(Dark rainy night in Gotham, two cops are taking a break from their shift when they decide to get a bit of coffee to cope with the weather by entering a diner.)

Look, It's just a quick stop okay.. we'll grab something quick, get some coffee so I don't pass out and get back to our round

You always say it's a quick stop, and then I'm the one stuck with helping your sorry ass back into the car after you turned the diner onto your own personal "All I can eat without food coming out my nose and ears" buffet

Come on .. It's going to be different this time

You always say that too

Well I actually mean it this time

You better, cause if you don't your ass better find a way to roll it fat self alone into the car because I ain´t carrying it again

Well … You could use the exercise

So could you, like a lot of it, I tell you ,, your butt cheeks should count as your Siamese brothers right now

Oh we have jokes …. Did you hear everyone, this cop has jokes. Sometimes I feel Im patrolling with George Carlin himself .. I mean My sides are hurting from all the laughing

I think that may be the diabetes … or just the fat running out of space in your body

Or just my body trying to shut down after hearing those "jokes" all day. Look tell you what, in order to stop your whining, this round is on me.

I don't know .. seems like a small payment for being stuck in " ass carrying crane duty"

Oh Come on .. we'll just order some coffee, watch some news, get some food

Yeah but in your case "getting some food" actually means eating until developing a new type of diabetes.

(They both sit down and order some food)

Well .. I need to keep myself energized so I can watch you use your "Casa nada" charms on poor little Jamie back at the station

Hey, just because you're stuck in the holy land of " No Sex, No fun, No hope" called marriage doesn't mean you have to let that jealousy rub off on me

First of all .. "No sex, No fun, No hope" should be the title of your autobiography and second if by style you mean "Fumbling harder than a one armed, blind quarterback" then yes .. You're the king of style

It's a game man ... She just playing hard to get

And you're extremely hard to want

Yeah .. yeah … keep talking. I'll just wait until I see the look on your face when you see me going to dinner in your house with Jamie wrapped between my arms

I´ll probably just run and call the office because I'm sure that's probably a kidnapping in progress

Yeah … because I would've stolen her heart .. and never give it back

Dont forget her eyes, ears and her fingers too, I mean that's the only way she'll probably agree to stay with you

I think I may try to do that to Maggie. God knows your wife really doesn't deserve to see and talk and smell your ugly butt eveyday

She adores my smell I'll let you know

Yeah .. how do you call it "Ode de shitte" ..

Well better than yours, you know, "ode de I'm never getting laid with Jamie" …

You'll see old timer … I'll be the envy of the entire GCPD police squad not only because of my looks but also because I'll be with the finest woman Gotham has to offer

Sure kid … and then Catwoman is going to appear naked on my bed asking me to frisk her

Wouldn't mind that, that's one hot piece of ass right there

That also comes with a pair of killer claws and nasty kicks and a future date with a hospital bed in Gotham General.

Completely worth it

Tell that to my bank account.. You would think with the amount of nutjobs that run around this city that the freaking GCPD should have some "costumed freak insurance" by now

We hardly have toilet paper and you´re asking for insurance

Hell .. if it wasn't for those Wayne foundation donations to our medical funds I wouldn't wanna think where I'll be

Yeah man .. even though that Wayne guy is one silver spooned pussy pampered SOB .. he has his moments

Cut the guy some slack .. he did survive being inside Arkham city

So did I .. and you don't see anyone saying I'm anything special or asking me to give interviews or anything.

Yeah but you are trained and had a gun and a whole team of people backing you up .. he was alone with all those lunatics

According to what he said in that interview with my future ex wife Vicky vale … he just run and hid the entire time

What did you expect .. for him to just .. I don't know … go fight the whole prision or something

No … but I also didn't expect him to cower like a freaking coward … look man … there were people … you know regular people .. electricians, technicians, even some IT guys .. all of them locked away by that Strange guy … and they were living just beside all of those maniacs and killers .. you wouldn't imagine the conditions they were living in

And I really don't want too

But even facing all of that .. those people still helped each other and fought to survive … even though it meant probably having to face some really .. really messed up freaks. So excuse me if I don't have that much sympathy for that "brave survivor" Bruce Wayne. How I see it .. those folks were the true heroes … I still don't know how they were able to keep their humanity in a place like that

People can surprise you kid .. specially in Gotham city … in one side you have killer clows who send booby trapped toys to orphanages in Christmas eve and on the other side you have people volunteering to help rebuild those orphanges and help the children who survived. I tell you .. if you want a true reflection of mankind's weird ass nature .. you'll find it in Gotham.

