Chapter 1: The coming storm.

One dark night in Gotham...

WHACK!

Sounds of fighting can be heard throughout a deceiving calm night.

CRACK!

The sound of an elbow meeting a human skull...

SMASH!

The sound of a kick to a person's head which then collides into a window.

Inside of a nearby shop, a dark-skinned man wearing a skin-tight black suit without sleeves and a mask which covered the top half of his face and his eyes covered with white material. He wore black gloves on his hands and in the centre of his costume, he had a "A" on his chest.

Avenger.

Earlier, two armed men had come into the store with guns and held up the shopkeeper, intending of robbing him. However, they never expected for a mask to show up so fast.

Avenger had disarmed them and knocked one of the robbers out with his elbow and kicked the other's head into the glass window, causing a large crack.

However, there was a third man who was in on this robbery: the getaway driver.

Just like his comrades, he had a gun. Witnessing his fellows being pounded on by this vigilante, he came in with a handgun and began firing it. Avenger disappeared into the shop's aisles.

The gunman then quickly chased him into the shop, but when he turned the corner, the gun was knocked out of his hands by someone above him.

Avenger then landed on the ground, wielding a baton. He easily took down the last gang member by hitting the baton into his legs and then delivering a sharp kick to his face.

The shopkeeper who had been hiding behind the counter sine this started, slowly peeked out to see that all three robbers had been knocked unconscious and that Avenger was gone.

He shakily took the phone into his hands and called the GCPD.

Shopkeeper: "U-Uhh... I-I need to report a robbery..."

-Avenger-

I managed to get away from the shop and I got onto the building overlooking the crime scene. It looks like the shopkeeper is calling the police. I didn't want to stay around to see the GCPD arrive.

Ever since that ordeal with Winston Grace, GCPD haven't shown signs of wanting to work with vigilantes like they used to. It's to be expected considering all that happened.

But, still... I don't know how to feel. After all, my dad's killer is gone. Dead. Yet, he never saw justice... In my eyes. Would my dad be proud or would he condemn me for what's happened?

In fact, I don't know why I continue to break my oath as a Lawyer. I contradict myself by doing this and calling it justice.

But, at the same time, I know exactly why I do this. I don't know how to explain it. I know, yet I don't? How stupid could one person be?

I want to protect this city. I can do it as Avenger and Riley Rivers. That much i know.

But, this isn't the Justice that dad wanted.

But, I can't stop here.

I travel over Gotham's rooftops as I think this to myself. I need to stay on my toes. Last thing I need is for something bad to happen on my watch.

How long has it even been since the incident with Grace? Not long. But, its felt like an entirely different life. Coming from someone who lives two lives, it shouldn't feel strange to me.

Things have been fairly quiet in Gotham since Grace had the city in such a chokehold.

Bruce Wayne has been funding reconstruction projects all over the city. After Black Mask's rampage, most of Chinatown is a smouldering wasteland now. As a result the Japanese mafia, The Yakuza have gone underground, left Gotham, or maybe all dead.

The irony is for the whole thing is the weapons used by Black Mask, Roman Sionis, belonged to Gotham's own dark knight. The Batman.

That's the reason that he's even funding reconstruction projects... Cause he feels guilty? No... He does this every Monday. Tries to rebuild Gotham with money. Doesn't care too much about the justice system. Just allows its rotten self to run it's course.

Bruce Wayne. Batman. I'm speaking of the same person.

Batman: "Rivers."

Speaking of which, as I was jumping rooftops, I heard the familiar voice. One that i loathed to hear right now.

Avenger: "Wayne."

I responded as I turned to face him.

Billionaire Bruce Wayne. Philanthropist. Playboy. Vigilante.

Who would have thought that such a man who carries himself in the spotlight as someone with more money than brains could be the Batman?

Dad would never believe it.

Batman: "We need to talk."

Avenger: "What do you want? In fact, what are you still doing in my city?"

Batman: "Your city? You're undertaking a responsibility that you can't begin to understand."

Avenger: "It's a responsibility that I need to take. It's obvious that Batman can no longer defend Gotham alone."

Batman was the sole reason that Gotham is in the shape its in now.

Winston Grace devised a plan specifically to take down Batman. Not just Batman was affected by this, but the whole city felt the ramifications. Gotham has no Mayor,
no District Attorney, and the GCPD have been crippled. Mainly due to Batman allowing Roman Sionis to steal his weapons.

Batman: "If you're serious about this... Then you should work with me."

Avenger: "You mean work FOR you, right? Like your fellow bat family? What will you turn my name into? 'Knightbat?' 'Captain Batarang?' And what about after that?
Will I have to follow your orders like a soldier of war?"

Batman's facial expression turned to one of irritation.

