Guest: Yeah, the Dark Knight Strikes Again was full Frank Miller. Never go full Frank Miller
Guest: Thanks! Glad you like it!
Sorry for the delay! But I hope it was worth the wait!
Making the Best of It
Chapter 44
Gotham City
A press conference at City Hall where Mayor Nakano announced Gordon's replacement as police commissioner.
"I am pleased to announce your new Police Commissioner Renee Montoya." Said woman stood beside the one-eyed mayor, dressed professionally for the announcement.
"To recite former Captain Montoya's record following James Gordon's departure would be a disservice. However, her record speaks for itself. I believe she is up to the task and more than ready to serve our fair city," Nakano continued, smiling for the cameras.
"Commissioner Montoya stands firmly against the Batman and all masked individuals," he stated emphatically.
Reports clamored to get their questions answered. A cacophony of shouts and shuttering of camera flashes left the older Hispanic woman dazed.
"Commissioner!"
"Mr. Mayor!"
"Why go after the Batman, instead of the still fragmented Mutant's terrorizing the citizens of Gotham?" One reporter asked.
Montoya took to the podium and answered the question. "The Batman is a criminal in the eyes of the law. No matter what sort of good he may perform. Batman and all other criminals will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," she stated.
"However, crime is down since Batman's return. How do you respond to that?"
"Just because crime stats say they are down doesn't mean that it is. The GCPD has a job to do, and Batman is a problem for the GCPD to apprehend."
Montoya quickly said the following. "I am mobilizing the full authority of my office for the crimes of breaking and entering, assault, battery, criminal trespass, destruction of property, I am issuing a warrant for the Batman's arrest. He is to be considered public enemy number one," she declared.
"Polls indicate that Batman should be running the city. Mr. Mayor your numbers are jumping off a cliff. Would you call this aggressive policy on the Batman to save face?" An aging Vicki Vale inquired. "The Batman did what the GCPD and your office were unable to do.
"The Batman not only apprehended the Mutant Leader but also broke up the Mutant gang into smaller groups after half its members were arrested."
A scowling Nakano replied, "No one is saying the Batman didn't stop the Mutant Leader. We have video footage of the savage assault supporting that. However, he is a danger to every citizen in Gotham," he claimed.
Vicki Vale continued to fire back at the mayor. "Is this a matter of law or settling a grudge?"
"What?" the Japanese American uttered in confusion.
"Your departure from the police force was due to an incident that cost you your eye and took the life of your partner. Whom was later discovered to be an officer on the take for Oswald Cobblepot. It has also been suggested that the Batman was on scene during the explosion. Is this a vendetta, Mr. Mayor? Are you fit for the office? Or are you under the effects of PTSD?" Vale turned the heat up on Nakano, whom seemed at a loss for words.
He started to stutter, unable to find a response.
Sensing weakness, the other reporters demanded a response from the mayor.
The roar of questions was deafening as Nakano's aide abruptly ended the press conference and retreated entered City Hall.
A fuming Nakano stumbled through the halls with his entourage behind him.
"I just had my ass handed to me," he bit out.
"Vale's an old pro, sir. She knows how to rile people up and get under their skin," his aide reasoned with him.
"I don't care about that. She just made it appear like I want Batman stopped for more than my law-and-order stance," he yelled angrily.
"Montoya!" He called to the woman.
"Mr. Mayor?"
"Do whatever it takes but bring in the Batman," he ordered. "I want results, not Gordon's tired old policy of arrest on sight that never happens," he rebuked.
"I understand," the Hispanic woman nodded her head in agreement.
While the woman also had some doubts about Nakano's reasons for outlawing Batman. She knew the vigilante was breaking the law and had been for years. An example had to be made, crime had to be rooted out in every sense of the word. And she would be the woman to do it.
Gotham City
The Mutants.
What was once an army was now splinter groups with no united leader nor united agenda except cause chaos and death.
And Batman had been hitting them hard. Apprehending and leaving them tied up for the police even with him declared public enemy #1.
Half a dozen groups had been taken into custody by the police. Of course, Batman had interrogated them and found out about a gun buy by Pier 27.
The vigilante stood perched atop one of the warehouses. Drones covering all entrances into the pier. Well after hours, cars slowly arrived followed by a truck.
Armed guards left the truck and a man in a brown coat and gelled hair formed into lines. Mutants wordlessly handed over a duffle bag of cash.
A nod from the brown trench coat man and the armed guards started emptying the truck handing out crates.
Batman leaned in, magnifying his cowl vision to watch as AK's and other artillery are handed off to the Mutants.
Leaping off the ledge, his black cape spread out like wings.
The Mutant inspecting the new hardware was his first target. Shock and awe. Surprise them followed by picking them apart one by one.
His black boots slammed the lone Mutant into the ground, nearly snapping him in two.
The Mutants as well as their gun suppliers were startled and then reacted.
Batarangs were thrown disarming the armed guards. The man known as Fixx was about to pull out a plasma pistol from his breast pocket. However, Batman already saw it coming and flung a razor-sharp batarang at him. Due to the angle as well as slicing Fixx's right wrist as it was across his chest, the flying projectile wound up embedded in his left eye.
A shrill scream left the well-dressed man, clutching his eye while his weapon lay abandoned on the ground.
Behind the vigilante, the Mutants were pulling out their own pieces, however, Batman was a step ahead as he dropped a magnesium flare behind him.
A blinding white light burst from the pellet, even with their visors they were still seeing spots.
Batman was a black and gray whirlwind easily dispatching the blinded Mutants.
The armed guards regained their weapons and started firing at him. The masked man rolled out of the way and took cover behind one of the Mutants' cars.
As gunfire rained down on the car, Batman ordered one of the drones in. Silently, approaching the armed gunman, a concussion blast erupted from the drone knocking them out.
