Batman: The Scarred and the Damned [Fanfiction]

[Edd Grayson]

I like this... 

[ApolloXL5]

I like this... 

Thanks mate, I am posting the next chapter tomorrow.

[Edd Grayson]

Cool!

[ApolloXL5]

CHAPTER VI

Gordon found himself quickly moving through the crowd of Gotham's rich and high class as he walked over to Quincy Sharp, who was chatting with the Mayor over a glass of Champagne.

'How?' was the only thought the Police Chief could even process after the phone call he had just received and as he approached the pair, he could tell that the Warden of Arkham Asylum had not heard the news himself.

"Ah, Commissioner Gordon, please join us." the Mayor exclaimed in happy tone, gaining a mirrored expression from the Man beside him.

"I would love too..." Jim started to reply, trying to fake a smile as he turned his attention to Quincy.

"...but I need to discuss 'something' with the Warden here first, if that would be alright?" he added, while giving the Warden a knowing look.

"Of course but after you are finished, please join me and the Deputy Mayor at the Buffet table, apparently the Truffles there are to die for." the Mayor said back in an understanding tone as he patted Gordon on the shoulder, before leaving the pair alone.

"What appears to be the problem, Commissioner?" Sharp then asked in a bemused tone as Gordon looked around them, making sure they had enough privacy.

"Only something that neither of us thought would ever happen...'he's awake."

"Who's awake?" the Warden then replied with little to no interest in his voice, which made Jim's eyes narrow in return.

"You know who I am talking about, our dirty little secret."

"Ridiculous, he is a vegetable..." Quincy replied with a chuckle as he sipped his drink, before he then gave the Commissioner a knowing look.

"...and what do you mean 'our dirty little secret'? If I remember correctly, it was 'your' idea."

But the Police Chief just stared back with a pure and serious stare, not even flinching at the other's remark which then made Sharp stop, with his face slowly changing to one of horrific realization.

"My god, but it can't be." he added.

"I just got a call from the Asylum, one of your Interns walked into the East Wing and found him...and he woke up." Gordon then explained, making the Warden rummage through his Tux's pockets for his phone.

"Blast! I bet it was that Ms. Quinzel, she has been making every excuse she can to get some face-time with our most dangerous Inmates." he said back with a frustrated tone as he took out the mobile and turned it on, while the Commissioner watched.

"Her name didn't come up...and why may I ask is your Phone off?"

"Oh, this was supposed to be my night off and I didn't want it ruined." he replied with a guilty look, one that made Jim roll his eyes and sigh.

"Never mind, but we have to head to the Asylum now."

This gained a knowing look from Sharp, who sighed and nodded in return.

"Yes of course, so we can see how salvageable the situation is. Let's go." he replied while gesturing for the Commissioner to follow him, before both Men then made their way through the gathering towards the exit.

Although unbeknownst to them, Foley was watching them with a curious expression as he took a sip from his drink while Barbara joined his side.

"So did you two argue over me back there?" she asked with a curious tone and smile, making the Lieutenant shake his head in return as he mirrored her expression.

"Well he was about to, but was then called away by what looked like a very distressing phone call." the Lieutenant replied with a curious tone, which gained a disinterested expression from the Woman as she looked around them.

"What do I care anyway, since Jim is certainly not the boss of me." Barbara said back, before her smile came back as she returned her gaze at the other Man.

"So shall we have another drink?" she asked in a playful tone while gesturing to her now empty glass, making Foley smirk back as he looked between her and the direction that Gordon had left in.

"I would really like to, believe me. But there is something I must look into first, so rain-check?" he replied with a tone that was a combination of disappointment and hopefulness. Barbara looked down at her glass in return and ran her finger around the top of it, before she brought her attention back to him with a seductive look.

"Okay, but what will your Wife think about you sharing a drink with another Woman?" she asked, gaining a shrug from the Policeman as he necked back the last of his drink.

"I honestly don't care anymore, since it seems that we both have a lot of problems with our respective Partners."

"I couldn't agree more, in fact don't you think it is hypocritical of Jim to be asking about your relationship when he can't even hold his own together?" Barbara answered back, which brought a slightly surprised look to Foley's face.

"You know about that?"

"Jim has told me as much when he has tried to start a conversation with me, but he is nothing more than white noise to me these days, I just heard bits and pieces." the Commissioner's Wife replied with an honest expression, making the Lieutenant nod back as he noticed his Superior disappearing from view, starting to move so that he could follow.

"I see, well I should really get moving. So I'll see you later?"

"Sure, have fun following Jim." Barbara said back with a knowing toned, which stopped Foley in his tracks as he looked back at the married Woman with a telling smile.

"Believe me, that is not the kind of 'fun' I would rather be having."

"Get a move on then." she said back in an encouraging tone, which made Foley smirk back as he walked off in the same direction as the Police Commissioner, leaving Barbara as she turned around and headed back to Buffet and drinks table.

Meanwhile Bruce was still in the company of Sebastian as the latter continued to speak while the former inconspicuously glanced in the direction of Gordon and Sharp, as both Men left the Manor's interior.

"...so I was thinking we could chat some more over Brunch tomorrow..." Bruce's friend added as the Billionaire's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, for he then noticed Lieutenant Foley then doing the same as though he was following his Superior.

"...Bruce?"

This brought the young Wayne's attention back to Sebastian, flashing a reassuring smile at his friend in return.

"Yeah sure, Seb. We can do that..." he started to say before glancing at Alfred with an ever so slightly knowing look, making his Butler reach into one of his pockets with his free hand, for he recognized his Master's expression.

"...just let me..." Bruce continued only to be cut off as his phone started to ring in his Tuxedo's inner pocket, gaining the attention of both Men as the former took the device out and looked at it.

"...I apologize Seb, but there is something I have to take care of." he then added, earning an understanding nod from the other Man.

"Of course, Bruce. But we on for tomorrow, right?" he then asked, which made his Billionaire friend smile back as he started to back away.

"Of course, I'll give you a call in the Morning. Now, please enjoy the rest of the Party and I'll see you tomorrow." he said before turning around and walking away, giving Alfred an appreciative smile as he passed him.

"Thank you." he muttered, gaining a nod from his Confidant in return.

"Of course, Sir." Pennyworth replied as he watched the young Man leave the Hall in the direction of the Living-Room.

BATMAN: THE SCARRED AND THE DAMNED

Below the Mansion and the Party currently playing out within it's walls, Bruce exited the elevator and entered the sanctum of the Bat-Cave as he quickly took his seat at his large Computer while the Armory and his Bat-suit rose up from the ground to greet him.

'Why did you rush off Commissioner?' the young Man thought as he brought up the Mansion's internal Camera-feeds and filled the screens with multiple angles of the his Fundraiser, just as elevator doors opened again to reveal Alfred.

"I hope you're only down here to check your E-Mails, Master Wayne. Since you still have a Fundraiser upstairs that requires your attention." the older Man said as he walked up to Bruce, who shook his head in return.

"Sorry to disappoint, Alfred. But after noticing how James Gordon and Quincy Sharp left the Party as they did, I think there is something more important going on." he replied before taking note of the time on his watch and then fast-forwarding the footage on the screen, gaining the Butler's attention as he saw both Men suddenly standing together.

"But what about your guests, Sir?" he then asked with a slightly disapproving tone.

"You're going to have to give anyone who asks the same excuse that I had to use on Sebastian, though I doubt anyone is going to notice my absence for a few hours." Bruce replied, gaining a reluctant sigh from his Confident.

"Very well, Sir. So what is going on with the Commissioner and the Asylum's Warden."

"We're about to find out, activating the lip-reading software..." his Master replied, before tapping the enter key as both Men talked with subtitles appearing on the screen with them as the two life-long friends started to watch the footage, just as Gordon then replied to Sharp.

"Only something that neither of us thought would ever happen...'he's awake." the writing below him said while Bruce's expression remained stoic and inquisitive as he watched the scene play out. But as it continued, Alfred would glance at his Master every now and then, noticing that the young Man's expression became more and more surprised and confused looking as he read what appeared on the screen.

'What the hell?'

