It is a dark and a rather warm night in Gotham City. It's the middle of July and Gotham City is in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave, with record highs in the 90's and closely to 100. And it's not just Gotham City that is seeing this stretch of hot weather, but also Bludhaven and Metropolis. One would suspect that the Egyptian sun-god Ra had come to stay for a holiday, and he brought with him the entire sun. Everything seems to be peaceful in the streets, until an armored vehicle races down Adams Avenue, like a demon out of Hell. Inside this rig, are three Irish lads armed with AR-15 Assault Rifles and in the back of the vehicle are bags containing perhaps millions of dollars. The driver of the truck, Peter Collins is talking on his fucking cellphone to someone. The other two; Keith Noonan and Ralph O'Shea are sitting quietly, looking at the road. Well, Keith's got his eye on Peter, while he talks on his phone, which is illegal and fucking stupid. All three men are wearing leather vests, with sown badges on them. One particular badge that all three men have is labeled, "Celts MC". The Celts are an Irish biker club in Gotham that was formed by Galen Hawthorne, a former member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). After he was excommunicated from the IRA, Galen immigrated to the United States and came to Gotham and joined up with another ex-IRA member, Connor Murphy. And thus, the Celts Motorcycle Club was born. Anyway, back to Peter.
The voice on the other line talking to Peter speaks, "We're on to you, Peter. We know you're working both sides. And if we don't stop you, then the other guy will".
Peter shuts off his phone and focuses his attention on driving. Peter looks a bit paranoid, and he looks out his mirror and sees nothing. He is showing signs of immediate paranoia, as if he is looking around for anyone trying to stop him and his mates from carrying out their mad plan.
Then, he asks, "Is there anyone following us"?
Ralph looks out his side and sees nothing following.
"Relax, Pete. Those pigs won't be able to catch us", Ralph says.
"Yeah, but it's not the pigs that I'm worried about. It's the other guy", Peter replies.
Keith looks a bit confused by what Peter just said. He is but a fresh new face for the MC, as he himself was excommunicated from the IRA. At present, he is prospecting for the MC.
Keith asks, "What other guy are you talking about"?
Then, Ralph chimes in, "He means the fucking Bat, lad"!
Keith doesn't seem to be worried and he says, "Oh, come on, guys. He's just one man and we can take him".
Then, Peter speaks, "Don't wish for an ass-kicking so quickly, Keith, especially if it's going to be one administered by the Bat himself".
Before any of the men could react, their truck is rammed right off the road, by a black armored car; a car that looks to be a cross between a Chevy Camero and militarized Hummer truck. The armored truck slams into a lamppost and finally stops. The black armored car quickly pulls back and just sits there, with its headlights on the wrecked vehicle. Peter, Ralph and Keith slowly get themselves out of the wreck, armed with their weapons and clutching a few bags of cash. Peter and Ralph drop their bags and aim their guns at the black vehicle.
"Come on out, you fucker", Peter shouts.
There is no answer. Peter and Ralph proceed to fire their weapons upon the vehicle. The bullets just bounce off the car. Then, the canopy of the vehicle slides open like a jet airplane and low and behold, there is no one inside. Peter looks pretty scared.
Then, Keith says, "Let's just grab what we can carry and get the fuck out of here, guys".
Ralph says, "Shut the fuck up"!
Suddenly, a shadowy being falls right in front of Ralph and Peter. They aim their guns, but the shadow is quick. The shadow roundhouse kicks the guns from their hands. Then, a barrage of fists to faces begins, as Ralph and Peter are easily beaten to a pulp. Blood and teeth start flying with every hit and the shadow is not the one losing any of those. Keith does nothing to help his brothers in arms. He is scared stiff. The shadow finishes its beat-down on Ralph and Peter. Then, it turns its attention to Keith. Keith looks more scared than ever, as the shadow turns its gaze upon him. Keith drops his AR-15 and his bags of cash onto the ground. The shadow gets close and comes into the light of the wrecked vehicle's headlights. The shadow being is revealed to be the masked vigilante known by many names, the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight and the World's Greatest Detective. But to his enemies and the people of Gotham, he is the Batman. Batman glares at Keith. Keith stares right into Batman's eyes. Keith is so frightened; it seems that he is looking into the eyes of Death itself.
Batman utters but a few words, "You're in my yard, boy. Remember that".
Then, Batman withdraws from the light and back into the dark. He climbs into the black vehicle, which is also known as the Batmobile. The Batmobile's canopy closes, and it roars down the street. Keith Noonan is still frozen still, after seeing Batman in the flesh.
It doesn't take long for the Gotham Police to catch up to these thieving Irish lads. Both Ralph O'Shea and Peter Collins are being taken into ambulances, but they are still alive. Keith Noonan is placed in a squad car, and he is still unresponsive; still looking as if he had just stared into the eyes of Death itself.
The arresting officer, Sergeant Willy Denham asks, "What happened, pal?! How come your buddies are all bloodied and you're not"?!
Keith does not reply. Denham scoffs and then stuffs Keith into the nearest patrol car. While Denham places Keith into the car, Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon arrives on the scene. With him is Chief of Police Miguel Ramirez; Gotham PD's first-ever Latino Police Chief.
Ramirez says to Gordon, "Looks like Batman beat us, again, Commissioner. The two that were getting into the ambulances have been beaten badly, but they're alive. The other one's a different story. It looks like he was scared shitless by something".