Fixx had already gotten into his car and took off as soon as Batman reared his head up. Scowling, displeasure consumed him.
Yet, he stopped a gun buy, apprehended more Mutants, and made a discovery.
The vigilante picked up the plasma pistol, eyed it suspiciously. This kind of hardware in the hands of the remaining Mutants made him shudder.
With an anonymous tip to the police, Batman took off with the plasma pistol. He wanted to find out where it came from and who was handing out the guns.
However, the one that got away haunted him. He would have been a treasure trove of information about the gun operation.
Batcave
Batman spent the rest of the night examining the plasma pistol. Dusting for fingerprints, residue, and all the standard tests. The fingerprints turned up nothing in any database. And then he went deeper. Disassembling the hardware into its components and examined them for evidence.
It was then that he made a startling discovery. A microchip native to Powers Technologies that regulated the power source for the plasma pistol.
Derek Powers was supplying arms to the Mutants. Hired them to go after Elissa when Bruce Wayne refused to step down as CEO of Wayne Enterprises, he theorized.
Batman sat in his seat before the batcomputer deep in thought. He was very eager to make Powers rue the day he ever set foot into Gotham. However, with Batman on the outs with the police it was going to be very difficult to get them to open an investigation. No, he needed the police to do it on their own. But with the plasma pistol in his possession, it would be inadmissible.
With a thought in mind, he picked up the phone and called someone he hadn't spoken to in a few years.
A few rings later, he heard a female voice over the receiver. "Gordon," they answered automatically. No doubt working late.
"It's me," Bruce introduced himself.
Barbara was silent and then let out a resigned sigh. "I was wondering when I would hear from you," the aging redhead replied casually.
"I need a favor," Bruce explained.
The fact that Barbara was silent again, obviously mulling about not hanging up the phone, made Bruce wary.
"I can't do it," the woman denied. Barbara was looking around cautiously, searching for eavesdroppers. "Those days are over."
She whispered the next part, "You're Gotham's Most Wanted now, Bruce. I can't and I won't help you anymore. My father did and he got forced out earlier than expected because of you," she accused. "You're on your own now."
She hung up before he could even explain his theory about Powers and the Mutants.
Reluctantly, Bruce pondered how different things were going to be now that Jim wasn't commissioner anymore. He was on the outs with the police making the mission much more difficult than before. No matter, he would still do the job regardless.
"A house fire at the home of Harvey Dent and Dr. Marilyn Crane has turned into a grisly murder at the former gangster's home."
A news report went over the air waves.
"When I was released from Arkham, I knew I would never see the inside of a court room again. Instead, I got a job at a library. Mind numbingly mundane. But it paid the bills. Then I met with Dr. Crane. Just to check up with me. Eventually, mere conversations turned into something more… passionate. She was beautiful and smart. She was able to make me smile after so many years of being alone. She wasn't my doctor anymore and I wasn't her patient and a few more meetings and we made it official. What little money I had stored away before my… accident and I had bought a ring. She cried when I proposed. I almost cried when she accepted. We didn't care what people thought, she didn't care about my past or what my career was, she just loved me for me. I didn't have that since Gilda."
Harvey Dent Marilyn Crane Residence
The fire originated from the fireplace. Someone had left it unattended, resulting in a wild ember spitting out from the roaring fire and landing on the carpet. Minutes later, the fire alarm blares followed by smoke consuming the room. Luckily, the fire department arrived in time to put out the fire before it consumed the whole building.
When the fire was snuffed out and the smoke began to clear, that was when firefighters discovered the grizzly scene of the office. Blood covered the walls, the furniture, the carpet. Signs of a struggle all around the room. Atop of the desk was the body of Dr. Marilyn Crane, lifeless and bloody.
Multiple stab wounds and her throat was slashed for good measure or over kill since most of the fabled doctor's blood was all over the room.
A gruesome message written in the victim's own blood covered a wall of the office.
'Now it's just the two of us.'
At first glance most officers would assume Two-Face reared his ugly head again.
"Damn it!" Commissioner Montoya swore, taking in the scene. "I want an APB on Harvey Dent," she ordered to a few officers. "I want forensics in here, I want to make sure the fire didn't destroy any evidence."
Detective Mahoney, an older man on the job, scanned the room. His large frame and broad shoulders made him seem like a living mountain. He took note of the savage wounds on Dr. Crane's body. Noting the distinct lack of duality in her mutilation. Odd number of stabs wounds as well as the way the knife sliced the neck, indicates the killer was left-handed.
Mahoney steered clear of the commissioner as she was barking orders at the forensic unit as well as the police officers entering the room.
Noting the blood on the walls, the killer had to be covered in it. A canvas was already under way for witnesses.
He was about to check the bathroom to see if the killer cleaned themself up in their or changed their clothes when he noticed a black burned in the carpet. It was too far away from the now dowsed fireplace to have gotten there by a stray ember.
The detective crouched by the scorched area; an inconspicuous grimace flickered on his face from the strain.
An idea began to form in his head. He glanced at the bloody message followed by the murder victim lying on the desk and slowly things began to click into place.
"The fire started here," he muttered to himself. Slowly, rising to his feet, he slipped away from the crime scene.
"While shopping for rings, I was stunned to find out that my dear Marilyn had a sister—a twin sister! I can admit that it rattled me. They were nearly identical. Except for the birthmark on their respective cheek. Marilyn had it on her left while the sister had it on her right.
Her name was Madeline. And she was just as beautiful as my Marilyn. Except Madeline oozed a seductive aura that constantly radiated around her, contrary to the more reserved Marilyn. Marilyn was afraid if I found out about her sister, I might risk a relapse. I, too, had the same thought. I could already feel my darker half laughing at me. His interest was piqued by the twin. I steeled myself and assured my sweet Marilyn, whom had become fearful for my mental health.