Once the footage of the Police Chief and Arkham's Head talk was over, the Billionaire simply turned off the footage and sat back in his chair with a thoughtful and questioning expression, while the Bats above the pair made the only sounds that either could hear.

"Master Bruce?" the old Gentleman asked, regaining the young Wayne's attention as he was snapped out of his thoughts.

"What they were talking about doesn't make sense..." he began to reply, only for the Butler to cut in.

"Whatever it is, Sir. It appears to have both the Commissioner and the Warden quite distressed." he added, earning a nod from Bruce in return as he turned around in his chair and looked out at the rest of the Cave, just as a Bat flew from one side to the next.

"Yes it does. Who could both Men be on about, who was in a Coma at Arkham Asylum?" he said back before turning back to the Bat-Computer, quickly typing in commands as he brought up a list on the main-screen.

"Is that what I think it is, Master Wayne?" Alfred then asked as he pointed at the data, earning an ever so slight-smirk from Bruce.

"If you think that it is the current patient and Inmate list for Arkham Asylum, then you would be correct. I gained access to their database some time ago, just so I could keep an eye on some of it's more troublesome residents." he replied in a matter-of-fact tone, making Pennyworth smirk back as they both scanned the list of names and the current statuses.

"Well, I don't see anybody there that is currently in a Coma." he added, gaining a nod from the Billionaire as he scrolled through the information.

"Exactly, so that means a visit to Arkham is in order." he replied while turning to face the Bat-suit.

"I agree Master Bruce..." Alfred started to say back, while the younger Man got up and walked up to the Armory.

"...and don't worry about your Fundraiser and it's guests, for I can take care of all that. Good luck, Sir."

"I never doubted it. Thanks, Alfred." Bruce replied as he got up and walked over to the Armory, which brought a warm smile to the old Man's face as he turned around and headed for the elevator, while the transparent chamber opened up and revealed the Bat-suit and all it's equipment.

"Oh before I forget, Alfred." the young Wayne then called back, stopping Pennyworth in his tracks as he turned round with a curious look.

"Yes, Master Bruce?"

"Make sure that there are more Truffles on the buffet-table up there, because they are quite the hit." his Master added with a grin, making the Butler's own smile grow a little wider as he nodded in return.

"Of course, Sir."

And with that, the Gentleman turned around and headed for the elevator while Bruce changed suits.

Thirty minutes later, both Gordon and Sharp arrived at Arkham Asylum in the dead of night. As the Police Chief got out of his car and looked up at the old building, he could feel a sense of trepidation and cold dread creeping up the back of his neck, for Jim was certainly not expecting this outcome as his mind became swept up in his memories.

'Jim was standing in the wreck of 250-52ndstreet, his Son standing at his side as the pair watched the Batman disappear into the shadows of the night around them.

"...He's a silent Guardian, a watchful Protector...a Dark Knight." Gordon said with a confident tone, earning a confused look from the boy in return.

"I don't understand, Dad." he replied in return, with the Father looking back as a hopeful smile appeared on his face.

"One day you will Son."

"Commissioner Gordon!" a voice called from behind the pair, making them turn to see a number of Police Officers approaching.

"Are you and your family alright?" one asked, gaining a nod back from Jim as he looked down at his Boy and then back to the burnt out ruins of fifty-Second street, only to see Barbara and their daughter coming down the stairs, a confused but relieved expression on former's face as she looked over to him.

[ApolloXL5]

"Yes Officer, we are fine but..." the Police Chief started to reply, only to stop for a moment as he felt a sourness build in his mouth at what he had to say next, so he glanced down at the corpse of the former District Attorney and took a breath.

"...the Batman killed Harvey Dent and is fleeing the area as we speak. We need to cordon off the area and catch him." he then added, gaining a shocked nod from the Officer in return.

"...right...right away, sir." he stuttered in an almost disbelieving tone, before reaching for his radio while gesturing to the others around them.

"The Batman is the Target. I repeat, apprehend the Batman." he said into the device, gaining the sounds of voices speaking back from it.

"Okay, we're going in. Go, Go...Move!"

"Officer, if you could get my Family out of here..." Gordon then started to say to the other Man, gaining the attention of his family.

"...then I will take over...the manhunt for the Batman." he said while feeling a lump in his throat, as those last few words stung him.

"If you will follow me please." the Officer then said in a reassuring tone, gaining confused looks from Barbara and James Jnr.

"Dad..?"

"Jim..?"

"Take the kids and follow him please, Barbara?" the Commissioner just said back, making his Wife give him a questioning look before reluctantly taking her kids hands in her own and following the Police Officer put of the area, gaining a tired sigh from Older Man as he turned back to the DA's body and stared down at it.

"Jim!" a familiar voice then spoke up from behind, making the Police Chief turn to see fellow Cop, Gerard Stephens rushing up to him.

"I just heard, are we really after the Batman?" he asked, gaining a reluctant nod from Gordon in return, before he gestured to the body lying on the ground beside him.

"Oh crap..." Stephens started to reply as he looked at Dent, only for a confused expression to appear on his face.

"...but I don't get it. Why would the Bat just turn like that, I mean he was working with us right?" he continued while kneeling down beside the Attorney's body, looking at the heavily scarred side of his face.

"I don't understand it either, but he does dress up like a Bat, so who can really say what the man is really like." the Commissioner replied as he turned away and adjusted his glasses, all the while he could hear the barking of search-dogs in the distance around them.

"Uh...Jim!" Stephens then said in a surprised tone, which made his Superior turn to see that he had his fingers on Harvey's throat.

"Gerard, what are you doing?" the older Man asked back, gaining his friend's attention as he looked back with an equally surprised expression.

"Dent's not dead."

"What...what are you on about, I saw him fall and..." Gordon began to reply as his eyes widened with a mirrored expression, while Stephens shook his head in return.

"But he's got a pulse, Jim. It's faint, but it's there."

"But how, I mean..." the Police Chief started to ask as he knelt down beside the body as well, looking down at the D.A. with a disbelieving expression as everything he had just forced himself to accept fell apart around him.

"...what even made you check him?" he then asked in a disapproving tone, earning a similar expression from Gerard as he looked up at James.

"I don't know, Jim. I just guess I had to be sure, but why I do I have the feeling that you would rather Dent was dead?" he replied, while Gordon stood back up and looked around them as he ran a hand through his hair in a frustrated fashion.

"It's...complicated..." he started to say back, noticing that the other Officers were either still chasing the Batman or maintaining the perimeter.

"...but believe me when I say, that things could not get much worse right now."

"Well from the look on your face and how you're acting, I can believe it. But unless you tell me what's going on, then I can't help you." his friend said back with an understanding though matter-of-fact tone, which regained Gordon's attention as he turned back to him with a thoughtful look on his face.

"Okay, do you trust me" he asked, trying to sound calmer than he actually was feeling at that moment.

"Jim, come on..." Stephens started to say back, only for the Police Commissioner to cut him off as his agitated behavior started to reappear.

"Do you?"

"Of course I do." he replied, which made Jim acknowledge him with a relieved but still slightly apprehensive smirk.

"Okay, I promise I will tell you everything Gerard, but we first need to get Harvey out of here and without anyone else finding out that he is not actually dead." he said back, earning a nod from his Subordinate.

"Right then, I will stop the Morgue guys from coming over and picking him up, while also getting a body-bag in return. Any other time, I think that people would question why the Police Commissioner would be handling something like this himself. But since we all know that you and Dent were friends, then they should more understanding about this."

"I hope you're right and I also hope that he doesn't wake up in the meantime, other otherwise we will get a similar result." the Police Chief added, with Stephens getting back to his feet.

"I don't think there will be any chance of that. I mean I am no Doctor, but I guess he is in a coma. Anyway, I'll go and get that body bag." he replied before turning around, only to stop and look back over his shoulder with a curious expression.

"By the way, where are you planning on taking Dent, should we be able to get him out of here without incident?"

"We can take him to Arkham Asylum, since I know it's current Warden well and I believe that he will help us, considering what would be at stake should the truth come out." Jim said back with a knowing tone, making Gerard's expression change to one of curious uncertainty.

"Okay, you're the boss, Jim. I'll be back in a moment and then you can fill me in on the way to Arkham." he replied, gaining a nod from the Commissioner.