Gordon snickers and replies, "And that something is the Batman, Miguel. Get the kid to the MCU for questioning. When the other two are done being treated, have them be sent to the MCU, as well".
At Police Headquarters in downtown Gotham specifically at the Major Crimes Unit, Keith Noonan is sitting by himself in an interrogation room. He is sitting still and still looking as if he had seen a fucking ghost. Never in his life has Keith Noonan ever been so scared. In his native Ireland, he feared nothing, especially being a former member of the Irish Republican Army, like his fellow Celt members. Keith remains silent and oblivious to the presence of an African American police detective. Detective Scott Giordano takes a seat across from Keith. In his hand, Giordano has a dossier. He then slams it in front of Keith, but Keith does not react.
Giordano asks, "Do you want to tell me what the fuck happened out there tonight, Keith"?
Keith does not respond.
Giordano says, "Keith, answer my question, please".
Once again, Keith doesn't reply.
Giordano gets a bit agitated, and he says, "Okay, pal. Here's what we know about you. Your name's Keith Noonan, former IRA operative and prospect for the Celts Motorcycle Club. And what you're looking at right now, for armed robbery and vehicular theft is a maximum of ten years in Blackgate or maybe more. That's all I got for you".
Giordano gets ready to leave the room, but then Keith speaks, "It wasn't a man I saw tonight. It was the Devil".
Giordano looks a bit confused and asks, "Who the hell are you talking about"?
Keith looks up at Giordano and says, "Who the fuck do you think"?!
Giordano nods his head and utters one word, "Batman".
Giordano takes a seat back in his chair and allows Keith to continue.
While Keith is continued to be interrogated by GCPD, something else is happening, specifically at the fabled Batcave, the base of operations to the Batman. The Batmobile is sitting in the middle of the cave. Sitting across from the car is a small chemistry lab sector, with test tubes and beakers and all scientific thing-a-ma-jigs. There is also a big fancy microscope. And sitting next to the chemistry sector is a shelf full of Batman's shiny toys, like his iconic Batarangs, grappling gun, smoke pellets and everything that makes Batman into Batman. At the end of the cave, there is a rather large computer screen, situated on the cave wall. There is a character sitting at the computer, typing keys on the keyboard and that character is Batman, but without his cowl on. It is actually billionaire playboy/ philanthropist Bruce Wayne, chairman and owner of Wayne Enterprises. He is joined by his trusted butler and friend Alfred Pennyworth; a thin old geezer from England, who has been the Wayne's loyal butler for many years. Bruce is seen looking upon a digital profile on one Aaron Wilhelm Reinhardt, the supposed new head of the Falcone Crime Family in Gotham.
Alfred asks, "What could you possibly be looking into at this hour, Master Bruce"?
Bruce replies, "There have been whispers in Gotham that Peter Collins of the Celts MC has been supplying arms to the Falcone Crime Family, under the command of Reinhardt. This is our guy: Aaron Wilhelm Reinhardt. Born in Vienna and later moved to Miami at age 12. He speaks ten languages and has four degrees in literature, cultural anthropology, art and science. His professors all say that Reinhardt has a disturbing obsession with the Occult".
Alfred seems to be a bit shaken by what Bruce has read about Reinhardt.
He then asks, "Why would those hooligans be supplying weapons to such low-life animals like this Reinhardt"?
Bruce replies, "The MC sells weapons to the Mob; plain and simple. It's all about profit for these punks. I ran into the vice president of the MC last night. He found out that Collins and his men have also been supplying arms to another party. He told me he didn't know the man's name, but that he wore some kind of black skull mask".
"Obviously, this mysterious second party is that loathsome Roman Sionis, Master Bruce", Alfred answers.
"It seems that my initial assumption was correct. Black Mask is trying to get back into the game", Bruce says.
Alfred asks, "But why would this Irish biker club be supplying arms to both Black Mask and Reinhardt"?
"I don't know, but fortunately I stopped Collins and two of his men tonight, but now, I need to focus on Reinhardt. There's no telling how much arms and ammunition he has. He could have enough to start another turf war with Sionis, if he's back in the game", Bruce replies.
Alfred then says, "That sounds like quite a plan, Master Bruce and speaking of the Occult, you do have that special lecture to attend at Gotham University tomorrow. Prof. Thomas Harker will be there".
Bruce nods and says, "Yeah, he's coming to discuss some recent discoveries he had made. I almost forgot about that".
"You never mentioned that you've taken an interest in the Occult, Master Bruce", Alfred says.
"Actually, Lucius asked me to go in his place, while he's in Tokyo", Bruce replies.
At the Gotham International Airport, at the front entrances, there is a limousine parked. The driver is found standing by the limo. At the front door, a tall British chap comes out with two big suitcases in his hands. He is Prof. Thomas Vincent Harker of Oxford University in England. The limo driver meets with Prof. Harker.
"Prof. Thomas Harker. Welcome to Gotham. Mr. Hornsby sends his regards", the driver says.
The driver helps Harker with his luggage. The driver leads Harker to the limousine. The old professor enters the vehicle, and the driver shuts the door and returns to the driver's seat. Then, the limo drives off. However, as the limousine drives away, there is a young Latino man, looking directly at the vehicle. Just the way he is looking at it, driving off, gives one a weird vibe that something bad is going to happen. The man, Marcos Rosado walks away and to another car, where another Latino is waiting for him, in the driver's seat. VROOM! The car rushes off.