BM/WW

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Prologue

The Batcave, Gotham July 6, 2046

"It just doesn't make any sense. Why is Curaré trying to kill the Senator? He has nothing to do with the settlement initiative. Help me out Bruce what am I missing?"

Terry McGuiness (Batman) turned to an elderly Bruce Wayne who sat behind the large monitor his face as cold and unreadable as stone.

Instead of answering the question or telling him that he was blind to what was right in front of him (like Terry expected him to say) the old detective just shut off the monitor and stood with the aid of his cane.

"Go home Terry." He said in a deep gravelly voice that sent shivers up Terry's spine.

"What? I still have two hours until I am on monitor duty. Come on we can figure this out."

The old hero didn't even respond but just slowly climbed the steep stair, exiting the cave. As a last hint to get out he turned off the lights leaving his protégée in complete darkness.

"What is going on with him?" Terry wondered aloud.

Bruce was acting odd…well odder than usual. Terry decided he owed it to his curiosity to find out what was going on.

Using the alternate exit he left the Batcave and flew high above the grand Wayne mansion. Using the enhanced vision goggles on his suit he searched the windows for signs of life. Finally he spotted him in one of the many drawing rooms of the mansion.

"Ha found you!"

Descending carefully Terry positioned himself by a chimney. Straining he was able to look down through the skylight with relative assurance that he would not be discovered. He watched in complete shock as he saw the 75 year old pouring himself a drink of a deep red liquid. If it had been anyone else Terry would have assumed without hesitation that it was wine. But Bruce didn't drink. At least not since he had known him, there were of course well documented accounts of Bruce Wayne's reckless youth but Terry had never seen old Bruce even drink milk that was a day over its expiration date.

"What are you doing old man?"

Click "Watch tower to Batman." Click

"Oh come on not now!"

Click "This is Batman." Click

Click "You're needed for monitor duty." Click

Click "What! I still have two more hours!" Click

Click "Plans have changed sorry Batman." Click

Click "Fine, I am on my way." Click

Terry looked back through the sky light at the dreary room below.

"Keep your secrets Bruce." With that he took flight over Gotham.

Old Bruce sat his wine glass down on an end table beside a large Green chair that looked more for decoration then comfort, but was the only seat in the dark room.

With slow but steady strides he crossed the room again. The only sound was that of his cane striking against the marble floor. Stopping in front of an oddly shaped structure covered in a sheet he reached out a hand and pulled the sheet away.

The air filled with dust but it went unnoticed by the one who had caused the stir. Beneath the sheet was a large antique gramophone that was now free from its dusty confines.

Taking his hand Bruce brushed off a layer of powder that had managed to attack after years of neglect. Once he was satisfied with the gramophone's appearance he placed the needle delicately over the record which was already sitting, waiting to be played.

Placing the needle down, he walked back to the chair and took a seat. There was no light in the room save that of the moon through the skylight but still Bruce stared directly in front of him as if he could see as clear as day as the song began to play.

Start Music

Am I Blue…Am I Blue…Ain't these tears… in these eyes… telling you?
Am I blue… You'd be too… If your schemes like your dreams done fell through…
Was a time…I was her only one… Now I'm… the sad and lonely one… Was I gay… 'til today…Now she's gone and we're through…Am I blue?

While the melancholy tune played Bruce raised his glass. To the darkness his gravelly voice spoke, for only the darkness would hear him.

"Here's to you…Princess."

Tilting his glass back he took a long drink.