WAYNE MANOR

The black sedan pulled up in front of Wayne Manor, a massive mansion located on the outskirts of Gotham City. It was an old place built back in the nineteenth century. The lawn and foundation looked like it hadn't been attended to in quite some time.

Mayor Harvey Dent stepped out of the back of the sedan. He observed the poor condition of the place and sighed. He hadn't been there for a very long time but it had once been a prestigious place that had hosted great parties and charity events. Those great days were clearly gone.

Harvey motioned for his driver and bodyguard to remain in the sedan as he made his way to the large double doors of Wayne Manor. He pressed the door bell button and wasn't shocked when it did not work. He proceeded to knock on the door. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a video camera slowly rotate in his direction. Someone was watching him.

Harvey knocked again. "Bruce, please come to the door. We need to talk."

There was no answer or any sound of someone approaching the door.

Harvey sighed. "This isn't a request for campaign funding, Bruce. It's just a visit from an old friend. We need to talk...we need to discuss..." Harvey glanced around to make sure nobody was in ear shot before finishing his sentence, "...things pertaining to The Batman."

There was another moment of silence and then he heard a bolt inside slide back and then the double doors slowly opened with a loud almost creepy creak.

Harvey cautiously entered and observed the interior of the mansion. It just so happened that the interior was just as unimpressive as the exterior. It was very dusty inside and garbage was recklessly strewn about.

Bruce Wayne came from around the corner wearing a red robe and drinking from a glass of what appeared to be scotch. It had been years since Harvey had seen him and the man had clearly aged extensively in the years since they'd last met. He had many more wrinkles on his visage, his dark hair was peppered with gray, and he had grown a thick bushy mustache.

Harvey smiled. "Nice mustache, Bruce."

Bruce didn't seem amused. "You mentioned Batman. Why?"

Harvey turned around and shut the front double doors. "We can cut the preamble, Bruce. I know you were Batman."

Bruce chugged the rest of his scotch. "I should acknowledge that with an incredulous expression and say you're wrong but instead I'm going to ask what brought you to that conclusion?"

"Gordon and I figured it out years ago," Harvey explained. "Well...we suspected you were Batman would probably be a more accurate way of putting it. Then there was that situation with your ward Jason Todd followed shortly by the disappearance of Robin which was then soon followed by the Batman hanging up his cape and cowl. After all that you then pretty much secluded yourself from the public as well. All signs pointed to Bruce Wayne being Batman."

Harvey noticed a pained look on his face when he had mentioned Jason Todd.

"So you two figured it out years ago. Why wait until now to show up on my doorstep?" Bruce asked.

Harvey scratched the back of his head. "Can I get a drink or something?"

Bruce stared at him for a moment longer and then without saying a word, he headed toward the dining hall.

Harvey followed. "Where's your butler?"

"Alfred died," Bruce simply stated.

"I know but couldn't you hire a new butler?"

"Alfred died." Bruce repeated.

Harvey decided to close his mouth on the subject. So far his visit wasn't being as warmly received as he had hoped.

They were soon in the dining hall and Bruce poured himself and Harvey a glass of scotch. Harvey sipped his scotch and then noticed Bruce was staring at him. It was evident that the billionaire recluse was ready for him to get to the gist of his uninvited visit.

Harvey cleared his throat. "Things are getting bad out there, Bruce."

Bruce took a swig of his drink. "Things have always been bad out there, Harvey."

Harvey shook his head. "We made a difference back then, Bruce. You, me, and the Commissioner turned things around. We brought hope back to this city."

"Hope," Bruce chuckled coldly. "Hope is life's greatest lie. All the things we did amounted to jack shit in the end. We changed nothing."

"The crime rate has escalated to a breaking point. This new Mutant gang is creating chaos in the streets and on top of that I have that crook Falcone trying to become mayor. I can't let that happen. I need your help, Bruce. Gotham needs your help. We need the Batman now, more than ever."

Bruce chugged his scotch. "Batman's dead."

Harvey put his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "I know what I'm asking of you is a lot. I know you've experienced loss and suffering over the years. We all have. You have the ability to resurrect Batman. I know neither of us are young anymore but we can still make a difference. Make a stand with me, Bruce. A stand against corruption."

