{AN UNKNOWN LOCATION}

Bruce stirred, his body aching in pain as he slowly opened his eyes to find the ceiling fan spinning above him. The cold sensation of steel against his back, and the sterile air allowed his foggy mind to piece together his location as he pushes himself up and finds his clothes discarded with his body covered in bandages.

"You're still alive. Good, I'd hate to be the one to tell Alfred you died on my watch." spoke a female voice who entered the room. Bruce turned to find an elderly woman standing before him, removing her blood stained gloves before tossing them away into a nearby bin.

"L-Leslie? What are you?" Bruce hissed as his body ached at the sudden movement. Leslie quickly found herself by the young man's side, holding him steady as she observed the bandages.

"Stay still, I did my best to close the wounds but whoever did this knew what they were doing. Nothing fatal but I strongly suggest bed rest to recover. But knowing you, this won't be the last time I see you here." Bruce stayed silent and groaned as he stood up and held his side. The room was a small operating room that held the necessary tools. Bruce recognized the clinic run by family friend Leslie Thompkins, one of the few that knew his identity as Gotham's Masked Rider, and the only other medical professional Bruce trusted to treat him.

"How did I?-" Bruce was cut off by Leslie handing him a bowl of strawberries. The look on her face wasn't one that seemed easy to argue or refuse, so he took the bowl and began to eat the strawberries, feeling better slowly.

"You stumbled in from the back door. I found you bleeding from your wounds and you might've had a concussion, making this twice now that you've visited me on the verge of death. Care to explain what happened this time? Last time you said it was some Spider Monster that threw you off a blimp." Snarked Leslie as she left the operating room. Bruce stayed silent as his mind began to replay the events prior to his arrival at Leslie's. He remembered being slashed by the assassin and then thrown off the balcony. He should've died, but here he was…could he have transformed mid-fall? No. Even with a minor concussion, he recalled that he could barely summon the strength to transform. Then how…

"Okay, Alfred's on his way. He says he picked up your bike from the Memorial garage." Spoke Leslie, breaking Bruce's train of thought as he saw her with a small paper bag in hand. "Your clothes are in here. I tried to clean the blood off of them but you're gonna need a tailor for those cuts. I would normally prescribe some form of pain medication, but with how your body is I think it's best not to."

She hands him the bag and walks away once again, leaving Bruce to change back into his damaged clothing alone. Leslie turned around and lamented as she stared at the series of scars that painted Bruce' back. She sighed and fully left the room and him alone as she waited for Alfred to retrieve him.

{JIM GORDON'S OFFICE}

March 18th, 1979-From the Desk of Samuel 'Slam' Bradley

It was a simple case, a missing dame, a distraught husband, and enough cash to set a fool like me up for life. The gentleman was Silas Wayne, heir to the esteemed Wayne Fortune and a pencil pusher with too much money on his hands. Then again, I always had a hatred for anyone with a two piece suit and a car they didn't have to drive themselves. It was a rainy spring afternoon when the prodigal son of Gotham stormed through my doors in a panicked frenzy. I woulda kicked him out for tracking mud into my office if Shorty hadn't talked me outta it. I sat him down in my office and he began to spill the beans, how his fiancé hadn't been seen in days after she left for work and that their wedding was mere days away. Normally, I wouldn't concern myself with such a deal. I said to him-"The way I see it Wayne, the answer is as clear as this glass of water. You've been dumped, plain and simple. Sorry pal."

But then he pulled out the briefcase of money and I crumbled like paper. I took the job and shook his hand before showing him the door. If only I'd known what a mistake this would be. If I did, I would've never dealt with Silas, his family, or this nightmare of a case. I went to-

*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*

"Hey Gordon!" yelled Harvey from the door. Jim stiffened as he shut the journal and looked up at his friend. "C'mon. Loeb called a meeting. Montoya thinks it's about the Grissom murder."

"Oh yeah… I'll be right there, Harv." Jim put the journal away in his desk drawer and quickly left the room with Harvey in tow. "So, anything Allen's found at the crime scene?"

"Nothing we don't know already. Gunshots, no sight of gunmen in the area, and about a dozen or so dead mobsters lying in our morgue. Current theory is it mighta been one of the other families that wanted him dead for snitching."

"Only problem is that every crime family head in Gotham is either in hiding, behind bars, or wouldn't have dared pull such a stunt in broad daylight." Jim sighed as he realized that he should set up another contact with his ally tonight.

"Think it's another one?" Harvey asked. Jim raised his brow at Harvey's question, "You know, one of the freaks like that Crocodile we caught or the Bat flying around the town. I swear Jim, it feels like more and more of these freaks are coming outta the woods. Makes you miss the days when all we worried about was who was smuggling drugs for the mob."