"Deal." he said back as he watched his friend walk away, leaving the older Man with the unconscious Harvey Dent. But a thoughtful and worried expression started to creep onto Gordon's face, while he looked down at the Man who had tried to kill his Son as rain started to fall down lightly on the area.

'I really hope I am doing the right thing?'

"Finally, what took you so long!" a female voice then said abruptly, pulling Gordon out of his thoughts as he and Warden Sharp entered the Asylum's interior, only to be met by Dr. Cassidy and Officer Bullock.

"We've been waiting for over thirty minutes." the former added, gaining a shrug from the Police Officer as the Commissioner ignored her and walked up to him.

"What's the situation?" he asked with a serious tone, only for his subordinate to look back with an unsure expression.

"I'm sorry Commissioner, but you tell me? I mean i came here for the scheduled check-up on our friend 'the Bird', only to find out that someone I...everyone believed was dead...is actually alive." Bullock replied in an honest and confused tone, earning only silence from Gordon in return.

'I should have seen this coming, there was no way that this secret was stay that way for long.' he thought to himself, while Sharp turned his attention to Cassidy.

"So was that blonde buffoon, Quinzel responsible for this?" he asked, making his Female-subordinate shake her head with a taken-aback look on her face.

"No it wasn't Harleen, for she was not even here tonight."

"Then who was it?" Gordon then asked, gaining the pair's attention as he stood next to a confused-looking Bullock.

"It was Penelope Young, another of our new Interns." Sarah replied with a little disbelief underlining her words, gaining a similar-looking expression from Sharp in return.

"Really? I can't believe it. Miss Young didn't appear the type to go behind our backs into the East-Wing, just to see our more dangerous Inmates." he said back, once again gaining a head-shake from Dr. Cassidy.

"It wasn't like that, because she only went in there to get a straight-jacket for two Orderlies who were trying to get a rather fearful Patient back to his room safely."

"So it was just an accident that she came across Dent." the Police Chief then asked, not even flinching as he mentioned the D.A.'s name.

'The Cat is out of the bag now, so there is no need to beat around the bush with it.' he thought, gaining a nod from Cassidy.

"Exactly..." she started to reply, before gesturing to the room just behind her where the younger Woman could be seen through the window, showing her to be sitting behind a table and looking rather shaken.

"...but the whole thing has taken a toll on her, so I have left her in there to calm down and collect her thoughts."

"That's a good idea." the Warden then replied, before Gordon then spoke up again and made everyone in the group look at him.

"Okay, so where is 'he'?"

"We had to move him out of the East-Wing since the Joker and Crane had become quite riled from his presence, so he is in the room over there." Cassidy replied while gesturing to the door behind her, making the older Man's eyes narrow as he looked in it's direction.

"In other news, it appears that your idea to put the Bird with the Crazies worked like a charm, since he is ready to spill everything he knows to us." the Police Officer then stated, only to make his Superior shake his head as he adjusted his glasses.

"That's not important right now, but I want to see Dent...alone." Jim said back, earning nods from all three.

"Very well. He has been very quiet but we still have him restrained, just to be on the safe side." the female Doctor replied, making the Commissioner's eyes widen a little.

"Okay. Bullock, I want you to wait outside the door and make sure I am not interrupted..." he started to say, gaining a nod from the chubby Man in return, before returning his attention to Sharp and Cassidy.

"...and it's important that no one outside of the Asylum finds out about this."

"We have already made sure that the staff here will not say anything and as far as outsiders go, Bullock here is the only Police Officer on site, other than yourself of course." Sarah said back, making the Police Chief nod back with a relieved expression.

"That's good to know. Okay, I will see Dent now." he replied, only for Bullock to give him a curious look.

"Commissioner..?"

"I know what you are going to ask and I will tell you everything once I have spoken with him, but that does mean that you..." he began to say, only for the younger Man to cut him off mid-sentence.

"I understand Commissioner, since I can keep a secret. If you're willing to trust me, then I can trust you too." he said back as a knowing look appeared on Jim's face.

'I would rather it had not come to this. But since I have been the 'only Cop' to know this secret for what feels like an age, it would be less of a burden if I could share it with another again.' he thought be giving his Subordinate a reassuring smile, before he then left the three people and walked over to the door.

Gordon could swear that he felt his heart-beat quicken as he took the door-handle into his hand, making him take a breath before opening the door and entered the room.

Once inside, Gordon quickly noticed that the room was not that well lit as the light hanging above him in it's center was already starting to dim.

'Well this is couldn't get any more creepy now, could...' he started to think before he was cut off by a very familiar voice.

"Hello Jim."

This made the hairs on the back of the Commissioner's neck go on end, as he found himself caught between breaths. But he still managed to look in it's direction at the far side of the room, where a mobile-berth was parked alongside it's wall. And a person could clearly be seen lying on it, but Gordon did his best not to look directly at the person, while the sound of his own heart-beat got louder in his ears.

"Why so quiet, Friend...?" the person then said with a tempered anger to his voice, making the older Man look directly at his face, seeing the scarred half of Harvey Dent's face. The former-D.A's eyes fixed on him as only his right narrowed since his left was completely bare, due to it's eyelids having being burnt away by the fire previously.

"...we have a lot of catching up to do." Harvey added as he gritted his teeth, which made Gordon gulp as the two Men stared at each other.

Meanwhile at the checkpoint on the City's-side of the bridge that connected Akrham Island to the rest of Gotham. A large black Van stopped as the rain continued to fall, while a AA Guard walked up to the driver's side and shone his torch at it and saw that SWAT was printed on it's side in bold white lettering, before turning his attention to it's driver.

"What's your business at the Asylum?"

"We are dropping off a Crazie who tried to blow up a school back in Blüdhaven." the Driver replied as he handed a document over to the Guard, who looked over the details with a confused expression.

"This is a bit out of the blue, isn't it? Why couldn't he be kept back there?"

"You know as well as I do that we don't have the right kind of facilities to hold these Crazies, not like here in Gotham." the stranger said back with a knowing tone, which gained a sigh and a nod from the Guard in return.

"Yeah that is unfortunately true, it just seems that the Crazies are drawn here..." he started to say back before handing back the document.

"...but your papers are all correct, so you can go on through as soon as the bridge is lowered."

"Thank you." the driver replied as he watched the AA guard walk back into his booth, before the bridge suddenly lowered down and allowed the vehicle entrance.

Once the SWAT vehicle was back on it's way, driving down the winding road leading to the Asylum as it followed it's Cat's eyes. The Driver glanced over his shoulder into the Van's back where a large group of masked-soldiers dressed in heavy amour sat, all carrying assault rifles and shotguns.

"We are in." he said in a stoic tone, gaining a nod from the masked-Man sitting closest to him.

"Good..." he began to say before turning his attention back to the rest

"...alright boys, you all know the plan. We go in and get the Boss out, taking down anyone who gets in our way. We cannot let him spill anything that leads the cops back to our 'Employer', understood?"

"Yes Sir." they all said in unison, making the Man smile behind his mask.

"Then lock and load." he added as they all readied their weapons as the Van carrying them closed in on the Asylum, where thunder echoed and lighting streaked across the sky overhead.

A/N: Well I hope you liked this chapter, I will post the next one in January. So until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

And thanks for reading.

Next Chapter: Arkham under Attack! The Batman arrives at the Asylum to find Gordon trapped between 'The Bird's Liberators and Harvey Dent, the Man who is supposed to be dead.

[Edd Grayson]

Very good. Looking forward to the next. I especially liked how Dent appeared.

[ApolloXL5]

CHAPTER VII

It was deathly quiet in the room where Gordon was standing right now, since he found that he was lost for words. The Police Commissioner really did not know what to think at this very moment as he looked over at the Man lying under lock and key on a restraining berth at the other side of the room. The Man in question was former Gotham District Attorney, Harvey Dent, who to everyone outside the walls of this Mad-House was known to be dead.

"Come on Jim, say something." the disfigured Inmate said while never taking his eyes off the older Man, with only his right eye blinking once as his left continued to stare back eerily. But Gordon could only sigh in return as he tried to break eye contact by look down at his shoes, anywhere rather than at the Man who nearly destroyed his family.