Yep … but hell .. at least its gotten a bit better since the clown died

Much less arson and missing people reports that's for sure

I hate saying this … and I know I would get two hour lecture from Gordon if he hears it … but I'm glad the bat killed him

No arguments here kid .. I feel much safer dropping my daughter to school knowing no clown is going attempt to poison their water supply or send his killer balloons to their little leagues soccer games or something worse

I still remember the whole day care incident a couple of years ago …

We all do

How do you deal with it man .. I mean .. you've been in the force for a long time

Thanks for the reminder kid

I mean .. you've seen a lot of shit .. messed up shit all this years

That's Gotham for you .. the country's capital for messed up shit

Yeah … those guys in metropolis complain for a couple of alien invasions every couple of years … I would kill for that

Alien invasions are just a plain old regular Tuesday in Gotham

Followed up with some lovely killer plants on Wednesdays

And some delightful exploding clown ballons on Thursdays

To end up with some glowing killer question marks traps on Fridays

Or in some cases wonderful and "exciting" car chases with a deranged former DA mob crew who are more than inclined to test if our bullet proof vests are actually bullet proof

And all of that just to get some shtick from some old ladies who cant wait to tell us how "things used to be far better here"; "children could play safely in the streets" and how " we need to learn how to properly protect and serve"

Should've told them that "I would gladly protect my ass from your annoying face and serve you my stick up your ass"

Man .. those old lady asses haven't been properly "Opened" since the Bat first appeared. I'll leave those fossils to you old timer

I have enough with my own fossil waiting for me back home thank you very much

I'll tell Maggie you said that

Do that and I'll tell all the squad you pissed your pants during our first drug bust

Hey … We both now that was just a bit of sweat that came of my forehead

Sweating during the middle of the winter in a low class police department with no inside heating … sure …

It's just an uncommon body temperature condition

Sure it is .. in fact … I watched the other day some documentary about weird "being a pussy" diseases the other day and they talked about it for 30 minutes

Like your fat ass it's going to watch a whole documentary about anything that's not fried related

It was called "Body of a 30 year old .. balls of a little bitch" and then I instantaneously thought of you.

The man who tried to fake a shooting injury to avoid going to his house after a fight is calling me a pussy

Hey … that wasn't being a pussy … that was survival instinct.

Man .. you were literally begging me to shoot you in your shoulder so your wife couldn't stay angry at you .. I may have seen some tears

That was just your "sweating condition" blocking your view

Sure it was … can't believe it work though.

Same here, but I don't question miracles

I'm still waiting for that steak and fries invitation you promised

It's coming .. its coming

I've been hearing that for all over a year man

Economy's rough now … you know that

Not as rough as the yelling you are going to get from Maggie if I tell her what truly happened the day my gun " accidentally" went off and shot you

Yeah .. but if you do that … after she's finished with me she'll come for you. And I guarantee you any shooting that will happen that day will not be an accident

Mmmm … Fair point

Well .. if it makes you fell any better she's been nagging me all day and night with this stupid hand bruising I've had the last couple of weeks

I keep telling you to get than thing looked at

Oh come on .. are you guys tag teaming now to nag me at home and also at work

Look .. that freaking thing scares me man … I think I saw it move the other day

Its nothing … just a bruise I got somewhere

I've seen some weird ass bruises in my day man… but I'm sure that whatever that thing is in your arm is really not normal … like I think it's going to start talking anytime soon

Good .. Maybe I'll teach him to say Darryl shut up to save me the trouble from now on

If you wanna save some trouble you should teach him so stay " I want the extra large portion " or " More donuts please"

Funny ..

Just sayin

I know .. and that's the problem .. you sayin things

I could start texting you the damn thing if you want

Sure …. Let me just turn my phone off

Maybe you should ask that thing on your arm to do it … it sure will grow up arms any minute now

Awesome .. I'll tell it to smack you down a bit so you stop annoying me

Im not getting close to that thing .. the last thing I need right now is for you to infect me with whatever that is.

Why ? … it may be an improvement. It will at least make sure women don't focus so much on your ugly mug. And hey who knows .. maybe Jamie has a thing for guys with weird ass bruises and annoying personalities to match

Keep it up … it will make my "I told you so" that much sweeter

Speaking of sweets … you still need to pitch in for Gloria's birthday cake

Shit .. completely forgot .. how much is it

15 bucks per person

For a freaking cake !? … what are they bringing the chocolate from Sweden or something like that

She's retiring be nice

I love the girl you know that … but I also love not being broke

Its just fifteen bucks … dude you are so cheap you would charge me for paying you attention

Its not being cheap … just conscious

Conscious that you are a cheap bastard

Being "financially organized" has helped me a lot .. how do you think I survived during the Arkham city times

Yeah .. not gonna lie .. those days were rough. How much was it … you know .. the cuts they made that year

28 % on every single GCPD officer .. 30 % to every high level office jobs. I heard Gordon forced every one of them to accept those cuts so us little officers wouldn't be hit as hard

We all heard that one kid … just forgot the specifics. I think when you've been this long you get used to getting off with whatever they give you

In my case I remember staying all night doing the math of how the hell I was going to make it to the next month. Marisha almost had to get a second job; and .. well .. again .. thank you so much for helping us out

For the 100th time .. its okey. We have to help each other … specially partners. Besides … I think your sister deserved a bit of luck, you know, I mean she did had to go to your classroom every single day when you were in the first grade when you started crying because you missed mommy