"Criminals are all the same, Harvey. Monsters or not, it's our job to keep others safe from them. At least, that's my view on it." The two's conversation came to an end as they arrived in the meeting room with Loeb standing at the podium. It didn't take much looking to notice the scared look on his face. His eyes darted around the room as he looked at every window in the area before clearing his throat to proceed with the meeting at hand. Mostly, him cursing those placed on the Grissom case for allowing his death to occur. Jim didn't listen. His mind drifted away and began to just ponder on the text of the journal and Loeb's body language. Yeah. He needed to talk to his friend tonight.

{THE BAT-CAVE}

Bruce went back to work right away, sitting at the computer with a sketchbook on his lap and pencil in hand. Upon arrival, Bruce sketched a detailed likeness of his attacker, her pitch black hair, purple lipstick, and eyes that sent shivers down his spine. Whoever she was, she was a dangerous individual, one that not only stopped his transformation but also found Francine's hospital room which he ensured was kept a close secret. Her technique was well trained, nothing like the regular thugs that frequented Gotham City. Deerhorn Blades were something that took much time and training to master. Whoever she was, he knew this wasn't the last time they'd confront one another. He could feel her very presence even now.

"I see the saying, No Rest for the Wicked, stays true and firm." comments Alfred as he enters the Cave. Bruce placed the notebook down as he leaned back into his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he turned to face his ally, who handed him a glass of water.

"It's that assassin, Alfred. Whoever she was, she not only had training but also some method to turn off my ability to transform. Heck, she even knew where Francine was, after Gordon and I went to great lengths to hide it from even most of the hospital staff."

"Given the injuries Doctor Thompkins detailed to me, I can only fear what else this attacker may have in store."

*RING! RING!*

Bruce raised his brow at the sounds of the Gordon line, placing the sketchbook down on the console and grabbing the phone. "Hello?" he answered, his tone of voice back into his alter ego as he listened to Gordon on the other end. "Understood. You pick the place, meet you there." With a click, Bruce hangs up before rushing to put on his black riding jacket and helmet. "Gordon's waiting for me. There's been a small update in the case that I have to attend to." Bruce hurried along, practically running towards his parked motorcycle.

"Sir, might I remind you of your current condition. You just fell from a hospital balcony after being slashed and attacked by an unknown assailant. You're still injured and we don't know who this attacker even is." yelled Alfred.

"I can't just wait around, Alfred. Whoever attacked me, knew my identity and where Francine was. I can't wait for them to come to me, nor afford to stop."

Bruce revved the engine and raced off down the subway tunnel without a word. Alfred's gloved hand clenched the railing, growling in frustration before letting go and huffing as he heard the fading noise of the bike. Alfred walked over to the computer and held the sketchbook in hand, scoffing at the image of his attacker before returning to the elevator and back up to the living quarters above.

{THE LAIR OF DOCTOR DEATH}

The white figure of Doctor Death sighed as he removed his blood stained gloves. Before him on the operating table was a gold skinned humanoid dressed in a trench coat with a fedora and shades. Death chuckled as he ran his hands over his newest creation, a smile even appearing under his mask as he uttered his creation's new name. "Copperhead. That will be your designation."

"I see you've gone back to playing with your toys, Death." Standing in a nearby doorway, Bane stood with his arms crossed and brow furrowed. "What happened to your Monster Formula?"

"Ah Bane. I assure you, my formula is still in production. I just decided to take a walk down memory lane, it's been awhile since I created an augmented warrior from a human. I take it you're here to spy on me again?" Bane scoffed as he entered the laboratory.

"Less of that actually, you're aware of my prior warning. I am interested in why you don't seem bothered by this. What, so secure in your status that nothing stirs you?"

"No. Not necessarily at least. I am not bothered because I know something that you don't, my dear friend." Doctor Death walked away from the operating table and snapped his fingers. At the sheer sound, Copperhead's eyes opened, revealing a sinister green hue as it stood up and turned towards its creator. "That our enemy, the Bat-Rider as they call him, will soon face his demise. Now, Copperhead. You have your mission, go forth!"

Copperhead hissed and bowed its head before leaving the room with much haste. Bane raised a brow before turning back to the chuckling Death, who followed his creation out the door.

"You sure do love antagonizing him? Makes me think you should get a hobby." Bane growls as he watches Ivy descend from the rafters on a hammock of vines. "I do question though, why would you tell him of The Warrior's arrival? I would've left him clueless till the very end."

"That's you, plant woman. I prefer to have my enemies stew in their incoming demise. The knowledge of it, tends to make even the most stern and disciplined of men crack and crumble to pieces. Give it time, Death will crack and our Leader will see the truth. Now, don't you have a tree to hug?" With that, Bane left the room in a huff, leaving Ivy alone. She smiled as she made note of his final words, before ascending back up into the ceiling above.

