Chapter 5: The Dilemma Begins
It was now official: Batman had returned to Gotham City. Who he was still remained a mystery. When Thomas Wayne died Alfred sent out a fake message to the GCPD pretending to be Batman saying that because of Thomas being the closest friend he had ever had, so he would cease being Batman. People have been led to believe that Batman is the same person as he was 24 years ago, although some people did speculate that Thomas Wayne was Batman himself. Every night, criminals had attempted at performing an act of crime and Batman had stopped them every time. Jim Gordon had a massive problem on his hands. He already knew who Batman was, but if he didn’t launch an investigation then people would start to wonder. So he had to start a fake one with fake leads that would never go anywhere. It occupied space for more important cases, such as the Black Mask return one or the killer clown roaming the streets. Gordon needed to keep Batman’s secret identity from leaking out to the public, otherwise the people would feel insecure and Wayne Enterprises would crash and burn.
Bruce Wayne entered Wayne Tower. He couldn’t wait to tell everyone the great news. He walked into the board room on the highest floor. Lucius and the others were already seated. Bruce knew about the phone incident the other day and Lucius had described it as a ‘technical malfunction in the building’s Wi-Fi network’. He sat at the head of the table.
“Right, today I have some exciting news on an exciting new project for us to embark on!” This was met with cheerful murmurs from the board.
“And what will that be sir?” Said a member of the board.
“Well, I was recently doing some research into my late father’s work and I found out about something that interested me heavily. It had to be cancelled due to the technological limitations of his time. It was a power generator that used eco-friendly energy resources to supply power for the entire city. Unfortunately, the man in charge of making this dream a reality, Dr. Hugo Strange, began an association with the Black Mask who supplied plutonium and uranium to him so that the generator would function properly. Strange was caught out and fired from Wayne Enterprises altogether. The Gotham City Football Stadium was built over it, but now we are resurrecting that project! There is a large area in east Gotham filled with derelict houses and out of business shops. Also, most members of the Crime Organization reside there so we are hoping to drive them out of the city altogether! A select few of our fellow staff already knew about this, and planning has been completed. Construction on the building will begin in a few weeks!” Lucius Fox had been sitting upright all through Bruce’s speech. On top of dealing with Crime and being Batman, he had to sort out making an eco-friendly power generator to power the entire city without creating any harmful gases or pollution? What was wrong with Bruce? Was he having a mental breakdown?
After yesterday’s announcement, it was all over the news. Bruce was holding a press conference about it. He was in his bedroom getting suited up. Alfred appeared in the doorway.
“Sir, I must ask this as it has been bothering me for quite a while now. Why on earth have you decided to re-build this power generator?” He asked. Bruce finished putting on his bow tie and turned away from the mirror to answer his butler’s question.
“Well Alfred, I feel that I need to continue my father’s legacy more. This was what he really wanted to do but it was ruined by Hugo Strange. And I want to make him proud. It also makes the city more efficient, which generates good press!” Alfred chuckled at Bruce’s statement.
“That is a very good reason master Bruce! And will you be overseeing the project?”
“No. I’m holding ‘auditions’ you could say in a couple of days. In fact, I already have somebody on the advice of Lucius Fox. An old friend of his, named Harold Stapleton. So I’ll cancel the meetings, and hire this guy.”
“Very well sir. And what car will you be taking?”
“Surprise me!” Bruce left the room with a grin on his face.
“That’ll be the Maserati then.”
The press conference was going to begin shortly. All the reporters had taken their seats and Lucius Fox and other Wayne Enterprises board members had sat down on the panel, with the middle seat saved for Bruce Wayne who was late. Suddenly, a gleaming black Maserati drove up to the very edge of the seats and nearly knocked them over. Bruce Wayne stepped out of the driver’s seat, as the audience applauded.
“Thank you. Thank you!” He said quietly as he walked to his seat whilst grinning. Lucius Fox brought his microphone closer to his mouth.
“So, I believe we should make the announcement!” Only the Wayne Enterprises Board members knew about the power generator project as it was top-secret. Bruce stood up and told everybody about what they were planning to do. When he finished, the press erupted in claps and cheers.
“So, who wants to ask the first question?” A young woman with beautiful blonde hair tied back into a bun, wearing a grey tailored buttoned jacket, white shirt and grey trousers sitting on the front row put her hand up. “Yes, you.” She stood up.
“Hi. Vicki Vale, reporter for The Gotham Chronicle. How do you intend to actually build it? Is it safe for this type of energy to be in our city? How will the system work exactly?”
“I can answer that one Mrs-“Bruce was cut-off by Vicki.
“Miss.” Bruce smiled cheekily.
“Miss Vale. Well first we will build the glass enclosure, then a series of underground tunnels coming from several eco-friendly power stations lead into it. And then we construct a stadium around it, where people will work to make sure that the generator stays stable etc.”
“So, it’s not really a generator at all, but a storage facility for different types of energy? You are saying that your team will also build things such as wind turbines, solar panels, wave power..?”
“Yes. You are correct. I didn’t put it in the speech as I didn’t think it would be as important as the bigger announcement.” This was met with many angry and confused murmurs from the press. Vicki sat down, as another reporter stood up without being asked.
“So, you have agreed with builders to construct things without explaining your reasons in your statement? From what it sounded you were saying that people would work in the stadium, generating energy to be stored in the glass structure in the centre and that would lead to homes, business’s etc, but that is obviously not the case!”
“Ok look. I simply do not understand why people are fussing over this. Building it would make Gotham City one of the first cities in the world to be completely eco-friendly! Once everything is complete, you will wonder why you ever doubted us!” The conference went on for the next 2 hours moving away from the subject of the power generator actually being a power storage unit. Whilst all this was happening, Vicki Vale had been staring at Bruce Wayne excessively. She thought that she might be attracted to him a little bit.
