ULTIMATE DC and YoungD16 Presents…

ULTIMATE Batman

RECAP: After being shot and slowly coming to his senses Bruce Wayne realizes that he must change. The eighteen year old has chosen a life dedicated to the well-being of his city. Now Bruce must prove himself to the people of Gotham starting from rock bottom and what better place to start than Gotham's grimy docks. Bruce must train himself in order for him to even stand a chance against the reigning champion of "the CELL", KILLER CROC…

Case 3: Rock Bottom

The evening sky is smothered in a very toxic gas coming from the factories that once belong to Bruce. He took a deep breath and breathed in the impure air that he knew so well. Going to a place with any other type of air might make him sick, he had been in Gotham all his life it seemed and never once complained about the smells coming from the streets and factories.

Sweat and blood were the major components of the smell that lingered throughout WayneTech factories in the industrial area of Gotham. The lives of the workers must have been rough. Day in and day out people go to work in order to support themselves let alone a family, some people work two to three jobs to get a portion of the bills paid. Taxation is killing these people, if not that then the crime that goes on in the streets of Gotham.

Bruce had been aware of some of the poverty that Gotham was responsible for but how much of that poverty was caused by his father and his father's empire was oblivious to him. "I want to help people, Alfred, but all I've done is proven I'm not trust worthy…" Bruce had said those exact words not knowing how right he was. The people of Gotham rich and poor lost trust in Bruce Wayne and it'll take time before they can regain trust in him.

Alfred had told Bruce to change his appearance before he goes out into the world. The short black hair that Bruce had sported for so long was cut even shorter, almost bald. Bruce also had to let his facial hair grow a little so he wouldn't be recognized immediately. Bruce wasn't particularly pale but he was told that a tan wouldn't hurt. Bruce was also skinny for his age, not that was bad, but he needed to beef up if he was going to challenge the Croc in two days.

"Alfred, it's been fun trying to look different and all but someone is bound to recognize me no matter what."

"Not at first, how else do you think fugitives are so hard to find at first? Now I have something for you."

Alfred went to the closet he had retrieved the poster from. He returned with a gadget of some sort and went to his table.

"I'm working on a walky talky system."

"Thanks but I do have a cellphone you know."

"One that any phone operator can trace remember the Jokers could still be looking for you. Not that they're your main concern now that the city is looking for you."

"Okay you win."

Alfred finished what he was doing and walked over to Bruce. He handed Bruce an earpiece.

"We'll use these to communicate throughout Gotham. All you have to do is speak loud enough so that I can hear you through this piece attached to your shirt."

Alfred handed Bruce another piece to attach to his shirt.

"We'll use these when you're fighting the Killer Croc Friday."

"Wait isn't that cheating?"

"We can't afford to lose there's too much money at stake, besides it's only cheating if you get caught. Which you won't, trust me."

"Now what?"

"Let's get you out of these clothes and into something more suitable for boxing."

"Boxing?"

"Mr. Hart, someone here to see you sir."

"Bring them in."

A woman walked in and by the looks of her she was a reporter or detective. Gotham's Finest were everywhere since the "mysterious" murders of five chairmen of the WayneTech Foundation, they asked everyone who was anyone questions.

"Quite the place you got here." the woman said as she gazed at the large room.

"Well a CEO had to have his space it's a key component to success."

"You don't seem at all that saddened by the deaths of fellow members of your company, that's a little odd." the reporter jumped right into the job.

"I don't see the point in grieving; it only pressures you to think about the tragedy that happened. By not thinking about it I can focus on what needs to be done in my city. Grieving is a distraction. Now anymore questions Miss…?

"Gordon, Barbra Gordon, I work for the Gotham Gazette. I didn't mean to be rude."

Gordon? Are you by chance related to a Commissioner Gordon of the police department?"

"Yes, that would be my grandfather. Now Mr. Hart if you would be so kind as to answer some more questions. I promise it won't take long."

