Prologue: Passing the Torch
Hey everyone I'm back with a new story. And I give you the 5th Spider-Man Story! I was inspired to do this one based on the new game Gotham Knights. Once I saw it I knew I had to use this. Now to anyone who hasn't played or watched it yet I am issuing a spoiler warning. Shoutout to my buddy kival737101 for helping me come up with this prologue. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves looking at a screen when a message turns on revealing Bruce Wayne.
"If you're watching this…I'm dead." Bruce declares.
In the Batcave, the batmobile was parked ready to head out when suddenly Batman crashes down atop it.
Groaning in pain we see Batman had an arrow in his chest.
As he slowly picked himself off Batman took several deep breaths before pulling it out making him cringe in pain.
"We're done. You and I." A voice calls out.
Jumping down the Unknown Assailant took apart his crossbow for close-range weaponry.
"You're a disappointment. A failure!" Going on the attack, Batman rolls across the batmobile
Readying wrist blades, the Assailant attacks Batman but he blocks them.
Aiming low the attacker cuts off Bruce's utility belt before Batman judo throws the attacker away from him.
"You spent years trying to fight this war and for what? Corruption still flourishes in Gotham. Lurking in every shadow." The assailant said.
"You don't need that mask. I know it's you…Ra's Al Ghul." Batman declares as the assailant took off his mask revealing he was correct.
"You allowed this blasphemy? This sacrilege? Did you think you could keep it from me?" Ra's Al Ghul asks.
Clicking a button on his gauntlet, Batman emits a light blinding Ra's.
Charging in Batman goes on the attack delivering serveal blows.
Making his way to a ladder Bruce tries to get to the upper levels of the cave, but Ra's wouldn't let him get away that easily.
"Parlor tricks will not save Gotham from its reckoning. Not now!" Ra's Al Ghul said grabbing him by the cape.
Jumping off the ladder, Bruce unclips his cape and throws it and Ra's Al Ghul across the room sending him smashing against the Batmobile.
"This city is still under my protection." Batman declares.
Running to a shaft, he clicks a button taking him to an upper level where his computer was set up.
Slowly making his way towards it, Batman takes out a med pack and stabs it against his wounds to heal his injuries.
Once he was healed enough he began typing furiously setting something up.
However, Ra's Al Ghul was far from done.
Taking out a shuriken he threw it at the computer breaking multiple screens.
"No one is coming to help you." Ra's said drawing his sword.
"I'll deal with you myself." Batman said when he heard a beeping noise.
Turning around he realized all the shurikens were blinking as they exploded sending him towards Ra's.
Swinging his sword he attempted to slice Batman in half but at the last second he dodges.
Grabbing a cable, Batman swings around and delivers a powerful double kick knocking Ra's off balance.
Moving in Batman delivers a series of blows preventing Ra's from hitting him with his sword.
Growling Ra's pushes back sending him and Batman crashing through glass revealing several antique weapons.
"You should know by now you cannot defeat me. I am ETERNAL!" Ra's roars.
Quickly grabbing a shield, Batman tries to deflect the attack but Ra's slices it in half.
Throwing it at him, Batman grabs a spear off the wall and attacks deflecting Ras' attacks.
Pushing back Batman whacks Ra's Al Ghul multiple times before his spear was sliced in half.
Grabbing Batman, Ra's throws him across the room knocking him down a level along with a battle axe.
"Did you ever understand the honor I granted you?" Jumping down, Ra's slams his sword down but Bruce blocks it with the axe.
Pushing back Bruce knocks the sword out of his hand and deals several powerful strikes.
Knocking Ra's to the ground he quickly grabs his sword just as Batman attacks shattering the axe to pieces.
Without a weapon, Batman struggles as Ra's pushes his sword closer towards him.
"I made you my heir! With the Lazarus Pit you might have survived even this!" Ra's said.
"Unlike you I'm not afraid of dying." Batman twists the angle allowing the sword to impale him through the chest. "I'd rather keep my humanity."
With his weapon trapped Batman nailed Ra's with a blow to the end making him collapse to the ground and his sword to plummet into the caves below.
As Batman made his escape, Ra's eyes began to glow.
