A limousine made its way down the hill, one would be able to see the beach, and the ocean beyond, its waves cresting and breaking against the Gotham shore.

The limo came to a stop about thirty feet from the water. If there were witnesses around, they would see the Mayor of Gotham Hugo Strange step out the limo. He was carrying another man over his shoulder, unconscious, gagged, and bound.

As Hugo carried the man over to the water, he stopped for a moment to speak with his driver.

"Turn it around and face the other way. If you try to leave without me, I'll see to it that you have a cell in the deepest part of Arkham. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly, sir."

The driver moved, the limo began to turn the opposite direction. Hugo grunted as he continued towards the ocean, hauling the still-unconscious man with him.

The driver sat still, facing away from the beach and listening to the faint sounds of the waves. He heard Hugo take a few steps into the water, and then, a larger splash as something emerged from the sea.

The Mayor began to mutter in conversation with someone. But as far as the driver knew, there was no one else around. He couldn't make out any words that were being spoken, but he heard low, grunting replies from whoever Hugo was talking to. Another splash was heard, then quiet footsteps heading back towards the limo.

Hugo had returned, but he was no longer carrying his human burden. Instead, he was holding eight or nine pieces of what looked like gold. He climbed into the back of the limo once more.

"Let's go," he said.

The driver started the Limo, and began to head back towards town.

The marketplace in Gotham had dwindled quite a bit ever since Metropolis had cut off all trade with them. Where there were once dozens upon dozens of merchants that could be found selling their wares, there was now merely a handful. As it turned out, Metropolis was the only remaining trade partner with Gotham, and after the Mayor's foolish actions against the Mayor of Metropolis, all ties between them were severed, and Gotham began to suffer great economic hardship.

As the citizens mingled about and checked out the few booths and vendors, they all heard the clanging of a small bell. People looked in the direction of the town square, and they saw the police commissioner Jim Gordon.

"Ok ok, can i have everyone's attention"

Now, all eyes were on commissioner Gordon.

"As decreed by our Mayor Doctor Hugo Strange, henceforth all food will be rationed by an additional five percent. Additionally, water rations will now only be distributed on Tuesdays and Saturdays."

A few quiet groans could be heard from the people in response to the bad news; they already had barely enough to eat, and as Gotham was surrounded by ocean, freshwater was scarce.

A rotund man from the crowd, who had had quite enough, spoke up, his face red with anger.

"Oi! Why don't you tell the Mayor that if he wants us all to starve, he can go fu-"

Three police officers came out of nowhere. They tackled him to the ground, and began to beat him with their clubs. It took them four blows to render the man unconscious, and a gun shot from Gordon to kill him.

The rest of the citizens went about their business. Most of them had adjusted to the new laws.

-Metropolis-

Kirk Langstrom sat in the study of the justice league tower, absentmindedly sipping at some blood, The Batman was thinking to himself. Bekka sat in a chair at the main table along with Lex Luthor

Hernan sat back in his lounge, the news was on like always, " Hey Kirk its at Vickie chick again" Hernan called getting Batman's attention. The news report was about the Gotham's slow economic demise. Hernan looked to his right, at the window. Past the paned glass, he could see past the city, the beach, and then the sea and Gotham.

The waves were unusually large today.