"We have a lead on the man responsible for the Graysons' murder," says Gordon.

"I don't forget a face and I have done searching of my own," admits Bruce.

"Felt you might, the catch is Stromwell is his uncle," continues Gordon.

"Nobody is above the law. Justice demands nothing less," says Bruce.

"I'd go after him myself, but the Directorate is staying away from this one."

"It is because of Stromwell no doubt."

"Yep, the man may not run the city directly anymore, but he is harboring Zucco."

Gotham politics are the deceptive veil of Gotham criminality.

"How is the boy?"

"Alfred and Leslie are looking after him at the moment. Selina spends time with him too and I do what I can, but dealing with his parents' killer is the only way to keep from becoming too much…"

"Like you? Not everything about you is tainted."

"I know, I want him to still have a childhood."

"He can, but like you he still wants to avenge his parents and he needs a father."

"I am not a parent."

"Nobody is ever ready for it. I wasn't, I make it up as I go along, and you had Alfred and Leslie."

"I know. You best be heading back soon."

Gordon leaves the cavern via a 'Bat-boat'. The Police Directorate uses a similar less advance model except they are known as U-Divers. It is likely a take off on the term U-Boat if rumors be true.


The Cavern (aka the Bat Cave) is almost done and the subway tunnel link is nearing completion too.

Alfred laid out the costume earlier. The fitting accounts for the physique that Bruce had did his best to keep even when once again having constant turns at Alfred's cooking. As he had hope for, most of it fits like a glove. First on is the gray Kevlar suit, next is upper body armor plates, then the gloves, and after that are the boots, which also have reinforcements in their design. The only remaining pieces are the gauntlets, the helmet, and the utility belt. Alfred arrives with the helmet while Bruce slides on the gauntlets.

He snaps the belt into place as Alfred sets the helmet's storage container on the table. The lighting as it is low makes seeing the helmet almost impossible, but there's no mistaking the outline or silhouette it casts once upon Bruce's head. The transformation is complete and so he turns to walk towards the Tumbler.

"My…God!" gasps Alfred.

Alfred's reaction is almost expected, he had no desire to spook his paternal butler, but there were others that would take that kind of spooking and worse in order for him to do what he had to in this guise. It is time to pay Arnold Stromwell a visit because if anyone knows where his nephew is holed up, he would. The retractable Plexiglas dashboard window slides back and up then he hops into the driver's seat while the window of a hood closes down. The Tumbler roars to life and then follows the curving ramps up to the reinforced doors that conceal the Cavern's true purpose from the world.

"Come back alive, Master Bruce…" whispers Alfred.


It did seem strange that his passage went unnoticed as long as it had, but painting the Tumbler black so far has proven a practical decision at least for night time drives. His research regarding Stromwell points to the Stromwell Estate, which is not difficult to find as it only miles from the dilapidated Wayne Manor. One day he would restore the manor to its former glory, but not until the Regime, the Nazis, were driven from these shores, only then could it be one of many symbols that Gotham is free.

He slows the Tumbler as he brings it to a full stop and continues on foot into the trees that surround the 'backyard'. Infrared goggles reveal the grounds are crawling with soldiers. So it would be by the numbers entry. The nearest is one who is too busy taking a smoke. It might be an easy drop, but he would have to be quiet about it because being spotted would just ruin the whole point of cornering Stromwell. He had not yet found a name to use for this guise, but it almost seems unimportant though they would probably have a few words of their own, not that he care either way what they call him so long as they too afraid to fight well against him.

The smoking soldier below him flicks his cigarette's ashes. It is time to begin so Bruce drops from the branch and quickly latches his arm around the soldier's windpipe. The man gasps and Bruce steps on the dropped cigarette in order to make it sound like the choking man is finishing a smoke in order to deflect the attention of anyone listening nearby. The soldier soon passes out from the shock and the lack of air going into his lungs. Bruce hides the unconscious body behind the tree.

"Steiss?" calls a voice.

Bruce assumes the unconscious soldier is Steiss. The voice would get curious if Steiss doesn't answer him. One solution to the problem would be to take down the voice, but that take-down would probably not go visually unnoticed so a bit of ventriloquism is in order.

"Just taking another smoke!" says 'Steiss'.

"Ah, you know that will kill you someday!" calls the voice.

"Not tonight," chuckles 'Steiss'.

"Both of you back to your rounds, we can't afford a lapse ever," interjects another voice.