I met Madeline at a café with Marilyn to sit down and get to know each other. We were going to be family. It was the right thing to do. Before we had arrived, Marilyn had disclosed that Madeline had been in and out of institutions her whole life, the reason why Marilyn pursued psychology, a way to help her sister when everyone else failed to do so.
I shared a hint of disdain for the institutions she mentioned. A grudge against the wicked halls of Arkham Asylum. But I pushed those feelings aside and focused on Marilyn and the life we were building together. And Two-Face was pushed into the back of my mind. I didn't want anything to do with him.
We had left that meeting with Madeline, convinced she was just there to congratulate us. Marilyn was surprised but I was skeptical. Maybe because of my past I had trouble believing her kind words through a bright white smile. Yeah, I knew when someone was two-faced.
A few weeks went by, Marilyn was working with a patient I was working late at the library stocking shelves and checking our records for overdue books when I was surprised to see Marilyn wearing a fur coat, her gorgeous blonde hair covering the right side of her face.
She kissed me and I instantly knew that this wasn't Marilyn. I pushed her away, rebuffing her twisted advances. I refused to betray Marilyn in such a way.
Yet, Madeline's words were like pinpricks to my resolve pointing out the difference in passion between her and her sister.
Duality. Sweat started to form on my body, nervous energy began to build. My resolve was failing. I tried… believe me I tried to ignore her but… I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to be tempted so fiercely at this stage.
I lashed out at her angrily. Sneering at her to not talk about Marilyn like that. She said I was hurting her, and the grimace and anger quickly disappeared. I didn't want to be that person anymore.
But Madeline… Madeline loved the anger just beneath the surface in me. It stoked a fire inside her which then lit me ablaze.
After it was over, I hated myself. I felt remorse for betraying Marilyn like that while she was none the wiser. She didn't deserve that. So, I abruptly ended things with Madeline. I was cold and cruel to her, but I only voiced my own self-loathing. I still blame her when I was too weak to refuse her advances. I even went as far as saying I would deny anything Madeline could possibly say to Marilyn about the affair.
I hadn't changed.
My words only incited Madeline. Caused her to reveal such resentment towards her sister that festered for years. I didn't think much of it at the time. But I should have. I went back to work, yet Madeline's words gnawed at me. I called Marilyn just to check on her. I got no answer. And then I knew something was wrong. On the drive home, I went through all the possible scenarios on why Marilyn wasn't answering the phone. Not home. In the shower. Outside chattering with the neighbors. Desperately trying to make myself feel better.
When I arrived home, I knew. I found my love dead in her office. My world shattered as the scent of iron from the blood almost made me vomit.
I was too late. Too damn late!
I never should have done it. I should never have made the bad choice again. Should have stayed on the straight and narrow line like I promised myself that I would.
I staggered about trying to piece together my life without Marilyn. Every fiber of my being demanded revenge. But I was fixed. I was cured! I would never be capable of performing violence again. Harvey Dent wasn't a killer.
My eyes glanced at the fireplace. But I knew someone who was.
I numbly walked to the fireplace, my mind blank. I had no hesitation about what I had to do.
I reached into the fireplace with my left hand. The flames were burning my flesh, but I didn't feel it. I grabbed a handful of it and shoved it into the left side of my face. It burned. It burned almost as bad as the acid that was thrown in myself all those years ago. I screamed as the vision in my left eye became blurry. When it was over, I stalked out of the house, vengeance in mind.
I knew it wouldn't be a matter of finding her. It would be a matter of her finding me.
I stood at a lone pier for I don't know how long, but she found me somehow.
She tried to explain herself. How it wasn't her fault. That Marilyn was to blame. How she didn't love me for me but this lesser version of myself that helped people keep their lunches down.
I defiantly showed her my handy work. My seared face which led to my fall into Hell.
"Do you still want me?!"
She said she did without any hesitation or disgust at my disfigurement. She said we were two of a kind. But those words were hollow to me. I couldn't stand to look at her. To look at the face of Marilyn and know she wasn't here anymore. And it was because of me.
She brought me in close and for a moment I thought I was in the arms of Marilyn. When she tried to kiss me, Marilyn's smiling face flashed into my mind followed by the last time I saw her. Murdered and bloody in our home.
And the rest was easy.
BLAM!
She was surprised by the gunshot. As life faded from her eyes and her legs gave out into my arms, I swear she smiled at me. Almost as if she regretted what she had done and needed someone else to put her out of her misery.
And then… Then I just waited… for you to show up like you always do."
Two-Face turned his head to see Batman standing behind him, wrapped in his cape staring blankly at him.
"Who were we kidding? Nothing can change what I am," he said regretfully. "The clown was right. All it takes is one bad day to get dragged back into hell."
Batman stood silent, Two-Face or rather Harvey dropped the gun and fell to his knees cradling the body of Madeline in his arms.
The vigilante's black cape fluttered in the wind, as sirens blared in the background. His thoughts about people being unable to change floated in his mind.
'You and me both, Harvey.'
Batcave
Elissa hated the batcave. Normally, any teenager finding out that father was a superhero would lose their mind about this secret life they had before you were born. The costume, the secret base, and all the vehicles and trophies that riddled the dank cave would have other kids flipping out.
Of course, Elissa wasn't immune to such feelings. When she came down here the first time, she was more a child than the sullen teenager that she now was. The stars in her eyes when she saw all the cars and costumes bewildered her. The giant T-Rex and penny were a bit ostentatious in her opinion but still cool. All the other trinkets were cool too. But now it felt cold and smelled bad sometimes. She understood that the cave had a filtration system that dealt with all that but still…
And she especially didn't like the ceiling. The stalagmites that looked like they were about to fall on her head like a guillotine. Plus, the chirping of the bats that hung from the ceiling. She always thought that something was going to fall into her hair. And then she would spend hours in the shower washing her hair and still felt unclean. It was already such a chore to wash her long hair.
