Batman: The Glove Chapter 1

"Master Bruce?"

Bruce Wayne swung around, recognizing the calm, impenetrable voice of his trusted servant, Alfred. Alfred was holding his costume out on a tray, along with a glass of lemonade.

"Thank you, Alfred. I know, it's time to go. Where's Robin?"

"Master Dick is waiting in the cave. I'll be standing by on the computers. You know what you have to do, no sense in telling you again. Be careful, Master Bruce."

Bruce Wayne allowed himself a slight grin as he left towards the cave, already half-changed, glass of lemonade in hand. "Aren't I always?"

As he watched Bruce disappear into a doorway, Alfred heaved a sigh. Yes, another one of those days. Perhaps he needed that lemonade more than Bruce did. And he could definitely use it spiked.

"It's 'bout time," Robin snorted as Batman entered the cave. "What took you so long?"

"Enough, Robin. We have business to take care of tonight. And it's local, too. No jet. You can use the practice."

Robin sighed as he followed Batman out one of the many hidden entrances from the cave.

OK, let's recap, Batman thought as they swung through Gotham city towards one specific building. How did it all come to this?

In theory it was simple. The Joker and the Riddler had made an alliance, and from there, all Hell broke loose. After all, that was the logical result of those two pairing up for a night on the town. And that's exactly what happened after their night on the town. Only problem was that it had been several successive nights on the town.

And the logical result of that was not only all Hell breaking loose, but all Heaven crumbling down after it. And all Earth blowing up, and all...

But no, that's all that happened. In fact, that wasn't even the cause.

Stop trying to fool yourself, Bruce! He told himself sternly, furiously. It can't change anything that happened...or anything that's going to happen.

A cult had gone crazy downtown, a mysterious glove had resurfaced, a vampire had come to Gotham for a reckoning, and rumors abounded. Rumors tend to abound when several large buildings collapse and burn and kill a hundred or so people, after all.

All of which means this is going to be one interesting night...