"You are not Steiss. You are some weirdo dressed like a Bat," interrupts a third voice.

Bruce socks the newcomer who had just come around the corner of the shrub maze.

"We have an intruder. Somebody better go alert Stromwell," orders another voice.

Time to pick up the pace, cover is blown and I cannot allow myself to get unmasked either.

Bruce vaults over several hedges that are much taller than him, but again his 'supernatural' speed suspends belief to those watching him move among them like something that can't be human in their minds. Several guards crowd him rather than try to fire on him. He holds his breath as he releases multiple gas balls. All the guards hear next is hissing then their own bodies hitting the ground. Bruce keeps going only to encounter several more guards this time with guns. He pivots about using the gauntlets to deflect the bullets, which thoroughly ticks them off though they keep firing furiously at him and by the time he closes the distance they have to reload except he twists their wrists simultaneously.

Both men drop their machine guns and groan in pain then he knocks them together. The pair drop and now he finally has a clear path to the enormous mansion before him. The only catch is now he would have to break in instead of slip in and it would only be worth the trouble if Stromwell is still on the grounds. He fires the grappler to the highest visible overhang, which also looks like a balcony. The ascension is quicker than expected, but top of the line technology is a wonder for someone in his position. The balcony windows are shut, no surprise given that they know he is here, but getting inside is not the hard part of the 'visit' anymore, no the hard part is getting to Stromwell.

He kicks in the doors and Stromwell jumps up clutching a hot poker.

"So who sent you? The Council?" snaps Stromwell.

He glares at Stromwell.

"I'll take that as a no then," quips Stromwell.

"I don't work for your cronies. Now where is Zucco?" demands 'Batman'.

"What do you want that pipsqueak for?" asks Stromwell.

"I am the one asking the questions now!" retorts 'Batman'.

He closes the distance grabs Stromwell by his bathrobe collar.

"I am told him to stay away from me. I am tired of wasting favors just to save his neck!"

"Sure, like your kind turns so easily on family!"

"You want walk away from this alive I'd suggest you leave my home."

He releases Stromwell and slips back outside yet stays to the shadows just in case Stromwell had given him the run around about his nephew's activities since the Graysons' murder. He is doing this for Dick, he believes that because there is no way he is letting Zucco get away with it like Chill did almost fifteen years earlier. The only catch is how to prosecute Zucco or accept the manner in which he brought Zucco though he would be sure to keep Gordon in the loop for the sake of having the police detain Zucco and trust that Harvey would nail the murderer despite his blood relations.

"Someone was here looking for you Nephew! Get the heck out of my city. The last thing I need is some nut vigilante crusading for the people you decide to pick off! What's more don't come back to my house! I am tired of cleaning up your screw ups!" shouts Stromwell.

"Come off it Uncle, what could some vigilante do to you in that enormous mansion of yours?"

"He broke through more than half the security detail and then flipping accosted me in my own den!"

"Pretty daring, but somebody will cap him before long. Besides I got me a witness to kill because without the kid not even Dent will have a case on me. Thomas Kane and Selina Kyle are going to regret sheltering that brat. I and Jack Napier will make sure of that!"

"You and your stupid … petty… vendettas… how did my sister ever birth a trigger happy loon like you?"

"Lay off the insults old man. This city will belong to me someday."

"Not if somebody kills you first. Sure as hell hope that Bat-freak does it!"

Stromwell slams the phone down. He didn't even know that the 'Bat' left a tracer on the phone before slipping out. Tracers aren't cheap, but they were impossible to trace back to a manufacturer (in order to avoid dragging Fox Technologies into his mission against the Regime).

Napier is the hit-man tied to Valestra, Sol, and Bronski. No surprise there, but Napier went off the grid not long after the Beaumonts' disappearance only to resurface prior to a contract hit put out on Colonel Chill. Chill had been lying low for years or so Bruce had heard yet word on the street paints Chill red, blood red dead. It is strange that they chose to eliminate Chill in recent years, but than everything the Council or the Gestapo does qualifies as strange though not uncommon. If either group wants someone dead, then that someone will be dead in less than a fortnight.

Cemeteries are as full as they are because of this predilection, but nobody says that directly. There is no way to account for how many graves are occupied by people murdered by the Regime, but they had been in the business of killing people for generations. It simply had to end one way or another.

