Chapter 6: A Visit from Batman

Bruce was at his office in the headquarters of Wayne Enterprises, which had become the capital of charitable businesses in all of Gotham City. He looked over his employee files, observed the progress of the hantavirus vaccine project, handled the tax forms for Wayne Enterprises' assets and expenses, and then took a stroll through the tower to spend time getting to know his employees. When he was in the break room, Lucius Fox came to greet him with a smile of intrigue.

"Bruce, you are gonna love this," he said as he turned on the break room television to Gotham TV News. "There's a new story in Gotham and the whole city is raving about it."

Bruce turned his attention to the television and saw the lovely face of Vicki Vale once more. She was down at Gotham Harbor where he had taken down Carmine Falcone's illegal drug operation, and that was the story she was covering at the moment.

"Gotham Police Department has stumbled upon a shocking new surprise in the criminal underworld," Vicki was saying. "However, this surprise is one that has Gotham citizens cheering on one hand and practically raving against the mobsters and hustlers on the other. At nine-thirty in the evening, police detective Arnold Flass was found tied to a streetlight with steel cables following a surprise attack from an unidentified assailant who caught associates of mob boss Carmine Falcone in the act of smuggling illegal drugs stowed in stuffed animals. The Roman's gangsters have not only confessed to the crime but have given loyal police officers the information that Flass had been assisting in Falcone's criminal operations for payment, and the officer in question is being held on charges of corruption."

Bruce's employees were listening raptly to Vicki's report of the events that had transpired, but none of them were prepared for what the red-haired reporter said next.

"In related news, Commissioner Gilian Loeb was found unconscious at the mansion of Mr. Falcone and tests by doctors and forensic scientists have confirmed that he was attending a dinner whose guest list consisted of several of the most wanted individuals in Gotham City. Falcone was arrested that evening following the interruption of his drug trafficking ring and is awaiting trial alongside Commissioner Loeb. Reports at first were dismissed concerning who or what sabotaged Falcone's criminal operations last night, but there may be confirmation thanks to an eyewitness who has this to say."

Vicki offered her microphone to a middle-aged man who had clearly been living on the streets for a while, and the man said with amazement in his voice, "I saw what got those mugs! I even saw it take down that dirty cop with my own two eyes. It was a bat. I tell you, I saw a huge shadow of a bat!"

Vicki gave a nod to the man and finished her report. "Though only one person claims to have seen this newcomer to crime-fighting, Carmine Falcone's associates who fled from his mob dinner last night have claimed that the same individual crashed their celebration. Though we know nothing about him, it is clear that the criminals of Gotham City have never faced anything as terrifying as this… Batman."

His employees were a little dubious about the authenticity of Vicki's report, though there were some who were relieved to know that someone was standing up to crime in Gotham City when the law couldn't do it alone. Vicki's report also stated that with Loeb awaiting trial, Captain Jim Gordon was a shoe-in to take his place as Commissioner the people wanted a stronger and more incorrupt police force.

Bruce was considering cementing an alliance as Batman with the acting Commissioner Gordon. He was an officer who abided by the law, Bruce knew, and he had been trying to prove that Loeb was unfit for the job legally despite Loeb's threats.

I think it's time for me to suit up again, he thought. Batman has a new addition to his job description.

…

James W. Gordon sat in the office that had belonged to his former superior, his thoughts more jumbled than they had been any other evening. Ever since he joined Gotham's police department, he had never liked Loeb very much. The man was willing to send minimal aid to citizens while sending whole armies of officers against even one lawbreaker, even if it was just a street thug stealing a mouthful of bread. Worse still, Loeb authorized deadly force even if civilians were in danger and was often suspected of assisting Carmine Falcone's mob for payment. Now that Loeb had been apparently caught in the act of attending a mob party hosted by the Roman, there was a high chance that he and Falcone would end up behind bars at Blackgate Penitentiary. However, this Batman who had apparently scared the wits out of Falcone and his ring of criminals was another matter.

"If only I knew his reason for doing this," Gordon sighed. "No one in Gotham has done anything this big against crime in our city, not even the mayor."

"You will have the information you ask for, Commissioner," came a voice from the shadows.

Jim Gordon jumped at the sound and went for his police baton. He held it with both hands and called, "Who's there?"

"Calm yourself, Jim," the voice replied. "I don't harm those who live to uphold the law."

Out from a shadowy corner of the room came a grim, forbidding figure, clad all in gray with a black cape streaming behind him and only his white eyes visible in the gloom. As he stepped into the moonlight, Gordon could see the stranger's bat-like cowl and the bat symbol on his uniform's chest.

"You?" Gordon gasped. "How did you get in here?"

"I can avoid being seen if I want to, but that's beside the point. I'm here to help you, Commissioner. I have the evidence that will prove Loeb's official ties to the Roman."

Gordon kept his baton in hand and said, "You know that vigilante justice is discouraged in American society."

The mysterious Batman gave a dismissive wave of the hand and answered, "Vigilante justice is hardly justice at all, Commissioner. If that was my way of fighting crime, Loeb and Falcone would have been punished as I see fit instead of currently awaiting trial for their crimes. I'm here to preserve the peace, not execute my own brand of justice."

Commissioner Gordon was surprised by the brutal honesty of this shadowy figure. He had been hearing pretty negative comments from his peers, who were certain that Batman would be another problem to worry about, but no dangerous troublemaker would have been so truthful as to say what he had heard.

Batman spoke again and he said, "Tell me, Jim. What do you make of me in terms of handling crime?"