"SAY SOMETHING!" Harvey then spat, snapping the Police Chief's attention back to him as he glared back.

"What...what can I say to you that I haven't already?"

This made the former DA look up at the ceiling as a thoughtful expression befell his face, though Gordon could bow only see his untouched side, reminding him of the friend he used to know.

"Do you know the last thing I remember, Jim?" he asked with an inquisitive tone, only to gain silence from the Commissioner in return.

"...it wasn't what you would expect me to remember, of how Batman tackled me over the edge of that floor, allowing me plummet to the ground below..." he added, giving Gordon a knowing glance.

"...which of course I remember with crystal clarity..."

This made the older Man feel a chill through his body, before Dent returned his attention to the ceiling.

"...but I will get to that part. No, the last thing I remember was lying in bed on what felt like a lazy Sunday Morning, with the rays of Sun slowly illuminating the room through the gaps in the curtains to my left. I felt so at peace and utterly content, before looking to my right and seeing Rachel lying beside me with a loving smile on her beautiful face. Neither of us said a word to each other as we gazed into each others eyes, for words were not needed in that moment because we were together..." Harvey continued, before Jim noticed that his former-friend's expression began to change as he started to look irritated.

"...but then all of a sudden, Masked-Men broke down the door and barged into the room. They were upon us before I even had a chance to react as they dragged Rachel, kicking and screaming, off the bed and knocked me unconscious with what I can only describe as a sharp blow to the head..."

"Look, Harvey..." the Police Chief then tried to say, only for the disfigured Man to grit his teeth in return as he kept his eyes focused on the ceiling.

"I am not finished...and you will listen..." he said back in a cold and barely controlled tone, making the older Man sigh.

"...because when I came too, I found myself tied down to a chair in a room filled with oil drums that were wired to a detonation device that was counting down, but only this time Rachel was right there opposite me, restrained in a chair similar to my own. There was no one else in the room with us as I tried to free myself from my restraints by rocking my chair left and right, my heart pounding so loud that I could hear it as I only thought of getting Rachel and myself out of harms way. But It did not work as I fell to the ground with the chair still tightly tied to me and knocked over the closest drum, spilling oil all around and under me, soaking half of my body while Rachel watched." the former DA added, earning a shocked expression from Gordon as he listened.

'My God...'

"Bless her heart, Rachel tried to stay calm throughout. She spoke nothing but encouraging words, like 'we would get out of here' and 'they are coming for us'. I have to admit, I would have found that hard to believe as I lied there in a widening pool of gasoline. But because it was Rachel saying those words, just the sound of her voice had a calming effect on me. And so we just looked at each other and waited as the timer continued to count down towards zero and our destruction. But then just as the counter passed into the final minute, the door was kicked open and both you and the Batman entered the room. And as you rushed towards us, I suddenly felt a weight fall off my shoulders, thinking that we would both be saved..." Dent said before looking back at the older Man with a dagger-like stare, gritting his teeth as Jim felt a chill surround him once more.

"...but then you both stopped and looked at us, first at Rachel and then down at me. I could not help but feel confused as I told you both to get her out first. But then Batman freed me and pulled me to my feet, but not Rachel too, so I fought against him. But the Vigilante was too strong and he dragged me away with you in tow, as Rachel just watched in shock. I screamed at you to go back and get her, but both of you simply ignored my pleas as we left the room, so all I could do was cry out Rachel's name while we left the building before the whole place exploded and the Love of my Life was incinerated." the disfigured Man added as for one second, his expression saddened as a tear ran down the scarred side of his face.

"Harvey, I am sorry...but..." the Commissioner began to say, only for Harvey to cut him off once more.

"...and then I woke up back in bed with Rachel, like it had never happened....only for the whole thing to repeat itself...again and again..."

'That would be enough to drive any...' the older Man started to think as he glanced away from the Prisoner for just a split second, only to have his attention dragged back as Harvey spoke up.

"Am I boring you?" he said back, looking directly at the Police Chief with his full face in view.

"...No..."

"Then don't look away..." the former DA said behind gritted teeth as he clenched his fist and budged his mechanical restraints only ever so slightly, but it was enough to get Gordon to keep his focus on him.

"...because I am not finished...not even close. And don't interrupt me again." Dent added before returning his stare to the ceiling, which brought a slight sigh from the Commissioner.

"Do you know what it is like to watch your Love die before your very eyes over and over again, like a damned loop?"

" But Harvey, it didn't happen that way?" Gordon replied with a confused tone, one underlined with a slither of fear.

"IT DID HAPPEN! I SAW IT HAPPEN! Don't you dare try to tell me it didn't, after what you and the Bat did..." Dent spat back in a rageful tone, fighting against his restraints as much as he could while never taking his eyes off the Commissioner.

"...when I woke up and found myself in a dark, dank cell with no idea where I was. There was a brief moment when I thought that the whole ordeal was just a Nightmare that I had finally awoken from, but then I felt my skin sting once again and my heart sank as I knew that Rachel was truly dead..." the former DA continued before his right eye narrowed at Gordon, making the older Man nervously adjust his glasses.

"...and everyone who was responsible still has to pay for it."

This made the Police Chief clench his fist as he suddenly thought of Barbara and the Kids, while staring back at the restrained Dent.

"I am sorry for what happened to you and Rachel, Harvey, I really am. But you already tried and failed to get my Family and you will not be getting a second chance, that I promise you." he said back with a serious and unwavering tone, which brought a slight smirk to the disfigured Man's face.

"But I will, Jim. As long as I live, I will see your World crushed so that then, you will finally understand my pain."

Gordon was about to reply to that, but was then cut off by the light in the room suddenly shutting down, throwing both Men into darkness.

"What the Hell?" the Police Commissioner said with a confused expression as the emergency lights switched on, bathing the pair in a red glow while Harvey looked at their surroundings with a curious smirk.

"What's the matter, Jim? Don't you feel like you're in control of the situation?"

BATMAN: THE SCARRED AND THE DAMNED

Meanwhile elsewhere in the Asylum, a pair of Orderlies were walking through one of the Old Building's many corridors which were too bathed in the red glow of the emergency lighting.

"Just when I thought this place couldn't get any creepier..." one said to the other, gaining a nod back.

"I couldn't agree more and since we are closest to the generator-room, it falls to us to find out why the back-up's not kicking in." he said back as the pair turned a corner, only to stop in their tracks as before them stood a group of heavily armored and masked-soldiers.

"What the hell is..." one Orderly started to say, only to be cut off as the soldiers opened fire with their silenced-weapons and riddled the pair with bullets.

"This is Team-Bravo to Team-Alpha..." the masked-Man then started to say into his com-link, while the bodies of the two Arkham Staff fell back onto the floor with a thud.

"...objective two is complete, we are now on our way to the East-Wing to rendezvous with you, while Delta-Team guards the Asylum's perimeter." he continued to say as he and the rest of his team then walked past the corpses in formation, watching their surroundings through the iron-sights of their weapons.

"Roger that, we are nearly in position ourselves." the Leader's voice spoke back over the com-link, just as the group came across three more of Arkham's Staff and took them down as quickly and quietly as the previous two.

As this was happening, Warden Sharp had left Dr. Cassidy and Bullock waiting outside of the room where Gordon was talking with Harvey Dent and instead went to see Penelope Young, since the Intern was still shaken from her encounter with the former DA earlier.

"Warden Sharp! What's going on?" the young-Woman asked in a slightly startled manner as he entered the room and sat opposite her, with a calm and friendly expression on his face.

"It's nothing to worry about Miss Young, for I believe that main generator's just failed. I am sure it will be back online in a few minutes."

"I see." she replied with an uncertain tone, while he sat down at the opposite side of the table facing her.

"Anyway, I am more interested in you right now." he said, gaining a curious look from her in return.

"You are?"

"Of course. Here at Arkham Asylum, we make every effort not to expose our newest and youngest Staff to the fractured and crazed minds of those within our walls that will never be cured. But unfortunately our measures were not enough this time to protect you my dear, and for that I am sorry." Sharp said back, which made Penelope give him a slight smirk in return.

