All Great Floods are sent by deities, often as divine retribution. Life began from the water and so it can take it away. A great cleansing, preparing humanity for a rebirth. It's been 3 months since The Riddler flooded Gotham. Since then, almost the exact opposite has happened. Gotham's open wound reeks from infection with no hope for a suture. Like New Orleans after Katrina, Gothams a free for all. Top crime lords have divided the city into sectors. The Falcone family is still struggling to get back on their feet after the death of Carmine. With the Falcone's on the ropes, the Moroni family is making a comeback. But The Penguin, he owns Gotham now.
But it's not just organized crime on the rise. Rape, murder, robbery, assault. All at unimaginable heights. Martial law has done nothing to hinder the violence. The flood is gone, but the damage remains. People are homeless. Hungry. Desperate. Even in chaos, there needs to be order. Too much innocence has already been lost in this city. Batman is no longer feared like he once was. He seems to be making fewer appearances. The criminals are becoming more brazen, no longer fearing the consequences of their actions. Someone has to pick up the slack.
I sit atop an abandoned apartment complex in one of the poorer parts of Gotham, hidden in the darkness and rain. 3 months later and they still do not have electricity. Of course, they prioritize the wealthy and the tourist beacons. God forbid they actually think about the people before money.
I lower my goggle's over my eyes, tapping a small button. The goggles turn on, glowing red, with a slight hum of electricity. I see 5 thermal signatures in the building. Same room, top floor. 4 sitting in chairs, 1 keeping watch.
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I tap the side of my goggles again, now glowing white. Thermal vision switches to x-ray vision.
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3 of the men are armed with knives and 2 with guns.
I turn the outside of the lens, zooming in. The duffle bag on the floor is filled with Drops and cash. Distributors. The Drop dealers pick up here to sell on the streets.
I tap the side of my goggles again, switching back to red.
I leap to their rooftop, softly somersaulting up. The tarp that covers a giant hole in the roof waves in the wind and rain. I kneel, peering into the room from a hole. I slowly pull out 3 homemade smoke bombs from my belt, still watching their every move in thermal vision. I stand up, striking the wicks against the metal scaffolding, lighting them, dropping them into the building.
