A NEW ERA OF GOTHAM CITY...
It was the dawn of a new era for the citizens of Gotham City. A week had passed by since the fall of the Falcone crime organization and a new Mayor was diligently being sought after. Former Commissioner Ellen Yindel was currently being housed in a secure location within Black Gate Prison, awaiting charges for the crimes that she had committed alongside her father.
Arkham Asylum had been nearly burned to the ground after the start of a mysterious fire that had resulted in the deaths of Hugo Strange and Jason Todd aka The Joker. Harvey Dent, Jr. was currently undergoing psychiatric treatment at a secure medical facility that only a handful of people knew the location to.
The people of Gotham City were no longer afraid as they had once been. Most of the criminals, who had preyed on the respectable innocent people who were just trying to survive from one day until the next, had crawled back into their caves. It almost seemed like a decent place for the good decent people to actually come out at night again. It was all because of a certain Dark Knight, who had returned from the shadows, to protect his city once again.
A large crowd of Gothamites had assembled in front of Gotham City Hall as a woman approached the podium. She appeared to be in her early fifties and had red hair that came down to her shoulders, which was streaked with a few gray strands. She was wearing a large brown trench coat and wore rectangular glasses on her face.
Vicki Vale was at the front of the large crowd and she had her camera man zoom in on the lady's approach to the podium.
The middle aged woman cleared her throat before speaking: "Most of you probably do not know who I am. I have not been to Gotham City for many years now. I grew up here, though. My father had been the Commissioner of this city for a very long time. My name is Barbara Gordon and I'm here today to announce that as of right now, I will be the new Commissioner of the GCPD.
"I did not take this promotion because of some childhood fantasy to follow in my father's footsteps. I was a Captain of the Metropolis Police Department and I had grown very fond of my life there. I faced many tragedies while I was a resident of Gotham City and practically moved away from here as soon as I graduated high school. This city is in my blood though and even though it was never an easy thing growing up here, I always admired the sacrifices that my father, James Gordon, was always willing to make in order to ensure the protection of it's citizens.
"When the Mayor of Metropolis, who will be performing double duties as the interim mayor of this city until a new candidate can be voted in, asked me if I'd be willing to become Gotham City's new Commissioner, I immediately knew that it was destined for me to return to the home where I had been born and raised. I did not hesitate when he asked me to take this job and before the day was out, I packed up my belongings and was on the first flight I could find to take on this job.
"I know your faith in the system has been shaken recently and that is understandable. Your former Commissioner had turned out to be nothing more than a down right criminal, but I promise you that I am not Ellen Yindel. The times are changing and we are about to enter into a new era for Gotham City. An era of peace and prosperity."
Vicki Vale raised her hand, trying to get the new Commissioner's attention. Gordon nodded toward her, indicating that she could ask her question. "Yes?"
"Commissioner Gordon," Vicki began. "What is your view on the recent return of the Batman? Are you going to support his crusade against crime or are you planning on carrying on in Yindel's footsteps by assembling a Task Force to bring him in?"
Barbara Gordon smiled. "That is a very good question, Ms. Vale. First and foremost, I plan on undoing everything that Ellen Yindel has set in motion during her brief tenure as Commissioner. Everything she did had nefarious ulterior motives. Those motives ultimately consisted of her aiding and abetting in her father's criminal activities. My father trusted Batman and so do I."
Vicki Vale smiled at this news. She hadn't noticed that Bruce Wayne had made his way to the front of the crowd, standing beside her.
He commented. "Just like old times, huh."
She jumped at the sound of his voice. She glanced at him with a smirk and whispered. "I figured you would be out there standing on a rooftop somewhere, waiting for a criminal to make his move."
Bruce shook his head. "Those days are behind me now, Vicki. It's the Batman's job to protect this city, not mine."
He was still a very battered man from everything that he had gone through during the previous week. His face was still bruised and he was now walking around with a cane. The shock therapy he had endured at the hands of Hugo Strange had left his equilibrium permanently damaged. His balance would never be the same as it once had been and he would always need a cane to get around with now.
Vicki was confused as she quietly stated. "I have no idea what that means, Bruce."
He smiled down at her and then proceeded to kiss her passionately. She was breathless when he finally pulled away from her.
"It means," he began to explain. "Bruce Wayne may not be out there fighting crime anymore, but someone will be. The legacy of Batman lives on through the efforts of another man."
Vicki took a moment to comprehend what he was saying. "So, Damian has decided to continue where his father left off?"
Bruce nodded. "It was his idea, not mine. I had every intention of going back out there and beating up the criminals with my cane."
Vicki laughed at that and then turned her attention back to Commissioner Gordon.
"Mr. Wayne," Barbara announced, "one of our newest mayoral candidates, wishes to say a few words."
