"…It's been two years since our city suffered through the biggest downfall in its history. Now looking back we still shiver from horrifying stories and decisions we as people and our government had to make in order to keep what was left out of the City of Gotham. No one who've lived through it and came out on the other side will ever forget and be the same.
We find ourselves now in some unknown place in time. Some people call this time "recovery", some call it "redemption" and some have given it a name "Dark age". Do we recover? Yes, at least it seems like it. We got infrastructure running, we got the government which is actually in the city now, we got some buildings fixed. Most definitely little by little we are recovering. Are we feeling redemption? Yes, certainly, we wake up with this feeling and we go to sleep with it not knowing if we going to wake up again. But "Dark age" it is exactly what is upon us now. Pollution is in the air but it's not that toxic gas which changes our biology no… it's fear and it's inside every one of us. Still we are in the dark about our friends and relatives who were taken away in order to stop mutations. They never came back we don't know anything about them we've never got their bodies if they are dead nor we've never got any information if they are alive. We live in the darkness of not knowing what can happen next. High number of suicides and mental health issues arose after "arrest" of Evan Jones whose body we also never saw. Rumors are spread that he might be alive and held somewhere in high security prison or in a psychiatric facility somewhere outside of the city or even a state.
It is not our problem here right now we have bigger issues to worry about. How to come back and feel alive, ho to keep going when there is nothing left to fight for when you've been on the other side and you know there is just a dead end.
My hopes lie with the people of Gotham City! I know you strong and unbreakable. You know nobody cares and nobody helps so you take fate in our hands and …"
-Master Bruce.
Lawful owner of Wayne mansion lift his head from a fresh paper he was reading at his breakfast table. A cup of coffee frozen in his hand half way to the top.
-Yes, Alfred. - coming out of his thoughts said Bruce Wayne.
-If you finished your breakfast I would like to remind you about the list of meeting you have for today. It's a pretty big list, sir.
Bruce folded a paper and took a sip of cold coffee.
-Sure, Alfred. Remind me while I'm getting ready.
-As you wish, sir.
Bruce Wayne went to his huge wardrobe room and walked around his perfect suits and ties. His shoes were clean and smelled like new leather. His button up shirts were crisp and clean. Expensive watches are in order as well as cuffinks and tie clips. Big mirror showed a reflection of a strong and healthy man built to impress women and men alike, a handsome face and a sharp jawline. Predator or saver?
-Your first meeting with Mr. Fox at Wayne Enterprises at noon, an hour from now. Your second meeting with new investors which you will attend together with Mr.Fox at two pm. Your third meeting with the City Clerk and DA at the City Authority Building. This meeting is regarding new zoning committee which you wished to be a part of because of your progressive development of the territory of the Zones. And your fourth meeting…
-I remember my fourth meeting. Thank you, Alfred. - Bruce fixed his tie and took one of the classic watches from behind the glass case. - How do I look?
-You look like Bruce Wayne maecenas and billionaire.
-Great. I will need you to drive me today.
-Agreed. Rolls Royce Phantom, sir?
-Something not that obvious… make it Ghost.
-I will wait outside, sir.
When Bruce was left alone in his office he walked to his desk and opened the last drawer. There was a paper dated back two years. It was first printed issue of Gotham Times after reopening of the city. There was a small and very brief article about a young police officer who became a vigilante. This woman got her reputation by killing criminals in the Zones before the lockdown. Her nickname was White Shadow because she was wearing white costume.
Bruce took a paper in his hands and read article again as he did almost every day for the past two years.
"… after national guards so bravely cleared out our city and police did their best to get as many criminals back to Blackgate as possible, they finally could catch White Shadow. Even though there were a lot of people who came out in support of this vigilante the former police officer was charged with over fifty murders. Unfortunately, as many people during the lockdown and after this woman's mental health and capacity didn't allow to sentence her to prison time. Arkham asylum has become a life time sentence for White Shadow after a rather short trial…"
-I remember my fourth meeting, Alfred. - murmured Bruce Wayne, he put a paper back into a drawer and left the room.
It was time to start a busy day…