Batman: "Damn it, Rivers! You need to grow up and listen. What you did, saving the family, Me, Catwoman, and this entire city, you saved all of it. But, what you are suggesting is that you want to operate alone without any support from us? Do you have any idea how stupid you sound?!"

I simply shrugged my shoulders.

Avenger: "I don't really mind the others... Except Todd, who killed a man by the way,
who you defended. It's you I have a problem with. You are responsible for much of the death and destruction that happened in Gotham. I cleaned up YOUR mess."

I pointed at Wayne and stared him down.

Avenger: "Let's get one thing straight: I will NOT join you. Got it?"

Batman approached me and his face comes close to mine. Invading my personal space. He's trying to intimidate me and it won't work. His eyes narrow as they stare into mine and his tone becomes more serious than ever.

Batman: "Let me give you one piece of advice: give up this crusade and walk away before people get killed. If you don't... I will come for you."

The words 'Walk away' resonate in my mind. It's true. I could walk away. My dad's been avenged, I have the job of my dreams, I have a good life with my Mom.

What happens if I get caught? I'll be disbarred at least. At worst, I'll be arrested and mom... Lauren... Harper... Would they become targets? For people who had loyalty to Winston Grace? Fish Mooney? Roman Sionis?

But, the justice system on its own doesn't work. At least not in this city. The man who killed my dad died. But, not by the book. As much as I wanted both Winston Grace and even the gunman, Jack Marco, to die... I wanted by the book. That's how dad would have wanted it.

That's the vengeance Michael Rivers would have wanted.

Avenger: "Walk away? Could you do that, Batman?"

He remained silent in response to that question. I knew as well as he did. Neither was just going to walk away from this life.

Avenger: "I thought so."

I then leaned my head in further and I was forehead-to-forehead, nose-to-nose, with Batman.

Avenger: "Here's my counter-statement, Wayne: If your crusade bring anymore death to this city... Then I'll come for you. And I'll make you rot away in Arkham Asylum,
surrounded by the very monsters you helped create."

Both Batman and I just stood there glaring at one another. We're on the same side, but opposite each other.

I just didn't like Wayne.

I then walked away from Batman. I don't if he doesn't want me on the streets. There's nothing he can do to stop me. I'll defend Gotham, but not on his terms.

Never on HIS terms.

-Batman-

Rivers leaves by jumping off the roof that we are on. Going after him is pointless, he won't listen to reason.

Avenger is skilled and the way he carries himself... Isn't like a 17 year old. It's of a well-trained fighter. I think that Rivers could be one of the greatest fighters in the world today. But, he's reckless and dangerous. He's not willing to cooperate. He even tortured a man with a knife.

He's more of a threat to the city as he is now.

However, I couldn't help but think some of the things that were said by Rivers are true.

Gotham hasn't been the same since Winston Grace set his plans into motion. Mayor Hill's death, which was blamed on me, caused Jim to be sent to Blackgate Prison.
As a result, Harvey Bullock took over the GCPD. Fish Mooney was District Attorney.
And all media outlets were brought off by Grace.

Gotham was in a chokehold. War broke out on the streets between Winston Grace and Roman Sionis.

Even my own weapons were used against me and this city.

I failed Gotham then... And it was thanks to Avenger that Gotham was spared from the worst.

Riley Rivers. Seventeen years old. Graduated from Gotham High and entered Law School on an undergraduate scholarship, becoming a lawyer in almost record-breaking time.

He has a mother who he lives with. And an older brother and younger sister who live with their father Kieran Troy.

Recently Troy was suspended from being an active lawyer after Fish Mooney kidnapped his children and he almost attacked a woman with a fire axe. Although it was under duress, it's unclear if Troy will return to having his licence reinstated.

But, it's Michael Rivers who I wonder about the most.

It's clear that he trained Rivers to fight, but who trained him?

I can't just let Rivers run loose in Gotham...

Nightwing: "-ce? Hey, Bruce!"

I heard Dick's voice over the comms. I had heard faint voices for a while now, but I was deep in thought.

Batman: "Go ahead, Nightwing."

I heard Dick sigh over the comm. Dick Grayson, the first Robin, is one of the few people that I really trust.

Nightwing: "I was wondering where you were. We have a serious problem here."

Batman: "Go on."

Nightwing is often very confident in his work, but I could tell that there was something in his voice which rattled him.

*Earlier* -Third Person-

At Gotham City hall, inside on of it's board rooms, serval of Gotham's politicians were seated around the large table. One of the politicians spoke out to the others.

"Look. Gotham has no Mayor. No District Attorney. Gotham is effectively leaderless. James Gordon cannot be trusted as Police Commissioner. The only good news is that Bruce Wayne has pulled money from his brothel fund to fix the city after what Black Mask did."