Bruce rappels off the balcony then races through the shrub maze back to where he hid the Tumbler and races back to where he knows Selina is planning to take Dick and Barbara for the evening. They are going to see a movie at the Monarch Theater. He remembers his parents promising to take him to see a film there. The Monarch had been one of few places that had hidden films for decades in order to escape the burnings and once such film is the Mark of Zorro. The Monarch runners had their troubles, but so far they have successfully kept in business in his absence. It made his blood run cold to have all three of them end up dead because Zucco was a trigger happy loon as his uncle called him.


"These underground film shows are quite the rave, but the secret is not to tell anyone about them. So let's get inside and enjoy the show," comments Selina.

It felt strange trying to be a babysitter or even more so like a mother yet she wonders what being a mother might be like, she just didn't expect to experience it this early in life. She had barely gotten back together with Bruce and then Dick Grayson's parents were killed by another of the notorious yet crooked Gestapo. She honestly wishes Bruce was here to 'suffer' this with her, but him and that darn mission of his.

"Evening Miss Kyle," says Jack.

"I see you have the kids with ya," continues Tony.

"What's it to you?" quips Selina.

"Well I'm sure Lieutenant Gordon would do anything to have his daughter back."

"I have unsettled business with Boy Blunder because of his parents."

"Kids…start running… now!"

Barbara and Dick take off back towards Selina's car while Selina engages the two men on her own.

"You really shouldn't get in our way," suggests Tony.

"You are that arrogant pig that axed his parents because they wouldn't add to your racket!"

"Aren't you the smart one pretty lady," snickers Jack.

"I'd really suggest you listen to her!" recommends 'Bat'.

"Who is this freak?"

"Don't know… shoot him."

Jack and Tony open fire on 'Bat', but soon discover he is wearing Kevlar weave body armor.

"I say this shift calls for a change in plans!"

Jack and Tony shift aim towards Selina. 'Bat' dashes to get between her and the gunfire except a car comes speeding by with a side door open. Somebody grabs Selina. 'Bat' hears her cries and turns to get her away from them except together the shooters hit him with the butts of their machine guns. It hurts like hell. The helmet is still in the prototype phase, which meant not all the kinks were worked out yet. He drops to his knees and tastes some blood in his mouth. As Jack and Tony run to nab the kids, 'Bat' binds both with grapplers except Jack cuts his way out and drags Tony away with him.

He recalls the Tumbler as Jack and Tony flee with scene. Barbara and Dick run towards him after spotting the Tumbler coming out an alley way.

"Wait for the police, I am going after Miss Kyle," says the 'Bat'.

"She was with us, we are coming with you," pips Barbara.

"Yeah, I am not letting anyone tied to my parents' killer to harm her," insists Dick.

"You certainly do take your parents, Alright get in, but stay with the car when we get there."

"Do you know where to go?" queries Barbara.

"Napier's biggest racket is Axis Chemicals, deep in the Corporate Sector," answers the 'Bat'.

Barbara and Dick look like kids at a candy store so the 'Bat' (Bruce) had to keep telling them not to touch anything. On-board sensors detect the approach of multiple Police Directorate Patrol Vehicles.

"Just what I really need… the cops on my tail."

"Don't they know you are a good guy?"

"The good people get killed in this city."

The kids slightly frown and Barbara starts sniffling.

"We'll get her back. I promise you that."

They perk up a little because of his promise.

He flicks open the afterburner cap cover.

"This might get rough… secure the seat-belts and lean back against the seat," recommends the 'Bat'.

There is an audible boom as the afterburner fires rocketing the Tumbler along the road and then up to the highway that runs along the waterfront and towards the Corporate Sector.


The Corporate Sector houses much the Regime's graft network as well as the rackets kept by the Council's assassins and hit men. Greed is what binds loyalty and service within this sector, but these are distortions of what some consider being the true purpose of loyalty and service. One need only look to places like this to find the twisted corners of the world. Not everyone dares to point that out especially not under the threat of death so they hold their tongues, but impatience to remain indifferent is wearing thin for many of these silent objectors.

"You sure that Bat-Freak is going to show?" asks Tony.

"He'll show because we have these two," assures Jack.

"What is the deal with the other woman?" continues Tony.

"She's why the cops will be following the Bat," replies Jack.

"Who is she?"

"Grace Lamont, District Attorney Harvey Dent's fiancée."

"Why did you nab her?"

"See insanity is like this apple… watch…"

Jack drops the apple into the vat. It dissolves instantly and he laughs at the same time.

