Oh my! Has it really been this long since my last update? I'm so sorry for the delay! This summer is turning out to be rather busy. Thank you so, so much for your reviews and the follows and likes! =) It's just so wonderful to know that you guys are enjoying this story so far. Here is the next chapter - hope you'll like it.


"Are you sure you're ready miss?" Alfred asked as I got into the tight-fitting suit.

"Yes." I responded as I put on the mask. "How do I look?"

"Like another person." Alfred responded.

I looked in the mirror. The black mask shielding my identity. It reminded me of the night Bruce and I were at the ball in L.A. and how wearing a mask that night made me feel different.

"I've built in a voice modifying device." Fox said.

I turned it on. "Test…. Wow! I don't recognize my own voice." My voice sounded a little deeper than normal and overall different.

"Good. It's supposed to sound like a regular female voice but simply not yours. Nobody will notice it's not a normal human voice."

"Why didn't you build Bruce one of these?"

"He never asked." Fox responded with a smile.

I laughed.

I had also put on red lipstick. I never wore cherry red lipstick and it helped the disguise.
In addition, I had asked Fox for another detail - a fake scar over the left side of my lip.

"A small detail will distract entirely." Fox had said.

The scar was noticeable so everyone would assume the woman who is behind the mask had a scar in her normal life as well.

The red lipstick drawing even more attention to the scar.

Below my neck was my symbol. A black snake, winding it's way to the top, its fangs out. Fox had made it black on black.

"Why snakes?" Alfred asked.

"Snakes symbolic meaning is gender supremacy, starting with Adam and Eve. Everyone keeps underestimating women. And they're underestimating me. The idea is that I wind my way through their ranks and become the blow to their operation they never saw coming."

"Black Viper." Alfred repeated my codename.

"Well, we'll see if it catches on." I said. "I just wanted to make sure no one thinks I have anything to do with Batman."


Alex had told me where Gordon was and it was time to meet the commissioner as my alter ego.

His wife had taken the kids months ago and left for Cleveland. Right now, in this apocalyptic nightmare, he must be happy they're far away from Gotham.

I made my way into the industrial looking kitchen. The room was newly renovated. It seemed like no-one had ever used it.
Gordon was standing there, nervously waiting for someone. He didn't notice me.

"Commissioner." I said and he turned around and immediately pulled his gun and aimed it at me.

Everything seemed in slow motion. I felt in control.
"Who are you?" He asked, looking at me surprised.

In one fast movement I grabbed his arm by his elbow and smashed it on the metal kitchen counter then taking the gun from him, unloading it and handing the gun and the magazine back to him separately.

"A friend." I responded and he looked at me in shock.

"What do you want?"

"What you want." I responded almost in a purr. My voice was smooth. "Making sure that bomb doesn't go off. And we both know it will go off."

"I work alone." Gordon said.

"We both know that's not true. You've been meeting with your police pals and a few FBI special agents."
He didn't respond.

"Don't trust me, huh? How can we change that?"

"Well, if you weren't wearing a mask…"

"Since when do you have a problem with masked vigilantes, Commissioner?" I asked, smiling at him.

"Do you know where he is?"

"No. I never had the pleasure of working with the guy."
Once again he looked at me silently.

"Look," I said as I quickly lifted myself on the kitchen counter and crossed my legs. "The way I see it - we need each other. So let's just cut to the chase. You might not know me - but you can trust me when I say I don't want to die in two months. And that's exactly what will happen if we don't stop Bane."

Suddenly I heard something in the distance.

"Expecting company, Commissioner?" I asked, jumping off the kitchen counter.

"Yes, two of my…"

I put my finger on my lips and signaled him to be quiet. Through the enhanced bluetooth in my ear I could hear them talking.

"The kitchen! Go!" One of them said.

The way they were talking did not sound like they were the guys Gordon was waiting for.

I could hear their steps coming closer to the kitchen. The adrenaline in me pumping, I pushed Gordon quickly to the side. The door opened and a guy marched in with a machine gun. I was standing next to the door, waiting for him to take another step

Then I kicked the gun out of his hand from the side. The gun fell to the ground, sliding towards Gordon.

The guy was triple my size. If he got a hold on me I was done. I needed to be fast.

I punched him straight on the nose. He stumbled back for a second which gave me time to land a kick to his scrotum.
The second guy was right behind him and I noticed him getting his gun. I duck and rolled out of the way as he was shooting through his friend.

The body fell to the ground, hot steam escaping the many bullet holes that tore through his flesh.

Gordon was pressed against the fridge, holding the gun in his hand. I was underneath the table.
The guy took another step and then I kicked his legs out underneath him.

He fell, I rolled out of my hiding spot and stood up. His hand was still next to the gun. In one swift movement I took off the bottom of my heel and stepped with full force on his hand, the dart piercing through his hand.
He screamed in pain.
I leaned over him. "I don't think we have met." I said smiling.

He got up with an angry scream but I used his own momentum against him and threw him on the ground again.

"We can do this all day." I said. "How did you know Gordon was here?"

He grabbed me by my neck and got up again but I broke his grip by throwing my arm elbow first on his, then I grabbed his arm and twisted it, manipulating the joint until I heard it snap.
He screamed in pain again.

I felt the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I felt invincible and more powerful than ever. It was also like this wasn't really me. Like I was watching another person.

"How did you know Gordon was here?"

"I'd rather die than talk bitch."

"Sorry, I won't do you that favor. Plus, blood ruins leather." I said with a smile and then I grabbed a beer bottle and hit him on the head.

His eyes rolled back into his eye sockets and he sank to the ground.

I looked back to Gordon who was standing there, staring at me. "I would have helped but it seemed like you had this under control."

I nodded. "Trust me now, Commissioner?"

He nodded.

"Let's get out of here. Obviously it's not safe." I said.

We were across the street, walking to another safe house Gordon knew.

"I want in."

"In on what?" Gordon asked.

"The meetings. I want to know the plan."

"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

"Cut the crap commissioner."

"Fine. I don't think these guys would want you to be at the meetings. But we can meet afterwards and I can tell you what it was about."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. When's the next one?"

"Tonight."


Obviously I didn't intend on waiting until after the meeting.
I waited on a rooftop across the building until I saw all of them enter.

Then I made my way in.
"Good evening gentlemen." I said as I walked into the room.

They all immediately drew their guns.

"She's with me." Gordon said and the men dropped their weapons and looked at him confused.
He looked at me and sighed.

"Sorry Commissioner. I was dying to meet your friends." I said as I was walking around, all of them staring at me in disbelief.

"Who are you?" One of them asked.

"Doesn't matter who I am. All that matters is that I'm here. I'm fighting the same fight as you guys."

"Not the same. Otherwise you wouldn't be dressed like this."

"None of you are wearing uniform. That's your way of hiding your identity. But enough with the small talk, sugar. What's the plan?"
The FBI guy looked at me and laughed. "You think you can walk in here and we're going to trust you?"

"No, I didn't expect that. Here is what you don't know. The bomb can be reconnected to the reactor. That will stabilize it and stop it."
He looked at me surprised.

"Didn't see that coming, did you?" I asked with a grin.

"Where's the reactor?"

"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast handsome. What do you guys know about the bomb's location?"
He looked around his men and finally responded. "Not much at this point. We know it's in a truck, heavily guarded by Bane's men. But we believe there are several trucks. Some of them dummies."

"That's a start." I said. "We need to patrol the trucks and mark them so we know which one is which."

"We were discussing that."

"Good. What about the police officers underground?"

"Bane is giving them food. We're in contact with them."

"Contact? How?"
"I don't want to discuss that operation at this point."

"Fair enough."

"So where's the reactor."

"The reactor is part of Wayne Enterprises. It's underground in a very hidden location. When we know the bomb is, I'll share the location."

The men left and I heard one of them whisper to the guy in charge: "How do we know we can trust her?"

"We have no choice." He responded.

Gordon was standing next to me. "Well, so much for meeting afterwards."