I'll never forgive her for telling you that

And I'll never stop loving her for telling me that

I tell you … the moment she starts dating all serious and all … I'm going to show that poor bastard her little ballet recital videos .. emphasis on the one she slipped and showed her ass to the entire room

I'd say you maybe are overkilling it .. but she did also showed those pictures of you as a five year old that time ,.. so … yeah … I kinda get you

Worst barbecue ever

For you at least … I remember Ramirez almost pissed himself when Marisha told him your "I miss momma" story

Man …him and that son of a bitch Miller brought that crap up every day for almost a freaking year man

I used to love Miller's attempts to impersonate you

He had nothing on me man … he looked like Urkel trying to talk with a rubber on his mouth

I thought he nailed you to perfection.. specially the whole annoying crying part. Although … I think Maybe he should've wet his pants to truly capture your essence

For the last time … SWEAT. And hell no he didn't nailed me .. unlike Jamie of course, he never had a shot nailing me, told you, the only thing that ugly Jersey boy was good for was at being the designated driver

I sure miss that

A part of me .. a tiny one … miss him too

Did you ever heard from them again

After the cuts I heard from Miller once or twice .. heard he got a job at Bludhaven … still awful pay and no insurance … but at least few penguin and clown incidents. And from Ramirez .. heard he's working security cop at the mall

Jeez .. that's rough

Yep

Still, a part of me thinks Ramirez prefers that crappy job to being stuck in Arkham city like you were or having to deal with the Tyger guards like I had to.

Yeah …. Hell … I´ll take unemployment any time over being locked again with every psycho in this city ..

I don't think you´ll have to worry about it … Gordon made it really clear that there's no way in hell anything even remotely similar to Arkham City will open again

You never know man … this is Gotham after all .. the world's capital of weird shit

Trust me .. after having to let go every single inmate locked up in there, including all the freaks … while also having to give them some pretty big compensation packages for … damn .. what was the phrase they used

"Emotional damages" or something like that I think

Well .. after having to cash out a huge part of our taxes to a lot of murdering assholes due to their "emotional damage" … all while seeing them go free… well … lets just say I don't think anyone wants to go through that all over again

Till this day I can't freaking believe it .. how the hell didn't anyone do something about it

Gordon tried … but the law is more powerful than justice

Or common sense

Yep

Can't believe they left that son of a bitch Nygma out

I know

After what he did … he deserved to be locked in a padded cell in the middle of hell for the rest of time .. or to just leave him five minutes alone with me … that would've solved everyone's problems

You can't go thinking like that kid … remember .. we are better than these dirtbags

Maybe in some cases being "better" than them isn't enough .. maybe sometimes someone needs to be "worse" so things can actually be better

Are you … hell .. are you thinking of being that someone

I don't know man … maybe … I just ..

Look … I know those feelings … I´ve been patrolling this streets for a while

You've been patrolling these streets since before streets were invented man

Cute …

Just sayin

Stop being an ass for a minute okey … Look … I get what you´re going through all right .. I´ve lost a lot of friends to really shitty people .. and trust me .. in those days … I really thought about becoming that "someone worse" .. shit man … I actually started planning the whole thing

…. Wait … seriously … why didn't you tell me this before …

This isn't something you just share kid …

Yeah … you got that right ..if Gordon would've heard that, you´ll probably be stuck with a weekly shrink appointment or at least a two hour daily speech about righteousness or whatever

Probably ..

Hey .. so … what happened

It isn't a nice story kid

Most of your stories aren't .. but at least I know this one won't involve you throwing up during the GCPD new years party

I wish it was a story like that .. I really do

Shit .. c'mon man … seriously … what happened

Mmmmm ,…. Shit ….. Well …. … Some asshole .. Andres Navarro … he was part of this huge old Mexican drug cartel … "The kings" or something like that I think …

Never heard of them

Black Mask's gang kicked them off Gotham .. but a few decades ago … they were running at least a quarter of Gotham's cocaine market, and this guy was in charge of production and distribution to the entire east side of Gotham

Damn … That's a lot of people man … and a lot of money too

It sure was … and this guy, well he helped the cartel take out the former "owners" of Gotham's cocaine market

I suppose it was a bit of a "Hostile takeover"

Your supposition is correct .. he was smart … but afterwards he got cocky and pretty careless, so careless in fact we were able to track him and his gang movements all over Gotham for a couple of months. We pointed down almost all his joints and special warehouses. So .. When my squad busted them down one day … let's just say he was less than thrilled about it

I can imagine

We must've confiscated at least 10,000 kilos that day in product alone … we planned that thing for a long ass time, I was sure we had him.

