Gotham Archives

Characters & Prologue

Author's Note: Since this is a mash-up of all things Batman, I will provide a list you can see at any time of current characters. It may change as different characters join the story. When I make a story, I have to be able to picture the characters, so I'll tell which movie/show version I'm using for each character. If you'd rather just see the people as they're introduced, feel free to skip this. I recommend reading it just because it has some important info. The prologue is simply to establish the time and setting. Enjoy! R&R!

Characters:

Batman/Bruce Wayne- Doesn't really matter, but I'm thinking Christian Bale/Michael Keaton because they were the best Batmen (mans?) so far.

The Joker- Batman: The Animated Series/ Heath Ledger versions. Heath was amazing, but not quite as funny as my version. So he'll have his old wacky humor but with Heath's darker portrayal. See Arkham Asylum video game trailers on Youtube for looks.

Harley Quinn- The BTAS version because that's the only one I know.

Commissioner Gordon- Most versions are basically the same, but I think I'm going for Chris Nolan's more competent type.

Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow- Cillian Murphy did this role so well in Batman Begins, so it'll mostly be him. But I have been researching the character, so I'll try to use what I know of the comics.

Harvey Dent/Two Face- Aaron Eckhart's portrayal from The Dark Knight, but a little angrier like the original versions. Obviously, he didn't die at the end of The Dark Knight in this story.

Alfred Pennyworth- All versions rock.

Harvey Bullock- BTAS version. I don't know how much he'll really be in the story…

Renée Montoya- BTAS version. Again, I'm not sure how much she'll be in the story.

Coleman Reese- Dark Knight is the only version. He still works at Wayne Enterprises and has not told anyone Batman's identity…yet.

Lucius Fox- Chris Nolan's Batman Begins/Dark Knight version.

Cedric Lucid- OC head of Arkham Asylum. Look-wise, I'm thinking Paul McGillian (Carson Beckett on Stargate Atlantis)

Phoebe Malaise- OC one of the head psychiatrists at Arkham Asylum. She worked there while Jonathan Crane still ran it. I don't know who look-wise.

Alexander Knox- I guess the Tim Burton Batman version, but a bit more young and eager. For looks I'm thinking Justin Bartha (Riley Poole in National Treasure)

That's all I can think of for now. There will also be different villains not mentioned above. Wayne Manor is still standing, although the whole Raas Al Ghul thing happened. Batman is NOT on the run from the police. You shall soon see why…

Prologue

"I can't believe this. What's becoming of Gotham?" Commissioner Jim Gordon said to the burly man standing next to him. He raked his fingers through his graying hair. He couldn't believe Gotham's White Knight would soon be in handcuffs, being escorted down Arkham's vast halls to a cell in Maximum Security. Gordon had volunteered to be there for precautionary purposes and Harvey Bullock naturally wanted to come along.

"It's kinda ironic, though. Dent tried to get me kicked off the force, ya know. And now look, who's the one getting his very own straight jacket?" Bullock replied disagreeably. He fiddled with his toothpick; he almost always had one clamped between his teeth. Gordon was still debating whether he did it to appear tough or as a nervous habit.

"Yeah, but this wasn't his fault. I think…with the right treatment…maybe he still has some hope. Maybe-"

"Are you serious? No disrespect, Commissioner, but he murdered people in cold blood. He thinks with that coin of his, he's the judge, jury, and executioner. Dent's got his own sort of justice. In fact, he's kinda like Batman."

Gordon's head snapped up. "Harvey Dent is nothing like Batman. Batman never killed anyone. He's the one who caught Dent and The Joker."

"Took him long enough," Bullock scoffed. "Two Face's been runnin' a muck for days, and now he catches him? If you ask me, Bats oughta learn to respect the law and quit makin' trouble for the rest of the city. Ya know he's the reason most of these criminals even exist."

Gordon was about to say something totally inappropriate for a commissioner, when he noticed a petite blonde woman wearing handcuffs and being guided by two male Arkham workers.

"Who's that?" The woman had big, rather childlike blue eyes and messy blonde hair. She might have been cute if it weren't for the look of sheer, inhuman madness in those sky blue eyes.

"Harleen Quinzel, Joker's henchgirl. Total freak."

"Oh, right, Harley Quinn. I didn't recognize her without the make-up and costume." He shook his head. "It's like this place is cursed. Everyone who works here eventually takes up a life of crime."

"Not everyone." Gordon and Bullock whipped around to see the man who had just walked up. He was a bit short and just a little pudgy, like a penguin. This small resemblance was increased even further by the man's inky black hair and black and white suit. He looked to be somewhere in his mid to late thirties. Gordon felt embarrassed by his thoughtless comment, but the man's friendly turquoise eyes showed anything but annoyance.

"You must be Dr. Cedric Lucid," Gordon said, extending his hand. Cedric shook it and then shook Bullock's.

"I of course see where you're coming from, Commissioner. Dr. Quinzel was an exceptional psychiatrist, as was Dr. Crane from what I've heard. It's a shame they couldn't handle the stress."

"From what you've heard?" questioned Bullock.

"I never worked with him. When his activities were discovered, I was transferred here from my post in Carson City. I thought that it was only a temporary state, that Harleen would take over my position as head at Arkham, but obviously that is now impossible. So it looks like I'll be staying."

The three men fell silent and watched as Harvey Dent was now forced through the hall's large doors and pulled along by two more guards. The young guard on his left side kept glancing at Harvey's gruesome burns and back. That was until Two Face gave him a menacing glare that showed quite plainly he would not think twice about putting a bullet in the man's head. Make that two bullets.

When Harvey was about to pass him, Cedric stopped him short. He held out his left hand expectantly.

"What?" Harvey asked with a dangerous tone in his voice.

"Your coin please, Mr. Dent."

Does this guy know what he's getting himself into here in Gotham? Gordon wondered. He acts so timid. I don't know if he gets how psychotic some of these criminals are.

Surprisingly, Harvey handed over the burnt coin with no argument. If this pleased Dr. Lucid at all, he didn't show it. His face seemed to be a constant mask of apprehension. Maybe he did know what he was dealing with.

The guards began to take Two Face away to his cell, but he stopped dead in front of the Commissioner. Then he looked Gordon directly in the eye and made what might have been a promise or a threat.

"I'll get it back."

"Dr. Malaise, will you please put this in my office? It may be helpful for his therapy."

"Of course." Phoebe Malaise was a thin woman, a gawky mass of lanky arms and legs. She was average height and had incredibly wide gray eyes behind her rectangular glasses. Her short, straight dark hair was always kept immaculately neat.

Cedric turned to Gordon and Bullock. "I'm sorry, have you met Dr. Malaise? She's one of our top psychiatrists."

"We've met actually," Bullock said.

In response to Cedric's quizzical look, Phoebe explained, "I was questioned after they caught Dr. Crane. I had to testify against him."

"Anyway," Gordon said hurriedly. "We had better get going. Have a lot to do back at the station. Bye."

"Oh, well, thank you both for coming."

As they were walking to their separate cars in the parking lot, Bullock noticed how troubled the Commissioner looked.

"Hey, you're not worried 'bout Dent, are you? He's in Maximum Security. No way he's breaking outta there."

"People have before."

"Don't worry. I think Gotham might be lookin' toward a better future. Maybe the storm's finally passin' over."

Little did anyone know that, in reality, the storm had just begun.

Author's Note: So what did you think? Should I continue? Sorry for the short chapter, but it is a prologue after all. Please review! They make me write faster! If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask in a review or message!