Gordon parked his police car on the side of the street in Park Row. About 15 yards ahead, there was an open manhole. The cover was slid over to the side. The apartment complexes that were lined up along the sides of the street looked run-down and abandoned. But when Gordon looked up at the open windows, many people had their heads hung down over the ledge. They weren't looking at him, they were looking at the manhole. They had seen something go down into it. Commissioner Gordon's newest partner, Lewis Jinks, stepped out of the passenger seat. He looked at the commissioner with a surprised expression on his face.

"You have to be honest with me, Gordon, when I ask you this: Are we going down there?" Lewis asked as they both circled around the manhole.

"Mr. Jinks, have you ever seen any real action here in Gotham?"

"I'm afraid not. How about you? I've heard rumors, but-"

Gordon, with a smile on his face, said, "One too many times. But these people always need someone who can fight another day. I want to be that someone."

Lewis got a quick transmission on his walkie-talkie about incoming reinforcements, and then looked back at Gordon. "Did Batman tell you the same thing?"

"I respect Batman, and so should you. After all, he's helped us clean up these filthy streets." Gordon said while putting his foot on the metal ladder leading down into the manhole.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Lewis barked.

"I am…surveying the area."

With that, James Gordon stepped down deeper and deeper into the city below Gotham. Lewis stepped back from the hole. He looked up at the people in the apartments above. They were slinking back into the comfort of their own homes.

It wasn't until five minutes later that the police reinforcements arrived. Lewis was pointing down into the manhole that thin, white smoke was curling out of. Evil was on the brink of emerging.

Down in the intricate sewers systems, Gordon held his handgun tightly in his palms. The smell was hazardous, and Jim wasn't wearing any facial gear. But the toxic fumes were not the worst things about the tunnel. A low roar in the distance. It was almost a gurgling noise from what Jim could hear. He stopped for a moment…and so did the roar. Complete silence. The tunnel was dark and dimly lit which made Gordon grip the gun even tighter. Gordon was trying to hear any other noises, but fear was overcoming him. He suddenly realize he was breathing heavy. Splash! Gordon jerked around to where the splash came from: behind him.

Then, Gordon realized that he wasn't the one who was breathing heavily. The shadow of Killer Croc was right there! Gordon shot a couple of rounds, but it simply hit the tunnel wall. The shadow of Killer Croc almost flew to the opposite side of the tunnel, then charged at Gordon. He leapt out of Killer Croc's way just in time, and fell into the shallow, murky water. Croc didn't turn around for another round, but headed deeper into the sewers. Gordon made sure that his gun didn't come into contact with the water. He fired a couple more shots, but both of them seemed to miss. Killer Croc was fleeing.

Jim got out the walkie-talkie from his tan trench coat, and radioed in to Lewis Jinks, "Lewis, I just fired at Croc! He's heading south. I bet he's at the corner of Hanks Street and 5th Ave. by now! Send Hernandez and his team there right now!"

Lewis answered immediately, " What are you gonna do, Gordon?"

Gordon paused while looking forward into the darkness of the tunnel. "I'm gonna…continue to survey the area. Gordon out."

A voice came from the darkness, and said to Gordon, "But the toxic air! The air will kill you if you continue to follow Croc."

Gordon couldn't see where the voice was coming from. Gordon suspected that it was a fellow officer. It wasn't. Gordon responded, "Who's down here? If it's too dangerous for me, then it is too dangerous for you, as well."

"I've been here for years, Jim Gordon." Jim cocked his gun back and aimed it at eye level. That was when he knew the voice was not an officer. "I am Drogg, but I had another name many years ago: the Dark Tenet."

Gordon looked all around. He knew that he had to make small talk with this guy. Gordon kept the conversation going in order to find his location. "Sounds like a pleasant name. You seem to know mine. Are we on the same side?"

"You and me are much alike, Gordon." The voice seemed to be getting further and further away.

"How is that?"

"We both want what is best for this once great city. It use to stand as the pinnacle for justice and zero tolerance for evil. Look at where Gotham City is now. The only person who is actually protecting the city is Batman! You and me are sitting on the sidelines."

Gordon lowered his gun slightly. "Speak for yourself. I'm tracking down Killer Croc while you are sitting on the sidelines."

"I'm losing my patience right now, Gordon. I've sent you a message. Get out of this tunnel while you still have some life left I your lungs. Let Hernandez or Batman handle is little Croc situation. I must be on my way." The voice then went silent. The Dark Tenet had left.

ELSWHERE IN THE SEWERS

Killer Croc struggled through the sewers. He gripped his right thigh with his claws. One of Jim's last bullets actually penetrated Croc's body! Killer Croc let out a roar of agony. An escape route was directly above him. Some rays of light streamed down from the manhole cover above. Killer Croc could hear some sirens approaching.

But, then, the rays of light vanished for a split second. A cop car had went over the cover, and then parked. Cops were swarming around the manhole above Croc with guns in their hands. Croc growled. Instead of heading on down the maze-like sewers, Croc stood his ground and was ready to kill anyone who dared to mess with him.

Pop! Pop! A few smoke grenades went off in the dark sewers. The smoke moved quickly around Croc. But they weren't thrown by the police. A dark shadow moved stealthily in the white mist. Killer Croc was caught off guard for a moment, but he knew what was going on in a split-second. Batman had arrived. Killer Croc was trapped between the police and (his more formidable opponents) Batman! The only way out was to fight.