Batman sat in front of his computer, it's screen showing a high magnification of the piece of explosive he got from Gordon. Batman quickly entered a few keys and the computer began to beep, bringing up a composition list of chemicals found in the explosion. Alfred walked up behind him.

"Master Bruce, I think you should turn on the news."

Batman quickly looked back at Alfred, and then went to a different screen, turning it on and switching it to the news.

A bloody scene was found this morning at Reiter's Park. Thirteen people were found unconscious in what appeared to be a tea party in the center of the park. A distance away from the scene a body was discovered, beaten to death. The police have not released the identity, but source have said that it is Jervis Tetch aka The Mad Hatter. The victims found at the site remember nothing of what occurred and the police are saying that they are treating this as any other homicide.

But in light of recent weeks it would be hard not to think of Tetch as another victim of the masked vigilante known simply as Lethal. Back to you, Lisa.

Batman quickly turned the screen off and leaned back in his chair.

"I have to stop this, Alfred."

"You will, Master Bruce. You have done such things before."

Batman sighed and slid his chair back over to the computer, continuing to type in keys.

"Anything from that bag you received from the Commissioner, Master Bruce?"

"The composition of the explosive was definitely homemade. But this isn't just some rigged device. It was carefully designed and built with precision in mind. Lethal has had extensive training in killing."

"Have you discovered how he knew your true identity?"

Batman stared at the computer screen.

"No. But it seems that Lethal is more than just another masked man."

"More than you could imagine."

Batman and Alfred spun around as the voice echoed out in the batcave. Standing at the top of the staircase leading down into the cave stood a man flanked by a much bigger man. The giant African slowly moved down the steps behind his master, his eyes never leaving Batman. Batman slowly stood, putting himself in front of Alfred. The man wore a tailored suit, a green cloak draped over his shoulders. Stepping off the last step and onto the cave floor, Ra's al Ghul stared at Batman with eyes that displayed no emotion.

"It seems that our paths have crossed yet again."

"So it would seem, Ra's."

Slowly moving into a fighting stance, Batman prepared for anything, but Ra's slowly moved his hand up, holding it in front of him.

"I did not come here to fight you, Bruce. Simply to relay information."

"And what information could you possibly have for me?"

Ra's slowly moved over to the side and waited as his bodyguard slid a chair out for Ra's to sit in. Leaning back and crossing his legs, Ra's looked at Batman and slightly grinned.

"Information of a man who has taken the name of Lethal."

Batman stared at Ra's intrigued for a moment then slowly relaxed from his stance.

"The man you know of as Lethal is in actuality Ryan Shaw."

Realization slowly crept into Batman's face.

"I see you remember him. You two trained together for quite a long time."

Alfred stared puzzled.

"I seem to have missed something."

Batman kept his stare straight at Ra's.

"The League of Shadows..."

Ra's smiled.

"Yes. After you left he became my star pupil. Unafraid to do what was needed to complete a task. You were my greatest student...but he was my greatest weapon."

"Why is he in Gotham? What are you planning?"

Ra's slowly shook his head.

"You must allow me to finish, Bruce. For many years, Shaw served me, made me proud. But a few years ago, he asked if he could leave the League and go live his life. Having served me greater than any other before him, I allowed it with the understanding that if I ever needed his assistance, he would rightfully join me once again to serve. And so he left, making his way eventually here...to Gotham where he soon met and feel in love a woman named Emily Durk, eventually fathering a child with her."

The smile of Ra's face disappeared.

"And after years of happiness, like you, his life was ruined. The Joker in a scheme to create panic in this city's citizens and murder you, set off random explosions across Gotham, killing dozens...including Shaw's wife and child. Shaw himself was also caught in the explosion, but did not die, instead falling into a deep coma. Learning of what happened, I quickly dispatched men to bring Shaw to me where, after much deliberation, I immersed him in a Lazarus Pit, reviving him and giving him great power. But, alas, his body was severely damaged in the explosion, leaving him badly scared. After learning of the murder of his wife and child, Shaw vowed revenge and with my assistance, returned to Gotham to rid it of the infection of crime and fear."

"So you help create a murderer."

Ra's grinned slightly as he stood from the chair, pulling his cloak over his body.

"I came to tell you his story, Bruce...to hope that you would realize that he has a reason to do what he is doing. The cleansing of this city was inevitable...even if you were to try to stop it. Shaw simply has taken up his own cause to do so. You can try to stop him, Bruce. He has become more that just a man. Shaw has already died once...I do not think that he would mind doing it again if he could gain his revenge."

Ra's turned and started to walk back up the stairs, his bodyguard keeping his eyes on Batman.

"I will stop him. Murder is still murder."

Ra's turned and looked down at Batman.

"Then I wish you luck, but it is a foolish endeavor."

Ra's left the cave, leaving Batman standing and pondering what he had just learned.

Shaw, the man now known as Lethal, sat on the bare mattress bed holding the picture frame in his hands, his mask laying next to him. Staring down, he looked with longing at the picture of Emily holding the newborn Sara. Emily's smile beamed with happiness...a happiness long since gone from Shaw's heart. A single tear slowly rolled down from Shaw's eye, running over the heavily scared cheek before dropping off and landing on the glass of the picture frame. Shaw quickly wiped it away.

"He escaped once...but the pale faced freak will pay for what he did...they all will."

Putting the picture back down on the table, Shaw stood pulling his mask back over his head.