PhineasFlash25's
THE DARK KNIGHT
STRIKES AGAIN!
A Fanfiction by PhineasFlash25
Disclaimer: I don't own The Dark Knight Strikes Again, The Dark Knight Returns, or the DC Universe. This is a fanfiction so PLEASE DON'T SUE ME.
After reading the actual sequel to Frank Miller's more acclaimed The Dark Knight Returns, I concluded that The Dark Knight Strikes Again had a lot of potential, and some genuinely cool ideas going for it. The basic premise of the novel (Lex Luthor having taken over the world, and DKR Batman must reunite his old superhero allies to stage a revolution) is a very cool premise. It's the EXECUTION of the premise, and all these little choices Frank Miller made throughout (plus the crazy art) that threw me and a whole bunch of other people off.
So, I've decided to write my own fanfic version of The Dark Knight Strikes Again. I hope you enjoy it. :)
"I spent ten years, searching for a good death, but this…
This will be a good Life…
… Good enough…"
- Bruce Wayne
Chapter 1:
Carrie Kelly briefly wondered how she ever got here. Ten years ago, she was trapped in a small, putrid apartment, with two pathetic, lousy excuses for parents. All they ever did was sit their fat behinds on the sofa, complain about whatever's on the news, and burn their gray-matter away with those street drugs. Did they even miss her? Did they even know she was missing? Did they even remember she existed? Carrie promised herself long ago that if SHE ever had children, she would at LEAST give them the time of day.
Ten years ago, she was going to the cheapest of schools, learning things she knew she would just forget over summer and never need again. Back then, she and her friend, Michelle, were always studying together, desperate to not fall behind in algebra, and never had time to just relax. Every day after school, she'd rush back to the apartment as fast as possible. It was a long run home, but she never took the subway. And during the summer, she stayed indoors, but not to avoid the heat…
Ten years ago, if you asked her what she would do and where she'd go after she graduated, her answer would always be the same: leave Gotham-City, and never, EVER come back.
Ten years ago, Gotham-City was the worst place in America you could possibly be. In a city already notorious for having a strong, tenacious criminal element, crime rates were at an all-time high. Every day, people were stabbed to death and robbed in the subways. Every night, muggers and rapists stalked the streets.
Ten years ago, the people of Gotham were terrorized and attacked by the Mutant-Gang. Hundreds of sadistic teenagers, running rampant through the city and preying on the innocent. Stealing, raping, and killing in the name of a monster of a man, the Mutant Leader responsible for so much fear and violence.
Ten years ago, Gotham was at it's lowest point. Nobody was safe, and nobody dared stand up for the innocent and helpless. It was a city devoid of hope, crippled by indifference, and ruled by evil.
But then the Dark Knight returned, and that all changed.
Just shortly after Carrie had been born, the champions of the world were betrayed by those they swore to protect and serve. The ungrateful and envious masses blamed them for things they had no control over, criticized them for standing for what's right instead of what's popular, and in the end, the heroes lost. The American government demanded they either sign up to be super-soldiers, to fight their wars for them, or retire and never be heard from again.
One of those heroes that retired was the Batman. The Dark Knight, a notorious vigilante who prowled the streets and rooftops of Gotham-City, protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty. With the guise and iconography of a bat, and the skills and arsenal of a one-man-army, he struck fear into the hearts of criminals, but unfortunately, in the people as well. He upset and angered too many people. They called him a lunatic, a fascist, a terrorist, and much more. When the Batman retired, people believed Gotham would be better off without him.
They were wrong.
In his absence, Gotham descended back to the lawless cesspool of a city that it used to be, infested with crime and corruption more than ever before. And so, the Batman came back to set things right. He destroyed the Mutant Gang, defeating and humiliating their leader, stopping crime dead in its tracks. Many citizens, including Carrie herself, were relieved and grateful for the Batman's heroism. But the authorities were a much different story.
The police, the Mayor, and the rest of those in power were embarrassed by the actions of the Batman. Where they failed, he succeeded. When the authorities couldn't keep crime in check at all, Batman sent criminals running scared. When a country-wide blackout caused mass panic, riots, looting, and more, Batman imposed martial-law, and for a time made Gotham the safest city in America. They wanted Batman dead.
After receiving countless angry letters asking for the Batman's arrest, and the public outraged over the continuous governmental blunders, the President of the United States could no longer ignore it. He decided to send America's greatest hero to put a stop to the caped crusader… Superman.
Superman, the most powerful and righteous superhero of them all, had reluctantly agreed to the American government's demands, back when the Metahuman Registration and Licensing Act was passed. The deal was that Superman had to reveal his secret identity, agree to serve America's interests when called upon, and act with complete invisibility, and in return, he can continue his hero-work with the government's consent. His latest assignment was to bring in his old friend.
And after a final, epic duel between the World's Finest, The Dark Knight at last died… Or so everybody thought.
Now, Carrie Kelly was down in the Cave… the dark, endless cave with swarms of chattering Gotham-Ghost Bats, a species unique to Gotham. The cave with layers upon layers of shadows, and only the faintest of light coming from the pale-blue fluorescent lamps lining the dark gray stone walls. It was a massive labyrinth of grottos, tunnels, and catacombs running beneath the city, silent and shut off from the surface world. Perfect for traversing Gotham unseen and unheard, hidden beneath people's very feet. Perfect for watching over them like silent ghosts, like a legion of guardian angels.
Looming before Carrie was the new Batcomputer. The nerve-center of their entire operation. Three widescreen monitors lit the room. Beneath them, a large keypad, dozens of extra buttons, levers and switches, lights blinking blue and red and yellow. Surround-sound speakers, massive databanks and memory-drives, and the most advanced AI software available, it was the most advanced computer within a thousand miles. The monitor on the left displayed security-footage, stats, their operation schedule, and all data relating to their vigilante-organization and secret HQ. The right monitor showed internet files, public records, Television networks, national government databases, and satellite images and maps. The monitor in the middle, displayed footage from hundreds of security cameras hidden throughout the city, as well as footage from the standard-issue bodycams on her troops. NOTHING happened in Gotham-City without their notice.
Before, the Batman ran across rooftops alone, prowled the streets in his Batmobile, and operated rather openly. But today, things must be done differently. More quietly. It's like Oliver, that strange old man with the missing left-arm once said:
"Sure, you play it mysterious, but it's a noisy kind of mysterious. You draw too much attention to yourself. Always have. You, Bruce… Man, you they have to kill."
But now, after faking his death and going underground, their operation is a much quieter kind of mysterious. Invisible. Before, the Batman's activities were loud and open, drawing both the attention and the hate of the people and authorities. But you can't hate someone or something if you don't know it even exists. Ignorance is bliss.
Since going underground, Batman and young Carrie Kelly, formerly known as Robin, now going by the call sign Batgirl, have raised a small army of vigilantes, working from the shadows, keeping Gotham safe. Dozens of promising young men, many of which were once members of the notorious Mutant Gang, now pledge their lives to learning and following the ways of the Batman. They travel through the cave tunnels under Gotham, and seek out crimes in progress. They move in, they strike hard, and they vanish without a trace.
As Carrie watched the center monitor of the Batcomputer, overseeing their latest mission, her mind briefly wondered off again. Batman, their commander-in-chief, had recently left Gotham-City, and had trusted her to keep an eye on things while he was gone. She was in charge now, and she did not intend to disappoint.
"Batgirl!"
It was Lieutenant Victor Kowalski, the field leader of the current mission on the Batcomputer's encrypted radio comms.
"Status report, Soldier."
"We got a location. It's Arkham Asylum!"