"I knew they were going to love me, commissioner." I smiled at him sarcastically.

He sighed.
"What about Arkham?" I asked.

"What about it?"

"Are all inmates free?"

He looked at me, knowing instantly who I was referring to. "I don't know. I haven't been there for obvious reasons. I hope they left him there to rot."

Something told me the Joker wasn't rotting in a cell.


I was keeping taps on Bane's men and trying to observe how their operation worked. Who was in charge aside from Bane? What were their weaknesses?

Afterwards I went to Arkham. I needed to know. I made my way through the dark alleys, hiding in the shadows.

The streets were empty.

I got to the building which looked straight out of a horror movie. The lights inside were flickering on and off.
Last time I was here Jacob died and Bruce carried me out of here. It seemed like the memory of a different person.

Quickly I walked inside, making sure nobody would notice me. But the place was empty. I slowly walked down the hallway. The greenish light going on and off. All cells were open, papers on the ground and broken glass.

I walked downstairs. The doors were open so I kept walking. I reached the final door to the Joker's cell. The door was still closed.
A feeling of relief flooded me.
I grabbed the key from the now unmanned security spot and opened the door.
The hallway was even darker than last time - the only light coming from the emergency generator.

Slowly I walked to his cell, images of him sitting behind glass during our last interaction flickered through my mind. Once again it felt like a lifetime ago.

I finally got to the cell, looking closely into the darkness.

Panic hit me. The cell was empty, aside from a note on the wall: Jokes on you. HAHAHAHAHA!


"Good evening madam." Alfred said as I took off my mask in the Batcave. "Did you have a successful night?"

"It was great until I found out the Joker escaped Arkham. With all this madness going on, nobody is paying attention to him. God knows what he has planned or where he is."

"He's always a complicating factor. But at the same time you shouldn't get distracted. Who knows indeed what he has planned. Whatever it is, for now, you don't need to worry about it. Focus on Bane."

"I know, you're right."

"What did you learn from Gordon?"
"They're tracking the location of the bomb and they're in contact with the trapped police officers."
"Good."
"Yes. But Bane is trying to get a hold of him too. He sent two men to kill him today."

"Well, good thing you were there madam."

"Yeah. For now. I can't be by his side 24/7. My hope is that Bane doesn't care about him too much. He's a small fish to fry in the grande scheme of things." I said as I plugged in the SD card with pictures I had taken of Bane's men.
Fox had build in an HD night vision camera into my suit. It doubled as night vision goggles.

As I looked through the pictures I stopped and zoomed into one of them.
"Mr Dagget." Alfred said surprised, looking at the Wayne Enterprises' board member.

"Time to pay a visit to our friend." I said.


The next morning I went to Dagget's apartment to meet with him. Fox had set the meeting up.

I was wearing a beige colored coat with nude heels and a white dress underneath. I put on a string of pearls I found in Bruce's safe and diamond earrings. All to give the false impression of a woman who was not a masked vigilante at night.

"Ms Hunter, a pleasure to meet you." The short and skinny man said.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Mr Dagget. I just want to make sure my fiancé's company is in good hands during his…absence. And I'm sure it is."
"Absolutely. Rest assured, Mr Wayne's company is in excellent hands. Have you heard from him at all?"

I shook my head. "No, but I'm keeping my hopes up that he is doing well wherever he is."

"Oh I'm sure he is. Can I get you something to drink?" He asked as his eyes were scanning my body.

"Water would be great."

He nodded and walked out the room and to his kitchen.

I waited for him to leave and then placed a thumb drive into his computer. Fox had given it to me. He said it's copying all files onto the thumb drive in less than a minute. Even those which are password protected.

As the device was blinking, a minute felt like the longest thing ever.

He walked back in with the water and I kept an eye on the thumb drive.

"Here you go."

"Thank you." I said as I took the glass.

"Ah, you're wearing the ring again." He noted. "I thought you two had broken up before he vanished."

"Don't believe everything you read in the papers, Mr Dagget."

"Call me Michael."

Was he flirting with me? It was hard being in the same room with him.

I took a sip of the water as he went to the scotch on a tray. He opened the bottle.

"Are you sure I can't interest you in something more potent than water?"

"Thank you but water is just fine."

"More for me then." He said as he poured some in a glass.

"So what do you want to know?" He asked as he sat down on the couch and gestured for me to take a seat as well.

I took a seat, noticing out of the corner of my eye that the thumb drive wasn't blinking anymore.

"I really don't know much about business…" I tried to play the role of the clueless girl who couldn't be a problem. "Maybe you can simplify it for me?"
An arrogant smile wiped over his face, he had no problem believing me. "Absolutely. The company is going through a rough time as every business in the city with this going on of course. But with the assets we have, we can keep the company afloat for a long time. Wayne Enterprises is doing just fine."

I nodded. "That's good to know. At least there is one thing I don't have to worry about." I pretended to get emotional. "I'm sorry." I said, looking for a way I could get the thumb drive out of the computer.

"It's going to be ok." He said, placing a hand on my knee.
I had to try hard not to shudder or slap him. "Is the offer for the scotch still good."
He smiled. "Certainly."

He got up and went back to the tray.

"On the rocks please." I said, noticing he didn't have ice on the tray.

"Coming right up." He said and left for the kitchen.

I got up, quickly grabbing the thumb drive and slipping it into my coat's pocket before sitting back down.

He came back and handed me a glass. "Cheers."

I smiled at him and downed the drink at once. He looked at me surprised.

"I should go." I said as I handed the glass back to him. "I've already taken up too much of your time."

"Not at all. Are you sure you don't want to stay for another drink?"

"I better be getting back before Bane's men get suspicious."

I walked back to the car, Alfred opening the door for me.
Once inside, I shuddered from the interaction with Dagget.
Alfred noticed my reaction through the rearview mirror.

"Pleasant man?" He asked.

"The most." I responded sarcastically as we drove back to Wayne Manor.


I was at one of the few stores that were still open in Gotham. Most of them had been vandalized. But a few were patrolled by Bane's men, to make sure Gothamites weren't going to starve to death.

Alfred and I walked through the isles, which were mostly empty.
"With no new shipments coming in, we're eventually going to run out of food." I said.
Alfred nodded, knowing as well as I did that the bomb was going to go off before that would happen anyway.

The people around me looked frightened and nervous. Mostly men, getting some food for their families. Women and children hardly left their houses anymore.
I was walking through the store as if I had been the only one not infected with the virus of fear. None of Bane's men scared me. Not anymore.

The only thing that scared me was the bomb.

I looked at a bag of kale.

"$20 for kale?" I asked shocked.

"Supply and demand Mrs Wayne. The less they have of something, the more they can charge."

"Good thing we have large food supplies in the cellar." I said.

"Indeed."

Suddenly an older woman hugged me. "Bless you Miss Hunter. I'm so glad you're alive." She broke the hug and smiled at me. "Don't let them get to you. We all need you."

We left and walked back to the car.
We had parked a few blocks away. A safety precaution.
And then, next to the car, I saw him. I stood still, my heart beat increasing.

He was standing there, looking around to make sure nobody spotted him. He was wearing a baseball cap, cheap looking jeans and an old jacket.

"What is it miss?" Alfred asked as I was standing still, unable to comprehend what I was seeing.

I started running towards Bruce, tears running down my face. I could barely contain myself, wanting nothing more than holding him in my arms.
He was alive! He was here! Everything was going to be ok.

"Bruce!" I said excited and he turned around.
My heart sank when I saw the features of a stranger.

"I'm, I'm sorry…" I stuttered. "I thought you were someone else."

The man just looked at me. "You're Catherine Hunter, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry for the confusion." Alfred said opening the door for me and softly guiding me to the car.
I was still shocked, just staring at the guy.

"It's ok." The man responded. "I hope you'll find him." He said as Alfred pushed me inside the car.

As we were driving, I wiped away tears, feeling like a fool.
"I really thought it was him."
Alfred just looked at me concerned.