"It wasn't your fault, I was the one that put myself in that position."

"But you did it to help others, that is a quality that is very important to me, as I feel very strongly that we should be helping those that are afflicted with mental issues. And Dr. Cassidy has informed me that you have demonstrated this quality plenty of times in the last few days, as well as a high aptitude for the science. This is more than most of the Interns that have worked here in the same number of days, which is very impressive in my book." Quincy replied with a proud tone, making the young-Woman's smile wide a little more as she almost blushed.

"Well, thank you Sir. But why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I hope that this incident hasn't made you want to relinquish your position here at the Asylum, since I would consider the biggest of mistakes. Not when I can see you having a long and successful career in this field..." the Warden said back, bringing a thoughtful expression to the Intern.

"...and you do look very shaken by tonight's unpleasant experience." he added, gaining a knowing nod from Penelope as she looked back at him more determinedly.

"That is true Sir, but I knew when I chose this career that it would not be without dangers. And though I did not think that I would come face to face with such dangerous Patients so soon..." the Intern continued to say before taking a breath, while Sharp listened intently.

"...believe me when I say that I am not about to quit now." she added, earning a proud smile from Quincy in return.

"I am very glad to hear you say that, Miss Young. You really are going to be a fine addition to our Staff, but take a couple of days off in the meantime, just until we have dealt with this current situation."

Penelope nodded back with a understanding-look, before a more thoughtful expression befell her face.

"Okay Sir, but why did City-Hall and the GCPD tell us that Harvey Dent was dead if he clearly wasn't?" she asked, making the Chubby balding Man look back with a knowing look.

"I am afraid I cannot say at this time, but since you signed a non-disclosure agreement..." he started to say, only for the Intern to nod back in return.

"Of course, Sir."

"...so when you come back, not only will Dr. Cassidy and I brief you on Mr. Dent's situation, but also guarantee that you will not be put in such a dangerous situation until you are ready."

The Intern then gave him an acknowledging smile before she then opened her mouth to reply, only to be cut off by an unknown male voice to speak up from the doorway.

"Pity that promise didn't include right now, huh."

Both suddenly looked in that direction to see one of three Masked-Soldiers standing there, aiming his weapon at them. To the surprise of Penelope, Sharp quickly got up from his seat and stormed over to the new arrivals.

"What is going on here? Who the hell are..." he spat, only to be cut off as the lead-Soldier hit him in the face with the but of his weapon, knocking the older Man onto the floor.

"We are here for 'The Bird' and you are going to help us get him, that's all you need to know." he said while the Intern rushed to her Boss's side and helped him up.

"Any tricks and we will kill you, now let's go." he added, gaining a feared nod from her as she and Quincy followed him out of the door, only to be surrounded by the other two Soldiers who were watching their six.

"Where to?"

"Where do you think? The East-Wing of course." the Leader spat back, before gesturing them with to move with his gun as the group started walking in that direction.

Back in the small Meeting-Room, Harvey was still restrained to his mobile-berth as Gordon pulled out his Radio and spoke into it.

"Bullock, what is happening out there?" he asked, completely oblivious to the disfigured Man watching him quietly from behind.

"There's apparently been a power-outage here, it should be back on momentarily." the younger Officer replied back over the Radio, earning a nod from the Police Chief.

"Okay, but do we have to worry about the Inmates? I mean they are still locked up right?" he asked while Harvey, having overheard that suddenly looked down at his restraints with a thoughtful expression on his disfigured face. He started to slowly move his arms, while the conversation continued next to him.

"No Sir, Cassidy here tells me that the Cells are the old-fashioned Lock and Key kind, so no worries of a Prison-break." he added, earning a sigh from Jim in return. While the former DA could only smirk as he found the mechanical restraints had unlocked and opened slightly, before looking back to see that the Commissioner had not noticed.

"Wait a second..." Bullock then continued with a more worried tone, regaining his Boss's attention as Gordon felt his Heart slowly starting to beat faster as he feared what words would come next from his Colleague.

"...apparently the mobile-Berths are Wi-Fi connected!"

This suddenly made James eyes widen before he spun around to find Harvey free and lunging at him, tackling the Head-Cop to the floor.

"Oh no you don't Jim..." he spat back as the two wrestled before the Lunatic got the upper hand and punched his former-Friend in the face.

"…I told you I wasn't done yet." he added before taking Gordon's Side-Arm and quickly kicking the downed Man in the stomach for good measure, making the Police-Chief cough hard as he gasped painfully for air.

"Now I could easily kill you now, Jim..." Dent started to say as he pointed the weapon at it's former Owner, the latter looking up at him with a shocked expression at how everything had suddenly fallen apart. But before the disfigured-Man could finish his sentence, Bullock suddenly burst into the room and aimed his gun at the armed escapee.

"Hold it right ther..." he started to warn, only to stop as Harvey looked over his shoulder and stared daggers back at him, making the Officer's eyes widen in response as he looked like he had seen a ghost. The former White-Knight took advantage of the younger-Man's pause and quickly turned round and fired his weapon, hitting Bullock in the leg.

"Arrgh" he cried out in pain while collapsing onto the floor and dropping the gun, while Dent looked back at Gordon who was still recovering.

"...but I will not deny Fate the right to judge you ...or your Family. I'll be seeing you." he added before then leaving the room, earning a scream outside from who could only be Doctor Cassidy, before she was suddenly silenced by what sounded like a heavy smack to the face.

'How the hell did this happen?' was the only thought going through the Police Commissioner's mind as he looked over and saw his Colleague slumping against the bottom half of the door, before his attention was suddenly caught by the sound of an alarm blaring through the corridor.

'What now!'

Meanwhile near the entrance to the East-Wing, the reason for the blaring noise to go off was because one of the Arkham Staff had managed to activate the emergency alarm, only to be shot in the back by one of Soldiers guarding both Sharp and Young as they neared their objective.

"Okay Warden, open this door and let us in." the Leader ordered, which made the older-Man shake his head in return.

"N...No, I will not." he replied defiantly, making the Head-Soldier sigh in return.

"Really..." he started to say before shooting the hostage in the his right arm, earning a cry of pain from him as blood started dripping from the fresh wound.

"Arrgh!"

Now open that door before the next bullet goes somewhere you really wouldn't want it to go." the Leader spat while aiming his gun for the Warden's groin, while pointing towards the East-Wing's door with his free hand, gaining a pained but alert nod from him.

[ApolloXL5]

"Okay...okay, I...will open it." he replied with a panicky tone before fumbling through his trouser-pocket for the item, with Penelope watching fearfully as he then swiped it through the Door's Card-reader. This gained a loud unlocking sound from the door once again, before the Soldiers then opened the door and shepherded their two hostages inside.

"Hey Johnny, we have Visitors!" the Joker called out as he rushed over to the bars of his Cell and looked at the new arrivals, a sinister smile widening on his face as he recognized the two Hostages.

"Hey it's Sharpie! Still sporting that balding look I see, And..." the Clown started to say before looking directly at the young-Woman, his eyes widening with glee as he chuckled.

"...Hello again!"

"What's with all the racket, Joker? I was trying to slee..." Crane then started to reply with a sheepish tone as he walked over to his bars with a sleepy expression before his attention was caught by the sight of the Soldiers, snapping him out of his haze.

"...what is going on here?"

"I think we might be getting time off for bad behavior, I am so going to celebrate..." Joker started to cheer, only to stop short with a thoughtful smile.

"...but what should I do? Kill a few Gang-Bangers or blow up some School-Kids...nah, that's so last year..." he carried on, only to be cut off by the Lead-Soldier.

"Shut your mouth and stand back, Clown. We are not here for you." he ordered, making the Maniac's smile turn to a sad frown.

"Party Pooper!"

But the Soldier simply ignored the Lunatic as one of his squad-mates gained his attention, pointing at the next cell.

"Here he is."

"Oh thank god, you're here to get me out." the Bird exclaimed loudly as he rushed to his bars, only for the Leader to stand opposite him while everyone watched.

"You haven't told anybody anything, have you?" he asked in a direct and chilling tone, earning a shocked and almost hurt expression from the Arms-dealer.

