1 Chapter One: Hanging up the Cowl

Chapter 1 – Hanging up the cowl

Bruce had been spending the majority of the night tracking a woman named Debbie Remon, to a privately owned air hanger. She had been abducted two days prior by a group of common thugs looking for a quick payout. This wasn't anything special. Actually, it was down-right common, in fact. Peering through a skylight window, Batman was able to see the captured starlet, she was looking very pitiful, tied securely to a beam out of the way of the main group. Though, she wasn't far enough away that he'd be able to rescue her before anyone noticed, which made it a whole lot harder for him. So, he was going to have to take out a few of the goons first, before he could release her.

If this was fifteen, ten, or even five years ago Bruce wouldn't have much of an issue taking a group like this out, he wouldn't even need five minutes. Not anymore. But he convinced himself that the pain in his chest didn't mean anything. Yes, he wasn't as strong as he used to be, and he also did have some health issues that he had been suffering from recently. But his mind was still as sharp as a knife, and with the assistance of the new battle suit he recently created his failing strength wasn't going to be an issue anymore. This almost routine kidnapping wasn't going to be a problem… Or so he thought.

Taking out the first sentry with a swift punch, he slipped inside the building completely unnoticed. Overhearing the nightly news report about the kidnapping, Batman eased his way through the run-down hangar bay. Bruce noticed at once that most of the thugs had their attention on the television watching the reporter speak about their hostage, "...Still no word from the kidnappers of Debbie Remon, they have requested a ransom of five million dollars..." As the nightly report softly faded into background noise, Bruce heard some mocking words directed at the captive girl, "Hey kid, look you're on TV!" He laughed, as he approached her tiny downed form. It looked like he had been drinking and decided to take out whatever frustrations he had on the defenseless girl.

"How about we give them their next headline?" He said while pulling out his pistol and pointing it toward the redhead.

The panic she felt at that moment would be something she would remember for the rest of her life. Attempting to say something Debbie pressed her back against the pole she was attached. She was willing to try anything to escape this cruel fate, but the only thing that managed to escapes from her gagged mouth was a muffled, "Mummum".

Seemingly relishing her inaudible screams, the thug smiles brightly... and he continued in that fashion until a large dark form landed in front of him. Brice was so quick, the thug would have just passed it off as a trick of the light if it hadn't started punching him.

Bruce had punched the scumbag three times before giving him an uppercut, launching him thirty feet into the air. He lands hard headfirst and toppling over the cart containing the ransom money they were loading into the airplane.

"BATMAN!" A voice cried out in surprise.

Quickly Bruce was overrun with attackers he handled them relatively smoothly clocking one across the jaw and kicking another making him drop the gun he was holding. Grabbing hold of a guy's leg that wore shades he spun him around three times before sending him into a group of men charging at him.

Seemingly clear of immediate threat Bruce accesses the situation taking a deep breath he felt the pain in his chest intensify to an almost unbearable degree. This wasn't like it had been just a few years ago. Back then, if he couldn't go on or just feeling beat up, Alfred would be close enough to bring him back to health… No, he had lost his only companion too early. He had to keep going, he had to save the girl. His health could wait at least until she was safe.

She was pretty but very scared. Once in his life, he might have wanted to get to know this beautiful girl, but all he wanted to do now was take his meds and get some sleep. Bending down he started to untie her, "Are you alright?" He grasped out.

It was a silly question she was still gagged, but he had to take his mind off of the pain somehow and the meaningless conversation was apparently the ticket.

Before he could loosen the binding too much, he heard her muted cries in a warning. Looking at her face he noticed her eyes watching something behind his shoulder. He had been too careless.

The explosion of pain forced his body to the side and he rolled away from his attacker. Getting back to his feet but quickly pain brought him back to a laying position. His damned heart again! Deciding to investigate a better suppressant once he has gotten back, he kept trying to fight back the pain once more.

Smiling the scumbag approached him again looking very pleased with himself, "Ya know, ever since I was a kid… ol' big bad Batman has been making life pretty hard for guys like me." He followed his words up with three strikes of a large metal wrench he had surprise attacked him with earlier.

Bruce was desperate, he had been in worse situations over the years but each time he had an 'out' so to speak. This time he was sure it was the end. Maybe it was his pride that made him do it, or it was fear for his life. Regardless it wasn't until later he understood what his next actions meant… to him… to Gotham… to the world.

Spotting a gun that a downed thug had lost during his earlier battle, he made a quick decision he grabbed hold of the small piece of metal and pointed it at the thug. The smiling thug was holding the massive wrench above his head ready to bring it down on to the batman. When he saw Batman holding the gun, arm shaking as Batman struggled with indecision.

Quickly running away the thug ran directly into four police cruisers and was quickly arrested.

Bruce walked slowly to the warehouse door, he was out of breath and a trickle of blood ran down his chin. Taking off his mask, the face of Bruce Wayne around sixty years of age was revealed. Looking down at the gun he still held in his hand. Bruce felt panic well up inside him at the sight of what he held in his hand he couldn't stop the acidic thought that 'this was the same weapon that ended his parents' lives.' Dropping the weapon in disgust, he stumbled back in revulsion at himself. Walking away slowly he finally realized what picking up that gun meant. Today he had been defeated. Today was the last day he could call himself Batman.