"You must think I'm an idiot." I said.

"I would never think that Mrs Wayne. I'm thinking you're in a lot of pain. It's only normal for your mind to play tricks on you."

I nodded, staring out into the empty streets of Gotham.


What I saw on Dagget's thumb drive was more shocking than I had expected.

He had brought in shipments of explosives through dummy companies. He was the backbone of Bane's operation. I was surprised he was still alive. It seemed like Bane would have no more use for him at this point.

Two names on the invoices of the dummy companies caught my eyes: Tom Ward and AGENCY.

"Dagget was behind the explosion of the house. I think he wanted to kill me because I was getting too close to his secret." I said to Alfred.

"And one of his men locked the door behind you that night?"

"That's what I think. He probably send me the anonymous tip, trying to get me to investigate it. I just didn't look deep enough."

"Well, Master Wayne looked into it as well. They were very good at hiding their tracks."

"But Bane didn't want to kill me. I'm too much of a part in his plan. I guess he wasn't happy with Dagget."

"I'm surprised he's still alive."

"So am I, but I think it's because he's still valuable to him."

The phone rang and Alfred picked it up.

"It's Lucious for you Mrs Wayne." He said, handing me the phone.

"Hi Lucious."

"They have Miss Tate." He said on the other end of the line. "Bane has taken control of the board."

"Lucious where are you?"

"They've taken me too. We're in the public library on 3rd street. But don't worry about us. We're fine for now. Bane's men are heavily guarding the entrance."


There was nothing I could do to help Lucious and Miss Tate now. If I showed up in the lion's den, I would lose. An open fight against Bane was not on the table.
But I kept monitoring their situation closely. If they were brought to the so called "trials", I would try to save them.

I had observed the trials before. Scarecrow, freshly out of Arkham, was proceeding over them, sending everyone out on the ice.

"Miss, I'm afraid Bane is here."
It's been a while since he needed me for a public spectacle of his.

I sighed. "Ok." I got up, heading to the elevator, walking through the hidden door.

When I arrived at the door Bane was still pulling up in his car.
"Miss Hunter." He said once he got out. "Long time no see."

"Not long enough for my taste." I said, crossing my arms in front of me.
I grew tired of his games. I wanted nothing more than to tell him to go to hell. But I couldn't do that. I needed to play along.

"Let me guess, should I get changed."

He didn't say anything as one of his men handed me a dress. I just rolled my eyes and headed upstairs.

I had changed and went back downstairs.
"What speech is it today?" I asked annoyed.

"The one where I claim full ownership of Wayne Enterprises."

I just stared at him, already knowing the details.

"Your friend Mr Dagget, died suddenly I'm afraid." He continued.
I was wondering when he would kill him. When he would be done with him. Apparently the time had come.

"He wasn't my friend." I snapped back .

"Oh, I thought since you paid him a visit, he was your friend."

"I only did that to find out if my fiancé's company is in good hands."

"I can assure it is, Miss Hunter."

"Go to hell." I responded.

"I realize you're not afraid of me anymore. You're not afraid of death anymore. But this…" He said, grabbing my hand with the engagement ring on it. "This still matters to you.

Don't think I haven't noticed you suddenly wearing it again. He wasn't good enough for you to marry when he was still here, but now, now that he's gone, suddenly you've changed your mind."

I took my hand back. "What do you know about love?"

"I know that it's a stronger bond than anything. Which is why you've been important. Torture has many forms."

"You're not telling me anything I didn't know."

He smirked. "No, maybe not. Go ahead. Ask me."

"Ask you what?"

"I know you're wondering about him. If he's still alive. You've never asked me."

I felt my adrenaline kick in instantly, tears forming in my eyes.

"That's what I thought." Bane continued. "You're too afraid to ask because you're afraid of what the answer might be."

"I haven't asked because I know you're going to lie to me, depending on what suits your agenda better."

"I promise you I won't lie. I've never lied to you. Well, maybe aside from when I sent you that email, the anonymous tip…"

"That was you." I said in shock.

He smiled. "You see, I needed you and Bruce to be preoccupied with something so I could infiltrate every level of this city. It was easy. Aside from the fact that Dagget almost killed you because he was worried you might find out."

"So you created fake crime stories so both of us would be busy with that."
He nodded. I swallowed hard, feeling dumb for falling for his tricks.

"Well congratulations. It all worked like a charm." I said angrily.

He didn't respond, just looking into my eyes for a few seconds that felt like eternity.

"You still haven't asked me. I have the answers. I can tell you everything you want to know. I know whether he is alive or dead."

I felt a heatwave of adrenaline rush through me. I had to keep it together. I couldn't suddenly kick him or he would know I had been training.
I was once again not able to do anything but stand there, helplessly waiting for it all to stop. Tears were streaming down my face.

"Stop." I said quietly.

"What was that?"

"I said stop." I said a little louder, looking to the ground, wiping away tears.

He suddenly grabbed me by my face, forcing me to look at him.

"Don't think you're not afraid anymore. Don't think I can't still destroy your world."
I was biting my teeth together, angry tears running down my face.

"And I'm giving you your answer anyway." He continued.

"No, I don't want to know." I said, trying to block my ears. Either way it would hurt me - confuse me. He could give me false hope or tell me he was dead.

He took one arm away from my ear, holding it firmly behind my back.
His head was right next to my ear.

"He's alive." He whispered.

I felt like someone had shocked me. Relief flooding my system, but also worry, worry of how he was doing. If Bane was even telling the truth.

But just him saying these words unleashed an emotional chaos in me. I started crying, trying to push him away from me but he was like a rock.

"He's alive for now because I decided that was better. Until Gotham is in ashes. Then, when it is done and you and this city is gone, then I will kill him. And I intend to making his death slow and painful, making sure he is going to feel every moment of me driving that knife through his heart."

He let go off me and I fell to the ground, crying, feeling like someone had taken the ground off underneath me.

Bane continued. "He's alive, but barely. His spine is broken in several spots. Without proper care, it might never heal. Not that he has much longer to live anyway. He's in a prison far away from here. Far away from doctors. Far away from pain killers."

"You're lying." I yelled.

"I thought you might say that." He nodded to one of his men who threw an iPad his way. "Luckily I brought you surveillance footage." He said, kneeling next to me.

He pressed play and my eyes were trying to comprehend what I was looking at. It was Bruce, laying on a stretcher, badly bruised all over his body.

I covered my mouth with my hands, so happy to see him alive - wherever he was.
Then he tried to get up and failed, falling to the ground under loud screams. I winced in pain just looking at it.

"He laid there for five hours." Bane continued in a calm voice. "Until somebody helped him up."
He was unable to walk, unable to move on his own.

Bane showed me another video.
"I've seen enough." I protested, moving away from him.

"But the best is yet to come." He said, pulling me towards him and hitting play.

I saw two older men lift him up, his body limp. They strapped him in a sheet, hanging from the ceiling. I had no idea what they were trying to do. Suddenly one of them punched Bruce with force in the back.
Bruce screamed a painful, guttural scream that I had never heard before. His hands holding onto the sheets, every muscle tensed. Then his arms fell, his head sank. He went unconscious from the pain.

I felt nauseous.
Bane handed the iPad back and looked at me closely. "I understand you're not afraid of your own death anymore, Miss Hunter. But rest assured that I can still kill him. All it takes is one call. Do you understand?"
I nodded, unable to speak, hot tears still streaming down my cheeks.

"Good. Let's go."

He grabbed me by my arm and pulled me up.
My brain was swimming with all the new information, his image on the security footage looping in my head.

Bane dragged me out the door and there were cameras. Now I understood why he told me all of this. He needed me to cry, to look like I was in distress.

"Good evening Gotham." He said, holding me by my arm. "I've freed the city of one of the greediest companies, sucking the life out of this city of yours. Wayne Enterprises.
For years, Mr Wayne's company made huge donations to the poor. But it was all a facade, to keep you from knowing what Wayne Enterprises is really about. Weapons.
They've been distributing them to war lords across the world. And they were the ones who build the bomb. It was Wayne Enterprises that manufactured the bomb currently endangering your city. That's why we had to take control over it and now, we've taken control over the board, relieving the remaining members of their duties."