Making his way to the top floor of the Batcave, Bruce took off his mask, one of his gloves and chest pads revealing several wounds all over his chest and a cut across his face.
Leaning against a wall, Bruce tried to catch his breath when he noticed a piece of clothing next to him.
Slowly stepping back Bruce sees 5 suits hanging in 5 glass containers: Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, Robin and Spider-Man.
Smiling Bruce looked at each one of them with a sense of pride on his face. Each one of them represented a person. Someone whom he had found and taken under his wing. At the time Bruce thought he was just helping them get back on their feet, but it became so much more.
Looking at Nightwing's suit, Bruce remembers his first student. Dick Grayson.
Dick's parents the Flying Graysons were killed when a mobster named Tony Zucco sabotaged their big finale leaving Dick an orphan. It was at that moment that Bruce began to notice there were people out there just like him, and he didn't want more of him out there.
Flashback:
At the Wayne Manor, Bruce walked in to see a young Dick sitting by the window.
"Hey Dick you doing alright?" Bruce asks walking towards him.
"I'm okay." Dick said looking away.
"Sorry I've been away. I sometimes forget how big and lonely this place is." Bruce said sitting next to him.
"If only I could have stopped him. I saw him coming out of the tent. I knew he didn't belong. I could have done something." Dick said.
"I know. If only I had done something different. If only I could have warned them, but there isn't anything you could have done. Neither of us could have done." Bruce said looking up at a portrait of his parents.
"Your mom and dad?" Dick asks pointing at it and Bruce nods. "Does the hurt ever go away?"
"I wish I could say yes. But I promise you it will get better." Bruce assures.
Breaking into tears Dick hugs him.
Flashback End:
"I could never admit this to your face, but I always admired your loyalty, Dick. Your sense of family." Bruce smiles.
Making his way to the next suit it was Red Hood's. Jason Todd was Bruce's second Robin. After Dick had gotten tired of living in his shadow, he became Nightwing, but thanks to him Bruce had gotten used to having a sidekick at his side. So he kept his open for a new Robin. That's how he found Jason. At first he was up to the task, but then one day Jason had a bad run-in with the Joker. Bruce had tried to save him but he was too late. When he was presumed dead he was actually taken by the League of Shadows and used Ra's Al Ghul's Lazarus Pit to bring him back to life. Back as Red Hood.
It was through Jason that Bruce saw what he could have been if he ever crossed that line. Which made Bruce more determined than ever to help him.
Flashback:
In an abandoned building we see Bruce staring down Jason who had a gun in his hand.
"Jason. I failed you and I'm sorry." Batman said.
However, instead of feeling bad Jason just smirks amused.
"Really? Do you think this is your fault? What because you didn't save me in time? Bruce, I forgive you for not being able to save me, but why on god's green earth is Joker still alive?! Ignoring the horrible things he's done, the graveyard's he's filled, and the people who have suffered because of him. You know I thought I would be the last person you'd ever let him hurt. If it had been you or the others I would have done nothing but search the planet for this piece of garbage and sent him off to hell!" Jason snaps.
"You don't understand. I don't think you've ever understood." Batman said.
"Why? It's too hard for you?" Jason mocks.
"No dammit! It would be too easy. Not a day went by where I wanted to just kill him. Make him suffer for everything he's done, but if I go down that path. If I go into that dark place. I'm not coming back." Bruce said.
"So I did." Jason declares.
"Jason, I can't force you to change, but I know you're better than this. Don't just be a killer. Be more than that." Bruce declares.
Pausing Jason looked at Bruce.
Flashback End:
"The fact that you were able to come back after everything was nothing short of amazing Jason." Bruce said.
Next was the Batgirl suit, this belonged to one of Bruce's most loyal allies, Barbara Gordon.
Daughter of the Police Commissioner James Gordon she longed to help with law enforcement, but her father didn't want that life for her. However, Barbara had other ideas. Joining up with Batman she was able to provide the brains and insight to help them as best they could and quite often also allowed them to have the upper hand against most criminals.
"Your father would be proud of you Barbara." Bruce said.
The 4th suit was Robin's suit, but in this case it was Tim Drake's suit. The third Robin.
