Batman: A Game of Chess issue 1

Due to copy paste being a bitch , this issue isn't bold or underlined .

 

'-' Alfred

 

"-" Bruce

 

-------

 

 

'Master Bruce .'

 

Alfred places his hand on my left shoulder .

 

"What is it Alfred ?"

 

I turn around letting his hand slip back to his side .

 

'There has been a murder .

Precisely two murders. It's Scarecrow ,sir.'

 

I sigh.

 

"Is the bat suit ready ?"

 

He nods his head in disapproval.

 

I still haven't convinced him what I'm doing is the right thing to do.

 

'Yes but ... are you sure you wish to take on a criminal mastermind like "The Crow" ,sir ? '

 

I laugh .

 

 

"All he is , is a cannibal , a monster , and most importantly a drug addict."

 

'Except this addict isn't a normal one .'

 

I don't have time for this .

 

"I've made my mind up Alfred , someone needs to put a stop to these criminals an.."

 

'But does it have to be you ,sir ?And look how that played out for the previous "hero" of this city. '

 

"Gordon made the mistake of digging too deep."

 

'And isn't that what you plan on doing ?'

 

Every second we spend arguing could be a second spent stopping the Scarecrow .

 

But sadly he does have a point.

 

If Gordon , this cities best detective and chief of the GCPD couldn't stop these monsters , then who am I to think I could pull it off ?

 

"Alfred ...is the suit ready or not ?"

 

'Yes master Bruce .But know this .Once you go on this path , there is no coming back '

 

 

"I'm aware of that .But I have to do this .Not for my parents , or avenging them , but rather for myself .I need peace Alfred .Sadly I can only find it in war ."

 

'A war you may loose .'

 

"Yes Alfred. I might win .I might loose . But at the end of the story , I will be able to say I tried . "

 

He opens his mouth as if he was about to say something , but then closes it .

 

He hands me Scarecrows police file and his presumed hideout .

 

'Before you leave sir .'

 

I look into his eyes .

 

I can see something in them .

 

Is it grief ?

 

Fear?

 

Or ...

 

Pain?

 

'You say you are doing this for yourself , yet still ...how true do you think that is ? Do you think they would have wanted you to go on this path ? To become an angel of "justice" ? Do not let the Wayne family line go to waste .If this is what you wish to do , then do it right .Make them proud .'

 

I sense a certain fury in his voice , but I say nothing .

 

I simply put my suit on and get inside the Batmobile.

 

As I start the engine I swear I could have heard a drop of water fall to the ground .

 

My brain tells me it indeed was a drop of water .

 

My heart tells me something else.

 

 

----

 

BTW , if you've missed the prologue , just go to my stream and you will find a photo of batman and Joker mirroring each other , that's the prologue .

Done