Power, Corruption, courage, hope… and Rebirth.

-Three years later-

Amanda Waller Director of Project Cadmus had made many mistakes over the years. First of which was her persecution of the Justice League. She knew now how necessary these people were to the world particularly one individual.

Waller went from being the Justice League's chief antagonist to its ally. In her role as the Government Liaison to the League, she came to know Batman very well, gaining a great deal of respect for the man. She also met a lot of interesting people but none of them were comparable to Batman as he saved the day using his wits, body, and will, as opposed to others and their gained superpowers. Furthermore, she had been impressed by the Princess of Themyscira due to her strong-willed character who does not back down from a fight or a challenge. Yet, she is a diplomat who strongly "favors the pen", and a lover of peace who would never seek to fight or escalate a conflict... she is also powerful and Waller loved powerful women.

Several incidents had demonstrated to Waller that these heroes' greatest attributes were compassion, and the iron refusal to never take a life. But as time went on, Waller saw them age, then eventually Batman retired while Diana retreated from the world of man. She realized without them the world would be without two of its greatest protectors, and the world would always need a Batman if nothing else.

It had been easy enough to retrieve a genetic sample of Bruce's DNA and though Diana's was harder Project Cadmus had it's uses. Waller had quickly found a young couple that was an almost identical psychological match for Batman's father and mother, Warren and Mary McGinnis. When the couple went in for what they thought was a routine checkup, both of their reproductive DNA was then overwritten with that of Bruce Wayne's and Diana Prince's respectively by nanobots. Nine months later, Terry was born, genetically the son of Batman and Wonder Woman.

-Seventeen Years Later-

Terry McGinnis was frustrated. His father never listened to him. The blipping guy spat on him during a wrestling match! Who even does that! Psychos! That's who! Then when he got home his father told him he was grounded... Him. Grounded? Yeah right! With a biting remark that he really didn't even remember he was out the door before his father could say another word.

He had plans to meet Dana at the club that night and he wasn't going to let his old man get in the way of that!

Taking the bus was a lot simpler than it had been fifty years earlier. Eco-friendly hovercrafts ruled the highways and byways, while fossil fuel-based vehicles were completely outlawed and were now a thing of the past. This wasn't the only change that had been implemented even food had been radically changed as well. Most meat type foods were now grown completely from stem cells, making them healthier for the human body. But the more things change the more they stay the same.

While paying attention to a news broadcast about Wayne Powers corporation (the company Terry's father works), when a man dressed as a clown walked into the train with a forced smile on his face. Performing acrobatic stunts, he jumped on to an empty bench near the television and spray painted a huge smile over the news broadcasters face. Then peering at his audience, he noticed a woman smiling lightly at his antics. Quickly running over he sat down getting very close to the lady and placed an arm around her shoulders.

"Ok, you laughed… Where is my tip?" the joker wannabe asked.

"I don't understand?"

"You laughed when someone performs a service you have to pay for it. Where is my tip?"

Getting fed up with the idiot Terry stormed over and pulled the guy up by the front of his shirt, "Hey why don't you back off!" Then pushed the poor excuse for a joke headfirst into the television.

Getting back up immediately the joker punches twice at Terry's head, which he dodges easily. Clocking him across the face Terry dances on his feet awaiting the joker's retaliation.

"That does it." The joker grunts with a more serious smile on his face.

Jumping back to his feet the joker started performing martial arts stances like Karate kid, but as soon as the door opened, he escaped.

Unamused at his attempt at the joke Terry grinds his teeth and turns back to wait on his stop.

Weaving through a crowd Terry approaches a dark-haired girl wearing an orange dress, "Boo." Terry said giving the girl a surprise and with a grin, she turns around to face him.

Embracing him around the neck, she gives him a quick kiss on the mouth, "Hey, I thought you were in solitary." She told him shyly.

Giving his best 'Devil may care' smile he replied, "Well, I gave myself time off for good behavior."

"I'm glad."

Terry liked Dana Tan a lot, he was even starting to believe that he was actually in love with her. They had only been dating for a few months but she seemed to fit his personality perfectly. Dana is kind, caring, loyal, brave, and intelligent. Often going out of her way to help people in any given situation… she seemed perfect. Taking a deep breath and letting it out with a sigh he grabs Dana's waist and puts his lips pressing them to the top of her head.

"Eww, can you guys just get a room already." A blond said standing beside them.

"Well hello, Chelsea I didn't see you there," Terry said noticing her for the first time. Chelsea Cunningham is a cheerleader and longtime best friend of Dana, but the only thing he really knew about the girl was... she seemed to have gotten around. A lot.

She seemed shallow but he wasn't one to tell his girlfriend who she can be friends with. She opened her mouth to say something back to him but before she could a small honking sound reverberated through the noisy crowd. There was really only one thing that could make everyone cringe at once and seem so annoying at the same time… "Jokerz"

Five motorcycles ripped through the gloom of the night followed by a voice, "Evening boys and girls, who's up for some laughs?"