Which was why she was wearing a hat when coming down to the cave. She searched for her father, wondering if he was home and needed to be bandaged up again. It was good to get some practice in medicine, but it felt morbid that she was tending to her father's wounds.
"Dad?" she called out. Only hearing chirping bats and the sound of rushing water in the background.
She walked by the batcomputer to find it abandoned. Her blue eyes scanned the rest of the area to find her father absent. Believing he was out, she intended on heading back upstairs when she noted a light in the far back of the main cave area.
Inquisitive as her father she investigated. She carefully trekked closer, aware that this was her father's work area. The place where he was building weapons or testing other equipment. As she walked over, she kept a wary eye on the ceiling, pitch black to her eyes. At the workstation, she saw an all-black batsuit under construction. It looked cool, but she never thought her father would have a broad red bat emblem on it, and the longer ears were ostentatious too.
Robinson Park
It was evitable. A battle between the remnants of the Mutants and the dead-clown worshipping Jokerz. Originally, he had dismissed the Jokerz as a threat that warranted intervention merely having any weapons other than what they could get their hands on. But when they got their hands on guns, they went to the top of his to-do list.
A turf war erupted between the two gangs in Robinson Park. The battle began at the entrance of the park, cars and trucks parked along the street and homes either oblivious to the conflict or desperately trying to stay away from the windows.
There had to be about two dozen of them on each side fighting it. Chains, fists, knives, anything was fair game to beat the other.
Before the bodies started to drop, a black blur descended upon them. Startled in the beginning, the gangs stopped fighting to recognize that Batman had entered the fray.
Widened eyes shined with the realization that they were screwed. Batman tossed smoke pellets against the ground, causing a smoke cloud to engulf the two fighting factions. The gang members were coughing inhaling the blinding smoke, unaware that shadow dealt with them quickly and severely. Batman took them down systematically to ensure no one died. When one lone Joker hit the ground hard, his face aching in pain, he struggled to whisper into his torn cufflink.
"He's here," he uttered, before losing consciousness.
When all the combatants were defeated and the smoke finally dissipated, Batman stood alone over the downed and unconscious men.
A quick survey assured him no one suffered from life-threatening injuries.
It was then that a calm respite proved premature.
A shuddering sound erupted followed by an intense beam of light blast him, effectively blinding him. The vigilante grimaced and used his cape to cover the exposed portion of his face.
"Batman, you are under arrest!" Commissioner Montoya said into a megaphone. A truck parked on the street trailer came apart to reveal Montoya and a handful of officers standing next to a spotlight that was hidden within the trailer.
The Dark Knight realized that this whole thing was a set up. Cops circled him from behind, previously hiding deeper into the park.
He kept his cape around his body, concealing his next move. He knew Montoya wouldn't shoot him on sight at least not yet.
Aside from the ambush he found himself in, he chided himself for walking into a trap. The police used the antagonism between the Jokerz and Mutant's to their advantage. He would have done the same thing but the fact that he was the one caught in a trap galled him.
Montoya stepped off the trailer, kept her weapon trained on him, but stayed in front but off to the side of the spotlight blasting the vigilante with light.
Thankfully, Batman's lenses had adjusted to the light and retrieved his bearings.
"Batman you are under arrest," the female police commissioner repeated. "Show me your hands," she ordered.
It turned into a standoff as the vigilante was refusing to cooperate silently. His eyes darted back and forth counting the number of guns pointed at him.
His silence irked the Hispanic woman, making this more difficult than it already was.
Two behind.
Four on my flank.
Eight in front on ground level.
Three snipers on the surrounding buildings encircled the main entrance to the park.
"On the ground, freak!" An agitated officer yelled; his rifle jerked towards Batman.
In a swift movement, Batman's cape burst open, and the masked man slammed a few flash bang grenades onto the ground.
The cops were blinded by the sudden burst of light, ears ringing, grunts of pain echoed from them. With the ground cops disoriented, Batman took out the snipers first.
The three snipers were initially blinded by the sudden flash of light by Batman, seeing spots which were beginning to fade.
Snatching a launcher from one of the cops, he used it to fire a smoke grenade towards them all. A cloud of smoke smothering them.
A recovering officer nearest to the vigilante was about to respond. However, Batman was faster and proceeded to smack the officer around with the now useless launcher.
The downed officer's pained grunts roused the other recovering officers.
Batman calculated that he had about sixty seconds before the smoke fully dissipated. He knew he needed to end this quickly.
"Hold your fire!" Montoya struggled to order. The last thing she needed was friendly fire or worst killing a civilian.
Batman went to work beating down the officers. Blows to the throat, taking their weapons from them and hitting them with it. Breaking arms when he could.
The officers' vision and hearing were restored and were reacting in full force.
As Batman downed another cop, Montoya had her weapon trained on the now crouching Batman, the spotlight behind her.
"Batman, final warning or I will—AH!"
Batman cut her off with a batarang, traveling at an angle that disarmed the woman as well as taking out the spotlight.
In a matter of seconds, all the cops were either disarmed or kissing grass.
Nevertheless, Montoya had retrieved her weapon and took a shot at the dark-clad man, taking the tip of his left ear off his cowl.
"Freeze, you— UGH!"
Batman silenced her with a hard punch to the face, knocking her on her ass.
With seconds to spare, Batman ran deeper into the park to avoid the snipers. Fairly quickly Batman had escaped, and Renee Montoya had nothing but a dozen officers in need of medical attention and her with a busted nose.
After that staged encounter with the police, Batman knew he needed to be more careful when stopping crimes. He no longer could go about simply leaping into the fray like the old days of his early years. He needed to be smarter as the police were no longer his strained ally.