James Gordon was intrigued that a crime-fighter not on the police force would talk so openly to him, and so he obliged. "Well, to start off, you're definitely not a street fighter. You've handled criminals of larger stature than yourself and are able to take down armed criminals with little difficulty. You caught Falcone's drug smugglers in the act and left them for me and my fellow officers to bring them here to police headquarters and left enough evidence to prove their actions, and even when lethal force was used against you, you didn't return it. If you were a member of the police force, I would opt to make you next in command of Gotham P.D. only to me."

"A courteous offer, but I operate best on my own. I do this because making criminals think that I'm not human is meant to warn them that I am not merely fighting crime. I'm making a war against it."

"I can understand why. Crime was so high in this city that people couldn't step outside for fear. Now with Falcone awaiting trial and the people demanding reform, it's only fair to say that Gotham needs a much harder solution and more efficient methods to carry it out."

However, Gordon was still uncertain about trusting this Batman fellow and he inquired, "But who will keep you in line if you're operating outside of the police force?"

"The people will," answered Batman. "As long as the people want me to preserve their safety, I will. If I give them any reason to warrant me a threat to them, I will happily give myself to the mercy of the law. Nevertheless, I will protect their freedom and uphold justice as long as my methods of doing so are necessary and lawful."

Jim Gordon felt a gloved hand shake his own, a sheer sign that Batman was as honest as he was adamant in fighting crime. However, when he looked again, his visitor had vanished as if he had never been there. All he left behind was a stack of papers which Arnold Flass had left in Carmine Falcone's care, all of them covered-up evidence that Gillian Loeb had been working with Falcone behind the public's back.

...

It took fifteen minutes for Batman to go from Gotham P.D. headquarters to the mansion of Hamilton Hill, mayor of Gotham City. He knew that the mayor always had his security guards outside his door and on the balcony of his quarters, so he would need to be as discreet as possible.

When he arrived at the mayor's mansion, Batman snuck inside as the mayor's bodyguards opened the balcony door. Once inside, he locked the door and drew the curtains. He hid in a dark alcove of the room and waited until Mayor Hill came in from his last conference of the evening while his toddler son Jordan Hill was being read to by his mother. As Mayor Hill sat in his armchair by a warm autumn fire, he heard the voice of Batman echo through the room.

"Good evening, Mr. Mayor."

Hamilton Hill jumped in shock as Batman stepped out of his hiding place. He had been rather dismissive of the report Vicki Vale had given concerning the defeat of Carmine Falcone's drug trafficking operations, but seeing the man responsible for single-handedly stopping Falcone's crime ring made him rethink. Still, he was too shocked to give his unexpected visitor a proper greeting and so he barked, "How dare you dishonor the sanctity of my home?!"

"My apologies, Mr. Mayor. But this is the only way I can speak with you alone," Batman replied with utter calmness.

The mayor's anger ebbed away but his displeasure lingered as he resumed his seat. "What do you want with me?" he said coldly.

"Nothing that you can't give," answered Batman. "I'm here to speak to you concerning the recent events that led to Carmine Falcone's downfall."

Mayor Hill's expression softened a bit more. "Go on."

"Mr. Mayor, I know that you and many others in this city will think me an outlaw for dealing vigilante justice. But I have acted so true justice may be carried out in the court of the law."

"And what has that to do with me?" answered the mayor sharply.

"I know that you have been accused of corruption by your critics for the high crime rate in Gotham, but you are able to disprove those accusations," encouraged Batman. "Jim Gordon is a good man, and it's thanks to him that corrupt police officers may soon be removed from their posts in the police department. You can follow his example and root out corruption among city officials who have allowed the criminals of Gotham to grow so strong."

Mayor Hill was suddenly curious as he listened. He asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I believe that at your heart, you're a leader who cares about the city that raised you," replied Batman. "If you can prove that, the city will trust you more."

"What about you?"

Batman gave Mayor Hill a meaningful look and said, "Whether the people of Gotham trust me depends on how I do it. They can view me as what they choose: a hero, a vigilante, a legend, even a nuisance. But I can bear it as long as it's done without interfering with the law."

Mayor Hill would have asked more, but when he had been nodding in consideration, Batman had disappeared from view. However, Hill didn't bother to call security. He had a lot to think about.

GOTHAM COURTHOUSE
MAY 9, 11:30 EDT

The next day was a big day in the primary courthouse of Gotham City. James Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent presented the evidence of Gillian Loeb's dealings with Carmine Falcone's mob, and despite Loeb's insistence that Gordon was slandering him, the jury reviewed the evidence and found that it was legitimate. Arnold Flass even confessed to having Loeb's records of dealing with the mob kept in Falcone's care to ensure the police never found them, and then dozens of Gotham citizens admitted to receiving protection offers and threats to their wellbeing and that of their families.

Carmine Falcone then made an attempt to pay Judge Fremont Harkness to let him and Loeb off, but the man only slapped the dirty mobster with his own briefcase full of money. Judge Harkness was a man who punished criminals with no strings attached and only allowed the innocent to go free, and he had wanted to see the mob bosses in Gotham shut away for good.

"Carmine Falcone, this court finds you in contempt!" he spluttered with fury. "And thanks to Jim Gordon's evidence, which is found to be clear and untampered, the court finds you and Commissioner Gillian Loeb guilty on all counts!"

"You Honor, hear me for…" began Falcone.

"SILENCE!" roared Judge Harkness. "As the evidence is solid, testimonies are clear, and you are found in contempt of court, I sentence you and your lackey Loeb to forty to life in Blackgate Penitentiary!"

As Carmine Falcone and Gillian Loeb were cuffed and led away to be taken to Blackgate Prison, the court cheered as they watched the end of an era of crime in their city. Bruce Wayne was glad to have witnessed it as well, but he would still have more work in the coming weeks to handle as Batman.

A/N: I hope this chapter went over well for you all. Next chapter will be up soon, and then the real fun begins! Stay tuned!