"That stuff is pretty potent… but what was the point of the apple?"

"Gravity, it is not the fall that kills you. It is the punch line stopper that is the acid."

Jack laughs a bit. Both women can be heard whimpering through their gags. They couldn't see with the blindfolds, but they heard everything Jack just said to Tony. The women's combined body weight is the only thing holding up release switch for the long knife that would slice the cord causing them to fall into the acid. The 'Bat' wouldn't be able to save both is the gamble on their part. Besides what Jack hadn't told Tony was the place was also rigged to explode before midnight. Jack looks at his watches and grins a little wider. It did help that Thorne had paid him to get rid of Chill and now Zucco then his uncle would be next.

There's a muffled explosion below as a black tank looking vehicle rolls in then the 'Bat' pops out of it by way of firing something towards the ceiling. He disappears into the darkness above them.

"That was him right?" chuckles Tony weakly.

"Yes… it is the Batman!" assures Jack.


"Not only did they nab Selina, but Grace too. Means Harvey won't be far behind me," comments Bruce.

"A dual weight trigger, disconnect one, the other drops, leave it to Napier to do that," quips 'Batman'.

"Two women, I have to save both, not just for my sake, but for Harvey's too," claims Bruce.

"How could I save both of them…I am alone against them," says 'Batman'.

"Sever and grab both wires… the gloves can handle the sharpness of the wires," recommends Bruce.

"That's easier said than done."

"No time to waste."

The retractable blade edges in the gauntlets shoot out and 'Batman' descends to cut then grab the wires. It surprisingly works out. The women scream in reaction to the wires snapping yet the sudden stop in their fall leads to whimpering and yelping on their part.

"Nice of you to drop in 'Batman'…. I don't think you can hold those wires indefinitely," implies Tony.

Tony starts firing immediately so in a flurry of motions the 'Bat' rapidly ties the wires together again despite the fact that the wire cuts into his gloves. Next he charges at Tony with his gauntlets raised in front of him. The bullets ricochet off them and off in random directions above Tony. He keeps firing until realizing his gun is empty and he'll have to reload so he starts to run in the other direction while removing the empty gun cartridge.

Someone jumps on 'Batman's' back so he starts pivoting around in an effort to throw the jumper off him. It turns out to be Napier himself and when he finally gets him off Napier pulls out a knife yet instead coming at him he looks to use the blade to cut the wires. 'Batman' quickly flicks out a spinning projectile that has a bat like shape to it. One of the others jokingly called it a batarang, he figures he might as well accept all the bat associations to things down in the Cavern, but otherwise he still has his hands full even against someone like Napier.

The 'batarang' shatters Napier's knife yet somehow he has a second so on instinct a second 'batarang' is thrown the instant 'Batman' spots the second knife yet even though it breaks the blade, Napier still manages to weaken the knot that 'Batman' made moments ago. He breaks into a run towards the wire and as the two cords start to fray apart he grabs both feeling the familiar strain all over again.

"It seems I have you in a bind Bats," snorts Napier.

"For the moment," concedes 'Batman'.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but Dent's with the police detachment coming here."

Napier slips away after activating what looks like a bomb. 'Batman' pulls the cord towards him and attempts to triple knot them instead of double like before. It works so he takes off after Napier despite knowing that Zucco is getting away. It felt annoying having to decide who to go after, but Napier had stood a more irrefutable chance of killing the women. Napier is also a government contracted hitman whereas Zucco is not, but this kind of thinking is getting in the way of catching at least one of them tonight for an attempted double homicide. The third problem is Napier's bomb so he has to deal with that first except being near a bomb with police on their way could look bad for him and they were already on his case earlier tonight.

He goes to the bomb and pries off the panel beneath the timer. He didn't have much time to decide, which wire to cut or even what order to cut them if he had to cut more than one. A few rapid taps of the goggle modes built into the helmet reveal a residual charge around the wires so in rapid fire succession he clips the wire based on the charge intensity. The timer starts counting down faster with each cut, but he believes he'll beat though not sure by how much. Either way once he starts there's no stopping. The constant ticking is grating, but unchangeable so he pushes himself to focus on the wires only. In rapid succession, he cuts them and with only seconds to spare he finds himself face to face with Harvey while holding a wire cutter.

"It appears I owe you for saving them even though their abductors got away," says Dent.

"Saving them and disabling this bomb felt more important than chasing down their abductors," remarks 'Batman'.