However, he needed the aid of one officer to get at one more personal criminal.
Once more Bruce tried calling Barbara again, hoping she would listen to reason.
Of course, the second conversation went as well as the first.
"I told you to stay out of police business. Coming back was a mistake," the aging redhead argued.
"It's important, Barbara," Bruce stated firmly.
"After what happened at the Park, I could get locked up for helping you," she argued. "You should have stayed retired. Even after all the sacrifices we've made, the city doesn't want us anymore. They don't want you anymore," she said icily. Maybe she was being cruel or perhaps she was just jaded at how things had turned out.
"Do you know about the gun sale at the Pier 27 the other night?" Bruce ignored Barbara's protests and went into detail.
The police detective sighed reluctantly. "Yes. I've heard about it. More Mutants and the sellers were arrested," Barbara elaborated.
"I have reason to believe Derek Powers is cornering the market of illegal guns into the city," Bruce explained.
"Derek Powers? The business mogul?"
Bruce could hear the skepticism in her voice.
"Yes. One of the sellers possessed a high-tech weapon that contained components originating from Powers Technologies," the aging man continued.
"You know what you bring to the table will be inadmissible. Especially, with the mayor and commissioner," she reasoned.
"Which is why I'm asking you to investigate," Bruce explained.
Barbara was mulling the prospect over, which Bruce could hear between her reluctant sighs.
To help make her decision easier Bruce brought up the true reason he wanted Derek Powers. "Barbara, Powers hired the Mutants to go after Elissa."
"What?! Is she okay?" The woman asked quickly.
"Yes. I intervened before anything could happen," Bruce assured her.
"Okay. I will make some inquiries. But you need to stay as far away as possible otherwise this won't end well," the redhead accepted. Their relationship maybe strained but family was still family and loved Elissa like a sister.
"I understand."
"It will already be an uphill battle with how connected Powers is with the city government," she reasoned.
"Do what you can, Barbara."
"I will speak to you soon," Barbara ended the call abruptly. No doubt to avoid suspicion of being in contact with him.
He was pleased to hear that Barbara was more receptive to help bring Powers down. However, him sitting on the sidelines while the man who almost had his only daughter killed by a bunch of animals stays free…
Not a chance in hell.
GCPD HQ
Commissioner Montoya sat in her office, formerly Jim Gordon's office, resentfully nursing a black eye and busted nose thanks to Batman.
"If you've heard from him, you need to tell me, Jim." Montoya spoke into her phone.
"He and I don't speak anymore," Gordon denied firmly.
"After last night, we're updating his charges," she informed the older man.
"I understand. I would be doing the same thing," the white-haired man told her. "It's not as easy as you thought, is it?"
"What?"
"The big chair," he elaborated. "You get offered the job and you have all these ideas on how to improve a department that lost the public's trust and it's either impossible to implement these ideas or it's at a snail pace that doesn't even happen," he explained.
"Yeah," Renee sighed. She ran a hand through her hair, "It's especially more difficult with the mayor breathing down my neck."
She heard him chuckle, "Yeah, I don't miss that," he said humorously.
"There are going to be days where you must make hard decisions and stick with them Renee. And when you make a bad call, you have to live with the aftermath," he intoned with a heaviness that came with decades of experience.
With Renee listening intently, Gordon imparted a bit of knowledge.
"You do whatever you can to protect your officers and do the best you can do to protect the public," he spoke with strong encouraging words.
"It's not easy, Jim." Montoya uttered weakly.
"No, it's not. But at the end of the day, you do what you can to hold back the great flood that is crime. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes and learn from them," he encouraged.
"Maybe," Montoya uttered hopefully.
GCPD HQ
In the morning, Nakano had scheduled another press conference. But with a grand spectacle as an equivocal response to the Batman.
Nakano had commissioned workers to remove the batsignal from the roof of GCPD Headquarters and had it on the back of a truck. Reporters flocked to the steps of the building, cameras flashing and reporters releasing a clamorous roar demanding a quote.
The batsignal once a thing that provided reassurance of a safe night was now demonized.
Many knew that Nakano was simply trying to save face from the altercation between Batman and the police.
Nakano was the first to take a sledgehammer to the fabled spotlight, shattering the glass and the bat emblem built into it. The one-eyed man seemed to take smug satisfaction at the destruction of the batsignal as he gave a smile to the reporters documenting the new policy.
After Nakano approached the podium, several other GCPD officers took their turns smashing the spotlight with sledgehammers.
"This act is to further cement our city's no mask policy against all criminals. Especially the Batman," Nakano held a pointed hand to the display.
"After last night's altercation between the brave men and women of the GCPD against the Batman, we are now updating the vigilante's status as to be considered armed and increasingly dangerous," he exclaimed, as cameras flashed light in his eyes.
"Mr. Mayor, what about all the other crimes throughout the city last night?" Vicki Vale pressed.
"What about them?" Nakano replied, perplexed.
"Do you not consider this crusade against Batman as a waste of resources and manpower. Many 911 calls had either delayed due to allocated resources, or are the needs of the people of Gotham beneath your notice?" Vale questioned pointedly.
Nakano started to get a bit hot under the collar but held his ground.
"The people of Gotham are my number one responsibility. And once Batman and all other masked individuals are removed from our fair city the saver the citizens will be," he put eloquently.
"That still doesn't answer my question, Mr. Mayor," Vale fired back. "The delayed responses of the GCPD are caused by focusing of one man rather than helping the people of Gotham."
"You can blame Batman for our strong response to him," Nakano countered. "Last night, Batman injured several officers, even Commissioner Montoya herself," he disclosed. "Arrests have been made against the Jokerz and the remaining Mutants. We are doing everything we can to apprehend these criminals, while protecting the people."