"No...no, of course not. Why would you even..." he started to answer, only for the Joker to cut him off mid-sentence.

"Oh...but he was going to, weren't you...little guy." he replied with devious tone and grin, showing off the scars on his mouth as the Bird's eyes widened as he stared back at the Soldiers.

"No, No! I was never going too!" he spat back fearfully, which made the Clown laugh out loud almost uncontrollably.

"Ha Ha Ha Ha! Oh please, Birdy. Both me and Johnny saw you pleading with the Cops..." he began to explain, gaining a half-interested nod from Crane in return as the Masked-Soldiers simply listened.

"...please, I will tell you everything. Just get Me out of here! Ha Ha Ha Ha!" the Maniac continued, trying to do an impression of his scared neighbor, but barely keeping himself in control as he held on to the bars of his Cell and stared back at his audience.

"Believe me, I have experience with Squealers. And this guy really was a little Birdy, while Batman got him to sing his little tune..." he added before looking to the ground with a slightly disappointed expression.

"...I miss Batman." he sighed, earning confused looks from Sharp and Penelope at his sudden shift in tone.

"Whatever, we can deal with that later..." the Leader replied before pointing at the Warden, who was still cradling his injured arm.

"...now open this Cell." he spat, gaining a fearful nod from the older Man in return.

"...Okay..." he replied in a submissive manner, before taking out a special-looking key from his trouser pocket and using it to unlock the Bird's cell-door.

"Thank you!" the weary and fearful man exclaimed loudly in a relieved tone as he quickly barged out of the cell, knocking Sharp aside and causing the Warden to drop the key less than a meter from the bars of the Joker's.

"Okay, we have the Package. Beta-Team, you better be outside the East-Wing now?" the Leader then said into his Radio, ignoring the looks of both Joker and Crane as he stared towards the main door.

"We are Boss, covering your six." a voice spoke through the device, earning a nod back from him.

"Good, the Beta-Team come in here now and Delta wait for us at the perimeter."

A second later and the Beta-team was inside the large room with the others, making Joker stare back at them with even more curiosity in his eyes.

"So many people here and me without my Pencil...." he started to say in a disappointed tone, while everyone just ignored him as the Clown then looked down to the ground, his eyes quickly moving onto the lone Key lying on the ground near him.

"...but that will do." he added in an almost whisper, a slight smile appearing on his face as he then glanced back at the group who were getting ready to leave.

"Okay, Alpha-Team will now extract the Bird while Beta-Team covers us..." the Lead-Soldier started to say, earning nods from all there.

"...but not before executing our hostages first, since they are now useless to us." he added coldly, bringing panicked expressions to both Penelope and the Warden's faces.

"What!...but we did everything you said!" Sharp spat in a tone laced in both anger and fear, making the Leader turn to him.

"And we thank you for your assistance, but you're nothing but dead weight to us now..." he replied, before looking at the Beta-Team.

"Kill them once we have left."

"Understood." one of their number said back with a nod, while the Leader tapped his radio.

"Delta team, you just need to hold the perimeter for another few minutes." he then stated, only for no reply to cone back over the radio.

"Delta Team, report?...Delta Team, respond....Anyone?" he then said and even though his face was covered by his Mask, everyone there could hear that the tone of his voice was starting to get worried.

"Boss?" one of the other Soldiers then asked, bringing his attention back to the others.

"We are leaving, let's go."

Beta-team and their hostages simply watched as he and the others then left the room, with both Penelope and Sharp looking more fearful with every second that passed as one of the soldiers then turned and raised his weapon at them. He started to aim it at the Intern first, only for the older Man to suddenly speak up.

"No! If you are going to kill someone, then kill me." he said in a determined and fearless manner, surprising Dr. Young after his earlier behavior. But the Soldier simply chucked from behind his Mask, before shifting his focus towards the Warden.

"It makes little difference to me what order you two die in, but if you want to go first..." he began to reply, only to be cut off by the young Woman.

"NO!" she screamed before the sound of the Gun being fired echoed throughout the large room but then went deathly quiet.

"...I am happy to oblige." the soldier added as Sharp's body then fell back onto the floor with a thud, only for the Joker to start laughing hysterically as Penelope fell to her knees and looked down at her Boss's corpse with a shocked expression.

"Ha Ha Ha, that was priceless. The way Sharpy fell on the floor like that, can we see it again?" the Clown asked eagerly while gesturing to both himself and Crane, who just stood behind the bars of his Cell and watched indifferently.

"Alpha-Team here, we are virtually out." a voice then spoke from one of the Group's Radios, earning their attention as one looked to the others.

"Okay, let's finish this and leave." he said before looking back at the traumatized Intern and readying his weapon, gaining her attention as she looked up at the barrel of the gun and then into the black visor of his mask.

"Not exactly the repeat I was hoping for, but it could still be funny." the Joker observed with an intrigued grin, while Moonlight started to shine through the large window behind everyone and illuminate them as the storm outside had finally subsided. "Aren't you afraid?" The Scarecrow then asked with a curious tone as he watched Dr. Young simply stare up at her would-be Executor, but she just ignored him and closed her eyes as she waited for the Soldier to pull the trigger.

Though suddenly the Moonlight disappeared from the Window as if something had blacked it out, which did not go unnoticed by the Soldiers as half of them turned around to look at it.

"What the he..." one began to ask, only to be cut off as Batman leaped through the window, shattering it into a thousand pieces as he flew through with his cape fully spread, casting a familiar shadow on the wall, which brought a smile to Joker's face as he recognized the new arrival who slammed into the back of the Soldier with his feet, knocking him out before he could pull the trigger.

" Oh, it's my Dark Knight!" the Clown exclaimed before getting his hands and knees while Batman quickly turned around and roundhouse-kicked one of soldiers in the face, cracking his visor and sending him flying into the nearby wall. This caused Penelope to open her eyes and see the Vigilante mopping up the rest of the Beta-Team, disarming another soldier before slamming his head into another and knocking the pair out.

"Batman?" she then said out loud, making the Dark Knight look back to both her and the corpse of the Warden lying next to her.

"Are you..." he started to ask, only for his attention to be caught by the sight of the Joker, who was stretching his arm out from between the bars of his Cell as he tried to reach the Key.

"...Joker!" he then growled, making the Clown stop and look up at him with a surprised face, before his signature smile appeared.

"Oh, my favourite person in all the World has come to visit me..." he then started to say, quickly getting back to his feet while the Vigilante merely watched indifferently.

"...I knew you couldn't keep away." he continued, before Batman's eyes looked down at the Key and then back up at him, earning an embarrassed smile back.

"Oh that is nothing Bats, I was just doing some stretching exercises..." he started to reply, before getting close to the bars while looking at his rival with admiration.

"...I have really missed you...my best friend!" he said with a hopeful tone, which Batman replied by quickly reaching in and grabbing the Clown by his shirt. He followed through by yanking the Pale-Man towards him and making him slam his head into the cold metal bars, before dropping him back onto the floor of his cell as blood started to pour from his broken nose.

"Quiet Joker, or I will make sure you won't be able to eat solid food ever again." he growled back, only for the Maniac to ignore his threat.

"Ha Ha Ha Ha!" the Joker started to laugh, completely ignoring or oblivious to the pain his face was currently in as he just looked up at the Dark Knight with a disturbingly caring smile.

"...so you do care about me. I always suspected, Bats."

But the Vigilante ignored him and returned his attention to Penelope Young, who had picked up the key and got back up.

"Are you alright?" he asked again, gaining a nod from her in return.

"Yes I am okay, but Warden Sharp is dead." she replied, making Batman look down at the Corpse.

"I am sorry." he replied with a somber tone, before a more serious look appeared on her face.

"Thank you, but you have to go after that group or else the Bird will get away."

And as if on cue, the pair heard a noise to their left and looked over there to see one of the Soldiers getting back to his feet.

"I'll handle this, find somewhere safe to hide until the Police arrive." the Batman said before chasing after the enemy, who had started to run as fast as his aching legs could carry him.

"But aren't they after you too?" she asked back with a confused expression, though he disappeared out of sight once he passed through the doorway.

