The sun was rising and a red thin line of light emerged on the horizon. Batman was scouting the bridge one last time before Gordon's convoy was going to take people over. He saw three police cars on the other side of the bridge waiting in silence. He saw people of the Zones started to gather behind those cars. He saw angry and thin faces, he saw struggle in their eyes and there he understood that White Shadow was right.
-They won't let you cross the bridge. - Batman said to Gordon when the bridge check was done.
-Why? What do you mean!? - Gordon didn't expect that.
-They don't want those people over. They consider them enemies because they are from the main land. It seems like all three Zones got their people to the bridge. There are a lot of them and don't forget more then the half of that crowd has guns.
-You think they will fight us! It's… it's insane! They are not enemies they are just people of the Gotham City! Evan is a true enemy! What do you suggest, Batman?
-I think before you lead people over the bridge you should go first and talk to their representatives. I think there is some police presents there and they are ready to do the talking.
-Ok… ok I'll go. I'll take some of my guys with me and we shall talk.
-It's time then. I'll be close by they won't see me.
Gordon left bewildered and confused. He called some of his best people and they got two cars driving over the bridge.
Two police cars from the Zone three were already in the middle of the bridge when Gordon came forward with his people.
Three men from each group exited cars and walked towards each other.
-Captain Gordon. - said a policeman from the Zone.
-Officer Tillman. Are you in charge here?
-Yes, sir. But I want to say straight forward I am not the one who can make the decision. We will talk and I have to carry your words to people of the Zones and they will decide. So tell us what is going on and why do you need to take those people across the bridge? - officer Tillman was polite and calm.
-I do not know how much do you know about the situation on the main land but to be quick we have this psychopath maniac Evan James. As for now we do not have a city government, our sources of water and power are off and severely damaged. People were poisoning by some substance in the air for many month and now they are slowly dying because of the intoxication and we have another problems as well… - Gordon didn't know how to put that fact that some people were mutating.
-We saw you had been attacked last night, we heard gunshots… people of the Zones are concerned about their safety. You see we don't have that Evan guy running around the Zones shooting at people but if you bring people from the main land here he also comes after them and it's going to be the same situation as you have now. Murders, a lot of murders. - replied Tillman.
-I understand but to keep those people on the island also a bad plan because sooner or later the violence comes to the Zones.
-Not if you keep them there until federal government figures out how to catch that guy. - said one of the Tillman's colleagues.
-Look … It's been almost a year. If you think that federal government still thinks about saving us I want to disappoint you I don't think anyone will help us.
-What do you mean!? Gotham city is one of the largest cities in the country and the government just pretends it doesn't exist! Nonsense! - screamed Tillman.
-If they wanted to help they would already helped as for example Wayne Enterprise. Company manages to supply what's left from the city with food and medication but even that company can't save Gotham City without help of the government.
-So … what's their plan then? Just wait until the city dies on its own? - asked one of the officers from the Zone Three.
-I don't have communication with anyone outside of the city. Guys, just like you I'm in the darkness but I know I have to try… I have to try to save people of Gotham even if their own government gave up on them. And also there is one more problem… mutants.
-Hah? - said all three policemen.
-Yeh… you see this fog with chemicals… it's poison and people are falling asleep… there is a combination of damaged neurological signals in the brain and specific sound of static. Evan Jones came up with this combination and put people into sleep but they were still inhaling chemicals all this causes confusions, extreme aggression after awakening and enormous strength.
-Wow, wow, wow… so we have a deal not only with some guys with guns but also with some sort of sickness which probably can be contagious? Is it actually contagious?
-We don't know… we have no resources to check it but we have Batman. - said Gordon and it was his final card.
-People of the Zones don't trust Batman. Is he a scientist? Or can he solve the Evan's mess because I think if he could he would already done it but here we are! People of the Zones believe in White Shadow.
-Tillman stay focused! We have priorities as a public defenders we are the last who separates people of Gotham from death. You must let us through then we can regroup, put together a plan and clean this city! - Gordon desperately wanted to prove to people of the Zones that there was a chance to survive if they unite the whole city.
-Look, Captain. I can't make this decision on my own I promised to people of the Zones that we would talk to them before taking any steps. With that being said I and my boys are going back to the land and we will tell our people everything you told us. I leave two officers on the bridge and I warn you if you try to bring people over I won't stop people of the Zone to fight you back.
-I understand but… just remember Tillman every minute is important. I'm sending new groups of policemen to wake people up and they are instructed to bring them to the beach. It's getting colder every hour we have kids and we expecting more attacks from Evan. We are desperate but there is hope I want you to remember it. I'll be here on the bridge and when you have your answer come and see me.
They turned around and walked to their cars. The snow started to fall making green fog over the main land less visible but everyone knew it was still there.
Batman saw and heard every word from above and his biggest desire was to know if White Shadow would be able to break the ice between two groups of people.