These men had been arguing for hours. Gotham's city leadership had been crippled without a Mayor or District Attorney to run the city and legal aspects.

Another Politian, a woman, spoke up.

"Considering that James Gordon was recently cleared of charges thanks to the anonymous video sent to the state, we can't do much about Gordon, but we need to elect a new mayor."

More people began to argue. 'Who would become Mayor?'

At this point, things were getting nowhere fast.

OPEN.

That's when the door opened. In the doorway was a man with a clean-shaven appearance and short blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a dark two-piece suit.

CLAP... CLAP...

A slow, mocking clap came from his hands.

One of the politicians stood up slowly in response to this new individual.

"Who the hell are you?"

That was the main question in everyone's minds.

?: "My name is Theodore Galavan. The Order of St. Dumas sends it's regard."

-Present time-

Both Batman and Nightwing stood on the opposing rooftop to City Hall as GCPD were sweeping the board room.

Nightwing: "What's going on, Bruce? You don't usually wait this long to move onto a crime scene."

Batman: "GCPD doesn't trust me, Dick."

Nightwing: "Are you talking about when Sionis went crazy and blew up half of Gotham? That isn't your fault, Bruce."

Batman: "..."

Batman didn't really say anything. He merely kept watching the City Hall.

Normally Batman didn't have much to fear from the GCPD due to his partnership with Commissioner James Gordon. But since the former Mayor's death and the attack on GCPD by Black Mask using Batman's weapons, the GCPD have turned against Batman.

Nightwing: "How did the talk with Avenger go?"

Batman: "He doesn't want anything to do with us. He's on patrol somewhere near Chinatown."

Nightwing: "You had to expect that. Rivers didn't exactly respond too well last time."

Batman: "For now, we need to keep an eye on him. Make sure that Harper Row doesn't hack into our network again."

Nightwing: "Harper Row? You mean the daughter of Marcus Row? The one you put in Blackgate last year?"

Batman: "Yes. She's the one who's been aiding Rivers. In return, Rivers has been training her."

Nightwing: "(Whistle) Avenger and Bluebird... Doesn't have the same ring as Batman and Robin."

Batman: "Enough, Dick."

When the room is clear of officers, Batman and Nightwing glided over to the window entrance into the board room.

Bodies were everywhere. The room had been riddled with bullets and the shell casings were all at the door into the room. The bodies had been covered over with a sheet.

Nightwing: "Whoever came in here and killed all these people knew what they were doing and how to disappear. Could we be dealing with a professional here?"

Batman looked at all the bodies. All these men and women that are dead are all politicians with some sort of influence in Gotham. But why kill them? Who would gain from their deaths?

Batman then discovered that all the bodies had been marked. A symbol was carved into each hand.

Batman: "That symbol. In the shape of the Templar cross."

The symbol was a red cross that was similar to the Templar Knight crest.

Nightwing: "So maybe this was a religious cult?"

Batman: "I've seen this symbol before... There were reports of it being found at certain Gotham Landmarks years ago, but time and the reconstruction of buildings over the past few years has worn them away."

Nightwing: "So this was a secret society of some kind. And they attacked City Hall... Why?"

Batman: "..."

Batman didn't answer. There was no answer to that question just yet.

Gordon: "You shouldn't be here."

From behind Batman and Nightwing, Commissioner James Gordon entered the room.

Nightwing: "Commissioner. Have you found anything?"

Gordon: "I'm afraid I can't tell you that, Nightwing."

Gordon then disregarded Nightwing looked straight at Batman who returned his gaze. Nightwing looked on and understood that his being there made the situation more awkward.

Nightwing: "I guess I'll go on patrol."

Nightwing left through the window, leaving Batman and Gordon alone.

Batman: "What's wrong, Jim?"

Gordon: "Everything. Bullock's gone missing. I don't have my men's trust anymore. And Gotham is hanging by a thread."

The mayor's death. The District Attorney was corrupt. The city is bleeding. And now, the death of serval of Gotham's politicians. Everything was going wrong.

Gordon stared Batman down as if accusing him of something.

Gordon: "Would you care to explain how YOUR weapons are used to level Chinatown to the ground?"

When Black Mask rampaged around the city, he used weapons stolen from Batman and fitted them with lethal ammunition."

Batman: "Sionis stole my weapons and altered them."

Gordon turned his eyebrow up as Batman said the word 'stole'.

Gordon: "Are you telling me that you're sitting on a military arsenal of high-tech weapons and that someone just took it from you?! Do you have any idea how many people died because of that?"

Batman: "..."

Gordon: "Of course you don't. Because of that, my men aren't planning to put up with you anymore. And I'm having trouble remembering that his city needs you...
Or does it?"