{UNDERPASS OF SPRANG BRIDGE}

"Sorry to call you back so soon, I'm glad you could make it." Commented Gordon as he turned to the arriving Rider. The Rider dismounted his bike and nodded in silence as he approached Gordon, the two men looking out at the waters together before starting their unofficial meeting.

"It's fine, Jim. What's going on?" Asked The Rider.

"Well, I know it's a big ask and a stretch, too. But… I think you might've been right about the Club Fire. It might've been a targeted hit." Under the helmet, Bruce raised a brow at Gordon's claim. "I know, but something new came to my attention about that attack and the murder of Carl Grissom. It couldn't have been random, not in any normal sense of the word, to have not only a former mob head murdered in the same week as eight of Gotham's highest power players."

"You think the killers are the same?" asked Rider. Jim nodded, his mind retreating to the contents of the notebook, and pulled out from his coat pocket the picture at the Tobacconist Club of Grissom, Loeb, and others. "This photo? This alone would be damning if someone caught Loeb alongside just one of these men, but Salvatore and Grissom with the current Commissioner in a room together. This got out to the public, it would-"

"Probably destroy Loeb's career and land him behind bars, yep. However, I can't do that, and it's not just because he's my boss." Rider nodded as he scanned the photograph, the gears in his head turning as he put the clues together in his head. "You see it too, right? That room, Grissom, Loeb, and the other people who we have yet to name. Whoever started this has a hit list they're going down, and I think Loeb is next on that list. He had a meeting with most of us to discuss how bad the Grissom death made the department look, you should've seen him. He looked scared, like he knew something was coming for him."

"What are you asking me to do, Jim?" Rider asked, handing the photo back to Gordon, who denied it before looking away from his vigilante ally.

"I… I'm not saying anything. But, despite me hating Loeb, I think you should at least go and check in on him. I am honestly afraid that he might not make it before the next sunrise, but you surely can." The Rider stood silent as he looked at Gordon.

"I'll do what I can." Gordon turned around and found The Rider and his bike gone without a trace. Jim breathed a heavy sigh of relief as he got into his parked car and turned to the journal that sat on the passenger seat. He picked up the journal and pulled out another photo hidden within the book pages, said photo depicting two men, one of a meek figure with pale skin and a bowl cut of black hair, the other a tall gentleman with fiery red hair and a striking resemblance to Thomas Elliot. Jim turns the photo around and reads the inscription on the back, 'Pm fvb zllr aol aybao ilopuk aol zlywluaz wvpzvupun Nvaoht, fvb tbza mpyza mpuk aolpy klu.' Jim huffed, whispering under his breath about gibberish before starting up his car and driving away.

{WEIN TOWER APARTMENTS-BURNSIDE}

Bruce sat on the rooftop in silence peering through his binoculars at the apartment of Commissioner Loeb. It was a pretty nice apartment all things concerned, a penthouse with three bedrooms and enough room for Loeb's accolades and puppet collection. "So, how is the bird watching, sir?" asked Alfred from over the comms. "Find anything rare and unique?"

"Nope. Just dead air and a couple of pigeons. I'm honestly concerned, with the way Gordon described his body language, you'd think he'd be more terrified than this. But he's just sitting on his couch watching The Simpsons." Bruce removed the binoculars and tensed up, a chill running down his spine prompting him to swiftly jump back as a knife flew past inches towards his face. Emerging from the shadows, Copperhead chuckled as he spun a knife in his gloved hand with his fanged smile causing Bruce to be on edge.

"Good. Good. You're as skilled as the Doctor said you'd be, I take pride in being your doom, Bat-Rider!" Copperhead removed his disguise and began to shift his body, his skin turning pale as he shed his human looking skin to reveal his true form underneath. The man had a lanky, almost serpentine-like figure, fitting for how he looked and dressed.

He wore a skin tight black bodysuit which included black boots with gold soles, a green coat built into it which showed off his dark cream torso front that led up to his serpentine neck. He had black sleeves with golden patterns along them that led into gloves which held holes for his fingers.

His pale face with snake features wore a black head dress that led into shoulder pads, each with golden accents.

This was the true Copperhead, who hissed as he pulled out two daggers from his pockets that resembled snake fangs and proceeded to lunge towards Bruce. Bruce easily dodged the swipes from the monster's blades with little effort before kicking him away to clear the area. As his belt manifested around his waist, Bruce clenched his fist and leapt into the air as he exploded into a cloud of smoke and emerged as his armored heroic persona. BAT-RIDER!