When Bruce first met Tim his father was goon working for Two-Face but when his father skipped town they took it out on Tim. Luckily Batman was able to save him before that happened. After helping Tim put a stop to Two-Face and as a result ended up becoming the new Robin.
"You gave me everything you and then you gave me more." Bruce nods.
Coming to the last suit we see it was a red and black suit with web patterns. (Google Superior Spider-Man PS4)
Now this one was an interesting find. Spider-Man was by far a big step away from his usual recruits. His name was Jaden Cooper and unlike Bruce or the others he was the only member of this team with superpowers. In any normal circumstance, Bruce might have tried to find someone else to train but with Jaden, Bruce knew that he had to be the one to train him.
Flashback:
We see Batman atop the rooftops on patrol.
There was a big wrestling match going on at the Gotham Arena.
Slowly getting up Batman was about to go check out another spot when he suddenly heard a gunshot.
"DAD!" A voice yells getting his attention.
Looking down Batman sees a teenage boy with black hair crying as his father died in his arms.
Frowning Batman knew that feeling all too well, but to his surprise something more happened.
Getting up he saw the teenage boy run down the alley as if he was chasing something.
Curious Batman followed after him leading him to an old warehouse where the sound of crashing, screams and punches echoed from inside.
Making his way inside, Bruce saw a figure in a red mask punching a criminal multiple times in the face.
"You're gonna pay for what you did!" He roars throwing him through a glass door.
"P-Please have mercy." The mugger begs struggling to get up.
"Did you show my father mercy?!" He snaps firing webs from devices on his wrist pinning him to the window.
As the light shined down the masked teen ripped the mugger's mask off revealing his face.
"No…not it can't be! It can't!" He panics.
Looking to the window, the teen was about to smash it and let him drop when suddenly a hand stops him.
"Trust me when I say you don't want to do that." Batman said.
"Yes I do. He deserves it. He's a murderer! He has to pay!" He snaps.
"And he will, but the right way. I'll call the Police and have them take this man away." Batman said.
"He doesn't deserve mercy!" He said.
"Whether he does or not if you kill him right now, you're no better than him and if you try to kill him, I will stop you." Batman glares
Flinching the teen slowly backed down.
After the police came to get the mugger, the teen pulled off his mask revealing the boy from the wrestling match.
"Ryan Cooper." Turning around the boy saw Batman approach him. "The man he killed. That was his name. He was your father, wasn't he?"
"It was all my fault." He frowns.
"No it wasn't." Batman said.
"Yes it was. I was in that wrestling event, but the guy in charge screwed me over. When that man robbed him, he ran right past me, but let him to get payback on that asshole. And then he…he shot my dad and stole his car." Breaking down the teen covered his face sobbing. "I wish I never got these stupid powers. Why didn't I listen to him?"
Frowning Bruce knew what he was going through. He was different from the others. He actually had powers, but he didn't know how to use them properly and because of that his own father died in front of him just like Dick and just like him.
"Your name. What is it?" Batman asks.
"Jaden. Jaden Cooper." He declares.
"What was it Jaden? What did your father tell you?" Batman asks.
"With Great Power comes Great Responsibility." Jaden declares.
"Wise words from a wise man. How would you like to be the man he hoped you could become?" Batman asks.
"How do I do that?" Jaden asks.
"Follow me and you'll find out." Batman said walking away.
Slowly Jaden got up and followed after.
Flashback End:
After that day Jaden became the newest recruit of Bruce's team. He was a little different than the other boys. He and Dick ended up becoming rivals in training which helped them push each other past their limits and became the best of friends, Jason found him annoying especially his constant need to make jokes and quips while out in the field but they had their moments, Tim saw Jaden as like fun big brother and as for Barbara well…let's just say those two clicked in a different way.
"You think I look bad Jaden? You should see the other guy." Bruce jokes before smiling. "I took a gamble with you, looks like I won."
For years Bruce thought that he had saved them but looking back he realized they had saved him as well. More times than he could count.
Reaching towards his gauntlet, Bruce input a code causing all the gates to close and release a signal causing all the bats to fly out.
"You'll be dead before they get here." Ra's Al Ghul said making his way back up.