It all made sense. It was the perfect image to send to Bruce. Him taking over his company, holding the press conference in front of his house, with me, an emotional mess, next to him.
The press conference was over, Bane dragged me back inside.

"I've given you more freedom from your house arrest. Don't make me regret it." He said.

He was referring to me meeting with Dagget.
"Or you will regret it." He said and left.

Alfred walked up to me. "I told you." He said with a soft smile.
I didn't respond, looking at him emotionally exhausted.

"Master Wayne is still alive." He continued. "I took the liberty of streaming the video onto another device. What might have looked like torture to you by those two men was actually them helping him."

"Helping him? Did you hear his scream."

"Yes. One of them seems to have a medical background. He punched a vertebrate and I'm guessing it was out and needed to be put back."

I looked at him closely. "They're helping him?"

"Yes."

"Why would Bane allow that?"

"Because he thinks that Master Wayne has no chance of escaping either way. He's in his prison."

"How do you know that?"

"It is an educated guess. The pictures look like a very old, ancient prison. Like the one where Bane grew up. It makes perfect sense for him to have Master Wayne endure the same hell he did."

I smiled at Alfred, hope flooding my system for the first time in weeks. "Do you think he has a chance to escape?"

"No one ever has. Aside from Bane."

My expression grew colder.

"But…" Alfred continued. "I think Bane is underestimating Master Wayne. Like I said before, he's more resourceful than you think."

I hugged Alfred closely, closing my eyes. "I'm scared for him Alfred." I whispered.

"Don't be. Focus on your goal Mrs Wayne."


He was training harder than ever before. After all, he had all day to do nothing but train.

He was also training jumps. Higher, further. He tried different techniques.

"My friend." The old man said, interrupting his training.

He turned around and saw the old man holding the remote control. It was never a good sign.

He nodded at him. "Do what you have to." He said and continued crunches.

He had prepared himself for many things but not this. Bane, in front of Wayne Manor. He jumped up, instantly worried about her.

And then he saw her, once again in a gown. Her face red and slightly puffy from crying, tears still running down her cheeks.
He held on to the iron bars, studying her expression as Bane held her next to him. What had this monster done to her?

His hands were instinctively grabbing onto the iron bars harder, his teeth biting together hard.

When the broadcast cut off he turned around and walked towards the old man in big strides.
"I'm getting out tonight. This ends now."

"You've failed twice. You'll fail again." The old man said. "But sure why not try again."

They walked back to the bottom, one of the man putting the robe around his midsection. He was staring at the blue sky, the same sky she was looking at. But he was so far away.

He started to climb, brick by brick. He knew he had it this time. He had trained. He was going over the jumping techniques in his head again and which ones he experienced where the most successful.

He finally reached the top again, standing up, looking at the section he needed to reach. He was focused, not even noticing the men screaming and cheering him on. All he saw was the ledge he needed to reach.

He took a deep breath, took two steps back and ran, then pushing himself off with all his strength. He was flying in the air. Finally! He was getting closer and closer to the ledge.

But then, just inches away from it, he realized once again that he wouldn't make it. His momentum not big enough.
"No!" He yelled, panic running through his system.

But there was no turning back. He was not going to make the jump. Again.
He fell until the rope snapped, his spine twisting in pain, his body hitting the stone wall with full force.

He was hanging there, close to tears of anger and frustration, seeing her face in front of his closed eyes.

Slowly, the men were letting him down until he reached the ground.

The old man untied him as he was sitting on the ground, staring up at the sky in utter hopelessness.

Then the old man helped him back in his cell. Every step hurt once again. Every time he fell, his spine needed weeks to recover again.

He sat down on the stretcher, pushing the old man away.
"I've got it." He said, frustrated at himself.

Suddenly the blind prisoner in the adjacent cell sat up. He hadn't talked in weeks.
"You do not fear death. You think this makes you strong. This makes you weak." The blind prisoner said.

"Why?" Bruce asked.

"How can you move faster than possible? Fight longer than possible? If not from the most powerful impulse of the spirit. The fear of death. The will to survive."

Bruce pushed himself up, the pain in his spine nothing more than background noise at this point.

"I do fear death." He said. "I fear dying in here while my city burns with no one there to save it."

"No one there to save her." The prisoner responded.

He nodded. "Yes. I fear her death more than mine and if I die in here, so will she."

"Then make the climb."

He shook his head, snorting in laughter. For a moment he thought the old man had something new to offer him. "How?" He said. "It's impossible."

"As the child did. Without the rope. Then fear will come find you again."

He looked at the old man, his eyes glazed over from years of blindness. He was right. He needed fear. His fear - as a catalyst to make the impossible jump.
Using his fears, turning them into his strength.


I was still emotionally exhausted and overwhelmed from Bane's visit. But putting on the mask - it helped me to focus. It centered me. Suddenly I was someone else. Not the woman who just watched her fiancé in impossible pain in a prison on the other side of the world.

Silently I jumped from roof top to roof top, watching over the city.

"Captain America." I said jokingly to Captain Jones from the special forces when we had our weekly meeting again.
He sighed, not liking his nickname. "What have you found out?" He asked.

"There are three trucks potentially carrying the bomb."

"We couldn't find any nuclear hot spots."

"I'm guessing they're lead-coated. The routes are the same. Everyone of them is heavily protected by his men though. Three on each truck."

He nodded. "What about you Gordon. Can we get your men out?"

"Yes, take out the mercenaries guarding the outflow south of Ackerman Park, blow the rubble, you've got a hole big enough for ten at a time. I'm in contact with my partner - they're waiting for the day." Gordon said.

"Good. Let's not rush this up. Let's stand down for now."

"Stand down?" Gordon asked. "While Gotham lives under a warlord, like in some failed state?"

"Dial it back, officer. This situation is unprecedented. We can't do anything to risk millions of lives."

"Lives that are already being risked." I interjected. "May I remind you, that bomb goes off no matter what we do."

"Ok, snake lady." He hissed at me.

"Snake lady…" I sighed rolling my eyes. "You guys just butcher that name."

"Whatever your stupid name, we've never dealt with a situation like this. We're making sure we're not needlessly risking the lives of millions. We're cautious. A concept most likely lost on you."

"As much as I enjoy your little hissy fit, sweet peas, what's the plan then? How long are we waiting?"

"Let's get a clearer picture of where the bomb is each day. Is there a way for us to locate it? We need to get a route to the reactor. And a strategy. Once we get the police officers out, we don't have much time. Bane will know what we're doing. We need to get a hold of the bomb first." He checked his watch. "That's enough for today. Let's meet again next week."

We walked out the room, usually splitting up before we left so we didn't all leave at once.

In that moment I heard steps in the distance.
Instinctively, I threw myself on Gordon, bringing him to the ground.
The dark hall lit up with gun shots. The captain and his team falling to the ground as we were running for shelter.

Once we were around a corner, I listened to the steps and the breathing in the room. I focused, counting seven guys. I brought down my night vision googles, now seeing the men coming closer and closer.
I took a deep breath, quickly grabbing Gordon's arm with the gun in his hand, aiming at what looked like the leader and pulled the trigger.

The guy went down and now I only had seconds. I rolled on the ground as the men were shooting in my general direction.
I got up, punching one guy in the face, then using his back to jump higher, kicking another in the face. The third one was attacking me and I grabbed his gun and kicked him in the face with it.

I felt like I was lightening fast, disarming them, kicking them. My senses were on full alert.
I heard gun shots from Gordon's direction and noticed two men go down. Another was shooting in Gordon's direction, I grabbed a gun and shot him in the foot. He yelped in pain, letting go of his gun as I punched him out.

As I looked at all seven of them on the ground, Gordon came running towards me, his gun still in his hand.

