A Blast

Gotham City Police Department, Gotham City

2:34 p.m, November 27th

Some mourned the loss of commisioner Jim Gordon. For the few of those in the force who knew him, they knew he would find no peace. Not after this unjust punishment. His pension was cut off under Damien's strict orders and he was given only a day to clear his office. With the blink of an eye his authortity and everything else that went with it was stripped apart. That day was only yesterday, and by now the name of Jim Gordon is only a memory to them. Only the few who worked in the police department for several years under direct command of Jim Gordon understood what was being taken from them. The majority workers of the Gotham Police Department had already grown accustomed to Damien Crest, and they supported him with unbreakable honor. He, with all the money he invested into the police, made them feel appreciated. It made being an honest cop a whole lot easier. And with the additional supply of top grade armor and insurance plan, only a displeased few could find reason to hate their new boss.

Their top inducement against Crest was the Arkham massacre that he along with others, was to be blamed for. He betrayed everything that Jim Gordon had once inspired among the struggling people of Gotham. Jim Gordon showed hope for people, a possiblity at advancement without shifting the golden rules an inch from its table. In the eyes of many, this made the city seem as if an innocent little child trying to gather himself from a tumble. Under Damien's authority, the golden rules were thrown off the table. There was no hope, no reconciliation, most importantly, no leniancy. Criminals were to be punished, but with different grasps. Ever since Damien led the police, there have been more arrest related deaths among potential convicted criminals such as rapists and murderers. People eventually grew to understand this new direction, and cops with lots of steam to let out, took great pleasure in it.

Damien sat in Jim's old office chair, silently, resting his eyes. The phone rang, and Damien broke from his repose and answered it.

"Yes?" he asked.

"She's here," answered Damien's new assistant.

"Excellent," he replied. "Send her in."

As he dropped the phone down, he was somehow reminded of Dina. His new assistant was a man by the name of Arlen Mays who was a Gotham citizen currently in his midtwenties. Unlike Dina, he was not as experienced, therefore not as beneficial. And unlike Dina, he didn't understand Damien. Friends were a luxury he seemed too ashamed to ask for. She was the only one in his life to ever understand that. In fact they both understood each other, which was really the only reason they got along so well in the first place.

He knew clearly that she never would have supported what he was doing. Her absense from the world was the only reason he made it happen. She, much like the previous Jim Gordon, shared that same compromising viewpoint. They would risk the lives of others just to hold onto even a glimmer of hope. This isn't the way she would have wanted things, but as of now she was gone. And finally Damien was free to do as he pleased.

Two consecutive taps hit the office door.

"Come in," ordered Damien.

As the door opened, a redheaded caucasian woman in her thirties wearing glasses clad in a linen suit, cotton shirt and a dotted silk tie.

"Hello," introduced Damien, offering a hand. "My name is Damien Crest. And you are...?"

She took the hand and shook it gently. "Ellen Yindel."

Wayne Manor, Gotham City

4:43 p.m

In only a minute from now Damien was scheduled to give a live speech to the people of Gotham City. Bruce sat close to the television with the remote hanging on his palm. His mind was not at ease. This new man of authority was going to make things much more complicated than they had to be. But if he thought for one second that Batman was going to stop he was wrong. The dark knight would continue as he always did in the past, whether the law is for him or against him. He would not stop, never. Not unless death caught him first.

But things would be much more complicated. Jim Gordon, the greatest asset to Batman, was no longer in office. Somehow he always feared that once that day would come. One day when they became old and too weak to continue on, Batman and his ally would have to finally rest. This was not the day. No matter what the reporters, despots or politicians had to say, this was not that day.

After a minute passed, Damien walked in front of a podium set right outside the police department and showed his face to the cameras.

"Good day to you all," he said to the microphone. A round of applause from the reporters and attendants in the scene drowned his voice. In due time they stopped and let the man continue his speech. "I have done all I can to help this city. I am proud to say that crime rates have gone down up to 50. This is truly a remarkable victory," he declares with a smile. "You have all won. This was all thanks to your efforts. Congradulate yourselves! You have won!" A second round of applause took place for a total of seven estimated seconds. "And I am proud to introduce to you our new police commisioner Ellen Yindel," he turned to the redhead woman sitting behind him. She got up, shook Damien's hand and cleared her throat upon reaching the podium.

"I am very greatful for this opportunity," she said with little to no expression of emotion. "I will do all I can within my power to ensure Gotham's security from criminal threats. My main announcement though is that as of this moment the vigilante known by some as Batman is no longer to show his face again. The police no longer want the interruption of this masked maniac. We in the police now have all the things we need to ensure that our people, our children, can walk on the streets free and not have a worry in the world. Batman is behind us now along with all the trouble he has caused us. Now we look forward and into the eyes of progression. People, believe me when I say that Gotham will one day become what it always should have been. This will happen not a century from now, forty years from now, or even twenty. This will happen sooner than any of us can know it. And to get there we need effort. People of Gotham City we need you now more than ever. If you can help us, go to work, stay in schools, support us in this proper way, I gurantee you a change. The law is much more strict now, we will no longer sit idly by and tolerate these heinous acts to happen. We will be swift with justice. Our enemies will falter and the day that we clear our streets of its plague ladies and gentlemen, that day we will look back and praise the lord for this choice that we have made. Thank you everyone."

Gotham City Toy Factory, Gotham City

4:52 p.m

The television wasn't getting a good reception. Every few minutes or so the screen would blur out and feed static. Jack Napier got up and smacked the set on its head, and miraculously, the picture was perfect.

Damien came on screen again for closing after the newly appointed police commisioner gave her speech.

"I hope I don't have to remind you citizens of Gotham that the day after tommorow is the celebration of Saint Arcadia. We will be having our customary parades in the streets and lots more fun. Please, show up and help show your community spirit."

That was when Jack got his idea.

"Oh I'll show you my community spirit," he said to the screen. "Count me in Crest, as long as you're there too. Things should be a blast my friend and so will you."