REMARKABLY, ONLY three million world wide died from the incidents resulting from Nyssa madness. The ecological disaster that she had hope would being the path to cleanse the Earth was not as she had wanted. The Justice League led by Aquaman had contained it.
The Zek'nya Crisis was contained in the DMZ. Both camps have agreed to sit together. Peace talks were being brokered by Queen Diana. She hid her broken heart well and buried herself in her work.
The Justice League had announced why the events had transpired. Superman in a live presentation walked everyone through the data, which they did not acknowledged was all compiled by the World's Greatest Detective. Everyone forgot to ask.
THE BATMAN had left detailed case notes regarding his investigation of the Tsunami Incident- which was now renamed Near Apocalypse Event. He had knew of the Weapons grade plutonium from files in the Watchtower. The Dark Knight Detective had traced it to the Quiranian government facility that was destroyed months before. He also linked it to the now-accounted for Black Sea Fleet ships.
Oracle, the Birds of Prey and the Family closed the last case of their mentor.
The Calculator's network was brought down by Oracle and the Birds of Prey.
Jonathan Rodriguez was arrested and appropriately charged.
A global crack down on known League of Assassin cells were undertaken and Nyssa's castle leveled to the ground by a very angry Superman and Justice League.
DICK GRAYSON and the Family and Talia were in the Batcave. Alfred was tasked to play for them, detailed instructions left by Bruce. He had left Dick specific information- to be opened with Alfred, and only Alfred.
As they intently listened to him... he gave them each instructions- last minute lessons, their weakness and how to improve or compensate.
He gave Talia instructions on how to help the family, how to run Wayne Industries. He told her to publicly acknowledge their marriage.
After that, Talia took the younger members of her new family upstairs for some dinner. So Alfred and Dick would have privacy to view the Batman's instructions. They found out it contained detailed notes on how to handle his disappearance. How the world must never know of his activities but he told them, it would be up to them to decide to continue on with the work. How, was up to them to decide he said.
He had left instructions on the future of Wayne Industries and where his stash of good ideas where for the engineers to figure out. They were also to hire Hiro Okumura and give him a pay grade raise as an after thought.
The following morning, news of Bruce Wayne's tragic flight from Calcutta to the United States aboard his private jet shocked the world. Even amidst the trials of the human race had just gone through, he was another victim of the virus that wrecked havoc on every computer system and the same that sent the Russian Nuclear Arms to flying like ghosts.
The Bat-Family had rigged records. "Bruce" forced the flight crew to take a vacation. He wanted to fly alone and the billionaire wanted to return to America as quickly as possible.
He was a good pilot but not the best, Wayne Public Relations announced to the world. He was survived by his sons Richard Grayson and Timothy Drake, his daughter, Cassandra Cain, and his wife, Talia Al Ghul. The latter news that the Billionaire playboy had two adopted sons and an adopted daughter and an ex-wife shocked the world even more than his passing. How could the gossip columnist miss that?
Wayne Industries stock price fell briefly at the news of its poster child's passing but as the news that former LexCorp CEO Talia Al Ghul had billions of her own and resources like Kord at her disposal, merger rumors spread. Talia and the family were masters of manipulation. They all learned from the best it seemed.
Wayne Industries' stock rose ten points at the announcement she would be the new Chair, with Grayson as President and the other son and daughter sitting and actively participating in the board.
Lucious Fox remained as CEO.
Richard Grayson, the oldest of the Wayne heirs vowed that his children would continue the work his father had started. People thought it was just charity work.
SUPERBOY WAS resting in Titan's Tower after the incident in Grandville, Kansas. He was being counseled by the Martian Manhunter. Nobody blamed him for it.
Wonder Girl was supportive all the way. Including Supergirl who hanged around like a big sister of sorts, though they were of the same age.
When Robin walked by only to greet Conner, Cassie and Kara, Wonder Girl excused herself. Conner and Kara nodded. Conner knew why. He understood, he'd be up there with her, if he was able to.
Cassie searched first in Tim's room but found it empty. She had to use the monitoring system to find out the Boy Wonder was up in the roof.
As she entered the roof deck, Cassie wrapped her arms around herself as a cold breeze flew past them. She found Tim in deep thought.
How hard was it to loose so many people he cared about in such short months?