"So you have any names of who did this?" asks Dent.

"Jack Napier and Tony Zucco… both have records though the Council has often looked the other way given the service that Napier provides to them. As for Zucco, his uncle is likely to make him fend for himself from now on," answers 'Batman'.

"You have any…"

'Batman' pulls out a compact tape recorder and plays back the phone conversation he had overheard earlier.

"It looks like Zucco clearly implicates himself and Napier in this though I'd suggest you hold onto this for now. I have my suspicions about the Police aside from Gordon. I'd suggest you get going before the others catch up to me. I kind of broke into a run once I heard the screams," continues Dent.

"Be careful of the wire it can cut hands pretty badly with and without gloves."

"Thanks for the warning friend."

"Just get them home."

"Will do," assures Dent.

'Batman' disappears into the darkness and silently leaves the area in the Tumbler.


"Selina and Grace are safe with D.A. Dent and Lieutenant Gordon," promises 'Batman'.

"Why haven't you bandaged your hands… they are cut," pips Barbara.

"Engage auto-pilot," orders 'Batman'.

Dick's face lit up like a Christmas tree while watching the Tumbler drive itself.

"Hand me the med-kit from that compartment Miss Gordon," says 'Batman'.

"Call me Barbara… the whole Miss thing makes me feel old," suggests Barbara.

"As you wish Barbara," responds 'Batman'.

It is something of a detour to get to the Gordon residence, but he felt better leaving them there rather than taking them back to the Cavern and expose his identity to them. He had a feeling Selina might already know given the fact that she had seen the Tumbler as well as the Cavern though he would deal with that if she chose to press the matter. If not than whether or not she learns he is the one under this battle-suit depends on him deciding when to tell her.

The kids scurry over to the front door of the Gordon residence after getting out of the Tumbler. When they look back the Tumbler is already gone yet they didn't hear it leave, which is another feature to the vehicle, the ability to cloak its sound while in motion. They are let inside by Sarah, Barbara's stepmother, but for Barbara she is her mother now as her biological mother had been dead most of her life thanks to her father's partner Flass though Gordon kept this from her at least for now since he himself only recently had become aware of the fact. As to how Gordon had become aware of it given the Directorate's tendency to cover even its most corrupt officers is something of a mystery.

Conversely many wonder why nobody has gone after Gordon since learning this, but that's part nobody says that they know that he knows and because they mistakenly believe themselves safe from the likes of Gordon because he is not the type to go head to head. Maybe he is not, but there is now someone out there that just might do it for the sake of ending their reign over the police that enforces the decadent ways of the Council. Gordon is of the opinion that they are the head of all things wrong with Gotham City, but even cutting off the head wouldn't remake Gotham into something reminiscent of the city it was long ago.


Jim Gordon arrives home to find Sarah waiting up for him and gesturing him to come upstairs where the kids are sleeping though for the life he can't work out how they got here and she seems just as clueless. She thought Selina had dropped them off here after the underground film viewing at least she did until Jim tells her about what happen to Grace and Selina. He also spoke at length about how Harvey found them hanging over the acid vats at Axis Chemicals and that their abductors got away. Harvey spoke of a man in black who had been responsible for saving them and Gordon admits inclination to believe that given the rumors of an intruder at the Stromwell Estate early last night.

"Do you know who the man in black is?" asks Sarah.

"Whoever he is… he saved four lives tonight," responds Jim.

"You think he brought the kids back here after find Selina and Grace?" continues Sarah.

"That would be my guess. Let's just go to bed, I am beat," remarks Jim.

He certainly did look like he had a long night and it is already early morning now anyway.


Alfred is busy attending to Bruce's injuries after his return from last night's excitement.

"Try avoiding gunfire next time and you'll need more durable gloves despite the effectiveness of the gauntlets at deflecting bullets," comments Alfred.

"I didn't have the time to think in that factory. I had to act to save them and if meant injury then I simply had to endure it," counters Bruce.

"I realize that, but somehow if I don't say these things to you, I don't know who will," reminds Alfred.

"It looks like the car held up better than me," notes Bruce.

"A testament to her designer Mr. Cooper no doubt," wagers Alfred.

Bruce pulls a sleeveless under shirt on then puts on a button down shirt. He chooses to wear an extra layer if only to conceal the spot where the bullets had hit the armor causing it to bend back slightly. If he had been any closer to Zucco he might have had to pull bullets out himself, but for now he is glad to not have to put his bullet extraction training to use. However he believes someday he will have to master pulling bullets out of his own body.