Black Mask had called down many criminals for a meeting. He was going to tell them that he was now the new Crime Lord of Gotham City, and lie a little too. He was going to say that Chill instructed him to take over the operation if he died. The operation was something to do with the new power generator Bruce Wayne was building... They were already sat at the table, much more packed than the last time they were called for a meeting. Mask swaggered into the room and put his hands on the table.
“Ok! So as you losers know, Chill is dead. And as I was in line to become the next Crime Lord...” Blackjack, who was already angry that Mask was even alive, stood up with force.
“That’s bullshit! If Ramon and Chill ended up dead then I was the next in line you mother-“
“Ok that’s enough, there are young adults here! The Crime Lord has to have a certain good quality to him. My quality is that my face is jet black and shaped like a skull. That’s intimidating. Chill and Ramon were not intimidating and neither are you. The one thing you all have in common is that you are common. Average people that don’t pose any threat and aren’t special in any way!”
“Oh yeah. You’re special alright. Very special!” Black Mask whipped out a gun from his jacket and aimed it at Blackjack. “Whoa man. No need to get violent!”
“I’m not being violent. Being violent would mean I have to kill you. I’m just going to cause you an extreme amount of pain.” He shot twice at Blackjack, one bullet hitting his left leg and the other his right arm. He screamed in pain and collapsed to the floor. Blackjack writhed around on the ground, clutching bloodied parts of his body. “Does anybody else feel that they have something to say? No? Good. Right, let’s discuss the matter at hand shall we? Everybody here knows about the power generator being constructed by Bruce Wayne, and its all ‘eco friendly’ blah blah blah. Well I think we should try to sabotage it in some way... But first we need to devise a plan to blow up something else, to get Batman’s attention. Then move onto the power generator!” This was met with a number of murmurs from the crowd.
“And uh, what will we do to the generator?” Said a small, insignificant person at the back wearing a scruffy suit and tie.
“Well, we’re going to blow that up too! The first thing I propose we explode will create a minor explosion, but if we blow up the power generator then that could create an explosion to cover the entire city! I have a guy working on the project, he’s feeding us information. It should be interesting what will happen if Wayne finds out!” Mask laughed to himself, a hideous cackle as the other criminals looked at each other uneasily and shaking they’re heads.
Bruce Wayne was exiting the panel, as the press conference had ended. Vicki Vale approached him excitedly.
“Um, hi. Do you remember me from the conference? I asked you the first question about whether the generator was safe or not.”
“Yes, I do remember you! What do you want?”
“Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime. I know that you’re a billionaire and probably want to date some famous model, but I think you’re really cute.” Bruce could tell that she was very nervous about talking to him.
“Well...” He trailed off. Bruce looked up and down her body and came to the conclusion that he wanted to go on a date with her. "Ok! You are very cute might I say!"
“Wow, thanks! Got to go now, shall we say Friday at 8?” She grinned happily.
“Yeah, that would be cool.” She smiled, waved goodbye and walked away.
Batman was sitting on the ledge of one of his favourite buildings. Wayne Tower. It was where he went when there was no crime on the streets, and he wanted to feel peaceful. He looked up at the dark night sky, and saw an odd shape amongst the clouds. It was a bright light with a bat logo in the middle. It was coming from a large round, shining object on the roof of an apartment block a few buildings up. He leaps off of the edge and swings from building to building using a battarang. James Gordon was standing next to the signal. Gordon was startled by Batman’s sudden appearance.
“Y-your here!”
“What is this Gordon?”
“Well, I realized that you can’t always know when something bad is happening in the city, so we designed this signal that will shine whenever somebody is committing a crime.”
“I don’t need that. My computer is wired to every CCTV camera in Gotham, so I know what’s happening from the comfort of my own home.” Gordon seemed disappointed by this.
“But, we spent thousands of dollars on this!”
“Get a refund.” Batman turned away and began to exit the rooftop, but Gordon called to him.
“I know who you are.” Batman stopped dead in his tracks.
“Wha-what are you talking about..?”
“I was a friend of your father’s when he was Batman. He assigned me, Alfred and Lucius Fox to protect you as much as you could from the Batman legend. I was supposed to get close to you, but I didn’t feel that I could.”
“Why’s that?” Gordon was hesitating to answer.
“Because... Your father’s death is my fault. Chill was in Black Gate Prison the night your parents died, but he tricked me into getting out of his cell, and we didn’t catch him in time.” Batman was in shock. He took off his mask and showed Gordon that he was Bruce Wayne. He lunged at Gordon, but he fought back. Bruce was in a fit of rage and fury at Gordon. Gordon pushed him back, and Batman fell to the ground.
“You don’t deserve to call yourself commissioner!”
“Go then! Protect Gotham on your own, we won’t help you!” He lifted his radio to his mouth.
“The Batman has been sighted. Calling all units, I repeat, calling all units to Brook Street. The Batman has been sighted!” Bruce had put the mask back on and jumped off of the roof. He glided across the sky, as the sound of a police helicopter became louder and closer. He fell into an alleyway, where the Batmobile was lurking. He got in, started the engines and raced out, with many police cars and two helicopters in hot pursuit. They shot many bullets at him, but the Batmobile’s steel skin deflected them. A rocket launcher rose out of the roof and blew up the cars one by one. He was about to send out another one, and then realised what he was doing. This was what he expected from criminals, and his father would be disappointed in him. He bolted ahead and drove in the direction of Wayne Manor. All the police cars/helicopters and officers stopped in their tracks. Gordon walked in front of them. “Alright. The investigation has to move ahead. Batman is a wanted criminal.”