Bruce looked him in the eyes and coolly said, "Batman is dead."

Harvey sighed and nodded his head in defeat. "I knew it was a long shot coming here. A last ditch effort of a very tired old man."

Harvey gulped the remainder of his scotch and handed the glass to Bruce. "You go on ahead and keep drowning your sorrows in booze, Bruce. Live out the rest of your days as a recluse if you wish. The rest of us will keep fighting to save this city."

Harvey walked down the hall toward the exit and Bruce followed him. Harvey opened the door and then turned back toward him.

"What happened, Bruce? Why did you stop being Batman?"

Bruce looked pained as he thought about Harvey's question. "Batman failed this city and failed those closest to him. Because of that I killed Batman. He no longer exists."

"What are you now?"

Bruce sighed. "Old."

Harvey smiled sympathetically. "Aren't we all, old friend."

As Harvey started to walk out the door Bruce stepped forward, "Harvey..."

Harvey turned back, hopeful. "Yes, Bruce?"

"You were always the true hero. You and Jim both. I was just an angry rich man playing a vigilante."

Harvey shook his head. "None of what we accomplished back then would have been possible without Batman there to help us."

Bruce stared at him unable to say anything. Harvey then shut the door, leaving Bruce alone to ponder over his words.

ARKHAM ASYLUM

Hugo Strange followed the security guard down the long hallway. He looked from cell to cell, admiring his subjects, as they proceeded down the long white hall. It was the floor that housed his most prized possessions. The inmates were held in white padded cells that could be observed through the thick unbreakable glass.

He saw a bald man with a green question mark tattooed on his head standing in one cell. He was Edward Nygma aka The Riddler. He was another colorful villain that Batman had taken down years ago.

The Riddler gave him a devilish look and said, "Riddle me this: What kind of Strange scheme has the good doctor cooked up now?"

Hugo smiled at him and continued on his way. He glanced over at a red haired woman tending to her plants inside her cell. She was Pamela Isley aka Poison Ivy. She was a beautiful specimen whose unique knowledge of plants had nearly brought Gotham to its knees when she planted a poisonous kiss on Harvey Dent at a press conference back when he was still District Attorney. Again Batman had saved the day. She blew him a kiss as he passed her cell. He gave her a reassuring wink.

He finally arrived at the cell he had come down for in the first place. It housed the man who was now calling himself, The Joker. He was sitting on his bunk and staring at them ominously through the glass with a sick demented grin on his face.

The security guard shifted uneasily. "Are you sure about this, Doctor Strange? He doesn't look all that cured to me."

Hugo looked at the guard askance. "Are you questioning my expertise?"

The security guard shrugged. "I'm just saying he doesn't look all that cured to me. He has that sick grin on his face and he's claiming to be that freakazoid that terrorized Gotham thirty years ago. None of that screams being cured of insanity, Doc."

Hugo smiled and gave the man a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Trust me when I say he is completely cured. His claiming to be The Joker is both healthy and therapeutic for him."

The security guard chuckled. "If you say so, Doc." He spoke into his walkie talkie, "Open the cell."

The electronic door opened and Hugo walked inside, feeling completely confident. The guard stayed back at the doorway and watched the patient closely.

Hugo handed The Joker a set of papers. "I need you to sign these and then you're a free man. Completely cured of your insanity and ready to step back out into society."

The Joker smiled, showing his yellow teeth. "Oh goody."

Hugo handed him a pen. "Be sure to sign the papers with your other name, if you please. The state wouldn't recognize a signature that read, The Joker, on it."

The Joker giggled as he signed the papers he'd been handed. He then stood up from his bunk and stretched. "Ah, the stretch of freedom."

The Joker walked to the cell's exit and stood in front of the security guard. He stared at the nervous guard for several seconds. The guard started to sweat profusely and gulped audibly.

"Boo." The Joker simply uttered quietly.

The security guard jumped and stepped out of his way. The Joker laughed and started walking down the long white hall toward the exit. Hugo stepped out of the cell and watched his former patient walk away. He nodded approvingly.

The security guard cleared his throat. "That man ain't cured, Doctor Strange. Not even a little bit."

The security guard left him there to silently watch his most prized patient exit the hallway.

He smiled and quietly said to himself, "Gotham City is about to become a much more interesting place."