"Miss Kyle is waiting for you back at the penthouse and Leslie cannot detain your lady friend's curiosity indefinitely," states Alfred.

"I am already on my way. Besides you have to prepare the meal don't you?" says Bruce.

"Believe me preparing meals is more enjoyable and motivating than you think," adds Alfred.

Together they leave the Cavern via the back road connecting bridge. Alfred had come down here in one of the less luxurious travel cars if only to keep attention away from him self during the trip. One of the last things needed now is to lure the secret police to the 'hideout'.


Zucco left Gotham in less than a week later and after that it had become difficult to track him down since he is undoubtedly using an alias. Nobody could figure out what happen to Napier either.

As a kid he couldn't stop Chill and even now as this 'Batman' he couldn't capture two murderers despite his training, still all their most recent intended victims remain alive thanks to him. Bruce reluctantly accepts saving lives is more important than catching those who take them and such assertions are usually spoken to him by Alfred. He has neither the man power nor the means to wage a one man war against the Council.

"Somebody stop those little thieves!"

He descends to pursue a boy and a girl running into an alleyway. They run as if they are afraid of something or someone though not necessarily him. There is something eerily familiar about the girl so he fires a grappler towards her just after she pulls back a grate to the sewers below. The boy however charges at him and the collision loosens his grip. The girl jumps down into the sewer yet the boy does not follow as he is suddenly aware of who he had just run into in this dark alley.

"You mind explaining what you and she were up to back there?" asks 'Batman'.

"We are not supposed to talk to strangers and you were attacking her," exclaims the boy.

"Who are you?" continues 'Batman'.

"Charlie," answers the boy.

"Who is she?"

"Helena… I think."

"Why and for whom are you stealing for?"

"Keep away Fear… he is Fear."

"Who is fear?"

"He is… he brings it and takes it away… he is fear."

"I don't understand… you are not making much sense."

"I must go. She'll get in trouble if I am not back with her."

"Alright go…"

'Batman' got a sample of Charlie's hair during the boy's charge so at least maybe he could find who he is dealing with and what exactly is going that has Charlie so afraid of Fear.

[+++]

Back at the Cavern, 'Batman' finds Selina there waiting for him. She had him made from the second she saw the Tumbler last month, but then she is an exceptionally intelligent woman so there is no fooling her. She did however agree to keep this discovery to herself because this mission carries the hope of a better Gotham within it.

"Computer, run a chemical and genetic analysis on the hair sample."

"Chemical analysis: trace amounts of hallucinogenic derivatives. Genetic analysis: Match found."

"That explains his fear… show corresponding file to the genetic analysis."

"Identity: Charles Victor Szasz. Residence: Charlton House for Orphans. Current Location: Unknown. He was reported missing by Charlton House superintendent several months ago."

"Show me a list of all missing orphans for the past five years."

"Requested function will require thirty minutes to complete."

Selina notices the concern on her lover's face at the words orphan and missing. Maybe he fears that Dick would be missing or lost in the system if not for him taking the boy after Zucco killed the boy's parents. She had to admit she had grown fond of Dick in so far that in some ways the boy reminds her to a degree of Bruce from the time they first met.

"So someone is using orphans to commit robberies, but why?" asks Selina.

"I wish I knew, but that someone must be stopped especially if what I suspect about Charlie's partner-in-crime is true," answers Bruce.

"What do you suspect?"

"When I went off on my world tour, I eventually found my way to Italy where I was taken in by an old friend of your mother's. Catalina Bertinelli, she had a daughter, Helena, and Helena was orphaned when Steven Mandragora killed the Bertinellis."

"How did Helena survive?"

"Franco hid her from sight, but she saw the whole thing I'd imagine, just like I did in the foyer above ground."

Selina briefly places one of her hands over her mouth.

"No wonder you want to find her. You thought she be safer away from Italy, but it appears bad things rain down on the just and the unjust alike though not as often for the unjust it seems."

"Few realize that better than the people who look at me as some kind of a messiah."

"The resistance movement has been waiting generations for a leader and now many see that leader in you."

"I'm looking to do what my parents could not accomplish in their lifetimes, nothing more, nothing less, I don't need this legend they are starting to attribute to me. I am just a man."