Batman didn't show it, but he was at a loss for words. First Avenger, now Gordon. It was true that it was because of his weapons that Gotham suffered a great blow, but he didn't stop to think properly about what happened in full.

Gordon turned around away from Batman.

Gordon: "Look. You better go anyway. I can't work with you right now."

Gordon turned back, but Batman was already gone.

-Batman-

From the start, Gotham has had many scars.

Most damage to this city can be repaired with time and Bruce Wayne's money. But the damage that Winston Grace caused... He said that he wanted to leave a legacy. The man who defeated Batman. But, instead he left a different legacy...

The man who tore Gotham apart.

-Avenger-

Right now, I'm on a rooftop where I can see the destroyed Chinatown area. It's being searched for survivors after Roman Sionis levelled the area.

In the next few weeks, Wayne's construction projects are expected to make a start prepping and clearing the section of the city before rebuilding.

The Yakuza, who were based here, are now all gone. They were criminals, but still, justice was never carried out here. The system doesn't seem to be working in Gotham. Strangely enough, there hasn't been much crime recently other than the occasional petty street crime. But, this small peace came at the cost of so much life. The Yakuza may have caused a great deal of evil in Gotham, but they didn't see Justice, only death.

I turned away from the site of the destruction.

I'm glad that dad can't see this right now, ye I'd give anything to have him beside me.

It was then that I started to hear something over my earpiece.

It was Harper Row.

Bluebird: "Avenger, are you busy right now?"

Harper Row also known as Bluebird. She lives the Narrows, the worst place to be in Gotham if you're innocent, with her brother Cullen. I saved her and her brother from a local gang and, since then, she's been helping me at night. She doesn't know who I am, which is better off that way for now.

However, what's left of Gotham City owes Harper Row a great debt. If it wasn't for her, shutting down Batman's weaponry when Sionis had control of it, Gotham would be nothing but a crater.

Avenger: "I'm here, Bluebird. What happened?"

Bluebird: "Remember the crocodile from before?"

Avenger: "Killer Croc."

Waylon Jones AKA Killer Croc is a convicted cannibal who I've run into more than once.
Recently, he's been working as Emma Grace's enforcer.

Bluebird: "Yeah, him. Well, he's tearing into a Wayne Enterprises building right now. Along with someone else... The Mad Hatter."

Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter? Why would he be working with Croc? Unless he's also working with Emma.

Avenger: "I'm on my way."

Getting down to street level, I get on my dad's motorcycle and I race through Gotham's streets.

One of Wayne's buildings. As someone who has his name all over this city. The proverbial prince of Gotham. It's only natural for organised crime to target the wealthiest and most powerful in the city. In this case, it's Bruce Wayne.

Emma Grace is gonna be disappointed.

*Third Person*

BLAM BLAM BLAM!

Security guards were shooting at an approaching mass of a man with a crocodilian appearance. Bullets didn't really seem to do much to this man as he charged through any man who was brave enough to stand in his way.

Behind him was a small man wearing a green suit and a top hat which was oversized for his height.

Hatter: "Hehehe! That's how you make an entrance!"

Croc: "You talk too much, Tetch!"

Jervis Tetch, also known as the Mad Hatter, didn't flinch in response, only tipped his hat as men in black suits came up behind him. All of them were armed with guns.

Hatter: "Very well."

The man known as the Mad Hatter closely followed Killer Croc. The group of men following Jervis Tetch began firing back at the security that was shooting at Killer Croc.
The guards all fell down dead as a spray of bullets hit them.

Hatter: "Marvellous. This is more easy than even one such as I thought."

Croc: "Don't tempt fate. The Bat, his friends, or Avenger may show up soon."

Hatter: "Ah, does the crocodile believe in fate? Don't worry your tiny mind,
Waylon. Let me worry about that."

Croc: "Argh! I don't like your tone. I'd kill you now if Miss Grace didn't need you."

Hatter: "And that's why you-won't-touch-me."

Mad Hatter waved his finger in a mocking manner as he stood in front of Croc.

Hatter: "Now, you know your job, right? Run along now. Off with you!"

Hatter flicked his wrist, motioning for Croc to leave. Croc, with a grunt, did leave while Tetch and his men went in a different direction.

Mad Hatter and his crew went into elevator that went up to the top level of the building. When they got there, Tetch went into a hallway leading to a room filled with server racks. The Server Room.

Hatter: "Now be good henchmen, do your job, and guard this door. I don't think you can be of use to me in here."

With that said, Tetch enters the server room and closes the door.

Before long, the lights in the room suddenly break followed by a clang on the ground.

"Flashlights!"

The Hatter's bodyguards turned on their flashlights and aim then towards the ground where a collapsible baton was. That's what made the clang sound.

