Washington DC - 8/13/2016
The President sits with the Vice President and Secretary of Defence, watching as Bane announces his takeover of Gotham.
VP - What do we do sir?
President - We can’t take any chances of that bomb going off. (To SoD) What intel do you have on Bane?
SoD - Approximately 6 months ago, CIA intercepted Dr Pavel and 1 masked man, presumably Bane’s. Unfortunately the plane crashed, but seeing as how Pavel is still alive, I’d assume Bane had that plane crashed. Other than that, we have intel suggesting that he had operations in Africa dealing with diamonds. In other words Mr President, we have nothing on this man.
President - And he is holding an entire city ransom with the work of a now deadman. Suggestions?
SoD - Given the circumstances, I have none. If we send in anyone, the bomb is likely to be triggered.
President - And what about the alien?
SoD - Sir, with all due respect this is something for us to deal with, not
A knock on the window startles the men, causing the Secretary of Defence to pull his firearm. It’s Superman.
Superman - Mr. President. I heard about the Gotham Incident. Is there anything that I can do?
SoD - Yes there is, you can go back...
President - That’s enough. Superman, at this time, we want to keep this situation as contained as possible. For now, there are too many variables and too many people could die.
Superman - I understand sir. If you need anything, you know how to get my attention.
Superman flies off.
President - Not even Superman can save Gotham. God help us all.
6 months later
Superman flies over Earth; he hears a cry of a woman and flies down to save her. He arrives in Gotham.
Superman - You know it’s impolite to mistreat a woman.
Superman blasts the man’s face with his heat vision. The woman runs screaming
Superman - It’s what needed to be done. You should have killed Joe Chill, Bruce. You have to eliminate from society those that pose a threat to others. Join me Bruce.
Bruce Wayne wakes up in a cold sweat. Every night, it’s the same dream give or take a variation or two. Superman kills someone because he deems it necessary.
Selina - What’s wrong Bruce?
Bruce - I’m sorry Selina.
Selina - It’s OK Bruce, it really is OK.
Bruce - I have to leave.
Selina - What?!
Bruce - Superman, he can’t be controlled. Selina, what if he can’t be trusted? He didn’t even attempt to help Gotham, yet he killed the madman destroying the world. I have to go.
Selina - You know I’m going with you.
Bruce - And you know that I’m going to say no.
Selina - Then let me persuade you.
Selina kisses Bruce on the lips and he reciprocates, although Bruce is somewhere else, deep in his mind.
Gotham City: Batcave under the Docks- 1 month after Batman saved Gotham
John Blake is running through the simulated training program. He’s getting tired but he is pushing through. In his mind he thinks back to the final moments in Gotham, just before the bomb exploded. This pushes him through the end of the simulation. He checks the timer: 30 seconds faster than last time.
Alfred - Quite an improvement Master Blake.
Blake - Alfred, please, call me John; or Robin for that matter. But please, not Master Blake. I’m not Bruce.
Alfred- Right you are, and frankly Sir, it’s quite the relief. I don’t think I could stand two of him.
Blake - Do you think he’ll come back?
Alfred - I don’t know Master Robin, I don’t know.
Blake - Doesn’t matter. Not right now anyway. Time to suit up.
Alfred - Right. Shall you be taking the Bat-pod or the Bat-cycle?
Blake - Bat-cycle, as always Alfred.
Alfred - I’ll have it ready by the time you are ready to go.
Gotham City: On the streets
Blake zooms through the streets of Gotham, Gotham PD scanner in his ear. Suddenly he hears the screams of a woman and he spins the motorcycle around pausing only to focus on the screams long enough to locate their source. Blake knocks the bike into full speed, skidding to a stop as he jumps off and rolls right behind the mugger.
Blake - Not tonight.
Blake kicks the man's legs out from under him and he looks to the woman as he pins the man down.
Blake - Go. Not you.
Blake glares at the man under his knee. A swift punch to the face and the mugger is out cold. Blake pulls out a pair of cuffs from a pouch on the back of his utility belt. He grabs the special cell phone out of a front pocket and makes a quick call to Gordon.
Blake - Gordon, mugger at 5th and Bleacher.
Bruce - Nice work.
Blake spins around quickly and strikes a defensive pose, ready for an attack.
Bruce - You and I both know that if I was here to fight, you’d be out cold already.
Blake - Bruce?
Bruce - We need to talk.
Blake - Need a ride?
Bruce - I brought mine.
Suddenly the roar of an engine can be heard, it’s the new Batmobile.
Blake - Fox always does give you the best toys.
Bruce smiles.
The Batcave - Directly under Wayne Manor.
Bruce sits at the computer as Alfred reappears with Blake. Up on the screen is an image of the alien Superman
Alfred - I did not know that you had a thing for anything with bright colors Master Wayne.
Bruce - Funny. Alfred, Blake; tell me what you know of this guy.
Blake - Superman? I know that he saved Metropolis from the aliens that claimed he was one of theirs. I heard that since then he’s done government sanctioned work. Rumor has it that he has worked with the green guy who saved Coast City 6 years ago.
Alfred - To my knowledge Sir, this Superman, reportedly lives in Metropolis. The reporter Lois Lane once claimed to have intimate information about him, but did not reveal it to anyone.
Bruce - He demolished half of Metropolis in that fight.
Bruce presses a button on the keyboard and another image appears.
Bruce - He also broke the neck of the other Kryptonian.
Blake and Alfred are stunned at the image before them. Zods body is laying on the floor of the train station, neck broken and face in agony.
Bruce - For as much as we know, this was in cold blood. Regardless, this man is powerful and something that I can no longer afford to ignore.
Alfred - With all due respect Master Wayne, what do you intend to do? It’s not as if you can stand toe-to-toe with someone like this.
Blake - Wait, so you come back to Gotham, just to find out about Superman?
Bruce - No. I came here to pass on the skills that I have. And to prepare for the coming storm with a god.
Alfred - You’re not serious, are you Master Wayne?
Bruce - First things first. Blake, you’re going to show me what you’re made of.