"You are more than just a man. You are the man I love, You are the man who pursues justice, you are the man grown up from the boy that I shared my heart with, and whether you want it or not… being a hero often means being a legend too."

"Quite passionate aren't you?"

She pulls him against her and kisses him roughly. It always made for a release to get lost in the heat of the moment especially in a place that's as chilly as this cavern. The only thing to interrupt that moment is the alert that the missing list is done.

Helena is on that list as Bruce had feared and suspected, but at least now he had a chance to get her away from whoever Charlie is so afraid. The number kids missing from the specified time frame is almost staggering, which only meant he had to liberate them all from the man who uses hallucinogens to make kids and adolescents into thieves at the price of manipulating their fears.

Personnel files from Charlton House reveal that they have several government employees on the staff and any of them could be responsible for aiding the abductors. One of them might actually be this Fear character. He didn't like the idea that was coming to mind on how to track down the hideout being used by Fear to hold the kids while they were not out committing crimes for him. It meant risking another kid's life to find the man responsible for turning dozens of orphans into pickpockets who alternate between fearless and fearful at will. It meant bringing Dick into the mission even though he felt intent on doing this alone plus every other adult present in Dick's life would object to putting Dick's life in danger so soon after preventing Zucco from killing him.

"You are planning something… to liberate those kids from their tormentor aren't you?"

She had gotten remarkably gifted at reading his silences.

"Only an idea though one everyone even I would object to because it endangers lives not in Fear's grip."

"Tell me."

"Dick would go undercover at Charlton and I would track him when Fear's associates abduct him."

"It makes sense, but you are right we would all question your sanity to do that."

"It is that or wait around for more orphan thieves and try to follow them back to Fear without giving myself away."

"I suppose you could ask Dick first… see what he says… and be sure to explain your motivation for asking him."

She already hit upon how he would choose to persuade Dick, but ultimately he wants the decision to be Dick's alone.


Dick's eagerness to put his life on the line for strangers is nothing short of surprise for most of the adults listening nearby. Most of them including Alfred and Leslie made their objections known to Bruce once he told them the plan.

"You really think he understands what you are asking him to do?" asks Leslie.

"I can either wait for another chance encounter with another orphan working for Fear or I can get inside Fear's organization by way of having someone close in age to infiltrate the gang," answers Bruce.

"You could wait."

"I have waited over fifteen years to start taking back the city. I don't like the idea of bringing him into this at his age, but frankly I can't do everything on my own. What happen to Grace and Selina proved that to me."

Gordon joins them.

"I don't know what kind of an effect you had on him or for that matter on Barbara because once Dick started talking about she wanted to go with him. I told her she couldn't then she gave me the look."

Bruce rubs his forehead realizing this hero worship thing is going to their heads. He probably should call the whole thing off and just wait for a chance to nail Fear by himself. At the same time, he is not of the mind to wait because the longer those orphans remain with Fear, the harder it will be to undo the psychological damage he is doing to their bodies and minds by way of drugs.

"When wondering the consequences of this undertaking, I didn't foresee that kids would want to risk their lives because of me. If they should come to harm, I don't know how I would deal with it yet I don't know if its my place to deny them the chance to help others instead of being bystanders."

"I get where you are coming from, but they are kids."

"I couldn't do anything to stop Chill nor could Dick do anything about Zucco. Plus Barbara doesn't know about her mother."

"You can't tell her."

"I won't because that's up to you Jim."

Jim exhales and realizes Sarah is waiting for their return back at home.

As for Bruce, there's the matter that not only is Dick willing to do this, but now Barbara wants in too. There's also the matter of what the drugs could do to them if they are exposed to it. The juxtaposition is dozens of orphans versus the lives of two kids willing to risk their safety for them, a difficult decision.

Jim and Leslie leave him in the sitting room with only his parents' portrait for company.

"What would you do?" whispers Bruce.

He could only imagine their answer, but ultimately whether or not he involves them is still solely on his shoulders.


A/N 1: Bruce finally dons the suit. Plenty of nods to various origins stories, not all of them being Batman's. If it seems disjointed well I did my best to make it linear.

A/N 2: The disappearances of Napier and Zucco are rather sudden, but don't count on them being fully gone, especially not Napier.

A/N 3: As for Charlie and Helena, who they are should be obvious, same goes for Fear. The follow up to this chapter is influenced by the BtAS episode Under-dwellers, but with a serious twist as their keeper is using drugs on his 'children'.