THE BATCAVE

Damian Kyle was in awe as he perused around the Batcave.

He gawked at the Batmobile or BatTank, either term seemed to suit the massive heavily armored machine. He observed the various paraphernalia accrued throughout the cave. Trophies from the various exploits of Batman had been gathered throughout the years.

There were display cases of the different Batman suits that had been worn throughout the years. There was the one from 1989, 1992, and a few others that had been worn before Bruce had retired his cape and cowl with the one he currently wore now when he had returned as Batman.

Bruce Wayne stood at the center of the cave with his arms crossed. He had changed out of his Batman persona and now wore a long sleeved black shirt and black pants. He watched as his son walked around and examined over everything intently.

"I can't believe my father is the Batman," Damian exclaimed. "Did my mother know?"

Bruce nodded. "Yes, she did. We started out as enemies. She went by the name Catwoman."

Damian's eyes widened in shock. "My mom was Catwoman!? She never told me. Any of it."

"I don't blame her," Bruce said. "It was a very dark time in her life. Both of our lives."

Damian chuckled, "Batman and Catwoman hooked up. What does that make the offspring?"

Bruce smirked. "Therapy waiting to happen."

They heard someone clear their throat and turned to see Vicki Vale descending down the steps into the Batcave.

"Batman and Son!" Vicki announced as she approached. "Never thought I'd hear myself say those words."

"She knows too!" Damian exclaimed. "You really suck at the whole secret identity thing, Bruce."

Bruce snorted and kissed Vicki. "Is everything okay?"

She shook her head. "Harvey Dent, Jr. escaped the hospital. Several guards and hospital workers were killed in the process."

Bruce closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his temples. "His doing?"

"No," Vicki said. "Jason and his goons did the damage before setting Harvey free."

"What the hell is Jason up to?" Bruce wondered.

"Who's Jason?"

Bruce explained. "Jason Todd is my former ward. He was once Robin, my partner. Now he's the one going by the name of The Joker."

Damian sighed. "We're one hell of a dysfunctional family, aren't we?"

Bruce didn't respond as he approached the computer and tried to gather his thoughts. "Carmine Falcone and The Joker working together and now we have to add Two-Face into the mix as well. It's too much for one man to handle."

Damian stepped forward and put his hand on Bruce's shoulder. "You're not just one man anymore. What can I do to help?"

Bruce looked long and hard at his son for a moment. He grabbed a set of papers on the desk and handed them to Damian.

"What's this?" Damian asked.

"My will," Bruce explained. "I had it made up when I found out about you. It names you as my successor and heir to Wayne Enterprises."

Damian was speechless as his mouth hung open in shock.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Damian."

"Perhaps too much." Damian stated. "You don't even really know me."

"I know enough to see that you're a good man. I need to know that their is somebody like you to carry on my legacy when I'm gone."

Vicki interjected at that last statement. "You're talking like you're not going to survive through this, Bruce."

Bruce shrugged. "I don't know if I will, Vicki. Batman's enemies are piling up and I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row should the worse happen."

"That's bullshit," Vicki said angrily. "Nothings going to happen to you, especially not after I just got you back."

Just then the computer shot on and The Joker's grinning face filled the screen.

Bruce had the settings of his computer set to immediately branch off to any news station mentioning Carmine Falcone, The Joker, or Harvey Dent, Jr.

"I'm gonna put my detective skills to good use here and surmise that that's The Joker." Damian said.

Bruce turned up the volume to the computer.

GOTHAM NEWS STATION

The Joker stood in front of the live camera of the News Station. He and his Jokerz goons had taken the station hostage. They had several of the hostages tied up on the floor, looking petrified.

"Good evening, Gothamites!" The Joker spoke into the camera enthusiastically. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to announce this very important message."

He then grabbed the camera and panned it around the entirety of the room, showing the frightened hostages. "One of these poor helpless souls will be murdered every hour until the Batman decides to face me and have a much needed conversation. Don't look for me here at the News Station though, Batsy. That's not where you're going to find me."

He then focused the camera back on his face. "You'll find me at the place where our journey began all those long years ago." He started to cut the camera off and then added, "Oh, and don't forget to be punctual, Batman. In one hour the first of these boringly good citizens will lose their meaningless life. See you soon."

He then turned the camera off.

THE BATCAVE

Bruce Wayne had started donning the Batsuit immediately after The Joker's broadcast had ended. He hadn't said a word as he walked straight to it in it's protective case and starting immediately gearing up. Nothing needed to be said. The Joker had set the bait and he planned to jump right into it, hook line and sinker.

"It's a trap!" Damian declared.

Bruce nodded as he secured the gauntlets on each arm. "Of course it's a trap, Damian. That doesn't matter. There are innocent lives at stake here and I have just under an hour to get there."

"What did he mean by saying meet him at the place where it all began?" Damian asked.

"He's talking about Axis Chemicals." Bruce explained. "That's where I dropped his father into a vat of chemicals. He wants a final confrontation where The Joker first came into existence."

Vicki grabbed a hold of Bruce and pleaded. "Don't go, Bruce. He's too strong for you. We can get the police to go and stop him."

Bruce shook his head and placed his gloved hands to her face. "This is my battle, Vicki. Nobody else's."

"And what good will getting yourself killed accomplish?" Damian asked angrily.

He looked at his son and smiled fondly. "Bruce Wayne can die but Batman never can. One thing about carrying on the Wayne Legacy is that the Batman's Legacy will have to be carried on as well."

Damian stared at his father in shock as tears formed in his eyes. "Let me go in your place then! You've done enough for this city. Let me continue this crusade that you've started. I'll face The Joker. Batman's son versus The Joker's son!"

Bruce donned his cape and cowl and now stood before Damian and Vicki fully garbed as the Batman. "Jason Todd is my failure, son. It's my job to try and make it right."

He then kissed Vicki passionately and whispered. "I'm sorry for all the years that I've wasted when having you by my side all this time could have made me a better man."

Batman then approached the Batmobile.

Damian stopped him before he entered the tank. "Dad!?"

Batman looked back at him.

Damian fought for the right words to say. "I… I was wrong about you. All the years that I've known that you were my father... I just assumed you were an arrogant self absorbed playboy. I want you to know that...that I'm damn proud to be your son."

Batman smiled and entered the Batmobile. The engine roared to life and was soon speeding out of the Batcave.

Damian and Vicki stared after the Batmobile until it was long out of sight.

Vicki looked at Damian. "Bruce Wayne is a damned stubborn man and of course he'd refuse your help. That doesn't mean you have to listen though. You're stubborn too, I'd wager. Why not be a rebellious son and go help your father in this fight."

Damian stared at her for a moment and then smiled widely. "You're going to be a good step mom. I can tell."