"Does Batman use batons?"

"It wouldn't surprise me."

As the men looked around the darkened room with only the flashlights for their light source...

"Ahh!"

One of the lights dropped to the ground as one of the men were dragged into the darkness.

"What was that?!"

From behind one of the men, Bluebird appeared.

Bluebird: "That was good guys. Kicking your asses."

Before anyone could react, Avenger dove out of the darkness and grabbed his baton. Whacking it into the leg of one man and then throwing the baton at another man,
who was about to fire his gun, knocking him down. The gun the man had fired, shooting another henchman in the leg.

While Avenger was beating on the man he'd hit in the leg with his baton, Bluebird was dealing with the remaining three armed men.

"You're dead, brat!"

Bluebird only smirked as she pulled a large shock rifle from her back.

Bluebird: "Mine's bigger than yours."

Taken aback from the size of Bluebird's gun, she blasted a ball of electricity which shocked all three men.

Meanwhile Avenger had finished beating down his attackers, delivering a final kick to a grounded foe knocking him out.

He looked at Bluebird's gun.

Avenger: "That isn't lethal, is it?"

Bluebird: "Of course not! Who do you take me for?"

Avenger: "Anyway, you take Hatter. I'll take Croc."

Bluebird: "No argument here."

Avenger went in Killer Croc's direction while Bluebird followed the Mad Hatter into the server room.

-Bluebird-

I head through the door which leads to the server room.

Me and Avenger saw this guy before we took down the suits outside. Mad Hatter, a Alice in Wonderland knock off who happens to be obsessed with the story.

He's crazy, but I'd rather deal with him than Killer Croc any day of the week.

I went into the room and, as expected of a server room that was owned by a billionaire, it was filled with computers and servers, containing millions of dollars worth of Wayne's research.

Hatter: "Hehehe..."

Okay... Insane giggling. Not a good thing.

I crept up behind one of the server racks and I peeked over to see Hatter typing something into one of the servers.

Okay, gonna sneak up on him. Ninja style. Then knock him out. Piece of cake, Harp.

I slowly approach Hatter and I ball up my fists. Using my gun might short-circuit everything in here, so I have to take him down in a single strike...

But, something scary happened. As I get behind him, he turns around and looks right at me!

The smile he had on his face was incredibly creepy. It's like my heart could freeze in place from the face along.

He then pulls out his own gun and aims it at me! I quickly aim my shock gun at him.

Hatter waves his finger at me.

Hatter: "No, no, no. That just won't do."

Bluebird: "What won't?"

I started to feel dizzy... Dazed... What?

Hatter: "Why use bullets? They can be so messy! Instead, use gas. Hehehe!"

I couldn't stay on my feet. Gas? What does he mean?

Hatter: "A special gas filled the room just in case unwanted trouble came about. I've already had an antidote so I'm fine, but you... Simply must go to sleep."

T-That crazy bastard... He was ready for me...

-Avenger-

Killer Croc and Mad Hatter. A strange combination of people. But, why? Why does did Emma Grace send them here?

Harper can handle Mad Hatter, at least I think. I want to be my faith in Harper after all we've been through. I'm hoping that's not a mistake I'll regret.

I reach the storeroom. The door which was torn from its hinges was made of solid steel. Croc really wanted to get in here. I hear rattling and smashing further in.

I walk on ahead and I see Croc. He's tearing apart the cabinets inside. He appears to be looking for something.

Avenger: "You're Emma Grace's pet now, Croc?"

I got Croc's attention and he stopped rummaging through the cabinets and I saw what he was looking through. The glass said 'experimental'. Must be what Wayne Tech has been working on here.

Croc: "You."

Avenger: "Yes. You just charged your way into a Wayne Enterprises building and you're looking through experimental drugs. Is Grace trying to start up a new drug trade?"

Croc: "What business is it of yours?"

Avenger: "I've made it my business. Now tell me what you're doing here, or I'll beat it out of you."

Croc fully turned around and glared right at me with those yellow eyes of his.

Croc: "Go ahead and try."

Croc charged right at me, but I jumped over his body and delivered a solid punch to his leg. With a grunt of pain, he went down to one knee. I jumped up and kicked him right in his jaw.

Avenger: "Feel like talking now, Croc?"

It did look like Croc was stunned, but not as much as I thought. He grabbed me by the throat, and brought me to his mouth.

Croc: "I don't feel like talking. But, I do feel peckish!"

I used my hands to keep Croc's giant mouth open and then I started to knee him in the chest. It caused his grip to loosen and I got free, but Croc is inhumanly strong.
He managed to swat me away from him with his arm.