Vicki was dumbfounded at learning that Bruce was running for Mayor. She scolded him, "Do you think maybe you could let me in on some of these big decisions you keep making. It'd save me from constantly having dumb expressions on my face."
"Where's the fun in that?" Bruce joked as he made his way up in front of the podium and shook the new Commissioner's hand.
He then looked out over the crowd and spoke into the microphone. "I never thought that a day would come when I would see our city evolve into a place where a family would willingly want to raise their children here. I have lived in Gotham City for all my life and I know all to well about the way it had once been. It was a time when crime ran rampant throughout these streets.
"My parents were killed right in front of me when I was only ten years old. It has recently come to light that their murder had been ordered at the behest of Carmine Falcone and he is finally paying for that sin as well as countless other crimes that he has committed throughout his life time. With Falcone off the streets and a corrupt Commissioner removed from the GCPD to answer for her crimes, a new opportunity has been made possible for our city.
"This is the beginning of a new Gotham City where law and order will prevail over these streets. The road to accomplishing this will not be an easy one. It will take hard work and diligence but if we all come together with this common goal, it will be attainable. The first step to seeing a new Gotham City rise from the ashes of the old one has already been taken. That step is having a Commissioner like Barbara Gordon, whose integrity and moral code mirrors that of her father, the late James Gordon. With her in charge of the GCPD, things will start to change for the better.
"The second step is electing a mayor who loves this city just as much as she does. After careful consideration, I have placed my name in the hat to take over this job if you're willing to have me. I happen to love this city more than life itself and I wish to see it flourish. I have taken certain steps to allow myself to be able to devote my every waking hour to seeing my wish become a reality. My estranged son, Damian Kyle, has recently become a well respected resident of Gotham City and he will soon be replacing me as the CEO of Wayne Enterprises in order to allow me the free time to effectively perform the job as mayor."
One of the reporters that were present, raised their hand. "Is your son, in any way, affiliated with Selina Kyle who was recently revealed to be the daughter of Carmine Falcone?"
Bruce nodded. "Selina Kyle was his mother and she was somebody I very much cared about. My son was also effected by the crimes of this city before he even arrived here. His own grandfather had his mother murdered."
Another reporter spoke up. "Until recently, you have been out of the public domain for several years. You secluded yourself away inside of your mansion with no regard for all of the horrible things that had been happening in this city. Do you really think that people will be able to trust in you as their mayor?"
Bruce pondered over the question for a moment before answering. "I did turn my back on this city for a very long time, I do not deny that. It was a very dark time in my life and I was in a state of apathy."
"So, what changed for you?" The same reporter asked.
"It took the horrible tragedy of losing a dear friend to make me come out of my seclusion. When a great man like Harvey Dent could be so easily murdered in his own home, I knew that one of two things had to happen for me. Either I would stay up there in my mansion and allow my depression to consume the rest of my life, or I would get up off my ass and do something about it. So here I stand, trying to do something about it."
Many people in the crowd applauded Bruce's candor. Vicki Vale stared up at the man standing behind the podium, a man who she so desperately loved, and smiled with pride. Bruce noticed her heartwarming smile and winked at her.
"What would be your first course of action as our mayor?" The first reporter who had spoken, asked.
Bruce Wayne smiled knowingly as he motioned behind himself at a female police officer who was standing beside a large oval object that was covered up by a tarp. "I have already accomplished my first task and it wasn't as your mayor."
Everybody curiously stared at the veiled mysterious object. "With Commissioner Gordon's blessing, I have refurbished a symbol of hope for Gotham City. There is one man out there who has embraced the darkness that has surrounded us for so long and he has committed his life to bringing justice to these streets. Batman has returned and he's here to stay until Gotham City becomes the symbol of peace that it was always meant to be." Bruce then addressed the young officer. "Officer Montoya, would you please do me the honor of uncovering that symbol of hope."
Officer Renee Montoya did as she was asked and pulled the tarp from off of the object, revealing that it was the BatSignal underneath. She pressed a button and the large Bat Symbol illuminated the sky above the crowd and everybody immediately cheered loudly.
It was apparent from everybody's reaction that they were very much impressed with Bruce Wayne's first course of action. Also apparent, chances were looking pretty good that the billionaire socialite was more than likely going to be Gotham City's new Mayor.
While the crowd was staring up at the large Bat Symbol hovering in the sky, their was another figure standing on the ledge of a towering building nearby. The figure was wearing a new version of the Batman suit. The new suit was black with a large red Bat Symbol embroidered across the chest and the mask completely covered the figure's entire face, revealing nothing of the visage held underneath.
Damian Kyle, who unbeknownst to Bruce Wayne, had just put in for a name change and would soon be known as Damian Wayne, stared across at the Bat Symbol, shining brightly in the sky. He was facing his destiny as it literally illuminated the night sky while he stood perched on the ledge of the towering building, feeling completely honored to be tasked with carrying on his father's legacy as the Batman.
THE END