Author's Note: Hey y'all, I'm back from my vacation and I'm updating! YAY! Firstly, welcome new reviewers! And secondly, I hope you enjoy this relatively short chapter. Next chapter will be up very soon after I let the drama sink in. Enjoy!

The cave was exactly the same as it was in the past—give or take a few machines or two. But what did I expect of myself? To find the cave completely redecorated?

No.

I would change a lot of things in my life, but never this.

Never the cave.

The cave where everything started so many years ago.

I could recall that day so distinctively where I had made up my mind about defending Gotham. Alfred and I had gone down the elevator and found the cave. Bats were already flying in it which let me know that this was the place I was meant to set up my base of operations.

"Master Wayne," Alfred yelled over the roar of the waterfall. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

"Do what, Alfred?" I had asked while I surveyed the cave.

"This, sir." He gestured to the cave. "Become a vigilante and hide out in a cave."

"Alfred, I won't be a vigilante, but a sy—"

"A symbol, sir." Alfred finished. "Yes, I know."

"And I won't be hiding out in a cave. This will be where the Batman will be heading his operations."

"I see, sir, but why a cave?" He had seemed squeamish of the bats and even now the image could make me smile.

"It's out of reach, Alfred, and people are afraid of them. They'll avoid caves at all costs, especially ones with bats in them." As if on cue, a bat had flapped its wings and flown right above Alfred's head. He had cursed and dropped his umbrella while I had laughed uncontrollably.

"Alfred, you don't have to worry about me. I know what I'm doing."

"Worried about you, sir?" He had asked, incredulously. "Sir, I'm only concerned about myself and how many times I'm going to have to be down here!" Once again, I had laughed. "Very well, sir, I'm going back upstairs and I shall make us some coffee."

"Thanks, Alfred, I appreciate it."

"You better," He had purposely muttered loudly.

Another smile.

And now, here I was, trapped in a nightmare.

Diana's impending doom was making it hard to focus on finding the Joker.

"Are you alright?" Terry's voice snapped me out of my reminiscence.

"Yeah, fine." I replied. "Now, show me what you got." Terry nodded and went to the huge computer screen and tapped a few buttons to get a video on the screen.

"This was taken two days ago." He hit the play button and I saw the Joker spring to life. He was grinning as usual and was ordering other kids that looked like him, to do his dirty work.

"Those are the Jokerz." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Yeah," Terry agreed. "Most of them are easy to deal with, but a few of the upper level one have sophisticated weapons."

"Now that the Joker's in charge, even the weak ones will be harder to deal with. Expect a lot more weapons." Terry nodded. "Also, we'll have to be careful of falling into traps. The Joker enjoys manipulating people. Are you a quick thinker?"

"Of course," Terry replied. "Anything else?"

There was a huge tremor that shook the mansion.

"What was—?" I tried to ask.

And then, I heard the worst thing ever.

Diana's scream.

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