What then

The thing is … because lady luck's a bitch … that asshole didn't make it to any of the joints we busted that day, he was tipped off

Damn … by who

I'll get to that .. so right after the whole operation was over .. eventhough we didn't caught him almost all of us thought he was done, I mean I was sure after all of that he was leaving Gotham before his bosses got a hold of him … because as you know Mexican cartels aren't too fond of people who screw up their businesses

I still remember the last cartel "employee" we found after a bad "Performance review" .. they didn't even left his head

Yeah … and considering that .. I thought this was all over and he was done for good. (sigh) … well … later that week .. some members of my squad were called to some weird disturbance near Hardy street in founders island, and others were sent to patrol providence street to reinforce police force in the area

Okey … then what

They didn't report back that day, Their cars were abandoned in the middle of the street …

Shit

Three days later we found them in Gotham's river, most of their fingers were cut off and half of them were missing something in their faces … and that's nothing compared to what they did to the female officers

Don't wanna know

No you don't

Jesus man … then what

We found some dna traces on some of their bodies

Of the asshole

Close .. it was one of his henchman .. Albornoz … or something like that, they found his hair in whatever was left of Sullivan's face

What did you do ?

We decided to pay Mr Albornoz a visit in the hellhole he lived in. After we busted him and offered him some "Kind words of encouragement" he talked. He confessed that Navarro planned everything, and he also "supervised" everything that happened after they otfed my squad

That's messed up man

No .. this is what's messed up … we found out he had escaped to Mexico one day ago .. so we had to get in contact with Mexican police departments to help organize some sort of manhunt to catch this guy

And did they help ?

After some "generous donations" to their holiday funds they did

At least they helped man

Yep .. after a couple of weeks they found him hiding in some ditch near Veracruz. It took a while but we finally convinced the local police to extradite his sorry as back to the states, and they agreed … after we again agreed to pay a special "tax" for extra services

So …

We had him … witnesses, some evidence we found later that linked him to the crime scene ,we had everything we needed.

But ..

But … out of nowhere some paperwork gets misplaced and crucial evidence disappears … so the judge almost calls for a freaking mistrial. He got out posting a 1000 dollar bail and our lawyer told us without any more evidence he was gonna walk free eventually.

You're kidding me ….

No .. that animal barely got free because some asshole filed the wrong piece of paper on the wrong folder … or so we thought

Oh crap ..

Some of us got a bit curious about this sudden run of "bad luck" and decided to run an investigation of our own

And ….

Aaron Laurent

Who ?

One of the guys in our department .. senior officer, been in the force for over 10 years .. on his way to be a sergeant

Shit ..

Yeah … shit …

Don't tell me he ..

He was on his payroll from day one .. he tipped him off when we went after his joints, helped him escape to Mexico and finally … destroyed all the evidence we had against him

(sigh) … how did you figured out he was helping him ?

He was very thorough.. they worked together for years without us realizing it and we wouldn't have, if it wasn't for an officer called Allen and her husband Rhys.

Who were they ?

Allen was a police officer, she had just completed her first year in the department, and her husband was an accountant. Allen's partner in the force .. her name was Abbiatti .. nice girl , good head over her shoulders and didn't mind her hands dirty. I'm sure she would've made a fine addition to the "Rejection hall of fame record" you have going on in the station.

That was really uncalled for

But not necessarily untrue

Okey sergeant lard ass, tell me .. what happened to her.

(sigh) Well … she was one of the cops murdered by Navarro's men … hell … we couldn't recognize her body after everything that happened. Allen took the day off to go on a trip with her family out of town that day, probably saved her life, eventhough she disagrees completely. She thought she could've saved her, I'll never forget her face when we told her what occurred.

Shit man I´m sorry

I know .. So while Allen took a leave of absence, her husband tried to help us out … he thought that could bring her some closure or something. Hell he even started coming to the station and all

Okey … I don't wanna be an ass but how much help can an accountant be ..Was he like a super mega ninja or something

I saw him trip with his own trousers … twice

Crap

Yep .. not gonna lie .. we allowed him to "help" just to make him feel a bit better and so he could keep us updated on allen. We told him to check the books, accounts, tax declarations, whatever things had numbers on them. Thought that would keep him busy and all. However … that geeky son of a bitch actually found something

What …

Deeply buried into one of our accountant books …specifically on the retirement funds … there was an "unusual" expense .. specifically an unusual allocation of money that was almost imperceptible .. made the day we hit Navarro's businesses .. all made from different ghosts companies who were in fact a part of a great conglomerate called " El sol naciente" to Laurent's fund.

Let me guess .. your boy Navarro owned that company

One of his many fronts lo launder money we discovered later .. and when we confronted Laurent about it he tried to pass it as a mistake .. a random misplacement of numbers. But I called his bluff … I told him we had boxes filled with receipts and papers about other donations made from Navarro's companies to him

I assume you had jack shit

The only receipt I actually had on me was from a cup of coffee I bought that morning … but as you know .. I can play a pretty convincing liar when pissed.

What did Laurent do ?

He talked … told us everything .. apologied a million times .. begged us to not say anything, he would've offered his mother's lungs to save his ass. Needless to say we rejected his offer and beat the crap out of him

Cant blame you for that. Did he told you where the asshole was ?