"Many are claiming that the Batman should be running this city," another reporter claimed. Polls show tremendous support for the Batman and his actions while yours are plummeting, Mayor Nakano. Have you lost the trust and respect of the city due to your vendetta against Batman?" Another reporter inquired.
Nakano glowered yet kept his temper in check.
"Batman is a criminal. It is well within the city's purview to arrest the man," he maintained. He left the podium wordlessly, ignoring the blaring questions fired out by reporters.
"Vigilante acts inspired by the Batman have surged."
A news report declared.
"I just saw this woman being mugged in front of my store. I just… I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
"These guys were breaking into old man Keaton's shop. Of course, we weren't going to let them do that. Mr. Keaton's a sweet old man. He's been looking after this community for years!"
"I wouldn't bother calling the cops. They either take their time gettin' here or don't show up at all."
"Of course, I was scared. But I wasn't going to let those punks run me out of my neighborhood."
"This is our home!"
"I'm surprised there isn't a thousand more Batmen out there. He's taking back what's ours."
"Hell no, I don't trust Nakano. He's made all these promises when he ran for mayor, but I haven't seen a lick of progress he promised."
"I helped those women because it was the right thing to do."
"Been robbed eight times this year. I'm never letting it happen again."
Various blurbs of people's opinion on the Batman and the vigilantism that he had inspired in a city that not that long ago was strangled by fear.
Another night of fighting crime as well as outmaneuvering the police. However, that night was different. It was the debut of Batman's new suit.
His body was getting older, slower, weaker. The new suit would augment his ebbing abilities to serve him better in his war on crime.
Gone was the cape as well as the gray. It was a sleek all black batsuit with a red bat emblem on his chest. His mask covered his entire face, sporting longer ears and a silver utility belt that was narrow rectangles separated by black spaces and a circular belt buckle with a red dot in the center.
It was the most advanced batsuit to date.
Especially considering that this suit had retractable wings on his back enabling him to fly or glide on the wind currents if the situation called for it. As well as a bunch of other goodies hidden within the advanced batsuit.
Right now, he was hunting the Mad Bomber. An explosive expert that had threatened to blow up various archaic buildings that enforced Gotham's gothic landscape. The bomber had already destroyed one condemned church and was threatening to so again at another building.
Luckily, Batman had tracked him down atop a rooftop of the Gotham Life Building before he could set off his bomb. Unfortunately, as he had apprehended the bomber, the GCPD had just arrived with Montoya leading the charge of armed and armored officers.
"Freeze, you son of a bitch!" Montoya shouted.
Utilizing the new suit, Batman leapt into the air, wings deploying on his back, spread out farther than his arm length. He started a few flight maneuvers to avoid anyone getting hit by crossfire.
"He can fly?!" An officer incredulously put.
"He's twice your age, officer. Find your balls," Montoya ordered. She was done playing this game anymore.
Between his fingers were the new batarangs, ones that were rounder with the edges red. Arms crossing his chest, he then flung them towards the police preparing to fire on him.
Batarangs impacted several officers. Hitting them either in the head, stunning them or disarming them of the guns.
Shots were fired towards the dark-clad vigilante; however, his enhanced reflexes enabled him to evade fire faster than he could without the new suit.
Sensing an officer behind him, he crouched and shot his right elbow backward, hitting the officer in the stomach, before he pivoted on his foot, snatching the weapon from him, and smacking him in the face with it.
Surrounded, he used a roundhouse kick that took out three cops, followed by tossing the weapon he had taken from one and sent it flying knocking another officer down on his back.
Batman made certain he was constantly moving as he was under fire. Bulleting bombarded the ground and hot on the crimefighter's heels.
"Cut him in half!" One officer shouted in fury. Although, his words were drowned out by the hail of bullets erupting from their gun barrels.
Batman dove out of the way of bullets, pulling smoke pellets from his belt just before he went into a roll and was back on his feet in an instant.
A large smoke cloud erupted from the ball-shaped objects blinding and suffocating the police officers, ending the gunfire fire.
Montoya's yelling into her radio stamped out the coughing fits of her officers.
"Get a chopper up here!"
In under a minute, a chopper arrived on scene, its mighty propeller dispersed the smoke cloud. However, in under that minute Batman had finished dealing with most of the officers, even striking Montoya once again.
Smashing face shields with his fists, breaking arms and even their weapons themselves with his bare hands. It was getting to the point where Batman was getting tired of this whole situation.
He knew there was no way in hell that Nakano or Montoya would be able to find common ground with him. He now had a deeper respect for Jim Gordon and how he had managed to make the vigilantes' operations easier with their alliance.
With his absence, the dark clad man had realized that Gordon was imperative to his operations, something that he had taken for granted during those years.
His more ruthless actions against the police emphasized that something had to give. Either the mayor and the police wised up and give up the hunt or they would be emboldened to take drastic measures.
With the smoke no longer concealing his presence, an undaunted Batman found himself with weapons trained on him by the few remaining officers still able to stand.
The chopper holding a sniper took a shot, grazing the black and red man's left shoulder. The bullet made him grunt in pain, and grimace at them men. With his balance disturbed, the officers were eager to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Take him!" One shouted, trying to incite the others to action.
"Hold back!" Montoya ordered, getting to her feet. Her face throbbing in pain. "On your knees, Batman." She ordered to the man, whom simply ignored her and stood up straight.
Naturally, she didn't take well to being ignored. "Cuff him," she commanded. She spoke into her radio, "Douglas, he sneezes, you put him down," she ordered the sniper in the police chopper hovering overhead.
"Yes, ma'am." The sniper readily replied, his eye focused through the lens of his scope.
As the police officers encroached further upon Batman. The sniper up in the chopper yelped as his rifle was scalding, dropping it from the chopper.