"Alert, the Batman is here!.." the panicked-Soldier began to shout into his Radio as he sprinted down the corridor, running passed the dead bodies of various Arkham Staff that he and his comrades had gunned down.

"...I repeat, the Batman..." he then continued to scream, only to be stopped as he was suddenly knocked down by what felt like an electric shock.

"Urrgh!" he grimaced slowly as he found himself lying face first on the floor, his senses in a daze as he tried to recover. But then two armored boots appeared before him, earning a groan from the Soldier before he was suddenly pulled up back onto his feet and came face to face with the Batman once more.

"Who are you and what do you want with 'The Bird'?" he growled, only for the other Man to mumble as he was still suffering the effects of the stun. So the Vigilante then ripped off the Soldier's mask and slapped his face, snapping him out of his daze.

"Oh my God!" he then exclaimed in fear with widening eyes as he realized he was in the Batman's grasps, making the Dark Knight narrow his own eyes and tighten his grip on the Merc's Armor.

"God won't help you here, now tell me what I want to know!" he shouted back, only for the Soldier's eyes to look over Batman's shoulder. This made him drop the man to the floor and spin around to confront whoever was behind him, but his eyes suddenly widened as he found himself staring at Harvey Dent.

"Harvey...?" he muttered in complete shock, for he could not be believe that a man he knew to be dead was standing before him.

'It can't be!' he thought, oblivious to the fact that the former DA had dropped one of the Soldiers flash-bang grenades on the floor in front of him, exploding in blinding flash of light that caught the Dark Knight completely by surprise as it made him recoil and cover his eyes.

'Damn it, Bruce! Get it togeth...' Batman started to think before a blow to the back of the head knocked him to the ground.

"You're going to pay for your part in this as well, Batman, I can promise you..." the Vigilante then heard Dent say before everything went black as he fell unconscious.

A/N: Well I hope you liked this chapter and thanks for reading, I really appreciate it.

Next Chapter: As the Mercs continue with their mission to get 'The Bird' to safety, Harvey Dent finds that he too may just have a way off Arkham Island and with no one else to stand in his way.

[Edd Grayson]

Awesome chapter

Looking forward to more of the story in the future.

[ApolloXL5]

CHAPTER VIII

"What the hell!" the Soldier then exclaimed as he watched Batman fall to the ground, while the disfigured Man stood over them both.

"Would I be correct in saying that I just saved you from Batman?" he asked, earning a nod back from the masked Man in return.

"Yeah, I guess so..." the Soldier started to reply, before tilting his head ever so slightly.

"...you're Harvey Dent! I thought you were dead?"

"Only half, so that means you owe me, right?" the former DA then asked, quickly changing the subject as the Soldier took off his helmet and revealed himself to be a Caucasian Man with blue-eyes and black hair.

"Of course, what do you want?" he said back, noticing that the escaped Inmate was tightening his grip on the Pistol in his hand.

"I want your help to get off this damn Island." Dent replied, making the other guy smile back as he held out his hand.

"I can do that."

The former White-Knight then grabbed his hand and helped the Soldier to his feet, with the latter picking up his weapon in the process before aiming his gun down at the unconscious Vigilante.

"Though we should really take care of him before we go." he added, making Harvey shake his head in return.

"No, I have plans for this...Rodent."

"But this is the Batman! Do you know how many times this freak has got in the way of others in this City?" the Soldier asked back with a disbelieving tone, earning an angry stare back from Dent.

"I know better than most, since 'he' and Commissioner Gordon ruined my life..." he snapped, the Soldier's eyes widening as he backed away slightly.

"...so don't you dare tell me what I do or do not know!"

"Okay, the Bat lives for now. We better get out of here and catch up to the rest of my team, since they will be getting ready to leave by now." the younger Man replied, gaining a nod from Dent who then glanced back down at Batman.

"What's your name?" he then asked, with the Soldier glancing over his shoulder at him.

"Sloane, Paul Sloane. Now let's get moving." he said back, making the former DA nod as the two then headed for the exit.

Meanwhile, Lt. Foley drove his car over the bridge that connected Arkham to the rest of the City, making his way toward the Asylum.

'Why the hell did Gordon leave the Party like that?' he thought with a confused look on his face, never taking his eyes off the road as the Cats-eyes repeatedly passed under his vehicle.

'He really isn't acting like the Man I met a year ago after transferring To Gotham from Star City, and it is about time I knew why.' he added before he took the final bend, which then revealed the entirety of the Asylum to him.

'God, how I hate this place. But we need it for all the Crazies that keep appearing and terrorizing Gothamites. And I will not rest until the Batman joins them, even if Gordon continues refusing to help.' he thought with a determined expression, which suddenly changed to one of confusion as he noticed a heavily-armed group exiting the Main Building.

'What the hell is...?' he started to ask, only to be cut off as one of masked-Men spotted him and turned his weapon on him.

"We've got company!" he shouted before opening fire on the approaching car, making the Cop hit the breaks hard as the gunfire hit his wind-shield.

"God damn it!" he exclaimed while staying low as the bullets shattered the glass and flew over his head, doing the same to the aft-wind as well.

"This is Lt. Foley. Officer in trouble, need assistance at Arkham Asylum, as Heavily Armed Men are breaking someone out. I repeat..." he continued to say while the soldiers maintained their fire on his vehicle, leaving no part of it without bullet holes and impact marks.

"I want no more witnesses!" the Leader commanded as he grabbed the Bird by the arm and escorted him towards their SWAT-Van, while the rest focused on the new arrival.

"Understood Lieutenant, Units have been rerouted to your location." Foley then managed to hear from the radio between the sounds of bullets either shooting past him or impacting the Vehicle's shell around him.

'Screw this...!' he then thought as he un-holstered his weapon and quickly exited the Car, using the open passenger door as cover.

'...I've got enough bullets to share with you as well.' he added before peeking out with his gun and firing back, hitting one of the Soldiers in the arm, making him stumble backwards a step.

"Garhh, damn!" he grimaced and fell on his backside, as the rest of the group scattered and took cover behind the nearby parked cars.

"We've got a problem here!" the masked-Man nearest to the Leader shouted, gaining the other's attention as he secured the Bird in the SWAT Van.

"I can see that, just keep him busy for a moment."

BATMAN: THE SCARRED AND THE DAMNED

'Bruce woke up to the sound of a training moving at a quickening speed, feeling the ground under him shake slightly from side to side.

'Where am...?' he started to ask, before opening his eyes to find that he was lying in the middle of a Mono-Rail carriage.

"What's happening?" he asked out loud while noting that he was wearing the Bat-suit, before a very familiar voice spoke up from behind him.

"You are about to witness my greatest triumph, Bruce..."

This made the Vigilante quickly jump to his feet and spin around to find none other than Ra's Al-Ghul standing there.

"Ra's? But you're dead." he replied in his normal voice which was tinged with confusion, while the Master of the League of Shadows merely sighed in return.

"I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Bruce..." he began to reply while raising his fists and readying himself for a fight, something that Batman mirrored as they stared at each other.

"...since your City is about to tear itself apart through fear." he added before throwing a punch at the Dark Knight, who blocked it and followed through with an elbow to face, knocking Ra's into the Microwave Emitter, which continued to hum louder and louder as it's blue light spun around the cylinder that run through it's body.

"I will not let that happen, Ra's. I will stop you!" Batman roared as he performed a jump-kick at the Master-Assassin's chest, only for the latter to catch him in mid-air and throw him back down to the ground.

"I would believe you, Bruce. If you were truly willing to do whatever was necessary to combat injustice. But you lack the " he said back with a disbelieving tone before throwing his fist down at the Vigilante's face, but Batman blocked it and replied with a kick to his enemy's face, which sent him onto his back.

"I will not take a life, there is always another way." the younger Man replied before throwing a Batarang into the controls of their vehicle, making sparks fly out and sizzle as Ra's quickly recovered like his rival.

"You are just like your Father. You lack the conviction to do what is needed and..." he started to say before blocking an attack from Batman with his right arm, while grabbing loose hand bar from the nearest passenger seat.

"...you never did learn to mind you're surroundings." he continued while snapping the bar free and smacking Batman in the head, all in one single movement. This once again sent the Dark Knight to the ground, before Ra's then bent down and put both hands around his throat.