He didn't have to .. when word got out that Laurent was in custody, it scared Navarro's sorry ass so bad that he moved from the hellhole he was hiding to try to escape to South America … and that's when we got him

Finally

Seeing him in handcuffs felt pretty damn good … I'm sure he saw all the satisfaction on our faces as they dragged him to his cell … and that's when he started shouting … stuff

What stuff

Some details about the cops he killed .. how they begged .. what he did to them … what his guys did to the women … how they "liked" it .. all that "fun" stuff .. and when he mentioned Abbati and how he took his time with her .. I just couldn't take it anymore

Asshole

Thus .. I decided that I wasn't gonna give him a chance to escape through the cracks again .. he could've had more moles inside the station. So that night me and a couple of guys we went into his cell .. we had a rope .. we had a story planned … we had "witnesses" … he just was going to take the coward´s way out .. simple as that .

I assume it wasn't

We had the rope around his neck, he struggled a bit but I think even he knew it was useless. I started pulling as hard as he laughed that day about Abbati and the rest of the cops. And it felt … it .. just felt ..

Good right .. I mean… I know I would've been ecstatic to be in that position with Nygma .. you get some payback and deliver some justice at the same time.

That's the thing kid .. while I was pulling the rope .. I got a glimpse of his face. Look, when I took this job I made a promise to myself, a promise that I haven't been able to keep it always to the fullest, but still I vowed never to break it completely

What was it ?

(sigh) I promised myself to always trust my gut if something felt wrong .. no matter the consequences. And that …well … it felt as wrong as I think anything can feel.

Why .. because of the honor of the badge or some shit like that .

No .. not some sappy shit like that ..

Then why did it feel so wrong … Man .. It wasn't like he was just some random drug dealer or someone who stole a car .

Trust me I know

Then ..

There are just some boundaries we can´t cross

You mean as cops ..

No .. as people ..

Look .. I understand not taking the law in our hands. I didn't get into this to be a vigilante … I got into this to help people .. to keep them safe. And some times that means making some tough choices for justice sakes

It was vengeance … I didn't give a shit about justice at that point .. and that's when I realized I was losing myself

It wasn't like you were about to go on a murderous rampage

One rampage murder is enough

For what ..

To destroy that line .. between us and them .. and we cant do that. If we justify killing him this one time .. we´ll do it again some other time later .. and then again .. until we´ll reach a point when we won't even recognize ourselves.

No . sometimes we have to be that decisive force .. because if we don't make the choice of crossing that line .. somebody else will make it for us … and that means innocent people are going to suffer.

Its not that simple …

It actually is .. (sigh) .. sometimes it will come down to us or them .. and I know which one they are choosing … look … hey … I'm not planning on going to find Nygma tomorrow and blow his brains out if that's what you are wondering but I wouldn't mind seeing someone else do it.

I know … I'm just afraid of what you'll do if the chance to be that someone ever presented itself.

Of what .. to kill him … lord knows he deserves it believe me

He does .. but that doesn't mean we can just go and take him out. We uphold the law ..

And the law fails us … lots of times. The law isn't fair … its just practical but sometimes its useless, I mean .. it never stopped men like Navarro, the Joker … or Nygma ..

That's the kinda talk that worries me kid, you sounded like me right before I went into Navarro´s cell

That´s the reason you told me all that ? , so I wouldn't make the same mistakes you did ?

Kinda.

Look … I wont lie .. if we find out tomorrow that Nygma is dead, maybe with a glowing question mark stuck up his ass, I would buy rounds for our entire section in Perlsman Bar and celebrate like st Patrick's day fell on new year's eve.

There goes you retirement money.

Probably .. but it would be worth it. ( deep sigh) … … I would make sure to .. to get that german special beer they had … what was it called

… The Hindenburg …

Yeah .. ahahah … because all who drink it

Come down crashing like the Hindenburg … I know the joke

We always joked around .. that in our last day in the force we would all go to Perlsman and just waste all our retirement money ripping our livers apart with that stuff ..

Maybe we can do that when I retire .. maybe we can afford one round for the both of us with my savings

Nah .. don't get me wrong .. I would love to see your fat ass trying to go take a leak drunk on that german crap … but .. it just .. not the same .. I mean … it was a stupid inside joke we had .. half of my squad didn't even drink .. but we´ve all heard the stories of the Hindenburg so we all said why the hell not.

Sounds like a good and probably disastrous plan

Yeah .. probably would´ve been

Yeah … are you .. well … have you heard from North or …

Chambers. Well in North's case he moved to the countryside with his family .. they own a bed a and breakfast so he figured he would come back and share his "strategic expertise" as he called it with them

And ..

Well he says he's helped them improve earnings in more than a 20 % or some shit like that and that his folks tell him all the time how much he's improving the business and yada yada

Who knows maybe he is ..

That dumbass! … The only earnings he could ever improve were the ones of the donut shop he visited every day. Once we almost got lost chasing a lead because he got the north and east of Gotham confused.

I see your point

I think his folks are just humoring him .. trying to keep his mind out of things

You are talking to them are you ?

Just his mother from time to time … his father still doesn't understand cellphones. She's been telling me that he's doing better .. a lot less nightmares

That's good I guess

No its not (huge sigh)

Well .. less messed up at least. And what about Chambers ?