Jack sat down behind his desk; the window behind him gave Barbra a perfect view of the city. It was so beautiful at night, the stars lighting up the sky, the street lights lighting up small parts of the city and the pink smog coming from the factories and chimneys made Gotham seem mystical. Barbra quickly drew her attention to Mr. Hart for her interview.

"What are your feelings on the sudden disappearance of Mr. Wayne? Do you think he's responsible for all this?"

Jack was silent, his mind was floating somewhere else, but it was there enough to answer the question.

"I'm shocked, didn't know Bruce had it out for anyone who disagreed with him."

"Disagreed? Was there some sort of agreement before these murders?"

"Hard to say, Bruce's temper was always on and off. To interpret his behavior you would have to be Bruce Wayne himself."

Barbra scribbled every word on her notepad as Jack went into Bruce's erratic behavior and how he himself tried to mentor the boy ever since he was found by the police.

"Mr. Hart, I'm not sure if you're aware of this but there's been a breakthrough in the case. Forensics found something very interesting in all five victims. The last thing that a person sees before they die is in someway recorded into your eyes, well the forensics department found out that all five people killed were in fact killed by the same person. It had been questioned whether the murderer had accomplices."

Jack was silent there was no way they could link him to this crime, he had thoroughly thought out everything.

Barbra pulled out a picture from her pocket.

"Mr. Hart can you in any way identify this man, maybe he works here or perhaps is a friend of all the victims."

Jack looked at the picture, it was fuzzy but clear enough to see that it was a man. A man with a particularly pale face, clown-like, with hair slicked back and bright ruby red lips. Strangely enough, due to the circumstance, the man was smiling exposing pearly white teeth. It indeed was some sort of sick clown man.

"I knew you'd be disturbed by the image but I just wanted to notify you that they know what the killer elegantly looks like. If you can't ID him that's okay."

"I'm sorry Miss Gordon; I've never seen that individual in my life. Why would anyone be so sick as to dress into a clown outfit and kill people?"

"I'm not sure why Mr. Hart but my grandfather and the police department will find this man, I promise you. Good bye."

Miss Gordon left the room, leaving Jack to himself.

"You did it, Jack, why did you do it?" A voice inside of Jack's head kept saying this over and over. The voice was cold and heartless, it was deep and sinister. Jack would have felt guilty if he hadn't immediately recognized the voice inside his head. It was his friend, his good friend, the Joker.

"I did this for us, now we bow down to no one. Gotham is ours for the taking."

Jack took pride in engaging a conversation with his mental friend.

"What about Bruce? He may still be alive?"

"Relax, Joker, he's dead. Besides by this time next week Gotham will want his head."

"Let us hope so."

"The mind is connected to the body and the soul is what essentially drives a person to achieve great things. The mind can be used as a muscle sense it is connected to the body. We train muscles, Bruce, we build up muscles. Make your mind your most deadliest weapon and your body second best."

Bruce had endured hours and hours of pep talk from Alfed but he didn't see the point. Bruce had seen the picture of Killer Croc and Bruce was going to have to be Superman and He-Man combined to just to look at him without pissing in his shorts. Bruce had pumped iron for a good three hours tiring his arms and chest. Alfred thought it would be a good idea to strengthen the mind.

"Knowledge will be your greatest asset."

Bruce was schooled in the art of combat by Alfred in the past, but it was time to take an advanced course of studies. Alfred did not hold back his skills against Bruce and neither did Bruce. Learning from every wrong move Bruce took control of the match between himself and his mentor.

"Take advantage of your emotions! Use them in every strike you make! You can not afford to hold back any when battling your opponent!"

Bruce thought of all the times he was confused and angry. He thought of all the times he was sad and alone, he thought back to the rush of being Batman. Bruce thought of failing his father and he began to become more focused. Every move Bruce made was faster, smarter, and stronger. He was becoming a warrior, not a fighter, bur a warrior. A warrior has to be strong, smart and fast but also had to know when and where to use their skills. Bruce will have to grow as an individual in order to achieve the greatness that he wants.

They stopped the training for now. The fight against the Killer Croc was only a day away now, would Bruce be ready? Or will the Croc tear him to shreds?