Here we go, usual disclaimer. I made no money on this writing, and I do not own rights to Batman or any associated character from DC Comics.

Be warned that in this chapter and in the continuance from this point, there could be some moments that might be uncomfortable to some readers. Be advised, and do not be afraid to just stop reading if it bothers you. This is why I've rated this story mature. Not for language, but for content.+

* * * * *

Chapter Eight – Change

* * * * *

Bruce methodically donned his costume, taking time for all the little details that he usually just mindlessly went through while suiting up for a patrol. The feel of the fabric and built in Kevlar left him for once feeling exposed. Why the uniform? Why question at all? This was out of his control but Bruce felt more in control than he had for a long time. He was once again making a decision, not standing on the sidelines waiting for something to happen. It was all about control, when he got down to it. He made a decision, and didn't look back. Shaking his head, he sighed and spoke to the silence of the cave. "I'm making this choice, to save others from a fate worse than death. If this can save one life, then it is all worth it."

"Oh, it will be worth it, Dark Knight, for both of us. You won't regret this." The voice did not echo in the vastness of the cave. Batman took a moment to glance around the costume room, knowing he would see nothing, but not able to completely resist the urge to find the source of the voice.

"What do I do now?"

The voice laughed. "Quite simple. I know you've explored this cavern system quite extensively, and you know where the water gathers in the deepest grotto. Head there, and all will be done as we have agreed."

"No double cross. You will keep your end of the bargain."

The being laughed again. "Remember, Bruce, that part of me is part of you. You've never lied to yourself if you can manage it, so I don't plan to start doing that now. Now, get going, I'll meet you there. In the darkness."

Retrieving climbing rope from one of the storage compartments in the main part of the cave, Batman started his descent into the bowels of the cavern system. Soon the cut steps from earlier explorations gave way to the slick limestone and gravel that gritted under his booted feet. The light from the occupied part of the caves faded with each turn, leaving Batman in the complete darkness. Pulling a glow light from his utility belt, he continued further into the caverns.

The ground went from slick to muddy at Batman descended deeper into the ground. There was no sign of bats this deep underground, but the sound of water dripping filled the silence. A few splashes let him know that the mud still had puddles in it, and he continued down the narrow passage. Coming to the underground lake for only the second time in his life, the water reflected back the faint green glow of the light stick. Stubbing it out, knowing somehow that complete darkness would be better for this, he finally spoke again. "Alright, I'm down here, in the dark, like you wanted. What do I do now?"

"Just close your eyes, and let me do the heavy lifting, Dark Knight."

It started with a tingling of the fingers and toes, then spread up his arms and legs. This was not too bad, it felt more like all the muscles had fallen asleep and woke up at the same time. In the middle of a breath, it really began.

In an instant, horrific pain spread through his body, and it felt like to him that his bones were being pumped full of molten lead. The extreme pain drove him to his hands and knees, sending the breath in his lungs out of gritted teeth. His eyes burned in their sockets, and his skull felt like someone was slamming icepicks through his scalp and into his skull and brain. Unable to properly breathe, his air whistled through his mouth and into lungs that were so filled with cold that it burned.

Forcing his eyes open in spite of the pain, he got a good glance at his hands on the ground in front of him. There was a light glowing from the gloves, as they melded into his skin with an agony that almost convinced him to try to pull the material off his raw skin. "Cold... so cold... I never thought..."

"And that, my dear sucker, is your problem. You didn't think it all through, but it's too late now, the deal is signed, so to speak. Oh, you'll be warm enough in a few minutes. Just lay back and enjoy the show." This time the voice was not in his ears. It came from within, sounding like him yet with a gravel roughness that outdid his usual voice when he spoke as Batman. His mouth suddenly filled with blood, the iron taste coating his mouth and giving him reason to retch. Spitting out the blood along with the remaining contents of his stomach, several teeth soon were laying in the growing splatter of blood that he continued to spit out of his raw and bleeding mouth.

His legs twitched, as the sound of breaking bones filled the silence of the grotto. Flesh shredded under the the pressure, reshaping to a new form. His skin on his back ripped with the sound of wet cloth tearing, as muscles moved in directions not intended for humanity. Unable to resist anymore, Bruce threw back his head and let loose a lung wrenching shriek. The inhuman sound echoed through the still air, making it's way through the caverns and disturbing the numerous bats that called these depths their home.

* * * * *

Alfred checked the security system in the Bat Cave. The motion detectors had started their silent alarm a few minutes ago, but he could find no one in the monitored part of the cavern complex. Taking a glance around, he could see both the Batwing and Batmobile were still in place, the engines cool to the scanners. None of the dummy cars were missing either. The only thing out of place was that one of the uniforms was no longer in the costume area.

"Master Bruce? Are you down here? If this is a game of hide and seek, it tends to work out better if the other players know that the game is on." Clicking on the overhead lamps to lend more light, he took another look around. There were plenty of places to hide in the cavern complex that would be out of range of the sensors, but Alfred did not feel like playing this particular game. "Dinner is ready, in the main dining room, if you care to have something to eat. I am heading back up to the main house now, it's far too cold down here for me to play any games."

Turning to leave, Alfred could hear a strange hum coming from the overhead spotlights. Then the bulbs blew, all at once, plunging the Bat Cave into almost complete darkness other than the mild glow from the computer screen behind him. The bats were suddenly disturbed, and flew at breakneck speeds for the openings that led to the surface. Following the fleeing bats was a sound that Alfred had never heard, even in his time in service to Her Majesty.

It was a scream, of something in pain. He could not call it a someone, as the sound could not have possibly come from a human throat. Reaching for one of the emergency lanterns placed around the area, Alfred glanced around, trying to find the source of the twisted sound that had so disturbed the bats, not to mention how it disturbed his own peace of mind. Heading to one of the drop offs in the main cave, he pointed the lantern down into the inky darkness.

The bulb in it suddenly exploded, the sound of glass shards bouncing off the stone floor strangely echoing around Alfred. It was enough time though to see something in the darkness below, something that defied imagination. He took a few shaky steps back from the edge, giving plenty of room between him and whatever was coming up from the depths.

In the faint light, Alfred could see something that resembled a hand come up from the depths, and grab hold of the edge of the rock. It levered itself up, still wrapped in mostly darkness. Whatever it was, it smiled in the light, the flash of fanged teeth reflecting the glow of the monitors. Then it spoke, in a voice that seemed to come from the bowels of a nightmare disturbed the still air of the cavern.

"It's me, Alfred. It's all right now, everything is going to be fine now. I've come through on the other side, and I was strong enough to conquer it. I am the night, the darkness, and I will never harm those that are on the side of vengeance."

Alfred took another few steps back, as the entity in front of him spread it's wings, and took to the air, heading out of the cavern. There was the rustling of leather covered wings, then nothing. Whatever it was, it was no longer in the cave.

* * * * *