Tim glared at the monitor. Sleep groped at him.
"Activity's been surprisingly low," Tim said to himself.
"Thank heavens," Alfred said, stepping into the harsh light provided by the Bat-Computer. "Your aren't tired, are you, Master Drake?"
"I'm fine, Alfred," Tim answered, resting his head on his palm. "Just frustrated."
"I see," Alfred nodded. "Checking the security feed again?"
"Hm? Oh. Yeah. Something just doesn't feel right."
"What, Sir?"
"Crime is at its lowest aside from some robberies here and there."
"I'm sure you are doing everthing in your power to find out why, Master Drake," Alfred assured. "In the meantime, I would suggest something to eat."
"I'm not hungry, Alfred."
Alfred sighed, picking up a remote. "Then perhaps some television to-"
Alfred stopped at the sound of gunfire on the television. "My word... Master Tim, I believe you'll want to see this," Alfred said, staring at the monitor.
"What is it, Alfred?" Tim asked, turning in his chair.
"This is Vickie Vale reporting live from Gotham River where," she panted, "where notorious crime bosses Penguin and Two-Face are in an all-out war with the GCPD!"
"My God..." Tim whispered, staring at the screen in awe.
"Police warn everyone to get inside and lock their doors, immediately!" She rushed behind cover. "Ugh! Hank, get me a better shot!" Vickie commanded, her voice drowned out by gun-fire. An RPG zipped across the screen. "Get down!" Vickie shouted, diving before the feed cut.
"Penguin is supposed to be locked up in Blackgate!" Robin roared in frustration. He leapt from the chair and charged. "Alfred, get the car ready!"
"Which one, sir?"
"The car."
Penguin took a puff of his cigar and blew it at the window. The rain that drizzled down the glass blurred the fires raging across Gotham River.
"This betta be worth it, Scarecrow!" Penguin said, taking another puff.
"Be at ease, Cobblepot," Scarecrow assured, rising from his seat. "Their sacrifice is instrumental in the Batman's destruction."
"It better be," Two-Face warned through his clenched teeth. "We're losing a lot of money for all this."
"Know your place," Scarecrow returned, weaving between the two, "this is far more important than your avarice." He stared out at the flames. "This is but the overture... and it is instrumental to our play."
Penguin nodded in an attempt to dispel Crane's anger, "Yeah."
"What about the brats?" Two-Face asked.
"The Batman is our only concern. His colleagues are irrelevant. He will not let them interfere."
"How do ya know?" Penguin asked.
"The Batman's afraid," he explained, a hint of agitation in his voice. "Mr. Dent, go to Gotham Bay and secure it. Clayface will assist you."
Two-Face nodded and turned, exiting the hall.
Penguin shook his head. "Whatta bout me?" he asked, gesticulating his arms openly.
"You will take over Two-Face's men once the Batman detains him."
Penguin cackled and nearly fell over.
Scarecrow continued while Penguin laughed. "You possess the greater strategic sense. I require a united force under one man."
"You have it all planned out, don't cha, Crane?"
Crane glared at the bat-shaped signal touching the clouds. "More than you know."
"Are you sure about this, Master Drake?" Alfred asked.
"Gotham needs to think that the Batman is still here for them," Tim responded, pulling the cowl over his face. "Just make sure Barbara gets here safe," he said, jumping into the Batmobile.
"I will, Sir."
Tim nodded. "Goodbye, Alfred," Tim said as the windshield locked into place, "and stay safe."
"Commissioner," Robin said over the comms. "Do you hear me?"
"Here, Batman," he responded.
"It's me," Tim said, manuevering through the Gotham streets.
"God help us," Gordon said, covering his communicator.
"I heard that."
"Look, Robin, it's a war zone down here. Can you handle it?"
"Two-Face will wish it were the Batman. I'm on my way."
"Just hurry."
The Batmobile thrusted forward, bursting into the bay like a missile between the police and Two-Face's men.
"Right on queue," Two-Face uttered, looking through his binoculars. He turned to face his men. "Crane wants the Bat captured! Give 'em hell!
"Activate weapon diagnostics," Robin said. "Fire." The Batmobile launched several rounds of rubber bullets at the Two-Face's men, knocking them out cold.
"Clayface! You know what to do!" Two-Face yelled.
"I've been waiting a long time for this!" Clayface laughed, launching tendrils into the Batmobile.
Robin grumbled as critical failures popped up all around him. "Gordon," Tim said, struggling to regain control, "get your men to higher ground. I'll hold off these two!"
"Right!" Gordon turned to his troops. "Pull back! I want every officer in Gotham to evacuate civilians! We're gonna block them off at City Hall District!"
"Self-destruct!" Robin yelled, ejecting from his seat. The Batmobile erupted into a fiery blaze, shattering Clayface's arm. Robin's hand cut through the air, launching ice grenades into Clayface's malleable flesh.
"I'll rip you in two for that," Clayface yelled!
"No you won't," Robin said. The grenades ruptured, solidifying Karlo's torso.
"Graaahrr!" he roared, slamming his arm into the ground. A fist of clay launched from beneath Robin sending him flying into a pile of crates.
"Careful you idiot!" Two-Face warned.
"We only need 'em alive! Not in one piece!"
Alive? This is bigger than just a gang war, Tim concluded, picking himself up. He clenched his fist, and sprinted forward. Clayface launched his long arms like spears at Robin.
"Hold still!" Clayface said, but he was only met by ferocity.
Robin roared, launching more ice grenades into his chest. They burst, freezing Karlo's torso and neck. Tim leaped into the arm, dodging another tendril, and landed on Clayface with such force that he shattered the frozen clay. Karlo's head fell back into his torso. His brown mass struggled to contort into his humanoid form.
"Get up!" Robin yelled, planting another grenade into him. Clayface's waist spun around. His arms morphed into blades and flailed, narrowly missing Robin before he was left frozen. "I said 'get up!'" Robin slammed a batarang into Clayface's frozen mass and leapt off of it.
"You missed, Bat!" Clayface laughed.
Robin ejected his arm and pressed a trigger.
"No!" Clayface yelled, as he exploded into chunks of ice and brown liquid.