"Time to leave this party." I said to Gordon who nodded at me.

Gordon and I went to -what he called- his safe house. An empty old building at the end of town.

He was pacing in the dimly lit room up and down, I watched him closely, my arms crossed in front of my body, waiting for him to say what was going on in his head.

"We don't have many options left." He said, almost more to himself.

"We're still in the game." I responded.

"He knows our moves before we do, I fear."

"For now. I don't think he will have the upper hand for much longer."

He looked at me, hopeful for a brief moment. "Is he back?"

It stung, like a blade ripping up old wounds. I tried to stay in character. "How should I know? I'm not his babysitter. You know the guy better than I do. Something tells me, if he was, you would know."

He nodded, immediately looking disappointed again.

"No, sugar." I said, looking out the window. "For now you'll have to make due with me."

"Thank you." He said suddenly. "For saving my life. Twice."

I hadn't even thought about it. I saved someone's life. It had kind of gotten lost in all the crazy events of late.

"Don't mention it." I said smiling at him. "Let's make sure you stay alive. Was that it? I mean team Captain America - do you have any other friends?"

"Friends are hard to come by these days."
Oh, how true that was.

I watched the commissioner as he slowly sat on the old leather couch. If he smoked, I imagined this would be the time where he would take a drag.

He looked helpless.
"No time for self-pity." I said, trying to muster any strength I could find in me.

His eyes looked up at me. "I don't pity myself." He shook his head. "I am trying to think what other options we might have."

We. That was a start. He thought of us as a team.

"While you do that, I'm going to tell you my plan. We need to rescue my friends."

"You have friends?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Could you try and not act so surprised. Regardless, I need to get Lucius Fox and Miranda Tate out of Bane's hands."

"Good luck. He is watching them 24-7 I'm sure."

I nodded. "Yeah, yeah…you're not telling me anything I don't know. We need to get them out and then they can help us locate the bomb and get it back to the reactor."

"But how are you planning on getting them out?"

"I'm still working on that detail." I said, opening the window.

"Huh. Yeah, small little detail."

"Rest up commissioner." I said as I got onto the window frame and turned around. "We'll need you." And with that I back-flipped out of the window, landing softly on the grass beneath me.

How was I getting Fox and Tate out? Yeah, small detail indeed.


It was late - even for me. I walked out of the shower, wrapped the towel around my body and looked at myself in the mirror for a second.
It was amazing really - so far I hadn't gotten any bruises or injuries. Not to my body at least. But my eyes gave it away. The dull look on them. I wasn't the same person anymore.
Something had died inside of me that day. Life wasn't so pure anymore. Suddenly I saw his eyes in mine. They had a similar, broken look about them.

All this time, I looked at his eyes and saw that sadness in them — and I was never able to comprehend it fully.
I knew he had suffered losses, but only in the way someone will understand someone else's loss.
Now I understood loss. Now I lived through it.
I avoided my own eyes, glaring back at me through the mirror.

I grabbed my shorts and a t-shirt - his t-shirt - and walked to the bedroom.
Whenever I put on the Yale shirt of his, for a second, it felt like I was about to see him again. As if he was to come into the bathroom any moment now, kissing me, smiling at me.

I swallowed hard. A knot forming in my stomach.

I stepped into the bedroom and was about to turn on the light when I felt something was off. I stood still.

"Well hello there." The high-pitched voice was uncanny. The Joker.

"I thought they left you to rot in Arkham." I said, crossing my arms in front of me.

He laughed. "Oh no, no, no. You must mistake me for yourself, locked in this gold cage of yours."

His face emerged from the darkness. The moonlight now illuminating his red lips, smiling gleefully, his dark eyes focusing in on me.

"What do you want?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Ah, I'm so glad I didn't kill you. You're too much fun."

"So you keep saying. Are you here to reminisce about good old times?"

"No, I'm here to talk about the bright future."

I looked at him closely, trying to figure out what he wanted. For the first time, I wasn't scared of him.
But I was well aware that he was no regular opponent. I would be able to beat him in a fight, but unlike Bane, his strength wasn't of physical nature.

"I see a future," he said as he walked around in big strides, using his hands to paint a picture. "A future without Bane and a future in which Gotham and all it's little citizens are still alive."

"Lovely. What do you want from me?"

"We're going to work together."

I snorted in laughter. "If you think I'm honestly going to consider…"

"Oh you will, because you need me. I'm the necessary evil everyone keeps talking about."

"Why in the world should I work with you?"

"Because…." he licked his lips. "Because you can't stop Bane. Nobody can. But there are many who are trying. The little old commissioner and his friends for example. It's cute how they think they can actually stop Bane."

"So what do you need my help for then?"

"You're a big part in Bane's plan. I haven't been able to figure out why. And then there is the lady in black. Know where I might be able to find her?"

"What are you looking at me for? I'm locked in this house 24/7."

"What do you know about Dagget?"

"That he's a corrupt asshole."

He grinned. "You know more than that."

"Fine. I know that he worked with Bane. He provided money and infrastructure for Bane. I think his plan was for his company to absorb Wayne Enterprises."

"Interesting."

"So what's your grande plan to stop Bane? Let's hear it."

"Oh you will soon enough, Miss Hunter. Soon enough. I'll leave my card," He said putting a Joker card on the table. "In case you change your mind."

With that he left, back to the darkness where he came from.


It was difficult to locate her, but I finally managed to find Shelly Bogan — my FBI pal. She was good at keeping a low-profile.

Searching the databases, they had nothing. No plan. No strategy. They had basically given up.

Friends are hard to come by these days.

I didn't want to show up as myself. Although friends, this was something I needed to handle wearing the mask.
I watched her walk into her apartment, which she barely left these days.

Quietly I opened the window, which I had unlocked with a tool from Fox. I was sitting in a chair in her living room, knowing the feeling she is about to have when she turns on the light switch.

She walked in, absently turning on the switch while reading a letter. Then she looked up and screamed when she saw me. She dropped the letter, grabbing her gun.

"Hang on!" I said, knowing her well enough. "I'm not here to hurt you."
She had the gun in her hand, pointing it at me. "Get out of my house. Now."

"Shelly, girl, I'm on your side."

"Yeah? Doesn't seem like it. Hands where I can see them!"

I smirked and lifted my hands. "We have a common friend. Catherine Hunter ring a bell."

She looked at me confused. "What?"

"Yup, girl living in her golden tower… Your friend…"

"I know who she is." Shelly answered annoyed.

"Good." I said, getting up. "Then you know there's no need to point that thing at me."

"Anyone could say that."

"True." I acknowledged. "Bet they couldn't tell you that you told Cat the Batman was doing a good job."

"So what? You're the new Batman now?"

"Me? God no. That guy takes himself way too seriously. No, but I am here to stop Bane. So what, you in?"

She lowered her gun, still not convinced.

"As you know were all going to be blown to pieces in two months anyway. So what do you say? BFFs?" I smiled, my hands at my hips, tilting my head to one side.

She sighed. "You're already annoying the shit out of me." She said, putting her gun back into her holster.


I had assembled Gordon and Shelly.

"Commissioner, pleasure to finally meet you." Shelly said, shaking Gordon's hand.

"Likewise Ms Bogan. Any insights your agency can share?"

"My agency? Probably nothing you don't know yet. But I have some insights. I've been tracking Bane's men. Where he keeps his prisoners."

"Do you know the Wayne Enterprises board members are held there?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I saw his men bring them in. They're held in the library. Bane's men watch the entrance 24/7. But there's one weakness. There's another entrance, through the basement. I know that building inside out. I don't know how well that entrance is protected but I doubt as well as the main one."

"Good. Tell me how I can get to it."


I needed to see Alex. For several reasons. One was that I hadn't seen him in a long time and was worried about him.

I had to ask Bane's men's permission to leave the premise. At least as Catherine Hunter, and that's how I wanted to meet Alex.

After I got the ok, Alfred drove me to Alex's apartment, with one of Bane's men following me.

