GOTHAM TAVERN

Vicki Vale entered the tavern around 8:00 in the morning.

She needed a serious caffeine fix before tackling her journalistic duties for the day. Not much sleep had been had the previous night as the news had erupted like wildfire of a certain caped individual's reemergence.

She hadn't believed her ears when she had heard the news. The Batman had suddenly come out of retirement. Not only had Batman come out of retirement but on his first night back he had taken down the Mutant Leader and disbanded the Mutant Gang.

The hideous leader known as Killer Croc was also charged in the murder of Harvey and Grace Dent as his DNA was found all over the murder scene. In the span of one solitary night, hope had returned to Gotham City.

She paid for her coffee and started to exit the tavern when a familiar face sitting at a booth in the back caught her attention. She couldn't believe her eyes.

She immediately walked to the booth and exclaimed. "Alexander!"

Her old friend and colleague, Alexander Knox looked up from the paper he was reading. Instant recognition dawned on his features and he grinned like a love torn schoolboy. He stood up and gave her a huge hug.

"Vicki Vale, you are just as beautiful as I remember."

She scoffed as they both took a seat at the booth. "Not likely. Their are a few new wrinkles since the last time we saw each other."

"Well, they suit you."

"So, what brings you back to Gotham?" Vicki asked. "Last I heard you were making it big over in Metropolis. Maybe even a contender for the next Editor-in-chief of the Daily Planet."

Alexander shrugged. "Well my visit is kind of pointless now. I came to do a story on the Mutant Gang and no sooner than I get here and the Mutant Gang is suddenly neutralized."

He showed her the front of the paper he was reading. It had an outdated photo of Batman on it and in bold letters the headline read: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS!

"Kinda coincidental, don't ya think." Alexander surmised. "You're not even back in Gotham for a week and Batman suddenly comes out of retirement."

Vicki smiled. "Most of life is surrounded by coincidence, Alexander Knox. You should know that by now."

Alexander nodded. "True enough. Nevertheless, my visit back here turned out to be worthwhile after all."

"Why's that?"

"Because I got to see you again."

Vicki smiled and placed her hand on his. "It's good to see you too, Alexander. Staying in town for a while?"

Alexander shook his head. "Nah, gotta get back to Metropolis. Besides, something tells me that the story of Batman's return is already gonna be covered by one of the nation's top journalists."

Vicki shook her head. "Not likely. I plan on covering a story on Harvey Dent, Jr. and his sudden campaign for Mayor."

Alexander looked surprised. "Really? You were so taken with the whole Batman story before."

"Alexander, that was thirty years ago." Vicki said. "I'm just glad he's back."

Alexander was silent for a moment as if considering his next words carefully. "Vicki, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course you can."

"I may be completely off point with this but... do you know Batman's true identity?"

"Why do you ask that?" Vicki asked cautiously.

"Back in '89 after Batman saved you from The Joker you seemed to completely lose interest in covering his story. That just never made much sense to me."

Vicki thought about her answer carefully. "Truth is, I fell in love back then and devoted all my attention to that."

Alexander nodded knowingly. "Wayne. He really broke your heart back then, didn't he?"

"It's more complicated than that," Vicki explained. "He was devoted to his work and I was devoted to him. I loved him then and I still love him now."

Alexander grinned. "Another coincidence there also."

"What do you mean?"

"Bruce Wayne spent years secluded up in his manor and again, you've not even been back a week and he's been seen numerous times in public already."

"And what exactly is your point?" Vicki asked, slightly amused.

Alexander shrugged. "No point at all. Just an observation. Vicki Vale has a way of bringing retired men out of retirement."

Vicki laughed and reached across the table to plant a kiss on his cheek. "It's really good seeing you again, Alexander."

GOTHAM CITY HALL

Harvey Dent, Jr. hadn't realized how tedious running for Mayor was going to be. He still couldn't believe he was doing it.

When that criminal Falcone had the audacity to show up at his parent's funeral he had nearly lost it. He had imagined strangling the old bastard until he had drawn his last breath.

Instead he had decided to take the route he knew would make his father proud. Become Mayor in his stead and make sure that a man like Carmine Falcone never did.

Surprisingly, the news of his past hadn't completely sabotaged his campaign. It created a bit of controversy to be sure but he was completely candid about that dark time of his life and the media was eating it up. Some of the opinions were cruel toward him but for the most part the public admired him.

They admired him for stepping up in his father's place. They admired him for having overcome a mental illness and most importantly, they admired him for his bravery in standing up to Carmine Falcone.

