Bruce sat in shock for a moment as Alfred continued his story.
"Master Bruce, you must understand that this was for the best. It was, after all, your father's idea." Alfred poured more scotch into the glass and offered it to Bruce, who grabbed it and gulped it down in a single motion. "I wanted nothing to do with it Master Bruce. I loved your parents, but they both had gotten in too deep. With the resources they had at their disposal, it would have only been a matter of time before they were manipulated by Falcone to fund injustices throughout the city."
Bruce wiped the tears from his eyes and walked to the fireplace, staring at the crackling flames intently, "Where does Joe Chill come in then? Was that all a lie?"
"No, that wasn't a lie Master Bruce. I simply paid him to do it."
"You just told me you killed them Alfred, not that you had some low life do it!" Bruce threw his glass into the fire causing it to rage. Bruce turned and ripped Alfred out of his seat. "You couldn't even do it yourself?! You coward!" He threw the old man across the library room into an old ornate desk, shattering it in the process. He quickly made his way across the room and raised him by the collar of his shirt.
Flames and tears coalesced in Bruce's eyes as he stared into the bloodied face of the man who had raised him. "How could you do this to me Alfred?! Why tell me now?!" Bruce raised a fist to strike but couldn't find it in him to continue the assault of the man he loved so dearly. He dropped him into the ruins of the desk and fell to his knees, sobbing into his hands.
"Master Bruce," Alfred gasped, clearly in pain, "I tell you now because Falcone is back, and what he was trying to get your father to do then, is coming to fruition now." Alfred propped himself up and crawled to Bruce. He hugged him, and Bruce continued sobbing into his chest. "Your parents were willing to sacrifice themselves to save this city, to save you Bruce. They trusted no one else but me to do it." Tears began to fall from Alfred's eyes, "You're right I was a coward. I couldn't do it myself, I loved them too much. I failed them and I now bear that weight on my soul. But you must not let what I've done to be in vain, you have to stop Falcone."
Bruce looked up, eyes red and glazed over.
"What was he using them for?" He said in a whispered rage.
"There was a chemical venture back then that Falcone owned, The Tridos Corporation, he strongarmed your father to front him money to develop it, and to get it sold to S.T.A.R. labs."
"And he was successful in doing so?"
"He was."
"Why would Falcone risk that type of public exposure?" Bruce asked, now seriously intrigued.
"Either because his name wasn't on Tridos, or because of what he knew S.T.A.R. could bring to the table in terms of research and development." Alfred stood, and placed his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "When your father died the deal fell through. But somehow Falcone has muscled his way back in after all of this time. Tridos was acquired by S.T.A.R. last year and has now perfected a nerve agent that can kill in moments Master Bruce. Falcone now has the most dangerous weapon known to the world, quite literally in the palm of his hands." Bruce looked up at Alfred. "He is going to try to take over master Wayne. Are you going to let him?"