I knocked on his door and he opened. His hair was a bit longer and he had a short beard now.

"Cat?" He asked, almost not believing it was me.

"Hi Alex." I smiled at him.

He pulled me towards him and hugged me tightly. "God it's so good to see you." He was still not letting me go.

"You too." I responded.

"Come in." He said, quickly closing the door behind me. "How are you? Are you ok?" He asked, scanning my body as if I might have some visible injuries on me.

"I'm fine."

"I just…." He shook his head. "Watching you with that madman…" He shook his head again. "I'm just so sorry."

"Don't worry. It's all for show. He's not doing anything to me." I said, trying to look casual. "Enough about me, how are you?"

"Alive. They don't give a fuck about journalists so there's the good news."

"Yeah."

"Here, check this out." He said, walking over into the living room. His entire wall full of pictures, names, clues and red ribbon, connecting them all together.

"Wow, hello Carrie Mathison."

He laughed. "Make jokes all you want. This is what I know so far." He walked closer to the wall, pointing at the clues. Bane's men and the courts are held at the library. So, we already know that's not where Bane is himself. I've been following Bane and this is where is hideout is." He said, pointing at a map.

"Now at the same time, I've been following the trucks carrying the bomb. They all look the same, except for the license plates. I named them truck 1,2,3." He pointed at the license plates with the according number next to it.

"Wow, good work Alex." I responded, looking at his gigantic mind map.

"Here is what I don't get. In all this time I've been following Bane, I've never seen him with the trigger. Not once. In all these months."

"He has it. For sure. No way would he give the trigger to an ordinary citizen."

"I know, that's why I'm confused why I haven't seen the damn thing on him once." He stared at the map, shaking his head.

"Alex there is someone who I think you should meet."

He faced me, looking confused.

"A friend of mine." I continued.

"Let me guess, wearing a mask?"

"So you've heard of her?"

"Sorta. I heard Bane's men talk about a woman dressed in black. They referred to her as a 'complicating factor'."

I tried not to look smug.

"She's a friend of yours?" He asked.

I nodded. "She's been trying to help."

"You know you can make friends with people who don't wear masks, right?"

I smiled.

Suddenly he pulled me towards him, his lips on mine, his arms around me tightly.

It took me a second to push him away.

"Alex." I said startled.

"I'm sorry." He responded. "No, actually I am not sorry. I know you're with Wayne... I just... I've had feelings for you for a long time and I know I can't act on it... But I don't know what will happen to this city. I don't know if that bomb is going to go off and if it does - God forbid - then at least I can say I've kissed you."

I bit my lips nervously, not knowing how to react to this. I nodded. "Nothing to be sorry for." I responded, kissing him quickly on the cheek and smiling at him before leaving.


It had been two weeks since his last try to get out of this hell hole. It was now or never. If he died trying, then that was better than dying in here while his city burned to the ground. He had to try. For her.

He was packing supplies, wrapping them in a piece of linen.

"Ah, supplies for your journey." The old man said in sarcastic tone. "That's nice."

He smiled. "Thank you for your help." He said.

The old man just smiled and nodded.

He walked back to the wall. His final try to climb out of here. Final either way. Either get out and live, or fall to your death.

The men around him were chanting foreign words over and over again.

"Deshi deshi basara basara"

"What are they saying?" He asked the old man, looking up to the sky.

"Rise." He responded.

He walked up closer and the tattooed prisoner offered him the rope. He refused, still looking up, trying to focus his energies on getting out of here.

He started to climb the wall. Suddenly a lot more aware of his vulnerability. One wrong step, and he would be badly injured. As he got higher and higher, it turned into one wrong step and he would dead.

The chanting in his ear was merely a backdrop noise. He focused on his breathing.

"Deshi deshi basara basara" — The chanting was like a drumming in the background.

He finally reached the spot from which he would have to make the jump. The jump into freedom. He stood up and felt the adrenaline in his body pumping. He tried to slow his breathing, taking a deep breath. His face felt hot.

He closed his eyes. Suddenly he heard a distant noise and bats came flying out of a hole right behind him. He ducked, trying to steady himself and trying not to look down.

"Deshi deshi basara basara"

He swallowed hard and stood up again. He tried to remember the last time he was this scared of dying. He couldn't remember. He hadn't feared his own death in a long time.
In front of his eyes he could see her. Alive if he made the jump. Dead if he failed.

"Deshi deshi basara basara"

One hand held onto the brick wall. With another deep breath he opened his eyes again, looking at the ledge he had to reach.

"Deshi deshi basara basara"

He felt sweat dripping from his forehead, his palms wet, his heart racing, his mouth dry.
He needed to do this. There was no other way. I can't die in here. He thought to himself.

"Deshi deshi basara basara"

He took a deep breath in — and jumped. It was completely silent as he was moving through the air. His life flashing before his eyes. His parents. Alfred. Rachel. Catherine. Her eyes looked at him with expectations. She softly smiled at him and nodded.

Everything was in slow motion. It seemed like he was in the air forever. He felt nauseous.

As he saw the ledge, he felt himself leaning forward. There was no way he was going to die.

His hands gripped onto the dusty material and he pushed himself up.

Screams and cheering from below as the men were celebrating his victory.

He continued climbing until he reached the top, standing in the sunlight for the first time in months. He looked around him. He was somewhere in the desert. His hands were shaking violently from the adrenaline.

He threw a rope down to the prisoners and started walking. Determination and anger in his step.


Me, Gordon, Bogan and Alex and been planning this for a while now. Tonight was the night we were getting Fox and Tate out of the prison.
I needed them. Fox because I needed some more toys and Tate because she could help with reconnecting the bomb.

We waited until Bane was back at his hideout.

Alex said he was going to be the distraction. I didn't like the plan but couldn't come up with a better one.

Alex walked up to the main entrance and started asking the guards questions. As a journalist would do.

Bogan had given me the details for the entrance. Quickly and quietly I made my way through a window into the basement and then walked up some stairs.

I could see a guy with a an AR-15, guarding the steps. He was easy.
I grabbed a dart out of my utility belt and flicked it at his neck. His eyes rolled back almost immediately and he fell to the ground.

Quickly I made my way up the stairs. A group of men walked down. I waited around the corner for them.

"Hi there." I said, before punching the guy straight on his Adam's apple. He chocked and went down. The second one grabbed his gun and pointed it at me, I grabbed his arm hard, doing a flip-over and breaking his arm. He screamed in pain. Background noise.

I was focused — on one thing: Getting Fox and Tate out of this hell hole.

We had watched them for days now, observing which room Fox and Tate were in. In my head I was thinking about the floor plan I had studied. One more floor and then down the hallway and the last door on the right.

Another guy came charging at me and I noticed another taking aim at me with his gun from the floor above. I grabbed the guys hand, pulling him toward me in a fast motion then smashing in his nose with my wrist. He went down under screams as I kicked the guy who was approaching from behind in the scrotum.

I had made my way up the stairs. Bogan had said Bane held Fox and Tate in a room at the end of the hallway.
As I was hiding behind a pillar, I could see the two guys guarding the entrance. Bane wasn't here, Alex had assured me that. He had seen him making his way back to his mansion.
All I was going to face were Bane's men. I could take them. But they weren't your average thugs. Walking in there was still a risk. I had no backup.

The two men at the door were too far for me to throw the darts at them. I had to be fast with whatever I was going to do. Surprise was the only element I had.

Suddenly one man's walkie-talkie went on. "Code red. Several guys down. You copy Brendon?"

There goes my element of surprise.

"Fuck." The guy said as he fumbled for the device and answered it. "Copy that. Where?"

"Downstairs. East-wing."

"Damn it that's right below us." The other guy said to Brendon.

"Is support on its way? It's just me and Meyers up here. Over."

"Yes, we're on our way. Over."

Now I really needed to move.

I saw old curtains next to me. Grabbing onto them, I made my way up to the top of the ceiling.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked loudly.