So ironically, Falcone's shocking reveal about his past had actually popularized Harvey Jr. to the extinct that the election was almost a sure thing.

In two weeks time he would be Mayor Harvey Dent, Jr.

His secretary stepped inside the office. "Mr. Dent."

"Yes, Ms. Gale?"

"Mr. Wayne is here. He would like to speak with you."

Bruce Wayne? I didn't have any meeting scheduled with him.

"Send him in, Ms. Gale."

A brief moment later, Bruce Wayne entered his office.

Harvey, Jr. was slightly taken aback at the man who entered his office. It wasn't the same world weary man he'd witnessed at his parent's funeral. His complexion had changed and he walked like a man with purpose. Most noticeably of all, his mustache was gone.

Bruce walked over and shook his hand. "Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Dent."

"Come now, Mr. Wayne. For a man who saw me grow up since I was in diapers you can call me Junior."

Bruce nodded. "Fair enough. First of all, I wanted to offer my condolences for your loss. Never got a chance to do that at the funeral the other day."

"Thank you," Harvey, Jr. said. "And on that note I would like to apologize for what I said to you at the funeral."

"No apology necessary," Bruce said. "It was a difficult day and you were grieving. Nobody could blame you for being out of sorts. Especially when a man like Falcone showed up at your parent's funeral."

The mere mention of that name nearly sent Harvey, Jr. to a boiling mad rage. He suppressed his rage and motioned Bruce to have a seat across from his desk.

"So, what brings a philanthropist of your renowned reputation to my office?"

"Well," Bruce began. "I wanted to show my support and help fund your campaign."

Harvey, Jr. was taken aback. "That's very generous of you Bruce but the election is in two weeks and I have it on very good authority that it's a sure thing."

Bruce nodded. "I have no doubt of that but nevertheless I'd still like to show my support."

Harvey, Jr. smiled and extended his hand toward Bruce. "I appreciate your support and will graciously accept."

Bruce shook the proffered hand as he stood up. "Good. Gotham City is lucky to have men like you standing up against the corruption."

"It's an arduous task but somebody has to do it."

As he walked Bruce to the door, he had to ask. "So, can I presume that your days of holding up in that mansion of yours is a thing of the past?"

Bruce stopped at the door and grinned. "Most assuredly."

"Well then," Harvey, Jr. began, "I feel like you should be made aware of something that my office has been investigating for quite some time."

"Oh? Why would I need to be made aware of anything?"

"Because it involves you."

"Me? How so?"

"More accurately it involves your company under the leadership of acting CEO Derek Powers." Harvey, Jr. explained.

"I haven't heard anything new involving my company."

"I wouldn't imagine you would seeing how Powers has been moving it in a direction that is furthest from what you and your father initially intended for Wayne Enterprises."

Bruce was taken by surprise at what he was hearing. He cursed himself for keeping himself secluded from everything for so long. What has that man done with my company, he wondered to himself.

Harvey, Jr. walked over to a filing cabinet and rummaged at the contents within until he found the file he'd been looking for. He brought it over and handed it to Bruce.

"Your company has been dealing in weapons manufacturing and other shady business dealings that I'm certain are not within the legal ramifications."

Bruce perused through the file, growing more and more angry at what he was reading. He looked up at the aspiring Mayor. "Don't worry about this, Junior. This business will be set right today."

Harvey, Jr. smiled. "I have no doubt of that, Mr. Wayne. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Especially after your generous offer of helping to fund my campaign."

Bruce handed the file back toward the younger man, "I appreciate your candor and it's my honor to throw a large portion of my money towards a worthy cause."

Harvey, Jr. waved his hand from the file, "I want be needing that anymore. I know you'll set the record straight at Wayne Enterprises."

With that said, Bruce nodded his thanks and exited the office.

Bruce Wayne had always liked that young man. He had been such a generous boy and had grown into an accomplished District Attorney.

Of course he knew of Junior's past and the struggle he had with his duel identity. He himself had funded his treatment and stood by Harvey throughout all of it.

He could see so much of his late friend in Junior. The thought of Harvey Dent's loss still pained him deeply. Justice may have been brought to the one who murdered him but he knew very well who had initiated it.

Carmine Falcone. And his day was coming. He would make sure of it.

As he approached the front door, Vicki Vale walked through. She still looked as beautiful and determined as ever. He was pleased to see her face light up when she saw him.

"Bruce!"

"Last time I checked," he joked. "We've gotta stop running into each other like this."

Vicki smirked. "It's good to see you back out in the world. And without that God awful mustache!"

