There was one other thing he did learn, and that was about the batcave.
Tomas remembered the shape of that cave and what it contained. It was obvious this cave that he stood in was not large enough to contain the items within it. If only he could find the original cave, then maybe things would be different. Where that cave was, that was a mystery as much as the original Batman's identity.
Tomas Wayne changed out of his Batman costume and went back to New Gotham and the penthouse suite located at the old Wayne Enterprises Tower. It was one of the few surviving buildings that were original to the old city. The Waynes were an old family, going back to Gotham City when Gotham was just a small colony. They single handedly built Gotham, helped it to grow from a small seaport town to a city to be admired, then later feared. That was the way of the world, corruption, greed, and all the other cacophony of sins in between. Though the Waynes were never associated with such things, they watched their city emerge into a world of crime and chaos. Then a caped figure appeared, cleaning up the city. For a short time everything calmed down, but there was always someone waiting in the wings to continue the chaos. And there was always a figure of the night fighting those that would destroy those who only wanted to live their lives peacefully.
The past, however, had fallen into myth and legend. Older buildings that proclaimed Gotham City's heritage were now few and far between. Futuristic living with the latest technology was the day. Most everyone fell into line with those who believed that old Gotham no longer existed, including the worst of what Gotham had been. Unfortunately, it couldn't last.
Continues with Part 2