"Oracle? Oracle, are you there?" Bruce tried to contact his trusted assistant. If he had been held captive for several days, Oracle must've been worried sick. Meanwhile, he observed his new surroundings. The city looked like something straight out of a nightmare. Scarecrow's new toxin had devoured Gotham. It had been a good thing the city was already evacuated, or else the victim count would be huge.

"Bruce, dear God, Bruce." Oracle replied. She took a deep breath. "We've,- we've failed. Scarecrow's plan went through. What happened to you?" "I was held hostage by Scarecrow and his new gang. I need to know everything that happened while I was away." "First, we tried contacting you, to no avail though. I called Dick from Blüdhaven and he got here as fast as he could. Cassandra was also happy to lend a hand. I ordered the Batwing to circle the city grounds, trying to find you, but they must've masked it up pretty good." "Riddler must have helped." Batman concluded. Nygma hadn't forgotten the little run-in they had back in Arkham City. Police reports showed that his mental state was rapidly declining. He was obsessed with getting revenge on Batman, rumors indicated that he had even build a robot-like suit in order to kill him. Bruce didn't have the time to track it down. Oracle continued. "Two-face and Penguin united forces. I tried monitoring their activities but there's been so much going on. This is far worse than that earthquake we had, Bruce. I can't reach dad, he's probably busy." Batman couldn't tell Barbara what was really going on, not now.

"Harley Quinn left the group, and is actively fighting forces trying to enter her territory near the Sionis Steel Mill. Other criminals are laying low for now. I don't know how many people are currently under the effect of the fear gas. "

"Thanks Oracle." Batman hang up and contacted Selina to make sure she was alright. Selina explained that she merely activated an alarm before making her exit and was now planning on roaming the city to find 'loot'. "You're afraid, aren't you, my love?" Talia lay a hand on his shoulder. Batman turned around and saw her pale face, her brown hair and her green eyes. "Talia." Bruce had never stopped thinking about her, Arkham City had been her downfall. She had been shot by the Joker. "How?" Talia pointed towards his head. "All in there. Look around, Bruce. This is not the time to be dwelling in memories of the past. This city has fallen, it's up to you to rebuild it. I believe in you. I love you, Bruce." Talia faded away.

Bruce tried to think, think of how to make sense of most of this. The Knight and Scarecrow wanted him to be alive for a reason, combating Quinn's forces couldn't be the only one. There had to be a deeper, more meaningful reason to it. Scarecrow had wanted revenge on both him and Croc for what happened in the Asylum ,did Croc have anything to do with this? Taking a deep breath, Batman had to do what he had always despised from the very beginning of his career. He had to ask for help. "Tim, I'm back in Gotham. No time to talk. I want you to go after Harley Quinn. She's combating the drones flying around and could very well prove to be an ally, thread carefully and thoughtful." Before Tim could reply, Bruce ended the communication and called Dick. "Nightwing, I want you to find out what Penguin and Two-Face are up too. Oracle had a tough time tracking their activities and with the city's current situation I need to know everything that transpires." "Cassandra, I want you to track down Commissioner James Gordon and Officer Cash. They're most likely around the Gardens and are heavily guarded. That should, by now, be no problem for you though."

Batman himself would swing by the GCPD station and see how they were holding up. He would furthermore get to the bottom of the Bane evidence case situation. Who left that Joker CD? How was it recorded? He grabbed his grapnel launcher and grappled on to the roof of a large skyscraper, but just as lightning struck, he could see a silhouette standing on the other end of his rope. The mysterious figure grabbed a knife and sliced the rope. Bruce, already grappling, quickly grabbed one of the ledges of the skyscraper. His cape had already been dipped in fear gas but he quickly made his way up. Looking towards the roof, he could see the figure looking down at him, grinning, before walking away. Having made his way up to the roof, the figure was nowhere to be seen.

Bruce tried to forget about it and made his way to the GCPD.

The station was still the horrible mess it had been when Bruce left. Lights were flickering and bodies were laying everywhere. Remnants of clay were splattered on the walls. Something new had appeared though. A small, leather notebook lay on the floor. Bruce picked it up and started reading.

"March 5th, 7:11 AM

I've come to respect him, his ways and his beliefs. The mere notion of someone trying to save this city had always been ridiculous to me. This city is not worth saving. The criminals that roam in this stinking hellhole are all worthy of only one final punishment, death. He tries to save lives. Lives belonging to likes of psychopath's like the Joker, or mob bosses like Penguin. Does he not see they are not worth saving? Granted, some of them are rather interesting. Joker had been quite open about his way of thinking during our sessions in Arkham and Blackgate. I've come to grow a certain respect for him. This does not, however, change my judgement of him. He, along with every other criminal that I hold responsible for changing the reputation this city once had, deserve to suffer. This includes the Caped Crusader, the poor thing has no idea, but I managed to figure the big puzzle out. I can now say that the mysterious vigilante, the hero Gotham did not earn but received nonetheless, is Bruce Wayne.

Signed,

Hugo Strange"