Making his way to the rails, Bruce didn't seem to pay attention.
"Your precious family. I will slaughter them one by one. And when they've drawn their last breaths I will burn this city to the ground." Ra's declares.
With the last of the bats flying out, Bruce slowly turned around to face him.
"You won't get a chance." Bruce clicks a button on his wrist causing the entire cave to detonate around them. "Gotham is their city now!"
With explosions going off all around them Bruce and Ra's were shaken up.
Picking up his Batman mask, Bruce looks to Ra's who was roaring in anger.
As Bruce charged at him multiple memories came back to him.
In one memory, we see Bruce training Tim in Martial arts. Him training Barbara and Jaden in Science and technology experiments, Dick in acrobatic training and even Jason in target practice.
In the next memory, we see Jaden sitting at a table looking at Barbara.
"I don't know if I can do this guys." Jaden gulps.
"Jay you can and you have to." Dick said.
"Yeah what's the worst she can do?" Tim asks.
"Say no." Jaden said.
"Get up there." The boys said pushing her towards her.
Making their way to Bruce, Dick and Tim leaned against the monitors.
"So you think Barbara's gonna be Jaden's girlfriend?" Dick asks.
"Don't care." Bruce said focusing on his work.
"Of course, you don't. No dating for the Batman." Tim said.
Looking over they see Jaden saying something to Barbara and a few seconds later she smiles and gives him a big kiss.
"She said yes." Tim chuckles.
"Good for him." Dick smiles.
Little did they know Bruce had a little smile on his face happy for them.
In the next, we see Bruce walking down the hall of the manor tired from a long day.
"Hmm where is everyone?" Making his way to the main room he turns on the light.
"SURPRISE!" As the light turned on we see Jaden, Barbara, Tim, Dick, Alfred and even Jason with a cake and balloons.
Narrowing his eyes Bruce was not amused.
"Alfred?" Bruce asks.
"They insisted Master Bruce." Alfred said.
"Look we know you're not exactly the biggest fan of birthdays." Dick said.
"But we figured after the trouble we've had these past few days you might be open to it." Tim said.
"Jaden's mom even made you a cake." Barbara said holding it up.
"Bruce you may not like your birthday but we're all very grateful that you were born. You've done a lot for us and this is our way of showing it." Jaden said.
Looking to the corner, Bruce saw Jason nod in agreement with him.
"We're going to need ice cream." Bruce said making them smile.
"Coming right up." Jaden smiles.
"Alfred get the candles ready." Dick said.
Seeing all of them together smiling Bruce had to admit this definitely made him like birthdays.
"So you gonna wish for anything?" Jason asks.
"No. I'm good." Bruce shrugs.
In the final memory we see Batman standing atop a rooftop when he was joined by Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Spider-Man and Red Hood.
As the 6 of them looked down they all jumped off the roof and swung into action.
Zooming out Bruce and Ra's pull back their fists.
'Goodbye.' Bruce thought as the entire place came down on them.
A half hour later, flames and smoke filled the sky near the Wayne manor.
Swinging in, Spider-Man lands atop the area where the Batcave used to be.
"No…it can't be." Spider-Man said speechless.
Running up behind him, Batgirl, Robin, Red Hood and Nightwing all have the same look of shock and worry.
Making their way down, Bruce's Gauntlet blinked red sending a transmission. Code Black.
Picking the gauntlet up, Batgirl looks around for any sign of him.
"Where's the rest of him?" Red Hood asks.
"Look." Robin points.
On some chunks of stone we see blood.
Fearing the worst, they looked for any sign of Bruce.
"There!" Nightwing points revealing Bruce's arm still holding the Batman mask trapped under rubble.
Running ahead, Spider-Man lifts the rubble off and they look in horror as Bruce's dead body laid before them.
"No…not again." Spider-Man chokes.
"No!" Robin yells.
He tries to run to him, but Red Hood stops him trying to calm him down.
Slowly bending down, Nightwing closes Bruce's eyes.
"A moment of silence…to honor our fallen." Nightwing said.
Frowning the 5 heroes bent down in respect before picking Bruce up and carrying him away.
Gotham has lost a hero, but they have lost so much more.