The hook worked perfectly. Bruce landed on the roof, exactly where he'd left his suit.
The suit was lying in an alcove behind the ventilation shaft, as if waiting to be used. Bruce retrieved it and carefully unwrapped it.
He put the suit on. He felt the familiar pressure of the armor against his body, feeling protected and ready for anything. He checked his gear - batarangs, harpoon, smoke bombs. Everything was in place.
Now he was Batman again.
Finished with the suit and gear, Bruce remembered the cell phone he'd found on the dead man. He pulled it out and turned it on. There was nothing interesting on the phone - just a few contacts, pictures of the family, and call history.
Bruce decided to use the phone's internet to learn more about the world he found himself in. He started by searching for information about a cyber-psychopath.
The results of the search were disappointing.
Cyberpsychosis is a mental disorder caused by the overuse of cybernetic implants. Symptoms range from aggression and paranoia to complete insanity and loss of control.
Bruce flipped through several articles and videos showing the horrifying effects of cyberpsychosis. He's seen people turn into mindless monsters unable to control their actions.
"It's like Poison Ivy, only on a city scale," Bruce thought to himself.
Batman spent the rest of the night on the roof, studying the information he found on his phone. He was compiling a dossier on Knight City, trying to understand the structure of this world and its inhabitants.
Netrunners: Hackers capable of hacking into everything from personal implants to corporate networks. They use neural interfaces to connect to so-called "cyberspace" where they can move between systems and manipulate data. Some netrunners work for corporations, others for crime syndicates, and still others are simply thrill seekers or profit seekers.
Ripers: Surgical technicians who specialize in the insertion and modification of cybernetic implants. They work both legally, in hospitals and clinics, and illegally, in underground workshops.
Implants: Cybernetic devices that enhance a person's physical and mental abilities. They range from simple prosthetics and augmentations to complex neural interfaces and combat systems.
Fixers: intermediaries between criminals and customers. They organize deals, hire mercenaries, extract information, and sell weapons.
Corporations: Powerful organizations that control all aspects of life in Knight City. They own factories, plants, hospitals, the media, and even the police.
Gangs: Criminal groups that control certain areas of Knight City. They deal in drugs, guns, prostitution, and racketeering. Gangs are constantly fighting each other for territory and power.
Police (NCPD): Knight City's law enforcement agency.
Batman had finished compiling the dossier. He now had a general idea of what was going on in Knight City.
All that remained was to choose where to start. Which problem to deal with first?
Having analyzed all the data received from the phone of the murdered corporate employee, Batman determined his location. He was in the Watson neighborhood, one of the most densely populated and crime-ridden areas of Knight City.
Watson was known for its slums, underground markets, gangs, and high crime rate. It was the perfect proving ground for an aspiring crime fighter.
Finished with the phone, Batman began patrolling the rooftops of buildings. He used his skills to move between rooftops while remaining undetected.
He looked out at the sprawling city below him. Neon lights twinkled like stars. The streets were bustling with life: people going about their business, cars driving, music blaring from bars and clubs.
But beneath that bright surface lurked darkness. Batman saw it. He saw the poverty, the violence, and the despair that permeated every corner of Watson.