Bruce rubbed his bare upper lip, still missing the mustache. "Yeah, I kinda miss it."

"I don't," Vicki said.

She studied him, quizzical. "How are you feeling. Not to sore, I hope."

"I feel like a billion bucks," he announced. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious is all. It turns out that a certain Caped Crusader emerged back from the shadows last night."

Bruce nodded. "I heard."

She stared at him with a knowing smirk. "You look good, Bruce. Be careful out there."

"Thanks and I will." He said. "What brings you to city hall?"

"I'm here to interview the soon to be Mayor. Why are you here?"

"I just left a meeting with him. I'm funding the rest of his campaign."

"That's great. Do you mind if I divulge that in my article."

"Knock yourself out."

She smiled fondly at him. Their was a long silence between them before Bruce decided to take the plunge.

"How would you like to come over for dinner tonight? Invited, this time."

She smiled jokingly. "You gonna clean the place up?"

He chuckled, "Probably not. Guess I might have to hire somebody to get on that."

"How does 6:00 sound?"

"Sounds like a date."

He smiled warmly at her and then started to leave. Before he got far, she spoke again.

"There's a change in the air, Bruce. Can you feel it?"

He looked back at her, askance.

"It's the feel of hope. Batman brought that back for the good citizens of Gotham City."

He nodded and then walked away.

FALCONE ESTATE

Carmine Falcone stared at the large television screen in his office, watching the news. It showed Killer Croc being hauled away in handcuffs by the police. The caption read: THE MUTANT LEADER SUBDUED BY BATMAN!

He was furious. If the ignorant beast started blathering about him to cut some kind of a deal, then everything would be lost.

And how the hell did Batman have anything to do with his apprehension? The vigilante had to be on the high side of sixty years old.

The news switched over to talking about the upcoming election. Support for Harvey Dent, Jr. was high and it looked to be going in his favor.

Falcone angrily switched the television off and sat at his desk. He lit a cigar and took a long drag as he evaluated his options. He felt that he was not out of the game by a long shot.

If they want to play hard ball then I'll just have to play harder."

He picked up the phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, a woman with a Brooklyn accent answered the phone.

"Thank you for calling Arkham Asylum. How may I direct your call?"

"This is Carmine Falcone. I'd like to speak with Dr. Hugo Strange."

"Hold for a moment."

A few brief moments passed before Hugo answered. "Dr. Strange."

"Yes, I have a task for you, Dr. Strange."

"I presume said task will be followed by a hefty sum, Mr. Falcone."

Carmine smiled, "Most definitely."

"Then name it."

"The police have apprehended a man who calls himself Killer Croc. I need him to serve his time at Arkham Asylum as opposed to Blackgate prison."

He could hear Hugo writing something down on the other end of the line.

"I take it after a short stint you'd like Mr. Croc to make a full recovery from his psychosis."

Carmine smiled. "On the contrary I think the only cure for Mr. Croc would be a lobotomy."

He could hear the satisfaction in Hugo Strange's voice. "It will be done as you ask."

"Have a good day, Dr. Strange."

With that, he hung up the phone, completely satisfied with himself.

One problem solved. Now how to solve the other one?

"That was really cold, old man."

Falcone jumped up from his seat, startled as he looked up and saw a man standing in the doorway of his office. The man wore a pronounced purple suit with a white pasty face and ruby red lips. He looked like a clown.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Falcone asked.

The clown like man walked into the office and sat in the chair opposite his desk. "I snuck in like a ninja. Nobody saw me. It's not their fault, actually. I was trained at a young age to evade goons without detection."

He held up a bloody pocket knife. "Except for the one guy, of course. He spotted me and was none too friendly. That's okay though. I added a smile to his throat."

Falcone looked at the bloody knife for a moment before sitting back in his chair all business like. "What can I do for you, Mr..."

"Call me Joker," the clown announced. "And it's not what you can do for me but what I can do for you."

"And what is that, exactly?"

"I know you're lacking in a little muscle since your leading member of the Mutant Gang has been taken down by the Batman. I'm offering my services as his replacement."

"You seem to be well informed about certain things, Mr. Joker."

The Joker shrugged. "I could have been a detective in another life. So how bout it?"

Falcone studied the clown for a few moments. He didn't look like much. He was skinny and wiry but he did appear to have a certain amount of skills. Perhaps he might prove useful.

"You intrigue me but I have to be sure before I feel confident in adding you to my payroll. Would you be interested in proving your worth to me?"

The Joker grinned widely. "Name the task."