I landed against the wall and my back screamed in pain. I quickly forced myself to bear with it, since Croc quickly ran up to me and tried to pin me against the wall.
Luckily, I managed to roll past him and I climbed onto his back. He tried to throw me off and started running around the storeroom to shake me, but I jumped off and kicked his head into the wall.

He fell to the ground onto his back. I stood over him with my baton pressed against his throat.

Avenger: "Now. Tell me why Emma Grace has you and Mad Hatter attacking a Wayne Enterprises building looking for experimental drugs! What are you looking for?"

Croc: "Arrghh... Screw you."

I'm better off knocking out Croc and finding out what Mad Hatter knows. Besides,
i want to check on Harper...

STEP. STEP. STEP.

I hear footsteps coming in my direction. The sounds wasn't like the one boots or normal shoes make. I remember back when I was working in Kieran Troy's law firm, that I could differentiate the different sounds that shoes make.

That was the sound of a woman's high heels.

The woman in question stepped into the light. She was wearing a white business suit and had blonde hair with blue eyes.

I knew this woman. She's the Kingpin of Gotham's Organised Crime syndicates. She took control from her father, Winston, and owns his legal and illegal businesses.

Emma: "Why hello, darling."

Avenger: "Emma Grace."

Killer Croc. Mad Hatter. And now the Kingpin of organised crime herself.

Avenger: "What are you doing here, Emma?"

Emma: "Business, of course. Me Wayne has something that belongs to me, after all."

Something?.. That belongs to her. I realised in that next few seconds what she meant by that. What does Bruce Wayne have that could belonged to Emma Grace?

The White Sky formula.

When Grace, Emma's father, worked with the Yakuza they took a sample from Doctor Johnathan Crane's fear toxin and modified it. It was called Black Sky and was sold on the streets as a drug.

However, Winston Grace kept a different version of the drug. It allowed the user to create a copy of himself or herself. Grace used it to torment Gotham with clones of Doctor Thomas Elliot AKA Hush.

Mom was infected with a high dose of the street drug version and went into a coma. Catwoman suffered a similar fate and spent days in Batman's cave receiving medical treatment.

It was Emma Grace that had Mom's Black Sky poisoning cured and she later gave me the White Sky formula to help Catwoman. Whatever the serum was, it seemed to counter the effects of the Black Sky. I gave the formula to Batman, who must have sent it to this Wayne Enterprises building for analysis.

Croc brought me out of my thoughts. He was struggling to get free as I continued to press the baton into his neck.

Emma: "I'm sorry to have to trouble you, but I would be grateful if you would release dear Waylon."

Avenger: "Then sorry to disappoint, but no."

Seeing my refusal, Emma sighs. She clicks her fingers, causing several armed men to come into the room behind her. That didn't concern me much. If Emma wants Croc back, she won't open fire on me. Even if she does, I can't retreat through the window quick enough.

However, Mad Hatter soon joined Emma. Where's Harper?!

Emma: "Are you willing to negotiate?"

Avenger: "What have you done with Bluebird?"

Hatter: "Hehehe! Gassed her, I did! Didn't I?"

Emma: "Don't worry about her. She's not my target and I don't intend for unnecessary death. She's asleep in the server room. Doctor Tetch got me what I wanted anyway."

Emma held a flash drive in her snow white fingers. Her nails were covered in a blue nail vanish.

Avenger: "Unnecessary death?! How many guards did your men kill on the way in here?!"

Emma: "Unfortunately, they decided to cross my path and they paid the price.
What can be said for your 'Bluebird'?"

She's threatening Harper...

Emma: "Now, can you release Waylon?"

Emma's armed henchmen cocked their guns and aimed them at me. Although I did have a backup plan for my escape, I can't just leave Harper here. I can't charge through these men with guns... I'll have to play along with Emma for now.

I take the baton off Croc's neck and I stand up. As soon as Croc makes it back to his feet, he towers over me, with teeth bared.

Croc: "Dinner is served..."

Emma nonchalantly walks in between me and Croc.

Emma: "Now, now. Play nice, Waylon."

Croc: "You're joking, right? You do know he's here to stop us?"

Emma: "I want him alive."

Croc grunted before walking away from me reluctantly. With Croc out of the way, Emma stood right in front of me and stared into my eyes.

Emma: "I apologise for him, but he tends to put personal affairs ahead of professional one. You understand, of course?"

Avenger: "Professional? What's so professional about this, Emma?"

Emma: "Business, as I said. Bruce Wayne, as you know, has my anti-Black Sky formula.
Which I want back. So I came to get it."

Emma went over to the cabinet that Croc was going through. She sighs and looks at Croc.

Emma: "Honestly Waylon, did you have to make such a mess?"

Emma scolded Croc, who rubbed the back of his head.

