"W-Who could have done this?! The Joker? Penguin?" Gordon was a bit shaken up and rightfully so. A majority of the police force was brutally murdered and the head of his captain and his family were staked above the precinct.
He had sent any remaining officers home and advised them to stay alert.
"Whoever did it was careful and calculated. The cuts on these bodies are clean and incredibly precise." Batman said as he took photos with the lens of his mask.
"Gordon, come look at this." Gordon walked deeper into the police department and made sure to avoid any blood splatters or bodies. He walked into the captain's office and marveled at the view.
Captain Thomas' computer was unlocked and showed documented evidence of his corruption along with many others in the police force.
"I had always suspected that Thomas was dirty but to this level? I'm ashamed to even call myself the Commissioner…" Gordon clenched his fist in frustration. Batman looked at Gordon for a moment before he spoke, "I think you should go home as well. I'll do a thorough investigation and I'll fill you in on the details tomorrow."
Gordon wanted to refuse but even he could admit, he wasn't operating at full capacity right now. He sighed deeply, "Alright then."
He exited the police department and drove away. As he was driving down the street the voice of a young girl echoed in his mind, "You look a bit squeamish Commissioner. Everything alright?"
In shock, Gordon swerved and almost hit a car in the opposite lane. He pulled over to the side of the road with haste, "W-Whose there?! Show yourself goddamn it!" Yet he heard nothing. He sat on the side of the road for a few minutes before getting the courage to drive again.
He didn't hear the voice again the entire ride home. His wife Barbara was already in bed. He gave her a quick peck before falling asleep himself.
When he woke up a few hours later, he expected to greet his wife but was met with a dead body.
"BARBARA OH MY GOD!" Gordon yelled at the view of his wife's body. It looked like she had been stabbed multiple times and her stomach was cut wide open, causing her internal organs to spill out.
Gordon was going to cup his wife's face but in his hand was a chef's knife and blood all the way up to his elbow.
"Oh-Oh my god...I-I couldn't have, NO! I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS!" Gordon yelled as he dropped the knife. He ran out of the room to check on his children but his despair only grew.
Barbara, his daughter, was hanging from her ceiling fan with her throat slit wide open, and her brother, James Gordon Jr, had a bullet straight through his head.
Gordon was once again holding the murder weapons for each respective crime.
"Oh god…" Gordon dropped to his knees in despair. His mind couldn't fathom the idea of killing his entire family and neither could his body. He felt his chest get tight and his heart was in extreme pain. Gordon clenched his heart and fell to the ground.
"James…James…JAMES OH MY GOD!" He heard the voice of his wife for some reason…
———-
[Gotham Metropolitan Hosptial, Gotham City]
Gordon opened his eyes and saw the white ceiling of a hospital.
"Oh my goodness, James!" His wife cried with tears streaming down her face. Gordon saw his daughter and his son in the room as well.
"B-Barbara, what happened?" Gordon asked as his wife cupped his face with her hands, "You had a heart attack in your sleep honey, I-I thought I was gonna lose you!"
"I had…a heart attack? B-But I saw your dead body! And the kids as well!" Gordon exclaimed. Barbara sighed, "Honey, the stress from your job is clearly getting to you! You need to take a break!"
Gordon leaned his head back again until he was looking at the ceiling, "That was just a dream…?"
————-
[The Batcave, Wayne Manor]
Bruce was currently mulling over the massacre in the police department when he heard Alfred exit the elevator.
"Alfred it just doesn't make any sense. There are no footprints, no DNA, no fabric of clothing, not a lick of forensic evidence. The cuts on all the bodies are extremely clean and precise. What makes it worse is the CCTV caught everything but…there is nobody there." Bruce stated in a defeated tone. Alfred brought him some coffee and two donuts and placed them down next to him.
"Master Bruce I have unfortunate news to tack onto this horrible case." Bruce looked up in confusion, "Master Gordon has suffered from a heart attack. It seems his wife managed to realize in time and he arrived at the hospital in a timely manner."
Bruce frowned deeply, "I knew Gordon was constantly under stress but enough to cause a heart attack? For a man his age, he was as healthy as a horse, that just doesn't make any sense…"
"Woooow, so this is where Batman does Batman things huh?" The voice of a young girl echoed throughout the Batcave. Bruce immediately threw a batarang at the direction of her voice but she caught it with two fingers.
Exiting the shadows was Zara and she had a wide smile on her face.
"Who are you?! And how did you get in here without setting off any alarms?!" Bruce yelled as he signaled for Alfred to hide. Zara shrugged her shoulders and laughed, "I dunno, I walked through the front door!"
"But to think the big and scary Batman is Bruce Wayne, who would've thought?" Zara was suddenly behind Bruce and was examining his body. Bruce tried to elbow her but his elbow was caught by her hand.
'She's strong!' Bruce attempted to release his elbow from her grip but it was futile. He reached into his utility belt with his open hand and tried tazing her.
"Oooo, that tickles. I thought you would be a little stronger Batman, but it looks like you're just a regular guy." Zara pouted as she lifted Bruce in the air and slammed him on the ground. She then put her foot on his chest so he couldn't maneuver.
Bruce's ears were ringing, if he wasn't wearing his suit, that slam would've definitely fractured his spine.
"W-Why are you here?!" Bruce questioned trying to focus despite the pain he was in. Zara tapped her chin, "Hmmmm, well I thought you were gonna give me a challenge because you're Batman and all. Buuttt, I think I have an even better idea in mind." Zara placed her finger on Bruce's temple.
"Though not as useful as Genome's, your brain is quite powerful for a regular guy. Genome, come here, please." Zara commanded and Genome arose from her shadow.
"Yes, your majesty?"
"Is it possible for you to make some sort of AI or computer virus from Mr. Wayne's brain here? I want it as malicious and infectious as possible but still be able to be controlled of course." Zara questioned and Bruce's eyes widened. With the amount of knowledge in his head, even a basic AI using his brain would have the means to take down the Justice League and most of the world's politicians.
"Yes it can be done, but it may take me some time to get it completely working without any flaws."
"No worries! Take as long as you need Genome, Rome wasn't built in a day after all!" Zara smiled and gave Genome a thumbs up. She knocked Bruce out with a kick to the face and threw him to Genome.
"Make sure to save his body though. I'd like to use it in the future."
"As you wish, your majesty!" Genome descended into the shadows.
"Alessia, bring the butler to me please." Zara commanded as she sat down at the Batcomputer.
Alessia walked out of the shadows dragging Alfred by his collar, "I've brought the butler milady." Alessia said she kneeled.
"Good girl," Alessia blushed heavily at praise from her master and Zara circled around Alfred, "Now what to do with you, hmmmm."
"I don't have enough proficiency in Shadow Magic to incorporate you into the Dark Legion, but you aren't important enough for that anyway. What do you think I should do with him Alessia?" Alessia was still blushing but quickly regained her composure at her master's question.
"Perhaps you could turn him into a shadow minion and have him give the Justice League a gift?" Zara smiled at the word gift.
"A gift they shall receive!"