Rogues Gallery Vol.1

Prologue: One Dark Knight

Outskirts of Gotham City. Two weeks after the reveal.

Whenever one thought of Gotham City, their mind always went to one name: Wayne. For years, even after Thomas and Martha Waynes unfortunate deaths, the name Wayne still carried a considerable amount of weight, specifically in the form of Wayne manor. As far back as anyone could remember, whoever lived in that castle of a home would throw the most lavish parties and fundraisers that kept Gotham on it's feet. Almost every night, the house was lit up like a Christmas tree, it's yard practically bursting with limos and rolls royces, and the sound of laughter echoing across the treetops surrounding the home. It was a hidden oasis for the people of Gotham.

Now, the oasis had dried up. Two weeks ago, at 11 Am, tv's, computers, phones, anything electronic in Gotham city suddenly flashed a series of incriminating images and documents, followed by four simple yet devastating words:

BRUCE WAYNE IS BATMAN

With these four words, the legend of the Batman came to an end. The day after, Lucius Fox announced that Wayne Industries would shut down effective immediately. The citizens of Gotham reeled in shock, some unable to go to work the next day. The GCPD simply sat in their chairs and cried for their loss. The criminal underworld toasted to the unknown entity who had brought the cursed caped crusader. None of the Arkham inmates stepped forward to take credit for this tremendous act of villainy. As for Bruce Wayne, he vanished. Wayne Manor shut it's doors, refusing the crowd of reporters who lined up outside it's massive gates begging for answers. Eventually, they left empty handed and silent, along with Alfred Pennyworth. Pennyworth's eyes were rimmed with red as he got into his car and drove away silently.

Now, two weeks later, the manor was still dark. It's yard was empty and the sound of laughter was replaced by the whistle of the wind. It seemed as though there wasn't a sole alive in that now crumbling castle of a home.

This was how Freddy Gordon found the manor. It was late when he and his crew, the scorpions, rolled down the wooded path and stopped in front of the massive gates. A tall yet skinny man, like that of a pencil, practically skipped up to the gate, a broad smile nearly breaking his face. Nimbly, he slipped a metal chain around the gates locked and pulled it tight. Smiling, Freddy turned and ran back to his truck, shifting from park to reverse and slamming on the gas without even shutting his door. He didn't want to wait any longer and he knew his men wouldn't either. The bat was dead. It was time for the afterparty.

CREECH.

The gates flew off with a combination of a crack and screech, clanging to the ground. Grinning wildly, Freddy pumped his fist out the window and with a whoop, the truck clattered over the fallen gates and into the courtyard. Freddy's men poured through, numbering nearly fifty men in total. Some rode in sedans, others on motorcycles and a few ran in. All were screaming and cheering with glee.

The truck screeched to a halt right in front of the ginormous double doors of the manor. Freddy leapt out and climbed into the back of his truck. He gazed out at his assembled men. The scorpions weren't the most feared gang in Gotham. In fact, almost everyone called them the bat's punching bag. These were the men who pulled off petty thefts and muggings. They were the lowest rung on the criminal underworlds ladder. Freddy himself had never seen the bat, but his organization had suffered greatly because of him. He used to own the slums of Gotham. Now, he was a nobody. Tonight however, all that would change.

"Scorpions!" Freddy's voice silenced every man in the courtyard. "Tonight is a great one! Weeks ago, we experienced one of the greatest days in our lives: the day the legend died!"

The cheers rang out over the dark woods, reaching almost all the way to Gotham. Freddy passed back and forth in the car, continuing his speech.

"Everyone of us rejoiced. Maybe even a few shed a tear of joy-I ain't judging. I teared up a little myself."