Black Mask's sleek limousine sliced through the rain-slicked streets of Gotham. Returning to his hideout, he stepped out of the car, his skull mask a grim testament to his ruthlessness. Entering the building, he took the private elevator to his top-floor office. The only sound was the soft hum of the elevator as it ascended.
Black Mask's office was dark except for the faint glow of the cityscape beyond the windows. He strode across the room, unaware of the shadow lurking behind him.
"It's over, Jeremiah." a deep, gravelly voice whispered in his ear "You're finished."
"You won't win!" Black Mask spat "Gotham will be mine!"
"Look around Arkham. It's over."
"No... it's not over... it's only just beginning."
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoed through the room, shaking the building. The window shattered inward, sending shards of glass flying. Outside the broken window, in the distance a fire erupted where the GCPD stood.
"You think you have it all figured out..."
Jeremiah, slipping the black mask off of his head approached the window.
"Sionis was the one who had to fall in order for the New Gotham to rise."
Jeremiah turned his gaze to Batman and snickered.
"I needed a change. Mathis owed me. Under that knife I knew I was throwing away everything I fought so hard to gain. But you see Batman, there's something greater than this putrid, spineless city. Greater than Gotham. It's a new age. I was paid a visit... I was given this mission... and now all Gotham has to do is wait."
A dark, winged figure swooped in, its claws outstretched. A monstrous hybrid of man and bat, snatched Black Mask from Batman's sight. It lifted the crime lord into the air, its leathery wings beating furiously. Batman, caught off guard, watched in astonishment as the creature carried Black Mask out of the shattered window. Then, another bat-like creature emerged from the shadows. Larger and more ferocious than the previous one, it swooped in and grabbed Batman. Its claws dug into his armor as it carried him away from the shattered remains of
Black Mask's office. They soared over the Gotham skyline, the city lights blurring beneath them. Batman struggled against the creature's grip, but it was too strong. He was being taken away from Gotham, carried out over the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The salty air stung his face as the creature flew towards a distant, shadowy island, where many of the bat-like creatures walked. The creature dropped Batman roughly on the sand before turning to face him. Moonlight revealed its true form. Kirk Langstrom. He drew a syringe from his clawed hand and gave it to Batman.
"This... is the cure." growled Langstrom, as Batman grabbed the syringe.
"Why are you doing this Langstrom?"
"I do not want the innocent to suffer."
Man-Bat turned and crawled towards a glass enclosure. Inside of the enclosure was an unconscious Harvey Bullock, transformed into a grotesque, reptilian monstrosity. Batman looked at the syringe and plunged the syringe into Bullock's thick hide, injecting him with the antidote. Bullock's body contorted as the antidote coursed through his veins. Slowly, he began to shrink and change, his monstrous features receding until Harvey Bullock laid before him.
"Langstrom..."
Batman turned his gaze to Man-Bat, but he was gone along with the others. Batman got to his feet and called for Barbara Gordon.
"Oracle, I need an..."
"Batman."
"Who is this?"
"Don't worry about the girl... I'm taking very good care of her."
"If you hurt her..."
"Oh, I won't. Unless you come to the GCPD as quickly as possible."