"Excellent!" Yelled Copperhead with a grin before being sent tumbling back by a superman punch to the face by Bat-Rider. The serpentine monster hissed in frustration and opened its mouth, firing a glob of green glowing slime towards the hero. Bat-Rider blocked the foreign attack with his cape which burned and sizzled upon impact. He growled in frustration and charged forward, Copperhead firing multiple globs of the acidic spit only for Bat-Rider to dodge each one by the skin of his teeth. Bat-Rider landed a solid body shot to Copperhead's stomach, causing the sinister serpent to heave from the powerful impact only to be knocked away by a follow up jab to the face from the hero.

"It's over!" yelled Bat-Rider as the turbine on his belt spun, causing the core to shine bright yellow. He crouched down, causing the grooves of his armor to burst forth with smoke clouding the rooftop with only his glowing white eyes shining through. Copperhead groaned and staggered as he felt fear consume him, no longer able to see his target, He could only hear the beating of wings followed by the smoke clearing as Bat-Rider descended forward with his foot extended outwards to deliver a flying side kick to the monsters chest, sending it soaring across the rooftop upon impact.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" screamed the villain from the Bat themed hero's attack. Bat-Rider landed and huffed as Copperhead fell to his knees and slowly reverted back to his human(ish) form, leaving him at the whims of Bat-Rider.

'No gun, so it doesn't match up with the MO of the previous killers. He used acid and blades, so he's a distraction, and a bad one at that.' thought Bat-Rider as he knelt down and checked his attacker's pulse, sighing as it felt stable, only for his head to turn towards Loeb's apartment as his helmet picked up the loud boom of a gunshot in the building. "No!"

With little regard for himself, Bat-Rider ran off the ledge while firing his grapple across the way to pull himself forward. Releasing the line, he allowed himself to crash through Loeb's living room window, only to gasp at what he'd found…Loeb sitting in his recliner, riddled with bullets. Bruce could only stare in shock, growling and clenching his fists before turning to the front door which had been blasted from the outside, meaning one thing.

"Al! The killer is still in the building! Call GCPD! Tell them to hurry before he can escape!" ordered Bat-Rider as he kicked the door off its hinges and turned to find a black cloak turning the corner in a hurry. Bat-Rider followed suit, racing after the gunman while trying to piece together any hint of an identity once he was in view. 'Black Trench Coat. Military-grade combat boots. Knows how to run, likely trained, but able to keep away from me. Is he?'

He quickly received his answer as the gunmen leapt out of a window at the end of the hall, landing several feet below without a scratch or sign of pain as he continued to run. Bat-Rider followed suit, using his cloak to glide through the air and try to lessen the gap between them.

"I've got him! He's altered too, Alfred, he's another Lazarus assassin!" Bruce released his cloak as he fell downward like a bullet, tackling the killer through the concrete of the rooftop as they fell into the room below. The denizens screamed in terror and fled the living room of the apartment in a haste, leaving the two altered warriors alone. His body ached from the impact, but that meant so did the killer's as he took the chance to pin him down and get a look at him, finding only a silver featureless mask with a single red lens over the left eye, and the barrel of a strange high tech gun. He froze, only for a second, which was plenty of time for him to pull the trigger and blast Bat-Rider in the eye lens, sending him to the floor. The killer groaned in pain as he slowly stood up, placing the gun in his coat pocket and standing over the unmoving body of Bat-Rider, scoffing as he grabbed him by the cape collar before fleeing out of the apartment without a trace.

{THE BAT-CAVE}

"Master Bruce? Master Bruce?!" yelled Alfred on the comms. Nothing but static, he felt his body go cold as he lost contact with Bruce the moment he was attacked by that Lazarus Snake Man. Shaking the doubts out of his head, Alfred quickly pulled up the locator on the computer in a desperate attempt to find him, praying as the computer struggled to locate Bruce in Gotham City, only for the tracker to show that Bruce was in the cave and right behind him. "What in the bloody hell?"

"I'm sorry jeeves." Alfred gasped as he felt the wet sensation of a cloth place itself against his mouth and nostrils. He'd recognized the scent from his time in the service, the scent of chloroform filling his lungs and nostrils, followed by him losing consciousness. Behind him, the woman in the red tunic and trench coat smirked as she held the chloroform cloth in her right gloved hand and a small blinking red sphere in her other. She pushed Alfred onto the floor and sat down in the chair herself, smiling as she began to type away on the super computer."It would seem that you're relieved of your duties for tonight. Now…"

The screen zoomed down further, as it now displayed the various tunnels and underground passageways of Gotham City. "Where are you hiding, Rider?"

Lazarus' war against our hero continues! Struck down by a gunshot and a mysterious altered gunman! Meanwhile, Gordon begins his investigation into the past of Slam Bradley and the mystery behind his last case! What lies in wait for our heroes? And what will happen to Bruce and Alfred now?

Find out next time, same Bat-Time! Same Bat-Channel!

NEXT TIME

EPISODE 7

SNOWFALL