"Tim?" She whispered.
"Hey," was all she got. He didn't even look at her.
Silence. She waited for him to talk.
"I'm fine, Cassie." He turned towards her.
She didn't reply. Cassie hugged him and walked back inside. He'll come around when he's ready to talk. She decided. As she descended down the stairs she spoke to him, "You're not him, Tim. You're friends will be here when you need us."
Robin nodded.
IT WAS a somber mood in the Watchtower. There were services around the planet. But not for the man who single handedly made their victory possible. His actions would never be admitted, publicly or otherwise except perhaps in the shadows of the Watchtower or that cave of his. Even here it was difficult.
They were going to plan for a memorial service for the world's greatest detective, privately of course in the Watchtower. They had to ask Bruce's family about it first.
The was the best of them, in spite of his arrogance, his demanding and frightening nature. He didn't have any powers and yet, he stood toe-to-toe with them. If that wasn't a measure of how great the man was, none of them knew what else was there.
The world marched on, no matter who died be damned.
News of Batman missing in action in Gotham was already spreading throughout the Gotham Underworld. Crime was rising in the City. It was a concern to the Justice League.
The Batman loved his city and challenged any hero who would visit without his invitation. How were they going to help Gotham on their own? They all asked the question though no one voiced their concern.
The Hall of Justice's blast doors parted. The answer to their dilemma walked through the doors.
"J'ONN," Came the dark frightening angry voice of the Batman. "You failed to summon me." He strode in. The Dark Knight could feel their collective shock.
Superman was hearing for traces of lies in his heart like a living polygraph and he was using his X-Ray vision to determine who he was. If he was his best friend alive and well. It was a good thing the cowl was lead-lined.
Plastic Man jumped in fear. The League's faces all painted their surprise. Diana's heart skipped a beat- "Bruce?" She whispered.
The Martian Manhunter would be reading his mind right now. The Justice League files were extensive, the countermeasures were as voluminous. Methods on how to block mental probes in the cave was very educational.
"How?" Superman asked, wide eyed like the rest of them.
The Batman sat on his chair, beside Wonder Woman's as if nothing had happened. He stared at Diana's eyes as he removed the cowl.
"I'm taking over starting today."
It was Dick Grayson still speaking in his mentor's voice with all the arrogance he could muster. He had the voice down and the dark brooding shadow masterfully. Dick had completely immersed himself in the darkness his late mentor cast. He was determined to create his own shadow. Just as quickly, he returned the cowl back.
Dick had debated considerably whether or not to tell them, it was him. What swayed him to do so? It was the Justice League. He owed them to know and besides, how long could he keep up the deception? It was not worthwhile so he just told them. He had better use for his time now.
In characteristic Batman, he impatiently growled. "What do we have on the agenda, J'onn? I have a city to protect."
EACH OF THEM found it difficult to hear their old friend's voice even when he was gone. Arrogant bastard he was most of the time, the Batman always did what needed to be done to protect people. The Justice League returned to business, the League after all always endured no matter the tragedy.
Kal-El found it even more poignant to hear the voice and see the uniform of his friend being used by the son. He had always hoped Dick would escape the darkness. He remembered the young boy when he had visited him after Bruce fired him that one time.
What did Bruce say...? He asked himself. the young man was full of grace. Or something like that. For some reason he couldn't remember exactly what he said.
With Bruce's passing, the younger man allowed himself to wear the darkness like a sleeve.
DIANA'S HEART broke a million times more. It pained Diana to hear his voice. It hurt seeing The Batman alive and Bruce wasn't.
Bruce Wayne was indeed dead. His son was now Batman. She felt nauseous. She didn't know why. At the end of the meeting, she had requested to be placed in reserve status to spend more time in the Island. It was a fib. At least for awhile she said. They all understood. Even Superman did not disagree.
As she left the Watchtower, The Batman had met her in the transport room. He handed her a disc.
"This is for you," The Batman said in his voice. "It was meant for you", he said. "He wanted you to have it."
"What's in it?"
"I don't know." Was all he said as he walked past her.
Bruce was always proud of his son. This one in particular. He did good with him.
"He would be proud you took over for him."
He stopped. "Who?" He glared at her then continued to walk away, never looking back.