I could almost feel them tensing up around the corner from me.

"Who is that?" Asked what sounded like Brendon.

"Don't worry, Brendon honey. I'm just here to play."

I could hear them whisper. "Let's wait for support to get here."

"It's just a girl. You scared of a freaking girl?"

Brendon was walking towards me, I could hear his steps on the marble floor.
"What's your name sweetheart? We're not going to hurt you."

He was standing below me. I jumped down, hitting him right in the sternum.
He went down, gasping for air.

"Sorry, I can't say the same." I replied, hearing Meyers running towards the corner.

I grabbed Brendon's AR-15 and knocked Meyers out by hitting him with it as he came around the corner.

I heard more men making their way up the stairs. I ran to the doors, sliding a tiny device under the door. Fox had made it for me. First it worked like a tiny camera, showing me the inside of the room.

I saw Fox and Tate, in handcuffs, sitting on the floor on the right, surrounded by about ten men.

I really had no time for a long plan. I pressed a part on my watch and the device exploded, turning into a smoke bomb. Then I shut off the lights with another device.

Now it was pitch black and so foggy, you couldn't see a thing. I, on the other hand, could see just fine thanks to Fox's glasses he had made for me.

I saw Fox sitting, a soft smile on his lips. He knew who was coming for him. Tate looked scared.

The men around them pointing their guns into the darkness, yelling. Quietly and quickly I made my way to Fox and Tate, throwing darts at Bane's men.

"I'm here to pick up." I said.

Fox chuckled. "I figured."

"Mrs Tate, ready to get out of here?" I asked.

"Who are you?" She asked in her accent.

"I'm afraid there's no time for chit chat. Let's go." I grabbed both of them by an arm and lead them out of the room to a fire exit.

"I'll get you around the block to my friend's car and then we get you out of here." I said, walking quickly down the stairs.

We walked down the back ally and then to the black SUV where Bogan was waiting for us.

"Let's go." She said as we got into the car.

"Where's Alex?" I immediately asked.

Bogan started driving, not answering me.

"Where is he?" I asked again.

"They took him to Bane."

My blood froze. "What? Why? He's a nobody."

"They had footage of him meeting with Catherine Hunter. Since they're very interested in her well-being, they're looking at him closer. Bane apparently thought he needed a little bit more personal touch."

I felt nauseous. I couldn't lose Alex too. And once again, it was all my fault. If it hadn't been for me, he wouldn't be in this position.

I could feel Fox's eyes on me, a fatherly look on his face. He knew what that meant for me.

We dropped of Fox and Tate at the safety house, which Fox had suggested. It was an underground location, disguised as a shipping container. Very similar to the reactor.

I opened the handcuffs for both of them.

"Thank you." Miranda Tate said.

I nodded. "You got it."

Despite her soft smile, something about her seemed cold. Her eyes eerily staring at me. Cold as ice.

"Alright, I'd love to stay for some hot coco but I gotta go." I said, turning on my heel not sure of how I was going to get Alex out of Bane's hands.

"Hold on." Fox said, running after me. "You can't possibly be doing this." He said quietly.

"I'm not going to let him die."

"You can't beat Bane."

"I'll figure something out."

"You sound like him."

"Like Bane?" I laughed. "Hold on." I cleared my throat. "Don't worry Fox." I said in my best Bane impression.

Fox wasn't laughing. He stared at me, his eyes full of worry. "No, not like Bane."
And then I realized he was talking about Bruce. I felt my smile immediately vanish.

"He was too cocky, thinking he could beat Bane. Just because you've been able to beat up some of Bane's men doesn't mean you can meet him in combat."

"I didn't say that."

"Don't sacrifice yourself. Without you, what hope does Gotham have?"

I nodded. "I'm just going there to see if I can get an idea of where they're keeping him and if he's still alive. That's it."

"Good. Anything else would be foolish."


I got to Bane's hideout, slowly walking to the windows, watching them inside.

I couldn't see Alex yet so I kept moving up higher. Finally, on a small roof section, I spotted him. Tied to a chair.

I counted ten men in the room. Doable? Possibly but what if Bane was there? I knew I couldn't face him. I had no chance against him. Not with brute force.

"Welcome." The tinny voice said behind me. Bane.

I jumped up, turning around. He was standing there, his hands holding on to his coat.

Panic flooded my system. I hadn't been afraid of him as Catherine Hunter because I knew he wasn't going to hurt me. But now - now he was facing me as Black Viper and I knew he wouldn't hold back.

I wasn't scared for my life, but that of Alex. If Bane was to kill me, I could not save Alex or Alfred or Fox.

"What a pleasure to finally meet you." Bane said, slowly walking towards me.

I was backing away from him, looking for a way out. I was about to run away when he grabbed me by my throat, lifting me up. I was gasping for air, trying to fight off his arm, which wouldn't even move.

"Are you Batman's sidekick?" He asked before he threw me on the ground.

I took in air as fast as I could, my throat burning and I tried to get up again. But Bane grabbed me by my hair and smashed my head against the wall.

I felt dizzy, my vision blurry for a second.

"I'm nobody's sidekick." I simply replied, trying to figure out what I could do to not die. I grabbed his leg between my legs and kicked it out from underneath him. It worked and he fell, like a massive mountain tumbling over.

"Ah! You're into games. I love it." He responded, immediately getting up.

I was running away as fast as I could. Suddenly something caught on my foot and swirled me back towards Bane.

"Don't leave yet. The best is yet to come." He resounded in excitement. He kicked me twice in to my stomach, one time hitting my old wound. The pain was so severe, for a second everything turned black. You can't pass out! - I ordered myself.

"We...we both know you're stronger than me." I said, trying to talk through the pain. "No need to show off. So why don't you get it over with and kill me already. I'm sure you have better things to do than hang out with me on the roof all night. Unless you feel like you have to proof to someone that you're not a failure. Because after all, what else are you but strong, right? That's the only thing you've got going for yourself. No family. No friends. But this, this you're good at."

His eyes turned from a that smug look he always had to anger.

"So what are you waiting for, big boy? Want to show that you can kill a woman? Isn't that how your mother died in prison? What irony."

As I was talking, I grabbed the gun slowly. In one swift movement I pulled it, but he was anticipating my move, grabbing my arm, pulling me towards him and head butting me. Again I felt dizzy, stumbling away.

"Believe me, this is far bigger than you and me. I had planned on killing you quickly. But now, I feel like I want to take my time. You misunderstood me. I don't need to proof anything to anyone. I simply enjoy the sound of bones breaking, flesh tearing, skulls cracking."

He grabbed me by my throat again, pressing me against the wall.

"I don't need knives. I just use my hands. It's a wonderful craft."

His face was inches away from mine.

"So here is the plan." He said, the gleeful look back in his eyes. "I'm going to break every bone in your body, starting with your legs, dislocating your hips, breaking your shins, your arms, your fingers, your wrist…"

"Yeah, yeah I get it… You're breaking everything." I tried to stay in character.

He looked at me surprised. "I appreciate the courage. But it's forsaken. Courage won't help your friend in there."

I was thinking of Alex, still trying to think of a way to escape. But I couldn't reach for any of my tools on my belt since he was holding me way too strongly. He wasn't only strong, he also was trained by the League of Shadows. He knew my next move before I did.

I was thinking of Bruce and how now made the same mistake as him. Only difference, Bane would actually kill me. Unless he would find out who I really was. But then he would kill Alfred or Alex. It was better if I died.

In that moment something dropped next to my feet and exploded, gas streaming out of it. I was waiting for whatever effect to take a hold of me but it seemed to do nothing.

Bane on the other hand was gasping for air, letting me go. I grabbed four tranquilizer darts from my belt and jammed them in his neck. Even with four darts, he wasn't immediately out. He ran away, closing the door of the entrance behind him.

I was looking around to see who it was that threw the gas, though I already knew.

Finally I saw his face emerge from the darkness.

"You're welcome." The high-pitched voice said under laughter.