The wind blown by the police chopper's propeller seemed to intensify. Turning into a hurricane force winds, knocking the police onto the ground, while Batman struggled to remain on his feet. Even the chopper was thrown off by the strong winds and struggled to stay close.
While all this was happening, Batman thought.
No. Not him.
He thought in displeasure.
As the winds' currents increased, unmasked officers had to shut their eyes, unable to witness as a red blur streaked through the air.
And suddenly, the winds died down. Confused, officers slowly got to their feet, taking in the scene.
Dozens of their fellow officers were down and needed medical attention, the Mad Bomber was still restrained.
However, Batman apparently was missing.
A furious Montoya started cursing in Spanish, throwing her radio to the hard ground, seething at yet another fruitless night.
Beneath all that fury, she wondered what the hell was all that wind?
Across town
"I hate it when you do that," Batman grumbled.
"It seemed easier."
Batman found himself atop a rooftop with an old friend.
Superman stood in front of his friend with a scolding expression.
"Then?"
"Then you keep pressing your luck with the police," the red and blur clad man retorted.
"I've been there before," Batman dismissed.
"When you were younger," the dark-haired man countered, which made Batman scowl at him.
"The last thing anyone needs is you tempting fate with these fights with the police. Sooner or later, they will get you or you end up critically injuring a police officer. And I don't think either one of us wants that outcome," he explained.
"So, what? You here to talk me back into retirement? Or are you here to bring me in?"
Batman challenged the kryptonian.
Fortunately, Superman wouldn't take the bait.
"No. I just want you to remember that you have a young girl at home that needs her father."
It surprised the vigilante that Clark could go for the jugular when he wanted to.
Batman scowled at his friend, his fist clenching. He didn't need reminding that his daughter needed him. He thought about her all the time. Especially after what happened with the Mutants.
"I'm fine," he maintained.
A thick finger pointed at his wounded shoulder. Superman raised an eyebrow.
"I've had worse," Batman dismissed.
"Maybe so, but don't think I'll come to your rescue again," Superman reminded him.
"I didn't ask you at all," the dark-clad man rebutted.
The red and blue made sighed, taking a breath, trying to deescalate this confrontation. "Look, Bruce. I would never ask you to stop being you. No one could do that. I just want you to remember that this is about fighting for justice not fighting to prove something," he said wistfully.
His words made Batman pause in contemplation.
Was he out to prove something? Still? After all the battles he had fought over his long career, was he that petty?
Had he had changed at all?
"Take a breath, Bruce. Relax. You're too stubborn to wither in retirement," he imparted some encouraging words with a smile and took off, leaving Batman alone on the rooftop.
His thoughts of Elissa and if she was asleep at this time of night.
He found that his shoulder ached more than usual. Enough to warrant returning home for the night.
City Hall
"What the hell happened last night, Montoya?" Nakano demanded.
Said woman appeared haggard and sporting a new bruise on her face.
Sighing, the police commissioner replied uneasily. "We have conflicting reports of strong winds or a red blur."
"So, either a hurricane hit a single area of the city, or your officers are incompetent," Nakano fired back. Furious that yet again Batman had slipped through the police's fingers.
"Or Batman had some Justice League help?" the Hispanic woman suggested.
"What? Superman or the Flash came in to save Batman? Now we're going to war with the Justice League?" the one-eyed man retorted.
Montoya shrugged. "Say the word and we can end our manhunt."
"Never," Nakano denied vehemently. "I want Batman and any other masked freak locked up," he demanded. "And if you can't do it Montoya, I will find someone who can," he threatened.
The woman scowled. "I can do the job, Mr. Mayor. But I must remain within the law," she reminded him.
"Then get back to it," he ordered, rather harshly.
As the woman left, Nakano pondered other ways to apprehend Batman. An idea lit up in his head. Calling his secretary, "Get me Derek Powers. I would like to get back to him about that Peacekeeper pilot program."
"Right away, sir." His secretary replied in earnest.
As Montoya left for headquarters, her thoughts were of last night. The arrest of the Mad Bomber was a more than a consolation prize. If he continued blowing up buildings, the body count would rise. Fortunately, Batman stopped him. And, once again, made police look foolish as well as sending her men to the hospital. Maybe she was burnt out or just tired of using her men as cannon fodder against Batman. She briefly wondered if Gordon had the right idea, working with a vigilante instead of wasting time and resources. She didn't know what to do.
Derek Powers had approached the mayor with a Peacekeeper pilot program. A program designed to aid the police in fighting super criminals. Of course, it was a mercenary group. But considering how far Gotham had descended into lawlessness Nakano found the idea very tempting.
Yet, originally, Nakano was on the fence regarding the program. He didn't want to undermine the city's police force. But with failure after failure with regards to arresting Batman, Nakano was against the wall, being assaulted by demanding reporters of his failures.
It finally got to the point where Nakano agreed the Peacekeeper program provisionally. A group of armored men and woman wearing black and white armor with black strips through the armor, helmets with a round glass window to see. It was one way, of course, so no one could see inside the helmet.
Montoya was adamantly against it. Citing it was undermining the police department. However, Nakano ignored her concerns. Throwing her lack of results in her face.
The press and even the citizens of Gotham found it very controversial as well as a step closer to fascism.
And then there was Batman. Watching the developments all he had to say was:
"Game on."
The Lush penthouse of Derek Powers
Derek Powers was dreaming a pleasant dream. A blissful dream where he held all the power he had dreamed about.
"Wake up, Powers."
It was a gentle whisper.
A whisper that grew in intensity.
"Wake up, Powers."
And then it was gruffy and curt.
"Wake up, Powers."
The mogul awoke with a start and yelped as he woke to the sight of Batman staring at him, his fists clutching his pajama shirt.
