/GOTHAM GAZETTE/

BEST SERVED COLD...

By Vicki Vale

First, allow me to start by highlighting that this marks the five-hundredth column that I've written for the Gotham Gazette. You're probably wondering why that's important to you. It wasn't as if the average Gothamite couldn't have gone along with their day had I not quantified the number pieces I've written for Gotham's historic newspaper—which I'm honored to do, by-the-by. It's just that I've noticed a common trend with all my columns—rather, with every column written in Gotham and its titanic metropolitan area: Duty.

Or a lack thereof…

All of my columns are painted with or deliberately speak-out on the Batman. Is he real or just a figment of the Gotham collective imagination? Is he a human masquerading as something terrible or is he something terrible masquerading as something vaguely human? Who does he work for? The police? The National Guard? Is he an agent of some federal initiative? Or he is an agent of something far older and far more arcane. And, finally, whose story should we believe? There are so many. In fact, last night reports came in following an explosion of a brownstone in Reatton, owned by none other than Gotham's first lady Pamela Isley, claiming that a giant bat was seen flying down the ever-busy Cook Avenue and rendezvoused with the batmobile before it jumped an entire intersection. This entire display eventually climaxed just north of the Narrows on Harbor Drive with machine gun fire, a demolished Chevrolet Suburban, the batmobile fleeing the scene, and Isley cornered on a roof in bare feet and a bathing suit. Oh, and don't let me forget about the numerous cellphone videos (sporting terrible quality) that surfaced on the internet of Batman flying between the buildings in this spectacular display, which have rated over 500,000 views in just a matter of twenty-four hours.

'Miss Vale, what is your point?' you're probably asking. Well, this entire city has sat idly by and watched the entire metropolitan area decay under the iron-rule of the gangs, organized crime, and super-criminals. And, in our fear of retribution, me included, have morally, ethically, verbally, and physically attacked the Batman and his confederates…the only people (if I can call them that) who lead a crusade to return the city to the rule-of-law. I agree that everyone in Gotham fears the Batman. He's elemental, uncompromising, and violent. But has the Batman ever attacked Sally, Ben, or Tim walking home from the grocery store? No. He crashes into the penthouses of criminals and fills the emergency rooms with gangsters, murderers, and rapists.

My point is this: I woke up this morning and found a manila folder on my bedside table. In the folder were a flashdrive and a note that read:

Freiss' Thaw Process Theorem and data. All 82GB of it. I'm giving this to you because I'm afraid there are those in the legal system that will see that this data never goes public and will block the Sanman Family from the justice they deserve. Do your duty to the people of Gotham. It's always best served cold…

I sat and mulled it over all morning. To be honest, it caused me a tremendous amount anxiety ('It' meaning the concept of duty…not that a giant bat sneaking into my residence without my knowing doesn't) because I knew that it was my duty as a journalist to give this data to the people but I was terrified of the repercussions—the retribution. Criminals do believe that vengeance is best served cold after all and will seek to silence anyone opposing them. But, after a long look in the mirror, I came to this realization: Batman is in a one-man war against something we should all be fighting against. And when he said, "It's always best served cold…" he was not referring to revenge. He was referring to justice. Justice is best served cold; meaning that no one is above it, not you, not me, not Batman, and definitely not the criminal element. So from this point on, I'm going to stand for the people and the rule-of-law and not live in fear of retribution and death even if they come for me. I have a duty to the people of Gotham and a duty to the rule-of-law and I violate that duty every time I turn a blind eye. Batman made me realize that. Gotham doesn't have to be nicknamed the City of Shadows forever—we can change that. We just need to have the civil courage.

I suppose this is where I say, "Thank you, Batman," but I'm unsure as to whether he reads the news. Either way, we and the Sanman Family are in his debt. Now, I have to go respond to my editor, who's probably being assaulted by the mayor's office, for me posting this column in support of the Batman. Hopefully, I get to keep my job.

END