Strong ideals are what keeps certain people in check. For the majority of the earth 52 universe, almost all heroes don't kill. No where this is more apparent than in Batman. His strict moral code on not to take another life has influenced so much in his career. It has made him more of a role model to the other heroes. It's what made him unique and special. But what happens when he realizes that ideal is wrong and that the superheros are responsible for these monstrosities?
Gotham, location: Batcave.
Batman stares at his computer with a screen full of catastrophic events being depicted. From murder to natural disasters. Alfred brings over some coffee for Bruce.
"Is something troubling you Master Bruce?" he asks.
"It's nothing Alfred." he replies.
"I hardly doubt that," he says, "You have been staring at that screen for a long time."
"I've been thinking about something recently very important." he answers.
"About what master Bruce?" Alfred asks.
"It can wait for now," Bruce says in reply, "I have work to do tonight."
Bruce jumps into the Batmobile to head out on patrol for the night. Things are going really smooth tonight, not much happening in Gotham. Bruce's ride around town stops when he gets a call from Gordon.
"What is it?" Batman answers.
"Straight to the point as always," Gordon replies, "there has been a break-in at the Bank of Gotham."
"I'm on my way," Batman replies and rushes to the bank.
Very shortly Batman arrives at the bank to see it surrounded by the GCPD and a van has crashed through the front.
"There you are!" Gordon calls out.
"Jim, what's going on here?" Batman asks.
"It's the Joker and his gang," he answers, "they've taken hostages and are demanding we back off and let them go."
"Maintain your perimeter, I'm going in," says Batman.
Batman scales the side of the building to enter from the roof. First, he decides he has to disconnect the power.
"Joker is not that smart," Batman thought, "more than likely he hasn't made it into the vault yet so he will be occupied."
Batman does a quick check of the bank. There are two hostages and 4 members of Joker's gang. Also, Joker appears to be working with two of the members to get the vault open while the other two watch the hostages.
"I should go for the two guys guarding the hostages then after Joker." Batman thinks.
He enters into the ceiling and jumps the two guys guarding the hostages. He tells the hostages to stay quiet while he finishes this. He heads towards to the vault to corner Joker.
"Give it up Joker," Batman calls out, "you have no leverage, your hostages are freed."
"Sorry Bats, but I'm gonna have to make a deposit of bullets in your skull," Joker replies.
Joker and his men open fire on him. Batman quickly throws batarangs to take down the last two members. As this happens Joker is making a run for it through the back. Joker runs out the back only to be surrounded by the GCPD. As Batman leaves the building the GCPD goes in to check out the bank. As that happens the bank explodes killing several members of the GCPD.
"Hahahahahahahahaha!" Joker shouts.
Batman was alright but the same can't be said for members of the GCPD. the site is quickly contained and Joker is taken to Arkham. Batman goes back to the Batcave. He checks who died in the explosion. Seven cops are dead, four of them had families the others were so young.
"Master Bruce there was nothing you could do," Alfred says.
"I should've swept the bank for explosives," Bruce replies, "I failed those men."
He starts to head over to his car.
"Where are you going?" Alfred asks.
"To do what needs to be done." Bruce replies.
"Don't tell me you're..." Alfred says as Bruce speeds away.
Alfred acts quickly and tries to close the tunnels before Bruce can get out and do something stupid. But he is too late. Batman is almost to Arkham and he knows what has to be done. It's the only logical option. If this war is going to end he has to cross that line. He has to do it, no one else. He has to own up for the sins he has by letting the Joker live.
Batman contacts Jim to meet him at Arkham. He needs to speak with Joker for information and Jim is the only one who can give him clearance. Jim says he will be there shortly and will have the Joker put in an interrogation room. Batman meets up with Gordon at Arkham and they start heading in.
"What do you have to ask him?" Gordon asks.
Batman thinks up a lie to avoid suspicion.
"His men are planting bombs around Gotham to try to force the GCPD to release Joker," Batman says.
"I need to find out where his men are operating."
As they walk to the room Gordon mentions that the Joker wouldn't give up details on a plan like that. But the whole time the lie seemed to work. Gordon doesn't suspect a thing. Batman enters the interrogation room to see the Joker sitting down in a leather strap suit. He knows that it's time to end this game of cat and mouse.
"Evening Bats!" Joker says. "I'm touched you decided to visit me!"
Batman places a disk on the door that turns into a hinge to prevent anyone from entering. Gordon sees this and begins to freak out.
"Such privacy for me?" the Joker explains "I feel like the most important guy in the wor.."
Before he could finish Batman grabs him by the throat and raises him up high. The Joker starts trying to gasp for air but is having little success.
"How many?!" Batman says.
"Oh, what do you mean?" the Joker gasps.
"How many have you killed trying to break me?" Batman answers.
"I lost count!" the Joker says.
The door starts to bang very loudly as Gordon tries to take it down. He is making progress.
"I did!" Batman replies as he snaps the Joker's neck.
This is how it starts the death of an opposite and the fall of a symbol of justice. The Dark Crusader looks down a new path to end crime. This isn't a crusade anymore it's all out war. Now begins a new era, an era of revenge.
End of chapter 1.