After everything Nygma put him through … he took a huge leave of absence and asked for a desk job as far away from Gotham as he could. I tried calling him a couple of times after that but no one picked up

Maybe he gave you a wrong number

Or maybe he just wanted to forget everything about Gotham .. after what Nygma put him through man … cant say I blame him. If it wasn't for my sister and your sorry ass I would´ve left this hellhole a long time ago.

Always happy to be acknowledged. … Look … about your guys.. at least the two of them got out all right, that has to count for something

Yeah yeah …maybe .. I don't know .. if it wasn't for Batman showing up ..

Don't go there .. nothing good comes from that train of thought

I know .. its just .. they were my guys … you know how they say when you just come out of the academy that you work with your squad so much that they start as strangers and became your family while your family starts as your family but then became strangers…

Yeah .. accurate

Yeah .. I´ve always only had my sister.. but then suddenly there were this group of assholes that I was forced to be with who .. well … you get it …

Yeah I do

I mean I wanted to kill them half the time .. and the other half I was just busting their balls ..but I cared about them .. they must´ve known right .. sure I never told them but still .. they knew right .. I mean … I never told them once I gave a shit or something .. but … but … all of them .. hell … I loved them .. and they knew that .. (tearing up a bit)

Hey ..Darryl .. partner … listen to me … you can be a huge annoying pain in all of our asses … but you are our huge annoying pain in our asses, and I'm sure they saw it the same way.

I just .. I should´ve done something … something else

I´ve told you a million times … you couldn't have save them from Nygma. No cop could´ve.

I froze man .. the moment I saw him come inside that church holding Grace I just … I didn't react .. I … it didn't felt real .. like I was just .. I mean .. I´ve heard of Nygma and how screwed up he is .. but seeing the real deal .. I felt I was in somebody else´s nightmare. And then his henchman forced us into that freaking bus and ..

I know what happened .. and I tell you .. it wasn't your fault

I had a clear shot … I knew I had it. All I had to do was pull out my gun and go for it

They would´ve killed you

Hell man .. would´ve been worth it .. at least my squad could´ve made it

Or Nygma´s people could´ve just killed them off right there

Maybe it would´ve been for the best .. specially in Grace´s case. You know her husband couldn't even recognize the body .. there was nothing left after Nygma put her in that fucking machine .. ( fighting tears) they … they had a son … and know he´s gonna grow up without a mother because I was way to chicken shit to do something about it

(puts arm in his shoulder) Darryl .. you did everything you could .. you managed to survive Arkham City and pull yourself together and eventhough you look like a jackass you manage to became a midly decent cop

Pfff … (small laugh) Screw you man.

Seriously though .. Im proud of you. Not many people would´ve managed to keep their shit together after everything you went through

Barely keep it together

Close enough

If you say so ..

I know so ..

Okey then (looks at his watch) .. well … this was fun and all but I guess its time to go

Yeah I guess you´re right .. let me pay this really quick ..

Hey .. no way .. you´re not treating me today .. here´s my part of the bill.

Its okey kid

If this is your way of hitting on me I´ll have to tell you Its going to take a whole lot more than some cheap coffee and donuts to get me to drop my pants

I´ll happy pay for every meal we have if it means not having to see you without pants … a sentiment I'm sure every women in the station share along with me.

Just wait old man .. this Friday I´m asking Jamie out to the Halloween's Gotham city plaza costume party and ..

That's good .. it will save you money on the mask.

Funny … how about you .. are you going as the "Human lard man" again or are you too old to stay up until 9

Well if it means … what the ..

( A sudden Loud noise comes from the back of the café .. a customer suddenly starts screaming and scratching his body and begins to throw the items of his table at the people nearby)

Shit .. hey … I´ll take the front and you take the left ..

Got it

( They both start moving slowly to the increasingly erratic customer, showing their badges and feeling up their guns fearing they might used them today)

Hey .. sir .. look .. My name is officer Darryl Marring … I´m here with my partner Pete .. what seems to be the problem

( incoherent maonings) … No ..no … shhhh shshhh … too muuuch … no no …. Stop it … make it stop … I .. no … I wont .. stop …

Sir .. we wanna help you .. but we need you to be calm and tell us what's going on

No .. no .. don't … get away … I wont … no .. please no

Sir .. we don't wanna hurt you, we are cops. We just wanna help you out ( he reaches out to him)

Be careful Darryl

Its okey .. right sir .. just let me help you … just

(suddenly the suspect jumps at him taking him to the ground, eyes red, hands onto his eyes)

Jesus Christ .. what the fuck ( Pete jumps right into him trying to get him off Darryl)

(Suspect shouting) Get away … NO.. NO … Leave me alone .. you wont take me again ..Noo

(Pete manages to throw him back onto the table and off his partner)

Are you okay man ..

Yeah just some scratches … WATCH OUT

(Suddenly .. the suspect charges at them while holding a knife that fell onto the ground during the struggle)

(SHOUTING) I´ll sent you back to hell where you belong … you wont touch me or her again … DIE !

Sir … I'm warning you .. back off

DIE ! … DIE !