"I didn't say thank you." I responded, looking for my gun but Bane had thrown it somewhere I couldn't see it.

"I help you, you help me." The Joker said.

"I don't do deals." I said, making my way to the window where I saw Alex.

"Well but you owe me princess." The Joker said.

"Don't call me that." I said angrily.

The men in the room with Alex left frantically, obviously aware that Bane was down.

That's when I made my way through the window, untying Alex.

"You Cat's friend?" He asked.

"Don't say her name out loud in this place. Or anywhere."

We climbed out of the window.

"Hold on to me." I ordered.

"What?"

"Did I say we have time for questions? Hold on to me. Now!"

He wrapped his arms around me as I grabbed a tool from my belt, shooting a wire at the roof of the building next to us.

"Don't let go." I said as I hit the button and the wire pulled us up into the night sky.

His arms and legs now really tightly around me as we landed on the rooftop.

I stood up. "You ok?"

He was breathing heavily. "What the... Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter. What matters is that you're ok."

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"Good. Let's get you out of here."

I activated a button and the doors of the Bat opened up.

"You're friends with Batman?" He asked.

"No, just borrowing his stuff. Figured he wouldn't mind since he's on extended vacation."

He smiled.

"Get in." I said.

"You know how to fly this?" He asked as the doors closed.

"I've done it once."

"That's reassuring."

We took off and flew to another rooftop at the end of town.

From there we switched to a car and I drove him to the place where Fox and Tate were hiding.
When we walked in, Fox got up, walking over to us with a concerned look on his face.

"Are you ok?" He asked me.

"Couldn't be better." I responded.

"You're bleeding." He said, looking at my face.

I had felt something hot on my face, but I had assumed it was the adrenaline. I looked in a mirror and saw blood still streaming down my face. It must have been from when he smashed my head against the wall. I couldn't see the source of the bleeding but assumed it was somewhere under my hair.

"Ah, it's nothing." I said grabbing a piece of cloth and wiping it away. "The place has ample security you said, right?"

"Yes, it's surrounded by surveillance and several defense mechanisms. We're safe in here."

"Good. I'll talk to you later."

"Miss." He said and I turned around. "I'm glad you're not dead." He smiled at me and I laughed.

"Yeah, me too."


I was standing in front of the computer screens in the Batcave, looking at the security cameras Fox had talked about. Alex, Fox and Tate were all sitting there, talking. They were safe. For now.

"This is the moment when I have to ask you to take a seat, Mrs Wayne." Alfred said as he put a silver metal tray next to a chair.

The tray had scissors, needles, thread, alcohol and other things on it.

"You trying to teach me how to sew?" I asked sarcastically.

Alfred didn't respond, waiting for me to sit down. Reluctantly I did.

The old butler put on his glasses, looking at my head.

"Yes, there it is." He said.

"What is?"

"A deep laceration. I'm not going to lie, this will hurt."

"Not as much as getting it."

He laughed. "No, I would assume not."

He was stitching me up, not asking any questions or lecturing me. He could tell I didn't need lecturing. Not tonight.

As the adrenaline was slowly vanishing I felt the pain all over my body. Everything hurt.

"The Joker saved my life." I said.

Alfred stopped what he was doing, looking at me closely.

"What do you make of that?" I asked, not looking at him.

"That he doesn't want Bane to be the one that destroyed Gotham. He wants to keep that title for himself. And he knows, for this brief time, you and his goal are aligned. To stop Bane."

I looked at my fingers, nervously playing with my ring.

"There. All done." He said and I got up, wincing in pain.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Ah, nothing. Bane just hit me on my old wound."

"We have to check you for internal bleeding."

"I'm fine, Alfred."

"Oh, I wasn't asking. I have a doctor friend who can visit us here."

I sighed, then nodded. Probably wasn't a bad idea after all.


The results from the doctor visit were: some internal bleeding, two fractured rips and lots of swelling and bruising.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my whole body covered in deep blue and purple bruises.

I was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep. My body was exhausted. Hurt. But my mind was racing.

Would I ever be able to stop Bane? I wasn't sure. Right now it felt like I wasn't. Was all this for nothing? All this training. The fighting.
Maybe I should just accept the end. Stop fighting. I wasn't good enough. I wasn't…wasn't him.

I was still awake, trying to fall asleep. Suddenly I had a vision of a hand grabbing around my neck. Long fingers sneering their way around my neck. In the darkness I was trying to make out who was holding me.
It was an old woman in a white night dress with long white hair. Her skin grey, her eyes black. She was smiling at me as she closed her hand around my airways. I was trying to breathe, my hands gripping onto her arm, trying to move her away.

Her skin was cold to the touch. She widened her smile as I tried to push her away but her cold, veiny arm didn't move — only gripping on to my neck harder.

I turned on the light and sat up straight in bed. I was out of breath, trying to calm myself.

It's not real.

I looked around the room but I was by myself.

It's not real.

My heart was racing. I got up. There was no sleep for me tonight.


I was sitting in the Batcave, staring at the cameras, making sure they were safe. And they were - for now. Safety was a word that had little meaning these days in Gotham.

"Some coffee?" Alfred asked, putting down a tray with hot java next to me.

"Thanks." I responded.

"Did you get any sleep last night?"

I shook my head. "Too much to think about."

In that moment I saw the gate to Wayne Manor open and a car drive through. It was Bane.

"This ought to be good." I sighed. "As long as he can't see my bruised body we should be in the clear."

I was wearing sweats and a hoodie when Alfred opened the door. Normally Bane would ask for me and Alfred would get me.
But as I was sitting in the living room, pretending to read a book and drink coffee, I heard Bane storm in.

"Where is she?" He demanded.

Did he know? Did he figure out it was me? If so, what would I do? How could I defend myself?

He stormed into the living room and looked at me angrily.

"Coffee?" I asked.

"Tell me where she is!" He demanded.

"Who?"

He grabbed me by my arm and pulled me up, pushing me against the wall. I tried not to make it too obvious that my entire body was screaming at me in pain. But at the same time, I couldn't look too cocky.

"You know who. Your friend in the mask. Don't play games with me."

At least he didn't think it was me. "I have no idea where she is."

"Do you think I'm a fool?"

"No, do you think she is? She would never tell me where she is. Would you if you were her? I know as much about her as you do."

"But she's talked to you."

"No, I've never met her."

"Then why is she saving your friends?"

"You would have to ask my friends that. I've been locked in your cage. I think she wants to help me because she knows, as well as you do, that I'm a symbol. The grande prize so to speak."

He let go off me.

"If I find out you're lying, I hurt you in ways you never thought possible."

With that he left.


I needed some time to think. Some time alone. During the day I wasn't able to do anything any way.
"Alfred, I'm going to the park." I said, now wearing a big white coat. In my free time I tried to avoid wearing anything black. Throw off any suspicion.

We still didn't know where the bomb was and time was ticking away. Now Bane was mad as hell. The Joker might help us but I couldn't trust any of his actions. What if he was helping us now and then, once Bane was defeated, he would take over the city.

I was standing in the park, taking a deep breath, trying to forget all the evil for a second. In front of my closed eyes I could see Bruce, smiling at me.

I opened my eyes, staring at Central Park, blanketed in snow, my arms wrapped around me. For a second the city seemed so peaceful. The snow swallowed the noise.

The cold air was brushing against my skin. It used to bother me. I used to hate the cold. Now I barely noticed it.

It had snowed non-stop for a week now, painting the whole city white. It was as if Bane's arrival had drained Gotham's color. Now it was just black and white.

I was standing under a bridge, watching the snow flakes. Usually the park was always busy. Even in the winter. But now there was nobody. The city was dead. Lifeless.

"Cold day for a walk in the park."

The sound of his voice hit me like a tsunami wave. I closed my eyes, pressing my lips together, swallowing hard. I knew it wasn't real. He wasn't here. I just wanted him to be.
I hadn't heard his voice in months. Not even in my mind.

It's not him. It's not him. It's not him.