ONE

City in Rubble

For once in many years, the streets of Gotham were dead. Only the sound of gunshots in the distance could be heard. No birds were in the smoke-filled sky, only the tips of flames tickling the grey clouds from the rooftops.

The bridges onto the island had been destroyed; only a few wires dangling carelessly in the wind, sparking brightly in they whiped themselves through the air. Rubble was strewn into the river below, scattered amongst cars and more debris from the road. Fires had been started by the gangs that had risen from the very bowels of Gotham, taking a chunk of the city. For they knew that it was to be fought for, and soon enough the city would turn into a battleground.

Firefly, Riddler, Penguin, Freeze, Tetch, Crane, Jerome... they were all there. Bruce Wayne stood on the roof top next to Jim Gordon, knowing that somewhere, in that living Hell he had called his home for so many years, Jeremiah Valeska was hiding. And he wasn't going to wait for him to emerge from the dark - no, Bruce was going to find that man before Gotham went up in a mushroom cloud. He wanted to put an end to the corruption more than ever.

"Bruce..." called a voice from beside him. He looked up to see Jim staring at him with pale eyes. "There's still time to leave Gotham, you know. Before it gets out of hand."

"No, I have to stay."

"Take my word for it... you-"

"No!" Bruce snapped bitterly. "Ra's al Ghul said it was my calling! I can't leave Gotham knowing Jeremiah is still out there... I have to find him!" he spun around and began to march away.

"Bruce!" Jim yelled after him. "Stop, you have no idea who you're dealing with..."

"I know exactly who I'm dealing with."

"This guy, he isn't like Jerome." he sighed, catching up to Bruce. "He actually has a reason... Jeremiah doesn't just want the last laugh, he want to burn Gotham to the ground, and whatsmore, he wants to kill both of us."

"That doesn't matter anymore, Jim," he growled. "I am going to find Jeremiah Valeska."