Sir .. this is your last warning … throw away the knife and put your hands up

NO NO NO .. SHUT UP … IM NOT A KID ANYMORE .. GET AWAY

SIR .. for heavens sake … throw the knife away .. and put your hands up

DIE ! ( HE STARTS RUNNING SWINGING THE KNIFE AT THE OTHER CUSTOMERS NEAR HIM)

SIR ! … STOP IT RIGHT NOW …

SIR ! … HANDS UP … LAST CHANCE !

DIE !

( Darryl fires his gun at him .. he's dead before he hits the floor)

Shit man ..

What the fuck …

I don't know kid ..

Did you see his eyes … or actually .. did you see whatever those things were where his eyes were supposed to go

I saw those things all right .. jesus Christ

Holy fuck …

All the fucks .. okey … okey … we need to set a perimeter .. try to .. talk to the people here .. lord knows we are gonna need some witnesses .. .. and .. and call the station. Probably ruin Gordon´s night ..

Yeah .. okey

Look .. you just take a look at where he was sitting before he went nuts and set up a perimeter okey .. … kid … kid … did you get that

Yea yeah … I got it .. don't worry ..

Good then

(Officer Darryl starts walking near the table, sweat coming down his face, when suddenly he feels a hand on his back)

Officer ..

Hey .. hello ma'am .. I don't wanna be rude but I´m gonna need you to step back a bit .. you saw what happened right… we are trying to set up a small investigation scene to find out what ..

I .. I … know what happened ..

You do ? … Really ?. That's great, please tell me ma'am .. What was it ?

He … he … was exposed to a gas …

Gas ? … What kind of gas ?

The worst kind .. I don't know what type of gas it is but it seems to me it comes from hell itself

Right .. Ma'am .. Did you see how he came in contact with this gas ?

Yes … yes I did … I'm so sorry

Sorry … why are you sorry ?

He didn't deserve this … no one deserves anything like it

Wait .. you knew whoever that was that went all "arkham asylum mode" backthere ?

No … I .. I didn't knew him

Then why are you sorry … what´s going on here ?

I'm so sorry … he said he'll kill my son if I … if I … oh god … I'm so sorry officer

Who did

I don't who .. or what he is … he just sent me a video this morning of my son held up somewhere … and told me that if I didn't do as he said .. "My worst fears would became my only reality" and ,, and

Ma'am … I can help you .. but in order to do that I'm gonna need you to calm down and tell me what's going on …

You cant help me … no one can

Yes I can .. okey .. just let me call my partner and you can tell us the whole story

I'm sorry … please .. … I'm so sorry

I know .. that's why I wanna help you .. you just stay here and …

I´m sorry … forgive me

Wait .. wait

(Before he can stop here she reaches in her pocket and presses a button that releases the Scarecrow's fear gas right in front of officer Darryl)

What the fuck ! .. Pete … partner …where are you .. what the hell .. no .. no .. what the fuck is this !

(Suddenly the entire cafeteria turns into a devlish scene filled with glowing question marks, the flood filled with blood and unnerving screams coming from every direction .. officer Darryl finds himself inside a riddler trap room, similar to the ones in Arkham city, hearing screams that sound too familiar to him)

(screams)HELP .. SOMEONE .. PLEASE .. GET US OUT OF HERE ! …PLEASE .. I HAVE A SON … DON'T DO THIS …

NO … WAIT … NO … PLEASE … AHHHHHHH !

GET AWAY … NO … NO … PLEASE

(Official Darryl Screaming ) THE FUCK IS THIS ! … ? (Suddenly he hears a voice coming from his back … a voice that paralyzes him .. but then … fills him with an unbridled rage )

Nygma ! ? … what the … how … no … no .. you

Hello officer … lovely evening isn't it. Im so overjoyed you were able to accompany us in this special social gathering …

No .. no …

I´m sure you are a bit concerned about the current well-being of your law enforcing associates, which would be pretty wise of you because their odds of survival are currently diminishing by the second

WAIT … no … no

Your confusion to this matter is as annoying as it is predictable. I´m completely aware of the fact that feeble minds such as yours tend to collapse in the presence of such an intricate intellect as mine but for the sake of your companions I advise you to at least attempt to rise above your limited mental capacities

God dammit … what the hell …Nygma … no … how … how did you get here .. ?

Oh Gotham's finest at its best I see. Well as amusing as your state of constant bewilderment is, I'll answer your inquiry as for what I the notorious riddler decided to set foot in this deplorable establishment. You see, I realize that there are still some haphazard vermin running around of what used to be your unit from Arkham City. Vermin that I´ve decided to wipe of Gotham's already decaying human cesspool of intellect.

What .. no .. what do you mean

I knew my vocabulary would be to overwhelming for a baboon such as yourself. Well .. in a simpleton terms .. I´m gonna kill every single one of those dumbasses that managed to survive in Arkham city, and you know what … just for the sake of it .. I´ll kill your partner too

No … stop it … I wont … I wont let you ..