Emma then pulled out a vial of white liquid and places it into her front chest pocket.

Avenger: "That formula is clearly very important to you. What do you plan to do with it?"

Emma: "Now that would be telling, Mr Avenger... Or shall I just call you Avenger?"

Avenger: "You know I can't let you just leave with that."

Emma's henchmen cocked their guns and aimed at my head.

Emma: "Do you honest believe you can stop me?"

I gripped my dad's baton and looked towards the ceiling. There was a fire sprinkler head there. Dozens of them. Enough to cause a storm in this room.

Avenger: "We'll see."

I throw my dad's baton towards the metal sprinkler head.

In order for this to work, the impact has to generate enough heat to set the sprinkler off. If this fails, the gunmen will likely mock me before killing me where I stand,
leaving a carcus for Killer Croc to devour.

The baton scraps it's entire length across the head of the sprinkler, causing a large spark. That should open the cap plug...

SPRAY!

Large amounts of water began to pour into the room from the ceiling. It may not be smoke, but it's the next best thing. The water seeps into the eyes, altering a person's vision.

"Open fire!"

Emma's henchmen open fire on me, but the water provides me with the cover I need. The amount of water pouring from the sprinkler was enough to throw off the shooters'
aim, and I moved quickly to take them down one by one.

I noticed Emma was trying to wring out her hair and I noticed her make-up running as as stream down her face.

Emma: "Quite impressive. Although, I'll have to replace this suit. Come on, Dr Tetch. Our business here is finished... And also, call my hairdresser. I need to fix this mess."

As I finish taking down Emma's gunmen, I spot her and Mad Hatter escaping. I can't let them get away, but in my haste, I may have forgotten someone...

SLASH!

I was scratched across the rib cage by Killer Croc. My suit isn't expertly crafted,
but it was made from Kevlar fibre and it wasn't enough to stop Croc's claws. Three three lacerations were on my body and I could feel the sting and the blood slowly seep out.

Croc: "You aren't going anywhere."

Avenger: "I've had just about enough of you, Croc."

I jumped up and kneed Croc in the jaw, taking him off balance, but he suddenly charged at me and the two of us wind up going through the window... Or in Croc's case,
taking part of the window with him.

This building was at least 10 stories high. That's about 120 feet that I'm falling and I have an 8 foot, 485 pounds of hulking Croc failing with me. He may survive the fall, but I won't.

Croc had a tight grip on me, so I had to force him to let go to save myself. I didn't have time to think of a plan, so I did something very simple.

I head-butted Croc. Hard.

It honestly hurt me more than him even with the Kevlar woven into my mask, but it forced him to let go.

Using the grapple gun, I shot a hook into the building quickly. I sung into the wall and planted both feet against the wall as I hear a thunderous crash into the street below.

As I reached street level, I quickly check Croc for any signs of life... He'll live.

I left the prone body of Croc which rested in a small crater left by the crash in the middle of the street. GCPD will arrest Croc this time and take him to Arkham Asylum.

However, by now, Emma Grace and Mad Hatter will be lone gone with both the White Sky and it's formula.

But, I'll deal with that later. I know where Grace will go, but for now, I have to check on Harper.

I went back inside the building and towards the server room where I found Harper unconscious, but unharmed. Her mask is still on. Mad Hatter didn't bother with her after knocking her out somehow.

I check her body for any signs of poisoning or otherwise. Her heart is still beating at a steady pace and her breathing is normal. She'll be just fine. I shouldn't have left her alone though. Splitting up was a terrible decision. I should have known that Emma would have been involved.

I pick up Harper and I carry her on my shoulders. I don't want to stay here for too long,
GCPD will be here any second... And so will him.

*Gotham's rooftops*

I carried Harper to an adjacent rooftop from the Wayne Enterprises' building. I quickly checked Harper's breathing again to make sure it's hasn't changed. It hasn't,
so she's definitely be fine.

By that moment, GCPD had shown up and were sweeping the building. Prisoner transport should later arrive for Croc.

Carrying Harper, I made my way back to the Narrows and I dropped Harper back to her apartment.

Cullen: "What happened to her?!"

I placed her onto a bed.

Avenger: "She was knocked out. But, she'll be fine."

Cullen was clearly angry and I don't blame him.

Cullen: "Seriously, she needs to stop or she's gonna get killed."

Avenger: "I know. I thought that by training her that she'd be a lot safer, but that's not the case."

Cullen: "No, it's not. You need to leave her alone. She's not you or Batman or those that run around with him."

Avenger: "... I'll go. I won't be coming back."

I walk towards the window, but before I leave, Cullen stops me.

Cullen: "Avenger... Thanks for bringing her home."

With that, I jump out of the window and I zipline to another rooftop.