"Don't be afraid, Bruce." he added while beginning to strangle Batman, making the Vigilante gasp for air as he struggled against his former-Mentor's vice-like grip.

"I'm....not." he replied between gasps before throwing a punch at Ra's, who easily deflected it while keeping his hold on his former-Protégé.

"You're just an ordinary man in a cape, that is why you cannot fight injustice and that is why you cannot stop this train." Ra's said back, before a knowing look appeared on the Dark Knight's face.

"Who said anything about stopping it."

This made the Assassin turn his attention to the Vehicle's controls and saw the Batarang sticking out of it, gaining a confused expression from him. But this gave Batman the chance he needed as he then slashed at Ra's chest with the blades of his gauntlet, gaining a grimace from the Terrorist Leader as the former then grabbed his throat and pulled him down to the floor.

"You never learned to mind your surroundings." the Vigilante replied as he was now on top and held his enemy down with one hand while holding another Batarang with the other, ready to strike.

"Have you finally learned to do what is necessary?" Ra's then asked with a tinge of hope in his voice as he looked up at the Bat, while blood seeped out from the wound on his chest.But Batman stared back with an ambivalent look as a million thoughts raced through his mind, before he then tightened his grip around his weapon.

"I guess I have." he then replied before swiping the Batarang across the Al-Ghul's neck, slicing it open as blood poured out like a waterfall and the defeated Master-Assassin gasped and clung to life, though it was quickly fading away. And then everything appeared to slow down around Batman as he found himself looking down at the now dead Leader of the League of Shadows, before he heard his name being called out in the distance, getting louder each time.

"Batman...Batman...BATMAN!"

The Dark Knight opened his eyes groggily to see Penelope Young looking down at him, a worried expression clearly seen on her face.

"Batman, are you alright?" she asked in a similar tone, which fully snapped the costumed-Man out of his daze as he quickly sat back up, though the side of his head still smarted.

"...I...am fine..." he began to reply, before his expression became serious once more.

"...but I thought I told you to hide?"

"I certainly wasn't going to stay and keep the inmates company, so I left the East-Wing to find a better hiding place, only to come across you lying unconscious here. What happened?" she said back, making Batman stay into the distance as his memory brought back the biggest surprise of his life, well recent life anyway.

"...Harvey...I saw Harvey Dent. But that is impossible." he answered with a slither of disbelief to his voice, one that was picked up by the Intern in return.

"Yeah, I wish I could say that is true..." she started to reply, earning a confused look from the Vigilante as she continued.

"...but I am afraid that you did see the former District Attorney."

"But...how...?" the Dark Knight began to ask, only to be cut off by the sound of gunfire from outside the building.

"You better go, or else 'the Bird'..." Penelope started to add before looking down at ground for a second, only to look back up to see that he had disappeared without a trace.

"...will escape." she finished as a smile crept onto her face.

'So that's what they mean.' the young Woman thought before the voice of James Gordon snapped her out of it, making her stand up as the Commissioner ran to her side.

"Are you alright, Doctor?" he asked, gaining a nod from her as she looked back at him.

"Yes, I am fine, thank you. But the Bird and his men went that way..." she started to say as the sounds of gunfire continued to rattle outside, only to earn a surprised look from the older-Man.

"What! What are you talking about? I am after Harvey Dent?" he replied with a blunt and disbelieving tone.

"But we can't let 'the Bird' escape..." she tried to say back, only for the Police Chief to cut her off.

"I don't think so, since the Bird is small-fry compared to Dent. He cannot be allowed to leave this island." he said back, which only made the Intern look back with a curious expression.

'Why is he so focused on Dent...oh!' she thought as a look of realization appeared on her face, while Gordon turned his attention to his radio, which started to broadcast.

"Police reinforcements inbound to Arkham Asylum on order of Lieutenant Foley."

"What?" the Commissioner then exclaimed with a surprised tone, before looking back at the Intern.

"Just stay here, everything is going to be alright." he said with a ambivalent tone, only to turn around and leave the young Woman standing there in the corridor as he made his way towards the gunfire, with a knowing expression on her face.

'I bet he knows more about Dent...much more.'

Meanwhile, Foley remained in cover behind the open passenger-door of his Car as he and the Soldiers continued to fire on each other.

'Damn it, I hope the back-up gets here soon. I almost out of bullets.' he thought while loading the last clip into his gun, before returning fire at the enemies.

'And where is Gordon? He is supposed to be here!'

But before he could think any more on the subject, the Lieutenant's eyes widened as he noticed one of the soldiers pull a rocket-launcher out the back of the SWAT-van and aim at his position.

'You've got to be...' he began to think, before his survival instincts kicked in and ran from the vehicle.

"Die you stinking Cop!" the Lead-Soldier shouted as he fired the weapon, launching a rocket straight at Foley's Car and destroying it in one large explosion. The force of the blast sent the Law-Man flying to the side of the road, landing in the grass as smoke and fire billowed from the wreck that used to be his vehicle.

"Okay, the Cop's down. Now let's get out of here before the rest show up..." the Soldier then said to the rest, earning nods from them all in return.

"Get on boa...".

But before anyone could move, a very small Grey-Orb dropped into the center of them all and exploded, enveloping the group in a cloud of smoke.

"What...the...hell!" one of them exclaimed in between his coughs as he stumbled through the smoke, as did the others.

"...Just...get...into...the Van...NOW!" the Leader coughed as he held the back doors open, with each and every one of them moving closer through the smoke towards him and the Bird, who sat and watched with a fearful expression.

"Hurry up, I know what's coming!" he cried out frantically as he stared at the Leader starting to pull the closest Soldier aboard, but his eyes suddenly widened as a dark and frighteningly fast figure grabbed the guy and pulled him back into the smoke.

"NO!" the Leader shouted as he looked out into the cloud while hearing the sounds of his men fighting something in the swirls of smoke, before then slamming the doors shut and heading to the drivers seat, much to the surprise of the Bird.

"What about the others?" he asked, while the Lead-Soldier started the engine and worked the gears.

"If they can get away, then they can meet back up with us. But the most important thing is to get you out of here." he answered before putting his foot down on the Accelerator, making the Van speed off towards the exit. The force of the Vehicle moving away made the smoke start to clear and reveal the Batman, who twisted an enemy's arm and forced him to bend down, before then hitting him in the fact with an uppercut. Making the masked-man fall flat on his back as he joined his other unconscious comrades around the Dark Knight.

'Damn it...!' he began to think, only to stop as another car suddenly sped around the corner and followed the Van. The Vigilante found himself staring in disbelief once more as he watched Harvey Dent drive the vehicle away.

As this was happening, Foley had got onto his hands and knees as he recovered and saw the SWAT Van speeding down the road toward him.

'You are not getting away!' he thought before picking up his gun and unloading it at the vehicle, which simply ignored the barrage of bullets and continued passed.

"Damn it...!" the Lieutenant shouted out loud while throwing his now empty gun to the ground, only to then have his attention caught by the Car that was following behind it.

'What the hell?' he found himself thinking as he saw it's driver, recognizing him immediately as he drove pass without even a glance.

"Harvey Dent?" Foley said in a confused tone as he watched the vehicle turn a corner up ahead and disappear from view, his mind racing as numerous questions started to flood it.

'But he is dead...!' he began to think while turning away, only to stop as he saw the Batman standing in the middle of the group of unconscious soldiers, his mind becoming focused again as he picked up his gun and started running towards the Vigilante.

"Police! Freeze!" he exclaimed, gaining the Dark Knight's attention as he quickly threw a Batarang at the Police Officer and knocked the weapon out of his hand. But that didn't even phase Foley as he just kept running at his target, so Batman simply dropped another smoke pellet and let himself be enveloped in the harmless Grey-gas as it began to surround him.

'No you don't!' the Lieutenant thought as he charged into the smoke, but then he quickly realized that he was alone as it quickly faded away around him.

"GOD DAMN IT!" he spat in frustration, just as Commissioner Gordon exited the building with the Lieutenant turning to look at him.

'Damn, he knows.' the Police Chief then thought to himself as he looked at his Subordinate, who stared back with a knowing and angry expression.