I'm so sorry, Diana he thought. His heart was still broken.
I'm so sorry, Dick. The Queen thought. Her heart was broken.
Diana activated the transporter. It would beam her back to Themyscira. She would view the disc there in the privacy of her tears and her grief.
NYSSA CLIMBED out of her pit, madness coursed through her.
"WHAAAAATTT!" Then seething rage as she remembered Bruce Wayne plunging his sword into her chest. How she felt the darkness claim her.
Naked, she attacked the first person she saw. It was her Ubu. She took her rage on him. Then her mind returned. An evil glint sparkled in her eyes. She wrapped her body around her creation, the Ubu and kissed it firmly in the lips, like a long lost lover would. Evil Laughter echoed into the night around her secret base.
Nyssa lived.
IN GOTHAM, Nicole Lee and just moved into the American city. She was determined to forget the last few weeks.
She had lost her husband and children in one morning. She couldn't even forget the look of dread in her husband as he carried their children across the sands...
Nicole wept again. The anguish was too great. Why! She called to God in heaven.In her womb she didn't know, grew a fetus.
TWO BLOCKS away from Nicole Lee's flat, and high above the city, a lone shadow fell like dark ink from Wayne Tower's precipice.
A scream echoed into the night, and police band radios on fire for the past few weeks.
They all wanted to know if he had left the city. Was he dead?
The name 'Batman' was dreaded. The Blue Boys of Gotham were out to shoot to kill any capes. The Batman was on top of that list. Yet in the weeks since he had virtually disappeared, crime rose to an all time high. Commissioner Atkins was pressured to do something about it.
The detectives of MCU had the word on the street. The Batman was no where to be seen.
Was he dead?
Some of them wished he was. Some of them thought without Batman, this would be a far worst city to live in.
The cops where overrun. The lunatics were having a party.
In a dark alley not far from Wayne Tower, a woman shrieked!
"Listen, beautiful, all i want is a peek... What you say?" A man's knife glistening in the darkness of the alley, his eyes spoke of lust as he licked his lips.
A shadow moved. Tom Johns didn't notice. He was too enticed with the beautiful scared woman in front of him. He was drunk with booze, drugs and lust.
Behind the woman, the ink-shadow moved.
Tom Johns' eyes lit up. He dropped his knife. He started to walk back into the busy city street.
The woman was shocked. What was happening?
Then something threw Tom Johns to the ground. IT was a blur and he was dragged past the woman, kicking and screaming into the darkness.
"NNNNOOOOO!" The woman didn't wait, she ran out into the busy well lighted street. Thankful who ever it was, she was safe.
CRIMINALS WERE still a superstitious and cowardly lot. Theatrics and deception were still the best tools to utilize in protecting people. It was time they remembered, the Batman lived. It was time to feel fear again.
"Hello, Tom Johns,"
"Who are you?"
"You've upgraded your profile: petty thief. That was attempted rape." The darkness told him.
He started to stand. Something hit him. He fell again.
"Where are you!" Tom Johns shrieked into the nothingness.
"I'm right here" Empty red eyes looked directly into Tom Johns. "YYoYoYou're suppose to be dead, man!" Fear bled through his eyes.
"Really!" A toothy grin formed and perfect white teeth shown in the darkness. "Who told you I was gone?"
"NNNooo, one" he stuttered.
The shadow grabbed him. He twisted his forearm and broke it in two.
"AAAHHHHH" Johns cried.
"That was for the woman you scared half to death with rape."
He picked the man up as if he was mere trash and they flew. Tom Johns didn't know how. His mind was too scared and the pain that his forearm registered was burning through him.
On the roof, the shadows still hid the dark knight. The Batman grabbed Tom Johns by the foot and hanged him upside down.
"Tell you what, Johns, I'm letting you go. Step out of line and you're going to make me very, very unhappy," The red eyes looked at him and Johns wet himself in fear. "You don't want to make me unhappy, do you?"
The darkness enveloped them again. The line was suddenly cut and they plunged the entire height they climbed just minutes before and as they neared the ground the Batman whispered in a dark frightening voice, "Tell you're friends, I'm back".
The Batman let go of Johns who fell straight for a garbage dump. Theatrics and Deception, they work. The criminals of Gotham would remember fear again.