Its amusing you think you´ll have any chance to stop me. You didn't even move when you saw me in Arkham city, you let me capture your squad, put them in those rooms and torture them until their ignorance got them killed. You´re nothing but a coward Darryl Marring, you got those people killed ..

SHUT UP !

You know you did … (Nygma starts getting closer, his eyes looking devlish even a bit deranged while his mouth shows a cocky mocking smile) you, your family and even that partner of yours are no better than any of those people you locked up in Bludhaven

No … that's not … no .. its not true

It is … (Nygma continues getting closer) they all trusted you and look where that lead them. Most of their remains scattered in random forgotten rooms in what used to be Arkham city. And all because little Darryl was to much of a pussy to stand up for them

THAT'S NOT TRUE …. SHUT UP ( Darryl pulls up his gun aiming to the disfigured green entity standing in front of him) YOU .. YOU .. KILLED THEM … THEY HAD FAMILIES … THEY WERE MY FAMILY … AND I … I

You failed them officer … you´re just such a disappointment not only to your squad .. but to the entire Gotham police department. Hell .. I doubt that sister of yours would even talk to you if she knew how much of a coward you really are. But don't worry about that officer … after I'm through with you I´ll go pay that lovely sister of yours a visit ,, maybe I´ll tell her a riddle or two. I still have some riddler rooms hidden in Gotham, I think she´ll have a lovely time in them don't you agree; I'm sure she´ll never want to leave and probably never will

YOU SON OF A BITCH … IF YOU EVEN COME CLOSE TO HER ( HE AIMS HIS GUN AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE NYGMA'S HEAD)

RIDDLE ME THIS OFFICER .. HOW MANY RIDDLER´S DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB ?. THE ANSWER .. I DON'T KNOW … THEY ARE TOO BUSY KILLING YOUR SISTER

GO TO HELL ASSHOLE ! ( He shoots directly at Nygma, but the bullet seems to go directly through him.. his body unaffected, his smiling only getting wider which only seem to intensify the maddening sound of his voice ) Damn it !: … ( he keeps shooting) WHY THE FUCK WONT YOU DIE ! ?

As always officer ( More riddler demonic silloutes start to appear in front of the officer, each one looking more devlish and violent than the other. All of them start slowly walking towards the officer ) .. .. you forget … I´m the one who asks the riddles …

No .. get away from me .. STAY BACK … no .. I Wont let you take her … I wont let you take anyone else Nygma ! (All of them start rushing directly to him, while Nygma just laughs. As they are about to reach him, he starts firing his gun at all of them until they can´t stand anymore.) GET THE FUCK AWAY ! ( He keeps firing until he's out of bullets. There´s no Riddler demonic shadow standing anymore. He finally has a chance to catch his breath)

Shit … fuck … what the … Partner … Mike ! … where the hell are you man ? (Suddenly he hears Nygma's voice again)

I think our time together officer is finally coming to an end officer. As delightful it was seeing you again I have literally a million more important things to do with my time, but as a departure gift .. I´ll leave you with one final riddle. Riddle me this … When your world becames ashes … where´s the one place you can always hide ?

(As the officer is hearing this .. the shadows and glowy question marks start to disappear and reveal the walls and floors of the café filled with blood and the bodies of the people that were there)

No … no … what … NOO ( He falls to his knees and sees his partner's body filled with bullet holes laying in the table right in front of him)

Is .. insanity …

Partner … Mike .. Mike ! … wake up .. wake up damn it … for heaven sakes … please … fuck ..no .. no .. nooo ( Officer Darryl collapses unto the floor … his hands shaking .. and his eyes completely fixed on his partner's dead body. Then he turns his sight onto the rest of the bodies in the diner. Man, women and children laying there bulletholes filling their bodies, drowning in a cestpool of their blood and tears. He realizes his gun is warm and that his almost out of bullets. The scenery resembles a nightmare in which he finds himself being the sole protagonist. Sirens start hollering in the background, he knows where they are going, and he knows what his fate will be when they get here ). For fucks sakes … what did I do … Mike … man .. Im .. .. so fucking sorry .. I cant … I cant … fuck … I cant .. shit … shit … Sheila … ( he sticks the gun into his forehead) I'm sorry sis .. you cant save me from this ( he clears the tears from his face, the sirens feel even closer)… no one can … damn it .. god .. im sorry … ( his finger touches the trigger) … forgive me god .. I´m sorry.

( A loud bang echoes in the walls of the diner but is almost drowned in the sounds of the police sirens quickly approaching. Officer Darryl … lays motionless besides his partner, his gun still warm and his eyes still swollen)

( 2 hours later. In Gotham´s downplaza a screeching alarm sounds flooding the entire Gotham city downtown avenue. Suddenly Scarecrow´s face appears in all the main screen publicity TV's with the following message)

Gotham .. every true nightmare starts with a pure raw sense of fear and terror … one that consumes its host into a complete state of helplessness.

What you witnessed tonight, the mere ounces of the fear toxins I released, were just the mere shivers that prelude the true despair I will unleash tomorrow on this city. Citizens of Gotham, there won't be any more warnings .. Abandon this city )