two days later . . .

"Based on evidence found by the GCPD, I clear you, Bruce Wayne, of any and all crimes you are said to have committed during the last month. We are deeply sorry for your loss and you will receive compensation for your arrest and subsequent mistreatment at Blackgate Prison."

"Your Honor, I would like to politely refuse any compensation. After all, I have more than enough money. Thank you." Bruce responded to the new judge inducted after Judge Myers had been let go in a private conversation with Commissioner Loeb concerning his involvement with Browning Perry's plans.

The judge smiled and nodded.

"Court adjourned."

Bruce turned around after the slam of the gavel and saw Alfred, his lawyer, and Harry smiling back at him.

Gotham Center of Medicine

"Mr. Crane," said the lead doctor in charge of property usage at the Medicine Center.

She adjusted her glasses and looked at the skinny man sitting across from her. He wore large glasses that enlarged his eyes, a dark brown suit that may have been a size too big for him, and his unruly hair stuck up in odd places.

"We have accepted your form of submission to create an safe haven for those mentally unstable as they are deemed unfit to be at Blackgate. The first attendants at the Arkham Asylum are to be the unidentified suspect known as the Joker, Edward Nashton, Waylon Jones, Victor Fries, and any of his surviving followers. You may start selecting a new team of staff in a week's time.

Jonathan Crane smiled at his stack of files and shook the woman's hand before leaving the office with a spring in his step.

"He will be receiving full credit for the capture of Perry, don't worry." Captain Gordon said as he spoke on the phone with the Batman in his office.

Bullock was calling him and he quickly cleared his throat and said what he wanted to say.

"By the way, when Nashton was hit, it knocked him pretty good. He can't remember anything other than all the riddles in his head. Who knows if it's permanent. I'm getting a call that I need to take but I just wanted to say... thank you."

"It's my duty, Jim. Don't worry." Batman said before hanging up, leaving Gordon in his office to smile.

Extreme Isolation Wing, Blackgate Penietentary

"Hello, Victor. We have some good news." Jack Thompson, Victor lawyer told him as they sat in his specialized prison cell made just for his condition.

"Yes?" Victor replied. His eyes were sunken in and he hadn't eaten since he had arrived at the prison.

His lawyer gave a smile and pulled out a file.

"We found her, Victor. She was cured years ago. We have guessed that Perry, the only other person having access other than you, kept her in there, only letting her out whenever he decided. She's in an induced coma for the moment but she will be fine. You should be seeing her soon."

Victor's head fell into his hands and he cried tears of joy. He looked up to the ceiling and cried loudly as Thompson continued to smile as he passed photos of her recovery through a special mail slot on the cell window.

He picked up the dozens of pictures and laughed in happiness. She was drenched in the cryo liquid and was covered up in a towel as an EMT checked her vitals. She had never looked so beautiful as she had something he hadn't seen in a long time. Hope.

"Redbud..." he said as tears fell from his eyes.

Batman sat in the Batcave and heard Alfred come down the elevator with a tray full of food. Batman turned around in his chair and smiled at Alfred, taking off his cowl and preparing for the meal.

"Are you staying in tonight, sir?" Alfred asked as he laid the tray on the table beside the computer.

"I thought about it. I have a new enemy to study."

"Who would that be?" Alfred asked as he prepared the roast beef.

"Metahumans as I've decided to call them. Special people like Jones and Victor. There's something inside them that lets them do things different than the rest of us. Evolution's next step." Batman said as he analyzed a digitized anatomy picture of Waylon Jones.

"Well..." Alfred said, taking a deep breath.

"I think that can wait until after you eat your roast beef." he finished with a mile-wide grin.

Wayne Manor

"I'm glad you took that offer, Bruce. I really am." Harry Strange said as gathered his notes after Bruce had waken up from a hypnotic sleep.

"I don't know that I am. I don't really like people trying to get inside my head." Bruce replied.

The sun outside was bright as Harry opened the curtains and the old-fashioned alarm clock continued to tick away at the seconds. Harry sat back down and cleared his throat. He flipped to the first section of notes and stared intently at Bruce.

"Bruce... there were a few troubling things here. Things that we need to review and look over."

"Like what?" Bruce asked, sitting up in his chair and straightening his shirt.

"As I was looking into your history, I found a strange gap in your time away. Those 5 years. There's an entire section missing to your conscious mind. I find some strange things as I went deeper."

Bruce swallowed hard and tried to collect himself. "What do you mean?"

"You don't have any idea of what I'm talking about?" Harry asked, looking intently at Bruce's eyes.

"No." Bruce lied.

"Okay, then," Harry said. He almost hesitated, afraid of the reaction he would get but then decided it was for the best.

"What does the name Jason Todd mean to you?"

Immediately, Bruce's heart stopped and he began to face a terrible fact he had hidden for more than three years.

THE END . . .

*So, what will happen now that Bruce is confronted with a secret he's tried so hard to bury? You'll find out in early 2015 when the next DARK KNIGHT adventure is released.

The next chapter in this saga will be seen in JUSTICE: Heroes United. Batman will continue to show signs of his ignorance of the past and when the 4th story is released, all those secrets will fall over the brim. Stay tuned, readers! More Batman and Co. action and drama is coming soon!