Chapter Two

After getting out of the hospital, Bruce became obsessed with avenging his parents' murder. His butler, Alfred Pennyworth, was in the army so he taught Bruce how to fight as well as wartime strategy. Six years after that fateful incident, he graduated from Gotham High and went to travel the world in search of more thorough training. Three years later Bruce is finally coming home.

"Welcome home, master Wayne." Alfred said while picking up Bruce's bags.

"Thanks." replied Bruce. "It's good to be back."

They went inside the large, empty mansion and while they were having dinner, Bruce got right to the point.

"Gotham has fallen apart even more since I left." said Bruce. "I'm joining the police force tomorrow."

"It does seem like such a waste." said Alfred.

"How so?" asked Bruce.

"You've done all this training just to become an ordinary cop." Alfred said.

"Not an ordinary cop, Alfred." Bruce explained. "I'm going to clean up this city within the law."

"Yes, but," Alfred responded. "you haven't been here for quite some time. The police department is disintegrating. In a manner of speaking, the inmates are running the asylum."

"Well, I'll do my best to change that." Bruce said hopefully.

The next day, Bruce applied for the police academy and got in. He, of course, graduated quickly due to his prior knowledge and was made an officer.

There was joking and teasing about a "gazillionaire" who doesn't need to work a day in his life becoming an cop. "Moneybags" they called him. Still, Bruce showed promise and was paired with Captain James Gordon. The two were in Gordon's office when the phone rang.

"Hello?" Gordon answered.

"Yes, I'm on 149 Finger Road." the caller said. "I'm not totally sure but I think the family in the alley next to me are getting mugged.

"We'll be there soon." Gordon replied. "Can you describe the assailant?"

"It's hard for me to tell because of the mask." the caller said. "I think he's an African-American."

Gordon sighed and said:

"Okay, stay calm."

Gordon hung up the phone and sat down at his desk rubbing his eyes.

"Aren't we going to stop a perp?" Bruce asked.

"Unfortunately, no." Gordon said with a barely composed voice.

"What?! But those people are in trouble." Bruce screamed. "You said you'd help them you liar!"

"I wasn't lying. I was gonna go down there." Gordon replied. "But I've got a family to think about. A wife, a daughter on the way. If I were to stop a criminal, like that, my career would be over in a second."

Bruce went to storm out of the office.

"Bruce," Gordon said, stopping him from leaving. "This decision goes against every cell in my body."

As Bruce pulled up to the scene of the crime, he saw three bodies lying on stretchers. A man, a woman and a young boy. The paramedic examined the bodies and gave a look to Bruce, the same grim look he was given nine years earlier.