It was the first time I got back to work. All anyone wanted to talk about was Bruce. There was a moment of silence in the main office, but I didn't care. It wouldn't bring him back. It wouldn't do what I wanted for this city. When I arrived at my desk, I pulled out Bruce's journal that I grabbed the other day from his room. I could barley go in their without almost gasping for air from the pain. I flipped to a random chapter.
"A bat flew in my room today, I was scared. Mom and dad said they'd get an exterminator to take care of it. Alfred tried to cheer me up by catching it with a butterfly net and pretending he was catching a monster for me. It was fun. I decided to let it go, though. The poor thing looked sad. Me and dad went outside and let it out from the cage. But it only went back towards the house. I guess it was too bright for him. I decided to name him Bart. Me and Bart are going to be best friends"
"Mr. Wayne? Mr. Wayne!" Shouted my assistant. "Yes?" I replied with a quick tone "What is it?" She brushed off some dust from her skirt. "A man named Mr. Ghul is here to see you about a project. Should I send him in?" I gave her a thumbs up. Ghul? What a strange last name. He entered in the room. He had a face in the shape of a demon and the eyes of a panther. He wore a green suit under a black coat. Mr. Ghul's stern expression didn't leak his intentions of why he was here. He didn't look happy, nor excited. "Hello Mr. Wayne. My name is ra's. Nice to meet you." He offered his hand to shake. His grip was ice cold and freezing to the touch. It was like he just came out of a grave himself. "Please, sit" I waved to a plate of tea "would you like something to drink? French roast?" He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't have the time for a drink. May I present my idea?" I took a sip of water. "But of course. Please." He pulled out a sword. At first I jumped almost out of my chair, but he set it calmly on the table. "This sword" he said, polishing it like it was his child "has defended many countries from many invasions. From the Templars to the British. Even stood during both world wars. What I would like to do for Gotham is create a network, able to protect against those who attempt to destroy the technology of Gotham city. It would work like a spider. The wall would capture any intruder and then we'd cut off their electronics." I took another sip of my water. The idea sounded good. A way to keep out intruders and take them out at the same time. It just might work. Suddenly, my assistant came in. "Mr. Wayne...?" She asked timidly. "Yes?" She pulled out a knife and started running towards the table "CONSIDER THIS MY RESEGNATION!" Ra's stood up, grabbed her by the wrist, and pinned her to the floor. I haven't seen anyone move that fast. It was like an actual demon. He punched the lower area of her spine. She let out a scream and couldn't move. "Di-did you?!" I stammered out. Ra's let up a calming hand. "Don't worry. It's a pressure point. She won't move until the police arrive." I was really impressed by how well ra's reacted. "...say" I said breaking the silence. "How about you teach me how to defend myself? She's certainly not the last after my head, and it might help your project get along quicker." Ra's smiled. God it was scary. "...deal." He said after a long thought. I shook hands with him again, gave ra's the address to Wayne manor, and brushed outside to meet Jim. "Are you alright?" He asked in a worried tone. I laughed. "I'm fine Jim. I'm fine. Listen, I need you to do me a favor. Get some background info on a man named Ra's Ghul for me."
It had been 3 months. He taught me how to fuight with swords, guns, even with hands tied behind my back. I learned every possible escape method out of a trap. I also learned how to make sleeping gas and poison darts. Ra's even taught me how to use the dark as cover. How to embrace it. It seemed like he spent his whole life preparing for this moment. I was curious where my new friend got his training. Suddenly, a call came on the phone. "Sir" Alfred shouted. "Mr. Gordon is on the line." I smiled "Thank you Alfred. I'll take it from here." I picked up the phone to a worried Jim. "Thomas! We've gotta talk. It's about ra's." I pressed a button on the phone to make the line secure. "Go." I heard a couple of papers rustle from his desk. "Apparently, Mr. Ghul is more than he lets on to be. He's currently on the top of the FBI's most wanted list, and is wanted for over 200 crimes against humanity. It also says here he runs a cult of sorts in the Himalayas. Everything else has been burned. I'm sending them in to get him." I was shocked. That would explain his immense training however. "Alright. Give me 20 minutes."
I sent Alfred into the kitchen while Ra's and I had tea. "So Mr. Wayne..." He said after taking a long sip of his tea "have you thought any more about my business proposition?" I took a long sigh. "I have Ra's. There's only one problem with it." Ra's looked stunned for half a second. "And what on earth could it be? The plan's perfect! It would pro-" I raised a hand to shush him. "The problem, Mr. Ghul, is you. I'm afraid I can't let a known convict in on this project. 200 crimes against humanity...that's a long number, that couldn't be kept quietly by an average person. Which also confirms my suspicions that you're more than a human." Ra's gritted his teeth. "You don't know the power you are messing with Thomas. I can assure you, we will save Gotham. With or with out you." Just then a team of swat came through the front door to take him away. They rushed him to an armed vehicle, and he was sent to Arkham.
I stood outside, looking over gotham city. All of the neon lights, the blimps, the sirens...it was becoming a beacon of the country. I wanted to do more for this city. "Master Thomas? Will you be heading to bed anytime soon?" I saw the sweat on his brow. Today's events took a real toll on him, having an actual murder in the manor. "Alfred...what if I could take what I learned and made it so that the city had nothing to fear?" Alfred stared back in silence. He thought about it long and hard. "Would...master Bruce approve?" I started to look back towards the city. "Yes...I'd do it for him. He'd want to save this city like I would." Alfred took a pause. "Well then sir...I guess we better stock up on medical supplies. I don't think you'll be able to operate on yourself". He went back downstairs. It was time to heal the city.