With wide eyes, Derek looked around and screamed again as he realized that Batman was holding him over the railing of his penthouse balcony. The street seemed farther and farther away with every second he stared at the street.
"Wh-What are you doing?!" He screamed in fear.
"I know you're supplying the Mutants with arms. I also know you hired them to abduct Elissa Wayne."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Powers denied in a panic.
"Get away from Mr. Powers," Mr. Fixx commanded, in his baritone voice. His plasma pistol aimed at Batman's back from the entrance to the balcony.
Batman merely gave the one-eyed man a cursory gaze, noting the bandage around the bodyguard's eye.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes," Batman callously uttered, with rueful smirk.
One that irked Fixx.
"Get away from Mr. Powers," Fixx repeated. Which meant nothing to Batman.
"Take the shot. Your boss still ends up a stain on the street," he rebuked derisively. Powers in response paled in terror.
Batman turned back to the suspended Powers, "Your pet just cinched it," he said smugly.
The fear and denial drained from the mogul's face and became cold and calm.
"What do you want?"
"I want you to stay away from the Waynes," he told him.
"Or what?" Powers countered. The businessman's head leaned back as the vigilante leaned in close, sneering.
"Or I get very, very grumpy."
Powers' eyes narrowed, "You're a criminal. No one will believe you. Besides, I'm friends with the mayor with my mercenaries aiding in your capture. I'll be certain to make sure you don't live to be arrested," he threatened.
"As if that will stop me," Batman countered.
"If you don't leave the Waynes alone then I come at you hard. Every illegal enterprise of yours will be hit, and you become my favorite person."
"Nakano will demand more peacekeepers from me, and the contracts will be quite lucrative," Powers proposed. Ever the businessman, finding the upside of his situation. "The police will get more embolden by your terrorist activities," he threatened.
"Then the police will wonder why I'm coming after you," Batman responded.
Powers was stoic, realizing that both he and Batman were at a stalemate. Yet, Powers had more to lose than the vigilante.
Batman gave the man a moment to ponder his options.
"Think about it. I'll be back," he promised.
Powers felt his stomach sink as Batman went over the railing with him in tow. With a scream, he fell.
"Mr. Powers!" Fixx bellowed racing to the railing. Hands on the railing, panting, he scanned the street and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his employer was clutching a cornice and noted the absence of Batman.
"Pull me up!" The mogul demanded, frantically.
A quick few minutes later, Fixx had gotten Powers back onto the balcony.
"Where the hell is my elite guard of Peacekeepers?!" He exploded.
"They are downstairs, sir." Fixx readily answered.
He roared, "Then tell them they are all fired!" He threw his fists into the air furiously, "Elite mercenaries and they fall asleep on the job while a lunatic in a costume accosts me. And spits lies and slander towards me!"
The man was fuming.
Fixx thought it prudent to explain the situation.
"Mr. Powers, I will inform the Peacekeepers of their termination once they wake up."
"Wake up?" Powers spoke softly, in confusion.
"They were soundly beaten, sir. I found them and went to check on you."
"All of them?!" Powers incredulously put. It swiftly dawned on him that Batman beat his men quickly and decisively without waking him or anyone else.
Just what the hell kind of enemy did he make?
The next day, Powers alerted Nakano of Batman's assault on him. Calling Batman's bluff. To which, Nakano got in front of a camera and increased Batman's threat level to be shot on sight.
Commissioner Montoya continued her protests of the Peacekeeper Program. Unfortunately, Nakano wouldn't listen to her. Far too consumed by his vendetta against Batman.
The press was highly critical of the Peacekeepers, having several important questions regarding arrests, probable cause, and due process.
Which put Nakano in the hot seat as this was a pilot program. Derek Powers assuredly gave the people and speech that put them at ease. Highlighting his shrewd business forte and charismatic nature.
Barbara was fuming upon hearing about Power's late-night visit.
"No trust, no faith." She uttered to herself in frustration as Bruce once again proved he hadn't changed.
Weeks go by, the skirmishes between Batman and the police and Peacekeepers intensified until the kidnapping of the daughter of one of Bruce Wayne's socialite friends was committed.
Bunny Vreeland, daughter of Veronica Vreeland, was abducted and ransom noted delivered to Veronica demanding ten million dollars.
With the aid of Mayor Nakano, the police, and Peacekeepers the ransom had been paid.
However, Batman knew the kidnappers wouldn't leave a witness alive.
And tracked them down to an abandoned airport.
No one knew what had happened that night. And anyone knew was the kidnappers had been defeated, Bunny Vreeland was safe at home.
But another thing marked that night into prominence.
It was indeed the final appearance of the Batman.
The kidnappers would not speak about what happened at that hangar.
All Elissa knew was that her father had suffered a mild heart attack that night. But it wasn't that life threatening.
But for Bruce, he would have preferred that it had been.
As he stared at the last batsuit he would ever wear again within the display case.
Cold white lenses starred back at him, accusing him of not only surrendering but failing the mission. He couldn't stand the sight of it, let alone his reflection over the batsuit due to the glass.
Wordlessly, he covered the display case with a white tarp and trekked up the staircase back to the manor.
Once he reached the top of the staircase, he gave the cave a final parting look. Everything was covered up by tarps. This would be the last time he would ever come down here again.
"Never again," he vowed, solemnly.
And the batcave went pitch black as the lights were shut off.
NEXT: 16!
The Two-Face story is mostly based on Bruce Timm's Two Of a Kind black and white story. He wrote and drew it. Very good read and I would recommend it.
Also, I included some elements of current Batman writing into this chapter. If I didn't make it obvious, I hate what they are doing. I hate Nakano, Commissioner Montoya and all the other changes.
For those wanting a BVS fight, I'm sorry. But this story doesn't really fit the TDKR's circumstances. And If people are wondering where I'm going, I'm sure you can figure it out!