I knew that Harper Row was untrained, young, reckless. I believed that I couldn't stop her from becoming Bluebird. She helped me so much during the Winston Grace incident, so I decided to train her the past few weeks, but I shouldn't involve myself further with her.

I feel strange... As if someone is watching me. No, I am being watched.

Someone's nearby and it's not a friend.

I quickly extend my father's baton and I throw it at the person who was standing behind me and he threw something at me too. I caught the object just as he caught the Baton. The object I caught was made of metal and in the shape of a bat...

Batman: "Impressive reflexes."

The Dark Knight himself was standing across from me. He throws my Baton back at me and I throw his batarang back at him.

Batman: "Yet, both Emma Grace and Jervis Tetch escaped with the formula."

Avenger: "Yet, Killer Croc is now back in custody. Meaning Emma is down a lot of muscle and an enforcer. The formula can be recovered later. For now, this is a win."

Batman: "Have you considered what they might do with that formula? That server contained research on how to replicate it and what it really was."

Avenger: "And what really is the White Sky?"

Batman: "..."

Avenger: "Tell me. My Mother was injected with that stuff, so I have the right to know."

Batman: "It's made out of Nano machines designed to neutralise other Nano machines or foreign bodies in a person's bloodstream. Namely the ones in Black Sky."

Avenger: "Black Sky?! You mean it's not a drug?"

Batman: "The street variant is. But, the one that Winston Grace used to copy Hush is made from Nano machines created to copy people."

Nano machines? Who could possibly create something like that?

Avenger: "Those Nano machines in White Sky. Do they have any side effects?"

Batman: "They shouldn't if the person injected had the Nano Black Sky in their system."

There were two different types of Black Sky: One was a drug version that caused hallucinations. The other contained these Nano machines which duplicated people.

Mom was injected with the drug version of the Black Sky... I felt my heart skip a beat and then thump hard.

Avenger: "What's the White Sky going to do to my mom?"

Batman: "I'm not sure."

I turned away from Batman and began walking.

Batman: "Where are you going?"

Avenger: "To see Emma Grace."

I then felt something loop over my arm and grab onto me. Batman had used a grapple gadget to grab my arm.

Avenger: "Let go."

Batman: "Grace will have her mansion locked down. Go there and you'll be killed."

Avenger: "Let go."

I repeated myself again.

Batman: "Don't make me hurt you, Rivers."

Avenger: "Okay."

I run at Batman and I dive at him, knocking him down. I grab the device he used to restrain me and i detach the line that connected the device to my arm. Batman then threw me off of him and got back up.

Avenger: "Don't do that again."

Batman: "Rivers. Go home and stay there. The longer you remain Avenger, the more damage it will do to not only you but those around you too, just like Harper Row."

Avenger: "Have you told this story to anyone else, Wayne? Richard Grayson? Barbara Gordon? Tim Drake? Jason Todd? What about your son, Damian Wayne?"

Batman narrows his eyes and stares me down.

Batman: "Don't go there, Rivers?"

Avenger: "You're such a hypocrite. You don't care about Gotham at all. You prey on innocent people just as much as the villains do. I know about what happened to your former Robins before they became Robin in the first place."

Richard Grayson's parents were killed by the Gotham Mob, Jason Todd lived in terrible conditions, and Tim Drake simply asked to become Red Robin.

Avenger: "How many children have you turned into soldiers to fight your personal war, Mr Wayne? Including your own son?"

Batman ran and threw a punch at me, but I blocked it. I pushed his fist to the side and i hit Batman in the shoulder with a palm strike, but Batman spun around and kicked me in the chest, which knocked me down, but I rolled with the blow and stood straight back up.

Batman: "Don't talk about things you don't understand, Rivers. Don't speak to me about my son! Your father trained you to fight. Why did he do that? He turned you into a solider."

I could feel my blood boiling. My dad never turned me into anything that I didn't want.

Avenger: "Don't you dare speak about my dad in that way! You've turned Gotham into a warzone with your crusade! My dad was a good man who wanted to make things right but you... You believe that Gotham is your city... No, that Gotham IS you. What do you care if people die along the way, as long as it keeps your coffers full."

Batman: "What are you talking about?"

Avenger: "Think about it, Bruce. You own most residential estates here in Gotham. You control Gotham's tech, healthcare, foods, shipping... While it's true that your company keeps Gotham afloat, it also means that YOU run the city, not the people. And to you, it's all just a way to keep Batman going, isn't it?"

Batman: "Gotham needs Batman, Rivers. You just don't understand."

Avenger: "I understand enough. I'm done talking. Step aside or we'll do this the hard way."

Batman: "The hard way? Fine by me."

A single raindrop fell... And the storm started.

Chapter 1 End.