Chapter One: The Blackest Night

"Breaking news, Gotham City's prince, Bruce Wayne, has murdered the Police Commissioner, James Gordon. Wayne, previously one of Gotham's most law abiding citizens, has seemed to have taken on the mantel, as well as the persona, of the Clown Prince of Crime. The original Joker himself? He is still _allegedly _cured and free to walk among the normal citizens of Gotham. This has been The Ryder Report, and I've been Jack Ryder. Stay tuned for..." click. The television turned off, the black screen reflecting the face of John Doe AKA The Batman. "They still don't trust John Doe Alfred." John said to the old man who was working in the corner of the abandoned Haunted House attraction. "They'll come around John, don't you fret. Now then. I believe I have the voice synthesizer working... Hmmm. Yes." Alfred said slipping a small device into the neck of the Batsuit, displayed in the center of the room. "Now then... I'm off." Alfred said, straightening out. "Where to?" John asked curiously. "Wayne Incorporated and a collection of lawyers are meeting to discuss the legality of what to do about... About..." There was a crack in his voice and John nodded his understanding. "...Well... As next-of-kin they have asked me to attend." John nodded. Alfred spoke as if Bruce were dead, but he wasn't dead. John had been cured and so could Bruce, he could be saved. "Alright, thank you Alfred." John said, Alfred nodded. "Of course Master W---John..." Silence. "Will you be stepping out as well?" Alfred asked. "Yes, but not the same way you are..."

Batman stood atop a building, Gotham had seen him a million times like this, but for Batman... This was a first. He was lost, the city was crying, broken and hurting, he didn't know where to start. Luckily he didn't have to choose. The light shot into the sky, no one could have missed it, to many it gave hope and joy but to others it sent cold shivers down their spins, but only to one did it give purpose... The Batsignal had been lit. And like so many times before, but for the first, Batman moved raced to it.

He saw the new commissioner waiting for him, she was staring out at the city, the night was dark, but he could still see the tear in her eyes. "Commissioner." Batman said making her jump and whip around. "GOD!...Oh... Oh... Thank God, Batman..." Commissioner Renee Montoya said, clutching her chest. "Jim always warned us about that..." She grimaced, she had thought he exaggerated. "Nice suit." Batman nodded. "Got something for me?" He asked, Montoya had met Batman a few times, he sounded different now, but then again, she didn't think he had used a voice synthesizer then, now his voice was deep and robotic as opposed to... Well... Deep and robotic, but in a more natural way? Did that make sense? She'd think about it later. "For you? What have you got for me? The city is in an uproar, the whole damn place tearing itself apart, where the Hell have you been? I thought you would've gotten that John Doe creep and **** him to tell you what he'd done to Wayne by now!" Batman glared at her. "Doe isn't the problem. Wayne is. Remember that Commissioner." She raised an eyebrow. "If you say so Batman... Look, just find Wayne alright? He... m-murdered the greatest man I ever knew... Fucking take him down. And I know you don't kill, but if you have to... Put a bullet in his brain." She said pulling out a gun and tried to hand it to him. "Not my style." Batman said refusing the weapon. "Right..." Montoya re-holstered the gun, looking down to guide the gun into the holster easier. "...So what's your plan now... Great." When she looked back up Batman was gone.

Batman rested on a Gargoyle, Gotham was full of them, he surveyed his city and shook his head. The police had checked all of his and Harley's old hideouts, every new business set up in the past two weeks and every abandoned building and warehouse they could get a warrant for... Nothing. He had to remember he wasn't dealing with himself, he was dealing with Bruce Wayne, where would Bruce Wayne go to hide in Gotham City? He and Alfred had checked all the Batcaves in Gotham there was nothing. He need to think differently. It was time to change tactics.